LIBERAL STUDIES

Art History

AH 100 Art History Survey I.

A chronological study of Western art from prehistoric times to the Renaissance, the course provides an understanding of movements, time periods and individual artists and may include discussion of non-Western traditions.

Prerequisite: None

AH 150 Art History Survey II.

A continuation of AH100, this course surveys Western art from the Renaissance to the present, including influential trends toward modernism in the twentieth century. Lectures may also include non-Western traditions.

Prerequisite: None

AH100 and AH150 are prerequisites for all Art History courses at the 200 level or above.

AH 200 Renaissance Art.

Architecture, sculpture, and painting from the early Renaissance through the sixteenth century are explored along with perspective, new stylistic conventions and changing roles for artists.

AH 210 Baroque Art.

An exploration of the dynamic spread of the Baroque style from Rome to the rest of Europe and Latin America. Included are works by masters such as Caravaggio, Bernini,
Velásquez, Rubens and Rembrandt.


AH 220 Expressionism.

This course examines aspects of German Expressionism in the painting, architecture and music of Germany and France.


AH 225 Nineteenth-Century Art.

A study of the major movements of the nineteenth-century, including Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.


AH 230 Contemporary Art.

An examination of art and theory since 1945. The course may take a historical approach, or emphasis may be placed on particular artists or movements.


AH 240 Paris Between the Wars.

An examination of the changes in social, political and economic ideas between the two world wars and how the arts reflected these changes. Special attention is given to the influence of Paris, but other art centers may be included.


AH 250 History of Graphic Design.

An academic survey of the historical and contemporary visual languages of the discipline of graphic design. The pioneers of modern design, the constructed expression of concept and the technological evolution of visual communication are investigated.


AH 280 Women in Art.

An exploration of gender issues as they pertain to women in the history of art. Topics include a general historical survey of women artists; the role of women throughout history and how these roles affected the availability of artistic training for women; the representation of women in art; feminist art criticism and theory; and the discussion of revisionist art “herstory” since the 1970’s.


AH 300 Art of First People.

A study of the traditions, beliefs, arts, and crafts of indigenous populations, such as those of North and South America, Mesoamerica and sub-Saharan Africa. The focus is on a particular population in a given semester. The course may be repeated once when the content changes.


AH 303 Art of Asia.

Exploration of the art and culture of Asia, specifically India, China, Japan, Korea or Southeast Asia. Focus of the course may change each semester. The styles of the given country are studied in various media, including bronze, ceramic, painting and architecture. Modernist and contemporary developments are also considered. The course may be repeated once when the content changes.


AH 310 History of Film 1.

The film as an art form is explored through a number of possible avenues. The course may take a historical and developmental approach, or it may concentrate on particular writers, directors, genres, motifs and countries.


AH 311 History of Film 2.

A continuation of Film Studies I, commencing with German Expressionism and its influence on the American genre of film noir. Extending from the classical through the contemporary cinema, selected American and international films form the basis of an exploration of film artistry, technique and theory. Readings accompany each film and serve as a basis for discussion. Film Studies 1 is not a prerequisite, although it is recommended.


AH320 History of Photography.

Historical issues from the invention of photography in the early nineteenth-century to the present. Special emphasis may be given to particular periods, techniques, and/or photographers. The question of photography as a fine art is examined as are various aesthetic and social issues associated with the medium.


AH 330 Art and Architecture.

Architecture and its relation to sculpture, painting, and other arts through history is studied. This course may emphasize architecture’s relation to social and political life, world cultures, or artistic movements.


AH 331 Modern Architecture 1.

Trends and styles in Europe and the U.S. from Jefferson to World War II, including the
skyscraper, Wright, the Bauhaus, Art Deco, vernacular building, and the contributions of minorities are studied. Site visits may be included.


AH 332 Modern Architecture 2.

A study of post-war optimism which led to exciting developments in design, including the fading of International Style as Postmodernism gained acceptance. Examination of the work and thought of Eames, Johnson, Kahn, Pei, Gehry and other leaders. Site visits may be included.


AH 360 The Artist and the Era.

A focus on a particular artist and cultural milieu, leading to an understanding of how time and place condition creativity and the production of art and design. Artists such as Picasso, Duchamp, and Eames have been covered in past semesters. The course may be repeated once when the content changes.


AH 370 American Art.

A survey of American artists and movements from colonial to contemporary. Various external influences as well as persistent American themes are examined. Media discussed include painting, sculpture, architecture, and film.


AH400 Art Now.

Painting, sculpture, and alternative art forms of the last decade are studied with the objective of increased understanding and appreciation of art, theory, and criticism in today’s art world. The course content is drawn from recent books, periodicals, catalogs, and reviews.


AH 420 Special Topics: Art History.

A specialized art history area is studied. Topics are announced through semester course descriptions. The course may be repeated once when the content changes.

Social Sciences

(ANY OF THESE COURSES FULFILL THE SOCIAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT)


SS 220 Introduction to Psychology.

The basic theories and principles of psychology are examined. Topics include areas of concern to artists such as perception, emotion and creativity.


SS 275 Cultural Anthropology.

The origin and development of human culture through social relations, language, government, religion and ritual are investigated, as well as problems relating to developing nations and minority groups in the modern world.


SS 333 Film and Gender.

Gender issues in contemporary society (such as sexual identity and difference, sex roles and cultural divisions) are examined employing both classical and contemporary films and documentaries. Required readings include selections from psychoanalysis, gender theory, women’s studies and postmodern philosophy.


SS 342 Women’s Studies.

The topic of “woman” and how it has been defined, examined, and represented in Western philosophy, religion, science, psychology, politics, literature, and art is explored.


SS 345 World Mythologies.

The myths, legends, and related images of various cultures are studied as illustrations of major recurring themes in the humanities as well as their connections to modern belief systems.


SS 375 Anthropology of Art.

Art is approached from an anthropological perspective in order to explain its function, diversity and cultural implications.


SS 420 Social Science: Special Topics.

A specialized Social Science area is studied. Topics are announced through semester course descriptions. The course may be repeated once when course content changes.

Natural Sciences

(ANY OF THESE COURSES FULFILL THE MATH/SCIENCE REQUIREMENT)


MA 165 Topics in Elementary Math.

Topics include operations with whole numbers, fractions, signed numbers, decimals, percents, ratio and proportion, powers and roots, systems of measurement, elementary and co-ordinate geometry.


NS 250 History of Science.

A broad history of scientific thought from the ancient Greeks to the present is explored culminating in an understanding of changing world views and the place of modern science within the intellectual and cultural traditions of Western civilization.


NS 265 Environmental Studies.

The eco-system and its relevance to scientific, cultural and social issues is studied, including an examination of such topics as global systems, organisms, scarcity, environmental law, and environmental art.


NS 310 Anatomy and Physiology.

The structure/function relationships of the human body in the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems are studied. Overall goals include an understanding of how the body works and an appreciation for the elegance of form and function. Students become familiar with anatomical and medical terminology and its application.


NS 420 Natural Science: Special Topics.

A specialized Natural Science area is studied. Topics are announced through semester course descriptions. The course may be repeated once when course content changes.

Humanities

HU 090 Grammar and Composition.

This course provides students the opportunity to gain minimum proficiency
in the grammatical, mechanical, and organizational principles of college level writing. The coursework includes exercises and short writing assignments. This course does not count toward the 120 hours required for graduation.

Prerequisite: Writing sample and ACT English sub-score below 19, or SAT verbal score below 460


HU 101 Writing 1.

A combination of reading and writing assignments are designed to develop and refine the written communication skills necessary for college level work. Emphasis is placed upon content, organization, standard English grammar and style as the student learns to look within, to reflect, to observe, and to respond intelligently to his or her own experience as well as to the experience and ideas of others.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of HU 090, ACT English sub-score of at least 19, or SAT verbal score of at least 460


HU 102 Writing 2.

Critical reading and writing is emphasized while learning to discern and analyze a writer’s primary argument and respond to it in writing. Students learn to quote, summarize, paraphrase, and synthesize material using proper documentation. The semester’s work will culminate in a documented research paper.

Prerequisite: HU 101

HU101 and HU102 are prerequisites for all Liberal Studies courses prefix (AH, HU, SS, MA or NS) at the 200 level or above.


HU 200 Introduction to Philosophy.

The primary works in the history of philosophy are studied. Students engage in the critical reading of traditional philosophical problems drawn from the areas of metaphysics, theories of knowledge, philosophy of religion, and ethics.


HU 203 Philosophy and Film.

Classical and contemporary films from Europe, Asia, and the United States form
the basis of discussion for complementary readings in philosophical theory. Readings from Classical Greek philosophy, Rationalism, Empiricism, Modernism and Postmodernism serve as primary sources; films are explored for their development of major philosophical themes.


HU 205 Elementary Logic.

Basic principles of reasoning assist students in organizing and developing fundamental concepts of logic and information processing. The formulation and assessment of one’s own ideas are facilitated through examples and illustrations.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE MATH/SCIENCE REQUIREMENT)


HU 210 Values in Contemporary Society.

Topical ethical issues provide the basis for analysis and discussion in this course. Readings center around opposing perspectives on a variety of issues such as censorship, economic justice, racism, and sexism.


HU 215 Literature Survey.

Literary works in their cultural and historical context drawn from a variety of genres are studied. Written assignments demand critical thinking skills and literary analysis.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)


HU 222 Philosophy in Literature.

Philosophical themes such as the Nature of the Self, Free Will, the Problem of Evil, Theories of Knowledge and Ethical Theory are examined. Readings include plays, short stories, essays, and poetry from American, European, Asian, South American and African-American sources.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)


HU 240 Creative Writing.

This course is an exploration of writing as an art form. Through work in a variety of genres and styles, students learn to develop writing strategies for communication and expression.


HU 245 Survey of Dramatic Literature.

Plays ranging from ancient Greece through contemporary times are read and discussed. Assignments include plays dealing with societal and aesthetic issues of past cultures as well as those of contemporary society. Written assignments include critiques of live theater productions.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)



HU 285 Southern Literature.

Works of noted authors and poets of the American South such as Faulkner, Williams and O’Connor to contemporary regional writers are read and discussed.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)


HU 287 Forms of Fiction.

Various genres and approaches to the writing of fiction are studied.
Students are required to read and write fiction from a number of perspectives, using a diversity of styles and a range of topics.

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)


HU 290 Survey of American Popular Music 1.

This course examines the roots of American music from gospel, blues, and country through early jazz, swing, and big band eras to the emergence of rhythm and blues and rock and roll.


HU 291 Survey of American Popular Music 2.

This course begins with rhythm and blues in the late 40s, the development of rock in the early 50s and proceeds to vocal groups, the Elvis phenomenon, psychedelic and beyond.


HU 340 Eastern Philosophy and Religion.

Exploring the intersections of the sacred and the secular, this course examines the philosophical, religious and literary traditions of India, China and Japan. Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, as well as a historical overview of the emergence of these traditions, form the first portion of the course. Readings in Confucianism, Taoism and Zen Buddhism, as well as their social practices, form the second part of the course.


HU 341 The Human and the Divine.

The philosophical, religious, and literary traditions of the Middle East and the West are explored through primary texts that include the foundational and mythological world views of the early writings of Sumer, Babylonia, Egypt, Persia, and Greece. The biblical tradition of Judaism and Christianity is explored through its historical background and cultural influences. texts from the Gnostic gospels and the Dead Sea Scrolls are included within the primary source material.


HU 350 text and Image.

The relationship between visual and verbal texts are explored while considering the role of theory. Visual, literary, theoretical, and cultural forms are examined.


HU 365 Literature of Paris Between the Wars.

Fiction and poetry by American and British writers who came of age during the period between the two world wars are studied, including Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, Orwell, Joyce, Baldwin, Woolf, Brecht, Eliot and Lawrence.

This is a companion course to AH 240 Paris Between the Wars

(THIS COURSE FULFILLS THE LITERATURE REQUIREMENT)


HU 370 Critical Writing.

Students learn to see, analyze and write about artwork and ideas. Writing assignments include artist’s statements, reviews, essays and articles about art.


HU 391 Art Speak.

The vocabulary and discourse formation that centers on art specific language is examined using descriptive and interpretative writings by artists, aesthetic theorists, and critics on the nature and function of art, artistic creation, experience categorization and critical appraisal. The focus of the class is historical, but the major emphasis is on modernism, late modernism and post-modernism.

Prerequisites: 9 hours in Art History and 15 hours in Liberal Studies


HU 410 Philosophy of Art.

This course is a survey of Western philosophy of art from Plato to the present that provides a developmental history of theories concerning the art object, creativity, beauty, genius and the modern and postmodern aesthetic theories that form the intellectual context of contemporary art.


HU 420 Humanities: Special Topics.

A specialized Humanities area is studied. Topics are announced through semester course descriptions. The course may be repeated once when course content changes.