Fall 2020 Course Descriptions
- Topics include design and use of spreadsheets to solve problems using formulas, charts and data functions. Credit does not count towards the COS major. This course assumes practical skills with the Windows operating system.
- An introduction to classical ballet dance training. Traditional exercises at the barre and on center floor emphasize body placement, flow of energy, and the creation of expressive movement in space. For the performing artist or general student. May be repeated for credit.
- Fundamentals of jazz dance technique with emphasis on body alignment, coordination and movement vocabulary. Preparation for expressive movement in relation to modern jazz music. May be repeated for credit.
- Teaches the fundamentals of Rhythm tap and Broadway Styles technique with emphasis on body alignment, flexibility, strength, rhythm, coordination and movement vocabulary. Expressive movement is encouraged. May be repeated for credit.
- From swing to salsa and waltz to tango, basic social and Latin dance, with emphasis on alignment, coordination, and movement vocabulary. Additional exposure to Afro-Caribbean roots of today’s dance forms. May be repeated for credit.
- Study of the principles and elements of choreography. Provides guided practice in the construction of movement phrases, and studies for solo and group dances. Includes an informal studio presentation of student pieces.
- A study of earth materials and processes, including their impact on humans. Topics include mineralogy, formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, geologic time, weathering and soil formation, glaciation, deserts and desertification, coastlines, earthquakes and seismology, and evolution of mountain belts and plate tectonics. Laboratory work includes the study of rocks, minerals, topographic maps and aerial photographs in preparation for a one-day weekend field trip to Acadia National Park.
- Environmental Geology explores the interaction of humans with the Earth’s systems. The course begins with discussions of earth materials and human population dynamics. The science underlying geologic hazards (earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc.) is described and the interaction between geologic hazards and humans is explored. Human impacts on earth systems are identified and evaluated with a focus on pollution and climate change. Sources of energy used by humans and the associated environmental consequences of different energy sources are discussed. May include a one day field trip.
- Explores how Earth’s dynamic processes interact with humans by evaluating: the interplay between Earth’s interior, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere; the effects and underlying causes of natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves and global warming; Earth’s economic and energy resources how they form and how long they will lasts; and the global environment and how best to interact with it. Lec 3.
- Explores how Earth’s climate system works and how past environmental changes affected humans on time scales ranging from interannual to hundreds of thousands of years. Topics will range from the development of agriculture at the beginning of the current interglaciation to how humans are now changing global climate through the addition of greenhouses gases to the atmosphere.
- Explores the Earth Science concepts that underlie energy, energy sources, energy distribution and flow, and the role of energy in climate. We will consider the ways in which society interacts with and extracts energy from the Earth System, the energy balance of Earth and the climate implications of energy use, and gain an understanding of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Principles of microeconomics and their application to economic issues and problems. Analysis of the economic decision-making of individuals and firms; markets and pricing; monopoly power; income distribution; the role of government intervention in markets.
- Principles of macroeconomics and their application to modern economic issues and problems. Analysis of national income and employment; fluctuations in national income; monetary and fiscal policy; control of inflation, unemployment, and growth; and international aspects of macroeconomic performance.
- Reviews current global resources focusing primarily upon food production and population, and environmental problems relating to food production and distribution. World trade and world trade policy are considered with primary emphasis on food. Other topics include world trade liberalization, genetically modified foods and comparative agricultural systems.
- This course provides intense practice with habits of reading, writing, thinking, and revising essential to postsecondary academic work. Designed for students who want to create a strong foundation for themselves in academic reading and writing. Available only during fall semester. Students who complete ENG 100 move on to ENG 106 during the spring semester. Students will not earn credit or grades for completing both ENG 101 and either course in the College Composition Stretch Sequence, ENG 100 and ENG 106. Students must complete both ENG 100 and ENG 106 with a minimum grade of C or better in each course to satisfy the General Education College Composition requirement. Neither course taken alone will satisfy this requirement.
- Students practice the ways in which writing serves to expand, clarify, and order experience and knowledge, with particular attention to persuasive writing. Satisfactory completion of the course depends upon quality of weekly writing assignments as well as demonstration of proficiency in college-level writing.
- Explores the fundamental activity of why and how we create, tell and read/listen to stories. Readings may include selections from folk tale and myth, saga and epic, drama and novel, film and song, poetry and essay–from the ancient world to the modern, from the western cultural tradition and from a variety of other cultures.
- An introduction to the close reading of literature. Students write frequently, exploring how conventions of genre, form, and style work in literature. Required of English majors.
- Offers students experience in writing in three major forms: autobiographical narrative, fiction, and poetry.
- A survey of food and nutrition principles, including the influence of food patterns on health and physical performance; description of a balanced diet; study of the nutrients, interrelationships, sources, effects of processing and storage, food safety, fads, controversies.
- This course is designed to utilize the process of making beer as a model to engage students in thinking about the biology, chemistry and processing aspects of the foods they consume. The course will focus on the process of beer making as well as the ingredients that go into beer and their functions. Other topics will include the history of beer (from world and U.S. perspectives), styles of beer and a beer judge’s perspective of beer.
- Fundamentals of vocabulary for nutritionists and other health professionals. Web-based.
- Introduces students to the major world cultural regions and their characteristics, development and interaction. It focuses particularly on the relationship between cultural groups and the environment within and between each region. Students will be challenged to acquire factual knowledge of cultural regions necessary for geographic literacy and to critically evaluate explanations of these patterns.
- 101: Elementary Chinese I (CD) – A systematic study of the basics of the Chinese language. Equal emphasis is placed on developing listening, speaking, reading and writing. Culture is also an integral component of this course. This course is the first of the 2-semester sequence.
- 101: Elementary French I (CD)* – A systematic study of the basics of the French language. Equal emphasis is placed on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of French or fewer than two years in high school.
- 201: Intermediate French I (CD) – An integrated approach. Reading texts of a literary and/or cultural nature, and audio-visual materials will be employed to strengthen reading, writing and especially speaking and comprehension skills. Includes a systematic but gradual review of the essentials of French grammar.
- 101: Elementary German I (CD) – The basics of the German language. Emphasis on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of German or fewer than two years in high school.
- 203: Intermediate German I (CD) – An integrated approach. Reading texts as well as various audiovisual materials will be employed to strengthen reading, writing and especially speaking and comprehension skills. Includes a systematic but gradual review of the essentials of German grammar.
- 101: Beginning Modern Hebrew (CD) – A systematic study of the basics of the Hebrew language. Equal emphasis is placed on developing reading, listening comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with minimal or no previous knowledge of Modern Hebrew.
- 101: Elementary Latin I – online course (EL) – Fundamentals of the Latin language.
- 101: Elementary Spanish I (CD)* – A systematic study of the basics of the Spanish language. Equal emphasis on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of Spanish or fewer than two years in high school.
- 102: Elementary Spanish II (CD)* – A continued study of the basics of the Spanish language. Equal emphasis is placed on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of Spanish or fewer than two years in high school.
- 117: Accelerated Spanish I (CD)* – An intensive, systematic study of the Spanish language at the beginning level that provides the equivalent of two semesters of beginning Spanish (SPA 101 and SPA 102) in one semester. For students with no previous study of Spanish or fewer than two years of high school Spanish.
- 203: Intermediate Spanish I (CD)* – An integrated approach. Reading texts as well as other materials will be employed to strengthen reading, writing and especially speaking and comprehension skills. Includes a systematic but gradual review of the essentials of Spanish grammar.
- Rehearsal and performance of standard opera repertory. May be repeated for credit. Lab 3
- Rehearsal and performance of music for the large (16-24) jazz ensemble. Membership through audition. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances required. May be repeated for credit. Applied Music 1.
- The study and performance of chamber music. May be repeated for credit. Lab 2.
- Performs chamber music composed primarily for percussion instruments. May be repeated for credit. Lab 2.
- Rehearsal and performance of men’s choral repertoire. Ensemble with members from campus and community. Short audition used for placement within the ensemble only. Attendance at all rehearsals and public performances required. May be repeated for credit.
- A non-laboratory survey of the broad field of marine science, stresses the interconnections among aspects of oceanography, marine biology and ecology, living marine resources and human interactions with the marine environment. Practical applications of basic scientific principles are stressed.
- Introduces students to various concepts in the field of Peace and Reconciliation Studies. Topics include forms of violence and their relationship to social structure and cultural practices; global militarization and environmental destruction and their impact on human needs; and peace-making and conflict resolution at both micro and macro levels.
- Nonviolence is a cornerstone of Peace and Reconciliation Studies, and a thorough understanding of the history, theory, and practice of the ideas and ethics relating to nonviolence is essential. This interdisciplinary course investigates the development of theories of nonviolence and philosophical, cultural, and religious perspectives on nonviolence. Examples of the practice of nonviolence from across the globe are highlighted, and the skills and tools necessary for the ethical practice of nonviolence and the creation of cultures of peace are investigated. This course is required for the Peace and Reconciliation Studies minor and certificates.
- Examines Eastern and Western views on the environment in terms of spiritual traditions. A major part of the course addresses a new approach to spirituality of nature, called Deep Ecology which includes ecotheology and ecofeminist spirituality.
- Examines a variety of moral problems causing controversy in contemporary society. Focuses on evaluating arguments for and against competing solutions to these problems. Also discusses different philosophical strategies for thinking about moral obligations and relationships. Topics surveyed may include: abortion, affirmative action, euthanasia, feminism, the environment, capital punishment, welfare and aid to the needy, technology, war and racism, among others.
- A study of principles used to distinguish correct from incorrect reasoning including the nature of thought, uses of language, recognition of arguments, informal fallacies, purposes and types of definition, deduction and induction. Emphasis on understanding and mastering through practice some fundamental techniques for testing the soundness of many different kinds of reasoning.
- A critical study of philosophical significance of individual choices and actions involving questions of personal identity, responsibility and authenticity as these themes are developed in existentialist literature. Special attention will be given to existentialist literary techniques.
- An analysis of religion as an expression of human culture past and present. Considers institutional and non-institutional manifestations of religion as conveyed through myth and symbol, religious experience, struggle for societal change, mysticism, and quests for the articulation of human values. Inquiry by various disciplines will be considered, e.g., anthropology, psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, and theology.
- An introduction to the principles of mechanics, energy, heat, sound and properties of matter. Designed for science majors as well as premedical and predental students. No calculus. A working knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is required. NOTE: Because of overlapping subject matter, no more than four (4) degree credits are allowed for any combination of PHY 107, PHY 111 and PHY 121.
- An introductory calculus-based physics course, primarily serving students majoring in engineering or the physical sciences. Treats mechanics and acoustics. NOTE: Because of overlapping subject matter, no more than four (4) degree credits are allowed for any combination of PHY 107, PHY 111 and PHY 121.
- Basics of plant anatomy, morphology, ecology, physiology and taxonomy with examples drawn from common agricultural and horticultural plants are discussed. Labs include hands-on investigations of local plants. Lec 3, Lab 2. Course may include field trips during class hours.
- Basic design principles and examples of environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural systems. Describes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but emphasis will be placed on identifying management practices that a) biologically improve soil structure, organic matter content, and fertility; and b) minimize or eliminate the need for chemical interventions for control of insect pests, pathogens, and weeds. Rec 3.
- Introduces the major principles, structures, processes and policies of United States government. Covers the Constitution and its development, civil liberties, federalism, the role of political parties and interest groups, and the nature of the presidency, the bureaucracy, the Congress and the national courts.
- A study of contemporary international politics focusing on the interaction of nation-states and including a review of the patterns of global politics from World War II to the present.
- An introduction to the fundamental questions of political philosophy–what is justice? how ought we to live our lives? what is the best regime?–through detailed study of a few central books in the history of political thought, such as Plato’s Republic and Machiavelli’s Prince.
- Provides an introduction to the major themes of comparative politics, including: comparative political legacies, processes of modernization, comparative governmental institutions, modern political parties and interest groups, comparative policymaking processes, and problems of establishing and maintaining democratic government.
- Examines the nature and function of law in America, emphasizing its evolution and incorporation as a dynamic social instrument.
- Lecture on and discussions of basic psychological processes, including learning, perception, motivation and emotion, higher mental processes, individual differences, personality and additional selected topics.
- Introduces the fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of sociology, analyzes the influence of social and cultural factors upon human behavior and evaluates effect of group processes, social classes, stratification, and basic institutions on contemporary society.
- The fundamentals of drawing through creative exercises exploring the principles of line, value, texture, space, and form. Examines various media and their relationship to expression and composition. Lab 6.