Intro to Applied Economics – The Economics of Rural Alaskan Water Utilities (Barbara Johnson)
In this course, students will learn applied economics by exploring the economics of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems in Alaska. Alaska has the highest rate of households without in-home access to drinking water and sanitation services in the United States. Why? We will answer this question using economics, which is the study of how we, as individuals or as a society, decide to allocate resources. We will learn about economies of scale, incentives, prices, and the laws of demand and supply. We will touch on the cultural dimension of economics and the colonial roots of infrastructure development in rural Alaska. Students will also collaborate on a research project, which will be published. By the end of this course students will be thinking like economists.
Indigenizing Futures: Healing Within and Against the Anthropocene (Sol Neely)
The term “Anthropocene,” which has gained a lot of traction both for climate scientists and activists, occasions an important critical framework for rendering legible the role of human development in visibly affecting the geological record. However, the term has also come under scrutiny by Indigenous scholars and activists who see it as both irreducibly Eurocentric and as obscuring long Indigenous traditions of climate justice and stewardship. In this seminar, we will take up these Indigenous critiques within and against appeal to the Anthropocene. We will begin by analyzing global climate change as an extension and intensification of colonialism, giving due critical attention to the economic, environmental, and cultural sorrows of late-stage capitalism. Then, we will draw from a broad array of interdisciplinary and Indigenous source materials — from origin stories to Indigenous futurisms — in order to imagine decolonial futures rooted in Indigenous land management, economic equity, and environmental justice.
Living a Democratic Life (Joel Schlosser)
What are we talking about when we talk about democracy? This course will examine the history, theory, and practice of democracy from its origins in ancient Athens to the present day. Is democracy a matter of political institutions or does it require a particular culture and set of beliefs? What obligations does a citizen of a democracy have? Do we even want to live in a democracy? Approaching these questions from a variety of angles, we will also seek to reflect on the powers and responsibilities of self-governance at Outer Coast. What does it mean to participate in a self-governing community? How can self-governance at Outer Coast inform governance in political life more broadly? Readings will include ancient Greek drama and philosophy, American history and literature, and contemporary film.
Tlingit Language and Indigenous Studies (X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell)
This course will teach students the Tlingit language and also introduce a number of critical concepts in the field of Indigenous Studies. The daily activities of the class will be divided between language learning and use and the exploration of topics in Indigenous Studies in a place-based and safe learning environment.