Quest Section Descriptions | Fall 2013

QS112 | QS211 | QS212 | QS311 | QS411

QS111 

Freshman-level courses: All incoming freshmen must enroll in a section of QS111. QS111 cannot be dropped. All sections meet at 9:30.

QS111A: Comparative Mythology 

Professor: Rob Howard 

The course will introduce students to several world mythologies, and expose them to the literature (plays, poems, histories) produced by the cultures who invented the mythologies covered. During the course of the semester, we will examine Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, and Native American mythology in detail. We will explore the similarities and differences between these mythological systems and look closely at the historical, social, religious, and geographical factors that may account for said similarities and differences. 

QS111B: Curiosity: Why We Travel 

Professor: Robyn Long 

Students will utilize Peter Whitfield’s Travel: A Literary History, as well as additional readings, to begin to explore the pleasures of armchair travel and related skills to foster lifelong learning and creativity. Students will develop skills in reading with deep understanding, discussing their reactions with classmates, researching topics about which they are intellectually curious, and demonstrating their critical thinking skills through writing assignments and oral presentations. Specifically, students will write a brief travel piece on their home town. This course is inquiry driven, a pedagogy that facilitates active engagement in an academic community and empowers students to take leadership role in their own learning. 

QS111C: Reel Music: An Exploration on Music in Film 

Professor: Marci Ziegler 

Star Wars, Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight, Lawrence of Arabia…….John Williams, James Horner, Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer, Maurice Jarre. These are examples of a few movies and the composers who helped transcend these movies to iconic status. In this class, students will learn about the evolution of movie music by watching and listening to various movies and scenes from iconic films such as those listed above. We will also look at small independent films and how music plays a role in them as well. How does music enhance the storyline, the drama and the emotions of the characters? Students will learn about the process of composing music for movies and the important terminology associated with that process. We will look at various genres of music in the movies such as the movie musical (West Side Story), how pop music and classical music (previously written) are used to enhance a scene in movies (ex. Quentin Tarantino movies, war movies, period dramas ), and most importantly, a look at film composers who create original music for a specific film. 

Students will have the opportunity to create a movie soundtrack (from already existing music) to either an original storyline or an already existing storyline maybe even their own life story. What’s the soundtrack of your life? Each student will also research an assigned movie using the terminology and information learned during the semester to write a paper and then present his/her research about how music was used in the movie from the opening credits to THE END. No previous music training is required for this class. Some music terminology will be covered for a basic understanding of music notation. 

QS111D: The Meaning of Life Through Film 

Professor: Tom Peard

The purpose of this course is to address the classical philosophical question "What is the meaning of life?" Our discussions will focus on several critically acclaimed films that relate to the meaning of human existence. Readings will also be assigned to facilitate discussion. We will consider five conceptions of the meaning of life: (i) the life of faith, (ii) the moral life, (iii) the life of self-satisfaction, (iv) the life of accomplishment, and (v) life as an absurdity. Films to be viewed include Requiem for a Dream, The Matrix, Schindler's List, A Beautiful Mind, The Godfather (Part II), and The Hours. 

QS111E: Frank Baum: His Works and Those He Inspired 

Professor: Carolyn Clark 

Frank Baum wrote a number of stories in addition to the Wizard of Oz. In this course, we will examine these stories. We will also look at the work of other authors who found inspiration in Frank Baum’s stories. 

QS111F: Revolution 

Professor: Ray Walling 

While the reforms of Cleisthenes, the research of Copernicus, the invention of the cotton gin, and the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi seem to have little in common, each has contributed to a revolution that has changed the world in profound ways. This course explores the concept of revolution across the disciplines of academic study. During the semester, students will examine the nature of revolution, study a specific revolution, and investigate a topic of interest as it relates to revolution. In order to accomplish these tasks and prepare for a successful college experience, students will spend the majority of the semester improving their abilities in the areas of written communication, oral communication, information literacy, and critical thinking. 

QS111G: Humanities and Western Civilization: The Ancient World through 1600 

Professor: Robin Liston 

Students will study primary source materials in the humanities to discover the development of our Western civilization heritage, with a focus on the arts and the history of ideas. Students will develop skills in reading with deep understanding, discussing their reactions with classmates, researching topics about which they are intellectually curious, and demonstrating their critical thinking skills through writing assignments and oral presentations. This course is inquiry driven, a pedagogy that facilitates active engagement in an academic community and empowers students to take leadership role in their own learning. 

QS111H: The American Dream 

Professor: Carrie Coward Bucher 

Only students admitted with conditions can enroll in this section. 

This course provides students an opportunity to develop their ability to communicate, problem solve, and work in a team while assessing the current state of the US economy. We will explore the historical causes and consequences of America’s labor dynamic and eventually evaluate the state of the “American Dream.” 

QS111I: Cultural Literacy 

Professor: Ricky Thein 

This class uses general knowledge questions to increase students' understanding of the perspectives and philosophies that shape our world. It’s a unique format that combines competitive learning, teamwork, critical thinking and class presentations. The course uses questions, photographs and music to introduce students to people, places, events and ideas that will serve as a starting point for them to continue expanding their knowledge. The questions will cover a wide range of topics including: art, literature, geography, religion, animals, history, politics, philosophy, sports, music, pop culture, math, science, history, presidents, space … etc. 

QS111J: Science Fiction: Societal Reflections 

Professor: Matt Windle 

The science fiction genre has shaped the world as we know it by examining the question “what if?” In this course we will explore these science fiction authors and their contributions to the societies we know today. Through research of written work, television shows, radio and movies, we will gain a better understanding of our world today and the possibilities of tomorrow. 

QS111K: A Slower Path to Adulthood 

Professor: Dave Bostwick  

This section is reserved for honors students. 

Today's college students are more likely to maintain close relationships with their parents, delay marriage until several years after graduation, and explore a greater variety of career possibilities. These are positive trends, according to the book "Not Quite Adults" by Richard Settersten and Barbara Ray. Using the book as a starting point for class discussion, this course will explore how American students make the transition from teenager to adult. 

 QS 112

• Prerequisite for QS112: QS111
• Corequisites for QS112: Students must enroll in one of the following linked courses (all prerequisites for these courses apply). QS112 and the linked course cannot be dropped during the semester.
• Linked courses: AH111; AR111; CN111: EN122, 204, 210, 224, 228, 234; EX184, 245; FR111, 203*, 306*; GN111, 203*; HI127, 140; PH115, 120, 202, 228, 270; PY111, 243*; SO115; SP111, 203*, 305*, 413*; TH200 
• * indicates that the course has a prerequisite. Please see the catalog for more information.

QS112: The Poetry and Politics of Piano 

Professor: Trilla Lyerla 

Through a survey of piano repertoire, and an investigation into the lives of its creators and performers, students will ponder how the piano and its music communicate the lyricism and complexity of our human existence. The course will expose students to the history of ideas and civilizations, as well as the social, political, economic, and cultural systems that influence creative expression and shape aesthetic values. 

 QS211

• Prerequisites for QS211 and 212: QS112 or equivalent transfer credit
• Corequisites for QS211: Students must enroll in one of the following linked courses (all prerequisites for these courses apply). The linked course cannot be dropped during the semester.
• Linked courses: BI151, 246*, 251; CH137*, 251*, 295; GE210; PC125*, 225*, 325* 
• * indicates that the course has a prerequisite. Please see the catalog for more information.

QS211A: The Science of Exercise 

Professor: Chris Todden

Students will investigate the physical and natural world through the use of scientific method and skills. Students address scientific questions and problems while continuing to develop their critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills, and quantitative reasoning. This section will have a focus on exercise science and how it fits into the world of science. 

QS211B: What it Means to Be a Scientist: See the World Through Our Eyes 

Professor: Cynthia Woodbridge 

Students will investigate the physical and natural world through the use of scientific method and skills. Students address scientific questions and problems while continuing to develop their critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills, and quantitative reasoning. This section will have a focus on what it means to be a scientist and how scientists view the physical and natural world. 

QS211C: Cyber-Methods: Studying Today’s Technology 

Professor: Kim Schaefer 

Technology is everywhere. This course will analyze the ways in which the ever-increasing influence of technology is transforming the human experience. By examining technology via the scientific method, students will address questions and issues people face with technology in their lives. 

QS211D: Scientific Inquiry 

Professor: TBA 

Students will investigate the physical and natural world through the use of scientific method and skills. Students address scientific questions and problems while continuing to develop their critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills, and quantitative reasoning. 

QS211E: The History and Philosophy of Science 

Professor: Don Hatcher 

This course is a historical study of the development of the scientific methods, including their limits and problems, from the Greeks to modern times. Readings include selections from the works of Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, Mill, Popper, Kuhn, and others. Special attention will be given to the problems with deductive and inductive logics, and what is called “the problem of induction.” The readings from the classics will be supplemented by chapters from the popular text, How to Think about Weird Things, 5th edition. 

QS211F: “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark”* 

Professor: Marc Carter  

This section is reserved for honors students only. 

In this course we will examine a variety of subjective experiences through the lens of science. Subjective experiences are those things that have been claimed as real, but have not been able to be verified by outside observers. We will explore how the method of science can be brought to bear against such claims and thus help aim our beliefs at those things that we can know to be true. The topics will vary along with your interests, but what we will want to do is understand why people would want to believe things for which there is no objective evidence (the psychology of belief), and then learn how we can apply scientific inquiry to answer the question about whether or not we ought to believe the claim (the evidence and argument). Some ideas for topics are facilitated communication, homeopathy, conspiracy theories, alien abduction claims, holocaust denial, and whatever other weird things we decide. *The title of the course is the title of a book by Carl Sagan. 

 QS212

• Prerequisites for QS211 and 212: QS112 or equivalent transfer credit
• Corequisites for QS 212: Students must enroll in one of the following linked courses (all prerequisites for these courses apply). The linked course cannot be dropped during the semester.
• Linked courses: AH111, 320; AS120, 130, 135, 170, 232; CO237; EN122, 204, 210, 224, 228, 234, 262*, 330*, 341*, 363, 375*, 460*; HI127, 140; MM140, 232, 341; MU120, 127, 151, 153, 157, 207*, 2XX applied lessons, 222, 223*, 232*, 233*, 234, 235*, 236*, 237*, 244*, 331*, 358*, 359*, 4XX applied lessons*, 422*, 423*, 432*, 433* 435*, 436*; PH202, 228, 320; SJ210*; SP413*; TH111, 123*, 280 
• * indicates that the course has a prerequisite. Please see the catalog for more information.

QS212A: Religious Literacy 

Professor: Susan Emel 

Can you name the Ten Commandments without looking them up? Do you know the difference between a Muslim and a Sikh? Do you know how many Christmas stories are in the Bible? Most 21st century Americans cannot answer these questions and too many more, in spite of the fact that so many people profess varieties of faith and attend worship services in significant numbers. Religions have had deep and lasting influences on our present society, but as a people we have lost ground in the amount of reliable knowledge surrounding these influences. This course will attempt to remedy that deficit by addressing the basic knowledge needed to critically think about the role of religion in our society for today and for the future. 

QS212B: The Hunger Games as Allegory of American Popular Culture 

Professor: Joe Watson 

The Hunger Games has emerged as one of the most successful Young Adult books series in history. The story of teenagers fighting to the death in a dystopian future has also been turned into successful feature films. In this course, students will read The Hunger Games and explore parallels with modern popular culture. From an emphasis on youth culture, to reality television programming, to the debates of the Haves versus the Have-Nots, students will use The Hunger Games as a way to inform issues and debates in modern American life.

QS212C: African American Literature 

Professor: Tamara Slankard  

This survey course will trace the development of African American literature from the Antebellum Slavery and Reconstruction periods of the nineteenth century through the Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Era of the early- to mid-twentieth century and beyond. We will see how writers have reflected, responded to, and led the way for political and cultural change, and in turn helped to shape African American identity. High emphasis will be placed on close, analytical reading of the literature in order to develop a better understanding of the intersections between style, structure, characterization, theme, historical and cultural context and meaning. 

QS212D: The Arabian Nights in Literature and Culture 

Professor: Joanne Nystrom-Janssen  

One Thousand and One Nights—more frequently called the Arabian Nights—is a collection of folk tales from the Middle East and South Asia that were composed over several centuries. Many scholars believe no other text has had a greater influence on literature from around the world! Therefore, studying it offers rich rewards, both in terms of understanding the complexity of its tales and the reach of its influence. In addition, this text will challenge us to think about the ingenuity of women, the crossing of cultural boundaries, and the power of storytelling. 

We will begin the course by reading several of the stories that make up the collection, considering its structure, themes, and origins. Next, we will move to considering how the text made its way to Britain and America in the eighteenth century, where it began influencing Western culture and prompting debate about its sexual content. Finally, we will read contemporary texts from around the world that have been explicitly influenced by the tales, such as Naguib Mahfouz’s The Arabian Nights and Days. Along the way, we also will consider the many interesting cultural manifestations of the Arabian Nights, which include movies, fashion, art, and music. Please join me in this exciting journey—which spans centuries, continents, and literary forms! 

 QS311

• Prerequisites for QS311: QS211 and QS212 or equivalent transfer credits
• Corequisites for QS311: Students must enroll in one of the following linked courses (all prerequisites for these courses apply). The linked course cannot be dropped during the semester.
• Linked courses: AH341*; AR111; BI377*; CN111; CO237; EC242*, 243*, 347*; ED343*, 345*; FR111, 203*, 306*; GN111, 203*; HI371; MM140, 260, 376*, 478*; PH270; SJ210*; SO364*; SP111, 203*, 305*, 413* 
• * indicates that the course has a prerequisite. Please see the catalog for more information.

QS311A: Global Culture and Community 

Professor: TBA 

This course allows students to deepen their knowledge of the world and its societies. Students explore the impact of human action and technology on cultures, societies and our physical world. Students will continue to apply ethical ideas and critical thinking skills as they develop a better understanding of their place in the larger world, as well as to build their quantitative skills. 

QS311B: Global Culture and Community 

Professor: TBA  

This course allows students to deepen their knowledge of the world and its societies. Students explore the impact of human action and technology on cultures, societies and our physical world. Students will continue to apply ethical ideas and critical thinking skills as they develop a better understanding of their place in the larger world, as well as to build their quantitative skills. 

QS311C: The Curriculum of Popular Culture 

Professor: Carolyn Doolittle 

Popular culture influences every aspect of our daily lives. We listen to popular music, read magazines and newspapers, watch television, and go to the movies. Images portrayed in these media influence our perspectives of people, places, and cultures. The images of teachers and classrooms through popular media often affect the way the public conceptualizes what educational systems are. Stereotypes and biases about teachers and educational systems abound in movies, television, contemporary music, and even “news” reports. Critically looking at the medias' portrayal of teachers and schools can be a considerably effective exercise in understanding our own attitudes about educational systems. This course allows the learner to have a focused opportunity to view films and other forms of media which portray teachers and schools in both negative and positive ways. This exercise not only opens a dialogue about educational systems, but also encourages us to examine our conscious and unconscious attitudes about the work of educators and educational systems. 

 QS 411

Prerequisite for QS 411: QS 311

QS 411A: Global Citizenship

Professor: TBA 

This capstone course will focus on global social issues. Students will create an individual project that involves a lengthy policy paper and an oral presentation. In their projects, students will explore a global social issue, specifically related the uses and effects of technology, and propose policy change. Students will be expected to include some form of quantitative and qualitative data in their projects.

QS 411/LA 401: Global Citizenship: The AIDS Pandemic

Professor: Tamara Slankard

It has been 30 years since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first identified the AIDS virus. Since that time, at least 25 million people—including more than half a million in the United States—have died from AIDS-related causes. Every year more than two million people become infected with HIV. More than 34 million people worldwide are living with HIV right now. In this senior capstone course we will discuss the physical, social, emotional, psychological, and political effects of AIDS on the individual, the nation, and the global community. Students will then design individual research projects in which they explore a particular aspect of the AIDS pandemic in order to make a proposal for positive change.