Geek Certificate Courses
What does it actually mean to live in a world shaped by technology?
The Geek Certificate is a series of short, thought-provoking courses that explore how systems—digital, political, and cultural—shape the way we live, work, and make decisions. Using science fiction, pop culture, and real-world examples, each course helps you make sense of ideas that often feel abstract or invisible: algorithms, power, networks, automation, and control.
This isn’t a technical program. You won’t learn to code.
Instead, you’ll learn how to think about the systems that increasingly define modern life.
Each course is designed to be accessible, discussion-driven, and immediately relevant. You’ll connect big ideas to everyday experiences—how decisions get made at work, how information spreads, how technology influences behavior, and how power operates when it’s no longer easy to see.
Take one course to explore a topic that sparks your curiosity, or complete multiple courses to earn the Geek Certificate and build a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our world.
No prior experience required—just curiosity.
Course 1: From Empires to Algorithms
This course uses science fiction as a lens to explore modern political structures,
systems of governance, and everyday forms of power. Drawing on classic series like Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5, alongside modern shows such as The Expanse, Foundation, and Severance, participants will examine how authority shifts from visible institutions to invisible
systems.
Course 2: Conspiracy, Misinformation, and the Appeal of Hidden Truths: The X-Files and Beyond
This course examines why conspiracy theories are so compelling—and what they reveal about power, trust, and authority. Using The X-Files as a cultural touchstone, participants explore how belief is shaped, how skepticism emerges, and how misinformation operates not just as false content, but as a system that influences perception and control. From hidden knowledge to algorithm-driven outrage, this course equips participants to critically analyze the forces shaping truth in modern society.
Course 3: Climate Fiction and the Politics of Survival
Through climate and disaster fiction, this course explores how societies respond to existential threat. Drawing on works like The Expanse, Snowpiercer, Station Eleven, and films such as Greenland, participants examine scarcity, triage, inequality, and the difficult decisions that define survival. The course challenges participants to think critically about fairness, governance, and who gets protected in times of crisis—while imagining more just and resilient futures.
Course 4: Watching Ourselves: Media, Surveillance, and the Performance of Identity
This course explores how modern media ecosystems—from reality TV to social platforms—shape identity, behavior, and self-governance. Participants investigate how visibility becomes a form of power, how algorithms influence attention and action, and how individuals internalize systems of surveillance. By examining the intersection of performance, data, and control, the course reveals how we participate in—and reinforce—the systems that watch us.
Course 5: Who Gets to Be a Hero? Power, Authority, and Justice in the Marvel Universe
Using the Marvel universe as a lens, this course interrogates the relationship between power, legitimacy, and justice. Participants explore why societies place trust in unelected heroes, how moral authority competes with legal authority, and what happens when extraordinary power goes unchecked. Through key storylines like Civil War, the course examines accountability, oversight, and the politics of control—challenging participants to rethink what justice requires in a world of heroes.
Meet your Instructor - Summer Harris
Summer Harris is Associate Director of Continuing Education Programs at the University of South Carolina. She holds degrees in criminal justice and political science and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Policy at Liberty University. A lifelong science fiction fan, she uses storytelling to explore power and modern governance.
Important Information
Approximately one week before the class starts, you will be emailed course location and parking instructions.
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| From Empires to Algorithms 6/1/2026 & 6/8/2026 Mondays 2 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $20.00 |
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy, Misinformation, and the Appeal of Hidden Truths 8/17/2026 & 8/24/2026 Mondays 2 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $20.00 |
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Fiction and the Politics of Survival 9/14/2026 & 9/21/2026 Mondays 2 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $20.00 |
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Watching Ourselves: Media, Surveillance, and the Performance of Identity 10/12/2026 & 10/19/2026 Mondays 2 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $20.00 |
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Who Gets to Be a Hero? Power, Authority, and Justice in the Marvel Universe 11/2/2026 & 11/9/2026 Mondays 2 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $20.00 |
| Dates / Sessions | Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Geek Certificate - Full Program 6/1/2026 - 11/9/2026 Various Mondays 10 Sessions Register Online Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts. |
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $80.00 |
Registration and Payment Notes
We accept online payment via VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express through MarketPlace, a secure
electronic environment that simplifies business transactions with the university.
Follow the MarketPlace prompts to complete payment. Your transaction is only complete
when you receive an order number, which is your receipt of payment. Your seat is not
guaranteed until payment is received and you receive an order number.
Once you have paid and are enrolled, you'll be emailed location and parking information for face-to-face programs or online
instructions about one week before the program begins.