Positive psychology is the study of well-being and flourishing. This course will teach concepts and practices backed by scientific research that students can apply directly to their lives in college and beyond. Methods of positive psychology can be applied to enhance professional accomplishment and personal happiness. Research also shows that people learn effectively and exhibit marked creativity in situations where there is substantial autonomy and real-world relevance. Coursework activities will center on personal application of the subject through action and reflection.

Are you interested in fiction writing but don?t know where to start? In this course, students will participate in a professional-grade writer?s workshop geared for beginners. With the guidance of the instructor, an award-winning graphic novelist and ethnographic writer, they will read seminal short fiction and instructive texts and participate in group and individual writing exercises. Students will learn to talk about and analyze short fiction and will develop their own pieces through formal workshopping with peers and consultation with the instructor.

Nanotechnology can be a double-edged sword. The same unique properties that enable the beneficial use of nanomaterials in novel applications also make their unintentional interactions difficult to anticipate. Increasing entry of engineered nanomaterials into the environment has resulted in growing environmental and health concerns as the field of nanotechnology continues to expand. Nanomaterials are not only found in our latest gadgets, they are also

How does culture influence the human mind? In pursuit of an answer to this question, this seminar will review classic and current research in the field of cultural psychology by focusing on its major theoretical approaches and methodologies. The purpose of this course is to examine (a) how socio-cultural environments (both between and within cultural groups) influence basic psychological processes such as self, cognition, emotion, and motivation, (b) what mechanisms underlie these cultural influences, and (b) how these mechanisms operate across different levels of analysis.

The human brain is an information processing system without parallel. It excels at identifying objects and carrying out actions in ways no current computer or robot can achieve. Neuroscientists are studying the neural mechanisms by which we feel, act, learn and remember. Recent research has generated a rapidly evolving field of high- profile discoveries. The new knowledge is critical for understanding normal brain processes, and has important implications for the rehabilitation of abnormal functioning after neurological damage (e.g., concussion, stroke).

Do you have problems understanding grammar explanations in foreign language classes? Would you like to be fluent in a foreign language but feel that you need some extra help to get past the beginner level? If you want to streamline your language learning experience, and learn some linguistic and cognitive strategies that will allow you to acquire a second language more easily, this seminar can help you. We will explore some findings in second language acquisition research that can help you develop learning strategies that go way beyond outdated flashcards.

The UMass area has attracted visitors and residents since the 19th century with its cultural riches, including nature mediated through art and culture. The seminar will look at history and contemporary artists, writers, businesses, and institutions that foster and contribute to this, beginning with 19th century tourism and extending to the fine and popular arts and artists today and in recent decades. The course will include consideration of painting and sculpture, writing including fantasy and children's literature, illustration, nonfiction writing, and animation.

The dramatic decline in honeybees over the past several years related to Colony Collapse Disorder has raised the public's awareness to the importance of these insects in our everyday life. This seminar will use the popular book 'Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honeybee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis' by Rowan Jacobsen as a guide to examine the importance of bees in our society, the possible causes of declining honeybee health, as well as learn more about the biology and social society of bees.

this FFYS is to provide weekly topical discussions on different types of bio/nanotechnology. This includes how they are developing in the research community as well as how they are being incorporated into our daily lives (see Table). Examples include genetically-modified proteins (which might be in foods), the engineering of microbes to produce therapeutics or liquid fuels, and the development of novel drug delivery vehicles and biosensors.

In this seminar, we will explore the amazing diversity of animal mating and reproduction. We will investigate how animals find and select mates, how male and female sexual imperatives differ, the wide variety of means and methods by which animals reproduce, and more. We will also ponder some ?why? questions, such as ?Why do males and females differ??, ?Why are many sexual behaviors so extreme and elaborate??, and ?Why does sex exist??