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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Nursing |
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NUR 4050 - Role Transition Credits: 4
This course prepares students to transition from a student nurse into professional nursing practice as a registered nurse. This course is a continuation and accumulation of prior nursing courses. Students will be introduced to leadership and advanced concepts related to the role of the professional nurse, a provider in patient-centered care, an advocate for patients and families, and a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. An emphasis is placed upon the utilization of evidence-based practice and informatics to promote safety and quality in healthcare delivery. This course also provides guidance to assist students in career development and planning.
Prerequisite(s): NUR 3600 and NUR 3650 or NUR 3500 and NUR 3550
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Leadership |
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LDR 1010 - Foundations in Leadership Credits: 4
This course explores theories of leadership, leadership philosophies and styles, as well as how leaders achieve institutional goals in an increasingly complex and challenging world. It addresses questions such as who can be a leader, society’s biases and norms about what constitutes leadership, the differences between leadership styles such (i.e. collaborative, cooperative, problem-solver, and hierarchical), concepts such as mentorship and sponsorship, as well as the challenges, opportunities, and obstacles faced by marginalized groups who seek leadership positions. Students will have an opportunity to address their relationship to leadership and strengthen their capabilities through interactive and engaging assignments and activities, including Harvard’s Implicit Association Test, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Leadership Style Self-Assessment and Optional Thinking Leadership Assessment, among others.
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LDR 2440 - Leading Teams Credits: 4
Evaluating and transferring knowledge in team-based environments with diverse groups of employees can be challenging. Leaders need to adapt their practices for working across multicultural, multi-gendered, multi-racial, multi-abled employees and collaborators, as well as across national borders. This course will expose students to theories of team leadership and help them develop tools for sharing knowledge in an effective way. Measuring team effectiveness is difficult for team-based leadership because a majority of team tasks within organizations are not quantifiable. Some of the criteria which can be used to measure teams’ tasks are: Output from teams should meet or exceed expectations; collaborative efforts among team members should enhance the capabilities of other team members; the team experience should satisfy the personal needs of team members.
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LDR 2780 - Leadership: Principles, Power and Persuasion Credits: 4
This course explores leadership in relation to principles, power and persuasion. These three elements aid leader’s navigating various leadership challenges, styles, and access to positions of power and influence. Defining
successful leadership is not done in isolation–it requires an understanding and close examination of what guides a leader’s assumption, beliefs, and actions in conce1i with their pursuit of power and ability to persuade others -including those who are different from themselves. Leaming how to maintain one’s principles even while reaching a compromise is a necessary leadership skill. Holding position, power and influence, and using them ethically and for the greater good are also ideals and aspects of leadership. Persuading others to embrace a workplace change, adapting organizational mission in an agile environment, or commanding and holding attention are essential skills for leaders.
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LDR 3200 - Leadership in Times of Crisis Credits: 4
The Covid-19 pandemic made visible on a global scale the importance of leadership in times of crisis. Whether leaders serve in the political, business, nonprofit, or social realm, crises pose new and often unanticipated challenges - and sometimes opportunities - for those in positions of leadership. This course offers an understanding of how leaders proactively or reactively respond to crisis, effectively communicate through their actions and behaviors, make decisions, and maintain self and organizational engagement. The course will also address the opportunities for women and people of color who may emerge as leaders during crisis moments and will explore the concept of the “glass cliff” that many may face. Understanding through case studies, this course explores in-depth how leaders respond to crises while simultaneously attempting to maintain trust among stakeholders such as employees, investors, consumers, government and the like. It also considers the role of leadership style in successfully responding to and managing crises, as well as cases where leaders acknowledge their inability to act in times of crisis.
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LDR 3350 - Effective Leader - Followers Models Credits: 4
The world has changed immensely since the advent of the “Great Man Theory” of leadership first emerged in the late 1800s. This course will address the theory and its persistence, the changes that emerged since, and alternative models of leadership, such as those that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in recruiting and developing leaders. However, the importance of understanding the complex social symbiosis and the inter-dependent relationship between leaders and followers are often overlooked. This course examines various theories such as Leader-Follower Theory, Leader Member Exchange Theory (LMX) and the Vertical Dyad Linkage Theory, among others. This course uses relevant case studies to inform how leaders effectively embrace, engage, and support followers and team members to accomplish organizational success.
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LDR 3760 - Ethical Leadership Credits: 4
This course explores ethical dilemmas and contemporary problems that can arise when leaders consider the ways important and proper decision-making intersects with the needs and goals of organizations, society, or the wider world. What happens when an individual’s ethics are counter to the organization’s practices or society’s values? We will conduct an historical review of various leaders’ actions and resulting consequences when confronted with an ethical dilemma. Students will use case studies, their own experiences, and current events to examine ethical tensions within the framework of both personal goals and social outcomes. Students will study popular ethical theories, strategies and solutions with refined understand of various perspectives and reasoning essential to good ethical leadership. From theory evaluation, various ethical models, as well as exercises and discussions, students will enhance their critical thinking skills as well as deepen their understanding of the perspectives of others. In addition, each student will assess their ethical framework in context to an effective leadership model.
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Explorations |
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EXP 1101 - Who am I? Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. Each Explorations Course examines a unique enduring question. All Explorations Courses focus on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as civic and community engagement. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
The enduring question of “Who am I?” encompasses several intersecting directions of exploration and reflection, including the concept of personhood, the intrinsically relational nature of human experience, and ideas about worth, dignity, mission and purpose. Theologians have long understood humanity as oriented toward God, made explicit in St. Augustine’s prayer: “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” This course will ask how diverse understandings of humanity align with contemporary issues that arise when one considers the questions of identity. This section is offered as part of the Austin Scholars Program. Fulfills the diversity (D) requirement in LS Core.
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EXP 1102 - Thinking Deeply: Is it Irrelevant? Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course critically analyzes multiple perspectives regarding the purpose and value of “learning for learning’s sake” in today’s world, and explores the difference that this kind of learning can make in the lives of students today as well as in the greater society. Through raising and debating questions about the personal and societal value of studying the disciplines and topics generally addressed in a Liberal Arts education, this course examines the role of learning for the love of learning. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1103 - Art, Imagination and the Pursuit of Creative Thinking Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. The focus for this course is art and the roles it plays in our lives and learning processes. Broadly conceived, art (literature, painting, sculpture, music/lyrics, photography, etc.) is sometimes moved to the margins of traditional valuations of higher education. “Art is for fun; college is for education,” a critic might say. In this course we will take art seriously, as a medium for conveying truths about our lived experiences, a vehicle for inspiring social change, and a critical component to the learning process in all academic disciplines. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1104 - Harnessing Your Inner Curiosity Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. A major theme for this course is curiosity and its role in learning. Traditional education places the highest value on memorization which constantly overshadows curiosity. Students are put in the mindset of consuming information regarding how it will prepare them for an exam rather than what incites a level of curiosity. This course will focus on the importance of inspiring curiosity through traditional educational experiences. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1105 - Saving Ourselves from Stress Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an exploration of stress from the perspective of psychology. We will study how different types of human distress impair functioning and what options are available to help ourselves and others. This course will use an integrative approach toward the study of psychological stress, including the interaction of biological, developmental, and social factors, in considering the cultural context in which stress impacts the individual. We will make use of case studies, develop treatment manuals, and use readings and online class discussions to see if we can possibly save ourselves from stress. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
Fulfills: D in LS Core
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EXP 1106 - Pollution: A Necessary Harm? Credits: 3
This course focuses on the question, “How do we know when it’s worth polluting the environment to help humans survive and thrive?” Topics include quantitative chemical analysis, structure-property relationships, nolecular toxicology, and environmental justice. Students will consider complex real world problems, such as how pollution affects the biochemistry and well-being of diverse populations, and strategies for reducing its negative effects.
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EXP 1107 - Making a Monster Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course examines our culture’s fascination with monsters. From a young age, most are familiar with some type of monster. Zombies, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, witches, and more supernatural creatures haunt our history and texts. What do these monsters say about certain groups of people? What do these monsters say about ourselves? This course will explore different categories of popular monsters in texts, including film and television, to understand how authors draw inspiration from socio-cultural influences in creating these characters and figures. In doing so, we will better understand the messages embedded within. We will ultimately challenge what it means for something - or someone - to be considered just that: monstrous. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1108 - Rebels, Riots, and Revolutions Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course focuses on how young people, often viewed as the “movers and shakers” of the world, can be excluded from having a “seat at the table” when it comes to decision-making within a community. Yet, many young people today and throughout history, are challenging existing power structures in pursuit of a more equitable, fair, and just world. In this course, we will answer three fundamental questions for making a change in a community: What is power? How do you get it? And How do you use it? In this course, you will become familiar with rebellion, revolution, and other forms of youth civic activism geared at promoting institutional and structural change for the benefit of society. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1109 - Identity of Music Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. The purpose of this course is to gain an understanding of the many ways in which understanding musical traditions found in a community can provide a pathway to deeper understanding of the world views, power, and structures found in underrepresented communities. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1110 - Poverty and Inequity: Obstacles to Human Flourishing Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course examines questions like: What does it mean to be poor? How does the meaning and experience of poverty vary depending on the country, culture, and historical moment in which it exists? How do people experience poverty, and how does the meaning and experience of poverty intersect with notions of gender, race, sexuality, nation, religion, legal status, and ability? How is wealth accumulated or denied? While acknowledging that poverty is an economic condition, this course focuses on poverty from a social and cultural perspective. It looks at poverty through the prism of intersectionality, exploring how the meaning and experience of poverty varies depending on one’s social location. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1111 - Active Citizenship: A User Manual Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course focuses on the current political climate, and how students are becoming increasingly frustrated and disengaged with the political system. Many students come to college with little to no understanding of and interest in how to be a citizen or of the skills needed to be one. This class introduces you to and allows you to practice the basic skills and knowledge needed to be a confident and engaged citizen. We will address topics such as citizenship, democracy, and voting. Throughout the semester we will address misconceptions about politics and government and give you tools to analyze, research, write and talk about politics. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1112 - A World of Monsters Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course is a film class that explores examples of the monstrous in world-wide cinema and popular culture. It asks such questions as, What is a monster? What makes a monster “a monster,” and why? What do we do with monsters, and what does it say about us - our culture, our society, ourselves, and the world we live in? Using the monster as a powerful metaphor, we will investigate and discuss the role of the monster/ monstrous across a variety of popular movies from around the world, from classic to current cinema. We will examine how monsters can help us interpret our anxieties about the challenges we face in our lives, from technology to climate change, from global health to world economy, from consumer culture to race and gender relations, and so on. Whenever appropriate, we will also “sample” comics, TV shows, fan art, classic tales, and popular novels. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
Fulfills: AL and D in LS Core
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EXP 1113 - Searching for Your”Self”: From the Big Bang to Consciousness Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course focuses on the enduring search for one’s self. The exploration includes the search for meaning and the search for happiness. Humans, for thousands of years, have reflected on the question of self identity - as it relates to other humans, the divine, and the rest of the beings on - and perhaps off - the planet. Many of the world’s religions and philosophies were built on this search. This course will pay particular attention to how we might learn to better care for the self, regardless of its ultimate meaning or end. We will also explore how one might do this in the context of a world with great social disparity, injustice, racism, plague, and climate destruction. The themes of mindfulness, wellness, compassion and joy will guide many of our conversations of the search for the Self. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
Fulfills: D in LS Core
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EXP 1114 - Communication & Media in the Age of Misinformation Credits: 3
While the term “fake news” has become a buzzword in recent years, misinformation, including disinformation (defined as misinformation that is created and spread by those who have intention to deceive others) has
always been a significant threat to individuals and society. With current communication technologies, it has become even more challenging to combat misinformation. In this course, students will learn about the characteristics, functionality, and usage of communication technologies and understand how they shape the current media environment. Also, this course will explore the interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the causes, consequences, and tenacity of misinformation in different contexts. Ultimately, with a better understanding of communication technologies and misinformation, students will develop a set of concrete, potential solutions, interventions, or projects that might help people identify and trust sources of truth, that might prevent the spread of misinformation, or/and that might effectively correct. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
Fulfills: SOSC in LS Core
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EXP 1201 - Medicine, Science and Decisions Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course explores the relationship between medicine, society and decisions. We will examine how our understanding of medicine influences our personal choices, social policies, and behaviors. The course will traverse from basic science concepts to how medicines are discovered, developed, and disseminated and ultimately to how our understanding of therapeutics influences our decisions. Some of the topics that will be addressed in the course will directly relate to DEI issues, such as pharmaceutical drug prices, vaccine mandates, cycling drugs off the market, clinical trials (current and past practices) and social policies related to medicines. While the course will cover fundamental science and medicinal topics, the class will be open to students from all majors. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1301 - Emotional Intelligence for Surviving and Thriving Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course studies the emerging theme of “Surviving and Thriving Amid Stress.” Students will be asked to consider the enduring question: Can developing emotional intelligence decrease diversity stress and promote enhanced respect and collegiality among diverse groups by utilizing self-awareness and responsiveness to others? In progressing towards answering the enduring question, this course will explore the concept of Emotional Intelligence as core competency for successful navigation in today’s diverse world. Secondary concepts of self-awareness, self-regulation, awareness of others, empathy, compassion, and resilience will be explored. Students will examine each competency, participate in interactive discussion with classmates and then reflect on learned experiences. The course will culminate with a shared project. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1403 - Technology and Society Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course examines how science and technology are the linchpins of economic growth and prosperity. Over the past two centuries humans have made great technological progress. Steam engines, electricity, automobiles, telephones, transistors, computers and the internet have carried us through several industrial revolutions and renewed cycles of economic prosperity. Nowadays, emerging technological fields such as nano, bio, information and cognitive technologies are opening up further doors for innovation beyond imaginable. However, there always has been evidence supporting both the benefits as well as perils of technology. For instance, fossil fuel engines reduced physical distances and enhanced industrial productivity but also led to global warming. The internet offers great communications and exchange opportunities, at the same time creating social isolation and information privacy issues. The question is do technologies determine their consumption or is it the users who choose good or bad uses of otherwise neutral technologies? What is the role of users’ context in shaping up good or bad uses of technologies? The overarching focus of this course is thus familiarizing participants with the inter-twined nature of technology and society. A number of cases on the internet, social media, bio-technology, bio-ethics, and clean energy will demonstrate how technology and society shape each other. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1501 - Language, Power and Identity Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics.This courses examines questions, such as, “How do we construct our ideas of language, dialects, and registers?” Topics to explore include the notion of “correctness”, multilingualism, and language variation. Students will consider complex real-world issues of sociolinguistics and language policy in a variety of contexts and settings. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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EXP 1502 - The Interaction of Genes and Environment in Our Lives Credits: 3
Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. This course focuses on how genes and environment interact in determining a variety of human traits, behaviors, and conditions. Methods to determine the degree to which a particular trait, behavior, or disease is heritable and current findings of such interactions will be reviewed. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.
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Entrepreneurship |
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ENT 2300 - Intro to Entrepreneurship Credits: 4
This course provides students with an experiential, hand-on approach to understanding the many different activities and skills required to create a new business opportunity. The skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teaming are applicable to a multitude of degrees and careers beyond business. The students will engage in simulations, workshops, case studies, and a group project for a well-rounded entrepreneurial experience.
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ENT 3300 - Managing an Entrepreneurial Ventures Credits: 4
This course provides students with an experiential, hand-on approach to understanding the multitude of skills and challenges an entrepreneur faces in managing and growing a new business. The skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teaming are applicable to a multitude of degrees and careers beyond business. The students will engage in simulations, workshops, case studies, and a distinguished group of external speakers for a well-rounded experience.
Prerequisite(s): ENT 2300
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