(3 cr.) (S&H) (TFR) (MWF, 12:20 – 1:10) Assesses significant
contemporary world issues from multiple perspectives, including
ethics, history, cultural studies, sociology, economics and,
sometimes, the sciences.  Students will monitor current world
affairs outside of class through regularly accessed major U.S.
media. Each student will also select another nation and use its
media to see how perspectives on contemporary issues vary around the
world.  This class is for students who think they might want to know
more about what’s going on in the world today, why things are as
they are, and why these matters are important.  Guest speakers will
visit the class on occasion, bringing special expertise that’s
relevant to specific current issues.  Each student will make an
issue-related presentation in class during the last half of the
semester.  Grading will be based on this presentation, two short
papers, overall class contributions, and a one-on-one final oral
examination.