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	Courses
Home Identity Construction Political Economy Orientalism Language Borders Religion Annotated Bibliography	back to proposal The Arab World The Middle East has been plagued with factional violence, political instability, and social inequalities, often as a direct result of the colonial situation. This course introduced to me the colonial discussion underlining the severity of colonial influence on present situations in the Arab World. We asked questions about the identities forged under colonialism, and the fight to break those acquired norms in the formation of Arab Nationalism and independence movements. This course awakened questions digging deeper into the history and influence of colonialism on the violence and inequality of today in the Arab World. History of South Africa This course exposed the interactions between the two colonial roles as well as amongst the colonized themselves. We explored the divisions between ethnic groups that colonizers find when they enter a land, which they exploit to gain power. I gained an idea of this divisive method colonizers employ in establishing and maintaining their control through early colonial history until the relatively recent separatism of Apartheid. History of Modern France It is so easy to study Colonialism just through the experiences of the colonized, but that leaves out an entire segment of the relationship. Studying the movements alive in France since the French Revolution offers a perspective of the reasons and rationale for colonizing. This class will enable me to understand the ability for the French to legitimize their role over the colonized, and the social reaction within France to their empire. I will gain an ability to recognize the reasons and roles of the two players in the colonial situation, realizing that our world is never defined so easily as the “good” and the “bad.” Le Maghreb Through literature produced in the language of the colonizer by the colonized, this course deals with questions of identity and inequality in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. By reading authors writing in French, the question of language as a form of identity emerges. Language demonstrates one of the fundamental tools colonizers use over indigenous populations in order to expand their control. This class incites questions of the insidious nature in the formation of identities in the colonial relationship, identifying how not only the colonized, but the colonials are shaped by this experience. British Colonial India (Independent Study) In this independent study, I will study the social roles produced by the interactions of the colonial powers and the indigenous people. Focusing around the development of the modern idea of the Indian caste system, the colonial ideology of creating power structures will play an important role in the study. I will then put this study in the context of modern-day India, researching how these interactions have remained a distinct part of Indian culture. This study will provide me with a solid base to commence the research project in India. CIEE Dakar, Senegal Impossible to sum up in a paragraph, this experience abroad created a thirst for more knowledge to understand the conditions I was living in. The experience of living in a former French colony, and experiencing the French systems and culture that still exist in Dakar, I realized that characterizing a colonized population as strictly victims of colonialism leads to a half-truth. Not only does this approach lack the benefits emerging from colonialism, but it also ends up in the dehumanization of that population. The program included classes on contemporary Senegalese culture, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and Wolof and French language, and an internship with a West African human rights organization. ACM India Just as my experience in Senegal provoked thoughts surrounding colonialism that I could not expect beforehand, I can not know how my ideas will change as I study in India. Nevertheless, I intend to research the implications of the construction of the colonial power structure through the segmentation of the society, embellishing the caste system. I hope to learn about the implications of the system through conversations with the Indian people I will be surrounded by, but I also plan on making use of government documents and other materials that I will have greater access to. Global Interdependence Living in the 21st Century, Americans are aware that our world is becoming smaller, but this class raises questions about how globalization is happening and who it is affecting. Learning different histories of the world, from a non-Western perspective, the class begins the semester questioning our version of reality, continuing through study of the creation and continuation of our capitalist culture. This class discusses the modern interactions of the nations in the core with those on the periphery, focusing on certain key factors in the creation of American culture in a global context. Targeting specific contexts that shape our global system provides words with which to voice the resulting inequalities between the core and the periphery. By questioning our realities, this class sustains my search for a global education; one that considers interactions of nations beyond the core of the rich. Quantitative Research Methods This class offers the skills necessary to critically evaluate and conduct quantitative research. By conceptualizing and carrying out a research project, I will learn firsthand about research design, sampling techniques, strategies for data collection and approaches to analysis. These quantitative research methods offer a base of knowledge in conducting a research study which I can later apply to my project in India. Ethnographic Research Methods First discussing theoretical approaches to ethnography and learning data collection methods; I will develop the tools to create my own research. My research will give me experience in interpreting field notes, doing analysis and writing an ethnographic interpretation of research findings. These tools will allow me to apply the ideas I gain from the case study courses to carry out research and learn the truths I seek. ACM Research Project, India Through study of social structures and ideas surrounding me in India, I will create a project based on the segmentation of the society. I plan on involving the Colonial history I will have attained through my independent study into the modern social context of Pune, India. My work in India will lead into my senior project.
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Courses

The Arab World

The Middle East has been plagued with factional violence, political instability, and social inequalities, often as a direct result of the colonial situation. This course introduced to me the colonial discussion underlining the severity of colonial influence on present situations in the Arab World. We asked questions about the identities forged under colonialism, and the fight to break those acquired norms in the formation of Arab Nationalism and independence movements. This course awakened questions digging deeper into the history and influence of colonialism on the violence and inequality of today in the Arab World.

History of South Africa

This course exposed the interactions between the two colonial roles as well as amongst the colonized themselves. We explored the divisions between ethnic groups that colonizers find when they enter a land, which they exploit to gain power. I gained an idea of this divisive method colonizers employ in establishing and maintaining their control through early colonial history until the relatively recent separatism of Apartheid.

History of Modern France

It is so easy to study Colonialism just through the experiences of the colonized, but that leaves out an entire segment of the relationship. Studying the movements alive in France since the French Revolution offers a perspective of the reasons and rationale for colonizing. This class will enable me to understand the ability for the French to legitimize their role over the colonized, and the social reaction within France to their empire. I will gain an ability to recognize the reasons and roles of the two players in the colonial situation, realizing that our world is never defined so easily as the “good” and the “bad.”

Le Maghreb

Through literature produced in the language of the colonizer by the colonized, this course deals with questions of identity and inequality in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. By reading authors writing in French, the question of language as a form of identity emerges. Language demonstrates one of the fundamental tools colonizers use over indigenous populations in order to expand their control. This class incites questions of the insidious nature in the formation of identities in the colonial relationship, identifying how not only the colonized, but the colonials are shaped by this experience.

British Colonial India (Independent Study)

In this independent study, I will study the social roles produced by the interactions of the colonial powers and the indigenous people. Focusing around the development of the modern idea of the Indian caste system, the colonial ideology of creating power structures will play an important role in the study. I will then put this study in the context of modern-day India, researching how these interactions have remained a distinct part of Indian culture. This study will provide me with a solid base to commence the research project in India.

CIEE Dakar, Senegal

Impossible to sum up in a paragraph, this experience abroad created a thirst for more knowledge to understand the conditions I was living in. The experience of living in a former French colony, and experiencing the French systems and culture that still exist in Dakar, I realized that characterizing a colonized population as strictly victims of colonialism leads to a half-truth. Not only does this approach lack the benefits emerging from colonialism, but it also ends up in the dehumanization of that population. The program included classes on contemporary Senegalese culture, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and Wolof and French language, and an internship with a West African human rights organization.

ACM India

Just as my experience in Senegal provoked thoughts surrounding colonialism that I could not expect beforehand, I can not know how my ideas will change as I study in India. Nevertheless, I intend to research the implications of the construction of the colonial power structure through the segmentation of the society, embellishing the caste system. I hope to learn about the implications of the system through conversations with the Indian people I will be surrounded by, but I also plan on making use of government documents and other materials that I will have greater access to.

Global Interdependence

Living in the 21st Century, Americans are aware that our world is becoming smaller, but this class raises questions about how globalization is happening and who it is affecting. Learning different histories of the world, from a non-Western perspective, the class begins the semester questioning our version of reality, continuing through study of the creation and continuation of our capitalist culture. This class discusses the modern interactions of the nations in the core with those on the periphery, focusing on certain key factors in the creation of American culture in a global context. Targeting specific contexts that shape our global system provides words with which to voice the resulting inequalities between the core and the periphery. By questioning our realities, this class sustains my search for a global education; one that considers interactions of nations beyond the core of the rich.

Quantitative Research Methods

This class offers the skills necessary to critically evaluate and conduct quantitative research. By conceptualizing and carrying out a research project, I will learn firsthand about research design, sampling techniques, strategies for data collection and approaches to analysis. These quantitative research methods offer a base of knowledge in conducting a research study which I can later apply to my project in India.

Ethnographic Research Methods

First discussing theoretical approaches to ethnography and learning data collection methods; I will develop the tools to create my own research. My research will give me experience in interpreting field notes, doing analysis and writing an ethnographic interpretation of research findings. These tools will allow me to apply the ideas I gain from the case study courses to carry out research and learn the truths I seek.

ACM Research Project, India

Through study of social structures and ideas surrounding me in India, I will create a project based on the segmentation of the society. I plan on involving the Colonial history I will have attained through my independent study into the modern social context of Pune, India. My work in India will lead into my senior project.

home CIS website