Areas of Inquiry
Descriptions and Course Lists
Below are brief descriptions and approved course lists for each Area of Inquiry. Note that no double counting of courses across Areas of Inquiry is permitted. In other words, even if a given course is listed under more then one Area of Inquiry (as some are), that course may be counted only once, toward one of the Areas where it appears, but not toward more than one.
Note that Area of Inquiry requirements may only be fulfilled through courses or other experiences (e.g., independent study, AP credits, CLEP tests, etc.) that carry college-level credit. Ordinarily, AOI requirements must be fulfilled by taking a course appearing on the approved course list for that relevant area. With advisor approval, however, students may count appropriate courses falling into one of the following categories toward an AOI requirement: honors courses, independent study courses and special topics courses. In such cases, the purposes and objectives of the advisor-approved course must substantially coincide with the objectives of the relevant Area of Inquiry.
According to the Undergraduate General Catalog Academic Regulations, each Drake Curriculum AOI course must be taken for a grade (rather than Credit/No Credit).
Links to AOI descriptions and approved course lists:
- Artistic Experience
- Critical Thinking
- The Engaged Citizen
- Historical Consciousness
- Information Literacy
- International and Multicultural
- Life and Physical Science
- Quantitative
- Values and Ethics
- Written Communication
Drake students will learn to interpret and/or create art
Art constructs an essential and ongoing dialogue among individuals, cultures, and societies. All art--whether it takes visual, musical, or theatrical form--grows out of sustained intellectual inquiry. Drake students will recognize that art provides a distinctive way to engage the world.
This requirement will be fulfilled through courses that inform and involve students to become analysts of or participants in the artistic creative process.
| Approved Course List: | ||
| ART 013 Design ART 014 3D Design ART 015 Drawing I ART 019 Microcosm, Macrocosm ART 060 Walking: Making Art Out There ART 074 Intro to Art ART 075 Survey of Art History I ART 076 Survey of Art History II ART 103 Art of India, China and Japan ART 104 Christian Art ART 108 American Art History ART 113 The History of Books and Printing (a Summer Travel Course) BIO 061 Nature Photography ENG 070 Introduction to Film Study JMC 058 Intro to Visual Communication (for non-journalism majors) JMC 059 Intro to Visual Communication MUS 011 Fundamentals of Music MUS 073 Music Since 1900 MUS 078 Intro to Jazz MUS 080 Music in Western Culture MUS 081 World Music MUS 082 World Music (for non-music majors) MUS 160 Suicide, Seduction, & Sopranos: a Survey of the Great Operas MUS 160 Music of the Movies |
SCSR 134 Suburbia in Contemporary American Film THEA 005 Readings in Theatre THEA 018 Beginning Modern Dance THEA 030/030L Stagecraft I (Fall 2006 to present) THEA 032 Stage Makeup THEA 074 Contemporary Film THEA 076 Intro to Theatre THEA 120 Theatre History to 1600 THEA 121 Theatre History II THEA 123 American Musical Theatre AP - Art AP - Music Lit AP - Humanities and Fine Arts Subtest The Artistic Experience area can also be fulfilled by combining any three of the following one credit courses: MUS 145, 148, 149, 150, 169-182, 185-191, 194, 196, 197, 198 Note: Courses previously designated FA 18, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 81 have changed to Thea 018, Art 074, Thea 076, Mus 078, Mus 080 and Mus 081. |
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Critical Thinking
The Drake Curriculum makes an intentional effort to help students acquire the skills for rational analysis and argumentation. Critical Thinking should be purposeful, rigorous, self-reflective, and based on a careful consideration of evidence. Students learn to
- clearly define a question or problem.
- gather information that is relevant to that problem.
- rigorously identify assumptions and preconceptions, including their own, that influence analysis of that problem.
| Approved Course List: | ||
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ACCT 041 Intro. Accounting I |
PHIL 124 Health and Social Justice PHIL 133 Rights and Responsibilities POLS 180 Ancient & Modern Political Theory POLS 181 Modern Political Theory PSY 015 Statistical & Research Methods PSY 030 Social Psychology SCSA 156 Ethnographic Methods (previously Anthropology 156) SCSR 073 Public Speaking (previously Rhetoric 073) SCSR 128 Public Deliberation (previously Rhetoric 128) SCSS 135 Technoscience Culture and Practice SCSS 151 Science, Cyborgs, & Monsters: Thinking Knowledge Projects for the New Millennium SCSS 158 Social Science Statistics (previously Sociology 158) SCSS 159 Methods of Social Research (previously Sociology 159) SCSS 196/SCS 196/PSY 194 The "Middle Kingdom" in a Global World: Considering Family, Self, and Nation in a Changing China STAT 060 Statistics for Pharmacy STAT 072 Statistics II |
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Drake students will learn to participate effectively in democratic processes.
Democracy relies upon the participation of an engaged, knowledgeable and responsible citizenry. As preparation for active participation in public debate, Drake students learn to evaluate the mix of diverse values and interests that influence democratic decision-making. In a sophomore level course, students have the opportunity to bring diverse disciplines to bear in further developing the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that will lead them to be active stewards working for the common good of local, national and global communities.
This requirement will be fulfilled through coursework that challenges students to critically reflect upon the social, economic or political institutions and issues that shape the choices they will face as citizens. Instructors will provide students with opportunities to model democratic practices or public engagement through participatory activities organized in the classroom and/or community. Engaged Citizen courses require sophomore standing (students must have 30 or more credit hours).
This change is effective fall 2007.
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In order to take an Engaged Citizen AOI course, students must have 30 or more credit hours (sophomore standing).
Approved Course List (effective August 2007): |
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BIO 108 Emerging Infectious Diseases |
POLS 119/LPS 135From Cradle to College, Breastmilk to Beer: The Law, Politics, and Social Responsibility POLS 120 Public Health in South Africa (a Summer Travel Course) POLS 121 The United Nations and Global Security POLS 124 Revisiting the Vietnam War POLS 125 Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Justice POLS 126 Grassroots Globalism POLS 127 Global Public Health and World Politics POLS 128 Nationalism and Politics in Eastern Europe POLS 129 Transitions to Democracy POLS 151 The American Presidency POLS 152 Congress and the Legislative Process POLS 153 Judicial Politics POLS 155 American Public Policy POLS 156 Environmental Politics and Policy POLS 157 Crime Politics and Policy in the US POLS 160 Modern European Political Systems POLS 162 Contemporary Asian Politics POLS 163 The Government and Politics of Japan POLS 164 Government & Politics in Latin America POLS 165 Government & Politics of Developing Nations POLS 166 Comparative Political Parties and Interest Groups POLS 167 Supreme Courts and Elections POLS 168 Politics and Parliaments POLS 169 Comparative Law and Courts POLS 170 International Law POLS 171 Political Integration of Europe POLS 173 Human Rights and World Politics POLS 176 Gender and World Politics POLS 179 American Foreign Policy POLS 185 American Political Theory POLS 186 Politics and Religion POLS 189 Topics in Political Theory POLS 190 Seminar in Constitutional Law PSY 134 Ethnopolitical Conflict and Peacemaking REL 120 Black Christianity and Prophetic Politics SCS 076 Making Families Public SCSR 134 Argument Culture SCSR 142 Rhetoric and Politics SCSS 074 Debating Marriage in the Contemporary United States SCSS 077 Art of the Interview SCSS 080 Social Problems SCSS 175 Social Stratification STAT 198 Using Statistics to Shape Health Policy WS 075/ENG 75/SCSS 75 Introduction to Women's Studies |
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| Click here: Course List (Prior to August 2007): | ||
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Drake students will learn the history of different periods and geographic regions.
Courses in this area of inquiry will provide students with the means to understand the historical developments of specific eras and geographic regions. A desirable consequence will be the development of students' abilities to interpret current events in relevant historical contexts.
To gain adequate scope in both historical times and geographic regions, two courses are required in this area of inquiry. At least one of these two courses should offer breadth of coverage with respect to geographic area and the passage of time. For their second course, students may, if they wish, choose a course from the approved list which offers greater depth with respect to a specific place, topic or time period.
| Approved Course List: | |
| ART 075* Survey of Art History I ART 076* Survey of Art History II ART 103 Art of India, China and Japan ART 104 Christian Art ART 105 Italian Renaissance ART 106 17th and 18th Century Art ART 107 19th Century Art ART 108 American Art History ART 109 Modern Art History ART 110 Art Since 1945 ART 112 Selected Topics ENG 063 American Writing Since 1960 ENG 104 History of the English Language ENG 124 Emergence of Mass Culture ENG 124: Salem Witch Trial and Questions of Evidence ENG 140 Twentieth Century British Literature ENG 147 The Industrial Revolution of British Literature ENG 152 American Literature to 1900 ENG 155 20th Century American Literature ENG 166 Literature of War HIST 001* Passages to the Modern World, 1500-1750 HIST 002* Passages to the Modern World, 1750 to Present HIST 021* East Asian History to 1600 HIST 022* East Asian History since 1600 HIST 041* Ancient Greece HIST 042* Ancient Rome HIST 060 Africa in World History* HIST 061* The Rise and Demise of Colonialism in Africa HIST 075* US History to 1877 HIST 076* US History 1877 to Present HIST 099/WS 130* Women in European History HIST 112 Civil War and Reconstruction HIST 113 America as a World Power HIST 114 The US from 1933 to Present HIST 115 From Contact to Removal: American Indian History, 1492-1840 HIST 123 Modern Mexico |
HIST 124 Aztecs, Incas and Mayas HIST 125 Colonial Latin America HIST 126 Modern Latin America HIST 127 Modern China HIST 128 Revolutions in 20th Century Asia HIST 133 Nineteenth Century Europe HIST 134 Contemporary Europe HIST 136 The Old Regime and the French Revolution HIST 137 France since 1799 HIST 151 Culture and History: American from the Depression to the McCarthy Era HIST 153 Chinese Communist Revolution HIST 155 Introduction to Marxism HIST 157 Sex and Power in Peasant Societies HIST 159 American Women's History to 1850 HIST 161 Africa, Africans and Atlantic Slavery HIST 166 The Women Intellectual in the West HIST 169 The US and the Origins of the Cold War HIST 170 History of the Great Plains and Iowa JMC 112 History of American Journalism MATH 157 History of Mathematics MILS 005 American Military History MUS 112 Music History II* PSY 151 History and Systems of Psychology REL 053 Life and Teachings of Jesus SCSR 110 History of American Public Address (previously Rhetoric 110) SCSR 150 Plato and Aristotle (previously Rhetoric 150) SCSS 130 Contemporary Chinese Society (previously Sociology 130) THEA 120 Theatre History I* THEA 121 Theatre History II AP* - American History AP* - European History IB - American History Higher Level IB - American History Subsidiary IB - European History Higher Level IB - European History Subsidiary |
| *Designate courses in this area that offer breadth of historical coverage. | |
Drake students will learn to acquire, analyze, interpret, and integrate information, employing appropriate technology to assist with these processes, and to understand the social and ethical implications of information use and misuse.
In a society that is dependent upon technology and the ability of citizens to understand the uses and implications of technological advances, information literacy is a central characteristic of the educated individual. Thus, Drake students will use appropriate sources including library and internet resources to process and evaluate information. Other hallmarks of the literate student include an understanding of the social and ethical issues encountered in a networked world, an ability to assess the quality of information, and appropriate ways of referencing information sources.
Approved courses for this area must include (1) elements of advanced technological competency and (2) coverage of social and/or ethical issues that relate to technology and knowledge management. Approved courses must require a student project, with citations, that demonstrate mastery of these two elements.
| Approved Course List: |
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CS 010 Preview of Computer Science |
International and Multicultural
Drake students will learn to examine aspects of society in relation to nationality, race, ethnicity, gender or culture, including the interactive nature of relations among peoples who differ according to these categories.
The purpose of this area is to aid students in understanding the perspectives and experiences of others.
Courses that fulfill this area requirement must focus primarily on international and/or multicultural understanding, such as courses that study a specific culture, people, or region, or those that focus on the interaction among different political, economic or cultural communities. Courses containing a dimension of international or multicultural understanding which constitutes less than half the course would not qualify.
| Approved Course List: | ||
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BUS 067/HIST 067 Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa |
POLS 065 Comparative Politics POLS 075 World Politics POLS 120 Globalization POLS 120 Public Health in South Africa (a Summer Travel Course) POLS 121 The United Nations and Global Society POLS 128 Nationalism/Politics Eastern Europe POLS 129 Transitions to Democracy POLS 160 Modern European Political Systems POLS 164 Government and Politics in Latin America POLS 165 Government and Politics of Developing Nations POLS 168 Politics and Parliaments POLS 171 European Integration PSY 134 Ethnopolitical Conflict and Peacemaking PSY 194/SCSS 196/SCS 196 The "Middle Kingdom" in a Global World: Considering Family, Self, and Nation in a Changing China REL 118 Race, Religion and Civic Culture SCSA 002 Intro to Cultural Anthropology (previously Anthropology 002) SCSA 093 Representing Cultural Difference (previously Anthropology 093) SCSA 101/WS 175 Feminist Anthropology (previously Anthropology 101) SCSA 117 Native America (previously Anthropology 117) SCSG 002 Human Geography (previously Geography 002) SCSG 003 World Regional Geography (previously Geography 003) SCSG 122 Cultural Geography (previously Geography 122) SCSG 132 Europe (previously Geography 132) SCSG 134 Africa (previously Geography 134) SCSG 135 Asia (previously Geography 135) SCSG 176 South Asia (previously Geography 176) SCSR 114 Rhetoric of Race (previously Rhetoric 114) SCSS 020 Introduction to Race and Ethnicity SCSS 072 Global Social Change SCSS 130 Contemporary Chinese Society (previously Sociology 130) SCSS 161 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (previously Sociology 161) SCSS 167 Sociology of the African-American Experience (previously Soc 167) SCSS 173 Global Citizenship SCSS 196/SCS 196/PSY 194 The "Middle Kingdom" in a Global World: Considering Family, Self, and Nation in a Changing China WS 001/ENG 075/SCSS 075 Intro to Women's Studies AP - French Lit AP - German Lit AP - Spanish Lit IB - European History Higher Level IB - European History Subsidiary IB - Geography Higher Level IB - Geography Subsidiary |
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Drake students will gain sufficient understanding of the theory and experimental basis of the life/behavioral and physical sciences to read and comprehend scientific writings designed for an interested, knowledgeable audience
This course of study is intended to initiate them into a life-long discipline of reading scientific literature designed for an educated public.
Drake students will complete two courses including one in the life/behavioral sciences and one in the physical sciences. At least one of these two courses must include a laboratory experience.
* Special rules for courses with SMCE prefix: SMCE courses integrate physical science, life science and math. The first SMCE course may be counted toward physical science or life science, but not both. A student taking two SMCE courses will be considered to have fulfilled the physical science, life science AND quantitative requirements. SMCE courses may be taken in any order.
| Approved Course List: | ||
| Physical Science | Life/Behavioral Science | |
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ASTR 001 Descriptive Astronomy (w/optional lab) |
BIO 001 Biological Sciences BIO 001L Biology Lab BIO 002 Biological Sciences BIO 008 Intro to Botany BIO 012 General and Pre-Professional Biology I BIO 012L Gen/Pre-Prof Bio I Lab BIO 013 General and Pre-Professional Biology II BIO 013L Gen/Pre-Prof Bio II Lab CHEM 006/007 Chemistry for the Informed Citizen w/lab CHEM 107/109 Organic Chemistry I w/lab CHEM 108/110 Organic Chemistry II w/lab COUN 160 Medical & Psychological Aspects of Disability ENSP 035/036 One Earth: Global Environmental Science w/lab ENSP 055 Tropical Ecology PSY 001 Intro to Psychology SMCE 001 Science and Math for Civic Engagement: Nutrition* SMCE 002 Science and Math for Civic Engagement: The Iowa Environment* AP - Biology AP - Psychology IB - Biology Higher Level IB - Biology Subsidiary CLEP - Biology General |
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Drake students will learn to reason with the symbols and components of mathematical languages as well as effectively use the principles that underlie these operations.
Drake students will be able to identify and execute appropriate mathematical operations for a given quantitative question and to evaluate claims based upon mathematical arguments.
Courses that satisfy this requirement will have mathematical reasoning as their principle focus. However, the course may be focused on the mathematical needs of a specific discipline.
| Approved Course List: |
| BIO 099 Biological Research & Statistical Methods MATH 017 The Spirit of Mathematics MATH 020 College Algebra MATH 025 Structure of Mathematics for Elementary Education MATH 028 Business Calculus MATH 050 Calculus I MATH 054 Discrete Mathematics MATH 070 Calculus II MATH 080 Linear Algebra MATH 100 Calculus III PHIL 114 Symbolic Logic PSY 015 Statistical & Research Methods SOC 158 Social Science Statistics STAT 050 Statistics for Social Sciences STAT 060 Statistics for Pharmacy STAT 071 Statistics I STAT 072 Statistics II STAT 198 Statistics for Social Sciences AP - Math Calc A&B AP - Math Calc B&C AP - Stat IB - Math Higher Level IB - Math Subsidiary CLEP - Calculus Elem Function CLEP - College Algebra CLEP - College Algebra/Trig CLEP - Trigonometry |
Drake students will learn to recognize ethical issues and to reflect critically upon the demands of conscience.
Drake students will identify the values, such as honesty, fairness, or justice, which underlie many human activities.
Drake students will develop the basic tools required to question themselves and others in a responsible manner and to evaluate the ethical implications of both collective and personal choices.
A course satisfies this AOI if it focuses students on the ability to analyze ethical concepts within a field, discipline, profession, or specified area, or if it focuses on the broader history of the development of ethical theories or codes.
| Approved Course List: | ||
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BIO 021/PHY 025/PSY 095 Science, Ethics |
PHIL 090 Ethics PHIL 091 Contemporary Ethical Problems PHIL 117 Bio-Medical Ethics PHIL 118 Feminist Ethics PHIL 133 Rights and Responsibilities POLS 079 Ethics in a Globalizing World POLS 125 Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Justice POLS 173 Human Rights & World PSY 145 Applied and Professional Ethics in Psychology (previously PSY 195) REL 140 Ecological Ethics SCSR 112 Rhetoric of War (previously Rhet 112) SCSS 100 Doing Morality (previously Soc 100) SCSS 170 Deviance (previously Soc 170) SCSS 174 Being and Power: Feminist Theories of Subjectivity (previously Soc 174) |
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Drake students will learn to read with discrimination and understanding and to write persuasively.
Drake students will learn to shape their writing according to subject, purpose, medium, context and intended audience.
This area of inquiry may be satisfied by a single course, provided that writing is a significant component of the course, significant attention is directed towards the teaching of writing, and a significant portion of the student's grade focuses on the quality of writing, independent of the subject matter.
| Approved Course List: | ||
| BUS 098 Professional Communications ENG 042 Approaches to American Literature ENG 044 Approaches to British Literature ENG 058 Reading Shakespeare ENG 060 Literary Study ENG 061 Writing Seminar ENG 086 Reading & Writing Sexuality ENG 088 Reading and Writing about Class ENG 090 Reading & Writing Drama ENG 091 Reading & Writing Poetry ENG 092 Reading & Writing the Short Story ENG 093 Reading & Writing Non-Fiction ENG 094 Business & Admin. Communication ENG 095 Writing Reports and Proposals ENG 109 Prose Stylistics ENG 111 Reading & Writing the Personal Essay ENG 112 Reading & Writing Autobiography ENG 116 Topics in Creative Writing |
JMC 054 Reporting & Writing Principles JMC 091 Magazine Article Writing JMC 123 Public Relations Writing JMC 124 Advertising Copywriting JMC 126 Interactive Internet Advertising JMC 140 Business Communications MUS 111 History of Music I POLS 192 Senior Seminar on International Relations Theory REL 053 Life and Teachings of Jesus AP - English Lit AP - Composition IB - English Higher Level IB - English Subsidiary |
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