FSEM Courses

In this class, we will examine political polarization in the United States from both an institutional and behavioral perspective. Quotes like the one above suggest that Americans are hopelessly polarized, pushed by our partisan predispositions to vote for or against a candidate regardless of whether we like that candidate’s issue positions or personal characteristics.

This class delves into a different kind of war—not one of guns and bombs but a centuries-old battle over what history should be taught and commemorated. While I’ve always been passionate about studying history, it wasn’t until my years teaching high school history in Southeast Dallas that I began questioning the content mandated for our students. Why, for instance, did my students need to know about WWI Medal of Honor recipient Alvin York but not about Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street”?

All kids play, right? It seems spontaneous, often unstructured, and even though we say “kids need time to play,” we don’t pay a lot of attention to what kids DO when they play.

This first-year seminar will explore ways of measuring power in international relations, the consequences of the distribution of power, and which grand strategy the United States should adopt given the world it confronts.

This course will examine the role of villains across literature, film, and pop culture, uncovering why their stories captivate us as deeply as those of the heroes. We will step into the shadows of the narrative, exploring the motives, missteps, and turning points that create the complex villains we love—and love to hate.