IDIS
150 (First-Year FSU Colloquium)
American
Society and Leadership
In this first-year colloquium, students will explore leadership through
the history and political development of the institutions of American
government and the major events that have shaped American Society.
These forces will be examined first through the lens of the Constitution
and then through the personality and leaders that helped shape modern
American society.
The
Amish: What can we Learn from Them?
Students will explore the culture of the Amish from a historical,
philosophical, and sociological perspective, analyze their reasons
for their successful divergence from main-stream culture, speculate
on changes Amish philosophy and practices would create in the dominant
culture, and recommend changes, if any, for modern society.
Architecture
and American Society
The "built environment" figures prominently in both individual
and collective history, culture, and "sense of place". Students
will explore the built environment as the visible product of multiple
factors: economic growth, social trends, aesthetic preference, and
historical antecedent.
But
Plants Don't Wear Jeans (Genes)
Transgenic plants possess a gene or genes that have been
transferred from a different species using recombinant DNA technology.
This course examines the science, economics, ethics, and social controversies
of transgenic plants. It examines the effects on farmers and citizens
of developing nations as well as effects on citizens of the USA. The
process of food production using transgenic plants and their effect
on the environment will also be covered.
Campus
Social Problems
In this First-Year Colloquium, students will engage in critical thinking
class discussions that prepare them to develop a strategic comprehensive
prevention program on campus. Students will historically explore modalities
that have been used in the past to intervene with these social problems
as well as study current science-based approaches that have been effective
in the reduction of certain social problems. Students will have the
opportunity to earn a national certification in peer education.
Contested
Science
In this course, students will explore the dynamic process and factors
involved in the emergence and establishment of new scientific ideas,
and the cultural, social, economic, and political forces that have resisted
and challenged these ideas. Case-studies will range from historical
episodes to recent controversies over evolution and global warming.
Energy
Today and Tomorrow
Energy is required for life. Human beings have come to rely on energy
for maintaining economic growth and improving living standards. In a
physical world where mineral resources are virtually finite, the pattern
of energy use must change. This course focuses on the allocation and
use of energy resources including the physical and geographical characteristics,
the economic market forces, and the geopolitical forces that influence
energy resources.
Equal
Protection and Justice
In this First-Year Colloquium, students will explore the concept of
equality through constitutional interpretation, history, and sociology.
The concept of equality will be examined through landmark court rulings
as well as historical and sociological trends.
Experiencing
Appalachia
In this course, students will draw from history, environmental sciences,
economics, and folklore studies to engage in an examination of Appalachian
regionalism. By focusing on four broad time periods dating from the
late 18th century through the contemporary world, students will develop
a deeper understanding of Appalachia in fact and fiction.
Exploring
Leadership
In this First-Year Colloquium, students will experience leadership.
They will explore their own leadership potential and values as they
study leadership challenges facing diverse communities and find the
tools needed to promote and practice principled change as engaged citizens.
Just War:An Inspection of the Rationality for and Morality of the Wars of the Twentieth Century
In this First-Year Colloquium, students will explore the background for many modern conflicts and be exposed to the geopolitical, economical, and ideological rationalizations for them. Supplementing this will be an overarching discussion of the morality of war and students will be challenged to present their own analysis of the moral issues surrounding war.
Health
in America
In this colloquium, students will explore the concept of health
by examining the economic, political, cultural, social, and ethical
influences on selected health indicators from the national public health
initiative (Healthy People 2010).
Leadership for Personal and Professional Success
This course will cover current theories of leadership, and
how individuals' personality, behavior, and leadership skills contribute
to their personal and professional success. It will also focus on the
importance of vision, ethics, teamwork, reality, and courage in leadership
effectiveness. Other important elements of leadership will be covered,
including building teams, coaching, empowering, listening, persuading,
and resolving conflicts in a peaceful and productive manner.
Maryland
State Government and Politics
In this course, students will explore the state of Maryland through
its political, historical, geographical, and legal perspectives. Maryland
will be examined through its various political eras, its geographical
impact, as well as its historical and legal trends.
Musical
Lyrics and Life
For centuries writers have attempted to communicate the human
experience through poetry, which in today's world is seen in the lyrics
of music. This course will use music to facilitate the understanding
of oral communication skills and six key areas of the human experience
(human development, emotions, learning, trauma & mental health,
social consciousness, and positive psychology).
Personal
Security and Privacy in the Age of Information
In this First-Year Colloquium, students will explore the economic, historical,
technological, and human factors as they relate to personal security
and personal privacy. The central theme of technology is the "glue"
that ties all the other topics together. This technology theme enables
the student to better understand the importance of privacy and security
in the age of information.
Science
and Music
In this course, students will learn basic concepts of physics as applied
to sound and vibration. This knowledge will then be used to explain
how the major musical instruments which constitute the western orchestra
work, as well as traditional instruments from various world cultures,
and why they evolved to their present form. Demonstrations of instruments
and music will be an integral part of the course.
The
Science of Happiness
In the United States, we have a right to the "pursuit of happiness".
This colloquium will explore, at an introductory level, the recent research
and theories on the topic of happiness and well-being. The findings
of Positive Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behavioral Economics will
be examined and integrated into this fascinating area. Through reading,
presentations, data collection, and guest lectures, students will learn
about the scientific approach to answering questions about the meaning
and origins of happiness.
Start
Your Own Business
Starting and managing a business is not just about money. Entrepreneurship
involves developing ideas, exploring opportunities and potential problems,
identifying the requirements for success, and seeking sources of venture
capital. This course will use a variety of approaches to heighten students'
awareness of entrepreneurship, including games and simulations.
Techno-Philosophy
Technological transformation is the dominant feature of contemporary
existence, and is in need of critical engagement across the full spectrum
of human endeavor. A primary focus will be how technology shapes and
has always shaped experience in general and consciousness in
particular.
War:
Theories of Justice
Citizens of a democracy have a duty to participate in their country's
major decisions, including the crucial decision whether and how to wage
war. Responsibly fulfilling that duty requires knowledge of modern war
and understanding ethical standards. This course aims at assisting students
to develop their own engaged citizenship. Students will study the history
of war theory , its codification into international law as prompted
by historical and political events, depictions of just and unjust war
in literature and film, and application of just war theory and law to
current American conflicts.
Women’s
Leadership
In this colloquium, students will explore women’s leadership,
including stereotypes, myths, and realities of women leaders; media
perceptions and participation of women leaders; women’s communication
skills and leadership styles; work-life balance; women as community,
political, and educational leaders; and women as campus leaders as
a starting point for leadership development.
IDIS
160
(Science, Technology, and Society)
This category
of courses examines models of research, the development of science
and technology, and the application and subsequent impact of the
developments on society and the environment. Courses focus on
scientific disciplines as they apply to technology and society.
Recent topics include:
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"Energy
and Its Implications"
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IDIS
350 (Advanced FSU Colloquium)
Civilization at the Cross Roads: Sustainability or Collapse?
Our global civilization is at a crossroads. Can our global society, exhausting resources and degrading the environment, be redirected towards sustainability or will we face the economic collapse of major global regions and a large reduction of the human population?
Conflicting
Theories of Global Warming
Is global warming human-induced or part of a natural cycle? Global
warming is a real and measurable phenomenon with potentially disastrous
consequences for humanity and civilization as we know it. We are
being told by the media that it is solely the result of greenhouse
gases being released in increasing amounts by human burning of
fossil fuels. The science behind this claim, however, is less
than conclusive.
Globalization
and Philosophies of Liberation
What are the benefits of globalization and what problems does
it generate for the human race? Students will study issues of
globalization by examining the challenges raised and visions expressed
by the philosophies and ideologies of liberation.
Legal
Issues in the Arts
This course will investigate the legal rules currently
governing the creation, sale, reproduction, and display of the
arts (visual, musical, literary, dramatic, and multi-media) and
how are they are impacted by ethical, moral, and societal concerns
and goals. The course will also consider the challenges to these
legal theories posed by the advent of digital technology.
Leisure and Culture through the Movies
How are American leisure and cultural values expressed through movies, and conversely, how can movies influence American leisure and cultural values? Interdisciplinary in its approach, this course combines the disciplines of leisure, films, culture and social issues.
The Paradox of Happiness
Can money buy happiness? How is an individual's or culture's level
of wealth related to their subjective well being? Recent research
from psychologists, economists, sociologists, and market analysts
suggests surprising relationships between subjective well-being
and material wealth. These findings will be explored within individuals,
our culture, and across other industrialized cultures. The key
contributors of subjective well-being will be explored, applications
of the research will be evaluated, and future directions will
be considered.
Nukes:
What to do with Nuclear Weapons and Power?
In the advanced colloquium "Nukes", students will explore
the interactions of science, history, politics, and culture in the
creation and expansion of nuclear weapons and power. Students will
explore how the challenges of nuclear technology may be tamed, limited,
or eliminated.
Power
and Control of American Education
Global trends seem to present an uncertain future for our national
system of education. The forces of globalization are resulting in
the so-called reinvention of government reflected in moves to privatize
education while seeking tighter controls through increasing the use
of government standards and tests. Will these standards and tests
support greater freedom of ideas in schools or result in global uniformity
and standardization of our school system?
Reconciling
Religion and Science
Can an individual reconcile his or her beliefs with mainstream science?
Contemporary American society has seen a struggle between mainstream
science and those who are skeptical of scientific explanations, instead
relying on their religious beliefs to explain nature. This course
will involve readings and discussions of the ideas of theologian-scientists
who have found that science and religion can be partners, not foes.
Surviving
in a Diseased World
How can infectious diseases be controlled in light of existing medical
technology, global political issues, threats of bio-terrorism, and
global interconnected travel? This course will examine the significant
infectious diseases that have occurred throughout history with particular
emphasis on how these diseases have changed Earth's demographic, cultural,
and social structures. The course will present an overview of emergent
infectious diseases and how the medical field and political institutions
have responded to combating them. Also included is an overview of
the threats posed from bio-terrorism and issues of national security.
