Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: College Courses

Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM R (26-AUG-2024 - 6-DEC-2024) 

Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Seminar

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Method of Instruction: Face to Face

Credit Hours: 1

 

Section Max Enrollment: 19

Section Enrolled: 7

Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99) 

Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.

Enrollment data as of: 21-DEC-2024 11:16AM

 

 

Final Exam: Take-Home Exam

 

Description: With only 54% of Americans aware that Puerto Ricans are citizens of the US, the Caribbean island often gets reduced to a hot tourist destination, the birthplace of Bad Bunny, or the hurricane-prone recipient of FEMA funds. Yet with nearly 130 years of history under United States control, Puerto Rico stands out as a society that doesn’t fit neatly into standard categories – a culture without a country. This anthropological-style course dives deep into the history and culture of Puerto Rico since the start of American control in 1898. Through lectures, discussions, and readings such as Nelson A. Denis’s “War Against All Puerto Ricans” and comic anthology “Puerto Rico Strong”, we will explore topics like emigration, independence movements, and energy infrastructure. We aim to consider the question: How has Puerto Rico’s relationship with the US shaped the island’s society, culture, and identity since 1898? Instruction will be provided in lecture, discussion, and audiovisual formats. Knowledge will be evaluated with brief reading responses and group quizzes, a 5-minute presentation, and a short course synthesis paper.