Courses and Credits

Honors 384/AES 498: Locating Racism and Resistance
4cr, DIV, SSc, A&H, Writing
Instructor: Felicia Ishino

This course is an immersive class intended to increase awareness of events that have both shaped and disrupted systems of racism and oppression in the United States. We will examine historical context, engage in opportunities for self-reflection and dialogue, and explore how to take action and make contributions both personally and professionally.

  • Describe and critically examine examples of racism and resistance in US history and, when possible, make the connection to movements and activism today.

  • Conduct research on everyday activism or a movement. 

  • Understand the relationship between public policies and wellbeing domains.

  • Identify some of the racist policies and practices that contribute to disparate health and wellbeing outcomes among historically disadvantaged groups in the United States.

  • Advance a local social justice organization aimed at confronting our shared history of racism and resistance through place-based learning experiences.

 

Honors 233/AES 498: Leadership as a Moral Choice
4cr, SSc
Instructor: Ed Taylor

Social justice movement leaders act from a sense of urgency, guided by their moral compass and a desire to make the world more equitable. This course will offer an exploration of fundamental questions that face movement leaders and ask students to wrestle with similar leadership questions in their own present (and future) lives. Sources from history, philosophy, and sociology--in addition to conversations directly with community and movement leaders--will provide the basis for discussion and writing about these fundamental questions about the morality of leadership.

  • Identify social/community issues that spur collective action.
  • Understand the impact of community activism on individuals, communities, and movement.
  • Explore foundational sources of inspiration and action that support social justice action.
  • Reflect on your personal leadership philosophy 
  • Identify issues in your sphere of influence that require leadership in action

Honors 233/AES 498: Abolition and Collective Liberation
4cr, SSc, DIV
Instructors: Kathryn Pursch Cornforth and Nathan Bean

Abolition is commonly defined as, “the action or an act of completely doing away with a specific system, practice, or institution”. Throughout American history, abolition signified the movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved people. This movement was led by figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and John Brown. Today, abolition often signifies the movement to end policing, prisons, and punishment as we know it. This movement is led by figures like Angela Davis, Mariame Kaba, and adrienne maree brown. The intersection of these two movements show many surprising commonalities, even while also showing differences that span centuries. The legacy of abolitionism then informs the fight for abolition now and likely holds important keys to unlocking a future of collective liberation for all people.

  • Learn about leaders and movement strategies of abolition throughout American history.
  • Learn about leaders and movement strategies of abolitionists today.
  • Draw conclusions about the legacy of abolition and apply to our modern society.
  • Create and imagine alternative systems of accountability and care for our shared future.

 

Courses offered in this study away program are designed to meet requirements for:

  • The Interdisciplinary Honors Program (Social Science (4cr), Interdisciplinary (4cr), Elective (4cr); and Experiential Learning (1/2)).

  • The American Ethnic Studies major (12/25 elective credits for students in the Comparative American Ethnic Studies track).

  • Twelve (of twenty) elective credits in the Diversity minor.

  • Twelve (of fifteen) upper division elective credits for the Leadership minor.

  • All 12 credits in the program meet the Social Sciences Area of Inquiry designation, filling 12/20 required credits for any major within the College of Arts and Sciences.

  • Eight of the 12 credits in the program carry the Diversity designation, meeting the minimum five credits needed for any undergraduate.

Students should check in with their academic advisor for specifics on how these courses may work toward your graduation plan. Honors or AES credits could meet major or minor requirements beyond those noted here; we have strategically structured the course listings to be useful for a variety of UW undergraduates.