Course Descriptions

AAS 293 : Race & The Law
Explores that part of U.S. law that has dealt with the human and civil rights of African Americans (and by implication other racial ethnic groups in U.S. society: Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, etc.) We do this by examining the relevant legislation and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. However, where appropriate, decisions of the Executive branch made under various 'Executive Orders' are also considered. Any understanding and appreciation of U.S. constitutional democracy requires us to acknowledge the powerful role of race in the evolution of this democracy. Consequently regardless of the time period--the lives of all in the U.S. (of whatever color and sex) have been touched by the interaction between law and race. In Part One of the course we concentrate on an area of legal studies called 'Critical Race Theory,' where our concern is to explore the interaction of law and race from the perspective of issues such as culture, history, gender, identity, politics, class, the media, etc. In Part Two we examine the interaction between race and law from the perspective of the historical evolution of democracy in the U.S. Back to Index

AMS 107 Introduction to American Studies
Introduces students to a variety of approaches that have been developed in American studies to assist understandings of how different people participate in this society and in the world. Also considers how experiences continue to shape present thinking and future possibilities. Back to Index

APY 106 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Surveys important ideas about culture and society that have shaped cultural anthropology. Studies the principal institutions of culture—language, social organization, religion, economics, politics, artistic expression, etc.—in their traditional ethnographic context and as they change through cultural contact and modernization. Back to index

ART 211 Basic Painting
Covers basic methods and materials in oil painting; including traditional and current approaches to form, color, and pictorial organization. Varied course structure includes direct interpretation of subject matter, as well as conceptually based visual problems. Back to index

AHI 210 Art of the Middle Ages
Drawing upon examples of the made and built environment from ca. 300 to ca. 1400, the course considers a number of topics of current interest to medievalists: becoming Christian, the power of the image, who makes art, who sees art, such liminal experience as pilgrimage and crusade, the cult of relics, the construction of the ruler, imperial and papal programs, and civic and individual patronage. Back to index

BIO 200 - Evolutionary Biology
Evidence for evolution; principle of genetics; population genetics; selection (natural, sexual, and kin); evolution of major groups of organisms; speciation; adaptation; coevolution; and sociobiology. Back to index

CHE 101 - General Chemistry 1
Introduces fundamental concepts of chemistry, and surveys important chemical elements and their compounds. Three hours of lecture plus one four-hour recitation/laboratory period weekly. Back to index

CL 113 - Myth and Religion in the Ancient World
Provides an introduction to the mythology of the Greeks and Romans. In addition to considering the myths themselves, we study how they have been employed by ancient through contemporary cultures as reflected in areas ranging from religious and social practice to works of art and architecture. Back to index

COM 101 Principles of Communication
Introduces the study of communication in interpersonal, small-group, organizational, mass, and intercultural contexts; covers basic communication models, theory, and research methods used in communication. Back to index

ECO 212 Current Economic Problems
Uses elementary techniques of economic analysis to examine significant economic issues in order to provide insight into the issues and the consequences of policies advocated to address them. The issues examined are some of those current at the time the course is offered. Back to index

ENG 338 The Novel in the U.S.
Study of the novel as written in the U.S.; may also include attention to novels written elsewhere in North America and in South America. Back to index

FR 211 - Study in French Language and Culture 1
Perfecting writing skills in preparation for advanced courses or study abroad: selections from prose, poetry, drama, or writings on contemporary issues and problems. Back to index

GEO 101 Earth Systems Science I
Earth Systems Science examines modern environmental problems through quantitative methods, analysis, and modeling grounded in basic and applied science and research. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental processes that dominate the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, their characteristics and complex interactions, and their impact on human life and society. Back to index

WS 228 Introduction to Feminist Theory
Introduces to the complexity of feminist thought and theorizing through a discussion of many of the major schools of feminist thought and past and present debates within feminist theorizing as it has developed both within the United States, and abroad. A solid grasp of the core theories, their fundamental approaches, their insights into social phenomenon and the key criticisms of each, will allow the student to enter into and participate in the ongoing conversations that characterizes feminist thought. Feminist theory has always developed in tandem with feminist movements and activism. Thus, throughout the course, students will not only learn about feminist theories, but also apply the tenets of different theories to current issues and modern problems. Theories are not meant to be passive ideas unrelated to our everyday reality, but are meant to be used as tools to analyze the world around us. As a critical theory, feminist theory aims not only to produce knowledge, but also to provide a base for action. Feminist theories ask us to rethink what we mean by sex and gender, how we understand our sexuality, the roles, status, and ideals assigned to men and women in our societies and how we reward and punish individuals that question, challenge or deviate from these roles. Feminist theory engages with issues of social inequality, oppression, and sexism, and invites us to imagine strategies for creating a world where there is more equality and liberation. Back to index

HIS 161 United States History I
U.S. history from Native American settlement to the end of the Civil War. Back to index

ITA 321 Advanced Italian Grammar, Composition and Conversation I
Involves reading and discussion of excerpts from Italian writers, and introduces the main personalities and works representing Italian civilization. Back to index

LIN 106 Languages of the World
Overview of the world's languages: what languages there are, what they are like, how they are similar, and how they are different. Back to index

MTH 141 - College Calculus 1
Beginning of a three-semester sequence in calculus for students of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering. Covers differentiation and integration with applications. Back to index

DMS 107 Film History I
Surveys developments in international cinema from the 1890s to the present. Back to index

MUS 105 - Elementary Harmony and Counterpoint 1
Develops skills and techniques necessary for aural and written comprehension of linear, melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, and formal aspects of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century music. Back to index

PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy
Examines general topics in various areas of philosophy showing different sides of issues; develops critical thought and philosophical method. Back to index

PHY 107 - General Physics 1
A calculus-based introductory course primarily for chemistry, engineering, and physics majors. Covers Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotational motion, and oscillations. Back to index

PSC 103 - Politics Abroad
Introduces foreign political systems; explores significant political similarities and differences among countries. Back to index

PSY 331 Social Psychology
Behavior of individuals and their relations with others; aggression; attraction; attitude formation and change; conformity; obedience; helping; stereotypes; group processes. Back to index

SSC 103 Introduction to Health and Human Services
Studies the health and human service system in the United States and locally, as it has been affected by history, changing values, and changes in the economic and political environment. Particularly emphasizes the gerontological, childhood, and community mental health service systems. Back to index

SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
Introduces fundamental ideas and concepts of sociology; culture; norms; status; role; socialization; stratification; industrialization; urbanization; bureaucratization. Back to index

SPA 208 Spanish Conversation and Composition
Involves oral communication and development of writing skills in Spanish, intensive conversation, and writing of themes on contemporary topics. Requires oral participation.. Back to index

CDS 301 - Language Development in Children
Explores the acquisition of language form and function by typical developing children. Discusses the normal development of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics from infancy through early adolescence by examining empirical data and current theoretical issues and controversies. Examines the emergence of literacy skills and the differences in acquisition between mono- and bi- (or multi-) lingual children. Includes the impact of cultural, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and individual variation on children’s normal language acquisition. Back to index

UGC 111 - World Civilizations 1
The focus in this course is upon attempting to understand how variou strands which make up histroy, including technology, eceonomics, geography, military, religion, and sexuality, among many, are woven together in so many differnet and in so many similar ways from the ancient Egyptians to the Modd;e ages. Along the way, we will examine everything from decelpoments in architecture to what gives women power within a society, even a society which appears, on the surface, to be completely male-dominated. Back to index