Curious about something that isn’t taught in your usual classes? From Chinese feminism and postcolonial literature to the science of art, wellness, and grief, explore these fascinating student-directed courses.
Each year, Arts students turn their own curiosities into for-credit courses through the Student Directed Seminars program. These small, discussion-based seminars feel more like a shared conversation than a traditional class, where ideas spark new directions and learning happens alongside peers who share your interests. See what’s possible when students take the lead.
Here’s what your fellow Arts students are teaching in Winter Term 2 👇
Contemporary Feminism in Chinese Media
(ASTU_V 400C-001)
Explore the dynamic landscape of contemporary Chinese feminism through the lens of popular media. This seminar explores how women’s experiences and feminist ideas are represented in film, television, literature, and video games, while also addressing issues such as censorship, sexuality, and queer culture. Through close analysis and discussion, you’ll gain a nuanced understanding of how Chinese women today pursue social justice and self-expression. No knowledge of the Chinese language is required.
Student Coordinator: Clair Tang
Faculty Sponsor: Xiaoqiao Xu
Postcolonial Considerations of Literature from the Caucasus and Central Asia (ASTU_V 400F-001)
Consider Central Asian and Caucasian literature through a postcolonial lens that centers voices from the so-called periphery. This course examines how citizenship, identity, and empire shape one another, and how literary forms both construct and resist dominant narratives. Through collective reading and reflection, literature becomes a tool of resistance and self-mapping. You’ll trace how these texts intersect and respond to shared histories beyond traditional boundaries.
Student Coordinator: Selin Berktas
Faculty Sponsor: Katherine Bowers
Unhidden Currents: Media, Propaganda and the Architecture of Influence (ENGL_V 336A-001)
Examine how propaganda, persuasion, and media consumption shape thought and behaviour in today’s digital age. This seminar explores the psychological and societal effects of the attention economy, technocracy, and polarization, asking what cognitive autonomy means in a world of constant influence. Through critical readings, field research, and a collaborative digital humanities project, you’ll uncover the hidden infrastructures that shape the information landscape of Western culture.
Student Coordinator: Alicia Matthews
Faculty Sponsor: Richard Cavell
The Brain in Balance: Exploring Wellness Through a Neuroscientific Lens (ASTU_V 400J-001)
Explore how neuroscience shapes our understanding of mental health, resilience, and healing through concepts like neuroplasticity, stress regulation, and the mind-body connection. The course also looks at digital culture, from the risks of social media and digital addiction to the benefits of mindfulness apps, biofeedback, and virtual therapy. You’ll investigate how science and technology together can support a more balanced brain and a healthier mind.
Student Coordinator: David Roberts
Faculty Sponsor: Todd Handy
Neuroaesthetics: Your Brain on Art (ASTU_V 400E-001)
What makes something beautiful, and how do our brains experience it? This course delves into neuroaesthetics—the science of how the brain perceives and responds to art across forms like music, film, literature, and visual design. Through creative projects, reflective writing, and discussions with guest speakers, you’ll explore how art and neuroscience intersect to shape the human experience of beauty.
Student Coordinators: Leo Chung and Betty Bao
Faculty Sponsor: Steven Barnes
Biopsychosocial Model in Medicine: Integrating Mind, Body, and Society (ASTU_V 400L-001)
Investigate how biological, psychological, and social factors intertwine to shape health and illness, particularly within marginalized communities. Through case studies, reflection, and dialogue, you’ll examine how patient-centred, integrative approaches can bridge the gap between theory and practice. Drawing from psychology, biology, sociology, cultural studies, and medical ethics, this seminar dominates biomedical perspectives and reimagines holistic care.
Student Coordinator: Lavleen Walia
Faculty Sponsor: Benjamin Cheung
Understanding Loss and Grief: An Interdisciplinary Approach (ASTU_V 400H-001)
How do loss and grief shape who we are and how we connect with others? This course examines grief as a psychological, sociocultural, and neurobiological experience, encompassing many forms of loss beyond death. Through discussions, models of grief, and interdisciplinary projects, you’ll consider how individuals and communities experience, express, and support one another through loss.
Student Coordinator: Atrina Shadgan
Faculty Sponsor: Sunaina Assanand
About Student Directed Seminars
Student Directed Seminars give upper-year Arts students the chance to design and lead their own 3-credit course on a topic that isn’t currently offered at UBC. You’ll shape the syllabus, guide discussions, and learn alongside a small group of peers who share your curiosity.
