2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Special Lecture: American studies
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Sanae Akaba
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S115
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2024
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this class, students will learn about race, racial issues, and systemic/institutional racism impacted by the white supremacy ideology that have been frequently discussed in the United States (U.S.) today.
This class aims to help students gain knowledge and ideas of the functionlity of white supremacy and systemic racism in the U.S. and to become able to apply them to act against and dismantle systemic discrimination in the U.S., Japan, and elsewhere in the world.
Course description and aims
1. Obtain foundational knowledge of social issues in the U.S., especially race and systemic racism.
2. Learn about the functionality of white supremacy in the U.S. society and elsewhere in the world.
3. Apply the understanding of racism and white supremacy to various social issues in the U.S., Japan, and elsewhere in the world.
Keywords
Race, culture, racism, systemic/institutional racism, white supremacy
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In each class, the instructor will provide a lecture on the topic and facilitate a brief topic-based group discussion. Students are expected to submit a reflection paper weekly.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation Single story: Stereotypes | We will cover course objectives, class expectations and agreements. Students will learn about stereotypes. |
| Class 2 | Race & racial identity | Students will learn about race and racial identity in the U.S. |
| Class 3 | Systemic racism (housing) | Students will learn about systemic racism in the U.S. through a historical lens. |
| Class 4 | Systemic racism (education) Affirmative action | Students will learn about systemic racism in the U.S. through a historical lens. |
| Class 5 | Systemic racism (medicine, immigration) | Students will learn about systemic racism in the U.S. through a historical lens. |
| Class 6 | Culture (Entertainment, sports, culinary, etc) Action plans | Students will learn about cultural diversity in the U.S. and discuss action plans for social and racial justice. |
| Class 7 | Review and final examination | Review |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials are provided as needed in class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Reflection paper, class participation : 10%x5 = 50%
Final paper: 50%
Related courses
- LAH.S444 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences52:American studies
Prerequisites
N/A