IDND020
WRITING:LIFE AMONG BEASTS
- Department
- Interdepart/Nondept/Interdis
- Terms offered
- 7
- Data refreshed
- Jun 27, 2026
Description
This course focuses on human-animal relationships in places shared by both. Many of us have pets or encounter undomesticated creatures in our daily lives, but what are the boundaries that exist between us or define our differences? How are these determined by the spaces we share and our gendered constructions of identities and relationships? Why are certain species demonized in popular narratives? And what is with all those cat memes? This is a writing-centered course that will emphasize two dichotomous modes in the essay genre: the personal essay and the research essay. Students will engage in formal and informal writing exercises inspired and drawn from course readings and other media. You will learn in a supportive, welcoming environment and build crucial skills-including critical thinking, writing, and debating-that will increase your confidence and success in other courses.
Syllabi
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Offerings and forecast 2020–2024
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 18% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 2 of 7 fall terms since 2020. | 2030 Spring: 42% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 5 of 7 spring terms since 2020. Department faculty is about 12% above its recent average. | 2030 Summer: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 summer terms since 2018. | 2030 Intersession: 8% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 6 intersession terms since 2020. |
| 2029 | 2029 Fall: 19% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 2 of 7 fall terms since 2020. | 2029 Spring: 44% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 5 of 7 spring terms since 2020. Department faculty is about 12% above its recent average. | 2029 Summer: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 summer terms since 2017. | 2029 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2028 | 2028 Fall: 19% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 2 of 7 fall terms since 2020. | 2028 Spring: 37% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 5 of 7 spring terms since 2020. Department course count falling about 2% per year. | 2028 Summer: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 summer terms since 2016. | 2028 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2027 | 2027 Fall: 19% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 2 of 7 fall terms since 2020. | 2027 Spring: 38% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 5 of 7 spring terms since 2020. Section count rising about 1% per year over 2 terms. Department course count falling about 3% per year. | 2027 Summer: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 summer terms since 2015. | 2027 Intersession: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2024 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2023 | 1 section | 2 sections | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2022 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2021 | Not offered | 2 sections | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2020 | 1 section | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
Meeting times
Recent first- Mon, Wed, 6:00 PM–7:15 PM JC217 2023
- Mon, Thu, 1:25 PM–2:40 PM JC102 2021
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 12 of 18 enrolled | 31025 |
| Fall 2023 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 16 of 18 enrolled | 22765 |
| Spring 2023 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 10 of 18 enrolled | 32810 |
| Spring 2023 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 18 of 18 enrolled | 31025 |
| Spring 2022 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 18 enrolled | 31025 |
| Spring 2021 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 12 of 16 enrolled | 38758 |
| Spring 2021 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 18 of 18 enrolled | 38170 |
| Fall 2020 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 15 of 18 enrolled | 27784 |
| Spring 2020 | Heather J. Macpherson | Lecture | 1 | 4 of 18 enrolled | 38170 |