COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCES
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

AGENDA

The Committee will meet THURSDAY, December 9, 2010
at 2:15 PM in White 6C

  1. Approval of the November 11, 2010 Minutes.
  2. Announcements
  3. Physics
    1. New course PHYSCS 424 "Vibrations and Waves." (This course fulfills the need for a standalone course that gives the student a deeper insight into the connections between vibrations and waves in all areas of physics, and a coherent working familiarity with many fields, some of which they will study more deeply in their graduate work).
  4. Biological Sciences
    1. New course BIOLOGY 315 " Birding in Southern Wisconsin." (An introduction to birding skills and the identification of the birds of southern Wisconsin. Biweekly, early morning field trips are mandatory. Online lectures and learning activities alternate with outdoor birding field trips. Reliable computer and online access as well as a strong sense of self-discipline are required). This is a revision of the proposal presented at our meeting on November 11th.
  5. Asian Studies
    1. New course ASIANSTD 210 "Introduction to Asian Studies." (The course introduces students to the multi-disciplinary field of Asian Studies and provides a foundation for the further study of Asia. It surveys social, economic, and political issues and religious-philosophical influences and literary-artistic traditions of the world region. The issues discussed and range of countries examined may vary by semester).
  6. Philosophy & Religious Studies
    1. New course PHILSPHY 381 "Philosophy of Gender and Race." (This course examines the philosophical assumptions underlying concepts of gender and race.  Topics include:  historical and contemporary arguments about race and gender as biological categories; the relationship between the use of these categories and the persistence of sexism and racism; and race and gender in theories of subjectivity). 
  7. Chemistry
    1. New course CHEMISTRY 454 "Biochemistry of Macromolecules." (We propose to expand the current one semester Biochemistry course to two separate courses, Biochemistry of Macromolecules and Biochemistry of Metabolism and Signaling. Biochemistry of Macromolecules, Chem 454, explores the chemistry of the major compounds of living organisms, e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids, and will be a required course for all Chemistry majors).
    2. New course CHEMISTRY 458 "Research in Biochemistry." (Biol/Chem 458 will serve as the lab course that is associated with either Chem 454 or Biol/Chem 456.  It is also designed to be an upper level Biochemistry course that is part of the curriculum of the Biochemistry emphasis currently in the final stages of consideration by the Chemistry Department. It explores fundamental biochemistry concepts in a laboratory setting and teaches biochemical research methods through guided original research projects done by student research teams consisting of 3-5 members).
    3. Course revision, contact change and or credit change CHEMISTRY_BIOLOGY 456 "Biochemistry." (We propose to re-design Biol/Chem 456 to focus on the biochemistry of metabolism and signaling, and is intended for Chemistry majors with a Biochemistry emphasis, students interested in postgraduate education in Biochemistry (and related fields), and Biology majors with a pre-professional or allied health field focus. The the credits change from 4 to 3 and the contact hours change from 84 contact hours to 48 contact hours).
    4. Title change for CHEMISTRY_BIOLOGY 456 FROM "Biochemistry" TO Biochemistry of Metabolism and Signaling" (See above)
    5. Change in major Chemistry Major (BA/BS) - Professional ACS Approved Emphasis. (Changes the math requirement from three semesters of calculus to two semesters of calculus and the physics requirement from only calculus based to either calculus or non-calculus based.  Changes 3 units of the major from a number of possible choices in chemistry, mathematics or physics to CHEM 455.  The changes also remove hidden requirements in prerequisite mathematics and physics courses).
    6. Change in major Chemistry Major (BA/BS) - Liberal Arts Emphasis. (Changes the math requirement from three semesters of calculus to two semesters of calculus and the physics requirement from only calculus based to either calculus or non-calculus based.  The request also removes hidden requirements in the math and physics requirements of the major).
    7. Change in major Chemistry Major (BA/BS - Honors Emphasis (Changes the math requirement from three semesters of calculus to two semesters of calculus and the physics requirement from only calculus based to either calculus or non-calculus based.  Changes 3 units of the major from a number of possible choices in chemistry, mathematics or physics to CHEM 455).
    8. Change in major Chemistry Major (BSE). (Changes the math requirement from three semesters of calculus to two semesters of calculus and the physics requirement from only calculus based to either calculus or non-calculus based.  The request also removes hidden requirements in the math and physics requirements of the major)
  8. Psychology
    1. Change in the Psychology with Broadfield Social Studies Emphasis (BSE). (These revisions were requested by the University Social Studies Council with the goal of creating consistency among major disciplines involved in the broadfield social studies (BSE) curriculum).
  9. Receive and Record
    1. Number change, prerequisite change and title change for ANTHROPL_SOCIOLGY 390 TO ANTHROPL_SOCIOLGY 420, FROM Anthropological Theory: History, Critique and Current Practices TO Anthropological Theory
    2. Change in Social Studies Broadfield I Geography Emphasis (BSE) Major title TO Social Studies Broadfield (BSE) - Geography Emphasis. (This change coordinates with other social studies broadfield titles).
    3. Deletion of SOCIOLGY_ANTHROPL 290 "Sociology of Pacific Asia." (This course is being replaced by ASIANSTD 210 "Introduction to Asian Studies").