First-semester Seminar Themes

Foundation Seminar (FOUN) Themes

• Histories of Struggle: Champions of Change

  How do people fight to make the world fairer and more just?

  In these seminars you will explore powerful stories of those who stand up to injustice and inequality. You will examine groundbreaking movements, iconic leaders and pivotal moments that transformed our understanding of human rights and social justice.

  Past seminar topics have included: the art of protest, animal-human relationships, the Latinx experience in the U.S.

   

• History and Potential of a Sustainable World

  How do people relate to the natural world?

  These courses explore the origins of our environmental dilemmas, assess the contemporary landscape and imagine how we might best respond.

  Past seminar topics have included: alternative medicine, city and urban planning, plagues and cultural responses.

   

• Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future

  What forces shape human communities?

  These courses encourage students to understand the impact of culture, political movements or
  historical events on human affairs and societal dynamics.

  Past seminar topics have included: diverse cultures in the Arab world, philosophy of play, punk ethics and aesthetics, revolution and democracy in China

   

• Examining the World Around Us

  How do people understand and shape the physical universe?

  These courses draw on science, engineering and mathematics to understand people, events and the world around us. Students will consider the roles of scientific inquiry, natural processes or technological innovations in creating our experience of the material world.

  Past seminar topics have included: storytelling with data, maps and map-making, the statistics of 'winning'

   

• Landscapes of Arts and Media

  How do we define ourselves through creative works?

  These courses invite students to examine how the arts and media influence society, reflect cultural
  trends and create powerful avenues for expression of the human experience.

  Past seminar topics have included: investigating the idea of ‘home,’ cinema, understanding jazz

   

• Exploring Language and Expression

  How does language shape our history and experience in a culture?

  These courses encourage students to examine the power of the spoken or written word to shape personal experience and further human understanding.

  Past seminar topics have included: experiences on the Silk Road, the Italian-American experience, art, food & politics  

   

• World Connections and Conflicts

  What links us to people around the world? 

  These courses inspire students to explore the richness of human experiences across world regions by examining how different societies address fundamental questions of human existence, such as the meaning of morality, justice and the good life, and how local and global forces interact to shape cultural and political dynamics.

  Past seminar topics have included: taboos in the Arab World, globalization, secrets of the Ancient World

   

• Myself and Others: Understanding the Human Condition

  What does it mean to “have a self”?

  These courses encourage students to examine and express how we establish our identity and how we position ourselves in relation to our communities and the world.

  Past seminar topics have included: flourishing in humans, the importance of connectedness for human society, love and learning