Category: Course Spotlights

Course Spotlight: WRD 513 Semiotics

Even if you aren’t sure what “semiotics” is, you encounter it on a daily basis. Put plainly, semiotics is the study of signs or symbols and how we interpret them. Take, for example, how you use emojis in your texts to convey a certain meaning. That is a use of semiotics because you are relying on that emoji to give context to whoever you’re talking to.  If studying that sounds interesting to you, you should consider taking Professor Pete Vandenberg’s WRD 513: Semiotics this spring. Not only will you learn about using semiotics in a disciplinary sense, but you’ll also

Continue reading

Course Spotlight — WRD 507: Global Englishes

Note: This post was updated in January, 2024. This Spring Quarter, Dr. Jason Schneider is teaching one of his favorite courses—WRD 507 Global Englishes. This course showcases the vast variations in the English language across the world and the forces that have made English both a modern lingua franca and a language expressed in many different ways around the world. For students interested in linguistics, language teaching, and the political histories that shape our communication, this class is an opportunity to engage with English on an entirely new playing field. “In the broadest sense, the course offers a way to

Continue reading

Course Spotlight: LSP 200 Border Culture

This quarter Dr. Lydia Saravia is teaching LSP 200 Border Cultures which has been focused on examining the political climate between the U.S. and Mexico borders. Her class recently worked with local artist Norma Sierra Rios to host a celebration of Dia de Los Muertos. The celebration was also held in collaboration with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.  Q: How did you find Norma Sierra Rios? A: Norma is an established local artist. She has worked with several organizations and Chicago Public Schools. In addition to her mosaic art pieces that can be seen around Chicago, Norma is known for

Continue reading