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Winter 2010: Special Topic Course Descriptions
Undergraduate Courses
BI 199 ST: Dinosaurs
Scientific inquiry is one of the great advances in human knowledge, but the scope of science is such that more and more of the product of science are understood by fewer and fewer individuals. This course aims to be a primer of scientific literacy for non-scientists, using perhaps the most staggering and eye-catching discovery of the modern era. Dinosaurs continue to captivate children and adults alike, 150 years after the major discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the 1800s. How that rigorous scientific inquiry has translated into a general public understanding and misunderstanding of what dinosaurs were is at the heart of the battle for translation of obscure science into broadly understandable layspeak. The course is a lecture/lab format and will include field trips (4 credits).
CJ 340 ST: War, Peace and Domestic Crime
This course will explore the impacts of national conflicts upon the criminal justice system in America. Topics will include veterans as professionals within the CJ system, as criminal offenders, as crime victims and the social contexts within each of these areas. Public policy decisions, families of service members and post-service reintegration will also be covered.
Pre-requisite: CJ101
CJ 341 ST: Elder Abuse, Neglect and the Criminal Justice Response
As the population in America "grays," the incidence of elder abuse has increased. In many cases, the prevalence and nature of this growing problem remains hidden from public view. Police agencies must be prepared to respond the growth in abuse cases, and the duping and defrauding of senior citizens by contractors, health care equipment providers and unscrupulous financial advisors. This course is intended to explore the depth and breadth of the elder abuse problem. Students will consider the rising concerns of elder abuse, and discuss intervention strategies. Issues surrounding detection of abuse and strategies for prevention and intervention will also be addressed.
ED 191 ST: The Scopes Monkey Trial: its continuing implications for the classroom
NS 199 ST: The Scopes Monkey Trial: its continuing implications for the science community
This class explores the themes of the creationism/evolution controversy as brought to public scrutiny via the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. The historic trial will be reviewed from the perception of the public, the defendant, the media to determine why it was called "The Trial of the Century." Discussions will center around its far reaching implications to today’s society in politics, classroom curriculum frameworks, and scientific research.
EN 190 ST: Horror in Fiction and Film
A glance at the book titles on the best seller list or a quick perusal of new film titles attests to the perennial appeal of horror literature and films. Why is a genre rife with the violent, the terrifying, the monstrous so popular with contemporary movie audiences and readers of mass produced paperbacks? This course will investigate the nature of this fascination through close scrutiny of the literary, social, and psychological forces that combine to produce the monsters that both repel and attract us. This course will give some attention to the historic sources of horror fiction represented by Shelley’s Frankenstein and Stoker’s Dracula. The focus of the course, however, will be on the contemporary monsters that result from those classic works on the screen and on the page. The authors Thomas Harris, Anne Rice, Stephen King, as well as discussions of the Twilight and True Blood series, will form the center of the class’s attention as we investigate how the themes and images of horror fiction coalesce into the mesmerizing images that keep us spellbound in their cinematic adaptations.
GS 195 ST: Humans and Cold Environments
Through films, field trips and lectures the course will examine human exploration of polar areas as well as cultures and societies living in cold climates. It will include an examination of the distribution and historical variability in earth’s climate throughout geological and human history.
MU 200 ST: Music in Horror Films
This course will explore the role of music within contemporary horror films. It will be presented in conjunction with EN 190: Horror in Fiction and Film offered by Prof. Ken Gibbs.
SOC 199 BL ST: Homelessness
This is a service learning course that includes readings on the history and causes of homelessness in the United States; lectures and seminars on the politics of homelessness and poverty; and a weekend in Boston working with and learning from homeless activists, advocates, service providers, and homeless people themselves. We’ll learn about policies to address homelessness, what research shows works and what doesn’t work. We’ll finish up with a paper and final class session in the week after we return. There may be a small fee for room and board in Boston on the Friday and Saturday nights in January. For more information, contact Dr. Corey Dolgon, cdolgon@worcester.edu or at 508-929-8534.
SP 191 ST: Spanish for Health Care Providers
This course provides unique language skills for students interested in health care delivery. Students will develop speaking/listening skills and cultural awareness through discussions, readings, interviews, oral presentations, and videos. Topics covered include basic medical vocabulary, medical interviewing and treatment, and cultural issues relevant to medical settings. Some grammar points will be reviewed and practiced as needed. This course is ideal for students who understand the basic structures of the language and wish to attain very specific vocabulary.
Prerequisite:1-2 semesters of college Spanish or equivalent or instructor’s permission.
SP 401 ST: Advanced Spanish for Medical and Social Service Applications
This course is designed for advanced students interested in health care delivery, social service settings, and community action programs. Topics covered include advanced medical vocabulary and treatment, case management, substance abuse, investigating cases of abuse and domestic violence, mental health issues, and anger management. Gaining cultural competence in health care delivery will be a main focus of this course, and issues in advanced grammar will be reviewed and practiced as needed.
Prerequisite: 1-2 300-level courses or equivalent.
Graduate Courses
BI 980 ST: Structural Biology
This course provides a fundamental understanding of the molecular structure of biological molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, and explains how structure directly relates to cellular function. Additionally, strong emphasis will be placed on how knowledge of biochemical structure can be utilized in order to identify quality drug targets and develop effective therapeutics.
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P: 508-929-8127
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Our email: dgce [a t] worcester [d o t] edu