HIST 370 - Cultural History of Disasters

(3 units) CO9, CO10

Using case studies from around the world, this course examines the historical causes and consequences of a wide variety of disasters - from hurricanes and tornadoes to terrorist attacks and nuclear meltdowns.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Fall

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. describe how scientific and technological developments affect society and the environment, particularly with regard to deforestation, ecological terraforming, and climate change.
2. articulate ways in which society is transformed by science and technology, particularly with respect to disaster mitigation, control over nature, and sources of energy (nuclear, fossil fuels, dams, etc.)
3. demonstrate a knowledge of scientific and technological advancements and their impact on environmental hazards and human risk in modern society.
4. analyze the scientific debates and ethical concerns of such issues as global warming, industrial agriculture, urban development, and the rise of a global economy.
5. articulate an awareness of some of the central historical and present diversity issues addressed in the course, including race, ethnicity, and social class.
6. describe the perceptions, viewpoints, or life experiences of people in at least 1 society or culture outside of the United States or in non-dominant or marginalized groups within the United States.
7. analyze multiple connections between geographically and/or temporally distant places and periods.
8. identify, analyze, and interpret connections between localized events and their global contexts, particularly natural disasters’ effects on the global economy and the stability of the nation-state system.

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