Listening involves pausing the commotion of the mind, paying close attention, and accessing one?s inner thoughts and feelings. Through systematic study of mindfulness techniques and interaction with guest performers, students will deepen their ability to listen to and appreciate music. Weekly homework amounts to twenty minutes of close listening to assigned recordings, and a thoughtful reflection that can be completed by 1-page double spaced paper, video response, or other creative means. Students will also learn to share and listen to one another share about music.

Have you always wanted to learn to play the ukulele? Do you love to sing by yourself and with others? This seminar will help students explore their musical side in a fun and supportive environment. Students will: (1) learn ukulele basics, including tuning, chords, strumming patterns, and fingerpicking, as well as a variety of songs they can play and sing by themselves or with others; (2) learn about the history of the ukulele and its iconic performers and ensembles; (3) create and perform their own ukulele and vocal cover song arrangements.

What does it mean to be an Italian in the 21st century? How has this sense of identity changed as the country has become more multicultural? What role does the nation's colonial past play in the current discourses on race relations, acceptance, and citizenship? How does art play a role in combating racial stereotypes, effecting change, and giving a voice to the voiceless? This course examines Italy's racial past and present? - perhaps surprisingly - through the lens of global hip-hop music and culture, an increasingly popular form of expression among first and second generation Italians.

You will be learning about the basics of applied athletic coaching. Effective athletic coaching requires an understanding of the following: coaching/leadership styles, communication, teaching physical skills, athlete motivation, and psychological skills training. You will also learn how to transfer coaching skills to a variety of other fields including: health care, teaching, business, and all leadership roles. As you learn about athletic coaching, we will address some basic goals that focus on the transition to and success in college.

This course examines the STEM disciplines through the lens of social justice. Through readings from the literature, we will define STEM diversity through social identities such as race, class, gender, culture, and ability. We will also challenge who gets to participate in the construction of scientific knowledge, who has access to scientific knowledge, and how efforts to change the STEM status quo can lead to a more just STEM world.

Yoga is so much more than physical exercise! This course is designed to introduce the curious student (who might never have taken a yoga class before or who might be a dedicated yogi) to mind-body connection and practices of yoga that happen on and off the mat. Our goals will be to deepen our knowledge of yoga and ourselves so that you can feel confident going into yoga classes, move safely in the way that your unique body craves, and engage mindfully in the mental and spiritual practices off the mat that can help you study, learn, and live with greater ease and self-confidence.

Images abound. They fill our social media feeds, they are staged to convey our aspirations for ourselves, and they increasingly hold powerful sway over our cultural discourses. Critic Sean O?Hagan has called photography ?the medium of our time, not just defining our globally connected digital image culture, but propelling it.? In this class, we will practice Dr. Jennifer Roberts? concept of ?deceleration? by slowly reading Susan Sontag?s classic book, On Photography, and contemplating her theories on photography and images.

Owning a home has long been an integral part of the American Dream and a symbol of success. However, homeownership has recently plummeted and the prospect of housing evokes anxiety and fears of economic precarity. This Faculty First-Year Seminar will investigate and interrogate the discourse that surrounds housing, which intersects with the concepts of citizenship, race, gender, and class. We will study nonfiction and fiction alike in our attempts to unpack the cultural meanings of housing in the 21st century.

Learnabout making and makerspaceson campusin this First Year Seminar. This seminar brings students of all majors tothe All-Campus Makerspaceto begin their journey with ahands-onintroduction to multiplefabricationandprototypingtechnologies, including3D printing, electronics, woodworking, and mold-making. Learn more about othermakerspaces and related resourceson campusandfind out how to efficiently navigate this networkin order to complete your own projects, coursework, or research.