Fall 2026 Strand Course Descriptions
Technology and Innovation (301)
Conflict (302)
Citizenship (303)
Wellness (304)
Sustainability (305)
Technology and Innovation (301)
Elective (ELES 301)
ELES 301-01 (CRN: 51483): “Technology in Art”
MWF 12:00-12:50
Professor Albert
This course provides students with multiple perspectives on how emerging technologies are disrupting arts enterprises, including arts-making, audience engagement, and arts management. From the Internet of Things to Virtual Reality, students will investigate what is happening in the field and what’s on the fringe and about to break into the marketplace. Through readings/viewings, hands-on activities, and individualized research the course provides a breadth of understanding of multiple technologies for students overall. Additionally, each individual student leaves the class with a deeper expertise in at least one or two technologies of their choice. Students will develop their technology skills while creating original art images and graphic design products.
ELES 301-02 (CRN: 51534): “AI, Computing, and Sci Knowledge”
TR 13:30-14:45
Professor Burak Sahin
This course examines how humans and artificial intelligence systems generate, justify, and evaluate knowledge. Beginning with an exploration of the scientific method and the philosophical foundations of knowledge, which are evidence, justification, explanation, and reliability, students will investigate how science produces trustworthy claims about the world. The course then introduces core principles of computing and artificial intelligence, including algorithms, data, modeling, and machine learning, to examine how computational systems detect patterns, make predictions, and generate knowledge. Through case studies in science and technology, students will analyze the similarities and differences between human reasoning and AI-driven systems, with particular attention to prediction versus explanation, bias and uncertainty, and the limits of algorithmic authority.
English (ENGS 301)
ENGS 301-01 (CRN: 50389): “The Future Now: Sci-Fi and Fantasy”
MWF 11:00-11:50
Professor Livingston
This elective investigates the ways in which the genres of Science-Fiction and Fantasy allow us to examine our present while preparing for the future. We will work through a variety of different works, classical and contemporary, to glean a better understanding of this exciting genre of fiction.
As in all classes in the English department, it is intended that through reading, writing, and discussion, students in this course will develop the capacity to better understand and respect the views and concerns of others, especially regarding gender, ethnicity, and religion.
ENGS 301-02 (CRN: 50390) & ENGS 301-03 (CRN: 50721): “AI and Humanity’s Fate”
TR 09:30-10:45, TR 13:30-14:45
Professor Horan
Course description coming soon!
History (HISS 301)
HISS 301-01 (CRN: 50405),HISS 301-02 (CRN: 50410) & HISS 301-04 (CRN: 51050): “Gun & Press in Early Mod. Europe”
MWF 13:00-13:50, MWF 11:00-11:50, & MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Boughan
This course examines the impact on western Europe, in the period 1450-1650, of two transformative technologies: the gun and the printing press. While the press was invented c. 1450 and the gun existed well before that, both technologies only began to realize their revolutionary potential decades later. We will explore how both profoundly altered the warfare, economy, politics, society, and culture and of Early Modern Europe.
This course’s learning objectives are to 1) chart the development of firearms technology in the period 1325-1650 and print technology in the period 1450-1650; 2) situate guns and the press in their economic, political, religious, social, and economic contexts; 3) interpret and analyze primary and secondary sources in the early history of firearms and print; 4) chart the transformative consequences, both tangible and psychological, of these transformative technologies on early modern Europeans.
Natural Science (NTSS 301)
NTSS 301-01 (CRN: 51466): “Global Change Biology”
MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Huynh
This course will investigate issues associated with the response of organisms and ecosystems to global-scale changes in the environment caused by anthropogenic activity. Topics covered will include changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration, particularly CO2 and its impact on the global carbon cycle; global warming and its impact on biological systems; changes to the nitrogen cycle (e.g., how eutrophication affects species and their habitats); habitat modification (e.g., how land use and degradation impacts organisms and ecosystem integrity); invasive species biology; and how species and biological communities are changing with biodiversity loss (e.g., how biodiversity decline can impact the processes of evolution by natural selection and alter ecosystem function). From lecture materials, assigned readings, and in-class discussions, students will become familiar with each of the issues, how different synergies can impact biological systems, the current challenges that pervade and stem from them, and the prospective technological solutions being developed and used to address these challenges. In addition, students will learn how to critically examine and interpret media reports and publications pertaining to each of the aforementioned global change issues and apply the scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills they acquire from this course to evaluate the validity of media outlet reports and coverage, determine if scientific studies are cited correctly, identify knowledge gaps, and how to devise and implement comprehensive solutions as informed and responsible global citizens.
NTSS 301-02 (CRN: 51316): “Making Smart Tech”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Yochum
A number of innovative technologies use a mix of software and hardware to sense and respond to the surrounding world. Example devices include sensor-based toys, kinetic sculpture, low cost scientific instruments, interactive wearables, and Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices. This course is an accessible, project-based introduction to conceiving, designing, and developing interactive sensor-based prototypes. Students will pursue projects based on their interests. Practical hands-on exercises will introduce the fundamentals of circuits, microcontroller programming, sensors, and actuators. No experience needed.
Social Science (SCSS 301)
SCSS 301-01 (CRN: 50886): “Mapping the States”
MWF 12:00-12:50
Professor Prioleau
This course analyzes why location matters and the legal decisions that shape our nation’s geography. Lectures introduce topics, workshops demonstrate how to do the work, and then students apply the lessons by analyzing trends across space and time. The purpose of the course is to understand how early political geographies were established and explore potential innovations to capture what we know about people and the context they live in. How does transportation help us understand connections between places? Has the population of a location changed in ways that impact response times and security? What are the social characteristics that are commonly shared in a community – and can they be measured? The course will also think about the future and how data can inform climate mitigation and adaptation. Upon completion of the course, students will be well versed in how to interpret social trends based on how data are geographically clustered, use geography to reduce errors, and ultimately lead to better informed decisions.
SCSS 301-02 (CRN: 50502) & SCSS 301-03 (CRN: 50503): “Technology & Society “
TR 09:30-10:45, TR 08:00-09:15
Professor Roof
This course examines the basic concepts and principles of technology. A scientific approach to the analysis and explanation of the complex cultural and sociological debates that surround modern technology.
Conflict (302)
Elective (ELES 302)
ELES 302-03 (CRN: 51481): “Global Environmental Change & Security”
MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Doeffinger
Global Environmental Change is reshaping the systems that sustain human societies and, in doing so, transforming patterns of risk, vulnerability, and conflict. This course examines the major issues of global change, including anthropogenic climate change, land use and land cover change, biodiversity issues, environmental pollution, potential global change-related impacts on human health, climate as a driver of migration, and relevant social policies. The course integrates geographic analysis with security studies frameworks to evaluate how states, institutions, and communities assess and respond to environmental risk. For the final project, students will engage with scenario-based analysis to explore how a plausible global change–driven event could impact the Charleston region, assess whether existing local and national policies are prepared to respond, and evaluate how localized environmental shocks may cascade across economic, political, and security systems.
English (ENGS 302)
ENGS 302-01 (CRN: 50391), ENGS 302-02 (CRN: 50392), & ENGS 302-03 (CRN: 50429): “The Literature of War”
TR 8:00-9:15, TR 9:30-10:45, & TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Adair
This class provides a broad overview of the major themes of modern war through a mixture of fictional and non-fictional texts. Although the majority of the works cover the Global War on Terror (GWOT), other classic selections have been woven in to provide evolving perspectives. Subjects covered include training for combat, modern combat, the crippling military bureaucracy, PTSD and other post-combat experiences. Finally, the course hopes to raise awareness of psychological stressors in both the military and civilian world and consider healthy coping techniques.
ENGS 302-04 (CRN: 50722): “War and Crime in Literature and Film”
MWF 09:00-09:50
Professor Heuston
This course is designed to help you hone your skills as a critical viewer and reader who engages with and questions a variety of challenging texts and issues. We will examine printed texts and films from a variety of periods and genres to establish a broad context for our study of war and crime in literature and film. We will deal extensively with different aspects of storytelling and with the ways techniques of filmmaking such as mise en scene, montage, camera movement, and lighting contribute to storytelling in films. We will also compare films and written sources (including critical essays and online materials) to explore differing approaches to storytelling.
ENGS 302-05 (CRN: 50971): “Wrestling with Evil in Literature and Film”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Frame
This course will examine representations of responsibility, courage, friendship, and humility in literature and film. What do we mean by these terms? What can we learn from literary and movie depictions of the human struggle to embody these ideals? What are the benefits to the individual and to society when the fight succeeds? What happens – as it does at least once in each book and film in this course — when it is lost? Students will read one novel and two short novellas and view two films (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Shawshank Redemption).
History (HISS 302)
HISS 302-01 (CRN: 51394): “Romans at War”
TR 09:30-10:45
Professor Maddox
A survey of Roman military history from Rome’s origins as a Latin village through its conquest of Italy, defeat of Carthage and Greece, the rise and dominance Roman empire, and the use of the Roman Auxilia and Hadrian’s Wall. Emphasis is placed on the personalities and military values of the Romans and how these led to Rome’s glories and failures.
HISS 302-02 (CRN: 50413), HISS 302-03 (CRN: 50507) & HISS 302-04 (CRN: 51048) : “Islamic Conquest”
MWF 09:00-09:50, MWF 10:00-10:50, & MWF 11:00-11:50
Professor Wright
This course examines the era of the Islamic Conquests from the 7th through the 8th centuries. Attention is given to the historical, political and religious contexts of the conquests, motivations, the makeup of Islamic armies and those of their adversaries, and how these armies changed over time. Includes a detailed look at the conquests of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, North Africa, India, Central Asia, Spain and the invasion of France. Finally, the course discusses Arab migration and settlement into conquered territory, the treatment of conquered peoples and the impact of the conquests.
HISS 302-05 (CRN: 51392): “America Divided: The Civil Wars of the 1960s”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Kieran
This course uses music, film, literature, art, along with historical documents to explore the 1960s as a decade of social, political, and cultural conflict. We will place particular emphasis on American nationalisms and their continual redefinition through acts of the US Congress, the shared experience of attending music festivals, and the US military’s efforts to establish Strategic Hamlets in Vietnam.
Natural Science (NTSS 302)
NTSS 302-01 (CRN: 50632): “Chemistry in War and Peace”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Adair-Hudson
Humans have used chemicals and chemical properties to create weapons for centuries, but the conflict associated with the use of chemicals is not just related to war. Both negative and positive impacts on people, animals, and the environment (natural and fabricated) frequently occur with the use of chemicals. For example, food waste and cost can be reduced when lightweight plastics are used for shipping and storing. However, recycling of many plastics can be cost prohibitive due to the same chemical properties that make them useful. Students will learn some common chemical structures and properties to better understand their uses. Students will research and discuss many quantitative factors that produce conflict from chemical use during times of war and peace.
NTSS 302-02 (CRN: 50810) & NTSS 302-05 (CRN: 50624): “Bioterrorism”
TR 11:00-12:15 & TR 13:30-14:45
Professor Johnson
This course will examine diverse aspects of the creation, use, and response to the weaponization of biological agents. An understanding of the science underlying biological agents is critical to preventing the escalation of biological outbreaks. A detailed study of the biological characteristics of these organisms will be the focus for this course.
NTSS 302-03 (CRN: 50888) & NTSS 302-04 (CRN 50889): “Human-Wildlife Conflict”
TR 9:30-10:45 & TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Andrea Gramling
As the human population grows and the habitat for wildlife shrinks, conflicts between humans and wildlife increase in frequency. These conflicts can be deadly, costly, and frustrating. This elective Conflict Strand course will discuss the biology of predators, pests, and plagues to better understand the nature of their impact on humans. We will also explore methods of wildlife damage management to answer the question: Can we balance the needs of humans with the needs of wildlife?
NTSS 302-06 (CRN: 51319): “Weather, Climate, & Conflict”
MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Curtis
This course will examine the science behind extreme weather and how it has been and will continue to be an ally or adversary in military preparedness and warfare. Climate change is a threat multiplier and may lead to new armed conflicts from the melting of Arctic sea ice to resource depletions and the empowerment of terrorist groups. The course will also examine the science of weaponizing extreme weather and meteorological intelligence.
Social Science (SCSS 302)
SCSS 302-01 (CRN: 50529) & SCSS 302-02 (CRN: 50530): “Political Ideologies”
TR 11:00-12:15 & TR 13:30-14:45
Professor Segrest
A study of political ideology as a source of social conflict and violence.
SCSS 302-03 (CRN: 50907) & SCSS 302-05 (CRN: 51122): “Sitcoms in Times of Conflict”
MWF 12:00-12:50, MWF 13:00-13:50
Professor Ferguson
This course explores how sitcoms reflect and shape American culture, particularly in moments of conflict and transition. Through the analysis of popular sitcoms from different decades, students will examine how these shows portray moments of social tension, cultural division, and unity in times of both war and peace. The course will consider how humor has been used to respond to conflict, ease societal anxieties, and engage with political and cultural values. By studying these comedies, students will gain a deeper understanding of how sitcoms both mirror and influence America’s ongoing effort to balance ideals of harmony with the realities of division.
Citizenship (303)
Elective (ELES 303)
ELES 303-01 (CRN: 51135): “Bloody Eiffel Tower”
TR 13:30-14:45
Professor Frask-Ramos
Come and learn about the chic, the good, the bad and the ugly in French culture. This class will start at the construction of the Eiffel Tower in 1889 and go back in time until the Revolution. Then in the second half of the semester, we will move forward from the construction of the Eiffel Tower until the end of the 1960s.
In this class we will discuss the symbolism of the Eiffel Tower, its representations, ramifications, national and international reverberations. How did the French fare in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries? What brought them to the elaboration of this magnificent, timeless culminating edifice that took hold in the unconscious collective memory of our Humanity? What were the massive transformations of the French society during those times?
To answer those questions, we will look at various sources: literature, architecture, furniture, luxury products and their elaborations, fashion clothing, food, advertisements, pictures, movies, historical texts, newspapers, laws, political movements, sociological data, sculptures, and paintings.
ELES 303-02 (CRN: 50914): “Immersive Cultural Exp. Abroad”
TBA
Professor Parris
Selected topics or problems in the general area of culture and leadership. This course examines the culture(s) of host country, leadership styles/philosophies, conflicts, changes, and human resources involved in entities/organizations.
English (ENGS 303)
ENGS 303-01 (CRN: 50393): “Plague & Penance: Greek Tragedy”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Hendriks
In this Citizenship Strand course of the General Education curriculum sequence, we will perform close readings of four celebrated tragic plays that form the foundation of the Western artistic and cultural tradition. These works of literature encompass narrative situations that prompt the interrogation of our notions of heroism, moral courage, and principled leadership; the significance of defiance against authority (both sacred and secular), personal conscience contrasted against what is commonly accepted as socially appropriate behavior in the pursuit of one’s desired ends, and what is required to bring members of a social order into compliance with established power structures and the standards of civilizations. When characters live in community, there is an implicit expectation that they will adhere to the written and unwritten rules governing that society. When they fall out of compliance—whether the inciting incident is rooted in personal choice, immutable circumstance, or some combination thereof—the attendant friction takes on a life of its own, impacting the perspective, judgment, and limits of autonomy of the parties involved.
In Plague & Penance we will use the material provided by these four classic texts not only to challenge our own preconceived notions of the basis of how to redress wrongdoing, but also to analyze the premises upon which the works of fiction we read/view are based:
• What are the embedded values that provide a barometer for character and contextual assessment, and do we share those values today?
• How do characters seek to justify their own choices and actions?
• How do characters endeavor to make up for their transgressions?
• Is it fair to hold entire communities accountable for the transgressions of errant individuals?
• Does ideological dissent release individuals from obligatory adherence to particular cultural codes and standards?
• What are the repercussions of the rejection of an imposed social script?
• To what extent do works of literature or their performative interpretations operate to endorse or condemn the fictional situations contained within them?
• How do texts serve to reflect or shape the cultures within which they are situated?
• How do unorthodox representations impact the lived experience of those who read/view them?
History (HISS 303)
HISS 303-W1 (CRN: 51395) & HISS 303-W2 (CRN: 51396): “Great Britain & WWI”
MWF 09:00-09:50 & MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Grenier
World War I was a watershed event in European history, with transformative effects in international relations, economics, politics, society, and culture. This course will consider the British experience of the war. In addition to an overview of the military experience of the war, we will examine the various ways in which the war influenced the home front, including conscription, rationing, air attacks on those at home, the changing role of government, gender roles, relationships with the British Empire, and understandings of what it means to be a citizen. In the fall, 2026 semester, the course will begin as an in-person class, then will move to online, synchronous instruction.
Natural Science (NTSS 303)
NTSS 303-07 (CRN: 50724): “Biology, Environment, & Law”
MWF 11:00-11:50
Professor Berry
This course explores the relationships between biological systems in the environment, and the environmental laws that regulate them. We will examine the profound influence that environmental laws have on species, ecosystems, and landscapes, and the effects of regulation of air, water, and land in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health. The course begins with an exploration of the legal system, and how it relates to the science of environmental biology. We then consider ecosystems biology, the effects of regulations on plant and animal communities, and the importance of land use regulation on ecosystems. We then explore the specific laws that control pollution of air, water and land, and their effects on natural ecosystems. Finally, we review the influence of international laws and agreements on the health of natural communities.
Social Science (SCSS 303)
SCSS 303-02 (CRN: 51123): “The Right to Have Rights”
TR 08:00-09:15
Professor Gonzales
Although they’re regularly mentioned in everyday political conversations, intangible concepts such as ‘citizenship,’ ‘duty,’ and ‘human rights’ can be difficult to describe in a concrete way. For example, although ‘citizenship’ is sometimes summarized as ‘the right to have rights,’ there’s not even a universally accepted definition of what a ‘right’ actually is.
Drawing from multiple disciplines (political science, moral philosophy, international law, etc.), this course aims to develop students’ understanding of contemporary trends and debates in human rights thought, especially as they relate to the concepts of duty and citizenship. Although primarily international in focus, this course will also examine these issues in specifically South Carolinian contexts.
Wellness (304)
Elective (ELES 304)
ELES 304-01 (CRN: 51536): “Wellness, Culture, & Storytelling”
MW 13:00-14:15
Professor Caitlin Allen
Course Description: Everyone knows that eating dark chocolate is good for your heart health, right? And that we should all be drinking exactly eight glasses of water and walking 10,000 steps every day? Each of us makes decisions in pursuit of wellness, influenced by claims and stories from many different perspectives. This Wellness Strand elective course seeks to understand how and why we make the choices we do as we work toward the “good life.” Framed by memoir, non-fiction texts, and scholarly research, we will investigate where knowledge about health and wellness originates, examine how it is interpreted, and evaluate the ethical implications of how it is shared with and taken up by the public at large. Students can expect to read, write, and discuss often as we interrogate what it means to be “well” in the twenty-first century.
English (ENGS 304)
ENGS 304-01 (CRN: 50388): “Improvise, Adapt, & Overcome”
MWF 08:00-08:50
Professor Heuston
This course will examine a wide range of written sources (fiction and nonfiction from the Roman Empire to the present) and films that deal with the central issue of the Wellness Strand: how to live a good life. We will read and discuss selections from classic works of nonfiction (including the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, and Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own,), fiction (including Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea and Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried), poetry (including poems by Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and William Wordsworth) and films (such as Apocalypse Now, Bigger, Stronger, Faster*, and Little Dieter Needs to Fly) alongside more recent nonfiction texts about facing and overcoming life’s manifold challenges. In addition to developing familiarity with our course texts, students will become familiar with related research on aspects of wellness they can apply to their own lives.
This course will help you hone your skills as a critical viewer and reader who engages with and questions a variety of challenging texts and issues. In addition to the required texts listed above, we will read and view a wide range of critical essays, news articles, and online resources. Many of the texts will require substantial, careful reading and will give us a great deal of provocative material to discuss, so make sure to look ahead in the syllabus and budget sufficient time to read them thoroughly. You will apply your ideas and insights directly to your chosen area of academic interest and/or specialization by developing a semester-long research project in consultation with me. The course will also help you develop your skills as a writer. I will assign short response papers and a longer essay (the culmination of the semester project), all of which will be related to the texts or issues we read, view, and discuss in class.
ENGS 304-02 (CRN: 50843) & ENGS 304-03 (CRN: 50650): “The Art of Living Well”
MWF 10:00-10:50 & MWF 11:00-11:50
Professor Hendriks
Course Description: Coming soon!
History (HISS 304)
HISS 304-01 (CRN: 51051), HISS 304-02 (CRN: 51403) & HISS 304-03 (CRN: 51404): “Good Life & Death in Pre-Modern China”
TR 08:00-09:15, TR 13:30-14:45, & TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Knapp
Over the three-thousand years of China’s recorded history, its people have long thought about how to live well and prolong life. Since death was viewed as a continuance of life under slightly different circumstances, Chinese simultaneously pondered how to die well. By reading translated philosophical texts, hagiographies, medical treatises, short stories, and diaries, we will see how one could lead a healthy and meaningful life, and perhaps even cheat death by attaining immortality. By examining death testaments, Buddhist scriptures, and archaeological evidence, such as tombs, grave goods, and excavated documents, students will ascertain how Chinese envisioned death and prepared the deceased for a pleasant existence, or even Buddhahood, in the afterlife.
Natural Science (NTSS 304)
NTSS 304-01 (CRN: 50746), NTSS 304-02 (CRN: 50747) & NTSS 304-03 (CRN: 51120): “Human Diseases”
MWF 10:00-10:50, MWF 11:00-11:50 & MWF 13:00-13:50
Professor Andrea Gramling
What causes human diseases? In NTSS 304, a wellness strand science course, we will explore the general classifications of the causes of disease as well as investigate the disease processes associated with specific diseases and body systems. We will also explore our body’s defense mechanisms to combat diseases and begin to quantify the prevalence of diseases in multiple populations. The purpose of this course is to present a systematic approach and application to the study of human diseases so that the student will be able to use appropriate terminology to describe diseases 2) understand the mechanism and progression of diseases and 3) understand the appropriate treatment options.
Social Science (SCSS 304)
SCSS 304-01 (CRN: 50758) & SCSS 304-02 (CRN: 50866): “Sports and Society”
MWF 08:00-08:50 & MWF 09:00-09:50
Professor Roof
This course is designed to introduce students to critical analysis of contemporary sports culture in the United States. Students will get an overview of the insights, findings, concepts, and perspectives that are held by a wide variety of interdisciplinary popular culture scholars today. Several prominent areas of sports culture to be studied include: youth, race, gender, religion, and economics.
SCSS 304-03 (CRN: 51333): “The Human Journey”
TR 08:00-09:15
Professor Bogle
SCSS 304 is an interdisciplinary examination of the aging process that focuses on foundational theories of aging, age-related demographic trends, and models of development across adulthood and later life. The course explores aging as a dynamic interaction among biological, psychological, and social influences, emphasizing how individuals experience growth, change, and adaptation over the lifespan.
Students will examine basic theories of aging, patterns in population aging and longevity, and key models of development and aging used to understand individual and societal change. The course also addresses physical changes associated with aging, health promotion and disease prevention, and basic cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and decision making in adulthood and older age. Attention is given to death, dying, and end-of-life issues, with a focus on ethical considerations related to healthcare, autonomy, caregiving, and policy.
Through theoretical analysis, discussion, and applied learning activities, students will evaluate strategies for successful aging, including resilience, adaptation, social engagement, and quality-of-life enhancement. The course emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and interdisciplinary perspectives to prepare students to thoughtfully engage with aging-related issues in personal, professional, and societal contexts.
Sustainability (305)
Elective (ELES 305)
ELES 305-01(CRN: 50896): “Critical Thinking in Sustainability“
TR 09:30-10:45
Professor Ortiz
In this course students will be encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and analyze sustainability issues from multiple angles while considering ethical implications. Students will be actively engaged in real-world projects and decision-making activities. The course will explore the United Nations 2030 agenda, and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. “The world community has refined its commitment to sustainable development to ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth, social inclusion, environmental protection and to do so in partnership and peace.
English (ENGS 305)
ENGS 305-01 (CRN: 50394) & ENGS 305-02 (CRN: 51427): “National Memory in the American West”
MWF 09:00-09:50 & MWF 10:00-10:50
Professor Leonard
Beginning with the pioneer and memoir literature of the 19th century, continuing on the silver screen, and culminating in the revisions of the contemporary anti-Western, the Western genre and its derivatives have long reinforced elements central to American national mythology. Particularly in the post-frontier US, the project of sustaining these myths has largely fallen to iconic pulp stories and films from authors such as Jack Schaefer and Zane Grey and actors such as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. In this class, we will explore the shifting landscape of the literary American West in order to identify how the experience of the West catalyzed the evolving project of American national and cultural identity. In doing so, we will think through ways in which recent interpretations of the genre attempt to illuminate perspectives that have traditionally been suppressed or elided and consider the role of textual interpretation in resolving contemporary issues stemming from the legacy of the symbolic American West.
History (HISS 305)
HISS 305-01 (CRN: 51038) & HISS 305-02 (CRN: 51039): “Changing American Landscapes”
TR 13:30-14:45 & TR 08:00-09:15
Professor Mushal
In this course, students will explore changing interactions between American society and the natural world, from pre-contact through the 21st century. From hunting practices to urban planning, agriculture to landscape design, and exploration to automobile tourism, how have people shaped the landscape and environment around them, and how have they been shaped by it? How and why have attitudes toward the landscape and natural resources changed? How has changing technology shaped our relationship to the natural world?
Natural Science (NTSS 305)
NTSS 305-01 (CRN: 50691) & NTSS 305-03 (CRN: 51482): “Foraging for Wild Plants”
TR 08:00-09:15 & TR 09:30-10:45
Professor Joel Gramling
A study of significant topics or problems in the Natural Sciences tied to the specific theme of the strand. Topics to be addressed will be drawn from the academic disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
In Foraging Wild Plants (NTSS 305), students will explore the biology of native plants through the practical application of foraging. Core topics include ecology, evolution, plant identification, systematics, and human nutrition. Students will deepen their understanding of general biology through lectures, interpretive walks, and hands-on activities. Daily in-person participation is required for this course.
NTSS 305-02 (CRN: 51121): “Environmental Science”
MWF 11:00-11:50
Professor Newton
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field focusing on the interactions between humans and the environment aimed at understanding the natural systems, human impacts, and developing sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
This course will utilize case studies to examine complex environmental issues to engage with the underlying scientific, political, economic, cultural aspects of the issues, while also examining the moral and ethical implications of potential resolutions.
Social Science (SCSS 305)
SCSS 305-01 (CRN: 50508): “Sociology & Sustainability”
TR 11:00-12:15
Professor Roof
This course examines the basic concepts and principles of sociology. A scientific approach to the analysis and explanation of culture, personality, and social organization are emphasized along with the major sociological paradigms along with a heavy emphasis on sustainability issues.