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Program Codes:
BAARCHA
Bachelor of Arts
Introduction
Anthropologists (including specialists in archaeology) are scientists who investigate human diversity in the past and present. Today’s anthropologists are interested in applying insights from the study of human cultural, biological, and linguistic diversity and change to contribute to contemporary local and global issues. Our graduates are trained in critical thinking, pattern recognition, problem solving, qualitative and quantitative analysis, science communication, and intercultural interaction.
In the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, the Anthropology/Archaeology program fosters a vision of our discipline that is socially merciful, globally responsible, compassionately hospitable, intellectually creative, and reflectively aware. We seek to train anthropologists who are “ambassadors of service.” Consequently, much of our coursework and mentorship focuses on public engagement, ethical practice, and the development of a reflexive professional identity for each student.
Job diversity is a hallmark of careers in anthropology. Anthropologists work not just in exotic field locations but urban settings, corporate firms, museums, government jobs, law enforcement, non-profits, and a wide range of social- and community-focused arenas. Our program offers several opportunities to explore this range of careers and to select a path that matches a student’s interests.
Mercyhurst University’s program in Anthropology/Archaeology is characterized by hands-on training in current field and laboratory methods and theory with highly individualized mentoring. We prepare students to contribute to research studies and become leaders in their field.
Anthropology is a broad field that integrates with other disciplines. Our flexible curriculum allows students to take courses from other units on campus (e.g., Applied Forensic Sciences, Biology, Communication, Environmental Science, Geology, Public Health, or History) to obtain training more specific to the anthropological career path(s) they wish to pursue. Our students not only take courses from other programs, many choose to pursue minors or to double-major in these subject areas. Our program is designed to facilitate and encourage this kind of cross-training, allowing our students to graduate with a broader set of knowledge and skills.
The program in Anthropology/Archaeology offers courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Anthropology/Archaeology. Students may follow a general B.A. course of study or specialize with an Archaeology concentration.
Mission Statement
Our department is committed to the education and training of the next generation of Anthropologists and Archaeologists. As a four-field discipline concerned with the cultural and biological expressions of humanity past and present, Anthropology is a diverse endeavor characterized by approaches and methodologies drawn from both the sciences and the humanities. Therefore, a wide range of core information, concepts, methodologies, as well as the ability to mobilize these resources critically and independently, form the skill set that we strive to impart to our students.
Anthropology/Archaeology Minor (minimum 18 credits)
Choose two:
ANTH 107 Language and Culture - 3 Credits
ANTH 112 World Cultures - 3 Credits
ANTH 120/121 Physical Anthropology and Lab - 4 Credits
ANTH 130/131 Archaeology and Lab - 4 Credits
Choose two additional ANTH courses above at any level.
Choose two additional ANTH courses numbered 200 or above.
All Anthropology/Archaeology students complete 9 required “Anthropology Core” courses (29 credits); a set of “Experiential Learning” courses, including an internship or independent research experience (7-8 credits); a selection of “Anthropology Electives,” numbered 200 or above (12 credits); and a set of “Cognate Electives” completed in other academic units on campus (9 credits).
Students who pursue the Archaeology Concentration are a bit more limited in their choices of Anthropology and Cognate Electives. They complete a slightly higher number of credit hours than those on the general B.A. track (63-64 credits in the major vs. 57-58 credits). This difference reflects a greater emphasis on archaeological laboratory skills and the requirement of specific cognate courses in statistics and geology.
All Anthropology/Archaeology majors must maintain an overall 2.5 GPA and a 2.75 GPA in Anthropology/Archaeology major courses. The faculty recommend that students repeat courses with grades of D, especially if the class is required for the major. Required courses receiving an F course grade will have to be repeated.
Students’ academic progress, as well as the degree to which they demonstrate development of the Program Student Learning Outcomes, is evaluated in the spring semester of the sophomore year. This Sophomore/Academic Review is a gateway to starting the final portfolio project that completes a student’s time at Mercyhurst. Students and members of the faculty and staff in Anthropology/Archaeology work together to complete this evaluation. Those identified as “at risk” are helped to design an Academic Success Plan for future semesters. Progress on this success plan is reevaluated in the spring semester of the student’s junior year.
Students failing to achieve the minimum GPA or otherwise complete the Anthropology/Archaeology B.A. may receive a B.A. degree in General Anthropology Studies.
This course is designed to introduce students to the complex study of language and its role in culture and society. We will begin by examining what constitutes language. Although not a major portion of the class, language structure, including morphology and syntax will be covered. We will examine how language is used by different peoples to construct and maintain social values and relationships, worldviews, and personal identities. Some questions addressed throughout the semester include: How do children acquire linguistic competence in their language? How is language used by people of different genders, ethnicities, socioeconomic classes, and geographical placement? This course is primarily lecture-based format, but students will have an opportunity to engage in their own anthropological linguistic fieldwork.
In this course, the student is exposed to the basic subject matter and methods of modern socio-cultural anthropology. The great diversity of contemporary and recently extinct human culture is examined from a comparative and evolutionary perspective with an emphasis on the differences and similarities between so-called modern state level societies and their less complex antecedents.
Physical anthropology examines the "human animal" from a biological and cultural perspective. It is the study of human origins and our contemporary and past physical and genetic diversity.
ANTH 121
This lab course will provide an opportunity for students to obtain hands-on experience with human bones, fossil human casts, primate observation and forensic anthropology specimens.
ANTH 120
This course examines the methods, goals, and substantive results of contemporary anthropological archaeology. An emphasis on the archaeological techniques and concepts archaeologists use for making sense of the past are stressed, and numerous case studies are presented which explore past human practice from the development of human culture through to contemporary society, with a particular focus on humanity's unique relationship with material culture and the environment.
ANTH 131
This laboratory course provides the student basic exposure to contemporary archaeological field methods from both a theoretical and hands-on perspective. Topics include: archaeological survey techniques; mapping; excavation procedures; screening and data retrieval; field and lab processing; and documentation.
ANTH 130
Anthropologists from Franz Boas to Margaret Mead to Paul Farmer have worked to explain the relevance of anthropological concepts to the wider world. Public and applied anthropologies, like those advocated for by these scholars, engage with a range of theories, concepts, and methods drawn from across the anthropological subdisciplines. This course provides a reflection on the social, economic, ecological, and cultural value of these anthropological hybrids, as well as an experiential learning space for transforming anthropological information into material for the non- academic public. Students investigate how to communicate anthropological ideas in a variety of genres, using an array of media, tailoring their intended messages to the audiences they wish to
reach. Additionally, students consider the ethical implications of anthropologies that set out to be public, engaged, collaborative, activist, and/or applied.
This course is designed to address, through an examination of the history of anthropology, the theoretical developments, schools of thought, and ideas accounting for the nature of culture and cultural development. The specific contributions of the principal figures representative of each of the major schools of thought will also be identified and examined. While theories of culture are the focus and form the core of this course, the history and theoretical developments of archaeology will be simultaneously considered.
ANTH 130
In this course, students explore a range of career options available to graduates with training in anthropology. In addition to traditional academic pathways, we examine "alt-ac" careers in public
and applied anthropology. Students are encouraged to reflect upon their own skills, interests, and goals, matching them up to potential career options and investigating the pathways that will
lead them to work in these settings. The class culminates in the preparation of a detailed proposal for an internship or mentored research experience that will allow them to obtain direct, relevant experience related to their identified career goals. Junior status required.
In this course, students focus on the preparing a set of exemplars indicative of their interests, training, and experience in anthropology. The portfolio may include an article-length paper or poster detailing their internship or mentored research experience, as well as revised versions of key assignments from earlier semesters. The class aims to demonstrate that a student has met all of the student learning outcomes identified by the Department of Anthropology/Archaeology, while at the same time showcasing the student's professional identity as an anthropologist. Students will be guided in the preparation of focused statements, resumes, and cover letters that leverage the work they have curated to help them achieve their post-graduate career goals. Senior status required.
ANTH 365
This course is designed to expose students to the full spectrum of field methods now in use in contemporary anthropological archaeology. The rationale, technical details, and expected results of a wide array of field methods are presented in the context of the location, characterization, and full scale data recovery of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites.
ANTH 130
ANTH 225
A Corequisite of ANTH 224, this course will provide hands on experience with the field methods now in use in contemporary anthropological archaeology.
ANTH 224
ANTH 130
In consultation with advisors, choose one (1) of the following Laboratory Analysis courses:
Lithic artifacts comprise a significant component of most archaeological assemblages and are, consequently, a primary source of data from which inferences regarding human behavior can be derived. Following a review of the history of stone tool technology and the mechanics of their production, students will learn to conduct several analytical methods and interpret their results. Throughout the course, we will explore the practical, logistical, social, and environmental factors involved in technological decision-making, while considering the theoretical lenses through which archaeologists examine data in pursuit of cultural and behavioral information.
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the methods and techniques of processing, classification, analysis, curation, and documentation of the major classes of prehistoric artifactual evidence. The specific classes of data to be examined include, but are not limited to, lithic, ceramics, perishables, macrofloral remains, pollen and phytoliths, and biomolecular residues. Analysis of these materials will also involve addressing a number of anthropological themes such as dietary reconstruction, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and construction of chronologies.
ANTH 130
ANTH 237
A Corequisite of ANTH 236, this course will allow students to employ the methods and techniques of artifact analysis using various "live" collections curated by the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute.
ANTH 130
ANTH 236
This course will introduce students to the analytical and classificatory methods used in the treatment and processing of historic materials recovered from archaeological investigations. Emphasis will be placed on colonial and nineteenth century materials of the eastern United States. Students will assist in the analysis of materials from ongoing Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute field projects.
ANTH 130
ANTH 239
A Corequisite of ANTH 238, this course provides an opportunity for students to assist in the analysis of materials from ongoing Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute field projects.
ANTH 130
ANTH 238
The analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites can provide valuable information regarding prehistoric diet, seasonality, and socioeconomic factors. In this course, all aspects of zooarchaeology will be discussed, and students will analyze a vertebrate faunal assemblage from an archaeological site and produce a publishable-quality report.
ANTH 120, ANTH 130
ANTH 251
A Corequisite of ANTH 250, will give students the opportunity analyze a vertebrate faunal assemblage from an archaeological site.
ANTH 120, ANTH 130
ANTH 250
ANTH 120
ANTH 327
ANTH 326
ANTH 130, ANTH 237
ANTH 335
ANTH 332
Students are introduced to the basic materials of the Earth and the processes that shape them/it. The course covers plate tectonics (including volcanic activity and earthquakes) as well as surface-related processes of weathering and erosion, glaciation, and ground and surface water. Students are engaged in active discussion and hands-on exercises during the course of the semester.
GEOL_102
A hands-on approach to further exploring and understanding topics covered in GEOL 100.
GEOL_100
STAT ANY STATISTICS COURSE
Choose two (2) courses with ANTH prefix numbered above 200.
Cognate Courses - Choose one (1) of the following. Some courses may require prerequisites and/or a lab.
This course introduces the student to the basics of a webpage creation using current markup standards. Students will design, maintain, and upgrade webpages, using both text editors and design programs.
Short Title : PHOTOGRAPHY I
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : ART 106
Course Description :
Studio experience in digital photography including camera operation, lighting, design, Photoshop and Idea generation. Students must have a DSLR digital camera approved by the instructor.
Short Title : ART HIST: ANCNT TO MEDIEVAL
Active Term : Fall Term / All Years
Course Code : ART 122
Course Description :
This course provides a survey of art and architecture from Prehistoric times to the Medieval Ages. Recommended for Juniors and Seniors.
Short Title : ART HIST:RENAISS TO MODERN
Active Term : Spring Term / All Years
Course Code : ART 123
Course Description : A survey of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the 20th Century. Recommended for Upperclassmen.
Short Title : HUMAN BIOLOGY
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 120
Course Description : A basic biological study of man, examining human evolution, organ systems, genetics, behavior, and human interaction with the environment. Does not fulfill Biology major requirements.
Corequisites : BIO 121
Short Title : HUMAN BIOLOGY LAB
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 121
Course Description :
A laboratory class designed to demonstrate through models, microscopic work, and dissection the information presented in BIO 120.
Corequisites :
BIO 120
Short Title : CELLULAR&MOLECULAR BIO
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 142
Course Description :
Introduction to the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, especially mitochondria and chloroplasts. Also included are studies of the molecular structure and function of DNA, with emphasis on the organization of the eukaryotic genome, transcription and translation.
Corequisites :
BIO 143
Short Title : CELLULAR&MOLECULAR BIO LAB
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 143
Course Description :
Introduction to the physiological and molecular techniques and methodologies for studying cells, organelles and macromolecules in relation to cellular activities and maintenance of life.
Corequisites :
BIO 142
Short Title : ECOL&EVOL BIO OF ORGANISMS
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 146
Course Description : Introduction to the ecology and evolutionary biology of organisms, including population growth, species interactions, ecosystem cycles, mechanisms of evolution, speciation, the diversity of life on Earth, and an introduction to population and Mendelian genetics.
Corequisites :
BIO 147
Short Title : ECOL&EVOL BIO OF ORG LAB
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 147
Course Description :
A laboratory course that elucidates concepts taught in BIO 146 from a largely experimental perspective.
Corequisites :
BIO 146
Short Title : PLANTS AND PEOPLE
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : BIO 216
Course Description : People depend on plants for food, clothing, shelter, medicines and a host of other daily needs. This course examines the varied and complex interrelationships between plants and people. Major topics include domestication processes, the Green Revolution, intentional and unintentional modification of plant communities, and an examination of those plants that provide drugs, food, beverages and fibers necessary to daily life.
Short Title : GENETICS
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 310
Course Description : Study of mechanisms of inheritance from Mendelian principles to modern concepts of molecular, cellular, and population genetics. The fine structure and function of genetic material is covered along with statistical methods of analyzing inheritance.
Prerequisites : BIO-142,BIO-146
Corequisites : BIO 311
Short Title : GENETICS LAB
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : BIO 311
Course Description : Examination of classical patterns of inheritance in fungi and Drosophila melanogaster and molecular genetic techniques using viruses and bacteria are undertaken. Statistical methods of analysis including probability and chi square are utilized. Students pursue independent investigation of gene action at either the classical or molecular level.
Corequisites : BIO 310
Short Title : INTRO TO DATA SCIENCE
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : CIS 150
Course Description :
For students in any discipline wishing to develop data science skills. We will examine several aspects of the data science workflow, including transformation of data, exploration of data, data modeling, and data visualization. Participants will gain experience with a variety of data science technology. Possible topics include basic programming, data visualization, and machine learning.
Short Title : DATA VISUALIZATN & COMM
Active Term : Randomly / Odd Years
Course Code : CIS 280
Course Description :
Students will learn to produce a wide variety of visualizations of structured data. There will be particular emphasis on producing dashboard-like interactive reports.
Short Title : DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION I
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : COM 240
Course Description :
Students are given basic instruction in producing video utilizing computer software. Instruction combines theoretical concepts with practical field experience.
Short Title : PRIN OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
Active Term : Fall Term / Even Years
Course Code : COM 261
Course Description : This course explores how and why organizations communicate with various public to help create, maintain, enhance and change organizational reputations.
Short Title : MULTIMEDIA WRITING
Active Term : Fall Term / Odd Years
Course Code : COM 352
Course Description : This course provides instruction and experience writing and editing copy for a variety of communication materials. The class explores a variety of tools at the professional communicator's disposal as well as how these are applied to various situations and audiences. Students develop competencies in creating content and understanding structure of writing for both print and web.
Prerequisites : COMM-259
Short Title : DYNAMIC EARTH
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : GEOL 100
Course Description :
Students are introduced to the basic materials of the Earth and the processes that shape them/it. The course covers plate tectonics (including volcanic activity and earthquakes) as well as surface-related processes of weathering and erosion, glaciation, and ground and surface water. Students are engaged in active discussion and hands-on exercises during the course of the semester.
Corequisites :
GEOL_102
Short Title : DYNAMIC EARTH LAB
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : GEOL 102
Course Description :
A hands-on approach to further exploring and understanding topics covered in GEOL 100.
Corequisites :
GEOL_100
Short Title : GEOMORPHOLOGY
Active Term : Fall Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 215
Course Description : A study of the earth's landforms, their classification, origin and the forces of wind, waves, streams, glaciers and gravity that have caused our present landscapes and are causing them to change. Soil development and interpretation is also covered.
Prerequisites : GEOL 100
Corequisites : GEOL_216
Short Title : GEOMORPHOLOGY LAB
Active Term : Fall Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 216
Course Description : An in-depth and hands-on approach to studying geologic processes that have shaped and continue to shape the Earth; field-based exercises will be implemented when possible.
Corequisites : GEOL_215
Short Title : SOILS
Active Term : Fall Term / Even Years
Course Code : GEOL 306
Course Description : The study of the processes and environmental conditions that result in the formation of soils; the relationships among climate, rock type, and time duration that cause soils to possess different chemical and physical properties; and the various schemes and the nomenclature by which soils are classified.
Corequisites : GEOL_307
Short Title : SOILS LAB
Active Term : Fall Term / Even Years
Course Code : GEOL 307
Course Description : The analysis and interpretation of soils maps; the field descriptions of general soil features; the recording of site and profile data; and soil sampling methods. Corequisite: GEOL 306. 1 credits.
Corequisites : GEOL_306
Short Title : SEDIMENTOLOGY&STRATIGRAPHY
Active Term : Spring Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 342
Course Description : An introduction to processes and environments of sedimentation and the principles employed in the examination of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Hand specimens and sequences will be studied for characteristics and origins.
Corequisites : GEOL 343
Short Title : SEDIMENTOL&STRATIGRAPH LAB
Active Term : Spring Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 343
Course Description : An introduction to processes and environments of sedimentation and the principles employed in the examination of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Hand specimens and sequences will be studied for characteristics and origins.
Corequisites : GEOL 342
Short Title : DENDROCHRONOLOGY
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : GEOL 370
Course Description :
Dendrochronology deals with time as recorded by tree rings. Information extracted from tree rings can subsequently be used to make predictions about past climate and paleo-environmental conditions, geologic and anthropological events, and even fire cycles. This class will present the fundamental principles of how to conduct dendrochronologic studies and will emphasize the techniques of collecting and interpreting tree ring data. Applications of dendrochronology will also be explored.
Short Title : PRIN OF REMOTE SENSING
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : GEOL 380
Course Description : This course will address the theories and fundamentals of acquiring, processing and interpreting remotely sensed datasets. Special attention will be paid to geological, archaeological, environmental and urban applications of remotely sensed data collected through both air and space-borne platforms.
Corequisites : GEOL 381
Short Title : PRIN REMOTE SENSING LAB
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : GEOL 381
Course Description : This course is a laboratory approach to acquiring, processing, and interpreting remotely sensed imagery.
Corequisites : GEOL 380
Short Title : GEOARCHAEOLOGY
Active Term : Spring Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 430
Course Description : Geoarchaeology (archaeogeology) examines in detail the interface which exists between the fields of geology and the anthropological sub discipline of archaeology. The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student not only with the history of the interrelationship between these academic specialties but also to document and illustrate the range of geological techniques which are useful to the contemporary archaeologist. More specifically, via lectures and laboratory work, this course will detail how geological methods may be employed in the location, excavation, and interpretation of archaeological sites and materials.
Prerequisites : GEOL-100
Corequisites : GEOL_431
Short Title : GEOARCHAEOLOGY LAB
Active Term : Spring Term / Odd Years
Course Code : GEOL 431
Course Description : This laboratory course exposes the student to contemporary analytical methods in Geoarchaeology. Specialization topics include geoarchaeological sampling procedures; sedimentological analysis, data processing and interpretation; compositional analysis; thin-section proportion; and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Corequisite: ANTH/GEOL 430. 1 credit.
Corequisites : GEOL_430
Short Title : INTRO TO GIS
Active Term : Spring Term / All Years
Course Code : GEOL 440
Course Description : This course is an introduction to Geographic Information Systems, providing students with a basic knowledge of its theory, and main practical applications, with stress on basic GIS software logics, usage and applications. The student will learn the usage of ESRI's ArcGIS 9, with examples from different fields. At completion of the course, students will be able to collect, create and view geographic information data from preexisting sources as well as produce their own maps and calculate basic descriptive spatial statistics such as measurements of dispersion and central location. Corequisite: GEOL 441. 3 credits.
Short Title : INTRO TO GIS LAB
Active Term : Spring Term / All Years
Course Code : GEOL 441
Short Title : INTR PUBLIC HIS&MUSEUM STD
Active Term : Fall Term / Odd Years
Course Code : HIS 235
Course Description :
In this class students explore the broadly encompassing field of public history, examining first issues of popular memory -- how and why certain histories are remembered and others forgotten or repressed. We survey the history, purpose and functions of history museums, exhibits, and historic sites, as well as other sub-fields such as cultural landscapes, oral history, and documentary film. Through extensive readings, discussion, field trips and assignments, we examine why and how American history is so fraught with tension and discord over its public representation.
Short Title : INTRO HIST PRESERVATION
Active Term : Fall Term / Even Years
Course Code : HIS 236
Course Description :
In this course students will study the evolution of the preservation movement in the U.S. from its historic roots to the state of the field and the challenges facing it today. We examine shifting theoretical approaches, as well as the various forces driving preservation. Students gain an understanding of the tools preservationists use today, including historical research, state, federal and local law, community organizational support, and the application of scientific and technological methods to building preservation.
Short Title : MUSEUM STUDIES II
Active Term : Spring Term / Even Years
Course Code : HIS 240
Course Description :
This course exposes students to fundamental approaches and best practices employed by history museum professionals. Students learn the changing nature of methods adopted by curators and educators to care, preserve, and interpret artifacts to the public. Through various class projects, students have opportunities to apply concepts presented in the course.
Short Title : MUSIC IN SOCIETY
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : MUS 100
Course Description : An exploration of music from medieval chant through rock, and an examination of its impact on politics, culture, history and education. There is a strong emphasis on the acquisition of listening skills as the primary vehicle for fully comprehending musical meaning, style and form. The course is international in scope, including music traditions from around the world. Students are encouraged to reflect on music's relevance to their studies at Mercyhurst and their daily lives.
Short Title : SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Active Term : Fall Term / All Years
Course Code : PSYC 231
Course Description :
This course examines the social foundations of human thoughts, feelings, and behavior by addressing the following aspects of social life: (a) social influence; (b) social roles and public behavior; (c) inferences about other people; and (d) interpersonal relations and groups. Among the topics to be considered are: the influence of public behavior on social norms, persuasion, impression management, social emotions, judgment of responsibility and character, interpersonal attraction, aggression, altruism, group dynamics, and inter-group conflict. The course will concentrate on the level of analysis of the individual, but will include sociological and evolutionary perspectives where appropriate.
Short Title : CROSS-CULTURAL PSYC
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : PSYC 233
Course Description :
Human beings are inherently cultural, moreso than any other species. This course explores the ways in which humans are uniquely built for cultural learning and how different cultural experiences affect perceptual processes, cognition, emotion, personality, self, social interactions, and physical and mental health.
Short Title : ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Active Term : Fall Term / All Years
Course Code : PUBH 201
Course Description :
Environmental Health is an introduction to the role of environmental exposures in human health and disease. Though the focus is on humans, because the human ecological footprint is expanding and has few natural boundaries, the impacts of human activities on the broader environment and non-human systems are equally important to our understanding of the role of environment on health. It is an applied science course that will focus on finding solutions to the many challenges posed by environmental health hazards including chemical, biological and radiation exposures at work, at home and at play-and the choices we must make to minimize personal exposures while participating in an expanding global economy. A major emphasis is on understanding the role of public health in environmental health science while linking these disciplines to broader goals of preserving environmental quality and protecting human health.
Short Title : GLOBAL HEALTH
Active Term : Fall Term / All Years
Course Code : PUBH 211
Course Description :
A person born in Japan can expect to live to 83 while a person born in Eswatini is unlikely to see their 32nd birthday. There are dramatic differences in the health and well being of populations around the world. What explains these disparities and what can be done about them? These questions and more are fundamental to the core of global health. This course will use case studies, interactive exercises and simulations to teach students the core principles of global health while encouraging them to think globally and act locally. Students will learn about cutting-edge methodologies in global health including the use of mobile phones to monitor health, the use of Gapminder software to study population health trends, and modeling techniques to simulate the impact of proposed public health policy interventions.
Short Title : SOCIAL DETERMINANTS HLTH
Active Term : Spring Term / All Years
Course Code : PUBH 290
Course Description :
Social and economic conditions are currently the best predictors of health outcomes in the United States, and improvements in living conditions better explain gains in human life expectancy than improvements in medicine alone. The links between social structures (risk conditions) and lifestyles (risk factors) are explored. The impact of risk conditions, such as income and education, on health outcomes are reviewed and compared across communities and cultures. Students are introduced to emerging theories and research on the social determinants of health. The benefits and costs of decreasing inequity and injustice as well as increasing equity and justice are critically analyzed.
Short Title : INTRO TO STATISTICS
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : STAT 109
Course Description : This course is an introduction to the uses of statistics and probability as decision and problem solving tools. Topics included are: measures of central tendency; variability; probability; counting, binomial distribution; normal distribution; confidence intervals correlation and regression; hypothesis testing, statistical inference, sampling techniques and experimental design. Prerequisite: MATH Placement score of at least 30.
Short Title : STATISTICS FOR RESEARCH
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : STAT 120
Course Description :
This course will provide an introduction to statistical methods used in research with an emphasis on describing, organizing, applying and interpreting a variety of basic statistical techniques. Topics include measurement scales, elements of experimental design, probability, hypothesis testing, descriptive statistics, correlation, t-tests, analysis of variance, chi-square tests, regression techniques, and non-parametric statistical methods. Students will gain experience in basic data management using a data entry platform, such as Excel.
Short Title : BUSINESS STATISTICS I
Active Term : All Terms / All Years
Course Code : STAT 135
Course Description :
Application of statistical techniques to business problems. Includes descriptive statistics, business forecasting, statistical inference, and regression. Computer software is used in this course. The goal is to introduce students to a new way of thinking about data, and to help them gain an understanding of how to use, communicate, and interpret statistics in a variety of business contexts. Offered fall and spring semesters.
Short Title : INTRO SOCIOLINGUISTICS
Active Term : Fall Term / All Years
Course Code : WL 314
Course Description :
This course does not assume prior language or linguistics study but rather introduces students to the social aspects of language, in general, and to the relationship between language and social factors that affect its usage, such as geography, gender, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic class.
