Courses and Syllabi
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
Integrative Studies (INTS - Formerly NCLC) Spring 2024
Undergraduate
Combines process of learning to speak in front of audiences with analysis of arguments and persuasive appeals. Students learn how to create and present effective speeches, adapt messages to specific audiences, and evaluate and critique messages produced for others. One credit of experiential learning enables students to examine public speeches, news stories, political campaigns, and advertising, among others, to make meaningful connections between public speaking theory and practice. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Examines the relationships between academic research, individual acts and society's social and political structures. Students design a community-based research project, explore a rich array of qualitative and quantitative approaches, apply information and communication technologies to all aspects of the research process, and learn from individuals and organizations outside the classroom. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines historical and contemporary leadership theories and invites students to be reflective of their own leadership experiences through the lenses of those theories. Students develop critical lenses through which to evaluate their own self-awareness, effectiveness in groups, and ability to navigate structures and systems. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Covers basic issues in the natural and social sciences that underlie current environmental problems. Considers ethical matters such as equity as they pertain to global resource consumption, pollution, and climate change. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores the role of visual culture in contemporary society including an examination of photography, the visual and performing arts, film and video, and electronic media. Readings focus on the historical foundations of visuality as well as theories of visual culture and aesthetics. Students investigate the ways that forms of visual culture function in society and how these are linked to race, class, and gender as well as politics and economics. Students will gain hands-on experience working with contemporary visual media tools such as computer graphics and digital video editing. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Investigates information literacy, the mobile web, and interactive and immersive media, including gaming, social networking, blogging and micro-blogging, intellectual, political and civic collaborations, digital aesthetics and emerging digital cultures and art forms. Explores major theories of digital literacy and culture and introduce diverse social, artistic, theoretical and cultural practices that characterize today's digital domains and virtual environments. Notes: One experiential credit is required in this class. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Studies topics of special interest to undergraduates. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Bridges students' academic interests with their residence hall living experience. Students with common interests live together in the same residence hall and develop personal and academic relationships with other students and faculty from their chosen Living Learning Community focus. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 8 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Combines various teaching methods including lectures, the Socratic method, case studies, discussion of readings and films, debates, and active inquiry-based learning to investigate the major institutions in the American legal system. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examination and discussion of the current trends in science as reported in the popular media. Students learn how to evaluate the science that is reported so they may become informed consumers; discuss how scientific advancement might shape society by looking at how science and society have changed together over time; and use examples from the past to discuss future trends. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing world issues. Combines lectures, field trips, discussion of readings, films, case studies, projects, and active inquiry-based learning to examine the natural environment, infectious disease and globalization, media and technologies, and war and violent conflict, with an attempt to deepen community members' understanding of an increasingly interdependent world. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines how citizens, individually and collectively, accomplish social change in society through case study analysis. Considers advantages and limits of social change strategies from communication and social movement theory perspectives. Surveys topics including how leaders maintain momentum in face of opposition; how movements and organizations use slogans, symbols and music to inspire followers; and how participants construct persuasive media campaigns and political arguments to facilitate policy change. Notes: One credit of experiential learning enables students to explore their role as social advocates and effective citizens in context of community. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Using nonfiction, documentaries, oral histories, case studies, literature, and feature films, examines the dynamics of violence through different cultural lenses as they relate to gender identity, sexuality and socioeconomic status. Equivalent to WMST 320.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Immerses students in the images of childhood through the media of literature, video, and poetry, with a strong emphasis on historical perspectives of childhood. The class is interactive, requires some work in groups, and requires classroom participation. Equivalent to HIST 386, HIST 498.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines the history of therapeutic play programs, theoretical basis for play and how the application of play techniques are used to promote healing, growth, and development for children and adolescents as it relates to multiple professions including child life. Equivalent to HDFS 302.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Develops in students an appreciation of human resilience and helps them acquire better coping mechanisms. Imparts knowledge of the nature and dynamics of trauma and healing. Investigates the difficulties people face in responding to settings of conflict such as war, school shootings, abuse, domestic violence, including natural disaster. Examines case studies from a variety of personal, national, and international settings. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focuses on the study of childhood from birth to adolescence from the perspective of several disciplines. Covers childhood theory, research, and policy and their applications to decisions regarding children and youth. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces students to concepts and challenges in parenting, along with family diversity and risk factors. Considers interactions between parents and children from birth to adolescence as well as cross-cultural, historical, and societal influences. Explores efforts that have been successful in changing detrimental parenting actions. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines the rich heritage of the teaching profession in Western society. Traces the history of educational philosophy and teaching, beginning with the ancient Greeks and culminating in the 21st century United States. Using the exploration of the various philosophies of education as a foundation, examines contemporary images of teachers in literature and film. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines the philosophy, purposes, and concepts of Child Life Specialists. Explores developmental and psychological needs of hospitalized children, their families, and those who provide services to children. Examines the impact of illness and illness-related stressors on the dynamics of the family and strategies for coping. Equivalent to HDFS 301.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Readings, classroom discussions and activities, and practical experience reveal historical, legal, and socioeconomic forces that define and influence the American nonprofit sector. Explores structures, issues that affect nonprofit management, governing, and financial systems. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines historical and contemporary sociopolitical and socioeconomic conditions that have given rise to the environmental justice movement. Analyzes how individuals contribute to environmental justice or injustice through everyday decisions. Considers how environmental justice movement responds to these issues. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Explores the social, cultural, political, and spiritual implications of poverty, wealth, and inequality in the United States. Examines the ways in which class identity informs one's views of the world and its politics; how socioeconomic status affects one's access to education and other social goods; and how dominant discourses and stereotypes related to poverty influence mass perception regarding a range of social issues, from educational policy to welfare. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the many spaces at which the quest to strengthen social justice consciousness interacts with processes and commitments for personal transformation. Analyzes through the lens of the activist and in the spirit of bringing mindfulness to activism, how we come to see and experience the world. Examines how socialization informs consciousness. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
This learning community explores historical records to understand different ways art has been produced, distributed, and consumed. Examines ways artists have affected change in their worlds. Through interdisciplinary studies, teaches major social movements and artists and theories used in socially engaged art. Students engage in experiential learning outside classroom as course requirement. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the way in which gender has been represented across the decades in television, movies, music videos, pop art, and print media. Provides a review of the scholarship on historical and contemporary gender roles and examines the contradictions and expectations associated with these. Incorporates active group learning through creative, insight-oriented exercises, critical thinking and discussions, and group presentations and media research activities. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the science of well-being, including theories and practices linked to various domains of well-being such as mindfulness, resilience, life-satisfaction, happiness, mind-body wellness, and meaning and purpose. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focusing on the individual in context, examines the growing research, science, and literature on well-being and resilience. Considers the many ways in which resilience can be learned and developed on individual, community, and organizational levels. Explores how resilience promotes growth and restores efficacy and agency, leading to higher levels of flourishing. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Considers the philosophical foundations of social justice and human rights. Explores the interpretive difficulties related to identifying what constitutes human rights abuses, and evaluates regional perspectives on human rights. Analyzes institutions that strive to promote and enforce social justice and human rights standards including the United Nations system, regional human rights bodies, and domestic courts. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines the roles of individuals, corporations, and government in creating and communicating food policy. Students explore the rationale and rhetorics of US agriculture, food production and the environment, food and beverage processing, food safety and labeling, food sales and marketing, dietary guidance, and federal food assistance programs. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies topics of special interest to undergraduates. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Familiarizes students with the theory and practice of integrative learning. Challenges students not only to learn but also to think deeply about what, why, how, and for what purposes you learn. Develops reflective, critical thinking, and research skills. Limited to three attempts.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Provides students with a working knowledge of conservation biology. Integrates the study of social, economic, and political factors with biodiversity, population modeling, habitat degradation, and management issues. Students confront the leading edge of this exciting field by developing real species conservation plans. The experiential learning component of the course will include trips to the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia, to study with nationally known experts. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Uses an interdisciplinary approach to deepen and broaden student's learning about theories, models, and constructs related to the study and practice of ethics and leadership. Teaches students to develop ethical decision making strategies, communicate effectively in diverse group settings, value civic engagement and actively apply ethical leadership skills. Includes experiential learning activities and discussions that connect formal knowledge with real world experiences and includes one credit of experiential learning. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Recognizing the value and contribution of science to improving the human condition, this course provides students the opportunity to apply integrative learning approaches to explore the intersections between science, health, and society with a focus on diverse societies and the implications for social justice. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Provides students with a deeper understanding of refugee and internal displacement. Explores causes of displacement and its impact on people and societies. Studies the role played by governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international community in addressing problems faced by refugees in internally displaced persons in terms of relief assistance and humanitarian services. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the complexity of human trafficking and smuggling, one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. Examines forms of human trafficking and smuggling and the countries that serve as source, transit or destinations of trafficked and smuggled individuals and groups. Studies the role of the international community in addressing trafficking and smuggling, including regional and national authorities and non-governmental agencies. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Develops a variety of work-readiness skills needed to transition to local and global marketplaces. Topics and skills covered include developing a tailored cover letter or goal statement, problem solving in the business setting, workplace ethics and etiquette, interviewing skills, professional networking, and salary negotiations. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Examines history of philanthropy and public policy, and the economic and legal frameworks that shape it. Combining theory and practice, students study human behavior, communications, and management systems that are hallmarks of successful fund raising, and begin to develop skills to generate donations, foundation grants, and other unearned revenue for a nonprofit organization. Notes: Includes 1 experiential learning credit. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces interdisciplinary research methods for social change. Explores students' epistemological assumptions, and uses tools of inquiry and discovery to explore transformative approaches to scholarship and creative work. Examines multiple critical approaches to inquiry including auto-ethnography and ethnography, feminist, queer, and Indigenous research methods, participatory action research, critical quantitative analysis, and more. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines diverse definitions and processes of change across multiple complex contexts. Focuses on identifying innovative, collaborative solutions to seemingly intractable social problems. Explores topics such as social change and globalization, creative conflict resolution, the nature of power, oppression and influence, and systemic leadership. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Investigates the social and cultural construction of racial categories that have led to inaccurate and stereotypical representations that persist and cause harm today. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Offers a dynamic, practical, and hands-on approach to synthesizing our leadership philosophy with real problem-solving and decision-making skills. Through cases and experiential learning, students will work through framing and diagnosing problems as well as identifying and implementing solutions. Integrates students' interests with the tools necessary to be an organizational problem-solver. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Covers how principles and practices of consciousness and transformation relate to the major and career pathway it represents. Includes the theory and practices for deepening the student's own experience with the mindfulness and contemplative approaches to inquire. Capstone course for the minor in consciousness and transformation. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Prepares students to understand and meet a distinct set of challenges facing professionals in careers that involve directly helping others. Studies research findings about factors such as stress, burnout, and compassion-fatigue that undermine professional success and longevity in these career fields. Explores the fundamental tenets of the science of well-being, learning the vocabulary and core principles related to aspects of self-care and well-being such as positivity, strengths, mindfulness, and resilience. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies topics of special interest to undergraduates. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Students may take no more than 6 credits in any one semester, unless approved by executive director. A maximum of of 12 credits can apply to the Integrative Studies degree. Structured and supervised professional experience, within an approved agency, for which the student earns academic credit. The primary purpose of an internship is to connect the student's academic course work to experiences and challenges outside the university classroom. The faculty also expects that students will enhance their competencies and skills and explore career options. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
This course requires students to reflect and self-assess their undergraduate learning, synthesizing knowledge and ideas from various courses and experiences; address an issue of multidisciplinary inquiry from the perspective of their concentration in order to demonstrate critical thinking, research and communication skills; and to provide evidence of their qualifications for the workplace or graduate study. 85 credits required. Graduation requirement for integrative studies students. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Directed field studies in topic not otherwise available to students. Notes: Topics vary, but entire course or significant component is located off campus. In addition to field work, course may also include reading assignments, tutorials, lectures, papers, presentations, portfolios, journals, and exams. Students bear costs of required field trips and should consult the Center for Social Action and Integrative Learning for more information. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 24 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies topics of special interest to undergraduates. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Studies topics of special interest to undergraduates. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 18 credits.
Read More »
4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Directed field studies in topic not otherwise available to students. Notes: Topics vary, but entire course or significant component is located off campus. In addition to field work, course may also include reading assignments, tutorials, lectures, papers, presentations, portfolios, journals, and exams. Students bear costs of required field trips and should consult the Center for Social Action and Integrative Learning for more information. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 24 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Graduate
Investigates the social and cultural construction of persistent and harmful racial categories. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Students will examine, study the socio-historical significance of, and consider solutions for some of the most pressing social justice and human rights issues in the world today. The issues examined will cut across identity, region, and scope, and may include concerns as varied as human trafficking, hegemony, animal abuse, child labor, and sexism. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Studies topics of special interest to graduate students pursuing integrative, multidisciplinary degrees. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
