August 19 to December 3Session C courses, 15 weeks

For the most current information on our Discovery Seminars, please visit

thecollege.asu.edu/first-year/discovery-seminars

Fall 2021

Discovery Seminars

@ASUTheCollege

Armstrong Hall1100 S. McAllisterTempe, AZ 85287April 2021

Wildlife in the City

Kevin McGraw, Professor – School of Life Sciences

What animals live around us? What equips them to tolerate or thrive in human-dominated environments? Where are they likely to be found? We will review the scientific aspects of and community implications for coexisting with wild animals.

M 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. PVW159 – (82242)

Time to Launch your Leadership Journey

Katherine Vawter, Director – University College

Great leadership starts with introspection and self-awareness. In this course, we’ll dive into who you truly are and make a plan on how to progress toward the life you’ve always wanted.

W 3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. PABLO105 – (82244)

The World of King Arthur

Ryan Naughton, Instructor – Department of English

When he pulled the sword from the stone, King Arthur became a legend. For nearly one thousand years, that legend has been told and retold in numerous stories, films, TV shows and video games. In this course, we will investigate these and other sources as we seek to find out where the legend comes from and why it continues to be popular.

T 3 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW159 – (92605)

Urban Dynamics: Ecosystems and Environments

Soe Myint, Professor – School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

This course introduces students to topics in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and spatial analysis to answer sci-ence questions, solve problems, create better management plans and formulate policies for urban sustainability. Students will get exposure to several concepts that are crucial for scientific vision, geospatial approaches, data collection, statistics and literature review.

W 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. PVW159 – (82243)

Sociology of Summer Camp

Paul LePore, Associate Dean – The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Each year, more than 11 million kids and adults attend one of the 12,000 summer camps operating in the United States. Camps are a big business, grossing more than $2.8 billion annually and employing more than 1.5 million staffers. For many, summer camp provides some of the most poignant memories from childhood and adolescence. So why do camps work and how might we look at what happens at camp to under-stand and enhance how other complex organizations operate? Using a sociological lens, we will explore the history of camps in the U.S., watch some classic camp movies, learn key social science research skills (so we can interview people about their own camp experiences) and culmi-nate our course with a weekend trip to a camp in the valley.

T 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ARM147 - (95372)

Speaking OUT: LGBTQ+ Youth and their Allies

David Boyles, Instructor – Department of English

Until recently, the experiences of LGBTQ youth have largely been ab-sent in political conversations and pop culture representations. But that has changed dramatically in the past decade. This course will examine the increasing visibility of LGBTQ youth in pop culture from comics and TV to YouTube and events. In addition, we will examine political organizations that center LGBTQ youth in political discussions around issues such as conversion therapy, transgender participation in school sports and the teaching of LGBTQ history. Drawing on the disciplines of rhetoric, political science, cultural studies and queer studies, we will discuss how this increasing visibility of LGBTQ youth has changed our cultural conversations

TH 3 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW159 – (92606)

August 19 to October 8Session A courses, 7 ½ weeks

Enhance your Sun Devil journey by enrolling in a Discovery Seminar in The College of Liberal Arts andSciences. This one-credit course is taught in a small and engaging environment, and offered exclusivelyfor first-year students. Visit Class Search in My ASU and enter the class number to find out more.

More information: my.asu.edu or webapp4.asu.edu/catalog

Discovery Seminars

October 13 to December 3Session B courses, 7 ½ weeks

August 19 to December 3Session C courses, 15 weeks

Civil War Racism and Political Violence

Adam Seagrave, Associate Professor/Associate Director – School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership

Both Abraham Lincoln and John Brown were opposed to slavery. Both ultimately used violence to achieve abolition. John Brown worked outside the Constitution and the laws. Abraham Lincoln worked within them. This course will explore the significance of these similarities and differences between the two men.

TH 3 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW163 – (92604)

Discovering the Middle East

Miral Maghoub, Associate Professor and Umar Sulayman, Instructor – School of International Letters and Cultures

This course introduces students to a broader view of Middle Eastern culture in a global perspective. It will increase students’ knowledge of Middle Eastern culture, promote awareness and understanding of customs, values, attitudes and cultural diversity. Using an interdisciplinary thematic approach, students will explore and analyze cultural differences, misunderstandings, stereotypes and be able to explain how they contribute to Islamophobia and other misconceptions about Arabic culture. Thematic areas of emphasis will include the Arab family, fine art and music, movies, food, gender identities, religious life, political conflict and war, Islamic tradition and exile and immigration.

F 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW159 – (92578)

Discovering Self Through Family History

Bethany Van Vleet, Sr. Lecturer and Denise Bodman, Principal Lecturer – Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics

In this class, students will research their personal family histories in the context of history, economics, religion, culture and politics, delving into the complexities of the human experience. Bits and pieces of family lore will be gathered into a family narrative that unites past and present, leading to discovering self.

W 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (84652)

Making a Career with a Humanities Major

Jeffrey Cohen, Dean of Humanities – The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Discover how to make the most of your time studying in the humanities at ASU and ensure you are ready for a career when you graduate. Focus on writing a resume, giving a good interview, getting internships and effective self-presentation.

M 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (82240)

What is nationalism anyway?

Daniel Pout, Instructor – School of Politics and Global Studies

How do you react when you hear about nationalism in news stories and political op-eds? Nationalism has been a hot topic in the U.S. and internationally over the last several years, but more than a superficial understanding of the term is rare in our political discourse. In this course we will read and discuss the concept of nationalism as it has been used in the social sciences.

F 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (92575)

The Global South: Urbanization and Inequity

Praharaj Sarbeswar, Assistant Research Professor – School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

Have you heard about the Global South? We expect that more than 90% of population growth in the world over the next 30 years will take place in cities of the Global South. This seminar will explore the Global South’s geographical compass and provide an overview of the growth of cities in this region. We will explore the concepts of mega-urbanization, fast cities and smart cities emerging from the Global South and question their sustainability and equity. Come find out how you can develop an international understanding of cities to appreciate the diversity of urban cultures, aesthetics and people.

M 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW159 – (92576)

The Growth Minded Leader: 2021 and Beyond

Kendra Hunter, Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students – Educational Outreach and Student Services

People often think that they can’t be a leader if they are not in charge. However, if one changes their mindset to believe that leadership can grow with experience and a new frame of thought, anyone can learn to be a leader. Leadership is about the ability to influence others, learn from one’s experiences, and impact change. This seminar is designed for first-year students who have an interest in leadership on campus or in their future careers. In this peer-to-peer discussion-based course, students will reflect on their experiences and learn how they can be used to develop effective leadership skills.

M 2 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW163 – (82236)

Innovation 101

Paul LePore, Associate Dean – The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Minu Ipe, Managing Director – The Design Institute

So you think innovation is just for rocket scientists and software engineers? Think again! The truth is everyone has the capacity to invent, design and create new solutions. Whether you are studying the sciences, the humanities or the arts — you are able to do things you could never imagine through innovation. In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore your own creative and innovative potential and decide how you want to make an impact in the world. Over seven weeks, you will learn how innovation occurs, what it really means to have an innovation mindset, and debunk the myths of innovation that bind us. Most importantly, you will discover the innovator in you.

W 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. ARM147 – (95371)

Minecraft Bedrock Ed. Meets Data Science

Reed Cartwright, Associate Professor – School of Life Sciences

Minecraft is the highest selling and most watched game of all time. In this seminar, we will dive deeply into the mechanics behind the game and how to use data science and computational modeling methods to understand the game in depth and improve player experiences.

M 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (92581)

LabRats in the Sciences

Maitrayee Bose, Assistant Professor – School of Earth and Space Exploration

This course is aimed at providing examples of laboratory work done in the fields of geology, astronomy and astrobiology to answer intriguing science questions involving Earth, other solar system bodies, and the universe. The course will include brief introductions to various lab environments, their instrumentation and the science questions that research teams in the School of Earth and Space Exploration are currently working on.

F 2 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW163 – (92580)

LiveWell@ASU: Introduction to Wellness

John Davenport, Program Coordinator – Sun Devil Fitness and Wellness

Learn about the eight dimensions of wellness as it relates to holistic wellbeing and identify resources available to you through the LiveWell network at ASU.

F 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (82241)

Mindfulness, Creativity and Communication

Sarah Amira De La Garza, Associate Professor and Rikki Tremblay, Instructor – Hugh Downs School of Human Communication

This class is designed to learn and practice a variety of techniques and exercises to demonstrate connections between conscious awareness, relaxation and creativity in how we can express ourselves more effectively — both through our speech and in our writing.

W 4:10 p.m. – 6 p.m. PVW163 – (92582)

Insiders and Outsiders in the Ancient World

Sarah Bolmarcich, Senior Lecturer – School of International Letters and Cultures

How can we better understand our modern world concerns, such as inequity based on gender and race, through the lens of the ancient world? Greco-Roman culture formed the basis of Western civiliza-tion. But that culture was created and dominated by insiders, usually higher-status adult males. Yet there were plenty of outsiders — women, slaves, non-Greeks, lower-class citizens and the disability community. What role did these groups, underrepresented in our sources, play in the formation of Greco-Roman culture? How does that formation still inform modern culture and parallel how outsiders let their voices be heard today?

W 4:40 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. PABLO105 – (82250)

Drugs, Needles and People

Philip Scharf, Assistant Vice President – Educational Outreach and Student Services

So you want to be a doctor? Have you ever thought about going into healthcare? Are you curious what medical school and careers in health-care might look like? Come find out firsthand what you need to do as undergraduate to be prepared for a successful career in medicine and other healthcare professions. We will tour medical school facilities, interact with current healthcare professionals, acquire skills to be pre-pared for the MCAT (the medical school entrance exam) and learn from current ASU upper-level students who are on the journey to medical school. Gain the insights you need to become a successful candidate for a career in medicine.

M 3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. PABLO101 – (82245)

Continued on back

Poetry as Protest

Jennifer Merritt, Instructor – Department of English

“When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” versed poet Amanda Gorman at the presidential inauguration. Through wars and social movements, poetry has long been a language of resistance and empowerment. In this seminar, we will read and discuss poetry in conversation with U.S. histories, identi-ties, politics, and pop culture.

T 3 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. PVW163 – (92603)