Courses

Discovering Biodiversity 

Mondays, 3:35 pm - 4:50 pm, LBB 153

This class is designed to simply have some fun exploring the vast biodiversity of the planet Earth as well as reflect on what the diversity of life on this planet means to us on a personal level. Throughout the class, we will explore biodiversity from two perspectives: (1) discovering what biodiversity is and its importance to the planet and to ourselves and (2) investigating local Colorado biodiversity. For the first perspective, we will define biodiversity, visualize species diversity across phyla, and explore both how humans have impacted biodiversity and how biodiversity impacts us. For the second perspective, we will work together as a whole class to conduct a field study that will explore specific relationships between habitat characteristics and biodiversity in local water habitats. For your final project, you have the choice to either propose a research study related to biodiversity or pursue a naturalist portfolio through a mix of photo collections of local species and biodiversity-related projects. 

Exploring Academic Interests & Research 

Tuesdays 9:30 am-10:45 am, Stadium Building 135

Whether you know where your academic and career interests are taking you or not, taking the time to explicitly name your interests and explore academic pathways on campus can be a helpful foundation for your time in college. In this class, we will first spend time investigating your academic interests, and as we move through the class, we will explore how these interests fit into your overall life goals and viewpoints. In addition, we will start to explore the type of research being conducted here at CU in your specific area of interest. As an undergraduate student, you will have opportunities to conduct research alongside faculty, and these rich experiences can help you excel in any career path you have. It can be difficult, however, to know where to start in working towards doing undergraduate research, so in this class, you will be able to explore what research in your area of interest entails, how participating in research can benefit you, and how to get involved. In your final project, you will summarize the discoveries you have made and chart a pathway forward. 

Narrative Sovereignty in Indigenous Literature and Film 

Thursdays, 3:30 pm -4:45 pm, CASE W11

Indigenous narratives in the U.S. and Canada have too long been framed by outsiders. This course deliberately moves past the settler colonial lens to examine how Indigenous communities use literature and film to assert tribal sovereignty and demand agency. Through our analysis of the concept of “narrative sovereignty” (Wente 2021), we’ll explore how storytelling can defy exploitation and catalyze tribal reclamation. From the emotional mixed-genre prose of Deborah Miranda’s Bad Indians (2013) to the ground-breaking film Smoke Signals (1998) and popular TV series Reservation Dogs (2021-2023), we’ll explore how Indigenous storytelling is an act of resistance, healing, and political power.  

Mindful Campus

Wednesdays, 2:00 pm-3:30 pm, Renée Crown Aspen Conference Room

Mindfulness teaches us to be aware, attentive, and present in our lives.

“You can’t pour from an empty cup” is a familiar and self-explanatory adage that we regularly return to throughout the Mindful Campus course—a class that actively encourages and supports the mental health and well-being of undergraduates participating in MASP.

Our intention is to build a community of mindful practitioners. Each session is devoted to information-sharing, discussion, journaling, contemplative practices, and movement. Art, poetry, and music are among the tools woven into the course that aims to nourish the hearts, minds, and spirits of MASP students.

We welcome both beginners and seasoned practitioners. The invitation is to meet, listen, and learn about yourself and others in a space free from judgment and criticism.

MASP Mindful Campus is a pass/fail class that meets for ninety minutes, once a week, over an eight-week period. 

Debates in International Affairs 

Tuesdays 2:00 - 3:15, Gold A1B20

In this discussion-based class, you’ll debate key issues facing the world today, including topics related to immigration, climate change, geopolitics, regional cooperation, and global health, with your classmates in a roundtable discussion format. Throughout the semester, we’ll also engage in lecture and conversation about the historical and contemporary context underlying each of these issues. This course emphasizes the development of your dialogue and argumentation skills, with a focus on listening to and engaging with diverse perspectives that may be different than your own, seeking compromise, and finding solutions. As we move through the semester, you’re expected to be a regular consumer of world news and to keep up to date with what’s happening around the world – each class will dedicate time to student-facilitated discussions of the week’s news. By the end of this class, you will have a greater appreciation of the complexity of global issues, be better able to articulate your opinions and perspectives through effective argumentation, and gain experience in engaging with different perspectives on the world.