Grace Williams, Business and Social Media Manager
At SNU, we are required to take about 57 hours of general education classes. We are all forced to take Modern World, Christian Faith and Life, Health and Wellness, Integrated Software Applications and more.
After these classes are finished, we get to make real adult decisions about what classes to take that fit under certain categories. The requirement becomes a 3 credit hour class in Aesthetic Analysis, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Civics, Ethics, and Stewardship, Effective Communication and Science and Technology. Some of the classes that fall within these general education categories for Spring 2014 may surprise you. So figure out the credits you need and find your options below:
Critical thinking and problem solving
Dr. Neuenschwander teaches Science, Technology and Society on Tuesday evenings at 5pm. He said, “It is about understanding the questions, realizing that reality is complicated. We—and others—pay a stiff price for our devotion to the gods of convenience and consumerism, we depend on technologies that we take for granted but do not understand, sometimes we own our technology, sometimes it owns us, and the human race is part of Nature, not detached from it.”
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am, Dr. Lively will teach introduction to politics. He said “The purpose of this class is to help students learn: the outline and particulars of the discipline of Political Science and its major sub-disciplines, the process of political thinking and the nature of political concepts, clarity and effectiveness of written and spoken communication and the variety of Christian perspectives on political life.”
Microeconomics will be offered at 11am on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays by Prof. Mills. He said, “I hope students will learn how to analyze consumer behavior from an economic perspective, develop insight into demand, supply, and cost, volume, profit relationships, and understand the market structures, developing a working knowledge of microeconomic theory and how it relates to business.”
Just before chapel at 9:25 on Tuesdays and Thursday, Dr. Clemmer will be teaching Historical Methods. She said, “The main emphasis of the course is on the methodologies utilized in historical research and analysis, the ways in which historians approach their subject matter, examine various types of evidence and analyze the conclusions of other historians.”
If online classes are more your speed, you can take Earth’s Natural Disasters (END) or Intercultural communication. END will explore several different types of events and disasters and will connect learning with pragmatic and personal actions to help others and ourselves deal with the array of natural disaster risks that we face. Intercultural communication introduces the concepts of culture and worldview and examines the many ways cultural differences can create obstacles to communication and mutual understanding.
Civics, Ethics and Stewardship
Dr. Montgomery will teach Ethics at 1:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Montgomery said, “This course extends the centuries-old debate about ‘How does one determine the morality of any action?’ and,‘How can one resolve ethical dilemmas?’”
Topics in American History: American West will be offered by Dr. Clemmer on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:45am. She said, “ This course is an introduction to the basic themes and events in the history of the American West and the clash of cultures from the arrival of the Europeans to the present.”
At 9:25 am, Dr. Lively will teach International Relations on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He said, “This is an upper-division course that helps students understand the ways in which nation states interact in the post Cold War world.”
Juvenile Delinquency will be taught by Dr. Colbert on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:00 pm. She said, “This course is an overview of the US Juvenile Justice System with an emphasis on the history and development of philosophical approaches to juvenile delinquency. Examination of theoretical paradigms, current issues and social problems.”
Prof. Hughes will teach the Legislative Process on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. She said, “[It is] a study of state and national legislatures with their committee systems and pressure politics; legislative leadership; the legislator and constituents; lobbyist and special interest groups and the relationship between the legislative and executive and judicial branches of government. Emphasis will be placed on the operation of the Oklahoma State legislature, which will be in session during the spring semester.”
Effective Communication
Technical Communications will be taught by Michelle Bowie on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 am. She said, “[The course will include:] practical experience with major forms of technical communication, such as letters, reports, instructions and proposals, used in professional fields related to science, business, English, mass communication, sport management and religion.”
Prof. O’Bannon will teach two sections of Principles of Marketing, one at 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He said, “The class will study the marketing mix elements, trends and the competitive, social, economic, environmental and technological influence, which affect these factors. The communication process will be primarily focused on consumer behavior both from the buyers and sellers perspective. The understanding of this communication process is vital to all students across all disciplines.”
At 10:00 am, Dr. Broyles will be teaching Introduction to Organizational Communication on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. She said, “[It is] an introduction to the communication behaviors inherent in today’s complex organizations. The course covers topics ranging from communication networks to leadership styles to interviewing.”
Introduction to Literature will be taught by Dr. Bracken on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:25 am and Dr. Hackler will teach it at 11:45 am. They write, “This course is designed to introduce students to the processes of critically reading written texts (fiction and non-‐fiction), visual texts (film and other forms of media) and oral texts (performance and oratory). Focus will be on global literatures as well as literacies appropriate to their various histories, cultures and themes.”
Aesthetics Analysis
Introduction to Fine Arts will be taught by Dr. Reighard (as seen in SNL) on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:45 am. He said, “This course is designed to introduce the student to a variety of masterpieces in art, sculpture, architecture and music across many cultures.”
Dr. Weaver will be teaching Survey of American Lit II at 10:00 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She said, “The course will feature selections from major American writers from 1860 to the present as representative interpreters of American life and ideas.”
Prof. King, library director, will be taking students to Costa Rica for Literary Field Studies: Costa Rica beginning with a class on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm. She writes, “[This is a] special studies course that features a travel-study experience designed to acquaint students with the various geographical, cultural, and historical settings in which great 20th – 21st century Costa Rican writers produce(d) their literature.”
Genre Studies: Global Cinema by Dr. Bracken on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. Global Cinema is a genre course in which students explore some of the major developments in world cinema outside of Hollywood during the last several decades.
If you like online classes, then check out Mythology with Dr.Hackler spanning from 3/24-5/2. She said, “This course provides an introductory exploration of classical and comparative mythology and an examination of the role of myth in society, the relation of myth to other disciplines and the relationship between myth and Christianity.”
Additionally, Prof. Bowie will be teaching African American Literature online. She said, “This special studies course is an overview of African American Literature from colonial times to the present and examines all types of literary works written by/for/about African Americans and is at once a study of literature, race and ethnicity.”
Science and Technology
Dr. Bentley will teach Intro to Biological Science at 9:25 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She said, “The purpose of this course is to introduce students to a variety of current issues in the field of biology. The scientific method will be demonstrated through hands on activities as well as case studies will be used to help students learn to evaluate biological events they may encounter in their everyday lives.”
Origins will be taught by Dr. Winslow on Tuesdays and Thursday at 11:45 am. He said, “The course will be an exploration and Christian understanding of cosmological, geological and biological evolution.”
Calculus I will be taught by Dr. Zoller Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 11:00 am with a lab at 2 pm on Wednesday. This class requires a prerequisite of high school math through Algebra II and Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus. He said, “This course is an intuitive introduction to the basic concepts of Calculus: limits, derivatives and integrals, using graphical, numerical and symbolic points of view.”
Design Technology will be offered by Prof. Berens on Monday at 3:00 pm. He said, “[This is] a studio-based introduction to the design software, Adobe Creative Suite; projects will implement the creative problem-solving process which emphasizes observation, evaluation, communication and implementation while learning the Adobe programs: Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.”
Dr. York will teach Chemistry, Environment and Health on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am with a lab at 1:30 pm on Wednesday. She said, “[This] course [is] designed to help the student understand the role that chemistry has in modern living. Topics such as polymers, medicines, food, etc. will be discussed with emphasis placed on health and the environment. This course does not count towards a major or minor in chemistry.”
If you prefer online courses, Intro to Astronomy taught by Mark Winslow is the option for you. He said, “[This is] an exploration of the night sky, seasons, stellar evolution, cosmology, etc.”
Global Perspectives
Cultural Anthropology by Dr. Young will be taught Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 9:00 am. He said, “[This is] a study of the beliefs, practices and major institutions of selected groups around the world, with attention to the effects of missionary work.”
Prof. Rhodes will be teaching World Civilization 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 am. She said, “This course offers an overview of the development of human civilization from our prehistoric roots to 1500. It will analyze political, social, economic, moral and ideological foundations important in the development of today’s global society.”
Survey of World Lit: Classics of Western World taught by Dr. Poteet on Thursdays at 6:00 pm. “A study of major literary works of Western Civilization, such as Greek epics, Candide, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, Castle of Otranto, All Quiet on the Western Front–works that are often alluded to and works that an educated person should be familiar with.”
Dr. Lively will be teaching Modern Middle East on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:00 pm. He said, “ The course focuses on the critical importance of the Middle East in global politics as part of world system that came into being at the end of the fifteenth century and continues to the present day.”
If you want a class that is a hybrid Online class, then take International Economic Development with Prof. LaVigne. He said, “This course will be a detailed look into the international world of poverty and poverty alleviation and examine one current solution; microfinance practices.”
These class times and professors may change so check with your advisor at enrollment on Monday, October 28 for Seniors, Honors, L.I.F.E. (formerly SSS) and Track 3, Thursday, October 31 for Juniors and Monday, November 4 for the rest of campus.