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Spring 2026 New & Trending Online Courses

The College of General Studies, in partnership with other academic departments and schools, is excited to announce the newest and popular courses in online or hybrid format. 
 
Browse through the list below to find the courses that fit your academic needs and interests.
 
Online courses fill up fast. Register Now! 
 
BIOSC / NROSCI 1250 Human Physiology
Instructor: Rachel Davenport
Class size: 50 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course will consider the function of various physiological systems in the human body, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive. Each system discussed will be integrated into the larger function of homeostasis in health, disease or during challenges, such as stress and exercise.

What does this course count for in CGS: Program Requirement: Natural Sciences

Interested in Biological Sciences? Visit the Department of Biological Sciences »

Interested in Neuroscience? Visit the Department of Neuroscience »

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HIST 1175 / PS 1348-7510 Xenophobia in Modern Europe
Instructor: John Boonstra
Class size: 35 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course will examine Europe's post-war xenophobic, racist and exclusionary policies. 

We will use memoirs, photo-journalism, film and interviews to understand recent discrimination against refugees, guest workers, Jews, linguistic and religious minorities.  We will also put the question into scholarly context, as we examine how historians, sociologists, psychologists and anthropologists try to understand the way in which Europeans construct the categories of "us" and the "others".

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); General Education Historical Analysis and Specific Geographic Region Requirement

Interested in History?  Visit the Department of History »

LCJS 1586-7510  Consumer Law
Instructor: Sheila Ford
Class size: 30 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course introduces students to major laws governing the rights of consumers.  The evolution of consumer rights is traced from the common law to our present statutes.  Students are introduced to state and federal laws, including: the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - LCJS BA and Liberal Studies BA (self design); Minor - LCJS; General Education Requirement for Social Science.

Interested in Law, Criminal Justice, and Society?  Visit the LCJS Program »

LDRSHP 1200-7510  Leadership Seminar
Instructor: Lawana Butler
Class size: 30 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course is designed to develop in students an understanding of the conceptual and practical strategies of leadership. Through the use of readings, in-class activities and guest presenters, students are exposed to four factors that play a role in the development or modification of a leader. These include: appreciation of the concept of organizational life; understanding the process of change; comprehending the impact of leadership style, delivery, and strategy; and finally, developing an awareness of individual strengths and weaknesses and how to most effectively match individual style to the leadership process. The course is required of all students pursuing the Undergraduate certificate in leadership. Students should have successfully completed both the emerging leaders program and the theories of leadership course prior to registering.

What does this course count for in CGS: Leadership Certificate Program

Interested in the CGS Leadership Certificate Program?  Learn more about our Leadership Certificate »

MATH 0200-7510  Prep for Scientific Calculus
Instructor: Fatima Nur Kizilkaya
Class size: 25 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

A variety of topics are studied:  functions, rational functions, logarithmic and exponential functions, graphs, asymptotes, inverse, conic sections, translation and rotation of axes, trigonometric identities and equations, and possibly vectors.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); Natural Sciences BS Standard Track; General Education Algebra Requirement

Interested in Mathematics?  Visit the Department of Mathematics »

MUSIC 1444 Electronic Beats & Songwriting
Instructor: Aaron Myers-Brooks
Class size: 25 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course provides an introduction to creating original electronic music. Technical topics include audio sequencing, MIDI sequencing, effects, automation, live performance, sampling, and synthesis. Students will listen to and discuss a variety of musical examples from beat-oriented styles such as hip hop, house, techno, and more. This course will also include some introductory music theory/fundamentals.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); General Education The Arts Requirement; MPCOMM Digital media track and certificate

Interested in Music?  Visit the Department of Music »

NPHS 1510-7710  Federal/International Framework Emergency Preparedness
Instructor: Carey Balaban and Ken Sochats
Class size: 30 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Hybrid (Online w/ In-person On-campus meetings)
 

NPHS 1510 covers overarching frameworks for the federal government's planning and response to crises. These include the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), which establishes the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Because the federal government is the interface with foreign governments for events with transnational elements, international aspects of crisis management and the international context for threat assessment are covered in this course.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); Certificate - National Preparedness and Homeland Security.

Interested in National Preparedness and Homeland Security?  Learn more about our NPHS Certificate »

NPHS 1540-7710  Capstone: Emergency Preparedness
Instructor: Carey Balaban and Ken Sochats
Class size: 30 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format:  Hybrid (Online w/ In-person On-campus meetings)
 

Along the lines of workshops conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the capstone course is dedicated to exploring a variety of solutions to a single, complex, interdisciplinary problem - a "wicked" problem - in emergency management. "Wicked" problems are complex problems for which there is an unlimited number of potential solutions, but choosing among them is difficult because they have huge impacts and there are no immediate or ultimate tests of their worth - they are neither true nor false but good or bad. The "wicked" problem considered in NPHS 1540 may change from term to term to meet emerging demands or class composition.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); Certificate - National Preparedness and Homeland Security.

Interested in National Preparedness and Homeland Security?  Learn more about our NPHS Certificate »

PUBSRV 1220-7510 Human Resources Management of Non-Profit Organizations
Instructor:  Dave Coplan
Class size: 30 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 
This course is an introductory survey of the understandings and skills needed by both managers and employees to cope with the myriad human resources management systems in non-profit organizations. Specific topics include the history and evolution of human resources management, the legal environment, human resources planning, position classification and compensation, recruitment, promotion, termination, performance evaluation and training.  Integrated with these topics will be the technical and legal concerns of labor relations, equal employment opportunity and volunteer management.
 

What does this course count for in CGS: Majors - Public Service BA and Liberal Studies BA (self design); Minor - Public Service; Certificate - Nonprofit Management

Interested in public administration?  Visit SPIA »

PUBSRV 1310-7310 Diversity Issues Public Service
Instructor: Coming soon
Class size: 30 students 
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Hybrid
 
This course analyzes public service from the perspective of minorities and women. The minorities examined are black American men and women, with lesser attention given to ethnic minorities, those over 45 and the handicapped. The experience and aspirations of these several minorities will be examined in terms of how minority culture illuminates the nature of public service.
 

What does this course count for in CGS: Majors - Public Service BA, Liberal Studies BA (self design), MPCOMM CCR track and certificate; Minor - Public Service; Certificate - Nonprofit Management

Interested in public administration?  Visit SPIA »

PUBSRV 1900-7310 Internship Seminar
Instructor: Carol Schpiro Balk
Class size: 20 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring / Summer
Class Format: Hybrid (Synchronous)
 
A supervised placement with a government or non-profit agency, or private sector organization undertaking public services. Students will meet several times during the semester with other students to review and discuss their public service experiences. CGS Public Service Majors and Non-Profit Management Certificate students are required to complete a minimum of a 3.0 credit internship. This internship course is optional for Public Service Minors and may vary from 1.0-6.0 credits. Instructor approval is required prior to enrolling in this course.
 

What does this course count for in CGS: Majors - Public Service BA and Liberal Studies BA (self design); Minor - Public Service; Certificate - Nonprofit Management

Interested in public administration?  Visit SPIA »

RELGST 0105 / HIST 0125-7510  Religions Of The West
Instructor: Joel Brady
Class size: 35 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring / Summer 6-WEEK-1 Session
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course is a historical introduction to the religious traditions that developed in ancient Near East and the Mediterranean. Our major emphasis is on the history of the religious traditions that emerged in late antiquity in this area and which continue to be major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We will also touch on Zoroastrianism.

We focus on key concepts, historical developments, and contemporary issues. Throughout the course, we also examine interactions among these religious traditions. In the last part of the course we examine the issue of globalization and the spread of these religions around the world as well as the presence of "non-Western" religion in the "West." The course also serves as an introduction to the academic study of religion and provides a foundation for further coursework in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. No prior knowledge of any of the religions studied is expected or assumed.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); General Education Requirement for Global Issues, Cross-Cultural Awareness, and Historical Analysis

Interested in Religious Studies?  Visit the Department of Religious Studies »

RELGST 0710 / SOC 00399 / JS 0710-7510   Sociology Of Religion
Instructor: Johnathan Zisook
Class size: 35 students
Frequency: Fall / Spring / Summer 6-WEEK-1 Session
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

This course will compare and contrast major classical and modern sociological theories of religion, including discussion of the renewed focus on religion in mainstream, general theory.  Attention will be narrowed to a focus on the relation between religions, states and individuals in comparative and historical perspective.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); General Education Social Science Requirement

Interested in Religious Studies?  Visit the Department of Religious Studies »

RELGST 1252 / HIST 1769 / JS 1252-7510  Holocaust History & Memory
Instructor: Jonathan Zisook
Class size: 40 students
Frequency: Spring
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 
The holocaust - that is, the genocide of six million Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II - was a critical event of the early twentieth-century that continues to resonate today. Our historical survey will look at the holocaust primarily through the experiences of its Jewish victims, though we will discuss some of the other groups, such as the roma, disabled people, and gay men, who were also targeted and systematically murdered by the Nazis.
Additionally, we will think about the perpetrators of the holocaust and the ideologies that led to the genocide, such as racism, nationalism, and antisemitism.
Finally, we will move beyond the history of the holocaust to think about the ways that this event has been remembered and reconstructed by survivors, nations, institutions, museums, the arts, popular culture and the media. Looking at how institutions here in Pittsburgh commemorate the holocaust will offer us local, concrete examples of how people continue to grapple with this history.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); General Education Requirement for Geographic Region & Historical Analysis.

Interested in Religious Studies?  Visit the department of Religious Studies »

URBNST 0518-7510  Smart Cities: Frontiers in Urban Analytics & Big Data
Instructor: Chihuangji (Herbert) Wang
Class Size: 30 students
Frequency: Spring 
Class Format: Web / Asynchronous (no scheduled meetings)
 

The growing importance of big data and urban analytics are contributing to cities becoming 'smarter'. Smart city planning requires creating data structures and methods of framework to gather, store, and analyze information that can inform planning practices and policymaking.

This course will outline the frontiers in urban data science, including the ethical and analytical considerations that underpin the smart city paradigm. Students will gain practical experience with analyzing, modelling, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data using R and RStudio. 

The course is designed to accommodate students with diverse backgrounds, and while no prerequisites are required some familiarity with statistical methods and coding is beneficial. The course emphasizes a geographical perspective in addressing urban topics (including infrastructure, transportation, and sustainability), empowering students to contribute to future urban planning practices and policymaking.

What does this course count for in CGS: Major - Liberal Studies BA (self design); Certificate - National Preparedness Homeland Security

Interested in Urban Studies?  Visit the Urban Studies Program »