Prof. Andrew Demshuk

• CORE-106-001, W 11:20am - 2:10pm
• HNRS-150-001, T 2:30pm - 5:20pm

The word decolonization comes from a period in the 20th century when former colonies, many in Africa or the Caribbean, sought to decolonize by gaining their independence from European powers like France and Britain and becoming sovereign nations. But by the early 21st century, the term took on a broader meaning. It now refers to the process of rejecting the economic, social, and cultural effects of colonization that continue to negatively impact Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) throughout the world in multiple ways. Lately, we have seen calls to decolonize nearly everything, from museums, to syllabi, to sexuality, to international aid, to nutrition and diet culture and self-care. This course asks the following questions: How can the concept of decolonization offer us models to understand the ways in which colonialism is still sustained today? And can calls to decolonize help us dismantle an internalized set of ideas that were initiated with projects of imperial quests for power and profit, or has decolonization become just another co-opted buzzword? To answer these questions we will turn to films, novels, essays, and social media and think about how race, gender, sexuality, colonialism, history, and culture all intersect.

Prof. Edward Helfers

• CORE-106-002, M/TH 12:55pm - 2:10pm
• HNRS-150-002, W, 2:30pm - 5:20pm

The Art of Theft (3) From William Shakespeare to Beyonce, much of what we consider original art depends on borrowed text, recycled images, and familiar melodies. This course considers questions of creative ownership. Drawing from scholarship by ethicists, cultural critics, and legal scholars, students analyze case studies in music, film, literature, and visual art. Working in groups, students trace intellectual property attitudes within a chosen genre or institution (i.e., death metal, Persian poetry, Pixar films). For the final project, after meeting working artists in the Washington, DC area, students compose a creative work that borrows responsibly. 

Prof. Nancy Snider

• CORE-106-003, M/TH 2:30pm - 3:45pm
• HNRS-150-003, TH 11:20am - 2:10pm

Prof. Omekongo Dibinga

• CORE-106-004, W 8:10am - 11:00am
• HNRS-150-004, W 11:20am - 2:10pm

This course will explore one enduring question: Why and how has hip-hop become equally a tool for revolution and capitalist expansion across the world? As hip-hop has attained the interest of corporate America, it has gone from being vilified by many in the mainstream to a source of expansion for American ideals. As hip-hop began to emerge in other countries, it also began to develop its own country-specific narrative. Across the globe, the effects of hip-hop can be felt from politics and education to pop culture and religion from the Arab Spring to the whitewashing of history books in Japan. This course explores how hip-hop has become a source of revolution and capitalist expansion for some of the world’s most marginalized (and not-so-marginalized) populations.

Prof. Shoaleh Dehghan

• CORE-106-005, M 11:20am - 2:10pm
• HNRS-150-005, TH 11:20am - 2:10pm

Science and Politics of Looking Good (3) In this seminar, students discover the fascinating world of cosmetics and personal care products through the lens of chemistry and beyond. The course explores the complex relationship between ethics, economics, and the science of the global cosmetics industry. Students learn basic chemistry to understand the ingredients and formulations behind products like skincare, hair care, and makeup. The seemingly simple task of creating beauty products raises challenging questions about sustainability, health, and consumerism. Students examine how cosmetics intersect with social and political issues, including global regulations, consumer safety, and the rising demand for eco-friendly, 'clean' beauty products. Students acquire the tools to critically analyze the complexities of balancing consumer preferences, corporate responsibility, and sustainability in this dynamic industry. 

Prof. Yana Sakellion

• CORE-106-006, T/F 2:30pm - 3:45pm
• HNRS-150-006, W 11:20am - 2:10pm

In a media-saturated culture, images shape what we notice, who we trust, and how we assign meaning long before we stop to question where they come from. AI-generated content is now part of our daily environment, appearing across platforms and altering how visual language is made, shared, and understood. 

In this seminar, students examine selected case studies and work with generative tools to build visual literacy necessary for navigating current media environments. Through guided discussion, nuanced observation, and short practical activities, we explore how AI is influencing authorship, interpretation, and creative agency in image-based communication. 

This seminar also connects classroom inquiry to broader cultural and professional contexts through engagement with local institutions and professionals working at the intersection of art, design and technology.

Prof. Sarah Snyder

• CORE-106-006, W 2:30pm - 5:20pm
• HNRS-150-006, F 11:20am - 2:10pm

In this course, students grapple with to what degree and in what ways the United States has and should prioritize international human rights protections. The course incorporates scholarly accounts from multiple disciplines, films, and current and former U.S. human rights policies to promote critical thinking and analysis. Students consider motivations and concerns of different actors within and beyond the government, including advocates and lobbyists, and close attention is paid to the experiences of communities affected by U.S. concern for or neglect of human rights.