| Title | Ruth Daniel’s Division II Contract |
| File Date | 09/25/2024 |
| Revision Date | 09/25/2024 |
| Anticipated Completion Date | 12/15/2024 |
| Study Areas | Psychology, Public Health, Cognitive Science |
Your Committee
Hampshire College Members
- Viveca Greene – Current Committee Chair
- Melissa Burch – Current Committee Member
Overview
Provide an overview of your concentration, including several fundamental questions or issues that will help frame your studies. Describe the relevant areas of study.
I want to focus on Christian extremism. I want to research the growth of Christian extremism throughout history and how it pertains to the United States today. I want to answer the question “What is the relationship between Christianity and Extremism throughout history?” and “What can that teach us about the Fundamentalist movement in the United States today?”. I am also interested in the Cognitive Science side of things. Specifically, “What makes humans susceptible to extremist communities, such as cults and organizations like QAnon?”.
Goals
Write your goals. What do you want to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of Division II?
My overarching goal for the entirety of my academic journey is to learn how to help others who have become victims of these extremist Christian movements. I am not sure what that will look like exactly. So, I want to spend my Division II figuring out how to either a) tie in all of my interests to fit into one united goal or b) cut out what is unnecessary so that I can work efficiently to do what I set out to.
Division II Plan
How will you achieve your goals and answer your questions? Describe the sequence of courses learning activities and possibly internships, independent work, and field study that will shape your Division II. (Some advisors recommend writing a semester-by-semester plan).
I am going to take classes in multiple fields of interests in order to hone in on one particular goal. On top of my class study, I will conduct my own personal research, particularly in Christian extremism. I am also active in the German program at Smith College and I am in contact with the director of their partner school, University of Hamburg, in order to potentially study abroad. They have an option to intern and I am talking with the director about working in a monastery there.
Multiple Cultural Perspectives
How do you plan to engage with multiple cultural perspectives in Div II?
I plan to study the effect western Christianity has on Middle East conflicts, specifically Israel/Palestine. This requires educating myself on the historical and cultural contexts in that area of the world.