Fall 2019 catalog of First-Year Interest Groups

Click on the title of any FIG to open its full page: learn more about its classes, schedule, and download an info sheet to keep.

subject area:

Ethnic Studies:

General Education Requirements:

Breadth:

Honors class:

foreign-language class:

fig_id	title_url	instructor	credits	class1_subject_url	class2_subject_url	class3_subject_url	class4_subject_url	reserved	subject area	ethnic_combined	gened_combined	breadth_combined	honors_combined	language	sorted title
1	Ancient Technology, Gender, and Environment	Jonathan Mark Kenoyer	9	Anthropology	+ Geography	+ Environmental Studies			Anthropology + Geography + Environmental Studies			Social Science Biological Science	Honors Optional		Ancient Technology, Gender, and Environment
2	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 1)		9	Art Department	+ Art Department	+ Art Department	+ Art Department	for students advised by the School of Education	Art Department + Art Department + Art Department + Art Department			Humanities			Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 1)
3	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 2)		9	Art Department	+ Art Department	+ Art Department	+ Art Department	for students advised by the School of Education	Art Department + Art Department + Art Department + Art Department			Humanities			Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 2)
4	Autism in Society: Past, Present, and Future	Andrea Ruppar	9	Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Psychology			Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Psychology			Social Science			Autism in Society: Past, Present, and Future
5	Becoming a Scientist: Doing Biology Research	Janet Batzli, Michelle Harris, and Seth McGee	11	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Chemistry	+ History of Science			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Chemistry + History of Science		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Biological Science Physical Science Humanities	Honors Optional		Becoming a Scientist: Doing Biology Research
6	Beyond Good and Evil: Perspectives on Morality	Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen	11	History Department	+ Philosophy	+ Legal Studies			History Department + Philosophy + Legal Studies			Humanities or Social Science Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Beyond Good and Evil: Perspectives on Morality
7	Biology of Vision	Bikash Pattnaik	10	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Psychology	+ Chemistry			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Psychology + Chemistry			Biological Science Social Science Physical Science			Biology of Vision
8	Black Life Narratives	Laila Amine	10	English	+ Afro-American Studies	+ Sociology			English + Afro-American Studies + Sociology	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			Black Life Narratives
9	Capitalism and America	Paige Glotzer	11	History Department	+ Economics	+ Sociology		for “direct admit” students in the Wisconsin School of Business	History Department + Economics + Sociology	Yes	Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Humanities or Social Science Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Capitalism and America
10	Children, Marriage, and Family	Harry Brighouse	10	Philosophy	+ Sociology	+ Educational Psychology			Philosophy + Sociology + Educational Psychology			Humanities or Social Science Social Science Social Science			Children, Marriage, and Family
11	Classical Myth and Modern American Culture	Ron Harris	10	English	+ Integrated Liberal Studies	+ Latin (Classics)			English + Integrated Liberal Studies + Latin (Classics)			Literature Literature		Yes	Classical Myth and Modern American Culture
12	Democratic Ideas	John Zumbrunnen	11	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ International Studies	+ Folklore Program	+ Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)		Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + International Studies + Folklore Program + Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	Yes		Social Science Social Science Humanities			Democratic Ideas
13	Diversity in Special Education	Bonnie Doren	10	Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Sociology	+ Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education			Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Sociology + Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	Yes		Social Science			Diversity in Special Education
14	The Emergence of Celebrity Culture: History, Performance, Fame	Margaret Butler	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Gender and Women’s Studies	+ Anthropology			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Gender and Women’s Studies + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities Social Science Social Science			Emergence of Celebrity Culture: History, Performance, Fame
15	Energy, Climate, and Environment	Justin Vandenbroucke	9	Physics	+ La Follette School of Public Affairs	+ Environmental Studies			Physics + La Follette School of Public Affairs + Environmental Studies		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Physical Science Social Science Social Science			Energy, Climate, and Environment
16	Exploring Biology (Option 1)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ English	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			Integrated Science + English + Gender and Women’s Studies	Yes	Communication Part A	Biological Science Humanities or Social Science			Exploring Biology (Option 1)
17	Exploring Biology (Option 2)	Cara Theisen	8	Integrated Science	+ History of Science	+ Mathematics			Integrated Science + History of Science + Mathematics		Quantitative Reasoning Part A	Biological Science Humanities or Social Science	Honors Optional		Exploring Biology (Option 2)
18	Exploring Biology (Option 3)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ Anthropology	+ Chemistry			Integrated Science + Anthropology + Chemistry			Biological Science Biological Science Physical Science	Honors Optional		Exploring Biology (Option 3)
19	Exploring Biology (Option 4)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE)	+ Chemistry			Integrated Science + Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE) + Chemistry			Biological Science Social Science Physical Science			Exploring Biology (Option 4)
20	Exploring Biology (Option 5)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ Gender and Women’s Studies	+ Chemistry			Integrated Science + Gender and Women’s Studies + Chemistry			Biological Science Natural Science Physical Science			Exploring Biology (Option 5)
21	First Wave	Natasha Oladokun	10	English	+ Physics	+ Afro-American Studies	+ Integrated Arts	for students in the First Wave Learning Community	English + Physics + Afro-American Studies + Integrated Arts	Yes	Communication Part B Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Physical Science Humanities	Honors Optional		First Wave
22	Food Cultures of Italy	Grazia Menechella	10	Literature in Translation	+ Horticulture	+ Italian			Literature in Translation + Horticulture + Italian			Literature Biological Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional	Yes	Food Cultures of Italy
23	Freedom and Slavery in American Literary Imagination	Cherene Sherrard-Johnson	9	English	+ Afro-American Studies	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			English + Afro-American Studies + Gender and Women’s Studies	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Freedom and Slavery in American Literary Imagination
24	Game Design	Krista-Lee Malone	10	Curriculum and Instruction	+ Sociology	+ Communication Arts			Curriculum and Instruction + Sociology + Communication Arts	Yes		Social Science Humanities or Social Science			Game Design
26	Global Biodiversity and the Sixth Mass Extinction	Daniel Young	9	Entomology	+ Environmental Studies	+ Chemistry			Entomology + Environmental Studies + Chemistry			Biological Science Physical Science	Honors Optional		Global Biodiversity and the Sixth Mass Extinction
27	Global Food Security: The Real Hunger Games	Jeri Barak	10	Plant Pathology	+ Botany	+ Chemistry			Plant Pathology + Botany + Chemistry			Biological Science Biological Science Physical Science	Honors Optional		Global Food Security: The Real Hunger Games
28	Global Poverty: Cross-Cultural Perspectives	Matthew Turner	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Anthropology	+ Nutritional Sciences			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Anthropology + Nutritional Sciences	Yes		Social Science Social Science Social Science			Global Poverty: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
29	Globalization, World Regions, and Globalizing Education	Margaret Hawkins	10	Curriculum and Instruction	+ International Studies	+ Anthropology			Curriculum and Instruction + International Studies + Anthropology	Yes		Social Science Social Science			Globalization, World Regions, and Globalizing Education
30	Healthcare and Engineering	Tracy Puccinelli	10	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering)	+ Chemistry	+ Religious Studies		for “direct admit” students in the College of Engineering	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering) + Chemistry + Religious Studies			Physical Science Humanities or Social Science			Healthcare and Engineering
31	Hispanic Literatures through the Perspective of Gender	Ksenija Bilbija	9	Spanish	+ Gender and Women’s Studies	+ Spanish	+ Spanish		Spanish + Gender and Women’s Studies + Spanish + Spanish			Literature Social Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional	Yes	Hispanic Literatures through the Perspective of Gender
32	The History of Yoga	Gudrun Buhnemann	10	Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Anthropology	+ Philosophy			Asian Languages and Cultures + Anthropology + Philosophy	Yes		Humanities Social Science Humanities or Social Science	Honors Optional		History of Yoga
34	How to Live? Art, Ethics, and the Everyday	Michael Peterson	10	Art Department	+ Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE)	+ Geography			Art Department + Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE) + Geography			Social Science Social Science			How to Live? Art, Ethics, and the Everyday
35	Human Memory, Big Data, and The Digital Age	Mark Vareschi	10	English	+ Philosophy	+ Computer Sciences			English + Philosophy + Computer Sciences		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Literature Humanities or Social Science Natural Science	Honors Optional		Human Memory, Big Data, and The Digital Age
36	Human Rights and Education	Diana Rodriguez-Gomez	10	Educational Policy Studies	+ International Studies	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			Educational Policy Studies + International Studies + Gender and Women’s Studies			Humanities or Social Science Social Science Social Science			Human Rights and Education
37	Humanitarian-Centered Design and Innovation through Making	Lennon Rodgers and Rebecca Alcock	11	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering)	+ Chemistry	+ History Department		for “direct admit” students in the College of Engineering	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering) + Chemistry + History Department			Physical Science Humanities or Social Science			Humanitarian-Centered Design and Innovation through Making
38	Imagining Crime: Criminal Justice in Fact and Fiction	Ralph Grunewald	10	Comparative Literature	+ Legal Studies	+ Sociology			Comparative Literature + Legal Studies + Sociology	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Imagining Crime: Criminal Justice in Fact and Fiction
39	Internet and Society	Rebekah Willett	10	Library and Information Studies	+ Communication Arts	+ Library and Information Studies			Library and Information Studies + Communication Arts + Library and Information Studies		Communication Part B	Social Science Humanities Humanities or Social Science			Internet and Society
40	Jerusalem: Holy City of Conflict and Desire	Rachel Brenner	10	Jewish Studies	+ English	+ Political Science			Jewish Studies + English + Political Science		Communication Part A	Humanities Social Science			Jerusalem: Holy City of Conflict and Desire
41	Latinx Identity and Politics	Benjamin Marquez	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies	+ Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies + Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies	Yes		Social Science Humanities or Social Science Social Science			Latinx Identity and Politics
42	The Life of Primates	Richard McFarland	9	Anthropology	+ Zoology	+ Psychology			Anthropology + Zoology + Psychology			Biological Science Social Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Life of Primates
43	Living Digitally: A Cultural History of the Internet	Joseph Bowling	9	English	+ Computer Sciences	+ Sociology			English + Computer Sciences + Sociology	Yes	Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Literature Natural Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Living Digitally: A Cultural History of the Internet
44	Major Transitions in Evolution	David Baum	10	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Anthropology	+ Chemistry			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Anthropology + Chemistry	Yes		Biological Science Social Science Physical Science			Major Transitions in Evolution
45	Make It Count: Measuring Physical Activity Behavior	Morgan Shields	10	Kinesiology	+ Mathematics	+ English	+ Kinesiology		Kinesiology + Mathematics + English + Kinesiology		Quantitative Reasoning Part A Communication Part A				Make It Count: Measuring Physical Activity Behavior
46	The Meaning of Life	Russ Shafer-Landau	10	Philosophy	+ Geoscience	+ Comparative Literature		for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Philosophy + Geoscience + Comparative Literature			Humanities Biological Science Literature	Honors Only Honors Optional		Meaning of Life
47	Migrations and Displacement: Histories of Immigration to the United States	Cindy I-Fen Cheng	10	History Department	+ English	+ Political Science			History Department + English + Political Science		Communication Part A	Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Migrations and Displacement: Histories of Immigration to the United States
48	The Monstrous and the Supernatural in Japanese Visual Culture	Gene Phillips	10	Art History	+ History Department	+ Anthropology			Art History + History Department + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Monstrous and the Supernatural in Japanese Visual Culture
49	National Identity and the Global World: The Italian Case	Ernesto Livorni	11	Literature in Translation	+ Political Science	+ Economics			Literature in Translation + Political Science + Economics		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Literature Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		National Identity and the Global World: The Italian Case
50	Nursing: Child Development (Option 1)		8	Nursing	+ Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Educational Psychology		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Educational Psychology			Social Science Social Science			Nursing: Child Development (Option 1)
51	Nursing: Contemporary Healers (Option 2)		9	Nursing	+ History of Science	+ Sociology		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + History of Science + Sociology	Yes		Social Science Humanities Social Science			Nursing: Contemporary Healers (Option 2)
52	Nursing: Diversity and Women’s Studies (Option 3)		9	Nursing	+ Sociology	+ Gender and Women’s Studies		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + Sociology + Gender and Women’s Studies	Yes		Social Science Social Science Natural Science			Nursing: Diversity and Women’s Studies (Option 3)
53	Nursing: Equality in Healthcare (Option 4)		9	Nursing	+ Sociology	+ Religious Studies		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + Sociology + Religious Studies	Yes		Social Science Social Science Humanities or Social Science			Nursing: Equality in Healthcare (Option 4)
54	Nursing: Global Health (Option 5)		8	Nursing	+ Nutritional Sciences	+ Sociology		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + Nutritional Sciences + Sociology	Yes		Social Science Social Science Social Science			Nursing: Global Health (Option 5)
55	Observation and Discovery: How Astronomy Shapes our Worldview	James Lattis	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ History of Science	+ Astronomy			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + History of Science + Astronomy			Social Science or Natural Science Humanities Physical Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Observation and Discovery: How Astronomy Shapes our Worldview
56	Perspectives on Medicine and Healing	Jim McKeown	11	Classics	+ Chemistry	+ Religious Studies		for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Classics + Chemistry + Religious Studies		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Humanities Physical Science Humanities or Social Science	Honors Only		Perspectives on Medicine and Healing
57	Pharmacy and You (Option 1)	Michael Pitterle, Denise Walbrandt Pigerelli, Amy Zwaska	8	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice			Pharmacy + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice			Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 1)
58	Pharmacy and You (Option 2)	Michael Pitterle, Denise Walbrandt Pigerelli, Amy Zwaska	8	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice			Pharmacy + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice			Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 2)
59	The Physiology of Human Performance	Gary Diffee	9	Kinesiology	+ Chemistry	+ Kinesiology			Kinesiology + Chemistry + Kinesiology		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Physical Science			Physiology of Human Performance
60	Plants and Human Well-being	Irwin Goldman	10	Horticulture	+ Horticulture	+ Chemistry	+ Anthropology		Horticulture + Horticulture + Chemistry + Anthropology	Yes		Physical Science Social Science			Plants and Human Well-being
61	Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality in American Education	Linn Posey-Maddox	10	Educational Policy Studies	+ English	+ Sociology			Educational Policy Studies + English + Sociology	Yes	Communication Part A	Social Science			Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality in American Education
62	Rainforests and Coral Reefs	Catherine Woodward	10	Botany	+ Chemistry	+ Spanish			Botany + Chemistry + Spanish			Biological Science Physical Science		Yes	Rainforests and Coral Reefs
63	Religion and the News	Susan B. Ridgely	10	Religious Studies	+ Anthropology	+ Journalism and Mass Communication			Religious Studies + Anthropology + Journalism and Mass Communication	Yes	Communication Part B	Humanities Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Religion and the News
64	Russia and the World	Francine Hirsch	11	History Department	+ Political Science	+ Slavic (Slavic Languages)			History Department + Political Science + Slavic (Slavic Languages)			Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional	Yes	Russia and the World
66	Shakespeare Now and Then: The Plays on Stage and Film	Karen Britland	10	English	+ Folklore Program	+ History Department			English + Folklore Program + History Department	Yes		Literature Humanities Humanities or Social Science	Honors Optional		Shakespeare Now and Then: The Plays on Stage and Film
67	The Sociology and History of American Marketing and Consumer Society	Thomas O’Guinn	10	Marketing	+ Psychology	+ Sociology		for “direct admit” students in the Wisconsin School of Business	Marketing + Psychology + Sociology			Social Science Social Science			Sociology and History of American Marketing and Consumer Society
68	Sustainability and Engineering	Kathryn Kalscheur	10	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering)	+ Chemistry	+ Environmental Studies		for “direct admit” students in the College of Engineering	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering) + Chemistry + Environmental Studies			Physical Science Social Science			Sustainability and Engineering
69	Sustainability in the North: Culture, Environment, and the Economy	Marcus Cederstrom	11	German Nordic and Slavic	+ Environmental Studies	+ Economics	+ General Business	for “direct admit” students in the Wisconsin School of Business	German Nordic and Slavic + Environmental Studies + Economics + General Business		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Humanities Social Science Social Science			Sustainability in the North: Culture, Environment, and the Economy
70	Weather Hazards and Society	Gregory Tripoli	8	Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences	+ Environmental Studies	+ Geoscience			Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences + Environmental Studies + Geoscience			Physical Science Social Science Physical Science			Weather Hazards and Society
71	Wolves, Dogs, and People	Adrian Treves	9	Environmental Studies	+ Environmental Studies	+ Geography			Environmental Studies + Environmental Studies + Geography			Biological Science Biological Science Social Science			Wolves, Dogs, and People
72	World of the Vikings	Scott Mellor	9	Literature in Translation	+ German Nordic and Slavic	+ Environmental Studies			Literature in Translation + German Nordic and Slavic + Environmental Studies		Communication Part B	Literature Humanities Biological Science		Yes	World of the Vikings
73	Yoga in Poetry and Pose	Chris Livanos	9	Comparative Literature	+ Religious Studies	+ Nutritional Sciences			Comparative Literature + Religious Studies + Nutritional Sciences			Literature Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Yoga in Poetry and Pose
74	Youth, Education, and Society	Bianca Baldridge	9	Educational Policy Studies	+ Afro-American Studies	+ English			Educational Policy Studies + Afro-American Studies + English	Yes	Communication Part A	Humanities			Youth, Education, and Society
									subject area	ethnic_combined	gened_combined	breadth_combined	honors_combined	language

Use the filter below to find FIGs that have classes in certain subject areas, or that meet UW General Education Requirements. Your SOAR advisor will help you understand these. Read more about General Education Requirements and the College of Letters & Science Honors Program.