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Catalogue 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Drama: III. Advanced |
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DRAM 320 - Scenography Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This ia an advanced course in theatrical production design. Through the study of the design theories and script analysis, students will explore the areas of lighting, scenic, and sound design in the story telling process.
Prerequisite: DRAM 102 , DRAM 206 and permission of the instructor.
One 3-hour period plus lab time.
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DRAM 324 - European and American Drama: Comedy Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Samuel Johnson observed that comedy “has been particularly unpropitious to definers,” although Renaissance thinkers confidently identified it. Renaissance theories of comedy determined that the form presented the humorous events that befall ordinary people. Comedies concerned the small misfortunes–without painful consequences–of plebian characters written in colloquial prose. Modern drama has seen the line between comedy and tragedy diminish almost completely as distinctions between the serious and the ludicrous, pain and its absence, have been obliterated. Ionesco wrote that “comic and tragic are merely two aspects of the same situation, and I have now reached the stage when I find it hard to distinguish one from the other.” European and American Drama: Comedy explores the comic vision expressed in dramatic literature from antiquity to the present day. The class also investigates theories of comedy with special emphasis on what makes people laugh. Theoretical work includes writings by Henri Bergson, Sigmund Freud, Susanne Langer, Northrup Frye, Umberto Eco and others. Plays may include work by Aristophanes, Plautus, Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Moliere, Sheridan, Wilde, Chekhov, Shaw, Brecht, Coward, Ionesco, Fo, Mamet, Albee, Frayn, Simon, Ludlum, MacDonal, etc. Ms. Walen.
Prerequisite: DRAM 221 /DRAM 222 .
One 2-hour period.
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DRAM 336 - Seminar in Performance Studies Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Selected topics in Western and non-Western performance traditions and literatures. Weekly assignments include performative writing, and performance labs.
Topic for 2014/15b: The Question of the Animal. This course focuses on the complicated human-animal relationships at the very root of myth and theater (Greek tragedy originates in the “goat song”) and more generally in cultural performance and popular representation. Both classical and modernist theater are ripe with powerful animal metaphors, the circus is the ubiquitous metaphor for humanity and its discontents, and many brands of Performance Art and Extreme Performance have incorporated animals as sacrificial bodies. In brief, the animal has been – and continues to be – an important and fraught signifier on the stage of our cultural imagination. Why? And what are some of the ethical questions surrounding our appropriation of “nature” and the “natural” for aesthetic purposes? Whose interests does the human/animal binary serve? Why does the animal speak for us, and we for her? Through weekly readings culled from drama, popular culture, the social sciences, and a series of in-class workshops, we interrogate the most basic assumptions of humanist philosophy, and study the use and implications of performance ecologies in which the animal is central. The course culminates in the presentation of short theatrical responses to this material. Ms. Cody.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
One 2-hour period.
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DRAM 337 - Seminar in Para-theater
1 unit(s)
This course explores the theory of performance through an examination of para-theatrical genres and their relation to performance. What is a performance and who constitutes the performance event? Course readings cover street theatre, demonstrations, stand-up comedy, tourism, dance, performance art, terrorism, mediatized and virtual performance, and theories of liveness as well as the performativity of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Students participate in fieldwork investigations and empirical exercises. Ms. Walen.
Prerequisites: DRAM 221 -DRAM 222 and permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 2-hour period.
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DRAM 338 - Contemporary Drama and Theater in the U.S.
1 unit(s)
The United States has a strong and vibrant history of regional theater production. Across the country theater companies are producing exciting work and reimagining classic plays for new audiences. This course will take a careful look at the regional theater scene in order to understand what plays and production methods have captured the imagination of the country. Together the class will read plays that have been popular at a number of regional theaters and the reviews of those productions. Students will also study individual regional theaters in depth by researching the plays produced over the last five years and the design concepts used in production. (Possible choices include but are not limited to Steppenwolf, The Arena Stage, The Studio Theater, The Goodman, The Guthrie, Milwaukee Repertory, Actors Theater of Louisville, Seattle Repertory, The Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Hartford Stage, the McCarter Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, Playwrights Horizons, American Repertory Theater.) Students will also examine audience demographics and ticket sales, the organizational structure of the theater and its staff, policies for guest artists, the theater’s mission statement, board of directors and financial operations, development practices, community and educational outreach methods, marketing strategy, facilities, resources, and history. Besides a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary theater in the United States, each student will also gain exhaustive knowledge of at least one regional theater. Ms. Walen.
Prerequisite: DRAM 221 /DRAM 222 .
Enrollment limited to Juniors and Seniors.
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 2-hour period
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DRAM 339 - Shakespeare in Production Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as MRST 339 ) Students in the course study the physical circumstances of Elizabethan public and private theaters at the beginning of the semester. The remainder of the semester is spent in critical examination of the plays of Shakespeare and several of his contemporaries using original staging practices of the early modern theater. The course emphasizes the conditions under which the plays were written and performed and uses practice as an experiential tool to critically analyze the texts as performance scripts. Ms. Walen.
Enrollment limited to Juniors and Seniors.
One 3-hour period.
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DRAM 340 - Seminar in Performance Studies: Artaud and His Legacy
1 unit(s)
This course is designed to introduce students to one of the most influential thinkers about the theater through the lens of Performance Studies. We explore Artaud’s essays, poems, plays, films, radio texts, drawings and letters, and the ways in which his radical proposals have helped to form many of the great performance traditions of the late Twentieth and early Twenty-First Centuries. Some of the artists examined as part of Artaud’s legacy are Tadeusz Kantor, Tatsumi Hijikata, John Cage, Robert Kaprow, Augusto Boal, Robert Wilson, Carolee Schneeman, Meredith Monk, Yvonne Rainer, Richard Schechner, Linda Montano, and Ann Hamilton and Suzanne Lacy. Ms. Cody.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2013/14.
One 2-hour period.
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DRAM 361 - Chinese and Japanese Drama and Theatre
1 unit(s)
(Same as CHJA 361 ) A study of Chinese and Japanese culture and society through well-known dramatic genres - zaju, chuanqi, kunqu, Beijing Opera, modern Spoken Drama, noh, kyogen, bunraku, kabuki, and New Drama; a close reading of selected plays in English translation. Scheduled films of performances convey Chinese and Japanese theatrical conventions and aesthetics. Discussions focus on major themes based on research presentations. All readings and discussions are in English. Mr. Du.
Prerequisite: one 200-level course in language, literature, culture, drama or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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DRAM 390 - Senior Project in Drama Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Students may propose to undertake a project in one of the following areas: research in dramatic literature, theater history, performance studies, acting, directing, design, or playwriting. Proposals can range from collaborative ensemble projects to solo work, to more conventional endeavors in specific areas such as research, acting, directing, or designing. The nature of this project is to be determined in consultation with the department. The department.
Enrollment limited to senior drama majors.
Prerequisites: senior standing, and permission of the department. In the case of directing and design projects, students must also have completed DRAM 209 .
Unscheduled.
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DRAM 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
To be elected in consultation with the adviser
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Chinese: I. Introductory |
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CHIN 105 - Elementary Chinese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
An introduction to Mandarin Chinese (putong hua or guo yu). While the approach is aural-lingual, reading and writing skills are introduced early in the program. The two semesters cover about 700 characters. Grammatical analysis, pattern drills, and conversational practices are stressed throughout. Mr. Liu.
Open to all students.
Yearlong course 105-CHIN 106 .
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 106 - Elementary Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
An introduction to Mandarin Chinese (putong hua or guo yu). While the approach is aural-lingual, reading and writing skills are introduced early in the program. The two semesters cover about 700 characters. Grammatical analysis, pattern drills, and conversational practices are stressed throughout. Mr. Liu.
Open to all students.
Yearlong course CHIN 105 -106.
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 107 - Advanced Elementary Chinese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
An elementary Chinese language course designed for students who have acquired some oral Mandarin Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 205 . It capitalizes on sudents’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Mr. Du.
Prerequisite: open to students who have previous exposure to Chinese.
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 108 - Advanced Elementary Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
An elementary Chinese language course designed for students who have acquired some oral Mandarin Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 205 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Mr. Liu.
Prerequisite: open to students who have completed CHIN 107 or permission of the instructor.
Five 50-minute periods.
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Chinese: II. Intermediate |
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CHIN 205 - Intermediate Chinese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
Further practice in conversation and learned patterns; acquisition of new grammatical structures, vocabulary, and about 700 additional characters. Emphasis on communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Mr. Du.
Prerequisite: CHIN 105 -CHIN 106 or permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course 205-CHIN 206 .
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 206 - Intermediate Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
Further practice in conversation and learned patterns; acquisition of new grammatical structures, vocabulary, and about 700 additional characters. Emphasis on communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Mr. Li.
Prerequisite: CHIN 105 -CHIN 106 or permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course CHIN 205 -206.
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 207 - Advanced Intermediate Chinese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
A one-year sequential Intermediate Chinese language course designed for students who have completed CHIN 108 or acquired an equivalent level of oral and written proficiencies in Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 305 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Mr. Du.
Open to students who have completed CHIN 108 and its equivalent.
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CHIN 208 - Advanced Intermediate Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
A one-year sequential Intermediate Chinese language course designed for students who have completed CHIN 207 or acquired an equivalent level of oral and written proficiencies in Chinese from home or other sources but did not reach the level of CHIN 305 . It capitalizes on students’ already acquired knowledge to further develop the skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Mr. Li.
Open to students who have completed CHIN 207 and its equivalent.
Five 50-minute periods.
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CHIN 214 - The Tumultuous Century: Twentieth-Century Chinese Literature Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 214 ) This is a survey/introduction to the literature of China from the late Qing Dynasty through the present day. Texts are arranged according to trends and schools as well as to their chronological order. Authors include Wu Jianren, Lu Xun, Zhang Ailing, Ding Ling, Mo Yan and Gao Xingjian. All major genres are covered but the focus is on fiction. A few feature films are also included in association with some of the literary works and movements. No knowledge of the Chinese language, Chinese history, or culture is required for taking the course. All readings and class discussions are in English. Mr. Liu.
Prerequisite: one course in language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
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CHIN 218 - Chinese Popular Culture
1 unit(s)
(Same as MEDS 218 ) The course analyzes contemporary Chinese entertainment and popular culture. It provides both historical coverage and grounding in various theoretical and methodological problems. Topics focus on thematic contents and forms of entertainment through television, radio, newspaper, cinema, theatre, music, print and material culture. The course also examines the relations between the heritage of traditional Chinese entertainment and the influences of Western culture. All readings and class discussions are in English. Mr. Du.
Prerequisite: one course in language, literature, culture, film, drama, or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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CHIN 220 - Chinese Film and Contemporary Fiction
1 unit(s)
(Same as FILM 220 ) An introduction to Chinese film through its adaptations of contemporary stories. Focus is on internationally well-known films by the fifth and sixth generation of directors since the late 1980s. Early Chinese films from the 1930s to the 1970s are also included in the screenings. The format of the course is to read a series of stories in English translations and to view their respective cinematic versions. The discussions concentrate on cultural and social aspects as well as on comparison of themes and viewpoints in the two genres. The interrelations between texts and visual images are also explored. Mr. Du.
Prerequisite: one course in language, literature, culture, film, drama, or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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CHIN 276 - Experiencing the Other: Representation of China and the West
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 276 ) This course examines representation of China in Western Literature and the West in Chinese Literature from the end of the 17th Century. Through such an examination, issues such as identity, perceptions of the other, self-consciousness, exoticism, and aesthetic diversity are discussed. Readings include Defoe, Goldsmith, Voltaire, Twain, Kafka, Malraux, Sax Rohmer, Pearl Buck, Brecht, and Duras on the Western side as well as Cao Xueqin, Shen Fu, Lao She, and Wang Shuo on the Chinese side. Some feature films are also included. All readings are in English or English translation, foreign films are subtitled. Mr. Liu.
Prerequisite: one course on Asia or one literature course.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHIN 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisite: Two units of Chinese.
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CHIN 298 - Independent Study Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisite: two units of Chinese.
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Chinese: III. Advanced |
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CHIN 300 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
1/2 unit(s)
The department.
Permission required.
Open only to majors.
Yearlong course 300-CHIN 301 .
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CHIN 305 - Advanced Chinese Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Intensive instruction in the reading of Chinese language materials, reflecting aspects of a changing China. Emphasis is on communicative skills. Mr. Li.
Prerequisite: CHIN 205 -CHIN 206 or permission of the instructor.
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CHIN 306 - Advanced Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Intensive instruction in the reading of Chinese language materials, reflecting aspects of a changing China. Emphasis is on communicative skills. Mr. Li.
Prerequisites: CHIN 205 -CHIN 206 and CHIN 305 or permission of the instructor.
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CHIN 350 - Advanced Readings in Chinese: Genres and Themes Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course is equivalent to a fourth-year Chinese course or beyond, and may be repeated for credit if topic changes. The course aims to further develop the advanced students’ speaking, reading and writing proficiency. The course explores different genres of texts from various journalistic and literary writings. Readings are arranged according to thematic topics. Course discussions and lectures are conducted in Chinese. Ms. Parries.
Prerequisite: CHIN 306 or permission of the instructor.
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CHIN 351 - Advanced Readings of Original Literary Works Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course is equivalent to a fourth-year Chinese course or beyond, and may be repeated for credit if topic changes. This course involves close reading of a single literary work of an extensive length, shorter texts of a single author, or texts which have a common thematic interest. Emphasis is on baihua literature while samples of semi-wenyan texts are introduced. Through close reading and classroom discussion of the material, students are trained to approach authentic texts with linguistic confidence and useful methods. Course discussions and lectures are conducted in Chinese. Ms. Parries.
Prerequisite: CHIN 306 or permission of the instructor.
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CHIN 355 - Special Topics in Chinese Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Advanced study of Chinese Culture in Chinese; an examination of selected topics in recent culture or of a single topic across different time periods. Designed for students with sufficient knowledge of Chinese beyond the fourth-year level. May be taken more than once for credit when topic changes. Ms. Parries.
Prerequisites: CHIN 351 , or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHIN 360 - Classical Chinese
1 unit(s)
This course is for students with at least two years of modern Chinese or the equivalent. It introduces students to the rudiments of reading Wenyan, or Classical Chinese (the Chinese equivalent of Latin), with an emphasis on early Chinese philosophical texts. In addition to learning Classical Chinese, students in this course work with and are tested on modern Chinese translations of the classical texts. Mr. Van Norden.
Prerequisite: CHIN 205 -CHIN 206 or equivalent.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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CHIN 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisites: four units of Chinese.
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Japanese: I. Introductory |
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JAPA 105 - Elementary Japanese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
An introduction to modern Japanese. Students develop communicative skills based on the fundamentals of grammar, vocabulary and conversational expressions. Emphasis is placed on both oral and written proficiency. The course introduces hiragana and katakana syllabaries as well as approximately 150 kanji (Chinese characters). Ms. Dollase.
Open to all students.
Yearlong course 105-JAPA 106 .
Five 50-minute periods.
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JAPA 106 - Elementary Japanese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
An introduction to modern Japanese. Students develop communicative skills based on the fundamentals of grammar, vocabulary and conversational expressions. Emphasis is placed on both oral and written proficiency. The course introduces hiragana and katakana syllabaries as well as approximately 150 kanji (Chinese characters). Ms. Dollase.
Open to all students.
Yearlong course JAPA 105 -106.
Five 50-minute periods.
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Japanese: II. Intermediate |
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JAPA 205 - Intermediate Japanese Semester Offered: Fall
1.5 unit(s)
This course puts equal emphasis on the further development of oral-aural proficiency and reading-writing skills with an intense review of basic grammar as well as an introduction of more advanced grammar, new vocabulary, expressions, and another 350 kanji (Chinese characters). Ms. Matsubara.
Prerequisite: JAPA 105 -JAPA 106 or permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course 205-JAPA 206 .
Five 50-minute periods.
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JAPA 206 - Intermediate Japanese Semester Offered: Spring
1.5 unit(s)
This course puts equal emphasis on the further development of oral-aural proficiency and reading-writing skills with an intense review of basic grammar as well as an introduction of more advanced grammar, new vocabulary, expressions, and another 350 kanji (Chinese characters). To be announced.
Prerequisite: JAPA 105 -JAPA 106 or permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course JAPA 205 -206.
Five 50-minute periods.
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JAPA 220 - The Masterpieces of Japanese Literature
1 unit(s)
An exploration of Japanese literary and aesthetic traditions through the major works from the eighth century to the present. Works studied cover a wide range of genres, including Japan’s oldest extant myths, poetry, the tenth century lyrical prose, the earliest long novel in the world, the medieval prose, the dramatic theory and classical plays, and modern novels. Issues addressed include the cultural traditions, the aesthetic principles, and the characteristics of different literary forms and individual authorial/narrative voices. Ms. Qiu.
Prerequisite: one course in literature, or Chinese/Japanese, or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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JAPA 222 - Narratives of Japan: Fiction and Film
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 222 ) This course examines the characteristics of Japanese narratives in written and cinematic forms. Through selected novels and films that are based on the literary works or related to them thematically, the course explores the different ways in which Japanese fiction and film tell a story and how each work interacts with the time and culture that produced it. While appreciating the aesthetic pursuit of each author or film director, attention is also given to the interplay of tradition and modernity in the cinematic representation of the literary masterpieces and themes. No previous knowledge of Japanese language is required. Ms. Qiu.
Prerequisite: one course in language, literature, culture, film or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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JAPA 223 - The Gothic and the Supernatural in Japanese Literature
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 223 ) This course introduces students to Japanese supernatural stories. We interpret the hidden psyche of the Japanese people and culture that create such bizarre tales. We see not only to what extent the supernatural creatures - demons, vampires, and mountain witches - in these stories represent the “hysteria” of Japanese commoners resulting from social and cultural oppression, but also to what extent these supernatural motifs have been adopted and modified by writers of various literary periods. This course consists of four parts; female ghosts, master authors of ghost stories, Gothic fantasy and dark urban psyche. Ms. Dollase.
Prerequisite: one course in language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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JAPA 224 - Japanese Popular Culture and Literature
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 224 ) This course examines Japanese popular culture as seen through popular fiction. Works by such writers as Murakami Haruki, Yoshimoto Banana, Murakami Ryu, Yamada Eimi, etc. who emerged in the late 1980s to the early 1990s, are discussed. Literary works are compared with various popular media such as film, music, manga, and animation to see how popular youth culture is constructed and reflects young people’s views on social conditions. Theoretical readings are assigned. This course emphasizes discussion and requires research presentations. This course is conducted in English. Ms. Dollase.
Prerequisite: one course in Japanese language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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JAPA 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 or 1 unit(s)
One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisites: two units of Japanese.
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JAPA 298 - Independent Study Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
One-half or one unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisite: two units of Japanese.
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Japanese: III. Advanced |
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JAPA 300 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
1/2 unit(s)
The department.
Open only to majors. Permission required.
Yearlong course 300-JAPA 301 .
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JAPA 301 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
1/2 unit(s)
The department.
Open only to majors. Permission required.
Yearlong course JAPA 300 -301.
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JAPA 302 - Senior Project Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1 unit(s)
The department.
Open only to majors. One-unit project done in one semester. Permission required.
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JAPA 303 - Senior Project Semester Offered: Fall
1/2 unit(s)
The department.
Open only to majors. One-unit project done in two semesters. Permission required.
Yearlong course 303-JAPA 304 .
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JAPA 304 - Senior Project Semester Offered: Spring
1/2 unit(s)
The department.
Open only to majors. One-unit project done in two semesters. Permission required.
Yearlong course JAPA 303 -304.
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JAPA 305 - Advanced Japanese Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course is designed to develop each student’s ability to read contemporary Japanese text from newspapers, magazines, and literary works, with a solid grammatical foundation and mastery of kanji, as well as gaining proficiency in writing at an advanced level. Continued training in aural-oral proficiency in spoken Japanese through exercises, classroom interactions and audio-visual materials. To be announced.
Prerequisite: JAPA 205 -JAPA 206 or permission of the instructor.
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JAPA 306 - Advanced Japanese Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course is designed to develop each student’s ability to read contemporary Japanese text from newspapers, magazines, and literary works, with a solid grammatical foundation and mastery of kanji, as well as gaining proficiency in writing at an advanced level. Continued training in aural-oral proficiency in spoken Japanese through exercises, classroom interactions and audio-visual materials. Ms. Matsubara.
Prerequisites: JAPA 205 -JAPA 206 , and JAPA 305 or permission of the instructor.
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JAPA 324 - Japanese Popular Culture and Literature for Majors
1 unit(s)
JAPA 224 and 324 students attend the same class, but Japanese 324 students engage in various language related projects (such as translation of original texts, reaction papers in Japanese, etc.) in addition to class participation in English. Ms. Dollase.
Prerequisite: JAPA 306 or above, or permission of the instructor.
Not open to students who have previously taken JAPA 224 .
Not offered in 2014/15.
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JAPA 350 - Advanced Readings in Japanese: Genres and Themes Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course is equivalent to a fourth-year Japanese course or beyond, and may be repeated for credit if topic changes. The aim of this course is to further develop the advanced students’ speaking, reading, and writing proficiency. The course explores different genres of texts ranging from contemporary Japanese media sources to literature. Readings are arranged according to thematic topics. Discussions and lectures are conducted entirely in Japanese. To be announced.
Prerequisite: JAPA 306 or permission of the instructor.
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JAPA 351 - Advanced Readings of Original Literary Works Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course is equivalent to a fourth-year Japanese course or beyond, and may be repeated for credit if topic changes. This course involves close reading of a single literary work of an extensive length, shorter texts of a single author, or texts which have a common thematic interest. Through close reading and classroom discussion of the material, students are trained to approach authentic texts with linguistic confidence and useful methods. Discussions and lectures are conducted entirely in Japanese. Ms. Matsubara.
Prerequisite: JAPA 306 or permission of the instructor.
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JAPA 364 - The West in Japanese Literature since the Nineteenth Century Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 364 ). This course examines the influence of the West on Japanese literature after the nineteenth century and follows the process of the construction of modern Japanese identity. Authors may include: Natsume Sôseki, Akuagawa Ryûnosuke, Tanizaki Junichirô, Kojima Nobuo, Murakami Ryû and Yamada Amy. Translated Japanese literary works are closely read, and various theoretical readings are assigned. This course emphasizes discussion and requires research presentations. This course is conducted in English. Ms. Dollase.
Prerequisite: one 200-level course in language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
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JAPA 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
One-half or one- unit of credit given only in exceptional cases and by permission of the chair. Offered only pass/fail. The department.
Prerequisite: four units of Japanese.
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Earth Science: I. Introductory |
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ESCI 100 - Earth Resource Challenges
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESSC 100 , ENST 100 , and GEOG 100 ) This course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences to address a topic of societal concern. Geographers bring spatial analysis of human environmental change, while Earth scientists contribute their knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the Earth’s surface. Together, these distinctive yet complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potentials, uses and misuses of the Earth’s natural resources. Each year the topic of the course changes to focus on selected resource problems facing societies and environments around the world. When this course is team-taught by faculty from Earth Science and Geography, it serves as an introduction to both disciplines.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 101 - Geohazards
1/2 unit(s)
Geohazards explores the geological and societal causes of death and destruction by earthquakes, landslides, floods, volcanoes, storms, and avalanches around the world. Students explore basic earth processes and learn how the Earth and its inhabitants interact in dangerous ways because people repeatedly fail to appreciate Earth’s power. Ms. Schneiderman.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods during the first six weeks of the semester.
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ESCI 107 - Field Geology of the Hudson Valley
1/2 unit(s)
Experience 1.5 billion years of Hudson Valley geologic history from some of the classic vantage points in the region. Field trips to high points such as Breakneck Ridge, Brace Mountain, Bonticou Crag, and Overlook Mountain are supplemented by lectures and readings on the geologic history and the history of geologic studies in the valley. Mr. Walker.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Six-week course.Two 75-minute periods and one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 109 - Hot Topics in Earth Science and the Media Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
From fracking to mountaintop removal, BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill, invasive species and their impacts on native ecology, and global warming, geology and related ecologic processes have been major topics in the news lately. This course examines the science behind different natural processes and phenomena (e.g. How do coal beds form? What makes a particular stratigraphic level potentially valuable for hydraulic fracturing? What do we know about responding to oil spills? What does the paleontological record tell us about species invasions?) and also examines media portrayals of these hot-topic issues. Students gain a deeper understanding of the scientific community’s knowledge on these issues and develop the ability to assess whether or not media coverage is fair and accurate. We also discuss how science itself is portrayed in the media and the importance of accurate and accessible scientific communication. Ms. Kosloski.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies the college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 111 - Science and Justice in the Anthropocene Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 111 and STS 111 ) Geoscientists have proposed a new designation in the geologic time scale for our current time period, “the Anthropocene.” The designation reflects the fact that human beings are acting as geological agents, transforming the Earth on a global scale. In this freshman seminar course we explore the possibilities of reconfiguring the actions of humans in the Anthropocene so as to lead to a flowering of a new Era once called ‘the Ecozoic’ by cultural historian Thomas Berry. Ms. Schneiderman.
Open to freshmen only; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 121 - Oceanography
1 unit(s)
The world’s oceans make life on Earth possible. By studying the interactions among atmosphere, water, sediment, and the deep inner-workings of the earth, we gain an understanding of where the earth has been, where it is now, and where it is likely to go. Topics include: historical perspectives on the revolutionary discoveries in marine exploration; seafloor and ocean physiochemical structure; air-sea interactions from daily and seasonal weather patterns to climate change and El Niño cycles; earthquakes and tsunamis; waves and coastal processes; and critical biologic communities unique to the marine environment. Mr. McAdoo.
Not offered in 2014/15.Will be offered in 2015/16.
Three 50-minute periods; a one-day weekend field trip is required.
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ESCI 135 - Volcanoes and Civilization
1 unit(s)
Few natural phenomena are more spectacular than a volcanic eruption. Volcanoes have been an important part of human culture throughout history whether in legends or in actual events. Through accounts of volcanic events, such as Plato’s account of the legend of Atlantis, recent scientific analysis of the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii, or news media coverage of current eruptions, this course studies the role volcanoes have played in society as it traces the historical development of volcanological study using sources such as classical literature, nineteenth century treatises in natural science, modern scientific journals, and the popular media. Mr. Walker.
Open to freshmen only: satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Course. An optional field trip to an active volcano is possible.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 198 - Special Projects in Earth Science Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 or 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of field, laboratory, or library study. Project to be arranged with individual instructor. The department.
Open to first-year students and sophomores only.
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Earth Science: II. Intermediate |
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ESCI 201 - Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
The earth is made up of many different materials, including minerals, rocks, soils, and ions in solution, which represent the same atoms recycled continually by geological and biogeochemical cycles. This course takes a holistic view of the earth in terms of the processes leading to the formation of different materials. The class involves study in the field as well as in the laboratory using hand specimen identification along with the optical microscope and X-ray diffractometer. Mr. Walker.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 203 - Earth History Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
In this course we study the methods and principles employed in deciphering the geologic history of Earth and the development of life on the planet. We emphasize the geologic evolution of the North American continent and the main features of the fossil record. Students learn to recognize the patterns of both biologic and tectonic evolution of Earth through time, from the Archean to the present. Woven throughout the course is consideration of the history of geologic thought through examination of the ideas of James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, and Alfred Wegener. The department.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 .
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 211 - Sediments, Strata, and the Environment Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
The stratigraphic record provides the most comprehensive record of Earth history available. This course explores fundamental concepts of stratigraphy, sedimentation, and paleontology with a focus on reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoecology. The chemical and physical processes leading to weathering, erosion, transport, deposition, and lithification of sediments are considered, as is fossil identification. The course revolves around detailed field interpretation of local Paleozoic and Holocene sediments to reconstruct Hudson Valley paleoenvironments. Ms. Schneiderman.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field session. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.
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ESCI 220 - Cartography: Making Maps with GIS Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 220 ) Cartography, the science and art of map-making, is integral to the geographer’s craft. This course uses GIS to make thematic maps and to acquire and present data, including data fitting students’ individual interests. In addition, we explore the culture, politics, and technology of historic cartography, and we examine techniques in using maps as rhetoric and as political tools. Throughout the course, we focus on issues of clear, efficient, and intentional communication through graphic presentation of data. Thus, the course integrates problems of graphic design and aesthetics with strategies of manipulating quantitative data. ArcGIS is used in labs for map production and data analysis. Mr. Thibault.
Prerequisite: one 100-level Geography or Earth Science course, or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 2-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 221 - Soils and Sustainable Ecosystems
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 221 ) Soils form an important interface between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. As such, they are critical to understanding the functioning of ecosystems. This course studies soil formation, and the physical and chemical properties of soils critical to the understanding of natural and constructed ecosystems. Field trips and laboratory work focus on the description and interpretation of local soils. Mr. Walker.
Prerequisite: one introductory course in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science; or ENST 124 .
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 224 - GIS: Spatial Analysis Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 224 ) Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly important and widespread packages for manipulating and presenting spatial data. While this course uses ArcGIS, the same software as Cartography, the primary focus here is spatial analysis (calculating patterns and relationships), rather than map design for data visualization. We explore a variety of techniques for answering questions with spatial data, including overlay, map algebra (math using multiple input layers), hydrologic modeling, surface interpolation, and site selection. Issues of data collection through remote sensing and sampling are addressed. GIS involves a more rapid introduction to the software than Cartography does; it is useful to take both Cartography and GIS (preferably in that order) to gain a more complete understanding of spatial data analysis and manipulation. Ms. Cunningham.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 2-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 231 - Geomorphology: Surface Processes and Evolution of Landforms
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 231 ) Quantitative study of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that create Earth’s many landforms. Topics include weathering and erosion, landsliding and debris flows, sediment transport by rivers and glaciers, the role of climate in landscape modification, and the use of landforms to document earthquake hazards. Lab exercises emphasize fundamental skills in geomorphologic analysis such as mapping, surveying, interpretation of aerial photography, and use of Geographic Information Systems software. Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.
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ESCI 235 - Water
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 235 ) Sixty to 70% of Dutchess County residents depend on groundwater supplies to meet their daily needs. Industrial pollution and road salt have contaminated many of these supplies, spawning legal actions and requiring costly remediation. Ensuring adequate and safe groundwater supplies for humans and ecosystems requires extensive knowledge of the hydrologic cycle and of how contaminants may be introduced into water resources. We explore how rainfall and snowmelt infiltrate into soils and bedrock to become part of the groundwater system, learn what factors govern subsurface flow, and discuss the concept of well-head protection, which seeks to protect groundwater recharge areas from contamination. Using Vassar’s teaching well at the field station we perform a number of experiments to assess aquifer properties, water chemistry, and presence of microbial contaminants. Comfort with basic algebra and trigonometry is expected. Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 , ENST 124 , or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 251 - Global Geophysics and Tectonics
1 unit(s)
What can physics and simple math tell us about the earth? By utilizing an array of techniques, geophysicists gain an understanding of the processes that shape our planet. Reflection and earthquake seismology give us insight into deep earth structure, plate tectonic mechanisms, mountain building, basin formation, and hazard mitigation. Variations in the earth’s gravitational field yield information on density contrasts beneath the surface, from the scale of mountain ranges to buried artifacts. Heat flow variations are useful in determining regional subsurface thermal structure, fluid advection, and climate variation. Laboratories are designed to use the skills required in most geology related fields. They involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and construction of simple computer models. Mr. McAdoo.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or ESCI 121 .
Not offered in 2014/15.Will be offered in 2015/16.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 260 - Conservation of Natural Resources
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 260 ) Natural resources are perennially at the center of debates on sustainability, planning, land development, and environmental policy. The ways we conceptualize resources can be as important to understanding these issues as their actual distributions are. This course provides a geographic perspective on natural resource conservation, using local examples to provide deeper experience with resource debates. We focus particularly on forest resources: biodiversity, forest health, timber resources, forest policy, and the ways people have struggled to make a living in forested ecosystems. We discuss these issues on a global scale (such as tropical timber piracy and forest conversion), and we explore them locally in the Adirondacks of New York. This course requires that students spend October Break on a group study trip in the Adirondacks. Students must be willing to spend long, cold days outside, including some strenuous physical activity (unless special permission is arranged with the instructor). Ms. Cunningham.
Students wishing to register under Earth Science must have had at least one previous earth science course.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 269 - The Geophysics of Slavery and Freedom
1 unit(s)
Working with local community groups, this project-based field course examines the history of African Americans in Dutchess County by uncovering forgotten graveyards from the 18th and 19th centuries. We use geophysical surveying of graveyards with social history to give students hands-on experience in original research, data analysis, and public presentation. During the course of the semester, the class uses both field geophysics and historical archives to map lost gravesites and to understand the historical and social context of these communities. Students gain fieldwork experience at the gravesite using high-tech tools including an electrical resistivity meter, a cesium vapor magnetometer, and a ground penetrating radar, in concert with visiting local archives to analyze primary documents including census records, deeds, newspapers and journals as well as church records. By the end of the semester, the quantitative and qualitative data is synthesized for a community presentation and final report. A new site is chosen for each class—field locations may include pre-Columbian or historical archaeological sites such as forgotten slave-era burial grounds and potters fields. Students from across the curriculum are welcome. Mr. McAdoo and Mr. Mills.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.Will be offered in 2016/17.
One 5-hour field period and one 75-minute classroom period.
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ESCI 271 - Structural Geology: Deformation of the Earth Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Structural geology explores the deformation of Earth’s crust caused by the movement of its tectonic plates and the resulting structures that are produced at scales ranging from the microscopic to the mountainous. It underpins the oil and gas industry and mining because fossil fuels and precious metals are commonly associated with folds and faults. It is also important in earthquake and landslide hazard prediction. Lab exercises emphasize the fundamentals of geologic mapping, how to use geometric principles to predict what lies in the subsurface from surface observations, and how rocks behave under varying conditions of stress. Many exercises occur in the field. Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.
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ESCI 275 - Paleontology and the Fossil Record
1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 275 ) Paleontology isn’t just a “dead science”- by studying processes that have occurred in the past, we can deepen our understanding of the current biota inhabiting the Earth. Conversely, by studying the modern distribution of organisms and the environmental, taphonomic, and ecological processes that impact their distribution and preservation, we can enhance our understanding of the processes that have controlled the formation and distribution of fossils through time. In this course, we explore the methodology used to interpret the fossil record, including preservational biases and how we account for them when studying fossil taxa. We also explore large-scale ecological changes and evolutionary processes and discuss how they manifest across geologic time, and how these relate to Earth’s changing fauna. We additionally learn about how paleontology has developed as a field in the context of different historical and social perspectives. Lab exercises focus on applying paleontological methods to a variety of different fossil and recent samples. Ms. Kosloski.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods and one 4-hour laboratory period.
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ESCI 277 - Biogeochemistry
1 unit(s)
As the name implies, biogeochemistry focuses on the living world (bio), the geology of the earth (geo) and the interaction of biology and geology on the chemistry of our planet. This course focuses on the biological influences on important geochemical transformations, and how biological systems, underlain by different geologies, affect measurable chemical attributes important to life. The course also covers human influences on biogeochemical cycles. Impacts addressed include the effects of atmospheric deposition (pollution), changes in land use history and how climate change influences biogeochemistry. Ms. Christenson.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods, and one 4-hour laboratory.
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ESCI 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
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ESCI 297 - Readings in Earth Science
1/2 unit(s)
Contemplating Time. Deep time, the concept of geologic time recognized by Persian polymath Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Chinese naturalist Shen Kuo in the 11th century and developed further by James Hutton during the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment, has been called the single greatest contribution of geology to science. The concept provides a critical link between earth science and environmental change. Using reading and reflection, the aim of this course is to help students develop a feeling for the enormity of Earth’s duration in relation to human life spans. Students contemplate the nature of time from geoscientific, religious, and literary perspectives. Reading works by Loren C. Eiseley, Mircea Eliade, Malcolm Gladwell, Stephen Jay Gould, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Shunryu Suzuki, and Elie Wiesel, among others, we consider subjects such as the two great metaphors of time, arrows and cycles, in relation to natural and anthropogenic environmental change. The class meets weekly for contemplative practice and is suitable for students at any level. Ms. Schneiderman.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.
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ESCI 298 - Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory or library study. The project, to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product. The department.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
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Earth Science: III. Advanced |
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ESCI 300 - Senior Research and Thesis Semester Offered: Fall
1/2 unit(s)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or experimentation, of a specific research problem in earth science. A student electing this course must first gain, by submission of a written research proposal, the support of a member of the earth science faculty with whom to work out details of a research protocol. The formal research proposal and a final paper and presentation of results are required parts of the course. A second faculty member participates in the final evaluation. The department.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course 300-ESCI 301 .
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ESCI 301 - Senior Research and Thesis Semester Offered: Spring
1/2 unit(s)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or experimentation, of a specific research problem in earth science. A student electing this course must first gain, by submission of a written research proposal, the support of a member of the earth science faculty with whom to work out details of a research protocol. The formal research proposal and a final paper and presentation of results are required parts of the course. A second faculty member participates in the final evaluation. The department.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Yearlong course ESCI 300 -301.
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ESCI 321 - Environmental Geology
1 unit(s)
This course explores the fundamental geochemical processes that affect the fate and transport of inorganic and organic pollutants in the terrestrial environment. We link the effects of these processes on pollutant bioavailability, remediation, and ecotoxicology. The department.
Prerequisite: ESCI 201 , or CHEM 108 /CHEM 109 .
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 4-hour period/laboratory/field session.
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ESCI 323 - History of Geological Thought: 1690-1980 Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as STS 323 ) In this course we examine the historical context and scientific ideas put forth by natural philosophers and scientists including Thomas Burnet, Nicolas Steno, James Hutton, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, Alfred Wegener, Marie Tharp, Bruce Heezen, Stephen Jay Gould, Niles Eldredge, James Lovelock and Walter Alvarez. Topics of study include geologic time, continental drift and plate tectonics, evolution and punctuated equilibrium, Gaia, and bolide impacts. Ms. Schneiderman.
Prerequisite: Must be a science or Science, Technology, and Society major at the junior or senior level, or by permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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ESCI 335 - Paleoclimatology: Earth’s History of Climate Change Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 335 ) In recent decades, record high temperatures and extreme weather events have led scientists and policy makers to grapple with the fact that human activities are affecting the climate system. At the same time, scientists have come to realize that climate is capable of dramatic shifts in the absence of human intervention. The science of paleoclimatology seeks to understand the extent and causes of natural climatic variability in order to establish the baseline on top of which anthropogenic changes are occurring. In this course we examine the structure and properties of the oceans and atmosphere and how the general circulation of these systems redistributes heat throughout the globe; study how cycles in Earth’s orbital parameters, plate tectonics, changes in ocean circulation, and the evolution of plants have affected climate; and explore the different lines of evidence used to reconstruct climate history. Weekly laboratory projects introduce students to paleoclimatic methods and to records of climatic change from the Paleozoic through the Little Ice Age. Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: 200-level work in Earth Science or permission of the instructor.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 341 - Oil
1 unit(s)
(Same as GEOG 341 and ENST 341 ) For the hydraulic civilizations of Mesopotamia, it was water. For the Native Americans of the Great Plains, it was buffalo. As we enter the twenty-first century, our society is firmly rooted both culturally and economically in oil. This class looks into almost every aspect of oil. Starting at the source with kerogen generation, we follow the hydrocarbons along migration pathways to a reservoir with a suitable trap. We look at the techniques geologists and geophysicists use to find a field, and how engineers and economists get the product from the field to refineries, paying particular attention to environmental concerns. What is involved in the negotiations between multinational corporations and developing countries over production issues? What are the stages in refining oil from the crude that comes from the ground to the myriad uses seen today, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers, not to mention gasoline? We also discuss the future of this rapidly dwindling, non-renewable resource, and options for an oil-less future. Mr. McAdoo, Mr. Rashid.
Prerequisite: one 200-level Earth Science course or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2014/15.Will be offered in 2016/17.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory/field period.
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ESCI 351 - Volcanology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Volcanoes are an important window into the workings of the earth’s interior. They are also spectacular landscape features: serene in repose, and often violent in eruption. This course addresses the physical aspects of volcanoes, including such topics as the generation of magmas, styles of eruptions, products of eruptions, tectonic controls on the formation of volcanoes, and methods for predicting eruptions and mitigating the hazards associated with volcanic activity. An optional field trip to an active volcano is possible. Mr. Walker.
Prerequisite: ESCI 201 .
One 4-hour period.
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ESCI 361 - Modeling the Earth
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 361 ) Computer models are powerful tools in the Earth and Environmental Sciences for generating and testing hypotheses about how the Earth system functions and for allowing simulation of processes in places inaccessible to humans (e.g., Earth’s deep interior), too slow to permit observation (e.g., erosion driven uplift of mountains ranges), or too large to facilitate construction of physical models (e.g., Earth’s climate system). Taking readings from the scientific literature, we create and then perform experiments with simple computer models, using the STELLA iconographic box-modeling software package. Topics include the global phosphorus cycle, Earth’s radiative balance with the sun and resulting temperature, the flow of ice in glaciers, and the role of life in moderating Earth’s climate. Toward the end of the semester, students apply the skills they have acquired to a modeling project of their own devising. Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: one 200-level course in the natural sciences.
Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 4-hour classroom/laboratory period.
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ESCI 379 - Conservation Paleobiology
1 unit(s)
Humans currently and pervasively impact many (if not all) of Earth’s ecosystems. Two major challenges in modern conservation efforts are our lack of a well-defined baseline for pre-disturbance ecological conditions and an incomplete understanding of the natural range of variability for different systems. This discussion based course explores how paleontological data in both terrestrial and marine environments (e.g., varved lake deposits, rodent middens, marine fossil deposits, and archaeological material) can be used to help set restoration targets and inform conservation practices by filling in these knowledge gaps. We also gain experience interpreting geohistorical data, and discuss several specific case studies where the geologic record has been utilized to inform conservation planning. By the end of the course, students are aware of the range of different types of information that can be gathered from the geohistorical record (such as burn regimes and climate records, as well as inferences about paleo-diets and changing environmental conditions), the unique contributions of this record to increasing understanding of current conservation issues, and the impacts that humans have on ecosystems. Students additionally complete a semester term paper on how geohistorical records could be applied to mitigate a conservation problem, and present their findings and suggestions to the class. Ms. Kosloski.
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 3-hour period.
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ESCI 385 - Stable Isotopes in the Earth and Environmental Sciences
1 unit(s)
Stable isotopes are fundamental tools used in the Earth and Environmental Sciences to investigate past climates, track animal migration routes, unravel food webs, and study the origins of life on Earth, among other applications. This course highlights the uses of stable isotopes in ecological, climatic, environmental, and geological studies and also discusses the limitations and scientific abuses of these tools. Students learn the fundamentals of stable isotope biogeochemistry, including the differences between stable and radiogenic isotopes and the processes that fractionate (separate) common stable isotopes among different biogeochemical reservoirs. Readings derive from the primary literature and are adjusted to cover topics of interest to students. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, biogeochemical cycling, uplift of mountain ranges, paleodiets of fossil organisms, and climate change.
Prerequisite: One 100-level earth science or chemistry course.
Not offered in 2014/15.
One 4-hour period.
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ESCI 387 - Risk and Geohazards
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 387 and GEOG 387 ) The world is becoming an increasingly risky place. Every year, natural hazards affect more and more people, and these people are incurring increasingly expensive losses. This course explores the nature of risk associated with geophysical phenomena. Are there more hazardous events now than there have been in the past? Are these events somehow more energetic? Or is it that increasing populations with increasingly disparate incomes are being exposed to these hazards? What physical, economic, political and social tools can be employed to reduce geophysical risk? We draw on examples from recent disasters, both rapid onset (earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones), and slow onset (climate change, famine) to examine the complex and interlinked vulnerabilities of the coupled human-environment system. Mr. McAdoo.
Prerequisite: ESCI 121 or ESCI 151 .
Not offered in 2014/15.Will be offered in 2015/16.
One 4-hour period.
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ESCI 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory, or library study. The project, to be arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product. The department.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
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Earth Science and Society: I. Introductory |
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ESSC 100 - Earth Resource Challenges
1 unit(s)
(Same as ESCI 100 , ENST 100 , and GEOG 100 ) This course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences to address a topic of societal concern. Geographers bring spatial analysis of human environmental change, while Earth scientists contribute their knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the Earth’s surface. Together, these distinctive yet complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potentials, uses and misuses of the Earth’s natural resources. Each year the topic of the course changes to focus on selected resource problems facing societies and environments around the world. When this course is team-taught by faculty from Earth Science and Geography, it serves as an introduction to both disciplines.
Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.
Not offered in 2014/15.
Two 75-minute periods.
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Earth Science and Society: II. Intermediate |
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ESSC 290 - Field Work
1/2 to 1 unit(s)
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