INT7556 — Inquire
This is a course about identity – specifically, the part of our identity we inherit from our ancestors and their genes. It's a powerful source of self-awareness and belonging to know who and where we come from. But genetic descent also functions on a societal level, where it can sow the seeds of exclusion and discrimination. For much of human history, ancestry has determined one's place in the social hierarchy. In the United States, one drop of African blood made slaves or second-class citizens out of generations of Americans. Will it be different now that millions of Americans are discovering, through companies like Ancestry.com, that “whiteness” and “coloredness” reside together in most all of us? What meaning should we, in the 21st century, take from the genes within us? Our search for answers will necessarily lead in different directions, from the basics of genealogy and biological heredity to the psychology of belonging and group identity. We’ll end our quest with some opportunities for self-discovery and reflection. Using the sources and methods we learn in class, you’ll track down some of your own ancestors and bring their stories to life in an eScrapbook. We’ll finish by putting your stories together in a capstone team project. Eligibility: ENG 1510 without supports of Corequisite: ENG 1510 with supports. 12 credit hours of college course work must be completed.