- Students must take one course in each of the six Context and Perspectives categories for a total of 18 credits.
- Courses are unique to each Context and Perspectives theme and do not overlap within the Context and Perspectives categories.
- No more than two courses can be taken in any one department. Courses with different designators taken in the same department (e.g., NAS and PSY courses in the Natural and Applied Sciences Department) count as being from the same department.
- Context and Perspectives courses can be shared with majors or minors, but single course cannot count for both a major and a minor.
- Review the Course Sharing Policy for guidelines related to how a course may or may not apply to different requirements within the curriculum.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take six courses, one in each category of Context and Perspectives: | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Courses
Culture, Change, and Behavior
Students analyze culture through the various material and symbolic forms it takes and how cultural forms create meaning and impact change; identify and evaluate the factors that make societies persist or change over time; and analyze various theoretical and empirical ways of thinking about the relation between reality, mind, and body and how this analysis informs conceptions of knowledge and action.
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English & Media Studies | ||
| EMS 200 | Introduction to Film, Literature and Media | 3 |
| EMS 220 | Introduction to Cultural Studies | 3 |
| EMS 240 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 |
| EMS 241 | Introduction to Video Production | 3 |
| EMS 260 | English Romanticism, 1790-1850 | 3 |
| EMS 273 | Modern American Literature | 3 |
| EMS 301 | The Short Story | 3 |
| EMS 304 | Graphic Novel | 3 |
| EMS 311 | Revisions and Retellings | 3 |
| EMS 321 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| EMS 332 | Writing Fiction | 3 |
| EMS 333 | Writing for Drama/Screen | 3 |
| EMS 340 | American Icons | 3 |
| EMS 370 | Cultural Studies and the Body | 3 |
| EMS 393 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| EMS 435 | Design as Communication | 3 |
| EMS 436 | Podcasting | 3 |
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 114 | Cross-Cultural Understanding | 3 |
| GLS 251 | Latin American Cinema | 3 |
| History | ||
| HI 236 | History of Ireland: From St. Patrick to "The Troubles" | 3 |
| HI 264 | History of China: Before Confucius, After Mao | 3 |
| HI 265 | History of Japan: Samurai and Salarymen | 3 |
| HI 279 | Modern South Asia | 3 |
| HI 305 | Arts and Society | 3 |
| HI 311 | Revolutions and the Modern World | 3 |
| HI 323 | The Medieval West | 3 |
| HI 331 | Modern British History | 3 |
| HI 334 | The Soviet Union and After | 3 |
| HI 348 | History of American Technology | 3 |
| HI 355 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| HI 357 | America and Its Arts | 3 |
| HI 367 | History and Culture of North Korea | 3 |
| HI 370 | History of American Sports | 3 |
| HI 373 | History on the Road: Exploring Massachusetts in Five Field Trips | 3 |
| HI 384 | Nazi Germany | 3 |
| Modern Languages | ||
| MLFR 206 | Spoken Contemporary French | 3 |
| MLFR 301 | Contemporary Francophone Cultures | 3 |
| MLFR 302 | French for Business | 3 |
| MLFR 304 | French Cinema | 3 |
| MLIT 302 | Italian for Business | 3 |
| MLIT 304 | Italy through Films | 3 |
| MLIT 305 | Migration in Italian Literature | 3 |
| MLSP 302 | Exploring Spanish for Business | 3 |
| MLSP 306 | Hispanic Cityscapes | 3 |
| MLSP 307 | Migrations and the Hispanic World | 3 |
| MLSP 404 | Spanish Identities and Cultures in Modern Peninsular Literature | 3 |
| MLSP 406 | Multicultural Spain Through its Regions | 3 |
| MLSP 407 | Multicultural Spanish America | 3 |
| Natural & Applied Sciences | ||
| PSY 230 | Positive Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 235 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 265 | Psychology of Self | 3 |
| PSY 315 | Cyber Psychology | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PH 103 | Ultimate Questions | 3 |
| PH 104 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PH 216 | Modern Philosophy: Knowledge and Values | 3 |
| PH 252 | Theories of Knowledge | 3 |
| PH 253 | Theories of Reality | 3 |
| PH 255 | Inquiry and Injustice | 3 |
| PH 270 | Consciousness and Experience | 3 |
| PH 271 | Other Minds | 3 |
| PH 272 | Perception and Perspectives | 3 |
| PH 275 | Loneliness and the Self | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SO 225 | Drugs and Society | 3 |
| SO 264 | Technology, AI, Society, and Work | 3 |
| SO 266 | Culture and Money | 3 |
| SO 273 | Evolution of Humans and Societies | 3 |
| SO 285 | Sociology of Sports | 3 |
| SO 287 | Media, Culture and Society | 3 |
| SO 289 | Popular Culture in Consumer Societies | 3 |
| SO 292 | Sociology of Native American Peoples | 3 |
| SO 320 | Immigrant Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| SO 333 | Sociology of the Edge | 3 |
Globalization
Students explain the various ways in which peoples, countries, and regions differ in terms of language, environment, religion, culture, economics, and politics and some of the consequences of those differences; explain the ways in which peoples, countries, and regions are interdependent and interconnected; and identify and critically evaluate global challenges (e.g., climate change, regional conflicts, or the coordination of formal institutions and informal social networks) and global processes (e.g., the diffusion of industry and culture, colonialism, imperialism, or mass migration).
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English & Media Studies | ||
| EMS 261 | The Victorian Period | 3 |
| EMS 381 | Diasporic Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EMS 382 | Caribbean Literature | 3 |
| EMS 391 | International Cinema | 3 |
| EMS 392 | Youth Cultures in International Cinema | 3 |
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 101 | Globalization | 3 |
| GLS 110 | Global Regions | 3 |
| GLS 116 | International Relations | 3 |
| GLS 226 | US Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GLS 243 | The Developing World | 3 |
| GLS 303 | Democracy or Authoritarianism? Political Regimes in Global Perspective | 3 |
| GLS 320 | Human Rights and Global Governance | 3 |
| GLS 325 | Global Transportation and Tourism | 3 |
| History | ||
| HI 200 | The Making of Our Contemporary World | 3 |
| HI 261 | Latin America (1800-present) | 3 |
| HI 266 | Middle East: Islamic and Contemporary | 3 |
| HI 280 | The Caribbean: Past, Present, Future | 3 |
| HI 308 | Drugs Trades in World History | 3 |
| HI 310 | Historic Approach to Modern Terrorism | 3 |
| HI 314 | History of the World Economy | 3 |
| HI 315 | Fashion Film and Food in South Asia | 3 |
| HI 316 | Women and Gender in South Asia | 3 |
| HI 349 | History of Modern U.S. Foreign Policy, 1945-Present | 3 |
| HI 374 | Topics in the History of Medicine | 3 |
| HI 387 | Origins of American Internationalism | 3 |
| HI 388 | Europe Reborn: From Cold War to the War in Ukraine | 3 |
| Modern Languages | ||
| MLCH 102 | Discovering Chinese II | 3 |
| MLCH 201 | Continuing Chinese I | 3 |
| MLCH 202 | Continuing Chinese II | 3 |
| MLCH 204 | Chinese for Business - Exploring Real Companies | 3 |
| MLCH 208 | Chinese for Business II -- Exploring Real Companies | 3 |
| MLCH 403 | Chinese for Cinema | 3 |
| MLCH 404 | Chinese/English Interpretation | 3 |
| MLFR 102 | Discovering French II | 3 |
| MLFR 201 | Continuing French I | 3 |
| MLFR 202 | Continuing French II | 3 |
| MLFR 203 | French Writing in Context | 3 |
| MLFR 205 | French Language Immersion | 3 |
| MLIT 102 | Discovering Italian II | 3 |
| MLIT 201 | Continuing Italian I | 3 |
| MLIT 202 | Continuing Italian II | 3 |
| MLSP 102 | Discovering Spanish II | 3 |
| MLSP 201 | Continuing Spanish I | 3 |
| MLSP 202 | Continuing Spanish II | 3 |
| MLSP 203 | Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition | 3 |
| MLSP 205 | Intermediate Spanish Language Immersion | 3 |
| MLSP 206 | Advanced Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PH 313 | Political Thought From A Global Perspective | 3 |
| PH 315 | East Asian Philosophy, Religion, and Culture | 3 |
| PH 320 | Human Rights and Global Governance | 3 |
| PH 323 | Colonialism, Imperialism, Postcolonialism: A Philosophical Examination | 3 |
Institutions and Power
Students identify the institutional bases of power in economic, political, and social life; articulate how institutions, such as governments, for-profit and nonprofit enterprises, civil society organizations, and other groups, wield power; and analyze how individuals interact with institutions and participate in institutions to affect change.
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English & Media Studies | ||
| EMS 400 | The Television Industry | 3 |
| EMS 401 | Disney+: Content + Platform | 3 |
| EMS 402 | Hollywood Production Cultures | 3 |
| EMS 403 | Hollywood Convergence | 3 |
| EMS 422 | Money, Power, Communication | 3 |
| EMS 423 | Video Game Studies | 3 |
| EMS 424 | Popular Music Studies | 3 |
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 100 | US Government and Politics | 3 |
| GLS 102 | Politics and Power Worldwide: Intro to Comparative Political Analysis | 3 |
| GLS 105 | US State and Local Government and Politics | 3 |
| GLS 230 | Politics and Public Policy | 3 |
| GLS 236 | Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| GLS 237 | The U.S. Presidency | 3 |
| GLS 245 | Power, Politics & Policy in International Development | 3 |
| GLS 248 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| GLS 270 | Contemporary Europe | 3 |
| GLS 272 | European Politics and Societies | 3 |
| GLS 280 | Gender & Politics Worldwide | 3 |
| GLS 312 | International Organizations | 3 |
| History | ||
| HI 241 | Minutemen and their World | 3 |
| HI 244 | Constitutional History of the United States | 3 |
| HI 304 | History of Espionage | 3 |
| HI 306 | War and Society | 3 |
| HI 342 | The Revolutionary Generation in the United States (1750-1815) | 3 |
| HI 344 | Constitutional History of the United States | 3 |
| HI 360 | American Urban History | 3 |
| HI 371 | Baseball as American History | 3 |
| HI 382 | World War I | 3 |
| HI 383 | World War II | 3 |
| HI 385 | The Vietnam War | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| ID 150 | Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| ID 320 | Business of Health | 3 |
| Natural & Applied Sciences | ||
| NAS 308 | Health of Nations: Anatomy and Function of Health Systems in the United States and Around the World | 3 |
| NAS 334 | U.S. Space Program: Going Beyond | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PH 308 | Capitalism and its Critics | 3 |
| PH 317 | Democracy and Power | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SO 132 | Issues and Investigations in Sociology | 3 |
| SO 221 | Homelessness and Society | 3 |
| SO 242 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SO 244 | Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
| SO 252 | Health, Illness and Everyday Life | 3 |
| SO 263 | Sociology of Work and Organizations | 3 |
| SO 324 | Sociology of Markets | 3 |
Race, Gender, and Inequality
Students explain how multiple dimensions of identity create a diversity of human experiences; explain how power, privilege, and oppression operate through informal and formal institutions to create and sustain inequalities among groups; and identify diversity and difference in the world around them, articulating how their unique experience of the world is structured through different dimensions of identity and recognizing their own use of power or privilege and/or experiences of discrimination.
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English & Media Studies | ||
| EMS 202 | Introduction to Cinema Studies | 3 |
| EMS 312 | Horror/Sci-Fi in Film and Television | 3 |
| EMS 334 | Creative Nonfiction/Essay Writing | 3 |
| EMS 344 | American Cities in Literature | 3 |
| EMS 346 | Sitcom Nation: The American Family in Fiction and Film | 3 |
| EMS 350 | Black Lives Matter: African American Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EMS 351 | Latina/o/x Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EMS 352 | Native American Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EMS 354 | Black Cinema | 3 |
| EMS 359 | Passing in American Literature | 3 |
| EMS 360 | Women in Literature | 3 |
| EMS 361 | Women and Film | 3 |
| EMS 362 | Wonder Women | 3 |
| EMS 363 | The Male Image in American Film | 3 |
| EMS 364 | LGBQ American Literature | 3 |
| EMS 365 | Transgender American Literature | 3 |
| EMS 366 | Queer and Trans Media Studies | 3 |
| EMS 371 | Literature and Medicine | 3 |
| EMS 380 | Money, Love, and Death: Colonialism in Literature and Culture | 3 |
| EMS 405 | Hollywood Genres: Classical Forms and Contemporary Re-Inventions | 3 |
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 205 | Social Policy | 3 |
| GLS 225 | Urban Politics and Policy | 3 |
| GLS 238 | Immigration | 3 |
| GLS 333 | Politics Through Film | 3 |
| History | ||
| HI 340 | Colonial America (1400-1750) | 3 |
| HI 343 | Modern United States History (1920-present) | 3 |
| HI 346 | Economic History of the United States | 3 |
| HI 347 | Work and the American Worker | 3 |
| HI 350 | Serfs, Slaves and Sojourners: The Minority Experience in the United States | 3 |
| HI 353 | History of Capitalism in Modern America | 3 |
| HI 354 | The New Nation | 3 |
| HI 356 | The United States: From Nation to Empire (1865-1920) | 3 |
| HI 358 | U.S. Women's History | 3 |
| HI 359 | Immigration in U.S. History | 3 |
| HI 372 | History of Boston | 3 |
| HI 381 | The Civil War | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| ID 211 | Sex, Gender, and Power | 3 |
| Modern Languages | ||
| MLSP 403 | Latinos in the U.S.A. | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PH 140 | Disability, Values & Society | 3 |
| PH 316 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| PH 319 | Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality in America | 3 |
| Natural & Applied Sciences | ||
| PSY 210 | Dynamics of Personality | 3 |
| PSY 240 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 245 | Gender Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 260 | Understanding Learning Differences and Disabilities | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SO 241 | Race and Racism in the United States | 3 |
| SO 243 | Capitalism and Slavery | 3 |
| SO 246 | Criminal and Social Justice | 3 |
| SO 271 | Self, Diversity and Society | 3 |
| SO 295 | Film and Society | 3 |
| SO 345 | Race and Racialization at the U.S.-Mexico Border | 3 |
Scientific Inquiry
Students distinguish between reliable scientific data and unreliable data, and between scientific evidence and social/personal explanation; construct logically coherent, evidence-based positions and communicate potential implications and outcomes to specific audiences; and analyze overlapping complex systems to understand their effects on the natural environment.
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 328 | Research Design in Policy and International Affairs | 3 |
| Mathematical Sciences | ||
| MA 214 | Intermediate Applied Statistics | 3 |
| MA 255 | Design of Experiments | 3 |
| MA 346 | Data Science | 3 |
| MA 347 | Data Mining | 3 |
| MA 380 | Introduction to Generalized Linear Models and Survival Analysis in Business | 3 |
| Natural & Applied Sciences | ||
| NAS 110 | Human Biology | 4 |
| NAS 132 | Astronomy: Solar System | 4 |
| NAS 135 | Astronomy: Stars and Universe | 4 |
| NAS 140 | Energy and The Environment | 4 |
| NAS 145 | Principles of Geology | 4 |
| NAS 150 | Environmental Science and Sustainability | 4 |
| NAS 155 | Chemistry of Sustainable Products | 4 |
| NAS 160 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| NAS 306 | Health Communication Campaigns | 3 |
| NAS 316 | Human Health and Disease in Today's World | 3 |
| NAS 318 | Global Health Challenges | 3 |
| NAS 319 | Health Risk and Prevention | 3 |
| NAS 320 | Bugs in the System | 3 |
| NAS 322 | Human Inheritance | 3 |
| NAS 324 | The Biological Fate of Drugs | 3 |
| NAS 333 | Life in the Universe | 3 |
| NAS 335 | Energy Analytics | 3 |
| NAS 336 | Water and the Environment | 3 |
| NAS 338 | Water Quality | 3 |
| NAS 340 | Oceanography | 3 |
| NAS 342 | Ecology: Principles and Applications | 3 |
| NAS 344 | Energy Alternatives | 3 |
| NAS 345 | Science of Sustainability | 3 |
| NAS 346 | Wind Energy | 3 |
| NAS 348 | Global Climate Change | 3 |
| NAS 349 | Plastics - Pollution and Possibilities | 3 |
| NAS 350 | Industrial Ecology | 3 |
| NAS 352 | Science of Environmental Policy | 3 |
| NAS 354 | Sustainable Food Systems | 3 |
| PSY 200 | Pioneers in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 215 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 | Health Psychology | 3 |
Values, Ethics, and Society
Students understand the difference between facts and values; identify and analyze ethical issues that arise in private or public life; and articulate and critically assess features of society, such as laws, regulations, social norms, business practices, or personal beliefs, actions, and characteristics, from competing moral perspectives.
Please note: this is a full comprehensive list and all courses are not offered every semester.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English & Media Studies | ||
| EMS 222 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| EMS 224 | Lies, Promises, and Insults | 3 |
| EMS 270 | American Traditions | 3 |
| EMS 271 | American Literature: Realism and Naturalism | 3 |
| EMS 272 | The Roots of American Activism in American Literature | 3 |
| EMS 343 | American Landscapes | 3 |
| EMS 372 | Cultures of Contagion | 3 |
| EMS 406 | Films, Franchises, and Fandom: Superheroes in Popular Culture | 3 |
| Global Studies | ||
| GLS 228 | Science, Technology & Society | 3 |
| GLS 315 | Human Rights in Global Media | 3 |
| History | ||
| HI 309 | Genocide in Modern History | 3 |
| HI 317 | South Asian Religions | 3 |
| HI 351 | The American Religious Experience | 3 |
| HI 362 | Ten Ideas That Shook the World | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| ID 260 | Sex and American Culture | 3 |
| Modern Languages | ||
| MLCH 206 | Chinese Conversation and Composition | |
| MLSP 305 | Spanish Translation | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PH 102 | Practical Ethics | 3 |
| PH 130 | Business Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility | 3 |
| PH 131 | Business Ethics: Philosophy of Work | 3 |
| PH 133 | Business Ethics: International Business Ethics | 3 |
| PH 134 | Healthcare Ethics | 3 |
| PH 138 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PH 142 | Sports, Games & Values | 3 |
| PH 160 | AI, Technology, and Values | 3 |
| PH 162 | Love, Sex, and Robots | 3 |
| PH 170 | Life and Death | 3 |
| PH 180 | Happiness and the Meaning of Life | 3 |
| PH 310 | Ethical Theory | 3 |
| PH 312 | Liberty, Morality and Law | 3 |
| Sociology | ||
| SO 275 | Cultures of Business | 3 |
| SO 300 | Community Involvement | 3 |