Fall 2018

*Students may petition the Director of Appalachian Studies to have any course that they feel is relevant to Appalachian Studies count toward the minor or undergraduate certificate.

The following list of courses will automatically count toward the minor or certificate.

Past Semesters Course List

ANT 330 - North American Cultures
This course uses readings, films, and music to explore the plurality of peoples and cultures in North America – with particular attention to the US. We will look at youth cultures as sites of creativity and resistance, examine perennial problems in social equality, consider the similarities and differences between urban and rural ways of life, and explore environmental concerns as an integral part of making and sustaining culture

ANT 536 – Global Appalachia
Appalachia has always had strong global connections, environmentally, economically, and culturally. Current cultural and political economic issues in the region will be examined in comparative perspective through studying related histories and concerns of communities in Appalachia and other mountain regions, including social and economic marginalization within nation-states, resource extraction, low wage work, migration, and environmental challenges. Students will have the opportunity to communicate directly with residents and scholars of several different global mountain regions, to consider sustainable livelihoods, identity in relationship to place, and social movements.

CHE 565 – Environmental Chemistry
A study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Prereq: Two semesters of general college chemistry are required. Courses in analytical and physical chemistry are recommended, but are not required.

CPH 424 – Health of Kentuckians (Tisha Kay Johnson)
This course provides an overview of the determinants, factors, and remedies to the traditionally poor health status of Kentuckians. The course focus is on population health of the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on data, trends and solutions to illness, death and disability. Other topics include health rankings, vital statistics and demographic factors. The comparison of Kentucky’s population health status to the US average and to other states is presented, plus strategies to improve population health in the Commonwealth. Additional topics include the relationship between Kentucky’s demographic, economic, environmental, and education characteristics and their impact on health.

GRN 250 – Aging in Today’s World - Section 003 only
This class explores the processes and meanings of ‘ growing old’, focusing on influences from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, with constant attention to how these processes and meanings are situated in time and space and eventually inform individual and societal conceptions of and actions concerning old age. The many faces of aging are examined from an array of disciplinary perspectives using selected readings, film documentaries, consideration of personal/family histories, and a series of exercises that allow students to place one’s own life experience and thoughts of growing old in broader social context.

LIN 311 – Appalachian English
The Appalachian Mountains, which range from New York to Mississippi, making up part of the landscape of 13 different states, are known to many Americans as being home to a unique cultural and linguistic experience. In this course, we will examine the extent to which this uniqueness is true, considering the nature of many myths and stereotypes that exist about this variety. We will discuss certain lexical, phonetic, syntactic, and other linguistic features that set this variety apart from other American varieties while also noting the features the speech of Appalachia shares with others. We will examine the history, origins, and development of English in Appalachia and address issues of identity, education, and standardness with respect to the English of Appalachia. (Same as ANT 341/APP 311.)

SOC 235 - Inequalities in Society
This course seeks to promote an understanding of inequalities in American society by considering them in the context of the social origins, development, and persistence of inequalities in the United States and other societies. Bases of inequality that may be considered include race/ethnicity, class/status, gender/sexuality, age, political and regional differences as these relate to politics, social justice, community engagement, and/or public policy.

SOC 350 - Topics in Sociology / Sociology of Religion
No description available online.

SOC 355 - Sociology of Health and Illness
Who defines health and illness? Why is disease and premature death unequally distributed in society? What social forces cause individuals to get sick or stay healthy? How have changes in the medical profession, the health care system, and health policy affected treatment outcomes and illness experiences? This course addresses these questions through a presentation of important concepts and substantive issues the sociology of health and illness (or medical sociology), and an introduction to major classic and contemporary research in this area. We will compare and contrast sociological perspectives on health with the perspectives offered by biomedicine, psychiatry and allied disciplines. The course has two major sections: The first covers the social origins of illness, the social construction of illness and biomedical knowledge, social epidemiology, and social influences on personal experiences of illness. The second section covers social and institutional responses to illness and the impact of these on physician-patient interactions, health outcomes, and the distribution of disease. In this section we will examine the medical profession, the health care system, health policy, and the changing nature of these. Class sessions will emphasize group discussions and exercises based on original scholarly writings. Discussions and exercises are designed to encourage the development of analytic skills, recognition of the benefits of collaborative approaches to complex problems, and independent exploration of course material.

SOC/CLD 420: Sociology of Communities
A sociological study of issues relevant to communities. Topics may include: conceptual approaches to community; organizatial and institutional linkages within and beyond the community; social inequality and social processes within communities such as social networks, social capital, power and decision-making, and social change.

SW 325 - Social Justice Foundations
This course will examine social justice from the broad perspective that all people are deserving of opportunities, rights, protections, obligations and social benefits. Definitions, theories and perspectives as they relate to the context and impact of power, oppression and privilege will be examined within both historical and contemporary lenses. This course will require students to examine personal and professional values and ethics related to social justice as well as how those influence our ability to be change agents for social justice.