Upper-Level BHP Courses Spring 2026
BHP 222: Existentialism in Literature and Philosophy
Professors Dan Garro (Philosophy) and Vanita Neelakanta (English)
W 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Core Substitutions: CAS-Philosophical Perspectives or Aesthetic Perspectives–Literature | EDU-Literature or Philosophy | NBCB-Humanities or Liberal Arts
Introduces students to Existentialism as a 20th-century movement with roots going back to the 19th century and as a philosophy that has special relevance and importance for understanding today’s world. Reading and discussion are based on topics of special concern to Existentialist philosophers: lying and the nature of reality, faith and reason, revaluation of values, and the meaninglessness of life. Readings will comprise a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres. Authors may include Dostoevsky, Unamuno, Camus, Sartre, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Brecht, Kafka, Pirandello, Weil, and Beckett.
BHP 252 Creativity and Design Thinking
Professors Jia Shen (Information Systems, Analytics, and Supply Chain Management) and Catrinel Tromp (Psychology)
T/TH 9:45-11:15 a.m.
Core Substitutions: CAS–Social Perspectives | EDU–Social Science or General Studies | NBCB–Social Science or Liberal Arts
Creative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative work is being recognized as increasingly important for innovation and solving global problems of the 21st century. This course will introduce students to a much-needed framework for dealing with unstructured problems for creative problem solving, and a process for innovation. The course consists of two related parts: the psychology of creativity provides a foundational basis of knowledge and discussion, and the design thinking framework serves as an example of a powerful creative thinking strategy that an increasing number of individuals and organizations have used successfully over the past decade.
BHP 253: Cross-Cultural Comparison of Play
Professors Cara DiYanni (Psychology) and Yi-Ju Cheng (Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling)
M/W 1:10-2:40 p.m.
Core Substitutions: CAS–Social Perspectives or Global Perspectives | EDU–Social Science or General Studies | NBCB-Social Science or Liberal Arts
This course examines how children from different cultures play, analyzing factors such as parents, environment, school, and culture. Readings on the evolution of play, the benefits of play, the practical applications of play (e.g., in education and in therapy), and cultural differences in play will be used to support and help to inform data students will collect through the interviews and observations.
BHP 259: The Environment: A Conflict of Interest
Professors Michael Brogan (Political Science) and Dan Druckenbrod (Earth and Chemical Sciences)
T/TH 1:10-2:40 p.m.
Core Substitutions: CAS–Scientific Perspectives or Social Perspectives or Global Perspectives | EDU-Science or Social Science | NBCB-Natural Sciences or Social Science
This course examines critical environmental issues such as global warming; food, water and energy resources; population trends; and global industrialization. Topics for context will include the origin of the elements, the origin of solar systems, and the origin of life as well as the basic principles of the current biotechnical revolution. Scientific understanding will be combined with knowledge about strategies for raising community awareness in order to (re)formulate public policy. In teams, students will be asked to define the problems; research available and prospective solutions; identify the technical, social, political, and economic constraints; and finally propose a workable strategy for making progress toward solutions.
BHP 270: Visions of the Future
Professors Matthew Goldie (English) and Jay Stern (Film and Television)
T/TH 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Core Substitutions: CAS–Aesthetic Perspectives–Fine Arts or Aesthetic Perspectives–Lit. | EDU-Literature or Fine Arts | NBCB-Humanities or Liberal Arts
An apocalypse is coming. But when? And for whom and what on this planet…or beyond? Or, perhaps, a glorious era of peace and harmony and technical wonders awaits. This course explores how apocalyptic and other futures have been imagined in various media: writing, film, visual arts, and others. It considers revelations of what the future could be like in this life or another, possible futures, utopian and dystopian visions, and more. It asks students to consider technological, literary, imagined, and other speculations about what the future could be like.