First-Year Seminar
Each year, the Office of Liberal Education, in conjunction with programs and departments, sponsors a series of First Year Seminars. First Year Seminars are capped at 20 students, which ensures that class members can work closely with their peers and with the instructor on studies that highlight the social significance of a liberal education. Primarily reserved for Miami’s newest students, all First Year Seminars meet Global Miami Plan foundation requirements.
Students who enroll in a First Year Seminar have a unique opportunity to engage themselves in a small group learning experience where they get to know the faculty member and other students well. They will confront intellectual, creative and ethical ideas through active approaches to learning involving writing and lively discussions as ways of learning.
Upcoming First-Year Seminar Opportunities
Academic Year 2013-2014
BOT F107: Evolution: The Great Debate (3): Investigates, critiques, and analyzes two of the dominant paradigms in this topic area: examines the philosophical differences between religion and science. MPF: IVA. CAS-D-BIO. (Spring 2014)
CHM F108: The Chemistry and Culture of Food (3): Focuses on the chemistry of food and the scientific context of associated cultural practices and historical events. Students will be introduced to chemical, physical, and biological concepts relevant to the composition, structure, function, and taste of food. The diversity of methods by which people in different times and places have produced, preserved, and prepared similar ingredients will also be studied. In addition, students will explore the role that specific foods (e.g., salt, sugar, spices) have played in the course of human history. In lieu of a traditional chemistry lab, the course will include taste experiments and culinary experiences. Global MPF IVB – Physical Science. CAS—TBA. (Spring 2014)
CLS F110: Nostalgia: Past, Present, and Future (3): Addresses a theme present in the cultural output of many nations. In our era of globalization and uniformity, what does it mean for a person to be exiled from his/her native country? Is the feeling of nostalgia universal for all the exiles of all nations and what is it really? Is it a mental condition akin in some cases to illness; is it a self-inflicted state of unhappiness; or is it a creative force constructed by some authors, artists, and filmmakers as a source for their inspiration? Is it an act of escapism? Can one experience nostalgia while still living in his/her native country? How are psychological effects of exile and nostalgia expressed in literature and film throughout the world? Is nostalgia a thing of the past or is there a new version of nostalgia in the modern world? These are the questions that this course aims to answer. MPF: IIB & Cul; CAS B-LIT. (Fall 2013)
COM F104: LGBTQ People and the Press (3): Examines the complex relationship between the news media and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, including censorship, coverage, representation, fairness, and employment. In addition, publications by and for LGBTQ communities, including newspapers and magazines, and their influence and economic viability will be explored, as will the role of the news media in key events and issues, such as the McCarthy hearings, the Stonewall uprising, the assassination of Harvey Milk, HIV/AIDS, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and marriage equality. As part of their daily work in this course, students will keep a queer media journal and will complete a research paper on a related topic of their choosing. Global MPF IIB, CUL. CAS—TBA. (Fall 2013)
EDT F103: Read Every Day, Change Your World (3): Current educational standards emphasize the need for reading for information. But reading for pleasure—aesthetic reading—has many educational and professional advantages as well as academic ones. In this course, students will learn about aesthetic reading; intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation to foster literacy; the effects of self-selected reading on test outcomes and career achievement; and how reading connects readers with ideas, concepts, and cultures that widen their perspectives. Global MPF IIB. (Fall 2013)
ENG F103: Language and Multicultural American Identity (3): Explores ways various groups use language to express their American identity, while simultaneously preserving elements of their ethnic identity. We will examine issues and challenges related to everyday language use and, since pop culture often reveals issues that exist within a community, we will examine areas of ethnic pop culture, such as stand-up comedy. Groups in contact frequently share cultures and ideas, so we will also examine contributions that various groups have made to language use in America. Global MPF IIB. CAS—TBA. (Spring 2014)
FSW F104: Rolling in the Deep: Navigating Sexual Health and Wellness (3): Explores the spectrum of young adult sexuality by reading insightful essays from 18-25yr olds across North America, learning facts about and identifying credible resources for numerous Human Sexuality subjects/issues and engaging in critical thinking in order to (re)evaluate our personal perspectives. Notes how “larger culture” affects a young adults’ sexual viewpoint and choice-based behaviors in “smaller cultures,” such as a modern university campus. The overall goal is to inspire reflection, while advancing your knowledge in order to empower your vision for and understanding of sexual health and wellness. Global MPF: IIC Social Science. (Fall 2013)
GEO F104: Developing Leadership Skills (3): Focuses on developing an understanding of the qualities of leadership that build institutions in a world of rapid change. All individuals can contribute more effectively to their work and community, regardless of the role they play, by learning how to initiate, organize, produce, and present. They can also contribute more effectively by understanding the role of culture in shaping an organization, and learning how to motivate others to achieve common goals. This seminar is aimed at encouraging first year students to advance their leadership skills through examples and reflections on what it takes to be an effective leader. Global MPF: IIC Social Science. CAS C— Other Social Science. (Fall 2013)
GLG F108: Geology & Geopolitics: Silk Road (3): Examines changes in cultural, historical, and natural landscapes along the Silk Road and explores how these have affected the rise and demise of civilizations and world cultural heritage. Focuses on the ancient Silk Road nations in today’s global economy, transfer of information technology, and geopolitical development in the Middle East and Near East. MPF: IIIB, IVB, Cul. CAS: D-PHY. (Fall 2013)
PHL F110: Cultural Differences: Worlds Apart? (3): Using philosophical theories about human experience, the world, our minds, and our knowledge of the world, the class will critically explore the idea that people with fundamentally different beliefs may live in different worlds, and will examine implications of this idea for concepts of truth and objectivity. This idea and its implications will be used to discuss cultural conflicts and strategies for conflict resolution. MPF: IIB, Cul. CAS: B-PHL. (Fall 2013)
PSY F104: The Psychology of Goal Pursuit and Deception (3): During the first half of this course, you will read about and discuss research on goal pursuit. Topics will include effective strategies for pursuing goals, why we sometimes don’t act in the best interest of our goals, and how our goals can direct our behavior without our awareness. During the second half of the semester, you will read about and discuss research on deception. Topics for this section include why we lie, what situational factors affect whether we lie, and how to catch a liar. Global MPF IIC. CAS—TBA. (Spring 2014)
SPN F103: Spanish Cinema and National Identity (3): Provides an introduction to Spanish cinema through the study of its film production and film theory. The fact that Spain was the country with the largest number of movie goers in the first half of the 20th century is the starting point of a socio-historical review of Spanish film production. Global MP IIB, CUL. CAS B—Other Humanities. (Fall 2013)
WST F112: Rites of Passage: The Journey to College and Liminality (3): Focuses on placing students’ personal experiences of coming to college within a larger methodological, theoretical framework. A variety of literary forms, from fairy tales to autobiography to anthropological essays, expose students to ideas about not only turning points and rites of passage but also about the various kinds of written artistic expressions about significant transitions in a person’s life. Students are asked to come to some understanding of various conceptions of rites of passage and to reflect upon their own life experience of being “in transition.” The course also features a multi-step, semester-long, creative writing process. MPF: IIB, Cul. CAS-B-Other Humanities. (Fall 2013)
