Something Different; Gratitude
This course guides participants through an intentional practice of gratitude by looking backward—examining the people, events, and even chance encounters that made their blessings possible. Through reflective exercises, journaling, and creative thank-you practices, learners cultivate deeper awareness of interdependence and foster appreciation that moves beyond simple acknowledgment toward empathy, generosity, and connection.
Built on History
This interdisciplinary online course explores how local development decisions—zoning, redevelopment, and urban renewal—have shaped community identity, equity, and memory. Students will analyze the historical layers beneath the built environment and learn how to use historical research to inform present-day planning and design.
Through case studies, archival tools, and digital mapping, students will uncover the stories embedded in their own cities and propose strategies for inclusive, historically informed community development.
Public History for Public Interest: Bridging Local Stories and Civic Engagement
This course explores how local history can serve the public interest by informing civic engagement, shaping community identity, and inspiring participatory democracy. Students will learn public-facing historical methods, analyze the politics of local narratives, and apply those skills to real places—such as neighborhoods, parks, museums, city redevelopment areas, and online community forums. By the end of the course, students will produce a public-facing project that blends historical storytelling with civic purpose.
Persuasion and the City: Propaganda, Public Opinion, and Development Delays
This course explores how propaganda—old and new—shapes public opinion about local development projects. From mid-century urban renewal campaigns to twenty-first-century influencer activism, propaganda has played a powerful role in framing growth, change, and resistance.
Students will learn to analyze media narratives, social media movements, and political messaging that affect public engagement with urban planning. They’ll apply historical and communication frameworks to understand why some projects stall, spark outrage, or succeed despite controversy.
Propaganda
This course traces the history of propaganda from ancient civilizations to the present day, examining how new communication technologies—from the printing press to social media—have shaped public opinion and rewritten historical narratives. The second half focuses on the digital revolution, exploring how platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence affect the way historical events are researched, documented, and remembered, and how they can distort or fabricate those same events.
From Posters to Posts: The Evolution of Propaganda Communication
This course examines how propaganda has evolved from early mass-communication tools—posters, newspapers, radio—to today’s fragmented digital environment driven by influencers, algorithms, and social media. Students will analyze major propaganda campaigns, assess influence strategies, evaluate ethical issues, compare communication technologies over time, and apply historical insights to understand today’s persuasion landscape.