Fall 2025 Seminars

Contemporary Issues in African Economic Development (Prof. Nyema Guannu, Economics)

TR 8:00-9:40am (CRN 42508)

TR 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 40399)

TR 3:40-5:20pm (CRN 40400)

This introductory seminar course will examine major contemporary issues in economic development and underdevelopment, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Topics discussed include the role of markets, inequality and poverty, international and regional economic processes, domestic macroeconomic policies, economic growth, the role of the state in economic development, civil war and conflict, debt crisis, and other central issues of economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Animated Spirituality: Japanese Religion in Anime, Manga, and Film (Prof. Eric Swanson, Theological Studies)

MW 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40397)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40398)

This course addresses religion and spirituality as seen through the lens of Japanese popular culture, including anime, manga, and live-action film. It examines how popular culture productions have represented and engaged with religious themes and human dilemmas, and asks students to critically assess the place of religion in the recent history of Japan. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing popular culture productions as well as close engagement with scholarship on anime and religion. The course also focuses on the religious, social, and cultural issues that have preoccupied creators of manga, anime, and film, and the creative ways in which these they are expressed in their work.

Meet the Professor:

Eric Haruki Swanson is an Assistant Professor in the Theological Studies Department at Loyola Marymount University. He is a native of Japan and received a BA in Religious Studies from Indiana University Bloomington, a MA in Esoteric Buddhist Studies from Koyasan University, and PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Harvard University. As a cultural historian who studies the religious traditions of Japan, he takes an interdisciplinary approach that involves analysis of Buddhist scripture, doctrinal treatises, ritual manuals, narrative picture scrolls, and artistic performances. His research focuses on exploring the various ways Buddhist institutions responded to waves of political change and social uncertainty and how historical figures constructed religious identities through the production of texts and ritual practices.

Art in the Age of AIDS (Prof. David Davila, Theatre Arts and Dance)

TR 1:45-3:00pm (CRN 40426)

This seminar will examine the AIDS epidemic through theatre, film, art and literature. Using texts such as The Normal Heart, Angels in America, and Acts of Intervention, the class will study the artists and their response to AIDS. Comparing the historical information, the protests of ACT-UP, governmental legislation and popular culture with the artistic work of Robert Mapplethorpe, Bill T. Jones, Keith Haring and others will focus this investigation of the disease on the often violent personal-cum-political struggle that forcefully opened the closet door; fueling massive social change and the modern gay movement.

Meet the Professor:

David Davila is a writer and performer hailing from South Texas, where the wall’s been standing since the Bush administration. Winner of the National New Play Network Smith Prize for Political Theatre, the New American Voices National Playwriting Award, and both the Kennedy Center’s Musical Theatre and National Latinx Playwriting Awards, his work stands at the intersection of queer-culture and mestizaje ranging from plays and musicals, to poetry and stand-up comedy. He’s a Playwrights Horizons Artist Grant Recipient, a Roundabout Theatre Company SpaceJam Resident, and a Primary Stages Rockwell Scholar. An alumnus of the Second City Training Center in Chicago, the Primary Stages ESPA Playwriting School in Manhattan, and Indiana University (MFA), his theatrical works include Manuel Vs the Statue of Liberty, Aztec Pirates & the Insignificance of Life on Mars, The Mesquite Tree, #52Songs, Animal Husbandry, 1970’s College Sex Comedy, Hotel Puerto Vallarta, Vox Pop!, The Piñata, and others.

Art of Understanding (Prof. Juan Mah y Busch, English & Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies)

MW 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40406) 

First to Go Program Only

To become familiar with the artistry of your understanding, in this course you learn to meditate. No prior experience is presumed or expected. Alongside regular meditation, you practice different forms of writing (such as simple description, contemplative writing, critical examination, research). Through the regular practice of meditation and writing, you settle into the interplay between words and wordlessness, drawing attention to the qualitative dimensions of lived experience, such as the wordless music of words or a spacious moment of time, the quiet release of an exhale or the cool breeze of an inhale. Grounded in meditation, writing, discussion and engaged participation, in the class you develop your own more artful understandings.

Meet the Professor:

Juan D. Mah y Busch is professor and chair of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies (CLST) and professor of English. In addition to his academic training, for over two decades he was formally trained in meditation. He uses meditation and literary analysis as research methods in order to examine a range of questions in critical race and ethnic studies, ethical and aesthetic epistemologies, and contemplative pedagogy. He coordinates the CLST Learning Community and has worked with the First-To-Go Program since its inception. He lives in Northeast Los Angeles with his partner Irene, their three children, and their boxer Brooklyn.

Juan.MahyBusch@lmu.edu

Childhood in International Cinema (Prof. Aine O’Healy, Modern Languages and Literatures)

Honors Program Only

T 4:30-7:50pm (CRN 40390)

This seminar introduces students to critical writing through the exploration of international cinema. Our focus is on the representation of childhood in several films produced around the world since the 1940s. In order to engage with these films, drawn from different national contexts and historical periods, students apply the tools of audiovisual analysis to discern the symbolic functions fulfilled by the figure of the child. We will examine how the construction of children in cinema intersects with discourses of nation formation and with the representation of gender, sexuality, ethnicity and social class. The assigned readings, mainly drawn from cinema studies, will guide our explorations and will allow us to place the filmic analyses in a broader context, encompassing issues of globalization, discourses of the border, and discussions about multiculturalism and diversity.

Meet the Professor:

Professor Áine O'Healy is Professor of Italian and Director of the Humanities Program at Loyola Marymount University.

Contemplative Practice (Prof. Jane Brucker, Studio Arts)

TR 8:00-9:40am (CRN 40424)

TR 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40425)

This course examines a variety of cultural traditions, art practices, science learning and social attitudes that relate to experiencing the contemplative mode. Throughout the semester we will seek to understand the variety, creativity, process and power of the contemplative experience. Our primary task concerns the written expression and examination of the contemplative experience, but to do that we will participate in related sensory, creative and meditative exercises that engage our reflection and provide insight and discipline. Encountering a range of meditative techniques, without a commitment to their efficacy, will be followed by opportunities to step back and appraise these experiences in order to gain a deeper appreciation of their meaning and significance. Practices are often introduced by visiting scholars, artists and practitioners allowing for interchange, dialogue and understanding.

Meet the Professor:

In addition to her studio practice as an artist, Professor Brucker teaches in the Department of Art and Art History. Her teaching incorporates her background in drawing, sculpture, and performance art and her expertise an AmSAT certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Her degrees include an MFA from The Claremont Graduate University and an MA in Religion and the Arts from Claremont School of Theology. She has published on the topic of contemplation and spirituality and is the recipient of numerous fellowships, residencies and awards, mostly recently as a recipient of the 2023-24 City of Los Angeles Master Artist's Award (COLA). Her artwork has been exhibited throughout the US and in Germany, France, Scotland, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands and the Czech Republic. When not in LA, Professor Brucker is in Europe where she co-directs the art and science galerie PLUTO.

Jane.Brucker@lmu.edu

Cultivating Empathy (Prof. Patrick Damon Rago, Dance)

TR 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40423)

The course will engage students in connecting concepts about Empathy found in a variety of texts, rituals, and art works to the themes of the LMU Mission in order to learn and explore how we negotiate physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and psychological situations.  Course activities will be experimental, experiential, reflective, analytical and creative.  Over the course of the semester, we will engage with a variety of texts, videos, activities and interpersonal connections that explore and develop Empathy from multiple viewpoints.

Meet the Professor:

Patrick Damon Rago has been a Professor in the Dance Department at Loyola Marymount University since 2000.  He has choreographed and performed modern dance around the country and internationally.  His choreography uses humor, spoken word, theatricality, and hyper physicality to explore human connection and other emotional themes.

Culture, Art, and Society: Shaping L.A. (Prof. Kirstin Noreen, Art and Art History)

TR  9:55-11:35am (CRN 40412)

TR  11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40413)

Perhaps recognized more for its sun, surf, and stars, Los Angeles is often not immediately identified with culture and art. This course will challenge students to examine the meaning of culture and art in Los Angeles using various themes, such as the role of art collecting, the notion of destination architecture, the manipulation of artistic copies, and the expression of religion in the urban landscape. Students should be aware that this course is not intended as a survey of contemporary Los Angeles art; rather, class discussion will connect sites or objects in Los Angeles to a broader historical continuum to demonstrate cultural, artistic and architectural precedents that have helped to shape Southern California. There will be some mandatory Saturday field trips.

Meet the Professor:

Kirstin Noreen is a professor of Art History and has been teaching classes at LMU in medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art since fall of 2006. She has also been particularly involved in teaching through the Study Abroad program and has accompanied LMU students to Italy, Greece, and France. Her research, focusing on medieval cult images in Italy, can be found in various publications. In her free time, she particularly enjoys the outdoors – hiking, biking, and running – as well as traveling. She looks forward to introducing her FYS students to different aspects of Los Angeles!

Kirstin.Noreen@lmu.edu

Dao & A Growth Mindset (Professor Robin Wang, Philosophy)

MW 3:40-5:20pm (CRN 40395)

MW 6:00-7:40pm (CRN 40396)

Meet the Professor:

Robin R. Wang is Professor of Philosophy and 2016-17 Berggruen Fellow at Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Science, Stanford University. Her teaching and research focus on Chinese and Comparative Philosophy, particularly Daoist Philosophy. She is the author of Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture (Cambridge University Press, 2012) and was a credited Cultural Consultant for the movie Karate Kid, 2010.

Robin.Wang@lmu.edu

East Asian Cinema (Prof. Yanjie Wang, Asian and Asian American Studies) 

TR 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40414)

Meet the Professor:

Yanjie Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies and serves as the Coordinator for its Asian and Pacific Studies program. She holds a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, an M.A. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a B.A. from Peking University. Professor Wang specializes in in Asian literature and cinema, focusing on themes such as displacement, migration, migrant workers, ethnic minorities, ecocriticism, trauma, violence, and women and gender. Her recent work explores the aesthetics and ethics of representing ecological crises in contemporary Chinese cinema. She is currently working on projects that examine the cinematic portrayal of China’s ethnic minorities through transborder and translocal lenses.

Education and the Public Good (Prof. Bernadette Musetti, Liberal Studies)

MW 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 40419)

This course is an examination of the role of education in the U.S. and the purposes and functions education serves in our society. We will explore major questions, such as: What are we here to learn? What are and what should be the purposes of education? What is the relationship between education and democracy? What obligation do we have as responsible local and global citizens to developing our own knowledge and proactively remaining informed about what is happening in the country and the world? What did Paulo Freire mean by reading the word and reading the world? Students will be asked to consider whether education in the U.S. is the "great equalizer" or if it is more likely to serve as a primary means by which our social, economic, and political systems are reproduced. Or are schools, as some have suggested, places where the social tensions in the larger culture are played out? Is the so called “achievement gap” really an “opportunity to learn gap” caused by inequity in access to high quality education?

We will explore issues of race, class, gender, language, and other issues related to schooling and society. We will examine issues of equity and literacy, including critical literacy and explore how a lack of access to critical and other literacies, as well as discipline policies and policing of schools often result in criminalizing students and contributing to the school to prison pipeline. We will pay special attention to the language used in discourse about schools and the schooling process (e.g., teachers as being on the “front lines” and “in the trenches” and “fighting the good fight”).

Students will be exposed to a diversity of educational conditions, philosophies/ideologies, and program models. We will explore current educational events and trends, including those involving the movement toward nature-based schooling and even “unschooling” or de-schooling approaches and what impact school closures have had on the most vulnerable students and families.

We will explore what some have described as the limits and even dangers of formal education, including higher education in the U.S. The course encourages and indeed requires close and critical reading of texts and thoughtful reflection and discussion. The course is designed to promote communication skills and critical, scholarly engagement in a variety of formats. A key objective of the course is to promote the development of information literacy, writing, and research skills among students.

Meet the Professor:

I am a Professor in Urban & Environmental Studies, where I focus primarily on ecological literacy and efforts that contribute to creating a better world through engaged learning. I have spent many years in education and preparing educators–elementary grades through doctoral studies. I also have a great deal of experience in university outreach and creating K-12-University partnerships. Prior to coming to LMU, I taught at the University of California Davis, the University of Georgia, and Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, often working in the area of English as an Additional Language. In 2024 I took our university's future TK-5 grades teachers to Bali as part of their capstone course, supported by the Global Immersion trips program in BCLA. I am passionate about education as a public good. I designed this FYS course in which each of you enrolled is a co-teacher on the topic of education and an "expert" to some extent, having spent most of your lives in schools of various kinds. One of the most edifying aspects of this course is learning about your classmates' experiences and perspectives. I always look forward to meeting my FYS students and learning together in a supportive community.

bmusetti@lmu.edu

Einstein Goes to Hollywood: The Science and Fiction of Science Fiction (Prof. Jonas Mureika, Physics)

TR 9:55-11:10am (CRN 40428)

This course will explore depictions of future science in movies and television, and discuss how realistic (or unrealistic) these mechanisms actually are. In the process, students will learn the fundamental tenets of two revolutionary ideas in 20^th century physics: the non-intuitive framework of quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity. These paradigm-shifting descriptions of Nature and some of their distinguishing characteristics arose from the breakdown of established physical laws previously believed to be immutable. An overarching aim of the course is to demonstrate how even the failures of the greatest ideas in science can lead to unparalleled advances in our understanding of the world in which we live.

Meet the Professor:

Prof. Jonas Mureika is a theoretical physicist who studies black holes, quantum gravity, and cosmology. He has been at LMU since 2004. Dr. Mureika spent much of his academic training at the University of Toronto, where he earned his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in physics. He also holds an M.Sc. from the University of Waterloo where he studied particle physics. His research interests lie in identifying the observational signatures of quantum gravity that might arise in future experiments such as gravitational wave detections and imaging of supermassive black holes through the Event Horizon Telescope.

Previously, Dr. Mureika engaged in several interdisciplinary projects, including modeling wind and altitude assistance in sprint races and studying hidden structure in abstract expressionist art. He also teaches the core course "Weapons of Mass Destruction," which provides an overview of the history and science of nuclear weapons.

jmureika@lmu.edu

Your Future Career in the Global Marketplace (Prof. Beth Hynes, Management & Prof. Anatoly Zhuplev, Management)

TR 9:55-11:35am (Prof. Hynes, CRN 40407)

TR 11:50am-1:30pm (Prof. Hynes, CRN 40408)

TR 11:50am-1:30pm (Prof. Zhuplev, CRN 40411)

TR 1:45-3:25pm (Prof. Hynes, CRN 40409)

"Who needs a corner office when you can have a passport full of stamps?" Join us to explore strategies for enjoying a thriving career in a borderless economy.

Get ready to go global and unlock the secrets to career success in the fast-paced world of international business! In this Course, we'll dive into the exciting drivers, trends, and innovations shaping the global economy in which your career will develop. You'll explore the world of global entrepreneurship, discover the ins and outs of what it means to pursue a calling, and learn how to thrive in cross-cultural contexts. Plus, we'll help you uncover global immersion opportunities here at LMU, including study abroad programs, alternative spring breaks, and fellowships. Buckle up and get ready to conquer your future as a professional in an international economy.

Meet the Professor:

Professor Beth Hynes serves as an Instructor in Management in the College of Business Administration. Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Hynes enjoyed a career as a global entrepreneur in a Fortune 500 firm. During her career in business, she led global business divisions in strategy, business affairs, and legal operations. As well, Professor Hynes practiced law as an intellectual property and entertainment advisor in global law firms in Boston and New York City. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Professor Hynes also holds a law degree from Northwestern University where she served as an editor on the Northwestern University Law Review, and a master’s degree in business administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business. A passion for educating the next generation of ethical business leaders led her to a teaching career at LMU where she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her classroom. With a unique blend of achievement in academics, business, and law, Professor Hynes is dedicated to igniting her students’ interest in international business while emphasizing the importance of the triple bottom line.

Beth.Hynes@lmu.edu

Greek Stories: Identity and Storytelling (Prof. Christina Bogdanou, Modern Greek Studies)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40387)

Fascinated by Greek mythology and history and intrigued by Modern Greece and its culture? A literature-based course, Greek Stories looks at Greek myth, history, literature, and culture as it has evolved from the past to the present. The relationship between myth and history, conflicting cultural identities, war and politics, urbanization and globalization, the changing geopolitical map of Europe will be some of the topics we will explore in our discussions.

Meet the Professor:

Professor Christina Bogdanou earned a Ph.D in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Los Angeles with an emphasis in 19th - 20th c. European literature, critical theory and gender studies. A native of Athens, Greece, she completed her B.A. in English literature and linguistics at the University of Athens. Upon graduation, she received the prestigious National Scholar Award (I.K.Y) to pursue an M.A. in Comparative Critical Theory Studies at Warwick University in the UK and then her doctorate degree at UCLA. Prior to her appointment at LMU, she taught at UCLA and Occidental College.

Professor Bogdanou joined LMU in 2001. She has taught courses in comparative literature, critical theory, and Modern Greek literature, culture and language. She is currently the Director of the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies and the Odyssey Summer Study Abroad Program in Greece.

Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of identity politics, gender studies, cultural representations of women and women’s writing/voices.

The Horror Film, Religion, Evil (Prof. Jacob Martin, Film & Television Production)

R 6:40-10:00pm (CRN 42510)

This class will will analyze the ways in which religion has been utilized by the supernatural horror film to invoke and evoke fear in its audiences. Students will view a collection of supernatural horror films from North America, South America and Europe, dating back to F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) up to the contemporary era, and including films such as St. Maud (Ross Glass, 2019) in order to analyze the multiplicity of ways that religious figures, imagery, and places are utilized in the supernatural horror film either to combat or manifest evil, as a means of inciting fear in its audience. Using the notion of “the good, moral, and decent fallacy,” which is the rejection that religion is always a positive force in society, we will examine religion’s societal instability throughout the West in the twentieth and into the twenty-first century and use it as a means of analyzing cinematic horror. 

Meet the Professor:

Dr. Jacob D. Martin, S.J. is an assistant clinical professor of Film, Television and Media Studies at LMU. He received his doctorate film studies from Trinity College, Dublin and is a Jesuit priest. He is also a stand-up comedian, whose current show, A Jesuit Walks into a Bar plays at venues throughout the United States.

Jacob.Martin@lmu.edu

Latino L.A. (Prof. Sylvia Zamora, Sociology)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40401)

MW 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 40402)

Latinos now represent 50 percent of all residents in Los Angeles, making them the largest racial/ethnic group in the city. This course takes a sociological look at the social, economic, political, and cultural histories and contemporary experiences of Los Angeles’ diverse Latino population. Students will understand how the Latino presence has transformed from primarily Mexican-origin to one that now includes people from all over Latin America, and develop an appreciation of the important role Latino/as have played in the formation and development of Los Angeles and broader U.S. society. The course combines historical perspectives with current events of various topics such as Latino/a migration to Los Angeles, immigrant settlement, family, community social capital and gentrification, racial and ethnic identity, gender and sexuality, media representations, race relations and discrimination, labor organizing, schooling, policing, immigrant rights and political activism. This course makes use of documentary film, social media, student presentations and classroom discussions to achieve the learning outcomes.

Meet the Professor:

Born and raised in South East Los Angeles, Professor Sylvia Zamora received her Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA and a B.A. in Sociology and Latin American Studies from Smith College. Her research and teaching are guided by questions concerning Latino immigration and how it is changing social, political and racial dynamics in American society; she is also exploring the ongoing manifestations of African American and Latino relations in the context of major demographic shifts. Her work has been recognized with awards from the American Sociological Association Sections on International Migration and Racial and Ethnic Minorities and appears in Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Latino Studies and the edited volume, “Just Neighbors?: Research on African American and Latino Relations in the United States.” She is currently working on a book manuscript based on a comparative, multi-site project in México and the U.S. examining how racial ideologies ‘travel’ with migrants across borders, and the implications of this for immigrant incorporation in U.S. society.

Sylvia.Zamora@lmu.edu

Liberal Education in the Age of Enlightenment  (Prof. Jeffrey Wilson, Philosophy)

TR 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 42729)

Honors Program Only

This course engages students with themes in the philosophy of education from the Age of Enlightenment by placing eighteenth-century European texts in dialogue with the contemporary perspectives of Paolo Freire’s anti-colonialist writings and the Black feminist thought of bell hooks. Each of these intellectual streams wrestles with questions of how human beings are to be educated for moral reform (ethical freedom), the relation of faith and reason in educational practice (religious freedom), and education as preparation for citizenship and empowerment in a free society (political freedom). As a First Year Seminar, the course introduces students to intellectual rigor, critical thinking, and effective writing skills while laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to learning.

Meet the Professor:

Jeffrey Wilson, PhD is Director of the University Honors Program and Philosophy faculty since 1995. His research focuses on Immanuel Kant, with special emphases on his philosophy of the arts and creativity, mathematics, science, and religion. He also engages with Jewish philosophy of the 18th and 20th centuries in Germany. He has given talks on his research in German, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil, Norway, China, and Lebanon, along with many around the United States. His work has been published in Kant Yearbook, Rethinking Kant, the Journal of Philosophical Research, and the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, among others.

On the Technological Sublime (Prof. Sue Scheibler, Film/TV Studies)

F 11:30am-2:50pm (CRN 42507)

Honors Program Only

The sublime invites us to, in the words of the poet Pierre Reverdy, “stroll elegantly along the edge of the abyss;” an abyss that, as we stare into it, fills us with wonder, curiosity, delight, terror, joy, and awe. In this course, we will explore the various ways that filmmakers, TV creators, video game developers, writers, poets, musicians, and others have produced works of art that, at least for a moment, in their sublimity, challenge our sense of self, experience, and perceptions by carrying us out of our “normal” ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving, into a sublimely transcendent encounter with the other as well as ourselves that can leave us forever changed.

Meet the Professor:

Sue Scheibler (they/them) teaches courses such as Queer TV, Video Games, Science Fiction TV, Japanese Anime TV and time studies, in the School of Film and TV. Her scholarly interests include disability justice (with a focus on neuroqueer), video games,  television studies, ethics, among others.

"I've been teaching On the Technological Sublime in Honors for about fourteen years now. I love teaching it because it allows me to bring all of my interests into the class: philosophy (I have graduate degrees in the Philosophy of Religion), theology (I have a seminary degree), Buddhist and Daoist philosophy; media studies (especially video games and TV studies); physics; and poetry." –Prof. Scheibler

Susan.Scheibler@lmu.edu

Personal Growth and Spiritual Development (Prof. Eric Magnuson, Sociology)

TR 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40403)

TR 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 40404) 

This is a course about life! It will be based in personal experience and community involvement. It is intended for people who are interested in exploring both emotional growth and alternative spirituality. The class is a blend of religious studies, psychology, and sociology. It is a good course for people who are open to new ideas and practices of unconventional and Eastern spirituality. Students should also be interested in emotional exploration and be open to exploring personal beliefs, experiences, and feelings. The course will involve meditation and other mindfulness practices. (Note: The class is open to any and all spiritual and religious beliefs and backgrounds and does not require belief in any particular religious ideas.)

Meet the Professor:

Eric Magnuson is a tenured professor in Sociology. His research interests include social psychology, gender and masculinity, spirituality, social justice, and countercultures. His first book was on the topic of masculinity and personal growth. He is currently working on a book about Burning Man, alternative spirituality, and personal development. 

Politics of Race Relations (Prof. Claudia Sandoval, Political Science)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40391)

MW 1:45-3:25pm (CRN 40392)

Projections shows that the United States is quickly becoming a minority-majority nation. U.S. Census data suggests that by 2044, over half of the population will be non-white. Given these projections, it is important that we understand how different racial groups interact with one another socially and politically. Academic research often focuses on white-minority relations, yet given future demographics, it is of growing importance to understand intra-minority relations. This course will focus primarily on Black-Latinx relations, while offering comparisons to their Asian and White counterparts. We will begin by focusing on the important issues and topics that Black and Latinx groups encounter in the US. After grounding the groups in their individual contexts, we will take various political issues to determine how Blacks and Latinx groups work together (or against each other). This course will also ground those arguments around theories of threat, contact, and group positioning, among others. At the end of the course, students will have a nuanced perspective on race-relations that is not easily explained by notions of complete solidarity or discrimination, but rather a complicated relationship that is operationalized through state actors and white supremacy.

Meet the Professor:

Claudia Sandoval is a professor in the Political Science department where she teaches courses on Race, Immigration, and Black/Latina/o relations. Professor Sandoval is a first-generation Mexican immigrant who grew up in Inglewood, California and graduated from Westchester High School.  Professor Sandoval went on to receive a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 2006. During her time as an undergraduate, she participated in the McNair Research Scholars program and wrote a senior these on Black/Latina/o Relations in Inglewood. After graduating college, Sandoval left to the University of Chicago for her Ph.D. in political science. During her 9 year stay in the Midwest, Professor Sandoval taught Latina/o Politics at Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  

Principles of Scientific Reasoning 

MW 1:45-3:00pm (CRN 40427)

ACCESS Program Only 

Communication and critical thinking skills are developed with an emphasis on science, nature, technology, and mathematics in multiple contexts. Mathematical and scientific reasoning are investigated through inductive and deductive arguments, the scientific method, and the notions of definition, classification and conjecture. The course will also examine the role and purpose that scientists and scientific educators play in society, and how math and science inform movements for social justice and equity, as well as issues related to ethics and responsibility in the STEM profession. There will also be an emphasis on exploring the contributions to science and technology from diverse cultures and communities.

Meet the Professor

Dr. Robin Wilson is currently a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Loyola Marymount University. The product of the public school system in Sacramento, CA, he attended UC Berkeley where he studied mathematics and developed a passion for teaching and supporting students of color in STEM. He earned his PhD in Mathematics at the University of California, Davis, and prior to LMU he was a Professor at Cal Poly Pomona and held Visiting positions at Georgetown University and Pomona College. His scholarship includes both mathematics and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Robin.Wilson@lmu.edu

Prisons and Public Culture (Prof. Kyra Pearson, Communication Studies)

MW 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40420)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40421)

How has imprisonment become a defining feature of life in a country touted as the “land of the free?” What responsibilities do we—as a public—bear in generating responses to crime or wrongdoing? To answer these questions, this course introduces students to prison’s public lives, primarily through stories that circulate in U.S. culture about prisons (and jails) in order to study how those discourses have shaped the meaning of punishment, crime, freedom, safety, and justice. Using methods of analysis found in communication and cultural studies as well as critical race studies, we will examine how imprisonment is “talked about” within political discourse, literature, film, television, journalism, and social movements. By focusing on specific debates—including the emergence of prisons in the US, punishment as a topic in mass cultural forms (novels, film, TV), explanations for mass incarceration, and cases of wrongful incarceration— we will explore the ways the discourses and aesthetics of political reform and culture have borrowed from one another. Students will research competing historical narratives about punishment and prisons found in public texts and scholarly research. Conversely, discourse from prisoners, with special emphasis on the 1970s to today, will help us question both public and scholarly “knowledge” about prisons. Ultimately, we will contemplate whether an institution that is so deeply woven into democratic societies such as the prison system is now obsolete.

Religion and Pop Culture (Prof. Corrina Laughlin, Communication Studies) 

MW 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40422)  

Science and Engineering (Prof. Elham Ghashghai, Systems Engineering)

MW 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 40415)

An introductory course on the fundamentals of science and its impact on society.  

What is science and scientific thinking? What qualifies as science? What is the philosophy of science? Does science answer everything? What are the social and ethical philosophical questions surrounding modern science? What is the scientific approach addressing today’s challenges such as climate change? 

The students will be engaged in critical lively discussions, writing papers and present engaging presentations. The students will build a foundation to not only improve their understanding of science and engineering, but also will be guided to build a foundation for their future research, social and academic engagement.  

Meet the Professor:

Dr. Elham Ghashghai joined Loyola Marymount University as full-time faculty in Spring of 2022 as part of the Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Systems Engineering department. Prior to joining LMU, she was a senior project leader at The Aerospace Corporation leading projects on future Communication and Global Positioning Satellites for fifteen years. Prior to that, Elham was with the RAND Corporation, leading and contributing to a variety of studies for future aerospace architecture, communication satellite design, operations research, Global Positioning System (GPS), information technology, and Middle East policy analysis. Dr.. Ghashghai has two M.S. degrees—one in mathematics and one in operations research—and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Purdue University. She was also an adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California. 

Sleep: Your Hidden Superpower! (Prof. Carolyn Viviano, Biology) 

MW 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40429)

Sleep impacts everything. Although good sleep habits are as important to academic success, health, and well-being as eating properly and being active, only 1 in 10 college students get the recommended 7-9 hours of healthy sleep per night, in comparison to 4/10 of all adults.  During this seminar, we will consider the scientific advances in sleep research in the context of society, policy, health, and even fiction.

Meet your Professor:

Carolyn Viviano received a BA in Biology from Amherst College and a PhD in Genetics and Development from Columbia University. After several years in the US and UK researching the mechanisms of embryonic development and limb regeneration, she became increasingly interested in science and environmental literacy issues. The opportunity to work with future teachers at LMU motivated her to make the career change into science education. Dr. Viviano is a member of the Biology Department and the Director of the Secondary Science Education program. Her work at LMU is driven by the core belief that it is vital to instill in others an appreciation and respect for the world around them, regardless of their intended profession, and the goal of creating a challenging and stimulating atmosphere for students at all levels. 

Women Warriors- Who's Telling the Story? (Prof. Kennedy Wheatley, Production Film and Television)

TR 9:35-11:15am (CRN 42513)

TR 11:50am-1:30pm (CRN 42514)

This course explores stories of American 'women warriors' who refused to accept limitations on their lives as women -- changing the course of history. We will study artists and activists, farmworkers and businesswomen, judges, politicians and athletes from past and present. Using documentaries, essays, news articles, books, and fiction films, we will examine how each of these women changed our world, all through the FYS lens of Power and Privilege.

Together, we will ponder: How is the rebellion of these women warriors in 1848, or 1963, or 2019 still reverberating in our society today? Whose stories have been widely told and who has been ignored?  Who do we believe when there are conflicting stories about the same woman, and why? What do these stories tell us about what it means to be female in the U.S., and how has that changed over time? 

We will explore and practice different genres of storytelling: biographical storytelling, dramatic storytelling, stories framed by critical analysis, and the intriguing grey area in between.  

This course may be particularly relevant for students whose majors involve storytelling, but all students are welcome, and a diverse group will create a richer, more engaging experience for all.   Students of all genders and non-gendered students are invited to bring their perspectives to this course.  All voices are equally honored, and everyone is respected for their own lived experience.  My goal is to share some thought-provoking ideas with you and for our shared listening to help us all grow.

Meet the Professor: 

Kennedy Wheatley is interested in how the power of media can be used for social change.  She directs documentaries, fiction films and PSAs for non-profit organizations and international NGOs.  She is currently working on a series of videos about reversing climate change.  As an artist and activist, she strives to tell stories through innovative narratives, images and sound.  She has taught in the School of Film & Television at LMU since 2000.  She earned her M.F.A. in Cinematic Arts from the University of Southern California, and an B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the Michigan State University. She lives in the foothills of LA, and is an avid swimmer and gardener.

Writing Los Angeles: Journalism in the City of Angels (Prof. Evelyn McDonnell, Journalism)

TR 9:55-11:35am (CRN 40418)

This seminar examines Los Angeles as community through the journalism produced about the city and its environs. By consuming historical and contemporary print, web, audio and video stories about Los Angeles, students will explore the power structures in story-telling and learn about how the city’s own story has been shaped and perceived by the journalists who have covered it. There will be a heavy emphasis on the distinct and melded cultures that comprise the city’s fabric, waves of immigration that have shaped its populace and the urban planning that produced its blueprint. The reading list will include works by native Angelenos and journalists from other places who tried to explain the city to readers back home. Students will also be introduced to the act of producing local journalism, traveling off campus to explore and write about the city that surrounds them.

Meet the Professor:

Associate Professor of Journalism Evelyn McDonnell is an expert on music, gender, and politics. She has written or coedited six books, from Rock She Wrote: Women Write about Rock, Pop and Rap to Women Who Rock: Bessie to Beyonce. She is also series editor for Music Matters, a collection of short books about musicians.  A longtime journalist, she has been a pop culture writer at The Miami Herald and a senior editor at The Village Voice. Her writing on music, poetry, theater, and culture has appeared in publications and anthologies including The New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Ms., Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Review of Books, Travel & Leisure, Billboard, Interview, and Option. She teaches students how to write and make noise at Loyola Marymount University, where she directs the journalism program.

Zombies, God, and Empire (Prof. Tracy Tiemeier, Theological Studies) 

MWF 9:25-10:35am (CRN 40416)

MWF 11:50am-12:00pm (CRN 40417) 

Whether it is the dread of eternal slavery in Haitian Vodou or the terror of the “foreign other” in White Christian imagination, the zombie is a figure that both reflects and reinforces complex socio-religious dynamics. Situating the zombie within the history and legacy of Western colonialism, this course examines the realities, problems, and possibilities of zombies for a more just world. We first explore the zombie’s origins in Western and Central Africa. We then examine the emergence of Haitian Vodou, attending to the folklore, theology, and practice of Haitian zombification. After that, we look at the development of the cinematic zombie. The zombie was an object of fascination during the American occupation of Haiti (1915-1934), leading to its appropriation in Western cinema. The cinematic zombie no longer reflects the anxieties of enslaved and colonized peoples but instead props up the racial and religious fears of the colonizers. Underlying racial and religious claims of superiority persist, even after zombies are no longer associated with Vodou in American popular culture. At the same time, cinematic zombies have also served as profound indictments of the status quo and undermined unjust structures of domination. Thus, the final piece of our course assesses the liberative potential of zombie narratives.

Meet the Professor:

Tracy Sayuki Tiemeier is Professor of Theological Studies at LMU. She specializes in comparative theology and interreligious studies, with a particular interest in folklore studies and the socioreligious implications of horror.