Summer Term

ANTH 215: Health, Culture, and Disease: An Introduction to Medical Anthropology

ANTH 376/476: Special topics in Anthropology of Health and Illness: Global Harm Reduction Drug Policy and Practices 

BIOL 214: Genes, Evolution and Ecology

BIOL 214L: Genes, Ecology and Evolution Laboratory

BIOL 215: Cells and Proteins

BIOL 216L: Development and Physiology Laboratory

Third in a series of three laboratory courses required of the Biology major. Students will conduct laboratory experiments designed to provide hands-on, empirical laboratory experience in order to better understand the complex interactions governing the basic physiology and development of organisms. Laboratories and discussion sessions offered in alternate weeks. Prereq: (Undergraduate Student and BIOL 214L or BIOL 222L) and Prereq or Coreq: BIOL 216 or Requisites Not Met permission.

BIOL 216L: Development and Physiology Laboratory

BIOL 333: The Human Microbiome

This departmental seminar is designed to reveal how the abundant community of human-associated microorganisms influence human development, physiology, immunity and nutrition. Using a survey of current literature, this discussion-based course will emphasize an understanding of the complexity and dynamics of human/microbiome interactions and the influence of environment, genetics and individual life histories on the microbiome and human health. Grades will be based on participation, written assignments, exams, an oral presentation and a final paper. This class is offered as a SAGES Departmental Seminar and fulfills an Organismal breadth requirement of the BA and BS in Biology. Counts as a SAGES Departmental Seminar course. Prereq: (Undergraduate Student and BIOL 214 and BIOL 216) or Requisites Not Met Permission.

BIOL 336: Aquatic Biology

Physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of lake ecosystems. Factors governing the distribution, abundance, and diversity of freshwater organisms. This course satisfies the Population Biology/Ecology breadth requirement of the B.A. and B.S. in Biology. Offered as BIOL 336 and BIOL 436. Prereq: Undergraduate Student and BIOL 214 or Requisites Not Met permission.

CHIN 350/350D: China and Green Cultural Transformation

Taught in Chinese, this course aims at enhancing the students’ proficiency in listening to, speaking, reading and writing Chinese at the intermediate and higher levels. As a content-driven course, it introduces students to the recent major green culture movements in China, focusing on the way the green cultural changes took place in relation to globalization, environment and climate protection, technology innovation, income redistribution, domestic consumption, and education, to meet the challenges of financial crisis, climate change, energy insecurity, and international competition. At the end of the semester, the students are expected to be able to understand readings and audiovisual materials, as well as communicate and present orally and in written formats green cultural issues covered in the course. Students who take CHIN350 are not allowed to earn credit for CHIN350D (Department Seminar), vice versa. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Prereq: CHIN 301.

ENGL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.

HSTY 270: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.

HSTY 294: History of Nature

What is nature, and what counts as natural? This course will examine the complicated and varied historical relationships between people and the natural world in the west. Like humans, nature, too, has a history, and its meanings, boundaries, and uses have changed dramatically over time. By studying those changes, we gain insight not merely into the world we inhabit and the ways that we have shaped it, for better or worse, but also into ourselves–our beliefs, values, and ambitions. The course will cover approaches to nature from the ancient Greeks to the modern anthropocene. We will look at how nature has been understood over time not only through texts but also through art, objects, and film. The course will include visits to various local sites in order for us to pursue these themes in a hands-on way.

IHSC 300: Synthesis of Premedical Concepts

This course aims to hone skills necessary to synthesize and integrate knowledge across multiple subject areas, and to assist in preparing for health professional school admission, such as the MCAT. The course is team taught to include faculty expertise in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, psychological sciences and sociology. Critical analysis and reasoning skills will be emphasized. Completion of introductory courses in all subject areas above is strongly recommended before taking this course. MCAT materials from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) will be used to guide and enhance a student’s ability to synthesize across many fields, and increase critical reasoning and analytical competencies.

JAPN 306: Readings in Manga

This course aims to enhance students’ reading skills in Japanese as well as in the other three main areas of language learning (speaking, listening, and writing) through the use of the extensive reading (a.k.a. Graded reading) method with manga in Japanese. In this course, the emphasis is put on acquiring the skill needed to enjoy reading content without translation. Students will review and learn Japanese structures and expressions as well as have the opportunity to explore colloquialisms, speech styles, onomatopoeia, contractions, interjections, and other elements of speech. The class also will incorporate individual reading activities such as oral reading sessions, timed reading, speed reading, and book discussion groups. We will also explore how Japanese scripts such Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, as well as Roman alphabets, are integrated in manga. Our primary textbooks will be manga in Japanese; however, some additional readings in English will be given to students as a point of reference for the course lectures. The classes will primarily be conducted in Japanese. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Prereq: JAPN 202 with a C or higher.

PHIL 222: Science of Happiness

What actually makes us happy? Scientific research shows most of us get this badly wrong. For instance, money is far less important, and embracing negative emotions far more important, than most people realize. When philosophy first got started, it focused on the single most practically important question anyone can ask: How can I live a good life? A recent boom in scientific research is now validating insights from traditions that take this approach of philosophy as a way of life, including ancient greek, eastern & continental schools of philosophy. Open to all students (no pre-requisites), this course combines intellectual inquiry with experiential approaches, blending philosophical insight, evidence-based interventions and cutting-edge science. For instance, students will learn about approaches to emotion regulation and stress resilience all the way from the ancient Stoics to recently published work in psychological science. This course won’t make you happy. It will sometimes make you sad. It will expose you to tools that you can use to improve your physical and psychological well-being, and – most important of all – your sense of purpose in life.

PHIL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.

PORT 300: The Lisbon Experience

A three-week, 3 credit course in Portugal which includes travel to Lisbon and surrounding towns and cities. No knowledge of Portuguese is required, and it is open to students of all disciplines.This course focuses on Portuguese culture (history, religion, cuisine, music, geography, architecture, art). Besides formal lectures by Clara Lipszyc, a great number of the lectures will be taught by experts at site visits to museums, churches, monuments, casas de fado, castles, palaces, historical buildings, archeological sites, and traditional restaurants. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course.

POSC 172: Introduction to International Relations

RLGN 270: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.

SOCI 101: Introduction to Sociology

This course examines the basic principles that underlie how sociologists look at the world: “The Sociological Imagination”. It addresses the basic questions: How is social order possible and how does change occur? The course is designed as a foundation for further study in field of sociology and related disciplines. It introduces the student to the role that culture and social institutions play in modern society and examines important concepts such as socialization, deviance, social control, patterned inequalities and social change. These concepts are discussed in the context of both contemporary and historical social theories. Additionally, the student will be introduced to the methods of inquiry used by practicing sociologists.

SOCI 201: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major. Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Prereq: ENGL 150 or passing letter grade in a 100 level first year seminar in USFS, FSCC, FSNA, FSSO, FSSY, FSTS, FSCS.

SPAN 308: Advanced Spanish in Spain

Three week study-abroad intensive course that takes place in Valladolid, Spain. The course combines the unique advantages of a total immersion environment in Spanish with a classroom curriculum that includes grammar review, conversation practice, and study of relevant cultural issues. The focus of the culture curriculum is the study of Spain’s key historical moments through the city of Valladolid and nearby communities: their literature, visual arts, films, and music. The cultural component is enhanced by visits to historic and cultural sites and museums. Four different one-hour orientation meetings during Spring semester. Counts as a CAS Global & Cultural Diversity course. Prereq: SPAN 202 or equivalent.

SPAN 313: Spanish for Health Professionals

Designed for students who are majoring in, or considering a major in, a health-related field. Focus on the vocabulary and expressions needed for the workplace, task-based practical skills, and grammatical structures. Prereq: SPAN 202 or equivalent.

STAT 201: Basic Statistics for Social and Life Sciences

Designed for undergraduates in the social sciences and life sciences who need to use statistical techniques in their fields. Descriptive statistics, probability models, sampling distributions. Point and confidence interval estimation, hypothesis testing. Elementary regression and analysis of variance. Not for credit toward major or minor in Statistics. Counts as a CAS Quantitative Reasoning course. Counts as a Quantitative Reasoning course.

THTR 207: Our Heroes, Ourselves: Superheroes and Popular Culture

Since the beginning of cinema, audiences have flocked to see larger-than-life superheroes conquer the unconquerable while also teaching us about ourselves and confirming (or challenging) our world view. Beginning with cinematic serials in the 1920s and continuing to the recent Marvel production machine, these films not only depict a hero’s efforts to save the world from disaster again and again, but also trace the development of our popular culture. Issues of violence, nationalism, the presentation and treatment of women, racial stereotypes, and spectacle among other topics can be discussed after viewing each film, providing an opportunity to explore the changing expectations of American audiences and the developing form of contemporary cinema.

WGST 201: Introduction to Gender Studies

This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.