Please note, this UNIV Seminar is only offered in conjunction with the Wellness Learning Community. Visit Learning Community to learn more.

During the transition to college, many students find themselves dealing with the various environmental changes that effect areas of wellness, such as: physical health, emotional and mental states, nutrition and weight management, and overall spiritual happiness. A wellness-based course in the first year college student can be correlated to improved academic success and overall happiness (Lafountaine et al., 2006). This course will focus on 6 areas of wellness throughout the semester to help the student develop and implement a personal wellness plan for a happy and fulfilled life! Students will get to engage in hands-on activities, group discussions, and group projects to understand these wellness areas. For example, learning the principles of fitness, habits for healthy eating on a college campus, and managing stress-specific events during the academic semester.

Specifically, Lindenwood has a large athletic population that already has a vested interest in their health, however; learning how to keep life balanced in this new academically challenging environment takes a particular skill set. After completing this course students will have the tools necessary to overcome the many obstacles college students face during the first year to maintain a healthy well-being. Additionally, students will be introduced to the exciting field of health science where they could further explore a major in exercise science, recreation, athletic training, public health, or wellness management. Our school also offers 10 minors in a variety of areas that the course will expose the students to through course activities.

Lafountaine, J., Neisen, M, & Parsons, R. (2006). Wellness factors in first year college students. American Journal of Health Studies, 21(4), 214-218.

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

This course will explore the life and legacy of Annie M. Malone, an African American, woman, beauty culturist, global entrepreneur, philanthropist, and millionaire. Annie Malone's multimillion dollar Poro College was located in St. Louis, Missouri from 1902-1930. Malone's vertical enterprise was also the blueprint many successful entrepreneurs used to create their businesses; one being Madame CJ Walker. This course will provide opportunities for students to connect with the Annie Malone Historical Society, and the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 8-8:50 a.m.

Strategy and logic board games have exploded in popularity, especially during the global pandemic. They are a great way to build community. People come together for a common goal – to win. As a biology professor I can vouch for the scientific accuracy of board games like Pandemic, Cytosis: The Cell Biology Board Game, and Periodic: A Game of the Elements. Students will learn and be engaged through the use of board games.

Time Offered: Mondays, 11-11:50 a.m.

It will help students develop self-esteem and discover their true identity and self-worth. It will also focus on the 3+1 Cs, namely, Clear thinking, Critical thinking, Creative thinking and Curiosity.

Time Offered: Thursdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

The outline of this course framework will be about the board game CLUE. Utilizing a murder mystery theme, assignments will be assigned for students to inquire with various Lindenwood services and/or offices to determine or solve the CLUE mystery. Students will submit assignments according to the scavenger hunt.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:20 a.m.

In this course, students use thought experiments to propose "what if" ideas of possible made-up world scenarios. These proposals are written up and shared with the rest of the class and serve as the basis for weekly discussions of what those worlds might actually be like, the philosophical implications of the thought experiments, and tips for actually creating/writing things to bring the worlds to life in art.

Students love talking about "what-if" scenarios, especially when they are free to explore whatever interests them. It's an informal way of experiencing the best parts of philosophy and creativity as well as being very social.

Time Offered: Mondays, 11-11:50 a.m.

Students will get to know Lindenwood through the lens of creativity. There are multiple opportunities to engage with other students, faculty, and staff as well as the community at large through creative endeavors.

Time Offered: Thursdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

Please note, this UNIV Seminar is only offered in conjunction with a Learning Community. Visit Learning Community to learn more.

This course is extremely interactive and is designed to help students understand more about the university and themselves. Students will get the opportunity to learn more about resources, wellness, and the opportunity to experience service-learning.

Time Offered: Thursdays, 9:30-10:20 a.m.

I wonder, wonder, wonder…Is that explosion in a movie legit. Why is there only one lab tech in a forensics lab on a television/streaming crime show. How are hundreds of pieces of evidenced analyzed in 20 seconds, my computer takes longer to start than that? Does Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper) really know Physics? How does bread rise? Why did the mayo separate? What preservatives am I eating? I would love to ride on the Zamboni. How does it get the ice so shiny? Man the last few seasons of baseball have seen a larger number of homeruns, is the ball “juiced”? How does a water spider walk on water? Why is my water for my pasta taking so long to come up to a boil? How does snow form?  Do snowflakes have different shapes? Does the weather really affect animals?…and a whole lot more. Experience the Freshman seminar of: Entertainment, Food, Sports, Chemistry…OH MY!!!!

As a graduate of Saint Louis University with BA and MS(R) in Chemistry my area of specialty is Surface and Colloidal Chemistry. I am an avid Cardinals and Blues fan. I hold blue ribbons (first place) from the Missouri State Fair for Canning. I enjoy cooking, learning about cooking, brewing, and other beverage making. As a trained volunteer weather spotter, you will find me outside when a thunderstorm approaches. However, I am not crazy to go storm chasing. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Day trips and the outdoors in the summer are some of my favorite activities.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 8-8:50 a.m.

Have you ever thought about business and wonder where its place is at in the world? Do you ever see business news and wonder, what is going on and how could this happen? This course will dive into some of the hot topics in recent business by looking at real world stories. Topics will include, but not limited to Ecommerce, Bitcoin and Block Chain, the New York Stock Exchange, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Social Justice. Special emphasis will be placed on where business is and where it is headed.  

Bailey Hays has been a Professional Advisor for the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Lindenwood University since August 2020. He obtained degrees in accounting as well as philosophy from Lindenwood University in May of 2020. There following, he completed the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) in the Spring of 2022. During his time as a student, Bailey was a member of the bowling team, student fellow for the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise, completed internships with Deloitte and Energizer Holdings Inc., and focused on insights related to philosophy, politics, and economics.

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 11-11:50 a.m.

When we sit down to a meal, we typically fail to recognize the complex cultural, social, economic, political, and geographic processes that support the meal’s composition.  Further, we don’t always recognize the importance of the ritual!  For many of us, our fondest memories and strongest traditions involve sharing a meal with family, with friends, or with both.  In this class, through readings, discussions (and, of course, some eating), we will foster a greater appreciation for the entirety of the meal experience.  We will investigate the origin of meal ingredients, the process of transforming those ingredients into our favorite dishes, and how and why the sharing of a meal is one of the most fundamental of human activities.

I am Professor Meri Marsh and I might be the first and only geographer you ever meet! have 3 degrees in Geography: my BA is from Calvin College, and my MA and PhD are from the University of California Santa Barbara (go Gauchos!).  I have been teaching geography at Lindenwood for 10 years. In my free time, I love to read, I love to run, I love to garden and I love to cook!  Which leads me to this course: food is so much more complex and important than we realize.  Our meals represent a complex and global geography while also signifying some of the most foundational experiences in our lives (e.g. family dinner).

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Students will learn the basic skills of crocheting. Once we have mastered the beginning stitches, we will make blue beanies for the organization "Hats not Hate".

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Do you have a cause that you are deeply passionate about? Do you like social media, podcasts, and bingeing the latest TV series? In this course, we will examine social issues affecting our campus, local, and global communities, stay up-to-date on world news, and learn how to do good better, all while examining modern ways in which we interact with social justice. You will use your individual academic interest areas and skills to work as a team with your peers to complete a service learning project while learning about sustainable service and social justice in a modern world.

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Do you even lift Bro? If it fits your Macros. My followers will love this. If it’s not posted, did it really happen? Today social media plays an incredible role in allowing people to share information and even foster communities of people with similar interests. Unfortunately, within the field of Exercise Science and Health Sciences in general, it is often difficult for most people to recognize the good from the bad. The so called FitFluencers, InstaFit models and BroScientist make it challenging to distinguish between genuine, scientifically based information and basic propaganda. Countless individuals use social media and their followers to promote specific products and personal opinions, many of these are not based on true science. As a result, some social media personalities are able to prey on people not actually knowing the science behind the products or claims. So how can people figure out the truth or know which sources to trust? The purpose of this course is to begin to understand the actual scientific principles in the sports & fitness world. We will also learn about myths and truths in the fitness or nutrition world and ways to identify who to trust and who to question.

Scott Richmond earned a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University, then earned a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kansas and worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Scholar at Washington University-School of Medicine. He has taught Introductory and general education courses up to upper level major and graduate courses. He has always been interested in learning how different technologies or substances can improve performance and has supervised numerous student research projects. He enjoys being in the classroom, lab, or gym and loves spending time with his family.

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 11-11:50 a.m.

The course will follow a book, "How to Be a Good Creature," which takes a close examination of animals and the lessons we can learn about being a good person from them. New students often feel a strong draw to animals, so this class will provide a welcoming, animal-focused environment to start pushing personal growth.

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Delve into an engaging educational experience that is certain to open your eyes to the possibilities that lay before us with Virtual Reality. Students will use VR headsets and a variety of applications to explore, collaborate, interview, and even present in this ground-breaking course designed with the intent to engage students in a whole new way. Fasten your goggle straps... this is certainly going to be an experience to remember.

Time Offered: TBD

An intro course to students who might be interested in a career in Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. Currently, our athletic training program is transitioning to a master's program with the potential of a DPT (physical therapy) program being offered in 2025. Providing an intro course to such professions will provide students with the basic knowledge of what that profession entails and increase interest in pre-PT and pre-AT track students.

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Please note, this UNIV Seminar is only offered in conjunction with a Learning Community. Visit Learning Community to learn more.

If you have ever watched an entire season of Making of a Murderer, Orange is the New Black, or any Crime Time TV shows, you likely have an appreciation for the misunderstood world of criminal behavior and are intrigued in the ways in which our system responds to those behaviors. This seminar will explore the American criminal justice system, separating fact from fiction, and what it looks like from the perspective of the police, courts, corrections, victim, and offender. We will spend time discussing key issues within the criminal justice system, the current efforts at criminal justice reform, and the impact on professionals within the field.

Darren Marhanka is a former police officer with nearly 18 years of experience. He served in a variety of roles throughout his police career, but he is most proud of his work with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Marhanka started as a patrol officer and eventually found himself working in the detective unit. He investigated almost any type of crime out there. Marhanka interacted with thousands of people throughout his time on the police department as well, finding it to be a very fulfilling career.

Marhanka loves doing things on the water: jet skiing, boating, scuba diving, fishing, you name it. He loves spending time with his wife, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins, the "whole gang." He loves Jimmy Buffett music and goes to his concerts. Marhanka is a self-described "Parrothead Pirate." Life is about living, so go out and live it!

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 11-11:50 a.m.

Course description is coming soon!

This course will be offered online for the Fall 2022 semester.

(Undecided Students Only) We all encounter design in our every day lives. If a product or a system is thoughtfully designed, we might not even notice because it works so well, in the way we want it, every time. We will look at the major components of the campus that affect student life through a design-thinking lens and get a behind-the-scenes tour from the people who designed the places and systems we use on campus. Students will then work together in small groups to help propose new designs that help meet real student needs.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:20 a.m.

Course description is coming soon!

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 11-11:50 a.m.

Ever feel like you are barely making ends meet, stressed about college debt, clueless about managing your money, or worried about how to make your dreams come true? You’re not alone. Most college students feel unprepared to handle their finances and plan for their futures. Now that you are on your own for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to learn how to take control of your finances and be a responsible decision-maker. In this interactive course, discover common-sense principles, attitudes, and practices from economics and finance that will empower you with practical life skills that will last long after your college career. Through hands-on experiences, you will learn how to solve financial problems faced by college students just like you. Explore topics like choosing a career, paying for college, budgeting, saving, and managing credit. You will also get to create unique ways to share what you have learned with others, such as collaborating with your old high school, helping organize the annual Get Money Smart @ Lindenwood series, designing social media content, connecting with student organizations, or writing an op-ed.

Grant Black, PhD, is an associate professor of economics and associate director of the Economic Education Center at Lindenwood. He is part of Lindenwood’s Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise, the Education Advisory Board at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, and the St. Louis Regional Financial Empowerment Coalition. He loves helping people discover how to use economics to understand the world and make their lives even better. He is devoted to his wife and two kids. He plays guitar, gets absorbed reading historical fiction and mysteries, and loves being outdoors, especially fishing. A favorite memory is his quest to hook the elusive fish in Milton Friedman’s pond in Vermont.

Tawni Ferrarini, PhD, is the Plaster Professor of Economic Education, director of the Economic Education Center, and associate director of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise. She is the coauthor of several recent books: Teachers Can be Financially Fit, Economic Episodes in American History, and Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know about Wealth and Prosperity. Her teaching, research, and service focus on regional growth and development and the role of the private sector. She is passionate about online learning and the use of educational technology. She has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to economic education throughout the world, including the 2020 Patricia Elder International Award. She earned her doctorate from Washington University, where she studied under the 1993 Nobel laureate Douglass C. North.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

Like Greta Thunberg, many young people are realizing that they are inheriting a planet that has been severely damaged by their parents’ and grandparents’ generations, along with all of the health and economic problems that this environmental damage creates. However, people often feel overwhelmed by the vast scale of these environmental problems, and don’t know how to contribute to positive change. This course will focus on lifestyle choices that every individual can make to increase global sustainability. This topic will appeal to students interested in the Environmental Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology majors.

Time Offered: Mondays, 11-11:50 a.m.

The course looks at the simultaneous births of Theatre and Democracy in Ancient Greece, when one brave actor stepped out of the Greek chorus to speak lines on his own, in the voice of a new character. From that moment, through the theatrical renaissance of Shakespeare, the artistic awakening led by Strasberg and Stanislavsky, all the way to the modern rock musical, this course is a whirlwind tour of over 2,000 years of live theatre, with as many thrills and scandals behind the scenes as there were on stage.

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Have you ever heard of goalball or sit volleyball or played wheelchair basketball? What are those sports? Who plays them? This is a course open to all students who want to embrace the "can" in people, not the "can't." This class will challenge you to think differently and expect more out of people that might have a different ability (disability). We will engage in all kinds of activities and sports that you may have never tried before! This class is exposure to diversity in our culture. This course will also introduce you to exciting and fulfilling career paths and hopefully encourage new thought about people with disabilities. We will look at what they CAN accomplish! We will challenge the stigma that society tends to put on people with disabilities as we learn about the Paralympics, adapted sport, and therapeutic recreation. Students will gain experience in a major course of study (therapeutic recreation) as well as a minor in adapted sports and recreation that is appropriate for many different majors across campus. Students will learn about careers in the College of Science, Technology, and Health, as well as other majors who are involved in human service. We are going to play and experience sports such as wheelchair basketball and sit volleyball, as well as many more! More than anything, the hope is that upon leaving this class, students will think about people with different abilities and believe in the "I CAN."

Heather Pennington has worked for 20 years in the field of adapted sports and recreation. She worked at an Olympic and Paralympic training site, where she wore many hats and loved it! Hats included fitness coordinator, strength conditioning coach, wheelchair basketball coach, adapted ski instructor, and more. She was blessed to serve with the U.S. Paralympic Military program and help wounded warriors find their strength! Pennington is also passionate about serving families that live with disability everyday through many organizations in our community like DASA, Community Living, St. Louis ARC, etc. She has a master's degree in exercise physiology and certifications related to the field. She loves teaching and showing students their career potential!

Time Offered: Wednesdays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Walking (and jogging/running) has been proven to be an excellent form of exercise. Whether simply sauntering to the mailbox or trekking to Toledo, individuals who engage in this activity have significant health benefits. Recent studies have also shown that walking solo or in pods of 3 - 4 or even larger groups positively affects individuals physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and sometimes spiritually. Plus, walking is fun ... especially when exploring new surroundings, attractions, and new friends. This is an ideal manner in which to meet new friends in a relaxed and energetic format. In this course, students will be introduced to the art of walking, given fun statistics on the overarching benefits of this exercise, be taught how to assess heart rate, record steps, and walk to avoid injury. They will also be invited to participate in class walks during and outside of class, be shown the importance of proper footwear, specifically for certain health conditions (i.e., diabetes mellitus, neuralgia, etc.), and be encouraged to compete socially with each other for steps and distances.

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Do you ever wish you could experience the bustling streets of London, see the bright colors of the markets in India or feel the sun in Sydney? Movies allow us to see the world from the comfort of our own chair. In this course, you'll have the chance to watch movies from around globe, recreate a scene from a movie and pick out future trips you would like to go on. We will get a taste of places near and far without having to pay for a single flight.

Elizabeth Snell oversees the study abroad program at Lindenwood. She has a master's degree in feature film screenwriting from Royal Holloway, University of London and had the opportunity to live and work in London for 5 years. She also just completed a master's degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University. She loves writing, traveling, movies and watching sports.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

More information about this course will be made available soon.

Instructor, Dr. Ana Londono, an Associate Professor in Earth Science with a Bachelors in Geological Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and a PhD in Geology from University of Cincinnati. She enjoys learning about all things environmental, and loves researching the interactions between geologic processes and humans, and how those affect our daily lives. She focuses her research on the modifications made by pre-Columbian cultures, Inca and Wari, to the steep hills in Peru for agriculture, how they maximize the scarce water resources, and how the changes people made on their surrounding landscapes influence soil erosion on desert lands. She enjoy nature, traveling, and learning about various cultures, their people and their ancient traditions.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 11-11:50 a.m.

In this course, we will explore what it means to choose to live well. We will look at literature, including the medieval morality play "Everyman," excerpts from Dante's "Inferno," Renaissance philosophy, and conduct books from the 19th and 20th centuries. The reading excerpts will be relatively short; the main focus will be on how these works can still be applied today.

Time Offered: Tuesdays, 1-1:50 p.m.

What exactly is the nature of truth and how important is it for a well-rounded education? This course is intended to help you, the first year Lindenwood student, discover your own answers to these questions by exploring the goals of the various Colleges and Departments at Lindenwood University alongside the current philosophical theories of truth and bullshit. Special emphasis will be placed on how to evaluate these goals and theories within the context of everyday life.

Dr. Joseph Steineger has been an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Lindenwood University since January 2014. He received his degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Chicago, and works in the fields of Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, and Philosophy of Religion within the context of Medieval Philosophy. A first generation college graduate in his family, Dr. Steineger is an enthusiastic teacher of college undergraduates with a deep commitment to the view that the examined way of life is the best way of life in any walk of life.

Time Offered: Mondays, 2-2:50 p.m.

Do you worry about what employers are looking for when they ask you to submit a paragraph "describing yourself"? Or, do you know what goes into the marketing of you? How about what instructors want in writing? If so, you have come to the right class! This course will focus on developing your writing skills for success in the classroom and in the boardroom in a fun and fantastic environment. Come along for the ride!

Paula Nunning is an adjunct instructor of English who teaches at Lindenwood University. She has spent her career teaching composition, business writing, and journalism in the university arena and training, developing, interviewing, hiring, supervising, and writing in the corporate arena. She is passionate about developing people and helping them realize their potential.

Time Offered: Mondays, 10-10:50 a.m.

Please note, this UNIV Seminar is only offered in conjunction with the Honors Learning Community. Visit Learning Community to learn more.

Your Honors Story - Sec FLCH6

What do you want your college story to be about? What do you need to know to make your college journey into a success story? In this course, we explore how college works, so you can take advantage of everything it has to offer. Get to know yourself as a student at Lindenwood University by reading, collecting, and writing stories about college. Learn how to take control of your own college story by gathering information to help you succeed in school and in life. Realize your full potential as an Honors student by applying your talents, abilities, and experiences to maximize college life and make a positive impact on your future.

Time Offered: Thursdays, 2:30-3:20 p.m.