Exploratory Requirement

The student who fulfilled the Western Civilization requirement of General Education by taking PHL 1300, Introduction to Ethics, may consider building upon this study.

Courses:

• JRN 4020 Ethical Issues in the Media
• ENV 3680 Fundamentals of Hazardous Materials Regulations
• PHL 3310 Ethics, Language and Reality
• PHL 3510 Ethics in Business
• PHL 3500 Bioethics
• WRT 3070 Digital Culture

The student who fulfilled the Social Science requirement of General Education either by taking PSY 1000, Foundations of Contemporary Psychology, or SOC 1000, Introduction to Sociology, and has an interest in interpersonal interaction may consider building upon this study.

Courses:

• COM 3400 Interpersonal Communication
• COM 3403 Interpersonal Conflict
• LIN 2207 Meaning in Language
• PSY 2350 Introduction to Social Psychology
• PSY 3370 Interpersonal Processes & Group Behavior
• SOC 2110 Small Groups
• SOC 3100 Interpersonal Relationships

Students who are interested in exploring the world of the arts may be interested in experiencing a variety of fine and performing arts introductory courses.

Courses:

• ART 1150 Drawing for Non-majors
• ART 1170 Painting for Non-majors
• ART 1160 Photography for Non-majors
• DAN 1003 Fundamentals of Ballet Technique
• DAN 1013 Fundamentals of Modern Technique
• MUS 1101 Beginning Piano for Non-Majors
• MUS 1103 Beginning Guitar for Non-Majors
• THA 1004 Acting for Non-Theatre Majors

The student who fulfilled the Arts requirement of General Education by taking CIN 1150, Introduction to Cinema, and/or the Global Perspectives requirement by taking ENG 2800, Masterpieces of World Cinema, may consider building upon this study.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• AN 3140 Culture and Society Through Film
• ENG 3675 Adaptation: Fiction, Drama, Film
• MUS 1006 Exploring Film Music
• LIT 2905 Studies in Foreign Film
• PS 3240 Politics Through Film

The student who has fulfilled the U.S. Diversity requirement in General Education may wish to focus further study on the question of race relations in America.

Choose 12 credits from among the following courses:

• AN 3127/SOC 3610 Racial and Ethnic Relations
• COM 3300 Multicultural Communications
• COM 3301 Race and Communication
• HST 3280 The Civil Rights Movement in America
• PS 3215 The Politics of Race and Ethnicity

The student who enjoyed their course satisfying the Formal Reasoning requirement may consider continuing their exploration in this area by completing this exploratory set.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• PHL 1070 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
• PHL 3000 Advanced Symbolic Logic
• PHL 3420 Theories of Truth
• PHL 4100 Philosophy of Language
• LIN 4307 Introduction to Semantics
• APM 3430 Theory of Computation
• MTH 3002 Introduction to Advanced Mathematical Thinking

This course set examines the practice of aesthetic judgment and criticism, and examines art in its cultural, historical, and social contexts.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• AH 3120 Greek Art
• AH 3220 Early Medieval, Byzantine, and Romanesque Art
• AH 3310 Renaissance Art in Italy
• AH 3410 Nineteenth Century Art
• AH 3420 Modern Art 1900-1945
• AH 3430 Art Since 1945
• AH 3000 Critical Theory
• PHL 3130 Aesthetics

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field drawing on philosophy and research in the sciences. The student will gain knowledge and skills related to the philosophical and scientific study of mind and language.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• ALS 4335 Psycholinguistics
• LIN 1101 The Humanity of Language
• LIN 1182 Language and the Brain
• LIN 2201 Introduction to Linguistics
• LIN 4304 Introduction to Syntax
• LIN 4305 Phonetic Theory
• LIN 4307 Introduction to Semantics
• LIN 4357 Cognitive Linguistics
• PHL 1070 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
• PHL 3810 Consciousness and Persons
• PHL 3800 Philosophy of Mind
• PHL 4100 Philosophy of Language
• PSY 2500 Introduction to Research Design
• PSY 2510 Statistics and Research Design
• PSY 3160 Cognitive Psychology
• PSY 3180 Physiological Psychology
• PSY 3120 Psycholinguistics

Since the “linguistic turn” of the 20th century, philosophers and linguists have engaged in an investigation of the relationship between logical structure, linguistic structure, and the structure of reality itself. This set explores key issues of existence in relation to language and logic through rigorous philosophical inquiry.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• LIN 4304 Introduction to Syntax
• LIN 4307 Introduction to Semantics
• PHL 1070 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
• PHL 3210 Twentieth Century British and American Philosophy
• PHL 3310 Ethics, Language and Reality
• PHL 3410 Theories of Knowledge
• PHL 3810 Consciousness and Persons
• PHL 3400 Metaphysics
• PHL 3420 Theories of Truth
• PHL 3000 Advanced Symbolic Logic
• PHL 3800 Philosophy of Mind
• PHL 4100 Philosophy of Language

Examine the flourishing of classical civilization in the Greek city--‐states and the Roman Empire, as well as the continuing influence of Greek and Roman civilization in the medieval period and in modern religious thought.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• AH 3110 Art of the Ancient Near East
• AH 3120 Greek Art
• AH 3130 Roman Art
• AH 3220 Early Medieval, Byzantine, and Romanesque Art
• ENG 3660 Classical Mythology
• HST 3310 Ancient Greece and Rome
• PHL 2200 Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHL 2210 Medieval Philosophy
• REL 3420 Jewish History
• REL 3730 Early Christian Spirituality

The study of Judaism through courses in history, culture, Hebrew language, and Jewish thought.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• HBR 1140 Introduction to Hebrew Language and Culture I
• REL 1200 Introduction to Judaism
• REL 3420 Survey of Jewish History
• REL 3900 Archeology of Israel from Ancient to Roman times
• REL 3710 Written traditions of Judaism

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspective requirement of General Education by taking IS 2300, Introduction to Africa may consider building upon this study of the region by taking additional courses on Africa and African culture.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• IS 2300 Introduction to Africa
• HST 3730 Postcolonial Conflicts in African History
• HST 3710 Ancient and “Medieval” African Civilizations
• HST 3720 Modern African History since 1800
• HST 3715 African Cultural History
• HST 3740 African Environmental History
• MUS 1010 Exploring African Music

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspective requirement of General Education by taking IS 2100, Introduction to China, may consider building upon the study of China.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• AH 1003 Introduction to Arts of Asia and the Islamic World
• AH 3020 Chinese Art
• AN 3250 Peoples and Cultures of China
• HST 3810 China’s Last Dynasty: The Qing 1644-1911
• HST 3815 China in Revolution 1911-1949
• HST 3830 Women in China 1700 to the Present
• HST 3820 China since 1949

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspective requirement of General Education by taking IS 2200, Introduction to Japan, may consider building upon the study of Japan.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• IS 2200 Introduction to Japan
• AH 1003 Introduction to Arts of Asia and the Islamic World
• AH 3010 Japanese Art
• HST 3870 Origins of Modern Japan
• HST 3875 Twentieth-Century Japan

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspective requirement of General Education by taking IS 2200, Introduction to Japan, may consider building upon the study of Japan.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• IS 2500 Introduction to Latin America
• AN 3350 Peoples and Cultures of Mexico and Central America
• AN 3360 Indians of South America
• PS 3405 Politics of Latin America

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspective requirement of General Education by taking IS 2700, Introduction to the Middle East, may consider building upon this study of the region.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• AH 1003 Introduction to Arts of Asia and the Islamic World
• AH 3240 Islamic Art
• HST 3510 The Modern Middle East
• HST 3540 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
• HST 3520 The Cold War in the Middle East
• HST 3550 Modern Iran and Iraq
• PS 3415 Politics of the Middle East and Northern Africa
• REL 1150 Introduction to Islam
• REL 1200 Introduction to Judaism

The student who fulfilled the Global Perspectives requirement of General Education by taking REL 1850, World Religious Traditions, may consider building upon this study through historical, political, philosophical, and sociological perspectives.

Courses:

• AN 3123 Magic, Witchcraft and Religion
• HST 3290 History of Religions in the U.S.
• HST 3295 Religion, Politics and American Culture
• PHL 3150 Philosophy of Religion
• SOC 3420 Sociology of Religion

An exploration of the foundations of natural science and its relationship to the mental, focusing on current theories of nature, mind, knowledge, consciousness, and persons.

Choose 12 credits from among the following courses:

• PHL 3610 Philosophy of Biology
• PHL 3700 Philosophy of Science
• PHL 3720 Topics in Philosophy of Science
• PHL 3410 Theories of Knowledge
• PHL 3810 Consciousness and Persons
• PHL 3820 Mental Causation
• PHL 3800 Philosophy of Mind

An examination of the history of Western philosophy from ancient Greece through the 20th century.

Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• PHL 2200 Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHL 2210 Medieval Philosophy
• PHL 2220 Early Modern Philosophy
• PHL 3200 European Philosophy since Kant
• PHL 3210 Twentieth Century British and American Philosophy
• PHL 4200 Study of a Major Philosopher

An examination of the relationship between ethical ideals and both domestic and international practices of law and government, including philosophical theories about the importance and proper form of ethical reasoning in legal and political practice.

Choose 12 credits from among the following courses:

• PHL 3610 Philosophy of International Relations: Law, War and Peace
• PHL 3300 Advanced Ethics
• PHL 3120 Philosophy of Law
• PHL 3620 Global Justice
• PHL 3600 Political Philosophy

This exploratory set introduces students to interdisciplinary perspectives, methods ofinquiry and how they are used to understand and solve complex real world issues and problems. Each course in the set is organized around a central interdisciplinary theme or topic in which the students learn 1) the different disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives used to approach the theme, and 2) the characteristic methods used for understanding and solving the interdisciplinary issues/problems associated with the theme.

Complete 12 credits including the following:

• LBS 1000 Exploration of the Arts and Sciences
• LBS 2000 Interdisciplinary Approaches to Liberal Studies

Plus one of the following:

• ENV 3080 Introduction to Environmental Studies
• WGS 1000 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies
• WGS 3810 Global Women / Global Issues
• WRT 3060 Global Rhetorics
• AMS 3000 Topics in American Culture

This exploratory set examines communication theories and concepts which will enhance the ability ofstudentsto function successfully in a variety of professional contexts and in developing a professional ethos. Students will learn the complexity of organizational communication and the role that leadership, power, conflict, ethics and personal credibility play in their professional lives.

Courses:

• COM 3401 Communication in Organizations
• COM 3402 Communication in Leadership
• COM 3403 Interpersonal Conflict
• PR 2400 Introduction to Advertising
• JRN 2500 Introduction to Public Relations

Using the foundation of intimate relationships, this exploratory set examines the role communication in everyday interactions including friendships, dating relationships, marriages, and families. Exploring intimate relationships will allow students to gain an understanding of key communication concepts and patterns of behaviors that either strengthen or weaken close relationships.

Courses:

• COM 3400 Interpersonal Communication
• COM 3403 Interpersonal Conflict
• COM 3404 Nonverbal Communication
• COM 4400 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
• COM 4401 Family Communication

Based in organizational and interpersonal communication theory, this exploratory set examines the role of leadership in groups and teams. Through an examination of verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, power, leadership, conflict and organizational structures, students will develop an understanding of how groups and teams solve problems, manage conflict, reach decisions, and facilitate discussion among members.

Courses:

• COM 2403 Group Dynamics
• COM 3401 Communication in Organizations
• COM 3402 Communication in Leadership
• COM 3403 Interpersonal Conflict

This exploratory set examines communication theories and concepts which will enhance student understanding of how individual and social attitudes, beliefs and behaviors are altered through the persuasive messages of key influencers in our society. Students will develop a theoretical , critical and applied understanding of how persuasive messages are crafted, delivered, and analyzed in an attempt to influence individual behavior or larger social movements.

Courses:

• COM 2201 Argumentation and Debate
• COM 2202 Persuasion and Social Change
• COM 3200 Persuasion
• COM 3201 Rhetoric and Public Address
• COM 3402 Communication in Leadership
• COM 4203 Women, Power and Persuasion

Mobile wireless devices are dramatically changing the way we gather, deliver and consume news. In today's news media, professional journalists are writing, shooting, recording, posting, podcasting, tweeting and texting news and information. New-media companies such as MLive.com and Patch.com, TV and radio stations, and print newspaper companies with websites are rapidly hiring mobile journalists, sometimes called mojos.

Courses:

• JRN 2000 News Reporting and Writing
• JRN 3000 Media Editing
• JRN 3310 Digital Photojournalism
• JRN 4100 Reporting with the Internet
• JRN 4200 Media Design

Allows students to explore Natural Sciences. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• BIO 1200
• BIO 1300
• CHM 1440/1470
• CHM 1450/1480
• PHY 1010/1100
• PHY 1020/1110
• PHY 1510/1100
• PHY 1520/1110

Allow students to explore Social Sciences. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• PSY 1000
• SOC 1000
• PS 1100
• SW 2301
• AN 1111
• AN 1511
• WGS 1000
• CRJ 1100

Allow students to explore the Studio Arts. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• ART 1002
• ART 1004
• DES 1130
• AH 1002
• AH 1001

Allow students to explore the Fine Arts. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• MUS 1000
• THA 1000
• ART 1000
• DAN 1373
• CIN 1150

Allow students to explore the Communication/Journalism/Public Relation/Advertising field. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• COM 1000
• COM 2000
• JRN 2000
• PR 2400
• PR 2500 I

Allow students to explore Writing. Choose 12 credits from among the following:

• JRN 2000
• WRT 3064
• WRT 3082
• CW 2100
• CW 2400
• CW 2500
• ENG 3110

Allow students to explore Language. Choose 12 credits from among the following (must include two language areas; ALS and LIN count as the same single area.):

• LIN 1101
• LIN 2201
• SPN 1140
• SPN 1150
• FRH 1140
• FRH 1150
• GRM 1140
• GRM 1150
• IT 1140
• IT 1150
• CHE 1140
• CHE 1150
• JPN 1140
• JPN 1150
• ARB 1140
• ARB 1150
• COM 1500
• COM 1501

Gives students an ESL Certificate.

• LIN 2201
• ALS 4418
• ALS 4960

This Thematic Set allows students to add to their knowledge in multiple subjects within the College of Arts and Sciences in the spirit of the old College Distribution requirement.

Students must take 12 credits in three of the seven areas listed below.

1. Foreign language: 4 credits in a modern foreign language numbered 1150 or higher.
2. Arts and literature: An additional 4 credits from either of the university general education field category lists in Arts and Literature; literature courses at the 3000 level or higher in a modern foreign language; or Art or Art History, Film/Cinema Studies, Dance, English, Music or Theatre courses at the 3000 level or higher
3. Civilization: An additional 4 credits from among History, Philosophy or International Studies courses listed in the university general education field categories of Western Civilization or Global Perspective; or History or Philosophy courses at the 3000 level or higher.
4. Social sciences: An additional 4 credits in Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology from either the university general education field category list in Social Science, or courses at the 3000 level or higher in any of these disciplines or Linguistics courses LIN 4334, LIN 4335, LIN 4374, LIN 4375, LIN 4376, or ALS 373 (no longer offered).
5. Mathematics: An additional 4 credits in mathematical sciences courses (MTH, APM, STA, MOR but not MTE) numbered 1118 or higher.
6. Science: An additional 4 credits in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science or Physics.
7. An approved interdisciplinary course chosen from AMS 3000 or WGS 2000

*Currently, only students who began at Oakland University under the 2010-11 catalog or prior are eligible to use this thematic set.

(FTIACs who started prior to Fall 2011 and Transfer Students who started prior to Fall 2014 are eligible.)

• Courses taken to fulfill the College exploratory requirement must be at the 1000 level or above.
• Pre- or corequisite courses (courses with a rubric other than the major, e.g., CHM for biology majors) required for any major may be applied toward the exploratory requirement.
• Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements for knowledge applications, U.S. diversity, writing intensive and capstone may be applied to the exploratory requirement as long as they are outside of the major rubric. Courses used to satisfy a student’s general education requirements in all other categories will not apply.
• Students transferring courses from another institution may apply appropriate credits toward the exploratory requirement and must meet the 12-credit minimum requirement.
• Students who have completed the MACRAO agreement at a community college must complete the exploratory requirement at Oakland University or another four-year institution.
• Completion of a double major or degree or completion of a minor or concentration satisfies the exploratory requirement.
• Students entering Oakland University under an earlier catalog may choose to follow the exploratory requirement in place of the previous distribution requirement.