In Science, Skepticism and Weird Behavior, students are asked questions that help build and shape their personal philosophy.

"Does everyone have a right to their own opinion? Is it immoral to behave certain ways? Is it immoral to believe certain things?" asks Bryan Lovelace ('04, '08 M.S.).

Lovelace, an adjunct professor in behavior analysis, asks questions like these while the class also analyzes UFO sightings, ghosts and other phenomena. They lead to fun discussions, but there's an overarching goal.

"I want to teach students how to critically think their way through weird experiences like someone walking through a wall," says Lovelace. "I aim to teach them a set of tools that will allow them to think their way through those situations and be more likely to arrive at the correct answer."

In his course, he encourages his students to question how they think about things and become more skeptical of easy, quick answers.

"Our professor really cares about the subject," says Jacob Calderon, a media arts senior. "You learn to question everything but also be open-minded."

A popular lesson is when a professional magician, Rudy Reynoso ('14), visits to give a demonstration on magic tricks and the techniques used to distract the audience.

"You learn how these tactics get incorporated into sales," says Catrina Watson, a junior studying film and media. "It's not just a lesson in how to do it, but also how to protect yourself and be more aware."

Lovelace says the focus always remains on the philosophy of how people know things are true and the importance of having evidence to support a belief.

"The goal is to help them become common sense skeptics, to admit what you know and what you don't. That's how we can talk to people with different points of views and come together."