Special Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Each semester the College of Arts and Sciences offers Special Studies courses that are based on the interests of our students and faculty. Special Studies courses are found on each semester’s schedule under the numbers of 297, 397, 497 and Graduate Studies 597.

Due to the nature of Special Studies courses, some of them are offered for only one semester. Below is a listing of the most current offerings.

Fall 2013

ACSC 497 Seminar IV for Exam C – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams.
ACSC 597/697 Thesis/Research – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams and research on those materials.
ADGD 497 Senior Special Study
ADSA 497 Special Studies: Serigraphy – Serigraphy, or screen printing, is a printmaking method that can be applied to fine art prints, graphic design, and digital imaging and photography. This course is intended as an introduction to basic screen printing processes. Stencil making, drawing, and photo emulsion techniques will be covered, as well as instruction in darkroom procedures, ink mixing, registration and printing methods. Students will be expected to explore and expand upon their own conceptual ideas while building and strengthening their technical skills in all aspects of the screen printing process.
ADSA 497 Special Studies: Painting
COMM 597 Special Topic Strategic Communication
CRIM/SOC 297 Family Violence Thru Lifespan – this course offers students an introduction to the methodology, etiology, prevalence, treatment, and prevention of family violence. Research from experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, criminology, and social welfare will be covered. Current viewpoints and debates within the area of types and theories behind family violence will also be covered. Course work explores child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; abused and abusive adolescents; dating aggression, sexual assault, and stalking with focus on the college-aged individual; courtship violence and date rape; spouse abuse, battered women, and batterers; abused heterosexual partners-primarily women; abusive heterosexual partners-primarily men; abused and abusive partners in understudied populations-cultural, ethnic, same-sex, and military; and elder abuse.
ENGL 297/397 African American Literature
HUM 297 Maryville Goes to the Movies – Maryville Goes to the Movies: In this course students will be introduced to culturally significant classic films from a variety of genres, eras, and cultures. Professors from different disciplines will introduce the films and then lead a discussion after the audience views the films. The discussion of the film will be guided by the discipline of the professor. The series is open to the Maryville community and the public, and it is not necessary that they be in the class. The series will include presentations by film-makers and critics.
LEGL 497 Mock Trial
ORGL 597 OD Consulting Firm – This course is set up as an OD Consulting Firm. Students will contract with a nonprofit agency on a consulting project in which they will apply OD methods and empirically validate interventions.
PSYC 397 Forensic Psychology - Students will gain information on the various activities and roles forensic psychologists and other mental health professionals play both in the field of psychology and the legal system. This course will provide a student with an introductory knowledge of forensic topics including: serial killers, sex offenders, terrorism, insanity defenses, and the etiology of aggression. Students will gain knowledge of the use of psychology in the legal system as well how mental health professionals aid in treatment of offenders reintegrating into society post offense. Additional topics may include: violence risk threat assessment, child abuse/neglect, polygraph examinations, mental health law, and false confessions.
SOC 297 Intro to Social Work – Throughout the course of this class, students will gather an introduction to the field of social work. This course will provide students with an overview of the history of social work, a look at the social welfare system, and acts of social justice. This course will also give students the opportunity to learn about a generalist social work perspective, while also gaining knowledge on interventions used within the field of social work and working with diverse populations. This course will look at child welfare, juvenile justice, gerontology, health care, mental health, school social work, substance abuse, victim advocacy, family processes, and crisis and trauma work.
SOC 297 Sociology of Sport

Summer 2013

ADAH 297/497 Tuscan Art & Architecture (Ancient Mysteries & Medieval Hill Towns) – For more information visit our Florence page.
ADID 297/497 Florence Architecture & Design – For more information visit our Florence page.
ADSA 297/497 Digital Photo in Florence (& Exploration of Italy) – For more information visit our Florence page.
ADSA 297/497 Drawing in Madrid – For more information visit our Madrid page.
ADSA 297 Digital Photography in Madrid – For more information visit our Madrid page.
BIOL 297 Study of Human Body through Great Italian Renaissance Artists – For more information visit our Florence page.
BIOL 297 Health, Medicine and Gender in Victorian England – For more information visit our Oxford/London page. From the early 19th century until only most recently museums have held a leading role in student education in the basic and health sciences. In recent years, many factors have caused the role of museums in education to decrease dramatically. Chief among these factors are the great advances in information technology and web-based learning that are currently available. This course will explore the wealth of knowledge available to students interested in health and medical sciences at the various museums located throughout Oxford and London. Students will immerse themselves in the history of medicine in Victorian England and discuss the influence of medical practice during this time on medical treatment and practice today. They will also examine the influence gender had on medical practice from the practitioners and patients standpoint.Students will investigate the history of medicine at Oxford University and tour the many sites that were in the forefront of medicine for hundreds of years. They will discuss and explore the important role of Henry Gray in medical education even today. Students will have the opportunity to step into a day in the life of Florence Nightingale and learn what it was like to practice medicine during the Victorian era. Students will be able to explore the history of health and medicine and observe various biological specimens at many museums in London and Oxford. Gender, health, and medicine in Victorian England will be a major focus of study in this course as this period saw one of the greatest shifts in social philosophy regarding legal and gender relations. It was this shift that played a major role in the substantial development that occurred with respect to health and medicine in the years following.
HUM 297/497 German Churches of Missouri – The course consists of a five-day saturation in the social and ecclesial history of the Germans who immigrated into Missouri during the 1840s and 50s. The first two days are 3/4 lecture with a short afternoon trip to visit local churches. The next three days are all-day field trips to churches and museums in the German counties of Missouri.
HUM 297/497 Masterpieces: 20th Century Cinema – Just about everyone loves movies. But why? Which ones? What do we mean by a good or bad movie, let alone a masterpiece? What can we look for in evaluating a movie? How can discussion of movies help us to think critically and analytically, appreciate a significant art form, apply useful terminology, and understand a–or THE–major medium of the 20th century?
PSYC 297 Multicultural Psychology
HIST/PSYC 497 World Affairs

Spring 2013

ACSC 497 Seminar IV for Exam C – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams.
ACSC 597/697 Thesis/Research – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams and research on those materials.
ADGD 497 Special Studies: Design for Good - Inspired and supported by two AIGA initiatives, Design for Good is a movement to ignite, accelerate and amplify design-driven social change. Part one: Investigate the many, many, many designers, agencies, schools and foundations that are working together to make changes in their community through design. There are small and large projects in all kinds of areas – healthcare, environment/sustainability, animal rights, community arts, housing, and fundraising. Part two: Use your design skills to directly benefit a nonprofit/cause whose mission you believe in. That’s your coursework. Design something that will be made and used by an organization – for real. Part three: Collectively (as a class) we seek out, design and execute a project that makes a difference. The “project” (event, campaign, exhibit, fundraiser ?) will be completed within the semester. And alone the way – make connections with professionals, work with clients, tighten up your organizational skills, become a stronger designer and make a difference.
ADSA 497 Special Studies: Serigraphy
COMM 397 Global Communication & Diversity
COMM 597 Organizational Communication
CRIM 297 Experiential Policing – This course is a comprehensive approach to the dynamics of recruit training prior to acceptance into a police academy. The student will be introduced to material that is based on a myriad of law enforcement issues such as criminal and traffic law, juvenile justice, report writing, and investigative patrol tactics. In addition, this course allows the student to obtain a better understanding of the physical rigor needed for a successful completion of any police academy in the State of Missouri. The course is designed to place the student in similar physical and emotional situation they will face while training to become law enforcement officers in today’s culture. In addition, they will gain an improved perspective of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
LEGL 497 Mock Trial
PSYC 397 Forensic Psychology – Students will gain information on the various activities and roles forensic psychologists and other mental health professionals play both in the field of psychology and the legal system. This course will provide a student with an introductory knowledge of forensic topics including: serial killers, sex offenders, terrorism, insanity defenses, and the etiology of aggression. Students will gain knowledge of the use of psychology in the legal system as well how mental health professionals aid in treatment of offenders reintegrating into society post offense. Additional topics may include: violence risk threat assessment, child abuse/neglect, polygraph examinations, mental health law, and false confessions.

Fall 2012

ACSC 497 Seminar IV for Exam C – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams.
ACSC 597/697 Thesis/Research – this is the course to prepare you for one of the SOA exams and research on those materials.
ADAH 200H Ancient and Islamic Art of the Near East - This course is an art historical survey of the art and archaeology of Iran and Iraq. Content introduces students to major works of ancient and Islamic art and architecture extending to the modern period.
ADIN 497 Motion Graphics - Interactive Design students will build upon skills developed in Intro to Animation and continue to pursue understanding of the elements of graphic design in combination with motion, video and sound, as well as the technology utilized to create motion graphics.
BIOL 297 Sustainability & Conservation - This is a project-centered course that looks at invasive species on Maryville’s campus. Students will learn about the ecology and influence of invasive species, develop and put into practice an invasive plant management action plan, and subsequent native plant restoration plan, and work as a team to write and submit to the EPA P3: People Prosperity and Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability grant for further research and development of their ideas.
CRIM 297 Technology and Crime
HIST 397 01 Civil War
HUM 297/397 ID Faith Politics in the Middle East – this course will explore the history, religion, politics, and culture of the Middle East. The course will especially analyze the role of the media in how this region is perceived in the world. Topics will include the ancient roots of the Middle East, biblical and other religious traditions, Zionism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the “Arab Spring,” secularism in the region, and related issues.
LEGL 497 Evidence – this course is intended to assist law enforcement, paralegals, and students wishing to become lawyers with the study of the law of evidence. It will focus on the practical application of the rules of evidence and how they work in “real life.”
LEGL 497 Contracts – this course will teach students about the elements of a contract and the various requirements for making an enforceable contract. It is designed for legal studies students and business students who may be involved in how contracts are drafted, executed, enforced, and disputes litigated.
SOC/PSYC 297 Intro to Social Work - Throughout the course of this class, students will gather an introduction to the field of social work. This course will provide students with an overview of the history of social work, a look at the social welfare system, and acts of social justice. This course will also give students the opportunity to learn about a generalist social work perspective, while also gaining knowledge on interventions used within the field of social work and working with diverse populations. This course will look at child welfare, juvenile justice, gerontology, health care, mental health, school social work, substance abuse, victim advocacy, family processes, and crisis and trauma work.
PSYC 297H/297 The 2012 Elections - The elections of Fall 2012 will truly be a referendum on the future of the United States. This election comes at a time of unprecedented change for our country and the election will set the agenda for how our country will face major domestic and foreign challenges. The extent and seriousness of these challenges have resulted in Democratic and Republican candidates staking out very different competing positions. How should the US government handle these major issues and events? What choices must be made to ensure the best future for the people of the United States? Which party and candidate have the best answers addressing these questions? Who will win the 2012 Presidential election? This course will analyze the major issues facing our country and the solutions offered by the Presidential candidates in the 2012 race. The course will also examine the politics of the race itself to increase understanding of the US electoral process and assist students in decoding the political messaging of the campaigns. Lastly, the course will empower the students to be critical interpreters of electoral politics by providing them with experiences in political campaigning, voter registration, political activism and party politics. Students will engage in analysis, synthesis, interpretation and evaluation through course discussion, activities and projects. Students in this course will also play a key role in the LIVEDemocracy election activities being planned to education the Maryville University community in the Fall.
PSYC 397 Forensic Psychology – Students will gain information on the various activities and roles forensic psychologists and other mental health professionals play both in the field of psychology and the legal system. This course will provide a student with an introductory knowledge of forensic topics including: serial killers, sex offenders, terrorism, insanity defenses, and the etiology of aggression. Students will gain knowledge of the use of psychology in the legal system as well how mental health professionals aid in treatment of offenders reintegrating into society post offense. Additional topics may include: violence risk threat assessment, child abuse/neglect, polygraph examinations, mental health law, and false confessions.