SPI
100 |
American
Culture for International Students
This course will present an overview of U.S. culture for
international students. Topics to be included are: history;
immigration (ethnic diversity); government; education; the environment
and regionalism; cultural life (art, architecture, music); sports
and recreation; and short literary selections. Satisfies general
studies humanities-advanced foreign language culture requirement. |
|
SPI
125
|
Career
Decision Making: Selecting Your Concentration
A career planning course designed to assist freshman and sophomores,
especially Alpha students, select an appropriate concentration
and career direction. Weekly seminars, discussion groups and
field experiences will enable students to assess their interests,
skills and other factors necessary to the career decision-making
process. Elective credit only. |
|
SPI
160
|
Introduction
to Information Systems and Microcomputers
An introduction to the world of information technologies.
This course will include an understanding of the building blocks
that make up information systems. In addition, computer applications
software will be surveyed. About 30 percent of the course content
deals with these software packages. The course concludes with
an in-depth look at ethical and social issues related to information
systems. This course is an excellent preparation for completing
the Computer Literacy Program described earlier in the catalog.
|
|
SPI
170
|
Environmental
Introductory Colloquium
An introduction to the interdisciplinary aspects of environmental
policy-making and interpretation, with analysis drawn from the
fields of economics, psychology, political science, law, and
science. Topics include the economic costs of a clean environment;
psychological attitudes and beliefs in the human relationship
to the environment; political actors and forces in environmental
policy; and scientific uncertainty and its policy implications. |
| SPI
203 |
Science
in the Modern World with Laboratory
This course for the non-science concentrator provides an introduction
to the discipline and methodology of science through a survey
of fundamental topics in chemistry, biology, and earth science,
with the added intent of relating these fundamentals to life
experiences when applicable. The laboratory deals with selected
topics drawn from lecture material. Three hours lecture, three
hours laboratory per week. Satisfies the natural science laboratory
science requirement. |
|
SPI
206
|
Nutrition
Concepts and Controversies
An overview of nutrition principles that influence eating
behaviors, impact energy metabolism and maintain health. Surveys
the science upon which dietary standards and popular nutritional
claims are based. Students perform a comprehensive analysis
of their nutritional intake, energy expenditure and fitness
patterns. Includes a three-hour lab per week. |
|
SPI
235
|
Topics
in World Literature
These courses, designed primarily for general studies credit,
focus upon selected authors, major literary forms, or upon significant
intellectual issues in World literature. Foreign literary works
will be read in translation. Because these multiple-sectioned
courses are intended to offer a variety of options for students,
course topics will be made available prior to registration each
semester. May be repeated with a new topic. The instructors
for these courses are generally from the Modern Foreign Languages
and Literatures Department. |
|
SPI
244
|
Science
and Gender
How have the theories and organization of science reflected
and influenced conceptions of gender? Is science affected by
and does it reinforce sexist biases? This course will examine
the views of selected philosophers and scientists on women,
providing a basis for study of contemporary feminist interpretations
of science, including critiques of both the theories of knowledge
and reality central to science and the research programs of
particular sciences. Within this framework, the historical situation
of women as scientists will be assessed. This course is considered
a philosophy course for the general studies humanities requirement.
|
|
SPI
260
|
Computer Applications in a Business Environment
An introduction to the use of computers as an accounting and
business management tool. Students will use various packages
to prepare forecasts, budgets, financial statement analyses,
and management reports. Course assignments require an introductory
knowledge of spreadsheets and word processing.
Prerequisite: ACC 101
|
|
SPI
300
|
Research
Design and Analysis in Biology
This course is designed to allow science concentrators the
opportunity to develop fundamental elements of good research
design in descriptive, correlational and experimental methods,
including basic survey methodology. Students will learn to understand
and use descriptive statistical measures and the application
of simple inferential statistical tests. This course fulfills
the statistics requirement for Biology and Environmental Science
concentrators, but is not available for Psychobiology concentrators. |
SPECIAL INTEREST COURSES