Course Offerings

Freshman Communities of Ideas – for students interested in business, the humanities, and social sciences, or are undecided about a major field of study. The theme is The Person and Society , and students take some of the more popular courses at Stony Brook along with the program seminar. There are also clusters designed specifically for business majors and for students interested in information technology.

Freshman Communities in Science – for students interested in science, medicine, and clinical health professions. Students take required courses in chemistry and mathematics with the program seminar on Science and Society.


Courses and Clusters for Fall 2007

Communities of Ideas Course Cluster
These courses are taken by students interested in the humanities or social sciences.

LRN 104 - Seminar on The Person and Society (DEC G)
PSY 103 - Introduction to Psychology
JRN 101 - News Literacy
WRT 101 or 102 - Writing Workshop
Elective, your choice

Communities of Ideas - Business Course Cluster
These courses are taken by students interested in business.

LRN 104 - Seminar on The Person and Society (DEC G)
BUS 110 - Business in the 21st Century
MAT 122 or 123 or 125 - Calculus
WRT 101 or 102 - Writing Workshop
Elective, your choice.

Communities of Ideas - Technology Cluster
These courses are taken by students interested in computer science , information systems, or information technology.

LRN 141 - Seminar on The Perspective from the Humanities (DEC G)
CSE 110 - Introduction to Computer Science
MAT 123 or 125 or 131 - Calculus
WRT 101 or 102 - Writing Workshop
Elective, your choice

Communities in Science Course Cluster
These courses are taken by students preparing for careers in science, medicine, and the health professions .

LRN 131 - Seminar on Thinking About Science (DEC G)
CHE 131 - General Chemistry
CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory
MAT 123 or 125 or 131 - Calculus
WRT 101 or 102 - Writing Workshop

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Learning Communities Program - Course Descriptions

LRN 104 - The Person
DEC G
4 credits

The first course in a two-semester sequence providing a broad cross-disciplinary approach to study in the humanities and social sciences, while laying the foundation for future academic success by fostering critical and conceptual skills through collaborative research projects. Issues associated with human identity and human values are examined in the context of modern social, psychological, and humanistic thought on learning, perception, cognition, and the self, including representations of the person and the self in literature and the arts. Students are expected to attend several events outside the regularly scheduled classtime.

LRN 105 - Ecology and Society
DEC F
4 credits

Second course of a two-semester sequence providing a broad cross-disciplinary approach to study in the humanities and social sciences, while laying the foundation for future academic success by fostering critical and conceptual skills through collaborative research projects. The course focuses on the variety of images of humanity's relationship with the natural environment and examines the implications of these images for human society. Students are expected to attend several events outside the regularly scheduled classtime.

LRN 131 - Thinking About Science
DEC G
4 credits

First course of a two-semester sequence exploring the history and philosophy of science from a broad cross-disciplinary background, providing humanities and social sciences perspectives on the students' other courses while laying the foundation for future academic success by fostering critical and conceptual skills through collaborative research projects. The course considers questions about the nature and scope of scientific method, as well as the ethical and political issues that emerge when science is considered as a social institution. Students are expected to attend several events outside the regularly scheduled classtime.

LRN 132 - Thinking About Biology
DEC F
4 credits

Second course of a two-semester sequence exploring the history and philosophy of science from a broad cross-disciplinary background, providing humanities and social sciences perspectives on the students' other courses while laying the foundation for future academic success by fostering critical and conceptual skills through collaborative research projects. The course focuses specifically on critical theoretical and social issues in the history and philosophy of biology. Students are expected to attend several events outside the regularly scheduled classtime.

LRN 141 - Perspectives from the Humanities
DEC G
3 credits

The first course in a two-semester sequence for students participating in the Freshman Learning Communities in engineering or physical science. The course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to key methods and ideas in the humanities. Topics may include the varieties of knowledge, the nature of personal identity, ethics, aesthetics, and others.

LRN 142 - Technology in Social Perspective
DEC H
3 credits

The second of a two-semester sequence for students participating in the Freshman Learning Communities in engineering or physical science. The course focuses on case studies on the interaction of technology and society. Topics may include the history of technology, ideas of progress and growth, the influence of economics on technological development, environmental impacts, and others.