Liberal Studies (LIS)

LIS 101. The Studio Age: Our Hollywood Heritage. 3 Hours.

This course is a survey of the Studio Age of Hollywood movies from 1929 to 1948 emphasizing the shared roles of corporations, artists, and audiences in the creation of our film heritage, as well as how this heritage is reflected in contemporary culture. Topics include: studio history, film vocabulary, genres. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of First-Year Seminar and a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Humanities.

LIS 211. Liberty Studies. 3 Hours.

What is liberty and why would we want it? This course is an examination of the meanings and foundations of liberty. Philosophical and economic methods are used to differentiate different types of liberty and the implications these have for addressing current issues and events. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Humanities or in Social and Behavioral Science.

LIS 231. Professions and Liberal Arts. 1 Hour.

This course will prepare students to think broadly about postgraduate outcomes by asking them to connect their academic and university experiences to core competencies and skills sought after by employers. Students will reflect on their own strengths and values, develop materials to assist in seeking employment and internships, and meet visiting speakers from a variety of careers.

LIS 241. ECCE: Survey of African American History I. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with an introduction to African American history that covers ancient African cultures, the development of the transatlantic slave trade, the role of slavery as an economic system in the founding and development of the nation, and ends with the Civil War and Reconstruction. Course Information: Same as AAS 241 and HIS 241. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 244. Literary Heroines. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the literary works which have as main characters female personalities such as Medea, Antigone, Anna Karenina, Eva Luna, Isabelle Archer and others. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Humanities.

LIS 261. Survey of African American Literature. 3 Hours.

This course surveys the great diversity in African American literature from the colonial era up to the present. Special attention is given to the vernacular tradition and its effects on the creative production of Black people in the U. S. although some Caribbean and African authors may be read. Various interdisciplinary and critical frameworks will be presented to facilitate comprehension and discussion of course material, including audio/visual selections. Course Information: Same as AAS 261 and ENG 231. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Humanities.

LIS 262. Calabash: Caribbean Literature and Culture. 3 Hours.

Surveys the great diversity in Caribbean cultural expressions with a focus on literature, music and film. Course Information: Same as AAS 262 and ENG 232. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Humanities.

LIS 301. Self-Directed Learning. 4 Hours.

Introduction to the liberal studies program. Focuses on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to become a self-directed, autonomous learner. Topics include an examination of collegiate education philosophy, theory, and practice; dynamics of power; self-assessment; goal-setting; designing effective learning experiences; documenting and evaluating independent learning; organizing learning resources; and designing a liberal studies curriculum. To be taken as the first course after declaring the LIS major. Course Information: Prerequisites: LIS 301 must be completed and the degree plan accepted by the LIS program before enrolling in additional course work towards the major. Credit/No Credit grading only.

LIS 302. ECCE: African American Studies. 3 Hours.

This course explores the interdisciplinary nature of African American Studies. It exposes students to the main topics, contributing fields of study and central paradigms associated with the discipline, i.e. the historical and contemporary social, religious, creative, cultural, political and economics experiences of people of African descent living in the United States. Although the focus is on the US, it necessarily presents a Pan-Africanist/diasporan orientation that pervades the discipline. Course Information: Same as AAS 301. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of ECCE U.S. Communities.

LIS 303. Introduction to Liberal Studies. 3 Hours.

An introduction to academic disciplines, this course reviews theoretical approaches and research methodologies, educational philosophy, and strategies for success in a Liberal Studies major. Students reflect upon their reading and their personal and professional goals to create a Plan of Study (including timeline) for graduation. Students complete this course the first semester after admission and complete a diagnostic measure for program assessment.

LIS 315. Individualism and Self-Reliance in America. 3 Hours.

This course examines the nature of American individualism and self-reliance. Students will think about the relationship of the individual to society, and whether such ideals as "frontier individualism" or Jeffersonian self-reliance are applicable today. Topics include republicanism, the Industrial revolution, mass society, big business, and the growth of government.

LIS 319. Philosophy of Business. 3 Hours.

What you believe about business affects both your choice of career path and your opinion on business ethics and regulation. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach and examining business in history, philosophy, management theory, and literature, this course is meant for both business majors interested in humanities related to their discipline, and humanities majors wishing to learn more about business.

LIS 325. Latina/o USA. 4 Hours.

Introduction to the study of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, and Central/South American communities in the U.S. Main themes are immigration, identity, gender and racial constructions, labor, education, and activism. Other topics include demographic trends, political participation, and relations with origin communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 342. Conducting Liberal Studies Research. 3 Hours.

This course is designed for the Liberal Studies student who wants to develop skills in critical thinking by conducting web-based scholarly research. The topic will be chosen by the student and will relate to the learning needs identified in the student's degree proposal. Though a research paper will not be expected as the outcome of this course, the course is structured to prepare you for writing a scholarly research paper. Course Information: Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisites: LIS majors who have completed LIS 301.

LIS 344. Serving up Art. 3 Hours.

A learning opportunity for students interested in exploring both art and service. This online learning class will ask participants to collectively explore the question: "What is art and why does it matter?" Students survey arts organizations in a community and implement a 60-hour service learning experience. Course Information: No prerequisites. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of ECCE Engagement Experience.

LIS 360. Special Topics in Liberal Studies. 4 Hours.

Exploration of topics relating to Boyer Categories. Meets Liberal Studies elective requirement.

LIS 363. ECCE: Multicultural American Novels. 4 Hours.

This course explores contemporary American novels that explore diverse notions of community in a variety of subcultures. Attention will be given to gender, class and sexuality, as well as race ethnicity, and religion. The critical and creative readings help frame the questions "what is American" and "what is a novel?" Course Information: Same as AAS 362. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 366. ECCE: European Cinema. 4 Hours.

French, German, Italian, Scandinavian, Chinese, and Turkish films by directors who live in France and Italy studied from a variety of artistic, literary, and technical perspectives. The films touch on issues of human existence (love, hate, death, life) even if historical or comical. All films are subtitled. Course Information: Same as ART 366. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience Requirement at UIS is the area of Global Awareness.

LIS 368. ECCE: African American Popular Fiction. 4 Hours.

This course explores various works of popular fiction by African American authors, specifically the genres of detective fiction (mysteries) and speculative or science fiction. Same as AAS 368. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the areas of U.S. Communities.

LIS 375. ECCE: African American Popular Culture. 3 Hours.

By exploring the variety of contribution to American culture made by people of African descent, this course seeks to: bolster the student's understanding of cultural pluralism, increase multicultural awareness and sensitivity; accord due credit to a population often neglected in cultural studies. Students will take an active part in their own education, developing and presenting their own interpretations of central topics. Course Information: Same as: AAS 375. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 380. Exploration of Learning Resources. 1-8 Hours.

Independent study through exploration of a topic within liberal studies or directly related to the student's degree plan. A journal of the exploration process, a comprehensive resources inventory, and demonstration of learning (a major product) are required. To be taken as described in individual degree plans. Course Information: Credit/No Credit grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Prerequisites: LIS 301 and program acceptance of degree plan.

LIS 411. Liberty Struggles. 4 Hours.

The liberty struggles examines social movements and armed conflicts that have included, as part of their stated aims, the increase or enhancement of liberty and freedom for an oppressed population. The course uses a community organizing framework to understand historical and current liberty struggles. Topics covered include peasant revolts, revolutions in the Americas and France, the abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement, anti-communism, and anti-imperialism.

LIS 417. Free Market Philosophies. 3 Hours.

We examine arguments for laissez faire capitalism and how different philosophical foundations lead to different public policy recommendations. Arguments between different free market theories are critically examined. Issues include government legitimacy, the nature of the market, morality and selfishness, and the private provision of what are typically considered government services.

LIS 421. Baseball: An Interdisciplinary Approach. 4 Hours.

This course looks at baseball in the United States through an interdisciplinary approach that will include economics, history, politics, technology, and culture. Rather than trying to provide a sweeping historical analysis, specific turning points in baseball as a commercialized business will be studied and used to generate the approach. Course Information: No prerequisite is required.

LIS 424. Ancient Sport and Spectacle. 4 Hours.

This course will study the beginnings of sport in the Greco-Roman world and its transformation throughout the centuries to our days. It will also examine how sport became a vehicle for the ideological and political expression, was associated with class, gender, violence, nationalism, and ethnicity, and how it has been appropriated and reinterpreted in modern times. Course Information: Same as HIS 424.

LIS 431. The Beatles: Popular Music and Society. 4 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of not only the Beatles and their musical accomplishments, but also the impact they had and are having on popular music and society. We will listen to their music, watch videos of their work and hear their comments on that work, as well as read some of the best writing on the Beatles. Course Information: . Topical Area: Interpersonal/Organizational or Mass Media.

LIS 432. ECCE: Expatriate Paris. 4 Hours.

Study of artists, writers, and poets who created works away from their homeland to see if and how their works influenced culture in their new country. Learn to look at art and see them; read literary works to understand their depth and complexity; improve analytical, writing, and research skills. Course Information: Same as ART 432 and ENG 426. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

LIS 433. ECCE: Civil Rights Movement of the Twentieth Century. 4 Hours.

This discussion course examines the connections between the oral histories of the civil rights movement, the intellectual contributions of African American essayists to traditions of thought in United States history in the twentieth century and the political activism of educated professionals and grass-roots community figures. Course Information: Same as AAS 433 and HIS 429. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 439. African And Diaspora Music. 4 Hours.

Examines the influence of African music in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Important African and diaspora rhythms of hi-life, congo, blues, jazz, soca, salsa, samba, and many others are discussed. Course Information: Same as AAS 439.

LIS 442. International Women Writers. 4 Hours.

This course examines literary works written by women writers, poets, literary critics and philosophers from around the world. Course Information: Same as WGS 442.

LIS 447. ECCE: Symbolist Movement in Europe: 1850 - 1920. 4 Hours.

A movement in art and literature; different in its national emphasis on artistic and literary issues, but international in its philosophical precepts. Includes works by the English Pre-Raphaelites, French Symbolists and Decadents, German, Scandinavian, Turkish, and Russian artists and writers. Course Information: Same as ART 431. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

LIS 451. Senior Seminar. 3 Hours.

As a capstone experience, this course requires students to review their educational experiences, Program of Study, and personal and professional goals. Students will propose and complete an integrative or interdisciplinary project appropriate to their track, which will also be used for program assessment. Students complete this course the last semester before graduation.

LIS 458. ECCE: Memoirs Across Cultures. 4 Hours.

This is a course about reading, analyzing, writing, and redefining memoirs. The autobiographical writings on the reading list look at the inner life of the authors as well as the outer events. We will examine how historical context, socio-political climate, cultural memories, and identities are represented in these personal narratives, and in the process redefine the genre of memoirs. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

LIS 460. Special Topics in Liberal Studies. 4 Hours.

Exploration of topics relating to Boyer Categories. Meets Liberal Studies elective requirement.

LIS 465. ECCE: Black Women Writers. 4 Hours.

Explores diverse writings by Black women: autobiography, fictions, poetry, social and literary criticism, and essays. Black Women Writers illuminate how they transcend under-representation in literature and academia, as well as the double oppression of being Black and female. Course Information: Same as AAS 465 and WGS 465. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

LIS 467. Rationality and Moral Choice. 3 Hours.

Ethical behavior is often the most rational approach to be pursued by groups. In this class you learn basic strategies of collaborative and competitive action within the theory of rationality and informal game theory. We focus on moral psychology, the social capital theory and their limitations. Students learn to factor in business ethics and environmental preservation within business rationality, strategy and globalization. The class involves cooperation with online students from the EU. Course Information: Same as PHI 447.

LIS 471. Honors Thesis. 2 Hours.

Design, development, and completion of a thesis, which must be completed during the term in which the student expects to graduate. To be taken as described in individual degree plans.

LIS 499. Independent Study: Tutorial. 1-8 Hours.

Focus on readings or research on trends and current issues in the student's area of study. In consultation with faculty, students define topics integral to satisfying their self-assessed learning needs. To be taken as described in individual degree plans. Course Information: Prerequisites: LIS 301 and program acceptance of degree plan. Credit/No Credit grading preferred, but grading allowed at the student's request and faculty sponser's discretion. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Restricted to Liberal Studies.