"Critical Media Literacy"
This course surveys the history of mass media, and the changes they have brought to our lives. We will discuss the control and ownership of media and their implications for access and freedom of expression.
We will identify influential theories on propaganda from the early 20th century, and trace the application of those theories to the present moment. We explore the effects of specific technologies on our cognition and relationships, and reflect on how to make conscious choices about our uses of current and future technologies.
There will be assigned reading, viewing of video material, and some short writing assignments. There is no test for this course.
"Propaganda and the Personal"
This course will explore propaganda, politics, and the personal, with a focus on the 20th Century up to the present moment. We will examine some of the key players, the ideologies, and the techniques that have led us to the current crisis, as well as what our part in it has been and could be.
We will compassionately interrogate our own biases and assumptions so that we are not doomed to repeat, and we will find ways forward – to begin building a future that we truly want for ourselves and our communities.
There will be assigned reading, as well as viewing of video content, and there will be some short writing assignments as well as a final paper or creative project. There are no tests in this course.
"Our Common-Law Foundations"
This course will utilize the Socratic method to explore the roots of the modern western legal system. We will be using outside sources, and students should expect lots of real-time conversation. There will be some reading to be done outside of class, as well as some thinking. There may also be some short writing assignments, but the core of this class is really the in-class discussions. There will be no tests.
"The Constitution"
From the instructor: "It my lifetime, it has never seemed so urgent to understand The Constitution of the United States. In this eight week course, we will develop a deeper understanding of this document, using the book “Constitution: Owner’s Manual”, written by The Tenth Amendment Center’s Mike Maharrey. We will explore the founding generation’s intentions, using original sources, and a Socratic method of exploration. And we will work to develop an understanding of how this document was intended to operate, along with discussion about how it has drifted from those intentions. The author has agreed to a Q&A session at the end of the course."
"Austrian Economics"
This class will approach the study of basic economics through the unique contributions of the Austrian school of economics. Human action, prices, theories of value, economic theory, economic history, and areas of economic application will be studied in order to introduce and give a wholistic overview of the study of economics.
Here, instructor Josh Mawhorter explains one of the fundamental problems with the labor theory of value:
"Personal Finance"
In Personal Finance, students will learn the basic knowledge and disciplines that contribute to financial stability, financial freedom, and building long-term wealth. Topics such as self-discipline, budgeting, debt, and investing will be covered. All students who take this course will be taught how to become millionaires.
"Early American History (1600-1865)"
Early American History samples history from the founding of the early American colonies through the ending of the Civil War. Students will see how America developed and changed over this period, especially through examining the political-philosophical, economic, social, and historical events and how they contribute to our situation today.
"Semester-long introduction to Irish Literature"
With reference to historical and artistic movements, both national and international influences, this in-depth course will include novels, poems, plays, essays, lyrics and cultural criticism, with the objective of grounding each student in the distinctiveness and effectiveness of this literary canon.
"Pop-up class for James Joyce's Ulysses"
In this whirlwind, 2-hour trip through James Joyce's seminal novel, which defines the modernist movement, students will be introduced to its influential originality via structure, style, content, intent, breathtaking scope, and character profiles. Set over an entire day in Dublin, Ireland, 1904, we will follow three chief protagonists and take time to luxuriate in the exquisite literary language and abundance of neologisms (neo logos = new words) and creative formatting.
"Pop-up class for James Joyce's compilation of short stories Dubliners"
In this 2-hour class, we shall voyage through Joyce's Dublin, as described in these 15 distinct vignettes, with special attention devoted to the disciplined structure, authorial objective, character development, mise-en-scène, abundance of cultural idiosyncrasies along with national and social commentary.