Course Offerings
You may click on the course title to see the course description.
History
Natural Science
Social Science
Philosophy/Religion
Art, Music and Theatre
Literature
Application Courses
"Throughout my four years of part-time study, I met people--retired persons, office workers, housewives, business owners--who, like me, chose not to be constricted into a vocationally-oriented Master's Degree. I found the work to be interesting and thought provoking."
Patricia Simmons '89, Professor, Ocean County College
Course Descriptions
The following courses are Interdisciplinary Core and Foundation Courses in support of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program. These courses may be selected as elective credits in other graduate degree programs provided prior approval has been granted by the department chair.
Political and Social Myth in American Literature
LS 502 Cr. 3
Images, myths, and stereotypes of equality, democracy, and social freedom as they developed in America from the late nineteenth century to the current age. Works by deTocqueville, Cooper, Adams, Steinbeck, Wright, Doctrow, and others will be investigated.
Images of Contemporary Culture
LS 505 Cr. 3
Study of the major forms of artistic expression in contemporary culture; their backgrounds in tradit-i-on, the interrelationships and limitations of their styles and themes, and a critical evaluation of their contributions to, and impact on, modern society.
The Mass Media and Contemporary Values
LS 506 Cr. 3
An analysis of the products of television, cinema, and the print media as they relate to lifestyle, morality, and social behavior in America. Such problems as individuality in a mass society, the power of deity and religions, the decline of family, sexual behavior and anti-intellectualism will be explored within the framework of intensive media study.
Scientific Revolutions
LS 507 Cr. 3
An inquiry into several major discoveries in science which have changed civilized people's views whether in philosophy and literature or in economics and politics. Such great figures as Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, or in more modern times Darwin, Freud, the Curies, Einstein and van Neumann.
The Nature and Future of Industrial Civilizations
LS 508 Cr. 3
An exploration of the viability of the industrial types of society as compared with traditional agricultural societies from the perspective of energy and environmental balance.
Technology and Human Biology
LS 510 Cr. 3
An examination of the potential effects of recent advances in biology on the natural processes of human reproduction and evolution.
Stimulation, Stress, and Health
LS 511 Cr. 3
A study of the environmental impact upon the human body, the body's defense system in relation to the environment, and the influence of art, beauty, chaos or violence upon the defense system. Investigation of recent research on the relation-ship between psychology, neurology, and the immune system. Readings in history, art, and science.
The Individual and the State
LS 512 Cr. 3
An in-depth exploration of the salient features of the relationship of the individual person and the modern state in historical and philosophical per-spective.
War and Humanity
LS 513 Cr. 3
An examination of the issues relating to war and peace. Through a selection of specific crises and wars, an emphasis is placed on the mean-ing, sign-ifi-cance, and morality of war. Wars such as the two World Wars and crises such as the Cuban Missile affair will be diagnosed and evaluated.
Utopias and Utopians in Literary and Historical Perspective
LS 514 Cr. 3
The significance of utopian proposals and attempts to create utopian communities in the history of ideas. From the utopias of Plato and More to dystopian visions of the Brave New World of 1984 and science fiction as a utopian genre.
Symbol, Style and Value in Civilization
LS 515 Cr. 3
The exploration of symbol, style, and value in six historical periods from classical Greece to the end of the nineteenth century through art, literature, and philosophy.
Adult Development
LS 516 Cr. 3
Contemporary views of intellectual, ego, moral and faith development in the context of the adult life cycle, relating these to participation in families, friendships, professional and public life.
Studies in the History of Revolution
LS 517 Cr. 3
An interdisciplinary study of the nature and causes of modern revolutions, the makeup of the revolutionary personality, and the role of ideology, strategy, and tactics in the making of revolution. Emphasis is on twentieth-century com-munist revolutions. Also listed as History 571.
Religious Foundations of Contemporary Values
LS 518 Cr. 3
Systematic study of major contemporary value themes and their derivation from religious, mythic, and quasi-philosophic roots.
The Journey Back to Self
LS 520 Cr. 3
Study of Homer's Odyssey and a variety of twentieth century readings as journeys toward mature integration of the self.
"All the Livelong Day": The Meaning of Work in Modern America
LS 521 Cr. 3
Examination of content changes in the meaning of work in America through the twentieth century. Also listed as HS 521.
Art in the Age of Revolution
LS 522 Cr. 3
Investigation of major art movements from the early nineteenth to mid-twentieth century; analysis of visual stylistic developments in conjunc-tion with exploration of other integral issues, subject matter and the relationship of art to its political, cultural, social and historical climate.
Energy: Past, Present and Future
LS 524 Cr. 3
An examination of the sources and use of energy with emphasis on the aspects of energy availability and consumption in the twentieth century, and the political, sociological and environmental implications for society.
Art in World Perspective
LS 525 Cr. 3
This course presents an examination of ma-jor artistic developments from 1300 AD to 1750 AD. Tradi-tionally, this area of study is referred to as "Renaissance, Mannerism and the Baroque." The major thrust of the course will be concerned with artistic innovations surrounding the "rebirth" of Western Civilization.
Comedy in Western Culture
LS 526 Cr. 3
This interdisciplinary seminar explores the develop-m-ent of comic invention in drama in relation to social history. Readings in early European drama and social history are augmented by representations in act of early theaters, performanc-es and comic themes. Videotapes are used to explore the development of traditional comic themes in modern theater.
Evolution
LS 527 Cr. 3
An interdisciplinary approach to the topic of evolution that combines historical and biological perspe-ctives. Explore the current understanding of the evolutionary process as well as the social, political and intellectual consequences of the evolu-tionary world view.
Asian Art and Ideas
LS 528 Cr. 3
A comparative exploration of the relationship of art and thought in Hindu India, Confucian China, feudal Japan.
Personal Identity, Ethics and Social Order
LS 529 Cr. 3
An exploration of how the social formation of person-al life and moral character is represented in social science, fiction and philosophy.
Introductory Seminar in Humanities
LS 530 Cr. 3
This seminar familiarizes students of diverse backgr-ounds with research tools and interdisciplinary approaches in the humanities. Seminar presentations and papers apply these approaches to significant works in the humanities.
Social Implications of Human Nature
LS 531 Cr. 3
Scientific interpretation of "human nature" as biologically evolved influences on modern human behavior; relevant theories and methods; integration of bio-evolutionary perspective with cultural and historical explanations of human behavior. Comparison of the scientific views with other ideas about "human nature." Applications of the evolutionary perspective to selected issues and problems in modern society.
Professional and Organizational Ethics
LS 532 Cr. 3
Applies ethical concepts and theories to moral issues in professional and organizational life. Special attention is given to professional and corporate social responsibility.