Arts & Sciences: SanFran: History & Culture (WW1)

About CAS 2990 WW1

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles. May be repeated for credit with different content.

Notes

Spring Break travel course; Application Deadline 11/11/2026; On location dates 3/6/2027-3/14/2027;Location:San Francisco, Program fee $3042 minus $450 deposit paid upon admittance; Airfare is additional; Tuition is additional; Out of Pocket Expenses (approx. $300) are additional; Instructor permission required Open to degree and PACE students Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations

Section Description

This three-credit travel study course explores how public art tells the story of San Francisco’s history, culture, and communities. Through visits to murals, monuments, memorials, and other artworks in public spaces, students will examine whose histories are represented, whose stories are marginalized, and how public art shapes a city’s identity. Site visits will include locations such as the Mission District, Coit Tower, and works by Diego Rivera, alongside contemporary public art and sculpture. Students will consider the relationships between public art, public space, migration, social movements, and gentrification, as well as who decides what is created, displayed, and preserved in shared spaces. Through walking tours, public transportation, group discussions, and reflective and visual documentation exercises, students will develop skills in observing, interpreting, and critically analyzing public art in its historical and contemporary contexts.

Section Expectation

This travel study course requires active participation in site visits, walking tours, group discussions, and reflective activities throughout the trip. Students will explore public art and public spaces across San Francisco, using observation, note-taking, and visual documentation to examine how the city’s history and cultural identity are represented. Students will complete assigned readings and short written and visual reflections, contribute to discussions, and consider how public art relates to issues such as migration, social movements, race and inequality, housing, and gentrification. A research paper will culminate the semester's studies. Success in this course depends on active engagement with course activities, completion of assignments, and a willingness to share ideas and critically reflect on the histories and perspectives represented in public spaces.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on their participation in site visits, walking tours, and group discussions; completion of assigned readings and reflective activities; and their ability to observe, document, and critically analyze public art in relation to San Francisco’s history, culture, and communities. Written and visual reflections will demonstrate students’ understanding of how public art communicates historical narratives, represents diverse perspectives, and engages with contemporary social issues, including migration, social movements, and gentrification. Evaluation will also consider students’ ability to connect specific artworks and public spaces to broader historical and cultural contexts and to communicate their observations and interpretations clearly through written, visual, and oral expression. Following the travel study, students will develop a research paper that builds on their site visits, observations, and research, culminating their work for the semester.

Important Dates

Note: These dates may change before registration begins.

Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.

Resources

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• PACE Course Pricing
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