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2015 FSP Courses

The First Seminar (or FSP for short) is a small seminar-style class that all entering first-year students take during their first semester at TCNJ. The course enables entering students to work closely with a professor and their fellow students on a topic of their choosing outside of their major. It offers students an opportunity to engage in an intellectually exciting and challenging experience at the beginning of their college career.

Instructions

  1. Students in the Honors, Bonner, or W.I.L.L. program should go to the  “Honors” or “Bonner/W.I.L.L.” page for their program and follow the directions there; do not follow the directions below.
  2. Some departments and schools give specific advice on how to choose your FSP course.  Please check the “Major Specific FSP Info” page before picking your FSP.
  3. From the list of FSP courses, please pick six sections that interest you.
  4. Once you have chosen six FSP sections, please put them in your First Semester Worksheet.
  5. Your FSPs choices will not be ranked when entered into the First Semester Worksheet. One of your choices will be assigned to you as your FSP.
Class Name/Description Professor Civic Responsibility
FSP 161 01

Human Abilities: Unplugged

“Disability is not a 'brave struggle’ or 'courage in the face of adversity’ . . . disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.” – Neil Marcus – This quote by Neil Marcus reflects the central focus of this seminar regarding the study of human ability and the struggle among people perceived as more different than alike. Mr. Marcus is a poet, humorist, writer, actor and a self proclaimed adventurer who is creatively endowed with disability. His disability denies his ability to speak, stand, walk and/or control sudden and bizarre movements. The study of disability as a key aspect of human experience equal with race, class, gender, sex, and sexual orientation is explored through an alternate post modern paradigm that views difference from a variety of angles. The course commences and terminates with an attempt to define “Human-ness” or the parameters of what makes us “human.” This is compared to the human variability that we experience in our societies, communities and civilizations. This study of ability has important political, social, and economic import for society as a whole, including both disabled and non-disabled people.

Course#: FSP 161-01
Professor: Schuler, Amy
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Schuler, Amy
FSP 161 02

Human Abilities: Unplugged

“Disability is not a 'brave struggle’ or 'courage in the face of adversity’ . . . disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.” – Neil Marcus – This quote by Neil Marcus reflects the central focus of this seminar regarding the study of human ability and the struggle among people perceived as more different than alike. Mr. Marcus is a poet, humorist, writer, actor and a self proclaimed adventurer who is creatively endowed with disability. His disability denies his ability to speak, stand, walk and/or control sudden and bizarre movements. The study of disability as a key aspect of human experience equal with race, class, gender, sex, and sexual orientation is explored through an alternate post modern paradigm that views difference from a variety of angles. The course commences and terminates with an attempt to define “Human-ness” or the parameters of what makes us “human.” This is compared to the human variability that we experience in our societies, communities and civilizations. This study of ability has important political, social, and economic import for society as a whole, including both disabled and non-disabled people.

Course#: FSP 161-02
Professor: Petroff, Jerry
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Petroff, Jerry
FSP 161 04

Rebuilding the Body Human

Modern healthcare relies on the use of technology and medical devices. The definition, development and use of medical devices to “rebuild the human body” will be explored. Their interaction with the human body and its physiology in addition to the ethics, economics and myths of the bionic human will be discussed.

Course#: FSP 161-04
Professor: Hall, Constance
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 8 - 9:20

Hall, Constance L
FSP 161 05

The Art and Study of Peer Mentorship

"“Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him and to let him know you trust him”  -- Booker T. Washington. Trust and responsibility are two important skills when developing a positive mentor/mentee relationship. This course will examine and promote skill development in the current evidence-based practices that are reflected in the provision of mentorship among peers with an emphasis on youth (ages 18-25).  This course will also focus on developing one’s own interpersonal behavior skills including active listening, verbal/non-verbal communication, building trust, self-management, etc.   Students will be instructed in both the theory and practice of providing mentorship to peers that are at-risk.  Practice in skill development will be implemented through a field component that provides support to students with intellectual / developmental disabilities."

Course#: FSP 161-05
Professor: Bonfanti, Bryana
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Bonfanti, Bryana
FSP 161 06

The Necessity of Theatre?

Is theatre still necessary in the age of new media? Do we need theatre and live performance of drama to help provide an understanding of the world in which we live and the life that we inhabit? In this seminar we will read and respond to several classic and contemporary plays and musicals—each characterizing a different dramatic viewpoint or style of theatrical representation—so as to explore the nature of theatre and its necessity in the contemporary world. In addition to class discussion of the plays and relevant readings, students will write two essays about theatre productions (both live and recorded), and participate in a formal online discussion. (This is a theatre appreciation course, NOT a performance-based or acting course; no prior knowledge of theatre is required or expected).

Course#: FSP 161-06
Professor: Muller, David
Day/s & Time/s: MW: 5:30 - 6:50

Muller, David
FSP 161 08

Ability and Dis/Ability: Deconstructing and Disrupting the Social and Cultural Gaze

Disability is ubiquitous and permeates literary narratives, medical narratives, films, television, common discourse and other spaces. Disability tends to be subjected to our "gaze" in some way or the other and continually captures our curiosity. Interestingly while it evokes fascination, it also disrupts closely held notions of health, normalcy, ability and the body. This disruption is typically dealt with by finding a way to "reign" in the difference, situate it in a specific space, or identify a rational explanation. Paradoxically, although disability is visible everywhere and evokes our curiosity, it is rendered invisible in other ways. This course is about the social and cultural gaze directed towards disability and what that tells us about our assumptions on binaries such as ability/disability, our notions of body and movement as well as our perceptions of normalcy. The course introduces students to the field of Disability Studies and encourages them to critically examine their gaze and challenge and deconstruct the taken for granted assumptions about disability. The course focuses on how disability is presented in literary narratives, films, as well as other forms of discourse. Issues of agency and citizenship are examined through personal narratives and the accounts of people with disabilities on the web and blogosphere. Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, the course traces the origins of disability studies in the UK and the US and the intersectional conversations with critical studies, feminist disability studies, post colonial disability studies and disability studies in education.

Course#: FSP 161-08
Professor: Rao, Shridevi
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 2:00 - 3:20

Rao, Shridevi
FSP 161 09

Imagining the Middle Ages

Images of the Middle Ages (450 AD-1550 AD) pervade art and media in the twentieth century and continue to influence the twenty-first century. But as Shakespeare himself says, there is nothing new under the sun. Even he indulged in medievalism, the conscious cultivation of a imagined medieval world, in his plays and poetry. Most of the great art of the Renaissance in England is set in the medieval world. Although we recognize a distinct division between the Antique/Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance periods, the medievals saw themselves as the inheritors of a strong classical tradition, although they did, on occasion, see breaks in continuity—most strongly in England among the Anglo-Saxon, who frequently hearkened back to the giants who once occupied their lands (the Romans—with their grand stone arches and voluminous baths) and mourned the loss of cultural traditions and the passing of all things flesh. So even within the medieval world, a sense of anachronism, of nostalgia, of longing for the long past, coexisted with a strong sense of presence of the “now.” This course will explore a number of questions: *To what extent is the Middle Ages of our imagination the product of medieval and renaissance anachronism? *To what extent does the Middle Ages of our imagination correspond with the reality of the period as attested in the visual arts and in archeology? *To what extent does our vision of the medieval world influence our reconstruction of history and historical continuity? *How do images from the middle ages continue to impact political and cultural discourses, especially in regard to the relationship between Europe and the Middle East?

Course#: FSP 161-09
Professor: Steele, Felicia
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 9:30 - 10:50

Steele, Felicia
FSP 161 11

Pint-Sized Consumerism: Children, Media and Marketing

Critics allege that advertising entices children to drink and smoke, makes them fat and encourages early sexuality and promiscuity. Others argue that even the promotion of healthy, sensible products to children preys on their naivety and is inherently deceptive. This course considers the social construction of childhood as well as child development and psychology in order to understand how media products (e.g., television programs, video games, mobile apps) and marketing efforts (e.g., commercials, product placements, branded entertainment) are designed for our “pint-sized” consumers. Perhaps more importantly, how are these products and marketing efforts consumed by them? Ultimately, what is the role of media in children’s lives?

Course#: FSP 161-11
Professor: Brechman, Jean
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 3:30 - 4:50

Brechman, Jean
FSP 161 12

The Spirituality of Compassion and the Practice of Mindfulness

"The purpose of this course is to explore the topic of compassion and to teach the practice of mindfulness in order to become more compassionate, more grounded, and better able to function effectively in in all aspects of life. This course will explore the topic of compassion through an interdisciplinary lens and informed by the teaching about and on-going practice of mindfulness meditation. The course will include: (1) a history of compassion as the core value of all major ethical and religious traditions; (2) topics related to becoming more compassionate toward oneself and others; (3) the exploration of issues and opportunities related to promoting compassion as an overarching societal value; and (4) mindfulness meditation training. The interdisciplinary lens will include psychology, religion, ethics, neuroscience and philosophy. A portion of each class will be dedicated to practicing different forms of mindfulness. Students will be required to practice mindfulness on a daily basis."

Course#: FSP 161-12
Professor: Caton, Lisa
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Caton, Lisa
FSP 161 13

Are we what we eat? Food, culture and identity.

In 1825, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote "Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." In this course, we will examine how food has shaped and preserved individual and cultural identity throughout history. We will explore themes of gastronomy in literature, film and television to take a broad look at how food shapes us and our culture.

Course#: FSP 161-13
Professor: Roe, Lisa
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 9:30 - 10:50

Roe, Lisa
FSP 161 14

American Supernaturalism

In this course we try to come to terms with America's ambivalent relationship with its supernatural literature by surveying the origins and evolution of such writing over the last 200 years. We will also be writing a supernatural short story of our own. Readings will be from such authors as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, and Caitlin Kiernan--and, especially, the "big three" of American Supernatural literature: Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. Additionally, we will view and consider a number of films and television episodes; past "filmic texts" have included Rosemary's Baby, Carrie, The Ring, and episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, and The Twilight Zone. Our discussion of American supernaturalism will include topics and themes drawn from mythology, psychology, philosophy, history, cultural studies, religious studies, and gender studies (with a bit of music theory, math, and science thrown in for good measure).

Course#: FSP 161-14
Professor: Schwartz, Michael
Day/s & Time/s: R: 5:30 - 8:20

Schwartz, Michael
FSP 161 17

Making Sense of Life--for Life

‘What does it mean to be a human being?’ ‘Where is my life going?’ ‘Is there meaning and purpose to my life?’ These are the kinds of questions we think about all the time. In this class we will explore some possible answers to these questions by examining worldviews. A worldview is just how someone puts the pieces of life together. We will consider some of the most significant components or areas of any worldview: metaphysics, human nature and ethics, the problem of evil, and the problem of good. We will first examine our contemporary culture and consider some of the underlying assumptions that are presented to us—the air that we breathe every day. Then we will explore these prominent areas of a worldview through classic literature, philosophy and film. The emphasis for the course is on thinking, reading, discussion and writing.

Course#: FSP 161-17
Professor: Govantes, Pedro
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Govantes, Pedro
FSP 161 18

Making Sense of Life--for Life

‘What does it mean to be a human being?’ ‘Where is my life going?’ ‘Is there meaning and purpose to my life?’ These are the kinds of questions we think about all the time. In this class we will explore some possible answers to these questions by examining worldviews. A worldview is just how someone puts the pieces of life together. We will consider some of the most significant components or areas of any worldview: metaphysics, human nature and ethics, the problem of evil, and the problem of good. We will first examine our contemporary culture and consider some of the underlying assumptions that are presented to us—the air that we breathe every day. Then we will explore these prominent areas of a worldview through classic literature, philosophy and film. The emphasis for the course is on thinking, reading, discussion and writing.

Course#: FSP 161-18
Professor: Govantes, Pedro
Day/s & Time/s: T: 5:30 - 8:20

Govantes, Pedro
FSP 161 21

Apocalypse Now

The media is saturated with cries of the apocalypse with news outlets regularly covering religious and astrological doomsday prophets. Survivalists have television shows teaching their skills and zombie movies are frequent box office hits. Our culture both fears and craves the end days. What does this say about humanity and its innate settings? To what extent does fear of the apocalypse mirror uncertainties of our own times? Does this fear represent humanity at its worst, or can it be indicative of the great reaches we can accomplish? This course will explore those questions, and will use fiction, film, and a number of articles as prompts to write about issues such as hope, fear, religion, and perseverance.

Course#: FSP 161-21
Professor: Schmidt, Randy
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Schmidt, Randy
FSP 161 22

Morality, God and Free Will

This seminar is a philosophical examination of humanity's quest to understand what it means to be human. Beliefs in morality, divinity, and free will are three of the things commonly cited as distinctive marks of being human. Most human beings take for granted that some actions are right and others wrong. Most think that they have the power to choose between right and wrong and are responsible for the choices they make. Many, if not most, believe in God or gods of one kind or another and assume that there are intimate connections between divinity, morality, and responsibility.

Course#: FSP 161-22
Professor: Kamber, Rick
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Kamber, Richard
FSP 161 23

Morality, God and Free Will

This seminar is a philosophical examination of humanity's quest to understand what it means to be human. Beliefs in morality, divinity, and free will are three of the things commonly cited as distinctive marks of being human. Most human beings take for granted that some actions are right and others wrong. Most think that they have the power to choose between right and wrong and are responsible for the choices they make. Many, if not most, believe in God or gods of one kind or another and assume that there are intimate connections between divinity, morality, and responsibility.

Course#: FSP 161-23
Professor: Kamber, Richard
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 3:30 - 4:50

Kamber, Richard
FSP 161 24

Explorations in Time and Time Travel

What do you know about time? Does it move, or do we move in it? It is it constant or variable? Can we leave our present moment? These and many other questions are explored as we examine literature on the nature of time and time travel. Ideas and works by thinkers and writers such as Albert Einstein, H. G. Wells, Jack Finney, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Heinlein, Stephen Hawking, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King are considered. Physics, philosophy, religion, literature and popular culture are brought to bear on considering meanings and definitions of time and their effects on human thought and consciousness.

Course#: FSP 161-24
Professor: Anderson, Robert
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Anderson, Robert
FSP 161 25

The Hero and Trauma

In Judith Greenberg's edited collection (also the course textbook), Trauma at Home, she writes, “Inasmuch as silence overwhelms us, we yearn to return to dialogue." The Hero and Trauma FSP hopes to continue this dialogue by redefining the cultural definitions of "hero," "trauma," and "the post-traumatic self." While the hero’s journey includes a trajectory from death to redemption, our post 9/11 heroes offer a different kind of traumatic past. Whether it is based from helplessness, chaotic behaviors, unethical decisions, or lack of control over their bodies, our postmodern heroes walk a blurred line between good and evil. Our goal is not to keep with the stereotypical image of "hero," but to use it as a way to show strength and resiliency as we chart the journey from traumatic event to post-traumatic self. This course will explore the origin stories and behaviors of famous heroes such as Batman and the other citizens of Gotham City, the Avengers, Spiderman, Katniss Everdeen, Olivia Benson, and Harry Potter using a post 9/11 lens. Lesser known, but equally important, heroes found in Persepolis, Maus, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Adventure Time, Doctor Who, and Pushing Daisies will be thrown into the mix as newer heroes who must make tough decisions in a world similar to ours. Issues to be explored will include: How does a hero’s postmodern condition teach us to explore our own fatal flaws? How do we, as individuals and as a culture, define and respond to trauma? How can the process of collective mourning in real-life events help us to connect to imaginary dystopian worlds? What is the autoethnographic line between personal narrative and cultural narrative? Discussions will draw from mythological and literary conversations as well as gender, history, and cultural studies. Through a series of popular culture artifacts, first person narratives, and various types of creative, students will chart the growth of various protagonists - both real and imagined - as they begin to heal from their respective traumatic events within the cultural narrative of our postmodern, post 9/11 world.

Course#: FSP 161-25
Professor: Atzeni, Samantha
Day/s & Time/s: MW: 5:30 - 6:50

Atzeni, Samantha
FSP 161 26

The Hero and Trauma

In Judith Greenberg's edited collection (also the course textbook), Trauma at Home, she writes, “Inasmuch as silence overwhelms us, we yearn to return to dialogue." The Hero and Trauma FSP hopes to continue this dialogue by redefining the cultural definitions of "hero," "trauma," and "the post-traumatic self." While the hero’s journey includes a trajectory from death to redemption, our post 9/11 heroes offer a different kind of traumatic past. Whether it is based from helplessness, chaotic behaviors, unethical decisions, or lack of control over their bodies, our postmodern heroes walk a blurred line between good and evil. Our goal is not to keep with the stereotypical image of "hero," but to use it as a way to show strength and resiliency as we chart the journey from traumatic event to post-traumatic self. This course will explore the origin stories and behaviors of famous heroes such as Batman and the other citizens of Gotham City, the Avengers, Spiderman, Katniss Everdeen, Olivia Benson, and Harry Potter using a post 9/11 lens. Lesser known, but equally important, heroes found in Persepolis, Maus, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Adventure Time, Doctor Who, and Pushing Daisies will be thrown into the mix as newer heroes who must make tough decisions in a world similar to ours. Issues to be explored will include: How does a hero’s postmodern condition teach us to explore our own fatal flaws? How do we, as individuals and as a culture, define and respond to trauma? How can the process of collective mourning in real-life events help us to connect to imaginary dystopian worlds? What is the autoethnographic line between personal narrative and cultural narrative? Discussions will draw from mythological and literary conversations as well as gender, history, and cultural studies. Through a series of popular culture artifacts, first person narratives, and various types of creative, students will chart the growth of various protagonists - both real and imagined - as they begin to heal from their respective traumatic events within the cultural narrative of our postmodern, post 9/11 world.

Course#: FSP 161-26
Professor: Atzeni, Samantha
Day/s & Time/s: MW: 7 - 8:20

Atzeni, Samantha
FSP 161 27

What does it mean to be an adult?"

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

E.E. Cummings

In this course we will explore what it means to grow up and become an adult, and whether the concept of adulthood has changed over the last century. We will read literature, scholarly/ journal articles, and news stories and watch TV shows and movies. Some works that we might be discuss are The Wizard of Oz, the Harry Potter series, The Wonder Years, Dead Poet’s Society, and The Hunger Games series. In- and out-of-class discussions will be important facets of this course and provide an open place to share your opinions and thoughts.

Through course requirements and discussion, we will create our own definition(s) for what it means to be adult and try to answer the follow questions. When does an individual become an adult? Are life events/outside factors responsible for this change in identity? Does adulthood begin at a certain age and is that age the same for everyone? Lastly, will our definition of adulthood stand the test of time, or will it need to be altered?

Course#: FSP 161-27
Professor: Marchetti, Stefanie
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Marchetti, Stefanie
FSP 161 29

The Military Vet: Shaping an Identity and Changing American History

Veterans are brothers, sisters, coworkers, students, fathers, sons, and friends. We all know someone who is a veteran. But what do we really know about their experience? This course will explore the culture of the veteran in contemporary America by examining how veterans have struggled to assume an identity upon reintegration to civilian status, and, in turn, have shaped American values in the historical, social, political and artistic realms. Fueling our discussions with course readings in historical and journalistic genres, in the visual texts of drama, film and television, and in the artistic and literary representations of the veteran, we will challenge our intellect and beliefs by engaging with the following questions and issues: Do veterans want to be seen as `heroes'? and why has this label become so ubiquitous? What can we learn about leadership from veterans? How have veterans' constituencies been a political force in our country following conflicts and wars? How do we support our veterans if we do not support our country’s decision to become engaged in conflict and wars? We will also hear from a number of guest speakers who are veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom (Desert Storm) and Operation New Dawn.

Course#: FSP 161-29
Professor: Riveland, Susan
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 8 - 9:20

Riveland, Susan
FSP 161 30

Academic Satire

Authors from Aristophanes to Stephen Colbert have used satire to poke fun at academics and their institutions. In plays, poems, narrative fiction, comics, TV shows and movies, authors have gotten audiences to laugh at and wonder about the people and practices that comprise higher education. The tone might range from light-hearted to mean-spirited with intentions that appear aimed at reform, revision, or revenge.  This course will engage students in reading and viewing some of the most influential works of academic satire with an eye toward finding commonalities among major works as well as the specific difference that help certain authors and works stand out from the crowd.

Course#: FSP 161-30
Professor: McGee, Tim
Day/s & Time/s: W: 5:30 - 8:20

McGee, Tim
FSP 161 31

Leaders Are Made, Not Born: Leadership Development at TCNJ

Students who take part in this class will learn how to gain leadership skills, explore leadership styles and learn how to actively engage on campus Students will gain a better understanding of their own leadership potential through leadership assessments, exploration of values, and skill development. This interactive class will be looking at leadership through a variety of stories, readings, videos, and activities. At the end of the course, we hope that you have gained the skills to become a better student leader and to actively engage in and impact the College community.

Course#: FSP 161-31
Professor: Rana, Avani
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Rana, Avani
FSP 161 32

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

The question that Cain asks of God in the Book of Genesis, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' epitomizes the powerful role of religion in shaping both ancient and modern ideas of social justice. By what principles, religious or secular, is the just society to be envisaged? What does it mean to say that humans have rights? How are ethical values and ideas of social justice linked to religious belief and secular philosophical concepts? This seminar compares ancient and medieval views on such issues with those of the modern world. Discussions will focus on a selection of pre-modern and modern writings representative of different world cultures, some modern films, and news reports on current events.

Course#: FSP 161-32
Professor: Chazelle, Celia
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 2 - 3:20

Chazelle, Celia
FSP 161 33

Revenge and Justice in Moby-Dick

Revenge and Justice in Moby-Dick offers both an intensive reading of Herman Melville's novel and a broad immersion in cultural and intellectual history. Considered to be one of the greatest American novels, Moby-Dick offers a rich introduction to an array of important intellectual and social texts. We will read the novel alongside Greek and Shakespearean tragedy, the King James Bible, Freudian psycho-analysis, and the nation's imminent break-up over slavery. As we follow the vengeful captain Ahab in his quest for the white whale, we will discuss how the themes of justice and revenge permeate through such interesting topics as cannibalism, violence, the mind of God, and the ritual of violence.

Course#: FSP 161-33
Professor: Blake, David
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Blake, David
FSP 161 34

Revenge and Justice in Moby-Dick

Revenge and Justice in Moby-Dick offers both an intensive reading of Herman Melville's novel and a broad immersion in cultural and intellectual history. Considered to be one of the greatest American novels, Moby-Dick offers a rich introduction to an array of important intellectual and social texts. We will read the novel alongside Greek and Shakespearean tragedy, the King James Bible, Freudian psycho-analysis, and the nation's imminent break-up over slavery. As we follow the vengeful captain Ahab in his quest for the white whale, we will discuss how the themes of justice and revenge permeate through such interesting topics as cannibalism, violence, the mind of God, and the ritual of violence.

Course#: FSP 161-34
Professor: Blake, David
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Blake, David
FSP 161 35

Prosperity and Rational Optimism

For nearly all of human history, global poverty was the norm. Living standards began to improve only about 200 years ago. Since then, they’ve rocketed upward in many places around the world. What factors are responsible for beginning this unprecedented march of human progress? In this course, we’ll explore the causes of modern prosperity and rational reasons to be optimistic about the future. The goal is to counter political, media, and academic biases toward pessimism that can lead people to take human progress for granted, to fabricate or exaggerate problems, and to propose solutions that threaten to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sustaining a widely shared prosperity requires informed vigilance to preserve rather than erode the foundations of this remarkable historical anomaly.

Course#: FSP 161-35
Professor: Ruscio, John
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Ruscio, John
FSP 161 36

Prosperity and Rational Optimism

For nearly all of human history, global poverty was the norm. Living standards began to improve only about 200 years ago. Since then, they’ve rocketed upward in many places around the world. What factors are responsible for beginning this unprecedented march of human progress? In this course, we’ll explore the causes of modern prosperity and rational reasons to be optimistic about the future. The goal is to counter political, media, and academic biases toward pessimism that can lead people to take human progress for granted, to fabricate or exaggerate problems, and to propose solutions that threaten to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sustaining a widely shared prosperity requires informed vigilance to preserve rather than erode the foundations of this remarkable historical anomaly.

Course#: FSP 161-36
Professor: Ruscio, John
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Ruscio, John
FSP 161 37

Literature of the Anthropocene

Beginning with the premise that our planet's health is in a state of grave crisis, this seminar focuses on literature and techniques of literary analysis that can help us understand and address that crisis. Sub-topics covered include food and agriculture, cyborgs and genetic modification, wilderness preservation, and human/animal relations. Texts include novels such as Frankenstein and Prodigal Summer, non-fiction such as The Omnivore's Dilemma and Never Cry Wolf, and films such as Into the Wild and Blade Runner.

Course#: FSP 161-37
Professor: McCauley, Lawrence
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Mccauley, Lawrence
FSP 161 38

The Death Penalty

In this course, students will examine the historical, political, legal, and social forces that have shaped the United States’ use of the death penalty. Specific topics that will be studied include arguments for and against capital punishment, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the punishment, the treatment of capital cases in the criminal justice system, and alternatives to the death penalty.

Course#: FSP 161-38
Professor: Leigey, Margaret
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Leigey, Margaret
FSP 161 39

Springsteen's Lyrics as Literature

Bruce Springsteen is arguably the most important American music artist, at least in the Rock genre, of the second half of the twentieth century. From his appearance the same week on the covers of Time and Newsweek in 1977, he has been hailed as more than just an entertainer. Like Bob Dylan before him, Springsteen has been recognized as a poet and short story writer working in popular music. In this class, the lyrics of Springsteen's recorded songs are analyzed as examples of literary writing. Themes in his songs we examine include timeless universal issues such as growing up, love, death, political power, religious faith and doubt, etc. In addition, because of the upheaval of American society during Springsteens apprenticeship in the 1960s and his early career in the 1970s, we examine Springsteen's lyrics for how they manifest cultural issues of these decades (e.g., Vietnam, civil rights movements, recessions effect on the working class, etc.) and of the '80s and '00s as well (e.g., his 2002 album The Rising as a self-conscious response to 9/11). The course also treats albums as analogous to books, each with a unifying principle of theme or type of music rather than a random collection of Springsteen's latest songs; thus, we study the albums in chronological order so that it will be possible to gain insights into the shape of Springsteen's career and the development of the ideas and techniques in his oeuvre. This section of First Seminar is meant to appeal to anyone who is interested in the writing of Bruce Springsteen.

Course#: FSP 161-39
Professor: Konkle, Lincoln
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 2 - 3:20

Konkle, Lincoln
FSP 161 40

Incarceration Nation: Literature of the Prison

This course explores literature by and about prisoners from 600 AD to the present. In addition to reading a variety of sources written across the centuries, we help current-day prisoners in the production of their own autobiographical writings. Interdisciplinary in nature, this course weaves together the study of gender, criminology, psychology, sociology, and, most notably, literary analysis of such groundbreaking, provocative material written by one of the most neglected, silenced, but all-too-critical sectors of our population-the prisoners.

Course#: FSP 161-40
Professor: Tarter, Michele
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 9:30 - 10:50

Tarter, Michele
FSP 161 41

How College Works: Higher Education and American Society

The discussion about college in your family over the last year was personal: which college would you choose (and which ones would choose you), who was going to pay for your education, and what did you intend to study? There is widespread public debate about these issues too. Access to college, the costs of attendance, and the value of a degree are all being questioned by business and nonprofit executives, politicians, and educators. We examine this public debate about higher education; a debate that has intensified as the importance of college for individual success has increased and the resources available for higher education become more scarce.

Course#: FSP 161-41
Professor: Prensky, David
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Prensky, David
FSP 161 42

Quantitative Analysis for Societal Change: How (Not) to Lie with Statistics

Did you know that statistics was originally developed as a political tool of eugenics enthusiasts? It has been expediently used ever since by those supporting every possible position. An old proverb states, “figures do not lie; it is liars who figure.” The main goal of this course is to dispel the confusion and misuse of data by mastering appropriate applications. It will concentrate on analyzing complex social concepts, such as gender, ethnicity, social class, racial inequality, and social integration or isolation as tools of understanding today’s society. Students will use quantitative data to address questions such as: how much are New Jersey college students in different disciplines (psychology, sociology, nursing, teachers, and engineering) likely to earn upon graduation; what is the relationship between gender or race and income? Even friendship associations and the number of hours spent on social media can be a source of relevant data to analyze. On order to become aware of measurement bias and other sources of error, students will collect and analyze their own data.

Course#: FSP 161-42
Professor: Ismail, Mohamoud
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Ismail, Mohamoud M
FSP 161 44

The History of Disease

"Microorganisms have been on Earth for 4 billion years but they were discovered less than 150 years ago. While the majority of microorganisms are beneficial to humans, the small percentage of microbes that cause disease receive the most press. Those are the organisms that will be studied in this course. Diseases have affected the economics, politics, and psychology of the human race. What effect does air travel and crowding in urban areas have on the spread of disease?

Infectious diseases first appeared after the last Ice Age. These microbes are responsible for over 14 million deaths per year despite our remarkable success in controlling them. We will explore some of the major diseases that have plagued humans over the millennia and their impact on human society. These include smallpox, cholera, tuberculosis, bubonic plague, syphilis, and the Spanish flu of 1918. Among the emerging diseases we will explore are HIV/AIDS, ebola, SARS, and H1N1. How have we managed to eradicate smallpox and how close are we to ending the spread of polio? These and other questions will be answered in this course.

“The history of disease will go on, despite once confident predictions of an end to epidemics in our times, and those who now wage the heroic struggle to find elusive cures to our new plagues may find that they have more to learn from the past than had once been thought.”

(The First Horseman: Disease in Human History by John Aberth, 2006)

Where will the next pandemic originate? When will it occur? Will we be ready?"

Course#: FSP 161-44
Professor: King, Rita
Day/s & Time/s: MW: 5:30 - 6:50

King, Rita
FSP 161 45

Exploring Amish Culture

This course is designed to be an introduction to Amish culture, more specifically, the Old Order Amish, the most conservative group of Amish living in the United States. Through course work designed to acquaint students with a social/historical/political and educational perspective of the Amish, students will gain a better understanding of this fascinating, complex culture and what makes it unique. Resisting change in a technological world is a constant struggle for the Amish who shun electricity, automobiles, and other modern conveniences. Since the Amish eschew individual accomplishment, this course will focus on the Amish as a "Little Community," how the Amish depend on the resources of the outside world, (the non-Amish community), and how they adapt to change.

The course will also clarify some of the major differences between the Amish and Mennonite culture, differences that many outsiders are curious about but do not fully understand. Life ceremonies such as birth, marriage, and death will be investigated as well as social change and illness issues, for example, Amish medical behavior and problems, mental illness, and suicide patterns. Much of the content of this course will be learned by reading fiction and nonfiction books and articles about Amish culture, researching the culture on the Internet, viewing films and videos portraying Amish culture, participating in discussions and small group work in class at the College, and visiting an authentic, working Amish farm where students will be able to participate in discussions with an Amish family, experience a tour of an Amish farm, and sit down for a meal with the Fisher family (An Old Order Amish Family) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Course#: FSP 161-45
Professor: Hornberger, Timothy
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Hornberger, Timothy
FSP 161 46

Exploring Amish Culture

This course is designed to be an introduction to Amish culture, more specifically, the Old Order Amish, the most conservative group of Amish living in the United States. Through course work designed to acquaint students with a social/historical/political and educational perspective of the Amish, students will gain a better understanding of this fascinating, complex culture and what makes it unique. Resisting change in a technological world is a constant struggle for the Amish who shun electricity, automobiles, and other modern conveniences. Since the Amish eschew individual accomplishment, this course will focus on the Amish as a "Little Community," how the Amish depend on the resources of the outside world, (the non-Amish community), and how they adapt to change.

The course will also clarify some of the major differences between the Amish and Mennonite culture, differences that many outsiders are curious about but do not fully understand. Life ceremonies such as birth, marriage, and death will be investigated as well as social change and illness issues, for example, Amish medical behavior and problems, mental illness, and suicide patterns. Much of the content of this course will be learned by reading fiction and nonfiction books and articles about Amish culture, researching the culture on the Internet, viewing films and videos portraying Amish culture, participating in discussions and small group work in class at the College, and visiting an authentic, working Amish farm where students will be able to participate in discussions with an Amish family, experience a tour of an Amish farm, and sit down for a meal with the Fisher family (An Old Order Amish Family) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Course#: FSP 161-46
Professor: Hornberger, Timothy
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Hornberger, Timothy
FSP 161 47

The Digital Domain

Is there any aspect of our lives that the Internet has NOT altered? From how we connect through social media to how we listen to music, study, acquire the news and shop, our online interactions are profoundly shaping our daily existence. In this course, we examine the possibilities and the problems that technology poses. We also study those who do not have access to the technology that has become ubiquitous in our lives.

Course#: FSP 161-47
Professor: Mazur, Janet
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Mazur, Janet
FSP 161 48

Emotional Skills Literacy

"This course will provide students with opportunities to explore and develop their emotional intelligence and fluency. Through readings, class discussions and course assignments, students will be encouraged to explore different aspects of their emotional lives including triggers, coping style, habituated responses, genetic predispositions and affective tolerance. Students will learn to orient to their emotions in new and exciting ways by practicing a mindfulness based approach to emotional intelligence and personal development. The notion of emotions as conveyors of valuable messages will be reviewed, in addition to how emotions are generated and processed in the brain and body. Emotional hijacking will be explored, as well as the concept of state shifting. Important interpersonal skills will be fostered throughout the course dialogue including self-awareness, perspective-taking, empathic listening and assertive self-expression."

Course#: FSP 161-48
Professor: Zamel, Pamela
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Zamel, Pamela
FSP 161 49

Language in Society

In this course, we study what makes human language different from the communication systems used by other species and look at the systems that all languages use to build meaning. Then we take up the question of how we use language in social contexts ¿ among friends, family, classmates, colleagues, supervisors, strangers, as well as with health care professionals. We consider what makes an accent an accent, that associations and impressions accents generate, and look at language-based bias and stereotyping. We also study how babies acquire the language of their parents, the nature of bilingualism, and how adults learn a second or foreign language. The course examines the relationship of language and ethnicity by analyzing particular languistic situations in depth. As part of this course, students engage in ESL tutoring in Trenton to fulfill the CEL requirement.

Course#: FSP 161-49
Professor: Stillman, David
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Stillman, David
FSP 161 50

Science & Issues

"Throughout your life, you will make decisions, either directly or through your elected representatives, about issues that affect you directly. Should we cut back on the production of greenhouse gases? Should we allow assisted suicide? Should you drive a hybrid car? Should genetically modified foods be available? For nearly all issues, including these examples, an understanding of the scientific information relevant to the issue will be critical to making a reasoned decision about that issue. However, resolution of these issues require consideration of other perspectives such as ethics, morals, rights, and value judgments.

This course will help you develop the necessary skills to make decisions about scientifically related issues; these skills include identifying and clarifying issues, generating the scientific and nonscientific considerations that are important to deciding an issue, locating reliable scientific information pertinent to an issue, and evaluating that information critically. You will investigate in-depth an issue that is important to you, with the aim of understanding the considerations, both scientific and otherwise, and using this information to reach your own decision about the issue."

Course#: FSP 161-50
Professor: O'Brien, Steve
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

O'Brien, Steve
FSP 161 51

Reading and Writing the Holocaust

This course introduces students to the complex world of Holocaust studies. The course has a double focus: on literary and artistic representations of the Holocaust and on students' own representation of the Holocaust through the creation of a survivor ethnography. In order to approach this historical period, students must be familiar with the facts and thus will read and be tested on Holocaust history. Students will also learn rudimentary skills in interviewing a survivor and presenting the survivor’s story in written form. For this task, each student will meet and interview a Holocaust survivor. As students progress through the course, working on their ethnographic study and analyzing Holocaust texts, they will also entertain the following issues: The Holocaust as watershed event. The Holocaust's role in the redefinition of good and evil, reconsideration of humanity's relation to the universe, and the reconceptualization of God. The role and responsibility of the student in relation to the stories of Holocaust survivors. Controversies and issues concerning the Holocaust and bearing witness. The controversy having to do with who has the right to speak about the Holocaust and to judge how it is represented. The role of gender differences in representations of the Holocaust.

Course#: FSP 161-51
Professor: Friedman, Ellen
Day/s & Time/s: T: 3:30 - 6:20

Friedman, Ellen
FSP 161 52

Trust and Truthiness in Business

This course explores the tension that can exist in business between behaviors that: 1) build trust and reduce uncertainty, which can lower costs and create long term relationships with other businesses and consumers; and, 2) and what Steven Colbert labeled truthiness – “a "truth" that a person making an argument or assertion claims to know intuitively ‘from the gut’ or because it ‘feels right’ without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts.” to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts.

Course#: FSP 161-52
Professor: Keep, William
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 3:30 - 4:50

Keep, William
FSP 161 53

But That’s Not Fair

Disagreements arise in nearly every setting imaginable -- in families, in courts of law, between citizens, and between countries. At their core, these disagreements often stem from differing conceptions about what is fair and just. How do we know what’s fair and what isn’t? When we believe something is unfair, how do we defend such a claim? When we disagree about questions of fairness, can discussion help or are we destined to disagree? This course will explore a variety of real-world settings where questions of fairness take center stage, including famous historical controversies, court cases and current events. We will seek to identify the intuitions, theories, stories and life understandings that ground our beliefs about fairness and justice. The class will engage in mock court cases, debates and conversations to argue both sides of the issues. We will ask how views about fairness evolve over time, and consider what methods enable us to reason and engage with others who disagree.

Course#: FSP 161-53
Professor: Michels, Kevin
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Michels, Kevin
FSP 161 54

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

The question that Cain asks of God in the Book of Genesis, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' epitomizes the powerful role of religion in shaping both ancient and modern ideas of social justice. By what principles, religious or secular, is the just society to be envisaged? What does it mean to say that humans have rights? How are ethical values and ideas of social justice linked to religious belief and secular philosophical concepts? This seminar compares ancient and medieval views on such issues with those of the modern world. Discussions will focus on a selection of pre-modern and modern writings representative of different world cultures, some modern films, and news reports on current events.

Course#: FSP 161-54
Professor: Chazelle, Celia
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 11 - 12:20

Chazelle, Celia
FSP 162 01

Epidemics and Society

Will there be a “super plague”? What would be a likely candidate germ? What social systems might encourage a pandemic? This seminar approaches pandemics from a “germ’s eye” and a “society’s eye” view.  Using a combination of biological information, social analysis, and insights from historical cases, each student will present an argument for a particular germ as a likely candidate for a global pandemic.

Course#: FSP 162-01
Professor: Gazley, Janet
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 11 - 12:20

Gazley, Janet Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 03

Whose grammar is it anyway? The myth of standardized English.

The course will be multidisciplinary in nature and involve readings from the fields of linguistics and sociolinguistics, anthropology, cultural and social criticism, and narrative fiction. By studying how different dialects of American English have evolved across regional, economic, and socio-cultural groups, the participants in the class will gain a broader understanding of how varied and dynamic a singular language can be. Participants will be challenged to rethink dominant assumptions about what constitutes “good English” through careful examination of the grammatical structure of dialects inaccurately labeled broken or sub-standard English. Discussions will focus on deepening our knowledge of the relationship between language, identity, and power in America.

Course#: FSP 162-03
Professor: Peel, Anne
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 2 - 3:20

Peel, Anne Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 04

Diversity & Its Responses

Living in the United States, it is clear that ethnic and racial diversity matter. However, why diversity matters, what its origins are, and what are appropriate responses to issues of diversity are all questions that have generated differing viewpoints and reactions from scholars, policymakers, theorists and ordinary citizens throughout this country’s history. In this course, we examine what diversity is, what it looks like in the United States, and how individuals, groups and states have responded to ethnic and racial diversity in their midst. We will focus on debates over diversity such as whether race is “real” or not; whether assimilation or pluralism represent ideal goals; and whether policies such as affirmative action are appropriate responses to issues of race and inequality.

Course#: FSP 162-04
Professor: Chartock, Sarah
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Chartock, Sarah Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 05

Diversity & Its Responses

Living in the United States, it is clear that ethnic and racial diversity matter. However, why diversity matters, what its origins are, and what are appropriate responses to issues of diversity are all questions that have generated differing viewpoints and reactions from scholars, policymakers, theorists and ordinary citizens throughout this country’s history. In this course, we examine what diversity is, what it looks like in the United States, and how individuals, groups and states have responded to ethnic and racial diversity in their midst. We will focus on debates over diversity such as whether race is “real” or not; whether assimilation or pluralism represent ideal goals; and whether policies such as affirmative action are appropriate responses to issues of race and inequality.

Course#: FSP 162-05
Professor: Chartock, Sarah
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Chartock, Sarah Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 06

From Ballet to Jookin: Dance as an Art Form

"Ballet, modern dance, tap, jazz, aerial, hip-hop, jookin, krumping. What is dance? In this FSP students will be engaged in this question through watching videos of performances by professional dance companies, reading about the creative processes of choreographers and dancers, and writing about the styles of various dance companies, choreographers, and dancers. The focus will be on ""art dance,"" i.e., dance that is intended for performance and performed for the most part by trained dancers, not folk dancing or recreational dancing (although the influences of these will be examined)./// The course will be organized by topics such as the differences between ballet and modern dance; the influences of African and Afro-Caribbean dance on Western dance forms; the influence of jazz on ballet; how ballet came to be, and how other dance forms developed. Readings will include biographies/autobiographies of both dancers and choreographers, and non-fiction books/articles that discuss the art of the dance. Choreographers to be discussed include George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pearl Primus, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Rennie Harris, Bill T. Jones, and Lil Buck."

Course#: FSP 162-06
Professor: Dell, Amy
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Dell, Amy Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 07

Trenton Makes Music

Fans and students of popular culture are familiar with many of the big music acts of the 1960s and 70s, such as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Labelle and Kool and the Gang. But what's less known is that many of the artists, producers, backup musicians and engineers behind this iconic music came from Trenton and its surrounding communities. Students will do archival research, oral history interviews and secondary research to create a multimedia website telling the story of this region's contribution to the music that set the whole world dancing.

Course#: FSP 162-07
Professor: Pearson, Kim
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 9:30 - 10:50

Pearson, Kim Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 08

The Evolution of African American Gospel Music

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). Furthermore, our class participates with the Bonner Center and completes a community-engaged project that is course-related.

Course#: FSP 162-08
Professor: McCrary, Todd
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Mccrary, Todd Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 09

The Evolution of African American Gospel Music

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). Furthermore, our class participates with the Bonner Center and completes a community-engaged project that is course-related.

Course#: FSP 162-09
Professor: McCrary, Todd
Day/s & Time/s: R: 5:30 - 8:20

Mccrary, Todd Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 10

Multicultural New York: The City From Its Beginnings to the Present

Is New York the capital of the world? How did it become such a great multicultural city? What does it mean to be a New Yorker? These are some of the questions that guide us as we study events that shaped New York's multicultural history from its beginning to the present. As we explore different periods of the city's history some of the areas considered are immigration, changing neighborhoods, crime, technology, quality of life, money, power, culture, and art. Seminar time is supplemented with real world experiences.

Course#: FSP 162-10
Professor: Winkel, Matthew
Day/s & Time/s: M: 5:30 - 8:20

Winkel, Matthew Race and Ethnicity
FSP 162 11

Race, Crime and Prisons in U.S. History.

This seminar draws on legal, social, cultural, and urban history, Whiteness, Multi-cultural/Ethnic, African American, Women and Gender, and LGBT Studies. In this course, students explore the convergent racial, gender, economic, and sexual ideologies and practices that animate criminal activity, prison reform, and penal administration from colonial times to the present. Students engage primary and secondary sources as ¿historians¿ critically analyzing the evolution of crime and punishment. Ultimately, students acquire knowledge of the mutually sustaining forces of crime and the prison system, and think critically and creatively about ways to address the social problems linked to both institutions.

Course#: FSP 162-11
Professor: Francis, Leigh-Anne
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Francis, Leigh-Anne Race and Ethnicity
FSP 163 02

Communication and Gender

This course explores the relationship between gender and communication. It will explore attitudes and beliefs concerning female and male stereotypes as they are manifested through communication. This course will utilize various tools includes films, in-class exercises, class discussions in both large and small groups and field-study assignments.

Course#: FSP 163-02
Professor: Hallback, Dionne
Day/s & Time/s: T: 5:30 - 8:20

Hallback ,Dionne Gender
FSP 163 03

Popular Best-selling Novels

In this course we will be reading popular best-sellers from genres including horror, young adult, and the graphic novel. We will be reading and discussing Stephen King's Carrie, V.S. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic, Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, Alan Moore's V for Vendetta, and Sydney Sheldon's The Other Side of Midnight. We will be paying special attention to gender, sexuality, and violence in these novels, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of women, the construction of the nuclear family, and the politics of violent resistance. We will be exploring the widespread popularity of these novels and what they suggest about gender, violence and the family in contemporary society.

Course#: FSP 163-03
Professor: Kranzler, Laura
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Kranzler, Laura Gender
FSP 163 04

Popular Best-selling Novels

In this course we will be reading popular best-sellers from genres including horror, young adult, and the graphic novel. We will be reading and discussing Stephen King's Carrie, V.S. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic, Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, Alan Moore's V for Vendetta, and Sydney Sheldon's The Other Side of Midnight. We will be paying special attention to gender, sexuality, and violence in these novels, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of women, the construction of the nuclear family, and the politics of violent resistance. We will be exploring the widespread popularity of these novels and what they suggest about gender, violence and the family in contemporary society.

Course#: FSP 163-04
Professor: Kranzler, Laura
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 3:30 - 4:50

Kranzler, Laura Gender
FSP 163 05

Women Writing the Past: Fiction, History, and Autobiography

This course offers a study of fiction, poetry, film, and autobiography by women of color whose work demonstrates the “presence of the past” in late twentieth century life.  We will read a sampling of authors with origins in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, China, and the US 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 literary alternatives to “official records” of the past.

Course#: FSP 163-05
Professor: Ortiz-Vilarelle, Lisa Marie
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Ortiz-Vilarelle, Lisa Gender
FSP 163 06

Gender on the Internet

The proliferation of social media is transforming the dynamics of human relationships, altering our perceptions of public and private, local and global, and even how we interact with and relate to each other. In this class, we’ll use contemporary and historical examples to understand how media shapes the concepts of gender and sexuality we acknowledge, discuss, consider normal, and even occupy. Feminists have long used technology to challenge patriarchal power and advocate for an egalitarian world. We’ll explore how the internet can be used for these purposes and discuss how new perspectives on our environment are requiring us to rethink existing norms.

Course#: FSP 163-06
Professor: Farnkopf, Ryan
Day/s & Time/s: R: 5:30 - 8:20

Farnkopf, Ryan Gender
FSP 163 07

LGBTQ and Popular Culture

This course will explore LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) identity, culture, and politics by way of their representations in documentaries and popular films. I often share with students that there are at least three major reasons for why there’s been a significant shift globally in pro LGBT civil and human rights. First, many anti-gay laws are being repealed (e.g. anti-gay marriage laws and DADT). Second, many people now personally know friends, family members, and co-workers who are LGBT, thus personalizing the issue. Third_and related to the course theme_there’s been an outpouring of LGBT popular culture, thus helping to globalize many LGBT concerns, issues, and topics to a wide variety of people and places. This course will explore the stories about LGBT identity, culture, and politics that are being told in popular culture_especially in light of the work they do in contributing to a global transformation on the issue of LGBT_by focusing on a number of themes/topics relevant to contemporary LGBT life: LGBT activism; marriage equality; LGBT and public schooling; LGBT and religion; transgender/genderqueer identity; intimacy and erotic life; the politics of “reparative therapy”; and the “coming out” process.

Course#: FSP 163-07
Professor: Rodriguez, Nelson
Day/s & Time/s: W: 5:30 - 8:20

Rodriguez, Nelson Gender
FSP 164 03

Imprisoned Minds: Philosophy & Religion from Jail

In the history of philosophy and theology, many important works have been written by authors who were behind bars. This course introduces students to a selection of these texts and the concerns they raise. Such texts deal not only with classical problems in the history of philosophy, but also with concerns that many of us share today. Questions to be addressed include:  “What does it mean to live in freedom?”, “What can be done about injustice and oppression?”,  “Should death be feared?”, and “Where can I find happiness?” Readings include works by Plato, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., & Aung San Suu Kyi.

Course#: FSP 164-03
Professor: Edwards, Mark
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 9:30 - 10:50

Edwards, Mark Global Awareness
FSP 164 04

Imprisoned Minds: Philosophy & Religion from Jail

In the history of philosophy and theology, many important works have been written by authors who were behind bars. This course introduces students to a selection of these texts and the concerns they raise. Such texts deal not only with classical problems in the history of philosophy, but also with concerns that many of us share today. Questions to be addressed include:  “What does it mean to live in freedom?”, “What can be done about injustice and oppression?”, “Should death be feared?”, and “Where can I find happiness?” Readings include works by Plato, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., & Aung San Suu Kyi.

Course#: FSP 164-04
Professor: Edwards, Mark
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 11 - 12:20

Edwards, Mark Global Awareness
FSP 164 05

Introduction to Amateur Radio

This course will cover the history of communications leading to the birth of amateur radio and the historic development of the hobby. It will also cover radio amateur's contributions to the advancement of electronics technology and in public service. Special facets of the hobby such as digital communications/use of the Internet/WiFi, space communications and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) will be discussed. The basic electronics and regulations needed for an amateur radio license will be provided. Everyone attending the course should leave with an amateur radio license.

Course#: FSP 164-05
Professor: Katz, Allen
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Katz, Allen Global Awareness
FSP 164 06

The Impact of Globalization

With the advancement of new technology, communications between people have been greatly enhanced. However, the initiatives and the practices of globalization, such as the results of exporting free market democracy, have created a complex series of economic, social, technological, cultural, and political changes in the world. This seminar addresses many relevant issues with respect to changes, conflicts, doubts, problems, and possible solutions. Students have a chance to read many resources as well as to watch many films to explore issues seriously, including the continuing struggle for development in poor countries; the relationship between globalization, inequality and poverty; the fate of cultural diversity in a globalizing world; and issues of gender, ethnicity, the environment, social justice, and human rights.

Course#: FSP 164-06
Professor: Pan, Alex
Day/s & Time/s: W: 5:30 - 8:20

Pan, Chyuan Global Awareness
FSP 164 07

The Impact of Globalization

With the advancement of new technology, communications between people have been greatly enhanced. However, the initiatives and the practices of globalization, such as the results of exporting free market democracy, have created a complex series of economic, social, technological, cultural, and political changes in the world. This seminar addresses many relevant issues with respect to changes, conflicts, doubts, problems, and possible solutions. Students have a chance to read many resources as well as to watch many films to explore issues seriously, including the continuing struggle for development in poor countries; the relationship between globalization, inequality and poverty; the fate of cultural diversity in a globalizing world; and issues of gender, ethnicity, the environment, social justice, and human rights.

Course#: FSP 164-07
Professor: Pan, Alex
Day/s & Time/s: R: 5:30 - 8:20

Pan, Chyuan Global Awareness
FSP 164 08

Rock N’ Roll in Post-Mao China

This course seeks to study the ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ music and culture (also including hip-hop and punk) that emerged in the Post-Mao Mainland China from the early 1980s to the present. By situating Chinese Rock (C-rock) in the dramatically changing historical, cultural and political context, the seminar examines critically how ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ music shapes the heterogeneous identity of Post-Mao and Post-socialist China. Through careful analysis of the lyrics, musical style, MTV and films, we explore topics such as rebellious youth culture and political ideology, influence of Western music and traditional Chinese music, underground subculture and urban space, transgressive passion and censorship, band culture, performance poetics and global capital, and, gender, sexuality and body identity. NOTE: Students are invited to also enroll in CHI 151, Intensive Chinese.

Course#: FSP 164-08
Professor: Mi, Jia-Yan
Day/s & Time/s: T: 5:30 - 8:20

Mi, Jia-Yan Global Awareness
FSP 164 09

Living Hinduism: Applied consciousness and influence on society and environment

The course introduces to over five thousand year old religious traditions of South Asia that are often labeled as ”Hinduism”. Representing unusually diverse traditions, Hinduism is the dominant faith in India, and an influential spiritual force around the globe. From the ancient texts and historical and modern philosophical speculations, three primary Hindu paths - ritual, renunciation, and devotion will be discussed.  We will look at the influence of practicing this age old traditional knowledge in daily lives and how it raises consciousness/awareness and its effect on society, sustainability, and environment.  The course will be augmented with the use of multimedia showcasing movie clips, and field trips along with discussion on modern perspectives. 

Course#: FSP 164-09
Professor: Paliwal, Manish
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Paliwal, Manish Global Awareness
FSP 164 10

Buddhism and Hinduism

Due to the increasing number of students of Asian affiliation on campus, though most of them are not majoring in humanity, there is a strong intrest in learning about Buddhism and Hinduism. This course provides in historical depth a study of the evolution of the two religions. Through reading religious documents and literature, students learn the origins, reformations, and mutual borrowing of the two biggest religions in South Asia. They also explore the imprints of Buddhism and Hinduism on concepts of the universe and life and death in modern societies of the world.

Course#: FSP 164-10
Professor: Liu, Xinru
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 2 - 3:20

Liu, Xinru Global Awareness
FSP 164 11

Buddhism and Hinduism

Due to the increasing number of students of Asian affiliation on campus, though most of them are not majoring in humanity, there is a strong intrest in learning about Buddhism and Hinduism. This course provides in historical depth a study of the evolution of the two religions. Through reading religious documents and literature, students learn the origins, reformations, and mutual borrowing of the two biggest religions in South Asia. They also explore the imprints of Buddhism and Hinduism on concepts of the universe and life and death in modern societies of the world.

Course#: FSP 164-11
Professor: Liu, Xinru
Day/s & Time/s: TF: 3:30 - 4:50

Liu, Xinru Global Awareness
FSP 164 12

The Politics of Climate Change

Climate change is arguably the most critical issue of our time, yet most people find it difficult to incorporate an awareness of climate change into their daily lives and our political system has proven no match for addressing a problem of such scope and seriousness. This course aims to help students move toward action on climate change by critically reflecting on the diverse ways in which climate change is framed in the media, in social movements, in scientific discourse, in government, and in politics. Students will also carry out a hands-on project they develop during the semester.

Course#: FSP 164-12
Professor: Shakow, Miriam
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Shakow, Miriam
FSP 164 13

The Politics of Climate Change

Climate change is arguably the most critical issue of our time, yet most people find it difficult to incorporate an awareness of climate change into their daily lives and our political system has proven no match for addressing a problem of such scope and seriousness. This course aims to help students move toward action on climate change by critically reflecting on the diverse ways in which climate change is framed in the media, in social movements, in scientific discourse, in government, and in politics. Students will also carry out a hands-on project they develop during the semester.

Course#: FSP 164-13
Professor: Shakow, Miriam
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 2 - 3:20

Shakow, Miriam
FSP 164 14

(DARK) HISTORY OF MONEY AND MARKET

This seminar provides an overview of history of money and its application in the financial practice. We also explore a number of historical events where human beings were intentionally mismanaging money and misrepresenting numerical figures to the society as well as the market. We will use books and movies to discuss (1) what “money” is and its brief history; (2) benefits of monetary system in the financial world and its social/economic impacts; (3) risks of monetary system in the financial world and its social/economic impacts; (4) cases of manipulation of numerical representations in the financial market; (5) the relation between money and the dark side of human nature. This class is designed to encourage students (1) to develop interests in utility of numbers and its application in money; (2) to acknowledge the bright and dark sides of money; (3) to build relevant mind-set to understand the human dimensions of disciplines such as financial ethics; (4) to understand there is no one-fits-all answer in the financial practice.

Course#: FSP 164-14
Professor: Choi, Seunghee
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 9:30 - 10:50

Choi, Seunghee Global Awareness
FSP 164 15

Social Innovation

Changing the world takes more than a good idea and some hope. This course is for students who want to become agents of change in the social sector, to learn how to design and launch social entrepreneurial for profit, non-profit or hybrid organizations, to innovate within existing organizations, and for those who want to participate in social change projects in their schools, their local communities, or abroad. This course will help students from all majors learn how social innovation can create a better world and how to function as effective change makers. Students in the course are expected to be active participants in the creation of solutions to a social problem that they are passionate about. There will also be a collaborative class project that aims to change TCNJ so as to provide students with enhanced learning opportunities in social innovation.

Course#: FSP 164-15
Professor: Winston, Morton
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Winton, Morton Global Awareness
FSP 164 16

Music and the Holocaust: Culture, Identity, and Ideology

In early twentieth-century Germany, musical culture was a central component of national pride and identity. For many of Germany's Jews, this classical music heritage was a core element of their own identification as German citizens. Indeed, many of Germany's leading singers, conductors, violinists, and pianists were of Jewish background, not to mention such prominent composers as Felix Mendelssohn and Gustav Mahler. With the rise of religious and "racial" anti-Semitism in the later nineteenth century and the institution of anti-Semitic legislation by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler music became a principal battleground of cultural and "racial ideology. In short order classical music became, for some, an arbiter of what it "meant to be German, and, for others, pushed to the point of extinction, what it meant to be a human being. This course begins by examining some of the controversies surrounding music as a means of commemorating the Holocaust before addressing the larger historical perspective of Jewish experience within German culture from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries. There follows an examination of the nature of right wing music ideology and the means by which it was transformed into state policy after 1933. The central focus of the course rests upon the years of the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, during which Jews were first ejected from public musical life and finally either forced into emigration or hiding, or herded into concentration camps. Throughout this period the Jews themselves continued to cultivate a vibrant musical life, first through the officially sanctioned Jewish Cultural Association in Germany (1933-1941) and then, after the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939, within the concentration camps themselves, including the notorious death camp of Auschwitz. Particularly significant is the flowering of cultural activity in Theresienstadt near Prague, where the Nazis created a self governing "city for the Jews" intended to show the world that their racial policies were benign. Theresienstadt was in fact a potemkin village whose façade of normalcy masked the fact that it was little more than an antechamber to the death camps in the east. Nevertheless, under primitive conditions, the concerts, opera, theater, and cabaret within Theresienstadt were of the highest quality and give evidence of the way the inmates used culture as a form of spiritual resistance. The final section of the course returns to an examination of the role of music in post war commemorations of the Holocaust in film and concert life.

Course#: FSP 164-16
Professor: Hailey, Christopher
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 11 - 12:20

Hailey, Christopher Global Awareness
FSP 164 17

Music and the Holocaust: Culture, Identity, and Ideology

In early twentieth-century Germany, musical culture was a central component of national pride and identity. For many of Germany's Jews, this classical music heritage was a core element of their own identification as German citizens. Indeed, many of Germany's leading singers, conductors, violinists, and pianists were of Jewish background, not to mention such prominent composers as Felix Mendelssohn and Gustav Mahler. With the rise of religious and ¿racial¿ anti-Semitism in the later nineteenth century and the institution of anti-Semitic legislation by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler music became a principal battleground of cultural and ¿racial¿ ideology. In short order classical music became, for some, an arbiter of what it meant to be German, and, for others, pushed to the point of extinction, what it meant to be a human being. This course begins by examining some of the controversies surrounding music as a means of commemorating the Holocaust before addressing the larger historical perspective of Jewish experience within German culture from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries. There follows an examination of the nature of right wing music ideology and the means by which it was transformed into state policy after 1933. The central focus of the course rests upon the years of the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, during which Jews were first ejected from public musical life and finally either forced into emigration or hiding, or herded into concentration camps. Throughout this period the Jews themselves continued to cultivate a vibrant musical life, first through the officially sanctioned Jewish Cultural Association in Germany (1933-1941) and then, after the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939, within the concentration camps themselves, including the notorious death camp of Auschwitz. Particularly significant is the flowering of cultural activity in Theresienstadt near Prague, where the Nazis created a self governing ¿city for the Jews¿ intended to show the world that their racial policies were benign. Theresienstadt was in fact a potemkin village whose façade of normalcy masked the fact that it was little more than an antechamber to the death camps in the east. Nevertheless, under primitive conditions, the concerts, opera, theater, and cabaret within Theresienstadt were of the highest quality and give evidence of the way the inmates used culture as a form of spiritual resistance. The final section of the course returns to an examination of the role of music in post war commemorations of the Holocaust in film and concert life.

Course#: FSP 164-17
Professor: Hailey, Christopher
Day/s & Time/s: MR: 12:30 - 1:50

Hailey, Christopher Global Awareness
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