Apr 25, 2024

ARCHIVED 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog

ARCHIVED 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

The courses listed herein have been approved by the faculty as authorized by the Board of Trustees. Prerequisites (if any) and the General Education Requirement(s) which each course fulfills (if any) are noted following each course description.

Current course offerings are available in Merlin.

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Political Science
	POLS 399 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	POLS 490 - Seminar in Political Science 4.00 credit hours Capstone course in political science in which senior political science majors draw upon their training to approach and explain political phenomena. Students apply their knowledge and skills as political scientists to tackle real-world political problems by employing existing research, social science methodology, and data. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Ethical Dimensions. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	POLS 497 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	POLS 499 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
Psychology
	PSYC 100 - Psychology: Science of Behavior 4.00 credit hours An examination of the basic concepts, processes, theories and empirical findings concerning the behavior of organisms. Consideration is given to the following topics: physiological and developmental basis of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, states of consciousness, learning and memory, and motivation and emotion, as well as personality, intellectual functioning, psychopathology, and social influences on behavior. Community engaged learning and/or an active research experience is used to further student understanding of course topics. Gateway course. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences. iCon(s): Being Human, Examining Health. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 120 - Psychology of Personal Adjustment 2.00 credit hours A survey of various theories of personality and development and their practical implications for effective coping with everyday life. This course does not count toward a major in Psychology. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 200 - Evolutionary Psychology 4.00 credit hours The evolution of behavioral and cognitive processes that relate to the adaptation of organisms to challenges of survival and successful reproduction. While the primary emphasis is on humans, consideration of such adaptations in non-human species provides a broader context for considering human evolutionary psychology. Topics for consideration include gender differences in sex and mating; parental investment and parent-offspring conflict; altruism and aggression; food preferences and habitat selection; and the potential integrative influence of evolutionary theory across the field of psychology. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or ANTH 165 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 205 - Educational Psychology 4.00 credit hours Psychological concepts, theories, and research findings regarding human behavior are applied to a variety of learning contexts. Collaborative activities around the application of course material are conducted. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 210 - Child Development 4.00 credit hours Theory and research from the field of child development are studied in order to better understand the child’s physical, language, cognitive, social, and emotional development from birth to adolescence. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 220 - Psychology of Adolescence 4.00 credit hours Theory and research in the area of adolescent psychology are examined to better understand the major developmental tasks of adolescence, such as forming an identity and developing mature relations with peers, family and possible mates. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 230 - Psychology of Adulthood and Aging 4.00 credit hours Theory and research about the developmental tasks of adulthood, beginning with the transition from adolescence to young adulthood and ending with the issues faced by the oldest members of our society. Topics include identity, adult relationships, sexuality, careers and retirement, health and wellness, the biological process underlying aging, and the pursuit of “successful aging.” Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 235 - Lifespan Development 4.00 credit hours An exploration of development across the lifespan from conception to death. Both normal and abnormal patterns of development in various cultures and contexts are examined. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or NEUR 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 240 - Social Psychology 4.00 credit hours An examination of the theories and research regarding human social behavior. Topics include social perception, self-perception, attitudes, social influence, attraction, altruism, aggression, group effects, and environmental psychology. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 250 - Statistics 4.00 credit hours The methods, concepts and logic underlying the statistical evaluation of research data with an emphasis on “why” as well as “when” to use various statistical methods. Content includes descriptive and inferential statistics, estimation and hypothesis testing. Analyses include z and t tests, one-way and factorial ANOVA, correlation, regression and Chi square. Assignments focus on problem solving, technical writing and use of computer statistical packages (SPSS). Only one of BUSN 265 or PSYC 250 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): MATH 130 or higher. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Quantitative Analysis. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 255 - Research Design and Experimentation 4.00 credit hours Students further their understanding of the scientific research process through lectures, activities and laboratory experiences. Students are introduced to various research designs, including naturalistic observation, case studies, correlational research and experimental research. Students use their knowledge of the research process to collect, analyze and critically think about original data. This course is writing intensive and requires working with a team to complete a significant research project. Laboratory required. Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 250 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Ethical Dimensions. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology 4.00 credit hours The scientific study of human work in which theory and research are integrated to understand issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations. The focus is on the organizational and social context of human work, including work and identity issues, personnel selection and placement, motivation, job satisfaction, happiness, stress and health, organizational justice, and other relevant workplace topics. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 282 - Stress and Coping 4.00 credit hours A survey of theories and research about stress and coping. Specific topics include the physiology of stress, psychoneuroimmunology, effects of stress on mental health and behavior, coping styles, and stress management. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or NEUR 100 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Well Being. iCon(s): Examining Health. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 293 - Careers in Psychology and Neuroscience 2.00 credit hours An exploration of various career options in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields. By collaborating with other students, instructors, and resource people both inside and outside of the North Central community, students learn about a wide range of careers possible with a major in psychology or neuroscience, as well as how to successfully prepare for one’s chosen future career. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or NEUR 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 295 - Research Practicum 1.00-6.00 credit hours Students work in collaboration with faculty on ongoing research. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include collection or creation of materials, recruitment of participants, data collection, data coding and entry, literature review, statistical analysis, poster or oral presentation preparation. This course is graded pass/no pass. May be taken more than once for up to six total credit hours. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 297 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply psychological theories and concepts to broader social issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of psychology and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. Course work includes required hours in the field and written assignments. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 310 - Cultural Psychology 4.00 credit hours (Same as: ANTH 310 .) An examination of how definitions of culture shape knowledge about topics in psychology, such as human development, self-concept, and mental illness. The focus is on psychological and anthropological approaches to studying culture. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 , ANTH 145 or one 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 ; Junior standing. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Global Understanding, Community Engaged Learning. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 320 - Personality 4.00 credit hours A survey of major models of personality, including psychodynamic, biological and trait, behavioral, and humanistic-existential paradigms. Each paradigm is discussed by addressing its unique assumptions about human nature, methodological approaches, assessment techniques, and use of evidence. Special emphasis is placed on applications in clinical/counseling, educational, industrial/organization, and other relevant settings. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 324 - Abnormal Psychology 4.00 credit hours The classification, etiology, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders in adolescents and adults, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders. Particular emphasis is placed on discussion of stigma and social issues in the field. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 325 - Child Psychopathology 4.00 credit hours Understanding the causes, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of psychological disorders in children and adolescents (including such diverse problems as childhood depression, ADHD, eating disorders, and autism). Particular emphasis is placed on treatment modalities that are specific to problems in childhood, such as parent training, play therapy, and family therapy. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 330 - Community Psychology 4.00 credit hours Community Psychology focuses on the integration of social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental influences to promote prevention, health, and empowerment in communities. Course topics include program development and evaluation, grant writing, and community organizing. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 ; Junior standing. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): U.S. Power Structures, Community Engaged Learning. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity, Engaging Civic Life. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 340 - Learning 4.00 credit hours The scientific study of how animals and humans learn from a historical perspective. Course work emphasizes theory, evidence, methodology, and application of the research to education, clinical settings, parenting, and training animals. Classical and operant conditioning are the main focus with observational learning, memory research, and biological factors included. Laboratory required. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 345 - Cognitive Psychology 4.00 credit hours Students further their understanding of the scientific study of mental processes, including sensation, perception, attention, memory, knowledge representation, speech and language, decision-making, and problem solving. Students also explore the brain physiology underlying these processes and the cognitive consequences of brain injury and disease. Course work emphasizes the history, theory, methodology, and application of research in the field. Laboratory required. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 350 - Clinical Psychology 4.00 credit hours An examination of the various assessment techniques, treatment modalities, and ethical and controversial issues in the field of clinical psychology. Special emphasis is placed on role playing and experiential activities aimed at practicing basic counseling skills and developing self-awareness. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 360 - Psychological Assessment 4.00 credit hours An introduction to key concepts, methods, and ethical considerations associated with psychological assessment. A key goal is for students to understand psychometric techniques so that they can read, understand, and interpret test results. Topics include an overview of true score, item response, and generalizability theories. Special emphasis is placed on the ethical and appropriate use of tests and the intersection between testing and contemporary society. Special topics include testing in the areas of intelligence, personality, attitudes, interests, and abilities. Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C- in PSYC 250 and one additional 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 380 - History of Psychology 4.00 credit hours An examination of the major factors providing the roots for psychology, as well as the significant persons and theories which shaped its subsequent development as the scientific approach to the study of behavior and mental processes. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 385 - Health Psychology 4.00 credit hours An examination of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness. Specific topics include behavior change, stress, patient-provider communication, substance abuse, weight control, and coping with chronic illness. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology, Biology or Neuroscience course, except PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 390 - Seminar 1.00-4.00 credit hours Topics of current or recurrent interest in psychology. Topics depend upon faculty and student interest and are publicized in the course schedule for the semesters in which seminars are offered. Repeatable with different topics. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 393 - Professional Psychology and Neuroscience 1.00 credit hours The multiple processes involved in choosing a career path in psychology or neuroscience with an emphasis on how to successfully prepare for, choose and apply for graduate school. Course material focuses on the steps necessary for becoming a competitive applicant and how to navigate the process of applying. Coursework includes creation of an “application portfolio” designed to help students apply to their choice of graduate schools. Prerequisite(s): One 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 ; Junior standing. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 397 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply psychological theories and concepts to broader social issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of psychology and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. Course work includes required hours in the field, written assignments, and a literature review/hypothesis paper directed related to this experience. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one additional 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 399 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Students explore a topic of interest in an individualized learning situation under the supervision of a faculty member. Coursework includes critical reading, writing, and discussion of primary resources. No data collection required. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one additional 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 490 - Seminar 4.00 credit hours An in-depth study of a specific topic or issue in psychology. Topics depend upon faculty and student interest. Students are expected to read and discuss original sources and current literature in psychology. An APA-style paper is required. Repeatable with different content. Capstone. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one 300-level Psychology course. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 495 - Psychology in the Community 1.00-4.00 credit hours A community engagement project that serves as a culminating experience in the psychology major. Students reflect on community engagement, service learning and social activism in an experiential context. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include identifying the community partner, arranging the community engagement experience, designing materials for the experience and analyzing the effectiveness of the experience. A final paper (traditional APA-style research report or audience-specific research report) incorporating primary literature, appropriate quantitative or qualitative analysis of the effectiveness of the experience and reflection is required. To fulfill the capstone experience, students must complete a minimum of four credit hours from a single capstone designation. Capstone. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one 300-level Psychology course. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Community Engaged Learning. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 497 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Internships supplement classroom instruction by providing valuable professional experiences and allowing students to apply psychological theories and concepts to broader social issues and systems. This internship experience is designed to assist students in exploring career options and to link this experience to important issues and trends in the psychology literature. Students complete required hours in the field, critically reflect on this experience, and write a substantial APA-style literature review/hypothesis paper directly related to this experience. To fulfill the capstone experience, students must complete a minimum of four credit hours from a single capstone designation with the option of spreading credits over two semesters. Capstone. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one 300-level Psychology course. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 498 - Senior Thesis 1.00-4.00 credit hours Students work in collaboration with faculty to produce a culminating research experience. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include critical reading of peer-reviewed articles; formulation of a research question and hypothesis; design of the study; IRB application; creation of materials; recruitment of participants; and data collection, coding, entry, statistical analysis and evaluation. Students write an APA-style journal paper and present at a student or professional conference. Students earning credit for a capstone experience must complete a minimum of four credit hours, with the option of spreading credits over two semesters. To fulfill the capstone experience, students must complete a minimum of four credit hours from a single capstone designation. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one 300-level Psychology course. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	PSYC 499 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Students explore a topic of interest in an individualized learning situation under the supervision of a faculty member. Coursework includes significant critical reading, writing, and discussion of primary resources. No collection of data required. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 255 and one 300-level Psychology course. Click here for the schedule of classes.
Religious Studies
	RELG 100 - Introduction to World Religions 4.00 credit hours A phenomenological study of the major religions of the world. Special emphasis is given to the beliefs, rituals, sacred texts, and ethical dimensions of each religion. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 110 - Introduction to the Bible 4.00 credit hours An introduction to the academic study of the Bible, including the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Students will explore these texts as complex literary and theological documents created under the influence of multiple historical and cultural contexts. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. iCon(s): Being Human, Experiencing Place. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 115 - Christian Ethics and Spirituality 4.00 credit hours An examination of ethical texts, spiritual practices, and applied topics from Early Christianity to the present. Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant sources and perspectives are included. Topics may include Environment, End of Life, Sexuality & Marriage, War & Military, Immigration, and Consumerism. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, Well Being. iCon(s): Being Human. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 150 - Nature and Well Being 2.00 credit hours An introductory course on holistic wellness in which students explore the DuPage County Forest Preserves in concert with readings from the various disciplines. Special emphasis is placed on texts and spiritual practices from various religious traditions. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Well Being. iCon(s): Examining Health, Sustaining Our World. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 222 - Peace and Violence in the Bible 4.00 credit hours A survey course designed to examine the themes of peace, war, and violence in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the New Testament. Special attention is given to the historical context in which the Bible was written and the portrayals of God that result. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 225 - Urban Ethics and Religion 4.00 credit hours An examination of urban problems and the ways in which religious communities relate and respond to these problems in both helpful and detrimental ways. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): U.S. Power Structures, Community Engaged Learning. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 227 - Jesus and Buddha in Dialogue 4.00 credit hours A comparison of Christianity and Buddhism with a particular focus on their respective contemplative traditions. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding, Well Being. iCon(s): Examining Health. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 230 - Women and the Bible 4.00 credit hours (Same as GSST 230 .) An introductory course that examines how women are depicted in biblical tradition. Students will carefully read narratives about women in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament and explore their history of interpretation, including contemporary readings. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Being Human, Challenging Inequity. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 235 - Sexuality and Christianity 4.00 credit hours (Same as GSST 235 .) A study of contemporary Christian approaches to sexuality in dialogue with secular philosophies of sexuality. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Being Human, Challenging Inequality. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 240 - Religious Pluralism in the U.S 4.00 credit hours A study of the multi-religious panorama of the U.S. Particular emphasis is placed on the voices of minority traditions and how religious commitments and freedoms are negotiated in the context of religious pluralism. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Experiencing Place. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 245 - Hollywood, Values and Religion 4.00 credit hours An exploration of religious and ethical values in contemporary films with a particular emphasis on social justice concerns related to race, gender and religious diversity. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Arts, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 250 - Death and Dying 4.00 credit hours An examination of the meaning and mystery of death and dying from several religious, philosophical and scientific perspectives. The course also considers both spiritual practices and ethical issues connected to death and dying. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. iCon(s): Being Human, Examining Health. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 255 - Karma, Suffering and Rebirth 4.00 credit hours An exploration of spiritual liberation in the religions of India with a particular focus on overcoming the problems of karma, suffering, and rebirth in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 260 - The Dao of Chinese Religion 4.00 credit hours A survey of the major religions of China with a particular focus on self-cultivation as the key to establishing social harmony (Confucianism), living in harmony with the forces of nature (Daoism), and harmonizing with the totality of space and time (Buddhism). iCon(s): Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 265 - Religious Pluralism in Japan 4.00 credit hours An examination of the harmonious co-existence of diverse religious traditions both within and between Buddhism and Shinto from the ancient past to the contemporary period. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 270 - Judaism 4.00 credit hours A course on the beliefs, traditions, and history of Judaism. Special attention is given to the Jewish experience, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity, Experiencing Place, Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 280 - Islam 4.00 credit hours This course provides an overview of basic Islamic beliefs and practices through an examination of Islamic theology as articulated in Islamic classical traditions and reinterpreted for today. The course analyzes the impact of Islamic beliefs and values on social and cultural practices, and on the formation of institutions, communities, and identities. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Being Human. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 315 - The Global Buddha: Permeating Space-Time 4.00 credit hours A study of the global transformations of Buddhism from its initial development in India to its various formulations in Southeast, Central, and East Asia as well as its more recent manifestations in the West. iCon(s): Being Human, Examining Health. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 330 - Cross, Violence and Resistance 4.00 credit hours An examination of theological interpretations of the life and death of Jesus. Attention is given to how the violent death of Jesus at the core of Christian theology influences the way societies perceive and respond to violence. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, U.S. Power Structures, Community Engaged Learning. iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 344 - Religion and the Political Order 4.00 credit hours An examination of primary texts from the history of religious political philosophy with an eye to their relevance for understanding current events and challenges at the intersection of religion and politics. Emphasis is on Jewish, Christian and Muslim sources. Prerequisite(s): Two courses from Philosophy or Religious Studies. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 350 - Gender and World Religions 4.00 credit hours (Same as GSST 350 .) An analysis of feminist thought in various global religious traditions with a focus on the redefinition of traditional concepts, rituals and practices. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity, Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 390 - Topics in Religious Ethics 4.00 credit hours An examination of a current topic, theme, or approach within Religious Ethics. Encompasses both theory and applications to personal and communal life. Prerequisite(s): Two courses from Philosophy or Religious Studies and CARD 101 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Ethical Dimensions, Writing Intensive. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 392 - Bible Seminar 4.00 credit hours A reading and writing intensive seminar in which students will join the scholarly conversation on the Bible. Students will analyze select biblical texts, engage in academic research and writing, and discuss their findings with their peers. Rather than survey the breadth of the whole Bible, this course will delve the depths of one small portion of the biblical text, such as Genesis, Psalms, the gospels, or Paul’s letters. Prerequisite(s): RELG 110 and CARD 101 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Writing Intensive. iCon(s): Being Human. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 397 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 399 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 497 - Internship 0.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 498 - Capstone 2.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
	RELG 499 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
Science
	SCIE 109 - Science Inquiry 4.00 credit hours The method of inquiry is the foundation of scientific learning. It utilizes active, conceptually oriented methods of investigation. Fundamental concepts in physical and biology sciences are explored through scientific investigation. Laboratory required. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SCIE 110 - The Science of Energy 4.00 credit hours Physics, Earth Science, Biology and Chemistry will all be investigated with respect to what energy is, how it is generated and how it is used along with the impacts of humankind interaction with the world’s resources. Laboratory required. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences. iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life, Sustaining Our World. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SCIE 141 - Earth Science 4.00 credit hours A survey of the four sub-disciplines of earth science: astronomy, geology, meteorology and oceanography. The processes and features related to the Earth’s surface, interior, atmosphere, oceans and astronomical surroundings are actively investigated. Discussions of the interrelationships among the sub-disciplines are included. Laboratory required. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SCIE 210 - Landmark Discoveries in Natural Science 4.00 credit hours An inquiry into the discovery process in science. Investigates the means by which new scientific theories are created and subsequently gain acceptance. The interaction of science with the larger human community is an important part of this course. Prerequisite(s): MATH 108 or High School math through Algebra II. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences. iCon(s): Innovating the World. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SCIE 232 - Science: Fact or Fiction 4.00 credit hours Outlines current views on the scientific method and questions whether science, as we know it, was an inevitable outcome of human intellect. The concept of science as a profession is also explored. What are the accepted standards of conduct within the scientific community? What is the relationship between the scientific community and the rest of society? How can scientists become more active in helping society recognize faulty science or pseudoscience? Specific case studies are used to investigate these questions and to discuss the ethical issues facing scientific researchers. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SCIE 399 - Independent Study 1.00-12.00 credit hours Click here for the schedule of classes.
Shimer Great Books All Shimer School courses are distinctive in two major ways. First, there are no textbooks. Instead, all materials in every course are “primary texts”—including books, artworks, and scientific experiments—that represent landmark achievements in all the areas studied in the Shimer School curriculum: the Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Second, classes are limited to 14 students. They take place around octagonal tables designed to facilitate discussions about the course materials. Every Shimer School class session is a “Socratic seminar” in which all students consider each other’s interpretations of the materials in a cooperative effort to understand the texts, themselves and one another better. In addition to intensive reading and discussions, course work generally takes the form of essay writing and, especially in the science courses, exercises drawn from the materials of the course. In this light, students are responsible for the content of what they learn in a Shimer School course to an unusual degree. They are thus expected to combine diligent work habits with imaginative curiosity and a collegial ethos and to integrate what they have learned in other courses and their lives into insights that cross, and eventually transcend, traditional disciplinary boundaries.
	SGBH 101 - Art and Fiction 4.00 credit hours This “gateway” to the Humanities occupies the territory shared by visual art and storytelling. Students cross cultural and historical boundaries to look at the basic human impulses toward representation and self-expression in two distinct artistic modes. Students exercise both modes in critical reflections as well as expressive work designed to highlight the functions of figurative language and imagistic language, as well as what Leon Battista Alberti calls “istoria in painting.” Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Arts, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Innovating the World. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 102 - Music and Verse 4.00 credit hours This “gateway” to the Humanities embraces two closely related arts: music and verse. Both reorganize our experience of time through heightened attention to a variety of formal parameters such as meter, rhythm, duration, silence and tone. In addition to critical examination of monuments in both arts from a wide range of historical and cultural contexts, students practice making verse and music in exercises designed to call attention to the interplay of formal constraint and freedom. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Arts, Ethical Dimensions, Global Understanding. iCon(s): Innovating the World, Thinking Globally. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 201 - Philosophy and the Nature of Thought 4.00 credit hours What is the nature of thought? Is it different in the guise of philosophical rigor as opposed to its character in everyday life? Reading classic and contemporary works from a variety of historical places and times, students grapple with one of the most fundamental questions confronting humanity. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Writing Intensive. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 202 - Theology: Structures of Meaning 4.00 credit hours This culminating course in the Humanities sequence features works of structural complexity and a variety of kinds, including literature, music and architecture. But its overarching questions are ultimately theological, as students interrogate the role of ideas of the absolute and question in general how we generate meaning, whether in language, images or other forms. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 219 - The Integrative Power of Laughter 4.00 credit hours Students study a mix of comic masterpieces from a variety of cultures and media. Works of visual art, music, all sorts of literature, film, as well as theoretical works that explore humor, farce and the absurd, all participate in versions of this carnival mixture. The aim of the course is to explore the horizons, the shallows and depths of what makes us laugh. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 220 - Classics of Historical Writing 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 220 .) Students examine the approaches to narrative, rhetoric, and analyze the use of evidence in masterpieces of historical writing and historiography. Special emphasis is be given to context and influence. Authors include Herodotus, Thucydides, Tacitus, Ibn Khaldun, Machiavelli, Gibbon, Henry Adams and Marc Bloch. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 229 - Theories of Metaphor and Conceptual Blending 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBN 229 and SGBS 229 .) Metaphors are arguably at the root of all meaning making. They occur and recur in virtually every kind of communication, even non-linguistic forms. At their core, however, metaphors are notoriously difficult to understand in their own right. This course surveys a variety of literary, philosophical, psychological, historical and linguistic theories of the work of metaphors in texts from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 236 - Rabelais: Context and Transform Legacy 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 236 .) Rabelais, the 16th century author of an exuberant comic fantasy that intertwines learning and obscenity, created an innovative mythology on a gargantuan scale. Its celebration of laughter and freedom provides a wild and wonderful view into Renaissance Europe. His writings have been an inspiration to some of the most profound innovations in modern critical theory, interpretations of popular culture, religious history and the history of literacy and reading. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 278 - Why and What Should We Read? An Exploration of the Role of Reading in Our Lives 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 278 .) Reading is one of the hallmarks of human culture, though it is a notoriously difficult activity to characterize with any precision. The reading and discussion centers on reading across more than two millenniums of texts, from the origins of the Latin alphabet to meditations on electronic media. Students participate in two field trips to Chicago and practica in online textual annotation. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBS 101 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 310 - Feminist Theories 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 310 .) Students examine how gender roles are socially constructed through various historical and contemporary approaches to feminist theory. Students apply these insights to an analysis of contemporary society. Prerequisite(s): SGBS 101 and SGBS 102 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 311 - Philosophy of Race and Gender 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 311 .) Students examine significant works in the philosophy of race and gender to guide us in a study of the interplay between power, subjectivity, race, gender, and ethics. Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Ethical Dimensions, U.S. Power Structures. iCon(s): Challenging Inequity. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 312 - Liberation Theologies 4.00 credit hours An overview of important 20th-century attempts to rethink monotheistic traditions as a resource for political liberation. Students engage with important primary texts from Latin American, Black American, Feminist, and Queer theological perspectives. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 202 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 313 - Reading the Qur’an 4.00 credit hours An exploration of the holy book of Islam. Students will read the Qur’an in its entirety, along with selected parallel passages from the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and excerpts from an early biography of the Prophet Muhammad. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 314 - Two Chinese Novels 4.00 credit hours Journey to the West and The Story of the Stone are two of the four canonical “great novels” of China. Very different in origin, subjects and style, they nonetheless complement each other in myriad ways and together represent two of the summits of world literature and intimate introductions to Chinese thought and life. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 or any East Asian course. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 316 - Modernism: Literature, Film and Society 4.00 credit hours What is the relation between modernism and modernity? What kind of revolution must an artistic discipline go through to become modern? Can art be both popular and modernist? Students will grapple with these questions through close readings of modernist writers such as T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein as well as viewings of film excerpts (Chaplin, Eisenstein) and examinations of music both “serious” (twelve-tone) and popular (jazz and blues). We will discuss these artifacts in relation to each other and consider the societal and political revolutions that influenced and were influenced by them. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 317 - Neoliberal Culture 4.00 credit hours Neoliberalism and Popular Culture Prerequisite(s): SGBS 201 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 321 - Great Texts in the Christian Tradition 4.00 credit hours A close study of an important text, figure, or movement in the history of Christian thought, from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, including historical, literary, philosophical, and theological approaches. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 202 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 322 - Great Texts in Continental Philosophy 4.00 credit hours A close study of an important text, figure, or movement within the tradition of modern European philosophy from a range of interdisciplinary perspectives-not only philosophical, but literary, political, and historical. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 201 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 324 - Classics in the History of Science 4.00 credit hours What is science? What is the character of the knowledge it offers? What are its limits? How certain is it? In this course, we will address such questions as we read philosophers and historians of science who examine the development of modern science and its characteristics, as both a social and an intellectual enterprise. Prerequisite(s): SGBN 101 and SGBN 102 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 325 - Epic Poetry 4.00 credit hours Epic poems - long narrative poems that arise out of a collaborative oral tradition - are central to literary cultures around the world, The Iliad and the Odyssey are the Western exemplars; in India, the Mahabarata and the Ramayana have a similar status. Along with these works, this course also covers epics from China and Scandinavia as well as scholarly background providing aesthetic and historical interpretations of the poems and the genre of the “epic” in general. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 326 - Black, Brown and Beige: The Spirit of African American Arts 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 326 .) In literature, music, art, photography, film and architecture, black Americans have made signal contributions to modern arts and culture. This inter-disciplinary class covers a wide range of these texts and works of art, as well as the relevant history and politics informing them. Special attention is given to figures associated with Chicago, such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Richard Wright, Louis Armstrong and Kerry James Marshall. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 327 - Topics in Contemporary Feminist Theory 4.00 credit hours Students concentrate reading in and research into one area of contemporary feminist theory, such as psychoanalytic, post-structural, Latina, or African. Prerequisite(s): One of the following: SGBS 101 , SGBS 102 , SGBH 201 or GSST 100 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 330 - Foucault and Butler 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 330 .) Through the works of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler, we examine the interplay between power, subjectivity, sexuality, and ethics. We will also examine the potential for a socially constructed subject to engage in ethical political action. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 or SGBS 201 . Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 331 - The Political Philosophy of Hannah Arendt 4.00 credit hours (Same as: SGBS 331 .) Hannah Arendt is one of the most important philosophers of the twentieth century. Her first book was a detailed analysis of the two major totalitarian trends that defined her world, the communism of Stalin and the racial ideology of the Third Reich. We will survey the broad range of her thinking on all the themes of classical philosophy. But, like her, we will concentrate on political issues, especially the threat to social order posed by totalitarianism. Prerequisite(s): SGBS 101 and SGBS 102 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 332 - Dante’s Divine Comedy 4.00 credit hours Composed at the beginning of the 14th century, Dante’s Divine Comedy is arguably the central text in the entire Western literary canon. Encapsulating the Greek, Roman and European poetic and historical traditions along with the theology of the Western church the poem laid the groundwork for much important artistic expression of the centuries to come. As T.S. Eliot said, “Dante and Shakespeare divide the modern world between them.” Students will read all one hundred cantos of this important epic, along with commentary, over the course of the semester. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 101 and SGBH 102 . Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimensions. Click here for the schedule of classes.
	SGBH 333 - Heidegger’s Being and Time 4.00 credit hours Students delve into a close study of one of the foundational works of 20th century European philosophy. They read Heidegger’s Being and Time in its entirety, along with selections from the seminar courses he taught in the years following the book’s publication. Prerequisite(s): SGBH 201 . Click here for the schedule of classes.

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Course Descriptions

POLS 399 - Independent Study

POLS 490 - Seminar in Political Science

POLS 497 - Internship

POLS 499 - Independent Study

PSYC 100 - Psychology: Science of Behavior

PSYC 120 - Psychology of Personal Adjustment

PSYC 200 - Evolutionary Psychology

PSYC 205 - Educational Psychology

PSYC 210 - Child Development

PSYC 220 - Psychology of Adolescence

PSYC 230 - Psychology of Adulthood and Aging

PSYC 235 - Lifespan Development

PSYC 240 - Social Psychology

PSYC 250 - Statistics

PSYC 255 - Research Design and Experimentation

PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

PSYC 282 - Stress and Coping

PSYC 293 - Careers in Psychology and Neuroscience

PSYC 295 - Research Practicum

PSYC 297 - Internship

PSYC 310 - Cultural Psychology

PSYC 320 - Personality

PSYC 324 - Abnormal Psychology

PSYC 325 - Child Psychopathology

PSYC 330 - Community Psychology

PSYC 340 - Learning

PSYC 345 - Cognitive Psychology

PSYC 350 - Clinical Psychology

PSYC 360 - Psychological Assessment

PSYC 380 - History of Psychology

PSYC 385 - Health Psychology

PSYC 390 - Seminar

PSYC 393 - Professional Psychology and Neuroscience

PSYC 397 - Internship

PSYC 399 - Independent Study

PSYC 490 - Seminar

PSYC 495 - Psychology in the Community

PSYC 497 - Internship

PSYC 498 - Senior Thesis

PSYC 499 - Independent Study

RELG 100 - Introduction to World Religions

RELG 110 - Introduction to the Bible

RELG 115 - Christian Ethics and Spirituality

RELG 150 - Nature and Well Being

RELG 222 - Peace and Violence in the Bible

RELG 225 - Urban Ethics and Religion

RELG 227 - Jesus and Buddha in Dialogue

RELG 230 - Women and the Bible

RELG 235 - Sexuality and Christianity

RELG 240 - Religious Pluralism in the U.S

RELG 245 - Hollywood, Values and Religion

RELG 250 - Death and Dying

RELG 255 - Karma, Suffering and Rebirth

RELG 260 - The Dao of Chinese Religion

RELG 265 - Religious Pluralism in Japan

RELG 270 - Judaism

RELG 280 - Islam

RELG 315 - The Global Buddha: Permeating Space-Time

RELG 330 - Cross, Violence and Resistance

RELG 344 - Religion and the Political Order

RELG 350 - Gender and World Religions

RELG 390 - Topics in Religious Ethics

RELG 392 - Bible Seminar

RELG 397 - Internship

RELG 399 - Independent Study

RELG 497 - Internship

RELG 498 - Capstone

RELG 499 - Independent Study

SCIE 109 - Science Inquiry

SCIE 110 - The Science of Energy

SCIE 141 - Earth Science

SCIE 210 - Landmark Discoveries in Natural Science

SCIE 232 - Science: Fact or Fiction

SCIE 399 - Independent Study

SGBH 101 - Art and Fiction

SGBH 102 - Music and Verse

SGBH 201 - Philosophy and the Nature of Thought

SGBH 202 - Theology: Structures of Meaning