Gen Ed Courses – Fall 2015

Quantitative Sciences
  (GE-QS)

Social Sciences 
(GE-SS)

Arts & Humanities  
(GE-AH)

ENGL 101

Freshman English I
This course aims to introduce students to the AUA’s core values—academic excellence, free inquiry, integrity, scholarship, leadership, and service —while building students’ communication skills. Students are challenged to translate these values into practice and reflect upon two interrelated themes: how might these values enrich their potential as lifelong learners and leaders, and how might these values help students collectively build a productive and democratic community. Throughout the semester students will sharpen their oral and written communication skills by engaging in class discussions and debates as well as by utilizing the various stages of the writing process to produce well-organized paragraphs, letters, and short essays. Students will also have the opportunity to build an array of academic skills and familiarize themselves with university resources including the Papazian Library, Center for Academic Excellence, and Writing Lab through formal in-class trainings and home tasks.  Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.
GE-F required for ALL Freshman        Fall        offered by CHSS              

3 credits

Foundation Course – Required for All Second-Year Undergraduate Students

CHSS 103

Armenian Language & Literature I
Sections taught in Armenian – This course exposes students to a variety of texts by Armenian and non-Armenian poets, playwrights, and novelists across various historical periods. Students will study the linguistic and literary values of these texts, gaining an understanding of how literature reflects and constructs the Armenian identity in social, cultural, political, and historical contexts. Students will further develop their knowledge of the Armenian language and skills in literary analysis through close reading, writing, discussion and presentation. This course is designed for students with intermediate to advanced Armenian language proficiency. Classes are conducted in Armenian and include texts in original Eastern or Western Armenian as well as English. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.
Section taught in English – This course exposes students to a variety of texts by Armenian and non-Armenian poets, playwrights, and novelists across various historical periods. Students will study the linguistic and literary values of these texts, gaining an understanding of how literature reflects and constructs the Armenian identity in social, cultural, political, and historical contexts. Students will gain an appreciation of the Armenian language and develop skills in literary analysis through close reading, writing, discussion and presentation. This course is designed for students with little or no Armenian language proficiency. Classes are conducted in English and include texts translated from Eastern or Western Armenian as well as in original English. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.
GE-F required for ALL Sophomores    Fall        offered by CHSS              

3 credits

Foundation Course – Required for All Third-Year Undergraduate Students

CHSS 121

Armenian History I
This course examines the ancient history of Armenia, its land and people, beginning with pre-historic times through the reign of King Trdat III and the Conversion of Armenia to Christianity with a critical lens from various perspectives.  This course examines the geo-political, economic, and socio-cultural development of the Armenia and explores the relationship between ancient Armenia and other ancient civilizations.  The course will include individual and group assignments, requiring students to analyze and integrate evidence from various disciplines in order to investigate the ancient roots and influences on various aspects of Armenian identity and development. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.   (Most sections will be offered in English; however, some will also be available in Armenian for those able to work with Armenian language sources).  

GE-F required for ALL Juniors   Fall       offered by CHSS

3 credits

COMP 110

 Introduction to Computer Science ***

The course provides students with a broad foundation in computer science. Topics   include:   introduction   to   computer   architecture   and   organization;   binary,   octal,   and hexadecimal   systems:  arithmetic and conversion; representation of integer and real numbers; algorithm design;   basic   data   structures:   stacks,   queues,   lists;   and   structural   programming: declarations, assignments, loops, and recursion.  Students will learn how to program basic algorithms through the use of a programming language such as Java. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week including discussions and problem sets.
GE-QS for E&C and BAB     Fall        CS Core course   offered by CSE
***CS majors given priority for registration

3 credits

CSE 141

Introduction to Data
The goal of the course is to present the basic concepts of data analytics, starting from the basics of descriptive statistics and ending with applications of text mining. Students will learn how the statistics is used to model uncertainty, discover patterns in data and make actionable decisions. Basic methods of statistical inference and predictive modeling will be covered. The models and methods will be applied in different fields such as business, social sciences, health care, sports, etc. We will use open source analytical software R in doing statistical calculations. No prior knowledge in programming or experience with R is necessary for the course.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

Pre-requisite: Students must have passed either CHSS 183 Statistics for Humanities or MATH 110 Applied Statistics for Business or Math 100 Calculus 1.

GE-QS            Fall             open to ALL        offered by CSE

3 credits

CSE 145

Geographic Information Systems
This course is meant to introduce students to geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis: setting up, analysing, visualizing, and solving problems using data and maps. With advancements in the information technologies more and more industries are relying on GIS to analyse and visualize data. This course will look at applications of GIS in environmental sciences, public health, sustainable transportation planning, land use mapping, telecommunications, hydrology, meteorology, police dispatching, crime patterns, etc. The course will also look at remote sensing technologies like radar, LiDAR, GPS, and the role they play in collecting and analysing data. Another aim of this course is to spark interest in different types of students: from students interested in learning about GIS, to future professionals in fields regularly using GIS, to data enthusiasts and software developers.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-QS         Fall          open to ALL        offered by CSE

3 credits

CSE 151

Introduction to Energy Sources
Energy drives the human civilization, and any economic growth or poverty alleviation directly involves use of energy resources. This course serves as an introduction to various sources of energy and the mechanisms to harness and convert them to more useful types of energy. Fossil fueled, solar, hydro and nuclear sources and some of their effects on the environment and safety issues will be discussed. This course fulfills general education requirements of the American University of Armenia. There are no prerequisites for this course beyond basic mathematical skills. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-QS        Fall          open to ALL        offered by CSE

3 credits

CSE 162

Introduction to Bioscience
This course introduces students to important concepts, techniques and applications of bioscience, and explores its impact on research, business and society.  Students will study basic concepts of molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, computational biology and biotechnology.  Some important applications of molecular and cellular biology in medicine and industry – such as molecular diagnostics of diseases, stem cell and transplantation, drug design and genetically modified foods – will be introduced.  Students will also discuss the political, ethical, and legal issues accompanying these topics and their current and future impact on society. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.
GE-QS        Fall         open to ALL        offered by CSE

3 credits

CSE 171

Conceptual Physics
This course will explore the basic concepts in physics and physical processes.  The conceptual viewpoint taken in the course will focus more on the physical description of the processes and phenomena rather than the detailed mathematical equations that govern them.  The course will cover topics in mechanics of moving bodies, heat transfer, propagation of sound, properties of light, electricity and magnetism with special emphasis on everyday experience and practical illustrations taken from real life, e.g. art, music, sports, the home.  For each of the processes covered in the course, a brief historical perspective will be given, followed by a description of its physical principles, and finally the basic equations that describe it mathematically. Students will be exposed to real-life applications of the theories discussed in the classroom.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-QS        Fall        open to ALL      offered by CSE  

3 credits

CSE  285

How Things Work
This course introduces students to detailed explanations behind the theory, function, and operation of selected technologies, answering the question, How does that work? This is a course in the physical and technological innovations in everyday life employing a minimum of mathematics. It explores the principles of automobiles, propulsion, digital media, cellular technologies, cyber security, nuclear and solar power generation, computer systems, etc. In-class demonstrations will aid in demystifying many topics. Lectures will look inside products from our daily lives to see what scientific principles make them work, focusing on their principles of operation, histories and relationships to one another. Students will work individually, and additionally, present to the class as a group on an emerging technology. The course will be split into three themes: The Digital World, Power and Energy, and Daily Motion.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following: CSE 171 Conceptual Physics, CSE 175 Relativity, CSE 181 Creativity and Technological Innovation, CSE 141 Intro to Data, CSE 151 Intro to Energy Sources, and CSE 145 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

GE-QS upper division      Fall        open to ALL      offered by CSE  

3 credits

ENVS 101

Introduction to Environmental Sciences
The course is designed for students to gain an understanding of basic environmental science principles, including an introduction to the structure and functioning of ecosystems and their physical and bio-chemical cycles. The course will emphasize the importance of these processes for human health as well as human impact on these processes. As a science course, the course will teach students to use the methods of scientific inquiry to raise questions about the global systems, their impact on humans, and human impact on them. Specific topics to be covered include but are not limited to biodiversity, quantity and quality of water, land, and air resources, environmental conservation, human population trends and dynamic, food and industrial production, and waste and toxicity. Topics will be supplemented by Armenia and Caucasus-specific cases.
GE-QS Fall & Spring  Fall   open to ALL   offered by ACE                

3 credits

ENVS 230

Water

Without adequate supply of fresh water our economies will not function and our health will not be secured. Human overuse and pollution of fresh water can also cause political conflict as well as damage ecosystems. This course will examine water from various perspectives including ecological, human health, resource stewardship, economic, and legal/political. Specific topics to be covered include water supply and use in manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture and domestic life; potential for resource efficiency and optimization; water quality and types of water pollution, methods of testing, water purification and wastewater treatment; water planning and management tools/models including those for watersheds, surface, and ground water resources; new technologies, such as desalination, to access fresh water; and international and national laws on water. The course includes field and lab work opportunities as well as introductory approaches to modeling water systems.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following: ENVS 101 Intro to Environmental Sciences, ENVS 202 Environmental Projects, CSE 145 Geographic Information Systems, CSE 151 Intro to Energy Sources, CSE 162 Intro to Bio-science , CSE 262 Quantitative Biology, SPH 101 Basics of Healthy Lifestyle. 

GE-QS upper division     Fall         open to ALL       offered by ACE

 3 credits

MATH 111

Discrete Math***
This is an introduction to discrete mathematics and discrete structures. The course examines topics including: propositional logic; Boolean algebra; introduction to set algebra; infinite sets; relations and functions; recurrences; proof techniques; introduction to number theory; elementary combinatorics and graph theory; applications to computer science. Students will learn to apply discrete numerical methods to solve problems which arise in computational sciences. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week including discussions and problem sets.
GE-QS E&C and BAB    Fall       CS Core course   offered by CSE    
***CS majors given priority for registration

3 credits

CHSS 114

Introduction to Religion
The course examines religion as a phenomenon of human culture. It firstly introduces the students to the main theoretical approaches and methods through which religion has been studied by historians and social scientists. Secondly, the course looks at the major themes in the study of religion. These themes will be examined drawing on particular religious traditions and through the lens of the theoretical approaches covered. Readings will include theoretical writings about religion by classics and contemporary authors, and primary texts from various religious traditions and by representatives of those traditions. The course combines lectures, in-class discussions, and analytical essays. Its broader aim is to give the students an understanding of the richness of the religious traditions of the world, and to develop skills to analyze religious phenomena and to situate them in their historical contexts.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-SS/AH     Fall       open to ALL     offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 180

Introduction to Psychology
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of psychology and to the major topics of psychological inquiry.  Topics include theories of the mind and investigate normal human growth and development and examines the lifecycle of humans from infancy to old age.  An overview of current psychological theories explores topics such as types of temperament, physiological bases of behavior, life-span development, altered states of consciousness, sensation, perception, memory, thinking, motivation, emotion, personality, individual differences and stress.  The course will also include basics of experimental psychology and introductory research methods. Three hours of instructor-led class per week.

GE-SS        Fall             open to ALL              offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 282

Trade
This course examines the international trade system and the economic concepts and political institutions upon which it is based. Topics covered include a brief history of the development of trade, players and processes involved in trade, the role of trade in development, trade policy and politics, comparative and competitive advantages of nations, gains and losses from trade, international trade negotiations, and effects of regionalization and globalization. The course has an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on case-studies, theory and empirical studies. Students will be expected to make individual and group presentations and engage in case-study analysis in discussion. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following:  ECON 101 Intro to Economics, POLS 281 Development Policy, POLS 101 Intro to Political Science, POLS 102 Intro to US Government, POLS 103 Intro to Armenian Government, CHSS 290 Cultural Geography, CHSS 181 Intro to Sociology.

GE-SS upper division            Fall         open to ALL      offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 290

Cultural Geography
This course is an interdisciplinary course that uses cultural habitats as a window on how individuals and groups develop their societies and way of life, coexisting with neighbors and shaping and being shaped by their environment.  Geographers study ‘culture’ to understand the ways in which culture is constructed, maintained, diffused, and sometimes contested within space and place.  The diversity of human culture is embedded in our shared geographies and is used as a force of inclusion, exclusion, and power.  This course examines the varied perspectives and processes that shape our everyday experiences and seeks to raise awareness of the plurality of cultural landscapes.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following: CHSS 110 Intro to Philosophy, CHSS 111 Intro to Ethics, CHSS 181 Intro to Sociology, CHSS 182 Intro to Psychology, CHSS 190 Armenian Culture and Heritage, COMM 238 Media & Society, CHSS 251 Topics in Cinema, CHSS 211 Great Books Political Philosophy, CHSS 127 World Civilizations 1, ECON 101 Intro to Economics,  CHSS 114 Intro to Religion.

GE SS/AH upper division      Fall         open to ALL      offered by CHSS

3 credits

LAW 142

Introduction to Human Rights
The Introduction to Human Rights course will introduce students to the key concepts, rules and debates in the theory and the practice of contemporary international human rights. In particular, the course focuses on the historical development and philosophical and political foundations of human rights. Students will also explore international and national mechanisms for the protection of human rights, e.g. UN treaty and charter mechanisms, European systems of human rights protection, national judiciaries, human rights institutions and civil society organizations. Students will examine selected human rights and freedoms in order to understand human rights in practice. At the end of the course students learn the national and international legal grounds for limitations and derogations from human rights.  Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.

GE-SS      Fall           open to ALL    offered by CHSS

3 credits

LAW 160

Law & Justice in Popular Culture
This course explores how legal concepts, role models, and professional ethos in popular culture promote and reinforce the rule of law. The course aims to explore how dedicated individuals using the skills and arts of persuasive and knowledge of the law can expand justice in their societies by the use of legal mechanisms. Through the medium of film and literature followed by class discussion, the following basic concepts are reviewed: social contract theory, professional ethics, rule of law (e.g. resort to courts and legal structures to resolve conflict as an alternative to violence), comparative review of legal systems (e.g. use of juries, class action mechanisms, etc.) and standard defendant rights (right against self‐incrimination, right to counsel), professional responsibility for attorneys and judicial ethics, and legal advocacy.

GE-SS      Fall           open to ALL           offered by CHSS

3 credits

POLS 101

Introduction to Political Science
This course provides students with an introduction to the approaches in the study of politics.  The course explores major concepts prevalent in political science including power, democracy, political culture and constitutionalism.  It identifies the major fields of study within the discipline and familiarizes students with the differences in approach that each follow from a comparative perspective.  Students are expected to complete regular assignments in order to acquire knowledge and to practice skills discussed in class.

GE-SS       Fall           open to ALL       offered by CHSS

3 credits

POLS 102

Introduction to United States Government
This course introduces students to the structures and functions of American government and politics.  Students study the major institutions, how political parties interact with government, how elections are conducted and how policies are made.  This is done within an historical context.  American Federalism and the changes in how government attends to problems both foreign and domestic are covered.  Students are expected to complete regular assignments in order to acquire knowledge and to practice skills discussed in class.
GE-SS                                      Fall           open to ALL             offered by CHSS

3 credits

POLS 103

Introduction to Armenian Government
This course is a general introduction to the structure and functions of Armenian Government and its institutions, from historical, legal and comparative perspectives. The role of each branch of the government, the scope of its authority, checks and balances in the system, will be examined in light of constitutional design and on-going political processes, along with the relationship between the national, regional and local levels of government. Specific issues will include the state tax and budgeting process, fiscal accountability, law-making and regulation-making, civic participation in the process, and mechanisms for public oversight of government activities and protection of individual rights as well as the military, law enforcement, and security agency’s special responsibilities and authority. The course aims to help students understand the role of government in the 21st century and the rights and responsibilities of 21st citizen in public and governmental affairs, in light of international best practices and Armenia’s development. Three hours of instructor-led instruction per week. (3 credits)

GE-SS        Fall        open to ALL   offered by CHSS

3 credits

POLS 201

Political Philosophy
This course examines some of the deepest questions about politics and society. Why should we have government and what would things be like without it? Is there a duty to obey government or are people sometimes justified in resisting it? What form should government take and in particular, is democracy the best form of government? How much freedom should people have and is society justified in restricting freedom? What form of property system should society have and should society try to redistribute income and wealth? We will also examine the contribution that feminism has made to social and political thought. The course is organized around five main topics: 1. State of Nature, 2. Political Obligation, 3. Forms of Government, 4. Freedom and Rights, 5. Property and Social Justice.  Among the thinkers whose work will be covered are Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill.  Course work will involve essays, research, presentations, and close reading of philosophic texts. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following: POLS 101 Intro to Political Science, POLS 102 Intro to US Government, POLS 103 Intro to Armenian Government, CHSS 110 Intro to Philosophy, CHSS 111 Intro to Ethics, CHSS 211 Great Books Political Philosophy, LAW 110 Intro to the Armenian Justice System, LAW 142 Intro to Human Rights, LAW 160 Law and Justice in Popular Culture and LAW 201 Armenian Constitution, CHSS 114 Intro to Religion, CHSS 112 Logic and Rhetoric.
GE-SS/AH upper division      Fall          open to ALL     offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 110

Introduction to Philosophy
This course aims at introducing students to some fundamental problems from various branches of philosophy: ontology, epistemology and ethics.  Questions regarding the existence of matter, God, causation, free will and other minds, the possibility of knowledge, as well as some ethical questions will be addressed during the course.  Students will read carefully selected writings from classical and modern philosophers.  Students will be asked to write short essays and participate in well-structured debates and discussions.  This course will help students develop critical and creative thinking skills, the ability to deal with uncertainty, conceptualize and theoretically analyze real life situations and problems.  Home tasks will include readings and writing assignments. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.
GE-AH      Fall      open to ALL       offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 112

Introduction to Logic & Rhetoric
The course introduces basic laws of logic, forms of thought, strategies and devices of developing and presenting public speeches.  The course concentrates on two main questions:  1) How to reason well? 2) How to make a convincing speech or write a convincing essay?  Students are expected to read selected texts on logic and rhetoric, prepare and perform oral speeches and write essays using various strategies, logical and rhetorical techniques of argumentation.  Speeches and essays will be on various topics, for various audiences.  During the course students will also scrutinize, analyze and assess historical as well as contemporary speeches from public and political life.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-AH     Fall        open to ALL        offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 114

Introduction to Religion
The course examines religion as a phenomenon of human culture. It firstly introduces the students to the main theoretical approaches and methods through which religion has been studied by historians and social scientists. Secondly, the course looks at the major themes in the study of religion. These themes will be examined drawing on particular religious traditions and through the lens of the theoretical approaches covered. Readings will include theoretical writings about religion by classics and contemporary authors, and primary texts from various religious traditions and by representatives of those traditions. The course combines lectures, in-class discussions, and analytical essays. Its broader aim is to give the students an understanding of the richness of the religious traditions of the world, and to develop skills to analyze religious phenomena and to situate them in their historical contexts.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-SS/AH       Fall    open to ALL      offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 127

World Civilizations I
The course explores the meaning and importance of interdisciplinary study of world history by introducing students to distinctive features and characteristics of civilizations that had developed in the Old and New worlds from the earliest times to 1700 CE. It will emphasize the importance of primary sources and of critical analysis of academic theories.  Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.

GE-AH        Fall          open to ALL       offered by CHSS

 3
credits

CHSS 140

Music Appreciation
This course aims to equip students to listen to, understand and discuss music as a cultural and aesthetic form of human creativity through acquaintance with Western European classical music from various periods.  In this course students will learn to identify the basic elements of music, instruments, voice, genres, and styles, and will learn terminology used to discuss pieces of music as an art form and historical creation of a particular composer and period.   The basic underpinnings of music in physics, psychology and brain science will also be introduced.  The course requires extensive listening to music in and out of class, class discussion, and short papers on various composers and compositions.   The course may also include mandatory attendance at concerts and a short research paper or class presentation on a work or composer of the students’ choice as an individual or group project.

GE –AH       Fall      open to ALL      offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 240

Music and Literature
This course is designed to give students insight into the various cultural, political, economic, social and artistic developments of the twentieth century through the study of different types of music written between 1901 and 2000. Music is an indicator and/or trigger of significant social changes of the past century. The course is focused on revealing the social and cultural circumstances at the root of musical developments, regardless of the type of music (academic, pop/rock, alternative, etc.) The course introduces a vast number of terms and ideas that have influenced both music history, as well as many other fields of modern culture and life. Special attention is paid to the formation of the music industry as a separate and potent market.  The course requires listening to music in and out of class, reading articles related to the history of music and modern history in general, engaging in class discussion, as well as writing short papers on various topics. The course may also include a research paper or class presentation as an individual or group project. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following:  CHSS 140 Music Appreciation, CHSS 141 Understanding the XXth century Through Music, CHSS 130 Intro to Art History, ENGL 120 American Literature 1, ENGL 121 English Literature, CHSS 110 intro to Philosophy.

GE-AH upper division       Fall     open to ALL       offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 151

Introduction to French Language & Culture
In this course, students will explore how French culture has been shaped by language, geography, historical events, and foreign and internal forces and groups.  We will also examine how France and the French language have played an important role in the areas of culture, arts, cinema, fashion, and cuisine. The importance of the French language and culture has waxed and waned over the centuries, depending on France’s economic, political and military importance.  French culture today is marked both by great ethnic, regional, and socio-economic diversity and by strong unifying tendencies.  Through the study of a variety of sources including media, film, literature, and visual arts, students will gain an understanding of what constitutes the “French identity” of the 21st century. (3 credits)

GE-AH ALL    Fall open to ALL     offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 152

Introduction to Korean Language & Culture
This course introduces students to the basics of Korean language, culture and history, as well as current trends in Korean society and economy.   The course also explores Korean identity and its relationship with other countries in the region, through film, media, literature, and popular culture.  By the end of the course students should be familiar with simple phrases and the Korean alphabet and able to identify key Korean historic and cultural figures and events, and explain the salient features of Korean culture, its origins and evolution.   Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.

GE-AH    Fall      open to ALL   offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 195

Introduction to Archaeology
The course introduces students to world archaeology emphasizing its key achievements, concepts, practices, and importance to contemporary society. The most interdisciplinary among social sciences and the humanities, current archaeology integrates in its practice approaches and methods across different fields of human knowledge: from linguistics and art history to nuclear physics, biochemistry, computer science, and environmental studies. Special attention is devoted to the distinctive role of archaeology and cultural heritage management in the present and future of the Republic of Armenia and of the Armenian Diaspora.  Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.

GE-AH       Fall      open to ALL     offered by CHSS

3 credits

CHSS 290

Cultural Geography
This course is an interdisciplinary course that uses cultural habitats as a window on how individuals and groups develop their societies and way of life, coexisting with neighbors and shaping and being shaped by their environment.  Geographers study ‘culture’ to understand the ways in which culture is constructed, maintained, diffused, and sometimes contested within space and place.  The diversity of human culture is embedded in our shared geographies and is used as a force of inclusion, exclusion, and power.  This course examines the varied perspectives and processes that shape our everyday experiences and seeks to raise awareness of the plurality of cultural landscapes.  Three hours of instructor led class time per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following:  CHSS 110 Intro to Philosophy, CHSS 111 Intro to Ethics, CHSS 181 Intro to Sociology, CHSS 182 Intro to Psychology, CHSS 190 Armenian Culture and Heritage, COMM 238 Media & Society, CHSS 251 Topics in Cinema, CHSS 211 Great Books Political Philosophy, CHSS 127 World Civilizations 1, ECON 101 Intro to Economics,  CHSS 114 Intro to Religion.

GE AH/SS upper division      Fall    open to ALL   offered by CHSS

3 credits

COMM   104

Introduction to Communications ***
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of communication studies. Students will examine the components of human communication as it takes place within interpersonal, group, organizational, and public contexts and become familiar with the historical development of mass media and its role in society, looking at the print and electronic news media, advertising, public relations, and the Internet.  Students will also explore developments in the theory of communication from the mid-20th century to the present.  They will apply theoretical models to critically assess contemporary means and patterns of communication and use these models to analyze and develop their own written and oral communication in different formats. Course work will include media and reading assignments, as well as case studies and oral and written projects.  Three hours of instructor-led class time per week.
GE-AH for BAB and CS  Fall Core E&C  offered by CHSS              
***BA in E&C majors given priority for registration

3 credits

ENGL 121

English Literature 1 ***
This course introduces students to English literature from the Elizabethan period through the twentieth century and focuses on the development of various literary genres, as well as on the works of the most significant literary figures. The class will cover the major literary movements from English Renaissance humanism to Post-modernity and may also include marginal literary voices and ephemeral literature from English letters to provide context and balance.    Students are required to write analytical essays and complete weekly reading assignments. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week including discussions and tasks.  Prerequisite: none
GE-AH for BAB and CS   Fall Core E&C  offered by CHSS             
***BA in E&C majors given priority for registration

3 credits

ENGL 140

Expository Writing ***
This course is designed to develop students’ writing skills for use in a wide array of academic and professional contexts.  Students will become familiar with the linguistic and rhetorical features of different genres of objective and informational writing, critically analyzing samples of effective writing in order to use them as models for their own work.  They will be encouraged to view writing as a process, involving planning, drafting, and revision for clarity and precision. Students are required to complete short readings and weekly writing assignments, which may include but are not necessarily limited to summaries, reports, memos, narratives, expository analyses, and syntheses. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week, along with in-class and take home assignments.  Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and ENGL 102
GE-AH for BAB and CS      Fall Core E&C    offered by CHSS              
***BA in E&C majors given priority for registration

3 credits

LING 105

Introduction to the Structure of English ***
This course introduces students to the study of discourse through hands-on analysis of real language in use, taking into account the linguistic features and functions of spoken, written, and multi-modal communication as well as the social, cultural, and political contexts in which it occurs. We will explore how meaning is created and relationships are enacted within and across an array of genres and use this knowledge to interpret and construct texts within different social and professional contexts. Course work will include reading assignments, written analyses, and practical application. Three hours of instructor-led class time per week. 

GE-AH for BAB and CS     Fall Core E&C        offered by CHSS            
***BA in E&C majors given priority for registration

3 credits

POLS 201

Political Philosophy
This course examines some of the deepest questions about politics and society. Why should we have government and what would things be like without it? Is there a duty to obey government or are people sometimes justified in resisting it? What form should government take and in particular, is democracy the best form of government? How much freedom should people have and is society justified in restricting freedom? What form of property system should society have and should society try to redistribute income and wealth? We will also examine the contribution that feminism has made to social and political thought. The course is organized around five main topics: 1. State of Nature, 2. Political Obligation, 3. Forms of Government, 4. Freedom and Rights, 5. Property and Social Justice.  Among the thinkers whose work will be covered are Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill.  Course work will involve essays, research, presentations, and close reading of philosophic texts. Three hours of instructor-led discussion per week.

This course can be used to form a cluster with the following: POLS 101 Intro to Political Science, POLS 102 Intro to US Government, POLS 103 Intro to Armenian Government, CHSS 110 Intro to Philosophy, CHSS 111 Intro to Ethics, CHSS 211 Great Books Political Philosophy, LAW 110 Intro to the Armenian Justice System, LAW 142 Intro to Human Rights, LAW 160 Law and Justice in Popular Culture and LAW 201 Armenian Constitution, CHSS 114 Intro to Religion,  CHSS 112 Logic and Rhetoric.

GE-AH/SS upper division     Fall      open to ALL    offered by CHSS

3 credits