Courses
OSPOXFRD 15. British Architecture and the Renaissance: 1500-1850. 4-5 Units.
The influence of classicism and the Renaissance. Insights into European art and architecture and the history of Britain from the Tudor era to the Industrial Revolution. Study trips to London and elsewhere in England.
OSPOXFRD 17. Novels of Sensation: Gothic, Detective Story, Prohibition, and Transgression in Victorian Fiction. 5 Units.
Literary and moral value of transgressive sub-genres of the novel; what they reveal about Victorian society's anxiety over prohibited elements in the domestic and public spheres. Sources include gothic and detective novels.
OSPOXFRD 18. Making Public Policy: An Introduction to Political Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. 4-5 Units.
UK and U.S. What should society look like? How should incomes be distributed? How should it be taxed? How much inequality is acceptable? The overlap of economics with practical politics through political philosophy behind the government decisions; how public policy ought to be formulated. Issues include poverty, environmental policy, trade and globalization, and transport.
OSPOXFRD 21. British and American English: History, Dialects, and Structure. 3-4 Units.
Differences between U.S. and British dialects of English. History of English language, noting the factors which have led to similarities and divergences among the English spoken in the UK and the United States. Variation in English as it is used by different people and groups of people and attitudes toward language variation. Introduction to core concepts in linguistics, which focuses on rigorous study of language as a social, historical, grammatical, and cognitive phenomenon.
OSPOXFRD 22. British Politics Past and Present. 4-5 Units.
The political system of the United Kingdom; contemporary scholarly debates about UK politics and the UK constitution; and critical analysis of these debates and of current issues in UK politics (including constitutional reform), using contemporary political science and political theory.
OSPOXFRD 24. British and American Constitutional Systems in Comparative Perspective. 4-5 Units.
Introduction to the study of constitutions and constitutional systems of government. The workings of the British and American systems of government. Comparative study of the most important constitutional issues facing Britain and the U.S. such as how suspected terrorists should be treated in a time of war. How to think about fundamental constitutional questions.
OSPOXFRD 25. Topics in Language and Cognition. 4 Units.
Independent study tailored to students' interests in topics related to language studies, linguistic theory, and cognitive science. Possible topics include formal theories of grammar and meaning; discourse pragmatics; pragmatics and sociolinguistics; philosophy of language; cognitive science of language; psycholinguistics; and the grammatical structure of specific languages (instructor's knowledge extends to English, German, French, Spanish, Latin, and ancient Greek, but self-motivated students should not hesitate to choose other languages to research). Weekly meetings to discuss research directions, set goals and review progress.
OSPOXFRD 27. Medical Ethics through Literature and Film. 4 Units.
Readings by authors who were or are physicians including Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Bulgakov, William Carlos Williams, Audry Shafer, and Atul Gawande - poems, short and long fiction. Works about medicine or characters who have medical conditions affecting their lives and interactions with others. Practice of medicine and its effects on both physicians and patients, with attention to the ethical and moral issues intrinsic to health and disease. We will also consider movies and plays. Topics: doctor patient relationship; infectious disease such as plague and TB; mental illness; death and dying; disability; surgery.
OSPOXFRD 34. American and British Politics: a Critical Comparison. 5 Units.
Similarities and differences in American and English political institutions, political practice, political parties, public opinion and policy outcomes. How and why do differences arise: what role do we ascribe to political institutions, history, culture or caprice? Just how different is the American experience from the corresponding outcome in England and how might have "things turned out differently"? Topics include parliament vs Congress, the Crown vs the Executive, policy differences spanning economic inequality and the welfare state, health care, criminal justice, innovation and entrepreneurism, parochialism, cosmopolitanism and anti-Americanism, regionalism.
OSPOXFRD 55. Independent Study. 5 Units.
Possible independent study topics: (1) differences between the structure and roles of political parties in Westminister and the U.S. Congress; (2) mapping the structure of British public opinion, examining particular interests in social class, the size of role of government, racial prejudice, immigration and Europe; (3) the role of re-districting in both the United States and the United Kingdom, looking at extent of partisan gerrymandering and malapportionment in both countries; (4) voter turnout and political participation in Britain and the United States; (5) new and old media in British politics and public opinion; (6) origins and history of policy differences between Britain and the United States.
OSPOXFRD 57. The Rise of the Woman Writer 1660-1860. 5 Units.
Emergence and rise of the professional woman writer from playwright and Royalist spy Aphra Behn (1640-89) to novelist and proto-feminist Charlotte Bronte (1816-55). How women writers dealt with criticism for writing publicly, placing each author and text in its historical and literary context. Range of poets, playwrights, and novelists including Eliza Haywood, Frances Burney, and Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Topics: gender roles and proto-feminism, the public versus the private sphere, sexuality, courtship and marriage.
OSPOXFRD 60. Shakespeare and his Contemporaries. 5 Units.
Study of Shakespeare's work alongside that of his contemporaries. Characteristics of his art as well as insight into this period of British history. Visits to performances of plays.
OSPOXFRD 70. The History of London. 5 Units.
London's physical growth, emphasizing characteristics which set it apart from other capitals, and its economic, social and political development, including the problems of poverty and the inner city, the provision of public services, and the growth of suburbs and public transport. Challenges facing London in modern times. Walking tours, especially less frequented areas.
OSPOXFRD 87. The Archaeology of Britain. 5 Units.
Introduction to the archaeology of the of the British Isles, with particular attention to prehistory, Roman Britain and early medieval period. Themes: peopling of Britain and emergence of hunter-gatherer society; spread of farmers into Britain and role of ritual and community; growth of social hierarchies associated with the first metallurgy; growth of settled farming and layout of fields; growth of Iron Age tribes with their regional centers; arrival of Roman legions and transformation of the British landscape; Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions and their response to them. Field trips to sites in southern England as well as hands-on lab sessions in the Ashmolean and Pitt-Rivers Museums in Oxford.
OSPOXFRD 91. Independent Study Projects or Directed Reading. 3-5 Units.
Independent study projects on current topics in economic policy. Possible topics to include: government policy to foster economic growth and fight recessions, inequality and the role of the tax system in redistributing income, social insurance,.
OSPOXFRD 93. Collecting the World. 3 Units.
The art, science, and culture of the creation, transmission and collection of valuable, useful and informative objects and texts before the twentieth century, and the associated theories, purposes, and methods for collecting `worldly' goods and other valuables. Means by which local academic practices engaged with global developments in the arts and sciences through examination of primarily early modern material and intellectual culture in and around Oxfordshire. Assessments of quality, meaning, usage, cultural significance and the reception of material ¿treasures¿ in the storage rooms, vaults, and on display in museums, galleries, and libraries.
OSPOXFRD 94. Directed Reading in the History of Neurology and Neuroscience. 1-3 Unit.
Readings will cover aspects of how thinking about the brain and the functions of thought and sensation evolved from ancient times to the present, including the influence of political and religious history on scientific development. There will be a focus on the period of the 17th century when developments in Oxford were a major force in the birth and early development of modern medicine and physiology. In Oxford, Thomas Willis played a central role in the birth of neurology as a field within medicine. Readings can include works about Thomas Willis and the natural philosophers with whom he interacted. Selected topics in modern neuroscience and the role of new techniques in addressing questions in brain function can be explored.
OSPOXFRD 117W. Gender and Social Change in Modern Britain. 4-5 Units.
Changes in the social institutions, attitudes, and values in Britain over the past 20 years with specific reference to shifts in gender relations. Demographic, economic and social factors; review of theoretical ideas. Men's and women's shifting roles in a fast-moving society.
OSPOXFRD 195A. Tutorial in Anthropology. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195B. Tutorial in Biology. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195C. Tutorial in Classics. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195E. Tutorial in Drama. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195F. Tutorial in Economics. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195G. Tutorial in Economic History. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195J. Tutorial in Jurisprudence. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195L. Tutorial in Health Care. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 195M. Tutorial in History of Science. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195N. Tutorial in Human Biology. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195P. Tutorial: Interdisciplinary. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195R. Tutorial in International Relations. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195S. Tutorial in Computer Studies. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195T. Tutorial in Literature. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195U. Tutorial in Music. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195V. Tutorial in Philosophy. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195W. Tutorial in Physics. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 195Z. Tutorial in Political Science. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 196A. Tutorial in Psychology. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 196B. Tutorial in Religion. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196C. Tutorial in Sociology. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196E. Tutorial in History. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196F. Tutorial in History of Art. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196G. Tutorial in Chemistry. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196K. Tutorial in Zoology. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196M. Tutorial in Public Policy. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 196N. Tutorial in Mathematics. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197A. Tutorial in Anthropology. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197B. Tutorial in Biology. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197C. Tutorial in Classics. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197E. Tutorial in Drama. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197F. Tutorial in Economics. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197J. Tutorial in Jurisprudence. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197L. Tutorial in Health Care. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197M. Tutorial in History of Science. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197N. Tutorial in Human Biology. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197P. Tutorial: Interdisciplinary. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197R. Tutorial in International Relations. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197S. Tutorial in Computer Studies. 6-7 Units.
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OSPOXFRD 197T. Tutorial in English Literature. 6-7 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197U. Tutorial in Music. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197V. Tutorial in Philosophy. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 197Z. Tutorial in Political Science. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198A. Tutorial in Psychology. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198B. Tutorial in Religion. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198C. Tutorial in Sociology. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198E. Tutorial in History. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198F. Tutorial in History of Art. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198K. Tutorial in Zoology. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198M. Tutorial in Public Policy. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 198N. Tutorial in Mathematics. 6-7 Units.
May be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 199A. Directed Reading A. 2-4 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 199B. Directed Reading B. 2-5 Units.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 199D. Directed Reading. 1-3 Unit.
Course may be repeated for credit.
OSPOXFRD 221Y. Art and Society in Britain. 4-5 Units.
Themes in 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century British art. Painting, sculpture, and design. Comparisons between the British experience and that of continental Europe and the U.S. Readings address questions related to the role of art in modern society. Limited Enrollment.
