Honors Discovery Seminars Course Descriptions

MONDAY 

Sport & Sound

Monday, 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM 

How do sports teams and athletes leverage music and sound to enhance their training and performance? How do sports fans use music to express their fandom, and how do music and sound function at games, matches, and race days? And how do sounds and music help to convey or reinforce the kinds of meanings attached to different sports or teams (e.g., hockey versus football), and in different cultural contexts? In this course, we will explore the many rich questions found at the intersection of two burgeoning academic disciplines—critical sports studies and sound studies—and learn about several research methods. Topics explored in weekly readings include cheering at Argentine football games, how sports fandom is gendered, research on the effect of music on athletic performance, and what the talented athlete owes to society. In addition to reading, you will engage in classroom discussion and group work, design your own sport-and-sound-related research question, develop an annotated bibliography, and present your findings and original analyses to the class in a “lightning talk” format. We will work collaboratively to cultivate a supportive classroom environment and learn how even individual research projects are only possible via a rich and diverse intellectual community.

Instructor: Catrina Kim 

Class #14184  

Section: 01 

Exploring Purpose and Passion in Writing: Strategies for Developing Effective Writing and Research Habits

Monday, 9:05 AM - 9:55 AM 

Students will learn how to critically analyze and summarize academic sources, write annotated bibliographies that describe and evaluate the relevance, credibility, and contributions of each work to their research. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on exercises, and presentations, the course will also guide students in connecting their academic passions to research projects. Students will also refine their ability to engage deeply with academic texts, build a solid foundation for their own research projects, and improve their writing for clarity. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to produce scholarly annotated bibliographies and discuss their research interests in meaningful ways. 

Instructor: Katrina Calhoun

Class #14185  

Section: 02  

Amazing Microbes!

Monday, 9:05 AM - 9:55 AM 

Microbial life is far richer than the textbook depictions of typical prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. This seminar invites students to explore the fascinating diversity found among microbes. We will begin with a brief overview of the canonical cell biological features of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, establishing a solid foundation in microbial cell biology. From there, we will examine eight extraordinary microorganisms that deviate from the norm. Among these are a eukaryotic parasite that maintains two fully functional nuclei, a bacterium that lives symbiotically inside a eukaryotic host, and a prokaryote that masquerades as a eukaryote through elaborate compartmentalization. Each example showcases unique structural, metabolic, or ecological adaptations, illustrating how evolution can drive cellular diversity.

For every organism, students will engage with a primary research article. Guided questions will help them understand the experimental rationale and evaluate the methods and data. By critically dissecting these texts, students will practice formulating their own testable hypotheses, learning to identify gaps in knowledge and propose experimental approaches, which are all essential skills for developing an honors thesis.

As a writing assignment, students will select a microbe of interest, locate a key research article through a literature search, summarize the prior knowledge and new findings presented in the article, identify remaining questions, and develop their own hypothesis.

By the end of the course, students will appreciate the morphological and functional spectrum of microbes beyond the simple eukaryote/prokaryote dichotomy, develop competence in reading and interpreting scientific literature, and gain confidence in generating hypotheses.

Instructor: Yasu Morita 

Class #14186  

Section: 03  

The Hidden Anne Frank

Monday, 10:10 AM - 11:00 AM 

Though millions have read Anne Frank's Diary, few have read her complete work. In addition to the Diary, Anne left us poetry, short stories, essays, five chapters of a novel, a book of quotes from other writers into which she inserted quotes of her own under pseudonyms, and correspondence. In this course, we will read all of this in chronological order so that a much fuller picture of this young woman emerges, and with it we will see Anne's deepening historical and political awareness, her emotional growth, her maturing understanding of those she is in hiding with, her yearning for a personal relationship with the young man sharing the Annex, and perhaps most importantly, her ever spiritual development under such impossible conditions. Students will write several essays mapping Anne's growth over these two years while also chronicling their own growing understanding of what she faced and how this process has affected them personally.

Instructor: Ralph Melnick 

Class #14187  

Section: 04 

Introduction to Arts-Based Research

Monday, 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM 

Why do we always turn in the same kind of final papers and assignments? How can we share what we know in different ways and with different audiences? Have you ever wondered about using the arts to explore and share what you know?

This course will provide a basic introduction to arts-based research methods, which means, using the arts to understand things AND express our understanding of things.

We are going to experiment with visual, performance, movement and creative writing/drawing methods to “try out” how it feels to use these methods in whatever our “home” discipline might be. Our course objectives include:

• Demonstrating understanding the basics of arts-based research
• Engaging with the arts through class activities
• Making connections between the art explorations you make and your own work in your major/discipline
• Making a concrete plan for how you might use an arts-based approach for a major assignment in a class in your major area of study/your discipline.

We are going to have fun and hopefully do some low-pressure exploration, then put together a folio of our attempts along with a piece of writing about ourselves as artists across disciplines. The name of the game here is to LEARN and GROW and support each other. We are also embracing a philosophy of LESS is MORE. That means we are going to stay relaxed and flexible. Try your best, show up, be not afraid, and know that this is a safe place to practice what we learn.

Instructor: Sally Pirie 

Class #14188  

Section: 05 

Introduction to New England Town Planning

Monday, 12:20 PM - 1:10 PM 

The purpose of this seminar is to develop an understanding of how town planners across New England help to guide the future prosperity of communities, ensure an improved quality of life and protect the environment. It will begin with a discussion of the evolution of community planning in New England from the time of the Puritans forward to the present. It will then explain how planning functions today and why it is taking on increasing importance. The course will then address the functional areas of the field and how they are applied in practice. Finally, the class will reflect on the place of planning in an American political and ideological context and for the future. This seminar employs both in-person lectures and discussions based on the readings. Student participation is strongly encouraged.

Instructor: John Mullin 

Class #14189  

Section: 06 

AI As a Skill Augmentation Tool

Monday, 1:25 PM - 2:15 PM 

In today’s rapidly evolving academic and professional landscape, the ability to leverage cutting-edge technology can be a crucial advantage. This honors seminar explores how Artificial Intelligence can serve as a powerful augmentation tool across the entire spectrum of a student’s skill set, from research and writing to coding and professional presentation. Designed specifically for honors students preparing to finalize their thesis and transition to the job market, this course offers a hands-on, immersive experience to help learners develop AI-driven strategies that will elevate both their academic work and future career prospects.

We begin by examining AI-enabled writing platforms, focusing on the ways these tools can refine style, strengthen argumentation, and expedite the editing process. Students then delve into AI-based research methods that streamline literature review, enhance brainstorming, and support the development of methodologies for scholarly work. Alongside these core activities, participants learn how coding support tools can accelerate data wrangling, simplify visualization, and support statistical analyses. To conclude, the course explores AI’s potential as a personal presentation coach, helping students craft concise, persuasive research presentations and sharpen their interview and job-search materials.

Through guided discussions, hands-on labs, and projects, students will gain both conceptual knowledge and practical competence with the leading AI resources that can transform a routine task into an opportunity for innovation. This seminar fosters critical thinking and ethical reflection on the use of AI, ensuring that students develop not just technical skills but also the discernment necessary to harness AI responsibly. By the end of the seminar, honors students will be able to confidently integrate AI into their academic projects and leverage these newfound capabilities in their professional pursuits.

Instructor: Christian Rojas

Class #14190

Section: 07

Indigenous Cultural Heritage Preservation

Monday, 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM 

In this course, we will build a deeper understanding and connect to the historical and on-going movement to preserve Indigenous cultural heritage in libraries, archives, and museums within the context of Indigenous ways of knowing. For many Indigenous Peoples’, cultural heritage preservation involves reconciling with complex histories of dispossession, collective memory, resistance, revitalization, and the opportunity to reclaim a sense of autonomy over their own material, textual, and intangible expressions of culture. Additionally, Indigenous ways of knowing help to contextualize these expressions of culture as told by Indigenous Peoples' themselves. 

We will learn directly from Indigenous community members and cultural heritage practitioners based in the Northeast including tribal communities who maintain tribally owned libraries, archives, and museums in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. This course will utilize an Indigenous research paradigm and center Indigenous conceptual frameworks such as relationality, which scholar Shawn Wilson defines as the idea that we are all in relation to people, the land, cosmos, our ways of knowing, and that we have a responsibility to those relationships known as relational accountability. 

We will ask questions such as what does it mean to center relationality in a museum, archive, or library? How does cultural heritage preservation serve as a means of relational accountability? What if we viewed cultural heritage collections as relations or even relatives? This course will additionally draw upon the vast networks of Indigenous resistance found within Indigenous-authored literature, archival collections, museum exhibitions, digital humanities projects, and guest speakers. Students will have the opportunity to engage and build a deeper understanding of these networks while developing and using practical research skills such as library research, case studies, in-class group discussions, and a culminating research project.

Instructor: Brandon Castle

Class #14191  

Section: 08

Ways of Knowing in the Age of Generative AI

Monday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

This course will use a dialogic method to explore the myriad ways we understand and engage with the world around us. We will investigate and reflect on the various mechanisms that affect how we make meaning with a special focus on generative AI.

Through discussion, reflection, and various media—such as text, video, audio, visual, digital, print, etc.—we will develop a useful stance toward gen AI large language models, which we will contextualize against our natural critical and creative thinking skills.

Central to the course method will be the synthesis of formal research with a self-reflective inquiry of experience, influence, and perspective. Alternative ways of knowing such as dream logic, metaphor, and story will be opportunities to bridge the conceptual gaps that occur when our human brain encounters GODLIKE technology.

An important component of this course to note is how we will explore ways of engaging with AI that neither subvert nor enhance our instinct of making meaning. Rather, we might orient our goals in terms of seeking alternative frameworks for engaging with AI that aren’t predicated by a binary understanding.

By the end of this course students will have completed a collaborative project that seeks to create meaning of the relationship between humans and AI in our time and the years to come.

Instructor: Luke Bloomfield

Class #14192 

Section: 09

Supernatural Studies

Monday, 5:30 PM - 6:20 PM 

Supernatural Studies is an emerging field of interdisciplinary research that spans the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. This Honors Discovery Seminar is an introduction to that field and to the supernatural as a significant form of creative and social experience, with a special emphasis on supernatural folklore.

This course takes a critical approach to claims of the supernatural; it examines supernatural phenomena through a lens of intellectual skepticism, critical thinking, critique of groundless interpretations, and a demand for evidence. However, this course also recognizes the supernatural as a nearly universal human expression that warrants respect for cultural diversity, deep understanding of divergent worldviews, and ethically-sound examination of historical contexts. Students who enroll in this course will practice applying the insights and methods of their majors to supernatural phenomena and demonstrating awareness of the rich traditions of others.

Specific topics include the range of theories to explain the supernatural and related concepts such as the paranormal, the numinous, and the occult; the role of the supernatural in the creation and redress of political and social tensions; its correlation with practices of belief and pseudoscience; its aesthetic appeal and manifestation in a range of genres, texts, and performances; and its role in maintaining, negotiating, and altering cultural expressions of community and shared identity. The course will illuminate these concepts with reference to figures of the supernatural in folklore, literature, and popular culture, including ghosts, vampires, zombies, fairies, giants, witches, certain monsters, and cosmic beings.

Weekly meetings require students to read a written lecture composed by the professor (a specialist in Folklore Studies) and additional materials to participate in classroom discussion. Over the course of the semester, students will prepare a portfolio of work relevant to their major and to their plans for an Honors Thesis or Project. This will necessitate individual consultations with the professor to determine the best practices for their specific research agenda and the appropriate types of writing and revision or alternative presentation materials. There are no exams, quizzes, or related tests of knowledge; students instead will have agency to develop their intellectual contributions.

Instructor: Stephen Olbrys Gencarella

Class #14193 

Section: 10

TUESDAY 

Cover Stories: Analyzing the Powerful Narratives that Document and Shape Our World

Tuesday, 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM 

In this era of media mistrust and shrinking attention spans, it’s easy to overlook the extraordinary work being done by journalists—especially the in-depth, creative, and courageous feature stories regularly published by leading magazines. This seminar invites students to slow down and engage with the best of today’s contemporary nonfiction and examine the narratives that shape how we understand current events, culture, identity, and power.

Each week, we’ll discuss one recent feature from a major publication, including The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Wired, and Texas Monthly. Questions we’ll ask include: How were these stories reported? What makes them "cover or feature worthy"? Are they constructed to inform, persuade, or provoke? Do they accurately shed light on current events? What questions do they raise but leave unanswered?

Alongside our readings, students will complete short weekly observation, writing, and/or editing exercises designed to sharpen attention and writing skills.

Instructor: Caroline Winter 

Class #14194

Section: 11

The Anthropocene: An Introduction and Contemplative Inquiry

Tuesday, 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM 

Throughout human history, stories have defined and redefined the place of homo sapiens on planet Earth. Over the past two decades, recognition of our species’ considerable impact on the biosphere has led to a new proposition: that the planet itself has entered an unprecedented epoch known as the Anthropocene–the era of humans. Strictly speaking, this designation pertains to geology, and it is being debated at the highest ranks of that field. But attributing a new chapter in Earth history to humans, anthropos, has sparked considerable debate across natural science, social studies, and the humanities. The discussion has now leapt beyond the ivory tower, motivating cover issues of magazines, radio shows, books, and blogs. Drawing upon text, audio, and video materials, this seminar provides an introductory primer to the Anthropocene. Each week, students read, watch, or listen to curated materials covering a range of essential topics related to the Anthropocene, and they write objective summaries of selected materials as well as subjective reflection essays in preparation for in-class discussion. Class meetings are rooted in small- and large-group discussion and complemented by mini-lectures that expand upon material not covered in assigned materials. A human-dominated biosphere has profound implications, and this seminar fosters a contemplative space where deep listening and inquiry are actively cultivated.

Instructor: Theodore Eisenman

Class #14149  

Section: 13

Battlegrounds of Free Speech

Tuesday, 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM 

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution offers robust protection for free speech - including the expression of offensive or unpopular opinions – except when speech leads to unlawful acts or violence. And yet, it’s not that simple. Campus protests, clashes with those seeking to protect their religious beliefs, and efforts to thwart the media are just a few of the battlegrounds where the contours of free speech are being put to the test. In this discussion-based seminar, we will examine the principles of free speech, landmark Supreme Court cases that test its limits, and how current events are shaping the ongoing evolution of free speech in America today.

Instructor: Charles Johnson 

Class #14150  

Section: 14

This Is America: Race and Racism in American Popular Music 

Tuesday, 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM 

Music is a powerful lens for viewing, exploring, and analyzing society, its people, concerns, and hopes. In addition to unleashing human creativity for centuries, music has been used to uncover injustices and advocate for others. In other cases, music has perpetuated society’s shortcomings and pitfalls.

The purpose of this course is to use American music as a lens for exploring race and racism in the U.S. context. From minstrel shows to rock and roll, to modern-day hip-hop, music can speak to the American racial identity and the realities of racism that have existed throughout history. By engaging with readings, recordings, and music videos, students will understand how music reflects race and racism in the U.S. and analyze how music can perpetuate and perturb racial injustices.

Students will recognize the significance of popular music as cultural artifacts that convey social reality and the music industry as complicit in perpetuating systems of oppression. Students will use the knowledge gained to research a pertinent social issue through the lens of music, such as poverty, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, or another issue of their choice. Students will articulate how music has addressed the issue through specific examples and relevant literature.

Students will prepare a bibliography of academic sources (journal articles and books) from various disciplines and specify how these sources speak to or contradict their argument and analysis. Students will also use audio-visual media to convey their ideas to a non-academic audience (e.g., TikTok videos, podcasts, slam poetry performances, movement or dance).

Instructor: Musbah Shaheen

Class #14151  

Section: 15

Communication Design

Tuesday, 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM 

This course focuses on cultivating creative thinking and public presentation skills essential for any career path. Students will refine their ability to communicate ideas visually and verbally, mastering the art of delivering professional and polished presentations. Emphasizing the importance of effective communication design, the course explores how to analyze and craft messages that connect with target audiences and aims to elevate students' understanding of strategic communication. Students will gain practical experience by developing social media campaigns for products, brands, as well as non-profits, and learn to execute creative pitches that highlight their strategic vision and design skills. This hands-on approach prepares students to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, challenging them to think critically and strategically about campaign ideas that drive engagement and impact. By the course’s conclusion, students will have completed a portfolio project that demonstrates their expertise in creating cohesive, impactful communication campaigns that align with professional standards.

Instructor: Soo Young Bae

Class #14152

Section: 16

LGBTQ+ Issues in Education

Tuesday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

In this class, we will talk about LGBTQ+ issues as they relate to children and adolescents at school—from preschool to college. This is a big topic, and we will narrow it down as we move through the semester based on your interests. Some big questions we will explore together are:

What are some different queer identities/labels and what do they mean? How did my school experience socialize me to think about gender and sexuality? What beliefs and assumptions did I internalize? What can educators do to make schools (from preschool to college) LGBTQ+ affirming and inclusive? Why is it important to do so (or is it)? What would a truly LGBTQ+ affirming school be like? What are the major policy and curriculum debates happening nationally, regionally, and locally right now related to LGBTQ+ students at school? Who is participating in these debates, and what beliefs/perspectives are they circulating? How do systems of power and oppression (for example: homophobia, cis-heteronormativity, racism) play into these debates?

By the end of the semester, you will gain knowledge about and deeper understanding of:

• Your own personal identity, values, and beliefs related to LGBTQ+ issues
• How to make schools/colleges LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming, and why it matters
• Why the politics about LGBTQ+ kids and schooling is so contentious right now
• What resources and support systems are available to support LGBTQ+ youth, adolescents and college students.

Instructor: Kysa Nygreen

Class #14201

Section: 17

WEDNESDAY 

What Are Your Assumptions?

Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM 

Before anyone can research a problem, or begin to develop a solution, it's important to understand what assumptions are guiding that process. In this course, we will examine a number of local and regional problems through the lens of what we think is happening versus what is actually happening. Participants in this course will gain experience in identifying and "bracketing" assumptions about a problem, leaving them more able to explore causes and solutions.

Instructor: Lisa Wolf

Class #14200  

Section: 18

Black Liberation and Labor in the Long 20th Century: Introduction

Wednesday, 9:05 AM - 9:55 AM 

This course will look at the relationship between Black Liberation and labor struggles since the defeat of Reconstruction in 1877. It will focus on how Black workers fought employers but also had to fight other workers for higher wages, unions, and racial equality. The course will start with what the defeat of Reconstruction meant for Black workers who found themselves as sharecroppers in the South. The course will end by looking at the efforts of Black workers attempt to unionize Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama.

By the end of class students will have: a) an introductory grasp of Black liberation and labor struggles, b) an understanding of the state of the field, c) the skills to write a literature review, and d) the skills to use academic databases.

Instructor: Shemon Salam 

Class #14213  

Section: 19

Monetization in Video Games 

Wednesday, 10:10 AM - 11:00 AM 

Early video games often fell into "buy-to-play" monetization schemes where a flat fee was paid for complete access to a game. The internet and its facilitation of payment processing have upended this to a point where buy-to-play models are supplemented by games that can be played entirely for free with revenue coming from a subset of the player base.

This course will investigate the various types of monetization available to game developers across console, PC, and mobile. Benefits and drawbacks to the game experience, design considerations, and audiences attracted will be discussed across multiple different monetization techniques. We will focus on a taxonomy of monetization types, including premium, freemium, subscription, and mixed models.

This course bridges business topics such as pricing and business strategy with behavioral considerations such as consumer psychology and decision making, with a splash of game design considerations.

Instructor: Zachary Sheffler

Class #14214

Section: 20

How Computer Engineering Shapes Humanity: Empowerment, Control, or Collapse?

Wednesday, 1:25 PM - 2:15 PM 

Computer engineering has revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life — from communication and healthcare to warfare and surveillance. But as embedded systems, AI accelerators, and digital infrastructure grow increasingly powerful and autonomous, so too do questions about control, responsibility, and unintended consequences.

This course explores how innovations in computer engineering—both hardware and software—shape human behavior, social structures, and global systems. Students will critically examine whether these transformations have improved or undermined the quality of life, freedom, and sustainability.

Through interactive discussions, case analyses, and reflective writing, students will question the often-unexamined assumption that technological progress equals social progress.

Instructor: Nikhil Saxena

Class #14215

Section: 21

History of the Chinese Diaspora in the US Through Film

Wednesday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

Learning the history of the Chinese in the US through film is one good way to understand the complexities and the drama of the Chinese and Chinese American experience. From documentaries to full-length feature films, we will tackle topics such as the exclusionary laws, racial discrimination, the model minority myth, gender and sexual norms, as well as Orientalism.

Instructor: Richard Chu 

Class #14216 

Section: 22

Research Experiences in Reimagining Justice

Wednesday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

This course combines an honors seminar with an add-on independent study course to engage students in learning about and engaging in ongoing social science research. Students will participate in ongoing research via the Reimagining Justice Lab on the subject of hidden sentence laws: laws that apply sanctions on people with criminal records beyond that of their formal sentence of imprisonment, probation, or criminal fines. These laws punish via restrictions on employment, business and occupational licenses, driver's licenses, welfare, housing, educational access, voting, judicial rights, family rights, property rights and other forms of civil and social rights. In this course, students will learn about hidden sentences and participate in researching the historical origins of hidden sentences in the United States, tracing their legislative logics and social development throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The course will cover the topic of hidden sentences, its relationship to contemporary social science and policy research on the penal system and social inequalities, and the intricacies of archival and online-archival data collection and analysis. Students will be required to participate in an add-on independent study course (the course description and instructor consent will make this extremely clear from the outset). Together, the independent study will provide students active experience in an ongoing research project and collaboration with peers as a team of researchers, while the seminar will offer multiple chances for students to interact, reflect on their own research agendas and potential thesis plans, and receive ongoing mentorship as budding social science researchers.

Instructor: Joshua Kaiser 

Class #14217

Section: 23

THURSDAY 

Biomedicine: Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics

Thursday, 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM 

In this course, you will read scientific literature exploring molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease. We will discuss the genetics, molecular biology, and physiology of selected diseases or disorders and, if applicable, the treatment options available for those diseases. Students lead each week’s discussion and choose the topic in accordance with their own interests. There will also be shorter and longer presentations on a human disease/treatment of the presenters’ choice and opportunities to write and reflect on each week's readings.

Instructor: Laura Francis

Class #14219

Section: 24

Art Investigations

Thursday, 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM 

This course will concentrate on exhibitions in the museum, galleries, and public places on campus to investigate issues in contemporary art and society. Developing critical thinking skills, historical perspectives, and visual literacy, students will engage in discussion, write short essays, and respond in other ways to the wide range of art on display. 

Instructor: Gary Orlinsky 

Class #14220  

Section: 25

Basic Unix Skills for Biology

Thursday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

Biology is an information-rich discipline. Modern biological research requires reading, integrating, and analyzing large volumes of diverse data to generate and address research questions. Computational skills enable researchers to work through this information more efficiently and in a reproducible manner. While many tools exist that allow biological data analysis without coding, even basic programming skills can greatly enhance the speed, flexibility, and quality of life-science research.

This course does not require prior experience in coding or biology. We will learn the most fundamental aspects of programming and introduce essential Unix skills, with an emphasis on breadth rather than depth. The goal is to equip students with practical tools they can directly apply in their own research.

Instructor: Prabin Kumar Dhangada Majhi

Class #14221  

Section: 26

Art Investigations

Thursday, 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM 

This course will concentrate on exhibitions in the museum, galleries, and public places on campus to investigate issues in contemporary art and society. Students will engage in discussion, write short essays, and respond in other ways to the wide range of art on display.  

Instructor: Gary Orlinsky 

Class #84795  

Section: 29 

Exploring the Information Universe: Tools, Ethics, and Strategies

Thursday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the current information landscape, focusing on the processes of information creation, access, and use. Students will explore the lifecycle of information from its creation and publication to its dissemination and use in academic research. Topics include the types of information available in libraries and online, scholarly sources and peer review, and the importance of information as a commodity. Students will gain practical skills in research, including navigating library catalogs and online resources, resource types, search strategies, and evaluating information using established rubrics like CRAAP, SIFT, and lateral reading. They will also learn about creating and using citations, construct annotated bibliographies, and manage their research process effectively. 

In addition to these practical skills, the course emphasizes critical thinking about the ethical and social implications of information use. Topics such as fake news, bias, copyright, and intellectual property will be explored, with particular attention to the ethical dilemmas that arise in research. Students will also examine the role of AI tools in academic research, exploring both the benefits and limitations of these emerging technologies. This course prepares students to engage with information responsibly, ethically, and effectively in both academic and professional settings.

Instructor: Jennifer Friedman

Class #14222

Section: 27

Thinking Translation

Thursday, 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM 

This honors seminar introduces students to translation as a way to engage with the world. Its primary goal is not to put students on a path to becoming a translator, but to use translation as a way to tune into and further understand their surroundings and communication practices in multilingual settings. Key translation terms structure the course with each meeting organized around a single term so that students become familiar with a core vocabulary for processes, tools, and resources. Students will read, watch, and listen to material about translation, as well as study translation encounters. Students will further engage with translation through practicing translation, carrying out other related activities, and developing ways to articulate responsible multilingual practices.

Instructor: Regina Galasso

Class #14223

Section: 28

FRIDAY 

Blue Gold and World Water Wars

Friday, 10:10 AM - 11:00 AM 

The course will provide an overview of the emerging water scarcity crisis and conflicts throughout the Earth's system. Using case studies from around the world, students will learn about the nature, distribution, institutions, and conflicts related to water resources. Each class will involve video discussions, brainstorming sessions, a brief lecture, and exercises. Students can share ideas and interact with others through a course website and in classrooms. The interdisciplinary course offers a unique opportunity to learn from and interact with students from diverse majors. Grading will be based on weekly blogs students complete on the topic learned each week, followed by a final presentation. The presentation will be a particular case selected by the student. The course provides a scientific foundation for understanding the water crisis and strategies for addressing current and emerging water issues.

Instructor: Timothy Randhir 

Class #14224 

Section: 29

Hidden Landscapes

Friday, 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM 

This class will explore under-studied and under-valued landscapes in American cities. Using a case study approach, the class will look at historical and contemporary examples of invisible, unsanctioned, and under-appreciated types of landscapes, and interrogate the values that underpin their relative distance from the public eye. Many of these spaces have developed apart from normative design and planning processes, and yet they serve enormously important functions for groups and individuals. Examples of such types of places include foraging landscapes, redlining maps, and public memorials. These counter-hegemonic narratives have much to offer more dominant planning practice, and by unpacking hidden landscapes, students will articulate points of potential impact or influence. Each student will take on the research of a compelling typology, and present their findings to the class.

Instructor: Carey Clouse

Class #14225

Section: 30

Traditional Herbal Medicine Systems

Friday, 12:20 AM - 1:10 PM 

An examination of indigenous medicinal systems from around the world to understand the choices of herbal medicines used by traditional healers and the similarities and differences in the approach of treatments.

Instructor: Nazim Mamedov

Class #14234

Section: 31