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Summer 2009: Special Topic Course Descriptions
SO 299 EA: Intimacy, Gender, and Violence
Summer 1
This course addresses the problem of violence in intimate relationships and in families from a sociological and feminist perspective. The course is activist-inspired and community-connected. Close attention will be paid to the ways in which violence against women constitutes a specific form of structured gender inequality. We will examine the causes, consequences, and patterns of violence in intimate relationships. including: men’s violence in heterosexual relationships; rape; incest; challenges to doing research in this field; criminal justice responses; battering in same sex relationships; women’s resistance and women’s use of violence; domestic homicide; and child abuse and neglect. We will examine issues of image and representation, especially as related to racism and homophobia.
Instructor: Deb Cohan
GS 195 EA: Coastal Environmental Issues
Summer 1
This course will examine the coastal environment both natural and anthropogenic. It will focus initially on the fundamental properties of the coast and near-shore environments in terms of physical, chemical and biological processes. Then it will examine environmental issues related to human interaction and alteration of the coast. The primary focus will be on the coastal environments of Massachusetts. The course includes two field trips, one to examine physical coastal processes, the other to the Port of Boston.
Instructor: William Hansen
BI 980: Drug Resistance
Summer 1
This course will focus on the biochemical, molecular, and genetic basis of tumor drug resistance. Topics included are the physiological drug resistance based on tumor architecture, cellular resistance based on drug transport, epigenetic changes that neutralize or bypass drug cytotoxicity, and genetic changes that alter drug target molecules by decreasing or eliminating drug binding and efficacy.
Instructor: Dr. Brad Bryan
BI 980: New Drug Discovery
Summer 1
The aim of this course is to exam the complex and lengthy process of developing new pharmaceutical agents. The course will examine each step in the process including drug discovery, pre-clinical testing, clinical trials, approval by the FDA, registering the drug for market and the post market evaluation for safety. The course will present issues involving use of prescription and over the counter drugs, the safe use of common alternative medications and the marketing of each to the American public. There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Instructor: Professor Ronald Rosetti
PH 190: Philosophy on Television
Summer 1 - Online
This is an on-line 3-credit introductory course using two popular television shows, Seinfeld and The Simpsons, to examine a range of philosophical issues and problems. It will be run through an internet Blackboard site. The required work consists of reading articles from two books, one on Seinfeld and the other on The Simpsons, discussing (on an on-line discussion board) the shows and the issues raised in the articles, and writing 4 very short essays (250-word minimum each). Familiarity with the shows will not hurt, but it is not required for the course.
Instructor: Henry Theriault
CM 210: Corporate Communication
Summer 1 and Summer 2
Creative concepts and strategies for managing communication programs that effectively describe and promote organizations and their products/services.
Instructor: E. Nneji
SO 299 EP: Immigration and Work
Summer 2
This course examines the nature and dynamics of recent immigration trends in Worcester. We do not know the extent to which these new entrants are occupying the same types of jobs held by previous immigrant generations, nor do we know much about the actual experiences of Worcester immigrants as they work to support their families. This course is designed to help students develop research projects that will address different dimensions of these broad questions, exposing students to both quantitative and qualitative data sources.
Instructor: David Cort
BI 980: Neurogenomics
Summer 2
The field of genomics has been parent to many offspring in the form of new scientific disciplines. One of the newest is neurogenomics. By applying the methodology of genomics to the study of the nervous system, researchers are deciphering the roles of genes in the development and functions of the nervous system. The result of neurogenomics research carries implications far beyond the mere determination of the relationship of genes to neural development. For more than a century behavioral and biological scientists have grappled with the complex and often controversial question of the relationship of genes to behavior, more popularly termed: the nature vs. nurture controversy Neurogenomics seems to offer an answer to the vexing question of how much of human and animal behavior is rooted in the genome and how much is determined by environment? Or perhaps we should see this as a pseudoscientific issue? Perhaps the answers to these questions will be found in the study of the interactions between genes, brain, and behavior?
To critically examine these questions, we will initially need to survey basic neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and developmental neurobiology. The second half of this course will survey the results of current research in neurogenomics. Finally, we will examine the impact of current findings in neurogenomics on major theories of human nature.
Instructor: E. Matalka
PH 190: Sports and Philosophy
Summer 2 - Online
This is an on-line 3-credit introductory course examining ethical and other philosophical issues related to sports, such as the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, cheating, fairness, professional sports salaries, teamwork, violence in sports, gender and race in sports, and other issues that students raise. The required work consists of reading some articles on these issues from our course textbook, participating in 4 discussions of the issues (on an on-line discussion board), and writing 4 short essays (250-word minimum each).
Instructor: Henry Theriault
CJ-344-BL Role of Gang Prevention
Summer 2
This course is a blended course, requiring one week participation in a Youth Gang Prevention Summer Camp, sponsored by the Worcester Police and held at WSC in three-one week session. Students will serve as an assistant group leader, working with WPD staff and youth groups. The camp weeks run from Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 2 pm. Weeks are July 6-10, July 13-17, and July 20-24.
In order to receive 3 credit hours for this course, the student must complete the following components of this course: Participation in Camp, Purchase of Textbook, Online Blackboard activity, Daily Journal, and Final Paper.
For further information contact Dr. Morreale at smorreale@worcester.edu.
Instructor: Stephen Morreale
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