Fall 2021 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	Laboring for Revolution: An Introduction to the Life, Thought, and Legacy of Karl Marx	Joseph Bowling	11	English	+ History Department	+ Philosophy			English + History Department + Philosophy			Literature Humanities or Social Science Humanities or Social Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Laboring for Revolution: An Introduction to the Life, Thought, and Legacy of Karl Marx
2	Altruism and Selfishness	Elliott Sober	9	Philosophy	+ Sociology	+ Anthropology			Philosophy + Sociology + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Social Science Biological Science	Honors Optional		Altruism and Selfishness
3	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 1)	John Baldacchino	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)
4	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 2)	John Baldacchino	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)
5	Art and Artists: Foundations of Contemporary Practice (Option 3)	John Baldacchino	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)
6	Art and Ornament in Archaeology	Jonathan Mark Kenoyer	9	Anthropology	+ Geography	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			Anthropology + Geography + Gender and Women’s Studies			Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Art and Ornament in Archaeology
7	The Atomic Bomb in American and Japanese History	Louise Young	11	History Department	+ Philosophy	+ Political Science			History Department + Philosophy + Political Science			Humanities or Social Science Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Atomic Bomb in American and Japanese History
8	Audiotopia: Reading Race and Music	Yanie Fecu	10	English	+ Sociology	+ Afro-American Studies			English + Sociology + Afro-American Studies	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			Audiotopia: Reading Race and Music
9	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
10	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
11	Diversity in Special Education	Kimber Wilkerson	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
12	Earth Partnership, Indigenous Arts & Sciences: Restoration Education and Stewardship	Maria Moreno & Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong	9	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ Environmental Studies	+ American Indian Studies			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + Environmental Studies + American Indian Studies	Yes		Social Science Social Science Social Science			Earth Partnership, Indigenous Arts & Sciences: Restoration Education and Stewardship
13	Exploring Biology (Option 1)	Cara Theisen	8	Integrated Science	+ English	+ Mathematics			Integrated Science + English + Mathematics		Communication Part A Quantitative Reasoning Part A	Biological Science			Exploring Biology (Option 1)
14	Exploring Biology (Option 2)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ Anthropology	+ Chemistry			Integrated Science + Anthropology + Chemistry			Biological Science Biological Science Physical Science	Honors Optional		Exploring Biology (Option 2)
15	Exploring Biology (Option 3)	Cara Theisen	9	Integrated Science	+ Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE)	+ Chemistry			Integrated Science + Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE) + Chemistry			Biological Science Social Science Physical Science			Exploring Biology (Option 3)
16	Exploring Biology (Option 4)	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 4)
17	Food Cultures of Italy	Grazia Menechella	10	Literature in Translation	+ Horticulture	+ Italian			Literature in Translation + Horticulture + Italian			Literature Biological Science	Honors Optional	Yes	Food Cultures of Italy
18	Freshwater: Past, Present, and Future	Jake Vander Zanden	8	Zoology	+ Geography	+ Zoology			Zoology + Geography + Zoology			Biological Science Physical Science Biological Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Freshwater: Past, Present, and Future
19	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	Global Biodiversity and the Sixth Mass Extinction	Daniel Young	9	Entomology	+ Entomology	+ Chemistry			Entomology + Entomology + Chemistry			Biological Science Physical Science	Honors Optional		Global Biodiversity and the Sixth Mass Extinction
22	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	Honors Optional		Global Reproductive Politics
23	Globalism, World Regions, and Globalizing Education	Li-Ching Ho	10	Curriculum and Instruction	+ International Studies	+ Anthropology			Curriculum and Instruction + International Studies + Anthropology	Yes		Social Science Social Science			Globalism, World Regions, and Globalizing Education
24	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
25	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
26	The History of Yoga	Gudrun Buhnemann	9	Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Anthropology	+ Asian Languages and Cultures			Asian Languages and Cultures + Anthropology + Asian Languages and Cultures	Yes		Humanities Social Science Humanities	Honors Optional		History of Yoga
27	How We Get Free: Introduction to Black Women Writers	Brittney Edmonds	10	Afro-American Studies	+ Sociology	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			Afro-American Studies + Sociology + Gender and Women’s Studies	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			How We Get Free: Introduction to Black Women Writers
28	Human Flourishing in Contentious Times	Tony Chambers	10	Psychology	+ Sociology	+ English			Psychology + Sociology + English	Yes	Communication Part A	Humanities or Social Science Social Science			Human Flourishing in Contentious Times
29	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
30	Imagining Crime: Criminal Justice in Fact and Fiction	Ralph Grunewald	10	English	+ Legal Studies	+ Sociology			English + Legal Studies + Sociology	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			Imagining Crime: Criminal Justice in Fact and Fiction
31	Internet and Society	Rebekah Willett	9	Library and Information Studies	+ Communication Arts	+ Library and Information Studies			Library and Information Studies + Communication Arts + Library and Information Studies	Yes		Social Science Humanities Humanities or Social Science			Internet and Society
32	Law and Disorder in Russia	Kathryn Hendley	11	Political Science	+ Political Science	+ Slavic (Slavic Languages)			Political Science + Political Science + Slavic (Slavic Languages)			Social Science Social Science		Yes	Law and Disorder in Russia
33	Listening to Land: Indigenous Education, Language, and Foodways	Dan Cornelius	10	Educational Policy Studies	+ Environmental Studies	+ American Indian Studies			Educational Policy Studies + Environmental Studies + American Indian Studies	Yes		Social Science Physical Science Social Science			Listening to Land: Indigenous Education, Language, and Foodways
34	Living with Artificial Intelligence	Hayley Clatterbuck	10	Philosophy	+ Computer Sciences	+ Computer Sciences	+ Library and Information Studies	for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Philosophy + Computer Sciences + Computer Sciences + Library and Information Studies		Quantitative Reasoning Part B Quantitative Reasoning Part B Communication Part B	Humanities or Social Science Natural Science Natural Science Humanities or Social Science	Honors Only		Living with Artificial Intelligence
35	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
36	National Identity in the Global World: the Italian Case	Ernesto Livorni	11	Literature in Translation	+ Economics	+ Political Science			Literature in Translation + Economics + Political Science		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Literature Social Science Social Science			National Identity in the Global World: the Italian Case
37	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
38	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)
39	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)
40	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)
41	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)
42	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)
43	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
44	Painting Politics: Art and the Roots of Racism in Britain and America 1700-2000	Nancy Rose Marshall	10	Art History	+ History Department	+ Anthropology			Art History + History Department + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities Humanities or Social Science Social Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Painting Politics: Art and the Roots of Racism in Britain and America 1700-2000
45	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
46	Pharmacy and You (Option 1)	Denise Walbrandt Pigarelli, Michael Pitterle, Amy Zwaska	8	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice		if you are advised outside the School of Pharmacy, please contact amy.zwaska@wisc.edu for approval to enroll	Pharmacy + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice			Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 1)
47	Pharmacy and You (Option 2)	Denise Walbrandt Pigarelli, Michael Pitterle, Amy Zwaska	8 or 9	Pharmacy	+ Chemistry	+ Chemistry	+ Pharmacy Practice	if you are advised outside the School of Pharmacy, please contact amy.zwaska@wisc.edu for approval to enroll	Pharmacy + Chemistry + Chemistry + Pharmacy Practice		Quantitative Reasoning Part B	Physical Science Physical Science			Pharmacy and You (Option 2)
48	Plants and Human Well-being	Irwin Goldman	10	Horticulture	+ Horticulture	+ Chemistry	+ Anthropology		Horticulture + Horticulture + Chemistry + Anthropology	Yes		Biological Science Biological Science Physical Science Social Science	Honors Optional		Plants and Human Well-being
49	Protest Literature	Sarah Wood	10	English	+ Afro-American Studies	+ Sociology			English + Afro-American Studies + Sociology	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			Protest Literature
50	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 Honors Optional		Queer 20th Century
51	Race and Politics in the United States	David Cannon	11	Political Science	+ Sociology	+ History Department		for students in the College of Letters & Science Honors Program	Political Science + Sociology + History Department	Yes		Social Science Social Science Social Science	Honors Only Honors Optional		Race and Politics in the United States
52	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 Social Science			Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality in American Education
53	Rainforests and Coral Reefs	Catherine Woodward	10 or 11	Botany	+ Chemistry	+ Spanish			Botany + Chemistry + Spanish			Biological Science Physical Science		Yes	Rainforests and Coral Reefs
54	Refugee Rights in a Bordered World	Jenna Loyd	10	Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S)	+ International Studies	+ Gender and Women’s Studies			Interdisciplinary Courses (L&S) + International Studies + Gender and Women’s Studies			Social Science Social Science Social Science			Refugee Rights in a Bordered World
55	Sex, Drugs, and Literature in Latin America	Beatriz Botero	10	Integrated Liberal Studies	+ Sociology	+ Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies			Integrated Liberal Studies + Sociology + Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies	Yes		Literature Social Science Social Science			Sex, Drugs, and Literature in Latin America
56	Social Justice Movements in Asia & Beyond	Anne Hansen	9	History Department	+ Asian Languages and Cultures	+ Anthropology			History Department + Asian Languages and Cultures + Anthropology	Yes		Humanities or Social Science Humanities Social Science	Honors Optional Honors Optional		Social Justice Movements in Asia & Beyond
57	The Sociology and History of American Marketing and Consumer Society	Thomas O'Guinn	10	Marketing	+ Psychology	+ Sociology		for students advised by the School of Business	Marketing + Psychology + Sociology			Social Science Social Science			Sociology and History of American Marketing and Consumer Society
58	Transformative Persuasion to Address a Climate Emergency	Lyn Van Swol	10	Communication Arts	+ Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences	+ Sociology			Communication Arts + Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences + Sociology	Yes		Social Science Physical Science Social Science			Transformative Persuasion to Address a Climate Emergency
59	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
60	World of the Vikings	Scott Mellor	6 or 10	Literature in Translation	+ Folklore Program	+ Scandinavian Studies			Literature in Translation + Folklore Program + Scandinavian Studies	Yes	Communication Part B	Literature Humanities	Honors Optional	Yes	World of the Vikings
61	The Physiology of Human Performance	Gary Diffee	9	Kinesiology	+ Chemistry	+ Kinesiology			Kinesiology + Chemistry + Kinesiology			Physical Science			Physiology of Human Performance
									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.