(no subject)
So I am in the process of signing up for a University Seminar course that is required as a freshman at SPU. There are so many different ones to pick from, but I've narrowed it down to four that all sound pretty interesting. Any input from anyone would be just lovely.
1) The Dynamics of Vocation: Perceiving and Responding to Your Life's Calling
CRN 2855
What is your calling in life? This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts at a Christian university through the concept of vocation. Exploring narratives, memoirs, and theologies of vocation, the seminar will consider the variety of ways in which people come to recognize and fulfill their life's calling. Students will encounter such figures as Birgitta of Sweden, Frederick Douglass, and Frederick Buechner with the aim of developing their own skills of vocational discernment. Occasionally, the seminar will examine pertinent films such as "Field of Dreams" and "Dead Poets Society" with an eye toward themes of calling and purpose. The focus will not be limited to professional vocation or choosing one's career. Rather, the seminar will seek broadly to consider the responsible and joyful use of one's time, labors, and gifts. Instructor's discipline: Theology.
2) I Really Want to Be Mother Teresa, But Life Gets in the Way
CRN 2849
Explore how Mother Teresa’s lifestyle can be modeled in your life. This seminar introduces first-year college freshmen to the liberal arts in a Christian university through the investigation of the sayings and life of Mother Teresa. Using her words and sayings as the foundation for the curriculum, we will study topics such as personal holiness; Christ in the poor; loneliness; suffering; prayer; generosity; service; and love. Time will be spent looking at the call and vocation of the students, their dreams, and goals for their life and how they can integrate their beliefs into their present and future lifestyle. Students will have opportunities to work in the community and act out the qualities of Mother Teresa. In her words, "God does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be faithful. When facing God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what is important." Instructor's discipline: Education.
3) Music and Mystery
CRN 2865
Explore musical expression as a reflection of the human experience. This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts in a Christian university by exploring ways in which musical expression reflects the experience of being human. We will seek to interpret the deep mysteries of emotion, death, nature, and religious belief through works as diverse as Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time," songs of the U.S. Civil War, and African-American spirituals. Students will listen to, discuss and write about music from various epochs and genres and will attend live musical events - from Christian chant in a cathedral setting to the Seattle Symphony - in our quest to discover how music affects us so deeply. Instructor’s discipline: Music.
4) Other People, Other Faiths
CRN 2860
Explore what makes Christianity different from other faiths. This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts at a Christian university. Students will investigate the question: Why is Christianity distinctive? We will explore the history and beliefs of other religions with an emphasis on the nature of human religious experience by reading texts such as Huston Smith's Religions of the World as well as texts of other religions such as the Koran and the Dhammapada. Our objective will be to sharpen our own understanding of our personal religious faith and experience. Instructor's discipline: English.
I think I'm definitely leaning towards number 3, but I don't know. We'll see.
1) The Dynamics of Vocation: Perceiving and Responding to Your Life's Calling
CRN 2855
What is your calling in life? This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts at a Christian university through the concept of vocation. Exploring narratives, memoirs, and theologies of vocation, the seminar will consider the variety of ways in which people come to recognize and fulfill their life's calling. Students will encounter such figures as Birgitta of Sweden, Frederick Douglass, and Frederick Buechner with the aim of developing their own skills of vocational discernment. Occasionally, the seminar will examine pertinent films such as "Field of Dreams" and "Dead Poets Society" with an eye toward themes of calling and purpose. The focus will not be limited to professional vocation or choosing one's career. Rather, the seminar will seek broadly to consider the responsible and joyful use of one's time, labors, and gifts. Instructor's discipline: Theology.
2) I Really Want to Be Mother Teresa, But Life Gets in the Way
CRN 2849
Explore how Mother Teresa’s lifestyle can be modeled in your life. This seminar introduces first-year college freshmen to the liberal arts in a Christian university through the investigation of the sayings and life of Mother Teresa. Using her words and sayings as the foundation for the curriculum, we will study topics such as personal holiness; Christ in the poor; loneliness; suffering; prayer; generosity; service; and love. Time will be spent looking at the call and vocation of the students, their dreams, and goals for their life and how they can integrate their beliefs into their present and future lifestyle. Students will have opportunities to work in the community and act out the qualities of Mother Teresa. In her words, "God does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be faithful. When facing God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what is important." Instructor's discipline: Education.
3) Music and Mystery
CRN 2865
Explore musical expression as a reflection of the human experience. This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts in a Christian university by exploring ways in which musical expression reflects the experience of being human. We will seek to interpret the deep mysteries of emotion, death, nature, and religious belief through works as diverse as Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time," songs of the U.S. Civil War, and African-American spirituals. Students will listen to, discuss and write about music from various epochs and genres and will attend live musical events - from Christian chant in a cathedral setting to the Seattle Symphony - in our quest to discover how music affects us so deeply. Instructor’s discipline: Music.
4) Other People, Other Faiths
CRN 2860
Explore what makes Christianity different from other faiths. This seminar introduces first-time college freshmen to the liberal arts at a Christian university. Students will investigate the question: Why is Christianity distinctive? We will explore the history and beliefs of other religions with an emphasis on the nature of human religious experience by reading texts such as Huston Smith's Religions of the World as well as texts of other religions such as the Koran and the Dhammapada. Our objective will be to sharpen our own understanding of our personal religious faith and experience. Instructor's discipline: English.
I think I'm definitely leaning towards number 3, but I don't know. We'll see.