CORE 100 In the Moment
A 1-unit course in which Oxy faculty guide students through the analysis of a current event or issue through the intellectual perspectives of one or more academic fields.
Higher Education Under Fire
Higher education is increasingly at the heart of cultural and political conflict. Colleges and universities face accusations of being activist spaces that suppress dissent, while simultaneously being portrayed as technocratic and detached from public concerns. These tensions have sharpened divides within academia, particularly between STEM and non-STEM disciplines, over whether academia's core mission is the pursuit of truth or the advancement of social causes. This course will foster open, critical, and respectful dialogue on these issues, equipping students to navigate and understand the forces reshaping higher education today. The course will meet during the first seven weeks of the semester.
Decoding the News: Critical Media Literacy
In an era of algorithmic feeds and information overload, how do we become informed citizens rather than passive consumers? This one-unit course combines weekly news reading and discussion with hands-on media analysis. Students examine how media constructs meaning through framing, editing, and representation while investigating ownership structures, business models, and algorithmic curation that shape what information reaches us. We'll analyze how different communities are portrayed across media platforms, decode persuasive techniques in advertising and propaganda, and distinguish credible journalism from misinformation. Through partnerships with The Occidental student newspaper and guest speakers from NPR, LAist, and other outlets, students gain practical experience in media production and behind-the-scenes media work. Designed for both news-savvy students and those just beginning to engage critically with current events, this course empowers participants to navigate our complex media landscape with analytical tools and ethical awareness.