The course will discuss the basic psychological principles of social influence. Topics include social norms, conformity, compliance, obedience, and persuasion.

This course looks at the lively and vibrant arts and culture of UMass, including museums and galleries, rare books and manuscripts, one of America?s foremost literary magazines, innovative and historic architecture, a major international film archive, and other cultural resources on campus. The seminar will offer a history of the arts, writing, and design at UMass, and will include on-campus field trips to all the places and resources we learn about.

Your DNA offers a chance to explore, discover and reconciliate with the past. Pieces of your DNA have come together for this moment from different ancestral places over time. With increasing accuracy your DNA offers mechanistic insight into your peculiar characteristics suggesting lifestyles and medical treatments. Your DNA is also being used today in ways that you may not wish. How do you want your DNA used? This course will examine the social life of DNA and the need for a new bioethics.

Both inside and out, our bodies harbour a huge array of micro-organisms. Although invisbleto us, they play key roles in determining our health, our emotional state, and even our IQ! This seminar course will employ popular science and newspaper readings and videos to inform in-class discussions of how our microbiome has become one of the key issues in discussions of human health. Join me as we learn how to encourage a healthier microbiome to flourish inside us!

In contemporary life, art is a universal way for people to communicate, express themselves, and share feelings, concepts, and experiences with the world. Art is an important avenue through which to connect with others, especially in times of crisis. Art can also be the catalyst for self-reflection, healing, and well-being for individuals, communities, and the public at large. In this course we will explore how art and artists have been at the forefront of movements to shape collective health and social change.

The Past, Present, and Future of Veterinary Medicine: An exploration of where the profession has been, the current status of the profession, and where the profession might be going. How did the field of veterinary medicine develop? Who are the pioneering scientists and veterinarians who made the world better through their dedication to animals and society, hard work, perseverance, medical curiosity, and ingenuity? What are the current costs and benefits of joining the veterinary profession?