Introductory Special Topics (190’s and 290’s) Spring 2021

Spring 2021 Offerings

Courses numbered in the 190’s and 290’s focus on a particular topic and are offered only once or twice. These courses are taught at an introductory or intermediate level; specific prerequisites (if any) are noted in the course descriptions.

Please consult WebAdvisor for the days, times, and locations of these sections.

Module 1 – January 19 through February 11, 2021

ENGL 190 M0, Grammar for Writers and Editors
Abbreviated Title: Grammar for Writers & Editors
Credits: 4
An overview of the principles and practice of English grammar. Building up from foundational parts of speech to complex sentence-level mechanics, students explore how grammatical sentences work with an emphasis on developing the skills necessary to diagnose and correct common sentence-level errors that occur across popular, academic, and professional writing.

ENVSC 190 M0, Computer Mapping Technologies
Professor Shaffer
Credits: 4
An introduction to the basic concepts and practical applications of digital mapping technologies. Students learn how to leverage software, methods, and best practices to collect, manipulate, and analyze digital geographic data and maps. Topics include geographic information systems, Google Earth, smartphone mapping, aerial and satellite imagery, and map interpretation. Students will learn how to apply software applications in business, environment, and health studies.

ENVSC 290 M0, Geography of Consumption
Professor Pallant
Credits: 4
A study of products that are manufactured and sold around the world, e.g., coffee, mobile phones, apparel, with special focus on the environmental costs of consumption and the impact on the lives of the people whose jobs depend, for better and for worse, on production. Students will investigate the Life Cycle Analyses of several commodity chains and how production and consumption are related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Prerequisites: ENVSC 110

GHS 290 M0, Global Health Data and Visualization
Professor A. Finaret
Credits: 4
An exploration of publicly available quantitative data related to global health and development from countries around the world. Students learn how to find, organize, and visualize publicly available data, as well as practice database management, merging, documentation, and visualization with an emphasis on understanding the underlying processes by which data are generated by various agencies and organizations. Students investigate the benefits and drawbacks of using publicly available data and gain skills to prepare for independent data analysis.

HIST 190 M0, The Black Death and Its Consequences
Professor Hellwarth
Credits: 4
An exploration of the causes of and responses to the bubonic plague pandemic that ravaged Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to 1353. The Black Death shook the social and religious structures of society and led to radical changes in how the populace of these regions viewed and experienced life. The course will use historical documents, literature, and art to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the changes wrought by the Black Death and other plagues in different contexts. We will also look at the implications of this pandemic for our own time. Assessment will be based on students’ writing and participation in discussion.

RELST 290 M0, Women in Buddhism: Goddesses, Monsters, Temptresses, and Nuns
Abbreviated Title: Women in Buddhism
Professor Mitchell
Credits: 4
An examination of the lives and representations of women and goddesses in Buddhism. Buddhist doctrines and tales have often presented women as goddesses, monsters, lustful temptresses, or celibate nuns. Students examine these ideas while also balancing them with discussions of the lives of and writings by Buddhist women in India, China, Korea, and Japan. In doing so, students explore how women’s lives were limited by these religious proscriptions, and how they were able to bypass them or find inspiration in other aspects of Buddhism. Students discuss the lives of nuns, laywomen, Buddhist feminists, and others in history and contemporary times. 

THTR 290 M0, The History and Cultural Practice of Puppetry in Performance
Abbreviated Title: Puppetry in Performance
Professor Watkins
Credits: 4
A study of the historical and cultural role puppets have played in theatrical storytelling, community education and social movements.  The course includes significant reading and viewing of documentary and theatrical puppet presentations, lecture, discussion and student presentations, and will introduce puppet-making skills.
Prerequisites: THTR 110

Module 2 – February 22 through May 17, 202       

BIO 290 00, Marine Biology
Professor Whitenack
Credits: 4
An introduction to the biology of marine organisms, and the physiological traits and ecological relationships
that influence the marine ecosystem. We consider how the interactions between organisms and their physical
and biological environment (other organisms) affect the distribution and abundance of populations and
ecosystems. We also take a comparative approach to the diversity of physiological systems that have evolved
in different marine organisms to meet the environmental challenges they face (energy, water balance,
reproduction, gas exchange, defense). Multiple lectures and one discussion period per week.

ECON 190 B1, Essential Skills for a Data-Driven World
Professor Bender
Credits: 2
A hands-on practicum on the real-world tools and methods students across all disciplines need to succeed in today’s data-driven world. Through guided in-class exercises, students will learn to identify appropriate data for the question or task at hand, clean and format the data, and assemble multiple datasets. Students will gain experience with Microsoft Excel and Stata, which they can apply in their senior comps, include on their CVs, and demonstrate to potential employers with a completed class assignment. Students will also have the opportunity to use the Bloomberg Terminals, if they choose. This will be taught as a seven-week course.

INTDS 190 00, Introduction to Global Citizen Scholars
 Abbreviated Title: Intro Global Citizen Scholars
Professor Waggett
Credits 2
An introduction to the cohort-related theme of the Global Citizen Scholars program. Students explore the theme through an interdisciplinary evaluation of domestic and international policies, structures, and systems. Students evaluate questions of rights and responsibilities within domestic and international settings, and in the context of diverse beliefs, values, and worldviews. Drawing from a variety of sources, from peer reviewed and policy-based literature to news media articles we analyze how knowledge is developed in this field and how and why various publics may perceive things differently. Emphasis is on developing civic identity and a commitment to finding ways in which they might take action individually and collectively. Students must be Global Citizens Scholars to enroll in this seminar. Signature required.
Must be taken on the letter-grade basis.

LS 190 A1, Cultural Competency
Professor Perez-Johnston
Credits: 1
An exploration of other cultures and of how students’ intersecting identities impact the ways in which they view, interact and navigate college. Discussions include personal perceptions, recognizing and challenging unconscious bias. Students explore how cultural differences can enhance the college experience of people from various backgrounds. This will be taught as a 7-week course.

Must be taken Credit/No Credit Only.
Prerequisites: LS 190, Student Success as a Student of Color

LS 191 B1, 1st Gen Guide to Thriving in the 1st Year II
Professor Perez-Johnston
Credits: 1
A continuation of the module B course LS 191 from Fall 2019, Thriving in the first year as a first-generation college student. Students process their experiences as a first-generation college student, reflect upon the first year and determine what worked and what didn’t. Students define their successes throughout the first year and discuss what to expect and how to make any necessary changes to their current behaviors to continue to achieve success into the second year. This will be taught as a 7-week course.
Must be taken Credit/No Credit Only
Prerequisites: LS 191, Thriving in the First Year as a First-Gen

THTR 190 00, Fashion History for Costume Design
Abbreviated Title: Fashion History
Professor Patterson
Credits: 4
An exploration of how historical fashions are distilled into designs for the stage. Students examine the impact of culture and socio-economic status on modes of dress at different points in history and apply this knowledge to the study of how these markers are processed by costume designers into garments that reflect history in a manner that is relevant for a contemporary audience.