Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: BEYOND THE BRAIN: NAVIGATING NEURODIVERSITY IN SOCIETY (SID RICH)

Department: College Courses

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 1

Description: Neurodiversity – also known as neurological diversity – challenges the assumption that there is only one “correct” way for the brain to work. What does it mean to be neurodivergent, and how does society respond to different ways of thinking, perceiving, and responding to our surroundings? This course will cover three major topics: (1) social movements, (2) representation (and misrepresentation) in modern media, and (3) the concept of neuro-inclusivity in current research topics. Throughout our time together, we will delve into the roots of neurodiversity, discuss the significance of neurological variations, and discover what it means to shape a world that values cognitive diversity. Students will be encouraged to engage in class discussions (whether this be spoken out loud, written, typed, or otherwise communicated) as a means of collaborative learning. Although no textbook is required for the course, we will refer to various journal articles, essays, and videos based on the work of neurodivergent scholars. The final project will consist of creating a Rice Neurodiversity Box folder, in which students will curate a compilation of relevant neurodiversity resources for Rice and the broader Houston community.