Interdisciplinary Studies

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES COURSES (INST)

The Interdisciplinary Studies designation is used for courses that cannot be appropriately placed under a single, dual or triple course rubric. Faculty members proposing such courses must seek approval from all four schools before the courses can be approved by the Educational Programs Commission.

103 Professional Readiness (2)

The course prepares students for an effective cooperative education or internship experience. Students explore strategies to connect with employers, review how they present themselves to others, and develop confidence in their communication skills. The focus will be on appropriate workplace behavior, business etiquette, and professional communication strategies. May be repeated for credit. Offered every semester.

105 Effective Learning Strategies (2)

An introductory course in critical thinking, study strategies, goal setting, time management, and study skills and their relationship to academic success. Designed to help students develop strong academic skills. Offered every semester.

106 Analyzing and Understanding College Reading (2)

An introductory course in critical thinking as it relates to college reading success. Designed to help students develop their skills in these areas. Offered every semester.

108 Developing a Roadmap to Research (2)

Introduces students to the research process and helps them develop the information literacy skills needed to succeed in college and in life. Students learn how to determine the extent of information needed, use effective research strategies, and evaluate and communicate research results, citing sources responsibly. Prerequisite: Freshmen/sophomore status or consent. Offered in selected semesters.

111 Orientation Seminar for Non-Traditional Students (1)

Designed to help non-traditional students develop the academic skills needed to excel in their coursework. Emphasizes critical thinking. Offered every semester as needed.

114 Read, Research, Respond (4)

This course explores the intersections between reading, research and response, both generally and in specific disciplinary contexts. Students will go through the research process from determining purpose and selecting a topic to communicating research effectively. Through this process, students will explore topics and research practices in potential fields of interest. Offered every January Term.

123 Service Learning in Hampton Roads (1)

Raises civic consciousness by fostering engaged citizenship where students perform a week of direct community service. Orientation and preparation before the direct service, as well as a reflection journal, document student learning. May be repeated for credit. Identical to PORT 123. Offered every January Term.

124 Service Learning and Issues of Civic Engagement in Hampton Roads (4)

Students are introduced to a community-based project and investigate the issue involved through research, reading, and lecture, followed by a week of direct community service. Includes reflection, assessment, and consideration of broader contexts. May be repeated for credit. Identical to PORT 124. Offered every January Term.

126 Music and Folk Culture of the Southern Appalachians (1)

Introduces students to the music and folk culture of the Southern Appalachians, including Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Emphasizes the unique pre-World War II styles of rural dance music, social and religious music, and early commercially recorded music, including the old-time string band, jug bands, claw hammer style of banjo playing, unaccompanied fiddling, shape note singing, and balladry. Students examine the history, development, and structure of these regional music styles and try playing the music themselves in an old-time string band or jug band. Offered in selected January Terms.

161 Bees and Beekeeping (1)

An introduction to the history, technique, biology, and practices of apiculture and to the fundamentals and pleasures of keeping bees as either a hobby or a business. Covers the long history of beekeeping around the world, the various metaphorical and cultural meanings assigned to bees and beekeeping over time, the development of the Langstroth hive, and the theories behind the most modern hive management practices. Includes essentials such as the building of hives, supers, and frames; the capture of swarms; the installation of packaged bees; management of the hive throughout the seasons, requeening, and the harvesting of a honey crop. Also includes the basics of bee biology and hive organization, and methods of preventing disease and maintaining a healthy, productive colony. Offered in selected January Terms.

202 The School and Society (4)

A study of the historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of public education in the United States. Topics include the foundations of instructional design based on assessment data, the legal status of teachers and students, including federal and state laws and regulations, the school as an organization/culture, and contemporary issues in education. Offered every semester.

203 Applied Technology for Innovative Instruction (4)

Students master educational technologies to enhance student learning in K-12 classrooms. Course includes best practices in online and blended learning environments. Teacher candidates meet Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel (TSIP) and grade-level and content-specific technology standards as outlined in the Virginia SOLs. Blended/hybrid course. Offered every semester.

303 Resident Community Leadership (1)

Resident Assistants (RAs) develop their skills as peer counselors and group leaders. RAs share their experiences through group discussions and structured processes. Enrollment is limited to current resident assistants. (Previously PSY 303). Pass/fail grading. Offered every semester.

305 Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar (1)

Offers students the opportunity to prepare for semester study abroad, focusing on the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful experience abroad. Students examine a host of intercultural and international issues important for preparation to studying and living abroad. Issues related to practical study abroad preparation are also covered, including academics abroad, health, safety, and finances. Pass/fail grading. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Global Scholars Program. Offered every semester.

319 Internship Preparation (1)

Prepares students to undertake a professional internship. Students identify areas of expertise, skills, interests, and values; create professional materials; research employment fields, and develop skills to achieve academic and professional goals. Prerequisite: Sophomore Status. Offered every semester.

351 Ethics Bowl Workshop (1)

Provides experience in public speaking, debate, and ethical reasoning on a given topic, which changes each year. Prepares students for participation in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges Ethics Bowl, which occurs each February at a VFIC institution. Prerequisite: Consent. May be repeated for credit. Offered every fall.

401 Study Abroad Re-Entry Seminar (1)

Offers students the opportunity to reflect on their semester study abroad experiences. Students explore the ways that study abroad has developed their personal, inter-personal, intellectual, and professional skills and knowledge. Special attention is devoted to examining cultural competencies and global understanding in light of students’ study abroad experiences. Prerequisite: semester study abroad. Offered every semester.

470 Developments in Science and Technology (4) I, W

Explores the nature of scientific inquiry and the role of science and technology in our society by tracing the historical development and current state of several areas of science and technology. Considers the influence of culture, politics, religion, economics, and society on these developments and the impact of these developments on the society. Does not fulfill any requirements for Latin honors. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher, junior/senior status, and one “L” course. Offered January Terms of even-numbered years.

482 Issues in Education (4) I, W

Offers students the opportunity to develop a descriptive research study. The student chooses a topic, conducts a review of the related literature, designs the study, develops research questions, gathers and analyzes data, and reports the results. Does not fulfill divisional requirements for Latin honors but may fulfill research requirement for summa cum laude. Prerequisites: ENG 105 with a grade of C or higher and junior/senior status. Offered every semester.

485 Selected Topics (1 to 4)

Provides opportunities to explore current topics, trends, and issues related to curriculum, methodology, and evaluation. Offered on demand.