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Catalogue 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Biology: II. Intermediate Prerequisites for 200-level courses are BIOL 106 and either BIOL 105 , AP Biology with a 4 or 5 AP score, or IB higher level 5, 6 or 7 test score, unless otherwise noted.
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BIOL 288 - Epidemiology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course focuses on the fundamental concepts and methods of epidemiology. Introduction to the principles of the quantitative approaches to clinical and public health problems are presented. Study design and validity of epidemiologic research, measures of frequency and association, and methods of data analysis are discussed and applied in the laboratory. Critical interpretation of epidemiologic evidence and literature are emphasized throughout the course. Leroy Cooper.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 106 or permission of the instructor.
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BIOL 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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BIOL 298 - Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory, or library study. The project, arranged with an individual instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its final product.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
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Biology: III. Advanced Two units of 200-level biology are prerequisites for entry into 300-level courses; see each course for specific courses required or exceptions. |
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BIOL 303 - Senior Research Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1 unit(s)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or experimentation, of a specific research problem in biology. A student electing this course must first gain, by submission of a written research proposal, the support of a member of the biology faculty with whom to work out details of a research protocol. The formal research proposal, a final paper, and presentation of results are required parts of the course. A second faculty member participates both in the planning of the research and in final evaluation.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
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BIOL 316 - Seminar in Neurobiology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
A multi-level examination of nervous systems, this course is an advanced and integrative evaluation of current topics in neurobiology. Topics vary but may include glia, evolution of nervous systems, neuroimmune interactions, mechanisms of neural communication and plasticity. Emphasis is placed on current thinking and research and course material is drawn from the recent neurobiological literature. Kathleen Susman.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level Biology or one unit of 200-level Biology and NEUR 201 .
Recommended: BIOL 217 or BIOL 228 .
Two 75-minute periods
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BIOL 323 - Seminar in Cell and Molecular Biology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
An intensive study of selected topics at the cellular and subcellular level. Topics vary, but may include organelle structure and function, advanced genetics, and mechanisms of cellular organization. Emphasis is placed on current models, issues, and research areas, and course material is drawn largely from primary literature.
Topic for 2018/19a: Epigenetics. Most cells in our bodies contain the same set of DNA, yet there are ~200 different cell types, each with unique patterns of gene expression. How do those cells establish and maintain their identities? How do environmental factors such as temperature, nutrition and social stress exert long lasting effects on organisms and their progeny? The field of epigenetics is shedding new light on these and many other interesting questions in biology. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression (and hence traits) that cannot be explained by alterations in the DNA sequence. These changes instead involve chemical modifications to DNA and its associated histones. Some of these changes can be passed down through mitosis and some even through meiosis.
Exploration of this topic involves student presentations and active discussion of primary research articles and expands upon the participants’ previous coursework in genetics and chemistry. Jennifer Kennell.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 and one unit of Genetics (BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 , or BIOL 248 ), and one other 200-level Biology course (or NEUR 201 ).
Two 2-hour periods.
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BIOL 324 - Molecular Biology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as CHEM 324 ) An examination of the macromolecular processes underlying storage, transfer, and expression of genetic information. Topics include the structure, function, and synthesis of DNA; mutation and repair; the chemistry of RNA and protein synthesis; the regulation of gene expression; cancer and oncogenes; the molecular basis of cell differentiation; and genetic engineering. Colin Aitken.
Prerequisite(s): One unit of any 200-level biology and one unit of biochemistry (BIOL 272 /CHEM 272 or CHEM 325 ).
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 340 - Experimental Animal Behavior Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Examination of the relationship between behavior and the individual animal’s survival and reproductive success in its natural environment. Evolutionary, physiological, and developmental aspects of orientation, communication, foraging, reproductive tactics, and social behavior are considered. Methodology and experimental design are given particular emphasis. The department.
Prerequisite(s): One unit of any 200-level biology and one of the following: BIOL 226 , BIOL 228 , NEUR 201 , PSYC 221 , or PSYC 229 .
Recommended: BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 , BIOL 248 or PSYC 200 .
Two 2-hour periods.
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BIOL 352 - Conservation Biology Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 352 ) Conservation Biology uses a multidisciplinary approach to study how to best maintain the earth’s biodiversity and functioning ecosystems. We examine human impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function and discuss how to develop practical approaches for mitigating those impacts. We start the semester by assessing the current human footprint on global resources, asking questions about what we are trying to preserve, why we are trying to preserve it, and how we can accomplish our goals. We critically examine the assumptions made by conservation biologists throughout, using case studies from around the world to explore a range of perspectives. Discussion topics include conservation in an agricultural context, the efficacy of marine protected areas, the impact of climate change on individual species and preserve design, restoration ecology, the consequences of small population sizes, conservation genetics, the impacts of habitat fragmentation and invasive species, and urban ecology. Margaret Ronsheim.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level biology or one unit of 200-level biology and one of the following: ESCI 221 , ESCI 361 , GEOG 224 , GEOG 260 , or GEOG 356 .
Recommended: BIOL 241 , BIOL 208 , or BIOL 226 , GEOG 260 , GEOG 224 , or GEOG 356 ; or permission of the instructor.
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BIOL 355 - Ecology and Evolution of Sexual Reproduction
1 unit(s)
Sex: “nothing in life is more important, more interesting - or troublesome.” This quotation from Olivia Judson, Ph.D., (a.k.a. Dr. Tatiana) is just one recent example of the long-standing fascination that ecologists and evolutionary biologists have had with sexual reproduction. This course begins with the question: What is sex? We then examine the current status of competing hypotheses for the evolution of sex, and then turn our attention to the myriad ecological and evolutionary consequences of sexual reproduction. We consider such questions as: Why are there only two sexes? Why do males and females look and behave differently? When is it advantageous to produce more sons than daughters (or vice versa)? When is it advantageous to be a hermaphrodite or to change sex? To address such questions in a biologically rigorous way, we need to draw on a wide range of theoretical work and empirical evidence from cellular and molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Mark Schlessman.
Prerequisite(s): One unit of any 200-level Biology and One of the following: BIOL 208 , BIOL 226 , BIOL 241 , or Genetics (BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 or BIOL 248 ).
Two 2-hour periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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BIOL 356 - Topics in Plant Physiology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
A consideration of physiological aspects of primary production, including the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients through plant systems. Topics will focus on the recent primary literature in the field.
Topic for 2018/19a: The Secret Lives of Plants. Plants are amazing survivalists. They have evolved myriad strategies to solve complex problems associated with terrestrial conquest and their stationary lifestyles. For instance, plants have become remarkable chemists capable of mounting full-scale biological warfare to fend off pathogen attacks, and master plumbers that carefully harness water power for transport and growth. This course examines how plants regulate their physiology through cellular and molecular adaptations, with emphasis on exploring open research questions. Topics may include environmental stress and defense responses, determinants of plant morphology, factors driving sexual reproduction, and agricultural themes ranging from identification of the genes underlying thousands of years of plant domestication to modern genetic engineering technologies that mark the next wave of the green revolution. Robert Augustine.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of any 200-level Biology.
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 360 - Animal Communication Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
All animals use communication to navigate interactions with other individuals. At its most basic animal communication is a feedback loop. Senders produce signals which travel through the environment and are picked up by a receiver. The reception of the signal changes the behavior of the receiver through either voluntary or involuntary neural and hormonal changes; this, in turn, changes the behavior of the sender. In this course we discuss (1) how animal signals are produced, transmitted, and received; (2) how information transfer has evolved and been optimized; (3) how animals use communication in mate attraction, social integration, and predator-prey interactions; and (4) the controversy surrounding the definition of communication. Animal communication is a highly interdisciplinary field and we explore the chemical and physical properties of signals, as well as the mathematical models, neural and hormonal control, and the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of animal communication. This course also examines animal communication in the wild and thus some self-scheduled field work is required. Megan Gall.
Prerequisite(s): Two 200-level courses, with at least one of the following: BIOL 226 , BIOL 228 , BIOL 241 , or NEUR 201 .
One 3-hour period plus one 75-minute period.
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BIOL 370 - Immunology
1 unit(s)
An examination of the immune response at the cellular and molecular levels. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity, the role of the microbiome in immunity, and the structure, function, and synthesis of antibodies. Mechanisms for recognition, communication, and cooperation between different classes of lymphocytes in producing immune responses are also stressed, as are the genetic basis of immunological diversity and the cellular definition of “self” which makes each individual unique. Immune tolerance, the immunological basis of transplantation, allergic responses, tumor immunology, and immune deficiency diseases are discussed.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 and two units of 200-level Biology.
Recommended: BIOL 218 , BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 , BIOL 248 , or BIOL 272 .
Two 75-minute periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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BIOL 375 - Sensory Ecology
1 unit(s)
There are many behaviors that are critical to the survival and reproduction of animals including finding food, avoiding predators, attracting mates, and raising offspring. The ability to successfully engage in these behaviors is dependent on the ability of organisms to acquire and respond to information in their environment. In this course we will discuss the concept of information, the types of information available in the environment, the diversity of sensory systems animals have evolved to exploit that information, and how sensory information and processing influence behavior. Sensory ecology is a highly interdisciplinary field and we make use of mathematical, physical, chemical and biological principals. The class is divided among traditional lectures, student led discussions of the primary literature, and hands-on experiences with sensory ecology data collection and analysis. Megan Gall.
Prerequisite(s): One unit of any 200-level Biology and One of the following: BIOL 226 , BIOL 228 , BIOL 241 , or NEUR 201 .
Two 75-minute periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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BIOL 379 - Today’s News in Biology
1 unit(s)
This course explores trending topics in the media that are related to biology. We examine how the topic is portrayed by different media sources, research the scientific literature to develop an independent understanding of the topic, and discuss related social and ethical issues. Possible topics may include: emergence of antibiotic resistance; probiotics; overfishing; sports-related head injuries; genetic engineering; climate change; degradation of natural ecosystems; emerging infectious diseases; vaccines. Hughey.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of any 200-level Biology.
Two 2-hour periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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BIOL 381 - Topics in Ecosystem Ecology - Ecosystem Structure and Function Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 381 ) Topic for 2018/19a: Microbes and the Environment. In many ways, life on Earth could not exist without the activity of microbes. This course explores the functional roles that microbial organisms play in ecological systems. In addition, you learn how humans are using microbial organisms to maintain the health of the planet, as well as our own bodies. Finally, this course introduces you to some of the approaches that are used to better understand these microbial organisms and their functions. There is a strong emphasis on the primary literature. Myra Hughey.
Prerequisite(s): One course in Ecology (e.g., BIOL 241 or BIOL 356 at Vassar, or a course taken elsewhere).
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BIOL 382 - Topics in Biology Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
A multi-level examination of advanced topics in biology, this course is an integrative evaluation of current topics in biology, particularly topics in animal or human biology. Emphasis is placed on current thinking and research and course material is drawn from the recent biological literature.
Topic for 2018/19b: Animal Migration. From zooplankton, to monarch butterfly, to humpback whale, migration is a widespread phenomenon among taxa that has fascinated humans for centuries. While migrating is vital for some organisms, it comes with many challenges to overcome. This course provides an introduction to the study of animal migration and explores fundamental questions (e.g., “why do animals migrate?”, “How do they migrate?”) by focusing on some major physiological, behavioral, and ecological components of migration. In particular, participants examine 1) how organisms balance the energetic needs of migration, 2) how organisms navigate their journey, 3) the mechanisms triggering migration, and 4) the contribution of migratory organisms to the functioning of ecosystems. Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to a) understand and explain major concepts and theories in animal migration, b) be familiar with key scientific literature in the field, c) critically evaluate research studies in the field and lead discussion, and d) appreciate the interdisciplinary aspect of the study of animal migration. Aude Lochet.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level Biology.
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 383 - Hormones and Behavior Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course is a comparative examination of hormones and behavior in animals. We take an evolutionary approach to this topic by emphasizing (1) the common selective pressures that act on all animals and the common hormonal and behavioral responses to these pressures, and (2) how extreme selective pressures drive the evolution of unique mechanisms in the field of behavioral endocrinology. Half lecture, half student-led discussions from the primary literature. Kelli Duncan.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level Biology or one unit of 200-level Biology and NEUR 201 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 384 - The Ecology of Evolution Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course explores the causes of adaptive radiation, possibly the most common syndrome of proliferation of taxa, through evidence that has accumulated since the formulation of the theory. The course reviews the ecological theory of adaptive radiation, the progress of adaptive radiation and phenotypic evolution, the origins of ecological diversity, divergent natural selection between environments, the ecological basis of speciation, and ecological opportunity. Primary literature is used to develop a richer understanding of the theory of adaptive radiation, whose origins trace back to Darwin (1859).
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level Biology courses.
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 386 - Stem Cell Biology Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Stem cell biology lies at the intersection of developmental/cell biology and medicine. This fast-moving field brings together many aspects of basic and applied biology and medicine including development, regeneration/repair, and cancer. This course covers a broad range of topics relevant to stem cell biology. We also consider the potential consequences and limitations of stem cell therapy, particularly the connection between stem cells and cancer. The format gives students both a broad background and the opportunity to apply critical thinking skills to recent data in this field. Since this is an upper level course, it assumes a basic understanding of genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology, and so concepts drawing from these fields will not be covered in depth. This means that some students may find additional background reading necessary. Class material draws from primary literature and students participate in active discussion and presentations. Nancy Pokrywka.
Prerequisite(s): Two 200-level courses including one of the following: BIOL 218 , 238 , 244 , 248 , or 272 , and at least one semester of organic chemistry.
Two 75-minute periods.
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BIOL 387 - Symbiotic Interactions
1 unit(s)
From the evolution of eukaryotic cells to the creation of entire ecosystems, endosymbiosis is a driving force in biology. This course provides an integrative perspective on host-symbiont interactions in diverse endosymbioses. We spend the first half of the semester examining the critical roles of symbiosis in ecology, evolution, and human systems. Then, we examine the underlying cellular and molecular processes that lead to an integrated host-symbiont partnership, for example mechanisms of host-symbiont recognition, regulation of nutrient exchange, and genomic interactions. Jodi Schwarz.
Prerequisite(s): Two 200-level Biology courses, including one of the following: BIOL 205 , BIOL 218 , BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 , BIOL 248 .
Two 2-hour periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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BIOL 388 - Virology Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Viruses cause significant diseases in humans, such as AIDS, influenza, and ebola. On the edge between living and non-living things, viruses invade, take over and alter cells in order to reproduce and transmit. Virus structure, replication and pathogenesis, major viral diseases, the immune response to viruses, and vaccination are major topics of discussion. David Esteban.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level biology, including one of BIOL 205 , BIOL 218 , BIOL 238 , BIOL 244 , BIOL 248 , BIOL 272 ; or permission of the instructor.
Two 2-hour periods.
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BIOL 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 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.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
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Chemistry: I. Introductory |
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CHEM 108 - General Chemistry Semester Offered: Fall
0 or 1 unit(s)
This course covers fundamental aspects of general chemistry in two semesters, including descriptive chemistry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, states of matter, properties of solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, and electrochemistry. Most of the work is quantitative in nature. The department.
First semester of the two-semester sequence CHEM108/109 .
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 109 - General Chemistry Semester Offered: Spring
0 or 1 unit(s)
This course covers fundamental aspects of general chemistry in two semesters, including descriptive chemistry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, states of matter, properties of solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, and electrochemistry. Most of the work is quantitative in nature. The department.
Second semester of the two-semester sequence CHEM 108 /109.
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 125 - Chemical Principles Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
0 or 1 unit(s)
This course is designed to cover the important aspects of general chemistry in one semester, and is appropriate for students who have previously studied chemistry. The material covered includes chemical reactions, stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, and general chemical physics, emphasizing the fundamental aspects of and connections between equilibria, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics. The department.
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 135 - Introduction to Forensic Chemistry
1 unit(s)
Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry in the study of evidence in criminal or civil cases. This course covers underlying chemistry concepts and scientific methods as applied to the study of the forensic evidence. An introductory level of organic and polymer chemistry relevant to the study of forensic evidence is also included. Students apply modern analytical methods in the study of glass samples, fingerprints, hair and fibers, paints, drugs, trace metals, and arson investigations. The analytical methods include thin layer chromatography (TLC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography, GCMS, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The format of the course is based on lectures, laboratory exercises, case study discussions, and several guest speakers on select topics in forensics science. Sarjit Kaur.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 145 - Chemistry Research Techniques
0.5 or 1 unit(s)
This course provides an introduction to modern research instrumentation and techniques in chemistry through multiple-week laboratory projects. Students get experience with the use of advanced instrumentation, and in interpreting and analyzing the experimental results. Topics may include: structural characterization with X-ray crystallography; materials analysis with scanning probe microscopies; polymer synthesis and characterization; synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials; computational chemistry to perform theoretical ab initio calculations and computer modeling of biomolecules. Zachary Donhauser.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 125 .
Enrollment by permission of the instructor.
One 50-minute period; one 4-hour laboratory.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 146 - The Culture and Chemistry of Cuisine
1 unit(s)
(Same as STS 146 ) A basic biological need of all organisms is the ability to acquire nutrients from the environment; humans accomplish this in many creative ways. Food is an important factor in societies that influences population growth, culture, migration, and conflict. Humans discovered the science and art of food preparation, topics that are explored in this course, not in a single step but rather as an evolving process that continues to this day. This course develops the basic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology of food preparation; explores the biochemical basis of certain nutritional practices; covers social and political aspects of foods throughout world history. It covers controversies like genetically modified organisms, the production of high-fructose corn syrup, and the historic role of food commodities such as salt, rum, and cod in the world economy. Course topics are explored through lectures, student presentations, and readings from both popular and scientific literature. The course includes a few laboratories to explore the basic science behind food preparation. Miriam Rossi.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 198 - First-Year Independent Research Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 unit(s)
Students perform independent chemistry research under the direction of a faculty member of their choosing. Attendance at regularly scheduled department seminars/events is required to satisfactorily complete the course. The department.
Open only to first-year students.
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Chemistry: II. Intermediate |
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CHEM 244 - Organic Chemistry: Structure and Properties Semester Offered: Fall
0 or 1 unit(s)
An introduction to the structure of organic molecules and to their nomenclature. Among the properties of organic compounds, shape, charge distribution, and spectroscopic properties are emphasized. Laboratory work includes isolation, physical transformations and identification of organic compounds including the application of gas chromatography and infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 109 or CHEM 125 .
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 245 - Organic Chemistry: Reactions and Mechanisms Semester Offered: Spring
0 or 1 unit(s)
A study of the reactions of organic compounds from a mechanistic point of view. Laboratory work includes synthesis, qualitative analysis, and quantitative investigation of reaction rates and equilibria which emphasize mechanistic considerations. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 .
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 255 - Introduction to Forensic Chemistry Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as STS 255 ) Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry in the study of evidence in criminal or civil cases. This course covers underlying chemistry concepts and scientific methods in the analysis and evaluation of several types of forensic evidence. Topics include crime scene investigation and case studies, overview of rules of evidence, finger-printing analysis, GCMS and FTIR characterization of organic compounds and fibers, hair and glass analysis, and DNA profiling. Sarjit Kaur.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 .
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 272 - Biochemistry Semester Offered: Spring
0 or 1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 272 ) Basic course covering protein structure and synthesis, enzyme action, bio-energetic principles, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, selected metabolic pathways in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Collin Aitken, Eric Eberhardt, Krystle McLaughlin, William Straus.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 and BIOL 106 .
Three 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 275 - Computational Methods in Chemistry
0.5 unit(s)
This course introduces several molecular modeling methods in computational chemistry (molecular mechanics, semi-empirical and ab-initio methods, and density functional theory) to study geometries, properties, and reactivities of organic compounds; an introductory level of theory is presented to delineate the basis of these molecular modeling methods. The course also includes computational laboratory exercises to supplement concepts covered in lectures, and project-based exercises to explore applications of computational methods in the study of chemical systems.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 290 - Field Work
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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CHEM 297 - Reading Course Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
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CHEM 298 - Independent Research Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Students perform independent chemistry research under the direction of a faculty member of their choosing. Attendance at regularly scheduled department seminars/events is required to satisfactorily complete the course. The department.
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Chemistry: III. Advanced |
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CHEM 300 - Senior Thesis Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1 unit(s)
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CHEM 323 - Protein Chemistry Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
A detailed study of the structure and function of proteins. Structure determination, mechanisms of catalysis and regulation, and the interactions of enzymes in complex systems are treated. Krystle McLaughlin.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 350 or CHEM 272 . Corequisite(s): CHEM 350
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHEM 324 - Molecular Biology Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as BIOL 324 ) An examination of the macromolecular processes underlying storage, transfer, and expression of genetic information. Topics include the structure, function, and synthesis of DNA; mutation and repair; the chemistry of RNA and protein synthesis; the regulation of gene expression; cancer and oncogenes; the molecular basis of cell differentiation; and genetic engineering. Collin Aitken.
Prerequisite(s): One unit of any 200-level biology and One unit of biochemistry (BIOL 272 /CHEM 272 or CHEM 325 ).
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHEM 325 - Topics in Biochemistry Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course explores the intersection of biology and chemistry. Topics include the structure and function of proteins, bioenergetics, information flows and the molecular basis for metabolic pathways. Eric Eberhardt.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 , BIOL 105 or BIOL 106 .
This course does NOT meet the biochemistry major requirement. Students may not take both BIOL 272 /CHEM 272 and Chem 325.
Three 50-minute or two 75-minute periods.
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CHEM 326 - Inorganic Chemistry Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
An introduction to structure and reactivity of inorganic, coordination, and organometallic compounds, including the following topics: chemical applications of group theory, atomic and molecular structure, theories of bonding, the solid state, coordination chemistry, inorganic reaction mechanisms, and organometallic chemistry. Miriam Rossi.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 352 , or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHEM 342 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Selected topics in organic chemistry such as stereochemistry, conformational analysis, carbanions, carbocations, radicals, kinetic and thermodynamic control of reactions, mechanisms, synthesis. Christopher Smart.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 , CHEM 350 , or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CHEM 350 - Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Equations of state for gases; the laws of thermodynamics; solutions and phase equilibria; chemical equilibrium and chemical kinetics. Zachary Donhauser.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 ; PHYS 113 , PHYS 114 ; MATH 121 , MATH 126 and MATH 127 or the equivalent; or permission of the instructor.
Three 50-minute periods.
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CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry: Molecular Structure Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Introductory wave mechanics and bonding theories; electrical and magnetic properties of molecules; spectroscopy; statistical mechanics. Leah Bendavid.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 ; PHYS 113 , PHYS 114 ; MATH 121 , MATH 126 and MATH 127 or the equivalent; or permission of the instructor.
Three 50-minute periods.
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CHEM 357 - Chemical Physics
1 unit(s)
The course includes selected topics which are of interest to chemistry majors as well as biochemistry and physics majors. Possible topics include applications of group theory, interaction of radiation with matter, molecular spectroscopy, reaction kinetics, reaction rate theory, and statistical mechanics. The material covered in any particular semester depends on the mutual interests of the instructor and the students. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 350 and CHEM 352 or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 362 - Instrumental Analysis Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
An introduction to chemical analysis, this course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and chromatographic -methods, including topics in instrumentation, statistics, and chemometrics. Stuart Belli.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 or permission of the instructor.
Three 50-minute periods.
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CHEM 365 - Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds
0.5 unit(s)
This course focuses on the use of modern analytical instrumentation to identify unknown organic compounds. Students get extensive hands-on experience using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HETCOR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Working with weekly unknowns, students learn to interpret spectra and assemble the data necessary to support both a formula and structure determination. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 .
One 4-hour laboratory.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 370 - Advanced Laboratory Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 or 1 unit(s)
Advanced laboratory work may be elected in the field of organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, biochemistry, or environmental chemistry. The department.
Prerequisite(s): A 300-level course in the pertinent field. Corequisite(s): A 300-level course in the pertinent field.
One 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 372 - Integrated Chemistry Laboratory Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course provides a comprehensive laboratory experience in chemistry. Selected experiments teach advanced chemistry techniques and reinforce principles introduced in 300 level chemistry courses. The course exposes students to chemistry as an integrated subject, tying together the sub-disciplines that are traditionally offered as independent courses. This includes: instrumental analysis, physical chemistry, biochemistry, environmental, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Alison Spodek Keimowitz and Joseph Tanski.
One 50-minute period; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 373 - Integrated Chemistry Laboratory Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
This course provides a comprehensive laboratory experience in chemistry. Selected experiments teach advanced chemistry techniques and reinforce principles introduced in 300 level chemistry courses. The course exposes students to chemistry as an integrated subject, tying together the sub-disciplines that are traditionally offered as independent courses. This includes: instrumental analysis, physical chemistry, biochemistry, environmental, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Stuart Belli and Zachary Donhauser.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 372 .
One 50-minute period; one 4-hour laboratory.
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CHEM 375 - Aquatic Chemistry Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 or 1 unit(s)
(Same as ENST 375 ) This course is a qualitative and quantitative treatment of chemical processes in atmospheric, aqueous, and soil environments. Geochemical cycles of major and trace elements through these reservoirs are explored including the magnitude of anthropogenic perturbations. General topics include isotope geochemistry, equilibrium thermodynamics, solubility and precipitation, acid-base equilibria, oxidation-reduction chemistry, and remediation of organic and inorganic pollution. Alison Keimowitz.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 245 ; PHYS 113 , PHYS 114 ; MATH 121 , MATH 126 and MATH 127 or the equivalent; or permission of the instructor.
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CHEM 382 - Special Topics in Organic Chemistry: Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
1 unit(s)
Properties and uses of selected polymers (thermally stable, conducting, and biodegradable). This course includes organic and kinetic aspects of polymerizations, characterization techniques for structure determination, thermal and -mechanical properties, and measurement of molecular weight and distribution. Laboratory techniques and experiments leading to synthesis, characterization and physical properties of selected polymers (synthesized or commercially available polymers) are emphasized. Sarjit Kaur.
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 244 /CHEM 245 or permission of the instructor.
Two 50-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHEM 399 - Senior Independent Research
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Students perform independent chemistry research under the direction of a faculty member of their choosing. Attendance at regularly scheduled department seminars/events is required to satisfactorily complete the course. The department.
Open only to seniors.
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Chinese/Japanese: I. Introductory |
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CHJA 120 - Introduction to Chinese and Japanese Literature Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
China and Japan have rich cultures that have deeply influenced one another. This course introduces some of the major works of Chinese and Japanese literature, including philosophical works, novels and films. Thematically, the course is organized around the way that major intellectual trends (including Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism) resonate in text from both cultures. Among the readings are novels dealing with love and sexuality (including China’s Dream of the Red Chamber and Japan’s The Tale of Genji), works about martial virtues (such as the Chinese novel Three Kingdoms and the Japanese play Chushingura), as well as selected poetry, short stories and films. All readings and discussions are in English. Li Kang.
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Chinese/Japanese: II. Intermediate |
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CHJA 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 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.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of Chinese or Japanese.
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CHJA 298 - Independent Study Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 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.
Prerequisite(s): Two units of Chinese or Japanese.
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Chinese/Japanese: III. Advanced |
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CHJA 351 - Special Topics in Chinese and Japanese Literature and Culture
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 351 ) Topics vary each year. Can be repeated for credit when a new topic is offered.
Prerequisite(s): Two courses in a combination of language, linguistics, literature, culture, or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHJA 361 - Chinese and Japanese Drama and Theatre
1 unit(s)
(Same as DRAM 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. Wenwei Du.
Prerequisite(s): One 200-level course in language, literature, culture, drama or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHJA 362 - Women in Japanese and Chinese Literature
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 362 and WMST 362 ) An intercultural examination of the images of women presented in Japanese and Chinese narrative, drama, and poetry from their early emergence to the modern period. While giving critical attention to aesthetic issues and the gendered voices in representative works, the course also provides a comparative view of the dynamic changes in women’s roles in Japan and China. All selections are in English translation. Peipei Qiu.
Prerequisite(s): One 200-level course in language, literature, culture or Asian Studies, or permission of the instructor.
One 2-hour period.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHJA 366 - Seminar in Transcending the Limit: Literary Theory in the East-West Context
1 unit(s)
(Same as ASIA 366 ) This course examines various traditional and contemporary literary theories with a distinct Asianist—particularly East Asianist—perspective. At least since the eighteenth century, Western theoretical discourse often took into serious consideration East Asian literature, language and civilization in their construction of “universal” theoretical discourses. The comparative approach to literary theory becomes imperative in contemporary theoretical discourse as we move toward ever greater global integration. Selected theoretical texts from the I Ching, Hegel, Genette, Barthes, Derrida, Todorov, and Heidegger as well as some primary literary texts are among the required readings. All readings are in English. Haoming Liu.
Prerequisite(s): One literature course or permission of the instructor.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CHJA 399 - Senior Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 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.
Prerequisite(s): Four units of Chinese or Japanese.
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College Course: I. Introductory |
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CLCS 100 - The Theater of Chekhov and Stanislavski: Higher, Lighter, Simpler, More Joyful
1 unit(s)
This course is designed to explore the major works of late nineteenth-century playwright Anton Chekhov. Through careful reading, discussion, writing, and occasional performance of these works students will discover the ways in which this Russian dramatist has come to shape what’s thought of as modern drama. By looking at each play act by act, Seagull, Three Sisters, Uncle Vanya, and The Cherry Orchard the class will explore the links they share to one another as well as to theatrical tradition at large. The work of Constantine Stanislavski, first to stage these works (as well as the artist to develop the process of “method” acting, and to define the role of the modern stage director), will be used to better understand these plays and their performance. Though this course will be of particular interest to students of theater, non-theater students are encouraged to enroll. Christopher Grabowski.
Open only to first-year students; satisfies college requirement for a First-Year Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CLCS 101 - Civilization in Question
1 unit(s)
(Same as GRST 101 and MRST 101 ) In the past, college curricula in this country were often organized around the idea of the “Great Books” of “Western Civilization.” Today though, the very idea of a Western literary canon has been challenged as a vehicle for reinforcing questionable norms and hierarchies and silencing other important perspectives. In this class we read well-known ancient, medieval and Renaissance texts with a view to how they themselves question the civilizations from which they emerge. A unique feature of this class is that it is taught by faculty from three different disciplines who bring a variety of interpretive practices to bear on the texts. This creates a classroom environment in which dialogue is the means to discovery. Students are encouraged to be part of the conversation both during class and in weekly discussion sections. Readings may include such authors as Homer, Aeschylus, Plato, Augustine, Chretien de Troyes, and Machiavelli. Nancy Bisaha, Rachel Friedman, and Christopher Raymond.
Two 75-minute periods plus extra periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CLCS 150 - Revolution, Evolution, and the Global Nineteenth Century Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
(Same as HIST 150 and VICT 150 ) The world as we know it largely came into being during the nineteenth century. Marked by social, political, cultural, and technological transformations, the nineteenth century witnessed the emergence of modernity out of the instabilities of change. Railways crisscrossed continents; European empires expanded; agricultural laborers flocked into mushrooming urban centers; and the enslaved, the colonized, and the disenfranchised around the world fought for liberty and citizenship. In this course, we consider these and other nineteenth-century transformations in a global context by focusing on the interconnections between North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Our investigations are organized around five core areas: revolutions, emancipations, evolution and progress, popular culture, and the domestic sphere. Students analyze a variety of sources, including novels, plays, short stories, photographs, early films, paintings, periodicals and pamphlets, government documents, letters, music, and scientific works. The course is team taught with occasional guest lectures. Lydia Murdoch and Susan Zlotnick.
Three 50-minute periods.
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CLCS 151 - Introduction to Contemplative Studies Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course provides an introduction to how people deepen and broaden their attention and awareness, and why it matters for individuals and societies. Cultures and disciplines have long traditions for promoting concentration and reflection, and students will explore and appraise such practices and perspectives. In addition to working with scholarly “third person perspective” sources on contemplative process, students engage in a variety of contemplative practices (which provide “first person perspective”, and occasionally “second person perspective”). Topics may include critical contemplative pedagogy; embodied experience; non-violent communication; deep listening; cultivating attention and intention; storytelling; emotion and motivation; language and thought; contemplative movement; contemplative arts; social activism; constructing contemplative places; visualizations; imagination; improvisation; interdependence; contemplative leadership; personal and institutional transformation; and taking a critical decolonizing approach to contemplative studies itself. Readings include extensive scholarly and practice-based sources. Assignments include journaling, observing, interviewing, and critiquing sources and experiences. Carolyn Palmer.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CLCS 160 - Issues in Feminism: Bodies and Texts Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
(Same as WMST 160 ) This course is an introduction to issues in feminism with a focus on the female body and its representations. We read and write about a variety of texts, consider historical objects as well literary documents, and analyze visual materials from art, fashion, advertising, and film from the nineteenth century to the present. Particular focus is given to women’s bodies in visual, material, and literary culture. We make use of Vassar resources such as the Rare Book Collection, the Costume Shop and the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. Kathleen Hart.
Open only to first-year students; satisfies the college requirement for a First-Year Writing Seminar.
Two 75-minute periods.
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CLCS 183 - Vassar For Veterans Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)
This course is designed to help Posse veterans acclimate to Vassar and introduce them to the array of campus resources available to them. It gives Vassar veterans the opportunity to explore the issues and challenges they face as non-traditional students at a residential liberal arts college, and it identifies strategies for making the transition to college and succeeding within Vassar’s rigorous academic environment. Taught by the Posse Faculty Mentor.
Open to first-year Posse veterans.
One 2-hour group meeting and one 1-hour individual meeting per week.
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CLCS 189 - Navigating New Places and Times: Successful Transitions to College Life Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
This course is designed particularly for students with a strong need and desire to develop knowledge, cultural practices, and resources that promote personal wellness, academic success, and leadership ability in the college environment. Specifically, it introduces first-year students to the learning community that is Vassar, helping students explore campus resources, understand college practices, and build skills necessary for successful navigation of, and contribution to, college life. Drawing on standpoint epistemology and testimonio, this course approaches the time of transition into college as a process of personal reinvention, in which the student simultaneously retains a sense of home and self, engages in personal exploration, and transforms to become a member of a new learning community. As students analyze a variety of texts, engage in exercises that encourage self-awareness, and cultivate a network of allies with peers, faculty, administrators, and staff, they are expected to explore scholarly and artistic ways of thinking, writing, collaborating, and being. Among the questions the course considers are: How is Vassar’s learning community organized, what are its conventions, and what are useful points of access? How might a student honor their roots while continuing to grow further away from them? This course is open to first-year students only, and one component of the course requires six sessions, at an off-campus site, in addition to regular class meetings. Candice Lowe Swift.
Prerequisite(s): Registration is by permission of the instructor.
Two 75-minute periods plus extra periods.
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College Course: II. Intermediate |
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CLCS 256 - Building Inclusive Communities Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
0.5 unit(s)
(Same as EDUC 256 ) As Vassar College continues to work toward establishing a community characterized by a strong sense of inclusion and belonging, and one that can sustain challenging dialogues, we seek to support this college-wide goal. This course explores four critical themes related to developing and sustaining inclusive communities: personal growth and well-being; intimacy; social identity & power; and effective communication & conflict resolution. Skills and knowledge in these areas can be immediately applied to nurturing more supportive, resilient, and effective student living situations, clubs, teams, classes, and the college-wide community. They are also very important to success and well-being beyond college life – in family and personal relationships, work situations, civic engagement and volunteer situations, activist groups, etc.
Enrolled students should be prepared to step outside their “comfort zones.” They should have an interest in actively engaging in class discussions and experiential exercises, they should have an interest in learning techniques, gaining tools and increasing skills to effectively communicate across differences (differences in living styles and habits, differences in social identity, and differences in personal identity), they should be prepared to explore how vulnerability can benefit them and their relationships, and to explore the relationship between their own personal growth and well-being and the well-being of the communities they are a part of. Candice Lowe Swift.
First six-week course.
One 3-hour period.
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CLCS 284 - Reclaiming the Sacred: Holism, Wisdom, and Wellness Semester Offered: Spring
0.5 unit(s)
In this highly experiential 6-week course, we start by surveying key findings of psychology and anthropology to explore understandings and practices related to human well-being. Based on these, students design “personal journeys” of activities they wish to experiment within and outside of the classroom, to nurture senses of joy and purpose in their personal and collective lives. We draw on the work of scholars and artists from a variety of traditions, including Robert Holden, Audre Lorde, Kristin Neff, Sobonfu Somé, Tara Brach, bell hooks, Joanna Macy, Brené Brown, Thich Nhat Hanh, as we explore wellness and wisdom traditions. Key themes are gratitude and presence, self-compassion and vulnerability, and healthy relationships with emotions and adversity, and wellness practices include weekly meditations and gratitude circles.
Much of the work in these fields in the United States has been highly represented by and attentive to practices rooted in Western European and mainstream American, middle- and upper-middle class epistemologies from these regions. We will explore what wisdom and knowledge are in that work for all of us, while also incorporating perspectives from Asia, Africa, and of people of color and lower-income people in the U.S. We consciously invite a critical lens and alternative perspectives.
This course is highly experiential and requires of students a desire to try activities and explore topics that may be outside their comfort zone. Students should come prepared to take risks, try new things, be engaged, and be supportive of each other. Course offered by Candice Lowe Swift, co-facilitated with Jeff Golden.
Second six-week course.
One 3-hour period.
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CLCS 290 - Field Work
0.5 or 1 unit(s)
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CLCS 298 - Independent Research
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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College Course: III. Advanced |
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CLCS 301 - History, Memory, and Legacies of the Holocaust
1 unit(s)
After WWII the Holocaust emerged as a universal evil that holds lessons beyond the boundaries of Western civilization. While scholars have been relying on different theoretical models to understand the Holocaust, reflection on this unprecedented genocide itself has shifted theoretical discussion in many disciplines. This course looks at the legacies of the Holocaust from a variety of different disciplines by discussing texts, films, and memorials with German students at the University of Potsdam. The exchange takes place at two different levels in the course of the semester: together with their German partners, students discuss readings and work on research projects in the MOO, our online learning environment at Vassar; and in a second phase, Vassar students travel to Berlin and German students to New York to complete on-site research for their projects. Maria Höhn, Silke von der Emde, Debra Zeifman.
By special permission.
One 3-hour period.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CLCS 302 - Adaptations
1 unit(s)
(Same as ENGL 302 and MEDS 302 ) If works of art continue each other, as Virginia Woolf suggested, then cultural history accumulates when generations of artists think and talk together across time. What happens when one of those artists switches to another language, another genre, another mode or medium? In the twenty-first century we may reframe Woolf’s conversation in terms of intertextuality—art invokes and revises other art—but the questions remain more or less unchanged: What motivates and shapes adaptations? What role does technology play? Audience? What constitutes a faithful adaptation? “Faithful” to what or whom? In this course we consider the biological model, looking briefly at Darwin’s ideas about the ways organisms change in order to survive, and then explore analogies across a range of media. We’ll begin with Virgil’s Georgics; move on to Metamorphoses, Ovid’s free adaptations of classical myths; and follow Orpheus and Eurydice through two thousand years of theater (Euripides, Anouilh, Ruhl, Zimmerman); painting and sculpture (Dürer, Rubens, Poussin, Klee, Rodin); film and television (Pasolini, Cocteau, Camus, Luhrmann); dance (Graham, Balanchine, Bausch); music (Monteverdi, Gluck, Stravinsky, Birtwistle, Glass); narratives and graphic narratives (Pynchon, Delany, Gaiman, Hoban); verse (Rilke, H.D., Auden, Ashbery, Milosz, Heaney, Atwood, Mullen, Strand); and computer games (Battle of Olympus, Shin Megami Tensei). During the second half of the semester, we investigate other adaptations and their theoretical implications, looking back from time to time at what we’ve learned from the protean story of Eurydice and Orpheus and their countless progeny. M. Mark.
One 3-hour period.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CLCS 384 - Transnational Queer: Genders, Sexualities, Identities
1 unit(s)
(Same as INTL 384 and WMST 384 ) What does it mean to be Queer? This seminar examines, critiques, and interrogates queer identities and constructions in France and North America. In what ways do diverse cultures engage with discourses on gender and sexuality? Can or should our understanding of queerness change depending on cultural contexts? Through guest lectures and discussion seminars, the course examines a broad range of queer cultural production, from fiction to cinema and performance. Topics include such diverse issues as queer bodies, national citizenship, sexual politics, legal discourse, and aesthetic representation. All lectures, readings, and discussions are in English. Vinay Swamy.
Prerequisite(s): First-Year Writing Seminar and one 200-level course.
By special permission.
One 3-hour period.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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Computer Science: I. Introductory |
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CMPU 101 - Computer Science I: Problem-Solving and Abstraction Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Introduces the fundamentals of computer science by introducing the functional programming paradigm, including basic recursive and iterative algorithms, data structures such as lists, vectors and trees. Introduces procedural and data abstraction, and elementary programming patterns. A weekly laboratory period provides guided hands-on experience. The department.
Open to all classes.
Two 75-minute periods plus laboratory.
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CMPU 145 - Foundations of Computer Science Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Introduces the theoretical, structural and algorithmic foundations of computer science. Topics include: sets, relations, functions, recursive data structures, recursive functions, induction, structural induction, probability, logic, and boolean algebra. Concepts are reinforced by regular programming assignments. A weekly laboratory period provides guided hands-on experience. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 101 .
Open to all classes.
CMPU 145 and CMPU 102 may be taken in either order or concurrently.
CMPU 145 and CMPU 203 may be taken in either order or concurrently.
Two 75-minute periods plus laboratory.
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Computer Science: II. Intermediate |
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CMPU 203 - Computer Science III: Software Design and Implementation Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Develops techniques for design and implementation of complex software systems. Advanced techniques in object-oriented modeling, design patterns, component libraries, inheritance, parametric polymorphism, generic algorithms, containers, iterators, function objects and storage management, with a focus on collaborative software development. Advanced topics in programming and Graphical User Interface (GUI) development are covered. Development of a software system of significant complexity is required. A weekly laboratory period provides guided hands-on experience. The department.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 .
CMPU 203 and CMPU 145 may be taken in either order or concurrently.
Two 75-minute periods plus laboratory.
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CMPU 224 - Computer Organization Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Examines the hierarchical structure of computing systems, from digital logic and microprogramming through machine and assembly languages. Topics include the structure and workings of the central processor, instruction execution, memory and register organization, addressing schemes, input and output channels, and control sequencing. The course includes a weekly hardware/software laboratory where digital logic is explored and assembly language programming projects are implemented. Jason Waterman.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 and CMPU 145 .
Two 75-minute periods plus laboratory.
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CMPU 235 - Programming Languages Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)
Introduces a systematic approach to understanding the behavior of programming languages. Topics include interpreters; static and dynamic scope; environments; binding and assignment; functions and recursion; continuation passing; parameter-passing and method dispatch; objects, classes, inheritance, and polymorphism; type rules and type checking. Sameer Pradhan.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 and CMPU 145
Two 75-minute periods.
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CMPU 240 - Language Theory and Computation Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Study of regular sets, context free grammars and languages, finite and push-down automata, as well as more powerful models of computation, such as Turing machines. Provides theoretical foundations for CMPU 331 . Jonathan Gordon.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 and CMPU 145 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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CMPU 241 - Analysis of Algorithms Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)
Introduces the systematic study of algorithms and their analysis with regard to time and space complexity. Topics include divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming, greediness, randomization, upper and lower-bound analysis, and introduction to NP completeness. Emphasis is placed on general design and analysis techniques that underlie algorithmic paradigms. Builds a foundation for advanced work in computer science. Rui Meireles, Jennifer Walter.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 and CMPU 145 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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CMPU 245 - Declarative Programming Models Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)
Declarative programming languages are important alternatives to the imperative languages used in most software systems. This course covers two kinds of declarative programming: functional programming and logic programming. Topics include the semantics of declarative languages, techniques for programming in declarative languages, and the use of mathematical logic as a tool for reasoning about programs. Marc Smith.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 and CMPU 145 .
Two 75-minute periods.
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CMPU 250 - Modeling, Simulation and Analysis
1 unit(s)
Principles of computation in the sciences, driven by current applications in biology, physics, chemistry, natural and social sciences, and computer science. Topics include: Discrete and continuous stochastic models, random number generation, elementary statistics, numerical analysis and algorithms, discrete event simulation, and point and interval parameter estimation. Students pursue projects that involve modeling phenomena in two to three different fields and simulate the model in order to understand mechanisms and/or explore new hypotheses or conditions.
Prerequisite(s): CMPU 102 , MATH 126 and MATH 127 .
Recommended: CMPU 241 and/or MATH 221 but not required.
Two 75-minute periods.
Not offered in 2018/19.
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CMPU 290 - Field Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
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CMPU 295 - Special Topics Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Intermediate-level treatment of specialized topics in computer science.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
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CMPU 298 - Independent Work Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
0.5 to 1 unit(s)
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
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