114 courses with the subject FYS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
This seminar looks at international conflict from a social science perspective. Its function is not only to transmi
From your social media feeds to advertising to iconic photographs, "Reading Photographs" will teach you visual literacy. While there have been major technological shifts i
What does it mean to be a deviant? Or to deviate from some standard? In disciplines such as drawing, physics, and poetry, deviation emerges in avant-garde circles
The term "individualism" has long been used to describe one of the distinctive qualities of Ame
This seminar explores how race and ethnicity is mediated through film and media by analyzing the tangle between the construction of race and visual technology
What does social change in a democracy look like? This course equips students with a framework for understand
This class is a study of the different ways we interact with and thus know the natural environment. These ways include, among ot
Fungi have played a critical role in the development of society since ancient times. As food (or a threat to it), as medicinal sou
The region of the Eastern U.S. known as Appalachia is defined by the geological characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains, bu
The moral life is intimately related to questions regarding self-understanding in relationship with others. These questions are also
Why is baseball the "American pastime"? What is it about baseball that fascinates millions around the world? This seminar explores
In addition to offering mass entertainment, soccer has been used as a government propaganda machine, is the pillar of multi-billion-d
From the Black Death to AIDS, epidemics have resulted in profound social and cultural change. Through an analysis of societies
This course examines the intersections of death and screen media while introducing ways to read and respond to complex visual
While the most recent financial crisis has heightened awareness of what can happen when the financial systems run
This seminar explores miracles and the miraculous in religious traditions from around the world. Students learn about
This course is an exploration of rivers, and in particular the Delaware River, as critical to the development of soci
In this FYS, we will interrogate the mechanisms of gambling and the games that are played while we focus on the benefits and costs of g
This seminar explores sources and uses of energy in a technical society. Issues regarding fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energ
This interdisciplinary seminar will examine the "Trials of the Century" that have captivated the general public's attention b
This course explores the field of book history, the study of the making and using of books. Hands-on work with Skillman Library’s rare books collection and librarians will be a key
Can we hear gender difference in music? Why are there no "great" women composers? What power does a performance wield? To e
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis are all part of the geological evolution of
This seminar explores how even the most intimate and seemingly personal forms of experience are shaped by culture a
Charisma, meaning "gift of grace," denotes a deeply personal, yet anti-institutional type of authority, shared by certain cult leaders a
The idea of "multiculturalism" is often associated with modernity. The reality is, however, that multiculturalism was a part of the everyd
In the current age of rampant misinformation, how can we identify and understand legitimate research in the life sciences? How can we learn to distinguish among reliable information, propaganda, advertisements, and outright falsehoods? We
Foods are material substances that are deeply linked to human sustenance, to sociability, status and sensibility, as well as the sway of the senses-whether sparking desire or disgust. In th
Social media sites have become the most powerful distributors of information in human history. They’ve become not only sites o
The United States was created from land wrested from Indigenous inhabitants. How do people living in a society with such a foundation address the violence of conquest? How is this story to
Where did residents go when their multi-facial, multi-ethnic neighborhood ("Syrian Town") in downtown Easton, PA was demoli
Cookbooks are much more than simple collections of recipes. When approached critically, they allow us to analyze patterns of daily life, domestic ideals and practices,
We will study the history and the science of polling. Polling became popular in the early 20th century, with spectacular successes in market
This course offers an interdisciplinary look at our food from planting to harvest, distribution and packin
Jewish writing has been a way to create group and individual identity. We will think about major themes and styles, and we will also talk about how Jewis
Your immune system is necessary for your survival, but it can also cause many different diseases. Th
This course examines Jewish humor within the context of theories of humor and the comedic and as a window to Jewish culture. It explores examples of Jewish humor past and present
While few people would deny that we have special, and sometimes quite demanding, obligations to help our friends, fami
Empathy is the capacity to "walk in others' shoes," to experience, feel and view the world from the perspective of those whose values, culture, and embodied identi
Scientific research plays a critical role in the way societies overcome challenges and respond to crises. How do societies mobilize scien
The phrase “resistance is life” echoed throughout the Middle East in various contexts, in support of the Kurdish People’s Prot
"The Ice Age!" Was it a unique episode of glacial expansion or one of many? Are continental ice sheets a thing of
Why do some stories stay alive? From Homer to Hollywood, the myth of the Trojan War has been told, and retold, innumera
What is the social impact of new technologies? Who in society benefits and who is harmed by the rapid development of modern science and technology? How is sci
Though China is the world's most populous nation, a military superpower, and an increasingly dominant presence in international com
"Man's best friend?" Nature's most successful parasite? Employing a range of perspectives-literary, philosophical, archaeological, biological and technologic
From the Manananggal of the Philippines to Japanese Oni and Algonquian Wendigo, monsters have enchanted societies worldwide. Their elusive nature defies easy categorization, embodying a blend of forms
Why are animals and "animality" becoming more frequent themes in recent literature, performance, and visual art? How is this trend to be understood in rela
As is often the case after cataclysmic world events, things change, as the war in Europe transformed into the Cold
Beginning in the early 20th century, Asian martial arts have attracted the attention of Western audiences. The fighting styles of
What is propaganda? What are some of the most common propaganda techniques? How, if at all, does propaganda differ from other forms o
Civil infrastructure (also known as “the built environment”) undergirds every aspect of our lives. However, the relationship betw
People from many times and places communicate with the dead through seances, prayer, spirit channeling, ghost hunting, ancestor ve
We will approach the topic of virtue from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. The course will be structured around inq
Video games now rival established media forms like film, television, and books. Games are not just about entertainment. Scie
Artists have long relied on the science fiction and fantasy genres as subtle but precise tools for social and political critiq
This class is an investigation of bread. Our investigation will lead us to understand bread through the filters of science and technology, politics, a
How is the figure of the immigrant portrayed and construed in the media? How do visual representations of immigratio
A sense of adventure compels people to explore uncharted territory, climb high peaks, and cross stormy seas. In the word
Why do we fast, feast, kill animals, feed spirits, and throw potluck suppers? What various culinary traditions teach us about social
Birds who plan ahead? Fish who recognize themselves in mirrors? Octopuses who excel at complex tasks? Rats who love being tickled
Learn about the tantalizing history behind some of your favorite colors. Together we will travel to the lapis mines of Afghanistan i
Sexual reproduction is a driving factor in the animal world, but how do the principles of mate choice apply to humans? In
Silence. What the heck is it? It’s more than keeping your mouth shut. Some say it’s a language onto itself, its meaning framed b During the semester, we will explore silence in its many iterations and my hope is you’ll develop your own relationship with sil
We are surrounded by spaces and objects that were designed to serve one or more purposes, but not all designs are successful. By learning ab
Few figures in global cultures are as ubiquitous, and complicated, as “the witch.” Though entwined with mythology from the sta
Beginning with the World's Parliament of Religions in 1893, interfaith dialogue and cooperation has been an important part of our unde
This FYS explores the origins of war from an interdisciplinary perspective. With a primary focus on large-scale interstate wars, this course will survey a wide-range of reading materials about the causes and consequenc
Learn how to look at works of cinematic art in an informed and reflective way. We will emphasize the importance, to properly
Scientific demonstrations are used in lectures, science museums, and television shows to explain scientific principles an
Fear is a pervasive aspect of society. Since the events of 9/11, issues surrounding fear, terror, and personal and national security have beco
The media has powerful effects on our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. In turn, psychology can help us understand how we consu
In this seminar, students will explore the role of individual differences such as race, gender, and disabilities, in the design of everyday things. Through readings
Have you ever been captivated by a book or movie? This seminar explores the complex nature of enjoyment of fiction, in
This course focuses on a close reading of one of the classic texts of the Indian tradition, the Bhagavad-Gita, placing i
This course follows the path of ideas about the self and society outside Western textual traditions. Focusing
Through the analysis of firsthand nonfictional or autobiographical accounts of war, students will gain a better understanding
This seminar takes a comparative approach to explore how different societies deal with internal conflicts resulting f
What is happiness? How should we pursue it? Are we misguided in our expectations of happiness? Conversations about happiness extend beyond the f
Learning is central to our lives as students, professors, and citizens. This seminar will focus on the scien
For thousands of years, the theater has both entertained and provided a forum in which social issues can be explored. This
The purpose of this class is to provide students with skills, practice and exposure to telling stories outside of traditional modes. For example: when we think about
Alexander Hamilton said, "The first duty of society is justice." Today there is vociferous argument about the prevalence of justice. To wh
Coffee has a ubiquitous and somewhat unique role in our society. While some tend to think of it merely as a vehicle for caffeine, it is also the basis on which cafe culture originated and exists, a highly-traded commodity crop with huge economic impacts and worldwide sourcing, and a finely-calibrated culinar
Sexuality is often thought as ahistorical-something fixed and natural that does not change through time and place. Yet, just like
Beginning with the history of quilting and its impact on American folk art, this course covers how quilts have been used as
From gaming to restoring motor activity, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) has provided humankind with an alternate means to con
Plastic: Greatest technological advance of the 20th century or ecological scourge? Plastics, or polymer, are so pervasive in our
Movies, social media, newspaper articles, and television can inform, transport, and entertain. Documentaries
Scientists have developed tools to directly manipulate DNA, but should we use them? In this FYS, we will examine the histor
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourettes syndrome, depression, eating disorders-this seminar introduces students to a wide range of t
Islands are, almost by definition, unique. While being temporary homes to an increasing number of tourists, they also harbor end
This course explores both the theoretical development of nonviolence and the practice of nonviolence as a means for waging and reso
In this course we will examine songs and songwriters with an eye/ear for how music and lyrics come together to create songs of social relevance. We
The course does not assume knowledge of music on the students' part; nor does it require that they master notation or becom
Part of a being a human being is adapting, transposing and renovating narratives and ideas into new formats. How do we understand this human process in the twenty-first century? This course is dedicated t
How do we tell stories about the past? How do we find things to tell stories about? These two questions form the core of
One of the fastest growing groups globally is people who identify themselves as having no religious affiliation. In this course, we
How have “animals” and “humans” made history together? How can we think and write about history beyond the human? Through the readin
From their conception in the early 1970’s table top role-playing games (TTRPGs) have been delegated to fringe culture, assumed to be at best self-actualization for social outcasts, or
The Civil Rights Movement, the Antiwar Movement, the Space Race, and, of course, Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll...Through an
Is silence a rare commodity in the Information Age? Is "noise" everywhere, or do sound and silence emerge in pattern
Popular media from the news to film is filled with references to Latinos and Latinas, but what do we really know about them? T
How does our culture view drugs, drug use, and the effects of drugs on our brains and behavior? In this course we wil
Many of today's important issues have a scientific component. From global warming to personal nutrition and health, and everywhere
Market-based social entrepreneurship as an approach to addressing poverty, unfreedoms and the lack of localized agency among the poor in economic development has seen a rise in prominence. This is often attributed to the failures of national governmen
“Breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out.” ~ Taylor Swift. “You are loved just the way you are.” ~ Fred Rogers. Public figures like Taylor Swift and Mister Rogers, are people who help to embody, identify, and evaluate how theological tr Students in this FYS will consider how public theology and the work of public theologians shape culture and policy in the Un
This course is intended to challenge you, as first-students who have left home perhaps for the first time, to think about
Public participation is celebrated everywhere, from large corporations to the IMF. New technologies have given everyday people a
From the 2nd c. BCE to the 15th c. CE, the Eurasian continent was profoundly transformed by the "Silk Roads," a series of overland
Is abortion moral? Should it be legal? Is the availability of abortion required for the exercise
Film's potential to help us gain philosophical understanding and achieve personal, moral growth have been subject to intense sch
“A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” This is how Churchill described Russia a century ago. In our own tim
What does it mean to be Chinese? What are some central aspects of Chinese culture? How do the traditional values and belief
Source: Lafayette College's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 59
