<p>“Letters from prison sharply focus essential human questions: Is there free will? What is justice? How does society shape us? How can words serve as a fulcrum to change the world? Together we will read letters from those incarcerated in various times and places, both famous and infamouspolitical prisoners, convicted murderers, accused terrorists, and people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. From ancient Rome to modern Supermax facilities, how do prisoners understand their lives and what does this have to do with the rest of us? These writings can shock the conscience, delve deep into the soul, and shine a searing light on the world. In addition to reading letters, we will investigate how incarceration has been conceived of and used in different contexts. Films, research, guest speakers, and field trips will introduce us to diverse perspectives. Students will also have opportunities to write either to those who are incarcerated or on their behalf.”</p>
<p>This is a course description for a class called “Letters from Prison,” but the dept. is not identified on purpose so people aren’t tempted to choose classes from what they think they’d like if that makes sense. It sounds super interesting, but if it’s something like poly sci, pre-law, or government, I’d want to stay away. What dept. do you think it would come from? Soc? Anthro?</p>
<p>The first part of the course description sounds like Philosophy, specifically social and political philosophy. The later parts of the course description sounds like it could be Sociology, or possibly, Criminal Justice/Criminology. The questions and issues addressed are inherently interdisciplinary, so it’s hard to categorize this course as belonging to any single discipline.</p>
<p>Since this is a first-year seminar at Beloit College, its intent is not to come at a question from one perspective, but from many. That is, it is “interdisciplinary” on purpose, to pick up a word zapfino used. The point of this type of class is not to teach you the principals of a particular discipline but rather to enhance your critical thinking and writing skills, and to expose you to many different ways of looking at a particular topic.</p>
<p>It sounds mostly like philosophy, but like absweetmarie said, it sounds like an interdisciplinary class. Under the course catalogue listing though, I’d still say philosophy.</p>
<p>It’s just an odd question, because the fact is this particular course is in no department. It’s a first-year seminar at Beloit College. It is designed to be interdisciplinary and highly interactive (i.e., these are not courses where a professor stands at the front of the class lecturing; they are small courses that depend as much on student engagement as on faculty leadership, at least in theory). It will certainly be taught by someone in a particular department (could be an English prof just as easily as a Philosophy prof or a prof from one of the departments rbouwens initially suggested). The descriptions are written to make these first-year seminars sound interesting because they most likely are! The school wants people to think beyond and make connections across disciplinary boundaries. They also want to hone kids’ critical thinking, reading and writing skills.</p>
<p>^ ok, sounds good!!</p>