NSU 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

458 Nova Southeastern University • Undergraduate Student Catalog • 2014–2015 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS taboo in one culture may be accepted or even celebrated in another culture. However, a few taboos are nearly universal among cultures. This class will examine taboos from sociological and anthropological perspectives across selected historical and contemporary societies. UNIV 1010K First Year Seminar: The Evil Brain: Biological Control of Morality (3 credits) This is an interactive seminar for first year students. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences annual theme, this course introduces students to fundamentals of scholarly life and the expectations of student/faculty learning. This class will explore morality in terms of brain functioning by drawing upon findings from genetic, neurobiology and brain imaging studies. Concepts and ideas related to the biological control of morality will be discussed from neuropsychological, cognitive and biological perspectives. Students will learn how neural structures and processes govern emotional regulation and cognitive processes. These concepts will then be applied to understanding how environmental experiences, neurological insult or genetic abnormalities impact moral choices. UNIV 1010L First Year Seminar: Performance and Activism (3 credits) This is an interactive seminar for first year students. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences annual theme, this course introduces students to fundamentals of scholarly life and the expectations of student/faculty learning by exploring the connection among the arts, social change, and the larger community. Students will examine community-based performance methods, Theatre of the Oppressed, protest performance, traditional performance texts addressing social or political themes, and ensemble play-building. This course will culminate in the creation of an original performance piece. No prior performance experience is required. Perfect for students interested in anthropology, sociology, international studies, communications, creative writing, theatre, dance, music and visual arts. UNIV 1010M First Year Seminar: The Violence of Popular Culture (3 credits) This course is an interactive seminar for first year students. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences’ annual theme, this course introduces students to fundamentals of scholarly life and the expectations of student/faculty learning. Many argue that video games and music lyrics can cause violence, citing, for example, the Columbine High School mass murders committed by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris as evidence of what happens when kids are exposed to violent music and video games. Others argue that music that was written post-Columbine can be good for people, actually helping them to heal after the tragedy. Can popular cultural forms do good and/or evil? Can popular cultural forms actually create violence in society—not just physically but fuller appreciation of the difficult but necessary choices necessary for the US to move away from a petroleum based economy. UNIV 1010F First Year Seminar: Life’s Not Fair...or is it? (3 credits) This course is an interactive first-year seminar. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences’ annual theme, this course introduces students to the good and evil of statistics and data analysis as seen in a variety of daily encounters. Areas of coverage run the gamut from politics to medicine to sports to entertainment. Students will analyze the fairness and accuracy of data used in hundreds of aspects of our everyday lives. UNIV 1010G First Year Seminar: Biotechnology and the Future of Human Nature (3 credits) This course is an interactive first-year seminar designed to examine the scientific, moral, and political impacts of new developments in biotechnology. Topics that will be covered include stem cell research, human cloning, pre- implantation genetic diagnosis, genetic engineering, and human-animal hybrids. Upon learning the science behind each of the above technologies, students will analyze the potential benefits and drawbacks of physically and genetically manipulating human beings. The possible impacts of such manipulation on the human race will also be addressed. UNIV 1010I First Year Seminar: May it Please the Court? Good and Evil in the Supreme Court (3 credits) This is an interactive seminar for first year students. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences annual theme, this course introduces students to fundamentals of scholarly life and the expectations of student/faculty learning. This course will introduce students to how Supreme Court landmark decisions have defined what is good and what is considered evil. Students will analyze landmark Supreme Court decisions and discuss the influence these decisions have had on the law and society. The course will explore how Supreme Court decisions have evolved (or remained stagnant) on issues such as abortion, affirmative action, the death penalty, gay rights and church-state separation based on societal standards. UNIV 1010J First Year Seminar: Taboos (3 credits) This is an interactive seminar for first year students. Connected to the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences annual theme, this course introduces students to fundamentals of scholarly life and the expectations of student/faculty learning. Every culture has behaviors and practices that are considered reprehensible by members of that society. Some of these are reviled enough to be labeled as "taboo." These taboos range from sexual behaviors to dietary choices to dress and beyond. What is