Courses

Over seven medical research studies that use HeLa cells are published every day. What are HeLa cells and why are they so prominent in medical research? HeLa cells are an immortal human cell line of cancer cells, cells that can keep dividing and replicating themselves indefinitely, and they were taken, without permission, from Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman seeking treatment for cervical cancer in 1951. In this course, we will explore Henrietta’s Lacks’ life, the ethical considerations of using her cells, the scientific advancements resulting from the use of her cells, and the changes her story contributed to current standards of medical ethics. Furthermore, we will answer the question of why HeLa cells were and continue to be so prominently used in medical research and challenge ourselves to explore the question of whether they should continue to be used today. Overall, this course interdisciplinary exploration of medical research, incorporating cell biology, social justice, medical ethics, and scientific process.  

For this class we will be reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. If you have the chance to read it early, I recommend you do. While there will be time during the semester to read, it will be a significant reading load if you go that route. 

This class is required for students in the Science Bound Program only. No seats are open for other MASPians.

This class is required for students in the Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences Bound Program. There are limited seats open for other MASPians. 

The Arts & Humanities / Social Sciences colloquium will feature a series of invited speakers from CU Boulder doing work in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, including faculty and alumni. Through these speakers you will learn about opportunities on- and off-campus in their fields of study while also forging new connections and expanding your academic network. Throughout the semester you will also work on developing and articulating your sense of identity as a scholar while reflecting on the ways our guest speakers influence and inform your appreciation of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. 

 As Earth’s climate changes, the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of extreme weather events have increased significantly. While storms, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and droughts are all examples of natural hazards, the death and destruction that result from these events are anything but natural. For example, why are communities of color in the US more likely to experience excess deaths following a tropical storm or hurricane? Why are low-income countries hit hardest by natural hazards? This course explores the social determinants of vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards, with a focus on the populations and communities disproportionately impacted by “natural disasters” in the US and around the world. Across the semester we'll discuss climate change, environment-society relations, risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and climate resilience. We will also look at issues of environmental justice and inequality. The final group project for this course will involve developing an analysis of risk and vulnerability to natural hazards for a community of your choice. By the end of this course, you will gain a greater appreciation for natural hazards research and a recognition of the ways marginalized communities are vulnerable to “unnatural disasters”. 

The 8-session Pass/Fail option only MCP course is the result of a multi-year collaborative and participatory process. Simply stated, the Mindful Campus course was created to actively encourage the mindfulness and wellness of undergraduates at the University of Colorado-Boulder.  

Our intention in creating an 8-week Mindful Campus MASP course is to build a community of practitioners. Together, we will prioritize care for our bodies, minds, and spirits. We will accomplish this by engaging in lectures, discussion, journaling, meditation, and movement. The tools of art and music will be integrated into all that we do. Therefore, whether you are new to meditation, frustrated by meditation, a contemplative movement beginner, or a seasoned practitioner, you are invited to meet, listen, and learn from one another, and us. You are encouraged to come and be, without fear of judgment, criticism, or the need to educate anyone but yourself.  

All MASP students are welcome to participate in the course. Please know that there will be an emphasis on the significance of mindfulness for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We will discuss and explore injustice, and intersecting oppression(s) with the understanding that trauma-inducing systems must be resisted on all fronts. Mindfulness is but one path. 

What is it like to experience a class where, no matter the topic of the course, there are opportunities to bring your strengths into the work? Using a framework of cultural wealth and an equity-minded approach to education, this class will review the evidence-based impacts of inclusivity, intersectionality, power, and privilege on students' educational experience. The course explores inclusivity in education through an interdisciplinary lens, including the neuroscience of learning, sociological perspectives on learning, and personal narrative writing/sharing. This class also provides an opportunity for you to explore your own agency as an active participant in your education at CU and will prepare you to become a "student ambassador" for inclusive education by developing projects and/or testimonials to share your learning from the course with others.