Academic Departments

This Wednesday, Sept. 30, 4:30-6:00, Downey Lounge, the American Studies major and English major will be hosting a very special guest, Florian Sedlmeier, a young professor at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies, Free University (Freie Universitat), Berlin, Germany.  (Delicious treats will be served.)  He is really eager to meet Wesleyan students and faculty.  The “JFK” is the greatest American Studies center in Europe.  I am going to have a dialogue with him about the kind of critical edge one can develop by doing American Studies and American literary studies outside (yes, outside) of the U.S.!  This subject is close to my heart because my first full immersion in American Studies–my intellectual conversion–was when I did an M.A. in American Studies at the University of London.  Several Europeans–Alexis de Tocqueville, Max Weber, D. H. Lawrence, Antonio Gramsci–have given us some of the most astute analyses of how America “ticks” as a power structure and culture (and popular culture, for instance, Francois Truffaut on Westerns).  And many Americans–Gertrude Stein, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and others–went to Europe to bust out of the American bubble critically and artistically.  Florian Sedlmeier and I want to spark a conversation–that we will open up to everyone once we raise some concerns and questions–about what’s at stake in thinking about this.  American Studies became a big deal in Europe after World War II as part of America’s–the U.S. Information Agency’s–“free world” Cold War propaganda campaign.  But European American Studies has had a way thinking critically about the U.S., partly because of its own radical traditions.

Florian will also tell us more about the famous “JFK.”  This amazing institute is located in the gorgeous neighborhood of Dahlem, in Berlin, and ALL CLASSES–undergraduate and graduate–ARE IN ENGLISH.  You might wish to consider being an exchange student at the “JFK” at some point.  And if you consider doing graduate work in American Studies there–say, an M.A.–you should know that THE TUITION IS FREE (you just have to pay for your lodging and food).  It was my privilege to be a visiting professor at the “JFK” in 2012 and I loved it.  It’s very comprehensive.  There are five departments within American Studies:  Culture, Literature, History, Political Science, and Economics.  The faculty–as you’ll see when you meet Florian–are brilliant, accomplished, and a lot of fun.  The courses that each department offers are wide-ranging and fascinating.  And Berlin is an absolute BLAST!

So please come and please bring any friends!  You’ll learn some surprising stuff.  Florian is really psyched about coming to Wes!

A new opportunity available to Wesleyan students next spring!
Information session:
• Tuesday, 4/7 at 7:30 in Usdan 110
The Wesleyan “Spring Intensive” will allow students to plunge into a new course every three weeks and to intensively focus on one course at a time rather than balancing several. The goal of the program is to give students an opportunity to build cohesiveness across their courses, collaborate with faculty, engage in project-based learning and sample from some never previously offered courses from prominent visitors. Each three week course will carry a full credit covering the same amount of material as 14 week courses.
Who can participate? Up to 50 students interested in building their spring schedule with intensive courses and other for-credit experiences.
Can I take other courses? Though most admitted students will take their courses exclusively in the intensive format, students may enroll in one or more semester-long credits for a senior thesis, independent or group tutorial, student forum, or internship. Students can also take quarter-credit courses outside the intensive format, schedule permitting.
When will intensive courses meet? Classes will meet Monday through Friday for 2 hours and 50 minutes for three weeks.
How will students be admitted? The Intensive program is POI. Interested students may apply for admission by meeting with Professor Lisa Dierker (ldierker@wes) or any of the faculty teaching through the intensive program, before or during planning period this fall. Admitted students will then seek final course selection approval from their advisors.
A bonus! Students admitted to the Intensive semester will not need to participate in pre-registration for spring 2016.
How do I learn more? Check out the emerging menu of courses that will be offered through the intensive http://wesleyanspringintensive.blogs.wesleyan.edu/, attend the information session on campus (4/7 at 7:30 in Usdan 110) or contact Lisa Dierker (ldierker@wes).

History Matters…Careers:

Pamela Tatge ’84 P’16
“From History Major to Art Center Director”

Come to hear Pamela Tatge, Wesleyan’s Director of the Center for the Arts, reflect on the role her history major and her Wesleyan education played in her personal and professional path.

Thursday, February 19, 12-NOON
PAC 002. Lunch will be available.

Interested in the Psychology Major?
Learn more about the Cultural Immersion Experiences –
Abroad and Domestic
Feb. 3rd (Tues.), 12:00 -1:00 pm, Judd 116

Prospective Majors bring your questions and concerns.

Office of International Studies – Gail Winter, Assistant Director
Office of Community Partnerships – Catherine Lechowicz, Director
Psychology Department – Andrea Patalano, Chair
(Pizza will be provided)

This joins the MA Concentration in Planetary Science and the Planetary Science Course Cluster as curricula providing students the background and tools to understand our place in the cosmos. Our view is changing rapidly, to wit, at 3:35 this morning, we (humanity) are attempting to land on the surface of a comet (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta).

The Planetary Science Minor:
http://www.wesleyan.edu/planetary/Courses/index.html

List of all Minors at Wesleyan: http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/majors_minor_certificates/index.html

Planetary Sciences at Wesleyan:
http://www.wesleyan.edu/planetary/

All best,
The Planetary Science Group

The lunch talk by our alumn, Glenn Lunden ’83, who is now a Senior Director of Subway Schedules, will inaugurate conversations we plan to have about the variety of careers History majors have. Next semester we will have several events, including with some alumni from the last decade with different career paths.

Come next week to meet Glenn Lunden, and other students and faculty.

History Matters… Careers
Lunch talk sponsored by the History Department

For more information: Lunden-History Matters