Required: 3 credits
The Foundations of the Human World requirement gives students a choice between several courses. These courses are gateways to the disciplines that comprise SHAPE: Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy/Environment. They are offered by the Departments of Social Sciences, Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts, Psychology and Human Factors, as well as the College of Business and College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.
Introduces students to analytical tools to critically observe the visual world. By studying arts media, artists and designers, creative and technical processes, principles of design, as well as major works of art, students will express their own ideas about the visual experience in written and visual form.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
An introduction to economics. The microeconomics portion covers consumer choice, the firm, value and price theory, and distribution theory. The macroeconomics portion covers national income analysis, fiscal policy, money and monetary policy, the commercial banking system, and the Federal Reserve System.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
- Pre-Requisite(s): MA 1020 or MA 1030 or MA 1031 or MA 1032 or MA 1120 or MA 1135(C) or MA 1160(C) or MA 1161(C) or MA 1121(C) or ALEKS Math Placement >= 61 or CEEB Calculus AB >= 2 or CEEB Calculus BC >= 2 or ACT Mathematics >= 22 or SAT MATH SECTION SCORE-M16 >= 540
Developing fluency with consumer financial decisions. Topics include goal setting, budgeting, financial disclosures, interest rate mathematics, funding major purchases, credit and loan matters, savings and investment opportunities, taxation, retirement plans and insurance protection, with an emphasis on evaluating financial alternatives.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
This class will examine the capabilities and limitations of human perception and cognition and the application of theories and principles of human performance to the design.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Introduces the principles and processes of Human-Centered Design as defined by international and professional standards. Students learn how to design systems, products, and services that prioritize human needs, capabilities, and values while promoting ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible design practices.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
Introduces the principles and processes of Human-Centered Design as defined by international and professional standards. Students learn how to design systems, products, and services that prioritize human needs, capabilities, and values while promoting ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible design practices.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore
Focuses on historical origins, cultural adaptations, and contemporary relevance of rhetorical traditions.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Introduction to the study of global Hispanic, Francophone, and Germanic cultures as expressed in film, literature, and language. Emphasis on cultural awareness and understanding of cultural differences. Taught in English.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
Introduction to basic grammar, vocabulary, and idioms, designed to help students acquire the basics of oral and written communication. Includes study of cultures in which the language is spoken.
- Credits: variable to 3.0
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Senior
Further study of grammar, vocabulary, and idioms with emphasis on conversation and communicative strategies. Includes continued study of cultures in which the language is spoken.
- Credits: variable to 3.0
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
- Pre-Requisite(s): HU 2241
Introduction to the basics of the German language, acquainting students with the essentials of oral and written German and introducing cultures and societies of contemporary German-speaking Europe.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Senior
Further study of the basics of the German language acquainting students with the essentials of oral and written German, with emphasis on conversational skills. Includes continued discussion of cultures and societies of contemporary German-speaking Europe.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): HU 2281 or Language Placement German >= 201
Introduction to basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and idioms, designed to help students acquire the basics of oral and written Spanish. Includes study of contemporary Spanish-speaking cultures.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Senior
Further study of basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and idioms with continued practice of conversation and basic readings in Spanish. Continued study of selected Hispanic cultures.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): HU 2291 or Language Placement Spanish >= 131
Intensive review of basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and culture. Designed to prepare students with minimum essentials of oral and written Spanish for intermediate and advanced level work. Students completing this course may apply for placement credit.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): HU 2291 or Language Placement Spanish >= 201
Focuses on critical engagement with cinematic form and its relationship to cultural, historical, and/or theoretical contexts.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-0-3)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
This course provides students with a better understanding of underrepresented populations within the United States by examining the social, cultural, and personal consequences of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, and other significant identities.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Survey of transnational or transatlantic literary traditions, highlighting select historical periods such as Romanticism, and/or movements, such as the Harlem Renaissance.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Uses approaches from humanities disciplines to contextualize and examine scientific and technological developments as well as representations of science and technology. May include the study of literary texts, narrative history, documentary evidence, film, music, popular culture, and cross-cultural references.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
A study of thought representing various traditions such as classical and contemporary philosophy, Eastern and Western religion, and issues in recent science. Some basic concepts of logic are also examined. Emphasizes moral philosophy, including ethical relativism, utilitarianism, and Kantian ethics.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Introduction to everyday reasoning and formal logic. Important goal is to develop skills of argument identification, analysis, and evaluation. Students learn how to symbolize ordinary language statements and arguments and to determine their validity or invalidity using proof and truth-table methods.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
An introduction to the major concepts and theories of normative ethics and metaethics and an examination of a variety of issues in applied ethics including poverty and economic justice, lying and truth-telling, euthanasia, sexual conduct, and issues in communication ethics.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
Introduction to the ways that communication creates and maintains culture. Considers a variety of perspectives on the significance of communication. Explores the importance of communication for understanding culture
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
A survey of theories and perspectives that consider the interrelationship between technology and media and their influence in society. Issues may include infrastructure, diffusion, globalization, aesthetics, ethics, culture, conveyance, and change.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
Overview of key composers, works, styles, and aesthetics in classical music, from Middle Ages plainchant to John Cage's experimental works in the 1940s-60s. Students will find compelling connections between music of the past and today's pop music.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
This course is for students seeking to learn about popular music. The course will examine three aspects of music: the societal and cultural context that produces musical style, the technical construction of music itself, and the resultant ideas that music expresses. To gain a deep understanding of these, the student will listen to and analyze historical musical examples and engage in hands-on work, using software applications to compose and produce songs.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-0-3)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Introduction to the scientific study of psychological structures and processes involved in individual and group behavior. Explores theoretical accounts of the foundations of human behavior and examines empirical support. Topics may include personality, disorders, therapy, development and social psychology, perception, learning, cognition, emotion, and states of consciousness.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Ethics, morality, and privacy issues when working with technology. Topics include: foundational and professional issues in cyber ethics; privacy, security, and crime in cyberspace; intellectual property and internet regulation; the digital divide and online communities; and emerging and converging technologies.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
Sound design of movies is critical to their success because of sounds incredible power over the way we feel. From the music and sound effects in movies, to Zen gardens, to Harley exhaust we explore the ways sound provides a foundational emotional engagement to our experience of the world around us.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Summer
An introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, positionality, and evidence through examples from various periods and times, mainly in American history. Students will examine how history is done, what gets preserved, and explore how it it interpreted, using numerous lenses including narratives, digital history, and material culture.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
Introduction to the field of cultural anthropology with a focus on human diversity, patterns of culture and human organization, globalization, and social change.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Introduction to the methods of archaeology and the contributions of the discipline to understanding of world prehistory. Topics include the ways archaeologists discover and excavate sites, the analysis of archaeological artifacts and features, human evolution, and the patterns of world prehistory.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
This introductory course will explore questions by examining the physical, social, and spatial systems that influence how and where we live, work, and play in the ever-changing industrial and post-industrial city.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring, in odd years
Examines social approaches to understanding why environmental problems happen and how environmental problems are resolved. Includes concepts such as sustainability, market-based environmental policies, property systems, and environmental justice. Case studies may include biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, water quality, and toxics.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
This course introduces students to concepts, problems, and case studies that make up the study of human geography: the spatial differentiation and organization of human activity, environmental sustainability, and the role of space and place in our everyday lives.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
An introduction to core travel and tourism concepts and sustainable tourism practices and policies. Focus will be upon critical comparison of tourism impacts and the conceptualization of their own sustainable tourism experience.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years, Spring, in even years
This broad historical survey will examine the social, political, and economic development of North America and the US from initial human settlement through the civil war.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
This broad historical survey will examine important intellectual, political, and social changes and events in the United States over the course of the twentieth century and beyond, representing the perspective of a wide variety of diverse individuals and groups.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
A survey of the history of Europe from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. Covers political, social, intellectual, religious, economic, and artistic developments on the European continent.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring, in odd years
An introduction to the basic themes and content of world history from antiquity to 1500 CE.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years, Spring, in even years
Survey of world history from 1500 CE to the present. Traces the evolution of different societies from around the world, emphasizing exchanges, interactions, and conflicts that produced global change.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years, Spring, in odd years
Outlines the principles and logic of American Government and politics and explores contemporary issues in national and state government.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Examining the civil and criminal justice system to explain how law informs yet is shaped by political, economic, and social forces. This course covers issues such as individual rights, the jury system, tort law, legal reform movements and constitutional interpretation.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
This course offers a general introduction to American foreign policy formulation and execution. It considers how US foreign policy institutions function to address current foreign policy challenges. The goal of this course is to provide students with the tools for understanding America's place in the world and its foreign relations.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
Study of the government and politics of non-U.S. countries. Covers parliamentary, authoritarian, and presidential systems. Some attention to politics of the European Union.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years, Spring, in even years
Introduces students to the way that sociologists think about different components of society. Topics include the family, religion, markets, organizations, political systems, and educational systems. Also covers the source of individual values, beliefs, and attitudes.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
This course provides a social science overview of issues of race, inequality, and social justice in America. Topics will include the idea of race and the history of race relations, understandings of the economic, political, and cultural causes and consequences of racial inequality, and the study of social movements to address racial inequality.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
Students engage theatre as a phenomenon precipitating experiences affirming life and sparking insight. Exploration of creativity comes through play writing; critical thinking is practiced in analyses of scripts and recorded performances, and learning key moments in theatre history. Aesthetics and production roles are applied through role projects showcasing directing, acting, set, lighting, props, costume, makeup/hair, sound, and dramaturgy.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Explores creation, development and communication of design for theatre, museums, galleries, zoos, community centers, art installations and specialty projects. Students practice collaboration design development, model making, rendering, and hand drafting, as they develop immersive experiences for a variety of venues.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-0-4)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
Through partner exercises and scene work, students practice and develop fundamental acting technique - becoming fully available, listening with the eyes and ears, responding organically with the actor's full range of emotions, and comprehension and application of given circumstances.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall