BSC College Catalog

CATALOG DATE : 2004-2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2004-05 Comprehensive Index

Course Listing

Accounting (AC)
Art (AR)
Asian Studies (AN)
Astronomy (AS)
Biology (BI)
Business Administration (BA)
Chemistry (CH)
Classics (CL)
Computer Science (CS)
Dance (DA)
Economics (EC)
Education (ED)
Educational Psychology (EPy)
English (EH)
Environmental Studies (ES)
French (FR)
German (GN)
Greek (GK)
History (HI)
Honors (HON)
Interdisciplinary Courses
Latin (LA)
Leadership Studies (LS)
Mathematics (MA)
Music(MU)
Music Comp. and Theory (MU)
Music Ed. and Pedagogy (MEd)
Music History and Lit.(MU)
Music Performance (MS)
Philosophy (PL)
Physics (PH)
Political Science (PS)
Psychology (PY)
Religion (RE)
Sociology (SO)
Spanish (SN)
Speech (SP)
Theatre Arts (ThA)

Note: Students who elect an interdisciplinary major must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in the required courses in each of the disciplines in order to meet graduation requirements.


Biology-Psychology (17 units)
Bachelor of Science

The biology-psychology major comprises a specific combination of courses designed to provide students with an understanding of the biological basis of behavior and thought. The major is designed to prepare students for a number of graduate programs, including those in the neurosciences, physiology, physiological psychology, and behavioral biology. It also provides good preparation for students planning to go into one of the health professions.

Major Requirements

  • BI 105
  • BI 115
  • BI 125
  • BI 301
  • BI 303
  • BI 315
  • one elective unit in BI from the following:
  • BI 402 Cell Biology
  • BI 405 Recombinant DNA Technology
  • BI 408 Biochemistry
  • BI 425 Comparative Vertebrate Embryology
  • BI 442 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
  • BI 493 Independent Study
  • CH 121 and 122
  • PY 101
  • PY 204
  • PY 312
  • PY 407 or 408
  • two electives in PY, one of which must be from the following:
  • PY 217 Drugs, Brain and Behavior
  • PY 207 Psychology of Motivation
  • PY 313 Psychological Disorders
  • PY 324 Developmental Psychology
  • two units in the senior capstone experience in biology or psychology. For biology, students must complete two units from BI 470, 472, and/or 499. For psychology, students must complete PY 417, and one unit in PY 410, 450, or 497 (all of which require PY 304 as a prerequisite).

Computer Science Mathematics (15 units)
Bachelor of Science

The interdisciplinary major in computer science and mathematics offers courses that meet the needs of a wide variety of students. Majors in this program might enter graduate studies or gain employment in the fields of computer science, applied mathematics, computer or business/computer professions, actuarial science or teaching, among others. Students with interests in any of these fields may wish to combine the interdisciplinary major with courses in business administration, economics, or other courses in their chosen area. Students interested in this major are encouraged to meet with computer science and mathematics faculty as soon as possible for advising concerning the student’s intended goals.

Major Requirements

  • CS 170
  • CS 250
  • CS 290
  • CS 499
  • four additional CS units at the 300 level or above, at least one of which must be a 400-level course
  • MA 231
  • MA 232
  • MA 240
  • MA 310
  • MA 454
  • two additional MA units chosen from MA 311, MA 317, MA 421

As part of the senior interim experience, all students are required to participate in an assessment process. This may include, but is not limited to, a standardized test, an exit interview, an oral examination, or some combination of the above.

English-Theatre Arts
Bachelor of Arts

There has always been a strong connection between literature and theatre. The study of dramatic literature is enriched by the study of performance; likewise, the production of a dramatic work is enhanced by an in-depth study of the text as well as of its context in literary history. Study in this program explores such connections, providing students with the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary for both the reading and production of literary works. Majors in this program might pursue certification in secondary education, graduate study in theatre or English, or other professional careers.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required (14 units):

  • EH 204
  • EH 250
  • EH 260
  • one EH unit emphasizing a breadth of literary study (category 1)
  • one EH unit emphasizing a depth of literary study (category 2); EH 360 strongly recommended
  • one EH unit emphasizing literature of a different time, place, or culture (category 3)
  • one EH or ThA unit emphasizing contemporary literature (category 4); EH 394 or ThA 331 strongly recommended
  • one EH unit emphasizing literary theory (category 5)
  • ThA 110
  • ThA 120
  • ThA 310
  • ThA 403
  • one unit from the Theatre Practicum series (ThA 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, or 402), one-half unit of which must be in performance and one-half in a technical area
  • ThA 499 or one unit of EH 470, 471, or 472

History Political Science (15 units)
Bachelor of Arts

The history-political science major provides intensive study of both disciplines and offers the opportunity for a student to recognize and create intellectual connections between the two related fields. The major emphasizes the development of analytic and writing skills needed in graduate study or professions such as teaching, law, and business.

Major Requirements

History (7 units):

  • HI 102 and 103 (or HI 110); or HI 151 and 152; or HI 181 and 182
  • HI 270
    two additional units in HI at the 200 level
  • two additional units in HI at the 300 level

Political Science (7 units):

  • PS 101 or PS 238
  • PS 204 and PS 304
  • PS 470
  • three elective units in PS
  • one additional unit in HI 470 or PS 472

International Studies (14 units)
Bachelor of Arts

The international studies major is intended to provide students interested in global affairs with an intensive course of study of international topics. The major requires ability in a foreign language, completion of an interdisciplinary set of courses, and a significant international experience with the strong expectation that this experience will involve study abroad. Students interested in this major are encouraged to meet with the international studies program coordinator at the earliest possible date.

Five components comprise the international studies major. The first is the international studies core curriculum, which introduces the concepts of culture and diversity, the historical interaction between cultures and nations, and the essential methods to study them. The second component is a concentration of courses that focus on a specific region, culture, or discipline. The third element in the major is intensive training in a foreign language, either ancient or modern, in order to enable the student to study primary documents in context, to travel and work abroad, and to think and communicate beyond national borders. The fourth element is the Senior Capstone, in which the student synthesizes his or her knowledge and skill into a work of original research.

The fifth component of the major is the strong expectation that the student integrate a study abroad program into the major. Study abroad can take place during a regular semester, during interim, or through a summer program. It may involve participation in an established program or may be individually contracted. The International Studies Committee must approve each student's proposed international experience.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required (14 units):

  1. five core courses that introduce comparative issues in international relations, culture and its representation:
    • IS 100 Introduction to International Studies
    • PS 235 Introduction to International Relations
    • HI 208 Diplomatic History of the United States Since 1941
    • EC 201 Principles of Economics I
    • PY 230 Cross-Cultural Psychology or SBS 105 Geography
  2. four units in a modern foreign language at the 220 level or above; courses used to fulfill this requirement may not count towards the area of concentration requirements
  3. four units in an area of concentration, defined broadly by three geographic regions: Europe; the Far East, Middle East, and South East; and Latin America. (Specific courses are listed below.) No more than two courses may be taken from any one discipline; no more than one course that is not focused on a specific geographic area may be used to meet this requirement; two of the four units must be at the 300 level or higher. Area courses may have prerequisites that do not satisfy area of concentration requirements.
  4. IS 499

At least five of the fourteen units must be at the 300 level or higher.

Individual courses may apply to only one element of the major. Specifically, a course taken as part of the core curriculum or foreign language requirement cannot also apply toward the area of concentration.

Languages not offered by Birmingham-Southern College may be taken through the BACHE consortium, but such courses must be at the 200-level or higher and approved in advance by the International Studies Committee.

Students who complete a major in international studies and a major in a foreign language may elect to complete only the language courses required by the foreign language major. Students must then complete four additional area of concentration units to fulfill the number of units required in the international studies major.

Students with a demonstrated fluency in another language may substitute, with approval from the International Studies Committee, four additional area of concentration units in place of the four foreign language units required by the major.

A student who substitutes area of concentration units for language units must have prior approval of both the student's advisor and the International Studies Committee.

Europe

  • AR 216 Survey of Art History II: Renaissance to Present
  • AR 220 International Film I
  • AR 221 International Film II
  • AR 315 Renaissance and Baroque Art
  • AR 415 Nineteenth-Century Art
  • AR 416 Twentieth-Century Art
  • EC 410 International Trade
  • FR 325 French Civilization
  • FR 401 Survey of French Literature I
  • FR 402 Survey of French Literature II
  • FR 410 Twentieth-Century Literature
  • FR 420 Nineteenth-Century Literature
  • FR 460 Major Authors (when appropriate)
  • FR 470, 471 French Seminar (when appropriate; consult French faculty; topics vary)
  • GN 303 Introduction to German Culture I
  • GN 304 Introduction to German Culture II
  • GN 310 German Landeskunde
  • GN 401 Survey of German Literature I
  • GN 402 Survey of German Literature II
  • HI 102 European Civilization I
  • HI 103 European Civilization II
  • HI 241 Monarchs, Rebellion, and Empire: History of England from the Anglo-Saxons to George III
  • HI 242 Industry, Imperialism, and World War: History of England From George III to the Present
  • HI 245 Russian Civilization
  • HI 248 Modern Germany, 1870 to the Present
  • HI 289 Remembering World War II: The War in Europe and the Holocaust
  • HI 341 The Renaissance and Reformation
  • HI 342 French Revolution and Napoleon
  • HI 343 Europe in the Nineteenth Century
  • HI 344 Europe, 1914-1945
  • HI 345 Europe After 1945
  • HI 346 Russia in the Twentieth Century
  • HI 347 Britain in the Twentieth Century
  • HI 349 The Cold War
  • PS 238 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • PS 338 Comparative Political Behavior
  • PS 340 Comparative Elite Behavior
  • PS 342 Comparative Political Development
  • PS 368 Political Violence
  • PS 400 International Political Economy
  • PS 445 Democratization

Latin America

  • EC 410 International Trade
  • EH 395 Contemporary International Fiction
  • FR 490 Francophone Literature from Africa and the Caribbean
  • HI 260 Social History of Latin America
  • HI 261 Modern Latin America and the Revolutionary Tradition
  • MU 126 Music of the World’s People (when appropriate; consult music faculty; topics vary)
  • PS 238 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • PS 240 Introduction to Latin American Politics
  • PS 338 Comparative Political Behavior
  • PS 340 Comparative Elite Behavior
  • PS 342 Comparative Political Development
  • PS 366 Politics of Mexico and Central America
  • PS 368 Political Violence
  • PS 400 International Political Economy
  • PS 410 Development in the Americas
  • PS 445 Democratization

Far East, Middle East, and South East

  • AR 220 International Film I
  • EC 410 International Trade
  • EH 395 Contemporary International Fiction
  • HI 181 East Asian Civilization I: Introduction to Chinese Civilization
  • HI 265 The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
  • HI 282 Disputers of the Tao: Major Texts in the Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist Traditions in East Asia
  • HI 283 Modern China
  • HI 287 Western Images of Asia
  • HI 288 Remembering World War II: The War in Asia and the Pacific
  • HI 385 The People’s Republic of China
  • HI 386 Japan in the Twentieth Century
  • MU 126 Music of the World’s People (when appropriate; consult music faculty; topics vary)
  • PS 238 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • PS 338 Comparative Political Behavior
  • PS 340 Comparative Elite Behavior
  • PS 342 Comparative Political Development
  • PS 361 Politics in China and Japan
  • PS 368 Political Violence
  • PS 400 International Political Economy
  • PS 445 Democratization

Courses in International Studies

IS 100 Introduction to International Studies (1)
An entry level course incorporating lecture, demonstration, visual aids, class discussion, and personal research designed to attune the student to various ethnic customs, cultural mores, and comparative contributions to the international community (an IC designated course). Fall.

IS 499 Senior Project in International Studies (1)
A significant interdisciplinary individual project that must be approved during the spring term of the junior year by the International Studies Committee. The typical project will require significant independent research and will result in a paper at least twenty-five pages in length. Creative projects presented in other formats will also be considered. The focus of the senior capstone should be within the student’s area of concentration, with the expectation that faculty sponsor(s) have expertise in that area. This course requires an academic contract for individualized study, reviewed and approved by Office of Interim and Contract Learning.

Musical Theatre (17 units)
Bachelor of Arts

The musical theatre major provides students with a combination of courses in dance, music, and theatre that is intended to prepare them for careers as performers in musical theatre. Given its emphases on acting, ballet, voice, piano, jazz, and music theory, the musical theatre major is more specialized than the theatre major, and a successful audition at the end of the sophomore year is required to gain admission to the program.

  • MS 110 and 310 (1 unit)
  • MS 320 (2 units)
  • MU 150, 151, 153, 159; or MU 151, 152, 153, 154, 159, 160 (2 units)
  • ThA 230
  • ThA 111
  • ThA 120 and 320
  • ThA 210
  • ThA 220
  • ThA 221
  • ThA 323 and 324
  • two units of dance, at least one in ballet
  • a minimum of four performance experiences in on campus productions; these should include one dramatic and one musical performance and one experience as a technician. Students should thus enroll for a minimum of one-and-one-half units of ThA 102, 202, 302, and/or 402.
  • ThA 499

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (16 units)
Bachelor of Arts

The major in philosophy, politics, and economics is designed to enable students to deal more adequately with the broad range of questions raised by contemporary social, economic, and political issues. Ethical questions that require philosophical reflection are always raised by social issues as they concern what we owe others and the character of the social world we ought to be building for ourselves. And political and economic considerations are always directly involved in considering the question of the feasibility of implementing any social program. Whether we are concerned with the pursuit of a socially responsible health care system, the future of social-welfare programs, the role of the nation state in an increasingly global economy, arguments about affirmative action, or questions surrounding the multi-cultural character of modern societies, we must always be asking what we ought to do and what political and economic arrangements are appropriate and feasible to realize those ends. In addition to being better prepared to understand and deal with such social issues, the major is an excellent preparation for a number of professional careers in such areas as law, business, or public service.

(1) Each student must complete the following interdisciplinary core of courses:

  • PL 251
  • PL 252
  • PL 255
  • one additional unit in PL at the 300 level or above
  • PS 250
  • PS 331
  • PS 306 or PS 400
  • one additional unit in PS at the 300 level or above
  • EC 201
  • EC 202
  • EC 420
  • one additional unit in EC at the 300 level or above

(2) select PL, PS, or EC as an area of concentration and complete the following:

two additional units in the area of concentration at the 300 level or above, to be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor from the PPE program in that area of concentration

one unit of formal/quantitative study different for each area of concentration: for philosophy, PL 241; for political science, PS 204; for economics, either PL 241, PS 204, or EC 311 (unless EC 311 has been used above)

(3) an independent interdisciplinary research project in the senior year that incorporates at least two of the programmatic disciplines. The project may employ a variety of research methods relevant to the empirical or theoretical aims of the project, but it should strive to integrate philosophical, political, and economic considerations, with at least two of these dimensions developed. Students should seek out a faculty sponsor for the project in one of the programmatic disciplines and a co-sponsor from one of the remaining programmatic disciplines. The research may be pursued in a disciplinary senior seminar from one of the three disciplines (with the approval of the discipline), in an existing course relevant to the project (in this case, the instructor of the course should be designated as the sponsor), or through a contracted tutorial. If it is in the area of concentration and at the 300 level or above, the course in which the research is pursued may apply toward the requirement in (2) above. The project is graded jointly by the faculty sponsor and co-sponsor.

Graduation with Disciplinary Honors in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

A student majoring in PPE may graduate with honors by fulfilling the following requirements:

(1) Complete the requirements for a major in philosophy, politics, and economics.

(2) Attain a 3.50 or better grade point average in all courses taken at Birmingham-Southern College.

(3) Attain a 3.50 or better grade point average in all courses counting toward the PPE major.

(4) Attain a minimum grade of “A-” on the senior research project.

Religion-Philosophy
Bachelor of Arts

This major provides a basic historical orientation in the fields of religion and philosophy as well as experience in the current issues dealt with in these academic disciplines.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required (13 units):

  • PL 250
  • PL 251 and 252
  • three additional units in PL, at least one of which is 300 level or above
  • RE 201
  • RE 205
  • RE 215
  • RE 311 or 315
  • two additional units in RE
  • RE 499 or PL 499

Sociology-Political Science (11 units)
Bachelor of Arts

The sociology-political science major is a course of study that shows the interconnections between the two disciplines. The two areas have a common methodology and share an interest in the study of relationships of power and authority in society. Students who choose this major may go on to graduate study in either discipline or professional study in a field such as law.

  • PS 101
  • SO 101
  • PS 204 or SO 204
  • PS 304 or SO 304
  • SO 335 or SO 339 or SO 383
  • additional units in PS for a total of five
  • additional units in SO for a total of five
  • PS 472, PS 499 or SO 499

Sociology-Political Science
Bachelor of Arts

The sociology-political science major is a course of study that shows the interconnections between the two disciplines. The two areas have a common methodology and share an interest in the study of relationships of power and authority in society. Students who choose this major may go on to graduate study in either discipline or professional study in a field such as law.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required (11 units):

  • PS 101
  • SO 101
  • PS 204 or SO 204
  • PS 304 or SO 304
  • SO 335, SO 339, or SO 383
  • additional units in PS for a total of five
  • additional units in SO for a total of five
  • PS 472, PS 499, or SO 499

 

Sociology-Psychology
Bachelor of Arts

The sociology-psychology major encourages students to see the methodological and theoretical relationships between sociology and psychology, and it allows them to take a social-psychological approach to the analysis of human behavior and social interaction. Students who select this major may continue their study in a variety of graduate programs in psychology, sociology, or social work. They may also pursue additional training in law, medicine, or the health professions.

Major Requirements

The following courses are required (13 units):

  • PY 101
  • SO 101
  • PY 204 or SO 204
  • PY 215 or SO 215
  • PY 303 or SO 303
  • PY 304 or SO 304
  • PY 407 or PY 408
  • additional units in PY for a total of six
  • additional units in SO for a total of six
  • PY 499 or SO 499