374. Special Topics.
Special Topics. Three lecture hours a week for one
semester. Additional hours are required for some topics; these topics
are identified in the Course Schedule. May be repeated for
credit when the topics vary. Some topics partially fulfill
legislative requirement for American history; these are identified in
the Course Schedule. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is
given in the Course Schedule.
Topic 2: Life and Literature of the Southwest--Mexican
American. Same as English 342 (Topic 1: Life and Literature of the
Southwest--Mexican American). Verse, fiction, travels, and
memoirs, to acquaint students with the literature reflecting the
social inheritance of Texas and the neighboring territory.
Prerequisite: Nine semester hours of lower-division English,
including English 316K or the equivalent.
Topic 3: Chicanos: Sociological
Perspectives. Same as Sociology 348K. Anglo-American and Mexican American contacts
and relations in the southwestern United States from colonial
times to the present; emphasis on social and cultural differences
and problems of assimilation. Prerequisite: Sociology 309 or
the equivalent, or consent of instructor.
Topic 4: Latino Community Journalism.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of instructor.
Topic 5: Hispanic Literature of the Southwest in
Translation. Same as English 322 (Topic 27:
Hispanic Literature of the Southwest in
Translation) and Spanish 349 (Topic 2: Hispanic Literature of
the Southwest in Translation). English 349L (Topic 2:
Hispanic Literature of the Southwest in
Translation) and Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 5) may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: For English majors, nine semester hours of lower-division
English, including English 316K or the equivalent; for
others, upper-division standing or consent of instructor.
Topic 6: Feature Writing. Same as Latin American Studies
322 (Topic 4: Feature Writing). Procedures in gathering material
for feature stories, with stress on newspaper articles; analysis
of reader appeal; study of feature story structure; development
of style by practice in writing feature stories. Journalism 327
and Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 6) may not both
be counted. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and a passing
score on the College of Communication Grammar, Spelling
and Punctuation Test.
Topic 7: Mexican/Chicano Music. Same as Anthropology
324L (Topic 2: Mexican/Chicano Music) and Music 342 (Topic 1:
Mexican/Chicano Music).
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 8: Mexican Americans in the Schooling
Process. Same as Educational Psychology 362 (Topic 4:
Mexican Americans in the Schooling Process).
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 9: Hispanic Images and
Counterimages. Same as Latin American Studies 322 (Topic 1:
Hispanic Images and Counterimages) and Radio-Television-Film 359 (Topic 1:
Hispanic Images and Counterimages). Three lecture hours and one two-hour film
screening a week for one semester.
Prerequisite: For radio-television-film majors, upper-division standing; consent of
instructor; and the following coursework, with a grade of at
least C in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305, either 314 or 316,
and six additional semester hours of lower-division coursework
in radio-television-film; for others, upper-division standing
and consent of instructor.
Topic 10: Latino Audiences. Same as Latin American Studies
322 (Topic 2: Latino Audiences) and Radio-Television-Film 365
(Topic 2: Latino Audiences).
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; the following coursework, with a grade of at
least C in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305 and nine additional semester
hours of lower-division coursework in radio-television-film; and
consent of instructor.
Topic 11: Mass Media and Ethnic Groups. Same as Latin
American Studies 322 (Topic 3: Mass Media and Ethnic
Groups) and Radio-Television-Film 365 (Topic 3:
Mass Media and Ethnic Groups).
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; the
following coursework, with a grade of at least C
in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305 and nine additional semester hours
of lower-division coursework in radio-television-film; and
consent of instructor.
Topic 12: Race Relations. Same as History 352R and
Sociology 352M (Topic 2: Race Relations). Lectures on the sociological,
economic, and political conditions that historically have made
for "race relations" in the United States. History 366N (Topic:
Race Relations) and Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 12)
may not both be counted. Partially fulfills legislative
requirement for American history.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 13: Spanish-Language Literature of the
Southwest. Same as Latin American Studies 370S (Topic 6:
Spanish-Language Literature of the
Southwest) and Spanish 341K. The study of
culturally valuable Chicano literary texts; related readings in
Mexican and other Hispanic works. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Spanish 612, 312L, or equivalent language proficiency and
consent of instructor.
Topic 14: United States-Mexican Border
Relations. Same as Government 337M (Topic 4:
United States-Mexican Border Relations) and Latin American Studies 337M (Topic 4:
United States-Mexican Border Relations).
Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division government.
Topic 15: Latino Politics. Same as Latin American Studies
337M (Topic 8: Latino Politics) and Government 370K (Topic
2: Latino Politics). Prerequisite: Six semester hours of
lower-division government.
Topic 16: Texas, 1914 to the Present. Same as History 320R.
The steady dissociation of Texas from its Old South status to a
transitional state and a power in national politics. Three
semester hours of Texas history may be substituted for half of the
legislative requirement for American history.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 17: International Communication: Third World
Issues. Same as Latin American Studies 322 (Topic 7:
International Communication: Third World
Issues) and Radio-Television-Film 342 (Topic 3:
Third World Issues). Asian Studies 361 (Topic 4:
International Communication: Third World
Issues) and Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 17) may not both be
counted. Prerequisite: For radio-television-film majors,
upper-division standing; consent of instructor; and the following
coursework, with a grade of at least C in each course:
Radio-Television-Film 305 and nine additional semester hours of
lower-division coursework in radio-television-film; for others,
upper-division standing and consent of instructor.
Topic 18: Diversity Newsmagazine. Same as Latin American
Studies 322 (Topic 8: Television Field Production: Diversity
Newsmagazine) and Radio-Television-Film 366K (Topic 1:
Diversity Newsmagazine). A multicultural approach to the production of
broadcast-quality minidocumentaries. Three lecture hours a
week for one semester, with studio hours to be arranged.
Prerequisite: For radio-television-film majors, upper-division
standing; consent of instructor; the following coursework, with a
grade of at least C in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305,
317, 318, and three additional semester hours of
lower-division coursework in radio-television-film; for others,
upper-division standing and consent of instructor.
Topic 19: Race Relations: Comparative and Historical
Perspective. Same as History 350L (Topic 27:
Race Relations: Comparative and Historical
Perspective) and Sociology 352M (Topic 6:
Race Relations: Comparative and Historical
Perspective). A global survey of the formation of complex race situations associated
with the European expansion and colonization of the
non-European world. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 20: Gender, Culture, and Society in the Southwest,
1320-1848. Same as History 352S and Women's Studies 340
(Topic 9: Gender, Culture, and Society in the Southwest,
1320-1848). Centering gender as a category of historical analysis, and sex as
a social category, this course examines the peoples and
historical developments in the Southwest from a gendered
transhistorical and transcultural perspective from 1320 to 1848. Only one
of the following may be counted: History 366N (Topic:
Gender on Nineteenth-Century Borderlands), Mexican American Studies
374 (Topic 20), 374 (Topic: Gender on Nineteenth-Century
Borderlands), Women's Studies 340 (Topic: Gender on Nineteenth-Century
Borderlands). Partially fulfills legislative requirement for
American history. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent
of instructor.
Topic 21: Essay in Mexican Thought and
Culture. Same as Latin American Studies 370S (Topic 13:
Essay in Mexican Thought and Culture) and Spanish 350 (Topic 2:
Essay in Mexican Thought and Culture).
Prerequisite: Spanish 322K or the equivalent.
Topic 22: Mass Media and Minorities. Same as Journalism
359 and Latin American Studies 322 (Topic 10: Mass Media and
Minorities). Survey of minority communication problems:
alienation, fragmentation, media access; criticism and feedback
for minority groups based on racial/ethnic background, age,
sex, disability, social or economic class, and sexual orientation.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 23: Mexican American Indigenous
Heritage. Same as Anthropology 322M (Topic 10:
Mexican American Indigenous Heritage). The prehistory, history, and contemporary racial
understanding of Mexican Americans.
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 24: Latinos and Media. Same as Latin American
Studies 322 (Topic 12: Latinos and Media) and
Radio-Television-Film 365 (Topic 6: Latinos and
Media). Prerequisite: For radio-television-film majors, upper-division standing; consent of
instructor; and the following coursework, with a grade of at
least C in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305 and nine
additional semester hours of lower-division coursework in
radio-television-film; for others, upper-division standing and consent
of instructor.
Related Courses
Many of the following courses may be repeated for credit
when the topics vary. Only topics in Mexican American studies
may be counted as related courses in the Mexican American
studies program.
College of Communication
Radio-Television-Film 359. Studies in Media and Culture.
Radio-Television-Film 365. Topical Studies in Mass Communication.
College of Liberal Arts
Anthropology 324L. Topics in Anthropology.
Anthropology 325L. Folklore Areas: Selected Topics.
English 306. Rhetoric and Composition (if approved by the
director of the Center for Mexican American Studies).
English 314L. Introduction to Literature.
English 325L. Folklore Areas: Selected Topics.
English 342. Life and Literature of the Southwest.
English 376L. Studies in Literary Themes and Traditions.
Government 312L. Issues and Policies in American
Government (if approved by the director of the Center for Mexican
American Studies).
Government 337M. Topics in Latin American Government and Politics.
Government 370K. Racial and Ethnic Politics.
Psychology 341K. Selected Topics in Psychology.
Sociology 344. Racial and Ethnic Relations.