LATIN AMERICA www.coursera.org

These online courses are really quite good. I have attempted to get some to join me in a Philosophy, an mysteries of archeology and a world history courses ... alas no takers. They'd be better with conversation. Its really not a lot of time and can be done in the middle of the night or heat of the day, whenever. I anyone is interested PM me. thanks.

This one is taught by a professor from Monterrey.


About the Course
This course will develop students’ abilities to understand Latin American culture at both the national and regional levels. Students will analyze the social, economic, political, and cultural development of the region by applying modern critical thinking to the understood history of the individual Latin American countries. At the same time, students will study the contributions of different cultural and ethnic groups that exist within these countries, in order to understand fully the social complexity of what we call “Latin America”. Lastly, students will evaluate the developmental needs of Latin American countries and propose possible solutions in which individuals can act as a force for change.

Throughout the course, students will develop abilities such as: independent thinking and learning, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize, and evaluate. The final part of the course will help develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. After completing this course, students will gain a better awareness of Latin American reality and needs.
Course Syllabus
1. The birth of Latin American culture

1.1 An idea of culture

1.2 ¿Encounter, confrontation or unification?




2. The political dimension.
2.1 Political systems and their development over time.

2.2 The struggle for democracy.

2.3 The leader in Latin America.

2.4 Sudden and dramatic events during the 20th century.



3. The characteristics of the economic processes in contemporary Latin America.

3.1 Economic models: from socialism to neoliberalism.

a) Globalization;

b) Treaties and economic alliances;

c) The end of the welfare state;

d) The search for successful economic models.



4. Development and sustainability in Latin America.

4.1 Poverty and the environment: quality of life, environment, violence, poverty, gender, drug trafficking, corruption, and religious fanaticism.

4.2 Consequences, implications and possibilities of modernity in Latin America.

4.3 Proposals for development.



5. Art in Latin America I

5.1 What makes Latin America Art unique.

5.2 Understanding Latin America through art.

5.3 Literature.



6. Art in Latin America II

6.1 Visual Arts.

6.2 Music.

Recommended Background
No background is required; all are welcome!
Suggested Readings
CIP Americas
Foreign Policy Mexican Edition
Latin American School of Educational Resources
Latin American Culture History and Archaeology
Organizational implications of Latin American Culture: lessons for the expatriate manager
Studies in Latin American Popular Culture
Course Format
This is a six week course and the investment required is at least an hour a day. Students of the course will have the opportunity to watch videos where different specialists of the area explain and confront common ideas about Latin America and its role in the processes of Globalization.

Further more, students will have the opportunity to make peer discussions based on open resources and readings to build a better understanding of the region, from a political, ideological, cultural and artistic perspective.

The students will be evaluated through weekly quizzes and a final essay.

How much does it cost?

nothing

solajijic wrote:nothing

Coursera offers online courses from leading universities, such as Princeton, U of IL etc. They are the same as offered to students of the university, but are non-credit, and as mentioned, free. I think one can take all the exams, write the papers and pay and get credits.
I have taken a number of courses from them, and it is a great organization!
Thanks for the suggestion on Latin America, will try next. They have good Sociology courses, including Sustainability!

gm