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This course is presented in Mandarin.

《世界文化地理》是介绍世界文化地理的格局、形成、发展过程，培养学 生用地理学的眼光去观察和分析世界上文化现象的发生、发展与空间分布特点。 《世界文化地理》是北京大学最受本科生同学欢迎的通选课之一。课程内容信息量很大，包罗万象，把世界地理同世界历史、文化、艺术等融合在一起。任课教师带 领学生用地理空间的观点、时间变化的角度，去观察和分析世界上的文化现象。课程内容兼具科学性和趣味性，每年吸引了大量学生选课。  《世界文化地理》具体内容包括：世界文化地理的基本研究方法，世界文化区的划分，世界人口分布与人口迁移，农业的起源、传播与区域差异，城市的起源与扩 散，城市形态的区域差异与特点，世界主要语言、宗教、人种的空间分布及其相互关系，地理大发现与世界殖民体系的形成，世界地缘政治与世界地理系统的空间结 构特点，全球经济议题化、城市化现象及其伴随的政治、经济、社会问题，等等。  《世界文化地理》的授课内容兼及自然地理和文化地理两大方面，课程综合吸收国内外相关的最新教材和研究论著的内容，采取地图、照片、图表等表现形式，力图 生动浅显地展示世界文化地理格局的基本空间差异和变化过程，注意专题介绍与综合分析相结合，空间差异分析与世界变化分析相结合，重视培养大学生的两种能 力：运用地理学的、空间的眼光来观察、分析世界上文化现象的能力和从时间的角度来看待世界上文化现象发展变化过程的能力。  课程有期中和期末两次考试，最终有期末成绩。

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Cultural Geography of the World is one of the most popular undergraduate courses at Peking University. It is an inclusive, general introductory course, combining natural and cultural geography with history and art. Through the lens of humanism and independent thinking, learners will be encouraged to observe and analyze cultural phenomena from spatial and time perspectives. This course has 12 chapters: The basic research method of world cultural geography; The division of world culture areas; The world's population distribution and migration of population; Origin of agriculture; Diffusion and regional differences; The origin and spread of the city; Regional differences and characteristics of urban morphology; The spatial distribution of the major languages, religions, ethnicities in the world and their relationship; The great geographical discovery and the formation of the world colonial system; World geopolitics and the spatial structures of the world geography system; Global economic integration; Urbanization and its political, economic, social impacts. Using relevant domestic and foreign textbooks, publications, maps, photos, and charts to show the difference and the changing progress of spatial patterns of the cultures, learners will be asked to observe and analyze cultural phenomena with geographic and spatial vision and to consider the development and changing process of the cultural phenomena in light of time sequence. The course will include a midterm and final exam.

The course is one of the PKU-DeTao MOOCs, which is a joint effort by Peking University and DeTao Masters Academy.

Course in French with English subtitles -- Ce cours introduit à la vie et à la pensée du réformateur Jean Calvin (1509-1564) ainsi qu’à son influence sur le monde moderne et contemporain. La démarche proposée se veut critique, il ne s’agit ni de canoniser ni de condamner Calvin, mais de comprendre sa pensée avec toute la distance requise et d’en analyser les enjeux. -- This course is an introduction to the life and thought of the reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) and to his influence on the modern and contemporary world. The approach we develop is critical: we intend neither to canonize nor to condemn Calvin or his thought. Our goal, rather, is to avoid any rash evaluation in order to understand his thought and analyze the issues at stake in it.

This course is presented in both English and Hindi. Videos will feature Hindi subtitles.

This course offers an overview of contemporary India and explores its role as one of the dominant economic and military powers of Asia. We begin with a discussion on India as a multilingual society.  The entire course will be available in both English and Hindi.

The central focus of the course is an examination of contemporary issues in India. This includes perspectives on how Indian culture and language are being affected by the boom in technology; sections on politics and nationalism; economics and the implications of recent moves toward liberalisation of the economy; and security, international relations, and regionalism. In addition, we will examine India’s role in South Asian politics and current issues relating to its regional neighbours in Asia. The aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive and wide-ranging overview of India in order that they may better understand its role in the world.

यह पाठ्यक्रम हमें आधुनिक भारत के बारे में एक संक्षिप्त विवरण देता है। और उसके साथ यह भी दर्शाता है कि किस तरह से भारत आज एशिया का एक प्रभावशाली आर्थिक और सैन्य सत्ता बन गया है। इस पाठ्यक्रम की शुरुआत हम भारत के बहुभाषी समाज पर चर्चा से करेंगे।   

यह पाठ्यक्रम हिन्दी और अंग्रेज़ी दोनों भाषाओं में उपलब्ध होगा।

इस पाठ्यक्रम का केंद्र बिन्दू भारत के समकालीन मुद्दों का विश्लेषण करना है। इस में भिन्न-भिन्न दृष्टिकोणों से विचार प्रस्तुत किये जायेंगे कि भारतीय संस्कृतियाँ और भाषाएँ किस तरह से टेक्नोलोजी में आई तेज़ी से प्रभावित हुईं हैं। इसके अलावा हम इन विषयों के बारे में बातचीत करेंगे: राजनीति और राष्ट्रवाद, अर्थशास्त्र और अर्थव्यवस्था के उदारीकरण से हुये परिवर्तन का असर, सुरक्षा, भारत की विदेश नीति और क्षेत्रवाद। इन सब के साथ हम यह भी देखेंगे कि दक्षिण एशिया की राजनीति में भारत ने क्या भूमिका निभाई है और उसके पड़ोसी देशों के संबंध में विचार करेंगे। इस पाठ्यक्रम का उद्देश्य है विद्यार्थियों को भारत के बारे में विस्तृत जानकारी देना ताकि वे ज़्यादा अच्छी तरह से भारत और विश्व में भारत की भूमिका को समझ सकें।

Humans have been making art for tens of thousands of years, long before there was writing. Why was Egyptian art obsessed with death? Why did the ancient Greeks seek the perfect human form? How did the ancient Romans use art as state propaganda? Why was the naturalism of ancient Greek and Roman art abandoned with the rise of Christianity? This topic explores the art of the ancient world, from the Venus of Willendorf to a 6th-Century Chinese Bodhisattva. Prehistoric Art: Paleolithic Origins. Nude Woman (Venus of Willendorf). The Neolithic Revolution. Jade Cong. Prehistory: Proto-writing. Prehistoric Art Quiz. Introduction. Ancient History: The Alphabet. Sumerian Art: Standard of Ur. Sumerian Art: Great Lyre from the "King's Grave" at Ur. Akkadian Art: Victory Stele of Naram-Sin. Babylonian Art: Law Code Stele of King Hammurabi. Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions (Assyrian). Assyrian Art: Human Headed Winged Lion and Bull (Lamassu). Neo-Babylonian Art: Ishtar Gate and Processional Way. Ancient Near Eastern Art. Introduction. Egyptian Art. Materials & Techniques. Ancient Near Eastern & Ancient Egyptian Art. Old Kingdom: Seated Scribe. New Kingdom: House Altar with Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Three Daughters. Portrait Head of Queen Tiye with a Crown of Two Feathers. New Kingdom: Thutmose's Bust of Nefertiti. Judgement in the Presence of Osiris, Hunefer's Book of the Dead. New Kingdom: Ramesses II. Ptolemaic: Rosetta Stone. Ancient Egypt. Ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient Greek and Roman Art. Geometric: Terracotta Krater. Archaic: Exekias, Attic black figure amphora with Ajax and Achilles playing a game. Archaic: Exekias, Dionysos Kylix, c. 530 B.C.E.. Archaic: Mixing Vessel with Odysseus Escaping from the Cyclops's Cave. Archaic: New York Kouros. The Classical Orders. Archaic and Early Classical: Ancient Greek Temples at Paestum, Italy. Archaic and Early Classical: East and West Pediments, Temple of Aphaia, Aegina. Early Classical: Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer). Classical: Myron, Discobolus (Discus Thrower), Roman copy of an ancient Greek bronze. Classical: Parthenon Frieze. Classical: Sculpture from the Parthenon's East Pediment. Classical: Parthenon Metopes. Classical: Caryatid and Column from the Erechtheion. Late Classical: Lysippos, Farnese Hercules, 4th century B.C.E. (later Roman copy by Glycon). Late Classical: Lysippos, Apoxyomenos (Scraper), c. 330 B.C.E. (Roman copy). Late Classical: After Praxiteles, Venus (Roman Copy). Hellenistic: Barberini Faun. Hellenistic: Dying Gaul. Hellenistic: Nike of Samothrace. Hellenistic: The Pergamon Altar. Hellenistic: Apollonius, Boxer at Rest. Hellenistic: Alexander Mosaic. Hellenistic: Laoco

Terrorism has gone from a persistent yet marginal security concern to one of the most important security problems of our day. There are few countries that do not suffer from some form of terrorism. Though many attempts at terrorism fail, some groups wage lengthy and bloody campaigns and, in exceptional cases, kill hundreds or even thousands in pursuit of their ends.

This course on terrorism will explore the nuances involved in defining terrorism, the nature of Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other important groups, the effectiveness of different counterterrorism tools, terrorist recruiting, counterterrorism and the rule of law, the political context in the Middle East, and the terrorist use of technology.

For those interested in a more extended version of the course, the full 7-section course Terrorism and Counterterrorism is available here.

This self-paced course is designed to show that ethical theories can help provide frameworks for moral judgment and decision-making in the wake of recent scientific, technological, and social developments which have resulted in rapid changes in the biological sciences and in health care. This course also presents the academic foundations and historical development of multicultural moral decision-making and helps the student to develop their ability to interrelate reflectively, responsibly, and respectfully with a society of increasing intercultural connections. As grammar first describes how language is used, and then is in a position to prescribe how language ought to be used, is very similar to the approach taken in this course. This course first describes how people do in fact approach moral decision-making, and then is in a position to prescribe how multicultural and intercultural moral decision-making ought to made. Some of the topics to be covered are: Institutional Review Boards (IRB), Moral Development, Kant, Mill, Rawls, Informed Consent, Competency, Information Disclosure, Research on Human subjects, Principlism, and Food Systems. Required materials: Bioethics: Moral Philosophy, by Jeffrey W. Bulger, published by Plato

The letters of Paul are the earliest texts in the Christian scriptures, written by a Jew at a time when the word “Christian” hadn’t yet been coined. What is the religious and political context into which they emerged? How were they first interpreted? How and why do they make such an enormous impact in Christian communities and in politics today?

Archaeological materials and ancient writings will help you to enter the ancient Mediterranean world and to think about religious groups, power, poverty, health, and the lives of elites and slaves in the Roman Empire. We’ll explore how immediately controversial these letters were, and how these letters are used today to debate relations between Christians and Jews; issues such as love, law, and grace; and topics such as charismatic Christianity, homosexuality, and women’s religious leadership.
 
Whether you’ve been studying Paul’s letters for years or are merely curious about what Christian scriptures are, this course will provide you with information to deepen your understanding of the ancient contexts and present-day controversies about these texts.

Before your course starts, try the new edX Demo where you can explore the fun, interactive learning environment and virtual labs. Learn more.

HarvardX requires individuals who enroll in its courses on edX to abide by the terms of the edX honor code. HarvardX will take appropriate corrective action in response to violations of the edX honor code, which may include dismissal from the HarvardX course; revocation of any certificates received for the HarvardX course; or other remedies as circumstances warrant. No refunds will be issued in the case of corrective action for such violations. Enrollees who are taking HarvardX courses as part of another program will also be governed by the academic policies of those programs.

HarvardX pursues the science of learning. By registering as an online learner in an HX course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.

Harvard University and HarvardX are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the community is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination or harassment in our program. All members of the HarvardX community are expected to abide by Harvard policies on nondiscrimination, including sexual harassment, and the edX Terms of Service. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact harvardx@harvard.edu and/or report your experience through the edX contact form.

Archaeology has as its objective the recovery and revival of humankind's past, and as its aim the rescue and preservation of cultural heritage. In this course, we will learn about the practical recovery of ancient traces in the field, the study and interpretation of artifacts, and how we can preserve these sites and objects digitally for future generations. Digital archaeology is an emerging area of study, and critically important for preserving knowledge for the future.

Are you paying attention?. Observation: Are you paying attention. Field observations with fresh eyes. Recognizing opportunity in the rain. Challenge: Observation lab. Challenge: Paying attention. Spark a revolution. Reframing problems. Using old things in new ways. The five dollar challenge. Reframing challenge. Reframing reflections. Bring in the bees. Good artists copy, great artists steal. Connect and combine. Combine and share. Connect and combine challenge. Connect and combine reflection. Are you paying attention?. Observation: Are you paying attention. Field observations with fresh eyes. Recognizing opportunity in the rain. Challenge: Observation lab. Challenge: Paying attention. Spark a revolution. Reframing problems. Using old things in new ways. The five dollar challenge. Reframing challenge. Reframing reflections. Bring in the bees. Good artists copy, great artists steal. Connect and combine. Combine and share. Connect and combine challenge. Connect and combine reflection.

Perhaps no story is as essential to get right as the history of capitalism. Nearly all of our theories about promoting progress come from how we interpret the economic changes of the last 500 years. This past decade’s crises continue to remind us just how much capitalism changes, even as its basic features—wage labor, financial markets, private property, entrepreneurs—endure. While capitalism has a global history, the United States plays a special role in that story. This course will help you to understand how the United States became the world’s leading economic power, revealing essential lessons about what has been and what will be possible in capitalism’s on-going revolution.

FAQ

Do I need to have taken economics before?
No. Though there will be discussion of economic ideas, professors will assume no prior economic training.

I am not familiar with American history, but I am interested in how capitalism works. Can I take this course?
Yes. We will have relevant links to helpful background material for each section that should make it possible for those with no knowledge of U.S. history to take the class.

Is this class about economic thought like Smith, Marx, Ricardo, Hayek, etc.?
This class is primarily about what actually happened rather than theories of what happened. While we will touch on important economic thinkers, this class will focus more on the people and institutions that developed capitalism in the United States. If you want to know how capitalism works and came about, this is the class for you.

Will certificates be awarded?
Yes. If you complete the work and achieve a passing grade in the course, you can earn a Honor Code Certificate, which indicates that you have completed the course successfully. Certificates will be issued by edX under the name of CornellX, designating the institution from which the course originated.

What will help me complete this course?
We have found that the best help you can get is other people in the real world. Enlist friends, co-workers, family, and other people to take the class with you. Ask your friends on Facebook or Twitter. Arrange a time during a lunch break or an evening to discuss the week’s videos and readings. Think of this “MOOC club” like a book club! You will get more out of the material and be much more likely to finish.

I want to read more about American Capitalism!
Professors Baptist and Hyman just wrote a course reader expressly for this MOOC (though it is also being taught at Cornell University).

Containing every reading from the MOOC, as well as additional readings from leading scholars (that could not be had for free!), this course reader provides the student with more background for every topic.

Each reading is introduced and discussed by the professors. Each reading, as well, has additional questions for the student to discuss with their friends.

Are there prerequisites?

This course is designed to be accessible for people without a strong background in U.S. history. Nevertheless, we make reference to many people, locations, events, or developments that may be unfamiliar to some students. Below are sources for additional information.

Wikipedia is a very helpful source for a quick definition or description of most of the material in this course. It can help you answer most factual questions you might have.

Digital History is a website that can serve as an online text book if you need a stronger grounding in U.S. history.

For more difficult questions, you can post a question on the discussion board where your fellow students may be able to help you.

An e-book has been designed for this class, containing all the readings and some additional essays by leading scholars in the history of capitalism, including the professors. American Capitalism: A Reader [Kindle Edition] Amazon.com.

This free five-module online introductory course gives you the essential concepts, techniques, and skills to effectively work with data and produce compelling data stories under tight deadlines. Comprised of video lectures, tutorials, assignments, readings, and discussion forums, this course is open to anyone in the world with an Internet connection who wants to tell stories with data. Our media environment is increasingly saturated with data, including large collections of leaked documents published by Wikileaks, public databases about lobbying or government spending, and “big data” from social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. As a result, many media organisations seek data-savvy journalists to help them process this information to understand what is in it, to identify what is important, and to provide insights to readers in a compelling way. Modules: 1. Data journalism in the newsroom, with instructor Simon Rogers 2. Finding data to support stories, with instructor Paul Bradshaw 3. Finding story ideas with data analysis, with instructor Steve Doig 4. Dealing with messy data, with instructor Nicolas Kayser-Bril 5. Telling stories with visualization, with instructor Alberto Cairo Meet the instructors: Recommended reading: The Data Journalism Handbook Sponsors: Google; Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands; African Media Initiative; The World Bank Advisory board: Justin Arenstein (African Media Initiative); Josh Hatch (The Chronicle of Higher Education); Scott Klein (ProPublica); Angélica Peralta Ramos (La Nacion, Argentina); Aron Pilhofer (The New York Times); Guido Romeo (Wired Italy); Sascha Venohr (Zeit Online) Organisers: The European Journalism Centre is a non-profit international foundation with the remit to improve, strengthen, and underpin journalism and the news media in the interest of a functioning democratic public sphere. This mission has two main aspects: safeguarding, enhancing, and future-proofing quality journalism in Europe and the world and media freedom in emerging and developing countries. Data Driven Journalism is one of the leading initiatives for training, resources and networking in the area of data journalism. Founded in 2010, the programme is dedicated to accelerating the diffusion and improving the quality of data journalism around the world. We run the website DataDrivenJournalism.net as well as the School of Data Journalism, and produced the Data Journalism Handbook. For more information about this course, please visit the course website.

John Green teaches you the history of the world in 42 episodes of Crash Course. The Agricultural Revolution. Indus Valley Civilization. Ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient Egypt. Greeks and Persians. Buddha and Ashoka. 2000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confuscius. Alexander the Great and the Situation... the Great?. The Silk Road and Ancient Trade. The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or... Which Was It?. Christianity from Judaism to Constantine. Fall of Rome the Roman Empire... in the 15th Century. Islam, the Quran, and the Five Pillars All Without a Flamewar. The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?. The Crusades - Pilgrimage or Holy War?. Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa. Wait for it... The Mongols!. International Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and The Indian Ocean Trade. Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Russia, the Kievan Rus, and the Mongols. Columbus, de Gama, and Zheng He! 15th Century Mariners. The Renaissance: Was it a Thing?. The Columbian Exchange. The Atlantic Slave Trade. The Spanish Empire, Silver, & Runaway Inflation. The Seven Years War. The Amazing Life and Strange Death of Captain Cook. Tea, Taxes, and The American Revolution. The French Revolution. The Haitian Revolutions. Latin American Revolutions. Coal, Steam, and The Industrial Revolution. Capitalism and Socialism. Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism. Imperialism. Archdukes, Cynicism, and World War I. Communists, Nationalists, and China's Revolutions. World War II. USA vs USSR Fight! The Cold War. Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant. Globalization I - The Upside. Globalization II - Good or Bad?. The Agricultural Revolution. Indus Valley Civilization. Ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient Egypt. Greeks and Persians. Buddha and Ashoka. 2000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confuscius. Alexander the Great and the Situation... the Great?. The Silk Road and Ancient Trade. The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or... Which Was It?. Christianity from Judaism to Constantine. Fall of Rome the Roman Empire... in the 15th Century. Islam, the Quran, and the Five Pillars All Without a Flamewar. The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?. The Crusades - Pilgrimage or Holy War?. Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa. Wait for it... The Mongols!. International Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and The Indian Ocean Trade. Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Russia, the Kievan Rus, and the Mongols. Columbus, de Gama, and Zheng He! 15th Century Mariners. The Renaissance: Was it a Thing?. The Columbian Exchange. The Atlantic Slave Trade. The Spanish Empire, Silver, & Runaway Inflation. The Seven Years War. The Amazing Life and Strange Death of Captain Cook. Tea, Taxes, and The American Revolution. The French Revolution. The Haitian Revolutions. Latin American Revolutions. Coal, Steam, and The Industrial Revolution. Capitalism and Socialism. Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism. Imperialism. Archdukes, Cynicism, and World War I. Communists, Nationalists, and China's Revolutions. World War II. USA vs USSR Fight! The Cold War. Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant. Globalization I - The Upside. Globalization II - Good or Bad?.

This course will explore Native American cultures and the impacts of colonial and U.S. government policies on them; European colonization with particular focus on the British in North America; the War for Independence against Britain and the framing of the U.S. Constitution; as well as the formation of political parties in the early republic. Full series: U.S. History 1: First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism U.S. History 2: The Civil War Era: Dividing a Nation U.S. History 3: The Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties: The Emergence of Modern America U.S. History 4: The Great Depression to the War on Terror: Enter the World Stage

This course examines the political (world order), economic (globalization), social/cultural (beliefs, values, and lifestyle), and psychological (human capacity for change) forces that are re-defining the quality of life in the 21st century. Students will leave Forums for a Future with an explicit (written) worldview of their own creation as the basis for developing a coherent sense of self-direction for living peacefully and sustainably on a crowded planet in the 21st century. Students should have some familiarity with the basic concepts of political science, economics, sociology, and psychology. Although an introductory level course in any of these areas is helpful, it is not necessary. Much of the material has been published by the instructor as op-ed pieces in newspapers and popular (not academic or technical) books. Any thoughtful person can and should grasp the messages and may simply skip the complicated conceptual writing and still profit from reading the contributions of others. It is not highbrow; it is intended to promote general public civic discourse. This course is based on a very popular honors level course at the University of South Florida. Participants should have related background and knowledge along with the ability to self-direct their learning.

This course will explore government policies dealing with African-Americans and Native Americans; the rise of big business and urbanization; the second industrial revolution and immigration; U.S. overseas expansion and participation in the First World War; as well as progressivism and the modernist cultures of the 1920s. Full series: U.S. History 1: First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism U.S. History 2: The Civil War Era: Dividing a Nation U.S. History 3: The Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties: The Emergence of Modern America U.S. History 4: The Great Depression to the War on Terror: Enter the World Stage

Gender Through Comics: A Super MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) coming Spring 2013 that examines how comic books can be used to explore questions of gender identity, stereotypes, and roles. This highly engaging learning experience is designed for college-age and lifelong learners. The course, led by Christina Blanch of Ball State University, uses a study of comic books incorporating highly interactive video lectures, online discussions between students, and real-time socially driven interviews. Interviews with the comic industry's biggest names such as Terry Moore, Brian K Vaughan, Mark Waid, as well as others address questions of gender representations and constructions involving both men and women. To purchase the required materials for this course, please visit the Comixology page for Gender and Comic Books. View a video teaser about Gender Through Comic Books

This course examines the social, political, and economic development of the United States since the end of the Civil War. It traces the rise of an industrial and urban social order, the emergence of the U.S. as a world power, social and political reform movements, and recent transformations. Readings and written assignments focus not only on the major political events and economic developments of the period, but also the experiences of diverse groups, including women, African-Americans, immigrants, workers, and others. Full series: U.S. History 1: First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism U.S. History 2: The Civil War Era: Dividing a Nation U.S. History 3: The Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties: The Emergence of Modern America U.S. History 4: The Great Depression to the War on Terror: Enter the World Stage

This course will explore the reasons for the Great Depression and the accomplishments of the New Deal; the role of United States in the Second World War and its involvement in the Cold War; the strategies and results of the Civil Rights Movement; the foreign and domestic impacts of the Vietnam War; as well as U.S. social, political, and economic issues since the 1970s. Full series: U.S. History 1: First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism U.S. History 2: The Civil War Era: Dividing a Nation U.S. History 3: The Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties: The Emergence of Modern America U.S. History 4: The Great Depression to the War on Terror: Enter the World Stage

Do you know what you’re watching? What you’re reading? You might think that what comes across your television or web browser, in your newspaper or magazine, or on your movie screen is pretty much the whole message; what you see is what you get. But the content we see, read, and hear is the product of complex forces − economic, governmental, historical, and technological. This course will explore those underlying forces and provide analytical tools to evaluate media critically. An overall goal is to become media literate, to gain an understanding of mass media as cultural industries that seek to influence our behavior and affect our values as a society. Unit 1 aims to define mass communication, mass media, and culture. It also will introduce the core concepts of media literacy and the concept of transmedia, the practice of integrating entertainment experiences across a range of different media platforms. Unit 2 will introduce selected theories that will help in analyzing mass communication and its effect…

This course will introduce the concept of environmental ethics, a philosophy that extends the ethical concepts traditionally applied to human behavior to address the entire natural world. The course will outline the history of environmental ethics, discuss the idea of environmental justice, and explore how our views about the natural world have changed over time. Though environmental ethics is considered a fairly new branch of scientific philosophy, it has actually been debated avidly since the 19th century. From the frontier era of the developing United States through to the modern-day environmental movement, you will identify and analyze the key pioneers and events in the move to help preserve our planet for future generations and species. You will also explore the notion of environmental justice and how this impacts certain social groups, particularly in poorer communities throughout the world. Finally, you will familiarize yourself with the major environmental laws and world views that support the envir…