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

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.