Alpha Scholars Courses*

Each of these courses (fall semester only) will be paired with English 151 (3 credit hours)

Geology 109: Oceanography (3 credits)
If humans had arrived at the third planet from our sun, they would have named it "Oceania" instead of Earth. The ocean covers three-fourths of our planet and gives it the deep blue color seen from outside of our orbit. Its swirling waters affect life on land as well as in the ocean itself through the impact on climate. The oceans are shaped and affected by plate tectonics. They have evolved over time to form a vast, dynamic system that provides resources, poses threats including tsunami and hurricanes, and helps keep the whole planet on in even keel. This course will investigate the origins of the oceans, the nature; of seawater, how oceans circulate over the globe, and how this circulation determines our climate. We will explore the nature of oceanic sediment, the origins of tides and waves, and their effects on human ecology. We will examine the nature of life and ecosystems in the world ocean' and focus on coastal areas and the impact of pollution on these precious resources. We will take a field trip to the aquarium in Omaha, and, weather and resources permitting, a trip to marine sediment in Nebraska from the Age of the Dinosaurs.

History 202: America After 1877 (3 credits)
As the title of this course suggests, this class is intended to introduce students to some of the basic themes of U.S. history from the late nineteenth century forward. A line from the movie "Magnolia" ("You maybe through the past, but the past ain't through with you.") suggests why: who we are today is a product of what has preceded us. Our goal then is to delve into this past by examining what others have done, what others have said, and the various meanings they have attached to their words as well as their actions. In so doing, we will investigate the lives of past Americans-(rich and poor, male and female, young and old, black, white, and ethnic) in a variety of settings: as they toiled at home and labored in the workplace; had their fun and earned their keep; engaged in war (among themselves or with others) and enjoyed their peace, to name just a few. Ultimately, what I hope we achieve through the course of the semester is not only a shared curiosity about the world in which we live but maybe perhaps even a few personal conclusions about our time spent here on this swirling blue planet.

Psychology l8l: Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
This class introduces concepts and research in the areas of personality, attitudes, emotion, learning, memory, perception, and physiological bases of behavior' While l8l is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses' it is appropriate for students planning to take only a minimum of courses in psychology. 181 is like a buffet restaurant-we will spend about a week on each of the major areas of psychology, examining questions such as

• How does our memory function? Why do we remember certain things and forget others?
• How do we decide what causes people to do certain things such as help someone else or engage in discrimination?
• What are mental health problems such as depression and schizophrenia and how are they treated?

l8l will change the way you look at the world and at people. It won't teach you to "analyze their behavior" but it will help you see that simplistic answers are rarely accurate or sufficient. The course has lectures that you attend twice a week and once a week recitation. Recitations are like lab sections and contain many demonstrations and opportunities for hands-on learning.

*Course offerings are subject to change.