Interdisciplinary Studies-Social Sciences

Explore statistical concepts for public safety decision-making by understanding the logic of inquiry, data analysis, and interpretation. Learn to conduct descriptive and inferential analyses using real public safety data, interpret results, and communicate findings. Students build practical skills to inform effective choices in public safety. No advanced math prerequisite required.

Examines issues that arise as one studies individual and societal activities from an international perspective. Provides tools that will assist students in more individualized explorations of international studies.

Provides an introductory exploration of public safety management, examining the structures, roles, and responsibilities of public safety agencies in the U.S. and beyond. Explores key leadership, operational, technological, legal, and ethical considerations in managing public safety organizations.

Examines democracy, free speech, elections and the press; considers the role of a free press in a time of civil discord, challenges to free speech in America at large and on college campuses; evaluates threats to democracy and the electoral process by analyzing Russian hacking and the role of PACs and Super PACs; examines mainstream and social media, "fake news" and posits if democracy can survive in a culture of 24/7 news coverage and "tweets."

Explores several critical issues in democracy, relating to both the United States and countries abroad, such as: the examination of ancient and modern theories of democracy, political parties, the Presidency, voting, foreign policy, and the development of international relations.

Examines the history of American politics since the 1960's. Key areas of study include political factors that influence the way U.S. presidents design their domestic and foreign policy agenda, the role of opposing views from special interest groups and political parties in decision making, and critical decisions made by presidents from civil rights legislation to the Iraq and Afghanistan War and Obamacare and how they affect our daily lives.

Explores topics in American history from the American Revolution through the United States Civil War using scholarship applied to critical visits to historic sites and museums.

Surveys major trends in 19 century world history. Explores a representative sample of peoples and cultures of the period. Considers how societies in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia coped with similar problems and innovations. Introduces students to theoretical frameworks for world and comparative history. Explores the processes of cultural interaction and globalization. Introduces students to a broad range of sources.

Integrates academic learning with professional experience through project-based collaboration using the Riipen platform. Students will work with community and industry partners on real-world challenges that align with their academic pathways. Projects will allow students to apply disciplinary knowledge, practice professional skills, and reflect on the relationship between theory and practice.

Examines the media's role in conveying cultural meaning through popular culture. Analyzes the histories and theories underlying media and popular culture; focusing on print, film, radio, television, the internet, and social media. Critiques contemporary popular culture through music, movies, tv programming, advertising, sports, fashion, celebrity culture, language, and collective public expression.

Examines American popular music using Michael Billig's work Banal Nationalism. Helps students understand the day-to-day cultural scaffolding of their lives, and the larger narrative and ideological project of America. Contextualizes popular music's vision using sociological and literary contributions of the same era. Places American popular music within a wider parallel examination of America's post-Vietnam search for purpose and meaning.

Develops thoughtful and informed perspectives on some of the most intriguing news stories of our times. Examines aspects of current event topics. Students will have opportunities to share their discoveries and report their findings and judgments and discuss the relevant issues.

Examines biological and genetic predispositions for major mental illness diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar, and personality disorders. Explores current treatment models, including medication and therapy interventions. Engages students in analyzing recent scholarly articles and clinical case studies; and conducting independent research.

Explores major theoretical approaches to understanding the development, structure, and dynamics of personality. Analyzes recent scholarship and various research methods, with projects for students to apply leading theories in real-world social and professional settings.

Examines major theories of social influence and human relations, with a focus on research methodologies and recent findings. Covers topics such as social cognition, self-concept, attitudes, persuasion, conformity, aggression, helping behavior, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships. Provides opportunities for students to critically examine the scientific literature and undertake research assignments to apply theory to modern societal issues.

Students will explore a variety of psychological topics in depth, from these major disciplines within psychology: Developmental, Social, Clinical, and Cognitive, and discuss their impact on the field of psychology and how they apply to behavior and life experience. Learning will be assessed by essay responses to questions posed from journal articles, book chapters, and class discussions and demonstrations.

Gives a fundamental overview of Emotional Intelligence and shows how understanding Emotional Intelligence leads to a beneficial working career and personal life. Presents an E.I. competence framework and reviews basic domains, such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management through various methods to promote learning by doing. Applies theoretical concepts to real world situations.

Explores an individual's psychological development in today's world. Investigates communication and relationships among individuals, families, and societies. Examines cognitive, social and emotional developmental changes that affect one's self and environment. Considers how technology influences many aspects of development including research in genetics, involvement with computers and apps, application of new medical research, and aging.

Explores one significant theme in the social sciences and/or humanities such as liberation, power, equality, diversity, rights, justice, war, happiness, love, and beauty, through the study of one significant and influential classic or contemporary book or  work of art. Students engage with the subject and enhance their critical reading, writing, thinking, and discussion skills.

Provides students with the conceptual framework and methods of economic science necessary for analyzing a variety of contemporary economic problems. The usefulness of these economic concepts will be taught as applications to specific public policy issues.

Examines the economic costs of food, including subsidies, production practices, ecological sustainability and health impacts; analyzes institutional factors contributing to potential market distortions in the food market system; evaluates the factors that characterize the current system such as the reliance on chemical pesticides and organic alternatives.

Introduces the study of race and ethnic relations, including the social and economic conditions promoting prejudice, racism, discrimination, and segregation. Examines contemporary American conditions, and historical and international materials.

Surveys Western attitudes toward magic and witchcraft from ancient times to the present, with emphasis on the European age of witch hunting, 1450-1750.

Designed to serve as an overview and exploration in the ever-growing field of leadership studies, the purpose of this course is to learn about leadership- to be better at leadership, whether in an organization, community, family, or some other context. A wide-range of topics and issues will be examined through historical and modern conceptions, case studies, moral and ethical sides of leadership, and focused looks at crisis leadership.

Examines business management and leadership methods when working with cultural issues in today's international businesses. Addresses challenges and opportunities that different cultures create. Explores through classroom activities how to meet the challenges that may occur and addresses examples of diversity in a global setting.