COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Bob Hassenger
Subject: Overview
Gain an understanding of some of the principal variables affecting social change, with a focus on the individual and the community.
Although this course presumes, not only a familiarity with the basic approach of the social scientist, but a personal interest in the processes of social change, and the reciprocal effects of the individual and society, it is not a social science course, in the contemporary sense of the term. Data are used, particularly inthe Barber book, but the perspective is more that of what is called, in Europe, political economy. It is not value-free--although we shall try to engage the authors' positions, and not necessarily agree with them. We want to emphasize the critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application.
Our focus is really “modern”—that is—post World World II—society. An abiding theme is the meaning of community, and how this has changed in the lifetimes of many of us. We want to think about these changes—and those likely to come. We will perhaps decide, by the end of the course, that some of these changes have been “good,” and some “not so good.” We want to be able to evaluate some of the tradeoffs that we have made, what we have “gained,” and what we have “lost.”
Note: This writing and research course requires ready access to library resources, in person and/or through the Internet.
4 Credits, advanced level course
At least one college-level social science (including History) course, or--with instructor permission--the equivalent. More importantly, the ability to do upper-level college work.
| Knowledge or Skills Needed |
Writing and internet and/or library research skills.
We begin with a book, The Lost City, that describes Chicago during the post World War II years, to serve as a kind of baseline for modern social change in the United States. It is not a description of an idealized world that has been lost; nor of a tightly-buttoned life that we are happy to be free from. Or, at least, it is not intended to be either, here. There are dimensions of community that have been lost; there are dimensions of individual freedom that have been won. We want to be able to look at these, and develop our own criteria for understanding the processes of social change, not according to the definitions of a textbooks, but as manifested in the lived lives of our grandparents, parents, and even some of the older members of this course.
The second book, Habits of the Heart, further examines what it means to be an individual in society, and the demands of meaningful citizenship.
In Jihad vs. McWorld, we look at the contending forces of globalization and tribalism within the modern world, inquire into what it would take to make a "global community," and consider what the demands on its citizens would be.
Please be prepared to spend approximately 12 to 15 hours per week (reading, research, discussions, writing) over the next 15 weeks to complete this course. I think you will find this course interesting, challenging and thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of you and working with you this term.
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