Carissa Zimmerman

“And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." - John Steinbeck, East of Eden. John Steinbeck is widely regarded as one of the most important voices in American literature. Through his works, he captures ordinary people facing moral, economic, and social pressures that still feel urgent today. His writing exposes the human cost of inequality while insisting on dignity, compassion, and responsibility. Although his prose is simple and accessible, Steinbeck conveys complex ideas and striking imagery, using ordinary language to explore profound moral and social questions. Students will spend the semester reading and analyzing the works of John Steinbeck through three short texts: Of Mice and Men, Cannery Row, and The Moon Is Down. Together, these works examine Steinbeck’s central themes of community, moral responsibility, and resilience through American periods of struggle. The course will introduce Steinbeck’s life and writing career, situate his fiction within its broader historical and social context, and analyze his writing style. Emphasis will be placed on discussion over formal literary theory or writing, making the course welcoming to students of all backgrounds and majors.

We’ve all heard these bold claims online: gummies that improve cognitive function, greens powders that supposedly replace whole veggies, and even pre-workout blends that improve muscle gain beyond what training alone could achieve. Amidst the surge of food and dietary supplements on the market, this course focuses on understanding the influence of pseudoscience on the perception of food and dietary supplements on popular communication platforms, including social media and television. Before delving into food marketing, the course will address the fundamental principles of nutrition science and its importance for human health. Then, the class will analyze the marketing tactics that companies utilize to promote food and dietary supplements, showing how pseudoscience is a useful business practice. Through this course, students will learn how to analyze the effectiveness of marketed supplements through rigorous evaluation of ingredient composition, as well as the scientific evidence underlying their marketed benefits. Any marketing analysis in this course is taught solely for educational purposes, with an emphasis on both ethical communication and scientific accuracy. Students will practice this by critically assessing highly marketed food and dietary supplements on the current market. Finally, students will examine the broader implications of pseudoscience and the undermining of public health at a national level as well as internationally.

In 1981, Hasbro launched a worldwide phenomenon with My Little Pony dolls. Soon after, My Little Pony movies, shows, and toy lines completely revolutionized the children’s entertainment industry. In 2010, Hasbro created the animated TV series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, which unexpectedly diversified My Little Pony’s fanbase and brought it to a broader audience. In doing so, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has cemented itself as a mainstream show adorned with mass appeal, a religious fanbase, and complex storylines. In this course, students will examine the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as a culturally and historically relevant media text. With the exploration of selected episodes, characters, and narrative arcs, the course will prompt students to analyze themes of class, race, sexuality, political governance, disability, and more. Furthermore, this course will examine the ethical and pedagogical implications of the show’s messaging for its young, impressionable audience. This course also seeks to question how the show’s fanbase influenced its trajectory and social legacy. The course will be primarily discussion-based, with students expected to view assigned episodes before class and actively participate in critical dialogue.

Mouth music – in the world of a cappella, the only thing on stage is the voice. But how do we create thundering power chords and piercing, orchestral swells without instruments? In this course, students will explore the world of a cappella vocal music, from award winning ICCA (International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella) sets to Bulgarian throat singing. Through guided listenings, score analyses, and discussions, students will be able to analyze how different techniques from around the world are uniquely employed in a cappella music to create expressive depth without instrumental accompaniment, all while developing a fundamental understanding of music theory. Students will evaluate a cappella arrangements and compositions from the perspective of an ICCA judge, collaborate with other classmates, and be exposed to a large variety of vocal music. Students will also have numerous opportunities to practice applying the techniques introduced in class through short, low-stakes weekly arranging/composing exercises. By the end of the course, students will put together a final project of an original a cappella or choral arrangement demonstrating the skills learned in class, culminating in a spoken presentation serving as a showcase of their artistic choices. This aca-course may be difficult for students without a basic familiarity with sheet music, though the course is suitable for students from diverse musical backgrounds and levels. The fundamentals of music theory will be covered in class; while prior music theory knowledge is not required, a rudimentary understanding is preferred. I am very happy to accommodate musicians of all skill levels - please contact the instructor with any questions!

Why are mobile games so addictive, accessible, and profitable—especially for our generation? This course examines the psychology, design structures, and business strategies that power today’s most successful mobile games. Using Supercell as a central case study, students will analyze how mobile games attract, retain, and monetize millions of players worldwide. Through readings, discussions, and a personal gameplay tracking project, students will explore reward systems, habit formation, player motivation, and persuasive design. The course also critically evaluates monetization models such as microtransactions and in-app purchases, with sustained attention to ethical questions surrounding consumer behavior and digital well-being. In the final project, students will design a hypothetical mobile game that either proposes a more ethical engagement model or challenges traditional monetization structures. This course is analytical rather than vocational: students will leave not as passive players, but as informed thinkers capable of evaluating how mobile games shape behavior, culture, and the global economy.

Does chess make you smarter? Why has gambling endured across human history? Can every game, in theory, be solved? Games are older than written language, algebra, and all Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Understanding games means understanding ourselves: why we play, what skills and behaviors games cultivate, and how those behaviors translate into real life after the game has ended. Each class centers on a “game of the day.” We will begin class with 15 minutes playing it, followed by a structured analysis of its historical origins, psychological demands, and neurological effects. We will discuss the historical conditions in which the game was invented, identify behaviors required to succeed in that environment, and evaluate how the game reinforces those behaviors. Drawing on research in neuroscience and psychology, we investigate how gameplay alters condition, decision-making, and social interaction. Students will engage in debates on game theory, analyze historical controversies, and consider whether certain games should not be played at all. Short exit tickets will reinforce important insights. For the final project, student teams will design and present an original game with a clearly defined behavioral or educational purpose, supported by historical precedent and scientific reasoning.

Gen Z is often called the socially conscious yet chronically online generation, with observers pointing to both their propensity to protest and their tendency to post before, during, and after the event. This past year, Gen Z's protest habits were in focus, particularly during the youth-led uprisings in Nepal and Madagascar. These movements, and the anime flags that flew above them, highlight a pattern: for Gen Z, fictional revolutionaries from Luffy to Katniss represent something material. In this course, students will examine fictional resistance movements to understand how they leave a lasting cultural impact. We will explore works that transitioned onto film, inspired real-world protests, propelled uprisings, and predicted dangerous futures. In lectures, students will analyze readings, fandom posts, author interviews, and news coverage to understand how resistance stories shape the public imagination. Literary analysis will serve as a foundation for two guiding questions. First: “What are the ingredients of a resistance story, and which elements in particular, whether historical allusion or characterization, make certain stories resonate so deeply?” This will lead us toward a more elusive question that we will begin to approach, but may not fully resolve: "Why do some resistance stories escape the page while others don't?"

In an age and era wherein media is often associated with “brainrot” and mindless consumption, and a society that promotes an endless rat race, this course aims to prompt thoughtful reflection on the following questions: what is happiness? What does it mean to be happy? What does it mean to live? The intent of this course is for students to gain a mindful perspective on life: to actively live life, instead of just letting it pass by; that whatever one chooses to do, they do it intentionally. Through this course, students will explore different theories of happiness (from Aristotle to Buddhism) and various media that promote living in the present (from short films to songs, short stories, movies, etc). From the covered content, students will identify themes and approaches to living life that resonated with them most, and expand on these ideas to craft a plan to actively incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives throughout the semester. Learning and assessment will center on participation in class discussions, brief reflections on covered material, the creation of a mindfulness plan, keeping a daily mindful journal, and a final reflection on their experience of trying to live a more mindful and intentional life.

Have you ever gone to Pub, a public, or any buzzing club and thought, “I want to learn how to do what the DJ's doing” or “I could put my own spin on this”? Have you wanted to produce a song but didn’t know where to start? This is your perfect opportunity! This introductory course teaches students to create and perform music through electronic software and DJ equipment, giving them the skills to develop their own style and showcase their work live or digitally. Students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard gear such as DJ controllers (DDJ-FLX10, DDJ-SR2, DDJ-FLX4) and music software (Serato, Rekordbox, FL Studio). Students also participate in live sets, learn to navigate the club scene, and connect with guest speakers from professional, international backgrounds. While the course introduces the fundamentals of DJing and electronic production, students can focus on one or both—tailoring work to their interests and goals. This flexibility continues with the final project, where they may perform a DJ set at Pub or produce an electronic track to showcase their creativity. After building your skills in this course, you will never hesitate to create a new track on a whim or step up to perform live.

Whether you are a fan or a skeptic, Taylor Swift’s career serves as the ultimate study in artistic reinvention and narrative control. Over the past two decades, Swift has transformed from a teenage Nashville songwriter into a global cultural phenomenon, not just by writing hits, but by masterfully navigating the transition between genres. From the country-pop of her youth to the synth-heavy landscapes of 1989 and the atmospheric indie-folk of folklore, her discography serves as a chronological record of personal and creative growth. In this course, we will explore Swift’s evolution by treating her albums as primary texts. We will decode the history, narrative themes, and lyrical depth of each distinct “Era” to understand how she builds a cohesive universe through her work. Beyond the songs, we will examine her impact on the music industry, specifically through her high-profile battle for her master recordings, a move that redefined artist agency and ownership in the modern age. Ultimately, students will analyze how a single artist can shape global culture and shift industry standards through the power of a single, evolving story.

What if sci fi technologies came true? From AI chatbots that impersonate your ex to babies in VR and memory editing, the future is already here—and it’s weirder than fiction. This class explores emerging technologies that feel like sci-fi but are already becoming reality, such as AI chatbots that simulate dead loved ones, cloning, human-AI love relationships, dream-hacking tech, and other innovations that challenge what it means to be human. Each week, we’ll connect real-world technologies with exciting, speculative media like Severance and Black Mirror, using short reflections, group discussions, and case studies to dig into their social and ethical impacts. The course has no traditional final, but ends instead with a creative project where you’ll design your own speculative technology and explore its consequences. You’ll be left thinking deeply about how these technologies impact society, so come ready for deep conversations, wild “what ifs,” and intense questions about how tech is reshaping love, memory, identity, and the human condition itself.

Why do some people remain healthy and active well into old age while others develop chronic disease decades earlier? This course will help answer this question and explore the science and practice of how to live longer, better quality lives using evidence-based disease prevention and lifestyle medicine strategies. We will focus on preventing the leading causes of death, including heart disease and cancer, by examining how everyday habits and lifestyle factors influence disease risk, biological aging, and overall health span. The course will include topics on nutrition, physical activity, sleep, emotional health, environmental exposures, and behavioral changes with a goal of empowering students to make informed choices and design realistic goals and interventions regarding their long-term health. Learning and assessments will focus on self-reflections, lifestyle-self experiments and reports, and personal longevity plans.

Are you ready to stop just watching football and start thinking it? This course is for students who understand the fundamentals of American football and want to go deeper— to see the game through the eyes of a coach. We’ll take you beyond the broadcast to explore the high-level strategies, game planning, and film analysis that win championships. We’ll start by mastering the technical football terminology used by pros, giving you a deeper understanding of the game's language. The first third of the course focuses on defensive theory, where you'll learn common schemes and how to identify an opponent's weaknesses. In the second third, we'll shift our attention to the offense. You’ll explore various offensive schemes and get hands-on experience with play design. By the last few weeks, you'll be able to analyze film and identify schematic weaknesses on both sides of the ball. By the time you finish this course, you won't just be watching a game; you'll be analyzing a strategic chess match. You'll have the skills to break down film, scout opponents, and understand the ""why"" behind every play call.

This course provides an overview of essential, research-based methods used by college instructors to enhance the quality of student learning. Topics will include course and syllabus design, student engagement, classroom management, and more. This course will culminate with the development of a syllabus and a statement of teaching philosophy.

This independent study serves as a capstone to the UNIV sequence on teaching and learning. Students will meet individually with the instructor to plan and complete a teaching portfolio.