University Courses

Students enrolled in this course will learn the basic skills of speaking and communicating, reading, and writing in the Italian language. Italian culture will be emphasized throughout the term. Audio-visual materials and computer-assisted programs will be available to students as part of the course.

Students enrolled in this course will continue learning the skills of speaking and communicating, reading, and writing in the Italian language. Italian culture will be emphasized. Compositions will aid students in further developing their skills in the Italian language. Audio-visual materials and computer-assisted programs will be available to students as part of the course. PREREQUISITES: UNIC 101 or consent of instructor

This course provides an introduction to learning in the liberal arts tradition at Lawrence University, with a special focus on the challenges faced by international, non-native speakers of English. The specific works and topics may vary each year, but will be representative of the courses typically encountered by first-year students. In addition, the course will focus on the aspects of academic language and culture that often present hurdles for international students. PREREQUISITES: Student must be a participant in the Summer Institute

An introduction to the rigorous tradition of liberal learning at Lawrence University, this course includes two components: a seminar emphasizing close reading of works in various disciplines, classroom discussion and writing thesis-driven essays; and a study of topics in a particular academic discipline through lecture-based instruction, assigned reading and discussion. PREREQUISITES: Student must be a participant in the Summer Institute.

This course is designed for first year students with global backgrounds to become familiar with higher education in the U.S. context. The course is designed to support students through their initial transition to college in the academic, co-curricular, and cultural contexts, as well as by engaging with campus-based resources. Scholarly readings from the fields of International Education and Intercultural Communication will allow students to apply relevant theory to their cross-cultural collegiate experience. This course will include lecture, discussion, written reflection, experiential learning, and a final project.

STEM career paths require quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This course helps potential STEM majors cultivate skills to better prepare for success in STEM courses, while exposing students to broad STEM topics. Required activities include engagement with course readings, group discussions from popular science articles, and reflective activities to help students foster learning new and helpful study skills. PREREQUISITES: Student must be a participant in the Summer Institute.

This lecture-based course is part of Lawrence's Summer Institute program for incoming first-year students, designed to help students learn to engage in larger lecture courses. By exploring several topics in psychology such as neuroscience and psychopathology, students practice note-taking skills, do close reading of textbook chapters, engage in discussion in larger group settings, and prepare for examinations. Requirements: Attendance and two exams. PREREQUISITES: Student must be a participant in the Summer Institute.

This studio course introduces students to dance as an embodies practice, academic study and process of investigating and making. Through viewing, physically moving, discussion, written and verbal conversation, we investigate the knowledge that is grounded in the body and discovered through movement. Topics in this class include: exploring the basic elements of contemporary dance and choreography, strengthening our own artistic voice and deepening our collaborative skills through solo/ensemble practice. Emphasis is placed on moving and dancing a lot, getting sweaty in order to build strength and stamina in the body/mind. Dances will be made in and around campus as a method of orienting incoming students to the geography of place, the geography of the body. Recommended for students who wish to participate in theatre, opera, musical and collaborative productions. Requirements: attendance, in-class reflection assignments, and a meshing of submitted academic writing, choreographic and artistic expressions in movement/image/word. PREREQUISITES: Student must be a participant in the Summer Institute.

An introduction to learning in the liberal arts tradition. Through the study of works representing multiple disciplines, including selections from current First Year Studies texts, this course prepares students with limited English proficiency to fully engage in learning in the liberal arts. (This course can be taken prior to FRST 100 and does not count toward the First Year Studies requirement.) PREREQUISITES: Open only to visiting exchange students and students in the pathway program.

In this three week seminar course, students will examine novels, poetry, memoirs, and films about the American obsession with car travel. As much as this course will focus on the following topics—the history of automobiles, road trips, roadside architecture, gender, family, sexual orientation, and race in the United States—this course also aims to provide students with the necessary Humanities tools they will employ throughout their experience at Lawrence University. Requirements for this course will be participation in discussion, in-class reflection assignments, and a submitted digital humanities project.

Physical Practice: Movement for Wellness is a laboratory course that is all about physical practice. Together, we explore tactics for growing compassion, endurance and resiliency in our physical bodies as we travel through our Lawrence undergraduate career. Each class, we will explore movement and wellness through a specific lens: yin and hatha yoga, meditation, labyrinth and river walking, gentle resistance training, fascial care and stretching sequences as well as writing/drawing practices. We will strengthen our posture, alignment, and range of motion necessary for all students participating in athletics, the Conservatory, Theatre Arts, and Dance departments, necessary for being a performative human in our greater campus community. There's no experience with movement, physical activity or dance needed for this class, rather a desire to explore how to practice our chosen fields of study and care for ourselves along the way. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Summer Institute

This course will offer non-native speakers of English the opportunity to further develop key academic language skills including: writing and structuring academic essays, discussion strategies, listening and note-taking skills, reading and vocabulary development. Additional language concerns will be addressed as needed.

A continuation of English for Academic Purposes I, this course gives non-native speakers of English additional experience developing written and oral academic language skills and understanding the conventions of American academic culture. Students will improve their ability to effectively express complex ideas in English with ease, accuracy and fluency.

This course is designed to introduce students to cognitive and affective theories that can positively impact success in a university environment. Integration of current theory and evidence-based research allows students to study and apply effective strategies applicable to their own academic lives.

An introduction to Modern Standard Arabic. After students learn the alphabet and the sound system, they will get acquainted with the basic skills of speaking, understanding, reading and writing Modern Standard Arabic. The course includes a strong cultural component, with such items as films and music. Not open to students who have completed UNIC 123.

A continuation of Beginning Arabic I. Students will continue working on the ability to perceive and produce the sounds out of which Arabic words are made, with further practice in the basic language skills. Particular emphasis will be placed on the cultural component. Not open to students who have completed UNIC 123 or UNIC 223. PREREQUISITES: UNIC 121

Emphasizes theory, skills, and practice of presentational speaking relative to a variety of forms of communication (including ceremonial, persuasive, and impromptu speaking; intercultural communication; use of PowerPoint; and podcasts). This course will assist students in developing their academic and professional communication skills through hands-on practice, classroom activities, self-assessments, and review of others’ speeches.

The act of purposefully slowing down and doing less has been proven to boost creativity, prevent burnout, and promote the ability to cope with stress. This participatory course, taught by members of the Lawrence community, helps students develop the skills to intentionally do nothing in order to promote deep thinking, an essential skill for learning in a liberal arts environment. Requirements: attendance and collaborative projects.

This course offers a broad, holistic examination and reflection of the effects of lifestyle, wellness, and health promotion on the individual and society. The goal will be to discuss and research current wellness topics and examine ways to improve personal well-being. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

The course uses design thinking to address the very real challenge of leveraging one’s Lawrence education in designing a meaningful life and career. This two unit course offers a framework, tools, and a community of peers and mentors where we’ll work on these issues through assigned readings, reflections, and in-class exercises aimed at tackling the existential question “What do I do with my life?”.

Through a variety of texts, in-class discussions, and written and oral assignments, students will develop a critical appreciation of science and technology not simply as objective endeavors governed by rationality, truth and efficiency, but rather as contested and politically embedded endeavors whose trajectory depends upon the influence of multiple users, competing ideologies, and unique historical and social circumstances.

This course introduces theoretical and practical aspects of ethical and responsible community engagement. Core themes include cultural humility, intersectionality, asset-based community development, collective impact theory, systems thinking, and impact assessment. Through discussion, written reflection, guest speakers, and observational trips, students explore their own motivations for community engagement while gaining transferrable skills for Community-Based Learning designated courses and other forms of community engagement at Lawrence.

This course explores relationships between mathematics, mathematicians, and community. Students will build classroom community through in-class enrichment activities. Readings and discussion will focus on ways mathematicians of various identities build and maintain professional communities. In the second half of the term, students will connect with the Appleton community by leading an outreach activity in a local school. This course welcomes students of all mathematical backgrounds.

This course introduces students to the concept of "social capital" and its component parts (e.g., bonds, bridges, and linkages). It provides students with an understanding of how social capital informs network access in careers in business and how personalized networking strategies lead individuals to make more meaningful connections in work and, more broadly, in life. Additionally, It provides access to a diverse and rotating group of Lawrence alumni as mentors in competitive business fields.

This course provides an opportunity for students to learn/review necessary topics from precalculus in preparation for the study of calculus at Lawrence. Units: 6

Introduction to digital medial used in the humanities, STEM, and social sciences. Lectures, studio, and hands-on experience will develop familiarity with open-source tools for data visualization, text analysis, GIS mapping and metadata, as well as introduce the structure of information and the cultural impact of digital media. Assignments include digital projects, presentations, and a final portfolio.

An introduction to the growing field of public health and core concepts in epidemiology. Students will discuss historical and current issues affecting the public’s health, including individuals in disadvantaged communities, and examine innovative solutions that cross diverse disciplines, such as the health sciences, computer science, government, music and theatre. Through hands-on activities, students will observe and experience public health and epidemiology in action. Lecture/discussion format. PREREQUISITES: First Year Studies

Review of the basic skills of speaking and communicating, reading, and writing in the Italian language. Additional selected texts and compositions will reinforce previously learned material. Italian culture will be emphasized. Audio-visual and computer-assisted programs will be available to students as part of the course. PREREQUISITES: UNIC 102 or consent of instructor

This course will introduce students to global health concepts, including the ways in which culture, values, and differing worldviews impact the socio-ecological determinants of health, globally and locally. Through the use of case studies, students will examine various international health systems, progress toward global health priorities and discover the importance of multi-sector partnerships to address the world’s pressing problems. Discussion/lecture format; writing, exams, and presentations. PREREQUISITE: Sophomore standing PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

The course will offer a survey of the development of crime fiction in Britain from the mid-nineteenth century to the pre sent. Taught as a lecture/discussion class, it will also attempt to exploit the London setting to provide a physical context for some of the work under scrutiny. Students will be able to develop their analytical and writing skills, and should expect to achieve a good grasp of the characteristics of genre fiction; they should also be able to recognize the contribution that a study of these popular forms can make to developing a broader understanding of the values and concerns of the society within which they arise. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre. Sophomore standing

An introduction to academic English at the university level designed for students with limited English proficiency. Students work to develop English proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing through the exploration of different academic disciplines.

This course focuses on developing speaking and listening skills in English. May be taken for 3 or 6 units.

This course focuses on developing increased communicative competence in English as a second language. In addition, it introduces some of the components of communication and the conventions of discourse in English.

Development of English language proficiency in a specialized field of study. Students design and complete projects based on intensive exploration of a specific English-speaking environment, such as a university course or a community volunteer site. The course may be repeated if based on the exploration of a different and progressively more challenging language-learning environment. Enrollment limited to students in the Waseda Visiting Student program. PREREQUISITES: Open only to students in the Waseda Visiting Student program

An introduction to life in the United States and to academic life at a US university for students with global backgrounds. Students will explore cultural values, attitudes, and patterns of behavior through formal study, observation, and interviews, and through the analysis of their everyday life at Lawrence. PREREQUISITES: Open only to students in the Waseda Visiting Student program

An introduction to life in the United States and to academic life at a US university for students with global backgrounds. Students will explore cultural values, attitudes, and patterns of behavior through formal study, observation, and interviews, and through the analysis of their everyday life at Lawrence. The class meets five times during the term (every other week). PREREQUISITES: Open only to students in the Waseda Visiting Student program

An introduction to life in the United States and to academic life at a US university for students with global backgrounds. Students will explore cultural values, attitudes, and patterns of behavior through formal study, observation, and interviews, and through the analysis of their everyday life at Lawrence. The class meets five times during the term (every other week). PREREQUISITES: Open only to students in the Waseda Visiting Student program

Through close reading and analysis of American fiction, visiting students in the Waseda program will continue to develop their English language proficiency and their understanding of American culture.

Waseda students will develop reading comprehension and conversational skills through the discussion of stories, poems, and novels.

In this course, students will acquire new and more complex linguistic structures and be exposed to a wider range of written and oral texts, so that they may start speaking, reading and writing at a higher level. Selected newspaper articles and short stories will be introduced. The cultural component will be particularly emphasized. Not open to students who have completed UNIC 223. PREREQUISITES: UNIC 122

This compulsory course utilizes visiting speakers, site visits, small group fieldwork and short research projects to introduce students to contemporary life in London and the United Kingdom. Site visits usually include the Museum of London, Imperial War Museum, London Mosque, and a football match. Speakers have included religious leaders representing several different traditions and a homeless couple, among others. The course is designed so that the majority of work takes place during the single class meeting, allowing students the possibility of pursuing up to three elective courses. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Center

This interdisciplinary course aims to give students a thorough grounding in the chronology of London’s development from Roman settlement on the periphery of Empire to 21st-century “World City.” The use of contemporary literary and visual sources will serve both to develop students’ historical imagination and to enable them critically to examine the concepts involved in the discipline of history itself. Alongside this historical approach, a theoretical examination of specific themes and topics will be used to explore the nature of “the town as palimpsest,” a layered structure in which the past is never entirely obliterated by what succeeds it. Examples of such themes and topics might include, inter alia, religious observance, theatrical presentation, immigration, commerce, domestic life, and government. Offered at the London Centre. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.

Students in the internship program participate in this seminar meeting once per week and building upon the field study, lectures, and discussions in the British Life and Culture course. Students are expected to maintain a journal with substantial entries each week that critically reflect on their experiences from intercultural, cross-cultural, social, ethical, organizational, and interpersonal perspectives. Students are also required to complete short reflective essays and a final internship essay interrogating their experiences in terms of the course readings, class discussions in the seminar and the British Life and Culture course, and the broader issue of how a liberal arts-informed perspective frames one’s experience in the workplace. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.

This course provides an opportunity for purposeful leadership development, connecting the liberal arts, performing arts, and athletics. Students will cultivate introspection and a growth mindset through study and practice of leadership, develop effective communication skills, and articulate a personal philosophy of leadership informed by relevant scholarship. Seminar course: guest speakers, discussion, reflective and analytical writing, and a term-length project focused on a real-world leadership challenge. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course will focus on the role of communication theory in public health and examine the impact of digital media (apps, social media, VR) on health and health behavior change. Students will also learn techniques for applying communication strategies and marketing concepts to public health practice and apply those to create communication outputs that will support the work of a local organization. Discussion/Lecture format. PREREQUISITES: Junior Standing

A project-based course focusing on learning the conventions and practices of English used for a specific purpose, such as within an academic discipline or professional speech community. Students choose the area of focus based on academic or professional goals, for instance business communication within a specific industry, preparation for graduate school study in a specific discipline or the language of graduate school entrance examinations. Students collaborate with the instructor to plan the final project, set individual learning outcomes, find resources, and create a workflow for the term. Learning outcomes will include comprehension and production of English at the vocabulary, sentence, and discourse levels within the specific English language speech community. Students may repeat the course to focus on different projects.

This class is the core class for students who spend a second term at the London Centre. It allows students to explore topics regarding life and culture in modern Britain in a mix of weekly classes and independent research, leading to a final paper which showcases their deeper involvement with the chosen topics. PREREQUISITES: Student must be in their second term at the London Centre. They must prepared to work independently and willing to actively contribute to the classes with the instructor.

This course will help students who are involved in a research project, developing a senior experience, or pursuing an honors project, to locate, understand, and evaluate published academic resources in relevant fields, and expand their familiarity with the work of the academy beyond the classroom. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

What are the paths and obstacles to living a compassionate life? Can attempts to act compassionately in public life succeed? How can we cultivate an ethic of compassion towrds ourselves and others? In this seminar we will discuss readings from a range of disciplines, genres, and spiritual traditions. Requirements include short papers, experiments with strategies for more compassionate living, and a final project. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor

Seminar course featuring focused readings paired with conversations with members of the Lawrence and Fox Valley communities concerning life's big questions: How do such activities as work, service, community, political engagement, spiritual faith and family make life meaningful? Which pursuits in life warrant more time and energy than others? How do we know we're choosing the right paths? Student discussion with short papers. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing