Global Music in a Diverse World raises critical consciousness of diverse populations through the exploration of various musical and cultural traditions from around the world. Examples include Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Ghana, Argentina, Jazz, Gospel and other traditions. These cultures will be studied within the broader context of rituals, memory, migration, politics, transmission, identity and life-cycle events. Students will learn through directed reading, listening, online group discussion, giving online presentations and attending live performances.

At its best, theatre helps us understand who we are; it can explain, examine, ridicule, or celebrate the human condition. Gender is a fundamental aspect of personal and social identity. It is a biological, psychological, and cultural category of paramount importance. In addition, gender is often a criterion for social stratification and differing political treatment, as well as a favored symbol for expressing essential values and beliefs.

Multicultural America Literature addresses questions of cultural difference through analysis of contemporary hyphenated-American narratives by authors such as Toni Morrison and Jhumpa Lahiri. Students will examine how character choices and options are culturally shaped and socially bordered. Against the background of dominant white culture, students will explore the common ground among these cultures-conflicts between genders and generations as well as assimilation pressure. Students will also compare their own cultural identities with those represented in the narratives they analyze.

Viterbo University mission related topics offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet. LDW

Independent reading and/or research under the guidance of a mission seminar faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. May be repeated for credit.

This course familiarizes students with the social, economic, psychological, and political issues that challenge contemporary women locally and internationally. It also encourages students to further their personal progress toward understanding and dealing constructively with womens issues. Cross-listed with WMST 100. Prerequisite: any 100-level VUSM or transfer student placement. LDW

This course will give students theoretical tools to understand Latin America from an interdisciplinary perspective. Using a wide range of cultural products, students will examine the region beyond a descriptive approach by looking into its socio-historical formation. Among other topics, students will examine class, race, and gender as well as political tradition and intellectual history. Cross-listed with LASP 200. Prerequisite: any 100-level VUSM course or transfer student placement. LDW

Viterbo University mission related topics offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. See registrars office current class schedules Web page for specific semester description. Following in the Franciscan tradition and Viterbos value of service, this seminar asks students to actively participate in civic engagement and connect course content to those experiences.

The Ethical Life builds upon students ethical reasoning to examine moral values and explore real world dilemmas. Students will examine virtue ethics, deontological ethics, and utilitarianism. By the end of the course, students should be able to identify and analyze their own ethical values and apply ethical principles to clarify a range of issues. Students may not earn credit for more than one VUSM course at the 400 level. Prerequisite: any LDW and SJE course or transfer student placement, WCII course. TEL

This course concentrates on exploring the different kinds of moral problems that arise in relation to the creation, distribution, communication and consumption of different types of information and forms of entertainment. New forms of media over the last sixty years have changed how we access information, learn about the world, and pursue entertainment.