In-class exercise: Disciplines and Departments

Visit the website for your department (or the scientific department that you're most interested in), read about the faculty and research activities in that department, and take notes so that you'll be able to discuss the department's place in the sciences. (Click here or scroll down for a list of ECU's science departments and degree programs.)

Some starter questions (but don't limit your inquiry to these questions):

1. According to the information on the website, what do researchers in this discipline do? What are their research topics, goals, and/or methods?
2. Is there an apparent focus to the research projects that faculty are conducting? What are some of the most interesting projects?
3. Is there any discussion of how the work of this discipline has a practical value in the world? If so, what is its value?
4. Does this discipline seem to be affiliated with (or collaborate with) and other disciplines? (E.g., population biologists often work closely with statisticians and other math folks; astronomers often work with electronic engineers.)

HW:

1. Using this material (and other material at your disposal, if you have it), write an informal "profile" of the scientific discipline (department) of your choice, designed for people who are not familiar with the discipline.

2. Additionally, revisit the department's web site and select one or two people on the faculty whose work most interests you, based on the information available in the faculty profile. If you've already worked or taken a class with a scientist whom you'd like to profile, you may select that person. (Find someone who is not "on leave" this semester; if you're unsure, pick two.) Read the person's information carefully. If the department's web site provides this information, note what research journals he or she publishes in and what professional organizations or other programs he or she is affiliated with. Write up a summary of what you learn; bring the summary to class next time (bring a copy to turn in, but retain a copy for yourself as well).

3. READ WITS "Preface" and Ch. 2

ECU Undergraduate Degree Programs

I've listed here all (or virtually all) of ECU's undergraduate degree programs in the sciences. Some of the disciplines represented by these programs are more clearly dependent upon experimental research than others; when you select a program, be aware that you should also idenfity faculty within that program whose research is "clearly scientific." I can help you to make that determination if you're unsure.

(Note that the School of Medicine also provides good prospects, though few if any undergraduate science programs.)

College of Arts and Sciences
Anthropology
Applied Geography
Applied Physics
Applied Sociology
Biochemistry
Biology:
Ecology
Environmental Biology
Marine Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geography
Geology
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Sociology

School of Allied Health Sciences
Clinical Laboratory Science
Occupational Therapy
Rehabilitation Studies

School of Health and Human Performance
Community Health
Exercise Physiology
Health and Fitness

School of Human Environmental Sciences
Nutrition and Dietetics

School of Industry and Technology
Electronics
Environmental Health

School of Nursing
Nursing