Fall 2020
For more information regarding the Academic Communities, click the links below.
To be part of an Academic Community, you must enroll in all the courses selected for that particular community. You can find more information about the courses in the Academic Communities by clicking the corresponding class numbers.
International Studies: Asia
Learn more about Asian culture and language and the history of Asian art with other students who share your interest. Find out about study abroad opportunities and explore the Hillman Library’s extensive collection of materials on Asian studies. Participate in campus events and visit important sites relevant to Asian culture and art. This community provides 4 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
To be a member of this Academic Community, students also must enroll in any level of one of the following languages: Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 26825 | HAA 0020 - Introduction to Asian Art | W | 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. | 3 |
| 31533 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
International Studies: Europe
What is a nation? And how have individual answers to this question created the Western world in which we live? Trace the political life of Europe and how it has affected the individual’s sense of identity and place in the growing European Union and the in the world. This community provides 4 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
To be a member of this Academic Community, students also must enroll in any level of one of the following languages: French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Irish Gaelic, Swedish, Modern Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Russian, or Arabic.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 17268 | HIST 0187 - World War II-Europe | TuTh | 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. | 3 |
| 31721 (23641) | HIST 0187 - World War II-Europe Recitation | F | 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. | 0 |
| 31547 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Th | 4:45 - 5:35 p.m. | 1 |
International Studies: Global
This Academic Community is for students who want to lead lives of impact in their own community or abroad, who desire a deeper understanding of social and economic inequality in transnational context, and who seek a broader understanding of the dominant political and economic trends. Students will learn about resources at Pitt and in the community as well as study abroad opportunities and participate in campus and local events centered on global studies themes. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 22319 | PS 0550 - Introduction to Global Studies | TuTh | 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | 3 |
| 11589 | SOC 0317 - Globalization | TuTh | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 3 |
| 30161 (31641) | SOC 0317 - Globalization Recitation | F | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 0 |
| 31539 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Tu | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
Inside the Theater
Study the evolution of modern theater as a cultural mirror and gain insight into the different perspectives of actors, directors, and designers. Practice your own acting skills and explore productions by Pitt’s Department of Theatre Arts and professional theater troupes in the city. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10994 | THEA 0810 - Introduction to Dramatic Art | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 10466 | THEA 0830 - Introduction to Performance | MWF | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 31548 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Th | 4:45 - 5:35 p.m. | 1 |
In the Museum
What role do museums play in society? What role should they play? As collectors of objects from different historic periods, peoples, and places, museums are essential to the way that we understand past cultures and our world. Because of their rich and yet sometimes controversial origins, can museums still spark wonder and curiosity? And, what purposes should museums serve now and in the future? Understanding the origins and complexities of cultures and their artifacts will enhance the exploration of museums near and far as these questions are explored. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catolog Number - course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10140 | ANTH 0780 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | TuTh | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 10139 (31648) | ANTH 0780 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Recitation | Tu | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 0 |
| 30548 | HAA 0125 - Museums: Society and Inclusion? | MW | 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 31558 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Th | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
How to Make a Movie
“Hollywood in Pittsburgh” is a common phrase here. Learn the important role Pittsburgh has had in the production and creation of films both past and present. Learn the processes of movie making by scripting, shooting, and editing your own film. Write about your own engagement with film and film production and discover where you fit in Pittsburgh’s vibrant film community. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
To enroll in this Academic Community, students must place into Seminar in Composition. ENGCMP 0205 fulfills the Seminar in Composition requirement.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10790 | ENGCMP 0205 - Seminar in Composition: Film | MW | 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 30953 | FMST 0800 - Filmmaking 1: Fundamentals | F | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | 3 |
| 31544 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 4:45 - 5:35 p.m. | 1 |
Bytes & Pixels
Are you interested in learning more about visual arts, digital images, or social media? Take a hands-on approach to digital experimentation as you create visual and aural art using the open-source electronics platform, Arduino. Explore the history and development of various forms of digital media while also examining the changes they have produced in our society. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 30903 | ENGFLM 0570 - Introduction to New Media | Th | 1:00 - 4:50 p.m. | 3 |
| 30534 | SA 0170 - Digital Studio: Creative Coding | Tu | 1:00 - 4:20 p.m. | 3 |
| 31529 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 4:45 - 5:35 p.m. | 1 |
Ready Player
If you enjoy video games, board games, or just playing games, you will be excited at the prospect of considering the theories, stories, and literature behind those games at the conceptual level. In this community, you’ll also be introduced to computer programming and how computer programming, applications, and practices are crucial in many fields in media and technology. Understand the connection between computing and information systems and the development of the games you know. This community provides 8 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 27531 | CMPINF 0010 - Big Ideas in Computing and Information | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. | 4 |
| 27532 (31650) | CMPINF 0010 - Big Ideas in Computing and Information Lab | W | 1:00 - 2:50 p.m. | 0 |
| 31418 | ENGLIT 0702 - Introduction to Game Studies | TuTh | 2:30 - 3:45 p.m. | 3 |
| 31562 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | F | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 1 |
Science Fiction/Science Fact
“Star Trek” was known for the phrase “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” Have you ever wondered how or why that was such a stirring phrase? The courses in this academic community will focus on science fiction as an inspiration for the feasibility of space travel as well as a consideration of the underlying physics necessary for space travel. What are the potential problems of interstellar technologies and the impact of those technologies on the societies that depend on them? Arrive at a balanced sense of the relationship between fiction and fact by looking at stories and scientific evidence in the courses in this community. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number |
Department & Catalog Number - Course Title |
Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 11357 | ENGLIT 0626 - Science Fiction | MWF | 11:20 - 12:10 a.m. | 3 |
| 31497 | PHYS 0089 - Physics and Science Fiction | TuTh | 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. | 3 |
| 31574 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 2:35 - 3:25 p.m. | 1 |
Who Are You?
How and when does a person develop a sense of one’s self? How do both psychology and philosophy help us to understand our natures and personalities? The courses in this community will provide a multifaceted approach to finding answers to these questions. This community provides 7 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
To enroll in this Academic Community, students should anticipate receiving either AP, IB, or transfer credit for Introduction to Psychology, which is a prerequisite for Psychology of Personality.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 22823 | PHIL 0010 - Concepts of Human Nature | TuTh | 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. | 3 |
| 22828 (28599) | PHIL 0010 - Concepts of Human Nature Recitation | M | 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. | 0 |
| 10304 | PSY 0160 - Psychology of Personality | TuTh | 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | 3 |
| 31527 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. | 1 |
Election 2020
Every four years, the United States elects a president. This will be an exciting election and some of you may vote for the first time! Learn the basics about the American political process and the intricacies of how it impacts our society. Consider what rhetorical strategies politicians and candidates use as they debate the merits of their platforms and positions. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 31399 | COMMRC 0510 - Debate: Presidential Rhet Election 2020 | MW | 4:30 - 5:45 p.m. | 3 |
| 17108 | SOC 0007 - Social Problems | TuTh | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 3 |
| 27422 (31651) | SOC 0007 - Social Problems Recitation | F | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 0 |
| 31563 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | F | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 1 |
Nature/Cities/Humans
How do humans live in harmony with each other and nature in urban areas? Pittsburgh is the perfect backdrop to explore how sustainability plays out in natural and built environments. Explore the tradeoffs, challenges, and opportunities of balancing equity, environment, and economics at the campus and city scale. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 24579 | GEOL 0840 - Environmental Science | MW | 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. | 3 |
| 24580 (31640) | GEOL 0840 - Environmental Science Recitation | F | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 0 |
| 10468 | URBNST 0080 - Introduction to Urban Studies | TuTh | 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | 3 |
| 31525 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 1 |
The Beautiful Mind
Like the father of neuroscience, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, you have the opportunity to examine the intersection of art and neuroscience by developing artistic talent while studying the brain. Consider the relationship between art and science and how they complement each other. Nothing demonstrates this like the human mind, truly beautiful in its neural structure and its propensity for creative expression. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 24653 | NROSCI 0080 - Brain and Behavior | MWF | 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. | 3 |
| 11378 | SA 0130 - Drawing Studio 1 | MW | 10:00 - 11:40 a.m. | 3 |
| 31522 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 1 |
Molecules and Morals
Explore ethical dilemmas in modern medicine—such as medical experimentation, resource allocation, and health care reform—in connection with modern chemistry, the advances of which have made medical miracles possible and have raised the question of ethics to a new level. This community provides 8 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10494 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. | 4 |
| 24849 (28601) | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 Lab | Th | 6:00 - 9:50 p.m. | 0 |
| 11388 | HPS 0613 - Morality and Medicine | MW | 2:35 - 3:25 p.m. | 3 |
| 11394 (26850) | HPS 0613 - Morality and Medicine Recitation | W | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 0 |
| 31531 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Tu | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
Cells and Society
Explore the relationship between medicine and society. Consider how the delivery of medical services can be dependent on a physician’s knowledge of social and biological systems. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: All students intending to take BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1 must take the pre-assessment before they can enroll in the course. Information concerning the pre-assessment can be found at http://tinyurl.com/biosc0150.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 25220 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 | TuTh | 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. | 3 |
| 25300 (31637) | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 Recitation | F | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 0 |
| 21866 | SOC 0477 - Medical Sociology | MW | 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. | 3 |
| 30168 (31642) | SOC 0477 - Medical Sociology Recitation | Th | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 0 |
| 31542 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Th | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
Neurons and Chemicals
Deepen your understanding of chemical structures and states of matter while learning about their wider application in psychopharmacology. Develop a better understanding of the basic structures of the brain and chemicals. This community provides 8 credits in your first-term schedule.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10493 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 | TuTh | 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. | 4 |
| 10198 (28600) | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 Lab | Tu | 1:00 - 4:50 p.m. | 0 |
| 23721 | NROSCI 0081 - Drugs and Behavior | MWF | 2:35 - 3:25 p.m. | 3 |
| 31545 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 4:45 - 5:35 p.m. | 1 |
Health Care Communication
Take the first steps toward developing the communication skills that health care professions need. Learn strategies for expressing yourself clearly, asking good questions and providing solid answers. Delve into the first of the science classes you will need to reach your goals in the health care field. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: All students intending to take BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1 must take the pre-assessment before they can enroll in the course. Information concerning the pre-assessment can be found at http://tinyurl.com/biosc0150.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10753 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 | MWF | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 25400 (31638) | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 Recitation | Th | 2:35 - 3:25 p.m. | 0 |
| 25630 | COMMRC 0530 - Interpersonal Communication: Health | Th | 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. | 3 |
| 31536 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | 1 |
Science in a Gendered World
How does gender impact the study and practice of science in our world today? What can we learn from studying how science has been pursued, practiced, and promoted historically? Consider what the historical record reveals and how an awareness of it enhances your current academic studies in the sciences at the University level, and then afterwards, in a science career and in everyday life. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: All students intending to take BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1 must take the pre-assessment before they can enroll in the course. Information concerning the pre-assessment can be found at http://tinyurl.com/biosc0150.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10753 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundation of Biology 1 | MWF | 12:25 - 1:15 p.m. | 3 |
| 10754 (31649) | BIOSC 0150 - Foundation of Biology 1 Recitation | Th | 10:15 - 11:05 a.m. | 0 |
| 30922 | GSWS 0400 - Gender and Science | MW | 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. | 3 |
| 31528 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 1:30 - 2:20 p.m. | 1 |