A century ago WEB Du Bois wrote two of the most important books on race in the American canon (The Souls of Black Folk and The Gift of Black Folk). These works were, in part, pursuing a mission to educate white America on the realities of racism in our country. Du Boise's dream was that America would undergo a cultural evolution that would transform mainstream American society into one that was able to understand and appreciate the humanity of African Americans.

This one-credit class focuses on building a knowledge base and practical skill set that will help students be more effective consultants, problem-solvers and change agents.

Is it true that what does not kill us makes us stronger? What is stress management? What is "stress culture"? This first year seminar will explore these questions, focusing on the relationship between stress and resiliency. We will consider different ideas about stress, adaptive coping, psychological resilience and their relationship to psychological and physical well-being. We will consider cultural differences in approaches to stress, as well as explore the impact of stress on our lives and society.

This course examines philosophical themes in literature and philosophical questions about works of literature. Can we learn about the world from reading works of fiction? What is the meaning of a work of literature, and how can we know it? Are the author's intentions relevant to how we should understand a work? Can works of literature be immoral? How is the identity of the reader relevant to the understanding of a literary work?

Haitian Creole V is an intermediate-level course for students who have completed Haitian Creole I-IV or the equivalent. The independent study format includes small group conversation sessions and an evaluation by an outside evaluator. Students studying Haitian Creole develop speaking and listening skills needed for study abroad in Haiti and to support course work in Caribbean and/or Francophone Studies.

This seminar will examine the value and place of classical music (western art
music) in the contemporary world. Students will be graded on class
participation and written weekly reactions to listening assignments.

Electron Microscopy
plays a critical role in almost every area of modern science and engineering. The course attempts to show the remarkably versatile world of electron microscopy
starting from the basics of electron-matter interactions to resolving atoms or the sophisticated generation of 3-dimensional reconstructions of molecule structures.
An interdisciplinary range of examples stretching from Materials to Biological samples will be presented and discussed. The class will include a visit to the Electron Microscopy Center.

Who are America?s undocumented immigrants? Why do they come to America? Why do they leave their home countries? What?s it like being an undocumented immigrant in America? How do they interact with American institutions (e.g., police, schools, hospitals, churches, neighborhood organizations, social clubs, the labor market, etc.)? What are the laws constricting the life of an undocumented immigrant? What are their expectations, values, beliefs, assumptions and dreams? How do other American groups (other immigrants, natives) perceive undocumented immigrants?

Have you always wanted to play a musical instrument? This seminar is for students who want to learn the ukulele and explore their musical side in a fun and supportive environment. Students will 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. Students will also learn about the history of the ukulele and its iconic performers and ensembles. Students will create their own cover song arrangements and perform these in small groups during the final class.

The Art of Infrastructure: Nature and the Art of What Sustains Us? explores the historical and social background behind the segregation of nature and infrastructure. Via landscape paintings, landscape architecture and writings from the 17th through the 20th Centuries students will investigate why American society has become so divorced from the infrastructure that sustains it. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, infrastructure such as the railroad, factories, power stations ? even animal husbandry ? became excluded from our views of the landscape.