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Course Descriptions

BIS 230 Computer Applications (3)

Students learn advanced features of computer business software in areas such as website development, spreadsheets, and databases. Focus is placed on students being able to effectively and efficiently work in teams and learn, use, and teach computer applications in a business environment. Prerequisite: Computer Competency Exam. (Letter grade only)

BUSA 381 Business Law I: The Legal Foundation for Business (3)

Introduction to the American legal process with emphasis on the two foundations of the American legal system: property and contracts law.

COSC 181 Computer Programming I (3)

Introduction to computer programming and its applications using object-oriented methods and the Java programming language of the World Wide Web. Students do exercises, develop simulations, and graphics applications. Designed for majors in computer science, business information systems, and mathematics. Two lecture periods and two one-hour laboratories per week. Meets General Education Mathematical Science requirement.

ECON 110 Economics of Social Issues (3)

An examination of particular contemporary social issues such as crime, poverty, environmental quality, discrimination, healthcare, international trade, and unemployment, using analytical tools of economics. Fundamental aspects of the price system are emphasized throughout the course. Meets General Education Social Science requirement.

EDUC 203 Educational Psychology (3)

Study of theoretical concepts and principles necessary for understanding human thought and behavior in a wide variety of educational environments. Focus on variables related to teaching-learning processes: learning, memory, transfer, problem
solving, motivation, growth and development, exceptionalities, instructional planning, assessment. Emphasis on research methodologies employed by educational psychologists and interpretation of empirical research findings. Meets General
Education Social Science requirement. Cross-listed with PSYC 203.

EDUC 356 Moral Education (3)

Attempts of American schools to facilitate moral development are examined, from colonial religious training to recent curriculum models and instructional strategies. The relationship between moral education, ethical theory, and national moral debates is explored, with particular attention to the implications of contemporary moral issues for American educational institutions. Meets the General Education Ethics in the Modern World requirement (alternate years, offered 2009-2010).

ENGL 146 Writing of the Inklings (3)

A study of literature composed by the Inklings, the British writing group that numbered among its members C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, as well as its peers and inspirers. Meets General Education Literature requirement.

ENGL 160 (formerly ENG 255) Introduction to World Literature (3)

Study of selected works other than British or American. Readings may be selected from African, Indian, Pacific Rim, Caribbean, and other literatures in translation. Meets General Education Literature requirement.

GEOG 103 Regional Geography of the World (3)

A study of the world's major realms and regions. Major emphasis is placed upon mastering an understanding of the geographical characteristics distinctive to each of the earth’s various realms and regions. The Five Themes of Geography: location geography, cultural geography, political geography, economic geography and physical geography are highlighted. This course will introduce the students to both the "Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Geography" and "Geography for Life: National Geography Standards."

HIST 141 U.S. History Survey to 1865 (3)

A survey stressing political, economic, diplomatic, and social themes. Begins with discussion of pre-Columbian America and ends with the Civil War. Meets General Education United States History requirement.

HDFS 244 Human Sexuality (3)

Examination of sexual development, human reproduction, sexual functioning, gender, ethics, and attitudes. Investigation of sexual dysfunction and socio-psychological issues related to sexual expression.

HDFS 245 Family Resource Management (3)

An examination of management basics such as decision making, time and energy management, work simplification, and critical thinking as they apply to the functioning of family systems through the life span. The student will acquire a thorough understanding of the acquisition, distribution, and utilization of resources as these relate to unique individual/family needs and wants. Prerequisite: HDFS 101 or Instructor's consent.

HPED 224 Personal Health Strategies (3)

Explorations in the personal health areas of drug dependency, nutrition, weight control, and disease. Emphasizes individual responsibility for making sound personal health decisions.

HPED 329 Sport in Society (3)

Study of race, sexism, social stratification, social mobility, and religious orientations pertaining to sports. Contemporary realities, myths, and issues concerning social differentiation will be examined by utilizing a variety of disciplinary approaches, including the following theories: functionalism, conflict, critical, and feminist. Analysis of the social influences and structure that have affected and exist within, between, and among societies, nations, and cultures will also be explored as they pertain to sport. Meets General Education Pluralism in Contemporary Society requirement.

IDCR 151 Created and Called for Community

The central question to be considered is, "What is my vocation as a faithful steward of God's creation?" Through examining literary, historical, artistic, philosophical, and theological works, students engage in the biblical themes of forgiveness, compassion, nonviolence, peacemaking, justice, and racial and gender reconciliation through the lens of the College's unique religious identity and foundational values, with a particular focus on the importance of community.

IDST 300 Genetics & Society

Many believe that we are in the midst of a genetic revolution. Advances in genetic engineering, reproductive technologies, and gene therapies hold great promise as well as great cause for concern. As with nuclear technology, which has given us nuclear medicine, nuclear energy, and nuclear weapons, so too will genetic technologies offer a similar array of good, questionable, and bad technological applications. This course is intended to examine the science of genetics and the resultant technologies, and to discuss how both will influence and impact our society. Our primary goal will be to help each of you understand how hereditary mechanisms work, and to develop a Christian perspective in dealing with both the potential answers to problems as well as the potential for creating new problems as a result of these genetic technologies.

MATH 101 Introduction to Mathematical Sciences (3)

This course is designed to introduce students to systematic, mathematical thinking as it applies to classical problems in the history of mathematics and as it connects to modern society. Meets General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement.

MUMH 305 History of Music III (3)

Study of music from medieval to present day, stressing musical styles of various historical periods, schools, and individual composers.

MUTH 101 Music Theory I (3)

Basic elements of music, including scales, intervals, triads; emphasis on the analysis of melody and rhythm; harmonic analysis of root position chords; transpositions for all orchestral instruments; elementary keyboard harmony.

NURS 203 Historical and Conceptual Basis for Nursing (3)
This course is designed to introduce the student to concepts basic to professional nursing from a Christian worldview with emphasis on person, health, environment, and nursing. It introduces the philosophy and organizing framework for the study of nursing at Messiah College. Consideration is given to the theoretical basis of professional nursing practice and to select nursing theories, with emphasis on Neuman's Systems Theory. The historical development of nursing from its Christian roots is briefly presented and the roles of the professional nurse in health care are introduced: provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and member of the profession. (Offered Fall and Spring semesters) 3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours/week.

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3)

Introduction to modern psychology including its major theorists and methodologies and an overview of developmental, social, and abnormal psychology. Meets General Education Social Sciences requirement.

PSYC 209 Life Span Development (3)

A developmental approach to the study of persons from conception to death. Attention is given to the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of the individual as well as to theoretical and methodological issues relevant to understanding different age groups. Applications are made to the contexts relevant to various stages of development. Recommended prerequisite: EDUC/PSYC 203, HDFS 101, or PSYC 101. Cross-listed with HDFS 209.

RELI 205 Religions of the World (3)

An introduction to the world's major religious traditions, including primal religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition to examining historical and current beliefs and practices of these traditions, students will be introduced to the study of religion and Christian theological resources for reflecting on religious diversity. Meets the General Education Religion requirement.

RELI 229 Islam (3)

A survey of Islam as a religion, way of life, and civilization. This course will examine foundational beliefs and practices within their historical and current contexts and will also discuss the rich diversity within Islam. It will highlight the role of Islam in both local and global affairs, including perspectives on Muslim-Christian relations. Meets the General Education Religion requirement.

SPAN 101 Fundamentals of Spanish I (3)

Intensive study of the fundamentals of Spanish grammar within a communicative approach to language learning. Introduction to Hispanic culture. Meets General Education Languages and Cultures requirement.

SPAN 102 Fundamentals of Spanish II (3)

STAT 269 Introductory Statistics (3)

Descriptive measures, normal distributions, one-sample and two-sample hypothesis testing and estimation, correlation, and analysis of variance. Meets General Education Mathematical Sciences requirement.

THEO 205 (formerly RET 237) Introduction to Christian Theology (3)

A survey course dealing with the history and present expressions of classic Christian understandings of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, humanity, creation, redemption, etc. Issues of theological method are introduced, especially as this relates to the integration of faith and learning in various academic disciplines. Meets General Education Christian Beliefs requirement. Prerequisite: BIBL 201, BIBL 202, BIBL 203, or BIBL 204.