All first-year students take during their first semester
a course designated as a First-Year Course, which will have no more than 16 students. The class is taught in seminar style, by a faculty member who becomes the advisor for each of the students. This means that new students have immediate access to their advisor for academic and other questions and that their advisor will know them.
All first-year classes have a writing component, aided by the assistance of a writing preceptor. First-year courses provide focused instruction to write extended, cogent papers; to argue issues confidently and persuasively; and to make connections among academic disciplines.
Some first-year courses are designated as residential courses and students who enroll in the course live in the same residence hall, usually on the same floor. This facilitates discussion and group work outside of the classroom.
| American Studies |
Karin Aguilar San Juan |
The Problem of Race in U.S. Social Thought and Policy |
Yes |
Anthropology |
Scott Legge |
Evolutionary Anthropology: Facts, Fantasies and Frauds |
Yes |
Anthropology |
Sonia Patten |
World Ethnography |
|
Art |
Stan Sears |
3D Design |
Yes |
Asian Languages and Cultures |
Xin Yang |
Goddesses and Ghosts: Images of Women in Chinese Culture and Literature |
|
Biology |
Mark Davis |
Ecology |
|
Biology |
Devavani Chatterjea |
Introduction to Community and Global Health: Biological Paradigms |
|
Chemisty |
Ron Brisbois |
CSI Macalester |
|
Computer Science |
Susan Fox |
Core Concepts in Computer Science |
|
Economics |
Amy Damon |
Principles of Economics | Yes |
Educational Studies |
Tina Kruse |
Motivating Learners: Theory into Practice
|
|
English |
Marlon James |
Introduction to Creative Writing |
|
English |
Daylanne English |
Introduction to African American Literature |
|
Environmental Studies |
Roopali Phadke |
Water Science and Policy |
Yes |
French and Francophone Studies |
Joëlle Vitiello |
Culture and Identity: Children and Youth in Francophone Cinema |
|
| Geography |
David Lanegran |
Human Geography of Global Issues |
Yes |
| Geology |
Karl Wirth |
Dynamic Earth and Global Change |
Yes |
| German Studies |
Linda Schulte-Sasse |
German Cinema Studies: Art/Horror |
Yes |
| Hispanic Studies |
Galo González |
Susurros del Pasado: Whispers towards the 21st Century |
|
| History |
Ellen Arnold |
Discovering World History |
|
| History |
Ernesto Capello |
The Global in the Local: Modern Laughs |
|
| History |
Yue-him Tam |
Introduction to East Asian Civilization |
Yes |
| Humanities |
Clay Steinman |
Race/Silent Film: Griffith & Micheaux |
Yes |
| Japanese |
Satoko Suzuki |
Language and Gender in Japanese Society |
Yes |
| Math |
Vittorio Addona |
Data Analysis/Statistics: Statistical Analysis of Sports and Games |
|
| Math |
Daniel Flath |
Discrete Mathematics |
|
| Music |
Mark Mazullo |
Music and Freedom |
|
| Philosophy |
Geoffrey Gorham |
Problems of Philosophy |
|
| Physics |
John Cannon |
Cosmology: From the Big Bang to Galaxies, Stars and Planets |
|
| Political Science |
David Blaney |
Work, Wealth and Well-Being |
|
| Psychology |
Eric Wiertelak |
Psychology in the Cinema |
Yes |
| Russian |
Julia Chadaga |
Things Don't Like Me |
Yes |
| Sociology |
Khaldoun Samman |
Introducation to Sociology |
|
| Theater and Dance |
Harry Waters, Jr. |
Acting Theory and Performances |
|
| Theater and Dance | Lara Nielsen | Theater and Performance in the Twin Cities |
|
