FRESHMAN REGISTRATION AND FAMILY ORIENTATION (2008)
What other choices do I have in the General Education curriculum?
There are six sections of the Liberal Studies General Education requirements besides Science. Find the pink General Education Program brochure and study your choices in each section. Some General Education courses may fulfill some of the core requirements of your College for your selected major. Your advisor during the afternoon will be able to identify these courses if applicable. Most often the choice will be yours. These courses are intended to prepare students for life beyond the university. Study your choices. Read course descriptions.
GENERAL EDUCATION DESCRIPTIONS
Human Nature/Human Culture
This course is designed to focus student participation on discovering and understanding what it means to be human. The interdependency of human biology and culture are deciphered through a modern anthropological perspective.
Contemporary Global Issues
This course will offer a contemporary multi-disciplinary perspective regarding the major issues and trends confronting the global society in the 21st century. Emphasis will be given to a critical review and assessment of the origin and present condition of the plethora of situations and problems affecting modern global society. The student will also learn to critically evaluate current and future events. The course will incorporate the views and approaches of the following disciplines: sociology/anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and history. (Cross-listed with ECO/GEO/POL/SOC/HIS 202; may only earn credit in one department.)
Photography
Appreciation
An introduction to the information and skills necessary to appreciate fully the
photographic medium. Students will
learn to use analysis and evaluation to critically present their views on the
art of photography with respect to content, technique and historical
context.
Archaeology: Discovering Our Past
This course is an introduction to the fascinating world of archaeology designed as a detailed exploration of the methods used to learn about past human lifeways before written records. Each student will be involved in the process of discovering our past.
Art Appreciation
Discovering the visual world. An introduction to the visual arts
of applied arts, architecture, craft arts, film/video arts, painting/drawing,
printing/ graphic arts, and sculpture. The student will learn to use
analysis and evaluation to explore the meaning of art.
General Art
Foundations
An introductory course in
visual art, with emphasis on understanding the methods of art making in a
variety of studio disciplines. Topics include: recognition of visual elements
and principles of design, methods of applying these elements and principles
throughout a variety of art forms, thematic development, relationship of the
visual arts to other fields of human endeavor, and an introduction to writing
about visual art. Course content includes representative paradigms of world
art, Western art, multicultural and contemporary art. Critical thinking is
explored through responses to the visual arts through active involvement with
various creative processes and media.
World Art
This course will be an
in-depth examination of art forms in various historical, social, and religious
contexts of Africa, South and South East Asia, the Pacific, and the
BIO/PSY
107 Cr. 3 Science
Brain Basics: Linking Society and Neuroscience
Students will be introduced to the field of neuroscience, including an examination of the cells that make the brain operate, how they operate together to form structures and systems, and how the operation of these systems relates to human behavior. The range of behaviors to be examined will include everyday learning and memory, sleeping and dreaming, as well as an exploration of the brain when abnormal behaviors occur. We will also investigate the impact that advances in the neurosciences have had on society in general. (Cross-listed with PSY; may only earn credit in BIO or PSY.) Not applicable to Biology major or minor.
Introduction to Computing
Computers and computer software are an integral part of modern society. This course explores this relationship. Students will examine the computer as a problem-solving tool through the use of database, spreadsheets and small scale programming. Students will examine the computer as a communication tool through the use of word processing and the Internet. Other topics include the history and future of computer technology, computer hardware basics, man/machine relationships, applications of computers in various disciplines, and social/ethical issues. Credits earned in C-S 101 cannot be applied to the C-S major or minor.
Software Design I
An introduction to the fundamentals of software development; including software classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, logic, selection control, repetition control, subprograms, parameter passage, and rudimentary software engineering techniques. Students complete numerous programming projects using a modern programming language. Prerequisite: MTH 151 or 175, or math placement test scores at, or above, MTH 151.
Microeconomics and Public Policy
Introduction to microeconomic principles and their application to decision making by individuals, businesses, and government. General topics include: supply and demand, market structures, product and factor markets, labor unions, government regulation, income distribution, and economic analysis of current social issues.
Global Macroeconomics
Introduction to the functioning of the world economy. Applications of economic principles to domestic and international problems with an introduction to economic systems, economic thought, and economic history around the world. General topics include: the economics of international trade and exchange rates, global macroeconomics, international monetary systems, and economic development.
Women
in the
An introduction to the status of women in the
ECO/THA
376 Cr. 3 Self
& Society
Economics of Art and
Entertainment
The overall goal of this
course is to enable participants to make or evaluate selected decisions and
policy issues pertaining to the arts and to better understand the unique status
the arts hold in the American economy. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered Sem. II, every other year.
Understanding Human Differences
The course will focus on human differences and the factors which influence these differences, specifically group identifications. It will explore the interaction between misperceptions and ethnocentric perspectives which foster the development of prejudicial attitudes. It will explain the effect of prejudicial attitudes on expectations for “different” others (stereotyping) and on behavior toward those others (discrimination). It will examine diverse groups in our society and how membership in one or more of these groups affects one’s sense of identity and one’s opportunities.
Literature and Human Experience
Intensive study of selected literary texts, with emphasis on various ways of reading, studying, and appreciating literature as an aesthetic, emotional, and cultural experience. Content varies with instructor. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
American Literature I
An exploration of American literature from early times to the late nineteenth century; including such authors as Bradstreet, Franklin, Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, and Dickinson. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
American Literature II
An exploration of American literature from the late nineteenth century to the present; including such authors as Twain, Freeman, James, Chopin, Frost, Hemingway, Faulkner, Wright, and Bellow. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
English Literature I
Encounters with major works of English literature from medieval times through the eighteenth century, including fiction, drama, essays, and poetry. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
English Literature II
Encounters with major works of English literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including fiction, drama, essays, and poetry. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
Western Literature I
An examination of the expression and development of the ideas and values of Western Civilization in time-honored works of literature ranging from Biblical times, through the Greek and Roman eras, to the European Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
ENG 206 Cr. 3 Humanistic Studies
Western Literature II
An examination of the conflicting ideas and values of Western Civilization as expressed in the literature of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries; with special attention to the literary and cultural impact of science and modern philosophy and the roots and identity of the modern age. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
Multicultural
Literature of the
This course examines cultural themes in American literature in an effort to enhance student awareness of the multi-ethnic nature of American culture. Students engage in close reading, discussion, analysis, and interpretation of texts written by individuals from a variety of American ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Content varies with instructors. Prerequisite: ENG 110. (Cross-listed with ERS; may only earn credit in ENG or ERS.)
ENG 208 Cr. 3 International & Multicultural Studies
International Studies in Literature
A study of representative authors from selected regions and ages of the world, ranging from such non-Western traditions as the Indic, Arabic, African, Chinese, and Japanese to such Western traditions as the Icelandic, Scandinavian, Australian, Russian, and South American. Content and focus vary with instructors. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
The
Literature of Black
Survey and exploration of Black American prose and poetry from their eighteenth century beginnings to the end of the Harlem Renaissance and the depression years. Prerequisite: ENG 110. (Cross-listed with ERS; may only earn credit in ENG or ERS.)
ENG/ERS
215 Cr. 3
Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies
African American Authors
A study of the principal post-depression (1940 to present) African American
authors, critics, and scholars which clarifies the relationship between these
writers and the general field of American literature and which illustrates
their unique contributions as representatives of African American culture.
Prerequisite: ENG 110. (Cross-listed with ERS; may only earn credit in ENG or
ERS.)
ENG 220 Cr. 3 Self & Society
Women and Popular Culture
Fundamentals of cultural studies, with a focus on analyzing representations of women in modern American popular culture and their historical reception. Primary texts from media such as film, television, advertising, and popular fiction will be studied for how they communicate cultural values regarding women and femininity. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
Introduction to Environmental Studies
An interdisciplinary, introductory seminar which will explore current environmental issues from a variety of perspectives (scientific, historical, and social) and disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.) Attitudes toward the natural world and approaches to public and private decision-making will also be examined. Some field trips will be used to examine local and regional practices and issues.
Introduction
to Minority Cultures in the
An examination
of the persistence of minority and ethnic problems in the
Myth and Reality: An Examination of Ethnic and Racial
Stereotyping
This course will trace how
popular entertainment mediums such as film, television, books, comics,
"wild west shows," music and cartoons have impacted perceptions of
ethnic and racial groups from the early seventeenth century to the present.
Besides analyzing the persuasive power of these types of mediums, it will
examine why such representations were created and why they still persist. The mythopoeic image that surrounds American Indians, African
Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, and other minority groups will be
juxtaposed against the historical reality that these groups have faced and the
contemporary inequalities that we still must confront.
Multicultural
Literature of the
This
course examines cultural themes in American literature in an effort to enhance
student awareness of the multi-ethnic nature of American culture. Students
engage in close reading, discussion, analysis, and interpretation of texts
written by individuals from a variety of American ethnic and cultural
backgrounds. Content varies with instructors. Prerequisite: ENG 110.
(Cross-listed with ENG 207; may only earn credit in ERS or
The
Literature of Black
Survey and exploration of Black American prose and poetry from their
eighteenth century beginnings to the end of the Harlem Renaissance and the depression
years.
Prerequisite: ENG 110. (Cross-listed with ENG; may only earn credit in ERS or
Global
Warming and Climate Change
The course explores the scientific basis of global warming and climate change, and their current and likely impacts on human society and the environment, before addressing the action that could be taken by governments, by industry and by individuals to mitigate the effect. Discussion of global warming is situated in the context of models of climate change, focusing on alternative interpretations of the effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gases on global warming.
§
ESS
104 Cr. 2 Arts:
The Aesthetic Experience
Dance Appreciation
This course attempts to develop an
awareness and appreciation of the role of dance in human society through the
study of its purposes, functions and various forms.
§
FIN 207 Cr. 3 Self & Society
Personal Finance
A survey course covering personal financial issues; topics include goal
setting, budgeting, major purchases, loan provisions, taxation, insurance coverages, investment opportunities (including stocks,
bonds, and mutual funds) and retirement planning. Open to students in all
colleges.
FRE 220 Cr.
3 International & Multicultural Studies
This course offers both
historical and contemporary perspectives on
Maps and Society
This course introduces all aspects of the map and how they affect the individual in society. It examines the evolution of maps, the map as an art form, the map as a communication medium for spatial knowledge, the meaning of maps and their relationship to culture and society past and present, the influence of maps on an individual through mass media and the Internet, and the way maps reflect personal and societal points of view. It focuses on privacy and civil liberty issues of the individual in the age of digital information where maps and map databases can disclose the privacy of personal space. In addition, today's GIS maps embed substantial amounts of personal information that can affect personal security and how our lives are directly, indirectly, knowingly, and unknowingly influenced.
§ GEO 110 Cr. 3 International & Multicultural Studies
World Cultural Regions
This course provides an understanding of the global distribution of world cultures. The cultural, economic and natural patterns and their interrelationships are examined on a global and regional scale. The development and distribution of cultural regions within countries are included when appropriate.
§ GEO 200 Cr. 3 International & Multicultural Studies
Conservation of Global Environments
Introduction to natural resources, resource management, environmental and land use ethics, environmental impacts of resource utilization and strategies to resolve environmental conflicts. Course examines the relationships between society and the environment from the global to the local scale.
Contemporary Global Issues
This
course will offer a contemporary multi- disciplinary perspective regarding the
major issues and trends confronting the global society as it enters the 21st
century. Emphasis will be given to a critical review and assessment of the
origin and present condition of the plethora of situations and problems
affecting modern global society. The student will also learn to critically
evaluate current and future events. The course will incorporate the views and
approaches of the following disciplines: sociology/anthropology, economics,
geography, political science and history. (Cross-listed with SOC, ANT, ECO,
GEO, POL, and HIS 202; may only earn credit in one department)
GER 399 Cr. 3
Humanistic Studies
German Literature in Translation
A course designed to
introduce students to great works of German literature. The course will center
on representative writings by leading authors of the 19th, 20th, and 21st
centuries whose works illustrate important aspects of German history and
culture. In general these will be longer works of fiction and/or multiple works
by such writers as Kafka, Goethe, Kleist, Mann, Boll, Grass, Wolf, etc. Works
and authors will vary. Offered Sem. II.
Youth Health Issues
This exploratory course is
designed to identify the health issues that affect youth throughout various
stages of their development. Societal institutions that support the healthy
growth and development of youth will be identified, while students consider
strategies that enable the healthy mental/emotional, physical and social
development of today's youth between the ages of 4-18.
Global Origins of the Modern World
This course explores the origins and development of the modern world, focusing on the dual dynamics of globalization and vital indigenous civilizations. The course will critically examine a minimum of three world civilizations, their ancient antecedents, and will include multiple themes, such as technology and science, religion, gender, war and peace, and the environment.
Global Transition and Change
This course examines world history from the perspective of one specific theme, such as technology and science, religion, gender, cross-culture connections, war and peace, arts and literature, government, or the environment. The course is global in scope, covering a minimum of three world civilizations. Individual sections will trace the development of one theme over the course of major changes in world history, ancient origins to the present. Students will have their choice of sections, thus of themes. Fall 2008 themes: Gender, Human Rights, Gender and Family, Art & Architecture, Environment.
HIS 202 Cr. 3 International & Multicultural Studies
Contemporary Global Issues
This course will offer a contemporary multi-
disciplinary perspective regarding the major issues and trends confronting the global society as it enters the 21st century. Emphasis will be given to a critical review and assessment of the origin and present condition of the plethora of situations and problems affecting modern global society. The student will also learn to critically evaluate current and future events. The course will incorporate the views and approaches of the following disciplines: sociology/anthropology, economics, geography, political science and history. (Cross-listed with SOC/ANT/ECO/GEO/POL; may only earn credit in one department.
HIS 205
Cr. 3 Humanistic
Studies
History of Ethical Values in World Religions
This course is a comparative
historical survey of selected religions which focuses upon the distinctive ways
that each religion developed norms of good and bad behavior that it imposed
upon its adherents. What behaviors did each religious tradition label as good
or bad, pure or impure? Why did each tradition place behaviors in those
categories? How did those value judgments concerning good and bad behaviors
change over the centuries? Some of the topics covered in this comparative
historical fashion will include the treatment of women, attitudes toward
abortion, contraception, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, war, attitudes
towards other religions, and environmental ethics.
HIS 206 Cr. 3 Self & Society
Life in
20th Century
This
course focuses on the individual in a changing society. It will trace
transformations in political and economic institutions, but will focus on the
individual in a time of changing racial, gender, family, and cultural
structures. It will explore the history of the self in American history.
HIS 220 Cr. 3
International & Multicultural Studies
The
A survey of the history of
the
HIS
306 Cr. 3 Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women’s Studies
History of Ethnic America
The role and impact of immigrants and ethnic minorities on the political,
economic and cultural development of the United States from colonial times to
the present. Emphasis on the immigrant experience — the problems of immigrant
adjustment, patterns of immigrant mobility and assimilation, and the
persistence of ethnicity and ethnic tensions.
HIS
336 Cr. 3 Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women’s Studies
Hispanics in the United States
This course will introduce students
to the diverse experiences of Hispanic peoples in the United States through an
interdisciplinary survey of their social, historical, political, economic, and
cultural experiences.
Search for Values: The Enduring Quest
A survey of humanity’s search for values from an historical frame of reference with emphasis on the contemporary world. Prerequisite: admission to the Honors Program.
Creating a Healthy, Active Lifestyle
This course
will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary for developing and maintaining
a healthy, physically active lifestyle throughout one’s lifespan. Major issues
directly affecting one’s health such as physical fitness, movement skills and
activities, health promotion and disease prevention, the effective use of
leisure and content in various wellness topical areas will be included.
MIC
130
Cr.3 International & Multicultural
Studies
Global Impact of
Infectious Diseases
A multifaceted examination of issues related to infectious disease throughout the world. The course will begin with historical examples of how infectious disease has impacted society, from plagues of centuries past to recent emerging diseases. After defini