2024 Spring FYS Courses

What is a just or "good" society? What is the relation between moral or ethical values, social justice, and its practice? This seminar compares and contrasts ideas expressed in the past about these and related questions with ideas prevalent in our world today. Discussions will center on a selection of historical and contemporary works representative of diverse world views. We will also watch films that express ideas or compel thought about ethical beliefs and practices, and read news about related current events.

Course#: FYS 161-01
Professor: Celia Chazelle
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2 - 3:20 PM

This seminar explores some of the oldest, most profound, and most fascinating philosophical and religious questions that human beings have pondered for over 3000 years. Our course will focus on three main themes: What is mortality and immortality? What is the mind? Is there a purpose to human life? Students taking the course will hone their abilities to think critically about knowledge beyond the limits of their own personal experiences, to develop and defend their own positions and worldviews, and to develop imaginative and conceptual skills needed to compare and evaluate alternative positions and worldviews.

Course#: FYS 161-04
Professors: Pierre Le Morvan
Day/s & Time/s: TF 11:00 - 12:20PM

This course is about the evolution of American Communism and those who opposed it during the 20th century. It will examine how Communism did and did not change over time, along with the relationship of the Communist movement to the American government, to other social movements, and to American culture more broadly. It will also examine the social and political forces that opposed Communism. Through an examination of scholarly texts as well as primary documents--from political pamphlets to transcripts of Congressional testimonies to songs and films and paintings--this course will challenge students to reflect--in discussion and through writing assignments--on how radical political movements shaped American politics and society. Students will complete a series of short writing assignments as well as a longer essay.

Course#: FYS 161-06
Professor: Nicholas Toloudis
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2:00 - 3:20 PM

This course will examine what happens when storytelling becomes "story-showing", that is, when written narrative is accompanied by the visual representation unique to comics and graphic narrative. Does this change our perception of what "really" happened, and if so, how? Does it allow for greater empathy and engagement? What narrative and artistic challenges arise when attempting to represent (or imagine) collective historical traumas and their aftermath?

Course#: FYS 161-08
Professor: Harriet Hustis
Day/s & Time/s: R 5:30 - 8:20 PM

From harmacotherapies that are individualizing cancer treatment to implantable devices that allow paralyzed individuals to stand, this freshman seminar will explore the latest advancements revolutionizing biomedicine and the fundamental ethical questions arising from real situations encountered by the developers, health professionals, patients, and society. Non-fiction literature, news, social media, press releases, and video clips are used to describe the newest biomedical technologies and to explore the benefits and risks, as well as ethical problems they may present. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis of each biomedical technology discussed in both classroom discussion and in written essays and papers.

Course#: FYS 161-11
Professor: Patricia Gellasch
Day/s & Time/s: M 5:30 - 8:20 PM

In this course we will examine the history and impact of LGBTQ+ representation in Young Adult books. We will read and write about the YA novel Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, in which our protagonist is a queer Puerto Rican college student from the Bronx. Using this book and other examples of Queer YA fiction, we will discuss various topics including social identity, intersectionality, heartbreak and relationships, family and community, body image, allyship, language, and more. We will reflect on our past by writing about early messages and socialization as well as look to the future to explore the role of queer YA books and coming of age stories as tools for social justice advocacy.

Course#: FYS 161-13
Professor: Romina Generali
Day/s & Time/s: MR 9:30 - 10:50 AM

Have you ever felt like you were lost? Like the world around you is constantly evolving and yet you still feel stagnant. Sometimes the thoughts we ponder becomes our worse enemy. Better yet, have you heard that therapy is for crazy people, so you avoid speaking to a therapist to help you face the negative thoughts? This course will cover the history of mental health, how it has transformed over time, and examine various mental health techniques. We will examine different stigmatization about mental health and learn the power of utilizing individual, group, and family therapy to break the barriers.

Course#: FYS 161-15
Professor: Brittany Johnson
Day/s & Time/s: TR 5:30 - 6:50 PM

What is Normal? Classification Mechanisms in Public Education
The course will explore the ways in which the American education system and the standards assessment movement has attempted to define normalcy. Students in American schools are classified as normal, above normal and below normal but how are the criteria for these categories derived? What behaviors, skills, and knowledge or developmental levels meet the criteria for each category? Through readings and research the course will consider the reasons why schools aim to stratify their students and who benefits and who loses by these stratifications. We will also look briefly at the history of American education and related key social, political and cultural factors that have influenced the desire to sort who is normal as well as below and above normal. Finally, you will draw on your own personal experiences in high school and through your college search to reflect on how the classification process affected you personally, both positively and negatively.

Course#: FYS 161-17
Professor: Michelle King
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

Is there any aspect of our lives that the Internet and/or digital technology does NOT affect? From how we obsessively connect through text messaging and social media feeds to how we listen to music, study, date, vote, acquire the news and shop, our online and digital interactions profoundly shape our daily existence. In this course, we examine the possibilities and the problems that technology poses. We will also explore the impact on those who do not have access to the technology that has become ubiquitous in our lives.

Course#: FYS 161-19
Professor: Janet Mazur
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

"Many have claimed we are in a new golden age of television, or Peak TV. The Sopranos and The Wire were pioneers that have been followed by multiple recent serialized stories that have attracted film directors, actors, and writers. We have moved from the confinement of networks to cable, pay subscription services, and streaming platforms. Content is developing as
quickly as technology, offering us a broader palette of more characters who look like more of us. How we engage with the stories these characters tell shows us the impact of the argument the creators are making. Focusing on the implicit visual arguments these stories make will allow us to create our own explicit written and visual arguments about them. We will explore and write about three of these series, uncovering strategies that each uses to persuade. Students will write one longer final essay on one other series of their choice. Additionally, in small groups, students will create, shoot, and pitch a ten-minute pilot for their own series."

Course#: FYS 161-21
Professor: Nina Ringer
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30 - 10:50 AM

Marginalized or underserved groups remain the focus of conversation in higher education. Often these groups are identified within certain social constructs including race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and others. Incarceration as a status, however, is another topic of conversation that has been re-emerging with strong support and controversy. In this course, we will use selected articles and various media forms to discuss college study for incarcerated students, including examining types of college in-prison programs, arguments around expanding access to and the impacts of college in-prison study or college behind bars.

Course#: FYS 161-23
Professors: Amanda Simpson
Day/s & Time/s: TR 5:30 - 6:50PM

One of the big questions facing us all is, how can you have a satisfying and joyful life? Can you navigate the enduring possibility of surprise and changes that impact life, such as a global pandemic, a changing job market, or the [insert unexpected element here]? This course will introduce students to life design, leadership, and creative problem-solving to explore these questions and change. We will practice life design and design thinking exercises like wayfinding, reframing, and ideation, explore personal values and their influence on leading within your life and creating change, and discuss social, economic, and topical events and trends that create the surprises and change we must all navigate. Interactive classes and guest speakers are at the core of this course, culminating in a collaborative. multifaceted plan for each students¿ potential future. Students will develop critical thinking and self-efficacy skills to consider the robust possibilities in life and as a new TCNJ student.

Course#: FYS 161-26
Professor: Shannon Conklin & Majorie Blicharz
Day/s & Time/s: M 5:30 - 8:20 PM

Fairy tales are ubiquitous. As universal tales, they transcend time and culture and continue to be remixed and reimagined, offering endless possibilities for interpretation. This course explores and evaluates the pervasive influence of fairy tales in literature and pop culture. We will trace the evolution of fairy tales, from oral tradition to print, media, and stage, and analyze stories through various lenses. Through critical reading of traditional and modern fairy tales, film analysis, classroom discussions, academic readings, and in-class exercises, we will examine how these stories have shaped our personal perceptions, delve into the tales' social implications, and investigate why they remain timeless.

Course #: FYS 161-28
Professor: Ellen Farr
Day/s & Time/s: M 5:30 - 8:20 PM

The course will explore the impact that social media (SM) has on political decision-making and makers. First, we will establish definitions for such constructs as social media and activism. The course will then trace the origins of hashtag activism and look at some of the most effective examples of social media's influence on policymakers. Our journey includes the various ways social activism is displayed on different SM platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, MarcoPolo, etc), and will include a consideration of the best practices in this area. Students will actively engage in studying a social media activism case on their favorite subject, and they will (theoretically) develop a campaign for SM activism on a topic of strong interest.

Course#: FYS 161-33
Professor: Lamont Rouse
Day/s & Time/s: R 5:30 - 8:20 PM

Whether as an elementary school teacher reading a story in a classroom, as a stand-up comedian on a stage, as a spoken-word artist at a poetry slam, or as a TED talker or TikTok influencer, performance for live audiences is central to creative, interpretive, and professional communications. This seminar will explore the expansive field of performance studies, focusing on the interpretation and presentation of imaginative texts¿poems and song lyrics, selections from dramatic works and interviews, and prose fiction and creative non-fiction. We will investigate how storytellers craft presentations for artistic expression, education, and political engagement. Through the development and refinement of our own performance skills (interactional, vocal, and physical) and critical writing about others¿ performances, we will engage with storytelling as an art, as a cultural activity, and as a way of understanding the world..

Course#: FYS 161-32
Professor: David Muller
Day/s & Time/s: MWe 5:30 - 8:20 PM

In this course, we will investigate some central questions and debates concerning the cultural history of U.S. media, tracing how specific media forms influence (and are influenced by) social and political change. Throughout, we will ask what the history of media can teach us about communication, community, entertainment, economies of attention, citizenship, identity, and forms of intimacy. First, we will survey a history of media forms from before the digital age, including commentaries on the proliferation of print, the ethics of photography, misinformation in the Golden Age of Radio, and the historical emergence of the television situation comedy. Then, we will take up digital media, turning to the impact of the Internet on Presidential politics, early histories of computing, social networks, forms of labour, and activism. How, we will ask, do digital media forms relate to earlier technologies and forms of communication? Finally, as a special case study, we will trace the impact of various forms of media on public health during outbreaks of contagious diseases. Throughout the course, we will devote considerable time to discussing the writing process, student presentations, and collaborative discussion.

Course#: FYS 161-34
Professor: Ira Halpern
Day/s & Time/s: MR 9:30 - 10:50 AM

This course offers a study of fiction, film, and autobiography by women of color whose work demonstrates the "presence of the past" in late 20th-entury life. We will read a sampling of authors who have origins in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and China for the specific ways in which they construct and reconstruct the past through literature. As we read each text, we will interrogate the myths and legends that have come to be known as "history" and look at the methods, artifacts, and sources each author uses to acquaint readers with imaginative alternatives to "official records" of the past. We will also study the lesser-known personal histories of the authors' lives as well as the personal lives of the lesser-known historical figures "remembered" by the authors.

Course#: FYS 162-01
Professors: Lisa Ortiz-Vilarelle
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8:00 - 9:20AM

Who is Asian American? And who gets to decide who is or isn't? What does it even mean to be Asian American anyway? In this class, we will examine the Asian American identity and identity formation. While our primary frame of reference will be psychological, we will also draw from historical, cultural, and political contexts to consider the ways in which Asian, as a racial identity has been constructed, understood, and molded over time as the result of, and in response to, systems of racism. We will also examine the present-day cultural and social influences that shape the intraindividual development of Asian American identity, including issues of personality, family and romantic relationships, emotion, and motivation. In doing so, we will consider questions of power, privilege, colonialism and oppression as they inform the formation of an
Asian American identity and its intersectional identities of gender, sexuality, class and religion.

Course#: FYS 162-03
Professors: June Kim
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30 - 10:50AM

Millions of people have tuned in to the hit reality TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance" and pulled for their favorite dancers to make the finals. But few viewers understand the evolution of dance from early Hollywood films to the contemporary digital era. This course introduces students to a myriad of dance styles and how dancing bodies are represented on the American screen -- whether it be in pop music videos, reality television contests, commercial advertisements, YouTube performances, or TikTok challenges. We'll study how dance helps interpret social, historical, and economic contexts of the day and how dance on screen can shape and impact spectators' lived experience. We will examine the broader social world of dance and ask whether Screendance distributes concepts of racist agendas and gender normativity and how it may affect social constructs of each"

Course#: FYS 162-05
Professors: Christine Colosimo
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

This freshmen seminar will explore the presumption of a racially white-washed fantasy genre in literature, TV, film, and more that has only recently hit the national spotlight. Backlash for casting minorities as leads in popular fantasy stories such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Little Mermaid, The Lord of the Rings, and Interview with a Vampire have called into question our complacent acceptance of a "white" fantasy genre in terms of mainstream popularity. This seminar will examine the "gatekeepers" of this mainstream genre and their "challengers" to come to a deeper understanding of race and ethnicity in pop culture's interpretation of such a fantastical fictional genre of storytelling. Students will conduct research with scholarly, popular, and multimodal sources in addition to reading primary sources including fictional literature, TV shows, and movies to explore how the complacent acceptance of "white fantasy" has dominated the genre for years and how contemporary artists, writers, actors and actresses, directors, and more are not only challenging the norms of race in fantasy but also rewriting the genre and its delivery in pop culture for a new generation that is more inclusive and that breaks the boundaries of "traditional fantasy." Themes of race, privilege, and intersectionality will be discussed, analyzed, and synthesized into traditional research papers as well as reflections, classroom presentations, and a culminating multimodal project designed for an audience outside of academia.

Course#: FYS 162-07
Professor: Courtney Malpass
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30 - 10:50 AM

Over the last Century, Athletes have moved beyond the athletic arena to use their voices to garner attention to social injustices, civil rights, and issues abroad. While sometimes controversial, these public displays of protest begin a conversation bigger than the athlete themselves.This course will dive into the historical feats that athletes have accomplished in the name of civil liberties for all. Using discussions, reflections, and creative projects, this course will push students thinking further to understand how their voices can be as powerful as their idols.

Course#: FYS 162-09
Professor: Khayriy Tilghman
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8:00 - 9:20 AM

This first-year seminar will examine the structure and issues affecting the inner-city, how those issues effect the youth, and ultimately the community. In this course students will explore the ways in which historical racism shaped society and has shown favor to white people. Some of the issues that impact the inner-city are the failing school systems, the impact of drugs, inadequate housing, and parental involvement but the root of the problem may be in the hands of the government. We will study historical patterns and follow current news to explore the issues, with the objection of finding solutions for those communities. Some of the questions this class will consider are: Is the school system failing the youth or is the youth just not taking advantage of valuable opportunities? What decisions are the youth faced with when drugs are involved? What, if anything, can the parents do to tackle these issues? What can you do if you had the means? Throughout the course, students will be expected to participate in open discussions. In doing so, students are better prepared to think critically and creatively about ways to eliminate the injustices that hinder people of color in the U. S.

Course#: FYS 162-11
Professor: Tiffany Youngblood
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM

This course traces Black Gospel Music from its origins to its present day varied arrangements. Lectures will include information presented on Black Gospel Music Icons; the various instruments and styles of musical arrangements and more to present the richness and value of this cultural expression. Students come prepared to sing a little (as a group only) and attend at least two worship experiences (i.e., Sunday morning worship and/or a Gospel concert)..

Course#: FYS 162-13
Professor: Todd McCrary
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8 - 9:20 AM

Prof. Mark Edwards
In the history of philosophy and religion, many important works have been written by authors who were behind bars. This course introduces this extensive tradition and the concerns raised. Such texts deal, not only with classical problems in the history of philosophy and religious studies, but also with concerns that many of us share today. Questions to be addressed include: "What is the meaning of life?" "Where can I find happiness?" "What does it mean to live in freedom?" "What can be done about injustice and oppression?" Readings include works by Plato, Boethius, Hannah Arendt, Martin Luther King, Jr., & Angela Davis.

Course#: FYS 162-15
Professor: Mark Edwards
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30- 10:50 AM

This course will examine how girls and young women do activism. We will consider the various methods, tools, and strategies used to inspire socio-cultural and political change in the community. With an emphasis on girls and young women as leaders and agents of change, the course explores what it means to "girl" activism. We will examine the intersections of age, gender and power to understand how girls engage and lead social change efforts despite their marginal status.

Course#: FYS 163-01
Professor: Cecilia Colbeth
Day/s & Time/s: T 5:30 - 8:20 PM

We will deconstruct the most powerful women that made a household name for themselves in pop culture around the world. Together we will analyze the powerful influence they have on society, as well as the power we have as a society to dehumanize their existence. The strength of these female celebrities and influence of their actions is astonishing, but does society do this intentionally to build these distinguished people up to unfathomable standards to simply destroy them in a moment of weakness? More importantly, how this has prominently affected their state of being as a human watching these celebrities struggle to live a healthy life. In society, do we uphold the male counterpart to the same set of standards and unrealistic expectations to demise them at a later point in their livelihood. Did *NSYNC, Kanye West, or Brad Pitt make the same waves in culture as these powerful women did or is society holding powerful, influential women to a different standard for their amusement?

Course#: FYS 163-03
Professor: Kristina Fasulo
Day/s & Time/s: M 5:30 - 8:20 PM

" 'I believe in hope. I believe in belief.' In summer 2020, Ted Lasso emerged quickly as a streaming series about an American football coach shipped to England to manage a professional soccer team. What began as a binge-worthy comedic escape from pandemic-life quickly became a complex look at not only what makes a great leader but also what makes great teams. On and off the pitch, the show highlights the complexity of leadership surrounding relationship building, trust, and authenticity.

We will spill the tea - through examples in television and film, podcasts, TED Talks, and assigned readings - and explore themes and intersectionalities in a thoughtful way that dispels the myth that great leadership is bigger than one person. This course will challenge students to create and/or enhance their own personal and group leadership styles, with particular emphasis placed on the value of self-care and mental health, emotional intelligence, working through failure, and perceptions of gender in leadership. Assignments will include self-reflections, rhetorical analysis, dynamic in-class activities, and research-based written arguments."
Course#: FYS 163-05
Professors: Lindsay Barndt & Erica Kalinowski
Day/s & Time/s: MR 3:30 - 4:50PM

We will be reading and writing about books by famous authors such as Henry James and Robert Louis Stevenson as well as newer voices such as Susan Hill and Silvia Moreno-Garcia. We will also watch films by directors including Jordan Peele and Brian De Palma. Our examination of how horror is usually experienced in the home and in the family will help strengthen students' close reading and analytical skills. We will also talk about how women and men are represented differently, as well as the specific experiences of people of color in these narratives. Every paper topic will be about the books we read and the films we watch so students can develop and improve their writing abilities. The end-of-class presentations compare the themes we have discussed in class to other films and books chosen by students, which will enhance critical thinking skills and encourage people to make connections across different media and different genres.

Course#: FYS 163-06
Professor: Laura Kranzler
Day/s & Time/s: TF 3:30 - 4:50 PM

As responsible digital citizens, it is imperative to develop the skills to approach all forms of media with a critical eye. This will be a course centered around examining video games using the same methods employed in critical literature studies. We'll examine how interactivity changes the author-audience power dynamic, as well as how the usage of second person narration changes the user experience. Furthermore, we'll look at how games can be used in the English classroom to promote literacy and critical thinking.

Course#: FYS 163-09
Professors: Emily Zbyszynski
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2:00 - 3:20PM

This course explores the intersection between gender and communication in various context (i.e. policy, dating, workplace, friendships, etc.). George Bernard Shaw stated, The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. During this course will explore some attitudes and beliefs surrounding communication and gender in relation to stereotypes, race, class and age. This course may utilize various tools including Ted Talks, films, television shows, podcasts, current events and in-class exercises and presentations.

Course#: FYS 163-05
Professor: Dionne Hallback
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

How did Chinese women struggle against footbinding to gain independence and become revolutionaries in the early 20th century? What was the impact of the one-child policy on gender and generational relationships in contemporary China? This course explores the impact of social change on women and family life, and women's role in promoting social change in modern China. Utilizing a range of material--personal account, film, novel, scholarly work, and material culture, the course helps students understand issues concerning gender, family, culture, and Chinese society at large while also gaining learning skills in reading, writing, and researching.

Course#: FYS 164-01
Professor: Qin Shao
Day/s & Time/s: W 5:30 - 8:20 PM

This course aims to help students explore the intricacies of workplace cultures in diverse Asian societies and navigate the cultural differences they might encounter in a global market. In this engaging course, students will delve into the unique dynamics, values, and practices that shape professional environments in countries across East Asia. Key Topics include Leadership and Authority, Effective Communication, Work Ethic, Etiquette, Collectivism, Gender Dynamics, Globalization and Adaptation, and Conflict Resolution in Asian cultural-related workplaces.

Throughout the course, students will engage in discussions, readings, research, essay writing, and case studies to deepen their understanding of Asian workplace culture dynamics. Whether you aspire to work in East Asia or collaborate with Asian colleagues, this course equips you with the cultural competence and practical skills needed for success in diverse professional settings.

The learning objectives are for students to gain a deep understanding of the cultural rules in East Asian society that influence workplace behaviors, including the role of hierarchy, collectivism, and communication styles. Furthermore, students will gain insights into career opportunities in East Asia and develop a career plan that aligns with their personal and professional goals.

Course#: FYS 164-03
Professor: Celia Liu
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11:00 - 12:20 PM

How does the memory of conflict and war impact personal writing about that experience in one's life and its various effects? What does it mean to say that the personal and the political are linked? Additionally, what can we learn about political conflicts from memoirs that is different from historical or social scientific treatments? In this seminar, we will read several memoirs of conflict by combatants, civilians, or war reporters, and consider how one's position relative to the conflict may impact the way one remembers it, writes about it, and is affected by it. We will also read short social scientific analyses  of those same conflicts to consider how the different types of writing lend themselves to different "ways of seeing." (Possible cases are the wars in Bosnia, Syria, South Sudan. Palestine, Vietnam.)

Course#: FYS 164-05
Professor: Miriam Lowi
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30 - 10:50 AM

This FYS seminar seeks to explore the nature and meanings of happiness from a Buddhist perspective. Students will read the basic teachings about happiness from both the Buddhist canons and the contemporary Buddhist thinkers.  Emphasis will be placed on key concepts of happiness such as compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, affection, kindness, gratitude, right ethical conducts and mental/emotional wellness cultivation. Students are encouraged to think about what it would mean to live a good and happy life by applying the teachings to their contemporary life and society.

Course#: FYS 164-07
Professor: Jiayan Mi
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2 - 3:20 PM

You are the next generation of global change agents! This course will examine the challenges of today’s international agenda and opportunities presented for individuals to effect change in a complicated and globalized world. We will analyze a variety of individuals working across a range of international issues who have made an impact addressing global problems: people who have changed the world. By exploring a variety of sources (e.g., biographies, documentaries, inter-governmental reports, fiction, scientific articles, political analysis) we will examine the strategies they used, how they worked within or outside existing political structures, and the success or impact of their efforts. What lessons can we learn about how an individual can help solve today’s pressing international problems?

Course#: FYS 164-10
Professor: Anne-Marie Gardner
Day/s & Time/s: MR 9:30 - 10:50 AM

This seminar explores the impact that the revolution in digital and electronic media has had on society in terms of how information spreads and on the state of public discourse. Through this course, we will trace the emergence of the electronic nervous system and how technology-enabled communications transformed the way news and information spread and are consumed. We will then delve into the long-term implications of this change and how it has irreparably altered the form, function, and behavior of not just the media, but social interactions between individuals and established institutions. We will end the semester by considering the long-term implications of this shift, the future of media, and the roles & responsibilities of individuals in this changing environment.

Course#: FYS 164-12
Professor: Marc Monseau
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2 - 3:20 PM

James Baldwin may not have been speaking about the human rights of people with disabilities around the world, but his sentiments apply. Despite the awareness of international communities (e.g. United Nations, World Bank), the barriers to equal opportunity and social/community inclusion have yet to be eliminated for people with disabilities. In nearly every country in the world people with disabilities remain vulnerable to poverty, discrimination and abuse. Therefore, this course is designed so that students will become Global Activists for people with disabilities around the world. In cooperation with United Nations' Program on Disability for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, students will work in small groups to craft and implement an activist campaign designed to value-add to improving the human rights of people with disabilities in other countries and cultures.

This seminar will be closely aligned to the course of study at TCNJ for students with intellectual disabilities: Career and Community Studies Certificate Program. This is a program (https://ccs.tcnj.edu/) with in the School of Education that implements a post-secondary course of study for a small cohort of youth 18-25 with intellectual disabilities that desire a college experience that leads to adult roles and responsibilities. It is expected that through collaborative and controlled experiences, students in this seminar and the certificate program will jointly benefit from exploring the course themes.

Course#: FYS 164-14
Professor: Amy Schuler
Day/s & Time/s: W 5:30 - 8:20 PM

Narratives surround us. We are embodied stories and stories live through us as we are listeners/readers and storytellers. We make sense of our lives by means of stories¿especially if we have experienced (or witnessed) illness and trauma. This interdisciplinary course sees narratives as texts, as a way of knowing (i.e., as a research tool of inquiry), and as way of self-knowing. For that reason, it combines theoretical insights from literary studies, medical anthropology, autobiographical studies, ethics, and the medical/health humanities. We will read illness narratives, memoirs, and graphic novels to learn how authors make sense of their own life experiences through creative means, as a way of repair and self-care. In addition, we will practice close reading and reflective writing to enhance interpretation, critical thinking, and communicative skills. This course is relevant for students who are especially interested in the intersection of the health professions and the humanities.

Course#: FYS 164-16
Professor: Roxana Delbene
Day/s & Time/s: MR 5:30 - 6:50 PM

This freshman seminar will explore global lifespan trends in the past century and how individuals, families and nations are or are not adapting to this shift. Students will use a variety of sources (from UN and World Health Organization reports to news and social media to movies and TV shows) to explore how late life is experienced and supported across the globe and in order to envision their own 100 year life. The course explores themes of ethical distribution of resources, ageism, disparities in health aging across groups, and public policy.

Course#: FYS 164-18
Professor: Constance Kartoz
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30 - 1:50 PM