Freshman Seminars
The Freshman Seminar Program offers first-year students access to small, discussion-oriented classes that many UW students may not experience until they are juniors or seniors. Distinguished UW faculty members teach these seminars on a topic of personal or professional interest. Freshman Seminars provide an intimate setting for engaging discussion between students and the professor. These seminars are particularly appropriate for students who want a first look at an unfamiliar field of study.
Autumn 2008
Click on course titles to view Time Schedule information for each seminar. Contact Steven Thurston Oliver for additional information and add codes where needed.
Exploring Seattle: a Survey of Community and Leadership
Instructors: Matthew Wojciakowski & Kathryn Pursch, Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center
This seminar will take a hands-on approach to exploring the Seattle community and the dynamic social issues being addressed by community non-profit organizations. Each seminar session will take participants into a different Seattle neighborhood to learn from a different organization and hear from community leaders how these non-profits address the needs of their community. In conjunction with the UW Common Book — The Devil's Highway — we'll explore the intersecting social issues that inform the lives of immigrants/refugees, low-income families, and individuals with insecure housing. Through this seminar, you'll discover ways that you can take an active role in the community, learn what support is available for this work, and consider the significant difference that community engagement could make on your undergraduate experience.
Instructor: Gabriel E. Gallardo
This seminar is intended to provide a brief introduction of the settlement of the Latino population in the United States. More specifically, the course uses a comparative, socio-historical and spatial approach to examine the historical context and the more recent social and political developments that have shaped the emergence of Latino communities in our country. The topics will include: the socio-historical context underlying Latino immigration; settlement and integration processes in the U.S.; the formation of Latino identities in the U.S.; undocumented immigration; and anti-immigrant debates. Luis Alberto Urrea's The Devil's Highway will be one of the reading requirements for the seminar.
Fundamentals of Event Planning
Instructor: Courtney Russell
Events Project Manager, UW Marketing, Development and Alumni Relations & External Affairs
The event planning industry is a relatively new field, but the profession is as old as time. Are you often asked to plan social events with friends? Perhaps you've considered a career in Event Planning but were not exactly sure what that encompasses? This seminar will explore the history, responsibilities, and various niche fields you can get involved in within the event industry. We will also discuss how the event planner's position plays a critical role in the marketing and communications fields. The course will combine practical lessons in event planning and coordination with discussions and reflections on your college transition. The course will culminate at the end of the quarter with a final event-based project. Prior knowledge or experience in event planning is not required. The course is open to all students - from those with a budding interest in the field to students who are well-seasoned planners.
Engineering as a Humanitarian Pursuit*
Instructor: Kristofer Martin
Did you know that one of the most impactful ways for you to improve your community and our world is to become an engineer? Students will gain a greater awareness and appreciation of the role engineering has upon improving lives, advancing health, and enhancing society through this seminar. Format includes presentations and discussions with faculty and students and short reading and reflection assignments. For students interested in engineering as well as students looking for information on majors that will help them change the world.
*This course can be taken by itself or as part of a Freshman Interest Group (FIG).
Queer 101: Exploring Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues*
Instructor: Jennifer Self, Q Center Coordinator
This seminar will provide an introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) issue from a broad, affirming, and inclusive GLBT perspective. We will examine the personal, political, legal questions, as well as take a look at GLBT experiences on college and university campuses.
*This course is clustered with a FIG group. Students interested in taking this course separately should contact Steven Oliver (email or call 206-616-7260) for an add code.
Instructor: William Talbott, Department of Philosophy
This seminar will provide an informal introduction to philosophy. The seminar sessions will consist of class discussions on a variety of topics, based on short weekly readings in a variety of different areas of philosophy. This seminar is especially suitable for students considering philosophy as a major or a minor. No prior knowledge of philosophy is assumed. The only requirement for taking this seminar is a willingness to do the short reading assignments each week, to attend class, and to participate in the class discussions. No prerequisites.
Successful Aging: The Time to Start is Now
Instructor: H. Asuman Kiyak: Professor, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Dentistry), Adjunct Professor, Architecture, Psychology, Director, Institute on Aging
The majority of human beings are capable of living long, healthy and productive lives. Students will explore the internal and environmental factors that along with genetics determine how an individual will age. Students will be introduced to research findings that highlight the many things that individuals can do in the present to facilitate aging successfully. This course is excellent for students interested in the Health Sciences.
Instructor: Steven Thurston Oliver and multiple guest presenters from the Muslim Community.
Current headlines regarding Islam often focus on extremism manifested by the actions of a few. Rarely do we hear stories that highlight the complexity and beauty of the worlds second largest and fastest growing religion. Students will explore Islam and other world religion through the narratives and perspectives of Muslims. Several speakers and panel discussions will provide students with a rich array of perspectives to draw from and the opportunity to ask questions. Students will gain a greater understanding of the ways in which Islam has influenced the social and cultural development of individuals and societies. Students will gain insight into interfaith dialogues geared towards promoting equity and social justice. The only requirement for taking this seminar is a willingness to do the short reading assignments each week, to attend class, and to participate in the class discussions.
*This course is clustered with a FIG group. Students interested in taking this course separately should contact Steven Oliver (email or call 206-616-7260) for an add code.
Sociological Lenses: Contemporary Issues in
Race, Class, Gender and Sexual Orientation
Instructor: Steven Oliver
Sociology is the study of society attempts to understand the structures that influence societal trends and individual behavior. This course will function as a learning community where students will be invited to integrate sociological theory with their lived experiences. Students will utilize sociological lenses to engage in discussion around contemporary and often controversial issues of race, glass, gender, and sexual identity. Students will dialogue with advisers from the Sociology department to gain a deeper understand of various study and career options open to those who choose the social sciences as a primary area of focus.
*This course is clustered with a FIG group. Students interested in taking this course separately should contact Steven Oliver (email or call 206-616-7260) for an add code.
Instructor: Prof. James W. Murray (543- 4730; jmurray@u.washington.edu)
Peak Oil and Climate Change are two historic events for humans and life on earth. Both result from societal dependence on fossil fuels. The first threatens modern industrial ways of living and the latter threatens the climatic systems that are an integral part of our world and the way we live and survive. Peak Oil is the point when global production of oil will reach a maximum for geological reasons. Climate Change is the alteration of the earth's climate systems due to global warming by anthropogenic CO2. How do these two events affect each other? Peak Oil and Climate Change are a bigger threat together than either are alone. Our biggest hope is to similarly converge our understanding of them, and how to deal with the problems they present. The solutions to both are essentially the same—development of renewable energy sources and increasing the efficiency of our energy use. The Climate Change movement has been saying for a long time that we should change; Peak Oil means categorically we have to change. Fuse them together and hopefully we'll get more momentum moving us in the right direction.
Power To Change the World: Exploring Computer Science and Engineering
Instructor: Raven Avery
The seminar explores the "real world" applications of computer science and engineering, from digital entertainment to improving lives in developing nations. We'll see demos of current CSE research projects, hear from CSE students and alumni, and visit a local company to see what life is like working in the tech industry. Computer science and engineering are valuable tools for many career paths -- this seminar will help you explore your interests, whether you're headed to med school, a game design studio, or are still exploring. Open only to freshmen enrolled in CSE 142 or 143.
Develop: Production of a Photo Essay
Instructor: Grant Kollett
Have you ever thought that you express yourself best through photos and images? The "Develop" Freshmen Seminar is a 2 credit course is designed for students who want to explore, capture, and share their transition to the UW through images. The course will combine practical lessons in photography and image editing with discussions and reflections on college transition. The course will culminate at the end of the quarter with a public showing of selected images from each member of the seminar. Extensive photography experience is not required for this class and cameras will be loaned to students who need them. The primary prerequisite for "Develop" is a sincere willingness and commitment to share your story of personal and academic growth through photographs.
The Pulp Romanticism: Comics as Literature
Instructor: Noell Bernard
Pop Comics emerged onto the world scene with a very black and white image: Superheroes battling Super-villains to save humanity from the evil plans teetering on the brink of fruition, threatening to ravish humanity and send them plunging into a darkness and despair. However, genre of Comics Literature has changed, as it has matured. As a result, the genre encompasses issues as varied as racism and the holocaust, to personifying Milton's romantic hero, Lucifer. In this seminar, you will be asked to draw upon your personal experiences in relation to comics and related readings. Together, we will discuss this up-and-coming genre which has just recently begun to draw respect from literary aficionados.
Exploring Environmental Majors at the U.W.*
Instructor: Michelle Townsend, School of Oceanography
Do you want to turn the tides and save our planet? Learn about life, ecology, natural processes, and human impact on earth and what you can do that will make a difference now? Join this seminar and explore majors in Environmental, Biological, and Physical Sciences geared toward preservation, conservation, and sustainability. Faculty from our award-winning departments will give presentations and facilitate discussions with students about why their research and disciplines are so important in our present time. Students also will have short reading and writing assignments intending to help them better understand their own interests and choose the right majors.
*This course is clustered with a FIG group. Students interested in taking this course separately should contact Steven Oliver (email or call 206-616-7260) for an add code.
