Available Integrated Cluster Experiences

(4 credits)

In this student-driven capstone course, students will collaborate across disciplines to create signature projects that address a significant problem, issue, or question. Prerequisites: Junior Status (students should be at or near the end of their General Education program) (INCO)

Students will articulate, develop, plan, and implement a signature project that addresses the topic of the particular section of the course. A signature project:

• Is transdisciplinary: The project integrates knowledge from multiple disciplines and sources to create something new that could not be created without all of them.
• Is completed collaboratively: The project is large and complex enough that it requires input and work from more than one person to be successful.
• Is student-driven: While faculty, staff, and community partners provide guidance and coaching, student agency and independence move the project forward.
• Requires metacognitive reflection: Students reflect on what and how they learn and how their learned knowledge, skills, and dispositions might be transferable to other contexts.
• Reaches beyond the walls of the classroom: The work of the project touches the world outside the classroom in some way.
• Has an external audience for project results: The results of the project are presented to someone who is outside of the class.
• Is completed ethically and respectfully: Work on the project engages internal/external audiences and/or partners with mutual benefit

The following are the descriptions for each individual section of the course:

SP: Media & the Global Society (CRN: 11803)

IS-4220.01

• Metasebia T Woldemariam
• Filiz O Ruhm

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Hyde Hall 413 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Displacement, Media, and the Global Society What/where is home? What role do politics and media play in representing the homeless and the displaced locally and globally? Based on their own disciplines and experiences, students will address the challenges of displacement by creating impact-driven projects. Course participants will have opportunities to collaborate and mentor first-year students working on a similar theme.

SP: Grant Proposal Writing (CRN: 11808)

IS-4220.02

• Khanh Phuong Lai

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 10:00 am – 11:40 am Samuel Read Hall 115 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Grant Proposal Writing: Grant writing is a blend of art and science. It requires creativity, organization, attention to details, critical thinking, and research. This course introduces students to grant proposal writing for public and private funding sources. Student will learn to search for grants and prepare a grant, conduct an interview with grant writers, work with community partners to match existing grants, and complete peer-reviews. Grant writing is a highly marketable skill to have since resource development is critical in the current financial climate.

SP: Peer Support in Math (CRN: 11958)

IS-4220.03

• Annie E.S. Hager

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Hyde Hall 316 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Peer Support in Math: Only a small fraction of the students who take math classes ever visit the Math Activities Center (MAC), though few would disagree that peer-support in math is a good thing! So how do we get more students to use the MAC? In this course we will work as a multidisciplinary team to understand the reasons why more students don’t use the MAC, explore what other schools are doing (and if it works), and develop specific, measurable strategies to connect more students to the MAC.

SP: Telling PSU’s Story at 150 (CRN: 11972)

IS-4220.04

• Linda Upham-Bornstein

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Telling PSU’s Story at 150: Plymouth State University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2021. Understanding the University’s journey helps us chart our course toward its future. Students in this class bring their expertise from any discipline to design collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that tell the school’s lively story to the campus and the public.

ST:Enhancing College Student Wellbeing (CRN: 12051)

IS-4220.05

• Stephen V. Flynn

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am Hyde Hall 334E (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Enhancing College Student Wellbeing: The overall well-being of students is very important to their success in college. In recent years, there has been an increase in mental health issues for post-secondary students and a simultaneous budget crisis among American universities. This increase in college mental health issues and lack of financial resources to fund student support services has caused a crisis for colleges across the county. In this course, students will to contemporary literature and speak directly with stakeholders in order to design and implement projects that enhance the long-term sustainability of students wellness at Plymouth State University.

Finding Your Place

Join New Hampshire’s Artist Laureate Amanda Whitworth

Students will take all three of the courses listed below to explore the theme. In the process, students will fulfill three required components of the General Education program: a creative thought experience (CTDI), a Past/Present experience (PPDI), and a first-year experience (Tackling a Wicked Problem).

Description of the Pathway Finding Your Place

Wellbeing is intimately tied to a sense of security (physical, emotional, financial). Having a home, a community, and understanding one’s place in the world enhances that sense. Whichever academic major you choose, your first step to wellbeing and success often starts with your finding and understanding your place in the world as well as understanding the issues that affect the wellbeing of others.

The primary goal of this interdisciplinary thematic pathway is to guide you through this first step. We welcome students from all fields of study (including those who are still deciding) to join us in exploring this theme through relevant research, discussion, and hands on community-based projects that will reach beyond our classroom walls.

In DNDI2015 (Movement for Community–4 credits), and under the guidance of NH’s Artist Laureate Amanda Whitworth, students will co-create a site-specific experience that investigates how people in a place are both embodied and affected. (Fulfills the CTDI requirement) (CRN: 11158) Meeting Time: Tue, Thu 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Silver Center for the Arts 121 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)

In PODI 1045 (Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism–4 credits), students will focus on individual and communal grievances, displacement (being forced to leave one’s home), and other loss as a result of terrorist violence and what can be done as counter-measures. (Fulfills the PPDI requirement) (CRN: 11796) Meeting Time: Tue, Thu 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm Center Lodge GRANITE (AUG 24 – DEC 11)

In IS1115.17 (Tackling a Wicked Problem: Displacement–4 credits), students will develop projects that address the wicked problem of displacement and homelessness locally and globally in their search for the meaning of place. Over 70 million people are displaced in the world and more than ½ million are homeless in the US. Past displaced peoples such as the Shakers settled communities across America in their pursuit of religious freedom, equality, and happiness. Although there are virtually no Shakers left, their ideals remain powerful: developing a sense of community and taking care of others who need one. Where do we belong? What is “home”? In this course, students will develop projects that reach beyond the classroom setting to address the wicked problem of displacement. (CRN: 11960) Meeting Time: Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Center Lodge GRANITE (AUG 24 – DEC 11)

Rethinking Nature

Description of the Pathway Rethinking Nature

Drawing on historical, literary, and cultural perspectives, these courses invite students to critique, question, and reimagine our understanding of nature, animals, and the wild in light of our current environmental crises. These courses meet at overlapping times so that, throughout the semester, we can meet as a large group to collaborate across disciplines and learn from one another. Students will take one of the two courses in Fall 2020.

ENDI1555 Wilderness Literature (4 credits): What is wilderness? How do we describe and understand wild spaces? How does literature impact our approaches to the preservation and cultivation of the wild? Who tends to have access to wilderness, and how do they use it? In this course, we will question and rethink widely-held assumptions about nature and the wild. We will also reflect on the role of literature in shaping our approach to ecotourism, preservation, and the New Hampshire wilderness writ large. (Fulfills the Self and Society Direction) (CRN: 10568) Meeting Time: Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Rounds Hall 203  (AUG 24 – DEC 11)

HIDI 1340 Facing Beasts: Animals in the Middle Ages and Beyond (4 credits): Human encounters with animals have both shaped our society and impacted the environment.  This course studies how medieval Europeans dealt with other species in comparison to today.  We will look at “real life” treatment of animals, from house cats to forest wolves, from farming to hunting, as well as imagined creatures in legends, bestiaries, and more. (Fulfills the Past and Present Direction) (CRN: 11966) Meeting Time: Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Rounds Hall 223  (AUG 24 – DEC 11)

(4 credits)

Introduces students to the General Education program’s four habits of mind as well as project-based learning. Using critical thinking, design thinking, and information literacy skills, students and the instructor together engage in the development of a project that addresses some aspect of a wicked problem. The wicked problem varies across sections of the course. Required of all first year students during their first semester at Plymouth State University. Elective for transfer students entering with 24 or more credits. Falls and Springs

The following sections of IS1115 are offered in Fall 2020.

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Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11806)

IS-1115.01

• Catherine F LeBlanc

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 10:00 am – 11:40 am Center Lodge GRANITE (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Climate change is the catch-all term for significant long-term changes in the expected patterns for average weather in a region. Scientists do not dispute the fact that the climate change currently occurring on Earth is a rise in average temperatures. The scientific debate, if there is any, concerns the cause of this rise but much evidence indicates that the largest cause is human activity. In this class, we will learn about the causes and effects of our current climate change and undertake projects to impact this crisis.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11807)

IS-1115.02

• Kimberly R. Livingstone

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am Center Lodge GRANITE (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Homelessness: From current issues in homelessness, in this course we will explore the relationship between homelessness, the policy, and society. In order to explore this wicked problem, we will be asking questions such as: what causes homelessness? How have people tried to solve homelessness in the past? How can we solve the issue of homelessness in the US, either nationally, or locally? Why is homelessness still a serious concern and what steps can be taken to solve this wicked problem?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11825)

IS-1115.03

• Kayla Lamarre Gaudette

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:40 am Human Performance Center W114 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Global Pandemics: In this class we explore global pandemics with an emphasis on the 2020 coronavirus: COVID-19. We examine causes, impacts, and responses from global, national and local perspectives through various lenses to include public health, public policy, science, economics, education, and personal experience. This project-based course challenges students to practice the General Education Habits of Mind as they work with their peers, their instructor, and community stakeholders to design, develop and execute a project that involves taking action in response to the pandemic threat.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11826)

IS-1115.04

• Julie Gabert Bisson

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 8:00 am – 9:40 am AllWell North 101 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Climate Change Climate Change is a long-term shift in climate patterns leading to a rise in global temperatures causing extreme weather. Scientific research points to the cause of this crisis as being primarily due to human activity. In this class, imagine yourself problem-solving collaboratively while tackling projects that seek to impact the climate change crisis on our planet. Do you dare to investigate root causes, analyze effects, think critically and creatively, take risks, and step up as a leader? Do you have the drive to innovate, create, fail, reflect, adapt, and persist in pursing personal and shared visions? Do you have a deep passion to work towards becoming a part of the solution? If so, this class (and the Earth?s inhabitants) need you!

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11827)

IS-1115.05

• Julie Gabert Bisson

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am AllWell North 101 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Climate Change Climate Change is a long-term shift in climate patterns leading to a rise in global temperatures causing extreme weather. Scientific research points to the cause of this crisis as being primarily due to human activity. In this class, imagine yourself problem-solving collaboratively while tackling projects that seek to impact the climate change crisis on our planet. Do you dare to investigate root causes, analyze effects, think critically and creatively, take risks, and step up as a leader? Do you have the drive to innovate, create, fail, reflect, adapt, and persist in pursing personal and shared visions? Do you have a deep passion to work towards becoming a part of the solution? If so, this class (and the Earth?s inhabitants) need you!

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11855)

IS-1115.06

• Brigid C. O’Donnell

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Boyd Hall 005 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The Honeybee Crisis: Honeybees provide pollination services totaling more than $20 billion of dollars annually. They exhibit highly complex behaviors, make decisions collectively, and play an integral role in our agriculture. However, honeybees are on the decline due to a suite of factors, and the growing impacts of population losses loom large for our agricultural economy and food security. What strategies and approaches will be useful to ensure the survival and persistence of honeybees? In this class, we will consider the set of challenges facing honeybee populations, and create action-oriented projects to address these threats. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11856)

IS-1115.07

• Brigid C. O’Donnell

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Boyd Hall 303 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The Honeybee Crisis: Honeybees provide pollination services totaling more than $20 billion of dollars annually. They exhibit highly complex behaviors, make decisions collectively, and play an integral role in our agriculture. However, honeybees are on the decline due to a suite of factors, and the growing impacts of population losses loom large for our agricultural economy and food security. What strategies and approaches will be useful to ensure the survival and persistence of honeybees? In this class, we will consider the set of challenges facing honeybee populations, and create action-oriented projects to address these threats. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11858)

IS-1115.08

• John P Lappie

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Rounds Hall 307 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Political Intolerance and Extremism: Over the past several decades American politics has grown increasingly contentious, with the two major parties growing further and further apart. The growing distance between the parties has made their supporters increasingly bitter and angry towards their opponents, and made many Americans more cynical about politics. In this class we will examine this trend with the United States among politicians, activists, and ordinary citizens, as well as discussing its causes and its impact upon our democracy. We will also consider how we can achieve political dialogue and political tolerance, so that even if we do not always agree with each other, we can at least do so without hating each other.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11860)

IS-1115.09

• John P Lappie

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:40 am Rounds Hall 304 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Political Intolerance and Extremism: Over the past several decades American politics has grown increasingly contentious, with the two major parties growing further and further apart. The growing distance between the parties has made their supporters increasingly bitter and angry towards their opponents, and made many Americans more cynical about politics. In this class we will examine this trend with the United States among politicians, activists, and ordinary citizens, as well as discussing its causes and its impact upon our democracy. We will also consider how we can achieve political dialogue and political tolerance, so that even if we do not always agree with each other, we can at least do so without hating each other.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11862)

IS-1115.10

• Rachelle Laura Lyons

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am Boyd Hall 225 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Food Waste and Hunger- This section explores Food Waste and Hunger; the wicked problem of how we feed ourselves, paying particular attention to the dilemma of too little food, too much food, and how this affects the health of people and planet. Students will investigate current practices in food production, composting, bio-digestion, emergency food services, nutrition intervention programs and waste diversion initiatives. Considering local, regional and global case studies of hunger and food waste students will delve into the complexity of this wicked problem. By connecting with multiple stakeholders on and off campus students in this course will develop action oriented projects to address the negative impacts of hunger and food waste. The course requires participation in a field trip and 5 independent service hours.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11863)

IS-1115.11

• Rachelle Laura Lyons

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Boyd Hall 225 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Water and Land-Resource, Hazard, and Right- This section of TWP will explore the wicked problem of water and soil resource, natural hazard and human right. Water is the distinctive characteristic of our blue planet and essential to supporting all life. Less obvious is our dependence on soil health. How water and soil are used, misused and abused affects the health of people and planet. Students will investigate current water resource issues; privatization, pollution, floods, droughts, rising sea level, equitable access? Considering local, regional and global case studies of resource management, quality and equitable access, students will delve into the complexity of this wicked problem. By connecting with multiple stakeholders on and off campus students in this course will develop action oriented projects to address a dimension of water and soil resource stewardship and management. The course requires participation in a field trip and 5 independent service hours

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11866)

IS-1115.12

• George M. Pettinico

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:50 pm Hyde Hall 230 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The Challenges of the Coming Robot Revolution: over the next few decades, the presence of smart robots (fueled by artificial intelligence) will dramatically increase in our daily lives. Sooner than many people realize, we?ll have robots taking on many tasks in our homes, schools, stores, hospitals, businesses, city streets, prisons ? pretty much everywhere. While there will be benefits to this, the robot wave will also present many significant challenges to society in areas including: availability of jobs, the wealth divide, privacy, human interactions, personal security and on and on. Some predict robots will eventually become so advanced they might achieve a level of self-awareness, bringing with it an additional layer of challenges

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11870)

IS-1115.13

• Pamela Pfeffer Anneser
• Penelope S. Huynen

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:50 pm Draper and Maynard Hall 314 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Waste on the PSU Campus: Waste is any substance which is discarded after use, is unwanted or unusable. Trash disposal is a rapidly growing problem in the US, New Hampshire, the town of Plymouth, and here on the PSU campus. NH residents produce an average of 3.5 pounds of waste a day. Here at PSU we produce nearly 1,000 tons of waste each year. This is a problem. How does PSU create less waste?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12059)

IS-1115.14

• Alison Dianne Buchholz

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Rounds Hall 104 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The American Juvenile Justice System: In this class we will discuss the American Juvenile Justice System. There will be opportunities to explore the multiple aspects of the system, such as: the policies and laws that govern practices, its’ overall effectiveness, and the changes that have occurred over time. Using your disciplinary perspective and your experiences outside the classroom, you will work with classmates to develop and implement a project that allows you to address some aspect that you believe needs to change in order to make our society more ethical for our youth. By engaging in this project, you will come to learn that your voice counts, and that you can facilitate change for the youth who are impacted by the American Juvenile Justice System.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11898)

IS-1115.15

• Sarah D. Parrish

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am Draper and Maynard Hall 314 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Sports and Representation: Sports play a powerful role in today’s society and are highly visible on television, film, fine art, print and digital media. This course examines the visual culture of sports to ask who is represented and how. Students are challenged to confront systemic issues of stereotyping, discrimination, and abuse in this industry. By collaborating on a hands-on project and sharing their findings with others, students will work together to create a more inclusive space for all athletes and fans.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11957)

IS-1115.16

• Peter G. Parker

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am Memorial Hall 213 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Propaganda: It is comforting to associate the term of propaganda with war and dictators, which makes it less relevant to our daily lives. This view, however, fails to acknowledge the ways that propaganda permeates all aspects of everyday life. This seminar class tackles the wicked problem of propaganda: What is propaganda? How is propaganda manifested? What is the relationship between propaganda and truth? What ethical dilemmas are entailed in the production of propaganda and the public?s consumption of information? What are the implications for the spread of propaganda?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 11960)

Note that this section is part of a thematic pathway (see above) and requires students to take two additional courses together with this one.

IS-1115.17

• Filiz O Ruhm
• Metasebia T Woldemariam

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Center Lodge GRANITE (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Displacement: Over 70 million people are displaced in the world and more than 1/2 million are homeless in the U.S. Past displaced peoples such as the Shakers settled communities across America in their pursuit of religious freedom, equality, and happiness. Although there are virtually no Shakers left, their ideals remain powerful: developing a sense of community and taking care of others who need one. Where do we belong? What is “home”? In this course, students will develop projects that reach beyond the classroom setting to address the wicked problem of displacement.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12006)

IS-1115.18

• Michael G. Davidson

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Unintended Consequences of Technology: Technology today lets us do things that once seemed impossible, but it also had downsides. Social networks connect us with friends, but also cyberbullies. Phones and tablets keep us entertained, but can also make us sleep-deprived. The Internet gives us consumer choice, but also exposes us to data breaches. Artificial Intelligence may give us self-driving cars, but will it eventually turn against humanity? Let’s work on possible approaches to these vexing problems.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12007)

IS-1115.19

• Kelsey Ross Donnelly

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:40 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Technology Addiction: The word addiction is largely associated with drugs and alcohol dependency, but one can be addicted to much more than substances-like technology. Technology addictions can lead to decreased social, emotional and mental health and disrupt relationships, focus, careers and academics. In this class we will use collaborative project based learning to research and discuss the contributing factors to this growing phenomenon, and identify resources and strategies that will help ourselves and others lead a present and successful life beyond the classroom walls.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12008)

IS-1115.20

• Christopher Michael Lee

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:15 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Meeting Time:Tue 6:30 pm – 7:20 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Accessibility of Higher Education: In an era where the gap for access to a higher education widens between the elite and the rest of the population this course will explore questions including: What populations are underrepresented within higher education? What are the levels for determining eligibility of access to institutions of higher education? What is holding these populations back from achieving a higher education or even their ability to be accepted at an institution of higher education? Who is responsible for these barriers?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12009)

IS-1115.21

• Christopher Michael Lee

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 8:00 am – 9:15 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Meeting Time:Tue 6:30 pm – 7:20 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Accessibility of Higher Education: In an era where the gap for access to a higher education widens between the elite and the rest of the population this course will explore questions including: What populations are underrepresented within higher education? What are the levels for determining eligibility of access to institutions of higher education? What is holding these populations back from achieving a higher education or even their ability to be accepted at an institution of higher education? Who is responsible for these barriers?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12010)

IS-1115.22

• Laurie Jean Reed

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 6:00 pm – 7:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Poverty: Poverty is complex. There are many reasons why people are poor. It does not discriminate; it affects the elderly, children, immigrants, women, men, and surprisingly, it can happen over night. Let’s explore together the many reasons why people are poor and what you, as a student, can do to make a difference in the world.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12011)

IS-1115.23

• Keith L. Charpentier

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 10:00 am – 11:40 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Inequity in Education: In this course, we will “unpack” the multitude of issues surrounding the inequities in education, the possible roadblocks that hinder progress, and the steps necessary to narrow these gaps. Students will be encouraged to think critically and constructively about each roadblock/issue within the overall Wicked Problem and discuss their conclusions and future questions with the class. Students will use a collaborative project development process to reach outside the classroom to address some aspect of The Wicked Problem.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12012)

IS-1115.24

• Marylena C. Sevigney

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 6:00 pm – 7:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Nature Deficit Disorder: Research shows that our environment affects our mental and physical wellbeing. We have become a society that spends 90% of our time in the built environment — that means places that are man-made. Generally speaking, indoor spaces disconnect us from nature. Richard Louv coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder, in which he describes how the lack of time outdoors results in behavioral problems in children. This way of life continues into adulthood as most people spend lots of their waking hours in an office environment glued to a computer screen. Although in some ways the information age has allowed us to be increasingly more “connected,” mental and physical health continues to decline. Students will explore the link between wellness and environmental factors, such as biophilia and nature deficit disorder, circadian rhythm and access to natural light, and opportunities for physical movement and making good eating choices. This course will include group projects of your design

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12032)

IS-1115.25

• Gail Frances Mears

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Mental Health: 43 million Americans have a mental health condition, yet 57% of American adults have not received treatment. It’s estimated that serious mental illness costs the U.S. nearly $200 billion a year in lost wages. Perhaps most alarming, this crisis is most acute among our youth. Serious anxiety and depression is worsening among teens, with suicide rates among girls reaching a 40-year high in 2015. 40% of college students report they have been so depressed it was difficult to function, and 61% say they have felt overwhelming anxiety in the prior year. Why are we so stressed out? What are the obstacles to treatment? Which treatments work best? How do we view mental health in this country? What can we do individually, locally and beyond to address this problem?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12033)

IS-1115.26

• Melissa A Ulery

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Access to Clean Water: Access to clean water is essential part of life. In this course, we will be explore clean water and sanitation/reclamation on a local, national and global scale. Topics to be explored in this course will include; water quality, water scarcity, sanitation/reclamation and how it influences every day choices in society. You will have an opportunity to participate in activities in and out of the classroom and work with your classmates to develop your understanding of the topic. Participants will challenge themselves through research and exploration while developing a project to identify strategies that could be used to address the major concerns associated with clean water.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12034)

IS-1115.27

• Megan J Heidenreich

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 10:00 am – 11:40 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Drinking Water: Drinking water is a wicked problem affecting nearly 850 million people in the world according to the World Health Organization. A study by News21 of reported EPA drinking water violations revealed that 1 in 5 Americans may have been exposed to drinking water that does not meet US standards. We will unpack the multiple causes and components of the wicked problem of maintaining a healthy freshwater supply for both people and the environment. Students will create a project that will aim to impact the lives of watershed users. We will go on walking field trips to learn about our local watershed and water supply system.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12035)

IS-1115.28

• Emily Clark Grubby

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 8:00 am – 9:40 am (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Climate Change: Climate change is an environmental problem ? a rising level of carbon in the atmosphere is destabilizing weather patterns. It is a social justice problem — climate change affects people of the world in disproportionate ways. It is a cultural problem — the habits we, in the industrialized world, have become accustomed to rely heavily on carbon. In order to properly address climate change before it’s too late, we need to find real ways to alter how we construct and understand our worlds (economically, materially, socially, ecologically). That’s where you come in. In this class, we will dig at the root causes of climate change, we will dare to imagine futures in which climate change no longer threatens the planet, and we will work collaboratively to start realizing those futures. Course requirements: curiosity, creativity, and courage. We each have something unique to offer in the era of climate change. What will your impact be?

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12037)

IS-1115.29

• Mary Kate Gaebel

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Global Food Security: The world population is estimated to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050. With shrinking resources and a growing population, how will the world go about growing, sourcing, and supplying food to every person? What role do GMOs, the local food movement, and global trade policies impact access to food? Students in this course will examine the main drivers for food security and explore how we can build global food systems that are sustainable, provide nutritional equity, and ensure community access to culturally-relevant foods.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12041)

IS-1115.30

• Sarah Frazier Parsons

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Disability and Inclusion In this section of TWP we will examine the wicked problem of disability how we create an environment that is truly inclusive. We will examine how people living with disability are viewed around the world and what different cultures and communities do to create inclusive spaces. We will reflect on our own attitudes about disability. To help you think more broadly about disability, we will survey the campus community and other community spaces to identify opportunities for inclusion.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12042)

IS-1115.31

• Suzanne D Weil

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:40 am Draper and Maynard Hall 302 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• In this class, students use a collaborative project development process to reach outside the classroom to address some aspect of a wicked problem. During this project process, students focus on the development and practice of the General Education Habits of Mind. The course culminates in a public event at which students share their reflections on their learning. Required of all first year students. Elective for transfer students entering with 24 or more credits.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12045)

IS-1115.32

• Rebecca R Noel

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 8:00 am – 9:40 am Rounds Hall 322 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Health Care in the U.S.: Health care in the United States is a wicked problem. Its challenges include high cost to patients, financial frailty of health care organizations, and unequal access to care. These difficulties in turn link to other wicked problems such as economic disparity, racism, gender discrimination, homelessness, and the lobbying power of the pharmaceutical industry. Together we will explore these complex issues and, working in small groups, design and implement a project that tackles some part of the health care problem to make a difference in the local, national, or global community.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12046)

IS-1115.33

• John C. Krueckeberg

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 8:00 am – 9:40 am Rounds Hall 322 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The nation’s borders. What does it mean for a nation founded by immigrants and refugees to create physical and institutional barriers that limit further immigration? How does the nation’s historical relationship to refugees relate to modern immigration? Considering the political, cultural, and economic factors related to the policies of the nation’s borders, can a perfect solution be crafted? Students in this section will collaborate to design, develop, and execute projects of their choosing, aiming to effect change.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12047)

IS-1115.34

• John C. Krueckeberg

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm Rounds Hall 207 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• The nation’s borders. What does it mean for a nation founded by immigrants and refugees to create physical and institutional barriers that limit further immigration? How does the nation’s historical relationship to refugees relate to modern immigration? Considering the political, cultural, and economic factors related to the policies of the nation’s borders, can a perfect solution be crafted? Students in this section will collaborate to design, develop, and execute projects of their choosing, aiming to effect change.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12052)

IS-1115.35

• Elizabeth K. Tillar

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm Hyde Hall 421 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Human Rights: Human Rights problems plague the global community and call for ongoing innovative solutions. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civic associations, corporations and entrepreneurs, the United Nations, and sovereign countries can all promote the cause of human rights by critically attending to concrete situations of injustice. What can you as concerned individuals do to curb human rights violations?  Researching the roles of voluntary associations, NGOS, and businesses as well as partnerships among them will suggest to students how they might contribute to the elimination of human rights abuses. 

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12013)

IS-1115.36

• Robert H Dorff

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Tue, Thu 12:00 pm – 1:40 pm Hyde Hall 234 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Global Pandemics: In this class we explore global pandemics with an emphasis on the 2020 coronavirus: COVID-19. We examine causes, impacts, and responses from global, national and local perspectives through various lenses to include public health, public policy, science, economics, education, and personal experience. This project-based course challenges students to practice the General Education Habits of Mind as they work with their peers, their instructor, and community stakeholders to design, develop and execute a project that involves taking action in response to the pandemic threat.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12078)

IS-1115.37

• Jessie Marie Chapman

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 12:30 pm – 2:10 pm Silver Center for the Arts 131 (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Intolerance: Intolerance is increasingly a big problem in our society as politics have become polarized, religious intolerance sparks conflict worldwide, and prejudice fuels discrimination against millions of people everyday. Intolerance can manifest in actions that are physically harmful, hate speech, isolation, and in ways that are difficult to define or perceive. Why is there a lack of respect for practices and beliefs that differ from our own? In this course, we will delve into the problem of intolerance and investigate actions and systems that can be used to fight intolerance in our everyday lives and on a global scale.

Tackling a Wicked Problem (CRN: 12104)

IS-1115.38

• Gail Frances Mears

• Credits:4
• Meeting Time:Mon, Wed 2:00 pm – 3:40 pm (AUG 24 – DEC 11)
• Mental Health: 43 million Americans have a mental health condition, yet 57% of American adults have not received treatment. It’s estimated that serious mental illness costs the U.S. nearly $200 billion a year in lost wages. Perhaps most alarming, this crisis is most acute among our youth. Serious anxiety and depression is worsening among teens, with suicide rates among girls reaching a 40-year high in 2015. 40% of college students report they have been so depressed it was difficult to function, and 61% say they have felt overwhelming anxiety in the prior year. Why are we so stressed out? What are the obstacles to treatment? Which treatments work best? How do we view mental health in this country? What can we do individually, locally and beyond to address this problem?

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(4 credits)

Composition is an introduction to the occasions and standards of college writing. Students develop writing abilities through the study and practice of writing processes. Students explore flexible strategies for inventing, generating, drafting, reading, editing, sharing, and presenting their work. The study of ideas, evidence, organization, style, and convention is essential. Coursework stresses the importance of reading and writing for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communication. Students write for varied situations, in a variety of genres, and in response to personal experience, reading, research, argument, and demand. Students examine both the rhetorical and visual impact of the texts they produce. By the end of this course, students are better prepared for the writing they will do in college and beyond.

• EN-1400 Section 31 (CRN: 10720): Composition in the White Mountains
  • Monday 6:30-8pm in Rounds 303
  • Must also take PE 1880 Section 6 (CRN: 11941) on Sundays 8am-2pm in AllWell North
  • Both classes taught by Angie Ricciardi
  • Composition in the White Mountains is a set of two courses (EN 1400 and co-requisite PE 1880) that allows students to explore the writing process through outdoor observation and engagement involving four hikes over the course of the semester. Students use field notes and hiking journals to explore different topics and ideas, which will be used to draft a variety of writing assignments, including personal narratives and research essays. (Basic hiking gear required.)

(1 credit)

• Coming soon