- You will take 2 courses for 6 credits.
- The Peace Movements course is cross-listed between PS and SOC departments, so you will be enrolled in either PS 1303 or SOC 1360. In addition, you will take SOC 0432.
- If you have already taken any of the courses listed below, you will be enrolled in an Independent Study course. For more information, please reach out to Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells at smwst20@pitt.edu.
- If you are seeking to count these courses towards a major, minor or certificate requirement, please meet with your respective advisor to discuss the program and what the courses will fulfill for you.
- The Wealth and Power course fulfills a Social Science general education requirement for A&S students. The Peace Movement course fulfills a Historical Analysis or Social Science.
This course will utilize multi-disciplinary theories, methods and perspectives as we consider the historic conflicts in the Aegean region. The Twentieth century conflicts in the Dodecanese Islands, the Cyprus Issue, the European Union candidacies of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, and today’s hot conflicts over resources – like offshore drilling rights, continental shelf issues, and natural gas issues will take center stage. We will identify the roots of the conflicts, the contested narratives from the respective communities, social movements who both fueled conflict and fought for peace in these Aegean (and in some cases, Balkan) countries. In this respect, we will utilize historical, political, economic, social movement, and cultural sociological theories and methods. Most noteworthy will be the introduction of Conflict Resolution theories and methods.
Download PS 1303 Draft Syllabus.pdf (481.42 KB)This course will utilize multi-disciplinary theories, methods and perspectives as we consider the historic conflicts in the Aegean region. The Twentieth century conflicts in the Dodecanese Islands, the Cyprus Issue, the European Union candidacies of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, and today’s hot conflicts over resources – like offshore drilling rights, continental shelf issues, and natural gas issues will take center stage. We will identify the roots of the conflicts, the contested narratives from the respective communities, social movements who both fueled conflict and fought for peace in these Aegean (and in some cases, Balkan) countries. In this respect, we will utilize historical, political, economic, social movement, and cultural sociological theories and methods. Most noteworthy will be the introduction of Conflict Resolution theories and methods.
Download SOC 1360 Draft Syllabus.pdf (481.42 KB)The objective of this course is to introduce students to the concept of social stratification. This includes an understanding of social class and class analysis. These concepts are typically alien to Amercians, who oftentimes cite what is called "US exceptionalism," and emphasize individualism at the expense of collective conceptualizations. This course is designed in the tradition of Political Economy and explores the major social science paradigms for analyzing relations among state, economy, and society. Through readings, lectures and discussion of original texts in political liberalism and individualism, neo-classical economics, Marxism, sociological and cultural theories, the seminar examines the fundamental assumptions on which our understanding of the social world and our research are based. In this unique version of the course, students will view class through the eyes of others, namely the people of the Aegean: Greeks, Turks, and Cypriots. Beyond that, we will go much deeper to analyze class interests at the regional, international, and global levels. By doing such an analysis, students will be able to identify cross-country interests of both workers and capitalists, and everyone else in between.
Download SOC 0432-Draft Syllabus.pdf (433.45 KB)Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells
Hujambo, Hola, Bon jour! I am the Exchange and Panther Programs Manger. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and am an Adjunct professor of Anthropology who has taught in the Anthropology, History, Sociology, and Africana Studies departments at Pitt and CMU. I recently helped students to achieve their goals as their Academic Advisor. I did my fieldwork on Color Classification in Cuba and have led many ground breaking experiential student trips to Cuba. I love learning about different cultures and want to help facilitate students being able to travel abroad learn the world. I look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals.
Schedule a Zoom appointment with me below or get in touch with me through email to discuss exchange options and your future global experience.
Dr. Mike Epitropoulos
Dr. Mike Epitropoulos is the faculty director for the Pitt in Cyprus program. His interests are grounded first and foremost in teaching Sociology because he sincerely believes in the liberating power of the discipline. In that spirit, he has expressed his training and expertise in the Sociology of Development, State Theory, and Social Movements both inside and outside of the classroom. He has done so in the spirit of Public Sociology, which seeks to engage people from all spheres of society in a multiplicity of ways. He has spent most of his academic career engaging students in the classroom: over 160 courses, in both public and private universities, in the US and Europe, in two languages. He has published books on American Culture and Tourism Development. His current research project focuses on Sustainable Development in small-island, rural communities.
