Mar 28, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

English Studies

  
  • ENGL 3510 - Fiction Writing


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

    This course encourages students to explore the writing processes in a supportive workshop. Students will draft, revise, and complete two short fictional pieces, either short stories or segments of longer works. Writers will receive guidance in refining their use of fictional techniques and will learn to develop voice and theme to create effective short stories and novels. Writing partners and peer editing groups will work together to give and receive useful and compassionate editorial feedback.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200  
  
  • ENGL 3520 - Poetry Writing


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    In this workshop course challenges students to grapple with poetic technique and, in the process, discover their own voices as poets. Students immerse themselves in the traditions of formal verse and write their own poems in a variety of closed and open forms. Students will revise and assemble a selection of their best work for a final portfolio, and contribute to the production of the University’s literary journal, Route 2.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200  
  
  • ENGL 3540 - Writing Film Criticism


    3 cr. 3 hr. Every fourth semester. FIRST OFFERING SPRING 2015

    In this course students will become more effective film critics by becoming more knowledgeable and literate as film viewers. Film criticism encompasses several different forms of journalistic writing, including the movie review, essay, blog entry, and theoretical article and book. Students will read and respond to the work of pioneering film critics, particularly Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert, as well as view challenging films that push the limits of mainstream and art cinemas and illustrate the difficulties inherent in judging any movie based on personal taste alone. This course is writing intensive: students will write six polished film reviews and one longer analytical paper over the course of the semester. There will also be reading journals and frequent peer review workshops in class, as students will respond to each other’s reviews in writing and in discussion. Our consistent focus will be on film criticism as part of a larger conversation about art and media, rather than an isolated act of self-expression. ART

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200  
  
  • ENGL 3551 - Mise en scène


    3 cr. 3 hr Offered every fourth semester.

    This course addresses some broad intellectual problems and themes in play analysis and theater practice. This content represents an effort to acquaint students with the best plays written and produced during specific historic periods, and to engage them in the analysis, criticism, dramaturgy, staging, and performing of some of these plays. ART

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3620 - The Classical Tradition in Western Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    An examination of some of the most influential texts of classical antiquity and the subsequent literary tradition that arose in the West. Students will read epics, lyric poetry and drama, which may include selections from Homer, Virgil, Ovid, Horace, Euripedes, Aeschylus, Terence, Seneca, and contemporary works influenced by the classics. ART, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3700 - African Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every third semester.

    This course explores a wide range of fiction and literary practices of some leading African writers. The course pays close attention to particular oral, literary and visual strategies used by African writers to create multiple versions of “life” in Africa during pre-colonial, colonial and contemporary times. It also raises and engages a wide range of crucial questions and ideas that pertain to African cultures, politics and societies. ART, GDAN, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3710 - South Asian Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every third semester.

    This course looks at some examples of Anglophone literature that emerged in South Asian countries after their independence from colonial rule. We will examine the literature of these countries to evaluate their adaptation and resistance to Western culture. The first part of the course deals with the theme of “Empire Writes Back,” where colonial representations of the native and the native’s self-representation are examined side by side. The second part of the course delves into other complex issues within the formation of postcolonial identity, such as questions of gender, race, and class within postcolonial discourse. ART, GDAN, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3720 - Caribbean Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every third semester.

    In this course, students read and discuss fiction by writers from different parts of the Caribbean to gain insight and broaden their understanding of fiction produced in these Island nations. The course’s focus is on the relationships between culture and society as this fiction is examined against specific historical, cultural and political backgrounds. It also inquires into values associated with questions of identity, family, ideology, etc. ART, GDAN, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3730 - Comics and the Graphic Novel as Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course will examine illustrated narrative and sequential storytelling as literature. We will examine the changing role of illustration in books, newspapers and popular magazines from the 20th century to the present. We will consider in particular the comic strip, comic books and graphic novels and their uniqueness as literary forms. We will study pioneering writers and artists who have brought the graphic novel form to mainstream cultural acceptance both in America and, as manga, in Japan and China. The course will include such figures as Will Eisner, Katsushika Hokusai, Frank Miller and Wei Dong Chen. ARTS, LIT, GDAN

    Prerequisite(s):  .
  
  • ENGL 3830 - College Newspaper Production


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every semester.

    Guided practical experience in content creation, design and production of a college newspaper. Students fill staff positions as reporters, copy editors, photographers, graphic designers, and section editors.  Class environment mirrors that of a professional newsroom.  Effectiveness is gauged by detailed weekly analysis of the ongoing journalistic process and product.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2030   or ENGL 2800  or COMM 2800  
  
  • ENGL 3840 - On-line Magazine


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course provides a close study of mainstream and alternative online magazines, uncovering techniques and strategies that students use to produce an online publication. Students participate in content creation and development, editing, information design, online production, social media engagement, and website analytics.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2030  , OR ENGL ENGL 2800  , OR ENGL 3540  , OR ENGL 3830  , OR ENGL 3870  , OR ENGL 3890  , OR COMM 2800  , OR COMM 3870  
  
  • ENGL 3860 - Writing for Organizations


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

    This course looks into the distinct rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, voice, etc.) of writing for organizations such as corporations and non-profits, both large and small, publicly traded and closely held. Coursework will extend beyond producing documents such as annual reports and codes of conduct, to also develop and practice literacies and skills that are flexible enough to be applied to a variety of situations and prepare students not only to succeed, but also to innovate. (Credit is not given for both ENGL 3860 and COMM 3860 )

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200   
  
  • ENGL 3870 - Feature and Magazine Writing


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This writing studio course covers all aspects of developing, writing, and crafting articles that demonstrate effective use of slant, theme, voice, and viewpoint. Students practice interview and research techniques and write in several major sub-genres of magazine features such as profiles, Q&A’s, op-eds, and service pieces. (Credit is not given for both ENGL 3870 and COMM 3870 )

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200  
  
  • ENGL 3880 - Folklore in America


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    Students will be introduced to the academic discipline of folklore and to a range of cultural traditions found in the United States. Folklore includes traditions that are informally propagated, adaptable to individual innovation and common to cultures around the world. Emphasis will be on verbal forms, i.e. oral traditions studied through textual analysis as a form of literature. ART, GDA, LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200 .
  
  • ENGL 3890 - Creative Nonfiction Writing


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

    This course is an upper-level writing workshop that investigates the linguistic, social, persuasive and literary dimensions of creative nonfiction. Students read and gain experience writing its various sub-genres, which may include memoir, cultural criticism and literary analysis.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  or HON 1200  
  
  • ENGL 4000 - Major Authors


    3 cr. 3 hr Offered every semester.

    This rotating course explores in depth the works and career of a major author who has made significant contributions to literary tradition. Students gain a unique understanding of literature by tracing out a variety of themes and genres within the author’s major and minor works. Through close attention to a single author students also learn first-hand how biographical, historical and literary contexts come to shape artistic output; the course also includes research and readings in literary criticism on the author. Course may be repeated for credit up to three times (for a total of four).

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor
  
  • ENGL 4010 - Chaucer and His World


    3 cr. 3 hr. May be offered less than once every two years.

    This course focuses primarily on Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales as well as his Troilus and Criseyde and other more minor texts in context of the history and culture of fourteenth-century England. Students learn to read Chaucer’s Middle English and recite it. The Tales are studied both in the framework of the interrelated stories told by the pilgrim characters on the way to Cantebury and individually as they represent various medieval genres and issues of concern and interest to audiences both contemporary and modern. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4012 - Practicum Seminar (5-12)


    3 cr. 3 hr. Spring semesters concurrent with the Practicum.

    This course is taken in conjunction with the practicum. Using peer collaboration and self-reflection, teacher candidates explore strategies to improve instruction, promote positive student behavior and social-emotional growth, and provide leadership at a school-wide level. The course also serves as a culminating experience in which candidates produce a Teacher Work Sample (TWS), a multi-step performance assessment that models the planning-teaching-assessment cycle of the professional educator, and that provides evidence of the candidate’s readiness to teach. BIOL 4012 , CHEM 4012 , HIST 4012 , MATH 4012 , ENGT 4012 , SCI 4012  

    Prerequisite(s): Stage II Review.
  
  • ENGL 4020 - Shakespeare’s Drama: Text and Performance


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

    This course studies several of Shakespeare’s dramas with a focus on the thematic issues raised by the plays in the texts and in performance. Examination involves not only reading and critical interpretation, but also attention to performance traditions and recent interpretations/adaptation of these works on stage and screen. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4030 - Interpreting Shakespeare’s Work


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

    This course will study selected poems and plays from Shakespeare’s canon, examining particularly his treatment of power, love, gender, and the other. We will consider: Who and what is Shakespeare? Why is Shakespeare considered the world’s greatest author? To what purposes have Shakespeare and Shakespeare’s texts been put in literary, historical, ideological, education and cultural terms? How do contemporary readings, films, and production of Shakespeare (re) present Shakespeare? LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4040 - Major English Writers of the 17th Century


    3 cr. 3 hr.

    This course will survey one or more genres, for example, the dramas of Jonson, Webster, Behn and Congreve; the poetry of Milton, Donne, Herbert, Herrick, Marvell, Dryden, Wroth and Phillips; and prose work by Browne, Fell, Astell and Pepys. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4050 - The Novel in the 18th Century


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course introduces students to some of the rich critical and theoretical traditions surrounding one of the truly great modern literary forms, the novel. Our discussions will move between crucial works of English literatures and influential theoretical texts as we explore the social conditions that led to the emergence of the novel. We will also discuss issues of class, gender, and imperial power in major works of Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Burney, Johnson, Austen, Edgeworth, Heywood, and others. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4060 - Early Modern Women Writers


    3 cr. 3 hr Offered every fourth semester.

    This course examines Early Modern British women writer’s‚ works in relation to gender study, proto-feminism, society, literacy, creativity and female authorship and authority. Key issues covered include the evaluation of women’s writing in relation to canonicity, the integration of women’s voices into literary history, and consideration of the genres women writers used relative to their social roles. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4080 - British Romanticism


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course seeks to provide coverage of the “Big Six” British Romantic poets - Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, and Keats - while challenging the notion that these few poets define what we think of a “Romantic Poetry.” Through careful readings of women writers and less well-known male writers, the course explores a full range of historical, intellectual, and social events from 1789-1834. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4090 - The 19th-Century English Novel


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    Significant novels demonstrating the changing cultural milieu and varying approaches of the genre during this period are examined and discussed. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4100 - Victorian Literature


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This class focuses on the development of literature in the face of changes in science and industrialization in the 19th-century British Empire. Authors studied included Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Barrett-Browning, and those who comprise “The Golden Age” of British Children’s Literature. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4115 - British Modernism


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course examines the major texts and trends of what is now called High Modernism. Authors studied include Ford Madox Ford, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and T.S. Eliot. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4150 - The American Comic Tradition


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    The course will stress the development of what is a conspicuously American type of humor. The course begins with the quintessential American humorist and satirist, Mark Twain and then explores a range of comic genres and themes, from black comedy to feminist humor, that continue to enliven our national popular culture in many media. This course explores the writings and career of Mark Twain, and humorists who share the Twain legacy, including American film comedy and stand-up comics. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4200 - The Romantic Movement in U.S. Literature 1810–1860


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    This course begins by considering similarities between British and American Romanticism, then it explores the movement’s orientations towards nature, the supernatural, race, gender, and the individual’s role in society. Key authors for this course include Emerson, Thoreau, Poe, Melville, Dickinson, and Whitman. While the focus will be on careful readings of selected texts, we occasionally consider how principles of Romanticism appear in the arts of painting, music, and dance. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4230 - American Novel Since World War II


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    The class provides a close analysis of seven or eight major novels. LIT

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4400 - Seminar


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

    The seminar examines topics for literary analysis and research as selected by the instructor. The seminar is required for English majors taking the literature track. Junior/Senior standing required. Others are admitted by permission of instructor. Course may be repeated for credit up to three times (for a total of four).

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.ENGL 1200  
  
  • ENGL 4500 - Literary Theory


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    Theories about literature are examined, and their practical application in the classroom and in one’s own reading is discussed. Approaches to different forms of literature as well as a survey of changing historical perspectives are also explored.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructorr.
  
  • ENGL 4600 - Literary Cult of the Virgin Queen


    3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every fourth semester.

    Representations of England’s controversial “Virgin Queen” (1558-1603) were central to the nation’s literary, artistic, and cultural life. This course examines key texts about Elizabeth I by contemporary writers and courtiers like Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Walter Ralegh and William Shakespeare, as well as literature by lesser-known male and female writers of the 16th and 17th centuries.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1200  and satisfactory completion of one 3 cr. literature course at the 2000 or 3000 level, or permission of instructor.
  
  • ENGL 4700 - Teaching Reading and Writing Across the Content Area


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

    This course focuses on theoretical and practical knowledge of teaching reading and writing across content areas in secondary schools. Teacher candidates study and reflect on diverse approaches to teaching content, and the use of assessment to measure student growth with the goal of improving instruction and learning. Special emphasis is placed on developing competencies through collaboration with peers and self-reflective practice. A pre-practicum of 25 hours is required.

    Prerequisite(s): GPA of 2.5 and Stage I Review.
  
  • ENGL 4850 - Methods in Teaching English (5-12) II


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

    This is the second part of the methods course that focuses on English studies pedagogy at the middle and secondary level. Teacher candidates continue designing and implementing standards-based instruction and assessments that are aligned with best practices for teaching and learning in English Studies. 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. Moreover, teacher candidates will gain knowledge in using technology to facilitate teaching and learning appropriate for the needs of diverse learners and across varied subject areas. This course also addresses select English Studies subject matter knowledge (5-12) required by ESE. A pre-practicum of 25 hours is required.

    Prerequisite(s): ENGL 3082  
  
  • ENGL 4860 - English Licensure Practicum I (5-12)


    4.5 cr. Offered every spring semester.

    Teacher candidates complete a practicum in an educational setting under the direction of a supervising practitioner who is certified in the area of licensure sought by the candidate, and under the guidance of a program supervisor. The purpose of the practicum is to ensure candidates are ready to teach and make impact with students on day one in a classroom. Targeted and specific feedback on observations of candidates, measurement of candidate impact on student learning, student feedback and additional evidence will be used to demonstrate and improve candidate performance on Professional Standards for Teachers indicators and the Candidate Performance of Assessment.  This course is taken in conjunction with ENGL 4012 .

    This course may only be taken for S/U grade (S=Satisfactory, U=Unsatisfactory).

    Prerequisite(s): Stage II Review.

  
  • ENGL 4870 - English Licensure Practicum II (5-12)


    4.5 cr. Offered every spring semester.

    Teacher candidates complete a practicum in an educational setting under the direction of a supervising practitioner who is certified in the area of licensure sought by the candidate, and under the guidance of a program supervisor. The purpose of the practicum is to ensure candidates are ready to teach and make impact with students on day one in a classroom. Targeted and specific feedback on observations of candidates, measurement of candidate impact on student learning, student feedback and additional evidence will be used to demonstrate and improve candidate performance on Professional Standards for Teachers indicators and the Candidate Performance of Assessment.  This course is taken in conjunction with ENGL 4012 .

    This course may only be taken for S/U grade (S=Satisfactory, U=Unsatisfactory).

    Prerequisite(s): Stage II Review.

  
  • ENGL 4903 - Independent Study


    3 cr. Day course offered every semester.

    The Independent Study is for English Studies majors excelling in scholarship and can be taken upon approval of both department chair and advising instructor. Course of study, meetings, and credit are arranged with advisor.

  
  • ENGL 4940 - Internship


    3 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The Internship provides an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience for university credit by working in business or industry. Students select field placement where they can use their abilities as communicators, learn new skills, and sample a potential job market. The Internship is a recommended component of the English Department Writing Track. Department approval and junior/senior standing required.

  
  • ENGL 4950 - Internship


    6 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The Internship provides an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience for university credit by working in business or industry. Students select field placement where they can use their abilities as communicators, learn new skills, and sample a potential job market. The Internship is a recommended component of the English Department Writing Track. Department approval and junior/senior standing required.

  
  • ENGL 4960 - Internship


    9 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The Internship provides an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience for university credit by working in business or industry. Students select field placement where they can use their abilities as communicators, learn new skills, and sample a potential job market. The Internship is a recommended component of the English Studies Department Professional Writing Concentration, although all majors are encouraged to pursue this option. Department approval and junior/senior standing required.

  
  • ENGL 4970 - Internship


    12 cr. Day course offered every Semester.

    The Internship provides an opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience for university credit by working in business or industry. Students select field placement where they can use their abilities as communicators, learn new skills, and sample a potential job market. The Internship is a recommended component of the English Department Writing Track. Department approval and junior/senior standing required.

  
  • ENGL 4999 - English Capstone


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

    This course is the culminating learning experience for all English majors, in the four different but equal tracks; namely, literature, education, professional writing, and theater. Students taking this course will engage with questions such as: what does it mean to be an English Major? What do theater, secondary, education, literature, and professional writing students have in common as they look ahead to their professional lives post graduation? In this capstone course, through various classroom activities and requirements that include a senior portfolio, students will explore their intellectual commonalities and probe the significance of what it means to be a student of the liberal arts.

    Prerequisite(s): 30 credit hours completed within the major.

Environmental Science

  
  • ENSC 1000 - Introduction to Environmental Science


    3 cr. 4 hr. Day course offered in the Fall. Also offered evenings.

    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. LAB, SMT

  
  • ENSC 2000 - Field Techniques in Environmental Science I


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

    This course will provide an introduction to the mode of thinking as well as the scientific techniques to performing data gathering appropriate for work in the field. As such it is appropriate for both environmental science and biology students. The focus of the field techniques will be ecological/biological. This course is independent of ENSC 2100 - Field Techniques in Environmental Science II .

  
  • ENSC 2100 - Field Techniques in Environmental Science II


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

    This course will provide an introduction to the mode of thinking as well as the scientific techniques to performing data gathering appropriate for work in the field. As such it is appropriate for both environmental science and biology students. The focus of the field techniques will be physical/biological. This course is independent of ENSC 2000 - Field Techniques in Environmental Science I .

  
  • ENSC 3000 - Elements of Physical Chemistry


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

    This is an introductory course in physical chemistry covering: thermodynamics, mass-transport, solutions, and other topics. It is designed to provide students with the ability to think critically and utilize physical parameters in chemical systems, to perform numerical calculations involving these systems and to use this understanding when viewing environmental problems and risks.

  
  • 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.


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. (EXSS majors 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. Day course offered in the Fall.

    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. (EXSS majors only)

  
  • 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 majors only.

  
  • 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 breaststroke, 200 yards mixture of front crawl or breaststroke. Swim 20 yards using the front crawl or breaststroke 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 2023 - Introduction to Sports Medicine


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

    This course will cover topics in injury prevention, physical training and conditioning techniques and sports injury, trauma and illness. In addition, an introduction in first aid and athletic taping, bracing and use of protective equipment used to manage and prevent athletic related injuries. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1300  and EXSS 2050  

  
  • EXSS 2050 - Functional Anatomy


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

    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. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and 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. HAF, SMT

  
  • EXSS 2065 - Introduction to Research in Exercise Science


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

    This course involves the study of research methods and statistics commonly used in the Exercise Science discipline. Students will study basic statistical analyses; the tenets of the scientific method; threats to reliability and validity; how to formulate a research question and develop a testable hypothesis; and how to critically evaluate published research. Additionally, students will develop a proposal for an independent research project. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and BIOL 1200 .
  
  • EXSS 2071 - Exercise Physiology I


    4 cr. 5 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. For EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011 , BIOL 1200   Prerequisite BIOL 1300  
  
  • EXSS 2072 - Exercise Physiology II


    4 cr. 5 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. EXSS majors only.

    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.

    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. For EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): 24 credits completed; a grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and BIOL 1200  . Also BIOL 1300  and EXSS 2071 .
  
  • 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 majors and Environmental and Public Health majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in the following courses: EXSS 1011  or EXSS 1000  and BIOL 1200 , or permission of instructor.
  
  • 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 majors only.

  
  • 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 3000 - Applied Nutrition


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

    Applied Nutrition is an introduction to how the body uses food and the changing energy requirements across a person’s lifespan.  The key nutrients found in food sources and their recommended intakes will be covered along with energy balance and body weight regulation. Students will evaluate their own nutritional intake and energy expenditure as well as for a fictitious person. Students will determine if they are consuming the appropriate nutrients for their age and activity level. Also addressed will be current issues in food safety. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Prerequisites: Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and BIOL 1200 .  Also, BIOL 1300  and EXSS 2071  
  
  • EXSS 3001 - Assessments for Strength and Conditioning


    1 cr. 1 hr. Day course offered once a year

    The course will cover pertinent fitness assessments for competitive and elite athletes in the field of strength and conditioning. Assessments will cover measurements of muscular fitness, power, agility, coordination, body composition and range of motion. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite/Concurrent: EXSS 3120  
  
  • EXSS 3011 - Practicum in Strength and Conditioning Ia


    1 cr. 1 hr. Day course offered every semester

    The Practicum course is designed to expose students to the profession of strength and conditioning  and to provide experience through the observation of specific protocols of exercise and fitness assessment. Students will be engaged in strength and conditioning  activities within the Fitchburg State University Strength and Conditioning facility. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite/Concurrent: EXSS 3120  
  
  • EXSS 3012 - Practicum in Strength and Conditioning Ib


    1 cr. 1 hr. Day course offered every semester

    The Practicum course is designed to expose students to the profession of strength and conditioning  and to provide experience through the observation of specific protocols of exercise and fitness assessment.  Students will be engaged in strength and conditioning  activities within the Fitchburg State University Strength and Conditioning facility. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite/Concurrent: EXSS 3120  
  
  • EXSS 3020 - Biomechanics of Sport


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

    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. EXSS majors only.

    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

    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.

    Corequisite: EXSS 2072   Pre/Concurrent: EXSS 2071  
  
  • 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. 5 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, 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. EXSS majors only.

    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. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 2072 , EXSS 3450 .
  
  • EXSS 4000 - Fundamentals of Coaching


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

    An analysis of the principles and practices of coaching in various sports is presented for the prospective teacher/coach. (EXSS majors only)

  
  • EXSS 4002 - Practicum in Strength and Conditioning IIa


    2 cr. 2 hr. Day course offered every semester

    The Practicum course is designed to expose students to the profession of strength and conditioning and to provide experience in supervising, coaching, and instructing athletes on specific protocols of exercise and fitness assessment. Students will be engaged in strength and conditioning activities within the Fitchburg State University Strength and Conditioning facility. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 3011 , EXSS 3012  
  
  • EXSS 4003 - Practicum in Strength and Conditioning IIb


    2 cr. 2 hr. Day course offered every semester

    The Practicum course is designed to expose students to the profession of strength and conditioning and to provide experience in supervising, coaching, and instructing athletes on specific protocols of exercise and fitness assessment.  Students will be engaged in strength and conditioning  activities within the Fitchburg State University Strength and Conditioning facility. (EXSS majors only)

    Prerequisite(s): EXSS 3011 , EXSS 3012  
  
  • EXSS 4005 - Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement


    4 cr. 5 hr. Day course offered every semester.

    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. Students will also be presented with an overview of the study of motor learning & control associated with human movement. Selected motor learning & motor control theories and determinants of skill acquisition are covered. Topics include differences in motor control based on age, gender, pathology & skill level. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1200 , BIOL 1300  and EXSS 2050  
  
  • 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. This course may be offered less than once every two years.

    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. EXSS majors only.

    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. EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and BIOL 1200 . Junior or senior standing.
  
  • EXSS 4045 - Cardiovascular and Electrophysiology


    3 cr. 3 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. EXSS majors only.

    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 - Professional and Career Development


    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.  EXSS majors only.

    Prerequisite(s): Grade of 2.0 or higher in EXSS 1011  and BIOL 1200  and 60 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. Day course offered every semester

    Students gain 240 hours of field experience at an outside agency related either to the fitness industry, clinical physiology, or strength conditioning. 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): Current CPR certification, attendance at a professional conference, EXSS 3450 , senior standing, an EXSS GPA of 2.50 or greater, and approval of the Exercise and Sport Science department. EXSS 3600  and EXSS 4045  are also required for students in the Clinical Exercise Physiology track.
 

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