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Course Criteria
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3.00 Credits
Y. Hirata This course explores how infants and adults acquire native and foreign languages. What goes on in the brains of new-born infants before they discover the meanings of words What might be the linguistic and social consequence of acquiring an English dialectal accent, distinguishing or not distinguishing between Mary, merry, and marry Why do some adults succeed in learning a second language, while others do not Why are some Japanese unable to tell the difference between rice and lice When a girl was isolated in a room where she had no contact with a language speaking community until she was 13 years old, was she able to acquire her first language at any age When bonobo chimpanzees are taught human language, how much can they learn, and why are they unable to speak Students read books and articles that address these issues, watch films and have some direct experience of learning a difficult second language. Physiological, linguistic, psychological, and social factors that determine whether one succeeds or fails to acquire native and foreign languages are discussed.
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3.00 Credits
J. Yoshino The course examines the epidemiology of AIDS in the United States and in students' hometowns. The readings introduce students to the history, politics, science, and public health issues of the disease. Students examine their perceptions about AIDS by collecting and analyzing articles from their local newspapers, after obtaining the demographic breakdown of the AIDS cases in their hometowns. Correlative statistics are used to determine what factor (race, income, educational attainment, etc.) correlates with the incidence of AIDS. Lastly, the students develop public policy statements for the prevention and treatment of AIDS in their hometowns.
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3.00 Credits
G. Holm Outbreaks of infectious disease are an inevitable component of human existence. Ranging in severity from the common cold to the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed 2.5-5% of the human population, outbreaks have altered the course of human history and continue to exert a dramatic influence on human activity. This course examines two historical pandemics, the "Black Death" and 1918 "Spanish flu," and some more recent outbreaks, including SARS. Through lecture, discussion, and in-class exercises, these outbreaks will be used as a framework for investigation into basic epidemiological principles. Students investigate different methodologies of epidemiologic data collection and analyze data sets derived from various outbreaks. The class also discusses the microbiologic, social, and environmental factors that contribute to disease pathogenesis, and examine current preparedness for future infectious outbreak
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3.00 Credits
R. April Gems and precious stones have been the objects of fascination and delight for thousands of years. They have been worn as adornments and amulets to bring their wearer strength and invincibility, good health and luck,love and wisdom. Gems have been portrayed as having magical powers, and the desire to own these crystalline droplets of beauty has led to murder and intrigue, theft and deception, wars and suffering. This course examines the origin, history, myths, and lore of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, as well as a score of other precious stones. Students study their chemical, physical, crystallographic, and optical properties; how they form; and where they are found. They assess the cost - in environmental degradation and human lives - to extract gems from the Earth's crust, and read about the brutal history and mysterious ways of the diamond business. Finally, students discuss and evaluate New Age claims for crystal healing, crystal balls, and crystals used as amulets and talismans
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3.00 Credits
J. Niblock The human voice is arguably the greatest mechanism for expression and communication in the natural world. Despite the essential role voices play in every day life, surprisingly few people afford any consideration to the structure or function of the voice. This course explores the astonishing array of coordinated internal forces that produce speech, song, and other vocal sounds. Students study anatomy, physiology, phonetics, and acoustics as each relates to the use, training, and health of the voice. The course also considers how facts, observations, and popular lore all contribute to perceived knowledge of the voice. Scientific methods are used to collect voice sounds, analyze samples, and interpret data. Anthropological and sociological perspectives are considered and contribute to class discussion.
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3.00 Credits
W. Peck Management of the Earth's energy, mineral, and water resources is a subject of ongoing controversy and debate. This debate revolves around two related issues: the diminishing supply of some resources and the environmental cost of resource extraction and energy production. This course examines the origin and geologic setting of Earth's resources, and how these factors influence resource exploration, extraction, and use. Environmental and economic aspects of resource extraction are explored. Students examine the public debate about resource management and conservation, as well as the roles of politics and the media in shaping this debate. This course emphasizes student-led discussions of case studies dealing with current resource-related topics. The purpose of this course is to create a framework in which resource issues can be evaluated, integrating the scientific and social issues inherent in resource development.
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3.00 Credits
K. Valente This course invites students interested in mathematics to explore aspects of the discipline that are not typically addressed elsewhere in the curriculum. It does so by emphasizing the historical and social contexts in which significant ideas emerged. The period of primary interest includes the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, continuing developments (e.g., non-Euclidean geometry and the precise conception of an infinite set) in mathematical thinking led many to consider seriously, and perhaps for the first time, fundamental questions. What constitutes mathematics What accounts for the certainty of its knowledge Ultimately there are not simple or unambiguous answers. However, by examining the discipline's "crisis in foundations," students can investigate the special nature, production, and possible limitations of mathematical knowledge. Additionally, the course pays attention to ways in which mathematical debates of the day were promoted, interpreted, and used to specific ends by and for those outside of the discipline. No mathematics beyond the high school level is assumed.
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3.00 Credits
T. Balonek This course examines the historical debate on the concept of whether extraterrestrial life exists. Students examine what astronomy and physics tell about the origin and evolution of the Universe, the production of elements that make up living matter on Earth, the evolution of stars like the Sun, and the formation of solar systems. Also examined are the astronomical, geological, chemical, and biological conditions that were responsible for the origin and evolution of life on Earth, and speculate about the possibility of life on other planets in our solar system or on planets around other stars. How would one detect the presence of life on other planets in the solar system; in the galaxy The development of intelligent life and the possibility of contact between civilizations are examined.
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3.00 Credits
R. Braaten Is it possible to comprehend the minds of other species Can humans communicate with other animals Do they have anything to say In 1859, the publication of Darwin's The Origin of Species set the stage for the scientific investigation of animal minds. This course studies both scientific and non-scientific approaches to the study of thinking and emotion in animals. Students contemplate what researchers from the 19th century to the present hoped to learn by studying the minds of animals, and consider their successes and failures, particularly evaluating the search for a "missing link" between the minds of humans and other animals. Students conduct their own research on animal cognition
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3.00 Credits
K. Belanger The fusion of sperm and egg cells to form a single-celled zygote is the initial step in development in most multi-cellular organisms. In humans, repeated divisions of this single fertilized egg are responsible for the production of more than 70 trillion cells of greater than 200 different types. In this course students examine how a fertilized egg undergoes division, how the stem cells produced by these divisions become "determined" to form cells of particular types, and how these determined cells finally differentiate into the highly specialized cells that make up most tissues and organs. As this process is examined, students also explore the relationship between cells and developmental patterns, and investigate how genetic and environmental factors can influence (and alter) cell fate. Biological, social, and ethical aspects of the human manipulation of development are also considered, including examination of such topics as cloning by nuclear transfer, reproductive technology, fetal surgery, stem cells, and embryonic gene therapy.
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