Viking Launch Courses

Is it true that we use only about 10% of our brain? Of course not! Weighing approximately 3 pounds, the human brain may be our last and most complicated biological frontier. So effective and efficient are the brain’s 100 billion neurons that, as long as things are working properly, we rarely stop to think about how this complex mass of tissue gives rise to our every thought, action and perception. However, when brain function is impaired people’s lives can be dramatically altered. This course will introduce you to behavioral neuroscience in Western’s state-of-the-art neuroscience research facility, where you will learn about the role that the nervous system plays in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion. Lab activities include a sheep’s brain dissection, to help you learn about brain-and-behavior relationships hands-on!

2 credits

Academic Instruction West 412

 (will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $10

Instructor: Dr. Josh Kaplan

Explore the “ekphrastic” relationship between creative writing and other forms of art (music, sculpture, painting, glass, etc.) in this intensive, 5-day format. This course introduces you to elements of craft necessary for creative writing; to the process of imagining, generating, revising, and editing texts; to the electronic broadside form.  Course activities include discussion, response, pre-writing, drafting, workshop, revising, designing, publishing, and virtual & self-directed field trips through WWU’s outdoor sculpture collection and other sites.

2 credits

Humanities 103

(will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Richard Simon

Students will be introduced to engineering through participation in hands-on activities utilizing the tools, equipment, and resources available in the Engineering and Design Makerspace. Focus will be placed on technical skill development, exploratory design, 3D spatial visualization, cohort building, and workspace norms.

2 credits

Academic Instruction West 303

no fee

Instructor: Dr. Jill Davishahl

Explore and engage with some of our region's most exciting community gardening and farming projects. Get your hands dirty alongside community leaders who are using healthy, local food to address pressing social issues like unemployment, depression, and climate change adaptation. We will learn about projects on campus, around town, and in the surrounding countryside. Ready to work outside, get inspired, explore, and play? 

2 credits

(will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Travis Tennessen

Interested in learning about the history of Bellingham’s local volcano? In this class you'll learn about the origin, geology, and hazards associated with this active volcano, and discover how geologists study volcanoes. The class will some engaging lab and classroom activities.

2 credits

Environmental Studies 218

(will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Dr. Bernard Housen

Everyone’s a photographer, right? We can all take photos on our phones and post them to Instagram or Tumblr. Now, delve further into photo practice, history, creative meaning, and ethics through presentations, photo assignments, visits from photographers, field trips, and in-class production in a design lab. To prepare you to do profile, stop motion, and self-expression projects, we will cover SLR cameras and do a tutorial on Photoshop. A field trip to a local magazine publisher (possibly remote) will discuss editorial decision-making in publishing outdoor photos as narratives, as well as the career of freelancing; a second field trip to a local newspaper (again, possibly remote) will cover how to make ethical editorial choices in local coverage. This course helps you build media literacy, as we will discuss design standards and visual creativity. The material covered is useful to prospective Journalism majors as well as any student who wants to learn how to produce photos with an understanding of the technical and creative aspects of photography, as well as the history and ethics of photo practice.

2 credits

Communications Facility 202

 (will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Sheila Webb

Are you considering business as your academic and professional pursuit but unsure as to which area to study or where to begin? This course is designed to introduce students to the College of Business and Economics (CBE) help students explore and understand the distinct areas of study and professional practice that business has to offer. The course will include a survey of the primary disciplines in business as offered at WWU in the CBE. You will become acquainted with Accounting, Decision Sciences, Finance and Marketing, Economics and Management. Students will learn from experienced faculty, meet department teams and have the chance to visit local businesses. This course is a great way to understand the opportunities offered at the CBE and get a head start on planning your degree in business at Western.

2 credits

Parks Hall 104

(will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Lucas Senger

Spanish is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world, and, with more than 40 million speakers, the United States is part of the wildly diverse Spanish-speaking world. Studying Spanish can help us better understand the United States, and it’s also an avenue for exploring the world beyond our borders. Whether you’re interested in economics or environmental science, math or music, incorporating language study will broaden your perspective on the world and help you gain valuable academic and personal skills.

This course focuses on developing conversational Spanish skills, while also studying popular culture and historical contexts. As we learn about Spanish-speaking communities in a local and global context, we will explore campus resources to learn about study abroad and volunteer opportunities.

Note: For questions about language level, prior experience with Spanish, or suitability for this course, please contact the instructor directly.

2 credits

Miller Hall 135

(will be applied to your fall quarter bill): $15. The course fee is tentative based on a potential field trip. Fee will only be charged if actual field study takes place.

Instructor: Kirsten Drickey