As a cornerstone of our innovative undergraduate curriculum, UCLA offers up to 200 seminars annually through the Fiat Lux Freshman Seminar Program. These seminars provide students and faculty with small group settings to engage in meaningful discussions on a range of topics. Students receive one-unit of academic credit and faculty members from across campus have the opportunity to share with undergraduates their areas of intellectual passion and expertise. True to the University of California's motto, "Fiat Lux - Let There Be Light," these seminars illuminate the many pathways of discovery!
Survey of classic animation from the 20th century. Study of cartoons as a continuation of some of the key themes, narrative devices, and recurring character types in oral/traditional storytelling.
Exploration of the Arab uprisings that broke out in 2010-2011. Topics considered include underlying factors that contributed to the uprisings, their diversity and trajectories, predictability of rebellions, and historical precedents.
Progress in understanding basic brain mechanisms underlying behavior holds the promise that we will soon be poised to use this knowledge to help manage our own brain function for personal health and achievement. Exploration of the scientific and ethical issues involved in: creating personal predictive models of one's own future health risks and opportunities based on behavioral tests, genetic tests, and other biological information; creating external prostheses for goal-setting and daily scheduling of activities based on brain-behavior theory; and developing collaborative frameworks for sharing, and protecting personal information. Includes readings, discussion, and personal experiences with these brain management strategies.
