Learning Communities

A Learning Community is a group of courses that are team taught by two or more faculty members with fully integrated course work. This instruction model brings together multiple subject perspectives to explore issues and concerns and leads students to actionable solutions.

Learning Communities can be a full course load with a total package of 10-15 credits. Their interactive curriculum includes student seminars, field trips, group projects, performances, guest speakers, co-curricular activities, action research – anything but your traditional classroom fare.

FALL 2024 – LC 100

Rice, Race and Resistance: Understanding Asian & Pacific Islander Communities & Issues

This course examines the racial identity and strengths within Asian and Pacific Islander communities, analyzing language's role in shaping understanding and advocating for social justice.

Instructors: Takami Nieda & Kayleen Oka​ 
ENGL& 101: English Composition I (Basic Requirement)​ 
AME 111: Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander Issues & Communities (ICS, GS, ESJ)

FALL 2024 – LC 125

Education for All: Solidarity, Struggle, and Transformation

Centering narratives, this course explores the purpose and potential of higher education, questioning systems of oppression and exploitation while fostering community, shared knowledge, solidarity, transforming what education can be.

Instructors: Phebe Jewell & Anna Hackman​ 
ENGL& 101: English Composition I (Basic Requirement)​ 
HUM 105: Intercultural Communication (VLPA, C, US)​

WINTER 2025 – LC 225

Disrupting the Table: Mapping Food, Race, and Resilience 

Through storytelling and research, this course maps food culture's intersection with race, identity, and resilience, challenging dominant narratives and reflecting on historical and sociological perspectives.

Instructors: Desiree Simons & Greg Hinckley 
ENGL& 102: English Composition II (Basic Requirement)​ 
SOC& 101: Survey of Sociology (ICS, US)

SPRING 2025 – LC 250

Solidarity Across Pages: Gender Narratives in the Context of Colonialism and Globalization

Delving into literature, this course analyzes gender narratives within the contexts of colonialism and globalization, unraveling the complexities of solidarity across cultures and historical moments.

Instructors: vero Barrera-Kolb & Kaitlin McClanahan​ 
ENGL 265: Literature and Society (ESJ, VLPA)  
WMN 205: Women, Gender, & Globalization (ESJ, VLPA, GS)​

SPRING 2025 – LC 251 

Everyone Eats: Language and the Global Politics of Food

Examining global food cultures and language's impact, this course investigates issues like nutritional justice, transnational influences, and sustainability, exploring how language shapes understanding of food politics and identity.

Instructors: Takami Nieda & Christopher Chan
​ISP 201: The Making of the 21st Century (ICS)​
ANTH 270: Food, Culture & Politics​

  • Global Asia: Diasporas & Interconnections
    HIST/ISP 210 Contemporary Asia: Issues & Influences; ISP 201 Making of the 21st Century; ENGL 102 Composition II; HUM 105 Intercultural Communications
    - explores globalization, Asian diasporas, impacts of the COVID Pandemic and the rise of anti-Asian hate. In the last 20 years, Asians are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., and their diasporic ties and identities are strong. We’ll explore identities, cultural fusion, and other intercultural dynamics.
  • Stories Beyond Bars: Race, Power, and (In)Justice 
    ENGL&102 English Composition II; ENGL 265 Literature and Society; SOC 150 Race & Ethnic Relations in the US; SOC&201 Social Problems 
    - Centering on stories by incarcerated people, this 10-credit course integrating Sociology and English examines the history, impact, and issues surrounding mass incarceration in the US. Key issues we will explore are the role of power and control in the criminal justice system, violence, race, restorative justice, abolition of the prison industrial complex, and alternatives to prison. 
    quick info sheet (pdf format)
  • Say Their Names: Power, Resistance, Justice 
    ENGL&101 English Composition I; HDC 101 Orientation to College Success; HUM 150 Ways of Knowing; INFO 101 Introduction to Information Resources; SOC& 101 Intro to Sociology
    quick info sheet (pdf format) 
    welcome video (opens in YouTube)
  • From Atoms to Anatomy 
    BIO 241 Human Anatomy & Physiology I; CHEM 121 Intro to Chemistry; BIO 298 Exploratory Pathways in the Sciences
  • The Art of War 
    ART 105 Modern Art; ART 255 Survey of Asian Art; HIST 210 The Pacific Century; HUM 105 Intercultural Communications
  • Math in Motion I 
    MATH 151 Calculus I; PHYS 221 Physics I for Engineers; CSC 102Q Computers in Math 
    - innovative course that brings the content of mechanics and differential calculus together in one classroom led by two expert teachers with research experience. Ideal course for the aspiring STEM major (science, technology, engineering, and math). Studying both subjects together will give you a sense of how the two reinforce each other and provide you with the skills needed to be successful going forward. Opportunity to learn in a fun, engaging, highly interactive environment.
  • Speaking Up – Building Bridges, Building Community 
    CMST& 101 Intro to Communications; ENGL&101 English Composition I; HDC 101 Orientation to College Success; HUM 150 Ways of Knowing; INFO 101 Introduction to Information Resources
  • Holocaust: Memory and Meaning 
    HIST 269 History of the Holocaust; HUM 105 Intercultural Communication; ENG 218 Literature of the Holocaust; ENG 102 Composition 
    - provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the causes, experiences, and representations of the Holocaust. Through an in–depth study of firsthand accounts, literature, historical documents and theory, students in "Memory and Meaning" will examine core questions about intolerance, prejudice, representation, memorializing, and genocide.
  • Explore issues and concerns of a topical theme with instructors from different subject areas (academic disciplines).
  • Develop creative and critical thinking skills, while making connections across academic disciplines.
  • Enter and complete an educational journey that welcomes life experiences and encourages problem-based learning.
  • Retain knowledge and gain a sense of belonging at our college.
  • Build bonds with your peers that will help in your academic success.
  • Meet the Integrated Studies special requirement for the AA transfer degree.

It was extremely different but, I enjoyed it thoroughly. This has been such a unique experience, and I can't stress enough that it was for my first quarter of college. When looking back at when I wanted to take a gap year after graduating high school, I am so grateful that I changed my mind and was presented with this class. Learning from four amazing super smart instructors who actually give a damn about their students encouraged me to seek out to be my best self.

I think the four subjects/instructors were cohesive, organized and well integrated. The different assignments were not confusing. I really enjoyed the learning model…

I really like that there were constant connections being made between the four subjects and that helped me connect and understand the things I was learning. Also really liked that even though there was materials from all four subjects, I never felt overwhelmed by the work or the homework. It was also a lot more helpful to have four instructors to hear different perspectives and opinions from each one.

Interdisciplinary... Many subjects connected which helped me to think outside of the box and simultaneously about intersecting ideas.

I felt grateful to experience concepts and perspectives that I hadn't before. I wanted to share them with my family and friends, because I wanted them to experience the joy of learning something new too. I wanted to change aspects of my life that I previously thought were given, so that I could make a greater impact on issues that I didn't see before. I wanted to meet more people that had perspectives and concepts that were different than mine, and look for classes that would continue to challenge my view of the world.

A life changing experience, you will build bonds and relationships that will last a lifetime!

The joy and fun I had with this class, really nice instructors. They helped when we needed, they showed no pressure toward us. All I want to say is thank you!


Contact Sharon Spence-Wilcox, Learning Communities Committee Chair LCC.Central@seattlecolleges.edu