Mar 29, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

Other Courses

  
  • FYE 1000 - First Year Experience Seminar


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester; a limited number of spring selections will also be offered.

    This seminar prepares students for a successful college career and the world of work. The course develops students’ habits of mind, reading, and information literacy skills in a small-class setting. Students become engaged thinkers, learners, and members of the university community. Topics vary by instructor.


African-American Studies

  
  • AAST 1000 - Introduction to African-American Studies


    3 cr. 3 hr.

    This introductory course defines the origins and scope of African-American studies. It provides a survey of the social, economic, religious, and cultural expressions of African-Americans as they followed the tangled path from Africa through slavery and emancipation, into the 20th century. I, L, C, IDIS, CTW, GDCN

  
  • AAST 2300 - African-American History


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

    The course is an investigation of the African-Americans in the United States from their African origins to the present. Emphasis is placed on the role African-Americans play in the economic, political and social life of the United States. This course is cross-listed with HIST 2300  CTW, HIST

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HIST 1000  or HIST 1100  or HIST 1400  or HIST 1500  or AMST 1800 
  
  • AAST 2510 - Peoples and Cultures of Africa


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other year.

    A survey of the peoples and cultures of Africa is the major focus of this course. This course examines the social and cultural systems of groups including the Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, Kpelle, Bantu Tiriki, Ganda, Jie, Rwanda, Swazi and Pastoral Somali. This course is cross-listed with SOC 2510 

  
  • AAST 2650 - Ethnic American Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every third semester.

    This course presents works by significant ethnic writers, such as James Baldwin, Maxine Hong Kingston, Zora Neale Hurston, M. Scott Momoday, Toni Morrison and Leslie Marmon Silko. This course is cross-listed with ENGL 2650  ART, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 
  
  • AAST 2660 - 19th Century African American Literature


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

    In this course, we will encounter the poetry, fiction, journals, essays, speeches, and songs of nineteenth-century African-American writers. By paying close attention to the personal as well as cultural forms of expression, we will observe how the anguish, joy, and even the mundane aspects of the early African-American experience translate into a distinct canon of literature. Representative authors include Phillis Wehatlye, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, Frances E. W. Harper, Pauline Hopkins, and W.E.B. Dubois. ENGL 2660 . ART, LIT.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1100  and ENGL 1200  
  
  • AAST 2670 - 20th Century African-American Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every spring semester.

    This course surveys the major periods, genres, and authors of African-American literature in the twentieth century. This course also connects African-American literature to the representation of Blacks in music, film, live performance, media and society in general. Representative authors include James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Amiri Baraka, and Toni Morrison. This course is cross-listed with ENGL 2670  ART, LIT

  
  • AAST 3160 - The Civil Rights Movement


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

    This course examines the modern Civil Rights Movement in the larger historical context of the African-American freedom struggle, from its roots in abolitionism and reconstruction through the period of legalized racial discrimination to the dismantling of legal segregation to the ongoing persistence of white privilege. This course is cross-listed as AMST 3160 /HIST 3160 /POLS 3160 

  
  • AAST 3800 - History of Jazz


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

    This course introduces students to the history of jazz and investigates the musical elements that make up jazz. The role of jazz in American history is explored, and various musical trends that contributed to jazz are traced. This course is cross-listed with MUSC 3800 . ART, AOM.

  
  • AAST 4901 - Independent Study in African-American Studies


    1-3 cr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.

  
  • AAST 4902 - Independent Study in African-American Studies


    1-3 cr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.

  
  • AAST 4903 - Independent Study in African-American Studies


    1-3 cr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.


American Sign Language (ASL)

  
  • ASL 1000 - American Sign Language (ASL) for Beginners I


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

    This course introduces American Sign Language (ASL), a method of visual communication used by deaf people in the United States and Canada. Students learn visual readiness skills to recognize and express spatial relationships and to use appropriate non-manual signals, such as facial expressions and body movements. Cultural dynamics of the deaf/Deaf community are addressed. CTW

  
  • ASL 1050 - Introduction to Deaf Studies


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other spring semester in odd numbered years.

    Utilizing a multi-disciplinary perspective to emphasize issues and values impacting the American and International Deaf Communities, topics covered include: causes of hearing loss, speech and hearing process, manual sign systems, professions in the field of D/deafness, current events in the Deaf community, aspects of deaf communication, technology and its impact on communication, educational philosophies, and history of the Deaf in the United States and globally. SOC 1050   CTW, HMN

    Prerequisite/Concurrent: ASL 1000  
  
  • ASL 1100 - American Sign Language (ASL) for Beginners II


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

    This course emphasizes visual readiness skills and conversational skills by utilizing grammatical principles, language functions, and cultural behaviors. Students explore the functions of language and identify cultural behaviors characteristic of deaf people. Students increase their fluency in American Sign Language, learning to describe behavior,make requests, and give directions. CTW

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000  or permission of instructor.
  
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language Intermediate I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester.

    This course focuses on further development of visual-spatial orientation and manipulations skills, sign vocabulary, and complex sentence structures. Students continue learning strategies for opening,sustaining, and closing general conversations. The course concentrates on developing the abilities to question, narrate, and give increasingly detailed descriptions of activities, interactions, plans, and directions. Students learn how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000  and ASL 1100  or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language Intermediate I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester.

    This course focuses on further development of visual-spatial orientation and manipulations skills, sign vocabulary, and complex sentence structures. Students continue learning strategies for opening,sustaining, and closing general conversations. The course concentrates on developing the abilities to question, narrate, and give increasingly detailed descriptions of activities, interactions, plans, and directions. Students learn how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000  and ASL 1100  or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language Intermediate I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester.

    This course focuses on further development of visual-spatial orientation and manipulations skills, sign vocabulary, and complex sentence structures. Students continue learning strategies for opening,sustaining, and closing general conversations. The course concentrates on developing the abilities to question, narrate, and give increasingly detailed descriptions of activities, interactions, plans, and directions. Students learn how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000   and ASL 1100    or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language Intermediate I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester.

    This course focuses on further development of visual-spatial orientation and manipulations skills, sign vocabulary, and complex sentence structures. Students continue learning strategies for opening,sustaining, and closing general conversations. The course concentrates on developing the abilities to question, narrate, and give increasingly detailed descriptions of activities, interactions, plans, and directions. Students learn how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000   and ASL 1100    or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2100 - American Sign Language Intermediate I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fall semester.

    This course focuses on further development of visual-spatial orientation and manipulations skills, sign vocabulary, and complex sentence structures. Students continue learning strategies for opening, sustaining, and closing general conversations. The course concentrates on developing the abilities to question, narrate, and give increasingly detailed descriptions of activities, interactions, plans, and directions. Students learn how to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000  and ASL 1100  or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2200 - American Sign Language Intermediate II


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every spring semester.

    This course emphasizes further development of visual/spatial orientation, vocabulary, complex sentence structures and conversational skills. Through in-class assignments and interactions with the Deaf community, students demonstrate complex conversational receptive and expressive skills. Students learn to analyze and discuss current events in the Deaf community using ASL. The course also covers ASL to voice, and voice to ASL, introduction to translating.

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000 , ASL 1100  and ASL 2100  or permission of instructor
  
  • ASL 2350 - Deaf Culture


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other spring semester in even numbered years.

    This course provides a historical and contemporary perspective of Deaf Culture using a socio-cultural model. Students examine Deaf Culture and make comparisons and contrasts with other cultures. Topics include communication, language, cultural identity and values, group norms, traditions and the world view of deaf people. SOC 2350  

    Prerequisite(s): ASL 1000 ASL 1050 , ASL 1100 ,  or permission of instructor.

    Prerequisite/Concurrent: ASL 2100  


American Studies

  
  • AMST 1800 - Introduction to American Studies I


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

    An introduction to the field of American Studies. The first semester begins with a case study of a particular historical moment, exploring issues of American society and identity by utilizing the variety of interdisciplinary critical lenses and approaches comprised by American Studies and engagement with scholarly perspectives on the period from a wide range of disciplines. CTW

  
  • AMST 1900 - Introduction to American Studies II


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

    The second half of the introduction to the field of American Studies, introduces the history of American Studies scholarship, focusing on both methodological approaches and significant scholarly works. Distinct periods in the development of American Studies, including the myth and symbol school, the rise of ethnic and multicultural studies, and the recent globalization of American Studies are covered. The course goals will be both to introduce students to the wide breadth of methods included in American Studies and to help them identify those areas of greatest individual interest for their subsequent coursework. CTW

    Prerequisite(s): AMST 1800 .
  
  • AMST 3160 - The Civil Rights Movement


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered in the Spring. Undergraduate Evening School.

    This course examines the modern Civil Rights Movement in the larger historical context of the African-American freedom struggle, from its roots in abolitionism and reconstruction through the period of legalized racial discrimination to the dismantling of legal segregation to the ongoing persistence of white privilege. This course is cross-listed as HIST 3160 /AAST 3160 /POLS 3160 . CTW, HIST

  
  • AMST 4400 - American Studies Seminar


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

    The American Studies seminar is the culminating experience for American Studies majors. Each year it will engage with a different key theme in American history, culture, and identity such themes would include: war and peace; race, class, and gender; work; protest; the American Dream; community; tradition and change. Students will analyze texts from a variety of disciplines, including literature, historical documents, popular culture, film and other media, the visual arts, and material culture, in order to develop arguments about the theme and to engage with the interdisciplinary methodologies at the core of American Studies.

    Prerequisite(s): AMST 1800 , AMST 1900 ; completion of at least 27 of the 36 required credits in American Studies (and all other required credits).

Arabic

  
  • ARAB 1026 - Arabic for Beginners I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered Once a Year

    Students learn to read and write Arabic and acquire basic vocabulary. By the end of the semester, students should be able to read and write any Arabic word they see or hear, and speak in a few sentences about themselves. CTW, GDC, GDCN

  
  • ARAB 1100 - Arabic for Beginners II


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once a year.

    Arabic 1100 is a continuation of Arabic 1026. Students continue to acquire the basic vocabulary and structure necessary to survive in daily situations when speaking Arabic. By the end of the semester, students should be able to talk about themselves, where they live, what they study; about their family and where they work; ask questions about these themes, express some feelings, learn plural formation, and possessive pronouns. CTW, GDC, GDCN

    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 1026  or permission of instructor
  
  • ARAB 2030 - Contemporary Arab World


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered once a year.

    The course covers the Arab world from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present. It introduces students to the current realities of this important part of the world and helps them understand the causes behind them. It covers crucial topics such as French and British occupancy of the Arab world, independence movements, the rise of dictatorships, regional conflict, US involvement in the region, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the condition of women, and the recent Arab revolutions. IDIS 2030   CTW, GDCN


Art

  
  • ART 1100 - Art Appreciation


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

    This course is designed for those with little or no background in art. The course examines works of art across the globe in their historical, social, cultural, religious, and political context, ranging from the Prehistoric to the Contemporary era. We will explore how artists of various eras have dealt with reoccurring themes in art, and how their solutions to artistic questions reveal the cultural concerns of their times. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 1300 - Introduction to Studio Art: Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    Studio Art. This course provides a hands-on introduction to drawing, painting, and sculpture. The course will emphasize the fundamentals of each studio discipline, but will also explore the expressive potential of visual art: how the various elements of drawing, painting, and sculpture can be used to embody very different feelings and ideas. ART, AOM

  
  • ART 1400 - Drawing


    3 cr 4.5 hr. Day course offered every Semester. Also offered evenings.

    A studio course that introduces students to the practice of drawing with emphasis on the description of form through means of line, shade, and perspective. An investigation of a variety of media as well as of basic stylistic alternatives is encouraged. For Graphic Design majors this course should be taken in your Freshman year. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 1600 - Design


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered once every year.

    Studio Art. In this course the basic elements and principles of design are analyzed and applied to the creation of two-dimensional form. Topics covered include the effect of black and white, color, mixed media, scale, and texture on form. Lectures, slides, film, and visual presentations are included in the course program. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 1650 - Three-Dimensional Design


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every Semester.

    Studio Art. In this studio art class you will have the opportunity to explore a variety of materials such as wood, clay, wire, and plaster in your creations. We will discuss how the various elements of 3 dimensional design (line, plane, mass, volume, texture, space, light) can be organized effectively to create intriguing objects. The course will involve mostly in-class studio work but also slide discussions, critiques of each project, in-class team projects, and possibly a museum/ art gallery visit. ART, AOM

  
  • ART 2004 - Ceramics


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every semester. Also offered evenings.

    Studio Art. This course will introduce students to the basic methods and techniques of designing and creating with clay as a medium. A variety of hand building and glazing techniques will be introduced through the study of both sculptural and functional forms. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 2010 - Ancient and Medieval Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    Art History. This course is a survey of the art and artifacts produced in Europe and the Middle East from the prehistoric through the medieval periods. Special attention is paid to the cultural function of art, and the fascination these distant cultures exert on the modern era. This course explores how “art” is defined and understood in ways very different from our own modern Western definitions, and investigates how images create, maintain, and re-interpret cultural norms. ART, AOM, GDA

  
  • ART 2020 - Ancient Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered once every two years.

    Art History. This course is a survey of the art and artifacts produced in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East from the prehistoric through the classical periods, with an emphasis on the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Special attention is paid to the cultural function of art, and the fascination these distant cultures exert on the modern era. This course explores how “art” is defined and understood in ways very different from our own modern Western definitions, and investigates how images create, maintain, and re-interpret cultural norms. ART, AOM, GDA

  
  • ART 2030 - Sculpture I


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every Fall.

    Studio Art. In this studio art class we will explore the expressive possibilities of materials and form in three dimensions using traditional as well as contemporary art methods. For most assignments you will be choosing your own materials and interpreting the subject in your own way. We will look at and discuss the art of sculptors working in many different media from around the world. ART, AOM

    Prerequisite(s): ART 1300 , ART 2150 , ART 1650  or permission of instructor.
  
  • ART 2100 - Asian Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years in the Fall.

    Art History. This course covers the history of art of this region: from its earliest foundations in India through China and Japan as well as sections on Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Korea. Students will learn to analyze and discuss the various aspects and styles of Asian painting, sculpture, architecture and crafts within their historical and religious contexts. Students will begin to see in new ways and to identify how the art of these countries reflects the values of their cultures. There may be some hands-on work in this course: in brushwork, martial arts and perhaps the Japanese tea ceremony. AOM, ART, GDAN

  
  • ART 2102 - Introductory Painting


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered in the Fall.

    Studio Art. The course studies the basic problems of form, color, and texture as understood in oil. Consideration is also given to the nature and use of the oil painting materials themselves. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 2120 - Commonwealth of Asian Arts


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years in the Fall.

    Art History. An interdisciplinary course covering the art, music, and philosophy of several Asian countries: India, China and Japan among them. Students will learn to analyze art and music and to connect these forms with the underlying philosophy and major religious influences of each country. This course is cross-listed with MUSC 2120 . ART, GDAN, AOM

  
  • ART 2150 - The Art of Puppetry


    3cr. 4.5 hrs. Day course offered in the Spring.

    Studio Art. Students will explore shape, form and movement as it relates to character, mood and atmosphere. The history of the art of puppetry from around the world will be discussed through images, videos and readings. Students will learn how to construct masks, shadow puppets, hand and rod puppets, and marionettes and will work in groups to put on performances of folk tales from various parts of the world. ART, AOM

  
  • ART 2200 - Life Drawing


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered in the Fall.

    Studio Art. The basic problems in form and anatomy are studied while drawing from the nude and costumed model. Various techniques and drawing tools are explored, as well as a range of approaches to drawing the human figure. ART, AOM

  
  • ART 2250 - Intermediate Drawing


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every semester.

    Studio Art. The course is an advanced study of pictorial technique in dry media, including but not limited to charcoal, pencil, conte, and pastel. Emphasis is placed on the development of a student’s own style through a variety of subjects and media. ART, AOM

    Prerequisite(s): ART 1400 .
  
  • ART 2350 - American Art I: Colonial to 1900


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years in the Fall.

    Art History. This course will explore the art and architecture of America from the early seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century, with a particular focus on national identity and self-invention. We will investigate how art informs and is informed by the religious, political, and socio-economic concerns of the period, and how the tensions and desires of an emerging nation were negotiated through its cultural artifacts. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 2360 - American Art II: 1900 to Present


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years in the Spring.

    Art History. This course will explore the art and architecture of America in the twentieth century, with a particular focus on national identity and self-invention. We will investigate how art informs and is informed by the religious, political, and socio-economic concerns of the period, and how the tensions and desires of our nation are negotiated through its cultural artifacts. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 2450 - Water-Based Media


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered in the Spring. Also offered evenings.

    Studio Art. The course introduces students to painting with water-based media. Throughout the course, the focus will be on developing command of the medium of transparent watercolor, although painting with acrylics will also be introduced. While a prior course in drawing would be helpful, it is not required. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 2570 - Northern Renaissance Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    Art History. This course explores the art and architecture of Northern Europe from about 1300 to 1600, featuring artists such as Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch, and Pieter Bruegel. We will investigate how art informs and is informed by the religious, political, and socio-economic concerns of the period, and how art production and consumption were radically transformed during this period. ART, AOM, GDAN

  
  • ART 2700 - Baroque Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    Art History. This course will explore the art and architecture of Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, featuring artists such as Bernini, Velazquez, Vermeer and Rembrandt. We will investigate how art informs and is informed by the religious, political, and socio-economic concerns of the period, and how the tensions and desires of the producers and consumers of art were negotiated through cultural artifacts. ART, GDA, AOM

  
  • ART 2850 - Italian Renaissance Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    Art History. This course will explore the art and architecture of Italy from about 1300 to 1600, featuring artists such as Giotto, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. We will investigate how art was radically transformed during this period, and how art in turn helped transform Renaissance society. ART, AOM, GDA

  
  • ART 2900 - Nineteenth Century Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    This course explores the development of art from Neo-Classicism through Post-Impressionism, with an emphasis on the European cultural and sociopolitical context for the radical changes in art during this time period. AOM, ART, GDA

  
  • ART 3000 - Contemporary Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    Art History. The course presents a study of recent and contemporary trends in American and international art from 1945 to the present. The course consists of active student participation in slide discussions and museum trips. AOM, ART

  
  • ART 3002 - Ceramics II


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Offered every spring semester

    Ceramics II is an intermediate-level investigation into the historical and contemporary sculptural practices using clay as the medium. Students will create a variety of sculptures, such as a portrait bust, an animal sculpture, an abstracted organic piece, and an architectural structure. An orientation to the processes of hand building will include pinching, coil building, slab building, modeling, and carving.  Students will be able to take this course twice for credit. ART, AOM

    Prerequisite(s): ART 1300   Intro to Studio, or ART 1650  3D Design, ART 2004   Ceramics, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ART 3003 - How Photography Became Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other year

    This course focuses on the dynamic relationship between photography and Western art. In it, we investigate how the changing relationship between art and science in the 16th century led to the development of photography in the beginning of the 19th century, and how this development in turn transformed ideas about art and visual culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Note: this is a cultural history course, not a production course. ART

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  
  
  • ART 3010 - Sculpture II


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    Studio Art. This advanced studio course is an expansion upon the basic principles of sculpture. Sculpture projects are geared toward the individual interests and requirements of the advanced student. ART, AOM

    Prerequisite(s):  .
  
  • ART 3020 - Intermediate Painting


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. Day course offered every year in the spring.

    Studio Art. The course provides an advanced study of pictorial techniques with an emphasis on personal expression in oil, acrylic, or water based media. The class may be repeated for credit.

    Prerequisite(s): ART 2102   or ART 2450  or ART 2250  
  
  • ART 3100 - Art Criticism


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

    Art History. The course is a study of the development of modern art criticism. The course begins by examining traditional art criticism and then concentrates on contemporary art and criticism, including Clement Greenberg in the 1940s and concluding with Postmodern criticism of the 1980s and 1990s. ARTS, IDIS

    Prerequisite(s): One Art History course or MUSC 2000 .
  
  • ART 3150 - Modern Art


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years.

    This course focuses on the development of modern art from 1890 to 1960 in Europe and the United States, from Post Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism. We will investigate both the formal innovations of the period, and sociopolitical context and aesthetic theories that shaped these innovations. AOM, ART, GDA

  
  • ART 3200 - Advanced Open-Media Studio Art


    3 cr. 4.5 hr. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    Studio Art. Students will develop their personal artistic vision at an advanced level in drawing, painting, or sculpture with emphasis on the expressive potential of visual art. Intermediate level experience in at least one medium is required, but students will be encouraged to explore the connection between the different artistic media as well. The course may be repeated once for credit. ART

    Prerequisite(s): ART 2250  or   or   
  
  • ART 3300 - History of Architecture


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

    Art History. This course presents a condensed survey of architectural history from ancient art to 1715. Periods studied include Greek, Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Non-Western architecture includes the culture of Japan, India, and Islam. AOM, ART, ARTS, GDA

  
  • ART 3500 - History of Modern Architecture


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

    Art History. This course covers architecture from the Neoclassical period to the present day. Topics may include: Neoclassicism, early American architecture from Colonial through Georgian and Federal styles, Gothic revival, the Arts and Crafts movement, the Chicago School, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, International Style, Expressionism, Postmodernism, sustainability and green architecture, urbanism, landscape design and more. L, IDIS, ART, AOM, GDA

  
  • ART 3700 - Women, Art, and Society


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every two years. Also offered evenings.

    Art History. This course introduces the student to the place and roles of women in the world of visual and fine arts from the Middle Ages to the present. AOM, ART, ARTS

  
  • ART 4901 - Independent Study in Art


    1 cr. 1 hr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.

  
  • ART 4902 - Independent Study in Art


    2 cr. 2 hr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.

  
  • ART 4903 - Independent Study in Art


    3 cr. 3 hr.

    The independent study is for selected students who have approval of both the department head and their advising Instructor.

  
  • ART 4950 - Museum Internship


    3 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered by arrangement.

    In conjunction with Fitchburg State University, the Fitchburg Art Museum offers a multifaceted learning experience coupled with practical application conducted in the Fitchburg Art Museum and in elementary school classrooms of Fitchburg and surrounding towns. Student Instructors are trained to give instructional lectures about the ancient cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Mesa Verde, to school children both in the Museum galleries and in the classroom.


Biology

  
  • BIOL 1000 - Introduction to Life Science


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

    The course focuses on the scientific study of living organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms. Content will include understanding the function of cells, basic mechanisms of genetics and evolution, the chemicals required to support life and major classes of biological molecules. Lecture and laboratory work will also address experimental design, hypothesis development and how theories and established scientific laws are formed through scientific rigor. Lecture and Lab, 3 credits. SMT, LAB

  
  • BIOL 1010 - Introduction to Environmental Science


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered every fall semester

    The goal of Introduction to Environmental Science is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. This course is cross-listed with ENSC 1000 . SMT, LAB

  
  • BIOL 1050 - Life Science for Educators


    3 cr. 4 hr. Offered every semester

    This course covers a broad array of life science topics including cellular, organismal, and human biology. It is designed to provide a foundation in the life sciences for education majors (K-8). This course will include a laboratory component designed to develop the students’ understanding of the scientific method and provide some biology methodologies that will aid students in the development of lesson plans and classroom activities. An integrative approach will be taken for some aspects of this course to establish connections to other sciences (earth science, chemistry, engineering). SMT, LAB

    Prerequisite(s): This course is restricted to students in the Education Program or by permission of instructor.
  
  • BIOL 1200 - Anatomy and Physiology I


    4 cr. 5 hr. Day course offered in the Fall. Also offered evenings and summer.

    The course explores the structure and function of the human organism on the cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels. Cellular metabolism, histology, and the following systems: skeletal, muscular, and nervous (including the special senses) are examined. The laboratory emphasizes both physiology and the dissection of preserved mammalian specimens. (Not open to students who have completed BIOL 1700 - Human Biology  or BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology .) LAB

  
  • BIOL 1300 - Anatomy and Physiology II


    4 cr. 5 hr. Day course offered in the Spring. Also offered evenings and summer.

    This course is a continuation of BIOL 1200 . The following systems are covered: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, and reproductive. (Not open to students who have completed BIOL 1700 - Human Biology  or BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology .) LAB

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200  
  
  • BIOL 1400 - General Botany


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered occasionally

    The course focuses on the biology of bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. The relationship of plant biology to agriculture and medicine is also discussed. The laboratory involves the study of live and preserved plant materials, simple physiological experiments, and a plant growth project. The class is not open to majors or minors in Biology. SMT, LAB

  
  • BIOL 1500 - Seminar in Modern Biology


    1 cr. 1 hr. Day course offered occasionally

    The seminar evolves around the discussion of current topics in basic and applied biological research based on readings of original scientific reports. Each student is expected to prepare one brief presentation on a topic of their choice.

  
  • BIOL 1600 - Introductory Research


    1 - 2 cr. 3 - 6 hr. Offered as needed.

    This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in scientific research. Participants work under the supervision of faculty to contribute to the lab’s current, ongoing research projects. This course may be repeated once but only 2 credits can be earned in total. Restricted to Biology majors or by permission of the instructor.  Graded on a S/U scale. This course is cross-listed with CHEM 1600 .

  
  • BIOL 1650 - Nutrition


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered every semester as an on-line course

    The course involves an examination of nutrients in foods and their metabolic role in normal nutrition. Emphasis is on energy sources and utilization, vitamins and minerals, nutritional requirements in relation to the changing demands of life, and the effect of food handling and processing on the nutrient content of food. Course material is facilitated by lectures, discussions, and personal nutrition projects. This course is cross-listed with SCED 2000 . SMT.

  
  • BIOL 1700 - Human Biology


    3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered occasionally

    Students learn the anatomy and physiology of the cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems of the human organism as well as their functional inter-relationships, relevant bioethics issues will be presented. (The class is not open to students who have completed BIOL 1200 , BIOL 1300 . Unless permission of instructor is granted.)

  
  • BIOL 1750 - Decoding Your Genome


    Day course offered occasionally. Also offered evenings.

    Genetic information plays an ever-increasing role in our society especially as it applies to health related issues. This course is designed to introduce basic genetic concepts as they apply to humans. Topics will include classical, molecular and population genetics and will include a consideration of social and ethical issues. Laboratories are designed to introduce students to basic scientific techniques while emphasizing problem solving and data analysis. This course is not open to majors or minors in Biology. SMT, LAB

  
  • BIOL 1800 - General Biology I


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered in the fall and spring. Also offered in the Summer.

    The course examines principles of molecular, cellular, and genetics biology. Topics include biomolecules, cell structure and function, and information processing and inheritance. The laboratory emphasizes the scientific method through experimentation. Biology majors must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher in this course in order to continue in the major. SMT, LAB

    Prerequisite(s):  

    i. ‘passing’ score on Advanced Algebra and Functions Accuplacer placement exam, OR

    ii. Concurrent enrollment in MATH 0500  [Algebraic Prep.]

    iii. Successful completion of MATH 0500   [Algebraic Prep.]

  
  • BIOL 1860 - Introduction to Education 5-12


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

    This course introduces theoretical and practical knowledge of teaching and learning in the middle and secondary school. Teacher candidates consider the development of pre-adolescents and adolescents; explore the role of the teacher; learn ways to manage the classroom environment; learn instructional strategies to motivate and engage students with diverse learning styles, interests, and levels of readiness; and examine the use of assessment to measure student growth, and to plan, evaluate and strengthen instruction. A review of legal and ethical principles reinforces the importance of integrating culturally and linguistically diverse students and those with disabilities; collaborating with caregivers; and professional attitudes and behaviors in general. A pre-practicum of 25 hours is required.  This course is cross-listed with  CHEM 1860 , ENGT 1860 HIST 1860 ,  MATH 1860  and SCI 1860  

    Prerequisite(s): GPA of 2.5
  
  • BIOL 1900 - General Biology II


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered in the Spring. Also offered in the Summer.

    The class is a continuation of BIOL 1800 , so students are advised to take that course first. The course examines principles of organismal biology. Topics include evolution, diversity, plant biology, and animal biology. The laboratory emphasizes hypothesis formation and data analysis. SMT, LAB

    Prerequisite(s):  

    i. ‘passing’ score on Advanced Algebra and Functions Accuplacer placement exam, OR

    ii. Concurrent enrollment in MATH 0500   [Algebraic Prep.]

    iii. Successful completion of MATH 0500   [Algebraic Prep.]

  
  • BIOL 2004 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I


    4 cr. 6 hr. Every fall semester

    The course provides a detailed examination of the structure and function of the human body on the cellular, tissue, and organ system levels. Cellular metabolism, histology, and the skeletal, muscular, nervous systems and special senses are examined. Laboratory complements lecture topics. Credit is granted only for Biology 2004/2005 or Biology 1200/1300 or BIOL 2420.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1800 , BIOL 1900 , CHEM 1300  
  
  • BIOL 2005 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II


    4 cr. 6 hr. Every spring semester

    This course is a continuation of BIOL 2004 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I) . The following systems are covered: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, and reproductive. The laboratory complements lecture topics. Credit is granted only for Biology 2004/2005 or Biology 1200/1300 or BIOL 2420.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1800 , BIOL 1900 , CHEM 1300 , BIOL 2004  

  
  • BIOL 2100 - Flora of New England


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered in the Summer only

    This course is an introduction to the vegetation of New England. The emphasis of this course is to become familiar with the flora and the factors that influence the different ecological associations found in New England. Laboratory is devoted to the techniques of plant identification with emphasis on the terminology and use of botanical keys. Field trips are taken for collecting representative elements of the local flora and preparation of a herbarium. Q, SMT, LAB

  
  • BIOL 2150 - General Microbiology


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered every year.

    The structure, nutrition, and growth of microorganisms are examined. Major groups that are covered include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and parasites. Genetics, metabolism, ecology and microbiomes are covered. Immunology and immunological techniques are studied. Laboratory work includes aseptic technique, isolation and cultivation of microbes, staining techniques, microscopy and diagnostic testing.

    Prerequisite(s):   BIOL 1800 , or BIOL 1200  and BIOL 1300    
  
  • BIOL 2300 - Ecology


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered every fall semester

    The course studies the dynamic relationships between organisms and their environment. Field and laboratory work emphasize problem identification, formulation of hypotheses, data collection, and analysis and interpretation of results in terms of their biological implications.

    Prerequisite(s): A grade of at least 1.7 in BIOL 1800  or in BIOL 1900 , or equivalent (2.0 for Biology majors)
  
  • BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology


    3 cr. 3 hr.

    This course is an intensive study of the functional operation of human organ systems and the interrelationships of these systems. Q

    Prerequisite(s): Not open to students who have taken BIOL 1200 /BIOL 1300  
  
  • BIOL 2500 - Histology


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered occasionally

    The course starts with a systematic survey of basic animal cell and tissue types, followed by in-depth microscopic study of the major organ systems. Practical work includes histological microtechnique on normal and pathological specimens.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1800  or BIOL 2420  or BIOL 1200 , or BIOL 1300 .
  
  • BIOL 2600 - Animal Behavior


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    This course focuses on classical and current research exploring the mechanisms and evolution of Animal Behavior. Course topics include the genetic, ecological, evolutionary, cellular and physiological processes that shape animal behavior. Particular emphasis is placed on reviewing primary literature to understand the evolution of adaptive behaviors for communication, predator avoidance, foraging, habitat selection, courtship, mating, parental care, kin recognition, and cooperations. Weekly laboratory sessions will provide students with the opportunity to conduct independent experiments on animal behavior using a variety of model systems.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1900  or equivalent.
  
  • BIOL 2650 - Neuroscience


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

    This course explores the fundamental relationships between the nervous system, behavior and cognition, giving particular emphasis to the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie behavioral and cognitive activity, as viewed from a comparative, evolutionary perspective. Starting with a thorough grounding in basic molecular, cellular and systems neurobiology, students will examine the neurobiological correlates of sensation and perception, movement, language and communication, sexual dimorphism, and learning and memory, in a variety of model systems, ranging from Hydra to humans. Required for majors with a concentration in Neuroscience and Behavior.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1800  or BIOL 1900  plus PSY 1100  or PSY 3050 .
  
  • BIOL 2700 - Medical Microbiology


    4 cr. 5 hr. Day course offered in the Spring.

    The course serves as an introduction to the biology of major groups of micro-organisms including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. Emphasis is placed on their relationship to man as agents of infectious diseases. In the laboratory principles and practices of aseptic techniques and diagnostic identification and culture of disease entities are explored. 3 hrs. lecture, 2 hrs. lab per week plus some additional time.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1300  and CHEM 1200  
  
  • BIOL 2800 - Genetics


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered each semester.

    Basic principles of biological information processing are examined including Mendelian inheritance, sex determination, chromosome cytogenetics, linkage, recombination and genetic mapping, mutagenesis, molecular genetics and gene-enzyme relationships, and quantitative inheritance. Laboratory work includes study of mutational effects and recombinational analysis in Drosophila, bacteria, and viruses.

    Prerequisite(s): A grade of at least 1.7 in BIOL 1800 , or equivalent (2.0 for Biology majors)
  
  • BIOL 3000 - Parasitology


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

    The morphology and diagnostic identification of representative groups of parasitic protozoa, helminths, and arthropods are studied along with their functional life cycles and pathogenic relationships to animal and human hosts. Emphasis is placed on epidemiology, pathology, control, and treatment of important parasitic diseases.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1900 .
  
  • BIOL 3010 - Invertebrate Biology


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered every other year.

    Invertebrate biology is an introduction to the biology, evolution, and ecology of the major invertebrate phyla; including how and where they live and how they intersect our lives. Lectures will be complemented with laboratory investigations of invertebrate morphology and physiology. Emphasis will be placed on terrestrial, freshwater, and marine invertebrates of New England.

    Prerequisite(s): A grade of at least 1.7 in BIOL 1900  and BIOL 2300  
  
  • BIOL 3015 - Methods of Teaching Biology I


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every spring semester.

    This is the first of two methods courses and will focus on content pedagogy of science (including general science, biology, and chemistry) at the middle and secondary level. Teacher candidates design and implement standards-based instruction and assessments that are aligned with best practices for teaching and learning in science. Special emphasis is placed on employing a variety of instructional practices and classroom management strategies that provide learning opportunities for diverse student populations and enhance multicultural pluralism. Disciplinary literacy is particularly emphasized to enhance reading, writing, speaking, and listening in science. A pre-practicum of 25 hours is required.
      CHEM 3015   and SCI 3015  

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1800 , BIOL 1860 , SPED 3800 , EDUC 2011 , EDUC 2012 , and CHEM 1000   or CHEM 1300 .
  
  • BIOL 3030 - Biochemistry I


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

    This course is designed for those who need a foundational course in biochemistry as part of their chemistry curriculum or pre-medical requirements. It is also designed to satisfy the biochemistry pre-requisite for other health professions, such as dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and physician assistant. The coverage may include topics, such as water, fundamental building blocks (amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, lipids and nucleotides), biopolymers, membranes, enzymes, metabolic pathways and regulation, biosynthetic pathways, biological oxidations and reductions, and bioenergetics. This course is cross-listed with CHEM 3030  

    Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of 1.7 in BIOL 1800  and CHEM 2000  
  
  • BIOL 3040 - Biochemistry II


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other year

    This course builds upon Biochemistry I.  Topics include enzyme mechanisms, pathways and regulation of carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, and nucleic acid biosynthesis and catabolism, photosynthesis, DNA replication, transcription and translation. CHEM 3040  

    Prerequisite(s): CHEM 3030  / BIOL 3030  
  
  • BIOL 3060 - Biochemical Techniques


    3 cr. 5 hr. Offered every other year

    This course introduces students to the most commonly used techniques in a biochemistry lab. Students will have hands-on experience with techniques such as buffer preparation, spectrophotometry, recombinant protein expression, protein purification, column chromatography, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, affinity purification, enzyme activity assays. This course is cross-listed with CHEM 3060 .

    Prerequisite(s): CHEM 3030  /BIOL 3030  with a 1.7 or higher, OR CHEM 2000  and BIOL 2800  each with a 1.7 or higher.
  
  • BIOL 3100 - Conservation Biology


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

    Conservation Biology studies biological diversity and strategies to protect it. Major themes include 1) the patterns, ecology and evolution of biodiversity; 2) contemporary threats to diversity; 3) approaches to preserve diversity. Within those themes we explore case studies and assess conservation strategies.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2300  
  
  • BIOL 3102 - Marine Biology


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

    Biology and ecology of marine life are covered in this course. Major topics include the marine environment, biology of marine invertebrates and vertebrates, intertidal ecology, fisheries, and marine conservation issues.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2300  
  
  • BIOL 3250 - Cell Biology


    4 cr. 6 hr. Day course offered in the Fall.

    Cellular and subcellular structure and function are covered in this course. Major topics include membranes, cell organelles, cytoskeleton, respiration and photosynthesis, signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and the cell cycle. Laboratory experiments focus on current cell biology methodologies and instrumentation, and include spectrophotometry, cell fractionation, microscopy, cytochemistry, electrophoresis and cell culture technologies.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2800 
 

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