Humanities
How can music change society? Music That Matters takes a humanistic approach to the study and production of music, understanding music as a language and languages as attached to peoples, histories, and politics. We will take as our focus the American musical form of blues, tracings its origins, development, and appropriation alongside the vicissitudes of…
Read MoreHow does public art create place? What is the geography of public art? How and where does public art happen? Drawing Lines is an Art History Elective that investigates public artworks as a tool for placemaking. What purposes does public art serve? How may art transform public spaces and people’s interaction with them? Who and…
Read MoreHow do you live a more creative life? How do you understand and access your genius? How do you find your place in the world, and love it? How do you make the world better as you manifest your creative genius? This course explores the beauty and challenges of life through the examination of personal…
Read MoreWhat makes a movie a movie? How is storytelling through film different from storytelling through literature? Which films deserve a “thumbs-up” and which deserve a “thumbs-down” – and why? These are just some of the questions you will pursue in the Ollywood course. By investigating the stages of pre-production, production and post-production, you will develop…
Read MoreWhy is it important for art to be accessible? How does public art spark human interaction? How does art go viral? Students will examine the history of public art and its ability to transform spaces and connect people on a worldwide scale in the You Are Beautiful course. Inspired by case studies of successful public…
Read MoreWhat are the biggest challenges facing humanity, and what is your role in addressing them? In March 2012, the world population topped 7 billion people. While this population continues to grow exponentially, natural resources dwindle and are distributed unequally. More than ever, our world needs thoughtful, engaged, global citizens to address the world’s growing crises.…
Read MoreHow will I investigate my Self to know who I am? The Who Am I course is a journey into your Self – your beliefs, origins, fears, and hopes – pursued through philosophical discussions, self-reflections, historical investigations, and diverse field experiences. The course explores the lives of people in progress, and is divided into 4 units.
How are food systems shaped, and how do they shape the world? In this course, you will be guided through the cycle of life as a metaphor for the trajectory of our global food system. Using food production as a lens, you will study the history of human societies, starting with our transition from hunter-gatherer…
Read MoreWhy do certain speeches “work” and so many others do not? Rhetoric supposes that we use language to persuade, challenge and unite, in all aspects of our lives. To awaken to this reality, you will explore how language has been, and might be used to help us powerfully and clearly articulate our viewpoints. As you…
Read MoreA Nation’s Argument integrates historical and global revolutions and nation-forming with the language and logic skills needed to develop and sustain an argument. By anchoring our investigation in the birth of the United States and learning the structure and language of argument, you will explore the life of the nation within and beyond these borders…
Read MorePolicy informs students how to use both rhetoric and argument to agree on a common good, so that living together is sustainable and nurturing. In this course, you will study the decades-long civil rights movement in the U.S. and international social justice struggles, examining the process and different roles by which policies – for better…
Read MoreHow do you know about the world? In this course, you will learn how to observe, analyze and report on current events through different media—Image, Sound and Text. In each of these three units, you will be challenged to conduct an exploration into a realm of journalism; you will follow a full cycle of investigation;…
Read More“All men are born equal”. But, what about women? And, even if we are born equal, do we live in equality? How do wealth and resources fit in? In this course, you will explore inequalities that exist based upon gender, race, and socioeconomic class differences. You will become familiar with the theories that strive to…
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