Winter Session

Ethics and Social Responsibility provides students with opportunities to examine the meaning of business ethics and the social responsibility of business in light of the numerous high profile challenges that managers face in the current business environment. Varying ethical approaches will be applied to ethical leadership and the management of conflicting values confronting business leaders on a daily basis. The more global issue of balancing principles of good business with principles of ethical behavior in various cultures will be discussed. Students will participate in a significant service-learning project in this course.
Prerequisite(s): BUS 1100 and at least Sophomore standing.
Fulfills: E and X in LS Core

This is a broad survey course providing a comprehensive overview of several human resource functions, including recruitment and selection, compensation, training, performance evaluation, labor and employee relations. Students will consider HRM topics as they relate to all employees with different roles and perspectives for supervisors and subordinates, and how these topics apply to creating strategic directions for an organization. Using an applied setting focus, instruction methods combine interactive lectures, experiential exercises, current events, case review, and external project analysis and presentation.
Prerequisite(s): BUS 1100.
Fulfills: X in LS Core

Formerly: Introduction to Mass Communication
This course focuses on the basic principles of mass communication and its historical development. Issues explored include media access, media ethics, media effects, and current trends in the growth of digital and wireless mass communication technologies. Students examine the role of the media industry in reinforcing and challenging dominant values, attitudes, and beliefs central to American culture. An additional feature of the course studies how mass media-created ideals have been disseminated internationally, as well as how media businesses reflect, influence and sometimes defy societal norms. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their own independent mass media project.
Fulfills: SOSC requirement in LS Core

This course provides an examination of communication problems encountered by nonprofit organizations. The students will explore the nonprofit sector, understand the similarity and differences among government and for-profit organizations. Topics that will be explored include: superior subordinate relationships in volunteer-based organizations, interactions with special stakeholders (e.g., volunteer boards, funding agencies, community groups, under-served client populations), inter-organizational coordination efforts within communities of nonprofits, image and representation of nonprofit organizations, formal and informal structure within non-profits, and planned change implementation in the context of multiple stakeholder relationships.
Fulfills: X in LS Core

Principles of Microeconomics–is an introduction to the study rational choice, supply, demand, markets, competition, market power, and social welfare. Satisfies a Social Science distribution requirement. Fulfills a SOSC requirement in the LS core.
Prerequisite(s): MTH 1000 or placing out of MTH 1000 on the math placement tests.
Cross-Listed: Business
Fulfills: Economics, Mathematics-Economics and Minor Core Requirements
Lecture
Note: Principles of Microeconomics is a core requirement for all Business, Economics and Mathematics-Economics majors, and Economics minors.

An introduction to the social and philosophical principles which have shaped educational thought and practices viewed in historical perspective; the challenge of modern education in our urban, suburban, technological, and mobile culture; the professional, legal, and community responsibilities of the teacher; organization of the American school system; contemporary issues in education. Close examination of the social context of schooling will be included. Instructor permission is required for Merrimack students. 4 credits.
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An introduction to the relationship between humans and the geological environment with a focus on natural resources, waste disposal, and climate change.
Fulfills: STEM requirement in LS Core

The course will offer an introduction to human disease appropriate for students of all majors. The human body is a masterpiece of art. The more one understands the functioning of the body, the greater appreciation one has for it. Disease states, the body’s natural attempts to right what is wrong and the compensatory actions involved will be discussed. The general mechanisms of disease as well as specific body systems will be discussed from a human- interest point of view. The course focuses on basic medical concepts that are useful to every student and encourages them to become a medical advocate for themselves or for family members. It is so important to understand doctors and your health care plan, to be able to ask important questions, and to know what questions to ask. In addition, the course will cover many diseases that are ‘in the news’ and allow the student to gain some knowledge and insight into the myths and facts surrounding these diseases.
Fulfills: Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. STEM requirement in LS Core.

***THIS CLASS IS FULL***Introduction to Nutritional Sciences will introduce the student to the science of nutrition. The fundamentals of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin, and mineral requirements and metabolism will be explained as a basis for the study of the relationship between diet and health in both a personal and global perspective. The impact that human nutrition and industrial agriculture have on environmental quality, food resources and energy consumption will be explored. Nutrition, Diet and Health has a mandatory civic engagement component related to important public and environmental issues in human nutrition, health, and fitness that are considered in the course.
Fulfills: Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. STEM requirement in LS Core.

Introduction to Nutritional Sciences will introduce the student to the science of nutrition. The fundamentals of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin, and mineral requirements and metabolism will be explained as a basis for the study of the relationship between diet and health in both a personal and global perspective. The impact that human nutrition and industrial agriculture have on environmental quality, food resources and energy consumption will be explored. Nutrition, Diet and Health has a mandatory civic engagement component related to important public and environmental issues in human nutrition, health, and fitness that are considered in the course.
Fulfills: Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. STEM requirement in LS Core.

To provide the Merrimack College sophomore with a continuum of self and career exploration education in preparation for an internship or research experience. This professional development in health sciences course sets a foundation for building solid life and career decision-making skills through a series of exploratory exercises, as well as professionally prepares students for their upcoming internship or research experience.

Public health aims to understand the occurrence and causes of disease within populations with the goal of prevention and health promotion, through changes in individual behavior, control of infectious disease and environmental health factors, and social and political organization for health improvement. The aim will be to describe the patterns of selected diseases in populations, to explain the causation of disease at the cell/physiological to social levels, to predict disease occurrence and to control disease through prevention strategies aimed at individuals, communities and governments.
Fulfills: Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. STEM requirement and X in LS Core.

This course is a survey of the discipline of health and fitness, including knowledge derived from performing physical activity, studying about physical activity, and professional practice centered in physical activity. It includes an analysis of the importance of health and wellness in daily life, the relationship between physical activity and the discipline of kinesiology, and the general effects of physical activity experiences. The course surveys the general knowledge base of the Health Science discipline as reflected in the major sub disciplines and reviews selected concepts in each, showing how they contribute to our understanding of the nature and importance of physical activity. The students will learn about the fitness components of wellness; flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, nutrition, weight management, and cancer. Fitness and other positive life style habits that lead to better health, improved quality of life, and total well-being will be discussed. Students will be responsible for developing a self-paced fitness program that will be followed for the duration of the semester. In addition, the course introduces students to the general and specific characteristics of the health and wellness professions.
Fulfills: Mathematics/Science distribution requirement. STEM requirement in LS Core.
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A first course in philosophy focusing on classic questions that have stirred the perennial human quest for wisdom. We will explore such questions as: Are humans free or determined? How do the mind and body interact? Is ethics just relative to each person or society? Should there be any limits to the political freedom of citizens? Does God exist? The course will introduce students to the methods and culture of philosophy: sympathetic understanding, critical analysis, fair argumentation, and a persistent desire to know the truth whatever it is. The focus and questions covered will be determined by each instructor.
Fulfills: PHL in LS Core

Before it comes to an end, how shall I spend the life I have? What would make that life genuinely worth living? We will seek the guidance of many masters: East and West, ancient and modern, women and men and from diverse races. We have much to consider, but the main challenge for each of us is to shape a perspective we can each embrace as our own. What could be more important?
Prerequisite(s): PHL 1000.
Fulfills: E and W in LS Core

This course will investigate philosophical issues that are central to the law. Topics may include the nature of law, the relationship between law and morality, the role of judges and adjudication, the nature of rights, the ideal of the rule of law, the justification of punishment, and the feminist critique of the law. Students will critically read some of the most influential philosophers in legal theory as well as important cases, judgments and statutes. Some questions that we will explore include: Why must I obey the law? Can an unjust law still be a law? Can civil disobedience be justified? To what extent, and on what grounds, should the law not infringe on an individual’s right to liberty, free speech and freedom of religion? Under what conditions should a person be held legally responsible for his or her acts? Prerequisite(s): PHL 1000. Fulfills: E in LS Core

An introduction to the field of political science designed for non-majors and undecided majors. This course examines several current policy controversies in the political arena and explores how they can be understood using common concepts and theories in the discipline. The course will focus on current policy debates such as: What to do about low voter turnout? How should the US relate to other countries in the world? Does the legal system produce justice?
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement in LS Core.

This course examines a variety of important issues, such as why are some countries democratic while others are not, what is a state and how did states come about, what is colonialism and how did it shape the present and future of billions of people? The course addresses these questions through an introduction to the study of comparative politics - the art and science of comparing political systems in order to raise and evaluate claims about politics. The substantive material draws on developed and developing parts of the world and covers contemporary as well as recent historical events. Required course for all Political Science Majors and Minors.
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC & D requirement in LS Core.

The course will provide a foundation in ethics, ethical theory, and their application to political institutions and the political process. The course will cover the ethical issues and implications faced by politicians, elected officials and government employees in the operation of the government and in making public policy decisions, along with those faced by individuals and entities interacting or doing business with the government. The course will examine how these ethical issues can be resolved in politics and public policy making. Through the use of select case studies, the course will explore current and past ethical issues in politics and public policy making, including torturing of terrorists, NSA spying, whistleblowing, police shootings, illegal immigration and fraud in military and other government contracts.
Fulfills: Ethics (E) requirement in LS Core.
 

Provides a general overview of the wide-ranging field of psychology. Students will explore major concepts and issues in the study of human thinking, feeling, and acting. These include biological foundations of behavior and experience, how people learn and develop, how individuals perceive the world, individual differences in behavior, social influence and social relations, the difference between normative and non-normative behavior, and approaches to therapy.
Prerequisite(s): This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in psychology.
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement in LS core.

Introduces classical and contemporary thinking on the concept of ‘personality’. Explores the contributions of several important theoretical frameworks in personality theory including psychoanalysis, phenomenology, trait theory, and learning.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 1000.
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement in LS Core.

Formerly: Adult Psychopathology
Examination of basic issues in psychopathology. Focus on description, etiology and treatment of neurosis, character disorder, and psychosis from varying theoretical and clinical perspectives.
Prerequisite(s): PSY 1000.
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement in LS Core.

As an introduction to Christianity, this course will investigate a number of the contexts in which it began, in which it developed, and in which we find it today. Students will study Christianity in the historical contexts within the ancient world and of ancient Judaism, in the literary contexts of the Christian Bible and its interpretation, in the intellectual context of church history, and in contemporary global contexts. In keeping with the College’s Augustinian identity, mission, and vision, this course will also highlight the contributions of St. Augustine. Satisfies the first institutional requirement in religious and theological studies. Fulfills RTS in LS Core. 4 credits.

This course develops students’ sociological imaginations through the introduction of basic sociological concepts. In the process, students learn how social forces influence their everyday lives. Culture, social interaction, group dynamics, bureaucracy, socialization, deviance, crime, urbanization, collective behavior, and social change are some of the topics studied. The course also explores society’s institutions, such as the family, the political system, the economy, religion, education, and the medical system. A central focus of the course is understanding the nature of social inequality.
Fulfills: SOSC requirement in LS Core.

This interdisciplinary course will analyze the key sources of and debates about happiness. As we explore the possibilities of increasing happiness, individually and collectively, we will focus on the relationship between happiness and success, culture, motivation, social media, food, and exercise. This course is based on the assumption that learning, at its best, open minds, changes lives, and is fun. Instead of analyzing abstract ideas that are often hard to relate to, we will constantly connect the issues we explore to your questions, beliefs, and dreams.  

This course examines health, illness and healing as not merely physiological states but also human experiences shaped by sociological forces. The course begins with a brief historical review of medicine and the emergence of scientific medicine. Social epidemiology, health behavior, social stress, social support, the stages of the illness experience, the sick role, the doctor-patient relationship, technology and medicine, and the delivery of medical care in the U.S. and how it compares to other countries are among the topics examined.
Fulfills: SOSC requirement in LS Core.

***THIS CLASS IS FULL***This course covers the history of rock music in Western culture, focusing mainly on British and American contributions to the style. It begins with an overview of the types of music that were predecessors of rock, including early blues, jazz and rhythm and blues, continues through the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s, and traces developments throughout the second half of the 20th century and beyond, culminating in a review of current trends. Satisfies a Humanities distribution requirement.
Fulfills: Humanities distribution requirement. AL and X in LS Core.

This course covers the history of rock music in Western culture, focusing mainly on British and American contributions to the style. It begins with an overview of the types of music that were predecessors of rock, including early blues, jazz and rhythm and blues, continues through the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s, and traces developments throughout the second half of the 20th century and beyond, culminating in a review of current trends. Satisfies a Humanities distribution requirement.
Fulfills: Humanities distribution requirement. AL and X in LS Core.

This course will explore current attitudes about women, men and differently gendered persons in Western society. It approaches women’s, men’s, and differently gendered person’s experiences through insights provided by feminist thought on such areas as race and ethnicity, work, education, media, family, gender, sexuality, religion, and politics. Among the questions, the course will consider are: Why is it important to study how gender is constructed? Why have women been treated differently than men in society? How have differently gendered persons been regarded and treated by society? What is patriarchy? And how is power distributed based on gender?
Fulfills: Social Science distribution requirement. SOSC requirement and D in LS Core.
Note: Required for the Women’s and Gender Studies Major and Minor.

Popular Culture is the US’s second largest export after weapons. This course will examine how gender is used in popular culture artifacts from popular entertainment including sports, films, music and more. Employing popular culture methods and theories including cultural studies, students will study how the meaning system is used to reinforce the status quo and also challenge it. By focusing on popular culture representations of women and gender in advertising, music videos, YouTube, television, magazines, and film, this course will explore how cultural values, fears, hopes and dreams are coded into gender scripts and representations and how race, class, ethnicity, sex, and nation are interlocked with gender. The course will also examine what is at stake both in negotiating gender in contemporary culture and in doing “feminist” cultural criticism. In addition, students will look at fan culture and uncover what pop culture gender representations have to do with the lives and experiences of real people.
Fulfills: D in LS Core.

This class will provide an examination of the history of women in America. It will include history prior to colonization, up to the present. The course will explore women’s roles in US Society and the intersection of class, culture, ethnicity and sexuality in shaping women’s historical experiences across time. The course will examine the transformations and continuities in women’s lives as well as the political, social, economic and cultural factors that inspired, infused or inhibited women’s changing roles. This class also explores the ways in which race, class, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity have operated to unite and divide disparate groups of women. Satisfies a Humanities distribution requirement.
Fulfills: H and D in LS Core.