HIS125 AMERICAN ETHNIC HISTORY 3 credits Students will examine the contributions of various ethnic groups to American society, as well as the problems that these groups encountered in the assimilation process. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Fall and spring. HIS140 HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND 3 credits The political, social, economic, and intellectual history of New England from Colonial times to the present is studied. Special emphasis is placed on New England’s development as a distinct cultural region and its impact on American life. Prerequisite: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Fall and spring. HIS201 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES I 3 credits The problems of the founding of a new republic, westward expansion, sectional conflicts, and the background of the Civil War will be highlighted in this survey of American history. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Fall. HIS202 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES II 3 credits The social, economic, and political problems and opportunities of the latter half of the nineteenth century, and the emergence of the United States as a world power during the twentieth century are the major topics of this course. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Spring. HIS240 HISTORY OF IDEAS 3 credits In this course, students survey significant ideas in Western culture from ancient times to modern America. Representative figures to be discussed include Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Calvin, Hobbes, Locke, Voltaire, Wollstonecraft, Burke, and Marx. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement; permission of instructor or division dean.
Humanities HUM212 MEDICAL ETHICS 3 credits This course will address the ethical dilemmas involved in medical decisionmaking by physicians, health care workers, patients, and society. A seminar format will be implemented, where the emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills. Students will be expected, and required, to do independent
research, case study analyses, and to articulate well-honed positions, both orally and in writing. Major topics to be covered are abortion, doctorassisted suicide (euthanasia), research with living subjects (animal and human), allocation of scarce resources, new reproductive technologies and rights, professional responsibility, mental incompetence, death and dying, and genetic related issues such as cloning, designer babies, and stem cell research. In addition to the assigned readings, students will be required to participate in class discussions; to maintain a journal for personal reflection and case study analyses; to submit two critiques and two position papers; and to submit and present (PowerPoint) a research paper based on an approved topic. Prerequisites: ENG101, RDG100, or placement. Fall and spring. HUM240 COMPARATIVE RELIGION 3 credits The course will examine, compare and contrast, in a non-judgmental way, the history and beliefs of the five major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Attention will also be given to Native American traditions. Prerequisite: ENG101. Fall and spring. HUM260 THE ART OF BEING HUMAN I 3 credits The course introduces students to the humanities—art, literature, music, theater, philosophy, and religion—and the influences people use to determine value in their world. Attention is given to Western and nonWestern cultures and to the ways these civilizations are interconnected, with emphasis on how the cultural, religious, and philosophical ideals of a civilization are reflected in its artistic expression. In addition, through critical thinking students will be encouraged to explore the relationship between their belief systems and the society of which they are a part. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, or placement. Fall and spring. HUM261 INTRODUCTION TO HUMANITIES: THE ART OF BEING HUMAN II 3 credits This course attempts to study the interconnection among philosophy, art, and religion as they reflect and shape the great periods of civilization. The course reviews many global philosophies that have formed the basis for personal and societal belief systems and illustrates how these theories are reflected in our culture. Attention is given to Western and non-Western cultures and to ways in which civilizations are interconnected. Students will study some of the tenets of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity as well as theories associated with such philosophers as Aristotle and Plato. By studying such concepts as freedom, happiness, love, death, morality, and censorship, students will explore how cultural ideals are treated in many
196 MWCC 2008-09 College Catalog & Student Handbook