Spring 2012 Learning Communities

You'll develop potent powers of observation by studying the evolution of the natural world, of literary texts and of your own writing. You'll refine your abilities to describe what you see and to explain how it got there, whether through environmental impact, influence of form or individual determination.

Origins of the Self (ENGL 250) MW 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Humankind in the Biological World (BIOL 101) MW 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
College Composition (WRIT 101) MW 2-3:20 p.m.

In the global economy of the 21st century, business is highly competitive, technologically driven and constantly changing. In this learning community, you'll be introduced to the fundamentals of leading and managing the modern corporations, small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups. You'll gain and apply essential communication skills that every leader and manager must master to inspire and engage his or her workforce. You'll also work to understand how your future employers survive and thrive in the global economy, as you acquire skills to enable you to join the next generation of leaders.

Communicating Effectively (CMAT 201) MW 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Business in a Changing World (MGMT 101) MW 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

You'll research the past by investigating a murder victim, a thief and an early working woman. Using different sources of information, you'll piece together the life of an everyday person in the 19thcentury while learning more about the process of social history.

Everyday Lives (HIST 240) MW 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Introduction to Information Literacy (IDIS 110) MW 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

Music provides a window to understanding culture and society. In this learning community, you'll examine how music reflects, supports and even shapes our perceptions of reality, our social institutions (such as religion, media and the family), and our ideologies of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and class. To cultivate your understanding of these relationships, you'll learn central concepts and theories related to music and sociology, and you'll continue to explore these connections while developing essay composition skills.

Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 100) TR 9:30-10:50 a.m.
World Music (ARTS 121) TR 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
College Composition (WRIT 101) TR 2-3:20 p.m.

Examine the role that government and public policy play in ensuring the sustainability of the many natural resources—including fresh water, ecosystem productivity, fisheries, energy and soil fertility—on which our society depends. You'll employ various approaches to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current policy and resource management strategies—all of which contribute to one of the government's most important long-term and often overlooked goals: ensuring the sustainability of society.

College Composition (WRIT 101) TR 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Human Ecology (ENVS 201) TR 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Politics in Comparative Perspective (GVPP 284) TR 2-3:20 p.m.

Society is continuously looking for creative, new solutions to complex problems. Though the tendency is to look to the past for what has been done or for that "big idea" that will change everything, the solution often requires an innovative problem-solver. This person has the skills to analyze the situation carefully, define the problem and develop a creative approach that sets the stage for successful implementation of new ventures. In this learning community, you'll develop these skills and build your strengths in effective, efficient communication that helps us frame information-gathering questions, share ideas and inspire collaboration.

Communicating Effectively (CMAT 201) TR 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Imagination, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ENTR 101) TR 2-3:20 p.m.

Science fiction narratives throughout American history have defined our national ideals and goals, reflected our fears and pointed the way to a future that did (and did not) come true as envisioned. In this learning community, you will engage speculative narratives in a variety of media and learn how different kinds of sources can be used to explore imaginative concepts.

Interpreting Pop Culture (CMAT 271) TR 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Introduction to Information Literacy (IDIS 110) TR 2-3:20 p.m.

Certain enduring questions plague modern human beings: Why am I here? What is the nature of being human? What is good and what is evil? Is there meaning to my life? In this learning community, you'll explore these and other questions using both science (psychology) and the humanities (literature).

Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 100) MW 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Origins of the Self (ENGL 250) MW 2-3:20 p.m.

Explore conflicts throughout history by investigating a conflict of your choice. You'll support an argument about the causes, actors or consequences of this conflict by finding, evaluating and using relevant current and historical information.

Conflicts in History (HIST 197) MW 5:30-6:50 p.m.
Introduction to Information Literacy (IDIS 110) MW 7-8:20 p.m.