May 10, 2024

Course Catalog 2021-2022

Course Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

Students planning a program of study or concentration are urged to review program requirements and course descriptions before meeting with their advisors. Not all courses listed here are taught every year, and students should consult the Course Schedule on the Wheaton website for information about offerings in a particular semester. Courses are numbered to indicate levels of advancement as follows: 100–199, elementary or introductory; 200–299, intermediate; 300 and above, advanced. Departments often design new courses, either to be offered on a one-time basis or an experimental basis, before deciding whether to make them a regular part of the curriculum. These courses are numbered 098, 198, 298 or 398.

Information is available online through WINDOW about prerequisites that must be completed before enrolling in a course, as well as the curriculum and general education requirements that a course fulfills. Most courses are offered for one course credit; a course credit at Wheaton is the equivalent of four semester hours.

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Philosophy
	PHIL 125 - Logic An introduction to categorical, propositional and predicate logic with particular emphasis on methods of discovering and proving the validity of arguments. Designed to improve students’ ability to reason clearly and precisely. Analysis of logical equivalence, soundness and the relation of truth to validity. Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20003, 20016 Division Arts and Humanities Foundation Quantitative Analysis Compass Attributes Humanities, Quantitative Analysis
	PHIL 199 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits 1
	PHIL 203 - Ancient Greek Philosophy An introduction to the thought of Plato and Aristotle: knowledge and truth, the nature of reality, the good life and the good society. Attention also to Socrates and the pre-Socratic philosophers. Prerequisites One Philosophy course orHIST 110 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20039 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Global Honors, Humanities
	PHIL 207 - Modern Philosophy: The Enlightenment This course focuses on some central epistemological, social, and metaphysical issues facing European philosophers in the17th and 18th centuries. Topics include the following: what are the nature, scope, and limits of knowledge; who is entitled to participate in the search for truth; what is the role of God in a rational universe; how do ideas represent external objects; are there innate ideas; are there perceiver-independent objects/properties. Students will focus on critical analysis of texts and careful articulation of arguments. Readings will be drawn from among the following philosophers: René Descartes, Mary Astell, George Berkeley, Mary Shepherd, Francçois Poullain de la Barre, John Locke, and David Hume. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 224 - Minds and Machines Can a computer think? What is the nature of thought? How does technology affect our conception of ourselves? This introductory course explores issues in the philosophy of mind. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 225 - Philosophy of Religion See REL 225 . Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with REL 225 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 233 - Philosophy and Literature Plato began the ancient quarrel between poetry and philosophy; this course seeks rapprochement. Philosophical examination of the relationship among readers, writers and literary texts, illuminating the nature of the mind and imagination, the domain of ethics and the task of moral philosophy. Topics include existentialism, the paradox of fiction and ethical criticism. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 235 - Friendship Is it possible to be friends with your dog? Can the wicked be friends? How do friendships differ from kinship bonds? Do friends have duties to each other that they do not have to others? In this course we will explore the nature of friendship and its relation to other social bonds. Our focus will be primarily on philosophical texts, but we will also consider sociological and historical analyses, and friendship as depicted in film. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 236 - Aesthetics The branch of philosophy that concerns itself with beauty and art. Examines the main historical and contemporary theories of art and the aesthetic experience. Special emphasis on the nature of aesthetic value, the limits of aesthetic theory and the contributions of aesthetic inquiry to other philosophical fields. Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20009, 20089 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 241 - Bio-Ethics A consideration of ethical issues raised by biotechnologies. Possible topics include: laboratory-assisted reproduction and human cloning, enhancement of human traits, designing future children and stem cell research. Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20015 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	PHIL 242 - Medical Ethics A consideration of current ethical controversies in medicine. Topics will be drawn from life and death issues, resource allocation, experimentation with human subjects and ethical issues in the practice of health care. Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20084 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	PHIL 245 - Philosophy of Science An examination of modern views about the nature of science. One emphasis is on epistemological issues: scientific knowledge and its distinctiveness, observational evidence and theory construction, and scientific method. A second emphasis concerns issues about science, values and democratic society. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 255 - Feminism, Philosophy and the Law An examination of issues in law and philosophy posed by feminist theory, including how society views women and their roles, and how that view affects the legal and societal status of women. Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with WGS 250 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 260 - How Judges Reason A consideration of fundamental issues in the conception and practice of law in the United States. Emphasis on the analysis of forms of legal reasoning; designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the judicial process. Prerequisites Sophomore or higher Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20067 Division Arts and Humanities
	PHIL 265 - Philosophy of Law A survey of key issues in legal philosophy and legal theory, such as the nature of law, the role of the ethical in the law and punishment theory. Materials will draw on the social sciences as well as philosophy to develop a framework for study of legal institutions across cultures. Prerequisites One course in Philosophy Credits 1 Area Humanities Connection 20067 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	PHIL 298 - Critical Thinking in the Times of Madness Is critical thinking dangerous? Does it undermine authority? Which mental habits make someone good or bad at critical thinking? What do people think critically about? In this course, we explore critical thinking both as a subject of inquiry and as a tool for investigating a wide range of topics, from free will to friendship, and from social equality to epistemic injustice. Readings are drawn from ancient, modern, and contemporary philosophers and essayists. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Humanities
	PHIL 298 - Life, Death, and Meaning In this course we examine whether there is a meaning of life, or rather meaning in life, and the relationship of meaningfulness to other values; whether it is enough to feel that one’s life is meaningful or whether there an objective sense according to which a life can be meaningful no matter how it feels to the person living it; and whether it is it possible to live the life that matters most to you. We will also examine a set of questions that traditionally stand together under the heading of “analytic existentialism”: are persons benefited, or harmed, by being brought into existence; does death matter to the person who dies, and if so, are some deaths worse than others; are we immortal and, if not, would it be desirable to be so; and finally, given our answers to these questions, is pessimism or optimism an appropriate attitude to the human condition? Credits 1
	PHIL 298 - Negotiating with Reason In a successful negotiation, the people involved use discussion and argumentation to find a resolution that serves their individual interests. This course will help students master the critical thinking skills necessary to reason about the complex interplay of interests involved in negotiations in personal and professional life. These reasoning skills extend not only to negotiations but also to academic contexts in which students need to precisely and carefully craft arguments with competing claims and values. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Humanities
	PHIL 298 - Philosophy of Immigration Law An exploration of how legal philosophy addresses issues arising from various aspects of immigration. Topics will include statelessness, defining “refugees,” justifying refugee and other immigrant policies, notions of citizenship, and human rights. Background in law is neither required nor expected, and students will learn to analyze both international and national legal provisions bearing on immigration. Credits 1
	PHIL 298 - Violence, Inclusion, and Freedom Political philosophy tries to solve problems that arise when we live together. This course, drawing on contemporary and historical sources, examines three of the most important problems. The first is the problem of violence. Many interesting ideas about how we ought to live together arose during the English Civil War or the French Revolution. We will see that many key problems on how to organize society that stem from those conflicts are still with us today. The second problem is the problem of inclusion, which examines how to live with people who are not like us. What do we owe to strangers? How do considerations of gender and race affect how our political arrangements ought to be? The final problem is the problem of freedom. What is political freedom? What kinds of political freedom are worth having? And why does it matter? Credits 1
	PHIL 299 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities
	PHIL 311 - The Nature of Morality The philosophical study of ethics comprises three subdivisions: normative ethics, applied ethics, and metaethics or the nature of morality. In this class we will study metaethics. We will not consider such normative ethical questions as ” is act A morally right or is agent G morally good? Instead we will consider answers to the following questions: What do we mean when we judge “act A is good”? Do moral properties exist in the world in the same way physical properties do? Do objective moral facts exist? How are such facts related to culture? What counts as a moral explanation? What is the nature of moral disagreement? What does it mean to have a moral reason to act? (Previously Ethical Theory) Prerequisites One course in Philosophy Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 312 - Feminist Theory This advanced-level course is designed to explore in depth many of the theoretical frameworks and methodological issues that are touched upon in women’s studies and gender-balanced courses. The course focuses on historical and contemporary writings from a range of perspectives, including liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism and postmodernism. Special topics such as racism, lesbianism and international women’s issues are also examined. Credits 1 Notes Open to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. Cross-listed with WGS 312 and ENG 312 . Area Humanities Connection 23005 Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	PHIL 321 - Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy A critical examination of recent theories of a just society, including the work of Nozick, Rawls, Habermas, Young and Benhabib. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisites One course in Philosophy; PHIL 121 is highly recommended Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	PHIL 325 - Metaphysics An investigation of philosophical problems involving space and time, causation, agency, contingency and necessity, and the distinction between mind and matter. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 330 - Wittgenstein In-depth examination of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later philosophy, its historical context, and its wide and lasting influence on many areas of philosophical inquiry. The course will focus primarily on Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations and On Certainty, but will also devote some time to the works of Wittgenstein’s intellectual forebears as well as those of his philosophical heirs. Prerequisites One Course in Philosophy. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 388 - Tutorial The student will do all the work required for any 200-level course not already taken, plus additional independent work to be arranged in advance with the instructor.
	PHIL 399 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities
	PHIL 401 - Advanced Seminar in Philosophy Topics will vary from year to year, according to the interests of students and members of the department. Required of majors and minors in their senior year, encouraged for junior majors and minors. Credits 1 Area Humanities Division Arts and Humanities Compass Attributes Humanities
	PHIL 500 - Individual Research Selected majors are invited by the department to pursue individual research in preparation for writing an Honors Thesis. Credits 1
Physics
	PHYS 099 - Independent Study Independent study on topics in physics, astronomy or geology not covered by the regular course offerings. Content varies with the interest of students and instructors. Credits .5
	PHYS 107 - The Physics of Music and Sound For students of music and others. What sound is, how sounds combine, the distinctions between musical and nonmusical sound, the characteristics of sounds produced by different instruments, sound recording and reproduction, and human perception of sound. Includes lecture demonstration. Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with MUSC 107 Area Natural Sciences Connection 20043 Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 110 - Electronic Circuits A laboratory-oriented introduction to modern electronics, which progresses from simple circuits using discrete solid-state components to those using integrated circuits common to computers and control devices. Students will gain insight into the way computers work and learn how to use microcomputers to control simple devices. No previous work in physics or electronics is required. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Connection 20003, 20022 Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 160 - Geology The origin, evolution and behavior of the Earth, the processes that shape the Earth today and investigation of the geologic record to see how these processes have operated in the past. Topics include earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion, rocks and minerals, the interior of the Earth, Earth history and plate tectonics. Laboratories and field trips to investigate local geology are included. Credits 1 Notes A lab section must be selected with lecture. Area Natural Sciences Connection 20030, 20081 Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 165 - Climate Change, Past and Present A detailed survey of the physical processes which control the long-term state of the Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, including discussion of how climate has changed over the Earth’s history, and how it might change in the future. Emphasis on feedback processes and interactions between physical climate, biology and human society. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Connection 20030 Division Natural Sciences Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 170 - Introductory Physics I The principles of Newtonian mechanics as applied to solids, liquids and gases. Introduction to heat and thermodynamics. Recommended for students in science, mathematics and engineering dual-degree programs. No previous work in physics is assumed. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 171 - Introductory Physics II The fundamentals of electric and magnetic phenomena including circuit theory. The theory of oscillations and waves. Introduction to geometrical and physical optics. Recommended for students in science, mathematics and engineering dual-degree programs. Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with PHYS 181 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 180 - Enhanced Introductory Physics I An enhanced version of PHYS 170 , offering students an opportunity to work at a faster pace and/or with more advanced materials. Typically these courses award an additional half credit for the extra work and time required of them. Prerequisites Students should have prior experience with Calculus (in high school or college) or be taking MATH 101 concurrently or by Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 181 - Enhanced Introductory Physics II An enhanced version of PHYS 171 , offering students an opportunity to work at a faster pace and/or with more advanced materials. Typically these courses award an additional half credit for the extra work and time required of them. Credits 1.5 Notes Cross-listed with PHYS 171 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 198 - Rocket Science Space … the final frontier. How do we get there, what should we bring with us, and what will we find? This class will give students a broad background in the challenges and opportunities of space exploration and the commercial development of space. Specifically, the class will focus on the physics of rocketry, orbital dynamics, spacecraft engineering, telecommunications, instrumentation, and planetary geology. Students will use hands-on activities and computer exercises to simulate space mission design and operations. Students coming into the class should be comfortable with using algebra and trigonometry, and expect a fast and challenging introductory class – it is rocket science, after all. Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with AST 198 Rocket Science
	PHYS 199 - Independent Study Independent study on topics in physics, astronomy or geology not covered by the regular course offerings. Content varies with the interest of students and instructors. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science
	PHYS 225 - Modern Physics Introduction to the special theory of relativity, atomic physics, nuclear physics and elementary quantum theory. This course may be considered to be a third semester of introductory physics. Prerequisites PHYS 171 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Connection 20059 Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 226 - Optics Geometric and wave optics, including reflection, refraction, scattering, diffraction, interference, polarization and nonlinear phenomena. Applications to microscopes, telescopes, spectroscopy, lasers, fiber optics, holography and a variety of modern optical materials. The course includes a significant amount of laboratory work outside of class. Prerequisites PHYS 171 or PHYS 181 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Sciences Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 227 - Remote Sensing A great deal can be learned about the Earth by studying the different wavelengths of light reflected or emitted from its surface. Students will learn the theory, collection and interpretation of remotely sensed data from aircraft and satellites, through hands-on projects related to geology, ecology, human land use and environmental monitoring. Prerequisites PHYS 171 or CHEM 153 orBIO 111 or AST 130 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 228 - Scientific Computing Computational techniques for solving problems in the physical sciences. Topics include time series analysis, root-finding, and numerical techniques for ordinary and partial differential equations: these techniques are used to solve problems in classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, geophysics, climatology, chemistry, and ecology. Appropriate for students with calculus experience, plus some further coursework in either math, physics, chemistry, or computer science. Prerequisites MATH 104 Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 235 - Modern Physics II A continuation of PHYS 225 Modern Physics , this course presents the ideas of quantum mechanics, and applies them to systems such as the hydrogen atom, many-electron atoms, and molecules, systems with many particles, with applications to gases and solids, and solid state systems, semiconductor devices and superconductivity. Prerequisites PHYS 225 Modern Physics and MATH 104 Calculus II Credits 1 Area Natural Science Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 250 - Ancient Astronomies See AST 250
	PHYS 298 - Meteorology and Oceanography Credits 1
	PHYS 299 - Independent Study Independent study on topics in physics, astronomy or geology not covered by the regular course offerings. Content varies with the interest of students and instructors. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science
	PHYS 310 - Statistical and Thermal Physics The principles of the physics of systems having many particles. A statistical (microscopic) approach to the thermodynamic (macroscopic) properties of many-particle systems, such as pressure, volume, temperature, entropy, free energy and heat capacity. Prerequisites PHYS 170 and PHYS 171 and PHYS 225 and minimum one year of Calculus or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 311 - Classical Mechanics Advanced topics dealing with classical mechanical systems. Small oscillations and waves. The calculus of variations, Fourier analysis and series solutions of differential equations are some of the mathematical methods developed and used. Prerequisites PHYS 170 or PHYS 180 or one year of Calculus (MATH 101 and MATH 104 ) or Permission of Instructor` Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 314 - Electric and Magnetic Fields Classical electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic fields and waves. Vector calculus and much of potential theory will be developed and used throughout the course. Prerequisites PHYS 171 and a minimum one year of Calculus or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 350 - Experimental Physics Advanced laboratory. Students will perform a variety of experiments from the various branches of physics and astronomy chosen to suit their individual needs and interests. Prerequisites PHYS 170 and PHYS 171 and PHYS 225 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 360 - Geophysics Use of the principles of physics to understand current geologic phenomena and the evolution of the Earth and planets. Topics include the structure and evolution of the interiors of the Earth and other planets, deformation of solid material, seismology, heat generation and transport, dynamics of the ocean and atmosphere, hydrology, gravity anomalies, geomagnetism and impact cratering. Prerequisites PHYS 170 or PHYS 171 or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 370 - Quantum Mechanics The principles of quantum mechanics. Schroedinger’s equation and applications to some physical systems. Observables, operators and expectation values. Operator algebra. Angular momentum and spin. Approximation methods. Prerequisites PHYS 225 and minimum one year of Calculus or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science Compass Attributes Natural Science
	PHYS 398 - Fluid Mechanics An exploration of fluid physics, including irrotational flow, compressibility, waves, shock dynamics and turbulence, with applications to aerospace and geophysics problems. This advanced seminar will use student-led lectures, research literature, and hands-on projects to integrate physical and mathematical expertise from previous coursework in the major. Prerequisites PHYS 311 and MATH 236 Credits 1 Notes Intended for Juniors and Seniors
	PHYS 399 - Selected Topics Independent study on topics in physics, astronomy or geology not covered by the regular course offerings. Content varies with the interest of students and instructors. Credits 1
	PHYS 499 - Independent Research A research project in physics, astronomy or geology supervised by a faculty member of the department. Credits 1 Area Natural Sciences Division Natural Science
	PHYS 500 - Individual Research Investigation of a problem in physics, astronomy or geology under the guidance of a faculty member. Need to write a thesis and take an oral examination. Open to junior and senior majors who are candidates for departmental honors. Credits 1
Political Science
	POLS 023 - Legal Issues in Public Policy: Criminal Law This course uses a law school casebook and law school teaching methods to look at the current law of the common law crimes of homicide, assault, battery, arson, burglary and rape and the legal defenses to each. Credits .5 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences
	POLS 099 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits .5 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences
	POLS 101 - The American Political System An introduction to American politics using a systems approach and covering aspects of political behavior along with institutional description and analysis of public policy. Open to freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 109 - Introduction to International Relations After a brief introduction to salient events in world politics since World War II, basic concepts in the analysis of international politics are considered. The course will analyze the various types of international actors (nations, international organizations, liberation movements, multinational corporations), their goals and how they seek to attain them, and will explore the determinants of international political behavior. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 20030 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 115 - Introduction to Comparative Politics The comparative study of the political process in Western and non-Western societies. No political system will be studied in depth, though the course provides the concepts and tools for such study in the future. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 21002 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 151 - Introduction to Public Policy At its core, public policy is about problem solving: what problems exist, which should be addressed through governmental intervention, how we should do it, and whether we do it well. But also at its core, public policy is political: elected officials, interest groups, bureaucrats, and citizens vie for power in defining problems and proposing solutions. This course examines the politics of problem solving by considering the theory behind democratic policy making, the formal and informal actors who define and implement policies, and the strategies we can use to assess the efficacy of public policy. Credits 1 Notes Previously taught as POLS 198. Area Social Science Division Social Science Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 198 - Fundamentals of Politics This course uses a combination of political philosophy and contemporary political science scholarship to take an in-depth look at 10 foundational ideas in politics that are important today, including constitutionalism, liberalism and the social contract. Students will read Aristotle, Locke and Tocqueville as well as recent scholarship and political news. This course emphasizes U.S. examples in relation to political philosophy. Credits 1
	POLS 199 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences
	POLS 200 - An Introduction to Research Methods An introduction to the guiding principles of modern social science research, along with instruction in the actual use of research techniques, including surveys, statistical analysis of political data and data processing by computers. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 201 - Contemporary Urban Politics Urban, suburban and metropolitan government, and policy problems. The course will focus on local political conflict in the context of the federal system in which both the national government and the states play important roles. Policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, including community development, housing, education and welfare will be explored via field work. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 203 - African Politics An introduction to African politics. The course will focus on major issues, including political change, institutions, processes, economic development, female roles, ethnicity and foreign policy. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 23001 Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science
	POLS 207 - Classical Political Theory Ancient and medieval political philosophies harbor specific understandings of politics. For the ancients, political philosophy and political involvement in society entwine; they imply each other. According to the medieval political philosophy, God is overwhelmingly present in both spheres of nature and politics. One may justifiably argue that the post-Renaissance idea of politics breaks with the above notions of politics. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 20040 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality
	POLS 209 - Chinese Foreign Policy This course explores how China understands and pursues its foreign policy interests. Starting with how major international relations paradigms analyze China’s interests, we move to an examination of China’s domestic political structures. Topics include President Xi Jinping’s articulation of the “China Dream,” how Chinese international relations theorists have thought about China’s grand strategy, China’s growing influence in international development finance and global governance with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and “One Belt, One Road”, as well as some of their implications for developing countries. We also consider China’s military modernization, as well as its efforts to cultivate international “soft power” and reshape transnational norms. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 211 - Congress and the Legislative Process An analysis of who gets elected to the House of Representatives and the Senate, how they get elected and what they do once in office. Topics covered include: elections, constituencies, party organizations, committees, rules and norms, interest groups, executive liaison, policy outcomes and the impact of reforms. Prerequisites POLS 101 or POLS 109 or POLS 115 Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 20002 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 215 - Contemporary European Governments and Politics A comparative study of contemporary European political systems. Special attention given to the relationship of government structures and the policymaking process. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 20068 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors
	POLS 217 - Medieval Political Thought This course discusses a set of themes that have historically shaped the constellation of medieval political thought. In many a medieval political thinker’s view, God is overwhelmingly present in both spheres of nature and politics. Therefore, one may justifiably argue that the post-Renaissance idea of politics, which resonates with our modern ears, breaks with the medieval notion of politics-god relationship. Through the course of the semester, we inquire into the idea of citizenship in the city of God; learn about the relationship between moral values and political practices; and, study the relevance of theology for politics in the medieval period. Likewise, our studies of such concepts as justice and power; civic and religious obligations; the form of governance; religious [in-]tolerance; and, tyranny prepare us for a better understanding of some early modern political ideas such as regicide and revolution—as well as the emergence of the modern State—at the end of our intellectual journey. The course is constructed around the following goals: (A) Exposure to a range of political ideas which may help us to rethink our present-day understandings of politics. And, (B) the recognition of the basic ideas (about politics and civic virtues) that separate our modern “commonsensical” vision of human condition from the medieval conceptions of noble life and politics. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Science Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 223 - Contemporary Chinese Politics An introduction to the political institutions and processes of the People’s Republic of China. Covers the political experience of the PRC since 1949 with a focus on the post-1978 era.
	POLS 227 - Modern Political Theory This course begins with reflection on modernity and examines a select number of modern political thinkers whose ideas have in part, and effectively, shaped the way we live our lives, understand the meanings, and, define the purposes of our social, political, and, economic involvements. The nature of modern politics, the autonomy, the sovereignty, and also, the alienation of the Enlightened individual, also the ideal of democracy and its modern enemies are among concerns that lead the path of our inquiry. Throughout this course we read Emmanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill on Enlightenment, Utilitarianism and Individualism. Also Thomas Hobbes tells us about the “scientific” amorality of Modern/Realist Politics and underlines the centrality of power to it. Likewise, Carl Schmitt articulates the concept of sovereignty (we will see the service that his articulation offers to both Fascism and Conservatism) and “presents” the structure of the Modern/Realist Politics. Karl Marx discloses the secret, and the danger, of the Capitalist mode of social life and Hannah Arendt investigates the existence, or rather the absence, of conditions necessary to humane life in Modern time. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 229 - United States Foreign Policy An examination of the goals of American foreign policy and of the making and implementing of policy to attain those goals. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 20033, 20038 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality
	POLS 233 - The Politics of Latin America An introduction to the dynamics of politics in Latin America. Themes include political economy, military authoritarian intervention, transitions to democracy, social movements and the U.S. role in the area. Countries used as examples include Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador and Chile. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 23003 Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 239 - International Relations of East Asia This course is a survey of contemporary international politics in East Asia, including China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Through the application of international relations theories, students will become familiar with key features of regional politics and how they are evolving in response to contemporary trends. Topics covered may vary in response to developments in the region and student interest but may include: the growth of China’s influence both within and beyond East Asia via the Belt and Road Initiative, the United States-centered “hub-and-spoke” alliance system, diplomacy regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, regional institutions for managing security and trade, disputes over sovereignty in the South China Sea, and non-traditional security issues such as terrorism or migration. Prerequisites POLS 109 is recommended by not required Credits 1 Area Social Science Division Social Science Foundation Beyond The West Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 241 - Political Parties In this course, we will define political parties and study the formation of the American two party system. We will consider the role of partisanship among ordinary people, the way parties are important in recruiting future leaders, and how parties help elected lawmakers accomplish their various goals. By the end of the semester, students will have a deeper understanding about the necessity of parties through exposure to theory, history, and analysis of contemporary politics. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 245 - Policing as Governance This course explores the role of the police in politics, with a particular focus on the function of policing in democracies. The democratic police ideal holds that officers “protect and serve” all members of their communities equally, that they are neutral actors without their own political interests. Press accounts of police shootings, as well as the policing of protests in the aftermath of these, have led growing numbers of citizens to question these assumptions. In this course, we will engage in a critical examination of “police power” in a wide range of contexts and analyze the nature of police violence. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 251 - Mass Media and American Politics This is a course about the relationship between the mass media and American politics. In recent years, the term mass media has expanded from newspapers and televisions to include the internet and social media. This transition has caused considerable upheaval in the traditional financial model of the news industry, and affected both the substance of political news and the way content is delivered to readers. In the course, we will study how the media covers politics, confronting questions about bias, fairness, and the ethics of political reporting. We will also examine how political leaders use media to achieve their own objectives. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 259 - Contemporary Conflicts in World Politics During the 20th century, international conflicts were usually well-defined: one country went to war against another, primarily to gain and hold territory. Today, such conflicts are increasingly uncommon. In their place have emerged complex forms of violence and unrest, which tend to hold little regard for national borders and whose ultimate aims are often difficult to discern. This class investigates the most pressing of these contemporary conflicts – including terrorism, migration, ethnic violence, and economic protests – in order to understand why they developed, where they might be headed, and how the international community might best respond to them. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 261 - Moot Court In Moot Court, students will grapple with contemporary questions of constitutional law. For example, does brain imaging violate one’s right against self-incrimination? Is solitary confinement cruel and unusual punishment? Students will learn how to successfully argue a court case and write a legal brief and interested students will have the opportunity to compete in the regional and perhaps even national American Moot Court Association competitions. The public speaking and legal writing skills gained through this course will definitely aid any students interested in law school or any type of public advocacy. Credits 1
	POLS 263 - Politics of the Middle East An introduction course in contemporary Middle East politics focusing on the internal dynamics of Middle East societies, the political relations among states in the region and the involvement of the superpowers in Middle East affairs. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 269 - Popular Culture and World Politics Popular culture is more than just a staple of American life. It is a global phenomenon that distributes a vast array of norms, values, identities, beliefs, and other eminently political issues to billions, on a daily basis. Traditionally, however, political science has not given popular culture much thought. This class challenges that attitude. In introducing students to theories of case studies on the global political significance of popular culture – which will engage issues ranging from capitalism, to world war, to terrorism – this course seeks to understand the vitally important role popular culture plays in constructing and ordering our political world. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 271 - African American Politics The relationship between African Americans and the American political system since moving from protest to politics in their quest for freedom is the course’s central theme. Examined are the changing role of civil rights organizations and the related successes of varied strategies for political empowerment on this quest for freedom. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 23010 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 285 - Women and Politics This course examines the way those who identify or are identified as women have been excluded from the political arena all over the world, and the ways in which their increasing participation has changed the way politics is done. This course is organized into two sections. The first part examines the effect of gender on the political process, focusing on women’s political participation and representation. The second part of the course reviews some of the key policy concerns of women around the world, including economic opportunity, education, health, and physical autonomy. Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed WGS 285 . Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 291 - Judicial Politics Judicial Politics uses a political science approach to study law and courts. In contrast to the close reading of court cases in other law classes, this course will examine courts as political institutions and judges as political actors. This class includes an exploration of the foundations of courts, comparative legal systems and an emphasis on American judicial politics. Prerequisites POLS 101 Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 298 - Nationhood and Statehood in Southeast Asia This course surveys the formation of modern Southeast Asian states—Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia—and especially the role of national identity in their construction. We begin by examining Southeast Asia’s pre-colonial history and then study how Western colonialism transformed the region’s economies and societies. Beginning in the twentieth century, Southeast Asia became a veritable sociopolitical laboratory as former colonies gained their independence and experimented with diverse political and economic strategies. Drawing on political science, sociology, literature, and film, we will study how new forms of national identity became fused with various religious ideas and political ideologies to create new nation-states. At times, this transformation seemed miraculous, such as in Singapore’s dramatic metamorphosis from a rough-and-tumble colonial trading post to a global business hub. At other times, it was horrific, such as in the brutal genocide by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. What explains the different forms of nationalism in Southeast Asia? Why did so many Southeast Asian states transform into authoritarian regimes? The answers promise to hold lessons not just for Southeast Asia, but also for developing regions elsewhere. Credits 1
	POLS 299 - Independent Study An opportunity to do independent work in a particular area not included in the regular courses. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences
	POLS 307 - Freedom and Justice This course deliberates on the nature of justice and freedom and consults with a select number of classical and modern political thinkers accordingly. We begin with thinking about the significance of freedom and responsibility for our meaningful existence and see how freedom and responsibility should be reflected in the realm of political life. Liberty and liberalism, the negative vs. positive understanding of freedom and the shortcomings of this understanding, a feminist view on modern faces of oppression and, finally, the relationship between freedom and development comprise other stages of our deliberation. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 309 - International Law and Organization A study of the role of international law and organizations in international relations. Attention given to the legal relations of states through analysis of cases and documents. Some emphasis given to the United Nations. Prerequisites POLS 101 or POLS 109 Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 311 - Public Opinion and Elections This course will examine the nature and role of public opinion in American democracy, providing a broad-based introduction to the dynamics of citizens’ social and political attitudes in the contemporary United States. What is public opinion? Where does it come from? How does it change? Why does it matter? We will attempt to answer these questions by drawing on scientific studies from political science and social psychology and by conducting original research. The goal of this course is to help students arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape the beliefs, attitudes, and opinions of the American public, the means by which those views are publicly expressed, and the influence of those opinions on policy outcomes. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 323 - Comparative Political Development What does it mean for a society to be “modernized” or “developed”? To become westernized in values and practices? Adopting capitalism, industrialization and trade? More consumption and higher living standards? Can we all be modernized? Can the earth support the globalization of Western consumption patterns? Is our abundance predicated on others’ want and poverty? Or are there more egalitarian paths to economic abundance and political stability. In this course, we will grapple with these questions and others, searching for novel solutions. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Foundation Beyond the West Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars
	POLS 325 - European Integration A study of various attempts to unify Western Europe, including the European Union and NATO; the implications of the establishment of a common market in Western Europe in 1992; and the impact of changes in Eastern Europe on European integration. Prerequisites POLS 109 or POLS 115 or POLS 215 Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Global Honors, Social Science, Structure/Power/Inequality
	POLS 326 - Political Psychology See PSY 326 Prerequisites One PSY and one POLS course or Permission of Instructor Credits 1 Notes Cross-listed with PSY 326 Area Social Sciences Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 327 - Black Political Thought An introduction to African American political and social ideas. Through critical examination of major expressions of that discourse, we hope to arrive at some understanding of the principles, goals and strategies developed by African American women and men. Focus is on major philosophical, theoretical and ideological formulations put forward during the 19th and 20th centuries. In light of the historic and comtemporary problems associated with race, class and gender oppression, we will probe the manner in which these structures of domination and exploitation have differentially and similarly impacted the lives of black women and men. Credits 1 Area Social Sciences Connection 23010 Division Social Sciences Compass Attributes Social Science
	POLS 333 - Popular Movements and Religious Sentiment in the Americas Religious sentiment and popular social movements in the Americas. A study of religious sentiment in the Western tradition and how different conceptions of divinity have influenced contemporary social movements. The course examines both defensive working-class movements (the Christian identity movement; white supremacists and citizen militias) and groups focused on popular empowerment (the civil rights movement; liberation theology and participatory action-research). Credits 1 Compass Attributes Global Honors, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars

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Course Descriptions

PHIL 125 - Logic

PHIL 199 - Independent Study

PHIL 203 - Ancient Greek Philosophy

PHIL 207 - Modern Philosophy: The Enlightenment

PHIL 224 - Minds and Machines

PHIL 225 - Philosophy of Religion

PHIL 233 - Philosophy and Literature

PHIL 235 - Friendship

PHIL 236 - Aesthetics

PHIL 241 - Bio-Ethics

PHIL 242 - Medical Ethics

PHIL 245 - Philosophy of Science

PHIL 255 - Feminism, Philosophy and the Law

PHIL 260 - How Judges Reason

PHIL 265 - Philosophy of Law

PHIL 298 - Critical Thinking in the Times of Madness

PHIL 298 - Life, Death, and Meaning

PHIL 298 - Negotiating with Reason

PHIL 298 - Philosophy of Immigration Law

PHIL 298 - Violence, Inclusion, and Freedom

PHIL 299 - Independent Study

PHIL 311 - The Nature of Morality

PHIL 312 - Feminist Theory

PHIL 321 - Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy

PHIL 325 - Metaphysics

PHIL 330 - Wittgenstein

PHIL 388 - Tutorial

PHIL 399 - Independent Study

PHIL 401 - Advanced Seminar in Philosophy

PHIL 500 - Individual Research

PHYS 099 - Independent Study

PHYS 107 - The Physics of Music and Sound

PHYS 110 - Electronic Circuits

PHYS 160 - Geology

PHYS 165 - Climate Change, Past and Present

PHYS 170 - Introductory Physics I

PHYS 171 - Introductory Physics II

PHYS 180 - Enhanced Introductory Physics I

PHYS 181 - Enhanced Introductory Physics II

PHYS 198 - Rocket Science

PHYS 199 - Independent Study

PHYS 225 - Modern Physics

PHYS 226 - Optics

PHYS 227 - Remote Sensing

PHYS 228 - Scientific Computing

PHYS 235 - Modern Physics II

PHYS 250 - Ancient Astronomies

PHYS 298 - Meteorology and Oceanography

PHYS 299 - Independent Study

PHYS 310 - Statistical and Thermal Physics

PHYS 311 - Classical Mechanics

PHYS 314 - Electric and Magnetic Fields

PHYS 350 - Experimental Physics

PHYS 360 - Geophysics

PHYS 370 - Quantum Mechanics

PHYS 398 - Fluid Mechanics

PHYS 399 - Selected Topics

PHYS 499 - Independent Research

PHYS 500 - Individual Research

POLS 023 - Legal Issues in Public Policy: Criminal Law

POLS 099 - Independent Study

POLS 101 - The American Political System

POLS 109 - Introduction to International Relations

POLS 115 - Introduction to Comparative Politics

POLS 151 - Introduction to Public Policy

POLS 198 - Fundamentals of Politics

POLS 199 - Independent Study

POLS 200 - An Introduction to Research Methods

POLS 201 - Contemporary Urban Politics

POLS 203 - African Politics

POLS 207 - Classical Political Theory

POLS 209 - Chinese Foreign Policy

POLS 211 - Congress and the Legislative Process

POLS 215 - Contemporary European Governments and Politics

POLS 217 - Medieval Political Thought

POLS 223 - Contemporary Chinese Politics

POLS 227 - Modern Political Theory

POLS 229 - United States Foreign Policy

POLS 233 - The Politics of Latin America