LS - Liberal Studies

LS 101US  Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing: 3 Credits (3 Other)

Introduction to the processes of academic inquiry through examination of topics in disciplines encompassed by the Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

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  1. Analyze main ideas and supporting evidence presented in written texts and oral presentations \\n
  2. Evaluate diverse points of view when forming and supporting their own ideas \\n
  3. Prepare and present an oral presentation (or evaluate an online presentation) \\n
  4. Demonstrate critical and creative thinking in written communication \\n

LS 102  Intro Liberal Studies: 1 Credits (1 Other)

PREREQUISITE: University Seminar (US Course) or consent of instructor. An introduction to the history and philosophy of liberal education and a review of the Fine Arts, Humanities, Social and Natural Science disciplines. The LS degree components and options will be explained, as will career opportunities

LS 103  Gateway to Sustainability: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

This course introduces students to the historical and philosophical background of sustainability, while acquainting them with the economic, scientific, and regulatory environments within which conversations about sustainability occur. It arms students with the theoretical, methodological, and political tools to begin envisioning a sustainable future for Earth’s inhabitants.

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  1. Skill sets:

    Develop the skills to think historically by viewing present economic systems, ecological sciences, human health assumptions, and environmental philosophies as a product of past decisions and events.

    Think critically by evaluating economic systems, legal and regulatory regimes, ecological sciences, and environmentalist thinking in light of their successes and failures to achieve the goal of sustainability.

    Read strategically and write logically and coherently through paper assignments that stress the mechanics of effective analytical writing.

    Learn to present complex ideas orally, specifically ones born from interdisciplinary thinking.

    Content:

    Become familiarized with sustainability as a concept and as a field of study.

    Learn about specific case studies of threatened resources, such as water and energy.

    Learn to articulate the key features of a sustainable place for humans on Earth through final presentations.  

    Become skilled at working in group settings through final sustainability project.

LS 104  Introduction to Global Health: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

This course will introduce the core concepts, principles and functions of global health. It will provide an overview of health determinants, methods for measuring population health and trends in global health and disease. The course will examine how sociocultural, educational, nutritional, environmental, economic and political factors influence the global patterns of disease and health inequities – including both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Finally, the course will discuss key actors working together to improve global health, and career areas in this field. All majors welcome, no pre-requisites.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Define and discuss core concepts, principles and functions of global health.
  2. Identify major global health challenges.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of how sociocultural, nutritional, environmental, economic and political factors influence the global patterns of disease and health (in)equity, with an emphasis on health in low-resource settings.
  4. Draw on multiple disciplines to examine global health issues and demonstrate understanding that solutions require interdisciplinary and interprofessional approaches.
  5. Communicate their understanding of global health issues both in writing and in discussions.

LS 191  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (1-4 Lec, 1-4 Lab)

Repeatable up to 12 credits.

LS 194D  Introduction to Africana Studies: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F, Sp) An introduction to the study of Africa and the African diaspora. Students will learn the basic concepts and literatures of Africana studies from forced migration to resettlement in new homelands.

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  1. Identify the significance of racial identities in modernizing processes – housing, land ownership, transportation, democratic governance, communications technologies, and others.\\n
  2. Evaluate the role that ideas of blackness play into exclusionary practices related to peoples of African descent.\\n
  3. Analyze the strategies used by members of black communities to struggle against oppression and inequality in four separate modern-nation contexts.\\n
  4. Understand sources of identities, their own and others, and how identities, particularly black identities, influence civic values, assumptions, responsibilities and community engagement.\\n
  5. Use written, spoken, and visual communication to create meaning, build relationships, foster understanding, and persuade others. This will be exemplified in final project presentations as well as in class discussions.\\n
  6. Apply knowledge of diverse cultures, histories, values, or conflicts that have shaped the US and other world societies to better understand current events, US democratic and other global political institutions, or social life.\\n

LS 290R  Undergraduate Research: 1-6 Credits (1-6 Other)

Directed undergraduate research/creative activity which may culminate in a written work or other creative project. Course will address responsible conduct of research. May be repeated.
Repeatable up to 99 credits.

LS 291  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (1-4 Lec)

Course prerequisites are determined depending on content of each offering.
Repeatable up to 12 credits.

LS 301  Integrative Seminar: 1-3 Credits (1-3 Other)

PREREQUISITE: University Seminar and sophomore standing. The integration of knowledge, theories, and concepts across different disciplines in the Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences
Repeatable up to 9 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. As a result of reading, discussion, writing a daily reading response, and writing of one longer paper, students will improve
    1) their understanding of the breadth and complexity of views on religion that are held by a wide range of well-known scientists,
    2) their ability to engage in an open-minded and in-depth discussion of complex and sensitive issues, and
    3) their ability to compare, synthesize, and articulate the ideas of different scientists.

LS 305  Ways of Seeing: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

This course will provide students with the knowledge and the perspectives of different disciplines involved in experiencing, contextualizing, and contemplating works of art. Students will analyze and discuss the theories of aesthetics and ways of seeing in order to grasp the important role the visual arts have in the global society.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Gain an understanding of how to look at and understand art. Use appropriate vocabulary to describe the experience of looking at and understanding art.
  2. Apply the lenses of art and art history to daily life. Discuss the intersections between course content and the way you see and understand the world. ;
  3. Analyze and compare different approaches to understanding art. Use different theoretical concepts to deconstruct visual media.
  4. Synthesize new ideas about seeing. Effectively communicate those ideas in a variety of formats (written, visual, oral)

LS 350  Literature Reviews: Theory & Practice: 3 Credits (3 Other)

PREREQUISITE: WRIT 101 This interdisciplinary course examines scholarly information resources, literature review processes, and effective techniques for tracking citations. Covers advanced literature research methodologies and prepares students for reading and creating literature reviews for their capstones, senior projects, and other in-depth research endeavors

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and use of scholarly literature sources in their discipline
  2. Successfully develop and apply search strategies in appropriate scholarly databases
  3. Differentiate among resource types and choose the most appropriate for the research topic
  4. Effectively manage citations using a bibliographic management program
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of the disciplinary information structure (flow of information, type of publications, dissemination methods)
  6. Distinguish narrative and systematic literature reviews and a meta analysis, and be able to write a narrative literature review
  7. Apply legal and ethical standards in their use of information. (Ex: plagiarism; falsifying results; protecting their copyright, open access)

LS 391  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (1-4 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: Course prerequisites are determined depending on content of each offering. Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number
Repeatable up to 12 credits.

LS 402  From the Closet to the Courts: Contraception Through the Ages: 3 Credits ()

PREREQUISITE: WRIT 101 or AMST 101 or LS 101 are recommended and/or consent of instructor. Attempts to control fertility date back to the dawn of human civilization. This class looks at the history of contraception, examines the social and cultural factors underlying changes in reproductive technologies, and charts the visual expression of fertility through art

LS 411  Sustainable Cities: 3 Credits (3 Other)

This course will investigate the theory, politics, ethics, and practice of sustainable urban design. As environmental degradation and urban sprawl continue to affect our cities, our communities, and our health, it is ever more important that responsible citizens be knowledgeable about the intersections of urban development and nature.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Define sustainable cities.
  2. Describe and summarize how sustainable urban infrastructure is designed and implemented.
  3. Compare different approaches to sustainable urban design.
  4. Identify policies that make cities greener.
  5. Apply methodological approaches to case studies and argue for or against policies.
  6. Synthesize course materials to develop a policy proposal for Bozeman and/or MSU.

LS 450  Evolution and Public Opinion: 3 Credits (1 Lec, 2 Other)

This course will explore what evolution is and how it works. We will examine the creationist and Intelligent Design arguments against evolution, as well as the implications of this debate on public education and the public perception of science.

LS 451  Film, Photos, and Culture: A Global Perspective: 3 Credits (3 Other)

This course is designed to improve student’s intercultural competence – the ability to work effectively with cultural difference. Films, television, TEDs and photos are used to identify and analyze the differing dimensions of global culture, and to learn various methods of adaptation.

LS 452  This is Your Brain on Art and Music: 3 Credits (3 Other)

This course will also discuss the neurological effects as well as the emotional effects that art and music have on human beings. In addition to this, it will also discuss the alleged healing properties of art and music (i.e. music therapy, art therapy).

LS 460  Teaching Internship: 2 Credits (2 Other)

PREREQUISITE: US core and consent of instructor. As co-facilitators of a section of LS 101US, students will acquire and have the opportunity to practice classroom teaching strategies and mentoring skills
Repeatable up to 4 credits.

LS 491  Special Topics:: 1-4 Credits (1-4 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: Course prerequisites are dependent on the offering. Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number
Repeatable up to 12 credits.

LS 492  Independent Study: 1-3 Credits (1-3 Other)

Directed research and study on an individual basis.
Repeatable up to 6 credits.

LS 499R  Senior Capstone: 4 Credits (4 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: LS 101US
COREQUISITE: LS 350. (F, Sp) Liberal Studies majors will engage in interdisciplinary research and writing methods, using appropriate bibliographical tools and in light of contemporary fields such as environmental studies, global multicultural studies or traditional liberal arts
.

View Course Outcomes:

  1. reflect on your achievements as a Liberal Studies major and the intellectual skills you have acquired and developed.
  2. plan for how to build on those achievements and use those skills in graduate studies, future employment, and/or lifelong learning.
  3. gain experience in making effective written presentations of the important issues in your area of study.
  4. demonstrate critical and analytical thinking and mastery of analytical writing.
  5. conduct scholarly research