ASCS Q377 will be offered on M/W, 1:00-2:15 p.m., and the section number is 30938.Please find more details in the description below. Jan Van Dyke will be teaching the course in the Spring of 2011, so feel free to contact him with further questions at jpvandyk@indiana.edu.
Q377 is for juniors and seniors who are beginning to think about life after college, and for whom finding meaningful work is of the utmost importance.
In the 20th century, the illustrious psychologist and concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl wrote: "The truth is that as the struggle for survival has subsided, the question has emerged - survival for what? Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for." Now, in the rapidly changing world of the 21st century and contemporary issues of economic, social, and environmental concern, most of us would like to find meaning in our work, and the sense that there is a deeper purpose to our lives. Each of us wants to serve the world in our own unique way, and yet it is easy to lose touch, or never really become clear about, what this might mean for us. In this course we will examine the idea that each of us has a "calling" or unique gift to bring into the world. We will ask questions such as:
- What kind of world do I want to live in?
- What are the personal gifts that I can bring into my work, and to others?
- What moves me to want to act?
Through experiential and self-reflective individual and group exercises from a variety of perspectives, you will be challenged to subjectively explore personal issues of meaning and spirituality and to discover your strengths, values, and passions, while objectively exploring topics such as the economic context of work, the environmental crisis and work, and the idea of "right livelihood." The discussion component of this class will be emphasized, and you will be asked to dig deep in order to develop a unique philosophy of meaningful work, and to discover the calling to which you are led.
Q377 is a 3 credit hour, semester-long course offered through the College of Arts and Sciences. It is open to any junior or senior who has not taken ASCS Q294.
