Courses use letter grades unless otherwise indicated. The College reserves the right to cancel any course not elected by a sufficient number of students.
Course Listings by Subject
Biological and Chemical Sciences
These introductory internships provide an opportunity for well-qualified students considering careers in the biological and chemical sciences. Interns will work with professional scientists. Each student will give a public presentation of her or his internship upon her or his return to campus.
The BCS research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include BCS field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off-campus.
This program is intended to encourage advanced students of biological and chemical sciences to discover the areas of overlap between academic study and the application of scientific knowledge and techniques. Work sites may include hospitals, foundations, clinics, and research laboratories of academic, government, or industrial affiliation. Students will consult with the instructor during the development of their internships. Upon return to campus, interns will give a public presentation with written and oral components.
The BCS research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include BCS field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off-campus.
Supervised research in selected areas of biology and chemistry, which may include experimental work in the laboratory or field as well as in-depth library research.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Original laboratory or field research on a biological or chemical problem.
Independent research paper on a biological or chemical problem, developed under the supervision of a BCS faculty member. Includes constructing a bibliography of relevant literature and writing a paper examining literature. Students who have performed independent laboratory or field research are encouraged to use their results as the focus of this paper.
This capstone course covers current research literature in biological and chemical sciences. Students will write and present paper summaries for discussion that are appropriate for both a scientific and non-scientific audience. Post-graduate career opportunities, and how to pursue them, will be considered.
Plant blindness has become a large problem in modern society, with students unsure of basic plant biology and identification of even the most common plants. This course will explore basic plant biology and the importance of plants to our lives. Emphasis will be placed on the common plants found in our region.
Organic evolution, the unifying concept in biology, and its relationship with ecology, the distribution and abundance of organisms. The role of ecology and evolution in environmental science and conservation biology.
The study of diversity of organisms in all three domains, Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya, focusing on the fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. The organ structure and functions of these organisms, their reproduction and their development will be studied in an evolutionary context.
In-depth study of a selected topic in biology. Investigation of biological topics of special interest to faculty or students. Areas of applied biology (e.g. health, agriculture, horticulture, conservation) or in-depth study or a particular taxon (e.g. ornithology, bryology, entomology) are likely topics. Level of instruction depends on the topic. Past topics have included "The Biology of Humans", "Ornithology", and "Enology: The Science of Wine". May be repeated for credit with different topics.
A study of the molecular composition of cellular components, organelles, and the genome, and how these molecules and their interactions ultimately dictate cell structure and function. This includes a consideration of DNA replication, transcription, translation, and mutation. The laboratory focuses on application of current molecular techniques, microscopy, and plant cell culture. Students will leave this course with an appreciation of the importance of understanding cellular and molecular processes in order to comprehend larger scale physiological, organismal, and evolutionary processes.
Terrestrial Field Biology is designed to teach students the major plants and animals found in the habitats of central New York. Students will be able to identify approximately 200 common taxa of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and insects in the northeastern region, and will understand the natural history of those species and their relationship to the environment.
Human anatomy and physiology of selected body systems including sensory systems, reproduction, locomotion, nutrition, and metabolism. Laboratories will include anatomical study specimens as well as physiology exercises using student volunteers.
In-depth study of a selected topic in biology. Investigation of biological topics of special interest to faculty or students. Areas of applied biology (e.g. health, agriculture, horticulture, conservation) or in-depth study or a particular taxon (e.g. ornithology, bryology, entomology) are likely topics. Level of instruction depends on the topic. Past topics have included "The Biology of Humans", "Ornithology", and "Enology: The Science of Wine". May be repeated for credit with different topics.
This class will focus on how natural selection influences evolution. It can be difficult to see and understand how natural selection affects the evolutionary course of a particular species or trait. Because the evolution of flight has to adhere to very strict selection pressures it is relatively easy to understand how flighted animals' anatomy and physiology evolved; they all look very similar. However, the why (did they start to flap their wings?) flight evolved is much more complex and we will discuss that while considering the differences at each evolutionary step. We will also be discussing why flight only evolved four times in animals.
The classification, comparative morphology, and evolution of vertebrates. Demonstrations and dissections of selected vertebrates.
The structure, physiology, genetics, and immunology of microorganisms and their applications to fields such as foods, sanitation, and medicine. The laboratory stresses bacteriological laboratory techniques as well as recombinant DNA technology.
An ecological and evolutionary approach to animal behavior. Lectures and discussions cover feeding, sexual behavior, aggression, cooperation, communication, and the evolution of social behavior. Weekly laboratory and field sessions concentrate on the quantitative study of the behavior of captive and free-living animals.
The biological, chemical, geological, and physical aspects of fresh waters. Emphasis will be on the study of lakes and streams as ecosystems, although consideration will also be given to the biology of the organisms that inhabit these bodies of water.
Students will study the transmission of traits both through classical mutational analysis and modern genome-wide association studies. The laboratory will include both hands-on, wet lab experiments and computer-based bioinformatics. This course will also consider the ethical implications of genomics in modern life, including its applications to medicine.
Basic physiological mechanisms in animals, including a detailed analysis of the physiology of neural control, excretion, movement, respiration, nutrition, thermoregulation, and reproduction.
The patterns and mechanisms of development in animals including gametogenesis, totipotency, cellular interactions, and genetic control development.
The interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms.
Lab to accompany BIOL 363, Advanced Ecology. Students will explore an ecological topic by performing lab and field work.
In-depth study of a selected topic in biology. Investigation of biological topics of special interest to faculty or
students. Areas of applied biology (e.g. health, agriculture, horticulture, conservation) or in-depth study of a
particular taxon (e.g., ornithology, bryology, entomology) are likely topics. Level of instruction depends on the
topic. Past topics have included ”The Biology of Humans,” “Ornithology,” and “Enology: The Science of Wine.”
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
A study of the properties of matter with emphasis upon the relation of properties to structure: atomic theory, chemical bonding, the periodic table, and stoichiometry.
The second semester of the introductory chemistry sequence. A study of solutions, solubility, chemical equilibria, acid-base theory, oxidation-reduction reactions, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Quantitative analytical methods, such as volumetric, gravimetric, colorimetric, and electroanalytic techniques will be emphasized in the laboratory.
Structure, nomenclature, physical properties, stereochemistry, reactions, and reaction mechanisms of alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, and conjugated compounds will be studied. Introduction to infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in structure determination.
A continuation of CHEM 213L. There will be an emphasis on reaction mechanisms, the chemistry of functional groups and the logic of synthesis. Additional topics include an introduction to infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in structure determination.
A study of the bonding, structure, and reactions of inorganic complexes with particular attention to coordination compounds. Topics to be discussed include atomic structure, ionic and covalent bonding, valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, and organometallic chemistry.
The chemistry, biological evaluation, and mode of action of representative types of drugs; consideration of structure-activity relationships. Current topics selected for detailed study depend upon the interests of those enrolled in the class.
Special emphasis on those aspects of the subject pertinent to biology and biochemistry. Gases and liquids; thermodynamics and thermochemistry; properties of solutions; chemical equilibria; electrode potentials; reaction kinetics.
Study of selected physicochemical topics in the laboratory. Examples include calorimetry, ideal gas thermometry and behavior, Joule-Thompson effect, index of refraction of organic liquids, and ratio of specific heats.
A study of the structures of biomolecules and the dynamic aspects of biochemical reactions, especially the structure and reactions of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, with emphasis on enzyme kinetics and mechanisms, and biochemical thermodynamics.
A study of the reactions in the biochemical pathways of living organisms, especially metabolism and anabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, with an emphasis on regulation of interconnected pathways.
Introduction to modern physicochemical methods of analysis with discussion of the theoretical concepts involved, and the application of these in the laboratory.
A survey of topics in the field of solid state chemistry, including symmetry and group theory, crystallography, crystal lattice packing, and phase diagrams. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relationship of three-dimensional structure to physical and chemical properties.
In-depth study of a selected topic in chemistry.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Business
This course emphasizes on the introduction to the business (profit and non-profit) and how it plays a collaborative role amongst all the related functions in an organization accomplishing overall business objectives. Students will be introduced to key concepts in finance, marketing, production, and other functional management areas.
Introduction to management. Topics include overview of the management process, management theory, the environment of business, planning and strategy, management functions, and organization design.
An analytical study of marketing fundamentals, with attention given to marketing as a business function, policies and institutions involved in the distribution of goods, product development, pricing and consumer behavior.
A practical and theoretical introduction to the field of Social entrepreneurship in which entrepreneurs are using business methods to help solve social challenges often ignored by commerce. Topics include: developing initiatives to make a positive social impact, B corporations, and social intrapreneurship.
Business Analytics is the study of data through statistical and operations analysis, the formation of predictive models, application of optimization techniques and the communication of these results to customers, business partners and colleague executives. Students will master the skills of data analysis, modeling, and spreadsheet use with Business Analytics when making business decisions in areas such as Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, and Operations Management. This quantitative methods course provides students with tools to succeed with a student-friendly writing style, and complete Excel integration.
An introduction to basic bookkeeping principles, including analysis of transactions, journal entries, posting to ledger accounts, computer applications, and preparation of the trial balance, income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.
A study of those accounting concepts employed by internal management. Cost-volume-profit relationships, budgeting, cost accounting, capital planning, and price estimating are some of the topics covered.
This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to leadership by focusing on what it means to be a good leader. Emphasis in the course is on the practice of leadership. The course will examine such topics as: understanding leadership; recognizing leadership traits; engaging people's strengths; understanding philosophy and styles; attending to tasks and relationships; developing leadership skills; creating a vision; establishing a constructive climate; listening to out-group members; handling conflict; addressing ethics in leadership and overcoming obstacles. Students will assess their leadership traits and skills to improve their own leadership performance. This course is also designed to facilitate reading and discussion of various classic and current theories related to leadership in a global context. The perspective taken in this course is that the leader cannot think in terms of local (micro) and regional (macro) issues but must think also of the impact that world events (mega) issues have on the leaders of organizations and how both the leader and the organization may, in turn, impact the global society.
This course covers the socio-economic, political, cultural, and legal environments in which international business decisions are made. The course develops skill in methods and strategies of conducting international and multinational business in a global context.
Principles of managing personnel in an organization. Topics include hiring, training, evaluating, and compensating employees.
This course will introduce students to project management fundamentals, with an emphasis on planning. Students will acquire knowledge on areas such as project life cycles, organization and charters, work breakdown structures, responsibility matrixes, and the planning, budgeting and scheduling of systems.
Students learn a creative problem solving methodology consisting of developing empathy, prototyping process, collaboration, iteration, and feedback. The objective is to enable students to address challenges in business and other disciplines, such as the social and physical sciences.
An introduction to investments, markets asset classes and account types, combined with methodologies to develop investment strategies. Emphasis on practical knowledge in order to make personal investment decisions and guide the Wells Affiliates Portfolio.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to business.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
Brand Management is the discipline that links strategic business objectives, marketing, and operations. The fundamental focus of this course is to deliver theoretical and practical understanding of brand management in order to leverage marketing efficiencies in organizations. High performance companies (for-profit or not-for-profit) understand the importance of their brand and actively manage brand equity. This course will address the importance of brands building, measuring, and managing.
A practical and theoretical introduction to the issues faced by entrepreneurs and small business people. Topics include: establishing and funding the business or social organization, finance, marketing and personnel management. BUS 213 is recommended, but not required.
Introduction to the legal system and business law. Students will learn about the legal system, constitutional and administrative law, contracts, torts, product liability, and employment law.
This course explores foundational concepts of ethics and discusses application to contemporary business and sustainability issues. Students will discuss, debate, and critically analyze the practical application of these concepts to issues such as corporate social responsibility, ethical supply chains, and workplace leadership issues like inclusion and diversity, sexual harassment, and whistleblowing.
Marketing Analytics focuses on data-driven marketing management techniques and strategies necessary to make quantitative marketing decisions in organizations. Marketing concepts, such as pricing, forecasting, consumer needs analysis, customer value, market segmentation, advertising, marketing research, internet and social media are integrated. These concepts will be investigated using descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive statistics such as, regression, clustering, classification, tree-methods, conjoint analysis, principal component analysis, market basket analysis, and neutral networks.
Students will explore issues such as employee motivation, group goal achievement, development of leadership skills, and working successfully with diverse populations. We will discuss power and politics, stress and coping, and other topics related to navigating the workplace.
A study of the theory and practice of corporate financial decision-making. Topics include investment decisions and securities analysis, capital structure and budgeting, working capital management, and strategic planning.
A study of the theory and practice of corporate decision-making in areas of markets, products, competitive analysis, organizational design, differentiation, technology and other external and internal factors. Topics are taught using the case-study method.
A study of the theory and practice of utilizing databases and the internet to increase the effectiveness of sales and marketing for business and fundraising and servicing for social organizations. Topics are taught and extensively illustrated through use of the internet.
Course provides a unique focus regarding the burgeoning concern for sustainability and sustainable organizational practices. The course looks at how large multinational corporations, as well as smaller organizations, are making substantial commitments to the "triple bottom line" of economic success, social responsibility, and environmental protection.
In-depth study of a selected topic in business. Application of economic theories and management principles to current business issues. Topics will vary with student interest and the course may be taught by visiting faculty.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to business.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Students complete a senior research report or project in an acceptable business format to completely explore a topic of current relevance in business or management.
An in-depth survey of the basic principles of economic analysis and their application with emphasis on the macroeconomic concepts and issues of aggregate income, economic growth, employment, unemployment, inflation, and interest rates. The effects of fiscal and monetary policies on the economy and their role in economic stabilization are studied.
A survey of basic microeconomic concepts with emphasis on the concepts of supply and demand, production, and distribution. Special attention will be paid to ideas of competition, market structure, efficiency, and equity using examples from current policy discussions.
An analysis of economic theories focusing on the processes of production and accumulation within institutional and political contexts. Topics include the labor theory of value, monopoly capitalism, and the social structure of accumulation.
A critical examination of the important health and medical care issues through economic analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the increasingly common questions and dilemmas of efficiency, access to care, and fairness in the financing and delivery of medical services.
The world economy from the standpoint of producing and distributing a surplus. Topics include classical theories of imperialism, global finance, and global and domestic economies in an era where economic growth is limited by peak oil and climate change.
A study of the functions of money, the operations of commercial and central banking, and the operations of money and capital markets with emphasis on corporate equities, government securities, and municipal bonds. The roles of financial intermediaries and government will also be considered.
Students are encouraged to discover for themselves the use of economic principles and techniques in various institutional settings, including research, institutes, government agencies, banks, corporations, etc.
An application of economic theory to real world problems of management, focusing particularly on how supply and demand, marginal analysis, opportunity cost, and maximization fit into a world of profit and loss statements, capital budgets, and multiple goals.
A study of optimal allocation of resources in a price system under a pure competitive market structure: demand analysis, production and cost relationships, general equilibrium, and an introduction to welfare economics.
A study of alternative theories of the nation's income, employment, and price level, in relation to private consumption, investment expenditures, public expenditure, and taxation.
A study of the derivation and application of statistical methods used in economic research. The focus of the course is on economic estimation and regression analysis, although other methods such as analysis of variance are examined. Three will be extensive applications of the techniques developed in the course to economic problems.
This course models the economy as a sub-system of larger ecosystem, and addresses questions such as optimal scale, investments in natural capital, sustainability, and thermodynamic limits to growth. Sustainable development is treated within the historical context of uneven development.
This course focuses upon the history of energy's role in the transformation from pre-industrial to contemporary society. The analytical framework includes theories of political economy, the energy return on investment, and the internal and biophysical limits to economic growth.
An analysis of how the world economy including international economic interdependence works. Theories and models will be studied concerning trade and financial issues such as the political economy of free trade versus protectionism, foreign direct investment and foreign exchange markets.
The evolution of economic intellectual history from pre-capitalist doctrines until the 20th century. Course will emphasize the development of theories of value and price, production, and distribution, with special emphasis given to the labor theory of values.
A survey of the various economic theories of structural change and growth in developing nations. Particular attention will be paid to the issues of measurement of human welfare and the global distribution of resources.
In an institutional setting of their choice, students are provided with an opportunity to apply more advanced economic concepts and analysis in a practical context.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation; meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
The seminar explores methods and content of orthodox economics, political economy and the various facets of management thought. Students will present articles from professional journals, prepare for comprehensive exams, and develop and present an original piece of economic or managerial research.
Training & Development are key to building an empowered and motivated workforce. This course will help you build knowledge and skill in the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of organization training. You'll also learn how to create effective performance improvement programs, a vital resource in talent retention that is often overlooked. Lastly, you'll get hands on experience, by producing your own sample training plan.
Great people power great businesses, but attracting and retaining top talent requires companies to offer competitive compensation packages. This course will help you develop knowledge and skills in the development and evaluation of pay structures and benefits packages. You'll also learn how total compensation issues affect every manager in an organization and analyze processes and procedures to create effective compensation plans.
This course is an overview of laws and regulations that determine the rights and obligations of employees and employers. You'll learn about the nature of the employment relationship, common law principles, prohibitions against discrimination, wage law, specific governmental acts, and other areas of labor and employment law. By the end of this course you will become familiar with the federal and state laws that govern employment.
This course will examine the scope and role of HR in the occupational health and safety arena, the fundamental components of comprehensive programs and, more importantly, the interplay between these considerations and how important HR professionals are in their success. Topics covered include OSHA requirements, risk management and loss prevention, management of safety & workers' compensation, employee assistance plans, preventative health issues, emergency response and preparedness, and developing a culture of safety, amongst others. There will be focus on the fundamental components of a comprehensive health and safety program to protect the employees in an organization and costly liability.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to business.
Criminal Justice
This course provides and introduction to the study of law as a social institution and its relations to other institutions in society. It offers an overview of the structure and function of courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies along with a discussion of both criminal and civil law. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and examines how legal rules both reflect and shape basic social values and their relation to social, political, and economic conflicts within society. It also investigates how the law seeks to achieve certain objectives such as compliance, deterrence, and social control by considering key topics such as inequality, international human rights, privacy, and surveillance.
While young people have always been involved in rule-breaking behavior, it was not until the early 19th century that the concept of juvenile delinquent took shape. Through reading and discussion, we trace the development of this social category and explore the criminal justice system's response to this particular type of offender.
This course provides an overview of the U.S. criminal justice system. Topics will include the development of law, the enforcement of law by the police, the determination of guilt and innocence by the courts, and sentencing.
This course examines the history, development, and current status of the U.S. correctional system. Topics will include the correctional system's efforts at punishing and/or rehabilitating offenders through incarceration (e.g., jail, prison, and other residential facilities), probation, and parole.
In-depth study of a selected topic in crime.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to social control or criminal justice. The setting may include prisons, police departments, the courts, etc. Costs and arrangements are the responsibility of the student.
The study of Criminal Justice in contemporary society requires a focus the diverse institutions and mechanisms of justice and social control that exist throughout the developed and developing world. Through a cross-cultural comparative approach, the course will explore contemporary topics in international law, including genocide, caste-system, transnational crimes.
This course critically examines a wide range of criminological theories, with special emphasis given to the ways that social factors can produce or reduce crime.
This course examines current issues and debates in criminal justice from different viewpoints. It investigates recent critical issues facing all components of the criminal justice system as they develop and are discussed by the media. The course also analyzes the controversial topics which have been discussed for a long time without proper solution. Students are assigned to discuss these issues and build their approach based on the available research.
Domestic violence between adults will be studied from an interdisciplinary perspective. The cycle of violence, dominance, and control are among the issues covered sociologically and psychologically. The legal perspective includes a discussion of proactive arrest policies, restraining orders, and anti-stalking legislation that have emerged across the United States.
In-depth study of a selected topic in crime.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to social control or criminal justice. The setting may include prisons, police departments, the courts, etc. Students will develop at a more advanced level the skills and techniques demanded for in a previous crime and society internship. Costs and arrangements are the responsibility of the student.
Individually arranged readings and assignments in a focused area within crime and society arranged in consultation with the major/minor coordinator.
This course requires seniors majoring in Criminal Justice to prepare an essay based on class work and original individual research and to present this work to the campus community.
Education
In this course students seek answers to the question "What is an excellent teacher?" and examine what it takes to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population in today's schools. (8 hours of fieldwork required)
This course is individually arranged participation in an educational institution. Students seeking NYS certification in Inclusive Education or Adolescence Education must complete the internship in an inclusive school setting. The internship must take place in a classroom at a grade level in the certification area. (120 hours of fieldwork required)
This course explores foundational and recent research in multicultural and English language learner education (MC/ELL). Students read a variety of empirical, autobiographical, and practitioner-based texts as they develop their understanding of the complex, multi-layered issues related to MC/ELL education in today's classroom.
This course is a study of students with special needs within the context of schools. Topics include: low and high-incidence disabilities, the special education process, English language learners, collaborative relationships, co-teaching, and creating a positive classroom environment. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
This course must be taken concurrently with EDUC 216: The Inclusive Classroom. Students will spend 40 hours in local schools supporting teachers and students. Students will be placed with teachers in their field of certification: Special Education, Elementary, Secondary, English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or History.
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to interact with digital tools used in today's classrooms. The course focuses on integrating technology into the teaching process and using technological tools to communicate classroom information.
This course will address the current research and practice related to increasing student motivation and developing positive, inclusive classroom communities. We will explore strategies for making your elementary or secondary classrooms a healthy, effective learning environment. Offered annually spring semester. (8 hours of fieldwork required)
In this course students will examine the history, genre, trends, and controversies in children's literature. Students will acquire the skills needed to critically read a variety of children's books and to select literature appropriate for diverse educational programs.
Past topics have included: Looking Within: Personal Ethnography in the Classroom, Integrating Technology in the Classroom, and Action Research in a Local School.
This course will provide students with the instructional methods necessary to teach reading and writing in grades 1 and 2. Students will gain an understanding of developmentally appropriate instructional strategies and assessment techniques geared to meet the needs of diverse learners. Field experience outside of class time is required.
This course will provide students with the instructional methods needed to create and implement an effective literacy program for diverse learners in grades 3-6. Students will gain an understanding of developmentally appropriate instruction strategies and assessment techniques. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
This course will focus on important skills that lead to being an effective practitioner in student-centered classrooms.
This course will explore instructional planning, assessment and intervention strategies for students with significant disabilities in the general and special education classroom. We will also explore how to support students' needs and development in the contexts of home and community. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
This course must be taken concurrently with EDUC 307 (Teaching Students with Disabilities). Students will spend time supporting students with disabilities in local general and special education classrooms. (40-hour practicum required)
Students will spend time supporting students in local inclusive general education classrooms. (40-hour practicum required)
This course will provide students with instructional methods for teaching reading and writing through content in grades 7-12. (20-hous of fieldwork required)
This course is designed to analyze the instruction and assessment of reading and writing in the content areas for grades 7-12. Field experience outside of class time is required. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
This course must be taken concurrently with EDUC 332 (Reading and Writing in the Content Areas II). Students will spend time in local schools supporting teachers and students. Students will be placed with teachers in their field of certification: English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or History. (40-hour practicum required)
This course must be taken concurrently with EDUC 406 (Instructional Strategies for Secondary Education). Students will spend time in local schools supporting teachers and students. Students will be placed with teachers in their field of certification: English, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or History. (40-hour practicum required)
This course will prepare students to integrate literacy, social studies, and science instruction in the elementary school classroom. Students will focus on using differentiated literacy strategies to engage elementary school students with high-quality, authentic social studies and science content and concepts. (20 hours of fieldwork required)
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
Students who wish to pursue research and/or fieldwork in an educational setting may submit plans for doing so to the appropriate faculty member.
This course explores instructional methods and assessment strategies within mathematics, grades 1-6. Specific focus is on developing mathematics understandings through differentiation and the formative assessment practices of observing, documenting and reflecting on students' responses. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
Objectives, methods and materials, content, evaluation, and organization of the several subject matter areas of the secondary school. Students will participate with master teachers to create and implement curricula in their subject matter. (A 40-hour practicum is connected to this course)
An accompaniment to student teaching, this seminar provides a forum for reflection and analysis of teaching, and an opportunity to discuss essential aspects of the profession. Faculty provide support for the edTPA process and the development of a culminating portfolio.
Full-time student teaching in selected elementary and secondary settings; supervision by a public/private school teacher and a representative of the College faculty. (Students are expected to provide their own transportation to student teaching sites.)
English
What basic human need is fulfilled in the crafting, telling, and reception of stories? How have the evolution of human consciousness and our intuitive narrative capacity developed side by side? This spin on the introductory fiction workshop will foreground the biology and evolution of the human mind to establish and exercise the basics of writing short fiction. This course includes workshops, conferences, and discussions with visiting writers.
Practice in writing poems, with discussion focusing on imagery, rhythm, voice, and aspects of formal construction. Emphasis will be on student poetry in a workshop format, but poems by outside authors, including visiting writers, will also be studied.
Practice in writing creative nonfiction, in particular the personal essay and lyric essay, with emphasis on workshopping student pieces. Discussion will focus on elements of craft, style, and discovery of individual voice and subject. Work by outside authors, including visiting writers, will also be studied.
This course combines writing and performance in a workshop designed to explore and practice original and contemporary work. Students will develop original work in the forms of spoken word, poetry, screenplays, plays, dialogues, monologues and will subsequently showcase their work in a public forum. Students may write for live performance, new media or may combine modalities.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to creative writing.
In this workshop, the focus will be on writing, discussing, and revising our own flash fiction, but to do that we will first examine the quirky tradition in which we will be participating. Flash fiction is usually defined as a short story under 1,000 words, though there are other terms for even shorter texts (including micro fiction, sudden fiction, short shorts, and prose poetry). All creative writing is in some sense about movement, about how each part of the text changes what came before it, but the pared-down forms we will study concentrate our attention on each sentence, each word bearing real weight. In this tutorial, we will study the elements of flash fiction and its related forms in order to write into its compressed, surprising, suggestive tradition. One of the most famous pieces of flash fiction is these six words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." If you aspire to pack that much punch in so few words, this is the tutorial for you!
Advanced work in fiction writing for those who have distinguished themselves in CREA 271. Workshops and conferences. Some classes to be taught by visiting writers.
This advanced poetry course builds on the skills developed in CREA 272. Students will hone their poetic craft through workshops, conferences, and discussions with visiting poets. We will also use the facilities of the Book Arts Center to create a collaborative chapbook, working together to bring the students' poems all the way from rough early drafts to a thoughtfully designed, obsessively crafted, handmade codex.
A combination of group workshop and individual manuscript/project guidance, this course builds upon CREA 275 with an aim toward building and refining methods for sustained projects in the genre of creative nonfiction. The course will draw material from immersion journalism, methods in historical nonfiction, and practices in long-form memoir and essay writing. Through class visits and/or engagement with the Visiting Writer Series, we will also work with contemporary practitioners of the genre.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to creative writing.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
This course introduces students to reading and analyzing the three main genres of literature: poetry, fiction, and drama. Students will develop a rich critical and theoretical vocabulary and hone their argumentative and analytical skills through both in-class discussions and essays.
This course explores the history of modern Southeast Asia through the medium of anti-imperialist novels, short stories, and essays. Historically a region of rugged seafarers, intrepid explorers, religious thinkers, and hardworking farmers, Southeast Asia became a crucial center for European, American, and Japanese imperial designs in the nineteenth century. Many people benefited from this imperial arrangement, but many more resisted. Why? What is imperialism? What is the legacy of this institution?
An exploration of important fiction and nonfiction from around the globe in English translation. Special attention will be paid to narrative traditions that transcend national boundaries as well as the interactions between canonical and underrepresented texts and authors.
This course will survey British literature from the Middle Ages through 1800, including Arthurian romance, Elizabethan drama, Paradise Lost, and eighteenth-century satire. Along the way, we will pay particular attention to acts of transgression and their consequences. How can these imaginative portrayals of violation in early British literature help us to discern historical understandings of class, gender, race, religion, and sexuality, and how can we interpret them now using our own critical tools? This examination of transgression will also extend to how authors establish, reinterpret, and cross the boundaries of literary forms in their periods.
Beginning with indigenous creation narratives and ending with difficult questions about the place of literature in contemporary American culture, this course provides students with some of the social and aesthetic contexts underpinning both canonical and historically excluded American writers and storytellers. We'll look to the oral traditions, short stories, poetry, novels, essays, plays, films, and emerging media that comprise the complexity of the chimeric American literary tradition.
An exploration of important plays and dramatic traditions from around the globe in English translation. Special attention paid to dramatic lineages that transcend national boundaries, such as international existentialism, surrealism, and the avant garde, as well as to how dramatic traditions, such as the Japanese Noh, evolve as they spread internationally.
Guided in part by student interest, this course explores important poems and poetic traditions from around the world in English translation. We will celebrate a diverse canon of poets, paying special attention to poetic lineages that transcend national boundaries. Possible focuses include international surrealism, the evolving haiku, Western epics, poetry of witness, and contemporary masters.
Sampling from different early modern dramatic genres, students will read tragedies, histories, comedies, and romances by Shakespeare. We will explore the purposes of playing within Shakespeare's drama - including plays-within-plays, role playing, the performance of gendered, sexual, racial, religious, and class identities - the literary form of the play itself. Students will develop close reading, research, and writing skills to analyze and enjoy Shakespeare on the page, stage, and develop close reading, research, and writing skills to analyze and enjoy Shakespeare on the page, stage, and screen. This course considers the literary and performance texts of Shakespeare both within their historical moments of production and as works that are reshaped and reinterpreted across centuries and the globe.
A study of genre fiction that incorporates analysis, theory, and creative writing within the genre(s) under discussion. Possible topics include Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Romance, Horror, Westerns, and Graphic Novels.
In this course, we will explore how meter, stanza structure, repetition, and rhyme interact to shape poems, and how they fit into traditional forms like sonnets, villanellas, and pantoums. In addition to both literary analysis and creative writing assignments, students will pursue independent editorial projects, providing the opportunity for intensive study of poetic forms of their choice from diverse communities.
This course will survey British poems, short stories, plays, a film, and novels written after 1800. But what do you mean by "British?" Students will pay particular attention to the changing social and historical contexts of war and empire as we trace different literary movements and reworking of form by diverse authors.
In-depth study of a selected topic in English. Past topics have included: Erotic and Pornographic Literature, Medieval Romance: The Otherworld, Writers Reading Writers, and Poetry and Science.
Individually arranged work experience in publishing, journalism, library work, and other fields or areas related to bibliography, literature, or skills in writing.
What makes a good translation? Is anything really lost in translation, and what can be found? To try to address these questions, we will examine canonical translation theory texts and English translations of international poetry, developing a rich understanding of the theory and practice of literary translation. Students do not need access to any other language to take the course, but they will have the opportunity to shape major elements of the course around the literature, language, and culture of their choice.
Why are Octavia Butler's books banned in prisons? Why does Bechdel's Fun Home still rank among the top banned books among American libraries? In this course, we will trace the evolution of the modern and postmodern American novel alongside national and transnational moments of controversy, censorship, and revival. Several of the texts we read were banned when they first published but found a second life generations later as films, musicals, and graphic novels.
This course provides an introduction to major developments in American theater, from its inception in the early 1800s to the present. Special emphasis is given to the perspectives of Asian-American, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, and LGBTQ-authored play scripts.
Advanced study of the writing of significant American poets and/or movements. Past topics included Global American Poets, African American Poetry After the Harlem Renaissance, and Berryman in Context.
A study of British novels based on a topic, genre, or author, as tailored by student interest. Previously themed on "The Fiction of Jane Austen," future subjects could include, for example, detective fiction, Virginia Woolf, Kazuo Ishiguro, contemporary London fiction, or a variety of other topics.
Advanced study of the writing of from four to six British poets who are significant figures themselves and also represent the literary periods in which they wrote. Past topics have included: British Victorian Poets.
This survey of English-language drama will begin with some fundamental conceptions of how theatre works and its purposes, then will jump forward in time to study how authors use the form of the play to both entertain and stage ideas in modern American and British drama. Past topics of study have ranged from performances of identity to drama's methods of probing relationships between humans and the environment. For all our plays, we will be attentive to the inherent strangeness, fun, and potential power of live performance.
A study of literary criticism as a form. Engaging in a series of paper exercises, annotated bibliographies, abstracts and oral presentation, students will explore historical and philosophical questions about the acts of reading and writing. Theoretical approaches to literature - "literary theory" - will be drawn from a variety of critical movements and methodologies. Especially recommended for students who plan to pursue graduate study in English - related professions.
This course aims to change the way that you watch movies. We often encounter stories through films, but analyzing their cinematic narratives of visuals and sounds requires a unique vocabulary and set of observational strategies. Rather than focus on literary adaptations, the course will prioritize reading films as their own form of literature. Students will gain technical terminology and an introduction to schools of film theory, as well as an appreciation for film history.
Individually arranged work experience in publishing, journalism, library work, and other fields or areas related to bibliography, literature, or skills in writing.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Completion of an extended literary essay by students in the literature concentration, or an extended creative project with a short critical essay by students in the creative writing concentration. Open only to senior English majors.
Environmental Science
An introduction to the field of environmental science. Includes an analysis of natural resources and the environmental impact of their extraction and use by humans. Environmental quality, pollution, toxicology will be among the topics covered.
An introduction to the field of conservation science. Local and global aspects of species, ecosystem and landscape conservation will be discussed.
This course introduces the concepts and components of a geographic information system (GIS). It is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge in analytical cartography and also to expose them to how geographic information can be used to answer questions and to solve problems in natural resource management, and emergency preparedness. GIS I is the first of a two-course sequence of GIS technology and applications. Students will learn concepts such as data acquisition, input, and manipulation; cartographic output; report and map generation.
The origin, composition, structure, and geological history of the earth. This will include the study of geological processes affecting the earth's crust and interior, and examination of theories concerning geological phenomena such as origin of mountains and plate tectonics. Meets natural laboratory science distribution requirement.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
A hands-on tutorial in visualizing, analyzing, and utilizing geographic information using ArcGIS online with applications to many fields of study. Focus is on the development of practical skills in the context of an understanding of what geographic information is and where it comes from. Course includes a combination of instructor-guided and self-guided activities.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
From paleoclimate to the current climate crisis this course overviews climate science examining both regional and global scales. The interdependent elements of the climate system are examined and the manner in which humans have perturbed the climate system is discussed. Techniques used to generate the global climate record are reviewed.
In-depth study of a selected topic in environmental science. Past topics have included Agriculture and the Environment and Pollution Science.
Work relating to environmental policy or science in an academic, governmental, industrial or public interest group setting.
The ENVR research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include ENVR field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off-campus.
Examination of the process that seeks to predict and mitigate the environmental impacts of proposed development or other projects, and that produces environmental impact statements. The goals, steps, strengths and limitations of various kinds of environmental impact assessments will be discussed.
This course will examine the environmental consequences of agriculture as it is practiced today in tropical and temperate regions, and discuss the agroecological basis for tools and techniques designed to address these problems.
In-depth study of a selected topic in environmental studies. Past topics have included: Agriculture and the Environment, and Pollution Science.
Work relating to environmental policy or science in an academic, governmental, industrial or public interest group setting.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Independent research on self-designed project overseen by a faculty member in Environmental Science. Course provides experience in designing and conducting research and communicating findings.
Identification of an original topic and development of a senior research paper or alternative project in environmental policies and values. Preparation and presentation of a paper or project based on independent research and analysis. Work to be conducted in conjunction with a member of the ENVR faculty.
First Nations and Indigenous Studies
This seminar will focus on making a home (on one's own land or stolen lands?), and the multiple relationships that exist between what sexual minorities call "home" as First Nations people, people in Diaspora, and/or immigrants.
This course will examine ways in which Indigenous Peoples locally and globally are engaged in the defense of water, land, and all our relations, how indigenous knowledge and western sciences can work together to restore environmental damage, and how indigenous and non-indigenous people can work together for environmental justice.
This course covers the relationship between the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and Euro-Americans from earliest contact to the 21st century, with particular attention paid to circa 1970 to the present.
Selected topics of interest. Past topics have included: Contemporary Issues of Native America, Federal Policy and Indian Law, The Haudenosaunee and New York State, and Indigenous Thought and Western Science.
Health Sciences
Overview of holistic health studies as a "learning community" dedicated to personal and planetary well-being and growth. The course introduces a range of holistic health modalities and certified techniques, such as Bartenieff Fundamentals and the Alexander Technique. Professionally supervised, hands-on work with fellow students.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to Holistic Health.
Exploration of skills and knowledge needed for success in the health professions. Conducted with the context of discussion of healthcare systems and health professions.
American Red Cross certification includes Community CPR and Standard First Aid. Additional fee.
A study of selected topics.
Students will explore the complexities of gender and sexual diversity, as well as the differences between sex and gender within the context of health and wellness. Particular emphasis will be placed on the specific health issues and health disparities faced by women, transgender and gender non-binary individuals, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and intersex individuals, as well as professional competencies in responding to these issues. This survey course will be a foundation for further exploration of the specific issues faced by these vulnerable populations.
Beginning with a systematic presentation of word origins and structure through the introduction of prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and plurals, this course guides the student through the fundamental concepts, terminological systems, and vocabulary used to describe systems and structures of the human body in health and disease. Abbreviations, symbols, surgical procedures, medical specialties and diagnostic tests will be discussed.
In-depth study of a selected topic in health sciences.
These introductory internships provide opportunities for well-qualified students considering careers in the health sciences. Interns will work with health professionals. Each student will give a public presentation of his or her internship upon return to campus.
This course is intended for students pursuing a career in healthcare and will cover principles of human nutrition that are essential for the well-being of an individual and community. Topic to be covered include food chemistry, metabolism assessment, lifecycle nutrition practices, and utilizing nutrition in the treatment of diseases. There will also be discussions associated with food safety, supply and security.
This course will cover the basics of animal nutrition. This includes the classification and functions of nutrients, gastrointestinal tract anatomy of domestic mammals, digestion and metabolism, feed regulations, and feeding/nutrition of cattle, small ruminants, horses, swine, poultry, dogs, and cats.
In-depth study of a selected topic in health sciences.
These advanced internships provide opportunities for well-qualified students considering careers in the health sciences. Interns will work with health professionals. Each student will give a public presentation of his or her internship upon return to campus.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
This capstone course covers current topics in the health sciences. Students will write and present original research in the area of discussion amongst the class. Post-graduate career opportunities and how to pursue them will also be considered.
History
This course examines the rise of interconnected cities, societies, and empires; the invention of languages, technologies, and ways of life; the formulation of novel philosophies; and the experiences of humans across the globe from our evolution in eastern Africa to the year 1650CE. Additionally, this course helps hone foundational liberal arts skills, such as conducting research, interpreting evidence, and communicating effectively. We will focus on two guiding questions: 1) How was the world connected and divided? and 2) How do we know about the study of the past?
This course explores evolving global empires and trade networks; revolutions, wars, and genocides; scientific and philosophical innovations; and the lives of humans, both ordinary and extraordinary. Additionally this course helps hone foundational liberal arts skills, such as thesis writing, using evidence, reading against the grain, and clarifying voice. We will focus on two guiding questions: 1) How can learning about the past inform our understanding of the present? and 2) How do we know about and study the past?
This course explores the history of modern Southeast Asia through the medium of anti-imperialist novels, short stories, and essays. Historically a region of rugged seafarers, intrepid explorers, religious thinkers, and hardworking farmers, Southeast Asia became a crucial center for European, American, and Japanese imperial designs in the nineteenth century. Many people benefited from this imperial arrangement, but many more resisted. Why? What is imperialism? What is the legacy of this institution?
This chronological and thematic survey, which highlights major events and figures from South, Central East, and Southeast Asia from earliest times to 1650- or what is sometimes referred to as the ancient, medieval, and early modern periods - traces commonality, contact, and continuity across this mega-continent. Asia is the home of critical theories on governance such as Confucianism and Legalism; major world religions such as Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism; cultural creations such as Kabuki Theater, Beijing Opera, and countless influential works of fiction; and technologies and scientific inventions such as the abacus, gun powder, and the compass. In this course we will explore the foundations.
What is an American? A historical analysis of race, ethnicity, and immigration in the American experience from the colonial era to the present. Students will explore the intersections of American, European, African, & Asian cultures, compare and contrast different immigrant experiences, and examine nativism, racism, and the construction of identity in US history.
China is the most populous country in the world. It has the largest landmass, the second largest economy, and the largest standing military. As China takes an increasingly prominent role on the world stage in the twenty-first century, it is important to look at how it got here. This course is a chronological and thematic survey of Chinese history from the Qing Dynasty to the present. It will analyze major historiographical debates and introduce important people, events, and ideas that influenced the Celestial Kingdom.
Course surveys the experiences of women (and men) in European history and various social constructions of gender over time. Using primary documents, historical scholarship, novels, films, and memoirs, we examine the legacy of ancient attitudes toward gender and sexuality; the evolving definitions of feminine and masculine; structures of everyday life; misogyny and witchcraft; sexuality and honor; marriage and family; working-class and middle class distinctions; feminism and social protest; the impact of war and revolution on gender roles; women's quest for education, individual and collective struggles to transform society; literature and the arts; and LGBTQ issues of the past and present.
Home to nearly one quarter of the world's population, South Asia, which includes the contemporary nation states of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, is a region of great importance. Its modern history has been shaped by the Himalayas and the monsoons they caused as well as the Indian Ocean and the trade, wealth, and colonizers it invited. In this course we will research famous leaders like the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi, yet we will also examine the subaltern and explore a rich historiographical tradition steeped in postcolonial theory.
Focus on European thought, society, events, and social movements that dominated the tumultuous 19th century and helped create and define what we think of as modernity today. Topics include reactions to the French Revolution and industrial revolution; the development of modern political ideologies; the rise of the bourgeoisie and working classes; social protest, reform, and revolution; urbanization and urban life; nationalism; social Darwinism and global imperialism; changing attitudes toward women, gender and sexuality; the fascination with the irrational; new notions of leisure and consumption; and the creative thinkers, writers, and innovative artists who challenged status quo.
The social, cultural, economic, and political history of Europe, 1900 to the present. Using primary documents, recent historical scholarship, memoirs, documentaries, and feature films, we examine the causes and consequences of World War I and II; the Russian Revolution; The Great Depression; the rise of Nazism, Fascism, and anti-Semitism; the Holocaust; origins of the Cold War; imperialism and de-colonization; the social and cultural revolutions of post-WW II period; Eastern European communism; the fall of communism and its aftermath; shifting notions of gender over the century; and terrorism and challenges to tolerance in the multicultural Europe of the late 20th century.
An analysis of primary documents and secondary sources to arrive at meaningful interpretations of the nation's past. Topics include colonial development, slavery and racism, Revolution, the expansion of a market economy, changing gender roles, religion and social reform, immigration, westward expansion, and sectional crisis.
An analysis of primary documents and secondary sources to arrive at meaningful interpretations of the nation's past. Topics include Reconstruction, Industrialization and urbanization, social and political reform, race and ethnicity, changing gender roles, the changing role of government in American life, and the emergence of the United States as a global power.
The Civil War remains the central event in U.S. history. Topics include the origins of the conflict, the impact of "Total War," the war on the homefront, and the promises and failures of Reconstruction.
This course explores the ancient Mediterranean world from the colonization of sea by the Greeks starting around 800 BCE until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. Students will learn about, in turn: the competition between Athens, Sparta, and the Persians; the Ptolemaic era launched by Alexander the Great; the great North African empire of the Carthaginians, the rise and expansion of Rome; the integration of North African and Near Eastern territories into the Roman Empire; the increasing role of Christianity in the Mediterranean; and the variety of problems that eventually led to the breakdown of Roman power in the region. Throughout the semester, students will engage with sources ranging from the philosophical, to the literary, to the arts, to religion, and to science and technology.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to historical work and practice.
World War II was a complex and catastrophic combination of regional wars fueled by competing ideologies and interests that in many ways continues to shape the world order in the present. This reading-and discussion- intensive history course, which is global in scope, approaches World War II through five overlapping themes: meaning and rationale, tactics and technology, race and gender, violence and death, and memory and legacies.
This thematic course examines how gendered discourses regarding parenting, masculinity, femininity, and sexuality were imagined, crafted, and challenged in Asian history from earliest times to the present. We will cover topics such as labor and equity, widow-immolation and agency, eunuchs and gender spectrums, Orientalism and fetishization, foot binding, anarcho-feminism, gender identity and expression, abortion and legal regimes, and much more.
A critical examination of the American experience from early settlement to the Revolutionary Era. Topics include the clash of European, American, and African cultures, the evolution of colonial societies, economic development, war and diplomacy, the origins of the Revolution, the War for Independence , and the founding of the Republic.
A critical historical examination of the African-American experience from enslavement to the modern era. Students will explore the emergence of slavery and race in Early America, the evolution of African-American culture, slave life, black abolitionism, emancipation, Reconstruction, migration and urbanization, the freedom struggle during the Age of "Jim Crow," and the modern Civil Rights Movement.
A critical examination of the American experience from Reconstruction through World War I. Students will explore industrialization and the changing world of work, popular culture, the rise of the middle class, gender and the "New Woman," race and immigration, Populism and Progressive reform, imperial expansion, and the American experience in the "Great War."
A critical examination of the American experience from the Founding of the Republic through the War with Mexico. Students will explore the emergence of popular politics and the party system, the capitalist Market Revolution, religion and the Second Great Awakening, intellectual movements, utopian communities, social reform, slavery and abolitionism, women's rights, and territorial expansion during the age of "Manifest Destiny."
Examines European thought and society from 1685-1815, with an emphasis on France. Topics include the legacy of Enlightenment ideas, scientific revolution, social conditions of "the people," the French Revolution and its debates, Napoleonic era, and early Romanticism.
Course examines attitudes, beliefs, and practices of common people, especially peasants and workers. Topics include daily life, religion and magic, witchcraft, folklore, attitudes toward women and sexuality, the impact of printing, popular rebellions, relations between "the people" and the elite.
A critical examination of the American experience from the end of World War I to the present. Topics include industrialization and economic change, the emergence of the modern bureaucratic state, social reform, civil rights, popular culture, war, and America's place in the world.
The cultural and social consequences of European colonialism from the Age of Exploration to the present - incorporating views of both colonizers and colonized. Issues include racism and slavery, women and sexuality, technology and progress, identity and difference, travel, disease, and work.
Discussion of the methodological problems involved in historical research and historical criticism. Readings focus on historians' own views of the problems involved in writing and justifying history.
This course explores the history of the Ottoman Empire from Sultan Mehmed II's victory over the Byzantines at Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottomans' defeat at the Siege of Vienna in 1683. During this era, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest geographical extent by employing a combination of technological, political, and cultural systems and tools. Following a generally chronological format, students will examine this era from a variety of perspectives, including: Ottoman military innovations on land and sea; the advantages and limitations of the Ottomans' system of government; cosmopolitan life in the Ottoman capital of Istanbul; religion and philosophy in the Ottoman world; and the relationship between power, gender, and sexuality in Ottoman culture and politics.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to historical work and practice. Students will develop at a more advanced level the skills and techniques demanded from a previous history internship.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Preparation of an essay based on individual research.
A collaborative seminar for students writing their senior essays. Seniors will meet regularly to discuss research methods and problems, participate in peer editing of drafts, and give presentations of their work.
Hospitality Management
This course examines the breadth and influence of that hospitality industry and the impact of tourism - from local visitors bureaus to the 9.25 trillion dollars that tourism contributes to the global economy. Students will be exposed to the interrelated nature of hospitality, travel, and tourism and introduced to the many different and exciting professional opportunities that exist in industries such as hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, spas, private clubs, gaming, airlines and the many industries that support hospitality and tourism. Students will develop a holistic perspective of hospitality and tourism across local, regional, and global levels.
This course places students in the role of an operations manager who must understand the nuances and information contained in accurate financial records. We will explore the various metrics that owners, managers, franchisors and franchisees utilize to judge their performance in relation to industry standards and market competition. Extensive use will be made of MS Excel to model potential operational opportunities as a first step in creating solutions to identified problems. As part of this course students will earn a Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) through the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
The Hospitality Industry Leaders Series serves as an ambassador program, connecting the Wells College Hospitality Major to the industry, and offering students and faculty the opportunity to meet and network with industry leaders while also gaining valuable insight into relevant industry topics. In the weekly course meeting, speakers will provide an overview of their workplace, where it fits within the industry, and their own role and responsibilities. Speakers will share their personal career path and experiences, as well as open the floor for live Q&A. Students will be required to sign up for small group session(s) and will join the speaker for a hosted meal on campus as part of the course.
Hospitality is centered on tangible experiences that take place in the physical landscape, as apposed to the digital. This course will examine the principles of building and design that contribute to an experience, as well as provide students with a foundational knowledge about how large-scale buildings function both from a systems and daily operations perspective as well as from a concept-to-built perspective. A "brick and mortar" facility becomes just as integral to operating a business as does its staff, customers, marketing efforts, brand promise, and more. Cursory knowledge of systems design, the architectural process, capital expenditures and ongoing maintenance concerns is essential for any manager responsible for a physical space.
To understand the hospitality business, it is essential to understand the impact that food and beverage operations play from the local to the international level; from institutional feeding in hospitals, schools and prisons to glamorous Michelin rated showplaces; from local farmers trying to be ecologically conscientious, to gargantuan beef producers destroying the atmosphere. Students will examine the foundational operating principles of delivering responsible food and beverage experiences and understanding the role these essential functions play within a larger hospitality organization. Students will also delve into the macro-F&B issues that hospitality and tourism are challenged with; from cultural differences, to supply chain issues, to labor shortages, diversity and more.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to hospitality management.
The course places students within an active hospitality operation and provides them with hands-on experiences designed to expose them to multiple facets of the business. Starting with the guest perspective, students will explore a luxury resort through the eyes of a consumer, understanding critical guest needs, recognizing where areas of disconnect and friction lie, and interpreting guest experience expectations through marketing and promotional materials. Students will then transition to the employee perspective, gaining insight into the effort and skill it takes "behind the scenes" to create the ideal guest experience, the numerous roles that support the delivery of that experience, and the complexity of bringing all the unique parts together as a whole.
As the second largest wine producing region in the United States, the Finger Lakes continues to see consistent growth, development, and expansion of the beverage industry. This course will explore the history of the Finger Lakes through the lens of its viticulture heritage, the legislative rules and changes from NY State that are altering the landscape for beverage production in New York, and how these economic changes are shifting the employment, tourism, and agricultural landscape for the region. In addition to exploring the historical growth of the various beverage industries in the Finger Lakes, this course will also include: a broad introduction to cultivation of fruits and other crops necessary to produce wine, beer, hard cider and distilled spirits; the chemistry of fermentation and distillation; regulation of bottling, labeling and distributing alcoholic beverages; an overview of vineyard, brewery, orchard and distillery practices; responsible marketing of alcoholic beverages; and the alignment between beverages and experiential travel and tourism.
Experiences tap into a consumer's senses, memories, emotions, and more, creating memories and forming lasting impressions and connections along the way. Services marketing is the concept of selling an idea, relationship, trust with a brand or entity, or a yet-to-happen experience, and bridges the gap between anticipation and the reality of living through a pre-conceived notion or expectation. Consumer behavior refers to an individual's emotions, attitudes, and preferences and how they influence that individual's purchasing behavior. These disciplines combine in the complex process of designing and marketing experiences as the tools and techniques required to effectively market something that is so hard to define and so deeply personal and are often entirely different from those used to sell tangible products or commodities. In the marketing of services and experiences, understanding the buyer's expectations, and then how the experience is designed to deliver on those expectations, is key to achieving successful outcomes.
Revenue management explores the practice of dynamic pricing and reflects the shifting demand for perishable inventory. These skills can be applied to a variety of industries and concepts - from concert tickets to airline seats to grocery store produce. In this course, students will utilize coursework through HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) that provides hospitality professionals with the most up-to-date and forward-looking information on revenue optimization principles, practices, and strategies. Students enrolled in this course will have the option to become Certified Revenue Management Analysts (CRMA). In addition, students will examine different applications of revenue management, learning to think critically about how these powerful tools can be applied, and new industries that would benefit by transitioning from a fixed pricing to a dynamic pricing model.
The hospitality industry encompasses a vast array of niche industries that make up the world's tourism, travel, entertainment, and leisure sectors. This course will offer insight into the depth and breadth of the industry, including the unique attributes of each segment, and the impact of these businesses on local communities. From private clubs to cruise lines, casinos to convention centers, sports stadiums to spas, and glamping to eco-tourism, students will gain an exposure to the wide and varied entities that make up the industry, while honing skills to critically assess how to evaluate demand for a specific product, where opportunity exists within a given market, and more.
This course applies an anthropological theory and concepts to the trillion dollar global industry of tourism. Here we will consider several social and cultural concerns regarding tourism, such as what exactly is tourism, and what is its relationship to social inequalities her and abroad; we will consider the economics of tourism, the politics consuming the "Other", efforts to maintain cultural survival; we'll think about issues of race, class and gender in the tourism trade; we'll consider issues of authenticity and ownership, and historical and cultural representation; we'll think about the tourists' gaze and experience, environmental sustainability, and more. In the end, we will ask, how can we assure that the tourism we engage in either as tourists, those being toured, or those working in the tourism industry, is sustainable, equitable and a benefit to all.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to hospitality management.
This course is a consummation of what the students have learned in the Hospitality Major and it brings together the many components of hospitality management and leadership that have been developed over the course of the academic journey. Delving into the qualities that define leadership, the people who exemplify it, and the strategies that anyone can apply to achieve it, this course will give students unique insight into their own management and leadership styles. To fully utilize the many management and leadership skills students have learned, students will work together to conceptualize, market, and execute an event for members of the broader community. This, along with their event debrief, will serve as their final project and deliverable for the course.
Interdisciplinary
Using a variety of sources such as travel accounts, novels, films, students will place themselves in past colonial worlds and witness the processes and dynamics of de-colonization as they occurred in various places around the globe.
Students will engage in the pursuit of knowledge by learning how to conduct an oral history interview. The experience with the primary sources will emphasize the importance of creating and sharing meaningful lives from any perspective.
Individually-arranged internships in a community or workplace in which students apply and practice the ideals of the liberal arts beyond a single academic discipline. Required reflective assessment activities vary by experience and sponsor.
Individually-arranged internships in a community or workplace in which students apply and practice the ideals of the liberal arts beyond a single academic discipline. Required reflective assessment activities vary by experience and sponsor.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Marketing
In an increasingly data-driven world, everyone should be able to understand the numbers that govern our lives. Whether or not you want to work as a data analyst, being "data literate" will help you in your chosen field. In this course, you'll learn the core concepts of inference and data analysis by working real data. By the end of the term, you'll be able to analyze large datasets and present your result.
This course is intended as a continuation of Foundations of Data Analytics I. In this course, you'll learn how Data Analytics are applied within the workforce. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the Data Scientist or Analyst, machine learning and the applications of Big Data. By the end of the term, you will be able to design and execute a range of data-driven experiments.
Data Analytics combines data, computation and inferential thinking to solve challenging problems and understand their intricacies. This class explores key principles and techniques of data science, and teaches students how to create informative data visualizations. It also explores particular concepts of Linear Algebra which are central to Data Science.
Data Analytics combines data, computation and inferential thinking to solve challenging problems to thereby better understand the world. This class explores key principles and techniques of data science, including quantitative critical thinking and algorithms for machine learning methods. It will also introduce students to the ways in which data analytics is deployed in healthcare, marketing, political science, criminal justice, and other fields.
This course is a capstone project in which students are asked to work through a full data science workflow on a set of real data drawn from sports, politics, business or public health. This course exists to prepare students for the kind of work they will do on Data Science or Analytics teams, and such, also features an emphasis on interviewing for jobs in the space and communicating results to stakeholders.
The average consumer spends 2.5 hours per day on social media sites and this course explores how to effectively use social media to move those consumers to action. In order to be a successful marketer, you must be able to plan a campaign that aligns with strategic goals, execute using the appropriate channels and tactics, and measure the success or failure of your efforts. By the end of the course, you will learn how to do just that. This online class has optional live sessions. Completion of this course will enable students to participate in online certification in Social Media Marketing Strategy from Hubspot.
Email Marketing is vital to modern businesses and a primary tool in any skilled marketer's toolkit. In this course, you'll learn how to craft successful e-mail marketing campaigns for sales, engagement, and activation. By the end of this course, you'll know how to write e-mails that drive customers to take desired actions and how to structure campaigns for maximum effect. You'll also build your own marketing campaign. This online class has optional live sessions. Completion of this course will enable students to complete online certification in Email Marketing from Hubspot.
Going Viral is the goal of most web-based marketing content. Companies that generate content that can spread through the internet organically are the most successful in growing their brand. This course will teach you what drives people to share content and how to build content that is shareable. By the end of this course, you will understand what drives viral sharing and learn how to facilitate it. Completion of this course will enable students to complete online certification in Content Marketing from Hubspot.
Marketing Professionals today have access to incredible amounts of data. The ability to use this data is what differentiates successful marketing efforts from failed ones. This course will teach you how to analyze digital customer behavior data using a range of tools, and use that data to test marketing hypotheses and improve customer acquisition.
How do you find what you're looking for on the internet? Chances are you turn to google or another search engine. Companies use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) to make sure you see them first every time you turn to a search engine. By the end of this course you'll learn how to optimize a website so that it shows up first on a search, and how to build search ads that will drive customers to your website. Completions of this course will enable students to complete online certifications in Google Ads Search by Google and Search Engine Optimization by Hubspot.
One of the main goals of a company's website is to improve its bottom line. In this course, you will propose and build a new website for an existing company. This website should be optimized to boost conversation events for the company in question. In doing so, you will need to research customer behavior and industry trends in order to successfully generate leads and sales. This course will test all of the skills built up through the Web Design major - design, prototyping, optimization, and programming.
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
This course covers the fundamentals of modern computing for non-technical majors. Topics include operation systems, Microsoft Office Suite, fundamentals of hardware and software, file management, networking and the internet, digital security, and the impact of computing and the internet on society.
An introduction to computer programming. The course will include basic data and control structures, an overview of program organization and problem solving using structured programming, and recursion.
This is the second course in computer programming and the continuation of CS 131. This semester deals with more advanced topics such as generative recursion while maintaining the strong focus on design principles learned in CS 131.
In the first half of the course, you will learn how to leverage your Python skills to treat the internet as a source of data. The second half of the course will teach you the fundamentals of Structured Query Language (SQL) and database design. By the end of the course, you will improve your programming skills and learn how to build a range of applications. This online class has optional live sessions.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Computers operate according to specific organization and logic. The logic is at the most basic level. In order to understand how computers work at the most thorough level, this course emphasizes the importance of understanding their language and organization.
This course explores object-oriented programming principles using programming language. Emphasis is placed on event-driven programming methods, including creating and manipulating objects, classes, and using object-oriented tools such as the class debugger.
Theory and implementation of data structures using an object-oriented programming language; investigation of how and why different data structures should be used in various programming situations. The data structures will include arrays, stacks, queues, lists, trees, and graphs.
This course, built in collaboration with Google, covers everything you need to know in order to build a website from scratch. You'll learn HTML, CSS and Javascript - the core technologies which power modern websites - and build a website of your own. By the end of this course you'll be able to create interactive, aesthetically pleasing websites for any purpose you can imagine.
Technology companies spend billions of dollars ensuring that their products are intuitive and delight users. This course will teach you how they do that. You'll learn what drives product usability, the basics of User Experience (UX) design and research, and how to build wireframes and prototypes. By the end of this course, you'll be on your way to building experiences that make customers happy.
In-depth study of a selected topic in computer science. Past topics have included: discrete mathematics with
computer applications, network architecture, and programming.
Individually arranged work relating to computers in an industrial, academic, or governmental setting. Primary responsibility rests with the student for making her or his own arrangements in consultation with the instructor.
We investigate supervised and unsupervised learning techniques such as linear and logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors, decision trees/forests, etc. In particular we will focus on the relative strengths and weaknesses of these techniques, evaluation the accuracy of a technique, and how to select the best technique for the job at hand. We will finish with reinforcement learning, and will complete a project on the topic.
A study of algorithmic solutions to problems, including techniques used in the design of algorithms, analysis of complexity, and proof of correctness. Usual types of algorithms include greedy algorithms, divide and conquer, flow problems, and dynamic programming.
An introduction to database management systems with emphasis on the relational model. Topics include the entity-relationship model, relational algebra and calculus, principles of database design, query processing, and file organization. A project will be implemented in a commercial database package.
An introduction to Unix/Linux system administration and network administration using Linux and Virtual Machine software. Topics covered include basic operating system concepts, command line administration and utilities, file system management, process control, multitasking, and shell programming. A graphical interface for system administration and management will also be used. Students spend a portion of the class installing, configuring, and administering their own Linux system.
Modern development relies on frameworks which provide developers with powerful tools to speed up development. If you want to build apps, you need to understand how to use frameworks. This course, which has been built in collaboration with Google, will introduce you to Django - a framework used for data-driven web applications. You'll learn the fundamentals of Django, improve your database management skills, and begin developing your own apps.
This course - built in collaboration with Google - is the second part of the application development series. In this course, you will put your skills into practice and build your own application. By the end of this course, you'll have a greater understanding of the technologies that power modern apps and be able to build your own.
Creating Software products is more than just writing code, it also requires an analysis of what your customers want, and how to meet their needs. As a result, understanding product development is key to a successful career in technology. By the end of this course (built in collaboration with Google), you will understand how product teams and processes work, and learn how to develop an idea into an actual product that delights your users.
This course builds upon User Experience I and will teach you how to build effective user experiences through a rigorous process of implementing best practices, testing designs, and iterating. You will also cover topics such as branding, color palettes, user journeys, and designing for multiple platforms. By the end of this course, you will be able to build a mobile app or website prototype and iterate upon it based on user feedback.
In-depth study of a selected topic in computer science. Past topics have included: Discrete Mathematics with Computer Applications; Network Architecture and Programming.
Individually arranged work relating to computers in an industrial, academic, or governmental setting mainly for advanced students. Primary responsibility rests with the student for making her or his own arrangements in consultation with the instructor.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
An introduction to some essential ideas, methods, and applications of mathematics. Topics include logic and deduction, problem solving, and numbers and numeracy. Tilings and symmetry, voting systems, and game theory will be covered as time permits.
An introduction to the algebra of sets and functions, emphasizing polynomials, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. Applications to business, economics and biology. Serves as preparation for calculus.
Properties and graphs of algebraic and transcendental functions. Conceptual and analytical introduction to limits, continuity and derivatives, with applications.
Continuation of MATH 111. The fundamental theorem of calculus, methods of integration, and applications. Introduction to differential equations, partial derivatives, vectors, and vector functions.
Fundamental techniques of applied statistics, descriptive statistics and data analysis, probability, population parameters, hypothesis testing, regression, and correlation. This course is designed for students with three or more years of high school math.
Continuation of MATH 112. Infinite sequences and series. Vector functions, functions of several variables and applications. Multiple integrals and vector analysis.
Matrices, vector spaces, linear transformations, determinants, and eigenvalues, with applications.
Basic theory of differential equations with applications to continuous models. Focus on analytic methods with introduction to numerical methods. Introduction to computer tools in determining symbolic and numerical solutions.
Descriptive and exploratory data analysis, one variable and two. Designing experiments and sampling. Examples of probability distributions, random variables, means and standard deviations. Central Limit Theorem. Correlation and regression. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Other topics as time allows.
An introduction to the foundations of mathematics and computer science through the study of discrete structures. Topics include logic, methods of proof, set theory, functions, relations, number systems, and algorithms.
Individually arranged participation in the work of a computer laboratory, statistical office, or industrial research office. The student must submit a report or paper on an appropriate topic approved by the instructor.
Densities and cumulative distributions of discrete and continuous random variables. Mathematical expectations independence. Sums of random variables, analysis of Central Limit Theorem. Multivariate distributions. Application of mathematical probability tools in statistical estimation and testing concepts such as power, error types, regression, maximum likelihood principle.
This course will emphasize the mathematical formulation of "real world" problems along with common computational techniques used for their solution. Numerical methods and computer use will be emphasized.
Theory and application of representative methods in operations research including linear programming, network analysis, dynamic programming, game theory, and queuing theory.
Topological aspects of the real line, sequences and series of numbers, convergence, power series, properties of continuous functions, derivatives and their properties, Riemann integration, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Properties and examples of groups, rings and fields. Emphasis on common categorical notions such as homomorphisms, quotients and isomorphism theorems.
In-depth study of a selected topic in mathematics. Past topics have included: History of Mathematics. Possible future topics include: Topology; Complex Analysis; Number Theory.
Individually arranged participation in the work of a computer laboratory, statistical office, or industrial research office designed primarily for more advanced students.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Introduction to the mathematics of Fourier analysis, with application to physical systems.
The student will select a project that integrates and expands on material from earlier courses. The project proposal (to be implemented in MPS 403) will be completed by the end of the semester. Meets two hours a week.
This course covers the basic ideas and techniques of astronomy, the night sky; star physics and evolution; contents and structures of galaxies; black holes and cosmology. Nighttime telescope work, weather permitting.
A calculus-based introductory course for all science, mathematics, and pre-engineering students. Particle kinematics; vectors; Newton's law; forces and their effects; energy conservation; systems of particles; momentum conservation; introductory rotational kinematics.
A continuation of PHYS 111L. Traveling and standing waves; Electrostatics in vacuum and in materials (Coulomb's and Gauss's laws); Magnetostatics (Biot-Savart's and Ampere's laws); Faraday's law of induction; lenses and mirrors; interference and diffraction of light.
Introduction to analog and digital electronics. DC and AV circuit theory, impedance, filters, transistor operation and amplification, operational amplifiers, simple logic gates, counters, D/A converters.
Individually arranged participation in research with industry or a university. This course will not satisfy any requirement in the mathematics/physics major or minor.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
This course completes the introductory sequence in physics. Topics: the photoeffect; black-body radiation; other early results in atomic physics; Schrodinger equation in one and three dimensions; hydrogen atom; atomic spectroscopy; introduction to quantum statistical mechanics, and applications.
An advanced theoretical study of Newton's laws, making use of numerical computing. Dynamics of particles, orbits, coupled systems, damped oscillators, phase portraits, periodicity, and chaos are topics typically covered.
Special emphasis on those aspects of the subject pertinent to biology and biochemistry. Gases and liquids; thermodynamics and thermochemistry; properties of solutions; chemical equilibria; electrode potentials; reaction kinetics.
An in-depth study of the two pillars of twentieth-century physics. Einstein's special relativity revolutionized humanity's understanding of space and time, and we will study its treatment of kinetics and energetics, with consideration of length contraction, time dilation and mass-energy equivalence. We then turn to, initially, Schrodinger's quantum mechanics as applied to bound and free states, culminating in the hydrogen atom. Finally, we consider an alternative formulation, using operator methods, which allow for understanding of spin and angular momentum, for single and multi-electron systems.
Advanced laboratory work in the physical sciences, using a variety of specialized equipment (examples: Cavendish torsion balance; frequency response analysis of mechanical systems using Fourier methods; hyperfine splitting of rubidium vapor using Doppler methods; measurement of the e/m ratio).
In-depth study of selected advanced topic in physics, such as Electricity and Magnetism; Quantum Mechanics; or Thermal and Statistical Physics.
Individually arranged participation in research with industry or a university. This course will not satisfy any requirement in the mathematics/physics major or minor.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
Advanced work or research relevant to the discipline created under the supervision of, or in conjunction with, a faculty member.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Modern Languages
Courses are designed to develop the skills and knowledge needed to communicate in American Sign Language. Students are first introduced to basic sign language vocabulary, fingerspelling, and aspects of American Deaf culture and history in 101.
In 102, students continue to develop American Sign Language vocabulary and finger spelling learning sentence construction as well. Students will continue to learn about Deaf culture, community, and education.
Open to International students and taken concurrently with ESL 256, this course focuses on campus life and American culture. Classes include oral work to review specific grammar points and vocabulary, readings on American culture, and analysis of daily written homework.
Open to International students and taken concurrently with ESL 255, this course is designed to increase the students' conversation level beyond rudimentary vocabulary and speech patterns. Class work and exams are mainly oral, focusing on new vocabulary and lengthy explanations.
Open to International students, ESL III focuses on the types of writing required in academia: expository, persuasive, narrative, and descriptive. Students work on writing mechanics, development of good topic sentences and thesis statements, organization, etc., advancing from paragraphs to essays.
In this course we will look at various aspects of American life, while learning vocabulary and reviewing grammatical points related to the readings and discussions. In addition, we will explore several ways to develop ideas and organize them into papers.
Development of all four communication skills in German: speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. Essentials of grammar, basic vocabulary, practice speaking and writing German. Information on current social and cultural issues of German-speaking countries.
Development of all four communication skills in German: speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. Essentials of grammar, basic vocabulary, practice speaking and writing German. Information on current social and cultural issues of German-speaking countries.
Designed to further develop a student's ability to speak, read and write German. Emphasis on communication skills. Grammar review and vocabulary building. Readings of short stories and texts on social and cultural aspects of German-speaking countries.
Designed to further develop a student's ability to speak, read and write German. Emphasis on communication skills. Grammar review and vocabulary building. Readings of short stories and texts on social and cultural aspects of German-speaking countries.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
Development of the four basic communication skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. There will be an emphasis on oral and written practice in class. Students will also learn about Japanese culture and society.
Development of the four basic communication skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. There will be an emphasis on oral and written practice in class. Students will also learn about Japanese culture and society.
Designed to improve students' ability to understand, speak, read, and write Japanese, while also learning about social and cultural aspects of Japanese society. Second semester will emphasize more reading and writing.
Designed to improve students' ability to understand, speak, read, and write Japanese, while also learning about social and cultural aspects of Japanese society. Second semester will emphasize more reading and writing.
Designed to increase students' ability to express thoughts in sustained conversation and to approximate native speech and pronunciation.
This course is for beginners with little or no prior experience with the Spanish language. It focuses on oral and written language development and practice, basic readings on Hispanic culture and civilization, and essentials of grammar. Oral training, grammar essentials, and practice in writing and reading.
This is the second course of Elementary Spanish language and students will build upon skills learned in the first semester course. This class is for beginners with some experience with Spanish. It focuses on oral and written language development and practice, basic readings in Hispanic culture and civilization, and essentials of grammar. Through varied activities, emphasis will be placed on communication. An appreciation of Hispanic culture will be a fundamental part of the course. By introducing the learner to the rich culture of Hispanic world, this course aims also to develop students' intercultural knowledge and understanding. Course materials are designed to support students in developing an understanding of diverse Spanish-speaking cultures.
This course serves as an introduction to Latin American literatures and culture through texts of varied length from different genres during the 20th and 21st centuries. Representative texts examine images of Latin America from various critical perspectives. By critically analyzing works from a range of genres and cultural expressions including poetry, fiction, memoirs, film, and performance, along with recent literary and cultural theory works, the course will explore some of the major themes and issues that inform the cultural production of Latinx communities. Topics to be discussed include identity, race, gender, and class; diaspora and emigration; and activism through art. This course will be conducted in English.
Designed to improve the student's ability to understand, speak, read, and write Spanish, while concentrating on social and cultural aspects of Hispanic society. This course aims to expand the oral and written communication skills acquired in earlier classes and to broaden students' understanding of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, including the Hispanic/Latinx communities in the U.S.
Designed to improve the student's ability to understand, speak, read, and write Spanish, while concentrating on social and cultural aspects of Hispanic society. The second semester places increased emphasis on reading and writing. Three meetings per week and language laboratory, films, drills.
This course addresses the need of Wells students with some experience with the Spanish language, for the acquisition of a medical vocabulary - in order to accompany Spanish-Speaking patients to medical appointments - and be able to translate medical forms and to interpret and communicate three ways (patient, provider and interpreter) in different environments such as hospitals, specialists, ERs, therapists, family doctors, dentists' office, perinatal, labs and imaging offices, for example. Students will participate in language tasks through listening, reading, writing and conversation to accurately use the medical terminology and be able to interview and record completely and accurately the patients' medical histories, as well as explain correctly, in a culturally appropriate way, necessary medical tests and procedures; and diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of medical conditions - as well as provide written information when needed. This course will be a great opportunity to explore and compare the health-culture of different Spanish speaking countries with the healthcare system in the US.
The course focuses on the importance of bilingualism in the U.S., strategies for lifelong learning, and culture; it includes a review of relevant language. The students will gain necessary skills to read, write and translate documents related to different fields.
Spanish 203 studies the structural principles of Spanish. It makes use of current audiovisual technology and provides practice in writing, reading comprehension, and conversation aimed at the development of a reasonable competence in writing and speaking correct Spanish.
The course aims to give students a new appreciation of Spanish language cinema and Hispanic culture while improving their written and conversational skills.
A study of the most pertinent literary works of the Spanish speaking world, giving special attention to the social, ideological, cultural and economic background. Students will also be introduced to literary criticism to apply to reading assignments.
This course offers students the fundamentals of the Hispanic culture, utilizing different perspectives and critical readings. Taught in Spanish, its mission is to synthesize the history and traditions of Spain, Latin America, and the Hispanic Caribbean.
This course is an introduction to basic concepts in Spanish Linguistics and the methodology of its Acquisition. It explores fundamental aspects of Spanish linguistics including Spanish variation, Acquisition, phonology among other crucial topics.
This course helps students attain reading and listening proficiency, as well as translation skills of speech, texts and media in Spanish. There is a review of crucial grammar topics that can present difficulty to a translator of Spanish.
In-depth study of a selected topic in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Topics may include Spanish linguistics, topics in Hispanic literature and culture.
Students wishing to investigate careers in which the Spanish language and culture play an important role may work out a project in consultation with the Spanish Department. In order to be considered for this program the student should have an appropriate background in Spanish.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
In-depth study of a selected topic in Spanish. Past topics have included: Renaissance and Baroque in Spanish and Latin American Letters and Societies, Magic Realism in Latin American Literature, and Latin American Masterpieces. Past topics include Study of developments in dramatic literary expression in Latin America throughout the 20th century. Includes works by Villarrutia, Carballido, Dragun, Diaz, Gambaro, Luis Rafael Sanchez and Fornes.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Museum Studies
An introduction to the theories and practices of museum governance and exhibition design. Students will learn approaches pertaining to museum work appropriate to a variety of audiences, including science, anthropology, history and art.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to museum studies.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to museum studies.
Off-Campus Study
Study abroad in Scotland. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Italy. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Spain. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Japan. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Ireland. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Germany. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Australia. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in New Zealand. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Italy. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in Costa Rica. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Study abroad in England. Visit study abroad office for more information.
Thorough instruction in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, and illustration. The Art Students League is the oldest, and one of the most respected, art schools in the United States. Classes Monday-Friday. Afternoon visits to galleries, museums, and artists' studios.
The animal science/pre-vet immersion program provides hands-on animal experiences to students interested in pursuing an animal-related career. These experiences are essential for graduate and vet school applications, developing a professional network, and exploring career options in animal science. Besides the hands-on animal work, students will also investigate critical issues faced by veterinarians and animal professionals.
This course involves 3 weeks of experiential and immersive learning about how businesses, non-profits, and governmental organizations value and implement environmental, social, and economic sustainability practices in Costa Rica. Topics may include social entrepreneurship, ecological diversity and conservation policy, resource management, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and land management practices, and the impacts of tourism. Field trips may include visits to national parks, ecological preserves, green energy facilities, and tours of Indigenous and other locally-owned businesses and artisans. Students will also participate in a short homestay with a local family. This experience is a partnership with Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica. Course work will be in English. Spanish is not required but encouraged.
Offerings in London theatre. Attendance at approximately 10-15 performances will sample the range of venues, types of drama, and styles of production from the Royal Shakespeare and National Theatre and fringe and pub companies; reading of selected plays, discussion and written reviews of performances.
Topics include culture, cultural differences, culture shock, cross-cultural conflict, safety while abroad, and re-entry shock. Offered B-session of the semester before going abroad. Required for study abroad.
Required during and after studying abroad, this course addresses and reflects on and discusses concepts introduced in OCS 271. Classroom application of new perspectives learned abroad will be one of the topics discussed.
Week-long seminar with women leaders in public service. Formal and informal sessions include policy issues and political institutions, including the Supreme Court, think tanks, Congress, the Executive Branch, and nongovernmental organizations - all from women's perspectives.
Week-long seminar with women leaders working in the fields of science and technology, held in Washington, D.C. Speakers are drawn from a variety of agencies and organizations.
Week-long experiential learning in a variety of settings, including community service, with opportunities to apply and test studies in the liberal arts. Past offerings have included: American Genealogical Resources; Navajo Nation Experience; Environmental Restoration and Protection in the FL Everglades; and Southern Adventures of Fanny Kemble.
This course will involve 2 to 3 weeks of experiential learning and fieldwork in the Islands of Hawaii. Students will explore issues such as Native Hawaiian culture and history, cultural resource management, environmental preservation, agricultural development of sugar cane and coffee, archaeology, multiculturalism, and the impact of tourism.
This is a two week intensive course in the multicultural nation of Belize doing fieldwork among Garifuna, Maya, Creole and American ex-patriots. Issues covered include land rights, education, cultural survival, tourism, archaeology and preservation of natural resources. Experiential learning opportunities are available.
Philosophy and Religion
Philosophy is an ongoing and open-ended conversation about basic questions of human existence. This course introduces students to the conversation through the works of major philosophers.
Introduction to the art of sound reasoning. Emphasis is placed on informal logic and practical applications, although some formal proofs are also considered.
This course introduces students to major philosophies of the ancient world. Greek & Roman philosophy as well as Eastern philosophies will be discussed.
A study of philosophy from 17th to the 20th century. Focus on major philosophers such as Descartes, Pascal, Kant, Hegel, Mil, Derrida, and Foucault.
This course introduces philosophical theories of ethics. Then we focus on major issues of equality and justice in lieu of these theories.
This course focuses on philosophical perspectives on the human quest for meaning. We will discuss existentialist themes in philosophy, film, literature, and psychoanalytic theory.
In-depth study of a selected topic in philosophy. For example, a topic in ethics such as the family, abortion, or
war, or a topic on human nature or religion, such as philosophy of mind, Buddhist philosophy, or existentialism.
This course focuses on main issues in the Philosophy of Religion, such as: the existence of god, the problem of evil, the nature of faith, the evolutionary origins of beliefs in the supernatural. We also consider the social and communal aspects of religious commitment and major differences in religious expression across cultures and time periods.
This course explores philosophical perspectives on belief and knowledge. Sociological, psychoanalytic, and historical perspectives also will be considered. Some topics to be examined include the ethics of belief, the meaning and significance of skepticism, theories of knowledge, the social construction of reality and faith versus reason.
What is it to have a mind? What is the mind's relation to the brain? Do we ever have free will? In this course, we consider multiple perspectives on these questions and others in the philosophy of mind.
This course focuses on the unique and pressing ethical issues that are related to human ecology and the environment. We consider in a careful and sustained way what moral obligations we have to each other, other animals, and the broader world, in view of modern institutions, values, and our unprecedented technology, which can radically alter entire ecosystems.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to philosophy.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
This course is a basic introduction to religion in a diversity of cultural contexts, ranging from the ancient Near East to African traditional religions, and focusing on how different traditions have envisioned the gods, the created order, and the place of humanity with that order.
A study of the literature, religion, and faith of ancient Israel in light of the ancient Near Eastern environment, religious and ethical factors with Israel, and the course of historical events and social change.
A study of the literature, religion, and faith of early Christianity, as compared to and contrasted with early Judaism and Hellenistic religions. Jesus, Paul, and the first Christian communities.
In-depth study of a selected topic in religion. Past topics have included: Religion and the News Media; Gnosticism; Science and Religion; Women and World Religions; Rule the World for God?; and Goddess Worship in Western Religions.
The function of this internship is to allow students to explore areas where they might use their background in religion. The student should devise the internship in consultation with instructor.
This course explores the unique characteristics and complexities of faith in contemporary cultures.
Physical Education
This class is a combination of high intensity cardio and strength training. Each week is different format to prevent participants from becoming bored and to keep the body challenged. Great for any fitness level with modifications available for each exercise.
One of the most popular forms of High intensity interval training, consisting of eight (8) rounds of ultra high intensity exercises in a specific 20 seconds on - 10 seconds off interval. Excellent program for calorie burning, cardio and strength.
The objective of this course is to provide participants with a combination of strength and cardio training. Student will learn proper form while performing certain exercises.
This introductory level class will explore various forms of meditation for stress reduction and relaxation, including seated meditation, walking meditation, and mindfulness-based meditation. Simple yoga postures and breathing techniques will be included as appropriate to class needs.
Course designed primarily for those students who do not pass the Wells swimming test. Emphasis on basic stroke technique.
This course will explore aerobic kickboxing and fitness training using "Seven Minute Internal-Fire Functional Fitness" routines. In each session new aerobic and kickboxing sequences will be presented and practiced, working up a great sweat and stoking your metabolic furnace with a routine that is not only a great workout but customizable to your personal goals. Additional fee.
Emphasis will be on understanding how to use the wind to sail a boat in a set direction. In addition, how to rig a Sunfish sailboat, take care of equipment in and out of the water, and water safety will be taught. The many different ways a sailboat can be used for personal enjoyment will also be presented.
Emphasis will be on learning basic strokes used to control and power these boats. Also, care of equipment, both in and out of the water and water safety will be taught. How these boats are used for personal enjoyment in many different ways will also be presented.
Low-impact exercises designed to tone your body, increase strength and flexibility, and improve your cardiovascular endurance.
Yoga is a dynamic system of balance that leads to a healthy mind and body. The course contains various techniques of concentration, proper breathing, posture, cleansing and relaxation. Topics covered encourage knowledge of simple hygienic and nutritional hints.
Exercises designed to increase strength and flexibility of the various body parts. Challenging. Low impact.
Introduction to weight training and exercise principles. Instruction in proper technique and maintenance of a weigh training program utilizing the Universal unit.
This course explores the sport of horseback riding mounted and un-mounted. Beginner students will learn to control a horse at a walk and trot. Experienced students can explore pattern work and transition in either hunt seat or saddle seat disciplines. Additional fee. Please see instructor for fee.
Instruction in basic techniques from being through more advanced levels of play. Opportunity for videotaping and course play.
This course prepares the student for safe and enjoyable participation in recreational scuba diving. Successful completion of classroom, pool, and open water dives results in lifetime international certification. All scuba equipment furnished. Additional fees. Please see instructor for the fees.
This course presents basic techniques against a weaponless attacker. Self-defense techniques and escapes against grabs, chokes, punches, and kicks are emphasized along with physical skills to avoid injury, strategies applying the psychology of victim/attacker, and tactics to create effective defense.
This course will introduce students to the basic movement skills and concepts of Shorin-ryu karate. Students will learn elementary hand and foot techniques that will be applied in prearranged movement exercises and beginning-level sparring.
With approval and under special extenuating circumstances, a student may elect an independent course of study for seven weeks in the area of her or his choice. Minimum requirements include seven weeks of activity, five times weekly, for a minimum duration of 30 minutes. A journal is to be submitted upon course completion.
Yoga is a dynamic system of balance that has received scientific documentation for leading to a healthy mind and body, and also having enabled students to combine natural law with practical sense of well-being. The course contains various techniques of concentration, proper breathing, posture, cleansing and relaxation. Topics covered encourage knowledge of simple hygienic and nutritional hints.
Individually arranged participation in activities related to physical education and athletics, at institutions such as YM-YWCAs, high schools, health clubs, or similar sports facilities.
American Red Cross certification. Instruction in advanced rescues and escape techniques. Additional fee.
Individually arranged participation in activities related to physical education and athletics, at institutions such as YM-YWCAs, high schools, health clubs, or similar sports facilities.
This course is dedicated to developing the skills necessary to instruct and plan courses in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program. Students are expected to be proficient in the following strokes: front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Additional fee.
Political Science
Introduction to concepts and tools for the analysis of international and global issues. Course develops understanding of sociocultural, political, and economic differences and similarities. Topics include work areas and ecosystems, social-cultural differences, cultural identity, values, and international/intercultural relations.
An introduction to the institutional and behavioral foundations of American politics.
This course examines the role of media in American politics by assessing the relationships between and among the media, public officials and the public in the context of democratic norms and expectations. What should the media do in our democracy? Why? What does the media do? What are the implications?
This course assesses the critical characteristics of successful political leaders in modern American democracy. What do Americans want from leaders? How do good leaders succeed? Why do poor leaders fail? What are the results of successful and unsuccessful leadership for American democracy?
Students who participate actively in Model U.N. Club may receive credit for work done in conjunction with the club's activities.
This course will introduce major concepts in the national and global environmental policy discourse such as sustainability, development and climate change. It will examine intellectually and politically the nature of relationship between them. It will deal with the evolution of sustainability with the United Nations system and analyze how governments are pursuing sustainability as an urgent recommended goal in articulation of their environmental policies. To achieve this assessment objective, it will compare selected national environmental policies and their various implementation processes.
Liberalism as a central tradition of the West. From its mid-17th century origins, liberalism has encountered a series of problems of the individual, exchange, the public, limits, power, welfare, and the self. Response by critics of liberalism.
Explores the central themes of democratic thought in political theory, including classical democracy, social contract theory, and current issues. Both classical and contemporary readings address citizenship, equality, and political participation.
Introduces students to the development of public policy in the United States by focusing on Congress as an institution, congressional policy roles, and relations between the legislative and executive branches.
This course will examine and compare governmental institutions, their functions, their decision-making processes and their policy formulations and implementations among selected countries located in Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and South America. It will analyze the nature of the division of powers among the institutions of government, their relationship to civil society and society at large, how contemporary political leadership has emerged, how it has been maintaining itself in power, and how it has been managing the systems of governance in relationship to popular demands for liberal democracy.
More and more we perceive and define the world as a global system. It is also called the world system. What does it mean in relationship to the functioning of the world of a nation-state and its borders and the world political economy and its imperative? The course introduces students to various concepts, approaches and intellectual perspectives which are articulated in the discipline of political science in order to analyze and understand the globalization phenomenon, which is produced as a result of the interactions, interdependence and interconnection between economic, political, cultural and geographical borders within nation-states and beyond.
In-depth study of a selected topic in political science. Study of participation, public policy and policy making in industrial societies. Topics may include: poverty, housing, education, job training, health care, unemployment, welfare, conservation, political participation, elections, and campaigns. Past topics have included: U.S. Social Welfare Policy; Race, Public Policy and Democracy in the U.S.; The Politics of Terrorism; and Politics and Whiteness in the U.S.
Students may submit proposals for internships in any governmental, political, or legal office.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
This course will compare contemporary political institutions, the role of civil society, the national ideologies, and economic policies of the emerging and non-emerging countries in Asia.
An investigation of the substance and structure of public opinion in the United States. Students will assess the current literature and conduct independent research.
Survey of the main theories and approaches to international relations, such as systems analysis, idealism, realism, environmental and psychological theories, functionalism, imperialism, conflict and decision-making theories.
Examines the role of the U.S. judiciary and public policy with an emphasis on judicial review, civil rights and liberties, and the Supreme Court.
Analysis of the government and politics in major industrialized countries with particular emphasis on political culture, political institutions, policies, and electoral process and behavior.
This seminar is about the examination of individual research issues and topics that seniors in political science are working on in their theses. Besides specific sessions on methodological and theoretical issues, seniors will regularly meet to exchange ideas related to their common experience.
Psychology
An introduction to the scientific study of behavior, including an examination of various approaches to psychological thought. Among the topics addressed are learning, cognition, development, motivation, and psychopathology. Format varies; may be lecture or seminar.
An overview of theories and research related to sport behavior. Topics include motivation; effect of attention, emotion, and mood on performance; cognitive and behavioral interventions; social psychology of sport; and psychobiology of sport.
An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of health psychology. Students will learn theories and principles of health psychology and apply them to wellness, prevention, illness and healthcare.
An introduction to developmental psychology covering conception through adulthood. Physical, social, and cognitive development are explored with emphasis on early and mid-childhood. Major theories are applied to common issues in development, e.g., parent-child relations, education, poverty, and delinquency.
This course offers an exploration of psychological aspects from the perspectives of other cultures than the predominantly Western ones that most research has been conducted with. This course will offer a view of both cultural and cross-cultural approaches to the view of psychology, as well as Indigenous perspectives. All along we will wrestle with the dominant perspectives of psychology and how they can help shed light on universal human behaviors as well as highlight when the western paradigm fails to be culturally competent.
This course uses theories and methods of psychology to focus on women's development, personality, and role in society.
This course will explore the interaction between the individual and the social world. Topics covered will include social cognition; the self; attitudes and persuasion; group process; prejudice; stereotyping, and discrimination; aggression; and prosocial behavior. Cross-cultural perspectives will be examined.
A survey of research and descriptive aspects of behavior pathology and methods of treatment.
This course provides an introduction to forensic psychology, which is the intersection of psychology and the legal system. Examples of topics covered are expert witness issues, insanity pleas, false confessions, issues surrounding repressed memory, eyewitness testimony, and criminal profiling. Special attention will be given to the psychological implications of the legal system's treatment of minority groups.
A course on addictive behaviors, including drug, technology, gambling, and sex addictions. The psychological causes and effects of addictive behaviors will be explored from biological, social, developmental, cultural, and cognitive perspectives.
A survey of the biological, psychological, and cultural aspects of human sexuality including the development of sexual behavior, love and sexual relationships, AIDS, sexual victimization, the physiology and sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions, controversial issues in human sexuality.
This course will provide students with a solid foundation for their continued study of psychology including an overview of the history and systems of scientific psychology, research ethics, APA format, career exploration, and information literacy. The course also provides an overview of the research methods - both qualitative and quantitative - used in the study of behavior and mind. In addition, students will develop skills in scholarly communication.
Review of strength-based approaches to psychology. Research, theory, and cross-cultural perspectives on resiliency, gratitude, forgiveness, spirituality, humor, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and creativity and their effects on well-being and "the good life" are just some of the topics to be investigated.
An examination of the creation and experience of art as a product of human behavior and mental process, and an exploration of the positive uses to which it can be applied (e.g., toward the pursuit of wellness or social justice.) Students who have previously taken Wells 101: Psychology, Art, Culture, & Experience should not enroll for this course)
In-depth study of a selected topic in psychology. Past topics have included: Constructing Sexual Identities: Cross-Cultural Perspectives; Environmental Psychology; Violence and Schools; and Organized Psychology.
Individually arranged field experiences in psychological settings, for example, psychiatric hospitals, both private and public, and education classes for students with disabilities. A journal and a paper evaluating the experience will be required as a form of assessment.
The PSY research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include PSY field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off-campus.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
An examination of prevalent psychological disorders among children (including behavioral, emotional, health-related, development and learning disorders). Objectives include: improved understanding of etiology, learning the basics of assessment and diagnosis, and applying theories to the treatment of childhood mental disorders.
Students will explore issues such as employee motivation, group goal achievement, development of leadership skills, and working successfully with diverse populations. We will discuss power and politics, stress and coping, and other topics related to navigating the workplace.
Psychological approaches exploring the diversity of adolescent development. The course will focus on the intersections of culture, race, class, gender, and sexuality during adolescence. Topics include: growing up rural/urban, immigration and schooling, resiliency, love and intimacy, identity in global times.
Emphasizes a cultural sciences approach to psychology, including counseling/therapy, assessment, and research. Challenges assumptions of Western psychology and emphasizes the necessity of understanding each culture within its own social and ecological context and frame of reference.
This course examines theoretical perspectives and empirical research on promoting environmentally sustainable behavior. Through team-based, service learning projects, students apply knowledge gained in the course to address sustainability issues on the Wells campus and in the surrounding community.
An examination of the major systems of psychotherapy (psychoanalysis, cognitive, person-centered, behavioral, etc). Objectives include: developing a model of therapy, learning basic elements of counseling, working with diverse populations developing and applying knowledge of the ethics code.
The psychological study of language as a cognitive process. The course explores theories and research on first and second language acquisition, oral and written comprehension and production, bi- and multilingualism, dialectic and linguistic differences, social and cultural influences on language development and use, and language disorder (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, aphasia, dysarthria), among other topics.
A study of the three biological bases of behavior - nervous system, endocrine system, and genetics - an how each plays a role in the expression of behavior, from thirst and hunger to sexual behavior to addictions to psychological disorder and more.
A study of the brain and its basis in human behavior and cognition. The course provides a foundation in neuroanatomy and physiology, structure and function relationships, assessment, and neurological diversity. Case studies provide a view of clinical applications and fodder for lessons on ethical, identity-preserving treatment.
Cognitive psychology is concerned with the scientific study of the mind and how we process, store, and retrieve information. Mental functions studied in the course include perception, attention, memory, reasoning, decision making, problem solving, and language processing.
An interdisciplinary exploration of the interplay between cultural and cognitive processes, the resulting diversity of mind, and its role in actions such as intergroup conflict resolution. Conducted as an upper-level discussion seminar complemented by the cultural perspectives of guest speakers.
Using a lifespan approach, this course examines recent research on the physiological, psychological, and social dimensions of adult development. The goals of this course are to acquaint students with the basic processes of adult development and to promote positive attitudes and expectations about aging.
Methodologies in psychology which use qualitative description and analysis. Methods emphasized: interviews, case study, and participant observation. Extensive use of video and computer technologies for data collection and analysis. Three class hours and two of field-based study.
Basic quantitative research methods commonly used in psychology are examined in detail, with particular emphasis on choosing appropriate methods for research questions/hypothesis in different areas of psychology (e.g. developmental, social, cognitive). For the laboratory session, students spend two hours each week collecting and/or analyzing data.
An exploration and appreciation of the sensory and perceptual processes that produce an interpretation of the world for us. Experiential activities will include perceptual illusions and experiments, art museum field trip, and mammalian eye dissection.
In-depth study of a selected topic in psychology. Past topics have included: Constructing Sexual Identities: Cross-Cultural Perspectives; Environmental Psychology; Sensation and Perception; and Stereotyping and Stigmatization.
Individually arranged field experiences for students who have taken PSY 290. A journal and a research paper on a topic related to the internship will be required of students enrolled in this program as a form of assessment.
The PSY research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include PSY field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off-campus.
We will critically explore such topics as how Western research shapes our understanding of human behavior, possibilities ofr constructing different psychologies, how paradigms frame our understanding of human life, how class and gender shape identities in the classroom, implicit assumptions in developmental theory and their consequences in the practice of psychology. Participants will be encouraged to continue critical examination of their attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions regarding race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, culture, etc. through dialogues with other participants.
Advanced work or research relevant to the discipline created under the supervision of, or in conjunction with, a faculty member.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
An examination of selected theoretical and professional issues in psychology. Students will prepare a thesis based on review of the literature on a topic approved by the instructor and the department.
Empirical research project based on PSY 403 research proposal.
Sociology and Anthropology
This course introduces the fundamentals of anthropology: what does it mean to "think anthropologically?" Ethnographic case studies reveal the ways in which anthropology encourages us to confront critical issues of survival for indigenous peoples and local cultures.
The course examines anthropological scholarship on the complex relationship between lived cultures, their material objects, and museums/ethnic theme parks. It explores issues of cultural authenticity, ownership and preservation, political subordination and misrepresentation, and cultural change in a globalizing world.
Are bodies just biological entities? Is illness based solely in genes and behaviors? This course introduces the student to the field of medical or health anthropology that investigates those questions and more. We will look at the ways culture, social structure, and environment effect our understandings of bodies, illness, health and well-being. We will use concepts such as embodiment, structural violence, and personhood to think about bodies in culture and in society.
An exploration of anthropological approaches to the study of religion. Particular attention is paid to "local" or indigenous religions from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and elsewhere. Such local religions are studied in relation to world religions, colonization, and global influence.
This course will travel through time and space to garden spaces and practices found in a wide range of cultures.
Water is essential for human existence and culture is inherent to human experience. With that in mind, this applied anthropology course examines how our daily need for water is informed by a diversity of cultural expectations, tastes, and desires, as well as by environmental constraints. The course will also pay particular attention to the challenges of climate change in the 21st century.
This course is an anthropological examination of the cultures and religions of Hawaii, from pre-contact with the West to the contemporary context. Particular attention is paid to the effects of colonialism and tourism.
A hands-on course for learning about and practicing ethnographic research methods. We will spend class time examining different styles of write-up, different approaches to getting information and different ways of interpreting data. Students must complete a research project.
Anthropology is one of the foundational disciplines of Food Studies. This course introduces students to the anthropological side of food studies. We'll look at cross-cultural meanings of food and eating, food and identity, the social correlates of subsistence patterns, global food systems, food insecurity, the relationship between cooking and human evolution and social movement associated with food (ex: sustainability and food, decolonization of food systems, the slow food movement, etc.)
This course is an introduction to world archaeology. The course provides a survey of archaeological methods and theory. The course highlights the development of the discipline and some of the great civilizations of the ancient world are considered from an archaeological viewpoint.
The anthropology internship is designed to be an experience beyond the classroom. The internship might include archaeological fieldwork, service learning in an institution or community, or activism within a particular cultural context. Costs and arrangements are the responsibility of the student.
The course considers a range of critical approaches to and questions about exhibition spaces and the myths about art, history, and culture that underlie museum practices.
Anthropology studies lived human experiences within specific social structures. This class will focus on violence, the structures it takes and the effects on people. It's likely not to be what you expect. Partially this is because there is so much to discuss about violence it's impossible to cover it all. But mostly, it is because as a society we tend to think of violence simply as interpersonal, the harm one person effects onto another when anthropologists tend to think of it as sociological. We think of larger structures and meanings beyond the actions of individuals. Yet, we never forget about the people, the individuals in those structures. Our focus for this class will be on three forms of violence: state sponsored genocide, the structural violence of our migration policies and symbolic violence, or the violence of our thought structures. Much of what we will look at will deal with the effects of violence on human bodies and minds. This will often make us critical of the way we do things in the US.
This course applies an anthropological theory and concepts to the trillion dollar global industry of tourism. Here we will consider several social and cultural concerns regarding tourism, such as what exactly is tourism, and what is its relationship to social inequalities her and abroad; we will consider the economics of tourism, the politics consuming the "Other", efforts to maintain cultural survival; we'll think about issues of race, class and gender in the tourism trade; we'll consider issues of authenticity and ownership, and historical and cultural representation; we'll think about the tourists' gaze and experience, environmental sustainability, and more. In the end, we will ask, how can we assure that the tourism we engage in either as tourists, those being toured, or those working in the tourism industry, is sustainable, equitable and a benefit to all.
The course surveys contemporary anthropological theory and research. A close reading of several recent ethnographies allows for a critical examination of culture, fieldwork, and ethnographic representation via text, photography, film, and material display.
By reading ethnographic texts we will explore issues pertinent to the lives of Maya peoples in Guatemala, Mexico and Belize, such as genocide and resilience, human rights, economic globalism, immigration, and the relationship between traditional lifeways and well-being. Doing so we will explore topics of interest to students of anthropology, psychology, criminal justice, political science, and sustainability.
This course is a study of Pacific cultures and the social, economic, religious, political, and environmental challenges that threaten their survival. Topics such as global warming, depletion of the natural environment, political unrest, and economic crisis are considered in relation to local cultural responses.
In-depth study of a selected topic in anthropology. Past topics included: Contemporary Native American Issues.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
An introduction to the basic concepts and major perspectives of sociology. Sociology is the study of the way societies are structured, how these structures affect people, and how people affect those structures. The course may focus on such topics as the criminal justice system, environmental racism, socialization, identity, race and class.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
How do we know what is real? Why do we trust some pieces of evidence but ignore or discount others? Using social science concepts and theories, we will offer sociological accounts for the seemingly "unexplainable."
Students will engage in the pursuit of knowledge by learning how to conduct an oral history interview. The experience with the primary sources will emphasize the importance of creating and sharing meaningful lives from any perspective.
This course will explore the interaction between the individual and the social world. Topics covered will include social cognition; the self; attitudes and persuasion; group process; prejudice; stereotyping, and discrimination; aggression; and prosocial behavior. Cross-cultural perspectives will be examined.
This course examines the complex process through which public issues are transformed into social problems and addressed through social policy. Readings and discussions apply a social constructivist model to several contemporary social problems (e.g., teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, obesity, and bullying).
What are social norms? Who defines them and why? This course investigates the creation, perpetuation and disruption of social norms in various social arenas such as the criminal justice system, in psychology and medicine, in entertainment, and in the economy. We will cast a critical eye on the moral aspects of "deviance," and question the assumption that having norms and following them is always "good."
This course examines issues of poverty, wealth, power and powerlessness as they pertain to class and ethnicity. The main focus will be on the United States, but we will also examine global inequalities.
In-depth study of a selected topic in sociology. Past topics have been: Sociology of Work and Occupations, Gender Differences in Language and Aggression, Hate Crimes and Bias Motivated Violence, Gender.
Students learn within social agencies and institutional settings where they observe trained professionals working with clients. The settings may include mental hospitals, child care or nursery schools, nursing homes, etc. Costs and arrangements are the responsibility of the student.
What can our close living and working relationships with non-human animals reveal about human society? Why do we eat some animals but consider others our best friend? This course examines our complicated and often contradictory relationships with animals.
This course critically examines a wide range of criminological theories, with special emphasis given to the ways that social factors can produce or reduce crime.
This course explores gender as an individual, interactional, and institutional dimension of society. Reading across the disciplines, we theorize multiple masculinities and analyze the relationships among hegemonic, marginalized, subjugated, oppositional, and hybrid forms.
This course investigates two major aspects of media and society. First, it looks at the social and societal benefits and challenges of electronic and social media. Second, it examines the social history of media in relationship to the creation of harmful stereotypes, and current challenges to that history. Students are required to work on an original research project for this class.
This course provides a survey of major sociological theorists from the origins of the field to present day. The course explores the important tensions (e.g., continuity/social change, social structure/agency, and society/individual) which give rise to competing streams of social thought.
In-depth study of a selected topic in sociology. Past topics have been: Sociology of Work and Occupations, Gender Differences in Language and Aggression, Hate Crimes and Bias Motivated Violence, Gender.
In addition to observing trained professionals working with clients within social agencies and institutional settings, students in this advanced internship assume greater responsibility for working with clients served by the institution. Analysis in the term paper should reflect the knowledge and background of an upper-level student.
Topic open.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Preparation of an essay in the field of anthropology or sociology based on class work and individual research. Intended for students majoring in anthropology or sociology.
Individually arranged field experiences in the Social Sciences.
Individually arranged independent study in the social sciences.
Study of major empirical techniques of quantitative and qualitative research, with an emphasis on the experiment, social survey, content analysis, and structured interviews. Readings on research design and writing research will be complemented by a class research project.
Sport Management
Students will be given an overview of the topics related to sport management including: history and ethics in sport management, structure and policies of sport governance, professional relations, career opportunities, and field experiences in sport organizations.
The duality of sport in the modern world is explored and evaluated. Issues include racial and gender equity, player behavior and violence, health and child welfare in youth sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its relation to amateurism, and professional sports and their impact on communities.
Individually arranged participation in the work at an institution engaged in sport management, such as youth, scholastic, collegiate, minor and major professional sport organization.
Students will engage in the study of management responsibilities in sport organizations. Principles in leadership qualities, research, organizational goals, structure, conflict, change and decision making.
Sustainability
This course provides students with both classroom and hands-on knowledge about gardening. Topics will vary according to the season and instructor expertise. Examples of topics include seed starting, raised bed construction, plant biology, food preservation (canning, fermentation), garden planning, soil composition, bed preparation, composting, biochar, water basics, among others. May be repeated for credit.
This is a seven week course meant to provide you with basic cooking skills. You will have hands-on making several quick and easy dishes that will provide you with basics useful in many more. Exact recipes will vary from semester to semester, as will the instructors. For this reason you may take this course repeatedly.
Anthropology is one of the foundational disciplines of Food Studies. This course introduces students to the anthropological side of food studies. We'll look at cross-cultural meanings of food and eating, food and identity, the social correlates of subsistence patterns, global food systems, food insecurity, the relationship between cooking and human evolution and social movement associated with food (ex: sustainability and food, decolonization of food systems, the slow food movement, etc.)
In-depth study of selected topics in Sustainable Food Systems.
Students will gain experience working in a setting that has some connection to food and reflect on issues of sustainability: organic farms, farmer's markets, food pantries, farm sanctuaries, etc. Cost and arrangements are the student's responsibility.
This interdisciplinary course is designed for first year students. It explores the question: what does it mean to work in the field? Every week, we travel to a different location to consider the many varieties of working, living, and making that exist (or could exist) in that particular place through a wide spectrum of creative, scholarly, and experiential research methodologies. Topics may include rewilding, Indigenous land histories, local land use issues, wild pigments and ceramic ingredients, and more. Through collective, hands-on immersion in the cultural and ecological histories of the Cayuga watershed, we will explore how we ourselves build, understand, and communicate our own experiences of the world.
An overview of the concept of sustainability, its evolution and selected methodologies to quantify impacts. This course equips students to develop and evaluate solutions to national and local challenges by balancing factors that are environmental, economic and socio-cultural.
This course will examine the intersections of gender, race, ability, nationality, and class in regards to knowledge production about human-nature relationships, access to outdoor spaces and recreation in nature, and focus on cultivating a better understanding of our local relationships to land and community. Through a mix of discussion-based classes, and experiential learning, including fieldtrips, students will build a connection to both the campus community and the local community around Wells, and develop key academic skills.
Students will attend sustainability-related events and activities during the semester and write reflections on their experience. Students will be prepared to discuss those events they attended at weekly meetings of the tutorial group. Events eligible for tutorial credit will be announced in advance or pre-approved by the instructor for eligibility. Events will include, but not be limited to, Sustainability Perspectives series and Sustainable Business series talks, and other events and activities organized by the Center for Sustainability and the Environment, and other campus programs and groups.
This seven-week outdoor interdisciplinary course explores the question: what does it mean to work "in the field?" Every class, we'll travel to a different nearby location to consider the many layers of working, living, and making that exist in that place through creative prompts, case studies, and exploration. Site visits, activities, and instructors will vary from semester to semester, so you may repeat this course. Potential topics include: local cultural and natural histories; agriculture; resource management, and recreation; learning from plants, animals, and rocks; creative writing; drawing; taking samples; and other interdisciplinary forms of "field work."
This course will examine ways in which Indigenous Peoples locally and globally are engaged in the defense of water, land, and all our relations, how indigenous knowledge and western sciences can work together to restore environmental damage, and how indigenous and non-indigenous people can work together for environmental justice.
This course offers an in-depth introduction to the social dimension of sustainability. Students will examine the ways systemic inequalities in the U.S. impact access to resources, participation in outdoor recreation, and protections from the environmental harms. We will explore the historical roots of mainstream U.S. environmentalism and analyze contemporary case studies illustrating the ways sustainability challenges disproportionally impact members of minoritized communities.
Understanding the complexity of ways Earth's ecological, social, and economic systems function - and how they can be transformed - is fundamental to the work of sustainability. This course offers students opportunities to build their capacity as systems thinkers to better understand feedback loops, leverage points, and interdependence. We will investigate case studies examining holistic efforts to strengthen community resilience locally and around the world.
Water is essential for human existence and culture is inherent to human experience. With that in mind, this applied course examines how our daily need for water is informed by a diversity of cultural expectations, tastes, and desires, as well as by environmental constraints. The course will also pay particular attention to the challenges of the climate change in the 21st century.
In-depth study of a selected topic in sustainability.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to sustainability.
This course examines theoretical perspectives and empirical research on promoting environmentally sustainable behavior. Through team-based, service learning projects, students apply knowledge gained in the course to address sustainability issues on the Wells campus and in the surrounding community.
This course focuses on the unique and pressing ethical issues that are related to human ecology and the environment. We consider in a careful and sustained way what moral obligations we have to each other, other animals, and the broader world, in view of modern institutions, values, and our unprecedented technology, which can radically alter entire ecosystems.
In-depth study of a selected topic in sustainability.
Individually arranged participation in work of institutions devoted to sustainability.
Independent work in subject in Sustainability
Students will complete research projects on a topic of their interest.
Theatre
Students explore concepts of efficient and expressive movement, expand their movement capabilities and understanding, and build a foundation for sports and dance activities. Studio work in guided improvisation and Bartenieff Fundamentals is supported by discussions, readings, and videotapes.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Foundations of Western modern dance technique, for less experienced dancers. Students work from an anatomical and movement analysis perspective to improve alignment, strength, flexibility, dynamic range, style, expressiveness. Introduces a range of contemporary techniques. Satisfies physical education activity requirement.
Foundations of classical ballet technique, for less experienced dancers. Develops alignment, strength, flexibility, dynamic range, style, expressiveness. Articulation of Russian and Italian ballet styles. Satisfies physical education activity requirement.
Foundations of dance technique. Develops strength, flexibility, creativity, dynamic range and style.
Performing, stage managing, or serving as assistant choreographer for a student senior thesis project in dance. Experiential learning: students develop performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership ability, and an understanding of theatrical production.
Developing and learning choreography for the faculty dance concert. Students rehearse 5-8 hours per week for 8-10 weeks. Two to three performances and formal critique. Hands-on experience of the creative process that develops performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership, and an understanding of theatrical production.
This course is designed to serve as an introduction to anatomical language and its biomechanically sound application in dance practice. By focusing on the skeletal and muscular systems of human anatomy, dancers will become more comfortable with basic terminology, dynamic alignment and joint function. Included is the exploration of conditioning methods and equipment for dancers tailored to individual physiological needs as well as discussions of wellness issues including but not limited to: stress management, diet, rest, etc. Integration of course material will be through lectures, class discussions and guided movement explorations.
In depth study of principles and techniques of modern dance, for more experienced dancers. Further develops physical skills, performance presence, musicality. Students study and compare a range of contemporary techniques (Cunningham, Limon, Hawkins) from a Laban Movement Analysis perspective. Satisfies physical education activity requirement.
In depth study of principles and techniques of classical ballet, for more experienced dancers. Further develops alignment, strength, flexibility, dynamic range, style, expressiveness. Emphasis on both historical perspective and current developments in ballet training, as well as musicality and performance quality. Satisfies physical education requirement.
This course will delve more deeply into the history of each genre of dance while also embodying and enhancing movement practice. Students will develop strength, flexibility, creativity, dynamic range and style.
A cross-cultural study of Western and non-Western theatrical and ritual dance, with attention to selected choreographers, performers, and theorists. Students improve ability to perceive, analyze, and articulate the visual-kinesthetic experience of dance. Movement analysis theory and issues in dance criticism explored by viewing live and recorded performances.
Basic principles of Laban Movement Analysis Theory, and their application through Bartenieff Fundamentals exercises and choreography. Students will compose, perform, teach, analyze, and notate their original choreography as well as selected masterworks.
Performing at and advanced level, stage managing, or serving as assistant choreographer for a student senior thesis project in dance. Students further develop performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership ability, and an understanding of theatrical production.
Developing and learning choreography for faculty dance concert at the advanced level. Opportunity to work with guest artists, and further develop performance and leadership skills. Students rehearse 5-8 hours per week for 8-10 weeks. Two to three performances and formal critique.
One hour tutorial in dance; selected topics. Recent topics include: Teaching Dance; Advanced Dance Studies; Advanced Solo Repertory; Advanced Choreography; Bodywork.
The evolution of musical theatre from the 19th century to the present day, and how society affected or was affected by this evolution. A survey of the best musicals in chronological order, including units on World War II, ethnic, and "Great Books" musicals.
A survey of Rock and Roll from 1950 to the present, with a focus on listening to style and the evolution of style through hybridization.
A survey of Western classical musical styles in historical perspective including compositions by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Stravinsky.
Group instruction on acoustic guitar for beginning students.
Class lessons at the beginning level using the electronic keyboard lab. Students will learn basic symbols, terms, rhythms, and to play simple solo and ensemble pieces.
A study of basic music theory with analysis for students with little or no music experience; development of practical skills such as ear training, dictation, sight singing and piano keyboard skills.
A performance-based course, Concert Choir is open by audition. Members prepare for a culminating performance of appropriate choral music for a live audience at the end of each semester. Students may sing without registering for credit if desired.
Students learn to perform the standard jazz repertoire on their instrument of expertise. They also learn improvisation technique.
A study of the language of music and its construction. Includes part writing in 4 part vocal style and analysis of Western music and harmony with some composition. Electronic keyboard lab is used for practice and assignments.
Instrumental musicians rehearse and perform orchestral works from the Renaissance period to the present. Two weekly rehearsals and at least one performance on campus each semester.
Students gain practical knowledge of the entertainment business while deepening their theoretical understanding and aesthetic appreciation of fine craftsmanship in the disciplines of dance, music and theatre. Required field trips to live performances are followed by class discussion and writing assignments. Hands-on work in scene shop, box office, and other areas. Additional fee$80 for theatre tickets and travel.
Exploration of acting through improvisation and foundation work with dialogue and text. An introduction for non-majors and those considering majoring in theatre and dance.
A lecture and studio class to introduce students to terminology and processes of theatrical productions. Students will become familiar with the theatre while learning skills like shop safety and tool operation, light board operation, and drafting. Students will be required to attend all department productions for in-class discussion.
Intermediate acting class. Approached to playing characters, text analysis and ensemble work.
An interdisciplinary approach to arts management. Students will develop skills in marketing, public relations, development, and management of arts programming and organizations through the study of theory as well as through practical experience.
A lecture and studio class which guides students through the scenic design process as pertains to the designer's vision and execution of their design.
Students will explore a range of current issues in feminist and queer activism through the lens of Theatre of the Oppressed, a participatory theatre methodology. Coursework will include readings, discussion, and substantial in-class theatre-based work. Open to students from any discipline, and no prior theatre experience is required.
A lecture & studio class to introduce students in the use and operation of stage lighting equipment, basic elements of lighting design, and implementation of design.
This course will put the theoretical knowledge students have gained in technical theatre and performing arts courses into real use on real productions. They will be assigned a "job" in lighting, scenic, properties, costumes, or hair and makeup at level consistent with skills, knowledge, and interest and will work in a semi-professional setting under professors, visiting artists, and other students.
Study of the techniques and theories of production stage management, including leadership, production planning and scheduling, communication, production team coordination, employee contracts, unions, safety regulations, technical rehearsals, trouble shooting, mediation and calling a show. Class projects and assigned production positions required.
Acting, stage managing, or serving as assistant director for a student senior thesis project in theatre. Experiential learning: students develop performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership ability, and an understanding of theatrical production.
Acting, stage managing or serving as assistant director for faculty theatre production. Students rehearse 3-4 days per week for 6-9 weeks. Two to three performances and formal critique. Hands-on experience of the creative process that develops performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership, and an understanding of theatrical production.
This course combines writing and performance in a workshop designed to explore and practice original and contemporary work. Students will develop original work in the forms of spoken word, poetry, screenplays, plays, dialogues, monologues and will subsequently showcase their work in a public forum. Students may write for live performance, new media or may combine modalities.
Individually arranged participation in areas of arts management, dance, education, or other related careers in the performing arts. Students may submit proposals.
The Theatre research practicum is designed to provide research-based experiential learning beyond the classroom. The practicum might include Theatre field work, or laboratory based research experience on or off campus.
In-depth study of one topic agreed upon by students and instructor.
An historical exploration of theatre arts from the ancient Greeks to the present, the development of drama in selected periods against a background of cultural and social norms. The course focuses on comparison and analysis of texts and production elements.
Study of American identities as they are portrayed in contemporary performance. Students will read plays; view films; and attend performances selected from diverse ethnic, racial, and class perspectives. Issues include nontraditional casting, censorship, ideas of performance and identity.
This course will put the theoretical knowledge students have gained in technical theatre and performance arts courses into real use on real productions. They will be assigned a "job" in lighting, scenic, properties, costumes, or hair and makeup at level consistent with skills, knowledge, and interest and will work in a semi-professional setting under professors, visiting artists, and other students.
An exploration of improvisational theatre concentrating on the forms of comedic improvisation and Playback Theatre. Students will learn how to think on their feet, share the space with other actors, and explore the art of storytelling. Course work consists of group projects and ensemble acting. Some acting experience helpful, but not required.
Students will investigate "speaking the speech" of Shakespeare. In-depth script analysis, pronunciation, and rhythm will give basis for scene and monologue work. Students will research character and text, and will perform scenes as part of their course work. Some acting experience helpful, but not required.
In this course, students will research and perform a variety of classical acting styles. Language, voice, and movement of these styles will be considered as students read plays from the various time periods. This course serves to expose the students to advanced styles of acting. Styles may include Greek tragedy, commedia dell'arte, Moliere, Chekhov, Ibsen, and/or Shaw. Some acting experience helpful, but not required.
Students will learn the techniques of researching and finding monologues for audition material. Students will also learn about the process of auditioning and will gain knowledge of various methods for a successful audition. Monologues, headshots and resumes will be prepared and will be "audition ready" by the end of the course. Some acting experience helpful, but not required.
The study of theories, practices and techniques of stage direction, with special emphasis on the function of director as interpreter, organizer, teacher and visionary.
Acting, stage managing or service as assistant director for a student senior thesis project in theatre. Students further develop performance skills, discipline, collaborative leadership ability, and an understanding of theatrical production.
Acting, stage managing or service as assistant director for faculty theatre production at the advanced level. Opportunity to further develop performance and leadership skills. Students rehearse 4-5 days per week for 6-9 weeks. Two to three performances and formal critique.
In-depth study of a selected topic in theatre or dance. Past topics have included: Women Making Dance, Arts in Education, Dance Un/framed: Modernism and Postmodernism in American Dance, Costume Design, Scenic Design, and Lighting Design.
Individually arranged participation in areas of arts management, dance, education, or other related careers in the performing arts. Students may submit proposals.
In-depth study of one topic agreed upon by students and instructor. Past topics have included Advanced Directing.
Individually arranged participation in areas of arts management, dance, education, or other related careers in the performing arts. Students may submit proposals.
Each student completes a senior thesis project in theatre. Topics must be approved by a faculty member.
Seminar includes presentations and discussion as well as individual meetings with faculty advisors.
Visual Arts
This interdisciplinary course is designed for first year students. It explores the question: what does it mean to work in the field? Every week, we travel to a different location to consider the many varieties of working, living, and making that exist (or could exist) in that particular place through a wide spectrum of creative, scholarly, and experiential research methodologies. Topics may include rewilding, Indigenous land histories, local land use issues, wild pigments and ceramic ingredients, and more. Through collective, hands-on immersion in the cultural and ecological histories of the Cayuga watershed, we will explore how we ourselves build, understand, and communicate our own experiences of the world.
A fundamental sculpture design course with emphasis on experimentation with materials, forms, and images. Found objects, string, rope, twine, wire, glue, cardboard, foamcore, Styrofoam, wood, plaster, clay, etc. will be used. Wood cutting and carving, plaster mold-making, and ceramic processes will be introduced. Materials fee: $50.
Principles of two-dimensional design and color theory will be explored in studio-based projects drawing from a variety of disciplines. Current and historical examples will be emphasized, encouraging fluency with our contemporary visual culture. Materials fee: $50.
This course is an introduction to drawing from direct observation, with an emphasis on building skills in perception, expression, and a variety of drawing techniques using graphite, charcoal, and inks made from local plants. Daily sketchbook exercises and long-term projects will be supported by research, field trips, and critiques to introduce students to a broad foundation of historical and contemporary approaches towards drawing. Course fee: $50 (covers basic kit of art supplies). Students should be prepared to spend an additional $50-$100 over the course of the semester on materials for individual use.
Fundamental principles of graphic design and visual communication. Content to include current techniques and tools, including digital processes along with historical processes and hands-on work.
This seven-week outdoor interdisciplinary course explores the question: what does it mean to work "in the field?" Every class, we'll travel to a different nearby location to consider the many layers of working, living, and making that exist in that place through creative prompts, case studies, and exploration. Site visits, activities, and instructors will vary from semester to semester, so you may repeat this course. Potential topics include: local cultural and natural histories; agriculture; resource management, and recreation; learning from plants, animals, and rocks; creative writing; drawing; taking samples; and other interdisciplinary forms of "field work."
This course explore the use of multiple photographic images in book form as contemporary art. It focuses on the history, sequencing, spacing and narrative aspects of photographs in books, as well on introducing students to various techniques in bookbinding; text printing; digital photographic capture, editing, and layout with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and InDesign; and Epson digital photographic printing. Students will experiment with various photobook forms, and create a final photobook that combines photographs with hand bookbinding. Emphasis will be placed on developing relationships between content, form, and materiality within the medium of photographic books. Previous experience in photography and/or book arts recommended but not required. Lab fee: $40.
Intermediate course in drawing and painting, focusing on developing technique and craftsmanship in support of content. Coursework will include material exploration, individual projects, and reading and research assignments. Students will explore approaches to representation, color, form, non-objectivity, and materiality through their own studio work and engagement with historical and contemporary methodologies. Recommended Pre-Requisite: ART 119. Materials Fee: $50
An introductory studio course oriented towards sculptural ceramic traditions and techniques through hand-building: pinch, coil, slab, extrusion, and casting. A series of technical and conceptual assignments will engage spatial and creative problem-solving, introduce basic physical and chemical ceramic processes, and explore form and function through various material, cultural, and historical frameworks. Materials fee: $50
An introductory studio course oriented towards ceramic vessel-making traditions and techniques through intensive use of the potter's wheel. A series of technical and conceptual assignments will engage spatial and creative problem-solving, introduce basic physical and chemical ceramic processes, and explore form and function through various material, cultural, and historical frameworks.
This course is an introduction to analog photographic processes, through which students explore photography's broad range of material and conceptual possibilities. Processes covered vary each semester, and may include the following: cyanotype, photogenic drawing, Vandyke brown, pinhole cameras, digital negatives, silver gelatin film exposure and printing. These processes will be considered in their contemporary and historical contexts. Course fee: $50 (covers basic kit of art supplies). Students should be prepared to spend an additional $50-$100 over the course of the semester on materials for individual use.
An introductory course in digital photographic processes. Students engage with contemporary critical conversations related to digital photography while learning to use Photoshop, DSLR cameras, scanners, and inkjet printers. Materials fee: $50.
This hybrid seminar/studio course examines time-based art practices. Course content will be centered on introductory skills in video and sounds, with a historical and practical introduction to performance art. Through experimentation, watching and looking at artworks, readings, and individual projects, students will learn to create, edit, and share a range of new media artworks. Students will engage with the history of video art, exploring its function as a distinct artistic medium in addition to its long-standing role in fostering social engagement and political action. Previous coursework in VART or THEA recommended. Materials fee:$50
In-depth study of a selected topic in studio art. Past topics have included: Materials and Techniques, Abstract Painting, and Pottery on the Potter's Wheel.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the visual arts, such as an advertising agency, artist's studio, or design firm.
Advanced coursework in techniques, strategies, and concepts pertaining to Painting, with particular emphasis on the development of an intermediate-level studio practice. Coursework will encourage students to engage with issues and concerns in contemporary Painting. Materials fee: $25.
Advanced study focusing on purposefully merging concepts and techniques, developing informed creative thinking skills. Coursework includes assigned reading, studio projects developed in consultation with instructor, and research. This course increases contemporary art awareness, conceptual intentionality, and technical skill.
This is a drawing class for people who don't draw. And for people who like to draw. Also, people who might like to draw; people who drew a lot as a kid but maybe its been a long time; people who like reading comic books or looking at graffiti or watching cartoons; people who suspect that they might like to draw but feel a bit nervous about it - and definitely people who have never drawn. This class takes it as a given that human experience an urge to make marks and find meaning in them, and will strive to answer this most urgent question: what's the difference between an image, a picture, a cartoon, and a doodle? Our primary mode of investigation will be the act of drawing itself, so enrolling in this class is a commitment to sustained doodling. It's an advanced class, so that means a lot of doodling. Along the way, we will look at many kinds of drawing (ex: petroglyphs and cave paintings, newspapers and comic strips, graffiti and comic books, medieval doodles and naughty marginalia) in search of something elusive: a personal style of mark-making. Course fee is $50 (covers first notebook + a variety of introductory mark-making supplies).
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the visual arts, such as an advertising agency, artist's studio, or design firm.
Advanced work in ceramics, photography, and lithography. Materials fee: $50
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic. Majors and minors will be given first priority. Materials fee: $50.
A survey of major monuments in the history of art and an overview of their relationships to the cultures that produced them. Emphases on literature, politics, philosophy, religion, or society varies according to the period.
A survey of major monuments in the history of art since 1600, and an overview of their relationships to the cultures that produced them. Emphases on literature, politics, philosophy, religion, or society varies according to the period.
A survey of art, architecture and other monuments outside the Western tradition and an overview of their relationships to the cultures that produced them. Topics will include the arts of India, China, Japan, Islamic cultures, Africa, Oceania, and native cultures of the Americas.
This class will introduce visual and conceptual expressions from recent decades. Students will examine contexts of contemporary politics, markets and aesthetics, and will be introduced to theoretical concepts in order to understand expressions of identity, globalization, technology and postmodernism among other principles.
This course explores a range of critical approaches to the photographic image as we examine major developments in the legacy of the medium.
A survey of European and American art from 1750 to the present.
In-depth study of a selected topic in art history. Past topics have included Latin American Arts, Shaping Sacred Spaces: Italy 1200-1680, Art and Commerce, Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts, Survey of Baroque Art, and Islamic Art in the Mediterranean.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the visual arts, such as museums, galleries, or libraries.
The course considers a range of critical approaches to and questions about exhibition spaces and the myths about art, history, and culture that underlie museum practices.
Grounded in a discussion of artistic practice from 1945 to the present, this course explores visual responses to loss, trauma, and cultural catastrophe. We will consider how artistic traces of suffering offer insight into ruptures so painful that they linger beyond the limitations of linear narrative and along the fringes of cognition. One of our central objectives will be to explore the ways that works of art can draw us closer into the ungraspable darkness of trauma, into losses that remain unknowable and unspeakable. This class is structured to bring together disparate works of art - including film, photography, video, sculpture, painting, performance art, the graphic arts, the book arts, and curatorial practice - as a means of exploring the possibilities and limits of representation: the ways that the camera frames fractures of pain with a snap and a flash, the ways that each brushstroke can carry with it the marks of loss, the ways that performance can re-enact the psychological practices of working through suffering. This course engages not only with the intersections between different visual strategies, but also between divergent legacies of loss. We will aim to bring together works of art that merge to frame questions about the collisions between cultural catastrophe and familial loss, the overlaps between unthinkable devastation and more ordinary forms of suffering.
In-depth study of a selected topic in art history. Past topics have included Latin American Arts, Shaping Sacred Spaces: Italy 1200-1680, Art and Commerce, Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts, Survey of Baroque Art, and Islamic Art in the Mediterranean.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the visual arts, such as museums, galleries, or libraries.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
A research seminar leading to the development of students' individual research priorities, bibliography, and thesis proposal.
A research paper and presentation on a topic approved by the instructor.
In-depth study of a selected topic in the arts.
The course focuses on art of the 19th and 20th centuries by and about women. Some questions to be addressed include: Is the category of gender applicable to aesthetic considerations in the arts? What is masculine and feminine in the arts? Are political concerns relevant to analysis of the arts?
An introduction to the principles of calligraphy through the study of three hands: Roman, Humanistic Miniscule and Italic. Emphasis is on practice and technique, with time devoted to the history of letter forms and to individual projects. Lab/Tool kit fee: $80.
This course introduces students to traditional bookbinding techniques by familiarizing them with the tools, materials and techniques of the craft. Students are expected to produce a set of book models that are clean, structurally sound, and consistent with the class demonstration. Lab/Tool kit fee: $75.
Introduction to letterpress printing. Demonstrations, readings, and assignments on the mechanics of handsetting and printing from metal type. Traditional and artistically innovative approaches to using this medium will be covered. Each student will create her or his own individual projects: postcards, broadsides, book, etc. Lab/materials fee: $75.
Students will learn the basic techniques, materials, processes, and concepts used in the Papermaking Studio. Technique will be taught as a method of investigation, a material exploration of ideas. Projects will focus on using papermaking as an image making tool and sculptural material. Projects engaging micro-industry, environmental, and community building models will also be considered. Students will gain skills in harvesting and beating a variety of fibers, sheet forming, watermaking, pulp painting, and high-shrinkage techniques. The second half of the course will be an opportunity for students to learn and practice the craft of paper engineering to create complex folded book structures. Projects will address hand skills and incorporate digital fabrication techniques using our resources on-campus, with applications ranging from pop-ups to product design and packaging. Students will study the descriptive techniques offered by leaders in the Book Arts field including MacArthur Fellows like Timothy D. Barrett, papermaker, historian and Director of the University of Iowa's Center for the Book, and Claire Van Vilet, book artist and proprietor of Janus Press. Additional fee; $50
Fundamental principles of graphic design and visual communication. Content to include current techniques and tools, including digital processes along with historical processes and hands-on work.
As a continuation of Hand Bookbinding I we will discuss topics related to craftsmanship. While learning more complex structures we will learn experimental image-making techniques with contemporary letterpress printing. The students will create a series of editioned books.
This course explore the use of multiple photographic images in book form as contemporary art. It focuses on the history, sequencing, spacing and narrative aspects of photographs in books, as well on introducing students to various techniques in bookbinding; text printing; digital photographic capture, editing, and layout with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and InDesign; and Epson digital photographic printing. Students will experiment with various photobook forms, and create a final photobook that combines photographs with hand bookbinding. Emphasis will be placed on developing relationships between content, form, and materiality within the medium of photographic books. Previous experience in photography and/or book arts recommended but not required. Lab fee: $40.
Surveys the development of the codex, from its beginnings as a parchment manuscript to a printed book on paper. Broad themes such as patronage, manufacture, usage and reception are considered, as well as the evolution of writing, papermaking and bookbinding.
In-depth study of a selected topic in the book arts. Topics may include paper making, marbling, calligraphy, publication, etc. Materials fee may be required. May be repeated for credit with different topics. Past topics have included: Inspiration and the Medieval Binding, and Introduction to Box Making.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the book arts. May be repeated for credit.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Each student will produce an edition of letterpress printed books with text and images. Image-making using linoleum blocks, pressure printing, and polymer plates will be taught, as well as simple bookbinding techniques. Lab/materials fee: $75.
In-depth study of a selected topic in the book arts. Topics may include paper making, marbling, calligraphy, publication, etc. Materials fee may be required. May be repeated for credit with different topics. Past topics have included: Inspiration and the Medieval Binding, and Introduction to Box Making.
Individually arranged participation in the work of an institution devoted to the book arts. May be repeated for credit.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
This course focuses on the philosophical questions related to the making and interpretation of visual art, introducing theories and frameworks about perception, visual languages, arts institutions, and identity. This course will prepare students to critically engage their capstone work.
Students will learn practical skills for artists, art historians and curators. These include documenting, framing and installing work, creating online portfolios, leveraging social media, promotional writing, and applying for grants, exhibitions and graduate study.
Art history students will engage in an intensive study of approaches, research methods, and historiographies that apply to art history. Studio art students will do advanced work in their discipline under the guidance of the appropriate faculty. The course will also address professional concerns including preparation for graduate school and/or a professional career in the arts. Lab fee: $50.
Studio and Book Arts students execute their thesis proposals, culminating in a body of work or comparably rigorous project, assessed through critiques and refined thesis statement. Lab fee: $50. Offered annually spring semester.
Students demonstrate advanced professional practice skills by organizing, planning, and implementing their thesis exhibition. Students also complete an Artist Statement and Artist Talk, during which they must articulate the major concepts, aims, and contemporary context of their own work.
Wells Core Courses
Students will be introduced in a holistic manner to the values, resources, and support services of Wells College. Staff and Peer Leaders will help students develop healthy habits for living, learning, and being a member of the Wells community. Students will engage in hands-on and participatory experiences both inside and outside of the classroom which will help them to better understand themselves and the community.
This course, offered both fall and spring semesters, covers the fundamentals of college writing. Intended for all first-year students at Wells College, the purpose of this course is to give all Wells students, regardless of major, a shared understanding of how to approach writing throughout their time at Wells and beyond.
This course is designed as a writing workshop class supporting students concurrently enrolled in WLLS 105 with additional instruction in writing about readings, essay structure, paragraph development, grammatical precision, and the essentials of puntuation.
Personal Financial Management teaches students the skills they need to make informed financial decisions in their life. Topics include transactional accounts, savings, loans, credit cards, mortgages and basic investments. Credit score management and living within one's means will be recurring themes. Course is offered to first year, second semester students through senior year.
This course is designed to teach and strengthen lifelong research and information literacy skills by introducing students to the nature of information and research, and the role of the library in the research process. The method of instruction will be problem-based and require active and collaborative participation.
This course will assist students on Semester Warning or Academic Probation in developing the academic skills needed to be successful in college. The course will focus on the importance of organization, time management, and specific study strategies.
This course is designed to enhance your effectiveness as a leader at Wells through reflection, exploration of values, understanding of the environment in which you operate, and examining your philosophy of leadership-all within the context of your student organization.
Offers assistance to students who wish to improve their writing skills. Emphasis on the "paramedic method", correcting common sentence-level errors, and refining sentence structure provides students with "tool kit" for creating meaningful academic argument across the curriculum.
This seven-week course will prepare students for internships and ultimately, career and graduate school efforts. The course will educate participants regarding concepts, attitudes and actions to attain internship goals and inspire ongoing career explorations, and expression and goal attainment efforts.
A semester long course that focuses on the development of professional workplace skills and job search techniques for students who plan to enter their career field upon graduation. Topics such as becoming a professional, marketing yourself, interviewing, and locating and securing a job will be covered. Students who are successful in this course will develop increased career confidence due to their enhanced workplace readiness skills.
Individually-arranged field experiences allowing students to transcend boundaries by exploring their interests. Through reflection activities, students assess their learning (knowledge, skills, and beliefs) and their own personal development. The student's academic advisor serves as the faculty sponsor for the experience.
These courses are available for students who have demonstrated an ability to work without close supervision. Student(s) and faculty members develop the course together on a relevant topic.
Women’s, Transgender and Queer Studies
This course will examine the intersections of gender, race, ability, nationality, and class in regards to knowledge production about human-nature relationships, access to outdoor spaces and recreation in nature, and focus on cultivating a better understanding of our local relationships to land and community. Through a mix of discussion-based classes, and experiential learning, including fieldtrips, students will build a connection to both the campus community and the local community around Wells, and develop key academic skills.
An interdisciplinary examination of contemporary scholarship on women's experience. The course will include analysis of women's political, social and cultural experiences, using discussions, readings, films, student presentations and guest lectures.
Students will explore the complexities of gender and sexual diversity, as well as the differences between sex and gender within the context of health and wellness. Particular emphasis will be placed on the specific health issues and health disparities faced by women, transgender and gender non-binary individuals, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and intersex individuals, as well as professional competencies in responding to these issues. This survey course will be a foundation for further exploration of the specific issues faced by these vulnerable populations.
Students will explore a range of current issues in feminist and queer activism through the lens of Theatre of the Oppressed, a participatory theatre methodology. Coursework will include readings, discussion, and substantial in-class theatre-based work. Open to students from any discipline, and no prior theatre experience is required.
This seminar will focus on making a home (on one's own land or stolen lands?) and the multiple relationships that exist between what sexual minorities call "home" as First Nations people, people in Diaspora, and/or immigrants.
This course will use sport to understand gender relations in a society. It will focus on how sports shape cultural ideas of masculinity and femininity and examine how assumptions about professional and amateur athletes reflect and challenge social norms about gender, sexuality, race, and class. This course will invite students to consider the intersection of politics, economics, society, culture, and representation in sport and will map out and respond to the multifaceted issues that emerge when women enter the sports world.
Analysis of the ways women's bodies are made the site of power struggles between competing interest groups in society, and the effect of this on individual women's lives. Topics include body image, reproductive rights, violence, harassment, sexuality, self defense.
Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, this course will provide an introduction to the lives and experiences of indigenous women from pre-Contact to contemporary times. By centering indigenous women's experiences, theories, and perspectives, dominant feminist frames of reference will be critically examined.
In-depth study of a selected topic in women's and gender studies. Past topics have included: Women's Utopian/Anti-Utopian Fiction; Transgenderism; Femininities/Masculinities.
Students will use their backgrounds in women's and gender studies to blend their academic expertise with work addressing women's concerns, such as with the Women's Hall of Fame, Planned Parenthood, N.O.W. Arrangements are the student's responsibility in consultation with the instructor(s) and the Office of Career Development Services.
In-depth study of an area of special interest. Topic to be determined jointly by a faculty member and student(s) in consultation. Meets weekly for one hour.
Intersectionalities is a paradigm for analyzing multiple oppressions in relation to each other. This course applies the interdisciplinary paradigm of intersectionalities as a method of theorizing within the context of feminist, queer, trans-, and gender studies. Emphasis placed on writing as thinking and preparing for a senior project.
This course offers students an overview of the rich and evolving field of transgender studies. Topics include foundational concepts in gender diversity, key sociopolitical issues, pivotal moments in trans activism, and cultural representation and misrepresentation of trans lives. Particular emphasis will be placed on the intersections of trans lives with issues of race, class, disability, immigration status, and incarceration.
This thematic course examines how gendered discourses regarding parenting, masculinity, femininity, and sexuality were imagined, crafted, and challenged in Asian history from earliest times to the present. We will cover topics such as