Cultures and Lifestyles of Immortality

XENO 202

Professor: Dr. Prosphor

Office Hours: Always, in the Sally Forth Dining Hall (I'M IN THE FISHTANK)

Office Phone:

Email:

Lectures: The Sally Forth Conference Space, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:37AM to 3:41 PM. I'M IN THE FISHTANK!

Teaching Assistants:





Required Texts

Objectives

This course is designed to help bridge the gap between human graduate students and the various eternal and semi-eternal conscious beings and cultures scattered throughout the universe. Immortality has emerged independently almost everywhere besides Earth, so those looking to do business, forge relationships, or simply travel off-world are very likely to experience deep culture shock, which we will learn to mitigate over a whirlwind semester. This course will lead you to analyze customs and technologies to gain access to their underlying philosophies. Students will also, inevitably, grapple with the condition of mortality.

Attendance Policy

Time outside of class may be made up for up to four years by visiting during office hours. The portion of class that coincides with the noon hour is optional guided emotional regulation and eating time. Grades will be withheld until at least 75% of the total amount of scheduled classtime has been attended.

Assignments

This is primarily a lecture- and discussion-driven class, but there are five major assignments - four reading responses, and one outreach project. Any one of the four reading responses may be skipped, but not more than one.

Grading Policy

Assignments ideally will be completed in a timely manner, but a FULL POINT is subtracted from each grade (out of a hundred) for each month after it is due.

% of Total Grade Title Description
25% Attendance This is graded linearly, based on how much time you spend in class and office hours, up to a maximum of 120%.
10%×3 Reading Responses Students will be expected to respond to the Required Texts, detailing their mortal perspectives on these immortal works. If a fourth reading response is submitted, it replaces your lowest reading response grade.
20% Research Presentation Students will have an opportunity to independently study an immortal individual or culture, and present their findings to the class.
25% Outreach Project Students must plan and schedule a significant interaction with an (off-campus) immortal being, ideally involving some form of written or spoken communication if possible, then provide a detailed account of the interaction.

(Note from the Dean: due to the exceptional cultural value, knowledge, and experience of Dr. Prosphor, we ask that you kindly allow for some patience in the submission of your final grades. Your final graduating transcripts may include an IOU, which will be updated well within the century. In the event of terminal illness, please contact us for fast-tracking. Also, please kindly refrain from tapping on the glass.)

Schedule

Week 1

Weeks 2 and 3

Weeks 4 and 5

Weeks 6 and 7

Weeks 8 and 9

Weeks 10 and 11

Weeks 12 and 13

Weeks 14 and 15

Week 16 (Finals Week)

Outreach Project Designees

This document will be updated as designees are requested by students. If none of the listed beings are sufficiently resonant or curious to you, please let me know and I can rustle up some more.