Orientation

FS 101 is the starting point for the First Year/Sophomore Program, and all new first year students are required to enroll in FS 101 during the fall semester. Below you will find course descriptions for each section of FS 101 offered in the Fall 2012 semester, with their assigned instructors and section numbers.

For more information on the FS Program, please visit this page.

Section 1: The Art in Science and the Science in Art

Professor Persichini

An exploration of the underlying issues that unify art and science.  Until the 1900s, artists and scientists stood on equal ground. Since the mid-1900s the educational system and modes of funding for art and science have served to segregate these disciplines. By examining works of art and science and how they have manifested themselves in society, students build bridges between art and science. This survey discusses philosophical and societal concepts that inform both artist and scientist and illuminate the process of revelation or discovery. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 2: Creatures of the Night

Professor Sheffield

An examination of “classic” horror from Edgar Allan Poe to Stephen King. Students explore the invention and re-invention of perennial motifs (the vampire, werewolf, zombie, and others) by writers and filmmakers from the 19th century through 1980. We debate the concept of monstrosity, the nature of evil, and the question of what it means to be human. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 3: Masters of the Universe

Professor Lombardi

An investigation of the connections between scientist and science. Students study scientists such as Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking, and their contributions to cosmology, relativity, and the theory of everything. Topics include the Big Bang, black holes, and the potential for time travel. Coursework emphasizes the development of oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 4: Plato’s Republic

Professor E Palmer

A careful reading of the Republic that reflects upon Plato’s thought and its divergence from our own. The text provides a springboard for our discussions of the nature of education, of knowledge, of political organization and good government, and of human and social development. Plato’s book may be the most important document in the history of European philosophy and political theory, and it is very important in similar respects for many other cultures. It is worth your attention at least once in the course of a liberal education. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 5: Of Gods and Monsters: Religion and the Problem of Evil

Professor Boynton

**Living-Learning Community**

Most people do not go to church or temple or ashram in search of monsters.  Yet religion is never without its monsters when faced with one of the oldest conundrums of human thought: unde malum?  From where does evil come?  In this course, we investigate what religion has to do with monsters. We can learn something about a religious tradition by getting to know its monsters, and we can learn something about monsters by looking at their religious heritage. We enrich our exploration of the problem of evil by paying attention to both the representations of the monstrous in classic religious texts and in contemporary literature and cinema. This seminar emphasizes language, both written and oral, as a tool for exploration, description, and summary.

Section 6: Love and Friendship

Professor Holland

An exploration of close personal relationships as they have been traditionally understood in Western culture. What leads to love between two people? Does love bring out the best or worst in a person? What is the nature of friendship, and what qualities make a good friend? Are friendships between men different than friendships between women? These questions are explored through class discussion of films, television programs, music, and classic and modern texts, including Plato’sSymposium, Shakespeare’s Sonnets, and Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 7: Religious Themes in Rock Music 

Professor Olson

An examination of religious themes in rock lyrics in historical perspective.  We consider such topics as the human situation, the self and the other, God, faith and love, Jesus as clown and superstar, time and death, eschatological themes, and prophetic voices.  Students examine the ways in which rock music resembles religion.  Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking

Section 8: Is Jihad Holy War?

Professor Gardner

**Living-Learning Community**

An exploration of what makes war holy in a religious context and an examination of understandings of “jihād” in the Islamic world. We examine who has the authority to declare such a war and how modern-day rhetoric about “crusades” and “terrorists” affects both our foreign policy and self-understanding.  We look for ways to question these representations without stereotyping and examine scriptural (Bible/Qurʾān) discussions of war, comparing them to presentations from Bin Laden, U.S. presidential declarations, and on-going political debates. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 9: Culture, Education, and Transformation

Professor Weisman

**Living-Learning Community

An examination of how cultural assumptions impact the educational process. Students explore basic questions that underlie the human experience and the complex search for understanding life. We address questions concerning teaching and learning, such as cultural attitudes toward children, what comprises an educational experience, how instant access to information expands possibilities, and why service is an important aspect of learning. Our investigation embraces diverse approaches to learning and includes issues of power and justice. The class includes a Service-Learning component. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 11: Software Everywhere

Professor Kapfhammer

An examination of the pervasive nature of computer software and the impact that computer technology has on society. Drawing on articles from the popular press and the computer science literature, this course examines the technical and ethical challenges that face a culture that regularly uses computer software applications. Sample topics include the Internet, Google, online music, open source software, electronic commerce, social networking, and data mining. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 12: Musical Synthesis

Professor L Hepler

An introduction to the language, history, and philosophy of music through a study of the synthesis of intellect and intuition that music makes possible. We explore how musical understanding is achieved when the head and the heart are involved in a balanced way and how music allows us to “think about what we feel, and feel about what we think.” Attendance at campus musical events and at least one field trip to a concert by a professional musical ensemble are part of the class. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 13: “Saying No!”  Dissent in American Politics

Professor B Smith

An examination of dissenting voices in American politics over the last century. While social critics and political historians have often noted the broad agreement among Americans about basic political and cultural values, dissenters have periodically questioned these apparently shared assumptions and challenged the boundaries of American political culture. We focus on dissenting voices from the Left and the Right: from agrarian traditionalists, social revolutionaries, and feminists to neoconservatives and Beats. We thus examine the elements that constitute the American political tradition, ask whether there exists a dissent tradition in America, and consider to what extent dissent remains a lively possibility for 21st-century Americans. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 14: The Mindful World

Professor Wesoky

An exploration of Buddhism and mindfulness and their impact on science, society, politics, and daily life.  Scientific approaches include attention to neuroscientific research on meditation and mindfulness and their effects on mental and physical well-being. This understanding of the effects of Buddhist philosophy and meditative practices is extended through the ways that mindfulness is manifested in the world. Topics of study might include Buddhist approaches to economics and the consumer economy, war and peace, and the environment, as well as literary and film examples of Buddhist thinking. Students are given resources and information about creating their own mindfulness practice. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 15: Political Biography and Social Change

Professor Callen

An examination of the role of the individual in the political process. First, we consider how personal history shapes an individual’s ideology and political fortune. Second, we consider how much one person can influence politics and history. Through reading several biographies of major political figures, students consider whether historical forces or personal will determines how political events unfold. Through discussion, writing, and presentations, students grapple with how one person’s choices shape history and where each individual’s political ideas truly originate, as well as the forces that lead to social, political, and economic changes. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 16: Fresh Water Around the World

Professor O’Brien

***Living-Learning Community***

An examination and discussion of the quantity and quality of fresh water at the local and global scales. We explore the sources of fresh water, how it is used, and how much we actually need to survive. We also examine issues of water quality: the major types of fresh water contamination and resulting disease and/or health risks created by the contamination. Students participate in several off-campus field trips and a community outreach project. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 17: The Philosophy of Mathematics

Professor Lobello

An introduction to the philosophy of mathematics. We consider the questions of what mathematics is, and how it is related to other branches of knowledge. We read Plato’sTimaeus, Book I of Euclid’s Elements of Geometry, the story of Archimedes in Plutarch’s Life of Marcellus, Descartes’ Discourse on Method, and Hadamard’s The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field. Students write papers on each of these books and present them to the seminar for discussion; they also prove geometrical propositions before the class. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 18: Mathematics and Storytelling

Professor Carswell

 An exploration of mathematics in fiction.  The role that math plays in literature, on Broadway, and on the big screen, is examined, and the relevance and accuracy of the mathematics, whether real or imaginary, are addressed.  Fictional portrayals of mathematicians and the impact on public impressions of mathematics are also considered.  Various mathematics topics, including some famous math problems, are introduced as needed.  The seminar emphasizes language, both written and oral, as a tool for exploration, description, and summary.

Section 19: The Business of Sports

Professor Sickafuse

An exploration of business theories utilized in the operating activities of modern sports.  The multibillion-dollar business of sports has become a pervasive element in our economy and our society. We analyze factors determining franchise profitability and market value and how sport franchises fit into the larger business strategies of modern corporate owners. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 20:  America at Work

Professor Ormiston

An exploration of the aspirations, opportunities, and predicaments of the American worker. Students examine the psychosocial aspects of work and its relationship with the broader American ethos.  The complex relationship between employers and employees is addressed, with particular emphasis on power structures implicit in the economic, political, and legal environments of the workplace.  Beyond historical analyses, students analyze current issues that may include work-family balance, outsourcing and globalization, the working poor, and the challenges faced by the American labor movement. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 21: title and description pending.

Professor Byrnes

Section 22: La Vie Bohème: Bohemia and Counterculture

Professor Lewis

An exploration of two centuries of counterculture, from early 19th-century Europe through the contemporary United States. We examine what Bohemia has been in the past and what it is today, its relationship to bourgeois culture, and what it means to reject the values and norms of the dominant culture and adopt others in their place. We explore these questions through representations of various countercultures created by artists both within and outside these cultures, including Murger’s Scènes de la vie de Bohème, Puccini’s La Bohème, Jonathan Larson’s Rent, and representations and testimonials by/of the Beat and hippie movements, among others. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 23: Food Exchange: Europe and the Americas

Professor N Smith

An examination of the exchange of different types of food and drink that has occurred from 1492 to the present between various regions of the “Old World” (Europe) and the “New World” (the Americas). Through literature, travelogues, histories, and film, we explore the effects of this exchange on culinary tastes. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 25: The Best War Ever: World War II and the Greatest Generation

Professor Forts

An historical themed exploration of how a necessary war against international aggression in Europe and Asia has in our day been transformed into the “good war.” Through primary source material, as well as film and other secondary sources, students track how the Second World War—a complex, problematic event, full of nuance and debatable meaning—was turned into the ideal conflict, into the best war ever. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 26: Alleghenians Remember: Oral Histories of Allegheny College Alumni

Professor Binnington

An examination of the history of Allegheny College through oral history. Since the College’s founding in 1815, students have been at the heart of Allegheny College. Students uncover a portion of that recent history through oral history interviews with alumni. We study the history of the College as well as the practice of oral history. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 27: America’s First Ladies

Professor Treckel

An exploration of the role of America’s “First Lady” and its evolution from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Presidents’ wives have played an important role in American life. Objects of public adoration and vilification, their lives have reflected the conflict and controversy that surround the undefined, unofficial job of America’s “First Lady.” This seminar explores the history of the presidential couple and its evolution as an “ideal” in American life. Special attention is paid to modern presidential couples from Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt to Barack and Michelle Obama.  Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 28: Political Hollywood

Professor Keeley

An exploration of the 1960s through the study of film. The social, political, and intellectual upheaval of the late 1960s produced a brief period of great activity in the American Cinema in which conventions of both form and content were challenged. We examine films produced during the late 1960s that best chronicle the shifting values of American society. Topics include the rise of the anti-hero, the use of explicit violence, and the development of the independent film-making industry. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 29: The American Rock Musical

Professor Cosdon

A study of the American rock musical, with a focus on the presentation of “difference” and “diversity.”  Since Hair, the Broadway stage has consistently flirted with rock music. The majority of rock musicals, however, have struggled to recoup expenses, evincing the fact that Broadway is a largely conservative venue that is resistant to change, youth culture, and “anyone out of the mainstream.” Through close analysis, we attempt to understand the appeal of the rock musical. Works studied may includeHair, Tommy, Rent, Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Passing Strange, Next to Normal, American Idiot, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 30: Comedy/Tragedy: The Cue for Passion

Professor Crozier

An examination of drama, stories, movies, song and the emotions they evoke in us. We examine what’s funny, what’s sad, and why stories affect us so deeply. We look at the way that narrative and emotion provide structures for meaning. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking. This section incorporates an active and physical approach to oral communication.

Section 31: Consumer Culture: The American Way?

Professor Yochim

An exploration of consumer culture in the United States. North Face, Apple, Nike, Abercrombie: these are the symbols that mark us—signaling our affiliations, proclaiming our values, and defining our identities. We examine why brand names and consumer culture have become an integral part of the American experience, how brand culture impacts our everyday lives, and how political and economic structures have influenced the development of this culture. Through critical discussion of historical and modern examples, students examine the rise of consumer culture in post-war America, charting the logic behind its production, its relationship to our notions of democracy, and its economic, social, political, and cultural consequences. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 32: Public Health: Issues of Epidemic Proportions

Professor Peterson

An exploration of public health through readings, discussion, and case studies. We explore factors influencing health in both developed and under-developed regions and define public health from several perspectives. The background of this subject is examined through key historical figures and milestones. Case studies are used to examine public health as an intricate web of interconnected disciplines including the sciences, social justice, economics, culture, and politics. The organization of the health care system is considered in the delivery of public health interventions. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 33: Conservation of Natural Resources

Professor Bowden

An investigation of natural resource use and conservation. Northwest Pennsylvania has a diversity of natural resources that provide environmental and economic opportunities to the region. We examine protection and management of forests, farms, wildlife, streams, and wetlands, as well as the economic and social concerns that challenge informed use and long-term protection of valuable resources. In this laboratory and field-based class, students can expect to spend a considerable amount of time outdoors in the diversity of weather enjoyed by this region. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 34: Ecology, History, and Conservation of French Creek

Professor Wissinger

An exploration of the unique biodiversity of French Creek and conservation strategies for maintaining its ecological integrity and watershed. In the first part of the class, we discuss why French Creek is considered a “jewel of biodiversity” and a historically important waterway. The second part of the class addresses strategies for protecting the biotic integrity of the stream, with a focus on non-point source pollution associated with land use, and biomonitoring approaches to assess stream health. Writing and speaking assignments are based on discussion topics and field trip experiences. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking. This FS 101 section includes an extended class period to facilitate field trips.

Section 35: Ethnicity and Environmentalism

Professor Eatmon

An examination of ethnicity’s role in shaping environmental activism with a focus on contemporary activism in communities of color. A new generation of leaders throughout the country are empowering communities of color through environmental activism, dispelling the myth that these communities lack concern for the environment. The outcomes have provided new and innovative ways in which all communities can significantly improve their quality of life while enhancing the potential for future generations to do the same. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 36:  Art in the Technoculture

Professor Roland

An exploration of the relationship between technology and the fine arts. Is a camera an art-making tool or an image-recording device? Is art about media or concepts? Must real art be made by hand? Can a machine make art? If art is a reflection of its age, how does art react to the technological culture in which we live? We explore these questions through art projects, readings, art viewings, oral presentations, and discussions. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 37: Punks

Professor Schindler

An investigation of one aspect of the history of social and cultural rebellion in the modern era.  We study the punk movement through its diverse manifestations from the seventies to the nineties.  The course focuses not only on the music but also on the literature, fashion, behavior, and philosophy of punks.  Attention is also paid to other manifestations of anti-authoritarianism as dadaism, anarchism, and just plain bad behavior.  Course work emphasizes the development of oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary and critical thinking.

Section 38: Shakespeare on Screen

Professor Bulman

An examination of the phenomenon of Shakespeare’s popularity as a cultural icon in America today. Why do we read his plays? How do they speak to contemporary concerns about race, sexuality, social class, and morality? Why have they been adapted as films to appeal to wider audiences, and especially teens? Students read plays in conjunction with viewing recent screen adaptations: Taming of the Shrew and10 Things I Hate About You; Twelfth Night and She’s the Man; Othello and O; Macbethand Scotland, PA. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 39: The Hunger Games: Making Perfect Societies

Professor Caballero

An exploration of utopias and dis-topias in literature and film. We explore what makes a perfect society and who gets to decide this and how it is decided. Students engage with both historical and contemporary literature and film and examine the different and strange ways that “perfect” societies are imagined. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 40: Provision for the Journey: Ideals and Realities in American Education

Professor S Slote

An investigation of the issues confronting contemporary education in the United States.  Through readings and films, students begin by reflecting on their own educational journey thus far. Students then explore a variety of educational philosophies, develop their own, and go on to examine the current state of public education and the impact of factors such as social class, funding distribution, and immigration. We consider the merits of a variety of solutions to problems in education, including “school choice,” charter schools, and national programs such as Teach for America. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 41: Darwin for Doctors: The Evolutionary Biology of Medicine

Professor Mumme

An exploration of the emerging discipline of Darwinian medicine: how evolutionary thinking and the principle of natural selection can provide insight into human health and the treatment of disease. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 43: Mind Myths

Professor Cross

An exploration of popular assumptions and of evolving scientific theories about the brain and mind. Through an examination of past and present evidence-based theories and models of brain organization and function, we consider the importance of perspective, paradigm, and technology to our ways of knowing about brain/mind functions. Students visit Allegheny’s neuroscience laboratory facilities and explore a number of current questions that challenge contemporary neuroscientists. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 44: Portrayals of Race and Ethnicity in Comics

Professor C Lockridge

An exploration of portrayals of race and ethnicity in comics. We examine the suggestion that U.S. comic books are written in response to Greek mythical representations of man’s aspiration to be better. In some instances then, comics serve as social commentaries on their times. In this context we read a series of graphic novels as well as literary criticism to ascertain the state of race relations in the United States. Representations of race and ethnicity in comics run the gamut. As we survey this particular landscape we attempt to determine where we are in the 21st century. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 45: Storytelling

Professor Searle-White

An experiential, creative, and critical exploration of the power and practice of storytelling. We examine storytelling traditions from cultures in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas as well as contemporary uses of storytelling in business, health care, education, and the media. Students also create and perform several of their own stories and learn how to integrate narrative approaches into their academic work. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.