ARCHIVE
• Winter 2008 • Fall 2007 • Spring 2007 • Winter 2007 • Fall 2006 • Spring 2006 • Winter 2006 • Fall 2005 • Spring 2005 • Winter 2005 • Fall 2004 • Spring 2004 • Winter 2004 • Fall 2003 • Spring 2003 • Winter 2003 • Fall 2002 • 9/11 Seminars • Past Seminars |
PAST FRESHMAN SEMINARS
CLAIRE TREVOR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Reflecting on the Arts at UCI Jill Beck, Arts The Arts are in frequent display and performance on the UCl campus. This seminar will enable students to view art with more insight, to discuss it with more knowledge, and to learn how art can add to their intellectual and creative lives. The format of the class will be in three parts. • Preview: Students will discuss upcoming exhibitions or performances, to develop an understanding of the context of the work they will see and to begin to gather information from which to evaluate the art. • View: Students will attend gallery exhibitions, music concerts, play productions, and dance performances in order to develop an overall appreciation for the arts and what they can add to our quality of life on campus. • Review: Following attendance at our events students will exchange impressions, opinions, and interpretations of the arts. The emphasis will be on the development of critical skills and the expression of more informed opinions about the nature of art and what it can achieve. Books needed: Script of The Misanthrope, Script of She Loves Me, Ballet & Modern Dance/ A Concise History by Jack Anderson, Princeton Book Co. There is also a $15.00 ticket fee. Art and Interpretation Stephen Barker, Drama The title of the seminar is "Art and Interpretation," and we'll look at a series of works and pieces of works, ranging from visual art (painting, sculpture, cinema, video, computer art, etc.), performative art (drama, dance, music, performance art) and literary art (poetry, fiction), working through a series of steps by which the works "open" themselves to interpretation. We'll look at some critiques of artwork done by professional theorists and critics, to see how that kind of interpretation works, and we'll work at formulating the kinds of questions that make the most of artworks for the non-professional responder. We'll work with both specific works that show complexities worth exploring (e.g., Picasso's Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon, the ready-mades of Marcel Duchamp, the visual/literary art of Barbara Krueger, the complex multidisciplinary work of Robert Wilson), and through a couple of thematic groupings of artwork (e.g., alienation, violence, romance). We'll also take at least one day to look at a number of works by a single artist, to get a sense of the range and depth of someone's production. Small writing assignments will accompany this critical and interpretive work; no exams and no major papers. Energetic discussion will be essential to the success of the class. SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Disease and Civilization Stuart Krassner, Developmental and Cell Biology The seminar will focus on the relationships between major epidemic diseases and the development of human societies. Included will be the roles played by Bubonic Plague on the collapse of the Ancient World and the Medieval World, the relationship between smallpox and the Spanish Conquest of the New World, the role of African-Americans in the successful completion of the Panama Canal and the current societal responses to AIDS. The historical evolution of Modern Medicine will also be discussed. Evolutionary Biology Walter Fitch, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology This seminar is intended to be an interactive discussion of the issues relating to evolution. The class will be asked to help define the topics in the first week. Possible issues could, for example, include: What is evolution? Does it exist? How would you know if it exists? Is creationism scientific? What are the mechanisms for evolution? How can one get such complicated creatures by a process that depends on random mutational processes? What is Darwin's contribution? Where does Lamark fit in, why is he wrong? How can one say the earth is 4.5 billion years old? There will be readings, student presentations; perhaps a short paper or two, and much discussion with participation accounting for part of the grade. Dinosaur Physiology James Hicks, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology This seminar will be a forum for the exposition and discussion of recent findings from the studies of extant vertebrates that provide insights into the metabolic status of dinosaurs and implications about the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. The goal of this seminar is to expose the students to this ongoing debate in paleobiology and to stimulate fresh perspectives into the metabolic status of theropod dinosaurs. The seminar will not take a pro-warm-blooded or pro-cold-blooded stance, but will present a rigorous analysis of the morphological and physiological evidence used to infer metabolic status in dinosaurs. Darwinism and the Modern World Michael Rose, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology "Darwinism and the Modern World" attempts to introduce evolutionary biology in historical context, both of Darwin's time and of our own. The seminar will feature wide-ranging discussion, from science to politics to religion. No prior knowledge of biology is required. Topics will include: Life of Darwin, Heredity, Selection, Evolution, Agriculture & Medicine, Eugenics, Human Origins, Human Pysche, Politics & Economics, and Religion. Modern Technology: Applications of Molecular Biology to Real World Problems Barbara Hamkalo, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Nearly every day in a newspaper or magazine one reads about issues that are related to the application of modern molecular biological approaches to solve problems ranging from crop improvement and insect resistance, the basis of hereditary disease, gene therapy to correct genetic defects and applications in forensic science, to name a few. This course will include a brief introduction to molecular biological principles and then discussions about how real world problems are employing these principles, what the outcomes are and the kinds of ethical issues implicit in this new era. The Golden Age of Microbiology 1850-1900 Sidney Golub, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics This seminar will be a discussion of the importance in public health, medicine, and scientific thinking of the findings in microbiology, immunology, and infectious disease of the last part of the 19th century. This period featured the pioneering contributions of Pasteur, Koch, Ehrlich, von Behring, and many others. We will also discuss the historical and societal context for these scientific efforts. The class is appropriate for those interested in biology, history, and the sociology of science. Students will be expected to lead several class discussions each and to write a paper on the contributions of one scientist of the period. SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES The Salem Witchcraft Trials Michael Clark, English and Comparative Literature In 1692, people living in Salem, Massachusetts, suddenly began hearing reports of witches plotting against them and devils tormenting their neighbors. Soon, almost two hundred people in this small community had been accused of selling their souls to the Devil, and many of the most important intellectual and political figures of Colonial New England were embroiled in a controversial series of trials that resulted in nineteen people being hanged. The witchcraft trials at Salem lasted less than a year, and even at the time they were viewed by many Colonists as the product of ignorant superstition and hysterical zeal. Nevertheless, many people still consider the trials as a defining moment of Early American history. In this course, we will explore this enduring fascination with the Salem trials by reading a few of the novels and plays they have inspired, by considering various explanations proposed by historians, and by studying the published transcripts of the trials themselves. The reading will include Arthur Miller's The Crucible, which is being staged at UCI November 15-23. Students are urged to attend this production before taking the course. The Age of Beowulf: Monsters, Heroes, and Gods Linda Georgianna, English and Comparative Literature In this course, we will explore the world of BEOWULF, the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon poem that is the oldest English epic. Our reading of the poem will focus on the complex relations between the heroic figures and their monstrous opponents as they reflect each other and the social, religious, and political conditions of the period. We will read the poem in translation, but we will also look briefly at the original Old English version and compare several different translations to understand the problems and power of the translator. If time remains, we will end by reading John Gardner's GRENDEL, a recent retelling of the story from the point of view of the poem's most famous monster. The course will proceed by discussion, stimulated by weekly one-page responses to a particular section of the poem. The idea is to read the poem as slowly and carefully as time allows. Hercules: Metamorphoses of a Myth Julia Lupton, English and Comparative Literature Heroes and monsters, love and madness, civilization and violence, error and loss; these are some of the themes in the Hercules myth. In this seminar, we will study classical and modern transformations of the myth, from Sophocles and Euripides to Shakespeare to Disney. Tradition of Love: Sacred and Profane James Chiampi, French and Italian The title of the course will be "Tradition of Love: Sacred and Profane," and will deal with the traditions of love in the West from Plato onward. We shall study love as daemon and love as tendency; love as madness and love as benevolence—all in relation to charity which is the love of God and is God. We will ask ourselves whether we can reconcile love of God with the love of self. Turning to the troubadourtic tradition, we will examine the relation between troubadourtic love and charity. Texts will include Plato's Symposium, the Gospel of John, as well as readings in Williams of Poitou, St. Francis, Andreas Capellanus, Guido Cavalcanti, Dante, and Petrarch. Autobiography in Japanese History Anne Walthall, History This course will introduce students to significant themes in Japanese history through the life stories of individuals. Topics will include court society, the Meiji Restoration, westernization, modernity and the rise of business. The course will be structured around a comparison between men and women as subjects for autobiography, and a comparison between Japanese autobiographies and those found in other societies. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Business and the Environment Dennis Aigner, Graduate School of Management In the past it was assumed that there is a trade-off between a healthy business sector and a healthy environment, and that government's role was to manage those trade-offs through regulation. In Europe first, and now in the U.S., business has begun to move from a position of being forced to limit pollution and comply with government regulations toward one of avoiding pollution and waste as good corporate citizens but, more importantly, in the interest of being more efficient and competitive. By way of background we will discuss various chapters in Gregg Easterbrook's A Moment on Earth. The seminar will then focus on the evolution of the relationship between business and the environment and will present some leading examples of U.S. and other firms that are leading the way in this process. SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES The Dark Side of the Chemical Industry: What to Do when Economic Success Conflicts with Public Health William Evans, Chemistry A discussion of the issues and factors which must be considered when profitable technology in the chemical industry is found to have potential detrimental effects on the health of the public and the environment. The complexities of several recent problems of this type will be analyzed from all perspectives. These include industry's efforts to continue to use asbestos, MTBE, and chlorofluorocarbons after they were connected with cancer and ozone depletion (a world problem in which UCI's Nobel Prize Winner, Professor F.S. Rowland and Chancellor Ralph Cicerone are heavily involved). No prior or current experience in any science courses is required for this seminar. Lasers Kenneth Janda, Chemistry This seminar will introduce students to the science, history, and technological applications of lasers. Although many people consider quantum mechanics to be an arcane, abstract theory, it has a tremendous practical impact on our everyday lives. The laser is one technology that has resulted from the development of quantum mechanics. In the brief period of 50 years, this technology has progressed from an intellectual oddity to one of the foundations of modern technology. We will examine origins of the laser, the history of transformation from intellectual idea to practical application, and the proliferation of types of lasers to the point where most Americans use them daily. In consultation with the instructor, each student will choose an example of modern application of laser technology, and report on this application to class. No previous experience with quantum mechanics or lasers is required. Text: Laser: Light of a Million Uses, by Jeff Hecbt and Dick Teresi. This book gives a good scientific and historical introduction to the topic. It also describes many current applications of lasers, from anti-missile technology, to eye surgery, to compact disk players. The Planets for Nonscientists Laurel Wilkening, Earth System Science This seminar will explore the solar system using the world wide web and the library. The explorers, i.e., the students, will discover the latest findings about the planets and compare what is known now with some of the historical beliefs and ideas about the planets. In the process of exploration, students will see how the scientific method was used to guide the space program, that is, what historical beliefs or observations led to ideas about planets that scientists wanted to test by making measurements or taking photographs of the planets. The explorers will work in teams; each team will pick a planet and describe their exploration of it to the other students. Each student will write a short essay due at the end of the quarter. Fasten Your Seatbelts. From Catastrophe to Chaos Frederic Wan, Mathematics The purpose of the seminar is to introduce students to a number of fundamental themes in applied mathematics by way of concrete natural and social phenomena. Calculus is not required, but mathematical adroitness is for the seminar. There will be computing projects for some of the mathematical models discussed. The applied mathematical themes to be discussed and possible illustrating phenomena include: • Equilibrium (Steady State) and Stability: Coweb theorem in economics, the Hardy-Weinberg law in genetics, and arm race modeling. • Evolution: Population dynamics, and harvesting strategies (in fishery, forestry and/or animal populations). • Bifurcation: Interacting populations, predator-prey, Hopf bifurcation, pitchfork bifurcation, catastrophe, chaos. • Optimization: Shortest route problems, knapsack problems, matrix games. • Combinatorics: The seven bridges of Konigsberg, the Instant Insanity puzzle, the Traveling Salesman's problem, and other graph problems. • Stochastics: Gambler's ruin, estimation of the mean, confidence interval, hypothesis testing, random walk and heat diffusion. High school geometry and advanced algebra required Trigonometry desired but not necessary. Physics Revolutions of the 20th Century William Parker, Physics The early part of the 20th century saw two scientific revolutions of enormous impact; relativity and quantum mechanics. These two revolutions changed in fundamental ways our understanding of the physical universe and can be considered two of the most outstanding intellectual developments of the 20th century. The goal of this seminar will be to discuss these two revolutions in a non-technical and nonmathematical manner suitable for undergraduates majoring in nonscience disciplines. Einstein's theory of special relativity, and later his theory of general relativity, changed in fundamental ways our understanding of space and time. The features of special relativity are accessible without complicated mathematics. Quantum mechanics has required us to accept the fact that concepts used to describe our macroscopic world are inappropriate at the microscopic level. The universe is fundamentally different than we would conclude from observations of macroscopic objects. The Universe at Large Virginia Trimble, Physics As far back as written records go, people in all cultures have attempted to understand the structure and history of the world around them. Early efforts in this direction took the form of creation myths, often involving supernatural creatures, shaped like humans, animals, or human-animal blends. Starting a little more than 2000 years ago, scholars in Greece and its intellectual colonies learned to measure the size of the earth and the distance to the moon. Gradually, human horizons expanded with, from about 1600 onward, realistic estimates of the size of the sun and solar system and the distances to other stars. In the 20th century, this expansion has continued, with the recognition of the existence of whole systems of stars as big as our own Milky Way, at distances as far away as light can travel within the age of the universe, and moving apart from each other ("the expansion of the universe"). The course will explore both how ideas about the world we live in have developed and how the methods of modern astronomy and physics can be used to provide quantitative answers to questions like: How old is the universe; what (if anything) happened before the universe as we now see? How big is it; is there anything outside it? And is the place we live an average or special galaxy, solar system, planet? And so forth. SCHOOL OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY Introduction to the Social Ecological Perspective Daniel Stokols, Urban and Regional Planning This course offers a broad overview of social ecology as a framework for research and community problem-solving. The assigned readings and class discussions are organized around core principles and themes that are inherent in the social ecological perspective. One theme is the importance of applying basic theory and research to the analysis and resolution of community problems, such as global environmental change, crime and violence in society, and the challenges of a rapidly aging population. A second theme is that complex societal problems should be approached from multiple disciplinary perspectives rather than from the vantage point of single disciplines. A third theme is that research questions and public policy issues can be better understood if they are examined at multiple rather than singular levels of analysis. Thus, problems such as crime, violence, and global environmental change can be understood in terms of individual behavior and motivation, social influence, organizational and community dynamics, and policy initiatives enacted at state, regional, international levels. The seminar also will provide an historical perspective on the development of social ecology as a multidisciplinary field, both at UCI and beyond. Students enrolled in the seminar will be encouraged to participate actively in class discussions among fellow students and the instructor. The only prerequisites for this course are a strong interest in cross-disciplinary approaches to research and community problem-solving, and a lively curiosity about Social Ecology as an academic unit at UCI and as anew and exciting framework for interdisciplinary research. SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES The Anthropology of Money William Maurer, Anthropology What is money? Economists talk about the money supply and inflation; political scientists talk about currency reform and monetary policy; and sociologists talk about the effects of the unequal distribution of money in society. Anthropologists, however, are interested in the stuff of money itself: why does money, as an object, take the form that it does? Why do people invest money with value? And what sorts of values—religious, aesthetic, and not simply economic—do they have in mind when they do so? The course will explore non-Western people's encounters with "modern" money, and also delve deeply into traditional Western accounts of the origins and substance of money. We will ask questions about the cultural domains that inform the rich accretion of meanings to this stuff that makes the world go 'round. Environmental Regulation and the Courts Linda Cohen, Economics Federal environmental regulation in the United States comes from actions of the political sector (Congress and the president pass statutes), the public bureaucracy (agencies that interpret and enforce the statutes), and the judiciary (courts review agency actions). Notwithstanding the apparently subsidiary role of the judiciary, courts have been accused (or, by some, praised) for exercising broad policy authority in the environmental field and even usurping the legislative role. In this seminar, we will draw from the tools of economics and political science to examine the history of judicial intervention in environmental policy. We will also address fundamental questions about the role of the judiciary in public administration: How can the courts advance a judicial agenda and when are they likely to be successful? What is the role and impact of the judicial structure in the United States? What sorts of oversight can the legislative sector exercise over the judiciary? What role does the judiciary play in the relationship between the elected politicians and the public bureaucracy? Automobile Problems and Solutions Charles Lave, Economics Autos were once a luxury, now they are a "necessity." They were once rare, now they are common—so common that the United States actually has more autos than drivers. Autos give the ordinary person a degree of mobility and freedom that was once available only to the privileged few. But along with the increase in autos, there has also been an increase in air pollution, congestion, energy consumption, and highway fatalities. This seminar will look at the overall social costs and benefits of the automobile, and it will examine some of the solutions proposed to reduce these costs, for example: increased used of public transit, fuel economy standards, emission controls, and speed limits. Some of these solutions turn out to be worthwhile; many are wasteful and ineffective. Local Politics and Global Challenges James Danziger, Political Science By 2020, more than one-half of the world's populations will live and work in urban/metropolitan areas. The large majority of the population in the more developed countries like the United States is already in urban settings. These huge concentrations of people are also the location of many of the greatest policy challenges facing society and government—education, housing, poverty, crime, transportation, multiculturalism, environmental quality, shelter, sense of community, among others. The seminar will examine some of these issues associated with an urban world. We will begin with an assessment of the search for community and the way local politics works in the United States. Our subsequent exploration of key policy challenges like those listed above will be grounded in the context of the U.S. but will also consider the ways in which these challenges have become more universal and global as urbanization and megacities come to dominate the international system. The course will center in discussion which is informed by our personal experiences, shared readings, short research-based think papers, and some field experiences in which we meet local public sector leaders. The primary text will be Herbert Girardet's Gaia Atlas of Cities: New Directions in Sustainable Living in Urban Areas (London: Gaia Press, 1996). Representative Democracy: Fragile Foundations and Enduring Expectations Mark Petracca, Political Science "Democracy never lasts long," wrote John Adams, "it soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." Adams was a revolutionary patriot from Massachusetts, co-author (along with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin) of The Declaration of Independence, and the nation's second president. He had more reason than many Americans in the early 19th century to be optimistic about the prospects for American democracy, if not democracy generally. Yet, his depressing prediction for the future of democratic governance was based at least in part upon a careful appraisal of history. As we prepare to enter a new millennium, the fragile foundations of democratic governance must be understood, addressed, and respected anew. The promises associated with democratic self-government will be difficult to achieve—in America and elsewhere—if due attention is not paid to the foundations which make democracy possible in the first place, no matter how fragile and uncertain its future. The seminar will explore, albeit briefly, the principal ideas associated with democracy, the primary institutions characteristic of America's democratic republic, and the political, social, and economic foundations of a sustainable democratic regime. The course will focus on the discussion of assigned readings and the contemporary challenges of democratization. COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Wounded Storytellers: Narratives of Illness in Literature Johanna Shapiro, Family Medicine What is it really like to experience serious illness, even to face the possibility of death? Biomedical research investigates the causes and cures of disease, while social science quantifies and categorizes patients' subjective reactions. But where in all of this are the unfiltered, uncensored voices of the sufferers—the patients themselves? This course will use fictional literature—poetry, short stories, and excerpts from novels—as well as first-person accounts (writings of actual patients) to explore the psychological, emotional, and relational aspects of patient experiences of such conditions as cancer, heart disease, disability, alcoholism, AIDS, and mental illness. We will also examine the power of narrative to bring coherence and meaning to our lives at moments of great physical and emotional crisis. This course may appeal especially to students planning careers in medicine, but is open to anyone. The Human Genome Project: A New World? M. Anne Spence, Pediatrics This course is designed to introduce primarily the non-science major to the Human Genome Project (HGP). This project, which will identify and map the approximately 100,000 genes in human DNA, has been likened to placing a man on the moon and is considered one of the greatest scientific undertakings for all time. However, the HGP differs in many ways from other huge scientific projects in the human, economic, legal, social, and ethical ramifications which stem directly from it. For this reason it is the only federally funded project which has a mandated portion of its budget to be spent on the study of the legal, ethical, and social issues (ELSI). This project also has immense ramifications for our understanding of human disease, not only the rare genetic disorders, but common diseases such as hypertension and cancer. For that reason it will play a role in the lives of most Americans. The course will explore the initial planning, the current accomplishments, the implications, and the future projections for the HGP. ADHD: Understanding the Disorder and New Advances in its Treatment Sharon Wigal, Pediatrics Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects about 2 million children in the United States alone. These children experience difficulties at home and at school that may affect relationships with family members, teachers, and peers. The course will provide background information on the current method for diagnosis and assessment of each of the three types of ADHD, the history of medication treatment, and experimental approaches to developing new treatments. STUDENT AFFAIRS Multiple Personalities: Voice, Vision, and Identity in Contemporary Multicultural Poetry Manuel Gomez, Student Affairs In "Song of Myself," Walt Whitman asks "Do I contradict myself?/Very well then I contradict myself,/(I am large, I contain multitudes.)" This insight not only applies to the versatility of the individual poetic voice, but also to the diversity of poets who compose the genre. Establishing a crucial connection between voice and identity, Whitman articulates one of the most interesting aspects of poetic expression. For as the line between poet and poetic persona blurs, artistic expression often takes on a personal authenticity which engages us with issues of identity and history. In this course we will look at the relationship between artistic voice and cultural identity as expressed in contemporary multicultural poetry. Required Text: Unsettling America: An Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry, Eds. Maria Mazziotti Gillan and Jennifer Gillan, New York: Penguin Books, 1994. Additional poems will be assigned. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Freshman Seminar Program 256 Aldrich Hall Irvine, CA 92697-5675 Phone (949) 824-6987 Fax (949) 824-3469 A Division of Undergraduate Education Program © 2006-2008 The Regents of the University of California All Rights Reserved |
