2023-2024 Catalog

Associate of Arts, AA

The AA degree program requires the successful completion of the following:

  • Core Requirements: 12-16 courses, 43-60 credits
  • Minimum Total Credits Required for Degree Conferral: 64 credits

First-Year Experience: 1 course, 1 credit

Students with 15+ transfer credits of college or university work are exempt.

Choose one of the following to be completed during the first semester of matriculation:

CAS-101Strategies of Success

1

First-Year Seminar: 1 course, 4 credits

Students with 15+ transfer credits of college or university work are exempt. Please note that not all courses are offered each semester. Students should contact their advisor to learn about current course offerings.

Choose one First-Year Seminar course from those listed below:

SF-101Fixing the World- Energy and Water: The Science of Solutions

4

SF-116Enlightened Insanity

4

SF-132The Beatles: Here, There & Everywhere

4

SF-174Tragedy and Literature

4

SF-178Sacred Hoops & Sneaker Pimps: Understanding the American Hoop Dream

4

SF-183Politics, Power and the Media

4

SF-189American Gothic: Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor and Annie Proulx

4

SF-191Film Adaptation

4

SF-1134The Meaning of Life

4

SF-1141Classical Civilizations: Pathways to Wisdom

4

SF-1143In the First-Person: Storytelling in the 21st Century

4

SF-1148Brave New Worlds

4

SF-1161The Playwright and the Stage

4

SF-1162Space Missions: From Moon to Mars and Beyond

4

SF-1165History of Boston

4

SF-1166Cinema-Monde: Global Challenges on Film

4

SF-1167Fantasy Fiction: Imaginary Worlds

4

SF-1169Immortality: Real and Imagined

4

SF-1172The United States Mexican Border

4

SF-1173Understanding the Vast Sweep of Chinese Culture

4

SF-1176What Is a Fact?

4

SF-1179Writing Stories of Self in Society

4

SF-1181Mad Criminals

4

SF-1182Curators, Collections and Exhibits

4

SF-1185Socially-Conscious Storytellers in a Political World

4

SF-1187The Psychology of Nutrition

4

SF-1189Urban and Contemporary Art

4

SF-1190Black Lives Matter: Past, Present, Future

4

SF-1191Writing Your Future: Genes and Gene Editing

4

SF-1192Dark Ecologies

4

SF-1194Power: What Is How to Get It

4

SF-1195Understanding Global Public Policy

4

SF-1196Human Rights in the 21st Century

4

SF-1197The History of Rap, Hip Hop and Popular Culture

4

SF-1198True Crime

4

SF-1199Death, Dying, & Grieving in America (settlement to 1870)

4

SF-1200Quantum Reality, Information, And Computing

4

SF-1201Sinatra: Voice of the 20th Century

4

SF-1202Our Plastic Problem

4

SF-1203Generals, Explorers, and Smokejumpers: Disaster Leadership

4

SF-1204The Age of Renaissance & Reformation

4

SF-1205Diversity and Inclusion: a View From the Arts and Media

4

SF-1206Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development

4

SF-1207American Popular Culture

4

SF-1209Video Games As Expressive Art

4

SF-1210Data Visualization: Seeing Is Believing

4

SF-1211Boston in Film and Literature

4

Students in the CAS Honors Program should choose one First-Year Seminar course from those listed below:

SF-H116Enlightened Insanity

4

SF-H182Heroes, Antiheroes and Outsiders: Reading the Graphic Novel

4

SF-H189American Gothic: Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor and Annie Proulx

4

SF-H1134The Meaning of Life

4

SF-H1167Honors Fantasy Fiction: Imaginary Worlds

4

SF-H1180Honors American Women Writers and the Struggle For Equality

4

SF-H1182Honors Curators, Collections and Exhibits

4

SF-H1188Honors Attention in the Age of Distraction

4

First-Year Writing: 1-3 courses, 4-12 credits

A student may be assigned to a first Writing course other than WRI-101.  Qualified students are invited to take WRI-H103.  Students not eligible for direct entry into WRI-101 must complete WRI-100+ prior to enrolling in WRI-101.  Through directed self-placement, a student may also opt to complete the developmental writing course WRI-100 before enrolling in WRI-101.

Students must complete one of the following tracks:

Track 1: 2 courses, 8 credits

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 2: 3 courses, 12 credits

WRI-100+Developmental Writing - Tutorial Section

4

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 3: 3 courses, 12 credits

WRI-100+Developmental Writing - Tutorial Section

4

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 4: 1 course, 4 credits

WRI-H103Advanced First-Year Writing

4

Note: WRI-H103 is by invitation only.

Creativity and Innovation: 1 course, 3 credits

In this course students will be introduced to the practice of creativity as a rigorous approach to problem solving requiring research, persistence and grit. Students will work collaboratively to effectively synthesize existing ideas, images, and skill sets in original ways. They will embrace risk and support divergent thinking. In the process, they will become more confident life-long learners.

Note: Students with 30+ transfer credits are exempt from this requirement.

Choose one Creativity and Innovation course from those listed below:

ADF-S171CI: Integrated Studio I

3

ADF-S172CI: Integrated Studio II

3

CI-102The End of Global Poverty

3

CI-103Sticking Your Neck Out- Inventing for Non-Engineers

3

CI-106Failing Successfully

3

CI-108Designing the Next Best Thing

3

CI-110The Entrepreneur's Cocktail

3

CI-H112Honors Creating Problems: a New Solution For Sustainability

3

CI-114Creating the Dream Team

3

CI-115Poetry Out Loud

3

CI-120Process to Value: The Power of Relationships

3

CI-127Healthy Meal Plans for All: Nutrition, Health, and Culture

3

CI-141The Creative Approach to Learning

3

CI-143Dreams, Demons, and Dynamic Artists Creative Nature

3

CI-147Seeing Double, Printmaking, the Art of Discovery, Experimentation and Process

3

CI-149SL-Creative Writing and Literacy

3

CI-157Mindful Journal

3

CI-163A Course on Skepticism and Rationality

3

CI-165Chemistry Is Everywhere: Zig-Zagging to Success

3

CI-167Public Health: A Need to Think Outside The Box

3

CI-169Riddles of Identity

3

CI-173Imagining the Other

3

CI-175Creating Social Change: From Theory to Activism

3

CI-H175Honors Creating Social Change: From Theory to Activism

3

CI-177The Curious & Open-Hearted Historian

3

CI-H177Honors- the Curious & Open-Hearted Historian

3

CI-179Myths of Self-Making

3

CI-183It Happened Like This... the Stories We Tell

3

CI-H185Honors City of Stories: Walking Tours of Boston's Past

3

CI-187Think Small: Change the World

3

CI-189The Extended Photo Essay

3

CI-191The Self in Society

3

CI-193Tackling Global Issues Creatively: Sustainable Development

3

CI-195Bilingualism at Play

3

CI-197Writing the Future: Poetry and Activism

3

CI-199Big Ideas and Blank Spaces

3

CI-1121How to Be a Friend

3

CI-1122Intuition, Creativity and Innovation Across Borders

3

CI-1123The Fantastic Feast: Social Justice Through Changing the Way

3

CI-1125Travel Photography

3

Math: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Math course from those listed below:

MATH-128Math for the Modern World

4

MATH-130Topics in Finite Mathematics

4

MATH-134Calculus for Management & Social Sciences

4

MATH-165Calculus I

4

MATH-166Calculus II

4

Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives: 1 course, 3-4 credits

Choose one SCGP course from those listed below:

ADPR-217Gay and Lesbian Studies

4

ARH-203Arts of Asia

4

ARH-206Global Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Art

4

ARH-321Women, Art and Society

4

AS-100Introduction to Asian Studies: Culture, People, Ideas

4

BLE-325Global Business Ethics

3

BLKST-395From "Back to Africa" to "Black Lives Matter": A Global History of Panafricanism

4

CJN-216Intercultural Communication

4

CJN-225World Cinema

4

CJN-232Gender, Sexuality, and Communication

4

CJN-281Asian Popular Culture

4

CJN-301Documentary Film and the Image of Conflict in the Middle East

4

CJU-218Crime and Law in Indian Country

4

CJU-275Women and Crime

4

EDUC-310Culturally Sustaining Practices

4

EDUC-315Strategies for Working With Emergent English Learners

4

ENG-123Great Books of the World I

4

ENG-135World Literature in English

4

ENG-163Latinx Literature Today

4

ENG-221Tactical Rhetoric: Advocacy & Activism, Propaganda & Power

4

ENG-357African-American Literature

4

ENT-352SL - Green and Sustainable Business

3

FR-210Business French in a Communicative Context

4

HST-100Introduction to Asian Studies: Culture, People, Ideas

4

HST-103Cultures and Social Transformations in Asia

4

HST-236Public History in Practice

4

HST-241Narrating the Past With Digital History

4

HST-251Modern East Asia

4

HST-268History of the Mediterranean

4

HST-275Women in 20th-Century Europe

4

HST-296Building Urban America: City Design and Architecture From 1700-1880

4

HST-321History of Islam

4

HST-340Europe in the 20th Century

4

HST-356World War II: the Global War

4

HST-371U.S. Women's History Colonial to 1865

4

HST-374Jefferson to Jackson: Culture and Politics in the New Nation

4

HST-465Monumental Women: Female Public Space

4

LAWU-280Domestic Violence, Abuse and Neglect

4

P.AD-201Social Change

3

P.AD-H201Honors Social Change

3

PHIL-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-228Feminist Philosophy

4

PHIL-251Philosophy of Race & Gender

4

PHIL-262Buddhism

4

PHIL-265Women in Spirituality

4

PHIL-267Chinese Philosophy

4

POLS-115Evolution of the Global System

4

POLS-208Politics and Religion in the U.S.

4

POLS-359Global Politics of Sport

4

POLS-467Comparative Social Movements

4

PSYCH-243Organizational Psychology

4

RS-111Introduction to World Religions: Western Traditions

4

RS-112Introduction to World Religions: Eastern Traditions

4

SIB-550Global Travel Seminar

3

SF-178Sacred Hoops & Sneaker Pimps: Understanding the American Hoop Dream

4

SF-1166Cinema-Monde: Global Challenges on Film

4

SIB-321Introduction to International Business

3

SOC-228Cultural Diversity

4

SOC-257Death and Dying

4

SOC-329Sociology of Globalization

4

SPAN-202Intermediate Spanish II

4

SPAN-290Advanced Composition & Conversation

4

SPAN-300Intro to Cultural Texts

4

SPAN-315Spanish for the Professions

4

THETR-160From Oedipus to Hamilton: Shaping Society Through Theatre

4

THETR-260Broadway Musicals

4

THETR-267Introduction to Theatre: Contemporary American

4

WGS-111Women, History, and Culture

4

WGS-113Women, Science, and Society

4

WGS-115Introduction to Gender Studies

4

WGS-225From Prophetess to Poetess: African Women Since 1800

4

WGS-325Global Women's Fiction

4

WGS-335Queer Narratives

4

WGS-338Re-Imagine the World: Transnational Feminism in Film

4

Courses that fulfill the Creativity and Innovation, First-Year Seminar, Humanities/History, Language, Literature, Quantitative Reasoning, Social Science, or VPATH requirements may double count to fulfill the Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives (SCGP) requirement.

Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE): 2 courses and corresponding laboratories where applicable, 8 credits

Choose two STE courses (and corresponding laboratory where applicable) from those listed below. Courses do not need to be in a sequence. In the case of a course that is a lecture plus a lab, the student must complete both components to earn credit for the STE requirement.

Biology:

BIO-105Humans and the Evolutionary Perspective

4

BIO-111Introduction to the Cell

3

BIO-L111Introduction to the Cell Laboratory

1

BIO-114Organismal Biology

3

BIO-L114Organismal Biology Laboratory

1

BIO-201Biology's Big Questions

4

Chemistry:

CHEM-111General Chemistry I

3

Computer Science:

CMPSC-F107Ants, Rumors and Gridlocks

4

Environmental Science:

UES-107Introduction to Drones

3

UES-L107Introduction to Drones Lab

1

UES-111Environmental Science

3

UES-L111Environmental Science Lab

1

UES-211Environmental Science II

3

UES-L211Environmental Science II Lab

1

UES-225Geographical Information Science

3

UES-L225Geographic Information Science Lab

1

Physics:

PHYS-111College Physics I

3

PHYS-L111College Physics Lab I

1

PHYS-151University Physics I

3

PHYS-L151University Physics Lab I

1

PHYS-152University Physics II

3

PHYS-L152University Physics Lab II

1

Science:

SCI-101Introduction to Forensic Biology

3

SCI-L101Introduction to Forensic Biology Lab

1

SCI-102Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

3

SCI-L102Introduction to Forensic Chemistry Lab

1

SCI-103Environmental Science

3

SCI-L103Environmental Science Lab

1

SCI-104Food Chemistry

4

SCI-108Introduction to Cancer Care

4

SCI-H108Honors Introduction to Cancer Care

4

SCI-109SL-Introduction to Community Cancer Care

4

SCI-H109SL-Honors Introduction to Community Cancer Care

4

SCI-111Introduction to Astronomy

3

SCI-L111Introduction to Astronomy Lab

1

SCI-112Structure of the Universe

3

SCI-L112Structure of the Universe Lab

1

SCI-120Everyday Chemistry

4

SCI-165Inner Workings of the Physical Universe

4

SCI-171The Built World: How Humans Engineer Environments

4

SCI-H171The Built World: How Humans Engineer Environments- Honors

4

SCI-173Mapping Our World The Power of Digital Maps

3

SCI-L173Mapping Our World Lab

1

SCI-181Science and Life in the 21st Century

4

SCI-184Contemporary Science and Innovation

4

SCI-201Physics for Future Presidents

4

SCI-288Measuring the World

4

Some Science division courses may have Math or Computer Science prerequisites; many have other Science prerequisites.

Studies in Literature: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Studies in Literature course from those listed below:

ENG-120Ireland to America (and Back Again): Irish & Irish-American

4

ENG-130Introduction to Literature

4

ENG-135World Literature in English

4

ENG-141Studies in British Literature

4

ENG-142Studies in American Literature

4

ENG-150Mysteries

4

ENG-152Horror Fiction

4

ENG-153Literature of War

4

ENG-154Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation

4

ENG-155Young Adult Literature

4

ENG-156SL- Immigrant Stories

4

ENG-158Nasty Women and Unruly Voices in American Literature

4

ENG-160School Stories: Narratives of Power and Class

4

ENG-162Shakespeare From Stage to Screen

4

ENG-163Latinx Literature Today

4

ENG-172Sports & Literature

4

ENG-213English Literature I

4

ENG-214English Literature II

4

ENG-217American Literature I

4

ENG-218American Literature II

4

ENG-313Sex and Power in the Middle Ages

4

ENG-314Medieval Monsters, Monks, and Maidens

4

ENG-317Classical Mythology

4

ENG-34720th Century Female Gothic

4

ENG-H347Honors 20th Century Female Gothic

4

ENG-348Jane Austen

4

ENG-356Whitman and Dickinson

4

ENG-358Women Writing the American West

4

ENG-361Contemporary American Fiction

4

ENG-412Women in Classical Antiquity

4

ENG-430Literature of the Vietnam War and the Post 9/11 Wars

4

PHIL-424Philosophy and Literature: Feodor Dostoevsky and the Great Philosophical Novel

4

SPAN-426Latin American Theater and Society

4

WGS-211Heroines, Hotties & Hubris: Adolescent Girl's Books

4

WGS-240Feminist Literature

4

WGS-325Global Women's Fiction

4

Ethical and Philosophical Inquiry: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Ethics course from those listed below:

PHIL-119Global Ethics

4

PHIL-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-123Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-127Contemporary Moral Issues

4

Human Behavior and Societies: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Human Behavior and Societies course from those listed below:

Advertising and Public Relations:

ADPR-285Media and Pop Culture I

4

Communication:

CJN-255Introduction to Media

4

CJN-336Social Identity and Intergroup Relations

4

Economics:

EC-101Applied Microeconomics

3

EC-102Global Macroeconomics

3

EC-103Using Big Data to Solve Economic and Social Problems

4

Environmental:

ENVS-101Environmental Studies

4

Political Science:

POLS-110Introduction to American Politics

4

POLS-115Evolution of the Global System

4

Psychology:

PSYCH-114General Psychology

4

PSYCH-249Introduction to Lifespan Development

4

Sociology:

SOC-113Introduction to Sociology

4

SOC-116Social Justice

4

SOC-221Environment and Society

4

Women's and Gender Studies:

WGS-113Women, Science, and Society

4

Social and Intellectual History/Visual and Performing Arts Theory and History: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one course from those listed below:

American Studies:

AMST-101American History and Culture

4

Art and Design:

ADG-224History of Graphic Design

4

ADI-234History & Theory of Interior Architecture

3

Art History:

ARH-101Art History I

4

ARH-102Art History II

4

ARH-203Arts of Asia

4

ARH-206Global Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Art

4

ARH-303Art of the Early Renaissance in Italy

4

ARH-304Art in the Age of Michelangelo: The High and Late Renaissance in Italy

4

ARH-308Art of the Baroque & Rococo

4

ARH-309Art of the 19th Century

4

ARH-310Modernism in Art

4

ARH-311American Art

4

ARH-312Art of the Northern Renaissance

4

ARH-316Contemporary Art

4

ARH-321Women, Art and Society

4

Asian Studies:

AS-100Introduction to Asian Studies: Culture, People, Ideas

4

Black Studies:

BLKST-395From "Back to Africa" to "Black Lives Matter": A Global History of Panafricanism

4

Communication:

CJN-152Visual Aesthetics

4

CJN-218Photojournalism

4

CJN-292Film History: From Silent Cinema to the Modern Era

4

CJN-352Visual and Global Contexts

4

English:

ENG-123Great Books of the World I

4

ENG-162Shakespeare From Stage to Screen

4

ENG-266"Mad Men:" Reading Visual Narratives

4

ENG-389History of the Book

4

Environmental Science:

ENVS-325Environmental History of the U.S.

4

History:

HST-103Cultures and Social Transformations in Asia

4

HST-149Empires & Globalization in World History I

4

HST-150Empires & Globalization in World History II

4

HST-181American Life to the Civil War Era

4

HST-182American Life Since the Civil War Era

4

HST-218Sl- Walls & Bridges: Immigration in Global Perspective

4

HST-236Public History in Practice

4

HST-239Getting Started With Oral History

4

HST-241Narrating the Past With Digital History

4

HST-251Modern East Asia

4

HST-256Exploring Asia

4

HST-260Asian Peoples and Cultures

4

HST-268History of the Mediterranean

4

HST-275Women in 20th-Century Europe

4

HST-296Building Urban America: City Design and Architecture From 1700-1880

4

HST-319The History of Black Music in America

4

HST-340Europe in the 20th Century

4

HST-356World War II: the Global War

4

HST-357Spain's Ancient to Early Modern Societies and Realms

4

HST-358Spanish Society and the State, From Absolutism to Democracy?

4

HST-374Jefferson to Jackson: Culture and Politics in the New Nation

4

HST-383Boston: Heritage of a City

4

HST-392An Enduring Conflict: the American Civil War

4

HST-465Monumental Women: Female Public Space

4

Music History:

MUH-212Popular Music in the United States

4

Philosophy:

PHIL-115Introduction to Philosophy

4

PHIL-210Ancient Tradition

4

PHIL-211Modern Philosophy: The Age of Reason

4

PHIL-250Social & Political Philosophy

4

Political Science:

POLS-275Ancient & Medieval Political Theory

4

POLS-276Modern Political Theory

4

Theatre:

THETR-160From Oedipus to Hamilton: Shaping Society Through Theatre

4

THETR-260Broadway Musicals

4

THETR-265Introduction to Theatre: Prehistory to Melodrama

4

THETR-266Intro to Theatre: 20th Century

4

Women’s and Gender Studies:

WGS-111Women, History, and Culture

4

WGS-115Introduction to Gender Studies

4

WGS-225From Prophetess to Poetess: African Women Since 1800

4

WGS-330Furies to Femi-Nazis: A History of Modern Anti-Feminism

4

WGS-335Queer Narratives

4

Modern Language: 0-2 courses, 0-8 credits

A student may fulfill the modern language requirement in one of the following ways:

  1. Complete a language course at the level of 102. It may be necessary to complete 101 before taking 102.

  2. Complete an advanced language course at the level of 201 or above, including a course offered through a study abroad program or in a format that ‘meets together’ with an English-language version of a course.

  3. Earn a sufficient score on an AP examination. Information on test scores is available through Admissions.

  4. Earn a sufficient score on the SAT Subject Test.

  5. Earn a score of 1+ on the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test in any language other than English to waive the requirement. Waiving the requirement does not earn credits.

  6. Provide a transcript from a high school in which most classes were conducted in a language other than English to waive the requirement. Waiving the requirement does not earn credits.