Getting Ready for Fall 2024: Dietrich College Course Preview

Fall registration is around the corner on July 24, and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering a series of courses that may be of particular interest to first-year students. The following sample of courses cover a wide range of topics that will help students to build knowledge and skills for success at CMU and beyond.

84-104: Decision Processes in American Political Institutions

Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology
TR 3:30 – 4:50 p.m.
Geoffrey McGovern 

This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of politics and government in the United States. Students will become familiar with theoretical tools, such as the spatial models of collective action problems and political decision-making. By the end of the semester, students will understand that American political thought is prevalent in various political institutions. Materials such as scientific writings regarding psychology and economics will be used to show students how political decisions are made based on behavioral decision-making theories. This course fulfills the first-year Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – Social Sciences.

66-101: Dietrich Introductory Seminar: College & University Success Strategies (DISCUSS)

Dietrich College Interdisciplinary Courses
Multiple days and times, see the Schedule of Classes for more details
Ashley Christopherson, Tina King, Rachel Rabenstine, Jason Hostutler, Andrew Ramey

DISCUSS is a course designed to teach students how to succeed and thrive in college. It is only offered to first-year students in Dietrich College. It aims to help students transition seamlessly into their lives at CMU by exploring various campus resources. Students will have the opportunity to explore their skills, identity, interests and goals. Students will also have an opportunity to develop their own strategies for both personal and academic success at Carnegie Mellon University. 

76-239: Introduction to Film Studies

English Department
MWF 1:00 – 1:50 p.m. and M 7:00 – 9:50 p.m.
Jeffrey Hinkelman

Explore the history, technology, aesthetics and ideology of film by learning about narrative fiction film. The course introduces students to documentaries, avant-garde work and animation. There is an emphasis on the historical implications of film, along with other thematic concerns such as the fundamental principles of filmmaking and the intersection of art and business in the film industry. This course fulfills the Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – the Arts.

79-189: Democracy and History: Thinking Beyond the Self

History Department
Multiple days and times, see the Schedule of Classes for more details
Ricky Law

In this course, students have the opportunity to explore the history of democracy in different regions of the world and how people live within a democracy. This course will train students in the historian’s skillset and mindset, differentiate fact from opinions and push for critical thinking to argue effectively. These skills will benefit students not just for school or work but are indispensable to a democratic society. This course fulfills the first-year Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – Humanities.

67-348 Black Mirror: Cultural Representations of Technology

Information Systems
MW 2:00 – 3:20 p.m.
Jeria Quesenberry

Advances in technology raise a variety of fascinating ethical, cultural and societal questions often resulting in uncertainties and unanticipated dilemmas. This course provides an opportunity to explore how cultural representations of technology are reflected in society and inform continued technical advancements. Students will explore these themes using episodes from Black Mirror, a British anthology television series. The class will engage critically and constructively in key debates that shape the future of the technology, through in-class discussions, activities and presentations.

82-282: Interpreting Global Texts & Cultures

Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics Department
MW 12:30 – 1:50 p.m.; MW 3:30 – 4:50 p.m.
David Parker

Literature, film, music, art and theater — along with other forms of humanistic artistic expression — play a crucial role in our society. Students will engage in discussions surrounding both the individual and collective role of art in society, and the value that art adds to the human experience. This course fulfills the first-year Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – Humanities.

80-211: Logic and Mathematical Inquiry

Philosophy Department
TR 3:30 – 4:50 p.m.
Krzysztof Mierzewski

Logic and Mathematical Inquiry provides the background for higher-level mathematical reasoning and theoretical aspects of computer science. Students in this course will study both fundamental mathematical concepts and informal proofs as well as methods of mathematical logic, key to understanding how a mathematical argument is structured. During the course, students will learn to use a proof assistant, known as Lean, to develop machine-checked proofs. This course fulfills the Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – Logic and Mathematical Reasoning.

85-102: Introduction to Psychology

Psychology Department
Multiple days and times, see the Schedule of Classes for more details
Danny Oppenheimer

This course introduces the major areas of scientific psychology that span the models of the mind, brain and behavior to evaluate how humans and non-humans function. Topics include neuroscience, memory, thought, social interaction, the biological basis of behavior and more. Students will have the opportunity to run their own psychological studies and facilitate discussions surrounding the results of their studies. This course fulfills the first-year Gen Ed requirement for Disciplinary Perspectives – Social Sciences.

88-130: Behavioral Economics for Life

Social and Decision Sciences Department
MW 11:00 – 12:20 p.m.
Mark Patterson 

This course introduces students to the field of Behavioral Economics, a specialty at the university. Students will learn how the field developed and evolved and will engage with evidence-based behavioral strategies to learn how they can help humans be happier and healthier. The course is designed to help first-year students learn “life hacks” based on insights from behavioral economics that can help them be successful during their studies. This course fulfills the Gen Ed requirement for Foundations – Scientific Inquiry.

36-200: Reasoning with Data

Statistics & Data Science Department
Multiple days and times, see the Schedule of Classes for more details
Gordon Weinberg, Rebecca Nugent

Reasoning with Data provides the foundation of how to answer questions about history, literature, discrimination, biases and social networks by using data-driven methods and concepts. Types of data will include continuous and categorical variables, images, text, networks and repeated measures over time. Applications will largely be drawn from interdisciplinary case studies spanning the humanities, social sciences and related fields. This course is required for all Dietrich College students, and it fulfills the first-year Gen Ed requirement for Foundations – Data Analysis.