ECPY 302 is not currently being offered after its most recent offering in spring 22. However, Gen 201 is a one-credit seminar with a very similar focus and students are encouraged to consider taking that course, which will be offered in spring 2023.
Gen 201 assists students in learning about their interests, personality, strengths, values, and more as they research and evaluate potential academic and career paths. The goal of the course is to develop an understanding of the major and career exploration process through learning about oneself, identifying options, conducting research, evaluating fit, and developing a plan to move forward.
For more information about Gen 201, or how to register, students are asked to contact:
Exploratory and Transitioning Advising
For Students
Come "find your fit" and enroll in ECPY 302: Personal and Academic Inquiry
This three-credit, small seminar is for students who might be asking themselves one or more of these questions:
a
- How can I make my learning experiencing more meaningful to me?
- Am I in the right major for me?
- What do I want to do with my life?
- How do I figure out what my career goals are?
View the spring 2022 section descriptions
This seminar is designed for undergraduate students who are undeclared, are pre-unit majors, or are in transition between majors.
We welcome all eligible students to join this program, regardless of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender, social class, sexual orientation, age and disability.
By exploring an academic topic or theme of personal interest, students will develop skills that will assist them in the exploration
of a major and/or career. Students will document their journeys and produce a personal academic plan, which can be refined (or modified, adjusted)
beyond the course, by the end of the semester. An instructional team made up of a faculty member, an advisor, and librarian will lead the course.
"I think this class is great for people who are feeling 'stuck'. Like they are 'stuck' in their major, what they really want to do, and just choices about school in general."
- ECPY 302 Student
ECPY 302: Personal and Academic Inquiry
Spring 2022 Seminar Sections
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Section 01: Emotional Intelligence: How Do Emotions Shape My Thinking, My Decisions, and My Everyday Life?
| Time: |
MW, 2:30-3:45pm |
| Modality: |
Face to Face |
| Location: |
ED372 |
| Lead Faculty: |
Eileen Estes, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Development
|
| Advisor: |
Jessy Rosenberg
|
| Librarian: |
Amber Willenborg
|
In this section, you will look at the role and power that emotions play in your everyday life. You will look at emotions through the lens of emotional intelligence which refers to an individual’s ability to become aware of, and control, their feelings.
You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of your own emotional intelligence and learn multiple strategies for strengthening or “bridging” emotions when moving from one emotion to another. You will explore theories of emotional development
and brain development as it pertains to emotional regulation and the impact of cultural influences on the acceptance/expression of emotions.
Key questions we will explore include:
- To what extent do our emotions influence our thinking?
- What impact do our emotions have on making decisions in regards to managing our personal relationships with family and friends; setting personal goals; making career decisions, and coping with daily stressors of life?
- What does it mean to be “emotionally intelligent”?
- How can we make emotions work for us, instead of against us?
This seminar will provide you with a structured opportunity to carry out an academic inquiry project of interest to you that relates to the course theme. You will shape your inquiry project around a question on emotional intelligence that is personally and intellectually meaningful to you.
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Section 02: Walls: Portals, Perspectives and Pathways
| Time: |
TTh, 2:30pm-3:45pm |
| Modality: |
Face to Face |
| Location: |
BAB408 |
| Lead Faculty: |
Mark French, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
|
| Advisor: |
Daniel Darland
|
| Librarian: |
Rob Detmering
|
This seminar uses the concept of “wall” as a pathway to knowledge discovery. You will gain insights into how ancient and current civilizations are empowered and limited by physical walls. You will learn how individual people reflect on the presence of physical walls as symbols of peace, security, economic prosperity.
You will reflect on metaphorical walls that influenced your path to and through college (like family, friends, popular culture, leaders, etc.). You will find awareness of walls in your daily life and consider how the walls influence your activities and interactions with others, providing you with a way to organize your thoughts and behaviors. You will consider how your walls were constructed and what modifications could be useful to open portals to your personal strengths and realities.
This course will help make your invisible walls visible and inform you how to see which way to go. By the end of this course, you should have a strategic plan to help you navigate a path to gain from your time in college.
Questions we will explore in this seminar include:
- What kind of walls have I built in my own life? Walls to protect me or direct me?
- How have walls influenced civilizations and society in ancient times and comparatively now in our current era?
- Do walls bring benefits to those that live behind them or to those that live beyond them?
- How do personal and individual walls occur?
- What is the value in discovering how walls, both physical and metaphorical, influence us?
This seminar will provide you with a structured opportunity to carry out an academic inquiry project of interest to you that relates to the course theme. You will shape your inquiry project around a question on walls that is personally and intellectually meaningful to you. You might explore walls in relation to the social groups or communities you participate in. Or you might investigate a political or economic aspect of walls that interests you. Or perhaps you might look at walls in the natural world, or walls in a specific time period.
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Section 03: Overcoming Thinking Traps: Concepts and Tools to Unlock Your Future
| Time: |
TTh, 9:30am-10:45am |
| Modality: |
Face to Face |
| Location: |
ED151 |
| Lead Faculty: |
Mark Leach, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, College of Education and Human Development
|
| Advisor: |
Jessica Newton
|
| Librarian: |
Amber Willenborg
|
In this course you will learn about the “thinking traps” we often get caught up in that can hold us back from accomplishing our goals. We will focus on how to become more aware of how thoughts are related to feelings and behaviors, and how they impact areas such as growth, resilience, goals, choices, decision-making, and problem-solving. We will use everyday examples to highlight new ways we can break the cycle of internalized messages originally taught to us and begin to lead a more focused and stimulating life and career. The concepts, tools and strategies we will explore in this course will assist us in the following: managing emotions; relationships and communication; conflict resolution; coping vs. thriving; mindfulness; among other topics.
Questions we will explore in this course include:
- What messages keep me from moving forward? What messages propel me?
- What types of thoughts/feelings/behaviors do I have that allow me to stay in one place or allow me to move forward?
- What has led me to past success?
- What have I learned about what is important in regard to career, income, status, relationships, family, crises, fun and friendships, gender roles, and faith?
This seminar will provide you with a structured opportunity to carry out an academic inquiry project of interest to you that relates to the course theme. You will shape your inquiry project around a question on thinking traps that is personally and intellectually meaningful to you.
The section themes listed above connect to UofL’s new Grand Challenges, a new initiative which will promote research and scholarship around empowering communities through promoting equity, eliminating disparities and strengthening the ability of all individuals and communities to achieve well-being and prosperity. The themes below align with the Grand Challenge focused on advancing human health and helping people live lives that are not just longer, but healthier and more resilient.
Read what students are saying about this course:
“I was in (this) small class with students who shared the same struggles as me. After a while, I felt comfortable with them and learned
that my confusion as a college student was a shared emotion. It made me feel less lonely knowing that lots of other students shared the same feelings of uncertainty and confusion.”
“I think this class is great for people who are feeling 'stuck'. Like they are 'stuck' in their major, what they really want to do, and just choices about school in general.”
“If I was going to share my experiences with this class with a peer, it would be that the course helps you know more about yourself, values, beliefs and also helps you use inquiry effectively.”
“This semester I have learned a lot about my career path as well as path of studying and my major. I have done research which I have gained many skills from and I have done activities which
showed me the skills I already had. I learned a lot about who I am as a person and a student and how I can thrive in the upcoming years of my life. This class has taught me both educationally and personally.”
“Researching a topic you’re interested in changes the way you see research. The information seems more compelling, more relevant, and I found myself personally more driven to find more good sources.”
Questions?
To learn more, contact the Student Success Center,
Exploratory and Transitioning Advising.
Email: succeed@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-7969
Get Involved
Interested in getting involved? Find Your Fit is actively seeking FYF Alumni Advocates who have already taken the course. These students will help enhance the future direction of the initiative for future students who enroll in FYF.
We are always looking for students to spread the word about this initiative. If you would like to become a social media ambassador for the program, please contact us.
Additionally, recent graduates from the university and alumni are also encouraged to reach out for potential participation in career panels for current students.
