Category 4: Social Sciences

This course covers the epidemiology, etiology, treatment, and ethical and legal considerations associated with psychopathology in society. Evidence-based criteria will be used to examine individual, group, community and cross-cultural therapeutic techniques.

Covers physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development through adolescence. Explores a variety of theories, recent research, and practical application.

Introduces elementary concepts and principles related to the scientific study of behavior and of the mental processes of cognition and affective states. Variables examined include the history of psychology, the scientific method, theory, biological foundations, psychological processes related to cognition and affective states, developmental changes over time, and applications related to healthy and unhealthy personalities.

A special topics course that allows students to explore various issues in foreign policy. Focuses on American foreign policy including military, diplomatic, and trade policy. Themes vary from semester to semester. In addition, themes may be very specific such as nuclear weapons proliferation or more general such as American foreign policy in the Middle East or global trade. Guest speakers.

A special topics course that allows students to explore issues of public policy. Focuses on the basics of public policy including agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. Themes may vary. Themes may be specific such as healthcare policy or they might be more general such as state and local economic policy. Guest speakers.

Examines social, political, economic, ethnic, cultural, and religious conflict and the methods used to resolve, regulate, and prevent conflict. The mechanisms for developing cooperation to resolve and mitigate conflict among peoples and states are central to this course. Also focuses on international and intra-state conflicts including civil wars, social strife, and rebellion, and employs case studies and other scientific methods to investigate specific conflicts and the strategies of conflict resolution.

Examines political institutions and processes in the fifty states, including their cultures and constitutions, as well as the public policies of state governments in areas such as education, social welfare, and the environment. Uses Michigan and Metropolitan Detroit as a basis for comparison to study state and local governments. This course is appropriate as a lead-in for those interested in the fields of political science, public administration, and criminal justice.

Introduces the diverse phenomena of international relations, the complex patterns of political and economic conflict, American foreign policy, and the interdependence between nation-states and non-governmental organizations. Coursework encourages the student to think critically and analytically about the world and develop a healthy skepticism toward simple solutions to complex world problems.

Considers legal systems as social/political phenomena and explores the U.S. Constitution, landmark court decisions, and patterns of behavior characterizing legal system participants. This course is appropriate as a lead-in for those interested in the fields of political science, criminal justice, legal secretary, and paralegal, as well as those considering law school.

Examines principles and problems of American political institutions, including the role of government and politics in society, the balancing of liberty with authority, and theories of the state. Also explores mechanisms of popular control (public opinion, pressure groups, political parties, elections) and formal structure. Additional components include foreign policy, public policy, and contemporary events.