Academic Advising
The number in parentheses after each course title is the number of credit hours you will earn if you pass the course.
BC&J 290/ENG 290 – Introduction to Film (3) (Lab)
The study of the development of the motion picture as an art form and as a communications medium in the twentieth century. The course will examine the techniques used by filmmakers to tell stories and to convey information, points of view, and values. Students will be expected to watch films, using various theoretical and critical approaches, in order to sharpen their perceptual and critical skills which can then be used when viewing any motion picture.
COMM 130 – Introduction to Human Communication (3)
A course designed to provide an overview of the human communication process as it occurs in interpersonal relationships, small groups, organizations and mass communication. Particular aspects of the process such as verbal and nonverbal communication, culture, conflict, and technology are emphasized. The history and scope of the communication discipline is also covered.
ENG 200 – Introduction to Poetry (3)
This course is designed to introduce students to the study and especially the appreciation of poetry. Students read a number of poems in an anthology, from different centuries and in different styles. They learn much about the craft of poetry, focusing on word choice, metaphor, imagery, meter, and the many devices of sound at a good poet's command. The goal is to make poetry accessible and meaningful so that students can pick up any poem and read it intelligently and pleasurably. As the course is in the Humanities category of the General Education Curriculum, it also considers the way poetry addresses questions central to the human condition.
ENG 285 – Creative Writing (3)
An introductory course for students who wish to explore various forms of poetry and short-fiction writing.
HIST 105 – American History to 1877 (3)
This course provides an introduction to American history from Native American and European backgrounds to the close of Reconstruction, and is suitable for students in any major and degree program. Topics include pre-colonial and colonial developments, American Revolution and Constitution, evolution of democracy and slavery, early Industrial Revolution, reform movements, sectional crisis, and Civil War and Reconstruction.
HIST 106 – American History since 1877 (3)
This course provides an introduction to American history from the end of Reconstruction to the present, and is suitable for students in any major and degree program. Topics include immigration & industrialization, modernization of American society & economy, causes and consequences of twentieth-century wars & foreign policy, and social & cultural developments in modern America.
HIST 115 – World History to 1500 (3)
This course provides an introduction to the history of world societies and is suitable for students in any major and degree program. Course coverage, which ranges from human origins to 1500, emphasizes social and political institutions, economics, thought, culture, and cross-cultural contacts, and course activities emphasize the acquisition of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Themes include the origins of world civilizations, the impact of historical and geographical forces on the development of societies, the comparison and contrast of belief systems and institutional religions, and the relationship of humans and the natural environment
HIST 116 – World History since 1500 (3)
An introduction to the history of world societies, this course is suitable for students in any major and degree program. Course coverage, which ranges from 1500 to the present, emphasizes social and political institutions, economics, ideas, culture, and cross-cultural contacts. Course activities emphasize the acquisition of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Themes include the impact of historical and geographical forces on social development; the comparison and contrast of belief systems, political institutions, and economic structures; and the relationship of humans to the natural environment.
PHIL 100 – Introduction to Philosophy (3)
This course is an introduction to philosophical issues and reasoning through the exploration of a variety of basic questions addressed by philosophy. Topics include free will and determinism; God, faith, and evil; knowledge and skepticism; the nature of the mind; and moral principles and problems. This sampling is intended to give the beginning student some idea of the range of philosophical problems as well as some of the methods philosophers use to deal with them. The course is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to begin working out their own answers to basic philosophical questions like does God exist or is religious faith rational.
PHIL 120 – Contemporary Moral Problems (3)
This course will introduce students to some of the main issues in the philosophical study of ethics, with an emphasis on the application of ethical principles and concepts to contemporary moral problems. Classical ethical theories are studied, with attention to the approaches they offer for moral reasoning and judgment. Most of the course deals with current moral issues such as the death penalty, abortion, euthanasia, sexual responsibility, affirmative action, and concern for animals and the environment.
PHIL 140 – Logic and Reasoning (3)
This course is an introduction to logic and reasoning with emphasis on practical applications. Methods for evaluating the processes of reasoning involved in the sciences, in political discussions, and in the media are covered. The course aims at the development of basic logical skills needed in order to evaluate the structures of inductive and deductive arguments and how language is used in argumentation. Grades will be determined by regular homework assignments, quizzes, and examinations.
REL 110 – Introduction to Eastern Religions (3)
This course is a comparative introduction to the religions of Asia—Hinduism and Buddhism—with attention to historical development, scriptures, beliefs, practices, and diverse cultural expressions. It will examine and compare how each religious tradition develops diverse theological and ethical positions on several contemporary contested issues (like gender roles, the use of violence, or the relationship between religion and state). Some attention may also be given to smaller religious traditions that evolved in connection with these two “larger” religions, like Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
REL 111 – Introduction to Western Religions (3)
This course is a comparative introduction to the “religions of Abraham”—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—with attention to historical development, scriptures, beliefs, practices, and diverse cultural expressions. Attention will be given to the similarities and differences between these religions and how adherents to these traditions understand and relate to one another.
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