Courses
Below you can find an example of courses that Dr. Levinson has taught in the past at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. If you have any questions, or would like to see sample syllabi for these courses, please do so on the contact section of this website.
UNDERGRADUATE:
• Social Innovation & Positive Change – Senior Capstone
The last decade has seen an incredible increase both in scholarly work related to social innovation and in the number of organizations (whether public, private, or not-for-profit) around the world dedicated to positive change. Social innovation directly matches the mission of American University and its role as a change-maker campus. This class, as a Capstone Seminar, centers on the production of a capstone project related to social innovation and positive change. At the same time, it provides an overview of scholarship/tools related to social innovation.
• Governing Globally? Internet, Intergovernmental Organization, Interests and Beyond
The internet and emerging technologies shape the context for and constitute one key focus for governance issues locally and globally. No longer are nation-states the only players in the policy spaces for global governance issues. International organizations, private sector organizations, and civil society are increasingly involved. Whether it is cybersecurity issues or digital divides, new research provides a lens on these complex policy spaces.
• Topics in Global Inequality and Development: Social Entrepreneurship
The field of social entrepreneurship, especially in the context of international development, is growing rapidly. This course examines trends in the field including new research on cross-cultural communication, alliances, and partnerships across sectors to make a difference. Using case studies of actual social entrepreneurs and their organizations, students have the opportunity to design their own organization or examine an organization or network of organizations dedicated to social innovation and development.
• Cross-Cultural Communication
Examines the impact of culture on communication, perception, thought patterns, values, and beliefs in order to better understand the behavior of individuals within different societies. Specific concerns include the dynamics of verbal and nonverbal communication; the relationship between dominant cultures and subcultures; ethnic, racial, class and other forms of diversity within countries and organizations; third-culture and multicultural persons; and the dynamics of cross-cultural adjustment.
• Honors Colloquium in Social Science
Topics vary by section. This seminar for SIS Honors students stands at the intersection of three or more SIS undergraduate thematic areas. It challenges students intellectually and encourages them to think deeply about their Honors projects.
Additional Courses:
• Leadership Gateway
• Senior Seminar in International Relations (Advanced Undergraduate)
GRADUATE:
• Communication and Social & Economic Development
This course focuses on cutting-edge issues, emerging opportunities and professional skills related to the following: innovating for development including social change; highlighting culture and cross-cultural knowledge transfer & ‘stickiness’; forging creative destruction via ICTs, mobiles & social or visual media; examining emerging arenas such as eco-tourism, health, education, exchanges & other professional knowledge niches, depending on ProSeminar participant interests; crafting effective partnership practices for collective impact/change; and evaluating critically emerging programs and practices.
• Social Entrepreneurship
This course seeks to answer the following questions: What does social entrepreneurship entail and what literature exists to help understand this field? Who and what types of organizational structures are the players in this field now? What are the characteristics (including skill sets) of successful social entrepreneurs? What ethical issues/barriers/opportunities arise? Additionally, the class emphasizes new research on cross-cultural communication, alliances and partnerships/networks of organizations, and inter-organizational/cross-national learning and innovation as this work applies to the field of social entrepreneurship.
Additional Courses:
• Management of Research and Development
• The Systems Approach