JAN 101 - Atlantis and Aliens: Examining History’s Biggest Hoaxes, Myths, and Pseudoscientific Claims

Level:  Lower Division (100 Level): For First-Year Students ONLY

Course Times:  12:00pm - 2:40pm

Note: See the Jan Term website for meeting dates if not specified here.

Course Materials Fee:  $75

Instructor(s):  White, Laura

Email:  lgw4@stmarys-ca.edu

This course aims to develop critical thinking skills by scrutinizing fantastic or extraordinary scientific claims and fact(oids) across a broad spectrum of media, which includes movies, books, documentaries, social media and the internet. During the class, we will practice skeptically identifying and criticizing outlandish claims regarding ancient cultures, fanciful archaeological finds, and implausible anthropology, including topics such as ancient aliens, lost civilizations, Atlantis, giants, mummy curses, and more! Through this process, we will learn how to look for ulterior motivations and hidden stakeholders behind seemingly silly stories about human history, and we will gain the skills needed to identify and refute bad science, misleading assertions, outright hoaxes, and pseudoscientific claims, both in science and in everyday life.

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3-CU