Geog 390 Geographic Information Systems
5 Credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: GEOG 304 or GEOG 290S or permission
GIS is an advanced course in spatial data analysis and computer mapping which is targeted to majors in Geography, but also benefit a broad field of others disciplines: Biology, Geology, Management, Political Science, Sociology, to name a few.
GIS is widely used by big companies and governmental agencies and small businesses and non-profit organizations in a broad spectrum of applications: from neighborhood development, urban /regional planning and environmental management to homeland security and sustainability issues. GIS mapping and data analysis cut across many disciplines, provides a common language for discussions, and acts as a common denominator to bring people together in the decision making process. Visualization is a great tool to analyze large data bases. During this semester students will work in a GIS computer lab, learning GIS concepts and technology and applying them to a real life situation while conducting projects for local community. The main emphasis in evaluating students' progress will be made on their ability to apply the concepts and tools, learned in class, in real life problem-solving environment.
HIST 230H 1W. African-American History
4 credits
Rosenberg, Scott
Prerequisite: none.
This course will investigate African-American history by focusing on slavery and the struggle for equality after emancipation. The first part of the course will examine the institution of slavery, however, greater emphasis will be placed on the lives that slaves made for themselves. We will ask questions such as "how much control did slaves have over their own lives," and "how did they resist servitude?" The second half of the course will dedicate itself to the study of the struggle for equality. This class will move beyond the political struggle and will explore the role that culture and an emerging and evolving identity played in shaping the quest for equality. Assessment will focus on the student's ability to express ideas in take-home essay exams, papers, and oral presentation. Grading will be based on discussions of a variety of readings, 3-4 papers and a take-home midterm and final. Writing Intensive.
POLI 221S 01 State and Local Government
4 credits
Baker, Rob
The course focuses on important contemporary problems and trends affecting state and local politics, and the role of states and localities in the federal system. Using a comparative approach, attention is given to general intergovernmental, social, economic, and cultural influences that shape state and local politics in America. Additionally, a mock state legislature is conducted providing the student with a "hands-on" experience in one of the key political processes of state government.
POLI 234S 01 Black Politics
4 credits
Young, John
This course will introduce students to the nature of black politics and black political behavior. The course will inquire into the political dimensions of black life in America and how Black Americans have interpreted and responded to the democratic experiment. Considerable attention will be given to how individuals, institutions, and protest movements have shaped black political consciousness and black political participation. Finally, the course will examine the relative impact of black protest politics versus black electoral politics in addressing black political demands. Evaluation will be based on three exams, several quizzes, class participation, and short, one page writing assignments.
PSYC 361: Experimental Social Psychology
5 semester hours
Brown, Clifford
Prerequisites: Psychology 107, Psychology 160, and Psychology 207.
This writing intensive course in experimental social psychology provides students with a scientifically based understanding of human social behavior. Topics include social perception, attitudes, conformity, group processes, aggression, and prejudice. The course emphasizes the experimental method and the particular challenges of applying it to study people in a social context. Given the complexity of social behavior, social psychology relies heavily on experiments that employ factorial designs, which allow investigators to examine the independent and combined effects of several factors (variables) simultaneously. This course will include more than 30 hours of laboratory experience.
