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Term
Time & Day Offered
Level
Credits
Course Duration

Political Ideologies in Action: American Conservatism — POL2209.01

Fall 2026
Instructor: John Hultgren
Days & Time: MO,TH 1:40pm-3:30pm
Credits: 4

Contemporary American conservatism has evolved considerably from its historical roots in the ideologies of classical conservatism and classical liberalism. How did we get from Edmund Burke to Steve Bannon? From the Federalists to the Freedom Caucus? To gain insight into these questions, this course will explore how the aforementioned ideologies have intersected with four

Politics

Political Ideologies in Action: American Conservatism — SCT2107.01

Fall 2020
Instructor: John Hultgren
Credits: 4
Contemporary American conservatism has moved a long way from its historical roots in the ideologies of classical conservatism and classical liberalism. How did we get from Edmund Burke to Donald Trump? From the Federalists to the Freedom Caucus? With an election looming, and chaos unfolding, this course will explore how the aforementioned ideologies have intersected with four
CAPA Society Culture and Thought

Political Ideologies in Action: Socialism in the United States — POL4241.01

Spring 2023
Instructor: John Hultgren
Credits: 4
In his 1906 work, "Why is there no socialism in the United States?," German sociologist Werner Sombart famously mused that American socialism had been ship-wrecked “on reefs of roast beef and apple pie.” While the relative affluence of American workers certainly impacted Leftist organizing at that time, there is a storied history of socialist thought and practice in the United
Society Culture and Thought

Political Ideologies in Action: Socialism in the United States — POL4241.01

Spring 2025
Instructor: John Hultgren
Credits: 4
In his 1906 work, “Why is there no socialism in the United States?,” German sociologist Werner Sombart famously mused that American socialism had been ship-wrecked “on reefs of roast beef and apple pie.” While the relative affluence of American workers certainly impacted Leftist organizing at that time, there is a storied history of socialist thought and practice in the United
Society Culture and Thought

Political Psychology — PSY2211.01

Fall 2016
Instructor: Eileen Scully
Credits: 4
Why do people support Donald Trump? Why does part of the public think same-sex marriage is a human right, while the other sees it as destroying the family? Why do some look at Israel and see a liberal, innovative state, and others a racist one? In this class we will explore these questions using the lens of Political Psychology. In addition to discussing key theories in the
Society Culture and Thought

Political Theory Workshop — POL4402.01

Fall 2026
Instructor: John Hultgren
Days & Time: WE 10:00am-11:50am
Credits: 2

“For those who are concerned with the history of political theories,” Sheldon Wolin wrote in a 1969 essay, “the vocation has become a demanding one at the present time.” If Wolin was alarmed then by the drive to render the study of politics “scientific” – thus relegating political theory to the dust-bin of

Politics

Politics and Governance in Africa — POL4237.01

Fall 2013
Instructor: Rotimi Suberu
Days & Time: TBA
Credits: 4
Among regions of the world, Africa is more or less unique for its large number of fragile and unstable states, poor governance, explosive social and demographic pressures, and recent hopeful economic and political transitions. This course surveys the big questions, enduring challenges, and leading theories of contemporary African politics and governance. Themes to be explored
Social Science

Politics and Governance in Africa — POL4237.01

Fall 2018
Instructor: Rotimi Suberu
Credits: 4
Among regions of the world, Africa is more or less unique for its large number of fragile and unstable states, poor governance, explosive social and demographic pressures, and recent hopeful economic and political transitions. This course surveys the big questions, enduring challenges, and leading theories of contemporary African politics and governance. Themes to be explored
Society Culture and Thought

Politics of Judgment: Who Am I to Judge? — POL2106.01

Spring 2016
Instructor: Eileen Scully
Credits: 4
The faculty of judgment might be thought of as the capacity to make decisions and choices in the absence of principles or procedures that dictate or generate "correct" answers. In this course we will ask what is required of "good judgment" in politics and of whom its practice should be required, with particular attention to democratic theory and practice. Is
Society Culture and Thought

Polynomials and Geometry — MAT2117.01

Fall 2018
Instructor: Andrew McIntyre
Credits: 4
This course builds on and extends high school algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. It develops these topics from a classical and historical perspective. It is one good entry point for students who are confident with high school algebra and precalculus, and it may be used as a prerequisite for Calculus A, Linear Algebra, and some other more advanced mathematics classes. Topics
Science and Mathematics

Polyrhythms — MPF4124.01

Spring 2018
Instructor: Susie Ibarra
Credits: 2
This performance ensemble will study polyrhythmic theory practiced in the Sub-Sahara, Southeast Asia , Caribbean , and Western music cultures. The individuals and ensemble will learn to play music that incorporates playing two or more contradicting rhythms at once. Each student will compose a piece for the ensemble to perform that is influenced by one or more of the
Music

Pop Culture in Modern China — CHI4401.01

Spring 2017
Instructor: Ginger Lin
Credits: 4
Understanding pop culture in modern China is no small effort. This course is not designed to do a comprehensive survey of popular culture in modern China. Instead we will explore ways of listening, speaking, reading, watching, seeing and writing to learn Mandarin Chinese through various forms of pop culture including TV shows, films, sports, newspapers, rock music, and posters
Languages

Pop Culture in Taiwan — CHI4123.01

Fall 2024
Instructor: Ginger Lin
Credits: 4
In this course, a selection of audio, video, and print media on pop music, food, fashion, and social media, among other aspects of popular culture In Taiwan, will serve as a source of authentic input for the study. Students will explore the role of pop culture in shaping modern Taiwanese and Chinese societies through in-class discussions while developing their competencies in
Cultural Studies and Languages

Pop-Up: Election 2016 and What Comes After — POP2271.03

Fall 2016
Instructor:
Credits: 1
In this pop-up module we will talk about the election and what comes after. We will talk about different ways of approaching voting--single issue voter? party stalwart? on the fence? trying to take everything into account? We will explore together what issues and concerns drive our thinking about the election and voting tendencies. We will watch the final presidential debate of
CAPA

Pop-Up: Feminist Praxis — POP2325.03

Spring 2016
Instructor:
Credits: 1
During the month of April, 2016 Utopia Is No Place, Utopia Is Process will transform Usdan Gallery into a platform for critical feminist pedagogy. The project was inspired by Bennington’s experimental curricula and its history as a women’s college. In lieu of a traditional exhibition, resources such as a library, screening series, printing press, meeting space, and discussion
Modules: Transferable Approaches

Pop-Up: Gravitational Waves: Observing Spacetime for the First Time — POP2256.02

Spring 2016
Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Credits: 1
Early in the morning on September 14, 2015, two 4 kilometer long laser tunnels in opposite corners of the country measured a very subtle expansion and contraction, significantly smaller than the diameter of an atom. The minuscule flexing of space, detected by the LIGO project, was caused by gravitational waves passing through Earth. These waves originated from the merger of two
Modules: Transferable Approaches Science Mathematics and Computing

Pop-Up: Resistance 101: Organizing in a Time of Uncertainty — POP2276.04

Fall 2016
Instructor:
Credits: 1
The election has engendered a deep desire to organize and resist the potentially reactionary politics that lie ahead. In order to so effectively, it is necessary to learn from the giants who have come before us. This course proposes to do so by engaging with theories, models and histories of social movement organizing. We'll do so mainly through the lens of three activist

Pop-Up: The Semiotics of Trump — POP2260.03

Spring 2016
Instructor:
Credits: 1
In this pop-up course, we will be deconstructing a media spectacle by studying its signs, symbols, and discourse. Using the Donald Trump presidential campaign as a case study, we will observe the visual codes and linguistic scaffolding of political ‘branding’ and messaging. We will explore various registers of populist and authoritarian rhetoric by carefully analyzing how those
CAPA

Pop-Up: Understanding PFOA in Our Water — POP2257.02

Spring 2016
Instructor: David Bond, Janet Foley, Tim Schroeder
Credits: 2
The water supply of Hoosick Falls, NY, Bennington’s western neighbor, has been contaminated with Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by past industrial activity. PFOA is an “emerging contaminant” that is correlated with a range of health problems. This course will investigate the social and physical aspects of this ongoing disaster, from how the regulation of chemicals in the US
CAPA Science Mathematics and Computing Environment

Pop-Up> Nepal: Before and After the Earthquake — MOD2154.01

Spring 2015
Instructor: Noah Coburn
Credits: 1
The recent tragic earthquake in Nepal thrust the small country of 25 million into the media spotlight, taking little time to reflect on the lives of those living in the damaged region. What is the existing political and cultural context into where this rebuilding effort will take place? What is the devastation and flood of aid money likely to alter? This course is a study of
Modules: Transferable Approaches

Popular Culture and Music in Post-Colonial Africa — MET2140.01

Fall 2025
Instructor: Joseph Alpar
Days & Time: TU 2:10pm-4:00pm
Credits: 2

In this course we will examine the role of music as a vehicle for political and social change in Africa. Our focus will be music-making throughout the continent of Africa during the nationalist struggles that resulted in independent African states and how musicians responded (and continue to respond) to the persistent challenges faced by those post-colonial states. We will

Black Studies Ethnomusicology Music History Anthropology

Popular Culture and Music in Post-Colonial Africa: From Palm Wine to Kuduro — MHI2253.02

Fall 2020
Instructor: Joseph Alpar
Credits: 2
In this course we will examine the role of music as a vehicle for political and social change in Africa. Our focus will be music-making throughout the continent of Africa during the nationalist struggles that resulted in independent African states and how musicians responded (and continue to respond) to the persistent challenges faced by those post-colonial states. We will
CAPA Music Society Culture and Thought