First-Year Seminar (GEN 1200)

course profiles

FIRST!  First-Generation Seminar

What does it mean to be first?  This FYS explores famous firsts, looks at the challenges with the first gen student, builds social and cultural capital ... and travels to Washington DC over break!

"My FYS had a diverse group of students with one very important thing in common:  we were all "firsts."
- Chris Money

"Taking an FYS course for first-generation students has shown me that there are other people like me, other people who are dedicated and determined to achieve some of the highest goals in life"
- Gina Gerone   

Life's Big Questions

Seeks to help students identify a sense of purpose in life and to recognize their capacity to make a difference!

Students grapple with 'what is success?', 'what does it mean to be happy and how do I find happiness?',  'what is it to be a good person?', 'how can I make a difference?' and 'what do I hope to get out of life ... and give to the lives of others?'

Dinners, movies, and speakers complement class work.

"Great course. I learned so much about myself and feel that I know the direction I want to go with my life."

"...the course really helped me get off to a good start with my college career."

Animals in Translation

We ponder the often contradictory relationships we experience with the creatures around us as they serve as pets, food sources, entertainment, and test subjects, considering the religious, socio-political, psychological, and scientific theories about these relationships and reflect on the way animals are presented in art and literature.

"This class has allowed me to investigate and truly understand the relationships between animals and humans."
- Ashley Everidge

"The topics for this course are highly compelling, and they have helped me to form my own opinions and gain a greater sense of self. The class is like a family, and we have all been able to share some great times..."
- Kathleen Burris

"FYS it is one of my hardest classes but it has been essential to my learning of time management and what college is supposed to be like!  But I have had a blast with the discussions and the trips that we have taken." 
- Alex Fulton

Pay it Forward:  Corporate Social Responsibility

We explore the motives of corporations and the implications of their "good works" on society—and then we evaluate "good works" performed by individuals and how they impact society as a whole. Social responsibility is examined from different perspectives—historical, social, economic, and ethical.

"I plan on helping build the house for the needy family—it will serve a wonderful purpose and help me share an emotional bond."
- Justin McCrary

"I'm helping at the Harvest Moon Ball at a nursing home. All of these activities are through Volunteer Catawba."  
- Katie Kennedy

Bet on it!

This seminar explores the mathematics behind popular games and sports. We look at the probabilities in games, the mathematics of gaming, and the implications of gambling, games, and sports on society. We examine gaming from various perspectives, including the historical, economic, and ethical.

Race and Gender Issues in African-American Literature

Have race relations in America changed?  We explore those relations in literature, music, and film, and attempt to understand the effects of that history on our relationships with each other.

"The workings of the human heart are the profoundest mystery of the universe. One moment they make us despair of our kind, and the next we see in them the reflection of the divine image." 
- Charles Chesnutt

Student Activism:  Waiting for the World to Change

How has activism on campus influenced generations of students and how have these movements generated some of the most celebratory, liberating, and even tragic events in our nation's history?   The focus of this seminar is to review activism events on campus that will demonstrate the enormous power of the student voice.

To better connect our students in the community of Salisbury we visit the elderly in various communities in Salisbury, delivering conversation and diabetic friendly Halloween Candy Bags.

Barbecue:  Culture as Reflected in Culinary Tradition

Students explore the history of barbecue in historical, cultural, social, political, and religious contexts with an emphasis on North Carolina barbecue. Class activities include research, writing, guest speakers, visits to local BBQ "joints," and opportunities to attend both the largest barbecue festival in the nation (Lexington, NC) and a local barbecue competition (Salisbury, NC).

What Else But Home?

This seminar uses Michael Rosen's provocative memoir to look at the problem of poverty, class, race, and social opportunities from a variety of academic perspectives. We examine how ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, history,immigration, and finances all play a role in shaping the opportunities Americans have ... and we consider whether differences among people can be transcended by compassion, money, second chances ... and perhaps even baseball.

Author Michael Rosen "joins" our class by responding to student questions about his book and by participating on our class Facebook page!