Nicole K. Mayberry, Ph.D.

This course delves into the assertion that “The Future is for everyone” by questioning the historical bias of the Western Tradition, which has often favored white, male, western perspectives. Students will explore the foundational philosophers of the Western Canon, shedding light on themes like freedom, subjugation, colonialism, gender, and the essence of being human. The course then transitions to Praxis scholars, who challenge, expand upon, or diverge from traditional Western philosophies. Through this, students identify voices historically omitted from the Canon and align their research inquiries with both Western and Praxis viewpoints. Designed for advanced master’s and doctoral students, the course refines their theoretical research approach. (graduate)

This course guides students through an exploration of the multifaceted concept of power: its essence, mechanisms, historical transformations, and the implications of its shifts among groups. Central to this examination is understanding how power has been wielded in colonial contexts across history. To achieve this depth of insight, students will engage with a rich spectrum of literature, drawing from seminal thinkers like Michel Foucault, Karl Marx, and Franz Fanon. (graduate)

This course offers students a grounding in the theoretical and methodological underpinnings crucial for PhD research in the humanistic and social exploration of science and technology, encompassing an expansive spectrum of disciplinary and interdisciplinary vantage points. Initially, the focus is on the interdisciplinary amalgamation of four pivotal domains in the study of science and technology: conceptual and philosophical; historical; social and institutional; and policy and political. As the course progresses, emphasis shifts to an exploration of how these disciplinary boundaries are both embraced and deconstructed through various theoretical and methodological lenses, such as postcolonial, de-colonial, boundary objects, feminist, and intersectional frameworks. While there’s a subtle inclination towards the historical, philosophical, and social roots of this realm of study, significant attention is also paid to its political, policy foundations, and the broader socio-cultural and political ramifications. The course design ensures a holistic understanding, acknowledging the intrinsic overlap in these dimensions. (graduate)

This course dives deep into the innovative thought of Herbert Marcuse, a leading 20th-century social philosopher renowned for blending Frankfurt School principles with the American New Left’s energy. Spotlighting Marcuse’s introduction of “technological rationality” students will explore his subsequent explorations—bridging psychology with societal shifts, critiquing a culture of consumption, and envisioning a more liberating political framework. Notably, Marcuse’s early alerts on environmental concerns and his advocacy for a holistic view of gender, race, and class in societal analysis are dissected. Students will contextualize Marcuse within his era and trace his enduring academic footprint. (graduate/undergraduate)

In this course, students delve into the minds of the Frankfurt School’s scholars. How did these thinkers engage with, challenge, and dialogue with the seminal works of predecessors like Hegel, Marx, and Freud? The curriculum prioritizes both foundational texts from the Frankfurt School and the nuances of contemporary praxis. To achieve this comprehensive understanding, students will first immerse themselves in primary Frankfurt School writings, followed by an exploration of contemporary supplemental scholarship, diving into the works of luminaries such as Arendt, Benjamin, Buck-Morris, and beyond. (graduate)

This course invites students to the vast landscape of research, initiating with the foundational understanding of research and its multifaceted objectives. Students will delve into the ways knowledge is cultivated across diverse disciplinary approaches, uncovering the historical and philosophical foundations that underpin the valuation of knowledge and its translation into structured research. While elements from a traditional research design and methodology course are presented, this course distinctly underscores the process of knowledge creation, the innovations therein, the interplay of disciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge, and its reverberations in society. Through this lens, students will engage with the varied epistemological perspectives in problem identification and research strategies, especially as seen in engineering, the sciences, and the social sciences.(undergraduate, methods)