Power Play(ers): Actions and Their Consequences

Fall 2012, Winter 2013 and Spring 2013 quarters

Faculty

Paul McCreary mathematics, 3-D modeling , Suzanne Simons writing, journalism, sociology , Carl Waluconis , Arlen Speights computer studies , Frances Solomon , Barbara Laners law, political science , Peter Bacho law, creative writing, literature , Dorothy Anderson psychology , Mingxia Li biology, Chinese cultural studies, molecular pharmacology , Tyrus Smith environmental studies, public policy , Gilda Sheppard sociology, cultural and media studies

Fields of Study

communications, community studies, cultural studies, education, law and government policy, law and public policy, leadership studies and media arts

Preparatory for studies or careers in

social work, education, law, health care, public policy, media literacy, history, organizational management, biomedical sciences, environmental studies, literature, community activism and foreign policy.

Description

The program will explore colonial, postcolonial and neocolonial issues as they are unfolding on local, national and global stages. Colonialism has resurfaced in new forms of neocolonialism that we encounter in our daily lives and work. Emphasis is placed on how to recognize which generations of peoples were oppressed and forced to submit to exploitation and state and/or corporate sponsored tyrannies. Moreover, studies will center on how peoples acquire mental resistance to their hegemony, how to assert individual, family and community values and identities, and how to decipher and reframe meanings from information channeled through mass media. How to analyze the powers at play in societal structures, how to empower oneself and community, and how to understand the ways in which these structures of power and control impact the quality of life for ordinary people at home and abroad are some of the skills you will learn from "Power Player(s)."

This upper division program will examine local, national and foreign policy issues of the postcolonial and neocolonial world in education, health care, social welfare and the environment through interdisciplinary studies of law, bioethics, biomedical sciences, environmental science, the legislative process, organizational management, mathematics modeling, sociology, psychology, American and world history, media literacy, world literature and cultures. Research methods in social and natural sciences and statistics emphasized in this program will present you with a systematic approach and analytical tools to address real life issues in research practice throughout the activities of the program. Information and multimedia technology and biomedical laboratory technology will be employed in hands-on laboratory practice to enhance your academic capacity and power.

The theme for fall quarter is identifying the problem and clarifying the question. The first quarter of the program will be used to lay the foundation for the rest of the year, both substantively and in terms of the tools necessary to operate effectively in the learning community. We will explore theories, history and practices of colonialism. Colonialism will be analyzed from the perspectives of both political economy and history. In seminars, we will read, discuss and analyze texts that will add to our understanding of the ways in which colonialism and neocolonialism have created unequal distributions of power, wealth and access to resources.

Winter quarter's theme is researching the roots, causes, and potential solutions . We will look at specific contemporary issues of power viewed from a variety of institutional perspectives, most notably in health, education, law, science, government, politics, youth, environment, community development, women's empowerment and human rights. Students will investigate specific issues of unequal distributions of power with the purpose of identifying a particular problem, defining its dimensions, determining its causes, and establishing action plans for its remedy.

In the spring, the theme will progress to implementation. The program will devote the final quarter to the design and implementation of projects to address the issues of unequal distributions of power identified in winter quarter. Seminar groups will combine their efforts to undertake actions to target current imbalances of power in the community. These actions may take the form of educational events, publications, multimedia presentations or art installations. Academic courses will assist in the successful implementation and evaluation of the student group activities.

Advertised Schedule

All students attend Tuesdays and two additional days. A standard schedule consists of the core Lyceum course offered on Tuesdays (6 credits) and two 5-credit classes offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Location

Tacoma

Online Learning

Enhanced Online Learning

Books

Greener Store

Special Expenses

Approximately $50-$100 for media, lab and/or storage supplies.

Internship Possibilities

In spring quarter, with program coordinator and faculty advisor approval.

May be offered again in

2017-2018

Offered During

Day and Evening