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Green Sheet: CEPC 05/06-08
To: St. Olaf College Faculty
From: CEPC
Re: New Courses
At the April faculty meeting CEPC will move the approval of the following new courses:
Art/Art History 121: Foundation Ceramics
Catalog Description
This course introduces students to the possibilities of artistic expression in clay. Stoneware clay is used to create three-dimensional hand-built and wheel-thrown forms. The course investigates sculptural and functional forms as well as glazing and firing procedures, emphasizing sensitivity to clay medium, color, and three-dimensional design. Historical and contemporary approaches to clay are considered. Materials fee.
Rationale
This course was previously taught during Interim, and the Art Department wishes to offer it as a semester course. Ceramics courses are in great demand by students, and Foundation Ceramics will help to fulfill several different needs by 1) opening up ceramics to a broader community than just art students, 2) providing students pursuing ceramics as a discipline additional experience in the area, and 3) providing students with both wheel and hand-building experience.
Biology 228: Environmental Health
Catalog Description
Human health is affected by both our biological environment--a teeming world of parasites and diseases--and our physical environment--the water, air, and landscapes we inhabit. Our interactions with the environment are changing rapidly as human populations grow, travel increases, and ecosystems are altered. This course integrates traditional environmental topics, such as air and water quality, with newer public health topics, such as emerging diseases and food-borne illnesses. Prerequisite: An introductory science course.
Rationale
The way in which our changing environment affects human health will be a continuing issue as we move through the 21 st century. Diverse issues of risk assessment, emerging diseases, and air quality will all play a role in our students’ lives in the future. This proposed course is an important interdisciplinary effort to address student interest at the crossroads of environmental studies and health.
The course serves a number of students. It will supply non-majors with an additional option to satisfy their NST in the biology department. It serves biology majors who are interested in applying their knowledge of biology to human and health-related issues. It will serve environmental studies majors and concentrators by providing additional options for those in the non-science tracks to acquire an NST. Environmental studies majors and concentrators in the science track can get more specific exposure to health and environment-related issues. Finally, this course provides a broad introduction to important developing public health issues for students who go on to graduate school in public health.
