First-Year Seminars List

Soundtrack for Change: Music, Social Justice, and Building Community

This first-year seminar course will explore music as a tool for storytelling, resistance, healing, and community building across social movements. A core value of the social work profession is pursuing social change on behalf of the vulnerable and oppressed. Using a social work lens, students will examine how music reflects and responds to inequality related to race, class, gender, sexuality, faith, and immigration. The course emphasizes reflection, dialogue, and connection while supporting the transition to college life. Students will build critical listening skills, explore values and identity, and practice respectful dialogue in a supportive learning space. No musical expertise required!

Hitler and the Holocaust

This course will focus on the destruction of European Jews by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Students will explore the shifting historical conditions from which the Shoah emerged by examining personal memoirs, historical documents, poetry, art, documentary and feature film, novels, and other media that help to illustrate the human experience during this important historical episode. By the end of the course, students will have an expanded knowledge and understanding of the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, the origins and development of antisemitism, the formation and operation of concentration camps, the resistance movements, and the Shoah as a problem for world history. Additionally, students will have engaged with the problematics of representation, memory, ”the memorial,” and witnessing.

Musical Theatre: Who Tells Your Story?

Beginning with the radically integrated yet racially incendiary Show Boat, and cementing itself into popular culture with idealized versions of national identity in Oklahoma and The Music Man, Musical Theatre is both a uniquely American contribution to the arts and an often troubling mirror reflecting how race, gender, and identity are perceived and portrayed. This class will also explore how new musicals like Hamilton and Wicked used the artform to luft up a more inclusive collection of stories and identities.

A Hiker, a Hunter, and a Wolf Walk into a Bar: Is There Enough Nature for Everyone?

The outdoors is a critical part of the Midwestern identity. Abundant lakes, hiking trails, and public lands allow for seemingly unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. But different groups are starting to compete for the same spaces and opportunities. How do we decide how to allocate usage to the outdoors? And, perhaps more importantly, how do our uses of the outdoors impact nature and the conservation of species? This course will explore how a growing human population, along with increasing affluence, is straining the natural environments of the Upper Midwest as well as globally. How can we, as tax-paying citizens, ensure that our lakes, prairies, and every other ecosystem can be enjoyed by everyone now and in the future, while also accepting that not everyone can get what they want when it comes to outdoor activities?

Beyond the Scoreboard: Mental Health and Social Impact in Sports

This seminar explores the intersection of athletic performance, mental health, and social responsibility. Students will examine the psychological pressures faced by athletes, the stigma surrounding mental health in sports, and strategies for promoting resilience and wellbeing.

Healthcare Harmony: Bridging Differences

This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address intolerance in healthcare and promote equity in healthcare delivery, recognizing the diverse perspectives within the spectrum of political beliefs. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will explore the various dimensions of intolerance and discrimination in healthcare settings and examine strategies for fostering inclusivity, cultural competency, and social justice. Drawing on theoretical frameworks, case studies, and practical examples, students will analyze the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and community organizations, in addressing these complex issues. By the end of the course, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with promoting equity in healthcare and be prepared to actively engage in advocacy, policymaking, and community action to effect positive change, utilizing a range of perspectives and approaches.

Let Food Be Thy Medicine: Prevention or Snake oil

This course is designed to challenge you to consider the role of nutrition in the development of certain lifestyle-related disease, confront diet trends and popular media misconceptions, and deepen your understanding of the impact of food choices on personal health as well as health and well-being of our communities. As popular media has flooded our screens with nutrition claims, some evidence-based, some not, the role of nutrition in health is becoming more apparent. In this course you will grow your health literacy and your ability to find and interpret evidence-based nutrition information. You will engage with the latest scientific research, challenge widespread nutrition misinformation, and dive-deeper into personal and community specific nutrition related topics. With guest speakers, peer-reviewed research, podcasts, TED talks, and relevant readings, you will grapple with real-world questions pertaining to links between nutrition and health and the numerous ways in which simple dietary changes can make a huge difference in the health status of people across the world.

The Engaged Scientist

What is the role of the scientist in society, and what responsibilities come with this role? In this seminar, we’ll begin by looking at what it takes to be successful in STEM – both as a student and as a professional scientist. Then we’ll examine the role of the scientist in a democratic society and look at examples from throughout the history of how scientists have used their understanding of science and the natural world to call attention to critical issues and influence the decisions of leaders.

What Can Critical Race Theory Teach Us About Citizenship?

Citizenship is more than a legal status - it is a story. As recent executive orders and federal policies regulate how race and disparities are taught, narratives of national identity become a federally-sanctioned mechanism for defining who belongs, who is excluded, and if and how we can talk about it. Engaged citizens might be curious and ask what is circulating around these restrictive policies and what is at stake in repressing education. This seminar examines the relationship between censorship, citizenship, and power. From historical archives to pop-culture using the now-banned framework of Critical Race Theory-students will investigate how citizenship is both defined and denied through legislating knowledge.

Entrepreneurial Mindset & Social Entrepreneurship

This course introduces students to the attitudes, behaviors, and skills needed to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Students will recognize how an entrepreneurial mindset allows an individual to act in entrepreneurial ways – recognizing opportunities and using imagination and creativity to solve problems while being resourceful and having a sense of self-efficacy, agency, and resiliency. This course places emphasis on social entrepreneurship and students, as engaged citizens, will take a deep dive into the entrepreneurial process to solve an existing social problem by using an Opportunity Discovery Process where they will problem-find, problem-solve, and create value. Through individual reflection, students will discover who they are and what they can do to make a difference in the world and contribute to society in an entrepreneurial context.

Systems Thinking for Social Progress

Often, social entrepreneurs and activists propose solutions without fully understanding the root causes of their complex social issue. Systems thinking approaches complex human problems by focusing on the interrelatedness and relationships between problems and their causes, rather than individual aspects in isolation. In this seminar, you will use systems analysis tools such as the iceberg model and impact gaps canvas to better understand the root causes of complex social challenges. Students will decide upon the exact social challenges that we will engage in for the course, but some examples could include freedom of speech, access to nutritious foods, political polarization, and addiction.

Ideas that Run the World

This course explores big ideas that shape how people see the world, argue about worldviews, and make – or do not make – decisions as groups. You’ll examine why people disagree so strongly about issues like freedom, equality, markets, rights, and power—and how those disagreements turn into real-world outcomes. Instead of focusing on parties or elections, the course looks at influential thinkers and ideas, from classic texts to modern debates, and connects them to everyday conflicts, media, and current events. You’ll practice comparing ideas, making clear arguments, and understanding perspectives different from your own—skills that matter in any major and beyond college.

Medieval Fantasy and the Modern World

In this class, students explore the modern legacies of the medieval world through various artistic mediums like film, literature, graphic novel, video & board game, festival and performance. What is it about the medieval fantasy world that continues to captivate our modern sensibilities? From Monty Python to Game of Thrones, from Zelda to Live Action Role Play, medieval pop culture continues to dispel the myth of the "Dark Ages" and reveal instead a world much like our own--one governed by faith, science, humor, joy, sorrow, and a relentless love for story. By studying the modern legacies of medieval fantasy, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the human condition across the longue durée. In addition, by exploring the medieval legacies of the modern citizenry through specific frameworks like Gender & Sexuality, Queer & Disability Theory, Medieval Race Thinking, and Class & Capitalism, students will gain a stronger working knowledge of their role in the modern nation state.

Queer Citizenship: an introduction to Queer Theory

How do we become an engaged citizen when our very identities are not acknowledged by our nation state? For many LGBTQ+ peoples this is a common question. Regardless of sexual orientation, one cannot engage in citizenship without engaging with their identity including sexual orientation, gender identity, and the many other social categories that artificially enhance and constrain our experiences. This course will explore Queer Theory from an interdisciplinary critical perspective, aiming to understand how social categories affect the perception and presentation of our bodies, voice, actions, language, education, work, religion, media, and more. This course will challenge and/or reimagine "normal" gender and sexual arrangements. This course will also provide a space for all peoples to explore said arrangement, whether they be queer, heterosexual, cisgender, transgender, or simply existing without the need for a label. This is a space for all of us to explore and understand the complexities of our identities without the pressure to fit into neat little boxes.

Exercise is Medicine

This course is designed for you to learn about exercise as medicine while promoting physical activity as a vital sign of health. You will assess, evaluate, and analyze your health and physical activity habits and beliefs, as well as those of the Concordia community. You will have the opportunity to establish exercise is medicine educational programs and promotions on campus, while working to improve your health and well-being, as well as that of the campus community.

Gender and Migration in Asia's Aging Societies

What happens when the world's most rapidly aging societies desperately need what their social structures have long constrained-women's full participation and immigrant communities? This course explores the complex intersection of gender and immigration in South Korea and Japan, societies experiencing unprecedented demographic crises with plummeting birth rates and rapidly aging populations. We will analyze the experiences of marriage migrants, eldercare workers, and professional immigrants while investigating how gender shapes attitudes toward immigration-do native women view immigration differently then native men, and how do immigrant women face compounded forms of discrimination? Through interdisciplinary readings, policy analysis, and comparative case studies, students will develop critical thinking skills about citizenship, belonging, and social change in an interconnected world. By examining how demographic pressures challenge traditional notions of national identity, students will reflect on their own roles as engaged citizens in addressing issues of inclusion, equity, and justice in diverse democratic societies.

A Journey to Gender Empowerment in the Global South

This course is designed to help students achieve an inclusive portrait of women’s participation in the private and public spheres through social and political activism and cultural activity. A second important objective of this course is the analysis of the construction of gender relationships in the XIX, XX, and XXI centuries from literary, historical, and sociocultural perspectives. Special attention is given to how political power has shaped and influenced the construction of gender relationships in Latin America to explain the situation of inequality and inequity for women today. Cross-cultural comparisons related to the topics covered in the syllabus are an important component of this class. Students are expected to participate actively through whole class conversations, group discussions, individual presentations, and interaction with our guest speakers, who include scholars from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and the Fargo/Moorhead community.

Nonprofit Leadership and Community Engagement

This course seeks to provide a foundational understanding of the nonprofit community and the integrated nature of leading from the inside out through both organizational and community engagement. Students will recognize community needs, grapple with complex issues, and understand the integral role of advocacy as a way to address and solve social problems. This course explores local, national, and international nonprofit organizations including their mission, vision, scope, and purpose in addition to understanding critical challenges and potential solutions. Student teams will build working relationships and gain first-hand knowledge of the distinctive professional skills necessary for rewarding careers in nonprofits through partnering with a local nonprofit organization. Face-to-face meetings with organizational CEOs and their executive leadership teams contribute to the data-gathering process including historical roots, services provided, leadership and management, governance structure, stakeholders, challenges, and future plans. This course contributes to a heightened understanding of the vital role of the nonprofit sector and the well-being of our entire community.

Science Denial or Healthy Skepticism: I'm Just Asking Questions

In this seminar, we'll explore the difference between healthy skepticism and science denial. So, what's a healthy skeptic? It's someone who questions ideas, especially scientific claims, by looking at the evidence before jumping to conclusions. But many people who describe themselves as skeptics are actually engaging in science denial, which is rejecting scientific findings despite overwhelming evidence and expert consensus. Examples of this include saying climate change isn't real, claiming vaccines aren't safe, or insisting GMO foods are harmful. We will explore the historical, psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence science denial. We’ll also discuss how the media, our own biases, the groups we belong to, and how divided we are as a society all play a role in creating and perpetuating science denial. Finally, we will identify ways to promote scientific literacy and respond to science denial in our lives, whether it’s online, at school, or in conversations with friends and family.

Touch the Future: Youth Work and Civic Engagement

Embark on a transformative journey with "Touch the Future: Youth Work and Civic Engagement," a dynamic course designed to ignite your passion for working with children and adolescents. This course provides an in-depth exploration of youth work principles and the critical role of civic engagement in shaping vibrant, resilient communities. In the end, you will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to become a proactive leader in your community. Whether you're passionate about education, coaching, social justice, or public service, "Touch the Future: Youth Work and Civic Engagement" will enable you to make a lasting difference in your community.

Once Upon a Community: Creating Connections Through Storytelling

Storytelling is at the heart of what it means to be human. For centuries, we have told stories to educate, entertain, persuade, and connect. In this course, we will explore the power of personal narratives and the ways storytelling fosters relationships and builds community. We will engage with stories from a variety of sources, from published texts to oral narratives shared by seemingly ordinary people. We will weave in our own narratives as we meet others to learn their stories and create community. Through this process, we will cultivate essential skills like empathy, curiosity, deep listening, critical thinking, cultural awareness, respectful dialogue, and civic engagement. This course is not about learning how to tell stories but rather an exploration of the deeply human art of sharing them.

Helping, Healing, and the Creative Arts

Art is a vital part of life, fostering creativity and self-expression while deepening our understanding of the world and our place in it. This course explores creative arts—including music, writing, visual art, and movement—as tools for imagination, skill-building, and inspiration. How can the creative arts contribute to healing? Through various artistic mediums, students will engage with personal, local, national, and global issues. Please Note: This course includes reading, writing, and discussions on topics such as mental health, trauma, and systemic injustice.

Ego, Other, and the Self: Poetics as Presence

This course is an invitation to inhabit the world more deeply. By blending poetics with simple contemplative practices, we will investigate how the "radical act" of writing can shift our focus away from self-identification and toward a genuine encounter with the "Other". We will treat the poem not just as a text, but as a physical space for meditation, stillness, and profound self-discovery.

The Samurai: Myth, Legend, and History

Have you ever wondered what the samurai were actually like? Maybe you’ve seen a master swordsman in an anime, or a stoic wanderer in a classic Japanese film and wondered what inspired these archetypical characters. This seminar will examine the history and evolution of Japan’s class of professional warriors. We will focus in particular upon unpacking samurai myths, and contemporary representations of samurai to compare them with historical evidence of real samurai behavior. Samurai show us a vivid example of the often significant gap between history and historical memory - that is to say, mythmaking. Understanding that difference, whether about samurai or any other topic, is a crucial piece of responsible engagement with our complex world.

Uh-oh! Internet Explorer is out of date.

First-Year Seminars (Fall 2026)