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The University of Southern Colorado was renamed to
Colorado State University-Pueblo on July 1, 2003

Catalog 2002 / 2003 Vol. XXXX 7/02 No. 2


 

Dr. Russell Meyer Dean

Academic Departments  Majors Minors
Art                                                Art (BA, BS) Art
  Chicano Studies
English/
Foreign  Languages
English (BA)
Foreign Languages
Spanish(BA)
French Spanish
English
Italian 
Professional
Writing
History/Political Science/ History (BA)
Political Science                  (BA, BS)
History 
Political Science International Studies
 Philosophy
Philosophy  Liberal Studies (BS)
Mass                                                 Mass Mass
Communications And Center For New Media                                  Communications
(BA, BS)
Communications 
Military Science
ROTC Program 
Military Science 
(US Army)
Music Music (BA) Music
Psychology                             Psychology
 (BA, BS)
Psychology
Sociology                                     Sociology
(BA, BS)
Sociology 
Anthropology                          Social Science Anthropology
Social Science                            (BA, BS) Social Science
Social Work      Social Work (BSW) Women’s Studies

Consortium Master Programs: 

Master of Social Work (Colorado State University) Social Work (MSW) 

The mission of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is to help students develop critical thinking skills, aesthetic awareness, and ethical perspectives, to provide them with the tools and expertise necessary to function as responsible citizens and professionals and to engage in intellectual and artistic pursuits. Faculty members are committed to quality teaching, theoretical and applied research, scholarship, and creativity, and to effective service to the university, the profession, and the region, and to the innovative use of technology in these endeavors. The college strives to be a community of learners, teachers, and scholars responsive to the challenges of a diverse society, a vulnerable environment, and an increasingly technological and interdependent world. 

ART DEPARTMENT 

Department Chair: Sonnema 
Faculty: Aviña, Dalton, R. Hansen, V. Hansen, Jensen, Johnson 

The art curriculum is designed to increase the student’s understanding of art and its relationship to society. The art major prepares the student to be a practicing artist, to enter graduate school for further professional education or to enter the job market in art-related careers. Students also may select art courses as a means of achieving a greater sense of personal creativity and accomplishment. Students, faculty, and invited professional artists display works in the USC Art Gallery. An active visiting artist program provides contact with successful regional and national professionals. 

The major in art leads to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS). A minor in art is also available. 

Department Goals 

The art major prepares students to be visually creative individuals with skills in studio processes, knowledgeable in art history, and with experience to enter art-related careers in the job market. 

Expected Student Outcomes 

General Requirements 

  • The art faculty firmly believes that a quality undergraduate art program must be built from the strong foundation of basic concepts and techniques provided by the required ART CORE courses. Art history, drawing and design combined with an introduction to the basic art processes, provide the necessary background of information and skills for individual artistic growth and maturity. A strong grounding in the fundamentals of art, as provided in the ART CORE, indicates the department’s insistence upon respect for and commitment to the academic discipline of art as a professional career.
     
  • Art majors must complete the required courses known as the ART CORE, except Art 410, before proceeding into the beginning courses. 
  • No grade lower than a C will count toward either an art major or minor. 
  • Students are required to take 30 hours of major courses in residency 

Specific Requirements for the Art Major 

ART CORE 

ART Courses Titles     Credits  
ART 110 Art Career Orientation  (First Semester) 1
ART 115   and  116 2D and 3D Design 6
ART 141    and  242 Drawing I & II 6
ART 211   and  212 History of Art I and II  6
ART 234 Painting I 
OR
ART 270 Printmaking I  3
ART 247 Ceramics I
OR 
ART 233 Sculpture I   3
ART 281 Introduction to Graphic Design I
OR 
ART 274 Computer Imaging 3
ART 411 Twentieth Century Art 3
ART 410 Senior Career Orientation  (Last Semester) 2
_____ TOTAL 33 

PLUS

Emphasis area            11 
Art electives selected with an art advisor            6 
___________ 
   TOTAL 50 


Specific Requirements for K-12 Art Education 

ART Courses Titles     Credits
ART 110 Career Orientation (1st semester)           1
ART 115 2D Design          3
ART 116 3D Design          3
ART 141 Drawing I           3
ART 211 History of Art I (fall)           3
ART 212 History of Art II (spring)           3
ART 234 Painting I           3
ART 242 Drawing II            3
ART 247 Ceramics I           3 
ART 250 Fibers & Jewelry for Educators           3
ART 270 Printmaking I          3
ART 276 Photography          3
ART 281 Intro to Graphic Design I           3
ART XXX Upper Division Art History Course          3
ART 410 Senior Career Orientation  (last semester)          3
Art upper division electives (selected with art adv)          8-11
     TOTAL 50-53 

Specific Requirements for the Art Minor 

ART 141 or 242 Drawing I or II 3
ART 115 or 116 2D or 3D Design  3 
ART 211 or 212 History of Art I or II 3
Art electives approved by minor advisor 12 
______

TOTAL 21

Co-curricular requirements 

The faculty supports and encourages the involvement of art majors and minors in the Art Club and related activities specific to each studio and actively encourages student participation in such organizations. 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

  • Art majors will successfully demonstrate competencies required by the department. Competencies will be evaluated through a portfolio review.
     
  • Each art major is required to produce and maintain a portfolio of work done at USC as a record of achievement. The contents and objectives of the portfolio will be described, discussed and planned in the career orientation class (Art 110). Final evaluation of the progressive portfolio will take place during the student's last semester as part of the senior orientation class (Art 410). The format of the portfolio may vary according to subject matter and content but in general the presentation materials will consist of 35mm color slides, prints, graphic design samples, electronic files, and/or videotapes, as appropriate.
     
  • As a competency indicator of achievements in the area of art history, part of the portfolio should contain samples of a student’s written material as related to art history, analysis and criticism, as well as a departmental art history exam. 
  • The intent of the portfolio is to faithfully reflect the ability and competency level of the art student as he or she progresses in the program. The makeup of the portfolio will reflect the personal accomplishments of each individual.
     
  • A complete set of course outlines and examination examples for each course will be maintained and updated by faculty members and made available to the student upon request. Class objectives and skills attained during the class will be denoted clearly in these materials. 

CHICANO/A STUDIES PROGRAM 

Program Coordinator: D. L. Cobian The Chicano/a studies minor complements majors and careers in law, sociology, social work, languages, education, government, business and other disciplines. Courses offer unique undergraduate preparation for those who seek entrance to graduate studies in law, humanities or the social sciences. 

Students who plan to live and work in the American Southwest or aspire to careers that involve relations in the American continents are likely to be well served by Chicano/a Studies courses. The interdisciplinary approach emphasizes history and cultural studies, and selected courses provide the student with in-depth knowledge of specific aspects of the Chicano/a community. 

Program Goals 

  • To provide individual courses as well as a minor to fulfill the unique role and mission of the University of Southern Colorado. 
  • To offer an individually designed minor in support of students’ majors. Expected Student Outcomes General Requirements 
  • Students in Chicano/a studies courses will display an adequate and measurable knowledge of the subject matter within the course.
     
  • Students in Chicano/a studies courses will develop an understanding of the relationships of ethnic groups within American society by viewing the academic study of Chicanos/as as a paradigm for the study of other ethnic groups. 
  • Students must earn a C or better in all courses applicable to the minor. 

Specific Requirements for the Chicano/a Studies Minor 

Twenty-four hours: 12 required, 12 elective. The student will choose three of the first four classes, and the seminar. 

CS Courses Titles   Credits 
CS 101 Introduction to Chicano/a Studies        3
CS 306 La Chicana        3 
CS 493 Seminar in Chicano/a Studies        3
And one of four History classes:        3
CS 136 The Southwest United States        3 
CS 246 History of Mexico        3 
CS 303 Chicanos/as Labor History in US        3
CS 489 Borderlands 3 Electives       12
________ TOTAL 21 


Electives may be selected from Chicano/a studies courses, several of which are cross-listed with other departments, or by approval of the Chicano/a studies coordinator, from courses in such areas as Spanish, history, psychology, sociology, and social work, among others. 

CS Course        Titles                                                           Credits 
CS/ENG 220 Survey of Chicano/a Literature         3 
CS/SW 230 Chicano/a: Social and Psych Study          3 
CS/WS 240 Chicana Writers         3
CS 291  Special Topics        1-3
CS 303 Chicano/a Labor History in the U.S         3
CS/SW 325 Health in the Chicano/a Community         3
CS/WS 401 Third World Feminism         3
CS/HIST 489 Borderlands         3
CS 495 Independent Study       1-3 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

  • Upon identification of a Chicano/a studies minor, the Chicano/a studies coordinator will initiate a “Chicano/a studies program” file on the student, with the student’s permission. The file will contain the program of design, the student’s orientation (research interest, general interest, personal interest, employment interest, etc.), a history of the student’s academic progress, the substantive research paper completed in CS 493, a record of meetings with the coordinator, and other examples of the student’s academic performance. 
  • At three- seven- and 10-year intervals, the graduate will be contacted and asked to evaluate the program’s influence. 
  • In addition to course syllabi, the Chicano/a studies coordinator will retain a copy of examinations administered in Chicano/a studies courses for a 10-year period. At five-year intervals, the coordinator and the faculty will determine if consistency and academic integrity are being maintained by reviewing instruments of cognitive measurement, student perception forms and trends, alumni comments, and comparative analysis of grade distribution patterns. 

ENGLISH/FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT 

Department Chair: Sheidley 

Faculty: Barber, Cobián, Covi, Florensa, Fogelquist, Frank, Griffin, Keplinger, Rodríguez- Arenas, Senatore, C. Taylor, T. Taylor 

ENGLISH PROGRAM 

The major in English leads to a degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and provides graduates with an understanding of language and literature as a basis for aesthetic, ethical, social, and academic ways of thinking, creating, and researching. Critical, analytic, and composing skills, which provide excellent preparation for professional careers such as teaching, editing and publishing, business, media, public service, and the arts, are emphasized. 

Program Goals 

  • Students will become familiar with significant traditions and historical and cultural contexts of literature. 
  • Students will become familiar with various theories of literature and various techniques in the analysis and understanding of literature. 
  • Students will gain aesthetic appreciation of literary works. 
  • Students will become familiar with the structure, history and functions of language. 
  • Students will gain proficiency in writing and thinking with clarity, creativity and accuracy, and in analyzing and synthesizing information and ideas. 

Expected Student Outcomes 

The English faculty believes that grades are valid indicators of a student’s progress and performance; therefore, students must complete, with a grade of C or better, all courses counting toward the major or minor. 

Requirements for the English Major 

  • Specific requirements for the English major are listed below. Students should consult with an advisor in English before registration. 
  • Students must fulfill the university language requirements for the BA degree, first year foreign language (6-10 credit hours) OR English 106 (3 credit hours) and Foreign Language 100 (3 credit hours). For International students, English 101 and 102 fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement. 

Requirements for the English Minor 

Minor requirements are 20 or more semester credit hours of course work in English numbered 106 or above, of which 12 must be upper division. Courses must be chosen in consultation with an advisor in English. 

For teaching endorsement requirements, see the Teacher Education Program section. 

Co-curricular Requirements 

The English faculty supports and encourages English majors’ involvement in student organizations and participation in tutoring activities in the community and on campus. 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

Assessment of the English program is the responsibility of the English Program Assessment Committee, consisting of the chair of English and Foreign Languages and three other faculty members. The committee's annual reports evaluating the program and proposing any needed changes are compiled from the following information: 

  • A central file of course syllabi with representative assignments is maintained by the department for inspection by the committee and other qualified persons. 
  • Faculty advisors monitor each student's progress toward completing major requirements and meeting the Program Goals listed in the catalog. Advisors report any problems or deficiencies in the program encountered by their students to the Program Assessment Committee through the department chair. 
  • All English majors take a senior-year seminar (English 493) emphasizing professional standards and synthesizing the writing and analytical skills students have acquired in other English classes. All students in English 493 write a senior research paper, one copy of which is submitted to the Program Assessment Committee for review. In order to pass English 493, students must demonstrate satisfactory levels of achievement in the five areas of the program goals. 
  • The Program Assessment Committee reviews or has reviewed the papers from English 493 on an annual basis and prepares an analysis of what they reveal about the program's success. 
  • The Program Assessment Committee administers a student-satisfaction questionnaire to all senior English majors each year. A similar questionnaire is sent to recent graduates on a periodic basis.
     
  • The Program Assessment Committee monitors the English curricula at leading comparable institutions and apprises the department of innovations worthy of consideration. 

English Major 

  • Faculty advisors meet individually with each of their students on a regular basis to help plan schedules and discuss educational and career goals. Advisors maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of each student’s progress towards completion of the requirements for the major. 
  • All English majors will participate in a senior-year seminar in which all of the writing and analytical skills acquired in other English classes will be synthesized. Students in the class will be expected to complete a senior research project. 

Specific Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in English 

English Major Requirements 

ENG Courses Titles    Credits 
ENG 201 Intro to Literary Study         3
One of the following courses:         3
ENG 240 Survey of Ethnic Literature
ENG 260 Women in Literature
All of the following courses        12
ENG 310 American Literature I
ENG 312 American Literature II
ENG 360 Literature of England I
ENG 362 Literature of England II
Two of the following courses:         6
ENG 303 Adv. Comp., Rhet & Gr.
ENG 315 Creative Writing: Poetry
ENG 316 Creative Writing: Fiction
ENG 317 Creative Nonfiction
ENG 325 Nature Writing in the West
ENG 440 Magazine Writing
All of the following courses:
ENG 352  English Syntax and Usage         3
ENG 381 Drama of Shakespeare         3
ENG 385 Literary Criticism & Theory         3
ENG 452 History of the English Language         3
ENG 493 Senior Seminar         3 
At least 6 additional credits in English selected in consultation with the advisor:               6
________ TOTAL 45 

Specific Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in English with Secondary Teacher Endorsement 

English Major Requirements

ENG Courses Titles     Credits
ENG 201  Intro. to Literary Study          3
One of the following courses:          3
ENG 240 Survey of Ethnic Literature
ENG 260 Women in Literature
All of the following courses         12
ENG 310 American Literature I 
ENG 312 American Literature II
ENG 360 Literature of England I
ENG 362 Literature of England II 
One of the following writing courses:          3 
ENG 315 Creative Writing: Poetry
ENG 316 Creative Writing: Fiction 
ENG 317 Creative Nonfiction
ENG 325 Nature Writing in the West
ENG 440 Magazine Writing
All of the following courses:
ENG 303 Adv. Comp., Rhet & Gr.           3
ENG 352 English Syntax and Usage           3
ENG 381 Shakespeare           3
ENG 385 Literary Criticism & Theor           3
ENG 412 Literature for Adolescents           2
ENG 452 History of the English Language           3
ENG 493 Senior Seminar           3
_________ 
  TOTAL 41 

PROFESSIONAL WRITING MINOR 

The English department coordinates a minor in professional writing, designed to prepare students for work in freelance writing and in editing and publishing, including Web-based publications. The interdisciplinary minor acquaints students with commercial writing markets, desktop publishing, corporate and technical communications, photojournalism, and Web-site design. 

Specific Requirements for the Professional Writing Minor 

Courses Titles      Credits
ENG 303 Advanced Composition, Rhetoric and Grammar           3
ENG/MCCNM 440 Magazine Writing           3
MCCNM 132 Website Design & Development           3
MCCNM 211 Desktop Publishing           3
Select nine credits of electives from the following list:           9 
ART 104 Computer Graphic Literacy
ART 276 Photography
ART 281 Introduction to Graphic Design I 
ART 284 Designing on the Macintosh I 
ART 381 Introduction to Graphic Design II 
ART 384 Designing on the Macintosh II
BUSAD 270 Business Communications
ENG 305 Technical and Scientific Report Writing
ENG 317 Creative Nonfiction
ENG 452 History of the English Language
MCCNM 240 Public Relations 
MCCNM 310 Advanced Desktop Publishing
MCCNM 401 Photographic Procedures
MCCNM 402 Photojournalism
MCCNM 422 Writing for Public Relations
MCCNM 450 Film Criticism in the Media
__________ 
  TOTAL 21 

 

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PROGRAM 

The Foreign Languages Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (BA) intended to prepare students for public school teaching and certification, for admission to graduate school, and for careers in international organizations, government, and business. 

Minors in French, Italian, and Spanish complement a wide variety of majors in other disciplines to enhance the students’ ability to compete for jobs where knowledge of a foreign language is desirable. 

Courses in German, Russian, and Comparative Linguistics (listed under FL) are offered as permitted by enrollment. Student exchanges with foreign universities are encouraged. 

Program Goals for Spanish Majors 

  • Students will achieve satisfactory levels of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture to be measured by examination prior to admission to the required senior seminar. 
  • Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the traditions and historical and cultural contexts of the literature of both Latin America and Spain.
     
  • Students will develop the critical, analytical and composing skills in Spanish essential to careers in teaching, business, the media, government, and the arts. 

Program Goals for Minors in Spanish, French and Italian 

Students minoring in French, Italian, and Spanish will be required to demonstrate a level of proficiency sufficient to converse comfortably on everyday topics as well as intermediate levels of proficiency in writing, reading, and culture. 

Majors or minors who fail to complete a course with a grade of C or better are required to repeat the course with a satisfactory grade before proceeding to more advanced offerings. 

NOTE: 

Any language 101 and 102 may be waived for students participating in the Advanced Placement Program with a grade of 4 or 5 or by satisfactory completion of a departmental exam. 

Specific Requirements for the Spanish Major 

SPN Courses Titles      Credits
SPN 101 Beginning Spanish I           5 
SPN 102 Beginning Spanish II           5
SPN 201 Spanish Grammar & Composition I           3
SPN 202 Spanish Grammar & Composition II           3
SPN 212 Intermediate SPN Conversation II           2
SPN 281 Readings in Hispanic Civilizations I           3
SPN 282 Readings in Hispanic Civilizations II           3
SPN 301 Advanced Grammar & Conversation           3
SPN 302 Advanced SPN Composition & 
Conversation
          3 
SPN 311 Survey of Spanish Literature            3
SPN 312 Survey of Spanish-American Literature           3
SPN 360 Literary Theory Trends in Spanish and Spanish American Literature           3
SPN 493 Senior Seminar           3
Spanish Electives         13 
__________ 
  TOTAL 55 

 

Specific Requirements for the Spanish Major with Secondary Training Endorsement 

SPN Courses Titles      Credits
SPN 101 Beginning Spanish I           5
SPN 102 Beginning Spanish II           5
SPN 201 SPN Grammar & Composition I           3 
SPN 202 SPN Grammar & Composition II           3
SPN 281 Readings in Hispanic Civ. I           3
SPN 282 Readings in Hispanic Civ. II           3
SPN 301 Advanced Grammar & Conversation           3
SPN 302 Advanced SPN Composition & Conversation           3
SPN 311 Survey of Spanish Literature           3
SPN 312 Survey of Spanish-American Literature           3
SPN 360 Literary Theory Trends in Spanish and Spanish American Literature           3 
SPN 493 Senior Seminar 3 Spanish Electives         13
__________ 
  TOTAL 53 

 

Specific Requirements for the Spanish Minor 

SPN Courses Titles      Credits
SPN 101 Beginning Spanish I           5
SPN 102 Beginning Spanish II           5
SPN 201 Spanish Grammar & Composition I           3
SPN 202 Spanish Grammar & Composition II            3
SPN 211 Intermediate Spanish Conversation I            2
SPN 212 Intermediate Spanish Conversation II            2
SPN 281 Readings in Hispanic Civilizations I           3
SPN 282 Readings in Hispanic Civilizations II           3
__________ 
  TOTAL 26 

Specific Requirements for the French Minor 

FRN Courses Titles      Credits
FRN 101 Beginning Spoken French I           4
FRN 102 Beginning Spoken French II           4
FRN 201 Intermediate French I           4
FRN 202 Intermediate French II            4
French Electives Above 300*           7
* (Preferably through foreign exchange program)
__________ 
  TOTAL 23 
 

Specific Requirements for the Italian Minor 

ITL Courses Titles       Credits 
ITL 101 Introduction to Italian I             4
ITL 102 Beginning Spoken Italian II             4
ITL 201 Intermediate Italian I             4
ITL 202 Intermediate Italian II             4
Italian Electives Above 300*            7
* (Preferably through foreign exchange program)
___________ 
   TOTAL 23 


Outcomes Assessment Activities 

  • Assessment of the foreign languages program is the responsibility of the Foreign Languages Program Assessment Committee, consisting of the chair of English and Foreign Languages and three other faculty members. The committee’s annual reports evaluating the program and proposing any needed changes are compiled from the following information: 
  • A central file of course syllabi with representative assignments is maintained by the department for inspection by the committee and other qualified persons. 
  • Faculty advisors monitor each student’s progress towards completing major requirements and meeting the program goals listed in the catalog. Advisors report any problems or deficiencies in the program encountered by the students to the program assessment committee through the department chair. 
  • All Spanish majors take a senior-year seminar emphasizing professional standards and sharpening the writing and speaking skills students have acquired in other Spanish courses. All students in the seminar will be required to write a senior research paper, one copy of which is submitted to the Program Assessment Committee for review. An exit exam administered prior to admission to the senior seminar tests the students’ oral and writing competency and mastery of required reading material.
     
  • The Program Assessment Committee reviews the papers from the senior seminar and the results of the exit exam on an annual basis and prepares an analysis of what is revealed about the program’s success. 
  • The Program Assessment Committee administers a student-satisfaction questionnaire to all senior foreign languages majors and minors each year. A similar questionnaire is sent to recent graduates on a periodic basis. 
  • The Program Assessment Committee monitors the foreign languages curricula at leading comparable institutions and apprises the department of innovations worthy of consideration. 

HISTORY/ POLITICAL SCIENCE/ PHILOSOPHY/GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT 

Department Chair: B. Spade 
Faculty: Aichele, Berardi, Carter, Loats, Nicholl, Otis, Rees, Sandoval, Spade, 

The programs in history, political science, philosophy, and geography are intended to provide domains of study both for students who desire knowledge for personal enrichment and for students who desire to apply knowledge toward career objectives. Students who major or minor in the fields of the department should expect to develop and refine knowledge of other cultures and the historical and political development of the modern world. Students should also expect to engage in methodical research. Other expectations of students include the ability to prepare rationally cogent papers and the ability to understand political theories, historical movements, and the connections between each. 

Departmental programs not only prepare students for occupations in government, business, education, and industry, but also are central to the university’s traditional function of transmitting culture from generation to generation. 

HISTORY PROGRAM 

The major in history leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and prepares students for careers in teaching, law, government, and private enterprise, as well as entry into graduate programs. 

Program Goals 

  • To provide students with a general knowledge of history and historical methodology; 
  • To prepare students, through training in communication skills and in research methods to gain knowledge of a given area of history;
     
  • To prepare students to continue personal study and learning about specific subject areas in the discipline on an independent basis.
     
  • To prepare students to engage in critical thinking; and 
  • To introduce students to the theoretical frameworks that serve as the foundation of historical scholarship 

Expected Student Outcomes 

General Requirements 

No grade below C is acceptable in the major or minor. 

Specific Requirements for the History Major

HIST Courses Titles      Credits
HIST 101 World Civilization to 1100           3
HIST 102 World Civilization 1100 to 1800           3
HIST 103 World Civilization since 1800           3
HIST 201 United States History I since 1800           3
HIST 202 United States History II           3
HIST 300 Historiography           3
HIST 493 Seminar           3
History Electives          15
__________ 
 TOTAL 36 

 

Secondary Education Track for the History Major 

The Secondary Education track for the History Major leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science (BS) and prepares students for teaching at the middle and high school level. 

General requirements: No grade below a C is acceptable in the major, and all requirements of the Teacher Education Program for Secondary and K-12 teaching endorsements must be met.

Specific Requirements for the Education Track in History 

HIST Courses Titles      Credits
HIST 101 World Civilization to 1100            3
HIST 102 World Civilization from 1100 to1800           3
HIST 103 World Civilization since 1800           3
HIST 201 United States History I           3
HIST 202 United States History II           3
HIST 300 Historiography           3
HIST 493 Seminar           3
History Electives          15
__________ 
  TOTAL 36 

Other Social Science Courses Required for Certification 

Courses Titles     Credits 
ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics          3
GEOG 101 Physical Geography          3
GEOG 103 World Regional Geography          3
POLSC 101 American National Politics          3
POLSC 102 State and Local Governments          3
_________ 
 TOTAL 15

Specific Requirements for the History Minor 

HIST Courses Titles    Credits
Nine hours selected from the following courses: 
HIST 101 World Civilization           3 
HIST 102 World Civilization to 1100           3
HIST 103 World Civilization since 1800           3
HIST 201 United States History I           3
HIST 202 United States History II           3
HIST 211 Colorado History           3
PLUS 
HIST 300  Historiography           3
History Electives approved by the minor advisor           9
__________ 
  TOTAL 21 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

  • Demonstrated proficiency in writing coherent and accurate essays on specific topics within the discipline, as determined by the history faculty. 
  • Portfolios will be maintained for each student who has declared history as a major or minor. Portfolios will include academic transcripts, major papers written for courses in the discipline, co-curricular data, and other pertinent information. The portfolios will be on file in the department office or with the academic advisor. Updated copies of all course syllabi will be kept in a central file in the department office to enable qualified students to discover how courses are adapted towards program goals. 

PRE-LAW PROGRAM 

Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Rees 

Although a political science or history major, or minor, is not required, students interested in attending law school should consult the department’s pre-law advisor as early as possible. 

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM 

The major in political science leads to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS), and prepares undergraduates for careers in law, government and politics. Courses in political science also serve to complement the liberal arts core at USC and to prepare students for acceptance into graduate programs leading to professional degrees in law, public administration, or to specialized academic degrees. 

While encouraging an exposure to a number of the sub-fields of the discipline, three areas of emphasis are offered in the political science major: public administration and policy, comparative and international politics, and American political institutions and politics. 

Program Goals 

To prepare students majoring in the discipline to: 

  • demonstrate a basic understanding of historical, philosophical and empirical foundations of political science;
     
  • demonstrate a general command of knowledge about the American political system, comparative and international politics, the history of political thought, and standard political science research approaches; and 
  • demonstrate an ability to continue personal study and learning on an independent basis about specific subjects in the discipline. 

To prepare students minoring in the discipline to: 

  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the nature of the discipline; and 
  • demonstrate a general knowledge and understanding of the American political system and of comparative and world politics. 

Expected Student Outcomes 

General Requirements 

  • Students in the major must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours in political science, including 15 hours in the political science core. Students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all courses and to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.500 or better.  
  • Students in the minor must complete a minimum of 21 semester credit hours in political science, including 9 semester credit hours in the political science core. Students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all courses and to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.500 or better.
     
  • Electives are selected in accordance with one of four basic interest areas in political science: 1) public administration and policy, 2) American political institutions and politics, 3) comparative and inter-national politics, 4) independently designed emphasis in preparation for graduate or professional education. 
  • A maximum of six credit hours of POLSC 480, Practicum in Politics and Public Service, may be applied towards the 36 hours required for the major, or three credit hours towards the 21 hours required for the minor. 
  • Depending on individual interests and goals, students are encouraged to take one year of foreign language, courses in statistics, and PHIL 204, Critical Thinking. 

Specific Requirements for the Political Science Major 

POLSC Courses Titles    Credits
Political science core (required of all majors)         3
POLSC 101 American National Politics         3
OR 
POLSC 201 Comparative Politics         3
POLSC 202 World Politics         3
POLSC 240 Political Analysis         3
POLSC 370 Political Thought         3
POLSC 493 Senior Seminar         3
________ 
TOTAL 15 

Secondary Education Track for the Political Science Major 

Complete course listing for this track may be obtained from a Political Science Program advisor or from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Office, Psychology 100. 

Specific Requirements for the Political Science Minor 

POLSC Courses Titles     Credits
POLSC 101 American National Politics         3
POLSC 201 Comparative Politics
OR
POLSC 202 World Politics         3
POLSC 240 Political Analysis         3
Political Science Electives        12
_________ 
 TOTAL 21

 
International Studies Minor 

See Political Science Advisor. 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

  • Demonstrated proficiency in writing coherent and accurate essays on specific topics within the discipline, as determined by the political science faculty. 
  • Portfolios will be prepared for incoming freshmen and/or transfer students with two or more years before graduation. Portfolios will include academic transcripts, major papers written for courses in the discipline, co-curricular data, and other pertinent information. The portfolios will be on file. 

PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM 

The minor in philosophy complements majors and careers in politics, law, literature, health care, business, technologies, and the liberal arts. 

Program Goals 

  • To provide individual courses as well as an academic minor in general philosophy; 
  • To help students understand and appreciate the great ideas from philosophy, to see such ideas in relation to the cultural settings, to develop the abilities to think, speak, and write in a clear, analytical manner, and to allow students to develop a viable philosophy of life. 

Expected Student Outcomes 

General Requirements 

Students who wish to minor in philosophy must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours of approved philosophy courses with grades of C or better. 

Specific Requirements for the Philosophy Minor 

PHIL Courses Titles        Credits 
PHIL 102 Philosophical Literature              3
PHIL 201 Classics in Ethics             3
PHIL 204 Critical Reasoning
OR 
PHIL 205 Deductive Logic             3
PHIL 293  History of Philosophy Seminar I             3 
PHIL 393 History of Philosophy Seminar II             3
PHIL 493 History of Philosophy Seminar III              3
PHIL 401 Epistemology Seminar
OR
PHIL 402 Metaphysics Seminar             3
__________ 
  TOTAL 21 

 

Outcomes Assessment Activities 

· Students must demonstrate proficiency in writing defenses of theses on philosophical topics as determined by the philosophy faculty. A file of representative samples of philosophical writing by students will be retained to document to qualified persons that students are accomplishing the goal of developing the ability to think and write in a clear analytical manner. 

GEOGRAPHY 

The department extends classes in Geography primarily for students who wish to gain Colorado teacher licensure. There is no major or minor in Geography, but students majoring in a variety of areas would benefit from the Geography classes; e.g., History and Political Science. 

LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAM 

Dr. Victoria Marquesen, Coordinator 

The Liberal Studies major, which leads to a B.S. degree, is intended to provide a strong liberal arts education for future elementary education teachers. Core requirements build upon students’ experiences in General Education to provide both breadth and depth in the arts and humanities, English, math, sciences, and social sciences. Required courses provide support in each area of the Colorado K-6 Model Content Standards. Students are required to select an area of concentration or emphasis and, in consultation with an advisor from that area, develop a plan for study for an additional 12 hours in this area. The plan should include goals to be achieved by the concentration and the sequence of courses to achieve the goals. Areas of concentration may be chosen from Art, English, History, Math, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Science, and Sociology. 

This degree is approved for students in Elementary Education. Students completing the Liberal Studies major are required to minor in Elementary Education. 

Program Goals 

At USC, teacher education is a campus wide responsibility, and overall program goals reflect components of both the Liberal Studies major and Elementary Education minor. It is the purpose of the Liberal Studies major to assure that students will develop breadth and depth of knowledge of the liberal arts, and it is the responsibility of the Elementary Education minor to assure students become proficient at transforming this knowledge into curriculum and instruction for young children. 

It is the joint responsibility of both the major and minor to prepare future teachers to evaluate information critically, to study and research independently, and to communicate knowledge effectively. The following four program goals have been established for the Liberal Studies Degree. Goal 1 is largely the responsibility of the Liberal Studies major and Goal 4 the responsibility of the Elementary Education minor; benchmarks for Goals 2 and 3 have been designed across the entire degree program. 

1. Acquisition of Knowledge. Graduates are broadly educated in the liberal arts and sciences: 

  • Understanding the significant ideas, concepts, structures and values within disciplines, including theoretical, ethical, and practical implications. 
  • Mastering content knowledge in all areas taught in elementary schools: the arts, math literature and language, social sciences, sciences, and human development and learning. 
  • Balancing a breadth of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences with depth of knowledge within a discipline. 

2. Construction of Knowledge. Graduates demonstrate habits of thinking, including analytical skills, independent thinking, reasoned judgment, mature values, and imagination: 

  • Utilizing the tools of inquiry of the humanities, arts, mathematics, and behavioral, social, and natural sciences to understand and evaluate ideas. 
  • Developing habits of critical intellectual inquiry, including self-direction and self-reflection. 
  • Making connections from different intellectual perspectives and multiple viewpoints to form cross-disciplinary connections.
     
  • Utilizing research skills of the liberal arts and sciences, including library and data retrieval skills, to study and evaluate information. 

3. Communication of Knowledge. Graduates communicate effectively: 

  • Writing clearly in a variety of academic and practical formats. 
  • Speaking effectively in a variety of settings. · Utilizing technology as a tool to inform and communicate. 

4. Application of Knowledge. Graduates create standards-based learning experiences that make knowledge accessible, exciting, and meaningful for all students: 

  • Using multiple representations and explanations of disciplinary concepts that capture key ideas and link them to students’ prior understandings. 
  • Using different viewpoints, theories, “ways of knowing,’ and methods of inquiry in teaching of subject matter content.
     
  • Evaluating curriculum for their comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usefulness for representing particular ideas and concepts. 
  • Engaging students in generating knowledge and testing hypotheses according to the methods of inquiry and standards of evidence used in the discipline 

Developing and using curricula that encourage students to see and interpret ideas from diverse perspectives. 

Creating interdisciplinary learning experiences that allow inquiry from several subject areas. 

Program Design 

The program is planned as a coherent whole, with four components: 

1. General Education 

Specific

General Education courses form the foundation of knowledge for all students with this major. These courses fulfill USC graduation requirements and are essential to meet many of the content standards for elementary teachers. Courses in the arts and humanities, English, math, sciences, and social sciences contribute to the General Education core. 

2. Liberal Studies Core 

Liberal Studies Core requirements build upon students’ experiences in General Education to provide both breadth and depth to the program to meet program goals. Emphasis is placed on each area relative to K-6 content standards to assure strong support for each area. Two new courses have been designed for the core, an interdisciplinary course in the science block and an upper division composition, rhetoric, and grammar course in the English block. Additional courses have been revised to meet program goals and to strengthen Liberal Studies content. 

3. Liberal Studies Area of Emphasis in a Specific Discipline 

Students are required to select an area of concentration or emphasis and, in consultation with an advisor from that area, develop a plan for study for an additional 12 hours in Liberal Studies. The plan should include goals to be achieved by the concentration and the sequence of courses to achieve the goals. Areas of concentration may be chosen from art, English, history, math, modern foreign languages, music, political science, psychology, science, and sociology. 

4. Elementary Education Minor 

All students must complete a minor in Elementary Education. The Elementary Education minor, which has been developed to coordinate with the major, requires completion of 37 credit hours. 

Program Assessment 

Assessment will be ongoing, with evaluations at three check points (admission to education, admission to student teaching, and program completion), as well as follow-up assessments at the end of one and three years after program completion. Student outcomes will be evaluated through, a) formal assessments at the sophomore (e.g., Academic Profile) and senior level (PLACE Elementary Education Exam), b) faculty recommendations of student progress, c) portfolio assessment, and d) assessment of the application of knowledge in students’ field experiences and student teaching. The contents of the electronic portfolio required of all students will include representative work from courses, as well as student-directed evaluations of progress. Elementary students will be required to complete a major curriculum project based on the goals of their concentration area during their senior year of study. 

The Teacher Education Board, consisting of faculty from each Liberal Studies discipline, will have primary responsibility for evaluation of the program. This group will evaluate student portfolios, and the Associate Dean for Education will assume responsibility for gathering program evaluation information on a semester basis and reporting to the Board. 

Requirements For The Liberal Studies Major 

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 

General Education Skill Requirements 

Courses Title Credit Hours
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
SPCOM 103 Speaking and Listening 3
MATH 109 Mathematical Explorations * 3
ED 280 Educational Media & Technology 3

General Education Knowledge Requirements 

Courses Titles Credit Hours
ART 100 Visual Dynamics 3
BIOL 100 Principles of Biology 3
BIOL 100L Principles of Biology Lab 1
ENG 130 Introduction to Literature 3
GEOG 103 World Regional Geography 3
GEOL 101 Earth Science 3
GEOL 101L Earth Science Lab 1
PSYCH 151 Human Development 3
__________
TOTAL 35

* Students completing a concentration in Math must complete MATH 126 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry) as the general education requirement. Students completing a concentration in Science must complete MATH 121 (College Algebra), MATH 124 (Precalculus), or MATH 126 (Calculus and Analytic Geometry) as the general education requirement. 

Students are not allowed to count the same courses completed for general education requirements as course requirements in the Liberal Studies major, including those in concentrations. 

LIBERAL STUDIES CORE REQUIREMENTS 

Courses  Titles  Credit
ENGLISH  (8 hours)
ENG 351 Children’s Literature 2
ENG 303 Advanced Composition, Rhetoric   and Grammar 3
One Upper Division Literature Course 3
MUSIC  (3 hours)
MUS 118 Music Appreciation 3
MATH  (9 hours) 
MATH 156 Introduction to Statistics 3
MATH 360 Elem. Concepts of Mathematics I 3
MATH 361 Elem. Concepts of Mathematics II  3
SCIENCE  (4 hours)
PHYS 150/ 
CHEM 150 Elementary Concepts in Physics And Chemistry 4
SOCIAL SCIENCE  (12 hours)
PSYCH 342 Educational Psychology 3
HIST 211 Colorado History 3
One of the following: 
HIST 10