J-term classes

ART 124 – Mobile Digital Photography; Brandon Bauer; online asynchronous instruction

This course is an introductory course in the creative use of mobile digital media. Students will learn basic techniques that will help them to take better photographs with a smartphone. The course will cover image acquisition, image manipulation, and creative control. The final work will be output for critique through online forums. The course will progress as an exploration of mobile photography tools and applications. The course will provide foundational skills for understanding and increasing control of photographic techniques and processes through a smartphone.

BIOL 410 – Disease Ecology; Adam Brandt; online synchronous instruction M-F from 9-10 a.m.

A lecture, laboratory, and discussion course on the scientific study of disease ecology with an emphasis on the One Health initiative. This course will focus on ecological and evolutionary processes that drive the transmission of pathogens between hosts; the impact of disease on host populations; and what causes the emergence of an infectious disease. Content will incorporate concepts from a wide range of subjects (e.g. microbiology, genetics, virology, ecology, animal behavior, etc.) to examine both wildlife and human diseases such as Zika, Ebola, influenza, malaria, white nose syndrome, Lyme disease, HIV, chytrid fungus, chronic wasting disease, and many others.

BUAD 386 – Leading Through Adversity; Jamie O’Brien; online asynchronous instruction

This class will take an interdisciplinary approach that includes psychology, communication, and management and examine some of the most historic human error case studies. It will explore scenarios where:

• leaders and managers must solve significant problems;
• humans have made critical errors,
• the role of the individual is vital in solving these problems in various settings,
• recommendations need to be made so as to learn from these scenarios and stories.

These case studies will explore a variety of areas: societal problems (for example – leadership in the face of challenging societal norms), cultural problems (for example – leadership issues in different cultural contexts), decision-making (for example – the biases that cause human error and prevent robust decision-making), and understanding how individuals interact (for example – how humans working in groups can cause problems and how we solve them), to name a few.

BUAD 689 – Social Responsibility; Erik Nieman; M, T, Th from 6-9 p.m. – 2 CREDITS

COME 320 – Crisis Communication; Mark Glantz; online asynchronous instruction

This course considers how human beings use communication to repair our reputations and keep us safe in times of crisis. It considers several perspectives on apologetic rhetoric, including Benoit’s theory of image repair discourse and Koesten & Rowland’s writings about the rhetoric of atonement. The course also examines the role of crisis communication plans and social media in responding to crises such as natural disasters and national security concerns. 


COME 364 – Media Law and Ethics; Kendal Rasnake; online asynchronous instruction

This course examines the origins and background principles of media law with a focus on Supreme Court cases and agency regulations that govern media action and consequences. Operation of the media within the law and guiding principles will be examined as well as the consequences that result when laws or principles are violated. Highlighted will be ethical dilemmas that can occur even when laws are obeyed or when laws come into conflict with other laws.

ECON 101 – Principles of Macroeconomics; Marc Schaffer; online asynchronous instruction

Introduction to macroeconomic problems – unemployment and inflation. National income accounting – measures of gross domestic product. Aggregate demand and supply. Fiscal and monetary policies. Open-economy issues.

GEOG 225 – Social Geography; Eric Schurer; online asynchronous instruction

This course provides an introductory survey of geographic themes and concepts of social and cultural relevance in our fast-changing world, with a particular emphasis on the United States. The course offers an opportunity to raise understanding of and appreciation for geographic realities in the lives of others — as well as in our own daily existence. Topics include population dynamics, migration, ethnicity, gender, language, religion, urbanization and the political landscape. Geographic/spatial aspects of these issues are examined on a variety of scales in diverse locales. Map work is emphasized.

GEOL 105 – Geology with lab; Rebecca McKean; online asynchronous instruction

A study of geological phenomena involved in the formation of the Earth’s surface and subsurface features, the interrelationship between humans and the geological environment, and the application of the science of geology to problems resulting from the ever-more intense use of the materials of the Earth’s crust. The course includes lectures, discussions, labs and field trips.

MATH-128 – Intro to Statistics; Jacob Laubacher; online synchronous instruction M-F from 11 a.m-12 p.m.

This course offers a background in combinatorics, probability, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics to prepare students to succeed in successive courses, especially BUAD 228. Students apply quantitative thinking and application of software to practical problems in the real world. Prerequisite: MATH 102 or placement.

MATH-131 – Calculus + Analytic Geometry 1; Jonathan Dunbar; online synchronous instruction M-F from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Pre-calculus mathematics will be presumed but reviewed as needed. Topics include limits and continuity of functions; the derivative, its meaning, computation and applications; the definite integral, its meaning, computation and applications; differentiation and integration of logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions; and the fundamental theorem of calculus. Prerequisite: four years of college preparatory math in high school or MATH 115. Note: Students may not receive credit for both MATH 124 and MATH 131.

MUSI 150 – Survey of World Musics; Jamie Waroff; online synchronous instruction M, W, F from 9-10:30 a.m.

This course provides a basic introduction of world music methods and problems, and surveys several non-Western musical cultures including the cultures of Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Southeastern Europe, Latin America, India and Native American. Students will listen to and analyze representative works, and do independent research on a pertinent topic.

MUSI 184 – History of American Popular Music; Eric High; online asynchronous instruction

The course will cover the history of popular music in the United States from the late 19th-century to the present day. Genres discussed include modern styles such as rock, R & B, hip-hop, folk, country, jazz, ragtime, blues, and early musical theater. A chronological study of popular styles will expose students to important songwriters and performers and show how their music was influenced by elements like racial prejudice, political events and social structures. Modern technological influences (radio, recording media, television, computers) will also be explored.

MUSI 276 – Music and Catholocism; John-Francis Hennecken; online asynchronous instruction

This course focuses on the Catholic intellectual tradition and its profound dialogue with music. This course will explore genres in Catholic music such as the mass, requiem mass, oratorio, passion, and other biblically inspired works. Course content will generally focus on pieces of music that are inspired by sacred texts. With each work, students will engage with the meaning of the text and how the music exemplifies it. Through the study of music fundamentals, we will aim to build frameworks for listening that increase understanding and transform the listening experience. Coursework will involve readings, exercises in listening, lecture, discussion posts, and short essays. Students will improve communication skills and contemplate how the course material impacts a life lived with purpose.

PHIL 120 – Philosophy Foundations in Human Nature; Jennifer Henrigillis; online asynchronous instruction

This course provides a thematic and historical introduction to basic philosophical issues regarding human nature utilizing primary texts from established figures in the philosophical tradition. Topics include the moral dimension of human experience, the fundamental nature of the world, the nature of truth and knowledge, and justice. Readings include dialogues of Plato, authors from at least three of the four philosophical epochs (ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary), and at least one author from the Christian philosophical tradition. Emphasis will be placed on methods of logical inquiry including Socratic dialectic, deductive and inductive inference, and other forms of philosophical discourse with the goal of developing the student’s skills in written and oral communication.

PHIL 389 – Gender Based Violence Prevention and Masculinity; Sydney Keough; online synchronous instruction M, F from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

POLI 362 – Global South and 21st Century; Gratzia Villarroel; online asynchronous instruction

This course explores the impact of globalization on the political institutions of developing nations. It addresses the complex political, economic, and social challenges and opportunities that the Global South faces in an increasingly interdependent world. Students will focus on the political histories of developing nations, the makeup of their political structures and institutions, the proliferation of domestic and international political actors and the emergence of diverse forms of democratic regimes. Students will be encouraged to explore the legitimacy and efficacy of national, subnational, and supranational forms of governance in the 21st century.

PSYC 289 – Forensic Psychology; Carolyn Uhl; online asynchronous instruction

SSCI 301 – Environment and Society with lab; Melanie Jackson; online asynchronous instruction

This course familiarizes students with an array of environmental issues concerning human interaction with the natural world. Environmental problems are present at all scales ranging from local to global — and in our everyday lives. The course will examine, via lecture and discussion/lab sessions, varied examples of environmental issues — their causes, dimensions, and distributions. The course will explore proven or possible solutions, and “trade-offs” associated with these solutions. Topics include basic ecological principles, the value of biodiversity, human population issues, food production, air and water pollution, and energy resources and use. Students may not take both SSCI 301 and ENVS 300 for credit.  

SSCI 408 – Social Inequalities; Omobolade Delano-Oriaran; online asynchronous instruction

The exploration of social inequality will move beyond the place of individuals in society and try to understand how social inequality is a feature of society. Students will see themselves in some of what they are studying and they will find much of the subject matter familiar. At the same time, the course is intended to encourage students to think in different ways about some of what is “known” and taken for granted in large sections of society. Students will read materials that may present perspectives far different from what they have heard before. It is expected that students will be surprised, perplexed, challenged and perhaps angered by some of the material. Moreover, because the course examines issues that affect us daily, this course will elicit more than intellectual growth. Since each person is a part of the world and occupies positions in systems of social inequality, students will find themselves dealing with emotional and spiritual questions about who they are and where they fit into the world.

SOCI 100 – Introduction to Sociology; Erinn Brooks; online asynchronous instruction

This course examines the basic nature of human relationships, customs, institutions, social structure and culture. It emphasizes how they affect our beliefs and behavior and how they express our fundamental concerns and values. The course teaches the basic concepts, methods and perspectives of sociology as a social science and it uses them to consider such topics as family life, groups and organizations, racial/ethnic, gender and class inequality, religious and political movements, and social problems.

SOCI 238 – Human Behavior in Social Environments; Kim Kaczmarowski; online asynchronous instruction

This course examines theories and knowledge of human biological, sociological, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development across the lifespan. Individual, family, group, organizational, and community social systems are explored to assess the ways these social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and wellbeing.

SPAN 102 – Elementary Spanish 2; Judy Cervantes; online synchronous instruction M, W, F from 12-2 p.m.

Continuation of SPAN 101. Prerequisite: SPAN 101 or formal placement.

THEA 237 – History of Clothing and Fashion; April Beiswenger; online asynchronous instruction

This class is a survey of the history of clothing and its relationship to culture and society. It will familiarize the student with the period styles from pre-historical to modern times and how these styles are a reflection of individual communication and cultural expression.