Nor’easter Core Curriculum

Nor’easter Core Curriculum uneadmin Thu, 12/12/2024 - 16:26

Nor’easter Core Curriculum Framework

The Nor’easter Core (NC) curriculum ensures that all 91ֱ��Ƶundergraduates develop depth, breadth, and rigor in their education. The core curriculum identifies seven content areas that are critical to understanding our complex and evolving world, and it ensures that 91ֱ��Ƶundergraduates pursue foundational study in each, which is subsequently reinforced throughout their education. In total, students take thirteen (13) core courses, reflecting forty (40) credits, to fulfill their general education requirements. The seven Critical Content Tenets of the Nor’easter Core curriculum are:

Power, Knowledge, and Justice
Human Experience
Human Health
Health of Natural Ecosystems
Creativity and the Arts
Quantitative Reasoning
Scientific Method

Nor’easter Core Curriculum Objectives

The Nor’easter Core Curriculum prepares students to:

Express original ideas through written, oral, and graphical forms;
Demonstrate the ability to collaborate and learn with and from others;
Apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, including creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and quantitative reasoning in academic and real-world situations.

Overview of the Nor’easter Core Curriculum

The Nor’easter Core curriculum engages students in a breadth of academic study and develops intellectual skills characterized by a well-scaffolded sequence of scientific, mathematical, humanities, and social-behavioral coursework.

Foundational Knowledge and Skills Courses

One (1) Nor’easter First Year Seminar Course

The first-year seminar course is designed to support first-year students’ transition into the academic and social fabric of the university and help align their personal growth with academic success. This course is designated with an FYS attribute in the registration system.

FYS 110 First-Year Seminar – 3 credits

One (1) Nor’easter First Year Writing Course

The first-year writing course cultivates effective foundational written and oral communication abilities. This course is designated with an FYW attribute in the registration system.

WRT 110 Becoming a Writer: Composition – 3 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Creativity and the Arts Course

Students will create an artistic artifact or solution to a problem through creative thinking, authentic personal expression, and innovation. These courses are designated with a CA attribute in the registration system.

ART 101 Watercolor – 3 credits
ART 102 Photography – 3 credits
ART 104 Painting I – 3 credits
ART 105 Elements of Acting – 3 credits
ART 106 Two-Dimensional Design – 3 credits
ART 109 T-Shirt Design – 3 credits
ART 110 Ceramics I – 3 credits
ART 111 Scientific Illustration – 3 credits
ART 113 Three-Dimensional Fundamentals – 3 credits
ART 114 Printmaking – 3 credits
ART 118 Drawing & Design Fundamentals – 3 credits
ART 124 The Painted Book – 3 credits
ART 130 The Art of the Letter – 3 credits
ART 199 Topics in Art – 3 credits
ART 200 Advanced Drawing – 3 credits
ART 207 Landscape Painting – 3 credits
ART 214 Color Digital Photography – 3 credits
ART 230 Graphic Design – 3 credits
ART 234 Digital Animation – 3 credits
BUMG 120 Innovation through Technology – 3 credits
CMM 115 Media Production Fundamentals – 3 credits
CMM 225 Topics in Digital Storytelling – 3 credits
MUS 101 Introduction to Music – 3 credits
MUS 104 Introduction to Singing Voice – 3 credits
MUS 115 Music Appreciation – 3 credits
MUS 150 African Drumming Ensemble – 3 credits
MUS 152 Beginning Fiddle Music – 3 credits
MUS 218 Music in Film and Animation – 3 credits
SPC 100 Effective Public Speaking – 3 credits
WRT 111 Topics in Creative Writing – 3 credits
WRT 211 Creative Writing: Poetry – 3 credits
WRT 212 Creative Writing: Short Fiction – 3 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Scientific Method course

Students implement the scientific method as a means of acquiring knowledge in a course that includes a laboratory component. These courses are designated with an SM attribute in the registration system.

BIO 104 General Biology – 4 credits
BIO 105 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution – 4 credits
BIO 106 Cell/Molecular Biology – 4 credits
CHE 110 General Chemistry I – 4 credits
CHE 130 Principles of Chemistry – 4 credits
CHE 150 University General Chemistry I – 4 credits
MAR 105 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution of Marine Organisms – 4 credits
MAR 106 Cell and Molecular Biology of Marine Organisms – 4 credits
MAR 150 Discovering the Ocean Environment – 4 credits
PHY 110 General Physics I w/Lab – 4 credits
PHY 210 University Physics I – 4 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Quantitative Reasoning course

Students apply quantitative reasoning to solve real-world problems. These courses are designated with a QR attribute in the registration system.

MAT 120 Statistics – 3 credits
MAT 150 Statistics for Life Sciences – 3 credits
MAT 151 Statistics for Environmental Sciences – 3 credits
MAT 180 Precalculus – 3 credits
MAT 190 Calculus I – 4 credits
GIS 161 Fundamentals of Geospatial Science and Technology – 3 credits

Expanding Awareness of the World

One (1) Nor’easter Power, Knowledge, and Justice course within a Social Science discipline

Students evaluate the challenges of engaging with diverse perspectives, people, and communities and their role in contributing meaningfully to a more just and equitable society at local and global levels. These courses are designated with a PKJS attribute in the registration system.

ANT 101 Introduction to Anthropology – 3 credits
ANT 211 Medical Anthropology – 3 credits
ANT 228 Anthropology of Gender – 3 credits
BUEC 203 Macroeconomics – 3 credits
BUEC 204 Microeconomics – 3 credits
ENV 130 Political Ecology – 3 credits
GLS 100 Introduction to Global Studies – 3 credits
GWS 200 Introduction to Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies – 3 credits
PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics – 3 credits
PSC 105 Introduction to Political Science, the Politics of Power – 3 credits
PSC 110 Power and Knowledge: Inventing and Producing Traditions – 3 credits
PSC 125 Understanding the Law – 3 credits
PSC 200 Introduction to Political Theory – 3 credits
PSC 204 Introduction to Comparative Politics – 3 credits
PSC 210 Constitutional Law – 3 credits
PSC 240 American Foreign Policy – 3 credits
PSC 241 The Role of Human Rights in Human Policy – 3 credits
PSC 278 Human Traditions II: Empire, Genocide, and Politics – 3 credits
PSY 215 Psychology of Gender – 3 credits
PSY 236 Mental Health in Society – 3 credits
SOC 150 Introduction to Sociology – 3 credits
SOC 170 Deviance and Crime – 3 credits
SOC 240 Race, Class & Gender – 3 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Human Experience course within a Humanities discipline

Students evaluate human behaviors, institutions, and systems of global perspectives that are grounded in cultural humility through a historical context. These courses are designated with an HEHU attribute in the registration system.

ARB 101 Basic Arabic – 3 credits
ARC 190 Exploring Cultures through Archeology – 3 credits
ARH 210 Art History Survey I – 3 credits
ARH 211 Art History Survey II – 3 credits
ARH 270 Modern Art – 3 credits
ENG 115 Pilgrims, Poets and Other Yahoos: British Literature I – 3 credits
ENG 140 Indigenous Film and Literature – 3 credits
ENG 202 Lyrics – 3 credits
ENG 209 Introduction to Linguistics – 3 credits
ENG 229 Topics in British Literature before 1800: What Makes the Novel Novel? – 3 credits
ENG 235 Topics in US Literature to 1865: The Captivity Narrative – 3 credits
ENG 276 Human Traditions I: Wisdom Literatures – 3 credits
ENG 278 Human Traditions II: Cultures in Contact – 3 credits
ENG 278 Human Traditions II: Writing in the Modern World – 3 credits
HIS 150 Telling Tales of the Past – 3 credits
HIS 199 Topic: Food in American Culture – 3 credits
HIS 204 Growing Up Female – 3 credits
HIS 222 US History I – 3 credits
HIS 223 US History II – 3 credits
HIS 250 American Women's History I – 3 credits
HIS 251 American Women's History II – 3 credits
HIS 266 A History of Drugs in the Americas – 3 credits
HIS 276 Human Traditions I: Domination and Resistance in World History – 3 credits
HIS 276 Human Traditions I: Scientific Revolutions – 3 credits
HIS 276 Human Traditions I: Environmental History of the World to 1500 – 3 credits
HIS 278 Human Traditions II: Modern African History – 3 credits
HIS 278 Human Traditions II: Env History of the World From 1500 – 3 credits
HIS 290 Topics in Hands-on History: Holocaust in History and Memory – 3 credits
HIS 291 War Letters – 3 credits
HIS 292 Mourning the Dead – 3 credits
PHI 110 Problems of Philosophy – 3 credits
PHI 205 The Future of Humanity – 3 credits
PHI 276 Human Traditions I: Ever Changing Truths – 3 credits
PHI 278 Human Traditions II: Ways of Worldmaking – 3 credits
SPA 101 Beginning Spanish – 3 credits
SPA 211 Intermediate Spanish – 3 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Health of Natural Ecosystems Course

Students evaluate the impact of human interaction with Earth systems and best practice solutions to environmental problems. These courses are designated with an HNE attribute in the registration system.

ENV 104 Introduction to Environmental Issues – 3 credits
ENV 105 Blue-Green Learning Community: Introduction to Environmental Issues – 3 credits
ENV 200 Environment and Society: A Global Perspective – 3 credits
ENV 208 Climate Change: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions – 3 credits
MAF 200 Introduction to Marine Pollution – 3 credits
PHY 218 Energy and Climate Change – 4 credits

One (1) Nor’easter Human Health Course

Students formulate an informed view of the holistic, multifaceted nature of human health and health equity. These courses are designated with an HH attribute in the registration system.

ANT 241 Plagues and Populations – 3 credits
ENG 208 Narrative Medicine and Writing – 3 credits
ENG 227 Illness Narratives – 3 credits
NUTR 220 Nutrition – 3 credits
PHI 276 (Human Traditions I) The Good Life – 3 credits
PSY 105 Introduction to Psychology – 3 credits
PSY 205 Abnormal Psychology – 3 credits
PUB 200 Foundations of Public Health – 3 credits
PUB 212 Social Determinant of Health – 3 credits

Broadening Understanding of Social and Global Issues

Students enroll in three (3) additional courses (nine (9)-credits) selected from the Nor’easter Power, Knowledge, and Justice designation (PKJS or PKJO) and/or the Nor’easter Human Experience designation (HEHU or HEO) offered in any disciplinary area.

Nor’easter Power, Knowledge, and Justice – Open courses

These courses are Nor’easter Power, Knowledge, and Justice courses approved to meet the tenet outside social science disciplines. These courses are designated with a PKJO attribute in the registration system.

EDU 133 Controversial Topics in Education – 3 credits
ENG 116 Democratizing Literature: Writing and Revolution after 1800 – 3 credits
ENG 135 Dog Stories – 3 credits
ENG 200 Writing, Revolution, and Resistance in US Literature – 3 credits
ENG 201 Who and What is an American? Reimagining US Literature – 3 credits
ENG 204 Animals, Literature, and Culture – 3 credits
ENG 206 Introduction to Literary Theory and Criticism – 3 credits
ENG 214 Freedom & Authority – 3 credits
ENG 216 Criminals, Idiots & Minors: Women and the Law in Victorian England – 3 credits
ENG 221 Justice – 3 credits
ENG 237 Topics in US Literature after 1865: American Dystopias – 3 credits
ENG 237 Topics in US Literature after 1865: Women of the West – 3 credits
GWS/HIS 276 Human Traditions I: Women in the Ancient World (This class is cross-listed) – 3 credits
GWS/HIS 278 Human Traditions II: Women in the Modern World (This class is cross-listed) – 3 credits
HIS 290 History Hands-On Topic: African History and the Image of Africa – 3 credits
HIS 290 History Hands-On Topic: Colonization and Decolonization in Africa – 3 credits
HIS 290 History Hands-On Topic: Maine Indian Policy – 3 credits
PHI 201 Bioethics – 3 credits
PHI 278 Human Traditions II: Knowledge and the Modern World – 3 credits
SSW 200 Introduction to Social Work – 3 credits

Nor’easter Human Experience – Open Courses

These are Nor’easter Human Experience courses approved outside the traditional humanities disciplines. These courses are designated with an HEO attribute in the registration system.

ARC 235 Archaeology of New England – 3 credits
CMM 211 Introduction to Journalism – 3 credits
CMM 240 Social Media: Theory and Practice – 3 credits
EDU 204 Trauma Responsive Education – 3 credits
EDU 242 Comparative Education in a Global Context – 3 credits
ENV 124 Literature, Nature, & the Environment – 3 credits
MAF 210 Introduction to U.S. Ocean Governance – 3 credits
PSC 201 Introduction to International Relations – 3 credits
PSC 260 The Politics of Evil – 3 credits
PSC 276 Human Traditions I: Freedom of the Will and Political Freedom – 3 credits
PSC 276 Human Traditions I: Myths and Epics: The Interconnections Among Societies – 3 credits
PSC 278 Human Traditions II: Liberty and its Limits – 3 credits
PSC 278 Human Traditions II: Religion, Law & Politics – 3 credits
PSC 278 Human Traditions II: Law & Politics – 3 credits
PSY 250 Lifespan Development – 3 credits
PSY 255 Social Psychology – 3 credits
SOC 212 Society and Culture in Morocco – 3 credits

Deeper Dive in Select Area

The Deeper Dive course requires students to take one (1) 300- or 400-level course outside of their major to provide depth to the general education curriculum. Students choose a deeper dive course from an extensive distribution of approved offerings. Select majors have a designated deeper dive course in order to fulfill all programmatic requirements. The deeper dive courses are designated with a DD attribute in the registration system.

Note: Deeper Dive courses are also coded as meeting other tenets. While students must take one (1) Deeper Dive that satisfies the disciplinary exclusion rule for their program, they may take additional Deeper Dive courses to fulfill other areas of the core if they have not yet satisfied the other tenets.

ANT 312 Human Trafficking (PKJS) – 3 credits
ANT 332 The Anthropology of Magic (HEO) – 3 credits
ART 324 The Painted Book 3-D (CA) – 3 credits
ART 395 Studio Concentration Seminar (CA) – 3 credits
BIO 309 Pathophysiology (no 2nd tenet) – 3 credits
BIO/GWS 340 Biology of Sex and Gender (PKJO) (This class is cross-listed) – 3 credits
BUEC 385 Health Economics (HH) – 3 credits
BUEC 390 Environmental Economics (HNE) – 3 credits
BUMG 303 Management of Non-profit Organizations (PKJO) – 3 credits
BUMG 313 Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PKJO) – 3 credits
BUMG 335 International Management (PKJO) – 3 credits
DSC 301 Introduction to Database Design and SQL (QR) – 3 credits
EDU 385 Diversity Issues in Schools (PKJO) – 3 credits
EDU 499 Causes & Costs of Inequity (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENG 300 Literary Topics: The Slave Narrative (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENG 300 Literary Topics: Shakespeare (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 300 Literary Topics: The Biography of Tangier (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 300 Literary Topics: Writing Sans Frontiers (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENG 301 Nature Films (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 310 Writing and Women’s Health (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 326 Topics in Literature and Health: Madness in Literature (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 326 Topics in Literature and Health: Patient Narratives (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 329 Topics in World Literature: Spinning the Globe (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENG 329 Topics in World Literature: Whitman to Hip Hop (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENG 330 Prize Fiction (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 401 Literatures of the Sea (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENG 420 Victorian Monsters (HEHU) – 3 credits
ENV 331 Women & The Environment (PKJO) – 3 credits
ENV 333A/333L Nature Writers w/Field Lab (HEO) – 4 credits
ENV 334/344L Contemporary Nature Writing w/Lab (HEO) – 4 credits
ENV 399 Literature and Climate Change with Lab (HEO) – 4 credits
GLS 490 Global Humanities Seminar (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 313 American Indian History and Culture (PKJO) – 3 credits
HIS 317 Revolutionary Medicine (HH) – 3 credits
HIS 324 Conquering Disease History of Medicine and Empire (PKJO) – 3 credits
HIS/ENV 335 Environmental History of New England (HEHU) (This class is cross-listed) – 3 credits
HIS 343 Modern Tourism (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 344 Postwar: Europe after WWII (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 349 History of Gender and Sexuality in Latin America (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 353 Sex and the City (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 395 What Actually Happened? Witch Hunts, Women, and Witches (HEHU) – 3 credits
HIS 395 What Actually Happened? Debating the American Revolution (HEHU) – 3 credits
IHS 310 Ethics in the Helping Professions (PKJO) – 3 credits
MAF 300 Climate Change, Oceans, and the Law (HNE) – 3 credits
MAF 310 U.S. Ocean and Coastal Law (HEO) – 3 credits
MAR 316 Science in Society (HNE) – 3 credits
MAT 340 Graph Theory with Applications (QR) – 3 credits
MAT 345 Mathematics of Games and Puzzles (QR) – 3 credits
NUTR 410 Nutrition Across Seven Continents (HH) – 3 credits
OS 414 Stress Management (HH) – 3 credits
PHI 302 Debating Ethics (PKJO) – 3 credits
PHI 303 Race Racism and Beyond (PKJO) – 3 credits
PHI 325 Topics in Philosophy - Philosophy and Film (HEHU) – 3 credits
PHI 325 The Nature of Human Nature (HEHU) – 3 credits
PHI 370 Philosophy of Psychology (HEHU) – 3 credits
PHI 402 The Philosophy of Biology (HEHU) – 3 credits
PHI 430 What’s Really Real (HEHU) – 3 credits
PHY 305 Revolutions of 20th Century Physics (QR) – 3 credits
PSC 304 Gendered Nationalism: The Middle East and North Africa (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 307 Advanced Humanities: Religion and Politics (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 312 The Family and Politics (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 313 Late 20th Century Comparative Revolutions: Iran, Nicaragua, South Africa (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 319 Education Law (PKJS) – 3 credit
PSC 325 The Politics of Public Health (HH) – 3 credits
PSC 330 Theories and Politics of War (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 410 Biopolitics (HH) – 3 credits
PSC 412 International Organization (PKJS) – 3 credits
PSC 450 Contemporary Theories on Feminism (PKJS) – 3 credits
SPA 301 Advanced Spanish (HEHU) – 3 credits
SPE 350 Special Education Law & Advocacy (PKJO) – 3 credits
SSW 300 Human Behavior & Social Work Theory I (PKJO) – 3 credits
SSW 320 Human Behavior and Social Work Theory II (HH) – 3 credits
WRT 304 Reading and Writing in Digital Environments (HEHU) – 3 credits
WRT 312 Fiction Writing Workshop (CA) – 3 credits

Habits of Mind

The Nor’easter Core curriculum also recognizes that understanding the challenges in today’s evolving world requires uniting problem-based, hands-on, active learning with liberal education. Effective teaching and learning practices require an integration of a complex set of skills conceptualized as habits of mind. All course offerings in the Nor’easter Core curriculum emphasize at least one (1) habit of mind. The Nor’easter Core curriculum's six (6) habits of mind include:

Civic Engagement: Students integrate knowledge and experiences to engage in and promote a civil society.
Modes of Communication: Students compose “texts” in a range of modes for a variety of purposes through clear and persuasive communication.
Information Literacy: Students responsibly construct information, drawing upon credible sources.
Critical Thinking: Students apply critical thinking skills and habits of mind to make informed decisions and solve problems.
Ethical Reasoning: Students apply ethical reasoning as a habit of mind in personal, public, or professional settings.
Collaboration: Students apply strategies for collaboration in diverse disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional settings.

Summary

The Nor’easter Core Curriculum is outcomes-based and emphasizes active, engaged approaches to learning. It challenges students to transfer knowledge from one academic area to another, appreciate different disciplinary perspectives on the same topic, and integrate what they have learned to construct their own knowledge. Courses in the Nor’easter Core cultivate effective oral and written communication, collaboration, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving skills, and appreciation of diversity. The Nor’easter Core curriculum is intrinsically valuable, influencing graduates to be informed citizens ready to contribute to a complex, dynamic society.

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