Four courses in the Millsaps core are taught primarily by faculty
from the Science Division. To meet this requirement you must take
at least one course in the social and behavioral sciences, one course
in the natural sciences with a lab, and one course in the social
and behavioral sciences, one course in the natural sciences with
a lab, and one course in mathematics. The fourth course may be an
additional mathematics course, another natural science course, or
a computer science course. All of the science courses approved to
meet core requirements are intended to foster the development of
liberal arts abilities. You may expect a greater emphasis on quantitative
reasoning and scientific method in these courses, yet every core
science course (with the possible exception of mathematics) includes
some writing.
Core 6: Social and Behavioral Sciences
In this segment of the core curriculum, you will be introduced to
the content and methodology of the social and behavioral sciences.
You will also enhance your critical thinking ability, your global
and multicultural awareness, and your valuing
and decision-making skills. You may meet this requirement by taking
a multidisciplinary Topics course organized around a central theme
or problem such as leadership, human growth and development, or
civil rights. Alternatively, you may take an introductory course
in a discipline such as psychology, sociology, anthropology or political
science.
"Lessons in Leadership," for instance,
is a multidisciplinary course which combines classic texts from
history, biography, drama, and philosophy with case studies from
business to provide insight into the basic principles of leadership.
"Topics in Sexuality and Love" applies biological, psychological
and sociological perspectives to issues of love, intimacy, and marriage.
"Introduction to Psychology" is a course designed to familiarize
students with the principal areas of psychology while teaching them
to evaluate competing explanations of behavior.
Core 7: Natural Science with Lab
The scientific method has profoundly affected the way we understand
the natural world, while applications of scientific knowledge to
technology have radically changed the way we live. To introduce
you to scientific thinking and some of the ways science has affected
our lived, you will take at least one course in the natural sciences
with a laboratory component. It may be a
multidisciplinary course focused on a particular topic or an introductory
course in a scientific discipline.
Students with an interest in biology,
for instance, may take "Cell Biology" for a general introduction
to the discipline or "Human Evolution" for a more topical approach.
Those with a preference for chemistry have a choice of "General
Chemistry" or "Chemistry and Society," while similar choices are
available in other disciplines. Introductory courses in the sciences
place primary emphasis on mastery of basic concepts, while Topics
courses give greater attention to applications of scientific knowledge.
The laboratory component of these
courses provides hands-on experience of scientific inquiry utilizing
up-to-date scientific equipment. Students may expect to gain proficiency
in experimental design, data collection and interpretation.
Core 8: Mathematics
Mathematics has been called the "language of science." It is undoubtedly
one of the most powerful tools of understanding developed in the
modern era. No educated person can afford to be without a basic
understanding of mathematics. For this reason you are required to
complete at least one college-level course in mathematics.
Upon admission to Millsaps, you will
be given a mathematics placement test which together with your high
school record and entering test scores determines the level at which
you will be advised to enter the mathematics program. College Algebra
is ordinarily the point of entry for students without a strong background
in mathematics, but some students will find that they can go directly
into Calculus.
If you are pursuing a Bachelor of
Arts or Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree, any course in mathematics
at Millsaps will suffice to meet this requirement. If you are planning
to major in one of the natural sciences or want to earn a Bachelor
of Science degree, you will need to complete the mathematics sequence
through Analytical Geometry and Calculus. Those pursuing a Bachelor
of Business Administration degree may satisfy the mathematics requirement
with College Algebra and Survey of Calculus.
In addition to the traditional mathematics
sequence extending from algebra through calculus, Millsaps also
offers a multidisciplinary Topics course that meets this requirement.
"Contemporary Mathematics" is intended to develop a student's capacity
for logical thinking utilizing mathematical concepts. In this course
you will be introduced to algebraic models, logical proofs, and
statistical graphs with an emphasis on applications. You will also
be required to write a paper presenting a historical or philosophical
perspective on some aspect of mathematics.
Core 9: Mathematics, Natural Science or Computer Science
To complete the science and mathematics division of the core, you
have a choice of taking another mathematics course at the level
of calculus or above, another natural science course with or without
a lab, or a computer science course that includes programming languages.
Most of the courses which meet the requirements of Core 7 or 8 also
meet this requirement. In addition there are multidisciplinary Topics
courses specifically designed for Core 9. These include "Environmental
Topics of the 20th Century," a course which examines controversial
issues in the areas of atmospheric pollution, population growth,
and energy resources; and "Dinosauria," a course utilizing geology,
biology, mathematics and sociology to study the evolution and influence
of the dinosaur.
Next Core 10: Reflections on Liberal Studies |
