Integrated Studies is a pioneering program in liberal arts education, designed to explore an era or aspect of world civilization from the perspective of several disciplines. The program is supported by two grants from the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation of New York. The Integrated Studies semester provides an opportunity for students to learn about a subject in depth and to make broad connections between disciplines that will help reveal the essential unity of human knowledge and experience.

Clusters of courses from several disciplines are offered for first-year students and for advanced students. First-year students who elect to take one of the integrated studies clusters will enroll in all courses listed in that cluster and will receive credit toward the appropriate area requirements. The courses, which have no prerequisites, are described below and cross-listed in their respective departmental sections of this catalogue. Each course is offered for four credit hours. Enrollment in each first-year cluster is limited to 20 students.

Advanced clusters typically involve two integrated courses from different departments or programs and are aimed at juniors and seniors, majors and minors (although they are usually open to other students as well). Students may elect to take either course in an advanced cluster or both. Students taking both courses can expect to do a substantial independent project in addition to the work of the courses. Advanced cluster course descriptions will be found in the relevant department or program section and are cross-listed below.

In 1999-2000 the program will offer three first-year clusters and two advanced clusters.

First-year clusters scheduled for fall 1999
The Post-War World: 1945-1970

EN 136f Literature in the Post-War Era, 1945-70 A writing course focusing on issues raised in some of the more controversial works of the period, such as Beckett's Endgame, Kerouac's On the Road, Olsen's Yonnondio, Plath's The Bell Jar, and the drama of Baraka. Fulfills the College's English composition requirement (English 115). Also listed under "English." Four credit hours. MR. SWENEY

PL 136f Philosophy in the Post-War Era, 1945-70 An introductory, interdisciplinary survey of philosophy using themes from the post-war period: 1945-70. Topics to be studied include the meaning of life, the intellectual foundations of religion, scientific "truth," war and pacifism, social justice, civil disobedience, and free speech. Readings from authors such as Camus, Sartre, King, Rawls, Kuhn, and Rand. Also listed under "Philosophy." Four credit hours. S. MR. MCARTHUR

First-year clusters scheduled for spring 2000:
Gender, Sex, and Love in the Social and Literary Imagination

EN 178s Love, Literature, and Imagination An introduction to fiction, poetry, and drama as both literary art and creative craft, focusing on the common themes of romantic love and sexuality. Emphasis on close reading and careful critical writing; students write and develop an original short story. Authors, texts, and films may include Seuss's The Cat in the Hat, The Wizard of Oz, Keats's odes, a Harlequin Romance, Baker's Vox, Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "Burnt Norton," Arnold's "Dover Beach," Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," Shelley's Frankenstein, sonnets of Shakespeare, Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire, Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," O'Brien's Going After Cacciato, poems by Lucille Clifton and W.B. Yeats, and fiction by Salinger, Moore, Calvino, Joyce, and others. Also listed under "English." Four credit hours. L. MR. BOYLAN

PL 178s Thinking Sex A focus on the conceptual frameworks for thinking about sex and sexual orientation that have recently been developed within feminist theory and gay and lesbian studies. The debate over whether sex and sexual orientation are socially constructed, the conceptual connection between lesbianism and feminism, harmful constructions of sexuality, the legal arguments for same-sex marriage, and the concept of romantic love. Also listed under "Philosophy." Four credit hours. S, D. MS. CALHOUN

SO 178s The Gender of Sexuality An investigation of the dominant perspectives of sexuality and the various contemporary debates surrounding sexual identities and behaviors, drawing on sociological analyses and recent developments, especially feminist thought and social constructionism. The relationships between biology and social processes and gender and sexuality are emphasized. Sexual behaviors, sexual mores, and the regulation of sexuality are explored and situated within the sociocultural context. Also listed under "Sociology." Four credit hours. S, D. MS. ARENDELL

It's Not Easy Being Green: Environmental Literature, Philosophy, and Politics

EN 126s (Composition) A course that seeks to develop an understanding of environmental literature--literature that addresses environment and place and the relations between the human and non-human, both directly (in nonfiction and natural history) and indirectly (in works of poetry or prose)--and a sense of the historical context for the shifts in literary attitudes toward environment. Texts from British Romantics, American Transcendentalists, natural historians, and modern poetry and prose include such authors as William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Thoreau, Muir, Mary Austin, Hemingway, Faulkner, Cather, Aldo Leopold, Donald Culross Peattie, Robinson Jeffers, Gary Snyder, Mary Oliver, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard, and Barry Lopez. Also listed under "English." Fulfills the College's composition requirement (English 115). Four credit hours. MR. BURKE

GO 126s The Politics of the Environment An introduction to the types of political issues that arise in efforts to protect the natural environment. Who decides how environmental regulations will be constructed, and how well does that process work? How should decisions be made under conditions of uncertainty? What is the relationship between the environment and conflict? Readings on issues in domestic, comparative, and international environmental politics, and case studies of current issues in environmental politics. Also listed under "Government."Four credit hours. S. MS. DESOMBRE

PL 126s Philosophy and the Environment Application of philosophical ideas to pressing questions about the environment. Does it make sense to talk about moral obligations to nature? Does an ecosystem have rights? Preserve biodiversity or refrain from polluting--are these obligations to future generations? Traditional theories and case studies. Also listed under "Philosophy." Four credit hours. S. MR. KASSER

Advanced clusters scheduled for fall 1999 (see relevant department/program sections for descriptions)
Philosophy in Modern American Culture

AM 493f Seminar: Ethical Issues in American Culture Described under "American Studies." Prerequisite: Senior standing as American studies major. Four credit hours. MR. BASSETT

PL 493f Seminar: Public Philosophy in America, 1950-2000 Described under "Philosophy." Four credit hours. MR. MCARTHUR

Advanced clusters scheduled for spring 2000

Culture and Deviance

AM 334s Film and Society Described under "American Studies." Four credit hours. INSTRUCTOR

SO 334s Social Deviance Described under "Sociology." Prerequisite: Sociology 131 or permission of the instructor. Four credit hours. MR. MORRIONE