Mar 28, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2013-14 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2013-14 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

Environmental Science

  
  • ENSC 4000 - Environmental Analysis


    4 cr. 6 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    Students will conduct chemical analyses of air, soil and water for metals, inorganic ions and volatile and semi-volatile organic parameters. Participants will be required to collect samples, prepare documentation, prepare standards and samples, perform calculations and prepare reports detailing procedure, results, and an interpretation of the results.

  
  • ENSC 4100 - Seminar in Environmental Science


    3 cr. 4 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course will consist of a series of presentations of actual environmental problems. The course will include attending local conservation and/or planning commission meetings.

  
  • ENSC 4950 - Internship in Environmental Science


    4-6 cr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The internships experience is for senior environmental science majors. These internships are to be completed at a participating federal, state, local, or private environmental organization. A 3.00+ cumulative average in the major and cognate departments is required to enroll.

  
  • ENSC 4975 - Directed Study


    1-6 cr.

    Directed study allows a student to carry out a non-research project or participate in an activity under the direct supervision of a faculty member. See the catalog description of Program Alternatives in The Curriculum  section for more details.


Exercise and Sports Science

  
  • EXSS 1000 - Health and Fitness


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    The course provides a basic survey of the effects of diet, exercise, and selected environmental agents on the mental and physical health of humans. Topics may include body build and body composition, fitness evaluation and programming, nutritional considerations, psychological correlates of health, chemical alterations, and personal and public health. HAF, SMT

  
  • EXSS 1010 - Basketball


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is designed to teach and refine the fundamental skills of the game of basketball. Specific drill instruction in the skills of proper body position, footwork, starting, stopping, pivoting, passing, catching, shooting, rebounding, and defensive positioning and techniques will be stressed.

  
  • EXSS 1011 - Intro to Exercise Science


    3 cr. 3 hrs. Day course offered every Semester.

    This course is an introductory study of the basic concepts underlying the study of exercise science, including fundamental exercise training principles, basic nutrition, and the essentials of measurement as it applies to fitness, wellness, and performance. In addition, this course will introduce students to various organizations, certifications, and potential career choices in the exercise sciences. This is a required course for Exercise and Sport Science majors. (major only)

  
  • EXSS 1060 - Badminton


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with various primary skills, strategies, and tactics of the game through participation in games and playing badminton matches.

  
  • EXSS 1170 - Introduction to Mountain Hiking


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of this course is to give the student the skills necessary to safely and competently pursue the sport of hiking and basic mountaineering.

  
  • EXSS 1180 - Backpacking


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of this course is to give the student the skills necessary to enjoy the sport of backpacking and camping overnight in a wilderness setting. Classroom discussions, hands-on practice and relevant readings culminate in a two-day overnight backpacking trip in a scenic forested area. Skills and topics to be covered will include route selection, menu planning, camp cooking, equipment and packing, map reading, safety management, basic first aid, wilderness hygiene, minimum impact techniques, emergency techniques, trail reading and basic natural history.

  
  • EXSS 1280 - Orienteering


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of this course is to give the student the skills necessary to safely and competently navigate through unfamiliar wilderness terrain with the aid of a map and compass. The student will also learn some natural history basics including plant and wildlife identification as well as some first aid basics. The course will expose the student to the larger world of exploration, navigation and the sport of orienteering.

  
  • EXSS 1300 - Recreational Sports


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of the course is to provide the student with an awareness of different lifetime recreational sport activities through participation in a variety of sports. Students will develop a knowledge about recreational and physical fitness alternatives that can be incorporated into their lifestyle.

  
  • EXSS 1400 - Jogging: Theory and Practice


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The theories and practices of cardiovascular conditioning using jogging as the activity mode are presented. Pre-post cardiovascular and body composition evaluations are made and program prescriptions are designed. Topics covered include training principles and programs, energy sources, aerobic and anaerobic processes, nutrition, exercise and weight control, exercise training effects, psychological considerations, environmental conditions, injuries and running.

  
  • EXSS 1440 - Body Shaping


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The theory of weight training and diet in relation to body shaping is discussed. Each student undergoes physique, body composition, aerobic fitness and muscular strength evaluations before and after a weight training program.

  
  • EXSS 1450 - Weight Training for Athletes


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course examines theory for the development of muscular strength for specific athletic activities. Anthropometric, body composition and muscular strength evaluations are assessed prior to and following an individually developed weight training program. SMT

  
  • EXSS 1460 - Standard First Aid/Adult CPR


    1 cr. 1 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    A behaviorally oriented course structured for those responsible for the safety and protection of others. Standard First Aid and Adult CPR, and AED certificates are issued if the student satisfies all the American Red Cross requirements.

  
  • EXSS 1470 - Techniques of Road Racing


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The purpose of the course is to acquaint the student with various topics of running long distance road races. Topics covered include the physiology of running, training strategies, injury care and prevention, nutritional aspects and methods of assessing running ability. Each student undertakes a training program and participates in three road races.

  
  • EXSS 1490 - Stress Management


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is a multifaceted and holistic approach to the understanding and control of stress in a wellness context. Topics covered include stress psychophysiology, the relationship between stress and illness, life situation and perception interventions, time management, and bioecological stressors. Also, the study and implementation of specific relaxation techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive relaxation, exercise, autogenics, and meditation will be covered.

  
  • EXSS 1500 - Lifeguarding


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The Lifeguarding course is designed to teach lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. Upon successful completion of the course, students can earn American Red Cross certification in Lifeguard Training. First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.

    Prerequisite(s): Swim 500 yards continuously using the following strokes: 200 yards of front crawl, 100 yards breastroke, 200 yards mixture of front crawl or breastroke. Swim 20 yards using the front crawl or breastroke surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10 pound object, surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object completed.
  
  • EXSS 1510 - Consumer Health


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is designed to help the student evaluate health and fitness information critically, and select products and services wisely. The areas of quackery, alternative medicine, nutrition, personal fitness and consumer protection are studied.

  
  • EXSS 1520 - Diet, Exercise, and Weight Control


    1 cr. 1 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course is designed for those interested in weight loss or weight maintenance through the medium of diet and exercise. After an initial assessment of body composition, aerobic fitness, muscular fitness and the establishment of dietary goals, each student works toward body weight goals through actual programs of exercise and diet.

  
  • EXSS 2050 - Functional Anatomy


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered in the Spring. Also offered evenings.

    This course is a study of anatomical structure and its function in human motion. Topics include the anatomy of the musculoskeletal systems, primary musculature involved in specific motions, the anatomy of force production, range of motion and movement planes. Considerable practical experience in the analysis of motion from a functional anatomical basis is given.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200 .
  
  • EXSS 2060 - Exercise, Nutrition, and Heart Disease


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    This course is designed to examine the integrative relationships inherent in the study of exercise, nutrition, and heart disease. Body build and body composition assessments are made, exercise prescriptions and programs are developed, and prevalent controversies in the areas of obesity, dietary goals, guidelines and plans, atherosclerosis, and heart disease are discussed. Course sections that fulfill this requirement are designated as such. Some sections are for EXSS majors only. HAF, SMT

  
  • EXSS 2071 - Exercise Physiology I


    4 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every Fall. Also offered evenings.

    In this course, human systemic response and adaptation to exercise and exercise training are studied in-depth. Topics included are epidemiology and physiology in health and disease, homeostasis and exercise metabolism, bioenergetics, nutrition, exercise and performance, exercise prescriptions for health, training, exercise and the environment and factors limiting performance. Laboratory experiences provide practical assessment skills as well as application of the scientific method to problems and issues in this field. SMT

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200 , and BIOL 1300 
  
  • EXSS 2072 - Exercise Physiology II


    4 cr. 4 hrs. Day course offered in the Spring. Also offered evenings.

    This is the second of a two-sequence course which is designed to cover physiological response to acute exercise and chronic adaptations to exercise. Part II of this course will examine cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and the impact of different environmental conditions on exercise responses and capacity. It will also introduce research methods in exercise science. Application of physiological concepts to clinical populations and across the lifespan will be made. The laboratory component of this course will offer students an opportunity to assess, evaluate and demonstrate some of the physiological concepts discussed in class. In laboratory, students will also develop a research question, design a research study, perform data collection, interpret and analyze the data collected and present results in a formal research presentation.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200 , BIOL 1300  and EXSS 2071 .
  
  • EXSS 2300 - Nutrition in Exercise and Sport


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    This course involves a thorough discussion of the principles of general nutrition. Emphasis is placed on the examination of specialized diets for training, weight control and body enhancement, and on the use of ergogenic aids during exercise and exercise training. Course material is enhanced by researching current trends and by personal nutrition projects.

    Prerequisite(s): 24 credits completed.
  
  • EXSS 2400 - Health Promotion


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered in the Fall.

    This course involves the design, implementation, and evaluation of wellness programs from the health care industry to the private sector. Marketing applications including materials production, are considered. Specific program design includes exercise prescription, nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management, and other health-related topics.

  
  • EXSS 2500 - Human Motor Development


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    This course focuses on human development processes, especially with regard to response and adaptation to exercise in children and the elderly, motor control and decline of function with aging.

  
  • EXSS 2660 - Psychology of Sport and Exercise


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years. Also offered evenings.

    Sport and exercise psychology is the scientific study of people and their behavior in sport and exercise activities, and the application of the resulting knowledge. In this course we review reasons for involvement in sport and exercise, and review the effects of physical activity on mental health and well-being. We also address factors that influence individual and team performance, such as motivation, confidence, and group dynamics. Finally, students are expected to engage in some form of sport or exercise during the course, and to consider how course concepts can help them achieve enjoyment and success.

    Prerequisite(s):   or   .
  
  • EXSS 3020 - Biomechanics for Sports


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    This course involves the study of the mechanical aspects that underlie human motion. Mechanical considerations include describing motion in terms of levers, linear and angular acceleration, velocity, and projectiles, and the determination of motion by studying force, inertia, mass, momentum, impulse, drag, lift, buoyancy, center of gravity and stability. Application of anatomical and mechanical principles is related to the improvement of performance in selected sports.

    Co-requisite or Prerequisite: EXSS 2050 .
  
  • EXSS 3050 - Adaptations


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course is designed to integrate the natural and exercise sciences from the standpoint that survival of the organism depends upon its ability to adapt to a given environment. The acute and chronic effects of several stressors found within the environment such as oxygen, light and dark, exercise, heat and cold, emotion and stress, altitude, nutrition and evolution are studied in the classroom and the laboratory. SMT

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 2071  and EXSS 2072 .
  
  • EXSS 3120 - Scientific Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    The course combines the theoretical and practical aspects of strength training and conditioning. Topics covered include exercise and fitness-related principles and practices of physiology, neuromotor control, biochemistry, anatomy, biomechanics and endocrinology. The development of state-of-the-art, safe and effective strength and cardiorespiratory endurance training programs are presented. EXSS majors only. These sections carry a prerequisite of EXSS 2071  and EXSS 2072 .

  
  • EXSS 3130 - Apprenticeship


    1-3 cr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    These one-credit on-campus experiences are designed to enhance theory through cogent work in a specific area, such as exercise testing, strength training, fitness management, and research skills. Students apply for apprenticeships with specific professor in the semester prior to the semester in which the work will be done.

    Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing.
  
  • EXSS 3450 - Exercise Testing and Prescription


    4 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The course provides theory and practice for evaluating and prescribing exercise for the enhancement of the functional capacity of the cardiopulmonary, metabolic and musculoskeletal systems in health and disease. Basic topics include review of scientific bases for testing and prescription, human behavior and motivation, basic electrocardiology, risk factors in exercise and exercise testing, health appraisal and fitness testing, exercise programming, nutrition and weight management and program administration. This course is based on the knowledge required for certification as a health/fitness instructor by the American College of Sports Medicine.

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 2071  and EXSS 2072 .
  
  • EXSS 3600 - Exercise Response and Adaptations in Special Populations


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The primary aim of this course is to explore the clinical aspects of exercise physiology as it applies to special populations. The pathophysiology of today’s most prominent diseases, with regards to mortality and morbidity, are addressed. Students learn about diagnostic techniques, as well as pharmacological and invasive interventions which may be indicated for various special populations. Finally, appropriate exercise testing protocols for special populations are examined and students learn how to formulate and implement dynamic exercise prescriptions for a myriad of patients/clients.

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 3450 .
  
  • EXSS 4000 - Fundamentals of Coaching


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    An analysis of the principles and practices of coaching in various sports is presented for the prospective teacher/coach.

  
  • EXSS 4010 - Recreational Leadership


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The organization and administration of recreational activities are presented in reference to the development of the principles and practices in both school and community programs.

  
  • EXSS 4025 - Motor Learning and Control of Human Movement


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the study of motor learning and control associated with human movement. Selected motor learning and motor control theories and determinants of skill acquisition are covered. Topics include differences in motor control based on age, gender, and pathology and skill level.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200 , BIOL 1300 , EXSS 3020 .
  
  • EXSS 4040 - Fitness Management


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered in the Spring.

    The focus of this course is the planning and implementation of fitness programs in the commercial and corporate settings. Topics include organization management, staff management, strategic planning, risk management, program promotion and marketing, and sales.

    Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing.
  
  • EXSS 4045 - Cardiovascular Physiology and Electro Physiology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    Cardiovascular dynamics is studied through the anatomy, electro physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular systems. Description of the ECG variations and the underlying mechanisms forms the foundation for practical experience in clinical interpretation of the ECG.

    Prerequisite(s):   and EXSS 2072 .
  
  • EXSS 4060 - Outdoor Education


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is designed to explore and experience the use of the outdoors as a medium in the educational process. Topics covered include introduction to outdoor education, teaching methodology, basic principles of high adventure activities, school camping and outdoor education programs. Students participate in a number of outdoor adventure activities.

  
  • EXSS 4110 - Programs in Recreation


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is designed to acquaint students with different types of programs in the recreation field. The development of traditional and innovative programs are explored and evaluated in the classroom and through field trips. Topics covered include program foundations, traditional and innovative curricula, program planning, implementation and evaluation.

  
  • EXSS 4200 - Senior Seminar in Leadership and Professional Ethics


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    Using a case study approach in various professional topics, this capstone course focuses on the leadership skills needed in the fitness industry and the clinical environment. It also emphasizes ethical practice. Students will study pertinent literature, and write a paper on current issues.

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 3450  and 90 credits.
  
  • EXSS 4900 - Independent Study


    1-3 cr.

    The Independent Study is open to students who have permission of the supervising instructor and the department. Course of study, meetings, and credit are arranged upon approval.

  
  • EXSS 4950 - Internship


    6 cr.

    Students gain 240 hours of field experience at an outside agency related either to the fitness industry or clinical physiology. Assignments are contingent upon the student’s abilities, interests, career goals, and acceptance by the cooperating institution. One or two full days during the week may be required. Two on-campus meetings are required, as is a critical incidents journal, an informational interview, a comprehensive paper and an oral presentation. A minimum of six credits is required. Fulfills the speaking and listening requirement for the EXSS major.

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 3450 , senior standing, a 2.5 in EXSS courses, and approval of the Exercise and Sport Science department.

French

  
  • FREN 1000 - French for Beginners I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The correct pronunciation, reading ability and fundamentals of grammar and syntax are taught in this class. Over the semester, emphasis is placed on conversation skills and French gradually becomes the working classroom language. The class is designed for students with no language experience or less than two years of French at a high school level. CTW, GDCN

    Note: Students with two or more years of language instruction are not admitted without permission of the instructor.
  
  • FREN 1100 - French for Beginners II


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered at least once a year.

    This class serves as a continuation of FREN 1000 . CTW, GDCN

  
  • FREN 2000 - Intermediate French I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered in the Fall.

    This course continues practice in conversation skills, and includes writing exercises as well as reading on life customs and culture of France and French-speaking nations.

    Prerequisite(s): Two years of high school French, or FREN 1100 .
  
  • FREN 2100 - Intermediate French II


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered once a year in the Spring.

    This course serves as a continuation of FREN 2000 .

  
  • FREN 2400 - Methods for Teaching French in the Elementary School


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course provides techniques and materials for use in teaching French at an elementary school level. The course is required for foreign language specialization. A minimum of 12 semester hours of French or its equivalent and the instructor’s permission is required to enroll.

  
  • FREN 3000 - French Civilization


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    The course covers the history, geography, fine arts and literature of the French people from the earliest times through today. Course work includes extensive readings in French.

    Prerequisite(s): FREN 2100 .
  
  • FREN 3300 - French Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course will present a cultural, historical and sociological study of France as mirrored in selected works of French writers and thinkers. The time period is from the medieval ages through and including the 20th century. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): FREN 2100 .
  
  • FREN 3500 - French Conversation and Composition


    3 cr. 3 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    This course is recommended for students who desire greater fluency in speech and writing as well as for students taking civilization and literature courses.

    Prerequisite(s): FREN 2100 .
  
  • FREN 4901 - Independent Study in French


    1-3 cr. 1-3 hr.

    The Independent Study is open to students in the language with the permission of the supervising instructor and the department chair. Meeting times and credit are arranged upon approval.

  
  • FREN 4903 - Independent Study in French


    1-3 cr. 1-3 hr.

    The Independent Study is open to students in the language with the permission of the supervising instructor and the department chair. Meeting times and credit are arranged upon approval.

  
  • FREN 4906 - Advanced Independent Study in French


    6 cr. 6 hr.

    The Independent Study is open to students in the language with the permission of the supervising instructor and the department chair. Meeting times and credit are arranged upon approval.

    Prerequisite(s): Minimum of 12 semester hours, 2.0 grade-average in French, and permission of Department Chairman.
  
  • FREN 4975 - Directed Study in French


    1-6 cr.

    Directed study allows a student to carry out a non-research project or participate in an activity under the direct supervision of a faculty member. See the catalog description of Program Alternatives in The Curriculum  section for more details.


Game Design

  
  • GAME 2000 - Elements of Game Design


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    This course introduces students to the process of planning and designing the interactive experience of game play. Students will develop a critical understanding of the formal, dramatic, and systems elements of games across a wide range of game styles and genres, from traditional physical games and sports to video games. Students will work individually and in teams to modify and develop tabletop games such as board or card games. Emphasis is placed on understanding game systems and fine-tuning the player experience through the interative design process.

  
  • GAME 2200 - Introduction to Game Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    This course provides an introduction to the concepts, tools and techniques of creating art for games. Students are introduced to visual literacy, concept art, storyboarding, and development of art for 2D and 3D games, while building proficiency in industry-standard 2D raster and vector software and an introduction to 3D software. Projects include interface design, 2D sprite and asset design, texture & background creation, 3D modeling, character design.

    Note: Recommended to have ART 1400 , ART 1600 , COMM 3810  or permission of instructor. May be taken concurrently with GAME 2000 .
  
  • GAME 3000 - Game Design Workshop


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    This course will engage students in the iterative design process: developing, prototyping, and play-testing games throughout the semester with the goal of creating well-balanced games that are challenging and rewarding to the player. Students will focus on designing casual games playable on a variety of platforms, while building proficiency in an industry-standard 2D game engine. Students will learn to implement game logic including events, variables, movement, timing, physical and gestural controls, collisions, 2D physics, levels, and scoring. Students will work on developing proficiency in issues of scale, duration, iteration and repetition, while balancing player obstacles and rewards. Projects will include one or more original games designed for computer, console, or mobile platforms.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 2000  and GAME 2200  or COMM 3380 
  
  • GAME 3010 - Creative Writing for Games


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per year.

    This is a writing-intensive course in which students develop the dramatic elements of games. Topics will include brainstorming & idea development, world building, modes of interactive storytelling, structures of narrative, building story arcs, character development, dialogue, and proper writing technique. The course also covers writing formats for game design documents.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 2000  and ENGL 1100 
  
  • GAME 3030 - Game Level Design


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    In this course, students will learn concepts, tools, and techniques to design and build playable game levels or environments for a series of “off the shelf” games, both pen and paper and digital. The ability to modify games is crucial to the development of a game designer, and level design remains a core competency for aspiring professionals. Over the course of the semester, students will develop crucial perspectives on iteration, challenge, spatial and temporal dynamics, environmental and architectural design, and gameplay balance, while building the requisite technical and aesthetic competencies involved in developing with an industry-standard 3D game engine, including modeling & construction, placement and editing of objects and textures, lighting design, animation and scripting.

    Note: May take concurrently with GAME 3000 . Prerequisite(s): GAME 2000 , GAME 2200 
  
  • GAME 3050 - Serious Games


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per year.

    In this course, students learn principles of serious games: games as a means of social engagement pedagogy, learning games, editorial games, games for change, and the overall persuasive and rhetorical possibilities of games. Serious games offer game designers and players the chance to engage with social problems, activism, political processes and even propaganda. Students will playtest a variety of existing examples, then work in teams to design and implement and to complete a serious games project.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 3000 
  
  • GAME 3060 - 3D Game Development


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    In this course, students will continue to build proficiency with an industry-standard 3D game engine. Students will work individually and in production teams to explore game modeling, environmental and architectural design, character development and world building, while balancing game elements, objectives, challenges & rewards. The course will culminate in the creation of a 3D game with original content, for computer or console.

    Note: 3D Modeling is recommended. Prerequisite(s): GAME 3000  and GAME 3030 
  
  • GAME 3070 - 3D Modeling I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    In this course, students will learn core concepts and techniques of constructing 3D models, while building a foundational proficiency in industry-standard 3D modeling software. Topics include 3D software interface and workflow, modeling and rigging, texturing surfaces, lighting, rendering. Projects will include original models of simple, mechanical, and organic objects.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 2200 
  
  • GAME 3080 - 3D Animation I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    Students will learn the fundamentals of digital 3D animation, from modeled objects and characters to motion capture. Topics covered will be: principles of animation movement and timing, frame composition, pre-visualization and storyboarding. Students will learn rigging for motion, lighting, animating and rendering frames, and exporting both for film and 3D gaming.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 3070 
  
  • GAME 3500 - Advanced Game Workshop


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    This course introduces students to more advanced concepts in game design & development such as ideation, digital prototyping, interface design, usability testing, quality assurance, team work, project planning & management. Students will work in teams to conceptualize and execute an innovative serious, casual or indie game that draws on skills, concepts, and proficiencies learned in previous courses. Students will follow an iterative design path to develop, prototype, playtest, and ultimately deliver a complete, polished small game project.

    Note: May be taken concurrently with GAME 3060  with permission of the department. Prerequisite(s): GAME 3060 
  
  • GAME 3510 - Contemporary Issues in Games


    3 cr. 3 hr. Once per year.

    In this course, students will confront a range of recent developments in gaming through reading, critique and design practice. Amongst the topics which may be addressed include: “gamefication,” monetization and wagering, new directions in interface, alternate reality and geotagged play, “and social networked games and gaming communities.” This class allows students to study and to make or modify games in order to respond to and directly address trends, problems and possibilities in gaming culture and aesthetics. Student work will take the form of both digital and analog game design (individually and in groups) as well as written and oral commentary and critique.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 3000 
  
  • GAME 4000 - Game Studies Seminar


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once per Semester.

    In this seminar, students will read, discuss and write about the major questions, developments and movements in the study of games. Readings will be interdisciplinary and heterodox and drawn from classic works on games and play as well as the contemporary digital wave. In this course students will explore the histories of video games as well as the key ways in which video games, games in general and play have been theorized in the humanities and social sciences. Over the course of the semester the class will come to define play and how it relates to games, work, war, sociability, learning and other key concepts. Students will write a series of short commentaries as well as a final paper.

    Prerequisite(s): GAME 2000 , ENGL 1200  and Junior/Senior status.

Geo/Physical Sciences

  
  • GEOG 1000 - Earth Systems Science


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    Students receive a holistic view of Earth and the spatial relationships between its physical, chemical, geological, and biological systems. Students learn fundamental scientific principles of physical geography and discuss human-earth interactions. Topics include earth-sun relationships, atmospheric processes, physical geology, and water resources. Human impacts, such as ozone depletion, global warming, and water and air pollution, are discussed. Credit can not be earned for both GEOG 1000 and GEOG 1300 . SMT

  
  • GEOG 1100 - Principles of Human Geography


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    Introduction to geographical dimension in human behavior and how this is evident in population distribution, rural and urban land use, and social, economic and political attributes of societies. CTW, GDCN

  
  • GEOG 1300 - Earth, Sea, and Air


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    The course is comprised of selected topics from the Earth Sciences Learning Standards of the Massachusetts Science Curriculum Frameworks. Laboratory required. Credit can not be earned for both GEOG 1000  and GEOG 1300 LAB, SMT

  
  • GEOG 2000 - Astronomy


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    After a brief introduction to the history of astronomy in Western civilization we discuss at an elementary level how light is produced and how telescopes work with light. In turn we then examine the solar system (comparative planetology) and the birth, evolution and death of stars and in the end consider the birth and death of the universe. This course is cross-listed as PHYS 2000 . SMT, LAB

  
  • GEOG 2056 - Climate Change and Human History


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every two years.

    Climate change and human history have been closely connected for thousands of years. This interdisciplinary course combines climate science and history to explore the connections between civilization and climate from the last ice age to the present. This course will provide students with the scientific and historical background to better understand one of the key issues facing today’s world by examining how human history has been affected by past climate change and how human activity has altered climate. HIST 2056  HIST, SMT

    Prerequisite(s):  
  
  • GEOG 2100 - Geology


    3 cr. 4 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years. Also offered evenings.

    The course is offered in the spring semester for day students. The course is an introductory survey of the basic elements of physical and historical geology. The class is open to all students. A laboratory is required. LAB

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000  is strongly suggested.
  
  • GEOG 2200 - Meteorology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered annually. Also offered evenings.

    Fundamental principles of atmospheric processes are discussed, with emphasis on mid-latitude phenomena. Tropical and severe weather are also explored. Weather forecasting techniques using real-time data are introduced. LAB

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000  is recommended.
  
  • GEOG 2250 - Honors Seminar in Earth Science


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    This course will introduce students to the study of the natural world through a focus on a major topic in Geo/Physical Sciences. This course is cross-listed as HON 2250 .

  
  • GEOG 2400 - Computer Applications in Geoscience


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    Computer based applications to actual case studies and situations using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as an investigation tool for geosciences. Lab exercises on PC-based GIS packages. SMT

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000 .
  
  • GEOG 2500 - Oceanography


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    This course is designed to provide students with an overview of fundamental scientific concepts that describe ocean processes.Topics include marine geology (ocean basins, sediments), marine chemistry (properties of seawater), physical oceanography (waves, tides, currents), and biological oceanography. Marine environmental issues are also explored. LAB, SMT

  
  • GEOG 2800 - Map Use


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered annually.

    This course considers the nature and role of maps in communicating aspects of the Earth’s natural and human environments. Skills learned include map reading, relating map symbols to real world features, map analysis, extracting information from maps and map interpretation. SMT

  
  • GEOG 2860 - Introduction to Secondary School Teaching


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    This course is required of all students preparing for initial license at the secondary level. It is a sophomore level course for full-time undergraduates and the first course taken by transfer students. It is taught at the local high school and is a clinical laboratory experience. This course includes a 25-hour prepracticum requirement and is a prerequisite for other certification course requirements. Students become familiar with the complexities of secondary school teaching and its demands. The course gives faculty the opportunity to screen students and give students the opportunity to test their commitment to teaching.

  
  • GEOG 3000 - Geographic Economic System


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered as needed.

    The course analyzes factors underlying the spatial distribution of primary, secondary and tertiary economic activities, with emphasis on locational processes in commercial economies.

  
  • GEOG 3100 - Political Geography


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course examines dependent and independent, political units, boundary disputes, strategic areas, buffer zones and the function of international organizations.

  
  • GEOG 3110 - Climatology


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    This course includes an overview of the climate system and regional climate classification schemes, and examination of natural, long-term climate change. Recent and future climate change scenarios, including the role of human activity in altering Earth’s climate chemistry, are also discussed. SMT

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000  or GEOG 2200  Meteorology or permission of the instructor.
  
  • GEOG 3120 - Computer Cartography


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course of Computer Cartography is focused on making thematic maps in a GIS environment. Taken into consideration are the nature and purpose of mappable information, elements of map design and method involved in map construction. Basic spatial analysis and GIS (geographic information system) skills are introduced and utilized as tools to facilitate map making. SMT

  
  • GEOG 3200 - U.S. and Canada


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course includes U.S. and foreign area studies. Students conduct regional and systematic analysis based upon geographic elements influencing domestic evolution and international relations.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000  or   or   or   or   or   or   or   .
  
  • GEOG 3250 - Introduction to Historical Geology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year in the Fall.

    This course studies the physical history of the Earth based on evidence from the rock and fossil records from the early Paleozoic Era through the present. The evolution of life forms, subjective and absolute dating methods, fossil identification and fossil evidence supporting plate tectonics theory are some of the topics studied. Laboratory is required.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100 .
  
  • GEOG 3270 - Common Rocks and Minerals


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year in the Spring.

    Major rock and mineral types are studied. Considerable time is spent on field and laboratory identification techniques. Mineral crystal systems and rock and mineral forming processes are also studied. Laboratory is required.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100 .
  
  • GEOG 3400 - Population Geography


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course addresses population processes and characteristics relative to resources in both economically developed and underdeveloped countries and regions. Course material provides both a systematic and regional view of world population problems. CTW, GDCN

  
  • GEOG 4000 - Geographic Information System


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered annually.

    Introduction to basic concepts and applications of geographic information systems (GIS). Lab exercises on PC-based GIS packages. SMT

    Prerequisite(s):   or   or   or  
  
  • GEOG 4110 - Atmospheres III—Planetary Atmospheres


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    This course seeks to explain the similarities and differences between the Earth’s atmosphere and the atmospheres of the planets and moons in our solar system. Each atmosphere is studied to determine its chemical composition, thermal structure, energy budget, pressure, wind systems, clouds, precipitation and other pertinent meteorological phenomena.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2200 .
  
  • GEOG 4200 - Geomorphology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course provides a comprehensive study of land forms and their origins. Laboratory is required. LAB

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100 
  
  • GEOG 4220 - Structural Geology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year in the Fall.

    This course studies rock structures developed by the application of deformational forces. Topics covered include the elementary concepts of stress and strain and the geometry of joints, faults, folds, foliations and lineations. LAB

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100 , PHYS 2300 , MATH 1300 .
  
  • GEOG 4400 - Urban Geography


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    Theory and models of the functions, origin, development, structure, and distribution of cities; land-use classification; geographic aspects of city planning, with GIS (geographic information systems) based applications to actual cases studies. CTW, GDCN

  
  • GEOG 4500 - Remote Sensing of the Environment


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    Techniques in the use of satellite and aerial imagery as applied to landscape analysis and resource management are studied. Laboratory is required.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100 .
  
  • GEOG 4600 - Environmental Hydrogeology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every other year in the Spring.

    A case study approach is used to apply basic principles of geology to environmental problems caused by flooding, groundwater contamination, pollution due to human activity and landslides, among other topics. Laboratory is required.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 2100  or GEOG 4200 , CHEM 1300 , MATH 1300 , PHYS 2300 .
  
  • GEOG 4700 - Geographic Perspectives on Conservation


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    The course provides an analysis of natural resources problems arising from changes in technology, population pressure and concern with the quality of environment.

    Prerequisite(s): GEOG 1000 .
  
  • GEOG 4850 - Special Methods in Teaching Earth Science


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The course reviews lesson planning, selection of materials, curriculum development and relevant research.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 4700  (8-12 Licensure) and ENGL 3010  (5-8 Licensure).
  
  • GEOG 4860 - Earth Science Practicum in a Secondary School I


    12 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    For the teaching practicum in earth science, students are assigned to cooperating schools for a semester of student teaching.

  
  • GEOG 4870 - Earth Science Practicum in a Secondary School II


    12 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    For the teaching practicum in earth science, students are assigned to cooperating schools for a semester of student teaching.

 

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