| RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP ACTIVITIES: COLLEGES, CENTERS, AND INSTITUTES |
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Research in the College of Liberal Arts is diverse and ranges from traditional research/scholarship to creative expression. Researchers, scholars and artists working in the humanities, the social sciences and the fine and performing arts explore the human condition - politically, economically, aesthetically, socially, culturally and historically, through methods such as textual analysis, field research and the statistical analysis of data. In addition, faculty are involved in artistic production and the study of artistic expression that reflect individual and social experience. |
Research in departments in the College of Liberal Arts currently
encompasses scholarship/creative activity in areas such as:
Anthropology: Human adaptation to changing environments (cultural, climatic, technological) from regional, national and international perspectives
Art: Creative and artistic expression in graphic design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking. Research in art history
Economics: Theoretical and applied research in econometrics, environmental economics, industrial organization, international economics, and in the core areas of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
English: Studies of literature, film and cultural history, creative work in fiction, poetry and the essay, and research in the teaching of composition
Ethnic Studies: The ways intersections of race, gender, ethnicity and class have shaped the experiences of people of color in the United States. Focus is primarily on Asian Americans, African Americans, Native Americans and Latino/as
Foreign Languages and Literature: Chinese drama, applied linguistics, Spanish literature and film, Medieval literary criticism, modern Russian theater, Latin American literature, Spanish American culture, European studies, French poetry , Francophone studies, North African Studies, Literary translation, Mexican women writers.
History: History of science, environmental
history, medical history, and U.S., European, Latin American, African
American, Islamic and Chinese social, intellectual, cultural and
diplomatic history
Music: Creative and artistic expression through
performance and conducting. Also music history, music education,
and composition
Philosophy: History of ideas, critical thinking, religious studies, aesthetics, philosophy and politics, philosophy and science, philosophy of nature, applied ethics which includes environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, and peace studies.
Political Science: Politics in Latin America, China and Russia, public administration and state and local government, public opinion, Oregon politics, comparative European and American political culture, electoral behavior, demographic politics and American constitutional history and theory
Psychology: Neural activity in the brain, attentional and cognitive process, self-regulatory and social behavior, developmental and environmental factors involved in the development and maintenance of human performance, health, and welfare.
Sociology: Sociologists study the causes and effects of ongoing changes in communities, families, and organizations. Sociology faculty at OSU specialize in environment and natural resources, religion, medicine, poverty and inequality, immigration, crime and juvenile delinquency, and family relations, with a particular emphasis on social policy related to these topics.
Speech Communication: Natural resource conflict management, collaborative learning, political rhetoric, oral interpretation, parliamentary debate, rhetorical theory, theater and violence, theater history, language and social interaction. Creative expression through Theater Arts
Women Studies: Postmodern feminist theory and practice, women and religion, women and HIV/AIDS, feminist teaching.
The search for answers to the general question: how do people adapt (biologically, culturally, linguistically, and cognitively) to changing environments (cultural, climatic, technological, etc.) unifies research in the Department of Anthropology. More specifically, our faculty members pursue research at home and abroad in areas pertaining to midwifery, rural pollution risk assessment, prehistoric New World settlement patterns, Arctic studies, popular culture, ethnicity and health, endangered languages, food security, and Historic archaeology of the Northwest.
DEPARTMENT OF ART |
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The Department of Art focuses on art history, fine arts, graphic design, and photography. The art historians conduct traditional scholarship in the history of art and design, with specialties in modern art, performance art, the Italian Renaissance, and Native American art. Fine arts includes creative activity in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Graphic design includes scholarship in the history of design as well as creative, client-based work in publication design, identity systems, and electronic media. Photography includes creative work in fine arts, documentary, digital, and illustrative photography.
The faculty in the Department of Economics conducts research in both theoretical and applied economics. The focus of the research is on the following areas:
Econometrics
Environmental and Resource Economics
Industrial Organization
International Economics
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
(541) 737-3244
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/english/
Research in the Department of English encompasses scholarly studies of literature, film and cultural history, creative work in fiction, poetry, the essay, and other literary forms, and research into the teaching of composition. Faculty in English have recently completed significant works in all these fields, and a number of other scholarly and literary projects are underway. Recently published works by English faculty in literature have included books on the authors Kenneth Burke, Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Joyce, and Peter Taylor. Contributions to film studies and cultural history have included books on the contemporary American cinema and on the cultural significance of football. English faculty members have also recently published several novels, short story collections, and essay collections. Recent faculty awards and honors for scholarship and creative writing have included fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and grants and awards from the Fulbright Program, the Howard Foundation, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, the Lucius Littauer Foundation, the Huntington Library and the Oregon Arts Commission. Two English faculty members have been named Oregon State University Distinguished Professors, and another was awarded the Alumni Distinguished Professor Award. English Faculty members have recently hosted a national conference on feminism and rhetoric and a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar for Teachers. English faculty members have also been active in planning and hosting other national and regional scholarly meetings. The English Department sees its scholarly and creative work as vital to its missions in teaching and public service.
DEPARTMENT OF ETHNIC STUDIES
(541) 737-0709
http://orst.edu/dept/ethnic_studies/
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Our research focuses primarily on Asian Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, and Latino/as. Individual faculty members are currently exploring the following topics: how second generation Mexican immigrants in Oregon negotiate their way through higher education; immigration from Mexico to Oregon; the historical presence of racialized ethnic minorities in Oregon; and ethnic minorities in film. |
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
(541) 737-2146
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/foreign_lang/
| The Department of Foreign Languages
and Literatures offers comprehensive undergraduate programs
leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees in French, German, and Spanish.
Minor programs are offered in these three languages and in Chinese,
Japanese and Russian. The department offers a Latin American
Studies Certificate (equivalent to an area studies minor) and
a Russian Studies Certificate (equivalent to an area studies
minor). The department is committed to the practical application
of language study to professional careers. The department is
also the gateway to study programs at sites around the world,
to OSU's International Degree, and to International Internships
giving students professional experience for credit. The department
offers a Master of Arts in Contemporary Hispanic Studies, a
Master of Arts in Teaching leading to certification in French,
German, Spanish, Bilingual Education and ESOL , and participates
in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program.
Faculty in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures have expertise in: French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese languages Linguistics Computer and web technology for the instruction of foreign languages and literatures. The faculty conduct research in the literature, culture, and cinema of the countries where these languages are spoken. The faculty engage in translation of literary works in these languages. Some faculty are also creative writers and dramatic performers. |
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
(541) 737-3421
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/history/
The Department of History's faculty members all are involved in extended research projects. Each year the department faculty publish books and articles and deliver scholarly papers at national and international meetings. In recent years funding for research has come from the NEH, NSF, Pew Foundation, Templeton Foundation, and a number of small private foundations. The major areas of concentration of research are in: history of science; environmental history; medical history; and US, European, Latin American, African, Islamic, and Chinese social, intellectual, cultural, and diplomatic history.
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC |
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Scholarly and creative activities are essential components in the lives of all musicians. In light of the small size of the Music Department, the first priority of the OSU music faculty is to maintain the high quality academic and performance programs that are traditional components of life in a modern American university. These include vigorous performance programs in orchestral, band, choral, operatic, and jazz activities, as well as compositional, vocal, instrumental and piano studies. Additionally the department offers teacher education certification and degree programs. Given the variety of this activity, nearly all of the scholarly and creative activities of individual faculty members are focused on the health and vigor of those programs.
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY |
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Faculty in the Philosophy Department undertake research, scholarship, and creative activity that increase human understanding of the values and concepts that shape our decisions and our lives. At Oregon State University, a land-grant institution, our emphasis is on applying theory to practice. Thus, our faculty study ethical and other philosophical issues that arise in medicine and public health, natural resource use, science, art, law, and social and political life. With funding from the Hundere Endowment, the Philosophy Department is an epicenter for the study of religion and culture. The department's Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature, and the Written Word endeavors to bring together the environmental sciences, philosophical analysis, and the written word, to find new ways to understand and re-imagine our relation to the natural world. Our mission of engaged philosophy is carried out annually through our IDEAS MATTER lecture series.
Much of the department's work is interdisciplinary and collaborative; our faculty have research partnerships with foresters, scientists, health care professionals, clergy, and creative writers. We have an active student-faculty research program in which students collaborate with faculty on original scholarship. While many of our faculty publish in philosophy journals, the majority of the scholarly and creative work in the department is addressed to the general public, and to issues directly important to the people of the state.
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
(541) 737-2811
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/pol_sci/
The research mission of the Department of Political Science is to foster civic education, public service, and public policy research in applied and theoretical settings. To fulfill this mission, the department supports programs in the four substantive policy areas most relevant to Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Rim: international politics, environment and natural resources, media and public information, and governmental studies and public service. The nation is currently in the midst of a crisis in public confidence in the ability of our government and democratic institutions to work effectively. Educational institutions must facilitate a better understanding of the social, political, historical and economic dimensions of the challenges ahead. The Department of Political Science intends to make an important contribution in this area by promoting research which encourages civic literacy, community involvement in public decisions, and a commitment to public service in the broadest sense possible.
An example of department research programs is the Program for Governmental Research and Education (PGRE). PGRE was created at Oregon State University in 1991 to help Oregon citizens better understand and participate in state and local government, and to strengthen the capacity of Oregon state and local governments to manage public services. It seeks, through research and education, to link citizens, government, and the State System of Higher Education. Participating PGRE faculty come from the Departments of Political Science, Agriculture and Resource Economics, and OSU Extension Service.
PGRE has been working with a variety of nonprofit organizations and The Pew Charitable Trusts to develop programs which inform and encourage young people to engage in the electoral process. Since 1972 when the voting age was lowered to 18, there has been a steady decline in election participation among 18 to 24 year-olds. In the 1996 general election the national rate of participation for this group was only 32 percent and in 1998 only 28 percent participated. In many state and local elections the percentage participating in the electoral process may be as low as 12 to 15 percent. (For a listing of PGRE's research in this area, visit the PGRE Youth Inclusion Home page, http://osu.orst.edu/dept/pol_sci/pgre/youth.htm).
The Department of Political Science also is involved in promoting undergraduate research projects. As a participant in the OSU's http://osu.orst.edu/international/oie/iurp.htm International Undergraduate Research Program, political science undergraduates have the opportunity to work with students and faculty in public health and environmental sciences on international multi-disciplinary research teams in countries such as China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. This new program adds several levels of sophistication to traditional undergraduate work. First, the addition of a multidisciplinary dimension will encourage students to bridge barriers between the disciplines. Secondly, the international dimension will encourage students to bridge language and cultural barriers.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
(541) 737-2311
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/psychology/
Research programs within the Department of Psychology aim to advance theoretical understanding of the human brain, mind, and behavior necessary for the development of successful applications to human health, education and welfare. Specific research interests range from the study of single cells within the brain to interpersonal processes within groups including: (a) neural activity in brain areas related to movement and time perception, (b) attention and cognitive performance across the life span, (c) anxiety, stress, depression and coping across the life span, (d) the interrelationship of personality, motivation, and social cognition, (e) social skills and emotional intelligence and (f) jury decision making.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
(541) 737-2641
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/sociology/
The overarching goal of the Department of Sociology is to understand how social change affects communities, organizations, families, and individuals. Our general areas of interest are in social policy, environment and natural resources, social systems, and social research methods. More specifically, we study issues such as how Oregon's coastal communities are adapting to changes in the fishing industry, and how home ownership, migration, parenting, family care-giving, and women's employment and occupations are reshaping American families. Issues connected to globalization and family life in other countries, such as Canada, Great Britain, Spain, and Syria, are themes within our research. In addition, we are also conducting research on public and private organizations, exploring organizational culture and decision-making processes in settings such as churches, support-groups, prisons, businesses, social services, and public bureaucracies. Sociologists from OSU are often called upon to provide expertise in research methods, such as interpreting social statistics or conducting surveys, focus groups, and ethnographies
DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION
(541) 737-2461
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/speech
Communication research focuses on human symbolic activity and the meanings people construct, both individually and collectively. In their research, communication faculty inquire about communication in a variety of contexts. Some faculty explore communication issues as rhetorical interaction that features efforts to persuade: the rhetoric of science, the rhetoric of visual images, the rhetoric of environmental advocacy, political rhetoric, and media influence. A number of faculty investigate communication activity in relational contexts. Research areas include gender and communication; communication and street kids as a cultural community; communication in environmental conflict and decision-making situations; and communication in business and organizational settings.
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN STUDIES
(541) 737-2826
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/ws/
The faculty in Women studies come from backgrounds in sociology, psychology, and religion but are involved in interdisciplinary research on significant facets of women's lives. Women Studies faculty members are especially interested in the intersections of gender with race/ethnicity, sexual identity, social class, age, and ability. The most important research questions being addressed currently in Women Studies concern body image and eating disorders; women and religion; women and HIV/AIDS; and feminist teaching.
Oregon State University Research Office
312 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone 541-737-3467 Fax 541-737-9041
researchsupport@oregonstate.edu
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