Intersession

Provides a broad overview of biological molecules, transformation of energy in living organisms, genetics and inheritance, gene expression, and an introduction to modern biotechnology. Lab work will provide hands on experiences to accompany the major course themes and an introduction to data analysis.

Why do we struggle to interpret fancy charts and numbers? Why do numbers work so well to confuse and distract us from the truth of a situation? This course explores how representations of numbers and charts can help us understand a situation, and how misrepresentations, whether deliberate or accidental, can cause us to believe and act in unexpected and often negative ways. From managers to government to political influencers: students will analyze charts and numbers used to influence, inform, and sometimes distract from effective decision-making.  Using real-world examples, we will explore the dilemmas and opportunities presented by the ethical and unethical representation of quantitative evidence.

In this course, students will explore the intersection of sports and criminality among professional athletes. Students will examine major scandals within the sports industry and the formal responses by the criminal justice system. Particular attention will be placed on financial crimes, biological correlates of crime, sexual misconduct, and violent crime.

Why do we line up for sneakers, cry over commercials, or feel personally attacked when someone insults our favorite brand? This course uncovers how corporations shape desire, identity, and belief in an age where branding is everywhere. From influencer culture and lifestyle marketing to political branding and algorithm-driven ads, students will analyze how companies sell not just products, but values, aesthetics, and ways of life. Together, we’ll investigate the psychology of loyalty, the performance of authenticity, and the blurred boundary between consumer and creator in a world where we are all walking billboards.

Prerequisite: CW101 (C grade or better), the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. This course reinforces the skills taught in CW101 while introducing students to the procedures of academic and professional research. Assignments will emphasize information literacy skills needed to find and evaluate appropriate sources, and proper documentation of sources, as well as writing to analyze and synthesize ideas and incorporate information from sources in support of an original thesis. A minimum grade of C is required for graduation.