Social Science I

ANTH 253 Survey I: Culture and Language (3)
A survey of sociocultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics. The course takes a comparative approach to the study of culture. Topics include: family, kinship, and marriage; cultural ecology and economics; political organization; gender roles and socialization; religion and ritual; and culture change. Basic concepts, methods of research, and analytic perspectives are introduced. This course also satisfies LO3 Social Responsibility, LO3 Global Learning, and LO3 Intercultural Competence.

ENVS 217 Environmental Policy  (3)
This course introduces the processes by which policy is made at local, state, national, and international levels of government with attention to the special challenges of creating sound environmental policy. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of policies currently in place and prepares students to intervene constructively in the formation of environmental policy. This course also satisfies LO3 Social Responsibility.

POSC 151W Issues in Political Community (4) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE 
This course introduces students to important questions about and issues facing political communities. It explores what kinds of questions should be considered “political” and why; it also explores some of the real-world implications of current issues for political communities. This course also satisfies LO2 Critical Thinking Seminar and provides students the opportunity to earn the W.

POSC 160W Global Political Issues (4)
This course will introduce students to some of the most important contemporary global political issues such as the impact of economic globalization on politics and culture, the sources of war and political conflict, gender inequality, poverty, United States foreign policy, and the role of international institutions.

POSC 201 American Politics  (3)
This course serves as an introductory survey of the major principles, institutions, processes, functions, and behavioral patterns of the American political system. It helps students to develop a broad, diverse, and articulate base of knowledge and understanding of American politics and government.

PSYC 156 Introduction to Psychology: Culture and Systems (3)
An introductory survey of theories, topics, and applications in psychology. Courses cover a wide range of classic and contemporary topics in psychology, which may include: brain and behavior, child development, thinking and intelligence, social influences on behavior and psychological disorders. The 156 course is organized around systems of thought and social science concepts that identify biological, psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, and sociocultural approaches to psychological topics. Students will recognize the impact of human diversity, and learn that psychological explanations vary across populations and contexts. A student cannot earn credit for both PSYC 156 and PSYC 157.

SOC 255 Why Race Matters (3) FIRST YEAR SEMINAR COURSE 
Race and ethnic identity have played and continue to play an important role in shaping the nation’s political policies, social relationships, and cultural beliefs. In this course students will consider how race and ethnicity are socially constructed, what is meant by racism and racial/ethnic identity, how laws like Affirmative Action or immigration policies impact specific racial and ethnic groups, and how race/ethnicity shapes one’s experiences in various social institutions such as school, work, family, and the legal system. Over the semester students will develop a sociological understanding of the structural and cultural barriers experienced by various racial and ethnic groups in the United States, and students will discuss social policies focused on achieving racial equity. This course also satisfies LO2 Critical Thinking Seminar, LO3 Social Responsibility and LO3 Intercultural Competence.