Marlboro College

Academics Fall 2009 Courses

Generally speaking each course at Marlboro College requires a minimum number of contact hours with teaching faculty based on the credits to be earned. Usually 50 minutes or more of weekly contact time per credit earned is required. Contact time is provided through formal in-class instruction as well as other instructional activities facilitated by the teaching faculty member.

Courses that begin with a DW are Designated Writing Courses.
Courses that begin with a WS are Writing Seminar Courses.

Last Updated 12/15/2009

Courses by Field of Study

American Studies

CONSUMER CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

HUM1077 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Kathryn Ratcliff

This course explores the historical development of U.S. consumer cultures from 1890 to the present. Topics to be covered include the development of the department store and the rise of the adverstising industry, the democratization of consumption in the post W.W. II era, and the impact of consumerism on contemporary urban space. Particular empahsis on the politics of consumption over time and on how consumer cultures shape the social construction of identities.  Prerequisite:  None

 

THE POLITICS OF DIFFERENCE: RACE/ETHNICITY, CLASS & GENDER

HUM1395 - 2 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Kathryn Ratcliff

An advanced seminar exploring the ways in which race/ethnicity, class and gender have been socially constructed in the United States as "difference" in the form of hierarchy. Emphasis on recent scholarship which approaches these axes of difference not as fixed and separate categories but as mutually constituted systems of relationships which are produced and reproduced over time. Opportunity to pursue individual research projects. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

SENIOR SEMINAR IN AMERICAN STUDIES

HUM721 - 2 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Kathryn Ratcliff

The seminar is organized around the different research topics of seniors doing Plan work in American Studies. Each student will assign and teach selected works in their subject area. Students will also present their own research in progress and read and critique each other's writing. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

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Anthropology

ANTHROPOLOGICAL THOUGHT & THEORY

SSC128 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Carol Hendrickson

An overview of the dominant theories and issues that have shaped anthropological research and writing in the 20th century. Paradigms to be investigated include Boasian anthropology, functionalism, French structuralism, cultural materialism, sociobiology, interpretive anthropology, feminist anthropology, historical anthropology, and reflexive anthropology. Prerequisite: background in social sciences or permission of instructor

FOOD & CULTURE

SSC511 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Carol Hendrickson

"You are what you eat" is a commonly-heard phrase, but what are some of the meanings and implications of this statement? How might these be examined cross-culturally? In this class we will consider a range of topics including food practices and gustatory meaning systems, food and the body, the political economy of what people eat, domesticating tastes, and food and globalization. Case studies will be drawn from around the world, and the class will provide opportunities for local fieldwork. 

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Art History

ART HISTORICAL METHODS

HUM1388 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Erin Benay

An upper level reading class that will concentrate in reading and critically analysing different methodological approaches to the study of art history. Prerequisite: 3 art history courses

ART HISTORY SURVEY PART I: PRE-HISTORY TO ROMANESQUE

HUM880 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Erin Benay

This course is an introduction to the history of art beginning with pre-history and ending with Italy in the fourteenth century. The focus of the class is on tracing trends of stylistic, functional, aesthetic, material interaction in a series of world cultures including Egyptian, Ancient Near Eastern, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Western Medieval. Students are expected to develop skills of visual analysis and a historical sense of changes in world culture. Prerequisite: None

Asian Studies

ANCIENT CHINESE HISTORY & CULTURE

HUM1052 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Seth Harter

This course will examine the development of Chinese culture from the earliest divination rites and the Book of Changes to the flowering of drama and literature during the Ming dynasty. Along the way we will explore the sparring schools of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism; we will study the creation and growth of the imperial institution and meritocratic civil service that made it work; we will consider some of the fabulous economic and technological developments that made Chinese products the envy of the world in the 17th century; and we will read a selection of poetry and prose by Tang hermits, Song officials, and Ming aesthetes. Prerequisite: None

PLAN WRITING SEMINAR IN ASIAN STUDIES

HUM1359 - Variable Credits - STAFF

Faculty: Seth Harter

A student-driven plan writing seminar for seniors working on plans in Asian Studies. Prerequisite: Plan in Asian Studies

EXILE: ASIAN ALIENATION

HUM1383 - 2 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Seth Harter

What happens when you live in one culture but identify with another? In this course we will explore the tumultuous history and hybrid cultures of modern Southeast Asia through the theme of exile. The class will draw together political narratives, social science theory, memoir and fiction to generate a complex understanding of exile. Through this lens, we will consider the problems of colonizers, refugees, nomads, and adventurers. Students will explore case studies on Indochina, Indonesia, and the Philippines, while choosing their own case for a final research paper. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

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Biochemistry

BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE CELL

NSC13 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Todd Smith

What is a protein? For early biochemists this was a hotly-contested topic: what was their composition, structure, and function? Now we know many extraordinary details of how proteins function. For example, we know how they help our bodies acquire nutrients from food, use those nutrients for fuel, and carry oxygen to our tissues.  In particular, research has revealed the intricacies of how a protein's structure is related to its function. In this course we will employ an evolutionary perspective as we discuss major topics such as amino acids, proteins and protein structure, bioenergetics, enzymes and enzyme function. We will also study major metabolic pathways and their key control points. Our goals are for you to develop a thorough understanding of how enzymes work, and to be familiar with key metabolic pathways and how they are controlled.  Prerequisite:  General Chemistry I and II

BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE CELL LAB

NSC587 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Todd Smith

This laboratory will be an introduction to techniques commonly used by biochemists, and must be taken in conjunction with Biochemistry of the Cell. We will begin with basic laboratory procedures such as preparing reagents and performing column chromatography and protein assays. We will then explore techniques for separating proteins such as one and two-dimensional electrophoresis, and the identification of specific proteins using immunostaining. Finally we will explore a technique for quantifying minute amounts of protein in solution, the enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). Prerequisite(s): General Chemistry I, General Biology

Biology

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

NSC111 - 4 Credits - COURSE

Faculty: Robert Engel

An introduction to the physical and biological environment of the planet: climate, oceans, landforms, biological life-zones. No prerequisites. Recommened for non-science majors, and as an introduction to the sciences at Marlboro. Will probobly include one or more field days. Prerequisite: None

GENERAL ECOLOGY

NSC140 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Jennifer Ramstetter

An examination of several major factors which contribute to the distribution and abundance of organisms and hence, to the structure of biotic communities.  An emphasis will be placed on the original literature.  This course should be taken by all students with a life-science orientation in the environmental sciences. Prerequisite:  college level biology 

GENERAL BIOLOGY I LAB

NSC174 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Allison Turner

An exploration of biological principles and biological diversity in a laboratory setting. Recommended for prospective life science Plan students. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in General Biology I or permission of instructor

GENERAL BIOLOGY I

NSC9 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Jennifer Ramstetter

An examination of the molecular and cellular basis for life. Prerequisite:  None

Chemistry

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I

NSC158 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Todd Smith

Chemistry has a rich history, including ancient theories on the nature of matter and recipes for converting lead into gold. Modern research and applications are equally exciting, and include topics such as creating more efficient solar collectors and the reactions of natural and human-made chemicals in the environment. In this course, we will study topics such as atomic structure and the periodic table, reaction stoichiometry, chemical bonds, and molecular structure. Many topics are related to current health and environmental issues. For example, discussions of pH and reduction-oxidation reactions include research on the natural chemistry of surface waters and the effects of acid rain on natural systems. Co-requisite: General Chemistry Laboratory I 

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LAB

NSC444 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Todd Smith

In the laboratory, we will apply the same concepts, information and analytical approach we use in the classroom. You will continue to hone problem-solving skills and become familiar with laboratory equipment and procedures. Laboratory sessions will be designed to allow you to explore ideas discussed in class through field and lab work in environmental chemistry. Also, we will try to apply concepts from the field of 'green chemistry' to make our investigations more environmentally sustainable. Co-requisite: General Chemistry I

Classics

THE GOLDEN RACE

HUM1387 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Andrew Singer

'Now a golden race arises,' claims Virgil. This course will explore the literature (in translation) from the Roman Republic at the height of its power. From the sultry erotic poems of Propertius to the filfthy jibes of Catullus, we shall explore a full range of genre. Our study will culminate in the two great Roman epics: Virgil's Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses, each offering a different view of the future. The one presents stability, empire, and power; the other mutation, aberration, and flux.  Prerequisite: None

GREEK IA

HUM286 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Andrew Singer

This is a beginner's course for those wishing to study Ancient Greek. We'll be using John Taylor's "Greek to GCSE" (parts 1 and 2), which introduces students to the basic elements of the language by using original stories along with some excerpts from Greek texts. Students should expect the course to cover some difficult ground in a short space of time, and be prepared for regular quizzes as we go along.  Prior linguistic experience is not  a prerequisite, but some knowledge of Latin or a modern romance language will be advantageous.  Ancient Greek is a difficult but beautiful language, unparalleled in its appearance, sound, and flow.

LATIN IA

HUM36 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Andrew Singer

This is a beginner's course for those wishing to study the Latin language. We'll be working from Wheelock's Latin (6th edition), which introduces students to the basic elements of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary by using original stories along with exerpts from Latin texts. There will be regular (but short) quizzes to reinforce what has been learned as we go along. Students can expect to have graduated to reading sustained passages adapted from Roman authors before the end of the academic year. Although a challenging language, Latin can be immensely rewarding; there is nothing better for stimulating the mind!

LATIN IIA

HUM427 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Andrew Singer

This course is a continuation of Latin IA and Latin IB. We will be translating original Latin in order to build up vocabulary and grammatical knowledge; prose composition will also be a regular feature of our study.  We will aim to finish Wheelock's Latin, and cover a wide range of original Latin during the course of the year. Students will come to appreciate the power that Latin can convey.

GREEK IIA

HUM47 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Andrew Singer

This course is a continuation of Greek IA and IB.  We will be translating original Greek in order to build up vocabulary and grammatical knowledge; prose composition will also be a regular feature of our study.  It is during this course that the full force and beauty of the Ancient Greek language will become apparent.  Prerequisites: Greek IA and Greek IB.

Computer Science

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER LOGIC & PROGRAMMING

NSC588 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Peter Kantor

By providing a solid grounding in computer logic and programming, this class
lays the foundation for further work in computer science. Much as a
competency with English grammar is required for writing, an understanding of
programming is required for nearly all intermediate and advanced work in
computer science. A similar course is offered every fall, though the
language chosen varies from year to year. This semester starts from the
ground up, from number systems, to encoding data, to computer logic, to
programming. The language for this semester is ECMAScript, more commonly
known as JavaScript. It is a versatile scripting language that is part of
the core toolset for the World Wide Web. Given its focus on interactivity,
JavaScript allows for an integrated approach to learning procedural,
object-oriented, and event-driven programming models in what is, perhaps, a
familiar development environment that provides immediate feedback when
trying to learn the language.

BUILDING VIRTUAL WORLDS: TEXTURE, SCRIPT, ACTION!

NSC589 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Peter Kantor

This class will use the virtual environment Second Life to look at the
principles of building virtual worlds and interactive online games.
Designing virtual environments requires a wide variety of skills, from story
writing to graphic arts, from physics to sociology, and, of course,
programming. The purpose of this class is to take a look at the mechanics
behind designing virtual worlds and the possibilities of event-driven
programming for creating interactive content. Topics covered will include
building virtual objects using primitives (prims), learning to texture prims
to add realism to otherwise simple structures, and scripting objects to
interact with players, each other, and the virtual world. As a programming
course, the primary focus will be on the Second Life in-world scripting
language, LSL, but will also look at the basic concepts of interactive game
design and touch upon important development tools necessary for content
creation.  prereq: prior hands-on programming experience

Cultural History

THE SOVIET ERA THROUGH FILM AND MEMOIR

CDS434 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Dana Howell

The Soviet era represents a great social experiment, only recently abandoned. This course is an introduction to Soviet society and post-Soviet reaction, using memoir, film, and current studies to discuss the passage from early revolutionary radicalism to Stalinism to the end of the Cold War and contemporary "normalcy" and nostalgia. Pre-requisite: None

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Dance

INT/ADV MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE: MUSIC & MUSICALITY

ART2236 - 2 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Alison Mott

In this technique class, we will delve into the connections between music and dance. Through in-class and some outside assignments, we will seek to understand common musical terms and forms as they apply to choreography and performance. We will investigate the question of what it means to dance musically and will bring the fruits of that investigation to class phrasework and mini choreographic studies. Regular attendance and willingness to participate are essential ingredients for success. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor

BEGINNING MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE

ART23 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Kristin Horrigan

This course introduces students to modern dance technique. Each class will consist of a warm-up, exercises across the floor, and longer combinations of movement. Through studio practice, students will build physical coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, body awareness, and an understanding of principles of modern dance. Some readings and video viewings will be used to help students contextualize their studio practice. The course will also include some creative work. May be repeated one time for credit.  Prerequisite: None

YOGA

ART614 - 1 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Kristin Horrigan

Inspired by the Ashtanga and Anusara yoga traditions, this class will focus on the practice of yogic postures, with attention to the flow of breath and movement, the focus of the mind, and the alignment of the body. The practice of yoga stretches and strengthens the body, calms and clears the mind, and promotes self-awareness.  Prerequisite: None

CHOREOGRAPHY

ART850 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Kristin Horrigan

In this class, students will explore both the art and the craft of making dances.  Responding to specific assignments, students will create a number of dances throughout the semester, bringing a new draft to class each week.   Class sessions will focus on viewing and discussing students' work, and when appropriate, on exploring tools for the creative process and ideas about composition.  Attention will be given to learning how to give and receive choreographic feedback, and to editing and developing existing choreography.  In addition, students will study the choreographic methods of other artists through viewing videos and reading texts. This course will require students to work independently and commit a substantial amount of time outside of class to the completion of choreographic studies.  Students will present their final projects in an end of the semester showing.  This course may be repeated for credit; assignments, readings, and special topics will differ each semester.  Prerequisite: Previous dance experience and permission of the instructor

REPERTORY

ART851 - 1 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Kristin Horrigan

Students will participate in the creation of a new choreographic work directed by faculty member, Kristin Horrigan. The choreography will be performed at the end of the fall semester. Additional rehearsal times may be scheduled as needed. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor

 

Economics

ECONOMICS FROM THE BOTTOM UP

SSC514 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: James Tober

An introduction to economics through an examination of production and exchange relationships at the local and community levels.  Topics include barter, gift, and market exchange; property rights and the tragedy of the commons; for-profit and not-for-profit production; money and local currencies; microfinance; and community development.  Prerequisite:  None

Environmental Studies

GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE

NSC346 - 3 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: John MacArthur

An examination of the changes occurring in the earth's atmosphere and climate, both short and long term, and due to natural as well as anthropogenic causes. Prerequisite: None

WILDLIFE POLICY, LAW, AND VALUES

SSC446 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: James Tober

Our engagement with wildlife ranges from visiting Sea World, to hunting deer, to supporting conservation organizations, to caring deeply about rare species we will never see. How can we make sense of the diverse ways in which people value and act toward wildlife? How, through custom, law and policy, can we manage the terms on which wild animals are pursued and protected? This course will address such topics as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, community-based wildlife management, market and non-market valuation, and the ecology of environmental organizations. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor 

Film

THE FILMS OF ROBERT BRESSON & KRYSTOFF KIESLOWSKI

ART2231 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Jay Craven

Filmmakers Robert Bresson and Krystoff Kieslowski stand in the forefront of poetic narrative filmmakers. And Bresson's Both use visual imagery and aural landscapes that deeply probe themes of human fallibility and transcendence. Among the films that will be explored: Bresson's Pickpocket, A Man Escaped, Une Femme Douce, L'Argent, and Au Hazard Balthazar -- and Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy (Blue, White, Red), The Double Life of Veronique, episodes from The Decalogue, and Tom Twyker's Heaven, produced from Kieslowski's final screenplay. Students will be expected to read supporting materials, write weekly film critiques, and participate in discussion. Prerequisite: None

Film/Video Studies

EXPERIMENTAL FILM PRODUCTION

ART679 - 4 Credits - Multi-Level

Faculty: Jay Craven

Students will work with camera, editing, and sound to make experimental videos where they explore visual and audio constructions, employing various aspects of film theory and practice. Because experimental filmmaking is an open-ended form, we will also screen and discuss a number of experimental films, by Stan Brakhage, Su Friedrich, Maya Deren, Dziga Vertov, Chantal Ackerman, Sally Potter, Ernie Gehr, and others. In addition to making films, students will be asked to write brief statements about their work, exploring the inspiration, process, meaning, and/or form of their work. The semester-end festival will be curated from among films produced this semester. Prerequisite: None

History

THE GERMAN TWENTIETH CENTURY

HUM1164 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Timothy Little

The course will examine the history of the twentieth century by focusing on Germany and the Germans. Topics to be covered include nationalism, war and peace, high and low cultures, dictatorship and democracy, and the origins and history of the European Union. Prerequisite: Some college level history helpful

INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL STUDIES

HUM1384 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Adam Franklin-Lyons

This course serves as a broad introduction to the Medieval European world.  There are two major goals of the course.  First, students should become acquainted with the changes and narratives of medieval history as well as its significance to modern history.  Second, as an introduction to the historical discipline, this course offers students the opportunity to learn the methods of historical research: how to use primary sources as well as historiography to formulate historical narratives and arguments.  The course will look at the medieval world through a variety of lenses, including political, religious, economic and social history as well as looking at the art, music and literature of the time. Prerequisite: None

A HISTORY OF FAMINE

HUM1385 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Adam Franklin-Lyons

In this course, we will survey a number of famines and food shortages from ancient Rome to modern Africa, looking at the changing nature of famines throughout history as well as some persistent similarities. The course will investigate the human and natural causes of famine, the experience of starvation and economic displacement and the attempts by governments and individuals to avoid and ameliorate shocks to the food supply. Particular attention will be paid to economic and social theories of famine and how they affect historical interpretation and modern food aid. Previous coursework in history, economics or political science helpful but not required. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor

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Languages

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

CDS558 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Tom Means

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the field of Second Language Acquisition. Students will be provided with information about the scope of the field and about background information on related areas such as first language acquisition, sociolinguistics, and psycholinguistics. Students will perform research in teh field with language learners. Prerequisite: None

BEGINNING MODERN ARABIC IA

HUM1119 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Mahmoud Mahmoud

Introduces students to the phonology and script of classical/modern standard Arabic and covers the basic morphology and syntax of the written language. Emphasis on the development of the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) at the earliest stages. Samples of modern (contemporary) and classical styles of writing introduced, and audio-visual material from the contemporary Arabic media. Prerequisite: None

INTERMEDIATE MODERN ARABIC IIA

HUM1120 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Mahmoud Mahmoud

A continuation of elementary Arabic with equal emphasis on aural and oral skills, reading and writing. Selections from contemporary Arabic media are introduced and serve as a basis for reading and conversation. Prerequisite: Arabic IA

ELEMENTARY ITALIAN I

HUM1349 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Tom Means

Speaking, reading, writing; oral-aural and written exercises. Prerequisite: None, but this course is not open for credit to students who have had two or more years of high school Italian.

ELEMENTARY CHINESE I

HUM1357 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Grant Li

This is a Chinese language course for beginners.  It aims to help students to develop communication competence in the basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing the Chinese language. Students will learn basic vocabulary and sentence structures for use in essential everyday situations through various forms of oral practice. Pinyin (the most widely used Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Students will also learn Chinese characters in order to be able to communicate effectively in real Chinese situations. While linguistic aspects of the Chinese language are the primary focus, introduction to the social and cultural background of the language will also form an important part of the course.  Prerequisitie: None

INTERMEDIATE CHINESE I

HUM1358 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Grant Li

This course is second year Chinese. Students will continue to learn more essential skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing for dailly communication. A broad variety of expressions and complicated sentence structures will be taught so that students can participate in conversations on various topics related to modern Chinese society. While emphasis will still be given to both characters and structures, students will be guided to write more Chinese essays.  Prerequisite: Elementary Chinese II or permission of the instructor.

LINGUISTIC MORPHOLOGY

HUM1382 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Grant Li

This course presents an introduction to the study of word structure, covering a broad range of morphological phenomena from a wide variety of languages. Topics range from basic principles of the internal structure of words to advanced issues of current controversy over the nature of morphological universals. Prerequisite: None

GENDER TROUBLE: MODERN WOMEN WRITERS IN LATIN AMERICA & AFRO-HISPANIC DIASPORA

HUM1389 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Rosario de Swanson

Ever since feminists called attention to women's lives,the question of what it means to be a woman has been the subject of much academic debate. However, despite improvement in women's lives and shared similarities, the experience of being a woman differs markedly. Issues such as gender,race, ethnicity, class, nationality, and sexual orientation seem to account for these differences. We will examine issues of gender, race,identity, nationality, and sexual orientation in the work of selected writers. We will also consider the ways in which gender, race, and historical and cultural specificity shape and complicate these categories of inquiry. We will also readpoetry, short stories and essays by women writers. Prerequisite: Prior survey course and ablility to read and write well in Spanish

INTERMEDIATE SPANISH

HUM1390 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Rosario de Swanson

Strives for mastery of complex grammatical structures and continues work on writing and reading skills. Frequent compositions, selected literary readings and a short novel, class discussions, and debates on films and current events. Prerequisite: At least two consecutive semesters of college Spanish

 

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Literature

POSTSTRUCTURAL THEORY AND LIMITS OF THE NOVEL

HUM123 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Jaysinh Birjepatil

The vision of the world shaped by the modern novel through magical realism, fabulation and dark allegory constitutes a dramatic shift in the notion of character, narration, and plot together with a radical subversion of notions of order, bureaucracy, gender and politics. This course seeks to redefine the scope of the novel in the context of post-structuralism and semiotics. We shall explore the relevance of selected theoretical formulations of Barthes, Foucault, Derrida, Bhaktin, Lacan, Deleuze and Guattari, Irigaray and Kristeva to selected works of Kafka, Garcia Marquez, Pynchon, Ann Michaels, Calvino and Robbe-Grillet..

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

SYLVIA PLATH & TED HUGHES

HUM1386 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Heather Clark

It is arguable that Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes have attracted more attention, and from a broader readership, than any other English or American poet of the post-war period. Unfortunately, such attention tends to derive from an interest in the sensational aspects of their relationship rather than an understanding or appreciation of their work. Yet both poets possessed original and startling poetic voices; to consider their work only in light of their biography is both reductive and misguided. Together, then, we will deconstruct the myth of Plath and Hughes as we read their poetry in detail. We will also visit the Sylvia Plath archive at Smith College to view her journals and manuscripts. Prerequisite: At least one literature class or permission of instructor

ROMANTIC LITERATURE

HUM1393 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Heather Clark

This course provides introductions to the writings of William Blake, William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Charlotte Smith, Felicia Haymans, Mary Shelley, and other writers of the Romantic era. We will begin by examining the origins of Romanticism, both on the Continent and in Britain, then discuss how these writers conformed to or deviated from the tenets of Romantic ideology. We will also situate these works in their historical contexts, paying particular attention to the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the British Empire, and issues of class and gender. This class will be followed by an introduction to Victorian literature in the spring. Prerequisite: None

CONSTITUTION DAY

HUM1396 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Geraldine Pittman de Batlle

We will examine the political issues and background of the writing of the Constitution.  Prerequisite: None

SEMINAR IN RELIGION, LITERATURE & PHILOSOPHY I

HUM5 - 6 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: T. Hunter Wilson

A year-long course, reading and discussing some of the major works of Western culture from Homer to Shakespeare. Heavy reading schedule, regular discussions, papers required. Prerequisite: Sophomores or juniors only.

RUSSIAN NOVEL

HUM806 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Geraldine Pittman de Batlle

Selected Novels of Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky. Some outside reading in history and biography. Research paper. Prerequisite: Some background in literature

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH NOVEL

HUM856 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Geraldine Pittman de Batlle

Readings in the 19th century. We will be looking at issues of social class and gender roles, religious beleifs and attitudes, the rise of the city, the emergence of industrialism. Prerequisite: None

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Mathematics

CALCULUS

NSC515 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Matthew Ollis

A one semester course covering differential and integral calculus and their applications. This course provides a general background for more advanced study in mathematics and science. Prerequisite: EMLS or equivalent

ALGEBRAIC STRUCTURES

NSC524 - Variable Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: John Arhin

An investigation of the properties of groups, rings and fields. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

WRITING MATH

NSC534 - 1 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Matthew Ollis

In this tutorial, you'll study the writing and presentation of mathematics. All skills needed for writing Plan-level math will be discussed, from what constitutes a well-written proof down to the use of the typesetting package LaTeX. You'll write short papers, based on material in your other math classes, which we will read and discuss as a group May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

TOPICS IN ALGEBRA, TRIGONOMETRY AND PRE-CALCULUS

NSC556 - Variable Credits - Introductory

Faculty: John Arhin

This course covers a wide range of math topics prerequisite for further study in mathematics and science and of interest in their own right. The course is divided into over 50 units (listed on the course web page). One credit will be earned for each group of 6 units completed. Students select units to improve their weak areas. There are also tailored streams for students who wish to go on to study calculus or statistics and for those who wish to prepare for the GRE exam. Over this semester and next, 42 units will be offered in the timetabled sessions. Individual tutorial-style arrangements can be made to study the non-timetabled units or to study units earlier than their scheduled session. Prerequisite: None

DISCRETE MATHEMATICS

NSC562 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: John Arhin

Discrete math is the study of mathematical objects on which there is no natural notion of continuity. Examples include the integers, networks, permutations and search trees. After an introduction to the tools needed to study the subject, the emphasis will be on you *doing* mathematics. Series of problems will lead gradually to proofs of major theorems in various areas of the discipline. This course is recommended for those intending to do advanced work in math or computer science. Prerequisite: None

STATISTICS WORKSHOP

NSC574 - Variable Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Matthew Ollis

A follow-up to Statistics (NSC123) in which students will acquire and hone the statistical skills needed for their work on Plan. Course content will be driven by the interests and requirements of those taking the class. Prerequisite: Statistics (NSC123) or permission of the instructor

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Music

SOLFEGE IA

ART12 - 3 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Luis Batlle

Work towards proficiency in reading treble clefs; sight singing, dictation, simple and compound rhythms. Prerequisite: None

 

MUSIC THEORY FUNDAMENTALS

ART14 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Stanley Charkey

A study of musical signatures, meter, rhythm, and basic chordal structure. Prerequisite: None

CHORUS FOR SIGHT-READING

ART2233 - 1 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Stanley Charkey

A course that meets once per week to practice sight-reading in parts.  This course may be repeated each semester.  Prerequisitie: ability to read music.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE

ART451 - 3 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Eugene Uman

The Marlboro College Jazz Ensemble presents an opportunity for students to come together to study and perform music that is improvisational in nature. Ensembles begin with simple song forms such as the blues, and evolve from there depending on the levels and desires of the students. Participants will learn the interactive skills necessary to play in jazz combos and study various jazz forms, comping skills and improvisational styles. After an ensemble has been established, we will choose a focus that suits the group, such as composing original music or studying a particular composer (Monk, Trane, Miles, Dave Holland) or a certain style (Free, bebop, Latin, fusion). We will often listen to the original versions of songs as an opportunity to cultivate an appreciation for the music's history and creativity.
This class will meet with the instructor for 1 hour 20 minutes per week; it will also rehearse once a week without supervision. The Marlboro College Jazz Ensemble will stage at least one performance at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: Basic musical proficiency on your instrument

CHAMBER MUSIC

ART496 - 1 Credits - Multi-Level

Faculty: Stanley Charkey

An opportunity for students to meet on a weekly basis to read and rehearse music from the standard chamber music repertoire. If interested see Stan Charkey. Woodwind, string, brass instruments welcome. Prerequisite: Ability to play an instrument and read music

ELECTRONIC MUSIC I

ART658 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Charles Schneeweis

The electronic music course provides an outlet for students with or without music recording experience to both explore the historical context of electronic music production and develoment as well as learn some basic recording and editing techniques. This course combines lectures, demonstrations and critique sessions, with hands-on experience in computer-based audio recording, editing mixing and mastering. It offers both a practical and theoretical foundation in electronic music history, sound production and recording, while encouraging creative expression and critical analysis. Topics covered include basic techniques, field recording techniques, basic audio production, basic digital signal processing, various sound synthesis techniques, simple microphone set-ups, use of digital audio editing software, multi-track mixing, and mastering techniques. Prerequisite: None

IMPRESSIONISM TO 21ST CENTURY MUSIC

ART673 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Stanley Charkey

A study of works of Debussy, Ravel, Stravinksy, Schoenberg, Hindemith, Bartok and others.  The works will be put into a socio-historical perspective.  Students present a talk on a 20th century composition of their choice. Prerequisite: None 

ELECTRONIC MUSIC II

ART738 - 2 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Charles Schneeweis

Students will design and execute a series of projects or create a major work or research project. Prerequisite: Electronic Music I

 

MADRIGAL CHOIR

ART825 - 1 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Stanley Charkey

Ensemble singing for more experienced choristers. Ability to read music and sight-sing. An exploration of repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary music for small choral ensemble. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Audition or permission of instructor

Philosophy

ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY

HUM1379 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: William Edelglass

This course will be devoted to careful readings of some of Plato's and Aristotle's most significant texts.  Our primary focus will be on questions of love and friendship, ethics and justice, knowledge and wisdom, the structure of reality, the soul, and the nature of philosophy.  Ancient Greek Philosophy is highly suitable as an introductory philosophy course.

PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING & ARGUMENTATION

HUM1380 - 1 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: William Edelglass

This course is an introduction to philosophical writing and argumentation.  We will review principles of philosophical writing and work on papers assigned in other philosophy courses this semester.  Additionally, we will discuss tools for constructing and assessing arguments, and other philosophical methods, conceptual distinctions, and significant terms.

BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

HUM1381 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: William Edelglass

This course will be an exploration of Buddhist philosophical accounts of consciousness, language, knowledge and wisdom, the nature of reality, personal and social ethics, and the nature and purpose of human existence.  We will begin with a careful study of early Theravda texts.  Then we will devote several weeks to Ngrjuna's (second century, India) Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, which is often thought to be the most important text in Buddhist philosophy.  During the remainder of the course we will look at how later thinkers in India, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam engaged in diverse ways with each other and with the questions posed by Ngrjuna and his Theravda predecessors. 

Physics

GENERAL PHYSICS I

NSC223 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Travis Norsen

This course is the first half of the year-long introductory physics sequence. It is designed to fit the needs of both students intending to go on Plan in physics or another natural science and also non-science students who nevertheless desire some firsthand exposure to the scientific method of approaching and understanding the world. We'll cover Galileo's and Newton's discoveries about the motion of familiar terrestrial objects. But we'll also learn some things about the discovery process itself by doing real-life, hands-on experiments. Said another way, students will learn physics in this course by doing physics - not (primarily) by listening to lectures about physics. So roll up your sleeves and join us! Prerequisite: Mathematical proficiency up through, but not necessarily including, calculus.

ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM

NSC427 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Travis Norsen

A sophomore-level introduction to the physics of electric and magnetic phenomena. Topics include electrostatic forces, electric and magnetic fields, induction, Maxwell's equations, and some DC circuits. Prerequisites: General Physics I and II, Calculus I and II (Advanced Calculus also recommended as a co-requisite)

QUANTUM PHYSICS: CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES

NSC502 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Travis Norsen

This non-mathematical introduction to quantum physics will survey the historical development of the theory and explore its scope and implications. Specific topics will include: experimental evidence for wave-particle duality, the structure of the atom, Schroedinger's cat and the Einstein-Bohr debates, Bohm's hidden-variable theory, and Bell's Theorem and non-locality. Assignments will consist of weekly readings and several papers. Prerequisite: None

Political Science

EMERSON, PRAGMATISM AND DEMOCRACY

CDS539 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Meg Mott

This class considers democratic practices through the writings of one man, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and through the essays of one philosophical movement, pragmatism. Pragmatism," to quote Louis Menand, "is an account of the way people think." Pragmatists are interested in how we think because they believe that many political and social problems might be solved if we stopped using abstractions and started thinking in terms of practical consequences. Pragmatism has been called America's "only major contribution to philosophy." Given the American interest in work and productivity, perhaps we won't be surprised to find out that pragmatism takes philosophical techniques and renders them useful.

Pragmatism grew out of the polarizing discourse around slavery in the Civil War era. Much of the discussion will focus on the role of abstractions in Abolitionist and Pro-Slavery discourse. We'll consider why some of the early pragmatists, particularly Emerson, used metaphors and literature to make his new ideas work. Prerequisite: A background in political theory or philosophy.

 

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

CDS560 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Meg Mott, Matthew Ollis

People play all sorts of games: board-games, math puzzles, contact sports, charades, and video games. While the materials may differ, the basic elements for a game of whist and Dance, Dance Revolution are the same: Games have rules, people play by the rules, and winning involves some degree of strategy.

Games have quite a bit in common with other human activities. Town Meetings run by rules, as do mathematical systems. By looking at how rules determine potential outcomes, we can learn a lot about decision-making whether it is in Town Meeting or in a math problem set.

This class considers politics and mathematics as examples of games. It looks at rules of argument in Town Meeting and rules in solving geometry problems. To tie this all together we investigate how Wittgenstein uses games as a way of making sense of human interactions. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor

THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT

SSC216 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Lynette Rummel

This course will examine the process of theory building and paradigm change during the first three qenerations of 3rd World development scholarship.  In particular, the three major schools of modernization, dependency, and post dependency theory will be analysed in light of their comparative contributions and limitations.  Theoretical discussions will be grounded in the empirical context of real life 3rd World development challenges. Prerequisite:  Social Sciences background or permission of Instructor

COMPARATIVE POLITICS: DEBATING DEMOCRACY

SSC338 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Lynette Rummel

This course will offer a basic introduction to comparative government.  Democracy will serve as the organizing theme of our investigations, and various case studies, including the American political system, will be considered in some depth. Prerequisite: None

Politics

WRITING POLITICAL THEORY

HUM1204 - 2 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Meg Mott

This writing seminar develops strategies and skills necessary for completing a Plan in political theory. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: For seniors writing a Plan in political theory

Psychology

SEMINAR ON COGNITION

SSC221 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Thomas Toleno

The seminar covers several important areas of cognition, especially memory, language, learning, and thinking. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

PSYCHOTHERAPIES

SSC441 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Thomas Toleno

Major theories of personality are discussed and compared. The emphasis is on the underlying assumptions regarding persons and the therapies and psychotherapies which have emerged. Prerequisite: Abnormal Psychology or permission of instructor

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

SSC509 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Jonathan Mack

This course will explore the application of psychological principles to educational settings. In the context of understanding human developmental processes, the course will examine educational strategies for optimizing learning and facilitating self-efficacy. Prerequisite: None

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

SSC510 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Jonathan Mack

This course explores all facets of the creative process, including psychological dimensions that facilitate or impede creative expression.  We will examine the phases of creative endeavor, from conception to completion. We will explore critical issues in creativity, from considering the universality of the need to create, the role of social forces in supporting or undermining creative expression, psychological dynamics of the interaction between artists and their art, the joys and frustrations of creative work as well as the role of dreams, imagery, and symbolism. This course is designed to be useful for students whether their primary focus is in the social sciences or the arts.  Prerequisite:

 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

SSC59 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Thomas Toleno

A course on the developing child, emphasizing current research and theories. Prerequisite: None

See Also:

Religion

HINDUISM

HUM1058 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Amer Latif

An introduction to the diverse religious traditions that constitute Hinduism. In addition to studying ritual, philosophy, and symbolism, we will pay special attention to the role of mythology within Hinduism. We will devote a good part of the semester to reading the Mahabharata with a focus on the Bhagavad Gita as a text that synthesizes diverse strands of Hindu religious thought. Prerequisite: None

PLAN SEMINAR: SOURCES AND METHODS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

HUM1117 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Amer Latif

Examination of available sources and current methodologies in the study of religion. Required for juniors and seniors on Plan in religion. Prerequisite: Plan in Religious Studies

INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

HUM1278 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Amer Latif

This course is an introduction to the fundamental teachings presented in the foundational texts of Islam and elaborated in Islamic ritual, arts, and literature. Our aim, through studying the Qur'an and the life and teachings of the prophet Muhammad, is to grasp the internal logic of the Islamic worldview and the vocabulary used to articulate the vision of Islam. This work will provide the basis for examining the divergence within later (classical and modern) Muslim interpretations concerning questions of theology, human development and perfection, leadership, and the organization of communities.  Prerequisite: None

PLAN WRITING SEMINAR

HUM779 - Variable Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Amer Latif

Writing seminar for seniors completing their Plan in religious studies. Prerequisite: Seniors on Plan in Religious Studies

See Also:

Sociology

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

SSC23 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Gerald Levy

An introduction to the ideas, concepts, theories and methodologies of the discipline of sociology, its relationship to the other social sciences, history and philosophy and its relevance to an understanding of social reality. Prerequisite: None

TALKING RACE IN EDUCATION

SSC512 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Ken Schneck

Examining race as a social construct in American society is a daunting task indeed. This course sharpens the focus of that pursuit by placing race squarely within the context of the full range of our education system. Can race be addressed in kindergarten? If so, should it be? How is race connected to success in high school? How do we talk about race on college campuses? Using both core texts and mainstream movies, we will explore the intersection between race and education, from the controversial to the revelatory and everything in between. Prerequisite: None

CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL & SOCIAL THOUGHT

SSC63 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Gerald Levy

Issues crucial to an understanding of the crisis of the 20th century will be explored through the work of Arendt, Barnet, Vidich, Kolko and Elizabeth Genovese. Prerequisite: None

Theater

SOLO PERFORMANCE

ART2229 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Brenda Foley

This course will be a collaborative seminar designed to give intermediate and advanced students who intend to use performing as an aspect of their Plan the opportunity to workshop their ideas and scripts.
Permission of instructor required and the class will be capped.

OUTSIDE THE BOX: A CENTURY OF INNOVATION IN THE THEATRE

ART2230 - 2 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Paul Nelsen

A survey of ideas and practices of some innovative and influential stage directors of the past century -- including Artaud, Meyerhold, Brecht, Jerzy Grotowski, Peter Brook, Joseph Chaiken, Tadeuz Kantor, Lepage, Robert Wilson, and Simon McBurney. Work will involve media viewing and research, some reading, and mini-projects. Prerequisite: Permission from instructor

PERFORMING "NORMALCY"

ART2232 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Brenda Foley

Employing tools of critical analysis from the fields of Performance Studies and Disability Studies, this course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the ways in which cultural images of "normal" are constituted, legitimated, and even occasionally subverted in theatre and popular entertainment in the United States.
We will study works as diverse as Tod Browning's film Freaks, Doug Wright's play I am My Own Wife, and the TV pageant/plastic surgery extravaganza The Swan.
4 credits. There are no prerequisites and the class will be capped.

AMERICA ON STAGE AND SCREEN

ART866 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Paul Nelsen

An examination of selected works of American drama - -written for the stage and/or screen -- with a special interest in representations of character and conflict that reflect our cultural persona. Reading will include scripts by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Sam Shepard, Thornton Wilder, August Wilson, David Mamet, and others. Films will include Citizen Kane, Grapes of Wrath, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, On the Waterfront, Gone with the Wind, Saving Private Ryan, and Easy Rider are among the films we will view. Prerequisite: None 

DECONSTRUCTING SPACE & PERFORMANCE

CDS561 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Dana Howell, Paul Nelsen

An exploration of how space(s) participate in performance, politics, civic ritual, and as a reflection of cultural values. Readings, research projects, and film viewing will inform seminar discussion of an array of topics: e.g., sacred spaces, stages, altars, political arenas, site specific performance, architectural hierarchies in space and more.

Visual Arts

CERAMICS II

ART102 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Michael Boylen

Intermediate work in ceramics based on wheel throwing and/or handbuilding; critical analysis of three-diminsional form; readings in the history and technical literature of ceramics. Prerequisite:  Ceramics course at Marlboro or permission of instructor

PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES FROM HOMEMADE AND TOY CAMERAS TO DIGITAL

ART2228 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Hilary Baker, John Willis

Through a series of exercises we will explore photographic methods and processes, beginning with handmade and toy cameras, right on to advanced digital cameras, view cameras, and studio lighting.  Printing processes will span some work in 19th Century techniques, analog darkroom and digital lightroom.

THE VISUAL BOOK

ART2234 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Cathy Osman

The book is a grand thing.  An object filled with information reflecting varying degrees of research, invention, mystery and certainty.  Artist books have many of the same attributes but tend to be one-of-a-kind objects.  This class will experiment with traditional and non-traditional book structures and narrative forms while emphasizing painting and drawing.  Prerequisite: Drawing I

 

FORM AS CONTENT - CONTENT AS FORM

ART2235 - 4 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Cathy Osman

Painting in the last 30 years has seen a struggle for a balance between form and content. Should the way a picture looks rule the artists' choices or should they be ruled by what the picture signifies?  The course asks students to approach this question.  Prerequisite: Painting I

 

CERAMICS I

ART349 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Michael Boylen

The study of pottery using handbuilding techniques, natural organic models, and a survey of pottery history.  The composition, geological history, and high-temperature firing behavior of earth materials are covered. Materisals fee of $15 per credit. Prerequisite:  None

ART SEMINAR CRITIQUE

ART359 - 2 Credits - Multi-Level

Faculty: Cathy Osman, John Willis, Timothy Segar

This course provides a forum for students to share their plan work with each other and to engage in critical dialogue. This semester the course will include attending the lectures in the series "Celebrating Creativity" and will require students to write and revise a "statement of purpose" regarding their work. This is a required course for seniors on plan in the Visual Arts. Course meets alternate Tuesdays plus Monday night lectures. Prerequisite: A student on Plan in the Visual Arts or by permission

THREE DIMENSIONAL DESIGN

ART553 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Timothy Segar

This course eplores the language of objects. We are surrounded by things and take them for granted, but each item was made by a process of design. In a series of problems, students will be asked to design and build a chair, a package, and a game. Problems will focus on structure, presentation, and invention. The development of design styles will be studied as well. While Sculpture I explores the language of three dimension from a representational and expressive point of view, this course approaches the same language from the point of view of a problem solver. The inventive artistic result of this problem solving is often remarkable. Prerequisite: None

PHOTOGRAPHY PLAN SEMINAR

ART574 - 4 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: John Willis

This is a seminar for all students on Plan in photography. Prerequisite: Submission of Plan application or instructor's permission

FORM & PLACE - THE ART OF SITE-SPECIFIC SCULPTURE

ART607 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Timothy Segar

As sculpture moved off the pedestal in the first half of this century it found new relationships to its place in the world. The development of earth art, installation art, and site specific sculpture have created a realm of activity for sculptors which has been varied and rich. Through a series of projects and investigations of places and objects, including light and sound, mapping, indoor and outdoor installations, and modelmaking, students will create a series of works. Prerequisite: Sculpture I and at least one other art course or permission of instructor

 

DRAWING I

ART7 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Timothy Segar

A beginning course designed to develop skills and knowledge in seeing. A variety of tools and materials will be explored while working from the still life, landscape and the figure. Fundamental issues of line, shape, tonal value, composition and design elements will be our basis of investigation. Prerequisite: None

INTRODUCTION TO BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

ART9 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: John Willis

This course will be an introduction to black and white photography with an emphasis given both to visual communication and technique. Students will learn basic procedures of camera operation, film exposure and development and enlargement of the image, while exploring the visual and expressive qualities of the medium. Prerequisite: None (a camera capable of full manual operation)

World Studies Program

WORLD STUDIES PROGRAM SENIOR SEMINAR

WSP2 - 1 Credits - Advanced

Faculty: Beverly Behrmann, Matthew Ollis

A seven-week seminar addressing "re-entry culture shock" and the integration of international field experiences into senior Plan work. Required of WSP seniors; for students returning from study or fieldwork abroad. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Prerequisite: Field experience abroad; required of WSP Seniors

DESIGNING FIELDWORK

WSP3 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Seth Harter

This course is designed to acquaint students who are preparing for independent research with a diverse range of fieldwork methods. We will consider matters of epistemology, access, observation, interviewing and surveying, collecting, note taking, and reporting. Cross-cultural challenges and the ethics of fieldwork will also feature in our discussions. Over the course of the semester, students will develop an Internship Proposal that describes their academic and professional goals, explaining what they expect to learn; the methods of their independent work; resources found and still needed; and how the work will be evaluated. These proposals function as learning contracts for their academic sponsors, requests for funding for scholarship organizations, and presentation pieces for the hosting organization.

Note: Designing Fieldwork will NOT be offered in Spring 2010. Students intending to take the course this academic year should do so in Fall 2009. 

Required for WSP students; open to non-WSP students.

Prerequisite: Finding an internship or permission of the instructor

WORLD STUDIES COLLOQUIUM

WSP53 - 1 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Matthew Ollis

A forum for discussion of cross-cultural experience and international work, with participation by faculty, visiting professionals, alumni and current students. The sessions include an introduction to international resources at Marlboro and SIT, with discussion of area studies, internships, and Plans in international studies. All students are welcome; required for new WSP students. Prerequisite:

See Also:

Writing

FORMS OF POETRY

ART528 - 3 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: T. Hunter Wilson

An introduction to poetic form, both for those who wish to develop their own skills in formal verse, and for those who want to cultivate an analytical sensitivity to formal elements in poetry.  Those in the first category will attempt poems in a variety of forms; those in the second will write short papers about poems in each form.  We will explore various principles of rhythm in organizing lines -- meter, syllable count, rhyme, free verse, refrains, prose -- and a broad range of traditional and not-so-traditional stanza structures -- sonnets, sestinas, villanelles, haiku, double-dactyls, nonce forms, and so on. The aim is not to complete polished poems and papers, but to engage technical matters in poetry seriously through exercises and analysis.  May be taken in conjunction with Poetry workshop or independently. Prerequisite: None 

FICTION WORKSHOP

ART6 - Variable Credits - Multi-Level

Faculty: T. Hunter Wilson

Class discussion of students' stories.  Each student produces work for the class and participates in analysis and discussion.  Reading and assignments vary as appropriate; admission based on consideration of samples of students' work. Prerequisite:  Permission of instructor

ELEMENTS OF STYLE

HUM11 - 3 Credits - Intermediate

Faculty: Laura Stevenson

The course begins with a review of basic grammatical principles. It continues with exercises designed to increase the students' control of their prose. The second half of the semester is spent partly in revising existing papers, and partly in studying such stylistic niceties as parallel structure, rhythmic control, and felicitous presentation of research. May be a designated writing course (4 credits); otherwise, 3. NOTE: Open to students who have passed the writing requirement but desire to improve their writing for Plan. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

See Also:

Writing Seminars

WRITING SEMINAR: FAIRYTALES, FANTASY, SHORT FICTION

HUM1165 - 4 Credits - STAFF

Faculty: Laura Stevenson

There is more to "short fiction" than the short story, and this class is concerned with all forms of short fiction. We will read fables, "folk" fairy tales, selections from Boccaccio's "Decameron" and Basile's "Pentamerone," a few Elizabethan tales, literary fairy tales of the Romantic era, short stories from different countries and periods, and finally some modern tales by Dinesen, Borges and Calvino. We will discuss the effects of writing upon a genre originally oral, the effects of "gentrification" of fairy tales, and the use of fiction in exploring psychology and subverting social norms. Along the way, there will be three short critical papers, explication exercises, and a research paper. The stories studied this semester will provide essential background for Fundamentals of Fiction Writing in future semesters. Prerequisite: None

WRITING SEMINAR: THE ART OF THE ESSAY

HUM1217 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Gloria Biamonte

Virginia Woolf describes the essay as a form that "must lap us about and draw its curtain across the world." But what, she asks, "can the essayist use in these short length of prose to sting us awake and fix us in a trance which is not sleep but rather an intensification of life-a basking, with every faculty alert, in the sun of pleasure?" Her answer is a simple one: "He [she] must know-that is the first essential-how to write." From David Quamman's "The Face of the Spider" to Scott Russell Sanders' "Looking at Women" to Wallace Stegner's "The Town Dump" to Annie Dillard's "Living Like Weasels " to George Saunders' "The Braindead Megaphone," we will explore how contemporary essayists-in personal essays, nature writing, literary journalism, and science writing-look closely at everyday objects, practices and experiences. We will analyze what makes these essayists effective, entertaining, and enlightening. And, of course, we will be writing about all of this in several formats: in-class exercises and shorter assignments leading up to two 4-6 page papers and one 8-10 page research paper. Peer response workshops, writing conferences, and in-class work on style, revision, and editing will alternate with our class discussion of the texts. Prerequisite: None.

WRITING SEMINAR: VIOLENCE OF HORSES: THE MYTH & REALITY OF THE WESTERN

HUM1391 - 4 Credits - STAFF

Faculty: John Sheehy

"I am ready to die out of nature and be born again in this new yet unapproachable America I have found in the West." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

American culture -- especially since the end of the Civil War -- has always been fascinated with the "western frontier," a mythical space that has been associated with a (usually violent) psychological and social transformation. The frontier, Frederick Jackson Turner famously announced in 1893, is the crucible wherein Europeans are transformed into that new thing called American. Since Turner made this announcement, the western -- as a literary genre, as a visual iconography, as a political idea -- has been one of the dominant frameworks of America's definition of itself: in hundreds of novels, and in hundreds more films made in the last century, the transformative experience of the West has been and explicit or implicit motif.

In this class we will explore the origins of that myth through an examination of some of the ways it has been articulated in literature and film. We will read a number of the older works that helped to define the genre -- Turner's "Significance of the Frontier in American History" and Owen Wister's The Virginian -- along with various modern renditions by Norman Maclean ("A River Runs Through It") Leslie Marmon Silko (Ceremony) and Cormac McCarthy (Blood Meridian), among others. We will also watch and discuss a series of classic western films, including Shane, High Noon, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Unforgiven and others. Our goal throughout will be to explore the various ways the myth of the west has been mobilized, from generation to generation, to speak to changing American concerns and social tensions, and to try to understand, if we can, the way our myth of ourselves inflects, and is inflected by, our reality.

Because this is a writing seminar, we will also write a lot about all of this: at least rhree major papers, along with a research paper. Discussions of the class texts will alternate with writing conferences, and work on style, grammar, rhetoric and structure.  Prerequisite: None

 

 

WRITING SEMINAR: EXPLORING THE NEW JOURNALISM

HUM1392 - 4 Credits - STAFF

Faculty: John Sheehy

In this course we will read and practice journalism, both as it is traditionally considered -- e.g., the essay as it has been defined in magazines like The New Yorker, or the expository report as practiced in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal -- and in the many variations on traditional journalism that have emerged since the 1960s: gonzo print journalism, various forms of online writing, radio essays, etc. Our goal will be to read (and listen to, in the case of radio essays) as much interesting and provocative journalistic writing as possible, by writers like H.L. Mencken, Jonathan Raban, Hunter S. Thompson, Seymour Hersch, Annie Proulx, Jon Krakauer, Terry Tempest Williams and others. Our goal, in the end, will not be so much to arrive at a narrow definition of journalism as to expand our own writing practice to include a range of styles, voices and modes of presentation.

And, as this will be a writing seminar, we will also write a lot, about the journalism we have read, and in journalistic pieces of our own. Discussion of the course texts will alternate with writing conferences, workshops, and work on grammar, style and structure.  Prerequisite:  None

 

 

WRITING SEMINAR: WAYS OF TELLING - READING WRITTEN & VISUAL NARRATIVES

HUM1394 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Gloria Biamonte

"The mind is its own place, the visible world is another, and visual and verbal images sustain the dialogue between them." Wright Morris

When we think about narratives, we most often think of prose-words that tell a story. But what happens when writers-novelists, memoirists, and nonfiction writers-integrate images into their narratives-photographs archived in history museums, personal photographs, or evocative graphics that merge with the written text? In this writing seminar, we will investigate the elusive dialogue between words and visual images, and consider how we "read" or interpret both prose and pictures. Beginning with Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carry, a genre-bending autobiographical novel that explores the convergence of memory and imagination, we will explore Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Close & Incredibly Loud (a child's wild vision and wild hurt in confronting the cataclysm of 9/11) Wright Morris's memoir The Home Place (a photo-text that takes us back to a single day in Wright's boyhood home in Nebraska) and John Berger and Jean Mohr's first experimental collaboration The Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor (a deeply moving portrait of a doctor working in an impoverished English rural community). We will consider the point at which photographs enter the texts and examine how they act to undercut, reinforce, and/or expand the written narrative. The writing will take several formats- in-class exercises and shorter assignments leading up to two 4-6 page papers and one 8-10 page research paper. Through lots of practice in writing, critiquing, and rewriting, we will work toward two of our main goals-to help you find a writing process that works well for you and to allow you to experience the value of language as a tool for thinking deeply and clearly. Prerequisite: None.

Designated Writing

ECONOMICS FROM THE BOTTOM UP

SSC514 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: James Tober

An introduction to economics through an examination of production and exchange relationships at the local and community levels.  Topics include barter, gift, and market exchange; property rights and the tragedy of the commons; for-profit and not-for-profit production; money and local currencies; microfinance; and community development.  Prerequisite:  None

QUANTUM PHYSICS: CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES

NSC502 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Travis Norsen

This non-mathematical introduction to quantum physics will survey the historical development of the theory and explore its scope and implications. Specific topics will include: experimental evidence for wave-particle duality, the structure of the atom, Schroedinger's cat and the Einstein-Bohr debates, Bohm's hidden-variable theory, and Bell's Theorem and non-locality. Assignments will consist of weekly readings and several papers. Prerequisite: None

AMERICA ON STAGE AND SCREEN

ART866 - 4 Credits - Introductory

Faculty: Paul Nelsen

An examination of selected works of American drama - -written for the stage and/or screen -- with a special interest in representations of character and conflict that reflect our cultural persona. Reading will include scripts by Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Sam Shepard, Thornton Wilder, August Wilson, David Mamet, and others. Films will include Citizen Kane, Grapes of Wrath, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, On the Waterfront, Gone with the Wind, Saving Private Ryan, and Easy Rider are among the films we will view. Prerequisite: None 

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