Available Courses

ENGLISH 212: Intro to Creative Writing

3 Credits

A first course focused on the analysis, understanding, appreciation, and techniques of writing poetry and fiction, as well as other genres at the discretion of the instructor.

ENV SCI 102: Intro to Environmental Science

3 Credits

Examines the interrelationships between people and their biophysical environment, including the atmosphere, water, rocks and soil, and other living organisms. The scientific analysis of nature and the social and political issues of natural resource use.

FNS 225:
Intro to First Nation Studies

3 Credits

This introductory course to First Nations Studies focuses on the history, culture, sovereignty, and contemporary status of Indigenous Nations in the Great Lakes region. The course offers Indigenous cultural contexts through both information and class structure. The Indigenous core value of personal sovereignty is practiced in the course through the application of respect, reciprocity, and relationship.

At its core, exploring history helps us understand who we are, and how we arrived at our present circumstances. Wisconsin is home to twelve Tribal Nations and their story is central to our region’s history and identity, yet often overlooked. Throughout the semester, students will be introduced to the broader themes comprising First Nations history through various case studies, while also exploring one tribal nation in greater depth, perhaps the nation closest to them in proximity. In addition, all students will be encouraged to reflect on their own cultural identity within the context of United States history, including the complex shared history of the Great Lakes region derived from immigration and the settler-colonial experience.  Finally, in FNS 225 the grand story of First Nations people will be framed in what cultural theorist Gerald Vizenor calls “survivance,” including contemporary examples of cultural revitalization.    

Though taught asynchronously with an emphasis on screencasts and accompanying readings, students will receive regular communication from the instructor, including timely coaching related to the required written work.  

HISTORY 206: History of the United States from 1865 to Present

3 Credits

This course explores the history of the United States since 1865, with attention to politics, society, economy, and culture. Likely topics to be considered include: the African-American freedom struggle during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era; the conquest of the trans-Mississippi west; industrialization and labor conflict; immigration; the expansion of American military and economic power around the world, including participation in the First World War, the Second World War, and the global Cold War; the growth of state power; urbanization and suburbanization; feminism, women's rights, civil rights, and other social movements; and the rise of conservatism since the 1970s.

MUSIC 224: Popular Music Since 1955

3 Credits

Evolution of popular music since 1955 and its relationship to society, especially rock music in the 1960's and early 1970's, the period of greatest stylistic expansion and also the period in which the music was most intimately intertwined with its social milieu.

PSYCH 102: Intro to Psychology

3 Credits

Understanding of behavior from psychophysiological, cognitive, social and clinical perspectives; important issues, methods and findings in the study of psychological processes.

PSYCH 203: Intro to Lifespan Development

3 Credits

Human development from conception through death: physical development, social and emotional development, and psychological development. Topics may also include personality development, the development of language, intellectual development and creativity, and the process of human learning.

SOCIOL 101: Intro to Sociology

3 Credits

Major sociological concepts and ideas and their application to contemporary societies.

ANTHRO 100: Varieties of World Culture

3 Credits

The variety of ways of life that exist in the world and the concepts of culture, cultural relativity, and ethnocentrism. Representative case studies of world cultures are considered.

ENGLISH 264: Special Topics - Mental Health: Madness to Mainstream 

3 Credits

This course gives special attention to the manner in which mental health and mental illness are and have been portrayed across genres over the past two centuries. Through critical, close reading of a number of literary works, students will understand the historical and social contexts of the respective times to better understand the perceptions of mental illness. In this process, students will gain more insight into the depiction; the identification, the social treatment of, and medical treatment of those who suffer. They will also analyze the unflattering truth that literature reflects the moments in our history; there is, at times, an irrefutable link to the characterization of mental illness as a correlation to gender, race, etc. In addition to this critical lens, students will continue to build empathy and gain more awareness for the prevalence of mental health as part of the modern-day human condition as is widely evidenced in news programming, social media, the arts, and pop culture. Through compassion and empathy under literary framework, students will gain a reflective awareness of themselves and others while continuing to develop curiosity and empathy.

PSYCH 203: Intro to Lifespan Development

3 Credits

Human development from conception through death: physical development, social and emotional development, and psychological development. Topics may also include personality development, the development of language, intellectual development and creativity, and the process of human learning.

FULL as of December 16th, 2024

SOCIOL 101: Intro to Sociology

3 Credits

Major sociological concepts and ideas and their application to contemporary societies.