CCRF Seminars: The Common Year Program (CYP)

[1] HUMA 10000. The Common Room: living and learning together. 0 Units.

  • Autumn Quarter annually
  • Tuesdays: 12:30 – 1:30 pm
  • Instructors: Dr. Nichole J. Fazio, CCRF, and Dr. Zack Loveless, Hyde Park Institute
  • Credit/units: pass/no-pass/0-credit

Catalogue Description: College is a time for community building – forming lasting friendships, participating in the academic community, determining communities one will serve or professional communities one will participle in. Living and learning in community is, in fact, at the heart of the liberal arts tradition and central to the mission of the University of Chicago’s undergraduate college. But how does one participate in this unique space well? How do we choose friends and what role might they play in our lives? How does one learn to listen carefully to the views and experiences of others? How do we determine what communities we wish to serve? These are some of the questions we will engage with together through a mix of seminar discussions, guided conversation, and reflection. In addition to the formal seminar meetings, we will enjoy a set number of shared meals together, as well as with faculty and staff guests from across the university. Requirements include attendance at each session and dinner, as well as the completion of brief weekly exercises. This seminar is designed to complement our Winter and Spring Quarter sequence, which provides the opportunity to reflect deeply and holistically on the purpose and structure of your UChicago education and its components, including research and service.

[2] HUMA 10001. Undergraduate Research: What, Why, and How. 0 Units.

Catalogue Description: Faculty-mentored research experiences can complement and deepen academic work done in the classroom, nurture mentoring relationships, and prepare students for national and international fellowships, graduate study, and diverse careers—but where do you start? This course introduces the basics of undergraduate research. We will discover what the practice of research entails in different fields, discuss why undergraduates might choose to get involved in research, and practice foundational skills and literacies that are essential for any undergraduate researcher. Presenters include staff from the College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) and the University Library, as well as current undergraduate researchers and faculty members. Topics include navigating the library’s vast array of physical and digital resources; working with archives and special collections; managing, analyzing, and sharing data; ethical conduct of research; writing research proposals; and sharing your research. We will also think together about the role research experiences might play in your UChicago education and how to decide whether research is right for you. Together we will demystify the world of research, understand how research experiences can align with broader academic and vocational goals, and take practical steps to prepare for involvement in research. Requirements include attendance at each session and completion of brief weekly exercises. This seminar is designed to complement our Spring Quarter sequence, which provides the opportunity to reflect deeply and holistically on the purpose and structure of your UChicago education and its components, including research.

** REGISTRATION NOW OPEN** [3] HUMA 10002. Wayfinding, Practice, and Purpose. 0 Units.

Catalogue Description: At the heart of a US liberal arts education is the idea that students should not only learn broadly and train in an academic discipline, but also discover how they will use their education and talents to serve the world. Yet, time for developing this knowledge is becoming an ever-rarer part of collegiate life. This course provides structured activities, conversational space, and habits of mind that support students’ wayfinding process and the development of their own sense of purpose. Self-reflection and goal setting exercises, in addition to sessions on values clarification and virtue cultivation, prepare students not only to make the most of their time at UChicago, but also to serve the causes they deem most meaningful. Presenters include staff from the College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) and Hyde Park Institute (HPI), as well as current undergraduate students, staff, and faculty members at the University of Chicago. Requirements include attendance at each session and completion of brief weekly exercises. This seminar is designed to complement our Autumn and Winter Quarter sequence, which provides the opportunity to reflect deeply and holistically on the purpose and structure of your UChicago education and its components, including living and learning in community, and undergraduate research.