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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.
3.00 credit hours A survey of the major religious traditions of Japan, including Shinto, Buddhism (Tendai, Shingon, Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren) and the various “New Religions” that have come to prominence in the post-war period (such as Soka Gakkai and Tenrikyo). The theory and practices of specific religions are examined in their historical context, beginning with the early roots of Shinto and concluding with the dramatic changes that have transformed the Japanese religious landscape from the nineteenth century to the present.
3.00 credit hours Islamic society, culture and theology, with special attention to Turkey, the Arab World, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Field trip to nearby Islamic community.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: HTB 310.) An examination of general topics related to death and dying in America, with a special emphasis on the study of selected ethical and theological issues.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing. ACR: Religion and Ethics.
3.00 credit hours A detailed exploration of the historical evolution of Buddhism from its initial formulation in India to its various incarnations in Southeast, Central and East Asia, as well as its more recent manifestation in North America. Particular attention is given to the distinctions between the three major branches of the religion (Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrayana), as well as to the theory and practice of individual sects such as Zen and Pure Land.
REL 325 - Jesus and Buddha in Dialogue: Spiritualities of West and East
3.00 credit hours An exploration of spiritual traditions of Christianity and Buddhism with attention to their similarities and differences arising from their unique cultural backgrounds. The course examines Buddhist and Christian teachings on a variety of issues such as their founders, ritual prayers, love, consumerism and gender.
Prerequisite(s): REL 100. ACR: Religion and Ethics, Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours An examination of those contemporary Christian theologies which are making an impact on the direction of current theological discourse. Attention is given to African-American theology, feminist theology, liberation theology and the contemporary debate on Christology.
Prerequisite(s): One religion course. ACR: Religion and Ethics.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: SOA 340.) A study of the interplay between religion and society. Attention is given to religion as a system of ideas and ritual patterns as well as a social institution.
Prerequisite(s): One course in religion or SOA 100.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: PHL 344.) A historical survey of primary texts engaging the intersection of religion and political theory, as well as the relationship between political leadership and religious/ethical values. Emphasis is placed upon Western political philosophers shaped within the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and/or Islam, as well as upon the themes of theocracy, civil religion and secularization. Thinkers studied may include Plato, early Christian authors, Eusebius, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Al-Farabi, Maimonides, Averroes, Aquinas, Marsillus of Padua, Reformation authors, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau or De Tocqueville.
Prerequisite(s): Any two courses in philosophy, religious studies or political Science. ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: SOA 345.) A cross-cultural examination of religious beliefs and religious institutions, and the symbolic meanings and social functions of myths and rituals. Special emphasis on the beliefs and practices of selected indigenous peoples.
Prerequisite(s): Course work in religion or SOA 105. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: GWS 350.) An analysis of feminist thought in non-Western religious traditions. The course discusses women’s redefinition of traditional concepts, rituals and practices in a number of religious traditions across the globe.
Prerequisite(s): REL 100 or a course in non-Judeo-Christian tradition. ACR: Religion and Ethics, Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours A systematic review of scholarly attempts to construct an accurate portrait of Jesus of Nazareth as he actually lived and worked in Palestine in the first century of the common era. Special attention is given to the “new quest” for the historical Jesus characterizing the scholarly debate on this topic since 1950.
Prerequisite(s): One of REL 110, REL 220 or HOI 103. ACR: Religion and Ethics and Leadership, Ethics and Values.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: PHL 360.) An examination of the basic issues in the philosophy of religion, including the relation of faith and reason, the problem of the existence and nature of God and the nature and significance of religious experience.
Prerequisite(s): Previous course in philosophy or religion. ACR: Religion and Ethics.
REL 361 - Science and Religion: Conflict or Dialogue?
3.00 credit hours (Same as: PHL 361.) This course examines the contemporary dialogue between science and religion in relation to different Western and Asian religious traditions. The course considers the implications of recent scientific theories for understanding and assessing the belief systems of various theistic and nontheistic religions.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing, one course in science. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours An intensive study of one topic or theme in contemporary religious ethics through the lens of at least two major religious and cultural traditions. Philosophical and scientific sources, films and/or literature that illuminate the topic may also be examined. Content varies. Possible topics include: Pacifism and Just War, Work and Family, The Environment, Accounts of Human Nature and Human Perfection or Asceticism. Repeatable with different topic.
Prerequisite(s): Any two courses in philosophy or religious studies. ACR: Intercultural.
3.50 credit hours The teaching of science by the method of inquiry, which is the foundation of scientific learning. Inquiry utilizes active, conceptually oriented methods of investigation. This course is for students who want to reduce their anxiety toward science by increasing their knowledge of and familiarity with the subject of scientific investigation. It is also for prospective elementary teachers who will teach science as part of their curriculum. Laboratory required.
3.50 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 interation with the world’s resources. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s): EDN 228 or concurrent enrollment.
3.50 credit hours Examines basic geologic principles from a physical perspective. Includes such topics as the formation of rocks and minerals and internal and external processes modifying the earth’s surface. Laboratory required.
SCI 201 - Scientific Topics in Environmental Studies
3.00 credit hours A modular course covering scientific topics of relevance to environmental studies. Topics may include Energy Technology and Society, Invasive Species Ecology, Microbes in the Environment, Hot Topics or areas of faculty or student interest. Content will vary from offering to offering.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of at least one general education science course.
3.00 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.
SCI 297 - Pre-Professional Health Science Internship
0.00-3.00 credit hours Students “shadow” health care professionals in the emergency room, surgery and the laboratory. Simultaneously, they work on a research paper dealing with an issue in health care, a paper done under the direction of the NCC supervising faculty member.
3.00 credit hours This course will focus on global issues facing 20th century women in science. Current literature will be used to explore how socioeconomic and cultural differences impact retention of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Discussion topics will include the driving forces behind women’s perception of their lack of ability in these disciplines, gender biases facing women and current trends in science education of girls and women. Emphasis will be placed on what advances for women in STEM disciplines have occurred over the last century, and what disparities still need to be resolved.
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 psuedoscience? Specific case studies are used to investigate these questions and to discuss the ethical issues facing scientific researchers.
Prerequisite(s): Six and one half credit hours in science (including one laboratory course). ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.
3.00 credit hours An introduction to the basic concepts, theories and methods of the study of human groups. Includes an examination of deviance, class, race and gender inequality and social institutions from the sociological perspective.
3.00 credit hours An examination of the diversity of human cultures. Human adaptations to various environments. Kinship, religion, political and economic institutions in non-Western societies.
3.00 credit hours Continuity and change, diversity and commonality among the indigenous peoples of the United States and Canada. Concentration on native nations of the upper Midwest. Special emphasis on ecological and spiritual relationships with the land.
3.00 credit hours Introduces concepts, principles and methods used to reconstruct cultural history and prehistory. Explores sequences of cultural development learned through archaeological analysis. Case studies by instructor.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: HST 185.) An introductory survey of the cultural diversity and complexity of sub-Saharan Africa. Attention is given to the long period of independent development of traditional societies, the forms and extent of European domination and the post-1945 struggles to regain independence and create new cultural identities.
3.00 credit hours An introduction to urban life from a sociological perspective. Examines issues of urban culture, racism, poverty, power and community from both analytic and practical perspectives. Major goal of the course is to engage in an enlightened debate on the nature of urban life.
SOA 200 - Research Methods in Social Sciences: Quantitative
3.00 credit hours (Same as: HTB 200.) An assessment of the strengths and limitations of various modes of quantitative data collection including experiments, questionnaires, content analysis and the use of secondary data. Emphasis is placed on ethical issues, becoming a critical consumer of research and developing the ability to design and carry out an independent study.
3.00 credit hours Introduction to the three major theoretical perspectives of sociology: conflict, functionalism and microinteractionism as these relate to issues of social order and disorder in society.
SOA 202 - Research Methods in Social Sciences: Qualitative
3.00 credit hours An overview of qualitative methods, including in-depth interviewing, oral history, focus groups and participant observation. Addresses practical issues, such as question development, negotiating access, maintaining rapport, sampling strategies, note taking and analysis. Delves more deeply into ethical issues and the “back stages” of the research process.
3.00 credit hours An examination of the challenges and opportunities confronting communities in contemporary society, with a focus upon issues of social justice, social change and community service. The course serves both as an introduction to urban and community life and an introduction to meaningful careers in public life, social services and community organizing.
3.00 credit hours The evidence for human evolution. Humankind as a member of the primate order. The origin and present status of human races. Controversies surrounding the biological bases of intelligence and social behavior. Laboratory work included.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: GWS 210.) The study of gender as a social product, including theoretical frameworks, gender-defining institutions and feminism.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: GWS 220.) The sociological study of the family. Topics examined from a structuralist/feminist perspective include the history of the family, the relationship between work and family and the impacts of class and race on family structure.
3.00 credit hours This course challenges SOA majors to reflect on how sociological skills and insights can be applied to their own lives, future careers and to the broader community. Students actively engage with issues of public importance and consider ways to facilitate positive community change and to make sociological knowledge accessible to policy makers, community leaders and popular audiences. Students will begin thinking about transitioning out of their student identity and will discuss the logistics of the job market, including developing resumes and cover letters.
3.00 credit hours A survey of historical and contemporary theories of crime, an analysis of the nature and extent of major types of crime, an overview of the American criminal justice system.
3.00 credit hours An examination of racial and ethnic diversity in American society; race, ethnic and class inequality; prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism; patterns of race and ethnic relations; racial and ethnic responses to racism and subordination.
0.50-3.00 credit hours Students work in collaboration with faculty on ongoing research. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include recruitment of participants, data collection, data coding and entry, bibliography construction, literature review or statistical analysis. This course is graded pass/no pass. Can be taken more than once for up to three total credit hours.
3.00 credit hours An examination of organized crime in contemporary society. The course reviews relevant models and explanations of organized crime, the various goods and services provided by organized crime groups (from gambling, to loan sharking, to labor racketeering, to drug trafficking), the emergence of criminal groups in a comparative perspective and law enforcement responses aimed at social control.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: PSY 310.) The course considers what we mean by culture, and how taking culture into account affects our knowledge of basic psychology in areas like human development, the self-concept, gender expectations, as well as our understanding of mental illness. The courses focuses on both psychological and anthropological approaches to studying culture and the pros and cons of different approaches.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 100; SOA 105 or any 200-level psychology course, excluding PSY 250. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: REL 340.) A study of interplay between religion and society. Attention given to religion as a system of ideas and ritual patterns as well as a social institution.
Prerequisite(s): Course work in religious studies or SOA 100.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: REL 345.) A cross-cultural examination of religious beliefs and religious institutions, and the symbolic meanings and social functions of myths and rituals. Special emphasis on the beliefs and practices of selected indigenous peoples.
Prerequisite(s): Course work in religion or SOA 105. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours Historical development of the juvenile justice system and “the invention of delinquency.” An overview of the contemporary juvenile court and justice system. An examination of the nature and extent of delinquency in American society and a survey of theories of the causes of delinquent behavior.
3.00 credit hours (Same as: HPE 360.) An historical study of sport across time and cultures. A comparative analysis of sport and its uses in ancient, medieval and modern societies is undertaken. Work-leisure patterns that developed over the course of American history are examined. Primary consideration of the urban, industrial and commercial processes that contributed to culture formation, with particular emphases on class and gender relations, commercialized leisure practices and the impact of the mass media in the formation of value systems. Discussion of theories relative to the role of sport in society, with particular emphasis on globalization, colonialism and cultural hegemony in the Caribbean, Pacific Rim and Asia.
3.00 credit hours Continuity and change, diversity and commonality among the indigenous peoples of Mexico, Guatemala and the Southwestern U.S. from first human occupation to the present. Emphasis on indigenous politics and transnational flows of people, culture and material.
Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level social science course. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours A sociological study of discontent and social change. Highlights the origins, concerns, life cycle and impact of social movements, as well as the tactics activists use and the challenges they face. Selected case studies may include civil rights, feminism, animal welfare and the abortion debate.
3.00 credit hours An analysis of social class in American society. Examines a variety of social class-related issues, including prestige systems, social mobility, poverty, world systems, structured inequality and community organizing. Special emphasis placed upon inequality in terms of the values of social justice and attempts to bring about social changes through different forms of leadership and community organizing.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; SOA 100 or SOA 190; or instructor consent. ACR: Leadership, Ethics and Values.
3.00 credit hours The multi-dimensional study of the clash of cultural values, attitudes and ideologies that commonly occurs in global encounters and relationships between state systems and native peoples. Economic, socio-political and ideological issues are among the topics covered.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing; SOA 105 or permission of instructor. ACR: Intercultural.
3.00 credit hours An examination of the theoretical and practical responses to crime in American society. Selected topics will include criminal behavior, law, policing, the judiciary, corrections and juvenile justice.
3.00 credit hours This is a capstone course for sociology majors. It asks students to apply their acquired sociological wisdom (methods, theory, culture, structure) in an attempt to promote a more informed, involved, principled and productive life. It will focus upon the life chances and life choices involving formal education, work and occupations, marriage and family and retirement.
3.00 credit hours A continuation of Intermediate Spanish I, with emphasis on study of complex grammatical structures. Special focus on oral communication.
3.00 credit hours Emphasis on conversational and communicative skills; focus on improvement of written proficiency intensive practice in writing various types of prose (descriptive and narrative); includes grammar review.
3.00 credit hours Emphasis on literary and film analysis while continuing to build on communicative skills; focus on improvement of written proficiency through intensive practice in writing various types of prose (expository and research); may include some grammar review.
3.00 credit hours Oral and written practice focused on the special terminology of various professions including business, the health professions, social services and legal/law enforcement. Emphasis is placed on simulation of real life situations and methods of communication. For advanced level students.
3.00 credit hours An overview and analysis of the principal literary periods of Spain from the Middle Ages through the present. Special emphasis is placed on selected works, authors and schools of thought.
3.00 credit hours A study of representative dramatic works from Spain from the period of La generación del 98 to the present. Emphasis is placed on dramatic theory with regard to Spanish history, literary analysis and experimental performance.
3.00 credit hours An overview of the history, customs, institutions, cultural patterns and heritage of the Spanish people from earliest times to the present.
3.00 credit hours An overview and analysis of the principal literary periods of Latin America from the pre-Hispanic era to the present. Special emphasis is placed on selected works, authors and schools of thought.
3.00 credit hours Traces the development of the short story genre in Latin America from its origins in the nineteenth century through the Boom authors and into present day. Special emphasis may be placed on particular periods and national movements of authors.
3.00 credit hours Advanced courses in a selection of topics. Topics may include study of a literary genre, movement, author, Hispanic linguistics or some aspect of Hispanic culture. Repeatable with different topic.
3.00 credit hours This course focuses on reading a script as the basic element in theatre. Through a careful examination of a variety of plays from different periods, a pattern emerges for discerning what options exist for interpreting a script. Students read from classic and contemporary theatre, engage in class discussions and write analyses of the chosen plays. Students gain practical knowledge useful for actors, directors and designers.
3.00 credit hours Specifically designed for students with little to no stage experience, this course emphasizes the development of the actor’s instruments through warm-ups, games, improvisations, scenes and monologues. By helping students to overcome stage fright and and become more at ease with facing crowds, and by making students more informed observers of the theatrical experience as a whole, this course is highly beneficial to non-majors, as well as to beginning actors.
0.00-1.00 credit hours Theatre is studied through the staging, mounting and production of a faculty-directed, all-College theatrical production. This course is repeatable up to a maximum of six credit hours earned. Students are expected to take this course for credit unless exceeding 12 credit hours in a term.