Anthropology

ANTH 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Syllabus)
by Tomomi Emoto

This course introduces anthropological perspectives in analyzing the varied cultural settings of the contemporary world from peripheral non-western communities to large, industrialized countries such as the United States. It is designed to provide students with basic anthropological concepts and theories that will allow them to better understand other cultures on their terms. Investigating diverse facets of human experience such as family, religion, gender, politics, economics and art, and highlighting differences and similarities among us, a comparative study of different cultures addresses vital questions about what it means to be human. The ultimate goals of the course are to help students better relate to the culturally complex world and appreciate cultures different from their own.

ANTH 103: Introduction to Archaeology (Syllabus)
by Timothy Pugh

This course introduces the methods that archaeologists utilize to reconstruct cultural developments of the past and traces the origins of complex social organization in various locations throughout the world. Beginning with the earliest evidence of stone tool production (ca. 2 million years ago), we will examine the interrelationship of complex social organization, population growth, the development of agriculture, writing, social inequality, and cities.

ANTH 210: Anthropology of East Asia (Syllabus)
by Tomomi Emoto

This course examines contemporary cultures of East Asia from anthropological perspectives, using readings and films (documentary, commercial, and ethnographic films). Primary topics include nationalism, identity and power, tourism and modernity, gender, and social movements. Class activities include lecture, discussion and film viewing. Class will be divided into three units with different topical/geographical focuses: at the end of each unit student will write a three-page summary report.

Anthropology 240: Essentials of Archaeology
by Timothy Pugh

Essentials in Archaeology introduces the concepts and methods that archaeologists use to obtain reliable data and interpret that data. We will discuss the “who, what, why, and how” of archaeological research. The purpose of the course is to encourage students to think like an archaeologist. We will consider a variety of materials—readings, videos, data sets, and other open education resources that will help us to obtain a complete picture of archaeology. The course begins with a discussion of the history of archaeology and its basic goals. We then move to artifacts and sites, excavation, and the importance of context. Next, we will consider dating methods from those based upon style to those based upon the decay of radioactive materials. After learning these basic methods, we will move to middle range theory regarding tool production, social organization, diet, bioarchaeology, exchange, and symbolism.

ANTH 247: Archaeology of Africa (Syllabus)
by Robert T. Nyamushosho

This course unravels the mysteries of Africa’s deep history, from early humans to the rise of early cities and civilizations. Topics covered include human evolution, the emergence and spread of agriculture, the development of complex societies and urbanism, the role of trade and exchange networks in shaping African societies, and the impact of colonialism and post-colonialism on African archaeology. Additionally, the course explores Africa’s global influence through Indian Ocean and transatlantic trade, alongside groundbreaking archaeological discoveries and critiques earlier archaeological studies that contributed to stereotypes of precolonial Africa as undeveloped and isolated. No prior knowledge is required, just curiosity!

History

HIST 101: Early Modern Europe (Syllabus)
by Tracey L. Billado

This course introduces the major social, intellectual, political, religious, and cultural trends of Europe during the early modern period. It traces the cultural movement of the Renaissance, European explorations in the New World, the breakup of Latin
Christendom through the Protestant Reformation and Religious Wars, the creation of a world economy and middle classes, political revolutions, the growth of the state, and the French Revolution. We will read and analyze treatises, letters, memoirs, laws, art, and poetry in their historical contexts, as well as scholarship written by historians using such sources. The class emphasizes the ways in which all these sources contribute to our understanding of the past.

HIST 102: History of Modern Europe (Syllabus)
by Stephen F. Haller PhD

This course covers the major political, social, cultural and intellectual developments in Europe in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Using primary documents and online texts we will explore the following major themes and problems: The Enlightenment and the Implications of Liberal ideas in the 19th century; the evolution of industrial capitalism, and its challenges; the development and impact of ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, fascism, nationalism, and feminism; the origins and aftermath of two world wars, the Holocaust, and the Cold War; and the development of the European university and the role of the liberal arts in society.

HIST 103: United States History (1607-1865) (Syllabus)
by Stephen F. Haller PhD

The goal of this course is to provide students with a broad understanding of American History from 1607 through the Civil War. Focusing both on the domestic front and the nation’s changing place in the world affairs, the class will return to a number of themes: America’s growing economic and military power in the world (as well as the limits of this power); the development of a mass, national culture; the struggle to win the rights of citizenship for all Americans, regardless of race, class, creed or sex; and the efforts of America’s politicians and the national government to manage the changing political, economic, cultural and international situation. We will learn about well-known American figures as well as everyday citizens who shaped the country’s history.

HIST 103: American History, 1607-1865 (Syllabus)
by Kara Schlichting

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of American history from encounters between Indian, African, and European cultures in the Americas through the aftermath of the Civil War. The course additionally strives to offer students analytical tools with which to approach history as critical readers. We will engage in how historians approach their subject by exploring cultural, social, and political topics. For example, we will chart the changing experiences and rights of women in America, the role of economic change in nineteenth century culture, and the tragic realities of slavery in the antebellum period.

HIST 104: History of Modern US (Syllabus)
by Stephen F. Haller PhD

The goal of this course is to provide students with a broad understanding of American
History from 1865 until the present day. Focusing both on the domestic front and the nation’s
changing place in the world affairs, the class will return to a number of themes: America’s
growing economic and military power in the world (as well as the limits of this power); the
development of a mass, national culture; the struggle to win the rights of citizenship for all
Americans, regardless of race, class, creed or sex; and the efforts of America’s politicians and the
national government to manage the changing political, economic, cultural and international
situation. We will learn about well-known American figures as well as everyday citizens who
shaped the country’s history.

HIST 104: America since 1865 (Syllabus)
by Douglas Manson

This course surveys the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the Reconstruction era to the present. HIST104 examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and postCold War eras. Themes addressed in this course include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

HIST 190: Writing & History (Syllabus)
by Tracey L. Billado

History 190 fulfills the College Writing 2 requirement and builds on the work of English 110 (College Writing 1), in order to teach the conventions of academic writing in the discipline of history. Special attention will be paid to problems of evidence, argument, and authority. Concentrating on one historical theme, you will consider a discrete set of primary and secondary sources and practice analyzing sources and constructing arguments in clear, correct, and formal academic prose. Sections of History 190 vary in topic from semester to semester and section to section. This iteration of the course focuses on Saga Iceland, which refers to the historical culture of medieval Iceland from c. 900-1250 C.E. In order to facilitate student research projects, we will work with materials on academic writing and the practice of history, alongside the materials of history as a discipline: primary and secondary sources from/about the selected culture.

History 212: Europe in the Middle Ages (Syllabus)
by Tracey L. Billado

This course explores European history from the end of ancient times through the late Middle Ages. It then looks at what that history has meant and means for the modern world. In the first part of the course, we will read some original texts from medieval Europe and look at what modern scholars have to say about medieval Europe. These readings will give students a chance not only to learn about but also to take part in the creation of knowledge about medieval Europe. In the second part of the course, we will look at how everyday people from different times and places—even today—have created their own versions of the Middle Ages. We will examine what those versions of the Middle Ages can show us about what those people cared about, wanted, or were worried about.

Ireland Since 1690 (Syllabus)
by Stephen F. Haller PhD

The goal of this course is to provide students with an overview of Ireland from the end of
the 17th century to the present. We will examine the major scholarly debates about
Ireland, its connection to England, and the different eras of Irish history. Topics will
include the development of Ireland as a colony, to demands for Catholic emancipation,
the Famine and through the twentieth century with Independence and the Troubles.
Attention will be paid to the revitalization of Irish culture and its diasporic roots. We will
study the ways the Republic of Ireland emerged as a member of the European Union and
the controversy over Brexit in the 21st century. By the end of the semester, students will
be able to discuss the key aspects of Irish history, as well as place Ireland into broader
geopolitical and international contexts.

Philosophy

PHIL 225: Philosophy of Natural Sciences (Syllabus)
by Ryan J. O’Loughlin

This course explores the philosophy of science via a consideration of Indigenous ways of knowing. We begin by covering some major topics in philosophy of science—e.g., how to distinguish between science and pseudoscience, whether social and ethical values play a role in science, and others—and then we turn to the rich, place-based epistemologies of various Indigenous communities, examining how their worldviews, practices, and values offer unique perspectives on environmental stewardship, sustainability, and resilience.

Political Science

PSCI 102: Political Controversies: Democracy, Politics, and Freedom
by Antonia Cucchiara

This course aims to provide students with an introduction to the analysis of political controversies stemming from issues related to freedom and democracy in America today. Students will first engage with questions central to the understanding of the concepts above, such as: What is freedom? What is the relationship between freedom and democracy? How have thinkers, from the ancient to modern era, defined freedom? How can we compare and contrast the varied definitions of freedom put forward by thinkers across time? Students will then apply the theories of freedom and democracies to analyze a series of case studies from the current moment. Students will thereby be able to think critically about the concepts of freedom and democracy related to political controversies that are animating popular discourse today.

PSCI 246: Social Movements and Political Power (Syllabus)
by Antonia Cucchiara

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of social movements, in terms of defining social movements vis-à-vis other political phenomena. Students will engage with the main theoretical approaches in the field to address questions of causality central to the study of social movements, such as: Why do movements emerge? How are movements maintained and grown? What conditions contribute to the success, failure, or transformation of movements? What is the impact of a movement on the local, national and/or global level? How is political power shaped by movement activity? What constitutes favorable movement outcomes? Students will evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses of the main theoretical approaches in understanding and explaining historical, contemporary, and emergent movements.

PSCI 258: Asia in World Politics (Syllabus)
by Muhammad Kabir

The continent of Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. The continent also hosts some of the oldest interstate conflicts, ranging from disputed borders to nuclear proliferation. This course examines the sources of insecurity and conflict in Asia. The course focuses on several interstate and regional conflicts: the Kashmir Conflict between India and Pakistan, nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula, the South China dispute, and the China-Taiwan relations. Although some of these disputes remain latent as of now, they have the potential to turn into outright regional wars with catastrophic consequences for the region and potentially for international peace and security. North Korea’s nuclear and long-range missile development, China’s opposition to Taiwan’s pursuit of independence, the dispute between China and regional states over the sovereignty of the South China Sea, and Pakistan’s longstanding dispute with India are major concerns not just for the regional states but also for the United States and other global powers. Students will study a variety of different approaches, including theoretical debates about security, the confluence of domestic and international politics, and the role of political, economic, and military factors in shaping conflict and cooperation in Asia.

PSCI 382W: Seminar in Law and Politics: Social Movements and the Courts (Syllabus)
by Antonia Cucchiara

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between social movements and the courts. Students will engage with questions central to this research area within social movement studies, such as: Why do some movements turn to the law, while others avoid litigation? Can judicial avenues be a facilitating or limiting means to the realization of movement demands? Is the turn to the law an effective strategy in bringing about movement success? Students will evaluate the respective strengths and weaknesses of the debates currently animating this area of scholarly inquiry. Student will apply theory to practice in analyzing the effectiveness of litigation in shaping favorable movement outcomes of a social movement vis-à-vis a research paper.

School of Information Studies

Foundations of a School Library Media Specialist Program
by Ashley Hawkins, Jess deCourcy Hinds, and Arlene Laverde

At the Queens College, City University of New York, we three adjunct instructors and working school librarians noticed that there was no OER version of a school library media textbook. Our program didn’t have a unified curriculum used across the department for future school librarians. So we joined forces to consolidate our resources and articles into one textbook that we will continue expanding and updating.

LBSCI 700 (INFO 7001): The Technology of Information (Syllabus)
by Brandon K. Jeffries

This course will introduce the student to the conceptual and practical elements of visual and computer literacy for the library and information science profession. Particular attention will be paid to the place and role of libraries and information centers. A laboratory session following each class will give students the opportunity to apply some of the concepts learned in class.

LBSCI 701 (INFO 7001): Fundamentals of Library and Information Science (Syllabus)
by S. E. Hackney

You are entering the library and information profession at a time when the entire nature ofwhat we do, and how we do it, is undergoing significant change as the pace of the so-called“age of information” continues at an astounding rate. Librarians and informationspecialists are not unaccustomed to change and/or innovation; they have always been thehallmarks of our profession. This course is designed to serve as a broad introduction to the field of Library and Information Science, to give you a general idea of the history, norms, prevailing trends, and future directions of the field and the professions associated with it. This includes ‘traditional’ librarianship, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions, as well professions in the information, data, and technology sectors. This course will delve into the labor that the people in these professions do, and introduce some of the skills and knowledge needed to do that work.

LBSCI 702 (INFO 7002): Information Sources and Service: General (Syllabus)
by Nafiz Z. Shuva

This introductory course offers students an opportunity to develop basic familiarity with reference sources; information, data, and tools – their content and context, how to locate and acquire them, and how they are used in libraries and other information-intensive settings. The course also covers issues relating to reference services; including customer service, the reference interview, ethical delivery of services, varying service modalities, and service in an evolving multicultural information society.

LBSCI 723: Advanced Subject Cataloging and Classification (Syllabus)
by Shuheng Wu

This course introduces knowledge organization systems in libraries, museums, archives, bibliographic databases, and information centers. Foci will be on subject analysis and classification of different types of information resources. There are two main emphases. The first is providing information resources with subject information through a subject heading list and classification systems. The second is applying different knowledge organization systems to represent various types of information resources. Practical exercises in the areas of subject analysis and classification will be given.

LBSCI 730 (INFO 7401): Archival Appraisal, Arrangement, and Access (Syllabus)
by Caitlin Colban-Waldron

LBSCI 730: Archival Appraisal, Arrangement, and Access is the first course in the core sequence for the Advanced Certificate in Archives and Preservation of Cultural Materials at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. The key principles of this course represent the hierarchy of archival practice: access to archives is dependent on the description of archives, which in turn is dependent on the arrangement of archives. This OER and companion site is both a course tool and an evergreen hub for resources. Students can return to it at any time to revisit readings, check resources, and develop their own practice.

LBSCI 730 (INFO 7401): Archival Appraisal, Arrangement, and Access (Companion Site)
by Caitlin Colban-Waldron

INFO 7401: Archival Appraisal, Arrangement, and Access is the first course in the core sequence for the Advanced Certificate in Archives at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. This site is both a course tool and an evergreen hub for resources. You can return to it at any time as you start your careers in the archives and cultural heritage fields to revisit readings, check resources, and develop your own practice. The site will be updated at the start of every semester with a new syllabus and course schedule; old syllabi, course materials, and schedules will be archived as posts. New resources are updated regularly as needed.

LBSCI 790.3 (INFO 7903): Digital Humanities (Syllabus)
by S. E. Hackney

This course examines the history, methods, tools, and scholarly practices of teaching and research in the digital humanities (DH), including ways in which the library can engage with, enhance, and support those activities. The course will focus on digital humanities as a burgeoning field in its own right, as well as the development of digital methods in specific disciplines within the humanities. Students will consider their role as information professionals in the creation, cleaning, storage, and dissemination of digital humanities datasets and research projects, as well as gain hands-on experience with some of the tools and methods used in these activities.

Sociology

DATA 334: Applied Research (Syllabus)
by Holly E. Reed

This syllabus is for a one semester, upper-level (300-level) undergraduate course in applied sociological research. It focuses on the importance of research, research ethics, research design and methods, and the presentation and dissemination of research, as well as the application of research skills in everyday life.

SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology (Syllabus)
by Kristine Rosales

SOC 101. General Introduction to Sociology. 3 hr.; 3 cr. An introduction to the basic concepts, theories, methods, and findings of sociology that help describe and explain the sociopolitical, socioeconomic, cultural, and organizational structures of society.

SOC 331: Foundations of Sociological Theory (Syllabus)
by Anahi Viladrich

This is an online course intended to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of sociological theory. Through history, and across different disciplines, scientists have attempted to formulate explanations (paradigms and theories) that allow them to make sense of the social world around them. Sociological theories, similar to the ones used in other scientific disciplines, aim to identify patterns, forces, and power relations in order to interpret the past and present as well as to predict the future. In fact, we constantly construct and use theories in our everyday lives—from trying to make sense of group-leadership patterns and consumer choices in cars, to understanding the rising global popularity of opiates among youth, gender differences in homeless populations, and racial disparities in educational outcomes in the United States.