Integrative & Global Studies Department (DIGS)

By using material from the sciences and the humanities, this course examines the ways in which ideas of knowledge and of human nature have been fashioned. The specific topics include physical theories about light, biological and psychological theories of visual perception, and artistic theories and practices concerned with representation. The mixing of material from different academic disciplines is deliberate, and meant to counter the notion that human pursuits are “naturally” arranged in the neat packages found in the modern university. The course draws upon the physical and social sciences, and the humanities, to examine how those fields relate to one another, and how they produce knowledge and self-knowledge. Cultural as well as disciplinary factors are assessed in this process. Light, Vision and Understanding is conducted as a seminar. The diverse collection of reading materials includes a number of primary texts in different fields. In addition, the students keep a journal in which they record the results of numerous individual observations and experiments concerning light and visual perception. The course can fit into several Humanities and Arts topic areas as well as serve as a starting point for an IQP. There are no specific requirements for this course, although some knowledge of college-level physics, as well an acquaintance with the visual arts, is helpful. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in odd numbers.

The Great Problems Seminars (GPS) are a two course sequence designed to engage Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s first-year students with current events, societal problems, and human needs. Each seminar starts with an important problem and introduces some of the key disciplinary tools that could be used to attack the problem. The focus for most of the second course will be a research project related to the GPS theme. Students will present their project work in a poster session at the end of the second term. Each seminar is developed and presented by an interdisciplinary pair of faculty. To participate, students must enroll in the two course sequence. Academic credit for the GPS will depend on the theme and the faculty who develop the seminar.

This course is open to all students who are undecided about or are thinking about changing their academic major. Students will conduct a self-assessment utilizing career assessment tools, research majors of interest and career paths, attend major panels, speak to students/faculty in majors of interest, and participate in informational interviews with alumni. Students will meet individually with Peer Advisors and/or a CDC staff member at least three times throughout the course.

Rapidly developing technologies for computing, information management and communications have been quickly adopted in schools, businesses and homes. The growth of the Internet and of e-commerce, in particular, have given rise to an entirely new set of legal issues as the courts, Congress and international bodies struggle to keep pace with changing technology. This course addresses the government’s role in the development of these technologies and the legal issues that result including questions regarding privacy rights, speech and defamation, and the application of patent and copyright law. Policy questions such as surveillance of e-mail, regulation of content, mandates on the use of filters, and the responsibilities and liability of internet service providers are also discussed. Additional policies studied include attempts to control Internet content and enforce international judgments (resulting from e-commerce or cyber-crime) by foreign states and/or international organizations. Students are expected to integrate knowledge of technology with law, politics, economics and international affairs. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in odd numbers.

Every student that graduates from WPI has a major, but what about a mission? This course helps participants explore their personal values, strengths, and talents and the ways they can use these personal characteristics to improve the world around them. Through the course, participants will identify a personal mission and a plan to work toward achieving their mission. Participants will explore the ways their major and their mission can intersect. Students may not receive credit for ID 200X and ID 2000.

In this course, we will learn about the principles of epidemiology and the role epidemiologist play in responding to disease outbreaks and promoting public health through exploration of a series of real life cases studies. We will analyze the burden of communicable diseases today and emerging disease. We will discuss the role of current health practices and priorities as well as global organization and institutional players. Students will be introduced to the basic principles and methods used in epidemiology to study the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations and in the development of prevention and intervention strategies. The course will take an interdisciplinary approach as epidemiologist relay on many different disciplines such as biology for understanding disease processes, statistics for making efficient and appropriate use of data, social science for understanding behavior, and engineering for analysis and assessment tools. Class sessions will consist of lecture, intensive small group discussion, and case analyses. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in odd numbers.

This course studies images, topics, and cultural and historical issues related to modern Latin America and the Caribbean through Latin American and Caribbean films and other media sources. Within the context and influence of the New Latin American Cinema and within the context of the World Wide Web, radio, newspapers, and television, the course teaches students to recognize cinematographic or media strategies of persuasion and to understand the images and symbols utilized in the development of national/regional identity. Through film screenings, readings, discussions, and critical analyses, students will explore the unique cinematic styles, narrative techniques, and aesthetics that characterize Latin American film. Students will engage in research projects, presentations, and written critiques to enhance their understanding of the role of cinema as a tool for cultural expression and social change in Latin America. The topics to be studied are immigration, gender identity, national identity, political issues, and cultural hegemonies. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies and Latin American and Caribbean studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Latin America and the Caribbean. This course is taught at an advanced level of Spanish. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in even numbers. 

This course explores the diverse business environments across Latin America and its political environment, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the region's unique economic, political, social, and cultural landscapes. The basis of this course is a comparative study and analysis of specific Latin American and Caribbean business practices and environments, as well as the customs informing those practices. ID 3526/SP 3526 focuses on countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. The course's main objective is to study communication strategies, business protocol, and negotiation practices in the above-mentioned countries. Through oral presentations and written essays, students can explore other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies and Latin American and Caribbean studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Latin America and the Caribbean. This course is taught at an advanced level of Spanish. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in odd numbers. 

Conducted entirely in Spanish, SP 3527 Spanish for Business: Enhancing Global Communication is an upper-level course most appropriate for students who have completed SP 3522 (Advanced Spanish II). This course provides specialized training in language and culture for students interested in business and international relations. A portion of the course will be spent introducing the vocabulary and concepts related to commerce, trade, and business in general. The cultural component of the course examines topics such as how individuals from Spanish American countries negotiate their sense of identity, how outsiders adapt to Spanish American societies to negotiate their place in a new cultural context, how different groups in Spanish America perceive business and the complex history of trade. Readings include selections from literature, history, journalism, social analysis, and popular culture. Theoretical presentations by the instructor and theoretical readings will help students develop skills for analyzing cultural texts and dilemmas. The course will explore Latin American history and Spanish American perceptions of foreigners conducting business in a Spanish American context. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies and Latin American and Caribbean studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Spanish-speaking countries. This course is taught at an advanced level of Spanish.

This course will be offered in academic years ending in even numbers.

A survey of Caribbean literature and arts takes a multimedia approach to examine the different voices that resonate from the Spanish Caribbean and what appears to be a constant search for identity. By studying the works of prominent literary authors, films, music, and the plastic arts, we will study this region's socio-cultural context and traditions in a constant search for self-definition. Special attention will be given to the influential role ethnicity, colonialism, gender, and socio-economic development play in interpreting works from Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Spanish Caribbean basin, and those of the Caribbean diaspora. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and literary contributions of the Spanish Caribbean, developing skills in literary analysis, cultural interpretation, and critical thinking. Assignments will include essays, presentations, creative projects, and class discussions that foster a nuanced appreciation of the region's literary heritage. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies and Latin American and Caribbean studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Latin America and the Caribbean. This course is taught at an advanced level of Spanish. 

This course will be offered in academic years ending in even numbers.

This course explores Spanish cinema, tracing its evolution from the early 20th century to contemporary works. Students will study a range of films that reflect Spain's rich cultural, political, and social landscapes, analyzing themes such as identity, history, gender, and memory. Through Spanish cinema and other media sources, this course studies images, topics, and cultural and historical issues that have impacted the creation of a modern Spanish nation. This course focuses on current political and ideological issues (after 1936), the importance of the Spanish Civil War, gender identity, and class, cultural, and power relationships. Through screenings, discussions, and critical analysis, students will learn to interpret film as a medium of artistic expression and cultural commentary, developing an understanding of Spain's cinematic heritage. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Spain. This course is taught at an advanced level of Spanish.

This course will be offered in academic years ending in even numbers. 

Contemporary U.S. Latino Literature and Culture aims to introduce you to the field of Latino Studies, which emerged around the 1990s. We'll pay particular attention to the English-language cultural production - literature, autobiography, film, music, and criticism - of Latinos linked to four main territories: Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. While our transnational framework will help us understand the continuum between U.S. Latinos and Latin American/Caribbean communities. Indeed, part of our challenge will be to define what the label "Latino" even means. What is Latino literature? In what language do Latinos write? What makes a work Latino? We will thus examine the ways in which U.S. Latinos have manufactured identities within dominant as well as counter-cultural registers. Using identity as a base, we will grapple with collective concerns regarding race, gender, place, exile, immigration, and language. Our readings and discussions will be in English and Spanglish. This course satisfies the Inquiry Seminar to complete the HUA requirement in Spanish and would also count toward International and Global Studies and Latin American and Caribbean studies. In addition, this course would benefit students interested in WPI's Project Centers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This course will be offered in academic years ending in odd numbers.