FIRST YEAR SEMINARS
SPRING 2007
What are First Year Seminars?
First-year seminars are limited to 20
first-year students per class. The
seminars are designed to create an activelearning environment enriched by field
work, original research, group projects or
performance as well as more traditional
reading, writing and lecture formats. The
seminars fulfill General Foundation
Requirements.
Science Versus Religion: The
Battlefield of Evolution (GFR: AH)
Taught by Dr. Stephen Freeland
This interdisciplinary course aims to illustrate
the sheer breadth of disciplines across which a
dialog can occur about science and religion, to
introduce historical examples of dialog that
challenge dogma from extremists of all
persuasions who preach oversimplified
“either/or” conflict, and to understand the
origin, construction, and impact of science and
religion on society.
Sexuality, Health and Human Rights
(GFR: SS)
Taught by Dr. Ilsa Lottes
In this seminar, we will consider a number of
sexuality, health and human rights questions: What
are sexual rights? What is meant by sexual health?
How important are sexual rights? What
characteristics of a society promote or hinder sexual
rights? What responsibilities are tied to sexual
rights? To what extent do Americans have sexual
rights? What laws restrict sexual rights?
How We View the World: Living as
Well-Informed and Engaged Individuals
in an Age of Ongoing Irrationality
(GFR: MS)
Taught by Dr. Richard Karpel
We will explore the ways scientists evaluate their
work in order to come to a common view of reality.
Current and historical examples of conflicts between
rational and irrational approaches to understanding
the world will be investigated, including intellectual
struggles during the Soviet era, causality and
treatment of AIDS, government evaluation of birth
control drugs, and the ongoing evolution debate.
Computation as an Experimental Tool
(GFR: MS)
Taught by Dr. Manil Suri
The goal of this course is to make students
comfortable with the idea of using mathematical
computation as a tool towards answering questions
and embarking on new explorations. We will begin
by briefly examining this phenomenon in a historical
and philosophical context and go on to explore
questions on various mathematical principles, using
web-based computational applets and simple Matlab
programs.
Thinking with Visualization (GFR: MS)
Taught by Dr. Penny Rheingans
This course looks at solving real-world problems by
applying visualization techniques based on the
workings of the human perceptual system. Students
will analyze the effectiveness of visual representations
and construct their own visualizations, strengthening
their abilities to explore, evaluate, and understand
large amounts of quantitative data. This course
applies techniques from computer science to
application case studies from several areas.
Intercultural Exploration Through
Film (GFR: C)
Taught by Dr. Alan Bell
Films will be grouped into thematic units that
include The Intercultural Experience of the
Immigrant Family, The Intercultural Experience in
Times of War, and The Intercultural Experience in
Times of Peace. Because the films themselves are
the core materials of the course, it is mandatory to
attend each class, participate in discussions, and do
the required reading for each session.
Global Warming (GFR: MS)
Taught by Dr. Raymond Hoff
Students in this course will be challenged to
represent and refute the scientific arguments
leading to our current understanding of the
state-of-the-science and, subsequently,
examine the process by which such scientific
information can be used to affect the making
of public policy in regards to what is publicly
known about global warming.
Investigating Everyday Problems And
Their Current IT Solutions
(GFR: SS)
Taught by Professor Susan A. Evans
The purpose of this course is to provide first-year
students with an opportunity to study some realworld problems and to see how research is carried
out on those problems at UMBC. This course will
concentrate on problems currently being studied by
members of the CSEE Department, but it is
interdisciplinary in nature since those problems vary
in subject matter tremendously.
Frequently Asked Questions
• How many FYS courses can I take?
– You can take 2 FYS courses, 1 a semester, your first
year at UMBC
• Will I receive GFR credit for both courses?
– No. You will need to choose one of the courses to
use the GFR credit. However, if you are in the Honors
College, the second FYS credit can go towards the
Honors College credits needed each semester.
Questions?
• You can go to http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/ and click on
First Year Seminars to get more information and find the complete
list of course offerings for Spring 2007!
• To pre-register for a course, please contact Jill Randles by
November 17th at jrandles@umbc.edu or ext. 5-3715
• After November 17th, please contact Jill and/or the instructor of
the course to obtain the necessary permission to register for a FYS
course.
• Students may put their name on the hold lists if a course is closed
and/or contact Jill to let her know of their interest. Hold lists will be
monitored and students contacted if seats become available.