Anthropology
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| Anthropology is a holistic discipline that considers human beings as biological and cultural organisms in both the past and present. It is traditionally divided into four subdisciplines; biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology. Not only is anthropology a fascinating discipline in its own right, anthropological thinking is essential for navigating and appreciating a multicultural society such as our own. At Oxford College, students can begin with an introductory course that explores how anthropologists think and continue in courses that specialize in biological and cultural anthropology. Oxford College students have the opportunity to participate in anthropological research projects with faculty during their freshman and sophomore years. After finishing two years at Oxford, students can continue at Emory College as Anthropology majors or minors. Our students have strong foundations to continue in other majors as well, including Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and Latin American Studies. Students can earn either a Bachelors of Arts or Bachelors of Science in Anthropology. |
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Economics
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| Economics is the second most (behind psychology) popular major at Emory College. Oxford College provides an opportunity to study introductory and intermediate level economics in a rich liberal arts context. Housed in the Division of History and Social Sciences, the dialogues established between economics and the other courses offered in the division provide students an opportunity to best understand the limitations and ramifications of the economic perspective when applied to a broader social context. In addition to, or as an alternative to pursuit of the major, economics students at Oxford College routinely opt to attend Emory's Goizueta Business School. |
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History
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| Oxford's History Faculty have a strong commitment to general education, especially as it relates to the undergraduate experience. In addition to offering survey courses in traditional areas such as Western Civilization and United States History, Oxford also offers specialized courses on such diverse topics as The Revolutionary Era: 1789-1848, Church History, Mythic Kings, The History of American Civil Rights, and Post World War II America. Courses generally emphasize that a historical perspective constitutes an important component of the liberal arts education. Oxford's history courses also serve as excellent training for professional life, stressing important skills such as critical thinking, researching, writing, and making oral presentations. |
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Political Science
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| The search for justice was the starting point for knowledge about politics, which was understood by the Greeks as knowledge about the polis. If one possessed all the knowledge there was to have about the polis, then presumably one would be in possession of The Truth about politics, and knowing this Truth and knowing Justice are tantamount to the same thing.
The Political Science Department at Oxford College follows the spirit of this project, understanding that the search is not yet completed, but that it can be completed in principle. In other words, justice is capable of being discovered and known by unaided human reason; it has not been discovered in its entirety yet; and the endeavor is what infuses learning about politics with meaning. This meaning is understood as necessary for the student who would major in political science as well as to the citizen who would live a serious life. To this end and based on these principles, Political Science at Oxford offers courses in Political Philosophy, American Government, and International Relations.
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Psychology
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| "Psychology's aim is to examine and explain how human beings (and other animals) learn, remember, solve problems, perceive, feel, and get along with others. It is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's physical state, mental state, and external environment"
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Sociology
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| The Department of Sociology at Oxford College offers an array of academic courses designed to develop the student's understanding and appreciation of the complexities of social dynamics. Each sociology course proceeds from the premise that our social behavior is largely determined by the various groups to which we belong and by the sorts of interactions that occur within those groups. This sociological perspective encourages the student to envision society as a social product rather than as something to be taken for granted. Each course develops the student's capacity to recognize the relationship between one's own experience and the broader social forces that shape the social world.
In addition to a traditional emphasis on classroom based textual learning, the Department of Sociology offers experientially based "off campus" courses as well. The Social Problems course (Soc 215) takes students into the city of Atlanta to observe first hand the many social conditions defined as problems. Students have opportunities to interact with and learn from persons who suffer from the consequences of various social problems and interact with a wide range of professionals offering services designed to reduce the impact of these problems. The sociology course titled "Social Change in Developing Societies" (Soc 231R) focuses on issues of globalization and non-western beliefs concerning the origins of health and illness. As part of this course, students travel to the Amazon basin and Andes mountains in South America. While in South America, the sociology students interact with a variety of indigenous people and learn of their beliefs and practices. The sociology off-campus courses rest on the belief that the methods of acquiring knowledge are multidimentional and characterized by more than method of learning.
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Women's Studies
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| Women's Studies courses position women and their contributions in historical context. Emphasis is placed on the thesis that both historical and contemporary ideas about women and gender systems are intimately linked to social evolution and change. Particular attention is given to the intersection of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation as it informs the study of women. |
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