Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2026

     

Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).
Additional information available here.

COLL 113 001 (CRN: 16364)

THE ART OF LIVING

Long Title: THE ART OF LIVING: MINDFULNESS, MEDIA, AND EVERYDAY LIFE (BAKER)
Department: College Courses
Instructors:
Zimmerman, Carissa
Appel, Victoria
Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM M (24-AUG-2026 - 4-DEC-2026) 
Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 1
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
 
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 19
Section Enrolled: 6
Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99) 
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 26-APR-2026 9:15AM
 
Additional Fees: None
 
Final Exam: No Final Exam
 
Description: In an age and era wherein media is often associated with “brainrot” and mindless consumption, and a society that promotes an endless rat race, this course aims to prompt thoughtful reflection on the following questions: what is happiness? What does it mean to be happy? What does it mean to live? The intent of this course is for students to gain a mindful perspective on life: to actively live life, instead of just letting it pass by; that whatever one chooses to do, they do it intentionally. Through this course, students will explore different theories of happiness (from Aristotle to Buddhism) and various media that promote living in the present (from short films to songs, short stories, movies, etc). From the covered content, students will identify themes and approaches to living life that resonated with them most, and expand on these ideas to craft a plan to actively incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives throughout the semester. Learning and assessment will center on participation in class discussions, brief reflections on covered material, the creation of a mindfulness plan, keeping a daily mindful journal, and a final reflection on their experience of trying to live a more mindful and intentional life.