An introduction to the ideas that we need protect ourselves from naturally occurring toxic chemical substances in our environment, and to deal responsibly with those chemical substances we deliberately distribute into the environment. In answering the question posed in the course title, we will learn how science advances by dissemination of research results in the peer-reviewed literature, several examples of which we will read. We will discover what arsenic compounds are in our food, how they got there, and whether they are potentially harmful.

When did college start? What did the first college students study? How did the medieval world perceive college students? And how do we think of college today? In ?The Birth of the University? we will take a critical look at the tradition of higher education. We will trace schools from Plato?s Academy up through the rise of Europe?s first universities (Bologna, Paris, Oxford) in Europe. The course will encourage students to consider the ways various technologies (scrolls, the scriptorium, wax tablets) have had an impact on what and how students learned.

This seminar will explore the lived experience of substance abuse and reflections on rehabilitation. Additional sources of information will come from media accounts of a famous author/substance abuser and scientific reports of the neurophysiologic basis of addiction. Understandings of the physical and emotional aspects of addiction including socially acceptable and unacceptable addictions will be explored.

A fulfilled career and lasting happiness require self knowledge ? how one understands his/her own values, desires, choices, and habits of dealing with self and others. Though vitally important, self knowledge is more difficult to obtain than knowledge about the outside world, as the former requires our eyes to look inward, which unfortunately is not one of our born habits.

It's estimated that 80% of the U.S. population lives in cities and towns, and the trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Increasing population in urban and suburban areas increases the demand on the infrastructure of such places to sustain the residents. Trees are an integral part of the infrastructure, providing many environmental, economic, and social benefits; they make it easier for us to live sustainably. This is why so many communities (like Boston, New York, Washington DC and others) have started to plant more trees.

Randomness and uncertainty exist in our daily lives as well as in every scientific investigation. This course helps students better understand randomness and uncertainty and gives them tools to make more informed decisions under uncertain situations.

We will discuss that our intuition is often wrong when assessing uncertain situations, leading us to make wrong decisions. We will provide real life examples where even professionals have misjudged chances and probabilities.

Students will learn about sports-related mild traumatic brain injury (i.e., concussion) and postconcussion syndrome. They will learn about the cause, symptoms, assessment, and recovery of sports-related concussion. The class will discuss controversies about concussion. There will be a focus on the neuropsychological aspects of the condition.

Race. Some people see it as a taboo topic. Others see it as essential. Some see it as irrelevant to their lives. Others see it as fundamental to their very identities and selves. But just what is this thing we have come to call "race"? Is it real? Where did it come from? Has it always been with us? In this seminar, we will discover what anthropologists, sociologists, and historians have learned about the concept of race in human societies, past and present. We will learn about the power of race to shape our lives, identities, and opportunities.

This interdisciplinary course will address the theory and practice of sustainability. Its primary goal is to introduce concepts and help students to develop a framework to better understand the challenges surrounding the transition towards sustainability, with regards to both human well-being and the protection of the environment. Class discussions will involve a broad range of topics related to global climate, ecosystems, quality of life, poverty and affluence, and provide a basic overview of the complexities involving social, ecological, political, cultural and economic goals.

Climate change will have a profound impact on our future cities, influencing new forms of infrastructure, systems and buildings. From rising sea levels to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, the environmental impacts of climate change have already begun to materialize. As people look for alternative ways to ensure stability and sustainability in the coming years, regenerative
design appears to be a promising tool.