Course Descriptions
HDF 421 Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Exploration of human death, dying, and bereavement. Focus on biomedical, psychological and sociocultural dimensions of the topic.
HDF 471 Responding to Grief
Examination of the conceptual, psychosocial, somatic, and practical elements to be faced when grieving a death. What we know about grief's effects, and treatment of it toward healing. Pre: HDF421 or equivalent or permission of instructor
HPR 119 Honors Course in Interdisciplinary Studies: Loss in the Lives of Children and Adolescents
This course explores the experience that contemporary children and adolescents have with loss. From a world perspective, focus will be on developmental stage, cognitive capacity, and emotional effects of grief and victimization.
HPR 319 Honors Course in Interdisciplinary Studies: The Impact of Death on Behavior (Honors section of NUR360)
Exploration of the human experience of dying, and the effect that values, medical and social structure, and desire for quality of life have on grief response.
NUR 360 Impact of Death on Behavior
Exploration of the human experience of dying and the issue of quality of life. Group discussion focuses on the effect that individual and social values and medical and social structures have on one's grief response and bereavement process.
NUR523 Contemporary Thanatology
Interdisciplinary approach to trends, problems, theories, and strategies in thanatology. This capstone experience integrates coursework on care of dying clients across the lifespan and their families. Pre: baccalaureate degree (senior standing by permission of instructor)
NUR 524 Exploring Loss through Creative Arts Therapy
Exploration and assessment of the merits of incorporating creative processes (use of imagery, story, metaphor, music, and movement) with individuals who are experiencing loss, grief, and dying. Pre: baccalaureate degree (senior standing by permission of instructor). Click here for more information and backgrounds of our NUR 524 Faculty.
NUR525 Spirituality of Loss and Death for the Helping Professions
Examination of major belief systems and spirituality during loss, death, and grief. Emphasis on spiritual issues and how ethnic, cultural, gender, and developmental stage affect one's responses to dying. Role of the professional in dealing with spiritual issues. Pre: baccalaureate degree (senior standing by permission of instructor)
NUR 526 Loss Across the Life Span
Content provides a basis both for personal development and professional growth. Personal experience, selected readings, and personal reflections will provide direction for examining the multidimensional aspects of loss. Pre: baccalaureate degree (senior standing by permission of instructor)
NUR 527 Symptom Management in End-of-Life Care
Principles of nursing care at the end-of-life. Strategies for assessing and managing symptoms along with complimentary therapies across age groups (senior standing by permission of instructor)
NUR 529 Topics in Thanatology
Selected areas of study pertinent to loss, dying, and grief. Instruction may be offered in class seminar or clinical settings according to specific needs and purposes. Pre: baccalaureate degree (senior standing by permission of instructor)
PHP 460 Palliative Care
Principles of palliative care including control of pain and other symptoms, and psychological, social, and spiritual issues. Pre: fourth or fifth-year standing in Pharm.D. program or permission of instructor
PSC 440 The Politics of Being Mortal
Seminar on how attitudes towards death affect political values and priorities, especially in regard to capitalism and the threat of nuclear war. Pre: PSC 341, 342, or permission of instructor
PSY 554 The Psychology of Traumatic Stress
Examination of the causes, consequences and treatment of traumatic stress. Theoretical models, research findings and practical applications will be examined along with a range of treatment approaches. Pre: professional and/or graduate standing
COMMUNICATIONS OR COUNSELING
COM 103 Interpersonal Communications
Impact of perception, listening, self-acceptance, nonverbal messages, and language on interpersonal communication. Emphasis on improving skills.
COM 337 Intercultural Communications
Study of cultural similarities and differences as they affect communication within and across cultural boundaries.
HDF 450 Introduction to Counseling
ETHICS, PHILOSOPHY, OR RELIGION
PHL 103 Introduction to Philosophy
Pursues such basic questions as: What is a person? What is knowledge? Are we free? What is moral right and wrong? Does God exist? What is the meaning of death? (not open to students with 9 or more credits in philosophy)
PHL 212 Ethics
Evaluation of major ethical theories. Application of moral reasoning to topics such as virtue and vices, human dignity, conscience, responsibility, moral dilemmas, and reasons to be moral.
PHL 314 Ethical Problems in Society and Medicine
Ethical analysis of topics such as war, capital punishment, sexual morality, suicide, animal rights, honesty and deception, world hunger, discrimination, abortion. Acceptable for minor when the emphasis is on issues related to death. Pre: PHL101 or 103 or one 200-level course or permission of instructor.
PHL 328 The Philosophy of Religion
A systematic and critical consideration of such topics as the existence and nature of God, the problem of evil, the relation of faith to reason, religious language, miracle, and immortality. Pre: PHL101 or 103 or one 200-level course or permission of instructor.
PHL 346 Existential Problems in Human Life
Discussion of ultimate questions of human existence such as meaning in life, personal commitment, human relations, suffering, despair, hope freedom, authenticity, self-deception, death, God, and immortality. Pre: PHL101 or 103 or one 200--level course or permission of instructor.
PHL 401 Special Problems
Acceptable course for minor when the topic is related to death. (Independent study) Pre: 3 credits in philosophy and permission of instructor.
RLS 111 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Comparative study of the teachings, the histories, and the practices of the three religions of Abraham; emphasis on their teachings.
RLS 131 Introduction to Oriental Philosophies and Religions
Introductory study of the main philosophical and religious ideas in the Orient, with emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
OTHER RELATED COURSES
Independent Study when related to death and grief, i.e. NUR 390, HDF 498 (check with faculty advisor)
Previously approved courses taken before Fall, 2001, that are not listed above (CSV 302; NUR 103, 479X, 488X, 489X, 497X; HDF 221; and PHL 110X) may be used for the minor.
