Arts & Humanities
Philosophy, art history, film studies, literature, and creative disciplines.
67 topics in this category
Absolutism and Enlightenment
The era of absolute monarchies ruling by divine right and the Enlightenment's challenge through reason, natural rights, and the social contract.
African American Movements and Debates
An examination of the civil rights movement, Black Power, modern social justice movements, key figures like MLK and Malcolm X, and foundational intellectual debates from Washington vs. Du Bois to Black Lives Matter.
Origins and Diaspora in African American Studies
An examination of pre-colonial African civilizations, the transatlantic slave trade, the Middle Passage, and the formation of African diaspora communities across the Americas.
Age of Revolutions (1750-1900)
Political and industrial revolutions from 1750-1900: Enlightenment, American, French, Haitian, Latin American revolutions, and the Industrial Revolution.
American Literature — American dream, American naturalism (extended)
The study of written works produced in the United States, from colonial and Native American traditions through contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama.
American Literature
The study of written works produced in the United States, from colonial and Native American traditions through contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama.
The American Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1800)
Colonial resistance, the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the Constitution, and the founding debates of the early republic (1754-1800).
Ancient Mediterranean Art
Visual arts of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome.
Antebellum America: Democracy, Expansion, and Reform (1800-1848)
Westward expansion, Jacksonian democracy, the Market Revolution, abolitionism, and antebellum reform from 1800 to 1848.
Architecture
The art and science of designing buildings and physical structures, integrating aesthetics, engineering, cultural expression, and environmental responsibility to shape the human-built environment.
Art History
The study of visual arts across cultures and centuries, examining how painting, sculpture, and architecture reflect evolving aesthetic ideals, social conditions, and philosophical ideas from antiquity to the present day.
British Literature — Metaphysical conceit, Modernism wrote (extended)
The study of literary works from the British Isles, spanning from Anglo-Saxon epic poetry to contemporary fiction and covering major movements, authors, and forms.
British Literature
The study of literary works from the British Isles, spanning from Anglo-Saxon epic poetry to contemporary fiction and covering major movements, authors, and forms.
The Civil War and Reconstruction (1844-1877)
Sectional crisis, the Civil War, emancipation, and the contested legacy of Reconstruction from 1844 to 1877.
Classical Civilization
The study of ancient Greek and Roman cultures, encompassing their philosophy, literature, politics, art, and enduring influence on Western civilization.
Classical Mythology
The study of ancient Greek and Roman myths, gods, heroes, and legends that have shaped Western culture, literature, and thought for millennia.
The Cold War and Civil Rights (1945-1980)
Cold War containment, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, Great Society programs, counterculture, Watergate, and the economic crises of the 1970s.
Colonial America: Contact and Exploration (1491-1607)
Pre-Columbian societies, European exploration, the Columbian Exchange, and early colonial encounters from 1491 to 1607.
Colonial Society: Settlements, Slavery, and Governance (1607-1754)
English colonial settlements, slavery origins, regional distinctions, colonial governance, and intercultural encounters from 1607 to 1754.
Comparative Literature
The study of literature across linguistic, cultural, and national boundaries, examining how texts from different traditions relate through shared themes, forms, and intellectual currents.
Creative Writing
The art and craft of producing original literary works—fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction—using imagination, narrative technique, and the deliberate shaping of language.
Drama and Novel Analysis
Analysis of novels and plays: plot structure, characterization, dialogue, dramatic irony, foils, and thematic development.
Early Europe and Colonial Americas Art
Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque art of Europe and the Americas.
Enslavement and Resistance
An examination of the institution of slavery in the Americas, daily life under enslavement, and the diverse forms of resistance -- from armed revolts and the Underground Railroad to cultural preservation and everyday acts of defiance.
Ethnomusicology
The study of music in its cultural, social, and anthropological contexts, examining how music functions within and across human societies worldwide.
European Revolutions and Nationalism
The era of the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna, the 1848 revolutions, and the nationalist unifications of Italy and Germany.
Film Production
The process of creating motion pictures, from initial concept and screenplay through shooting, editing, and distribution to audiences.
Film Studies
The academic study of cinema as an art form, analyzing how films create meaning through visual storytelling, cultural representation, and critical theory.
The Gilded Age: Industrialization, Immigration, and Inequality (1865-1898)
Industrialization, immigration, labor conflict, Jim Crow, Populism, and the transformation of post-Civil War America from 1865 to 1898.
Global Contemporary Art
Contemporary art movements and global practices since 1980.
The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)
Diverse civilizations from 1200 to 1450: Song China, Mongol Empire, Islamic states, African kingdoms, American empires, medieval Europe.
Greek Literature
The study of literary works produced in ancient Greece, including epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, history, and philosophy, which established the foundational genres and themes of Western literature.
Harmony: Triads and Chords
Triad and seventh chord construction, inversions, figured bass, Roman numeral analysis, and diatonic chord function in major and minor keys.
History — Berlin conference, Primary treaty (extended)
History is the study of the human past through the critical analysis of sources, events, and processes, helping us understand how societies have changed over time and why those changes matter today.
History
History is the study of the human past through the critical analysis of sources, events, and processes, helping us understand how societies have changed over time and why those changes matter today.
Information Architecture
The practice of organizing, structuring, and labeling content in digital products so that users can find information and complete tasks efficiently.
Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)
Major land-based empires from 1450-1750: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, Ming, Qing, and Russian empires and their methods of consolidating power.
Landscape Architecture
The professional discipline of planning, designing, and managing outdoor environments by integrating ecological science, artistic design, and human needs to create sustainable and functional landscapes.
Latin Literature
The study of written works composed in Latin from ancient Rome through the Renaissance, encompassing epic poetry, oratory, historiography, philosophy, and satire that form the foundation of Western literary tradition.
Literature
The study of written works of enduring artistic and intellectual value, encompassing poetry, prose, drama, and critical theory across cultures and historical periods.
Medieval Literature
The study of European literary works produced during the Middle Ages (c. 500-1500 CE), including epic poetry, romance, allegory, drama, and devotional writing across Latin and vernacular languages.
Modern America (1980-Present)
The Reagan Revolution, end of the Cold War, globalization, 9/11, the 2008 crisis, and contemporary American political debates from 1980 to the present.
Modern European Conflicts
From World War I through the Cold War and European integration, the major conflicts and transformations that shaped modern Europe.
Modernist Literature
The study of the early 20th-century literary movement characterized by radical formal experimentation, stream of consciousness, fragmented narratives, and a break from traditional conventions in response to the upheavals of modernity.
Music Education
The study and practice of teaching and learning music, encompassing pedagogy, curriculum design, performance instruction, and the cognitive and social benefits of musical training.
Music Fundamentals: Pitch and Rhythm
The essential building blocks of music: note reading, scales, key signatures, intervals, rhythmic notation, and meter classification.
Music Production
The art and science of creating, recording, mixing, and mastering music using both technical audio engineering skills and creative musical sensibility.
Music Technology
The study and application of electronic and digital tools for creating, recording, processing, and distributing music, spanning audio engineering, sound synthesis, digital signal processing, and interactive music systems.
Music Theory
The study of the fundamental elements of music including pitch, rhythm, harmony, melody, and form, providing a framework for composing, analyzing, and performing music.
Musicology
The scholarly study of music encompassing its history, theory, cultural contexts, and scientific dimensions, examining how music is created, performed, and experienced across societies.
Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Trade networks connecting Afro-Eurasia from 1200-1450: Silk Roads, Indian Ocean maritime routes, and trans-Saharan caravan trails.
Philosophy of Art
The philosophical study of the nature, definition, and value of art, examining questions about beauty, aesthetic experience, artistic meaning, and the criteria by which we evaluate creative works.
Philosophy of Mind
The philosophical study of the nature of mind, consciousness, and mental phenomena, and their relationship to the physical body and brain.
Philosophy of Science
The study of the foundations, methods, and implications of science, examining how scientific knowledge is produced, validated, and related to truth and reality.
Philosophy
The systematic study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and reality, spanning traditions from ancient Greece and Asia to modern analytic and continental thought.
Poetry Analysis
Close reading of poems, examining structure, sound devices, figurative language, tone, and meaning across poetic traditions.
Political Philosophy
The study of fundamental questions about justice, rights, liberty, authority, and the proper organization of political life.
Postcolonial Literature
The study of literary works from formerly colonized nations that critically examine the cultural, psychological, and political legacies of colonialism and the formation of postcolonial identities.
The Progressive Era, World Wars, and the New Deal (1890-1945)
American imperialism, Progressive reforms, WWI, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal, and WWII from 1890 to 1945.
Renaissance Art
Renaissance art encompasses the painting, sculpture, and architecture produced in Europe from roughly the 14th to the 17th century, characterized by a revival of classical ideals, the development of linear perspective, and a new emphasis on naturalism and humanism.
Renaissance and Reformation
The cultural rebirth of classical learning in Renaissance Europe and the religious upheaval of the Protestant Reformation that fractured Western Christianity.
Short Fiction Analysis
Close reading and interpretation of short stories, examining character, narrative perspective, setting, conflict, symbolism, and structure.
Sustainable Architecture
The design and construction of buildings that minimize environmental impact, optimize resource efficiency, and promote occupant well-being throughout their entire lifecycle.
Theater Studies
The academic study of theatrical performance, dramatic literature, and stagecraft, examining theater's historical traditions, theoretical frameworks, and cultural significance.
Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)
European maritime exploration, the Columbian Exchange, the Atlantic slave trade, and colonial systems that transformed global connections from 1450 to 1750.
Voice Leading and Chord Progressions
Four-part voice leading rules, chord progressions, cadences, non-chord tones, secondary dominants, modal mixture, and chromatic harmony.
World Literature
The study of significant literary works from diverse cultures and historical periods, examining universal themes, cultural traditions, and the global circulation of literature.