Social Sciences
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Focuses on the structure and processes of American government and policies. Class topics include basic constitutional principles, the theory and practice of representative government, and the organization of a specifically American political system. Students will examine the political and ideological background of the American constitution as it relates to its current form. The course will emphasize the analysis of federal, executive, congressional and judicial processes as well as more recent governing policy issues. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106. Co-requisites: GE115. Credits: 3
The aim of the course is to study the way crime-related issues are portrayed in multimodal media and debunk the myths that arise in them. How is crime, criminals and issues related to criminal procedures portrayed in movies, tv series, comics, books and the news? What happens in real life? In this interdisciplinary course, the focus will be on debunking the myths that arise due to the misleading portrayal of the aforementioned topics. The philosophy behind the course is to combine an everyday fun activity (of media consumption) with theory and everyday professional practice regarding crime and social issues, as well as to shift from passive to active media consumption with critical questioning of their content. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106. Credits: 3
Is designed for students who want to improve their ability to define and attain their financial goals. The course begins with the fundamentals of the financial planning process and proceeds to cover topics such as personal financial goals, opportunity cost, the time value of money, family budgeting and spending, financial products and services, types of credit, debt management, consumer activities, housing and home buying, property and casualty insurance, health and disability insurance, life insurance, investing and investing alternatives. Prerequisites: None. Credits: 3
Takes an interdisciplinary approach to current events in the community and in the world, encouraging students to investigate available materials from newspapers, DVD scenarios, and professional and popular journals. Students will be asked to focus on strategies of communication, explorations of public opinion and leadership models as well as corporate image-making and survival tactics. The course areas of study include Communications (private and public media functions), Government, and Policy-forming Institutions. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106. Co requisites: GE112, GE115. Credits: 3
Studies and analyzes fundamental issues and problems of group life, social organization, culture, interactive processes and socialization, deviance, social inequality, social institutions, and the dynamics of modern society through sociological approaches. Class topics include the sociology of the family, religion, education, law, work, poverty and the relationship of society and the environment. Prerequisites: GE105. Co-requisites: GE106. Credits: 3
Establishes the ancient Greek conception of the “Polis” and explores paradigms of government put forward by Plato and Aristotle in some of their major works. The course discusses how America’s founding fathers (Jefferson, Madison, Adams), embraced and departed from key assumptions of the ancient Greeks to develop their own views of democracy. Students examine issues such as the rights of the individual in relation to the power of the state and society, the nature and legitimacy of political authority and democracy, the significance of power, economics, justice and equality in social life; and the duties and responsibilities of citizens. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106, GE112. Credits: 3
This is an introductory level course in social policy. It covers current debates and research on social welfare policies at a national, European, and international level. It is an interdisciplinary field drawing on other areas of social science such as sociology, economics, and politics. The course will provide students with practical guidance to study and research key social issues such as poverty and social exclusion, the well-being of children, employment, housing, health care, migration, education, criminal justice, social services and community care. It will also review the social, economic, and demographic forces that have shaped and transformed the welfare state in the past decades. It is designed to be suitable for undergraduate students in psychology, Economics and Finance who want to pursuit a graduate degree or a career in health and welfare-related services. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106, GE112 Credits: 3
This course educates students in the intricate relationships between media, communication, and society. It investigates the nature of different media and the influence they have had in shaping the kind of society we live in. It also analyzes the societal forces that are involved in how media operate today. At the same time, the course sharpens the critical reflection skills of students in understanding how they can operate as consumers of mass media content. Through diachronic examples the course explains how different print and digital media (TV, radio, internet, social media) have been influencing societies. Furthermore, the course invites students to subject their own views concerning the role that media play in modern societies and vice-versa and debate around different controversies that may exist on this topic. The course takes a critical look at popular culture and society and manifestation of it in the digital media with an emphasis on celebrity and lifestyle communication. Various aspects of contemporary culture such as food and travel experiences are also examined through the lens of representation(s) in the media. Prerequisites: GE105, GE106, IT100 Credits: 3
Apple or Samsung? Coke or Pepsi? Making choices is what economics is all about. From mathematics to psychology, economics studies the production, consumption and distribution of goods and services and how a society provides for its needs, the most basic being survival which requires food, clothing, and shelter, as well as services, transportation, entertainment etc. As citizens, it is important we understand economics- at least at a basic level- and how it applies to our daily lives. This course offers an introduction to key financial and business concepts, such as inflation, employment, growth, supply, demand, GDP, balance sheet. It facilitates understanding of the fundamental concepts and tools of both microeconomics and macroeconomics and the role these play in our lives. Prerequisites: GE105, GE131, IT100 Credits: 3
Introduces the field of educational psychology and explores the development of cognitive functions and language, individual and cultural differences, and research on teaching and learning. The course also covers conceptual approaches, stages of process, structure, and effectiveness of psychological and educational interventions for children and adolescents, linking theory, research, education, and intervention in the school community. The course also focuses on symptoms and interventions for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and ADHD. Prerequisite(s): GE105, GE106 Credits: 3