Jun 21, 2024  
Fall 2016 Catalog and Handbook 
    
Fall 2016 Catalog and Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

Information Systems

  
  • IS 311 - Introduction to Data Science (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 ), MATH 315 , IS 211 , IS 362  
    The ability to understand, analyze, and interpret large and disparate data sets is increasingly important for gaining competitive advantage in the marketplace, and improving social conditions. This course uses the statistical and mathematical techniques that form the basis of descriptive and predictive analytics to extract qualitative insights from a variety of data types (e.g., customer preferences, purchasing and pricing, social network interactions, text, images, and mobile and ubiquitous outputs). Using existing programming and data management skills students apply them to the areas of data acquisition and cleaning, data exploration and visualization, mathematical model development, and graphical report creation. Areas of application can include social analytics, search engine algorithms, recommender systems, market analysis and demand estimation, customer segmentation and product pricing, healthcare, and transportation. In addition, students use current statistical analysis tools such as R., Case studies are used throughout the course.

  
  • IS 320 - Systems Analysis and Design (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    The science of systems analysis and design requires IS professional to map and exploit the processes, methods, techniques, and tools that organizations use to conduct business. This course covers a systematic methodology for analyzing a business problem or opportunity, determining what role, if any, computer-based technologies can play in addressing the business need, articulating business requirements for the technology solution, specifying alternative approaches to acquiring the technology capabilities needed to address the business requirements-in particular, in-house development, development from third-party providers, or purchased commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) packages-and specifying the requirements for the information systems solution. Students gain hands-on experience with systems analysis and design methodologies and tools by analyzing the functionality and design of existing systems with regard to a specific business need, and developing requirements and a project plan for a new system.

  
  • IS 325 - Computer Forensics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 205 , IS 362 , IS 260 , IS 250 
    Computer and digital forensics is the science of recovering and investigating digital evidence from technology. In this course, students build on a broad technical knowledge of computer systems to study phenomena such as computer crimes, hacking, producing evidence, and fraud investigation. Topics include Windows Registry Analysis, recovering deleted files, and Solid State Drives (SSD) operations versus Hard Disk Drive (HDD) functions. The limitations of forensic analysis are also covered. Upon completion of the course, students have a basic knowledge of computer forensics concepts, chain of custody/evidence handling, and computer forensic tools. Case studies are used to expose students to real-world scenarios.

  
  • IS 326 - E-Commerce for Information Systems (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    The Internet and an assortment of information technologies have led to the development and continuing evolution of electronic commerce (e-commerce), which has revolutionized the way people, organizations, and governments interact with each other. This course approaches the study of e-commerce strategies, operations, workflows, and technologies from a value-creating perspective. Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on projects, students develop an understanding of the special characteristics that identify the similarities and differences between e-commerce and other forms of commerce, such as hybridized models. Students develop a conceptual foundation to help them identify and evaluate new trends, innovative business opportunities, and the potential impacts to various industries, as well as the fundamental technological structures required for implementation. In addition, students learn to assess the potential limitations, issues, and risks associated with various e-commerce initiatives. For IS majors, students must produce an e-commerce solution, either using off-the-shelf tools or by coding a complete solution.

  
  • IS 330 - Logistics and Supply Chain Management (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Logistics-processes within a single firm or organization-and supply chain management (SCM)-processes and exchanges across multiple organizations are essential elements of any lean business. The course discusses the efficient and effective planning and control of product/service design and generation; raw and finished goods inventories; layout and location of offices, warehouses, and factories; distribution channels and systems; labor standards and scheduling; intermediate and long-term decision making; and fulfillment of critical customer expectations. Topics include logistics/SCM strategy and tactics; process selection; design and analysis; location selection; scheduling and sequencing; lean operating systems; quality control; facility and work design; performance measurement; simulation, queuing, and supply chain models; project, inventory, and capacity planning; and related professional software packages.

  
  • IS 332 - Social Media (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    Social media, and more generally, social computing, bring people together in virtual spaces to facilitate various kinds of technology-mediated social participation, such as connecting, discussing, artifact and information sharing, and recommending. Understanding the applications and platforms that are available today-such as social networking, virtual communities, artifact and knowledge-sharing sites, mobile and location-based technologies/services, video, blogs, wikis, etc.-is critical for recognizing emergent trends in this rapidly changing space. Topics examined include the impact of social media and modern communication tools on areas such as commerce, entertainment, networking and relationship building/maintenance, community action, sustainability, national security, emergency management, healthcare, citizen science, and education. Students discuss phenomena such as crowdsourcing, recommender systems, and collaboratories. To better understand the social aspects of online interaction, core behavioral concepts, including group and community formation and identification, social network theory, individual motivations, and trust, in addition to basic media theories such as social presence and media richness are discussed. Designed for IS majors, everyone must create an online community, using either off-the-shelf tools or by creating an original one.

  
  • IS 339 - Health Information Technology (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    Information systems hold great promise for improving healthcare quality and lowering skyrocketing healthcare costs. From applying best practices in information systems to challenges in health information technology (HIT), students are prepared to enter the health technology field. Topics include an introduction to HIT standards, health-related data structures, and software applications and enterprise architecture in healthcare and public health organizations. The workflow and processes embedded in the healthcare industry are discussed in depth. Patient privacy and security are a critical part of this course. Considerable time is spent exposing students to emerging trends in healthcare technologies, such as scanning and imaging devices that produce data. Case studies are included to ensure that students have a broad exposure to technology in healthcare. Students gain hands-on experience with open source HIT systems.

  
  • IS 349 - IS Independent Study 1 (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Approval of the program’s academic director.
    Students have the flexibility to learn more about a topic of interest outside of the formal course setting. A subject is chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor, who acts as the student’s supervisor, and with the permission of the academic director. Requirements include the submission of a course contract describing the course of study and its specific learning objectives. Course credit is determined by the instructor, with the approval of the academic director.

  
  • IS 350 - IS Strategy, Management, and Acquisition (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 211 , IS 361 , IS 260 , IS 250 , IS 320 , IS 300  
    One distinction between a good company and a great company is how well its information systems (IS) enable organizational capabilities. From a senior management perspective, we explore the acquisition, development, and implementation of plans and policies to achieve efficient and effective information systems. Students learn the fundamental concepts associated with high-level IS infrastructure and the systems that support the operational, administrative, and strategic needs of an organization. Through the use of case studies, students begin to develop an intellectual framework to critically assess IS infrastructures and emerging technologies, and how these enabling technologies might affect organizational strategy. The ideas developed and cultivated are intended to provide an enduring perspective that can help students make sense of an increasingly globalized and technology-intensive business environment.

  
  • IS 361 - Database Architecture and Programming (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course discusses the design, development, deployment, and evaluation of database systems. In addition, students learn conceptual and relational data modeling, and implementation languages such as Structured Query Language (SQL). Additional topics include data integrity, relational normalization theory, security, privacy, and concurrence control.

  
  • IS 362 - Data Acquisition and Management (Undergraduate) (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 210  and IS 361 
    In a world where more and more data of increasing complexity and scope is being collected by organizations of all types, the ability to organize and manage this data is the first step toward extracting value from it. Students are introduced to key topics and techniques associated with database management, including the difference between data and information from a data-centric point of view; managing data with and without databases; computer and data security; data cleansing, fusing, and processing techniques; combining data from different sources/integration; storage techniques, including very large data sets; and database privacy and security issues. Hands-on experience is critical throughout. Students are required to build several databases by importing, cleaning, manipulating, storing, and securing complex datasets that contain multiple types of data. An emphasis on applying critical thinking and creativity to the design of efficient and effective management solutions is necessary.

  
  • IS 369 - IS Internship (1-3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Approval of the program’s academic director.
    This is an off-campus internship supervised by a staff person at the internship site, and overseen by a faculty advisor. The internship site must be approved by the program’s academic director, and the overall duration of the work must be no less than 150 hours of student work. At the start of the internship, the student and faculty advisor jointly develop specific learning objectives tailored to the nature of the internship. Over the course of the internship, students are required to submit weekly reflections. When the internship ends, students submit a final paper that illustrates the knowledge gained from the experience.

  
  • IS 370 - Human-Computer Interaction (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 211 
    User-friendly design is a key driver of the rapid adoption and continued use of software systems. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is an interdisciplinary field that studies the design, evaluation, and implementation of computer user interfaces (UX). HCI integrates cognitive psychology, design, and computer science among other disciplines to better understand the factors that influence technology’s usability and acceptance. This course examines methods (e.g., design thinking), techniques (e.g., user-centered design), and tools used in the design and evaluation of information systems, as well as the human performance that results from good design. Societal impacts of HCI, such as accessibility, are also discussed. Case studies are used to expose students to real-world scenarios. Students produce and present a semester-long project.

  
  • IS 374 - Business Process Design and Workflow Analysis (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    The analysis and design of business processes is critical to improving quality and efficiencies. Moreover, identifying process and workflow are the first steps to sourcing or building software systems. This course provides an introduction to business process design and workflow analysis, as both a management discipline and as a set of enabling technologies. Students learn the key concepts, terms, methodologies, techniques, and technologies in business process design. Hands-on experience with process modeling tools and technologies used to support workflow analysis is provided. Students learn the practices and technologies that are making “process thinking” a new approach to solving business problems and continuously improving organizational competitiveness and performance. A semester-long project using open source process design tools is developed and presented at the end of the course. Case studies are used to expose students to real-world scenarios. (e.g., McDonald Brothers case study).

  
  • IS 379 - IS Special Topics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Approval of the program’s academic director.
    This course provides the program to offer boutique short-term courses on emerging phenomena and technologies in this fast-moving industry. The expectation is that this is an advanced class that requires an appropriate student project and deliverable in line with the number of credits awarded for the course.

  
  • IS 380 - Geographic Information Systems (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    Modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have found their way into many aspects of everyday life, nested as they are on smartphones and PDAs and installed in automobiles. GIS applications are broad, from operations and logistics to marketing and sales. In our personal lives, GIS is. These technologies allow users, from individuals to organizations, to visualize, question, analyze, and interpret the world and its underlying geographical processes. Students learn about the hardware, software, and processes incorporated into GIS. Various methods for interpreting and analyzing spatial data, including cartography, remote sensing, spatial statistics, and survey research are included. Case studies are used to expose students to real-world scenarios. Students also gain hands-on experience using open-source GIS platforms.

  
  • IS 410 - Principles of Informatics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: IS 200  (or BUS 325  and CIS 101 )
    Informatics places the study of information systems into a human context. Information systems professionals need to understand human behavior as it shapes, and is shaped by, a confluence of information made available through technology. Key ethical and legal issues that arise in computer-driven environments, including the ownership, use, and sharing of electronic information; protection of the rights of information producers, providers, and users; protection of minors; protection of privacy; harassment; ADA compliance; and the role of government are discussed. Additionally, there is an examination of human attitudes toward, and usage of hardware and software in, the global environment. Students consider specific applications of the course content to their specialized fields of study (e.g., business information systems, health information systems, educational technologies, etc.).

  
  • IS 499 - IS Capstone (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Senior status and permission from the program’s academic director.
    Synthesizing complex information and applying that information in the context of a real-world scenario is a high-level ability that employers increasingly demand. In this course, students integrate the skills developed in previous classes into a comprehensive body of knowledge to provide tangible evidence of their competence. The Capstone has two components: 1.) submission of a portfolio that consists of work completed during the program presented in a holistic manner, and 2.) development of a final IS project with emphasis on one or two areas of the profession, and grounded in a particular real- world context. For the project, a problem is identified, then analyzed, designed, and implemented with a professional-quality information system that contributes to a solution. In addition, students must be able to articulate the value of and practical challenges associated with the IS solution. Students may work either independently or in a group (no larger than three, with the permission of the instructor), selecting a subject that is in line with the student’s career aspirations, and ideally builds on ideas and work that began in other classes. The work developed in the Capstone is presented to faculty and students, and the larger information systems community.


Labor

  
  • LABR 201 - Introduction to Labor Studies (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide a broad, inter-disciplinary overview of labor studies, covering topics that are fundamental to the study of work, workers, and worker organizations. These include labor history as well as contemporary challenges facing the U.S. labor movement. Students in the course will examine the purposes and structure of unions, the political and economic landscape within which unions must operate, organizing strategies and the nature of employer resistance to unions, alternative forms of worker organization, and the impacts of globalization. Students will assess the legacy of labor as it relates to questions of gender, race, sexuality, and immigration and will look at proposals and strategies for building worker power and revitalizing the labor movement through coalitional organizing and cross-border alliances.

  
  • LABR 302 - Contemporary Labor Issues (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines the social, economic, political, and organizational issues confronting the U.S. labor movement today. As an ever-changing economy and political climate impact workers and the labor movement, unions face challenges that require changes in the visionary, structural, functional, and strategic aspects of their organizations. Students in this course consider how the external environment-globalization, shifts in the economy, employer resistance, political and legal obstacles-has shaped the current state of the union movement in general and affected union density, economic power, and political influence in particular.

  
  • LABR 304 - Unions and Labor Relations (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course focuses on unions and their role in labor-management relations. Students will examine the purpose, structure and function and governance of unions in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on how unions function in the collective bargaining process and in contract administration. Topics will include: sources and uses of bargaining power, the negotiation process, the content and language of labor contracts, and the role and function of grievance procedures and labor arbitrations. The study of union and labor relations will be studied in the context of a capitalist economy, and throughout the course, comparisons will be made between the private and public sectors, between craft and industrial model unionism, and between US models of unions and those in other parts of the world.

  
  • LABR 305 - Labor Relations in Transportation (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    In this course, students will learn the fundamental concepts of labor relations in the field of public transportation and will analyze practices in the field. Topics in the course include the contractual, statutory and legal implications of labor relations in transportation. These issues will be examined and analyzed through lecture and discussion, case studies and simulations, and the participation of guest speakers. Collective bargaining agreements will be analyzed, with particular attention to grievance processes involving contractual and disciplinary issues. Workplace legislation involving safety and health, family medical leave, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) will also be discussed. Topics will be developed in a historical context. Students will examine the 1966, 1980, and 2005 NYC transit strikes and analyze the roles played by management and labor during those disputes. Students will have opportunities to study comparative labor relations in transit, including examples from San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Washington, D.C. Metro.

  
  • LABR 320 - Collective Bargaining (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to give students an understanding of the practices and activities related to the negotiation of union contracts. It identifies key concepts, techniques, and bargaining issues, especially those that have emerged in recent years. Students will develop an understanding of the similarities and differences between public- and private-sector bargaining and how this has affected tactics and strategies employed by the parties involved. They will analyze fundamental and sometimes varying structures, scope, and legal dimensions of the bargaining process. They will also gain a historical perspective on public and private employment and on the evolution of state and federal bargaining theory and practice found in both the private and public sectors.

  
  • LABR 324 - Labor and Employment Law (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of law governing labor relations and employee rights in the workplace. The course begins with an examination of the major areas of law as they apply to workers and unions. Topics covered will include the National Labor Relations Act, employee representation, the grievance process, labor’s right to organize, the ground rules for collective bargaining, legal aspects of strikes, Weingarten rights, obligation to bargain, and the duty of fair representation. The second part of the course will focus on employment rights at the workplace including statutes regarding discrimination, family medical leave, and workplace privacy. Students will debate and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of labor law in terms of protections for workers and workers’ rights and will discuss potential reform of current law.

  
  • LABR 325 - Arbitration (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of contract grievances and arbitration procedures. The course will consider discipline and discharge, seniority rights, subcontracting and work preservation disputes, wage and benefit issues, and the role of past practice in establishing binding conditions of employment and in interpreting contract language. Emphasis will be placed on the principles arbitrators have developed and applied to resolve disputes involving provisions commonly found in contracts. Through in-class discussions, mock exercises and readings of actual legal decisions on employment relationships, students will develop an appreciation for the process and scope of labor arbitration.

  
  • LABR 328 - Leadership and Administration: Power, Politics, and Organizational Change (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Today, the power of unions is challenged by globalization and rapidly emerging technologies as well as by changes in the law and in the structure of industries and work. These developments have spawned urgent demands for stronger, more visionary leadership in all institutions, including those of labor. As a result, there has been a surge in research about leadership and the role of leaders in maintaining effective organizations. Drawing on a considerable body of social science and historical research, this course applies leadership and organizational theories to a union context in order to examine and analyze the leadership models, practices, and approaches we find in contemporary unions. Students will examine the labor movement in the context of current economic, political and legal conditions. Topics in the course include organizational structure and group dynamics, motivating membership, ethical decision-making, strategic planning, and resolving conflict.

  
  • LABR 330 - Issues in Labor Organizing (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines the development of theory and practice in labor organizing as it has emerged over the course of a century. It addresses organizing in both the public and private sector, through certification elections, recognition actions and alternative methods of organizing. Students discuss the determinants of successful organizing campaigns, including targeting, tactics, and styles of organizing. The subject of organizing is studied in a historical, social, and political context, allowing students to analyze the evolution of an organizing mission and the emergence of various strategic initiatives over time. Students review differing theories of organizing and analyze worker attitudes as well as employer strategies and tactics. In addition, students examine the body of law (National Labor Relations Act) that regulates labor organizing in the US and consider methods of organizing outside the parameters of existing labor law. Students also examine union infrastructures administrative practices that affect how campaigns are financed and staffed.

  
  • LABR 331 - Health and Safety in the Workplace (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course provides a detailed look at historical and current workplace safety and health issues in the United States. Through course readings and discussions, students examine a range of topics, including occupational health hazards; the development and implementation of applicable Federal (OSHA) and State (PESH) regulations; the setting of standards for safety and health and enforcement; industrial hygiene; workplace medical screenings and surveillance; and the provision of occupational health services. The class will also examine subjects related to OSHA, such as workers’ compensation and disability; health benefits (ERISA labor-management funds); and other worker-rights programs. Case studies will be used to highlight problems and solutions.

  
  • LABR 334 - Public Sector Labor Law (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the constitutional, statutory, and collective bargaining rights of public employees. The course begins with a study and analysis of the historical development of the legal status of public employees in the U.S. and in New York, specifically. In particular, the course will examine the development and role of the Public Employee’s Fair Employment Act (the Taylor Law) and the New York City Collective Bargaining Law as they relate to public employees’ rights to self organization, union representation, collective bargaining, mandatory subjects of bargaining and unfair labor practices.

  
  • LABR 337 - Contract Administration (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course explores the history of contract-based unionism, examining strategies and practices of contract administration as well as alternative approaches to traditional methodologies. In the course of this examination, students will analyze the role of union leaders, stewards, and members in dealing with the union contract. The course will also examine the theory behind contractual dispute resolution mechanisms, focusing on the role played by union stewards and first line-supervisors in these processes. In addition to readings, students will engage in mock sessions, designed to familiarize them with the range of issues and practices central to grievance and arbitration procedures. Students will also examine the distinction between contract violations and grievances that can be adjudicated outside the contractual dispute-resolution process.

  
  • LABR 339 - Understanding Labor and the Economy (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course provides students with a solid understanding of the structure and direction of the U.S. economy, within a context of globalization. Students learn basic economic principles and concepts through an examination and analysis of labor markets. They analyze and compare competing perspectives and differing explanations of the political economy of work and examine how unemployment rates, global trade, wage inequality, and the growth of the service sector affect worker’s bargaining power.

  
  • LABR 399 - Labor and Workplace Studies Field Work (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course augments traditional classroom-based learning with experiential learning in a community setting and direct engagement in labor and workplace issues. In it, individuals intern for a labor union or labor-related organization with the guidance and supervision of a mentor. The internship is taken in conjunction with a weekly class where students report on their internship projects, bring questions and problems, and discuss readings directly relevant to the placement.

  
  • LABR 601 - Labor in the Era of Globalization (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine the impact of the globalization of production on work itself, as well as on workers and international labor movements. It will present globalization as a central problem for both developed and developing economies and as a dilemma for U.S. workers and their unions. Students will analyze the history and function of the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, including how these institutions influence the global flow of capital and labor, as well as goods and services. The course covers topics essential for understanding workers’ issues and rights in contemporary economies, such as: the impact of global outsourcing; the rise in women workers around the world and the implications for gender issues; organizing in a multi-national context; increasing poverty and inequality; and the decreased regulatory powers of states relative to multinational corporations as a result of free-trade agreements and neo-liberal development policies. All topics will be infused with a historical perspective that traces the development of capitalism from its beginnings in nation-states to its current hegemony in the global marketplace. Students will study responses of the labor movement to capital flight and to the movement of jobs and production across national borders, including efforts at cross-border organizing. They will examine the extent and effectiveness of global labor strategies, and the potential of broad-based coalitions to protect workers’ rights.

  
  • LABR 602 - Research Methods (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines the various methods of research employed to produce accurate data on topics of concern to workers and unions. Students will learn the importance of formulating and framing research questions; what types of research methodologies can be utilized; why and when to use particular methodologies; how to compile and analyze statistical data and how to utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods. They will also learn how to analyze research findings in order to judge the reliability of data. Students will discuss the principal theoretical and operational issues in the research process. In order to develop analytic skills, they will critique and evaluate case studies, taken from a range of published research reports. Ultimately, students will develop tools and techniques for doing both quantitative and qualitative research.

  
  • LABR 603 - Labor-Management Relations (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course covers the development of labor relations in the United States, from the period preceding collective bargaining through the emergence of theories of management and corresponding stages of labor relations practice in the 20th century. The latter include: the rise of contract unions; industrial relations in an era of unionization and collective bargaining; the crisis resulting from increased competition and globalization; and the subsequent transformation of American labor-management relations. Students will develop a comparative perspective by studying labor-management relations across advanced capitalist economies. Finally, the course will examine the future of labor-management relations, exploring the extent to which they will be adversarial or cooperative, and considering alternative models of worker representation.

  
  • LABR 604 - Labor Law (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines the statutes, procedures, and legal remedies as interpreted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and courts concerning the unionization of employees; the collective bargaining process; and the relationship between workers and employers and between employees and their union. The course begins by examining the doctrines of labor law in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and continues with an exploration of the statutory bases of labor law. In subsequent sessions, case law concerning organizing and union recognition; unfair labor practices; collective bargaining; the right to strike and concerted action; arbitration; the duty of fair representation; and discrimination will be analyzed and discussed. Finally, the course will examine and evaluate various interpretations of the political/economic origins of modern labor law and its impact on unions and contemporary labor-management relations.

  
  • LABR 605 - Perspectives on the Labor Movement (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course familiarizes students with theories that provide explanations for the rise of unions as well as for the historical development of labor movements. Course readings and discussions range from Marxist perspectives to theories of American exceptionalism and business unionism, and include the work of both seminal sociologists and prominent labor historians. Students in this course will be challenged to apply their analytic skills to vital labor issues and real world experiences of workers and unions. In addition to evaluating the explanatory power offered by the major schools of thought on the labor movement, students will consider how issues of class, race, pluralism, globalization and workplace reorganization have shaped explanations for labor’s rise, decline and relevance. Finally, the course will explore how and whether theories of the labor movement contribute to resolving labor’s internal debates and revitalizing its power in an era of globalization.

  
  • LABR 606 - Labor Studies Field Work/Internship (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Students in this course will combine a 16-week internship at a labor union or labor-related organization with readings on and analysis of the U.S. labor movement in a contemporary national and global context. In eight two-hour class meetings, students will reflect on their internships, comparing their experiences with those of other students and discussing them in relation to course readings on selected labor issues. In addition to union structure and governance, these issues will include union jurisdiction and industry analysis; organizing and collective bargaining; union democracy and rank-and-file participation; demographics of leadership and membership; dynamics of class and power relations; diversity and multiculturalism; the effects of globalization on work and workers; and alternative paradigms for worker organization. Through the combination of field work and scholarly analysis, students will explore the relationship between theory and practice and will acquire multiple perspectives on union structure, practice and principles as well as on a broad range of union activities.

  
  • LABR 607 - Labor and the Economy (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course provides students of contemporary labor with an essential knowledge of micro- and macro economic theories that explain conditions of work, workers and labor institutions. The course offers an overview of capitalism as an economic system, focusing on the principles and logic that underlie American capitalism in particular. Students will explore the role of production and profits; competition and concentration; wages and work; technology; and control and conflict in the workplace. They will examine issues of particular concern to workers and unions, including inflation; trade; internationalization; and globalization. They will also examine how unions affect wages, productivity and profitability. These questions will be discussed in historical perspective, considering classical, neo-classical and neo-Marxist theories. The operation of markets will be considered, focusing on supply and demand; competition; coordination; and market failures and limitations. Macroeconomic issues will be evaluated in terms of the “Keynesian Revolution” in economic thinking, which resulted in government regulation of the economy through taxation, monetary policy and government spending, as well as historical and contemporary challenges to this paradigm. Students will also focus on the political economy of discrimination, seeking to understand how disparities of income and the distribution of wealth are affected by race, gender and class.

  
  • LABR 608 - Issues in Organizing (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course deals with current debates concerning the future of organized labor in the United States. Students will examine a wide range of opinion, both within the labor movement and among scholars of the labor movement, concerning several key questions: Considering current socio-political conditions in the global economy, are unions still relevant? If so, is growth possible? If not, what other forms of worker organization are possible? To answer these questions, students will examine arguments advanced by top U.S. labor leaders and students of the labor movement. These arguments will be posed against a range of theoretical and historical perspectives, starting with Marx and Commons and including the work of contemporary scholars and researchers. Students will grapple with contemporary issues and problems in organizing, including attitudes of workers; employer anti-union tactics; legal impediments; and alternative venues for union certification in both the public and private sector. They will discuss the importance of strategic research and media outreach. Finally, they will develop a set of criteria for evaluating the success of organizing initiatives.

  
  • LABR 608 - Issues in Organizing (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course deals with current debates concerning the future of organized labor in the United States. Students will examine a wide range of opinion, both within the labor movement and among scholars of the labor movement, concerning several key questions: Considering current socio-political conditions in the global economy, are unions still relevant? If so, is growth possible? If not, what other forms of worker organization are possible? To answer these questions, students will examine arguments advanced by top U.S. labor leaders and students of the labor movement. These arguments will be posed against a range of theoretical and historical perspectives, starting with Marx and Commons and including the work of contemporary scholars and researchers. Students will grapple with current issues and problems in organizing, including attitudes of workers; employer anti-union tactics; legal impediments; and alternative venues for union certification in both the public and private sector. They will discuss the importance of strategic research and media outreach. Finally, they will develop a set of criteria for evaluating the success of organizing initiatives.

  
  • LABR 609 - Comparative Labor Movements (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine labor movements in the advanced industrialized economies of Western Europe as well as in the industrializing economies of Latin America, Africa and Asia. The course will focus on differences and similarities among and between these labor movements and the U.S. labor movement in terms of union density, collective bargaining structure, and industrial relations at the plant level. Among the main topics addressed in this course is globalization and its impact on labor movements throughout the world. The course will address critical issues confronting labor movements in the industrializing economies, particularly the “Southern cone” (Chile, Argentina and Uruguay); Mexico; Brazil; South Africa; China; and India. Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between unions and political systems in the U.S. and other nations. The course will explore relationships between workers and works councils in Western Europe; the relationship between unions and political action; the challenges of immigration, diversity and declining union power globally; and strategies for revitalization of labor movements in the industrialized democracies. The course will also study labor movements under authoritarian regimes and military dictatorships, examining the role of unions in struggles for democracy.

     

  
  • LABR 610 - Policy Analysis (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will introduce students to theories and techniques of policy analysis and will help them acquire the basic skills necessary to do analytic work. The course will begin by defining policy analysis and the various social models that underlie differing analytic and evaluative frameworks. It will examine the institutions, interests, and forces that shape policy debate and affect “delivery” of policy initiatives. Students will explore several models of analysis and consider their limits as well as their strengths. They will explore the role of government in implementing public policy and allocating resources. In that process, students will address a key question: How do the interests of social institutions and social groups combine with access to the political process to determine who gets what and when? Finally, students will examine case studies of public-policy analysis in three areas of concern to workers and the labor movement.

  
  • LABR 614 - Labor and Immigration (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course explores the dynamics of immigration to the U.S., past and present, with a particular focus on its implications for the labor movement. The course covers a range of topics that are vital to understanding the impact of immigration on labor, such as: the “push” and “pull” factors that shape migration flows; the characteristics of the distinctive waves of migration to the U.S. over the past two centuries; the varying skill levels and world views of immigrants from different parts of the world; the historical and contemporary tensions between immigrants and U.S.-born workers; the role of immigrant social networks in chain migration and in immigrant labor organizing; changing notions of citizenship and the emergence of “illegal” immigration; the changing gender composition of the immigrant workforce; changing employer policies toward immigrant labor; the development of the modern immigrant rights movement; and the politics of the current immigration reform debate. Students will explore the ways in which the labor movement has responded to immigration in the past and currently, and examine the conditions under which efforts to organize immigrant workers have been successful and those under which they have failed. The growth of worker centers as alternative models for immigrant organizing will also be examined.

  
  • LABR 619 - Comparative Labor Relations Models (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will introduce students to the labor relations systems in a number of countries and provide a framework for examining labor relations systems globally. Participants will discuss the varied socioeconomic and political environments in which labor relations systems have developed and explore how they are responding to the challenge of globalization and capitalism in the 21st century. Particular emphasis will be placed on union strategies for growth and revitalization. By studying the labor relations systems of various countries, it is possible to gain a broader perspective and thus better understand labor movements more generally and the forces that continue to shape labor’s choices and strategies.

  
  • LABR 620 - Collective Bargaining Theory and Practice (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will provide students with a theoretical understanding of the collective bargaining process in the U.S. In addition to studying union and management theories of bargaining, students will analyze contemporary and historically significant bargaining scenarios in the private and public sectors and will develop advanced knowledge of labor relations in a variety of workplace environments. Students will examine the legal framework of collective bargaining and will study the evolution of public policy governing labor relations. In addition to studying the bargaining process and methods of contract enforcement, students will discuss alternative models of worker representation in a global economy. They will gain practical understanding by designing and participating in mock bargaining sessions.

  
  • LABR 622 - Strategic Research Methods (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines research methods designed to support union growth and representation, including market analysis, market surveys, corporate research, policy research, public pension fund research and worker surveys. There is particular emphasis on corporate research techniques, including analysis of financial statements, property record research, litigation research, public record requests, and use of on-line resources. Students will also learn basic database design and spreadsheet skills to facilitate market analysis and analysis of collective bargaining agreements.

  
  • LABR 623 - Comparative Labor and Employment Law (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide students with an overview of labor and employment law in several countries representing different approaches to the fundamental social and legal project of protecting workers’ rights and regulating the relationship between labor and capital. By exploring labor and employment laws that are rooted in different histories, political economies, and sociocultural and legal systems, students will develop a broader understanding and deeper appreciation of the fundamental labor / management issues confronting contemporary industrial societies, including the US. Individual and collective contracts, wages and benefits, working hours and leave entitlements, protections from discrimination and unfair dismissal, the right to organize, bargain collectively, and seek redress of grievances - these are some of the issues that will be explored in a comparative framework. In an era of global supply chains, decentralized production, and the increasingly rapid and transnational movement of capital, goods, information and people, it is important for students of labor to develop a comparative and international perspective on the laws that govern labor relations.

  
  • LABR 624 - Labor Law: A Case-Study Approach (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine the body of law governing union organizing, labor relations, and employee rights through the study of case law and legal precedents. The course will cover federal labor law, embodied in the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act, as well as state laws regarding the public sector and the legal environment in “right-to-work” states. In studying precedent-setting case law, students will analyze the impact of U.S. labor law on the right to organize, the collective bargaining process, contract enforcement, and dispute resolution. They will debate the strengths and weaknesses of current law in terms of protections for workers and will evaluate the range of strategies employed by unions to circumvent obstacles presented by the law, including third-party card check in organizing and efforts to pass reform of current law.

  
  • LABR 630 - Union Organization and Function (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will provide students with an advanced understanding of social science concepts and organizational theories that are designed to analyze the structures, functions, and practices of unions. Students will examine the main functions of unions, including collective bargaining, political action, and organizing, and explore the ways in which various types of union structures are matched to industry structures. Topics will include workforce demographics, diversity, models of union leadership, governance and decision-making, power relations, conflict, and diversity in union membership and leadership. In analyzing how unions are built and sustained, students will examine such factors as motivation, commitment and personality as well as the behavior of individuals and groups in unions. Unions, like other organizations, are under substantial pressure from the external environment to adapt to changing industrial and economic conditions. Concepts related to the change process, such as stakeholder analysis, resistance to change, and participative design will be discussed and applied to case studies of union transformation.

  
  • LABR 649 - Independent Study (1-l3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Permission of the Academic Director
    The Independent Study will be taken under the supervision of an instructor. The student will develop a proposal and rationale for the Independent Study, which must be approved in advance by the instructor. The Instructor and the student will develop a set of guidelines for the course, including the scope of reading and writing assignments. These guidelines will be submitted to the Academic Director in the form of a course proposal and plan. Students will be limited to one independent study in fulfillment of the elective requirement.

  
  • LABR 669 - Selected Topics in Labor Studies (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Permission of the Academic Director
    This course will offer qualified students the opportunity to study special topics within the scope of Labor Studies that are not covered, or are only partially covered, in courses offered. Topics may vary from semester to semester and could include study of particular industries or particular global regions of production; examinations of working-class experience; demographic research; uses of technologies in organizing and other mobilizations; worker centers and other alternative organizations for non-unionized workers; alliances between labor organizations and other advocacy organizations.

  
  • LABR 698 - Capstone Project Planning (1 Credit)

    Prerequisite: None
    This seminar is the first in a two-part capstone sequence for M.A. in Labor Studies students. With assistance from the instructor and from their peers, students will choose the research question for their individual research project, develop hypotheses and appropriate research methodology, prepare an annotated bibliography, and plan the research itself. By the end of the semester each student will have written a full research proposal for her/his capstone project.

  
  • LABR 699 - Capstone Course (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course, which should be taken in the student’s final semester, is an opportunity for students to integrate and synthesize the body of knowledge acquired in courses leading to completion of the M.A. in Labor Studies. Students will work with the instructor to develop an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary capstone project that demonstrates the student’s command of subject matter and literature covered in the courses. The project may take various forms, including an independent or group research; an annotated literature review; or a media presentation. All projects must include an extensive bibliography and a 20-25 page analytic essay. Classroom sessions will alternate with independent supervised research and project development.


Labor History

  
  • LHIS 301 - U.S. Labor History (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines working class life and the evolution of the U.S. labor movement within the larger framework of U.S. history, with specific regard to class formation, industrial development, immigration and the major developments of the organized labor movement. Students in this course also explore the relationships of workers to unions, formal and informal economies, race and gender, technology, the American state; and cultural, political and social movements. Emphasis is placed on the issues that gave birth to the labor movement, the development of working class consciousness, and the milestones in the labor movement’s progress during the last century.

  
  • LHIS 311 - The History of Public Sector Workers in the United States (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Public sector works account for 40% of the unionized workforce in the U.S., outpacing the private sector by almost two-to-one. This course will examine the history and development of labor in the public sector. Beginning in early part of the 20th century, the course will trace the evolution of public sector worker organization, examining the distinctive nature of public sector employment and class formation in the public sphere. Students will consider the role, effect, and growth of public sector labor law and the effects that public sector bargaining has had on the development of both wage and non-wage issues.

  
  • LHIS 601 - U.S. Labor History (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine U.S. labor history from the Great Depression of 1929 to the present. Students will examine this history from several perspectives, seeking to understand how the experience of workers and the nature of working-class institutions have evolved in the context of larger historical developments. In this process, the course will try to account for patterns of growth and decline in the labor movement, paying particular attention to: industrialization and deindustrialization; patterns of migration and immigration; and the historical relationships between organized labor and other movements for social justice. Students will explore how the ideologies and structures of organized labor have been shaped by major economic, political and social forces as well as diverse cultural expressions. At every level of analysis, students will address issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation, especially as these categories of social identity relate to class and class-formation. Assigned texts reflect a range of scholarship and differing points of view. Thus, students will become familiar with historiographical debates about topics covered in this course.


Labor Politics

  
  • LPOL 301 - Work, Culture, and Politics in New York City (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course explores the work, culture and politics of New York City, examining where New Yorkers live and work, how communities develop, and questioning whether or not the cultural and political institutions of New York adequately serve the city’s diverse population. Major topics covered include the history of New York, New York’s key industries, trends in immigration, economic development, public policy, public and private space, high culture, popular culture, urban social identity, community organizations, and labor’s contributions to building the city’s institutions.

  
  • LPOL 302 - Contending Ideas and Forces in U.S. Politics (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine the often opposing ideas and social forces that have shaped current U.S. political practice, beginning with debates about the nature of democracy and controversies that pre-occupied framers of the constitution-freedom, liberty, equality, and property. The course will cover the origins and development of contending political ideologies from modern liberalism and left-liberal thought to classical and neo-liberal conservatism and ideologies of the new right. Within these theoretical frameworks, students will examine a wide range of social issues, political platforms, and political formations that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. Particular attention will be given to examining the historical roots as well as the contemporary political expression of movements for race, gender, and economic equality. Students will also consider a number of contemporary issues that challenge conceptions of democracy: the imperial presidency, the foreign policy of pre-emption, the war on terror and civil liberties, and neo-liberalism and globalization. Finally, students will consider the political potential of new and emerging ideas and social forces.

  
  • LPOL 303 - Campaigns and Elections (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine political campaigns and the electoral process in the United States and will explore critical issues concerning the character and vitality of American democracy. Students will examine the concept of American Exceptionalism, seeking to explain why America has a two-party rather than multiparty political system and what has prevented the emergence of a viable third party, proportional representation and a parliamentary system. This course will address the structural factors that influence the organization and characteristics of American political parties and will analyze public perceptions of party politics. It will explore current issues, practices, and forces that shape particular elections. In the process, students will examine the nomination system, campaign financing, negative campaigning, and the role of media in framing issues and shaping opinion. Students will also discuss the role of interest groups, focusing on a case study of labor and political action. Finally, the course will examine the transformation from a party- based system of American politics to a system driven by media, marketing, and money.

  
  • LPOL 309 - Power and Democracy in the Nation (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    In this course, students will explore the concept of power in a constitutional democracy and analyze the relationship between democracy and political power in contemporary U.S. society. The course will introduce students to the historical foundations, structures and current practices of U.S. government, building a framework for understanding democracy and political power on the federal level. In studying the evolution of American democracy, students will examine the Constitutional framework, debating such key issues as separation of powers; expansion of the presidency; political influence of the judiciary; government regulation of the economy; and the role of social welfare in a democratic system. Students will also examine constraints on democracy, including uneven access to power and inclusion in the political system in terms of race, gender and economic class.

  
  • LPOL 601 - Labor and Politics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course will examine approaches to political action employed by unions, in the United States. In addition to studying traditional approaches to electoral politics, the course will examine alternative forms of political behavior, including third-party movements; labor-party initiatives; independent politics; and direct action. Students will analyze the logic and practice of these various political strategies, evaluating their strengths and limitations. The course will provide a historical context, beginning in the United States with reform labor unionism and syndicalism. Students will discuss conservative principles of “pure and simple” unionism and “pure and simple politics” as well as more radical attempts to build a labor/socialist party. Finally, they will focus on the history of labor’s alliance with the Democratic Party, starting with the New Deal and continuing to the present. A number of case studies will be analyzed.

  
  • LPOL 602 - Work, Culture, and Politics in New York City (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide an interactive overview of the constantly changing worlds of work, culture and politics in New York City. We will learn about where New Yorkers live and work, how specific urban communities develop, and assess how the cultural and political institutions of New York serve the city’s diverse population. The class uses an historical frame to situate the contemporary city, spending equal time on past and present inquiries. Field trips to significant spaces, and visits to and from NYC organizers, policy makers, artists and scholars will take place on a near weekly basis. Throughout, we will learn about New York’s key industries, trends in immigration, economic development, public policy, public and private space, popular culture, urban social identity, community organizations, and labor’s contributions to building the city’s institutions.


Labor Sociology

  
  • LSOC 301 - Sociology of Work (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course introduces students to the sociology and political economics of work, workers, and worker organizations. It begins with an exploration of the meaning of work, an examination of the organization and control of the labor process, and a survey of the changes in the composition of the labor force over the last century. It then explores some of the challenges facing workers at the beginning of the 21st century, including the emergence of new forms of employment; increased gender, ethnic, and racial diversity in the labor force; the impact of technology; developments in labor management; and the emergence of a global economy.


Language

  
  • LANG 101 - Language in the Multicultural Setting (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Introduces the foundations of linguistics and language acquisition. Analyzes language in multicultural American urban settings. Critiques bilingual/bidialectal families and bilingual education; language and gender; literacy in a changing, technological society; and different dialects and registers of American English. Appraises recent and classic scholarship in linguistics, literature, and related fields. Requires reflection and analysis of personal linguistic experiences and backgrounds.


Latin American Studies

  
  • LAS 101 - Latin America and Caribbean Cultures (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Introduces texts and media from Latin American and Caribbean cultures, including film, music, and performance. Analyzes the distinguishing features of Latin American and Caribbean Cultures through study of cultural artifacts and issues related to history, politics, customs, and art. Required research on selected topics.


Management

  
  • MGMT 680 - Human Resource Management (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This subject adopts a “macro” or “strategic” approach to Human Resource Management through a critical analysis of recent literature on the role of Human Resource Management in organizations and through consideration of the application of this literature to work organizations. Various models of strategic Human Resource Management and the strategic relationships between Human Resource Management, programs of management and organizational change are considered.

  
  • MGMT 681 - Financial Management (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    In this course, students will learn to define, comprehend, and apply a market-driven theory for ethically based, strategic financial decisions. Important issues include the return and risk of the activity to invest, the size of the investment, and the sources for financing the investment. Each decision is part of the overall financial strategy that adds value to the shareholder. Topics include: financial markets; financial reporting; the cost of capital; portfolio analysis; capital structure; dividend policy; options; cash management; and international monetary issues.


Mathematics

  
  • MATH 102 - Mathematics in Contemporary Society (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Designed to provide students with an understanding of the mathematical ideas and methods found in the social sciences, the arts, and business, this course covers the fundamentals of statistics, scatter plots, graphics in the media, problem-solving strategies, dimensional analysis, and mathematical modeling. Students can expect to explore real world applications.

  
  • MATH 215 - Introduction to Statistics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Introduces the basic principles of statistics and probability, with an emphasis on understanding the underlying concepts, real-world applications, and the underlying story that the numbers tell. Uses Microsoft Excel’s statistical functions to analyze data. Provides an introduction to probability, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and inferential statistics.

  
  • MATH 315 - Discrete Mathematics and Linear Algebra (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: MATH 215  or BUS 310 
    Computational mathematics-including discrete math and linear algebra-provide the foundation for modeling real-world phenomena such as consumer behavior, web trends, traffic, crime, and clinical success rates. Students learn the basic mathematics that is needed for programming and entry-level data science. Throughout the course, students have a chance to apply mathematical theory to real-world data sets and gain an understanding of the relationship between discrete mathematics and IS. Topics include logic, set theory, functions and sequences, algorithms and integers, counting, graphs, definitions, isomorphism, graph algorithms, trees, basic probability, matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, recurrence relations, and linear programming.


Nursing

  
  • NURS 300 - Transition to Professional Nursing (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course introduces students to the structure of the discipline of nursing, selected theoretical and conceptual models and their application to nursing practice, research, and education as a foundation for socialization/re-socialization into the professional nursing practice. With the current emphasis on quality health care and evidence-based-nursing practice, it is every nurse’s responsibility to ensure that one’s practice is competent, safe, meets legal/ethical standards; and is evidence-based. This course focuses on the transition from AAS nursing student to Baccalaureate registered professional nurse.

  
  • NURS 301 - Health Assessment and Promotion in Nursing Practice within Culturally Diverse Populations (3 Credits)

    Pre- or Co-requisite: NURS 300  
    This course is designed to assist the professional nurse to further develop interviewing skills and physical assessment skills which will be used in working with patient populations, including multicultural groups. Students will interview and assess individuals and analyze assessment data which they will then compare and contrast to normal findings to determine specific health care needs. Emphasis will be placed on patients’ cultural considerations and access to care in their community.

    Note: This course includes a $160 Materials Fee to cover the cost of health assessment testing with standardized patients at the New York SIM center.
  
  • NURS 302 - Health Teaching in Diverse Cultures (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: Pre or Co-Requisite NURS 300 
    This course is designed to explore the role of the professional nurse as an educator for a population with a specific health problem within a community. Education theory, evidence-based teaching strategies, and the use of appropriate interventions for culturally diverse or at risk populations will be discussed. A teaching plan will be developed using a patient population of the student’s choice.

  
  • NURS 303 - Caring for Patients, Including Diverse Populations, in their Communities (4 Credits)

    Prerequisite: NURS 301 ; Pre- or Corequisite: NURS 302  
    This course develops the role of the professional nurse in the community setting. Major focus will be the need to collaborate with other health team members within the community to build healthy communities. The challenges of emerging health issues as well as access to care for vulnerable populations and advocacy for the patient in this setting will also be discussed.

  
  • NURS 312 - Introduction to Palliative Care (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course introduces concepts and principles of palliative care for patients who are experiencing life threatening or chronic illness. A holistic approach incorporating social, emotional, spiritual physical and cultural dimensions will be considered to direct patient and family- centered care. Assessment and management of patient and family needs will be explored in a variety of palliative care settings, including acute care, community, long-term care and hospice. The needs of underserved and vulnerable populations will be highlighted. National trends, quality indicators, policy and reimbursement affecting healthcare are viewed from the context of palliative care delivery. In addition, a focus on legal and ethical issues related to palliative care and end-of-life care will be addressed.

  
  • NURS 313 - Nursing Informatics (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course combines knowledge and skills from nursing science, computer science, and information science in the practice of nursing. Major topics focus on informatics concepts and communications that are most critical to therapeutic nursing interventions. The course assignments will familiarize students with both the theoretical concepts and the practical application of the scholarship of nursing informatics in health care management and/or health services delivery. Students will analyze an actual nursing information system and consider how to ensure privacy of patient information.

  
  • NURS 314 - Case Management in Health and Human Services (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client’s health and human service needs. It is characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes. In this course students will learn the essentials of case management and develop skills necessary to become an effective case manager.

  
  • NURS 331 - Health Issues in Aging, Longevity and Chronic Healthcare (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course focuses on content specific to the dynamics of aging, theories of aging and nursing interventions for health promotion and improvement of quality of life for older adults. Social, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of aging will be explored.

  
  • NURS 350 - Principles of Nursing Research (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: MATH 215  
    This course focuses on the development of skills needed to analyze and critique nursing research literature. The course is designed to develop an appreciation of research as the foundation for evidence-based practice. It provides students with a conceptual basis to both interpret and evaluate research for evidence-based practice. Methodologies are used that facilitate the analysis of research relevant to the student’s area of clinical interest and expertise.

  
  • NURS 399 - Guided Independent Study (1-3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: NURS 301  
    Under the guidance of a nursing faculty member, students will explore a nursing problem or a question or topic of interest. Students are expected to submit a proposal for approval, including:

    1. problem/question identification;
    2. delineation of goals to be achieved;
    3. description of methodology; and
    4. completion of a final product (such as a term paper, project, or audiovisual production).


  
  • NURS 451 - Leadership and Management in Healthcare (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: NURS 302 
    This course explores principles of organizations, leadership and management related to nursing. Skills necessary to facilitate group dynamics and personnel management are addressed, and quality control models are examined. Emphasis is on the coordination of care for patients and health care personnel. Students will have the opportunity to learn a variety of management methodologies. Discussion will focus on current issues and their potential impact on nursing practice.

  
  • NURS 461 - Global Health and Policy Issues: A Nursing Perspective (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: NURS 303 
    This course will enhance students’ knowledge of the ongoing changes in health care and policy development including discussion and analysis of issues related to health care around the world. Discussion will be related to health care access, disparities, and human rights. The course will look at ways of promoting access, especially for the most vulnerable individuals and groups in society. Global nursing outreach organizations will also be explored.

  
  • NURS 499 - Leadership and Management in Healthcare Capstone Course (clinical) (5 Credits)

    Prerequisite: NURS 303  and NURS 350 
    This course explores principles of organizations, leadership and management related to Nursing. Skills necessary to facilitate group dynamics and personnel management are addressed, and quality control models are examined. Emphasis is on the coordination of care for patients and health care personnel. Students will have the opportunity to learn a variety of management methodologies. Discussion will focus on current issues and their potential impact on nursing practice. The 90-hour capstone project provides the students an opportunity to reflect and synthesize Baccalaureate of Science in nursing practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and development of a quality improvement proposal.


Organizational Behavior

  
  • ORG 680 - Organizational Behavior (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Organizational behavior is the field of study that investigates the impact of individuals, groups and structure on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying this knowledge to improve an organization’s effectiveness. It draws from a number of different fields including psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The focus of the course is examination of the theoretical and empirical foundations of organizational behavior to provide a framework for understanding its applications in work settings. To accomplish this objective, students will look at people on three levels: as individuals; in interpersonal relationships; and in groups and collectives.


Organizational Development

  
  • ORGD 341 - Organizational Change and Leadership (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide students with a conceptual framework and fundamental practical skills needed to plan, design, implement, and manage effective change within organizations. Specific attention is given to processes for assessing organizational functioning from a systems perspective, evaluating drivers of change and change strategies, and taking or leading action. Discover how to initiate and implement change, create solutions, and empower and motivate others to take action.


Philosophy

  
  • PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Studies the basic issues and traditions in philosophy. Thinkers include Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Kant, Rawls. Issues include the soul, truth, god, reality, knowledge, ethics, mind, freedom, religion, and social and political thought. Developing skills of critical analysis and dialectical thinking, students will be able to identify traditional and current issues in philosophy.

  
  • PHIL 110 - Critical Thinking (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Focuses on the techniques of rational inference and analytical judgment. These include the study of informal logic (arguing cogently and recognizing common informal fallacies), formal patterns of reasoning (syllogistic and propositional logic), and some distinctive analytical methods used in scientific and professional disciplines. Provides students with the competencies that are requisite to successful career growth and life-long learning.

  
  • PHIL 201 - Bioethics for Health Professions (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    An exploration of complex contemporary ethical problems from healthcare, the environment, and bioethics. Issues include problems of human experimentation and informed consent, end of life issues, reproductive technology, genetic privacy, abortion, allocation of resources, and humans’ relationship with their environment. Classical and contemporary ethical theories, moral theories, and the fundamentals of scientific integrity will be applied to make principled, defensible, moral judgments.

  
  • PHIL 301 - Computers, Ethics, Society and Human Values (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Examines the impact of computers and information networks on society. Considers privacy and confidentiality, computer crime, harassment, identity, honesty, mechanization, secrecy, proprietary rights, and technological dependence. Evaluates issues related to information systems and communication networks.


Physics

  
  • GPHYS 630 - Space, Time and Motion (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    Throughout history, fascinated observers have grappled with questions concerning the physical origin, workings, and behavior of the universe. In this course, essays, online interaction, streaming video, and web resources are used to trace this historic path of discovery and exploration. Changing understandings of motion, time, space, matter, and energy are studied through the ideas of the ancient Greek philosophers, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Topics studied include: the concepts of motion, relativity and gravity; and the discoveries and ideas of Einstein and other major thinkers in the field of physical science.

    The course utilizes a diverse array of Museum instructional resources in a structured distance-learning environment.

  
  • PHYS 301 - Space, Time and Motion-Physical Science (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course traces changing understandings of motion, time, space, matter, and energy through the ideas of the ancient Greek philosophers, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Topics studied include the concepts of motion, relativity and gravity; and the discoveries and ideas of Einstein and other major thinkers in the field of physical science.

    This course is based in part upon materials developed by the American Museum of Natural History that are used with permission by the School of Professional Studies for this course.


Political Science

  
  • POL 201 - Politics and Government of New York City (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course analyzes the politics and government of New York City, including City-State relations; and the role of the City in the region, the nation and the world. Special attention is given to the municipal government’s institutions and procedures, and the city’s evolving political culture.


Prior Learning Assessment

  
  • PLA 300 - Portfolio Development for Prior Learning Assessment (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: ENG 101  or equivalent and permission of the Registrar
    Guides students in the process of identifying and documenting learning from experience in a prior learning assessment portfolio, with the aim of petitioning for college level credit. Examination of the literature of adult learning and its application to prior learning and future learning goals. This course is graded pass/fail and is open only to students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at the CUNY School of Professional Studies.


Project Management

  
  • PROM 210 - Project Management (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: CIS 101  or IS 200  
    Students learn to plan, organize, lead, and evaluate projects-large and small-to ensure that requirements are delivered on time and within budget. Topics include the essentials of initiating a project, defining requirements, scheduling tasks, managing scope, working in cross-functional teams, communicating effectively, resolving conflict, and closing a project. While budget development is beyond the scope of this course, students will be expected to understand simple project budgets. In addition to traditional task lists and timelines, students must generate project charters, change notices, progress reports, and project closing documents.

  
  • PROM 600 - Fundamentals of Project Management (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course is designed to provide an overview of project management practices and techniques and their practical application to managing projects. The participants will review practices recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and learn how these can be used to address a range of project challenges. Throughout the course, participants will work in teams to complete exercises and apply what they have learned. Participants should have at least one year experience managing projects.

  
  • PROM 601 - Project Communication and Leadership (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: PROM 600 , or permission of the instructor.
    This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of communication and leadership fundamentals as they apply to real world problems; particularly in the management of projects and programs with diverse stake-holders and organizations. In particular, the integrated nature of communications processes and leadership will be explored. Students will have opportunities to practice their craft throughout the course both in teams and individually.

  
  • PROM 602 - Managing the Triple Constraint: Scope, Time, and Cost (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: PROM 600 , or permission of the instructor.
    The triple constraint is the framework through which all projects evolve. This course will be a foundation course focusing on the definition, application and management of the scope, time, and cost constraints of the project. Current readings will bring real-life application of the theory to the students. The course will cover each of the components in detail and students will have an opportunity to use software project management tools to help them develop a sense of how project management can be aided by the use of technology. Earned value management and the role of quality in management of the triple constraint are critical topics that will also be covered in this course. Students will be expected to participate fully in all class discussions and will be evaluated by tests as well as their level of participation and the quality of their review paper.


Psychology

  
  • PSY 101 - General Psychology (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: None
    This course examines behavior and mental processes. Topics include research methods, biological bases of brain and mind, sensation-perception, sleep and states of consciousness, learning and memory, development, cognition-intelligence, motivation-emotion, personality, abnormal psychology, and social psychology. The focus is on findings and principles related to everyday life.

  
  • PSY 210 - Biological Bases of Behavior (3 Credits)

    Prerequisite: PSY 101 
    This course will introduce the biological structures and processes that provide the foundation for human behavior including: brain cell processes, neurotransmitters and chemical circuits, embryogenesis, sensory-motor processes, gender differentiation, and neurocognition. Behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs will also be included, along with issues of drug abuse and dependency.

 

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