First-Year Course Offerings — Fall 2026

CORE S176   Natural Disasters: Science, Media and Movies
Credits1
RestrictionsNo 2028 2027
Pre-RequisitesStudents may not take more than 1 CORE Sciences course
Co-Requisites
Core Area Sciences
Area of Inquiry
Liberal Arts Practices

Natural disasters are part of the normal processes that shape the Earth, but can have dramatic and tragic impacts on human populations around the globe. Many citizens, however, are only exposed to these phenomena through media coverage seeking high viewership or movies optimized for spectacular special effects. Students are introduced to the science behind many natural disasters – including earthquakes, asteroid impacts, storms, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis – while also considering how media stories and films present, frame, or incorporate disaster science. Students gain a practical understanding of natural disasters, and learn to critically analyze the representation of science in popular media.