Inspiring, Innovative & Imaginative: A Sampling of Fall 2023 CLA Classes
Welcome back, Gophers! The College of Liberal Arts is proud to host a diverse range of courses, allowing deep dives into important and exciting topics, from LGBTQ literature to the history of rock music. Here are ten intriguing classes we’re teaching this semester.
![Close up of mosaic butterflies](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/mosaic_butterly_chicano_feature.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=VHORfVFI)
Study race and ethnicity in order to rethink foundational ideas, histories, and movements in United States society and beyond.
![A brightly colored illustrated map of the Mediterranean Sea Basin](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/map-of-mediterranean-sea-1280x720_0.jpeg?h=c673cd1c&itok=K_itRpHU)
Watch and analyze films from France, Southern Europe, the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Levant that tackle migration.
![View of earth from space looking down on Africa, Europe, and the Middle East](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-41953-870x580px.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=gpOoPVWk)
Explore the geography of biodiversity and productivity, from conspicuous species to those that cause human disease and economic hardship.
![Colorful stack of books](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/Colorful%20Books.jpeg?h=e379ed40&itok=dSMjQuCL)
Examine a selection of poetry, prose, and film to explore how LGBTQIA life in the US has changed significantly over the past few decades.
![COP21 image](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/global_climate.jpg?h=06ac0d8c&itok=OEo_YKjY)
Discover the impacts of ecological crisis while learning how advocacy takes shape locally, nationally, and globally, embark on field trips and hear from local leaders.
![Photo of a student using a computer.](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/570x380_student-on-a-computer_151130_0213.jpg?h=5b3035e0&itok=QFo5pPjz)
Explore the impact digital games have on our culture and society as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entertainment media industry.
![Guitar player](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/guitar.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=JWsk4UxE)
Dive into the musical, cultural, and historical evolution of rock music and related pop forms, from progressive rock to disco to hip-hop.
![Portrait of Valerie Tiberius](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/Valerie%20Tiberius%20870x580.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=8WJqlWGj)
Learn strategies for identifying your most important goals while exploring research on happiness.
![UMN Students walking on the mall](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/unsorted/images/lam2012_mg_6074.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=qa7EvZxl)
In stark contrast to the erroneous weight-focused “freshman 15,” this holistic framework uses a biopsychosocial framework to examine personal health influences and choices.
![Abstract illustration with black and white photos of upside down smiling faces, brain scans, and people. Randomly placed bars of color in blue, green, yellow, and red.](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image_portrait/public/BrainScansSmilingFaces-HowardLavine-NBC-OpEd.png?h=179566f4&itok=UikCJTTr)
Examine societal perceptions of developmental and acquired communication disorders, including Autism, Motor Speech Disorders, Hearing Impairments, and more.