Out of Office through Monday, January 9

As the post title says, I'll be out of the office for a while, and no, I won't be checking my email (I caught up with those sent to me as of now). If you require assistance before the 9th, starting on Tuesday the 2nd you can call the office (217-333-4710) and ask to make an appointment with another DGS advisor. Enjoy your holiday break!

New Business Major & Minor Webpages

The College of Business has updated their webpages regarding both the Business Minor, as well as the page for students wanting to transfer into a Business major. Here are the new links:

The InterCollege Transfer page has changed to http://business.illinois.edu/undergrad/admissions/intercollege-transfers.aspx

The Business Minor page is now located at http://business.illinois.edu/undergrad/academics/business-minor-for-non-business-majors.aspx

Anthropology Gen Eds for Spring 2012

For freshmen, keep in mind that 200-level courses might have higher expectations (writing, discussion, participation) than you experienced in the fall. That being said, if you're ready for the challenge and are interested in the subject matter, one of these courses could be a great addition to your spring schedule. Be sure to observe all pre-requisite instructions - just because the system will let you register for a course doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea for you, at least not right now. Feel free to consult with me if you're unsure whether a course is a good idea for you or not - dmurph -at - illinois.edu. For more information including times, locations, and section availability, go to the new & improved campus course schedule at http://go.illinois.edu/CourseExplorer 


There are still some seats available in Anthropology Classes that fulfill GenEd Requirements:


ANTH 270 and 271: Linguistic Anthropology   Taught by Prof Adrienne Lo


**Why can't my TA speak English right?
**Is it okay to fire someone for speaking with the right accent?
**Is it better to call people "undocumented" rather than "illegal"?


Come to Anthropology 270/271, Linguistic Anthropology, to find out!  MW 2:00-2:50 Room 213 Gregory Hall.
NO PREREQUISITES. Register for 271 for Advanced Composition GenEd


                                                                    ***


ANTH 286: Southeast Asian Civilizations  Taught by Prof Helaine Silverman


Beginning with  prehistory, to the great precolonial kingdoms and empires, to the era of European colonialism and ultimately independence and contemporary times, this class will provide an anthropological, archaeological, art historical and historical overview of mainland Southeast Asia (Myanmar/Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam). The course ends with consideration of tourism and its relation to economic development. NO PREREQUISITES.


The course fulfills Humanities & Arts (HP Historical & Philosophical Perspectives), Non-Western Cultures.
                                                                      ***
ANTH 249:   Evolution and Human Disease  Taught by Prof Kate Clancy


This course examines health issues such as how reduction of infectious diseases has increased autoimmune disease, what constitutes a "normal" menstrual cycle, and how how obesity may impact reproductive maturation and childhood socialization.  PREREQUISITES ANTH 143 or ANTH 240 or Instructor permission.


This course fulfills Life Sciences GenEd

Bridges

Bridges is a low-cost, process-oriented psychotherapy group for transgender adults across the spectrum of gender expression and identity, from those who are only just beginning to question their gender to those who have been living as their true self for quite some time.
The primary goal of the group is to offer a safe space for reflection, exploration, growth, and support. Though the group often focuses on issues especially relevant to the trans community-- such as “coming out,” transitioning and other forms of gender expression, coping with oppression, and forming satisfying relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners-- the focus of the group is determined by the members and is thus open to other topics (e.g. depression, anxiety, shyness, etc.) that are not necessarily related to gender.
The group meets weekly in the Champaign-Urbana area at a private location with access to dressing rooms. For more information, please contact Chris Murdock-Jordan, M.A. or Dr. Lori Davis at 217-398-8888.

Discovery Course: HRE100 Leadership in Global Engagement

Ever heard of Macau?  Want to learn more about China?
Interested in learning more about the world and the way people communicate and interact?

New Course Offered in Spring 2012

HRE 199: Leadership in Global Engagement

HRE 199: Leadership in Global Engagement is a 3-credit hour course that focuses on interactive exchange experiences between eleven University of Illinois students and eleven students from the University of Macau Honours College.  The purpose of the course is to provide students with a platform to engage in discussions and projects that explore aspects of leadership, communication, and intercultural encounters.  Topics explored in this course include individualist and collectivist cultures; public and private behaviors; projections of cultural similarities; cultural conformity; stress in intercultural encounters; communication styles; generalizations and stereotypes; rank and power, ethnocentrism; family relationships; dealing with conflict; and being an effective intercultural communicator.  The course will be taught by Lucinda Morgan.
Additional information and Application are available at:https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/119345


Application Deadline: Friday, December 23 at 5:00pm

Spanish Major & Minor Info Sessions for Spring 2012

Dates for the info meetings for those interested in declaring a Spanish major or minor have been set for the spring; the flyer is here.

New Discovery Course: ACES199 Sustainable Food Systems

Ever wondered where your food came from? 
Does the US food system make us fat?  
Can we create food systems that limit environmental damage? 
  
Sustainable Food Systems
ACES 199—CRN  57624 
TR, 1:00 – 2:20 pm

This course is designed to foster critical systems thinking and collaborative analysis across multiple disciplines for the development, production, preparation, and consumption of food within complex social and ecological systems.  The course includes the consideration of challenge of producing enough food to feed the world population, and the environmental (e.g., climate change, sustainability, environmental footprint), economic (e.g., food insecurity) and health (e. g., obesity, diabetes) issues that are related to food.  A central idea is to start with “the food we eat” and connect it to health (e.g., obesity, nutrition, disease), the environment (e.g., environmental implications), the global economy (e.g., population growth, community economic development), and technology (e.g., genomics, engineering, information processing).  

Social Work: Some Notes

Here are a few notes I took at a meeting about the Social Work Major. You can learn more about this major by going to the program website, by checking out the curriculum, or by looking over the documents I have.

• Completion of the introductory course, SOCW200, is preferred before applying to the major, but is not mandatory.
• There is a senior year internship required, and it's extremely difficult to do another course at the same time, but they do offer online courses for students who will need to be at 15 hours during the internship semester.
• The senior internship can only be done during the spring semester. There are no exceptions to this.
• After SOCW200, expect that nothing will transfer into the program from another university.
• The application deadline may be flexible in some cases - ask!

SPAN204: More Seats Added

If you need a seat in SPAN204 but haven't been able to get one, try again now - they just added more.

Applying to the Elementary, Early Childhood, or Special Education Major?

A message from Joe Cross, Education Advisor about a special event for interested majors taking place TOMORROW, Dec 8: 


Hello Students,


As you may have already recognized, applications are now being accepted online through February 1st for Elementary, Early Childhood, and Special Education majors.  I have received an overwhelming amount of emails concerning the application process.  I also know that some of you will be working on your application during the upcoming winter break.


To that end, I am offering an impromptu Application Workshop this Thursday (tomorrow), December 8th  12 noon – 1:30pm in room 176 of the Education Building.  


Take a study break from your group study sessions and individual reading, and lets talk about the application that is due by February 1st.  I am certainly planning several more workshops when you return from winter break.  However, Thursday, December 8th from 12 noon – 1:30pm is an opportunity for you to ask me questions about the application.  The goal is for you to leave with a thorough understanding of how to prepare and what the committee is looking for in your application.  


Please put this on your Thursday study agenda, and I’ll see you soon.  --Joe Cross