Registrar > Course Info & Catalogue > 2013-2014 Supplement

2013-2014 Supplement

This catalogue supplement applies to the 2013-2014 academic year and lists all permanent changes to the curriculum made since the publication of the 2012-2013 Catalogue.

Catalogue Supplement Index

• Course Changes
• Additions to the Catalogue
• Changes in Course Numbering
• Course information for topics courses, and new courses
• Off-campus courses

Updated December 12, 2012

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Course Changes 

• SOC 273-7 Families in Social Context will be part time in Chicago so the price has been reduced to $300. For information about needs based scholarships, contact Erin Davis.
• ENG 320 Nature Writing has changed from 320 to 220 and the prerequisite has been removed.
• GEO 320 The name has changed from Geomorphology to Earth Surface Systems.
• HIS 315 Name change to International Relations in the Contemporary Western World
• GEO 301 Environmental Geology added Not open to students who have already taken GEO 320.

Canceled Courses:

• ART 307-1 Advanced Photography
• CHE 327-1 Organic Chemistry Lab
• ECB 208-1 Health Economics
• ECB 243-2 Investments
• EDU 265-5 Education in Chile
• EDU 314-2 Methods of Elementary Mathematics
• EDU 328-8 Reading in the Content Area
• ENV 202-1 (FYS)
• GEO 101-7 Earth Science
• GEO 123-2 Introduction to Field Geology
• KIN 101-8 Lifetime Fitness & Activity
• MUS 431-8 Methods and Materials for Music Education
• POL 341-5 Latin American Politics
• POL 352-4 Educational Policy
• THE 160-1 Fundamentals of Theatre Design
• THE 303-8  Scenic Design

Added Courses:

• ART 104-6 Studio Art Basics 3D
• ART 120-1 Master (FYS)
• ART 223-4 Utilitarian Ceramics
• ART 224-5 Sculptural Ceramics
• ART 278-2 Pre-Columbian Art
• ART 279-4 Islamic Art
• ART 307-8 Advanced Photography
• BIO 108-4 Ethnobotony: Plants, People, and Culture
• BIO 108-6 Topic: Diversity: An Evolutionary Perspective
• BIO 285-5 Global Health
• BIO 385-5/ENV 385-5 Conservation Issues in Chile
• CHE 108-1 Topics in Chemistry (FYS)
• CLA 275-1 Classics and the Graphic Novel (FYS)
• CLA 276-2 Greek History
• CLA 376-8 Egypt after the Pyramids
• CSC 155-5 Topic: The Beauty and Joy of Computing(W)
• CSC 355-1 Mobile Apps
• CSC 356-6 Human-Robot Interaction
• ECB 243-1 Investments
• ECB 265-1 Markets and Social Networks (FYS)
• EDU 265-5 Ecology and Education in Chile (FEE)
• EDU 314-7 Methods of Elementary Mathematics
• EDU 365-3 The Great Equalizer? Educational Policy and Practice
• ENG 220-1 Nature Writing (FYS)
• ENG 333-2 Victorian English Literature
• ENG 510-8 Book Arts
• ENV 101-2 Environmental Perspectives
• FRE 365-1 Sporting Identities
• GEO 306-3 Igneous Petrology
• GEO 360-4 Palenontology & Sedimentology
• GER 117-2 Topic: Islam in Europe (W) (English)
• GER 387-8 Topic: Marx, Nietzche and Freund (English)
• HIS 119-3 Declaration of Independence. (Writing)
• HIS 120-1 Abraham Lincoln. (FYS)
• HIS 240-8 Public Memory and Public History
• HIS 257-6 Reel History: Cold War and American Film
• HIS 258-4 Leaders of World War II
• HIS 259-1 Travelers and the Exotic in the Premodern World (FYS)
• HIS 260    Slavery and the Environment (offered in 2014-2015)
• HIS 334-7 Inquisitions in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
• HIS-367-7 Sect and Schism in Islam
• HIS 368-5 The Victory of ‘Surrender’: Islam from the Prophet to the Ottomans, 570-1517
• INT 502-4 Academic Performance Tutorial
• KIN 101-5 Fitness for Life: Personal Fitness
• KIN 255-5 History of Women's Sports
• MUS 109-1 Opera goes to the Movies: Opera and Film (FYS)
• PHI 361-7 Meta-ethics
• POL 242-5 International Politics
• POL 251-3 The Great Equalizer? Educational Policy and Practice (FEE)
• POL 351-6 Group Decision-making: Consensus and Coercion
• POL 359-8 Political Parties and Interest Groups
• POL 385-4 Political Activism and Behavior
• PSY 265-8 Multicultural and Community Psychology in Chicago
• REL 269-2 Topic: Asian Religions in Global Context
• REL 366-6 Israel, Egypt, and the Religion of the Nile
• REL 370-1 Advanced Topic: Chinese Religions
• SOC 246    Gender Diversity (Starts in the 2014-2015 catalogue)
• SOC 362-6 Criminal Justice
• STA 201-3B  Statistical Methods I
• THE 316-4 Devised Theatre
• THE 320-4 Advanced Dance Workshop
• THE 376-8 Advanced Directing

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Additions to the Catalogue

 

Honors in Environmental Studies

Honors in Environmental Studies:

Graduating with honors in Environmental Studies requires satisfying the following two requirements:

1. an average GPA of 3.5 in all courses counted for the ENV major; these include the required courses, the courses used to define a concentration, and any course used to satisfy the capstone requirement (note that courses are not required to satisfy the capstone requirement);
2. a capstone project of sufficient intellectual depth to merit honors in Environmental Studies; each honors capstone will be evaluated by that student’s capstone committee and should be discussed among the student and his/her capstone committee during construction of the capstone proposal.

Interdisciplinary Thinking Designation

POL 349 International Political Economy.

Major Declaration Date Changed

The required major declaration date has been moved from February 1 to December 1 of their sophomore year.

SOC and SAN Major Change

Students would be required to take either SOC101 or SOC1XX to complete the SOC major, SAN major or SOC minor.  This course would meet the same prerequisite as the current SOC101 course.  Students would not be permitted to receive credit for both SOC101 and SOC1xx.

A Cornell College Education for the 21^st Century: Re-Imagining the Liberal Arts

Mission

Cornell College offers an innovative and rigorous learning community where faculty and staff collaborate with students to develop the intellectual curiosity, creativity, and moral courage necessary for a lifetime of learning and engaged citizenship.

Core Values

• A liberal education that celebrates discovery and embraces the integration and application of knowledge
• Intellectual, moral, and personal growth
• Civic and social responsibility
• The dignity and worth of each individual in a diverse community

Educational Priorities and Outcomes

The Mission and Core Values guide learning at Cornell College. The College recognizes that meaningful education occurs in multiple formats and venues, and encompasses a wide variety of disciplines and learning objectives.   As an intentional learning community, the college has chosen to emphasize the following Educational Priorities and Outcomes for all students.  In order to achieve these Outcomes, the Educational Priorities are embedded in curricular, co-curricular, independent, and collaborative contexts across the campus. Faculty and staff provide opportunities for learning in a supportive environment where students ultimately take responsibility for their own education.

Educational Priorities	Students will…
Knowledge	integrate and apply knowledge from a focused area of study as well as a broad general education which includes disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Inquiry	respond to  the complexities of contemporary and enduring problems using information literacy tools, research skills, creative thinking, and analysis.
Reasoning	evaluate evidence; interpret data; and use logical, mathematical, and statistical problem-solving tools.
Communication	speak and write clearly, listen and read actively, and engage with others in productive dialogue.
Intercultural Literacy	connect with diverse ideas and with people whose experiences differ from their own and that may be separated from them by time, space, or culture.
Ethical Behavior	recognize personal, academic, and professional standards and act with integrity.
Citizenship	collaborate with others and contribute in their communities and the larger world.
Vocation	discover and prepare for the range of opportunities and challenges that await them beyond their college experience.
Well-Being	respect the ways physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being may contribute to a balanced life.

Adjunct Course Revisions

Adjunct courses numbered in the 500s are highly focused mini courses that complement regular OCAAT offerings and, like Music Lessons, Ensembles, and English or Theatre participation activities (numbered in the 700s), may be taken along with principal courses. 

500-level adjunct courses normally span 2-4 consecutive terms and entail a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 hours of work per week (including contact hours) for a total of 25-30 hours to earn ¼ course credit.

 Governing Rules 1 and 2 Changes:

1. Registration in 500-level adjunct courses requires the signature of the instructor and academic advisor.   For 700-level courses, students register directly with the instructor or ensemble conductor at the beginning of the adjunct course (Terms One and Five for Music courses). Admission to some of these courses may be by audition; therefore, interested students should confer with the instructor or conductor for details before the first meeting of the course.
2. Students who  register, attend for the entire length of the course, and satisfactorily complete the course requirements will receive at the end of the semester a quarter of a credit and a grade of CR, with the exception of MUS courses in which a letter grade will be assigned.

Psychology Major-Psychological Services track

The faculty have approved the addition of POL 282 to the list of courses which will satisfy the "three courses in the wider context" requirement for the Psychological Services track Psychology major.

Chemistry and Biology Minor for Chemistry and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Majors

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology majors desiring to minor in Chemistry must complete at least two appropriate courses in Chemistry beyond those counted for the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology major. Biochemistry/Molecular Biology majors desiring to minor in Biology must do so by completing BIO 211, BIO 321, and an upper-level elective course chosen from the plant or animal grouping. See the discussion of minors in the Declaration of Degree Candidacy, Majors, and Minors section of this Catalogue.

College-wide Topics Courses

Cornell College has an all-college topics course sequence.  These topics courses may be used by any department or interdepartmental program wishing to offer courses on an irregular basis.  Courses offered under these numbers may be offered no more than twice.  Further offerings of the same course would require regularizing the course through the established procedures for new course offerings.  Departments or programs may choose not to use these special topics courses.

1__ - 1__  Introductory Topics in __________

2__ - 2__  Topics in _________

3__ - 3__  Advanced Topics in __________

 

290/390. Individual Projects (1/2-1)

 

Students may do intensive work in a subject or area not normally included in the regular course offerings or else pursue in depth a topic encountered as part of previous studies. The arrangement is that of a tutorial, in which the student works independently under the supervision of a faculty tutor on a topic suggested by the student and approved by the tutor. Individual Projects are open only to students who have completed the following requirements: 290 - a writing-designated course (W) and a minimum of seven term credits (at least two of which are in the same department/interdisciplinary major as the Project); 390 - a writing-designated course (W) and a minimum of fourteen term credits (at least four of which are in the same department/interdisciplinary major as the Project).  Individual Projects may not be used to satisfy the specific course requirements listed as Part One of the general education requirements for the B.A. or B.Mus. degree and may fulfill major requirements only if the department approves.

 

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grade option to be implemented in 2013-14

8. Cornell offers a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option to encourage students to explore new academic disciplines, but departments and interdepartmental programs are permitted to exclude specific courses from the S/U option by so stating in the course description. The S/U option is available to students who have completed a minimum of eight credits and must be declared when registering for a course or within the first three days of the course. On the 15th day of the term (normally the third Friday), the student may rescind the declaration; if the S/U option is rescinded, the student will receive a grade for the course. No more than two full S/U credits may be counted toward satisfying the 31 credits required for graduation.

To exercise this option, students must indicate S/U on a drop/add form, secure the signature of the academic advisor, and return the form to the Registrar’s Office.  When this option has been selected, grades of C or above become Satisfactory (S), and grades of C- or below become Unsatisfactory (U). A satisfactory performance ensures credit toward graduation but does not affect grade-point averages. An unsatisfactory performance does not confer credit, nor does it affect the grade-point average. For students who have selected the S/U option, instructors will submit grades of S or U.


9. Certain courses of the type listed below are graded either as Credit (CR) if the instructor certifies that the student has done work of "C" quality or better, or as No Credit (NC) if the student fails to achieve the minimum standard. All work transferred from other institutions, all credits earned by examinations or advanced placement, all courses numbered in the 900s, and certain other courses identified in this Catalogue by the notation (CR) at the end of their description are automatically recorded as Credit/No Credit. A few courses offer the student, with the approval of the instructor, the choice of a regular grade or Credit/No Credit, and these are marked with (OP) at the end of their description.

Numbers 9-15 become 10-16.

Philosophy Major Requirement Change for 2014-2015 Implementation

Major: A minimum of nine course credits, which include PHI 111 and 202; either 203 or 204; two courses selected from 302, 304, 305, 306, and 308; PHI 485; and three additional courses in Philosophy, at least two of which must be at the 300 level. 

Geology Major Requirement Change

The Geology Department has expand the number of credits needed for the geology major from 12.0 to 12.5 by requiring two (2) quarter credits in GEO 511 in association with the (1) construction of a capstone research proposal and (2) construction and delivery of a public presentation of the capstone results.

Politics Major Requirement Change

The Politics major’s current requirements appear below, with the proposed changes in red.

Major: A minimum of 11 courses distributed as follows:

1. One course in statistics: STA 201 (Statistical Methods I) or STA 348 (Mathematical Statistics);
2. At least 10 courses in Politics, including:
3. At least one course in Political Thought;
4. At least three courses in International Relations and Comparative Government;
5. At least three courses in American Politics and Public Policy;
6. At least six courses at the 300 or 400 level (including no more than two POL 380 courses) (other than POL 380);
7. POL 483 or, for qualified students, course credit for an independent project directed toward pursuit of departmental honors.
   1. The Department strongly encourages students to participate in an a political affairs internship or comparable off-campus program while at Cornell.

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Changes in Course Number

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Course Information for Topics Courses, and New Courses

ART

ART 120-1 Great Masterpieces of Western Art. For thousands of years, people have grappled with the question of “what is art?” and in this course, you will begin to create your own definition.  This course looks at a selected number of works and themes from the history of art, from ancient Greece to Andy Warhol.  Through readings, videos, class discussions, and at least one trip to a museum, students will learn about both art and history, and be able to talk and write about art more fluently. (FYS) HOOBLER

ART 223-4 Utilitarian Ceramics. What is the "language" of utility? What details must artists consider and master as they create objects for the purpose of utility? In this course, students will use clay to explore the forms and role of functionality. Students will learn both wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques in order to create utilitarian ceramic objects. Both historical and contemporary notions of utility will be explored through studio projects, art historical readings, and individual research. Students will be involved in every step of the ceramic process from mixing clay, forming and glazing functional works of art, and loading/firing kilns. (Fine Art) BIONDO-GEMMEL

ART 224-5 Sculptural Ceramics. How does ceramics straddle the threshold between craft and high art? How does an artist use a traditional craft medium, clay, in order to explore sophisticated concepts/ideas? In this course, students will focus on clay as a sculptural medium. Students will learn hand-building techniques, including pinch, coil, and slab, in order to create sculptures. (Fine Art) BIONDO-GEMMEL

ART 278-2 Pre-Columbian Art. Pre-Columbian art & architecture: Provides students with an introduction to major monuments of ancient Mesoamerica prior to 1550 now found in Central America and Mexico. The class will look at stone sculpture, ceramics, codex-style manuscripts, and buildings and urban planning, from cultures including the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs, from ca. 1500 BCE until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.  Major themes to be covered in assigned readings and discussion include the prevalence of sacrifice (broadly defined), kingship in Mesoamerica, and differing forms of urbanism. (Humanities) HOOBLER

ART 279-4 Museum Studies (FEE). Held at the McLennan center in Chicago, this course provides a broad overview of the purpose, function, and history of museums, and their role in society.  First, students will investigate what a museum is, and examine the various types of museum that address fine art, natural history, and ethnicity through particular cases in the Chicago area.  Students will be introduced to all of the disciplines within the museum and will discuss recent issues in the field.

Through focused articles, reading responses, and presentations, students will grapple with the theoretical issues in the field, complemented by hands-on experience in area museums.  Additional readings, responses, and presentations will allow students to explore their own interests in the field. (Humanities) HOOBLER

BIOLOGY

BIO 108-1 Topic: Diversity: An Evolutionary Perspective. (FYS) What is diversity and why should you care? This course is designed to encourage students to read, discuss, and think about diversity—from a biological perspective. We will examine the diversity of life and life histories. Students will learn about diverse patterns of reproduction (sexual and asexual), gender, and interactions among predators, prey, and parasites within biological communities -- including human populations. We will compare patterns from an evolutionary perspective and discuss implications. (FYS) CONDON

BIO 108-4 Ethnobotony: Plants, People, and Culture. Life on earth is sustained by plants and we are enriched daily by our interactions with them in the form of food, medicine, fuel, fibers, building materials, and other resources.  Plants have significantly shaped the human societies growing in their midst, and this course will examine the relationship between plants and human culture.   We will explore the role of plants in material culture, religion and ritual, nutrition, local and global economies, medicine and pharmaceuticals, and recreational drug culture.  We will also discuss basic plant biology: what is a plant, how do we identify them, and why do plants look the way they do.  Elements of biology, evolution, anthropology, politics, and economics will be discussed in this course. (Science) POULLETTE

BIO 108-6 Topic: Diversity: An Evolutionary Perspective. What is diversity and why should you care? This course is designed to encourage students to read, discuss, and think about diversity—from a biological perspective. We will examine the diversity of life and life histories. Students will learn about diverse patterns of reproduction (sexual and asexual), gender, and interactions among predators, prey, and parasites within biological communities -- including human populations. We will compare patterns from an evolutionary perspective and discuss implications.  (Science) CONDON

BIO 285-5 Global Health.  What is "health"? How is "health measured? What factors determine "health" of individuals and of populations? What are the most prevalent health issues currently affecting our world? These are just a few of the questions we will ask and discuss in this course. To answer these questions, we will examine disease patterns in populations in both developing and developed countries. We will discuss factors influencing health status such as socioeconomic class, nutritional status, human behaviors, physical environment, access to health services/education, and of course, biology. We will examine the goal to transition developing countries from high to low fertility and mortality, and the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases. Finally, we will discuss interventions to alleviate disease burdens and the potential for science and technology to improve health. May include a field trip to University of Iowa. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. (Science) CHRISTIE-P   

BIO 385-5/ENV 385-5 Conservation Issues in Chile (FEE. The course will investigate conservation issues in Chile addressing aspects of natural sciences "biology, ecology, chemistry, evolution"  and aspects of social sciences "sociology, policy, economics, anthropology". Students will experience the conservation issues firsthand by meeting with park managers, NGOs, environmental activists, interested stakeholders, and spending significant time in Chilean protected areas. Introductory courses (e.g. BIO 142, ENV 101) recommended, and instructor consent required. (Lab Science) GANNES

CHEMISTRY

CHE 108-1 Science, Faith, and Myth: Why do we believe what we believe? (FYS).  Being liberally educated means that we recognize that there are many ways to learn about our world.  We will explore the power of broadening our worldview by crossing perceived boundaries such as those between science and belief.  We will start by asking:  What is Science?  How is it really done, and what does it mean to “know something” in science?  Can a scientific truth change with time? How does science depend on history, economics, politics, religion, language, or the pedigree of the scientist?  What standards do we use to decide what is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad, and do we apply these standards consistently?  What does it mean to believe?  Is belief only concerned with matters of faith, or does belief show up elsewhere?  Is it possible to do science without any belief?  How has a misunderstanding of the proper role of science and the nature of science itself led to commonly perpetuated myths? We will explore these questions by using a variety of resources and by considering a broad range of viewpoints. By learning to use the tools provided by the liberal arts we will become academic “myth-busters”. (Science) LIBERKO

CHE 108-1 Chemistry of Global Health Issues (FYS). Unsafe drinking water, malnutrition, infectious diseases, industrial pollution - these are all serious global health concerns. What is the chemistry behind these problems? How can an understanding of chemistry help us evaluate possible solutions?  This course will begin with a basic introduction to chemistry and move into an examination of the chemistry behind global health challenges such as the provision of clean drinking  water, the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, and the production of food to feed the world. Intended for non-science majors: no previous experience in chemistry required. (Science) STRONG

CLASSICS

CLA 275-1  Classics and the Graphic Novel (FYS). The history, literature, and art of ancient Greece and Rome has inspired and influenced the world of comic books and graphic novels almost from the beginning. Jerry Siegel, the creator of Superman, claimed that Hercules was one of the inspirations behind the Man of Steel in the 1930s. Many comic book heroes have had brushes with classical antiquity, and entire works of classical literature have been re-told as comics, including the Iliad and Odyssey which appeared in Marvel's Classics Comics Series. Frank Miller's 300 and the motion picture it spawned has helped usher in a new period of interaction between classical antiquity and the modern world via graphic novels. But it has not been a period without controversy and questions about modern approaches to antiquity and the use of ancient art, literature, and history to refashion old stories and create new ones. This course will introduce students to the culture of classical antiquity through an examination of select graphic novels (Age of Bronze, 300, and The Sandman among others) paired with the material authors and artists have drawn upon: the History of Herodotus, the epics of Homer and Vergil, and the tragedies of Euripides and Aeschylus. Students will investigate modern reception of ancient texts, the use and reuse of myth and history, and the resulting implications. In addition to exams, essays, and in class writing, students will also be asked to research and develop their own graphic novels based on ancient stories, historical events, and myths in groups. (Humanities) VENTICINQUE

CLA 276-2 Greek History. This in an introductory course in Greek history that will cover major social, economic, and political developments from the Archaic period in Greece to the rise of Alexander the Great. Topics to be discussed include the formation of city states, Athenian Democracy, war with Persia, the Peloponnesian War and the coming of the Hellenistic Age.  (Humanities) VENTICINQUE

CLA 376-8  Egypt after the Pyramids. Egypt of the Roman and Late Antique periods (1st-7th centuries CE) is one of the best documented regions in the ancient world, although often not treated in detail in standard historical surveys. This course aims to probe the various approaches to the history of Roman and Late Antique Egypt and also to investigate what the study of Egypt can contribute to our understanding of the Roman and Late Antique world in general by examining primary sources in translation. An emphasis will be placed on major topics in social, economic, legal and religious history, cultural interaction between Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, and the ways in which Egyptians themselves crafted ideas about the past. (Humanities) VENTICINQUE

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CSC 155-5 Topic: The Beauty and Joy of Computing (W). Computing has changed the world in profound ways. It has opened up wonderful new ways for people to connect, design, research, play, create, and express themselves.  This course will focus on some of the "Big Ideas" of computing that have changed the world and consider where it will go in the future.  We will discuss the challenges and implications of computer technology, including the responsibilities of those who design and use computer systems.  Students will learn a bit about computer programming and a lot about writing at the college level.  The lab portion of this course will introduce students to computer programming using Scratch, one of the friendliest programming languages ever invented.  Students will engage in several different types of academic writing and will conduct their own research projects. Because this is a writing course, significant course time will be spent on the writing process, with a focus on revision. Not open to students who have previously completed a writing course. (Writing) SOWELL

CSC 355-1 Mobile Apps. Students will learn how to write software for mobile devices, including smart phones and tablet computers. TABAK 

CSC 356-6 Human-Robot Interaction. Students will learn how to write software that controls robots. TABAK

ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

ECB 265 Markets and Social Networks (FYS). Networks pervade our tech savvy society. The people in our social networks influence the books we read, the jobs we obtain, the things we buy, and even the viruses that infect us! This course explores the new science of networks.  The first half of the class will be focus on mastering the common principles that explain the structure of networks and processes that operate upon them. Students will learn basic mathematical models and play with network data. We aim to answer the following: How do networks affect social, economic, and business behavior? How does an agent's position in a social network advantage or disadvantage that agent? The second half of the class will explore social media networks such as Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. Working in groups, students will initiate their own social media projects and present their findings to the class. (First Year Seminar) HEJEEBU

EDUCATION

EDU 265-5 Ecology and Education in Chile (FEE). The purpose of this course is to examine ways aspiring teachers and environmental educators might integrate the science of climate change and the impact of environmental degradation on ecosystems and human populations in their future classrooms.  Students in this course will investigate the relationship of international policies on the environment and human rights, and how these relationships might be incorporated into pedagogical practices.  Chile, a nation that faces multiple environmental challenges impacting its people, provides a rich opportunity for students to observe first-hand ecological phenomena, interact with populations who are affected by environmental change, and study NGOs who implement environmental educational programs. Upon the culmination of this course, students will present a curriculum that incorporates their knowledge about Chile’s environmental challenges with place- and community-based experiences for elementary and secondary students. KAUPER

EDU 365-3 The Great Equalizer?  Educational Policy and Practice.  This course will explore the nature of school resegregation, the rise of credentialism, the end of educational expansion, and the continuation of inequality of educational opportunity. Each of these phenomena have powerful implications for education policy. Students in the course will be introduced to the history of policymaking in education beginning with the education reform policies of Horace Mann. Students will also examine demographic data on educational attainment, analyze the policies that attempt to alleviate (or reproduce) educational inequality, and describe what assumptions lie behind current reform ideas. We will evaluate the dynamics of current debates by referencing the long-standing tensions among the different purposes of schooling we have in our nation. Finally, students will have the opportunity to examine educational practices from other countries and even other fields (such as business and medicine) to stimulate creative thinking about reform and policy.  KAUPER

ENGLISH

ENG 111-2A Topic: Exiles, Immigrants and Identity. What does it mean to be an exile? an immigrant? Economic uncertainty, climate change, and political conflicts mean that the number of people migrating from one part of the world to another has increased tremendously. But what do these experiences mean for those who move, those who stay, and those who make room for the newcomers? This course will look at the experience of immigration in several countries, including Uganda, India, South Africa, and Nigeria. Texts will include literature by Indian, South African and Nigerian writers and critical articles on immigration and identity. Emphasis on critical reading, writing and revision. Some attention paid to writing style as well. Not open to students who have previously completed a writing course. Same topic offered in Block 6. (Writing Requirement) REED

ENG 111-3, 4. From Esther to Elizabeth I: Queens in Sacred Texts, Literature, and Film.  Savvy political power brokers and symbols of patriarchal power or male political alliances, sexualized enchantresses and skillful negotiators, she-wolves and saintly wives to the nation, defenders of their honor, their love, their nation, their faith: from the ancient Hebrews to today, queens have captured the imagination of story-tellers, writers, and film-makers. In this first-year writing course, we will study representations of historical and mythologized women rulers in the Hebrew Bible, Renaissance and Romantic literature, and contemporary film – women such as Esther and Vashti, Mary Stuart of Scotland and Elizabeth I of England, Marguerite (de Valois) of Navarre and Catherine de Medici. Through writing and class discussions of chapters from the Hebrew Bible, Renaissance drama, poetry, narrative fiction, and historical documents, a Romantic novel, and contemporary historical films, you will hone your analytical and critical reading skills. A research assignment will introduce you to the library resources and to research techniques in the field of literary and cultural studies. The course will involve daily writing and will give you multiple opportunities to reflect on the writing process and engage in writing revision. Not open to students who have previously completed ENG 111. (Writing Requirement) STAVREVA

ENG 111-7B. Topic: Virginia Woolf & Book Arts. This course provides an introduction to college writing and literary analysis through an intense engagement with an experimental novel and some essays by one of the 20th century’s iconic writers: Virginia Woolf. Considering the book arts and cultural studies, we will delve into the text and print culture of her day (including her role as editor of the Hogarth Press) and focus on one novel. Throughout the course, students will draft and redraft writings, from in-class writing to critical essays to research-informed critical projects. Students will learn how to search for literary and cultural scholarship, using library resources such as search engines and data bases. Challenging writing assignments will help develop critical thinking and critical writing skills. Not open to students who have previously completed ENG 111. (Writing Requirement) HANKINS

ENG 220-1 Nature Writing: You and Your Environment. In this class, we will examine our place in our environment. How do humans interact with their world? How should we treat our environment? We will read a variety of authors who confront important issues: agriculture, biodiversity, wilderness conservation, etc. and try to formulate our own opinions about these issues. You will be writing personal essays about the material, studying writing strategies to help you think about the issues and to express your thoughts. You will give and receive peer feedback on your writing throughout the class. (FYS) G. FREEMAN

ENG 321-2 Dante’s Divine Comedy in Italy (or, “the journey of our life”). A study of Dante’s epic poem in the poet’s cultural milieu, visiting sites that nourished his creative imagination. The course starts on campus, mapping the intricately woven poem the way we map a city: starting with its overall shape, the principles of its organization, the range of its characters. On site in Italy, we will alternate among 1) Florence-inspired class discussion of the barren expanses, dark alleys, and forbidding fortifications of Inferno, of the civic and artistic accomplishments of Purgatorio, and of the magical civic landscape of Paradiso, 2) visits to major museums and architectural sites (S. Maria Novella, S. Croce, Baptistery and Duomo, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Uffizi Gallery, etc.), and 3) cultural excursions to cities featured in Dante’s poem (such as Siena, Lucca, Pisa, and Rome). There will be reflective work upon return to campus, including the unveiling and public presentation of projects. Costs: Estimated at $4,000 per student, to include airfare and ground transportation in Italy, accommodations, some meals, site and museum visits. Pre-requisites: Sophomore standing and either a Writing (W) course, or ENG 201. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and be in good disciplinary and financial standing with the college. (Humanities) STAVREVA

ENG 328-6. From Satire to Snark: 18^th Century English Literature. Is satire dead? Several people have proclaimed the death of satire over the years, but the wild success of Jon Stewart and South Park would seem to indicate satire is alive and well and still useful as a political na dcultural tool. In this class we will trace the art of satire back to the Restoration and 18^th century, reading satirical works by several authors, as well as a fun little essay that may come in handy, “The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting.” We will spend some time examining other Englightenment forms of satire and some contemporary forms (like the Daily Show and Monty Python). We will even find out when and why people have pronounced satire’s death (when a war criminal won the Nobel Peace Prize, or an actor was elected President, for example). Course requirements include formal papers, exams, and an original piece of satire. Prerequisite: W course, ENG 201, 202, or 215. (Humanities) REED

ENG 333-2 Victorian English Literature. Charles Dickens, eminent Victorian novelist, was also a newspaper reporter, watchdog journalist, enterprising magazine editor, and publisher. On his own novels, he worked closely with publishers, book illustrators and printers. His career and writings will thus provide an excellent touchstone for learning about the history of book production, distribution and reception, focusing particularly on the 19th century. The course will include, among other projects, a hands-on printing and book-binding component. Prerequisite: writing-designated course (W), or ENG 201, 202, or 215. Alternate years. (Humanities) MOUTON

ENG 372-8. Film and Film Studies
. The study of films as artistic and cultural texts. The focus may be on the study of an individual director, a broader topic, or a particular period in film history. For the 2013-14 academic year, the topic is Some Women Directors:  Germaine Dulac, Maya Deren, Julie Dash and Patricia Rozema.  (This is not a film production course.) Prerequisite: writing-designated course (W), or ENG 201, 202, or 215. (Humanities) HANKINS

ENG 411-1. Senior Seminar: Making an English Major, Book Arts & English Studies.
 Advanced, theoretically informed engagement with literary studies, broadly defined, including reflection on what the English major brings to intellectual and creative life beyond the undergraduate years. The scholarly focus will be on transformation.  We will read focused theory in addition to fictions such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, Winifred Van Etten’s I am the Fox, and some films, as well as explore the English Department printing ventures at the turn of last century—and speculate about the renaissance in print culture today at Cornell. Students will tell of their own journeys and transformations as English majors through essay, analysis and the book arts, and will prepare a prospectus for their senior research project. Prerequisites: English major and senior standing. (Humanities) HANKINS

ENG 411-5.  Senior Seminar: Compassion and Literature. What’s literature good for, anyway?  In this senior seminar we will attempt to answer this question, but we will also ask if it is the right question. More specifically, we will focus on defenses of literature that claim our sympathy for characters makes us more compassionate and therefore better  people. We will explore this seductive defense by reading theories of compassion and literature and a variety of literary texts that either invite or refuse sympathy for their main characters (possibilities include Nabokov’s Lolita, Coetzee’s Disgrace and some narrative poetry). While the cultivation of compassion offers an attractive answer to that first question about literature, we will also consider its consequences and limitations. Through individual and collaborative assignments, you will work to construct your own questions and answers about literature. Prerequisites: English major and junior or senior standing. (Humanities) REED

ENG 510-8. Book Arts. The course will introduce participants to the field of book studies, including letterpress and book arts, typesetting, printing, and book construction through demonstrations and hands-on experience. Sessions may also include field trips to libraries and museums, fine presses, and/or Book Studies Programs. To earn credit, students must complete four sessions and complete a culminating project. A complete schedule of workshops and fieldtrips will be distributed at an informational session to be held at the beginning of the academic year. [1/4 credit] HANKINS, MOUTON, STAVREVA

To earn credit for this course in 2013-2014, students must (A) complete four full-day workshops that will be offered during the block breaks following terms 1, 2, 3, and 5 and (B) submit a culminating project by the beginning of term 7. [1/4 credit]

FRENCH

FRE 365-1 Sporting Identities. How do sports affect—or how are they affected by—gender, class, and race?  How do sports and sports narratives change over time and how does this affect the meanings and messages they propagate or are made to carry?  Do the same sports mean the same things for different cultures, or even for different people?  Through various literary and cultural texts—photographs, films, short stories, non-fiction, etc.—we will examine the role of sports and sports narratives in creating, resisting, shifting, or maintaining elements of cultures and identities.  We will focus our attention on representations of sports in twentieth century French and Francophone contexts, keeping questions such as these in mind.  Students do not need to have any familiarity with sports to take this class, but they do need to have met the prerequisites for taking upper-level courses in French. WINES

GEOLOGY

GEO 114-1 Iowa Geology:Story Under Your Feet (FYS). Earthquakes, volcanoes, oceans, meteorite impacts, glaciers… in Iowa? Geology may not be the first thing you think of when you think about Iowa, but the geology of Iowa records valuable information about the geological formation and evolution of the Earth. Geologists are not only historians; however, but also detectives who use rocks, minerals, fossils, landforms, and Earth processes to piece together the physical history of the Earth. Because geology is active, the geology of Iowa is still changing today. In fact, as residents of Iowa, you affect the geology of Iowa through your everyday consumer choices. So, what does Iowa geology tell us about Earth’s history? And how do your choices influence the geology of Iowa?<p>This field- and laboratory-based course is designed to show how you can use your own observations and experimental data to interpret the changing Earth around you. In addition, we will meet and work with students in the first-year sociology course to examine the connections between the physical and social world and to gain insight into the social implications of those everyday consumer choices. WALSH (First Year Seminar)

GEO 360-4 Palenontology & Sedimentology. Description to come. (Lab Science) STAFF

GEO 511-4,8 Extended Research (1/4). Two semesters to be taken in conjunction with capstone project, GEO 485. Extended reading during the first semester and writing of a capstone research proposal. Extended writing with construction and delivery of a public presentation of the capstone research results during the second semester. Prerequisite: Registration in GEO 485 during the end of the first semester or beginning of second semester. Permission of Instructor. (GREENSTEIN, DENNISTON)

GERMAN

GER 117-2 Topic: Islam in Europe (W). This writing course takes compares a variety of migratory paths from North Africa and the Middle East to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and England. We will look at early migration paths (before 1900) of Europeans into North Africa or the Middle East, as well as North Africans and Ottomans who traveled into Europe. Our second period focuses on the post-World War II migration of Middle Eastern and North African workers into European states. Our final unit will focus on contemporary cultural polemics about the "clash of civilizations" between "Europe" and "The Muslim World" as well as the discursive shifts which take place in depictions and rhetoric of Muslims after the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers. Taught in English. (Writing) SCHUSTER-CRAIG

316-6. The Dynamic Duo of Weimar. (In German). Think of your favorite dynamic duo: Batman and Robin, Magic and Kareem, Thelma and Louise or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Now imagine them in powdered wigs, short pants, tights and shoes with buckles. Not the best getup for fighting evil, but perhaps appropriate – even comfortable – for writing poetry and collecting botanical specimens. This course will introduce you to two of the most celebrated German authors of the Classical Age: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller.  The “ringleaders” of the group known as the Weimar Classicists, Goethe and Schiller's works form the basis of the traditional German literary canon and span several literary movements (Classicism, Sturm und Drang, Romanticism). These two authors enjoyed an almost life-long friendship and can be partly credited with turning German into a literary language through their novels, plays and poetry. Looking at texts from both the past and the present will help us to observe how these two authors – both literary leaders and fast friends – continue to have an effect on contemporary literary culture and aesthetics. Looking at some of their philosophical texts and their correspondence in letters will provide a more personal look at the dynamism of their friendship. (Humanities). Prerequisite GER 205. SCHUSTER-CRAIG.

GER 387-8 Topic: Marx, Nietzche and Freund. Collectively known as "The School of Suspicion," Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freund are three giants of German culture. This course will explore the writings of each in depth, as well as contemporary use of their ideas in Marxist cultural studies, post-colonial theory, feminism, philosophy, psychology and literary theory. In English. (Humanities) SCHUSTER-CRAIG

HISTORY

HIS 119-3 Declaration of Independence. We often take words like liberty and freedom for granted.  This course will examine three instances in American history when significant portions of the population demanded a more equal place in society.   Substantial time will be spent on the Declaration of Independence and its aftermath.  We will also examine the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention in 1848 and the Emancipation Proclamation. No S/U option. (Writing) LUCAS

HIS 120-1 Abraham Lincoln (FYS). Today Abraham Lincoln is often ranked among the top three presidents in American history.  We often forget that his pre-presidential career was quite undistinguished, and many of his political allies thought he was a failure during the first three years of his presidency.  This seminar will look at the life, political career, and ideas of Lincoln to unravel the mysteries behind the legend. No S/U option. (FYS) LUCAS

HIS 240-8 Public Memory and Public History. The American public has an insatiable appetite for representations of the nation's past, as demonstrated by the popularity of historic sites, museums, historical re-enactments, televised historical documentaries and Hollywood films. Yet, despite its growing audience, the discipline of history seems to be in a state of crisis. Political debates have engendered a public furor over how American history is being taught and remembered. This course will examine the often contentious relationship between popular presentations of the past for the general public and professional historians' scholarly interpretations and provide an introduction to the growing field of museum studies. The course may include the "hands-on" experience of a mini-internship at local historical societies, libraries, and museums and the opportunity for students to create their own online exhibits on different historical topics. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the Instructor. No S/U option. (Humanities) STEWART

HIS 257-6 Reel History: Cold War and American Film. This course will explore Cold War culture through Hollywood film, examining how Americans’ fears of communism and nuclear warfare were expressed in a diverse range of genres from film noir to documentary realism to the science fiction “Them!” (in which giant mutating ants threaten to take over Los Angeles). Yet, despite its production of anti-communist films, Hollywood came under attack from the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and as a result of the ensuing witch-hunt, many involved with the film industry were denied their civil liberties and black-listed. We will also explore this aspect of the Cold War through films which sought to expose this tragic failure of democracy. We will also examine how Cold War ideologies about “race” and gender also played out onscreen and off. In addition to film screenings, there will be a large amount of course readings. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the Instructor. No S/U option. (Humanities) STEWART

HIS 258-4 Leaders of World War II (W). An examination of the wartime leadership of Churchill, deGaulle, Hitler, and Stalin. No S/U option. (Writing) GIVENS

HIS 259-1 Travelers and the Exotic in the Premodern World (FYS). Medieval readers thrilled to the travel tales of Marco Polo, John Mandeville, and others, full of bizarre people, strange customs, and curious creatures. How did these stories influence their ideas about the world around them? What did travelers consider exotic, and how did they explain unfamiliar cultures to their readers? In this course, we’ll read both fictitious and real-life travel accounts from the Middle Ages and the Age of Exploration and examine how such stories shaped the European imagination.  (FYS) HERDER

HIS 260    Slavery and the Environment in a Comparative Context: The Bahamas and the U.S., 1783-1838. This course will explore the impact of two different environmental contexts upon the development of slavery as an economic and societal system. We will examine the attempt by British loyalists to establish cotton production in the Bahamas and the ways in which the environmental context of the Bahamas led to significant differences as well as similarities in the evolving relationships between enslaved peoples and slaveholders in the Carolinas and Georgia. Two weeks of the course will be conducted at the Gerace Research Centre, College of the Bahamas on the island of San Salvador. San Salvador is the site of the Farquharson Plantation, which was established by a British loyalist, Charles Farquharson, who left the American colonies after the Revolutionary War. Farquharson was the last plantation holder to remain on the island. The journal he kept from 1831-1832 is the only known surviving text which documents a Bahamian slave plantation, and will be one of our central course texts. We will explore the ruins of the Farquharson site, along with three other slave plantation sites on the island, and use our findings from these field investigations in conjunction with other primary sources, such as Farquharson’s Journal, to develop a deeper understanding of slavery. Throughout we will think about how different historical actors, including slaveholders and members of the enslaved population, “read” and see the environment differently. What types of mental maps did slaveholders and enslaved people make to understand their world, their experience of migration, and the social geography of their known worlds? How did the enslaved acquire forms of geographic literacy essential for their survival? Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Every third year. To be offered in 2014-2015. (Humanities and Environmental Studies)  No S/U option. STEWART

HIS 261-4 Introduction to the Modern Middle East. This course examines the history of the modern Middle East from thetwilight of the Ottoman era to the present. The course explores the historical processes which resulted in the emergence of the Middle East as one of the most conflicted regions of the world. Topics include Orientalism, modernization, state-building, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Kurdish question. Today, citizens are exposed to stereotypical images, information, opinion, and commentary about the contemporary ethno-religious conflicts in the Middle East through public media. The ultimate aim of the course is to provide students with an informed understanding of the historical forces that produced the contemporary Middle East. No S/U option. (Humanities) HAGLER

HIS 334-7 Inquisitions in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. The Inquisition's dark reputation is well known. What reality lay behind it? This course examines the development and growth of the inquisition over time, from its origins in the 13th century as a group of largely independent investigators of heresy, through the establishment of its more structured forms in 15th-century Spain and 16th-century Italy. We'll consider the procedures, goals, and motives of the inquisitors, as well as of those who had to defend themselves before inquisitors, and the impact of the inquisitions on European society. (Humanities) HERDER

HIS-367-7 Sect and Schism in Islam. Like many world religions, the Islamic faith has seen its share of sects and schisms.  Starting with the early split between Sunnis and Shi’ites, this class will focus on the historical aspects of the various theological schisms that have affected Islam and trace their impact, from political strife to the creation of new, “offshoot” religions, such as Druze and Baha’i.  We will see that these schisms were not purely theological, but had political and social motivations as well; we will also see that, though the initial causes of the splits may be centuries-old, they continue to have real-world impact today. The goal of the course will be an understanding of how, when, and why these schisms occurred.  Enrollment in HIS 368-5: The Victory of ‘Surrender’, is recommended, but not required. No S/U option. (Humanities) HAGLER

HIS 368-5 The Victory of ‘Surrender’: Islam from the Prophet to the Ottomans, 570-1517. The world had seen its share of conquerors, but no conquest came from such unexpected quarters as the Arabian Peninsula, long thought to be a mostly empty desert territory, with only a few oasis towns and tribes of (politically insignificant) desert nomads. But the world of late antiquity was in for quite a shock.  United by the new faith of Islam, the Arabs of the early 7^th century emerged from Arabia and conquered most of the known world--a territory stretching from Spain to the borders of India--in less than a century.   This class will cover the story of the birth and expansion of Islam, tracing the religion/empire’s history from its humble beginnings in the mountains outside of Mecca through the height of its cultural, military, intellectual, and political glory. No S/U option. (Humanities) HAGLER

INTERDISCIPLINARY

INT 502-4 Academic Performance Tutorial  (1/4).  College success depends on the ability to organize one's time efficiently and utilize critical thinking skills. This course will teach students the techniques needed to read a textbook carefully, take notes that will be useful, and approach college in a proactive and organized way. This course will encompass three blocks. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. FASHIMPAUR

KINESIOLOGY

KIN 255-5 History of Women's Sports. Exploration of the historical development of women's sports experience from primitive cultures to contemporary American society. Special focus on growth of sports in the U.S. and significant influential events. WHALE  

MUSIC

MUS 109 Opera goes to the Movies: Opera and Film (FYS). The topic of "Opera and Film" has become one of the “hot” areas of scholarship in the past fifteen or so years.  Both opera and film use a conglomeration of other constituent arts to create what Richard Wagner called a Gesamtkunstwerk or total artwork.  (In fact, many of the first efforts in film were derived from opera and more specifically, Wagner.)  My intention with this course is to explore the intersections between opera and film, using theories and practices of both genres, as well as numerous specific examples of the interplay between them. (FIrst  Year Seminar) MARTIN 

PHILOSOPHY

PHI 361-7 Meta-ethics.  An examination of moral thought and practice aimed at understanding its underlying assumptions. The course will be concerned not with debates within morality (whether, for example, waterboarding is morally justifiable), nor with more general theories about the moral justification of actions (utilitarianism or Kantianism, for instance). Rather we will consider philosophically difficult and abstract questions about the nature of morality itself: 1) questions about the meaning of moral language: Are moral utterances (intended to be) statements of fact or to perform some other function(expressing emotions or personal tastes, for example)?; 2) questions about the metaphysics of morality: Do moral facts or moral properties exist? How are they related to other sorts of facts or properties (the facts and properties employed in the natural sciences, for example)?; 3) questions in epistemology: Can there be moral knowledge? How could moral judgments be justified? (Humanities) WHITE 

POLITICAL SCIENCE

POL 251-3 The Great Equalizer? Educational Policy and Practice. This course will explore the nature of school resegregation, the rise of credentialism, the end of educational expansion, and the continuation of inequality of educational opportunity. Each of these phenomena have powerful implications for education policy. Students in the course will be introduced to the history of policymaking in education beginning with the education reform policies of Horace Mann. Students will also examine demographic data on educational attainment, analyze the policies that attempt to alleviate (or reproduce) educational inequality, and describe what assumptions lie behind current reform ideas. We will evaluate the dynamics of current debates by referencing the long-standing tensions among the different purposes of schooling we have in our nation. Finally, students will have the opportunity to examine educational practices from other countries and even other fields (such as business and medicine) to stimulate creative thinking about reform and policy. KAUPER

POL 351-6 Group Decision-making: Consensus and Coercion. This course will explore the implications of the various methods groups of actors can use to arrive at collective decisions. For example, how does a group of friends decide which restaurant to visit for dinner? How does a club select its officers? How do rival politicians arrive at consensus on a policy choice? There are many mechanisms actors can use to translate multiple sets of preferences into a discrete outcome, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. We will discuss these mechanisms using real-world examples and in-class experiments. This course will also explore the tools actors can use to coerce others into following a certain course of behavior. These methods can be obvious or quite covert, depending on the situation. We will also discuss how preference aggregation mechanisms are translated into the "real world," primarily through a study of political institutions in democratic, quasi-democratic, and autocratic countries. (Social Science) POULETTE

POL 352-4 Education Policy. This course will consist of both positive and normative discussions of the nature of K12 and higher education in the United States and other peer countries. The goal of the course is to familiarize students with the highest profile education policy challenges, failures, and successes at different levels of government - national, subnational/state, and local. The primary questions guiding this course include the following: How is K12 education funded in the United States, and is this funding scheme optimal? What is the best way to measure the performance of K12 instructors and administrators? How does the performance of the K12 system in the United States measure up to peer countries, and what factors account for the difference? Why has the cost of higher education increased at a rate far outstripping the rate of inflation? These are only some of the questions we will discuss and attempt to answer. This class will draw from work in the fields of economics, education and public administration. (Social Science) POULETTE 

POL 385-4 Political Activism and Behavior. The course examines numerous ways that people choose to become (or choose not to become) involved in the political process such as voting, protesting, and the volunteering of time and/or money.  The course also considers the various factors that influence participation including an individual's social networks, the behavior of political elites, and the information environment. (Social Science) HASSELL

POL 359-8 Political Parties and Interest Groups. In Federalist 10 James Madison explained how the new U.S. Constitution would defend against the influence of factions.  This course examines the changing role of factions, particularly interest groups and political parties, in American politics.   Specifically the course focuses on the role of these groups in elections and in the formulation and implementation of public policy. (Social Science) HASSELL

366-6. Advanced Topic:  Israel, Egypt, and the Religion of the Nile (Chicago) (Fee). This course will provide an introduction to the modern academic study of the Hebrew Bible, Egyptian Religion and the role of Egypt in Israel’s religious imagination. On the one hand, we will familiarize ourselves with the history, form and contents of the Hebrew Bible, and investigate the essential issues which confront the student of Israelite literature. On the other, we will work comparatively in order to examine the relationship between Israelite and Egyptian religions and cultures, as much as we explore the mythic or theological idea of Egypt in Israel’s own self-conception. (Humanities) SACKS

370-2. Advanced Topic: Chinese Religions. This course explores what Western scholars call “Chinese Religion.” We will pay particular attention to the concept of filial piety, gods, ghosts, and ancestors and to morality books and temple cults. This course further delves into the relationship between these ideas and popular Buddhist and Daoist rituals. We will also extend our study to several new religions invented in the twentieth-century. And finally, we will end by examining how these traditions have impacted the reception of Christianity and Islam in China. We will look at both contemporary and historical periods wherein such groups and practices are to be found.  (Humanities) EICHMAN

SOCIOLOGY

SOC 101-1 Sociological Thinking: Studying Society through Everyday Consumerism (FYS). Victor Lebow asserted:   “Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life... The measure of social status, of social acceptance, of prestige, is now to be found in our consumptive patterns. The very meaning and significance of our lives today is expressed in consumptive terms.”<p>Life, as we know it, is dependent on the everyday consumption of goods and services; however, our consumptive practices can also have negative social and environmental consequences.  Sociology allows us to examine the changing meanings, practices, and social implications of consumption. 

In this course we will explore the social context surrounding these processes and examine the ways that social forces influence our individual ideas, behaviors, relationships, and place within the social world as well as the ways that we, in turn, impact the world around us.  In addition we will meet and work with students in the first-year geology class in order to examine the connections between the social and physical world and to gain scientific insight into the physical processes and environmental implications of consumption (First Year Seminar) DAVIS

SOC 246    Gender Diversity (Starts in the 2014-2015 catalogue). This course will focus on diverse gender identities, bodies, and social presentations. Social practices and pressures of gender will be examined in order to gain insight into the larger contemporary social meanings of gender. We will explore how individuals interpret and present their gender identities, the constraints on such interpretations and presentations, and the larger social implications of gender diversity and gender regulation on cultural ideals. (Social Science) DAVIS [Identity]

SOC 362-6 Criminal Justice. Description to come. (Social Science) STAFF

SPANISH

SPA 109 Hispanics in the US (in English) (FYS). This course is an interdisciplinary study of Latino/as in the United States (the nation’s largest and fastest-growing minority group).  The course will provide a foundation on Latino/a identity though a survey of works of US Latino/a writers, thinkers, musicians, politicians, filmmakers, etc. We will discuss the Latino/a experience as a group and as individuals from different perspectives, studying issues of history, race, politics, and culture. (First Year Seminar) OCHOA-SHIVAPOUR

THEATRE

THE 316-4 Devised Theatre.  Devised theatre is created by a group of artists (actors, directors, designers, technicians, stage managers, playwrights, etc.) working in collaboration, as opposed to a playtext written by a single playwright. A devised theatre work is defined only by the structure imposed by the group creating it and may or may not have a narrative line. It may include music, movement, and objects as well as text. It can deal with an infinite range of ideas, themes, and concepts, limited only by the desires and plans of the group. This class will explore techniques of devised theatre by making a work that will then be produced at the end of block 3 on a workshop basis. (Fine Arts) STAFF 

THE 320-4 Advanced Dance Workshop. Intermediate study of dance building upon foundation of jazz and modern styles with choreographic practice introduced. (Fine Arts) STAFF  

THE 376-8 Advanced Directing. This course is designed to build upon the skills developed in Directing I and will offer students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of concepts, challenges and theories of stage directing. Special attention will be paid to the study and application of various approaches taken by directors throughout history. The course will culminate in the direction of a one-act. (Fine Arts) WEST  

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Off-Campus Courses Taught by Cornell Faculty

These courses involve additional costs and require advance planning. Consult the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies webite for course descriptions, prerequisites, deadlines, and costs.