FALL SEMESTER 2016 Providing students with an opportuinity to discuss current events related to muslims and U.S. politics, this course focuses on the ways Muslims and Islam have become a central topic in political debates among liberals and conservatives. It will offer a general introduction to (1) the Islam religion and core beliefs and practices that define Muslim communities; (2)…
African American Language (AAL) may be one of the most misunderstood languages and often is dismissed as slang, improper, or incorrect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr1kbwELDPU&feature=emb_title In order to bring a better understanding to this language, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures Ph.D. Candidate Shenika Hankerson is working to dispel some of the misconceptions associated with AAL. Focusing on the sociocultural, historical, and political dimensions…
Six out of ten college students are clinically lonely, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression—but what if a smartphone app could help? In January 2015, an app quietly appeared to do just that. Through the support of Michigan State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, professional writing senior Zoe Zappitell co-created, launched and marketed Conecter. The app links students to one another through interest-based…
In today’s fast-paced world where the Internet is the go-to research tool and information on any topic is just a click or tap away, one’s own digital presence is more important than ever. The College of Arts & Letters recognizes this, and starting this month, will offer all its graduate students and faculty a new kind of web hosting support.…
The College of Arts & Letters’ Citizen Scholars program, which kicks off this fall with more than 90 students enrolled, is at the center of a strategic initiative to enrich the undergraduate experience, diversify the student body, and ensure the retention and academic success of students within the College. Designed to prepare the next generation of diverse, high-achieving, and engaged citizen…
Transforming Student Experiences A newly energized commitment to robust collaboration is taking place between MSU’s College of Arts & Letters, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and College of Music. It’s called the Media Arts Collaborative (MAC). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk18yxht5sE&feature=emb_title Dedicated to creative endeavors in integrated media arts, the MAC is a coordinated effort to promote collaborative projects that cut across disciplines to enrich the…
Christopher Murphy is a role model for international and language education and where those experiences can lead you. He speaks five different languages (English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish) and has visited nearly 20 different countries during his travels and for study abroad. And now, having earned a BA in Chinese with a minor in French from Michigan State University,…
As the main educational sponsor for the Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF), Michigan State University is contributing to the international film fest in more ways than one. This year’s TCFF will feature MSU student-produced films, an MSU interactive multimedia gallery, MSU film school presentation, and even a Spartan Headquarters! New to the festival, the Spartan Headquarters, located at 333 E. State…
Several Michigan State University student-produced films will be screened at this year’s Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) scheduled for July 26-31 in Traverse City, Michigan. The films feature the work of MSU's College of Arts & Letters, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and College of Music. Here is a complete list of all the MSU student-produced films and when…
Miyuki Kamiya, an Instructor in MSU's Department of Linguistics, Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages, recently worked with her former student, Tiara Harris, to compose a song for MSU's Japanese Language program. The JPN 102 and 202 students, whom Kamiya taught during spring 2016, then performed the song while Kamiya played keyboards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8prO6C3HWZU&feature=emb_title “I had wanted to do something with my students…