FSEM 1401 – Taking a Knee: Sport and Social Change
Faculty member teaching this course: Kris Sloan, PhD

Students in this seminar will examine the many ways that professional sport and its players, both in the U.S. and abroad, have been agents of social change, many times challenging norms and assumptions concerning gender, race, sexuality and social justice. Drawing on critical cultural studies approaches, students in this seminar will critically assess the use of sports and sporing events as a public stage to culturally perform social change dramas that connect to — and sometime take the lead in — larger social, political, cultural and economic movements. Students will apply critical cultural analyses to mediated sports events to understand their impact and gain perspectives on the ways sports may be exploited to enact social change.  

FSEM 1401 – School, Education and Society
Faculty member teaching this course: Arcelia Hernandez, PhD

The American experience has varied with the gender, race, ethnicity and social class of the person. The purpose of this course is to examine this diversity in experience throughout the country’s education history, examining the struggles, achievements and perspectives of marginalized groups in the U.S. history with a focus on the historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of public and private schooling. Individual and group experiences will be placed within the social, economic and political context of various eras. The course will also examine the role in these histories of the ideals and values of traditional U.S. civic culture, such as liberty, equality, and human rights. The overall goal of this course is to develop historical understanding of the problems and strengths inherent in our pluralistic society, particularly as these relate to education. 

FSEM 1401 – Personal Finance/Social Responsibility 
Faculty member teaching this course: Camelia Rotaru, PhD

This course introduces students to the personal financial management skills needed to make ethical individual and business decisions. Topics covered include time value of money, budgeting, tax planning, consumer credit, spending decisions, insurance, investment selection and retirement planning. Consideration is given to how individual’s finances are impacted by business and government practices. Sustainable investing practices are discussed, and emphasis is placed on individual due diligence for corporate social responsibility and human rights. 

FSEM 1401 – Art and Activism: Reclaiming, Space, Place and Identity 
Faculty member teaching this course: Tammie Rubin

Artists create works of art that awe, provoke and mirror the varied aspects of society. During this class students will examine visual artists whose works collide with activism, encouraging engagement in social justice inquiry. This can mean traditional genres such as painting, sculpture, photography or installation, but also murals, video, performance and social practice. Viewing contemporary examples of artistic activism, students will analyze how art has been employed to raise awareness, promote inclusiveness, build community and provide cultural critique. Through lectures, discussions, readings, studio projects and invited speakers, students will begin to understand the terminology, genres, and practices of contemporary artists involved in activism. Some of the artists and institutions to be discussed: Tania Bruguera, Project Row House, Hank Thomas Williams, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Theaster Gates, Barbara Kruger, Ai Wei Wei, Banksy, the Guerrilla Girls, and JR.