First-Year Topic Seminars
The First-Year Topic Seminar (FTS) is the 12-week, one-credit Cornerstone option for students in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences. These seminars are taught by faculty who lead the discussion on a research topic within their academic discipline and their specific area of expertise. First-year Topic Seminars offer students the opportunity to explore academic areas of interest without having to commit to a major just yet. Enrolling in a FTS is a unique opportunity to test the waters in such disciplines as Economics, Theatre, Political Science, History, Communication, etc. The faculty instructor for your FTS will also be your academic advisor for your first year and until you are assigned an academic advisor in your major program sometime in your sophomore year. FTS sections also incorporate outside-of-the-classroom activities in and around campus and the City of Boston into the course curriculum.
Graded on the scale of Pass/Fail, this course ends the week before Thanksgiving Break.
First-Year Topic Seminar Course Descriptions
UNCS224501 Eat This, Not That鈥o Wait. The Biology of Nutrition and Health
Lynn DiBenedetto (Biology), Monday 12:00 pm 鈥� 1:15 pm
How is your diet different from your nutrition? Does it matter? Are your food choices influenced by history, family, government, and culture? This seminar course will survey several of these questions and leave lots of time to explore other avenues, such as health, nutrients, and the science of nutrition. We will base much of this course around the book, In Defense of Food by Michael Pullen and supplement with other materials.
UNCS224502 Using Economics to Challenge Intuition
Geoff Sanzenbacher (Economics), Tuesday 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Could a good growing season actually decrease farmers鈥� revenue? Could an increase in the minimum wage somehow increase employment? And, could a policy designed to make it harder to discriminate against one group actually make discrimination more likely? This course will discuss how economics can predict things that run counter to intuition, with a special eye on issues related to inequality.
UNCS224503 Survey of Studio Art
Hartmut Austin (Fine Arts), Thursday 4:30 - 5:45 pm
This course is designed to help you explore formal and conceptual aspects of the visual arts. Through practical exercises, presentations, and exhibition visits, Students will become familiar with art and artists from historical, contemporary, stylistic, and aesthetic perspectives. Emphasis will be on basic analog studio practices as a means of understanding visual language. No previous experience in art is expected.
UNCS224504 The Freshman International Student Experience
Adrienne Nussbaum (Office of International Students & Scholars), Tuesday, Noon - 1:15 am
Coming to Boston College and to the U.S. to study as an international student can be both an exciting and challenging time for freshmen. This achievement is perhaps the fulfillment of a dream that you and your family have had for many years, and so there are many high expectations for success. All freshmen go through significant adjustments in their first year, however, international students also must acclimate to a different educational system, as well as many cultural differences that may impact both their academic and social life without the support of family and close friends nearby. The goal of this seminar is to help international freshmen better adjust to B.C. and the U.S. It will cover cross-cultural topics such as how values and communication styles can vary across countries, and practical skills for managing expectations and adjustment. This section is open only to International Students and requires department permission.
UNCS224505 Inclusive Prosperity
Can Erbil (Economics), Wednesday 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
This seminar explores the concept of 鈥渋nclusive prosperity" and investigates the roots of increasing inequality in the US, as well as across the globe. We will discuss several policy briefs from the EfIP platform and other brand-new research and data-driven analysis. Whenever we can, we will try to brainstorm on policy recommendations. Every week, one student will lead the discussion on a topic of their choice, beginning with a brief presentation. Topics will need to be connected to concepts of economic inequality, racial and gender inequality, opportunity inequality, equity and economic justice, economic growth, economic development, poverty, and distributional justice - all leading to the same goal of inclusive prosperity.
UNCS224507 Incentives & Inequality: An Economic Lens on Higher Education
Megan McCoy Dowdy (Economics), Thursday 3-4:15 pm
Every institution has a "Hidden Curriculum"鈥攁 set of unspoken rules that govern success. This seminar pulls back the curtain on those rules, using the Economics of Inequality as our guide. We begin by defining the purpose of a college education through key economic concepts like opportunity costs and externalities, helping you understand the true value of your time here. We then investigate why success is uneven, analyzing structural achievement gaps and day-to-day challenges, including navigating campus resources. Finally, we demystify the major conversations happening in higher education, from the value of a liberal arts degree to the impact of AI.
UNCS224509 Living & Learning Justice
Deanna Danforth (Univ. Core), Tuesday, 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
What does it mean to live in a way that is just? How do we enact those values in our campus community and beyond? In this one-credit seminar, we will explore the meaning of justice in our own lives and think about how our actions can help others realize their visions of justice as well, ultimately creating a society in which everyone can flourish. As we reflect on how we can act in the service of the common good, we will get to know the resources that Boston College provides to support us in this mission. This section is open only to students enrolled in the Justice & The Common Good Living Learning Community (JCGLLC).
UNCS224510 The Freshman International Student Experience
Adrienne Nussbaum (Office of International Students & Scholars), Tuesday, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Coming to Boston College and to the U.S. to study as an international student can be both an exciting and challenging time for freshmen. All freshmen go through significant adjustments in their first year, however, international students also must acclimate to a different educational system, as well as many cultural differences that may impact both your academic and social life without the support of family and close friends nearby. The goal of this seminar is to help international freshmen better adjust to B.C. and the U.S. It will cover cross-cultural topics such as how values and communication styles can vary across countries, and practical skills for managing expectations and adjustment. This section is open only to International Students and requires department permission.
UNCS224511 Music and鈥�
Jeremiah McGrann (Music), Wednesday, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Through a series of readings and a wide range of musical examples鈥攃lassical, traditional, popular鈥攚e will explore what a musical composition is and what people have thought about music and its effects, with a focus on its role in society and in shaping the person. Participants will be asked to explore the place of music within their own lives and to possibly encounter music styles they don鈥檛 immediately understand.
UNCS224512 Engaging Difference & Justice at Boston College
Brian Gareau (Sociology), Wednesday, 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
In this seminar, we will explore the meaning of the Engaging Difference & Justice core requirement, its connection to 羞羞影院's mission, and the part that students must play to make it a success. What does it mean to "engage" issues around the difference and justice at 羞羞影院? This course will challenge students to envision societies in which all can flourish in freedom, integrity, and fullness of life through the mutual respect their members show to one another.
UNCS224513 Illusions
Sean MacEvoy (Psychology), Thursday, 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Drawing upon art, neuroscience, and lots of fields in between, we鈥檒l try to unravel the mysteries of visual illusions, uncover the secrets behind cognitive