Secondary School Curriculum : This course will provide a critical analysis of the content, organization and evaluation of the secondary school curriculum. Specifically we will focus on 1) representations in popular culture through viewing film 2) integrated curriculum through examining "Teaching on the Levees" a curriculum based on Hurricane Katrina and 3) issues of accountability by examining "No Child Left Behind". The course will engage theory and practice to provide students a means of rethinking the role of secondary curriculum in a democratic society.

Current Trends in Education: Mysteries Revealed in a Practical Engagement of Theory: Have you ever had the sense that you are being asked to work a math problem that involves long division but somewhere along the way you missed the class on addition and subtraction? And even worse it appears everyone else has moved on to calculus. Unfortunately, this is a common experience in graduate school as students grow closer to the completion of their course work, comprehensive/general exams, dissertation/thesis proposals and defenses. Often, the missing part of this equation is a firm grasp of entry level theories that are foundational to the graduate process. In this quick-paced and engaging seminar the missing steps will be re-traced and the relationship between social science theories, the development of a theoretical framework, data collection and analysis will be revealed in a non-intimidating approachable manner. The first portion of the course will provide a general overview of specific theoretical traditions. From there the class will assist students in applying theories to the actual phase (i.e. comprehensive exam, prospectus, proposal, etc.) of the graduate process that they are engaging.

Unspoken: Engaging Taboo Subjects in College Teaching: In this quick paced and engaging seminar students will explore approaches for dealing with several of the most controversial issues that occur in college classrooms. The topics that you were always told not to discuss in public settings (religion, politics, sexuality, and race) often occur in classrooms. However, lacking meaningful information and skill at effectively facilitating the resulting discussions that arise from these topics some of the best opportunities for teaching and learning are either missed or badly botched. In this class students will learn ways to engage these topics as pedagogues and practitioners across multiple disciplines and subject areas.