REGISTRATION | COSTS | LOCATION | OFF-CAMPUS COURSES | ONLINE COURSES
Course Descriptions
ANTH | ECON | GEOG | HIST | ILAS | STAT | WOMS
Course titled with a computer denote that the class is offered online
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Though maps have been used by civilizations for well over 5,000 years, practically all aspects of mapping today involve computersfrom 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. 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.
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. Two hours of lecture, two hours of laboratory. Prerequisites & Notes: GEOG 256 or consent of department.
Phil Young. GEOG 359 (3 credit hours)
Section YE1. 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 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. 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.
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 NIUs 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.