This University Seminar explores a dozen famous trials chosen to represent conflicts in different areas of intellectual and cultural/social history including philosophy, religion, science, art, and literature. Subjects include Socrates, Galileo, the Salem Witch Trials, John Brown, Oscar Wilde, the Scopes Monkey Trial, Nuremberg, and Robert Mapplethorpe. Texts include books, films, articles, and websites.

Note: This course, US 208, can count toward the Criminal Justice, History and Philosophy majors and minors.

This course examines the different types of ethical systems as the foundation for decision-making. Topics include consideration of contemporary value conflicts associated with the impact that science and technology have on society, such as stem cell technology, gene therapy, and drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Each topic is critically examined from the scientific, ethical and legal viewpoints. Assignments incorporate readings, discussions, position papers and debates.

This course examines the different types of ethical systems as the foundation for decision-making. Topics include consideration of contemporary value conflicts associated with the impact that science and technology have on society, such as stem cell technology, gene therapy, and drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Each topic is critically examined from the scientific, ethical and legal viewpoints. Assignments incorporate readings, discussions, position papers and debates.

Films depicting exemplary teachers and principals and their successful students have long provided many Americans their sense of how quality educational environments are created. But how much can one really learn about education from these cinematic treatments? This University Seminar includes screening and discussion of numerous films to probe them for their major themes relating to innovative teaching techniques, genuine concern and respect for students, and students’ responses in the form of high achievement and improved personal behavior. And the University Seminar compares and contrasts these films with the latest scholarly research investigating the factors and influences that correlate with successful schools and students and review and critique key educational and psychological theories of education. Written assignments, participation in classroom discussions, and small groups oral classroom reporting help students to develop written and oral communication skills.

Note: This course, US 220, can count toward the Psychology major and minor.