Metropolitan Seminar (Section One):
Community Building
Instructor: Susan Rans, M.A.
This seminar will use the city as a laboratory as we examine the ways in which people come together to address issues, make change, and become true neighbors. We will learn some of the language of the field and examine its texts. But we will also spend time with many community leaders and activists who believe that the way to a better, healthier and more just city is in their hands and the hands of their neighbors.
Metropolitan Seminar (Section Two):
Diversity and Inequality in Global Chicago
Instructor: Rebecca Burwell, Ph.D.
In this seminar, we will explore the rich diversity of urban life by experiencing, researching, and discussing the city of Chicago and the global processes that have shaped it. In particular, we will examine the various expressions of urban social, cultural, political, and economic life, including immigration patterns and the growth in the Latino community; race, gender, and ethnic relations; churches’ roles in community building and social movements; and issues such as displacement, racism, and poverty, among others.
Metropolitan Seminar (Section Three):
Public Art
Instructor: Clinton Stockwell, Ph.D.
This seminar will focus on the public art in Chicago. We will explore the significance of the city’s architecture, sculpture, parks, community murals and city design. The seminar will seek to understand and critique the impact of the city’s built environment on its residents through field trips, guest speakers, readings and class discussions. The course will address issues of environmental sustainability, aesthetic beauty and the importance of a shared civic culture.