The goal of the CUSP Columbia Journey Seminar (CJS) is to foster an environment in which first-year Scholars begin to cultivate a relationship between their emerging individual interests and the needs and opportunities of Columbia’s academic and social communities. The CJS curriculum offers Scholars the unique opportunity to learn about themselves, Columbia, and the immediate Columbia community (Harlem and Morningside Heights), while introducing them to principles of inquiry and the practice of research through which students gain an analytical framework for formulating, researching, and assessing academic questions, and exposure to key resources in the university and surrounding city. The class develops skills in unpacking arguments, in developing counterarguments and devising research questions. We consider how to establish the epistemic authority of authors, the scope and impact of journals and the legitimacy of online material (websites, blogs, fora). We consider how to conduct interviews and how to access places in New York City, from archival libraries to cultural centers with research in mind. An annual theme, in 2012-2013 it is "Play and Performance," provides a lens through which to pursue these goals. Over the course of the year we read short pieces from a range of academic disciplines (and genres) on this theme. The pieces form the basis for group discussion, written responses, presentations, and more.  Participation in this Program and interaction with faculty and professionals encourages Scholars to understand the intrinsic connections between their intellectual development, the Columbia campus experience, life in New York City, and events around the world. As the cornerstone of CUSP, the Columbia Journey Seminars are designed to offer Scholars a holistic experience as they encounter Columbia in their first year.

ATTENDANCE

First-year Scholars must register for one CJS section, which meets biweekly, and attend each session. Below is a list of all the CJS sections including the Graduate Student Mentor (GSM) assigned to facilitate each section.

SCHEDULE OF CJS CLASSES: Spring 2013

There are 8 sections of CJS classes that are distributed in the following way:

WEEK A starts on Thursday, February 7, 2013.

WEEK B starts on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

4 during WEEK A:

• Thursdays 12 - 2 p.m. : Nasser Hussain
• Fridays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. : Ariela Zycherman
• Fridays 12 - 2 p.m. #1: Nemira Gasiunas
• Fridays 12 - 2 p.m. #2: Ruaridh MacLeod

4 during WEEK B:

• Tuesdays 6 - 8 p.m.: Nasser Hussain 
• Wednesdays 6 - 8 p.m.: Ariela Zycherman
• Fridays 2 - 4 p.m. #1: Nemira Gasiunas, 
• Fridays 12 -2 p.m. #2: Ruaridh MacLeod

**Please note: there are new room assignments for the Spring 2013. Please click on the following link to see an updated schedule of CUSP CJS Room Assignments for Spring 2013.