Course Syllabus

Course Information

AMS 3326/5U1: U.S. in the 21st Century

Summer, 2011
Class Meeting Time: T 6 – 10 PM
Class Location: HH 2.502

Professor Contact Information

Dr. Dachang Cong dccong@utdallas.edu
Office Location: HH 2.302 972-883-2297
Office Hours: T and W 4:30 – 5:45 PM; SAT. 7:30 – 8:30 AM And by Appointment
The School of Interdisciplinary Studies
The University of Texas at Dallas

Course Description
Soon after the no-show of Y2K, American society started to face a wide array of crises and
challenges in the beginning of the new century. This course examines the new realities and new
challenges in the early 21st-century. The course offers a rethinking of cultural, economic, legal,
medical, political, and social institutions. It aims to decode why the IT bubbles and the housing
bubbles burst. Why is the job market still difficult? How does the digital revolution reshape
culture and social networking? What will be the new financial system after the current crisis?
What will be the future of social security? How can we balance security with civil liberties? What
is the new phase of the computer revolution? How can we embrace the biomedical revolution
with prudence? How are we going to afford new medical technologies? How can we reform the
health care system for the public good? What will be the future of global capitalism? What are
the roles of the U.S. in the world community? And how can Wall Street reform itself with higher
ethical standards? Those are some of the questions to be tackled in class.

Required Textbooks and Materials

Ariely, Dan.
The Upside of Irrationality.
McLean, Bethany, and Joe Nocera.
All the Devils are Here.
Reid, T.R.
The Healing of America.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and describe new realities and new challenges in the early 21st
century.
2. Offer critical and constructive comment on the crises in both medical care and
business with anthropological and sociological perspectives.
3. Comprehend the dynamic interaction between culture and economy.

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Suggested Course Materials

The instructor will suggest a number of web sites, TV programs, and movies.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

I Orientation May 24
Understanding New Realities with Anthropological and Sociological
Perspectives
Doing Ethnography

II GM, Microsoft, and Walmart May 31

Decoding American Culture and Economy (1)
Understanding Financial Crises (1)

McLean and Nocera. All the Devils are Here, pp. 1 – 124.

III Goldman Sachs, Citi, and AIG June 7

Decoding American Culture and Economy (2)
Understanding Financial Crises (2)

McLean and Nocera. All the Devils are Here, pp. 125 – 231.

IV Google, eBay, and IBM June 14

Decoding American Culture and Economy (3)
Understanding Financial Crises (3)

McLean and Nocera. All the Devils are Here, pp. 232 – 368.
*Prospectus (50 words) for term paper due

V Examining Health Care (1) June 21

Social Security

Reid. The Healing of America, Chapters 1 – 5.

VI Examining Health Care (2) June 28

The Bubbles in the 1990s
Reid. The Healing of America, pp. 82 - 161.

VII Examining Health Care (3) July 5

Biomedical Ethics

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Reid. The Healing of America, pp. 162 - 260.

VIII Reading American Society (1) July 12

The New Economy and the Digital Revolution
21st-Century Scenarios
Finding Solutions (1)

Ariely. The Upside of Irrationality, 1 - 106.

** Take-home exam questions to be distributed

IX Reading American Society (2) July 19

U.S. in the World Community
Finding Solutions (2)

Ariely. The Upside of Irrationality, 107 - 190.

X Reading American and Society (3) July 26

Finding Solutions (3)
Conclusion

Ariely. The Upside of Irrationality, 191 - 298.

XI Term Paper and Take-Home Exam Due Aug. 4

Grading Policy

Each student is required to write a term paper about a crisis in American society,
economy, or medical care. He or she is also required to complete an exam (two essay
questions).
1) Term paper 60% of final grade
2) Exam 30% of final grade
3) Class participation 10% of final grade
Poor attendance and late work will cause a reduction in the final grade. The instructor
will make a decision on the reduction according to the degree/nature of poor attendance
and belatedness.

Course & Instructor Policies

Cellular phones, computers, and other electronic gadgets should be turned off in classroom.
Class attendance is essential. Poor attendance will impact on the grade negatively.
Late work will also impact on the grade negatively.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

For UTD rules and regulations, please visit

http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

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