Fall 2026 EXCO 301 Course Descriptions
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.01 Beyond Talking: Practical Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
Teacher: Eduardo Cumplido ecumplido@sfsu.edu
This course focuses on real, practical ways to improve mental health instead of only discussing it. Many conversations about mental health stay at the level of awareness, but students are often left without tools they can actually use in daily life. This course teaches simple, realistic strategies that help people manage stress, anxiety, motivation, and emotional well-being.
Students will explore habits, routines, and actions that support better mental health. The class will focus on building skills such as emotional regulation, self-awareness, communication, and resilience. We will also examine how lifestyle factors like sleep, social connection, movement, and environment impact mental well-being.
An important part of the course is recognizing that mental health can often improve more through shared experiences and community activities than through isolated efforts alone. Many in-class activities will be designed to show how engaging with others, working together, and building supportive environments can positively impact mental health in ways that individual activities sometimes cannot.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.02 Intro to Psychedelic Trauma Therapy
Teacher: Finch Williams Awilliams50@sfsu.edu
Intro to Psychedelic Trauma Therapy will teach from a unique perspective, approaching the treatment of trauma through nature-based, alternative, and holistic lenses while also giving students a solid foundation in our modern scientific understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Some lessons I have planned include:
- Indigenous/shamanic use of psychedelic medicines
- History of Western psychiatry (diagnostics, medications, psychiatric facilities)
- Ketamine and MDMA therapies for PTSD
- Intro to everyday therapies: Cognitive behavioral, exposure therapy, EMDR, and more
We will utilize texts such as The Body Keeps the Score and DMT: The Spirit Molecule to guide our learning. Homework will be minimal and mostly based in art and self-reflection. Students will also be encouraged to share their own personal experiences with trauma, therapy/psychiatry, psychiatric medication, and/or alternative forms of healing during class.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.03 Campaign Writing for Dungeons & Dragons
Teacher: Desiree Gonzalez dgonzalez43@sfsu.edu
Students will learn how to design and write campaigns for the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The course will explore encounter building, NPC creation, and worldbuilding.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.04 Continuing to Dissent Against Humanity and its Derivatives
Teacher: David Flin dflin@sfsu.edu
I know you are craving this sensibility towards having a space to speak on any and each and every subject candidly. We are not your friends, we are not your family, and we are not your boss. We hold you accountable to no standards of knowledge, morality, or ethics. You come as you are or the are as you hide and the only thing I can guarantee you is that whatever you say will not devolve into a shouting contest amongst others. Do not talk about violence, and this is not therapy this is taking control of your identity.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.05 Black Panthers History and Organize
Teacher: David Flin dflin@sfsu.edu
The Black Panther Political party was founded in Oakland California, in 1966. We at San Francisco State are tied to the panthers. Panther Minister of Education George Murray was once a teacher here until he was suspended for encouraging students to express their 2nd Amendment right to carry arms. This directly led to the longest American student strike first starting in November of 1968, five days after Murray was fired.
The students were ultimately victorious despite the ordering of hundreds of armed police officers to stop the rebellion. Out of the strike led to the legitimization of a student taught free college (Experimental College) and the establishment of an official Black Studies (Ethnic Studies Department).
Participants of this class will learn the tools it takes to make REAL lasting change across any institution. The history of the Black Panthers and Black Nationalism (the desire to be governed by Black people) is the story of how marginalized and belittled people come together to change the narrative of America’s presiding story.
This isn’t about Black power. It’s not about right or wrong either. You are going to find the benefactors of your pain and suffering and confront them. You leave the “good” or “bad” to your own morals; when you come here, you learn what the purpose of building a skyscraper is and what the purpose of destroying one.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.06 Cannabis: Cultivation, Culture, and Industry
Teacher: Christopher Roberts croberts@sfsu.edu
This course examines cannabis through the perspectives of cultivation, culture, science, and the rapidly growing industry surrounding the plant. Students will learn the basics of cannabis biology, cultivation techniques, and extraction methods, with an optional “extracurricular lab component”, as well as the broader cultural and economic effects of legalization.
A key part of the course connects students with professionals across the cannabis industry, including growers, dispensary owners, entrepreneurs, artists, and advocates. Through mentorship and real-world experience, students will understand how cannabis relates to agriculture, retail, media, music, and community organizing.
Inspired by the Experimental College's spirit, the course emphasizes practical learning, industry involvement, and interdisciplinary exploration of one of California’s most influential emerging industries.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.07 EXCO 301-07 Mushroom & Plant Entheogen Research + Cultivation
Teacher: Maxfield Benbow mbenbow@sfsu.edu
Grow your own entheogenic mushrooms and plants. Perform extractions and isolate natural products. Study mycology, botany, and ethnopharmacology. Conduct research and build practical skills in your discipline. Collaborate with experienced students, scholars, and scientists. Several guest lectures from experts and optional field trips.
Humans symbiose with plants, animals, and fungi; some produce Entheogenic compounds that invoke subjectively mystical visions and experiences. This course will teach you how to grow entheogenic organisms.
Hands-on activities with live specimens. Students will develop procedures for entheogen care and propagation. Students will perform extraction procedures to isolate natural products. Procedures will be documented and released to the public.
Some topics covered:
Entheogens: Ayahuasca, Shrooms, Peyote, Salvia, Iboga, Morning Glory, San Pedro, Weed, Sonoran Desert Toad
Compounds: Salvinorin A, Ibogaine, LSA, Psilocybin, THC, Mescaline, DMT
Our class is open to all who want to participate or observe. We are a public exploratory research group.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.08 Bay Area Rave Culture & Event Production: DJ Skills, Underground History, and Live Event Creation
Teacher: Christopher Roberts croberts@sfsu.edu
This course explores the history and culture of the Bay Area underground rave and electronic music scene while teaching the practical skills needed to participate in it. Students will examine the evolution of rave culture from early warehouse parties and DIY collectives to today’s underground events and electronic music communities.
Alongside cultural history, the class introduces hands-on skills such as DJ fundamentals, music selection, sound systems, lighting, event promotion, and community building. Students will hear directly from guest speakers including DJs, promoters, sound technicians, visual artists, and event organizers active in the scene today.
Topics Covered
- History of Bay Area rave and underground electronic music
- DIY culture, collectives, and community values (PLUR)
- DJ basics: beatmatching, mixing, and track selection
- Sound systems, lighting, and stage design
- Event promotion and underground marketing
- Safety, harm reduction, and event logistics
- Careers within electronic music and event culture
Course Activities
- Introductory DJ demonstrations and practice sessions
- Guest lectures from local DJs, promoters, and producers
- Workshops on event promotion and design
- Exploration of sound and lighting equipment
- Optional field visits to electronic music events or venues
Final Project: Students collaborate to create a culminating project that engages with rave culture.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.09 Conformity Gate: How to Disappoint Your Audience
Teacher: Yanelli Martinez ymartinez5@sfsu.edu
Analyze the decline of quality television writing, the art of storytelling, plot discrepancies, press and media engagement, and the power of fan reactions through the lens of the final season of Stranger Things and other TV show endings.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.10 Premed Roadmap: Clinical Experience, Shadowing & MCAT
Teacher: Kelsy-Kateland Angwi Gana gkelsykateland@sfsu.edu
This course is for students who are starting their premed journey and are unsure where to begin. It focuses on how to find shadowing opportunities, gain clinical experience, explore research, and understand when and how to start preparing for the MCAT. The goal is to provide practical guidance, helpful resources, and real insight from someone currently going through the process. By the end of the course, students will have a clearer plan and feel more confident taking their next steps in premed.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.11 Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration
Teacher: Eirini Courtney eirinic@sfsu.edu
This course examines how artificial intelligence is currently being adopted across public administration (e.g. in permitting, benefits delivery, law enforcement, and other government functions) and what this means for accountability, equity, and democratic governance.
Drawing on real case studies, students will analyze the conditions under which AI tools are procured and deployed, how transparency and explainability requirements (or their absence) shape public accountability, and how automation affects access to government services and citizenship rights.
A central component of the course is a collaborative case study clinic in which students investigate a current or recent government AI deployment of their choosing. Through guided research and peer discussion, students will develop frameworks for evaluating public AI on dimensions including effectiveness, equity, legal compliance, and democratic legitimacy.
No technical background is required. The course is relevant to anyone with an interest in public policy, civic life, or how government works.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.12 Finding Your Art Style
Teacher: Aidan Millar-White amillarwhite@sfsu.edu
Each week, students will experiment in a different art style, learning the techniques for each and making a small artwork of their own in the style of that week's art. By the end of the course, they should have about 15 small artworks that they made. They will gain newfound knowledge on the different kinds of art styles there are, how to use them, and what art styles they prefer for themselves. Whether it's palette knife art, bokeh painting, oil pastels, or mixed media (among others), they will find a style that suits them and they enjoy working with.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.13 Asian Student Union
Teacher: Kai Duffy kduffy@sfsu.edu
Learn more about Asian American history, and grow a focus group to talk about these topics
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.14 Rich Habits Lab: Designing Your Financial Future
Teacher: Dao Gia Gia Chuong dchuong@sfsu.edu
This course is a practical, systems-based approach to building wealth in your 20s, taught from real experience. As someone who has accumulated over $200,000 by age 23, while being an immigrant, student, I focus on helping students move beyond basic saving into strategic wealth-building.
Students will learn how to design their own “money operating system” by understanding key financial tools and structures, including budgeting systems, credit optimization, and income stacking. The course dives into essential concepts such as tax efficiency, retirement vehicles like 401(k)s and Roth IRAs, and long-term investing through ETFs and index funds.
We will also explore more advanced and often overlooked topics, including capital gains taxes, 1031 exchanges in real estate, and foundational wealth protection strategies such as living trusts and asset structuring. In addition, students will be introduced to financial technology tools, brokerage platforms, and automation systems that make managing money more efficient and scalable.
By the end of the course, students will not only understand how money works but will leave with a personalized financial blueprint they can apply immediately to grow, protect, and sustain their wealth.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.15 Knitting
Teacher: Roman Rodriguez 923319602@sfsu.edu
Students will learn the basics of knitting. They will learn techniques and theory that will help build skills to where they can self-teach after the class.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.16 Divining Tarot
Teacher: Fen Cryderman mcryderman@sfsu.edu
This course introduces students to the world of tarot and card reading. Students will learn the meanings of the cards, the history behind them, and how to perform readings for themselves and others. We will explore concepts such as fate and tarot as storytelling.
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.17 Cliterature: Re-contextualizing The Banned
Teacher: Fyrdous Siddiqee msiddiqee@sfsu.edu
This class will look at the romance and erotica genres across media to ask questions about why we make the things we do, and if it's indicative of a larger pattern. In the intersections of the media we consume—books, movies, video games, TV shoes—and social media, what can we learn about humans and our relationship to creativity and to art?
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.18 Fandom Shipping: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly…
Teachers: Isabella Gaytan, igaytan@sfsu.edu, Parker Rose Shepard pshepard@sfsu.edu`
This course will focus on an incredibly important part of fandom culture which is shipping. Where two characters are paired together whether they be canon or not canon. We are going to look into incredibly beloved pairs, pairs that are questionable, and pairs that have led to the term know as queerbaiting. Essentially the good, bad and the ugly. It will be an interactive class with lots of input from students!
_____________________________________________________
EXCO 301.19 Healing, Identity, and Community: Decolonizing Mental Health
Teacher: Ana Valle avalle@sfsu.edu
This course challenges the idea that our struggles are individual, instead examining how systems like racism, colonialism, and oppression shape mental health and identity. Through a decolonial lens, we will focus on healing, resistance, and reclaiming ourselves through culture, community, and collective care. This is a space to unlearn, reflect, and grow together.