This UWYO class is the anchor class for the Synergy Program. Synergy is one of many first-year programs helping new students fulfill University Studies classes in a challenging and supportive environment. The connections you build through this class may stay a part of your life and network throughout college. I encourage you to take advantage of these connections, including your class- mates, instructor, peer leader, and Synergy advisor. This course also fulfills the First-Year Seminar (FYS) requirement of the 2015 University Studies Program. Students will critically examine and evaluate evidence, claims, beliefs, or points of view about meaningful, relevant issues. Students will be introduced to active learning, inquiry of pressing issues, and individual and collaborative processing of ideas through the First-Year Seminar curriculum.
Course Goals
Other Course Goals
Gaming the System: a beginner’s guide to the mathematical principles behind politics, news, and more
Even though you’ve had to take “math” for most of your time in school, you might not have seen how exciting math can really be. Math is not only about finding answers to important questions but also about figuring out what the important questions even are. In this class, we’ll explore elements of game theory, fair division, voting theory, logic and more to address big questions about ‘fake’ news, our ‘unfair’ voting system, ‘ineffective’ federal programs, climate change (or lack thereof?), and other issues that can affect our lives. Students in this class will also complete a major research project around a topic of their interest. You may want to consider this class if you’re interested in philosophy, political science, other social sciences, or are otherwise mathematically or scientifically inclined. Absolutely no math skills or prior knowledge are needed. (In fact, if you consider yourself “bad at math” then this course is for you!).