Columbian College Announces Fall Dean’s Seminars

By James Irwin

The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences will host 24 Dean’s Seminars this fall, providing freshman students the opportunity to take courses focused on specific academic issues.

The three-credit classes, which run the full semester and fulfill general education requirements, cover a range of topics in the humanities, arts, literature, biological sciences, public policy, psychology and law. The courses enrich the academic experience of first-year students, said Columbian College Dean Ben Vinson III.

“The Dean’s Seminars are among Columbian College’s many points of pride,” said Dean Vinson. “The courses offer a focused and lively learning experience on topics of wide-ranging relevance. For our first-year students, it’s a unique opportunity to explore and discover emerging interests.”

First-year student registration runs from July 10 to 12. Open enrollment begins July 15.

A brief look at a few of the seminars offered:

Human Minds & Artificial Intelligence

What is the boundary between humans and robots? This class, facilitated by Assistant Professor of American Studies Jamie Cohen-Cole, will aim to answer that question by looking at computers, robots and artificial intelligence in history and through visions of the future in science fiction stories and movies from “Frankenstein” to “I, Robot.”

The line between humans and machines will be explored in Jamie Cohen-Cole's seminar on artificial intelligence.

DC Renaissance: Black Culture in the Nation's Capital

James Miller, professor of American studies, explores the relationship of Washington, D.C. to 20^th-century African American history and culture. Dr. Miller’s class will examine the writings of Alain Locke, Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes and Sterling Brown; the music of Marvin Gaye and DC Go-Go; and the contemporary fiction of George Pelecanos.

Political Manipulation

Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Planning Forrest Maltzman’s class will explore the sociological, economic and psychological factors that influence political decisions. Dr. Maltzman, former chair of GW’s political science department, will unravel the DNA behind the actions taken by citizens and politicians and how decisions can be manipulated and understood.

Why do citizens and politicians act and do what they do? Forrest Maltzman's seminar on political manipulation aims to uncover the reasons behind political decisions.

Writing on Washington

By reading representative examples of Washington, D.C. writing, visiting museums and conducting on-site research, students in English Professor Christopher Sten’s course will explore the history and visual landscape of the city. Dr. Sten’s class will examine the writing of authors in the context of pivotal periods, including the Civil War, the Great Depression and World War II.

Contemporary Immigration and the Changing American City

Assistant Professor of Sociology?Hiromi Ishizawa's?course aims to provide a better understanding of the theory and policy behind one of the more hotly debated topics in contemporary America. Her course will?provide an overview of historical patterns of immigration, changes in immigration demographics, the reception immigrants face upon arrival and how contemporary immigrants affect U.S. cities.

Hiromi Ishizawa’s course will provide an overview of historical patterns of immigration before diving into contemporary issues regarding the topic.

The Fairy Tale from the Grimms to Disney

Fairy tales have fueled the popular imagination of children and adults for centuries, but have also undergone radical transformations in form, style, structure and meaning. Mary Beth Stein, associate professor of international affairs, will examine the socio-historical development of this long-standing form of entertainment and symbolism.

Evolution of the Human Mind

Class discussions and a trip to the National Zoo’s Think Tank—where researchers are exploring the cognitive abilities of orangutans and gorillas—will highlight Assistant Professor of Speech and Hearing Francys Subiaul’s course on the cognitive abilities of human and non-human primates. The class also will examine theories of cognitive evolution.

Researchers at the National Zoo's Think Tank are exploring the cognitive abilities of orangutans and gorillas. (Photo courtesy of?Smithsonian’s National Zoo)