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Course Descriptions
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Course titled with a computer denote that the class is offered online
INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA Students will learn about the history of native groups throughout North America with Powerpoint lectures, streaming videos, small group online discussions, website exercises and three face-to-face classroom meetings. The course will highlight the social, economic and religious life of North American Indians as well as look at their great variety of languages and artistic patterns. The effects of European colonialism will be examined along with the history of the American era resettlement of tribes and twentieth-century cultural and economic revival movements.
303. Description and analysis of the cultures of native peoples of North America. Social, economic, and religious life; languages and arts of representative North American Indian groups.
Judith Calleja. ANTH 303 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12707) Meets online 9/8-12/8 with 3 face-to-face meetings on Mondays, 9/8, 10/27, 12/8 at Waubonsee Community College, 6:30 – 9:15 pm.
From wood for sailing ships to the Opium Wars, plant products have had a profound influence on societies. We will discuss a great variety of plant products, consider how they are used and what influence their use has had on civilization. Topics will range from early agriculture to modern biotechnology and cover foods, spices, oils, sugars, wood, fibers, medicines, hallucinogens, recreational drugs, and beverages both alcoholic and caffeinated. The interrelationships between plant biology, geography, history, climate, commerce and a bunch of other influences and factors will all be integrated to help understand how and why different cultures use different plant products today.
493E. Ecology/Environmental Biology. Lectures, discussions, and reports on topics of special interest in a particular field of biology. Topics may be selected in one or more fields of biology to a total of 6 semester hours toward any one degree.
700E. Ecology/Environmental Biology. Lectures, discussions, and reports on topics of special interest in a particular field of biology. One to 9 semester hours as scheduled; each field may be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
Ronald Toth. BIOS 493E/700E (3 credit hours)
Section QE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets alternate Saturdays 9/13 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm, 9/20, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 12/6 from 9:00 a.m.-Noon, NIU Rockford.
This course enables students to practice the various communication skills required in business settings. Students will write resumes and cover letters, and will participate in oral communication projects, including interviews and presentations. Group communication will also be practiced and analyzed.
361. Development of communication skills commonly used in governmental, corporate, and nonprofit agencies. Emphasis on report generation, information interviewing, and the presentation of proposals. Because a significant portion of the course grade is based on student team projects. .
Jessica Baldwin. COMS 361 (3 credit hours)
Section CE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets at NIU-Naperville on Wednesdays, 9/10-12/10, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
ECONOMICS & EQUITY This course is a study of economics with a heart, a normative approach. It covers concepts in economics leading to understanding of equity, efficiency, and welfare. Students will be able to understand how different forms of economic activities, policies, and methods of government resource allocations will be affecting the well being of different groups of people and businesses. Income and resource distribution in society, as well as poverty, discrimination, equity, and efficiency effects of government programs will be explored.
370C. Economics and Equity. Topics of current importance to consumers, resource owners, business, and government. May be repeated once as topics change. PRQ: ECON 260 and ECON 261
Sowjanya Dharmasankar. ECON 370C (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets online 9/10-12/10 with 3 face-to-face meetings on Wednesdays, 9/10, 10/22, and 10/29 at Elgin Community College; 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
Students will write the first chapter of a non-fiction book and provide a general outline for subsequent chapters. The class will be workshop style, and the instructor, a former New York Times journalist and author of two books, will serve as writing coach and guide. The goal is to produce a piece of writing that would be suitable for submission for publication. The book chapter will be about 25 pages. Students will have a wide berth in choosing a topic, but should select a matter that has broad enough appeal to be of interest to a wide range of readers. It must also be factual. Two books are required. Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott (Anchor Books); Biting The Dust: The Wild Ride and Dark Romance of The Rodeo Cowboy and The American West, by Dirk Johnson (Bison Publishing).
303. Writing informal and formal nonfiction essays, emphasizing a literary approach to language and flexibility of form. Essay models include memoir, personal essay, nature essay, segmented essay, and travel essay, and may include biography and history.
Dirk Johnson. ENGL 303 (3 credit hours)
Section DE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets on Tuesdays 9/9-12/9, at NIU-Hoffman Estates, 6:30-9:15 p.m.
This course examines selected plays from classic and contemporary world dramatic literature with critical emphasis on character development, textual analysis and each play's overall dramatic arc. Playwrights include Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen, Ionesco, Pinter, and Albee. This course will allow students with varying degrees of dramatic experience, from undergraduate to graduate students to teachers wanting to expand their dramatic teaching choices, to discover, analyze, and explore these various works of dramatic literature in a hands-on and practically engaging way.
ENGL 306. Study of individual plays and of drama in its cultural context. Emphasis on student's ability to read, view, and appreciate drama.
ILAS 342. Study in two or more national literatures of epic, drama, novel, short fiction, pastoral, or romance.
Margaret Knapp. ENGL 306/ILAS 342 (3 credit hours)
Section CE1. (ENGL 306 Ref. #13287, ILAS Ref. #13281) Meets at NIU-Naperville on Mondays, 9/8-12/8, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
The Greeks. The Trojans. The gods. The lovers. The aftermath. Exploring these themes, our readings will include, but not be limited to, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Euripedes’ The Trojan Women, Quintus of Smyrna’s The Trojan Epic, and Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseide. We also will consider the imaginative hold that the Trojan War has exerted from ancient times to the present, remembering that its alleged historical origins were already 500 years old before the Greeks first began to sing and write their epic tales. Student group projects may further consider the archeological discovery of ancient Troy in 1873, the popular 2004 film Troy, or parallels between the literature of the Trojan War and the experiences confronting contemporary veterans as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
ENGL 337. Intensive study of representative selections translated from the works of Greek, Roman, and other European writers, such as Homer, Sappho, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato, Virgil, Ovid, Dante, Tasso, Rabelais, and Cervantes.
ILAS 342. Study in two or more national literatures of epic, drama, novel, short fiction, pastoral, or romance.
Kathy Wright. ENGL 337/ILAS 342 (3 credit hours)
Section UE1. (ENGL 337 Ref. #13309, ILAS 342 Ref. #13315) Meets at Waubonsee Community College on alternate Saturdays, 9/13, 9 am – noon; 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/8, 11/22, 12/13, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY Deforestation. Biodiversity loss. Climate Change. Acid Rain. Sea level rise. Groundwater contamination. Coral bleaching. Thinning Arctic sea ice. What has changed in the past 50 years that has led to these phenomena? Given increasing human population and expanding demands for consumer products, energy, and natural resources, humans are putting more stress on the natural environment. This course looks at the underlying economic, social, political, and demographic causes behind human-environment interaction as well as the scientific explanations of environmental changes that have occurred over the past few centuries due to human action.
253. Introduction to the study of human-environment interactions from a geographic perspective, with emphasis on the role of humans in changing the face of the earth. Fundamentals of environmental science as well as global and local issues related to human population growth, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, forest resources, energy use, climate change, and environmental health.
David Goldblum. GEOG 253 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12761) Meets online 9/9-12/9 with 3 face-to-face meetings on Tuesdays 9/9, 10/21, 12/9 at Waubonsee Community College, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
MAPS & MAPPING Though maps have been used by civilizations for well over 5,000 years, practically all aspects of mapping today involve computers—from the collection of real-world data by GPS or satellites to drafting and printing. Rather than study the history of maps and mapping, we will instead study the concept of maps as tools of modern communication and visualization. This course is also the starting point for NIU's certificate of undergraduate study in GIS (in addition to applying toward the B.G.S.) and is required for several further courses in geography. Mandatory introductory face-to-face class meeting.
256. Introduction to maps as models of our earth, tools of visualization, and forms of graphic communication. Use of satellite and aerial imagery, land surveying, and geographic information systems in map production. Thematic maps and how they are used. Map design for informational and persuasive purposes.
Paul Sill. GEOG 256 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12868) Meets online 9/11 – 12/11 with a mandatory introductory face-to-face meeting at NIU-Rockford on Thursday 9/11, 6:30 – 9:15.
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS Have you ever asked yourself, "Where in the world am I?" GEOG 359 may help you answer that question with an introductory study into the principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In this online course, we develop skills in GIS, its components, and how it applies to our surrounding environment. This course is a primer for those who are interested in learning more about the dynamic and ever-changing world of GIS and its career applications.
359. Study of the fundamental principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Emphasis on the development of these systems, their components and their integration into mainstream geography. Prerequisites & Notes: GEOG 256 or consent of department.
Phil Young. GEOG 359 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12891) Meets online 9/11 – 12/11 with a mandatory face-to-face meeting at Elgin Community College on Thursday 9/11, 6:30-9:15 p.m.
TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS Tropical Environmental Hazards will focus on the interactions between earth surface systems and the physical and social environment. The global distribution of natural hazards is not uniform. Not only do the characteristics of the hazards vary, but the underlying populations, cultures and societies affected by them also contain wide variance. With this in mind, this course will focus on Southeast Asian countries and their associated hazards such as tsunamis, floods, and tropical storms. The goal is to yield a greater understanding of regional geography, differing adaptation mechanisms of societies and also greater understanding of some of the natural hazards within Southeast Asia. Essential elements of the course will include discussion board debates and analysis, webquest exercises, and a final research report on a Southeast Asian disaster of your choice.
408. Examination of natural hazards with a focus on Southeast Asia. Tsunamis, monsoons, typhoons, flooding, droughts, and urban hazards are explored. Interactions among the following three major systems are analyzed with respect to shaping these hazards: the physical environment, social and demographic characteristics, and components of the built environment.
Mace Bentley. GEOG 408 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #13534) Meets online 9/11 -12/11 with face-to-face meetings at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Mondays, 9/11, 10/23, 12/11, 6:30 – 9:15.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS A Geographic Information System (GIS), composed of multiple map layers of a place, can facilitate problem-solving in a variety of social, environmental, and business settings. This course will apply GIS to examples from these different settings. Methods of integrating land, environmental, demographic, and business information will be demonstrated. In addition to applying to the B.G.S., this class also counts toward NIU’s certificate of undergraduate study in GIS.
459. Study of the conceptual framework and development of geographic information systems. Emphasis on the actual application of a GIS to spatial analysis.
Rich Greene. GEOG 459 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #13533) Meets online 9/13 -12/13 with face-to-face meetings at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Saturdays, 9/13, 10/23, and 12/13, 9:00 a.m. – noon.
WORKSHOP IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS What are the essential building blocks required to create an effective Geographic Information System? This online course will use GIS software for the creation, manipulation and presentation of data. The methodology will be a blended set of lessons and exercises which will include design, data capture, quality control, data management and 3D. Students enrolled in the Homeland Security Program, GIS Certificate or B.G.S. degree plan may be interested in taking this course.
468. Problems and techniques of GIS prototype development. Emphasis on GIS development and spatial database management for public sector applications such as land parcel mapping, emergency services, facilities management, and homeland security. The processes of design and production, editing and quality control, and final implementation of an operational product are stressed through applied projects. PRQ: GEOG 359 and consent of department.
Phil Young. GEOG 468 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12697) Meets online 9/8 – 12/8 with a mandatory face-to-face meeting at Elgin Community College on Monday 9/8, 6:30-9:15 p.m.
Many Americans today share a continuing interest in the Native American experience. News sources have recently focused on such topics as the relatively new National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and federal mismanagement of Indian funds. Older, but still contentious, issues include Chief Illiniwek, Indian casinos, fishing rights, grave robberies, and Native American land claims. The history of the American Indian involves much more than a review of various wars; it also includes the study of Native American culture and leadership from the late prehistoric era to the present. This course will shed light on a number of topics of interest to contemporary Americans.
Introduction to traditional and contemporary American Indian cultures. Emphasis on religion, literature and arts, Indian-white contact, the Indians' unique relationship to the federal government, and contemporary issues facing American Indian reservations.
Raymond Hauser. HIST 370 (3 credit hours)
Section QE1. (Ref. #12794)Meets at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m. 9/10 – 12/10.
If asked about the African-American civil rights movement, most people would think of the eleven to 15 year period spanning the 1950's and 1960's wherein African-American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. fought against the injustices of southern segregation using non-violent methods. While this is, to some extent, true, recent scholarship suggests that the origins of the civil rights movement can be traced to elements of African-American resistance to slavery prior to the Civil War and that discussion of the civil rights movement should include the era of African-American radicalism during the late 1960's and early 1970's. In this class, we will examine the “long civil rights era”, from the origins of the civil rights movement in the late 19th and early 20th century to the impact of the civil rights movement on the lives of African-Americans and race relations today. Topics will include: early examples of African-American resistance to white supremacy, African-American political behavior and its relationship to civil rights, civil rights leaders and their beliefs and actions, civil rights and gender, government response to civil rights, the growth of black radicalism and the legacy of the civil rights movement. The class will consist of lectures, discussions of assigned readings and viewing of movies, including episodes from the classic documentary, Eyes on the Prize. Grades will be based upon a combination of tests, short papers and discussion. Students should expect to read between 150 and 200 pages per week and attend every class session.
375. The African-American civil rights movement and the interrelationships among organizations, leaders, communities, and governments.
Robert Hagaman. HIST 375 (3 credit hours)
Section DE1. (Ref. #12788) Meets at Elgin Community College on Saturdays, 9 am – noon, 9/13 – 12/13.
HISTORY OF GENOCIDE This course will examine the social, political, religious, ethnic, and nationalist dimensions of genocide. A brief exploration of genocides in antiquity and the early modern age will be followed by a focus on case studies from the late nineteenth century to the present. The causes, course of events, and consequences of specific case studies will be examined along with conceptual aspects including the development of genocide studies, comparative genocide, definitions of genocide, typology, governmental v. non-governmental responses, justice, and the recent efforts to both predict and prevent genocide. There will be three face-to-face meetings throughout the semester that will facilitate on-line learning process which will include weekly discussion boards, synchronous discussion, pod-casts, webquests, videos, audio-enhanced powerpoint, and group examinations of on-line case studies. Readings will be extensive and students will be expected to engage in frequent writing exercises as well as a research paper and exams.
HIST 387. Examination of the intertwined issues of genocide and human rights focusing on the causes, course of events, and consequences since the advent of the twentieth century. Specific case studies will be examined along with the historical and political foundations.
ILAS 490. Topics from the sciences, social sciences, and/or humanities treated from an interdisciplinary perspective. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours when topic varies.
J.D. Bowers. HIST 387/ILAS 490 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (HIST 387 Ref. #13318, ILAS Ref. #13332) Meets online 9/10 -12/10 with face-to-face meetings on 9/10, 10/22, 12/10 at Waubonsee Community College on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
379. History of the American military experience from colonial times to the present. This course will cover the history of America's wars, starting with the French and Indian War continuing through the major campaigns of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the War with Mexico, and the American Civil War. Also covered will be the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. The first Gulf War, current actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and America's war on terror will be discussed. A combination of lecture, discussion, slides, and DVDs will be used. A list of required readings will be available during the first night of class.
Sam Blackwell. HIST 379 (3 credit hours)
Section CE1. (Ref. #12706) Meets at NIU-Naperville on Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 p.m., 9/9 – 12/9.
ILAS 390. Internship. Work as an intern in an off-campus agency in activities related to one of the majors in the college. Reading and paper preparation under the supervision of a faculty member in the college. May be repeated once. S/U grading.
Judy Santacaterina. ILAS 390 (3 credit hours)
Section PDE1. Meets at NIU-Hoffman Estates. Phone 753-7961 for permit information.
After a review of basic moral theory, we will survey as many as possible of the different kinds of moral issues that arise in business--with a bias towards public policy issues--including the moral status of corporations, the handling of various kinds of risks, the employer/employee nexus, discrimination and diversity, and issues arising in advertising and in international business.
337. Consideration of moral problems arising in business as well as both issues of individual conduct and public policy. May include discussion of general problems in ethical theory which have a direct bearing on these specific issues.
James Hudson. PHIL 337 (3 credit hours)
Section QE1. (Ref. #12829) Meets at NIU-Rockford on Tuesdays, 6:30-9:15 pm, 9/9 – 12/9.
Section DE1. Meets at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Mondays, 6:30 – 9:15 pm, 9/8 -12/8.
POLS 300 examines campaigns and elections from the time of George Washington to the present, but with a particular emphasis on candidates, issues, and partisan trends that have appeared in presidential elections of the post-World War II era. On its surface the electoral system may appear to be static, with Republicans and Democrats contesting elections since the time of the Civil War, but in fact the party system has reorganized and renewed itself many times through a process political scientists call “realignment.” With history as our guide, we will consider whether this revolutionary aspect of presidential elections may emerge in the unprecedented election of 2008 contested by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain.
300. American Presidential Elections.
Mikel Wyckoff. POLS 300 (3 credit hours)
Section CE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets at NIU-Naperville, on Thursdays, 6:30 – 9:15 pm, 9/11 -12/11.
The previous two presidential elections were two of the most controversial in United States history. The 2008 election is well under way and promises to be as competitive and exciting. We will study these elections (and presidential elections in general) in great detail and examine how the result of previous presidential elections has influenced the American political landscape. In a representative democracy, political parties and elections are essential. Citizens must vote for our political system to truly work and parties provide some semblance to a complicated process. It is important then for us to understand political parties, voting, and elections. This course will begin by examining theories of voting. We will discuss who votes, why they vote, and how they vote. Next, we will turn to political parties. Why are they essential for democracy? What roles do parties play? Why do we only have two major parties in the U.S? Should we have more? Finally, we will analyze presidential elections. We will cover topics including candidate recruitment, the nomination process, the impact of party organizations and interest groups on elections, the electoral process, the influence of money on elections, and campaign strategy. We will relate all of these topics to the previous presidential elections and to what we can expect in 2008.
305 Examination of the development, organization, and functions of political parties and elections in the American political system. Topics include the nature and function of political parties, nominations and elections, political campaigns and campaign finance, voting behavior and party realignment issues, and the role of the party in government policy-making.
Matthew Streb. POLS 305 (3 credit hours)
Section PDE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Mondays, 6:30 – 9:15 pm, 9/8 -12/8.
This course examines the principal topics in the sociological study of deviance. These topics include the construction and vindication of deviance and the processes of becoming deviant, being deviant, and leaving deviance. The class will feature a series of lectures supplemented with class discussion, and the final grade will be based on performance in three examinations, maintenance of a deviance journal, and participation in class.
380. Social deviance as a concept, including theory and research in mechanisms of social control, the social construction of norms, and norm violation as well as societal reactions to deviant behavior. The process of becoming a deviant, deviant subcultures, and their impact on individuals and society.
David Luckenbill. SOCI 380 (3 credit hours)
Section QE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets at NIU-Rockford on Wednesdays 9/10 – 12/10, 6:30 – 9:15 p.m.
ELEMENTARY STATISTICS An introduction to basic concepts in statistical methods including probability, theoretical and empirical distributions, estimation, tests of hypotheses, linear regression and correlation, and single classification analysis of variance procedures. Not available for credit toward the major in mathematical sciences. Not used in major GPA calculation for mathematical sciences majors.
301. Introduction to basic concepts in statistical methods including probability, theoretical and empirical distributions, estimation, tests of hypotheses, linear regression and correlation, and single classification analysis of variance procedures. Not available for credit toward the major in mathematical sciences. Not used in major GPA calculation for mathematical sciences majors.
Claudine Myers. STAT 301 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets online 8/26 – 12/9 with face-to-face meetings at NIU-Rockford on Tuesdays 8/26, 10/14, 12/9, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Section YE2. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets online 8/28 -12/11 with face-to-face meetings at NIU-Hoffman Estates on Thursdays 8/28, 10/16, 12/11, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
GROWING UP FEMALE Examination of the experience of growing up female in America from an interdisciplinary perspective, with attention to differences and similarities in ethnicity, race, class, and sexual orientation. Theories and research on female development from such disciplines as psychology, literature, biology, and sociology. Topics may include gender socialization, family relationships, education, communication and the media, sexuality and romance.
WOMS 332. Examination of the experience of growing up female in America from an interdisciplinary perspective, with attention to differences and similarities in ethnicity, race, class, and sexual orientation. Theories and research on female development from such disciplines as psychology, literature, biology, and sociology. Topics may include gender socialization, family relationships, education, communication and the media, sexuality and romance.
Colette Morrow. WOMS 332 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. (Ref. #12864) Meets online 9/13 – 12/13 with face-to-face meetings at NIU-Naperville on Saturdays 9/13, 10/25, 12/13, 9:00 am - noon.
WOMEN IN ART In this course, we will examine the history of women as both creators and subjects of visual art throughout diverse cultures. Consideration will also be given to how concepts like gender and sexuality are relevant to the definition, creation, and reception of art. Although the majority of information will be delivered online, we will also meet face-to-face three times during the semester. Requirements include online discussions, a research project, and midterm and final exams.
WOMS 430. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours as topic changes.
ILAS 490.
Topics from the sciences, social sciences, and/or humanities treated from an interdisciplinary perspective. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours when topic varies.Rebekah Kohli. ILAS 490/WOMS 430 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets online 9/13 – 12/13 with face-to-face meetings at Waubonsee Community College on Saturdays 9/13, 10/25, 12/13, 9:00 am - noon.
Section YE2. Call 815-753-5200 for permit information. Meets online 9/13 – 12/13 with face-to-face meetings at Elgin Community College on Saturdays 9/13, 10/25, 12/13, 1:00 – 4:00 pm.