FIRST-YEAR "DREAM" SEMINARS
What is a First-Year Seminar?
Our First-Year Seminars (FYS) will deeply enrich and connect our freshmen to core ideas in new disciplines with a passionate and caring doctoral trained professor. Offered during the fall and spring semesters, the seminars cover a wide variety of fascinating topics. Professors will discuss, debate and engage with freshmen students in smaller, more intimate classes, conversations and hands-on activities to explore and discuss topics of mutual interest. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to hone their critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills. The Seminars promote meaningful-peer-to-peer interactions and close faculty-to-student mentorship. Berkowitz’ student Laura Valadez expressed, “I would undoubtedly encourage everyone to take a UNV course. You can get more connected to your professors, make great friends, and learn new and exciting topics.”
Earlier this term, faculty who hold a terminal degree and who are active in their field were invited to propose their “dream” first-year seminar that integrates the UNV 101 course framework with an exciting discipline-specific topic of the faculty member’s own design. Selected faculty members, designated as First-Year Seminar Preceptors, teach their customized sections of UNV 101 in fall 2015 and spring 2016. Topics include areas from Chicana/Chicano Studies, Criminal Justice Administration, Computer Science, Economics, Earth Sciences, Humanities, Information Systems & Operations Management, Liberal Studies, Management & Marketing, Philosophy, Psychology, and Occupational Therapy.
During the fall 2015 semester, Dr. Martinez provides a course on “The Economics of Discrimination” which applies basic Microeconomics’ principles to analyze real world situations in which some people are paid less because of their race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation; for example. In addition, students will increase their learning and academic skills, enhance their career and life skills, and participate actively in the CSUDH community.
Dr. Martinez and his students in "The Economics of Discrimination" First-Year Seminar course.
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