Spring 2025 Courses

Please refer to the USEM course listings within SIS for course meeting times.

Journeys Through Hell

Dariusz Tolczyk

You should take this University Seminar if you would like to step outside your comfort zone and place yourself in the shoes of people who experienced some of history's profound assaults against humanity and wrote about it. 

How does evil originate in history? Our readings and discussions will allow us to confront our own assumptions with discoveries of those who lived through extreme experiences – genocide, persecution, enslavement, concentration camps. What did they discover about being human? We will discuss the Bible, Plato, Elie Wiesel, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Witold Pilecki, Varlam Shalamov, Zhang Xianliang and others. Readings will be complemented by films.

Death, Dying and Bereavement

Richard Steeves

You should take this University Seminar if you are interested in exploring literature, research and practices concerning death and bereavement.

This course is an exploration of thinking about dying, death and bereavement. Although western culture and American culture in particular has a reputation for being death denying, we do in fact confront images of and talk about death on almost a daily basis. This course will not be a study about death and dying in the news and popular media, rather it will about those who have thought about our mortality seriously and extensively.

AI and Democracy

Siva Vaidhyanthan

You should take this University Seminar if you are curious about how artificial intelligence will alter our sense of citizenship, our public sphere, and how elections are run around the world.

This course will serve as a brief introduction to what we mean by "artificial intelligence." Through that we will consider the best ways to think about technology and its relationship to society and democracy. It will also consider what we might need as citizens to operate in a flourishing democracy. Finally, it will consider the ways that AI might enhance or inhibit such flourishing.

Espionage: A Global History

Jeffrey Rossman

You should take this University Seminar in order to understand the history of intelligence, espionage, and covert operations from ancient times to the end of the Cold War.

This course explores the history of intelligence from ancient times to the end of the Cold War. We will approach the topic through a series of case studies. Topics include: intelligence theory and practice in the ancient world; Renaissance Venice, Elizabeth I and the rise of Western intelligence; Ivan IV and the origins of Russian state security; intelligence and the Atlantic Revolutions; and intelligence during the world wars and the Cold War.

Child Welfare, Poverty and Justice

Rebecca Schmidt

You should take this University Seminar if you want to make positive change for children and families.

Child welfare in the United States is complex and controversial. From prevention, to foster care, to termination of parental rights and adoption, each phase poses significant ethical questions around the definition of family, the power of government and the concept of safety. This course will explore these questions, facilitated by local experts in law, policy, healthcare and other areas and will challenge you to make a positive difference

Higher Education and Civic Participation: Foundations and Practices

Matt Banfield

You should take this University Seminar if you are interested in making change in your community.

This course aims to explore the role of higher education in fostering civic participation. By examining historical and contemporary perspectives, students will develop an understanding of how colleges and universities serve as catalysts for civic participation and social change. The course will introduce key concepts, theories, and practices related to civic participation, with a focus on how students can contribute to their communities.

Work In The Age of The Algorit

Claudia Scholz

You should take this University Seminar if you want to learn about how data and automated decision-making will shape your future as employees, managers and/or entrepreneurs.

This is a course about the future of work and how it will be impacted by data, algorithms, and automation. It is also a course about the work embedded in algorithms. What we call “artificial intelligence” is in fact built on human decisions, labelling and interpretation. Students will explore their own experience with work and their future career goals while learning about algorithms and automation.Accordion content.

Contemplative Composition and Performance EnsembleAccordion title

JoVia Armstrong

You should take this University Seminar if you are interested in exploring the transformative power of music through composing and performing d wish to deepen your connection to music by integrating mindfulness and contemplation into your practice.

Students will learn about the transformative power of music in the "Contemplative Music Ensemble" by composing and performing music. This unique course combines the study and practice of music with principles of mindfulness and contemplation, fostering a deeper connection between the musician, the music, and the audience. Students will also explore electronic trance music and various forms of ambient music, sounds of nature, and binaural beats.Accordion content.