Welcome to the Real World
Current events inspire new courses at universities
Since September 11, 2001, college students have voiced a desire for institutions of higher learning to add courses about international relations, terrorism, war, and the Middle East—courses that address current events and present global perspectives—to their program offerings. Many colleges have answered the request. Below is a sampling of some universities highlighted by CBS News in an August 2002 report about the emergence of current events centered curricula.
The Global Studies Department at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, offers "Why Do 'They' Hate 'Us'?" as a means of situating the terrorist attacks of September 11 in several thematic contexts, including the history of imperialism. Students will learn about the history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East; the globalization of violence; and the role of the mass media in shaping public perceptions of international conflict.
The Ohio State University presents a course that examines numerous terrorist groups from the past two centuries. "Terror and Terrorism" emphasizes terrorist activities directed against existing social or political orders but also delves into state-sponsored terror systems such as those of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. Other topics in this International Studies course include the terror of the French Revolution, anarchism and revolutionary terrorism in 19th-century Europe, terrorism in Latin America, European domestic terrorism in the 1960s and 1970s, national liberation and separatist movements, and Middle Eastern terrorism.
Freshmen have a chance to explore war and peace in the Political Science Department at University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. "Making Peace, Making War" is a 100-level class that questions the meaning and definition of war and peace and the means used to pursue both. Students are required to address topics of study through assigned reading, writing assignments, and class discussions. Visit the Web sites of the universities you're interested in attending to examine how they're infusing real-world events and international relations into the curriculum. Many courses will be offered in political science, global studies, international relations, or history departments. You can search the academic programs of schools on CollegeView to get started.
Crystal Conde is a former Hobsons editor and current freelance writer based in Austin, Texas.
Share this page:
