»First-Year Foundations: Engaging the World (100D)

These classes invite you to explore big ideas, ask meaningful questions, and think critically about the world around you. Designed to spark curiosity and expand your intellectual horizons, the classes challenge you to engage deeply from a variety of topics ranging from film, history, politics, to the intersection of math and philosophy. Whether you're drawn to the complexities of social issues, the ethics of artificial intelligence, or the power of storytelling, you will find a course in this category that will speak to your interests and stretch you in new directions. These discussion-based classes offer an inspiring start to your college journey and prepare you for a lifetime of thoughtful inquiry. 

Disney and American Imagination
Professor Dawn Fratini, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
FFC 100A-01 (Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30pm-6:45pm)
This course will examine the career of Walt Disney and the history of The Walt Disney Company, focusing on how Disney and his products participated in and contributed to the ongoing national dialogue imagining “America” and what it meant to be “American” in the 20th century. As a story teller, Walt Disney drew inspiration from a myriad of sources including fairy and folk tales, the natural world, and science and technology. Although his image is that of the quintessential American, he traveled and was particularly interested in European art forms. This course will sample Disney Company storytelling as a lens through which we can glimpse the ongoing process of the United States defining what it meant to be American during the height of “The American Century.”

Hallyu Rising: Korea’s Global Wave from K-pop to Nobel Prize
Professor Beverly Min Thiagarajan, College of Performing Art
FFC 100A-02 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30am-9:45am)
Why has Korean culture taken the world by storm? From the dazzling K-pop choreography and the addictive storytelling of K-dramas, to Oscar-winning cinema and the historic Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to Han Kang, Korea’s cultural influence has surged across the globe. This course explores the phenomenon known as Hallyu (the Korean Wave) and its explosive appeal in the Western world. Through music, film, TV, literature, cuisine, and contemporary art, students will explore the rich emotions and aesthetic traditions that captivate international audiences. But beneath the global spotlight lie the struggles of societal pressure, intense competition, and the psychological toll. What are the costs of perfection in a hyper-competitive society? Students will examine the nuanced identities and creative expressions of Korean vs. Korean-American artists, and what these differences reveal about diaspora, authenticity, and cultural hybridity. Whether you are a longtime K-pop fan or just curious about why Korea is everywhere, through discussions, curated media, and cross-cultural comparisons, this class invites you to think critically about the powerful global influence of the 21st century. 

Who Are You and What Will You Fight For?: Difficult Histories, Resilient Environments and Moral Rebels
Professor James Brown, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
FFC 100A-03 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00am-11:15pm)
“Who are you and what will you fight for?” Noble Peace Laureate Nadia Murad asks us to examine our humanity and then act to make the world more humane. Too often, some humans choose violence against others or the environment and commit atrocities and other forms of injustice. In response, most people remain passive and complicit bystanders. But we also have the potential for courage and resilience if at crucible moments we carefully consider our beliefs and how they are linked to our readiness and willingness to act. In this FFC, we read accounts, view documentaries, and talk face-to-face with the people who have been survivors and rescuers and made courageous choices in response to atrocities and other forms of violence.  As students study the lessons of “difficult” histories, reflect on their identity, and consider postmodern perspectives and critical alternatives to the dominant narratives that perpetuate violence and inaction, they learn to make the essential connections between historical decisions and the moral choices they confront in their own lives.

The Case for Kindness
Professor Jody Brown, Attallah College of Educational Studies
FFC 100A-04 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30am-12:45pm)
FFC 100A-05 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00pm-2:15pm)
This course explores some of the key concepts and questions involved in leading a compassionate life. Some of the issues addressed in this course include the following: What is kindness? What is compassion? What does it mean to be a compassionate person? What is the science of compassion and kindness? How does exploring profiles in compassion give rise to action? How does an examination of compassion lead us to become more compassionate in our daily lives? As students examine the ideas about how compassion is defined and developed, and analyze case studies of compassion and courage in the face of great need or atrocities, they learn to make the connections between awareness and action, and consider how they might exhibit compassion in their own lives.

Marvel & Society: Morality, Spirituality & Humanity in the Marvel Universe
Professor Lawrence Deutchman, School of Communications
FFC 100A-06 (Tuesdays 1:00pm-3:50pm)
The course will examine the Marvel Comics and Marvel Cinematic Universe interconnected storylines as literature, their impact on society, their cultural mythos, and their reflection of humankind in all its wonder and all its faults. It will include reading and analysis of selected portions of the Marvel story, as well as viewing and discussion of select adaptations in motion pictures. This will be a media studies course that crosses over between media genres and bridges the chasm between literature and film appreciation while addressing the big issues of morality, spirituality, freedom, and where we fit in as individuals and as a species.

Technologies of Self: Listening to Music in the 21st Century
Professor Michael Matsuno, College of Performing Arts
FFC 100A-07 (Fridays, 1:00pm-3:50pm)
What does your Spotify Wrapped say about you? How do your playlists, algorithmic recommendations, TikTok feeds, and other soundscapes reflect and shape your identity? This course investigates how music-listening technologies and practices influence the ways we construct, perform, and understand the self. Individual units will explore topics in technological mediation, music in everyday life, and decolonial listening strategies. Students will apply concepts and tools from psychology, sociology, critical theory, and ethnographic fieldwork to critically examine their own relationships to music. Classes will involve a range of activities including listening to music, close readings of literature, journaling, discussion, and conducting interviews with family and peers.

Lights, Camera, Soundtrack: Impactful Storytelling Through Music
Professor Patrick Gutman, College of Performing Arts
FFC 100A-08 (Mondays, 7:00pm-9:50pm)
FFC 100A-09 (Wednesdays, 7:00pm-9:50pm)
Lights, Camera, Soundtrack: Impactful Storytelling Through Music invites students to dive into the powerful world of film music. From sweeping orchestral scores to iconic pop soundtracks, this course explores how music shapes the story of what we see and how we feel. Students will learn to listen critically and think deeply about how sound tells powerful stories, influences emotion, and drives narrative on screen. Through case studies, discussion, and hands-on analysis of scenes from blockbusters, indie films, and streaming hits, students will develop tools to decode the musical language of cinema. Required: curiosity, open ears, and a love for great stories!

Leadership in Business
Dr. Gabby Castaneda, Argyros College of Business and Economics
FFC 100A-10 (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm-6:45pm)
How do individuals translate their aspirations into purposeful academic and professional pathways? This course invites students to begin that process of intentional development by cultivating the knowledge and skills, essential for professional success. Through a blend of conceptual study and applied practice, students will engage in critical reflection and experiential learning focused on key dimensions of professional formation: personal productivity and accountability, effective interpersonal communication, collaborative leadership, and team dynamics. The course emphasizes evidence-based strategies for enhancing self-awareness, developing emotional intelligence, and fostering inclusive and ethical professional relationships. In addition, students will explore frameworks and methodologies for strategic career planning, integrating tools for goal setting, decision-making, and reflective self-assessment. Upon completion of the course, participants will have developed a personalized plan for ongoing growth as scholars, professionals, and engaged citizens prepared to navigate an evolving global landscape.