2019-20 Catalogs
Courses Approved to Satisfy USM Core Requirements
Lists of courses that satisfy the requirements appear below by requirement area. Please consult with your advisor or use Class Search in Maine Street to determine the availability of Core courses in any given semester.
- Entry Year Experience
- College Writing
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Creative Expression
- Cultural Interpretation
- Science Exploration
- Socio-cultural Analysis
- Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship
- Core Electives
- Diversity
- International
- Engaged Learning
- Capstone
Entry Year Experience
Entry Year Experience courses engage students in exploration of significant questions about human culture and the natural world. The courses facilitate the students’ transition to college by engaging them in active and collaborative learning that enhances their inclination and ability to view complex issues from multiple perspectives.
EYE 104 College and Community
EYE 105 Life is a Matrix
EYE 108 Culture, Identity and Education
EYE 109 Gender, Representation, and Resistance
EYE 110 Literature and Medicine
EYE 111 A World of Words
EYE 112 The Built Environment: Energy
EYE 117 Nature, Society, and Self
EYE 118 Musician’s Health: A Path to Peak Performance
EYE 123 Our Brains at Play
EYE 127 Friendship
EYE 129 The Chicken Course
EYE 130 Discovering The Business of Sport
EYE 131 Northern Forest Canoe Trail
EYE 199 Topics
HON 101 Honors Entry Year Experience
RSP 103 Culture, Community, and the Environment
College Writing (back to top)
College Writing introduces students to practices and conventions of expository academic writing. Students read expository writing and use the ideas they encounter to develop and refine their own arguments and perspectives. Students learn how thinking and writing change through the processes of reading, drafting, rereading, revision, editing, and proofreading. At the end of the semester, students in College Writing demonstrate an understanding of sentence structure and syntax as central to meaning. Students can compose, in coherent and correct written English, essays that reflect a point of view, engage with readings, and focus on a central thesis or project.
ENG 100 College Writing
ENG 101 Independent Writing
ESL 100 College Writing
HON 100 Thinking and Writing in Honors
RSP 100 Russell Scholars Writing I
These college writing courses are considered equivalents and may not be repeated for credit. These courses will follow the USM repeat policy as outlined in the Academic Policies section; repeated courses will replace the credits associated with the previously completed course and the previously completed course will be eliminated from GPA calculations.
Quantitative Reasoning (back to top)
Students in Quantitative Reasoning courses will learn introductory quantitative concepts and skills that are necessary for problem-solving and informed decision-making in everyday life. These skills include mathematical reasoning; computation; and the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of data.
ECO 120 Lying with Graphs
ESP 123 Environmental Problem Solving
GEO 107 Maps and Math
GEO 270 Mapping People and Environments
GYA 202 Research Methods
HON 105 An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Logic and Mathematics
LOS 120 Statistics for Informed Decision-Making
MAT 105 Mathematics for Quantitative Decision-Making
MAT 120 Introduction to Statistics
MAT 140 Pre-Calculus Mathematics
MAT 148 Applied Calculus
MAT 152 Calculus A
MAT 210 Business Statistics
POS 102 People and Politics
PSY 105 Statistics in Psychology
SOC 307 Quantitative Research Methods
Creative Expression (back to top)
Creative Expression courses engage students in learning the value of the creative process, using it for developing talents and interests in the arts, and learning a set of skills that will enable them to engage in creative thinking in non-arts aspects of their lives.
ART 141 2-D Design
ART 142 Surface, Space, Time (3D)
ART 151 Drawing I
CMS 150 The Writing Process
CMS 203/204 Introduction to Video Production
CMS 205 Illuminated Autobiography
ENG 201 Creative Writing
ENG 202 Memoir and Autobiography
ENG 301 Poetry Writing
ENG 302 Fiction Workshop I
ENG 303 Fiction Workshop II
HON 207 Illuminated Autobiography
LAC 250 Thinking about Art
MUS 101 University Chorale (3 cr)
MUS 110 Music Fundamentals
MUT 201 Music Theory and Aural Skills
RSP 101 Russell Scholars Creative Writing
SCI 104 Basic Photography
THE 102 Acting for Non-Majors
THE 103 Contemporary Dance I
THE 134 Production Management
THE 139 Theatrical Makeup
THE 170 Public Speaking
THE 175 Oral Interpretation
THE 203 Musical Theatre Dance
THE 275 Readers Theatre
THE 299 Ballroom Dancing
THE 334 Costume Design
Cultural Interpretation (back to top)
Cultural Interpretation courses engage students in the close analysis and interpretation of cultural representations to learn how people make sense of themselves and their world. Students critically evaluate and develop arguments about cultural representations or the contexts that produce them or give them meaning.
ANT 280 Prehistoric Art
ARA 101 Beginning Arabic I
ARA 102 Beginning Arabic II
ARA 201 Intermediate Arabic I
ARA 202 Intermediate Arabic II
ARH 111 Art History: Prehistoric through Medieval
ARH 112 Art History: Renaissance to the Present
ASL 101 Beginning American Sign Language I
ASL 102 Beginning American Sign Language II
ASL 201 Intermediate Sign Language I
ASL 202 Intermediate Sign Language II
CHI 101 Beginning Chinese I
CHI 102 Beginning Chinese II
ECO 105 A Novel Approach to Economics
ENG 140 Reading Literature
ENG 145 Literature and History
ENG 244 Introduction to Cultural Studies
ENG 262 Poetry
FRE 101 Beginning French I
FRE 102 Beginning French II
FRE 201 Intermediate French I
FRE 202 Intermediate French II
GER 101 Beginning German I
GER 102 Beginning German II
GER 201 Intermediate German I
GER 202 Intermediate German II
HON 102 Honors Cultural Interpretation
HON 202 Honors Cultural Interpretation
ITA 101 Beginning Italian I
ITA 102 Beginning Italian II
LAT 101 Beginning Latin I
LAT 102 Beginning Latin II
LAN 101 Beginning Language I
LAN 102 Beginning Language II
LAN 201 Intermediate Language I
LAN 202 Intermediate Language II
LOS 210 Creative Critical Inquiry into Modern Life
MUH 105 Multicultural Perspectives of American Popular Music and Jazz
MUH 222 Music until 1900
MUS 100 Music Appreciation and History
MUS 102 Music of the Portland Symphony
MUS 103 Introduction to Jazz
MUS 204 Rock and Roll: Subversive or Submissive
PHI 101 Free Will and Determinism
PHI 102 Introduction to Philosophy: Quest for Certainty
PHI 103 Introduction to Philosophy: Human Alienation
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy through Its History
PHI 106 Introduction to Philosophy: Why Philosophize?
PHI 107 Introduction to Philosophy: World Philosophy
PHI 109 Introduction to Philosophy: Law, Politics, and Society
PHI 110 Introduction to Philosophy: Sex, Gender, and Society
PHI 111 Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophical Reading (and Writing)
PHI 112 Introduction to Philosophy: Feminist Perspectives
PHI 310 History of Ancient Philosophy
PHI 320 History of Medieval Philosophy
PHI 330 History of Early Modern Philosophy
PHI 360 Existentialism
PHI 370 Analytic Philosophy
PHI 390 Hermeneutics
SPA 101 Beginning Spanish I
SPA 102 Beginning Spanish II
SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I
SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II
THE 101 Introduction to Theatre
THE 109 The Art of Dance
THE 150 Play Analysis
THE 201 Cultural History of Theatre
THE 204 Dress and Self Image
WGS 201 Women, Knowledge, and Power
Science Exploration (back to top)
To think like a scientist, students must know how science knowledge is created and interpreted. In a Science Exploration course, content should serve as a vehicle to illustrate how experiment, observation, and critical evaluation drive scientific understanding and progress. Science literacy and quantitative reasoning skills will be developed as tools to interpret and apply to natural processes. The Science Exploration course should give the student an appreciation of the applications and limitations of a science that investigates natural processes. To satisfy the Science Exploration requirement, the student must successfully complete the lecture and corresponding lab.
ANT 104 Archaeological Science
ANT 204 Gulf of Maine: Archaeology, Ecology, and Environmental Change
AST 100 Astronomy
AST 103 Astronomy: Activities and Experiments
BIO 101 Biological Foundations
BIO 102 Biological Experiences
BIO 103 Introduction to Marine Biology
BIO 104 Marine Biology Laboratory
BIO 107 Biological Principles II: Evolution, Biodiversity, Ecology
CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I
CHY 114 Laboratory Techniques I
ESP 101 Fundamentals of Environmental Science
ESP 102 Fundamentals of Environmental Science Laboratory
ESP 125 Introduction to Environmental Ecology
ESP 126 Introduction to Environmental Ecology Lab
GEO 102 Physical Geography
GEY 100 Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Moving Plates
GEY 101 Lab Experiences in Geology
HON 200/201 Interdisciplinary Inquiry in the Sciences of the Human Body/lab
LIN 185/186 Introduction to Linguistics and Lab
PHY 101 Introduction to Physics
PHY 102 Introduction to Physics Laboratory
PHY 111 Elements of Physics I
PHY 114 Introductory Physics Laboratory I
PHY 121 General Physics I
RSP 204 Gulf of Maine: Archeology, Ecology, and Environmental Change
SCI 107 Biological Principles II with Lab
SCI 130 The Biology of Human Health with Lab
SCI 170/171 Human Anatomy and Lab
SCI 230 Environmental Science, Policy, and Sustainability with Lab
SCI 250 Applied Physics
Socio-cultural Analysis (back to top)
Socio-cultural Analysis courses engage students in the examination of sociocultural systems and phenomena over time and across cultures. Students learn to use conceptual frameworks that shed light on human behavior in social contexts. This includes examination of influences on and effects of behavior associated with public and private roles students may experience.
ANT 101 Anthropology: The Cultural View
ANT 201 Human Origins
ANT 202 Origins of Civilization
ANT 220 Indigenous Communities of North America
ANT 230 Hunters and Gatherers
ANT 232 The Anthropology of Sex and Gender
ANT 233 Food and Culture
CMS 102 Introduction to Communication
CRM 100 Introduction to Criminology
ECO 100 Introduction to Economics
ECO 101 Introduction to Macroeconomics
ECO 102 Introduction to Microeconomics
ECO 103 Critical Thinking about Economic Issues
ECO 104 U.S. in the World Economy
ECO 106 Economic, Social, and Cultural Change
ECO 108 Economic Journalism
ENG 334 Literacy Studies
GEO 101 Human Geography
GEO 103 Human-Environmental Geography
GEO 104 World Regional Geography
GEO 120 Geography of Maine
GEO 203 Urban and Regional Development
HON 103 Honors Socio-Cultural Analysis
HON 203 Honors Socio-Cultural Analysis
HRD 200 Multicultural Human Development
HTY 101 Western Civilization I
HTY 102 Western Civilization II
HTY 121 U.S. History to 1800
HTY 122 U.S. History to 1900
HTY 123 U.S. History since 1900
HTY 141 African-American History to 1865
HTY 142 African-American History from 1865
HTY 152 The Islamic Near East
HTY 171 Traditional East Asia
HTY 172 Modern East Asia
HTY 181 Latin America I
HTY 182 Latin America II
LOS 310 Science, Technology, and Society
LIN 112 The Birth of a Language
LIN 185 Language, Mind, and Society
LIN 201 Language Acquisition
LIN 203 Introduction to the Deaf World
POS 101 Introduction to American Government
POS 102 People and Politics
POS 104 Introduction to International Relations
POS 205 Introduction to Comparative Politics
RSP 102 Russell Scholars Seminar: Self and Communication
SBS 200 Multicultural Human Development
SBS 220 US Democracy: Origins and Development
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 210 Critical Thinking about Social Issues
SWO 250 Introduction to Social Welfare
TAH 101 Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality
THE 201 Cultural History of Theatre
WGS 101 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship (back to top)
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship courses focus on a theme that engages students in critical reflection on their responsibilities for informed decision-making and action in their public and private roles. They require students to frame, analyze, and evaluate ethical issues, as well as to articulate and evaluate their own viewpoints and actions in relation to the ethical frameworks introduced. Some majors may require students to complete specific courses to satisfy this requirement. See the relevant department's section of the catalog for more information.
ADS 300 Ethics and Youth with Exceptionalities
ANT 301 Global Issues in Travel and Tourism
ANT 320 Anthropology and the Museum
ARH 312 Art as Social Action
BUS 347 Triple Bottom Line Business
CMS 323 Understanding Technology
CMS 360 Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age
COR 301 Thoughtful Giving: Philanthropy and American Culture
COS 398 Professional Ethics and Social Impact of Computing
EDU 310 What is the Purpose of Education in a Democracy?
ENG 348 Empire, Ethics and Globalization
ESP 200 Environmental Planning
ESP 212 Environmental Ethics
ESP 308 Global Environmental Problems and Sustainability
FSP 200 Food and Social Justice
GEO 209 Introduction to Land Use Planning
GEO 210 Planning Maine Communities
HON 310 Honors Global Ethical Inquiry
HTY 346 The Civil Rights Movement
LIN 410 Ethical Decision Making in ASL/English Interpreting
MUE 310 Proseminar 5 Internship
MUH 329 Devils, Dwarfs, and Dragons
PHI 211 Media Ethics
PHI 212 Environmental Ethics
PHI 221 Philosophy of Film
PHI 235 Philosophy of Social Media
PHI 240 Political Philosophy
PHI 241 Work, Society, and Subjectivity
PHI 245 Africa, Social Justice, and Exile
PHI 275 Compassion
PHI 285 Genetics and Society
PHI 291 Death and Dying
PHI 295 Medicine, Madness, and Disease
PHI 312 Morality in African Literature and Film
POS 280 Issues Before the United Nations
RSP 325 Into the Wild
SBS 368 Transitioning Cultures: Ethical Conflicts in Post-Military Life
SBS 370 Toward a Global Ethics
TAH 301 Global Issues in Travel and Tourism
THE 375 Performance Art
WGS 380 Politics of Difference
Core Electives (back to top)
Students complete 9 credits of advanced electives at the 200-level or above and from subject areas outside the primary subject area of the student's major. Overlaps are not allowed between advanced electives and courses that satisfy lower division Core requirements in CE, CI, SCA, SE or QR. Courses carrying those designations are excluded from Core Electives. Students may complete a second major, a minor, an academic certificate or a thematic cluster to satisfy their Core Electives. Approved transfer courses from all disciplines at the 200-level and above are applied to this requirement.
Diversity (back to top)
Courses that satisfy the diversity requirement engage students in critical examination of and self-reflection on issues of difference and diversity. In the context of the course topic, the diversity requirement will enhance students’ analytic sophistication about issues related to difference and diversity and will foster the interpersonal skills necessary for engaging with diverse populations within the U.S. or in other parts of the world.
ANT 101 Anthropology: The Cultural View
ANT 103 Introduction to Archaeology
ANT 232 Sex and Gender
ANT 450 African American Historical Archeology
ARH 310 Art History: Cross Cultural Perspectives
ARH 311 Gender Identity and Modern Art
EDU 305 Foundations of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
ENG 383 Harlem Renaissance
EYE 104 College and Community
EYE 109 Gender, Representation and Resistance
GEO 202 Making a Living
GEO 402 Urban Geography
HON 103 Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Poverty
LIN 185 Language, Mind, and Society
LIN 203 Introduction to the Deaf World
LOS 316 Diversity in Organizations
MUH 105 Multicultural Perspectives on American Popular Music and Jazz
MUH 325 History of Musical Theatre in America
NUR 326 Dominican Republic Community Nursing
NUR 327 Dominican Republic Community Nursing
NUR 339 Community Nursing Partnerships I
NUR 341 Community Nursing Partnerships II
NUR 419 Community Nursing Partnership
NUR 436 Community Nursing Partnership I
NUR 437 Community Nursing Partnership II
PHI 220 Philosophy of Art
PHI 245 Africa, Social Justice, and Exile
PHI 312 Gender in African Film and Literature
POS 104 Introduction to International Relations
POS 280 Issues Before the United Nations
POS 334 Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics
PSY 315 Psychology of Human Sexuality
PSY 316 Psychology of Gender
SBS 316 Diversity in Organizations
SBS 345 Diversity: Many Voices
SED 335 Students with Exceptionalities in General Education
SOC 150 Social Networks and the Value of Diversity
SOC 371 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
SWO 365 Examining Oppression and Valuing Diversity
THE 201 Cultural History of Theatre
WGS 101 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
WGS 201 Rethinking Gender and Culture
WGS 380 Politics of Difference
WGS 390 Contemporary Feminist Theories
International (back to top)
Courses that satisfy the international requirement help students become world-minded learners who are knowledgeable about and have a comparative understanding of international social, political, economic or cultural issues in context. Courses that satisfy this requirement develop students’ knowledge and skills in relation to international issues of relevance to the course topic and focus. Study abroad involving an academic experience may be used to satisfy the International requirement. Advanced submission or syllabi or other documentation sent to the Office of International Programs is required to confirm that the program in question satisfies this requirement.
ANT 103 Introduction to Archaeology
ANT 105 Society, Environment, and Change
ANT 232 Sex and Gender
ANT 255 Cultures of Africa
ANT 262 Women, Arts, and Global Tourism
ANT 280 Prehistoric Art
ARH 111 Art History: Prehistoric through Medieval
ARH 112 Art History: Renaissance to the Present
BUS 335 International Business
BUS 361 International Marketing
CMS 286 History of International Cinema to 1945
EDU 310 What Is the Purpose of Education in a Democracy?
ENG 326 Women and Islam
ENG 397 Irish Film
ESP 275 Energy Use and Societal Adaptation
ESP 308 Global Environmental Problems and Sustainability
GEO 101 Human Geography
GEO 103 Human-Environment Geography
GEO 104 World Regional Geography
GEO 105 Society, Environment, and Change
GEO 170 Global History
GEO 202 Making a Living
GEO 203 Urban and Regional Development
GEO 285 Global Environmental Issues and Sustainability
GEO 481 Megacities and Global Planning
HTY 171 Traditional East Asia
HTY 172 Modern East Asia
HTY 181 Latin America I
HTY 182 Latin America II
HTY 377 Chinese Thought
HTY 388 Revolutions of Modern China
HTY 390 Traditional Japan: Court and Warriors
HTY 394 Japan's Rise and Fall as a World Power
ITP 230 Project Management
LAC 370 Toward a Global Ethics
LIN 112 Birth of a Language in Nicaragua
LOS 470 Leadership Abroad
MUH 222 Music History Survey I
PHI 220 Philosophy of Art
PHI 221 Philosophy of Film
PHI 245 Africa, Social Justice, and Exile
PHI 312 Gender in African Film and Literature
POS 104 Introduction to International Relations
POS 245 French Politics and Government
POS 280 Issues Before the United Nations
POS 445 MeMUNC Conference Planners
SBS 470 Leadership Abroad
SWO 344 Costa Rica
TAH 301 Global Issues in Travel and Tourism
TAH 307 Bermuda Cruise: The Tourism Industry and You
THE 201 Cultural History of Theatre
Engaged Learning
Engaged learning experiences allow students to bring theory to practice by applying their knowledge, skills, and abilities in contexts beyond the traditional classroom, through sustained and focused application, reflection, and collaboration. Engaged learning courses generally involve time commitments off campus or in other non-classroom settings. Variable credit and pass/fail options allowed. Engaged Learning courses may carry more than one Core designation and satisfy more than one Core requirement. See Maine Street class search for course options.
Capstone (back to top)
The capstone experience engages students with a significant theme, issue, topic, or problem. The capstone requires the development of a substantial oral, written, creative, or applied final project that integrates disciplinary learning with general education and the perspectives of other disciplines. As the concluding experience, the capstone provides opportunities for students to think about how their education at USM, especially in the major, informs their future academic, professional and personal lives. See the section of this catalog pertaining to your declared major for information on capstone courses.