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DGS Course Descriptions


Here are the descriptions of our DGS courses, as taken from Highline's 2012-2013 Catolog.

 

Course Number and Title Course Description
DGS 110  Global Studies

Explores the impact of globalization and growing interdependence of the world. Focuses on timely issues and trends that impact students' everyday lives. Each section will have course materials organized around a specific topic, for example, regions of the world.
DGS 114  The Middle East Introduces the geography, history, politics and cultures of North Africa and Southwest Asia. We will use primary source documents, ethnographies, media presentations, video documentaries and fictional works in order to gain a comprehensive perspective on life in the Middle East region.
DGS 120  Society and the Arts Examines a theme through significant works of literature, visual art, music, and/or film. Theme varies, but it is always related to at least one of the following: (1) groups historically marginalized on the basis of culture, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class or disability; and/or (2) a culture or society traditionally underrepresented in the curriculum, e.g., cultures of Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Native America, Latin America and the Middle East. Focus is on expressions of identity and resistance to discrimination and stereotyping.
DGS 125  Media Matters Examines treatment of people of differing races, genders, classes or other socio-cultural differences in news, entertainment and advertising of people of differing races, genders and classes or those with other socio-cultural differences. Examination of the implications of topic selection and presentation, language usage, visual images, methods of emphasis contribute to analysis of what is truly fair and balanced coverage and representation of people's lives. This course is thematically based, with specific focuses such as defining gender, images of race, or class consciousness.
DGS 136  African American Roots Traces the social development of significant issues in the lives of black people in the U.S. through the civil-rights movement, including the legacy of slavery, family relations, gender construction, the role of religion, methods of resistance, the impact of segregation, political movements, the struggle for civil rights and the importance of cultural expression.
DGS 137  African American Experience Surveys changes in African-American culture and society in the post-Black Social Movement (BSM). Examination of Vietnam War on African-American society; economic and cultural changes in post-BSM African-American society; and contemporary issues in African-American culture: colorism; multiracial identity construction; hip-hop and other expressive culture formations; aesthetics and identity construction; gender relations; intergroup relations; African-Americans in the world system; changing U.S. demographics; and AIDS.
DGS 140  Asian American Roots Introduces an interdisciplinary examination of the Asian immigrant and Asian-American experience through World War II. Examines the idea of the "American," U.S. labor and immigration practices, exclusionary laws, citizenship, generational conflict and cultural kinship, identity formation, inter- and intra-group issues, the Hawaiian experience, the Japanese-American incarceration, gender issues, and issues of race and representation.
DGS 141  Asian American Experience Introduces an interdisciplinary examination of contemporary issues in the Asia-American experience. Examines the development of pan-Asian-American social, political and cultural movements following the Japanese-American incarceration and the 1965 Immigration Act; the model minority myth; U.S. labor and immigration practices; anti-Asian violence; general conflict; the contemporary Hawaiian experience; gender issues; hapas; and media and issues of race and representation.
DGS 150  The Latino Experience Introduces an interdisciplinary examination of the Latino experience in the United States. Topics include Latino ethnicity and identity formation; culture; racial and gender relations; socioeconomic and labor issues; immigration; language; and representation.
DGS 155  Native American Studies Introduces an interdisciplinary survey of the United States' contemporary Native American cultures and the complex issues confronting them. Study of American Indian history, literature, music and film. Particular emphasis upon Native peoples' historical and contemporary relationships with other American ethnic groups, the persistence of indigenous languages and traditional cultural values and current political events in Indian country.
DGS 156  Northwest Native Peoples Introduces an interdisciplinary survey of the traditions and cultures of Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska native peoples. Study of the Northwest and Alaska native peoples' history, literature, economic pursuits, music, film and indigenous languages. Particular emphasis on the Northwest and Alaska native peoples' historical static relationships with local, city, county, state and federal governments as well as with other Northwest tribes.
DGS 158  Language, Culture, and Power Examines the issue of the politics of language across U.S. history through a variety of media such as film, websites, literature, visual art, music and/or research-based articles. Topics covered include language and colonization, facts and controversies surrounding African American English, the rise of English-Only movements, linguistic rage and resistance, and language heritage and reclamation projects. Includes an introduction to socio-linguistic and/or multicultural rhetorical theory as tools for analysis.
DGS 160  Social Issues Examines a contemporary and/or historical sociocultural issue. Topics vary, but they are always considered from perspectives that have been historically marginalized or underrepresented in the curriculum. The course may focus on a topic within a specific cultural community or across a number of communities. Topics include the environment, law, migration, poverty, health and other areas.
DGS 162  Constitutional Law and Issues From a global perspective, this course will look at contemporary and historical Constitutional issues with respect to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and human rights. The topics will focus on the impact of substantive and procedural laws with respect to 1) Local, regional, global and socioeconomic integration and interdependence as dictated by Constitutional interpretation, 2) Societal/cultural group contributions to legal theory or systems, 3) Institutional oppression and dominant group privilege as dictated by Constitutional interpretation, 4) Prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and its impact on Constitutional interpretation, 5) The social construction of law, 6) Skills for confronting biased treatment and advocating for justice, 7) Dynamics of intercultural or intersocietal conflict and conflict resolution.
DGS 164  Sports Law and Issues of Diversity From a global perspective, this course will look at contemporary and historical sports law issues with respect to race, gender, religion, disability and civil rights. The topics will focus on the impact of substantive and procedural laws with respect to: 1) Local, regional, global and socioeconomic integration and interdependence as dictated by sports law, 2) Societal/cultural group contributions to legal theory or systems as they impact professional, collegiate and amateur sports, 3) Institutional oppression and dominant group privilege as dictated by sports law and policy, 4) Prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and its influence and impact on sports law, 5) The social construction of law and its intersection with sports, 6) Skills for confronting biased treatment and advocating for justice through professional and amateur sports, 7) Dynamics of intercultural or intersocietal conflict and conflict resolution in the dynamics of sports and sports law.
DGS 166  Immigration Law and the Rights of Non-Citizens From a global perspective, this course will survey the contemporary and historical immigration issues with respect to race, gender, religion and human rights. The course will focus on the impact of substantive and procedural laws including (1) Local, regional, global and socioeconomic integration and interdependence as dictated by immigration law; (2) Societal/cultural group contributions to legal theory or systems; (3)Institutional oppression and dominant group privilege as dictated by immigration law and policy; (4) Prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and its influence and impact on immigration law; (5) The social construction of law; (6) Skills for confronting biased treatment and advocating for justice; and (7) Dynamics of intercultural or inter-societal conflict and conflict resolution.
DGS 168  Legal Issues of Civil Rights Theory and Law Interdisciplinary study of the historical, political, social and legal development of civil law rights in the United States as applied to individuals based upon race, gender, origin/nationality, sexual identity, disability and religion. Study of the various movements and the resulting court cases and legislation will be examined and applied including an analysis of the similarities and uniqueness of each respective movement and an examination of the contemporary legal and sociological status of the movement.
DGS 170  International Human Rights, Policy, and Laws Interdisciplinary study of the historical, political and legal development of international human rights law and policy through a comprehensive analysis of the laws, theory, institutions, and practice of international human rights. Study of diverse societies response to its own human rights violations and the response of the dominant societies will be examined, including an analysis of underlying motives and political implications that consider cultural relativity with respect to human rights violations. Methods by which human rights violations are identified and pursued in the context of culture, religion and the mores of a particular society will be identified and discussed.
DGS 172  The LGBT Experience Introduces an interdisciplinary examination of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) experience within the United States and abroad. Topics include LGBT psychology, history, politics, literature/art, and mass media.
DGS 207  Cultural Awareness and Business Etiquette Analyze culture through an interdisciplinary lens that provides students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to appreciate and articulate diverse values and experiences and to cooperate effectively across cultural barriers in business, commerce, trade and industry . This course will study the ways that culture is depicted through advertising, television, and marketing and how this impacts business communication across cultures. Students will learn to participate in discussions about the impact and influence of multiple cultural perspectives and expectations, especially historically marginalized groups, and the resulting limits to cultural, social and economic development in their absence. Cultural awareness makes students aware of competing cultural beliefs and perceptions, and shows that diversity broadens and enhances the intellectual culture required to develop and maintain sustainable models of business, trade and commerce. This course also explores regional cultural profiles and business/social etiquette around the world.
DGS 210  Women and Society Introduces women's studies with a focus on women's social, creative, economic and political lives. Interdisciplinary analysis of social construction and enforcement of gender differences and inequalities. Examines how the intersection of gender, race, class, nationality and culture shape women's experiences. Topics may include women's rights, education, health and body images, as well as violence against women, feminist theory, media messages, popular culture, racism, sexual identities and activism in a global context. May be taught thematically.
DGS 212  Women Writers Examines a theme through significant works of women's literature. Theme varies, but it is always related to at least one of the following: (1) how women have been historically marginalized on the basis of gender as well as culture, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, class or disability; and/or (2) how women have been traditionally underrepresented in the curriculum. Focus is on expressions of identity and resistance to discrimination and stereotyping.
DGS 260  International Business A multidisciplinary study of the forces that shape and define global commerce. This course explores and analyzes the business and social impact of globalization and the inter-relationships among geography, culture, government and economics as they relate to the major business and trade functions in a global marketplace. Specific focus on the winners and losers of globalization with an in-depth look at issues such as access to education, political systems, resources, markets, human rights, child labor, poverty and other development factors that affect international trade policy and the ability of all countries and peoples to participate in the global economy.