The General Education Curriculum Requirements
Overview of the College of Arts & Sciences General Education Curriculum (57 credits total)
The general education curriculum teaches students the value of broad intellectual inquiry and fosters the creativity and resilience essential to success. Through a carefully scaffolded learning pathway, the General Education Curriculum builds the foundational skills in reading, writing, communication, math and critical reasoning essential to college learning and success in advanced coursework.
In addition to fulfilling major requirements, Trinity students must complete the courses listed in the General Education Curriculum.
I. Foundational Skills (17 credits)
Students must complete designated courses in the following areas:
- Critical Reading and Writing (10 credits)
- CRS 101 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IThis course strengthens critical reading and academic writing skills through engagement with liberal arts texts with a focus on "Discovering your strength" as a Trinity woman. The ability to comprehend and write about arguments in academic texts is essential for success in all liberal arts courses and in lifelong learning. Students will develop the ability to identify a text's main argument and the evidence used to support that argument. Students will also reflect comprehension by accurately and clearly paraphrasing and summarizing texts' arguments. Students will also use annotation and argumentation strategies to respond to liberal arts texts with their own ideas.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
Explore and develop values, especially those relating to social justice, race, and gender, through the study of and response to a variety of academic texts;
Develop confidence as readers and writers;
Actively read, summarize, and analyze texts;
Articulate and support an argument;
Write clearly, logically, and with attention to audience;
Formerly CRS 101 - Critical Reading Seminar.
4 credits
Prerequisitea: None.
- CRS 102 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IIThis course further develops the critical reading and academic writing skills addressed in CRS 101 through engagement with texts in a particular academic discipline. Students will choose a CRS 102 course that addresses an interesting, meaningful or important disciplinary question, and build reading and writing skills through close readings and written responses to the assigned texts. CRS 102 courses are offered on a variety of academic topics, and students choose the one that is most compelling to them.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
-Describe and apply comprehension strategies
-Summarize textual ideas accurately and in their own words
-Compare, contrast and organize textual ideas and arguments into writing
-Apply revision and editing strategies to writing
-Acknowledge sources according to disciplinary conventions
-Locate, differentiate between and evaluate the credibility of academic sources
Formerly CRS 102 - CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions.
3 credits
Prerequisite: CRS 101.
This course is usually taken simultaneously with English 107.*
- ENGL 107 College CompositionDevelops effective writing of evidence-based, thesis-centered academic essays. Emphasizes the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Focuses on argumentative essays that build to a substantive research paper. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life
- Quantitative Reasoning (choose one course for a total of 4 credits)**
- MATH 102 College AlgebraThis is a quantitative literacy course intended for mathematics, science (STEM), business, and economics majors. Topics covered include exponents, factoring, polynomials, quadratic equations, and rational and radical equations. Additional topics include functions, graphs, and systems of equations and inequalities. Unit conversions and dimensional analysis is also covered. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Foundational Skills
- MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills
- MATH 109 Foundations of MathematicsThis quantitative literacy course is intended for social science and humanities majors. The course is designed to teach quantitative reasoning by emphasizing topics, both useful and relevant to a liberal-arts program, that enable students to become quantitatively literate. Topics include financial literacy, unit conversions, an introduction to linear and exponential functions and mathematical modeling, probability and statistics as well as math in politics.Formerly MAT 109 Foundations of Mathematics. This course may not be taken pass/fail by School of Professional Studies students.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills
- MATH 123 Pre-CalculusPrepares students for calculus. Subjects include the concept of a function, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions and coordinate geometry. A student who already has a good grasp of these topics should elect MAT 125 instead of this course. Formerly MAT 123 Pre-calculus.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102 with C or better or proficiency test with permission of instructor
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV: Quantitative Analysis Cluster
- Critical Reasoning (3 credits)***
- COM 150 Critical Reasoning and Oral ArgumentationThe course is designed to improve the capacity for reasoning and to gain the strategies necessary for assessing the variances in messages in everyday interactions. The course also assists students to construct convincing arguments and critically evaluate the claims and premises in written and oral communication. The course fits into the larger first year curriculum by giving a set of methodological tools with which to critique complex arguments, assess the sufficiency and relevance of social scientific evidence, and prepare creative and well-reasoned arguments in a variety of written and oral communicative contexts.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None/PHIL 150 Critical Reasoning and Oral ArgumentationThe course is designed to improve the capacity for reasoning and to gain the strategies necessary for assessing the variances in messages in everyday interactions. The course also assists students to construct convincing arguments and critically evaluate the claims and premises in written and oral communication. The course fits into the larger first year curriculum by giving a set of methodological tools with which to critique complex arguments, assess the sufficiency and relevance of social scientific evidence, and prepare creative and well-reasoned arguments in a variety of written and oral communicative contexts.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
*For students who matriculated before Fall 2016, ENGL 105 Introduction to College WritingServes students working toward competence and fluency in college-level reading and writing. CAS and SPS students who place into English 105 must complete the course with a grade of C or better in order to register for English 107. Formerly ENG 105 Introduction to College Writing. This course may not be taken as pass/fail by students in the School of Professional Studies.
3 credits
Prerequisites for College of Arts and Sciences: Placement test proficiency
Prerequisites for School of Professional Studies: Grade of C or higher in ENGL 103 OR score of 57 or higher on Sentence Skills portion and score of 7 or 8 on Writing portion of Accuplacer test. or ENGL 105S Intro College Writing with Supplemental InstructionServes students working toward competence and fluency in college-level reading and writing. CAS and SPS students who place into English 105 must complete the course with a grade of C or better in order to register for English 107. Formerly ENG 105 Introduction to College Writing. A weekly laboratory supplements instruction for this course.
4 credits
Prerequisites for College of Arts and Sciences: Placement test proficiency meets this requirement
**MATH 102 College AlgebraThis is a quantitative literacy course intended for mathematics, science (STEM), business, and economics majors. Topics covered include exponents, factoring, polynomials, quadratic equations, and rational and radical equations. Additional topics include functions, graphs, and systems of equations and inequalities. Unit conversions and dimensional analysis is also covered. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Foundational Skills is for science and mathematics majors; MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills is for education and health professions majors; MATH 109 Foundations of MathematicsThis quantitative literacy course is intended for social science and humanities majors. The course is designed to teach quantitative reasoning by emphasizing topics, both useful and relevant to a liberal-arts program, that enable students to become quantitatively literate. Topics include financial literacy, unit conversions, an introduction to linear and exponential functions and mathematical modeling, probability and statistics as well as math in politics.Formerly MAT 109 Foundations of Mathematics. This course may not be taken pass/fail by School of Professional Studies students.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills is for humanities and social science majors. If competing an individualized major please consult with an advisor to determine the appropriate math requirement.
***Pre-health majors intending to apply to the nursing program are waived from this course. This learning goal is met in the nursing program.
II. Knowledge & Inquiry (25 credits)
Students must complete courses in the following areas:
- Social Sciences (choose one courses each in two different disciplines for a total of 6 credits)
- Economics
- ECON 101 Microeconomics ITeaches how to think like an economist and make more informed decisions. Builds models of economic activity that provide a framework for understanding the real world. Explores the supply-demand model of competitive markets, followed by other models that show how markets operate when they aren't purely competitive. Assesses the proper role of government in the marketplace and how government can improve welfare when markets fail to be efficient. ECON 101 is a prerequisite for all higher-level economics courses and fulfills the Social Science General Education requirement.
3 credits
- Psychology
- PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
- Sociology
- SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
- SOCY 105 Social ProblemsExamines the political and economic organization of society and its impact on social problems. The goal of this course is to enable students to understand the social nature of social problems. Students focus on how social problems result from cultural and social arrangements. Critical scrutiny of polity and economy provides clues for the bias of society. Explains how political and economic processes affect what is currently being done about social problems and thus why so many social policies fail. Formerly SOC 200 Social Crisis and Social Policy.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- SOCY 131 Global Social IssuesSurveys the global problems of hunger, overpopulation, energy, pollution, war, and extremism (slavery, apartheid, relocation, genocide), and how they are built into society. Formerly SOC 254 Global Social Issues.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Political Science
- POLS 201 Civil Rights and LibertiesProvides an introduction to legal opinions that focus on the 1st and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The cases and the societal issues surrounding them are presented in their historical context. Some specific topics examined in the course are Supreme Court decisions that affect the civil rights movement, free speech, and privacy issues involving Internet communications. Formerly PSC 216 Civil Rights and Liberties.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry
- POLS 211 Women and the LawExamines Supreme Court rulings, as well as federal and state statutes and court decisions affecting women. Topics include women and employment, sexual harassment, and legal issues involving pregnancy and privacy rights. Formerly PSC 328 Women and the Law.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- POLS 231 Introduction to Comparative PoliticsOffers an introduction to the major concepts and analytical frameworks of the sub-field. While it is designed as the appropriate first course in comparative politics, its theoretical focus makes it appropriate for more advanced students as well. Formerly PSC 200 Introduction to Comparative Politics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- POLS 241 Introduction to International RelationsOffers an introduction to the theories, actors, arenas, and techniques of international politics. The course examines case studies on issues of current international importance. Formerly PSC 312 Introduction to International Relations.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- Science (choose one course for a total of 4 credits)
- BIOL 101 Introduction to BiologyExplores various aspects of biology from cell structure to metabolism, diversity and ecology. The course consists of two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Recommended for non-science majors. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 101 Introduction to Biology.
4 credits
FLC Area I
Core Area II
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- BIOL 113 Biodiversity of Living SystemsWe will use experimental and scientific processes as we investigate how diversity among organisms and behavior is based on: genetics; interactions between living systems; the environment; and evolutionary principles. We will analyze data to determine how these principles support specific behavior of living organisms and contribute to novel scientific knowledge.
Prerequisite: MATH 102.
Corequisite: MATH 123.
- BIOL 114 Cell BiologyThis course will provide an understanding of concepts in cellular biology, such as: the basic chemistry of life and the cell, the basic functional unit of all living things, with an emphasis on the relationship between structure and function. Students will be introduced to concepts such as cellular reproduction and Mendelian genetics. Students will also apply the methods and techniques of scientific inquiry, through lab experiences.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 102.
Corequisite: MATH 123.
- BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); pass BIOL 101 with a C or better or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.
- CHEM 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIntroduces general principles of chemistry including stoichiometry and chemical reactions, the structure and properties of atoms, ions, and molecules, chemical bonding, thermochemistry, oxidation/reduction and acid/base chemistry. Includes basics of equilibrium and kinetics. Emphasizes active student involvement; concepts are explored via direct experimentation. Formerly CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 108.
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108
- ENVS 101 Discovering Planet EarthIntroduces non-science majors to evolution, earth science, and plate tectonics with an emphasis on the mid-Atlantic region. Labs include use of the scientific method, development of observational skills, computer-assisted learning, and several field trips. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly ENV 101 Discovering Planet Earth.
4 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature
- PHYS 111 General Physics ICovers mechanics in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, conservation of energy, and momentum. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 115 General Physics I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 125
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV, Laboratory Science Cluster
- History, Arts, and Humanities (choose one each courses in three different disciplines for a total of 9 credits)
- History
- AFST 200 Intro to Africana StudiesExplores the academic field of Africana Studies, including an intellectual genealogy of the discipline and introduction to the major concepts, methods, terms, and techniques used in thinking about the Africana experience through time and space. Follows a narrative progression of the Africana experience beginning with the origin of humanity and spanning human history; the African experience in the U.S. is a tiny fraction of that larger historical arc (one that has unfortunately framed the study of Africana in general). Moves beyond this debilitating circumstance to build knowledge incrementally using discussion and interpretation of evidence through disciplinary lenses; assigned texts provide evidentiary anchors and interpretive frames for discussion.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- HIS 128 Creation of the Atlantic WorldExamines the contacts and interactions that shaped the culture and history of the ?Atlantic World?, the vast pathway linking Africa, the Americas, and Europe after Europeans crossed the ocean in the 15th century. Tells the story of the peoples who moved across the Atlantic and the ideas, texts, goods, and microbes they carried - all of which changed the course of human history. Explores cultural collisions between Africans, Indigenous populations, and Europeans while examining the early political, cultural, and economic development of Africa, South America, the Caribbean basin, Canada, and the United States.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 130 Introduction to American CivilizationsExplores the major themes that have shaped the American experience from the Colonial period to 1890. Topics include the Age of Exploration and Discovery, the American Revolution, the causes of the Civil War, and industrialization and urbanization.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 132 Twentieth Century United StatesIntroduces the critical issues of 20th-century United States, including the transition to a post-industrial society, the challenge of the Civil Rights and feminist movements, the development of the modern welfare state, and the consequences of the United States' role as a global superpower.
3 credits
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
General Education: Knowledge & Inquiry
- HIS 138 The African DiasporaExplores the collective historical and contemporary experiences of the African Diaspora. Examine the social, cultural and political relationships between Black communities, knowledge, and movements across the Diaspora. Examines the interwoven concepts of memory, culture and resistance, and span themes such as consciousness of Africa; the Haitian Revolution and resistance to slavery; African cultural transformation in the Americas; maroonage; Garvey and the UNIA; pan-African movements and global liberation struggles; women and resistance; Black Power, and issues of identity and race. Explore primary sources, historical terminology and themes and practices of the African Diaspora. Introduces students to major scholars of the African Diaspora through readings, films, group projects, and guest lectures.
3 credits
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- HIS 238 Washington, DC: People/PlacesExperience Unlimited: The Cultural Politics of Washington, DC. This interdisciplinary course introduces the cultural history of Washington, DC., tracing the city?s growth from slave trade center to becoming the nation?s first-majority black city in the late 1960s. Considers how the 1968 race riots, political battles for statehood, drug war of the 1980s-1990s, gentrification and immigration transformed the Capital from ?Chocolate City? to cosmopolitan status. Assesses impacts of local issues of class inequality, crime, education, LGBTQ rights; compares the city?s transformation with adjacent communities in the broader DMV. Explores significant DC landmarks, neighborhoods, museums, embassies, churches, individuals, sports teams, and cultural expressions such as Go-Go music, cuisines (mumbo sauce), and fashions. Also emphasizes critical inquiry about one?s environment, data collection and analysis, and communicating results. 3 credits General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 241 US to1865: America Comes of AgeIntroduces the history of the United States from pre-Columbian times to 1865. Covers topics such as the Columbian exchange, European colonization of the New World, trans-Atlanticslavery, the causes and consequences of the US War of Independence, the negotiation of the US constitution, industrialization, women?s rights, the family, westward expansion, slave rebellions, the evolution of sectional conflict, and the US Civil War.
3 credits
- HIS 242 Civil War to SuperpowerStudies the growth and development of the United States in the years after the U.S. Civil War. Explores American industrialization and urbanization and the growing wealth, gender, and racial inequality after 1865. Deals with major historical conflicts involving economic, political, social, racial & gender issues such as women winning the vote, Prohibition, the Great Depression, the African-American experience during WWII and the Civil Rights era. Explores political changes between the 1960s and 1980s and looks at U.S. actions in the world as it rises to superpower status after WWII. Examines how various people, ideas, and events influenced the development of the United States after 1865. *3 credits
- Fine Arts
- FNAR 101 Survey: History of Art IExamines the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistoric times to the end of the Middle Ages. It is recommended that the two survey courses (101 and 102) be taken before advanced courses and, if possible, in chronological order. Formerly ART 101 Survey: History of Art I.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
- FNAR 102 Survey: History of Art IISurveys the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the present. Formerly ART 102 Survey: History of Art II.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
- FNAR 145 Introduction to Music LiteratureExamines the styles and diversity of Western music from the Middle Ages into the 21st century. This course introduces the materials of music including melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and orchestration. Students explore the vast cultural resources of Washington, DC's concert halls, art galleries, churches, and cathedrals offering musical performances. Formerly MUS 151 Introduction to Music Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 241 Experiencing Musical ArtExamines the way that music exists within cultures. The course explores musical elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture as they are experienced in rituals, religious and healing ceremonies, dancing, and performance in the United States and around the world. No prior experience in music is required for this course. Formerly MUS 201 Experiencing Musical Art.
3 credits
General Education: Applications Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 243 Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and RagtimeTraces the origin and development of styles and major forces that shaped American music from the late 19th century to the present. Topics include work songs and field "hollas," revival and camp meeting hymns, bebop and "cool" jazz, along with new rhythms, harmonies, and "blue" notes. This course requires attendance at live performances, written listening assignments and extensive oral presentations. Formerly MUS 226 Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Ragtime.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 247 Women in Music HistoryExplores the history of women in music from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. The course includes reading in primary sources and study of recent research on women as performers, composers, publishers, producers, educators, and patronesses. Students explore both recorded and live performances of music by women. Formerly MUS 252 Women in Music History.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 253 Music and Social ChangeExplores how music is inextricably woven into the cultural and social fabric of resistance movements.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- FNAR 311 Nineteenth Century ArtExplores the painting, sculpture and architecture in Europe from the end of the 18th Century through the 1880s. Movements such as Romanticism and Impressionism are among those covered. Formerly ART 471 Nineteenth Century Art.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- FNAR 313 Art of the AmericasExamines the art of the Americas and considers influences of Europe, Africa, and American Indigenous civilizations. Includes the visual heritage of indigenous cultures and explores the impact and legacy of migration, ethnicity, and colonization in the art world.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- FNAR 315 Twentieth Century ArtSurveys the movements in painting, sculpture, and architecture in the period from 1900-1945. Formerly ART 481 Twentieth Century Art.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- EDTE 232 Art and Movement in the ClassroomProvides students with a critical understanding of the visual arts, music, movement, and drama for young children and the importance of integrating arts into the curriculum. Students develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to plan developmentally appropriate activities which integrate creative experiences in the visual arts, music, dance/movement, and drama within the early childhood and elementary classroom curriculum. Formerly FNAR 232 - Art and Movement in the Classroom.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area II: Knowledge and Inquiry (Fine Arts)* (for students applying to the education major only)
- Literature
- ENGL 214 Major United States Writers IStudies varied major works and authors from the earliest US writing through the late nineteenth century. Formerly ENG 251 American Literature I.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge & Inquiry
- ENGL 215 Major United States Writers IIStudies major US literary works in a variety of genres from the late 1800s to the present, including poetry, fiction, and drama. Formerly ENG 252 American Literature II.
3 credits
- ENGL 220 African American LiteratureThis course introduces students to the study of African American literature, including the vernacular tradition, the New Negro Renaissance of the early twentieth century, periods of realism and modernism in the late 1940s and early 1960s, the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, and newer voices at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. Students will practice literary analysis and study the literary techniques and genres belonging to this literature, as well as the ways in which the texts attempt to reinvent, disrupt, or challenge traditional European/North American literary traditions and criticisms. Many of the texts will engage the meaning of race, the forced migration of Africans to the Americas, racism and black resistance to it, institutionalized enslavement and strategies for survival, economic oppression, the celebration of blackness, and the literary achievements of black authors. Biographical, historical, and political contexts will be examined as ways to enrich the reading of the texts.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 230 Writing About LiteratureIntroduces the study of literature; engages critical reading, analysis and discussion, founding argument on close textual reading, and the development and writing of thesis-centered essays about literature. Also covers literary criticism and theory, research methods, and documentation techniques. Formerly ENGL 150
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- ENGL 267 Multicultural United States LiteratureExamines largely contemporary writings by writers representing the diverse cultures in the US with a consideration of the ways in which difference or "the other" may be constructed. Formerly ENG 200 Multicultural US Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
- ENGL 271 Literature of the African DiasporaIntroduces students to the study of literature written by authors of African descent in Europe and the Americas and explores the development of an international and multicultural consciousness with Africa and the Diaspora as its referents. Formerly ENG 204 Literature of the African Diaspora.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 276 US Crime LiteratureA survey of highlights of the crime genre from detective fiction and the fugitive story to Capote?s ?nonfiction novel? and the contemporary literary thriller. In these fictions, we find insight into the psychology and sociology of crime and policing, as well as the continuous redefinition of the boundaries of society and law.
*3 credits
- ENGL 280 Literature of Sickness & HealthThis course explores literature (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and/or film) associated with illness and health. Students will consider how this literature influences the way we talk about and understand illness and related topics. For those in health care, such study can provide another way of viewing and discussing their field. Texts may include specific short-term, chronic, or terminal illnesses; mental illness; addiction; disability; the difficulty of healing from illness; and dealing with grief when healing doesn't come.
Recommended for, but not limited to, students in nursing and other health-related fields.
Gen Ed Knowledge and Inquiry Requirement
- ENGL 283 Stories and Their WritersIntroduces the study of prose fiction, both classic and contemporary, in its multicultural contexts, with attention to form, theme, major figures, and historical contexts and influences. Formerly ENG 205 Stories and Their Writers.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 284 Modern Lives: Memoir as LiteratureFocuses on memoirs published in the last hundred years. As a genre, memoir touches on topics such as childhood experiences, coming-of-age moments, social issues, identity, addiction, illness and mental illness, triumphs and loss. Students will explore key features of this genre through close reading and literary analysis. The fallibility of memory, the nature of truth, and debates surrounding memoir will be discussed, along with the validity of personal narrative as a way of capturing history.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
- ENGL 310 Tales of Terror: Gothic Fiction and FilmIntroduces students to major works in the Gothic genre from the 18th century to the present; emphasizes characteristics and evolution of horror as a topic for narrative. Formerly ENGL 287, Tales of Terror: Gothic Fiction.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry.
- ENGL 373 African American Women WritersExamines the history and images of African Americans, especially women, in selected works by African American women writers ranging from Zora Neale Hurston to Toni Morrison. Formerly ENG 363 African American Women Writers.
3 credits
- SPAN 213 Latina VoicesFosters awareness and understanding among women of the Americas, their different cultures and traditions as told through their own stories. Students will also reach a better understanding of the ethnic and racial diversity that characterizes the whole American continent including the United States, thus becoming more able to participate in a multicultural environment, both in the labor force and in their personal lives. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 210 Latina Voices.
3 credits
FLC II
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Foreign Language (choose two sequential courses in the same language for a total of 6 credits)
- Level I
- ASL 101 American Sign Language IIntroduces basic communications skills in American Sign Language (ASL). This course includes an introduction to deaf culture and to the basic structure of its language, as well as the mastery of finger spelling and a number of basic signs.
Gen Ed: Knowledge and Inquiry
- FREN 101 Elementary French IIntegrates the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing at the elementary level. Emphasizes oral communication through paired and group activities. Integrates cultural information.
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish IIntroduces language skills that enable students to speak and write about certain, specific learned contexts, such as weather, food, names of family members, individual preferences, etc. and to express them in present and future tense. Students will comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Students must complete the course with a grade of C or better in order to register for SPAN 102. Formerly SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I.
Prerequisites: None
Credits: 3
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Level II
- ASL 102 American Sign Language IIDevelops basic communication skills in American Sign Language (ASL). Builds on knowledge acquired in ASL I to deepen understanding of deaf culture and increase communicative ability.
*3 credits
- FREN 102 Elementary French IIContinues to integrate the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing acquired in FREN 101. Emphasizes oral communication through paired and group activities. Integrates cultural information.
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish IIServes as a continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Students learn to speak and write about past events, and further develop their capacity to interact in spontaneous situations. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II.
General Education: Knowledge and Inqiury
Students may receive General Education credit for most foreign languages, including ASL, by taking Consortium courses or by CLEP Exam. Students may also receive language waivers by demonstrating proficiency on an assessment exam.
III. Values & Beliefs (6 credits)
Students must complete two courses in a different discipline from the following three areas:
- Global Affairs (3 credits)
- POLS 244 Law, Justice and Human RightsInvestigates notions of law and justice through the evolution of human rights and the extent to which legal systems embrace and promote such rights. Utilizes case studies to examine theory and practice of human rights and associated legal structures, including major intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, and international and national legal frameworks.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- Religious Studies (choose one course for a total of 3 credits)
- PHIL 235 Philosophy of ReligionExamines some of the principal questions in the philosophy of religion, including arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the relation of faith and reason, and the attributes of God. Formerly PHI 330 Philosophy of Religion.
3 credits
General Education: Values and Beliefs
- Any Religious Studies (RST) course
- Philosophy (choose one course for a total of 3 credits)
- PHIL 245 Ethics IIntroduces the student to social ethics and the concepts of person and community by examining the moral traditions that inform our understanding of the individual. The course traces the focus of ethics from a concern about what kind of person to be to the more modern and narrow concern in how to act in both the public and private domains, acknowledging the ways in which our cultural and historical practices help shape our vision. Formerly PHI 212 The Moral Dimension: Persons and Community.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs Area
Core Area III: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
- PHIL 251 BioethicsExamines the legal and moral issues in areas dealing with the biology of human health and development, for example, experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, euthanasia, abortion, fetal tissue use, contraception, and other aspects of human reproduction, as well as questions regarding rights to health care. Formerly PHI 211 Applied Ethics: Bioethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs
- PHIL 253 Business and Professional EthicsThis course engages the students in an analysis of cases in business and other professions that appear to present a conflict between the demands of institutional practices and the demands of morality. The course presents a Kantian theory of e thics and investigates the cases within the framework of this theory. Formerly PHI 213 Applied Ethics II: Business and Professional Ethics.
3 credits
Core Area III: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Gen Ed Values and Beliefs
- PHIL 260 Ethics of International Conflict & PeacemakingThis course begins by exploring the principles that justify the limited use of force in international relations. We will discuss the elements of just war theory and test their application to a variety of international conflicts. Students will investigate whether just war theory can accommodate preemptive strikes. We will subsequently contrast just war theory and realism, exploring the ways in which both concepts could be applied to specific historical conflicts involving resources, human rights violations, and political ideologies. The course also examines the pacifist alternative to both just war theory and realism. Students will then discuss the rationale behind and the limits to humanitarian intervention, an armed response to the violation of human rights. The course also investigates the conditions under which just military action should be concluded. We will examine the ideal foundations for lasting peace versus the conclusion of coercive treaties subjecting the losing side to the political will of the victor. Finally, the course will treat the moral quandaries related to the use of advanced technology on international battlefields.
3 credits
- PHIL 280 Environment Ethics and BeliefsExplores the ethical foundations of the obligation to protect the natural environment sustaining human existence and the tensions between competing valuations of the natural world (anthropocentrism and intrinsic worth). Examines the global effects of unrestrained consumerism and the impact of waste creation upon impoverished and developing nations, as well as the relationship of humans to the natural world from the perspectives of spirituality and a commitment to the common good.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Values & Beliefs
- PHIL 281 Ethical and Legal Issues in Information TechnologyExplores the ethical and legal considerations arising from rapid advancements in information technology. Addresses the complex intersection of technology, ethics, and the law, examining the ethical implications of IT practices and legal frameworks governing technology use. Formerly PHIL 281: The Ethics of Data Analytics
IV. Applications (6 credits)
Students must complete courses in the following areas:
- Civic Knowledge (Choose one course for a total of 3 credits)
- AFST 201 The Black Church in the United StatesIntroduces the history and evolution of the Black church in shaping personal identity, connecting spirituality and culture, and promoting community solidarity from the time of enslavement to today. Explores the Black church as a place of safety and healing that nurtures African Americans? self-image as people of God with infinite worth and inherent resilience and examines how the church has catalyzed African-American self-discovery, leadership, civic engagement, protest, and community organizing. As a complement to curricula in African American spirituality, the course utilizes case studies, historical documents, oral and written interviews, and more to develop social justice advocacy skills and encourage engagement in positive social change.
3 Credits
- ECON 102 Macroeconomics IPresents key variables that summarize an economy. Uses economic analysis to explain why economies grow over time but also exhibit repeated cycles of boom and bust. Explores government-level policies that affect an economy as a whole, and models for analyzing their effects. Fulfills the Civic Knowledge General Education requirement and is required for upper level economics courses.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECON 101 is preferred, but students may take ECON 102 first.
- ENGL 475 Immigration, Identity, and PoliticsExplores the intersection between citizenship and identity in the work of Edwidge Danticat, Junot Diaz, and Chimamanda Adichie. Prerequisites: Formerly ENGL 475, Seminar on Edwidge Danticat.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
General Education: Civic Knowledge
- ENVS 280 Environmental Justice SeminarThis course explores the connections between environmental justice, local and global communities, and different career fields. In this course, students will find and attend local environmental justice events during the semester. The class meets once per week to discuss topics including: defining environmental justice, how environmental justice connects to different careers, how to attend a scientific meeting, what they learned from events attended, and applying knowledge to solving real-world environmental justice problems.
*3 credits
- HIS 239 HerStory: Trinity Oral HistoryIntroduces the academic field of oral history. Explores how oral histories represent unique historical sources both similar to and different from other more traditional sources, such as written documents. Defines goals, aims, and guidelines for the practice of oral history and how it has evolved, including use of technology, production of oral history transcripts, ethical issues, advocacy, digital humanities, and more. Offers exciting opportunities for nascent oral historians on a variety of projects.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
- HIS 345 The Civil Rights Movement in the Twentieth CenturyThis course explores the origins, evolution, and consequences of the Civil Rights Movement from the beginning of the twentieth century through the Black Power Movement and the liberation movements of the 1970's.Topics include the origins of protest in the 1890's and the first decade of the twentieth century, the transition from protest to resistance in the social movements of the 1930's and 1940's, the emergence of the mass movements of the 1950's and 1960's, and the Black Power Movement.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Civic Knowledge
- GLBL 201 Intro to Global AffairsIntroduces students to the interdisciplinary field of global affairs through a format that both imparts knowledge on compelling contemporary issues, and assists students to acquire and improve research, writing, and presentation skills that contribute to successful, upper-level coursework. Formerly INS 201 Introduction to International Affairs, INAF 201 Intro to International Affairs.
General Education Curriculum: Civic Knowledge
- GLBL 322 Nuclear Weapons & Arms ControlExamines development of nuclear weapons, atomic bombings of Japan, and global challenges the threat of nuclear war has created since 1945. Studies history and politics of the nuclear arms race, including its effect on international relations and on American thought and behavior to this day. Highlights anti-nuclear protest movements and efforts to control and eradicate nuclear weapons, with specific attention paid to Black activists who fought for nuclear disarmament by connecting it with the fight for racial equality. Addresses the related fields of nuclear energy and the use of nuclear technologies in radiological medicine. *3 credits
- PHIL 227 Truth, Information, and (Dis)InformationThis course explores the nature of truth, fact, and falsehood as reflected in news reports, government press releases, and historical accounts. Students will investigate public mistrust of both the media and government. The course seeks to identify the nature of disinformation and the rationale underlying its creation. To ground these various inquiries, the course will examine notable clashes between apparent government deception and attempts to uncover the truth. The course will also review conservative and liberal news sources and determine the degree of accuracy and honesty in their reporting. Finally, students will evaluate public commentary about news reports as posted on web-sites and Twitter threads.
General Education Requirement: Civic Knowledge.
- PHIL 231 Current Issues in Social and Political PhilosophyExamines the theories of justice that inform our political and civic institutions, particularly contractarianism, libertarianism, and communitarianism. The course provides opportunities for analysis of these theories in light of critical perspectives on the social significance of race, class, and gender. We will also examine contemporary social problems through the lens of political philosophy.
3 credits
Gen Ed Applications
- POLS 101 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the CrossroadsIntroduces students to the fundamentals of political history and theory. Explores current U.S. political and public policy issues to advance student?s ability to analyze and understand contemporary political events. Formerly PSC 120 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the Crossroads.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
- POLS 405 Seminar in Public Policy: Selected TopicsThis course examines the U.S. domestic policy-making process on the federal or local levels through a research seminar format. Legislation, executive branch implementation, regulation, the role of issue networks, and judicial intervention will be covered. The specific topical area examined will vary on a semester by semester basis. Formerly PSC 452 Seminar in Public Policy: children.
3 credits
General Education: Applications Area
- PSYC 201 Psychology in Current EventsThe media and press play an enormous role in providing information and stories to the public; many are related to the field of psychology. This course will explore the gap between psychological principles and theories and application in the real world. Discussion, dialogue, and debate will be used to stimulate critical thinking on controversial current issues.
Prerequisites: ENGL 107 and PHIL 103
Credits: 3
General Education Applications: Civil Knowledge
- SOCY 201 Sociology of EducationStudies the United States education system from sociological perspectives. This course identifies the major problems with the United States educational system and discusses solutions. Formerly SOC 201 Sociology of Education.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
FLC Area V
- SNHP 220 Health Promotion, Policy and PoliticsThis course explores political factors that influence patient outcomes and health promotion strategies to enhance health and health care systems. Students are engaged in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems, determining accessibility, accountability and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed, and the effect this has on patient care.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area (for pre-health and health services majors only)
- Leadership (Choose one course for a total of 3 credits)
- BADM 110 Foundations of ManagementFoundations of Management would provide an overview of key concepts and practices in the field of management and organization. Topics would include structure and design, decision making, goals and effectiveness, culture and performance measures. Th is course would introduce students to a broad range of the basics of management preparing them for more specialized courses in the business program.
3 credits
General Education Applications Area: Leadership
- COM 450 Women In OrganizationsFocuses on the dynamic relationship among gender, power, race, sexuality and class in women's organizational lives. Provides an in-depth exploration of critical feminist theory and research in organizational communication. Emphasis is on the perspectives of diverse women in multiple contexts. Topics include Women in Leadership, Sexual Harassment and Feminist Organizational Theory.
3 credits
General Education: Leadership
- COM 482 Leadership and CommunicationExplores the dynamics of communication, leadership, power and authority in organizations. The course provides an overview of traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership. Topics include: cross-cultural communication and leadership, charismatic and transformational leadership, followership, power and organizational politics.
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership Area)
3 credits
- EDTE 301 Classroom ManagementFocuses on the study of teaching methods and classroom management techniques that facilitate the learning of students in our multicultural and inclusive classrooms. Field component is an integral part of the course.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Evidence of having passed the Praxis Core or other state-required examination. Students who are enrolled in the Community Education program are exempt from the Praxis Core requirement (for students applying to the education major only)
- HIS 343 20th Century African American Liberation MovementsExamines the nineteenth-century origins of African American protest; provides an in-depth exploration of the earliest national protest organizations, the prologue to the Movement in the 1930's and 1940's, the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1965, the Black Power Movement, changing strategies after 1970; special emphasis on the role of women from the 1890's to the present.
3 credits
- NSCM 499 Divisional SeminarExamines selected topics in the natural sciences. Requires written and oral presentations based on reading and analysis of the current scientific literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership) (for science majors only; also fulfills senior seminar requirement)
- NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health CareThis course incorporates the application of management principles and leadership, change, and administration theories in nursing practice and health care delivery in a hybrid format. Content focuses on delegation, prioritization, communication/collaboration, legal and ethical issues, resource management, quality improvement and risk management, evidence based practice, and the healthcare consumer in various healthcare markets.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All Junior Level Nursing Courses or Departmental approval.
General Education: Application Leadership (Nursing students only). (for nursing majors only)
- POLS 213 Women and PoliticsSurveys the role of women in US government and politics, including in all three branches of government. Students will reflect on the challenges faced by women in paths to power, as well as on the implications of these challenges for women. The course features case studies of important women in politics
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area IV: Leadership
- POLS 277 Personality and Political LeadershipExamines "political leadership" through a consideration of psychological studies and biographies of political leaders and by investigating theoretical frameworks that guide the study of political leadership. Formerly PSC 209 Personality and Political Leadership.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)
- SNHP 224 Health Care Systems and Global HealthThis course provides an interdisciplinary overview of approaches to global public health. Students will interpret how issues related to public health can be understood from local, state, national, and international perspectives. Students will synthesize the evidence about leading and managing people in health care organizations and systems. Issues addressed included how health care systems are organized and administered in varying national and local contexts; the impact of cultural, economic and political factors on public health outcomes; and key policy and ethical debates related to the provision of global public health. Formerly Health Care Systems and Global Health
Prerequisites: None
3 credits (for pre-health and health services majors only)
- WST 368 Women and LeadershipExplores women's leadership issues at the intersection of race, class, and gender. Key themes include the relational aspects of leadership, authenticity, identity and power, and the voice of leadership.
General Education Applications Area: Leadership
3 credits
- WST 369 Women and Community ChangeExplores women's roles in U.S. history from the perspectives of women activists. Examines women's impact on social, political, and cultural change in the U.S. including movements for economic justice, race relations, sexual identity, peace, gender equality, public health, and social welfare. Formerly WST 369 Women and Community Change
3 credits
General Education: Leadership
V. General Education Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
The General Education Capstone Seminar is taken in second semester of sophomore year, or after earning at least 40 credits.
- Capstone Seminar (Choose one course for a total of 3 credits)
- BIOL 219 Biology of WomenThe purpose of this course is to further develop the students' critical reading and thinking skills while simultaneously developing an understanding of the fundamental biology of women and gaining an understanding of the scientific approach to problem solving. This course analyzes the biological literature on topics related to the biology of women and includes some discussion of related social and political issues. The text will be used as a resource for understanding basic biological principles, but the focus of the course will be on the discussion of the current research being done to help us better understand our biology. Comparing myths about women's biology and health with scientific evidence should lead to very interesting discussions.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirement: Capstone Seminar
- COM 375 Conflict and CommunicationIntroduces theory and experiential learning in the role of communication in conflict management. The focus is on interpersonal interactions, including dyadic and small group levels in various settings such as friendships, marriage, family, and the workplace.
3 credits
Gen Ed Capstone
- COM 388 Gender and CommunicationExplores theory and methods for examining communication and gender roles. Topics include gendered communication, gender and media, family communication, gendered violence, gender and education, and gender and institutions.
3 credits
Gen Education: Capstone Seminar
- ENGL 202 Writing DC StoriesThis course will challenge students to learn experientially by uncovering, researching, and shaping compelling stories from and about the Washington, DC area. Students will conduct extensive field research, which might include site visits or ride-alongs, and explore various methods for digging deeper into their individual subjects through resources such as genealogy databases and court records. As the semester progresses, students will merge their findings in an original piece or product that pushes them to develop new technical skills and highlights the story in an intriguing way.
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- ENGL 389 Literary and Critical TheoryIntroduces traditional and contemporary models of literary criticism and theory through practical interpretation of literary texts. Formerly ENG 397 Literary and Critical Theory.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Two literature courses at the 200-level or higher
Gen Ed Area: Capstone Seminar
- ENVS 281 Environmental PollutionUsing historical environmental disasters due to chemical pollutants as case studies, this course centers on developing a framework for analyzing pollution-related problems. Applies toxicological and chemical principles while assessing societal pressures to determine causes, human impacts, and possible solutions to pollution issues, including local environmental justice issues in the Dc metro area. Because environmental problems are multi-disciplinary, considers historical background, public health, politics, and the interaction between science and policy. Engages students in utilizing the framework in an individual project to address a chemical pollution problem the student chooses from anywhere in the world.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
Gen Ed: Capstone
- FNAR 317 Contemporary ArtExplores the major developments in art since 1945 with an emphasis on painting and sculpture. The nature of art and prominent ethical questions which arose during this period are also discussed. Formerly ART 381 Contemporary Art.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- FNAR 321 Women ArtistsExamines the history of women in the arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and the social conditions which influenced their art. Artists included are: A. Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and others.
3 credits
General Education Capstone Seminar
- FNAR 399 Art and Culture of the Roaring 20sExamines the art and culture of the 1920s in an interdisciplinary approach. Movements such as American Modernism, The Harlem Renaissance, and the beginnings of Surrealism will be examined.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Capstone
- GLBL 250 Human Geography SeminarIntroduces world human geography with a partial emphasis on a particular region, such as Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America. Includes such concepts as the relationship between humans and the environment; gender; population; urbanization; globalization; and development.
3 credits
- GLBL 310 Global Hip Hop: NYC to the WorldThe Culture: Hip-Hop?s Journey from NYC to the World. Introduces hip-hop?s evolution from 1970?s American-based Black and Latinx cultures to global cosmopolitan status. Permeating all levels of society, hip hop has entered the mainstream as a universal language that connects people across the globe. Through hip-hop, this course discusses historical and contemporary themes of race, class, gender, religion, sexuality, nationality, politics and social activism, appropriation and defense of spaces, mixing of different cultures, migrations, multilingualism, and the search for self-identity. First focuses on hip-hop?s evolution in America from the 1970s through the present, emphasizing social, cultural, and geographic forces that shaped this evolution and the various ?elements? that comprise hip-hop. Considers political debates about the hip-hop generation?s influence on the American ethos. Then, takes students on hip-hop?s journey across the globe to France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, and parts of West Africa and the Middle East. *3 credits
General Education: Capstone
- GLBL 322 Nuclear Weapons & Arms ControlExamines development of nuclear weapons, atomic bombings of Japan, and global challenges the threat of nuclear war has created since 1945. Studies history and politics of the nuclear arms race, including its effect on international relations and on American thought and behavior to this day. Highlights anti-nuclear protest movements and efforts to control and eradicate nuclear weapons, with specific attention paid to Black activists who fought for nuclear disarmament by connecting it with the fight for racial equality. Addresses the related fields of nuclear energy and the use of nuclear technologies in radiological medicine. *3 credits
- HIS 365 The Great American Road TripExamines American history through the lens of travel narratives. Topics focus on the Underground Railroad, the settlement of the West and the modern cross-country road trip. Highlights female voices and those of African Americans, Native Americans, and stories of internal or cross-border migration. Explores why these stories are so popular in the U.S. and what they can teach us about American history, culture, and society.
3 credits
- HUMR 301 Seminar: Perspectives on GenderApproaches the concept of gender from the standpoints of psychology and sociology. Specifically, the topics of socialization, language and communication, sexuality and the media, and work and the family will be addressed in an interdisciplinary fashion. Emphasis will be placed on synthesis and integration, while applying course material to real-world events.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education: Capstone
Prerequisites PSYC 101 and SOCY 100
- INT 250 Writing for Social ChangeINT 250: In this Capstone Seminar course, students will use creative writing as a tool for raising awareness about issues of social significance. Each student will develop research questions, use traditional and creative research methods to explore an issue of her choosing, and present relevant findings in the form of a short story. In addition this course will apply critical reading, communication, analysis, and writing skills.
3 credits
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- MATH 299H HON:Math Across Cultures: EthnomathematicsCourse Description: Ethnomathematics is the study of mathematical ideas expressed and embedded in various traditional cultures of indigenous people from around the world. The different cultures introduced will include the Maya, Marshall Islanders, Tongans, Trobriand Islanders, Borano, Malagasy, Basque, Tamil, Balinese, and Kodi. This capstone Honors course will explore the mathematical concepts of numeration systems, graph theory, probability, geometry and logic. The seminar will focus on how culture gives rise to and influences each of these mathematical ideas. This course is limited to Honors Program students or with permission of instructor only.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: status as an Honors Program student or with permission of instructor only
- POLS 250 Politics, Literature, and FilmThis course explores concepts in political science represented in fiction and film. Students will read political fiction, both classic and contemporary, and view the corresponding films. Theories of political analysis will be included in the required readings. Each student will select her own political fiction/film case for their seminar paper project.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- POLS 313 Religion, Law and Politics in the United StatesExamines the relationship among religion, law, and politics in the United States constitutional and political systems. The free exercise and establishment clauses of the First Amendment to the Constitution and key Supreme Court opinions involving separation of church and state are studied as well as democratic theory pertaining to this topic. Other topics to be discussed in the class include policy issues involving government aid to faith-based social welfare efforts and empirical studies of public attitudes concerning the interplay among religion, public policy, and political leadership. Formerly PSC 226 Religion, Law, and Politics, in the United States.
3 credits
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- PSYC 314 African-Centered PsychologyIntroduces African-Centered Psychology, a dynamic manifestation that applies African principles, values, and traditions to human systems of meaning inclusive of cultural themes and commonalities of Black people in the African Diaspora, as distinct from traditional Western psychology that excludes other cultural perspectives. Presents research, theories, and paradigms developed within African-Centered Psychology as a framework for understating the attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes of Black Americans.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
- PSYC 317 Psychology of Aggression and ViolenceExamines interpersonal, intergroup, and international violence and aggression. The topic is approached from the standpoints of physiological, motivational, learning, cognitive and interpersonal factors, and structural and ecological factors. Aspects of the psychology of nonviolence are covered. Formerly PSY 204 Psychology of Aggression and Violence.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and PSYC 211 or permission of instructor
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- PSYC 343 Drugs and Human BehaviorFocuses on the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs, including medications (anti-depressants, neuroleptics) as well as alcohol and illegal substances (narcotics, hallucinogens, stimulants, etc.). Creative class formats utilize video, exercises, discussion, and readings to examine the biological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychosocial consequences of drug use and effective approaches to treatment. Formerly PSY 212 Drugs and Human Behavior.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 or BIOL 112
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- PSYC 365 Seminar on Human SexualityExplores the biological, neuropsychological, social, and moral dimensions of human sexuality in order to examine the connection between our gendered embodiment and our person through the concept of human agency. Formerly WST 365 Seminar on Human Sexuality
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- SNHP 330 Research and Evidence-Based PracticeIntroduces fundamentals of research design, methods, data collection, analyzing results, and discussion of findings. Focuses on the entire research cycle from forming a research question, drafting a proposal, designing protocols, understanding research ethics such as IRB guidelines, patient safety and rights, to presenting or disseminating findings in professional and scientific settings. Outcomes include development of a student research project.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: C or better in MATH 110
Gen Ed V: Capstone Seminar (for pre-health and health services majors only)
- SOCY 381 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary SeminarProvides students with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding AIDS. The course examines AIDS as a social construct utilizing Writing Across the Curriculum and cooperative learning techniques to build an interdisciplinary knowledge of AIDS. Formerly INT 340 and SOC 340 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar.
3 credits
Gen Ed V: Capstone Seminar
- SSC 207 Writing for the Social SciencesOffered in a seminar format, the course equips students with the skills necessary to write papers for social science courses. The course covers the process of writing for the social sciences and develops technical skills in researching and writing a variety of paper types. Specific topics include proposal writing, library research skills, internet research skills, critical thinking and writing, organization, outlines, drafts and documentation.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- WST 250 Women in Popular CultureExplores the cultural images and realities of contemporary women and their lives. Print, film, television, short fiction, and artifact will be used to document cultural rates.
3 credits
Gen Ed Area: Capstone
- WST 301 Women, Peacemaking, and NonviolenceConsiders the theoretical foundations of non-violence and explores the application of these principles with reference to the experiences and history of women.
Approved for General Education Capstone.
3 credits
- WST 321 Women ArtistsExamines the history of women in the arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and the social conditions which influenced their art. Artists included are: A. Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and others.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Capstone Seminar
Critical Reading and General Education Capstone Seminar Waivers
As part of completing the Foundational Skills area, incoming first-year students must complete the Critical Reading Seminar sequence at Trinity; transfer students matriculating with sophomore status or above are not required to complete the Critical Reading Seminar sequence. Additionally, incoming first-year and sophomore students must complete the General Education Capstone Seminar at Trinity; transfer students matriculating with junior status or above are not required to complete the General Education Capstone Seminar.
Advanced Standing for General Education Requirements
In certain instances, a waiver can be made to fulfill general education curricular requirements, although such waivers are non-credit bearing and students must make up the total number of credits to earn the 120 credits required for a Trinity degree. The following general education requirements may be waived by earning a satisfactory score on the appropriate placement examination(s):
- Written Communication (waived by placing above the ENGL 107 College CompositionDevelops effective writing of evidence-based, thesis-centered academic essays. Emphasizes the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Focuses on argumentative essays that build to a substantive research paper. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life College Composition level)
- Foreign Language (waived by placing into the third semester of ASL, French, Spanish, or other approved language. Students who place into the second semester of a college-level language course need only complete the second semester of that language to fulfill the general education requirement).
- Quantitative Reasoning (waived by placing into MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry IExamines the following topics: functions, limits, continuity, differentiation and applications, and basic integration. Formerly MAT 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 or placement test proficiency
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV: Exploration Cluster Calculus I level).
Additionally, general education requirements may be fulfilled by credits earned through examination such as Advanced Placement or CLEP Examinations. Some general education requirements may be fulfilled through credits earned at other appropriately accredited institutions of higher education.
Courses Fulfilling Both General Education and Major Requirements
In general, a course may be counted to fulfill no more than one general education requirement, although a course may be counted to fulfill a general education requirement as well as a requirement in a student’s major.