• INST 2500

    Interdisciplinary Studies International Residential College
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Individual faculty and advanced graduate students may teach these courses with the approval of the Dean's Office, which acts for the Committee on Education Policy and the Curriculum. A maximum of 3.0 credits count toward the B.A. or B.S. in the College. INST courses count as non-College credits.

  • INST 2550

    Interdisciplinary Studies Hereford College
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    1.50

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Individual faculty and advanced graduate students may teach these courses with the approval of the Dean's Office, which acts for the Committee on Education Policy and the Curriculum. A maximum of 3.0 credits count toward the B.A. or B.S. in the College. INST courses count as non-College credits.

  • INST 2570

    Interdisciplinary Studies Brown College
     Rating

    3.78

     Difficulty

    2.33

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Individual faculty and advanced graduate students may teach these courses with the approval of the Dean's Office, which acts for the Committee on Education Policy and the Curriculum. A maximum of 3.0 credits count toward the B.A. or B.S. in the College. INST courses count as non-College credits.

  • ISLS 3000

    Transformations: Reading, Thinking, and Communicating in the Liberal Arts
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.46

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Develops reading, writing, critical thinking, technology and research proficiencies necessary for success at college level and beyond; orients students to the culture of the University and the community of the BIS program. Introduces the breadth of campus resources and addresses academic advising; utilizes the theme of transformation as subject matter for reading, writing and discussion to provide opportunities for multi-disciplinary exploration.

  • ISLS 3010

    Nationalism and National Identity
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.47

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Focuses on theories about the origins of nations; examines the historical and cultural substance of nations; and explores related questions about national identity, nationalism, ethnic violence, and citizenship. Considers contemporary alternatives to national identity, such as supranational movements and multinational organizations.

  • ISHU 3090

    Religion in America
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines the concept of America and to what extent it is a product of religious mindsets of particular times. Explores multi-media materials, including: Hollywood films, 20th Century folk music, literature of the west, 18th Century primary sources, 19th Century theses on American identity, and 20th Century journalism and criticism.

  • INST 3150

    CavEd Pedagogy Seminar
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    This pedagogy seminar will provide Cav Ed student instructors the theoretical underpinnings of teaching in higher education as well as practical advice on ways to implement the ideas explored. The class explores also specific challenges instructors face in the classroom.Prerequisites: Open to students who are teaching CavEd courses, admission by instructor permission

  • ISSS 3160

    Democracy in America
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.09

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines democracy, free speech, elections and the press; considers the role of a free press in a time of civil discord, challenges to free speech in America at large and on college campuses; evaluates threats to democracy and the electoral process by analyzing Russian hacking and the role of PACs and Super PACs; examines mainstream and social media, "fake news" and posits if democracy can survive in a culture of 24/7 news coverage and "tweets."

  • ISHU 3170

    The Writer as Cartographer: A Class in Poetry and Memoir
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.70

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Just as a cartographer is one who makes maps, projecting an area of the earth's surface on a flat plane, so is a writer able to transform an imagined shape into real shape. In much the manner of a cartographer, a writer must "brave the elements" in order to come closer to an understanding of what is mysterious. With a focus upon poetry and memoir, this class will ask students to read widely, to respond to assigned readings through essays and annotations, to produce creative work on a weekly basis, and to share such work openly in a workshop setting.

  • ISSS 3180

    Critical Issues in Democracy
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.53

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Explores several critical issues in democracy, relating to both the United States and countries abroad, such as: the examination of ancient and modern theories of democracy, political parties, the Presidency, voting, foreign policy, and the development of international relations.

  • ISHU 3183

    Writing the Story of Your Life: Creative Nonfiction
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.75

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Student learns how to bring together the imaginative strategies of fictional story telling with new ways of narrating true, real-life events. Explores how Creative Nonfiction writing allows you to share your stories in compelling ways, helps you write effectively in professional and personal situations, and provides new ways for you to document real-life experiences as they occurred.

  • ISHU 3185

    Literature About the Body
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Explores the relationship between the physical body and human identity through such topics as body image, eating disorders, sexuality, aging, disease and its affects on the body by reading and discussion of short stories, poems, and novels. Engages students in frequent formal and informal writing, beginning with personal narratives and journal responses.

  • ISLS 3190

    Good Cop/Bad Cop
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    3.51

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    This course examines the current use of the police power in a variety of situations, informed by the past and motivated by the future. Particular emphasis is on contemporary real-life examples to inform the discussion on the proper use of the police power. Those examples are subjected to a variety of perspectives, societal and individual, to gain a fuller understanding of the delicate balance of competing values. 

  • ISHU 3193

    Writing About the Environment
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.82

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Focuses on classic, contemporary, and non-traditional literature about the environment. The course is divided into three sections: nature writing, place-based writing, and environmental writing. Readings focus on issues beyond landscape as gender, race, politics, ethics, and culture all play a part in environmental writing.

  • ISLS 3210

    The Frost is Hard-Edged and Quick: Metaphor - Making a Final Unity
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.61

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    What is a metaphor? What role does it play in the way we see the world, ourselves and others? What metaphors guide our own thinking - as a society and a culture about politics, crime, illness, ourselves, love and life? If we take metaphor seriously, is it possible to draw a hard line between fact and fiction, between arts and sciences, between the objective and subjective? Does metaphor refute reason? In this course students investigate these and related questions using a variety of media. Texts will be drawn from a spectrum of disciplines including poetry, cognitive psychology, linguistics, philosophy, literature and literary criticism.

  • ISHU 3304

    The Films of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.33

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Studies the films of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, two very different but equally creative filmmakers who explored their medium with an intensive imagination. Analyzes such films as Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, Vertigo, and Psycho, examining what makes them work and looking at the cultural and historical context of the films.

  • ISSS 3305

    The Impact of Media on the Development of Popular Culture
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.55

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Examines the media's role in conveying cultural meaning through popular culture. Analyzes the histories and theories underlying media and popular culture; focusing on print, film, radio, television, the internet, and social media. Critiques contemporary popular culture through music, movies, tv programming, advertising, sports, fashion, celebrity culture, language, and collective public expression.

  • ISHU 3310

    Film, History, Politics, and Controversy
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines movie case studies that aroused controversy. Analyzes the messages these movies communicated on the screen. Considers what the filmmakers intended to communicate, and how audiences and media critics responded to the portrayals.

  • ISLS 3360

    The Role of Memory and The Human Condition
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.76

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Focuses on the the human condition and uses literature to examine the role of memory.

  • ISBU 3410

    Commercial Law
     Rating

    3.08

     Difficulty

    1.75

     GPA

    3.36

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Surveys the American legal system and principles of constitutional, criminal, and tort law, emphasizing legal issues related to contracts, agency, corporations, and partnerships.

  • ISSS 3410

    Topics in Abnormal Psychology
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    2.98

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Examines biological and genetic predispositions for major mental illness diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar, and personality disorders. Explores current treatment models, including medication and therapy interventions. Engages students in analyzing recent scholarly articles and clinical case studies; and conducting independent research.

  • ISSS 3411

    Topics in Personality Psychology
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.76

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Explores major theoretical approaches to understanding the development, structure, and dynamics of personality. Analyzes recent scholarship and various research methods, with projects for students to apply leading theories in real-world social and professional settings.

  • ISSS 3416

    Social Psychology in The Modern World
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.63

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines major theories of social influence and human relations, with a focus on research methodologies and recent findings. Covers topics such as social cognition, self-concept, attitudes, persuasion, conformity, aggression, helping behavior, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships. Provides opportunities for students to critically examine the scientific literature and undertake research assignments to apply theory to modern societal issues.

  • ISBU 3422

    Managing your Emotions in the Workplace
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.75

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Gives a fundamental overview of Emotional Intelligence and shows how understanding Emotional Intelligence leads to a beneficial working career and personal life. Presents an E.I. competence framework and reviews basic domains, such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management through various methods to promote learning by doing. Applies theoretical concepts to real world situations.

  • ISSS 3422

    Managing Your Emotions in the Workplace
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.59

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Gives a fundamental overview of Emotional Intelligence and shows how understanding Emotional Intelligence leads to a beneficial working career and personal life. Presents an E.I. competence framework and reviews basic domains, such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management through various methods to promote learning by doing. Applies theoretical concepts to real world situations.

  • ISSS 3460

    Lifespan Development
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.88

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores an individual's psychological development in today's world. Investigates communication and relationships among individuals, families, and societies. Examines cognitive, social and emotional developmental changes that affect one's self and environment. Considers how technology influences many aspects of development including research in genetics, involvement with computers and apps, application of new medical research, and aging.

  • ISSS 3501

    Explorations: Themes in the Social Sciences and Humanities
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores one significant theme in the social sciences and/or humanities such as liberation, power, equality, diversity, rights, justice, war, happiness, love, and beauty, through the study of one significant and influential classic or contemporary book or  work of art. Students engage with the subject and enhance their critical reading, writing, thinking, and discussion skills.

  • ISHU 3501

    Explorations: Themes in the Social Sciences and Humanities
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores one significant theme in the social sciences and/or humanities such as liberation, power, equality, diversity, rights, justice, war, happiness, love, and beauty, through the study of one significant and influential classic or contemporary book or work of art. Students engage with the subject and enhance their critical reading, writing, thinking, and discussion skills.

  • INST 3600

    The Best of UVA: A Collection of Unforgettable Lectures
     Rating

    3.20

     Difficulty

    1.40

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    The Best of UVA: A Collection of Unforgettable Lectures

  • ISBU 3610

    Organizational Behavior
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.56

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Studies the basic theories and research related to the practices of contemporary organizational behavior. Emphasizes the interpersonal skills that promote individual, group, and organizational effectiveness. Class activities are interactive and include experiential exercises, case analyses, and collaborative learning.

  • ISSS 3610

    Contemporary Problems in Econ
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.21

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Provides students with the conceptual framework and methods of economic science necessary for analyzing a variety of contemporary economic problems. The usefulness of these economic concepts will be taught as applications to specific public policy issues.

  • ISHU 3621

    The Biological Basis for Art
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.80

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Investigates the idea of approaching art as a form of human evolution. Examines the art of several past and present cultures. Blends art and science to connect aesthetics to an understanding of human nature from the cognitive and biological sciences. Examines existing personal and cultural theories of art and art criticism.

  • ISSS 3670

    Ethnic and Race Relations
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.75

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Introduces the study of race and ethnic relations, including the social and economic conditions promoting prejudice, racism, discrimination, and segregation. Examines contemporary American conditions, and historical and international materials.

  • ISBU 3710

    Managerial Finance
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.38

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Principles and practices of business finance focusing on managerial decision-making in financial policy. Topics include capital structure, types of securities and their use in raising funds, risk, valuation, and allocating resources for investment. Prerequisite: ISBU concentration prerequisites or instructor permission.

  • ISSS 3720

    Witchcraft
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Surveys Western attitudes toward magic and witchcraft from ancient times to the present, with emphasis on the European age of witch hunting, 1450-1750.

  • ISBU 3760

    Issues in Leadership
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Designed to serve as an overview and exploration in the ever-growing field of leadership studies, the purpose of this course is to learn about leadership- to be better at leadership, whether in an organization, community, family, or some other context. A wide-range of topics and issues will be examined through historical and modern conceptions, case studies, moral and ethical sides of leadership, and focused looks at crisis leadership.

  • ISSS 3760

    Issues in Leadership
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.33

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Designed to serve as an overview and exploration in the ever-growing field of leadership studies, the purpose of this course is to learn about leadership- to be better at leadership, whether in an organization, community, family, or some other context. A wide-range of topics and issues will be examined through historical and modern conceptions, case studies, moral and ethical sides of leadership, and focused looks at crisis leadership.

  • ISLS 3780

    An Examination of the Criminal Justice System
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.67

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Provides students with an overview and understanding of the criminal justice system as a social institution inside of the American institution. Enables students to gain an understanding of the various components of the criminal justice system and its responsibilities to include courts, corrections, and law enforcements.

  • ISHU 3901

    Dance: Anthropological Origins of Dance and Music in World Cultures
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.67

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Examines the anthropological origins of dance history in world cultures. Discusses the importance of dance to define and preserve the historic traditions within a culture. Explores the inherent relationship between dance and music within both the socio-cultural and folk aspects, as well as the ceremonial, religious, and ritual aspects of a culture.

  • ISSS 4060

    War and World Politics
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.47

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores the causes of war, evolution and advances in military strategy, historical case studies, and contemporary issues of nuclear weapons, humanitarian war, and war against terrorism through major scholarly works, primary documents, films, class discussions, papers, and lectures.

  • ISHU 4165

    American Directors
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.10

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Investigates the work of contemporary filmmakers, each with a unique style and an approach to film that combines stylistic innovation with a particular cultural vision.

  • ISHU 4180

    The Nature of the Hero and How to Create One
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.72

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Focuses on plot, point of view, discovery of theme, recognition and reversal, and writing in scene, for writers of fiction, nonfiction, screenplays and memoir. Creates an understanding of how stories are shaped and told. Explores Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, which distills the stories told in every culture into a framework for one's own story.

  • INST 4200

    Lawn Seminar
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Being a responsible leader requires a broad interest and understanding of the world in all its facets: arts, science, literature, philosophy, history, politics, and current affairs. The Lawn Seminar is designed to empower students to pursue rigorous inquiry into contemporary issues using a foundation in the liberal arts. This seminar is modeled after the famous undergraduate liberal arts seminar lead by Earnest "Boots" Mead at the University.

  • ISSS 4301

    History of Social Protest Movements Through Music
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    Examines the history of American protest movements by looking at music from the 1900s to 2000. Analyzes readings and analyzes music from that period. Explores movements such as the populist movement, labor movements, anti-war protests, the civil rights movement, the women's movement, peace movements, and environmental movements.

  • ISSS 4314

    The World of Theodore Roosevelt
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.51

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Explores Theodore Roosevelt's life. Investigates key political, economic, social, and cultural developments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that Roosevelt experienced and, in some cases, influenced.

  • ISSS 4320

    Colonial America
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines America's colonial period to the eve of the American Revolution. Investigates people, cultures, institutions, and events of the period. Explores later American issues and debates, such as freedom and slavery, warfare, religion and revival, race, class, and how they influenced commercialism.

  • ISSS 4450

    Sociology of the American Family
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.50

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Explores the sociology of the American family, including: family change through American history; poverty and family life; alternative families (including single-by-choice parenting and gay marriage), and the effects of marriage and divorce on the lives of adults and children.

  • ISSS 4458

    The Cold War
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.14

    Last Taught

    Summer 2024

    This course examines both Russian and American foreign policy at several critical points during the conflict. Through major scholarly works, primary documents, films, class discussions, papers, and lectures students will work together to better understand the Cold War and gain a fuller understanding of its political, military, cultural, economic, and ideological impact at home and abroad. The following questions will be explored: 1) How did the Cold War start?; 2) What were some of the important decisions made during the conflict, and why?; 3) Why did the Cold War end the way it did?

  • IMP 4600

    Echols Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Optional Thesis for Echols Interdisciplinary Majors

  • ISBU 4680

    Entrepreneurship
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    3.46

    Last Taught

    Spring 2024

    Explores the process of creating and managing new ventures. Studies how to evaluate new opportunities, the early growth of the enterprise, the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, and venture capital investment.

  • IMP 4970

    Interdisciplinary Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Fall 2024

    Required Thesis for Interdisciplinary majors.

  • IMP 4971

    Interdisciplinary Thesis
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Required Thesis for Interdisciplinary majors.

  • INST 4983

    Citizen Leaders Fellowship Practicum
     Rating

     Difficulty

     GPA

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Citizen Leaders Fellowship Practicum is a short course paired with the year-long Citizen Leaders Fellowship. This course equips students with ethnographic and contemplative practices to develop their understanding of difference, belonging and ethical leadership. It also provides mentorship, support, and guidance as fellows design, implement, and assess a semester-long project based on their own vision for student flourishing.