This course examines works of literature dealing overtly with illness and healing, works about or by physicians and other caregivers, and works that raise questions about ethical behavior in the face of sickness.
Learning Outcomes:
• Textual/Visual/Material Analysis: Students will learn to read, analyze, and interpret cultural projects as well as scientific and technical documents.
- Historical Analysis: Students will study literary and cultural texts within an historical framework to become familiar with the various forces that shape artistic and commercial production. They will learn to interpret history actively, rather than passively accepting archival information
William Carlos Williams The Doctor Stories
Richard Powers Bewilderment
Margaret Edson Wit
Albert Camus The Plague
Cormac McCarthy Stella Maris
Course Requirements:
Discussion Postings: 20%
Final Project: 40%
Hour Test #1: 20%
Hour Test #2: 20%
Class attendance is mandatory. First two absences are excused, further unexcused absences reduces final grade by 5 points each.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence