Humanities Division Electives & Gen Ed Offerings, Spring 2025
Tags: Art, English, History, Theology
Art
Computer Illustration
Logo designs, movie posters, book illustration, and product packaging are just a few of the computer-aided renderings students will create.
Course Description: AR 300 Computer Illustration is a course exploring the use of the computer in drawing and illustration. Students will learn the basic techniques of computer-aided rendering, layout, and design. The history of traditional illustration and design, and its relationship to digital techniques, will be examined. Logo design, movie posters, book illustration, and product packaging are some examples.
Prof. Tom Wallestad
3 credits
Sculpture & 3-D Design
Develop awareness of 3-D forms in space, and then develop the perceptual and technical skills to bring together ideas and materials into three-dimensional form.
Course Description: AR 200, Sculpture and 3-D Design is a studio course exploring three-dimensional form in space and its history. Students first develop awareness of such forms in space, and then perceptual and technical skills in bringing together ideas and materials in three-dimensional form. Various traditional art and contemporary design approaches will be explored.
Prof. Tom Wallstead
3 credits
English
World Literature
Explore themes of love and hate, connection and solitude, care and indifference, freedom and duty, comfort and hurt, truth and falsehood and family dynamics in literature from around the globe.
Course Description, EN 365 World Literature:
A study of selected texts reflecting one or more of the world鈥檚 cultures. May emphasize a theme or focus, for example, The Hero, Images of Women, Literature of Southern Worlds, Literature of Asia, and Utopian Literature. Course can be repeated for credit with different theme or focus.
Professor Staci Petrillo
3 credits
Shakespeare
Shakespeare is responsible for many of our favorite narrative tropes and binge-watches, graphic novels, storylines, understandings of love, life, death, family, sacrifice, vengeance, responsibility, and myriad other themes. We鈥檒l decipher what his works mean and why we should care.
Course Description: EN 443: Shakespeare Students will study of major histories, comedies, and tragedies with intensive reading of selected plays.
Professor Craig Workman
3 credits
New: Co-curricular Classes in History and Technical Writing
American Enemies
A historical and criminal justice look at America鈥檚 enemies from within, above, below, and outside the country.
Course Description: IS 100A
This interdisciplinary course explores the construction and impact of the concept of "enemies" within American society from historical and criminal justice viewpoints. Students will investigate how Americans have historically identified and demonized various groups as enemies, analyzing the social, economic, and political conflicts that drive these perceptions. The coursewill explore conspiracy theories, the language used to delineate "Americans" from their "enemies,鈥 and how the legal system has responded to perceived threats in different historical eras. Examining enemies within, above, below, and abroad will cover the development of criminal law, changes in criminal justice approaches, and the creation of new law enforcement responses throughout American history. Additionally, the course will show how the construction of 鈥渆nemies鈥 in America has influenced lawmaking, criminal behavior, and the evolution of the criminal justice system. This comprehensive study will provide insight into the historical patterns and contemporary implications of identifying and responding to perceived threats to America. This course will fulfill a general education requirement for one course in each of the Humanities and the Social and Behavioral Sciences categories. It is open to all students and offered in the spring semester. Total: 6.0 credit
Dr. Kyle Anthony and Professor Andrew Whitford
6 credits
Personal Device Security & Technical Writing
Technical writing and cybersecurity: what a combination! Learn two practical skills at once with this unique co-curricular course. Click for more information.Course Description: IS 300A
This is a cross-disciplinary course designed to equip students with the essential skills for safeguarding personal electronic devices and mastering technical communication in professional settings. The course integrates comprehensive personal device security techniques with the principles of effective and ethical technical writing. Students will engage in hands-on labs, tackling real-world security scenarios while concurrently learning to produce clear, concise, and accurate technical documents, such as instructions, memos, technical descriptions, and proposals. Additionally, students will produce a job packet (resume and cover letter) for the cybersecurity industry and be introduced to professional networking organizations. This course culminates in a team project that synthesizes security practices with professional technical writing, preparing students for the multifaceted demands of modern workplace environments.
Professor Lorie Paldino and Professor Andrew Swanson
6 credits
Theology
Christian Thought in the Wild and Wacky Middle Ages
Theater, balloons, Halloween, hospitals, herbal medicine, the rosary, Christmas celebrations, weddings, and even universities all developed during the medieval period. Far from the Dark Ages, it was a time of great innovation and what, by today鈥檚 standards, are some really weird beliefs.
Course Description: TH 312 Christian Thought in the Wild and Wacky Middle Ages examines (primarily) Western historical theology from about 500-1500 C.E. Using both primary and secondary sources, it examines medieval Christianity from several rich, interrelated vantage points: the development of the institutional church and its doctrines, church-state relations, spiritual renewal movements, religious charisms and the daily life of ordinary Christians.
Dr. Amanda Quantz
3 credits
Theology and Technology
Technology is changing human beings. How does it change our relationship with God and each other?Course Description, TH 309 Theology and Technology: This course will explore various topics that pertain to how recent technology and technological devices (smartphones, iPads, texting) are changing human beings and, consequently, human relationships. The Christian tradition provides a critical commentary of important aspects of the information age that can either build up or diminish the human and divine dimensions of human experience, especially empathy, social concern, and community. Readings from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience will join theological sources as the course considers a range of topics from internet addiction to seeking transcendence through digital means.
Dr. Brian Hughes
3 credits
Happiness and Joy
Technology is changing human beings. How does it change our relationship with God and each other?Course Description, TH 317 Happiness and Joy:
This course focuses on two themes, joy and happiness, as understood by historical and contemporary theologians and other thinkers. It aims to understand the commonalities and differences of what makes for happiness and joy and how these contribute to living a life of Christian discipleship.
Dr. Brian Hughes
3 credits