This course provides an introduction to nutrition and focuses on the relationship between diet and health. Topics include physiological requirements and functions of protein, energy, and the major vitamins and minerals that are determinants of health and diseases in human populations. These basic concepts are applied to societal issues, including the role of diet in malnutrition, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Community engagement.
A course examining the impact of the built and natural environments on human health. Topics include food systems and security, toxicology, infectious and zoonotic disease, waste and wastewater, air pollution, climate change and environmental justice. Through community engagement projects, students will learn about tools and approaches to address challenges to public health and promote community wellbeing. Not open to students who have received credit for BIOL 232.
A selection of topics are explored depending on interest. This course may be repeated once for credit when the topic differs.
A selection of topics are explored depending on interest. This course may be repeated once for credit when the topic differs.
An interdisciplinary examination of the theoretical and analytical tools essential for an understanding of civic engagement and leadership. Topics focus on typical problems faced in the context of community change, including, but not limited to, framing social issues; qualitative and quantitative field research methods; socioeconomic, cultural, political, and global structures underlying poverty; the social change model of leadership development; human capabilities perspective; and cross-cultural communication.
An introduction to the theory and practice of philanthropy. Using the history and philosophy of philanthropy in North America as a foundation, this course examines giving and grant-making processes and their effects on institutions and society. Assumptions about giving are interrogated in order to establish meaningful criteria for evaluating organizations and grant supported projects. This course also provides insight into the nonprofit sector, specifically organizations working in rural communities.
Singing from the Sacred Harp hymnal represents an old but still rewarding Southern musical practice, suitable for all amateurs willing to sing loudly. In twice-a-week practices, we cover the fundamentals of shape-note singing and learn to sing in parts. Approximately once a month we travel to Alabama to participate in one of the traditional Sacred Harp singings.
Trade, migration, and widespread travel have transformed population health from a domestic to an international issue, one in which state cooperation is increasingly necessary. Investigating the role of international organizations, the media, advocacy groups, and individuals, this course questions how international cooperation can facilitate the promotion and protection of health. To do so, it considers a variety of theoretical approaches including the securitization of health and health as a human right. It also examines such issues as smallpox eradication, tobacco control, AIDS treatment, and bioterrorism agreements.
Evaluation research aims to determine whether programs achieve their intended goals. Through the course, students will work in small groups to design and conduct evaluation research in partnership with community-based organizations. This course explores multiple approaches to evaluating organizations and their programs, analyzes how the field support organizational development, and considers how organizations are embedded in social and political contexts. Ethical and scientifically sound evaluation practices, rooted in asset-based perspectives, are emphasized. Graduates of this course will possess the skills to analyze program impact and contribute to organizational capacity building.
This class examines how death, dying, and grief are ritualized and understood in different cultures. Exploration will also be made of current challenges, personal and societal, related to death such as advance directives (living wills), grief, hospice care, mortuary services, and bodily disposal. Attention will be paid to eco-death and issues of social justice related to death, too. Students will engage in a semester-long community- based project.
Concentrated study in a single area, topic, controversy, movement, or figure in rhetoric. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic differs. Prerequisites will vary by topic.
Computer Science
An introduction to creative modeling of both natural and virtual worlds, in which students gain understanding of human interaction with computing devices as well as the expertise needed for further course work in computer science. Lab experiences using the explicit notation of a programming language reinforce the application of abstractions while affording practice in algorithmic problem solving and relevant theory.
An introduction to creative modeling of both natural and virtual worlds, in which students gain understanding of human interaction with computing devices as well as the expertise needed for further course work in computer science. Lab experiences using the explicit notation of a programming language reinforce the application of abstractions while affording practice in algorithmic problem solving and relevant theory.
An introduction to creative modeling of both natural and virtual worlds, in which students gain understanding of human interaction with computing devices as well as the expertise needed for further course work in computer science. Lab experiences using the explicit notation of a programming language reinforce the application of abstractions while affording practice in algorithmic problem solving and relevant theory.
An introduction to creative modeling of both natural and virtual worlds, in which students gain understanding of human interaction with computing devices as well as the expertise needed for further course work in computer science. Lab experiences using the explicit notation of a programming language reinforce the application of abstractions while affording practice in algorithmic problem solving and relevant theory.
Software design and development using object-oriented programming techniques. Topics include abstract data types and their implementation using classes, design methodologies, recursion, elementary data structures, and implementation of larger programs.
Software design and development using object-oriented programming techniques. Topics include abstract data types and their implementation using classes, design methodologies, recursion, elementary data structures, and implementation of larger programs.
This course provides students with a working knowledge of the power and potential of modern networked databases as well as of common uses and abuses. Students receive hands-on experience with open source development tools, which are widely used for building and placing databases on the web. Database development is explored, from conceptual elaboration through design and implementation, and interview techniques for effective database design are considered. Programming techniques are introduced for building, maintaining, accessing, interacting, and protecting the information in large data depositories. Discussions include consideration of concerns driving policy decisions for amassing and managing sensitive, and sometimes dangerous, information collections.