Social Studies Course Descriptions

Social Studies

Courses

Social Studies

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  SST 110 - Comparative Herbalism

  2 credits (Fall and Spring)

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  This course explores plant-based healing practices in communities across the globe. Doing so will require comparative considerations of beliefs about the body, its relationship to the natural world, and the processes of health, disease, and healing. Fully appreciating the complexity of herbalism requires interacting with the plants and the processes of preparing them for medicinal use. We will utilize the Marcus Family Global Kitchen to experience the making of tinctures, oils, salves, poultices, and infusions.
  
  Prerequisite: None.
  Note: Half-semester deadlines apply.
  Instructor: Lewis
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  SST 115 - Introduction to Statistics

  4 credits (Fall and Spring)

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  Introduces the notions of variability and uncertainty and such common statistical concepts as point and interval estimation and hypothesis testing. Data-oriented, with real-world examples chosen from the social and biological sciences. The computer is used for data analysis and to illustrate probabilistic and statistical concepts.
   

   

   
  
  Prerequisite: Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra and second semester of first-year standing.
  Instructor: Staff

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  SST 120 - Introduction to Material Culture Studies

  4 credits (Spring)

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  See HUM 120 . 
  
  
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  SST 125 - Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) Analysis

  2 credits (Fall)

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  Geographic Information Systems (GIS) deals with the analysis and management of geographic information. This course offers an introduction to methods of managing and processing geographic information.  Emphasis will be placed on the nature of geographic information, data models and structures for geographic information, geographic data input, data manipulation and data storage, and spatial analytic and modeling techniques.
  
  Prerequisite: None.
  Instructor: Brottem
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  SST 140 - Medieval and Renaissance Culture: 1100–1650

  4 credits (Spring)

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  See HUM 140 .
  
  
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  SST 200 - Creative Careers: Learning from Alumni

  2 credits (Spring)

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  Cross-listed as: HUM 200  and SCI 200 .   This course is sponsored by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership. Students engage with alumni to learn about their lives and careers. Leadership and career-focused readings together with discussion with alumni will help students think creatively about their Grinnell education and possible futures.
  
  Prerequisite: None.
  Note: Plus-2 option available for Social Studies and Humanities only. S/D/F only.
  Instructor: Rietz
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  SST 213 - Media and the Middle East

  4 credits (Fall)

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  See HUM 213 .
  
  
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  SST 221 - Public Attitudes on American Democracy

  4 credits (Spring)

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  Cross-listed as: POL 221 .  This course examines the attitudes of the American public on liberty, equality and liberal democratic institutions using the Grinnell College National Poll. Students will study core democratic principles and contemporary challenges to democracy, design poll questions to examine attitudes about these principles in the American public, and analyze responses to those questions after the poll is fielded.

  Note: when taken as POL-221, this course satisfies the American politics distribution requirement of the Political Science Major. 
  
  Prerequisite: MAT 115 , SST 115  or STA 209  only if taken as SST-221; POL 101  is also required if taking as POL-221; with grade S, C, or better.
  Instructor: Hanson

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  SST 225 - Applied Geographic Information Systems Analysis (GIS)

  4 credits (Spring)

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  This course will represent a continuation of SST 125 by enabling students who took that course to build upon and apply the skills they learned through an independent project of their choice. The course will also include a limited number of advanced labs as well as lectures on GIS conceptualization and project planning. Students will be expected to learn and implement intermediate to advanced GIS methods in their projects.
  
  Prerequisite: SST 125  with grade S, C, or better.
  Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 115  or SST 115 .
  Instructor: Brottem

Special Topics-Spring

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  SST 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Historic Memory and the Shadows of Violence in 21st Century Europe

  4 credits (Spring)

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  See SOC 195-01 .