Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Integrated HU & LS: Variable Topics (Face-to-Face)

SUU 2250-01

Course: SUU 2250-01
Credits: 6
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: INDS
CRN: 13462

Course Description

SUU 2250 combines life sciences and humanities general education credit for a 6-credit course taught by professors from different disciplines:

This semester we will be “Exploring the Humanities through Nature,” meaning that we will examine the interplay between nature and the humanities. In class we’ll be reading and writing about scientific essays along with nature-themed poetry and short stories, with several of our class sessions taught outside in a field setting (as weather permits). The natural world shapes how we see ourselves and one another, and we, in turn, shape the natural world for ourselves and for future generations. This theme sits at a natural intersection between the life sciences and the humanities and gives us so much that we’re excited to explore together over the next few months!

Required Texts

  • A pen or pencil and a notebook for weekly writing
  • American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau, Edited by Bill McKibben, ISBN 978-1598530209
  • A blank (no lines) sketch pad

Learning Outcomes

Humanities Essential Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the General Education Humanities requirement, students will be able to: 

  • (1) Examine how humanities artifacts (such as oral narratives, literature, philosophy, media, and artworks) express the human condition; 
  • (2) Explain how humanities artifacts take on meaning within networks or systems (such as languages, cultures, values, and worldviews) that account for the complexities and uncertainties of the human condition; 
  • (3) Analyze humanities artifacts according to humanities methodologies, such as a close analysis, questioning, reasoning, interpretation, and critical thinking; 
  • (4) Compare and contrast diverse humanistic perspectives across cultures, communities, and/or time periods to explain how people make meaning of their lives; and 
  • (5) Using humanities perspectives, reflect on big questions related to aesthetics, values, meaning, and ethics and how those apply to their own lives.
Life Sciences Essential Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the General Education Life Sciences requirement, students will be able to: 

  • (1) Describe and apply approaches to scientific discovery and interpretation of experimental data; 
  • (2) Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on biological systems; 
  • (3) Describe and apply evolutionary concepts in terms of inheritance, adaptation, and diversity of life; 
  • (4) Explain the mechanisms of information storage, expression, and exchange in living organisms or eco-systems; and 
  • (5) Reflect on the relevance of life sciences in a broader context.

Course Requirements

Grading will be based on (680 point total):

  • Weekly quizzes worth 20 points each = 280 points total
  • Weekly commonplace entries worth 10 points each = 140 points total
  • Humanities Reports worth 20 points each = 80 points total
  • Oral presentations worth 10 points each = 40 points
  • Book report and presentation worth 50 points
  • Final Project worth 50 points
  • Attendance worth 40 points

Final grade percentages break down as follows:

 | 93 - 100 = A | 80 – 82.9 = B- | 67 – 69.9 = D+
 | 90 – 92.9 = A- | 77 – 79.9 = C+ | 63 – 66.9 = D
 | 87-89.9 = B+ | 73 – 76.9 = C | 60 – 62.9 = D-
 | 83 – 86.9 = B | 70 – 72.9 = C- | <60 = F

Course Outline

Reading Schedule:

Week

Life Science Reading

Humanities reading

1

 

2

Huckleberries by Henry David Thoreau

 

3

Preserving Wildness by Wendell Berry

 

4

A Wind Storm in the Forests by John Muir

 

5

From Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

 

6

From Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

 

7

The Last Passenger Pigeon by Gene Stratton-Porter

 

8

How Flowers Changed the World by Loren Eiseley

 

9

From Love Canal by Lois Gibbs

 

10

From A Sand County Almanac by Also Leopold

 

11

Learning the Grammar of Animacy by Robin Wall Kimmerer

 

12

From The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

 

13

Knowing our Place by Barbara Kingsolver

 

14

Polemic: Industry and National Parks by Ed Abbey

 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

EXTRA CREDIT: There will be no extra credit.

POLICY ON LATE WORK: All assignments are due on the day posted on Canvas. If you have made arrangements to attend class at a different time, your assignments are still due at your regularly scheduled time.

Attendance Policy

All students who are absent from a specific class due to an emergency or SUU sponsored activity must contact the professor to make any necessary arrangements. Many classes (especially field trips) cannot be made up. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.