Liberal Studies

Courses in this component introduce fundamental concepts, methods and content in disciplines essential to a liberal education.

Requirement: Eight courses, with at least one course from each area, and no more than three in any group.

  • Group I: Social Sciences (1 in each area and no more than 3 in any group)

    • Area 1: History
      Courses acquaint students with some of the principal developments in world or American history. Students analyze problems or controversies, and learn to use different kinds of source material.
      An interdisciplinary approach to the study of America's heritage and the distinguishing features of the American mind and character. 3 credits.
      A survey of American intellectual history and cultural criticism ranging from Puritanism and Enlightenment Rationalism to multiculturalism, feminism, and post-modernism. 3 credits.
      This course will explore both the historical origins and development of the cultural ideal of democracy in the United States. By focusing on the cultural ideal of democracy, it will seek to understand the impact and meaning of democracy in America beyond that of political institutions alone. It will include readings and discussions in history, literature, politics, and cultural anthropology.
      An examination of the social, political, economic and cultural upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s in the historical context. 3 credits.
      This course will explore the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. It will include an examination of the role religion played in the founding vision of our nation's democracy, as well as the important separation between church and state that has been achieved over the course of our nation's history. With this historical backdrop in mind, special emphasis will then be given to the ascendancy of the religious right in recent electoral politics. 3 credits.
      A study of the development of civilizations from the development of human civilizations to the end of the first era of empire building in India, China, and the Mediterranean. Topics include the river valley civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China; the formation of great philosophies and religious traditions in Asia and Greece; and the first empires in the Mediterranean world, India, and China. 3 credits.
      A study of the second phase of empire building in world history, spanning the period from the fall of Rome in 476 to the end of the Middle Ages in Europe and the end of Mongol domination in Asia and Russia by 1450. Topics will include the Byzantine Empire; the gradual recovery of Europe after the fall of Rome; the renewal of China under the T'ang and the Song Dynasties; the Islamic dynasties in the Middle East, Africa, India, and China; the pre-Columbian empires of Latin America; and the Mongol invasions. 3 credits.
      This course is a survey of modern world history, from 1492 to the present. The course will focus on one of the most important aspects of modern history: the processes of colonization and decolonization. The course is framed by three main areas of inquiry. First we explore why it was the Europeans who expanded over the globe from 1500 to 1900. The second area that is examined is the cultural encounter that resulted from European expansion.. The final section of the course deals with the twentieth century. The following themes are covered: colonial resistance, the three world order and globalization. 3 credits.
      The major events and developments in America from Columbus to the Civil War, with emphasis on the creation of a distinctive American society from the interaction of different cultures, ethnic groups, and ideas. Major themes include the transformation of European cultural ideas in colonial America and the impact of republican ideology, democratization, and the spread of the market economy between the Revolution and the Civil War. 3 credits.
      American history from 1865 until the present. Students learn about important themes in recent history such as law and order, native land rights, protest movements, foreign policy and its critics, and the rise of corporate power and its economic and political consequences. 3 credits.
      An introduction to the main political, social, economic and intellectual developments in twentieth-century Europe. The major themes of the course include the experience of the two world wars; the development of fascist and communist regimes under Lenin and Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler; the weakness of the western democracies after World War I; the Holocaust; the Cold War; the Communist Bloc; the end to colonialism; the European Union; the development of the welfare state, and the new nationalism. Writing process. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.
      A study of French history from 1750 to the 1980s. The course provides an overview of the political, social, economic, and cultural history of France from the late eighteenth to the late twentieth century. The course will address a variety of themes from the standpoint of France's place in European history as a whole but also in terms of the uniqueness of the French experience. Some of the themes covered by the course will include: France's revolutionary tradition; the development of a democratic society; the French pattern of gradual industrialization; the persistence of the French peasantry; the socialist movement and syndicalism; the evolution of the radical right; imperialism; French communism; intellectual movements in literature, philosophy and the arts; France and Europe in the post-war period; women in French society; and the role of minorities in France. The course will also examine the ways in which these themes relate to issues confronting contemporary France. 3 credits.
      An exploration of the position of women in Modern Europe from 1750 to the present. The course focuses around the tensions between women's difference and demands for equal treatment as this theme has played out through history. The course will begin with a discussion of gender in history and then proceed to examination of women in pre- industrial Europe, the French Revolution, the industrial revolution, nineteenth-century reform movements, feminism and the suffrage movement. Twentieth century themes include the "new" woman, women in communist Russia and under the fascist regimes, the impact of two world wars on women's roles, the welfare state, and finally, contemporary feminism. Writing process. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits
      How the old republican ideal of a virtuous agrarian society struggled to confront the new age of economic modernization, social diversity and sectional tension. Writing intensive. 3 credits.
      This course incorporates a variety of approaches to working class studies: historical, sociological, cultural, and political. Students will learn about the origins of the modern working class in both 16th century Europe and the slave colonies of the Caribbean. They will also learn about the history and current practice of the labor movement; the different ways workers have organized politically in the past and present; the role of race, gender, national origin, and skill in organizing labor markets and workers' identities; the depiction of workers in the mass media, particularly film. The primary focus of the class will be on the US, but some comparisons to other countries will be made to help highlight what is specifically American about our class system. 3 credits.
      An analysis of American military institutions from Old World tradition to the post-Persian Gulf era with emphasis on the U.S. Army. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.
      An introduction to the main political, social, economic and intellectual developments in twentieth-century Europe. The major themes of the course include the experience of the two world wars; the development of fascist and communist regimes under Lenin and Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler; the weakness of the western democracies after World War I; the Holocaust; the Cold War; the Communist Bloc; the end to colonialism; the European Union; the development of the welfare state, and the new nationalism. Writing process. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.
      This course will explore the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. It will include an examination of the role religion played in the founding vision of our nation's democracy, as well as the important separation between church and state that has been achieved over the course of our nation's history. With this historical backdrop in mind, special emphasis will then be given to the ascendancy of the religious right in recent electoral politics. 3 credits.
    • Area 2: Social Science
      Courses establish and explore patterns of human culture and social organization including international aspects of the world by examining the relationships among individuals and the structures and processes of societies. They draw on the theories and methodological approaches used in the social sciences and prepare students to evaluate, integrate, and communicate information and issues related to human behavior.
      This course examines how individuals and firms make choices within the institutions of free- market capitalism. Individuals decide how much of their time to spend working and what to buy with the earnings of their labor. Firms decide how much to produce and in some cases what price to charge for their goods. Together these choices determine what is produced, how it is produced and for whom it is produced in our economic system. 3 credits.
      This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variable of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Prerequisite: ECN 101. 3 credits.
      This course is designed as a broadly-based introduction to the discipline of political science. It will acquaint students with the concepts, structures, trends, and belief systems that form the basis of political activity throughout the world. Those taking the course will leave with an enhanced understanding of - if not appreciation for - the multiple ideologies, institutions, issues, and actors that shape and drive politics. 3 credits.
      This course provides a survey of key developments, institutions, and issues in American politics. Topics include the ideas that shaped the original American political system, the presidency; Congress and federal courts; the operation of political parties and interest groups; domestic and foreign policy debates; and contemporary issues such as civil rights and affirmative action.
      This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with respect to the structure and functions of the constitutional system (judicial, legislative and executive power and federalism). There is a particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Prerequisites: sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. PSC 110 strongly recommended. 3 credits.
      This course is designed to introduce students to the study of international relations. The course hinges on a series of questions: Who are the principal actors in the international system? What are the theoretical ways of discerning why these actors do what they do? How has the international system evolved into its present form? What are the central issues confronting the international system? Topics addressed include weapons of mass destruction, ecology, terrorism, political economy, development, and dependency. 3 credits.
      This course describes the public policy process and analyzes various areas of substantive domestic policy at the national level. Topics covered include budgeting and taxation, education, health, welfare, and the environment. Prerequisites sophomore standing and PSC 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.
      The course will examine all areas in which contemporary U.S. Security Policy is formulated and implemented. The overall goal of the course is for students to develop their abilities to interrelate the concepts and substance of U.S. security. Writing Process. 3 credits.
      Governmental institutions, characteristics of state and local political systems and the major inter-governmental problems in state and local relations with federal government. Prerequisites: sophomore standing and PSC 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.
      An introduction to the sociological perspective with a focus on how individual behavior is shaped by the social context. The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life are examined from a perspective known as the "sociological imagination". Topics range from the influence of culture on human behavior, the development of the self, group dynamics, deviance, population, and social inequality. 3 credits.
      Introduction to both physical and cultural anthropology including human evolution, human variation, and cross-cultural analysis and comparison. 3 credits.
      Contemporary social problems are examined from a constructionist perspective. Topics selected for study vary according to societal trends but typically include an examination of social change, poverty, globalization, environmental degradation, deviance, and health. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
      An overview of family focusing on family structure and interaction. Diverse topics range from sexuality and love, mate selection and dating, parenting, dysfunctional families, and divorce. A historical and cross-cultural approach is employed in addition to a sociological approach. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
      Introduction to the study of aging from a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics include biology of aging, demographic trends in aging, amd aging impacts on social institutions and society. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
      Study of human sexuality from psychosocial and cultural perspectives. The course will include an examination of such topics as developmental sexuality, gender roles, sexual communication, sexual orientation, coercive sex, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and religious and ethical perspectives on sexuality. Prerequisite: SOC 110. 3 credits.
  • Group II: Natural Sciences (1 in each area and no more than 3 in any group)

    • Area 3: Natural Science
      Courses present findings, concepts, and theories of science, develop an understanding of scientfic methods of inquiry, engage students directly in the practice of science, and prepare students to think critically about scientific issues.
      The human organism is utilized as the primary focus to elucidate physiological principles for non-science majors. Topics include nutrition, homeostasis, major organ systems, immunity, and exercise phisiology. Laboratory exercises include sensory physiology, respiration, blood pressure, exercise physiology and ECG. 4 credits.
      This course is intended for the non-science major. Although the major emphasis of this course is on the inheritance of traits in humans, topics ranging from basic cell reproduction through gamete production and early developmental stages are covered also. Classical genetics, in both humans and other organisms, including both chromosomal and gene genetics, as well as population genetics, molecular genetics and application of genetics to biotechnology and genetic engineering are discussed. The laboratory is intended to give the student "hands-on" experience in making observations, performing experiments and working with scientific equipment. Topics to be covered in the laboratory include studying prepared slides, performing genetic crosses, activating genes in bacteria, isolating DNA and learning about DNA fingerprinting. 4 credits
      Designed for non-science majors, the course serves as an introduction to ecological principles and their applications to understanding the causes and current status of environmental problems. Options for dealing with these problems are evaluated. Possible topics for discussion are overpopulation, food and water resources, ozone depletion, global warming, deforestation, acid rain, biodiversity, erosion, loss of wetlands, energy sources, pollution, eutrophication and waste disposal. Laboratory exercises are designed to illustrate ecological concepts presented in lecture. 4 credits.
      A rigorous study of basic biological principles, which is designed for science majors. Topics emphasized include cell biology, genetics, taxonomy, histology, and evolution. Must be taken concurrently with BIO 113. 3 credits.
      This course, also rigorous and designed for science majors, covers concepts in physiology, botany, embryology, and ecology. Must be taken concurrently with BIO 114. 3 credits.
      Laboratory exercises include enzyme kinetics, carbohydrate analysis, isolation and identification of plant pigments, microscopy, and histological techniques. Must be taken concurrently with Biology 111. 1 credit.
      Laboratory exercises include shark anatomy, invertebrate dissections, animal development, plant development in angiosperms, Stomate response to environmental changes, animal taxonomy, and an ecological field study. Must be taken concurrently with BIO 112. 1 credit.
      An introduction to the principles of chemistry including mathematical tools, atomic structure, stoichiometry, elementary concepts of equilibrium, bonding and organic chemistry. Intended for non- science majors. Laboratory experience included. 4 credits. Students who have received credit for CHM 111 may not take CHM 100.
      An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry of permission. 3 credits.
      A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry or permission. 3 credits.
      Laboratory course to accompany 111. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to intrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 111. 1 credit.
      Laboratory course to accompany CHM 112. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electro- chemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to instrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 112. 1 credit.
      An introduction to the dynamic Earth and the interrelations of both the internal and external processes which shape it. This course offers an overview of the history and evolution of Earth in the context of plate tectonics. It explores the nature of volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building processes, weathering, erosion, and the various origins and compositions of Earth materials. Opportunities for hands-on inquiry are provided for the student in both the laboratory and in the field. 4 credits.
      An introduction to the forces that shape the solar system and the universe as well as the tools used to observe them. It presents a comprehensive review of the modern scientific view of the physical universe. Topics include the history of astronomy, astronomical technology, and the structure and evolution of astrophysical systems including the solar system, Sun, other stars, and galaxies. Laboratory work is required. 4 credits. {Cross listed as PHY 120.}
      A course that acquaints the student with some of the important concepts of physics, both classical and modern, and with the scientific method, its nature and its limitations. The role of physics in the history of thought and its relationships to other disciplines and to society and government are considered. The weekly two-hour laboratory period provides experience in the acquisition, representation and analysis of experimental data and demonstration of the physical phenomena with which the course deals. 4 credits.
      An introduction to the fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics and atomic and nuclear structure with laboratory work in each area. Emphasis and applications appropriate for music recording technology majors. 4 credits.
      A continuation of the introduction to the fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure with laboratory work in each area. Emphasis and applications appropriate for music recording technology majors. 4 credits.
      An introduction to the fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. 4 credits.
      A continuation of PHY 103. Fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. 4 credits.
      An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The first semester is devoted to mechanics and heat with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
      Second semester of Principles of Physics. An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The second semester is devoted to electricity, magnetism and optics with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite or corequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
      An introduction to the forces that shape the solar system and the universe as well as the tools used to observe them. It presents a comprehensive review of the modern scientific view of the physical universe. Topics include the history of astronomy, astronomical technology, and the structure and evolution of astrophysical systems including the solar system. Sun, other stars and galaxies. Laboratory work required. 4 credits. {Cross listed as ESS 120.}
      An introduction to psychology as a science, emphasizing laboratory research. Students complete literature reviews, design and conduct a psychological experiment, perform data analysis and interpretation, and review scientific ethics. In addition, subdisciplines of psychology, and methodology specific to each, are explored. Writing process. 4 credits.
      The study of scientific principles and experiments applicable to a person's everyday experiences. Student projects are selected from the areas of biology, chemistry, and physics. The course is open to all students and is appropriate for those intending to teach elementary school. Laboratory experience included. 4 credits.
    • Area 4: Mathematics
      Courses introduce pivotal mathematical ideas, abstract mathematical constructs, and mathematical applications. They make students aware of the powers and limitations of mathematics and emphasize the role of mathematics in our society.
      A study of a variety of topics in mathematics. Many introduce 20th century mathematics and most do not appear in the secondary school curriculum. 3 credits.
      A calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Prerequisite: placement testing or MAS 102. Corequisite; MAS 113. 4 credits.
      Second semester of a calculus sequence for department majors and other students desiring a rigorous introduction to elementary calculus. Prerequisite: MAS 111. Corequisite: MAS 114. 4 credits.
      Introduction to mathematical techniques used in quantitative analysis in business and economics. Topics include sets, linear relations, matrices, linear programming, probability and interest. 3 credits.
      A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. Prerequisite: placement testing or MAS 102. MAS 161 is a prerequisite for MAS 162. 3 credits per semester.
      Second semester of a calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and infinite sets. Prerequisite: MAS 161. 3 credits.
      An introduction to elementary descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding. 3 credits. A student may not receive credit for MAS 170 after completing MAS 372. A student may not receive credit for both MAS 170 and MAS 270.
      A more advanced version of MAS 170 intended for students with some calculus background. Similar to MAS 170 with more extensive content. 3 credits. A student may not receive credit for both MAS 170 and MAS 270.
  • Group III: Humanities (1 in each area and no more than 3 in any group)

    • Area 5: Literature and Fine Arts
      Courses acquaint students with significant works of artistic expression and with their historical and cultural contexts. They help them analyze and broaden their understanding of works of art, music and literature and seek both to extend their aesthetic experience and enhance the quality of their critical judgment.
      A historical survey of American music emphasizing stylistic developments and illustrative musical examples from colonial times to the present. Includes American musical theater, jazz, folk and popular styles. 3 credits.
      An introduction to American art from 1650 to the present day. The course offers a critical grounding in selected themes, with an emphasis on cultural history and stylistic change. Includes painting, architecture, film, photography and sculpture. [Cross-listed with ART 330] 3 credits.
      Addressing the basic question "What is art?" this course explores the physical, perceptual and philosophical elements of visual art and architecture. Materials and methods, the role of artists, cultural ideals and changing ideas of beauty are studied as the basis for looking at, and discussing, art throughout the ages. 3 credits.
      Using traditional methods in a variety of media, this essential studio course explores drawing as a way of seeing and recording visual information from the world around us. Principles of composition and explorations of personal expression are also introduced. 3 credits.
      An introduction to art and architecture in its historical and cultural context from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia and the pyramids of dynastic Egypt to the temples of ancient Greece and Rome, the mosaics of Byzantium and the illuminated manuscripts and soaring cathedrals of medieval Europe. Attention is paid to skills in critical description and visual analysis. 3 credits.
      Using art-historical examples, this course introduces the physical and visual properties of paint. Through a variety of projects, students explore the expressive potential of this medium and learn basic techniques of professional studio practice, such as constructing a painting support and working safely with paint. Prerequisite: ART 105 or permission. 3 credits.
      Focusing on the late thirteenth to the end of the sixteenth century, this course offers a comprehensive survey of the major monuments, themes and developments of Renaissance art in Europe. Works by Giotto, Van Eyck, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Durer, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, among others, are examined. Particular attention is paid to the antique tradition in the arts, development of the professional artist, church patronage, and the development of modern political and economic systems. Prerequisites: ART 100 or ART 112 or ART 212. Writing process. 3 credits.
      This course uncovers the roots of modernism by tracing patterns of change in the art of France, Spain, England, and the German states from the 1780s to the 1860s. Painting and sculpture are examined in the context of political unrest, urban and industrial expansion, colonialism, the lure of the Orient, new criticism and the burgeoning art market. Artists include David, Goya, Friedrich, Constable and Courbet. Prerequisites: ART 112 or ART 212. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A survey of ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture, highlighting major stylistic phases, monuments and objects of art from the Greek Archaic period to the fall of Rome. The cultural, philosophical, political and economic contexts from which Greek and Roman art emerged, and classical revivals in post-medieval Europe and in America, are also explored. Prerequisite: ART 100 or ART 112. 3 credits.
      This course surveys painting, sculpture and architecture in a social, political and cultural context in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Italy. The work of the Carracci, Caravaggio, Bernini and Borromini will be examined. Students explore such issues as patronage by private citizens, nobles, and popes; the interconnection of art and religion; the classical tradition; and art and architectural theory. Prerequisites: ART 112 or ART 213. 3 credits.
      An introduction to the art of the Low Countries and France, including the work of Rubens, Rembrandt, and Vermeer; the French Caravaggisti, Poussin, Claude, Watteau and Boucher. Particular attention is paid to questions of stylistic, geographical and political difference and to the social circumstances in which works were produced, viewed and sold. Prerequisite: ART 112 or ART 212. 3 credits.
      An examination of the origins, making and meaning of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the context of momentous social and economic change in nineteenth-century France. Artists include Manet, Degas, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Particular attention is paid to artist training; the exhibition, sale and collection of art; and new choices of subject matter. A variety of reading assignments takes particular account of different critical approaches to this field of study. Prerequisite: ART 100 or ART 212. 3 credits.
      An overview of modern and postmodern art from the 1890s to the present, including important stylistic movements such as Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and a number of postmodern approaches since 1960. The focus will be on the ideas, works and critical reception of specific artists, widened to include issues of race and gender and related developments in politics and literature. Prerequisite: ART 212. 3 credits.
      An introduction to American art from 1650 to the present day. The course offers a critical grounding in selected themes, with an emphasis on cultural history and stylistic change. Includes painting, architecture, film, photography and sculpture. [Cross-listed with AMS 331]. 3 credits.
      An examination of the impact of Eastern culture, aesthetics, and formal design on Western art and architecture, from the Hellenistic Greek embrace of Persian and Indian motifs to the intersection of Iberian art and the oeuvre of Picasso. The presence of Western motifs in Japanese art in the nineteenth century is also explored. Attention is given to Western historical conceptions of "otherness" and to the limitations of Western critical approaches to art history. Prerequisite: ART 100 or ART 212. 3 credits.
      This course investigates the art, culture and architecture of Rome from the pre-Republican era to the twentieth century. Organized thematically and chronologically, the course considers such topics as: images of authority (Republican & Empire); subterranean Rome: the catacombs; the path of the medieval pilgrim; antiquity and its reinterpretations in the Renaissance; the papacy and urban planning in Counter-Reformation Rome; the Grand Tour; and Mussolini and fascist architecture. Prerequisite: ART 112 or ART 212. 3 credits.
      From classic novels and poetry, to popular fiction, to hypertext/media, participants will explore how the art of storytelling changes with the medium in which the story is told. This course first focuses on close reading and analysis of literature, and then explores the aesthetic and theoretical implications and opportunities of hypertext/media, which has created a rich new platform for the creation of literary and artistic works. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. This course fulfills an English 390 (Literature) requirement. It also meets an L5 requirement in the General Education Program. 3 credits.
      An introduction to literary genres and to the basic methodology, terminology and concepts of the study of literature. Usually offered every semester. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major American authors from the colonial period to about 1900. Writing process. Usually offered fall semester. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major American authors from about 1900 to the present. Writing process. Usually offered spring semester. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major English authors from the Middle Ages to about 1800. Writing process. Usually offered alternate spring semesters. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major English authors from about 1800 to the present. Writing process. Usually offered alternate spring semesters. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major writers from earliest literate hisory to about A.D. 1000. This includes literature from western Europe and non-western cultures. Usually offered fall semester. 3 credits
      A survey of selected major writers from about A.D. 1000 to about 1800. This course includes literature from western Europe and non-western cultures. Usually offered spring semester. 3 credits.
      A survey of selected major writers from about 1800 to the persent. The course includes literature from Europe and Russia, as well as non-western cultures. Usually offered fall semester. 3 credits.
      From classic novels and poetry, to popular fiction, to hypertext/media, participants will explore how the art of storytelling changes with the medium in which the story is told. This course first focuses on close reading and analysis of literature, and then explores the aesthetic and theoretical implications and opportunities of hypertext/media, which has created a rich new platform for the creation of literary and artistic works. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. This course fulfills an English 390 (Literature) requirement. It also meets an L5 requirement in the General Education Program. 3 credits.
      A study of medieval French literature to 1600. Works from the medieval epic and courtly romance through Renaissance philosophical essays. Development of advanced communicative skills through literature will be promoted. Prerequisite: FRN 300 or 310 or permission. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of the spirit and principal authors of French Classicism (with a special emphasis on the theater of Corneille, Racine and Moliere) and the main ideological currents of the 18th century, with a special emphasis on the writers of the Enlightenment and their role in the transition from the old to the new regime (Voltaire, Montesquieu, Diderot, Rosuseau, I'Abbe Prevost, Marivaux). Prerequisite: FRN 202. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of the main ideological and literary currents of the 19th centuries; Romanticism, Realism and Naturalism. Emphasis on the works of Flaubert, Balzac, Zola, Maupassant, Baudeliare, and others. Prerequisite: FRN 202. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of contemporary society as reflected in the literary evolution from Proust to the Nouveau Roman and le theatre de l'Absurde. Such writers as Giraudoux, Anouilh, Malraux, Sartre, Camus, Ionesco and Becket will be studied. Prerequisite: FRN 300 or 310 or permisson. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of theater and poetry of the 19th and 20th centuries. Prerequisite: FRN 300 or FRN 310 or permission. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A survey of German culture and civilization including history, music, art, literature, and philosophy. Prerequisite: GMN 311 or 316 or permission. 3 credits.
      A study of German song from minnesang to comtemporary rock and hip-hop. Involves both texts and music as appropriate. Prerequisite: GMN 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
      For the non-music major, a survey of Western music designed to increase the individual's musical perception. 3 credits.
      For music minors and non-music majors, an introduction to the rudiments of music: notation, key signatures, theory, aural theory and so forth. 3 credits.
      Designed primarily for the non-music major, the course will focus on genre and period studies. 3 credits.
      A historical survey of U.S. music emphasizing stylistic developments and illustrative musical examples from colonial times to the present. Includes American musical theater, jazz, folk and popular styles. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A survey course in the history of Western music (in the context of world musics of various cultures), with emphasis on stylistic developments and illustrative musical examples, from the classical period to the present. Music core course. 3 credits.
      An advanced course in music history. Beginning with late 19th-century musical developments, the course continues chronologically through the 20th century. Designed for music majors and interested non-music majors who read music well. Prerequisite: MSC 242 or permission of the instructor. Writing Process. 3 credits.
      A study of the outstanding works of the period. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of the major works of the period. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
      Readings from the Enlightenment in Spain and an examination of the major works of romanticism and realism. Prerequisites: SPA 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of the literary movement of the century, starting with the Generation '98 and modernism. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A study of the important writers of the century, with emphasis on recent developments. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or equivalent. Writing process. 3 credits.
    • Area 6: Religion/Philosophy
      Courses introduce major religious or philosophical perspectives, the critical study of value judgments, and the understanding that all judgements and value systems are grounded in particular worldviews. Students are encouraged to examine their own moral commitments as they develop an awareness of and tolerance for other value systems.
      A survey of philosophical thought in the United States from colonial period to present, with emphasis on the work of Peirce, James, and Dewey. 3 credits. (Cross-listed with PHL 222.)
      Examination of major philosophical issues and the ways major philosophers have dealt with them. 3 credits.
      An inquiry into the central problems of values applied to human conduct, with an examination of the responses of major ethical theories to those problems. Writing Process. 3 credits.
      An examination of some of the important philosophical issues, including the ethical and valuational, to be found in the social institutions of politics, law, government and religion. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A survey of philosophical thought in the United States from colonial period to present, with emphasis on the work of Peirce, James, and Dewey. 3 credits. (Cross-listed with AMS 222.)
      A study of the issues raised for philosophy by contemporary religious thought. The course examines such topics as faith and reason; faith and culture; and interpretations of refelation, symbolism and religious language. {Cross-listed as REL 230.} 3 credits.
      An exploration of the many dimensions of religion as a central human experience: self and meaning, religious expression, religious knowledge, religion in its cultural context, and religion and the natural order. 3 credits.
      A study of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament and related literature, including its historical and social context. 3 credits.
      A study of the issues raised for philosophy by contemporary religious thought. The course examines such topics as faith and reason; faith and culture; and interpretations of revelation, symbolism, and religious language. 3 credits. {Cross-listed as PHL 230.}
      An examination of the history of Christianity and the development of Christian thought through the reading and discussion of primary works in Christian theology and philosophy. Writing process. 3 credits.
      A survey of the development of Judaism and its contemporary teachings and practices. 3 credits.
      A study of the historical development, defining issues, and key thinkers and texts of postmodern philosophy and theology. 3 credits. (Cross-listed with PHL 338.)
      This course will be a focused study of many of the main texts, thinkers, and themes in existentialist philosophy and theology. We will see how existentialist thinkers have engaged and reacted to both traditional philosophy and each other in their attempts to locate truth in the concreteness of experience rather than in the realm of ethereal and abstract ideas. This course is cross listed with REL 339. 3 credits.
      Views of God as expressed in a variety of contexts from late antiquity to the early modern period, including Christian and Islamic views, as influenced by Platonism. Topics include proofs for the existence of God, arguments concerning God's nature, the limits of reason and the role of faith in discussing God. 3 credits. {Cross listed as PHL 352.}