Class Schedule

*ES 211: Botany and Ecology of the Northern Forest schedule

• Week 1: Tuesday, May 20 thru Saturday, May 24th (morning and afternoon sessions)
• Week 2: Tuesday, May 27 thru Saturday, May 31st (The Ridges Sanctuary in Door County, WI)
• Week 3: Sunday, June 1 thru Thursday, June 5 (Camping in the north woods). Final day on campus, Friday, June 6.

ART 142: Digital Design Foundations

Digital Foundations uses formal exercises of the Bauhaus to teach the Adobe Creative Suite. The curriculum decodes digital tools and culture while explaining fundamental visual design principles within a historical context. Students develop an understanding of the basic principles of design in order to implement them using current software. There are no prerequisites for this course. Course Fee Applies. (This course satisfies Creative & Performing Arts and Technology Intensive.)

BUSN 245: Principles of Management

This course introduces important organizational and management concepts and applications, and their relevance to individual and organizational goal attainment. The course revolves around the main functions of managers: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The emphasis is on real-world application through experiential learning. No prerequisites.

BUSN 334: Financial Accounting w/QuickBooks

Students in the course develop an understanding of how to use general ledger software utilizing QuickBooks. This includes company setup, setup and use of chart of accounts, recording and recognizing transactions, managing lists, generating customized reports, and preparing financial statements. Prerequisite: BUSN 230 with a grade of C-minus or better and COLL 150. This course is primarily offered during summer.

CHEM 105: Chemistry of Art

This course will explore fundamental principles of chemistry and the scientific method through the lens of art. The course will introduce concepts necessary for an understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum; the chemical and physical principles that help to explain color; the chemical composition and interactions of atoms and molecules as they apply to pigments, dyes, binders, glazes, paper, fabrics, and metals; as well as the chemical changes active in processes like fresco painting, etching and photography. Building on a fundamental understanding of chemical and physical principles at work in the materials used to create art, the course will culminate with an exploration of case studies in the use of technology for art conservation and/or the detection of forgeries. The course format will include lecture, some short laboratory exercises, and a field trip. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)

CHIN 232: Chinese Cinema in English

This course provides a historical, critical, and theoretical survey of Chinese cinema, broadly defined to include films from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We will look at the specific political, social, economic, technological and aesthetic factors that have influenced the shape and character of Chinese cinema over the last century. We will discuss a range of works by internationally directors, including Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang, Stephen Chow, Ang Lee, etc. As this course serves as a general introduction to Chinese film, it is intended for students who have little or no knowledge of China. All films screened for the course have English subtitles, so no knowledge of the Chinese language is required. (This course satisfies Humanities and Global Perspective.)
cross listed: ASIA 232, CINE 232, LCTR 232

COLL 102: Liberal Arts and the Workplace

Liberal Arts and the Workplace is designed to deepen student understanding of the fundamental skills and knowledge base that a liberal arts education brings to today’s and tomorrow’s professional cultures and innovative workplaces. In addition to curating the courses and experiences students have already had, this course continues to build essential workplace skills in communication, teamwork, resourcefulness, network-building, goal-setting, effective self-assessment, and research skills. Outcomes of the course include a career exploration research portfolio, a mentor network, a resume for internships, a plan for seeking and successfully completing high-quality internships, an articulated, well-researched career plan, as well as a corresponding academic and co-curricular plan of action. No prerequisites.

CSCI 250: Programming for Data Applications

Introduction to data-oriented Python packages, decision trees, support vector machines (SVM), neural networks, and machine learning. Prerequisite: CSCI 112: Computer Science I.

ECON 110: Principles of Economics

This course is an introduction to both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students are introduced to the analytical tools and techniques used by economists to better understand the choices economic agents make and how markets function. The study of microeconomics includes consumer theory, producer behavior, and analysis of market structure. The study of macroeconomics includes the determination of aggregate production, employment and inflation, as well as fiscal policy, monetary policy, the distribution of income, and economic growth. The theories presented are applied throughout the semester to issues facing the U.S. and world economies. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: IREL 110

ECON 130: Applied Statistics

This course covers three standard topics in statistics at the introductory level: probability theory, statistical inference, and regression analysis. Among the individual topics covered are descriptive statistics, probability rules, discrete probability distribution functions including the bivariate and binomial distributions, continuous density functions including the Normal and t distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, test statistics, p-values, correlation versus causation, and an introduction to multivariate linear regression analysis. All topics are applied to techniques important to analyze economic, business, and financial behavior. Students who have taken this course will not receive credit for MATH 150. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)
cross listed: BUSN 130, FIN 130

EDUC 501: Introduction to Teacher Research

This course provides the MAT candidate with an introduction to educational research. Topics include the context of teacher research, an introduction to multiple varieties of teacher research, with an emphasis on action research, as well as grounding in quantitative and qualitative research methods. A case study of action research will be completed. Prerequisite: Second year MAT licensure candidate status.

ENGL 135: Creative Writing

A beginning course in the art of writing fiction, poetry, and nonfiction prose. Literary analysis will be combined with creative assignments. Group discussions and individual conferences. (Not open to students who have completed English 235.) (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Creative & Performing Arts requirement.)

ENGL 231: Revenge and Justice in Literature

The dismemberments, squeaking ghosts, and poisoned pharmacies of literary revenges never cease to thrill and disgust audiences with their bittersweet paradoxes. How can we distinguish revengers from villains if their killings are virtually identical? Why does the sober promise of an eye-for-an-eye requital of one body for another become a frenzied massacre of innocents and not-so-innocents? Can justice ever be restored by going outside the law, or a lost past ever be re-found in a sordid present? In this course, we consider some of the central paradoxes and themes of revenge by reading radically-different writers from the first to twenty-first centuries, including Seneca, Shakespeare, Stephen King, and Gillian Flynn. All the while, we watch classic revenge flicks to explore how directors from Tarantino to Park Chan-wook translate these narratives onto the screen. Throughout, we examine the ever-changing meanings of revenge across culture and time. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Humanities and Global Perspective.)

ES 211: Botany and Ecology of the Northern Forest

(Botany & Ecology of the Great Northern Forest)  The Great Northern Forest, alternatively called the Boreal Forest or Taiga, spreads across the vast landmass of the northern portion of the globe, through Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Siberia. The ecology of this area is the front line of our current climate cataclysm, as the melting of the permafrost that supports it threatens to release enough methane to overwhelm the current concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This course introduces students to the ecology of the Great Northern Forest through identification of native plant species, interspecies interactions, physical ecosystem services, and natural history of this biome. This course includes extensive field work on Lake Forest College's campus, in Wisconsin's Door County, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Students learn to identify between 100 and 150 species of wildflowers, grasses, trees, shrubs, and other plants, and learn the characteristics of 15 to 20 plant families. No prerequisites. This Summer Session course in 2025 is a three-week intensive course that includes two full weeks of travel to Wisconsin and Michigan.

FIN 310: Corporate Finance

This course studies the theory, methods, and issues of corporate finance. The emphasis throughout is on the economic principles that underlie business financial decisions and their impact on wealth maximization. The content includes capital budgeting, optimal capital structure, payout policies, financial planning, working capital, and corporate restructuring issues related to ownership and control. Prerequisites: FIN 210, BUSN 230 and MATH 108 or MATH 110 all with a grade of C- or better and COLL 150

HIST 110: Global Change: The Power of History

This course offers an introduction to college-level study of history. Specific subjects covered will vary, but a significant amount of the course will focus on non-Western history. Topics may include: the origins of civilizations in the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas; the role of religion in society; the rise and fall of empires; encounters between civilizations, from ancient trade networks to modern colonialism. Students in all sections will be introduced to certain key skills and methodology used by historians, including analysis of primary sources and assessment of historical arguments. Close attention will be paid to the development of critical reading and writing skills. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Humanities and Writing Intensive.)

MATH 110: Calculus I

The calculus of functions of one variable. Limits, continuity, differentiation, and applications; a brief introduction to integration. Prerequisite: 3.5 years of high school mathematics (to include trigonometry) or Mathematics 105. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)

PHIL 156: Logic and Styles of Arguments

Focus on the 'rhyme and reason' of language. Examination of the reasons arguments are constructed in the ways they are. Investigation of informal, Aristotelian, and propositional logics, with readings from magazine articles, advertisements, and classical philosophers. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)

MATH 150: Intro Probability & Statistics

Designed for students in the social and life sciences. Discrete probability theory, distributions, sampling, correlation, and regression, Chi square and other tests of significance. Emphasis on the use of the computer as a tool and on applications to a variety of disciplines. Not open to students who have taken ECON/BUSN 180 or ECON/BUSN/FIN 130. (This course satisfies Quantitative Reasoning.)

POLS 140: Introduction to Comparative Politics 

This course is an introduction to the main concepts and theories of comparative politics. Students explore central questions of comparative politics research, such as: do variations in political institutions (constitutions, elections, parties, and party systems) matter and why? What are the different ways in which citizens participate in politics and how has it changed over time? What are the key differences between democratic and authoritarian regimes and how a country may transition from one to another? In addition, students also learn about fundamental principles and methods of comparative political analysis. Lastly, case studies of different countries around the globe help students apply abstract theories, concepts, and methods and thereby develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Global Perspectives requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Cultural Diversity requirement.)
cross listed: IREL 130

SOAN 240: Deviance

How society defines deviants - its outcasts and outsiders - and how the people so defined respond to this categorization; the nature of normal and abnormal, legal and illegal. Do these categories have absolute moral meaning, or do they always depend on the particular society and era in which they are defined? Topics to be addressed include stigma and stereotyping, cross-cultural variations in gender roles, the status of the inmate, deviance as blocked opportunity, and the political mobilization of outsiders. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science and Domestic Pluralism.)

SPAN 237: Identity and Memory in Contemporary Spanish Film

(Identity and Memory in Contemporary Spanish Film.) Through the study of a selection of films and documentaries stretching from late Francoism through the Transición, until the 2008 economic crisis, this course provides a critical examination of the history and poetics of cinema in Spain, with particular attention to the relation between the representation of identity and the recovery of traumatic memory in contemporary culture. Regarding identity, this course addresses questions of national and regional identity (Spanish, Basque, and Catalan contexts), as well as the role of gender and sexual identity throughout late Francoism, the Transición, and democratic state. We also analyze how the directions problematize memory, especially traumatic memory, through their films. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Humanities and Global Perspectives requirements.)
cross listed: CINE 237

THTR 160 : Stagecraft

An introduction to the technology employed backstage to create the magic of theatrical productions. This course is open to beginning students in all disciplines and will provide an experiential and practical orientation to stagecraft through hands-on projects in: set and prop construction, hanging & focusing lights, painting, makeup, and stage management. Other topics include theater terminology, safety procedures, and hand & power-tool usage. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Creative & Performing Arts requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Humanities requirement.)

ART 131: Studio Art: Drawing

The primary purpose of this introductory drawing course is to help you develop your ability to interpret and record the world around you. This course provides you with techniques to translate the 3-dimensional world into 2 dimensions. You learn the basics of line, value, and composition to help translate observations and ideas into drawings. Through this course, you develop a visual vocabulary to critically examine the world and develop themes that you will communicate visually. The course also helps you gain valuable problem-solving skills, hone your ability to concentrate, work through failure, and develop confidence in improvisation and experimentation. This is a technical drawing course. Limited to first- and second-year students or Art Majors. Other Juniors and Seniors must have permission from the instructor to enroll. Course Fee Applies. (This course satisfies Creative & Performing Arts.)

ARTH 202: Photography of the Street

What role does the street play in photography, and how did street photography develop as a genre within the medium? How does street photography prompt us to consider and reconsider the role of photography in our daily life? In documenting our world? In history? This class considers the role of the street photography and its evolution in understanding our world, and the ways in which this approach to representation might complicate our understanding of photography as a medium. We examine key photographers from Thomas Annon and Eugene Atget to Gary Winograd, and John Free as well as historical texts and the specific considerations that develop when we take the street and its people as our subject. In addition, we take what we learn about the development of street photography out to the street to explore street photography ourselves in a practical sense. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Humanities and Domestic Pluralism.)

BUSN 328: Accounting for Nonprofit Entities

This course introduces students to the accounting practices of not-for-profit entities, including governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as hospitals, universities, and voluntary health and welfare organizations. Students gain an understanding of governmental and not-for-profit GAAP standards and learn how to prepare financial statements for nonprofits. The course covers government fund and non-fund accounts, proprietary funds, fiduciary funds, and the relationship between FASB and GASP. Prerequisite: BUSN 230 or permission of instructor

CSCI 107: Introduction to Web Programming

A broad introduction to World Wide Web programming and related technologies. Topics include Internet history and its architecture, managing an account on a Web server, HTML markup, use of style sheets (CSS), page layout design, introduction to interactive programming with JavaScript, the document object model (DOM), and HTML forms. This is a general audience course suitable for those with no prior programming experience. (This course satisfies Quantitative Reasoning and Technology Intensive.)

EDUC 340: Africa in Films: Pol., Edu., & Dev.

(Africa in Films: Politics, Education, and Development.) Africa is an enigma in global imagination. This course uses film as lens to explore historical, cultural, political, and theoretical perspectives on education and social change in African societies. Specifically, it examines the role of politics in the broader contexts education and international development. Key themes--such as tradition and modernity, culture and identity, power and politics, demography and ecology, gods and technology--all draw from historical and contemporary representations of Africa in films to deepen our understanding of the complex origins of humanity and its relationship with rest of the world. Class sessions feature films in/on Africa and discussions on select themes relating to indigenous political institutions, empire, the state, international relations, education, and social change. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science and Global Perspective.)
cross listed: CINE 340

ENGL 135: Creative Writing

A beginning course in the art of writing fiction, poetry, and nonfiction prose. Literary analysis will be combined with creative assignments. Group discussions and individual conferences. (Not open to students who have completed English 235.) (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Creative & Performing Arts requirement.)

ENGL 238: Literature/Culture in the Age of AI

This course explores representations of Artificial Intelligence in post-1900 American literature and culture. Students engage with various depictions of AI—from embodied androids and cyborgs to non-embodied computer systems and networked intelligence—and engage with relevant critical readings. The course examines how these texts reflect, critique, and speculate upon the evolving relationship between humans and AI. Key themes include the ethical implications of AI, the nature of consciousness/sentience in textual representation, the impact of AI technology on identity and society, and the potential for algorithmic bias and social control. Through a blend of textual analysis, class discussions, and research projects—as well as the student use of AI in their class projects to achieve the FFC Technology Tag—students critically examine how cultural texts mirror AI technology while influencing its development and perception.

FIN 210: Financial Management

This course provides an overview of the questions and problems faced by financial managers, as well as an introduction to the basic set of tools they use to help them make optimal investment and financing decisions under conditions of risk and uncertainty. The main topics include time value of money, the valuation of bond and stocks, the trade-off between risk and return, the efficient markets hypothesis, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), cost of capital, and a brief introduction to derivative securities and international finance issues. Prerequisites: ECON 110 and ECON/BUSN/FIN 130 with grades of C- or better.

HIST 241: Charlemagne & the Forging of Europe

300 years after the "fall of Rome," a barbarian named Charlemagne was crowned emperor and a renewal of imperial forms and governance transpired in western Europe. This course unearths the circumstances that led to the rise, spread, and fall of the first medieval pan-European empire, from the collapse of western Roman power in the fifth century to the collapse of Carolingian power at the end of the ninth. We examine how the Latin Christian church and barbarian kings preserved and transformed aspects of Roman life; how a family of usurpers from northern Europe came to dominate the former western provinces; how colonization and imperialism within Europe prefigured the expansion of European colonizers across the globe; how both elites and commoners experienced a Carolingian world; how the experiences of free and unfree persons shaped these communities; and how the idea of Europe itself was forged within the crucible of Charlemagne's empire. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Humanities and Global Perspective.)

MATH 110: Calculus I

The calculus of functions of one variable. Limits, continuity, differentiation, and applications; a brief introduction to integration. Prerequisite: 3.5 years of high school mathematics (to include trigonometry) or Mathematics 105. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)

MATH 150: Intro Probability & Statistics

Designed for students in the social and life sciences. Discrete probability theory, distributions, sampling, correlation, and regression, Chi square and other tests of significance. Emphasis on the use of the computer as a tool and on applications to a variety of disciplines. Not open to students who have taken ECON/BUSN 180 or ECON/BUSN/FIN 130. (This course satisfies Quantitative Reasoning.)

PHIL 100: Justice in the Shadows: Batman and Philosophy

Justice in the Shadows: Batman and Philosophy. "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman." From the Golden Age (1939-1960s) to the Rebirth Era (2016-present), Bat-Man's profoundly human, all too human evolution has captured the popular imagination like no other superhero. The Avenger of the Night exemplifies the complexity of the human spirit in a manner unparalleled in the world of comics. This course examines the philosophical dimensions of the Dark Knight's graphic novels. We explore the fear and loathing that both plagues Gotham and gives birth to the World's Greatest Detective. Additionally, we venture into the rich cultural iconography of the Caped Crusader in television, film, and the animated series. This course offers students a unique opportunity to sharpen their skills in public speaking, literary and philosophical analysis, creative expression, and multimedia presentation. Some of the key questions we answer include: What is Batman's ethical code? What do Batman's villains tell us about the human condition? How did the death of Batman's parents move him towards fighting crime rather than becoming a criminal himself? Unmask the philosophy behind the hero and gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted world of the Gotham Guardian.

PHIL 203: Business & Professional Ethics

This course examines the moral and ethical implications of our participation in the economy in a myriad of roles (consumers, workers, property owners, professionals, sellers/retailers/providers, members of society, and stakeholders more broadly). Course materials range from theoretical and classical to contemporary scholarship on particular cases to media. Goals for the course may include: reflecting on the way human nature underwrites our economic structures, determining characteristics and limits of morally beneficial relationships and interactions, critiquing socioeconomic arrangements in our contemporary sphere. (This course satisfies Humanities and Speaking Intensive.)

POLS 120: Introduction to American Politics

Origins of the American political system, basic institutions, political parties and interest groups, and evolution of constitutional interpretation. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: AMER 119

POLS 219: Politics of Latin America

An introduction to politics and social change in Latin America. Study will focus on several Latin American countries and on special topics such as human rights, religion, the military, land reform, women, and population policy. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Social Science and Global Perspective.)
cross listed: LNAM 219, IREL 259

POLS 243: Fake News, Free Speech

(Fake News, Free Speech and Foreign Influence in American Democracy.) This course focuses on contemporary issues facing public discourse in the United States and explores the dangers inherent in online content. We discuss such questions as: What are the strengths and weaknesses of using internet technology to organize people? How do social media platforms and their ad-driven algorithms bias our worldview? How are democratic elections and mass protests shaped by your unique news feeds? A constitutional perspective on freedom of speech and the press is presented. Substantive topics include analysis of online social movements, legal analysis of federal regulation of social media, federal election law, foreign interference in national politics, and a technical review of social media platforms. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)

POLS 354: Identity Politics

It is hard to observe recent politics without noticing the seeming central importance of identity and identity-based claims made both by citizens and politicians to press their respective agendas. In this course, we examine this phenomenon thoroughly and critically via an interdisciplinary approach. While our focus is largely on the contemporary United States, we also engage with analogous international cases. While we approach this topic historically, empirically, and theoretically, our main goal is to assess what kinds of identity-based claims (if any) are best suited for the healthy functioning of a liberal and diverse democracy. Prerequisite: POLS 120. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Domestic Pluralism and Writing requirements. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)

PSYC 360: Cognitive Psychology

Surveys the history, philosophy, and research surrounding selected issues in cognitive psychology, including perception, attention, memory, language, imagery, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students will learn what is currently known about these topics, the problems facing researchers, and how researchers go about solving these problems. They also will be given the opportunity to experience cognitive psychology research first-hand, as they participate in classic experiments and learn to analyze, interpret, and write up their results. Prerequisite: Psychology 222 with a grade of at least C-.
cross listed: NEUR 360

SOAN 110: Intro to Sociology and Anthropology

Sociology and anthropology share a focus on exploring the social (group rather than individual) bases of human practices and behaviors. Both disciplines study social interaction and such social institutions as family and religion. This course introduces students to key concepts for viewing the world through sociological and anthropological lenses, including cultural relativism, material culture, and the social construction of human experience through categories like race, class, and gender. Limited to first- and second-year students. Not open to students who have taken SOAN 100. (This course satisfies Social Science.)
cross listed: IREL 160

THTR 260: Design: Stage and Screen

(Design for Stage and Screen.) This course is an introduction to the processes and principles of design. It covers the development of a design concept through script reading and analysis; the discussion and analysis of professional set, costume, lighting, and sound designs; training in basic drafting skills; and lecture information on theater and film technology and terminology. Several design projects are coupled with text readings and hands-on work with lighting instruments, and sound and lighting control systems. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Creative & Performing Arts.)
cross listed: CINE 260

ART 142: Digital Design Foundations

Digital Foundations uses formal exercises of the Bauhaus to teach the Adobe Creative Suite. The curriculum decodes digital tools and culture while explaining fundamental visual design principles within a historical context. Students develop an understanding of the basic principles of design in order to implement them using current software. There are no prerequisites for this course. Course Fee Applies. (This course satisfies Creative & Performing Arts and Technology Intensive.)

BUSN 330: Intermediate Accounting

Accounting concepts, principles, and theory with an emphasis on the special problems that arise in applying these concepts to external reporting. This course is typically offered every fall semester. Prerequisite: Business 230 with a grade of C- or better and COLL 150 or instructor permission.

COLL 150 (0.5 cr): Data Analytics using Excel

In this course, students learn basic and intermediate Microsoft Excel skills to help them analyze data and model outcomes. Students will learn how to perform spreadsheet calculations, create and interpret graphs and charts, execute Excel formulas and functions, manage workbook data, analyze table data, automate worksheet tasks, employ macros and VBA, and conduct "what if" analyses. Students who do not own a Microsoft PC computer will need to use the college computer labs to complete the work in this class. This course is administered entirely through Moodle. The instructor provides recorded lectures and hosts live office hours to provide support for students as needed. Self-guided work is to begin immediately upon the semester beginning. To start the coursework, students go to the Moodle page and read the syllabus to understand the sequencing of the course and to start working on the assignments. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Technology requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Social Science requirement.)

MATH 110: Calculus I

The calculus of functions of one variable. Limits, continuity, differentiation, and applications; a brief introduction to integration. Prerequisite: 3.5 years of high school mathematics (to include trigonometry) or Mathematics 105. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)

NEUR 118: Our Amazing Brain

This course will introduce students to the science behind how a human brain functions and produces behaviors. This amazing organ is composed of billions of neurons that form trillions of connections with each other. These neurons allow us to sense and perceive the world around us, integrate new experiences with old ones, form thoughts and actions, and develop consciousness and personality. In this course, students will discover how brain dysfunction is the root cause of many illnesses, including addiction, schizophrenia, depression, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Students will also have the opportunity to work with preserved brains. No prior experience with science is required to succeed in this course. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Natural Sciences requirement. Under the old GEC, this course meets the Natural Science & Mathematics requirement.)
cross listed: BIOL 118, PSYC 118

POLS 276: Law, War and Intelligent Machines

(Law, War and Intelligent Machines: The Laws of War and the History and Use of Cybernetics and Autonomous Military Technologies.) This course is about the changing nature of warfare conducted by the U.S. government and other state actors in the 21st Century. We review international law as it relates to conventional warfare and non-kinetic hostilities such as cybernetic actions between states, along with the political responses. We investigate the history and development of the U.S. military forces after 1940, in conjunction with the development of communication, computational and autonomous technologies. We examine the justification of the use of military force by political speakers and analyze them within a legal and ethical framework. This course integrates international law, international norms and analysis of public policies of the U.S. and other states to provide a framework for the use of military force in the 21st Century. No prerequisites. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the Social Sciences and Speaking requirements.)

POLS 281: America’s Democracy Deficit

The United States is one of the least democratic republics in the world today. Anti-majoritarian institutions – such as the U.S. Senate, which assigns two seats to each state regardless of population, the Senate filibuster and cloture rules, the Electoral College, extreme political gerrymandering, and the country's first-past-the-post, winner-take-all election system – impede majority rule. Democratic theorists agree that certain limits on majority rule are necessary to protect the rights of the minority and prevent the "tyranny of the majority." The problem with America's anti-majoritarian institutions is that they entrench minority rule, which makes it very difficult for majorities to advance their shared political interests democratically. This "tyranny of the minority" is dangerous because it undermines the legitimacy of the American system of government. This course investigates the causes and consequences of America's democracy deficit and offers remedies for forging a more perfect Union in the form of a majoritarian political system for the 21st century. No Prerequisites.

POLS 202: Sports and Politics

This course examines the intersection of sports and politics in both domestic and international contexts. Questions we examine include: should athletes be allowed or encouraged to express their political viewpoints on and off the field; to what extent are sports leagues and consortiums best considered as political organizations; are international sports more likely to foment nationalism or cross-cultural dialogue; is contemporary electoral politics itself profitably labeled as a sport?

PSYC 150: Foundations of Experimental Psych

(Foundations of Experimental Psychology.) Foundations of Experimental Psychology is designed to develop a conceptual and quantitative understanding of experimental research in psychology. In this course, students gain experience with reviewing primary research articles, identifying the fundamental components of experimental design, replicating classic experiments, completing descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using SPSS, and communicating scientific research. This course is delivered via an online platform with video tutorials, readings, practice activities, quizzes, and a final exam. The course is self-paced and requires regular, independent work by the student. The instructor hosts several office hours to provide support for students as needed. The course is intended to be a skills-building and preparatory course for subsequent enrollment into PSYC 221L (Research Methods & Statistics I), particularly for students who have not completed a laboratory-based introduction to psychological science course. Students who have taken PSYC 110L will not receive credit for this course. This 0.25-credit course is graded Pass-Fail and has no prerequisites.

RELG 239: Religion and Public Health

This course examines religion as a social determinant of public health and introduces students to meditation and other mind-body practices, which have been successfully applied in medical settings. Using an innovative methodology called Reacting to the Past, students delve into key historical moments that shaped modern approaches to biology, public health, and epidemiology, participating in extended role-playing games informed by influential texts in the history of ideas. Students also analyze selected practices of ordinary people in Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity that shape health behaviors; assess the role of religious organizations in ongoing epidemic threats (COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, and Alzheimer's); and study connections between religion and public health (e.g., legacy of the social gospel movement in US Public Health Reform, impact of religious views on reproductive health, and application of meditation techniques in health care). Assessments include a sequence of verbal and written assignments, including in-character speeches, culminating in a final oral presentation. No prerequisites. (This course satisfies Domestic Pluralism and Speaking Intensive.)