Fall 2021
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 religion. This community provides 4 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: 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) |
| 30031 | RELGST 0505 - Religion in Asia | MW | 4:30 - 5:45 pm | 3 |
| 30052 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 2:00 - 2:50 pm | 1 |
International Studies: Mediterranean
Mediterranean Studies allows for an interdisciplinary and comparative exploration of the history, politics, societies, and/or cultures of Southern Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. It serves as a starting point for myriad interests, such as ancient civilizations, art and architecture, religious studies, peace and conflict studies, immigration policy, and international affairs, to name just a few. This community will help you consider your interests and plans in Mediterranean and international studies, and introduce you to courses, resources and opportunities on campus. This community provides 4 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: To be a member of this Academic Community, students also must enroll in any level of one of the following languages: Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Serbian/Croatian, Turkish, Hebrew, Arabic (Levantine, Maghrebi, and Egyptian/Central). Other languages may be taken upon approval.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 30811 | HIST 1790 - Mediterranean World Since 1500 | TuTh | 4:00 - 5:15 pm | 3 |
| 30053 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 4:00 - 4:50 pm | 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) |
| 22231 | PS 0550 - Introduction to Global Studies | TuTh | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 11539 | SOC 0317 - Globalization | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 pm | 3 |
| 30048 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Tu | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 1 |
While continuing to study French, learn about the rich linguistic, cultural, and geographical landscape of our French-speaking neighbor to the north in Quebec and other French-speaking areas of Canada. This academic community will introduce you to courses and opportunities, both on and off campus, that will allow you to enrich your studies of French and international studies. This community provides 4 credits plus language credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: To be a member of this Academic Community, students must enroll in one of the following French classes: FR 0103, 0104, 0220, 0221, 0227, 0255, 0256 or any three-credit 1000 level course taught in French.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 25575 | FR 0014 - Introduction to French-Speaking Canada | MWF | 9:00 - 9:50 am | 3 |
| 30050 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 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) |
| 10945 | THEA 0810 - Introduction to Dramatic Art | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 pm | 3 |
| 10439 | THEA 0830 - Introduction to Performance | MWF | 12:00 - 12:50 pm | 3 |
| 30056 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Th | 3:00 - 3:30 pm | 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) |
| 30687 | ANTH 0780 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | TuTh | 11:00 - 11:50 am | 3 |
| 31835 | ANTH 0780 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Recitation | Th | 4:00 - 4:50 pm | 0 |
| 30144 | HAA 0125 - Museums: Society and Inclusion? | MW | 3:00 - 4:15 pm | 3 |
| 30044 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 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.
NOTE: 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) |
| 10750 | ENGCMP 0205 - Seminar in Composition: Film | MW | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 27739 | FMST 0800 - Filmmaking 1: Fundamentals | F | 1:00 - 4:00 pm | 3 |
| 30049 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 4:00 - 4:50 pm | 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) |
| 26285 | ENGFLM 0570 - Introduction to New Media | M | 1:00 - 4:50 pm | 3 |
| 31139 | SA 0170 - Digital Studio: Creative Coding | TuTh | 10:00 - 11:40 am | 3 |
| 30051 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 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) |
| 22734 | PHIL 0010 - Concepts of Human Nature | TuTh | 10:00 - 10:50 am | 3 |
| 31847 | PHIL 0010 - Concepts of Human Nature Recitation | M | 10:00 - 10:50 am | 0 |
| 10306 | PSY 0160 - Psychology of Personality | TuTh | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 31541 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 10:00 - 10:50 am | 1 |
Faith and Doubt
This Academic Community will allow students to explore the role religion and spirituality play for the individual and other members of society. Through journaling, reflection and dialogue students will explore the many facets of religion, mindfulness, and spirituality in modern day societal institutions. This community provides 7 credits in your first-term schedule.
NOTE: To enroll in this Academic Community, students must place into Seminar in Composition. FP 0006 fulfills the Seminar in Composition requirement.
| Class Number | Department and Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 29994 | FP 0006 - First-Year Seminar: Writing the Spiritual | MW | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 24342 | RELGST 0715 - Philosophy of Religion | TuTh | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 30058 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | F | 12:00 - 12:50 pm | 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) |
| 24477 | GEOL 0840 - Environmental Science | MW | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 3 |
| 28463 | GEOL 0840 - Environmental Science Recitation | F | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 0 |
| 10441 | URBNST 0010 - Introduction to Urban Studies | TuTh | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | 3 |
| 30054 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | W | 2:00 - 2:50 pm | 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) |
| 24551 | NROSCI 0080 - Brain and Behavior | MWF | 9:00 - 9:50 am | 3 |
| 23652 | SA 0130 - Drawing Studio 1 | MW | 1:00 - 2:40 pm | 3 |
| 30045 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 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) |
| 10467 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 pm | 4 |
| 28467 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 Lab | Th | 6:00 - 9:50 pm | 0 |
| 11334 | HPS 0613 - Morality and Medicine | MW | 2:00 - 2:50 pm | 3 |
| 26722 | HPS 0613 - Morality and Medicine Recitation | W | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 0 |
| 31539 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Tu | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 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 BIOSC 0150 Pre-Assessment.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 25109 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 | TuTh | 2:30 - 3:45 pm | 3 |
| 28460 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 Recitation | F | 9:00 - 9:50 am | 0 |
| 21780 | SOC 0477 - Medical Sociology | MW | 11:00 - 11:50 am | 3 |
| 31857 | SOC 0477 - Medical Sociology Recitation | F | 11:00 - 11:50 am | 0 |
| 31474 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | F | 12:00 - 12:50 pm | 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) |
| 10466 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 | TuTh | 9:30 - 10:45 am | 4 |
| 28466 | CHEM 0110 - General Chemistry 1 Lab | Tu | 1:00 - 4:50 pm | 0 |
| 31385 | NROSCI 0081 - Drugs and Behavior | MWF | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 3 |
| 30046 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | M | 4:00 - 4:50 pm | 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 BIOSC 0150 Pre-Assessment.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10713 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 | MWF | 12:00 - 12:50 pm | 3 |
| 31836 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 Recitation | Th | 10:00 - 10:50 am | 0 |
| 30176 | GSWS 0400 - Gender and Science | MW | 9:30 - 10:45 am | 3 |
| 30047 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | Tu | 1:00 - 1:50 pm | 1 |
Medical Humanities
Begin your pursuit of becoming a health care professional by exploring the fundamentals of biology while also discovering what literature can teach us about health care. This Academic Community will allow students to learn about important biological functions and discuss crucial topics, which all health care providers should be aware of when treating patients. 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 BIOSC 0150 Pre-Assessment.
| Class Number | Department & Catalog Number - Course Title | Day(s) | Time | Credit(s) |
| 10168 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 | MWF | 3:00 - 3:50 pm | 3 |
| 31882 | BIOSC 0150 - Foundations of Biology 1 Recitation | Tu | 11:00 - 11:50 am | 0 |
| 31553 | ENGLIT 0648 - Narrative and Graphic Perspectives in Health Humanities | TuTh | 1:00 - 2:15 pm | 3 |
| 30055 | FP 0002 - Academic Foundations | F | 1:00-1:50 pm | 1 |