Iranian cinema and critical reasoning are the focus of two newly funded Teaching and Technology Innovation projects in the School of Social Sciences. Established in 2014 by dean Bill Maurer, the $1500 awards support activities that aim to increase educational access and quality while also building upon the school’s online education and technology offerings.

Recipients this year include:

  • Jeremy Heis, Logic & Philosophy of Science Associate Professor, Critical Reasoning Online Course. Heis has developed LPS 29 Critical Reasoning into an online course for Summer Session I. Taken by all philosophy students, it’s also a popular formal reasoning requirement course for the wider social science and UCI general undergrad population. Offering it online increases access to more students, and if successful in summer session, it will be extended to the fall quarter.
  • Roxanne Varzi, Anthropology Associate Professor, Modern Iran Cinema and Society Online Course. Varzi is developing a new course on Iranian cinema that will be offered online. The topic is one the general public knows little about but is very interested in, says Varzi. The films that will make up the focus of the class are difficult to find, so enrollment would give students access they otherwise would not have.


“Last year’s inaugural recipients developed some fantastic online classes,” says Maurer. “With these two new recipients, we are building out social sciences' lower division online offerings to enhance student access and accelerate degree completion, as well as offer enticing upper division electives that will be of interest to students and the community at large.”

If you have an interest in any of the above-mentioned projects, please contact the professor directly.