The First-Year Seminar Program is a special opportunity for first- and second-semester students to take a small seminar class. First-Year Seminars are open only to first and second semester students. Each course is a small seminar (no more than 15 students) led or team-taught by UI faculty members. The courses do not offer credit you can apply to the General Education Program and you can't use these courses toward a major, but First-Year Seminars do offer you a chance to focus on unusual and interesting topics chosen by some of our most exciting professors.
Some First-Year Seminars are offered for 1 s.h., others for 2 s.h. If you choose to take a First-Year Seminar please remember the College's guideline: student preparation time over the 15 weeks of a semester usually averages 2 hours of out-of-class work each week for every hour in class, or for every hour of credit earned. For example: Courses for which you earn 2 s.h. of credit generally require 4 hours of out-of-class work each week.
First-Year Seminars (except Leadership in a Diverse Society, see below) use the A-F grading system. Instructors may also choose to use plus/minus grading. All of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences rules on adding and dropping apply to these courses. Talk to your adviser if you decide not to complete a course.
This spring, we are also offering a section of 610:030 Leadership in a Diverse Society. This course is a joint offering of the University's Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This course is graded S/F (Satisfactory or Fail).
REGISTRATION: All First-Year Seminars are open only to first and second semester students. No special registration numbers are needed, simply add the course when you register. Be sure to check your course-and section number-very carefully. With the exception of 610:030 Leadership in a Diverse Society, all First-Year Seminar courses are listed as "First-Year Seminar" on your printed schedule, the "subtitle" will not appear.
First-Year Seminar: Chemistry, the Pharmaceutical Industry, and Ethical Issues in Selling Drugs
004:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Norbert Pienta, Department of Chemistry
Course Meets:1:05pm to 2:20pm on Thursdays in Room 303 Chemistry Building
This seminar will introduce the class to some fundamentals about molecular structure, an introduction to drug discovery, and an overview of the drug approval process. Using this background, we will examine issues including the pricing and availability of drugs like Cipro, the antibiotic of choice in Anthrax cases in the US and antiviral drugs for the treatment of HIV in Brazil and Africa. (A strong background in chemistry or science is not required. The molecular structure will be covered on a 'need-to-know' basis and the focus will change very quickly to business and public policy issues. Calculations are likely to be very limited, with the exclusion of chemistry units and the inclusion of other more familiar ones like dollars.)
Grades will be based on class participation, four web assignments, and a class presentation.
Norbert Pienta is Associate Professor of Chemistry and General Chemistry Coordinator. He is a co-author of the 4th edition of "Chemistry in Context: Applying Chemistry to Society," a textbook for non-science majors,
First-Year Seminar: Ernest Hemingway
008:029 Section 001 2 s.h.
Instructor: Douglas Trevor, Department of English
Course Meets: 10:50am to 12:50 pm on Tuesdays in Room 216 English-Philosophy Building
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. Known for short, succinct phrasing, his style is in fact deceptively simple, often masking great emotional torment on the part of his characters, searing self-regard, ambivalence, and hostility toward others.
In this course, we will read the short stories that make up the collection In Our Time (1925) and then consider the novel that followed on the heels of this collection, The Sun Also Rises (1926). Hemingway's writing invites a host of topics that need to be considered-foremost among them his conception of what it means to be an American, the experience of war on the human psyche, and the ways in which human beings form bonds with one another. In Our Time and The Sun Also Rises also shed light on what Hemingway's mentor, Gertrude Stein, termed the "lost generation." Our conversations about his work will seek out the historical framework in which Hemingway's concerns appeared, the extent to which his style-as it was first developed in short fiction-was amenable to the form of the novel, and the technical components of his writing, including his use of conjunctions and his use of punctuation.
Grades will be based on: class participation and a final paper of 6-8 pages. There will be a variety of assignments and activities to prepare for the paper.
Douglas Trevor joined the Department of English at the University of Iowa in August, 1999. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His latest book is The Reinvention of Sadness: Writing Learned Selves in Early Modern England and he is co-editor (with Carla Mazzio) of Historicism, Psychoanalysis, and Early Modern Culture. His previous First-Year Seminars were on Hamlet and the writer James Joyce.
First-Year Seminar The Vampire in Literature and Film
008:029 Section 002 2 s.h.
Instructor: Rob Latham, Department of English
Course Meets: 10:50am to 12:50pm on Thursdays in Room 216 English-Philosophy Building
The figure of the vampire, originating in classic myth and medieval folklore, has become a staple of contemporary popular culture, due largely to its literary appropriation, during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, by the British Romantic poets. For these writers, the figure was a complexly expressive emblem, combining themes of immortality, of bodily and psychic metamorphosis, of exploitative sexual and social relationships, of transfiguring desires and unquenchable hungers-themes that subsequent authors of vampire texts have inherited and built upon. Indeed, thanks to Victorian and modern treatments, the figure has become a rich and subtle icon, condensing into a single resonant image all manner of personal and social obsessions and anxieties. This class will survey representative vampire texts from the past two centuries, from the poetry of Keats and Coleridge and Bram Stoker's Dracula to recent films such as The Lost Boys. We will look at both the developing complexity of the image and to its evolving capacity to address issues of our time, especially issues relating to race, class, gender, and sexuality.
Note: Class will meet once each week for 75 minutes, but there will also be 3-4 required, out-of-class film screenings.
Grades will be based on: attendance and participation, a weekly reading journal that will be circulated to the class as a springboard for discussion, two short papers, and a collaborative research project that will culminate in a series of oral reports (and a 10-12 page discursive summary) at the end of the semester.
Rob Latham is an associate professor in the Department of English. He is is currently writing a book on vampires (the fictional variety, that is).
First-Year Seminar: Dimensions of Visualization in Arts and Science
22M:014 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Dennis Roseman, Department of Mathematics
Course Meets:1:30pm to 2:20pm on Tuesdays in room C121 Pappajohn
This seminar is about an expanded vision for structure and pattern in the world with applications to arts and science. Artists and scientists ask: What is the shape of the Universe? What are the possibilities? How can we visualize these alternatives? What is the geometry behind M.C. Escher's drawings? How was Duchamp's work influenced by his studies of four dimensions? How many dimensions do we need to account for the physical Universe we observe?
In this class, our goal is not so much to find answers to these questions, but to learn to ask more questions and have fun seeing how far we can get thinking about such things. Using visual arts, readings in science, science fiction and fantasy, as well as interactive computer graphics and computer generated videos and a bit of "virtual reality" we will explore geometries in 2, 3, and even 4 dimensions.
Grades will be based on: short-term, small projects including readings and web searches, with project reports given in class. Projects may be individual or by groups of students.
Dennis Roseman is a Professor of Mathematics. He has written a textbook on topology and published videos and many papers on 4th dimension and knot theory topics. He is also interested in folk music and organic gardening.
First-Year Seminar: Exploring Mt. Everest
028:039 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Susan Birrell, Department of Health, Leisure and Sport Studies and Department of Women's Studies
Course Meets:Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
As the highest point on the globe, Mt. Everest occupies a lofty position not just topographically but culturally and symbolically as well. In this course, we will consider Mt. Everest as more than a site for adventure; we will investigate it as a cultural text and we will develop methodologies for critical analysis to help us explore the meanings that surround it. Using expedition accounts, excerpts from autobiographies, and contemporary newspaper accounts, we will explore four particularly famous expeditions to Mt. Everest: the 1924 British expedition during which George Mallory vanished; the "conquest" of Everest in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the 1996 "tourist" expeditions detailed in Jon Kraukauer's Into Thin Air; and the 1998 discovery of the body of George Mallory. We will not be asking why people climb Everest (Mallory has already told us it is "because it is there"); we will be exploring how their exploits are framed for the rest of us. What is the effect of these stories, which are usually presented as tales of tragedy, courage, and heroism, and what sorts of cultural meanings are we supposed to take from them?
Grading will be based on: participation in class discussion, a brief report on contemporary accounts of the four expeditions, a journal of your responses to class discussions and readings, and a report tying independent reading to course materials.
Susan Birrell is currently the Chair of the Department of Health, Leisure, and Sport Studies. She has also been Chair of the Department of Women's Studies. She investigates many aspects of sport, and also the cultural meanings generated in and through the experience of "vacations."
First-Year Seminar: Leisure and Your Liberal Education
028:039 Section 002 1 s.h.
Instructor: Richard MacNeil, Department of Health Leisure, and Sport Studies
Course Meets:Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Educating individuals for that portion of life that is free from necessity-that is, leisure-was the "central mission" of a liberal education for thousands of years. Recently, however, this notion has achieved a distinctly radical flavor since it seems to oppose so much of what our modern world values most: jobs, wealth, and material possessions. This course seeks to explore the relationship between leisure and a liberal education in contemporary society. It will challenge you to clarify your personal values and to clearly delineate factors which enhance their sense of well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life.
Grades will be based on: Class attendance and participation; a written journal, and a short paper reporting on a personal leisure project.
Richard MacNeil is a Professor in the Department of Sport, Health, Leisure, and Physical Studies. Among his favorite leisure activities are fishing, canoeing, and collecting baseball cards
First-Year Seminar: The Origins of Natural Science in Antiquity
029:039 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Steven Spangler, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course Meets:2:30pm to 3:20pm on Tuesdays in 143 Schaeffer Hall
The Natural Sciences and their associated engineering disciplines represent one of the more important characteristics of the contemporary world. Modern life is dependent on technological developments such as jet aircraft, solid state electronics, and satellite communications, which emerged from and are dependent on scientific understanding of the laws of nature. In addition, the modern world view and human self-perception is shaped by scientific discoveries.
In this class, we will see that the scientific view of nature began to emerge in ancient Greece at about the same time as classical developments in literature, art, and philosophy. We will follow these developments up to the point in the second century B.C. when the modern scientific outlook and methodology are unmistakable. We will also discuss ancient technology and the relation between science and technology in antiquity.
Grades will be based on: attendance and participation, brief in-class responses to questions of interest, and a short research paper.
Steven Spangler is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He investigates the solar wind and solar corona, the galactic interstellar medium and astrophysical plasma physics. His work has taken him to Europe many times, where he especially enjoys visiting the sites of ancient scientific investigation in Italy and Sicily.
First-Year Seminar: Lawyers in the American Political System
030:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Tim Hagle, Department of Political Science
Course Meets:12:30pm to 1:20pm on Wednesdays in room 137 Schaeffer Hall
This seminar will introduce students to several topics and issues related to the roles of lawyers and the legal community in the development of the law and, more generally, the American political system. We will look at legal education, the "legal culture," types of lawyers and legal jobs, how different types of lawyers influence the law in different ways, and how lawyers influence public policy and political institutions. Students will learn how to use internet resources to find information on legal developments -- court decisions, advocacy projects, and so on.
Grades will be based on: class participation and a few short essays and class presentations.
Tim Hagle is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science. He is also the prelaw advisor for Political Science. More information about this course can be found at his web site, http://www.uiowa.edu/~030116/
First-Year Seminar: Disasters and Catastrophes
036:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Randy Hirokawa, Department of Communication Studies
Course Meets: 1:05pm to 2:20pm on Thursdays in Room 106 Becker Communication Studies Building
Well-publicized tragedies like the bonfire accident on the campus of Texas A&M University and the recent airplane crash that killed members of the Oklahoma State University basketball team are grim reminders that man-made disasters and catastrophes are an ever-present aspect of everyday life. This seminar focuses on man-made disasters and catastrophes to promote an understanding of why they occur and what, if anything, can be done to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Grades will be based on: a group project. Two-three member research teams will investigate a man-made disaster and write a detailed report that describes, analyzes and explicates their findings. The written and oral presentation will be graded separately.
Randy Hirokawa is a professor in, and Chair of, the Department of Communication Studies. His research interests include group decision making, organizational communication, and interdisciplinary health care team education. In all of his research, he asks the question, "how does a group's decision-making communication affect its decision-making performance?"
First-Year Seminar: Gandhian Solutions: Can They Solve Today's Problems?
042:029 Section 001 2 s.h.
Instructor: Tom Walz, professor emeritus, School of Social Work
Course Meets: Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known as Mahatma Gandhi, was one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. The independence of India from Great Britain might not have occurred without his efforts, and he influenced both Nelson Mandela's approach to South African apartheid and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of non-violence during the United States civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
This seminar will explore the experiences that shaped Gandhi's thinking and introduce students to the core concepts of his philosophy. We will discuss whether Gandhi's ideas are still relevant and whether they could be applied to current social problems.
Grades will be based on: class participation, a book review, and a short paper.
Tom Walz recently retired from the University of Iowa. He is an international traveler and a former director of Peace Corps operations in Honduras. He was the first North American social worker to teach social work students in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
First-Year Seminar: Improvisation for the Theatre
049:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Ralph Hall, Department of Theatre Arts
Course Meets: Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Note: Because many improvisations are done with partners, enrollment will be open to 16 students.
Improvisation is an invaluable tool. Through practicing improvisational skills, you will become more effective in presentations before an audience, more creative in your approach to problem solving, and more able to analyze the principles underlying any disciplined study. Also, it's fun.
Each class will begin with a short warm-up activity leading into a further exploration of specific improvisational techniques. As the semester goes on, the exercises and games will gain a deeper layering of interrelated practices, culminating in acts of spontaneous dramatic play.
Each student will also create a personal resource notebook containing a record of class activities and related objectives. In addition, students will be required to attend at least one performance of the UI No Shame Theatre and view one episode of Drew Carey's Whose Line Is It Anyway.
Grades will be based on: Attendance and participation: 80% (note-you will not be judged on how well you are able to perform, but how much effort you put into the class, as both audience and actor), and Resource Notebook-20%
Ralph Hall is a graduate of Jacque Lecoq's theatre movement conservatory in Paris, France. He worked for fifteen years as a teacher, school director, writer, and show director at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. He has acted with the Dell'Arte Players Company in California and the San Diego Repertory Theatre. He is currently teaching movement and acting in the UI Theatre Department.
First-Year Seminar: Voice and Speech
049:029 Section 002 2 s.h.
Instructor: Judy Leigh-Johnson, Theatre Arts
Course Meets: Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Our voice is used to express feelings and ideas, to motivate, entertain, and move people to action. It is part of our image. A natural, pleasant, and dynamic speaking voice is often just as important as being an expert in your chosen profession.
In this seminar, students will learn how to be an effective and confident communicator through a practical course designed to develop and improve your vocal sound, vocal strength, and the clarity of your speech.
Note: This course will meet once each week for 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Grades will be based on: class participation, a written journal, and success in application of the principles and techniques that will be introduced.
Judy Leigh-Johnson graduated from the acting program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and pursued an acting career on both sides of the Atlantic encompassing a wide variety of major roles in film, TV, radio drama, voice-overs, and commercials. She has taught in Britain, Canada, and the US, and has been a dialect coach for theatre companies in Canada and the US.
First-Year Seminar Aging in America: Growing Older and Wiser
153:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Judith Voelkl, Department of Health, Leisure, and Sport Studies and the Aging Studies Program
Course Meets: Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
We are living in a society with an increasing number of citizens who are age 65 or older. Currently, 12.7% of US citizens and 14.9% of Iowans are older than 65! In this seminar, we will examine what this older population means for our personal experiences within our families, work environments, and communities, as well as the responsibilities facing a society with a growing number of older adults.
We will begin the seminar by viewing and critiquing current literary and media presentations of older adults. Subsequently, we will discuss older adults' health, sexuality, family relationships, friendships, and retirement. Each week our discussion will focus on how current information may help us evaluate the accuracy of literary and media presentations of older adults.
Grades will be based on: class participation, one short paper, and a written journal.
Judith Voelkl is an Associate Professor in Health, Leisure, and Sport Studies, focusing on Therapeutic Recreation. She is also coordinator of the College's Aging Studies Certificate, a constituent program of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies.
First-Year Seminar: Sex and College Life
154:029 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Les Margolin, POROI/CRSD/Sexuality Studies
Course Meets:Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Entering university life can mean questions and/or anxieties related to sexuality. This course involves readings, films, and discussion on topics that include sexual ethics and values, sexual health, peer pressure, the role of alcohol, the formation of sexual identity, sexual harassment and coercion, and other topics of interest to the students in the class.
Grades will be based on: three two-page essays.
Les Margolin teaches a variety of courses. As a member of the faculty for the Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry he investigates the persuasive bases of scholarship. In the College of Education, he is a member of the faculty of the Division of Counselor Education, where his research interests include education for gifted children and the history of social work. He also helped to develop the sexuality studies certificate for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Leadership in A Diverse Society
610:030 Section 001 1 s.h.
Instructor: Diane Finnerty, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity
Course Meets: Time and Place will be scheduled soon--Check ISIS
Note: Unlike the other First-Year Seminars, this course is graded "Satisfactory/Fail" rather than letter graded (A-F).
In today's increasingly diverse society, students of all backgrounds and disciplines must be adept at assessing the difference that difference makes in their interactions with people from varied backgrounds. Students in this course will participate in exploring numerous elements of diversity and culture, including:
- Race/ethnicity
- Gender
- Class
- Disability
- Sexual identity
- Religion
- Geography
Through the use of multidisciplinary perspectives and materials, this interactive course will encourage students to deepen their understanding of self and other with the goal of developing skills necessary in today's world.
Grades will be based on: Students will earn an "S" grade for this course by keeping a journal during the semester and attending class. Active participation will be expected. Students who do not attend, actively participate, and complete journal entries will not pass the course.
Diane Finnerty is an adjunct lecturer in the Henry B. Tippie College of Business and the Diversity Resources Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Her research and practice include understanding Iowa in the global context, including issues of race/ethnicity, immigration and "globalization." Born and raised in Iowa, she has focused on the development of social justice curricula which address the needs of Midwestern organizations and communities.