University of Missouri - Kansas City : Arts & Sciences (A&S)

This three hour course is designed for freshmen and transfer students, to be taken during their first semester of study at UMKC. The curriculum provides students an introduction to the major disciplines and methodologies of the liberal arts and sciences (the humanities, social sciences, and sciences), including sessions on choosing majors and careers. Additional emphases will include learning to use the library, writing and computational skills, oral presentations, cultural diversity, stress management, and study strategies.

3 hrs

A&S 103 A Critical Thinking In The Arts And Humanities

This 3 hour course is designed to be taken in conjunction with entry level courses in Arts and Sciences disciplines. The course is designed to enhance students' critical thinking and intellectual capacity, communication skills, and life long learning strategies. Assignments and problem solving activities in the course focus on developing thinking in the disciplines through interactive class sessions, experiments, and problem solving applications. The course is intended to be taught concurrently with a departmental course offered in the Video Supplemental Instruction model. Numerous additional assignments and activities enable students to both succeed in the departmental course and develop transferable cognitive skills at the same time. Credit and grades for the A&S 103 course are based on a series of separate assignments specifically designed to enable students to succeed academically in the current and subsequent semesters. A&S 103 assignments would vary according to the discipline course it is linked with, but would include numerous supplemental readings, writing and problem solving activities done individually and in groups/teams. Class attendance and participation are required. Only one of the A&S 103 abc sequence may apply toward graduation requirements. Offered: Every Semester.

3 hrs

A&S 103 B Critical Thinking In The Social Sciences

This 3 hour course is designed to be taken in conjunction with entry level courses in Arts and Sciences disciplines. The course is designed to enhance students' critical thinking and intellectual capacity, communication skills, and life long learning strategies. Assignments and problem solving activities in the course focus on developing thinking in the disciplines through interactive class sessions, experiments, and problem solving applications. The course is intended to be taught concurrently with a departmental course offered in the Video Supplemental Instruction model. Numerous additional assignments and activities enable students to both succeed in the departmental course and develop transferable cognitive skills at the same time. Credit and grades for the A&S 103 course are based on a series of separate assignments specifically designed to enable students to succeed academically in the current and subsequent semesters. A&S 103 assignments would vary according to the discipline course it is linked with, but would include numerous supplemental readings, writing and problem solving activities done individually and in groups/teams. Class attendance and participation are required Only one of the A&S 103 abc sequence may apply toward graduation requirements. Offered: Every Semester.

3 hrs

A&S 103 C Critical Thinking In The Natural Sciences And Mathematics

This three hour course is designed to be taken in conjunction with entry level courses in Arts & Sciences disciplines. The course is designed to enhance students' critical thinking and intellectual capacity, communication skills, and life long learning strategies. Assignments and problem solving activities in the course focus on developing thinking in the disciplines through interactive class sessions, experiments, and problem solving applications. The course is intended to be taught concurrently with a departmental course offered in the Video Supplemental Instruction model. Numerous additional assignments and activities enable students to both succeed in the departmental course and develop transferable cognitive skills at the same time. Credit and grades for the A&S 103 course are based on a series of separate assignments specifically designed to enable students to succeed academically in the current and subsequent semesters. A&S 103 assignments would vary according to the discipline course it is linked with, but would include numerous supplemental readings, writing and problem solving activities done individually and in groups/teams. Class attendance and participation are required. Only one of the A&S 103 abc sequence may apply toward graduation requirements. Offered: Every Semester.

3 hrs

A&S 110 Successful Research: Making Sense Of The World Of Information

Do you know what you don't know? Find out in this course as we learn and discuss many of the common things you are expected to know to succeed in college, including the importance of discovering, understanding, analyzing, and using ideas and information in order to achieve academic success and genuine learning. You will learn how to ask meaningful questions, understand the structure and content of information resources, evaluate information, and use information resources as learning tools. The course is not geared to any specific discipline, but is core to success in any discipline. The course is open to all students, but is most beneficial when taken early in a student's academic career.

1 hr

A&S 160 Wine And Civilization

Geography of wine growing; the anatomy and physiology of the grapevine; the sociological forces of alcohol in American culture; wine and classical culture; economic aspects of wine and wine growing.

2 hrs

A&S 200 British Life And Culture

A survey of British history and culture from Roman times to the present day. The course includes such topics as British education, the legal system, the economic system, the Common Market, the development of working class movements such as Trade Union Councils, pictorial arts in Britain, dramatic arts, British music, and contemporary communications. The course is taught with lectures from British authorities in the various fields, discussions with lecturers and local faculty, and field trips to places associated with the weekly lectures. Grade for the course is determined by a combination of papers and exams. Offered under the Missouri-London Program in London. Each semester.

3 hrs

A&S 205 Contemporary Europe

An examination of selected political, cultural, economic and social forces shaping Europe today and of how they are related to Europe's past. The course is taught in Europe and employs field trips, lectures by European authorities on the various topics and lectures by the accompanying faculty member. Grades determined by a combination of papers and exams. Summers or Interim.

3-6 hrs

A&S 206 Contemporary Asia

An examination of selected political, cultural, economic and social forces shaping Asia today and of how they are related to Asia's past. The course is taught in Asia and employs field trips, lectures by Asian authorities on the various topics and lectures by the accompanying faculty member. Grades determined by a combination of papers and exams. Summers or Interim.

3-6 hrs

A&S 207 Contemporary Latin America

An examination of selected political, cultural, economic and social forces shaping Latin America today, and of how they are related to Latin America's past. The course is taught in Latin America and employs field trips, lectures by Latin American authorities on the various topics, and lectures by the accompanying faculty member. Grades determined by a combination of papers and exams. Offered: Summers or Interim.

3-6 hrs

A&S 208 Contemporary World Cultures

An examination of societies and cultures around the world. Students visit one or more countries, where they go on field trips, meet with local experts and students, and learn by studying and doing. Grades are determined by written assignments and practical performance. Offered: Summers or Interim

3 hrs

A&S 210 Cross-Cultural Interaction: Experience & Understanding

This course focuses on the social and cultural context of interactional patterns. U.S. and international students are paired in academic activities to encourage mutual understanding and self-awareness. They will draw on a variety of resources and learning modalities to examine aspects of their own and one another's societies, cultures, religions, and family relations. Making use of intercultural theories, students will reflect upon and explore cultural myths and stereotypes and develop a general understanding of cultural similarities and differences. Offered: Fall, Winter

3 hrs

A&S 240 Analysis Of Medical Terminology

Analyze the structure of medical words and apply this to basic anatomy, physiology and disease processes of the human body, stressing spelling and pronunciation. Offered: Fall and Winter

3 hrs

A&S 300 CF Cluster Course: African/African American Women And Creativity

3 hrs

A&S 304 CM Cluster Course: Body Images In Medicine And The Arts

Open to all students, this course focuses on the human body as an object of study in the history and practice of medicine. The class identifies a number of key issues which affect the attitudes that contemporary physicians often have about their patients based upon prevalent attitudes toward the human body in our society. Societal values which shape our ideas about gender, physical appearance, cosmetic surgery, obesity, and genetic abnormalities will be the focus of determining the extent to which these issues may actually affect the education of physicians and choices of medical treatment. The course examines the evolution of these values historically through works of art and recurring themes in literature. the course is interdisciplinary, involving lectures in contemporary medicine, the history of medicine, the history of art, and literature. It satisfies current baccalaureate requirements for interdisciplinary coursework in the humanities. The course will not count toward required courses for the major in art, art history, literature or history. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Offered: Summer 1994.

3 hrs

A&S 305 Ethics In America: The View From The Heartland

This interdisciplinary course brings national and local specialists together through the media of television case study and personal dialogues for an exploration of the ethical issues facing Americans today. Problems of the corporate world, of academe, of law, of medicine, of media and of the military will be subjected to analysis. With the assistance of experts from the faculty and the community, students will create a paradigm for ethical decision making. Prerequisites: PHILOS 210, PHILOS 222 or consent of the instructor or Foundations of Social Science. Offered: On demand.

3 hrs

A&S 310 Cross-Cultural Interaction II: Social Relations

This course will match international students with U.S. students to prepare them to interact more effectively in multilingual and/or intercultural settings. Students learn through readings on cultural theory and cultural relations, in-class small group activities, discussions and lectures, how issues of identity, such as age, sexual orientation, and ethnicity; impact cross-cultural interaction. Papers written for this course will help students integrate theory with previous experience, leading to an understanding of oppression in cross-cultural interaction. This course is a continuation of A&S 210: Cross-Cultural Interaction: Experience and Understanding, which is a prerequisite. Prerequisite: A&S 210 Offered: Fall, Winter

3 hrs

A&S 334 Introduction To African American Studies

This course provides an introduction to the contexts, theories, and methodologies that undergird African American studies. In addition to substantial time spent covering particular research skills and resources, students will also be introduced to African American culture and the issues related to African American studies from several perspectives: history, literature, sociology, communication studies, and the like. Influences and perspectives from Africa, the Caribbean and South America will also be covered. The course will thus provide a broad background in African American culture and history, an introduction to the methodologies of several disciplines, and discussion of particular contemporary and historical issues such as slavery, segregation and integration, the Civil Rights Movement, Pan-Africanism, Afrocentrism, and current political debates. Prerequisite: None. Offered: Once a year.

3 hrs

A&S 341 Union Leadership and Administration

This course focuses on the roles and challenges of union leadership in a changing environment. Topics include the union leaders' role as a representative, organizer and educator as well as administrative responsibilities within the union and the relationship with enterprise management in both adversarial and participatory situations. Options for leadership styles and organizational models will be discussed and explored in both theory and practice. Leaders will develop their skills of motivation, speaking, strategic planning and managing complex campaigns and diverse organizations. This course is part of the Certificate Program in Labor Studies and is offered on the University of Missouri Interactive Video Network at UMKC, UMSL, and UMC.

3 hrs

A&S 350 Special Topics