Upcoming Course Offerings

To register for classes, please visit the Student Success Centeror MaineStreet (existing USM students).  For information on tuition and fees, visit Student Accounts.

The following is provided for ease of reference only.  To enroll in classes and for the official course catalog, refer to MaineStreet.

Fall ‘13 Arts & Humanities courses

(for Summer '13 course offerings, see below)

HUM 105 Basic Photography

Thurston Howes
This course is an introduction to black and white photography, designed to help students gain understanding through "hands-on" photographic work. Lectures include classroom discussions concerning the history and aesthetics of photography, and techniques include camera and lens functions, exposure methods, basic black and white film processing, printmaking, print finishing, and presentation techniques. Cr 3.

Format:  On Campus            Thursdays, 1-3:30pm

HUM 290 Thinking and Writing/Writing and Healing

Kaitlin Briggs

Writing can be an experiential and subjective process that influences identity, births thought, and facilitates healing. Students will learn and practice exploratory writing in class as a form of self-analysis as well as investigate the research on how writing about chronic illnesses or traumatic events can reduce symptoms. Cr. 3

Format:  On Campus             Mondays, 9-11:30am

HUM 303 Cross Cultural Perspectives on Non-western Art

Marcia-Anne Dobres

This course surveys the visual arts of non-western cultures, most especially from Africa, Asia, and Australia.  It evaluates numerous theories trying to make sense of non-western forms of visual, symbolic, and political expression; unpacks the term "primitive Art;” delves into the history of western interest in these media; and debates whether they are “art” in a Western sense. This course has been approved by the State Department of Education for content area in secondary Social Studies Cr. 3

Format:  On Campus                         Mondays, 1-3:30pm

HUM 316: New Digital Media Literacies: Self-Fashioning and Critiquing Information

Kaitlin Briggs

Students investigate, critique, and engage in a range of experiments to discover how new media radically change both thinking and language, as visual material, writing, and technology interplay online to form new, hybridic modes of reading and writing, teaching and learning. Drawing from such diverse fields as literature, geography, and education, areas covered include digital Shakespeare, the internet as a utopia, and a video game field study to explore multi-modal thinking. Cr. 3

Format:  On Campus                         Wednesdays, 4-6:30pm

HUM 325 World History and Geography I

Barry Rodrigue
This is the first in a series of two courses that are designed to help students develop an understanding of and an appreciation for world history and geography. The course's goal is to provide students with a humanistic background from which to better comprehend global complexities. This course will cover the period from prehistory to the age of modern expansion, from about 50,000 to 500 years ago. Prerequisite: Only students with more than 45 credits are permitted to take this course. This course has been approved by the State Department of Education for content area in secondary Social Studies. Cr 3.

Format: Online

HUM 335 Working with Writers

Pat Hager

This one-credit course provides training for Writing Assistants who work at the LAC Writing Center. Topics covered include basic composition theory, the Writing Center as a workplace, tutoring in digital formats, helping writers across the curriculum, and communication skills. The course prepares Writing Assistants for CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) certification. The course may be taken three times (to align with the three levels of CRLA certification). Permission of instructor required. Cr. 1

Format:  On Campus                         Wednesdays, 12-1pm

HUM 350 Cultural Fieldwork

Barry Rodrigue
This course is designed to help students develop new ways to think about their place in the world. They will visit and meet with professionals from museums, archeological sites, ecological preserves, industrial plants, and others. As a fieldwork course, emphasis will be placed on projects done by students themselves. They will collect oral histories, search for lost documents, assess geographic and environmental problems, and do archeological site surveys, We will also develop a public project, such as the designation of a historical site. Cr 3.

Format:  On Campus                         Tuesdays, 9-11:30am

HUM 355 Introduction to Journalism

Pat Hager

This course focuses on the principles of journalistic practice and the important role journalism plays in democratic societies.  We consider the historical changes in the field, including the use of new technologies, techniques and methods in contemporary journalism.  Students will develop competencies in the skills of journalism, including research and interviewing, fact-checking and attribution, and journalistic styles.  Cr. 3

Format:  On Campus                         Tuesdays, 1-3:30pm

HUM/SBS 365 Psychological Language of Dreams and Fairytales

Rose Cleary

This course explores psychological approaches to understanding the language of dreams and fairytales.  Students consider how works of imaginative literature and dreams inform the theories of Freud and Jung and also how their theories, in turn, have shaped contemporary approaches to understanding of images and metaphors.  We, then, culturally situate this psychological approach by comparing it with cross-cultural and literary approaches.  Cr. 3

Format:  On Campus                         Fridays, 9:15-11:45am

Summer ‘13 Arts & Humanities courses

HUM 105 Basic Photography

Thurston Howes

This course is an introduction to black and white photography, designed to help students gain understanding through "hands-on" photographic work. Lectures include classroom discussions concerning the history and aesthetics of photography, and techniques include camera and lens functions, exposure methods, basic black and white film processing, printmaking, print finishing, and presentation techniques. Credits 3

Format: On campus, Session II             Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6-8:30

HUM 120 / ENG 120 Introduction to Literature

Pat Hager
This course is designed to introduce students to four basic literary genres: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. Through a combination of lectures, small group discussions, exercises, readings, and weekly writing assignments, students will work toward mastering a basic understanding of literature. Students will learn how to improve their writing, as well as their ability to read and analyze literature.

Credits  3

Format:   Blended, Session I            

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1-3:30  On campus meetings every Tuesday

HUM 301 French North America

James Myall

Students will gain a broad understanding of the history and culture of French-speaking peoples in North America, from the colonial period to the modern era.  Students will encounter not just the well-known communities in French Canada and Haiti, but other smaller communities in North America.  Students will discover a variety of French cultural arts, including cuisine, music, art, theater and literature.  In particular, students will appreciate the relationship between Franco-Americans in New England and Maine, and the wider community of American Francophones.  Cr. 3

Format: Online

HUM 304 Writing Children's Literature: How to Craft Compelling Stories

Barbara Walsh
An exploration of how real life stories, details, characters, and voices combine with images to create compelling children's stories. This course will include lecture, class discussion and writing workshops.

Credits 3

Format:  Blended, Session II  Mondays & Wednesdays, 10am-12:30pm      On campus meetings every Monday

HUM 369 Exploring Careers, Choosing Life Roles

Sharon Timberlake
In this mid-level course in the career development series, students relate self-knowledge to career and life roles, with an emphasis on gaining and managing career information; learning various career and life decision-making strategies; and communicating formative academic, co-curricular, and professional experiences in such formats as accomplishment statements and informal interviews. Prerequisite: LCC 123 or LCC 345. Credit 1.5

Format:  Online

HUM 369 Exploring Careers, Choosing Life Roles

Janet Etzel
In this mid-level course in the career development series, students relate self-knowledge to career and life roles, with an emphasis on gaining and managing career information; learning various career and life decision-making strategies; and communicating formative academic, co-curricular, and professional experiences in such formats as accomplishment statements and informal interviews. Prerequisite: LCC 123 or LCC 345. Credit 1.5

Format:  On Campus, Session I     Thursdays, 11:45-12:45

HUM 399:  Special Topics: NE Folk Dance: The French Connection

Cindy Larock

Maine has a strong folk dance heritage, much of which has its roots in the French culture.This class will introduce students to the evolution and basics of traditional New England contra dancing (similar to square dancing); a variety of French Canadian social dances, including contredanses, sets carrés and quadrilles; and Quebecois step dancing (la gigue). The dancing will be augmented by selected readings, group discussion, visits by guest lecturers/artists and field trips to area events. Topics will include the history of traditional New England and French Canadian dance styles, the function of music in determining the choreography, and the social and aesthetic value of folk dance. Students will also learn dance composition and teaching/calling techniques. No previous dance experience is required for this class.   

Credits 3

Format:  On Campus, Session II  Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4-6:30pm

HUM 413 Job Search Skills for the 21st Century

Mary Kozicki LaFontaine
In this final course in the career development series, students assume active agency in career planning through learning how to market themselves to prospective employers. They learn to create and use the tools needed for career placement, such as cover letters, resumes, and interviews. Prerequisite: HUM/LOS/SBS/SCI 369.

Credits 1.5.

Format:  Blended, Session I

Tuesdays, 3-5pm, OnCampus meetings 5/14, 6/11 and 7/9

HUM 413 Job Search Skills for the 21st Century

Janet Etzel
In this final course in the career development series, students assume active agency in career planning through learning how to market themselves to prospective employers. They learn to create and use the tools needed for career placement, such as cover letters, resumes, and interviews. Prerequisite: HUM/LOS/SBS/SCI 369.

Credits 1.5.

Format:  On Campus, Session II      Thursdays, 11:45-12:45

HUM 447 Internship

Leigh Mundhenk
This online course provides students the opportunity to work in their chosen field to evaluate their interest and acquire basic skills needed to market themselves effectively. Students participate in an online seminar in which they learn about and reflect on workplace issues. Students wishing to take more than 3 credit hours must have permission from their faculty advisors. Prerequisite: HUM/LOS/SBS/SCI 413.

Credits 3-6.

Format:  Online