Social and Behavioral Sciences: Course Descriptions

BUS 100 - Intro to Business

An introduction to the role of business in modern society; the functional areas of the business enterprises. Not open to juniors and seniors majoring in business.

FIN 234 - Personal Finance

Analysis of economic factors and personal decisions that affect the individual's financial well-being; topics include financial planning, money management, investments, consumer borrowing, insurance, and retirement and estate planning. Course cannot be used as a finance or general business concentration elective.

CBL 101 - Intro to Community-Based Learning

COMM 105 - Public Speaking

Fundamentals of speech composition, style, and delivery. Practical experience in informative, persuasive, and special occasion speaking. Not for audit.

COMM 107 -Communication & the Humans Condition (DV)

A systematic inquiry into the consequences of how people in diverse cultural groups communicate for self, for others, and for the social worlds in which they live. Must earn a grade of C or higher for credit toward the major.

COMM 108 - Media and Society

Explores the intersection of media with social, economic, historical, and political spheres of contemporary life. Must earn a grade of C or higher for credit toward the major.

COMM 202 - Group Communication

Exploration of various concepts in group communication including group development, climate, problem solving, decision making, and power.

CRMJ - 101 Intro to Criminal Justice

An introduction to the study of agencies and processes involved in the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and juvenile justice. An analysis of the roles and problems within criminal justice agencies in a democratic society.

ECON 101 the American Economy

Provides an overview of the basic economic forces, institutions, and policy governing the U.S. economy. A one-semester survey course for students not intending to major in economics or business management. Not open to students with credit in ECON 120 or 121.

ECON 120 - Principles of Microeconomics

Develops and applies principles and models of demand and supply, consumer behavior, producer behavior, competitive and imperfectly competitive markets, and related contemporary economic policy issues.

ECON 121 - Principles of Macroeconomics

Develops and applies principles and models of economic aggregates such as national income, unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and the monetary system and analyzes monetary and fiscal policy.

ETHN 201 - Ethnic Studies Concepts & Methods (DV)

Key concepts and methodologies of U.S. ethnic studies are examined with particular emphasis on four under-represented groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinas(os) and Native Americans.

ETHN 243 Latinos/as in United States (DV)

Survey of Latina/o groups in the United States; focus on the Latino experience (i.e. immigration, causes and consequences of minority status; current socioeconomic position, racial and ethnic identity). Cross-listed with SOCA 243.

GEOG 101 - Geography of American Ethnicity & Race (DV)

American ethnic and racial patterns from a distinctly geographic perspective. Historical forces shaping the geographical patterns of race and ethnicity as well as contemporary issues in ethnic and race relations including immigration .

GEOG 105 - Intro to Human Geography

An overview of significant themes in human geography including population issues, cultural differences, globalization, languages, politics and foreign affairs, settlement patterns, migration, and economic organization.

GEOG 108 - Culture & Environmental Sustainability

Explores interrelationships of cultural and natural systems, need for sustainability, and how different cultural groups view nature. Varying perspectives on environmentalism and what going green means to different parts of society. Resolving environmental problems and building sustainable futures.

GEOG 110 - Intro to Geography -World Regions

A study of the cultural and physical characteristics of major world regions. How people live in different parts of the world. Globalization, environmentalism, and geographic perspectives on current international issues are emphasized.

HESM 270 - Lifetime Wellness

Provide the necessary knowledge and skills to develop a personal fitness/wellness program and to achieve greater lifelong health and wellness. Learn and develop a personal fitness program using individually selected lab techniques to measure and evaluate personal fitness parameters. Participants engage in a pre-assessment/ orientation session during the first week of classes and complete a post-assessment session at the end of the semester.

HESM 271 - Lifetime Wellness Lab

Provide the necessary knowledge and skills to develop a personal fitness/wellness program and to achieve greater lifelong health and wellness. Learn and develop a personal fitness program using individually selected lab techniques to measure and evaluate personal fitness parameters. Participants engage in a pre-assessment/ orientation session during the first week of classes and complete a post-assessment session at the end of the semester.

HESM 282 - Issues & Ethics in Sports Management

A study of ethical and behavioral issues as they relate to current issues and problems in sport management. Topics include college, youth and professional sport, academic standards, eligibility criteria, sportsmanship, gamesmanship, gambling, diversity, media, athletes as role models, and solving ethical dilemmas confronting professionals in sport management.

HIST 101 - United States Origins to Reconstruction

Analyzes the social, economic, ethnic, cultural and political development of the United States from its Native American origins to the end of post-Civil War Reconstruction.

HIST 102 - United States Reconstruction to Present

Analyzes the historical development of the United States from the end of Reconstruction to the recent past, with emphasis on its emergence as a modern industrial society and a world power.

HIST 119 - Europe, 1300 - 1815

Surveys the political, religious, social and cultural changes in Europe which gave rise to the modern world.

HIST 128 - World History, 1800 to the Present

The growth of European global domination from the industrial revolution through World War II; the subsequent superpower rivalry and its consequences; and recent independence movements in the developing world.

INTS 100 - Intro to International Studies

The course is intended as a broad introduction to the increasing international impact at the state, community and individual levels. Its objectives include developing practical orientations toward the international experience, such as language and cultural appreciation, social and political tolerance, and environmental adaptation.

INTS 210 - Cultural Anthropology

Basic theoretical concepts and an analysis of cultural systems and social institutions in a cross-cultural frame of reference. Cross-listed with SOCA 202.

INTS 226 - Peoples of Africa

A survey of the societies and cultures of Africa. Discusses history, cultural variation, and contemporary social change. Cross-listed with SOCA 226.

INTS 268 - Literature of the Holocaust

Overview of historical, philosophical and other issues surrounding the Holocaust, using texts by those who experienced the Holocaust. Cross-listed with ENGL 268/HIST 268.

ISTD 200 - Intro to Leadership

This course is designed to introduce students to the principles of leadership from an interdisciplinary theoretical perspective and then give them the opportunity to practice some of those principles. It will also introduce skills, such as self-assessment, communication strategies, understanding group dynamics and working in coalitions, setting goals while remaining flexible, and managing conflict, which will be developed more fully in subsequent courses and in the practicum.

POLS 100 - American Politics

The institutions, processes and dynamics of the American governmental system. Special emphasis is placed on problems of policy making in a pluralistic democratic system.

POLS 103 - Intro to Comparative Politics

Introduction to comparative governments with selected examples from the developed and developing world. Structural and functional evaluation of comparative performance in areas of political systems, economic programs, social equality and quality of life.

POLS 104 - Intro to International Relations

Historical development of the international political system, basic foreign policy analysis, conflict and cooperation among nation states and emphasis on current issues in international systems (terrorism, arms races/arms control, ecology).

POLS 105 - Political Beliefs

Introduction to liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, fundamentalism, and concepts of liberation. Discussion of the current political uses of these ideas.

POLS 203 - Women, Power and Politics

Examination of the environmental, systematic and political variables that define the existing and potential political position of women in a variety of international cultures. Cross-listed with WOMS 203.

PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychological Science

An overview of the major areas of study in psychology. Includes research findings, scientific theories, controversies, methods and applications.

SOCA 100 - Intro to Anthropology

A survey of human evolution and culture. Introduces the subfields within anthropology: physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology and linguistics.

SOCA 101 - Intro to Sociology

Sociology as a special field of behavioral science, examines social relations, social organization and social systems through the study of process, structure, and function.

SOCA 206 - Race & Ethnic Relations in the U.S. (DV)

Introduction to the formation and dynamics of ethnic and race relations in the United States and their social consequences in terms of the categorization of people and the distribution of their life chances.

SOCA 207 - Marriage and Family

Nature and functions of the family; cross cultural and/or life course comparisons of marriage and family arrangements; gender role training; premarital and marital social and sexual activities, power dynamics, and other family processes.

SOCA 208 - Intro to Archaeology

Concepts and methods for the scientific study of prehistoric cultures. Discussion of field methods, laboratory analysis, archaeological theory, and major trends in world prehistory.

WOMS 110 - Intro to Women's and Gender Studies

This course introduces students to the field of women's studies, its theoretical and methodological bases, and the challenges it creates for other academic disciplines. It emphasizes the diversity among women including diversity in race and ethnicity, sexual preferences, physical abilities, etc.

WOMS 213 - Gender and Society

Overview of theory and research on gender roles and gender stratification, focusing on political, economic, family and other settings; historical, cross cultural and sub-cultural comparisons. Cross-listed with SOCA 213.