In this course, we examine how policy issues and current events get framed and reframed by public official political commentators, reporters, and interest groups. Framing is a process by which certain aspects of an issue or event are emphasized, while other aspects are de-emphasized or ignored. These choices are often strategic, aimed at persuading a particular audience or influencing public opinion at large.

To meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals and stand a chance of keeping global mean temperature rise to 2?C above preindustrial levels, carbon emissions must decline to zero by 2050. Buildings are responsible for roughly 40% of all carbon emissions, and 90% of all the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built. Thus, we need to rapidly develop planning techniques and technologies to retrofit existing buildings so that they can become net-zero carbon emitters.

The roles of insects in ecosystems are incredibly diverse, with species serving as herbivores, predators, pollinators, and they are essential for organic material cycling, and often used as indicators of habitat quality. Despite their species richness, recent reports have highlighted potentially catastrophic declines in the abundance and diversity of insects across multiple biogeographic regions.

This course introduces concepts and principles essential for nursing practice including nursing process, therapeutic communication, and nursing care delivery. Concepts related to microbiology and infection control are introduced.

This seminar surveys modernism's long engagement with the totally designed domestic interior from the totally designed domestic interior from the 19th century gesamtkunstwerk to the remarkable 20th century interiors of Frank Lloyd Wright and Eileen Grey to the electronic, media saturated environments of the 1960s anticipated by critic Reyner Banham and beyond. The theoretical writings of Walter Benjamin, Henri Lefebrve, Tonino Griffero and others will inform discussions.

What do we know about Shi'i Islam? Who are the Shi'is and how are they different from other Islamic groups, and how did that come to be? What do we know about Shi'i societies in the past or present or about their beliefs and practices? Where are these societies located and how did they develop? From its inception to various steps of transformation and in its many manifestations in history and in the modern world, the many misrepresentations and misinformation have created a sense of mystery about this topic.

There are multiple growing concerns regarding issues of climate, class, race, gender identity, and the nature of democracy in our contemporary world. Science fiction has proven to be a thought-provoking genre to help raise awareness to many of these social and environmental issues. This course takes a global perspective on such pressing issues by examining science fiction films from around the world. As such, the course uses science fiction films as primary texts, accompanied by weekly readings.