Course List

CMS 498 Topics: Discourse, Communication & Critical Thinking

A selection of courses varying in content from term to term. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Students should consult MaineStreet for a listing of current topics courses and the CMS homepage for detailed course descriptions. CMS 498 will be listed under "Communication Theory". Prerequisites: CMS 102J, CMS 103 and CMS 200. Cr 3.

CMS 498 Topics: Freedom of Expression

A selection of courses varying in content from term to term. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Students should consult MaineStreet for a listing of current topics courses and the CMS homepage for detailed course descriptions. CMS 498 will be listed under "Communication Theory". Prerequisites: CMS 102J, CMS 103 and CMS 200. Cr. 3.

CRM 327 (SOC 380) Animal Abuse

Key questions about the nature and forms of animal abuse are subjected to interdisciplinary inquiry, spanning sociology, criminology, moral philosophy, and law.  The course begins with individualized forms of animal abuse, such as cruelty, neglect, and sexual assalut.  It then examines institutionalized forms of abuse in research, zoos, hunting, sport/entertainmnet, and food production.  Attention is also given to the link(s) between animal abuse and interhuman violence.  Prerequisite: CRM 100 or permission.  Cr 3.

CRM 334 Law and State

This course explores the relationship between the United States's social welfare policies and contemporary crime control problems and practices.  It includes an examination of the United States's residual welfare state, theories on social welfare development, and the Nordic model of crime prevention, which is based on the premise that crime can be reduced through social policies designed to lessen structural inequalities.  Prerequisite: CRM 100 or permission. Cr 3.

CRM 380 Restorative Justice

This course explores theory and research on restorative justice, which is an international movement of "progressive" reform that claims to reduce social inequalities generating crime.  Students explore theoretical and empirical developments in restorative justice and examine programs claiming restorative components, such as victim-offender mediation and diversionary conferences.  Prerequisites: CRM 100 or permission.  Cr 3.

ENG 305 Rhetoric, Syntax, and Style

The course focuses on the fundamentals of sentence-level writing, teaching students the possibilities of English style both for their own prose and for textual analysis.  By examining contemporary texts in the context of traditions of rhetoric, students will develop a theoretical grasp of rhetoric, syntax, and style as a basis for editing and revision.  Cr 3.

HTY 400 Senior Seminar: Crime and Punishment in Latin America

The capstone to the major and required for the degree, this seminar explores the nature and the craft of history. The topic will vary but will always be a particular theme or set of issues to which the student will be expected, through discussion and writing, to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in previous history courses. Prerequisites: HTY 200 and senior status. Preference to history majors. Cr 3.

PHI 245 Africa, Social Justice, and Exile

Why are people forced to leave Africa, where do they go, what makes it difficult for them to return?  This course examines exile, its effect on men, women and children.  Looking at theories of social justice, personal narratives, short stories, and visual culture will help us consider moral issues in the post-colonial landscape of Africa. Prerequisite: Any 100-level course.     Cr. 3

PHI 260 Philosophy of Law

Critical evaluation of select issues in philosophical law. Possible topics include; the nature of law (positivism, natural law, legal realism); judicial decision making; constitutional adjudication; the justification of punishment; the legal enforcement of morality; legal responsibility; the judicial system. Readings are drawn from the disciplines of both philosophy and law, and include contemporary as well as historical selections.  Prerequisite: Any 100-level course.     Cr. 3

POS 280 Issues Before the United Nations

An orientation to the activities of the United Nations.  This course includes exposure to current events, exploration of pressing international issues, understanding the basics of international law, and mastery of the protocol and procedures of international diplomacy.

POS 315 Media Law

This course explores the legal context of communication through the mass media. Major issues include censorship, ownership regulation, remedies for people in the news, the right to receive and send communication in the media, and news media privilege. Cr. 3.

POS 463 Supreme Court and Constitutional Law

The role of the judiciary in American politics, with emphasis on the United States Supreme Court. A series of case studies will cover such topics as economic regulation, civil rights, reapportionment, and war powers. Attention will also be given to the impact of judicial philosophies on decision making. Cr. 3.

SOC 393 Women, Welfare and the State

The course explores the gender bias of social welfare policy in the U.S., revealing a welfare state whose adherence to central elements such as the Protestant work ethic, “family values,” and a laissez-faire economy excludes over half the population. From both historical and theoretical perspectives, the course examines the development of the American welfare state, compares it to Western and Eastern European states, and assesses its impact on women’s lives. Prerequisites: SOC 210 with a grade of C or better and junior/senior standing, or permission of instructor.  Cr 3.

Note: Satisfying the thematic cluster requirement involves successfully completing any three courses in the cluster, from at least two different prefixes. Only one of these courses may overlap with your major requirements.