If you are one of the many people who are in search of a "science-y" class to fulfill an area requirement -- simply out of interest but do not want to get into a "weed out" class full of potential science majors -- you're in luck. The University has many options to give you a taste of science without forcing you to commit to a heavy meal.
BIOL 121: MWF 1000-1050 in Gilmer 141
One of the biology department's options includes Human Biology and Disease, taught by Dean Sandra Seidel. Seidel said this 40-person class will focus on diseases students are interested in, likely including avian flu and the college staple disease: mono. The course is targeted toward first- and second-year non-majors who want to learn science in the context of how it will affect them as "citizens" in issues such as healthcare. Seidel said it is her hope that her class will be "an interesting way to fulfill a science area requirement." As her course is designed to reach students who have not spent a great deal of time studying science, she aims to teach it in the context of everyday life and show her students that it is "relevant and interesting learning about the human body."
EVSC 250: MWF 1300-1350 in Clark 108
Man's Atmospheric Environment, taught by Prof. Bob Davis, is a class put forth by the environmental science department to educate students about how the atmosphere affects us on a day-to-day basis and vice versa. Many different types of students generally sign up for this class Davis said, "from engineers needing a science credit to humanities students filling their science requirement." The only requirement for the class is to have an interest in climate and weather. Those who wish to leave their calculators in high school need not fear, as there is "very little math involved." The class does an overview of the atmosphere in general. Topics that will definitely be covered include "weather forecasting, clouds, air pollution, El Niño, global warming, the ozone hole, global climates, atmospheric optics, tornados, hurricanes, [and] weather and human health," Davis said.
HIUS 210: MW 1500-1550 in Ruffner G004A
For those for who would prefer to keep their scientific exposure firmly routed in the humanities, Technology in the United States may be the right class. Taught by Prof. John Brown, the class looks into "innovations that have [had] broad social effects" on the nation. The class also focuses on how technology has affected the American way and how it has "come to dominate the history of 20th-century America," Brown said. The time period the class is centered around is 1890-1990, with more emphasis on technology after World War II. Generally, the class is mainly second years coming both from the College and the Engineering school. This would be a good course for anyone interested in learning about how technology has completely affected how we live our everyday lives, but not for those trying to fill science requirements.
CHEM 210: TR 1100-1215 in Ruffner 283
Organic chemistry is a class that is known to strike fear into the hearts of many college students. For those students who have taken CHEM 141 and 142, there is a way to learn about the mysteries of the carbon atom without taking regular organic chemistry. Introductory Survey of Organic Chemistry, taught by Prof. Pin Lu, goes over the structure and some of the function of organic molecules without the rigors that are generally associated with the subject. This is not a course for chemistry majors or pre-med students, but rather for students who have an interest in the complexities of hydrocarbons, but who are not planning on majoring in biology or chemistry. Those in the Engineering school who are interested in the subject can sign up for the related course, CHEM 212.
These are only a few of the many options the University offers to infuse a humanities-filled schedule with a little bit of science. The physics department also offers classes such as the Concepts of Physics and How Things Work to teach non-Physics majors about how forces and circuits affect them every day. The astronomy department also boasts a variety of courses such as Introduction to Sky and Solar System and Introduction to Stars and Galaxies that help educate students about what they are seeing up in the sky. As you log into ISIS this semester, take a second to consider taking a class that may teach you how programs like it even came about.
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