Fall 2020 catalog of First-Year Interest Groups

Click on the title of any FIG to open its full page: learn more about its classes and schedule. Classes that are online and don’t have a scheduled class time (aka, “asynchronous instruction”) are marked as “no official day/time.” Students who require all-online classes can browse FIGs that have “entirely remote instruction” through the filters on this page. Try it.

subject area:

Ethnic Studies:

General Education Requirements:

Breadth:

Honors class:

foreign-language class:

all classes in the FIG taught remotely (online)?:

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	all classes in the FIG taught remotely (online)?
1	Altruism and Selfishness	Elliott Sober	9	Philosophy	+ Sociology	+ Anthropology		for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Philosophy + Sociology + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Social Science Biological Science	Honors Only Honors Optional		Altruism and Selfishness	entirely remote instruction
2	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice Option 1		9 or 10	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 or 10	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
65	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice Option 3		9 or 10	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 3
4	Art and Ornament in Archaeology	Jonathan Mark Kenoyer	9	Anthropology	+ Geography	+ Art History			Anthropology + Geography + Art History	Yes		Social Science Humanities	Honors Optional		Art and Ornament in Archaeology
12	Arts of Persuasion: Philosophy, Politics, and Poetry in South Asia	Jamal Jones	10	Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Political Science			Asian Languages and Cultures + Asian Languages and Cultures + Political Science			Humanities Humanities Social Science			Arts of Persuasion: Philosophy, Politics, and Poetry in South Asia
5	Autism in Society: Past, Present, and Future	Zhe (Gigi )An	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
6	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	Classical Myth and Modern American Culture	Ron Harris	10	English	+ Integrated Liberal Studies	+ Latin			English + Integrated Liberal Studies + Latin			Literature Literature		Yes	Classical Myth and Modern American Culture
10	Diversity in Special Education	Carlyn Mueller	10	Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education	+ Sociology			Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education + Sociology	Yes		Social Science			Diversity in Special Education
11	East Asian Food Cultures: Past and Present	Charles Kim	9	History Department	+ Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Anthropology			History Department + Asian Languages and Cultures + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Humanities Social Science			East Asian Food Cultures: Past and Present
14	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)	entirely remote instruction
15	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)	entirely remote instruction
16	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)
17	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)	entirely remote instruction
18	The Fabric of American Politics: Textiles as Political Expression	Marina Moskowitz	11	Design Studies	+ History Department	+ Political Science			Design Studies + History Department + Political Science			Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Fabric of American Politics: Textiles as Political Expression
20	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
21	Gandhi, King, Mandela: Nonviolence in the World	Mou Banerjee	10	History Department	+ Political Science	+ Civil Society and Community Studies			History Department + Political Science + Civil Society and Community Studies			Humanities or Social Science Social Science Social Science			Gandhi, King, Mandela: Nonviolence in the World
22	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
23	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
24	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
25	Global Reproductive Politics	Emily Callaci	9	History Department	+ Gender and Women’s Studies	+ Sociology			History Department + Gender and Women’s Studies + Sociology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Natural Science Social Science			Global Reproductive Politics
26	Globalism, 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			Globalism, World Regions, and Globalizing Education
27	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	entirely remote instruction
29	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
30	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
32	How To Live? Art and Politics in 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 and Politics in the Everyday
33	How We Get Free: Introduction to Black Women Writers	Brittney Edmonds	10	Afro-American Studies	+ Sociology	+ Civil Society and Community Studies			Afro-American Studies + Sociology + Civil Society and Community Studies	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			How We Get Free: Introduction to Black Women Writers
34	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
35	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
36	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
37	Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs and the Law	Marla Ramírez	10	History Department	+ Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies	+ Legal Studies			History Department + Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies + Legal Studies	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Social Science Social Science			Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs and the Law
38	Law and Disorder in Russia	Kathryn Hendley	11	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Political Science	+ Slavic (Slavic Languages)			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Political Science + Slavic (Slavic Languages)			Social Science Social Science		Yes	Law and Disorder in Russia
39	Listening to Land: Indigenous Education, Language, and Foodways	Dan Cornelius, Claire Luby	10	Educational Policy Studies	+ Environmental Studies	+ American Indian Studies			Educational Policy Studies + Environmental Studies + American Indian Studies	Yes		Social Science Physical Science Humanities		Yes	Listening to Land: Indigenous Education, Language, and Foodways
40	Living Digitally: A Cultural History of the Internet	Joseph Bowling	9	English	+ Computer Sciences	+ Art History			English + Computer Sciences + Art History	Yes	Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Literature Natural Science Humanities	Honors Optional		Living Digitally: A Cultural History of the Internet
41	Make it Count: Measuring Physical Activity Behavior	Morgan Shields	9	Kinesiology	+ Mathematics	+ English			Kinesiology + Mathematics + English		Quantitative Reasoning Part A Communication Part A				Make it Count: Measuring Physical Activity Behavior
43	Natural Hazards of Weather	Gregory Tripoli	8	Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences	+ Environmental Studies	+ Geoscience			Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences + Environmental Studies + Geoscience			Physical Science Social Science Physical Science			Natural Hazards of Weather
44	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)	entirely remote instruction
45	Nursing: Diversity and Women's Studies (Option 2)		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 2)	entirely remote instruction
46	Nursing: Equality in Healthcare (Option 3)		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 3)	entirely remote instruction
47	Nursing: Global Health (Option 4)		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 4)
48	Nursing: Inclusive Communication (Option 5)		9	Nursing	+ English	+ Sociology		for students advised by the School of Nursing	Nursing + English + Sociology	Yes	Communication Part A	Social Science Social Science			Nursing: Inclusive Communication (Option 5)
49	Observation and Discovery: How Astronomy Shapes our Worldview	James Lattis	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Astronomy	+ History of Science			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Astronomy + History of Science		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Social Science or Natural Science Physical Science Humanities	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Observation and Discovery: How Astronomy Shapes our Worldview
50	Perspectives on Medicine and Healing	Jim McKeown	10 or 11	Classics	+ Religious Studies	+ Chemistry	+ Chemistry	for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Classics + Religious Studies + Chemistry + Chemistry		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Humanities Humanities or Social Science Physical Science Physical Science	Honors Only		Perspectives on Medicine and Healing
51	Pharmacy and You (Option 1)	Denise Walbrandt Pigarelli, Michael Pitterle, Amy Zwaska	8	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice			Pharmacy + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice			Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 1)
52	Pharmacy and You (Option 2)	Denise Walbrandt Pigarelli, Michael Pitterle, Amy Zwaska	8 or 9	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice		Pharmacy + Chemistry + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Physical Science Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 2)
53	The Physiology of Human Performance	Gary Diffee	9	Kinesiology	+ Chemistry	+ Kinesiology			Kinesiology + Chemistry + Kinesiology			Physical Science			Physiology of Human Performance
54	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
62	Preserving Nature	Adrian Treves	9	Environmental Studies	+ Environmental Studies	+ Geography			Environmental Studies + Environmental Studies + Geography			Biological Sciences or Social Science Biological Science Social Science			Preserving Nature
7	Protest Literature	Sarah Wood	9	English	+ Afro-American Studies	+ Art History			English + Afro-American Studies + Art History	Yes		Literature Social Science Humanities			Protest Literature	entirely remote instruction
55	The Queer 20th Century	Finn Enke	10	History Department	+ Gender and Women’s Studies	+ Anthropology			History Department + Gender and Women’s Studies + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Queer 20th Century
56	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
57	Rainforests and Coral Reefs	Catherine Woodward	10 or 11	Botany	+ Chemistry	+ Spanish			Botany + Chemistry + Spanish			Biological Science Physical Science		Yes	Rainforests and Coral Reefs
58	Religion and the Media	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 Media
59	Security, Information, and Terror	Russ Castronovo	10	English	+ Science and Technology Studies	+ Sociology			English + Science and Technology Studies + Sociology	Yes		Literature Humanities or Social Science Social Science			Security, Information, and Terror
60	Shakespeare and Film	Karen Britland	10	English	+ Folklore Program	+ History Department			English + Folklore Program + History Department	Yes		Literature Humanities Humanities or Social Science			Shakespeare and Film
31	Social Media Texts	Ainehi Edoro	11	English	+ Sociology	+ Communication Arts			English + Sociology + Communication Arts	Yes		Literature Social Science	Honors Optional		Social Media Texts
61	Sustainability and Engineering	Katie Kalscheur	11	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering)	+ Mathematics	+ Environmental Studies		for “direct admit” students in the College of Engineering	Interdisciplinary Courses (Engineering) + Mathematics + Environmental Studies		Quantitative Reasoning Part A	Social Science			Sustainability and Engineering
9	We Are What We Eat: Food and Identity	Erika Anna	10	Nutritional Sciences	+ Nutritional Sciences	+ Chemistry			Nutritional Sciences + Nutritional Sciences + Chemistry	Yes		Social Science Biological Science Physical Science			We Are What We Eat: Food and Identity
63	World of the Vikings	Scott Mellor	10	Literature in Translation	+ German Nordic and Slavic	+ Scandinavian Studies			Literature in Translation + German Nordic and Slavic + Scandinavian Studies		Communication Part B	Literature Humanities		Yes	World of the Vikings
									subject area	ethnic_combined	gened_combined	breadth_combined	honors_combined	language		all classes in the FIG taught remotely (online)?

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.