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INTD 101-15 - Arguments For and Against Alternative Medicine

Mondays & Thursdays, 6:05 – 7:45 p.m.

CRN 40193

Kelsey Brentnall
Adjunct Faculty

With the increasing popularity of wellness and prevention in healthcare, alternative medicine is emerging as an option for healthcare consumers. Many are choosing to either supplement Western medicine or drop it altogether in favor of herbal teas, acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, hypnosis, reiki, and many other forms of complementary medicine. The purpose of this course is to explore these alternative practices and their efficacy from the standpoint of both a healthcare consumer and provider. Students will engage in hands-on exploration of these medicines while also analyzing primary sources to develop their own opinions about alternative practices.

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INTD 101-16 - The Arts in Times of Crisis

Tuesdays & Fridays, 11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

CRN 40086

Peter Campbell
Professor of Theater History and Criticism

As our world deals with multiple crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, of racism and violence, of global climate change what is the role of the arts? This course will explore the ways that crisis has inspired art and how the arts have helped in times of crisis from ancient Greek drama to Beyonce’s Lemonade, from cave paintings to TikTok videos. Through contemporary and historical examples from visual arts, film, media, music, and theater, we will examine how art and artists thrive in times of crisis and help us cope with radical change.

As a part of the Ramapo Exploration Program (REP), undeclared students in this FYS can explore major selection with the instructor, who will help them make informed decisions in their Ramapo undergraduate career.

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INTD 101-17 - Level Up: Being a Leader in Today's Society

Mondays & Thursdays, 6:05 – 7:45 p.m.

CRN 40087

Nicole Pedoto
Adjunct Faculty

This course will examine different styles of leadership and how they apply situationally and to the self . Students will utilize text, articles, and current events to examine, compare, and contrast different leadership styles. We will analyze these styles and how they are applied across different mediums in society. We will engage in activities and assignments that will challenge you to think, write and speak about leadership and how its principles can be applied to everyday life, being successful, and achieving future goals. Students will also gain a deep understanding of Ramapo’s academic programs, policies and resources. With the support of your instructor, peer facilitators and classmates, you will complete the course with a better sense of how to maximize your potential as a college student and future leader in your field.

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INTD 101-18 - Issues in Health Care: Exploring a Career as a Medical Profession

Tuesdays & Fridays, 1:45 – 3:25 p.m.

CRN 48621

Mark A. Caselli, M.D.
Adjunct Faculty

This first-year seminar course is designed for students interested in pursuing a career as a medical professional. It will explore the many facets of the road to becoming a health care provider and an advocate for global health. We will examine the political, ethical, moral, cultural, educational, and financial issues that affect the delivery of health care both in the United States and in many other countries in the world. Aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, physician assisted suicide, the opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the social and cultural determinants of healthcare will be explored with emphasis on how they effect our nation’s healthcare and the practice of medicine. We will also explore the many issues that affect the critical decisions that must be made in providing medical care for our patients, as well as the consequences of our decisions. This course will utilize specially selected readings to assist in class discussions on medical and healthcare issues. This will give the pre-healthcare profession student an opportunity to experience the type of problems they may encounter in the world of medicine. This experience will also demonstrate the need for the medical professional to be capable of preparing (research and writing skills) and presenting (public speaking skills) a paper before a group of peers. This experience also embraces the concept of the need for life-long learning. This course will help to impart an understanding of what lies ahead in becoming a health care provider as well as an appreciation of the challenges in providing health care in our changing world.

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INTD 101-19 - With and Beyond the Human: The Secret Lives of Animals, Plants, and Vibrant Matter

Mondays & Thursdays, 2:15 – 3:55 p.m.

CRN 40197

Marianne Shaneen
Adjunct Faculty

As humans, every aspect of our lives is in intimate, dynamic relationship with the nonhuman world. We don’t just profoundly impact nonhumans, but animals, plants, and geological forces—from octopuses and bacteria, mushrooms and coral, and water and wind, to uranium and plastic—have agency that powerfully affects us.

Through examples from literature and mythology, theory, film, and art, and with speculative writing prompts, we will consider: nonhuman personhood and human exceptionalism; animism, myth, and the sacred; hierarchical classifications and ‘the other’; biopolitical networks, the Anthropocene and climate change; and fantasies of cyborgs, ghosts, aliens, and monsters. We will also examine alternatives to dominant Eurocentric, colonialist traditions of ‘mastery’ of nature, by thinkers and artists who are indigenous, feminist, LGBTQ+, and of color.

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INTD 101-20 - Principles of Nutrition in Health and Performance

Tuesdays & Fridays, 8:00 – 9:40 a.m.

CRN TBA

James Micik
Adjunct Faculty

This is an introduction to the fundamental principles of human nutrition. The chemical composition of various foods is examined as well as the manner in which nutrients are used in cellular metabolism.  Students will explore interesting topics in nutrition such as food allergies and sensitivity, eating disorders, food chemistry and processing, food poisoning, dieting, diseases linked to poor nutrition, plant-based meat, sports nutrition, cookware, probiotics, nutrition and brain function, vitamin and mineral supplements, aging and nutrition, antioxidants and disease prevention.  This course includes field trips, guest speakers, hands-on activities and a Social Entrepreneurship Team Competition in Global Hunger.

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INTD 101-21 - Intelligence: Who Gets to Decide?

Tuesdays & Fridays, 11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

CRN 40330

Paula Carabell
Adjunct Faculty

Should we measure intelligence by test scores and the mastery of traditional academic subjects or should creative and/or moral values be considered the highest form of achievement? This course will explore such questions through both cinematic and textual means. We will choose from such films as Freedom Writers (2007), La Classe (2008), To Sir with Love (1967), Educating Rita (1983), The Emperor’s Club (2002) and Dead Poets Society (1989) and consider them in light of classical philosophy as well as in relation to modern and contemporary ideas on education and film.

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Peer Facilitators