Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required Courses:
Foundational Courses:
LAW 150 Law and Liberty

This course introduces the nature of law and the structure and operation of the central institutions and processes of the US and British legal systems. Topics may include the centrality of human rights, the protection of civil liberties and rights in the criminal justice process, contracts and torts, the role and constitutional position of judges in US and British legal systems, the concept of the rule of law, the imperative of diversity in judicial appointments and in admission to the practice of law, the importance of fairness & justice in legal systems, and impediments to justice constructed by racism and sexism. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence,Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

*
POL 110 American Politics and Government

This course provides students with a critical understanding of the U.S. political process and analytical tools to evaluate authority structures that exercise power and influence. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

POL 215 Constitution, Presidency, and Congress

This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with respect to the structure and functions of the constitutional system (judicial, legislative and executive power and federalism). There is a particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with HIS 215)

(or HIS 215 Constitution, Presidency, and Congress

)
POL 245 International Relations

This course uses the levels of analysis approach to understand international politics and theories in international relations to draw connections between concepts and world issues. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. 3 credits.

POL 345 Philosophical Foundations of Politics

Students in this course study the development of Western political thought from Classical Greece to modern times, examining the conceptual evolution of citizenship, civic obligation, and the nature of justice and exploring the connection between moral and positive law in the western tradition. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

*An approved FYE in Law and Justice may be substituted for LAW 150 Law and Liberty

.

Methods Courses (Take one of the following two-course sequences):
POL 370 Research Statistics in Political Science

Students will learn various qualitative and quantitative research methods in political science and how to write an empirical research design. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: SOC 300. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with SOC 301)

SOC 300 Research Methods in Social Science

Experiential-based course covering fundamental concepts and problems in social science research. Topics include ethics or research on human behavior, design, measurement, sampling, and interviewing and questionnaire construction. There is an emphasis on four research methods: available data, survey research, experiments, and field research. Prerequisite: SOC 110 and 9 credits of Sociology at the 200-level or higher, or POL 110, 215, and 245. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with CRJ 300)

or
PSY 211 Research Methods in Psychology

This foundational laboratory course introduces students to scientific methodology and experiment design as it applies to psychology. Students learn how to identify research questions through literature reviews, develop hypotheses, appropriately design and conduct research projects, and draw conclusions from the findings. The course engages students in data-collection laboratory experiences that culminate in the development, execution, analysis and APA-style presentation of an original experiment on a behavior-related topic of their own choosing. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisite: PSY 110 and 125, or NEU/PSY major with Sophomore standing, or completion of at least 6 credits of PSY courses. 4 credits.

PSY 312 Statistics and Data Analysis

This laboratory course explores the basic quantitative and qualitative statistics and data-based analytical methods used by scientists to interpret and understand behavior. Topics include the logic of the scientific method applied to data analysis, descriptive statistics, the foundations and utility of inferential statistics, and the statistical methodologies of simple and advanced hypothesis testing. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisite: PSY 211, or junior level Psychology or Neuroscience major or minor. 4 credits.

Global Breadth Elective ( Take 1 course, 3 credits; waived for transfer students):
HIS 105 World History II

This survey of modern world history (ca. 1450 to the present) explores key developments in the formation of the modern world. Through primary and secondary sources, the course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how ideas, wars, trade, diseases, and revolutions have shaped the modern world. Examining key concepts such as imperialism, colonialism, nationalism, and globalization, the course encourages students to analyze contemporary global and domestic issues from diverse cultural perspectives, and to engage in ongoing reflections about their own culture and other cultures. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry,Human Diversity. 3 credits.

IBP 101 Crossing Borders: Globalization

This course introduces students to the multiple dimensions of international issues, events, and structures from an array of perspectives by examining cultural, social, geographic, economic and political borders. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

PHL 140 Encountering World Philosophies

A study of diverse perspectives on the basic questions of philosophical inquiry: What is the nature of reality? What is the nature of the self? What is the nature of knowledge? By what standards do we evaluate truth claims? This course examines these questions from perspectives outside the classical philosophical approach rooted in the Mediterranean. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity. 3 credits.

REL 140 Encountering World Religions

This course examines the beliefs and practices of some of the world's major religious traditions and significant religious movements, focusing predominantly on non-Christian or non-European traditions. The goal of the course is for students to develop a religious literacy that will enable them to better understand the world, appreciate religious diversity, and develop the capacity to engage across differences for the common good. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity,Humanistic Perspectives. 3 credits.

Depth Electives (Take 3 courses, 9 credits-at least 1 elective course at or above 300-level):

LAW 200 Legal System and Method

This course introduces students to the common law tradition and the associated legal system and methods of judicial reasoning. Particular reference is made to human rights, sources of law and principles and methods of legal research. In addition, LAW 200 serves as partial preparation for students registered for the University of London-linked certificate in common law, equivalent to the first year of law degree at a British University. Further credit may be transferred to LVC when students successfully complete undergraduate law examinations administered by the University of London. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

LAW 220 Public Law

This course considers the core features of the UK constitution and examines the impact of both EU membership and Council of Europe membership. Particular reference is made to human rights, devolution, and the legal-codification of customary-political practices. A student successfully completing this course will earn three credits toward their undergraduate degree at LVC. In addition, the course LAW 220 serves as partial preparation for students registered for the University of London-linked certificate in common law, equivalent to the first year of law degree at a British University. Further credit may be transferred to LVC when students successfully complete undergraduate law examinations administered by the University of London. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

POL 210 Topics in Comparative Politics

This is an introduction to the study of comparative politics: the comparison of political systems in order to understand how and why these systems function differently. The course is built around three fundamental questions: What is comparative politics? What kinds of phenomena do we compare? What are the major theoretical approaches that guide our studies? We also examine distinctions between the "developing" and the "developed" worlds, and between authoritarian and democratic political regimes. The last half of the semester is devoted to the study of individual country case studies, with an emphasis on those in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity,Social Scientific Inquiry. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with HIS 253)

(or HIS 253 Topics in Comparative History

This seminar will focus on topics in comparative history and politics with a focus on European, Asian, and/or African history. Topics in Comparative Politics currently explores the historical and political formation of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By examining key concepts such as Orientalism, colonialism, and political Islam, this course aims to provide students with an improved understanding of modern MENA. Fulfills requirement: Human Diversity,Social Scientific Inquiry. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, and at least two college level courses in history, political science, global studies, or sociology; or permission of the instructor. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with POL 210)

)
POL 265 Public Policy Analysis

The process of public policy making. This course provides an introduction to the policy process, focusing on the bureaucracy, legislators, special interest, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders who play a role in the public policy development and implementation. Prerequisite: POL 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 275 Human Rights

This course develops an understanding of the practice of global human rights. This course is taught every other summer at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

POL 290
POL 312 United States Foreign Policy

This course examines the domestic interests, values, and political institutions and international forces and pressures that shape the conduct of United States foreign policy. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with regard to civil rights and civil liberties. Students will examine the Court's rulings concerning the establishment and free exercise of religion, protection of freedom of speech and of the press, privacy rights (abortion and sexual freedom), the rights of the accused in the criminal justice system, and the law governing racial or sexual discrimination. The course places particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. LAW 215 recommended. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with LAW 316)

(or LAW 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

)
POL 352 Public Policy and Public Administration

Public policies affect the lives of all Americans, and public administrators are the main touchstones with government for most citizens. In the first half of the course we focus on how and why the public policymaking process functions as it does, and examine various areas of policy at the national and state levels. In the second half, we turn to the implementation of policy by government agencies and the management of public organizations. This course is of value to all citizens in a democracy, but will be particularly helpful for students in any discipline whose careers are affected by public policy, or who are considering a career in government. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

POL 353
POL 390 Special Topics in Political Science

Topic announced at the time of registration. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 3 credits.

Experiential options (minimum 3 credits, from any of these options):
LAW 293 University of London Module: Legal Systems and Methods

This module introduces the English legal system and conveys what is distinctive about the common law approach as a legal methodology. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 6 credits.

LAW 294 University of London Module: Public Law

You will analyse key issues governing the relation between citizens and the state, including sovereignty and the division of powers between legislature, executive and administration. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 6 credits.

LAW 400 Internship

Field experience in a law environment. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. May be repeated for credit (up to 12 credits of internship may be counted toward the degree). Prerequisite: GPA of 2.50 in major and permission of department chair. 1-12 credits.

POL 376
POL 380 European Union Simulation

This course offers an enriching, hands-on, interdisciplinary exploration of the dynamic processes of policy formation in the core institutions of the European Union. Near the end of the semester, students participate in the simulation in Washington D.C., organized by the Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation Consortium (MEUSC). This experiential learning program endeavors to connect American students to EU policy makers and policy making in a unique way, utilizing the simulation experience to bridge the gap between the academic study of the EU and the actual political processes of the European Union. Students engage in discussions and debates about the EU that are current and topical in EU decision-making circles. A distinct theme is chosen as the focus of the simulation each year. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience,Intercultural Competence. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Course may be repeated for credit. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits.

POL 400 Internship

Field experience in a political science environment. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. May be repeated for credit (up to 12 credits of internship may be counted toward the degree). Prerequisite: GPA of 2.50 in major and permission of department chair. Students taking more than six internship credits in politics please note: POL 400 may count for no more than two elective courses in the POL major. 1-12 credits.

POL 450 Politics Conference Presentation

Students present their research on politics at an academic conference. Graded pass/fail. 0 credits.

POL 500
POL 550 Advanced Research

Advanced Research. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 1-3 credits.

POL 599 Honors in Politics

Students with junior or senior standing, who are majoring in Politics, are eligible to apply for Departmental Honors in Politics. Students must have a GPA of 3.5 in their major courses and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. These requirements must be met both at the time of application and at the time of graduation. The honors program includes a substantial piece of work requiring extensive independent research, resulting in a high-caliber thesis. A thesis of this quality requires sustained research effort throughout at least one semester. Normally, students will develop and write their thesis as part of a POL 500 Independent Study. Students who successfully complete and defend their Honors project will receive recognition on their College transcript. 0 credits.

SED 440 Student Teaching

Students spend an entire semester in an area school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. Prerequisites: A cumulative grade point average at or above the minimum GPA specified by PDE for the secondary 7-12 certificate, SED 431 and the appropriate teaching of course for the content certification, completion of all Chapter 354 and Act 49-2 course requirements. 12 credits.

Study Abroad