Offered Courses

This course will explore the foundational parts of the American government and is designed to introduce you to the study of law and the courts as an integral part of the political process in the United States. This course is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of the history and principles of the US Constitution, the structure and function of the various US court systems, the process for selecting judges and justices, how the Supreme Court in particular functions and makes decisions, what factors influence legal decisions, how to interpret Supreme Court decisions, and the ongoing debate on the proper role of the Court in a democratic political system.

Survey of main areas of contemporary psychology.

Introduction to the field of human cognition, surveying methods, concepts, findings; and problems in perception, learning, memory, thinking, problem solving, psycholinguistics, and development.
 

In this course we will be thinking about the ways that race, gender and sexuality structure our social worlds and intimate lives. We will ask what it means to describe these categories as ‘socially constructed’ and consider the mechanisms through which they are produced and reproduced. At the same time we will pay careful attention to the material ways in which power is organized and distributed through these categories. Assuming that these are not ‘natural’ categories we will look at the work that goes into making them appear so, and consider the ways in which their meanings and efficacy change over time. In the latter weeks of the course we will begin to think more about the value and pitfalls of using identity categories as analytical frameworks and organizing platforms. The course is invested in an interdisciplinary approach and as such we will broach these questions by engaging a cross section of academic, literary, popular culture and activist texts. The course is designed to be not only an academic endeavor, but also an attempt to bridge our academic, personal and political investments, as such I encourage you to bring your life experiences and political investments into the course and classroom as a valuable set of knowledges that we will attempt to build upon and challenge.

Examines the development of women's and gender studies as an interdisciplinary field of study; explores the relationship of feminist scholarship to activism; introduces students to basic research techniques.Required for major.

Theory and practice in communication studies with emphasis on receiving, processing, and transmitting information. Particular attention to interpersonal, organizational, and intercultural contexts.

Historical development of mass media institutions and the role of media in society. Particular attention to news, government regulation, effects, economics, emerging technologies, and audience dynamics.

Beginning skills in American Sign Language (ASL) and skills needed in communication with deaf persons.

Beginning skills in American Sign Language (ASL) and skills needed in communication with deaf persons. Must take ASL I in Session I to take ASL II in Session II.

Principles of public speaking; practice in composition, delivery, and criticism of informative, persuasive, and entertaining speeches.

Do you appreciate art but cannot find the words to talk about it? Are there events in paintings or sculpture that you can feel but don’t know how to express? The online course in Art Appreciation is an opportunity to look at many pieces of artwork and to learn “art talk.” Travel around the world on your computer to look at all kinds of fine art. This is not an Art History course. The emphasis is on looking and understanding what you see.

Explore the technical and the creative principles of beginning digital photography. Students will develop their own analytical eye for framing and composing photographs as well as working with their digital camera and basic Photoshop to develop a personal workflow. In addition to readings, audio and visual lessons and feedback will be provided for both the technical and creative components of this class.

Examination of the techniques, materials, and ideas of drawing, with emphasis on discovery, experimentation, and personal expression in relation to concepts and images in art.

Color considered primarily as pigment; some attention given to color as light and an introduction to color printing processes. Approaches to color relationship, theories of organization of color on both scientific and aesthetic levels.

Individualized work that introduces a range of technical and experimental approaches to oils and acrylics. Varied approaches to the problems of structure, shape, and color, and to the development of formal coherence and imagery through individual and group critiques.

This course explores the evolution of dance in musical theater and on Broadway. Course topics will include a historical survey of dance on Broadway; an examination of the reciprocal relationship of Broadway dance to economic and cultural change; and a close look at the power structure and organization of Broadway musicals. The evolution of Broadway dance steps and styles and the contribution of notable dancers will be examined.

This course is an introduction to both the technical and creative elements essential for video editing. In this class through reading and assignments, students will examine the role of video editors in the storytelling process. Students in the class will learn the tools necessary to manipulate existing footage into thoughtful and creative video edits using Adobe Premiere Pro software. Through a series of readings and provided video examples, the students will expand their understanding of editing concepts and storytelling tools. Then they will use that creative knowledge and apply it practically through a series of video editing assignments.

Dance Appreciation is an introduction to dance as an art form, wherein students study the historical, cultural, social, and performative contexts of diverse dance forms. Students engage with aesthetic, theoretical, and scholarly discourses aimed at illuminating how dance functions as a form of communication and personal, aesthetic expression. In addition, students explore the ways in which dance both reflects and comments upon contemporary society. Students develop fundamental dance literacy through critical analysis of dance in live and recorded formats; identify aesthetic concepts and ideas through written and visual media; demonstrate comprehension in their utilization of dance vocabulary and terminology; discuss influential choreographers and genres of dance; and articulate critical conclusions about the reciprocal relationship between dance, the arts, and societal concerns.

Rudiments of music: intervals, scales, key signatures, modes, chords, rhythm, and meter. Development of aural skills. No previous musical experience required.

An introduction to computer music technology with a focus on creative composition projects integrating studies in electronic music theory and history, digital signal processing (DSP), performance practice, and aesthetics.