Purposeful Work Infusion Project

Through the Purposeful Work Infusion Project, faculty members explicitly connect course content to discussions of meaning, purpose, work and/or careers.

These courses help students appreciate and articulate connections between what they’re learning in class with career, purpose, and meaningful work. Purposeful Work Infusion courses are designed to explicitly address the question, “so how does this relate to the world beyond college?”

Over 100 members of the Bates faculty have infused courses with discussions, readings, reflective writing assignments, and guest speakers or other activities since the project began in 2014. Courses in every academic department and program have been a part of the project, reaching virtually all Bates students by the time they graduate. Most students take multiple Purposeful Work Infusion Courses.

Faculty: Click here for information about infusing your courses with Purposeful Work

Students: Find courses in the Garnet Gateway using Course Attribute “Purposeful Work”

What do Purposeful Work Infusion courses include? Every Purposeful Work Infusion course includes three elements about the connection between course content and meaning, purpose, work and/or careers:  1) a class discussion that comprises at least one class session; 2) a reading assignment; and 3) a self-reflective writing assignment, which may be ungraded. Many Purposeful Work courses include guest speakers, such as alumni or other practitioners who work in a field related to course content, who receive honoraria through the Infusion project.

+Fall 2023 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:
AprilHillBIO202: Cellular Basis of Life
LarissaWilliamsBIO480: Senior Seminar
ZhenzhenLuCHIN401: Advanced Chinese
CarrieDiaz EatonDCS/MATH316: PIC Math: Community Engaged Data Science
AnitaCharlesEDUC362: Basic Concepts in Special Education
AnitaCharlesEDUC460: Student Teaching I
BronwynSaleEDUC343: Learning and Teaching: Theories and Practice
MaraTiekenEDSO380: Education, Reform, and Politics
WilliamWallaceEDUC450: Seminar in Educational Studies
WilliamWallaceFYS460: Environmentalism, Social Justice, and Education
BridgetFullertonEXDS201: Writing Tutoring: Supporting Your Peers as Writers, Thinkers, & Communicators
AprilHillEXDS STEM Scholars II
AlexandreDauge-RothFRE240 Borders and Disorders
MarianneCowanFYS551: Purpose, Work, and College
MeredithGreerFYS557: Learning Math Using Crafts, Coding, and Games
MaraTiekenFYS 300: Exploring Education Through Narratives
HannaMcGaugheyJPN350: Topics in Advanced Japanese
MeredithGreerBIMA255A Mathematical Models in Biology
JonCavalleroRFSS120: Introduction to Screen Studies
JonCavalleroRFSS240: Film Theory
MarcelleMedfordSOC236A: Urban Sociology
MarcelleMedfordSOC236B: Urban Sociology
BenjaminMoodieSOC101: Principles of Sociology
TimothyDuganTHE362: Advanced Acting
MichaelReidyTHE132: Theater Technology
+Full List of Purposeful Work Infusion Courses

Winter 2023 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty Name Course Name
Lori Banks BIO195G Lab-Based Biological Inquiry: Living in a Microbial World
Carla Essenberg BIO195G Lab-Based Biological Inquiry: Growing Wildflowers
Lori Banks BIO 315 Microbiology
William Wallace EDUC231 Perspectives on Education
Mara Tieken EDUC261 Student Teaching
Lori Banks EXDS216 Sophomore STEM Scholars
Kate Snyder PSYC 240 Developmental Psychology
Su Langdon PSYC 275 Psychology of Sport
Su Langdon PSYC343 Women, Culture, & Health
Justin Moriarty THEA 295 Stage Management

Fall 2022 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty Name Course Name
Lori Banks BIO195G Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Carla Essenberg BIO195G Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Larissa Williams BIO202 Cellular Basis of Life
Martin Kruse BIO321 Cellular Biochemistry
Anne Fetrow EACS341 Stable Isotope Geochemistry
Lynne Lewis ECON222 Environmental Economics & Policy
Mara Tieken EDSO380 Education, Reform, & Politics
Bronwyn Sale EDUC231 Perspectives on Education
William Wallace EDUC231 Perspectives on Education
William Wallace EDUC235 Teaching in The Sciences
Bronwyn Sale EDUC460 Student Teaching
April Hill EXDS215 STEM Scholars II
April Hill FYS505A STEM Scholars I
Malcolm Hill FYS505B STEM Scholars I
Sandra Goff FYS544 The Study and Practice of Human Cooperation
Katy Ott MATH355A Numerical Analysis
Erin De Pree PHYS211 Newtonian Mechanics
Erin De Pree PHYS308 Introductory Quantum Mechanics
Kate Snyder PSY274 Educational Psychology
Yun Garrison PSY323 Counseling Psychology
Su Langdon PSY457 Community Based Research Thesis Seminar
Jonathan Cavallero RFSS240 Film Theory
Michael Rocque SOC350 Race, Crime, and Punishment in America
Michael Reidy THEA132 Theater Technology
Timothy Dugan THEA362 Advanced Acting

Winter 2022 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Katie Dobkowski BIEA113 Marine Science
Carla Essenberg BIES246 Conservation Biology
Meredith Greer BIMA255A Mathematical Models in Biology
Carla Essenberg BIO195G Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Lori Banks BIO315 Microbiology/Lab
Katie Dobkowski BIO460 Junior Seminar
Geneva Laurita CHEM215 Inorganic Chemistry/Lab
Carol Dilley DANC251 Making Dances II
Lynne Lewis ECON222 Environmental Economics&Policy
Lynne Lewis ECON316 Fat Tails and Tipping Points
Mara Tieken EDUC231 Perspectives on Education
William Wallace EDUC231 Perspectives on Education
Anita Charles EDUC263 Comparative Education
Bronwyn Sale EDUC343 Learn &Teach:Theories&Practice
Bronwyn Sale EDUC447 Curriculum and Methods
Bronwyn Sale EDUC448 SeniorSeminar:Reflection&Engagement
Raluca Cernahoschi EUS101 Introduction to Europe
Kate Bedecarre PLTC314 Space is the Place
Amy Douglass PSYC218 Statistics
Amy Douglass PSYC218 Statistics
Yun Garrison PSYC323 Counseling Psychology
Michael Sargent PSYC458D Empirical Thesis Seminar
Kate Bedecarre PTSO291 Black Rebellions in the U.S.
Cynthia Baker REL133 Relig, Violence, & Nonviolence
Jon Cavallero RFSS391J Film Festival Studies

Fall 2021 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty Name Course Name
Marcelle Medford AFS0 221A Sociology of Immigration
Marcelle Medford AFSO 221B Sociology of Immigration
Katie Dobkowski BiEa 113 Marine Science
Katie Dobkowski BIO 195 Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Katie Dobkowski BIO 213 Marine Botany
Subshri Sahu BIO 331 Molecular Biology/Lab
Lori Banks BIO 202 Cellular Basis of Life
Lori Banks BIO 321 Cellular Biochemistry
Laurie Baker DCS 210 Programming for Data Analysis and Visualization
Anita Charles EDUC 362 Basic Concepts in Special Education
Mara Tieken EDSO380 Education, Reform, & Politics
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 460 Student Teaching I
Mara Tieken EDUC 231 Perspectives on Education
William Wallace EDUC 235 Teaching in The Sciences
Francis Eanes ENVR 204 Environment & Society
Francis Eanes ENVR 209 Sustainable Cities
April Hill EXDS 215 Sophomore STEM Scholars
Barry Lawson EXDS 215 Sophomore STEM Scholars
Su Langdon FYS 395 The Sporting Life
Su Langdon GSPY 343 Women, Culture, & Health
Alyssa Maraj Grahame PLTC 125 States and Markets
Susan Mangan PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
Susan Mangan PSY 306 Positive Psychology
Timothy Dugan THEA 362 Advanced Acting

Winter 2021 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty First Name Last Name Course Name
Katie Dobkowski BIEA 113 Marine Science
Larissa Williams BIO 202 A Cellular Basis of Life
Brett Huggett BIO 204 A Biological Research Experience
Lori Banks BIO 315 Microbiology/Lab
Katie Dobkowski BIO 460 A Junior Seminar
Lori Banks BIO 477 A Seminar & Research Microbiology/Lab
Geneva Laurita CHEM 215 Inorganic Chemistry/Lab
Sylvia Federico CMEN 277 Medieval Literatures of Resistance
Carol Dilley DANC 251 Making Dances II
Stephanie Wade EDES 222 Community Writing and Gardens
Mara Tieken EDSO 380 A Education, Reform, & Politics
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 231 Perspectives on Education
Anita Charles EDUC 255 Adolescent Literacy
Anita Charles EDUC 263 A Comparative Education
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 343 A Learn &Teach: Theories & Practice
Mara Tieken EDUC 447 Curriculum and Methods
Mara Tieken EDUC 448 Senior Seminar: Reflection & Engagement
Mara Tieken EDUC 461 Student Teaching II
Caitlin Cleaver ENVR 124 Managing the Gulf of Maine
Carissa Aoki ENVR 251 Ecology and Policy
Francis Eanes ENVR 450 A Public Environmental Writing
Larissa Williams EXDS 216 STEM Scholars II
Susan Langdon GSPY 343 Women, Culture, and Health
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 101 B Principles of Psychology
Marcelle Medford SOC 101 Principles of Sociology

Fall 2020 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty First Name Last Name Class Course Name
Cassandra Shepard AFAM 227 #BlackLivesMatter
Elizabeth Eames ANTH 339 Production and Reproduction
Katie Dobkowski BIEA 113 Marine Science
Meredith Greer BIMA255A Mathematical Models in Biology
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 126 Science Communication
Katie Dobkowski BIO 195A Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Lori Banks BIO 195D Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 195E Lab-Based Biological Inquiry
Louise Brogan BIO 204 Biological Research Experience
Larissa Williams BIO 204 Biological Research Experience
Don Dearborn BIO 204 Biological Research Experience
Carol Dilley DANC 250 Dance History
Carrie Eaton DCS 304 Digital Community Organizing
William Wallace EDUC 231 Perspectives on Education
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 265 Teaching Through the Arts
Anita Charles EDUC 362 Basic Concepts in Special Educ
Anita Charles EDUC 460 Student Teaching I
Francis Eanes ENVR 209 Sustainable Cities
Carissa Aoki ENVR 238 Visualizing Data
Paul Schofield ESPL 214 Environmental Ethics
Lori Banks EXDS 215 STEM Scholars II
Larissa Williams EXDS 215 STEM Scholars II
William Wallace FYS 460 Environment & Social Justice
Francis Eanes FYS 515 Food Systems & Food Justice
Karen Palin FYS 517 Epidemics:Disruption
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 101 Principles of Psychology
Susan Langdon PSYC 101 Principles of Psychology
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 341 Adv.Topics in DevelopmentPsych
Susan Langdon PSYC 457B SeniorThesis/CommBasedResearch
Michael Sargent PSYC 457D Empirical Thesis Seminar
Mike Rocque SOC 395M Race, Crime, and Punishment

Winter 2020 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty First Name Last Name Class Course Name
Krista Aronson PSYC 378 Experiencing the Power of Picture Books
Cynthia Baker REL 133 Religion, Violence and Nonviolence
Cynthia Baker REL 313 Human Suffering
Madeline Bedecarre FRE 240F Borders and Disorders
Jon Cavallero RFSS 120 A&B Intro to Screens
Raluca Cernahoschi GER 358 Literature and Film of the German Democratic Republic
Anita Charles ED 231 Perspectives on Education
Anita & Mara Charles & Tieken ED 448 Student Teaching
David Cummiskey PHIL 258 Philosophy of Law
Carol Dilley DANC 251 Dance Composition
Katie Dobkowski BIO 270 Ecology and Evolution
Tim Dugan THEA 370 Directing
Elizabeth Eames INDS 100 African Perspectives on Justice, Human Rights & Renewal
Francis Eanes ENVR 417 Community-Engaged Research in Environmental Studies
Carla Essenberg BIES 246 Conservation Biology
Josh Goodman PSYC 235 Abnormal Psychology
Josh Goodman PSYC 342 Theories of Psychotherapy
Rebecca Herzig GSS400C Understanding Disease
Keiko Koneoda JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II
Keiko Koneoda JPN 302 Intermediate Japanese IV
Martin Kruse BIO 460 Junior Seminar
Su Langdon PSYC 275 Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Su Langdon GSPY 343 Women, Culture, and Health
Geneva Laurita CHEM 316 Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
Lynne Lewis ECON 222 Environmental Economics
Kathy Low PSYC 211 Psych of Personality
Jacqueline Lyon ANLS 205 Citizenship, Borders, and Belonging
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 195E Lab-Based BIological Inquiry: Sponge Fluid Dynamics
Mike Rocque SOC 217 Correcting and Controlling Behavior
Adriana Salerno DC/MA 316 PIC Math
Paul Schofield ESPL 214 A & B Ethics and Environmental Issues
Susan Stark CMPL 271 Ancient Philosophy
Susan Stark PHIL 324E Virtue and Emotions
Mara Tieken EDSO 242 Race and Education

Fall 2019 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty Member’s First Name Faculty Member’s Last Name Class Course Name
Cynthia Baker FYS 445 The Nature of Spirituality
Dennis Browne EUS 261 Slavic Europe
Jon Cavallero RFSS 240 Film Theory
Raluca Cernahoschi GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
Anita Charles EDUC 362 Basic Concepts in Special Education
Carol Dilley FYS 437 Making Performance
Katie Dobkowski BIO 195A Laboratory-Based Biological Inquiry: Marine Biology in a Changing Ocean
Tim Dugan THEA 362 Advanced Acting
Elizabeth Eames ANTH 339 Production and Reproduction
Francis Eanes ENVR 209 Sustainable Cities
Francis Eanes ENVR 417 Community-Engaged Research in Environmental Studies
Carla Essenberg BIES 302 Restoration Ecology
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 240 Developmental Psychology
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 457D Empirical Thesis Seminar
Josh Goodman PSYC 235 Abnormal Psychology
Meredith Greer MATH 301 A & B Real Analysis
Rebecca Herzig GSS 356 Marriage in America
April Hill FYS 505A Bates STEM Scholars
Bev Johnson GEO 240 Environmental Geochemistry
Su Langdon FYS 395 The Sporting Life
Su Langdon PSYC 101B Principles of Psychology
Geneva Laurita-Plankas CHEM 215 Intro to Inorganic Chemistry
Geneva Laurita-Plankas CHEM 457 Thesis
Lynne Lewis ECON 222 Environmental Economics
Kathy Low EDPY 262 Community-Bates Research Methods
Kathy Low PSYC 303 Health Psychology
Ethan Miller FYS 470 Life Beyond Capitalism
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 231 Perspectives on Education
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 343 Learning and Teaching: Theories and Practice
Michael Sargent PSYC 210 Social Psychology
John Smedley FYS 505B Bates STEM Scholars
Susan Stark PHIL 256 Moral Philosophy
Mara Tieken EDSO 380 Education, Reform and Politics
Mara Tieken & Anita Charles EDUC 460 Student Teaching
Bill Wallace FYS 460 Environment and Social Justice

Winter 2019 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty First Name Last Name Class Course Name
Jonathan Cavallero RFSS 120 Introduction to Screen Studies
Raluca Cernahoschi GER 350 Margins and Migrations
Anita Charles EDUC 255 Adolescent Literacy
Rebecca Corrie AVCM 376C Siena: Art and Social Memory
Jane Costlow ENVR 319 Imagining Climate Change
Jane Costlow ENVR 450 Environmental Writing in the Public Sphere
Carol Dilley DANC 251 Dance Composition
Katie Dobkowski BIO 313 Marine Ecology
Katie Dobkowski BIGE 113 Marine Science
Tim Dugan THEA 370 Directing
Elizabeth Eames INDS 100 African Perspectives on Justice, Human Rights & Renewal
Francis Eanes ENVR 308 Urban and Regional Food Systems
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 240 Developmental Psychology
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 341 Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
Josh Goodman PSYC 342 Theories of Psychotherapy
Josh Goodman PSYC 235 Abnormal Psychology
Rebecca Herzig & Leslie Hill GSS 400D Global Feminisms
April Hill BIO 128 Out of the Sea
Beverly Johnson GEO 240 Environmental Geochemistry
Keiko Konoeda JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II
Keiko Konoeda JPN 302 Intermediate Japanese IV
Su Langdon GSPY 343 Women, Culture, and Health
Su Langdon PSYC 275 Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Lynne Lewis ECON 325 Prices, Property, and the Problem of the Commons
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 203 Bioinspiration and Biomemetics
Katy Ott MATH 355 Numerical Analysis
Bruno Salazar-Perea BIO 218 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Bronwyn Sale EDUC 343 Learning and Teaching: Theories and Practice
Bronwyn Sale & Anita Charles EDUC 448 Senior Seminar: Reflection and Engagement
Susan Stark GSPL 262 Philosophy and Feminism
Larissa Williams BIO 460 Junior Seminar

Fall 2018 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Faculty First Name Last Name Dept Number Course name
Ali Akhtar CMS/RS 264 Islamic Civilzation
Henry Boateng MATH 106C & D Calculus II
Jonathan Cavallero RHET 240 Film Theory
Raluca Cernahoschi GER 201 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
Anita Charles EDUC 362 Basic Concepts in Special Education
Carol Dilley DANC 250 Early Modern Dance
Tim Dugan THEA 362 Advanced Acting
Elizabeth Eames ANTH 339 Production and Reproduction
Francis Eanes ENVR 417 Community Engaged Research
Carla Essenberg BIES 303 Restoration Ecology
Dyk Eusden GEO 107 Katahdin to Acadia
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 457D Empirical Thesis Seminar
Rebecca Fraser-Thill PSYC 340 Infancy
Meredith Greer BIO/MATH 255A Mathematical Models in Biology
April Hill BIO 128 Out of the Sea
Leslie Hill GSPT 254 Gender Matters: US Women and Politics
Leslie Hill PLTC 203 Colorblind or Racialized? Law and Policy in the Making of Race
Bev Johnson ESGE 226 Hydrogeology
Bev Johnson GEO 109 Global Change
Martin Kruse & Louise Brogan BIO 242 A & B Cellular and Molecular Biology
Su Langdon PSYC 101C Principles of Psychology
Su Langdon PSYC 303 Health Psychology
Lynne Lewis ECON 222 Environmental Economics
Ethan Miller FYS 470 Life Beyond Capitalism
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 126 Science Communication
Andrew Mountcastle BIO 311 Comparative Anatomy of the Chordates
Katy Ott MATH 106 A & B Calculus II
Melinda Plastas INDS 301Z Race and U.S. Women’s Movements
Mike Rocque SOC 395M Race, Crime and Punishment in America
Bronwyn Sale DNED 265 Teaching Through the Arts
Bronwyn Sale & Bill Wallace EDUC 231 A & B Perspectives on Education
Michael Sargent FYS 308 Searching for the Good Life
Laura Sewall FYS 492 Environmental Protection
Bill Wallace EDUC 235 Teaching in the Sciences

Winter 2018 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

  • AAGS 201: Race, Ethnicity, and Feminist Thought, Leslie Hill
  • ASEC 242: Work and Workers in China, Maggie Maurer-Fazio
  • AVCM 265: Florence to Bruges, Becky Corrie
  • AVCM 376E: The Medieval Manuscript, Becky Corrie
  • BIO 321: Cellular Biochemistry, Martin Kruse
  • BIO 331: Molecular Biology, Larissa Williams
  • BIO 340: Introduction to Epidemiology, Karin Palin
  • CHEM 108A Sections A, B & C: Chemical Reactivity, Lynn Mandeltort/Geneva Laurita-Plankis/Cici Xu
  • DCS 202: The Nature of Data, Matt Jadud
  • ECON 325: Prices, Property, and the Problems of the Commons, Lynne Lewis
  • EDUC 231: Perspectives on Education, Mara Tieken
  • EDUC 235: Teaching in the Sciences, Bill Wallace
  • EDUC 245: Literacy in Preschool and Elementary Years, Anita Charles
  • EDUC 343: Learning and Teaching: Theories and Practice, Bronwyn Sale
  • EDUC 362: Basic Concepts in Special Education, Anita Charles
  • EDUC 448: Senior Seminar: Reflection and Engagement, Bronwyn Sale & Mara Tieken
  • ENG 121L: Modern Short Stories, Tiffany Salter
  • ENG 152: American Writers Since 1900, Tiffany Salter
  • ENG 214: Shakespeare, Jose Villagrana
  • ENVR 308: Urban and Regional Food Systems, Francis Eanes
  • ENVR 450: Environmental Writing in the Public Sphere, Misty Beck
  • EXDS 116: Bates Science Fellows, John Smedley
  • FRE 240F: Borders and Disorders, Alex Dauge-Roth
  • GSPT 282: Constitutional Law II, Steve Engel
  • GSPY 343: Women, Culture and Health, Su Langdon
  • GSS 335: Tobacco: Gender Matters, Melinda Plastas
  • GSS 400: Global Feminisms, Melinda Plastas
  • HIRE 320: Religion and Government in the Middle East, Ali Akhtar
  • INDS 100: African Perspectives on Justice, Human Rights and Renewal, Elizabeth Eames & Patrick Otim
  • INDS 221: Venice to Tokyo: Religion and Trade Along the Spice and Silk Routes, Ali Akhtar
  • MATH 302: Topics in Analysis, Katy Ott
  • NSPY 463: Capstone Seminar on Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Michelle Greene
  • PE: Advanced Indoor Soccer, Kelsy Ross
  • PHIL 258: Philosophy of Law, David Cummiskey
  • PLTC 290: Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa, Leslie Hill
  • PSYC 101A: Principles of Psychology, Rebecca Fraser-Thill
  • PSYC 235, sections A & B:  Abnormal Psychology, Kate White/Rebecca Fraser-Thill
  • PSYC 306: Positive Psychology, Helen Boucher
  • PSYC 378: Experiencing the Power of Picture Books, Krista Aronson
  • PSYC 381: The Self, Helen Boucher
  • REL 120: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism of the Middle East, Ali Akhtar
  • RHET 100: What is Rhetoric?, Stephanie Kelley-Romano
  • RHET 120: Introduction to Screen Studies, Jonathan Cavallero
  • SPAN 224: Protest and Justice, Stephanie Pridgeon
  • THEA 370: Directing, Timothy Dugan

Fall 2017 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Short Term 2017 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Winter 2017 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses: 

Fall 2016 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses: 

Short Term 2016 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Winter 2016 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Fall 2015 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Short Term 2015 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Winter 2015  Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Fall 2014 Purposeful Work Infusion Courses:

Winter 2014 Courses: