Beyond Dichotomies

In the Fall, all first year Watauga students select a section of this interdisciplinary, team taught, six hour course that focuses on historical and current social, political, and religious dichotomies—conflicts that we tend to think of as irresolvable.  Students then work toward resolutions that recognize all valid points of view and that are more satisfying that typical compromises.
All Watauga freshmen take Beyond Dichotomies together and meet twice a week in a variety of formats: large lecture section, smaller discussion groups, and even smaller projects.  This course includes a substantial research project (presented at the LLC Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors in December); exposes students to Western and non-Western cultures; explores history and geography; provides community based educational opportunities.  In addition, students choose one of four humanities-oriented classes linked to the large class, which also meet twice a week.  Students earn general education credit in English and History. IDS 1103. Fall. 6 hours.  TR 11:00-1:45, a time block that includes the 3-hour class for all students, lunch, and announcements, presentations, movies, etc., and either MW 2:00-3:15 or TR 2:00-3:15 (3-hour linked class).

Fall 2007 Beyond Dichotomies: Everyday Ethics | Self and Family in Literature | “We Shall Overcome”: In Search of America’s Civil Rights Movement | Deliberate Living: The American Search for Simplicity and Self Sufficiency

Contextures

In the Spring, all first year Watauga students will take Contextures, a combination of the linked classes Contexts and Textures. Contexts is a three-hour interdisciplinary social science course focusing on world poverty, conflict, and inequality. All Watauga freshmen take one section of Contexts together in a variety of formats: large lecture section, smaller discussion sections, and even smaller project groups. Students will choose one of four sections of Textures (linked to Contexts), a three hour interdisciplinary humanities course. Students will explore the connections between the issues, texts, and topics covered in both classes.
Contexts emphasizes analytic writing, electronic communication, and speech; engages issues of gender, race, and/or class; raises ethical issues; explores history and geography; and provides opportunities for community based education. Textures emphasizes analytic writing, performance, and speech; engages non-Western culture; explores history and geography; and provides opportunities to participate in the cultural life of Watauga College , ASU, and the surrounding community. Students earn general education credit in History and English. IDS 1104. Spring. 6 hours.

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Tangents

To complete the Watauga College curriculum, all Wataugans must take, in addition to Origins and Migrations and Contextures, at least two sophomore-level Tangents and one junior-level interdisciplinary seminar.  All courses are interdisciplinary, but each section pursues its goals through widely different topics. Students earn a variety of credits in Humanities, Literature, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts, depending on the section.
IDS 2202/2205/3xxx. 3 hours. Fall/Spring.

Fall 2007 Tangents: Hollywood Theology / The Art of Capoeira / Portraiture and Identity / Poetry Writing Workshop

Watauga Sections of Mathematics

Each year, special sections of MAT 1010 "Introduction to Mathematics" are offered to Watauga College students. Specifically designed for Watauga College, students earn general education Math credit in an interactive and interdisciplinary format while developing a liberal arts appreciation of mathematics.

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