College(Interdeptmnt) Courses 224 - Being Human in STEM

This is an interactive course that combines academic inquiry and community engagement to investigate the theme of diversity and climate within STEM fields. In the first half of the semester, we ground our understanding of the STEM experience at Mount Holyoke in national and global contexts, specifically looking at the way in in which gender, class, race, sexuality, and geographic upbringing might shape these experiences. We accomplish this through reading scholarly and popular literature and surveying existing evidence-based inclusive practices at a range of educational institutions. We supplement this research with interviews with members of the Mount Holyoke community. In the second half of the semester, students design their own group projects that apply the findings of their research to develop resources and encourage the STEM community, whether at the college, local, or national level. Coursework includes weekly readings, reflective writing, in-class discussion, and will culminate in a public presentation on the group projects.

Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors