Tier 2 Study Areas

To be completed after Tier One, Tier Two courses offer more in-depth examination of particular disciplines. The Tier Two study areas are broadly defined and include a wide range of courses to meet students' varied interests. Tier Two courses are organized into the four study areas below. Click on each one to learn more about guidelines and learning outcomes.

General Course Guidelines for Tier Two Individuals & Societies
Tier Two courses in Individuals & Societies study human behavior and the cognitive models and societal constructs that humans create. These courses may have a disciplinary focus (e.g. anthropology, linguistics and economics), so long as they are designed broadly enough to address the needs of students who may take only a single course within this area. Tier Two Individuals & Societies courses should focus on self-contained topics that develop one or more of the theories or to which student were exposed at the Tier One level.
Learning Outcomes for Tier Two Individuals & Societies
After taking Tier Two courses in Individuals and Societies students will be able to: understand more clearly issues of self-identity, social difference and social status, and the effects of major institutions on individual experiences demonstrate knowledge of the formal and informal structures and processes that make social systems, governments, and economies work have an informed opinion about socio-cultural problems and issues, which can be expressed orally or in writing, and based on knowledge about social, cultural, political, economic, philosophical, and religious theory demonstrate a well-developed critical faculty for distinguishing among the various theoretical and ideological interpretations of world events as they are presented in the media

General Course Guidelines for Tier Two Humanities
Humanities courses explore aspects of human culture such as religion, history, philosophy, literature and languages. In general, these courses will deal with these aspects in an interdisciplinary fashion, rather than as discrete phenomena. All Humanities courses ask students to develop critical thinking and interpretive approaches to culture and cultural productions.
Learning Outcomes for Tier Two Humanities
After taking Tier Two courses in Humanities, students will be able to: identify and analyze the impact of cultural and historical factors on the creation and reception of artistic and literary works relate arguments and ideas from literature and historical documents to the circumstances under which they were written; read primary documents and be able to place them in their historical context; identify disparate ideas from the evidence of these documents describe how the development of philosophical and religious thought has influenced human civilization use appropriate vocabulary for written and oral descriptions and analyses of literary works

General Course Guidelines for Tier Two Arts
Art courses emphasize verbal, visual, musical, spatial or kinesthetic forms of expression. Components of these courses will either emphasize student creativity, expression, and production or require students to identify and analyze the impact of cultural and historical factors on the creation and reception of artistic works. All Arts courses ask students to develop critical thinking and interpretive abilities.
Learning Outcomes for Tier Two Arts
After taking Tier Two courses in Arts, students will be able to: identify and analyze basic formal elements, principles and compositional structures in the fine arts of cinema, dance, music, theater, and the visual arts identify and analyze the impact of cultural and historical factors on the creation and reception of artistic works evaluate the significance of artistic works both metaphorically and in larger cultural contexts in writing and speaking use appropriate vocabulary to describe and analyze artistic works identify and analyze similarities, differences, and interrelationships among the arts

General Course Guidelines for Tier Two Natural Sciences
Tier Two Natural Sciences courses must build on concepts developed in Tier One Natural Science courses. Tier Two courses may be discipline-based (e.g. chemistry or molecular and cellular biology or integrate physical and biological sciences). A Tier Two course need not advance all concepts from Tier One physical and biological sciences, but proposals must make clear which concepts are being advanced. Tier Two natural sciences courses should be designed for non-science majors.
Learning Outcomes for Tier Two Natural Sciences
After taking Tier Two courses in Natural Sciences students will be able to: read and understand scientific literature from journals and other scholarly works.

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