Courses
PHIL 222: Science of Happiness
What actually makes us happy? Scientific research shows most of us get this badly wrong. For instance, money is far less important, and embracing negative emotions far more important, than most people realize. When philosophy first got started, it focused on the single most practically important question anyone can ask: How can I live a good life? A recent boom in scientific research is now validating insights from traditions that take this approach of philosophy as a way of life, including ancient greek, eastern & continental schools of philosophy. Open to all students (no pre-requisites), this course combines intellectual inquiry with experiential approaches, blending philosophical insight, evidence-based interventions and cutting-edge science. For instance, students will learn about approaches to emotion regulation and stress resilience all the way from the ancient Stoics to recently published work in psychological science. This course won’t make you happy. It will sometimes make you sad. It will expose you to tools that you can use to improve your physical and psychological well-being, and – most important of all – your sense of purpose in life.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 9-11:30am
Instructor: Anthony Jack
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Philosophy
COSI 220: Introduction to American Sign Language I
This course offers basic vocabulary training and conversational interaction skills in American Sign Language. Syntactic and semantic aspects of American Sign Language will be addressed.
Dates: June 16 - July 30, 2025
Session: 6 Week Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: TWR 9-11am
Instructor: Keri November
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Psychological Sciences
JAPN 235: The Japan Experience: Kyoto – Language, Culture & Exchanges
The Japan Experience: Kyoto is designed to provide students an opportunity to use Japanese language skills they have acquired in real life situations and deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture through experiential learning. The course has three major learning components: “Japanese Language Learning through Activities and Cultural Experiences,” “Japan Exploration Project,” and “Exchanges with Local College Students” and will consist of class meetings before the trip focused on preparation followed by 15 days in Kyoto. Japanese Language Learning through Activities and Cultural Experiences: In Kyoto students will explore the local neighborhood and report their findings in class. Several cultural activities will be organized: Zen meditation, tea activity, Japanese cooking class, etc. The tea activity will include a rare opportunity for students to meet a tea ceremony master and experience the way of Japanese traditional tea. Exchanges with Local College Students: Students from CWRU will be able to take advantage of Ritsumeikan University’s “Buddies” program where Japanese student volunteers are paired with participants to improve conversational skills and become better acquainted with the campus and Kyoto. CWRU students will also visit classes at a local college in Osaka for exchanges with students there. These exchanges will allow participants to reinforce their language skills, develop better communication skills, and deepen cultural understanding in both classroom and real-life settings. Japan Exploration Project: Students will complete individual projects during the course. They will design their own projects using resources available in Kyoto before the trip and prepare for it. Project themes will be chosen by students based on their interests. At the end of course, students will give presentations in Japanese, demonstrating their language proficiency development. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: JAPN 201.
Dates: June 2 - 20
Session: Study Abroad
Instructor: Yukiko Nishida
Credits: 3 credits
Departments: Modern Languages and Literatures, Study Abroad
HSTY 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: History
ENGL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: English
PHIL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Philosophy
RLGN 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Religious Studies
PHIL 222: Science of Happiness
What actually makes us happy? Scientific research shows most of us get this badly wrong. For instance, money is far less important, and embracing negative emotions far more important, than most people realize. When philosophy first got started, it focused on the single most practically important question anyone can ask: How can I live a good life? A recent boom in scientific research is now validating insights from traditions that take this approach of philosophy as a way of life, including ancient greek, eastern & continental schools of philosophy. Open to all students (no pre-requisites), this course combines intellectual inquiry with experiential approaches, blending philosophical insight, evidence-based interventions and cutting-edge science. For instance, students will learn about approaches to emotion regulation and stress resilience all the way from the ancient Stoics to recently published work in psychological science. This course won’t make you happy. It will sometimes make you sad. It will expose you to tools that you can use to improve your physical and psychological well-being, and – most important of all – your sense of purpose in life.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 9-11:30am
Instructor: Anthony Jack
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Philosophy
COSI 220: Introduction to American Sign Language I
This course offers basic vocabulary training and conversational interaction skills in American Sign Language. Syntactic and semantic aspects of American Sign Language will be addressed.
Dates: June 16 - July 30, 2025
Session: 6 Week Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: TWR 9-11am
Instructor: Keri November
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Psychological Sciences
JAPN 235: The Japan Experience: Kyoto – Language, Culture & Exchanges
The Japan Experience: Kyoto is designed to provide students an opportunity to use Japanese language skills they have acquired in real life situations and deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture through experiential learning. The course has three major learning components: “Japanese Language Learning through Activities and Cultural Experiences,” “Japan Exploration Project,” and “Exchanges with Local College Students” and will consist of class meetings before the trip focused on preparation followed by 15 days in Kyoto. Japanese Language Learning through Activities and Cultural Experiences: In Kyoto students will explore the local neighborhood and report their findings in class. Several cultural activities will be organized: Zen meditation, tea activity, Japanese cooking class, etc. The tea activity will include a rare opportunity for students to meet a tea ceremony master and experience the way of Japanese traditional tea. Exchanges with Local College Students: Students from CWRU will be able to take advantage of Ritsumeikan University’s “Buddies” program where Japanese student volunteers are paired with participants to improve conversational skills and become better acquainted with the campus and Kyoto. CWRU students will also visit classes at a local college in Osaka for exchanges with students there. These exchanges will allow participants to reinforce their language skills, develop better communication skills, and deepen cultural understanding in both classroom and real-life settings. Japan Exploration Project: Students will complete individual projects during the course. They will design their own projects using resources available in Kyoto before the trip and prepare for it. Project themes will be chosen by students based on their interests. At the end of course, students will give presentations in Japanese, demonstrating their language proficiency development. Counts for CAS Global & Cultural Diversity Requirement. Prereq: JAPN 201.
Dates: June 2 - 20
Session: Study Abroad
Instructor: Yukiko Nishida
Credits: 3 credits
Departments: Modern Languages and Literatures, Study Abroad
HSTY 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: History
ENGL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: English
PHIL 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Philosophy
RLGN 270: Introduction to Gender Studies
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s and gender studies major.
Offered as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, RLGN 270, SOCI 201, and WGST 201.
Dates: May 12 - May 30, 2025
Session: May Session
Dates: Online course
Session: Online
Time: MTWRF 10:30am-1pm
Instructor: Justine Howe
Credits: 3 credits
Department: Religious Studies