Foundations Communication FCO105: Rhetorical Communication gives students the communication skills including writing, speaking, and the use of visuals needed for success in both the academic and professional worlds. Students will complete several different projects, enabling them to practice communicating clearly and fluently in print, face- to- face, and online environments and to learn about language as ethical action. FCO210: Communication in Professional Cultures asks students to apply rhetorical techniques and problem- solving skills to the types of communication associated with the professional settings in which they will be working. Using cases and scenarios, students will create professional written documents such as letters, resumes, memos, reports, and proposals in both print and online environments, and they will learn about effective document design, use of visuals, and oral presentation, as well as copyright and other ethical issues associated with communication in the workplace. FCO215: Technical and Scientific Communication gives students expertise in applying rhetorical techniques and problem- solving skills to the types of communication associated with technical and scientific (including medical) settings. Students will create written documents such as proposals, research reports, usability analyses, and process descriptions in both print and online environments, and they will learn about effective document design, use of visuals, and oral presentation, as well as copyright and other ethical issues. FCO225: Interdisciplinary Communication provides you with guided experience in reading and communicating across a range of academic disciplines, including the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and the fine arts. By investigating topics from each of these disciplinary perspectives, you will analyze the modes of reasoning, rhetorical techniques, and forms of communication, including visual communication, that are currently accepted in each of these fields with the goal of becoming more versatile writers and speakers. CM212: Public Speaking enables students to develop and deliver an effective presentation in a professional environment by developing an extensive knowledge of public speech construction, argument development, and effective speech delivery. Students will learn four different types of public speeches informative, persuasive (attitudinal), actuation (behavioral), and entertainment/after- dinner- - and will also develop skills for critical analysis of the spoken word by evaluating the speeches of other students.
PHL222: Critical Thinking teaches students various methods, techniques, and precautions that will enable them to listen and read carefully, to reconstruct and evaluate arguments, to look for and find hidden assumptions, to trace the consequences of a claim, and to critically evaluate data and quantitative claims. The ultimate goal in this course is to enable students to make reasoned judgments regarding complex and often controversial issues. MAT111: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving gives students a solid understanding of using and interpreting data appropriately so that they can use numeric data in their own work, as well as be able to understand and assess the data used by others. PHL231: Logic teaches students the structure of effective argumentation as well as the pitfalls that catch many thinkers. Students will learn which methods of solving problems are most effective (i.e., when do we use analogical reasoning, when do we use truth tables?) by reading, interpreting, making, and testing their own arguments. Foundations- - American Citizenship LIT281: American Literature before 1885 guides students through writings by authors such as Frederick Douglass, the noted ex- slave and abolitionist, Edgar Allen Poe, the Gothic horror writer, and Walt Whitman, the 19 th c. innovative and provocative poet. Students will explore some of the common beliefs, myths, and assumptions about America as portrayed in the literature and discuss their relevance to today s culture. LIT282: American Literature after 1885 guides students through the reading and analysis of literary texts from the late nineteenth century to the present day, with authors such as Stephen Crane, Robert Frost, F. Scott FItzgerald, T. S. Eliot, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Adrienne Rich, Alice Walker, by focusing on the historical and social contexts of each work. Students will explore themes such as gender roles and rights, diversity and American society, and the mixed legacy of industrialization and internationalization, with the goal of understanding how America has come to be defined. ECO201: Microeconomics enables students to explore how free markets work and whether free markets serve the interests of all members of society through a problem- based learning approach. Students will explore the ways that American political, social and cultural institutions shape how we interact in market settings and the resulting outcomes of those interactions in terms of the fair and efficient use of society s limited resources.
PS101: American Government and Citizenship teaches students to understand the fundamental ideas and structures of government that create the arena in which political events materialize and are discussed and debated. This deep understanding of government institutions, political processes, and the nature of citizenship equips students with the knowledge and skills to counsel and guide any social institution whether it s a government agency, decision- making body, school, interest group, non- profit organization, think tank, corporation, or voluntary association through its complex political relationships. HIS111: American Civilization I enables students to learn about the development of the American nation its institutions, society, and culture from initial European settlement through 1865 by exploring historical events through the diverse perspectives of historical figures. Students will consider how these events shaped the world we live in today, focusing more specifically on the emergence and evolution of national, racial, gender and class identities as well as American economic and political institutions. HIS112: American Civilization II enables students to learn about the development of the American nation its institutions, society, and culture from 1865 through the present by exploring historical events through the diverse perspectives of historical figures. Students will consider how these events shaped the world we live in today, focusing more specifically on the emergence and evolution of national, racial, gender and class identities as well as American economic and political institutions. Foundations Global Citizenship HIS 102: The West in the World provides students with the basis for understanding some key developments that continue to shape lives, including the challenges of democratic systems; the role of the state and government in people s lives; political, economic, cultural and social globalization; and the role of the individual as a potential historical actor. Because the West has had a profound influence on world developments, and the West in turn has been shaped by that same interaction. The content and skills associated with this course enable students to engage with contemporary issues through a broader understanding of the historical development of those issues. ECO 201: Macroeconomics offers students the opportunity to explore how economic systems work by contrasting systems organized around decentralized free market decision- making with systems organized around centralized command decision- making. Students will use a problem- based learning approach to explore ways that global political, social and cultural institutions shape how economic systems interact and the resulting outcomes of those interactions in terms of the fair and efficient use of the world s limited resources. Students understanding of the performance of national economic systems
and their interconnections will help them to contribute to global society as consumers, employees, managers, policy makers, neighbors and friends. G100: World Regional Geography enables students to use geographic concepts to explore how global transformations impact divergent outcomes in the different regions of the world by studying a number of contemporary themes such as globalization, war, human rights, uneven development, rural- to- urban migration, tourism, and environmental concerns. By emphasizing patterns and processes, this course moves beyond a narrow focus on memorizing geographical facts, instead placing a greater emphasis on learning to think critically about the structural forces that are actively reshaping the world s regions. as well as how each individual plays a role (whether consciously or not) in re- making the geography of the world. Disciplinary Perspectives: Social and Behavioral Sciences PS110 Introduction to Political Science demonstrates the ways that knowledge is constructed by the discipline of Political Science by introducing students to the methodologies, accepted types of evidence, and key concepts of an area of study that falls within the broad disciplinary realm of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. This course demonstrates the ways that knowledge is constructed by political scientists, introducing students to the traditions, concepts, and methodologies used to explore political phenomena. PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology introduces students to the field of psychology, as a representative of social sciences in general. Students will apply psychological concepts to their own experience, finding opportunities for academic and personal growth in addition to learning to engage as an educated citizen in social issues and policies by applying psychological concepts to societal problems. REC 101: Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society enables students to examine the experience and role of recreation for individuals, society, and humanity across time, space, and culture, as well as increasing student understanding and appreciation of recreation through experiential learning, reflection, and class discussion. Students will also be encouraged to consider the potential benefits of recreation in our modern society including personal applications and professional careers in recreation. ECO 205: Economic Perspectives introduces students to the economics discipline by exploring the basics of economic theory and analysis, as well as how studying economics can lead to better understand of the cultures and economic problems that exist throughout the world. Students will explore the role of institutions, government intervention, and the rights of individual citizens in our economic decision- making.
SOC100: Introduction to Sociology introduces students to the discipline of sociology, which involves studying society and human relationships through the use scientific tools theory, concepts, research strategies intended to build knowledge about the world we live in and to develop a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of how society, relationships, and identities are organized. The sociological perspective emphasizes that people are not only participants in but also creators of society, and illustrates the varied ways in which individual lives are shaped by much broader social forces. Ant220: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology encourages the study of humankind from a cross- cultural perspective by observing human behavior within the global context of culture. In an effort to understand and appreciate other people and their cultures in the global information age, students will examine systems of culture, including language, religion, economics, political, and kinship systems through hands- on approaches. WGS238: Race, Gender, and Sexuality enables students to explore issues such as what it means to be raced, how gender functions, and why there is such controversy around sexuality. Students will examine the history, function, and effects of race, gender, and sexuality and through that, come to understand better both how and why contemporary culture works the way it does. ENT150: Introduction to Entrepreneurship helps students learn about the various facets of being an entrepreneur through assignments, exercises, and class discussions. Students will learn about the business start- up process through joining a team and starting a campus- based business for several days. MKT100: Principles of Marketing enables students to learn about the identification of potential customers and decisions about the marketing mix (product, price, promotion, and distribution) that will satisfy those potential customers. The marketing mix decisions are made in light of today s and tomorrow s changing environment including the economy, ecology, ethics, technology, culture, lifestyle, global markets, and competition. Disciplinary Perspectives: Natural and Physical Sciences BIO204: Exploring Biology immerses students in the process of thinking like a scientist by developing questions about the natural world, planning to answer those questions through thoughtful experiments, and then interpreting information from our own experiments and other biologists, to draw reasonable conclusions. Students will be exposed to a range of current issues from nutrition to climate change, will actively participate in the process of gaining knowledge and evaluating scientific
problems and questions. CHM240/1: Perspectives on the Molecular World enables students to learn about Chemistry, the scientific discipline that inquires about matter, its properties, and composition based on the structure and behavior of atoms and molecules. Students will explore the relevance of chemistry to their own lives and to current global issues through laboratory experiments and field studies, as well as readings and discussions. PSC152/3: Concepts of Physics in Everyday Life enables students to explore the rules that govern the natural world by exploring how specific ideas in physics have developed over centuries analyzing the validity of scientific claims in the popular media and collaboratively designing and creating a physics experiment to discover a rule that governs the natural world. Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities HIS 101: Foundations of the West introduces students to the exploration of Western history from the very ancient civilizations of what is now the Middle East through the Reformation in the 16 th century, focusing on the enduring political, social, cultural, and economic questions that humans continue to face in contemporary life. Students will learn about how historians reconstruct and interpret the past using a variety of sources and perspectives and will do their own interpretations of the past by using historical methods of inquiry and reconstruction. PHL221: Introduction to Philosophy introduces students to a series of problems and situations that provoke critical reflection on beliefs Philosophy is about knowing what one believes and why one believes it. Through readings, discussions, and writing, students will come to a better understanding of their own beliefs and grounds for having them, especially regarding some of the core questions that have preoccupied philosophers for more than two- thousand years of Western thought: What is just? What is right? Is there a God? Can we know anything? Are we free and responsible? What is the nature of consciousness and the mind? FLM 216 : Introduction to Film teaches students the techniques associated with studying film as text. The course explores diverse filmmaking traditions; a knowledge of the basic approaches, both textual and contextual, used to analyze films; and develop the ability to formulate their views about film in discussion and in writing. REL 265: World Religions introduces students to the academic study of religion by examining a range of world religions. Because the world is increasingly multicultural and globalized, future professionals
should be familiar with a range of human cultures and religions. so that they can interact with others who may have radically different beliefs and practices. in a thoughtful and respectful way. LIT 200: Perspectives on Literature introduces students to the rigorous analysis of the structures and contexts of complex works of language that comprises the discipline of Literary Studies. We will study literary interpretative models and strategies, and we will apply these to complex, culturally significant texts from the major contemporary literary genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Disciplinary Perspectives: Arts THE 254: Introduction to Theatre leads students to examine how theatrical productions stem from, relate to, and inform the societies in which they are produced. Students will learn to to appreciate and engage in creative processes, and produce informed responses to theatrical performance, as well as make connections between dramatic literature and their everyday lives. MUS 186: Listening to Music promotes active listening and cultivates skills relating to musical analysis and critique by examining how music has been received throughout history, spanning all genres and eras from western classical music through jazz, rock and pop. Students will develop their awareness of the structure and heritage of music and so challenge their perspective of how music plays a role in their life and the lives of those around them. WRT 272: Introduction to Creative Writing exposes students to a variety of imaginative writing models and craft concepts useful in any writing genre or discipline, such as a doctor using narrative skills to better communicate with patients, or copywriter working on a press release. Students will keep a writing journal detailing their progress over the semester, and writing exercises will be used as tools for generating larger creative work, providing students with opportunities to imitate the style, subject, or form of literary models studied in class. ART101: Art and Visual Culture I helps students discover where, how, and why art exists, stress the increasingly important role of art and visual images in contemporary life, and helps them acquire skills for navigating life in the modern, visual environment. Students will discover how to make art and produce design work with specific creative intent to communicate ideas, learn how to look at images and read them like a text and study how they deliver knowledge about the world, as well as reflect on how these images affect their thinking