Course Description

CLA 1001 is a seminar course designed to facilitate the integration of CLA learning community courses and collegiate academic expectations. The seminar introduces students to the liberal education curriculum and sub-topics such as intellectual growth, academic goal-setting, and the exploration of majors.

The seminar meets for two 50-minute class sessions each week. One class session each week is for study groups under the guidance of the teaching assistant.

Course Objectives

Over the semester, students should achieve the following goals:

• To develop and practice analytical skills.

• To reflect, question, explore, and integrate liberal education topics into their own studies.

• To learn to work with their peers in the process of investigating topics in the liberal arts.

• To develop interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.

• To initiate major and career exploration.

Expectations

In order to reach these goals, students will have to do the following things this semester:

• Show up to class on time and prepared to discuss the material for that day. Ask questions in class about the materials that we are discussing. Excessive absences will have a negative impact on your grade. Please turn off your cell phones before coming to class.

• Participate fully in group discussions and activities. In small-group activities, each student needs to contribute as much as the other students in the group. Free-loading will annoy others in your group and harm your grade on the assignment.

Assignments

1. In-class writing.

2. Web-page development-create a resource to guide future CLA 1001 classes. Divide tasks within your group according to abilities.

3. Presentations. Investigate a possible major at UMD and explain it to the rest of the group.

4. Debates: humanities vs. social sciences, idealism vs. pragmatism.

5. Attend class regularly and contribute to class discussion and group activities.

6. Provide classmates with constructive feedback on written and oral assignments.

Grade Breakdown

Any infractions against UMD's Scholastic Dishonesty provisions in the Student Conduct Code as stated in the UMD catalogue will receive serious attention and appropriate penalties.

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform me at the start of the semester. I can make special adaptations of teaching methods, assignments, materials, or testing as required to provide for equitable participation in the course. The Access Center is also available to assist students with disabilities. It is located in the Kirby Student Center and on the web at <http://www.d.umn.edu/access>.

Attendance to all classes and study sessions is mandatory. Please let Professor Schwetman or Hannah know if there are conflicts necessitating an absence. We can excuse absences only for health crises or family emergencies.