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INQUIRY STUDIES

Inquiry Studies (IS) 101 is the foundational class taken by all first-year students. This class begins during orientation. The instructor for your section also will serve as your mentor, guiding you in making a successful transition to college.

Half the class includes content common across all IS 101 sections. You will have two textbooks in common, do some of the same readings, and complete similar assignments as all other new students. The other half of the class, while aiming toward the same goals, will be focused on the topic chosen by the instructor.

Please review these options carefully. As you sign up for a Summer Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) Day, you will be making your first big choice:

Which IS 101 classes will you list as your top choices?

IS 101 RESEARCH GUIDE »

IS 101 (Asking Questions, Making Choices) Courses

Education and Social Change
IS 101: 01
Why are you going to college? This course will explore this question and more broadly the role of education in society. How does it affect our lives, our work, our perspectives, and our society? You will be encouraged to understand liberal education as a call to action through citizenship and social change. In addition to reading, analyzing and discussing, you will explore these issues by engaging in activities outside of the classroom. By the end of the term, students will better understand how positive social change applies to their lives  INSTRUCTOR: DAN KITTLE

Character, Ethics and Engaged Citizenship
IS 101: 02
This course will provide an in-depth look at your personal character and ethics. A wide variety of materials and activities will be used to explore questions and choices related to this theme. Students will have ample opportunity to select and consider materials, experiences, and projects as they engage in the inquiry process and end the semester with a deeper appreciate of what it means to be an engaged citizen. INSTRUCTOR: KRISTIN TEIG TORRES

Social Activism
IS 101: 03
Individuals are the greatest change agents within any society and this course will look at ways we influence the world around us. Everyone has the power to make an impact. We will ask meaningfulquestions about issues that are affecting our world today and engage in activities to better understand our own biases. INSTRUCTOR: CASSANDRA HALES

Health Care for the Ages
IS 101: 04
What does the word healthy mean to you? How does the perception of health change in your mind as you get older? Dig deeper into all things health and begin to make a plan for your different stages in life. Become a healthy consumer in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and older. Examine topics like fraud in the health field, consumer health issues, how to understand the American health care system, insurance options and consumer protection and research to ensure you can make informed decisions through every stage of life.  INSTRUCTOR: DANA FOSTER

From Surviving to Thriving: How to Have the Richest College Experience
IS 101: 05
You are on the brink of your college experience looking at the vastness of all that Wartburg has to offer; how are you going to ensure that you get the most out of your four years? What are the strategies to be successful? How will you implement these strategies in natural ways? This class will explore what you need to know about higher education, what you need to know about Wartburg, and what you need to know about yourself in order to not only survive in college, but to thrive in college. INSTRUCTOR: LINDSEY LEONARD

STOP: Collaborate and Listen
IS 101: 06
Inevitably, you will be assigned a group project in your college coursework. How does that make you feel? Most students cringe at group work, but the reality is, collaboration is key to being successful not only in college but also in the world of work. In this course, we will explore the dynamics of a group, including the purpose and function of the group, as well the roles of group members. We will work on building leadership, collaboration, and communication skills and how to navigate through the process of a group project. End products such as poster presentations, slide presentations, and oral and written communication will be utilized.  INSTRUCTOR: MATINA CLARK

A Look into the Past, Present and Future of Education
IS 101:07
How far have we come? What has changed and remained the same about education in the past centuries? How will education evolve in the future? This course looks into education from the apprenticeships of the past to the modern-day classroom to the future and the gamification of learning. INSTRUCTOR: MURAD MAHMOUD

Diversity and the Media
IS 101: 08
Diversity and the Media presents a current analysis and historical perspective of various minority groups and how media depict these groups. This course helps students understand why and how stereotypical media portrayals have been produced and how the under-representation of diversified images affects students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward others, contributing to multicultural illiteracy. Students will investigate alternative media voices and creators, multi-cultural contributions to media, the image-rebuilding process, and corrective stereotypes. INSTRUCTOR: PAMELA OHRT

Vocation for the Welfare of the WorldIS 101: 09
As a mentor from his college days asked, “Is it possible to know the world and still love the world?”. A college education helps us to see the world more clearly, to notice the joys and sorrows mingled together. It also prepares us for leadership and service in a world that delights and frustrates us. We will consider how the choices we make during our college years help us to weave together belief and behavior. INSTRUCTOR: RONALD JOHNSON

Survivor – The Liberal Arts College
IS 101: 30
This section presents an overview of the history of the liberal arts college in the United States. There will also be discussions regarding skills, goals and choices to increase the chances of becoming a successful college student. INSTRUCTOR: DOUG KOSCHMEDER

Global Issues, Grand Challenges and the STEM Professions
IS 101: 31
The problems facing the world today seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Global issues like those specified in the Engineering Grand Challenges and the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals include many multifaceted “Wicked” problems like poverty and hunger, Global warming, affordable clean energy, reducing inequalities, responsible consumption and production, clean water, health care accessibility and advancement, cyber security and many others. These types of problems will need the collaborative work of many people from a variety of expertise areas and background in order to advance towards solutions. In this section of IS 101 we will focus on the particular responsibilities and opportunities for people with vocations in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields to address these problems. Though focused on STEM fields participation and input from non-STEM majors are encouraged. INSTRUCTOR: LEANN FAIDLEY

Political Engagement and Activism
IS 101:32
Politics is seemingly a part of nearly every facet of society. We talk about it with our friends and family, we see it on social media, and we even see it in the shows we watch or activities we participate in. This course is designed to make you think about and contextualize your own political values and views in the hope of becoming a more engaged and aware citizen. You will be taught the purpose of developing civic literacy and creating a necessary base for passive and active participation in the American political system. Through readings, assignments, and classroom discussion you will gain an understanding of what it means to be politically engaged. A familiar phrase in American politics is, “All politics is local.” We will expound upon that thought and look at ways that individuals can become and remain active and engaged at the local, state, and national level. INSTRUCTOR: TRAVIS ENDICOTT

Asian Subcontinent Diversity
IS 101:33
This course is designed to enhance the Wartburg College vision and create an inclusive community that combines diverse curricula. Students will learn about similarities and differences among South Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Multiculturalism will be addressed as an inclusive and broad construct. Students will reflect on the topics discussed in the class, which will benefit their personal development of racial, social, and political socialization. The course will enhance student’s knowledge of diverse perspectives. INSTRUCTOR: SULEMAN ABDIAH

Where Will Santa Live?
IS 101:34
 Why should I be concerned about climate change?  How do my choices affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?  What simple changes can I make to reduce my carbon footprint and why does that matter?  These and other questions will be explored and answered through the use of various media, including graphic novels, movies, books and music. INSTRUCTOR: DAWN KELLER

A Mile in Our Shoes
IS 101:35
In this course, students will spend time reflecting on what makes us who we are, what drives our beliefs, motivations and biases. By the end of the term, students will better understand how their personal experiences have played an integral part of who they are today and how they understand the world around them. Students will also extend this understanding to build empathy and understanding for the uniqueness of other individuals, based on the varying experiences that make each of us who we are. INSTRUCTOR: SARAH WALDORF

Exploring Our __________.
IS 101:36
This course will provide an in-depth look at the exploration of our world, our selves, and our communities. Exploring our world will focus on the outdoors and what we can learn from it. Exploring ourselves will focus on the question of who we are and how can we be leaders in our world. Lastly, exploring our communities will tie things together by looking at how we can contribute to the communities that we are a part of. INSTRUCTOR: JOSH BULTEN

Exploring Careers & Vocation
Development of an individual’s vocation and career action plan. Utilizing self-assessment instruments to develop an understanding of personal values, interests, skills, and personality, and connecting them to academic and career goals. (Castle Connection students only) INSTRUCTOR: VERONICA REECE

SCH 101 (First Year Scholar Seminar) Courses

The Economics of Inequality
SCH 101:01
In this course, we will examine and explore the historical and contemporary implications of economic inequality in the United States with some emphasis on other advanced countries. Moreover, this course will provide an overview of the causes and effects of economic, social, and racial inequality and how it is reproduced throughout our society. Using an interconnected perspective to better understand how various aspects of economic inequalities impact individuals, communities, and systems, this course will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to explore the intricacies of economic inequality. Students will be challenged to examine core tenants of systemic economic inequality and critically develop strategies to reduce inequality all under a liberal arts world-view. INSTRUCTOR: NANA QUAICOE

Utopias and Dystopias
SCH 101: 02
The word “utopia” is based on a Greek pun: it can mean both “no place” and “good place.” A utopia is a good world that doesn’t exist. In this course, we will examine the shifting characteristics of utopias (and their dark twins, dystopias) as we study literature, film, and music throughout history, from Sir Thomas More to Janelle Monáe. In the process, we will explore questions crucial to the future of humanity. How do we make the world better for everyone? How do we handle differences of religion, race, gender, sexuality, age, class, and ability? How do we strike a balance between the needs of the individual and those of the community? And what is the value of a liberal arts education in addressing these complex, urgent problems? INSTRUCTOR: RACHEL CLARK