UCOR Section Descriptions

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  3. UCOR Section Descriptions

UCOR 3600-03 Biodiversity and Anthropocene

Course Type:

UCOR 3600 Social Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Chaudhuri, Tapoja

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

Anthropocene, or the era of the humans, and consequently climate change are the biggest threat to global biodiversity. However, biodiversity conservation policies are themselves products of social histories of colonization and social stratification. The course will enable students to adopt a critical analytical lens to learn about the challenges to our global environment, as well as understand how principles of social justice and equity can lead to a better future.

UCOR 3600-04 Global Citizenship Education

Course Type:

UCOR 3600 Social Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Pisani, Shane

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

As the global movement of people increases in the 21 century, how have we updated the concept of citizenship? By examining the theoretical frameworks of nationalism and cosmopolitanism, the impacts of globalization, and our own lived experiences, the course will explore emerging global citizenship orientations and its relevance in the United States

UCOR 3600-05 US China Relations

Course Type:

UCOR 3600 Social Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Zhang, Enyu

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

As the world’s two most powerful and important players, the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China hold the key to collectively solving many of the global challenges we face in the 21st century. This course explores this most important and complex strategic relationship through an examination of the basic dynamics of strategic thinking and policy‐making in the U.S. and China and a theory‐informed analysis of key contemporary issues in the bilateral relations, including security, arms control, trade, human rights, energy, and the environment, from a variety of perspectives of International Relations and Foreign Policy Analysis. No prior background on China, U.S. foreign policy, or International Relations is assumed or required.

UCOR 3600-06 Critical Issues in Education

Course Type:

UCOR 3600 Social Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Moskalik, Janice

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

This course explores the complexities of education. This exploration encompasses the study of philosophical and historical orientations, purpose of schools, and contemporary and critical issues and trends in schools and schooling. Included is a comparative look at global school reforms and practices and their influence on education in the United States. Service Learning field experience with a minimum of two hours per week through the Children’s Literacy Project is required. This course is taught onsite at the Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, the focal point of the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI).

UCOR 3800-01 AI and Society

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Khadivi, Pejman

Term:

Summer

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

The proposed course will introduce major concepts in artificial intelligence and its applications in society, addressing major concerns including ethical issues, security, economical characteristics of AI, and accountability. The course will go through the applications of AI in various areas such as agriculture, science, security, justice, and health, and will introduce AI tasks and algorithms, such as genetic algorithms, neural networks, machine learning, and rule based systems.

UCOR 3800-01 Pick Your Poison: Toxicology

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Skogerboe, Kristen

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

Virtually any chemical, even water, can be considered a "poison" at the right dose. Correspondingly, mankind faces a significant challenge to understand toxicology and to take the necessary personal and governmental actions to ensure long term global survival. This course is focused on the global challenges created by poison exposure and is an exploration of the scientific principles and technical advances that are at the intersection of toxicology, medicine, environmental health, law, and ethics.

UCOR 3800-02 Confronting Climate Change

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Lee, Se-Yeun

Term:

Summer

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

This course will address the issue of global climate change. We will discuss the science behind how humans can affect the global climate--covering the major greenhouse gasses, how they impact the climate, and how the current and projected changes compare to previous climactic and atmospheric shifts. Students will dig into the science behind the "climate controversies," and explain the various lines of evidence for how we know the global shift is already underway.

UCOR 3800-02 Global Water Supply

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Hainze, John

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

This course explores the impact of human population growth on the quantity and quality of water resources. It includes the fundamental aspects of the hydrologic cycle, human water demand, and water conservation. Water pumping and storage systems are introduced. The course also examines the technologies used for drinking water and wastewater treatment with a particular focus on those appropriate for the developing world.

UCOR 3800-03 Confronting Climate Change

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Lee, Se-Yeun

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

In this course you will investigate the geologic causes, environmental impacts, and societal impacts of global natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, flooding, coastal erosion, and weather-related hazards. The course will focus on the physical processes that cause natural hazards as well as risk factors, prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. Since natural hazards affect all parts of the world, we will be able to compare the effects of similar hazards in different countries.

UCOR 3800-04 Energy and Society

Course Type:

UCOR 3800 Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

Faculty:

Liebrand, Frederic

Term:

Fall

Year:

2024

Module:

Module III

Course Description

The production of energy that powers human society presents one of the most critical and complex challenges facing the world today. Increasing amounts of energy will be needed as the world's population grows and as the standard of living for billions of the world's poorest people improves. Meanwhile, many energy sources we rely on today are limited, and many cause environmental harm in the form of pollution, hazardous waste, and global warming. Students in this course learn skills to evaluate current and future energy sources based on their technological, economic, and environmental merits and limitations. They use tools and knowledge from physics as the primary, but not unique, mode of inquiry. They emerge as well-informed participants in the civic discussion about our local, national, and global energy future.