Micro-Seminar: The Innovative Scholar: Harnessing Creativity Across Disciplines PART ONE

Micro-Seminars have two parts. Attendance to both parts is required. Registering for the PART ONE session will automatically enroll you in the PART TWO session on Friday.

Part 1: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm (PST)
Part 2: Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 am (PST)

Overview: This micro-seminar explores the synergies between academic and creative pursuits, using the instructor's experience as both a writing professor and professional DJ as a case study. We'll examine how seemingly disparate passions can inform and enrich each other, leading to a more fulfilling college experience and future career. Students will learn strategies for time management, skill transfer, and personal growth while pursuing diverse interests.

Expected Learning Outcomes: By the end of this seminar, students will:
1. Understand how to balance academic and creative pursuits
2. Develop strategies for time management and skill transfer
3. Identify ways their diverse interests can enrich their academic experience
4. Learn to apply creative thinking to academic challenges
5. Gain confidence in pursuing multifaceted personal and professional paths

Day 1:
1. Introduction: The myth of the single-track career
2. Case study: Professor by day, DJ by night
3. Discussion: Identifying your academic and creative interests
4. Exercise: Mapping connections between different pursuits
5. Reflection and Q&A

Day 2:
1. Recap and group sharing
2. Time management strategies for balancing multiple interests
3. Skill transfer: How creativity enhances academic work and vice versa
4. Group activity: Designing a "remixed" college experience
5. Discussion: Overcoming challenges in pursuing diverse interests
6. Conclusion: Setting goals for a balanced, innovative college life

Audience: This seminar is ideal for students who: - Have diverse interests beyond their major - Want to balance academic pursuits with creative passions - Seek strategies for time management and personal growth - Are interested in unconventional career paths - Want to enrich their college experience through interdisciplinary thinking Whether you're an aspiring scientist who loves poetry, a business major with a passion for music, or simply curious about integrating diverse interests, this seminar will provide valuable insights for your academic journey.

Lead By: Professor Christopher Muniz

Christopher Muniz is a Writing Professor at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where he has taught since 2017. He holds a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from USC. Professor Muniz embodies the spirit of the innovative scholar, balancing his academic career with a successful career as a professional DJ. His unique background allows him to bring insights from both the scholarly and creative worlds to his teaching, helping students explore the intersections of academic rigor and creative innovation. As both an educator and artist, he is committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and fostering creativity across disciplines.

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