General Catalog and Announcement of Courses 1998-99

The San Diego State University 1998-99 General Catalog on the World-Wide Web cannot be considered the official publication for the University. Please refer to the printed General Catalog General Catalog versions and rights

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College Arts & Letters
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Administration

Dean: Paul J. Strand

Associate Dean: Kathleen B. Jones

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs: Leslie S. Johnson

Assistant Dean for Development: Barbara London

General Information

The College of Arts and Letters is at the very heart of liberal arts education at San Diego State University. Its programs in the humanities and social sciences are offered through 19 academic departments and several interdisciplinary programs, each of which is designed to help students to understand their role in society and to develop aesthetic sensibilities. Arts and Letters courses are offered to explore the experiences of men and women in society, their cultural expressions and practices, their languages, and their philosophical concepts. The College's highly trained, professionally active faculty seek to give students an awareness about the development of present knowledge and how to generate new knowledge. Students are encouraged to develop keen observation skills, the capacity to think critically, and the ability to express their views intelligently and sensitively as leaders.

Curricula Offered

Refer to the Courses and Curricula section of this catalog for a complete listing of program requirements and courses offered by departments within the College of Arts and Letters.

Doctoral Program

Geography

Master's Degrees

Anthropology (M.A.), Asian Studies (M.A.), Creative Writing (M.F.A.), Economics (M.A.), English (M.A.), French (M.A.), Geography (M.A.), History (M.A.), Latin American Studies (M.A.), Latin American Studies (M.B.A./M.A.; jointly with the College of Business Administration), Liberal Arts (M.A.), Linguistics (M.A.), Philosophy (M.A.), Political Science (M.A.), Sociology (M.A.), Spanish (M.A.), Women's Studies (M.A.).

Bachelor's Degrees

Afro-American Studies (B.A.), American Studies (B.A.), Anthropology (B.A.), Asian Studies (B.A.), Classics (B.A.), Comparative Literature (B.A.), Economics (B.A.), English (B.A.), European Studies (B.A.), French (B.A.), Geography (B.A.), German (B.A.), History (B.A.), Humanities (B.A.), International Business (B.A.; jointly with the College of Business Administration), International Security and Conflict Resolution (B.A.; jointly with the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts and the College of Sciences), Japanese (B.A.), Latin American Studies (B.A.), Linguistics (B.A.), Mexican American Studies (B.A.), Philosophy (B.A.), Political Science (B.A.), Religious Studies (B.A.), Russian (B.A.), Russian and Central European Studies (B.A.), Social Science (B.A.), Sociology (B.A.), Spanish (B.A.), Urban Studies (B.A.), Women's Studies (B.A.).

Minors

African Studies, Afro-American Studies, American Indian Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Chinese, Classics, Comparative Literature, Economics, English, Environment and Society, European Studies, French, Geography, German, History, Humanities, Italian, Japanese, Judaic Studies, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Mexican American Studies, Middle East Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Portuguese, Religious Studies, Russian, Sociology, Spanish, United States-Mexican Border Studies, Women's Studies.

Preprofessional Curriculum

Prelegal

Certificate Programs

Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language (ESL), Children's Literature, Geographic Information Systems, Spanish Translation Studies, Technical and Scientific Writing, United States-Mexico Border Studies.

Research Centers and Institutes

Center for Asian Studies
Murugappa C. Madhavan, Director

The Center for Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary organization in the College of Arts and Letters. Drawing upon faculty members from many fields, campuswide, it performs such services as (1) developing and administering the Asian studies program and relevant curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels; (2) organizing symposia and seminars on Asia related topics; (3) securing and administering grants and other support for research and development in Asian studies; (4) coordinating and publicizing the activities of faculty engaged in Asian-centered studies; (5) responding to campus and community requests for information and services; (6) fostering campus and community interest in Asian studies.

Institute for Built Environment and
Comparative Urban Research (BECUR)
Lawrence A. Herzog, Director

The main purpose of the Institute for Built Environment and Comparative Urban Research (BECUR) is to: (1) study the impact of culture on the design and shape of the urban built environment; and (2) understand how cities in different cultural settings are being transformed by global processes. BECUR provides a forum for research and dialogue among SDSU faculty and students on the cross-cultural nature of urban space and urban place. The Institute is administered by the College of Arts and Letters, and the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. Among its activities, the Institute promotes public lectures and conferences, research projects, and networking among urbanists, social science, planning, design and architectural scholars both in the region, as well as in other parts of the world. The Institute is located in Professional Studies and Fine Arts 177; (619) 594-6964.

Institute for Central and Eastern European Studies
Yiannis Venieris, Director

The Institute aims to increase understanding between the U.S. and Central and Eastern European countries through student and faculty exchanges, seminars, and educational programs. Another goal is to contribute to the process of economic growth and development in Central and Eastern Europe by making available to them appropriate human capital. The Institute has established a formal relationship with the Warsaw School of Economics and is in the process of doing the same with the Prague School of Economics, Czechoslovakia National Academy of Sciences, as well as similar institutions in Albania. The purpose of these relationships is to exchange faculty and students and to effect appropriate technological diffusion. Students and faculty can obtain more information by calling the Institute Office at (619) 594-5503, Nasatir Hall 318.

China Studies Institute
Li-Rong Lilly Cheng, Director

The China Studies Institute coordinates and supports on-campus teaching and research related to China. The Institute develops and fosters faculty and student exchange programs with Chinese universities and institutions of higher learning. Various cultural programs on China and activities on campus and in the community promote cultural awareness and understanding. The development of Chinese publications, audiovisual materials, periodicals, newspapers, and other resources on campus fosters relationships between San Diego State University and the Chinese community, as well as nurtures friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Donald I. Eidemiller Weather Station
Edward Aguado, Director

The Donald I. Eidemiller Weather Station serves as a teaching and research resource. The station receives surface, upper-air, and forecast weather maps via satellite from the National Weather Service. The station also archives monthly and annual data published by the National Climatic Data Center and has been observing and recording local weather information for more than 35 years.

Center for International Business Education
and Research (CIBER)
Allan R. Bailey and Paul J. Strand, Executive Co-Directors
Michael L. Hergert and Steven Loughrin-Sacco, Program Co-Directors
David Earwicker, Associate Director

The Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), one of 27 such centers of excellence in the United States, was established in 1989 under the auspices of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and is administered by the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Business Administration.

CIBER promotes: (1) interdisciplinary programs which incorporate foreign language and international studies training into business, finance, management, communications systems, and other professional curricula; (2) interdisciplinary programs which provide business, finance, management, communications systems, and other professional training for foreign language and international studies faculty and advanced degree candidates; (3) evening or summer programs, such as intensive language programs, available to members of the business community and other professionals, which are designed to develop or enhance their international skills, awareness, and expertise; (4) collaborative programs, activities, or research involving other institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, professional associations, businesses, firms or combinations thereof, to promote the development of international skills, awareness, and expertise among current and prospective members of the business community and other professionals; (5) research designed to strengthen and improve the international aspects of business and professional education and to promote integrated curricula; and (6) research designed to promote the international competitiveness of American businesses and firms, including those not currently active in international trade.

The Center is located in Business Administration 428, (619) 594-6023, (FAX) 594-7738; CIBER @ mail.SDSU.edu

International Population Center
John R. Weeks, Director

The International Population Center (InterPop) promotes applied demographic research and the provision of technical assistance and consulting, especially focusing on population issues and policy within the San Diego/Tijuana region.

Although it is located in the Department of Geography, InterPop is a multidisciplinary facility, linking Center faculty from several departments on campus with Center associates from other organizations and universities in the San Diego region. The telephone number for the center is (619) 594-8040.

Institute for International Security
and Conflict Resolution
Alan R. Sweedler and Dipak Gupta, Co-Directors

The SDSU Institute for International Security and Conflict Resolution (IISCOR) encourages and facilitates teaching and research in the multidisciplinary area of international security and conflict resolution. Specifically, topics such as nuclear armaments, international and intranational conflict, sociopolitical violence, and global environmental issues as they relate to security are covered.

The Institute is a joint effort of the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, and Sciences. IISCOR is administered by two co-directors, advised by an executive committee consisting of faculty members representing the different disciplines that provide input into the study of international security and conflict resolution.

The Institute promotes teaching and research by organizing public forums, faculty and student seminars, developing appropriate curricula for undergraduate and graduate instruction and facilitating research and scholarly activities. SDSU offers, through IISCOR, a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution. More information is available by calling the IISCOR office at (619) 594-6240.

Japan Studies Institute

The Japan Studies Institute coordinates and encourages research and instructional programs on campus concerning various aspects of Japan and nurtures ties between the University and organizations and individuals in the greater San Diego region interested in Japan and United States-Japan relations. It develops and fosters student and faculty exchanges between San Diego State University and Japanese institutions of higher learning; tuition-free exchange arrangements exist at present with seven public and private universities located throughout Japan. The Institute works closely with Japanese and American business, industrial, and banking establishments in San Diego, addressing research of mutual interest and drawing support for relevant Japan-focused courses, seminars, cultural events, lectures, forums, and workshops offered by the University. The multidisciplinary Institute also oversees the Liberal Studies Major-Emphasis in Three Departments with a focus on Japan Studies.

The Institute supports the development of Japanese holdings in the University Library and Instructional Technology Services. The Institute operates under the jurisdiction of the College of Arts and Letters, but it draws faculty from across the campus.

Latin American Studies
Thomas M. Davies, Jr., Director

The Center for Latin American Studies seeks to encourage teaching and research related to Latin America. It has primary responsibility for the administration of the Latin American undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The U.S. Department of Education has designated the center as one of thirteen "National Resource Centers for Latin America," in consortium with the Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies at the University of California, San Diego. In conjunction with this award, the Center administers programs that focus on a multi-disciplinary and problem-oriented approach to teaching and research activities focused on Latin American Studies; the development of innovative methods of instruction in Spanish and Portuguese; the provision of informative and in-service training programs for elementary and secondary school teachers; and the provision of services for the general public through the sponsorship of conferences, workshops, lectures and films. The Center also assists in the development of the University library's Latin American holdings.

Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies
Lawrence Baron, Director

The Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies, located in the College of Arts and Letters, serves to coordinate and support teaching and research in modern Jewish history and contemporary Jewish and Israeli affairs. Established with contributions from the San Diego community, the Institute provides financial support for an annual visiting professor from Israel, the annual Galinson-Glickman symposium on contemporary Israeli issues, and the Robert Siegel Memorial Lecture. It also complements regular course offerings by sponsoring lectures, developing library resources, fostering research, and conducting other activities that will promote the advancement of Judaic studies in the University and in the San Diego community.

Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias
Paul Ganster, Director

The Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias (IRSC) provides the University with a neutral forum for the investigation, discussion, and dissemination of information about the United States-Mexico border region. The Institute focuses on the three-state region of California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur and is also concerned with Mexico and important issues in the United States-Mexico relationship. IRSC also monitors border regions elsewhere in the world. Created in 1983, the Institute has undertaken multidisciplinary research projects on significant regional concerns including transborder environmental issues, policy perspectives on the California-Mexico relationship, and the maquiladora industry. The Institute also maintains a research collection on the border region and takes an active role in Latin America and Mexico-related professional organizations. IRSC publishes the Mexico Policy News for PROFMEX (The Consortium for Research on Mexico) and the Journal of Borderlands Studies, as well as papers and monographs on border-related issues and topics.

Other Institute activities include conducting binational symposia, improving communication between public and private sector representatives on both sides of the border, serving as a clearinghouse for information on transborder events, issues, and institutions, and encouraging the effective use of educational resources among the region's universities. The Institute serves as a major link between SDSU and Mexican institutions. IRSC has underway a major project on border environmental issues and public policy. IRSC serves as the SDSU link to the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, a congressionally established consortium of universities for research and policy studies on environmental issues of the border. The Institute is located in Nasatir Hall 103.

Social Science Research Laboratory
Douglas S. Coe, Director

The Social Science Research Laboratory (SSRL) was founded in 1974 to support academic computing and social research within the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), the University, and the regional community. SSRL is organized into seven units: Instructional Services, Research Services, Systems Support Group, CAL Help Desk, Data Resources, Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC Operations) and South Coastal Information Center (SCIC). Each unit develops and administers programs, within the overall context of SSRL's mission, that serve the University and the community. The department employs ten full-time staff and over sixty part-time employees classified as teaching/graduate assistants, laboratory consultants, research assistants and data collection/reduction specialists.

Instructional Services works closely with faculty to assimilate technological resources into the curriculum and to support academic computing among students and faculty. This is accomplished through four programs: (1) Social Science 201A, 201B, 201C, 201D courses on the use of the statistical package for the social sciences, database, spreadsheet, and Internet resources, (2) non-credit workshops on the use of selected software applications, (3) class presentations at the request of faculty to support computer-related instructional assignments, and (4) on-demand consultation for individual users of open-access computing laboratories.

Research Services offers a complete range of public opinion polling and survey research services, including sample design, data collection, data reduction, and data archiving. The section maintains computer systems to support faculty research. Undergraduate internships and research assistant positions are available.

Data Resources assists faculty and students in the use of archived research, datasets from a variety of on-line information resources, and provides database programming services for specific applications. Principal sources of archived and electronically accessible information include the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the Social Science Database Archive (SSDBA), the U.S. Census, Field Institute California Polls, the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and Lexis/Nexis. Assistance is provided for locating, downloading, installing, and subsetting datasets for instructional or research use.

Systems Support Group provides network administration and technical infrastructure support for College of Arts and Letters computing systems. Services include managing computer classrooms, network design, implementation and administration, installing software applications, electronic mail, Internet related software, interfacing peripherals, virus diagnosis, file recovery, disk management, operating systems, and procurement advice. Faculty and staff requests for assistance are initiated and tracked through an on-line work order system.

Help Desk serves as the point of entry for faculty and staff who need assistance with computer related problems. Work order requests for hardware, software, and peripheral problems are logged into an on-line database used to schedule technical services. The Help Desk also conducts an extensive software coaching program for individual faculty and staff in their office.

South Coastal Information Center (SCIC) contracts with the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) to provide information management for all cultural resources in San Diego County. SCIC is a source of valuable research data for archaeologists, historians, and architects. Databases in historic resources and prehistoric and historic archaeology are maintained and constantly updated. Site data and building information are electronically stored, and over 3000 historic and archaeological reports are available. Geographic information system software provides accurate mapping of archaeological site data. Student interns master the basics of historic preservation laws and regulations, while learning effective cultural resource information management.

Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC Operations) provides technological resources for courses offered by the Departments of French and Italian Languages and Literatures (includes German and Russian Languages and Literatures), Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, and Linguistics and Oriental Languages.These resources include technical support staff, two smart classrooms, sixty networked multimedia workstations, and the nation's largest collection of multimedia courseware.

The SSRL is located in Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Room 140.

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