Academic Advising

Social Sciences

The number in parentheses after each course title is the number of credit hours you will earn if you pass the course.

ANTH 110 – Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)

This course is designed to develop the student's social science vocabulary. It focuses on the basic concepts and approaches of anthropology to the study of human beings and worldwide cultures from the prehistoric to the present.

ANTH 111 – Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology (3)

Study of human evolution from the perspectives of both biological and social sciences. Examination of the evolution of culture and the methods of its interpretation including early human fossils, human life during the Ice Age, the evolution of agriculture and life in the earliest villages, and ancient civilizations. The class will survey the archaeology of the Old World, including the so-called "Cave Men" and the early civilizations of China, India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. American Indian archaeology will also be examined, especially the remains in the eastern United States.

ANTH 210  Medical Anthropology (3)

Introduction to medical anthropology, an area of anthropology concerned with human health and socio-cultural, political, and economic factors that contribute to illness and suffering.

COMM 235 – Communicating in Small Groups (3)

Broad examination of the functioning of communication in small groups, including practical advice for becoming a more effective group member.

ECON 100 – Introduction to Economics (3)

This course introduces students to basic economic terminology and concepts. It emphasizes the practical application of these ideas to current events and contemporary readings. Core concepts include price theories, money and banking, national income accounts, economic fluctuations and growth, and international economics, with special applications in criminal activity, health care, and environmental quality.

ECON 231 – Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

This introduction to macroeconomics examines the roles consumers, businesses, financial institutions, the government, foreign trade, and international capital flows play in maintaining a healthy level of total economic activity. It investigates the causes of inflation, unemployment, recession, and the government's role in mitigating economic problems associated with business cycles. Additionally, the course examines the effects of government spending and tax policies on aggregate demand and supply and the tools used by the Federal Reserve to influence economic conditions. Today's marketplace is global in scope, and therefore, this course emphasizes the forces that link our economies.

ECON 232 – Principles of Microeconomics (3)

This course studies the relationship between consumers, firms, and interactions in markets. It investigates the market demand curve from the individual consumer's perspective and the supply curve from the nature of technology and costs of inputs. Considerable attention is also devoted to how the structure of the market (degree of competition) affects the quantity and quality of goods produced as well as their retail prices. Additionally, the course analyzes the economic rationale for government intervention in markets (i.e., regulation) and the relationship to society's welfare.

GEOG 100 – Introduction to Human Geography (3)

This course focuses on the ways in which human use of the earth's surface varies from place to place and from time to time (spatial utilization, spatial differentiation); on the cultural, economic, and political ways in which humans organize space (spatial organization, spatial integration); and on the ways in which population growth and technological development bring about changes in these relationships between humans and the earth they inhabit.

GEOG 110 – World Regional Geography (3)

A survey course in world regional geography. The central objective is to sharpen students' comprehension of the complex environmental, social, demographic, and economic problems in major world regions through analysis involving the geographer's spatial approach. Through the course students should acquire familiarity with distinguishing physical and cultural traits and human-environmental relationships in each region covered.

GEOG 251 – Principles of Urban and Regional Planning (3)

Examines contemporary planning processes with an emphasis on utopian planning precedents, frameworks and mechanisms for planning, and comprehensive planning and implementation.

POLS 101 – Introduction to Political Science (3)

This course introduces the student to basic concepts commonly used by political scientists such as power, authority, legitimacy, political culture, and socialization. Attention is given to the theory and practice of democratic regimes by examining how those regimes deal with divisive issues such as what role the government should play in the economic sphere and what should be the role of the government in regulating individual rights. The course also studies the relations among states in the international system.

POLS 122 – American Government and Politics (3)

This is an introductory course in American national government. Students will learn about what works and what doesn’t in the American political system. Topics covered include the Constitution and Constitutional rights, elections and voting, civil rights, Congress, the presidency, the courts, political parties, and the role of the media in politics.

POLS 228 – Fundamentals of International Relations (3)

This introductory course explores the relationships between the nations of the world in both war and peace. It also examines how other important actors, including international institutions or multinational corporations, influence world politics. It explains the current issues and crises in the global political system that are most likely to have the greatest impact on the future, such as terrorism, the environment, and international economic relations.

POLS 267 – Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics (3)

An introduction to how the various nations of the world govern themselves, and why these differences matter. Students will learn how different systems, ranging from parliamentary and presidential democracies to authoritarian dictatorships function, and what the consequences are for their citizens. The internal politics and policies of a wide variety of nations will be covered.

PSY 100 – Introductory Psychology (3)

An introduction to psychological theories, methods, concepts, and applications across a wide range of specialty areas. Course begins with a discussion of the methods of scientific psychology and the physiological bases of behavior and experience, then moves to a consideration of cognitive processes (learning, memory, intelligence). Additional sections typically cover development, motivation, emotion, abnormal behavior, therapies, and social psychology.

PSY 250 – Human Social Behavior (3)

An introduction to the influences of social factors on behavior. Topics include the methods of science in psychology, helping, aggression, interpersonal attraction, attitudes, prejudice, conformity, behavior in groups, obedience to social commands, and various aspects of how we think about social situations.

PSY 251 – Personality and Adjustment (3)

An introduction to the study of personality with an emphasis on human behavioral adjustment, including the nature of stress, coping procedures, interpersonal communication, love, friendships, sexuality, and psychological disorders and their treatment.

SOC 100 – Introduction to Sociology (3)

This course has four specific goals: to introduce students to the field of sociology; to provide an analysis of the relationship between the individual and society; to examine the major social institutions which we encounter nearly every day; and to consider important social problems which we also encounter on a regular basis.

SOC 200 – Contemporary Social Problems (3)

An investigation of problems pertaining to group conflict, race relations, crime, family disorganization, and other significant aspects of contemporary society. Specific goals include: 1) to understand various ways in which social problems become defined; 2) to understand how social problems affect people on an emotional and intellectual level; 3) to understand the various ways in which social problems may be partially solved; and 4) to understand the interrelatedness of the source, organization, and consequences of poverty, drug addiction, crime, delinquency, interpersonal violence, sexual deviance, intergroup conflict, sexual inequalities, family problems, and population.

SOC 272  Individual and Society (3)

This course explores sociological theories and research on the relationship between the individual and society. Students will learn how individuals participate in the construction of society and how social structure impacts our everyday lives.

General Education