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Interdisciplinary Studies
Course Offerings for Freshmen
2015 Fall Semester
About
Interdisciplinary Studies
Dear New Laker,
Welcome to Mercyhurst University! We are excited about your plans to attend
Mercyhurst University. Your introduction to university life will include a unique
course designed exclusively for first-year students and taught by some of our
most celebrated and experienced faculty members. These team-taught courses
combine disciplines in creative ways, fostering an intellectual “conversation”
among a diverse panel of experts. You will have a front row seat for these
interdisciplinary dialogues and, in fact, will be invited to join in this conversation
as the first step toward a rewarding education at Mercyhurst. The courses are
called Interdisciplinary Studies, or “IDST” for short.
You will be asked to rank the following courses in order of your preference, as
space is limited in each IDST course. There is more information about how to rank
the courses on the New Student Orientation site at orientation.mercyhurst.edu.
If you have any questions about the IDST courses, please contact Mr. Thomas
McKinnon at 814-824-2475 or tmckinnon@mercyhurst.edu. I look forward to
greeting you when you arrive on campus for the start of classes and the beginning
of a rich, meaningful education at Mercyhurst University.
Best Wishes,
Phil Belfiore, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Special Considerations
Please be aware that we will do our best to place you in one of your top IDST
choices, but for some students, IDST placement might depend on major
selection (Dance, Music, Athletic Training and Sports Medicine majors might
have restrictions) and student-athlete schedules might also need to be taken
into consideration.
Learning Differences Program
If you are planning to enroll in the Learning Differences Program, please be
aware that your choices may be reviewed by the Learning Differences staff. If
you have any questions regarding the Learning Differences Program, please
contact Elaine Ruggiero at eruggiero@mercyhurst.edu or (814) 824-3048.
Honors Preparation Year
If you have any questions about becoming an Honors Preparation Year
(HPY) participant, please contact Honors Director Susan Johnson at
sjohnson2@mercyhurst.edu or (814) 824-3370.
Courses
Glitz, Glamour and the Great Depression
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:50 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Most students learn about the 1930s from the perspective of tragic events like
the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl. You likely recognize the name Franklin
Roosevelt and you’ve probably seen The Wizard of Oz. The purpose of this class
is to present a different side of the 1930s – one that is more colorful than most
people imagine, but without sugar-coating the major problems Americans
faced. Period films, primary source readings, lectures and discussion will paint
for you a vibrant picture beyond the scope of most textbooks. We’ll look at
this tumultuous decade that helped shape today’s life, style and culture, from
the “Golden Age” of movies and radio to new daring fashions and design, and
emerging ethnic culture.
Pertrina Marrero | Multicultural Center
Brian Sheridan | Communications
Jen Craven | Fashion Merchandising
Breaking Down Breaking Bad
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the award-winning television
series Breaking Bad. It will include an analysis of plot, character, dialogue,
theme and other narrative elements to determine whether the series can
legitimately be considered a work of art. The scientific principles of the series
will be revealed through the fundamental understanding of drug chemistry
and the various analytical methods used for illicit drug investigations. The
course will also include an analysis of the legal issues and criminological and
sociological theories and themes presented in the series.
Dr. Ken Schiff | English
Dr. Clint Jones | Chemistry
Attorney Tina Fryling | Criminal Justice
Science and the Extraordinary
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Is Big Foot real? Do horoscopes really predict your future? Are aliens responsible
for crop circles? Teaching students to critically evaluate new information is a
keystone of the liberal arts education. This course focuses on teaching students
to use the scientific method and critical thinking skills to differentiate between
science and pseudoscience. Students will learn to evaluate the accuracy of
literary and web resources and identify common logical fallacies used to
support many pseudoscientific claims. Group discussions will encourage
students to use critical thinking skills to debate the validity of pseudoscientific
arguments and explore alternate explanations. Written assignments will be
used to strengthen students’ abilities to synthesize the supporting evidence
and their thoughts into an organized and convincing argument. Topics covered
will include cryptozoology, paranormal activities, extraterrestrial life, urban
legends, conspiracy theories and natural mysteries.
Dr. Heather Garvin | Anthropology/Archaeology
Dr. Tibor Solymosi | Philosophy
Dr. Matt Weaver | Psychology
What is Happiness?
Tuesdays and Thursdays
8 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
Humankind has always wrestled with the question of happiness and our
continual search for it is one of the defining features of our existence. We see
evidence of this in the world’s great narratives – whether religious, literary,
philosophical or scientific – that address the nature and sources of happiness
and inform our individual, social, political and economic discourses and
practices. But what is happiness? This course invites students to explore the
many different aspects of happiness from the perspectives of ancient and
contemporary philosophy, psychology and literature.
Dr. Gerry Tobin | Psychology
Dr. James Snyder | Philosophy
Dr. Brian Reed | English
Cold War
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
It has been more than 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the symbolic
end of the Cold War. For nearly 50 years the United States and the Soviet
Union built up massive arsenals, traded insults, infiltrated spies, promoted
ideologies, competed for allies, broadcast propaganda and stood poised at
the edge of mutual annihilation. Then it was over. What was the Cold War
about? What caused this conflict and why did it end? What lessons can be
learned and what legacies remain for contemporary international politics? In
this course we will examine the Cold War chronologically and thematically,
focusing on the geopolitical, social, cultural and ethical aspects of the conflict.
The course will focus on the International Relations approach to the bipolar
world of nuclear super powers, Comparative Politics approach to socio-political
and institutional arrangements of totalitarian communist state and capitalist
republican democracy, and the complex ethical choices faced by individuals
and institutions. The legacies and lessons of the Cold War will be addressed.
Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned | Political Science
Dr. Brian Ripley | Political Science
Dr. Daniel McFee | Religious Studies
Out of This World: Space, Science and Culture
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
10:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
Capt. James Kirk famously called space “the final frontier,” and indeed it could
very well hold the ultimate destiny of civilization. Discover the future of space
in this unique interdisciplinary course. Topics covered will include the origin of
the universe, Stradivarius and the Sun, the Space Race, how to find meteorites,
the influence of space in our culture, ancient solar power, science fiction and
alien biology. We’ll even explore the true story of the American buried on the
Moon.
Dr. Marnie Sullivan | English
Dr. J. Michael Campbell | Biology
Scott McKenzie | Geology
The Business of Health
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:50 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Americans currently spend more on health than any civilization in the history
of our planet. How do the dollars that we spend impact people’s health and
the health of business in the United States and the world? How do agricultural,
pharmaceutical, legal, political, media and medical considerations impact the
viability of businesses and the health of populations? How should businesses
balance profit with the wellbeing of people? Public health issues such as
the regulation of tobacco, legalization of marijuana, mass incarceration,
politicization of high fructose corn syrup, homelessness and treatment of
undocumented workers impact business and the health of people. This course
will utilize multiple methods such as real-time class polling, lectures, pointcounterpoint debates, guest speakers, videos, observations and reflections
Dr. Kris Gossett | Business
Dr. James Teufel | Public Health
Young Adult Literature
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:50 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
“YA” is a popular term to describe fiction written for readers between 10 and
22 years of age. In this course, we will read a range of YA literature, including
award-winning fiction, a graphic novel and dystopian sci-fi texts. While we
will read for critical literary analysis, we will also use the YA fiction as a vehicle
to explore the biological, cognitive and social development associated with
coming-of-age. In short, the texts will act as a springboard to understand
the challenges and excitement associated with the phase of life between
adolescence and full-fledged adulthood.
Our discussions will unfold within the context of understanding how biological
changes in brain development, as well as personal expectations based on social
networks, influence complex forms of thinking and decision-making at this
period of a person’s life. Throughout the class, we’ll explore how this knowledge
can be applied for good decision-making as students begin their first year in
the college setting.
Dr. Melissa Heerboth | Psychology
Dr. Christina Riley-Brown | English
Road to the White House
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
10:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
On Nov. 6, 2016, Americans will choose the next President of the United States.
The day will mark the culmination of a yearlong process that was marked not
only by fierce political debates, vitriolic rhetoric and scandal, but by inspiring
speeches, citizen participation and meaningful dialogues about the most
pressing public problems. Road to the White House explores the exciting world
of electoral politics by following the 2016 presidential election in real time.
Over the course of the term, students will come to know the candidates and
learn the processes, techniques and strategies that are shaping this presidential
election. In addition to engaging readings, lectures and multimedia
experiences, students will participate in an election simulation.
Dr. Joe Morris | Political Science
Dr. Rolfe Peterson | Political Science
Meghan Waskiewicz | Communications
For more information about IDST courses,
please contact:
Thomas McKinnon
Office of Acadamic Support
tmckinnon@mercyhurst.edu
(814) 824-2475
Office: Egan 127
Carpe Diem.
That’s been our motto since Mercyhurst’s founding in 1926. Officially, it’s Latin
for “Seize the Day,” but to us, it means so much more. It means that Mercyhurst
students never stop exploring, from within our gates to around the globe. At
Mercyhurst, you’ll have the freedom to discover not only what you want to do
but who you are and who you can become.
We look forward to meeting you in the fall.