Fake news, deepfakes, AI hallucinations, biased media; how do we figure out what is true in a world full of bullshit and misinformation? We’ll use ideas from philosophy, economics, psychology, and other fields to try to answer that question.

Instructor: Aaron Ancell, Philosophy

What does it really mean to live a healthy life? This course investigates the different aspects that make up ‘whole health’ and why equitable access to whole health is so difficult to achieve. Through an economic lens, we will delve into healthcare access, explore regional and global health disparities, and examine your connection to whole health.

Instructor: Savannah Adkins, Economics

Our particular wicked problem concerns social media: the good it does for society (e.g., connections and shared perspectives) and the bad it does for society (e.g., information biases and unrealistic expectations). You will explore ways to mitigate the bad, while keeping the good. We will also explore creativity, what it is, how to access it, and how to apply it to the wicked problem.

Instructor: Andy Aylesworth, Marketing

Should social media companies be regulated? Should their content be moderated—and if so, how? This course explores the psychological roots of why we fall for misinformation, with a special focus on cognitive biases. We’ll then turn to urgent debates about the responsibility of platforms and governments in protecting a free and democratic information ecosystem. Along the way, we’ll ask: Who decides what’s true—and who gets to decide who decides?

Instructor: Chris Beneke, History

Does the Outdoor Products Industry have an obligation to preserve and protect the environment where their products are used? This class will explore this question alongside methods to create more sustainable products free of toxic chemicals and light on carbon footprints. We will examine what skiing, hiking, climbing, and other outdoor activity companies are currently doing to create more sustainable products and imagine what products would look like if they were designed for a fully circular economy. 

Instructor: Ryan Bouldin, Natural and Applied Sciences

"Just be yourself," people say, but that is easier said than done. How do we discover what we genuinely value while we are bombarded by online images of ideal lives? In a digital world of curated personas, it's easy to lose sight of beliefs and values that set you apart. This class explores authenticity's importance for success and wellbeing, discussing how to reconnect with ourselves while maintaining and building our communities. The course provides practical tools for self-reflection, helping you navigate the intersection of technology, identity, and personal values.

Instructor: Liz Brown, Law

How do you live a healthy life? This course explores how larger social contexts shape personal health outcomes, how cultural beliefs define health and illness, and how individuals experience sickness. Beyond healing, we’ll examine how the healthcare system serves as a tool for social control—raising critical questions about inequality, policy, and power in medicine.

Instructor: Xuemei Cao, Sociology

This seminar explores the complex relationship between capitalism, wealth creation, and inequality. Today, 700 million people—over 8% of the global population—live on less than $2.15 per day, while the poorest half holds just 2% of global wealth. Together, we’ll critically examine capitalism’s role both as an engine of progress and as a contributor to persistent disparities. Our goal isn’t simple answers, but deeper clarity—empowering you, as future business leaders, to steward global markets responsibly and ethically.

Instructor: E. LaBrent Chrite, University President

What makes a business truly responsible? How can companies balance profit with purpose? In this course, we'll explore how businesses today integrate economic goals with ethical, environmental, and social responsibilities. Through real-world examples, you'll learn how successful companies create lasting value for customers, communities, and the world around them.

Instructor: Cynthia Clark, Management

This class will be exploring how conspiracy theories have become weaponized to drive epistemic wedges between groups in society. By this I mean that the perception of what is ‘real’ has diverged to such an extent that people are orienting to fundamentally different realities. In this sense, there is a reality that exists whether people want to acknowledge it or not

Instructor: Gary David, Sociology

What makes us human? And how might that change in a world awash in algorithms and artificial intelligence? In this class, we will consider what it means to be human as we explore the relationship between math and art through images, animation, performance and artificial intelligence. By exploring math as a fundamental part of nature and life, students will reckon with the human side and future of modern science and technologies.  

Instructor: Mita Das, Mathematical Sciences

Much of our lives is experienced through the stories we tell. We craft stories about ourselves and about others. These stories influence our likes and dislikes. In this course, we will become adept at analyzing those stories. We will also explore how storytelling can help us better understand and respond to a complex social issue. What story could spark change—and how will you tell it?

Instructor: Wiley Davi, English and Media Studies

Do corporations exist only to serve shareholders, or do they have broader responsibilities to society? What do terms like CSR (corporate social responsibility) and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) really mean in practice? Who are corporations’ stakeholders, and how do corporations impact communities? This seminar invites you to think critically about the role of corporations in society—and why it matters to you as a future employee, consumer, investor, and business leader.

Instructor: Timothy Duff, Law

Loneliness is rising in the U.S.—so much so that former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called it an “epidemic.” At the same time, 73% of people in a Harvard study said technology contributes to that loneliness. As our lives become more digital, this seminar explores how we can build and maintain meaningful human connection—both personally and as a society—in an age of constant connectivity.

Instructor: Greg Farber, English and Media Studies

NASA’s Artemis Program aims to land the next generation of astronauts on the Moon by 2027 as a step toward human missions to Mars. This course explores the complex challenges and implications of spaceflight beyond Earth orbit. Through scientific, technological, medical, and philosophical lenses, we will examine why we go, what we risk, and what we gain by venturing into outer space.

Instructor: George Fishman, Natural and Applied Sciences

What do we miss when we're always plugged in? This course explores how technology affects essential interpersonal skills like communication, empathy, and building meaningful relationships. We’ll examine why unplugging is so challenging, and why learning to be fully present can help you succeed—in college, your career, and life.

Instructor: Karen Fisher, Management

In a world saturated with information—much of it biased, incomplete, or conflicting—the ability to seek the truth is not just a scholarly pursuit; it’s a vital life skill. This course invites students to explore what it means to seek the truth in a complicated world and how to use that truth to make sound, responsible decisions.

Instructor: Marc Firenze, Computer Information Systems

Why has economic inequality grown in recent decades—and how does it shape political inequality? This course explores the impact of wealth on U.S. politics: who participates, who holds influence, and whose concerns are heard. We’ll examine how lobbying, corporate power, and campaign finance affect political outcomes, and whether money’s role undermines the idea of equality in a representative democracy. Finally, we'll consider what could—or should—be done to strengthen democracy in the face of rising inequality.

Instructor: Juliet Gainsborough, Global Studies

According to Sami Adler in the article Power of Youth: How to Get Gen Z Behind Your Mission, 75% of Gen Zers believe that their generation will change the world.  The class will explore how Gen Zers can have a positive impact on non-profits and how non-profits can increase Gen-Z interest in non-profits.  

Instructor: Eric Gaynor, Accounting

In this course, we explore the importance of leadership. This course will introduce you to the fundamental leadership skills and concepts. Also, we will look at business leaders, athletic leaders, government leaders and fictional portrayals of leaders to better understand our exposure to leadership through society. The goal is to help you develop your ability to influence others and realize the power each one of us holds in our lives.

Instructor: Jeff LeBlanc, Management

As robots evolve from tools into coworkers, caregivers, and even companions, what does this mean for humanity? This seminar examines our complex relationship with robots and dives into the ethical, emotional, and societal questions raised by AI and robotics. Through case studies and debates, we'll discuss pressing questions across contexts—from self-driving cars to battlefield drones, from hospital robots to AI companions—while challenging our assumptions about intelligence, ethics, and humanity itself. 

Instructor: Pengbo Liu, Philosophy

Plastic is everywhere—from food packaging and clothing to cars, electronics, and buildings. It's cheap, convenient, and difficult to replace, yet since the 1950s, less than 9% has been recycled. Most ends up in landfills, oceans, or the atmosphere, contributing significantly to pollution and climate change. Yet plastic is also a resource that, if managed properly, could be reused many times. This course examines how plastic became a global crisis—and what it would take to reduce its harm while rethinking its role in modern life.

Instructor: Mary Marcell, Experience Design

We all doomscroll, the planet may be in a "doom-loop," and doomsday stories flood our screens—but what does the opposite of doom look like? Inspired by political commentator Chris Hayes’s question, this seminar explores visions of desirable futures. From Utopia to Afrofuturism, from Buckminster Fuller to Walt Disney, we’ll examine—and create—ideas for a better world. Students will research one aspect of life they’d reimagine as part of their own future vision.

Instructor: Luke Mueller, English and Media Studies

The title of this course is a double entendre. In the class we will talk about how enterprises will use robots and robotic processes to create competitive advantage. We will also talk about how robots will change the world of work and what skills will be important for our students to create a competitive advantage for themselves in a world with robots.

Instructor: Bruce Murphy, Computer Information Systems

What do you expect to gain from your college degree—and how will that shape the rest of your life? This seminar invites you to reflect on what business education means to you: from landing your first job to defining success, building a meaningful career, and making ethical decisions along the way. We’ll explore critical debates about the role of business schools in society, especially in the wake of financial crises and growing concerns about capitalism’s moral compass. Through readings, dialogue, and reflective writing, you’ll confront a powerful question: how can your business education help you not just succeed, but lead with purpose?

Instructor: Mike Page, Finance

This course explores the diverse languages, dialects, and accents used by people and communities within the United States. We will analyze the concept of a national linguistic identity and consider the ways in which our perceptions of language affect various stakeholders within the U.S. Finally, students will be asked to formulate a position on language policy within the United States.

Instructor: Kristin Raymond, English and Media Studies

Why do we trust doctors even when they might be wrong, or follow leaders whose missions we doubt? Experts shape many of our daily choices—from what we eat and who we vote for to where we go to college. But how do we decide who truly deserves our trust? In this course, we will explore how society defines expertise, when we should (and shouldn't) follow expert advice, and learn how to think critically about the information we rely on every day.

Instructor: Christine Skubisz, Natural and Applied Sciences

We will consider how, or whether, we can practice inclusion without exclusion. We teach that organizations should be inclusive, meaning they should be welcoming and supportive of people from different backgrounds and with different values. However, the values typically considered in the inclusion discussion generally exclude people with conservative social values. In this class, we will consider what it means to be “inclusive,” and whether and how we can envision and create organizational cultures that are inclusive for people from different ideological backgrounds.

Instructor: Marcus Stewart, Management

Climate change is a wicked problem for humanity. It’s the result of countless interactions among human and natural systems. Neither the benefits (causes) nor the impacts (risks) of climate change are distributed equally or equitably across countries or populations. In all that complexity, what does it mean to live a good life, in the face of rapid global climate change?

Instructor: Dave Szymanski, Natural and Applied Sciences

Is The Enlightenment over? Is there still a role for Reason in our social discourse? Our seminar will focus on learning to think critically and identifying logical fallacies and cognitive bias in common discourse as well as economic thought. We will move from the Ancients to the Enlightenment and the rise of Empiricism as scientific method. 

Instructor: Bryan Snyder, Economics

What does it really mean to be happy, and how does happiness shape your choices? In this course, we’ll examine happiness from individual and societal perspectives, exploring how ambition and contentment influence your decisions. Through reflection and discussion, you’ll discover how finding the right balance can enrich your experience at Bentley and prepare you for a fulfilling life beyond college.

Instructor: Susan Vroman, Management

According to Sami Adler in the article Power of Youth: How to Get Gen Z Behind Your Mission, 75% of Gen Zers believe that their generation will change the world.  The class will explore how Gen Zers can have a positive impact on non-profits and how non-profits can increase Gen-Z interest in non-profits.

Instructor: Steve Wasserman, Finance

This course will focus on Marketing’s role in addressing Sustainability in Fast Fashion and Social Justice issues. Business leaders are grappling with how to marshal resources to address Social Justice and Sustainability. Organizations have turned to Marketing to help find the right words and the right strategy. Logically, it is ridiculous that a simple marketing-led communication will sufficiently resolve the racial injustice and sustainability challenges faced by organizations and society. We will explore this in more depth across fashion, retail sectors and top brands looking at what role marketing plays in solving these wicked problems. In addition, how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) can assist in resolving some of these issues. We will also ask ourselves do we associate with these brands, do we cancel them, do we continue to wear, or consume the brands that are not aligned with our values. 

Instructor: Isa Beltre, Marketing 

Much of our lives is experienced through the stories we tell. We craft stories about ourselves and about others. These stories influence our likes and dislikes. In this course, we will become adept at analyzing those stories. We will also explore how storytelling can help us better understand and respond to a complex social issue. What story could spark change—and how will you tell it?

Instructor: Wiley Davi, English and Media Studies

Using examples from the most popular sport in the world, we will examine the impacts of globalization. Among the topics we will explore are the exploitation of people, the neoliberal policies that have allowed the richest teams to monopolize tournaments, the mental health of players, sexism, and the corruption that hosting the World Cup brings to the economy of the host country.

Instructor: Christian Rubio, Modern Languages

In this class we use research from the economics of happiness and behavioral economics to examine the factors which make people happy. These materials are then connected to your situation at Bentley and reflections on your own life choices.

Instructor: Michael Quinn, Economics

Climate change is a wicked problem for humanity. It’s the result of countless interactions among human and natural systems. Neither the benefits (causes) nor the impacts (risks) of climate change are distributed equally or equitably across countries or populations. In all that complexity, what does it mean to live a good life, in the face of rapid global climate change?

Instructor: Dave Szymanski, Natural and Applied Sciences

Can a world where humans increasingly rely on artificial intelligence be sustainable? This course invites students to explore this question by examining the dimensions of sustainability in the context of AI. We will dive into how AI systems influence our environmental impact, social equity, and the future of work. Students will be challenged to think critically about the role of AI in shaping a sustainable future and to consider both the opportunities and risks it presents.

Instructor: Melissa Hey, Natural and Applied Sciences

You’ve got one life. You want to make it a good one. But what is a good life? Is it a happy one? Is it about getting what you want, or achieving something important? Can morally bad people have good lives? Should you try to connect your life to something bigger – a culture, a religion, a tradition? Or cast all that aside and chart your own course? We will explore these questions through a selection of classic and contemporary philosophical readings. You will read and critique what others say and begin to formulate a view of your own.

Instructor: Jeffrey Moriarty, Philosophy

Why do movies get remade? In this course, we’ll explore the relationship between original films and their reinterpretations across genres like science fiction, drama, horror, musicals, and animation. Looking at movies from early cinema to today's blockbusters, we'll examine how technological advances, changing social norms, and evolving artistic visions shape remakes. We'll also consider the creative, cultural, ethical, and commercial forces that drive the phenomenon—and what remakes reveal about the times that produce them.

Instructor: Maik Stanitzke, English and Media Studies