University of Pittsburgh Course Descriptions University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences Course Descriptions home page College of General Studies University Honors College College of Business Administration

Course Announcements for Arts and Sciences Students

New Courses
Courses Recently Approved to Meet General Ed Requirements
Changes in Majors
Changes in Minors
New Majors

New Courses

effective spring 2010 (term 2104):
COMMRC 1161 Communication Ethics
CS 1635 Interface Design Methodology
ENGCMP 1111 Professional Writing in Global Contexts
HIST 1705 Major Works in World History
HIST 1715 Empires in the Modern World
HIST 1777 Catholicism and Global Modernity
MUSIC 1262 Critical Listening and Music Criticism
RELGST 1557 Buddhist Lives
SOC 1500 Capstone Research Practicum for Majors
THEA 1903 Seminar in Theatre Arts
effective fall 2009 (term 2101):
ANTH 1609: Advanced Skeletal Analysis
ECON 0460: Sports Economics
ENGWRT 0540: Writing Youth Literature
FR 0052: French across the Curriculum Practicum
HAA 0940: Approaches to the Built Environment
HAA 1914: Architecture + Computer Applications
HAA 1922: Preservation – Texts + Theory
HIST 1753: The Ottoman Empire (1300-1923)
ITAL 0052: Italian across the Curriculum Practicum
KOREAN 1023: Aspects of the Korean Language
LING 1522: Arabic Life and Thought
LING 1524: Readings in Arabic
MUSIC 0615: Carpathian Music Ensemble
MUSIC 1327: Global Hip-Hop
PHYS 1374: Solid State Physics
PHYS 1375: Foundations of Nanoscience
PSY 0422: Cognitive Psychology
PSY 0423: Cognitive Psychology Lab
RUSS 1210: Man and Superman – Representations of the Superior Individual in Literature, Film, Philosophy, Drama, and Music
SLAV 1225: Behind Bars – Cross-Cultural Representations of Prison in the 20th Century
SOC 1114: Qualitative Research Methods
SOC 1324: Social Problems and Moral Crusades
THEA 1903: Seminar in Theatre Arts

Courses Recently Approved to Meet General Education Requirements

MUSIC 1262 Critical Listening and Music Criticism (Arts)
COMMRC 1611 Communication Ethics (Writing)
ENGCMP 1111 Professional Writing in Global Contexts (Writing)
MUSIC 1262 Critical Listening and Music Criticism (Writing)
RELGST 1557 Buddhist Lives (Writing)
SOC 1114 Qualitative Research Methods (Writing)
THEA 1903 Seminar in Theatre Arts (Writing)
effective spring 2010 (term 2104):
 
Arts
MUSIC 1262: Critical Listening and Music Criticism
Writing
COMMRC 1611 Communication Ethics (Writing)
ENGCMP 1111 Professional Writing in Global Contexts (Writing)
MUSIC 1262 Critical Listening and Music Criticism (Writing)
RELGST 1557 Buddhist Lives (Writing)
SOC 1114 Qualitative Research Methods (Writing)
THEA 1903 Seminar in Theatre Arts (Writing)
effective fall 2009 (term 2101):
 
Writing
HAA 1922: Preservation – Texts + Theory
PSY 0423: Cognitive Psychology Lab
Literature
GER 1500: Germanic Myths, Legends, and Sagas
SLAV 1225: Behind Bars – Cross-Cultural Representations of Prison in the 20th Century
Arts
MUSIC 1327: Global Hip-Hop
2nd course in Literature or the Arts or Creative Expression
RUSS 1210: Man and Superman – Representations of the Superior Individual in Literature, Film, Philosophy, Drama, and Music
Philosophy
PS 1601: Political Theory – Plato to Machiavelli
PS 1602: Political Theory – Machiavelli to Rousseau
Historical Change
HIST 1753: The Ottoman Empire (1300-1923)
Natural Sciences
PSY 0422: Cognitive Psychology
International/Foreign Culture - Comparative
RUSS 1210: Man and Superman – Representations of the Superior Individual in Literature, Film, Philosophy, Drama, and Music
SLAV 1225: Behind Bars – Cross-Cultural Representations of Prison in the 20th Century
International/Foreign Culture - Regional
HIST 1753: The Ottoman Empire (1300-1923)
LING 1522: Arabic Life and Thought
International/Foreign Culture - Non-Western
HIST 1753: The Ottoman Empire (1300-1923)
LING 1522: Arabic Life and Thought

Changes in Majors

effective spring 2010 (term 2104):
 
Actuarial Mathematics
Satisfactory/No Credit option: Each of the following courses must be taken for a letter grade; students must earn a grade of C or better in each course.
  • MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
  • MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
  • MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
  • MATH 0413 Introduction to Theoretical Mathematics or MATH 0450 Introduction to Analysis
  • MATH 1180 Linear Algebra 1 or MATH 1185 Honors Linear Algebra
  • MATH 1270 Ordinary Differential Equations 1
  • MATH 1120 Actuarial Mathematics 1 or MATH 1121 Actuarial Mathematics 2
  • MATH 1070 Numerical Mathematics Analysis or MATH 1080 Numerical Linear Algebra
  • Two of the following: MATH 1110 Industrial Numerical Analysis; MATH 1280 Ordinary Differential Equations 2; MATH 1360 Modeling in Applied Mathematics 1; MATH 1470 Partial Differential Equations; MATH 1480 Partial Differential Equations 2
  • ECON 1100 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ECON 1110 Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • ECON 1150 Applied Econometrics 1
  • One of the following: CS 0004 Introduction to Computer Programming; CS 0132 Program in C and Guide to Unix System; ENGR 0012 Introduction to Engineering Computing
  • BUSFIN 1311 Corporate Finance or ECON 1440 Economics of Corporate Finance
Related Area: The required courses include nine credits of STAT and nine to 12 credits of ECON. Majors can fulfill the related area requirement by taking an additional STAT or ECON courses to reach a total of 12 credits in one of these subjects.
Political Science (BA) Major Revised
Political science majors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete: PS 0200, PS 0300, PS 0500, PS 0600, and PS 0700; three upper-level courses from one field; two upper-level courses from a different field; one upper-level elective course. Of these requirements, one must be a capstone course. Students must earn a grade of C- or better for courses to count toward the major.
Psychology
Grade requirements: To declare this major, students must earn a letter grade of C or higher in PSY 0010 Introduction to Psychology and one of the three following STAT courses: STAT 0200 Basic Applied Statistics or STAT 1000 Applied Statistical Methods or STAT 1100 Statistics and Probability for Business Management. Students have taken or be currently enrolled in PSY 0035 Research Methods to declare this major.
Core courses: All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all core courses. Core courses are: PSY 0010 Introduction to Psychology; PSY 0035 Research Methods; and five of the following six courses: PSY 0105 Introduction to Social Psychology; PSY 0160 Psychology of Personality; PSY 0310 Developmental Psychology; PSY 0422 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology; PSY 0505 Introduction to Biopsychology or NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience; PSY 1205 Abnormal Psychology.
Upper-level courses: Students must take two 1000-level PSY courses and earn a letter grade of C or better. They may choose any of the 1000-level PSY courses except: PSY 1205 Abnormal Psychology; PSY 1900 Supervised Field Placement; PSY 1902 Directed Individual Reading; PSY 1903 Directed Individual Research; PSY 1950 Psychology Senior Seminar; PSY 1970 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Experience; PSY 1973 Honors Directed Research; PSY 1975 Honors Thesis for Majors.
Psychology elective: Students must take one PSY elective and earn a letter grade of C or better. They may choose any PSY course except: PSY 1950 Psychology Senior Seminar; PSY 1970 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Experience; PSY 1973 Honors Directed Research; PSY 1975 Honors Thesis for Majors.
Laboratory Methods course: Students must take one laboratory course and earn a letter grade of C or better. Courses include: PSY 0405 Learning and Motivation (4 credits); PSY 0423 Cognitive Psychology Lab (W); PSY 1025 Tests and Measurement; PSY 1112 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality (W); PSY 1305 Experimental Child Psychology (W/ 4 credits); PSY 1975 Honors Thesis.
Quantitative/Computational Reasoning co-requisites: Students must take one of the following courses: MATH 0120 Business Calculus; MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1; MATH 0400 Discrete Mathematical Structures; CS 0007 Introduction to Computer Programming; CS 0401 Intermediate Programming using Java; STAT 1201 Applied Nonparametric Statistics.
Biological Science co-requisite: Students must take one of the following courses: ANTH 0620 Biocultural Anthropology; ANTH 0630 Forensic Anthropology; ANTH 0680 Introduction to Physical Anthropology; BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1; BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2; BIOSC 0190 Introduction to the Biological World 1; BIOSC 0191 Introduction to the Biological World 2; BIOSC 0800 Biology for Non-majors 1; BIOSC 0810 Biology for Non-majors 2; NROSCI 0081 Drugs and Behavior.
Social Science co-requisite: Students must take one of the following courses: AFRCNA 1522 Sex and Racism; ANTH 0582 Introduction to Archeology; ANTH 0780 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; COMMRC 0310 Rhetorical Processes; COMMRC 0320 Mass Communication Process; COMMRC 1110 Theories of Interpersonal Communication; ECON 0100 Introduction to Microeconomic Theory; ECON 0110 Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory; LING 0080 Aspects of Language; LING 1000 Introduction to Linguistics; PS 0200 American Political Process; PS 0300 Comparative Politics; PS 0500 World Politics; PS 0600 Political Theory; SOC 0005 Societies; SOC 0010 Introduction to Sociology; SOC 0150 Social Theory; SOC 0230 Social Research Methods; SOC 0317 Global Society; SOC 0411 Deception and Betrayal; SOC 0432 Wealth and Power; SOC 0438 Sociology of the Family; SOC 0444 Urban Sociology; SOC 0446 Sociology of Gender; SOC 0460 Minority Groups; SOC 0471 Deviance and Social Control; SOC 0475 Sociology of Aging; SOC 1365 Race, Gender and Development; SOC 1413 Marriage; SOC 1448 Working Women; SOC 1450 Health and Illness.
Satisfactory/No Credit option: Co-requisite courses may be taken on an S/NC basis. All courses within the department (PSY courses) must be taken for a letter grade.
Theatre Arts
Twelve credits in Design and Tech: THEA 0840 Introduction to Theatre Design; THEA 0842 Introduction to Stagecraft; THEA 0880 Theatrical Production; THEA 1240 Costume Crafts.
Six credits in Performance: THEA 1120 Acting Basics; one of the following: THEA 1102 Acting in the 20th Century; THEA 1104 Acting in the 17th to 19th Centuries; THEA 1105 Acting the Classics; THEA 1110 Introduction to Directing.
Fifteen credits in Theatre history, dramatic literature, and criticism: THEA 0810 Introduction to Dramatic Art; six credits from the following: THEA 1341 World Theatre 500 BCE – 1640; THEA 1342 World Theatre 1640 – 1890; THEA 1343 World Theatre 1890 – 2000; three credits from either THEA 1360 Theatre Criticism or THEA 1903 Theatre Seminar; and three credits from one other history, literature, or criticism course.
Three credits, selected from any of the above courses.
English Writing (Nonfiction)
Required courses
  • ENGWRT 0550 Introduction to Journalism (3 credits)
  • ENGWRT 1330 Nonfiction 1 (3 credits)
  • ENGWRT 1340 Nonfiction 2 (3 credits)
  • ENGWRT 1390 Readings in Contemporary Nonfiction (3 credits)
  • One Advanced Topics (3 credits, see below)
  • One Elective (3 credits, see below)
  • ENGWRT 1750 Senior Seminar in Nonfiction (3 credits)
One Advanced Topics course (3 credits): choose from the following list (1391-1410)
  • ENGWRT 1391 Writing the Review
  • ENGWRT 1392 Documentary Film Writing
  • ENGWRT 1393 Sports Writing
  • ENGWRT 1394 Science Writing
  • ENGWRT 1399 Newspaper: Great Modern Journalists
  • ENGCMP 1400 Grant and Proposal Writing
  • ENGWRT 1401 Magazine:
  • ENGWRT 1402 Structures/Techniques in Creative Nonfiction
  • ENGWRT 1403 Electronic Media
  • ENGWRT 1405 Broadcast Writing
  • ENGWRT 1410 Memoir
  • ENGCMP 1410 Advanced Research and Documentary Writing
One Elective (3 credits): choose from the following list
  • ENGCMP 0420 Writing for the Public
  • ENGCMP 0515 Persuasive Writing in Advertising and Fund Raising
  • ENGCMP 0520 Integrating Writing and Design
  • ENGCMP 0550 Topics in Public and Professional Writing
  • ENGCMP 1100 Language of Business and Industry
  • ENGCMP 1101 Language of Science and Technology
  • ENGCMP 1103 Public Relations Writing
  • ENGCMP 1104 Creative Corporate Writing
  • ENGCMP 1250 Advanced Topics in Public and Professional Writing
  • ENGWRT 1370 The Pitt News
  • ENGWRT 1420 Blogging and the Blogosphere
  • ENGCMP 1551 History and Development of the English Language
  • ENGWRT 1760 Advanced Reporting
  • ENGCMP 1900 Internship: Public and Professional Writing
  • ENGCMP 1902 Independent Study: Public and Professional Writing
Four literature electives (12 credits): choose from the following list
  • ENGLIT 0527 Introduction to African Literature
  • ENGLIT 0570 American Literary Traditions
  • ENGLIT 0573 Literature of the Americas
  • ENGLIT 0580 Introduction to Shakespeare
  • ENGLIT 0597 Bible as Literature
  • ENGLIT 0610 Women and Literature
  • ENGLIT 0615 Literature and Race
  • ENGLIT 0616 Literature and Migration
  • ENGLIT 0627 Literature of Sports
  • ENGLIT 0628 Working Class Literature
  • ENGLIT 0630 Sexuality and Representation
  • ENGLIT 0635 New Literature
  • ENGLIT 0643 Satire
  • ENGLIT 1212 The American West
  • ENGLIT 1250 20th Century American Literature
  • ENGLIT 1280 Contemporary American Women Writers
  • ENGLIT 1300 Realist Tradition
  • ENGLIT 1310 European Novel
  • ENGLIT 1325 Modernist Tradition
  • ENGLIT 1342 Contemporary Literature in Context
  • ENGLIT 1360 Topics in 20th Century Literature
  • ENGLIT 1380 World Literature in English
The Department of English strongly recommends that writing majors pursue one or more internships.
effective fall 2009 (term 2101):
 
Psychology
BIOSC majors must take at least one higher-level 3-credit BIOSC lecture class with prerequisites beyond the Foundations of Biology sequence. Students may take an appropriate NROSCI lecture course to fulfill this requirement. The courses that fulfill this requirement are: BIOSC 1130, BIOSC 1280, BIOSC 1320, BIOSC 1500, BIOSC 1520, BIOSC 1540, BIOSC 1545, BIOSC 1730, BIOSC 1760, BIOSC 1820, BIOSC 1865, BIOSC 1940, BIOSC 1999, NROSCI 1012, NROSCI 1017, or NROSCI 1020.
Chinese Major Revised
CHIN majors must fulfill the following requirements for the major. Language requirements: (30 credits total) CHIN 0001/1001 – CHIN 0004/1004, CHIN 1005 and CHIN 1006; literature, culture, and film requirements: (13 credits total) EALL Chinese literature, film, and culture courses, including one on traditional Chinese culture (i.e. CHIN 1090 or CHIN 0070), one course on modern China (i.e. CHIN 1091), and a one-credit CHIN 1098 Directed Writing course in conjunction with an EALL Chinese literature or culture course excluding CHIN 1030, CHIN 1031, CHIN 1040, and CHIN 1041; capstone requirement: (3 credits) CHIN 1999 Senior Project; and China-related courses from outside EALL (6 credits total)
Architectural Studies Major Revised
ARCHST majors must choose one of two tracks to complete the major – Design or Preservation. Both tracks require students to take HAA 0940 and HAA 1913, one specialized writing-intensive (W) course, and one specialized capstone course. In addition, ARCHST majors must complete an approved related area – History of Urban America or Public Service. Specifics of each major track follow.
 
Design track
HAA 0040, HAA 0480, HAA 0940, HAA 1040, HAA 1900, HAA 1913, HAA 1914, HAA 1916, HAA 1917, SA 0110, SA 0130, SA 0140, and SA 1430.
 
Preservation track
HAA 0040, HAA 0940, HAA 1530, HAA 1531, HAA 1900, HAA 1913, HAA 1914, HAA 1920, HAA 1921, and HAA 1922.

Changes in Minors

effective fall 2009 (term 2101):
 
English Literature Minor Revised
ENGLIT minors may choose one of two options. Option 1 (current minor): ENGLIT 0500, two historical period courses, two electives above 0500 level, and junior seminar. Option 2: ENGLIT 0500, three historical period courses, and two electives above 0500 level. Both options require completion of 18 credits.
Korean Minor Revised
KOREAN minors must complete one of two options to complete the minor. Specifics on each option follow.
 
Option 1
Four 4-credit Korean language courses from Category I and one 3-credit non-language departmental course taught in English from Category II (see category lists below).
 
Option 2
Two 4-credit second or third year Korean language courses from Category I and two 3-credit non-language courses taught in English from Category II (see category lists below).
 
Category I
KOREAN 0001/1001 First Year Korean 1
KOREAN 0002/1002 First Year Korean 2
KOREAN 0003/1003 Second Year Korean 1
KOREAN 0004/1004 Second Year Korean 2
KOREAN 0005/1005 Third Year Korean 1
KOREAN 0006/1006 Third Year Korean 2
 
Category II
KOREAN 0070 World of Korea
KOREAN 0075 Introduction to Korea through Films
KOREAN 1060 Language and Society in Korea

New Majors

effective spring 2009 (term 2094):
 
New Political Science (BS) Major
Political science majors pursuing the bachelor of science degree must complete all requirements for the bachelor of arts degree in political science, plus: PS 1702 and PS 1710; four courses in cognate fields, approved by the student's advisor; and complete an original paper of high quality, at least 25 pages in length and approved by the student's advisor.