Current First-Year Seminars

AAAS 177 - Language, Culture, and Identity Across North Africa and the Arab World

Instructor: Amal El Haimeur

This course explores how language shapes identity, power, and culture in the Arab world through the lenses of gender, religion, history, class, and education. It will help you deepen your understanding of MENA cultures and the complex role language plays in everyday life. 

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.
 

AAAS 177 - Black History in Islam: Race, Enslavement, Resistance, and Identity

Instructor: Rahina Muazu

How is ‘Blackness’ conceptualized within Islam? How have Black Muslim identities been shaped by history, culture, and resistance? This seminar explores the intersections of race, religion, and justice by centering the experiences of Black Muslims across time and place.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

AMS 176 - On Drugs: Heroin Users and American Drug Policy

Instructor: Margaret Kelley

Why should we care about people who use drugs? What can we really do to make a difference? Dive into this eye-opening course that tackles the complexities of drug use, abuse, and the policies that govern them. This isn't just another class—it's a call to action! We'll step out of the classroom and into the community, starting with a visit to local homeless shelters. You'll be at the forefront of creating impactful drug education campaigns and uncovering the deep-seated reasons why every segment of society deserves our empathy and support. 

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

AMS 176 - Disability Culture

Instructor: Ray Pence

Dimensions of Disability Culture: Past, Present, & Future invites students to take an intellectual journey across time, space, and academic fields to understand disability on multiple levels. Active learning engaged with a quest for disability justice is at the heart of this mindful course.

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34

ANTH 177 - Pets of the Past 

Instructor: Lauren Norman

Animals shape our lives, and we shape theirs. Discover the variability in human-animal interactions and what this tells us about past people while reflecting on our own experiences with animals in our lives. By comparing studies through time and across space about people’s connections to animals, we highlight common features of what it means to be human in an animal world.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

ANTH 177 - Strategies for Survival

Instructor: Frederic Sellet

How is it that humans survived three million years of natural disasters, war, and plague? The course surveys the ingenuity of our ancestors and explores cultural diversity through the critical lens of human adaptability. 

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

CLSX 177 - Crash Course in the Classics  

Instructor: Georgina White

What makes a text a “classic”? Get to grips with some of the most influential works of Western literature, while thinking about what they meant to the cultures that produced them and how they still resonate with us today.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

CLSX 177 - How to be Happy: Ancient Virtues for Modern Life

Instructor: Sarah Cullinan Herring

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

COMS 176 – Media Stigmatized Identities   

Instructor: Alcides Velasquez 

Ever wonder how the media shapes the way we see certain people? In this course, you'll explore how the media can spread negative stereotypes, learn how to spot and break down those messages, and team up to create a podcast that dives into the stories behind the labels. 

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

EALC 177 - Think Outside the Bento Box: Exploring Japanese Life through Food

Instructor: Yuka Naito

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

ENGL 176 - Trap, Rap, and Hip-Hop: A “Literature” of Protest 

Instructor: Sarah Ngoh   

Rapped to the beat of “Whatchu Know About Me” by Glorilla and Sexxy Red:  

“Friend, I’m at KU,

What you know about me?

Big Dr. Ngoh

In that E-N-G (English. English.)

With my students, we be rollin’ 20 deep

And every time I teach them, you know I A-T-E (Ayy! Ayy!)

I’m that teach, yo, learn with me!

We study trap and what it means polit-i-cally! (Write me down!)

Dope teacher, new homies, fun classes, loud music,

Dope students, all smart and we all learnin’! (on gang!) 

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

FREN 177 - Knights, Damsels, & Magical Lands

Instructor: Christine Bourgeois

The Middle Ages were a long time ago... or were they? . In this course, we will explore the fascinating collisions between real and magical worlds in medieval narrative by studying authentic medieval stories and comparing them to more recent cultural products, including film, television, and art.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

FREN 177 - Subversive Sci-Fi 

Instructor: Paul Scott

In a nutshell, this class aims to look at familiar categories of works with new eyes, learning to analyze how the sci-fi shows and movies we watch for entertainment/relaxation can at the same time reflect what is good or troubling in our society and challenge who we are and what we believe. It will focus on the three big questions present in any sci-fi story: What if? If only? If this goes on? 

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

GERM 177 - Marx & Marxism in German Culture & Beyond

Instructor: Ari Linden

Are you tired of thinking like a capitalist? Want to learn more about Marxism and its impact on modern culture? Students of KU unite: this seminar is for you! 

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

HA 176 - Declaring Independence: Art, Culture, and the American Revolution 

Instructor: Emily Casey

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

HIST 176 - History of Gaming  

Instructor: Sean Seyer

Do you enjoy games and gaming? Ever wonder how games became such a dominant part of modern American culture? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then this course is for you! 

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

HIST 176 - Forging Scriptures in US Religious Practice 1890-1930

Instructor: Rachel Schwaller 

“Sacred Scriptures” seem to be everywhere in the U.S. right now—in worship places, educational classrooms, and even political spaces. But what ARE they...Do we even know? In this class, we’ll use documents, digital humanities, journal entries, active discussion, and reflection to wrestle with this complex question together, drawing case studies from one of the most religiously wild periods in U.S. history!

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

HIST 177 - Nationalism, Communism, Capitalism: History of Modern Poland 

Instructor: Nathan Wood

Can you imagine living through World War II as the German Army and Red Army passed through and occupied your home more than once? Or what would it have been like to change your political and economic system in the course of a few months? How would this affect your culture, and how would your culture shape your response?

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

ISP 176 – Exploring American Indian Cultures through HULU/FXs Reservation Dogs  

Instructor: Ward Lyles

This course will use the HULU/FX show "Reservation Dogs" to deepen students' understanding of American Indian cultures, histories, and ongoing perseverance as peoples and Nations in the U.S.  

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

ITAL 177 - That's Amore: Fragments of a Discourse on Love

Instructor: Patrizio Ceccagnoli

Investigate love as a mysterious, pleasant, and deceitful subject. Meet Dante’s lustful souls in the inferno, debate Boccaccio’s bawdy tales from the Middle Ages, and discuss contemporary dating with the viral story Cat Person.  

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

JWSH 176 - The Jewish American Story through Literature, Letters, and Latkes

Instructor: Samantha Cooper

The Jewish Americans arrived in the US in three waves between the 18th century and the early 20th century, coming from different parts of the world. We will focus on the largest wave of immigration, which occurred between 1881 - 1925, bringing about 2.8 million primarily Eastern European Jews to the United States. Many of these immigrants settled in New York City, creating rich immigrant literature and culture, such as the musical theater, and the now familiar Jewish American institutions, such as the Jewish deli. We will read immigrant stories from the period, read the fascinating letters that Jewish people wrote to advice columns, and watch early movies about Jewish American life. We will learn about theatre and musical culture, the changes in language, and the emergence of a distinctive Jewish American food culture. Our class activities will include reading and watching primary sources, engaging in group discussions in person and via online discussion groups, and enjoying guest lectures from other KU professors. We will have short oral and written assignments throughout the semester to develop student competence and confidence, leading to the final assignment.

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

LA&S 176 - Creativity and Mindset in American Culture

Instructor: Meg Kumin

Explore how America's rich cultural diversity fuels your creativity. Through immersive collaborative projects, engaging off-campus explorations, and deep engagement with storytelling in film, literature, and music, you will gain insights into how diverse cultural backgrounds shape innovative thinking. You will uncover unique perspectives and forge innovative solutions for real-world challenges in our interconnected world. 

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

LAC 177 - Native Americans Crossing Borders

Instructor: Laura Herlihy

Little is known about the indigenous peoples migrating to the U.S. from Latin America. Students will explore Indigenous world views, attend a local pow-wow at Haskell Indian Nations University, and receive United Nations certificates on climate change and human rights after completing two short UN e-courses.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

LING 176 - (Un)healthy talk: The Language of Health and Healthcare

Instructor: Andrew McKenzie

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

MUS 177 - Opera and Politics in Central and Eastern Europe

Instructor: Martin Nedbal 

Opera often leaves us puzzled. Why does a prince faint instead of fighting the dragon chasing him? Why would a peasant girl happily agree to marry a man who sold her hand to someone else? Yet these puzzling tales—brought to life through powerful music—have captivated generations. In this course, we explore how various national and ethnic groups in Central and Eastern Europe have embraced these stories as their own.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

POLS 176 - Public Service: Critical Thinking & Performing Under Pressure

Instructor: Steven Leonard

Committing yourself to serving the public should be easy, right? But is it? This semester, we'll explore the skills and tools needed to not only rise above the fray in an often-volatile sector, but to lead with your values in ways that will have a lasting positive impact on your future.

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

POLS 177 - Geopolitics of East Asia  

Instructor: Jack Zhang

Curious about what's really going on in East Asia? This seminar dives into today’s biggest foreign policy challenges – from the U.S.-China trade war to the crisis in the Taiwan Strait – through interactive simulations and debates. You’ll also get connected with valuable campus resources—from study-abroad and language programs to career-focused opportunities—that can help you turn your curiosity about East Asia into a career pathway.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

PORT 177 - Amazon: Environmental Issues in Literature and Film

Instructor : Luciano Tosta 

This seminar will explore environmental issues in the Amazon through the lens of literature and film. How do narratives of place shape our understanding of our relationship to the natural world? What role do novels and films play in bridging local realities to a broader global context?

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

REL 177 - Learning Across Cultures: Muslims from Stereotype to Personhood

Instructor: Jackie Brinton

With a focus on Islam, students will see how the study of religion can help us learn to engage in dialogue and communication across cultures. Special emphasis will be placed on fostering cultural competence, empathy, and dialogue amid religious differences.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

SPAA 177 - Planning & Building the Future of Cities

Instructor: Thom Allen

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

SPAN 176 - How Languages are Learned & the Value of Multilingualism

Instructor: Amy Rossomondo

Have you always wanted to speak another language but felt lost about how to achieve this goal? Would you like to connect with other language learners and speakers of languages other than English on campus? This course will provide you with the knowledge, support, and opportunities to flourish in multilingual communities as a lifelong language learner.

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34. 

SPAN 177 - Latin American Sci-Fi

Instructor: Miguel Angel Albujar Escuredo 

Hop aboard for a wild Latin American Sci-Fi adventure—robots, time travel, and zero-long lectures. Just pure fun, creativity, and mind-blowing stories!

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34

SPAN 177 - The World In, Of, and Through Videogames

Instructor: Sean Gullickson

This course will explore the ways in which video games can expand our worldview. From the games themselves to the studios that make them and the supply chain that manufactures them, this class will take us on a journey to every inhabited continent to better understand the global impact of video games.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

UNIV 176 - KU Traditions & Transformations

Instructors: Rachel K. Davis | Heather Snay | Kate Kemper | Jordan Erwin

In this course, you will explore KU’s past, present, and future through the students, staff, and faculty that shaped it. Learn about KU's traditions, from the ones that stood the test of time (like the Rock Chalk chant!) to the ones that didn't (like freshmen beanies).

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

UNIV 176 - Identity, Illness, and Healing

Instructor: Heather Snay

What is so cultural about healthcare? In this course, we will explore the cultural side of the predominant medical system in the United States. We will engage with art and literature, and explore the history of medicine to uncover how illness and healing are shaped through cultural and social constructs. We will not only learn about our medical system's history, but also the ways that this history shapes the lived experiences of patients today.

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

UNIV 177 - The Four Elements

Instructor: Drew Vartia

Dive into the 2,000-year reign of the four elements theory that unified science, spirituality, and art before chemistry and physics reshaped our understanding of the physical world. Engage with elemental representations across KU Libraries, Museums, and more while crafting your own interpretations and discovering why our entertainment still pulses with elemental energy. 

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

WGSS 176 - Pregnancy in Modern Literature

Instructor: Aimee Wilson

Are you interested in literature by and about women? Or maybe you’re interested in medical history? Do you want to do hands-on research with your professors? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Pregnancy in Modern Literature is the perfect class for you!

Fulfills US Culture Goal of KU Core 34.

WGSS 177 - The World of Dating

Instructor: Stacey Vanderhurst

How do people fall in love in different parts of the world? And how can stories of sex, romance, and dating help us think about bigger issues like culture, capitalism, and social change? In this class, we’ll get a real sense of ordinary life and relationships for young people across the globe, and we’ll compare these stories with students’ own experiences. Students will learn how to analyze social practices, including individual agency, social structure, and power dynamics.

Fulfills Global Culture Goal of KU Core 34.