Fall 2023 UF Quest 2 Courses
About UF
UF Quest invites students to consider why the world is the way it is and what they can do about it. Students examine questions that are difficult to answer and hard to ignore in a world that is swiftly changing and becoming increasingly more complex. In UF Quest 2, students draw upon the biological, physical or social and behavioral sciences to explore pressing questions about human societies and/or the planet.
The UF Quest 2 Requirement
Students who enter UF in or after Summer B 2021 are required take one UF Quest 2 course to complete the UF Quest 2 requirement and to satisfy 3 credits of the General Education requirement in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Biological Sciences, or the Physical Sciences (see the UF Quest Requirement page for more information). Students must first complete the UF Quest 1 requirement beofre taking a UF Quest 2 course. Some UF Quest 2 courses may also fulfill either the Diversity (D) or the International (N) requirement and/or count toward the Writing requirement.
UF Quest 2 Courses
Click on the links below to learn more about the individual courses and to access course syllabi, which will be posted at least 3 days before the semester begins. Click the Campus or UF Online button to filter by program or type in the search field to look for a particular subject, topic, instructor, etc.
For the day and periods that the classes meet, please consult the Schedule of Courses. A note is provided in One.UF for each UF Quest 1 and UF Quest 2 course so you can easily distinguish them.
Course Themes
Culture
Built Environment
Literature
Music
Society
Art
Theater
Dance
General Education Requirements
Diversity
International
2000 words
4000 words
Campus
HOS 2333: Fighting Food Waste and Loss
- Instructor: Tie Liu, Horticultural Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Food waste and loss affects us in many ways, ranging from important economic and social issues to environmental problems. We need to develop a sustainable environment for global food security, population growth, and human health. The course focuses on postharvest biology, environmental, food sciences, and communication technology in reducing food waste.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Agritourism and Food Systems
- Instructor: Misti Sharp, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: This class explores the global disconnect between humans and the food, water, and natural resource systems on which we depend. This class uses systems thinking and the fields of agribusiness, ecology, tourism, rural sociology, and economics to explore opportunities in agritourism across the world to reconnect humans with our agri-food-eco systems.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Are We Alone? Searching for ET Life
- Instructor: Naibi Marinas, Astronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, International
- Description: This course covers major scientific developments in astrobiology to understand the nature and limits of life, the distribution of habitable environments in the Universe, and the possibility of encountering extraterrestrial life. The class will explore the societal and personal impact of astrobiology by examining international policies and science fiction.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Biological Factors Affecting Food Justice
- Instructor: Kara Casy, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, Diversity
- Description: How do we grow healthy crops and sustainable food systems that support the diversity of the local communities that they serve? Cultivating food crops requires a basic understanding of biological principles, and cultivating food justice requires a wider view of the societal context in which we grow. In this course students will analyze the biological phenomena and technological advances in urban and rural agricultural production and their impacts on food, the environment, and people.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Bite Me? Insects as Disease Vectors
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: Hybrid
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Arthropod-borne diseases represent some of the most dangerous and major challenges facing human health. They have shaped the course of history and have remained a threat. Everyone has, at one point or the other, been exposed to the nuisance and bites of arthropods and, therefore, potentially to the diseases they may carry. Factors such as the development of drug resistance, evolution of insecticide resistance, constantly changing climate, increased trade and human travel, unplanned urbanization, and changes in agricultural practices account for the emergence, reemergence and spread of these diseases. This is a multidisciplinary course that addresses the interactions of arthropods to humans and the environment. It presents pressing issues relating to the impact of arthropods in public health, and also explores challenging questions such as “what are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology”? and “what can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases”?
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
- Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: The creation of a human that has specific traits or superhuman abilities has been a central theme in science fiction for decades (for example, Captain America). While a body-altering “super serum” seems unlikely, is the creation of a superhuman possible using our current understanding of the human body? This course will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Communication and Civic Engagement
- Instructor: Amy Martinelli, Dial Center
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- Description: In this class, students will learn the intersection of communication and civic engagement. They will critically engage with historic methods of social movements, models of civic engagement, and theories regarding public (and interpersonal) discourses to better understand the most effective ways to be an engaged citizen.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: The community is where the impacts of climate and ecosystem disruption are experienced, and it will be the front line of adaptation to these impacts. This course provides an overview of anthropogenic climate change and helps students develop an understanding of local and regional resilience and adaptive responses to specific impacts of climate change.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Creating Enabling Technologies for Differently Abled People
- Instructor: Nigel Newbutt, Teaching and Learning
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: This Quest 2 course will explore and examine the current state of the art in the field of assistive technologies with a focus on enabling technologies for neurodiverse and differently abled learners. Students will learn about contemporary developments in the field and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems faced by neurodiverse populations. Classes will be interactive and involve active learning opportunities.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Culture & Health
- Instructor: Ashlee Ossiboff, Health Education & Behavior
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- Description: This course explores cultural and international considerations that influence our health. Students will identify sociocultural roots of health issues, and how their upbringing influences overall health. Culture will be explored through associated constructs (beliefs, values, traditions, etc.) systems (politics, policy, education, etc.) and the physical world (biology, environment, etc.).
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Empathy & Instagram
- Instructor: Michael Harmon, Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This course investigates how we can promote everyday empathy via social media. This class examines the complex relationship between humans, communication, technology and empathy. This course is multidisciplinary in nature, drawing from psychology, sociology and communication studies. Students will explore these themes through participatory discussions, observational analysis, self-reflections and evaluation. Students will build concrete skills that will help support and promote empathy within our technological world.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Energy and Society
- Instructor: Gregory Stewart, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: How will we meet our energy needs based on available resources in a way that is environmentally friendly, economically viable, fair, and politically attainable? This course examines this hard question from scientific, historical, technological, economic, and political perspectives. No prior scientific background is assumed.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Europe’s Food Environment
- Instructor: Agata Kowalewska, European Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: An exploration of human health in the context of European physical and social environments of food production and consumption. It critically considers the continent's food security and nutrition in the context of the UN Agenda 2030 of Sustainable Development Goals. In the course, we will study the physiological needs of the human body with respect to nutrition, and the psychological needs of appetite and cultural customs. We will use the research methods of nutritional sciences to analyze nutrition-linked aspects of health.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Exercise as Medicine
- Instructor: Anna Gardner, Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: Research has demonstrated numerous health benefits provided by an active lifestyle, yet our country continues to face negative health repercussions given a relatively inactive, sedentary society. This course utilizes numerous disciplines to investigate the role various play in fostering exercise behavior. Learning techniques include philosophical discussion, literature review, self-reflection, interview, and qualitative thematic analysis. Class periods will utilize a high level of faculty-student engagement through qualitative research skill-building, discussions, and lectures incorporating student-led literature reviews.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Angelica Ahrens and Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Foundations, Principles, and Applications of Sustainable Development
- Instructor: Maria Watson, Construction Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International, 2000 Words
- Description: A fundamental understanding of how all forms of culture such as consumerism, food systems, transport, and the built environment transforms nature is needed to understand the challenges and opportunities of international sustainable development. This course provides an understanding of human interventions on the environment in various forms that has led to the appropriation and degradation of natural resources. This course explores the key concepts related to sustainable development worldwide, covers the key environmental and resource issues and effects on humankind if present population and consumption trends remain unchanged, and addresses core questions about culture and nature with a special focus on human interventions on the environment.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Global Patterns of STIs
- Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: This class focuses on the geography of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which have discrete and interesting patterns. STIs are stigmatized and misunderstood by the public, and culture plays a major role in control, prevention, and transmission. We will examine different bacterial and viral STIs and their control and how culture impacts prevention
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Going Viral
- Instructor: Marit Ostebo, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: In this Quest 2 course we will “think with” the virus to make sense of the rapid circulation of ideas, images, stories, people, things, technologies, and capital that characterizes our digital age. We will explore these movements and processes and the meanings and implications they have for people’s everyday lives through an anthropological and interdisciplinary lens.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Hazards and Humans
- Instructor: Anita Marshall, Geological Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods have devastating impacts on human lives. This course examines how scientific understanding can help us prepare for and minimize the impacts of natural disasters, how disasters affect different economic and social populations, and the cultural and historical ties to hazardous landscapes.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: How Do We End Poverty
- Instructor: Xumin Zhang, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: This course invites students to a pressing question – how do we end poverty? It presents the current progress, economic growth, and global commitment to poverty reduction. Students are introduced to the importance of the integration of economic, social, and environmental aspects of poverty reduction and sustainable development.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Impact of Materials on Society
- Instructor: Kevin Jones, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: We look at how materials --such as ceramics, precious metals, steel, plastics, semiconductors etc. - contributed to the development of technologies and were influenced by social structures worldwide. In groups you learn about cutting-edge materials and discuss their future impact on the world and potential social challenges. From Roman baths, steel foundries and Tupperware parties, to microelectronics, nanomedicine and renewable energy, we examine case studies from the past to imagine the future social impacts of new materials.
- Flyer
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Journalism, Justice and Civic Change
- Instructor: Kim Walsh-Childers, Janet Coats, Journalism
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: The course focuses on helping students understand and evaluate journalistic products and processes and their role in democracy. It also gives students an opportunity to learn more about state and local government structures and processes and how citizen engagement can influence them.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Knowledge and the Universe
- Instructor: Adam Ginsburg & Paul Sell, Astronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: How can different people view the same evidence yet form different conclusions? This course deconstructs the process by which humans assemble knowledge using both historical astronomical examples and current societal issues to address the question of “How do we know what we know?”
- Syllabus-Ginsburg & Syllabus-Sell
IDS 2935: Law, Privacy and Society
- Instructor: Alexander Panayotov, European Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: We will explore the concept of privacy by comparing its legal regulation in the United States and the European Union. Students will learn how law and social science conceptualize privacy and develop remedies for protecting personal autonomy and human dignity. In addition, we will discuss several contemporary topics: privacy and sovereignty, cyber attacks, and data monetization.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Linguistic Prejudice
- Instructor: Caroline Wiltshire, Linguistics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity
- Description: It is still widely acceptable to express prejudice towards people who speak in nonstandard ways, based on race, ethnicity, geographic origin (e.g., African-Americans, Hispanics, Southerners, Foreign speakers), and more. We explore the relationships among language varieties, prejudice and real-world consequences, including discrimination in education, housing, healthcare, the justice system, etc., and address the question “what we can do to mitigate the effects of Linguistic Prejudice?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Living and Eating on Earth
- Instructor: James Estrada, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: How can we feed a global population that could exceed 10 billion by 2050? Can we increase food production while still protecting the environment? This class examines the complex relationship between humans, their food, and the environment that sustains them both. Students will explore these themes through reflection on personal beliefs and behaviors, analysis of pressing agricultural and environmental issues, and evaluation of potential solutions for sustainable production. Major themes include agriculture and environmental policies, global trends in population growth, climate change and food security, and how personal and cultural perceptions of food affect trends in consumption and conservation. While these themes will primarily be considered at the global level, local/regional policies and trends may be presented as context for classroom discussions and activities.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Living with Rising Seas
- Instructor: Katherine Serafin, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This course examines the complex relationship between people and coastlines by asking “How can humanity adapt to sea level rise?” Students will connect the science of sea level rise and coastal change to built, natural, and societal impacts, while considering actionable solutions for developing sustainable and equitable coastal futures.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Making Sense: Understanding the World with Data and AI
IDS 2935: Microbes without Borders
- Instructor: Monika Oli, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asyncronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: In times of a pandemic microbiologists are hard at work. More than ever do we need everyone in the world to understand how microbes work, spread and how they can be controlled and used for beneficial applications. Most students never thought about how microbiology affects everyday life and how the world depends on microbial action and interactions. In Microbes without Borders we explore the world of microbiology in a creative, fun and interactive way.
IDS 2935: Our Oceans: Human Impacts and Impacts on Humans
- Instructor: Melissa Meadows, Biology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: Our oceans. They are stunningly beautiful, profoundly impacted by humans, and vitally important to
human existence. In this course, we will ask “How do we impact our oceans, and how do they in turn
impact us?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: People & Big Data
- Instructor: Sarah Bush, AG Education & Communication
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: This course introduces the uses of big data in the social sciences and the theories, methods, and skills needed for considering the uses and social implications of big data in society. This course examines the human implications of the big data revolution: how algorithms and massive data sets enable your social network and improve society while exposing your private life to strangers and reshaping the social compact.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Personalized Nutrition
- Instructor: Laura Acosta, Zhiyong Cheng, Diana Taft, Food Science & Human Nutrition
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: Can nutrition recommendations be customized for each individual based on their unique genetic, metabolic, and environmental characteristics? This course will grapple with how and where nutrition should fit in an emerging era of precision medicine. Major themes include the molecular determinants of differences among individuals and nutritional contributions, malnutrition and metabolic disorders, and the application of personalized nutrition in disease prevention.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Reproduction: A User's Manual
- Instructor: Justin Callaham, Animal Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description:
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Rhetoric & Privacy in the Digital Age
IDS 2935: Robots: Threat or Opportunity?
- Instructor: Nasim Binesh, Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: This course tries to answer the following pressing questions: How are robots changing our society, and how can we prepare for a future of robots amongst us? This course provides a hands-on approach that builds a bridge between the engineering and technical aspects of AI with business applications focusing on Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management. By the end of this course, students will learn the history of robots from ancient times until now and the current state and future developments in this field.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Art and Science of Astrophotography
IDS 2935: The Economics of Eating
- Instructor: Lijun Chen, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: Through the lens of economics, this course examines modern ways of eating and evaluates their economic viability and sustainability. This examination is complemented by insights drawn from multiple disciplines, such as marketing, nutritional sciences, public health, neuroscience, and agribusiness. This process establishes an understanding of the market forces influencing the decisions of stakeholders involved in the production, transformation, and distribution of foods in a cross-national context.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Evolution of Eating
- Instructor: Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: This course examines scientific innovations that will transform future global food systems. The global food system represents a complex set of actors and processes that connect food production to consumption. Through analysis of how eating evolved, we will formulate ideas on how global food systems will change and function in the future.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Future of Energy
- Instructor: Johanna Engstrom, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: The Future of Energy takes the students on a journey through the history of energy use, issues associated with different technologies, and future challenges and opportunities. The course brings up pressing questions such as Is Renewable Energy Always Sustainable? and What does a Future Sustainable Energy Situation look like? The course also explores geographic differences between different states, countries and societies, which contributes to shaping the energy landscape now and in the future.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Future of Tropical Rain Forests
- Instructor: Emilio Bruna, Wildlife Ecology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Tropical Rain Forests play a vital role in the daily life of every person on Earth, yet they are being cleared worldwide at unprecedented rates. Students will investigate the same fundamental questions that motivate rain forest researchers around the world. Why are we fascinated by tropical rain forests? What gave rise to their astounding biodiversity? How have humans historically used and modified rain forests? What are the causes and consequences of contemporary deforestation? Finally, what can we do to ensure tropical rain forests have a future?
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Universe and Humanity’s Place
- Instructor: Kathryn McGill, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: What is the universe and what is humanity’s place in it? This is one of the fundamental questions that people have always asked. This course will explore humans' view of terrestrial and celestial phenomena from ancient to modern times, and in parallel offer basic explanations of how science views these phenomena today. Topics include the solar system and how various civilizations and eras have conceived of its structure, light and relativity, and modern concepts of cosmology. Students will learn the history and philosophy of science as well as do experiments in class. No prior physics experience is required.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Valuing Circular Food Economies
- Instructor: Jennifer Clark, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: How do we know if a particular decision is best? Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is an economic tool used to study scarce resource decisions and a technique that can be applied to any area of life or work. This course engages students in group discussion and individual viewpoints addressing the question, “How can we create circular (recycling) food systems to conserve society’s scarce resources?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Wealth and Poverty in Today's World
- Instructor: Renata Serra, Center for African Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: What is poverty? How do we measure wealth? Why are some people and countries rich and others poor? Is the gap between the haves and have nots destined to increase? What does it take to lift people out of poverty and create more economically just and inclusive societies?
The course provides students the skills and knowledge to examine the key factors that determine wealth accumulation as well as processes of impoverishment; to uncover how inequalities in income and wealth intersect with other social factors, including race, ethnicity, age and gender; and to explore potential solutions to address increasing inequality and persistent poverty. These themes are analyzed both in the domestic context, by exploring realities in the US and our local community, and internationally, by comparing rich and poor world nations, including in Africa.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What Can Social Science Tell Us about Happiness and Living a Happier Life?
- Instructor: Michael Weigold, Advertising
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: Even before the pandemic of 2020, polls suggested that Americans are less happy than at any time in the past thirty years. Following over two decades of research, social scientists have shared insights about the things that do and don't make us happy. This course explains the science behind these discoveries, reveals the secrets themselves, and offers students an opportunity to incorporate habits, activities, and practices that can help them to lead to a more fulfilling life.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What if there was no Stigma in Mental Health?
- Instructor: Amber Moss, Human Development and Organizational Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- Description: What if there was no stigma related to mental health problems in the U.S.? How would our lived experiences be changed, and what outcomes would improve? The purpose of this course is to explore stigma related to mental health from a social-cultural lens, including confronting myths and misperceptions, exploring intra and interpersonal skills that lead to optimal mental health, and challenging perceptions to create societal and personal change. To meet this aim, the course will explore the root causes of mental health stigma, and why it remains pervasive by examining facets of today’s culture. The arts, media, and historical and social science disciplines’ portrayals of mental health will be deconstructed and regenerated through group discourse and hands-on activities. Students will acquire critical skills to effectively analyze, respond, and take action to counter current policies, practices, and beliefs that perpetuate the stigmatization of mental health.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Why Chemistry Matters
- Instructor: Gail Fanucci, Chemistry
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This cross-disciplinary Quest 2 course examines “Why Chemistry Matters” through analysis and discussion of topics (e.g. agriculture, materials, energy, medicine, human health, nature and the environment) represented in two popular public-facing science novels “The Disappearing Spoon” and “Napoleon’s Buttons” – all focused on aspects of chemical innovations used to tackle problems in society in the past scrutinizing how societal needs and disparities motivate chemical innovation along with the sometimes unintended consequences of how dual-use chemical technologies negatively impact society and diverse groups. The course extends these examples to social and political problems of today and the future; asking “How can Chemistry can help alleviate or answer current and arising challenges in our world today?”, and “How has chemical innovation been motivated by and impacted diverse groups of people?” Take for an example the current coronavirus outbreak. How can scientists, in general work to aid in reducing the spread and impact of this current pandemic? How will this pandemic impact policy and influence global economy? How will economic diversity impact vaccination implementations and future vaccine availability? How do different groups of people respond to vaccination in general? By discussing and examining situations of the past, students will gain a deeper understanding of both the chemical discoveries and innovations over the last two centuries as well gain insights into how political/societal events and chemistry were and continue to be connected.
- Syllabus
Honors
IDS 2935: Biotech Medicine & Agriculture
- Instructor: Kevin Folta, Horticultural Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: In the days of emerging technology in medicine and agriculture, how can we tell good information from bad? What are the mistakes we make in understanding and communicating science? This course uses biotechnology breakthroughs to teach critical evaluation of scientific discoveries and teaches students to be better connoisseurs of information.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Data is Everywhere: Understanding the World Through the Lens of Quantitative Data
- Instructor: Kristian Estevez, Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: What is the Big Data Revolution and where will it lead us? This course will examine how far data can take us by exploring a variety of data sets from a variety of disciplines. We will examine large national and international datasets that transcend disciplinary boundaries and include economic, geographic, health, political, and sociological variables. Students will learn basic skills in how to locate data sets, compose descriptive statistics, and provide meaningful analysis of the data using tables and charts. The concepts learned in the course can apply to data from any field.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Nature in a Hungry World
- Instructor: Mathew Leibold, Biology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: The current generation of humans is the first in human history to experience two important events: 1) Reaching what seems to be carrying capacity for humans on earth (arguably) and 2) Affecting nature in an important way everywhere on earth (almost certainly). This has been called the next major epoch in the history of earth, called the ‘anthropocene’. This class will try to think about what this means: “What is the ‘anthropocene?” and “What does it mean for the relationship between nature and humans”? “How do we protect nature and provide the resources needed for 10 billion (or so) humans, especially those that have important economic challenges?”. We will focus on the basic element of the biology of both natural and human-controlled ecosystems and see if this can help determine what humans might actually DO to manage their relationship with nature and still provide for human welfare and fulfillment.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Statistics and the Physical World
- Instructor: Lawrence Winner, Statistics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: An introduction to Statistics and the scientific method with applications in the physical sciences. General education course makes use of various sources of information, including academic journal articles, mainstream media, weblogs, and a course notes packet. General topics include: Describing Data, Measurement, Basic Probability, Random Variables, Statistical Inference and Experimentation, and statistical methods to compare treatments and assess relations among variables. Computations and graphics use the R computer language. Applications will include: speed of light measurements, interpreting weather probabilities, problems leading to the study of probability, describing physical measurements, and modeling weather trends.
- Syllabus
UF Online
IDS 2935: Bite Me? Insects as Disease Vectors
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online with Required Weekly Meetings
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Arthropod-borne diseases represent some of the most dangerous and major challenges facing human health. They have shaped the course of history and have remained a threat. Everyone has, at one point or the other, been exposed to the nuisance and bites of arthropods and, therefore, potentially to the diseases they may carry. Factors such as the development of drug resistance, evolution of insecticide resistance, constantly changing climate, increased trade and human travel, unplanned urbanization, and changes in agricultural practices account for the emergence, reemergence and spread of these diseases. This is a multidisciplinary course that addresses the interactions of arthropods to humans and the environment. It presents pressing issues relating to the impact of arthropods in public health, and also explores challenging questions such as “what are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology”? and “what can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases”?
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
- Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: The creation of a human that has specific traits or superhuman abilities has been a central theme in science fiction for decades (for example, Captain America). While a body-altering “super serum” seems unlikely, is the creation of a superhuman possible using our current understanding of the human body? This course will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description:
IDS 2935: Future Food
- Instructor: Kelsi Matwick and Keri Matwick, Journalism
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: This course discusses scientific and technological advances in the science of food. Relying on the disciplines of food science, food economics, and linguistics, the course investigates and reflects on how modern science is being used to improve the health of our bodies and our planet.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What Can Social Science Tell Us about Happiness and Living a Happier Life?
- Instructor: Michael Weigold, Advertising
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: Even before the pandemic of 2020, polls suggested that Americans are less happy than at any time in the past thirty years. Following over two decades of research, social scientists have shared insights about the things that do and don't make us happy. This course explains the science behind these discoveries, reveals the secrets themselves, and offers students an opportunity to incorporate habits, activities, and practices that can help them to lead to a more fulfilling life.
IDS 2935: Bite Me? Insects as Disease Vectors
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: Hybrid
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Arthropod-borne diseases represent some of the most dangerous and major challenges facing human health. They have shaped the course of history and have remained a threat. Everyone has, at one point or the other, been exposed to the nuisance and bites of arthropods and, therefore, potentially to the diseases they may carry. Factors such as the development of drug resistance, evolution of insecticide resistance, constantly changing climate, increased trade and human travel, unplanned urbanization, and changes in agricultural practices account for the emergence, reemergence and spread of these diseases. This is a multidisciplinary course that addresses the interactions of arthropods to humans and the environment. It presents pressing issues relating to the impact of arthropods in public health, and also explores challenging questions such as “what are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology”? and “what can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases”?
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Future of Tropical Rain Forests
- Instructor: Emilio Bruna, Wildlife Ecology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Tropical Rain Forests play a vital role in the daily life of every person on Earth, yet they are being cleared worldwide at unprecedented rates. Students will investigate the same fundamental questions that motivate rain forest researchers around the world. Why are we fascinated by tropical rain forests? What gave rise to their astounding biodiversity? How have humans historically used and modified rain forests? What are the causes and consequences of contemporary deforestation? Finally, what can we do to ensure tropical rain forests have a future?
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Reproduction: A User's Manual
- Instructor: Justin Callaham, Animal Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description:
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Biological Factors Affecting Food Justice
- Instructor: Kara Casy, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, Diversity
- Description: How do we grow healthy crops and sustainable food systems that support the diversity of the local communities that they serve? Cultivating food crops requires a basic understanding of biological principles, and cultivating food justice requires a wider view of the societal context in which we grow. In this course students will analyze the biological phenomena and technological advances in urban and rural agricultural production and their impacts on food, the environment, and people.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Personalized Nutrition
- Instructor: Laura Acosta, Zhiyong Cheng, Diana Taft, Food Science & Human Nutrition
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: Can nutrition recommendations be customized for each individual based on their unique genetic, metabolic, and environmental characteristics? This course will grapple with how and where nutrition should fit in an emerging era of precision medicine. Major themes include the molecular determinants of differences among individuals and nutritional contributions, malnutrition and metabolic disorders, and the application of personalized nutrition in disease prevention.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Angelica Ahrens and Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Living and Eating on Earth
- Instructor: James Estrada, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: How can we feed a global population that could exceed 10 billion by 2050? Can we increase food production while still protecting the environment? This class examines the complex relationship between humans, their food, and the environment that sustains them both. Students will explore these themes through reflection on personal beliefs and behaviors, analysis of pressing agricultural and environmental issues, and evaluation of potential solutions for sustainable production. Major themes include agriculture and environmental policies, global trends in population growth, climate change and food security, and how personal and cultural perceptions of food affect trends in consumption and conservation. While these themes will primarily be considered at the global level, local/regional policies and trends may be presented as context for classroom discussions and activities.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Biotech Medicine & Agriculture
- Instructor: Kevin Folta, Horticultural Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: In the days of emerging technology in medicine and agriculture, how can we tell good information from bad? What are the mistakes we make in understanding and communicating science? This course uses biotechnology breakthroughs to teach critical evaluation of scientific discoveries and teaches students to be better connoisseurs of information.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Global Patterns of STIs
- Instructor: Gabriela Hamerlinck, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: This class focuses on the geography of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which have discrete and interesting patterns. STIs are stigmatized and misunderstood by the public, and culture plays a major role in control, prevention, and transmission. We will examine different bacterial and viral STIs and their control and how culture impacts prevention
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
- Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: The creation of a human that has specific traits or superhuman abilities has been a central theme in science fiction for decades (for example, Captain America). While a body-altering “super serum” seems unlikely, is the creation of a superhuman possible using our current understanding of the human body? This course will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Evolution of Eating
- Instructor: Rosalie Koenig, Agronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: This course examines scientific innovations that will transform future global food systems. The global food system represents a complex set of actors and processes that connect food production to consumption. Through analysis of how eating evolved, we will formulate ideas on how global food systems will change and function in the future.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Nature in a Hungry World
- Instructor: Mathew Leibold, Biology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: The current generation of humans is the first in human history to experience two important events: 1) Reaching what seems to be carrying capacity for humans on earth (arguably) and 2) Affecting nature in an important way everywhere on earth (almost certainly). This has been called the next major epoch in the history of earth, called the ‘anthropocene’. This class will try to think about what this means: “What is the ‘anthropocene?” and “What does it mean for the relationship between nature and humans”? “How do we protect nature and provide the resources needed for 10 billion (or so) humans, especially those that have important economic challenges?”. We will focus on the basic element of the biology of both natural and human-controlled ecosystems and see if this can help determine what humans might actually DO to manage their relationship with nature and still provide for human welfare and fulfillment.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Our Oceans: Human Impacts and Impacts on Humans
- Instructor: Melissa Meadows, Biology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: Our oceans. They are stunningly beautiful, profoundly impacted by humans, and vitally important to
human existence. In this course, we will ask “How do we impact our oceans, and how do they in turn
impact us?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Future of Energy
- Instructor: Johanna Engstrom, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: The Future of Energy takes the students on a journey through the history of energy use, issues associated with different technologies, and future challenges and opportunities. The course brings up pressing questions such as Is Renewable Energy Always Sustainable? and What does a Future Sustainable Energy Situation look like? The course also explores geographic differences between different states, countries and societies, which contributes to shaping the energy landscape now and in the future.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Why Chemistry Matters
- Instructor: Gail Fanucci, Chemistry
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This cross-disciplinary Quest 2 course examines “Why Chemistry Matters” through analysis and discussion of topics (e.g. agriculture, materials, energy, medicine, human health, nature and the environment) represented in two popular public-facing science novels “The Disappearing Spoon” and “Napoleon’s Buttons” – all focused on aspects of chemical innovations used to tackle problems in society in the past scrutinizing how societal needs and disparities motivate chemical innovation along with the sometimes unintended consequences of how dual-use chemical technologies negatively impact society and diverse groups. The course extends these examples to social and political problems of today and the future; asking “How can Chemistry can help alleviate or answer current and arising challenges in our world today?”, and “How has chemical innovation been motivated by and impacted diverse groups of people?” Take for an example the current coronavirus outbreak. How can scientists, in general work to aid in reducing the spread and impact of this current pandemic? How will this pandemic impact policy and influence global economy? How will economic diversity impact vaccination implementations and future vaccine availability? How do different groups of people respond to vaccination in general? By discussing and examining situations of the past, students will gain a deeper understanding of both the chemical discoveries and innovations over the last two centuries as well gain insights into how political/societal events and chemistry were and continue to be connected.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Art and Science of Astrophotography
IDS 2935: Energy and Society
- Instructor: Gregory Stewart, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: How will we meet our energy needs based on available resources in a way that is environmentally friendly, economically viable, fair, and politically attainable? This course examines this hard question from scientific, historical, technological, economic, and political perspectives. No prior scientific background is assumed.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Impact of Materials on Society
- Instructor: Kevin Jones, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: We look at how materials --such as ceramics, precious metals, steel, plastics, semiconductors etc. - contributed to the development of technologies and were influenced by social structures worldwide. In groups you learn about cutting-edge materials and discuss their future impact on the world and potential social challenges. From Roman baths, steel foundries and Tupperware parties, to microelectronics, nanomedicine and renewable energy, we examine case studies from the past to imagine the future social impacts of new materials.
- Flyer
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Are We Alone? Searching for ET Life
- Instructor: Naibi Marinas, Astronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, International
- Description: This course covers major scientific developments in astrobiology to understand the nature and limits of life, the distribution of habitable environments in the Universe, and the possibility of encountering extraterrestrial life. The class will explore the societal and personal impact of astrobiology by examining international policies and science fiction.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Living with Rising Seas
- Instructor: Katherine Serafin, Geography
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This course examines the complex relationship between people and coastlines by asking “How can humanity adapt to sea level rise?” Students will connect the science of sea level rise and coastal change to built, natural, and societal impacts, while considering actionable solutions for developing sustainable and equitable coastal futures.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Knowledge and the Universe
- Instructor: Adam Ginsburg & Paul Sell, Astronomy
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: How can different people view the same evidence yet form different conclusions? This course deconstructs the process by which humans assemble knowledge using both historical astronomical examples and current societal issues to address the question of “How do we know what we know?”
- Syllabus-Ginsburg & Syllabus-Sell
IDS 2935: Universe and Humanity’s Place
- Instructor: Kathryn McGill, Physics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: What is the universe and what is humanity’s place in it? This is one of the fundamental questions that people have always asked. This course will explore humans' view of terrestrial and celestial phenomena from ancient to modern times, and in parallel offer basic explanations of how science views these phenomena today. Topics include the solar system and how various civilizations and eras have conceived of its structure, light and relativity, and modern concepts of cosmology. Students will learn the history and philosophy of science as well as do experiments in class. No prior physics experience is required.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Statistics and the Physical World
- Instructor: Lawrence Winner, Statistics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physical Sciences
- Description: An introduction to Statistics and the scientific method with applications in the physical sciences. General education course makes use of various sources of information, including academic journal articles, mainstream media, weblogs, and a course notes packet. General topics include: Describing Data, Measurement, Basic Probability, Random Variables, Statistical Inference and Experimentation, and statistical methods to compare treatments and assess relations among variables. Computations and graphics use the R computer language. Applications will include: speed of light measurements, interpreting weather probabilities, problems leading to the study of probability, describing physical measurements, and modeling weather trends.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Rhetoric & Privacy in the Digital Age
IDS 2935: People & Big Data
- Instructor: Sarah Bush, AG Education & Communication
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: This course introduces the uses of big data in the social sciences and the theories, methods, and skills needed for considering the uses and social implications of big data in society. This course examines the human implications of the big data revolution: how algorithms and massive data sets enable your social network and improve society while exposing your private life to strangers and reshaping the social compact.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Making Sense: Understanding the World with Data and AI
IDS 2935: Robots: Threat or Opportunity?
- Instructor: Nasim Binesh, Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: This course tries to answer the following pressing questions: How are robots changing our society, and how can we prepare for a future of robots amongst us? This course provides a hands-on approach that builds a bridge between the engineering and technical aspects of AI with business applications focusing on Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management. By the end of this course, students will learn the history of robots from ancient times until now and the current state and future developments in this field.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: The Economics of Eating
- Instructor: Lijun Chen, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: Through the lens of economics, this course examines modern ways of eating and evaluates their economic viability and sustainability. This examination is complemented by insights drawn from multiple disciplines, such as marketing, nutritional sciences, public health, neuroscience, and agribusiness. This process establishes an understanding of the market forces influencing the decisions of stakeholders involved in the production, transformation, and distribution of foods in a cross-national context.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Valuing Circular Food Economies
- Instructor: Jennifer Clark, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: How do we know if a particular decision is best? Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is an economic tool used to study scarce resource decisions and a technique that can be applied to any area of life or work. This course engages students in group discussion and individual viewpoints addressing the question, “How can we create circular (recycling) food systems to conserve society’s scarce resources?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Data is Everywhere: Understanding the World Through the Lens of Quantitative Data
- Instructor: Kristian Estevez, Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: What is the Big Data Revolution and where will it lead us? This course will examine how far data can take us by exploring a variety of data sets from a variety of disciplines. We will examine large national and international datasets that transcend disciplinary boundaries and include economic, geographic, health, political, and sociological variables. Students will learn basic skills in how to locate data sets, compose descriptive statistics, and provide meaningful analysis of the data using tables and charts. The concepts learned in the course can apply to data from any field.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Exercise as Medicine
- Instructor: Anna Gardner, Applied Physiology & Kinesiology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: Research has demonstrated numerous health benefits provided by an active lifestyle, yet our country continues to face negative health repercussions given a relatively inactive, sedentary society. This course utilizes numerous disciplines to investigate the role various play in fostering exercise behavior. Learning techniques include philosophical discussion, literature review, self-reflection, interview, and qualitative thematic analysis. Class periods will utilize a high level of faculty-student engagement through qualitative research skill-building, discussions, and lectures incorporating student-led literature reviews.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Empathy & Instagram
- Instructor: Michael Harmon, Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity
- Description: This course investigates how we can promote everyday empathy via social media. This class examines the complex relationship between humans, communication, technology and empathy. This course is multidisciplinary in nature, drawing from psychology, sociology and communication studies. Students will explore these themes through participatory discussions, observational analysis, self-reflections and evaluation. Students will build concrete skills that will help support and promote empathy within our technological world.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Europe’s Food Environment
- Instructor: Agata Kowalewska, European Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: An exploration of human health in the context of European physical and social environments of food production and consumption. It critically considers the continent's food security and nutrition in the context of the UN Agenda 2030 of Sustainable Development Goals. In the course, we will study the physiological needs of the human body with respect to nutrition, and the psychological needs of appetite and cultural customs. We will use the research methods of nutritional sciences to analyze nutrition-linked aspects of health.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What if there was no Stigma in Mental Health?
- Instructor: Amber Moss, Human Development and Organizational Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- Description: What if there was no stigma related to mental health problems in the U.S.? How would our lived experiences be changed, and what outcomes would improve? The purpose of this course is to explore stigma related to mental health from a social-cultural lens, including confronting myths and misperceptions, exploring intra and interpersonal skills that lead to optimal mental health, and challenging perceptions to create societal and personal change. To meet this aim, the course will explore the root causes of mental health stigma, and why it remains pervasive by examining facets of today’s culture. The arts, media, and historical and social science disciplines’ portrayals of mental health will be deconstructed and regenerated through group discourse and hands-on activities. Students will acquire critical skills to effectively analyze, respond, and take action to counter current policies, practices, and beliefs that perpetuate the stigmatization of mental health.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Communication and Civic Engagement
- Instructor: Amy Martinelli, Dial Center
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity, 2000 Words
- Description: In this class, students will learn the intersection of communication and civic engagement. They will critically engage with historic methods of social movements, models of civic engagement, and theories regarding public (and interpersonal) discourses to better understand the most effective ways to be an engaged citizen.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Creating Enabling Technologies for Differently Abled People
- Instructor: Nigel Newbutt, Teaching and Learning
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: This Quest 2 course will explore and examine the current state of the art in the field of assistive technologies with a focus on enabling technologies for neurodiverse and differently abled learners. Students will learn about contemporary developments in the field and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems faced by neurodiverse populations. Classes will be interactive and involve active learning opportunities.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Going Viral
- Instructor: Marit Ostebo, Anthropology
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: In this Quest 2 course we will “think with” the virus to make sense of the rapid circulation of ideas, images, stories, people, things, technologies, and capital that characterizes our digital age. We will explore these movements and processes and the meanings and implications they have for people’s everyday lives through an anthropological and interdisciplinary lens.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Culture & Health
- Instructor: Ashlee Ossiboff, Health Education & Behavior
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences, International
- Description: This course explores cultural and international considerations that influence our health. Students will identify sociocultural roots of health issues, and how their upbringing influences overall health. Culture will be explored through associated constructs (beliefs, values, traditions, etc.) systems (politics, policy, education, etc.) and the physical world (biology, environment, etc.).
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Law, Privacy and Society
- Instructor: Alexander Panayotov, European Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Description: We will explore the concept of privacy by comparing its legal regulation in the United States and the European Union. Students will learn how law and social science conceptualize privacy and develop remedies for protecting personal autonomy and human dignity. In addition, we will discuss several contemporary topics: privacy and sovereignty, cyber attacks, and data monetization.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Wealth and Poverty in Today's World
- Instructor: Renata Serra, Center for African Studies
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: What is poverty? How do we measure wealth? Why are some people and countries rich and others poor? Is the gap between the haves and have nots destined to increase? What does it take to lift people out of poverty and create more economically just and inclusive societies?
The course provides students the skills and knowledge to examine the key factors that determine wealth accumulation as well as processes of impoverishment; to uncover how inequalities in income and wealth intersect with other social factors, including race, ethnicity, age and gender; and to explore potential solutions to address increasing inequality and persistent poverty. These themes are analyzed both in the domestic context, by exploring realities in the US and our local community, and internationally, by comparing rich and poor world nations, including in Africa.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Agritourism and Food Systems
- Instructor: Misti Sharp, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: This class explores the global disconnect between humans and the food, water, and natural resource systems on which we depend. This class uses systems thinking and the fields of agribusiness, ecology, tourism, rural sociology, and economics to explore opportunities in agritourism across the world to reconnect humans with our agri-food-eco systems.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Linguistic Prejudice
- Instructor: Caroline Wiltshire, Linguistics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, Diversity
- Description: It is still widely acceptable to express prejudice towards people who speak in nonstandard ways, based on race, ethnicity, geographic origin (e.g., African-Americans, Hispanics, Southerners, Foreign speakers), and more. We explore the relationships among language varieties, prejudice and real-world consequences, including discrimination in education, housing, healthcare, the justice system, etc., and address the question “what we can do to mitigate the effects of Linguistic Prejudice?”
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Foundations, Principles, and Applications of Sustainable Development
- Instructor: Maria Watson, Construction Management
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International, 2000 Words
- Description: A fundamental understanding of how all forms of culture such as consumerism, food systems, transport, and the built environment transforms nature is needed to understand the challenges and opportunities of international sustainable development. This course provides an understanding of human interventions on the environment in various forms that has led to the appropriation and degradation of natural resources. This course explores the key concepts related to sustainable development worldwide, covers the key environmental and resource issues and effects on humankind if present population and consumption trends remain unchanged, and addresses core questions about culture and nature with a special focus on human interventions on the environment.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Journalism, Justice and Civic Change
- Instructor: Kim Walsh-Childers, Janet Coats, Journalism
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: The course focuses on helping students understand and evaluate journalistic products and processes and their role in democracy. It also gives students an opportunity to learn more about state and local government structures and processes and how citizen engagement can influence them.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What Can Social Science Tell Us about Happiness and Living a Happier Life?
- Instructor: Michael Weigold, Advertising
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: Even before the pandemic of 2020, polls suggested that Americans are less happy than at any time in the past thirty years. Following over two decades of research, social scientists have shared insights about the things that do and don't make us happy. This course explains the science behind these discoveries, reveals the secrets themselves, and offers students an opportunity to incorporate habits, activities, and practices that can help them to lead to a more fulfilling life.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: How Do We End Poverty
- Instructor: Xumin Zhang, Food & Resource Economics
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences, International
- Description: This course invites students to a pressing question – how do we end poverty? It presents the current progress, economic growth, and global commitment to poverty reduction. Students are introduced to the importance of the integration of economic, social, and environmental aspects of poverty reduction and sustainable development.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Bite Me? Insects as Disease Vectors
- Instructor: Tolulope Agunbiade, Entomology and Nematology
- Format: 100% Online with Required Weekly Meetings
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Arthropod-borne diseases represent some of the most dangerous and major challenges facing human health. They have shaped the course of history and have remained a threat. Everyone has, at one point or the other, been exposed to the nuisance and bites of arthropods and, therefore, potentially to the diseases they may carry. Factors such as the development of drug resistance, evolution of insecticide resistance, constantly changing climate, increased trade and human travel, unplanned urbanization, and changes in agricultural practices account for the emergence, reemergence and spread of these diseases. This is a multidisciplinary course that addresses the interactions of arthropods to humans and the environment. It presents pressing issues relating to the impact of arthropods in public health, and also explores challenging questions such as “what are the emerging issues in vector biology and disease epidemiology”? and “what can be done to manage or prevent the occurrence of arthropod-borne diseases”?
IDS 2935: Exploring Our Genome
- Instructor: Jennifer Drew, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description:
IDS 2935: Future Food
- Instructor: Kelsi Matwick and Keri Matwick, Journalism
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences & Behavioral Sciences, 2000 Words
- Description: This course discusses scientific and technological advances in the science of food. Relying on the disciplines of food science, food economics, and linguistics, the course investigates and reflects on how modern science is being used to improve the health of our bodies and our planet.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Can we design “better” humans?
- Instructor: Brian Harfe, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: The creation of a human that has specific traits or superhuman abilities has been a central theme in science fiction for decades (for example, Captain America). While a body-altering “super serum” seems unlikely, is the creation of a superhuman possible using our current understanding of the human body? This course will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: What Can Social Science Tell Us about Happiness and Living a Happier Life?
- Instructor: Michael Weigold, Advertising
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Social Sciences
- Description: Even before the pandemic of 2020, polls suggested that Americans are less happy than at any time in the past thirty years. Following over two decades of research, social scientists have shared insights about the things that do and don't make us happy. This course explains the science behind these discoveries, reveals the secrets themselves, and offers students an opportunity to incorporate habits, activities, and practices that can help them to lead to a more fulfilling life.
HOS 2333: Fighting Food Waste and Loss
- Instructor: Tie Liu, Horticultural Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: Food waste and loss affects us in many ways, ranging from important economic and social issues to environmental problems. We need to develop a sustainable environment for global food security, population growth, and human health. The course focuses on postharvest biology, environmental, food sciences, and communication technology in reducing food waste.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Hazards and Humans
- Instructor: Anita Marshall, Geological Sciences
- Format: 100% Classroom
- Gen Ed: Physcial Sciences, International
- Description: Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods have devastating impacts on human lives. This course examines how scientific understanding can help us prepare for and minimize the impacts of natural disasters, how disasters affect different economic and social populations, and the cultural and historical ties to hazardous landscapes.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Communities and Climate Change
- Instructor: Stephen Mulkey, Biology
- Format: 100% Online Asynchronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences
- Description: The community is where the impacts of climate and ecosystem disruption are experienced, and it will be the front line of adaptation to these impacts. This course provides an overview of anthropogenic climate change and helps students develop an understanding of local and regional resilience and adaptive responses to specific impacts of climate change.
- Syllabus
IDS 2935: Microbes without Borders
- Instructor: Monika Oli, Microbiology and Cell Science
- Format: 100% Online Asyncronous
- Gen Ed: Biological Sciences, International
- Description: In times of a pandemic microbiologists are hard at work. More than ever do we need everyone in the world to understand how microbes work, spread and how they can be controlled and used for beneficial applications. Most students never thought about how microbiology affects everyday life and how the world depends on microbial action and interactions. In Microbes without Borders we explore the world of microbiology in a creative, fun and interactive way.
UF Quest
