Special Topics & New Courses: Ph.D.
View special topics and new courses for other Information School programs:
Autumn 2025
None offered.
Summer 2025
None offered.
Spring 2025
INSC 508 A: Reading Seminar - Games and Play-based Interventions for Supporting Media and Information Literacy
- Instructor: Jin Ha Lee
- 2 credits; Credit/No-credit grading
In this seminar, we will explore the use of games and play-based activities as educational tools for building resilience to misinformation and improving media and information literacy. We will examine various game-based interventions, critically evaluating their effectiveness in fostering awareness and understanding of issues related to misinformation and disinformation. Additionally, we will review the literature to better understand the potential of games to empower individuals in navigating the complex landscape of information literacy, as well as their limitations. Through collaborative discussions and case studies, we will envision best practices for designing future interventions that leverage engaging gameplay to address challenging topics in diverse communities. Our focus will be on identifying key elements—such as narrative, collaboration, and reflection—that can enhance educational outcomes.
INSC 578 B: Research Seminar - Misinformation
- Instructor: Jevin West
- 2 credits; credit/no credit grading
In this course, students will have the opportunity to engage, hands-on, in multiple aspects of the research process, including the development of research questions, review of the literature, data cleaning and analysis, and the writing of a scholarly paper. Research will focus on understanding how misinformation and disinformation flows through modern information systems and how this information translates into beliefs, actions and values. Students will work with data created at the Center for an Informed Public. The goal of the class is to produce a scholarly paper draft that can be shared broadly within this growing research community and on students’ resumes and recommendation letters.
INSC 598 A: Career Preparation for PhD Students
- Instructor: Marika Cifor
- 2 credits; Credit/No-credit grading
This class is intended for late-stage PhD students who are beginning to apply for jobs and put together job materials. Students will craft research, teaching, and diversity statements, prepare job talks showcasing their work, and connect with industry and academic professionals to grow their network and learn about hiring processes. As students will be required to prepare application materials as part of the class, they should be in a stage of their career where they are actively preparing for the job market.
INSC 598 B: Social Algorithms
- Instructor: Martin Saveski
- 3 credits; Standard grading
Digital platforms mediate many of our social interactions. At the core of these platforms are algorithms that influence what we see, what we believe, and how we act. The actions of these social algorithms are shaped by users' past behaviors and, in turn, influence users’ future behaviors, creating powerful feedback loops that can lead to unintended outcomes. In this seminar course, we will survey the cutting-edge research on social algorithms and their effects on individuals and society.
This PhD-level course has two primary objectives: (i) to expose students to the latest research on the effects of various social algorithms and introduce them to computational tools and methods for studying these effects, and (ii) to cultivate research skills through reading, reviewing, presenting, and discussing recent academic papers.
Winter 2025
INSC 578 B: Research Seminar - Misinformation
- Instructor: Jevin West
- 2 credits; credit/no credit grading
In this course, students will have the opportunity to engage, hands-on, in multiple aspects of the research process, including the development of research questions, review of the literature, data cleaning and analysis, and the writing of a scholarly paper. Research will focus on understanding how misinformation and disinformation flows through modern information systems and how this information translates into beliefs, actions and values. Students will work with data created at the Center for an Informed Public. The goal of the class is to produce a scholarly paper draft that can be shared broadly within this growing research community and on students’ resumes and recommendation letters.