Learning Perspective course descriptions, 2025-26 fall semester

ART-101 Drawing (4 Credits) (PA) Fundamentals of drawing such as value, line, form, space and composition, exploring abstraction as well as traditional subject matters through observational studies. Theory and practice through a variety of drawing media including use of color. $60.00 lab fees.

ART-102 Drawing Inquiry (4 Credits) (PA) Fundamentals of drawing, including introductory life drawing, for art majors and minors. Form, space, color and composition explored in a variety of drawing media through contemporary and historical lenses. For students with drawing experience; highly recommended for art majors and minors in place of ART 101. $60.00 lab fee

ART-211 Painting (4 Credits) (PA) Basics of color theory and practice of painting in oil and/or acrylics. Emphasis on developing fundamental painting approaches, conceptual development and individual expressions through color. Art periods, movements and practice researched. $100.00 lab fee

CHST-260 Intro to Chinese Films (4 Credits) (PA, G) Introduction to Chinese films and culture produced in the Chinese-speaking world.

ENCW-201 Writing Poetry (4 Credits) (PA) Practice in writing poetry with an introduction to poetic form, voice and techniques. Emphasis will be on generating, critiquing and revising student work, but students will also study the work of published poets.

ENCW-202 Writing Fiction (4 Credits) (PA) Practice in writing with an introduction to the various forms the genre assumes (memoir, profile, literary journalism, nature writing, spiritual autobiography) and emphasis on techniques writers use to translate personal and researched experience into artful nonfiction. The class stresses drafting, workshopping, and revising.

ENCW-204 Screenwriting (4 Credits) (PA) Practice in writing screenplays with an introduction to narrative structure. Emphasis will be on generating, critiquing and revising student work, but students will also study contemporary scripts and films.

GRD-170 Process & Materials (4 Credits) (PA) This course provides an experimental studio environment focused on rapid iterative making. We explore a variety of media and consider how these ways of working are applied in a range of design practices. $40 lab fee.

GRD-222 Graphic Design Studio (4 Credits) (PA) This studio-based course focuses on typographic design while encouraging experimentation with form-making and concept development. Methodically advancing technical skills while developing a process of working that is unique to the individual encouraged. $40.00 lab fee

MJMC-250 Visualizing Society (4 Credits) (PA) Introduces a toolkit of conceptual and practical skills in multimedia journalism. Students learn about reporting in contexts that cut across the traditional barriers of online, broadcast, and print news. Students begin to consider journalism's moral and ethical underpinnings and how those considerations interact with everyday professional considerations made by journalists.

MUSC-101 Introduction to Music (4 Credits) (PA) Exploration of the fundamental elements, various forms, and styles of music. Through listening, discussion, and live concert experiences, students will learn about music in various cultural and historical contexts. This course is not a part of the music major and no experience in music is required.

MUSC-107 Music in Worldwide Perspective (4 Credits) (PA,G) Introduction to ethnomusicology and survey of indigenous music of the various regions of the world. Does not apply to major in music.

MUSC-111 Musicianship (4 Credits) (PA) An introduction to the study of music and related skills: score-reading, sight singing, text analysis, conducting, composition, research, and writing. Primary focus is given to the development of notated music in Europe and America from the middle ages to the present day, with additional study of popular and non-western music.

MUSC-133 Video Game Music (4 Credits) (PA) An introduction to the history and function of musical sound in video games.

THEA-100 Intro to Theatre (4 Credits) (PA) Introduction to Theatre. Theatre as a collaborative, vital and multi-faceted art form that reflects and impacts culture and society. Through study of theatre practice and various dramatic texts from Ancient Greece to contemporary times, this course will examine how the written word is translated into action and images on stage.

ENGL-230 Environmental Literature (4 Credits) (PH) An introduction to the history of and trends in nature writing and environmental literature.

MEDH-200 Applied Concepts in Healthcare (4 Credits) (PH) Applied Concepts in Healthcare serves as the gateway course for the Experiential Minor in Integrative Medicine & the Humanities. It is a course that will offer insights into themes, controversies, and future directions of society's most pressing issues in Healthcare. While other courses in the minor will focus on concerns related to Justice, Values, and Communication, our course will integrate concerns across disciplines and begin to develop a unique range of skills relevant to the challenges faced by those who directly or indirectly engage in clinical medicine, biomedical research, or any of many "support" disciplines. More specifically, while we will certainly keep an eye on issues of justice, value, and communication, in this course, we will focus on four areas vital to an integrative understanding of health care and a fifth area that will bring the more theoretical aspects of course to life

MJMC-215 News Literacy (4 Credits) (PH) Examines forces that shape news today and how the news media have changed. Prepares students to understand journalism and critically evaluate news sources as well as analyze their own roles as news consumers and communicators using current events as a backdrop.
Assignments and discussion focus on topics such as: news values, detecting bias, source credibility, journalistic constraints, and media economics.

PHIL-101 Knowing & Being (4 Credits) (PH) Introduction to central topics in philosophy, such as ethical theory, metaethics, knowledge and skepticism, theology, free will, personal identity, and the nature of meaning. Attention is paid to the careful formation and critical evaluation of arguments.

PHIL-105 Life and Death (4 Credits) (PH) An introduction to ethics, approached through an examination of the ethics of living, letting die, and killing. The course will introduce students to major theories of morality, such as utilitarianism and Kantian ethics, and apply these theories to issues that may include euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment, and just war.

COMM-220 Communication & Social Relationships (4 Credits) (PS, D) Examines how family, peer and cultural socialization influences communication in close relationships. Consideration of race, class, gender and sexual orientation as they relate to communication in diverse relationships.

COMM-240 Advert & Consumer (4 Credits) (PS) COMM240 traces the evolution of the persuasive strategies, effects and messages in commercial discourse, from its origins in colonial America to today, with special emphasis on portrayals of race, class, family and gender in contemporary America. Course assignments will incorporate instruction on media content analysis and textual analysis as research methods.

GEOG-120 Human Geog Global (4 Credits) (PS, G) Human geography focuses on social, economic, political, cultural, and human-environment processes and patterns and how they change over space and time. This course examines the interconnections between places around the world and how global flows intersect in our local communities. Major topics include economic globalization, geopolitics, the spatial aspects of population growth and distribution including international migration, health, urbanization, cultural differentiation and the spread of ideas and innovation, and the environmental impacts of development. The course aims to engender a critical geographical perspective on the past, present and future development of the social world.

KINS-250 Sociology of Sport and Phys Culture (4 Credits) (PS) To some, sport and physical culture seem to exist outside of society - somehow removed from the political, social, and cultural issues that shape our daily lives. This course seeks to challenge that separation: instead arguing that sport and physical culture are deeply intertwined with the values of our current socio-political moment. This course will ask you to think critically about a topic you may have taken for granted. From the local sporting experiences of high school athletes to the giant spectacles of the OIympics, we will investigate and interrogate the often overlooked exceptionalism of sport and physical culture. In the first module we will lay out the contemporary landscape of sport and physical culture and examine the ideologies, philosophies, and assumptions that we bring to these spaces. In the second module, we will explore the social construction of individual identities and groups, and how those groups both create, and are created by, their involvements in sport and physical activity. Finally, we will explore sport and physical activity's power to bring diverse groups together, and examine the ways in which that can be used for equitable and inequitable practices. As we delve into the complexities of sport and physical culture, you will take on the role of a potential agent of change. How can you, within your current and future spheres of power, help make sport and physical culture better for everyone?

PHIL-103 Social Ethics (4 Credits) (PS) An introduction to the philosophical examination of issues in three areas of social
ethics-global problems, family matters, and societal policies. The following general questions will be considered in light of three moral theories (utilitarianism, rights, and the ethics of care): What do we owe the poor and starving in other countries? What do we owe our family members? How should we treat criminals in our society?

POLS-101 Intro to American Politics (4 Credits) (PS) A study of constitutional principles and their implementation to create a functioning national government. Development of basic institutions--presidency, Congress, courts, bureaucracy. Analysis of Political Behavior -- political parties, campaigns, and interest groups. Examples from public policy are used to show the institutions and groups in action.

POLS-103 Global Perspectives (4 Credits) (PS,G) Examination of major issues of world politics from various theoretical and country perspectives. Considers issues -war and peace, international law and organization, economic globalization, climate change, nuclear weapon proliferation and human rights- which pose questions of justice or represent threats to the peace or to global survival.

POLS-105 Democracy Across Countries (4 Credits) (PS,G) Comparative politics is devoted to the study of countries not called the United States. It involves the comparative examination of important concepts in political science (culture, forms of government, regime types, conflict, human rights, poverty, identity, among others) and their application to both Western and non-Western nations.

PSYC-100 Intro to Psychology (4 Credits) (PS) A survey course of the major areas of interest within the field of Psychology (physiological, cognitive, clinical, and social), including fundamental principles and theories about human behavior as well as the scientific methods used by psychologists to draw these conclusions.

PUBH-100 Introduction to Public Health (4 Credits) (PS) This course introduces the interdisciplinary field and application of public health. Students will explore the social, political, and environmental determinants of health, and will be introduced to the institutions that shape health outcomes at the local, national, and global levels. This course will also help students understand how public health impacts the health of populations on a daily basis. Course activities will examine a diverse range of topics such as community health organizations, ethics in public health practice, maternal and child health, control of chronic and infectious disease, health through the lifespan, mental health, nutrition, and more. This course has no prerequisites. First year or sophomore status required.

SOAN-101 Intro to Sociology (4 Credits) (PS, D) A general introduction to society and culture, socially learned patterns of human behavior, formal and informal organization, collective behavior and social change.

SOAN-102 Intro to Anthropology (4 Credits) (PS, G) A general introduction to society and culture, diverse cultural systems and groups of people from around the globe, and a holistic examination of the many parts of culture. Students will learn the tools, methods and key concepts anthropologists use to study humanity.

WGSS-130 Intro to Gender Studies (4 Credits) (PS) This course serves as an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Familiarizes students with key terms, authors, and debates, while paying special attention to how gender and sexuality intersect with race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, ability, and immigration status to create systems of oppression. Students examine intersectional feminism as a framework for engaging in social justice work.

WGSS-230 Gender, Power (4 Credits) (PS,G) Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study of girls' and women's experiences of family, education, religion, work, political culture, gender and sexuality. The social, economic and legal statuses of the female are examined globally along with systems that link women around the world, such as media. The parallels and intersections of sex, race, social class and sexual orientation as given statuses within hierarchical societies are addressed as creators of both privilege and discrimination. This class will introduce intersectional theory and transnational intersectional theory.

ARHI-165 Survey World Art I (4 credits) (PP, G) A chronological survey of the art and architecture from around the world, from Paleolithic cave paintings to medieval cathedrals and mosques. Students learn to analyze the formal elements of works of art and architecture, examine works within the original cultural and historical contexts, and compare art across cultures and from different time periods.

ENGL-260 History Brit Lit (4 credits) (PP) English literature and social history from Beowulf and the Middle Ages to Virginia Woolf and the modern world. This course will introduce students to the study of literature, emphasizing the aims, methods, and tools of the discipline. Students will become familiar with critical vocabulary, with selected authors and with genre and historical context in a way that will carry over to more advanced classes.

FILM-200 History Film and TV (4 credits) (PP) This course looks at the history of motion picture media from its invention to contemporary times, covering cinema and television from inception to today. Framed by the technological, narrative, aesthetic, thematic, economic, and cultural trends of the various formats, the course explores prominent directors, studios, and platforms originating from the U.S. and abroad.

HIST-115 Europe 1300-1800 (4 Credits) (PP, G) This course will address foundational moments in early modern Europe, including the Renaissance, the Reformation, voyages of global exploration, absolutism, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and revolutions against absolute monarchies. Special emphasis will be placed on developing students' ability to write their own historical interpretations through a critical use of eyewitness accounts.

HIST-131 Rethinking American History, 1877-Pres (4 Credits) (PP) Rethinking American History, 1877-Present Almost everything most people know about American history is at worst, wrong, and at best, oversimplified. This course examines enduring problems, powerful stories, and common misconceptions about the American past. Students will learn a set of problem-solving skills that historians use to make sense of the past, so that they can reach their own conclusions and recognize sense from nonsense.

HIST-151 East Asia Modern World (4 Credits) (PP,G) Ever since East Asia played a crucial role in stimulating early modern globalization, East Asian countries, their empires, revolutions, wars, and social upheavals, have profoundly shaped our world. This course places East Asia at the center of modern world history while also investigating the internal social, cultural, and environmental conditions that shaped historical change in China, Japan, and Korea since roughly 1600.

CLAS-212 Classical Mythology (4 Credits) (PL, G) The myths of the Greeks and Romans have had a lasting influence on our world, evident in art, literature, language, science, and beyond. This course offers a broad survey of the major Greek and Roman myths and the dominant approaches to understanding them. Utilizing ancient sources along with scholarly commentary, students will examine these myths in their broader cultural and historical contexts while considering the legacy ancient mythology has left in our world. May not take CLAS-212 if CLAS-212W, CLAS-312 or CLAS-312W has already been taken.

COMM-230 Comm, Poli, & Citiz (4 Credits) (PL) Addresses issues of communication effects and ethics as they impinge on citizens of a free society, with a focus on political discourse in the public sphere. Features rhetorical tactics, communication strategies and argument patterns in political campaigns, public policy, and the media.

ENGL-125S Lit. & Sports (4 Credits) (PL) A literature course for students interested in sports writing and the drama of sports competitions. Readings will include stories from the sports page, longer essays on the meaning of sports, and novels, poems, and other genres depicting athletes competing while seeking greater meaning in their lives. For First Year and Sophomore students only.

ENGL-235 Sci Fi & Fantasy (4 Credits) (PL) An introduction to the alternative worlds of myth, fantasy, utopia and dystopia. Students will develop the close-reading skills and vocabulary of the discipline as they explore deeper meaning, ambiguity, and complexity in classic and contemporary works of fantasy and science fiction.

ENGL-275 Intro to African-American Lit (4 Credits) (PL,D) Principal works by African Americans representing literary forms and significant currents of thought from the era of slavery to the present.

ENGL-278 Amer Indian Lit (4 Credits) (PL,D) Through the study of fiction, poetry, myth, and memoir by American Indian writers, American Indian Literature explores the tragic history and enduring culture of indigenous non-Europeans on the North American continent. Special attention to the writers of the Native American Renaissance, such as Simon Ortiz, Joy Harjo, Leslie Marmon Silko, James Welch, Louise Erdrich, and Sherman Alexie-and to the diverse kinship groups (Ojibwe Laguna Pueblo, Wampanoag) with which these and other writers identify.

SPST-251 Latino/a Culture in US (4 Credits) (PL) Exploration of major themes and issues around Latino/a cultural production including fiction, memoirs, essays, films, and music. This course will consider interaction between individuals and social groups as they reflect on and give meaning to the concept of Latinidad in the United States. No knowledge of Spanish is required. All texts will be read in English translation. Does not count toward the major/minor in Spanish.

ASTR-135 Planets (4 Credits) (PN) A non-calculus course intended for all majors on planets and planetary systems. Topics include the history of planetary astronomy, formation and evolution of the solar system, solar system physics, properties of solar system objects and the discovery of extrasolar planets. Results of recent space discoveries and the methods and tools used by astronomers will be emphasized. Evening observing sessions in the Carl Gamble observatory will be required. Suggested prerequisite: A math-index score of 840 or higher is recommended (pre-calc ready).

ENVR-100 Ecological Dimension (4 Credits) (PN)In-depth interdisciplinary examination of complex sustainability problems (water, food systems, climate change, forests, etc.) including their systemic structure, dynamics, future development, and normative issues. In-depth examination of human dependence upon and alteration of supporting (biodiversity, disturbance regimes, soil resources, hydrological cycle, and nutrient cycles), regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services. Emphasis on formulating an interdisciplinary model to understand the resilience and vulnerability of complex social-ecological systems (SES) to disturbances and stresses and using such model to assess the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of local and regional sustainability problems. Introduction to key methods used to identify, analyze, and solve the ecological dimensions of such problems. Students will complete an ecologically-oriented campus-based sustainability project. The culminating project and case study will require students to place the ecological component of such systems within the context of the entire SES by emphasizing the two-way interactions (dependence of human well being on ecosystem services and influence of human pursuits of well-being on such services) between the ecological and social components. Includes one two-hour lab per week that focuses on a campus or local sustainability problem. Seniors by permission only.

GEOL-101 Phys & Environ Geol (4 Credits) (PN) Introduction to the science of the Earth and our environment through topics of Earth materials and cycles, natural resources, tectonic processes, hydrologic systems, volcanoes, earthquakes, paleoclimatology, and geologic time. Additional themes include anthropogenic impacts on our environment, environmental hazards and environmental justice. Includes a weekly 2-hour lab that integrates experiential exercises, computer applications, collections of the Fryxell Geology Museum, and local field trips. Gateway course to the geology major.

GEOL-201 History of Life (4 Credits) (PN) An examination of the 3.5+ billion-year history of life on Earth, accompanied by discussions of the physical changes at and below Earth's surface. Popular science literature will serve as a gateway to concepts such as evolution, genetics, morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, paleoecology, and species distribution, among others. Includes one weekly 2-hour lab. Lab study involves specimens in the Fryxell Geology Museum collections.