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2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course List by Subject
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Academic Resource Centers
ASC 101 - Scholars’ Seminar 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
The goal of this course is to foster continued learning development in students. This learning development is built on theories and concepts from the fields of cognitive and learning psychology, evidence-based learning strategies, and research that examines obstacles to the learning process. Students will research and practice evidence-based strategies and apply them to their existing courses with opportunities for reflection and feedback. Open to all students.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Backous, Ferraro
MAT 100 - Mathematics Laboratory 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
A one credit course recommended for students who want to review high school math skills before taking a college class or while concurrently enrolled in an introductory calculus or statistics course.
Note: May be repeated once for credit with permission of the director. Instruction in basic math skills is available without credit for all students. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Bourgeois Parsons
SCI 100 - Science Laboratory 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Individual or small-group instruction emphasizing problem-solving skills. This class must be taken in conjunction with first-year sequences in physics, chemistry, or biology. May be repeated once for credit with permission of the director.
Prerequisite: Consultation with the related course instructor and permission of the director of the science lab are required.
Note: Instruction is available without credit to students who cannot take the course or who need only occasional assistance. S/D/F only
Instructor: Mahlab
SCI 240 - Science Education Methods 1 credits
This discussion seminar is open to all students who have taken at least one year of science, and is encouraged for those students who are biology and chemistry student mentors, science laboratory teaching assistants, or students interested in pursuing a career in science teaching. This class will review some of the current literature in science education and focuses on examining the stages of the teaching and learning process and tools for improving teaching and learning.
Prerequisite: One year (two semesters) of biology, chemistry, mathematics/computer science, physics, or psychology; and permission of the instructor.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Mahlab
WRT 101 - College Writing in the Liberal Arts 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
WRT 101 introduces students to academic writing at the college level. Emphasizing writing as a process, the course provides opportunities for students to collaboratively practice writing principles in class and apply them to writing assignments in other courses through individual writing center appointments. Students must be enrolled in Tutorial or another writing intensive course to take WRT 101.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only
Instructor: Staff
WRT 102 - Voice and Style for the Academic Writer 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course emphasizes individuality and creativity within the conventions of academic writing. Students write analytically, while infusing their work with their own personality, voice, and style. Through craft exercises and workshops, students experiment with more advanced writing techniques, like guiding metaphors and narrative vignettes, to vividly convey their ideas and engage readers.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: D. Perez
WRT 120 - Oral Communication for Academic Purposes 2 credits (Spring)
In this course, students will approach oral communication from a writerly perspective by drafting and delivering speeches on a variety of academic topics. Special attention will be paid to audience consideration as students learn to provide effective feedback on peers’ speeches.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only
Instructor: Staff
WRT 301 - Teaching and Tutoring Writing 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: EDU 301 . In this course, we will study and discuss theories of writing, revising, teaching, and tutoring; learn practical strategies for effective commenting on drafts and conferencing with writers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds; identify and investigate intriguing questions and scholarly debates related to writing, teaching, and tutoring; present the results of that research both orally and in writing; examine and reflect on our own experiences as writers, tutors, and learners.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing or completion of 200-level writing intensive course.
Instructor: TurkAlternate Language Study Option (ALSO) Program
No Active Courses Available American Studies
AMS 130 - Introduction to American Studies 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An examination of selected beliefs and values that have been central to the shaping of American life and culture. Core values such as equality, individualism, success, freedom, a sense of special mission, pastoralism, and others are treated in topical units that range over the totality of American experience.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Scott
AMS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Contemporary US Student Activism 2 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: SOC 195-01 . This course will examine the kinds of activism that flow as the value of social justice continues to become an educational troupe, past and present. The work of the course is to unpack the preparation necessary for conceptualizing the work of organizing: symbolic, social media, working with communities of resistance and trainings.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: April 4 to May 11. Half-semester deadlines apply
Instructor: Scott
AMS 220 - Racing Through Genetics 4 credits (Spring)
See BIO 220 or ANT 220 .
AMS 235 - The Anthropology of American Culture 4 credits (Spring)
See ANT 235 .
AMS 245 - Shaping American Identities in Moving Images 4 credits (Fall)
This course explores representations of American identities and the binaries generated by these explorations including here/there, foreign/local, abroad/ home, American/Other. Films and readings will highlight the theme of amalgamation as an alchemic process (the melting pot) shaping Americanness and its association with characteristics such as respectability, recognition and their relationship to racism.
Prerequisite: one 100-level Humanities or Social Studies course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in any language for +2 only.
Instructor: Gibel Mevorach
AMS 254 - Jews, Diaspora and Antisemitism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ANT 254 .
AMS 275 - Topics in American Culture 4 credits (Fall)
An interdisciplinary investigation of selected problems, trends, or themes in American culture, such as regionalism, popular culture, mass communication, minority cultures, women’s lives, and other engaging issues central to American experience.
Prerequisite: AMS 130 and second-year standing. American Studies Concentrators have first priority.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
AMS 295-01 - Special Topic: Foundations of US Popular Culture 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 295-01 .
AMS 295-02 - Special Topic: American Journeys III: Journey Within 4 credits (Spring)
In a world that too often defines us from the outside through social comparison and social media, a key tenet of this course will be capacity-building around the areas of self-acceptance and self-appreciation. The intersection of philosophy, psychology, wellness, spirituality, and commitment to others will provide the student with the means to study their own life journey and how they view and impact the world. We will explore, from both Eastern and Western perspectives, the concept of SELF. Thoreau and Emerson and others, through their writings, will become 21st century mentors to our students, along with the works of Carl Jung, Victor Frankl, Albert Ellis, Joseph Campbell, Gloria Steinem, Audrey Lorde, belle Hooks, Kimberle Crenshaw, and others.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Scott, W. Freeman
AMS 305 - The Cultural Politics of Fashion 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ANT 305 .
Anthropology
ANT 104 - Anthropological Inquiries 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Demonstrates how the four fields of anthropology - archeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology - can be collectively applied to enhance our understanding the human condition in broad historical and cross-cultural contexts. Individual sections focus on different topics. All introduce students to the holistic approach of anthropology, the application of anthropological theories and methods and relevant ethical questions, and a multiplicity of worldviews. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 104-01 - Anthropological Inquiries 4 credits (Spring)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to anthropology through a specific thematic lens: families. What is family? Who is family? How is family life similar and/or different in different societies and cultures? In this course, we will attempt to answer these questions through anthropology’s holistic, cross-cultural perspective. Among the specific topics we will look at are the social institutions of family, love, gender roles, childhood, migration, etc.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Kulstad
ANT 104-01, 02 & 03 - Anthropologicial Inquiries 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Migration. This course will provide an introduction of the four major subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology) to examine human similarities and differences through the lens of human migration. We will discuss how mobility and information sharing with other groups have impacted materials and manufacturing, disease, cultural traditions, and language throughout time.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Sections 01 and 02 - Fall
Section 03 - Spring
Instructor: Holmstrom
ANT 104-03 - Anthropological Inquires 4 credits (Fall)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to anthropology through a specific thematic lens: families. What is family? Who is family? How is family life similar and/or different in different societies and cultures? In this course, we will attempt to answer these questions through anthropology’s holistic, cross-cultural perspective. Among the specific topics we will look at are the social institutions of family, love, gender roles, childhood, migration, etc.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Kulstad
ANT 104-04 - Introduction to Anthropological Inquires 4 credits (Fall)
Empire and Class-ification. This introductory course invites students to consider anthropology as a set of power-laden analytic tools. How do archaeology, biological, linguistic, and sociocultural anthropology deploy interdisciplinary techniques for studying today’s most pressing problems from ecological devastation to racialized hierarchy? How are the discipline’s traditional “4 fields” embedded in histories of imperialism, capitalism, and attendant discontent? Empirical classification-e.g., of primate behavior or material remains-is both at the heart of anthropological practice and also a deeply political endeavor. Assignments focused on ethnography and multimedia will prepare majors for continued exploration and valuable inquiry, including in non-academic professional careers.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Prehistoric Technologies 2 credits (Fall)
Archaeologists examine technology most effectively through direct experimentation. We will consider the nature of technology, learning, and skill in the context of several important prehistoric technologies: stone tools, pottery, fire, and others. There will be some theoretical reading and discussion of these technologies and experimental methodology, but the class will focus on hands-on experience.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: August 25 to October 13. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Kamp, Whittaker
ANT 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Sumak Kaway and Ikigai: Living Well and Finding Meaning in a Global World 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GWS 195-01 . Sumak Kawsay, is a tenet of Quechua cosmology meaning ”living well” and Ikigai, an 8th century Japanese concept translated as finding meaning in life.
While cultural origins differ, both concepts ponder what constitutes a “good life.” The terms decolonize Western assumptions about the body and health and re-appropriate?ways of being and knowing in their emphasis on ancestral knowledge, healing, and eco-spiritual practices. Simultaneously, they are deployed politically and heavily commercialized. This course centers the history and current understanding of sumak kawsay and ikigai to consider health and wellness holistically, historically, and cross-culturally. Students will be traveling to Japan after finals in May, 2023.
First-year students interested in this course will need to complete an application due October 10th in addition to doing the normal course registration process. The application materials are available here: https://www.grinnell.edu/academics/global/flag/glp/spring-2023.
Students selected to participate in the Global Learning Program will be required to pay a $415 participation fee (most other required travel expenses will be covered). This fee will be added to the student tuition bill and will be due by the first day of classes. If payment of this fee causes you financial concern, please contact Megan Jones in the Financial Aid Office to discuss loan options to cover this additional cost of attendance.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Lewis. Tapias
ANT 205 - Human Evolution 4 credits
In this course, we examine the development of evolutionary theory, studying past and present views of human biological diversity and adaptation to different environments. We then apply evolutionary theory to explore the behavioral and ecological diversity of nonhuman primates. Finally, we examine the human skeleton and the fossil record to further explore the origin and evolution of the human family.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Marshack
ANT 210 - Illness, Healing, and Culture 4 credits
This course examines beliefs about illness, healing, and the body across cultures. We will examine how the body, illness, health, and medicine are shaped not only by cultural values, but also by social, political, and historical factors. The class will draw attention to how biomedicine is only one among many culturally constructed systems of medicine.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Tapias
ANT 220 - Racing Through Genetics 4 credits
See BIO 220 or AMS 220 .
ANT 221 - Primate Behavior and Taxonomy 4 credits
This course offers a survey of the order Primates. We will cover the evolution, social behavior, and ecology of our closest relatives: monkeys, apes, and prosimians. In addition to an examination of taxonomy, anatomy, reproduction, and growth and development, emphasis will be placed on conservation and the methods of field primatology. We will address some compelling issues, including aggressive and cooperative behavior, animal tool use, what makes primates distinct, and what distinguishes humans in particular.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Marshack
ANT 225 - Biological Determinism and the Myth of Race 4 credits
We will critically assess biological determinism—explanations often invoked groundlessly—in relation to race, war, gender and sex, and economic inequality. Through the lens of biological anthropology, we will explore conflicting theories of “human nature,” the American eugenics movement, “medical apartheid,” modern “scientific” racism and sexism, environmental inequality, and the origin of the concept of race. Questions include, is inequality natural? Is xenophobia evolutionarily adaptive? Notwithstanding the absence of biological races in humans, how has pervasive inequality and racism been embodied by leaving measurable biological effects on members of racialized groups?
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Marshack
ANT 231 - Disasters, Society and Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines how natural, sociocultural and technological systems interact to produce catastrophe. This course examines disasters from an anthropological perspective. It looks at the role that society and culture play in their creation and unfolding. Students will learn about different catastrophes from around the world to understand causation, prevention, mitigation, humanitarian aid processes, and more. Students will learn several theories that analyze how pre-existing structures of inequality influence risk, vulnerability, and resilience. Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-life disaster scenario.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Kulstad
ANT 235 - The Anthropology of American Culture 4 credits
Cross-listed as: AMS 235 . Focus on the U.S. American cultural meanings about national identity and citizenship, intersections of race and class consciousness, and the power of media to shape social attitudes, values, lifestyles, and political opinions.
Prerequisite: AMS 130 or ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in any language for +2 only.
Instructor: Gibel Mevorach
ANT 238 - Cultural and Political Ecology 4 credits
Reviews various cultural anthropology approaches to understanding human/ environment interactions. Focus placed on case studies of small-scale societies from distinct environmental regions, the adaptations to those environments, how subsistence practices relate to other aspects of culture, and how these cultures and environments are affected by increasing integration into the world system (e.g., through globalization).
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or GDS 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Roper
ANT 240 - Intentional Communities 4 credits
A cross-cultural and historical survey of attempts to achieve social harmony by creating small communities. Topics include: ideological foundations, alternative economic and political arrangements, experiments with sexuality and gender roles, responses of the wider society, and reasons for success and failure. Groups include the first-century Essenes, the Shakers, Amana, the Hutterites, the Amish, the kibbutzim, Japanese communes, hip communes, monastic groups, and New Age communities.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andelson
ANT 246 - Anthropology of the Modern Middle East and North Africa 4 credits
The modern Middle East in anthropological and historical perspective. Topics include nomadic, village, and urban lifestyles; ethnic interactions; Islam and its role in the social and political systems; the role of women; and cultural change.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 250 - Language Contact 4 credits
Cross-listed as: LIN 250 . The course examines the linguistic varieties and practices that emerge when linguistically diverse groups come in contact with one another. We will discuss the types of situations that give rise to language contact and then turn to look at the linguistic effects that result from such contact at both the micro (e.g. borrowing, code-switching) and the macro (e.g. language shift, language death) level.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or LIN 114 .
Instructor: Hansen
ANT 252 - Culture and Agriculture 4 credits
An overview of the relationship of agriculture to other aspects of culture, through time and cross-culturally. The origins of agriculture, the role of agriculture in subsistence and trade, and its connection to social structure, religion, and values. The rise of industrial agriculture and agriculture in Iowa.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andelson
ANT 254 - Jews, Diaspora and Antisemitism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: AMS 254 and SAM 254 . This course examines Jews and Jewish diversity as an interruption to discussions of multiculturalism and specifically examines the persistence of antisemitism over time and space. The readings provide an overview of concept Diaspora and theological antisemitism, racial antisemitism, social antisemitism and political antisemitism.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Foreign Language Option available.
Instructor: Gibel Mevorach
ANT 260 - Language, Culture, and Society 4 credits
The course provides an overview of current topics in linguistic anthropology, the study of human language in its structural and cultural contexts. Through class lectures, readings, and discussions, students will become familiar with key issues, themes, and theories about language in contemporary anthropological and sociolinguistic scholarship. Overall, the course is designed to encourage students to become critical thinkers about the ways that language and language use affect and are affected by grammatical structures, individuals, social groups, cultural practices, and politics.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or LIN 114 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: French
ANT 261 - Agriculture, Religion, and Empire: Old World Prehistory 4 credits
An archaeological perspective on major themes and trends in the development of Old World civilizations: agricultural origins, trade and migration, metal and other technological innovations, role of ideology and symbol systems in social change, religion as a power base, rise of elite leadership, and state-level society. Covers much of Old World with emphasis on particular areas.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 262 - Archaeology of North America 4 credits
Archaeological record from human entry into the area to European domination: hunting, gathering, and agricultural developments. Geographical and physical anthropological backgrounds presented.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 265 - Ethnography of Communication: Method and Theory 4 credits
This course explores human communication from an ethnographic perspective. It does so from a “discourse-centered” approach that conceptualizes language as meaningful social action situated in particular contexts used strategically by social actors. Building upon this framework, we will engage the ethnography of communication as both a particular theoretical orientation and a specific methodological approach to language use. Areas of emphasis include: relationships between linguistic forms and social functions, ethnography of speaking, communicative competence, multiple layering of context, performer/audience relationships, intentionality, and ideology.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or LIN 114 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: French
ANT 267 - Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas 4 credits
An examination of Aztec, Inca, and Maya cultures, including economics, politics, and religion. Concentrates on the dynamics of early states and explores reasons for their rise and fall.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 268 - Language, Gender and Sexuality 4 credits
This course provides an overview of the major themes and issues related to language and gender, and sexuality research from anthropological and discursive perspectives. In particular, the class focuses on relationships between language and consciousness, gender socialization through language, cultural models and power-based models of gender difference in language use, and identity performance/enactment through discourse practices. It examines foundational feminist scholarship and contributions from queering the study of language, gender, and sexuality.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 , LIN 114 , or SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Foreign Language option available in Spanish.
Instructor: French
ANT 277 - Anthropology of Global Migrations 4 credits
The course offers an overview of relevant topics in the field of international migration including: the distinctions between economic migrants, political refugees as well as populations currently being displaced by environmental disasters; explanations for why migration occurs; and its social, political, economic, and cultural impacts.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or SOC 111 .
Instructor: Escandell
ANT 280 - Theories of Culture 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A survey of the history of anthropological theory from the Enlightenment to the present.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 and at least one 200-level anthropology course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Andelson, French
ANT 285 - Anthropology, Violence, and Human Rights 4 credits
This course is designed to address anthropological engagement with enduring forms of violence and efforts to intervene in them in a variety of cross-cultural contexts. The class begins by considering relationships among scholarly knowledge, history, and inequality to establish a foundation for thinking about research in post-Enlightenment sociopolitical contexts. It moves to examine tensions between cultural relativism and universal rights advocacy within Western intellectual thought. Next, it examines the concept of “legitimate” violence relative to state formation and power.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 and one 200-level Anthropology, Political Science, or Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies course.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: French
ANT 290 - Archaeological Field Methods 4 credits
Archaeological survey, excavation, and artifact analysis as tools for reconstructing the lifestyles of extinct societies. Lab work includes lithic, faunal, and ceramic analysis. Field labs provide practice in finding, mapping, recording, and interpreting archaeological sites.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 , or upper-level (200 or 300) archaeology course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 291 - Methods of Empirical Investigation 4 credits
See .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
ANT 292 - Ethnographic Research Methods 4 credits
Cross-listed as: SOC 292 . The processes by which ethnographers construct an understanding of human behavior; what questions they ask and how they answer them. Students engage in ethnographic field studies.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or SOC 111 and one 200-level course in Cultural Anthropology or Linguistic Anthropology.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Tapias
ANT 293 - Applied Research for Community Development 4 credits
This course will train students in anthropological methods and explore the roles of anthropological research outside of academia, particularly that associated with local-level policy and community needs. Students will learn how anthropologists design, carry out, and present ethical research. Much of the learning will be done through experiential education, as students plan and undertake needs assessments, program evaluations, or some other research in coordination with and on behalf of a Grinnell community organization.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year
Instructor: Roper
ANT 295-01 - Special Topic: Historical Archaeology 4 credits (Fall)
Historical archaeology is the archaeological study of societies from 1500 CE to present. Readings will trace the development of historical archaeology as a discipline and cover a range of important theoretical topics, including colonialism, gender and sexuality, and race and racism. Laboratory sessions will introduce course participants to core methodologies used in historical archaeology, which include analyses of the material and documentary record.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Ng
ANT 295-01 - Special Topic: Politics of the Past: Archaeology and Museums 4 credits (Spring)
This course investigates the politics of the past by examining how archaeological sites, museum objects, and cultural property are caught up in debates regarding heritage rights, nationalism, and memorialization. Students will discuss the roles and responsibilities of archaeologists and museum professionals in these controversies and present on recent case studies such as the removal of confederate statues, repatriation of sacred Indigenous objects, and auctioning of World War II Japanese American incarceration camp artifacts. This fulfills the Archeology subfield requirement.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Ng
ANT 295-02 - Special Topic: Graphic Medicine: Reading Medical Comics Anthropologically 4 credits (Spring)
This course explores the burgeoning field of graphic medicine through the lens of cultural anthropology. Targeting an audience of physicians, patients, and caretakers, medical comics provide insights into the culture of biomedicine, including language and power dynamics and the cultural constructions of illness. In addition to learning how to read comics critically, students will interview a patient, write a “pathography” and produce a comic of their own. This course fulfills the Cultural Anthropology subfield requirement.
Prerequisite: One social studies division course except PHE 100 , PHE 101 , WRT 101 , or WRT 102 .
Instructor: Tapias
ANT 295-02 - Special Topic: Nature and Culture on the American Prairie 4 credits (Fall)
The North American prairie has been occupied by humans for 8,000 years. Two hundred years ago, new cultures entered the region and transformed it through their farming practices into “America’s breadbasket,” virtually eliminating the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. We will examine indigenous adaptations to the prairie, the destructive effects of Euro-American agricultural systems, and the evolving relationship between humans and the land and relations among the different cultures that now occupy the region.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Andelson
ANT 295-03 - Special Topic: Human Osteology 4 credits (Spring)
This class explores the human skeleton as a means of reconstructing past lives through the archaeological and forensic record. Students will study human skeletal remains as a means of identifying many variables, such as age-at-death, sex, trauma, health and disease, diet, biological relationships, and activity patterns. These issues will be explored at the level of individuals (forensics) and populations (bioarchaeology). This course fulfills the Biological Anthropology subfield requirement.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Holmstrom
ANT 295-04 - Special Topic: Are You Not Entertained? The Anthropology and Semiotics of “Fun” 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar in linguistic anthropology follows a range of genres through kindred 19th-21st century culture industries. Sharpening tools to analyze performance and the self, affect and emotion, discourse and ideology, we will consider entertainment’s dynamic relationships to politics. We take seriously the questions of critics: Do seemingly lighthearted institutions and techno-gadgets amplify extractive capitalism’s continued transnational primacy through their capacity to distract? Are pressing social problems including gross wealth imbalance and punitive policing often ignored in favor of 24/7 streaming amusement? Ethnographic and semiotic attention to audiences and entertainers’ own reflections on their crafts will add moral complexity to discussion. This course fulfills the Linguistic Anthropology subfield requirement.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 or LIN 114 .
Instructor: Kohl
ANT 295-05 - Special Topic: Evolution and Running 2 credits (Spring)
In this two-credit half-semester course, we will examine running from an evolutionary and anthropological perspective. It will be a whirlwind class with some biology, some history, and some anthropology. We’ll examine what role running has played in our own evolution and talk about what’s up with modern endurance runners. Our goal is simple: you should know more about running at the end of this course than you did when you started. This course will fulfill general anthropology credits.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Dates: April 3 to May 8. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Bentley-Condit
ANT 295-06 - Special Topic: Evolution and Reproduction 2 credits (Spring)
In this two-credit short-course, we will examine human reproduction from an evolutionary anthropological perspective. It will be a whirlwind class with some biology, some policy, and some anthropology. Topics will include: parent-offspring conflict theory, menstruation, conception, pregnancy, gestation, and lactation. Our goal is simple: you should know more about human reproduction at the end of this course than you did when you started. This course will fulfill general anthropology credits.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Note: Dates: April 3 to May 8. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Bentley-Condit
ANT 305 - The Cultural Politics of Fashion 4 credits
Cross-listed as: AMS 305 . Everyone gets dressed: the creation of desire and cultivation of a consumer culture transcends geographic boundaries (from Dubai to Delhi, Paris to Tehran and NY to Tokyo). Fashion is personal, public and profitable: considering fashion and taste as a dialectic shaped by local and global networks, our point of departure is on interaction and fusion between companies and consumers, brands and boutiques, luxury malls and museums, and fashioning identities in print and moving images.
Prerequisite: A 200-level course in Humanities or Social Studies Division.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Gibel Mevorach
ANT 323 - Anthropomorphisms 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What does it mean to be human? How distinctive are we? Can studying analogous or homologous phenomena in non-human animals shed light on our evolutionary past? Can uncovering interconnections with other species help us to reshape an increasingly precarious future? Through multiple lenses–biological and cultural anthropology, history and philosophy of science, literature, art, and mythology–you will seek answers to these and related questions. Fundamentally, you will grapple with Darwin’s conclusion in The Descent of Man (1871) that “the difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind.”
Prerequisite: ANT 280 .
Instructor: Marshack
ANT 324 - War, Peace, and Human Nature 4 credits
Are humans inherently warlike or peaceful? Through the lenses of the biological and cultural anthropology, the history and philosophy of science, and archaeology - you will seek answers to this and related questions. Together, we will investigate human conflict and cooperation across time and geographic space using research papers, podcast and infographic creation, cross-cultural comparisons, experimental archaeology, animal behavioral observation, and other hands-on projects. We will explore famous case studies, theories and models, including “the killer ape,” “the war of all against all,” and “man the hunted.” We will also see how revolutionary explanations for warfare and inequality implicating all of humanity equally may obfuscate the root causes of these phenomena and even confuse victims with perpetrators.
Prerequisite: ANT 280 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Marshack
ANT 326 - Anthropology of Religion 4 credits
Cross-listed as: REL 326 . The role and nature of religion. Origin of religious beliefs and customs. Structure and function of religious systems: beliefs, practitioners, supernatural power, totemism, and ritual change.
Prerequisite: ANT 280 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andelson
ANT 355 - Collective Memory in Anthropological Perspective 4 credits
This course addresses collective memory from theoretical and ethnographic perspectives. It locates memory in the social world, in the relevance of the past for the present, and in on-going struggles to represent and commemorate meaningful histories. It begins by addressing foundational theories and builds to consider: relationships between nationalism and memory, possibilities of representing violence, contestations and embodies performances of public memories. Particular attention is paid to language and semiotic systems in memory work.
Prerequisite: ANT 265 , ANT 280 , or ANT 285
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: French
ANT 365 - Fighting Words: Conflict, Discourse, and Power 4 credits
This course is a seminar in linguistic anthropology. It focuses on conflict and power embedded in social uses of language and analyzes them in a variety of contexts. It highlights both interactional and institutional aspects of discourse and the ways in which they are implicated in reproduction of social relationships.
Prerequisite: ANT 265 or ANT 280 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: French
ANT 375 - Experimental Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology 4 credits
Experiments with artifacts and observations of living peoples provide archaeologists with the basis for interpreting the remains of past cultures. This course examines the theoretical basis and practice of experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology. Course includes lab work and projects.
Prerequisite: ANT 280 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 377 - War, Religion, and Politics in the Puebloan Southwest 4 credits
Major issues in anthropological theory in the context of the American Southwest, from the viewpoints of archaeology informed by cultural anthropology and history.
Prerequisite: ANT 280 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ANT 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Body and Religion in the Middle Ages 4 credits (Spring)
The Middle Ages (approx. 500-1500 C.E.) was a period of vibrant life and sometimes violent change. In diverse societies, people worked to understand their place in the world, and how to best live in it. Through lectures, readings, and class discussions, we will explore political, religious, social, economic, and gender topics, through historiography and the archaeological/bioarchaeological record. We will also consider how medieval people conceived of and experienced health and disease in the Middle Ages. This course fulfills the Biological Anthropology subfield requirement.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 and second-year standing.
Instructor: Holmstrom
ANT 395-02 - Advanced Special Topic: Anthropological Approaches to Global Hip Hop(s) 4 credits (Fall)
In AAGH, we will sharpen tools with which to experience hip hop in its scaled diversity. How do artists make affinities and draw distinctions along aesthetic, political, and other social lines? Beyond the US, what symbolic status do artists accord the genre’s African-American historical lineages? Hip hop scholars have productively analyzed the genre by way of analytics like (post-)industrialization, authenticity, resistance, and identity. One goal will be to also explore how hip hop relates to media ideology, subjectivity, and publics/groups/nations. Through a variety of activities, we will encounter a diverse range of hip hop’s crafts in addition to rap.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 .
Instructor: Staff
ANT 395-02 - Advanced Special Topic: Landscapes of Social Inequality 4 credits (Fall)
Social inequality is often written on the landscape as evidenced today by neighborhoods that are spatially segregated by race and class. How did dominant groups in the past use the landscape or built environment to enact social inequality based on race, class, gender, or sexuality? How did marginalized people resist these material forms of domination? This seminar engages with a range of archaeological studies to understand the relationship between power, space, and place.
Prerequisite: ANT 280 or ANT 290 .
Instructor: Ng
ANT 399 - Directed Research 4 credits
See Directed Research.
Instructor: StaffArt History
ARH 103 - Introduction to Art History 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A thematic and cross-cultural study of art and architecture as expressions of diverse social, intellectual, religious, and aesthetic values, primarily in Western societies since antiquity, with reference to certain East Asian and African traditions. Emphasis on developing critical skills. Use of Grinnell College Art Collection.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ARH 115 - Art of India and South Asia 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will survey the art of South Asia (including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh) from the 5th century to BCE to the modern period, including the art of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Islam, as well as modern secular art, including film. Basic principles and skills of art historical analysis will be covered.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Mackenzie
ARH 160 - An Introduction to Museum Studies 4 credits (Fall)
Introduction to Museum Studies explores a number of issues of museum history, theory, and practice, using public scholarship and research along with intensive class discussions. The content is directly applicable to students in art history, anthropology, education, history, studio art and sciences. The Grinnell College Museum of Art and Iowa museums provide examples and context. This course includes required travel as part of the prerequisite course. Students will be required to pay a $250 participation fee (most other required travel expenses will be covered). This fee will be added to the student tuition bill and is due by the first day of classes. If payment of this fee causes you financial concern, please contact Gretchen Zimmermann in the Financial Aid Office to discuss loan options to cover this additional cost for attendance.
Prerequisite: Participation in an intensive 5 day, 1/2 credit course prior to first day of classes.
Instructor: Wright
ARH 211 - Arts and Visual Cultures of China 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the arts and visual cultures of China from the Neolithic period through the nineteenth century. We will consider diverse media including painting, prints, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, jade, and architecture, as well as works in the College Art Collection. A central theme will be the role that various (non-Han Chinese) ethnic groups played in shaping the arts of the Chinese court, with special emphasis on cultural exchange with Central Asia and the Steppe.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Shea
ARH 212 - The Global Mongol Century: In the Footsteps of Marco Polo 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In this class, we will explore the arts and visual cultures of Mongol-controlled lands in Eurasia at the turn of the fourteenth century. Loosely following Marco Polo’s travels, we will travel from Italy to China, recreating the visual landscape of particular urban centers. Using primary sources and visual material, including illuminated manuscripts, textiles, paintings, ceramics, and metalwork, we will come to a clearer understanding of the interwoven networks in Eurasia during this period.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Instructor: Shea
ARH 213 - Gender and Sexuality in East Asian Art 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: EAS 213 . This class explores themes of gender and sexuality in the arts of China, Japan, and Korea from the beginning of the Common Era to the present day. This class does not aim to be comprehensive but will rather focus on a series of examples that allow insights into culturally specific moments. We will be looking at a variety of media and will interrogate the diverse cultural contexts in which this art was produced and consumed.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Shea
ARH 214 - Monastery and Cathedral in Medieval Europe 4 credits
Study of major developments in architecture and art from the Carolingian through Gothic periods (9th–14th centuries). Primary focus on architectural design and structure (as at Durham, Canterbury, Lincoln, Cluny, Paris, Chartres, Amiens), including the roles of sculpture and manuscript painting within their social, political, religious, and intellectual climates. Option of executing projects in architectural design or doing reading in French, German, Italian, Latin, or Spanish.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ARH 215 - Collecting the “Orient” 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: EAS 215 . The United States and Europe are home to world-class collections of Asian art, from murals and architectural elements to sculptures, ceramics, paintings, and textiles. This class examines the origins of such Asian art collections, from the nineteenth century to the present day. We will explore the changing practices of archaeological excavations, the antiquities market, and looting, as well as consider the ways, licit and illicit, that these collections were built.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Shea
ARH 221 - European Art 1789-1848: Figures & Ground 4 credits
Examination of 19th-century Romantic and Realist painting as critical responses to the period’s dramatic political, industrial, and cultural transformations and as the foundation of artistic “modernity.” Emphasis on issues of high and mass culture; art and political voice; representations of non-Europeans; relevance of the canon; tensions between the urban and natural worlds; and creation of the Avant-Garde. The French Revolution of 1789 marked the entrance on the world stage of a new concept of the modern, self-determining subject. During the first half of the nineteenth century, artists in France, England, Spain and Germany sought to discover an artistic language that would represent this new individual’s relationship to the natural and the built environment, a dialogue of figure and ground that this course studies in the mediums of painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ARH 222 - Impressionism and Post-Impressionism 4 credits
A study of major artists, works, and issues in European Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting (ca. 1865–1900). Specific movements include Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and Art Nouveau.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French or German for course and +2.
Instructor: Anger
ARH 231 - Modern Art in Europe, 1900–1940 4 credits (Fall)
An examination of major movements in European art from 1900–1940, including Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, Constructivism, and Socialist Realism. Focus upon the historical contexts of art production and reception. Readings range from contemporary criticism to historical analysis. Investigation of recurrent problems such as primitivism, gender, authorship, and cultural politics.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French or German for course and +2.
Instructor: Anger
ARH 232 - Art Since 1945 4 credits (Spring)
An examination of developments primarily in American and European art since 1945, from Abstract Expressionism to current trends such as the globalized art market. Particular attention to art since 1960: Pop, Happenings, Black Art, Minimalism, Conceptualism, Earth Works, Feminist Art, Video, and Installation. Readings range from contemporary criticism to historical analysis from a variety of perspectives (e.g., formal, multicultural, deconstructive).
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French or German for course and +2.
Instructor: Anger
ARH 233 - American Art 4 credits
A survey of American art within its cultural, philosophical, and social contexts. Topics include: colonial portraiture; history painting, landscape, and vernacular expressions in the 19th century; and the sources and development of modernism and postmodernism.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Anger
ARH 234 - Caribbean Art and Visual Cultures 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course provides a broad survey of Caribbean art and visual culture, focusing on the Caribbean archipelago and surrounding territories into consideration, as well as the Caribbean diaspora. With material ranging from the Pre-Columbian era into the contemporary, this course includes close readings on topics such as slavery in the Caribbean, religious expression, the African diaspora, migration, colonialism, nationalism, postcolonialism, and the politics of tourism.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Foreign language option available in Spanish and French for Plus-2 only.
Instructor: Rivera
ARH 248 - Greek Archaeology and Art 4 credits (Spring)
See CLS 248 .
ARH 250 - Roman Archaeology and Art 4 credits (Spring)
See CLS 250 .
ARH 270 - Modern Architecture and Globalization 4 credits (Fall or spring)
This course offers a survey of developments in modern architecture from the 19th century to the mid-20th century, with a focus on globalization. We discuss the aesthetic, political and social contexts of architecture, including colonialism, urbanization, industrialization, authoritarianism and nationalism. We will use visual materials (floor plans, renderings, photographs, etc.), texts by architects, scholars and critics, and local/regional examples of architecture to examine the built environment, architectural movements, urban planning, landscape design and architectural technologies.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Foreign language option in Spanish available for Plus-2 option only.
Instructor: Rivera
ARH 272 - Contemporary Architectures 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course centers contemporary architectures within the context of social justice, providing a broad overview of architecture from the 1960s onwards. In this class we consider the economic, aesthetic, socio-political and semiotic functions of architecture, landscape design, interior design, and urban planning. We ask: How do architecture and design impact our everyday lives? In an ever-complex world, how does the built environment and infrastructure contribute to our understanding of place, power, and agency?
Prerequisite: ARH 103 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Rivera
ARH 295-01 - Special Topic: Art and Literature of Paris and Berlin 4 credits (Spring)
In what ways are these two European capitals paradigmatic of the experiences of urban modernity, cultural achievement, political struggle, and the intersection of individual personal experience and titanic historical forces? How do paintings, novels and movies express the individual experience of urban modernity, and how do they shape the individual’s expectations of those experiences? We will examine Paris in Impressionist paintings and also in Surrealism and the Naturalist novel; Berlin in Expressionist paintings and novels; divided Berlin in the Cold War in film and architecture and the Berlin Wall, and reunified Berlin.The goals of this course include learning to discuss modernist visual art, novels and literary criticism, film, architecture and urban planning by relating them as firmly as possible to their original context. It will also include familiarizing ourselves with the changing social history of European urban life in the last two centuries.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Instructor: Mackenzie
ARH 295-01 - Special Topic: Art of Decolonization in India and South Asia 4 credits (Fall)
In the context of resistance and decolonization, India produced its own, distinctive version of modernism, apart from the Western world, out of its diversity and tensions between spiritual traditions and secularism, its simultaneous orientation to the democratic West and the socialist East, between its village past and its urban future. Modernism in art, architecture, and urban planning offered a dynamic alternative to the burdensome heritage of British colonial rule.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Instructor: Mackenzie
ARH 295-02 - Special Topic: Haitian Arts and Visual Culture 4 credits (Spring)
This course provides a survey of Haitian art and visual culture from the precolonial era to today, exploring topics such as the Haitian Revolution, Haiti’s Indigéniste and modern art movements, urban art and politics since the Duvalier regimes, art of the Haitian diasporas, and the relationship of the visual arts and Vodou. During the course students will engage with Haitian art collections at the Waterloo Center for the Arts and the Figge Art Museum.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Rivera, Moise
ARH 360 - Exhibition Seminar 4 credits (Fall)
An exploration of the materials and methods of primary art historical research and museum practice through the organization and presentation of an exhibition. Students work directly with art objects, using works in the Grinnell College Art Collection and/or borrowed from lenders. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type. Course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: One 200-level art history course.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ARH 360-01 - Exhibition Seminar 4 credits (Fall)
The Collecting of Islamic Art: Objects from the Kelekian Family in the Collection of the Grinnell College Museum of Art. In the 1980s, Nanette Kelekian donated a series of Islamic and Egyptian art objects to Grinnell College. In the 2022 exhibition seminar, students will work to situate the Kelekian donation both in its historical context, and its place in twentieth century collecting history in the United States. Students will work together with the Grinnell College Museum of Art to curate an exhibition of the Kelekian material, and to write a catalogue to accompany the exhibition.
Prerequisite: One 200-level art history course.
Instructor: Shea
ARH 370 - Architecture and Urbanism in the Developing Worlds 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GDS 370 . This workshop seminar explores architecture and urbanism in the “developing world”, using comparative urban case studies to discuss debates from the colonial era to the contemporary. Students will analyze architecture, urban policy, and forms of urbanization, and will chart urban phenomena through close visual readings of pertinent primary sources, including maps, floor plans, urban plans, and other visual representations of place.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 or GDS 111 and one 200-level ARH or GDS course.
Instructor: Rivera
ARH 380 - Theory and Methods of Art History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course studies the theory and methods of art history. We will explore historical and philosophical approaches as well as contemporary methods. The point is to think through how and why we approach art and architecture the way we do and to learn to do so more conscientiously and fruitfully.
Prerequisite: ARH 103 and one 200-level Art History course.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Anger
ARH 400 - Seminar in Art History 4 credits (Fall)
The seminar emphasizes research skills and art-historical methodology. Each student, in consultation with the professor, will select a special topic for research and critical evaluation. Final projects are expected to result in scholarly contributions equivalent to those of traditional senior thesis. Students are encouraged to find a public forum for presentation of their research.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in art history major.
Instructor: Staff
ARH 499 - Mentored Advanced Project — Art History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The preparation, writing, and public presentation of a piece of advanced art-historical research in any area of art history. Students must obtain approval of a department member as faculty director. The MAP application must be completed with the required project statement and with all faculty signatures before submission to the Office of the Registrar. All applications are subject to the approval of the associate dean of the College.
Prerequisite: Senior standing.
Instructor: Staff
ART 320 - Advanced Studio: Site Specific 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An intensive practice based course in which the problem of place and location is examined in relation to the development of a student’s individual body of work.
Prerequisite: 12 credits of 200-level studio art.
Instructor: StaffBiological Chemistry
BCM 262 - Introduction to Biological Chemistry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to chemical properties and biological functions of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Topics in lecture and lab include purifying and characterizing proteins, enzyme kinetics, and basic energy metabolism. Three lectures and one scheduled lab each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 251 , CHM 221 , and completion of or concurrent registration in CHM 222 .
Instructor: Levandoski, Trimmer
BCM 366 - Immunology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See BIO 366 .
Biology
BIO 150 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to how biologists pose questions, design experiments, analyze data, and communicate scientific information, for prospective biology and biological chemistry majors as well as nonmajors. Although individual sections will have different topics and formats, all sections will involve intensive student-directed investigation and include a laboratory component. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 150-01 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
Genes and Toxins: The ways in which an organism responds to different drugs or toxins can be heavily influenced by its genetics. In other words, genotypes determine phenotypes. In this course, we will conduct research exploring the interplay between genes and chemicals using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast) . We will investigate how well different yeast mutants are able to survive exposure to a variety of chemicals . In the course of designing our experiments and analyzing our results, we will discuss the molecular biology behind the relationship between genes and drugs. We will also explore how the knowledge on genetic and chemical interaction can be exploited to understand human diseases and to design therapeutic strategies.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Bailey
BIO 150-01 & 02 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Effects of Climate Change on Organisms. We will examine the effects of predicted changes in temperature, moisture and carbon dioxide levels on organismal and ecosystem function through experimental investigation. We will focus on the effects of such changes on the physiology and metabolic functioning of organisms, as well as on biogeochemical processes of ecosystems. This course will be taught in a workshop format, meeting twice a week for three hours. Class time will be devoted primarily to discussions and lab work, examining theoretical aspects of organismal and ecosystem functioning, design and implementation of lab-based experiments, and the interpretation of our results in the context of extensive ongoing climate change research.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Fall - section 02
Spring - section 01
Instructor: K. Jacobson, P. Jacobson
BIO 150-02 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Spring)
Growin’ a Metazoan. The process by which a multi-cellular organism morphs from a fairly symmetrical single-celled egg into a highly structured, stereotypical adult form is at once amazing and mystifying. In this course, we are going to use the frog model system (Xenopus laevis) in order to explore some of the internal and external factors contributing to embryonic development in vertebrates. By fertilizing eggs in vitro and controlling environment conditions, we will see what it takes to make a proper tadpole, or why some may form two heads or others as all belly. Additionally, we will discuss the exciting and sometimes peculiar history of embryology, as well as some of the potential medical and societal implications of manipulating and engineering embryos. Like in all BIO150s, students will perform novel research related to the course topic, which will involve developing a specific hypothesis about how a condition of your choosing may affect tadpole development, designing and performing experiments to test your hypothesis, analyzing your data, and sharing your results through writing and oral presentation.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Sandquist
BIO 150-03 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
Cell Fate: Calvin or Hobbes? During the development of an embryo, how is the fate of a cell determined? How does a cell “know” it is supposed to become a nerve cell? Or part of the gut? How does it know its location within the embryo? To address these questions, we will examine the fate of cells during embryonic development, focusing primarily on the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We will critically evaluate the primary literature, formulate hypotheses, carry out independent research projects using a variety of analytical tools, and report experimental results in scientific papers, posters, and oral presentations. The class is taught in a workshop format, with laboratories, discussions, and lectures integrated in each class period.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Praitis
BIO 150-03 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
Cell Fate: Calvin or Hobbes? During the development of an embryo, how is the fate of a cell determined? How does a cell “know” it is supposed to become a nerve cell? Or part of the gut? How does it know its location within the embryo? To address these questions, we will examine the fate of cells during embryonic development, focusing primarily on the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We will critically evaluate the primary literature, formulate hypotheses, carry out independent research projects using a variety of analytical tools, and report experimental results in scientific papers, posters, and oral presentations. The class is taught in a workshop format, with laboratories, discussions, and lectures integrated in each class period.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Praitis
BIO 150-03 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Spring)
Biological Necromancy: Death and Life History. Some of the most important decisions organisms make involve their reproduction, decisions such as how many offspring to have, how large those offspring should be, and how frequently reproduction should occur. These suites of reproductive-related questions are called life history decisions, and organisms are predicted to evolve so that these decisions maximize their reproductive fitness. We will investigate why life history strategies vary so much among organisms by reviewing and examining the literature, looking at specific case studies, and crafting our own experiments using carrion beetles (Genus: Nicrophorus) as model organisms. Carrion beetles are attracted to small vertebrate carcasses, which they use for feeding and provisioning their offspring, an unusual behavior among insects. We will communicate our independent research findings through both scientific writing and oral presentation.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Meyers
BIO 150-04 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Spring)
Regeneration. In this course we will investigate regeneration using studies from phanaria, fish and axolotl. Based on critical reading of the literature, students will design and carry out independent research projects, analyze and report the results in scientific papers, posters and oral presentation. The class will combine lecture, lab, and discussion.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Lafontant
BIO 150-04 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
“Sex Life of Plants.” This course will explore the evolution and ecology of reproduction in flowering plants to develop your understanding of how and why plants reproduce as they do. You’ll experience biology as it is practiced, as you learn principles of adaptation, practice the scientific method, and communicate your research findings in the style of professional biologists. Activities will include reading and discussing classic and contemporary scientific literature, completing exercises on the structure and function of plant reproductive features, and conducting and reporting on research projects done in the lab, the greenhouse, and the field.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Eckhart
BIO 220 - Racing Through Genetics 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: AMS 220 and ANT 220 . An interdisciplinary study of the role that science has played in the construction of race and ways that society uses such racial classifications. Historic cases including eugenics movement in the early 1990s and application of modern genetic technology will be explored. Students will consider genetic determinism in light of what is known about biology and historicize concepts based in science including the meanings they acquired when invoked to support judicial, political and social politics.
Prerequisite: BIO 150 and one upper level AMS, ANT, SOC, or GWSS course. (In the event of over enrollment, priority will be given to students who have completed BIO 251 )
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Gibel Mevorach, Gregg-Jolly
BIO 240 - Animal Behavior 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Investigations of the causes, functions, and origins of animal behavior. We will use an evolutionary perspective to understand and integrate common behavioral adaptations, e.g., obtaining food, avoiding predators, living in groups, communicating, mating, and caring for offspring. Laboratory projects emphasize design, analysis, and communication of quantitative tests of hypotheses carried out in the lab and field. Three lectures and one scheduled lab per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 150 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 251 - Molecules, Cells, and Organisms 4 credits (Fall)
Investigations of the cellular and molecular basis of organismal structure and function, including studies of how organisms acquire and expend energy, acquire and transport materials, regulate internal conditions, transmit information, reproduce, develop, grow, and move. Three lectures and one scheduled lab each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 150 , CHM 129 , and completion of or concurrent registration in CHM 221 .
Note: Students who have completed the Biology 251/252 course sequence receive the equivalent of a standard undergraduate introductory genetics course, relevant for pre-professional programs and graduate schools.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 252 - Organisms, Evolution, and Ecology 4 credits (Spring)
Investigations of the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of organismal structure and function, including studies of why organisms acquire and expend energy, acquire and transport materials, regulate internal conditions, transmit information, reproduce, develop, grow, and move. Three lectures and one scheduled lab each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 251 and MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Note: Students who have completed the Biology 251/252 course sequence receive the equivalent of a standard undergraduate introductory genetics course, relevant for pre-professional programs and graduate schools.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 301 - History of Biological Thought 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar course will consider how biological theories emerge and change in a complex environment of empirical knowledge and social/political concerns. Areas of study may include reproductive biology, evolution, genetics, ecology and conservation, and medicine. Three lecture/discussion sections each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 305 - Evolution of the Iowa Flora 4 credits (Fall)
Investigations of the history of Iowa’s plant diversity from three perspectives: 1) taxonomy and systematics; 2) paleoecology and community assembly; and 3) population structure, biogeography, and conservation. Three lectures and one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Eckhart
BIO 325 - Fungal Biology 4 credits (Fall)
An integrative survey of the fungal kingdom, emphasizing current topics in developmental biology, physiology, genetics, evolution, systematics, ecology, and human interactions with fungi. Emphasis is on interactive learning through field and laboratory investigations. Combined lecture/lab periods meet two times each week for three hours.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: K. Jacobson
BIO 334 - Plant Physiology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An assessment of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying the life processes of plants. This course will examine major plant functions with emphasis on the physiology and biochemistry of photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient metabolism, translocation, control of growth, and response of plants to environmental stress.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: DeRidder
BIO 339 - Biogeochemistry 4 credits (Spring)
Study of the effects of life on the Earth’s chemistry. This course will examine the interactions among biological and chemical processes that determine the cycling of biologically significant elements in soils, sediments, waters, and the atmosphere. Lectures and discussions focus on current topics, with particular emphasis on the effects of human activity on biogeochemical cycles. Field and laboratory investigations emphasize quantitative analysis and experimental design. Three lecture/discussions and one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 , or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: P. Jacobson
BIO 340 - Aquatic Biology 4 credits (Spring)
An examination of the biology of freshwater systems, including lakes, rivers, and streams, and the linkages between aquatic and terrestrial environments. Lectures and discussions focus on current topics in freshwater biology. Laboratory and field investigations emphasize quantitative analysis and experimental design and include an independent project. One laboratory meeting and two lecture/discussion sessions each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: P. Jacobson
BIO 343 - Comparative Vertebrate Morphology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This class will analyze the structure and evolution of the vertebrates, emphasizing functional morphology. We will consider vertebrate evolution and diversity, integument, biomaterials, and skulls; vertebral columns, lateral flexion, and the transition to terrestrial locomotion; circulatory systems; osmoregulatory structures; gas exchange; and sensory structures. In the lab, we will dissect animals such as sharks and cats and analyze other materials. We will close by focusing on morphological design and locomotion, and students will write a research proposal.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 , or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Queathem
BIO 345 - Advanced Genetics 4 credits (Fall or spring)
Genetics is an experimental approach that has been applied to questions in all areas of biology, answering fundamental questions about inheritance, cell mechanics, human disease, and evolutionary change. This course will introduce students to advanced genetic principles and techniques. We will then explore how these techniques have been applied to answer fundamental questions in biology by reading both classic and recent papers from the primary literature that utilize genetic approaches. We will also discuss some of the limitations of genetics as a scientific approach. The laboratory will emphasize multiweek projects using genetic techniques to study biological problems. Two three-hour meetings per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 , or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Praitis
BIO 355 - Developmental Genetics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
We explore how scientists identify and characterize the genes required for animal and plant development, by reading and discussing papers from the primary literature that utilize molecular and classic genetic techniques. Topics include axis determination, cell fate decisions, tissue formation, sex determination, environmental influences on development, and evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms. In the laboratory, students do independent research projects on the model system C. elegans. Two three-hour meetings per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 , or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Praitis
BIO 363 - Neurobiology 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the structure, function, and development of the nervous system. Cellular and molecular mechanisms are emphasized and examples are drawn from throughout the animal kingdom. Three lectures and one scheduled laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lindgren
BIO 364 - Animal Physiology 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the integrated function of tissues, organs, and organ systems from a molecular, cellular, and organismal perspective. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms underlying physiological processes found throughout the animal kingdom. Three lectures and one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lindgren
BIO 365 - Microbiology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the structure, physiology and genetics of microorganisms. Emphasis is placed on studying of the diversity of microbes and exploring how microbes shape the environments they inhabit. A significant component of this course will be the critical evaluation of primary literature, along with an emphasis on written and oral communication skills. In the laboratory, students conduct independent research projects involving culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. Two lectures and one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Hinsa
BIO 366 - Immunology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: BCM 366 . An introduction to the cellular and molecular basis of vertebrate immune systems. We will explore the innate and adaptive immune systems including their components and organization and development of the immune responses. This course will build on concepts from cell biology and organic chemistry as we explore key molecular pathways of the immune system, incorporating the critical evaluation of primary literature and case studies of immune dysfunction, along with laboratory research, from design through analysis.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Hinsa-Leasure
BIO 368 - Ecology 4 credits (Fall)
Study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and of relationships between organisms and environments. Laboratories emphasize quantitative analysis and experimental design in ecology and include several field projects. Lectures focus on the development of ecological concepts and theory. Three lectures and one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Eckhart
BIO 370 - Advanced Cell Biology 4 credits (Fall)
In its infancy, cell biology primarily concerned the description of major cellular structures and functions that were visible by the light microscope. However, modern cell biology, and consequently this course, has shifted focus to the examination of biological processes at the molecular level. Focusing on eukaryotic systems, we will begin with a brief overview of cells, the history of cell biology, and the general approaches used to study cells. The rest of the course will focus on three to four central aspects of cell biology including signal transduction, cell cycle and cytoskeleton. How these topics relate to pharmacology and cancer biology will also be discussed. Laboratories emphasize techniques used in the study of cell biology in frog oocytes, eggs and/or embryos.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Sandquist
BIO 373 - Mechanisms of Evolution 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the mechanisms of evolutionary change at both the micro- and macroevolutionary scales. Topics include the maintenance of genetic variation, population structure and speciation, molecular evolution, systematic methods and applications, and macroevolution. Three lectures and one laboratory session each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
BIO 375 - Principles of Pharmacology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the fundamental principles by which pharmacological agents are produced, work, and used. A major part of the course will explore basic concepts of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and pharmacodynamics (mechanisms of drug action, receptor theory, dose response relationships, genetic interactions with drugs). Some common drug classes will be examined to illustrate basic physiological and pharmacological principles. Aspects of drug discovery, development and policy may also be introduced. Three lectures and one scheduled laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 or BCM 262 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Sandquist
BIO 380 - Molecular Biology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the molecular biology of the cell and associated technology. The application of techniques such as molecular cloning, PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and hybridization to contemporary issues in biology are emphasized in lecture and laboratory. Two lectures and one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 , or BCM 262 .
Instructor: Staff
BIO 390 - Readings in Biology 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
In this variable content course, students will explore a selected area of biology via a seminar format that emphasizes reading, discussion, and writing about primary literature. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Instructor: Staff
BIO 390-01 - Readings in Biology 4 credits (Spring)
Indigenous ecological knowledge. Ecology is a young scientific discipline, and the applied fields of conservation biology and ecological restoration are even younger. It is not at all new, however, for humans to construct and apply knowledge of their natural environments. In this course we will explore indigenous ecological knowledge and its applications in modern conservation biology and restoration, in a seminar format that emphasizes reading, discussion, and
writing.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Instructor: Eckhart
BIO 390-01 - Readings in Biology 4 credits (Fall)
Climate Change Biology. This course examines how changes in the climate system affect life on Earth, from organismal physiology, to ecosystem responses, with a particular emphasis on climate trends emerging in the Anthropocene, and the importance of long-term research to elucidating biological responses to climate change. Taught in a seminar format, we will read, discuss and write about recent publications from the primary literature.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Instructor: P. Jacobson
BIO 390-02 - Readings in Biology 4 credits (Spring)
Indigenous ecological knowledge. Ecology is a young scientific discipline, and the applied fields of conservation biology and ecological restoration are even younger. It is not at all new, however, for humans to construct and apply knowledge of their natural environments. In this course we will explore indigenous ecological knowledge and its applications in modern conservation biology and restoration, in a seminar format that emphasizes reading, discussion, and writing.
Prerequisite: BIO 252 .
Instructor: Eckhart
BIO 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer w/lab 4 credits (Spring)
This course will explore the cell and molecular biology of the many diseases called cancer. We will use knowledge acquired in second year biology and chemistry courses as a basis to guide our study of how aberrant regulation of the internal molecular machinery of cells can drive cancerous phenotypes. We will pay attention to how cell signaling networks, oncogenes and tumor suppressors, stem cell niches, genomic alterations play a role in carcinogenesis. Labs and Independent projects.
Prerequisite: BIO 251 or BCM 262 .
Instructor: Lafontant
BIO 399 - Directed Research 2 or 4 credits
See Directed Research.
Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment
WRT 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Encountering Iowa: Writing in Place 2 credits (Fall)
See EDU 195-01 .
Chemistry
CHM 100 - Chemistry is Everywhere 4 credits (Fall)
This course in intended for non science majors and introduces the basic principles of chemistry with special emphasis on everyday life and sustainability. The course illustrates these principles through extensive use of classroom demonstrations and hands on explorations.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
CHM 129 - General Chemistry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introductory course. Primary emphasis on stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, dynamic equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, thermodynamics, electronic structure, and intermolecular interactions. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
CHM 210 - Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Leads to advanced work in the department. Principles of inorganic chemistry and elementary quantitative analysis, including ionic equilibrium, electrochemistry, and acid-base chemistry. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 129 .
Instructor: Staff
CHM 221 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credits (Fall)
A comprehensive study of structures, reactions, syntheses, and spectroscopy of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, which emphasizes modern mechanistic models. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 129 . (Students with AP/IB credit or other off-campus credit to substitute for CHM 129 must take CHM 210 .)
Instructor: Staff
CHM 222 - Organic Chemistry II 4 credits (Spring)
A comprehensive study of structures, reactions, syntheses, and spectroscopy of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, which emphasizes modern mechanistic models. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 221 .
Instructor: Staff
CHM 240 - Environmental Chemistry 4 credits Spring
Cross-listed as: ENV 240 . An introduction to the chemistry of the atmosphere, natural waters, soils and sediments, emphasizing chemical pollution and pollution prevention. Topics include: atmospheric pollution, persistent organic pollutants, agrochemicals, heavy metal contamination, and emerging contaminants. Two classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 129 .
Instructor: Graham
CHM 295-01 - Special Topic: Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry 4 credits (Spring)
An introduction to the principles of inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on multidisciplinary aspects of the discipline. Symmetry, molecular orbital theory and ligand field theory will provide a framework to explore the bonding, magnetism and spectroscopic properties of coordination complexes. Topics such reactivity (hard and soft acids and bases), reaction mechanisms, and organometallic chemistry, will also be introduced. Laboratory work includes synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, scientific writing and presentations, and literature review.
Prerequisite: CHM 221 .
Instructor: Kamunde-Devonish
CHM 325 - Advanced Organic Chemistry 4 credits (Fall)
Selected topics in organic chemistry, including spectral methods of identifying organic compounds, reaction mechanisms, and modern methods of organic synthesis. Laboratory emphasis on spectral, chromatographic, and synthetic methods. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Leggans, Sieck
CHM 330 - Bioorganic Chemistry 4 credits (Spring)
Exploration of the advanced biochemistry discipline of bioorganic chemistry, which applies the principles and techniques of organic chemistry to the study of biochemical reactions. Emphasis on the reactions of enzymes, particularly enzymes that require a coenzyme (flavin, pyridoxal phosphate, etc.) to carry out their chemistry. Topics include enzyme structure, catalytic strategies, kinetics, and methodologies to determine enzyme mechanisms. Investigates laboratories stress spectroscopic and kinetic techniques. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BCM 262 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Trimmer
CHM 332 - Biophysical Chemistry 4 credits (Spring)
Exploration of advanced topics in biochemistry with an emphasis on physical methodologies (thermodynamics and kinetics) and techniques. Topics include ligand binding theory, protein folding, and structure determination, etc. Secondary emphasis involves topics in molecular neuroscience, such as second messenger systems and ion channels. Laboratory employs some of the techniques discussed and includes an independent project. Three classes, one laboratory each week. Completion of the introductory physics sequence and CHM 363 is recommended.
Prerequisite: BCM 262 and completion of or concurrent registration in PHY 131 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Levandoski
CHM 340 - Aquatic Geochemistry 4 credits (Spring)
Thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical processes controlling the biogeochemical cycling of major and trace elements in freshwater and marine systems. Special emphasis on quantitative modeling of processes occurring at the mineral-water interface (precipitation/dissolution, solute adsorption, oxidation-reduction). Two classes and one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: CHM 221 and CHM 210 or CHM 363 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Graham
CHM 358 - Instrumental Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Analytical chemistry, including both theory and applications of spectral, electrochemical, chromatographic, and other commonly employed methods of analysis and separation. Two classes, two laboratories each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 221 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lyons, Sharpe
CHM 363 - Physical Chemistry I 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to physical chemistry that emphasizes experimental and theoretical aspects of chemical thermodynamics, chemical and physical equilibrium, and kinetics. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 222 , and MAT 133 or equivalent, and PHY 131 or equivalent, and completion of or concurrent registration in PHY 132 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Hernandez-Soto, Marzluff
CHM 364 - Physical Chemistry II 4 credits (Spring)
Selected topics in physical chemistry with emphasis on molecular structure and chemical bonding and the application of thermodynamic and quantum theory to a variety of physical chemical phenomena. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 363 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Hernandez-Soto, Marzluff
CHM 399 - Directed Research 4 credits
See Directed Research.
CHM 423 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 4 credits (Spring)
Selected topics, including atomic structure, bonding, acid-base theories, coordination chemistry, crystal structure, and inorganic reactions. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: CHM 363 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Kamunde-Devonish
CHM 499 - Mentored Advanced Project 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See additional information on Mentored Advanced Projects.
Chinese and Japanese
CHI 101 - Beginning Chinese I 4 credits (Fall)
An introductory course to modern (Mandarin) Chinese that teaches the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Instructional emphasis is laid on both linguistic aspects (pronunciation, vocabulary, and structures) and on sociocultural strategies in communication. Students learn approximately 550 frequently used core graphs and their use in context.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Tang, Xi
CHI 102 - Beginning Chinese II 4 credits (Spring)
An introductory course to modern (Mandarin) Chinese that teaches the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Instructional emphasis is laid on both linguistic aspects (pronunciation, vocabulary, and structures) and on sociocultural strategies in communication. Students learn approximately 550 frequently used core graphs and their use in context.
Prerequisite: CHI 101 .
Instructor: Tang, Xi
CHI 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Formation and Transformation: The Lasting Phenomenon of the Three Kingdoms 4 credits (Fall)
This course introduces students to the fascinating phenomenon of the Three Kingdoms from the 3rd century CE to the present. The events and personages of the Three Kingdoms have captured the imagination of the Chinese people for centuries. How should we understand the ever renewed and intense interest in this historical moment? We will seek answers in a carefully curated selection of poems, plays, novels, TV dramas, movies, Internet fan fictions and games produced by and for this period. Conducted in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Tang
CHI 221 - Intermediate Chinese I 4 credits (Fall)
Reinforcement and expansion of the grammatical basis and communicative competence gained in CHI 101 and CHI 102 . Continued practice of oral and listening skills, but with increased emphasis on reading and writing skills. Stress is on the acquisition of core graphs (to approximately 1,500), vocabulary, and complex sentence patterns. Simplified characters are also introduced.
Prerequisite: CHI 102 .
Instructor: Yang, Xi
CHI 222 - Intermediate Chinese II 4 credits (Spring)
Reinforcement and expansion of the grammatical basis and communicative competence gained in CHI 101 and CHI 102 . Continued practice of oral and listening skills, but with increased emphasis on reading and writing skills. Stress is on the acquisition of core graphs (to approximately 1,500), vocabulary, and complex sentence patterns. Simplified characters are also introduced.
Prerequisite: CHI 221 .
Instructor: Yang, Xi
CHI 230 - Chinese Women: Past and Present 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will examine literary and cinematic representations of Chinese women, past and present by using gender as a category of analysis. Literary and cinematic focus is on the complex and changing relationship of Chinese women to normative gender codes and conventions over the course of some 2,000 years.
Prerequisite: None
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Feng, Tang
CHI 277 - Modern China through Literature and Film (in Translation) 4 credits
Cross-listed as: GLS 277 . This course examines literature and society in China starting from the turn of the 20th century through the critical study of selected samples of the literary and cinematic products of this tumultuous historical period. Attention is particularly focused on the political, cultural, and aesthetic messages that the literary and cinematic forms convey and disseminate. All readings and discussion are in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Feng
CHI 288 - Chinese Food for Thought 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: EAS 288 . Food is a prism that absorbs and reflects a host of cultural phenomena. An examination of Chinese and Chinese American foodways–behaviors and beliefs surrounding the production, distribution, processing, preparation, and consumption of food–reveals power relations and ways of constructing class, gender, and racial identities. This course analyzes foodways in various historical and contemporary contexts. It brings different types of materials and approaches to bear on the study of our most basic, visceral experience.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing and successful completion of tutorial.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Feng
CHI 331 - Advanced Chinese I 4 credits (Fall)
Further reinforcement, expansion, and refinement of grammatical proficiency and communicative skills through intensive reading of authentic Chinese materials, such as short stories, newspapers, and journals, and viewing of films and television broadcasts. Particular emphasis also given to increasing level of literary appreciation and critical awareness of the sociocultural contexts that shape readings.
Prerequisite: CHI 222 .
Instructor: Yang, Xi
CHI 332 - Advanced Chinese II 4 credits (Spring)
Further reinforcement, expansion, and refinement of grammatical proficiency and communicative skills through intensive reading of authentic Chinese materials, such as short stories, newspapers, and journals, and viewing of films and television broadcasts. Particular emphasis also given to increasing level of literary appreciation and critical awareness of the sociocultural contexts that shape readings.
Prerequisite: CHI 331 .
Instructor: Tang, Xi
CHI 387 - Individual Reading 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Designed to satisfy needs and interests of majors who have otherwise exhausted departmental language offerings.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Instructor: Staff
CHI 461 - Classical Chinese 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive treatment of the basic particles and grammatical structure of the literary Chinese language (wenyan). Development of skills in understanding and recognizing syntactic parallelism, contextual clues, and rhetorical structures through the reading of selected works of classical prose and poetry.
Prerequisite: CHI 332 .
Instructor: Tang
CHI 498 - Readings in Chinese Literature 4 credits (Spring)
This course is designed to increase students’ proficiency in reading, interpreting, and discussing Chinese literature in its original language, and thereby build upon the linguistic foundation acquired in both Classical Chinese (CHI 461 ) and the three-year language sequence. Literature for the course will consist of a thematically focused set of textual materials taken from both pre-modern and modern sources, including literary, philosophical, and religious texts. Conducted in Chinese.
Prerequisite: CHI 332 and CHI 461 .
Instructor: Feng, Yang
JPN 101 - Beginning Japanese I 4 credits (Fall)
An introductory course that teaches the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Instructional emphasis is laid on both linguistic aspects (pronunciation, vocabulary, and structures) and on sociocultural strategies in communication. Students learn both Japanese syllabaries and are introduced to kanji.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Harada, Chen
JPN 102 - Beginning Japanese II 4 credits (Spring)
A continuation of Beginning Japanese I, emphasizing the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Instructional emphasis is laid on both linguistic aspects (pronunciation, vocabulary, and structures) and on sociocultural strategies in communication. Students will have learned at least 100 kanji by the end of the course.
Prerequisite: JPN 101 .
Instructor: Schimmel, Chen
JPN 120 - Japanese Popular Culture and Society 4 credits (Fall)
This course will explore Japanese society and its cultural identity through their manifestations in popular culture, including food, fashion, pop music, manga, anime, otaku fandom, and internet culture. Through the examination of various artifacts of Japanese popular culture, reading of critical essays, and hands-on activities, students will gain an in-depth knowledge of Japanese popular culture and the social issues it reflects while familiarizing themselves with some important concepts in cultural studies.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Schimmel
JPN 221 - Intermediate Japanese I 4 credits (Fall)
Reinforcement and expansion of Japanese grammar and communicative competence for students who have previously studied Japanese. Students will gain advancement in the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: JPN 102 .
Instructor: Schimmel, Chen
JPN 222 - Intermediate Japanese II 4 credits (Spring)
Further reinforcement and expansion of Japanese grammar and communicative competence, and advancement in the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will have learned at least 300 kanji by the end of the course.
Prerequisite: JPN 221 .
Instructor: Schimmel, Chen
JPN 241 - Japanese Horror: Past and Present 4 credits (Spring)
Japanese horror films focus on psychological horror and often draw on traditional folk ideas of the supernatural, such as spirit possession and ghosts. What does this persistence of folk imagery in modern horror films tell us about the nation’s culture, society, and history? Through study of classical literature and folklore alongside analysis of modern and contemporary films, we will examine the genealogy of Japanese horror, from medieval times to the present.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Schimmel
JPN 279 - Modern Japanese Fiction and Film 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 279 . This course considers Japanese fiction and films that depict Japan from the mid-19th century through the present day. The work of some major authors and film directors will be introduced to examine Japanese culture and society, as well as the characteristics that are unique to Japanese fiction and film. Readings and discussions in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Schimmel
JPN 295-01 - Special Topic: Introduction Japanese Linguistics 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: LIN 295-01 . Offers a general introduction to Japanese linguistics, the scientific study of the Japanese language. Students will study the major subfields of theoretical linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. The knowledge and hands-on experience gained will enable students to pursue one of the above core fields and start investigating applied linguistics more effectively, including first/second language acquisition, pragmatics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics and language change, and cross-linguistic variation and language universals.
Prerequisite: JPN 101 or Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Harada
JPN 331 - Advanced Japanese I 4 credits (Fall)
This course is for those students who have finished Intermediate Japanese II or an equivalent course. An integrated approach will be taken by the instructor so students will be able to develop both their speaking and writing skills in Japanese.
Prerequisite: JPN 222 .
Instructor: Harada
JPN 332 - Advanced Japanese II 4 credits (Spring)
This course is for those students who have finished Advanced Japanese I or an equivalent course. An integrated approach will be taken by the instructor so students will be able to develop both their speaking and writing skills in Japanese.
Prerequisite: JPN 331 .
Instructor: Harada
JPN 387 - Individual Reading 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Designed to satisfy needs and interests of concentrators who have otherwise exhausted departmental language offerings.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and department chair.
Instructor: Staff
JPN 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Japanese Speaking 1 credits (Spring)
This course aims to improve oral skills by talking about familiar topics about yourself, your surroundings, and your society and Japanese society. We will learn to write and talk some topics in Japanese. We will utilize various formats in class: pair and group work, discussion, and interview.
Prerequisite: JPN 222 .
Instructor: C. ChenClassics
CLS 231 - History of Ancient Philosophy 4 credits (Fall)
See PHI 231 .
CLS 242 - Classical Mythology 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 242 . A systematic study of the most important stories and figures of classical mythology, with emphasis on the comprehension and interpretation of primary Greek and Roman literary and artistic sources, as well as on the contribution of modern theoretical approaches to this study.
Prerequisite: HUM 101 recommended.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Greek and Latin.
Instructor: Dixon, Mercado
CLS 248 - Greek Archaeology and Art 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ARH 248 . A study of major archaeological excavations and artistic genres of ancient Greece, and their relationship to political and cultural history; the exchange of artistic and archaeological influences with contemporary cultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
CLS 250 - Roman Archaeology and Art 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ARH 250 . A study of the major monuments and artifacts of ancient Etruria and Rome; their relationship to the political and cultural history; the Roman borrowing and adoption of Greek forms, as well as original expression in art and architecture. Roman artistic exchange with other cultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
CLS 255 - History of Ancient Greece 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: HIS 255 . The political, military, social, economic, and intellectual history of the Greeks in the Archaic and Classical periods and their relationship with other peoples of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Focus on the evolution of the Athenian and Spartan constitutions, the Persian War, Athenian imperialism and the Peloponnesian War, the rise of Macedon, and Alexander’s conquest of Egypt and the Near East.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
CLS 257 - The Roman Republic 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: HIS 257 . This course examines the rise of Rome from a village on the banks of the Tiber River to an imperial Mediterranean power governed by a republic (753 BCE to 14 CE). It focuses on Rome’s expansion in Italy, its struggle with Carthage, the tumultuous “fall” of the republic, the Augustan settlement and the transition to empire. Attention is also given to Roman social and religious life. Students analyze both literary texts and archaeological evidence.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
CLS 258 - The Roman Empire 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: HIS 258 . This course examines the Roman Empire from the accession of Augustus through the reign of the last western emperor, Romulus Augustulus (27 BCE-476 CE). It focuses on political, military, social and religious developments, with special attention given to specific subject populations such as the Jews and Christians, and to life in the provinces and on the frontiers of the empire. Students analyze both literary texts and archaeological evidence.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: M. Cummins
CLS 263 - Political Theory I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See PHI 263 .
CLS 270 - Indo-European Language and Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: LIN 270 . Many ancient and modern languages, including Greek, English, German, Latin, French, Spanish, and Russian, are “sisters” in a language “family” called Indo-European. Although no documents written in their “mother” tongue survive, linguists can reconstruct many aspects of Proto-Indo-European by working backwards from the “daughter” languages. This course explores the development of systems of sound and word/phrase structure that allow us to reconstruct a completely extinct language, as well as aspects of its speakers’ culture.
Prerequisite: Second year standing. Recommended: at least one from GRE 101 , LAT 103 , ENG 230 , FRN 221 , GRM 221 , RUS 221 , SPN 217 , ANT 260 , LIN 114 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Mercado
CLS 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Devoted to major themes in Greek and Roman culture, the seminar allows seniors to integrate their study of classics and related fields. Participants will plan topics and present papers that serve as a basis for analysis and discussion.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of department.
Instructor: Staff
GRE 101 - Elementary Greek 5 credits (Fall)
The fundamentals of ancient Greek inflection, grammar, syntax, and literary style, based on simplified readings from Attic prose and poetry.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
GRE 222 - Intermediate Greek 5 credits (Spring)
Continuation of GRE 101 . Review of forms and grammar. Introduction to a range of Greek poetic and prose literature, with selected short readings from Homer, lyric poetry, Herodotus, Sophocles, Euripides, Plato, and the Christian Scriptures.
Prerequisite: GRE 101 .
Instructor: Staff
GRE 301 - Homer 4 credits (Spring)
Reading of selected passages from the Iliad, the Odyssey, or both epics; special readings in archaeological and critical background.
Prerequisite: GRE 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRE 302 - Plato 4 credits (Fall)
Readings from one or more of Plato’s dialogues with attention to language, literary features, and philosophy.
Prerequisite: GRE 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Cummins
GRE 303 - Greek Drama 4 credits (Spring)
Reading of two plays with study of literary form, the myths, and relevant social, religious, and philosophical issues.
Prerequisite: GRE 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRE 304 - Greek Prose Writers 4 credits (Fall)
Reading and study of related works of one or more Greek prose writers, excluding Plato. Possibly to include history (Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon), philosophy (Aristotle), oratory (Andocides, Lysias, Demosthenes), or epigraphy.
Prerequisite: GRE 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
GRE 305 - Greek Poetry 4 credits (Fall)
Readings in Greek poetry, excluding Homer and drama. Possibly to include Archaic lyric and elegiac poets (e.g., Sappho, Archilochus, Solon), Pindar and Bacchylides, or the Hellenistic poets (Apollonius, Theocritus, Callimachus). Introduction to Greek metrics and literary dialects. Emphasis on close reading and critical analysis of the texts.
Prerequisite: GRE 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRE 387 - Individual Reading 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Supervised readings designed to fit special needs of students — for example, those who wish to develop facility in reading New Testament Greek.
Prerequisite: At least one reading course in Greek and permission of instructor.
Instructor: Staff
LAT 103 - Elementary Latin 5 credits (Fall)
The fundamentals of Latin forms and sentence structure, based on sentences and connected reading from classical Latin literature.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: M. Cummins, Mercado
LAT 222 - Intermediate Latin 5 credits (Spring)
Continuation of LAT 103 . Readings in classical Latin prose and poetry, with review and composition as needed in order to attain a reading knowledge of Latin.
Prerequisite: LAT 103 .
Instructor: M. Cummins, Mercado
LAT 320 - Cicero 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Readings from Cicero’s speeches, essays, or letters, with special attention to language, subject matter, rhetoric, literary artistry in general, and historical setting.
Prerequisite: LAT 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Cummins
LAT 323 - Vergil 4 credits (Spring)
Readings in the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the Aeneid; the development of Vergilian poetic technique; the civilized and national epic as a new form and its influence on Roman and later cultures; the pastoral tradition, Greek literary precedents.
Prerequisite: LAT 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Mercado
LAT 333 - Roman Historians 4 credits (Fall)
Selected readings from Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, Bellum Iugurthinum, and Livy, Ab Urbe Condita; the interpretation of Rome’s past by historians of the era of transition from republic to empire.
Prerequisite: LAT 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: M. Cummins
LAT 334 - Roman Lyric Poetry 4 credits (Spring)
The poetry of Catullus and the Odes of Horace. Critical analysis, the Greek background and models, the art and philosophy of Horace as the culmination of classical humanism.
Prerequisite: LAT 222 and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Dixon, Mercado
LAT 344 - Roman Thought 4 credits (Fall)
The poetry of Lucretius and some of the essays of Cicero will be studied for the ways in which they present Greek ideas to a Roman audience, on the subjects of nature, religion, politics, and the goals of life.
Prerequisite: LAT 222 or LAT 225 , and HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Cummins
LAT 387 - Individual Reading 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Supervised reading designed to fit special needs of students.
Prerequisite: At least one reading course in Latin and permission of instructor.
Instructor: StaffComputer Science
CSC 105 - The Digital Age 4 credits (Spring)
A study of core topics and great ideas in the field of computer science, focusing on underlying algorithmic principles and social implications. Topics may include multimedia and hypermedia, networks, architecture, programming languages, software design, artificial intelligence, databases, cryptography, and the theory of computing. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Osera, Weinman
CSC 151 - Functional Problem Solving 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A lab-based introduction to basic ideas of computer science, including recursion, abstraction, scope and binding, modularity, the design and analysis of algorithms, and the fundamentals of programming in a high-level, functional language. Includes formal laboratory work. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
CSC 151-01, 02, & 03 - Functional Problem Solving 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Digital Humanities. In this section of CSC 151, we will ground our study of functional problem solving in approaches related to the digital humanities, investigating ways in which computing changes the ways in which people write and analyze texts. In particular, we will examine models of documents, develop dynamic narratives, and design algorithms and visualizations that help us explore and analyze corpora and individual texts. The course employs a workshop format: In most class sessions, students will collaborate on a variety of problems. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Sections 01, 02, 03 offered both fall and spring
Instructor: Autry, Jimenez Pazmino, Osera
CSC 161 - Imperative Problem Solving with Lab 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
CSC161 emphasizes concepts closely tied to the architecture of computers, compilers, and operating systems, such as macro processing, compilation and linking, pointers and memory management, data representation, and software development tools. Additional topics include assertions and invariants, data abstraction, linked data structures, an introduction to the use of the GNU/Linux operating system, and programming in a low-level, imperative language. Includes formal laboratory work. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: CSC 151 .
Instructor: Staff
CSC 161-01, 02, & 03 - Imperative Problem Solving w/lab 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This section of CSC 161 will utilize robotics as an application domain in studying imperative problem solving, data representation, and memory management. Additional topics will include assertions and invariants, data abstraction, linked data structures, an introduction to the GNU/Linux operating system, and programming the low-level, imperative language C. The course will utilize a workshop style in which students will frequently work collaboratively on a series of problems. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 151 .
Note: Fall - Section 01 & 02
Spring - Section 01, 02 & 03
Instructor: Eliott, Johnson
CSC 205 - Computational Linguistics 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: LIN 205 An examination of computational techniques for producing and processing text in natural languages and an introduction to the theoretical basis for those techniques, both in linguistics and in computer science. Topics include generative grammars, parsing, algorithms for automatic indexing, information retrieval, and natural-language interfaces.
Prerequisite: LIN 114 and CSC 151 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
CSC 207 - Object-Oriented Problem Solving, Data Structures, and Algorithms 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to the ideas and practices of object-oriented computation: message passing, information hiding, classes and interfaces, inheritance, polymorphism, and reflection. The course also includes data structures and the associated algorithms, packages and libraries, exceptions, and the use of an integrated software-development environment. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 151 and CSC 161 .
Instructor: Osera
CSC 208 - Discrete Structures 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: MAT 208 . How do we “know” that a mathematical or logical statement is correct? What common properties appear among different collections? How might we represent functions, and how can we tell if two functions with different representations are the same? Can we formally describe and understand common diagrams? We consider such questions as we develop both intuition and formal mechanisms for addressing them. Along the way, we explore Boolean logic, proof techniques, sets, structures that include trees and graphs, and more. Students who have previously taken MAT 218 may not subsequently take CSC/MAT 208.
Prerequisite: and either or . Prerequisite or co-requisite: CSC 161 .
Instructor: Osera
CSC 211 - Computer Organization and Architecture 4 credits (Fall or Spring
Study of both traditional and alternative computer architectures. Introduction to digital logic, microcode, Von Neumann architectures, data representations, fetch/execute model, RISC/CISC, instruction formats and addressing, machine and assembly language, memory architecture and algorithms, I/O architecture, and elements of distributed systems. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Curtsinger, Weinman
CSC 213 - Operating Systems and Parallel Algorithms 4 credits (Spring)
Study of the principal components of typical operating systems and an introduction to parallel algorithms. Topics from operating systems: storage management, scheduling, concurrent processing, synchronization, data protection, and security. Discussion of models of parallelism and algorithms for problems in such areas as lists, trees, searching, sorting, graphs, geometry, and strings. Includes formal laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Curtsinger, Weinman
CSC 214 - Computer and Network Security 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course deals with the security of computing systems and the networks over which they communicate, including tools and techniques for undermining or for reinforcing the reliability and usability of computer systems, the theoretical concepts that underlie those techniques, and the ways in which governments, corporations, interest groups, and individuals currently use them.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Curtsinger
CSC 216 - Computer Networks 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
Introduction to the communication protocols that make up the modern Internet - their functionality, specification, implementation, and performance. Includes hands-on laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Curtsinger
CSC 232 - Human-Computer Interaction 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: PSY 232 and TEC 232 . Introduction to fundamental principles and methods of human-centered interaction design: Human capabilities and limitations, usability and accessibility guidelines, iterative design, contextual inquiry, task analysis, prototyping, evaluation. Includes hands-on laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 105 , CSC 151 , PSY 113 or SMS 154 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
CSC 261 - Artificial Intelligence 4 credits (Fall)
An introduction to current principles, approaches, and applications of artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on problem-solving methods, knowledge representation, reasoning with uncertainty, and heuristic search. Study of a range of AI approaches, such as rule-based systems, neural networks, and systems for machine learning. Review of several applications areas such as game playing, natural language processing, robotics, theorem proving, and perception.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 and CSC 208 , MAT 208 , or MAT 218 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Weinman
CSC 262 - Computer Vision 4 credits (Spring)
How can computers understand images? This course covers principles in computational vision and their relationship to human visual perception. Topics may include geometry of image formation, image filtering and representation, texture analysis, 3-D reconstruction from stereo and motion, image segmentation, object detection, and recognition. Students implement and evaluate methods on real images in laboratory exercises and an independent project.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 and MAT 215 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Weinman
CSC 281 - Life Beyond Grinnell - Learning from Computer Science Alumni 1 credits (Fall)
This course challenges you to think beyond your time at Grinnell. Alumni with careers related to computer science will tell their own stories so that we can learn how they constructed their lives and careers. They will also provide advice as you think about your own career and life. Readings and assignments will encourage further reflection. Variable topic course. Repeatable for credit when content changes.
Prerequisite: CSC 151 .
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Rebelsky
CSC 282 - Thinking in C and Unix 1 credits (Spring)
The most successful software designers master a variety of languages, algorithms, and software design methodologies. In this course, you will examine the Unix approach to software design. You will ground that examination, in part, by developing programs that deepen your understanding of advanced techniques of the C programming language. Includes laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 161 .
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Rebelsky
CSC 301 - Analysis of Algorithms 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Study methods for designing, analyzing, and implementing algorithms and data structures. The course explores formal and precise mechanisms for analyzing efficiency and verifying correctness and both iterative and recursive algorithms. Studies also cover a variety of fundamental algorithms, abstract data types, and data structures. Algorithm design strategies included greedy, divide-and-conquer, exhaustive search, and dynamic programming. Additional topics may include approximation, parallel, or randomized algorithms.
Prerequisite: CSC 207 and either MAT 218 , CSC 208 or MAT 208
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Rebelsky, Eikmeier
CSC 312 - Programming Language Implementation 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
A hands-on approach to understanding the essential concepts of programming languages (such as evaluation, binding, procedural abstraction, state, control flow, data abstraction, types, and inheritance) by writing interpreters that implement those concepts.
Prerequisite: CSC 207 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Osera
CSC 324 - Software Design and Development with Lab 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Provides a foundation for “programming in the large” and developing high-quality software that meets human needs. Introduces the software lifecycle, agile development methods, professional tools, and software design principles. Teams will develop software for a community organization, supported by a faculty adviser and an alumni technical mentor. Students develop a substantial code base suitable for inclusion in a professional portfolio and gain experience working with a client. Includes laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 207 .
Instructor: Rebelsky, Osera
CSC 326 - Software Development Leadership with Lab 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Students lead teams that develop software for a community organization, supported by a faculty adviser and an alumni technical mentor. Students will gain experience mentoring and coordinating peers while working with a client. Offered simultaneously with CSC-324. Students in this course serve as the leaders on the CSC-324 projects. Includes laboratory work.
Prerequisite: CSC 324 .
Instructor: Rebelsky, Osera
CSC 341 - Automata, Formal Languages, and Computational Complexity 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A formal study of computational devices, their related languages, and the possibility and difficulty of computations. Examples are pushdown automata and Turing machines, context-free languages and recursively enumerable sets, and the halting problem and NP-completeness.
Prerequisite: CSC 207 and either MAT 218 , or MAT 208 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Osera
CSC 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Applying Human-Computer Interaction Methods to Design for Societal Impact 4 credits (Spring)
In this course, students will use computer science skills to design, build, and study tools to foster using technology to solve societal problems and learn about research methods and topics in Human-Computer Interaction. The course will have three main components: 1) the study of key concepts regarding human computer interaction, 2) the design and development of software artifacts to serve personal and community needs, and 3) the discussion of a variety of research papers in Human-Computer Interaction.
Prerequisite: CSC 324 .
Instructor: Jimenez PazminoDigital Studies
DST 154 - The Evolution of Technology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See SMS 154 .
East Asian Studies
EAS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Classical Asia 4 credits (Fall)
See HIS 195-01 .
EAS 213 - Gender and Sexuality in East Asian Art 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ARH 213 .
EAS 215 - Collecting the “Orient” 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ARH 215 .
EAS 288 - Chinese Food for Thought 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See CHI 288 .
EAS 295-01 - Special Topic: Stateless in Shanghai: Jewish Voices from the Hongku Ghetto 4 credits (Spring)
See GRM 295-01 .
EAS 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Gender in Post-WWII East Asia 4 credits (Spring)
See GWS 395-02 .
ENG 295-01 - Special Topic: Miscegenation Nation: Representations of Mixed-Race Relationships in Film and TV 2 credits (Spring)
See HUM 295-02 .
Prerequisite: Second year standing.
Economics
ECN 111 - Introduction to Economics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A survey of the basic concepts and methods of analysis used in economics. Application to such policy problems as economic recession, inflation, regulation of industry, poverty and income distribution, financial crises, pollution, and trade restrictions.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ECN 205 - Current State of the U.S. Economy 4 credits
A study of current business conditions and key public policy problems in the United States. Analysis of the data reporting system and judgmental forecasting. Recent problems have included: inflation, the federal deficit, government regulation, energy, unemployment, and tax reform. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ECN 215 - Labor Economics 4 credits
An investigation into the political economy of labor markets. Consideration given to traditional supply and demand interactions, relations of authority between employers and employees and their influence on productivity, internal labor markets, labor market segmentation, the role of unions, racial differences, gender differences, and the effects of international competition on U.S. labor markets. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ferguson, Lee
ECN 220 - Foundations of Policy Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: PST 220 . This course explores principles of policy making, with applications. It opens by examining theoretical rationales for policy, including those premised on ideology or market failure. It proceeds to investigate institutional context and processes relevant to policy making, using case studies. With this foundation, the course explores specific policy problems and solutions related to important problem areas such as economic growth, health care, monetary policy, education, and environment. Students will be encouraged to investigate policy areas of interest for case studies and papers. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 and second-year standing.
Instructor: Ferguson
ECN 226 - Economics of Innovation 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the role of innovation in the economy. Topics include the process of innovation, drivers of innovation, intellectual property, the impact of innovation on firms, labor, economic growth, and inequality, and innovation policy. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: B. Graham
ECN 228 - Introduction to Managerial Economics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Managerial Economics presents a microeconomic approach to business decisions. The concepts and problems are analyzed from the perspective of the firm and the managers’ decisions. Emphasis is thus placed on the study of the production process and the analysis of interactions in markets, both with the customers and the rival firms. Topics include: managing in competitive, monopolistic, and oligopolistic markets; strategic interactions and game theory; pricing; information and market structure; and regulation and public policy.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: Montgomery
ECN 230 - Economic Development 4 credits
A survey of analytic approaches to the process of economic development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and an examination of their significant policy problems. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: McGavock
ECN 233 - International Economics 4 credits
An introduction to international trade theory, balance of payments concepts, and exchange rate determination. Topics include events, international institutions, and policies that affect trade, foreign investment, economic stability, and growth. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Utar
ECN 235 - Money and Banking 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the role of money, banking, and financial institutions in the economy. Topics include interest rate determination, money creation in the banking system, the role of Central Banks and monetary policy. Case studies on banking and financial crisis and policy responses will also be analyzed.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: Mao
ECN 236 - Health Economics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to health economics using basic economic theory to understand the implications of health-related markets and policies in the United States and abroad. This course will cover topics including health insurance, behavioral responses to health-related incentives, and determinants of access to health care services.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: Kelly
ECN 240 - Resource and Environmental Economics 4 credits
Investigation of the economics of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. Particular emphasis on the relationship between the biological and physical characteristics of particular resources and our economic choices. Consideration of selected current problems. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Brouhle
ECN 245 - Financial Economics 4 credits
This course examines the financial system’s role in the domestic and global economy. It surveys financial markets (e.g. common stock markets), players (e.g. investment companies), and instruments (e.g. options and futures contracts) with a focus on the underlying economic and regulatory forces that shape the financial system and its impact on the broader economy. Not intended for students who have previously taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Mehra
ECN 250 - Public Economics 4 credits
The economic role of government in an economy. Topics include the determination of the size and economic function of government, expenditure decisions and budgeting, the incidence and distributional effects of various taxes, and issues in state and local finance. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Brouhle, Ohrn
ECN 280 - Microeconomic Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An examination of the theoretical underpinnings of the economic system. The objective is to develop a theoretical framework with which to investigate the economic behavior of individual consumers, firms, and resource owners.
Prerequisite: MAT 124 or MAT 131 , second year standing and one additional economics course numbered between 205 and 250.
Instructor: Brouhle, McGavock
ECN 282 - Macroeconomic Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Analysis of economic aggregates, primarily national income and employment, through a theoretical framework. While current and historical real world examples will be used to illustrate concepts, the primary goal is the development of general tools that enable students to understand the behavior of a macroeconomy.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 .
Instructor: Mehra, Mao
ECN 286 - Econometrics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The use of statistical techniques to estimate and test economic models. Topics include multiple regression, multicollinearity, serial correlation, heteroskedasticity, simultaneous equations, limited dependent variables, and time series/forecasting.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 , second-year standing, and STA 209 , STA 309 , STA 310 , MAT 335 , or STA 335 . ECN 280 or ECN 282 recommended.
Instructor: Lee, Montgomery, Parker
ECN 295-01 - Special Topic: Economic History 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Economic history seeks to understand complex economic systems of the past and how they have changed over time. This course provides an introduction to the field, focusing on major transformations in economic organization, economic growth, standards of living, demographics, and technology in history. Topics may include the British industrial revolution, the great divergence, financial crises such as the global Great Depression, and the role of institutions. Not intended for students who have taken ECN 280 or ECN 282 .
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: Parker
ECN 295-02 - Special Topic: Industrial Organization 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the behavior of business firms in a variety of market environments and related government competition policies. Topics include the economics of oligopoly, mergers, monopolistic practices, collusion, technological change, antitrust policy, and regulation. We will develop models of behavior grounded in game theory and
consider many case studies of real-life industries ranging from automobiles to tech firms. Prior knowledge of game theory is not expected.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: B. Graham
ECN 295-03 - Special Topic: Behavioral Economics 4 credits (Spring)
This course provides an introduction to behavioral economics. In it, students will explore how and why individuals and firms make decisions that diverge from expected or “rational” behavior. To do so, students will incorporate psychological insights into economic models, study how heuristics and biases shape human decisions, and work to understand how nudges might overcome these biases in some settings.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 .
Instructor: Nandy
ECN 326 - Financial and Managerial Accounting 4 credits (Fall)
A case-based introduction to the principles of financial and managerial accounting. Although this is a first course in accounting, the level of coverage is advanced. Students work in teams and are responsible for their own learning and the learning of their colleagues. Open only to third-year students and seniors.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 .
Instructor: Ohrn
ECN 327 - Corporate Finance 4 credits (Spring)
An intense examination of the basics of theory and practice in corporate financial management. An understanding of intermediate microeconomics and financial accounting and comfort with applied mathematics are essential for success in this course.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 .
Instructor: Ohrn
ECN 329 - Advanced Econometrics 4 credits (Fall)
This course expands upon the econometrics background provided by ECN 286, exploring the underlying properties of the estimators and learning to program their calculation in STATA. We will use matrix algebra to derive and explore the properties of ordinary least squares, restricted least squares, generalized least squares, instrumental variables, and panel estimation. We will also learn to program STATA to calculate these estimators.
Prerequisite: ECN 286 .
Instructor: Montgomery
ECN 336 - Behavioral and Experimental Economics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In this course we will explore the ways in which individuals make decisions with a particular focus on deviations from the predictions of classical rational actor theory. This course will also give students firsthand experience designing economic experiments.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: L. Lee
ECN 338 - Applied Game Theory 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Game theory facilitates modeling strategic interaction among interdependent agents who share awareness of their interdependence. As such, it can generate analytical foundations for many relationships found in social and natural sciences. This course develops game theoretic modeling using visual representation and equations, with an emphasis on intuitive technique and direct application to examples primarily from economics and politics.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 , and MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Instructor: Ferguson, Staff
ECN 339 - Introduction to Mathematical Economics 4 credits
An introduction to mathematical models of economic behavior. Basic techniques in differential and integral calculus and linear algebra will be applied to a wide range of micro- and macroeconomic issues. Topics include comparative statics, optimization, and linear programming.
Prerequisite: MAT 133 , and ECN 280 and ECN 282 . MAT 215 is useful but not required.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ECN 366 - Seminar in Health Economics 4 credits
This seminar familiarizes students with topics related to healthcare and health disparities. Topics chosen from historical foundations of and legal landscapes around healthcare, demographic factors in healthcare such as aging, and behavioral and public health concerns. Students will be expected to learn much of the literature within this field as well as the econometric tools used to answer applied microeconomices questions within health.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Kelly
ECN 369 - Seminar in Environmental Economics 4 credits
This course will familiarize students with the theory and application of economics to environmental problems and prepare them to analyze issues in environmental economics and policy. It will focus on the design of cost-effective environmental policies and on methods for determining the value of environmental amenities.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Brouhle
ECN 370 - Seminar in Political Economy 4 credits
This course begins with the premise that many economic interactions are “political” in the sense that coalitions of participants, whose interests may differ, can influence important outcomes. The course will explore tendencies toward competition, cooperation, and conflict, and their relationship to constraints imposed by the forces of supply and demand, as they operate in various institutional arenas, such as labor markets or the national economy. The course will examine relevant theories of incomplete contracting under conditions of imperfect information with some attention to game theory, and then apply these concepts to contemporary problems concerning employment, economic growth, and the distribution of income and wealth.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 and ECN 282 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Ferguson
ECN 372 - Seminar in Economic Development 4 credits
Processes of growth and change in developing societies. Both theoretical and empirical modes of analysis introduced in the literature covered. Topics chosen from among population growth, agricultural development, industrialization, investment in human capital vs. physical capital, the balanced-unbalanced growth controversy, noneconomic factors in development and underdevelopment.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: McGavock
ECN 374 - Seminar in International Trade 4 credits
International trade theory and policy. Explanations of the pattern of trade, gains from trade, effects on income distribution, labor markets, industries and trends over time. Topics include operations of multinational corporations, offshoring, migration, trade negotiations and agreements, effects of trade policies and other current topics.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Utar
ECN 376 - Seminar in Income Distribution 4 credits
Examination of the distribution of income and wealth in the United States, covering conflicting explanations of economic inequality and policy debates. Topics include economic trends affecting U.S. workers, racial and sexual inequality, and poverty.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 and ECN 282 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Staff
ECN 378 - Seminar in Law and Economics 4 credits
This course considers the application of economic theory to the law and legal institutions, including property, contract, tort, and criminal law. We will investigate how legal rules influence economic incentives and the allocation of resources. Topics include liability and negligence assignment, uncertainty, allocation of property rights, bargaining, remedies, criminal deterrence, and the litigation process.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Graham
ECN 379 - Seminar in the Economics of Crime 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course is designed to increase student’s understanding of the determinants and consequences of criminality. We will explore all levels of crime and punishment from societies optimally choosing deterrence mechanisms to prisoners making behavioral decisions while incarcerated. Students should expect to learn a large portion of the literature regarding these issues as well as the econometric tools used in applied micro economics research.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 and ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Lee
ECN 380 - Seminar in Monetary Economics 4 credits
Analysis of how monetary and financial institutions affect the growth and stability of economies internationally. Examination of theoretical controversies and evidence about relations between money and the real sectors of economies, interactions between central banks, international monetary authorities, and currency flows, and financial aspects of the inflation process and economic stability. Study of the effects of current changes in financial intermediaries and structures.
Prerequisite: ECN 282 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Mao
ECN 384 - Seminar in the Economics of Education 4 credits
Education becomes increasingly important as the “information economy” replaces the old industrial economy. This course explores some questions that are global, others that are personal: is better education the solution to poverty? Is investment in human capital the key to a nation’s development? Can vouchers improve public schools? Is a Grinnell education a better investment than putting those thousands of tuition dollars into the stock market? Should you go to law school?
Prerequisite: ECN 280 and ECN 282 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ECN 388 - Seminar in Global Factor Movements 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course focuses on the movements of factors of production across countries, particularly labor migration and capital movements. We will cover theoretical frameworks, trends, and discuss empirical evidence related of the determinants and consequences of these flows in the origin and destination countries.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 , ECN 282 , and ECN 286 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Mehra
ECN 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Seminar in Corporate Taxation 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
In this course, students will learn about the effects of corporate taxation. To accomplish this goal, students will (1) use simple theoretical models to predict how economic actors will respond to corporate taxes, (2) learn how to use and evaluate the use of modern empirical techniques, (3) read and discuss contemporary economics journal articles, and (4) develop and explore a research question in the area of corporate taxation using modern empirical techniques.
Prerequisite: ECN 280 and ECN 286 .
Instructor: OhrnEducation
EDU 101 - Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course provides an overview of philosophical, historical, and sociological/anthropological perspectives on education with an emphasis on making connections between educational theories and schooling in the U.S. Special focus on practices that marginalize or disadvantage students. Ten hours of observation in schools required for all seeking licensure. Course required for Iowa teacher certification.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
EDU 102 - Introduction to Participant Observation in Schools 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course is designed to “pull back the curtain” on teaching by identifying some of the skills, micro-decisions, and epistemologies that comprise teacher practice. You will spend a minimum of 14 hours in local school classrooms, where you will practice taking field notes. Our seminar will prepare you to ask important questions about student learning, inclusion, and teacher preparation and introduce you to participant observation, a methodology that is central to educational research.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: EDU 101 .
Instructor: Michaels
EDU 115 - How to Learn Physics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: PHY 115 . An elective science course designed for students who might be interested in physics, but are a little mystified or intimidated by it. Students will use inquiry-based methods to study some basic concepts of physical science. The course also focuses on learning science as the refinement of everyday thinking. Occasional lectures will introduce a vocabulary to help students become more aware of everyday thinking and its subsequent refinement toward scientific understanding.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Hutchison
EDU 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Encountering Iowa: Writing in Place 2 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: WRT 195-01 . This course will use a place-based educational framework to engage with, explore, and write about Iowa-our place-in creative ways. A special focus in our course will be the telling or accounting of often-unheard perspectives in the overall story of Iowa: as a home, landscape, and place of encounter. To that end, an element of this course will be a community-engaged component, in which we will work with a Des Moines-based non-profit organization that uses the visual and other creative arts for community empowerment and healing from trauma.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Jakubiak, D. Perez
EDU 210 - Historical Perspectives on U.S. Education 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: HIS 210 . Three questions guide our study of the history of U.S. education: (1) Whose interests should schools serve and whose interests have they served in the past? (2) What should be taught and why? and (3) How should schools be organized and operated? We explore current educational issues (e.g. resegregation, immigrant education, tracking, secularism, and homeschooling) through an historical lens that considers the ideologies and assumptions embedded in the institutions and policies of the U.S. school system.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Michaels
EDU 211 - The Politics of Educational Assessment 4 credits (Spring)
The course will begin with an examination of the purposes and limits of assessment and discussions of the ethical use of standardized tests. We will examine the concept of meritocracy as a guiding principle of the American education system and will trace the historical development of standardized measurements of intelligence and aptitude as tools used to track students and determine eligibility for further schooling. We will include an analysis of the current national debate on the K–12 education.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: P. Hutchison
EDU 212 - Critical Pedagogy and School Reform 4 credits (Fall)
This course is a study of critical pedagogy from its roots in Marxism and the Frankfurt School through current-day theoretical connections (postmodernism, critical theory, critical feminism, and critical race theory) and their relevance to American public education. We will examine the dual character of schools that helps to explain some difficulties of school reform; that is, the democratic promise of schooling on the one hand, and its institutional service to a society based on race, class, and gender privilege on the other.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
EDU 213 - Cultural Politics of Language Teaching 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will focus primarily on issues critical to the teaching and learning of English in the United States and abroad. Concepts of language ideology, personal identity, and international development will be used as analytical frames for examining language policy, language instruction, and language shift. Multilingualism, the needs of U.S. English language learners, and the politics of heritage language maintenance will also be examined. This course fills a 200-level course elective for the Linguistics Concentration. This course is required for a teacher licensure candidate earning the ESL endorsement.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Jakubiak
EDU 214 - Critical Literacy for Diverse Learners 4 credits (Fall)
This course will examine literacy and literacy education from historical, theoretical, critical, and pedagogical perspectives. Guiding questions include: How do schools define literacy? To what extent do schools draw upon variously situated students’ home-based and community-based literacy practices? How do students acquire literacy in a second language if they do not possess literacy in their primary home language? What is the relation between critical literacy practices (e.g., media literacy, new literacies) and school-based, academic literacy?
Prerequisite: EDU 101 .
Instructor: Jakubiak, Jones
EDU 215 - Reading and Writing Youth and Youth Culture 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ENG 215 . The course will have a dual focus: (1) an examination and critique of the dominant narrative of adolescence enacted through educational, legal, and medical institutions with the aim of exploring how these constructions enable or constrain young people from developing as autonomous and critical adults, (2) and the use of various critical approaches to analyze texts written for young adults to uncover assumptions about what adolescence is and how young people themselves should encounter the world.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 or ENG 120 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Jones
EDU 217 - Comparative and International Education 4 credits (Spring)
Education can be a vehicle for world peace, reducing poverty and creating greater equality in the world. Or such is the claim of a multitude of education projects funded by grassroots initiatives and transnational organizations, including UNESCO, the World Bank, and nongovernment organizations (NGOs). In this course we learn to evaluate transnational education projects against their stated and implied goals, while considering their impact on local economies, communities, and education systems. We also investigate how globalization and democratization implicate education in broadscale changes. Student interests influence the countries we use in our case studies.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 or second-year standing.
Note: Foreign language option available in any language.
Instructor: Michaels
EDU 218 - Place-Based Education 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will address issues salient to place-based education, an educational philosophy that construes local communities (environmental and social), indigenous knowledge practices, and service-learning as the curricular building blocks of education defined broadly. Readings will include works addressing ecojustice, the broader social purposes of education, and the politics of place. Globalization and its intersections with notions of “the local” will also be a focus.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Jakubiak
EDU 221 - Educational Psychology 4 credits (Spring)
The application of theories of learning and principles of development in formal instructional environments. Topics include behavioral, cognitive, and sociocultural theories of learning, motivation, several developmental theories relevant to teaching and learning, and assessment theory. Course requires 26 hours (2 hours per week) observing/teaching in a K-12 classroom. Required for Iowa Teaching Licensure.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 and at least second-year standing.
Instructor: P. Hutchison
EDU 250 - Differentiating Instruction for All Students 4 credits (Fall)
This course aims to help future teachers develop ethical and effective approaches for meeting all students’ learning needs, using a critical model of inclusion based on a disability studies framework. The course will center on two key activities: a case study at the middle or high school, and the peer lessons developed using approaches that help all students learn more effectively. The case study will require that students spend 2 hours per week (26 hours) in the school observing, tutoring, and talking with students. In the course, students will develop research skills to improve their own teaching and will analyze how particular students learn, how teachers adapt instruction to meet a wide range of student learning needs, and how schools organize curricular paths for students. Required for Iowa Teaching Licensure.
Prerequisite: EDU 101 and EDU 221 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Jakubiak
EDU 301 - Teaching and Tutoring Writing 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
See WRT 301 .
EDU 340 - Research and Methods in Teaching the Young Adult 4 credits (Spring)
This course is taken with a complementary disciplinary specific methods course. Students will analyze and experiment with a variety of critical approaches to texts, will review and evaluate teaching materials, and will explore alternative means of evaluation of all the types of learning that should be happening in a classroom. Students will practice planning engaging lessons, assessing in fair and constructive ways, and developing effective classroom management approaches. Twenty (20) hours of observation in 5-12 public school setting. Required for Iowa Teaching Licensure.
Co-requisite: EDU 341 , EDU 342 , EDU 343 , EDU 344 , EDU 345 , or EDU 346 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: Staff
EDU 341 - Research and Methods in the Teaching of Language Arts and Reading 2 credits (Spring)
This course complements the general methods course. Students will develop a practical theory of teaching English/language arts, one that synthesizes what they have learned about excellent, ethical teaching. Students will choose curriculum and design specific approaches for use in the middle or high school as they investigate the purposes for teaching English and theorize about how to best engage students in critical reading, writing, viewing, and speaking.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: Jones
EDU 342 - Research and Methods in the Teaching and Learning of World Languages 2 credits (Spring)
This course complements the general methods course and provides an introduction to theories in and teaching of world languages. We will analyze theories of language acquisition and pedagogies that grow out of those theories, and evaluate theories of the “best” pedagogy for teaching a new language. We will discuss how to integrate the sometimes opposing theories of ethical and effective teaching practices. Students will have an opportunity to practice teach.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: Jakubiak
EDU 343 - Research and Methods in Teaching and Learning in the Social Studies 2 credits (Spring)
This course complements the general methods course. Becoming a teacher of the social sciences requires students to think about what they are teaching, whom they are teaching, and how they will teach. The work in this course is structured to provide students with the tools to answer those questions and to teach effectively for student understanding.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: Staff
EDU 344 - Research and Methods in Teaching and Learning in the Mathematics 2 credits (Spring)
This course is a study of strategies, techniques, materials, technology, and current research used in the teaching of mathematical concepts to middle and high school students. Students will review the standards involved in teaching mathematics at the secondary school level; develop an awareness of the professional resources, materials, technology and information available for teachers; prepare unit and lesson plans with related assessment procedures on a variety of topics; and acquire teaching experience.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: P. Hutchison
EDU 345 - Research and Methods in Teaching and Learning in the Sciences 2 credits (Spring)
This course is a study of strategies, techniques, materials, technology, and current research used in the teaching of science concepts to middle and high school students. Students will review the standards involved in teaching sciences at the secondary school level; develop an awareness of the professional resources, materials, technology and information available for teachers; prepare unit and lesson plans with related assessment procedures on a variety of topics; and acquire teaching experience.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: P. Hutchison
EDU 346 - Research and Methods in Teaching and Learning ESL/Bilingual Education 2 credits (Fall)
This course is a complement to the general methods course, EDU 340 . It will provide prospective ESL practitioners with the methodologies necessary to develop into successful and thoughtful teachers. We will examine past and current approaches, methods, and techniques for teaching ESL. Students will explore the political and cultural implications for teaching ESL in the United States K- 12 schools.
Co-requisite: EDU 340 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , and EDU 250 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 .
Instructor: Jakubiak
EDU 357 - Feminist Educations 4 credits (Spring)
See GWS 357 .
Instructor: Beauboeuf
EDU 460 - Seminar in Teaching the Young Adult 4 credits (Fall)
This course is a complement to the student teaching internship and is designed to provide students with a structured way of making connections between teaching theory and practice. We will conduct weekly seminar meetings aimed at two purposes: 1) to develop a problem-posing, relective approach to teaching challenges, and 2) to support the design, implementation and presentation of an action research project.
Co-requisite: EDU 469 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , EDU 250 and EDU 340 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 , EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 or EDU 218 ; and EDU 341 , EDU 342 , EDU 343 , EDU 344 , EDU 345 , or EDU 346 .
Instructor: Staff
EDU 469 - Student Teaching Internship in The Disciplines 8 credits (Fall)
This internship is the culminating experience for the student teaching program and provides a vehicle for systematic practice of our program goals and the program standards they encompass. This carefully mentored 14-week internship begins as soon as the school to which you are assigned begins its school year. Equivalent to a full-time job for the 14 weeks you are working in the schools, the internship commits you to over 600 hours of work.
Co-requisite: EDU 460 .
Prerequisite: EDU 101 , EDU 221 , EDU 250 and EDU 340 ; and EDU 210 , EDU 211 , EDU 212 , EDU 213 ,EDU 214 , EDU 215 , EDU 217 , or EDU 218 ; and EDU 341 , EDU 342 , EDU 343 , EDU 344 , EDU 345 , or EDU 346 .
S/D/F only
Instructor: StaffEnglish
ENG 120 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to the methods and pleasures of literary analysis focusing on skills needed to practice close reading and explication of texts and emphasizing the rich complexities of literary language. Although individual sections vary in genres considered, all prepare students for further work in poetry and prose. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 120-01 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
“Fairy Tales, Folklore and Fables.” Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel - who created these fairy tales, and to whom were they told? What are they about, and why have they survived to the present day? And what is their hidden, secret meaning? To answer these questions, we will read and interpret several well-known tales from the collection of the Brothers Grimm, but we will also look at how they are told today, for instance in Disney movies. To deepen our understanding of this evolving heritage, we will familiarize ourselves with various interpretive approaches of historians, folklorists, psychologists, and anthropologists.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Lavan
ENG 120-01 & 02 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
This is Hell. This section invites participants to a tour of Hell, in all its names and analogues. In particular, the course will focus on Hell’s aesthetic dimensions from multiple literary perspectives to sample some of the most striking representations of this sometimes physical, sometimes existential “state” in the fields of literature, the visual arts, and the performing arts from the nonmodern to the present period. We will reflect on these imaginative renderings’ salient features and artistic merits, as well as gauge their impacts on audiences and critics past and present. Enlisting the aid of literary theory and practicing literary analysis, we will elaborate on the anthropological, philosophical, and ethical codes embedded in Hell’s artistic expressions, and will attempt to come to terms with its justice system. Given the conditions of its inmates, who may or may not earn our sympathy, contempt, or admiration, we may ask: Is Hell a moral space? What are its rules? How has it developed across cultures and evolved over time? What does it mean for artists to represent Hell in an aesthetically beautiful way, provided they do so?
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Abdelkarim
ENG 120-02 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
This course introduces students to analytical reading, thinking, and writing. We will begin by looking at critical and theoretical approaches to a single novel (E. Bronte’s Wuthering Heights) and then turn to short fiction, poetry, and drama (Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night), building on what we have learned while focusing on genre-specific vocabulary and strategies of interpretation. Graded assignments will include short writing assignments and three papers.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: C. Jacobson
ENG 120-03 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
In this course we will read travel writing by novelists, journalists, and explorers in different historical periods. Before the great upsurge in tourism in nineteenth-century Europe, travelers who ventured across the seas in search of trading opportunities or on journeys of exploration recounted tales of different people and their cultures, which are satirized in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. We will begin with the poetic journeys of William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson, W.B. Yeats, and Derek Walcott, which range over continents, cultures, geographies, and postcolonial histories. Travel becomes a personal quest for identity in M. Scott Momaday’s “The Way to Rainy Mountain” or an existential journey in Flannery O’ Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” If Jamaica Kincaid’s satirizes tourists in A Small Place, Salman Rushdie directs us to a journey that reflects on the meaning of artistic and political freedom in Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Teju Cole’s Open City is a contemporary meditation on layered and palimpsestic histories of New York seen through the eyes of its migrant protagonist.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Kapila
ENG 120-04 - Literary Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Globalization and Modernity in Anglophone World Literature. What, exactly, is literature? What determines if it is good? How can we engage its richness with rigor and joy? Through our study of post-1900 prose, poetry, plays, radio programs, and film, this course will introduce you to techniques for literary analysis and master the tools needed to craft well-argued written critiques. In turn, we will work with supplemental materials such as book reviews, critical essays, interviews, newspapers, and digital sources to situate literary texts in their cultural, economic, and socio-historical context. Part of this exploration will involve a foray into the field of literary theory which examines how currents in political, social, and philosophical thought alter the way writers perceive their worlds and in turn affect the style of writing they use to represent it. We will consider work by E. M. Forster, Langston Hughes, Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Woolf, Sergei Eisenstein, Mulk Raj Anand, Una Marson, Wole Soyinka, Catherine Mansfield, Lu Xun, Bertolt Brecht, and Naguib Mahfouz.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Sutaria
ENG 121 - Introduction to Shakespeare 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A close study of representative plays from each period of Shakespeare’s career, including comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Simpson, Garrison
ENG 121-01 & 02 - Introduction to Shakespeare 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Globe’s Shakespeare. Everyone’s heard of Shakespeare’s Globe, the theater he wrote for: the name already tells you a lot about how he thought about the plays being performed there and what they could do. Four hundred years later, the names are reversed: Shakespeare now belongs to the globe, with his plays produced and adapted in virtually every corner of our world. Yet that dissemination raises important questions, which this class will take up. To what extent are reproductions and inspired works meant to convey the “real” Shakespeare, and to what extent is “Shakespeare” a kind of language other cultures can use to tell their own stories? Do we learn about the past or the present in studying Shakespeare, and how does his global reception change that question? We will read five pairs of plays with contemporary works adapting or inspired by them, from around the world. Our goal is to investigate the plays for what they can tell us about what the “globe” meant in Shakespeare’s day and our own, and the ways this increasingly-important concept is inflected by gender, race, nation, language, and medium. Students will write a midterm and a final paper, as well as several short writing assignments.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Fall - section - 01
Spring - sections 01 & 02
Instructor: Likert
ENG 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Just Following Up: An Introduction to Freelance Journalism 2 credits (Fall)
Journalism isn’t dying, but the newsroom might be. Employment at U.S. newspapers has dropped by nearly half since 2008; luckily, that isn’t the only career path available to journalists. Freelance journalists find their own stories, set their own hours and work from wherever they want. Of course, they also have to file quarterly taxes, chase down late payments, and be their own best (and sometimes only) advocate. This course will cover the practicalities of freelancing, from how to identify stories to building a platform on social media, as well as how to use those tools to build a more ethical, diverse and sustainable future for the profession. It’s an overview of everything you’ll need to start out as a freelance journalist–other than the writing part. This course is sponsored by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: September 5 to October 5. Short course deadlines apply.
Instructor: Kunkel
ENG 204 - The Craft of Argument 4 credits (Spring)
Advanced course in argumentative or analytical writing with particular attention to style.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Arner
ENG 205 - The Craft of Fiction 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Instruction in the techniques and process of fiction writing, with emphasis on the short story. Readings may include published short stories and essays on the art of fiction. Students may also be asked to write in forms related to fiction (journal, autobiography, prose poem).
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 .
Instructor: Smith, Bakopoulos, Nutting, Sanchez
ENG 206 - The Craft of Poetry 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Instruction in the techniques and process of verse writing. Readings may include published poems and essays on the art of poetry.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 .
Instructor: Phan, Savarese
ENG 207 - Craft of Creative Nonfiction 4 credits (Spring)
In this course, we will acquaint ourselves with the genre of creative nonfiction, sampling a range of the myriad possibilities it presents: the personal essay, the political essay, nature writing, memoir, travel writing, literary journalism, biographical profile. We will read exemplary models and try our hands at each.
Prerequisite: ENG 205 or ENG 206
Instructor: Bakopoulos, Savarese
ENG 210 - Studies in Genre 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Intensive study of a particular genre. May include the study of lyric, epic, or narrative poetry; or novel, graphic novel, short story or drama. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; or for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 210-01 - Studies in Genre 4 credits (Spring)
“Diaries and Journals.” Kept by a wide variety of people through the ages, this resilient form of writing occupies an ambiguous realm between literary text and historical source, between unspoken thought and public record, and in an elastic “now” between past and future. Is the diarist a disembodied self, or does the experience lived out in one’s body matter on the page? Has a conventional style of diary-writing developed, and if so, what are its features? Do people keep diaries now for the same reasons as other diarists did in the past? We will read influential theories of the genre, examine stylistic and narrative conventions in published and unpublished samples, and conduct a few experiments with diaries of our own.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors, for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Smith
ENG 215 - Reading and Writing Youth and Youth Culture 4 credits (Spring)
See EDU 215 .
ENG 223 - The Tradition of English Literature I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of English literature from Old English to the early 17th century; may include such works as Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Faerie Queene, and Paradise Lost. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abdelkarim, Arner, Garrison
ENG 223-01 - The Tradition of English Literature I 4 credits (Fall)
In this discussion-heavy lecture, we sample the “greatest hits” of English literature between the 7th and 17th centuries, including the oldest English poems, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and sonnets galore, from Spenser’s to Donne’s to those of Lady Wroth. We’ll treat these timeless texts to close and distant readings both in order to identify and articulate those features that have led to their rude survival over centuries, and to gauge their value in and relevance to our present world.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abbelkarim
ENG 223-01 - The Tradition of English Literature I 4 credits (Spring)
This class surveys the “greatest hits” of British literature from its inception to the mid-seventeenth century, Beowulf to Paradise Lost. These are the formative years for England as a nation as well as literature as a category, and the class will outline the ways these two concepts are related, and even help to create each other. In particular, we will track the motif of “the encounter,” as the fledgling British literature attempted to solidify a national tradition in dialogue with the many changes rocking the island country, including colonial expansion, scientific shifts, religious and political upheaval, and the discovery of ancient texts. So often this literature stages a charged scene of encounter which highlights the precarity of individual and national identity, from Beowulf and Grendel to Prospero and Caliban to Milton’s Adam and his not-quite-mirror Eve. We pay special attention to the way genre structures these encounters, from the epic poem to the chivalric romance to the sonnet. Students can expect short writing assignments keyed to a particular skill in literary analysis, as well as a midterm and a final essay.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Likert
ENG 224 - The Tradition of English Literature II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of English literature from the Restoration through the Victorians; may include such authors as Behn, Defoe, Swift, Wordsworth, Shelley, Austen, George Eliot, and Dickens. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 , or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Simpson
ENG 224-01 - The Tradition of English Literature II 4 credits (Spring)
This course will offer a grounding in both major and representative British works of literature from the Restoration through the nineteenth century and may include works by Aphra Behn, Jonathan Swift, William Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Christina Rossetti, and Oscar Wilder, among others. We will discuss these texts in the context of the social changes occurring during this period, paying particular attention to gender and sexuality, the rise of the British Empire, the writers’ relationship to the natural world, and changes in literary style. Students will write two papers, complete several short assignments, and offer regular written responses that will inform class discussions.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: C. Jacobson
ENG 225 - Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures 4 credits (Fall)
An introduction to postcolonial literatures and theory from the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Kapila, Sutaria
ENG 225-01 - Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures 4 credits (Fall)
“The Sea is History”: Walcott’s famous poem was ahead of its time in recognizing that oceans, sea-voyages, colonial trade, the histories of indenture and slavery, ideas about ‘discovery,’ maritime conflicts, privateering and smuggling connect different parts of the world and are a rich repository of stories. Much of what lay outside the boundaries of empires and nations was also the site of challenges to literary, historical, and political understandings of the world in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Our postcolonial approaches to literature and theory will be framed by critical essays by among others, Ngugi wa Thiongo and Ella Shohat. Literary texts for the course will include Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Aime Cesaire’s A Tempest, Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea, selections from Derek Walcott’s Omeros, and Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Kapila
ENG 226 - The Tradition of English Literature III 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of English literature of the 20th century; may include such authors as Joyce, Woolf, Beckett, Orwell, Eliot, Winterson, Kureishi, and Walcott. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Kapila, Simpson
ENG 227 - American Literary Traditions I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of American literature from Columbus to 1830; may include such authors as Columbus, Ralegh, Bradstreet, Rowlandson, Franklin, Rowson, Irving, Bryant, and Cooper. Features works from a variety of genres, including Native American myths, travel and promotional narratives, journals, poetry, fiction, nonfiction prose, and maps. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Andrews
ENG 227-01 - American Literary Traditions I 4 credits (Fall)
American Gothic: From a City on a Hill to the Sunken Place. This course foregrounds the impact that slavery and the violence directed against Native Americans in the settlement of the frontier has had on our national literary culture, with particular attention focused on what is called “American gothic.” Being mindful of the intersections of race, class, religion, gender and sexuality, we will explore the personifications and demonizations-literary, legal and political-that haunt the clearings in which violence and slave labor were so often instrumental. In addition to focusing on novels by Charles Brockden Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Stephen King, we will also read works by Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson, Phillis Wheatley, Harriet Jacobs, Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. The course concludes with the viewing of two films: Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic version of The Shining (1980), and Jordan Peele’s more recent exploration of race in Get Out (2017). Grades will be based on class discussion, collaborative presentations, several short responses and three medium-length papers.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Andrews
ENG 228 - American Literary Traditions II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of American literature from 1830 to 1893; may include such authors as Emerson, Melville, Whitman, Dickinson, Twain, James, Chopin, Chesnutt, and Zitkala-Sa. Features works from a variety of genres including fiction, poetry, nonfiction prose, and drama. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Andrews
ENG 229 - The Tradition of African American Literature 4 credits (Fall)
The emergence and growth of African American literature from slavery to the present. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lavan
ENG 229-01 - The Tradition of African American Literature 4 credits (Spring)
“Slavery and its Afterlives.” In her book Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route (2007), Saidiya Hartman introduces the idea of slavery and its afterlives: If slavery persists as an issue in the political life of black America, it is not because of an antiquarian obsession with bygone days or the burden of a too-long memory, but because black lives are still imperiled and devalued by a racial calculus and a political arithmetic that were entrenched centuries ago. This is the afterlife of slavery–skewed life chances, limited access to health and education, premature death, incarceration, and impoverishment (6). It is these afterlives upon which we will focus in the course: The United States’ persistent clinging to inequality and the African American literary response. In African American literature, the contexts inform the texts. We’ll study this relationship throughout the course. In the wake of a burgeoning output of books, TV shows and films about slavery, we’ll ask why it seems that America is more obsessed with depictions of enslavement now than ever before. Along the way, we’ll scrutinize social media campaigns such as #NotAnotherSlaveMovie, analyze essays from Toni Morrison, Christina Sharpe, and more, and read texts from The Norton Anthology of African American literature in order to gain insight regarding genre, canon and culture that will carry us through the course. In all readings we will discuss the ways in which African/Negro/Black/African American writers use the written word as activism in the fight for full enfranchisement.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Lavan
ENG 230 - English Historical Linguistics 4 credits (Spring)
Study of the history of the English language through examination of phonological, grammatical, and semantic changes in the language from Old English to Middle English to Modern English with attention to “external” history.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Arner
ENG 231 - American Literary Traditions III 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of American literature from 1893 to today; may include such authors as Crane, Eliot, Faulkner, Hurston, Plath, DeLillo, and Morrison. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 231-01 - American Literary Traditions III 4 credits (Spring)
“American Nature: Environmental Literatures of the U.S. from Silent Spring to Standing Rock.” This course aims to provide a survey of environmental literature in the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries, with special focus on environmental justice. We will consider how writers represent, reckon with, and challenge issues of wilderness, nature, toxicity, climate change, and environmental racism. We will ask what might be the role of the “environmental imagination,” to invoke the ecocritic Lawrence Buell, in the struggle for a more equitable and ecologically just world? Authors include, among others, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Annie Dillard, Wendell Berry, Rebecca Solnit, Barry Lopez, Arthur Sze, Jesmyn Ward, and Layli Long Soldier. In addition to ecocritical approaches to literary study, there will be opportunities to create literary journalism and personal essays, to take field notes outdoors, learning to see and read what is around us in new ways.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Phan
ENG 232 - Ethnic American Literatures 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of the major traditions of American ethnic literatures. Features works from a variety of genres including fiction, poetry, nonfiction prose, and drama. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Phan
ENG 232-01 - Traditions of Ethnic American Literature 4 credits (Fall)
The Colors of Nature: Race, Place, and the Environmental Imagination. This course will examine the centrality of nature and the environment in literature by ethnic American writers in the 20th and 21st centuries. We’ll consider how writers of color bear witness to the perceived and real ways in which nature and the environment are racialized in America, redefining and expanding our notions of “nature writing.” Our inquiry will be guided by underlying questions such as: How have representations of nature, land, or the environment communicated particular ideas about race and racial categories? How have Black, Native American, Latina/o and Asian American writers explored the constructions of race and nature in their literary and cultural productions? What is the place of joy, bewilderment, and wonder in landscapes defined by environmental racism and climate crisis? We’ll turn to 20th and 21st works of fiction, prose, essays, and graphic memoir by writers such as: Louise Erdrich, bell hooks, Miné Okubo, Francisco X. Alarcón, Camille T. Dungy, Arthur Sze, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Ross Gay, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Francisco Cant , and Lauret Savoy.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Instructor: Phan
ENG 240 - Lighting the Page: Digital Methods in Literary Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
How do you write an interactive short story? How do machines read and write? And how do humans and machines read and write together? Students in this course learn about electronic literature and digital literary studies, using digital tools to develop skills in creative and scholarly reading and writing. The class begins with electronic literature. After reading works of e-lit such as Szilak and Tsibouski’s Queerskins: A Novel and Ana María Uribe’s Tipoemas y Anipoemas, students use digital tools to create their own works. The class then takes up computer-aided textual analysis. This part of the class combines literary texts, critical readings in the digital humanities, and hands-on programming exercises. Students will also use digital tools to analyze and revise their own writing. Assignments will include individual and group projects using digital tools and methods. No technical skills are required, but willingness to gain them is fundamental to the course.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors ENG 120 or ENG 121 , or third-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Simpson
ENG 273 - Transnational and Postcolonial Feminisms 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of critical debates in global, transnational and Postcolonial feminisms. This introductory course will include literary, historical, and theoretical texts which study the progress of feminism in the global south in conjunction with but also often in opposition to the Euro-American world. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 , ENG 121 , GWS 111 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Kapila
ENG 273-01 - Transnational and Postcolonial Feminisms 4 credits (Fall)
Feminisms are now understood and multiple and complex, intersecting with race, sexuality, nationality, region, religion, and economic strata. Postcolonial theory, globalization theory, and the study of political economy have transformed our understanding of feminist concerns and projects in different parts of the world. In this course we will study theoretical and literary texts to understand the challenges and possibilities of transnational feminism. The course will explore themes of migration, borderlands, embodiment, and ecofeminism among others. Readings for the course come from different parts of the global South and minority communities in the North-Mexico, Bangladesh, ‘Rhodesia,’ the Caribbean, India, and parts of the United States-and will include writings by Chandra Mohanty, Lila Abu-Lughod, Uma Narayan, Aniruddha Dutta, Gloria Anzaldua’s Borderlands, Linda Hogan’s Solar Storms, Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy, and selections from Revathi’s The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 , ENG 121 , GWS 111 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Kapila
ENG 274 - Sex, Gender, and Critical Theory 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Study of the critical debates in the construction of gender and sexuality, and how these debates have shaped, and been shaped by contemporary feminist and queer theory. This course will familiarize students with a range of critical theories that have transformed the study of sexuality and gender in recent decades-psychoanalysis, structuralism, post-structuralism, deconstruction and postmodernism. We will read key figures in theories of sex and gender, including Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, and Gayle Rubin.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 , ENG 121 , GWS 111 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 290 - Introduction to Literary Theory 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Survey of Critical debates in history of literary theory and criticism from Plato to Butler. For purposes of practical application, readings may also include selected fiction, poetry, and drama. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 or ENG 121 for majors; for non-majors, ENG 120 or ENG 121 or third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 303 - Chaucer 4 credits (Spring)
Study of Chaucer’s poetry in Middle English. Option of doing some reading in Latin, Italian, or French. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Abdelkarim, Arner
ENG 310 - Studies in Shakespeare 4 credits (Fall)
An intensive study of three or four plays from various approaches, such as sources, imagery, and critical and theatrical traditions. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 121 . ENG 223 and ENG 224 strongly recommended.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Garrison
ENG 314 - Milton 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive study of Milton’s poetry and selected prose with emphasis on Paradise Lost, on Milton’s place in the epic tradition, and on Milton’s reputation in English poetry. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Garrison
ENG 316 - Studies in English Renaissance Literature 4 credits (Spring)
An intensive study of a group of related authors, a mode, or a genre from the period 1500–1600. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Garrison
ENG 316-01 - Studies in English Renaissance Literature 4 credits (Fall)
The Origins of Character. We now take it for granted that a literary character is more or less like a person, who develops and grows through experience over time, experience which it is literature’s job to represent. This seminar has two goals: to show how profoundly alien that concept is - of personal growth through time, even personal identity at all in our modern individualistic sense - to the Renaissance, and to track the historical, philosophical, and narrative forces through which it came to seem possible, even necessary. Our guide through the hundred years of character innovation between Spenser and Behn will be genre: how do comedy, tragedy, allegory, romance, and lyric conceive of character, and is there any common denominator between them? Does anything change or stay the same through time? How are these genres inflected by the massive religious, political, and scientific changes sweeping England over the seventeenth century? How do race, gender, and class inflect the presentation of character? Students will complete, in several stages, a research essay making a genuine contribution to our topic.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Likert
ENG 323 - Studies in English Literature: 1660–1798 4 credits (Spring)
Intensive study of Restoration and 18th-century literature with a focus on specific themes and genres. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 , ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 227 , or ENG 228 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Simpson
ENG 325 - Studies in Ethnic American Literatures 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Intensive study of important authors, movements, or trends in American ethnic literatures. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Phan
ENG 325-01 - Studies in Ethnic American Literatures 4 credits (Spring)
Translation Matters: The Task of the Ethnic American Writer. In this seminar, we will explore the literary, linguistic, and cultural matters of translation in ethnic American literature and examine how and why translation matters for reconceptualizing the relationship between “the ethnic” and “the American.” Drawing on the insights of translation theory, from Walter Benjamin’s “The Task of the Translator” to recent critical interventions by Lawrence Venuti, Gayatri Spivak, and Emily Apter, we will consider questions concerning the complex interplay between language, culture, and identity. Authors will likely include: Jhumpa Lahiri, Maxine Hong Kingston, Richard Rodriguez, Gloria Anzuldua, Aleksandr Hemon, Leslie Marmon Silko, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Eduardo C. Corral, amongst others. For the final project, students will have the option of writing a longer research paper on a specific matter of translation in ethnic American literature or producing their own translation of a literary work, accompanied by a critical introduction. Students will be encouraged to read, think, and write across disciplinary boundaries, drawing on their own foreign language knowledge, academic studies, and cultural backgrounds-in short, to translate in their own terms what it means to be American, ethnic and otherwise.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Instructor: Phan
ENG 326 - Studies in American Poetry I 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive study of important poets, movements, or trends in 19th-century American poetry. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andrews, Savarese
ENG 326-01 - Studies in American Poetry I 4 credits (Fall)
“Affectionate Absorption: The Case of Whitman and Dickinson.” Walt Whitman concludes his preface to the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass with the proposition that “the proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.” These days few would argue that Whitman and Dickinson have not been “affectionately absorbed” by American literary culture. Such was not always the case, however. During the period when Whitman and Dickinson were producing the bulk of their work, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was arguably the most dominant literary figure in America. What happened? This course will explore the question of cultural absorption and the extent to which the form and content of Whitman’s and Dickinson’s poetry helped effect a shift in literary value during the twentieth century (earlier for Whitman, later for Dickinson). Analysis of work by Whitman, Dickinson, Melville, Emerson, Longfellow, and Frances Harper will help situate us within their nineteenth century literary context, and these will be followed by more recent works that may include poems or critical essays by Allen Ginsberg, Adrienne Rich, Derek Walcott, June Jordan, Susan Howe, Martin Espada, Mark Doty, and Heather McHugh. During the second half of the semester, we will focus on three specific cases in which the impact of Whitman or Dickinson on 20th century literary concerns is especially acute: the inaugural issue of Poetry magazine (1912); the publication of Howl (1955); and the publication of the Facsimile Edition of Dickinson’s poems (1981). We will conclude with a series of discussions on the politics of methodology and classroom practice in relation to the poetics of identity. Grade to be determined by class discussion, two short papers, a group presentation, and a 15-page research paper.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 . The instructor will give serious consideration to students who have had ENG 206 .
Instructor: Andrews
ENG 327 - The Romantics 4 credits (Fall)
Study of major figures in English literature from 1798 to 1830, with attention to Romantic theories of poetry. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 , ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 227 , or ENG 228 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Simpson
ENG 328 - Studies in American Poetry II 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive study of important poets, movements, or trends in 20th-century American poetry. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andrews, Savarese
ENG 329 - Studies in African American Literature 4 credits
Intensive study of an African American literary genre, movement, author, or a group of related authors. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 225 , ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lavan
ENG 329-01 - Studies in African American Literature 4 credits (Fall)
“Bodyminds Reimagined.” In an interview in the African-American Review, speculative fiction writer Nalo Hopkinson asserts that “science fiction has always been a subversive literature” because it forces the reader to “think twice and thrice about a whole bunch of things in relation to each other: sexuality, race, class, color, history.” Similarly, in her new book Bodyminds Reimagined, Sami Schalk “traces how black women’s speculative fiction complicates the understanding of bodyminds-the intertwinement of the mental and the physical-in the context of race, gender, and (dis)ability.” Using these frameworks as entry points, we will explore the following questions: is there a distinct tradition of Black speculative fiction? How might a culture that has, in Hopkinson’s words, “been on the receiving end of the colonization glorified in some science fiction” negotiate and politicize the genre? Does Black speculative fiction (defined here to encompass science fiction, fantasy, cyberpunk, Afro-futurism etc.) cause one, in fact, “to think twice and thrice” about race, class, and sexuality? Finally, does the tradition challenge our basic assumptions of identity, or does it ultimately work to normalize them? We will examine how black writers, filmmakers and musicians have used speculative methods to defamiliarize our assumptions regarding “familiar” social issues such as race, class, gender, and disability.
Prerequisite: ENG 225 , ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lavan
ENG 330 - Studies in American Prose I 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive study of important writers, movements, or trends in 19th-century American prose. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Andrews, Savarese
ENG 331 - Studies in American Prose II 4 credits (Spring)
Intensive study of important writers, movements, or trends in 20th-century American prose. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 332 - The Victorians 4 credits (Fall)
Study of major British writers from 1830 to 1900, with emphasis on distinctive approaches to common artistic, intellectual, and social problems. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 , ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 227 , or ENG 228 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Jacobson, Simpson
ENG 337 - The British Novel I 4 credits (Spring)
Historical development of the British novel, formal evolution, methods of publication, and the relation of novels to their cultures. Through the early Dickens (e.g., Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Sterne, Jane Austen, Thackeray). For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 , ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 226 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 338 - The British Novel II 4 credits (Spring)
Historical development of the British novel, formal evolution, methods of publication, and the relation of novels to their cultures. From Dickens to the present (e.g., George Eliot, Hardy, Conrad, Lawrence, Forster, Virginia Woolf). For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 , ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 226 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
ENG 346 - Studies in Modern Prose 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive study of important modern fiction. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 226 , ENG 227 , ENG 228 , ENG 229 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , or ENG 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Simpson, Smith
ENG 349 - Medieval Literature 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: GLS 349 . Study of medieval European literary forms (lyric, epic, romance, allegory, and dream vision) through analysis of major works such as Beowulf, Chretien de Troyes’ poems, Marie de France’s Lais, The Romance of the Rose, The Divine Comedy, The Decameron, Piers Plowman, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Book of the City of Ladies, and Malory’s prose. Option of doing some reading in Latin, Italian, or French. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Arner
ENG 349-01 - Medieval Literature 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 349-01 . “Studies in Medieval Literature: Chaucer and His Followers.” This upper-level course studies some of the most influential works by Geoffrey Chaucer (d.1400) alongside those of his contemporaries and followers, including John Gower (d.1408), Thomas Hoccleve (d.1426), John Lydgate (d.c.1451), and John Skelton (d.1529). These poets helped establish Chaucer as the “father” of English literature, but does the title stand? Who should take the credit? To answer these and other questions, we will sample not only these courtiers’ works but those of the greater medieval world at the end of the so-called Middle Ages. In the spirit of studying Chaucer’s followers, we will also survey the global rise of Chaucer studies at its most formative stages, from FJ Furnivall’s founding of the Chaucer Society (1868) to the publication of WW Skeat’s six-volume edition of Chaucer’s oeuvre (1894), to the ongoing initiatives of the New Chaucer Society.
Prerequisite: ENG 223 .
Instructor: Abdelkarim
ENG 360 - Seminar in Postcolonial Literature 4 credits (Spring)
An intensive study of important writers, movements, or theoretical concepts in postcolonial literature written in English. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 226 , or ENG 229 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Kapila, Sutaria
ENG 360-01 - Seminar in Postcolonial Literature 4 credits (Spring)
“Globalization and the Novel.” This course explores the transformation in the English novel in the era of globalization, that is, post-1990. The English domestic novel gave us a vocabulary of private and public, inside/outside, home and abroad. How do these concepts change as economic and political events bring different parts of the world closer? What new subjects, themes, plots, and ideologies does fiction create in a world preoccupied by migrants, global cities, fears of terrorism, and impending eco-disasters? Writers we will read include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Monica Ali, Amitav Ghosh, Mohsin Hamid, Salman Rushdie, and Zadie Smith.s.
Prerequisite: ENG 224 , ENG 225 , ENG 226 , or ENG 229 .
Instructor: Kapila
ENG 385 - Writing Seminar: Fiction 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Advanced workshop for students with a strong background in fiction writing.
Prerequisite: ENG 205 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Smith, Bakopoulos, Nutting
ENG 386 - Writing Seminar: Poetry 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Advanced workshop for students with a strong background in verse writing.
Prerequisite: ENG 206 .
Instructor: Phan, Savarese
ENG 388 - Writing Seminar: Screenwriting/Television Writing/Variable Genre 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines creative writing with a focus on digital, emerging, and hybrid genres-namely writing for television and film. In some semesters, the course may focus on other emerging genres depending on the research interests of the instructor. Students will spend much of the semester discussing the craft and construction of existing texts and applying knowledge gained to the completion of significant creative project of their own. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: ENG 205 , ENG 206 , or ENG 207 .
Instructor: Bakopoulos, Nutting, Savarese
ENG 388-01 - Writing Seminar: Television Writing 4 credits (Fall)
A seminar on the conception, writing, and packaging of original television scripts. Students will study drama, comedy, and other episodic narrative genres while writing their own original TV pilot scripts and pitch documents.
Prerequisite: ENG 205 , ENG 206 , or ENG 207 .
Instructor: Bakopoulos
ENG 390 - Literary Theory 4 credits (Spring)
An intensive introduction to the major schools of critical and literary theory. Readings likely to include foundational texts in formalism, Marxism, feminism, psychoanalysis, historicism, poststructuralism, and postcolonialism. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level English course.
Instructor: Andrews, Kapila
ENG 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Queer and Trans Literatures 4 credits (Fall)
See GWS 395-01 .
Environmental Studies
ENV 120 - Environmental Challenges and Responses 1 credits (Fall)
This course provides a substantive forum for discussions of current environmental issues among a small groups of students and faculty. Content varies. All students meet biweekly to hear an invited speaker present on a relevant topic or to engage in a environmental issue through an off-campus field trip. During intervening weeks students meet in a small group to discuss the previous week’s seminar and/or related readings.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
S/D/F only
Instructor: Sharpe, Staff
ENV 125 - Introduction to Earth Systems Science with Lab 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: SCI 125 . An introductory geology course that demonstrates that Earth systems (the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere) are dynamically linked by internal and external physical, chemical, and biological processes. Using process-response models, we examine the structure and evolution of the Earth, how the rock record is used to decipher Earth’s past and predict its future, and societal issues centered on the environment, land use, resources (water, mineral, and energy), and natural hazards. Three lectures and one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Graham
ENV 145 - Nations and the Global Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Global environmental issues discussed from the perspective of how these problems relate to each student. Emphasis on the geological, biological, and human history of Earth: trends in global climate (including the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion), species diversity (including episodes of mass extinction), human demography, international energy policies, global distribution of resources (including famine, lifeboat “ethics,” and politics of “north vs. south”). Discussion of sustainable development of tropical forest, savanna, and marine ecosystems. Readings from texts and current literature.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Campbell
ENV 240 - Environmental Chemistry 4 credits (Spring)
See CHM 240 .
ENV 251 - Water, Development and the Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See GDS 251 .
ENV 261 - Climate Change, Development and the Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See GDS 261 .
ENV 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
An interdisciplinary senior seminar for students completing the concentration in Environmental Studies. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Open to Junior and Senior Environmental Studies Concentrators.
Instructor: Staff
ENV 495-01 - Senior Seminar: The Anthropocene 4 credits (Spring)
The Anthropocene. In the three and-a-half billion-year history of life on Earth, there has been no species quite like Homo sapiens. Through our intelligence, ingenuity and sense of dominion, humans have forged a new geological Epoch in Earth’s history: the Anthropocene, an inflection point in the trajectory of life on Earth. We have warmed the atmosphere to the extent that humans have prevented (or at least delayed) the next Ice Age. We are causing Earth’s sixth great extinction event, creating a future that may be attenuated of biodiversity and bereft of wilderness. The domestication and exchange of species between continents has created strange new ecosystems. By manipulation of their genetic code, we have created new species. We have created the first known extraterrestrials, from Apollo moonwalkers to microbes hitchhiking on Mars landers. Every student at Grinnell College will be coming of age during the Anthropocene. The seminar will explore what’s in store for them.
Prerequisite: Open to Junior and Senior Environmental Studies Concentrators.
Instructor: CampbellEuropean Studies
ESC 297 - Guided Reading Project 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
To be taken in the semester preceding that in which the student will take the 397 course, this project is designed as preparation for Senior Independent Study. The student may request to work with any instructor currently teaching in the program who will also be teaching on the Grinnell campus during the following semester.
Prerequisite: Second semester of first-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
ESC 397 - Senior Independent Study 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The subject must be arranged with a faculty adviser (preferably the instructor of the Guided Reading Project 297, above) before the end of the semester preceding the independent study. The study should result in either a substantial essay (about 25–30 pages) or a creative accomplishment such as a photographic essay, film, dramatic production, paintings, etc. of similar magnitude. The latter will require some written explication as well. Occasional colloquia consisting of all students and faculty engaged in these projects will be held to exchange ideas and methods.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: StaffFilm and Media Studies
FMS 155 - Introduction to Film Studies 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
See ART 155 .
FMS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Sound Studies 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 195-01 .
FMS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: The History and Practice of Screen Dance 4 credits (Fall)
See THD 195-01 .
FMS 255 - Fundamentals of Video Production 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
See ART 255 .
FMS 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Documentary Narrative and Production 4 credits (Spring)
See ART 395-01 .
FMS 395-02 - Advanced Special Topic: Culture, Media, and Social Justice 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 395-01 .
HUM 213 - Media and the Middle East 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: SST 213 . This course will explore representations of the Middle East in the Western and Middle-Eastern media. It will adopt a comparative approach and will use theoretical readings and case studies to examine the diverse ways in which news can be viewed as a cultural product.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: YoussefFrench and Arabic
ARB 101 - Beginning Arabic I 5 credits (Fall)
Study of the fundamentals of spoken and written Modern Standard Arabic with emphasis on communication through oral-aural practice and awareness of cultural context. Acquisition of basic grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Youssef
ARB 102 - Beginning Arabic II 5 credits (Spring)
This course is designed primarily as a continuation of ARB 101 . Emphasizes the development of oral-aural skills and of reading comprehension by providing communicative practice and attention to cultural context.
Prerequisite: ARB 101 or by placement.
Instructor: Youssef
ARB 221 - Intermediate Arabic I 4 credits (Fall)
Conducted in Arabic. Emphasizes grammar and written and oral skills. Provides an introduction to the analysis of literary and cultural texts.
Prerequisite: ARB 102 .
Instructor: Youssef
ARB 222 - Intermediate Arabic II 4 credits (Spring)
Conducted in Arabic. Focuses on the development of written and oral skills. Emphasizes vocabulary acquisition, discussion, and composition through the exploration of literary texts and contemporary media materials.
Prerequisite: ARB 221 .
Instructor: Youssef
ARB 295-01 - Special Topic: Social Change in Middle East Cinema 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 295-03 .
Instructor: Abdelfattah
ARB 295-02 - Special Topic: On Animals, Jinn and Humans: Arabic Tales and Falsafa 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 295-04 or GLS 295-01 .
Instructor: Abdelfattah
ARB 295-03 - Special Topic: Juggling and Egg and a Stone: Popular Arabic Film 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 295-05 .
FRN 101 - Introduction to French I 5 credits (Fall)
This course is designed for students with no previous training in French. Through total immersion in the target language, students will develop communicative competence in order to use and understand French in real-life situations. All four language areas (speaking, reading, writing, listening) are emphasized. Students will also gain cultural knowledge of the French-speaking world, learning the customs, values, and social practices that accompany the language. The course meets five days per week.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 102 - Introduction to French II 5 credits (Spring)
This course continues the development of communication competence begun in FRN 101 . Through total immersion in the target language, students will learn to use and understand French in real-life situations. All four language areas (speaking, reading, writing, listening) are emphasized. Students will also gain cultural knowledge of the French-speaking world, learning the customs, values, and social practices that accompany the language.
Prerequisite: FRN 101 or by placement.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 103 - Accelerated Introduction to French 5 credits (Fall)
Offered only in the fall, this course is designed for students who have already taken some French in high school but are still establishing the basics of French grammar and communication. The course is also suitable for students who have studied another Romance language (such as Spanish or Portuguese) and wish to begin learning French. The course covers the equivalent of FRN 101 and FRN 102 in a single semester.
Prerequisite: Grinnell Placement Test or consultation with department.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 201 - French Conversation Through Media 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Using contemporary films, television shows, news program, music and other media, this course develops the ability to speak and understand everyday French. Students also develop their cultural knowledge of France and the French-speaking world. The course provides good practice for students preparing to study abroad or complete a French-language internship. May be taken only once for credit.
Co-requisite: Concurrent registration in any 200- or 300-level French course.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 221 - Intermediate French I 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course deepens students’ linguistic skills alongside their cultural knowledge of the French and Francophone world. While reviewing the essential aspects of French grammar and expanding their vocabulary, students will gain the ability to express increasingly complex thoughts about themselves, others and the world around us, including some of the most pressing contemporary questions—all in French.
Prerequisite: FRN 102 or FRN 103 , or by placement.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 222 - Intermediate French II 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course increases students’ communicative and analytical skills in French, focusing on a particular site (such as Paris) or a particular period of history (such as France during the 1960s) to discuss a variety of important texts, films, historical documents, or visual media. The class continues to review and refine students’ grammatical skills while enabling students to deepen their cultural understanding, and learn and express more nuances of the French-speaking world.
Prerequisite: FRN 221 , or by placement.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 301 - Advanced Reading & Written Expression 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
This seven-week course is designed as an intensive workshop in writing with accuracy, and coherence in French. Students examine different models of writing and engage in different activities to improve their own writing in a variety of genres.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 302 - Phonetics and Advanced Oral Expression 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
This seven-week course is designed as a intensive workshop in understanding French sounds and how to produce them with accuracy, as well as the techniques of making formal presentations in French. Class activities include phonetic exercises, oral exposés, debates, and dictations.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Note: Dates: 01/24/22 to 03/18/22. Half semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 303 - French Civilization I: Sites of Myth and Memory 4 credits (Fall)
Using historical figures like Joan of Arc and Louis XIV, along with specific intellectual movements, such as Renaissance humanism and the Enlightenment, this course seeks to understand how France has drawn upon a variety of ideas and individuals in creating itself as a nation. The course explores why certain figures have been “immortalized” throughout history and how certain myths have defined various French identities.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Harrison
FRN 304 - French Civilization II: Revolutions and Identities 4 credits (Fall)
Beginning with the French Revolution and continuing until today, this course investigates the many social, political, and artistic movements that have defined France over the past two centuries. The course studies a variety of paintings, texts, documents, and films, to understand phenomena as diverse as Napoleon Bonaparte, the impressionist movement, the ravages of World War I, and the demands for decolonization.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 305 - Contemporary Francophone Cultures 4 credits (Spring)
This course focuses on the contemporary French-speaking world and what defines it. It examines the relationship between national identity and the forces of geography, history, language, race, religion, and ethnicity. Topics include: colonization, decolonization, immigration, French-American relations, and societal values related to the family, gender, education, political organization, the state, and secularism.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Caradec or Tricoire
FRN 312 - Introduction to French Literature from the Middle Ages to the Revolution: From Knights to Libertines 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the love poems, comic novels, family dramas, and philosophical essays that were written in France during the long period that stretches from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Students refine their ability to understand the nuances of the French language while also gaining an understanding of French history. Among the many authors studied are Rabelais, Labé, Montaigne, Molière, Voltaire, and Olympe de Gouges.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Instructor: Harrison
FRN 313 - Introduction to French Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries: Literary Revolutions 4 credits (Fall)
This course examines the transformation of French literature as it deals with the upheavals brought about by war, revolution, industrialization, colonization and colonial emancipation. Students refine their ability to understand the nuances of the French language while discussing artistic movements such as Romanticism, Realism, the Theatre of the Absurd, Surrealism, and the Nouveau Roman.
Prerequisite: FRN 222 .
Instructor: Staff
FRN 327 - Social Climbers and Rebels 4 credits (Fall)
This seminar explores the depiction of social conventions - and their subversion - during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the period of Louis XIV, Versailles, and the Enlightenment. This seminar studies questions of individuality, taste, pleasure, social ascension, women’s rights, and what it means to live a good life. It examines a variety of cultural materials, including some contemporary representations, in an attempt to define both the delights and discomforts of “fitting in.”
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Harrison
FRN 328 - Comedy in French Literature Prior to the Revolution 4 credits (Fall)
This seminar analyzes how French writers used comedy, and comic techniques, to depict and even criticize different aspects of French society, such as religion, sexual norms, or courtly etiquette. Students will also engage in translation of certain works, to try to understand how to capture humor and cultural notions while using a different language. Some of the authors studied may include Molière, Villedieu, Voltaire, Laclos.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Harrison
FRN 329 - Literature and Society in 19th-Century and Belle Epoque France 4 credits (Fall)
This seminar examines texts representative of Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, and post-Romantic poetry. Topics may include: realism and nature; the role of description; the expression of desire; and the relationship between the individual and society.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 330 - Innovation and Transgression in French from 1870 to 1945 4 credits (Fall)
This seminar examines the evolution of literature and the rise of cinema between 1879 and 1945; examines notions such as moral and aesthetic transgression and innovation. Topics to be studied may include: collage, montage, memory, war, autobiography, and sexuality in authors and filmmakers such as Rimbaud, Rachilde, Colette, Melies, Jarry, Proust, Gide, Celine, and Cocteau.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 341 - Contemporary French Writing 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar examines the evolution of prose fiction from the 1950s to the present and examines its relationship to biography, autobiography, feminist writing, film, and the popular novel. Explores literary representations of topics such as mother-daughter relations, social class, sexuality, illness, interracial relationships, immigration, and exile.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 342 - Orientalism Revisited 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar examines the relations between France and the Orient as portrayed in paintings, photos, films, and prose fiction from the mid-19th century to the present. Focuses in particular on images of Oriental women, beginning with France’s representation of its colonies as female. The main topics to be considered are: the depiction of interracial relationships; the effect of gender on the experience of immigration; women and war (Algeria and Lebanon); women’s voices in contemporary North Africa; and the notions of tradition and modernity in relation to issues such as arranged marriages, polygamy, and excision. The Orient studied includes Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Lebanon.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 346 - The Francophone Caribbean World: From Plantation to Emancipation 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar explores relations between the francophone Caribbean islands (Haiti, Guadeloupe and Martinique) and the métropole from the colonial period to the present. It addresses topics such as slavery, négritude, identity, multilingualism, diaspora, globalization and the environmental challenges facing the region. Students will examine poetry, theater, fiction and film. Authors to be studied include Césaire, Fanon, Roumain, Chamoiseau, Glissant, Condé, Laferrière and Frankétienne.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Caradec
FRN 350 - Advanced Topics in Literature and Civilization 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This seminar does an intensive study of a particular period, author, theme, movement, and/or genre. Topic will be announced each time the course is offered. Conducted in French. Course may be repeated for credit if content is different. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
FRN 350-01 - Advanced Topics in Literature and Civilization 4 credits (Spring)
Masculine/Feminine in French Literature and Film. Explores concepts of the masculine and the feminine from the Romantic era to the present in literature, art and film. Examines topics such as desire, ambition, sexuality, paternity, maternity, and the writing of the self. Authors and directors to be studied include Chateaubriand, Stendhal, Sand, Rachilde, Colette, Godard, Truffaut, Duras, Jaoui, Denis, Toussaint, and Houellebecq.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Instructor: Moisan
FRN 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Fictions of Francophone African Cities 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: SAM 395-01 . This literature seminar will take us to several Francophone Sub-Saharan African cities to consider the complex ways in which writers and filmakers have portrayed urban Africa. Through texts and films, we will ask what it means to re-imagine the daily lives of ordinary urban dwellers in fiction. We will focus on the challenges and possibilities that African cities create or deepen. In doing so, we will strive to understand the intersections of and interstices occupied by different forms of vulnerability, including gender-based, linguistics and economic vulnerabilities, and the role of fiction in giving them a voice. Taught entirely in French.
Prerequisite: FRN 312 or FRN 313 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: TricoireGender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
GWS 111 - Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course introduces students to key topics, concepts, approaches, and problems in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies as the field has developed over the past 45 years. We investigate the significance and meaning of gender at different periods in United States history and explore the development of United States feminism and feminist theory, adopting comparative and transnational perspectives throughout the semester. The ways in which race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, nationality, and age shape experience, culture, ideology, and politics are central areas of inquiry. We also address the means through which women have resisted inequality and affected social and political change. This course takes an interdisciplinary approach, and students are introduced to scholarship from a wide range of disciplines, including cultural studies, economics, history, philosophy, political theory, psychology, and sociology.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
GWS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Sumak Kaway and Ikigai: Living Well and Finding Meaning in a Global World 4 credits (Spring)
See ANT 195-01 .
GWS 211 - Foundations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course provides students with an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) studies. We study the emergence and transformation of LGBTQ identities, cultural practices, and political movements within the broader context of changes in social constructions of sexuality, as well as cultural, social, political, and economic transformations. We pay particular attention to the ways in which gender, race, ethnicity, class, and generation have shaped same-sex sexuality in different historical periods.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 and second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Allen
GWS 235 - Feminism and Popular Culture 4 credits (Fall)
This course examines various popular cultural forms using feminist criticism/theory as a critical lens. Through an intersectional and intertextual investigation of television, film, advertising, and popular music, students will explore how representation both reflects and produces sociocultural phenomena and ideas about race, gender, class, and sexuality in society.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Johnson, Staff
GWS 249 - Theory and Methodology in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies 4 credits (Fall)
This course provides students with a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the interdisciplinary field of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies, including its theories, methods, debates, and relationships to other academic disciplines. We examine the history and development of feminist and queer theory, paying particular attention to the relationship between theory and activism. We explore the forms of privilege and power operating within feminist and queer theory and the intersections of race, sexuality, class, and gender.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 .
Instructor: Allen, Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Staff
GWS 257 - Growing Up Girl 4 credits (Fall)
As an introduction to the subfield of Girls’ Studies, Growing Up Girl explores the impact of this feminine gender on the lives and outlooks of girls and girl-identified women. Drawing on historical and contemporary autobiographical texts, academic research, and popular media, we will examine how race, class, sexuality, and nationality shape girlhood’s meanings and opportunities in different social contexts.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 .
Instructor: Beauboeuf
GWS 274 - Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Modern Germany 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See GRM 274 .
GWS 295-01 - Special Topic: Queering Digital Humanities 4 credits (Spring)
In Queering Digital Humanities, students will survey new technologies for knowledge production, creative expression, and building community through the lens of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. We will explore how marginalized communities, particularly women and LGBTQ+ people, have used emerging digital tools to resist systems of oppression and create more just worlds both on an offline. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with virtual reality, cartography, archives, social media, and makerspaces, among others.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 .
Instructor: Montague
GWS 324 - Critical Race Feminisms 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course provides an introduction to critical theoretical debates about gender, race, and class in the United States legal system. Students examine legal concepts, structures, and narratives that produce and/or reinforce patterns of discrimination and inequality, as well as examine alternative models proposed within critical legal scholarship.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 and one GWS course at the 200 level.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Johnson, Staff
GWS 331 - Studies in American Prose II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: ENG 331 when taught as Feminist Memoirs. A study of contemporary memoirs by feminist writers. In addition to critically analyzing the memoir as a literary form, students will examine how feminist writers have used memoir to describe both personal and political experiences, to theorize from these experiences, and to develop concepts of feminist subjectivity. Readings will include a diverse range of memoirs, as well as critical essays on memoir, autobiography, and feminist/queer theory.
Prerequisite: GWS 249 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GWS 357 - Feminist Educations 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: EDU 357 . Drawing on education studies, sociology, gender studies, and history, Feminist Educations examines how minoritized genders have encountered and shaped K-12 schooling and post-secondary education over the last 150 years. The course explores the rise of co-education, university campus culture, the feminization of teaching, gender’s impact on learning styles, and the ways race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, and social class contribute to students’ aspirations and experiences within our deeply gendered learning institutions.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 or EDU 101 and one 200-level course in GWS or EDU.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Beauboeuf
GWS 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Queer and Trans Literatures 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: ENG 395-01 . This course surveys 20th and 21st-century queer and trans literatures through contemporary queer and feminist theory. In addition to reading the works of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer authors, we will inquire into the implications of studying and categorizing literature in relation to gender and sexuality. We will examine representations of queer and trans identities and themes through a variety of literary forms including novels, short stories, plays, poems, graphic novels, and semi-autobiographical fiction.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 and one 200-level GWS course when taken as GWS-295 or one ENG course numbered between 210 and 290 when taken as ENG-295.
Instructor: Allen
GWS 395-02 - Advanced Special Topic: Gender in Post-WWII East Asia 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: EAS 395-01 . This course discusses contemporary East Asian cultures and societies from the perspective of gender. It focuses on women’s and men’s different experiences, role status ideas, and contributions during the post-WWII period. Our goal is to progressively map the key notions of contemporary gender studies while looking back at the sociopolitical transformations faced by China, Japan, and Korea in the past decades.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 or SOC 111 and one 200-level GWS elective course or East Asian Studies Concentrator.
Instructor: Yang
GWS 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
An advanced interdisciplinary senior seminar for students who are completing the major in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. The course will provide an in-depth exploration of a topic with both historical and contemporary significance within the field of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: senior status; Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies Major; GWS 111 ; GWS 249 .
Instructor: Allen, Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Johnson
GWS 495-01 & 02 - Senior Seminar: Bad Feminists, Bad Critics 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the work of second wave feminist critics in the 1960s and 1970s whose work was either dismissed when it was first published or is out of critical favor in the present. By looking at why some feminists’ work has been left out of the field’s accepted history, we will learn as much (if not more) than we would by repeating the narratives of political progress that are often told about the development of feminism. Throughout the course, we will read texts that have always been “difficult” for feminism such as Mary Daly’s Gyn/Ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism, which sparked a public debate about the role of race and racism in radical feminism. We will also examine authors who were labeled “bad” critics by the broader public, such as Kate Millett whose Sexual Politics was the subject of much derision in literary circles. As well, we will look at figures who have been bad for feminism, including Valerie Solanas and her little-known play Up Your Ass. Finally, we will close the semester with a unit on recent feminist interest in the 1960s and 1970s, and look at contemporary works that offer new ways of thinking about old histories.
Prerequisite: GWS 111 , GWS 249 , senior status, and Senior Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies major.
Instructor: AllenGeneral Literary Studies
GLS 135 - Philosophy and Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See PHI 135 .
GLS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Formation and Transformation: The Lasting Phenomenon of the Three Kingdoms 4 credits (Fall)
See CHI 195-01 .
GLS 195-02 - Introductory Special Topic: Representing Difference: Jewish Literature and the Arts in France 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
See HUM 195-01 & 03 .
Instructor: Lee
GLS 227 - Topics in German Literature in Translation 4 credits (Spring)
See GRM 227 .
GLS 242 - Classical Mythology 4 credits (Spring)
See CLS 242 .
GLS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See RUS 247 .
GLS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See RUS 248 .
GLS 251 - Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See HUM 251 .
GLS 259 - Criminals, Outcasts, and (con) Artists in German Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See GRM 259 .
GLS 259-01 - Criminals, Outcasts, and (con) Artists 4 credits (Spring)
See GRM 259-01 .
GLS 261 - History of Russian Film 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See RUS 261 .
GLS 263 - German Cinema 4 credits (Fall)
See GRM 263 .
GLS 270 - The Holocaust Remembered 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See GRM 270
GLS 277 - Modern China through Literature and Film (in Translation) 4 credits
See CHI 277 .
GLS 279 - Modern Japanese Fiction and Film 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See JPN 279 .
GLS 281 - Major Russian Writers 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See RUS 281 .
GLS 291 - Perspectives in 20th-Century Central and Eastern European Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See RES 291 .
GLS 295-01 - Special Topics: On Animals, Jinn and Humans: Arabic Tales and Falsafa 4 credits (Spring)
See ARB 295-02 or HUM 295-04 .
GLS 349 - Medieval Literature 4 credits (Fall)
See ENG 349 .
GLS 349-01 - Medieval Literature 4 credits (Spring)
See ENG 349-01 .
Instructor: Abdelkarim
GLS 350 - Critical Approaches to Theatre Methods 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See THD 350 .
GLS 350-01 - Critical Approaches to Theatre Methods: Dramaturgy 4 credits (Spring)
GLS 350-01 - Critical Approaches to Theatre Methods: Period Styles 4 credits (Fall)
See THD 350-01 .
GLS 353 - Critical Approaches in Theatre Perspectives 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See THD 353 .
General Science
SCI 125 - Introduction to Earth System Science w/lab 4 credits (Fall)
See ENV 125 .
General Studies
No Active Courses Available German Studies
GRM 101 - Introductory German 4 credits (Fall)
Acquisition of German language skills through listening, speaking, reading, and study of grammar. Students will develop communication skills such as the ability to talk about themselves and their interests. Practice of oral skills with a native German-speaking assistant.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 102 - Introductory German II 4 credits (Spring)
Continuation and completion of oral-aural study of grammatical structures. Increased emphasis on developing oral fluency. Introduction to the literature and culture of Germany through reading and analysis of modern short stories and expository prose. Practice of oral skills with a native German-speaking assistant.
Prerequisite: GRM 101 .
Instructor: Staff
GRM 121 - Accelerated German 5 credits (Spring)
Intensive study of German focused on developing proficiency. This course is the equivalent of and GRM 102 . Designed for students who want to progress quickly in their German. Not open to students who have taken GRM 102 .
Prerequisite: Placement by department, based on previous exposure to German or prior study of another foreign language.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 221 - Intermediate German I 4 credits (Fall)
This course emphasizes understanding German culture through language, history, literature, popular culture, politics, and the arts. Includes a review of selected topics in German grammar accompanied and followed by continued practice in speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: GRM 102 .
Instructor: Staff
GRM 222 - Intermediate German II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A continuation of GRM 221 . This course emphasizes understanding German culture through language, history, literature, popular culture, politics, and the arts. Includes a review of selected topics in German grammar, accompanied and followed by continued practice in speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: GRM 221 .
Instructor: Staff
GRM 227 - Topics in German Literature in Translation 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 227 . Texts selected from a wide variety of literary (and some nonliterary) texts by German-speaking authors. Readings and discussion in English. May be repeated once for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 259 - Criminals, Outcasts, and (con) Artists in German Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 259 . Readings and Discussion in English. This course mines the rich field of German crime fiction to explore the relationship between authority (the state, the academy, the church, tradition) and those who oppose it through criminal and/or aesthetic transgressions. What is the relationship between art and crime? What does criminality mean in a society that is led by a criminal regime? To what extent does society produce its own criminals, and to what end? Texts selected will vary. May be repeated once for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 259-01 - Criminals, Outcasts, and (con) Artists 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 259-01 . This course will focus on the portrayal of perpetrators, ranging from petty thieves to mass murderers in German language literature and film. We’ll begin with the Storm and Stress era (a precursor to German Romanticism), reading Schiller’s play The Robbers, and H.L. Wagner’s The Child Murderess to explore authority and freedom, as well as punishment and redemption. We turn then to the Naturalists, who understood crime as a symptom of an unjust society. The course concludes with the question of criminal regimes, and when dissent becomes the necessary route to justice. Taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Reynolds
GRM 263 - German Cinema 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: GLS 263 . Readings and discussions in English. The course explores the medium of cinema through the prisms of film history, film theory, German history in general, by addressing thematic, stylistic, historical or theoretical topics. Variable thematic concerns include the aesthetics of power, the real and the imaginary, representations of subjectivity, gender and the body, and/or the construction of national identity. German majors write in German.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Reynolds
GRM 270 - The Holocaust Remembered 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 270 . This course examines works of literature, testimony, film, and memorials to explore how the Holocaust is remembered, both individually and collectively. The course will ask both what has been remembered over time, and how different modes of remembrance may also enable certain kinds of forgetting. We will delve into some of the controversies that have emerged concerning the proper ways to remember an event that some have deemed “beyond representation.” Taught in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Foreign language option available in German for Plus-2 only.
Instructor: Reynolds
GRM 274 - Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Modern Germany 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GWS 274 . This seminar explores the relationship between race, gender, and sexuality in modern German history. This course is not comprehensive either chronologically or topically. Instead it addresses some key issues, methodologies, and historiographical debates and it provides a toolbox for doing critical German and Gender Studies. We discuss historical documents, literature, and film to destabilize Germany’s racialized and gendered national identify until this day.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Foreign language option available for course and +2 option.
Instructor: Samper Vendrell
GRM 295-01 - Special Topic: Stateless in Shanghai: Jewish Voices from the Hongku Ghetto 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: EAS 295-01 . This course explores the historical and literary intersection of two influential cultures and transnational discourses, namely the Sino-Jewish encounter during WWII. Students will compare historical documentation from the Jewish exile in Shanghai with recreated media from these historic events such as literary forms, mass media productions, memoirs, documentaries, amine and more. By combining Holocaust Studies and East Asian Studies students will adapt interdisciplinary critical approaches to the scholarly debates of the Shanghai Jewish exile.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing
Instructor: Sun
GRM 311 - Contemporary Germany Through Media 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course offers an advanced grammar review of the German language. It is designed to help you improve German oral and writing skills by discussing current issues and trends in German society. We’ll discuss different types of information and media, including opinion pieces, feature articles, news broadcasts, radio plays, advertisements, television shows, and film. Taught in German.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 335 - German Media Revolutions 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Conducted in German. This course offers an overview of German media history from Gutenberg to the present. Topics may include case studies from the history of inscription and printing, scientific observation and instruments, popular entertainments, illustration, intermediality, seriality, photography, telegraphy, collage and montage, surveillance, and digital media.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Byrd
GRM 344 - Forester Fictions: Germany and the Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Conducted in German.The forest is symbolic, spiritual, and political place for Germans. In this seminar, we will read texts that reconstruct the cultural and historical meaning of German forests from Tacitus to National Socialism. This course will help students think about issues such as Heimat and identity, aesthetics, sustainability, the origins of environmental protection, antisemitism, nationalism, and memory.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Byrd
GRM 350 - German Culture from the Avant-Garde to Postmodernism 4 credits
Conducted in German. An exploration of German-speaking identities through their formulations and contestations in literature, architecture, cinema, music, cabaret, and political culture. Tracing the artistic epochs from Naturalism to Postmodernism, the course will examine ideologies of self and Other as they relate to ethnicity, race, class, gender, and geography.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Reynolds, Samper Vendrell
GRM 355 - Weimar Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Conducted in German. The Weimar Republic (1918-1933) is characterized by economic turmoil, political violence and extremism that resulted in Hitler’s rise to power and the Third Reich. At the same time, it also represents one of the most productive periods in artistic and intellectual terms in the twentieth century. Literature, film, art, and historical documents will help us explore this period’s tension between social and cultural advancement and political repression.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Samper Vendrell
GRM 360 - German Comics and Graphic Novels 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Conducted in German. This course provides an overview of graphic narratives from the 19th-century to the present, including works by Deutsch, Kleist, König, Mahler, Mawil, Yelin, Reiche, Schwartz, Vieweg, Weyde, Yelin. In addition to an introduction to comics theory, participants will learn about adaptation, coming to terms with the past, colonialism, gender, race, sexuality, and print culture.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 or placement equivalent.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Byrd
GRM 372 - Creative Writing German 1 or 2 credits (Spring)
Practice in creative writing of fiction, poetry, screen plays, comics, or other media led by the current German Writer in Residence. Close reading and analysis of recent German works from a contemporary cultural perspective. All readings and discussion in German. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: Any 300-level German course.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 377 - German Youth Cultures 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Conducted in German. This course examines how youth has been understood in German history and how it is experienced today. Literary and non-literary texts and documents will help us generate discussion about youth movements; subcultures; sexual expression and repression; and the different social and psychological developments that have been part of becoming an adult since the late eighteenth century.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Samper Vendrell
GRM 380 - A Critical Approach to the German Canon 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Readings and Discussion in German. This course will select key works from the German literary canon in order to acquire an appreciation of German literary and intellectual history, but also to question the assumptions about language, nation, gender, religion, class, education, citizenship and power that constitute the formation of a literary canon. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: GRM 222 or placement equivalent.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
GRM 495 - Research Seminar in German Studies 4 credits (Spring)
Critical reading and close analysis of selected texts in German literature and culture for students with a solid background in the study of German. Topics vary, and texts include both primary and secondary sources. Course may be repeated once for credit when content changes.
Prerequisite: Senior standing or special permission for third-year students.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: StaffGlobal Development Studies
GDS 111 - Introduction to Global Development Studies 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of contemporary issues in the economic development of less-developed countries. Course reviews the leading theories of economic, political, and social change that have been adopted by anthropologists, economists, and political scientists, and considers how these theories have shaped past and current debate on the definition and goals of the development process. Course compares and contrasts the approaches adopted by international institutions and alternative development organizations to the “practice” of development.
Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, or Economics, or Political Science, or Sociology. ECN 111 is strongly recommended.
Instructor: Brottem, Roper
GDS 251 - Water, Development, and the Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: ENV 251 . This course explores international water issues, focusing on the environmental, social, economic, and political implications of water scarcity. Emphasis will be on three interrelated topics: water scarcity as a constraint on development; water scarcity as a source of domestic and international conflict; and, in particular, the environmental implications of water supply projects and their social and economic consequences. Water management policy and the implications of changing climate on regional water availability will also be considered.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: P. Jacobson
GDS 261 - Climate Change, Development and the Environment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: ENV 261 . This course introduces the basic science of climate change, focusing on the environmental, social, economic, and political implications of such change, as well as the institutions and associated policies engaged in negotiating a response, both locally and globally. Students will conduct in-depth examinations of key regions and ecosystems exemplifying how climate change is closely intertwined with development and natural resource management. The difficulties of predicting regional shifts in climate will be considered, along with the challenges associated with defining policy in the face of uncertainty.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: P. Jacobson, Brottem
GDS 295-01 - Special Topic: Disability Studies in the Global South 4 credits (Fall)
See HUM 295-03 .
GDS 300 - Global Development Studies Internship 2 credits (Fall, Spring, or Summer)
Students participate in an 8-10 week full-time internship relevant to GDS concentration themes. Internship sites are typically located in a low-income country or with an organization that works on issues in such locations. Organizations can be from government, non-government, for-profit sectors. Students are responsible for procuring their own internships and must have a concentration adviser who will approve the internship for credit and work with the student to develop learning expectations and graded assignments.
Prerequisite: GDS 111 and declared GDS concentration.
Instructor: Staff
GDS 325 - Development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: POL 325 . The vast majority of people living in extreme poverty live in just a handful of countries that are characterized by conflict and fragile institutions. This course will explore the ways in which development is being redefined in this new context through an engagement with the leading theories, policies, and case studies of Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries in West and Central Africa.
Prerequisite: 3rd-year standing and GDS 111 ; and one of the following, ECN 230 , HIS 262 , POL 251 , POL 257 , or 200-level GDS, or another with instructor approval.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Brottem
GDS 370 - Architecture and Urbanism in the Developing Worlds 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ARH 370 .
History
CLS 295-01 - Special Topic: Between Fact and Fiction: Greek and Roman Histories. 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 295-04 . In a world with fake news and denial of reality, the ability to analyze claims of “the truth” in historical texts is important. This course examines ancient historians’ claims of reporting “the truth” and how historians from Herodotus to Tacitus crafted literary histories between modern categories of fact and fiction. Students evaluate the explicit - and complex - claims ancient historians made about the truth, the past, their construction of authority, and the practicality of their texts.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing. HUM 101 or HUM 102 recommended.
Instructor: Loehr
HIS 30x - Advanced Studies in Latin America History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 31x - Advanced Studies in United States History 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 32x - Advanced Studies in United States History 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 33x - Advanced Studies in Western European and British History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 34x - Advanced Studies in Russian History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 35x - Advanced Studies in Historiography and Ancient History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 36x - Advanced Studies in African & Middle-Eastern History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 37x - Advanced Studies in Asian History 4 credits
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 38X - Advanced Studies in Comparative and Transregional History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In any academic year, students may choose from among six to eight 300-level seminar courses. For current course descriptions, prerequisites, and instructors, please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
HIS 100 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Introduces students to historical analysis and argumentation. Individual sections focus on different topics and time periods. In all sections, students will investigate a range of sources, methods, and approaches that historians use to interpret the past. Required of all majors and appropriate for all students. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
HIS 100-01 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Spring)
The Prophet Muhammad. This course provides an introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, and evidence, by exploring the life and impact of the prophet Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula and West Asia in the early seventh century. We will begin with an introduction to the study of history and historical methods. From there, we will read a variety of primary and secondary sources in order to answer the question: Who was the Prophet Muhammad?
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Saba
HIS 100-01 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
How History Works. Many history classes focus on one particular time and place in the human past, but this course provides an introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, and evidence by pursuing a series of questions, big and small, illustrating how historical thinking can change how we see the world. Is there really a difference between “history” and “prehistory”? When are fairy tales and folklore useful historical sources? Was the Roman emperor Caligula actually crazy, and how can we know for sure? How is being a historian like being a spy, and how can scholars understand the opinions and worldview of people who lived under brutal dictatorships or in cultures alien from our own? By pursuing questions like these, students will learn both about the forces that have shaped the past and about the ways that historians understand the world around them.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 100-02 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Spring)
Guns, Germs, Steel, and the Spanish Conquest. This course provides an introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, and evidence through the lens of the first major episode of European colonization. The course will begin with with the explanation of the Conquest offered by the book Guns, Germs, and Steel. Using primary and secondary sources, students will then learn why many historians question this explanation. In the process, students will be introduced to the various means by which historians conduct research and write about the past.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Silva
HIS 100-02 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Fall )
The Rise and Fall of New World Slavery. This course provides an introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, and evidence, through the lens of the foundings and practices of New World slavery, as well as the social movements that abolished the institution. After an introductory unit on historical methods, we will use our exploration of slavery as it developed in Brazil, the Caribbean, and mainland North America as a window on issues of power and exploitation, outsiders and insiders, the construction of race, the connections between freedom and slavery, the early stages of consumer-driven economics, and the promise and limitations of social reform. A central theme in the course will be the way in which “progress” and freedom depended on the enslavement of Africans.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Lacson
HIS 100-03 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
Writing from the Margins. This course provides an introduction to issues of historical causation, argumentation, and evidence by posing some fundamental questions: Whose lives get preserved in the historical record? How? Why? We interrogate the authority of the archive by exploring the stories of people who lived at the very margins of their social contexts. Drawing upon autobiography, material culture, and museum studies, we consider how, despite the odds, first-person traces of individual existence survive through the intersections of hand, text, and material.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Maynard
HIS 100-04 - Introduction to Historical Inquiry 4 credits (Fall)
Digital History: Local and Global. This course will introduce students to methods used in the digital humanities, with a special emphasis on applications to historical studies. Students will create projects and study existing digital projects, with a special focus on U.S. History in a global context. Readings will include primary sources as well as recent contributions to theory in digital humanities. We will learn general principles of working with humanistic data as well as techniques such as building on-line exhibitions, digital mapping, and computational analysis of text. No technical skills or experience in digital humanities work are required, but willingness to gain both are fundamental to the class.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Purcell
HIS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Classical Asia 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: EAS 195-01 . This course surveys the history of Ancient East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) with some occasional forays into Vietnam. We will look at how people in each culture created their distinctive identities, experienced the world around them, and inscribed their thinking into texts that have become the “Asian Classics.” From the creation of political ideology to various aspects of high culture, students will gain a firm understanding of what some refer to as the East Asian Tradition.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: J. Smith
HIS 201 - Colonial Latin America 4 credits (Spring)
A general survey of Latin American history from the Columbian encounter through independence. The course will focus on the patterns of European conquest and colonization, the complexity of race relations in the region, and the problems of colonial administration.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Spanish or Portuguese for course and +2.
Instructor: Silva
HIS 202 - Modern Latin America 4 credits (Fall)
A general survey of Latin American history from independence to the present day. The course will focus on problems of political instability, economic development, and the role of the United States in the region.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Spanish or Portuguese for course and +2.
Instructor: Silva
HIS 210 - Historical Perspectives on US Education 4 credits (Fall)
See EDU 210 .
HIS 212 - Democracy in America, 1789–1848 4 credits (Fall)
Examines the tensions caused by the simultaneous development of political democracy in the United States and the demands for rights by those who continued to be excluded from various forms of power. Topics include: the creation of party politics, reform movements, economic growth, class conflict, expansionism, race, slavery, gender, and material culture.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Purcell
HIS 214 - The American Civil War and Reconstruction 4 credits (Spring)
Surveys the causes, progress, and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Examines American history from the mid-1840s through the late 1870s with a focus on race, politics, economics, gender, and military conflict to uncover how and why the United States tore itself apart, whether the fundamental conflicts of the war were solved by Reconstruction, and why the Civil War has occupied such an important place in American history and imagination.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Purcell
HIS 220 - U.S. Environmental History 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines some of the central issues and debates in American environmental history, ranging from the era of pre-contact to the present day. Key topics will include: the shifting patterns of land use and resource management among Native American and settler communities; the ecological transformations wrought by commercial agriculture and industrial capitalism; the evolution of environmental policy; and the changing ways in which people have conceptualized and interacted with the natural world around them.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Guenther
HIS 221 - Being Muslim in American 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See REL 221 .
HIS 222 - Women in American History 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines the history of women in the United States from the colonial period through the 1970’s. Students consider the role of race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality in shaping women’s experiences, as well as the tensions between gender expectations, gender performance, and gender identities. Special attention is paid to women’s efforts to expand their access to equal rights, full citizenship status, and bodily autonomy.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Lewis
HIS 223 - Health and Medicine in American History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the history of medical care in America from the colonial period through the 20th century. Students consider how social factors, as well as personal, political, and professional agendas, influenced medical knowledge and practice. Students explore the constructed meanings of disease and health, and the individuals, technologies, and scientific discoveries that shaped them. Special attention is given to themes of public health, personal agency, and professional authority.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Lewis
HIS 224 - Sex in American History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the history of American sexual experiences, desires, and identities. Students will consider changes, contradictions, and continuities in ideals as well as the complicated realities of lived experiences. Topics include the invention of sexualities, courtship and marriage customs, sexual citizenship, sex as work, sexual violence, and more.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Lewis
HIS 225 - Native American History, 1491–1865 4 credits (Fall)
This course offers a social, environmental, political, and cultural history of early America from the perspectives of Native Americans. From the point of view of Native Americans, we will examine many familiar topics, such as European exploration of North America, the founding of European colonies, warfare among European powers, slavery, and the American Revolution.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Lacson
HIS 226 - Native American History, 1871 to Present 4 credits (Spring)
From the end of treaty-making with the United States in the late-nineteenth century through to the present, this course examines the struggles of Native people in asserting tribal sovereignty while simultaneously acknowledging connections to the United States. Focusing on some well-known events and people, like Little Big Horn and Geronimo, and many lesser-known people and events, this course examines persistence and change as American Indians in the United States grappled with issues of sovereignty and citizenship.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Lacson
HIS 227 - African American History 4 credits (Spring)
A survey of the African American experience in slavery and freedom, with a primary emphasis on the struggle for racial justice and equality since the Civil War. Assignments stress primary sources as well as scholarly studies, films, and recordings.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lacson
HIS 232 - Medieval Europe, 400 - 1400 4 credits (Fall)
This course will introduce students to Europe and the Mediterranean world from 400 to 1400, with particular attention to the legacies of the Roman Empire: Western Christendom, the Byzantine Empire, and the rise of Islam. This course will also explore how contemporary men and women understood their own era, and how subsequent generations have relied upon the ‘Middle Ages’ as both foil and inspiration.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Chou
HIS 233 - Renaissance, Reformations, Explorations 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Examines the crucible of forces that turned Europe from a geographical location into a powerful cultural idea. We will explore the cultural movement of the Renaissance and the subsequent transformation of natural philosophy, the religious reformations that divided Christendom and catalyzed years of sectarian warfare, and Europeans’ increasing engagement with the wider world. Students will study primary sources and historical debates, and practice communicating history to a public audience.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Chou
HIS 234 - Tudors and Stuarts, 1485-1707 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Tudor and Stuart monarchs were some of the most intriguing characters to walk on the world’s stage. Their reigns were characterized by major changes in British and Irish political, religious, economic, and cultural life; these transformations shaped the politics and denominational diversity of the modern, Anglophone world. Students will examine manuscripts, rare books, portraits, and architecture, intervene in major historical debates about the period, and recreate an evening in Elizabeth I’s court.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Chou
HIS 235 - Britain in the Age of Enlightenment 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the dramatic transformations that took place in the British world during the “long eighteenth century” (1688-1832), ushering in new forms of industry and imperialism, family life and socialbility, work and leisure, literature and science, politics and civil society. Students will explore how these transformations helped create many of the patterns of our modern world while also examining the new spaces and settings–such as the coffeehouse or the laboratory–in which they unfolded.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Guenther
HIS 236 - Modern Britain and the Empire 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the expansion and contraction of the British world order in the 19th and 20th centuries, and considers how modern British political institutions, social and economic structures, and cultural identities developed in a global context. Special attention will be paid to the evolving relationship between Britain “at home” and Britain’s empire overseas (particularly in South Asia).
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Prevost
HIS 237 - The Spectacle of Modern France 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Beginning with a detailed analysis of the French Revolution as the foundation for the making of modern France, this course concentrates thereafter on pivotal issues including transnational relationships with countries like Germany, Algeria, and the United States; consumerism and urban spectacle; the lure of bohemia and the fin-de-siècle crisis of bourgeois values; the interplay of so-called elite and mass cultures; and the collapse and recovery of democratic institutions in the twentieth century. We highlight perspectives of class, race, and gender and focus upon the power of culture and ideas in shaping the French nation.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available in English or French.
Instructor: Maynard
HIS 238 - The Making of Modern Germany 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course traces the rise of the modern German nation from the accession of Frederick the Great through the Cold War. We examine the gradual decline of Habsburg dominance; the ascent of a powerful economic, military, and intellectual “Germany” dominated by Prussia by 1870; the rupture of World War I and the ensuing radicalism of the Weimar Republic; the rise and fall of the Third Reich; and Germany’s recovery from the catastrophes of the early twentieth century. We address the role of geography, culture, and ethnicity in the construction of national identity and the ongoing interplay between politics and culture.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in German for course and +2.
Instructor: Maynard
HIS 239 - Tyrants and Tunesmiths: Opera, Politics, and Society in Modern Europe 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the complex relationship between operatic production and political power in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in several national contexts including France, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union. We consider specific interactions among composers, politicians, and institutions and seek to understand how such engagements shaped both the works themselves and the political and social realities around them in the processes of inception, performance, and reception.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in English, French, or German for course and +2.
Instructor: Maynard
HIS 242 - The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 4 credits (Spring)
Examines the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, from the appearance of the revolutionary movement in the 19th century to the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Key topics will include the origins of the revolution, the workings of the Stalinist dictatorship, the push to create a “New Soviet Man,” the reforms of Nikita Khrushchev, and the causes of the 1991 collapse. Option of doing some work in Russian.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 244 - Ivan and Fritz Go to War: World War II on the Eastern Front 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the war between Nazi Germany and the Stalinist U.S.S.R. along World War II’s Eastern Front. Although it will include an overview of the war’s main military events, it will focus on the conflict’s social and political significance. Major themes will include the experiences of the troops, the political working of each wartime regime, the reasons for the unusually high level of brutality, the war’s relationship to the Holocaust, and the Soviet myth of the war.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 255 - History of Ancient Greece 4 credits (Fall)
See CLS 255 .
HIS 257 - The Roman Republic 4 credits (Fall)
See CLS 257 .
HIS 258 - The Roman Empire 4 credits (Fall)
See CLS 258 .
HIS 261 - Southern Africa 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to the 10-country region, with an emphasis on the Republic of South Africa. Regional geography along with culture and politics are principal themes, including the rise and fall of the South African apartheid state, culminating in a historical reenactment of conflict resolution.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Prevost, Drake
HIS 262 - Modern Africa from the Sahara to the Zambezi 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to West, Central, and East Africa during the colonial and post-colonial periods, focusing on the local, regional, and international dynamics of state-building, social and economic change, religious transformation, cultural identity, nationalism, and globalization.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Prevost
HIS 265 - The Crusades in the Middle East 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See REL 265 .
HIS 266 - History of the Modern Middle East 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course charts the development of the modern Middle East, exploring the contestations, negotiations, and exclusions that characterize the transformation of life in the region from 1798 through today. We will guide our exploration with pointed questions: How did the nation become an organizing principle for collective life? How did capitalism take root? How did secularism become a question of concern? How, for whom, and to what effect did modernity become a specific concern in the region?
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Elfenbein
HIS 268 - Islam and Gender 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See REL 268 .
HIS 271 - Imperial Collisions in the Asia-Pacific 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course is intended to introduce students to the modern history of East Asia. We will focus primarily on empire, or the construction of large-scale political, economic, and military structures through which human populations and other resources of statecraft were mobilized in the service of expansionist agendas throughout the modern age. Case studies will focus on the Qing empire, the British and French empires, the Empire of Great Japan, and Cold War-era Pacific alliances. In the latter case, we will also debate whether empire or imperial systems have survived into the present day - a question with important consequences for how we think about our own relationship to earlier historical moments. Finally, this course will address the relationship between national revolutions and anti-imperial agendas, as well as recent (and some not-so-recent) events which have shaped East Asia’s contemporary economic resurgence.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
HIS 275 - China’s Revolutions 4 credits (Fall)
Revolutions taking place in 1911, 1927, 1949 have massively impacted the evolution of state-society relationships in China today. Each week, we will examine the forces which pushed forward China’s revolutionary process, the obstacles which revolution encountered, and the inequalities it created and re-created. Through close reading of primary documents we will answer questions such as - What does revolution mean? How can this concept be meaningfully applied to China? What are its contemporary legacies?
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Luo
HIS 277 - China’s Rise 4 credits (Spring)
In 1949, Mao Zedong declared that “the Chinese people have stood up.” Twenty years later, Mao’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution brought China’s people to the precipice of disaster. Fast forward another twenty years, and China has once again “stood up” in the international community. How can we account for these changes? By focusing on foreign policy, political economy, and lived experience, this course addresses and evaluates China’s rise to great power status.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
HIS 281 - Science and Society 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course focuses on the rise of modern science in Europe and the Americas from roughly 1650 to 1900, exploring how revolutionary developments in the physical, biological and human sciences were connected to profound changes in the social and political world, such as the Enlightenment, the industrial revolution, new forms of imperialism and statecraft, work and leisure, democratic politics, and the growing emphasis on racial and sexual difference.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Guenther
HIS 282 - Contextualizing Opera: The NY Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Broadcasts 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is a 2-credit, 200-level variable topic research class linked to the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series. Students choose one of the operas scheduled for broadcast and research its historical context, formal characteristics, and scholarly treatment. In addition to cultivating skills in historical literacy and contextualization, students incorporate their own areas of interest into their research and analysis. Working alone or in small groups, students prepare and deliver pre-broadcast public lectures.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Maynard
HIS 283 - When the World Becomes Global: Early Modern Empire, Expansion, and Exchange 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will explore how and why the world became integrated, interdependent, and ‘global’ through 1)processes of colonization and expansion; 2)the emergence of modern capitalist instruments and markets; 3)intensified voluntary and forced migration; and 4)intellectual, cultural, scientific, and biological exchange. We will engage with foundational and cutting-edge scholarship that has redefined the field of world history by de-centering the role of Europe and distinguishing the heterogeneous imperialism of the early modern era (practiced by Islamic and Asian empires, as well as European ones) from the Western hegemony of the nineteenth through the twentieth centuries.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Chou
HIS 284 - Surveillance in Modern History 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the political, social, and cultural history of mass surveillance in America, Britain, the USSR, China, and several modern European states, looking at modern cultures of state secrecy and surveillance, the use of informers and secret agents in authoritarian regimes, the efforts of governments across the industrialized world to shape their citizens through mass information-gathering, modern cultures of state secrecy and surveillance, and technology’s growing role in the monitoring of everyday citizens by governments and corporations alike.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 285 - Islamic Law in Theory and Practice 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See REL 285 .
HIS 295-01 - Special Topic: Foundations of US Popular Culture 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: AMS 295-01 . Students in this course will examine the creation and expansion of American popular culture in the nineteenth century as they focus on diverse cultural forms: dime novels, newspapers, music, sports, cartoons, theater, minstrel shows, magazines, etc. The course will focus particularly on how ideas and structures of race, class, and gender were changed and reinforced by American popular culture and will consider theoretical issues involved in the study of popular culture.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Purcell
HIS 295-01 - Special Topic: Looking Closer: Botanical Drawing and its Social Origins 2 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: SMS 295-01 . This studio class will cover techniques for observed drawings of plants along with readings that provide context for the emergence of scientific botanical illustration, approximately 1750-1850. Students will observe nature through a structural and aesthetic lens using pencil and pen. Topics include sketching, line and tonal drawing and composition. Reading topics will include the relationship between botanical drawing and the scientific revolution, colonial and commercial expansion, and the role of women artists.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Dates August 25 to October 27. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Staff
HIS 295-02 - Special Topic: Modern China - A history from the margins 4 credits (Fall)
Modern Chinese history roughly approximates the mid-1800s to 1978. These two dates are usually bookended with China’s encounter with European imperialism and China’s economic and reform era. Often lost in this grand narrative are stories from minority groups, the rural poor, and women. Using a number of excellent monographs, we will hear from the many voices who have been frequently silenced. We will also consider a key issue, the role of sovereignty: national, ecclesiastical, and even personal.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: J. Smith
HIS 295-02 - Special Topic: Modern China: A History from the Margins 4 credits (Spring)
Modern Chinese history roughly approximates the mid-1800s to 1978. These two dates are usually bookended with China’s encounter with European imperialism and China’s economic and reform era. Often lost in this grand narrative are stories from minority groups, the rural poor, and women. Using a number of excellent monographs, we will hear from the many voices who have been frequently silenced. We will also consider a key issue, the role of sovereignty: national, ecclesiastical, and even personal.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing.
Instructor: J. Smith
HIS 295-03 - Special Topic: Modern Japan 4 credits (Spring)
We can think of modern Japan as beginning with the overthrow of the last shogunate government and the ascendancy of the Meiji emperor in 1868. Using primary sources, films, and selections from books, we will consider Japan’s modern history not only from those at the pinnacle of society but also from the perspective of the many classes of people who were simply being swept along by the tremendous changes of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing
Instructor: J. Smith
HIS 295-04 - Special Topic: Between Fact and Fiction: Greek and Roman Histories 4 credits (Spring)
See CLS 295-01 .
Instructor: Loehr
HIS 309-01 - Latin America and the U.S. 4 credits (Spring)
As the saying goes, Latin America lies too far from God and too close to the United States. This proximity has affected Latin American economics, demographics, culture, and politics. The seminar will begin with common readings. This year those common readings will focus on US attempts–both official and unofficial–to democratize and modernize the region. Students will then write a research paper using primary documents. These papers could focus on any one of a number of issues that were central to US-Latin American relations such as hemispheric security, economic affairs, democracy, and socialism. A reading knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese is helpful but not required.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and HIS 201 or HIS 202 .
Instructor: Silva
HIS 311-01 - Politics in Early American Republic 4 credits (Fall)
Students in this seminar will discover and debate recent developments in the study of political history by focusing intensely on one of its most exciting periods, the early American republic. During the years 1789-1820, the American political system first took shape as federal and state governments established themselves, as the country experienced its first era of party conflict, and as philosophical ideas about the structures of American power and concepts such as “republicanism” and “democracy” were put to the test. The seminar will analyze traditional topics of political interest in this period such as political party formation and interaction among the “founding fathers,” and it will also explore the many ways that recent historians have broadened their view of politics to include such factors as political culture, female involvement in politics, and the politicization of everyday life. Students will write in-depth research papers on some aspect of politics in the period.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and any 200-level American History course
Instructor: Purcell
HIS 324-01 - Illicit Medicine 4 credits (Fall)
In the US, laws and licensing bodies have regulated medicine since the early 19th century. Looking at examples of medicinal practices and products that have been or currently are considered “illicit” permits us to see how this regulation has been shaped by broader cultural, social, and political factors. This seminar examines the histories of illicit medicines in the United States as windows into national - and sometimes global – history. Students will complete a substantial research project using a combination of primary and secondary sources.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level history course. Priority will be given to students who have taken at least one of the following: HIS 223 , ANT 210 , SOC 265 .
Instructor: Lewis
HIS 327-01 - The Civil Rights Movement 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar offers students an opportunity to research and write about the Civil Rights era. Students will be introduced to recent scholarship that will compel them to re-think fundamental aspects of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States: when it took place, who participated, what it was over, and how the Civil Rights Movement continues to inform modern life in the United States. By the end of the semester, students will have produced a research paper based on a combination of primary and secondary sources (20-25 pages).
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and one 200-level history course.
Instructor: Lacson
HIS 342-01 - Stalinism 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar will examine the political, social, and cultural history of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, with a particular focus on the 1930s. The first half of the course will feature a series of common readings on topics such as the rise of Stalin’s dictatorship, the Great Terror of the 1930s, and the drive to collectivize Soviet agriculture and industrialize the economy; we’ll discuss the nature of everyday life and social identity under Stalin, look at the impact of propaganda and revolutionary ideology on the values and mindset of the population, and debate whether Stalinism represented the continuation of the revolution or a divergence from its ideals. After looking at a set of representative primary sources (such as oral histories, memoirs, and diaries), students will then produce a research paper in the second half of the semester, delving into some aspect of Soviet society and politics under Stalin.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and HIS 242 or HIS 244 .
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 377 - Issues in Making Modern China 4 credits (Spring)
This course is a research seminar on Modern Chinese History, encompassing the Qing period through the PRC (1644-1997). The course benefits from the digitization of an increasing number of primary sources and archives (most in Chinese but several in English). Common readings will include works of historical theory as well as Chinese history articles and monographs. History intersects with fields as disparate as art and international politics, thus students can write a research paper on a wide array of topics.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and any 200-level East Asian History course.
Instructor: J. Smith
HIS 382-01 - Advanced Tutorial: Modern Classics of Historical Writing 4 credits (Spring)
This course surveys of some great works of historical scholarship. It will be useful to students who are considering graduate studies, but it is intended for all students who would like to improve their ability to write analytically and argue persuasively. The course will be taught in Oxford tutorial style, in small group meetings with the instructor, and will involve frequent short writing assignments. It will also serve as useful preparation to all advanced seminars in history. Note: this course does not satisfy research seminar requirement.
Prerequisite: Two 200-level history courses.
Instructor: Cohn
HIS 388-01 - Advanced Studies: The (Cultural) Cold War: Global History 4 credits (Fall)
“Relying on monographs, films, artworks, and different primary sources, this seminar examines the history of the Cold War by focusing on its cultural and intellectual upshots, struggles, and debates as they unfolded in the third world. The seminar’s cultural and geographic foci will challenge the traditional study of the Cold War as a political, diplomatic clash between the US and the USSR and help students appreciate the Cold War as a truly global, cultural conflict.” Note: this course does not satisfy research seminar requirement.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 and HIS 236 , HIS 261 , HIS 262 , or HIS 266 .
Instructor: Almohsen
HIS 499 - Mentored Advanced Project 2 or 4 credits
A history MAP allows students to undertake advanced research and produce original knowledge on a topic of historical significance, and often follows work begun in a 300-level history seminar. To have their projects approved, students must demonstrate that they are already familiar with the most important scholarly works published in their proposed field of inquiry and identify the primary source base that will comprise the core of their research. MAP proposals, which should be submitted to the history department chair at least one week before they are due at the Office of the Registrar, must include an essay of 1,200–1,500 words to explain the historical problem to be investigated and the questions left open by existing research in the field, a bibliography detailed enough to demonstrate that the project is feasible, and the final form the project will take. With permission, the 499 may be used to fulfill the second 300-level requirement for the major, provided supervision takes place under a different professor than the student worked with in the other 300-level seminar, and the results are presented satisfactorily to a colloquium of students and faculty.
Prerequisite: See additional information on Mentored Advanced Projects.
Instructor: StaffHumanities
GLS 251-01 - Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 251-01 .
HUM 101 - Humanities I: The Ancient Greek World 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A foundation for further study in the liberal arts, developing skills of critical reading, writing, and imaginative thinking through the study of selected works from ancient Greece. Readings include Homeric epic, tragic drama, Platonic dialogues, Thucydides’ History and Aristotle’s Poetics.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
HUM 102 - Humanities II: Roman and Early Christian Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Major works of Roman and early Christian culture, exploring private and public paths to happiness from Cicero’s ideal commonwealth to the City of God. Readings include Virgil’s Aeneid, Stoic and Epicurean philosophy, satire and drama, Christian scripture, St. Augustine, and Boethius. Emphasis on close reading, discussion, and short essay assignments.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
HUM 120 - Introduction to Material Culture Studies 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: SST 120 . This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies. Participants explore extraordinary and everyday objects from the perspectives of anthropology, archaeology, art/craft histories, gender and sexuality, museum studies, literature, poetry, economics, and history. Meeting at the Stew Makerspace in downtown Grinnell, we blend readings and discussions with hands-on studio work exploring form, ornament, and function in clay, wood, and textile.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Maynard
HUM 140 - Medieval and Renaissance Culture: 1100–1650 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: SST 140 . This interdisciplinary course explores European culture and the social and political forces that shaped it between 1100 and 1650, paying special attention to feudalism and the Crusades, the intellectual efflorescence of the 12th and 13th centuries, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the advent of the Scientific Revolution. In our exploration of medieval and Renaissance culture we will draw on art, science, literature, political theory, philosophy and theology, music, the writings of mystics, and advice manuals for heads of households and would-be courtiers.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
HUM 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Digital Humanities: Ethics, Theory, and Practice 1 credits (Fall)
This course introduces students to the Vivero Digital Scholarship Fellows program. It addresses foundational ethical considerations, core theories, and best practices in digital humanities. Learning outcomes include recognizing the necessary connections between digital humanities and social justice, anti-racist
practice, and feminist practice; developing basic understanding of methods and tools in the field; and learning basic project management skills.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission required.
Note: Dates: August 29 to October 10. 1/2 semester deadlines apply. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Rodrigues, Steelberg
HUM 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Sound Studies 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: FMS 195-01 . Although we live in a moment of hypervisuality, sound has been in the limelight through a resurgence of interest in radio, podcasts, and social media. This course will trace the different ways that sound emerges, works and circulates in our current moment through a study of the history of sound. We will explore
oral culture, cultural noise, technology, slam poetry, sound art, and sound in film.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Sutaria
HUM 195-01 & 03 - Introductory Special Topic: Representing Difference: Jewish Literature and the Arts in France 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 195-02 . This course examines the place of Jews in France during the long nineteenth century, a historical period in which French Jewish citizens negotiated the right to difference amidst a dominant universalist rhetoric. We will study the representation of the Jewish people in popular literature and the visual and performing arts, authored by both Jews and Gentiles. We will also trace the evolution of antisemitism in France throughout the nineteenth century.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Fall - section 03
Spring - section 01
Instructor: Lee
HUM 195-02 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Material Culture Studies 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: SST 195-01 . This course is an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of material culture studies. Participants explore extraordinary and everyday objects from the perspectives of art/craft history, museum studies, literature, religious studies, anthropology, archaeology, and history. Class is held at the Stew MLab in downtown Grinnell, where we blend readings and discussions with hands-on studio work exploring form, ornament, and function in clay, wood, and textile.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Maynard
HUM 200 - Creative Careers: Learning from Alumni
See SST 200 .
HUM 251 - Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 251 . This course takes a theoretical approach to canonical and contemporary children’s literature. Content is variable, but may include The Young Adult Problem Novel, Dystopian Fiction for the Young Adult Reader, and Constructions of Race, Slavery, Class and Gender in Children’s and Young Adult Literature. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: A course in English or another course in literature.
Note: Foreign language available in Russian or French.
Instructor: Staff
HUM 251-01 - Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 251-01 . This course takes a theoretical approach to canonical and contemporary children’s literature. This section will focus primarily on the history of constructions of race and sexuality in American children’s literature, primarily picture books.
Prerequisite: A course in English or another course in literature.
Instructor: Greene
HUM 295-01 - Special Topic: Arabic Arts and Sciences Through History 4 credits (Fall)
This course invites students to explore the major historical developments and intellectual trends that shaped the development of arts and sciences among Muslims in the pre-modern time. Beginning with the rise of Islam, the course extends through the pre-modern time to sketch the growth of the political, social, and religious institutions that influenced the production of knowledge. The focus is on classical Islam, although the class approaches the period through contemporary feature and documentary films.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Foreign Language Option Available in Arabic for course only.
Instructor: Abdelfattah
HUM 295-01 - Special Topic: Digital Journal Publishing: A New Approach 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: SST 295-02 . Course covers all aspects of Rootstalk: A Prairie Journal of Culture, Science, and the Arts. Students expand the idea of a journal, shaping content for the Spring 2023 issue in traditional forms (text and images) but also learning to create online digital content including podcasts, video essays, short films, and audio files. Special focus for this class: In a publishing landscape transformed by the internet, how are journalism and storytelling different, and how are they the same? Discussion will include attention to audience-building, including discussion and study of analytics, social media, and outreach to special populations. Students who have taken other publishing courses taught by these instructors may also take this course.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Andelson, Baechtel
HUM 295-02 - Special Topic: Miscegenation Nation: Representations of Mixed-Race Relationships in Film and TV 2 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ENG 295-01 . Representations of Mixed-race Relationships in Film and TV. Over the last thirty years, there has been an increase in interracial relationships in film and television, creating the appearance of a happily multicultural America. Together, we will explore and research how these contemporary media representations relate to histories of “anti-miscegenation” laws in the United States preventing “interbreeding among the races” as well as contemporary realities of racial terror, racialized cultural appropriation, and the drive for true representation in media.
Prerequisite: Second year standing.
Note: Dates: January 24 to March 16. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Lavan
HUM 295-02 - Special Topic: Social Change in Middle East Cinema 4 credits (Fall)
This course invites students to explore how modern aesthetic forms such as cinema coming from the East critiques rigid social realities as it strives to imagine modern social experiences, thereby pushing boundaries towards social change. By chronologically examining selected Arabic, Turkish, Persians, and Hebrew films in colonial and post-colonial contexts, we will explore how film as art reveals the nature of social myth and the role public intellectuals play in perpetuating or challenging that myth. Course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Foreign Language Option available in Arabic for course only.
Instructor: Abdelfattah
HUM 295-03 - Special Topic: Disability Studies in the Global South 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: GDS 295-01 . This course turns to voices from the Global South and minority diaspora communities in the Global North to investigate how they experience, narrate, and represent disability. We will explore how histories of economic inequity, gender discrimination, and legacies of colonialism mitigate lived experience in perspectives shaped by diverse cultural and religious contexts. The literature, performance, and films we study will cover a range of disability experiences from Argentina, Ethiopia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the United States.
Prerequisite: ENG 120 , ENG 121 , or GDS 111 .
Instructor: Sutaria
HUM 295-03 - Special Topic: Social Change in Middle East Cinema 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ARB 295-01 . This course invites students to explore how modern aesthetic forms such as cinema coming from the East critiques rigid social realities as it strives to imagine modern social experiences, thereby pushing boundaries towards social change. By chronologically examining selected Arabic, Turkish, Persians, and Hebrew films in colonial and post-colonial contexts, we will explore how film as art reveals the nature of social myth and the role public intellectuals play in perpetuating or challenging that myth. Course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abdelfattah
HUM 295-04 - Special Topic: On Animals, Jinn and Humans: Arabic Tales and Falsafa 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ARB 295-02 or GLS 295-01 . Examining Arabic philosophical literature of falsafa, students learn about the significant developments in falsafa, its main achievements, essential arguments, and influence on Arabic and Islamic thought. Readings include Kalila wa Dimna, a collection of fables whose heroes are animals; Hay lbn Yaqzan, a novella on which many jungle book stories are based; and The Case of the Animals versus Man Before the King of the Jinn/Demons, and works of philosophers of illumination, such as al-Suhrawardi. Course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abdelfattah
HUM 295-05 - Special Topic: Juggling and Egg and a Stone: Popular Arabic Film 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: ARB 295-03 . In this course, we explore intersections between cinema and politics. Focusing on Egyptian cinema, students will learn about how filmmakers participated in the production of normative ideas and ideologies. We will examine how films dealt with issues of social inequity, colonial and feudal exploitation, changing gender roles, familial relationships, patriarchy and love, religious and cultural traditions, and, finally, the disappointments of the Nasser and Sadat projects. Course is taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-semester standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abdelfattah
HUM 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Culture, Media, and Social Justice 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: FMS 395-02 . Culture and media are often a part of conversations about what we value, critique, or want to change in society. How are these texts in conversations with our recent questions about social justice? In this course we will explore work by independent podcasts, diverse musical artists, visual media, and online
platforms that speak to matters of race, class, gender, sexuality, disability and more. While texts cannot be perfect, we will examine what role they play in shaping popular perception and instigating change.
Prerequisite: ART 155 , FMS 155 , ART 255 , or FMS 255 .
Instructor: SutariaLatin American Studies
LAS 111 - Introduction to Latin American Studies 4 credits (Spring)
This discussion-based, interdisciplinary Latin American studies course approaches “culture” broadly to include a wide spectrum of everyday experiences, and provides students with a solid foundation for subsequent academic work in the region. The course begins with an overview of definitions of “Latin America” and of its current state as an object of interdisciplinary study, and then explores contemporary issues (i.e. state repression, human rights, immigration) via various disciplines (humanities and social sciences) and genres (i.e., academic essays, narrative journalism, testimonio).
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Aparicio, Benoist
LAS 221 - Introduction to U.S. Latinx Studies 4 credits (Fall)
This interdisciplinary course explores the varied historical, cultural, and political experiences of Latinx in the United States. Some of the main organizing themes include immigration and the construction of immigrant-based communities and identities, gender and sexuality, racial/ethnic constructions, language, and popular culture and media representations. In an effort to place the experience of diverse Latin@ populations in social, political, historical, and cultural/national perspectives, students will review a wide variety of readings and conduct their own research projects. Taught in English.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Petrus
LAS 499 - Senior Research 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An interdisciplinary senior research project for students completing the concentration in Latin American Studies. Credits earned each semester must fulfill program requirements as specified in program description. May be repeated in consecutive semesters by a student pursuing a single research project.
Prerequisite: Permission of the concentration committee required.
See additional information on Mentored Advanced Projects.
Instructor: Staff Linguistics
LIN 114 - Introduction to General Linguistics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
What is language and how is it studied scientifically? This survey course introduces the core subfields of linguistics - phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics - and how these areas integrate with one another in the study of language and society, language acquisition, language technologies, and language change. Our goal is to determine what it means to ‘know’ a language and to examine how language is acquired, produced, and processed, and with what social effects.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
LIN 205 - Computational Linguistics 4 credits (Fall)
See CSC 205 .
LIN 216 - Syntax 4 credits (Spring)
This course investigates the syntax of human language, or the portion of language knowledge that deals with the structure and word order of sentences. We will examine the ways in which we can create scientific models to explain these structures, and we will attempt to use these models to make predictions about the representation of language in the mind.
Prerequisite: LIN 114 .
Instructor: Staff
LIN 228 - Linguistic Typology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
How are languages the same and how are they different? Which characteristics are universal to all languages and which ones are rare? In this course, students will learn to evaluate what is unusual and what is expected in a language. We will determine the range of possible sound inventories, word order patterns, grammatical categories, and lexical categories found within the world’s languages.
Prerequisite: LIN 114 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Hansen
LIN 250 - Language Contact 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ANT 250 .
LIN 270 - Indo-European Language and Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See CLS 270 .
LIN 280 - Phonetics/Phonology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What are the possible sounds of the world’s languages and how are they produced? How do speakers know which sounds to produce in which contexts in their language? In this course, we explore the articulatory and acoustic properties of speech sounds and learn to transcribe speech phonetically. We then find systematic patterns in the organization of sounds in different languages and consider how speakers represent and derive such patterns in their mental grammars.
Prerequisite: LIN 114 , CLS 270 , or LIN 270 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
LIN 295-01 - Special Topic: Introduction to Japanese Linguistics 4 credits (Spring)
See JPN 295-01 .
LIN 295-01 - Special Topic: Second Language Acquisition: Theory and Pedagogy 4 credits (Fall)
This course introduces the fundamental concepts of second language acquisition and their implications for foreign language teaching. Drawing upon theory and current research, students will gain an understanding of cognitive, social, and individual factors of adult language learning. Students will also become familiar with the language education guidelines and standards in the U.S. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on their own teaching and learning experiences, as well as design various teaching activities.
Prerequisite: LIN 114 , Foreign Language Teaching Assistant or one 300-level foreign language course.
Instructor: Staff
LIN 317 - Language Change 4 credits (Spring)
This course investigates the nature of language change and the principles developed by linguistics to account for these changes. We will examine the various domains in which change occurs (phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical/semantic), and the social and linguistic motivations for change. The course will address the methods used to determine the earlier profile of a language or its parent language; students will use these methods in their own research projects.
Prerequisite: LIN 216 , LIN 228 , or LIN 270 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
LIN 375 - Advanced Linguistic Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
This course will expand on the linguistic analysis skills developed in previous coursework, looking specifically at the sub-disciplines of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics and the ways they interact. Each unit will focus on a specific sub-discipline and how it interfaces with another, e.g. morpho-phonology, morpho-syntax, and the syntax-semantics interface. Students will work with data from a variety of languages in order to examine the structural components of language and the various cross-linguistic realizations of these components.
Prerequisite: LIN 216 , LIN 228 , or LIN 270 OR LIN 295 with permission of instructor.
Instructor: Hansen
LIN 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Experimental Linguistics 4 credits (Spring)
What types of questions can linguistic experiments answer? What experimental techniques do linguists use? This course explores the experimental side of linguistics, from core methods of psycholinguistics to experimental work in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and language acquisition. We will examine a variety of techniques and paradigms, familiarize ourselves with statistical tests and models used to analyze experiment results, consider questions of experimental design, and practice interpreting published studies.
Prerequisite: LIN 216 , LIN 228 , LIN 270 , CLS 270 , LIN 295 Loadword Adaptation, LIN 295 Morphology, or LIN 317 .
Instructor: Glewwe
LIN 397 - Independent Study 2 credits
(see Courses of Study: Individual Study )
LIN 499 - Senior Research Project: Mentored Advanced Project 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An interdisciplinary senior research project for students completing the concentration in linguistics. Besides the principal mentor, there will be one or, upon recommendation of the concentration committee, two additional readers. A public presentation is required for it to be counted as an advanced core requirement.
Prerequisite: See additional information on Mentored Advanced Projects.
Instructor: StaffMathematics and Statistics
MAT 115 - Introduction to Statistics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: SST 115 . Introduces the notions of variability and uncertainty and such common statistical concepts as point and interval estimation and hypothesis testing. Data-oriented, with real-world examples chosen from the social and biological sciences. The computer is used for data analysis and to illustrate probabilistic and statistical concepts. A student who takes MAT-115 cannot receive credit for STA 209 .
Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra and second semester of first-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 123 - Functions and Differential Calculus 4 credits (Fall)
An introductory course in mathematics and the first in a two-course sequence. This first semester is an introduction to the differential calculus of functions of one variable with an extensive review of pre-calculus topics such as algebra, graphs, and functions. This review is designed to help students learn to do mathematics at the college level. MAT 123-MAT 124 has the same calculus content as MAT 131 .
Prerequisite: Two years of high school algebra.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 124 - Functions and Integral Calculus 4 credits (Spring)
A continuation of MAT 123 . Additional applications of differential calculus, reviews of both trigonometric and exponential/logarithmic functions, introductions to Riemann sums and the integral calculus of functions of one variable, and methods for antidifferentiation, such as u-substitution and integration by parts. Successful completion of this course prepares students for MAT 133 .
Prerequisite: MAT 123 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 131 - Calculus I 4 credits (Fall)
The first in a two-course sequence. An introduction to the differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable.
Prerequisite: Good preparation, including trigonometry, or departmental placement.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 133 - Calculus II 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A continuation of MAT 131 . Topics include functions of more than one variable: partial and total derivatives, multiple integrals, vector-valued functions, and parametrized curves. Additional topics may include applications to differential equations, line integrals, and Green’s Theorem.
Prerequisite: Mathematics MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 208 - Discrete Structures 4 credits (Spring)
See CSC 208 .
MAT 215 - Linear Algebra 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Linear algebra plays a fundamental role in mathematics and its applications. From a computational perspective, the subject studies systems of linear equations and matrix algebra. Some courses include additional applications such as fitting lines and curves to data, Markov processes, and linear differential equations. From a more abstract perspective, linear algebra studies linear transformations between vector spaces. This course balances the computational, conceptual, and theoretic aspects of the subject, and explores their connections. In addition to the core topics (matrices, vector spaces, eigenvectors, dimension), the course develops mathematical reasoning and writing skills.
Prerequisite: MAT 133 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 218 - Discrete Bridges to Advanced Mathematics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Discrete Bridges to Advanced Mathematics courses prepare students for the 300-level foundations courses through careful attention to mathematical proof writing and creative problem solving. Skill building is a fundamental component: skills include working with fundamental tools of logic to write convincing arguments, grappling deeply with difficult mathematical problems, and reading upper-level undergraduate mathematical texts. Math 218 addresses counting techniques and other discrete topics needed for computer science. May be repeated once for credit when content changes with permission of instructor. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 218-01 - Discrete Bridges to Advanced Mathematics: Elementary Number Theory 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Elementary Number theory is one of the oldest branches of mathematics, far older than Calculus. The subject, at its most basic, asks questions about the integers. For instance, how are the prime numbers distributed among the integers? What are integer solutions to a particular polynomial equation? Which integers can be expressed as the sum of two squares? We will learn about topics such as divisibility, congruences, and quadratic reciprocity, which will help us answer questions like these. Along the way, we will discuss counting techniques and related discrete topics. Proof writing and creative problem solving will be heavily emphasized.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Paulhus, Wolfe
MAT 218-02 - Discrete Bridges to Adv Mathematics: A Second Course in Linear Algebra 4 credits (Spring)
A second course in Linear Algebra. In this course, we work in vector spaces over arbitrary fields. Basic topics include inner products, orthogonality, quadratic forms, the spectral theorem, matrix decompositions, and tensors. This course is a good fit for students interested in applied mathematics, physics, and linear-algebra-intensive branches of computer science. Applications will be included.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Shuman
MAT 218-02 - Discrete Bridges to Advanced Mathematics: Graph Theory 4 credits (Fall Term 2)
A graph consists of a set of vertices and a set of edges - you can draw a graph simply by placing some dots on a page to represent vertices, and then connecting certain pairs of dots with lines to represent the edges. Graphs are useful for understanding any kind of networks - the internet itself could be viewed as a graph, with links between pages representing edges; in fact Google’s PageRank algorithm makes heavy use of ideas from graph theory. In this course, we will use graphs as a means to develop problem solving skills and to improve our ability to construct logical mathematical arguments. After beginning with basic topics including the chromatic number, planarity, trees, Euler circuits, and Hamiltonian paths, we will move on to more advanced topics in which we apply techniques from Linear Algebra, such as eigenvalues and inner products, to obtain deeper and less intuitive results about graphs.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: C. French
MAT 218-03 - Discrete Bridges to Advanced Mathematics: A Second Course in Linear Algebra 4 credits (Fall)
A second course in Linear Algebra. In this course, we work in vector spaces over arbitrary fields. Basic topics include inner products, orthogonality, quadratic forms, the spectral theorem, matrix decompositions, and tensors. This course is a good fit for students interested in applied mathematics, physics, and linear-algebra-intensive branches of computer science. Applications will be included.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Shuman
MAT 220 - Differential Equations 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
First and second order differential equations; series solutions and Fourier series; linear and nonlinear systems of differential equations; applications.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 222 - Bridges to Advanced Mathematics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Bridges to Advanced Mathematics courses prepare students for 300-level foundations courses through careful attention to mathematical proof writing and creative problem solving. Skill building is a fundamental component: skills include working with fundamental tools of logic to write convincing arguments, grappling deeply with difficult mathematical problems, and reading upper-level undergraduate mathematics texts. May be repeated once for credit when content changes with permission of instructor. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 271 - Problem-Solving Seminar 1 credits (Fall)
Students solve challenging mathematics problems and present solutions. Prepares students to take the Putnam Examination, if they wish. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: Completion of, or concurrent registration in
Note: Not offered every year. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 306 - Mathematical Modeling 4 credits (Spring)
An introduction to the process and techniques of modeling “real-world” situations, using topics from linear algebra and differential equations. Appropriate mathematics, including numerical methods, developed when needed. Models drawn from both the social and natural sciences.
Prerequisite: MAT 220 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Offered in alternate years.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 313 - Numerical Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
An introduction to both the analysis and implementation of numerical algorithms. Topics include nonlinear equations, numerical linear algebra, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, approximation, and optimization.
Prerequisite: MAT 218 or MAT 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 313-01 - Numerical Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
An introduction to both the analysis and implementation of numerical algorithms. Topics include nonliner equations, numerical linear algebra, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, approximation, and optimization.
Prerequisite: MAT 218 or MAT 222 .
Instructor: Blanchard
MAT 314 - Topics in Applied Mathematics 4 credits (Spring)
Topics include, but are not limited to, one of the following: Chaos and Fractals (one- and two-dimensional discrete dynamics, iterated function systems, fractal dimension), Fourier Analysis (fast Fourier transform, Fourier series, wavelets), or Partial Differential Equations (heat and wave equation, eigenfunction expansions). May be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Varies depending on topic.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 314-01 - Topics in Applied Mathematics: Compressed Sensing 4 credits (Spring)
Compressed Sensing. An exploratory introduction to advanced numerical linear algebra and optimization techniques and their application to signal processing via compressed sensing. Through an inquiry-based approach, the course covers the theory and implementation of singular value decompositions, least squares solutions, function spaces, sparse representations, discrete orthogonal system, foundations of compressing sensing, restricted isometries, iterative algorithms, and convex optimization.
Prerequisite: MAT 218 or MAT 313 .
Instructor: Blanchard
MAT 316 - Foundations of Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A thorough study of the topology of the real line and of limits of functions of one real variable. This theory is then used to develop the theory of the derivative and integral of functions of one real variable and also sequences and series of real numbers and functions.
Prerequisite: MAT 218 or MAT 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 317 - Advanced Topics in Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Analysts seek to understand mathematical entities, such as numbers, vectors, and functions, through approximation, convergence, and representation. This approach has yielded important insights in pure mathematics, in areas like differential equations, geometry, and number theory, as well as applications in areas like signal processing, data analysis, and quantum theory. This course will build on the foundations of analysis, exploring an advanced topic in this area. The course will regularly provide an opportunity to pursue research. May be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: MAT 316 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 317-01 & 02 - Advanced Topics in Analysis: Experimental Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
The pure mathematician has traditionally solved problems by “paper and pencil.” While the use of computers has changed our world in many respects, this has not (with few exceptions) come back to significantly help pure mathematicians in their research. This course will show how computers can be leveraged to study problems connected to analysis, including problems in integration, infinite series, difference equations, chaos theory, and root finding. The common thread is using the computer algebra system Maple, with its symbolic, numerical, and visual capabilities, to formulate conjectures, find counterexamples, and even aid in constructing proofs. Students will master the use of Maple, learn some recently developed algorithmic tools, and work on a research project. Previous experience with a computer algebra system is not required.
Prerequisite: MAT 316 .
Instructor: Chamberland
MAT 321 - Foundations of Abstract Algebra 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The study of algebraic structures, with emphasis on formal systems such as groups, rings, and fields.
Prerequisite: MAT 218 or MAT 222 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 322 - Advanced Topics in Algebra 4 credits (Spring)
Algebraists study sets with operations, such as matrices under addition and multiplication. Algebraic structures are central in modern mathematics, arising in areas like number theory and combinatorics, topology and geometry, and also finding applications in fields like cryptography and coding theory - even data analysis and music theory. This course will build on the foundations of abstract algebra, exploring an advanced topic in this area. The course will regularly provide an opportunity to pursue research. May be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: MAT 321 .
Instructor: Staff
MAT 322-01 & 02 - Advanced Topics in Algebra: Algebraic Graph Theory 4 credits (Spring)
While the resemblances between graph theory and algebra initially appear limited, the exchange of ideas between these two fields has been mutually advantageous. Using ideas from algebra, one can construct graphs with special properties. For example, Paley graphs arise by taking the orbit of a single edge under the semilinear automorphisms of a finite field. Many important graphs can be described and studied by recognizing them as Cayley graphs of groups with a set of generators.
Studying the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of a graph leads to spectral graph theory, which has yielded beautiful structural results about graphs, as well as practical applications. Spectral graph theory is at the heart of Google’s PageRank algorithm and has begun to yield potential advances in augmented reality.
Graph theorists not only benefit from making use of algebra, but also return the favor. Some problems in group theory have been solved by reducing them to problems in graph theory, or have found examples of remarkable groups arising from graphs. Most notably, in the monumental efforts of the late 20th century to classify the finite simple groups, several of the examples (such as J2, HS, and McL) were constructed by studying subgroups of the automorphism groups of certain remarkable graphs.
In the first half of this course, students will be introduced to some of the ideas at the intersection of algebra and graph theory. In the second half, students will work on an independent research project on a specialized topic within the subject, to be determined by the student in consultation with the professor.
Prerequisite: MAT 321 .
Instructor: C. French
MAT 330 - Applied Data Science 4 credits (Spring)
See STA 330 .
MAT 335 - Probability and Statistics I 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: STA 335 . An introduction to the mathematical theory of probability and statistical inference. Discrete and continuous distributions, as well as sampling distributions and the limit theorems of probability, will be introduced. The importance of randomization and simulation for computing statistical probabilities will be explored.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 ; and STA 209 , MAT 218 , or MAT 220 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 336 - Probability and Statistics II 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: STA 336 . A systematic treatment of mathematical statistics based on probability theory. Topics will include: principles of estimation and hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, linear models including regression and analysis of variance, and nonparametric inference. A variety of applications will be considered.
Prerequisite: MAT 335 or STA 335 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MAT 444 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
Advanced course with varying content. Strongly recommended for students considering further work in mathematics and statistics. May be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Will vary depending on topic.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: StaffMusic
MUS 100 - Introduction to Music Studies 4 credits (Fall)
Music is an essential component of human life. In this course, students will examine the ways in which music moves people, creates meaning, forms knowledge, and shapes social life as an expression of history, culture, identity, and creativity. Using examples from multiple styles, time periods, and geographic origins, students will learn to engage with the sonic dimensions of music through live performance, recordings, and written forms. Students will consider how different modes of writing and thinking about music both inside and outside of the academy intersect with multiple ways of making music, whether through collaborative performance, improvisation, composition, or amateur music-making. Beyond developing skills of critical listening, thinking, and writing, students will learn and reinforce the skills necessary to continue studies in music. Lab work required.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Students with prior music notation and keyboard experience should take the music placement exam during New Student Orientation to determine if they can test out of the lab.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 101 - Practicum: Performance Ensembles 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The study of musical repertory, technique, and expression through regular ensemble rehearsals and public performances. One credit is awarded for each participation in a musical organization directed by the department. Practicum may be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: All participants in musical ensembles are required by the Registrar to register for the course, either for credit (1 cr) or for audit (0 cr) (Please note: credits earned in MUS 101 are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee). Students registering as an audit should use the current degree-seeking Audit Registration Form. Faculty, staff, and community should use the non-degree-seeking students Audit Registration Form. A maximum of eight practicum credits may count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 101-02 - Oratorio Society 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Singing in the Oratorio Society is an excellent way to develop your musical skills, and once you have refined those skills in singing, in listening to others, in reading pitches and rhythms, choral singing can be a rewarding activity for your entire lifetime. The Oratorio Society draws together students, faculty, and staff of the college, people from the town of Grinnell, and nearby cities such as Newton and Malcolm. In recent years, the Oratorio Society has performed many of the masterpieces from the choral literature, such as the Brahms Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem and Grand Mass in C Minor, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Bach’s Magnificat, Verdi’s Requiem, and Britten’s monumental War Requiem. In addition to performing these major works, the choir also has expanded its activity beyond the confines of classical music. In the spring of 2012, for example, the Oratorio Society participated in thrilling performances of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, in collaboration with the Grinnell Jazz Ensemble. In the 2012-13 season, we presented The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, by Carol Barnett, in collaboration with an outstanding bluegrass string band from Minneapolis, Monroe Crossing, and Orff’s Carmina Burana, in collaboration with the Grinnell Singers, Grinnell Symphony, and Ottumwa Symphony. Originally founded in 1901, the Grinnell Oratorio Society was, in the early decades of the 20th Century, one of Iowa’s most auspicious musical institutions. Edward Scheve (1865-1924), a composer of symphonies, concertos, oratorios, and chamber music, established the choir as an outgrowth of the music conservatory that was then part of Grinnell College.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Rommereim
MUS 101-03 - Collegium Musicum 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Collegium Musicum is dedicated to the performance of Early Music (the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, & Classical periods of Western European music history) using historically appropriate techniques and instruments. It provides a hands-on way of learning about music history, exploring the beautiful but less often heard music of earlier periods while developing aural skills such as sight-reading. The ensemble includes both singers and instrumentalists, divided into several groups according to repertoire and experience level. Each group meets for approximately one hour per week. Instrumentalists perform on the College’s outstanding collection of replica period instruments. Since many of these are ancestors of modern instruments, students can often transfer their knowledge of modern technique fairly easily. Both group and individual instruction is provided.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation; no prior knowledge of Early Music required. Audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Brown
MUS 101-04 - Grinnell Singers 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Singers is a select ensemble that performs distinguished choral music from a wide variety of traditions, with repertoire that spans five centuries – from Brahms to Bluegrass, from Renaissance England to twenty-first century New York. Each year brings new, adventurous projects. Highlights for 2012-13 included: hosting one of Cuba’s foremost professional choirs, performing Carol Barnett’s celebrated Bluegrass Mass, traveling on a Spring-Break tour to Chicago, Ann Arbor, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and New York, and participating in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. This year’s season will include a collaboration The Lyra Consort, a professional period-instrument orchestra from Minneapolis, in a performance of Handel’s oratorio, Esther. The ensemble has also commissioned major composers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Steven Stucky and, in 2012, the rising star Mohammed Fairouz. For more enterprising musicians, the ensemble affords excellent opportunities for leadership. The assistant conductor and section leaders play important roles, and thereby the students gain valuable experience in conducting and rehearsal management. An elected choir council actively shapes the choir’s work. In addition to their ambitious musical activities, the Grinnell Singers pursue service projects, and they aspire to create a supportive, cohesive organization that serves as a positive force both for its members and for the community at large.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation. Audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Boggs
MUS 101-06 - Grinnell Symphony Orchestra 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Symphony Orchestra is a full symphonic ensemble comprised of student musicians representing all disciplines within the college who are unified by a love of music and a dedication to the art of orchestral performance. The GSO typically gives from five to seven performances each season, including a wide range of music from the Baroque era to the 21st Century. Full orchestra rehearsals are held on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and one-hour sectional rehearsals for strings, woodwinds, and brass are held on Wednesday evenings. Woodwind, brass, and percussion players are often only needed in rehearsal for a portion of the rehearsal time each week. Specific schedules are distributed at the beginning of each week
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation. Audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: McIntyre
MUS 101-07 - Latin American Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Latin American Ensemble of Grinnell College was founded in the fall of 2001. Primarily comprised of college students, the Ensemble has performed a variety of styles of latin music including bolero, bossa nova, cha cha cha, tango, and Brazilian folk song. In addition to the end-of-semester concerts, the ensemble has performed for a variety of local organizations: as part of “cruise night” at the retirement and nursing home community; as a complement to a Brazilian art exhibit at the Grinnell College Museum of Art; for the Cinco de Mayo celebration at a local restaurant; and as part of the annual talent show organized by the College’s International Student Organization.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation (except for singers/percussionists). Audition required.
Note: Note offered 2018-2019. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Espinosa
MUS 101-08 - Percussion, Marimba, and Steel Pan Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Percussion, Marimba, and Steel Pan Ensemble is dedicated to exploring the world of music through the eyes of percussion. Grinnell is home to one of the largest and most diverse collections of percussion instruments in the country. Beyond standard concert percussion instruments like marimba and xylophone, instruments from Brazil, to Ghana, to Trinidad can be found at Grinnell. It is because of this extensive collection of instruments that the ensemble has the ability to perform a wide variety of music. Whether performing a Bach Chorale transcribed for Marimba, an avant-garde work written for percussion by John Cage, a Bob Marley classic on the sweet sound of Steel Pans, or a Radiohead tune completely played on percussion instruments, there is something for everyone in this ensemble. The ensemble meets every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. in BCA 103 and culminates in a concert at the end of the semester. No previous experience in percussion or reading musical notation is required, although it is strongly encouraged that those with no experience consider pairing this ensemble with a weekly private lesson (MUS 120-08) to help further enrich your experience.
Prerequisite: No previous musical experience required. No audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Ramirez
MUS 101-09 - Fresh Flute Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Fresh Flutes at Grinnell is one of the Music Department’s small ensembles open to intermediate and advanced flutists. The ensemble plays music for multiple flutes (piccolo, C flute, alto, and bass) that comes from all musical styles and eras. Our musical goal is to expand your knowledge of repertoire and extend your playing skills: this includes improving traditional tone and technical playing as well as acquiring contemporary or extended techniques on the instrument. Development as chamber musicians is a high priority in the group. Skills include increased sensitivity to listening, adjusting to ongoing ideas coming from each member, flexibility in moving from one type of flute to another, and understanding how to contribute individual abilities to create a musical and social whole that transcends each person. We perform at least one concert per semester, with combinations of duo, trio, quartet, quintet, and the entire ensemble. Repertoire ranges from Boismortier to Ian Clarke, Derek Charke, Cynthia Folio and other contemporary composers; we also feature works composed for the group by Grinnell faculty and students. Fresh Flutes meets officially once a week for 1 hr 30 minutes, and outside this time for independently arranged sessions with the smaller groups. The College has a collection of instruments that ensemble members may borrow free of charge. Fresh Flutes is a wonderful place to explore challenging music but is also a special community to bond with and find your identity as a flutist at Grinnell.
Prerequisite: Fluent in reading music. Audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Anderson
MUS 101-10 - YGB Gospel Choir 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Young, Gifted and Black Gospel Choir, open to students of all backgrounds, has a 45-year history on the Grinnell campus. The name of the choir was taken from a work entitled “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black” by the famous black writer Lorraine Hansberry. The choir has members from many different cultures, nationalities, and races, using diversity as a bond. YGB strives to create a place where “men will judge men by their souls, and not by their skins” (W.E.B. DuBois), while continuing the tradition of celebrating Black American culture through Gospel Music. Through a bond of “cultural uniformity,” the choir ministers to a variety of audiences with a wide selection of sacred music, including spirituals and traditional and contemporary gospel. The group sings for the monthly Black Church services at Herrick Chapel. It also performs concerts around campus; its 2012 tour included churches in Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas.
Prerequisite: No previous musical experience required. No audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Jones
MUS 101-14 - Chamber Ensembles 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Chamber Ensembles at Grinnell College explore music composed for small groups, performed without a conductor. Many composers from Mozart and Beethoven to Shostakovic and Philip Glass, have written some of their best compositions for small ensembles. String quartets and piano trios form the core of the repertoire, but there are many other possible combinations of strings, keyboards, and winds. Each player has an individual part and learns to be musically independent, while also being sensitive to the others in the group. Weekly coachings are supplemented by independent rehearsals, and culminate in two or more performances each semester. Visiting artists, such as the Pacifica, Brentano, American and St. Lawrence string quartets, give outstanding master classes.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation. Audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: N. Gaub
MUS 101-17 - Jazz Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Jazz Ensemble is open to instrumentalists (and occasionally vocalists) who are interested in the study and performance of jazz works from the large ensemble tradition. The ensemble performs music from a wide variety of jazz-related styles, and frequently performs works by both veteran and contemporary jazz composers. Past concerts have included compositions by composers such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Sammy Nestico, Miles Davis, and Charles Mingus, Maria Schneider, Gordon Goodwin, Thad Jones and Oliver Nelson.Visiting artists, such as Matt Harris and Marcus Belgrave, give outstanding master classes and clinics.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation, competency on chosen instrument, and prior experience with jazz music. Audition required.
Note: The group rehearses 4 hours weekly and customarily performs twice per semester. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Laver
MUS 101-19 - Symphonic Band 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Symphonic Band is open to instrumentalists who are interested in the study and performance of the wind band medium in the large ensemble tradition. The group performs music from a wide variety of styles by both national and international composers. The band strives to develop advanced techniques of musical expression and interpretation. Past concerts have included works by composers such as Percy Grainger, Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Philip Sousa, Eric Whitacre, Alfred Reed, Giovanni Gabrieli, Norman Dello Joio, Karl King, John Williams, and Felix Mendelssohn.
Prerequisite: Ability to read music notation, competency on chosen instrument, and prior experience with concert music. No audition required.
Note: The group rehearses Monday evenings: 7:00-9:00 pm and customarily performs twice per semester. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 101-20 - Zimbabwean Mbira Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The mbira is a handheld instrument with metal keys struck with the thumbs and right index finger played in the Shona community of Zimbabwe. In our ensemble, students will focus on instrumental instruction, but will also learn how to sing in the appropriate style and play the hosho, a set of gourd rattles, as their interests take them. There is no written music and everything is learned aurally. The primary goal is to learn the specifics of technique and style for this instrument and to play as a group. The mbira is a participatory instrument and is rarely performed solo, thus the rewards of collective music-making are emphasized. The mbira repertoire is a rich body of songs dedicated to the ancestral spirits for whom they are played. Learning the mbira with others can be a rewarding musical and social experience that will hopefully last longer than your College career.
Prerequisite: No previous musical experience required. No audition required.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Perman
MUS 101-21 - Grinnell Arab Music Firqa Ensemble 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
The Grinnell Arab Music Firqa is an ensemble that performs of a wide range of musics from North Africa and the Middle East including selections from Andalusian art music, religious repertoires (Islamic and Jewish), and popular music. The group is participatory, exploratory, and supportive, so all who are willing to try are very welcome. As the human voice is at the center of music-making in Arab societies, all students will do some singing as part of class instruction. Students will also master key drum rhythms and learn how to recognize and perform in several different musical modes. Both instrumentalists and vocalists may join and students may choose to alternate between the two, as they like. We hope to also offer workshops on instruments from the Middle East and North Africa with visiting artist(s). Heritage language speakers of Arabic and students of Arabic language at Grinnell are heartily encouraged to join.
Prerequisite: Musical background preferred, but not required. If not proficient on a musical instrument, please join us as a singer. No Arabic language background required.
Instructor: Colwell
MUS 112 - Music Theory I 4 credits (Spring)
The study of how individual chords are combined to create a piece of tonal music in a variety of styles from Bach to contemporary popular music. Focuses on developing aural, analytical, and creative skills to enhance appreciation, performance, and composition. Lab work required.
Prerequisite: MUS 100 .
Instructor: Cha, E. Gaub
MUS 116 - Music, Culture, Context 4 credits (Spring)
This course explores our globalized musical present and the major forces (social, political, economic, technological) that have shaped it over the last few centuries. Attention is focused on music-making as a form of human activity within and between cultures. Course content ranges over musics of diverse times and places. No prior experience in music is needed.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Perman
MUS 120 - Performance: Private Instruction 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Private lessons in instrumental or vocal music, intended for beginning to intermediate students. Weekly 30-minute private lessons totaling seven hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of 30 minutes per day. One credit for each area studied, e.g., voice, piano, flute, etc. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee (over 18 credits). A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 122 - Performance: Group Instruction 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Group lessons in instrumental, vocal music, world hand drumming, flute, etc. intended for beginning to intermediate students. Weekly 60-minute small-group lessons totaling 14 hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of 30 minutes per day. One credit for each area studied, e.g., voice, piano, etc. Does not count toward the music major. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee (over 18 credits). A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 201 - Intermediate Music Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: Depends on topic. Possible topics include: Music, Mind, and Brain; Music, Society, and Gender; Listening to Music; Music, Capitalism, and Consumption; Laptop Composition; Music, Theatre, Opera; Race and Musical Taste. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Varies according to topic. Consult registration materials for prerequisites.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 201-01 - Intermediate Music Studies: Music in Interdisciplinary Conversations 4 credits (Spring)
Combining multiple perspectives to a new level of integration across disciplines is vital to higher education in general, and liberal arts education in particular, in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). In an effort to do the ultimate exercise in interdisciplinarity, this course investigates music through a variety of disciplinary lenses such as physics, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, linguistics, semiotics, philosophy, sociology, economics, gender and sexuality studies, and disability studies. Greater emphasis will be placed on open-ended discussions than on rigid verifications, as fostering a process of interdisciplinary inquiry into music would be more about “probing,” and less about “proving,” meaningful interactions, intersections, and interconnections between music and various disciplines. Through such activities as directed reading, writing, presenting, listening, and discussion leading, participants in the course shall aspire to discourse on music in an interdisciplinary context via integrating ideas from the complex of at least two of the aforementioned disciplinary perspectives with a musical topic of their choice.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Cha
MUS 201-02 - Intermediate Music Studies: Music, Mind, and Brain 4 credits (Fall)
This course explores the rapidly growing field of the psychology of music. What would the evolutionary origins of music be? How does music evoke emotions in listeners? How do musical behaviors emerge and mature? What are the neural underpinnings of human musicality? What underlies our perceptual and cognitive response to music structure? What are the psychological and neurological processes involved in composition, improvisation, and performance? In an attempt to answer such questions, we will examine scientific foundations of how humans perceive, understand, and create music in light of the advances in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, philosophy, and music theory.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Cha
MUS 201-03 - Intermediate Music Studies: Global Heavy Metal 4 credits (Fall)
Heavy metal music has found its way around the world through the activities of humans’ social relationships. Musically, heavy metal is loud, abrasive, and aggressive, but its nuances of social meaning are sensitive to ideas of politics, class, race, and, environment. In this class, we will explore how this ostensible music of exiles contributes to place-making, creative culture sharing, and is used to negotiate modernity through social change. Students will get a chance to partake in the foundations of ethnographic fieldwork and create projects that manifest in different modalities including, article writing, film making, musical composition, podcast interviewing, and festival curating. In studying the subtexts of reasons for people to occupy heavy metal spaces (as audience and active performer) we will uncover what heavy metal’s role is in the world’s many social relationships.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Hiranmayena
MUS 202 - Topics in American Music 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Detailed study of a particular musical tradition in the United States. Possible areas to be covered include rock music, Latino music, music of black Americans, and American popular music. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Consult registration materials for prerequisites.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 202-01 - Topics in American Music: Broadway Theatre 4 credits (Spring)
The Broadway musical is one of America’s most important contributions to popular culture. Through live professional shows, cast albums, movies, student and community productions, and a never-ending stream of hit songs, the musical has in many ways been the soundtrack to American life for over 100 years, uniting generations, addressing social issues, and having lots of fun in the process. In this course we will explore the history of American musical theater. We will analyze selected musicals in depth, describing musical ideas in non-technical terms, and also studying genesis of each show in light of current scholarship. We will also have a unit on Production, with guest lectures by professionals in the industry. Each student will do a research project on a musical of their choice. There will also be 4 short (1-2 page) writing assignments. No musical experience necessary.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Brown
MUS 202-02 - Topics in American Music: Country Music 4 credits (Spring)
Country music is often imagined to be an essential, authentic representation of the spirit of rural, white America – “three chords and the truth,” as the songwriter Harlan Howard put it.
Any phenomenon that seems as tidy as country music is made to seem, that discursively clings so fiercely to its claim to a kind of truth and authenticity, is worthy of careful, critical scrutiny. And that’s the work that we’ll be doing in this class. With close attention to icons ranging from Jimmy Rodgers and the Carter Family to Hank Williams and Johnny Cash to Brandi Carlile and Lil Nas X, we’ll consider the different ways that country music is enmeshed in what bell hooks calls ”white supremacist capitalist patriarchy,” whether as a sustaining force for the status quo, a critical tool for artistic insurgency, or something in the middle. By uncovering country music’s surprising histories with respect to race, gender, sexuality, class, and nationalism through our work with historical and contemporary music and scholarship, we’ll seek to better understand how those and other aspects of human identity are woven into the fabric of music-making, and into the fabric of the United States. This class includes a travel component: a ten-day trip through Missouri and Tennessee during spring break where we’ll visit museums, go to concerts, meet with artists and other industry figures, and even cut our own record on Music Row.
Students interested in this course will need to complete an application due October 10th in addition to the normal course registration process. The application materials are available on GrinnellShare (Academics>Centers>Center for International Studies>Global Learning Program).
Students selected to participate in the Course-Embedded Travel program will be required to pay a $260 participation fee (most other required travel expenses will be covered). This fee will be added to the student tuition bill and will be due by the first day of classes. The Department of Music is offering course participants who are on financial aid a scholarship for this Spring 2023 course. The course instructor will follow up with accepted students with details on receiving the scholarship. If payment of this fee causes you financial concern, please contact Megan Jones in the Financial Aid Office to discuss loan options to cover this additional cost of attendance.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Laver
MUS 203 - Topics in Ethnomusicology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Detailed study of music as an element of social and cultural life, as understood within the field of ethnomusicology. Possible topics include: Music in Religious Experience; Zimbabwe: Music, Culture, and Colonialism; Theory and Method in Ethnomusicology; Popular Music and the Black Atlantic. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites will vary depending on topic. Consult registration materials for prerequisite.
Instructor: Perman
MUS 204 - Jazz Traditions 4 credits (Spring)
The history of jazz traces the development of jazz from its African and European roots to contemporary style. Through reading and listening assignments, major styles and prominent musicians will be discussed. Primarily examines jazz from a sociocultural perspective.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Laver
MUS 205 - African Music 4 credits (Fall)
Music in Africa shapes political life, religious piety, social understanding, and connects communities on the continent with the rest of the world through complex histories of interaction tied to slavery, colonialism, and post-colonial engagement. This class introduces students to a diverse range of African musical practices from combined ethnomusicological and anthropological perspectives and contextualizes these practices within global political, spiritual, historical, and social contexts. We explore race, colonial history, African modernity, and expressive community through Africa’s musical diversity.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Perman
MUS 212 - Aural Skills II 1 credits (Fall)
Development of aural understanding through singing, dictation, conducting, and improvisation. Topics include identification and singing of chromatic intervals and harmonies, singing of chromatic melodies using “moveable do” solfège, notation of chromatic and modulating melodies and chord progressions by dictation, improvisation of phrase and period structures, conducting patterns, and aural analysis of binary and ternary forms.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Normally taken in conjunction with MUS 213, this course may also be taken separately.
Instructor: N. Gaub
MUS 213 - Music Theory II 4 credits (Fall)
Examines the structure of 18th- and 19th-century music and completes the study of harmony begun in MUS 112 . Includes critical analysis of entire movements and composition based on tonal models.
Co-requisite: Concurrent registration in MUS 212 .
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Cha, E. Gaub
MUS 215 - Introduction to Composition 4 credits (Fall)
Students learn and apply recent techniques of composition. Expands on the compositional experiences of MUS 112 by opening students to the exploration of contemporary tonal, serial, and experimental musical styles and dealing with matters of orchestration and music form.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: E. McIntyre, Rommereim
MUS 216 - Jazz Improvisation 4 credits (Fall)
An integral part of the jazz tradition, improvisation is a necessary skill for the successful performer in the jazz idiom. This course will serve to familiarize the student with the basics of jazz harmony and improvisation, including the reading of chord symbols, basic jazz repertoire, stylizing melody, and the correlation between the ear and performance in jazz. In addition, this course will serve as an introduction to the various styles commonly employed in jazz (including swing, latin, and ballad) and as a means to explore the application of skill in jazz improvisation to the performance of current forms of popular music (rock, pop, funk, etc.). The basics of protocols for performance in a jazz setting will also be covered.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 217 - Conducting 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to the art of conducting with emphasis on advanced score reading and analysis, fundamental physical technique, rehearsal techniques, and ensemble leadership. Students will have opportunities to conduct ensembles of various types and sizes, including readings with the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra.
Prerequisite: MUS 213 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: E. McIntyre, Rommereim
MUS 219 - Electronic Music 4 credits (Spring)
History and techniques of electronic and computer music. Topics include compositional aesthetics, recording technology, digital and analog synthesis, sampling, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), and computer-assisted composition. Focuses on the creation of finished works to be presented in public concert.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Rommereim
MUS 220 - Performance: Advanced Private Instruction 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Private lessons in instrumental or vocal music, intended for intermediate to advanced students. The study of performance combined with considerations of history, analysis, and style. Weekly 30-minute lessons totaling seven hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of one hour per day. Performance requirement: at least one performance in a department-sponsored recital or repertoire class per semester. Two credits for each area studied. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee (over 18 credits). A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320 and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 221 - Performance: Advanced Private Instruction 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Private lessons in instrumental or vocal music, intended for intermediate to advanced students. The study of performance combined with considerations of history, analysis, and style. Weekly 60-minute lessons totaling 14 hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of one hour per day. Performance requirement: at least one performance in a department-sponsored recital or repertoire class per semester. Two credits for each area studied. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee (over 18 credits). A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 261 - Music in Europe to 1750 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Much of the world’s music produced before the development of recording technology in the 20th century is lost to us. The major exception is Europe, where a system of written notation emerged 1200 years ago, preserving a musical legacy of incredible beauty. This course explores music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque. Through intensive listening and musical analysis, close reading of historical texts, and interrogation of socio-political institutions and cultural forces, students develop broad musical and academic skills that enrich and facilitate further studies both in the field of music and across disciplines. Introduces the principal research tools and methods in the field of musicology, and provides hands-on application of historical information using Grinnell’s outstanding collection of historical instruments.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 . MUS 213 highly recommended.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Brown
MUS 262 - Music in Europe and the Americas from 1720 to the Present 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the sounds of “classical” music and the ideas that shaped them as aesthetic trends shifted from Enlightenment rationalism in the 18th century to 19th-century Romanticism and the experiments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Through intensive listening and musical analysis, close reading of historical texts, and interrogation of socio-political institutions and cultural forces, students develop broad musical and academic skills that enrich and facilitate further studies both in the field of music and across disciplines. Introduces the principal research tools and methods in the field of musicology.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 . MUS 213 highly recommended.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Brown
MUS 320 - Performance: Shared Recital 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
An advanced and intensive study of music literature through private tutorial instruction in a single area of instrumental or vocal music. The study of performance related to advanced studies in criticism, history, analysis, and style. Weekly 60-minute lessons totaling 14 hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of 60 minutes per day. Performance requirement: a shared recital with one other student who is also registered for MUS-320 the same semester. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: Third-year or senior standing, MUS 220 or MUS 221 in the semester prior to registration, instructor’s consent, and signature of department chair.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee (over 18 credits). A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 322 - Advanced Studies in Music 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In-depth study of a particular area of music research, including musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and various subdisciplines such as performance practice, music cognition, semiotics, aesthetics, editing and source studies, and criticism. Possible topics include Music of the English Renaissance, Baroque Improvisation, Mozart’s Operas, Late Beethoven, Music and Nationalism, Music and Meaning, Music and the Colonial Experience, Rhythm Theories, Mathematical Theories of Music, and Feminist Musicology. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Will vary depending on topic.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
MUS 322-01 - Advanced Studies in Music: Music and Capitalism 4 credits (Spring)
Particularly since the 18th Century, North Americans and Europeans have come to imagine that “art” stands in necessary opposition to “commerce.” If you produce art for money, you’re compromising your ideas; you’re “inauthentic;” you’re a “sell-out;” or worse. In large part because of this discursive opposition, however, the categories of art and commerce have interacted in complex and intriguing ways. In this course, we will examine the ways in which music and musicians operated along side, within, and against the capitalist system of commercial exchange. Drawing on examples from the 1600s to the present, from Josquin des Prez and Ludwig van Beethoven to Jay-Z and Nickleback, we will put the art-commerce dialectic in historical context and discuss its manifestations in the 21st century incarnation of capitalism and the global culture of consumption.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Instructor: Laver
MUS 322-02 - Advanced Studies in Music: Advanced Tonal Theories 4 credits (Spring)
Tonal theory in the United States had been a branch of study concerned primarily with an analytic method developed by Heinrich Schenker. Since the founding of the Society for Music Theory in 1977, however, it has transformed itself into a highly interdisciplinary field, utilizing a wide variety of new research models that span the humanities, social studies, and sciences. Beginning with an introduction to chromatic harmony, large forms, and Schenkerian principles, this course explores a series of select theoretical paradigms that have emerged over the past 30 years (e.g., generative linguistics, semiotics and narratology, disability studies, gender and sexuality studies, critical race theory, cognitive psychology, and corpus-assisted discourse studies) to better understand tonality. We will critically engage the major issues and methodologies of these more recent trends in tonal analysis through reading, writing, listening, and seminar discussion.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Instructor: Cha
MUS 323 - Orchestration 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will focus on practical exercises in arranging pre-existing music for orchestral instruments. Students will learn about the techniques and capabilities of modern orchestral instruments through the study of representative scores, demonstrations of musical instruments by Grinnell students and faculty, and orchestration exercises in a variety of compositional styles from the classical period to the present. Students will learn to use music notation software for producing professional quality scores and parts.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: E. McIntyre
MUS 324 - Tonal Counterpoint 4 credits (Fall)
A study of 18th-century contrapuntal techniques through writing and analyzing two- and three-voice counterpoints, two- and three-part inventions, and three- and four-part fugues. The course will focus on the keyboard works of J. S. Bach, in which tonal counterpoint reached its highest level of sophistication. Work for class includes readings in the textbook, listening and analysis, frequent written exercises, and two larger projects as well as midterm and final exams.
Prerequisite: MUS 112 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Cha, Rommereim
MUS 325 - Composition Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
A course for students who wish to develop their skills and possibly prepare for graduate study or professional work as composers. In addition to composition assignments, students will engage in thorough analysis of important works, discussions of compositional aesthetics, and explorations on a broad range of professional topics, including career options, performance opportunities, grant-writing, and commissions.
Prerequisite: MUS 215 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: E. McIntyre, Rommereim
MUS 420 - Performance: Recital 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
An advanced and intensive study of music literature through private tutorial instruction in a single area of instrumental or vocal music. The study of performance related to advanced studies in criticism, history, analysis, and style. Weekly 60-minute lessons totaling 14 hours of instruction per semester. Practice expectation: minimum of 60 minutes per day. Performance requirement: a full recital. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: Third-year or senior standing, MUS 220 or MUS 221 in the semester prior to registration, instructor’s consent, and signature of department chair.
Note: Credits earned for music lessons are NOTE counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” (over 18 credits). For music lesson fees, see Financial Regulations. A maximum of 16 credits in Music 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 will count toward graduation. Credits in Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 may not exceed a total of six in any one semester. Students should note that Music 101, 120, 122, 220, 221, 320, and 420 are included in the 48-credit maximum in the department.
Instructor: StaffNeuroscience
NRS 250 - Neuroscience: Foundations, Future, and Fallacies 4 credits (Spring)
This course introduces the historical and theoretical foundations of neuroscience. Topics will range broadly from questions at the molecular and cellular level to those of organismal behavior; and consideration will be given to how traditional disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and psychology have helped inform the field. The course will trace the development of neuroscience, considering both its successes and failures, as a means for appreciating its future directions. Three classes, one laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: Two 100-level science courses (with laboratories); must be from two different departments.
Instructor: Staff
NRS 495 - Neuroscience Seminar 4 credits (Fall)
The seminar provides the culmination of the neuroscience concentration. As a recapitulation of the interdisciplinary nature of the field, a significant problem in the field will be chosen for study, and students will be exposed to multiple approaches to address this problem. The course will focus on analysis of relevant primary literature with an emphasis on student-led discussion. A major writing project in the course will integrate the student’s coursework in the concentration.
Prerequisite: NRS 250 , completion of or concurrent enrollment in the cross-divisional elective, and senior standing. Limited to neuroscience concentrators.
Instructor: StaffPeace and Conflict Studies
PCS 101 - Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of Peace and Conflict studies. We will take multiple disciplinary perspectives to understand the factors that lead to conflict or aggression, from the individual to a group and to a societal level. We will explore how identities, ideologies, and values, as well as political, social, economic or environmental structures and conditions foster conflict or peace and the mechanisms through which they are sustained.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
PCS 230 - Conflict Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines theories and perspectives on issues of conflict, violence, and conflict management in contemporary societies, with attention to the role of third parties in conflict resolution and peacemaking. Topics include alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques, restorative justice, peace processes in wars and ethnic conflicts, and principles of conflict management at the micro and macro levels.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 , POL 101 , PCS 101 , or SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Application process and instructor permission required.
Instructor: Staff
PCS 295-01 - Special Topic: Introduction to Mediation 1 credits (Fall)
Disputes vary in shape, intensity and complexity and arise in multiple settings. The mediation process strives to resolve differences in ways that are effective, responsive to participant interests, and consistent with fundamental conceptions of fairness and dignity. This course, through lectures, discussions, and hands-on simulations, examines the theory and values that shape the mediation process and the strategies and skill-sets relevant to its execution.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Dates: September 19 to October 5. Short course deadlines apply.
Instructor: Staff
PCS 295-01 - Special Topic: Post-Conflict Pathways Towards Peace and Justice 1 credits (Spring)
This course is an introduction to the multidisciplinary field of transitional justice (TJ). Transitional justice broadly refers to the ways in which communities come to terms with extreme, systemic violence through public policy and legal measures such as trials against perpetrators, as well as social and cultural measures such as media and art production. Each week will cover a different component of TJ such as: truth commissions, amnesty, trials, and reparations.
Prerequisite: PCS 101 or second-year standing.
Instructor: StaffPhilosophy
PHI 101 - Logic 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to the formal rules of reasoning, with extensive practice in identification and analysis of types of argument and in evaluation of the validity of arguments. Topics include: the construction of arguments, the relation of ordinary language to standard logical form, inductive reasoning (including hypotheses, generalization, analogy, and probability), deductive reasoning, the syllogism, validity, truth, formal fallacies, nonformal fallacies, and practical applications of the rules of logic. An introduction to complex syllogisms and to symbolic notation may be included, but extensive treatment of these topics is reserved for PHI 102 .
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: J. Cummins, Neisser
PHI 102 - Symbolic Logic 4 credits (Fall)
A study of the formalization of complex arguments, in particular those involving quantification and relations, using principles of deduction in sentential and predicate logic. Course may also explore the semantics of the formal system.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Fennell
PHI 106 - Contemporary Ethical Issues 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Designed to develop the ability to think philosophically about moral issues by examining ethical problems. Topics may include gender, abortion, class, race, affirmative action, and the environment. The course also examines some leading ethical and/or social theories in conjunction with these topics.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Dobe, Neisser, Nyden
PHI 111 - Introduction to Philosophy 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Designed to develop the habit of philosophical thinking by pursuing perennial problems as raised and developed throughout the history of philosophy. Readings include selections from Plato, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and other thinkers, including an introductory section on some basic principles of logical thinking.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
PHI 121 - Philosophy for Life 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In this introduction to value theory, students will engage with a range of humanistic responses to timeless yet practical questions such as: How should I live? Should I pursue a life of pleasure? Of meaning? Of virtue, love, friendship, contemplation, or freedom? Are there stages on life’s way? What kind of community will promote human and non-human flourishing? What shape must such a community take?
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: J. Dobe, Fennell, Neisser
PHI 135 - Philosophy and Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 135 . A general introduction to philosophical issues and topics through works of fiction. Readings include novels, short stories, and drama by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Voltaire, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Ibsen, Sartre, Camus, Borges, Kafka, Duras, Piercy, and others.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Neisser
PHI 161 - The Nature of Money 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Money can be anything in human culture that functions as a unit of account, store of value, and medium of exchange. But this makes the following question notoriously difficult to answer: what is money? In this course, we investigate the nature of what has been called money, making use of historical, philosophical, and anthropological materials to approach the metaphysical, epistemological, and political problems caused by the ambiguous nature of money.
Prerequisite: None
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PHI 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Asian Philosophy 4 credits (Spring)
This survey course covers philosophical traditions stemming from China, Japan, and India. Our goal is to gain a basic understanding of Confucian, Taoist, Chan/Zen Buddhist and Advaita Vedanta philosophies with some insight into their historical context and philosophical opponents. We will read writings by Confucius, Mencius, Hsun-tzu, Lao-tzu, Chuang-tzu, Hui-neng, Linji, Dogen, and Sankara.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Nyden
PHI 215 - Existentialism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of the major existentialist thinkers of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Camus, and others. Readings will include philosophical and literary texts that explore issues including the nature of the self and its relations with others, freedom and responsibility, anxiety, transcendence, ambiguity, and the absurd.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Neisser
PHI 222 - Environmental Ethics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What is environmental ethics and why is it necessary? How should the human-nature relationship be understood? Is nature instrumentally valuable or intrinsically valuable? What special ethical challenges do global climate change and the global food system pose? This class aims to introduce students to both anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric perspectives on these questions, and will consider, in particular, the approaches of ‘enlightened anthropocentrism’, the land ethic, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and the environmental justice movement.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Fennell
PHI 231 - History of Ancient Philosophy 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: CLS 231 . A study of the philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. Traces the growth of Western philosophy from its origins in the sixth century BCE through the third century CE. Includes examination of the Presocratics, Sophists, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicureans, Stoics, Sceptics, and Plotinus.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 , PHI 121 , or HUM 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: J. Cummins
PHI 233 - History of Early Modern Philosophy 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of the intellectual world of the early modern period. Readings may include works by Descartes, Hobbes, Anne Conway, Princess Elizabeth, Leibniz, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant. Particular attention will be given to the complex relations between philosophy, science, religion, and politics during this period.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French or German for course and +2.
Instructor: Nyden, J. Dobe
PHI 234 - 19th-Century Continental Philosophy 4 credits (Fall)
Survey of the major figures in 19th-century philosophy, emphasizing themes that lead to developments in 20th-century phenomenology, existentialism, and poststructuralism. Readings include selections from Hegel’s Phenomenology, Kierkegaard’s writings, Marx’s philosophical and political works, several texts of Nietzsche, and short works from the hermeneutic tradition.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French or Russian for course and +2.
Instructor: Dobe
PHI 235 - 20th-Century Continental Philosophy 4 credits (Spring)
Examination of the major themes in phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, poststructuralism, and feminism. Readings may include works by Husserl, Heidegger, Habermas, Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, Beauvoir, Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard, and Cixous. Special attention will be focused on connections between philosophy and recent developments in humanities and social sciences.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in French, Dutch or Latin for course and +2.
Instructor: Staff
PHI 242 - Ethical Theory 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Examination of several problems that arise in ethical theory. Questions included for consideration are the identity of the moral self, the issues of moral relativism and how to ground norms, the question of the nature of the virtues and their relationship to one another, and the question of whether gender might be morally significant.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Dobe
PHI 245 - Philosophy of Art 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Designed as a survey of theories of art and beauty, this course acquaints students with influential aesthetic theories in the history of Western philosophy and relates them to more recent theoretical developments in the arts.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 ; courses in the arts emphasizing theoretical issues may substitute for PHI 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Dobe
PHI 253 - Philosophy of Mind 4 credits (Fall)
Examination of several issues in philosophy of mind. Topics include the metaphysics of mind (the mind-body problem, dualism, functionalism, eliminativism, and the computer paradigm), intentionality (internalism and externalism), and consciousness (subjectivity, the nature of qualitative experience). Readings from Descartes, Ryle, Smart, D. Lewis, Putnam, Dennett, Quine, Davidson, Searle, Churchland, Fodor, and Nagel.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Fennell, Neisser
PHI 254 - Metaphysics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Examination of several issues in metaphysics, with an emphasis on contemporary discussions in the Anglo-American tradition. Topics may include, among others: freedom and determinism, personal identity, causality, materialism vs. idealism, realism vs. anti-realism, mereology (part vs. whole), modality (necessity and possibility), universals and particulars, substance, time and identity. On occasion, the semester may be devoted to a more extensive examination of a single metaphysical problem. Readings will vary depending on the problems addressed. With approval from the department chair, may be taken more than once if the topic has changed sufficiently.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Fennell, Neisser, Nyden
PHI 255 - History of Scientific Thought 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course focuses on scientific change in 16th and 17th-century Europe — what is often called “the scientific revolution.” Particular attention will be paid to the relationships between science, philosophy, religion, and politics. We will focus on three incompatible alternatives to the Aristotelian science taught in the universities: that of Bacon, Galileo, and Descartes. Next we will turn our attention to Boyle, who attempted to consolidate these alternatives into one coherent program called mechanical or corpuscular philosophy. We will end our historical study with an examination of arguably the most important scientific figure of the period, Isaac Newton. The course will end with the larger philosophical question of what a scientific revolution is and whether the events of early modern Europe qualify.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Nyden
PHI 256 - Philosophy of Language and Cognition 4 credits (Spring)
A survey of the major issues in contemporary philosophy of language, as well as an examination of the major assumptions of empirical theories of language and cognition. Readings may include works by Frege, Russell, Carnap, Ayer, Wittgenstein, Kripke, Putnam, Quine, Davidson, and Chomsky. Topics include theories of meaning, the nature of reference, and the cognitivist approach to mind and language.
Prerequisite: PHI 102 , PHI 111 , or PHI 121 , or LIN 114 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Fennell
PHI 257 - Philosophy of Science 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the foundations of scientific inference (induction and confirmation), the nature of scientific explanation, the structure of theories, and scientific methodology. Discussion includes the possibility of objective knowledge and the nature of scientific revolutions.
Prerequisite: PHI 102 , PHI 111 , or PHI 121 , or background in a science.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Fennell, Neisser, Nyden
PHI 258 - Classical and Contemporary American Pragmatism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of the major figures in classical and contemporary American pragmatism. Topics included for consideration are: what is the pragmatic method; how does it engage traditional philosophical questions; and what is its relation to other key philosophical approaches, such as logical positivism and realism. Readings may include selections from Peirce, James, Dewey, Mead, C.I. Lewis, Carnap, Ayer, Quine, Davidson, Rorty, Putnam, and Nagel.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Fennell
PHI 261 - Philosophy of Race and Gender 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the relationship between modern conceptions of race and gender from philosophical perspectives that may include historical materialism, phenomenology, critical theory, postcolonial theory, and whiteness studies. We will study the social construction of race and gender, as well as the way these concepts inform theories of the subject. Finally, we will consider how race and gender identities have become sites for pleasure, creativity, and productivity.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PHI 263 - Political Theory I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: POL 263 and CLS 263 . A selective introduction to the major concepts and themes of Western political philosophy from classical Greece to the Renaissance. Topics may include: human nature, the basis of society, the purpose and justification of government, types of government and their relative merits, the function of law, political virtues, and the civic role of religion.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 , PHI 121 , POL 101 , HIS 255 , CLS 255 , HIS 257 , CLS 257 , HIS 258 , CLS 258 , HUM 101 , HUM 102 , HUM 140 , or SST 140
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Cummins
PHI 264 - Political Theory II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: POL 264 . A study of the central themes and concepts articulated by political theorists since Machiavelli. Focus will be on theories of human nature, social relationships, conceptions of justice, and the operations of power. May be repeated once for credit when content changes.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 , PHI 121 , or POL 101 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in any language for course and +2.
Instructor: Meehan
PHI 265 - Psychoanalysis and the Intersubjective Constitution of the Self 4 credits (Fall)
This class will consider the psychic/social processes of the constitution of the self. We will read highly theoretical texts from the psychoanalytic tradition, including works by Freud, Jessica Benjamin, Judith Butler, Hortense Spillers, Steven Mitchell, and Cornelius Castoriadis. We will study the way gender, race, and class become aspects of our individual and collective psychic identities, consider the role of power in the constitution of identity, and search for possibilities of individual and social psychic resistance.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Meehan
PHI 266 - Reading Hannah Arendt 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Hannah Arendt is one of the most important political theorists of the twentieth century. In this course we will work our way through some of the most significant of Arendt’s writings, including The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Human Condition and Eichmann in Jerusalem, as well as some of her most important essays.
Prerequisite: PHI 111 , PHI 121 , or POL 101 .
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Meehan
PHI 271 - Neurophilosophy 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the current “neuroscientific image” of mind and person, investigating the conceptual and ethical issues it raises. Neurophilosophy involves both the application of neurobiological findings to philosophical questions and the application of philosophical critique to the findings of neuroscience. Questions include: What is the neural basis of mental representation, consciousness, and the self? Is psychology reducible to neurobiology? What legal and ethical issues attend the new techniques of neural monitoring and intervention?
Prerequisite: PHI 111 or PHI 121 ; courses in neuroscience may substitute for PHI 111 with consent of the instructor.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Neisser
PHI 336 - Contemporary French Philosophy 4 credits (Spring)
A detailed study of French philosophy since 1960. Possible topics include structuralism, deconstruction, poststructuralism, and postmodernism. Focus on issues of interdisciplinary concern, addressing questions of textuality, psychoanalysis, and politics. Readings may include works by Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, Lyotard, Cixous, and Irigaray, among others. May be repeated for credit if content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: PHI 234 , or PHI 235 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PHI 391 - Advanced Studies in Continental Philosophy 4 credits (Spring)
An advanced investigation of a single author, text, issue, or problem in continental philosophy. Content of the course announced each year. With permission of instructor, may be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites will vary depending on topic; at least one 200-level course.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Meehan
PHI 392 - Advanced Studies in Anglo-American Philosophy 4 credits (Fall)
An advanced investigation of a topic, text, or author in the analytic or Anglo-American tradition. Content of the course announced each year. With permission of instructor, may be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites will vary depending on topic; at least one 200-level course.
Instructor: Fennell, Neisser
PHI 393 - Advanced Studies in History of Philosophy 4 credits (Fall)
An advanced investigation of a single author, text, issue, or problem in the history of philosophy. Content of the course announced each year. With permission of instructor, may be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites will vary depending on topic; at least one 200-level philosophy course.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: J. Cummins, J. Dobe, Nyden
PHI 393-01 - Advanced Studies in History of Philosophy: Spinoza and Relational Autonomy 4 credits
The notion of individual autonomy has undergone significant criticism by feminists and others for its commitments to independence, atomistic conception of persons, and disregard for the social, political and moral dimensions of persons, who live in inter-dependent relation with each other. Of particular concern is its failure to address the complex ways oppressions harm an individual’s capacity for autonomy and agency. In this course, we will read current philosophers who are looking to Spinoza’s philosophy to add to our understanding of the relational nature of autonomy. We will examine Spinoza’s writings in light of this new literature.
Prerequisite: PHI 233 or PHI-295/GWS-295 Epistemic Injustices.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Nyden
PHI 393-01 - Advanced Studies: Kant’s System 4 credits (Spring)
In this seminar we will carefully piece together Immanuel Kant’s multi-dimensional philosophical system in an effort to examine his answers to three pressing questions: “What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope?” We begin with the Critique of Pure Reason (1781/7), which marks his “critical turn” and aims to establish the boundaries of human knowledge. As we move on to his practical/moral philosophy, aesthetics, anthropology and political philosophy we will consider the tensions between and among the various elements of his system that eventually incite German Idealists (such as Fichte, Schelling and Hegel) to provide more “complete” systems. Of particular interest to us will be the ways his conceptions of human nature and moral and political freedom accommodate racial and gender inequality. In addition to Kant’s first Critique, primary readings will be drawn from the Critique of Practical Reason, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Critique of the Power of Judgment, Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View, the Metaphysics of Morals, “Perpetual Peace,” and “Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Aim,” among others. Critical engagement with secondary literature will also be central to the work for this course.
Prerequisite: PHI 233 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: J. Dobe
PHI 394 - Advanced Studies in Theories of Value 4 credits (Spring)
An advanced investigation of a single author, text, issue, or problem that addresses theories of value (ethics, politics, aesthetics, interdisciplinary studies). Content of the course announced each year. With permission of instructor, may be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Prerequisites will vary depending on topic; at least one 200-level philosophy course.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Meehan
PHI 491 - Senior Essay 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The preparation and writing of an original piece of philosophical work, not to exceed 7,500 words in length, based upon primary or secondary sources. Seniors must obtain approval of a department member as adviser for the essay and the department chair before the end of the semester preceding that during which the essay will be written.
Prerequisite: Senior standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: StaffPhysical Education
PHE 100 - Physical Education Activity Instruction (Practica) Variable credits (Fall or Spring)
1/2 or 1 credit (See schedule of courses for credit option)
| Aerobics |
Indoor Soccer |
| Advanced Baseball/Softball |
Introductory Kayaking |
| Advanced Racquetball |
Lifeguard Training |
| Advanced Tennis |
Pickleball |
| Advanced Weight Lifting |
Power Walking |
| Basketball Skills |
Rock Climbing |
| Beginning Racquetball |
Standard First Aid |
| Beginning Swimming |
Swimming Technique |
| Beginning Tennis |
Training for Your First 5K |
|
|
Triathlon Training |
| Bowling |
Volleyball |
| Cardio Core |
Water Aerobics |
| Conditioning |
Wellness |
| Fishing |
Women’s Health |
| Floor Hockey |
Yoga |
| Golf |
|
| Indoor Cycling |
|
Note: All participants in physical education activities are required by the Registrar to register for the course, either for credit or as an audit (0 cr). (Please note: credits earned in PHE 100 are NOT counted in the number of credits that determine whether a student is liable for an “overload” fee). Students registering as an audit should use the current degree-seeking Audit Registration Form. A maximum of eight practica credits with no more than four credits in Physical Education (PHE 100 and PHE 101) may count toward graduation. S/D/F only.
PHE 101 - Sport Performance: Intercollegiate Competitive (Practica) 1/2 per season credits (Fall and Spring)
| For men: |
|
For women: |
|
| Baseball |
Indoor Track |
Basketball |
Soccer |
| Basketball |
Outdoor Track |
Cross Country |
Softball |
| Cross Country |
Soccer |
Golf |
Swimming |
| Football |
Swimming |
Indoor Track |
Tennis |
| Golf |
Tennis |
Outdoor Track |
Volleyball |
Note: May be taken without credit. S/D/F only.
PHE 112 - Outdoor Leadership 2 credits (Spring)
This 1/2 semester course focuses on the more theoretical aspects of outdoor leadership. It does not cover activity skills. Topics include trip planning, minimum impact, learning theory, group dynamics, thinking critically in the outdoors, skill matching, risk management, and navigation. There will be labs in navigation and teaching.
Prerequisite: None. Speaking with the professor prior to registration is suggested.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Zeiss
PHE 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Wellness 1 credits (Spring)
Introduction to the 8 dimensions of wellness and how to be a conscious consumer of health information to positively impact your and your community’s well-being.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Hammond, Determan
PHE 195-02 - Introductory Special Topic: Women in Sport: Netherlands, Belgium, and America 2 credits (Spring)
Students will examine the holistic impact of athletic participation on women through a variety of lenses. Students will travel to Brussels and Amsterdam and investigate women’s sports in the US as 50 years of Title IX is celebrated. We will consider the impact of sport on aspects of personal identity, socioeconomic status, gender and sexuality, and political activism and nationalism, as well as the impact female athletes have on societal systems and structures.
Students will be traveling abroad after finals in May, 2023. This course is limited to members of the Women’s volleyball team. Students interested in this course will need to complete an application due October 17th in addition to the normal course registration process. The application materials are available on GrinnellShare: https://grinco.sharepoint.com/sites/InstituteForGlobalEngagement/SitePages/CET.aspx. Students selected to participate in the Course-Embedded Travel program will be required to pay a $415 participation fee (most other required travel expenses will be covered). This fee will be added to the student tuition bill and will be due by the first day of classes. If payment of this fee causes you financial concern, please contact Megan Jones in the Financial Aid Office to discuss loan options to cover this additional cost of attendance.
Prerequisite: Instructor consent.
Note: Dates: April 3 to May 12. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Determan, Ragan
PHE 200 - Organization and Administration of Athletics 4 credits (Fall)
Lecture and discussion concerning the function, organization, and administration of an athletic program. Includes philosophy and psychology of coaching.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Arseneault Jr, Pedersen, Madara, Harrold
PHE 202 - Coaching Methods 4 credits (Spring)
A comprehensive study of the components of coaching. Areas of emphasis include: philosophy of coaching; sport psychology; exercise science; practice planning; athletic management; and sport-specific training of tactics and techniques. Geared toward coaching youth and high school athletes. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a coaching endorsement from the American Sport Education Program (ASEP).
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Hollibaugh
PHE 211 - Foundations of Athletic Training 4 credits (Spring)
Specific to rehabilitation and the care and prevention of athletic injuries. Lectures plus laboratory sections.
Prerequisite: CPR/First Aid.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PHE 213 - Lifeguard Instructor Training 2 credits (Spring)
This course is an advanced American Red Cross course providing students American Red Cross Instructor Authorization for Lifeguarding. Upon successful completion, student will be trained to teach basic-level Lifeguarding (including First Aid), Lifeguard Management and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.
Prerequisite: Current American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification
Note: Not offered every year. S/D/F only
Instructor: Staff
PHE 235 - Psychological Foundations of Sport 4 credits (Spring)
An overview of various psychological concepts underlying sports performance. Pertinent social and philosophical issues also addressed. Topics include personality, anxiety and arousal, motivation, self-efficacy and confidence, individual and group dynamics, cohesion, and various cognitive intervention strategies.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Anderson, Madara, Ragan
PHE 236 - The Role of Sport in Society 4 credits (Spring)
The study of sport can be accomplished in many ways. At Grinnell College we approach the task from a social studies method. The faculty members who teach the sport courses are members of the physical education department, a part of the College’s social sciences division. The goal of the course is to offer students a theoretical base to study sport from a sociological standpoint and then to provide opportunity for students to engage in that study through various topics and exercises. At any given iteration of this course, there may be two or three professors teaching it and taking the students down different paths, depending on the background and interest areas of the faculty members. Topics of current focus are sport sociology theory and research, sport and the media, sports and athletic experience through the lens of gender, sex, and sexuality, the changing face of sport in 1960s America (race and class), the role of international sport and the Olympics, competition vs. cooperation.
Prerequisite: PHE 100 or second-semester standing.
Instructor: Hamilton, KoesterPhysics
PHY 109 - Physics in the Arts 4 credits
An investigation of a variety of physical principles that have interesting applications to musical acoustics and the visual arts. Topics include simple vibrating systems, musical instruments, Fourier analysis, light and color, optics, and photography. Intended primarily for non-science majors. Laboratory work allows students to investigate phenomena firsthand. Three lectures, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Cunningham
PHY 115 - How to Learn Physics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See EDU 115 .
PHY 116 - The Universe and Its Structure 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Descriptive astronomy, covering the tools and methods of astronomy, the solar system, the stars, and the structure of the galaxy and the universe.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Christensen, S. Rodriguez
PHY 131 - General Physics I 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is the first part of a yearlong, calculus-based introductory physics sequence, focusing on the application of physical principles, logical reasoning, and mathematical analysis to understand a broad range of natural phenomena related to force and motion. Topics include Newtonian mechanics, conservation principles, gravity, and oscillation. This course meets for six hours each week and involves both classroom and laboratory work.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Instructor: Staff
PHY 132 - General Physics II 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is the second part of a yearlong, calculus-based introductory physics sequence, focusing on the application of physical principles, logical reasoning, and mathematical analysis to understand a broad range of electromagnetic phenomena. Topics include electricity, magnetism, light, and early atomic theory. This course meets for six hours each week and involves both classroom and laboratory work.
Prerequisite: PHY 131 and MAT 124 or MAT 131 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 133 is recommended.
Instructor: Staff
PHY 180 - Bridges, Towers, and Skyscrapers 4 credits (Spring)
An investigation of large man-made structures (e.g., Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel Tower, and Hancock Tower/Chicago), considering structural, social, and aesthetic aspects. The relationship between a structure’s form and its function is examined. Concepts from physics necessary for the quantitative analysis are presented. For current course content please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
Prerequisite: MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Cunningham
PHY 220 - Electronics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A course in modern electronics, emphasizing the use of integrated circuits. Topics include analog electronics, primarily the design of circuits based on operational amplifiers; digital electronics, including logic circuits, counters, and timers; and microcontroller interfacing using software written in low-level languages and C. Two lectures, two laboratories each week.
Prerequisite: PHY 132 , and some computer programming experience, and second-year standing.
Instructor: Tjossem, Cunningham
PHY 232 - Modern Physics 4 credits (Fall)
An introduction to nonclassical physics, focusing on the physics of the very fast (special relativity), the very small (quantum mechanics), and the very many statistical mechanics). Emphasis is on the fundamental physics principles and their applications to atomic, nuclear, and solid-state models. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: PHY 131 and PHY 132 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 215 .
Instructor: Burson, Cunningham
PHY 234 - Mechanics w/Lab 4 credits (Spring)
A study of analytical mechanics, including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms of particle dynamics, rigid body motion, and harmonic oscillations. Numerical methods laboratory taught in Python. Three classes, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: PHY 131 and PHY 132 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 220 .
Instructor: Christensen, S. Rodriguez
PHY 310 - Computational Physics 2 credits (Fall)
An active-learning introduction to computing in physics. Class is taught in the laboratory, with each class session dedicated to a particular topic. These topics include investigations of numerical algorithms for integration, matrix manipulations, Fourier transforms, data fitting, and Monte Carlo methods.
Prerequisite: PHY 234 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Tjossem
PHY 314 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of thermodynamics from classical and statistical points of view. Applications of Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein distributions are used to provide an introduction to solid-state physics and quantum optics.
Prerequisite: PHY 232 and MAT 220 .
Instructor: Hasegawa, Zabel
PHY 335 - Electromagnetic Theory 4 credits (Fall)
An advanced treatment of electric and magnetic fields and potentials, including the laws of Coulomb, Ampere, and Faraday, Maxwell’s equations, and electromagnetic waves.
Prerequisite: PHY 234 .
Instructor: Christensen, Hasegawa
PHY 337 - Optics Wave Phenomena 4 credits (Spring)
A wide variety of physical problems — including one- and two-dimensional mechanical oscillating systems, sound, and optical phenomena — are examined using the theory of waves. The primary emphasis is on physical optics (interference and diffraction phenomena). Three lectures, one laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: PHY 335 .
Instructor: Cunningham, S. Rodriguez
PHY 340 - Topics in Astrophysics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of topics in astrophysics from theoretical and observational perspectives with an emphasis on student engagement with current research. Topics include, but are not limited to, combinations of the following: planetary astrophysics, stellar astrophysics, compact stellar remnants, galactic astrophysics, relativity and gravitational waves, and cosmology. May be repeated for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: PHY 232 .
Instructor: Christensen, S. Rodriquez
PHY 360 - Solid State Physics 2 credits (Fall)
An introduction to the physics of crystalline solids, such as metals, semiconductors, and insulators. This course presents models of the crystal lattice, lattice vibrations, and electronic band structures, as well as a brief survey of selected topics of current research interest.
Prerequisite: PHY 232 .
Note: Not offered every year
Instructor: Cunningham
PHY 399 - Directed Research 2 or 4 credits
See Directed Research.
Instructor: Staff
PHY 456 - Introduction to Quantum Theory 4 credits (Fall)
Introduction to the physical and mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics with application to simple physical systems.
Prerequisite: PHY 232 , MAT 220 , and PHY 335 .
Instructor: L. Rodriguez, Staff
PHY 457 - Advanced Quantum Theory 2 credits (Spring)
Application and implications of the quantum theory. Perturbation theory and other approximation techniques are used to examine various quantum systems. Fundamental questions of interpretation of the quantum theory will also be considered.
Prerequisite: PHY 456 .
Instructor: L. Rodriguez
PHY 462 - Advanced Laboratory 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Experiments bear a closer resemblance to research than do the experiments in more elementary courses. There is a wide range of activities to meet individual needs and interests. Two afternoons of laboratory or reading each week.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and at least three 200 or 300-level physics courses. Special permission for well-qualified third-year students.
Instructor: Burson, TjossemPolicy Studies
PST 220 - Foundations of Policy Analysis 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: ECN 220 or POL 220 (depending on instructor). This course explores principles of policymaking, with applications. It opens by examining theoretical rationales for policy, including those premised on ideology or market failure. It proceeds to investigate institutional context and processes relevant to policymaking, using case studies. With this foundation, the course explores specific policy problems and solutions related to important problem areas, such as economic growth, health care, monetary policy, education, and environment. Students will be encouraged to investigate policy areas of interest for case studies and papers.
Prerequisite: ECN 111 or POL 101 , and second-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
PST 320 - Applied Policy Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Topic changes each year. This course will apply fundamental policy ideas from Policy Studies 220 to specific policy problems. Students will analyze policy problems and propose solutions. For current course content please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
Prerequisite: PST 220 , POL 220 , or ECN 220 . Other prerequisites may apply depending on staff teaching.
Instructor: Staff
PST 320-01 - Applied Policy Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Why are our cities unaffordable, and what puts housing out of reach for middle and working class families? Housing is a fundamental feature of human life, but political forces, combined with economic change and globalization, have long shaped who is able to live where. This course examines the policies that govern the places where we (want to) live, and including issues like affordability, racial/economic segregation, gentrification, and short-term rentals. These concepts and examples will provide the foundations for a final project in which students will propose and assess housing policies.
Prerequisite: ECN 220 , POL 220 , or PST 220 .
Instructor: Jozwiak
PST 420 - Advanced Policy Research 2 credits (Spring)
In this course students will use the techniques of policy analysis they studied in PST 320 to conduct an independent research project. Normally these projects will be related to the student’s major or other curricular interest. During the first several course meetings students will identify and refine their policy area for in-depth study. This course will meet once per week during the spring semester, and will culminate with individual presentations of the policy research.
Prerequisite: PST 320 .
Instructor: StaffPolitical Science
POL 101 - Introduction to Political Science 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Designed to provide a general introduction to the major concepts and themes of the discipline of political science, using examples from contemporary American, comparative, and international politics.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
POL 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Practicum: Politics at Grinnell 2 credits (Fall)
This practicum experience will focus on activities to facilitate political participation of the campus community as it relates to the November General Election. Not intended to be a vehicle for personal or group political activity, the practicum will plan and implement initiatives, both short- and long-term, to encourage electoral participation among members of the college community, regardless of political orientation, whether on campus or at a distance. The practicum is open to both international and domestic students. Students will meet once each week for 50 minutes and one additional 50 minute session with students individually or in small groups.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Trish
POL 216 - Politics of Congress 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of the politics of Congress, including such topics as congressional elections, party leadership, floor voting, congressional committees, congressional policymaking, and reform proposals. Emphasis placed on understanding theories of legislative behavior.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Hanson
POL 219 - Constitutional Law and Politics 4 credits (Fall)
This course examines the critical role that the U.S. Supreme Court has played in shaping the American political landscape over time. We will learn various methods of constitutional interpretation, and use them to read and analyze many of the Court’s landmark decisions. Specifically, we will explore how the court has policed controversial power struggles in American government, and developed into a powerful political institution.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Hanson
POL 220 - Foundations of Policy Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: PST 220 . This course explores principles of policy making, with applications. It opens by examining theoretical rationales for policy, including those premised on ideology or market failure. It proceeds to investigate institutional context and processes relevant to policy making, using case studies. With this foundation, the course explores specific policy problems and solutions related to important problem areas such as economic growth, health care, monetary policy, education, and environment. Students will be encouraged to investigate policy areas of interest for case studies and papers.
Prerequisite: POL 101 and second-year standing.
Instructor: Staff
POL 237 - Political Parties 4 credits (Fall)
An examination of the political party in U.S. politics. Considers the party at three levels: the individual, the organization, and the system. Topics include the development and evolution of parties, candidates and elections, third parties, and the role of parties in the U.S. political system.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Trish
POL 239 - The Presidency 4 credits (Spring)
Consideration of the modern presidency as an institution and the president as a critical political actor in politics. Topics include leadership, institutional change, executive-legislative relations, decision-making, and presidential selection.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Trish
POL 250 - Politics of International Relations 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A study of the evolving relations between nations in the period since 1939, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. The crucial decisions of the Cold War and post-Cold War evaluated against standard of the rational actor, taking into account distortions caused by bureaucratic, bargaining, personality, psychological, societal, momentum, and communications factors.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Moyer
POL 251 - International Political Economy 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Introduction to the study of political economy through the examination of the pursuit of wealth and power in the international system. Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches as applied to the issues of trade, international finance, and foreign investment.
Prerequisite: POL 101 . ECN 111 is highly recommended.
Instructor: Driscoll
POL 255 - The Politics of New Europe 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course provides a survey of contemporary European politics. It examines the European geopolitical dynamics in the 21st century, the variations among European polities in political institutions, parties, electoral politics, and public policy; and the institutionalization and policy processes in the European Union.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Sala
POL 257 - Nationalism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the definition of states and nations and the relationship between them. It analyzes the forces that motivated the appearance and spread of nation-states, and that formed national identities. It also studies the relationship between capitalism, communism, decolonization, globalization, and nationalism. It explains the emergence of secessionist claims, ethnic violence, and the ability of institutions in channeling national conflict. Cases include France, United States, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Quebec, the former U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia, India, or Rwanda.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Sala
POL 258 - Democratization and the Politics of Regime Change 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What is a democracy? Which factors contribute to democratic transitions and the survival of democracy over time? What happens when democratization fails? What is the role of international factors in democratic development? We will explore these questions through an analysis of democratization in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, with a particular emphasis on developments from the past twenty years.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lussier
POL 259 - Human Rights: Foundations, Challenges, and Choices 4 credits (Spring)
This course will familiarize students with the international human rights regime and will analyze a series of case studies to illustrate the challenges to the realization of human rights and the choices for human rights advocates and policymakers. Topics for discussion include universality or relativity of human rights, the interplay between civil and political rights and economic and social rights, the impact of sovereignty, monitoring, and compliance. Cases will include humanitarian intervention, the U.S. domestic response to 9/11, religious accommodation and equality of rights, human rights and development, and climate change and human rights.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Moyer
POL 261 - State and Society in Latin America 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Examination of the diverse and common dilemmas facing Latin America, using social scientific approaches. Topics include economic development and political uncertainty.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
POL 262 - African Politics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The major events and themes in the study of politics in sub-Saharan Africa. Part 1 is historical. We travel through pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial histories to understand Africa’s present political landscape. Part 2 is thematic. We use this historical knowledge to answer major questions in African politics concerning: political order, the strength of states, political economy of development, political culture, ethnicity, and gender.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Driscoll
POL 263 - Political Theory I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See PHI 263 .
POL 264 - Political Theory II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See PHI 264 .
POL 266 - Reading Hannah Arendt 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See PHI 266 .
POL 273 - Politics of Russia 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course analyzes the politics of contemporary Russia, focusing on the country’s post-Soviet political and economic transformation, as well as its changing place on the global stage. Questions we will explore include: what was the Soviet Union and why did it collapse? What kind of political regime has since taken root in Russia? How do Russians view their political system? and What role does Russia play in a multi-polar world?
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lussier
POL 295-01 - Special Topic: Campaign and Elections 4 credits (Fall)
Course investigates campaigns and elections in the US, posing questions about elections in a democracy and whether campaigns matter. Exploring the institutional framework for elections (including biases affecting marginalized groups), the vote and election outcomes, and campaign dynamics, it considers material from academics and practitioners as well as data, seeking to understand broad patterns and the politics of 2022. Voter suppression, campaign finance, and presidential nominations will get special attention.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Trish
POL 295-01 - Special Topic: Public Attitudes on American Democracy 4 credits (Spring)
See SST 295-01 .
POL 295-02 - Special Topic: Comparative Electoral Systems 4 credits (Spring)
The American electoral system is but one way to translate votes into seats; other countries have designed their democracies quite differently. This course explores such comparative diversity, in particular its effects on outputs about which scholars normatively care (e.g., voter turnout, party viability, representation, government durability, satisfaction with democracy). The course also attends to the origins of national systems and explores the circumstances under which they change.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Virgin
POL 295-03 - Special Topics: Politics of China 4 credits (Fall)
This three-module course on Chinese politics covers a variety of topics: China’s modern political history, the party-state political and economic system, and how historical legacies and political institutions affect interactions between the state and the public in different aspects of politics and policies, such as public opinion, media freedom, public health, ethnicity and nationalism, and foreign policy. Students will explore these topics and practice writing and critical thinking through a multi-task and interactive learning experience.
Prerequisite: POL 101 .
Instructor: Yu
POL 310 - Advanced Seminar in American Politics 4 credits (Fall)
A research-oriented course in American politics. Students examine research methods and their application to political questions/phenomena. Students then devise and conduct an intensive research project. Throughout the course, there is an emphasis on empirical political science.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 ; and POL 216 , POL 237 , POL 239 , POL 220 , or PST 220 .
Instructor: Trish
POL 319 - Advanced Seminar in Constitutional Law 4 credits (Spring)
This course is an in-depth exploration of the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in American democracy, focusing on the question of how courts strike a balance between protecting democratic values and protecting the rights of vulnerable minorities. Students will read contemporary legal theory and write a research paper linking a particular topic of interest to them to larger questions about rights in a constitutional democracy.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and POL 219 .
Instructor: Staff
POL 320 - Applied Policy Analysis 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: PST 320 . Topics change. For current course content please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
Prerequisite: Prerequisite for POL-320: POL 216 , POL 220 , PST 220 , POL 239 , or POL 250 and third or fourth-year standing. Prerequisite for PST-320: PST 220 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
POL 320-01 - Applied Policy Analysis 4 credits
See PST 320 .
Prerequisite: POL 216 , POL 220 , PST 220 , POL 239 , or POL 250 .
Instructor: Staff
POL 325 - Development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries 4 credits (Fall)
See GDS 325 .
POL 335 - Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A research-oriented course in comparative politics. It examines a selection of primary theories and methodological approaches in comparative politics. Throughout the course, students will develop an independent research project that builds on earlier work developed at the 200-level. This course focuses on empirical Political Science and employs a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing and POL 255 , POL 257 , POL 258 , POL 261 , POL 262 , or POL 273 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Instructor: Lussier, Sala
POL 350 - International Politics of Land and Sea Resources 4 credits (Spring)
Analysis of the international politics of the conflict between the developed nations of the North and the developing nations of the South for control of the world’s resources and over trade and environmental issues. The impact of national decision-making processes, international organizations, cartels, and multinational corporations. Case studies.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and POL 250 , POL 251 , or POL 259 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Moyer
POL 352 - Advanced Seminar on the U.S. Foreign Policymaking Process 4 credits (Fall)
An in-depth study of the U.S. foreign and defense policymaking process, emphasizing international relations theory; case studies of recent important decisions; discussion of the role, structure, function, and power of the National Security Council, State Department, Defense Department, and CIA; conflict between president and Congress; impact of press, public opinion, lobbies, and elections.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and POL 250 , POL 251 , or POL 259 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Moyer
POL 354 - Political Economy of Development 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Why are some countries poorer than others? Did Western countries get rich off the backs of poor countries? Are poor countries poor because they have backward cultures and ideas? Are poor countries just badly run by corrupt governments? We will study the politics of economic behavior in today’s poor countries. In Part 1 & 2, we will review the major concepts, theories and trends in development. In Part 3, we will read about the deep and proximate causes of poverty, such as colonialism, clientelism, weak property rights and natural resources. This equips us for Part 4: Solutions, in which we weight the evidence for various remedies for poverty, such as democracy, developmental states, good governance, and foreign aid.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and POL 250 , POL 251 , POL 257 , POL 258 , POL 261 , POL 262 , or POL 273 . ECN 111 is highly recommended.
Instructor: Driscoll
POL 355 - Courts and Politics in Comparative Perspective 4 credits (Fall)
What do constitutions say and how do they become enforceable documents? This seminar focuses on the politics of constitutional choice and interpretation. It looks at the political aims of constitution and the role of courts in enforcing these documents. It analyzes the political factors involved in judicial decisions and the political strategies that derive from them, as well as how constitutional meaning evolves and changes. Cases include Germany, France, Spain, United States, Canada, Russia, Argentina, and Mexico.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and POL 216 , POL 219 , POL 239 , POL 255 , POL 258 , POL 261 , or POL 273 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Sala
POL 356 - Islam and Politics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course investigates the relationship between Islam and a variety of political outcomes, such as regime type, political violence, inequality, social tolerance, and political organization. Questions we explore include: what is “Islamism” and how did it arise as a political force? Why are so few Muslim-majority countries democratic? Are Islamic parties and organizations a threat or a resource for open politics? We take an empirical approach, examining scholarly analyses from a variety of methodological perspectives.
Prerequisite: Third or fourth-year standing and a 200-level course in comparative politics, and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lussier
POL 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Democratic Decline in the US 4 credits (Spring)
Many popular and scholarly accounts have argued that American democracy is in decline. In this course we will explore the multiple quantitative and qualitative indicators of democratic corrosion (e.g., malfunctioning institutions, mass disillusionment, elites’ zero-sum tactics, inequality, etc.), examining the evidence to determine whether the U.S. has, in fact, backslid. Students will then apply these analytical tools to develop an intensive, independent research project that pertains to reforming an institution of their choice.
Prerequisite: POL 216 , POL 219 , POL 237 , POL 239 , or POL-295 when designated as American Politics.
Instructor: VirginPsychology
PSY 113 - Introduction to Psychology 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to principles of psychological science and inquiry. Major topics of psychology are covered with consideration of different approaches psychologists take to describe, predict, and explain behavior. Emphasis is placed on theory, research, and application. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 214 - Social Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
Survey of contemporary experimental social psychology. Topics include: attribution theory, social cognition, stereotypes, attitudes, prosocial behavior, aggression, group processes, and applied social psychology. Attention given to interaction between theoretical development and empirical measurement. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 115 , SST 115 or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 220 - Decision-Making 4 credits (Spring)
An examination of cognitive biases and heuristics that describe how people think about information when making decisions under uncertainty. We examine social, emotional, and behavioral influences across laboratory and real-world situations such as medical decisions and jury verdicts, and tools for helping people make better decisions (e.g., computers, formulas, and decision trees).
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 222 - Industrial Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
An investigation of individual differences, learning, and motivation in the context of the work setting. Topics include testing theory, training techniques, and motivational theories.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lopatto
PSY 225 - Research Methods 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course describes experimental designs and attendant statistical techniques. Students learn to use quantitative methods to pose meaningful questions to data. Topics include between-group and within-group designs, analysis of variance for main effects and interactions, the adaptation of statistical inquiry to less than optimal situations, and critical thinking about research methods.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Instructor: Staff
PSY 231 - Sensation and Perception 4 credits (Fall)
This course pursues the psychological questions of how the body detects sensory information and of how the mind integrates this information into a coherent interpretation of experience. This course will showcase psychological questions of perception that enlist approaches and perspectives possibly including, but not limited to, the physiology and behavior of natural systems (e.g., us), appreciation of art and music, the engineering of smart devices (e.g., robots), and remaining challenges. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 115 , SST 115 or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 232 - Human-Computer Interaction 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
See CSC 232 .
PSY 233 - Developmental Psychology 4 credits (Spring)
This course explores psychological development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Major theoretical perspectives on the nature of developmental change are considered with a focus on empirical research and application of each perspective. Topics include physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Ellis
PSY 243 - Behavior Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
The course studies behavior as it occurs in its environmental context. Topics in learning and motivation are analyzed through the experimental approach of behavior analytic psychology. Topics include classical and operant learning, choice, self-control, and extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lopatto
PSY 246 - Brain and Behavior 4 credits (Fall)
This course examines the interaction of brain and behavior. Topics include: (a) general introduction to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; (b) neuroregulatory systems, stress, and emotion; (c) sensory and motor systems; and (d) processes of learning, memory, and cognition.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 . One semester of biology is recommended.
Instructor: Rempel-Clower, Tracy
PSY 248 - Psychopathology and Clinical Science 4 credits (Spring)
The study of psychopathology. Framed around the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria, emphasis is given to experimental models and the interactions among psychological, neurobiological, social, and environmental processes that inform mental disorder. Some attention is given to treatments and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 . MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 is recommended.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Ralston
PSY 250 - Health Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
In this course we will explore psychological and social processes that contribute to physical health and wellness across the life span. Topics include health compromising and health promoting thoughts and behaviors, such as expectancies, risk taking, and physical activity, the contributions of stress, coping, and thriving to physical health.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ellis, Botello
PSY 260 - Cognitive Psychology 4 credits (Spring)
This course explores the experimental research on human thinking, knowing, and remembering. Topics include attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, language, and individual and cultural differences in cognition. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Abraham
PSY 295-01 - Special Topic: Social Development 4 credits (Fall)
This course covers social development from childhood to early adulthood. We will examine the socialization roles of the family, peers, schools, communities, and media for a range of developmental outcomes. We will consider various theoretical perspectives and research methods for studying social development. Throughout the course, we will also explore cultural and historical contexts and applied and policy implications of social development research for families, education, and society.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 .
Instructor: Yust
PSY 311 - History of Psychological Theories 4 credits (Fall)
Historical and philosophical origins of contemporary schools of psychology are considered. The student analyzes the nature of psychological theory and the methods used to disconfirm theories, as well as the reasons for the emergence and decline of schools of psychological thought.
Prerequisite: Two psychology courses numbered 200 or above, and MAT 115 /SST 115 or STA 209 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Lopatto
PSY 315 - Advanced Social Psychology: Cross-Cultural Differences in Self-Construal 4 credits (Spring)
This seminar focuses on the construction of independent versus interdependent selves in cultures descendent from East Asian versus Western European historical and philosophical traditions. We will consider sources of these differences, as well as a variety of social consequences. This will provide the foundation for examining lay theories about the causes of behavior and considering the extent to which behavior is differentially determined by the person or the situation in different cultural contexts.
Prerequisite: PSY 214 and PSY 225 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 317 - Personality Psychology 4 credits (Spring)
A survey of classical and contemporary approaches to understanding healthy adult personalities. Emphasis will be placed on the trait approach, the coherence of personality across time and situations, beliefs about the self, social aspects of personality, and empirical research methods used to study personality. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and two additional psychology courses numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 332 - Advanced Developmental Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
An advanced investigation of substantive topics in developmental psychology. Emphasis is placed on theory and research. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 , PSY 233 , and one additional psychology course numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ellis, Yust
PSY 334 - Adult Development 4 credits (Fall)
A consideration of human development during adulthood with emphasis on models and empirical work that illustrate factors that constrain and optimize development. Topics covered may include memory, dementia, personality, and social roles. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and two psychology courses numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ellis
PSY 335 - Psychology of Food and Eating 4 credits (Fall)
This course looks at eating behavior from a variety of psychological perspectives. Topics include biological regulation of food intake, hunger and fullness, food preferences, cultural and social influences on eating, early life experience, learned behavior, and the interaction of physiology and the food environment. We will focus on critical analysis of methodologies, empirical evidence, and theoretical approaches through examination of the primary literature. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 , and PSY 246 or NRS 250 plus one additional psychology course numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Tracy
PSY 336 - Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience 4 credits (Spring)
A laboratory-centered introduction to advanced topics in behavioral neuroscience and basic research techniques used to investigate brain-behavior relationships. Participants will gain experience in stereotaxic neurosurgery, psychopharmacology, and various behavioral measures. A research-team approach is used for both the literature discussion and the laboratory activities each week.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 246 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Rempel-Clower
PSY 337 - Psychological Measurement and Psychometrics 4 credits (Fall)
Students will learn about methods of test development, the statistical analysis of test data, and social implications of testing. In lab, students will develop testing instruments and learn multivariate data analysis. Topics covered include theories of reliability and validity and the application of psychometric techniques toward the development of tests and the evaluation of reliability, validity, and utility.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and two additional psychology courses numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ralston
PSY 345 - Psychopharmacology 4 credits (Spring)
An investigation of the biological mechanisms and behavioral effects of psychoactive substances. Topics covered will include principles of pharmacology, research methods in psychopharmacology, mechanisms of drug action, drug abuse and addiction, and clinical applications. Required laboratory work using animal models will focus on the use of behavioral tools to characterize drug effects and the use of pharmacological tools for understanding brain-behavior relationships.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 246 or NRS 250 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Tracy
PSY 346 - Neural Plasticity 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Students in this course will examine how changes in the brain, in conjunction with cognitive and behavioral processes, result from the interactions between an organism and the environment throughout the life span. Topics will include neural and functional consequences of environmental deprivation or enrichment, sensory system plasticity, language learning, recovery from stroke, and cognitive enhancement.
Prerequisite: PSY 246 or NRS 250 and PSY 225 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Rempel-Clower
PSY 348 - Behavioral Medicine 4 credits (Fall)
This course describes psychophysiological and behavioral principles and methods in the context of the biopsychosocial model of health and illness. Topics include behavioral pathogens, stress, pain, psychoneuroimmunology, and behavior management. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 243 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Lopatto
PSY 349 - Counseling Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
A survey of major counseling theories and techniques, with emphasis on the key concepts, the role of the counselor, therapeutic goals, and the main techniques derived from each theory. Issues pertaining to the ethical application of counseling approaches to diverse populations will be a major focus throughout. Class time will focus on the merits of each approach through review of research literature. Further, students will learn basic counseling skills through observation, case study, and supervised role-plays. Laboratory work may be required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 248 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Ralston
PSY 355 - Psychology of Language 4 credits (Fall)
This course investigates experimental psycholinguistics. Students will learn about the cognitive processes that underlie the capacity to produce, perceive, and comprehend language. Topics include language acquisition and development, the role of attention and memory in language processing, language disorders, and sociocultural aspects of language. Within each area, the course will focus on theories, methodologies, and critical findings in psycholinguists. Laboratory work is required.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 260 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Abraham
PSY 360 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
An in-depth examination of primary research on variable topics within cognitive psychology. Past offerings of this course concerned applying the working memory model, specifically central executive functions, to issues concerning reasoning, attention, language, metacognition, aging, prospective memory, frontal lobe functioning, and mental disorders.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 260 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Abraham
PSY 370 - Multicultural Psychology 4 credits (Fall)
This course surveys the psychological research on culture, ethnicity, race, and minority status in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on developing an understanding of the experiences of non-white ethnic minorities through the study of empirical research. Topics will vary and may include: racial identity, racism, acculturation, health disparities, and mental health issues.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and two additional psychology courses numbered 200 or above.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
PSY 395-01 - Advanced Special Topci: Dimensional Psychopathology 2 credits (Fall)
With an emphasis on personality disorders, this seminar will focus on the evaluation of current research regarding dimensional approaches to the study and treatment of psychopathology. Students also will develop research proposals informed by current research that could be supported through the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria.
Prerequisite: PSY 225 and PSY 248 .
Note: Dates: August 29 to October 12. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Ralston
PSY 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: The Psychology of Collective Action 4 credits (Spring)
Collective action refers to action taken by a group of people whose goal is to achieve a common (often socio-political) objective (e.g., strikes, protests, petitions). In this course, we will discuss different social psychological perspectives that seek to understand why people do (or do not) participate in collective action movements. Since collective action movements are embedded within a particular social and historical context, this course also incorporates socio-historical examples of and perspectives on collective action.
Prerequisite: PSY 113 and second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Vossoughi
PSY 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
A critical exploration of topics of both historical and contemporary significance in psychology with intense interrogation of the field’s diverse perspectives and methods.
Prerequisite: Senior psychology majors.
Instructor: StaffReligious Studies
CLS 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Roman Religion, Ritual, and Identities 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: REL 395-01 . This course will examine a range of topics related to Roman religion, including the basics of Roman ritual, Roman gods, and Roman piety. It will also consider complicated topics like how Romans treated superstition and magic, how Roman religion changed over time, and what counted as “Roman” religion at all from a variety of scholarly perspectives. Evidence spans roughly 600 years of Roman history, from several different genres and from across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Prerequisite: ARH 250 , CLS 231 , CLS 242 , CLS 250 , CLS 257 , CLS 258 , GLS 242 , HIS 257 , HIS 258 , HUM 102 , LAT 333 , LAT 344 , PHI 231 , or REL 101 .
Instructor: Wagner
REL 101 - Studying Religion: Judaism and Christianity 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course introduces Religious Studies by exploring the diverse ways that Jews and Christians have sought to shape themselves, in body and soul, as individuals and as members of communities dedicated to God. We will make use of a wide range of primary and secondary sources to explore the histories, practices, texts, and ideas that constitute these religious traditions; to consider how Christians and Jews have represented themselves and how scholars today use historical, critical methods to understand and explain these traditions.
Prerequisite: First or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
REL 102 - Studying Religion: America 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course introduces Religious Studies by focusing on religious traditions in “America.” Students will gain knowledge about the history and development of some of the major religious traditions in the United States, such as Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. Exploring “religion” and “America” as sites of contestation over meaning, identity, and purpose, students also gain the skills to analyze perspectives, interests, and issues of representation.
Prerequisite: First or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Rietz
REL 103 - Studying Religion: the Middle East 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course introduces religious studies through examination of the Middle East. We will begin by exploring the intertwined development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through topics such as myths or origin, the Crusades, and medieval interactions in the Mediterranean region. We will then turn to religion in the modern Middle East, focusing on issues like European colonialism, Christian missionary movements in the Middle East, and the development of the nation-state in the region.
Prerequisite: First or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Elfenbein, Saba
REL 104 - Studying Religion: India 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What is “religion” and why should we study it? In what ways does religion influence individuals and societies, and how, in turn, is it shaped by them? This course, which serves as an introduction to religious studies, addresses these and other questions through case studies drawn from the traditions that originated in India (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism). Using a wide range of sources, we will explore multiple dimensions of religion, such as the narrative, philosophical, ritual, experiential, and social.
Prerequisite: First or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: T. Dobe
REL 105 - Studying Religion: East Asia 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the dynamic cultural landscape of East Asia, providing an overview of religion as it has been constructed in the states that are today known as China, Japan and Korea. Moving beyond the paradigms of practice defined as the singular traditions of Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism and Buddhism, the course delves into unnamed traditions, and practices that are across traditions, in order to provide students with tools to resist simplistic understandings of religious identity.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: D. Chen
REL 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Studying Religion: Black Religious Traditions 4 credits (Fall)
This course introduces Religious Studies by focusing on the key themes, historical developments, shifts, and actors that are central to the emergence and nuances of Black religious thinking in America and the African diaspora broadly. Beginning with theoretical and conceptual paradigms that outline the nature and scope of {Black} religion as framed in the scholarship of Charles Long and Anthony Pinn, this introductory course will proceed forward through modules that address the following topics-including, but not limited to, Black and womanist theologies, religion and literature, Black church studies, political activism, and even African American humanism/secularism.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Hills
REL 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Studying Religion: Black Religious Traditions 4 credits (Spring)
This course introduces Religious Studies by focusing on the key themes, historical developments, shifts, and actors that are central to the emergence and nuances of Black religious thinking in America and the African diaspora broadly. Beginning with theoretical and conceptual paradigms that outline the nature and scope of {Black} religion as framed in the scholarship of Charles Long and Anthony Pinn, this introductory course will proceed forward through modules that address the following topics-including, but not limited to, Black and womanist theologies, religion and literature, Black church studies, political activism, and even African American humanism/secularism.
Prerequisite: First or second-year standing.
Instructor: Hills
REL 211 - The Hebrew Bible 4 credits (Fall)
The history, religion, and thought of the Hebrew-Jewish people as recorded in scripture. Special attention given to the formation of this literature and to the rise and development of major biblical motifs.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Rietz
REL 214 - The Christian Scriptures 4 credits (Spring)
The history, religion, and thought of early Christianity as recorded in the New Testament. Special attention to the formation of this biblical literature, the theology of the various writers, and the development of major New Testament motifs in relation to the Hebrew Bible.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Rietz
REL 220 - The Traditions of Islam 4 credits
An examination of the spirit of Islam as presented in the Qur’an, the Sunna of the Prophet, Islamic law, theology, and mysticism. Special attention given to the status of women in Islam. Contemporary movements within the Islamic world discussed.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Elfenbein
REL 221 - Being Muslim in America 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 221 . Muslims have been a part of American life for a very long time. This course will explore the history and contemporary realities of Muslims in America and the emergence of American forms of Islam and Muslim community life. Of particular interest is how race, class, and gender have intersected in the history of Islam and Muslim communities in the United States.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Elfenbein
REL 222 - The Life of the Quran 4 credits Fall or Spring)
This course explores the life of the Quran as a text and cultural object. We explore literary and other aspects of the Quran and how Muslim communities have brought the Quran to life throughout history. In addition to reading selections of the Quran, we will see how the Quran receives expression in material, visual, and aural culture.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. FLO option available in Arabic +2 option only.
Instructor: Saba
REL 224 - Zen Buddhism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course explores the history, doctrine, literature, and practices of Chan and Zen Buddhism in Asia and in the United States. It includes four major parts:(1) Chinese Chan, (2) Japanese Zen, (3) American Zen, and (4) Zen rituals and mind cultivation. The final section introduces Zen practices, including meditation, Zen garden, Zen arts, and tea ceremony.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Y. Chen
REL 225 - The Buddhist Tradition 4 credits
An examination of the classical doctrines and practices of Nikaya and Mahayana Buddhism and their historical developments in various social and cultural contexts in Asia and the West.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
REL 226 - Religious Traditions of India 4 credits
Indian religion is marked by ongoing dialogues among the South Asian traditions we call Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam. The interaction between these traditions shows the ways each has defined itself independently and in response to challenges presented by the others. This course will introduce the historical and philosophical foundations for these traditions, as well as familiarize students with these intersecting traditions as living religions. The course will include special attention to the role of women and the links between religion and politics.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: T. Dobe
REL 227 - Global Christianities 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Christianity has grown explosively in Africa, Latin America and Asia in recent time. This course explores these new Christian traditions and histories by focusing on one central question - Is Christianity a western religion? Answers will come harder than many assume. In today’s world, the phrase “white Christian” now is in fact as strange as “Swedish Buddhist” still sounds to many.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: T. Dobe
REL 228 - Gods of Bollywood 4 credits (Fall)
From the mystical Upanishads to the rain-drenched saris of Bollywood heroines, the sacred, the erotic and the spectacular have long been intertwined in South Asia. This course will explore themes of love, performance and identity in India both historically and by using Bollywood films as visual texts. We will examine religion’s intimate connections to culture, gender and meaning in the modern world as we ask, “What is Indian about Indian Cinema?”
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: T Dobe
REL 229 - Violence and Nonviolence 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines the often surprising intersections between violence and nonviolence religious traditions and the lives of leaders such as Gandhi, MLK and Malcolm X. We will focus on Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism as we engage critical contemporary theories of violence, nonviolence and social change. Together we will debate questions of terrorism, anticolonial and anti-racist revolution, militant nonviolence and the embodied practice of conflict transformation. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , PCS 101 or second-year standing.
Note: Plis-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: T. Dobe
REL 240 - Religion is Everywhere 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course will use interdisciplinary approaches to explore and engage the world around us to create new knowledge. Categories, such as religion, that scholars use to organize and study the world will be applied to other aspects of human life. This course will examine things like sports, rock and roll and Coca Cola as religion, and, in turn, consider how that study helps us to think differently about what is commonly called religion.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , AMS 130 , or second year standing.
Instructor: Rietz
REL 241 - Religion, Law, and Politics 4 credits (Spring)
Focusing on the “religion clauses” of the U.S. Constitution, we study the history out of which the clauses emerged and the Supreme Court cases that have shaped their meaning. We engage questions about who can exercise their religion freely and to what extent can the state support religious institutions. We explore how these questions intersect with debates over LGBTQ rights, reproductive health, and Native American Land claims, among others.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
REL 250 - Spirituality 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
As the number of people in the U.S. who claim to be “religious” decreases, the number of people who embrace what they call “spirituality” is increasing. What is it to be “spiritual”? And how is it related to being “religious”? We explore these questions historically and philosophically, consider the links between spirituality and capitalism, and reflect on the various experiences, practices, and ideas that different people describe as spiritual.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
REL 251 - Religion, Philosophy, and the Good Life 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What is the good life? A happy life? A meaningful life? A virtuous life? A life of rich relationships with others? A combination of some or all of these? And does inquiring into the good life help us achieve it? If so, how? We explore these questions and others by considering how different philosophical and religious traditions have sought to understand and guide human life and by reflecting on our own lives and experiences.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , one 100-level Philosophy course, or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
REL 252 - Religion, Healing, and Health 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course investigates the religious and social dimensions of healing across the world, with a focus on the fundamental differences and intersections between religious healing and medical treatments. Course topics include the religious views of suffering and pain, the movement of religious health tourism, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Students will learn how Yoga, Ayurveda, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, mindfulness, and energy healing are interpreted and practiced in the religious and medical contexts.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Y. Chen
REL 254 - Women and Religion 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course examines women’s lives and experiences in different religious communities. Students study women’s rituals, gender roles, and women’s self-perception influenced by religions and societies . Students will gain skills to interpret the world we share and understand that that religion is a powerful force that keeps shaping identity.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Y. Chen
REL 256 - Religion and Politics in Modern China 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course surveys the religious problems and explores the political influence on religions in China from the 1900s to the present. The major topics include the government’s view of new religious movements, the changing relationship between religious institutions and the state, and the rise of religious tourism.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Y. Chen
REL 265 - The Crusades in the Middle East 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 265 . What did it feel like to get crusaded? In this course, we will examine the roughly two-century period from the First Crusade in 1095 to the final expulsion of Latin Crusaders from the Middle East in 1291. Our explorations will center on the perspectives of the invaded, rather than the invaders. How did Muslims, Jews, and Easter Christians of the medieval Middle East respond to the presences of the Frankish invaders from Europe?
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Saba
REL 268 - Islam and Gender 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 268 . This course explores Islamic discourses about wo/men and gender in Islam, focusing attention on the processes by which the Muslim community has articulated and policed gender-specific ideals over time, particularly as they relate to: community identity, conceptions of cultural authenticity, the interpretation of the foundational sources of Islam and legal traditions. We will give significant attention to these issues as they pertain to 19th and 20th century debates about “re-forming” Muslim women.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Elfenbein
REL 285 - Islamic Law in Theory and Practice 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: HIS 285 . This course will use the work of 12th century scholar Ibn Rushd (Averroës) as a window into the theory and historical practice of Islamic law. We will cover a range of specific topics including criminal law, family law, inheritance law, and the laws of war. The class will also study how this legal system has been implemented across time, debates surrounding the questions of gender, and the contested place of religion in modern legal systems.
Prerequisite: HIS 100 , REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available. Foreign language option in Arabic available for the +2 option only.
Instructor: Saba
REL 295-01 - Special Topic: Religion and Hip-Hop 4 credits (Spring)
Religious thought and religious experience are often theorized and found beyond the bounds of “established” spaces such as churches, mosques, or synagogues. This course, adopting that same mindset, privileges unconventional knowledge and mechanisms of human meaning within rap and hip-hop music and culture. In addition to providing a grounding theorization of religion as complex human meaning-making, this course explores religious, theological, and ethical commitments in past and contemporary hip-hop music demonstrating how the art form grapples with quintessential human concerns and how these concerns bespeak matters of ultimate significance. Course modules will include “Rap Music and the Problem of Evil,” “Black religious music and social critique,” and “Christian hip-hop vs. Hip-hop artists who are Christian.”
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
REL 295-01 - Special Topic: Religions, Race, and American Evangelicalism 4 credits (Fall)
This course acquaints students with a coherent understanding of the worldview and zeitgeist of evangelical Christianity in America, with specific attention to how racial constructs and political motivations function in its contemporary iterations. Course modules will include: historical readings on the rise of evangelicalism (within the context of the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings), religion and authoritarianism, the evangelical family and gender, religio-racial violence, and the apocalyptic themes lodged within the QAnon conspiracy.
Prerequisite: REL 101 , REL 102 , REL 103 , REL 104 , REL 105 , or second-year standing.
Instructor: Hills
REL 311 - Theory and Method in the Study of Religion 4 credits (Fall)
This seminar focuses on the history and assumptions of the comparative method in the study of religion and culture. This genealogical narrative involves a critical examination of a variety of sources and perspectives on religion leading up to and emerging from the European Enlightenment, including the development of various methodological and critical positions in the modern study of religion during the 19th and 20th centuries. Readings from a wide range of contemporary scholarship will illustrate the state of the field today.
Prerequisite: Third-year or fourth-year standing and declared major.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Saba
REL 326 - Anthropology of Religion 4 credits
See ANT 326 .
REL 394 - Advanced Topics in Religious Studies 4 credits (Spring)
An advanced intensive seminar devoted to selected topics in religious studies. Topics have included mysticism, South Asian saints, and religion and democracy. This seminar may be repeated for credit if content is different. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: REL 311 ; additional prerequisites may vary depending on topic.
Instructor: Staff
REL 394-01 - Advanced Topics: Putting Religious Studies to Work 4 credits (Spring)
This course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their previous theoretical and methodological work over their undergraduate career by putting it into practice. Students will be responsible to plan and carry out their own advanced research project from the start to the end of the term on a topic of their own choosing. Along the way students will need to make choices about and present their individual theoretical commitments, specific methodology, professional possibilities, and how best to present themselves and their semester-long work. Class sessions will alternate between group discussions and presentations, mentored project meetings and research time.
Prerequisite: REL 311 .
Instructor: T. Dobe
REL 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Roman Religion, Ritual, and Identities 4 credits (Spring)
See CLS 395-01 .
Russian
RUS 101 - Beginning Russian I 4 credits (Fall)
Intensive treatment of elementary Russian grammar, with special emphasis on pronunciation, basic conversational ability, and thorough coverage of contrastive English-Russian grammar. Conducted primarily in Russian. Meets five times a week.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
RUS 102 - Beginning Russian II 4 credits (Spring)
A follow-up course to RUS 101 , stressing the further study of grammatical usage and the development of reading and speaking ability. Conducted in Russian. Meets five times a week.
Prerequisite: RUS 101 .
Instructor: Staff
RUS 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Russian Fairy Tales and Children’s Literature 4 credits (Spring)
This course functions as an introduction to Russian culture through its texts written for young people. We first consider a wide selection of Russian fairy tales, their connection to other Slavic traditions (including Ukrainian), their historical and social roles for contemporary society, and their ongoing influence in Russian culture, 1800-present. We also will look at theoretical approaches to the study of fairy and folk tales before transitioning to the study of Russian children’s literature, 1917-the present day. How fairy tales and children’s literature are related genres and in which ways they function differently are major themes of discussion.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Herold
RUS 200 - Conversational Russian 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Conversation on free and structured themes, with topics drawn from different aspects of Russian and American life. May be repeated once for credit when content changes.
Prerequisite: RUS 102 .
Instructor: Staff
RUS 214 - Comrades in the Kitchen: Russian Food and Culture in the Soviet Century 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Drawing from literature, cookbooks, cultural histories, art, film, folklore, and memories, this course explores how food and food culture reflects the human experience in Russia, with particular focus on the Soviet twentieth century: from the Russian Revolution of 1917 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. A central part of our course involves experiential learning through hands-on practice of the preparation and consumption of Russian and Soviet food.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Russian for course and +2.
Instructor: Armstrong
RUS 221 - Intermediate Russian I 4 credits (Fall)
A reading and discussion course whose materials focus on contemporary culture with emphasis on the continuing study of grammatical concepts introduced in RUS 101 and RUS 102 .
Prerequisite: RUS 102 .
Instructor: Staff
RUS 222 - Intermediate Russian II 4 credits (Spring)
A continuation of RUS 221 . Materials focus on major aspects of Russian culture, with added emphasis on the study of more complex grammatical concepts.
Prerequisite: RUS 221 .
Instructor: Staff
RUS 247 - The Russian Short Story 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 247 . The development of the genre from its beginning in 18th-century Sentimentalism to the present. Authors could include Karamzin, Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bulgakov, Babel, Olesha, Makanin, Tolstaya, and Sorokin. Conducted in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Herold
RUS 248 - The Russian Novel 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 248 . Study of the Russian novel in the 19th century. Novels by Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, and Tolstoy considered. Conducted in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Russian for course and +2.
Instructor: Greene, Herold
RUS 251 - The Theme of the African in Russian Literature and Culture 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A survey of the varying cultural and racial perceptions of Africa and people of African descent as reflected in 19th- and 20th-century Russian literature. Examines tsarist and Soviet history of Russian intellectual contact with the African diaspora and the impact of this contact on the development of the “African” as a literary theme in Russian and Soviet literature. Conducted in English.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Russian for course and +2.
Instructor: Greene
RUS 261 - History of Russian Film 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 261 . From Eisenstein to Tarkovsky and beyond. Through lecture, discussion, and film analysis, this course will examine the fascinating and controversial history of Russian film from Andrei Tarkovsky’s sophisticated Solaris to the daring films of the glasnost era; from chernukha (noir) films of the 1990s to contemporary cinema about the Russian mafia, New Russians and the dramatic search for a new Russian identity. Conducted in English.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
RUS 281 - Major Russian Writers 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 281 . This course examines the artistic oeuvre of a single major Russian writer within the context of his cultural and literary milieu. The following writers could be offered in alternating years: Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol, Chekhov, Nabokov. Conducted in English. For current course content please see the variable topic course listing below or search the online live schedule of courses.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available in Russian.
Instructor: Staff
RUS 313 - Present through the Past: Russian Cultural Traditions 4 credits (Fall)
A focused examination of the major cultural icons and clichés that have developed in Russian culture through the centuries, with an emphasis on what an educated speaker of the language should know, including the “enigmatic Russian soul,” the Bronze Horseman, the Russian “troika,” the battleship Aurora, the communal apartment, Soviet bards, and Pussy Riot among other cultural phenomena. Advanced grammar study is combined with critical reading of a range of literary and cultural texts. Conducted in Russian
Prerequisite: RUS 222 .
Instructor: Staff
RUS 389 - Advanced Russian Seminar 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A cultural and linguistic study of a selected Russian cultural phenomenon from the 19th, 20th, or 21st century. Variable content, with discussion centered on a single author, genre, or literary period; intellectual history; popular culture; a cultural period; or analysis of an aspect of culture (film, theatre, music, etc.). Conducted in Russian. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: RUS 313 .
Note: May be repeated 3 times with varied content.
Instructor: Staff
RUS 389-01 - Advanced Russian Seminar 4 credits (Fall)
The focus of this seminar will be on 20th-century humorous fiction, with special attention to the short story. Each class will be devoted to discussion of one or several Russian stories, their literary and political themes, as well as to intertextual connections and cultural allusions. Students will also read critical works about humor in the Russian short story in Russian. Conducted in Russian.
Prerequisite: RUS 313 .
Instructor: Vishevsky
RUS 389-01 - Advanced Russian Seminar 4 credits (Spring)
Issues of Diversity in Today’s Russia. The seminar addresses questions of race and ethnicity in modern Russian literature and culture. We will examine the depiction of Russia’s non-Slavic communities in contemporary Russian literature and artistic and media outlets. This will include news broadcasts, talk shows, podcasts and film. Emphasis will be placed on developing writing skills in Russian. Conducted in Russian.
Prerequisite: RUS 313 .
Instructor: GreeneRussian, Central European, and Eurasian Studies
RES 291 - Perspectives in 20th-Century Central and Eastern European Literature 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 291 . This course examines and analyzes a number of 20th-century works in translation from several countries of Central and Eastern Europe (primarily, but not limited to, the former-Yugoslavia, Poland, and the former-Czechoslovakia). Attention is devoted to how writers, artists, poets, and others attempt to understand and respond to major events and issues in specific countries, and in the region in general: war, genocide, revolution, totalitarianism, political repression, clashes of religion and culture, and quests for (self-)identity.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Polish for course and +2.
Instructor: Armstrong
RES 495 - Senior Research or Seminar 2 or 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An interdisciplinary senior seminar or senior research project for students completing the concentration in Russian, Central and Eastern European Studies. May be repeated in consecutive semesters by a student pursuing a single research project. Credits earned each semester must fulfill program requirements as specified in program description.
Instructor: StaffScience, Medicine & Society
SMS 150 - Introduction to Science, Medicine, Technology and Society 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This interdisciplinary course examines the rise of modern science, technology and medicine, situating these fields in their larger social and political contexts. Using various case studies students will explore how knowledge and expertise are constructed; how particular norms, institutions, and practices shape this process; how important controversies and debates are managed; why certain tools, practices or ideas ultimately “win out”, and finally; how these treatments have impacted the broader society.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Guenther
SMS 154 - Evolution of Technology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: DST 154 . This course examines the historical evolution of technology and its impact on society. We will explore the complex forces that drive the process of invention and innovation; the centrality of design in shaping the particular form and impact of technologies; how technological change has challenged or reinforced traditional structures of power; and finally, how our understanding of the past can guide our attempts to grapple with the revolutionary digital technologies emerging today.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
SMS 295-01 - Special Topic: Looking Closer: Botanical Drawing and its Social Origins 2 credits (Fall)
See HIS 295-01 .
Social Studies
SST 110 - Comparative Herbalism 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course explores plant-based healing practices in communities across the globe. Doing so will require comparative considerations of beliefs about the body, its relationship to the natural world, and the processes of health, disease, and healing. Fully appreciating the complexity of herbalism requires interacting with the plants and the processes of preparing them for medicinal use. We will utilize the Global Food Kitchen to experiences the making of tinctures, oils, salves, poultices, and infusions.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Lewis
SST 115 - Introduction to Statistics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
See MAT 115 .
SST 120 - Introduction to Material Culture Studies 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 120 .
SST 125 - Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) Analysis 2 credits (Fall)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) deals with the analysis and management of geographic information. This course offers an introduction to methods of managing and processing geographic information. Emphasis will be placed on the nature of geographic information, data models and structures for geographic information, geographic data input, data manipulation and data storage, and spatial analytic and modeling techniques.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Brottem
SST 140 - Medieval and Renaissance Culture: 1100–1650 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 140 .
SST 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Material Culture Studies 4 credits (Fall)
See HUM 195-02 .
SST 195-03 - Introductory Special Topic: Real Life Entrepreneurship 1 credits (Fall)
Students will gain insights into business realities and pitfalls. They will learn the basics on how to start and build a company as an entrepreneur, and how to improve a business segment within an existing company as an intrapreneur. Through examination of real-life scenarios, students will become familiar with common sense approaches to business, with thinking-out-of-the-box, and with the lowest-common-denominator method. This is a Wilson Center sponsored alumni short course; taught by Sanjay Khanna ‘85.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates October 25 to November 10. Short course deadlines apply.
Instructor: Staff
SST 200 - Creative Careers: Learning from Alumni 2 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: HUM 200 and SCI 200 . This course is sponsored by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership. Students engage with alumni to learn about their lives and careers. Leadership and career-focused readings together with discussion with alumni will help students think creatively about their Grinnell education and possible futures.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available for Social Studies and Humanities only. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Rietz
SST 213 - Media and the Middle East 4 credits (Fall)
See HUM 213 .
SST 225 - Applied Geographic Information Systems Analysis (GIS) 4 credits (Spring)
This course will represent a continuation of SST 125 by enabling students who took that course to build upon and apply the skills they learned through an independent project of their choice. The course will also include a limited number of advanced labs as well as lectures on GIS conceptualization and project planning. Students will be expected to learn and implement intermediate to advanced GIS methods in their projects.
Prerequisite: SST 125 . Prerequisite or co-requisite: MAT 115 or SST 115 .
Instructor: Brottem
SST 295-01 - Special Topic: Public Attitudes on American Democracy 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: POL 295-01 . This course examines the attitudes of the American public on liberty, equality and liberal democratic institutions using the Grinnell College National Poll. Students will study core democratic principles and contemporary challenges to democracy, design poll questions to examine attitudes about these principles in the American public, and analyze responses to those questions after the poll is fielded.
Note: when taken as POL-295, this course satisfies the American politics distribution requirement of the Political Science Major.
Prerequisite: MAT 115 , SST 115 or STA 209 only if taken as SST-295; POL 101 is also required if taking as POL-295.
Instructor: Hanson
SST 295-02 - Special Topic: Digital Journal Publishing: A New Approach 4 credits (Spring)
See HUM 295-01 .
SST 295-03 - Special Topic: Data Wrangling for Non-Programmers 1 credits (Spring)
Previously unimaginable amounts of data are available online, but before you can use the data you need to wrangle it. In this course you’ll learn to access data via APIs, bring data in JSON and XML formats into Excel, combine it with data from other sources, and reshape it and aggregate it to produce exactly the data files you need to do your research. Course uses Excel; no programming required. Cannot be taken for credit by students who have taken a CSC class at the 200-level or above.
Prerequisite: SST 115 , SST 125 , STA 209 , POL 237 , POL 239 , or POL 258 .
Note: Dates: January 27 to March 17. Half-semester deadlines apply.
Instructor: Bauder
SST 295-04 - Special Topic: Considering Student Success 4 credits (Spring)
What does it mean for students to succeed in college? Together, we will explore a range of theories and perspectives on college student development and success and will engage in campus research about how students at Grinnell understand success in the context of their own studies. Students will receive qualitative methods and ethics research training and will contribute to a collaborative, class-wide report on the subject of student success at Grinnell.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Newhouse, Peltz, Robinson Sociology
AMS 295-01 - Special Topic: Social Enterprise and Social Justice 4 credits (Fall)
See SOC 295-01 .
SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Introduction to basic concepts, theory, and methods concerning human behavior and social structure. Special attention is paid to the scope and limitations of sociological analysis and the major empirical areas of investigation in sociology.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Contemporary US Student Activism 2 credits (Spring)
See AMS 195-01 .
SOC 195-02 - Introductory Special Topic: Introduction to Critical Race Theory 4 credits (Spring)
This is an entry level introduction to Critical Race Theory for students from all disciplines. Students will read and discuss the roots and branches of CRT, present, write short memos and complete a final research project.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: This course was previously offered as a 295.
Instructor: Erickson
SOC 220 - Sociology of Global Development 4 credits (Fall)
Provides an overview of global development with a focus on the social consequences of development practices for people living in developing countries. Also examines the ways in which consumption patterns in industrialized countries affect global development. Case study approach used to consider the effects of general practices on specific locales, such as the role of powerful forces (economic, political, ideological, religious) in shaping living conditions at the local level.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Inglis
SOC 230 - Mass Media and Society 4 credits (Fall)
This course takes a global and transnational approach in analyzing the role of mass media in society; their organizational operations within a particular economic, political, and social environment; and the impact of the content they produce. It will examine theories on the relationship between mass media, the public sphere, and democracy; the economic and social organization of media industries; the framing and reception of media messages; and the growth of new media technologies.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Instructor: Quinsaat
SOC 235 - Class, Capital, and Inequality 4 credits (Spring)
In this course we will engage with traditional and contemporary debates on the role of class in allocating resources and influencing life chances within capitalist society. We will necessarily interrogate the ways in which an individual’s class position informs and reflects experiences associated with race, gender, and sex, among other identities. Ultimately, we will consider the weight or force of class analytics in explaining social and economic inequality in the modern era.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 , ECN 111 , or POL 101 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Inglis
SOC 240 - Social Movements 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This survey of contemporary social movements focuses on the processes of social and cultural change, collective group behavior, and the process and critiques of reform revolution and social movement change. We will examine definitions and theories of reform, revolution, and social movements and make comparative analyses of goals and ideologies and their development, inside and beyond the boundaries of the United States.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Haenfler, Scott
SOC 242 - Deviance and Social Control 4 credits (Fall)
Analysis of the causes and control of deviant behavior, e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, assault, and sexual deviance. Topics include how definitions of deviance change, how people become deviant, how deviant groups are organized, and how transactions among deviants occur.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Haenfler
SOC 248 - Self and Society 4 credits (Spring)
The study of human social interaction. Focuses on how people interact in small groups, change their beliefs, interpret behavior, develop a sense of identity, and construct their social worlds. Attention to the social psychology of collective behavior and of everyday life.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 or PSY 113 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 250 - Sociology of Religion 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course examines religion as a social institution that oppresses, liberates, mitigates social change, and intersects with other social institutions. In this course, we examine behavior, belonging and belief, as well as the relationships and processes that sustain religious systems of meaning. Among other things, we discuss atheism, cults, reenchantment, fundamentalism, new religious movements, capitalism, and the impact of religion on other social categories such as gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Snook
SOC 255 - Sociology of Asian America 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
The course examines the experiences of immigrants from Asia - and subsequent generations - in the U.S. using a sociological perspective. Emphasis will be on how the changing global capitalist and geopolitical landscapes shape the economic processes, political institutions, and social norms that, in turn, govern the interactions, roles, and expectations of Asian Americans. At the same time, the course foregrounds the agency and subjectivities of Asian American.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Instructor: Quinsaat
SOC 260 - Human Sexuality in the United States 4 credits (Spring)
How do individuals develop attractions, make sexual choices, and define and enact their own sexuality? How do institutions and organizations influence, shape, and constrain sexual attitudes and behaviors? This course will examine the social construction of human sexuality in the United States with particular attention to gender, sexual orientation, commercial sex, and sexual education.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Erickson
SOC 265 - Sociology of Health and Illness 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of the social contexts of health, illness, and medical care, focusing on the debates and contrasting perspectives of medical sociology. Topics include the social, environmental, and occupational factors in health and disease; the politics surrounding breast cancer and the AIDS epidemic; the patient’s perspective on illness; the development of the health professions and the health work force; ethical issues in medicine as they relate to medical technology; and alternatives to current health care organizations. Emphasis is given to how the social categories of gender, race, social class, and sexual orientation affect both illness and health care.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Not offered every year. Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Ferguson
SOC 270 - Gender and Society 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A sociological analysis of how gender is constructed and transformed in American society. This course will explore how both men and women come to know themselves as gendered beings, how gender is produced through interactions, in the media, in the workplace, and in families.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Erickson
SOC 275 - Race and Ethnicity in America 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Introduces students to sociological perspectives on race, ethnicity, and racial inequality in American society. Examines the historical development of race-based barriers to achievement, the emergence and persistence of racial inequality, the character of racial beliefs, resistance to racial oppression, and current problems in American race relations. Emphasis on understanding individual attitudes and behaviors in relation to the structure of social institutions.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Scott
SOC 280 - Bound By Borders: A Sociology of Law and Migration 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Laws bind people to each other and to their territory, and this has far-reaching consequences for people’s life chances and identities. Migrants test these ties and have been the motivation for the emergence and reconfiguration of important laws governing who can come and go. How and why this happens interests not only policymakers, government officials, and judges, but also individuals included or excluded by borders and scholars trying to understand laws. This course takes a sociological view of global migration to explain the origins of law and its effects.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 285 - Contemporary Sociological Theory 4 credits (Fall)
Contemporary sociological theory considered in light of classic theories. Emphasis on the conceptual adequacy and the logical consistency of major contemporary theoretical perspectives.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 and at least one 200-level sociology course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Inglis, Haenfler
SOC 291 - Methods of Empirical Investigation 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: ANT 291 . An overview of the research process in sociology and the social sciences, with emphasis on problems of epistemology, research design, techniques of sampling, methods of data collection, principles of measurement, basic methods of data analysis, and ethical considerations. This course will explore these topics through hands-on experiences including guided work on research methods through lab exercises.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 or ANT 104 ; and at least one 200-level sociology course; and MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 (preferred), MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Quinsaat, Pandian
SOC 292 - Ethnographic Research Methods 4 credits (Fall)
See ANT 292 .
SOC 295-01 - Special Topic: Environmental Health 4 credits (Spring)
Exposure to toxics, impending climate disasters, and questions about food safety are ordinary parts of living in the contemporary world. We live in what Ulrich Beck calls a “risk society” where eco-social risk is part of the everyday experience often operating invisibly in the background until some spectacular event; a storm, a cancer cluster, an outbreak brings these issues into public consciousness. This class will examine how societies create, maintain, and respond to these threats to human and ecological health.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Bacon
SOC 295-01 - Special Topic: Social Enterprise and Social Justice 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: AMS 295-01 . This course will be a practical, hands-on exploration of how to effectively bring change in the world. Students with an interest in law, service, nonprofits, making a difference with their time/resources will study topics including the origins of social justice, effective altruism, an exploration of the nonprofit, alternatives to nonprofits as a means to social good, emerging approaches to social justice, and leadership coming from lived experience. This course is sponsored by the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 , AMS 130 , POL 101 , or PCS 101 .
Instructor: McLean
SOC 295-02 - Special Topic: Beyond Hashtags: Social Movements in Digital Society 4 credits (Fall)
In today’s global network society, the internet permeates our lives, whether it be our jobs, politics, or relationships. Social movements, powerful drivers of social change, are no exception. Digital activism has transformed protest, changing how events, protests, and movements are organized and generating alternative ways to build them. Students will explore sociological perspectives on social movements and the internet and consider the influence of networked communication technologies on the mobilization of social movements globally.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Instructor: Janson
SOC 295-02 - Special Topic: Sexuality, Gender, Race and Environment 4 credits (Spring)
This 200-level course will introduce students to various sociological approaches to thinking about sexuality, gender, race and the environment. Some topics will include theories of ecofeminism, critical environmental justice, settler colonialism, and intersectionality. Some topics of research will include: climate change, food justice, environmental movements as social justice movements, environmental health, and eco-fascism.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Bacon
SOC 295-03 - Special Topic: Sociology of Robots and AI 4 credits (Spring)
This course undertakes a sociological study of how human behavior, self-hood and community is shaped by and responds to algorithmic automation and robot relations. Students from all disciplines are welcome. The course is reading and writing intensive.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Instructor: Erickson
SOC 295-04 - Special Topic: The Sociology of Higher Education 4 credits (Spring)
Why do consistent, differential education and economic outcomes exist in American society, and what role does higher education play as a change agent, equalizer, and/or reproducer of society’s inequalities? Students will explore theoretical and practical perspectives on social, scientific, economic, and political forces that shape approaches to higher education and its reform. Collaborating in research pods, students will conduct inquiry-based, action-oriented projects of their own design.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 .
Instructor: Janson
SOC 295-05 - Special Topic: Global Health 4 credits (Spring)
This Global Health course is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Utilizing a comprehensive textbook and guest lectures from faculty across the College, we will examine the nexus of global health care systems in terms of actual health outcomes, challenges to global health, social and economic policy, and the state. We will begin by defining global health and understanding its history. We then will study the global burden of disease, and using epidemiology,
examine global disease patterns. In the next section of the course we will investigate infectious disease and the social determinants of health, including gender, race, and social class. The third section of the course emphasizes the social organization of global health care, health economics, the role of pharmaceuticals, and the training of health care workers. After spring break, we will turn our attention to specific challenges to global health care including
disasters, environmental change, and HIV/AIDS. The last part of the course investigates comparative health care systems as students will study a country’s health care system in depth. Students will conduct research related to healthcare policy and structure, the global burden of disease, and other topics covered during the semester and share their research in an oral presentation. We conclude the course by looking at the future of global health.
Prerequisite: ANT 104 , ECN 111 , GDS 111 , POL 101 , SOC 111 , or SMS 150 .
Instructor: Ferguson
SOC 300 - Practicum in Applied Sociology 4 credits (Spring)
Students work 10 hours each week at internship sites in Grinnell or surrounding areas (personal transportation required). Class discussions and assignments focus on internship experiences from a sociological perspective. Students must request and submit an application for this course from the Sociology Department in November, before spring semester registration begins. Students needing assistance in securing an internship are encouraged to visit the Center for Careers, Life, and Service prior to fall break.
Prerequisite: Any two 200-level or above sociology courses and third-year or fourth-year student status with good academic standing.
Instructor: Ferguson, Haenfler
SOC 320 - The Family 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A survey of the family from a sociological perspective, focusing on recent transformations of the family. Topics include historical origins of the family, traditional marriage and alternative processes of mate selection and family formation, parenting, divorce, family violence, racial-ethnic variations in family experience, and gay and lesbian families.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level or above sociology course.
Instructor: Ferguson
SOC 350 - NGOs: Organizing To Do Good 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
People often join together in nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations to accomplish good for themselves or others. This seminar focuses on how such organizations are structured and how they operate. We will explore how NPOs and NGOs resemble, and differ from, other organizational forms in mission, leadership, organizational change, environmental constraints, and effects on members. Attention to practical managerial challenges. Cases may include human service organizations, community action agencies, foundations and funding organizations, fraternal organizations, nonprofit colleges, and international humanitarian NGOs.
Prerequisite: At least two 200-level sociology courses and third-year or fourth-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 360 - Work in the “New” Economy 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
What is the “new” global economy and how has it transformed the landscape of the American economy in the last three decades? How do individuals experience the consequences of globalization in their lives, both as workers and consumers? This course will examine recent transformations in the U.S. economy — including deskilling, downsizing, and the rise of the service sector — and will consider how each of these “transformations” relate to issues of identity, community, family formation, structural inequality, and national culture.
Prerequisite: Two 200-level sociology courses.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Erickson
SOC 370 - Members Only: A Political Sociology of Citizenship 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Citizenship is a legal tie between an individual and a particular state, but it is also a category to which rights are attached, a basis for identification, and a set of participatory practices. It is shaped and expressed in the political sphere (through schools, military service, museums, censuses, and surveillance), the economic sphere (in labor markets), and in the civil sphere (through conventional participatory practices such as voting and the emergence of new domains of political engagement such as grassroots movements). This course takes a comparative-historical approach and uses the lens of political sociology to examine cases across the globe.
Prerequisite: Two 200-level sociology courses.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Foreign language option available in Spanish or Portuguese for course and +2.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 390 - Advanced Studies in Sociology 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Seminar in current issues of sociological theory and research. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Varies; at least one 200-level sociology course and third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
SOC 390-01 - Advanced Studies: Men and Masculinities 4 credits (Fall)
This course is an opportunity to critically explore the various meanings of manhood in contemporary societies. As societies have changed, men find themselves struggling with the meanings of masculinity. In this course, we will examine the history of this struggle alongside many topics relevant to changes in men’s lives: sexuality, family, sport, violence, health, work, relationships, and social change. We will critically examine patriarchy, male privilege, and, especially, men and masculinities as constructions based upon male domination.
Prerequisite: At least one 200-level sociology course and third-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Haenfler
SOC 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Christian Nationalism 4 credits (Spring)
This class will investigate the global rise of right wing populist movements, the history of fundamentalisms, and the intersection between religion and politics - both personal and public. To do so, we will interrogate the rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States, through the lens of the sociology of religion. We will piece together the role of the “deep story,” globalization, rationalization, and authoritarianism, gender, race/whiteness, aggrieved entitlement, and other conceptual tools.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 and one 200-level SOC course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Snook
SOC 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Indigenous Environmental Movements 4 credits (Fall)
This course explores Indigenous-led social movements in the US and Canada which are primarily aimed at ecological issues including : land or water defense, access to ceremonial places, fishing or gathering rights etc. We will consider how the unique cultural, social, and political concerns of Indigenous peoples within settler-colonial states shapes movement organizing and outcomes. We will also consider issues of settler solidarity with Indigenous movements, and police repression of these movements.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 . Preference given to those who have taken either theory or methods.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Bacon
SOC 395-02 - Advanced Special Topic: Social Network Analysis 4 credits (Spring)
This course offers an introduction to the analytic methods and conceptual perspectives of social network analysis (SNA). SNA is used to examine patterns of ties between multiple actors in a social system, where the actors can be defined as individual people, family units, groups, organizations, or nation states. This course will start by introducing the social network perspective, as well as several computational tools for social network analysis (e.g., R and Gephi). In addition to collecting, formatting and visualizing network data, we will learn about the mathematical properties of social networks.
Prerequisite: MAT 115 , SST 115 , or STA 209 .
Instructor: Francisco
SOC 395-03 - Advanced Special Topic: Regimes, Resistance, and Repression 4 credits (Spring)
This sociology seminar will investigate why and how resistance emerges, develops, and succeeds or fails in different types of global governments. Using a global and comparative lens, this seminar will explain the structural and cultural factors that influence various forms of contention, from reformist social movements to insurrections as well as everyday forms of resistance. The empirical topics covered include Arab Spring, social revolutions in Iran and Nicaragua, reactionary movements, and comparative case studies of nonviolent uprisings among others.
Prerequisite: One 200-level Sociology course.
Instructor: Quinsaat
SOC 399 - Directed Research 2 or 4 credits
See Directed Research.
Instructor: StaffSpanish
SPN 105 - Introduction to the Spanish Language I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course is intended for students with no previous or very limited training in Spanish. Through total immersion in the target language, students will develop communicative competence in order to be active users of the language and gain confidence in speaking and interacting in real life situations. Students will gain cultural competence in the Spanish-speaking world, including the US, by reading cultural texts, researching cultural topics, and learning about customs and values of Spanish-speaking peoples.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not regularly offered in the spring.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 106 - Introduction to the Spanish Language II 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is for students who completed SPN 105 or were placed at the 106 level by the Spanish Department. Through total immersion, students will develop communicative competence in order to become active users of the Spanish language and gain confidence in speaking and interacting in real life situations. Students will gain cultural competence in the Spanish-speaking world, including the US, by reading cultural texts, researching cultural topics, and learning about Spanish-speaking peoples and their societies, histories, and cultures.
Prerequisite: SPN 105 or placement by department.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 204 - Communication in Spanish I 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Work on improvement of speaking skills. Discussion and conversation based on various audiovisual cultural materials. Conducted in Spanish.
Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in SPN 217 .
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 205 - Communication in Spanish II 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Work on improvement of speaking skills. Discussion and conversation based on various audiovisual cultural materials. Conducted in Spanish.
Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in SPN 285 .
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 217 - Intermediate Spanish 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Development of language skills through reading, oral practice, vocabulary building, grammar review, and short compositions. Materials include short literary, nonliterary, and visual texts. Conducted in Spanish. SPN 204 may be taken concurrently.
Prerequisite: SPN 106 or placement by department.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 285 - Introduction to Textual Analysis 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Development of students’ critical and interpretive commentary on literary and cultural texts from Latin America and Spain. Continued emphasis on language skills. Materials include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and film. Conducted in Spanish. SPN 205 may be taken concurrently.
Prerequisite: SPN 217 or placement by department.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 295-01 - Special Topic: Beyond Femme Fatale: The Women Detectives of Spanish Novela Negra 4 credits (Fall)
This class will investigate four detective novels written by women, featuring women detectives, from contemporary Spain. Students will write several analytical essays and utilize secondary sources to supplement their textual analysis. This class functions as a low-300 level literature course.
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Instructor: Phillips
SPN 311 - Constructing Identities in Independent Latin America 4 credits (Spring)
A study of 19th- and early -20th-century literature in Latin America. Focus on the creation of national, racial, and gender identities in the newly independent republics through the analysis of narrative, poetry, drama, essays, and film. Conducted in Spanish. Students cannot take this course after taking a seminar course in literature (SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , or SPN 395 on literature).
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Benoist
SPN 312 - Women and Gender in Spanish Literature 4 credits (Fall)
This course introduces students to the works of prominent Spanish women writers from the 17th to the 21st century. While we will focus primarily on short stories, drama, and poetry, we will also consider films by women directors. Our readings will provide a representative sample of how women have developed as writers and individuals in Spain and how they have crafted gender issues into their writing. Conducted in Spanish. Students cannot take this course after taking a seminar course in literature (SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , or SPN 395 on literature).
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Pérez
SPN 314 - Studies in Modern Spanish Literature 4 credits (Fall)
A study of poetic, dramatic, and/or narrative texts from 18th- to 20th-century Spain. Topics of examination may include Romanticism; Realism; the poetic generations of 1898, 1927, and 1950; the novísimos; or contemporary narrative. Close readings and discussion focus on aesthetic, ideological, and historical aspects of the texts. Conducted in Spanish. Students cannot take this course after taking a seminar course in literature (SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , or SPN 395 on literature).
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Phillips
SPN 315 - Creativity and Dissidence in Modern Latin America 4 credits (Spring)
A study of selected, representative works from the 1920s through the 1960s. Emphasis on texts manifesting social conscience and artistic experimentation; treatment of the culture of protest and imaginative cultural expression. Consideration of poetry, narrative, and visual arts. Conducted in Spanish. Students cannot take this course after taking a seminar course in literature (SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , or SPN 395 on literature).
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Aparicio
SPN 317 - Readings in U.S. Latinx Literature and Culture 4 credits (Fall)
This discussion-based course provides a broad approach to U.S. Latinx literature. We will explore filmic and literary texts that voice the multiple and varied experiences of different generations of U.S. Latinxs from different national origins and cultures. We will pay particular attention to the construction of identity in terms of race, gender, sexuality, and class; bilingualism and code-switching; the experiences of the exile, the immigrant, and the refugee; the marketing of the U.S. Latinx identity; and the construction of community. Texts and films may be in English (with some Spanish) while discussions and written work will be in Spanish. Students cannot take this course after taking a seminar course in literature (SPN 377 , SPN 379 , SPN 383 , SPN 385 , SPN 386 , or SPN 395 on literature).
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Petrus
SPN 320 - Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World 4 credits (Fall and/or Spring)
Examines diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, including Latin America, Spain and the United States. May focus on one or multiple regions. Possible topics include: food, cultures, immigration, visual cultures. May use academic articles, film, literary texts, music. Taught in Spanish. Variable content. May be repeated for credit when content changes. Up to 8 credits may count toward the major. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
SPN 320-01 - Cultures of the Spanish Speaking World 4 credits (Fall)
Latin American and US Latinx Reggaeton and Hip Hop. This course will familiarize students with Latin American and US Latinx Reggaeton and Hip Hop to understand the historical and social context that led to the rise and popularization of these genres. Students will read and analyze texts/lyrics, performances, and music videos while drawing on theoretical frameworks to critically think about the role and purpose of Latinxs in Reggaeton and Hip Hop and shed light on the problematic representation of sex and gender in lyrics and performances. Students will also study the transnational and global scope of these musical genres today. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Perez
SPN 320-01 - Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking World 4 credits (Spring)
Gender and Latinidad are social constructs in)formed by models, patterns, and ideals that we observe and imitate. Film has been of particular influence with respect to the transmission of gender ideals and expectations–as well as the coding of latinx bodies. In this course, using cultural studies methodologies, we will concentrate on representations of latinxs in the United States and the cultural messages that accompany these representations from the 40s to the present day. In particular, we will analyze the relation between representations and self-perceptions of latinx subjects through stereotypes and gender models.
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Petrus
SPN 343 - The Art of Language 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Study of Spanish grammar to improve ability to express oneself with ease. Students will review and strengthen their understanding and use of morphological and syntactic aspects of Spanish while developing their competence to explain how the structure of Spanish functions.
Prerequisite: SPN 285 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Valentín
SPN 377 - Modernization and Innovation in Contemporary Latin America 4 credits (Fall)
A study of selected, representative works since 1960, including internationally respected literature of the “Boom,” subsequent fiction, and recent poetic revolutions. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 , or SPN-295 on literature.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Aparicio
SPN 379 - U.S. Latinx Identities and Sexualities 4 credits (Spring)
This interdisciplinary course focuses on Latinx sexualities and identities. This course will focus on literary analysis of a variety of genres and cultural texts that have served as inspiration and influence for diverse communities of Latinxs. Students will explore artistic and theoretical contributions by Latinx scholars and artists related to the construction, the performance, and the questioning of gender roles. We will study the relation between literary works and the formation and conceptualization of Latinx and Chicanx identities and communities. Finally, we will focus on artistic-intellectual interventions that reflect the heterogeneity of more contemporary Latinx and Chicanx communities, with special attention to the diversity of thought on gender and sexuality. At the end of the course, students will present their research on gender roles, power, and sexual hegemonies based on literary analysis of Latinx cultural texts. Texts will be in English, Spanish, or Spanglish. Class discussion and all written work will be in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 or SPN-295 on literature.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Petrus
SPN 383 - The Latin American Colonial World 4 credits (Fall)
A study of the texts and debates surrounding initial encounters between Spaniards, indigenous and African peoples in the “New World,” and the establishment of Colonial culture and society. Spanish, indigenous, mestizo, and African perspectives are considered through the study of myth, narratives, poetry, autobiography, and film. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 , or SPN-295 on literature.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Benoist
SPN 384 - Spanish Dialectology 4 credits (Spring)
This course will examine the history and diversity of the Spanish-speaking world, from both historical and synchronic perspectives. The diachronic perspective will focus on the historical, cultural, social, and linguistic factors that were involved in the origin of different Spanish dialects. The synchronic perspective will provide a linguistic description (phonological, morpho-syntactic, and lexical) of various Spanish dialects as spoken today. Students will work with oral and written texts produced in different varieties of Spanish in order to recognize those varieties and identify the linguistic features that characterize each of them.
Prerequisite: SPN 343 or LIN 114 and permission of instructor.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Valentín
SPN 385 - Studies in Contemporary Spanish Literature and Film 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines Spanish narrative and film from the 20th and 21st centuries to explore the development of a modern, global Spain. Topics discussed include Franco’s dictatorship, the democratic transition, human rights, and the place of cultural production in social movements for “historical memory.” Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 , or SPN-295 on literature.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Application and instructor permission required.
Instructor: Phillips
SPN 386 - Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature 4 credits (Spring)
This course examines medieval and early modern literature in its cultural and historical context. The specific topic of the course may vary to focus on a specific genre, author, or theme. Conducted in Spanish. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 , or SPN-295 on literature.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Pérez
SPN 386-01 - Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature 4 credits (Spring)
This advanced seminar focuses on the literature produced in Spain between 1492 and 1700. The course will address issues of race, class, identity, and gender in early modern poetry, theater, prose, and visual texts. Close attention will be paid to the cultural and historical context of the era. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 311 , SPN 312 , SPN 314 , SPN 315 , SPN 317 or SPN 295 on literature.
Instructor: Pérez
THD 201 - Production Process Practicum (Intermediate Level) 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is an extension of the THD 101 practicum in production process, however it is meant for students who wish to advance their experience in live performance production and collaboration through an expanded creative and leadership role in producing a departmental mainstage production. Students will regularly collaborate with faculty, staff, and professional artists with the intention to provide a depth of artistic and management training for students in preparation for their own advanced creative research. The following areas of THD-201 are available:
THD-201 Production Directing/Choreography/Dramaturgy
THD-201 Production Design
THD-201 Production Management and Artistry
Prerequisite: THD 101 .
Note: May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 8 practica credits may count towards graduation. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff Statistics
STA 209 - Applied Statistics 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
The course covers the application of basic statistical methods such as univariate graphics and summary statistics, basic statistical inference for one and two samples, linear regression (simple and multiple), one- and two-way ANOVA, and categorical data analysis. Students use statistical software to analyze data and conduct simulations. A student who takes Statistics 209 cannot receive credit for MAT 115 or SST 115 .
Prerequisite: MAT 124 or MAT 131 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
STA 230 - Introduction to Data Science 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course introduces core topics in data science using R programming. This includes introductions to getting and cleaning data, data management, exploratory data analysis, reproducible research, and data visualization. This course incorporates case studies from multiple disciplines and emphasizes the importance of properly communicating statistical ideas.
Prerequisite: STA 209 . Suggested: CSC 151 or computer programming experience.
Instructor: Staff
STA 309 - Design and Analysis of Experiments 4 credits (Spring)
In addition to a short review of hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and 1-way ANOVA, this course incorporates experiments from several disciplines to explore design and analysis techniques. Topics include factorial designs, block designs (including latin square and split plot designs), random, fixed, and mixed effects models, crossed and nested factors, contrasts, checking assumptions, and proper analysis when assumptions are not met.
Prerequisite: STA 209 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year. Offered in alternate years.
Instructor: Staff
STA 310 - Statistical Modeling 4 credits (Fall)
This course will focus on investigative statistics labs emphasizing the process of data collection and data analysis relevant for students conducting data-driven research in any field. These labs will incorporate current events and interdisciplinary research, taking a problem-based approach to learn how to determine which statistical techniques are appropriate. Topics will typically include nonparametric tests, designing an experiment, and generalized linear models.
Prerequisite: STA 209 , STA 230 , MAT 336 , or STA 336 .
Instructor: Kuiper
STA 330 - Applied Data Science 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: MAT 330 . Project-based course in which students work in small teams to complete the full spectrum of the data science process, including developing a problem statement, data collection and processing, data analysis using an appropriate programming environment, and drawing conclusions supported by the data.
Prerequisite: CSC 207 and STA 230 , MAT 306 , or STA 310 .
Instructor: R. Miller
STA 335 - Probability and Statistics I 4 credits (Fall)
See MAT 335 .
STA 336 - Probability and Statistics II 4 credits (Spring)
See MAT 336 .
STA 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Introduction to Machine-Learning Using Python 4 credits (Spring)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining attention in both industry and academia. Machine learning is the foundational aspect of AI that learns patterns from data. In this course, students are expected to apply machine learning using Python to problems from a variety of disciplines. The following topics will be covered: CART, Bagging & Boosting, GLM, Model selection, Performance evaluation, Artificial Neural Networks, some Frontier AI topics, and a semester-long capstone project.
Prerequisite: MAT 215 and STA 209 .
Instructor: Staff Studies in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia
SAM 254 - Jews, Diaspora and Antisemitism 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
See ANT 254 .
SAM 395-01 - Special Topic: Fictions of Francophone African Cities 4 credits (Spring)
See FRN 395-01 .
Instructor: Tricoire
SAM 401 - Research Colloquium 2 credits (Fall or Spring)
This research colloquium gives students doing advanced work in African Studies, Middle East Studies, and/or South Asian Studies an opportunity to revise, expand, and workshop a research product in a peer community and to present their findings in a public forum. Collective outcomes may include panel presentations at campus symposia or off-campus conference, special issues of undergraduate journals, or digital exhibitions.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: ENG 360 , ENG 390 , FRN 305 , FRN 342 , HIS 334, HIS 371, MUS 322 , POL 356 , REL 394 , THD 353 , 395, 397, 495, or 499 with permission.
Instructor: StaffStudio Art
ART 111 - Introduction to the Studio 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Introduction to the Studio is a beginning level studio course designed to introduce and ground students in core principles of art making in a rigorous, hands-on studio. These principles will be taught though a series of practical exercises using traditional and digital tools. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills, knowledge of materials, methods of observation and translation, collaboration, discussion, and creative discipline.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ART 134 - Drawing 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An introduction to observational drawing and contemporary drawing practice. Subjects will include architecture, objects, landscape, and the figure. Traditional and non-traditional media will be explored. Emphasis on technical skill, perceptual development, and critical skills.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Staff
ART 155 - Introduction to Film Studies 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: FMS 155 . This course introduces students to select issues in film studies. Students will learn key vocabulary and concepts of film forms, techniques, and history and develop critical analysis skills necessary to become informed viewers of a wide variety of historical and contemporary films. Class time will be used for screenings and critical study of major films. Students will produce written critical responses to film, production exercises using consumer tools (smartphones, basic editing software), and a research presentation.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Tavares
ART 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Arts Education for Children: Creativity in the Classroom 1 credits (Fall)
See THD 195-03 .
ART 236 - Print Media 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course involves an exploration of print processes. Emphasis is placed on the development of individual skills and an aesthetic appreciation of prints through creation, production, and study. This investigation includes historical and contemporary roles of multiples within the context of select media and broader artistic practices.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Instructor: Kluber
ART 237 - Chemistry of Artists’ Materials 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: SCI 237 . This team-taught course will examine the physical properties of various artists’ materials and will use these materials to generate new creative work. Examples of materials to be investigated may include, but not be limited to: paper, plaster, paint binders, pigments and dyes. The class will be a combination of in-class discussion, laboratory, and studio practice; it will be a rare opportunity for students to learn from two inquiry-based disciplines in two different locations on campus.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Trimmer
ART 238 - Painting 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course is an introduction to the materials, techniques, and practice of painting. Such a practice is concerned with issues, both technical and intellectual, that will give students the knowledge to transpose, construct, and execute using the medium of paint.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Instructor: Kaufman
ART 240 - Ceramics 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Students develop sculptural forms with traditional and contemporary ceramic materials, processes and techniques. Focus is on volumetric form, surface texture, and various surface treatments emphasizing ceramics materials, processes and techniques within contemporary art. While respecting global ceramic craft traditions, students concentrate on experiential inquiry to encourage innovation and adaptation within the expanding ceramic field (including the use of digital tools). Students read, write, observe, present, experiment and construct within the studio setting to research and develop ceramic sculpture resulting in a small portfolio that reflects each student’s inquiry in individual and group work.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Chen
ART 242 - Sculpture 4 credits (Spring)
This course will explore techniques and concepts employed by contemporary sculptors. Students will utilize materials from the ephemeral to the permanent to explore issues of space and construction through a series of creative projects.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Instructor: Staff
ART 246 - Digital Media 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores contemporary digital media art practice. Students will work with a variety of software, hardware, and digital tools in addressing visual ideas. This course encourages students to employ the computer as a visual-thinking tool.
Prerequisite: ART 111 .
Instructor: Staff
ART 255 - Fundamentals of Video Production 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
Cross-listed as: FMS 255 . This hands-on production course is designed to introduce students to the moving image as a form of contemporary art practice. Students will learn the skills, theories, and concepts used in digital video, participating in all aspects of production, including gathering ideas, writing a project description, storyboarding, shooting, editing, and screening. Students will be exposed to and research a range of moving image artists, gaining an understanding of the history of video art and related forms.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Tavares
ART 310 - Advanced Studio: Hybrid Media 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This advanced studio course involves investigating and expanding a visual idea across a range of media. Students have an opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary, expansive approach to art making.
Prerequisite: 12 credits of 200-level studio art.
Instructor: Kluber
ART 315 - Advanced Studio: Contemporary Practices 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An interdisciplinary studio course designed to introduce students to contemporary artistic practices and concepts. Emphasis is placed on ideation, concept, and form integration.
Prerequisite: 12 credits of 200-level studio art.
Instructor: Kaufman
ART 395-01 - Advanced Special Topic: Documentary Narrative and Production 4 credits (Spring)
Cross-listed as: FMS 395-01 . An advanced survey and application of documentary storytelling with a balance of theory and production. The specific objective for the students is to acquire the knowledge, skills, insight, and judgment needed to research, pitch, shoot, and edit a documentary production. Through close study and analysis of feature-length and short documentaries, as well as hands-on directing, shooting, sound recording, and editing, students rigorously explore the possibilities and the power of non-fiction storytelling for video. This is a dynamic combination of individual and group production work in which each student will be expected to complete an effective documentary proposal, four projects, and a feature-length practicum.
Prerequisite: ART 255 or FMS 255 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: N. Perez
ART 499 - Mentored Advanced Project — Studio 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Senior Project: A concentrated focus within a specific medium in which the student has extensive experience. This course is aimed at establishing a personal direction in content and personal expression while developing a mature portfolio in preparation for an advanced degree. The project includes preparation, creation, and public presentation of a body of artwork. Seniors must obtain approval of a department member for the desired medium as supervisor of the project. The MAP application must be completed with the required project statement and with all faculty signatures before submission to the Office of the Registrar. All applications are subject to approval of the dean of the College.
Prerequisite: 300-level studio course, senior standing, and departmental approval of official MAP proposal before the end of the preceding semester.
See additional information on MAP’s.
Instructor: Staff Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies
THD 100 - Live Performance Practicum (Introductory Level) 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Theatre and Dance Department students must collaborate with faculty, staff, and outside professional artists on live performance productions. These practicum courses are designed to provide performance training for students in preparation of students’ own advanced creative research and performance. While all students may participate in mainstage production, THD majors must complete two credits of THD 100 or THD 200 (or THD 203: Dance Ensemble/ACTivate). The following areas of THD 100 are available:
THD-100 On-Stage Live Performance
THD-100 Backstage Live Performance
THD-100 Stage Management
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 8 practica credits may count toward graduation. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
THD 101 - Production Process Practicum (Introductory Level) 1 credits (Fall and Spring)
Theatre and Dance Department students must collaborate with faculty, staff, and outside professional artists on producing performances. These practicum courses are designed to provide production training for students in preparation of students’ own advanced creative research and performance. While all students may participate in mainstage production, THD majors must complete two credits of THD 101 or THD 201 to complete their graduation requirements. The following areas of THD 101 are available:
THD-101 Production Directing/Choreography/Dramaturgy
THD-101 Production Design
THD-101 Production Management and Artistry
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 8 practica credits may count towards graduation. S/D/F only
Instructor: Staff
THD 102 - Introduction to Dance Technique 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
An introduction to dance technique in various styles, with a focus on the fundamentals of movement analysis. Students experience full dance classes, emphasizing the development of a physical and kinesthetic understanding of concert dance techniques. This course also examines the foundational principles, terminologies, and histories of concert dance styles. Different somatic systems and dance modalities covered will increase movement capacities of the body, help prepare students for performance, and expand creative choreographic resources. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Hurley
THD 110 - Introduction to Movement for the Performer 4 credits (Fall)
In this class, students develop as nuanced expressive movers and develop an understanding of their bodies as instruments of expression and communication. Working together, students build ensemble and collaboration skill as they explore creating original movement-based performance works. Trainings drawn from somatic practices, dance, physical theatre and mindfulness techniques are at the core of this course.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: C. Miller
THD 120 - Introduction to Acting 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
This class helps students develop a strong foundation in a variety of theories and techniques of acting. Students explore dramatic analysis, character development, movement, voice, and improvisation while also starting to engage with non-text-based performances genres. Students form a supportive ensemble environment in which they learn to analyze and discuss their peers’ performances. The class culminates with students staging a final two-person scene that is open to the campus community.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Quintero
THD 130 - Behind the Curtain: Performance Design and Technology 4 credits (Fall and Spring)
A hands-on, experiential introduction to the design elements of performance production. Students will design and implement theatrical scenes and analyze the ways in which the design elements influence and impact performance style. Students will build foundational experience in performance architecture and staging techniques, scene painting, properties design and construction, lighting, sound, technical drawing, projections, makeup, and costuming.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Thomas
THD 140 - Introduction to Performance Studies 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course explores the multifaceted field of performance studies, including how and for whom performances are created, what cultural work they do, and what multiple meanings they may convey. Engaging in an intersectional approach to embodied and scholarly inquiry from a multiplicity of academic fields, we explore performances in order to emphasize the ways we can create critical acts that mobilize performance? theory from the perspective of our own lived experience.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
THD 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: Costume Design for the Stage 4 credits (Spring)
This is a course in critical analysis and illustration, creating designs for the stage that support the text. Students will read and discuss assigned works and will render designs for all of the characters in those texts. Research in fashion, art, geography, and social, economic and political history will be a significant portion of the coursework. Daily sketching is expected and additional readings will be assigned. Practices and procedures specific to costume design will be explored with an emphasis on creative conceptual development.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Howell-Gritsch
THD 195-01 - Introductory Special Topic: The History and Practice of Screen Dance 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: FMS 195-01 . This course explores dance storytelling and aesthetics in movies, television, internet, smartphones and personal devices, and new media. Students will examine and practice dance on screen through filming choreography, employing camera technology and editing.
Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Lee
THD 195-02 - Introductory Special Topic: Balinese Dance 4 credits (Spring)
Bali, Indonesia is home to diverse traditional and contemporary artforms that are connected to social life and nature. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of Balinese dance (tari dasar) while exploring the nuances of personal body movement and contextualizing cultural sensitivities. Students will learn how Balinese dance interacts with theater, popular media, and musical arts such as Gamelan. While Balinese dance is found in many sacred practices,
it has also developed using creatively experimental processes. This course will collaborate with the Balinese Sound Ensemble to better understand the connection of movement and music.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Putri
THD 195-03 - Introductory Special Topic: Arts Education for Children: Creativity in the Classroom 1 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: ART 195-01 . This class introduces different creative theories and techniques for encouraging creativity for children in the classroom. Exercises address process, materials, movement, space, and evaluation, providing a critical framework for further exploration of the field. The course also addresses the specific cultural context of Taiwan, providing students with insight into educational practices in Asia. For the final class, students will work with children from the Grinnell community. No background in the arts or education is required.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: September 13 to October 6. Short course deadlines apply. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Shiou-Ling
THD 195-03 - Introductory Special Topic: Gender in Balinese Dance 2 credits (Spring)
From traditional to contemporary Balinese arts, dance has been a medium of artistic expression that explores the daily life and cosmological ideas of gender expression in South-East Asian culture. In this course, students will explore how idioms of movement affirm the creative elements of gender ideologies in Bali. Using a cultural anthropological lens to study dance, students will interrogate the spectrum of gender expression in diverse Balinese communities.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: April 4 to May 11. Half-semester deadlines apply. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Putri
THD 195-04 - Introductory Special Topic: Jewish Folk Dance of the Diaspora 4 credits (Spring)
This introduction to Jewish Folk Dance as practiced throughout the diaspora, will explore intergenerational connections and identity through dance practice. Students will practice folk dance technique in conjunction with readings, discussions, and written assignments, analyzing dance as a mode of expressing joy, pain, and communal survival, and embodying crucial ritualistic aspects of Jewish life. This course is designed for all humans and bodies, and each student is encouraged to engage according to their personal mobility.
Prerequisite: None.
S/D/F only.
Instructor: Lee
THD 195-04 - Introductory Special Topic: Tari Dasar; Basics of Balinese Dance 2 credits (Fall)
In this course, students will learn the basic foundations, terminology, and performance contexts of Balinese dance. By learning traditional methods of movement students will be able to explore how dance intersects with music, theater, and ceremony of Balinese life. As Balinese dance continues to expand outside of Indonesia and create new communities, students in this course will learn skills to analyze performing arts and explore creative empathy.
Prerequisite: None.
Note: Dates: October 25 to December 8. Half-semester deadlines apply. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Putri
THD 200 - Live Performance Practicum II (Intermediate Level) 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
This course is an extension of the THD-100 practicum in live performance, however, it is meant for students who wish to advance their experience in live performance and collaboration through an expanded performance and leadership role on-stage, backstage, or in stage management for a mainstage production. Students will regularly collaborate with faculty, staff, and professional artists with the intention to provide a depth of performance training for students in preparation for their own advanced creative research and performance. The following areas of THD-200 are available:
THD-200 On-Stage Live Performance
THD-200 Backstage Live Performance
THD-200 Dance Ensemble
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Note: May be repeated for credit. A maximum of 8 practica credits may count towards graduation. S/D/F only.
Instructor: Staff
THD 202 - Contemporary Dance Practices in Motion 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Building on the foundations of concert dance techniques, this course combines an exploration of modern and contemporary dance genres with an emphasis on movement patterning, choreographic sequences, musicality, stylistic specificity, and individual artistry. This course is appropriate for students with previous training in dance techniques. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: THD 102 .
Instructor: Hurley
THD 203 - Dance Ensemble/ACTivate 2 credits (Fall and Spring)
Dance Ensemble is engaged in the development, rehearsal and production of dance works choreographed by faculty and guest artists. Exposure to diverse choreographic approaches provides the opportunity to expand stylistic and interpretive range. Students gain collaborative skills through improvisation and the contribution of movement material to the choreography. Dance ensemble is open to EVERY BODY. Fall semester is a Community Engaged Learning project working with a community partner. The Spring semester is a fully produced performance. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Entry into Dance Ensemble takes place at an Informational Workshop on the second Tuesday of each semester. Course registration closes at end of Add/Drop period.
Note: (A maximum of 8 practica credits may count toward graduation.) S/D/F only.
Instructor: C. Miller
THD 210 - Choreography: Developing Movement Ideas 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course focuses on the fundamentals and theories of choreographic processes explored through formal and experimental models and their socio-historical contexts. Improvisation and composition are used to explore the structural elements and movement vocabularies that are used to devise physical ideas for the stage that emerge as choreography and staged direction for theatrical works. Students will present their work in an end of the semester showing.
Prerequisite: THD 102 , THD 110 , THD 120 , THD 140 , ART 111 , ART 155 MUS 100 , MUS 112 , or any 200-level Theatre and Dance course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: C. Miller
THD 220 - Performing Possibilities: Art of Performance 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This class is designed as an intensive laboratory for students to explore different modes of theatrical performance and further develop and refine their skills as an actor/artist. Over the course of the semester, students devise a series of one-person and group performances that explore text, movement, sound, space, duration, light, sensory interaction, audience-performer relationship, and ritual. As a laboratory, this class provides a safe space to explore the potential of performance as a vehicle for personal and social change. Although every student will be completing the same assignments, students will have the creative freedom to develop and refine their own, unique artistic voice.
Prerequisite: THD 110 , THD 120 , THD 130 , THD 140 , ART 111 , ART 134 , ART 155 , MUS 100 , MUS 112 , MUS 116 , or any 200-level Theatre course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Quintero
THD 221 - Directing 4 credits (Fall)
In this class, students explore a variety of directing theories and practices as they develop their own distinctive directorial vision and style. Over the course of the semester, students work through the process of bringing a script from the page to the stage (dramaturgical research, directorial concept, designing, auditioning, casting, blocking, and rehearsing). The class culminates with each student directing a ten-minute one act for the college community. This course equally emphasizes process and product, stressing the importance of developing an organized approach to directing at this early stage in students’ artistic career.
Prerequisite: THD 110 , THD 120 , THD 130 , THD 140 , ART 111 , ART 134 , ART 155 , MUS 100 , MUS 112 , MUS 116 , or any 200-level THD course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Quintero
THD 230 - Design for Performance 4 credits (Fall)
An exploration of the design fundamentals common to each facet of theatrical design: scenery, lighting, costumes, and makeup. Such elements as design procedure from conception to realization, research techniques and materials, period style, and design history are emphasized.
Prerequisite: THD 130 or ART 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Thomas, Howell-Gritsch
THD 231 - Lighting Design for Performance 4 credits (Fall)
Introduces the student to the art of lighting design, process, and the practice of lighting the stage for the theatre, opera, dance, industrials, television, and video. Students develop the knowledge, vocabulary, and skills necessary to become a master electrician, assistant lighting designer, and beginning lighting designer.
Prerequisite: THD 130 or ART 111 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Thomas
THD 232 - Digital Media Design for Performance 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course will provide a survey of the integration of digital technology across a variety of live performance genres and its effects on both design and performance possibilities. Students will explore digital performance history and theory, engage in a series of assignments to understand digital hardware and software, and apply digital technology in their own aural, visual, and interactive performance work.
Prerequisite: THD 130 or ART 111 .
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: Thomas
THD 240 - Interdisciplinary Perform Theory and Praxis 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of theoretical topics and perspectives in performance studies, with specific attention to interdisciplinary innovations relevant to analyzing performance. This course introduces research methodologies for interrogating and creating performance, as well as how to critique, reshape, and transform the world through performance. Course topics center on examining, historicizing, and theorizing performance in both the aesthetic and the everyday. Course projects extend performance theory into original scholarly writing and creative work. Topics could include: Queer Performance, Performance and Race/Transnational Performance, The Art Manifesto, Feminist Avant-Garde Performance, Performance Art/Body Art, Happenings and Intermedia Art, Counterculture Performance, Critical Drag Studies. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 100-level Theatre and Dance course.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
THD 240-01 - Interdisciplinary Performance Theory and Praxis: Archives & Cultural Memory 4 credits (Spring)
An examination of theoretical topics and perspectives in performance studies, with specific attention to interdisciplinary innovations relevant to analyzing performance. This course introduces research methodologies for interrogating and creating performance, as well as how to critique, reshape, and transform the world through performance. Course topics center on examining, historicizing, and theorizing performance in both the aesthetic and the everyday. Course projects extend performance theory into original scholarly writing and creative work. In Spring 2023 the topic will center Archives & Cultural Memory in performance, from archival studies theory to artistic engagements in reconciliation movements, to the relationship between technologies of memory and historiographic remediation, to performance studies angles on tourism, place, and cultural site visitor experience. Students will apply archival research to the creation of exhibits and performance installations.
Prerequisite: Any 100-level Theatre and Dance course.
Instructor: Staff
THD 242 - Why Do Humans Dance? 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course investigates dance as a catalyst in the development of human consciousness, identity, ritual proclivity, and ecological adaptation. From the aesthetic, to the physiological and neurocognitive; from cultural traditions to TikTok. Positioning dance as as an embodied/actualized way of moving, thinking and engaging with ideas, creativity and community. Supplementing our research will include classroom guest practitioners such as Pow Wow dancers from the Meskwaki Nation, local culturally-specific Dance Groups, and local Drag performers.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: C. Miller
THD 250 - Historical Theatre and Dance Contexts I 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
In this course, students engage with the various forms of expressive performance across human history and their socio-political contexts and consequences. As one part of a two-part sequence, this class focuses on ritualized, religious, and representative performance, as well as moments of anti-theatricality and anti-iconism in different cultures throughout the world. Though we will rely in part on chronology, we will consider theatre beyond its Westernized and colonial definitions and practice history by developing complex narratives and shared understandings through shared research, discussion, and creative projects.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
THD 251 - Historical Theatre and Dance Contexts II 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This course considers the historical socio-political and cultural circumstances that have shaped expressive performance and how expressive performance has shaped those circumstances. As one part of a two-part sequence, this class primarily addresses political performance, the split between high and low culture, and the development of what we now know as contemporary performance. We will rely on a thin chronological thread to consider history not as a linear pre-existing story, but as a spiraling interpretation of events and artifacts. We will expand our understanding of theatre and dance beyond Westernized and colonial definitions by developing complex narratives and shared understandings through active research, discussion, writing, and creative projects.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
THD 253 - Theatre and Identity 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
An examination of a selected topic in historical and contemporary perspectives in theatre history studies that will be detailed each time the course is offered. Topics could include: Black American Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, Latinx Theatre, Asian-American Theatre, Queer Theatre, Feminist Theatre, Apartheid Theatre. May be repeated when course content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
THD 253-01 - Theatre and Identity 4 credits (Fall)
Native American Indigenous Theatre. Indigenous theatre in the US may be experiencing a “New Native Renaissance,” and we’ll explore makers of the moment including DeLanna Studi, Mary Kathryn Nagle, LeAnne Howe, Diane Glancy, Larissa FastHorse, and the 1491s, as well as predecessors such as Hanay Geiogamah in the Civil Rights era and back to Indigenous artists negotiating 19th century redface.
Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Shook
THD 310 - Critical Approaches in Dance 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
A combined seminar and practice course for advanced study of a selected topic in dance or movement-based performance that will be detailed each time the course is offered. Previous course content topics have included: Dance and Technology; Dance, Human Rights and Social Justice; Embodied Dances in the Environment; and Dancing Gender and Sexuality. The course will employ a variety of materials and methods for advanced research in dance as a cultural, social, historical, and artistic phenomenon. May be repeated once for credit. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level Theatre and Dance course.
Note: Not offered every year.
Instructor: C. Miller
THD 320 - Solo Performance 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
This class introduces the art of solo performance, culminating with each student scripting, designing, and performing their own original ten-minute production for the campus community. Student projects have ranged in focus from the AIDS quilt, police brutality, and ADD to female stand-up comedians, the Dirty War, and the US penal system. By creating and performing their own texts, students learn to critically engage their own authorial voice and the power dynamics intrinsic in all forms of representation. May be repeated one time for credit for a new unique solo performance.
Prerequisite: Any 200 or 300-level Theatre, Studio Art, Art History, Humanities or Music course, with the exception of THD 200 , THD 250 , MUS 220 , MUS 221 , or MUS 320 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Quintero
THD 330 - Critical Approaches in Performance Design 4 credits (Fall)
An in-depth exploration of designing for the stage, with the specific area of design (scenery, lighting, costumes) announced each time the course is offered. Emphasis is on script or dance ”text” analysis and the evolution of design from first reading to first performance. May be repeated once for credit when topic changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: THD 230 or THD 231 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Thomas, Howell Gritsch
THD 340 - Performance Studies Workshop: Performance as Research 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Advanced performance workshop emphasizing the ways theoretical concepts and considerations can be transformed into embodied artistic activity. Highlighting the creative potential of theory in the making and presentation of performance, this course introduces performance-based methodologies as well as aesthetic and analytical research skills for developing original performance work. Topics could include: Devised Performance; Scoring the Avant-Garde; Theatre of Images; Myth, Ritual, and Healing; Life/Art Performance; Performance and the Moving Image; Sound, Listening, and Imagination; Performance and Architecture. May be repeated once for credit when topic changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level Theatre course except THD 200 or THD 250 .
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Staff
THD 350 - Critical Approaches to Theatre Methods 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 350 . A seminar course for advanced study of a selected topic in theatre methods. Topics will be detailed each time the course is offered and could include: Playwriting; Dramaturgy; Music Theatre Writing; Puppet Theatre; Adaptation of Fiction /Interpretation of Literature; Theatre for Young Audiences; Ethnographic, Verbatim, and Tribunal Theatre. May be repeated once for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level Theatre course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
THD 350-01 - Critical Approaches Theatre Methods: Period Styles 4 credits (Fall)
Cross-listed as: GLS 350-01 . This course is a performance workshop, blending traditional scholarship and practice to examine historical acting styles. The class will consist of games, exercises, and preparation of scenes and monologues, all supported by an understanding of the historical Western context in which the plays were performed, and from which American acting techniques evolved. We will focus on how the players played together, and why, interrogating past methods while re-situating them in a contemporary context. All of this work will take place in a trauma-informed and feminist classroom, where we will also build a caring, creative community. Genres include but are not limited to absurdism, heightened text (both early modern and ancient), and melodrama, and are challenged by additional experiments in Black Acting Methods, as defined by Sharrell D. Luckett and Tia M. Shaffer.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level THD course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: K. Miller
THD 350-01 - Critical Approaches to Theatre Methods: Dramaturgy 4 credits (Spring)
While actors, dancers, choreographers, directors, and designers contribute their perspective, dramaturgs advocate on behalf of the performance work itself. Rarely seen onstage, a skilled dramaturg is essential in any rehearsal room, be it dance, devised, or script-centered work, and their tasks change with every project. They collaborate, they research, they facilitate, they edit, they teach, they respond, they question, all while moving nimbly across departments and disciplines. In this interdisciplinary course, we will focus on the process of dramaturgy as an art in its own right, and practice the skills necessary to work across the field (and beyond!). Students will explore the dramaturg’s many functions, both within and without the fascinating architecture and context of performance texts and works.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level THD course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: K. Miller
THD 353 - Critical Approaches in Theatre Perspectives 4 credits (Fall or Spring)
Cross-listed as: GLS 353 . An examination of a selected historical and/or contemporary topic in theatre studies that will be detailed each time the course is offered. Topics could include: Environmental Theatre; Theatre of Protest; Postdramatic Theatre; Ritual and Religious Theatre; Shakespeare Studies; Vaudeville and Burlesque; Musical Theatre and Operetta. May be repeated once for credit when content changes. For current offerings review the variable topic course listing below or use the course search to filter by variable topic type.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level Theatre course except THD 200 or THD 201 .
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Staff
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