GEP: Conservation of Natural Resources Thematic Track Option

(Revised 3-27-09)

Description:  In the Conservation of Natural Resources theme, students should reflect on the challenge of maintaining a sustainable ongoing relationship between humans and the natural world. Students are encouraged to expand the thematic track to reflect on and include any or all of the following:

• Assess the importance of natural resources for different societies and cultures.
• Examine efforts to manage our resources wisely.
• Reflect on how we may enable individuals and society to be a non-destructive part of the natural world. 

GEP Courses associated with the Conservation of Natural Resources theme  
(12 credit hours required) 

GEP Humanities and Social Science courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

SOC 351           Population and Planning*                          (SS) (GK)

SOC 342           International Development*                        (SS) (GK)

SOC 261           Technology in Society and Culture            (SS) (GK)

ARE 201           Introduction Agricultural & Resource Ec     (SS)

ARE 309           Environ Law & Econ Policy*                      (SS)

NR 460             Renewable Nat Res Mngmt & Policy           (SS)

ENG 233           The Literature of Agriculture                      (HUM)

GEP Natural Sciences and Mathematics courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

FW/FOR/BIO 221 Conservation of Natural Resources              (NS)

CS 312             Grassland Mngmnt for NR Conserv             (NS)

SSC 361           Role of Soils in Environ Mngmnt                 (NS)

FW 403             Urban Wildlife Management                       (NS)

FOR 252           Introduction to Forest Science                    (NS)

MEA 101           Geology I: Physical                                   (NS)

MEA 130           Introduction to Weather and Climate           (NS)

MEA 200           Introduction to Oceanography*                   (NS)

MEA/BIO 220    Marine Biology*                                         (NS)

Additional associated GEP courses:

LAR 443           Landscape History                                     (VPA)

SSC 185           Land and Life                                            (IP)

STS 301           Science and Civilization                              (IP)

CS 230             Introduction to Agroecology*                       (IP)

ARE (EC) 336   Intro to Res & Environ Economics*              (IP)

NR 406             Conservation of Biological Diversity*            (IP)

STS 304           Ethical Dimensions of Progress                   (IP)

HI 440              American Environmental History*                 (IP)

PHI 422            Philosophical Issues in Environmental*         (IP) (USD)

FOR 220           Urban and Community Forestry                   (IP)

FOR 248           Forest History, Tech and Society                 (IP)

FOR 330           North Carolina Forests                                (IP)

NR/IDS 303       Humans and the Environment                      (IP)

FOR 414           World Forestry                                           (IP) (GK)

HON 361           Eco-Realism: Human Nature, Politics…       (IP)

*Course has a pre-requisite

GEP Category abbreviations:

(HUM)     Course fulfills a GEP Humanities requirement

(SS)        Course fulfills a GEP Social Sciences requirement

(NS)        Course fulfills a GEP Natural Sciences requirement

 (IP)        Course fulfills a GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives requirement

(GK)       Course also fulfills the GEP Global Knowledge co-requisite

(USD)     Course also fulfills the GEP U.S. Diversity co-requisite

GEP: Food and Nutrition Thematic Track Option

(Revised 3-27-09)

Description: In this theme, which focuses on food systems from their plant, animal, or synthetic sources to their ultimate use by humans for health, safety, communication, and pleasure. Understanding these systems enables students to see the connections between the food that is part of our everyday lives and the scientific, social, and cultural issues that make them so significant to society as a whole. Students are encouraged to expand the thematic track to include any of the following: 

• Explore the 4 keys to balanced nutrition, and the effort of balancing a healthy diet in a fast paced world.
• Compare the connections between food in our everyday lives to scientific, social, and cultural issues within society.
• Consider if low income Americans can afford a healthy diet.
• Review food systems, from their plant, animal, or synthetic sources to their ultimate use by humans for health, safety, communication, and pleasure.
• Compare the various nutrition assistance programs that are available within the United States and how they assist the population.

GEP Courses associated with the Food and Nutrition theme: (12 credit hours required)

GEP Humanities and Social Science courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

ARE 311           Agricultural Markets*                                             (SS)

ARE 201           Introduction to Agric. & Res. Econ                         (SS)

ARE 433           U.S. Agricultural Policy*                                        (SS)

PRT 200           Leisure Behavior, Health & Wellness                      (SS)

SOC 203           Current Social Problems                                      (SS) (USD)

SOC 241           Sociology of Agriculture & Rural Society               (SS)

SOC 351           Population and Planning*                                     (SS) (GK)

GEP Natural Sciences and Mathematics courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

MA 103             Topics in Contemporary Mathematics                    (MA)

ST 311              Introduction to Statistics                                       (MA)

ANS/FS 301      Introduction to Human Nutrition                             (NS)

ANS/FS/PO 322    Muscle Foods and Eggs*                                     (NS)

ANS/FS 324      Milk and Dairy Products                                       (NS)

CS 213             Crops: Adaptation and Production                         (NS)

ENT 203           An Introduction to Honey Bee & Beekeeping          (NS)

FS 201             Introduction to Food Science                                (NS)

HS/ANS 215      Basic Agricultural Genetics                                  (NS)

PB 213             Plants and Civilization                                           (NS)

TOX 201           Poisons, People, and the Environment                   (NS)

Additional associated GEP courses:

STS 323           World Population and Food Prospects                   (IP) (GK)

STS 412           Entering the 21^st Century: Agricultural,                  (IP)

                        Technological & Environ. Perspectives

CS 224             Seed, Sciences & Societies                                  (IP) (GK) (NS)

IDS 211            Eating through American History                           (IP)

*Course has a pre-requisite

GEP Category abbreviations:

(HUM)    Course fulfills a GEP Humanities requirement

(SS)        Course fulfills a GEP Social Sciences requirement

(NS)       Course fulfills a GEP Natural Sciences requirement

(MA)       Course fulfills a GEP Mathematical Sciences requirement

(IP)         Course fulfills a GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives requirement

GEP: Gender and Society Thematic Track Option

Description: This theme focuses on the roles of human gender identities and examines the influence of gender on society. It would include educational, biological, psychological, and social aspects of gender, as well as the role that these constructs have played in history, society and cultural expression. To understand this theme in more depth, students are are encouraged to include one or more of the following:

• Explore gender identity development.
• Differentiate private gender identity from public gender expression.
• Explore cultural implications of gender in different societies.
• Analyze how gender affects learning and the learning environment.
• Analyze the roles and impact that gender has on other identities, such as, race and ethnicity.
• Critically analyze the impact of gender identity/gender expression in the schools, the workplace, and other institutions.
• Analyze the connections among the scientific, social, and cultural issues that make gender identity so significant in a modern society.

GEP Courses associated with the Gender and Society theme:  (12 credit hours required) 

GEP Humanities and Social Science courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

ENG/WGS 305       Women and Literature                                        (HUM)(USD)

HI 412                    The Sexes & Society in Early Modern Europe      (HUM)

HI 423                    Women in European Enlightenment*                    (HUM)

HI/WGS 447           History of American Women to 1900*                  (HUM)

HI/WGS 448           American Women in the 20th Cent.                     (HUM)

HI 452                    Recent America                                                 (HUM)

HI 457                    Twentieth-Century U.S. Intellectual Hist.               (HUM)

HI 462                    Social History of the New South*                         (HUM)

HI 477                    Women in the Middle East*                                 (HUM) (GK)

REL/WGS 472        Women and Religion*                                         (HUM)

WGS/ENG 305       Women and Literature                                         (HUM) (USD)

WGS 492                Theoretical Issues Women & Gender Studies*     (HUM) (USD)

ANT 252                 Cultural Anthropology                                          (SS) (GK)

PS 204                   Problems in American Democracy                       (SS)

PS 205                   Law & Justice                                                     (SS)

PS 309                   Equality and Justice in US Law                            (SS) (USD)

PSY/WGS 406        Psychology of Gender*                                       (SS) (USD)

SOC 203                Current Social Problems                                      (SS) (USD)

SOC/WGS 204       Sociology of Family                                             (SS) (USD)

SOC/WGS 304       Women and Men in Society*                                (SS) (USD)

GEP Natural Sciences and Mathematics courses:

 
Choose at least 1 of the following:

ST 101                  Statistics by Example                                        (MA)

ST 311                  Introduction to Statistics                                    (MA)

ST/BUS 350           Economics and Business Statistics*                  (MA)

ST 361                  Introduction to Statistics for Engineers*              (MA)

BIO 105                 Biology in the Modern World                             (NS)

BIO 181                 Intro Bio: Eco, Evolution & Biodiversity              (NS)

BIO 212                 Basic Human Anatomy & Physiology*                (NS)

GN 301                  Genetics in Human Affairs                                 (NS)

Additional associated GEP courses:

HON 361                Eco-Realism: Hum Nature, Pol & Ecol Con          (IP)

STS/WGS 210        Women & Gender in Science & Technology       (IP) (USD)

WGS 200               Intro to Women’s & Gender Studies                   (USD)

WGS/MUS 360       Women in Music                                               (VPA) (USD)

*Course has a pre-requisite

GEP Category abbreviations:

(HUM)  Course fulfills a GEP Humanities requirement

(SS)     Course fulfills a GEP Social Sciences requirement

(NS)     Course fulfills a GEP Natural Sciences requirement

(MA)     Course fulfills a GEP Mathematical Sciences requirement

(IP)       Course fulfills a GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives requirement

(GK)     Course also fulfills the GEP Global Knowledge co-requisite

(USD)   Course also fulfills the GEP U.S. Diversity co-requisite

GEP: Global Health Thematic Track Option

(Revised on 3-27-09)

Description: The Global Health theme aims to raise appreciation and understanding of how global fitness, health, and medical issues affect the everyday lives of individuals, and how we may influence society to create a healthier world. Global Health is also an essential component of developmental aid programs. Consider the following in selection of courses within this theme:

• Explore population health and fitness in a global context to concerns of particular nations.
• Review developed versus developing countries, along with demographics, economics, epidemiology, political economy and sociology.
• Look at the rise in importance of medical assistance beyond government agencies or intergovernmental organizations.
• Reflect on how you influence and focus on the distribution of health in an international context.
• Look at ways to implement a national health plan in a developed versus a developing country.

 GEP Courses associated with the Global Health theme:

(12 credit hours required)

GEP Humanities and Social Science courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

ENG 232           Literature and Medicine                             (HUM)

PRT 200           Leisure Behavior, Health and Wellness        (SS)

EC 437             Health Economics*                                    (SS)

SOC 342           International Development*                        (SS) (GK)

ANT 371           Human Variation*                                      (SS) (GK)

SOC 351           Population and Planning*                          (SS) (GK)

ANT 251           Physical Anthropology                               (SS)

GEP Natural Sciences and Mathematics courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

MA 103             Topics in Contemp. Mathematics                  (MA)

FS 201             Introduction to Food Science                        (NS)

BIO 212            Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology*        (NS)

NTR 301           Introduction to Human Nutrition                     (NS)

GN 301             Genetics of Human Affairs                           (NS)

MB 200             Microbiology and World Affairs                    (NS)

TOX 201           Poisons, People and the Environment           (NS)

Additional related GEP courses:

STS 323           World Population and Food Prospects           (IP) (GK)

STS/PHI 325     Bio-medical Ethics                                       (IP) (USD)

SOC 381           Sociology of Medicine*                                (IP)

*Course has a pre-requisite

GEP Category abbreviations:

(HUM)  Course fulfills a GEP Humanities requirement

(SS)     Course fulfills a GEP Social Sciences requirement

(NS)     Course fulfills a GEP Natural Sciences requirement

(MA)     Course fulfills a GEP Mathematical Sciences requirement

(IP)       Course fulfills a GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives requirement

(GK)     Course also fulfills the GEP Global Knowledge co-requisite

(USD)   Course also fulfills the GEP U.S. Diversity co-requisite

GEP: Impact of Humans on the Natural Environment Thematic Track Option

(Revised 3-27-09)

Description:  In this thematic track, students should seek to address the relationship between humans and their impact on the natural environment. Consider the following in selection of courses within this theme:

• Explore the importance of the environment and how it specifically relates to different societies and cultures in a global context.
• Assess ways in which we can examine and manage our environmental resources wisely. 
• Analyze international development issues and ways in which humans can reduce their impact on the environment.
• Illustrate how an appreciation of the natural environment can produce environmental sustainability.  

GEP Courses associated with the Impact of Humans on the Natural Environment theme:  

(12 credit hours required)
 

GEP Humanities and Social Science courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

LAR 221           Environment and Behavior of Designers                (HUM)

ARE 309           Environmental Law and Public Policy*                  (SS)

PS 320             US Environmental Law and Politics                       (SS)

PS 336             Global Environmental Politics                               (SS) (GK)

SOC 351           Population and Planning*                                    (SS) (GK)

SOC 342           International Development*                                  (SS) (GK)

GEP Natural Sciences and Mathematics courses:

Choose at least 1 of the following:

TOX 201           Poisons, People and the Environment                    (NS)

PCC 401           Impact on Safety, the Environment & Society        (NS)

MEA 100           Earth Systems Science: Exploring Connections     (NS)

MEA 101           Geology I: Physical                                             (NS)

MEA 130           Introduction to Weather and Climate                     (NS)

MEA 200           Introduction to Oceanography*                             (NS)

MEA/BIO 220    Marine Biology*                                                   (NS)

Additional related GEP courses:

SOC 450           Environmental Sociology*                                      (IP)

HI 440              American Environment History*                              (IP)                 

IDS 201            Environmental Ethics                                             (IP)     (GK)

PHI 422            Philosophical Issues in Environmental Ethics*          (IP)    (USD)

LAR 444           History of Landscape Architecture                          (VPA)

HON 361           Eco-Realism: Nature, Politics & Ecological Constraints        (IP)

HON 371           Environmental Science and Technology                  (IP)

MEA 140           Natural Hazards and Global Change                        (IP)    (GK)

STS 484           Cross-cultural Technology Transfer                         (IP)

STS 412           Agricultural, Technology & Environ Perspectives      (IP)

ARE/EC 336     Introduction to Resource & Environmental Econ*      (IP)

ARE/EC 436     Environmental Economics*                                     (IP)

IDS/NR 303       Humans and the Environment                                 (IP)

*Course has a pre-requisite

GEP Category abbreviations:

(HUM)  Course fulfills a GEP Humanities requirement

(SS)     Course fulfills a GEP Social Sciences requirement

(NS)     Course fulfills a GEP Natural Sciences requirement

(MA)     Course fulfills a GEP Mathematical Sciences requirement

(IP)       Course fulfills a GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives requirement

(VPA)   Course fulfills the GEP Additional Breadth chosen from the HUM/SS/VPA lists if applicable to your major

(GK)     Course also fulfills the GEP Global Knowledge co-requisite

(USD)   Course also fulfills the GEP U.S. Diversity co-requisite

Guidelines and instructions for creating, editing or discontinuing a GEP Thematic Track

The rationale and objective for a thematic track should be considered in development.

Rationale:
The purpose of thematic tracks is to encourage students to connect knowledge from different disciplinary areas while focusing on a unifying theme or topic. It is well suited to students who have an interest in a particular topic and who would benefit by exploring that topic from multiple disciplinary perspectives. In contrast to minors, which are generally centered on a single discipline, thematic tracks involve multiple disciplinary perspectives.  Students will be credited with no more than one thematic track.

Objective:
Thematic tracks will provide educational experiences that help students to use critical thinking skills to connect multiple disciplinary perspectives around a common topic or theme.  

Guidelines and instructions for proposing, revising, or discontinuing a thematic track:

• All proposals for a new thematic track or revision to an existing thematic track may be proposed by faculty and students for consideration by CUE and must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula, Box 7105, NCSU Campus. Contact Catherine_Freeman@ncsu.edu for more information.
• Courses listed in a thematic track should be offered every year and must be on one of the approved GEP course lists. Courses with restrictions or seating limits should not be required to complete a thematic track.
• A proposal to create/revise/discontinue a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education.
  • For a new thematic track, the memo should include:
    
    • proposed title and description of the thematic track
    • list of the GEP courses selected as follows: (see an approved thematic track for example of layout)
      
      • minimum 12 credit hours
      • at least one course from GEP MA/NS/ENGIN lists and one course from GEP HUM/SS/VPA lists
      • indicate if courses have a pre-requisite and which GEP category the course satisfies
    • statement on how the courses relate to the central theme.
  • A proposal to revise a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education
    
    • The memo should provide the title of the thematic track, the proposed revision and reason.
    • Attach to the memo a copy of the posted requirements for the existing thematic track and mark with changes being requested.
  • A proposal to discontinue a thematic track should be made in memo format and addressed to the Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Education
    
    • The memo should provide the title of the thematic track, the reason for the discontinuation and effective date for discontinuation.