New Courses, Variable Course Topics, Courses Re-offered, Spring 2012

We invite you to consider registering for the spring 2012 special courses listed below.  The list is alphabetical by department, and describes new courses, variable topics courses, and courses that have not been offered recently.

Winter Session (January 3 - January 24)

PSYCH 281 - Special Topics:  Neuroscience of Learning and Motivation

3 cr.; M, T, W, TH, F 9:30 am - 12:43 pm (Ronaldi)

Pre-req: PSYCH 101. This course introduces students to topics on the neural and hormonal mechanisms that underlie reward-related learning (e.g., operant and classical conditioning) and goal-directed behavior. It is a survey of empirical knowledge of the basic concepts of motivation (i.e., drives, incentives, …) and learning (i.e., reinforcement, conditioning, …) with special emphasis on the neurobiology of homeostasis, ingestive behavior, reward and conditioning and drug addiction.

 

Regular Session (January 27 - May 24)

Anthropology

ANTH 239 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology: Stimulants and Culture

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 9:25 am - 10:40 am (Folch)

This course analyzes the changing use, production, and understandings of legal stimulants (e.g., coffee, tea, chocolate, maté, tobacco) through both an historical lens starting around the 16th century and an analysis of the present. Particular attention will be made to comparative analysis between different regions, to popular media images and marketing, and to contrasts with illegal stimulants.

ANTH 239 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology: Culture, Food, and Talk

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 5 pm - 6:15 pm (Riley)

In this course, we explore how food is grown and processed, cooked and consumed, advertised and talked about all around the world in culturally diverse ways. We look, on the one hand, at the political evolution and significance of foodways -- how staples and delicacies have been produced and accessed by some…but not by others in human history. We also treat food as a symbolic resource on the global market -- i.e., as both a topic and tool of communication. Students will engage in culinary fieldwork: tasting foods, interviewing chefs, and analyzing mealtime discourse.

ANTH 239 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology: Mobility, Identity and Migration: Latin@s in NY

3 hr, 3 cr., TuTh 3:05 pm - 4:20 pm (Tovar)

Today’s hyper-mobile urban scenarios are constantly reconfigured by transnational migration flows of people, capital, information and technologies. Latin American migratory flows make significant contributions to these transformations impacting the life of NY City. By redefining intercultural relations and new forms of social interactivity, Latin Americans have negotiated identity issues and develop strategic adaptative processes in our city. By focusing on these processes, this course explores practices related to transnational mobility, assimilation, ethnic formation and incorporation of Latin Americans in NY. Students will be given the choice to work directly with immigrant communities engaging in term projects at NGOs involved with urban issues and migration at Queens and NYC. These projects will be designed in collaboration with the community partner(s) and will be a major component of the course. 

ANTH 289 - Topics in Linguistic Anthropology: Language and the Law

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 1:40 pm - 2:55 pm (Schmitt)

“The law is the language that enshrines it”. This course is designed to explore this obvious but highly complex interface between language and the law from legal, linguistic and anthropological perspectives. We will examine the language of the law--the history of legal language, the nature of legal language, and issues related to “legal meaning”. The use of language in legal circumstances will then be investigated as a context for ethnographic discourse analysis. Students need not be pre-law, linguistic or anthropology majors/minors to participate in this course.

ANTH 330 - Seminar in Cultural Anthropology: Oil, Politics, and Culture in the Persian Gulf

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 10:50 am - 12:05 pm (Limbert)

This course examines the history, politics, and social life of the Persian Gulf region from the nineteenth century to the present. The region, generally known in the US today for both ostentation and religious extremism has a long and complex history of regional and long-distance trade, scholarship, and political variation. This course, structured around the exploration and export of oil, traces the impact of the search for this natural resource on everyday life as well as social and political movements.

ANTH 350 - Seminar in Archaeology: Archaeology of Religion and Ritual

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 10:50 am - 12:05 pm (Pugh)

This course explores archaeological and other materially-based approaches to religion and ritual. We will consider ritual practioners, the sacred landscape, architecture, paraphernalia, images, mortuary ritual, archaeoastronomy, sacrifice, and other phenomena. The ultimate goal is a greater appreciation of religious objects and their contexts from use to discard.

ANTH 370 / BIO 385.4 - Seminar in Biological Anthropology: Anthropological Genomics

4 h, 4 cr.; TuTh 10:50 am - 12:05 pm; T or Th 9:15 am - 10:05 am (Pechenkina/Hickerson)

Anthropological Genomics is a new course directly involving students with their own genomic data optionally collected from their own genomes to directly involve them in the study of human history, genetics, and bioinformatics. Understanding how genetic data can be combined with independent information to become a powerful tool for uncovering events in human history, reconstructing human ancestry, and understanding human evolution will be the primary goal of this course. Using mtDNA or Y chromsome data collected from students in the course, interpretation of this enormous amount of data will involve students with exploring concepts in genetics, human history, anthropology, ethics, bioinformatics, quantitative reasoning and information literacy.

ANTH 380 - Seminar in Linguistic Anthropology: Globalization and Language

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 3:05 pm - 4:20 pm (Makihara)

Globalization is often portrayed as the deepening integration of world's societies and economies, leading to a homogenization of cultures and the loss of local traditions. Yet the movement of people, ideas, and goods has also created new transnational and local communities and identities (such as "Latinos"). It has also sparked the rise of political, social, and indigenous movements to assert rights and distinctive identities in new ways. Language is one of the most powerful ways through which individuals and groups position themselves in a globalizing world. This course examines several of the social, cultural, and political impacts of globalization drawing particular attention to language contact, use and change. 

Art

ARTS 390: VT: Contemporary Art, ARTS 621.3: Spec Proj: Fine Arts, ARTS 730 VT: Seminar: Topic: Corona Studio

3 h, 3 cr.; M 1:40 - 4:30 (Connor, Sholette)

Transforming Corona Plaza: In collaboration with a group of Urban Studies students experienced in community research, art students will help uncover the needs of the various citizens and stake holders in the Queens community of Corona. We will then apply these findings to the redesign of Corona Plaza, developing imaginative and unconventional design solutions that will improve the visual and social environment in a real public space.

Biology

BIOL 385.4 / ANTH 370 - Seminar in Biological Anthropology: Anthropological Genomics

4 h, 4 cr.; TuTh 10:50 am - 12:05 pm; T or Th 9:15 am - 10:05 am (Pechenkina/Hickerson)

Anthropological Genomics is a new course directly involving students with their own genomic data optionally collected from their own genomes to directly involve them in the study of human history, genetics, and bioinformatics. Understanding how genetic data can be combined with independent information to become a powerful tool for uncovering events in human history, reconstructing human ancestry, and understanding human evolution will be the primary goal of this course. Using mtDNA or Y chromsome data collected from students in the course, interpretation of this enormous amount of data will involve students with exploring concepts in genetics, human history, anthropology, ethics, bioinformatics, quantitative reasoning and information literacy.

BIOL 386.3 - Conservation Biology

3 h, 3 cr.; T 10:15 - 12:05, T 1:40- 2:30 or W 2:40 - 3:30 (Waldman)

Conservation Biology (Biol 386.3) is an emerging discipline that seeks to best manage our biological natural resources, from global through local levels. It is highly synthetic, drawing from population genetics; evolutionary biology; natural history; population, community, and landscape ecology; and environmental studies. This 3-hour lecture and discussion course will introduce students to the core principles of conservation biology. It also will draw on numerous case histories from the terrestrial and aquatic realms. Textbook readings will be supplemented with the primary literature. Conservation biology issues will be examined within a biological framework, but also in the context of social and legal concerns. Prerequisites: Ecology & Evolution, or permission of the instructor.

Classical, Middle Eastern, and Asian Languages and Cultures

EAST 235 - East Asian Civilization II

3 h; 3 cr; F 4:30 pm - 7:20 pm, Location: Rubin Museum Manhattan (Young)

This course examines medieval East, Central and South Asia through the lens of various travelers: Buddhist monks, diplomats, merchants, brides and warriors (such as Genghis/Chingis Khan, 1162-1227). We will read first-hand accounts of these journeys as well as legendary ones. Additionally, we will read accounts of domestic journeys, such as the former court lady turned Buddhist nun, Lady Nijo (13th Century), and the Zen poet Basho (17th Century) and those of westerner travelers, such as Marco Polo (traveled 1271-1291) and Ibn Battuta (1304-1368/69). The course concludes with a brief examination of the western “rediscovery” of the Silk Road cities in the 19th Century and the Great Game of international spying.

MES 240 - Images of the Middle East: Iranian History and Culture on Screen and in Print

3 h, 3 cr; M 4:30 pm - 7:20 pm, Rathaus 201 (Sahim)

This course looks at the greater Iranian world, which extends beyond its present boundaries. Students learn through lectures, articles and films about Iran’s past and the events and characters that have brought the country to the present state.  Also various aspects of Iranian culture, such as literature, women, religion, etc., will be discussed in class.

Comparative Literature

CMLIT 217 / RUSS 280 - Great Authors in Literature

3 h, 3 cr; TuTh, 1:40 - 2:55 pm, Rathaus 202 (Teikmanis)

This course presents close study of Dostoevsky’s life, major works, and their influence on Russian literature. It offers the student an opportunity to find out why Dostoevsky’s fiction has aroused strong readings, misreadings and even outright parodies. We will place Dostoevsky in the context of nineteenth century Russian culture and history, discuss the writer's ethical, religious, and political vision, and consider generic influences on his work: the saint’s tale, the detective story, the gothic novel, journalistic writing and melodrama. Students will be challenged to shape their own views of Dostoevsky, and to observe how these views correspond with certain foundational assumptions about realism in literature. Lectures and discussions will be in English; students may read the texts in English or Russian. Cross-listed with RUSS 280: Dostoevsky.

English

ENGL 395WR - Theory and Practice of Oral History

3 h; 3 cr, TH 4:30 pm - 7:20 pm, KP 304 (Weidman, with guest lecturer Alexander)

Oral History is the practice of recording interviews with narrators who wish to preserve significant life experience. In this class we will prepare ourselves to be effective interviewers by learning research methods, developing productive questions, indexing our work to make it searchable, and connecting individual interviews to larger projects. We will look at academic and popular models of oral history and frame our hands-on approach with readings about the philosophy and politics of oral history work, the art and science of memory, legalities associated with interview preservation and dissemination, the contribution of new technologies and the development of archives. Our own practice interviews will be eligible for inclusion in the Queens Memory Project, a digital archives established in the Rosenthal Library of Queens College.

ENGL 395W - The Goddess in Literature and Mythology

3 h; 3 cr; TU/TH 1:40 pm - 2:55 pm, RA 102. (Frosch)

Once upon a time people worshiped goddesses, and even today we call superstar female opera singers "divas," or goddesses, and refer to Cupid, son of the goddess of love. In this course we will study myths of the goddess from a variety of cultures. Our readings will feature such characters as the fertility goddess, the enchantress, the matriarch, the witch, the chaos demon, even the Sabbath goddess, and other female figures of seemingly supernatural power. Prerequisite: English 165W, 140W, or another RL or Tier-I course.

European Languages and Literature

EURO 203W - European Literature (Prereq: English 110)

3 h; 3 cr; MW 9:25 am – 10:40 am, King 208 (Jones)

The focus of the course this semester will be the evolution of European narrative fiction from Realism to Postmodernism. Authors studied: Balzac, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Mann, Kafka, Duras, Calvino. Cross-listed with Comp Lit 203: European Novel.

FREN 41W - French Literature in Translation

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 3:05 pm – 4:20 pm (Fadoul)

The course, taught in English, offers a survey of French literary works in translation.  It starts with the medieval epic The Song of Roland and ends with a work by a contemporary novelist: Maryse Condé, the female Caribbean French writer (born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe). Also included in the curriculum are plays and novels by writers from the French canon. Starting with the thirteenth century work, the reading list is designed to give the student a broad, efficient introduction to French thought and literature from every century up to the present day. Students will discuss the works and express their opinion.

FREN 250 - VT

4 h, 3 cr., TH 1:40 pm – 5:30 pm (Brown)

This course will concentrate on the contributions of French filmmakers from 1950 into the present. We will examine the diverse creative and technical elements that go into the making of the films, as well as the ways in which the films screened challenge the traditional grammar of the cinema. Facets of French culture that manifest themselves in the films will be discussed, as will certain extra-cinematic sources, in particular works of literature and other cinematic traditions. We will also consider various theoretical approaches to the cinema, such as the auteur theory and the theory of myth.

FREN 345 - Eighteenth Century Literature

3 h, 3 cr.; MW 10:50 am - 12:05 pm, King 208 (Sullivan)

Prereq.: French 205, 206 or permission of the department. Through reading, discussion, and analysis of selected works of French literature from the eighteenth century, students will be introduced to several major currents in pre-Revolutionary French literature. Some of the topics we will consider are: the formation of the modern concept of individuality, literature and social change, philosophical travelers, the place of women in the Enlightenment project, and the
influence of Enlightenment ideas on contemporary society and institutions. Course and readings in French.

HEBRW 356 - 01 Hebrew Literature 1948-Present

3 h, 3 cr; MW 9:25 am - 10:40 am, King 203 (Gruber)

This class will serve as a laboratory of sorts as we explore the writing of newer authors such as Shimon Ballas, Albert Swissa, Jacqueline Shohet Kahanoff, Samir Naqqash and Yitzhak Gormezano Goren as well as the canonical discourse of Israeli literature. We will examine in particular, the emerging voices of the “Other “in Israeli society and the ways in which Israeli writers ultimately defy all classification to forge a place on the stage of world literature. All texts will be read in Hebrew.

RUSS 150W - Russian Culture and Thought

3 h, 3 cr; TuTh 12:15 - 1:30 pm, King 208 (Bird)

This course is a survey of the institutions and cultural developments in Russia and the former Soviet Union. It is designed to enable one to chronologically measure the gains and losses of Russian culture through the study of major developments in Russian literature, philosophy, religion, art, in connection with Russia’s thousand-year-old history. It embraces the period from pre-Christian times though the social reforms at the end of the 19^th century, following to the October revolution and its aftermath, and to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the years of Russia’s recent transition to democracy.

RUSS 155 - Keys to Russian Literature. PLAS ET, AP 

3 h, 3 cr; Fully online, asynchronous (Cheloukhina)

This course studies the key works by the famous Russian writers (in translation) from the beginnings of Russian literary tradition until the mid-20^th century. Readings will include the examples from the early Russian folk tradition, as well as from 18th-20th-century literature, particularly, Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Sholokhov, among other authors. The course goal is to familiarize the students the works and oeuvre of these writers, and to analyze them form the literary, socio-political, and historical perspectives. Lectures and discussions will be in English; students may read the texts in English or Russian. 

RUSS 244 - Russian and East European Film

4 h, 3 cr; F 9:15 am - 1:05 pm, King 208 (Cheloukhina) 

This course will focus on the study of the contributions of the most renowned Russian filmmakers to the art of cinema from 1920s to the present. The films shown will be projected on the events in Russia’s rocky history and politics, and analyzed through their connection with social events, literary works and theatrical productions. Students will be introduced to various topics, including “The Russian cinematic avant-garde,” “Innovative film techniques: montage and tipazh,” “Great Russian and Soviet directors,” “Stalinism and cinematic culture,” “Women in film,” “Russian film comedy,” “Literary masterpieces on the screen,” “Perestroika films,” and others. The lectures and discussions will be in English; the films will be in Russian with English subtitles.

RUSS 280 / CMLT 217 - Dostoevsky

3 h, 3 cr; TuTh, 1:40 - 2:55 pm, Rathaus 202 (Teikmanis)

This course presents close study of Dostoevsky’s life, major works, and their influence on Russian literature. It offers the student an opportunity to find out why Dostoevsky’s fiction has aroused strong readings, misreadings and even outright parodies. We will place Dostoevsky in the context of nineteenth century Russian culture and history, discuss the writer's ethical, religious, and political vision, and consider generic influences on his work: the saint’s tale, the detective story, the gothic novel, journalistic writing and melodrama. Students will be challenged to shape their own views of Dostoevsky, and to observe how these views correspond with certain foundational assumptions about realism in literature. Lectures and discussions will be in English; students may read the texts in English or Russian. Cross-listed with Comp Lit 217: Great Authors in Literature.

Drama, Theatre & Dance

Drama 397- VT: Seminar in Drama and Theatre

Topic: Performing Arts Administration

Section 02; 3 h, 3 cr.; M 1:40 pm - 4:30 pm (Rosenstock)

The Business of Show Business: An Introduction to Performing Arts Management.

The study of legal issues and the development of business skills as they relate to cultural values.

In New York City alone there are literally thousands of organizations providing performing arts programs to audiences each and every night. What makes these organizations tick, and how they function will provide aspiring student actors, dancers, musicians and film makers with a better understanding of the performing arts industry and the various career paths which exist in cultural institutions.

Labor Studies

LABST 265 - Topics in Labor Studies Topic: Work time, Labor, and Technology / URBST 265 - VT: Special Topics

3 h, 3 cr., TTh 1:40 pm - 2:55 pm (Walker)

This course will examine the interplay between the technology and the labor movement. Technology is simultaneously a vehicle for social control and the fulfillment of workers’ historic demand for freedom from dangerous, monotonous, and arduous tasks. But while technology often appears as pure managerial "innovation", it is imposed in direct proportion to labor's demands. It is no accident that massive technological advances have followed directly on the heels of militant labor struggles, especially those over the length and intensity of the workday. This course will examine these advances across time and industries, with particular attention to their impact on workers.

Mathematics

MATH 790.45 - Independent Research

4.5 cr., Hours TBA

Each student will be meeting with Professor Saric for 3 hours per week depending on their individual schedule.

Media Studies

MEDST 281 - VT: Intermediate Studies in Media: How to Write Short Films

Section 2; 3 h, 3 cr; T 9:15-12:05 (McCleave)

This course explores the writing process of developing a production-ready narrative or narrative-hybrid script (7-12 pages), suitable in scope for a low-budget short film.

Short films share many similarities to feature films: plot, character development, conflict, resolution, tone—however these key story elements are in the service of a much shorter work. In this course we will examine the craft issues unique to short screenplay writing: what types of stories, characters, premises, resolutions, are best suited to short films. Additionally we will examine the practical production challenges that you will face in bringing your script to the screen. The course is open to all Queens College students. To register, please contact the Media Studies Department.

Philosophy

PHIL 111 - Introduction to Aesthetics

3 hr., 3 cr.; MW 3:05 – 4:20 pm (Leites)

Survey of some fundamental issues in philosophical aesthetics. Possible topics include theories of the beautiful; the standard of taste; art and emotion; representation and form; aesthetic descriptions and judgments; art and society. This course will require trips to major New York museums.

PHIL 125 - Philosophy of the Environment

3 hr., 3 cr.; MW 10:50 am – 12:05 pm (Kanet)

Philosophical analysis of issues relating to the natural environment: the relationship of humankind to nature; responsibility to future generations; the nature and origin of rights; ownership and land use; intrinsic and instrumental values; and the concept of citizenship. Readings from sources in ethics and political philosophy will be combined with analysis of specific areas of environmental concern, such as population growth, preservation of endangered species, distribution of natural resources, pollution, and the value of wilderness.

PHIL 219 - Galileo to Einstein

3 hr., 3 cr.; MW 1:40 – 2:55 pm (Cordero)

This course focuses on the development of scientific thought from Galileo to Einstein, with emphasis on attempts to find connections between the world of ideas and the world of phenomena, the reasons that guided the proposal and critique of major physical theories during period, and the "modern" approach to justifying theoretical proposals that comes into full flight maturity in Einstein's work. The course consists of lectures and discussions.

PHIL 265 - Philosophy of Language

3 hr., 3 cr.; MW 9:25 – 10:40 pm (Gallegos)

An introduction to the main issues and debates in contemporary philosophy of language. The course will focus on meaning in relation to other notions central to philosophy of language and linguistics, such as reference, truth and use. This course will first explore these notions through discussion of classical texts by founders of the analytic tradition (in particular, Frege, Russell and Wittgenstein). The course will then present and assess different proposals and research programs developed by later authors (in particular, Tarski, Quine, Davidson, Searle, Grice and Kripke).

PHIL 270 - Spinoza

3 hr., 3 cr.; MW 10:50 am – 12:05 pm (Burstein)

An examination of the philosophy of Spinoza as it is developed in his major work, the Ethics. To be explored are Spinoza’s conception of God and Nature, human bondage and freedom, the possibilities of achieving salvation through reason.

PHIL 271 - Nietzsche: Nihilism and Beyond

3 hr., 3 cr.; TH 1:40 – 4:30 pm (Rosenberg)

An examination of the philosophy of Nietzsche with particular reference to these key themes: the critique of western civilization; the loss of absolutes; the will to power; the role of creativity; the transvaluation of values; the encounter with “Nothingness”; the “new” human; the critique of traditional morality and religion.

PHIL 272 - History of Jewish Philosophy

3 hr., 3 cr.; TTH 10:50 am – 12:05 pm (Doukhan)

A survey of Jewish philosophy from biblical times to the present. A variety of thinkers and works will be studied, such as the book of Ecclesiastes, Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed, Spinoza's Ethics, Rosenzweig's Star of Redemption, Buber's I and Thou and Levinas' Essays. Issues in the philosophy of religion will be addressed through the lens of Jewish thought throughout the course, such as the connection between faith and reason, the nature of God, and questions and problems pertaining to post-holocaust thought. Class will consist of both discussion and lectures and is open to auditors. No prerequisites.

PHIL 272 - Socrates and the Sophists

3 hr., 3 cr.; TF 12:15 – 1:30 pm (Donato)

Political Science

PSCI 249 - VT: Topic: Politics & Financial Crises: A Comparative View

3h, 3 cr.; M,W 10:50 am – 12:05 pm (Willard)

As fears of a Eurozone meltdown and a "double-dip" recession in the U.S. loom, the American electorate is more polarized than ever with regard to how to interpret these crises, let alone how to get out them. What can previous crises tell us about the present? What caused them? What kinds of politics enabled those conditions? What political movements did they spawn?

PSCI 269 - VT: Topic: The Arab Spring

3 h, 3 cr; T,TH 10:50 am – 12:05 pm (Flamhaft)

This course will examine the background against which the Arab Spring began, studying the Middle East in general and the conditions in the countries that were affected by the uprisings and the countries that are guarding against change.

PSCI 289 - VT: Topic: Corporations, The Wealthy & The Republic

3 h, 3 cr; T,TH 3:05 pm – 4:20 pm (Bonomo)

This course will examine the important role corporations and economic elites have played in shaping the American republic's political, economic, and social structures, and will focus on three major topics: what has worked in the past to create an America where prosperity was widely shared; what has changed over the last 50 years that now has led to an America where people are protesting around the country over the ever-widening economic disparity between the elites and the majority of Americans; and what realistic measures can be taken by the people and our politicians to address this disparity before it further damages the nation's economic, social, and political well-being.

Psychology

PSYCH 103 - Pleasure and Pain

3 h, 3 cr; TUTH 8 am - 9:15 am, Rosenthal Library Room 230 [Enrollment: 250] (Stellar & Bodnar)

This PLAS course (NS) co-taught by the Provost and Dean of Research (and guest speakers) introduces the student to the psychological, philosophical, biological, neurochemical, and evolutionary facts, principles, and theories underlying the concepts of pleasure and pain. This includes evaluation of basic neuroscience and psychology of pleasure and pain systems related to homeostasis, addiction, neuroeconomics, wanting vs liking and empathy as well as psychopathological and neurological disorders. Guest speakers will amplify these basic mechanisms to philosophical, anthropological (evolutionary), economic and literary views. This was taught last year with great success as a Special Topics course (Psych 282).

Urban Studies

URBST 132 - US Health Services & Policy

3 h, 3 cr., MW 9:25 am - 10:40 am (Sardell)

This course addresses some of the major issues in the national debate about how to make health care in the U.S. more accessible, more equitable, more cost-effective and more attuned to the health needs of the population. We will study the history of American medical practice and examine the development of the organization and financing of our current health care system, in the US and other nations. We will discuss the relationship between social class, ethnicity, gender and health status. This course should be of special interest to pre-medical students.

URBST 220 - VT: Urban Service Institutions Topic: America's Economic Crisis

3h, 3 cr., MW 10:50 am - 12:05 pm (Eisenberg)

The prolonged economic upheaval we are now experiencing has wrought havoc in US cities and communities. Many economists are predicting that high unemployment will continue for years to come. Will good jobs return in the future? What has caused this crisis? This course will focus on the causes and consequences of the current economic crisis and discuss the actions which might be taken to restore the economy and the job picture.

URBST 220 - VT: Urban Service Institutions and URBST 7602 - VT: Selected Topics in Urban Policy Topic: Housing in New York City

3 h, 3 cr., W 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (Gaska)

This course will explore the situation of housing renters and owners in New York City. How does the housing market affect how neighborhoods change? How does housing finance work? How is housing planned? And what is government doing -- and what more could it do -- to ensure that every New Yorker has access to decent housing.

URBST 265 - VT: Special Topics / LABST 265 - Topics in Labor Studies Topic: Work time, Labor, and Technology

3 h, 3 cr., TTh 1:40 pm - 2:55 pm (Walker)

This course will examine the interplay between the technology and the labor movement. Technology is simultaneously a vehicle for social control and the fulfillment of workers’ historic demand for freedom from dangerous, monotonous, and arduous tasks. But while technology often appears as pure managerial "innovation", it is imposed in direct proportion to labor's demands. It is no accident that massive technological advances have followed directly on the heels of militant labor struggles, especially those over the length and intensity of the workday. This course will examine these advances across time and industries, with particular attention to their impact on workers.

URBST 265 - VT: Special Topics and URBST 7601 - VT: Selected Topics in Urban Policy Topic: Race and Incarceration

3 h, 3 cr., Th 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (Martin)

The course will explore the history of incarceration in the United States and the current phenomena of mass imprisonment, mass reentry and mass criminalization. Poor people and people of color are systematically affected by these policies, creating an underclass of citizenship that is marginalized and entrenched in a vicious cycle of incarceration, mass reentry and recidivism. By exploring concrete examples where criminal record-based discrimination serves as a surrogate for race-based discrimination, we will discuss how statutory barriers, stigma and prejudice have taken the place of Jim Crow practices in the 21st Century.

URBST 320 - VT: Special Problems Topic: Cities and Diasporas

3 h, 3 cr., MW 10:50 am - 12:05 pm (Smith)

This course examines the historical and contemporary movement of peoples and their relationships to cities and city building. It introduces students to the key debates in diasporic studies and the study of transnationalism and cosmopolitanism. Material will be drawn from metropolitan New York as well as from diasporic communities in other times and places.

URBST 360W - VT: Urban Research Workshop and URBST 7602 - VT: Selected Topics in Urban Policy Topic: Art as Social Practice, Social Practice as Art: Transforming Corona Plaza

3 h, 3 cr., M 1:40 pm - 4:30 pm (Hum)

This class is a collaboration between the QC Urban Studies and Art Departments and the Queens Museum of Art, to engage students and community stakeholders in a study of the redesign and revitalization of Corona Plaza in Corona, Queens. In collaboration with artists and art students who have experience developing imaginative and unconventional solutions to design problems, this cross-disciplinary course offers students the opportunity to move beyond the research phase and work with community groups to improve the visual and social environment in a real public space.

URBST 373 - Special Problems in Environmental Studies and URBST 7601 - VT: Selected Topics in Urban Policy Topic: Solar Flushing

3 h, 3 cr., W 1:40 pm - 4:30 pm (Hum)

This course will examine the politics and planning necessary to implement solar energy in the community of Flushing, Queens. It will build on the solar feasibility analysis currently being conducted in ENSCI 373 using the CUNY Solar Map, an online, interactive tool that estimates the solar energy potential for all New York City buildings. We will study Flushing’s environmental conditions; meet with elected officials, city agencies, and advocacy organizations to explore the community’s interest and concerns regarding solar energy strategies. We will prepare a plan for solar energy implementation in Flushing’s dynamic and diverse immigrant and regional economic hub.