Specialization: course opened to all study programs
Warrantor: doc. PhDr. Martin Bútora
Instructor: prof. Christopher Clausen (e-mail: cqc1@psu.edu)
Lecturing hours (weekly): 2
Credits: 3 ECTS
Date: joint blocks of 2 classes every Friday from 11:00 am
Room: A3.12
Working language: English
Evaluation: passed/not passed
Aim of the course: The course is designed to provide the students with the basic information about two American – both US and Canadian – societies, their evolution, grounding values, main figures, intellectuals and politicians, as well as their culture, rituals and stereotypes. The course will be conducted in a seminar format using the joint blocks timing. The course will be taught in English.
Useful Internet Sources on American Society course to download
America´s Design for Tolerance by prof. Christopher Clausen
Faded Mosaic by prof. Christopher Clausen
Preliminary timetable of the course:
1) Introductory session
2) Historical background, origins and evolution of American society 1
3) Historical background, origins and evolution of American society 2
4) Sociological overview and grounding values of the American society
5) Cultural aspects of societies´ evolution
6) Democracy as a phenomenon in North America
7) American politics and politicians
8) Where Canada meets the US and visa versa: similarities and differences
9) Relations with European societies and Transatlantic Trends
10) Dominant figures and main current intellectuals shaping today’s American societies
11) Main challenges for American society in the 21st century
12) Review session
13) Debrief and evaluation session
