*Seminars will be added throughout the year so check back often.
Spring 2026
HNRS 299-01: Mondays 2:10pm-3:00pm
Lean and Loafe: Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"
Department of English
In this seminar, you will "lean and loafe" (as often as possible, on the grass) as we read aloud the entirety of Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" together, section by section. Each week, we also will delve into the imagery, historical context, and continuing relevance and resonance of one of the most essential poems ever published in the English language. With this poem, Whitman invented free verse, encouraged participatory democracy, celebrated the diversity of the human experience, and explored spirituality, embodiment, selfhood, community: in a nutshell, what it means to be human. You will also get a chance to write back to Whitman and become one of what he called the "Poets to Come," who he hoped ultimately would replace and outpace him.
HNRS 299-02: Wednesdays 2:10pm-3:00pm
Why Poetry? Why Now?
Ethnic Studies Department
In her seminal essay, “Poetry is Not a Luxury,” Black Feminist Audre Lorde declares that poetry “is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought.” Although poetry surrounds us in literature, music, and even in social media, how can we engage with poetry as method—as a way to expand our thinking and materialize strategies for better worlds? How does poetry contain blueprints for justice, to name what we fear but also give shape to our hopes and dreams? In this seminar, we will study the intersections of poetry and society while writing and editing our own poems. Poets and theorists we will read include Claudia Rankine, Victoria Chang, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Cathy Park Hong.
HNRS 299-03: Mondays 10:10am-11:00am
Aerospace Physiology - Spins, G's, Crashes, and Altitude
Mechanical Engineering Department
Pilots and astronauts are exposed to environments that are totally different to those experienced while earthbound. Pulling G's in highly agile fighter aircraft can highly stress the cardiovascular system, while ejections from these aircraft can result in large short-term accelerations. Different turns and spins in these aircraft can also fool the vestibular system, resulting in spatial disorientation and motion sickness. Unprotected exposure to high altitudes can cause loss of consciousness, hypoxia, cognitive impairment, and decompression sickness. The space environment causes an entirely new set of physiologic challenges, including muscle atrophy and bone dimineralization, fluid redistribution, and reduced cardiac output. Various guest speakers, in addition to Professor Self, will discuss these different effects and apply physics principles to help understand the mechanisms behind them.
HNRS 299-04: Wednesdays 10:10am-11:00am
Spike Lee to Ousmane Sembène: Filmmaking in Africa and the Diaspora
Ethnic Studies Department
In this seminar, we will examine “Black” films from continental Africa and its diaspora through screenings and group discussions. The seminar will examine films produced by Black filmmakers in Europe, South America, the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa. We will explore the importance of Black storytelling in film, with special attention to the complexities of race and place. The course will cover feature films, short films, ethnographic films, and documentaries. Moreover, the course will place special emphasis on filmmaking in South Africa to prepare students who plan to participate in the Alternative Break in Cape Town in June.
HNRS 299-05: Tuesdays 12:10pm-1:00pm
Find Your Fit: Careers, Strengths & Next Steps (This seminar can be used to substitute for HNRS 261)
Evie Kriegbaum Career Counselor (she/her)
Cal Poly Career Services
Embark on a fun and engaging journey to discover careers that align with who you are! In this course, you’ll explore how your values, interests, identities, personality, and strengths (VIIPS) shape your career path. Through interactive activities, discussions, and hands-on projects, you'll gain essential skills in communication, networking, resume building, and interview success. By the end of the course, you’ll have a personalized career roadmap to help you navigate your time at Cal Poly and beyond. Get ready to find your fit and take the next step toward a future that excites you!
HNRS 299-06: Tuesdays 9:10-10:00am
Crafting Compelling Applications for National and International Fellowships and Scholarships
Have you ever wondered what kinds of funded research, graduate study, or international experiences might be possible after graduation, and what it takes to craft compelling applications for them? This seminar helps you move from that curiosity to informed preparation by providing dedicated time, structure, and support to explore opportunities and develop strong applications for national and international fellowships and scholarships.
Through workshops, mentoring, and peer feedback, you will identify opportunities aligned with your interests, develop and revise key application materials, and strengthen how you communicate your goals and experiences while building relationships with faculty mentors. By the end of the seminar, you will be prepared to submit at least one complete application.
You will also gain skills that extend beyond any single award, including clarifying your direction, telling your story with confidence, and working productively with feedback. You should expect to spend approximately 2–4 hours per week outside of class researching opportunities and drafting and revising essays.
To express interest, please complete this Interest Form.
HNRS 299-10: Thursdays 10:10am-11:00am
Leadership and Group Dynamics (This seminar can be used to substitute for HNRS 261)
Experience Industry Management Department
“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
This engaging, hands-on course delves into the foundations of effective leadership and group dynamics. Students will explore key concepts such as leadership, followership, communication, values and ethics, and decision-making. Through an international and multicultural perspective, participants will analyze leadership in action while taking part in interactive activities, discussions, community service, and collaborative projects. Join us for a thought-provoking journey into the nature of leadership and teamwork.
This course is designed to support students participating in the Cal Poly Global Program in Thailand during summer 2026. Emphasis will be placed on exploring diverse cultures, international customs, and leadership practices, with a special focus on Thailand. Applications for the Thailand study abroad program are due March 1.
Winter 2026
HNRS 299-01: Wednesdays 11:10am-12:00pm
The F Word: Theorizing (Against) Fascism Today
Department of English
In this seminar, we will read some recent works of critical theory that attempt to come to terms with our political present through the diagnostic and analytic framework of fascism. Our aim will be twofold: first, to understand as precisely as possible what constitutes fascism as a political category, in itself and in relation to its political others (e.g., liberal democracy, communism). Second, to determine what dimensions of our historical moment this category enables us to understand and critique. In particular, we will consider the roles that race, and gender play in contemporary fascist ideologies. Our major texts will be Alberto Toscano’s Late Fascism, Judith Butler’s Who’s Afraid of Gender and Dagmar Herzog’s The New Fascist Body.
HNRS 299-02; T 1:10-2:00pm
A Tour of Organic Chemistry Around Us
Chemistry Department
Organic molecules are all around us. From pharmaceuticals to pheromones to polymers to petroleum products, we encounter them daily. We will take a broad look at the diverse functions of organic compounds. In this seminar we will explore a variety of questions that organic chemistry can answer, such as: How does soap work? What clever ways do flowers attract bees for pollination? How many components give Skittles their color? How are polymers made? How do we identify substances at the scene of a crime? No prior knowledge of chemistry is required. Occasional laboratory activities (such as making nylon or isolating plant components, etc.) and/or demos will be included.
HNRS 299-03: Tuesdays 12:10-1:00pm
Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Variation in Sexual Anatomy and Behavior Among Animals Including Humans
Department of Biological Sciences
Evolution favors individuals who pass on their genes to future generations. This involves different things for different species, from broadcasting eggs and sperm directly into the environment, to advertising for mates, to minimizing the damage caused by sexual conflict. We will discuss how different animals meet these challenges, using an evolutionary framework. This will include discussions of variation in genitalia, reproductive organs, and advertisements (visual displays, vibrations, calls, pheromones, and odor cues). We will use these examples to bolster the idea that variation, rather than the binary, is the norm in most species. This will allow for a discussion of humans, and the spectra of sex and sexual behavior we exhibit. Through popular science readings, small group discussions and exploration of media, we will explore biodiversity as it relates to sex.
HNRS 299-04: Thursdays 12:10-1:00pm
Money Mindset: Building Habits that Reflect Who You Are
Kara Samaniego, MBA
Communication Studies & Psychology & Child Development Departments
College is the perfect time to build strong financial habits that will last a lifetime. This seminar is designed to help students take charge of their money with confidence. Topics include better understanding your values and goals around money, how to create and stick to a budget, smart ways to save on a student income, managing debt, understanding credit, and navigating tough money conversations with roommates, family, or partners. Through interactive activities and real-life examples, students will gain the tools they need to make informed financial choices that align with their values now and in the future.
HNRS 299-05 T 11:10am-12:00pm
Find Your Fit: Careers, Strengths & Next Steps (This seminar can be used to substitute for HNRS 261)
Evie Kriegbaum (she/her), Career Counselor
Cal Poly Career Services
Embark on a fun and engaging journey to discover careers that align with who you are! In this course, you’ll explore how your values, interests, identities, personality, and strengths (VIIPS) shape your career path. Through interactive activities, discussions, and hands-on projects, you'll gain essential skills in communication, networking, resume building, and interview success. By the end of the course, you’ll have a personalized career roadmap to help you navigate your time at Cal Poly and beyond. Get ready to find your fit and take the next step toward a future that excites you!
HNRS 299-06; Thursdays 1:10-2:00pm
Myth or Reality?: Untangling Differences in Gender and Negotiation
Management, Human Resources, and Information Systems Academic Area, Orfalea College of Business
In this seminar, we explore what research has to say about gender differences in negotiation in the 21st century. The belief that “Women Don’t Ask” has been oft-repeated in academia and society for decades – but how much truth does this statement hold? How have gender differences in negotiation evolved and what do they mean for how we should approach future negotiations in work and life? What unique strengths might each gender bring to the table? And how might the use of AI dissolve or perpetuate these differences? We complement this exploration of the literature with hands-on negotiation simulations and self-assessments to unpack students’ own strengths and areas for growth.
HNRS 299-07; T 10:10-11:00am
Creativity 101
Communication Studies Department
Do you consider yourself to be a creative? A non-creative with creative tendencies? A non-creative through and through? If you identify as any of these, this seminar is for you! Creative thinking is a set of skills which can be used to illuminate and expand any problem, in any subject area and in any discipline. Together we will explore what creative thinking is and how to harness, nurture, and act upon your own creativity for both personal and professional endeavors, with the goal of achieving a more creative mindset through experiencing, imagining, critiquing, journaling, creating, observing, communicating, and sensing. Learn how to think, not what to think. All majors are welcome. Artistic ability not required. Will you join us?
Disclaimer: This class takes a hands-on approach to teaching and learning. A willingness to embrace the creative process is required. Students will not be graded beyond participation, effort, and completion of assignments; no exams or quizzes will be given.
HNRS 299-08: Fridays 10:10-11:00am
Art Rock Music of the 1970's
The seminar is a survey of the influence and impact of classical, folk, and non-western music on rock musicians in the 1970s. It will trace the origins of this influence, survey the most important musicians and groups that embraced and developed it, and how it impacted the development of rock/pop music into the next decade.
HNRS 299-09: Wednesdays 10:10-11:00am
Mardi Gras and Masquerades: The Politics of Global Carnival Culture
This seminar explores the ways that pre-Lenten carnivals and their imitations have significantly impacted the popular culture and discourses surrounding race and gender globally. Through the examination of accounts from scholars, as well as celebrities like Rihanna and Chloe Bailey, this course illuminates the history of carnival’s roots and examines the tensions that have arisen from global carnival tourism and the impact of social media on the festivals.
NOTE: Students who take this seminar can also apply to participate in Cal Poly's Alternative Break trip to New Orleans, March 22 to 28th, 2026. Dr. Castilow will be leading this trip!
Fall 2025
HNRS 299-02; M 4:10am-5:00pm
Madness
Department of English
Aristotle’s observation of an alliance between madness and creativity has enjoyed a remarkable endurance. Literary artists, in particular, seem especially keen to riff on the philosopher’s sentiments, and writers otherwise separated by space, time, and temperament find a curious solidarity in the creative expression of mental anguish. The history of literature may very well be a history of madness, but why, after all, should an aesthetic discourse be so very invested in a psychiatric one? In this seminar, we will examine the mutually constitutive relationship between these fields by engaging with a range of work from the areas of literature, cinema, history, psychology, and psychiatry, focusing specifically on the ways madness and the myriad mental illnesses it signifies are represented aesthetically and situated historically.
HNRS 299-03 M 1:10-2:00pm
The Science and Technology of Timekeeping
Physics Department
The playful question of "what is time?" occasionally comes up. The answer usually involves philosophy, religion, and even Einstein’s theories, and generally leaves us even more confused. Let’s instead ask a simpler question about time, which is "How is it measured?" whose answer is simply "with a clock." In this seminar, we'll take a whirlwind tour of the past 700 years of humankind’s quest to build clocks. We'll see how human ingenuity in both science and technology has progressed from clocks that used large rocks to tell time, to “atomic clocks” that use atoms to tell time. We'll see evidence of humankind's strange and persistent need to keep ever more accurate time, and how desperately our daily lives depend on it.
HNRS 299-04; F 10:10-11:00am
Joy to the World: Global Strategies for Bliss
Dr. Devin Kuhn, Lecturer, she/her
Philosophy (Religious Studies)
What constitutes “the good life,” and what are the secrets to achieving one?
This course examines communities around the world renowned for happiness, exploring various cultural and religious techniques that cultivate joy and bliss, such as meditation and mindfulness, appreciation of nature, strong social connections, and more. Each week students will investigate different practices designed to elicit contentedness, joy or bliss, culminating in a final project of the students’ design aimed at increasing happiness at Cal Poly.
HNRS 299-05 T 9:10-10:00am
Find Your Fit: Careers, Strengths & Next Steps (This seminar can be used to substitute for HNRS 261)
Evie Kriegbaum (she/her), Career Counselor
Cal Poly Career Services
Embark on a fun and engaging journey to discover careers that align with who you are! In this course, you’ll explore how your values, interests, identities, personality, and strengths (VIIPS) shape your career path. Through interactive activities, discussions, and hands-on projects, you'll gain essential skills in communication, networking, resume building, and interview success. By the end of the course, you’ll have a personalized career roadmap to help you navigate your time at Cal Poly and beyond. Get ready to find your fit and take the next step toward a future that excites you!
HNRS 299-06; T 2:10-3:00pm
The Art of Disruption: Visual Culture & Social Justice
Department of Art & Design
The Art of Disruption explores the intersection of visual culture and social justice through both a critical and creative lens. We’ll look at how artists, activists, and communities use visual strategies—from protest posters to performance art—to confront systems of oppression and advocate for change. The course encourages students from all disciplines to think expansively about art as a tool for transformation. Online, open to all majors.
HNRS 299-07; T 11:10am-12:00pm
Relationships 101
Cheri Love LMFT & Amber Clemmons-Trigueros LMFT
Cal Poly Counseling and Psychological Services
Whether they are serious or casual, romantic or platonic, with colleagues or family or roommates, relationships can be defined in many ways. In the Relationships 101 seminar we will focus on the many aspects of nurturing healthy relationships. We will explore effective communication, relational self-awareness, identification of needs and boundaries, consideration of various cultural experiences and intersecting identities, and how to navigate conflict; all while building community.
HNRS 299-08; T 1:10am-2:00pm
Race, Reels, and Representation
Communication Studies Department
What does it mean to have "representation"? What does identity have to do with media? Are there any drawbacks of people wanting more characters that "look like” them in media? This seminar addresses these questions and more by examining media discourse surrounding race in contemporary U.S. society. As members of society, we will explore what race means for all of us, examine the role of representation in contemporary platforms, and investigate the implications of media representations of race. We will apply a critical lens to examples you bring in from the media all around us. The seminar explores racial logics, stereotypes, and representational strategies that will help us investigate the role that representations play in our lived experiences and in shaping our understanding of society.
Honors Seminars in Previous Years
