Batten Seminars (WES)

Batten Seminars are small, discussion-based courses designed to challenge students to think critically, ask questions, and explore new ideas. Topics vary each semester and reflect the diverse interests and expertise of Batten University faculty.

As students progress through the seminar sequence, they develop the reading, writing, communication, and analytical skills that support success in every major. More than a set of courses, the seminars provide a shared academic experience that encourages curiosity, engagement, and lifelong learning.

WES 100: Seminar I

The first seminar introduces students to college-level inquiry, discussion, and analysis. Through engaging topics selected by faculty, students learn how to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate information, consider different perspectives, and communicate their own ideas effectively.

Examples of past Seminar I topics:

  • Technology and Society in Science Fiction Film
  • Meaning, Happiness and the Good Life
  • Religious Food Fights and Christian Identity
  • Markets and Morality
  • Art and Politics since 1945
  • Philosophy of Sport: Competition, Character, and the Good Life
  • Star Wars

WES 200: Seminar II

Building on the foundation established in WES 100, students deepen their analytical and communication skills while exploring more complex texts, ideas, and perspectives. The seminar challenges students to think critically, engage in meaningful discussion, and develop well-supported arguments.

Examples of past Seminar II topics:

  • Race, Gender, and Personal Identity
  • Protest Music
  • American Buddhisms
  • Sherlock Holmes and Friends
  • The Grotesque and Violent in Flannery O'Connor's Fiction
  • The Old Testament World
  • What is Poetry?

WES 300: Seminar III

The final seminar brings together the skills developed throughout the sequence in an advanced, discussion-based environment. Students tackle complex questions, evaluate diverse viewpoints, and produce thoughtful, informed responses to contemporary issues and enduring ideas.

Examples of past Seminar III topics:

  • National Identity and American Art
  • Ecopoetry
  • German Cinema: Art and Politics
  • Theatre of Diversity
  • With Good Reason: The Art, the Science and the Philosophy of Thinking Well