University of Minnesota, Morris

First Year Seminar 2007

IS 1001, First-Year Seminar (FYS), is designed to be an introduction to liberal arts at UMM. Each section is organized on the theme of diversity. During the first week of the term, all sections participate in a convocation presented by a visiting scholar-in-residence. Students then move on to explore their specific topic as listed inside this brochure. Finally, all sections come together near the end of the semester in a celebration called Jamboree, where the different sections share their FYS experience through posters, plays, games, and other performances.

Pick a few sections that interest you. Your advisor will help you select a section based on your choices that also fit the scheduling of your other courses.

Class #	Section	Instructor	Start Time	End Time	Days	Room
50860	1	Solvie, P.	8:00 AM	8:50 AM	MW	MRC 212
50864	3	Alvarez, J.	10:30 AM	11:20 AM	MW	IH 203
50868	5	Dean, R.	10:30 AM	11:20 AM	MW	IH 202
50870	6	Dean, R.	11:45 AM	12:35 PM	MW	IH 202
50872	7	Eisinger, J.	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	MW	HFA 2
50874	8	Solvie, P.	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	MW	MRC 212
50878	10	Alvarez, J.- CANCELLED -	2:15 PM	3:05 PM	MW	IH 203
50880	11	Benson, K.	2:15 PM	3:05 PM	MW	IH 217
50882	12	Eisinger, J.	3:30 PM	4:20 PM	MW	HFA 2
50884	13	Bremer, S./Bremer, P.	10:00 AM	10:50 AM	TTh	HFA 125
50886	14	Kim, J.	10:00 AM	10:50 AM	TTh	Sci 3650
50890	16	Lopez, A.	11:00 AM	11:50 AM	TTh	Sci 2185
50892	17	Anderson, T.	11:00 AM	11:50 AM	TTh	IH 203
50894	18	Kim, J.	11:00 AM	11:50 AM	TTh	Sci 3650
51396	19	Sommers, J./Stefanek, K.	12:00 PM	12:50 PM	TTh	IH 217
51398	20	Hodgson, K.	12:00 PM	12:50 PM	TTh	HFA 185
51400	21	Lopez, A.	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	TTh	Sci 2185
51402	22	Ryan, M.	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	TTh	IH 203
51404	23	Graham, V.	2:00 PM	2:50 PM	TTh	IH 115
51406	24	Hodgson, K.	2:00 PM	2:50 PM	TTh	HFA 185
51408	25	Cotter, J.	3:00 PM	3:50 PM	TTh	Sci 2185
51410	26	Graham, V.	3:00 PM	3:50 PM	TTh	IH 115
51412	27	Cotter, J.	10:30 AM	11:20 AM	WF	Sci 3650
56254	28	Joo, S.	12:00 PM	12:50 PM	TTh	IH 202
56255	29	Joo, S.	1:00 PM	1:50 PM	TTh	IH 202

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation.

Dance Between Cultures: Reflections on Immigration and Cultural Identity in Latino and Chicano Writers
This course examines the topic of Hispanic American Immigration and the formation of a new and complex Cultural Identity in those who have come at an early age or are first-generation immigrants and write about their experiences. We will examine aspects on identity, culture, religion, family, historical experience, human relations, education, national origin and national identification. Some questions that will lead our conversations are: Who are we? What do we understand for cultural identity? How “American identities” are constructed? How Latino and Chicano communities construct their identities as members of the U.S.A. society? Who do we study the experiences of these populations? How Latino and Chicano writers perceive the U.S.A.? What experiences did they have in different periods of their lives?

50864 Section 3 MW 10:30-11:20 IH 203 Jacqueline Alvarez-Ogbesor, Spanish

50878 Section 10 MW 2:15-3:05 IH 203 - CANCELLED alvarezi@morris.umn.edu

Insects and Human Culture
The influence of insects on human society extends far beyond the realm of science. Insects inspire artists, musicians and writers. They are revered as religious symbols and used as metaphors for what we fear most. They spread deadly disease and have influenced the course of human history. In some cultures insects are a prized culinary delicacy. And, they are the most abundant and diverse group of animals on our planet. Through readings, discussion, short writing assignments and student designed projects we will investigate ways in which insects intersect and influence human culture.

50892 Section 17 TTh 11:00 11:50 IH 203 Tracey Anderson, Biology

anderstm@morris.umn.edu

My Wonderful Life

Now that you got into college, what do you think your life will be like when you get out? Do you want to go home to live with your folks in the basement? What kind of work would you like to do? Does it pay enough to support you and your family? Do you even want a family? Where do you want to live? Are you thinking of ways you can “give back” as a volunteer? What happens after work? Do you see yourself retiring? How do you see the end of your life? Are these even the questions to ask about your future? We will talk about all the choices you have in a global community, look at what we know about human development over the lifespan, and then focus on how you can make your choices a reality. Class will consist of talking, reading, Web searching, listening to the life experience of others outside of class and in. Students will create a journal of discovery in a visually-engaging form that suits them:  a scrapbook, a handmade book with pictures and entries, an online blog, or a video. 

50880 Section 11 MW 2:15-3:05 IH 217 Katherine Benson, Psychology

bensonka@morris.umn.edu

Myth: From the Page to the Stage

Say the word myth and most people think of something that isn’t true. Dig a little deeper and you might come up with a definition of stories about gods. That’s a good start. The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation for understanding a diverse array of myths across cultures and time so participants can better bring a mythological story to life on the stage. Half the class will be spent studying and researching myths. This will include an emphasis on the perspective of Joseph Campbell, a scholar respected for his contributions to comparative mythology. Students will take part in discussions, work on individual and group projects, and view films that contain mythological themes. The other half of the class will focus on choosing and adapting a myth for a short staged performance. This will include make-up and rehearsals as well as exploring what it takes to bring a “myth to life.”

50884 Section 13 TTh 10:00-10:50 HFA 125 S. Bremer, Theatre/P. Bremer, Library

bremers@morris.umn.edu pbremer@morris.umn.edu

Out of Africa – The Peopling of Europe, Asia and the Americas

Genetic evidence indicates modern humans (Homo sapiens) had their origin in Africa. This course will explore the geologic and climatic influences on human migration to Europe, Asia, and ultimately the Americas. We will also discuss changes that resulted from this migration, the end of Neanderthal, new technologies, and the development of racial variations. Finally, we will discuss intelligence tests in light of the out of Africa theory.

51408 Section 25 TTh 3:00-3:50 Sci 2185 James Cotter, Geology

51412 Section 27 WF 10:30-11:20 Sci 3650 cotterjf@morris.umn.edu

RACE is a Four-Letter Word: Critical Issues in Human Diversity

In this course we will examine controversies on the validity of “race” as a biological construct. What factors gave rise to ideas and practices that generated and perpetuate inequality? Can these be overcome? Students will engage in readings and discussions about how conceptions of human variation developed historically, the misapplication of biological principles to human societies, and more current (and less current) notions on “race” and intelligence. 

50868 Section 5 MW 10:30-11:20 IH 202 Rebecca Dean

50870 Section 6 MW 11:45-12:35 IH 202 rdean@morris.umn.edu

Exploring Whiteness to Combat Racism

This class will be based on a series of readings that will help students to address such issues as: race as a social construct; the way we experience racial categories in daily life; white privilege: blame, guilt, and responsibility in racial dialogue; the colorblind ideal (is it valid or not?); and what it means to be a non-racist white person. Students of all racial identities are welcome in this class.

50872 Section 7 MW 1:00-1:50 HFA 2 Joel Eisinger, Art History

50882 Section 12 MW 3:30-4:20 HFA 2 eisingj@morris.umn.edu

Storytelling: Keeping Our World Whole

Stories are as old as human culture. Before writing, long before books were printed, storytelling helped to preserve culture, to connect people to their past, to embody knowledge of the natural world, and to offer ways of understanding the world and one’s place in it. Even today we use story—in the form of poetry, fiction, drama, and memoir—to help us understand ourselves and to make sense of the rapidly changing world around us. In this section of First Year Seminar, we will read stories from a variety of cultures and explore how stories connect people to the land and to their heritage. We will practice the art of storytelling ourselves, finding ways to reweave our unraveling modern world.

51404 Section 23 TTh 2:00-2:50 IH 115 Vicki Graham, English

51410 Section 26 TTh 3:00-3:50 IH 115 grahamv@morris.umn.edu

Music: The Language of Diversity

This FYS will investigate diverse cultures and their respective musical heritage to determine what can be learned about the culture and its people from its indigenous music. Basically, we will try to answer several questions: "What can we learn of these people from their music?" "What of the natural setting of the country helps to determine and shape the music and can you, in some way, see the country and its people through its music?"

51398 Section 20 TTh 12:00-12:50 HFA 185 Kenneth Hodgson, Music

51406 Section 24 TTh 2:00-2:50 HFA 185 hodgsnkd@morris.umn.edu

War and Peace: Experiencing War through Cultural Prisms

War has spelled unspeakable suffering and scars to the humanity. Still human beings seem incapable of ridding themselves of the scourge. This class will examine contemporary wars from diverse cultural perspectives. What did war mean to different nations? How did they experience war? How did they endure during war? What are possible solutions for peace? These are the main questions students will be grappling with throughout the semester. Students will read (short) articles, watch videos, engage in discussions, and write joint research projects. By the end of the term, students should be able to have critical thinking skills, appreciate different cultures, and acquire a sophisticated outlook on war and peace. 

56254 Section 28 TTh 12:00-12:50 IH 202 Seung-Ho Joo, Political Science

56255 Section 29 TTh 1:00-1:50 IH 202 joos@morris.umn.edu

Culture in East Asia-KOREA

This course will introduce students to East Asia Culture and understand the historical and socio-cultural backgrounds of East Asia from the perspectives of cultural anthropology, psychology, pedagogy, sociology, and legacy. This course will be helpful to students who want to be comfortable in dealing with different socio-cultural conflicts and want to improve their socio-cultural adjustment skills.

50886 Section 14 TTh 10:00-10:50 Sci 3650 Jong-Min Kim, Statistics

50894 Section 18 TTh 11:00-11:50 Sci 3650 jongmink@morris.umn.edu

Life South of the Border

We all have perceptions that life south of the border is different, but how is it different? In this seminar we will study and discuss the history, culture, government, economy and the future of our neighboring countries south of the USA border. We will have invited speakers from countries south of the border and each student will be asked to research life in a particular country south of the border.

50890 Section 16 TTh 11:00-11:50 Sci 2185 Andy Lopez, Computer Science

51400 Section 21 TTh 1:00-1:50 Sci 2185 alopez@morris.umn.edu

The Empire Strikes Back: Europe Confronts the Colonial Past

The legacies of imperialism are still part of everyday life in Europe. In this section of the First Year Seminar, we will explore contemporary questions about European identity that are fundamentally about human diversity. What has it traditionally meant to be “European?” How do geographic, cultural, religious and economic distinctions enter into the answer to that question? In what ways has the arrival of immigrants from Europe’s former colonial possessions disrupted traditional understandings of “European” culture, race and boundaries?

51402 Section 22 TTh 1:00-1:50 IH 203 Marynel Ryan, History

mkryan@morris.umn.edu

Keeping on the Same Page: Literacy in a Changing World

The influence of globalization has affected what it means to be literate. Language isn’t just the words we speak. It is the way we make rules, share ideas, and communicate who belongs and who doesn’t. Globalization changes our language and thus changes the rules we live by. What it means to be literate in a global society prompts questions such as: How do reading and writing change in times of change? How do literacy practices play into the structure of power and inequality? How does literacy empower? How does language affect social and cultural capital? Who is included and who is excluded based on what it means to be literate in a global society? We will examine definitions of literacy and consider the effects of various literacy practices as we explore these issues through reading, class discussion, and a final literacy project.

50860 Section 1 MW 8:00-8:50 MRC 212 Pam Solvie, Education

50874 Section 8 MW 1:00-1:50 MRC 212 psolvie@morris.umn.edu

Power and the Moving Body: Approaches in Dance and Martial Arts

We will examine power as defined by movement techniques in Asian martial arts and western performance dance. Students will have experiences in a variety of forms and discussions of films and related source material. Readings will include writings of Bruce Lee and The Book of Five Rings by Japan’s greatest swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, and writings by dance innovators such as Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey. Films will include the work of martial artists and dances by renowned 20^th century choreographers. Students will explore and reflect the physical and philosophical differences between eastern and western movement techniques.

51396 Section 19 TTh 12:00-12:50 IH 217 J. Sommers, Dance; K. Stefanek, Psychology.