Classes and Workshops

Why would the Public Policy Center offer courses like these? Because student success is one of the PPC’s missions – and research clearly shows that students who become engaged in their communities through work, relationship-rich activities, and other experiential learning opportunities and reflections are more successful – in school and in life. So, why wouldn’t we offer courses like these? Explore Iowa and Life Design are a collaboration between the PPC, University College, and the School of Planning and Public Administration.

CSI:1400 Explore Iowa
Explore Iowa is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows students to explore the University of Iowa and beyond. Students attend concerts, plays, museum showings, food festivals, and sporting events, among other events, and reflect on these experiences both in class and in written reflections. A lecture series accompanies the class, exposing students to experts in a variety of fields including: the FBI, astronomy, national politics, and University organizations. Small discussion sections are led by Peer Mentors -- undergraduate students who have been through the Explore Iowa experience already. The cool news? You can apply to be a Peer Mentor once you've completed the course. Explore Iowa is offered in the Fall and is geared toward students who are new to the university.

CSI:1410 Life Design
Through stories, lectures, assigned readings, guest speakers, and reflective writing, Life Design is organized to help students discover what they are innately drawn to do. Topics include the integration of one’s worldview and professional life, practical skills and exercises for investigating different career paths, cultivating mentors, the relationship between ambition, drive, and success, and the role of happiness in achieving excellence and fulfillment. This is an 8-week course offered each semester. Life Design is for students of any age/stage who are interested in reflecting on their path forward.

CSI:1420 Life Design II – Building a Better World

Once you start unraveling who you are, the next matter becomes what world do you want to live in?

Using readings, structured "experiments," and written reflections, Life Design II: A Better World aims to equip students with generalizable knowledge about the science of empathy, passion, and perseverance. Students learn to apply these insights to efforts “bigger than themselves,” leaving the course with a deliberate path to become agents of social and environmental change. This is an 8-week course offered each semester. Although Life design and Life Design II are sequential, there are no prerequisites for Life Design II.

“Life Design class, and meeting you, has been the highlight of my freshman year. Thank you so much for being you, and for encouraging every student's hopes and dreams. Its people like you who make the world a better place.” – Thank-a-Teacher Program, Fall 2021

Developing skill with research methods is a journey. Fortunately, the University of Iowa offers a wide range of courses for you to further your training. This list includes undergraduate course offerings from nine programs (ANTH, CPH, ECON, GHS, GEOG, JMC, POLI, PSY, SOC) and from the Social Science Analytics Certificate.
 

ECON:3300 Introduction to Econometrics
Statistical tools used in economic analysis; regression models; estimation and hypothesis testing; causal effects; application to economic data and questions; use of statistical software. Prerequisites: STAT:1030 and (MATH:1350 or MATH:1380 or MATH:1460 or MATH:1550 or MATH:1850 or MATH:1860).
 

ECON:3355 Economic and Business Forecasting
Development and utilization of forecasts of business and economic variables; application of modern statistical methods and software to quantitative forecasting problems. Prerequisites: ECON:1100 and ECON:1200 and (ECON:3300 or ECON:4800 or STAT:3200).
 

ECON:3650 Policy Analysis
Economic functions of government in modern economies; effects of government expenditures and taxation on allocation of resources. Prerequisites: ECON:1100.
 

ECON:3870 Federal Reserve Challenge
Experience what Federal Reserve economists do every day: study the real U.S. economy, make forecasts and policy recommendations, defend their views to academic and professional economists; development of analytical skills, teamwork, how to build presentations. Prerequisites: ECON:3100 and ECON:3150.
 

ECON:4050 Readings and Independent Study in Economics
 

ECON:4190 Mathematical Economics

Mathematical structure of economic principles, problems, systems; may include constrained optimization, choice under uncertainty, general equilibrium and welfare economics, dynamical systems and control theory, game theory. Prerequisites: ECON:3100 and ECON:3150.
 

ECON:4200 Game Theory
Basic concepts of game theory including dominance, backward induction, Nash equilibrium, evolutionary stability, commitment, credibility, asymmetric information, adverse selection, signaling; provides students with a working understanding of game theory; examples drawn from economics and politics. Prerequisites: ECON:3100 and ECON:3150.
 

ECON:4700 Topics in Analytical Economics
Topics vary. Prerequisites: ECON:3150 and ECON:3100.
 

ECON:4800 Econometric Analysis
Linear regression models; causal effects; estimation and hypothesis testing; errors in variables; simultaneous equations; panel data; instrumental variables; limited dependent variables; emphasis on interpretation, methods, application of econometric modelling, and use of statistical software. Prerequisites: STAT:3101 or STAT:3120.
 

ECON:4999 Honors Thesis in Economics
Independent research project supervised by economics faculty member; culminates in thesis required for honors in the major. Prerequisites: ECON:3100 and ECON:3150 and (ECON:3300 or ECON:4800).
 

POLI:1050 Big Ideas: Introduction to Information Society, and Culture
What is information? What does it teach us about societies and cultures? How is information used to shape societies and even personal preferences? What types of information are there and how can we understand and use them? Students work with faculty from multiple disciplines to investigate these questions using inquiry-based activities to build success in critical thinking and teamwork. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning. Same as RELS:1050.
 

POLI:1700 Introduction to Political Analysis
Tools necessary to analyze and solve puzzles in politics (i.e., Why do countries go to war rather than negotiate? Why do lifelong enemies become allies? Why do majorities act irrationally?); questions approached from a quantitative perspective (unlike most political analyses), in particular, game theory—a branch of mathematics that investigates how rational players act in situations (like those in politics) of strategic interaction. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning.
 

POLI:2000 Designing Political Research
How research is conducted on politics and government; students examine different research approaches (both qualitative and quantitative), learn how to read and understand published research on politics, demonstrate an understanding of different research approaches, and understand, interpret, and critically analyze published research on politics.
 

POLI:3000 Analyzing Political Data
Creating knowledgeable evaluators of current research in political science; interpretation of different quantitative techniques with examples from current political science research.
 

POLI:3001 Hawkeye Poll
Basics of survey design, sampling, question wording, interpreting responses, and writing press releases; students work together to help design questions as part of the Hawkeye Poll, a collaborative teaching and research enterprise in the Department of Political Science.
 

POLI:3050 Problems in Methods
Problems in political science research methods; data collection, interpretation, analysis.
 

POLI:3107 Writing in Political Science: Writing for "Science" and for "Politics"
Examination of principles used in writing for science and writing for politics: science writing clearly explains its ideas to promote understanding, and political writing advocates for its ideas by highlighting and obscuring different pieces of information and "spinning" its findings to promote persuasion; students produce and analyze examples of both forms of writing.
 

POLI:3127 Legislative Policy Seminar
Policy research for the Iowa Legislature.
 

POLI:3113 Research in Judicial Politics
Applied research training in courts and judicial politics. Prerequisites: POLI:3121 or POLI:3120 or POLI:3101.
 

POLI:3160 Research Task Force: Solving Policy Problems Through Research
How policy research assists elected officials and government bureaucrats to design and implement effective public policies; introduction to process of conducting policy research and preparing summary reports; students examine various theories and methods of policy research, then apply what they have learned by conducting original policy research on local, state, national, and international issues.
 

POLI:3350 Games of Politics
Active learning component to many theories and concepts learned in political science and international relations; multitude of simulations (games) that provide a hands-on learning element to these concepts and theories; topics include alliances, balance of power, inequality, public opinion, gerrymandering, and policy making; students read materials connected to the specific weekly topic, complete a simulation tied to that topic, discuss links between topics; and complete a variety of assignments that tie these items together.
 

POLI:3525 Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab
Collaboration and study of policymaking and public opinion in Iowa; examination of policy choices in legislative, executive, and judicial branches; collection of survey data on public opinion among Iowans; students assist with research question development, data collection, data analysis, writing up results, and work with topics in these and other areas (e.g., race and crime, gender and social issues, health and COVID-19, environment); research group led by faculty in the Departments of Political Science and Journalism and Mass Communication.
 

POLI:3530 Diplomacy Lab
Students work in teams under the supervision of a faculty member on projects created by the U.S. Department of State; class meetings are arranged and most work will occur outside of the classroom; experiential learning course in partnership with the U.S. Department of State.
 

POLI:4600 Honors Research Project
Special research assistance to political science faculty. Requirements: junior or senior honors standing in political science.
 

POLI:4601 Honors Senior Thesis
Supervised research and writing. Requirements: honors standing in political science and more than one semester before graduation.
 

POLI:4701 Undergraduate Research Tutorial
Individual training in applied research.
 

POLI:4702 Senior Research Project/Paper
Supervised research and writing. Requirements: political science major and more than one semester before graduation.
 

PSY:2811 Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology I
Foundational knowledge in psychological research methods and corresponding statistical concepts; basic concepts of statistics, statistical inference, and research design as applied in psychological research; study of descriptive statistics, measurement, survey design, correlational analyses, and regression analysis; first in a sequence of two courses. Prerequisites: PSY:1001 or PSY:2701. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning.
 

PSY:2812 Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology II
Foundational knowledge in psychological research methods and corresponding statistical concepts; basic concepts of statistics, statistical inference, and research design as they are applied in psychological research; study of experimental control, experimental design, and hypothesis testing; second in a sequence of two courses. Prerequisites: PSY:2811 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

PSY:3005 Scientific Communication in Psychology
Training in modes of communication in psychological science; scientific writing; APA format for scientific papers; describing psychological research; creating research presentations tailored to different audiences. Prerequisites: PSY:2811 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

PSY:3050 Applied Psychology: Addressing Real-World Problems
Bridging the basic applied research divide in psychology; contributions of cognitive, clinical, social, and developmental psychology to understand real-world problems (e.g., traffic safety, screen time). Prerequisites: PSY:2301 with a minimum grade of C- or PSY:2401 with a minimum grade of C- or PSY:2501 with a minimum grade of C- or PSY:2601 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

PSY:3680 Introduction to Computational Cognitive Modeling
Introduction to computational modeling as a methodology for studying cognition; role and use of computational models as a framework for thinking about cognition; emphasis on hands-on simulation exercises. Prerequisites: (PSY:2811 with a minimum grade of C- and (CS:1020 with a minimum grade of C- or CS:1110 with a minimum grade of C-) and PSY:2601 with a minimum grade of C-) or (STAT:1020 and (CS:1020 with a minimum grade of C- or CS:1110 with a minimum grade of C-) and PSY:2601 with a minimum grade of C-).
 

PSY:3994 Advanced Research Practicum
Small-group participation in faculty research projects; literature review, study planning, data collection, analysis, interpretation, write-up.
 

PSY:3995 Research Practicum in Psychology
Individual participation in faculty research projects; significant reading and writing. Requirements: two semesters of PSY:3994 or HONR:3994.
 

PSY:3999 Independent Research in Neuroscience
Independent scientific research related to the field of neuroscience. Same as BIOL:3999.
 

PSY:4020 Laboratory in Psychology
Laboratory study of an aspect of behavior; topics in a particular area (e.g., learning and memory, perception, social behavior, operant behavior, physiological processes). Prerequisites: PSY:2701 and (PSY:2812 with a minimum grade of C- or PSY:2810 with a minimum grade of C-).
 

PSY:4090 Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
Practical, hands-on experience analyzing data from three of the most common methods of cognitive neuroscience—scalp electroencephalography (brain waves), functional magnetic resonance imaging (brain imaging), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (brain stimulation). Prerequisites: PSY:2975 and PSY:2812. Requirements: neuroscience major.
 

PSY:4990 Honors Thesis Research
Supervised original project; leads to written thesis, oral defense. Requirements: honors standing.
 

PSY:4995Honors Research in Neuroscience
Independent scientific research related to the field of neuroscience. Requirements: honors standing in neuroscience, UI g.p.a. of at least 3.33, and neuroscience g.p.a. of at least 3.33. Same as BIOL:4995.
 

SOC:1219 Big Ideas: Equality Opportunity, and Public Policy in America
Examination of major social issues and challenges faced by nation, state, and communities; what government's role is in a democratic society; how we decide when, where, and how government acts in ways consistent with social goals and values; focus on pressing social issues (i.e., education, inequality, labor standards, health care); historical development of the problem or policy; ways we address social issues; effectiveness of current policies and alternative policies; ways in which social science contributes to policy design and assessment. GE: Social Sciences. Same as HIST:1219.
 

SOC:2160 Applied Statistics for Social Scientists
Applied statistics for sociology majors: frequency distributions, graphic presentation, measures of central tendency, measures of variability, elementary probability, populations and samples, sampling distributions, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, chi-square test, regression and correlation, analysis of variance; computer software used in data analysis; emphasis on appropriate use and interpretation of statistics in the study of sociological topics. Recommendations: sociology major.
 

SOC:2170 Research Methods
Basic scientific concepts; emphasis on theoretical thinking, statement of researchable propositions, logic and meaning of proof operant in the research process; general issues in designing social research, including problems of sampling and measurement, analysis, presenting research data, interpreting research findings. Prerequisites: SOC:1010 and (PSQF:4143 or STAT:1020 or STAT:2010 or SOC:2160 or STAT:3510 or STAT:1030). Requirements: sociology major.
 

SOC:3170 Applied Research
Ongoing research project investigating the Flint water crisis; organization and analysis of emails for sociological research purposes and ultimately to create a searchable website for public access to the data; how to construct and analyze a "big data" data set in an interdisciplinary collaborative research setting; how to apply and build sociological theory with empirical data; how to write an academic journal article. Prerequisites: SOC:2170 or CRIM:2470.
 

SOC:3880 The Sociology of Networks
Introduction to the basic properties of network structure (e.g., density, mutuality, cliques); substantive insights regarding the role and consequences of networks in social life; the role of networks in job searching/hiring processes; how innovations diffuse through networks; and relationships as social resources. Prerequisites: SOC:1010 or SOC:1030.
 

SOC:4000 Data Science for Social Good
The availability of big data transforms the way we solve difficult social problems; programming and analytical skills to analyze data from social media and open-access administrative data sources; basic principles and skills in data science including how to collect, clean, curate, and manipulate data, simple statistics, and computational methods; emphasis on linking big data to real world social problems and social science insights; students learn problem-solving skills and a data-driven approach to contemporary social problems. Prerequisites: SOC:2160 or POLI:3000 or STAT:3120 or IGPI:3120 or CS:1210.
 

SOC:4800 Research Practicum in Sociology
Students engage in a sociological research activity that is not related to an honors project, conducted under the supervision of (or in collaboration with) a faculty member.
 

SOC:4998 Honors Research
Research projects under faculty supervision.
 

ANTH:2290 Practicum in Archaeology
Intensive, hands-on examination of a wide range of materials recently recovered from archaeological sites; pottery, lithics (stone tools and related items), plant remains, animal bones; for students with strong archaeological interests or archaeological field experience.
 

ANTH:2390 Laboratory Methods in Biological Anthropology
Specimen preparation, cataloging, moulding and casting, photography, computer analyses, library research.
 

ANTH:3105 Independent Study
 

ANTH:3208 Archaeological Methods
Current theoretical approaches, methods used to investigate the past; site formation processes, taphonomy, sampling and research design, typology and seriation, subsistence-settlement reconstruction, cultural evolution. Prerequisites: ANTH:1201.
 

ANTH:3241 Lithic Analysis in Archaeology
Archaeological issues examined and addressed with lithic data; use of lithic data to study the past, specific techniques applied.
 

ANTH:3016 Career Paths in Anthropology
Exploration of careers and best ways to pursue career goals; students identify careers related to their skills and interests, and learn to create job application materials; activity-based. Requirements: anthropology major or minor.
 

ANTH:4995 Honors Research Seminar
Preparation for writing honors thesis, including project conception and research, proposal writing, oral and written presentations of student research. Corequisites: ANTH:4996, if not taken as a prerequisite. Requirements: honors standing in anthropology.
 

CPH:1600 Public Health Science: Inquiry and Investigation in Public Health
Introduction to epidemiology, biostatistics, and the interdisciplinary nature of public health research and practice; how public policy and population-based interventions are subsequently shaped by public health evidence. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning.
 

CPH:2600 Introduction to Public Health Methods
Introductory quantitative and qualitative methods used in public health practice and research. Prerequisites: CPH:1600 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

CPH:3300 Undergraduate Independent Study in Public Health
In-depth pursuit of an area of special interest in public health.
 

CPH:3600 Applied Public Health Methods
Application of quantitative and qualitative methods used in public health practice and research. Prerequisites: CPH:1600 with a minimum grade of C- and CPH:2600 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

CPH:3700 Methods for Program Implementation and Evaluation
Introduction of theory and practice of program implementation and evaluation for health care and public health interventions focusing on programs implemented at the community level, including projects in government and nonprofit organizations. Prerequisites: CPH:1600 and CPH:2600.
 

CPH:3999 Undergraduate Research Experience in Public Health
Hands-on involvement in scholarly public health research activities under the supervision of faculty or research staff; satisfies the experiential learning degree requirement for undergraduate public health majors. Recommendations: CPH:2050 strongly recommended.
 

CPH:4210 Making a Difference: Public Health Policy and Advocacy
Important role of policy in health, including policy structures, implementation, advocacy, and evaluation; students focus their work on a policy of their specific interest.
 

CPH:4250 Field Experience in Public Health
Direct involvement in actions being taken at local community level; topics include environmental health, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and pediatric health; practical examples and hands-on experiences during site visits for topic-specific field investigations. Offered spring semesters. Prerequisites: BIOL:1140 or BIOL:1141 or BIOL:1411. Requirements: biology or microbiology coursework. Same as EPID:4314.
 

CPH:4990 Mentored Independent Undergraduate Research in Public Health
Independent student research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor; satisfies the experiential learning degree requirement for undergraduate public health majors. Corequisites: CPH:3600. Recommendations: CPH:2050 strongly recommended.
 

GHS:2415 Bioethics
Recent developments in biotechnology and medicine; designer babies and cloning, genetic screening for disease, distributive justice in health care, animal experimentation, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Same as PHIL:2415.
 

GHS:3011 Global Research: Strategies and Skills
Skill development in international research; academic projects; work with research librarian; activity-based introduction to article, statistical, and governmental databases; research and popular materials; information discovery process (tools and search strategies); enhancement of critical thinking skills. Same as IS:3011, ULIB:3011.
 

GHS:3012 Community-Based Global Health Research
Introduction to community-based participatory research methods; ethical engagement with a local/global organization addressing the social determinants of health.
 

GHS:3034 Doing Harm by Doing Good: The Ethics of Studying Volunteering, and Working in Global Communities
Exploration of complex ethical issues involved in engaging in experiential learning (e.g., study abroad, volunteering, internships, research) in global communities; topics may include patient rights versus the promise of "hands-on" experience for untrained undergraduates; pitfalls of voluntourism and substituting "free" foreign labor for paid local employees; commercial aspects of study abroad—incentives and recruiting on campus by external contractors; how to select a reputable internship provider; online resources which help students become global ambassadors for patient safety; basic tools for thinking critically about outcomes.
 

GHS:3036 Ethics Politics, and Global Health
Ethics of health care policies, delivery systems, and interventions examined globally and locally.
 

GHS:3010 Identifying and Developing a Global Health Project
Review of major components of global health related research process; preparation for a local or international project which addresses a global health issue in a systematic way. Same as IGPI:3011.
 

GHS:4002 Working in Global Health
Development of skills needed for careers in global health. Recommendations: junior or higher standing.
 

GHS:4990 Independent Project in Global Health
Independent work completed under the supervision of global health studies faculty.
 

GEOG:1050 Foundations of GIS
Introduction to concepts and methods associated with geographical information systems (GIS) technology; remote sensing, map making, data collection, and application of GIS to real-world problem solving.
 

GEOG:1065 Introduction to Spatial Analysis: Patterns and Processes
How do we describe the patterns of disease across a community? How do we identify clusters of crime in a community? How do we make inferences about the processes that shape spatial patterns in society and the environment? This course will employ examples drawn from the spatial sciences to introduce fundamental aspects of spatial analysis and develop powerful ways to think about spatial problems. A distinctive feature of the course will be its emphasis on applications and interpretations. Students will apply the techniques using programs such as Matlab and SPSS. No prior programming experience is required for the course.
 

GEOG:3400 Iowa Environmental Policy in Practice
How Iowa government addresses environmental policy development and implementation; policy process and current environmental issues; students attend meetings with Iowa State legislators and relevant agency personnel in Des Moines, Iowa, to observe how policies move into practice in agency offices. Prerequisites: GEOG:1070 or POLI:3111 or GEOG:3780 or ANTH:3102. Requirements: junior or higher standing.
 

GEOG:3500 Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing
Basic concepts and principles of remote sensing; sources of data; georegistration; digital processing and classification of remotely sensed images for extraction of environmental information; linkage of remote sensing techniques with GIS analysis. Same as IGPI:3500.
 

GEOG:3520 GIS for Environmental Studies
Students learn new, more advanced techniques for the representation and study of human and natural systems using geographic information systems (GIS); application of this new knowledge to environmental management and problem solving. Prerequisites: GEOG:1050. Same as IGPI:3520.
 

GEOG:3540 Geographic Visualization
Concepts and techniques that underlie cartographic representation, interaction, and geovisualization; map symbolization and visual variables; spatiotemporal visualization, multivariate mapping, interactive cartography, animation, geovisual analytics, 3D visualization, virtual and augmented reality. Prerequisites: GEOG:1050. Same as IGPI:3540.
 

GEOG:3570 Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR): Principles and Applications
Basic principles and applications of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR); LiDAR as an essential technology for mapping and analyzing a vast range of topics, including hydrology flooding, transportation planning, and 3D modeling. Recommendations: GEOG:3500 or EES:3100.
 

GEOG:3610 Ethical Collection and Use of Geospatial Information
Ethical issues that arise during the collection and use of digital geospatial information; particular emphasis on privacy as well as willful and unintentional introduction of different types of errors of omission (e.g., sampling related errors) and commission (e.g., inappropriate map projections); readings provide theoretical background and illustrative practical examples.
 

GEOG:3992 Undergraduate Research (including ICIGO or independent research)
Opportunity for undergraduate students to participate in faculty-led research projects.
 

GEOG:4020 Field Methods: Mapping and Mobile Computing
Mapping techniques and mobile computing applications associated with GPS, wireless technologies, and data sampling techniques.
 

GEOG:4030 Senior Project Seminar
Development of an independent research project, preparation of a research report, and presentation of the associated outcomes. Offered spring semesters.
 

GEOG:4150 Health and Environment: GIS Applications
Introduction to how geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial statistics are used in the study of patterns of health and disease in space and time. Same as GHS:4150, IGPI:4150.
 

GEOG:4580 Introduction to Geographic Databases
Introduction to basic building blocks of spatial database design, spatial data models, structures, relationships, queries (SQL), indexing, and geoprocessing; design and construction of various types of spatial databases, including relational and big data approaches such as ArcGIS geodatabase, PostGIS/PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. Prerequisites: GEOG:1050. Same as IGPI:4581.
 

JMC:3025 Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab
Collaboration and study of policymaking and public opinion in Iowa; examination of policy choices in legislative, executive, and judicial branches; collection of survey data on public opinion among Iowans; students assist with research question development, data collection, data analysis, writing up results, and work with topics in these and other areas (e.g., race and crime, gender and social issues, health and COVID-19, environment); research group led by faculty in the Departments of Political Science and Journalism and Mass Communication.
 

JMC:3150 Media and Health
Potential and limits of mass media's ability to educate the public about health; research and theory on the influence of information and entertainment media; theories, models, assumptions of mass communication in relation to public health issues. Same as CBH:3150, GHS:3150.
 

JMC:3410 Magazine Reporting and Writing
Finding ideas, researching, interviewing; problems of organization and style; identification of audiences and markets; development of writing skills. Prerequisites: JMC:2010 with a minimum grade of C- and JMC:2020 with a minimum grade of C-. Requirements: journalism major.
 

JMC:3412 Strategic Communication Writing
Principles and practices of persuasive writing; focus on public relations; may include editorials, op-ed pieces, magazine essays, reviews. Prerequisites: JMC:2010 with a minimum grade of C- and JMC:2020 with a minimum grade of C-. Requirements: journalism major.
 

JMC:3470 Narrative Journalism
Process of writing the true story; development of skills in researching, interviewing, information gathering, organization, story-telling techniques, writing final story; story publication in magazines, newspapers, journals, online. Prerequisites: JMC:2010 with a minimum grade of C- and JMC:2020 with a minimum grade of C-. Requirements: journalism major.
 

JMC:3490 Feature Reporting and Writing
Storytelling techniques for magazine, newspaper, website features; stylistic flair; human elements in stories; research, interviewing, and reporting. Prerequisites: JMC:2010 with a minimum grade of C- and JMC:2020 with a minimum grade of C-. Requirements: journalism major.
 

JMC:3510 Audience Engagement: Marketing Research in the Digital Age
Solutions to problems related to communication channels, content, users, and audiences sought daily by media and communication professionals to understand what the public thinks, feels, and does about ideas, events, and trends; learn about audience needs; ways to improve or change content; systematic and methodical ways to investigate problems and figure out how best to tackle communication problems related to media content, audiences, media practice, and media institutions.
 

JMC:3700 Field Experience: Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy
Faculty-supervised professional work experience with a nonprofit organization with associated academic content.
 

JMC:4000 Scientists and Writers
Science communication and collaborative skills that are highly sought after by employers in STEM firms including pharmaceutical firms, biotech start-ups, and many others; these same skills essential for reporting on, writing about, or translating science in any area; studio-style format. Requirements: STEM graduate standing in biological, chemical, physical, medical science, or engineering disciplines; or advanced undergraduate standing in journalism, creative writing, English, or any other writing-intensive major. Same as CHEM:4000, WRIT:4002.
 

JMC:4110 Iowa Journalist
Development of research, writing, editing, and design skills necessary to produce an engaging Iowa Journalist alumni magazine; students generate effective, strategy-based copy delivered through a variety of formats including print, online, and social media; critical thinking about magazine content and design and how they relate to public relations practice. Prerequisites: (JMC:3400 or JMC:3410 or JMC:3411 or JMC:3412 or JMC:3413 or JMC:3414 or JMC:3415 or JMC:3420 or JMC:3425 or JMC:3430 or JMC:3435 or JMC:3440 or SPAN:3020 or JMC:3460 or JMC:3470 or JMC:3490) and (JMC:3600 or JMC:3603 or JMC:3610 or JMC:3611 or JMC:3630 or JMC:3640 or JMC:3650 or JMC:3660). Requirements: journalism and mass communication major.
 

JMC:4315 Advanced Strategic Communication
Development and presentation of public relations campaigns for client organizations; communication theory and research techniques applied to analyzing and solving public relations problems through objective-based strategic planning. Prerequisites: JMC:3412 or JMC:3420. Requirements: journalism and mass communication major.
 

JMC:4900 Special Projects in Mass Communication
Research and readings to fit needs, interests of students.
 

STAT:1020 Elementary Statistics and Inference
Graphing techniques for presenting data, descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, prediction, logic of statistical inference, elementary probability models, estimation and tests of significance. Requirements: one year of high school algebra or MATH:0100. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning. Same as PSQF:1020.
 

STAT:3120 Probability and Statistics
Models, discrete and continuous random variables and their distributions, estimation of parameters, testing statistical hypotheses. Prerequisites: MATH:1560 or MATH:1860. Same as IGPI:3120.
 

STAT:3200 Applied Linear Regression
Regression analysis with focus on applications; model formulation, checking, selection; interpretation and presentation of analysis results; simple and multiple linear regression; logistic regression; ANOVA; hands-on data analysis with computer software. Prerequisites: STAT:2020 or STAT:2010 or STAT:3120. Same as IGPI:3200, ISE:3760.
 

STAT:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods
Analysis, interpretation of research data; descriptive statistics; introduction to probability, sampling theory, statistical inference (binomial, normal distribution, t-distribution models); linear correlation, regression. Same as PSQF:4143.
 

STAT:4520 Bayesian Statistics
Bayesian statistical analysis, with focus on applications; Bayesian and frequentist methods compared; Bayesian model specification, choice of priors, computational methods; hands-on Bayesian data analysis using appropriate software; interpretation and presentation of analysis results. Prerequisites: STAT:3200 and (STAT:3101 or STAT:4101 or STAT:3120). Same as IGPI:4522, PSQF:4520.
 

STAT:4540 Statistical Learning
Introduction to supervised and unsupervised statistical learning, with a focus on regression, classification, and clustering; methods will be applied to real data using appropriate software; supervised learning topics include linear and nonlinear (e.g., logistic) regression, linear discriminant analysis, cross-validation, bootstrapping, model selection, and regularization methods (e.g., ridge and lasso); generalized additive and spline models, tree-based methods, random forests and boosting, and support-vector machines; unsupervised learning topics include principal components and clustering. Requirements: an introductory statistics course and a regression course. Recommendations: prior exposure to programming and/or software, such as R, SAS, and Matlab. Same as IGPI:4540.
 

STAT:4580 Data Visualization and Data Technologies
Introduction to common techniques for visualizing univariate and multivariate data, data summaries, and modeling results; how to create and interpret these visualizations and assess effectiveness of different visualizations based on an understanding of human perception and statistical thinking; data technologies for obtaining and preparing data for visualization and further analysis; students learn how to present results in written reports and use version control to manage their work. Requirements: an introductory statistics course and a regression course. Recommendations: prior exposure to basic use of statistical programming software (e.g., R or SAS) as obtained from a regression course strongly recommended. Same as IGPI:4580.
 

STAT:6220 Statistical Consulting
Realistic supervised data analysis experiences, including statistical packages, statistical graphics, writing statistical reports, dealing with complex or messy data. Offered spring semesters. Prerequisites: (STAT:3200 and STAT:3210) or (STAT:5201 and STAT:5200). Requirements: for undergraduate majors—major g.p.a. of 3.00 or above, and grades of B or higher in STAT:3200 and STAT:3210.
 

STAT:6513 Intermediate Statistical Methods
Statistical inference and uncertainty estimation using general linear models (i.e., linear regression, analysis of variance); interpreting and conveying statistical results. Requirements: for PSQF:6243—PSQF:4143; for STAT:6513—STAT:4143. Same as PSQF:6243.
 

STAT:6560 Applied Time Series Analysis
General stationary, nonstationary models, autocovariance autocorrelation functions; stationary, nonstationary autoregressive integrated moving average models; identification, estimation, forecasting in linear models; use of statistical computer packages. Offered spring semesters. Prerequisites: (STAT:5200 or STAT:3200) and STAT:3101.
 

BAIS:3200 Database Management
Design, implementation, and use of relational database systems; emphasis on conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling; hands-on skill development with Structured Query Language (SQL). Prerequisites: BAIS:3005 or CS:1210 or CS:2110 or CS:2230 or CS:3330 or ENGR:2730.
 

BAIS:3250 Data Wrangling
Use of R programming to collect, process, and manipulate data; application of methods for descriptive and visual analytics to derive insights that can aid business decision making. Prerequisites: (BAIS:2800 or STAT:2020 with a minimum grade of B or STAT:4101 or ECON:4800) and BAIS:3020 and BAIS:3200.
 

BAIS:3500 Data Mining
Introduction to predictive analytics methods motivated by problems in operations, marketing, finance, and health care; data mining techniques including classification, regression, and clustering. Prerequisites: (BAIS:2800 or STAT:2020 with a minimum grade of B or STAT:4101 or ECON:4800) and BAIS:3020 and BAIS:3200.
 

CS:1210 Computer Science I: Fundamentals
Introduction to programming using Python; programming constructs, data types, problem-solving strategies, data structures, object-oriented programming. Prerequisites: (MATH:1010 with a minimum grade of C- and MATH:1340 with a minimum grade of C-) or (ALEKS score of 45 or higher and MATH:1010 with a minimum grade of C-) or ALEKS score of 75 or higher or MATH:1020 with a minimum grade of C- or (MATH:1005 with a minimum grade of C- and MATH:1010 with a minimum grade of C-) or MPT Level 3 score of 9 or higher or MATH:1460 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH:1380 or MATH:1850. GE: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning.
 

CS:2110 Programming for Informatics
Introduction to programming, computing principles, and fundamental aspects of computer science; use of Python programming language for topics including expressions, operators, variables, control structures, basic data structures, functions, data modeling, basic data analysis, object-oriented concepts, and proper documentation. Prerequisites: CS:1110 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

CS:2520 Human-Computer Interaction for Informatics
Basic theories, principles, and guidelines for design and evaluation of human-computer interactions; topics include usability and user experience, user-centered design, quantitative and qualitative evaluation of user interfaces (e.g., expert reviews, usability testing), societal and ethical issues, and front-end development in HTML and JavaScript. Prerequisites: CS:2110 with a minimum grade of C-.
 

CS:3980 Topics in Computer Science 1
Complement to material in other courses; for informatics and non-computer science majors. Prerequisites: CS:1210 with a minimum grade of C- or CS:2110 with a minimum grade of C- or ENGR:2730 with a minimum grade of C-.

These courses have grown out of the Crime and Justice policy research being done at the Public Policy Center (PPC) and a longtime collaboration between the Department of Sociology and Criminology, University College, and the PPC.
 

CSI:2210:0001 or CRIM:2210:0001 Iowa Criminal Justice Policy and Reform
Students will be introduced to contemporary discussions of policy and reform across all stages of the criminal justice system, including policing, pretrial detention, sentencing, incarceration, and reentry. Students will learn about current practices and policies and develop their applied skills in policy analysis and communication. Course material will extend beyond policies for crime reduction and will also consider policies geared towards other outcomes, such as reducing inequalities and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. This course will explore these criminal justice policies through an Iowa lens, both at the state and local levels. Students will be provided opportunities to learn from and meet with Iowa legislators, policy makers, and practitioners that have a specialized understanding of the topics discussed in the course. This course is being offered in both Fall and Spring semesters and is open to students who have completed either Intro to Criminology or Intro to Criminal Justice.
 

CSI:3400 Criminology Mentoring Program
This mentoring course includes the creation of an individual development plan, one-on-one meetings with the instructor, and bi-monthly group meetings to discuss aspects of Criminology from a practical perspective. Class will be taught using a mixed format of group/individual discussion and guest speakers from various Criminology-related career fields. Course goals include identifying students’ interests and strengths through self-reflection and discussion; researching and talking about career options in criminology; and preparing for the Criminology Capstone and/or Internship Program. This program is offered each semester and is best for sophomores in Sociology & Criminology.

“This is just a follow-up from the last semester to let you know how much I’ve grown in understanding the criminal justice field and specifically corrections…this class was my most enjoyable to date. I learned a lot and was always looking forward to class.” – Student, CSI:3400, May 2021