Nova Forum Fall 2024 Course Guide

Catholic students might think of their coursework and their faith as two separate things, but the Catholic intellectual tradition is so vast that many USC courses intersect with it in different ways. Below is a list of USC courses that Catholic students might find fruitful. These are not Catholic studies courses, nor are the instructors necessarily Catholic. Some students might find their views challenged, and the USC Caruso Catholic Center cannot endorse everything that students might be taught in a given course. Yet we encourage students to explore these courses with confidence, in dialogue with trusted mentors, and to approach their ongoing formation as thinkers as something directly relevant to their Catholic faith. As St. Augustine teaches: “All truth is God’s truth.” If you have questions about these courses or instructors, please let us know! You can email us here: novaforum@catholictrojan.org.

Art History

  • AHIS 120gp: Foundations of Western Art: Prehistoric to Renaissance

Instructor: Ann Marie Yasin

Description: Mediterranean and European art and architecture presented in historical, cultural, and social context that introduces art history as a discipline.

Classics

  • **CLAS 151: ** Legacy of Rome

Instructor: Stefano Rebeggiani

Description: Ancient Roman values, ideas, and institutions of relevance to later periods of civilization

English

  • **ENGL 230g: ** Shakespeare and His Times

Instructor: Steven Minas

Description: Close study of Shakespeare's plays and poems to introduce his language, stagecraft, literary "genius," social and literary contexts, precursors and rivals, and legacy.

  • **ENGL 261g: ** English Literature to 1800

Instructor: Thea Tomaini, Ian Smith, Steven Minas

Description: Intensive reading of major writers to 1800.

  • ENGL 304: Introduction to Poetry Writing

Instructor: Molly Bendall, Robin Lewis

Description: Introduction to the techniques and practice of writing poetry.

  • ENGL 520: Renaissance English Literatures and Cultures

Instructor: Heather James

Description: Studies in poetry and patronage, the popular traditions in literature and drama, the social and sexual dynamics of comedy, historical and cultural uses of genres, among other topics.

History

  • **HIST 103: ** The Emergence of Modern Europe

Instructor: Lindsey O'Neill

Description: Political, Intellectual, and cultural developments in Europe, 1300-1815. Renaissance and Reformation; absolute monarch, scientific changes, and Enlightenment; French Revolution and Napoleon

  • **HIST 240: ** History of California

Instructor: Andrew Shaler

Description: A thematic approach to California history from precontact to present; focus on peoples, environment, economic, social, and cultural development, politics, and rise to global influence.

  • **HIST 250g: ** Climate Change: Science, History and Solutions

Instructor: Joshua Goldstein, Victoria Petryshyn

Description: History and science of anthropogenic climate change; climate dynamics; carbon cycle; climate modeling; fossil fuel economy; climate denial and political tactics; group research of solutions.

Judaic Studies

  • JS 100: Jewish History

Instructor: Ariel Berger, Leah Hochman

Description: Major ideas, personalities, and movements in Jewish history from antiquity to the present in light of interaction of the Jews with the general culture.

  • JS 180: Judaism

Instructor: Sarah Benor, Leah Hochman

Description: Jewish beliefs, practices, and history from the biblical period to the present; Judaic contributions to Western civilization.

  • JS 211: The Holocaust

Instructor: Leah Hochman, Michael Rom

Description: Historical background and responses to the Holocaust, with special emphasis on ethical implications.

Philosophy

  • PHIL 103: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in Europe, from Renaissance to Enlightenment

Instructor: Jacob Soll

Description: Introductions to the central ideas of philosophy, science, politics and economics in western European history between 1450 and 1800.

Religion

  • REL 301g: Introduction to the Study of Religion

Instructor: Sheila Briggs

Description: Survey of academic approaches to the study of religion.

Slavic Languages and Literature

  • **SLL 345: ** Literature and Philosphy: Dostoevsky

Instructor: Peter Winsky

Description: Dostoevsky's novels as psychological and philosophical analyses of modern alienated man. Readings in Dostoevsky and selctions from Gide, Kafka, Camus, and Sarte. Conducted in English.

Thematic Option

  • **Core 200: ** Liberal Arts Reading Salon

Instructor: Trisha Tucker

Description: Critical readings of a series of texts in the liberal arts designed to promote discussion of important themes, theoretical approaches, research directions, and interdisciplinary connections.