Middlebury

Course Catalog - Middlebury College - Fall 2022, Spring 2023

Generated on .
↑ Top

African American Studies Minor

This program offers a minor in African American studies to students who complete the following requirements:

1) Core courses, designed to offer theoretical perspectives and broad background, including the following:

  • HIST 0225 African American History
  • AMST 0224 Race and Ethnicity in the US

2) Two of the following courses, which are more focused explorations of a part of the African American experience:

  • AMST 0310 Livin for the City
  • ENAM/AMST 0252 African American Literature
  • HIST/AMST 0226 The Civil Rights Revolution
  • AMST 0107 Intro to African American Culture
  • AMST/GSFS 0204 Black Comic Cultures
  • AMST/GSFS 0208 Unruly Bodies: Black Womanhood in Popular Culture
  • AMST 0345 Black Lives Matter
  • AMST/SOCI 0348 Black Ethnography
  • AMST 0259 Re-Presenting Slavery

3) One advanced, relevant 0400 level course or an independent 0500-level project.

Other appropriate courses offered during the fall and spring semesters, or during the winter term, may be substituted for at the discretion of the program director. The director or minor advisor will also approve courses to count in the 0400 level.

↑ Top

African Studies Minor

This program offers a minor in African Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

  • Five courses on Africa (as determined by the director of the African Studies minor, in consultation with the African Studies faculty)
  • Three of which must be taken at Middlebury
↑ Top

Program in American Studies

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of eleven courses including AMST 0209, AMST 0210, AMST 0400, three AMST electives, four courses in a concentration designed in consultation with a faculty advisor, and AMST 0701 or one additional elective numbered 0200 or higher.   

Electives

Three AMST electives, two of which must be numbered 0200 or higher.  These courses must be listed or cross-listed as AMST courses in the course catalog.  Courses may not count toward both the elective and concentration requirements.

Junior Seminar (AMST 0400)

Students should normally take this seminar in the Fall of their Junior year.  Where compelling circumstances make doing this impossible, arrangements to take the course as a senior may be made with the director of the American Studies program.

Senior Project (AMST 0701)

AMST majors may enroll in AMST 0701, where they will complete a substantial research project in consultation with an AMST faculty adviser. Research projects are subject to approval by the AMST faculty, who will pair each approved project with an appropriate faculty adviser. Students who envision an AMST 701 project requiring collaboration must be granted departmental approval.  Normally, AMST senior projects will be completed in one semester. The senior project may take the form of a formal written document, a multi-media project such as a video, a web project, a creative activity such as a performance, or an installation project. An oral defense is part of senior work. Senior work is one of the requirements for departmental honors (see Honors section of AMST major requirements).

Honors

Honors will be based on a student’s cumulative AMST record and the quality of their AMST 0701 project.

Concentrations

Concentrations must bring together coherent clusters of four courses that address particular themes, periods, movements, or modes of thought and expression. In consultation with an advisor and with approval of the program, students will develop an interdisciplinary concentration in one of these areas: 

Popular Culture

Students will study popular cultural forms, their reception, and the history of their production in the United States.  Courses will especially focus on the conflicts between popular culture as a site of creativity and democratic empowerment on the one hand, and as a product of dominant commercialized cultural industries on the other.

Race and Ethnicity

Students will examine specific groups in depth and in comparison, exploring racial and ethnic history, political struggles, creative and cultural practices, and individual and collective modes of identity formation.  By studying how and why racial and ethnic identities have evolved in the United States, students will understand their central place in the formation of the American nation.

Artistic and Intellectual Traditions

Students will focus on literary, religious, philosophical, and social thought and its expression in the United States.  They will be encouraged to examine particular currents of thought (e. g. evangelicalism, liberalism, romanticism, modernism, progressivism) or modes of expression (e.g. literature, visual art, or film) that have been important to American culture. 

Space and Place

Students will explore the importance of landscape and place in American culture.  Course work may include the study of American regional geography, the historical and aesthetic dimensions of the built environment, the impacts of urban growth, suburbanization, or the imagining of utopian spaces. 

Cultural Politics

Students will explore the relationship between culture, ideology, and the political system.  People create meaning about their personal and public lives through cultural practices, but those practices take place within institutional and ideological structures.  Relevant courses might explore ethics and religion; political parties and social movements; feminism and gender studies; and representation and visual culture.

Self-Designed Concentration

Self-designed concentrations must be built in close consultation with a faculty advisor and should focus on a cultural theme or interdisciplinary area of inquiry.  Potential topics might include: Gender & American Culture; American Environmentalism; Visual Culture; Industrialization of America; and Immigration and Cultural Exchanges.

Joint Major Requirements

Students may major in AMST jointly with another discipline or program. Students must discuss their rationale for doing so with their advisor in AMST and joint majors must be approved by the faculty in AMST. Required courses for a joint major in AMST are: AMST 0209, AMST 0210, AMST 0400, and 3 AMST electives.

Minor Requirements

Students may complete a minor in American Studies by taking the following courses: AMST 0210, AMST 0209, AMST 0400, three AMST electives.

Study Abroad

The faculty members of the Program in American Studies recognize the benefits of cross-cultural learning and encourage majors to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. Often students returning from study abroad undertake senior work that responds to their cultural learning while abroad. We encourage students to take courses in their study abroad program that focus on the host culture and thereby allow the best opportunity for cultural comparison.

American Studies majors normally take AMST 0400, a required seminar, in the fall semester of their junior year. Under compelling circumstances that leave only the fall available as an option for study abroad, majors may be able to take AMST 0400 in the fall semester of their senior year. Such arrangements must be discussed in advance with, and approved by, the director of the American Studies program. The American Studies program enjoys being host to exchange students from the American studies programs at the Universities of East Anglia and Nottingham in Great Britain.

AMST 0101 American Holidays (Fall 2022)

In this course we will offer an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and identity. Integrating a range of sources and methods, we will examine myths, symbols, values, and social changes that have been used to create and contest ideas of "Americanness." This year we will focus on holidays, both secular and religious, and how they have been celebrated or observed in the U.S., past and present, privately and publicly. With a multifaith and multiethnic scope, we will consider holidays such as Easter, Purim, Passover, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, Yom Kippur, and Diwali, as well as largely-secular holidays such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. We will also compare and contrast a variety of New Year festivities as they are celebrated by immigrant and diasporic communities. Sources for the course will include greeting cards, advertisements, magazine illustrations, decorations, cookbooks and recipes, genre paintings, music, photographic documentation of parades and festivals, and objects related to the celebration and observation of religious holidays from a variety of faiths and traditions. 3 hrs. AMR, CMP, SOC (E. Foutch)

AMST 0104 Television and American Culture (Spring 2023)

This course explores American life in the last seven decades through an analysis of our central medium: television. Spanning a history of television from its origins in radio to today’s digital convergence via YouTube and Netflix, we will consider television's role in both representing and constituting American society through a variety of approaches, including: the economics of the television industry, television's role within American democracy, the formal attributes of various television genres, television as a site of gender and racial identity formation, television's role in everyday life, the medium's technological transformations, and television as a site of global cultural exchange. 3 hrs. lect./disc. / 3 hrs. screen AMR, SOC (J. Mittell)
Cross-listed as: FMMC 0104 *

AMST 0108 Childhood in America (Spring 2023)

In this course we will explore “childhood” as an evolving social and cultural construct. Beginning by acknowledging great diversity in the lived experience of childhood (shaped by race, gender, geography, religion, ability/disability), we will examine representations of childhood and experiences of children from the early nineteenth century to the present. Together we will explore classic works of literature such as Alcott’s Little Women, Twain’s Huck Finn, and Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, in conversation with historical documents and visual and material artifacts (illustrations, painting, toys, and films). Throughout, we will consider how understanding conceptions of childhood illuminate American social and cultural history more broadly. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, LIT (D. Evans)

AMST 0109 U.S. Origin Stories (Spring 2023)

Some U.S. origin stories cast (white) Americans as chosen people, discoverers of a bountiful continent, their community a beacon of righteousness to the world. Other stories locate the nation's origins in slavery or in settler colonialism. One story celebrates America’s founding commitment to freedom, equality, and justice - principles which, in turn, sustain another origin story – that of America as a nation borne of and welcoming to immigrants. Origin stories might be foundational, but their meanings are never fixed. In this course we will explore the elasticity and persistence of origin stories, evident in current debates about whether U.S. history begins in 1619 or 1776, about migrant rights, about the self-determination of indigenous peoples, about white nationalism, and about U.S. global leadership. 3 hrs. lect./disc. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.* AMR, HIS (H. Allen)

AMST 0175 Immigrant America (Fall 2022)

In this course we will trace American immigration history from the late 19th to the turn of the 21st century, and examine the essential place immigration has occupied in the making of modern America and American culture. The central themes of this course will be industrialization and labor migrations, aftermaths of wars and refugees, constructions of racial categories and ethnic community identities, legal defining of "aliens" and citizenship, and diversity in immigrant experiences. To explore these themes, we will engage a range of sources including memoirs, novels, oral histories, and films. AMR, HIS (R. Joo)

AMST 0180 Critical Studies of Sport (Spring 2023)

Sports offer important contexts for the study of social relations, inequalities, and differences in North America. Sports exist as an important arena where ideas around class, gender, sexuality, race, ability, and status are embodied and performed. In this course we will discuss the significance of sports to ideas of the self as well as in broader cultural, social, economic, and political realms. We will analyze a variety of issues including the relationship of sports to media, celebrity, money, religion, and education. We will also investigate the significance of sports and athletes to contemporary processes of globalization. (Not open to students who have taken AMST 1003). AMR, SOC (R. Joo)

AMST 0203 Media, Sports, & Identity (Fall 2022)

In this course we will examine the relationship between media, sports, and the formulation of one’s identity. We will examine issues pertaining to gender identification, violence, and hero worship. Reading critical essays on the subject, studying media coverage of sporting events, and writing short analytical essays will enable us to determine key elements concerning how sports are contextualized in American culture. Student essays will form the basis of a more in-depth inquiry that each student will then present, using media, at the end of the course. (Not open to students who have taken WRPR 1002) AMR, CW, SOC (H. Vila)
Cross-listed as: WRPR 0203 *

AMST 0206 Nineteenth-Century American Literature (Fall 2022)

This course will examine major developments in the literary world of 19th century America. Specific topics to be addressed might include the transition from Romanticism to Regionalism and Realism, the origins and evolution of the novel in the United States, and the tensions arising from the emergence of a commercial marketplace for literature. Attention will also be paid to the rise of women as literary professionals in America and the persistent problematizing of race and slavery. Among others, authors may include J. F. Cooper, Emerson, Melville, Douglass, Chopin, Whitman, Dickinson, Twain, Hawthorne, Stowe, Alcott, Wharton, and James. 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, LIT (B. Millier)

AMST 0209 American Literature and Culture: Origins-1830 (Fall 2022)

A study of literary and other cultural forms in early America, including gravestones, architecture, furniture and visual art. We will consider how writing and these other forms gave life to ideas about religion, diversity, civic obligation and individual rights that dominated not only colonial life but that continue to influence notions of "Americanness" into the present day. Required for all majors and minors.3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, LIT (R. Lint)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0209

AMST 0210 Formation of Modern American Culture I: 1830-1919 (Spring 2023)

An introduction to the study of American culture from 1830 through World War I with an emphasis on the changing shape of popular, mass, and elite cultural forms. We will explore a widely-accepted scholarly notion that a new, distinctively national and modern culture emerged during this period and that particular ideas of social formation (race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.) came with it. We will practice the interdisciplinary interpretation of American culture by exploring a wide range of subjects and media: economic change, social class, biography and autobiography, politics, photo-journalism, novels, architecture, painting, and photography. Required of all American studies majors and minors. 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, HIS (H. Allen)

AMST 0216 History of the American West (Fall 2022)

This is a survey of the history of the trans-Mississippi West from colonial contact through the 1980s. It explores how that region became known and understood as the West, and its role and meaning in United States history as a whole. The central themes of this course are conquest and its legacy, especially with regard to the role of the U.S. federal government in the West; human interactions with and perceptions of landscape and environment; social contests among different groups for a right to western resources and over the meanings of western identity; and the role of the West in American popular culture. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. (formerly HIST/AMST 0374) HIS, SOC (K. Morse)
Cross-listed as: HIST 0216 *

AMST 0227 Asian Americas (Spring 2023)

In this course we will investigate cultural transformations, cultural politics, and the cultural productions of and about Asian Americans. The themes of immigration, nation, and citizenship are central to the construction of the U.S. racial category of Asian. Those addressed within the category are highly diverse and differentiated along class, gender, and generational lines, yet the racial category structures particular kinds of experiences and possibilities for subjects. Historical transformations and contemporary issues in a variety of Asian American contexts will be investigated through a variety of texts including historical accounts, cultural studies, anthropological studies, autobiography, and fiction. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, SOC (R. Joo)

AMST 0234 American Consumer Culture (Fall 2022)

For many Americans in the 20th century, consumer goods came to embody the promise of the "good life." Yet mass consumption also fostered economic, political, and social inequalities and engendered anti-consumerist activism. In this course we will pursue an interdisciplinary approach to American consumer culture, focusing on the rise of commercialized leisure and advertising; the role of radio, television, and film in shaping consumer practices; and the relationship of consumerism to social inequality and democratic citizenship. Readings will include works by Veblen, Marcuse, Bordieu, Marchand, Cohen, and Schor. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS (H. Allen)

AMST 0239 The Cultural Work of Country Music (Spring 2023)

“I like all kinds of music...except country.” Arguably, aversion to American country music often tracks with class- and race-based assumptions about both makers and consumers of this genre. In this course we will challenge those views while studying the history of the form. Balancing our consideration of the big picture with case studies of performers like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and The Chicks, we will explore what types of music the “country” tag comprises; some of the major themes and motifs associated with the form; the Black and White roots of country music; and the politicization of the music and its performers throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Source materials for the course will include Bill Malone’s Country Music, USA; Ken Burn’s Country Music documentary; Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, and A Good-Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry. AMR, HIS, SOC (W. Nash)
Cross-listed as: MUSC 0239

AMST 0251 Constructing Memory: American Monuments and Memorials (Spring 2023)

“Democracy has no monuments,” John Quincy Adams once famously argued. “It strikes no medals; it bears the head of no man upon its coin; its very essence is iconoclastic.” Yet nearly 250 years after America’s founding, monuments and memorials surround us. In this course we will explore the memorializing impulse; the complexity and depth of emotion evoked by memorial acts; and the oftentimes heated controversies about modes, placement, and subject of representation. We will consider how and why America chooses to memorialize certain people and events, and what is gained—and sometimes erased—in the process. By choosing among a broad range of traditional and non-traditional modes of representation, we will consider how public memorials both reflect and shape Americans’ shared cultural values. The course will include site visits to local monuments and projects in which we propose designs or redesigns of memorials for a 21st century audience. AMR, ART, CW (D. Evans)

AMST 0252 African American Literature (Fall 2022)

This course surveys developments in African American fiction, drama, poetry, and essays during the 20th century. Reading texts in their social, historical, and cultural contexts—and often in conjunction with other African American art forms like music and visual art—we will explore the evolution and deployment of various visions of black being and black artistry, from the Harlem Renaissance through social realism and the Black Arts Movement, to the contemporary post-soul aesthetic. Authors may include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Amiri Baraka, Ishmael Reed, Toni Morrison, Charles Johnson, and Octavia Butler. This course may also be counted as a general elective or REC elective for the ENAM major. 3 hrs lect./disc. (Diversity)/ AMR, LIT (W. Nash)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0252

AMST 0253 Science Fiction (Fall 2022)

Time travel, aliens, androids, robots, corporate and political domination, reimaginings of race, gender, sexuality and the human body--these concerns have dominated science fiction over the last 150 years. But for all of its interest in the future, science fiction tends to focus on technologies and social problems relevant to the period in which it is written. In this course, we'll work to understand both the way that authors imagine technology's role in society and how those imaginings create meanings for science and its objects of study and transformation. Some likely reading and films include Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Ridley Scott, Blade Runner, and works by William Gibson, Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler and other contemporary writers. (Students who have taken FYSE 1162 are not eligible to register for this course). 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, LIT (M. Newbury)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0253

AMST 0260 American Disability Studies: History, Meanings, and Cultures (Spring 2023)

In this course we will examine the history, meanings, and realities of disability in the United States. We will analyze the social, political, economic, environmental, and material factors that shape the meanings of "disability," examining changes and continuities over time. Students will draw critical attention to the connections between disability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and age in American and transnational contexts. Diverse sources, including films and television shows, music, advertising, fiction, memoirs, and material objects, encourage inter and multi-disciplinary approaches to disability. Central themes we consider include language, privilege, community, citizenship, education, medicine and technology, and representation. AMR, HIS, SOC (S. Burch)

AMST 0263 American Psycho: Disease, Doctors, and Discontents (Pre-1900 AL) (Spring 2023)

What constitutes a pathological response to the pressures of modernity? How do pathological protagonists drive readers toward the precariousness of their own physical and mental health? The readings for this class center on the provisional nature of sanity and the challenges to bodily health in a world of modern commerce, media, and medical diagnoses. We will begin with 19th century texts and their engagement with seemingly "diseased" responses to urbanization, new forms of work, and new structures of the family and end with contemporary fictional psychopaths engaged in attacks on the world of images we inhabit in the present. Nineteenth century texts will likely include stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Later 20th-century works will likely include Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs, Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted, and Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho. AMR, LIT (M. Newbury)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0263 *

AMST 0264 Chicagoland (Fall 2022)

In this course we will explore Chicago’s significance by focusing on its physical and spatial character. Moving from the 19th to the 21st century, we will examine the 1871 fire; the 1893 World’s Fair; the settlement house movement; the rise of modern architecture; the emergence of Black Chicago and development of a multi-ethnic, multi-class metropolis spread across various neighborhoods and suburbs; and recent planning efforts to revitalize the city as a space for all Chicagoans. Interdisciplinary in scope, the course will draw on a range of texts and theoretical perspectives to show the generative importance of Chicago’s rich and varied landscape. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS (J. Ralph, T. Spears)
Cross-listed as: HIST 0264 *

AMST 0272 Mastodons, Mermaids, and Dioramas: Capturing Nature in America (Spring 2023)

Why did 18th-century museums stuff and mount exotic and domestic animals? Why does the American Museum of Natural History still house dioramas of so-called native peoples hunting? How has the study and staging of nature transferred into various kinds of artistic expression? In this course we will examine the intertwining of art, science, and ecology in the United States from the 1700s to the present day. Objects of study will include museum dioramas, scientific models, artifacts and artworks collected during scientific expeditions, and the work of Walton Ford and Christy Rupp, contemporary artists whose work engages ecological issues. (not open to students who have taken FYSE 1447) (formerly AMST 0214) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, ART, CW (E. Foutch)
Cross-listed as: HARC 0272

AMST 0279 The Guitar in American Culture (Spring 2023)

Although it has European and African antecedents, modern acoustic and electric guitars are American inventions. From the genteel parlor guitars of the 19th century elite to the electric weaponry of today’s rock stars, the guitar is an essential artifact of American material culture. Drawing on histories, cultural critiques, interviews, and sound and video recordings, we will study both the evolution of the instrument and the builders and players who have helped define its role. Examining artifacts and talking with working guitar builders will illuminate the craft of guitar making. The culmination of the course will be a student-curated exhibition. AMR (W. Nash)
Cross-listed as: MUSC 0279

AMST 0281 Viewer Discretion Advised: Controversies in American Art & Museums, 1876-Present (Spring 2023)

What are the “culture wars,” and why do they matter? What ideas are considered too “obscene” for American audiences? In this course we will explore controversies and scandals sparked by public displays of art in the U.S. including: Eakins’s Gross Clinic (1876), seen as too “bloody” for an art exhibition; the U.S. Navy’s objections to Paul Cadmus’s painting of sailors (1934); censorship and NEA budget cuts (Mapplethorpe & Serrano, 1989); backlash to The West as America’s deconstruction of myths of the frontier (1991); tensions surrounding Colonial Williamsburg’s “slave auction” reenactment (1994); debates over the continued display (and occasional defacement) of Confederate monuments in the era of the Black Lives Matter Movement. (open to AMST, HARC and ART majors only, other by approval) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, ART, HIS (E. Foutch)
Cross-listed as: HARC 0281

AMST 0282 Reconstructing Literature: Realism, Regionalism, and the American scene, 1870-1919 (Pre-1900 AL) (Fall 2022)

American literature evolved in the late 1800s as a new generation of writers portrayed a rapidly changing culture, transformed by urbanization, industrial growth, immigration, class tensions, new roles for women, shifting race relations, and demographic transformations that seemed to split the nation into city and country. While realism was an effort to describe “life as it is” and regionalism focused on the distinctive features of specific places, both modes of representation stemmed from historical forces that were reshaping the nation. Works to be covered may include fiction by William Dean Howells, Charles Chesnutt, Sarah Orne Jewett, Kate Chopin, and Theodore Dreiser. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, LIT (T. Spears)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0282 *

AMST 0287 Posthuman Medicine: Morals, Machines, and Bodies (Fall 2022)

Medical treatments and technologies now keep people alive when they once surely would have died. But the increasing power of medicine has also raised nightmarish possibilities of lives controlled, squandered, or sacrificed to a system that often alienates patients, is centered on profit, and has a long history of treating marginal populations recklessly. How do science fiction writers, doctors, film makers, memoirists, and healthcare corporations portray an ever more medicalized vision of human experience and human bodies? Texts and films for the course will include HG Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Atul Gawande, Complications; Octavia Butler, Clay’s Ark; Michael Gondry, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Karen Russell, Sleep Donation, and Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go. LIT (M. Newbury)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0287 *

AMST 0291 Portraits of the Lady: The New Woman in American Literature & Culture (Fall 2022)

At the end of the 19th century, women fought against restrictions limiting their sphere of influence. As they sought to exercise more control over their lives personally, socially, and economically, this “New Woman,” and the way she was changing the face of society, became a popular subject in literature and art. In this course we will consider portraits of women by well-known American authors (such as James, Chopin, Wharton, Sui Sin Far, Cather, Larsen, Hurston) alongside those by prominent painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, and filmmakers. We will consider how representations of women through the early twentieth century embodied the values of the nation and codified both the fears and aspirations of its citizens. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, ART, LIT (D. Evans)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0291

AMST 0294 Hemingway's Outsized Life (Spring 2023)

In this class we will explore the work of Ernest Hemingway, a writer whose literary style and heroic self-construction remain a source of fascination and controversy. Through a mostly chronological reading of his writings, we will examine Hemingway’s emergence as a pioneering modernist and member of the 1920s “lost generation,” his portrayal of war and violence, and his representations of gender, race, and “American-ness.” Assigned texts will include short stories, novels, and autobiographical works, as well as critical studies (including Ken Burns’ recent documentary film) that consider the impact of Hemingway’s life and writing on broader U.S. cultural history. AMR, LIT (T. Spears)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0294 *

AMST 0301 Madness in America (Fall 2022)

It's a mad, mad course. In this course we will focus on representations of madness from colonial to late 20th century America, emphasizing the links between popular and material culture, science, medicine, and institutions. We will consider how ideas about madness (and normalcy) reflect broader (and shifting) notions of identity. Thus, issues of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, community, class, and region will play significant roles in our discussions and critiques. To complement foundational readings, this course will draw on American literature, documentary and entertainment films, music, and materials from the college's special collections. AMR, SOC (S. Burch)

AMST 0304 The Graphic Novel (Spring 2023)

In this course we will study some of the most widely respected graphic novels produced in the last thirty years. Our purpose will be to understand how the form works and is structured by its dual, but sometimes competing, interests in the verbal and the visual, and to think about distinct styles of illustration. We will also think about how landmark examples have shaped the form. Working with software designed for the purpose, students will use photographs to produce short comics of their own. Possible texts include: Alan Moore, Watchmen; Art Spiegelman, Maus; Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan; Alison Bechdel, Fun Home.3 hrs. lect. AMR, LIT (M. Newbury)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0304

AMST 0307 Issues in Critical Disability Studies: U.S. and the World (Fall 2022)

Disability as a category and as lived experience plays an important but often overlooked role in national, transnational, and global contexts. In this course we will explore disability’s changing meanings in the United States and around the World. Comparative and transnational approaches will draw our attention to disability’s many meanings across wide-ranging historical, cultural, and geographical settings. Foundational concepts and principles, including ableism and Universal Design, shape our critical inquiry. Key themes frame the course: access, language, power, violence, normalcy, identity, community, institutions, and rights and justice. We will engage with diverse primary sources, from memoirs and documentary films to advertisements, material objects, and oral histories. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (S. Burch)

AMST 0312 Disability in Film and Television (Spring 2023)

In this course we will investigate film and television representations of disability and disabled people to gain an understanding of how these reflect prominent cultural ideas across twentieth and twenty-first century US history. Specifically, we will trace changes and continuities in the various functions of disability in film and TV, and how disabled people have used these media to express their own lived experiences. Key themes to be covered include access, stereotype, spectacle, community, and activism. Our intersectional study will involve disability, deaf, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, and age. Through readings, screenings, and engaged discussions students will gain insights into ways film and television reflect and shape the understandings of disability in American history and culture. This class includes regular screenings. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (S. Burch)

AMST 0314 Vermont Collaborations Public Humanities Lab (Fall 2022)

In collaboration with local archives, museums, and community organizations, we will work closely with primary sources, learning skills of transcription, analysis, and interpretation; in the spirit of Public Humanities, we will share this scholarship with the broader community, whether in the form of an exhibition, a publication, a website, podcasts, or other digital media. The focus will change annually or by sections, but this project-based course will emphasize place-based experiential learning and community partnerships in its critical engagement with histories of collections and archives. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.
*For Spring 2021:*
2021 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Henry Luther Sheldon, founder of Middlebury’s Sheldon Museum of Vermont History (founded 1881). In this course we will mine the Archives of the Sheldon Museum for information about the early years of the museum’s establishment, exploring institutional history, histories of collecting, and local history, alongside a critical investigation of how archives and collections are formed, developed, and made legible (or illegible) to broader publics. 3 hrs. lect.
(E. Foutch)

AMST 0358 Reading, Slavery, and Abolition (Fall 2022)

In this course we will study both black and white writers' psychological responses to, and their verbal onslaughts on, the "peculiar institution" of chattel slavery. We will work chronologically and across genres to understand how and by whom the written word was deployed in pursuit of physical and mental freedom and racial and socioeconomic justice. As the course progresses, we will deepen our study of historical context drawing on the substantial resources of Middlebury's special collections, students will have the opportunity to engage in archival work if they wish. Authors will include Emerson, Douglass, Jacobs, Thoreau, Stowe, Walker, and Garrison. This course may also be counted as a general elective or REC elective for the ENAM major 3 hrs. sem. (Diversity) AMR, HIS, LIT (W. Nash)
Cross-listed as: ENGL 0358

AMST 0400 Theory and Method in American Studies (Junior Year) (Fall 2022)

A reading of influential secondary texts that have defined the field of American Studies during the past fifty years. Particular attention will be paid to the methodologies adopted by American Studies scholars, and the relevance these approaches have for the writing of senior essays and theses. (Open to junior American studies majors only.) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (H. Allen)

AMST 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Select project advisor prior to registration.

AMST 0701 Senior Work (Fall 2022)

(Approval required)

AMST 0710 Honors Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

For students who have completed AMST 0705, and qualify to write two-credit interdisciplinary honors thesis. on some aspect of American culture. The thesis may be completed on a fall/winter schedule or a fall/spring schedule. (Select a thesis advisor prior to registration)
↑ Top

Department of Anthropology

Major Requirements

A minimum of ten courses will constitute the major; at least eight of these courses (and all the core courses listed in the tracks below) must be fall and spring courses taught at Middlebury (e.g., not winter term courses or transfer credits). For a degree in anthropology, the major must complete the following requirements:

  1. Introduction and Exploration
    • Any two (2) of the following introductory courses: ANTH 103, 107, 109,  and 159 (students may take the courses in any order or concurrently);
    • Any two (2) of the 200-level courses offered by the department;
  2. Foundations
    • History of Anthropological Thought: ANTH 306 (or SOCI 305 with approval from the Department Chair)
    • Any one (1) of the following Research Methods courses: ANTH 302, 396, and 392
  3. Application and Synthesis
    • One 400-level seminar.
    • Three electives (no more than one at 100-level; anthropology courses from other departments can count as electives with approval from the Department Chair). Note: students pursuing senior projects (see below) may only count one semester toward their elective requirement.

Optional Senior Project in Anthropology

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete an independent research project of at least one semester. This typically consists of either a one-semester senior project (ANTH 0700, one credit, usually 25-40 pages) or a two-semester senior project (ANTH 0710, two credits, usually 60-100 pages). Students who wish to work on a project for more than one semester must present their progress for review by two professors who will decide whether the project qualifies for extended study. A one-semester project can be either in the fall or spring semesters; a two- semester project is usually in the fall and winter semesters or in the winter and spring semesters. Variation from these patterns is possible by permission from the department. Senior project requirements for joint majors and other special circumstances will be approved in consultation with both departments.

An ANTH 0700 project requires a project advisor. If the advisor thinks that the project may deserve an A- or A, a second reader must evaluate the project. An ANTH 0710 project requires a committee including the project advisor and a second reader from within the Anthropology Department. It may also include an optional, third reader from another part of the College or the local community. Upon completion of the ANTH 0710 project, there will be an oral defense.

Departmental Honors

Students who earn an A- or higher on a 0700 or 0710 project and average an A- or higher in all Anthropology courses receive departmental honors.

Anthropology Minor Requirements

ANTH 0103 and four elective courses, no more than one of which can be at the 0100-level and no more than one of which can be a SOCI course. No courses may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., no winter term courses or transfer credits).

Applied Anthropology Minor Requirements

Any 0100-level course; ANTH 302, ANTH 396, or ANTH 492; and three elective courses from the list below. Other anthropology courses and anthropology courses in other departments can count with approval from the Anthropology Chair. No courses may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., no winter term courses or transfer credits).

ANTH 211 Environmental Anthropology (Sheridan)
ANTH 270 Anthropology of Global Corporations (Stoll/Nguyen)
ANTH 287 Medical Anthropology (Bright)
ANTH 329 Refugees or Labor Migrants? (Stoll)
ANTH 340 The Traveling Tonic (Bright)
ANTH 345 Anthropology of Food (Oxfeld)
ANTH 235 City and its People (Tran)
ANTH 274 Global Migration (Tran)
ANTH 351 Education and Social Policy (Tran)
ANTH 395 Environmental Communication (Nevins)
ANTH 450 Anthropology of Development (Sheridan)
SOAN 215 Sociology of Education (Tran)

Joint Majors in Anthropology

Joint majors consist of seven courses in Anthropology. Students must take one (1) course at the 100-level, two 200-level courses, 302 or 392 or 396, 306, one 400-level seminar, and one elective. No more than one course may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit).

Joint Major in Anthropology and Sociology

The joint major in Anthropology and Sociology consists of twelve classes. The core courses are ANTH 103, SOCI 105, SOCI 301 or ANTH 302 or ANTH 396, and SOC 305 or ANTH 306. Students must also take one 400-level SOCI course, one 400-level ANTH course, and six electives. A 700-level course in ANTH or SOCI can replace one of the 400-level courses. No more than two electives may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as winter term or transfer credit courses).

ANTH 0103 Diversity and Human Nature: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

This course introduces students to the varieties of human experience in social life and to the differing approaches and levels of analysis used by anthropologists to explain it. Topics include: culture and race, rituals and symbolism, kinship and gender roles, social evolution, political economy, and sociolinguistics. Ethnographic examples are drawn chiefly from non-Western societies, from simple bands to great agrarian states. The ultimate aim is to enable students to think critically about the bases of their own culture and about practices and beliefs previously unanalyzed and unexamined. (formerly SOAN 0103) 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. CMP, SOC (Fall 2022: E. Oxfeld; Spring 2023: D. Stoll)

ANTH 0125 Language Structure and Function (Fall 2022)

In this course we will discuss the major issues and findings in the study of human language within theories of modern linguistics, which shares a history with mid-century American anthropology. The main topics include the nature of human language in comparison with other communication systems; sound patterns (phonology); word-formation (morphology); sentence structure (syntax); meaning (semantics); use (pragmatics); language acquisition and socialization. We will also consider language variation and the historical development of languages. Instruction is in English but examples will be drawn from less commonly studied languages around the world. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities. (not open to students who have taken LNGT 0101) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Nevins)
Cross-listed as: LNGT 0125

ANTH 0211 Human Ecology (Spring 2023)

Environmental issues are also cultural and political conflicts, between competing social groups, economic interests and cultural paradigms. This course introduces students to human ecology, the study of how our adaptations to the environment are mediated by cultural differences and political economy. Topics include: how ecological anthropology has evolved as a subdiscipline, with a focus on systems theory and political ecology; how ritually regulated societies manage resources; how rural communities deal with environmental deterioration; and how contradictions between environmental protection, economic development, and cultural values complicate so many ecological issues. (Any 100-level ANTH, or any 100-level ENVS,or ENVS AP credit or instructor permission) 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (M. Sheridan)

ANTH 0221 Indigenous Peoples of the Americas (Fall 2022)

This course introduces students to the indigenous peoples of North and South America, from before European conquest to the present. Following a brief look at the mound-builders of North America, we will explore the connection between social stratification, religious ideology, and imperial expansion in the political economy of the Aztecs and the Incas. Ethnographies of Quechua peasants in the Peruvian Andes, Yanomami Indians in the Amazon, and Oglala Sioux in the Dakotas will show how contemporary Native Americans are dealing with the never-ending process of colonialism. How Europeans have imagined indigenous peoples has had a profound impact on how the latter defend themselves. The resulting images of authenticity and resistance have always been double-edged. The course will conclude with the debate over the reservation paradigm in the U.S. 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, CMP, SOC (D. Stoll)

ANTH 0225 Indigeneity and Colonialism in Native North America (Spring 2023)

In this course we will approach Native North America and the American political mainstream as dynamically intertwined. Through ethnography, ethno-history, oral literature, and indigenous film we will examine the history of colonial encounters between the Indigenous and the 'Western'. We will examine how indigenous cultural difference and moral claims to land have challenged dominant political cultures across the history of the North American settler states. Our analysis will extend to ongoing questions concerning cultural knowledge, sustainability, and imagined futures. 3 hrs. sem. AMR, HIS, NOR, SOC (M. Nevins)

ANTH 0230 Rethinking the Body in Contemporary Japan (In English) (Fall 2022)

In this course we will examine attitudes toward and tensions related to the human body in Japan. Looking at art, music, style, and social issues we will examine the symbolic as well as material concerns of bodies in contemporary Japan. Religious, historical, martial, and aesthetic understandings of bodies will be addressed. We will analyze Japan's current attitudes toward organ transplantation, treatment of the deceased, plastic surgery, surrogacy, sex change surgery and other embodied practices. Readings will include Twice Dead and Commodifying Bodies. (formerly SOAN 0230) 3 hrs. lect./ disc. NOA, SOC (L. White)
Cross-listed as: JAPN 0230 *

ANTH 0232 Africa and Anthropology: Power, Continuity, and Change (Fall 2022)

Sub-Saharan Africa has long represented primitive mysteries for Europeans and North Americans, as a ‘Dark Continent’ full of exotic people and animals. Even now, many Americans learn little about Africa and Africans except for ‘thin’ media reports of political, economic, and ecological upheaval or persistent poverty, disease, and despair. This course provides a ‘thick’ description and analysis of contemporary African conditions using ethnographies and films. We will not be exploring ‘traditional African cultures’ outside of their historical contexts or generalizing about ‘what African culture really is.’ Rather, our focus will be on understanding social continuity and change alongside cultural diversity and commonality. Topics will include colonialism, critical kinship studies, African feminism, environmental management, witchcraft and religion. Throughout the course African ideas of power – what it is, who has it, and why –unify these diverse topics as social relations. (formerly SOAN 0232) 3 hrs. lect. HIS, SAF, SOC (M. Sheridan)

ANTH 0241 The Anthropology of Warfare and Polarization (Fall 2022)

In this course we will use the anthropology of human evolution, religion and politics to identify the cognitive patterns that justify feuding, warfare, witchcraft, conspiracy theory, and ideological polarization. Beginning with animal behavior and hunting and gathering societies, we will study natural selection for accountability, moralism, and factionalism; how social groups define themselves through mimesis, othering and scapegoating; how scapegoating justifies aggression; how sacrifice and other forms of ritualizing victimhood generate sanctity, sacrilege, and outrage; and how religious and political loyalty tests enforce social boundaries (not open to students who have taken SOAN 0341 or SOAN 0344) 3 hrs. lect./disc. SOC (D. Stoll)

ANTH 0270 Anthropology of Global Corporations (Spring 2023)

Multinational corporations have become pervasive in the 21st Century global economy. No other social organization matches their ability to increase productivity and multiply wealth. Nor does any other social vehicle match their power to destabilize preexisting relationships. In this course we will learn about the anthropology of exchange and capitalism through ethnographies of corporations, corporate social responsibility, factory production, and financial speculation in the U.S., China, South Africa, and Papua New Guinea. We will also evaluate social-justice critiques of corporate structures: are they meritocracies or exclusionary kin-based networks? Do they build community or merely offload costs? For the final project, students will have the option of doing ethnographic research on a for-profit or not-for-profit enterprise. 3 hours, lct/disc, CMP, SOC (D. Stoll, T. Nguyen)

ANTH 0287 Medical Anthropology: Approaches to Affliction and Healing (Fall 2022)

In this course, an introduction to medical anthropology, we will explore cultural and political-economic perspectives on health, illness, and disease. Topics covered include: (1) biocultural approaches to understanding health; (2) medical systems, including biomedicine and others; (3) the effects of poverty and inequality on health outcomes; and (4) the social construction of health and illness. Students will apply these concepts in understanding an aspect of health, illness, or healing in their own research project with an ethnographic component. An introductory course in anthropology or familiarity with medical or public health issues is recommended. (formerly SOAN 0387) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, SOC (K. Bright)

ANTH 0302 The Research Process: Ethnography and Qualitative Methods (Fall 2022)

The aim of this course is to prepare the student to conduct research, to analyze and present research in a scholarly manner, and to evaluate critically the research of others. Practice and evaluation of such basic techniques as observation, participant-observation, structured and open-ended interviews, and use of documents. Introduction to various methodological and theoretical frameworks. Thesis or essay prospectus is the final product of this course. Strongly recommended for juniors. One-hour research lab required. (SOAN 0103 or ANTH 0103 or SOAN 0105 or SOCI 0105) (formerly SOAN 0302) 3 hrs. lect./disc./1 hr. research lab CW, SOC (K. Bright)

ANTH 0304 Gender, Culture, and Power (Fall 2022)

This course offers a cross-cultural introduction to the issues involved in the study of women and gender. Such an endeavor raises a number of difficult and delicate issues. What explains the diversities and similarities in women's roles across societies? How do we assess women's status and power, and how do we decide which standards to use in doing so? What forces create changes in women's roles? What is the relationship between gender constructions and the nature of communities, economies, and even nations? Our analysis will concentrate on three primary domains: family and kinship, symbolic systems, and political economy. Course readings will focus primarily on non-Western societies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (National/Transnational Feminisms)/ CMP, SOC (E. Oxfeld)
Cross-listed as: GSFS 0304

ANTH 0306 Topics in Anthropological Theory (Spring 2023)

This course gives an introduction to some important themes in the development of anthropological thought, primarily in the past century in anglophone and francophone traditions. It emphasizes close comparative reading of selections from influential texts by authors who have shaped recent discourse within the social sciences. (SOAN 0103 or ANTH 0103 or SOAN 0107 or SOCI 0107 or SOAN 0109 or ANTH 0109 or SOAN 0159 or ANTH 0159) (formerly SOAN 0306) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Sheridan)

ANTH 0335 The Anthropology of China (Spring 2023)

China serves as a case study in the anthropological analysis of a complex rapidly changing non-Western society. This course will be a survey of the principal institutions and ideas that form the background to modern Chinese society. Areas covered include: family and kinship, ritual, transformations of class hierarchies, and the impact of globalization. Materials will be drawn from descriptions of traditional, contemporary (including both mainland and Taiwanese settings), and overseas contexts. (formerly SOAN 0335) 3 hrs. lect./disc. HIS, NOA, SOC (E. Oxfeld)

ANTH 0337 Love, Sex, and Marriage (Spring 2023)

What are the social terms for sexual agency in countries around the world? How is marriage understood through idealizations of romance as well as familial expectations of duty or status? In this course we consider how other cultures’ views on love, sex, and partnership are made legible and illegible within broader cultural, moral, and state interests. The course asks for in-depth participation, short weekly writings, and a longer final paper that each engage ethnographic works on a range of topics, from critical studies of love and globalization to queer kinmaking, rituals of the ‘lavish wedding,’ and everyday ways of hooking up and breaking up online. 3 hrs. lect. (GloDeFem) CMP, SOC (K. Bright)
Cross-listed as: GSFS 0337

ANTH 0345 The Anthropology of Food (Spring 2023)

Food not only sustains bodies, but also reflects and shapes cultures, social identities, and systems of power. In this course we examine the relationship between food and culture. Beginning with an examination of the origins of cooking, we will go on to analyze a variety of approaches to understanding the food/culture/society relationship. These include the symbolic meanings of food, the role of food in constructing social and cultural identities, and the relationship between food and political and economic systems. Our examples will be cross-cultural (Africa, South and East Asia, Europe, and the Americas). 3 hrs. sem. AAL, CMP, SOC (E. Oxfeld)
Cross-listed as: FOOD 0345

ANTH 0440 The Traveling Tonic: Geographies of Medicine, Science, and the Body (Spring 2023)

Medical practice does not operate within bounded systems but moves in highly transactional and molten ways—from the circulation of classical Chinese and Indian manuscripts to transnational movements of genes, gametes, and drugs. In this seminar we draw on ethnographic examples to grasp the importance of migration in producing science. The metaphor of travel enables us to pivot from Eurocentric histories of science to disrupt what we mean by global medicine. At the same time, the figure of the tonic enables us to think about the many sorts of life (plants, distillates, vectors, etc.) that make up medicine today. (ANTH 0287) 3 hrs. sem. (Formerly ANTH 0340) (Not open to students who have already taken ANTH 0340.) SOC (K. Bright)

ANTH 0500 Advanced Individual Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Prior to registering for ANTH 0500, a student must enlist the support of a faculty advisor from the Department of Anthropology. (Open to Majors only) (Approval Required)

ANTH 0700 One-Semester Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Under the guidance of a faculty member, a student will carry out an independent, one-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 25-40 pages, due the last day of classes.

ANTH 0710 Multi-Semester Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Under the guidance of a faculty member, a senior will carry out an independent multi-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 60-100 pages, due either at the end of the Winter Term or the Friday after spring break.
↑ Top

Department of Arabic

Majors must also choose one disciplinary concentration: Arabic literature, Arabic linguistics, or a well-defined course of study with a focus on the Arab world. 

Each disciplinary concentration requires the completion of at least three content courses, including one introductory methods course specific to the chosen discipline. Majors  are also required to prepare a project or a thesis for their senior capstone experience.

Major in Arabic

Minimum number of courses: 13, including required senior work

Students majoring in Arabic must take:

  • Arabic language through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent: ARBC 0101, ARBC 0102, ARBC 0103, ARBC 0201, ARBC 0202, ARBC 0301, ARBC 0302;
  • Two courses taught in Arabic at the 0400-level, at least one of which is taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus. Arabic 0400-level courses taken at a Middlebury school abroad site require departmental approval of the syllabus and a dossier of all written work (normally consisting of at least two exams and eight typed pages of Arabic);
  • One of the following:
    • ENAM 0205, plus two additional courses with the ARBC prefix in Arabic literature taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus (for students pursuing senior work in literature);
    • One of LNGT 0101, LNGT 0102 or  LNGT 0109, plus two additional courses with the ARBC prefix in Arabic linguistics taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus (for students pursuing senior work in linguistics);
    • Students may structure their own disciplinary focus within the Arabic major in consultation with their major advisor by providing a well-defined course of study that must include (i) one introductory methods course specific to the chosen discipline (in English); and (ii) two disciplinary electives bearing the ARBC prefix (in Arabic or English), taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus.
  • Students must spend at least one semester at a Middlebury school abroad site. The Arabic Department strongly recommends that students spend a full year abroad. Students studying abroad for a full academic year may count at most one course taken abroad towards the disciplinary elective requirements, subject to prior approval of their major advisor and contingent upon submission of the syllabus and a dossier of all written work (normally consisting of at least two exams and six typed pages of Arabic).

A major may count 400-level courses towards the fulfillment of the disciplinary electives once the 400-level language course requirement in #2 is complete.

Senior Work

Majors  are required to prepare a one-term senior project (ARBC 0700), or a two-term thesis (ARBC 0700/0701, taken in Fall and Winter or Winter and Spring). Senior projects and theses may be written in English, but must demonstrate significant use of Arabic sources.  Senior theses will include a 2000-word summary in Arabic.

Departmental honors are determined by a combination of thesis grade and grade point average in courses taken at the Arabic Program at Middlebury College, the Middlebury summer Arabic School, and Middlebury College’s study abroad sites.

Joint Major

Joint majors with other departments must: 1) complete Arabic language coursework through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent prior to the commencement of senior work, 2) take, at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus, two courses with the ARBC prefix related to Arabic literature, Arabic linguistics, or another well-defined disciplinary focus in consultation with their Arabic advisor, and 3) complete a senior project that explicitly engages the scholarly methodologies of both departments.

Minors in Arabic

The Arabic Department offers two minors.

The Arabic Minor requires

  1. Studying Arabic language through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent; and
  2. Taking two courses with the ARBC prefix related to Arab culture (cinema, literature, pop-culture, etc.) or Arabic linguistics. Only one of the two courses on Arab culture or Arabic linguistics may be taken abroad. (See above for guidelines regarding courses taken at schools abroad and at the summer Language Schools.)

The Minor in Arabic Studies requires taking five courses with the ARBC prefix, excluding ARBC 0101, 0102, 0103, 0201, 0202, 0301, and 0302.

ARBC 0101 Beginning Arabic I (Fall 2022)

The goal of this course is to begin developing reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. This course stresses written and oral communication, using both formal Arabic and some Egyptian dialect. Emphasis is also placed on reading authentic texts from Arabic media sources, listening to and watching audio and video materials, and developing students' understanding of Arab culture. 6 hrs lect/disc. LNG (S. Liebhaber, R. Greeley)

ARBC 0103 Beginning Arabic III (Spring 2023)

This course is a continuation of ARBC 0102. 6 hrs. lect/disc (ARBC 0102 or equivalent) LNG (U. Soltan, D. Ayoub)

ARBC 0201 Intermediate Arabic I (Fall 2022)

This course is a continuation of ARBC 0103. Emphasis is placed on reading authentic materials from Arabic media, expanding students' vocabulary, listening to and watching audio and video materials, and developing students' understanding of Arab culture and communicative competence. (ARBC 0103 or equivalent) 6 hrs. lect/disc LNG (U. Soltan, D. Ayoub)

ARBC 0202 Intermediate Arabic II (Spring 2023)

This course is a continuation of Arabic 0201. Fifth in a series of courses that develop reading, speaking, listening, writing, and cultural skills in Arabic. This course stresses communication in formal and spoken Arabic. (ARBC 0201 or equivalent). 6 hrs. lect/disc LNG (S. Liebhaber, R. Greeley)

ARBC 0235 Gender Politics of the Arab World (Spring 2023)

The aim of this course is to explore the ways in which the social and cultural construction of sexual difference shapes the politics of gender and sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa. Using interdisciplinary feminist theories, we will explore key issues and debates including the interaction of religion and sexuality, women’s movements, gender-based violence, queerness and gay/straight identities. Looking at the ways in which the Arab Spring galvanized what some have called a “gender revolution,” we will examine women’s roles in the various revolutions across the Arab World, and explore the varied and shifting gender dynamics in the region. Taught in English (formerly ARBC/GSFS 0328) 3 hrs. Sem. (GloDeFem)/ AAL, CMP, CW, MDE, SOC (D. Ayoub)
Cross-listed as: GSFS 0235

ARBC 0245 Human-Environment Relations: Middle East (Fall 2022)

In this course we will begin with an environmental history of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, asking such questions as: How does politics affect conservation practice? To what extent are formulations of nature constructed socially and politically? Whose rights are affected by protected areas and who decides governance criteria? The objectives of this course include providing students with an understanding of human-environment relations theory by addressing the regional specifics of modern environmental and social histories of these countries. We will look at animals, water, and forests in the literature of NGOs, UNEP reports, media, policy papers, and the academic literature. (One of the following: ENVS 0112, GEOG 0100, IGST 0101, SOAN 0103; Or by approval) (not open to students who have taken FYSE 1523) 3 hrs. lect. MDE, SOC (R. Greeley)
Cross-listed as: ENVS 0245

ARBC 0301 Advanced Arabic 1 (Fall 2022)

A continuation of Arabic 0202. This course aims to help students reach an intermediate-high level of proficiency in reading, speaking, writing, listening, and culture. Readings include articles on cultural, social, historical, political and literary topics. (ARBC 0202 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect/disc LNG (D. Ayoub)

ARBC 0302 Advanced Arabic II (Spring 2023)

This course is a continuation of Arabic 0301. It aims to help students reach an advanced level of proficiency in reading, speaking, and writing Arabic, as well as to develop further an understanding of Arab culture. Readings include articles on cultural, social, historical, political, and literary topics. Course will be conducted entirely in Arabic. (ARBC 0301 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect/disc. LNG (S. Liebhaber)

ARBC 0413 Advanced Readings: Arabic across History (Fall 2022)

In this course we will read a variety of Arabic texts representing different eras in the history of Arabic, from pre-Islamic times in the Arabian Peninsula until the modern era in the Arab world. Readings will be mostly drawn from Arabic poetry across its different eras, as well as from religious and historical texts. Other types of texts will be chosen in consultation between students and instructor. In addition to discussion of the linguistic features of texts, we will address their literary, historical, and cultural aspects. 3 hrs. sem. (ARBC 0302 or equivalent) LIT, LNG, MDE (U. Soltan)

ARBC 0431 The Environmental Middle East: Forests, Rivers, and Peoples (Spring 2023)

In this course we will examine the environmental history of the Middle East and contemporary conservation practices in this region, focusing on four environmental case-studies: a contemporary conservation project in Lebanon, the Ghuta Forest of Damascus, the GAP dam project in Syria, and the marshes of Southern Iraq. We will consider these sites of contested power relations, cultural practice, and memory through the lenses of political and environmental essays, academic critiques, policy papers, historical documents, current media, and literary works. The objectives of this course: to provide students with a solid grasp of contemporary Middle Eastern environmental history, to address the key elements of cultural practice in each geographic area, and to achieve advanced proficiency in Arabic, including a mastery of environmental terminology. (ARBC 0302 or equivalent) 3 hrs. sem. LNG, MDE, SOC (R. Greeley)

ARBC 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

(Approval Required)

ARBC 0700 Senior Thesis I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Approval required.

ARBC 0701 Senior Thesis II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Approval required.
↑ Top

Department of Biology

Required for the Major

Requirements for the biology major encourage both breadth across the subdisciplines of biology as well as depth in areas of interest. The introductory sequence is two courses: BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution and BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics. The twelve courses required for the Biology major consist of:

(1-3) BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution, BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics, and BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis. We suggest students take these three courses as soon as they can.

(4-5) Two organismal courses from among BIOL 0201 Invertebrate Biology, BIOL 0202 Comparative Vertebrate Biology, BIOL 0203 Biology of Plants, BIOL 0204 Entomology, BIOL 0308 Mammalogy, and BIOL 0310 Microbiology.

(6) One college-level chemistry course with laboratory. AP credit in chemistry or a bypass examination cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. We strongly suggest students take this chemistry course in their first two years at Middlebury, as chemistry is fundamental to understanding topics addressed in many biology classes.

(7-12) Six biology electives from the 0200-0701 level, with the following restrictions:

  1. At least two electives must include a laboratory section.
  2. No more than one semester of independent research (BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, or BIOL 0701) may count as elective credit toward the major.
  3. Per College policy only two winter term courses can count for major credit.

Courses may be taken in any order, as long as the prerequisites for a course are met. Courses taken off campus can count towards the major, when approved by the department chair. See below for more information on off-campus study.

Requirements for a Minor in Biology

BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145, and three elective courses from 0200-, 0300-, and 0400-level courses in the department.  One of the electives must be an organismal course (BIOL 0201, 0202, 0203, 0204, 0308, 0310), AND one of which must be at the 0300 or 0400 level.

Joint Majors

The Department of Biology does not offer joint majors other than the joint major in Biology and Environmental Studies described below.

Requirements for the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Major

See the listing for the program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry for a description of this major.

Requirements for the Neuroscience Major

See the listing for the program in Neuroscience for a description of this major.

Requirements for the Joint Major with Environmental Studies

See the listing for the conservation biology focus under the program in Environmental Studies.

Graduate or Professional Training

Students considering graduate or professional school in the life sciences should note that many programs require a year of introductory chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, a year of physics, and a year of calculus for admission. Students are therefore strongly encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors early in their undergraduate career so the advantages of taking additional courses in the natural sciences can be discussed.

Departmental Honors

Students with an average of 3.5 or higher in departmental courses other than BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, and BIOL 0701 are eligible for departmental honors, for which successful completion of BIOL 0701 is also required (see below). The Biology Department awards two levels of honors: honors and high honors.

Criteria for Honors

Students with an average of 3.5 or higher in departmental courses (other than BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, and BIOL 0701) and a grade of A- or above on their thesis are eligible for honors.

Criteria for High Honors

High honors will be awarded to students who meet all of the criteria for honors and who, in addition, have completed theses of exceptionally high quality.  Determination of honors or high honors is based on a formal recommendation from the thesis committee and requires the approval of the Biology Department faculty.

The thesis process is described in detail in the “Student & Faculty Research” portion of the departmental website, and all students interested in conducting thesis research should read that section of the website in detail. Normally, research for thesis projects begins during the first term of a student’s senior year (or during the preceding summer). Students interested in field research should talk with a faculty member by winter term of their junior year. All other prospective thesis students should consult with prospective advisors concerning possible thesis projects by spring term of their junior year. Thesis projects must be of at least two terms’ duration (one term of BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 and one of BIOL 0701) and result in the production of a written thesis, a public presentation of the thesis research, and an oral defense of the thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members, two of whom must be Biology faculty. With instructor approval, independent research conducted during the summer may be considered as a substitute for the first term of the project. In such cases, the off-campus work would satisfy the BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 prerequisite for enrollment in BIOL 0701, but would not itself be credit-bearing. The thesis grade reflects performance in all aspects of the thesis process.  Note that although completion of a thesis is one prerequisite for receiving honors, students may undertake a thesis regardless of whether they meet the other criteria for honors.

Advanced Placement Credit

Middlebury College grants one college credit for a score of 5 on the biology advanced placement exam. However, because the biology department does not offer any introductory course that is the equivalent of an AP biology course, advanced placement credit does not exempt a student from any of the published requirements for the major, minor, or joint majors, nor can it satisfy the college’s distribution requirement. 

Off-Campus Study

Students interested in taking biology courses off campus are strongly encouraged to discuss their plans with their advisor early in their college careers. Biology credit for an off-campus course will be given only after the department chair reviews the course material upon a student’s return to campus.   The following restrictions apply to all biology courses transferred to Middlebury:

  • Except for transfer students, BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145 must be taken at Middlebury College.
  • A maximum of three courses taken off campus may be credited toward completion of the major or joint major.
  • No credit in Biology will be granted for independent study projects conducted during off-campus study programs.
  • Except for transfer students, off-campus biology courses must be beyond the introductory level.
  • When a course is offered at Middlebury with a lab or prerequisites, an equivalent off-campus course must also include a lab or prerequisites.

BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

In this introduction to ecology and evolutionary biology we will cover the topics of interspecific interactions (competition, predation, mutualism), demography and life-history patterns, succession and disturbance in natural communities, species diversity, stability and complexity, causes of evolutionary change, speciation, phylogenetic reconstruction, and population genetics. The laboratory component will examine lecture topics in detail (such as measuring the evolutionary response of bacteria, adaptations of stream invertebrates to life in moving water, invasive species and their patterns of spread). We will emphasize experimental design, data collection in the field and in the laboratory, data analysis, and writing skills. This course is not open to seniors and second semester juniors in the Fall. 3 hrs. lect./disc./3 hrs. lab DED, SCI (Fall 2022: D. Allen, L. Ash; Spring 2023: E. Eggleston, E. Moody)

BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Fall 2022

Cell Biology and Genetics
In this introduction to modern cellular, genetic, and molecular biology we will explore life science concepts with an emphasis on their integral nature and evolutionary relationships. Topics covered will include cell membrane structure and function, metabolism, cell motility and division, genome structure and replication, the regulation of gene expression and protein production, genotype to phenotype relationship, and basic principles of inheritance. Major concepts will be illustrated using a broad range of examples from plants, animals, and microorganisms. Current topics in biology will be integrated into the course as they arise. (For students matriculating in Fall 2019 or later: CHEM 0103 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab
DED, SCI (G. Spatafora, J. Ward)

Spring 2023

Cell Biology and Genetics
In this introduction to modern cellular, genetic, and molecular biology we will explore life science concepts with an emphasis on their integral nature and evolutionary relationships. Topics covered will include cell membrane structure and function, metabolism, cell motility and division, genome structure and replication, the regulation of gene expression and protein production, genotype to phenotype relationship, and basic principles of inheritance. Major concepts will be illustrated using a broad range of examples from plants, animals, and microorganisms. Current topics in biology will be integrated into the course as they arise. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab
DED, SCI (G. Pask, E. Putnam)

BIOL 0204 Entomology (Fall 2022)

Insects are one of the most successful animal groups on Earth, accounting for roughly 75% of all animal species. In this course we will examine several aspects of organismal biology in insects and related arthropods, such as comparative anatomy, physiology, reproduction, development, sensory behavior, and evolution. Hands-on experiences with insects will occur in the field and the lab, culminating in an independent research project. Special topics will include medical and veterinary entomology, insect pest management, and the effects of climate change on insect populations. Oral and written reports are required. (BIOL 0140) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab (Not open to students who have already taken BIOL 0201.) SCI (G. Pask)

BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Experimental design is one of the most important parts of doing science, but it is difficult to do well. How do you randomize mice? How many replicate petri plates should be inoculated? If I am measuring temperature in a forest, where do I put the thermometer? In this course students will design experiments across the sub-areas of biology. We will run student designed experiments, and then learn ways to analyze the data, and communicate the results. Students planning to do independent research are encouraged to take this course. (BIOL 0140 or BIOL 0145). DED (Fall 2022: S. Byrne; Spring 2023: E. Moody)

BIOL 0304 Aquatic Ecology (Fall 2022)

In this course we will combine field-based laboratory exercises with classroom activities to examine how humans interact with aquatic ecosystems and how these systems contribute to our understanding of fundamental ecological concepts. Our field trips will focus on aquatic ecosystems and organisms in Vermont, but we will also consider aquatic ecology more broadly through several modules linking processes across ecological scales from whole ecosystems to individual organisms. Evaluation will be based on periodic quizzes, reports synthesizing the laboratory modules, exams emphasizing the concepts covered, and an independent research project. (BIOL 0140). 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. SCI (E. Moody)

BIOL 0308 Mammalogy (Fall 2022)

Thanks to a rogue asteroid, we now live in the Age of Mammals. Mammals fulfill important ecological roles and have adapted to a wide range of habitats – flying, swimming, and scurrying their way to survival. Mammals are also central to numerous livelihoods and cultural practices. We will use the phylogeny of mammals globally to build expertise with evolutionary concepts. Locally, we will work within Vermont to develop a field-based toolkit for studying wild mammals. Experiential learning opportunities may include preparation of salvaged animals, non-invasive monitoring, engagement with trappers/hunters, and introduction to molecular techniques. (BIOL 140) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. SCI (A. Mychajliw)

BIOL 0310 Microbiology (Spring 2023)

The microbiological principles emphasized in this class will provide students with a foundation for advanced study in many areas of contemporary biology. The course will integrate basic and applied aspects of microbiology into a study of the prokaryotic microorganisms. General principles of bacterial cell structure, function, and the role of microorganisms in industry, agriculture, biotechnology, and disease will be discussed. An independent laboratory project will stress basic microbiological techniques as applied to the isolation, characterization, and identification of microorganisms from the natural environment. (BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145) 3 hrs. lect./4 hrs. lab./1 hr. prelab. CW (5 seats), SCI (E. Eggleston)

BIOL 0314 Molecular Genetics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

This course will focus on the structure and function of nucleic acids in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Lectures will center on molecular mechanisms of mutation, transposition, and recombination, the regulation of gene expression, and gene control in development, immune diversity and carcinogenesis. Readings from the primary literature will complement the textbook and classroom discussions. The laboratory will provide training in both classic and contemporary molecular-genetic techniques including nucleic acid isolation and purification, cloning, electroporation, nick-translation, Southern/Northern blotting, DNA sequencing, PCR and RT-PCR. (BIOL or MBBC majors, or by waiver. BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145 or waiver) 3 hrs. lect./4 hrs. lab./1 hr. prelab. SCI (J. Ward)

BIOL 0323 Plant Community Ecology (Spring 2023)

This course will explore the structure and dynamics of plant communities, with a particular emphasis on temperate forest communities. We will investigate patterns in community diversity and structure, explore how plant populations and plant communities respond to environmental disturbances, and investigate the effects of anthropogenic influences (climate change, introduced species, habitat conversion) on plant communities. Labs will emphasize fieldwork at local research sites, and will provide exposure to techniques of experimental design in plant ecology and basic approaches to describing plant community structure and dynamics. (BIOL 0140) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. CW (5 seats), SCI (D. Allen)

BIOL 0324 Genomics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Genomics is a quickly evolving field that analyzes and contextualizes genome sequencing data and high-throughput techniques. Genomics is the study of the nucleic acid content of organisms. In this course students will use national repositories of genomic information, databases, and open-source bioinformatics tools to visualize and manipulate genomic data. We will also explore genomics’ larger social context, particularly as it relates to the environment and medical informatics. In the laboratory we will explore and use the methodology used in genomics to develop and interpret large datasets (CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107,and BIOL 0145 and BIOL0140, or by waiver) (not open to students who have taken BIOL 0334) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab DED, SCI (E. Putnam)

BIOL 0333 Receptor Biology (Spring 2023)

In this course we will focus on the wide range of membrane receptors and channels that are critical for cellular communication, neuronal connectivity, and sensory transduction. These complex proteins represent major targets in the pharmaceutical industry, and their study incorporates interdisciplinary techniques in structural biology, electrophysiology, synthetic chemistry, and pharmacology. After thoroughly engaging in the primary literature, we will emphasize discipline-specific writing and learn to summarize and communicate new findings to a wide range of expert and non-expert audiences. (BIOL 0145 or waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc CW, SCI (G. Pask)

BIOL 0365 Molecular Microbial Ecology (Fall 2022)

Molecular microbial ecology (MME) uses leading-edge molecular tools to study the interactions and diversity of microorganisms in the natural environment. MME covers topics ranging from ancient polar microbes, the human microbiome, and possibly life beyond Earth. This course will discuss papers that highlight modern technical approaches and form the current theoretical framework in microbial ecology. The laboratory will examine the structure (who is there) and function (what are they doing) of microbial communities in environmental samples. We will cultivate novel microorganisms and analyze nucleic acids via community fingerprinting, functional gene analysis, and the computational exploration of metagenomic datasets.  (BIOL 0140, BIOL 0145 and CHEM 0103 or 0104 or waiver) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab SCI (E. Eggleston)

BIOL 0392 Conservation Biology (Spring 2023)

A conservation biologist is a problem-solver who applies tools from disparate fields – e.g., evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, paleontology, anthropology, and population biology – to address complex real-world dilemmas of relevance to human, wildlife, and ecosystem health. To effectively leverage their data, conservation biologists must also recognize and navigate government regulations, diverse cultural practices, and stakeholder perceptions. This course is international in scope. Emphasis will be placed on current issues such as species reintroduction, detecting extinction, rewilding, novel ecosystems, protected area design, shifting baselines, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change. This course will require engagement with community partners in independent research. (BIOL 140 required; recommended ENVS 112, BIOL 145) CW, SCI (A. Mychajliw)

BIOL 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

In this course students complete individual projects involving laboratory and/or field research or extensive library study on a topic chosen by the student and a faculty advisor. Prior to registering for BIOL 0500, a student must have discussed and agreed upon a project topic with a member of the Biology Department faculty. Additional requirements include attendance at all Biology Department seminars and participation in any scheduled meetings with disciplinary sub-groups and lab groups. This course is not open to seniors; seniors should enroll in BIOL 0700, Senior Independent Study. (BIOL 0211. Approval required) 3 hrs. disc.

BIOL 0700 Senior Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

In this course students complete individual projects involving laboratory and/or field research or extensive library study on a topic chosen by the student and a faculty advisor. Prior to registering for BIOL 0700, a student must have discussed and agreed upon a project topic with a member of the Biology Department faculty. Additional requirements include attendance at all Biology Department seminars and participation in any scheduled meetings with disciplinary sub-groups and lab groups. (BIOL 0211. Approval required; open only to seniors) 3 hrs. disc.

BIOL 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

Seniors majoring in Biology who have completed one or more semesters of BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 and who plan to complete a thesis should register for BIOL 0701. In this course students will produce a written thesis, deliver a public presentation of the research on which it is based, and present an oral defense of the thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members. Additional requirements include attendance at all Biology Department seminars and participation in any scheduled meetings with disciplinary sub-groups and lab groups. Open to Biology and joint Biology/Environmental Studies majors. (BIOL 0211 and BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 or waiver; instructor approval required for all students) 3 hrs. disc
↑ Top

Program in Black Studies

The program’s major and minor allows students to attain degrees of mastery by concentrating on an interrelated set of topics within a geographic area or by comparing aspects of the topic(s) inter-regionally or globally. Three required core courses will provide the framework on which students will organize their own majors in consultation with the program’s director. 

Required for the Major

To complete the major a student must take eleven (11) courses:

Four (4) that acquaint students with Black Studies as a recognized field of study.

  • BLST 0101: An introduction to the core themes, topics, and methods commonly recognized as belonging to Black Studies.
  • BLST 0301: A junior seminar that provides guidance in identifying and using sources and methods for research in Black Studies.
  • BLST 0400+: A senior seminar in which Black Studies majors conduct independent research—while working collaboratively with other students and a faculty member.
  • HIST 0225 (African-American History) or AMST 0107 (Introduction to African-American Culture).

Four (4) clustered courses that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

  • Courses taken for the concentration and senior work allow students to go deeper into a topic and develop their skills in interpretation and constructive analysis.
  • Students will work with the director of the program in selecting the courses that will fulfill their proposed concentration.
  • Intensive listening, close reading, critical thinking, effective oral and written expression and collaborative interaction with colleagues will be among the skills the concentration will address. 

Three (3) electives that allow for breadth of study.

  • The electives allow students to get outside their area of concentration, either to explore totally different topics or to explore their area of concentration from a different perspective.
  • With permission from the director of the program, one or more of these electives may be in a department not directly related to Black Studies but that introduces students to critical approaches that may be helpful to a student’s advanced work on a topic. 

Joint Major Requirements

In consultation with their advisor and/or the Director of Black Studies, students must take a minimum of eight courses that satisfy the BLST major. Of these eight courses, four are required and include BLST 0101, BLST 0301, BLST 0401, and either HIST 0225 or AMST 0107. 

The remaining four elective courses must inform, complement, and complete the joint major. Students may take BLST 0700 or BLST 0710 (honors senior thesis) as one of their four elective courses, subject to approval of their academic advisor and the Director of Black Studies.

    BLST 0101 Introduction to Black Studies (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    This course considers the issues, epistemologies, and political investments central to Black Studies as a field. We will explore chronologically, thematically, and with an interdisciplinary lens the social forces and ideas that have shaped the individual and collective experiences of African-descended peoples throughout the African Diaspora. This course is a broad survey of the history of chattel slavery, colonial encounters, community life, and social institutions of black Americans. We will address issues of gender and class; the role of social movements in struggles for liberation; and various genres of black expressive cultures. Students will develop critical tools, frameworks, and vocabulary for further study in the field. Course materials may include Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies, C.L.R. James’s The Black Jacobins, and Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (K. Davis)

    BLST 0105 Themes in the Atlantic World, 1492-1900 (Fall 2022)

    Linking the Americas with Europe and Africa, the Atlantic has been a major conduit for the movement of peoples, ideas, technology, foods, and customs. This course will explore four themes from the rise of European imperialism and African Slavery to the dawn of national consciousness and minority rights across the Americas. We will study four major themes: (1). Comparative European Colonization and the First Peoples; 2) Comparative Slavery and the Black Experience (3) Decolonization, National Consciousness, and Ideas of Freedom; and (4) Pseudoscience, Migrations and Creolization. We will draw on primary and secondary sources from the Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, and Hispanophone worlds to give us a broad comparative perspective. Pre-1800. 2hr/disc. with periodic film screenings. CMP, HIS, SOC (D. Davis)

    BLST 0114 History of Modern Africa (Spring 2023)

    We begin looking at revolutions in the early 19th century and the transformations surrounding the slave trade. Next we examine the European colonization of the continent, exploring how diverse interventions into Africans' lives had complex effects on political authority, class and generational dynamics, gender relations, ethnic and cultural identities, and rural and urban livelihoods. After exploring Africans' struggles against colonial rule in day-to-day practices and mass political movements, the last few weeks cover Africa's transition to independence and the postcolonial era, including the experience of neo-colonialism, ethnic conflict, poverty, and demographic crisis. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0114 *

    BLST 0115 Education in the USA (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    What are schools for? What makes education in a democracy unique? What counts as evidence of that uniqueness? What roles do schools play in educating citizens in a democracy for a democracy? In this course, we will engage these questions while investigating education as a social, cultural, political, and economic process. We will develop new understandings of current policy disputes regarding a broad range or educational issues by examining the familiar through different ideological and disciplinary lenses. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. AMR (Fall 2022), SOC (Fall 2022) (J. Miller-Lane)
    Cross-listed as: EDST 0115 *

    BLST 0174 Spacing (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will investigate physical structures encountered daily. Buildings, parks, and infrastructure constitute this built environment, reflecting their societies. But what could abolitionist architecture look like, or how might public space in the U.S. create new social relations? Through lenses of race, class, and gender we will build critical vocabularies around the practice of making space. We will focus on the historical and contemporary embodiment of power, race, and culture of the U.S. through the built environment. This studio class will then present a series of projects addressing basic three-dimensional construction and model making techniques. We will engage historical and contemporary artworks, urban planning, architecture, and poetry from perspectives of resistance to dominant modes of constructing space. AMR, ART, SOC (M. Schrader)
    Cross-listed as: ART 0174 *

    BLST 0179 Ruins and Rituals (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will examine monuments, memorials, landscape, and cultural memory. The title comes from a 1979 sculptural work by the black feminist artist Beverly Buchanan. Buchanan has described her works as monuments made from earthen materials to remember acts of black resistance in the United States. We will also investigate recent actions to remove and destroy monuments to confederate soldiers and other figures related to colonial violence. This is a studio class incorporating material experimentation and research. Students will work at model scale using paper, wood, plaster, digital photography, and photoshop to propose (anti)monuments for our time. ART, HIS (M. Schrader)
    Cross-listed as: ART 0179 *

    BLST 0201 Black Thought: Black Studies Theory (Spring 2023)

    In this course, we will explore some of the central themes and issues of Black Studies across the Black diaspora. We will ask: What is race and how has it functioned in the development of modernity, geopolitics, and selfhood? What constitutes blackness? How is it lived and expressed? What are the ideological and material legacies of slavery? What relationship does antiblackness have with capitalism, nation, and war? We will also investigate how (anti)blackness has shaped the lives and spaces of Black communities. We will read from texts such as W.E.B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks, and Patricia Hill Collins’ Black Feminist Thought. AMR, CMP, PHL, SOC (V. Huang)

    BLST 0215 Culturally Responsive Policy and Pedagogy (Fall 2022)

    Building on the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings’ culturally relevant pedagogy, Django Paris developed a theory of culturally sustaining pedagogy that “seeks to perpetuate and foster—to sustain linguistic, literate, and cultural pluralism,” for students in schools (Paris, 2012). In this course we examine how teachers might sustain and support students in classrooms and how educational policy might better address and respond to the rich diversity in our schools and communities. This is a required course for all students seeking a Vermont teaching licensure. (EDST 0115) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CMP, SOC (T. Affolter)
    Cross-listed as: EDST 0215 *

    BLST 0218 Slavery and Freedom in the American North (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will study how the “American North,” constituted by New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, became a place of enslavement. Although often treated as a cradle of freedom, we will explore how the region’s colonists imported African slaves and enslaved and exported Native Americans. Through lecture, discussion, and primary sources, we will examine the transatlantic slave trade of Africans and Native Americans, the communities built by enslaved and free people, the impact of the American Revolution, the creation of gradual abolition statues, and the perpetuation of enslavement until the Civil War. We will also grapple with the role of memory in history, as the region’s slaveholding past is often ignored by its inhabitants. 2 hrs lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (E. Mendoza)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0218 *

    BLST 0220 The N Word: Nature, Revisited (Spring 2023)

    What do voices from American History, both past and present, reveal about the way race, and privilege shape how we understand conservation, climate change and environmental justice today? How does your voice matter in this current moment? We will consider the foundations of environmental ideas and attitudes. In particular, in this current climate where Black Lives Matter and systemic racism are central in our conversations about place and space, we will explore the construction of environmental narratives and how race impacts environmental participation. In addition, we will explore how representations of the natural environment are structurally and culturally racialized within environmental institutions and the media by engaging in “conversations” with environmental icons such as John Muir and other historical and contemporary figures such as Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin. 3 hrs. sem. AMR, NOR (C. Finney)

    BLST 0224 African Cinema (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will examine how films written and directed by African filmmakers address the evolving identities of post-colonial Africans. Students will explore the development of various national cinemas and the film movements that helped define African cinema as a tool for cultural expression and social change. We will pair film studies, post-colonial studies, and African studies readings with a diverse selection of films from across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal’s 1967 Black Girl (Ousmane Sembene) to the 2018 Netflix-produced Nigerian “Nollywood” film, Lionheart (Genevieve Nnaji). 3 hours lect./3 hours screen. ART, CMP, HIS, SAF (N. Ngaiza)
    Cross-listed as: FMMC 0224 *

    BLST 0225 African American History (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will examine the history of African Americans from the rise of the transatlantic slave trade to the present. The course will reveal how African Americans actively shaped their history and the history of the United States as an American nation. We will explore topics such as the Middle passage, African American slave cultures, enslaved resistance, emancipation, the rise of legalized segregation, mass migrations, and the continuing struggles for equality. We will approach the subject matter using a variety of primary and secondary sources that focus on the experiences of individuals such as enslaved narratives, autobiographies, documentaries, and oral histories. 3 hrs. lect/disc. AMR, HIS (E. Mendoza)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0225 *

    BLST 0227 Black American Cinema (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will examine various representations of Blackness in American Cinema, from Oscar Micheaux’s early silent films to Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. While we will primarily focus on films written and/or directed by African-Americans, we will also study the social, cultural, and political impact of Hollywood ideas and images of Black people and how they changed over time. Through a framework of both film theory and critical race theory, students will analyze how Black creative expression has manifested itself through film, influencing both form and content. 3 hours lect./3 hours screen AMR, ART, HIS (N. Ngaiza)
    Cross-listed as: FMMC 0227 *

    BLST 0232 A Black Sense of Place: Black Geographies (Fall 2022)

    Black feminist geographer, Katherine McKittrick, defines Black geographies as “subaltern or alternative geographic patterns that work alongside and beyond traditional geographies and a site or terrain of struggle” (2006, 7).
    This Black studies approach structures analyses of geographies across the Black diaspora in this course. Students will explore the relationships between race, racisms, space, and place through an interdisciplinary examination of the intimate, the material, the political, the body, and the collective as “sites of struggle.” We will read from texts such as Clyde Woods’ Development Drowned and Reborn: The Blues and Bourbon Restorations in Post-Katrina New Orleans and Erica Lorraine Williams’ Sex Tourism in Bahia: Ambiguous Entanglements.
    CMP, HIS, SOC (K. Davis)
    Cross-listed as: GEOG 0232

    BLST 0248 African American Drama (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will respectfully investigate African American performance and theatre history since the late 19th century by exploring works of playwrights such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Amira Baraka, Adrienne Kennedy, August Wilson, and Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins. We will also engage with theoretical essays by Alain Locke, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Patricia Hill Collins and more, that illuminate how, despite centuries of lethal stereotyping, the stage has been and continues to be a forum for self-representation, unification, resistance, and liberation. Guest artists will provide firsthand accounts in conversation with the students. Dramaturgical and critical responses to the materials will strengthen production interpretation and design skills. AMR, ART, LIT (O. Sanchez Saltveit)
    Cross-listed as: THEA 0248 *

    BLST 0288 Modern Brazil (Spring 2023)

    Brazil is the Portuguese-speaking power of Latin America. In this course, we will study the history of modern Brazil from independence to the present day, and discuss the contemporary developments that have transformed Brazil into an international force today. The class will pay close attention to the construction of national institutions, racial and national ideologies, and the celebration of national culture. We will also study Brazil’s impact on the world, from its export of cultural products in cinema, music, and literature in translation, to soccer. It will be important to study the communities of Brazilians in diverse places such as Miami, New York, London, and Paris. We will utilize various writing, oral, and digital methods to examine the major political, economic, and cultural movements that defined Brazilian history from the creation of the empire in the 1820s to the political and cultural tensions of the current regime 3 hr. lect. AMR, HIS (D. Davis)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0288 *

    BLST 0300 Models of Inclusive Education (Spring 2023)

    In K-12 education, the term "inclusion" is often reduced to where students with apparent disabilities learn within schools. In this course, we will challenge the segregation of students with disabilities in schools while expanding notions of inclusion such that students' multiple identities are incorporated into learning. Students will be introduced and provided opportunities to design lessons using a Universal Design for Learning framework. We will utilize DisCrit (Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory) as a theoretical tool to explore how ableism and racism stand in the way of equitable education for many students while exploring theories, methods, and approaches to disrupt such marginalization and lead to inclusive antiracist educational practices. (EDST 0115 or SOAN 0215 or SOCI 0215 or AMST 0105). AMR, SOC (T. Affolter)
    Cross-listed as: EDST 0300 *

    BLST 0302 African Diaspora and the Sea (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will study the diversities and commonalities of African diaspora communities from a global perspective. We will focus on the enduring cultural monuments, legacies and other signposts and migrations across global empires and national borders. We will study issues of belonging, and the economic and cultural imprints in the modern era (1800-present). Examples will be drawn from three geographical regions:
    1. North American coastal cities such as New York, Miami, and Halifax
    2. Caribbean and Latin American coastal cities from Havana to Rio de Janeiro
    3. Mediterranean and Euro-Atlantic ports such as Bristol and Marseille
    While most of our case studies focus on sub-Saharan African diasporas, (including Afro-Caribbean, African-American, and Afro-Latin@s), the class will also make comparisons with North African diasporas. Students will be able to apply the themes of the class to African diasporas in other geographical regions around the world including Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.
    AMR, CMP, EUR, HIS (D. Davis)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0302 *

    BLST 0315 Health and Healing in African History (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will complicate our contemporary perspectives on health and healing in Africa by exploring diverse historical examples from the continent's deep past. Our readings, discussions, and papers will cover a range of historical contexts and topics, such as the politics of rituals and public healing ceremonies in pre-colonial contexts, state and popular responses to shifting disease landscapes in the colonial era, long-term cultural and economic changes in healer-patient dynamics, the problematic legacies of environmental health hazards in the post-colonial period, and Africans' engagement with global health interventions in recent decades. 3 hrs. sem. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0315 *

    BLST 0324 Race, Medicine, and Health in U.S. History (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will explore the historical relationships between race, medicine, and public health in the United States from colonial times to the present. Through a series of case studies that include epidemics such as smallpox, yellow fever, and COVID-19, we will trace the origins of racial classification and its impact on medical care. Our topics include the management of illness in colonial times, the relationship between medical schools and slavery, the eugenics movement, immigration restrictions, the use of minorities as experimentation subjects, the fight against medical discrimination, and the current struggles for health care access. We will approach these subjects through sources such as scholarly publications, diaries, documentaries, medical journals, oral histories, and print media. 2 hrs lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (E. Mendoza)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0324 *

    BLST 0335 The Black Lusophone Atlantic (in English) (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will examine the histories, power struggles, and cultural formations in Portuguese-speaking spaces of the African Diaspora. The Lusophone, or Portuguese-speaking world, encompasses four continents as a lasting legacy of Portuguese imperialism and the trafficking of enslaved people. Working across and against disciplines, we will critically engage with Black decolonial worldmaking in these spaces and across periods as we re-evaluate and dismantle this so-called Lusophone world and other imperialist geographies. In the process, we will examine connections between Black life in Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Portugal, and more over the last six centuries; and also how Black life re-historicizes these spaces and times. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, HIS, SOC (D. Silva)
    Cross-listed as: PGSE 0335 *

    BLST 0349 Hispanic Athletes: Sports, Nationalist Culture, and the Global Media (Spring 2023)

    In this course, we will study sports as an essential part in the construction of nationalist pride and perceptions of race, class, and gender in several Hispanic nation-states and subcultures in Europe and the Americas. We will analyze fictional narrative content such as literature and films (Pepe el Toro, Sugar, Black Diamonds, and many others). In addition, we will also explore how media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, videogames, documentaries, and the internet affect our perceptions of sporting events and their superstars to create controversies, support hegemonic nationalist ideas, and further the commercial ambitions of corporations. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, CMP, LNG (E. Garcia)
    Cross-listed as: SPAN 0349 *

    BLST 0374 Women in the Black Freedom Struggle (Fall 2022)

    The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements have become iconic examples of Black activism in the US. However, female activists are often ignored in historical accounts of these movements. In this course, we will examine the contributions of Black female activists to the Black Freedom Struggle. We will discuss women in the Civil Rights Movement both in the South and the North, the role of women in the Black Panther Party, but also the active involvement of women in white supremacist campaigns in the South. We will pay special attention to the diversity of Black women’s perspectives and highlight how Black women’s experiences differed from both white female and Black male activists. (BLST 0101 or GSFS 0191, or by instructor approval) 3 hrs. sem. AMR, HIS, SOC (V. Huang)
    Cross-listed as: GSFS 0374

    BLST 0375 Struggles for Change in Southern Africa (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will examine the tumultuous period of social struggle in southern Africa in the decades following World War II. Major topics to be covered include the rise of apartheid and the mobilization of anti-apartheid resistance in South Africa and Namibia; the liberation struggle against white settler rule in Zimbabwe; the fight for freedom from Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique; and Mozambique's protracted civil war following independence. A central purpose of this course is to explore how these different arenas of struggle transformed individual lives and social relations in complex and diverse ways, generating enduring impacts and challenges within the region. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0375 *

    BLST 0414 Black, Listed: Surveillance, Race, and Gender (Spring 2023)

    The fields of Black studies, feminist geographies, and surveillance studies are brought together in this course to examine transformations in geographic and social control in U.S. and transnational contexts. The ways in which racialized and gendered populations have experienced and continue to experience geopolitical domination and surveillance constitutes the central theme of the course. Students will develop collaborative and independent research skills. Topics of inquiry include: the trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and policing; education; (anti-)surveillance technologies; airports and borders. We may draw substantially from texts such as Simone Browne’s Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness and Toby Beauchamp’s Going Stealth: Transgender Politics and U.S. Surveillance Practices. (Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors) 3 hrs. sem. (FemSTHM) AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (K. Davis)
    Cross-listed as: GSFS 0414

    BLST 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval Required)

    BLST 0700 Senior Work (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval Required)

    BLST 0710 Senior Thesis Work (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval Required)
    ↑ Top

    Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

    I. Majors

    Students can elect to major in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry (joint major), or molecular biology and biochemistry.

    II. Course Requirements

    Chemistry

    MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 0204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, and either CHEM 0351 or CHEM 0355, and two electives chosen, with an advisor’s approval, from 0200-, 0300- or 0400- courses the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department or GEOL 0323. Independent study courses (CHEM 0400, CHEM 0500, CHEM 0700, or CHEM 0701) cannot count as electives.

    Honors in Chemistry

    MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, CHEM 0312, CHEM 0351, CHEM 0355, CHEM 0431, CHEM 0400, CHEM 0701.

    Biochemistry

    MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*,CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0313, CHEM 0322, and two electives chosen, with an advisor’s approval, from 0200-,0300- or 0400-level courses in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department or BIOL 0314. Independent study courses (CHEM 0400, CHEM 0500, CHEM 0700, or CHEM 0701) cannot count as electives.

    Honors in Biochemistry

    MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, CHEM 0313, CHEM 0322, CHEM 0355, CHEM 0425, CHEM 0400, CHEM 0701.

    Environmental Chemistry

    See the listing for the Environmental Chemistry focus under the Program in Environmental Studies. 

    Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

    See Program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

    *Students may receive credit for courses indicated by an asterisk with a satisfactory score on the advanced placement examination for that subject. Students who have scored a 4 or 5 on the advanced placement examination in chemistry are awarded a course credit for CHEM 0103 and may enroll in CHEM 0107 (strongly encouraged) or CHEM 0104. Students who do not have an AP score of 4 or 5, but have a strong background in chemistry should take the department’s online placement examination to determine if they are prepared for CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107. Those students who achieve a satisfactory score on the placement examination will be encouraged to register for CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, but will not receive credit for CHEM 0103.

    III. Independent Research and Senior Thesis Program

    Many students participate in independent research (CHEM 0500 or CHEM 0700) or complete senior thesis projects (CHEM 0400 and CHEM 0701). Students who are interested in completing a senior thesis project should meet with their academic advisor for guidance in seeking a research advisor no later than winter term of their junior year. Although required for departmental honors, students may also participate the senior thesis program without pursuing honors and the associated coursework.

    IV. Eligibility for Honors in Chemistry or Biochemistry

    Students who successfully complete the honors coursework—including the senior thesis program—with a minimum grade point average of 3.20 are awarded departmental honors.  High Honors may be awarded at the discretion of the department and the thesis committee to students who demonstrate exceptional achievement in both the thesis program and departmental course work.

    V. Recommended Programs of Study

    Several coursework options for students considering chemistry or biochemistry as a major are shown below. Although students may deviate from these guides, it is strongly recommended that all prospective majors complete CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 by the end of their first year and the calculus (MATH 0121 and 0122) and physics (PHYS 0109 and 0110 or 0111) courses by the end of their second year. Completing CHEM 0203 as early as possible provides the maximum flexibility both within the major and for other academic interests, including study abroad.

    Chemistry 

    First Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121
      Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122 
      OR
      Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121
      Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

    Sophomore Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0109
      Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

    Junior Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351*
      Spring: *(OR CHEM 0355)

    Senior Year:
      Fall: elective
      Spring: elective

    Biochemistry 

    First Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121
      Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122
      OR
      Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121
      Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

    Sophomore Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0109
      Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

    Junior Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0322
      Spring: CHEM 0313

    Senior Year:
      Fall: elective
      Spring: elective

    Chemistry with Honors 

    First Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121
      Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122
      OR
      Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121
      Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

    Sophomore Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0109
      Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

    Junior Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351
      Spring: CHEM 0312, CHEM 0355

    Senior Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0400, CHEM 0431
      Spring: CHEM 0701

    Biochemistry with Honors

    First Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121
      Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122
      OR
      Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121
      Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

    Sophomore Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0109
      Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

    Junior Year: 
      Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0322
      Spring: CHEM 0313, CHEM 0355

    Senior Year:
      Fall: CHEM 0400, CHEM 0425
      Spring: CHEM 0701

    CHEM 0103 General Chemistry I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Major topics will include atomic theory and atomic structure; chemical bonding; stoichiometry; introduction to chemical thermodynamics. States of matter; solutions and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory work deals with testing of theories by various quantitative methods. Students with strong secondary school preparation are encouraged to consult the department chair for permission to elect CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 in place of this course. CHEM 0103 is also an appropriate course for a student with little or no prior preparation in chemistry who would like to learn about basic chemical principles while fulfilling the SCI or DED distribution requirement. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc. DED, SCI (Fall 2022: R. Bunt, C. Dovey; Spring 2023: K. Shrestha)

    CHEM 0104 General Chemistry II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Major topics include chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and coordination chemistry. Lab work includes inorganic synthesis, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis in kinetics, acid-base and redox chemistry. (CHEM 0103 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc. DED, SCI (A. Vasiliou)

    CHEM 0203 Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Fall 2022

    Labs for this course will meet every other week. Please note the section text for the lab you choose to note the dates your lab will meet. SCI (J. Byers)

    Spring 2023

    Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity
    The lecture portion of this course will be taught using “flipped class” pedagogy. Students will watch videos prior to class, and classroom time will be dedicated to small group problem solving with faculty guidance. The course will provide students with an introduction to the structure and reactivity of organic molecules sufficient to continue directly to the study of biochemistry (CHEM 0322). Topics covered will include models of chemical bonding, acid-base relationships, three-dimensional molecular structure (conformations and stereochemistry), reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams, substitution and elimination reactions, carbonyl reactions (additions, reductions, interconversions, and alpha-reactivity), and the fundamentals of biological molecules (carbohydrates, DNA, and RNA). Laboratory experiments will relate to purification techniques (recrystallization, distillation, extraction, and chromatography), as well as microscale organic reactions that complement the lecture material. (CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab.
    SCI (L. Repka, R. Bunt)

    CHEM 0204 Organic Chemistry II: Synthesis and Spectroscopy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    In this course we will explore how organic molecules are made and their structures are identified. The study of organic reactions will continue from CHEM 0203 with radical reactions, alkene and alkyne additions, aromatic reactions, oxidations and reductions, and additional carbonyl reactions. Emphasis in this course will be placed on using reactions in sequences to synthesize larger and more complex molecules. The theory and practice of mass spectrometry and UV-Vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy will be studied as a means to elucidate the exact structures of organic molecules. Laboratory experiments will focus on synthetic techniques that complement the lecture material and the identification of complex unknowns via
    GC-MS, IR, and NMR. (CHEM 0203) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab.
    (L. Repka)

    CHEM 0311 Instrumental Analysis (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will learn fundamental concepts of analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and scientific writing. Lecture topics include experimental design and quality control; sample collection and preparation; calibration, error, and data analysis; statistics; and the theory and operation of chemical instrumentation. Multi-week laboratory projects provide hands-on experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis using a variety of research-quality instrumentation (e.g., UV/Vis spectrophotometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Writing workshops promote professional scientific writing skills through guided practice in writing analysis, peer review, and revision. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0242) 3 hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab. CW (B. Cotts)

    CHEM 0312 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory (Spring 2023)

    In this course students will carry out experiments in the field of inorganic and physical chemistry and write journal-style reports based on their results. In the first half of the semester students will conduct a multi-step synthesis and characterization of a Mo-Mo complex with a quadruple bond. Students will learn inert atmosphere synthetic techniques and how to use a glove box. The synthesized Mo-Mo complex will be characterized by UV-Vis, IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, and cyclic voltammetry. In the second half of the semester students will conduct two physical chemistry experiments. First students will carry out a kinetic study of the isomerization of the Mo-Mo (alpha to beta or beta to alpha) complex by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Finally, students will obtain the high-resolution IR spectra of acetylene and deuterated acetylene and analyze the rotation-vibration spectra using statistical and quantum mechanics to obtain structural data and interpret the peak intensities. In addition to the laboratory activities, there will be lectures on metal quadruple bonds, principles of UV-Vis , IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and statistical mechanics. (CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351, and CHEM 0355. CHEM 0355 can be taken concurrently.) 3 hrs. lect. 3 hrs. lab (B. Cotts, A. Vasiliou)

    CHEM 0313 Biochemistry Laboratory (Spring 2023)

    Experimental biochemistry emphasizing the isolation, purification and characterization of enzymes and the cloning of genes and expression of recombinant protein. Traditional biochemical techniques such as UV-VIS spectroscopy, gel filtration, ion exchange and affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, and immunoblotting will be used in the investigation of several enzymes. Specific experiments will emphasize enzyme purification, enzyme kinetics, and enzyme characterization by biochemical and immunochemical methods. Major techniques in molecular biology will be introduced through an extended experiment that will include DNA purification, polymerase chain reaction, bacterial transformation, DNA sequencing, and the expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant protein. Class discussions emphasize the underlying principles of the biochemical and molecular techniques employed in the course, and how these experimental tools are improved for particular applications. Laboratory reports stress experimental design, data presentation, and interpretation of results. (CHEM 0322) 2 hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab. CW (C. Dovey)

    CHEM 0322 Biochemistry of Macromolecules (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    This course is an introduction to biochemistry that focuses on the chemical and physical properties of amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Specific topics include the structure and function of proteins, enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, how carbohydrates and lipids contribute to vital cellular and organismal functions, and informational biochemistry (DNA, RNA, and specific enzymes and processes leading to the production of regulatory RNA and proteins). Specific topics from the primary literature will be explored to illustrate how particular techniques and experimental approaches are used to gain a new understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology. (CHEM 0203 or CHEM 0242) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. (Fall 2022: C. Dovey; Spring 2023: B. Cluss)

    CHEM 0351 Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy (Fall 2022)

    Quantum theory is developed and applied to atomic structure and molecular bonding. Spectroscopy is examined as an application of quantum theory. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0241, MATH 0122 and PHYS 0110, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. (B. Cotts)

    CHEM 0355 Thermodynamics and Kinetics for Chemical and Biological Sciences (Spring 2023)

    In this course students will learn the central ideas that frame thermodynamics and kinetics. The application of these ideas to chemical, biological, and the environmental processes will be covered using examples such as refrigerators, heat pumps, fuel cells, bioenergetics, lipid membranes, and catalysts (including enzymes). (PHYS 0109 or PHYS 0110 and MATH 0122 and CHEM 0204) 3 hrs lect., 1 hr disc. (B. Cotts)

    CHEM 0400 Seminar in Chemical Research (Fall 2022)

    This seminar provides students with experiences to support the preparation of a senior thesis. As the course involves participation in a mentored laboratory project and the intent to complete a senior thesis, students must make arrangements to work with a faculty advisor prior to gaining approval for course registration. The classroom portion of this seminar focuses on reading the scientific literature, giving effective oral presentations, and writing the thesis introduction. Particular emphasis will be given to computer and technology issues related to oral and written presentations. Participation will normally be followed by registration for CHEM 0500 or CHEM 0700 (winter term and spring). (Senior standing; Approval only) 2 hrs. sem., 12 hrs. lab. (B. Cluss)

    CHEM 0425 Biochemistry of Metabolism (Fall 2022)

    A living organism requires thousands of coordinated individual chemical reactions for life. In this course we will survey the major integrated metabolic pathways of living cells and whole organisms, with particular attention to enzyme mechanisms, as well as the regulation, and integration of metabolism from the molecular to the whole organism level. The synthesis and degradation of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides are investigated, along with the mechanisms of energy flow and cell-to-cell communication. While common metabolic processes are emphasized, unique aspects of metabolism that permit cells to function in unusual niches will also be considered. Mechanistic and regulatory aspects of metabolic processes will be reinforced through an investigation of inborn errors and organic defects that lead to disease. (CHEM 0322) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. (B. Cluss)

    CHEM 0431 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Atomic structure, bonding theories, and properties applicable to inorganic and organometallic compounds will be developed in depth. Specific topics will include valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, ligand field theory, applications of group theory, and reaction mechanisms. (CHEM 0351) 3 hrs. lect. (Fall 2022: J. Larrabee; Spring 2023: K. Shrestha)

    CHEM 0442 Advanced Organic Chemistry (Spring 2023)

    This course covers advanced topics in organic chemistry, with the goal of bringing students to the point where they have the knowledge necessary to become lifelong learners of organic chemistry through primary literature, rather than reliance on textbooks. With this goal in mind, the course will cover qualitative molecular orbital theory and reactive intermediates beyond the anion and cation chemistry which form the main body of the introductory organic chemistry sequence. More advanced techniques in NMR spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and conformational analysis will also be covered, and the course will culminate in literature examples of total synthesis of natural products, and a final project involving authoring a Wikipedia page on a topic of interest relating to organic chemistry. (CHEM 0204 or CHEM 0242) (J. Byers)

    CHEM 0500 Independent Study Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Individual study for qualified students. (Approval required)

    CHEM 0700 Senior Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    In this course students complete individual projects involving laboratory research on a topic chosen by the student and a faculty advisor. Prior to registering for CHEM 0700, a student must have discussed and agreed upon a project topic with a faculty member in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (Approval required; open only to seniors)

    CHEM 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Students who have initiated research projects in CHEM 0400 and who plan to complete a senior thesis should register for CHEM 0701. Students are required to write a thesis, give a public presentation, and defend their thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members. The final grade will be determined by the department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (CHEM 0400; approval required)
    ↑ Top

    Greenberg-Starr Department of Chinese Language & Literature

    If your degree progress has been disrupted by the pandemic contact Chair Tom Moran at moran@middlebury.edu to discuss modifications and/or waivers to these requirements.

    Required for the Major

    • CHNS 0101 through CHNS 0302 (or equivalent)
    • Four additional courses from among: CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS/GSFS 0240, CHNS/FMMC 0250, CHNS/LNGT 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS/GSFS 0331, CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370 (At least one of the four must be in pre-modern literature and at least one must be in modern literature or culture).
    • CHNS 0411 (The equivalent may be taken during study abroad)
    • CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, or CHNS 0412 (the equivalent to CHNS 0412 may be taken at the Middlebury Chinese School, or during study abroad)
    • CHNS 0475
    • Either CHNS 0700 or CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702

    Senior Work

    Full majors in Chinese are required to complete either CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 (Senior Honors Thesis) or CHNS 0700 (Senior Essay or Translation Project). CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 is a one-semester plus J-term sequence that should normally be taken during the fall and J-term. CHNS 0700 is a one-semester course that may be taken during the fall or winter. The Chinese department discourages students from postponing completion of senior work until the final semester of full-time study.

    Joint majors in Chinese are encouraged but not required to do a senior thesis (CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702) or project (CHNS 0700). A joint thesis or project should, when feasible, combine the two fields of study of the joint major.

    All senior work, whether CHNS 0700 or CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702, must include a major focus on work with primary sources in Chinese. All senior work should focus on Chinese literature; qualified students may petition the Chair for permission to do senior work on other aspects of Chinese culture (e.g., film or linguistics).

    Senior Honors Thesis

    To be eligible for the CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 Senior Honors Thesis, students majoring in Chinese (full, double or joint) must have completed language study through at least CHNS 0302 (or equivalent), taken at least two Chinese literature/culture courses, and maintained an average of B+ or better in Chinese department courses. Complete guidelines for the completion of the CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 thesis (and the CHNS 0700 project) are available from the Chinese Department.

    Departmental Honors

    Both full and joint majors may qualify for honors. Eligibility for departmental honors in Chinese requires completion of a senior honors thesis graded B+ or better and a grade point average of B+ (3.35) or higher in all courses taken that satisfy or could potentially satisfy the requirements for the major as listed above (full) and below (joint), including courses taken in the summer in the Chinese School and/or during study abroad. Only courses that satisfy or could potentially satisfy major requirements count toward honors (i.e., courses taken abroad that do not fall into this category do not count) and all such courses count (e.g., if more than four courses toward major requirement {b} are taken, all count). The department may award honors for completion of an exceptionally impressive senior essay or translation project that is graded A if the student has an average of B+ or higher in all qualifying courses (as defined above). High honors will be awarded for a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all qualifying courses (as define above) and a senior thesis of A- or better. Highest honors are reserved for students who earn a grade of A on the senior thesis and who have an average of 3.75 or higher in all qualifying courses (as defined above).

    Required for the Joint Major

    • CHNS 0101 through CHNS 0302 (or equivalent);
    • Either CHNS 0411 (the equivalent may be taken in the summer at the Middlebury Chinese School or, with prior approval, during study abroad) or CHNS 0425;
    • Four additional courses from among the following, with at least one from each category: (A) CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS/GSFS 0240, CHNS/FMMC 0250, CHNS/LNGT 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS/GSFS 0331, CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370; (B) CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, CHNS 0475.

    Required for the Minor

    • Four courses from among CHNS 0101 or CHNS 0102 (not both), CHNS 0103, CHNS 0201, CHNS 0202, CHNS 0301, CHNS 0302, CHNS 0400, CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, and CHNS 0475 (in this way, all students increase their language proficiency, regardless of the level at which they start their study).
    • Plus three courses from among CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS 0250, CHNS 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS 0331 (formally CHNS 0330), CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370, CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, and CHNS 0475. One course must be in literature in either Chinese or English (the following are literature courses: CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS 0325, CHNS 0331 (formally CHNS 0330), CHNS 0340, CHNS 0370, CHNS 0412, and CHNS 0475).
    • A single course may be counted toward only one category.
    • The equivalent of CHNS 0411 and/or CHNS 0412 may be taken abroad. A “one-on-one” course in literature or culture taken abroad may count toward the second category if approved by the Department Chair before study abroad. No other courses taken abroad may be counted toward the second category.

    International and Global Studies Major with Chinese Language

    Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies major section, the Chinese language component of an IGS major requires completion of the following: 1) completion of CHNS 0202 or the equivalent (students are strongly encouraged to complete CHNS 0302 or the equivalent before study abroad, preferably in the summer Chinese School); 2) one semester at one of the three C.V. Starr-Middlebury College Schools in China; 3) upon return from China, any one, preferably two, of the following: CHNS 0411, 0412, 0425, 0426, or 0475.

    CHNS 0101 Beginning Chinese (Fall 2022)

    This course is an introduction to Mandarin (guoyu or putonghua). The course begins with simple words and phrases, the pronunciation and cadences of Mandarin, romanization, Chinese characters, and simple vocabulary items, all taught in the context of practical communication. Sentence patterns and other fundamentals of speaking, reading, and writing will be taught, including both traditional characters (used everywhere before the 1950s and still used in Taiwan and Hong Kong) and simplified characters (used in China). Students should have achieved active command of more than 600 Chinese characters and more than 800 compounds by the end of the sequence CHNS 0101, CHNS 0102, and CHNS 0103. 5 hrs. lect., 2 hrs. drill LNG (H. Du, M. Harris)

    CHNS 0103 Beginning Chinese (Spring 2023)

    This course is a continuation of the fall and winter terms with accelerated introduction of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence patterns designed to facilitate speaking and reading. Toward the end of this semester students will read Huarshang de meiren (Lady in the Painting), a short book written entirely in Chinese. (CHNS 0102 or equivalent) 5 hrs. lect., 2 hrs. drill LNG (H. Du, M. Harris)

    CHNS 0201 Intermediate Chinese (Fall 2022)

    This course is designed to enable the student to converse in everyday Chinese and to read simple texts in Chinese (both traditional and simplified characters). Discussion of assigned readings will be conducted primarily in Chinese. Familiarity with the vocabulary and grammar introduced in CHNS 0101, CHNS 0102, and CHNS 0103 is assumed. Grammatical explanations, written exercises, dictation quizzes, sentence patterns, oral drill, and CD's will accompany assignments. By the completion of CHNS 0202, which follows CHNS 0201 directly, students should be able to read and write approximately 1,200 characters. (CHNS 0103 or equivalent) 5 hrs. lect., 1 hr. drill LNG (C. Wiebe, K. Zhang)

    CHNS 0202 Intermediate Chinese (Spring 2023)

    This course is a continuation of the first term's work, with the class conducted primarily in Chinese. (CHNS 0201) 5 hrs. lect., 1 hr. drill LNG (K. Zhang, M. Harris)

    CHNS 0219 The Chinese Literary Tradition (in translation) (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    This course, an introduction to the works of literature that formed the basis of traditional Chinese culture, is a discussion-based seminar. It focuses first on texts written in classical Chinese from the earliest times up through the Song dynasty, including selections from early poetry and history, Daoist classics, stories of the strange, and Tang Dynasty poetry by Wang Wei, Li Bai and Du Fu. These texts shaped the traditional Chinese understanding of the world, and provided models of what was perceived to be powerful, beautiful language. In the second part of the course we will explore narratives written in the vernacular language, focusing on the literary significance and aesthetic value of drama, stories and novels long treasured by the Chinese. Students will gain a better understanding of traditional Chinese literary values, as well as Chinese society and worldviews. This class is not intended for native Chinese students who have studied Chinese literature in high school classes in China. (No background in Chinese culture or language needed.) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, LIT, NOA (C. Wiebe)

    CHNS 0220 Modern China through Literature (in translation) (Fall 2022)

    This course, taught in English, is a discussion-based seminar on some of the most significant works of short fiction, novellas, and novels that tell the story of China and the Chinese from the end of the Qing dynasty to the present. Students will gain a better understanding of the history of modern China by studying the works of literature that inspired readers and provoked debate during one hundred years of social reform, revolution, war, civil war, reconstruction, cultural revolution, cultural revival, and economic growth. Our reading will include work by authors such as Lu Xun (Diary of a Madman, 1918), Zhang Ailing (Love in a Fallen City, 1944), Ah Cheng (The Chess King, 1984), Yu Hua (To Live, 1993), and, from Taiwan, Zhu Tianwen (Notes of a Desolate Man, 1999). We will consider the mainstream (socially engaged realism), the avant-garde (varieties of modernism), and popular genres (romance and martial arts), and we will look for answers to the following questions: what has been the place of fiction in China in the modern era and what vision of modern China do we find in its fiction? (No prerequisites) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, LIT, NOA (T. Moran)

    CHNS 0250 Chinese Cinema (Spring 2023)

    This course, taught in English, surveys the history of movies in China since the 1930s and also offers an in-depth look at the work of: China's fifth-generation directors of the 1980s and their successors up to the present; Taiwan's new wave; and Hong Kong popular cinema, including martial arts film. Our focus is the screening and discussion of films such as The Goddess (a 1934 silent classic), Stage Sisters (1965; directed by the influential Xie Jin), the controversial Yellow Earth (1984), In the Heat of the Sun (a 1994 break with the conventional representation of the Cultural Revolution), Yang Dechang's masterpiece A One and a Two (2000), and Still Life (Jia Zhangke's 2006 meditation on displacement near the Three Gorges Dam). The course is designed to help students understand the place of cinema in Chinese culture and develop the analytical tools necessary for the informed viewing and study of Chinese film. We will look at everything from art film, to underground film, to recent box office hits. (No prerequisites) One evening film screening per week. 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART, CW, NOA (T. Moran)
    Cross-listed as: FMMC 0250

    CHNS 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics (taught in English) (Spring 2023)

    Sociolinguistics is mainly concerned with the interaction of language and society. The language situation in China is unique both in the modern world and in human history. We will gain a good understanding of sociolinguistics as a scientific field of inquiry through exploring the Chinese situation in this course. Some of the questions we will ask are: What is Mandarin (Modern Standard) Chinese? Who are "native speakers" of Mandarin? Are most Chinese people monolingual (speaking only one language) or bilingual (speaking two languages) or even multilingual? How many "dialects" are there in China? What is the difference between a "language" and a "dialect"? Are Chinese characters "ideographs", i.e., "pictures" that directly represent meaning and have nothing to do with sound? Why has the pinyin romanization system officially adopted in the 1950s never supplanted the Chinese characters? Why are there traditional and simplified characters? We will also explore topics such as power, register, verbal courtesy, gender and language use. Students are encouraged to compare the Chinese situation with societies that they are familiar with. (One semester of Chinese language study or by waiver) NOA, SOC (H. Du)
    Cross-listed as: LNGT 0270

    CHNS 0301 Advanced Chinese (Modern Chinese) (Fall 2022)

    This course aims at further development of overall language proficiency through extensive reading of selected texts representing a wide variety of subjects and styles. Classes will be conducted entirely in Chinese except for occasional recourse to English by the instructor to provide a quick solution to problems of definition. The main text will be All Things Considered with supplementary readings selected to help students both continue to work toward competence in conversational Chinese and also begin to master a more sophisticated register of language. 4 hrs. lect. LNG (M. Harris, D. Liu)

    CHNS 0302 Advanced Chinese (Modern Chinese) (Spring 2023)

    This course is a continuation of CHNS 0301 with continued practice in conversational Chinese and a greater emphasis on reading works of a literary nature. (CHNS 0301 or equivalent) 4 hrs. lect. LNG (D. Liu)

    CHNS 0340 Literature and Culture in Contemporary China and the Sinophone World (in English translation) (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will study select works of acclaimed, popular, and/or controversial short fiction, spoken drama, and poetry from the People’s Republic of China and the post-1949 Sinophone world, primarily Taiwan. We will devote some attention to other forms of cultural production, including film and visual art. We will place a particular emphasis on the study of work by Chinese and Sinophone writers and artists who belong to non-Han ethnic minority groups (e.g., Tibetan, Yi, and Atayal), and we will explore possible answers to the question, “How is Chinese national and cultural identity created and contested in literature?” 3 hrs. lect./disc. LIT, NOA (T. Moran)

    CHNS 0350 Documentary Film in Contemporary China (Fall 2022)

    In China since the 1980s, new political and socio-economic realities, along with new technologies, created conditions for the emergence of the New Documentary Movement, the collective achievement of a group of artists with new ideas about what the form and function of nonfiction film should be. We will screen and discuss select contemporary Chinese documentary films, place these films in the context of global documentary film history, and learn methods for the analysis of nonfiction film. We will “read” each film closely, and also study secondary sources to learn about the Chinese realities that each film documents. 3 hrs. lect./screening ART, NOA (T. Moran)
    Cross-listed as: FMMC 0350

    CHNS 0370 Early Chinese Novels (in translation) (Spring 2023)

    This seminar focuses on pre-modern Chinese full-length novels, which rose and matured during the Ming-Qing period. Students will read from the "masterworks" of this genre, including Three Kingdoms (the epic deeds of heroes of the Chinese civil war of the second and third centuries), Outlaws of the Marsh (picaresque tales of Chinese Robin Hoods, as it were), The Journey to the West (a comic Buddhist-Daoist allegory better known in English as Monkey), The Plum in the Golden Vase (an erotic novel of manners), and The Story of the Stone-The Dream of the Red Chamber (widely recognized as a masterpiece of world literature); all are beloved and long treasured by the Chinese. We will also read an eighteenth century detective novel, Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. We will not only trace the evolution of classical Chinese novels and consider their literary significance and artistic value; the course will also aim to provide a richer and deeper understanding of traditional China's history, society, culture, worldviews, beliefs, and sense of humor. (CHNS 0219 or CHNS 0220, or two Middlebury Literature courses, or by approval of the instructor.) CW, LIT, NOA (C. Wiebe)

    CHNS 0411 Classical Chinese I (in Chinese) (Fall 2022)

    This course is an introduction to wenyan, the written language of traditional China. In this course we will emphasize comprehension of the literal and metaphorical meanings of short wenyan texts. Our approach will include grammatical analysis and baihua translation (i.e., from the Classical Chinese into modern Chinese); discussion will be conducted entirely in baihua. This course begins the two-semester sequence of Classical Chinese, which not only introduces students to wenyan but also provides a vital learning experience for any student seeking to attain a high level of linguistic and cultural proficiency in Chinese, including modern written discourse. (CHNS 0302 or the equivalent) 3 hrs. lect. LNG (K. Zhang)

    CHNS 0412 Classical Chinese II (in Chinese) (Spring 2023)

    A continuation of CHNS 0411. In this course students will read a wide selection of wenyan texts that sample the classics of ancient Chinese thought, including Confucius' Analects, the Daoist texts Laozi and Zhuangzi, Mohist arguments against war, Sunzi's The Art of War, and Legalist writings on law. Students will also learn to punctuate wenyan texts (which were originally unpunctuated) and compose sentences or short paragraphs in wenyan. All class discussion will be conducted in modern Chinese. (CHNS 0411 or the equivalent) 3 hrs. lect. LNG (K. Zhang)

    CHNS 0425 Contemporary Social Issues in China: Advanced Readings (in Chinese) (Fall 2022)

    A survey of materials written in modern expository Chinese (academic, journalistic and polemical) that focus on the cultural, political, economic, and social issues of contemporary China. This advanced readings course is designed primarily for seniors who have already spent a semester or more studying and living in China or Taiwan. Emphasis will be given to further developing students' ability to read, analyze, and discuss complex issues in Mandarin while also advancing proficiency in writing and in oral comprehension. Oral reports and written compositions will be integral to the course's requirements. (Approval Required) 3 hrs. lect. LNG, NOA (D. Liu)

    CHNS 0475 Senior Seminar on Modern Chinese Literature (in Chinese) (Spring 2023)

    A capstone course for all Chinese majors and for others who have attained a high level of Chinese language proficiency. Students will read and critique works by major Chinese fiction writers (and sometimes playwrights) and may also see and discuss a film or films from mainland China, Hong Kong, and/or Taiwan. All reading, discussion, and critical writing will be in Chinese. (CHNS 0412 or CHNS 0425) 3 hrs. lect. LIT, LNG, NOA (D. Liu)

    CHNS 0500 Senior Essay (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval Required)

    CHNS 0700 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval required)

    CHNS 0701 Senior Thesis Proposal (Fall 2022)

    (Approval Required)

    CHNS 0702 Senior Thesis (Spring 2023)

    (Approval required). WTR
    ↑ Top

    Eve Adler Department of Classics and Program in Classical Studies

    Required for the Major in Classics

    • Ten courses in two languages: Greek and Latin (normally six in one language and four in the other) including one senior seminar (CLAS 0420).
    • CLAS 0150 Ancient Epic Poetry
    • Two additional courses in classics in translation, one from each of the following categories:
      • CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece or CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature or CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/RELI 0251 Greek Religion or CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
      • CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome or CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome or CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic or CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy
    • CLAS 0701 History of Classical Literature: General Examination for Classics/Classical Studies Majors

    Optional: CLAS 0700 Senior Essay (fall/winter or winter/spring), CLAS 0505 Independent Senior Project (fall or spring). (Note: Students who wish to do an optional senior essay or independent senior project must secure the sponsorship of a member of the classics department in the semester before the essay or project is to be undertaken.)

    Honors: B+ average or better in courses taken for the major (excluding senior work). B+ or better in the General Examination (CLAS 0701) and in the Senior Seminar (CLAS 0420). (Note: A student who does an optional senior essay or independent senior project may arrange with the chair, in the semester prior to undertaking the project, to offer that grade in lieu of the grade for CLAS 0420 for the calculation of departmental honors.)

    Joint Major: Students interested in a joint major in Classics and another discipline should consult the chair. The joint major in Classics typically requires ten courses in Greek and Latin (normally six in one language and four in the other); CLAS 0701, and senior work that combines Classics with the other major.

    Required for the Minor in Classics

    The minor in classics may be configured in one of the following four ways:

    1. Latin CLLA: Five courses in Latin
    2. Greek CLGR: Five courses in Greek
    3. Classical Civilization CLCC: Five courses, as follows: three or more courses chosen from    CLAS/HIST 0131, CLAS/HIST 0132, CLAS 0140, CLAS 0143, CLAS 0144, CLAS 0149, CLAS0150, CLAS 0151, CLAS 0152, CLAS 0190, CLAS/LITP 0230, CLAS/RELI 0262, CLAS/PHIL 0275, CLAS/PHIL 0276, CLAS 0321 CLAS/HIST 0331, CLAS/HIST 0332, or CLAS/HIST 0337; and CLAS 0420 or CLAS 0450 (or both).
    4. Classical Language and Civilization CLCL: Five courses, as follows: two or more courses in Latin or Greek; one or more courses chosen from CLAS/HIST 0131, CLAS/HIST 0132, CLAS 0140, CLAS 0143, CLAS 0144, CLAS 0149, CLAS/CMLT 0150, CLAS 0151, CLAS 0152, CLAS/CMLT 0190, CLAS/LITP 0230, CLAS/RELI 0251, CLAS/PHIL 0275 or CLAS 0276; and one or more courses chosen from CLAS 0321, CLAS/HIST 0331, CLAS/HIST 0332, CLAS/HIST 0337, CLAS 0420, or CLAS/CMLT 0450.

    AP credit policy: One course credit toward graduation, not toward the major or minor, will be granted for one AP exam in Latin under the following conditions: a) The student has received a grade of 4 or 5 on the AP exam, and b) The student has completed an advanced course (LATN 0201 or above) in Latin at Middlebury with a grade of B+ or above. (Note: No more than one course credit will be granted, whether the student presents one or two AP exams.)

    Study Abroad Guidelines: Study abroad in the Mediterranean can enrich our majors’ experience of the ancient world, because it affords them the opportunity to see the places that they have been learning about in the classroom. Students also find it stimulating to be surrounded by people with similar interests from other institutions. Thus, while our curriculum does not in any way necessitate study abroad, the faculty is happy to work with students who wish to pursue it as part of their Middlebury degree in classics or classical studies.

    For those students who want to go abroad, we strongly recommend a semester rather than a year. The three programs we endorse are the ICCS (the Inter-Collegiate Consortium for Classical Studies in Rome), CYA (College Year in Athens), and Arcadia (also in Athens), all of which offer semester-long programs. Admission to the ICCS in particular, however, is highly competitive, and students may have a compelling academic rationale for studying elsewhere. Accordingly, we have also approved students who wished to study for a semester at foreign universities with strong classics departments. These have included Trinity College Dublin, the University of Edinburgh, Cambridge University, and the University of Vienna. For some students, a rewarding alternative to study abroad during the academic year has been participation in a summertime archaeological excavation.

    We discourage students from going abroad before they have had at least three semesters of whichever ancient language(s) they are learning. As part of their program of study abroad, students normally take at least one course in each ancient language of study, and select additional courses that are appropriate substitutes for courses in the major. In order to be fully prepared for senior work, however, students will need to have completed a significant portion of the courses required for the major, in particular CLAS 0150, before going abroad.

    Generally speaking, we are as flexible as we can be in helping majors to identify courses in programs abroad that allow them to stay in step with their cohort in Middlebury and to be prepared for senior work. Unless we are familiar with the institution, the instruction, and the content of the courses, we rarely grant credit to non-majors for classics courses taken away from Middlebury. In all cases (majors, non-majors, potential majors, and minors), students must consult with a member of the classics department before leaving Middlebury to plan and receive approval for work done at other institutions.

    Required for the Major in Classical Studies

    • The following:
      • CLAS/CMLT 0150 Ancient Epic Poetry
      • CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece or CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature or CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy or CLAS/CMLT 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
      • CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome or CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome or CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic or CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy
    • Three additional courses in Classical Studies chosen from the following:
      • CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece
      • CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome
      • CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome
      • CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic
      • CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire
      • CLAS 0149 Rhetoric and Politics from Ancient Greece and Rome to the Present
      • CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature
      • CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy
      • CLAS/CMLT 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy
      • CLAS/LITS 0230 Myth and Contemporary Experience
      • CLAS/HARC 0234 Ancient Roman City: Pompeii and Beyond
      • CLAS/HARC 0236 Cities of Vesuvius
      • CLAS/RELI 0251 Greek Religion
      • CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
      • CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy
      • CLAS 0321 Apocalypse When?
      • CLAS/HIST 0331 Sparta and Athens
      • CLAS/HIST 0332 Roman Law
      • CLAS/HIST 0337 From Alexander to Rome
      • HARC 0213 Roman Art and Architecture
      • HARC 0221 Greek Art and Archaeology
      • HARC 0223 The Classical Tradition in Architecture: A History
      • HARC 0312 Of Gods, Mortals, and Myths: Greek and Roman Painting
      • HARC 0320 Hands-on Archaeology: Theory and Practice
      • MATH 0261 History of Mathematics
      • PHIL 0201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
      • PHIL 0302 Philosophy of Plato
      • PHIL 0303 Philosophy of Aristotle
      • RELI 0381/CLAS 0308 Seminar in the New Testament
      • PSCI 0101 Introduction to Political Science
      • PSCI 0317 Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy
      • PSCI 0409 Seminar in Political Philosophy
      • RELI 0290 Women and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and Byzantium
    • Four courses in Greek or four courses in Latin chosen from:
      • GREK 0101 Beginning Greek I
      • GREK 0102 Beginning Greek II
      • GREK 0201 Intermediate Greek: Prose
      • GREK 0202 Intermediate Greek: Poetry
      • GREK 0301 Readings in Greek Literature I
      • GREK 0302 Readings in Greek Literature II
      • GREK 0401 Advanced Readings in Greek Literature I
      • GREK 0402 Advanced Readings in Greek Literature II
      • LATN 0101 Beginning Latin I
      • LATN 0102 Beginning Latin II
      • LATN 0110 Introduction to College Latin
      • LATN 0201 Intermediate Latin: Prose
      • LATN 0202 Intermediate Latin: Poetry
      • LATN 0301 Readings in Latin Literature I
      • LATN 0302 Readings in Latin Literature II
      • LATN 0401 Advanced Readings in Latin I
      • LATN 0402 Advanced Readings in Latin II
    • CLAS 0420 Seminar in Classical Literature
    • CLAS 0701 History of Classical Literature: General Examination for Classics/Classical Studies Majors

    Optional: CLAS 0700 Senior Essay (fall/ winter/spring); CLAS 0500 Independent Senior Project (fall/winter/spring). (Note: Students who wish to do an optional senior essay or independent senior project must secure the sponsorship of a member of the classics department in the semester before the essay or project is to be undertaken.)

    For complete descriptions of the courses listed above, see listings under the appropriate departments.

    Honors: B+ average or better in courses taken for the major (excluding senior work). B+ or better in the General Examination (CLAS 0701) and in the Senior Seminar (CLAS 0420). (Note: A student who does an optional senior essay or independent senior project may arrange with the chair, in the semester prior to undertaking the project, to offer that grade in lieu of the grade for CLAS 0420 for the calculation of departmental honors.)

    Joint Major: Students interested in a joint major in Classical Studies and another discipline should consult the chair. The joint major in Classical Studies typically requires four semesters of either Greek or Latin; CLAS 0150; one course from section A2 and one course from A3 under the requirements for the major; CLAS 0701, and senior work that combines Classical Studies with the other major.

    CLAS 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece (Fall 2022)

    A survey of Greek history from Homer to the Hellenistic period, based primarily on a close reading of ancient sources in translation. The course covers the emergence of the polis in the Dark Age, colonization and tyranny, the birth of democracy, the Persian Wars, the interdependence of democracy and Athenian imperialism, the Peloponnesian War, and the rise of Macedon. Authors read include Herodotus, Thucydides, Aristophanes, Plutarch, Xenophon, and the Greek orators. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS, LIT (J. Chaplin)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0131

    CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic (Fall 2022)

    This course is an introduction to the literature, politics, culture and history of the Roman Republic (c.509-31BCE) - a period which saw Rome grow from a small city on the Tiber to the supreme power in the Mediterranean, and also saw the development of Latin literature. Our readings cover a broad variety of literary genres and authors: comedy (Plautus and Terence), lyric (Catullus), epic (Ennius), political speeches and letters (Cicero), history (Caesar, Sallust, Polybius), and didactic philosophy (Lucretius). As we read we will be careful to investigate how these texts present different and often conflicting ideas of what it means to be Roman, as well as how different ideologies of Rome compete throughout each work. 3 hrs. lect. 1hr. disc. EUR, HIS, LIT (C. Star)

    CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will investigate the literature, culture, and history of the Roman Empire, focusing on how Romans sought, often at the cost of their own lives, to define the role and powers of the emperor and their place as subjects to this new, autocratic power. Texts we will read include: epic (Lucan), tragedy (Seneca), history (Tacitus), biography (Suetonius), prose fiction (Petronius), as well as early Christian literature. As we read we will seek to answer questions about the nature of freedom and empire, what is gained and lost by replacing a republican with an autocratic political system, and whether literature in this period can offer an accurate reflection of reality, function as an instrument of change and protest, or of fearful praise and flattery. 3 hrs lect. 1 hr. disc. CW (8 seats), EUR, HIS, LIT (R. Ganiban)

    CLAS 0150 Greek and Roman Epic Poetry (Fall 2022)

    Would Achilles and Hector have risked their lives and sacred honor had they understood human life and the Olympian gods as Homer portrays them in the Iliad? Why do those gods decide to withdraw from men altogether following the Trojan War, and why is Odysseus the man Athena chooses to help her carry out that project? And why, according to the Roman poet Vergil, do these gods command Aeneas, a defeated Trojan, to found an Italian town that will ultimately conquer the Greek cities that conquered Troy, replacing the Greek polis with a universal empire that will end all wars of human freedom? Through close study of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and Vergil's Aeneid, we explore how the epic tradition helped shape Greece and Rome, and define their contributions to European civilization. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. CMP, EUR, LIT, PHL (M. Witkin)
    Cross-listed as: CMLT 0150

    CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy (Spring 2023)

    A survey of selected tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, exploring the relation between tragedy and political freedom and empire in fifth century B.C. Athens. The course examines the tragic poets' use of traditional Greek myths to question not only the wisdom of contemporary Athenian imperialism but also traditional Greek views on relations between the sexes; between the family and the city; between man's presumed dignity and his belief in gods. Mythical and historical background is supplied through additional readings from Homer and Thucydides. The course asks how the tragedians managed to raise publicly, in the most solemn religious settings, the kind of questions for which Socrates was later put to death. The course culminates in a reading of Aristotle's Poetics. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. CW (10 seats), EUR, LIT, PHL (M. Witkin)
    Cross-listed as: LITS 0152

    CLAS 0251 Greek Religion (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will examine the religious experience of the Greeks in all its complexity and variety. Drawing on literary sources (e.g. Homer, Hesiod, tragedy, and comedy, among others) and archaeological evidence, we will study the Greek views of the gods as these emerge from both mythical narratives and cult practice. We will explore the Greek ideas of personal salvation, but also the importance of religious festivals for the community of the polis. Finally, while looking at ancient philosophical critiques of the traditional gods, we will trace the transition to Christianity and we will compare the sacred in Greek culture with the place of religion in our own society. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS, PHL (P. Sfyroeras)
    Cross-listed as: RELI 0251

    CLAS 0290 Women and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and Byzantium (Spring 2023)

    This course will explore the female religious experience in Greco-Roman antiquity and Early Christianity. We shall trace the transition from the mystery religions of Demeter and Isis in the Eastern Mediterranean to the cult of Mary the Mother of God (Theotokos) and the worship of female saints. Drawing on a wide range of sources (hymns, saints' Lives, Apocryphal Gospels, Patristic texts, and icons), we shall study the varieties of female devotion and examine the roles available to women in the early Church: deaconesses and desert mothers, monastics and martyrs, poets and rulers. Different theoretical approaches will enable us to ask a series of questions: were women in the early Church considered capable of holiness? To what extent did the female 'gifts of the spirit' challenge church authority? What is distinct about the feminine experience of the divine? Finally, we shall consider the vision and poetics of female spirituality in select modern poets. 3 hrs. lect. EUR, HIS, PHL (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
    Cross-listed as: RELI 0290 *

    CLAS 0332 Roman Law (Spring 2023)

    The Romans' codification of civil law is often considered their greatest intellectual achievement and most original and influential contribution to the world. This course treats the four main divisions of Roman law (persons, property, obligations, and succession). Great emphasis is placed on the role of law in Roman society. How did the law influence the lives of Roman citizens living under it? How did ordinary Roman citizens shape the law? Students will come to understand the principles of Roman law through actual cases. Designed for students with some background in Roman history and/or literature. 2 hrs. lect./1 disc. EUR, HIS (J. Chaplin)
    Cross-listed as: HIST 0332

    CLAS 0420 Seminar in Classical Lit: Medea: 2,500 Years of a Tragic Heroine (Spring 2023)

    From Euripides’s play to the contemporary films of Pier Paolo Pasolini and Lars von Trier, Medea’s story has been retold for two and a half millennia. In this course we will investigate some of the avatars of Medea, from drama (Euripides and Seneca), to epic (Apollonius and Ovid), to philosophical discussions of her plight (Epictetus). We will also consider her role in early modern drama (Macbeth) and modern film. What does Medea represent? The overwhelming power of love and madness? The triumph of barbarism over civilization? A critique of cultural superiority and enlightenment? How can we explain her continued presence through the centuries? 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LIT (C. Star)

    CLAS 0450 History of Classical Literature (Fall 2022)

    A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies (see CLAS 0701 below) and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy. 3 hrs. lect. (R. Ganiban)
    Cross-listed as: CMLT 0450

    CLAS 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval required)

    CLAS 0505 Ind Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval Required) (J. Chaplin, M. Witkin, R. Ganiban, P. Sfyroeras, C. Star)

    CLAS 0700 Senior Essay for Classics/Classical Studies Majors (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    (Approval required)

    CLAS 0701 History of Classical Literature (Fall 2022)

    A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy. 3 hrs. lect. (R. Ganiban)

    GREK 0201 Intermediate Greek: Prose (Fall 2022)

    Intermediate Greek: Attic Prose-Lysias & Plato *
    Readings in major authors. 3 hrs. lect.
    EUR, LNG (J. Chaplin)

    GREK 0202 Intermediate Greek (Spring 2023)

    Readings in majors authors. 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LNG (P. Sfyroeras)

    LATN 0102 Beginning Latin II (Spring 2023)

    This course is a continuation of the introductory winter term course (LATN 0101). After completing the fundamentals of Latin grammar, students translate selections from authors such as Cicero and Ovid. 3 hrs. lect. LNG (J. Chaplin)

    LATN 0301 Readings in Latin Literature I (Fall 2022)

    Readings in major authors. 3 hrs. lect. LIT, LNG (R. Ganiban)

    LATN 0302 Readings Latin Literature II (Spring 2023)

    Readings in Latin Literature II: Vergil’s Aeneid*
    Readings in major authors. 3 hrs. lect.
    (M. Witkin)

    LATN 0501 Advanced Readings in Latin III (Fall 2022)

    Readings in major authors. Students should have had some formal study of Latin and should consult with the instructor during the first week of classes to determine whether or not the class is at the appropriate level. 3 hrs lect. (C. Star)

    LATN 0502 Advanced Readings in Latin IV: Flavian Literature (Spring 2023)

    Readings in major authors. 3 hrs lect. (R. Ganiban)
    ↑ Top

    Program in Comparative Literature

    During their course of study, students of Comparative Literature will also become familiar with current comparative methodologies as well as relevant cultural and critical theories. These methodological skills support students’ work as they pursue a flexible and individualized pathway through their program of study, which culminates in an article-length comparative essay. The program is designed to accommodate students at all levels of language proficiency.

    Majors in Comparative Literature will develop a plan of study with the guidance of a faculty advisor with expertise in the students chosen primary language and literature, and the Director of the Comparative Literature Program.

    The basic structure of the program is as follows:

    1. One primary language of study AND

    2. Four courses in a secondary language. Students’ first language cannot be their primary language, but it can be their secondary language.  For example, English cannot be the primary language of a student whose first language is English, but it can be the secondary language.

    Requirements

    1. CMLT 0101
    2. Three content courses in the primary language, including two literary classes and one cultural course (e.g. cinema, politics). The choice of particular classes requires the approval of the student’s primary language advisor and the Program Director. Students will also need approval for inclusion of study abroad classes in this category.  In the case of students whose primary language is Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Japanese, some of these three content courses MAY be taught in English, depending on the availability of suitable courses in the language.
    3. Four courses in a secondary language. If the secondary language is English, at least one course must be pre 1800.
    4. One course in literary theory (suggested for sophomore year), for example ENAM/CMLT 205.
    5. Study abroad, in the primary language.  Exceptions may be made if you receive prior approval from your faculty advisor and the program director. A maximum of 4 courses in literature taken abroad may be used to satisfy other requirements in the major, subject to the pre-approval of the Director of the program. All students must take one class in their primary language after their return.
    6. Two electives explicitly comparative in nature. These literature courses may be taught in English. Examples: CLAS/CMLT 0150; CMLT/RELI 0238; CMLT/CLAS 0450; ENAM/CMLT 0305; GRMN/CMLT 0333; ITAL/CMLT 0299. Suitable classes will be cross-listed and bear the prefix CMLT.
    7. One senior/advanced seminar in literature taken at Middlebury College in the student’s primary or secondary language.
    8. Senior Work (CMLT 0700): During Fall and Winter Term, or Winter Term and Spring, students will write a 35-page (article length) comparative essay (advised independently). Students are responsible to identify and arrange to work with their advisor and the members of their committee no later than the last week of classes in the preceding term.

    Honors

    To be eligible for honors students must have a GPA in the major of 3.7 and a B+ or above on their essay. Students with eligible honors theses will also have a defense before the last day of exams.

    CMLT 0101 Introduction to World Literature (Spring 2023)

    This course is an introduction to the critical analysis of imaginative literature of the world, the dissemination of themes and myths, and the role of translation as the medium for reaching different cultures. Through the careful reading of selected classic texts from a range of Western and non-Western cultures, students will deepen their understanding and appreciation of the particular texts under consideration, while developing a critical vocabulary with which to discuss and write about these texts, both as unique artistic achievements of individual and empathetic imagination and as works affected by, but also transcending their historical periods. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, CW, LIT (T. Portice, R. Russi)

    CMLT 0123 Adventures in Literary Romance (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will explore the literary genre of romance. Today, “romance” often refers to courtship—only one aspect of this ancient genre. Other aspects include adventure, magic, wonder, multiple plots, multiple authors, an affinity for sequels. Romance’s associations with every genre—tragedy, comedy, epic, novel, lyric poetry—and its reputation for escapism have made it an epitome of the very idea of literature, as conceived by attackers and defenders. Its welcoming of female readers and protagonists and its marketing of the exotic have raised issues of gender and ethnicity. We will discuss all such aspects and implications of romance, and we may also explore how romance has shaped modern television and film. No papers or exams; there will be quizzes daily on the reading, and students will be expected to participate thoughtfully in class discussions. Readings from texts such as: Daphnis and Chloe, Ethiopian Romance, The Gospel of Luke, The Golden Ass, Arthurian romances by various authors, Orlando Inamorato, Orlando Furioso, The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, The Merchant of Venice, The Winter’s Tale, Don Quixote,/ Waverly/, Madame Bovary, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Time Quintet. 3 hrs. lect. LIT (J. Berg)
    Cross-listed as: ENGL 0123 *

    CMLT 0150 Greek and Roman Epic Poetry (Fall 2022)

    Would Achilles and Hector have risked their lives and sacred honor had they understood human life and the Olympian gods as Homer portrays them in the Iliad? Why do those gods decide to withdraw from men altogether following the Trojan War, and why is Odysseus the man Athena chooses to help her carry out that project? And why, according to the Roman poet Vergil, do these gods command Aeneas, a defeated Trojan, to found an Italian town that will ultimately conquer the Greek cities that conquered Troy, replacing the Greek polis with a universal empire that will end all wars of human freedom? Through close study of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and Vergil's Aeneid, we explore how the epic tradition helped shape Greece and Rome, and define their contributions to European civilization. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. CMP, EUR, LIT, PHL (M. Witkin)
    Cross-listed as: CLAS 0150 *

    CMLT 0205 Introduction to Contemporary Literary Theory (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    In this course we will introduce several major schools of contemporary literary theory. By reading theoretical texts in close conjunction with works of literature, we will illuminate the ways in which these theoretical stances can produce multiple interpretations of a given literary work. The approaches covered may include New Criticism, Psychoanalysis, Marxism and Cultural Criticism, Race Theory and Multicultural Criticism, Feminism, Post-Colonial Criticism, Queer Studies, Eco-Criticism, Post-Structuralism, and others. These theories will be applied to various works of fiction, poetry, and drama. The goal will be to make students critically aware of the fundamental literary, cultural, political, and moral assumptions underlying every act of interpretation they perform. 3 hrs. lect/disc. EUR, LIT (Fall 2022: C. Baldridge; Spring 2023: A. Losano)
    Cross-listed as: ENGL 0205 *

    CMLT 0238 Literature and the Mystical Experience (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will explore how narrative art articulates spiritual perception by examining selected works of 20th century writers such as Miguel De Unamuno, Nikos Kazantzakis, J. D. Salinger, Charles Williams, Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Merton, Alice Munroe, Marilynne Robinson, and Annie Dillard. Drawing on theology and philosophy as an interpretative mode, we will consider the following questions: How does literature illuminate selfhood and interiority? How do contemplation and ascetic practice guide the self to divine knowledge and cosmic unification? How do language, imagery and symbols shape the unitive experience as a tool for empathy and understanding of the other? 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, LIT, PHL (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
    Cross-listed as: RELI 0238 *

    CMLT 0248 Human Rights and World Literature (Spring 2023)

    In this course we will explore the idiom of human rights in law, literature, and political culture. We will place literary representations of human rights violations (genocide, torture, detention and forced labor, environmental devastation, police violence) in dialogue with official human rights treaties and declarations in order to historicize and critique the assumptions of human rights discourse. Who qualifies as a “human” deserving of humanitarian intervention? How do human rights rehearse a colonial dynamic based on racial and geo-political privilege? To answer these questions we will turn to some of the most controversial voices in global fiction and poetry. 3 hrs. lect. (not open to students who have taken ENAM 0230)
    (Diversity)/
    CMP, LIT, SOC (B. Graves)
    Cross-listed as: ENGL 0248 *

    CMLT 0286 Philosophy & Literature (Fall 2022)

    In this course we will explore the border both separating and joining philosophy and literature. How does literature evoke philosophical problems, and how do philosophers interpret such works? How does fiction create meaning? Beginning with Greek tragedy, we investigate Plato’s “quarrel” with, and Aristotle’s defense of, poetry. Then we will turn to modern works, mostly European, on topics such as: tragedy and ethics; style and rhetoric; author and reader; time and temporality; mood and emotion; existence and mortality. Literary readings after Sophocles will be selected from Borges, Calvino, Camus, Kafka, Tolstoy, and Woolf. Philosophical readings after Plato and Aristotle will be selected from Bergson, Danto, Freud, Murdoch, Ricoeur, and Nussbaum. Not open to students who have taken PHIL/CMLT 1014. CW, EUR, LIT, PHL (M. Woodruff)

    CMLT 0386 Exploring Orientalist Adventures in the Americas (Fall 2022)

    In this class we will study 20th and 21st century adventure narratives from the Americas to explore how artists have struggled to represent Asian or Middle East cultures within or against Western imperialist ideologies. We will use Edward Said’s seminal work Orientalism as a theoretical framework and study how racist narratives are predominant within our industrial mass media (radio, serials, films, comic books, social media, and streaming services). Furthermore, we will explore how new gender and race paradigms have provided space for adventure narratives that attempt to dismantle the biases against Asian citizens in the Americas. This class will cover from Martial Arts narratives in the United States to Mexican Geisha comic books to Argentinean adventures in the Middle East. AMR, LIT, LNG (E. Garcia)
    Cross-listed as: SPAN 0386 *

    CMLT 0450 History of Classical Literature (Fall 2022)

    A comprehensive overview of the major literary, historical, and philosophical works of Greece and Rome. Greek authors studied include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle. Roman authors include Lucretius, Cicero, Livy, Vergil, Petronius, and Tacitus. Required of senior majors in Classics/Classical Studies (see CLAS 0701) and open to all interested students with some background in Greek and Roman literature, history, or philosophy. 3 hrs. lect. (R. Ganiban)
    Cross-listed as: CLAS 0450 *

    CMLT 0451 The Novels of J.M. Coetzee: Ethics and Empire (Fall 2022)

    Coetzee, whose novels engage questions of institutional racism, state-sponsored violence, patriarchal privilege, environmental degradation, animal rights, and how to ethically approach cultural Others, manages to speak of specific historical circumstances—such as South Africa’s apartheid regime—while simultaneously addressing universal dilemmas of our contemporary human condition. Having received both the Booker (twice) and Nobel Prizes for literature, Coetzee is recognized as the living heir of both Kafka and Beckett, and as a writer whose searing prose and formal experimentation both extend and transform the novel’s traditional role as our culture’s most skeptical self-inquisitor. Depicting every act of writing as either a confrontation or an evasion, Coetzee both reveres and rebukes the literary traditions he warily embraces. We will read his strongest and most globally recognized works, from Waiting for the Barbarians through Disgrace. LIT (C. Baldridge)
    Cross-listed as: ENGL 0451 *

    CMLT 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    Approval Required

    CMLT 0700 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

    A senior thesis is normally completed over two semesters. During Fall and Winter terms, or Winter and Spring terms, students will write a 35-page (article length) comparative essay, firmly situated in literary analysis. Students are responsible for identifying and arranging to work with their primary language and secondary language readers, and consulting with the program director before completing the CMLT Thesis Declaration form. (Approval required.)
    ↑ Top

    Department of Computer Science

    Requirements for the Major

    For students who matriculated in Fall 2022 or later

    • CSCI 0145 or 0150
    • CSCI 0200
    • CSCI 0201
    • CSCI 0202
    • CSCI 0301
    • CSCI 0302
    • Four electives*
    • One additional Responsible Computing course**

    *An elective is a CSCI course numbered between 0303 and 0499, or 0701. Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0218 or MATH 0228.

    **A list of pre-approved Responsible Computing courses is maintained by the department. 

    For students who matriculated in Fall 2020 or later

    • CSCI 0145 or 0150
    • CSCI 0200
    • CSCI 0201
    • CSCI 0202
    • CSCI 0301
    • CSCI 0302
    • Five electives*

    *An elective is a CSCI course numbered between 0303 and 0499, or 0701.

    Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0216 or MATH 0218 or MATH 0228.  

    For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020

    • CSCI 0145 or 0150
    • CSCI 0200
    • CSCI 0201
    • CSCI 0202
    • CSCI 0301
    • CSCI 0302
    • Five electives*

    *An elective is a CSCI course numbered between 0303 and 0499, or 0701.

    Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0200 or MATH 0228.  

    Departmental Honors

    All levels of honors require an additional elective. A GPA of at least 3.5 is required for honors; a GPA of 3.7 or higher for high honors, and a GPA of 3.9 or higher for highest honors. In addition, high honors and highest honors require a grade of “B” or higher in the senior seminar CSCI 0701, and a two-semester (winter-spring) thesis CSCI 0702.

    Required for the Minor

    • CSCI 0145 or 0150
    • CSCI 0200
    • CSCI 0201
    • CSCI 0202
    • Two electives (CSCI courses numbered between 0301 and 0499)

    Joint Majors

    The computer science component of a joint major requires:

    • CSCI 0145 or 0150
    • CSCI 0200
    • CSCI 0201
    • CSCI 0202
    • One course from CSCI 0301 and CSCI 0302
    • Two electives (CSCI courses numbered between 0301 and 0499) 
    • Either an independent CSCI 0500 project integrating the two disciplines or (if appropriate to the joint major) CSCI 0701

    Advanced Placement and Waivers

    Students whose preparation indicates they can bypass one or more courses numbered 0201 or lower should speak to a faculty member to determine the appropriate first course, and with approval of the department chair may waive the bypassed classes from the major requirements. College credit for CSCI 0145 is given to students who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on the AP computer science A exam.

     

       

      CSCI 0145 Introduction to Computing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course we will provide a broad introductory overview of the discipline of computer science, with no prerequisites or assumed prior knowledge of computers or programming. A significant component of the course is an introduction to algorithmic concepts and to programming using Python; programming assignments will explore algorithmic strategies such as selection, iteration, divide-and-conquer, and recursion, as well as introducing the Python programming language. Additional topics will include: the structure and organization of computers, the Internet and World Wide Web, abstraction as a means of managing complexity, social and ethical computing issues, and the question "What is computation?" (Juniors and Seniors by waiver) (formerly CSCI 0101) 3 hr. lect./1 hr. lab DED (Fall 2022: P. Chodrow; Spring 2023: S. Basu)
      Cross-listed as: CSCI 0150 *

      CSCI 0150 Computing for the Sciences (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will provide an introduction to the field of computer science geared towards students interested in mathematics and the natural sciences. We will study problem-solving approaches and computational techniques utilized in a variety of domains including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Students will learn how to program in Python and other languages, how to extract information from large data sets, and how to utilize a variety of tools employed in scientific computation. The course has no prerequisites and assumes no prior experience with programming or computer science. (Juniors and Seniors by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (M. Linderman)

      CSCI 0200 Mathematical Foundations of Computing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course we will provide an introduction to the mathematical foundations of computer science, with an emphasis on formal reasoning. Topics will include propositional and predicate logic, sets, functions, and relations; basic number theory; mathematical induction and other proof methods; combinatorics, probability, and recurrence relations; graph theory; and models of computation. (CSCI 0145 or CSCI 0150) (Juniors and Seniors by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (Fall 2022: F. Swenton; Spring 2023: S. Bleher)

      CSCI 0201 Data Structures (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course we will study the ideas and structures helpful in designing algorithms and writing programs for solving large, complex problems. The Java programming language and object-oriented paradigm are introduced in the context of important abstract data types (ADTs) such as stacks, queues, trees, and graphs. We will study efficient implementations of these ADTs, and learn classic algorithms to manipulate these structures for tasks such as sorting and searching. Prior programming experience is expected, but prior familiarity with the Java programming language is not assumed. (CSCI 0145 or CSCI 0150) (Juniors and Seniors by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (A. Briggs)

      CSCI 0202 Computer Architecture (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      A detailed study of the hardware and software that make up a computer system. Topics include assembly language programming, digital logic design, microarchitecture, pipelines, caches, and RISC vs. CISC. The goal of the course is teach students how computers are built, how they work at the lowest level, and how this knowledge can be used to write better programs. (CSCI 0201) (Seniors by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (Fall 2022: P. Johnson; Spring 2023: C. Andrews)

      CSCI 0301 Theory of Computation (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course explores the nature of computation and what it means to compute. We study important models of computation (finite automata, push-down automata, and Turing machines) and investigate their fundamental computational power. We examine various problems and try to determine the computational power needed to solve them. Topics include deterministic versus non-deterministic computation, and a theoretical basis for the study of NP-completeness. (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0201) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (F. Swenton)

      CSCI 0302 Algorithms and Complexity (Spring 2023)

      This course focuses on the development of correct and efficient algorithmic solutions to computational problems, on the underlying data structures to support these algorithms, and on the social implications of algorithms. Topics include computational complexity, analysis of algorithms, proof of algorithm correctness, some advanced data structures, algorithmic techniques including greedy and dynamic programming, and the consequences of real-world applications of algorithms. The course complements the treatment of NP-completeness in CSCI 0301. (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0201) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (A. Christman)

      CSCI 0311 Artificial Intelligence (Fall 2022)

      Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the study of computational systems that exhibit rational behavior. Applications include strategic game playing, medical diagnosis, speech and handwriting recognition, Internet search, and robotics. Course topics include intelligent agent architectures, search, knowledge representation, logical reasoning, planning, reasoning under uncertainty, machine learning, and perception and action. (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0201) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (M. Linderman)

      CSCI 0312 Software Development (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course examines the process of developing larger-scale software systems. Laboratory assignments emphasize sound programming practices, tools that facilitate the development process, and teamwork. (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0201) 3 hrs. lect./lab (Fall 2022: C. Andrews; Spring 2023: M. Linderman)

      CSCI 0315 Systems Programming (Fall 2022)

      Students will become intimately acquainted with the low-level software services that applications often take for granted. Through a broad, project-based survey of core system libraries and UNIX system calls, students will explore process management, memory management, linking and loading, threading, synchronization, filesystem operations, and inter-process communication (networking). In each area, students will build software using these building blocks, gaining an understanding of the behavior and efficiency of the tools at their disposal. Students will also gain experience building larger, more complex systems upon which applications can be built. This course is ideal for students who wish to understand and construct the software infrastructure upon which user-level software depends. (CSCI 0202) 3 hrs. lect DED (P. Johnson)

      CSCI 0416 Parallel Computing (Spring 2023)

      Most modern computer architectures are parallel at multiple scales. In this course students will learn to develop programs that can efficiently use those parallel resources to improve performance and solve ever larger problems. Through a project-based survey students will be introduced to parallel hardware (multicore processors, clusters, GPUs), memory models (shared vs. non-shared), locality, synchronization, and different parallel programming models (threads, MapReduce, message-passing, SIMT, and more). Programming assignments will be implemented in multiple languages. (CSCI 202) 3hrs. lect./lab DED (M. Linderman)

      CSCI 0431 Computer Networks (Spring 2023)

      Computer networks have had a profound impact on modern society. This course will investigate how computer networks are designed and how they work. Examples from the Internet as well as our own campus network will be discussed. (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0315) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (P. Johnson)

      CSCI 0433 Compiler Design (Fall 2022)

      An introduction to the design and construction of compilers and translators. Topics include context-free grammars, lexical analysis, symbol tables, top-down and bottom-up parsing, parser generators, error recovery, run-time organization, declaration processing, type checking, code generation, and optimization. Through the course of the semester students will implement a complete compiler for a simple programming language. (CSCI 0202 and CSCI 0301) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (S. Basu)

      CSCI 0451 Machine Learning (Spring 2023)

      Machine Learning is the study and design of computational systems that automatically improve their performance through experience. This course introduces the theory and practice of machine learning and its application to tasks such as database mining, pattern recognition, and strategic game-playing. Possible topics include decision-tree methods, neural networks, Bayesian and statistical methods, genetic algorithms, and reinforcement learning. Not open to students who have already taken CSCI 1051.) (CSCI 0200 and CSCI 0201 and MATH 0200) 3 hrs. lect./lab DED (P. Chodrow)

      CSCI 0465 Information Visualization (Fall 2022)

      Information visualization is used to reveal patterns, trends, and outliers within abstract data. In this course we will cover topics such as the transformation of data to visual representations, common approaches to dealing with different types of data, perceptual issues that govern how visualizations are interpreted, and the development of interactive visualization tools. This course will culminate in a significant final visualization project. (CSCI 0201) DED (C. Andrews)

      CSCI 0467 Generative Art (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will explore the field of generative art – the artistic practice based on the creation of processes that yield art and design as an output. Through projects, we will find new applications for computing techniques such as visualization, physical simulation, stochastic processes, agent-based modeling, iterated function systems, fractals, genetic algorithms and machine learning. A portion of the class will also be devoted to reading research literature and discussing the nature of computation creativity. A background in art is not required. (CSCI 0201) (not open to students who have taken CSCI 1003) 3 hrs. lect./lab. ART, DED (C. Andrews)

      CSCI 0500 Advanced Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Individual study for qualified students in more advanced topics in computer science theory, systems, or application areas. Particularly suited for students who enter with advanced standing. (Approval required) 3 hrs. lect.

      CSCI 0701 Senior Seminar (Fall 2022)

      This senior seminar provides a capstone experience for computer science majors at Middlebury College. Through lectures, readings, and a series of two to three week individual and group assignments, we will introduce important concepts in research and experimental methods in computation. Examples will include: reading research papers; identifying research problems; dealing with big data; experimental design, testing and analysis; and technical writing in computer science. (Approval only). (S. Basu)

      CSCI 0702 Senior Thesis (Spring 2023)

      The senior thesis is required for all CSCI majors who wish to be considered for high and highest departmental honors, and is recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in computer science. Students will spend the semester researching and writing, and developing and experimenting as appropriate for their topic. All students will be expected to report on their work in the form of a written thesis, a poster, and an oral presentation at the end of the semester. In addition, throughout the semester, students will meet as a group to discuss research and writing, and will be expected to attend talks in the Computer Science lecture series. Before approval to join the class is granted, students are expected to have chosen a thesis adviser from the CSCI faculty, and determined a thesis topic with the guidance and approval of that adviser. (CSCI 0701 and approval required) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (A. Christman)
      ↑ Top

      Program in Dance

      Beyond these shared foundational courses, students take additional courses specific to one of three tracks: Choreography and Performance, Production and Technology, and Theory and Aesthetics. 

      Foundational Courses

      The eight foundational classes are as follows:

      • ARDV 0116 (Creative Process)
      • DANC 0260 (Advanced Beginning Dance)                                
      • DANC 0261 (Introduction to Improvisation)
      • DANC 0284 (Dance History)
      • DANC 0360 (Intermediate/Advanced Dance)
      • DANC 0376 (Anatomy and Kinesiology)
      • DANC 0500 (Research Methods)
      • DANC 0700 (Senior Work)

      Track Courses

      The track-specific courses are as follows:

      Choreography and Performance

      This track represents the core curriculum of the Dance Department for students primarily focused on contemporary approaches to technique, composition, and performance. The culminating senior work in this track will consist of formal concert work and a written thesis.

      • DANC 0361 (Movement and Media)
      • DANC 0460 (Advanced Dance)
      • DANC 0470 (Technique Workshop)

      Production and Technology

      This track represents a directed course of study for students primarily focused on the skills and methods of dance production and media, digital representations of the body, and current innovations and aesthetic models presented by the confluence of dance and the digital age. The culminating senior work in this track will involve all elements of the production of a design-focused concert work and a written thesis.

      • DANC 0361 (Movement and Media) (This course is in place of DANC 0360)
      • DANC 0370 (Production Workshop)

      Two additional elective courses from the following disciplines (by advisor approval):

      • Studio Art
      • Architecture Studies
      • Theatre
      • Film and Media Culture

      Suggested Elective Courses

      • Studio Art: ART 0156, ART 0200. ART 0380, ART 0388
      • Architectural Studies: HARC 0130, HARC 0218, HARC 0230, HARC 0231, HARC 0243, HARC 0267, HARC 0301, HARC 0338, HARC 1230
      • Theatre: ARDV 0111, ARDV 0113, ARDV 0205, ARDV 0221, ARDV 0238, ARDV 1190
      • Film and Media Culture: FMMC 0101, FMMC 0105, FMMC 0201, FMMC 0220, FMMC 0267, FMMC 0301, FMMC 0320, FMMC 0358, FMMC 0361

      Dance Studies—Theory and Aesthetics

      This track represents a directed course of study for students interested in dance as a focus for scholarly work and theoretical inquiry. They will develop the ability to articulate the interdisciplinary and intercultural aspects of dance, as well as write about the potential of the moving body to both reflect and impact culture. The culminating senior work in this track will take the form a public lecture and written thesis.

      Two additional elective courses from the following disciplines (by advisor approval):

      • English and American Literatures
      • History
      • Philosophy
      • Sociology/Anthropology

      Suggested Elective Courses

      • English: ENGL 0115, ENGL 0205, ENGL 0215, ENGL 0217, ENGL 0222, ENGL 0227
      • History: HIST 0117, HIST 0205, HIST 0210, HIST 0222, HIST 0225, HIST 0307
      • Philosophy: PHIL 0198, PHIL 0205, PHIL 0233, PHIL 0234, PHIL 0235, PHIL 0250, PHIL 0252
      • Sociology: SOCI 0103, SOCI 0105, SOCI 0109, SOCI 0191, SOCI 0211, SOCI 0215, SOCI 0218, SOCI 0235
      • Anthropology: ANTH 0103, ANTH 0109, ANTH 0159, ANTH 0211, ANTH 0274, ANTH 0287, ANTH 0302, ANTH 0304

      Joint Major Requirements

      • ARDV 0116 (Creative Process)
      • DANC 0260 (Advance Beginning Dance)
      • DANC 0261 (Introduction to Improvisation)
      • DANC 0284 (Dance History)
      • DANC 0360 (Intermediate/Advanced Dance)                            
      • DANC 0376 (Anatomy and Kinesiology)
      • DANC 0500 (Research Methods)
      • DANC 0700 (Senior Work) (to be taken simultaneously with DANC 0500)

      Minor Requirements

      • ARDV 0116 (Creative Process)
      • DANC 0260 (Advanced Beginning Dance)
      • DANC 0261 (Introduction to Improvisation)
      • DANC 0284 (Dance History)
      • DANC 0360 (Intermediate/Advanced Dance)                    
      • DANC 0376 (Anatomy and Kinesiology) 

      Department Honors

      Honors or high honors are awarded to graduating seniors in the Dance Department based upon a grade point average of A– or better in department and cognate courses, a grade of A– or better on the DANC 0700 Senior Independent Project, and overall distinction in the program. Normally only full majors will be eligible for high honors.

      ARDV 0116 The Creative Process (Fall 2022)

      In this course, students will have the opportunity to dig deeply into their own creativity and explore the processes by which ideas emerge and are given shape in the arts. The experiential nature of this course integrates cognition and action, mind and body. Students will engage a range of modes of discovering, knowing, and communicating, which are designed to push them beyond their present state of awareness and level of confidence in their creative power. Practical work will be closely accompanied by readings and journaling, culminating with the creation and performance of a short project. (First- and second-year students only; Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1364) 3 hrs. lect. ART (O. Sanchez Saltveit)
      Cross-listed as: ARDV 0117 *

      ARDV 0117 Culture as Creative Process (Spring 2023)

      This course is designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and academic disciplines who are interested in developing their unique creative process, researching their cultural history, and creating and revising performance projects that reflect the intersection of the two. Improvisatory tools and guided imagery provide methods for developing creative work. Weekly workshops in movement from the African diaspora, regular journaling, work-in-progress showings, and feedback sessions add further depth. Students will also generate a bibliography relating to their cultural history and present the results of their research in written form. (This course can count for dance and theatre majors as ARDV 0116). ART (C. Brown)
      Cross-listed as: ARDV 0116

      DANC 0160 Introduction to Dance (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This entry-level dance course introduces movement techniques, improvisation/composition, performance, experiential anatomy, and history of 20th century American modern dance. Students develop flexibility, strength, coordination, rhythm, and vocabulary in the modern idiom. Concepts of time, space, energy, and choreographic form are presented through improvisation and become the basis for a final choreographic project. Readings, research, and reflective and critical writing about dance performance round out the experience. 2 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART, PE (Fall 2022: M. Chavez; Spring 2023: L. Jenkins, M. Chavez)

      DANC 0244 African Music and Dance Performance (Spring 2023)

      This course will introduce students to various techniques of performing East African (primarily Ugandan) musical and dance traditions through regular rehearsals, culminating in an end-of-semester concert. As an ensemble, we will learn and master how to play and sing/dance to bow-harps, thumb-pianos, xylophones, tube-fiddles, bowl-lyres, gourd shakers, struck gourds, reed-box rattles, ankle bells, leg rattles, and various types of drums. Some background in performing music is recommended, but prior knowledge of performing African music and dance is not required. 3 hrs. lect./lab AAL, ART (D. Kafumbe)
      Cross-listed as: MUSC 0244 *

      DANC 0260 Advanced Beginning Dance I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This is the first course in the studio sequence for students entering Middlebury with significant previous dance experience. It is also the course sequence for those continuing on from DANC 0160 and provides grounding in the craft of modern dance needed to proceed to more advanced levels. Modern dance movement techniques are strengthened to support an emerging individual vocabulary and facility with composition. Students regularly create and revise movement studies that focus on the basic elements of choreography and the relationship of music and dance. Readings, journals, and formal critiques of video and live performance contribute to the exploration of dance aesthetics and develop critical expertise. (DANC 0160 or by approval) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART, PE (Fall 2022: K. Borni; Spring 2023: L. Winfield)

      DANC 0261 Improvisational Practices (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course students will gain an embodied understanding of the practices and techniques needed to proceed to advanced improvisational work. Research into forms such as partnering, ensemble work, text, musical exercises, compositions, and scores/projects will focus on mapping the moving body in the moment. Readings, journals, and responses to video viewings and live performances contribute to the exploration of historical contexts, aesthetics, and cultural improvisations. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART, PE (L. Winfield)

      DANC 0277 Body and Earth (Fall 2022)

      This course is designed to bridge the relationship between the human body and the environment. The goals of the course are to deepen knowledge of physical faculties and sensory possibilities, heighten sensitivity to natural processes and forms in the Vermont bioregion, and engage awareness through the study of perception of and interaction with the non-human world. Learning modalities include analytical reading and formal writing assignments for the lecture section, place-based exploratory journaling, experiential movement-based practices, site-specific dance making, and regular field trips and outdoor activities during the lab section, culminating in final performative research projects.3 hrs. lect. 1 hr. lab. AMR, ART, PE (K. Borni)

      DANC 0360 Intermediate/Advanced Dance I (Fall 2022)

      This course involves concentrated intermediate-advanced level work in contemporary dance technique and choreography culminating in production. Theoretical issues of importance to the dancer/choreographer are addressed through readings, writings and practice. (DANC 0260) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART, PE (C. Brown)

      DANC 0370 Production Workshop (Spring 2023)

      In preparing two fully produced dance productions for the stage, students will participate in and be exposed to professional production practices in all areas of dance technical design, including sets, costumes, props, lights, and sound. Students will be involved in planning, building, operating, lighting, documenting, striking, and publicizing fully produced dance program concerts. (6 hrs. lab) ART, PE

      DANC 0376 Anatomy and Kinesiology (Spring 2023)

      This course offers an in-depth experiential study of skeletal structure, and includes aspects of the muscular, organ, endocrine, nervous, and fluid systems of the human body. The goal is to enhance efficiency of movement and alignment through laboratory sessions, supported by assigned readings, exams, and written projects. (Not open to first-year students) 3 hrs. lect. ART, PE (M. Chavez)

      DANC 0380 Dance Company of Middlebury (Fall 2022)

      Dancers work with the artistic director and guest choreographer as a member of a dance company, learning, interpreting, rehearsing, and performing dances created for performance and tour. Those receiving credit can expect four to six rehearsals weekly. Appropriate written work, concert and film viewing, and attendance in departmental technique classes are required. One credit will be given for two terms of participation. Performances and tour(s) are scheduled in January. (Limited to sophomores through seniors, by audition.) (DANC 0260; Approval required) ART, PE (M. Chavez)

      DANC 0470 Technique Workshop (Spring 2023)

      This advanced physical and theoretical study of a variety of movement techniques will further prepare dance majors and minors for the rigors of performance, technical craft, and physical research. Exercises and discussions will revolve around increased subtlety, strength, flexibility, musicality, and dynamics with the goal of heightening the communicative range of the moving body. Rotating movement aesthetics taught by dance faculty. (Major/Minor Only) (Approval required) ART, PE (M. Chavez, C. Brown, L. Jenkins)

      DANC 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      (Approval Required)

      DANC 0700 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      (Approval Required) (M. Chavez)
      ↑ Top

      Department of Economics

      Required for the Major

      The economics major consists of a minimum of 11 approved courses in four sequences. At least six of these eleven courses, including the electives taken at the 0300- and 0400-levels and the 0701/0702 sequence, must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Note that although the 0701/0702 sequence is taken over two semesters (Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring) and counts as two credits towards the minimum 36 college requirements, it only counts as one course towards the economics major requirements. ECON 0240 and ECON 0500 do not count towards the major requirements. Economics electives taken during the winter term will count towards the major requirements only if so designated in the winter term catalog.

      Introductory Sequence

      ECON 0150 and ECON 0155. Neither ECON 0150 nor ECON 0155 assumes any prior exposure to economics, but both courses presume a thorough working knowledge of algebra. Note: Students must pass ECON 0150 and ECON 0155 with at least a C- to be admitted into ECON 0250 and ECON 0255 respectively without a waiver.

      Quantitative Sequence

      The quantitative sequence in economics consists of two courses. The first course can be ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210), MATH 0116, MATH 0310, or PSYC 0201. (ECON 0111 may not be taken concurrently with MATH 0116, MATH 0310 or PSYC 0201. Credit is not given for ECON 0111 if the student has taken MATH 0116, MATH 0310 or PSYC 0201.) Students with strong mathematical background wanting to take MATH 0410 (Stochastic Processes) should take MATH 0310 rather than MATH 0116 or ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210), since MATH 0310 is a prerequisite for MATH 0410. The second course in the sequence is ECON 0211. Students must pass ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) with at least a C- to be admitted into ECON 0211 without a waiver.

      Intermediate Theory Sequence

      ECON 0250; ECON 0255; and one of ECON 0212, ECON 0229, or ECON 0280. Note: It is important, especially for those planning to study abroad for a full year, that the above three sequences be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

      Elective Sequence

      Majors are required to take at least four electives, one of which must be at the 0400-level and one of which must be any of the following:  a 0300-level course, another 0400-level course, or the ECON 0701/0702 senior workshop sequence. The other two electives may be 0200-, 0300-, or 0400-level courses.

      The 0300-level courses are advanced electives exposing students to frontier research in specific subfields of economics that have intermediate theory as a prerequisite. The 0400-level courses are seminars that typically enroll no more than 16 students, have intermediate theory as a prerequisite, and serve as a capstone experience for the major. Emphasis is placed on reading, writing, and discussion of economics at an advanced level. The 0701/0702 workshops are seminars that typically enroll eight students, have intermediate theory and a field course as a prerequisite, and involve writing an independent research paper. The difference between an ECON 0400-level seminar and an ECON 0701/0702 workshop is the degree of independence the student has and the level of sophistication expected in the paper.

      Honors

      To be eligible for honors in economics, students must take the Senior Research sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702) during their senior year. The purpose of this two-semester sequence is to foster independent student research, culminating in a research paper in the style of an economics journal article. Prior to enrolling in ECON 0701, students must have taken a minimum of six economics courses at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements. Each course in the sequence will have no more than eight students who will work on their projects for two semesters (either fall/winter or winter/spring) and will include both individual meetings and group meetings to develop new techniques and present and discuss research. Students who have prearranged a research topic with the professor will be given priority in admission to the seminar. Also, because of limited resources for guiding senior work, students with a single major in economics will be given priority over double majors who will do senior work in other departments. Students interested in pursuing departmental honors must take the Senior Research Workshop sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702). To receive departmental honors the student must receive a minimum grade of A- in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and have a 3.5 or higher GPA in all economics courses taken at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements. High Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.75 or higher economics GPA. Highest Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.9 or higher economics GPA. For more detailed information on how the economics GPA is calculated, please contact the department coordinator.

      International Politics and Economics Major

      Please refer to the International Politics and Economics section of the catalog for details about the major or visit the International Politics & Economics website for the most current information. Note: Students are not allowed to double major in Economics (ECON) and International Politics and Economics (IPEC).

      Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Economics (ESEC)

      Please refer to the Environmental Studies Program section of the catalog (under Social Science foci) for details about the major or visit the Environmental Studies website for the most current information. Note: Students are not allowed to double major in Economics (ECON) and Environmental Economics (ESEC).

      Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Policy (ESEP)

      Please refer to the Environmental Studies Program section (under Social Science foci) for details about the major or visit the Environmental Studies website for the most current information. It is possible to double major in Economics (ECON) and Environmental Policy (ESEP), however, double counting of Economics courses towards each major is not allowed, except in cases where a specific course is listed as required by both majors. 

      AP Credit Policy

      To obtain credit, students will need to submit their official scores to the Registrar’s Office and obtain approval from the department chair. Students who score a 5 on the Advanced Placement exam in Macroeconomics or Microeconomics will receive credit for Introductory Macroeconomics (ECON 0150) or Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 0155) respectively and cannot enroll in these courses at Middlebury. Students who score a 5 on the advanced placement exam in statistics are strongly encouraged to enroll in Economic Statistics (ECON 0111, formerly 0210) but they may choose to use their AP credit instead. Note: Students may not receive AP credit and course credit for the same course.

      Students who score a 4 on the advanced placement exam in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics or Statistics must earn a B- or better grade in the corresponding intermediate-level course ECON 0250, ECON 0255, or ECON 0211, respectively, to receive college credit for the AP course. Note: Students are required to complete an additional elective for each of these courses when a grade of B- or higher is not earned in the corresponding intermediate-level course.

      International Baccalaureate/A-Levels

      Students who have completed an International Baccalaureate and have earned a score of 7 on IB Economics or a grade of A on A-Level Economics should begin their studies of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics with ECON 0250 and ECON 0255. These students will be given one course credit toward the economics major, and will be prohibited from enrolling in ECON 0150 or ECON 0155. Students who have earned a score of 6 on IB economics or a grade of B on A-Level economics are encouraged to begin their studies of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics with ECON 0250 and ECON 0255, but they may elect to enroll in ECON 0150 or ECON 0155. Students majoring in Economics will need to replace the other introductory course with an ECON elective. Students who have completed a statistics course with a score of 6 or higher on IB Statistics, or a grade of B or better on A-Level Statistics may begin their course of study of economics statistics with ECON 0211 or MATH 0310. If they choose to start with ECON 0211 or MATH 0310, they will need to replace the ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) credit with an ECON elective. The same rules apply where ECON courses are requirements for other majors. Please notify the department coordinator if you have qualifying IB or A-Level scores in economics that you wish to use as a prerequisite.

      Transfer of Credit

      Students may take economics courses in approved programs (abroad and domestic) and have those courses count towards the major and/or the general graduation requirement. Summer school courses will not generally be given credit for the major unless there is an overriding reason to take a summer school course. Any summer school course must meet a minimum of six weeks and have at least 36 hours of class time. Students planning to take courses off-campus should discuss the proposed course(s) with their advisor and get pre-approval from the department chair. Upon completion of the course(s), students should submit their course material and a copy of their transcript along with a Transfer Credit Application Form to the department chair for departmental approval. After receiving departmental approval, students must submit their forms to the Registrar’s Office for final approval by the director of off-campus study. Note: Transfer Credit Forms are not required for courses listed in the Course Information Data base (CID) as approved to count towards the major. However, students must notify the Registrar’s Office of any transferred courses approved in the CID that they wish to be counted towards their major requirements. Courses having a BU (Business) or MGMT (Management) prefix will not normally be considered the equivalent of an economics course. No credit will be given for business courses taken over the summer. A maximum of one general credit will be given for a business course taken through a junior year abroad business program. Business courses taken in a non-business program will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those that match the department’s offerings, and have strong liberal arts content, have the best chance of receiving credit.

      Post-Graduate Preparation

      Graduate programs in economics or finance [other than a Masters of Business Administration (MBA)] generally require a high degree of mathematical sophistication. Students thinking of continuing in such a program are encouraged to: (i) take MATH 0310 in place of ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210); (ii) select economics electives with significant mathematically and statistically rigorous content [recommended courses fulfilling the elective requirements of the economics major include: ECON 0212, ECON 0229, ECON 0280, ECON 0390, and ECON 0411]; (iii) take a number of additional courses in mathematics and computer science [recommended courses include: CSCI 0101, MATH 0315, MATH 0318, MATH 0323, MATH 0410, and MATH 0423]. Good training for graduate school might include being a statistics tutor or having worked as a research assistant at Middlebury College or at a Federal Reserve Bank, or as an intern at a research institute or NGO. Students thinking about this option should discuss their plans with their advisor and other faculty members.. Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs look for students who have taken a wide range of courses across the curriculum rather than for students who have narrowly focused on economics and math. Thus, it is not necessary for someone planning to go on in business or to an MBA program to have majored in economics. MBA programs normally expect that students have worked for a couple of years in business, government, or similar organization before they begin the MBA program. The appropriate coursework for these MBA programs is a wide range of liberal arts courses.

      ECON 0111 Economic Statistics (formerly ECON 0210) (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      An introduction to the discipline of statistics as a science of understanding and analyzing
      data with an emphasis on applications to economics. Key topics include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling, random variables, the Central Limit Theorem, estimation, hypothesis testing, p-values, and linear regression. Students will be introduced to a statistical programming language. A weekly one-hour lab is part of this course in addition to three hours of class meetings per week. (Formerly ECON 0210) (Not open to students who have taken ECON 0210, MATH 0116, MATH 0310, or PSYC 0201.) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. lab
      DED (Fall 2022: A. Rao, A. Gregg; Spring 2023: P. Sommers, A. Rao)

      ECON 0150 Introductory Macroeconomics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      An introduction to macroeconomics: a consideration of macroeconomic problems such as unemployment and inflation. Theories and policy proposals of Keynesian and classical economists are contrasted. Topics considered include: banking, financial institutions, monetary policy, taxation, government spending, fiscal policy, tradeoffs between inflation and unemployment in both the short run and the long run, and wage-price spirals. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (Fall 2022: C. Craven, R. Gauvin-Coulombe, C. Artunc, E. Wolcott; Spring 2023: D. Munro, C. Artunc, C. Craven)

      ECON 0155 Introductory Microeconomics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      An introduction to the analysis of such microeconomic problems as price formation (the forces behind demand and supply), market structures from competitive to oligopolistic, distribution of income, and public policy options bearing on these problems. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (Fall 2022: P. Sommers, P. Wunnava, S. Ramaswamy; Spring 2023: J. Holmes, S. Pecsok, J. Isham, S. Ramaswamy)

      ECON 0211 Introduction to Regression Analysis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course regression analysis is introduced. The major focus is on quantifying relationships between economic variables. Multiple regression identifies the effect of several exogenous variables on an endogenous variable. After exploring the classical regression model, fundamental assumptions underlying this model will be relaxed, and further new techniques will be introduced. Methods for testing hypotheses about the regression coefficients are developed throughout the course. Both theoretical principles and practical applications will be emphasized. The course goal is for each student to employ regression analysis as a research tool and to justify and defend the techniques used. (MATH 0121; and ECON 0111, (formerly ECON 0210) ECON 0150 or ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. lab DED (Fall 2022: T. Byker; Spring 2023: J. Maluccio)

      ECON 0222 Economics of Happiness (Spring 2023)

      We will explore the economics of happiness in both the micro and macro realm. We start with the neoclassical model of rational individuals who know with great precision what makes them happy. Next we explore behaviorist challenges to that model, including issues of regret, altruism, fairness, and gender. On the macro side, we investigate the puzzle of why, though most of us like more income, a growing GDP does not seem to make societies happier; we examine the impact of the macroeconomic environment on individual happiness. Finally we touch on current policy issues such as quantitative happiness indicators that have been adopted around the world, “paternalistic” policy measures to increase happiness, and the no-growth movement. (ECON 0150 or ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (C. Craven)

      ECON 0228 Economics of Agricultural Transition (Fall 2022)

      In 1860 farmers made up over half the population of this country and fed about 30 million people. Today they number 2% of the population and produce more than enough to feed 300 million people. In this course we will look at the history, causes, and results of this incredible transformation. While studying the economic forces behind the changing farming structure, we will examine farm production, resources, technology, and agricultural policy. Field trips to local farms and screenings of farm-related videos and movies will incorporate the viewpoint of those engaged in agriculture. (ECON 0150 or ECON 0155) 2hrs. lect., 2 hrs. lab AMR, SOC (S. Pecsok)

      ECON 0229 Economic History and History of Economic Thought (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course will provide an introduction to economic history and the history of economic thought. We will investigate and understand the causes and consequences of important historical events and trends, such as industrialization and globalization, from an economic perspective. We devote considerable attention to the dissemination throughout Europe of new industrial and agricultural practices originating in Britain. Along the way, we evaluate how prominent economists perceived and analyzed the events of their time. (ECON 0150 and ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect. EUR, HIS, SOC (A. Gregg)

      ECON 0232 The Chinese Economy (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will explore the economic development of China up until the present day, giving particular attention to the socialist era and the post-1978 reforms. Specific topics to be covered will include growth and structural change, the urban-rural divide, the state’s ongoing role in the economy, demography, and the country’s integration into the global economy. (ECON 0150 or ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect. NOA, SOC (W. Pyle)

      ECON 0234 Economics of Africa (Spring 2023)

      Sub-Saharan Africa is home to some of the poorest and some of the fastest growing economies in the world. In this course, we will explore the opportunities for sustained, inclusive economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, the challenges that must be overcome in realizing these opportunities, and the policy options for overcoming these challenges. Topics may include demography, institutions, infrastructure, agriculture, urbanization, climate change, health, natural resources, mobile technology, trade, and regional integration. Students will be exposed to relevant economic theory and recent empirical economic research on Africa. (ECON 0150 and ECON 0155) SAF, SOC (O. Porteous)

      ECON 0250 Macroeconomic Theory (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Macroeconomic theory analyzes whether the market effectively coordinates individuals' decisions so that they lead to acceptable results. It considers the effectiveness of monetary, fiscal, and other policies in achieving desirable levels of unemployment, inflation, and growth. The theories held by various schools of economic thought such as Keynesians, monetarists, and new classicals are considered along with their proposed policies. (MATH 0121 and ECON 0150) 3 hrs. lect. (K. Sargent)

      ECON 0255 Microeconomic Theory (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Microeconomic theory concentrates on the study of the determination of relative prices and their importance in shaping the allocation of resources and the distribution of income in an economy. We will study the optimizing behavior of households in a variety of settings: buying goods and services, saving, and labor supply decisions. We will also examine the behavior of firms in different market structures. Together, the theories of household and firm behavior help illumine contemporary economic issues (discrimination in labor markets, mergers in the corporate world, positive and negative externalities, for example). (MATH 0121 and ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect. (P. Matthews, J. Berazneva)

      ECON 0260 Money and Banking (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will study the connections between the macroeconomy, money, and financial markets. We will explore the role of money, financial instruments, the banking system, and monetary policy in the economy. In addition, we will discuss the causes and outcomes of financial crises with special attention towards the role that monetary policy plays in managing these events. This course is for anyone trying to gain a macroeconomic perspective on banks, financial markets, and monetary policy. (ECON 0111 or ECON 0210 or MATH 0116 AND ECON 0150, OR ECON 0155, OR ECON 0250, OR ECON 0255) 3 hrs. lect. (D. Munro)

      ECON 0265 Environmental Economics (Fall 2022)

      This course is dedicated to the proposition that economic reasoning is critical for analyzing the persistence of environmental damage and for designing cost-effective environmental policies. The objectives of the course are that each student (a) understands the economic approach to the environment; (b) can use microeconomics to illustrate the theory of environmental policy; and (c) comprehends and can critically evaluate: alternative environmental standards, benefits and costs of environmental protection, and incentive-based environmental policies. (ECON 0155) 3 hrs. lect. (A. Rao)

      ECON 0280 Game Theory (Spring 2023)

      Game theory is general in scope and has been used to provide theoretical foundations for phenomena in most of the social and behavioral sciences. Economic examples include market organization, bargaining, and the provision of public goods. Examples from other behavioral sciences include social dilemmas and population dynamics. In this course students will learn the basics of what constitutes a game and how games are solved. (ECON 0155 and MATH 0121 required; ECON 0255 recommended) 3 hrs. lect. (A. Robbett)

      ECON 0318 Operations Research (Spring 2023)

      Operations research is the utilization of quantitative methods as an aid to managerial decisions. In the course, several of these methods will be introduced and studied in both a mathematical context and a physical context. Topics included will be selected from the following: classification of problems and the formulation of models, linear programming, network optimization, transportation problems, assignment problems, integer programming, nonlinear programming, inventory theory, and game theory. (MATH 0200 or waiver) DED (M. Olinick)
      Cross-listed as: MATH 0318 *

      ECON 0350 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory and Policy (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will build on ECON 0250 to further develop the analytical tools for exploring key macroeconomic outcomes and policy. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to, economic growth; distribution; institutions; monetary, fiscal and macroprudential policy; and behavioral macroeconomics. We will explore modern developments in macroeconomic theory, and compare and critically evaluate the ability of different theoretical perspectives to provide insight into current events and the efficacy of macroeconomic policy (MATH 0121 or equivalent and (ECON 0250 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240] and ECON 0211). 3 hrs. lect. (D. Munro)

      ECON 0360 Federal Reserve Challenge (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will study the tools of monetary policy to achieve the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices. We will use macroeconomic theory, data, and cutting-edge research to analyze current economic conditions. The class will formulate a monetary policy recommendation for the U.S. central bank, emulating the Federal Open Market Committee, and five members of the class will present this recommendation in the annual Fed Challenge Competition at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. For a final project, each student will design their own mock monetary policy briefing and present it to the class (ECON 0111 [formerly ECON 0210] and ECON 0250). AMR, DED (E. Wolcott)

      ECON 0365 The Economics of Climate Change (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will apply the tools of economic analysis to the problem of global climate change. The goal is to expose students to how economists approach this important policy problem. The course will begin with a review of reasons for policy interventions in markets and policy instrument choice. We will then focus on the measurement of damages from emissions of greenhouse gases. Subsequent topics will include: discounting, technology and abatement costs, benefit-cost analysis, uncertainty and catastrophic risk, and policies in practice. (ECON 0255; ECON 0265 encouraged). 3 hrs. lect. (J. Berazneva)

      ECON 0411 Applied Econometrics (Fall 2022)

      This course is designed to further students' understanding of parameter estimation, inference, and hypothesis testing for single and multiple equation systems. Emphasis will be placed on specification, estimation, and testing of micro/macro econometric models and using such models for policy analysis and forecasting. Large cross-sectional as well as panel data sets will be used for estimation purposes. (ECON 0211 and ECON 0250 and ECON 0255) 3 hrs. sem. (P. Wunnava)

      ECON 0425 Seminar on Economic Development (Fall 2022)

      Much of the world still faces the daily pain of poverty. Developing countries have to accelerate their growth rates, eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, address environmental concerns, and create productive employment. We examine the major analytic and policy issues raised by these challenges and study the need for a productive balance between market forces and positive state action. With the help of case studies from Asia, Latin America, and Africa, we focus on different development strategies adopted, the choice of policy instruments, and methods of implementation. (ECON 0250 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240] or ECON 0255) 3 hrs. sem. (J. Maluccio)

      ECON 0431 Economics of the European Union (Fall 2022)

      This course will introduce students to the major economies of Western Europe and also the economic functions and structure of the institutions of the European Union. The course aims to familiarize students with the theoretical economic and policy issues that are currently of concern in the European Union. Moreover, the course aims to analyze economic problems that are of particular relevance to the member states of the European Union, such as the coordination of policies within an intergovernmental supranational framework and how to sustain the integration dynamic. (ECON 0250 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240]) 3 hrs. sem. EUR (K. Sargent)

      ECON 0444 International Trade (Spring 2023)

      Since March 2020 when the world economies went into cascading lockdowns, global trade has been severely impacted. As the global economy slowly opens up, we will answer some age old and some new questions - First, what factors determine flow of international goods and services? Second, how are the gains and losses from international trade distributed amongst nations? Do all benefit, or are some countries made better off at the expense of others? Third, how does trade affect the internal allocation of resources and distribution of income within a country? Fourth, why do national governments try and influence or control international trade flows? Finally, how does international trade affect the low- and middle-income countries in today's global economy especially in the post Covid world? (ECON 0255 or ECON 0344 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240]) 3 hrs. lect. (S. Ramaswamy)

      ECON 0453 Historical Development of the World Economy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Many of the controversies and tensions modern economies have to contend with today, such as growth, inequality, and instability, emerged during the last few centuries. In this seminar we will use economic and historical tools to develop a better understanding of the profound transformations in technology, finance, and international trade over time. We will analyze the challenges the world faced as capital, labor, and commodity markets became rapidly integrated, including financial crises, rising income and wealth inequality, and modernizing policies. (ECON 0210 and ECON 0250 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240]) 3 hrs. sem. (C. Artunc)

      ECON 0454 History of the Firm (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will trace the history of firms from the Classical Age to the present, using theoretical and empirical economics to understand what makes a “firm,” how firms have been organized throughout history, why firm organization may differ across countries (e.g., early industrial firms in Europe vs. Latin America vs. the United States), and what firm structure implies for economic performance. Our discussion will rely on subfields like institutional economics, development, and finance. Final research papers will evaluate the organizational history of a single firm or the development of firm structures in an industry or country. (ECON 0211 and ECON 0240 or ECON 0255; or by approval) 3 hrs. sem. CMP, HIS, SOC (A. Gregg)

      ECON 0465 Special Topics in Environmental Economics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      The objective of this seminar is that each student achieves fluency in a set of advanced concepts in environmental economics. The seminar is divided into two main sections. First, we introduce the core theory and policy implications of environmental economics. These include the economics of renewable and non-renewable resources, the theory of externalities and public goods, the Coase theorem, the Ostrom perspective; and sustainability. Second, we study selected topics including the promise and challenges of economic growth, the future of fossil fuels and renewables, and the imperative of climate justice. (ECON 0210 and (ECON 0255 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240]) 3 hrs. sem. (J. Isham)

      ECON 0466 Environment and Development (Spring 2023)

      Climate change, air pollution, tropical deforestation: there is little doubt that economic development affects, and is affected by, the global and local environment and natural resources. In this course we will explore the complex relationship between environment and development using the theoretical and empirical tools of applied economic analysis. We will begin with pioneering research papers on the empirics of economic growth, examine the macroeconomic evidence, and then move to the micro foundations of the poverty-environment nexus. Major topics will include the resource curse and environmental Kuznets curve hypotheses, approaches for understanding responses to climate variability and disasters in poor communities, management of natural resources in smallholder agriculture, choosing policy instruments for pollution reduction, conservation, and environmental protection, and relationships between human health and the environment. We will conclude with a number of selected topics and issues of contemporary policy relevance. (ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) and ECON 0255 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240]) 3 hrs. sem. SOC (J. Berazneva)

      ECON 0485 The Economics of Sports (Fall 2022)

      This is a survey course of topics illustrating how microeconomic principles apply to the sports industry. Topics covered will include the industrial organization of the sports industry (notably, issues of competitive balance and the implications of monopoly power), the public finance of sports (notably, the impact teams have on host municipalities), and labor issues related to sports (including player worth and discrimination). The prerequisites for this course are meant to ensure that students can both understand fundamental economic concepts and present the results of econometric research as they apply to the sports industry. (ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) and ECON 0211 and ECON 0255) 3 hrs. sem. (P. Sommers)

      ECON 0488 Space Economics (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will study the economics of outer space. Specific topics include: the existing terrestrial space economy, the historical development of the launch and space observation sectors, the physical constraints of space travel (the rocket equation, life support units), and dual-use technologies; orbit use, focusing on satellites, orbital debris, and emerging industrial concentration; the use of lunar resources, particularly ice extraction and dust management; and the economics of extra-terrestrial human settlements. (ECON 0210 and (ECON 0250 or ECON 0255); ECON 0265 strongly recommended.) (A. Rao)

      ECON 0499 Research in Behavioral and Experimental Economics (Fall 2022)

      In this seminar we will consider current research topics in behavioral and experimental economics. Although the theme for the course is likely to change from semester to semester, all students will design their own study, gather decision-making data, and write a research paper summarizing their main findings. (ECON 0255 and ECON 0280) 3 hrs. sem. (A. Robbett)

      ECON 0500 Individual Special Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      If you choose to pursue an area that we do not offer or go in depth in an area already covered, we recommend the Individual Special Project option. These ECON 0500 proposals MUST be passed by the entire department and are to be submitted to the chair by the first Friday of fall and spring semester, respectively. The proposals should contain a specific description of the course contents, its goals, and the mechanisms by which goals are to be realized. It should also include a bibliography. According to the College Handbook, ECON 0500 projects are a privilege open to those students with advanced preparation and superior records in their fields. A student needs to have a 3.5 or higher G.P.A. in Economics courses taken at Middlebury in order to pursue an Individual Special Project. ECON 0500 does not count towards the major or minor requirements.

      ECON 0701 Senior Research Workshop I (Fall 2022)

      In this first semester, students will design and begin their projects. Emphasis will be on designing a novel research question (while making the case for its importance) and an appropriate strategy for answering it. This requires immersion in the academic literature on the topic. General research principles and tools will be taught in class, as a group, while those specific to individual projects will be covered in one-on-one meetings. By the end of the term, students will outline their plan for completing the project, including demonstrating that it is a feasible research question for which the necessary information (e.g., data or source materials) is available or can be generated by the student (e.g., lab or other experiment). (Approval required) (P. Matthews, W. Pyle)

      ECON 0702 Senior Research Workshop II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this second semester of the senior research workshop sequence, the focus is on the execution of the research plan developed in ECON 0701. Most instruction is now one-on-one but the workshop will still meet as a group to discuss and practice the presentation of results in various formats (seminars, poster sessions, et cetera) to the rest of the workshop and others in the college and broader communities. Feedback and critiques from such presentations will be incorporated into the project, which will culminate in a research paper in the style of an economics journal article. (ECON 0701; Approval required) (Spring 2023: R. Gauvin-Coulombe, J. Carpenter, P. Matthews)
      ↑ Top

      Program in Education Studies

      Through the investigation of educational theory, policy, research and practice from a variety of disciplinary perspectives students learn to think critically and creatively about the processes of teaching and learning and about the place of education in society. Education Studies offers a double major for those students who seek teacher licensure in either elementary (EDEL) or secondary (EDSL) education, and a minor in general education (EDGW) for those who are interested in the field of education, but who do not seek teacher licensure. Students may not choose to major in Education Studies as a stand-alone major. The double major option is available only to those students seeking teacher licensure.

      Requirements for the Double Major in Teacher Licensure

      Students interested in earning a Vermont teaching license should meet with the Director of the Education Studies Program as soon as possible in their course of study. The four, state-required elements that must be satisfactorily completed in order to be recommended for Vermont initial educator licensure are: (i) Relevant coursework that satisfies the content requirements of the endorsement, (ii) Professional Semester, (iii) Vermont Licensure Portfolio, and (iv) state- required examinations such as Praxis. The specific course requirements for elementary and secondary teacher licensure are as follows:

      Required for Major: Elementary Licensure

      A major in another discipline. EDST 0115 (Education in the USA), EDST 0215 (Culturally Responsive Pedagogy), EDST 0300 (Models of Inclusive Education), EDST 0237 (Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools), EDST 0238 (Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community), EDST 0305 (Elementary Literacy and Social Studies Methods), EDST 0306 (Elementary Science Methods), EDST 0307 (Elementary Math Methods), EDST 0317 (Children and the Arts) or approved art internship, Professional Semester (see below).

      Elementary licensure students must complete both the SCI and DED Distribution Requirements.

      Required for Major: Secondary Licensure

      A major in the endorsement area. EDST 0115 (Education in the USA), EDST 0215 (Culturally Responsive Pedagogy), EDST 0300 (Models of Inclusive Education), EDST 0237 (Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools), EDST 0238 (Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community), EDST 0327 (Field Experience in Secondary and Special Education), EDST 0505 (Independent Study Secondary Methods taken twice with different placements), Professional Semester (see below).

      Middlebury College is authorized to recommend licensure in the following subject areas for secondary education (grades 7-12): Modern and Classical Languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish; English; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies. Art (grades K-12).

      •  In order for secondary licensure candidates to be recommended for licensure they must meet Vermont content endorsement requirements. Generally, this means that students should select their second major in the content area they wish to teach.

      Professional Semester

      (Fall semester only; by application and approval): Students who elect to pursue licensure either in Elementary (grades K-6) or Secondary (grades 7-12) education must apply to the Education Studies program for acceptance into the Professional Semester. The Professional Semester is a four credit, full-time, student teaching experience in a local school, with a master teacher, and under the supervision of a college-designated supervisor.  If accepted to the Professional Semester, students complete EDST 0410 (the student teaching seminar) and either EDST 0405-7 (elementary) or EDST 0415-17(secondary). Education Studies faculty make the final decision regarding where and with whom a student is placed for the Professional Semester. Students may elect to complete the Professional Semester in either their senior year or in a ninth semester with the degree awarded following completion.

      Students should understand that while Middlebury College grants their undergraduate degree, it is the Agency of Education of the state of Vermont that issues the Vermont teaching license. Therefore, in a rare and exceptional circumstance, a student may be accepted into the Professional Semester, complete the coursework requirements for that semester, but not meet all of the requirements to earn a Vermont educator license. In that exceptional instance, a student would graduate with a double major from Middlebury College, but without Vermont teacher certification. Admission to the Professional Semester does not guarantee state certification.

      Requirements for the Minor in Education Studies

      Students interested in completing a minor in Education Studies should meet with a professor in the Education Studies Program to organize a thoughtful course of study. The Education Studies minor consists of five courses, two of which are required and three of which are selected at the discretion of the student in consultation with an EDST faculty advisor. There is no option for a major in general Education Studies.

      1. Required (2 courses):
      • EDST 0115     (Education in the USA) Prerequisite for all EDST courses
      • EDST 0430     (Senior Seminar in Education Studies)

      Students must complete three of the 5 required courses prior to enrolling in the Senior Seminar.

      2.   Electives (3 courses):

      • Any three other EDST courses (see course listing)

      Students may request to include a non-EDST course, such as a Winter Term internship, or a course taken abroad as one of the five courses. In each instance, students must secure prior approval from Education Studies faculty for any non-EDST course to fulfill the requirements for the minor.

      EDST 0102 English Language in Global Context (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will discuss and write about the dominance of English in the global landscape. Course readings and films offer an interdisciplinary approach to the topic. We will begin the course with a geographic and historical overview of World Englishes and then will examine the impact of English language dominance on individuals and societies, emphasizing themes such as migration, globalization, education, and identity. Throughout the course, we will explore the relevance of these issues to educators, linguists, and policy-makers around the world. CMP, SOC (S. Shapiro)
      Cross-listed as: WRPR 0102 *

      EDST 0111 Unlearning Colonial Habits (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will explore habits of knowing and being (epistemologies and ontologies) that are legacies of settler colonialism and examine whether “unlearning” such habits expands the possibilities of a liberal arts education. To provide time for contemplative practices and place-based seminars, 12 contact hours will be held on Saturday September 17 and Sunday September 18, 2022, prior to the start of fall semester (six hours daily). The remaining six contact hours will comprise three, two-hour seminars during the first half of fall semester. Readings and practices will be drawn from the writings of Bayo Akomolafe, Karen Barad, Beth Berila, Cheryl Harris, Laura Rendon, Toni Morrison, Tharon Weighill, Kenny Xu and others. Sophomores Only. (This is a half credit course) (J. Miller-Lane)

      EDST 0115 Education in the USA (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      What are schools for? What makes education in a democracy unique? What counts as evidence of that uniqueness? What roles do schools play in educating citizens in a democracy for a democracy? In this course, we will engage these questions while investigating education as a social, cultural, political, and economic process. We will develop new understandings of current policy disputes regarding a broad range or educational issues by examining the familiar through different ideological and disciplinary lenses. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, SOC (Fall 2022: J. Miller-Lane; Spring 2023: J. Miller-Lane, S. Hoffman)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0115

      EDST 0210 Sophomore Seminar in the Liberal Arts (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      The current pandemic, and all the questions it brings to the fore about what we value in a college experience, make this an ideal moment to consider the meaning and purpose of your liberal arts education. At the heart of this exploration will be a question posed by physicist Arthur Zajonc: “How do we find our own authentic way to an undivided life where meaning and purpose are tightly interwoven with intellect and action, where compassion and care are infused with insight and knowledge?” We will examine how, at this pivotal moment of decision making, you can understand your college career as an act of “cultivating humanity” and how you can meaningfully challenge yourself to take ownership of your intellectual and personal development. Through interdisciplinary and multicultural exploration, drawing from education studies and philosophical, religious, and literary texts, we will engage our course questions by way of student-led discussion, written reflection, and personal, experiential learning practices. In this way we will examine how a liberal arts education might foster the cultivation of an ‘undivided’ life, “the good life”, a life well-lived. (The course is open to sophomores and second semester first-year students. Juniors by permission only.) CMP, CW (Fall 2022: D. Evans; Spring 2023: T. Spears)
      Cross-listed as: INTD 0210 *

      EDST 0213 Understanding Educational Testing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Achievement testing is now a cornerstone of education policy. It is also complex and routinely misunderstood by educators, policymakers, and the media. In this course students will use statistical methods to explore and address testing issues that arise in both policy and practice. We will examine the uses and abuses of educational assessment. We will examine and interrogate trends and group differences in achievement. And we will broaden our understanding of essential concepts of measurement, such as reliability, validity, and bias, by analyzing both large and small datasets. Prior experience with the statistical package “R” is not required, as learning this package will be part of the course. 3 hrs. lect. DED, SOC (S. Hoffman)

      EDST 0215 Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Pedagogies (Fall 2022)

      Gloria Ladson-Billings’ foundation work on culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) rests on these core propositions—students must experience academic success; students must gain cultural competence in relation to their own culture and at least one other culture; and students must develop a critical consciousness. In this class we will examine CRP and other liberatory pedagogies such as Culturally Sustaining (Paris, 2012); Reality Pedagogy (Emdin, 2016), Abolitionist Teaching (Love, 2019) each of which “seek to open up possibilities,” so that students can bring their “whole self into the classroom and into the world.” (Ladson-Billings, 2021). This is a required course for all students seeking a Vermont teaching licensure. (EDST 0115) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CMP, SOC (T. Affolter)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0215

      EDST 0237 Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while exploring principles, issues, and research in educational psychology. We will examine learning theories, complex cognitive processes, cognitive and emotional development, and motivation, and apply these constructs to effective instruction, the design of optimal learning environments, assessment of student learning, and teaching in diverse classrooms. (EDST 0115) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Hammerle)

      EDST 0238 Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will expand our understanding of learning and teaching while engaging with the local school community, including professionals and stakeholders who support K-12 students in various roles. We will examine curriculum theory, teaching theories, and practices that support social-emotional as well as proficiency-based learning, trauma-informed teaching, and the use of personalized learning plans to support student growth and development. In this way, students will continue to understand and develop effective instructional practices, the design of optimal learning environments, meaningful assessment tools, and effective and engaging teaching strategies for diverse, inclusive, innovative, student-focused classrooms. (EDST 0237; Restricted to EDST Majors, and others by permission) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (J. Miller-Lane)

      EDST 0300 Models of Inclusive Education (Spring 2023)

      In K-12 education, the term "inclusion" is often reduced to where students with apparent disabilities learn within schools. In this course, we will challenge the segregation of students with disabilities in schools while expanding notions of inclusion such that students' multiple identities are incorporated into learning. Students will be introduced and provided opportunities to design lessons using a Universal Design for Learning framework. We will utilize DisCrit (Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory) as a theoretical tool to explore how ableism and racism stand in the way of equitable education for many students while exploring theories, methods, and approaches to disrupt such marginalization and lead to inclusive antiracist educational practices. (EDST 0115 or SOAN 0215 or SOCI 0215 or AMST 0105). AMR, SOC (T. Affolter)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0300

      EDST 0305 Reading & Writing the World: Teaching Literacy and Social Studies in the Elementary School (Fall 2022)

      In this course, we examine what it means to be literate in the 21st century and ways in which all students can be empowered by the texts and teaching they encounter in schools. Students will develop their ability to enact literacy instruction based on current research about how children learn to read and write. We will take a critical look at texts—fiction, nonfiction, and historical—to consider the ways that texts read and write the world, develop abilities to select texts that empower all learners, and analyze retellings of historical events/persons to take into account multiple perspectives. Many class sessions occur onsite at a local elementary school to provide consistent practice and supportive feedback on authentic components of teaching (transportation provided). In addition to class sessions, students will complete field experiences in a K-6 classroom in the Middlebury area to see the workings of an entire class. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. (T. Weston)

      EDST 0307 Elementary Math Methods (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will approach mathematics as the construction of ideas rather than the memorization of facts and rules. We will investigate children’s mathematical reasoning, how to construct learning experiences to advance conceptual development, and how a social justice stance enables math to be a source of empowerment for children. Many class sessions occur at a local elementary school (transportation provided) so students can ground their thinking about course topics within a school, and consistently practice and receive feedback on authentic components of teaching. Students will also complete field experiences in a local K-6 classroom and Vermont licensure requirements. (EDST 0306) 3 hrs. lect./1 hrs. disc (T. Weston)

      EDST 0405 Student Teaching in the Elementary School (Fall 2022)

      A semester-long practicum in a local elementary school under the direct supervision of an experienced cooperating teacher. (Corequisite: EDST 0410) (Approval required) non-standard grade (T. Weston)

      EDST 0406 Student Teaching in Elementary School (Fall 2022)

      See EDST 0405. (Approval required) non-standard grade (T. Weston)

      EDST 0407 Student Teaching in the Elementary School (Fall 2022)

      See EDST 0405. (Approval required) non-standard grade (T. Weston)

      EDST 0410 Student Teaching Seminar (Fall 2022)

      Concurrent with student teaching, this course is designed to provide guidance in curriculum development and its implementation in the classroom, and to explore issues related to the teaching process and the profession. Students will construct a Teaching Licensure Portfolio as well as exchange ideas about their student teaching experiences. Topics including technology, classroom management, special education, and assessment will be featured. The Vermont Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities, the five Standards for Vermont Educators, the Principles for Vermont Educators, and ROPA-R will guide the development of the Teacher Licensure Portfolio. (Corequisite: EDST 0405, EDST 0406, EDST 0407 or EDST 0415, EDST 0416 EDST 0417) (Approval required) 3 hrs. lect. CW (T. Weston)

      EDST 0415 Student Teaching in the Middle School/High School (Fall 2022)

      A semester-long practicum in a local middle or high school under the direct supervision of an experienced cooperating teacher. (Corequisite: EDST 0410) (Approval required) non-standard grade (C. Johnston)

      EDST 0416 Student Teaching in the Middle School/High School (Fall 2022)

      See EDST 0415. (Approval required) non-standard grade (C. Johnston)

      EDST 0417 Student Teaching in the Middle School/High School (Fall 2022)

      See EDST 0415. (Approval required) non-standard grade (C. Johnston)

      EDST 0430 Senior Seminar in Education Studies (Spring 2023)

      In this capstone seminar for General Education minors, students will engage, analyze, and offer solutions to real world problems in the current landscape of education. We will read extensively in the field, consider multiple research methods and approaches, and enlist community experts. Working across disciplines and collaboratively, students will create final projects that integrate and apply what they have learned in their coursework, developing and enhancing skills for creative problem solving and leadership in the field. Final projects will vary; all students will make oral presentations. (three of five required courses for the general EDST minor.) 3 hrs. Sem. SOC (T. Weston)

      EDST 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      (Approval Required)

      EDST 0505 Independent Study - Secondary Methods (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course is for students who are pursuing a VT teaching license in a Secondary content area. Students are required to commit to a school placement under the guidance and supervision of a certified, secondary VT teacher. The content of the course will be developed collaboratively by the EDST professor overseeing the independent student, the VT secondary teacher who is overseeing the school placement, and the student. Regular meetings involving all three will take place throughout the semester. The exact meeting schedule will be determined on a case by case basis. Students will complete assignments that address the requirements of the VT Educator Portfolio. (EDST0115, EDST0215 and relevant courses in Psychology). By Approval only. Interested students must meet with the Director of Education Studies. (C. Johnston)
      ↑ Top

      Department of English & American Literatures

      Students majoring in English may choose the Literature Track or the Creative Writing Track.

      Literature Track

      Students who choose the Literature Track will take a total of 11 classes in the ENGL department (transfer credits from other institutions must be approved), as follows:

      • ENGL 103 or CMLT 101
      • ENGL 205
      • Eight Electives:
        • At least TWO of which must be courses carrying the REC (Race, Empire, and Colonialism) tag. Courses fulfilling the REC requirement engage students in the study of black diasporic and African American, Asian diasporic and Asian American, Latinx, indigenous and Native American, and postcolonial literatures. Courses focusing on literature in the Black Studies Department (BLST) can, with the approval of your advisor, count toward ENGL major requirements as REC courses or electives. ENGL majors are strongly encouraged to include at least one BLST course among their major requirements.
        • At least TWO of which must be courses carrying the Pre-1800 tag. Courses fulfilling the Pre-1800 requirement include courses in Medieval, Early Modern, and 18th-century literature. Only one Pre-1800 course may be a course on Shakespeare. 
        • ONE of which may be a Creative Writing workshop
      • One Advanced Seminar (all 400-level ENGL courses are Advanced Seminars)
      • Optional Senior Thesis (required for students seeking to graduate with Honors, and strongly recommended for those students interested in graduate work in English or related fields)

      These requirements are intended to offer students broad and historically grounded training in the discipline as well as a range of different pathways through the major. Students should confer closely with their advisers concerning their choices of electives.

      Requirements for the Joint Major

      A joint major in English with a Literature focus requires a minimum of eight ENGL courses, including three required courses: 1) ENGL 0103 or CMLT 0101; 2) ENGL 0205; 3) a joint thesis or other project that integrates both parts of the joint major. In addition, students will choose at least five electives from the available offerings, making sure that these courses satisfy the following requirements (one elective may be a CRWR course):

      • One ENGL course bearing the REC tag (see major requirements for description)
      • One ENGL course bearing the Pre-1800 tag (see major requirements for description)
      • Advanced Seminar (400-level ENGL course)

      Requirements for the Minor

      Students minoring in English with a Literature focus will take a minimum of six courses, including 1) ENGL 0103 or CMLT 010; 2) ENGL 205; 3) one ENGL elective bearing the REC tag; 4) one ENGL elective bearing the Pre-1800 tag; 5) one 400-level Advanced Seminar; and 6) one additional elective, which may be a CRWR course. A single course may fulfill more than one distribution requirement. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

      Creative Writing Track

      Students who choose the Creative Writing Track will take a total of 11 classes, as follows:

      • ENGL 103 or CMLT101
      • ENGL 205
      • Three CRWR Writing Workshops, at least ONE of which must be at the 300 level
      • Five Electives:
        • at least ONE of which must be a course carrying the REC (Race, Empire, and Colonialism) tag. Courses fulfilling the REC requirement engage students in the study of black diasporic and African American, Asian diasporic and Asian American, Latinx, indigenous and Native American, and postcolonial literatures. Courses focusing on literature in the Black Studies Department (BLST) can, with the approval of your advisor, count toward ENGL major requirements as REC courses or electives. ENGL majors are strongly encouraged to include at least one BLST course among their major requirements.
        • at least ONE of which must be a course carrying the Pre-1800 tag. Courses fulfilling the Pre-1800 requirement include courses in Medieval, Early Modern, and 18th-century literature.
      • Advanced Seminar (all 400-level ENGL courses are Advanced Seminars)
      • Optional Senior Thesis (required for students seeking to graduate with Honors, and strongly recommended for those students interested in pursuing graduate work in writing-intensive fields)

      Requirements for the Joint Major

      A joint major in English with a Creative Writing focus requires a minimum of nine courses, including 1) ENGL or CMLT101; 2) ENGL 205; 3) a 100-level CRWR course; 4) two 300-level CRWR courses; 5) an ENGL course bearing the REC tag; 6) an ENGL course bearing the Pre-1800 tag; 7) a 400-level ENGL Advanced Seminar; and 8) a Senior Thesis or Independent Project that integrates both parts of the joint major. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

       *Students wishing to undertake a joint major in ENGL (either track) and Theatre should be advised that senior work will normally consist of two full-credit classes, ENGL 0708 and THEA 0708. We strongly recommend that these classes be taken in the same semester, with the understanding that a central goal of the joint major is the thorough integration of both aspects of the joint major. A single-credit, single-semester joint project remains an option for those who wish to pursue a joint thesis that does not include a practical component such as acting or directing.

      *Students wishing to undertake a joint major (either track) in ENGL and Film and Media Culture (FMMC) should follow the joint major requirements listed above.  Such students may also wish to take FMMC electives such as FMMC 0257 – Storytelling in Film and Media and FMMC 0279 – Film and Literature. Students on the Creative Track wishing to write a screenplay for their joint thesis must take specifically FMMC/CRWR 0106 – Writing for the Screen and FMMC/CRWR 0341 – Writing for the Screen II—prior to beginning the thesis. 

      *Students writing a joint thesis (either track) with HIST or HARC should register for HIST 0700 and 0711 or HARC 0710 and 0711.

      Requirements for the Minor

      Students minoring in English with a Creative Writing focus will take a minimum of six courses, including 1) ENGL 103 or CMLT101; 2) ENGL 205; 3) one CRWR 100-level course; 4) one CRWR 300-level course; 5) one 400-level Advanced Seminar; and 6) one additional elective, which may be ENGL or CRWR. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

      Senior Program

      The ENGL senior program consists of an optional one-semester creative or critical Honors Thesis of 30-35 pages in length (ENGL 0700, CRWR 0701). CRWR 0701 requires the prior completion of one 0100-level CRWR workshop and two 0300-level CRWR workshops and a grade of at least B+ in both 0300-level courses before undertaking a thesis. All students will participate in an oral defense of their work with the adviser and additional readers (ideally two) of the project. Additional readers may be other ENGL/CRWR faculty, faculty outside the department, or interested scholars or writers from outside the college. Students are encouraged to complete their Advanced Seminar requirement before embarking on their senior work. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA in ENGL courses to be eligible to write an Senior Thesis

      Honors

      Departmental honors will be awarded to those students who achieve a departmental GPA of 3.85 and who complete an Senior Thesis (ENGL 0700 or CRWR 0701) in the fall or spring of the senior year. Completing a Thesis does not guarantee a student will receive honors. (See the ENGL website for more information on the Honors Thesis guidelines.) In determining the numerical average of course grades, all courses designated ENGL or CRWR will be counted, as will all other courses that fulfill requirements for the major (including those taken abroad or at other institutions). Joint majors are eligible to receive honors.  In determining joint honors, all courses that fulfill requirements for both majors will be counted.

      CRWR 0106 Writing for the Screen I (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will examine the fundamental elements of dramatic narrative as they relate to visual storytelling. We will emphasize the process of generating original story material and learning the craft of screenwriting, including topics such as story, outline, scene structure, subtext, character objectives, formatting standards, and narrative strategies. Weekly writing assignments will emphasize visual storytelling techniques, tone and atmosphere, character relationships, and dialogue. Students will be required to complete two short screenplays. Required readings will inform and accompany close study of selected screenplays and films. (FMMC 0101 OR CRWR 0170 or approval of instructor) (Formerly FMMC/ENAM 0106) 3 hrs. sem. ART (D. Miranda Hardy)
      Cross-listed as: FMMC 0106 *

      CRWR 0170 Writing: Poetry, Fiction, NonFiction (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      An introduction to the writing of poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction through analysis of writings by modern and contemporary poets and prose writers and regular discussion of student writing. Different instructors may choose to emphasize one literary form or another in a given semester. Workshops will focus on composition and revision, with particular attention to the basics of form and craft. This course is a prerequisite to CRWR 0380, CRWR 0385, CRWR 0370, and CRWR 0375. (This course is not a college writing course.) (Formerly ENAM 0170) 3 hrs. sem. ART (Fall 2022: S. Ulmer, K. Gottshall; Spring 2023: K. Gottshall, M. Mayhew-Bergman, R. Cohen)

      CRWR 0175 The Structure of Poetry (Fall 2022)

      This course is a workshop for beginning students in the field of creative writing. Students will read a selection of poems each week and write their own poems, producing a portfolio of their work at the end of the term. There will be an emphasis on revision. Students will be introduced to a range of forms as well, including prose poems, epistles, the tanka, the long poem, and the sonnet. 3 hrs. lect. ART (K. Gottshall)

      CRWR 0218 Playwriting I: Beginning (Fall 2022)

      The purpose of the course is to gain a theoretical and practical understanding of writing for the stage. Students will read, watch, and analyze published plays, as well as work by their peers, but the focus throughout will remain on the writing and development of original work. (Formerly THEA/ENAM 0218) ART, CW (D. Yeaton)
      Cross-listed as: THEA 0218 *

      CRWR 0308 Nonfiction across Genres (Spring 2023)

      In this seminar on contemporary nonfiction across genres, we will focus on notions of truth and how it is told in various subgenres. We will read, watch, and closely analyze archives, blogs, vlogs, journalism, narrative nonfiction, memoir, lyric nonfiction, haibun, graphic memoir, photo essays, film essays, podcasts, lists, and theory. We will ask why authors select the subgenres they do and investigate how artistic sense is made of worldly concerns. As there is a workshop component to this course, we will write, comment upon, and revise our own diverse works of nonfiction. 3 hrs. lect. LIT (S. Ulmer)

      CRWR 0341 Writing for the Screen II (Spring 2023)

      Building on the skills acquired in Writing for the Screen I, students will complete the first drafts of their feature-length screenplay. Class discussion will focus on feature screenplay structure and theme development using feature films and screenplays. Each participant in the class will practice pitching, writing coverage, and outlining, culminating in a draft of a feature length script. (FMMC 0106) 3 hrs. sem/3 hrs. screen. ART (D. Miranda Hardy)
      Cross-listed as: FMMC 0341 *

      CRWR 0370 Advanced Fiction: Reading and Writing Short Novels (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Workshop: Fiction
      Study and practice in techniques of fiction writing through workshops and readings in short fiction and novels. Class discussions will be based on student manuscripts and published model works. Emphasis will be placed on composition and revision. (Approval required; please email a writing sample to cohen@middlebury.edu) (Formerly ENAM 0370) (Any 100-level CRWR course) (This course is not a college writing course) 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (R. Cohen)

      Spring 2023

      Advanced Fiction: Reading and Writing Short Novels
      Ian MacEwan once said that very few novels earn their length. In this course we will read short works by Denis Johnson, Toni Morrison, Zadie Smith, Karen Russell, Julian Barnes, and Ocean Vuong to explore the power of short novels and take a close look at prose, style, and economic character development. We will examine the constraints of space, and the freedom to experiment with form. Students will generate and workshop the beginnings of their own novellas, and class discussion will be based on our reading and creative work. 3 hrs. sem.(any 100 level CRWR course) (Formerly ENAM 0370) (This course is not a college writing course) 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (M. Mayhew-Bergman)

      CRWR 0375 Workshop: Poetry (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Workshop: Poetry
      This course is an advanced workshop for students who have already done some work in poetry and are committed to the challenge of continued artistic development. Students will write a new poem each week, and revise at least eight of these for inclusion in a final chapbook project. Readings will include craft essays as well as several recent poetry collections by writers such as Hanif Abdurraqib and Natalie Diaz. Students must have completed (CRWR 0175 or instructor approval). 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (J. Parini)

      Spring 2023

      Workshop: Poetry
      This course is an advanced workshop for students who have already done some work in poetry and are committed to the challenge of continued artistic development. Students will write a new poem each week, and revise at least eight of these for inclusion in a final chapbook project. Readings will include craft essays as well as several recent poetry collections by writers such as Hanif Abdurraqib and Natalie Diaz. Students must have completed (CRWR 0170 or CRWR 0175 and instructor approval). 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (K. Gottshall)

      CRWR 0380 Advanced Non-Fiction Workshop: Writing Truthfully in Turbulent Times (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Advanced Nonfiction Workshop: Word and Image
      This class examines the relationship between word and image on the page. We will read, discuss, and create interdisciplinary works. Texts include John Berger's Ways of Seeing; Sally Mann's Hold Still; Gordon Park's A Poet and His Camera; Leanne Shapton's Swimming Studies. We will also review the work of Rockwell Kent, Susan Sontag, Carrie Mae Weems, Zora Neale Hurston and the Federal Writers' Project. We will study interdisciplinary relationships between Auguste Rodin and the poet Rilke; poet Robert Frost and JJ Lankes; Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso. (One intro CRWR course, or by instructor approval) (formerly ENAM 0380) 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (M. Mayhew-Bergman)

      Spring 2023

      Advanced Non-Fiction Workshop: Writing Truthfully in Turbulent Times
      To best assist us in finding our voices, this course plumbs the diversity of nonfiction as a genre and requires us to identify narratives larger than the self. So much is currently at stake. The work we read this semester will underline this for us. We will read new nonfiction works by an eclectic group of authors and thereby deepen our understandings of what it means to live in a time of severe ecological distress, extreme inequality, and virulent strains of all sorts of deadliness, as well as a time of intense hope, and we will write toward the conception of a book manuscript. (any 100-level CRWR course) 3 hrs. sem.
      ART (S. Ulmer)

      CRWR 0454 Poetry Games: Experimental Poetics and Avant-Garde Aesthetics (Fall 2022)

      Not all poetry is, as William Wordsworth put it, “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” Some poetry challenges the very nature of language, art, and subjectivity through various self-decentering forms of writing. In this course, we will study a century’s worth of avant-garde experimental poetry, from the Dadaists and Surrealists to the Oulipo group, the L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E poets, and the conceptual and post-conceptual poetry movements of the 21st century, then create our own poetry using the same techniques and principles. The course is thus part survey and part writing workshop, with an emphasis on artistic process, linguistic theory, and the liberating power of constraints. Topics include: aleatory poetry, algorithmic poetry, blackout poetry, concrete poetry, erasure poetry, exquisite corpse, found poetry, homophonic translation, sound poetry, lipograms, S+7, etc. ART, LIT (T. Billings)
      Cross-listed as: ENGL 0454 *

      CRWR 0560 Special Project: Creative Writing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Approval Required. (Fall 2022: D. Evans, C. Shaw, J. Berg, J. Bertolini, D. Brayton, M. Mayhew-Bergman, M. Newbury, T. Billings, C. Baldridge, J. Parini, Y. Siddiqi, S. Ulmer, R. Cohen, M. Wells, C. Wright, K. Gottshall, A. Losano, S. Cassarino, B. Graves, B. Millier, W. Nash; Spring 2023: D. Evans, J. Berg, M. Mayhew-Bergman, D. Brayton, S. Halpern, M. Newbury, B. Graves, C. Baldridge, J. Parini, Y. Siddiqi, S. Ulmer, W. Nash, R. Cohen, M. Wells, S. Cassarino, K. Gottshall, T. Billings, D. Bain, B. Millier, P. Lourie)

      CRWR 0701 Senior Thesis: Creative Writing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Discussions, workshops, tutorials for those undertaking one-term projects in the writing of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.

      ENGL 0103 Reading Literature (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Section A
      Reading Literature
      This course seeks to develop skills for the close reading of literature through discussion of and writing about selected poems, plays, and short stories from a wide range of eras and nations. A basic vocabulary of literary terms and an introductory palette of critical methods will also be covered; the course's ultimate goal will be to enable students to attain the literary-critical sensibility vital to further course work in the major. At the instructor's discretion, the texts employed in this class may share a particular thematic concern or historical kinship.”
      CW, LIT (D. Brayton)
      Section B
      Transforming Identities in Literature
      This course is designed to develop techniques for reading and writing about literary works through the lens of our chosen theme: the transformation of identities (in terms of race, class, gender, etc.) in literary works. We will read a range of plays, poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction across temporal and natural boundaries, exploring the different critical methods and interpretive tools available to us. Both the thematic and skill-building arcs of the course will culminate in a reading of Toni Morrison’s novel The Song of Solomon in the context of several different--and sometimes contradictory--critical and theoretical approaches. Other readings will include Shakespeare’s Othello, Hwang’s M. Butterfly, essays by Virginia Woolf, Zadie Smith, and Emily Bernard, and short stories by Octavia Butler.”
      CW, LIT (M. Wells)
      Section C
      Reading Literature: Spelling Bees: Literature’s Environments
      The literary texts at the heart of this course probe our complex relationships to other living beings in the so-called “natural” world. We will adopt a flexible eco-critical approach to a wide range of creative and critical writing foregrounding the impact of human activity on both green and urban spaces. In this gateway course to the major, students will also develop skills in reading, writing, and critical analysis crucial to further study in the field. Readings will trespass conventional historical and national boundaries, moving from canonical Anglo American poetry to a vibrant sampling of multi-ethnic American and postcolonial writing. Topics explored include the industrialization of food production, climate change, gardening, species-extinction, capitalist enclosure, agricultural work and workers, flowers, and dolphins. 3 hrs. lect./disc
      CW, LIT (B. Graves)

      Spring 2023

      Section A
      Reading Literature: Fantastic Voyages
      If every work of literature takes us to some “far country” of a world partly real and partly imagined, this course will be a “grand tour” of far-flung destinations, some tranquil, some desperately at war; some of which prompt us to look inward, some of which challenge us to act forcefully in the world at large. Our sustained concern, apart from learning how to appreciate a wide variety of styles, techniques, and genres, will be to acquire the analytical and writing skills that will allow students to convincingly communicate their feelings and insights about literature to others. To accomplish this, we will closely read selected works from Shakespeare to the present, become familiar with a lexicon of helpful literary terms, and introduce ourselves to some basics of literary theory. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
      CW, LIT (C. Baldridge)
      Section B
      Reading Literature: Place, Space, and Time
      Writers have always been concerned with the meaning of place and the passage of time, and our task will be to explore the diverse ways that literature in English expresses, grapples with, and comes to terms with these fundamental concepts. Of central concern will be the relationship between form and content in literary expression. Along the way, you will learn to more fluently read, write about, and talk about multiple literary genres—poetry, drama, short fiction, and novel—from Shakespeare to the 21st century. 3 hrs. lect./disc
      CW, LIT (B. Millier)
      Section C
      Reading Literature: How to Do Things with Words
      How does language make and unmake the world around us? Is literature capable of intervening in the social and historical conditions of its own making? How does literary criticism participate in cultural transformation? To get a grasp on these questions, we will read widely in literature that explores the relationships between language, power, and social life, as well as criticism and theory that examines the interactions between aesthetics and politics. Our inquiry will survey the practical and theoretical foundations of literary study, as well as current debates about methodology in the field. Readings might include: Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and poetry by Phillis Wheatley Peters, John Keats, Dionne Brand, Solmaz Sharif, and M. NourbeSe Philip
      CW, LIT (R. Sheldon)
      Section D
      Reading Literature: Border Crossings
      This course seeks to develop skills for the close reading of literature through discussion of and writing about selected poems, plays, and short stories from a wide range of eras and nations. A basic vocabulary of literary terms and an introductory palette of critical methods will also be covered; the course's ultimate goal will be to enable students to attain the literary-critical sensibility vital to further course work in the major. At the instructor's discretion, the texts employed in this class may share a particular thematic concern or historical kinship.
      CW, LIT (J. Wang)

      ENGL 0108 Animals in Literature and Culture (Fall 2022)

      Animals, wrote anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, are good to think with. They are good to write with as well; almost all works of literature include animals, their importance varying from the merely peripheral to the absolutely central. Among other narrative functions, animals serve as essential metaphors for understanding the human animal. In this course we will read a wide variety of fiction, poetry, children's literature, philosophy, science, history, and cultural theory from Ancient Greek sources (in translation) to the present. We will consider theoretical, ethical, religious, psychological, linguistic, and political issues pertaining to animals and their representation in literary texts. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0108) EUR, LIT (A. Losano)

      ENGL 0109 Literary “Character” (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will investigate literary character—what it is; what makes it “round,” “flat,” “deep,” “shallow”; its history. In seeking to understand “character,” we will create our own stories, using characters from our readings, or introducing characters we create into plots or settings from those readings. In expository essays and class discussions, we will also consider the following questions: how and why did “fictional person” acquire the name “character” (literally “engraved mark”)? How does “character” relate to representations of body, property, authorship, gender, race? How does theatrical character relate to novelistic and short-story character? Possible authors: Aristotle, Theophrastus, Terence, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Laurence Sterne, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Richard Wright, Julia Alvarez. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0109) EUR, LIT (J. Berg)

      ENGL 0112 Asian American Pop! (Fall 2022)

      From boba to K-pop, Asian diasporic culture is undeniably the shared lexicon of a global mainstream. In this course, we will engage with recent literary, televisual, and cinematic works to discern what they express about Asian American history, identity, and cultural politics. What is the difference between appropriation and authenticity? What can “popular” representations tell us about “serious” topics such as capitalism, citizenship, and empire? How does Asian American popular culture enact collective desires for belonging and memory? In particular, we will attend to the gendered and sexual circuits of cultural formation, with units on Asian American girlhood and queer diasporas. Texts include: Flower Drum Song, Crazy Rich Asians, and Master of None. Authors may include: Ocean Vuong and Lysley Tenorio. (not open to students who have taken FYSE 1562) 3 hrs. sem. (Formerly ENAM 0112) AMR, LIT (J. Wang)

      ENGL 0115 Multi-Ethnic American Literature (Fall 2022)

      This course introduces multi-ethnic literature by studying the relationship between racial formation and literary representation. How is race constituted and what role does literature play in the process? How are cultural representations of racialized difference formed in relation to its historical, material, and social conditions? We will critically analyze the nested issues of labour, law, and migration that have shaped Black, Indigenous, and Asian presence within North America. From there, we explore the themes of assimilation, multiculturalism, diaspora, and American empire in order to track the trajectory of minoritarian literature throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Authors may include: Maxine Hong Kingston, Tomson Highway, Toni Morrison, and Viet Nguyen. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (REC). (Formerly ENAM 0115) AMR, CMP, LIT (J. Wang)

      ENGL 0117 The Short Story (AL) (Spring 2023)

      This course approaches the short story as a distinct prose genre, beginning with work by Edgar Allen Poe and Guy de Maupassant and concluding with stories by contemporary authors. We will examine the particularly notable growth of the genre in America and survey various trends in the form, from "local color" sketches and realistic tales to experiments in modernism and postmodernism. Throughout, we will consider issues of structure, characterization, style, and voice. Other authors may include Anderson, Barthelme, Cheever, Chekhov, Hemingway, Joyce, Moore, O'Connor, Twain, and Welty. 3 hrs. lect./disc.(Formerly ENAM 0117) AMR, LIT, NOR (R. Cohen)

      ENGL 0123 Adventures in Literary Romance (Pre-1800) (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will explore the literary genre of romance. Today, “romance” often refers to courtship—only one aspect of this ancient genre. Other aspects include adventure, magic, wonder, multiple plots, multiple authors, an affinity for sequels. Romance’s associations with every genre—tragedy, comedy, epic, novel, lyric poetry—and its reputation for escapism have made it an epitome of the very idea of literature, as conceived by attackers and defenders. Its welcoming of female readers and protagonists and its marketing of the exotic have raised issues of gender and ethnicity. We will discuss all such aspects and implications of romance, and we may also explore how romance has shaped modern television and film. No papers or exams; there will be quizzes daily on the reading, and students will be expected to participate thoughtfully in class discussions. Readings from texts such as: Daphnis and Chloe, Ethiopian Romance, The Gospel of Luke, The Golden Ass, Arthurian romances by various authors, Orlando Inamorato, Orlando Furioso, The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, The Merchant of Venice, The Winter’s Tale, Don Quixote,/ Waverly/, Madame Bovary, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Time Quintet. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0123) LIT (J. Berg)
      Cross-listed as: CMLT 0123

      ENGL 0204 Foundations of English Literature (Pre-1800) (Spring 2023)

      Students will study Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Milton's Paradise Lost, as well as other foundational works of English literature that may include Shakespeare, non-Shakespearean Elizabethan drama, the poetry of Donne, and other 16th- and 17th-century poetry. 3 hrs. lect./disc.(Formerly ENAM 0204) EUR, LIT (T. Billings)

      ENGL 0205 Introduction to Contemporary Literary Theory (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course we will introduce several major schools of contemporary literary theory. By reading theoretical texts in close conjunction with works of literature, we will illuminate the ways in which these theoretical stances can produce multiple interpretations of a given literary work. The approaches covered may include New Criticism, Psychoanalysis, Marxism and Cultural Criticism, Race Theory and Multicultural Criticism, Feminism, Post-Colonial Criticism, Queer Studies, Eco-Criticism, Post-Structuralism, and others. These theories will be applied to various works of fiction, poetry, and drama. The goal will be to make students critically aware of the fundamental literary, cultural, political, and moral assumptions underlying every act of interpretation they perform. 3 hrs. lect/disc. (Formerly ENAM 0205) EUR, LIT (Fall 2022: C. Baldridge; Spring 2023: A. Losano)
      Cross-listed as: CMLT 0205

      ENGL 0206 Nineteenth-Century American Literature (Fall 2022)

      This course will examine major developments in the literary world of 19th century America. Specific topics to be addressed might include the transition from Romanticism to Regionalism and Realism, the origins and evolution of the novel in the United States, and the tensions arising from the emergence of a commercial marketplace for literature. Attention will also be paid to the rise of women as literary professionals in America and the persistent problematizing of race and slavery. Among others, authors may include J. F. Cooper, Emerson, Melville, Douglass, Chopin, Whitman, Dickinson, Twain, Hawthorne, Stowe, Alcott, Wharton, and James. . 3 hrs. lect./disc.(Formerly ENAM 0206) AMR, LIT (B. Millier)

      ENGL 0209 American Literature and Culture: Origins-1830 (Fall 2022)

      A study of literary and other cultural forms in early America, including gravestones, architecture, furniture and visual art. We will consider how writing and these other forms gave life to ideas about religion, diversity, civic obligation and individual rights that dominated not only colonial life but that continue to influence notions of "Americanness" into the present day. Required for all majors and minors. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0209) AMR, LIT (R. Lint)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0209 *

      ENGL 0212 American Literature Since 1945 (AL) (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will trace the development of the postmodern sensibility in American literature since the Second World War. We will read works in four genres: short fiction, novels, non-fiction (the "new journalism"), and poetry. Authors will include Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, Ralph Ellison, Flannery O'Connor, Jack Kerouac, Vladimir Nabokov, Tom Wolfe, Joan Didion, Toni Morrison, and Don DeLillo. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0212) AMR, LIT (B. Millier)

      ENGL 0225 18th-Century Literature:The Commerce of the World (Pre-1800) (Fall 2022)

      British society, politics, and culture shifted dramatically over the course of the eighteenth century in response to the ascendance of an empowered mercantile bourgeoisie, an expanding empire, and the intensification of its investments in the transatlantic slave trade. In this course we will explore how writers and thinkers grappled with these economic, social, and political transformations at the levels of narrative, form, and genre by reading novels, plays, poems, and essays by Aphra Behn, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Susanna Centlivre, Laurence Sterne, Olaudah Equiano, and others. 3 hrs. lect./disc.(Formerly ENAM 0225) EUR, LIT (R. Sheldon)

      ENGL 0242 Critical Conditions: Gender, Literature, and Illness (Pre-1800) (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will explore the literary representation of illness and pain in a range of texts from the classical period to the present day, focusing in particular on the intersection of illness with questions of gender, race, and sexuality. Beginning with Sophocles’s tragedy Women of Trachis, we will explore the classical representation of acute pain in the context of early Greek medicine, before examining medieval and early modern literary works inspired by the Black Death, including selections from Boccaccio’s Decameron. The second half of the class will focus on modernist and contemporary accounts of illness, including Virginia Woolf’s treatment of both the 1918 influenza epidemic and so-called “shell-shock” in her novel Mrs Dalloway. We will intersperse our literary readings with theoretical explorations of cure, disability, and ableism by writers such as Eli Clare, as well as work from the emerging field of narrative medicine. 3 hrs. lect.(Formerly ENAM 0242) EUR, LIT (M. Wells)
      Cross-listed as: GSFS 0242

      ENGL 0243 Maritime Literature and Culture (Spring 2023)

      Writers have long found the sea to be a cause of wonder and reflection. A mirror for some and a desert for others, the sea has influenced the imaginations of writers throughout history in vastly different ways. In this course we will read a variety of literary works, both fiction and non-fiction, in which the sea acts as the setting, a body of symbolism, an epistemological challenge, and a reason to reflect on the human relationship to nature. Readings will be drawn from the Bible, Homer's Odyssey, Old English Poetry, Shakespeare, Tennyson, Kipling, Conrad, Melville, Hemingway, Walcott, O'Brian, and others. 3 hrs. lect./disc. LIT (D. Brayton)

      ENGL 0244 The Modern Moment (Fall 2022)

      This course will explore the development of the modernist novel – and modernism in general-- in the first half of the 20th century. We will examine issues of formal experimentation, new conceptions of character, and an ever-dawning consciousness of the catastrophic as seen in personal, cultural, and political venues. Readings will include Conrad, Joyce, Forster, Kafka, Woolf, Lawrence, Mansfield, Waugh, and others. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0244) EUR, LIT (R. Cohen)

      ENGL 0248 Human Rights and World Literature (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will explore the idiom of human rights in law, literature, and political culture. We will place literary representations of human rights violations (genocide, torture, detention and forced labor, environmental devastation, police violence) in dialogue with official human rights treaties and declarations in order to historicize and critique the assumptions of human rights discourse. Who qualifies as a “human” deserving of humanitarian intervention? How do human rights rehearse a colonial dynamic based on racial and geo-political privilege? To answer these questions we will turn to some of the most controversial voices in global fiction and poetry. 3 hrs. lect. (not open to students who have taken ENAM 0230)
      (Diversity) (Formerly ENAM 0248)
      CMP, LIT, SOC (B. Graves)
      Cross-listed as: CMLT 0248

      ENGL 0250 The Romantic Revolution (Spring 2023)

      he generation of British poets and novelists known collectively as the Romantics decisively rebelled against earlier conceptions of what literature could speak about, how it could best describe a rapidly changing world, and who was fit to be its reader. Arguably the first environmentalists, the Romantics also initiated our modern discussions of gender, class, race, and nationalism. To encounter the Romantics is to witness intellectual courage taking up arms against habit, prejudice, and tyranny. We will trace their genius and daring (and follow their personal attachments for, and rivalries with, each other) through the poetry of Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, and Keats, and the novels of Mary Shelley and Emily Brönte. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0250) EUR, LIT (C. Baldridge)

      ENGL 0252 African American Literature (AL) (Fall 2022)

      This course surveys developments in African American fiction, drama, poetry, and essays during the 20th century. Reading texts in their social, historical, and cultural contexts—and often in conjunction with other African American art forms like music and visual art—we will explore the evolution and deployment of various visions of black being and black artistry, from the Harlem Renaissance through social realism and the Black Arts Movement, to the contemporary post-soul aesthetic. Authors may include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Amiri Baraka, Ishmael Reed, Toni Morrison, Charles Johnson, and Octavia Butler. 3 hrs lect./disc. (Diversity) (Rec) (Formerly ENAM 0252) AMR, LIT (W. Nash)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0252 *

      ENGL 0253 Science Fiction (Fall 2022)

      Time travel, aliens, androids, robots, corporate and political domination, reimaginings of race, gender, sexuality and the human body--these concerns have dominated science fiction over the last 150 years. But for all of its interest in the future, science fiction tends to focus on technologies and social problems relevant to the period in which it is written. In this course, we'll work to understand both the way that authors imagine technology's role in society and how those imaginings create meanings for science and its objects of study and transformation. Some likely reading and films include Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Ridley Scott, Blade Runner, and works by William Gibson, Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler and other contemporary writers. (Students who have taken FYSE 1162 are not eligible to register for this course). 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Formerly ENAM 0253) CW, LIT (M. Newbury)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0253 *

      ENGL 0263 American Psycho: Disease, Doctors, and Discontents (Spring 2023)

      What constitutes a pathological response to the pressures of modernity? How do pathological protagonists drive readers toward the precariousness of their own physical and mental health? The readings for this class center on the provisional nature of sanity and the challenges to bodily health in a world of modern commerce, media, and medical diagnoses. We will begin with 19th century texts and their engagement with seemingly "diseased" responses to urbanization, new forms of work, and new structures of the family and end with contemporary fictional psychopaths engaged in attacks on the world of images we inhabit in the present. Nineteenth century texts will likely include stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Later 20th-century works will likely include Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs, Susanna Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted, and Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho. (Formerly ENAM 0263) AMR, LIT (M. Newbury)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0263

      ENGL 0282 Reconstructing Literature: Realism, Regionalism, and the American scene, 1870-1919 (Fall 2022)

      American literature evolved in the late 1800s as a new generation of writers portrayed a rapidly changing culture, transformed by urbanization, industrial growth, immigration, class tensions, new roles for women, shifting race relations, and demographic transformations that seemed to split the nation into city and country. While realism was an effort to describe “life as it is” and regionalism focused on the distinctive features of specific places, both modes of representation stemmed from historical forces that were reshaping the nation. Works to be covered may include fiction by William Dean Howells, Charles Chesnutt, Sarah Orne Jewett, Kate Chopin, and Theodore Dreiser. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0282) AMR, HIS, LIT (T. Spears)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0282

      ENGL 0287 Posthuman Medicine: Morals, Machines, and Bodies (Fall 2022)

      Medical treatments and technologies now keep people alive when they once surely would have died. But the increasing power of medicine has also raised nightmarish possibilities of lives controlled, squandered, or sacrificed to a system that often alienates patients, is centered on profit, and has a long history of treating marginal populations recklessly. How do science fiction writers, doctors, film makers, memoirists, and healthcare corporations portray an ever more medicalized vision of human experience and human bodies? Texts and films for the course will include HG Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, Atul Gawande, Complications; Octavia Butler, Clay’s Ark; Michael Gondry, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Karen Russell, Sleep Donation, and Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go. LIT (M. Newbury)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0287

      ENGL 0291 Portraits of the Lady: The New Woman in American Literature & Culture (Fall 2022)

      At the end of the 19th century, women fought against restrictions limiting their sphere of influence. As they sought to exercise more control over their lives personally, socially, and economically, this “New Woman,” and the way she was changing the face of society, became a popular subject in literature and art. In this course we will consider portraits of women by well-known American authors (such as James, Chopin, Wharton, Sui Sin Far, Cather, Larsen, Hurston) alongside those by prominent painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, and filmmakers. We will consider how representations of women through the early twentieth century embodied the values of the nation and codified both the fears and aspirations of its citizens. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0291) AMR, ART, LIT (D. Evans)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0291 *

      ENGL 0294 Hemingway's Outsized Life (Spring 2023)

      In this class, we will explore the work of Ernest Hemingway, a writer whose literary style and heroic self-construction remain a source of fascination and controversy. Through a mostly chronological reading of his writings, we will examine Hemingway’s emergence as a pioneering modernist and member of the 1920s “lost generation,” his portrayal of war and violence, and his representations of gender, race, and “American-ness.” Assigned texts will include short stories, novels, and autobiographical works, as well as critical studies (including Ken Burns’ recent documentary film) that consider the impact of Hemingway’s life and writing on broader US cultural history. (Formerly ENAM 0294) AMR, LIT (T. Spears)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0294

      ENGL 0304 The Graphic Novel (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will study some of the most widely respected graphic novels produced in the last thirty years. Our purpose will be to understand how the form works and is structured by its dual, but sometimes competing, interests in the verbal and the visual, and to think about distinct styles of illustration. We will also think about how landmark examples have shaped the form. Working with software designed for the purpose, students will use photographs to produce short comics of their own. Possible texts include: Alan Moore, Watchmen; Art Spiegelman, Maus; Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan; Alison Bechdel, Fun Home. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0304) AMR, LIT (M. Newbury)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0304 *

      ENGL 0306 Reading Race in the 21st Century (Spring 2023)

      This course surveys multi-ethnic American literature by exploring processes of racial formation through literature and literary representations produced in the 21st century. We will study both the continuities and divergences in contemporary Black, Indigenous, and Asian American literary productions from their historical iterations. What shifts have taken place in the multi-ethnic literary canon and tradition between the past to current centuries? We will engage with themes such as the rise of genre fiction, changes to the literary marketplace, and the status of “national literature” in the global age. Authors include: Colson Whitehead, Chang-rae Lee, Louise Erdrich, and Jhumpa Lahiri. (While ENGL 0115 Introduction to Multi-Ethnic American Literature is not a prerequisite, it is encouraged.) 3hrs. sem. (Students must have previously taken either ENGL 0103 or one course with a REC tag in order to register. ) (Formerly ENAM 0306) AMR, CMP, LIT, NOR (J. Wang)

      ENGL 0310 Literature and Economy: Credit, Speculation, Fiction (Spring 2023)

      Beyond its engagements with the political economy of its day, Karl Marx’s Capital is rich with allusions to literary texts—among them Dante’s Inferno, Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. In this course we will explore the imaginative aspects of classical economic thought and the economically descriptive capacities of literature. We will track their common interests in concepts of belief, credibility, and abstraction by looking (primarily) at a period that witnessed the emergence of political economy and modern literary forms like the novel—the eighteenth century. Along the way, we will hazard answers to the following question: in an age of rampant inequality and financialization, what can we learn from representations of historical crises, bubbles, and class struggles? 3 hrs. sem EUR, LIT, PHL (R. Sheldon)

      ENGL 0312 Modern Poetry (Spring 2023)

      This course will examine the nature and achievement of the major modern poets of Britain and America during the modern period, beginning with the origins of poetic modernism in the work of Gerard Manley Hopkins, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman. The central figures to be studied are William Butler Yeats, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Wallace Stevens, and W.H. Auden. The course will conclude with a look at some after-echoes of modernism in the work of Elizabeth Bishop and others. Two papers, one exam, with occasional oral presentations in class 3 hrs. lect./disc.(Formerly ENAM 0312) LIT (J. Parini)

      ENGL 0316 Poetry and the Spiritual Tradition (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will examine the long and intimate connection between poetry and spirituality, looking especially at the influence of Christian thinking on such English and American poets as John Donne, George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and T.S. Eliot. The course will begin with a study of the King James Version of the Book of Psalms, which deeply affected later British and American poetry. We will also read early Taoist and Islamic poets, including Lao Tse and Rumi. The course will conclude with a look at the work of several contemporary poets: Charles Wright, Louis Glück, and Mary Oliver. While this course is primarily online, on-campus students will have opportunities to meet in person with fellow students and the professor in small groups and during office hours, if circumstances allow. Off-campus students will be accommodated with additional optional online opportunities to connect. 3 hrs. lct. (Formerly ENAM 0316) CMP, LIT, PHL (J. Parini)

      ENGL 0320 Indigenous and Settler Colonial Fictions (Fall 2022)

      The term “settler colonialism” has gained currency recently as a way of describing the unjust displacement of indigenous peoples, the theft of their lands and resources, and the negation of native epistemologies, cultures, and histories. This course foregrounds indigenous literary voices that challenge and present alternatives to settler colonial narratives. Students will adopt a comparative approach that identifies continuities and disparities between Native American/First Nations, Mexican, Pacific Islander, South African, Palestinian, Maori, and Hawaiian depictions of indigeneity. Authors will include Haunani-Kay Trask, Leslie Marmon Silko, Oscar Zeta Acosta, Craig Santos Perez, Joy Harjo, Maxine Hong Kingston, Rigoberta Menchu, Keri Hulme, Joe Sacco, and J.M Coetzee. CMP, HIS, LIT (B. Graves)

      ENGL 0330 Shakespeare’s Career (Pre-1800) (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will study the whole arc of William Shakespeare's literary career from the earliest histories, comedies, and non-dramatic poetry to the more mature tragedies and romances, with an eye to understanding Shakespeare’s development as a writer in his own time. How might the plays have resonated for his first audiences on stage, and how have subsequent readers drawn their own meanings from the published texts? Reading one play a week, we will pay close attention to such dramaturgical issues as Shakespeare’s construction of character and of plot, his adaptation of sources, and his modes of versification, as well as the ethical, political, and commercial implications of Shakespeare’s works during his lifetime, some of which stand in contrast with what we learn from them today. Weather permitting, some meetings may be held outside in person. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc./3 hrs. screen. (Formerly ENAM 0330) EUR, LIT (T. Billings)

      ENGL 0354 Postcolonial Literature, Migrants and the City (Spring 2023)

      In this course, we will analyze postcolonial literature that portrays the lives of migrants in cities. Postcolonial novels such as Brick Lane by Monica Ali, Love Enough by Dionne Brand, Brother by David Chariandi, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, Carnival by Rawi Hage, The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon and A Free Man by Aman Sethi present counter-hegemonic narratives and visions of the city. They show that the city, indelibly marked by relations of Empire and the product of racial capitalism, is also a battleground for decoloniality: a delinking from colonial knowledge practices. To map this insurgent knowledge in postcolonial novels of the city, we will focus on four prominent themes that also serve as analytical categories: mobility, labor, conviviality, and protest. CMP, LIT, SOC (Y. Siddiqi)
      Cross-listed as: IGST 0354

      ENGL 0358 Reading, Slavery, and Abolition (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will study both black and white writers' psychological responses to, and their verbal onslaughts on, the "peculiar institution" of chattel slavery. We will work chronologically and across genres to understand how and by whom the written word was deployed in pursuit of physical and mental freedom and racial and socioeconomic justice. As the course progresses, we will deepen our study of historical context drawing on the substantial resources of Middlebury's special collections, students will have the opportunity to engage in archival work if they wish. Authors will include Emerson, Douglass, Jacobs, Thoreau, Stowe, Walker, and Garrison. 3 hrs. sem. (Diversity) (Rec) (Formerly ENAM 0358) HIS, LIT (W. Nash)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0358 *

      ENGL 0359 The Art of Vladimir Nabokov (in English) (Spring 2023)

      A study of the "perverse" aesthetics of this Russian-American writer. We will expose the hidden plots under the surface of his fiction, follow and arbitrate the ongoing contest between the author and his fictional heroes, and search for the roots of Nabokov's poetics in Western and Russian literary traditions. An attempt will be made to show the continuity between the Russian and English works of this bilingual and bicultural writer. 3 hrs. lect. (Formerly ENAM 0359) AMR, LIT (M. Walker)
      Cross-listed as: RUSS 0359 *

      ENGL 0419 Gender, Power, and Politics on the Early Modern Stage (I) (Pre-1800) (Spring 2023)

      In this class we will explore the representation of gendered embodiment on the early modern stage, considering as we do so how theatrical embodiment intersects with other treatments of the body in early modern culture. We will read both early modern and contemporary theoretical accounts of gender as performance, investigating among other issues the use of boy actors, the representation of specifically “female” disorders (e.g., “suffocation” or hysteria), the performance of maternity, and the treatment of same-sex eroticism. Of particular importance will be the representation of the articulate or angry woman as the “shrew” or “scold,” and we will begin the class with an investigation of so-called “shrew-taming” narratives. Primary readings will include: Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and The Winter’s Tale, Webster’s Duchess of Malfi, and Cavendish’s Convent of Pleasure. We will end the semester with a look at how this material plays out in our current political moment, focusing in particular on the representation of Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Christine Blasey Ford. 3 hrs. sem. (Formerly ENAM 0419) EUR, LIT (M. Wells)
      Cross-listed as: GSFS 0419

      ENGL 0451 The Novels of J.M. Coetzee: Ethics and Empire (Fall 2022)

      Coetzee, whose novels engage questions of institutional racism, state-sponsored violence, patriarchal privilege, environmental degradation, animal rights, and how to ethically approach cultural Others, manages to speak of specific historical circumstances—such as South Africa’s apartheid regime—while simultaneously addressing universal dilemmas of our contemporary human condition. Having received both the Booker (twice) and Nobel Prizes for literature, Coetzee is recognized as the living heir of both Kafka and Beckett, and as a writer whose searing prose and formal experimentation both extend and transform the novel’s traditional role as our culture’s most skeptical self-inquisitor. Depicting every act of writing as either a confrontation or an evasion, Coetzee both reveres and rebukes the literary traditions he warily embraces. We will read his strongest and most globally recognized works, from Waiting for the Barbarians through Disgrace. LIT (C. Baldridge)
      Cross-listed as: CMLT 0451

      ENGL 0454 Poetry Games: Experimental Poetics and Avant-Garde Aesthetics (Fall 2022)

      Not all poetry is, as William Wordsworth put it, “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” Some poetry challenges the very nature of language, art, and subjectivity through various self-decentering forms of writing. In this course, we will study a century’s worth of avant-garde experimental poetry, from the Dadaists and Surrealists to the Oulipo group, the L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E poets, and the conceptual and post-conceptual poetry movements of the 21st century, then create our own poetry using the same techniques and principles. The course is thus part survey and part writing workshop, with an emphasis on artistic process, linguistic theory, and the liberating power of constraints. Topics include: aleatory poetry, algorithmic poetry, blackout poetry, concrete poetry, erasure poetry, exquisite corpse, found poetry, homophonic translation, sound poetry, lipograms, S+7, etc. ART, LIT (T. Billings)
      Cross-listed as: CRWR 0454

      ENGL 0458 Merchants of Venice (Spring 2023)

      In this class we will read Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice from different perspectives, including those of race, religion, gender, staging, and form, engaging the play at the level of rhetorical analysis, textual history, character analysis, source analysis, stage and film history, and current performance. We will study contemporaneous dramas resembling The Merchant of Venice (e.g., Three Ladies of London, Jew of Malta, Othello). Throughout, we will consider the multiple attitudes towards Jewishness and Judaism implicit in the play, its performance history and its literary and cultural influence. Finally, we will study the literary legacy of The Merchant of Venice, from the early modern period up to our own times. The class should also give us an opportunity to enhance our skills in rhetorical analysis, writing, speaking, and research. 3 hrs. sem. (Formerly ENAM 0458) EUR, LIT (J. Berg)
      Cross-listed as: JWST 0458

      ENGL 0471 Afro-Asian Encounters (Spring 2023)

      Scholars have recently uncovered a rich history of black and Asian solidarity against racism. Yet the Los Angeles uprisings of 1992 provided a painful reminder of the antagonisms between black and Asian diasporic groups. This course will explore how Asian American and African American identities have historically been constructed in relation to one another. We will foreground key sites in the making and undermining of Afro-Asian intimacies, from the racial formation of coolie laborers to the cross-racial imagination of Kung-Fu and Hip Hop. Authors will include Richard Wright, Chang-Rae Lee, Vijay Prashad, Frank Chin, Das Racist, Mira Nair, and W.E.B. Dubois. 3 hrs. sem. (Diversity) (Rec) (Formerly ENAM 0471) CMP, HIS, LIT, NOA (B. Graves)

      ENGL 0500 Special Project: Literature (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Approval Required. (Formerly ENAM 0500)

      ENGL 0700 Senior Thesis: Critical Writing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Individual guidance and seminar (discussions, workshops, tutorials) for those undertaking one-term projects in literary criticism or analysis. All critical thesis writers also take the Senior Thesis Workshop (ENAM 700Z) in either Fall or Spring Term. (Formerly ENAM 0700)

      ENGL 0705 Senior Colloquium in Literary Studies (Fall 2022)

      Although it is required of all Literary Studies seniors, this course is intended for students working in any discipline who seek a close encounter with some of the greatest achievements of the literary imagination. In addition to being understood as distinctive artistic and philosophical accomplishments, the major works which constitute the reading list will also be seen as engaged in a vital, overarching cultural conversation across temporal and geographical boundaries that might otherwise seem insurmountable. The texts for this semester include Homer’s Odyssey, Aeschylus’ Oresteia, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Dostoevsky’ Crime and Punishment, Pirandello’ Six Characters in Search of an Author, and Borges’ Ficciones. (Open to non-majors with the approval of the instructor.) 3 hrs. sem.
      Cross-listed as: LITS 0705 *

      ENGL 0708 Senior Work: Joint Majors in English & American Literatures and Theatre (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Approval required. (Formerly ENAM 0708)

      IGST 0354 Postcolonial Literature, Migrants and the City (Spring 2023)

      In this course, we will analyze postcolonial literature that portrays the lives of migrants in cities. Postcolonial novels such as Brick Lane by Monica Ali, Love Enough by Dionne Brand, Brother by David Chariandi, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, Carnival by Rawi Hage, The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon and A Free Man by Aman Sethi present counter-hegemonic narratives and visions of the city. They show that the city, indelibly marked by relations of Empire and the product of racial capitalism, is also a battleground for decoloniality: a delinking from colonial knowledge practices. To map this insurgent knowledge in postcolonial novels of the city, we will focus on four prominent themes that also serve as analytical categories: mobility, labor, conviviality, and protest. CMP, LIT, SOC (Y. Siddiqi)
      Cross-listed as: ENGL 0354 *
      ↑ Top

      Program in Environmental Studies

      Students matriculating Fall 2018 or later must follow these requirements. Students matriculated prior to Fall 2018 have the option to follow these requirement or the previous requirements.

      Major in Environmental Studies

      The environmental studies major is composed of course work in four areas: four environmental studies core courses; 7-8 courses in a focus area; two environmental cognate courses; and an integrative capstone experience. Except for transfer students, the core courses and capstone experience must be Middlebury College courses, which for the purposes of the Environmental Studies major are defined as those offered by the undergraduate college during fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. The student’s advisor must approve any non-Middlebury College courses within the focus area; the ES Director must approve any non-Middlebury College courses within the rest of the major. A maximum of three non-Middlebury College courses may be credited toward completion of the major.

      I. Core Course Requirements

      All majors are required to complete four core courses, ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, and one spatial analysis course, chosen in consultation with your advisor, from among the following: ENVS/GEOG 0120, ENVS/GEOG 0150, or ENVS/GEOG 231.

      If possible, ENVS 0112 should be completed by the end of the fourth semester, and all four core courses by the end of the sixth semester. However, students unable to meet that goal may enroll in later semesters.

      II. Focus Course Requirements
      Majors must complete the 7-8 course requirements for one of 17 established foci. Foci fall into one of four academic divisions: arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. These divisions govern which cognate courses a student may take. Courses taken within the focus that are not specified must be approved by the student’s advisor, who must come from the student’s focus. As indicated, some foci automatically qualify the student for joint major status. Environmental Studies foci are as follows (specific requirements for each can be found further below):

      Arts Foci:

      • Environmental Dance
      • Environmental Studies-Architecture joint major
      • Environmental Studio Art
      • Environmental Theatre

      Humanities Foci:

      • Environmental History
      • Environmental Literature
      • Environmental Writing
      • Religion, Philosophy and the Environment

      Natural Science Foci:

      • Conservation Biology (Environmental Studies-Biology joint major)
      • Environmental Studies-Chemistry joint major
      • Environmental Earth and Climate Sciences joint major

      Social Science Foci:

      • Conservation Psychology
      • Environmental Economics
      • Environmental Justice
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Studies-Anthropology joint major
      • Environmental Studies-Geography joint major

      III. Cognate Course Requirements
      Two cognate courses must be selected from the approved list of cognates, subject to the following:

      For ES majors with a focus in the Natural Sciences (ESBI, ESSC, and ESCH):  

      1 cognate from the approved list in the Social Sciences or Integrated Courses
      1 cognate from the approved list in the Humanities/ARTS or from the Integrated Course list

      For ES majors with a focus in the Social Sciences (ESEC, ESGG, ESEP, ESEJ, ESAN, ESCP)

      1 cognate from the approved list in the Natural Sciences with a lab (this course should be completed by the end of junior year)
      1 cognate from the approved list in the Humanities/ARTS OR from the Integrated Course list

      For ES Majors with a focus in the Humanities or Arts (ESAE, ESDA, ESHI, ESAT, ESTH, ESET, ESLI, ESWR):

      1 cognate from the approved list in the Natural Sciences with a lab (this course should be completed by the end of junior year)
      1 cognate from the approved list in the Social Sciences OR from the Integrated Course list

      Because integrative courses represent more than one academic division, they inherently represent an academic division outside the division of the student’s focus; therefore, all integrative courses can be counted by all majors toward completion of the cognate requirement, subject to the rules above. Not all approved cognates are offered each semester. Please check with relevant departments regarding course offerings.

      IV. Advanced Integrative Capstone Requirement
      After completing the required core courses, majors must complete the community-engaged environmental studies practicum ENVS 0401, open to juniors and seniors.

      Senior Work in Environmental Studies

      All seniors are required to take ENVS 0401, the ENVS senior seminar devoted to community-connected learning and requiring significant interdisciplinary work. ENVS does not universally require senior independent work; however, some foci within ENVS do.

      Majors who are not required to complete independent senior work in their focus may, in consultation and approval of an advisor, apply to complete (optional) senior independent work in ENVS. Senior work in ENVS may be carried out as a one-term senior project (ENVS 0700) or as a multi-term senior thesis (ENVS 0700/0701).

      All senior independent work carried out in ENVS or toward honors eligibility (i.e., carried out in a focus department) in Environmental Studies must be on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and environment; be supervised by at least one faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the environmental studies program; and must be presented publicly. In consultation with the thesis committee, students may present as part of the Spring Research Symposium or as a separate event arranged with the committee and ES Program.

      For additional important details regarding the integrative capstone requirement and/or senior work options, please visit the senior work page.

      Minor in Environmental Studies

      The minor in environmental studies consists of five courses: three environmental studies core courses to be completed by the end of the sixth semester: ENVS 0112; ENVS or ENVS/PSCI 0211; and ENVS or ENVS/ENAM 0215; one course selected from among: ART 0348, DANC 0277, ECON 0265, ENGL 0227, ENVS 0209, ENVS 0210, ENVS 0220, ENVS 0230, ENVS 0395, ENVS 0485, HARC 0231, HIST 0222, PHIL 0356, PSCI 0214, PSYC 0233/0333; and one course from among: BIOL 0140, CHEM 0270, ENVS/GEOG 150, ECSC 0112, ECSC 0161, or ECSC 0323. Except for transfer students, the environmental studies core courses must be taken at Middlebury College. With the approval of the Environmental Studies program director, a maximum of one course taken off campus may be credited toward completion of other (e.g., non-core course) minor requirements.

      Joint Majors

      Environmental studies majors who focus in architecture, biology, chemistry, earth and climate sciences, geography, or anthropology automatically qualify as joint majors. Students may pursue a joint major between environmental studies and other majors. The other major usually overlaps the student’s focus and represents additional coursework in the focus. Students interested in completing such a “non-automatic” joint major should consult with the chair of their focus department about joint majors. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the environmental studies major, there is no reduction in course requirements for the environmental studies component of a joint major.

      Focus Specific Requirements

      Arts Foci

      Environmental Dance: ARDV 0116; DANC 0160; DANC 260; DANC 0277 or       
      DANC 1025; DANC 0284; DANC 0376; DANC 0700.

      Environmental Studies-Architecture joint majorHARC 0130; HARC 0230; HARC 0231 (prerequisite for HARC 0731); HARC 0259; HARC 0330 (or approved substitute); one additional course that deals with architectural history, urbanism, or contemporary visual culture; HARC 0731 and HARC 0732, to be taken sequentially. Note: This joint major does not result in a professional degree in architecture. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in architecture are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

      Environmental Studio Art: One 100- or 200-level drawing course; HARC 0327 (strongly suggested) or other approved substitute in the history of art-practice; ART 0348; four electives in studio art, three of which must be at the 300-level; ART 0700.

      Environmental Theatre: ARDV 0116 or THEA 0101; THEA 0102; THEA 0208; DANC 0277; THEA 0235 or a THEA literature course chosen in consultation with advisor; two THEA electives of which only one may be a Production Studio course; and completing a crew requirement. The crew requirement must be completed by the end of the 5th term and will normally be satisfied by undertaking a running crew assignment on a for-credit production; the requirement may also be fulfilled by stage managing a faculty show, or by completing THEA 0119 or THEA 0129.

      Humanities Foci

      Environmental History: HIST 0222; three 100-300-level HIST courses; one 400-level HIST course or equivalent approved by adviser; HIST 0600 or equivalent approved by adviser; one additional course from the ENVS humanities cognate list or an approved substitute.

      Environmental Literature: ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; ENAM 0205; three approved environmental literature courses (see full list) of which one must be at the 100-200 level and one must be at the 300-400 level; one term of senior independent work, typically ENAM 0700, or, upon approval, a senior thesis, typically ENAM 0700/ENVS 0701.

      Environmental Writing: ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; CRWR 0170 or CRWR 0175; two approved environmental literature courses (see full list) of which one must be at the 100-200 level and one must be at the 300-400 level; two 300-level writing workshops; one term of senior independent writing, typically ENAM 0701.

      ReligionPhilosophy, and the Environment: ENVS 0395; PHIL 0356; ENVS 0700; and four courses in accordance with either the Religion track or the Philosophy track.

      Religion track: Four RELI 100-200 level courses of which, at least, two should focus either on a particular religious tradition (e.g. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism) or on a particular geographic area (e.g. religions of South Asia) and, at least, one should focus on an alternate religious tradition/geographic area. ANTH 0211 or HIST/PHIL 0237 maybe substituted for a 200-level course with approval of the advisor.

      Philosophy track: PHIL 0150 or PHIL 0151; at least one ethics course selected among: PHIL 0205, PHIL 0210, PHIL 0285, or an approved alternative; at least one philosophy of science course selected among: PHIL 0214 (strongly recommended), PHIL 0216, or an approved alternative; an additional PHIL course selected in consultation with the advisor.

      Students with strong comparative interests in both religion and philosophy should consult with their advisor.

      Natural Science Foci

      Conservation Biology (Environmental Studies-Biology joint major): BIOL 0140; BIOL 0145 (CHEM 0103 pre-req); BIOL 0392; two field methods courses chosen from BIOL 0203 BIOL 0304, BIOL 0308, BIOL 0323 and BIOL 0371; one organismal course chosen from among BIOL 0201, BIOL 0202, BIOL 0203, BIOL 0204, BIOL 0308 and BIOL 0310; and two BIOL electives chosen from the 0200-0700 level (only one of which can be BIOL 0500 or higher). Notes: BIOL 0203 and 0308 may count toward the field methods or the organismal requirement but not towards both. Winter Term courses offered through the Biology Department can be used to satisfy one of the elective courses; BIOL 0211 is a prerequisite for independent study in Biology (BIOL 0500 and higher). ENVS 0401 satisfies the required joint work for ENVS-BIOL joint majors. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in biology are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

      Environmental Studies-Chemistry joint major: CHEM 0103; CHEM 0104 or 0107; CHEM 0203, CHEM 0204; CHEM 0270; and CHEM 0311.  Students wishing to pursue graduate study in chemistry are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

      Environmental Studies-Earth and Climate Sciences joint majorOne introductory course (ECSC 0112 preferred), both core courses (ECSC 201, 202), three electives and a two-term senior thesis (ECSC 400, 700) focusing on geology and the environment. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in geology are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

      Social Science Foci

      Conservation Psychology: PSYC 0105; PSYC 0201; PSYC 0202; PSYC 0233/0333; PSYC 0416 or PSYC 0423, and two additional courses to be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.

      Environmental Economics: MATH 0121 or MATH 0122; ECON 0155; ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210); ECON 0211; ECON 0255; ECON 0265; ECON 0465 or ECON 0466; one course from among INTD 0222, ECON 0228, ECON 0365, ECON 0425, ECON 0427, ECON 465, ECON 0466, and ECON 0488.

      Environmental Justice:  ENVS 208 (EJ in the Anthropocene); one course from the foundations list; three courses from the electives list; and two courses from the advanced list.  Substitute or additional courses not listed here, including Winter Term courses and off-campus courses, may count toward the focus with the approval of an ESEJ faculty adviser. This is a social science-based focus, so majors in ESEJ follow the cognate course requirements for the social science division.  Majors may count any humanities course listed for the focus (HIST, RELI, ENAM, PHIL, HARC, CLAS) as a cognate if they do NOT count it toward the focus.  In choosing their natural science cognate, ESEJ majors are encouraged to consider CHEM 270, Environmental Chemistry and Health for their natural science lab cognate.

      Environmental Policy: ECON 0155; ECON 0265; ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) or MATH 0116 or PSYC 0201; PSCI 0214 or ENVS 0485; PSCI 0421 or PSCI 0452; two courses from among ENVS 0208, ENVS 0209, ENVS 0310, and any PSCI courses at the 0200-0300 level.

      Environmental Studies-Geography joint major: GEOG 0100; four elective courses at the 0200- or 0300-level, at least one of which must be at the 0200 and one at the 0300 level; and one 0400-level seminar. The electives and seminar must be selected in consultation with, and approved by, the student’s Geography advisor. ENVS 0401 satisfies the required joint work for ENVS-GEOG joint majors.

      Environmental Studies - Anthropology joint major.  ANTH 0103; ANTH 0211; ANTH 0302; ANTH 0306; and four electives related to environmental topics from the Anthropology curriculum or ENVS 0210 or ENVS 0485 in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students pursuing senior work may only count one semester towards their elective requirement. No more than one elective may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit).  Any departures from this program must be approved by the Anthropology department chair.

      Other Environmental Perspectives

      For students interested in studying the environment from perspectives for which there is not an established focus (e.g., international environmental studies, food studies), we recommend that students select the established focus that most closely meets their goals, select cognates that complement these goals, and, when possible, select topics on course assignments and projects that complement their goals and interests. Students are also encouraged to consider the possibility for intersecting study abroad opportunities with their goals and interests. Finally, students might consider completing a minor in environmental studies alongside a major of their choice. Students are encouraged to meet with the ES Director or with faculty advisors who advise for foci related to their interests to discuss their options.

      Environmental Studies Program Honors

      Program honors will be awarded to majors who complete a multi-term senior thesis on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and the environment and meet the following requirements: the thesis must be supervised by a faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the environmental studies program; the work must be presented publicly, orally defended before their committee, and be of superior quality (B+ or higher); the student must achieve an average GPA of B+ or higher in courses taken toward completion of the major. Courses counting toward the GPA in the major include core courses, courses taken in fulfillment of focus with the exception of senior thesis courses (i.e., 700-level courses are excluded), cognates, and ENVS 0401 (if taken). If extra cognates or courses within the focus were taken, those with the highest grades will be applied toward completion of the major and toward the GPA calculation for honors eligibility.

      ENVS 0112 Natural Science and the Environment (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Natural Science and the Environment
      We will explore in detail a series of current environmental issues in order to learn how principles of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics, as well as interdisciplinary scientific approaches, help us to identify and understand challenges to environmental sustainability. In lecture, we will examine global environmental issues, including climate change, water and energy resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services, human population growth, and world food production, as well as the application of science in forging effective, sustainable solutions. In the laboratory and field, we will explore local manifestations of global issues via experiential and hands-on approaches. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab.
      SCI (P. Ryan, M. Lapin, M. Przyperhart)

      Spring 2023

      Natural Science and the Environment
      We will explore in detail a series of current environmental issues in order to learn how principles of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics, as well as interdisciplinary scientific approaches, help us to identify and understand challenges to environmental sustainability. In lecture, we will examine global environmental issues, including climate change, water and energy resources, biodiversity and ecosystem services, human population growth, and world food production, as well as the application of science in forging effective, sustainable solutions. In the laboratory and field, we will explore local manifestations of global issues via experiential and hands-on approaches. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab. (By Approval)
      SCI (A. Mychajliw, M. Lapin, M. Przyperhart)

      ENVS 0118 Navigating A Toxic World: Environmental Health in Your Daily Life (Fall 2022)

      Have you ever wondered how the environment around you impacts your health? Environmental health scientists study how water, air, food, and the built environment affect wellbeing. In this class, we will explore environmental health topics relevant to our daily lives, including what’s in “BPA Free” water bottles, the science and politics behind your waterproof raincoat and mascara, and whether organic foods are actually better. We will also explore themes of environmental justice because who you are and where you live determine your environment and, in turn, your health. We will engage in lecture, discussion, and a semester-long project on environmental health in your daily life. 3hrs lect. SCI (K. Crawford)

      ENVS 0120 Human Geography with GIS (Spring 2023)

      How do geographers study spatial interactions between people and the environment? How does socio-economic status relate to spatial patterns of settlement, social organization, access to resources, and exposure to risks? How can geographic information systems (GIS) help geographers explain these spatial patterns and processes? In this course we will apply GIS to a wide range of topics in human geography including urban, environmental, political, hazards, and health. We will learn how to gather, create, analyze, visualize, and critically interpret geographic data through tutorials, collaborative labs, and independent work that culminate in cartographic layouts of our results. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. DED, SOC (N. Kimambo)
      Cross-listed as: GEOG 0120 *

      ENVS 0150 Mapping Global Environmental Change (Fall 2022)

      How do geographers use geospatial technologies to observe the Earth’s surface? How do geographers use this information to interpret changes in the global environment across space and time? In this course we will learn how to work with large geographic datasets to explore patterns and changes to the Earth’s surface at local to global scales. Case studies will use remotely-sensed images to study land cover, climate, weather, wildfire, and other topics. Students will learn concepts, methods, and ethics for using a cloud-based geospatial analysis platform to process data, critically interpret workflows and results, and communicate findings with web maps and graphics. 4 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs. lab. DED (J. Howarth)
      Cross-listed as: GEOG 0150 *

      ENVS 0166 Pleistocene Park, Jurassic World: Fossil Stories of Our Future (Fall 2022)

      What can coprolites tell us about climate change? Will mammoths roam Siberia once more? While paleontology might seem like it’s all about the past, the tools that paleontologists employ are directly relevant to our future. Students will explore scientific topics such as the process of fossilization, how to reconstruct the history of life, and why mass extinctions happen. We will also discuss the ethical dimensions of fossil ownership, de-extinction, science communication, and other societal issues. Ultimately, students will leverage the richness of geologic and evolutionary time to develop a new personal context for interpreting our rapidly changing planet. 3 hrs. lect SCI (A. Mychajliw)

      ENVS 0209 Gender Health Environment (Fall 2022)

      Growing concern for the protection of the environment and human health has led policy makers and scholars to consider ways in which gender, class, and race and other forms of identity mediate human-environment interactions. In this course we will explore how access to, control over, and distribution of resources influence environmental and health outcomes both in terms of social inequities and ecological decline. Specific issues we will cover include: ecofeminism, food security, population, gendered conservation, environmental toxins, climate change, food justice, and the green revolution. We will draw comparisons between different societies around the globe as well as look at dynamics between individuals within a society. The majority of case studies are drawn from Sub Saharan Africa and Asia, however some comparisons are also made with the United States. (National/Transnational Feminisms) (FemSTHM) 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SAF, SOC (M. Baker-Medard)
      Cross-listed as: GSFS 0209

      ENVS 0211 Conservation and Environmental Policy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course examines conservation and environmental policy in the United States. In order to better understand the current nature of the conservation and environmental policy process, we will begin by tracing the development of past ideas, institutions, and policies related to this policy arena. We will then focus on contemporary conservation and environmental politics and policy making—gridlock in Congress, interest group pressure, the role of the courts and the president, and a move away from national policy making—toward the states, collaboration, and civil society. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
      (By Approval)
      AMR, SOC (Fall 2022: J. Isham; Spring 2023: M. Baker-Medard)

      ENVS 0215 Contested Grounds: U.S. Cultures and Environments (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have created a complex set of meanings pertaining to the environments (wild, pastoral, urban, marine) in which they live. From European-Native contact to the present, Americans’ various identities, cultures, and beliefs about the bio-physical world have shaped the stories they tell about “nature,” stories that sometimes share common ground, but often create conflicting and contested understandings of human-environment relationships. In this course we will investigate these varied and contested stories from multi-disciplinary perspectives in the humanities—history, literature, and religion--and will include attention to race, class, gender, and environmental justice. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (By Approval) AMR (Fall 2022: D. Brayton; Spring 2023: K. Morse)

      ENVS 0220 The N Word: Nature, Revisited (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Fall 2022

      Conversations with Environmental Icons & Others
      What do voices from American History, both past and present, reveal about the way race, and privilege shape how we understand conservation, climate change and environmental justice today? How does your voice matter in this current moment? We will consider the foundations of environmental ideas and attitudes. In particular, in this current climate where Black Lives Matter and systemic racism are central in our conversations about place and space, we will explore the construction of environmental narratives and how race impacts environmental participation. In addition, we will explore how representations of the natural environment are structurally and culturally racialized within environmental institutions and the media by engaging in “conversations” with environmental icons such as John Muir and other historical and contemporary figures such as Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin. 3 hrs. sem.
      AMR (C. Finney)

      Spring 2023

      The N Word: Nature, Revisited
      What do voices from American History, both past and present, reveal about the way race, and privilege shape how we understand conservation, climate change and environmental justice today? How does your voice matter in this current moment? We will consider the foundations of environmental ideas and attitudes. In particular, in this current climate where Black Lives Matter and systemic racism are central in our conversations about place and space, we will explore the construction of environmental narratives and how race impacts environmental participation. In addition, we will explore how representations of the natural environment are structurally and culturally racialized within environmental institutions and the media by engaging in “conversations” with environmental icons such as John Muir and other historical and contemporary figures such as Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin. 3 hrs. sem.
      AMR, NOR (C. Finney)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0220

      ENVS 0245 Human-Environment Relations: Middle East (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will begin with an environmental history of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, asking such questions as: How does politics affect conservation practice? To what extent are formulations of nature constructed socially and politically? Whose rights are affected by protected areas and who decides governance criteria? The objectives of this course include providing students with an understanding of human-environment relations theory by addressing the regional specifics of modern environmental and social histories of these countries. We will look at animals, water, and forests in the literature of NGOs, UNEP reports, media, policy papers, and the academic literature. (One of the following: ENVS 0112, GEOG 0100, IGST 0101, SOAN 0103; Or by approval) (not open to students who have taken FYSE 1523) 3 hrs. lect. MDE, SOC (R. Greeley)
      Cross-listed as: ARBC 0245 *

      ENVS 0332 The Perennial Turn (Spring 2023)

      The work of repairing Earth—response-ably attending to life-nourishing human and more-than-human interrelationships—starts at scales of self and community. Power dynamics, thoughtways, humans and planet Earth changed when our ancestors began annually disrupting soil ecosystems and storing surplus food. We explore notions of perennial thinking and action through readings, direct experience, and work with local partners at the forefront of the perennial turn. Combining ancient and contemporary knowledges in science, history, philosophy, spirituality, and more, we investigate thinking more like a prairie than a plow. How might we regrow deep roots and craft ways that align with current understandings of Universe, Earth, life? In the Spring 2023 semester we will focus on healing and food systems.3 hrs. sem., PHL (M. Lapin, B. Vitek)

      ENVS 0401 Community-Engaged Environmental Studies Practicum (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course students work in small groups with one of a variety of partners and organizations to complete a semester-long, community-engaged project. Project themes vary by term and typically focus on local and regional environmental issues that have broader application. Projects rely on students’ creativity, interdisciplinary perspectives, skills, and knowledge developed through their previous work. The project is guided by a faculty member and carried out with a high degree of independence by the students. Students will prepare for and direct their project work through readings and discussion, independent research, collaboration with project partners, and consultation with external experts. The course may also include workshops focused on developing key skills (e.g., interviewing, public speaking, video editing). The project culminates in a public presentation of students’ final products, which may various forms such as written reports, policy white papers, podcasts, or outreach materials. (Open to Juniors and Seniors) (ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, GEOG 0120 or GEOG 0150) 3 hrs. sem./3 hrs. lab (Fall 2022: K. Crawford, D. Munroe; Spring 2023: K. Morse, D. Munroe, R. Gould)

      ENVS 0446 Just Environmentalisms (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will draw on theories of social and political change to understand the systematic causes of inequality and environmental issues around the world. We will look at both proximate as well as ultimate drivers of socio-environmental problems focusing on the relations between production and consumption, representation and regulation, rights and responsibilities, and information and norms. We will also study prospective solutions including political movements that resist environmental enclosures on land and at sea. More specifically, we will focus on examples of transnational movements fighting for socio-ecological justice, and how individuals and collectives within these movements navigate their socio-cultural and political economic differences while working in solidarity together. 3 hrs. seminar CMP, SOC (M. Baker-Medard)

      ENVS 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course, students (non-seniors) carry out an independent research or creative project on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and the environment. The project, carried out under the supervision of a faculty member with related expertise who is appointed in or affiliated with the Environmental Studies Program, must involve a significant amount of independent research and analysis. The expectations and any associated final products will be defined in consultation with the faculty advisor. Students may enroll in ENVS 0500 no more than twice for a given project. (Approval only)

      ENVS 0700 Senior Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course, seniors complete an independent research or creative project on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and the environment. During the term prior to enrolling in ENVS 0700, a student must discuss and agree upon a project topic with a faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the Environmental Studies Program and submit a brief project proposal to the Director of Environmental Studies for Approval. The expectations and any associated final products will be defined in consultation with the faculty advisor. Students may enroll in ENVS 0700 as a one-term independent study OR up to twice as part of a multi-term project, including as a lead-up to ENVS 0701 (ES Senior Thesis) or ENVS 0703 (ES Senior Integrated Thesis). (Senior standing; Approval only)

      ENVS 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      This course is the culminating term of a multi-term independent project, resulting in a senior thesis on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and the environment. Approval to enroll is contingent on successful completion of at least one term (and up to two) of ENVS 0700 and the approval of the student’s thesis committee. The project, carried out under the supervision of a faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the Environmental Studies Program, will result in a substantial piece of scholarly work that will be presented to other ENVS faculty and students in a public forum and defended before the thesis committee. (Senior standing; ENVS major; ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, GEOG 0120, and ENVS 0700; Approval only)
      ↑ Top

      Department of Film & Media Culture

      Major Requirements

      Students must complete ten courses to satisfy the requirements for a major in Film and Media Culture. Before declaring a Film and Media Culture major, the student must have completed or be currently enrolled in one of the basic core courses. Those courses are as follows:

      Basic Core Course Requirements

      FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image; FMMC 0102 Film History; FMMC 0104 TV and American Culture; and one production course - either FMMC 0105 Filmmaking or FMMC 0106 Screenwriting. The basic core courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.

      Required Advanced Courses

      One 0300 level course in theory — FMMC 0354, FMMC 0355, FMMC/GSFS 0358, FMMC 0360, or another approved 0300 level course — typically to be completed during junior year; and FMMC 0700 Film and Media Senior Tutorial.

      Electives

      Four additional FMMC courses, with at least two of these being critical studies or history courses. With the prior permission of a student’s academic advisor, one winter term FMMC course may be counted as an elective. Independent study courses will typically not count as an elective unless approved by the department chair for exceptional circumstances. Students taking courses focused on film and media taught in a foreign language, either at Middlebury or abroad, may request major elective credit from their advisor. Note that courses may not count toward both FMMC and another department’s major or minor. Courses transferred from other institutions will normally count only as an elective toward the FMMC major, not to fulfill core requirements.

      Minor

      Three required courses - FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image, FMMC 0102 Film History, FMMC 0104 TV and American Culture. In addition, minors must take three additional courses that are listed or cross-listed as FMMC. At least one of the three electives must be at the 0300 or 0400-level. At least one of the three electives must be a critical studies or history course.

      Joint Major

      The joint major with FMMC is a combination of two disciplines, culminating in a joint senior project; the plan for joint majors is negotiated between the student and the two departments in which the joint program of study is pursued at the time of declaring the joint major. The senior project must combine aspects of both majors and in most cases will require approval, supervision, and evaluation from either departments or programs. The Film and Media Culture part of the joint major requires a minimum of seven courses, including four 100-level FMMC core courses, a 300-level theory course, FMMC 0700 Film and Media Senior Tutorial (or the equivalent senior project course in the other department), and any courses required or appropriate prior to undertaking the joint senior project. FMMC supports a concentration in American Studies, as detailed on its page.

      Joint Major with English

      A common joint major is ENAM/FMMC, combining an interest in storytelling in both literary and visual forms. Joint ENAM/FMMC majors are required to fulfill the basic Joint requirements for FMMC as listed above, and are encouraged to take the relevant electives FMMC 0257 Storytelling in Film and Media and FMMC 0279 Film and Literature if possible. Students who wish to write a screenplay for their joint senior project are required to take FMMC 0106 Screenwriting and FMMC 0341 Advanced Screenwriting; additionally, their screenwriting project must be tied to literary topics or issues (including adaptation).

      Honors

      The faculty of Film and Media Culture will award honors to select students based on their overall excellence in film and media coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.7, and on the merit of their senior project.

      FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      How do films convey meaning, generate emotions, and work as an art form? What aspects of film are shared by television and videogames? This course is designed to improve your ability to watch, reflect on, and write about moving images. The course will be grounded in the analysis of cinema (feature films, documentaries, avant-garde, and animation) with special focus on film style and storytelling techniques. Study will extend to new audio-visual media as well, and will be considered from formal, cultural, and theoretical perspectives. Note to students: this course involves substantial streaming of films and television for assigned viewing. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. screen ART (Fall 2022: N. Dobreva; Spring 2023: L. Stein)

      FMMC 0102 Global Film Histories (Fall 2022)

      This course will survey the development of the cinema from 1895 to present. Our study will emphasize film as an evolving art, while bearing in mind the influence of technology, economic institutions, and the political and social contexts in which the films were produced and received. Screenings will include representative and celebrated works from world cinema. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. screen ART, HIS (C. Keathley)

      FMMC 0104 Television and American Culture (Spring 2023)

      This course explores American life in the last seven decades through an analysis of our central medium: television. Spanning a history of television from its origins in radio to today’s digital convergence via YouTube and Netflix, we will consider television's role in both representing and constituting American society through a variety of approaches, including: the economics of the television industry, television's role within American democracy, the formal attributes of various television genres, television as a site of gender and racial identity formation, television's role in everyday life, the medium's technological transformations, and television as a site of global cultural exchange. Note to students: this course involves substantial streaming of television for assigned viewing. 3 hrs. lect./disc. / 3 hrs. screen AMR, SOC (J. Mittell)
      Cross-listed as: AMST 0104

      FMMC 0105 Filmmaking (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      In this course students will gain a theoretical understanding of the ways moving images and sounds communicate, as well as practical experience creating time-based work. We will study examples of moving images as we use cameras, sound recorders, and non-linear editing software to produce our own series of short works. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the possibilities of the medium through experimentation, analysis, and detailed feedback while exploring different facets of cinematic communication. (FMMC 0101, or FMMC 0102, or approval of instructor) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART (D. Miranda Hardy)

      FMMC 0106 Screenwriting (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will examine the fundamental elements of dramatic narrative as they relate to visual storytelling. We will emphasize the process of generating original story material and learning the craft of screenwriting, including topics such as story, outline, scene structure, subtext, character objectives, formatting standards, and narrative strategies. Weekly writing assignments will emphasize visual storytelling techniques, tone and atmosphere, character relationships, and dialogue. Students will be required to complete one short screenplay. Required readings will inform and accompany close study of selected screenplays and short films. This class will require some streaming of video material. (FMMC 0101 OR CRWR 0170 or approval of instructor) (Formerly FMMC/ENAM 0106) 3 hrs. sem. ART (D. Miranda Hardy)
      Cross-listed as: CRWR 0106

      FMMC 0175 Anime: Masterworks of Japanese Animation (Spring 2023)

      How did anime emerge as a distinctive national genre in global popular culture at the turn of the 21st century? What social conditions and media industry developments in Japan promoted adaptations of manga (graphic novels) into feature-length films for both young and adult audiences? In this course students will address these questions by analyzing the forms and contexts of a number of masterworks by the most prominent directors of Japanese animation. We will examine the relation of anime to classic Disney films, live-action Hollywood cinema, and Japanese aesthetic traditions. In addition to Studio Ghibli founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, we will study the works of Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, Makoto Shinkai, and other distinguished anime auteurs. ART, NOA (N. Dobreva)

      FMMC 0202 Cinema and Memory (Spring 2023)

      Depicting the experience of memory is a challenge that filmmakers have returned to repeatedly throughout cinema’s history. In this course, we will screen films from around the world to explore the ways in which individual and cultural memory have found expression in cinema. We will screen narrative features, documentaries, and experimental films as we consider the various aesthetic strategies filmmakers from different periods and cultures have used to portray the complex relationships between past and present, real and imagined. (FMMC 0102; Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1242) 3 hrs. lect./disc./3 hrs. screen. ART, CMP (C. Keathley)

      FMMC 0205 Documentary Filmmaking: Seeking Truth Through the Art of Non-Fiction (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will explore the artistic strategies used by documentary films to investigate ontological and existential “truths” about the world around us. Pairing non-fiction films across historical periods, countries, and stylistic modes with interdisciplinary readings, students will discuss and analyze their form and function through written (essays) and spoken word (podcasts). In the second half of the semester, students will collaboratively write, produce, and edit a documentary film about an issue or community close to them. (FMMC 0105) ART (N. Ngaiza)

      FMMC 0208 Contemporary East Asian Cinema (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will study the contemporary cinema cultures of East Asia, focusing predominantly on the production of China, Japan, and South Korea in the 21st century. We will examine production, distribution, and (global) consumption in order to understand how these industries fit into or transcend national, regional, and global cinema paradigms. We will consider issues of superstardom and authorship, especially the ways in which prominent auteurs adapt, develop, and (re)invent genres and aesthetic techniques. We will also examine some of the more complex cinematic representations of tradition and modernity, nationalism, race and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality. The broader goal of the course is to think how the region’s film production can be conceptualized in terms of national/regional/global cinema, so we will use a comparative approach by analyzing similarities and unique differences within the main national industries studied. 3 hrs. lect./disc.; 3 hrs. screening ART, CMP, NOA (N. Dobreva)

      FMMC 0223 Fan Video: Cultures, Theory, Practice (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will explore the range of fan video forms, aesthetics, cultures, and histories. Fans re-edit pre-existing media (TV, film, etc.) into new transformative works that can receive millions of views as well as critical acclaim. We will study the visual and rhetorical logics of fan video, the distribution and reception circuits for fan video, and the legal and political questions bound up in fan video practices. We will consider fan video as a critical practice, and we will learn by engaging with scholarship on fan video as well as by making our own fan videos. ART (L. Stein)

      FMMC 0224 African Cinema (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will examine how films written and directed by African filmmakers address the evolving identities of post-colonial Africans. Students will explore the development of various national cinemas and the film movements that helped define African cinema as a tool for cultural expression and social change. We will pair film studies, post-colonial studies, and African studies readings with a diverse selection of films from across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal’s 1967 Black Girl (Ousmane Sembene) to the 2018 Netflix-produced Nigerian “Nollywood” film, Lionheart (Genevieve Nnaji). Note to students: this course involves substantial streaming of films for assigned viewing. 3 hours lect./3 hours screen. ART, CMP, HIS, SAF (N. Ngaiza)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0224

      FMMC 0227 Black American Cinema (Spring 2023)

      In this course we will examine various representations of Blackness in American Cinema, from Oscar Micheaux’s early silent films to Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. While we will primarily focus on films written and/or directed by Black Americans, we will also study the social, cultural, and political impact of Hollywood ideas and images of Black people and how they changed over time. Through a framework of both film theory and critical race theory, students will analyze how Black creative expression has manifested itself through film, influencing both form and content. 3 hours lect./3 hours screen AMR, ART, HIS (N. Ngaiza)
      Cross-listed as: BLST 0227

      FMMC 0244 International Cinema: Art of Ellipsis (Spring 2023)

      In 1936, film critic Roger Leenhardt declared, “cinema is the art of ellipsis.” But this claim seems to contradict our most basic understanding of film. After all, movies are about what we see, not about what we don’t. Or are they? In fact, Leenhardt was suggesting that the richest tradition in cinema explores the dynamic between the seen and the unseen, the shown and the unshown. In this course we will carefully study international films that effectively work this dynamic in terms of narrative, character, and most importantly, cinematic style. Films studied will include: Jean Renoir’s Rules of the Game (France, 1939); Christian Petzold’s Barbara (Germany, 2012). Abbas Kiarostami’s Like Someone in Love (France/Iran/Japan, 2012); Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder (US, 1959). 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. screen ART (C. Keathley)

      FMMC 0250 Chinese Cinema (Spring 2023)

      This course, taught in English, surveys the history of movies in China since the 1930s and also offers an in-depth look at the work of: China's fifth-generation directors of the 1980s and their successors up to the present; Taiwan's new wave; and Hong Kong popular cinema, including martial arts film. Our focus is the screening and discussion of films such as The Goddess (a 1934 silent classic), Stage Sisters (1965; directed by the influential Xie Jin), the controversial Yellow Earth (1984), In the Heat of the Sun (a 1994 break with the conventional representation of the Cultural Revolution), Yang Dechang's masterpiece A One and a Two (2000), and Still Life (Jia Zhangke's 2006 meditation on displacement near the Three Gorges Dam). The course is designed to help students understand the place of cinema in Chinese culture and develop the analytical tools necessary for the informed viewing and study of Chinese film. We will look at everything from art film, to underground film, to recent box office hits. (No prerequisites) One evening film screening per week. 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART, CW, NOA (T. Moran)
      Cross-listed as: CHNS 0250 *

      FMMC 0252 Authorship & Cinema: Hitchcock and Renoir (Fall 2022)

      Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Renoir are commonly regarded as two of the greatest filmmakers in history, yet their cinematic styles stand in sharp contrast to one another. In this course, we will survey the careers of these two directors, viewing a representative selection of their films and considering the national production contexts in which they worked. Most importantly, we will engage in careful analysis of their works in order to understand the ways in which their approaches to film style resulted in sharply contrasting ideas of cinema and the world. Films screened will include: The 39 Steps, Notorious, Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho (Hitchcock); Toni, The Crime of Monsieur Lange, Grande Illusion, Rules of the Game (Renoir). (FMMC 0101 or 0102) ART (C. Keathley)

      FMMC 0276 Remix Culture & Social Media Authorship (Fall 2022)

      In today’s digital culture, remix functions as a core tool of self-authorship and community formation. This course examines the history and current state of digital remix cultures. We consider how remix logics shape authorship in social media spaces including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. We explore a range of remix works across media, with a focus on video. Students will produce remix video works as part of this course’s exploration of the logics, aesthetics, and impact of remix culture. 3 hrs. lecture/3 hrs. screening AMR, ART, SOC (L. Stein)

      FMMC 0304 Documentary Rhetorics (Fall 2022)

      In this course students will explore the rhetorical performances of documentary film—in terms of production, ethics, and editing—and how documentaries are used for different means: investigation, activism, and even propaganda. After watching contemporary documentaries and reading reviews, interviews, analyses, and theories of filmmaking, students will analyze specific films (with cultural rhetorics and social consciousness lenses), conduct and transcribe interviews, and write a code of ethics for documentary filmmakers. The final project has students either produce or storyboard their own short documentaries. AMR, ART, CW, SOC (J. Sanchez)
      Cross-listed as: WRPR 0304 *

      FMMC 0334 Videographic Film and Media Studies (Fall 2022)

      Digital video technologies—such as DVDs, digital editing software, and online streaming—now enable film and media scholars to “write” with the same materials that constitute their object of study: moving images and sounds. But such a change means rethinking the rhetorical modes traditionally used in scholarly writing, and incorporating more aesthetic and poetic elements alongside explanation and analysis. In this hands-on course, we will both study and produce new videographic forms of criticism often known as “video essays,” exploring how such work can both produce knowledge and create an aesthetic impact. (FMMC 0101 or FMMC 0104 or by approval) 3 hrs. sem (J. Mittell)

      FMMC 0335 Advanced Filmmaking (Spring 2023)

      In this course students will work in teams to produce several short films, having the opportunity to take turns at fulfilling all the essential crew positions: director, producer, cinematographer, production sound mixer, editor, and sound designer. We will emphasize thorough pre-production planning, scene design, cinematography, working with actors, and post production —including color correction and sound mixing. The critical dialogue established in FMMC 0105 Sight and Sound I will be extended and augmented with readings and screenings of outstanding independently produced work. (FMMC 0105) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. ART

      FMMC 0341 Advanced Screenwriting (Spring 2023)

      Building on the skills acquired in Writing for the Screen I, students will complete the first drafts of their feature-length screenplay, or TV pilot and Bible. Class discussion will focus on feature screenplay structure and theme development using feature films and screenplays. Each participant in the class will practice pitching, writing coverage, and outlining, culminating in a draft of a feature length script or TV pilot and Bible. (FMMC 0106) 3 hrs. sem/3 hrs. screen. ART (D. Miranda Hardy)
      Cross-listed as: CRWR 0341

      FMMC 0350 Documentary Film in Contemporary China (Fall 2022)


      In China since the 1980s, new political and socio-economic realities, along with new technologies, created conditions for the emergence of the New Documentary Movement, the collective achievement of a group of artists with new ideas about what the form and function of nonfiction film should be. We will screen and discuss select contemporary Chinese documentary films, place these films in the context of global documentary film history, and learn methods for the analysis of nonfiction film. We will "read" each film closely, and also study secondary sources to learn about the Chinese realities that each film documents. 3 hrs. lect./screening
      ART, NOA (T. Moran)
      Cross-listed as: CHNS 0350 *

      FMMC 0351 Brazilian Cinema and Culture (Fall 2022)

      In this course we will analyze how Brazilian cinema has been approaching issues related to Brazilian society and culture since mid-twentieth century to the present. Issues may range from colonialism and neocolonialism, dictatorship and revolutionary movements, and the permanence of violence in the fabric of society, to gender identity and diverse sexualities, or race and racism. Throughout the course we will also learn about different movements, moments, aesthetics, and filmmakers, as well as how filmic genres are constructed in Brazilian cinema. Readings will be taken from film criticism and history, social and historical analysis, as well as from other theoretical frameworks, such as gender theory or critical race theory. Course taught in English. AMR, ART, SOC (F. Rocha)
      Cross-listed as: PGSE 0351 *

      FMMC 0358 Theories of Spectatorship, Audience, and Fandom (Fall 2022)

      In this course we explore the transcultural dynamics of spectatorship, audience engagement, and fan communities, from Hitchcock to anime, from The Beatles to BLACKPINK, from Star Trek to The Untamed. How do we engage with media texts in local and global contexts? Is our experience of media today radically different from the early years of cinema? What does it mean to be a fan? Have our notions of fandom changed over time? How do race, gender, class, national, and cultural context inform media engagement? We will consider key theoretical approaches and interrogate our own position as spectators, consumers, and fans in media culture. (FMMC 0101 or FMMC 0102 or FMMC 0104 or FMMC 0223 or FMMC 0276) 3 hrs. lect./disc./3 hrs. screen. ART, CMP, CW, SOC (L. Stein)
      Cross-listed as: GSFS 0358

      FMMC 0360 Key Concepts in Film & Media Criticism (Spring 2023)

      This writing-intensive seminar takes a close look at four key theoretical concepts for film & media criticism: textuality, authorship, genre, and narrative. How do we understand the boundaries between any film “text” and its broader intertextual contexts? How does authorship frame our understanding of the style and ethics of any given film? How do genre categories help us make sense of films and media, as well as their cultural contexts? How do films and media tell stories in distinctive and innovative ways? Through theoretical readings and exemplary screenings, we will learn to become sharper critics of films and media. (FMMC 0101 or FMMC 0102 or FMMC 0104 or instructor's approval) 3 hrs. sem./3 hrs. screen CW (J. Mittell)

      FMMC 0507 Advanced Independent work in Film and Media Culture (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

      Consult with a Film and Media Culture faculty member for guidelines. (I. Uricaru, D. Miranda Hardy, L. Stein, C. Keathley, J. Mittell, N. Ngaiza, N. Dobreva)

      FMMC 0700 Senior Tutorial (Fall 2022)

      All FMMC majors must complete this course in their senior year, during which they undertake the process of devising, researching, and developing the early drafts and materials for an independent project in Film and Media in their choice of medium and format. Students will be poised to produce and complete these projects during Winter Term, via an optional but recommended independent study. Prerequisites for projects in specific formats are outlined on the departmental website.

      FMMC 0707 Senior Independent Work (Spring 2023)

      After completing FMMC 0700, seniors may be approved to complete the project they developed during the previous Fall semester by registering for this independent course during the Winter Term, typically supervised by their faculty member from FMMC 0700. Students will complete an independent project in a choice of medium and format, as outlined on the departmental website. This course does not count toward the required number of credits for majors, but is required to be considered for departmental honors. In exceptional cases, students may petition to complete their projects during Spring semester.
      ↑ Top

      Food Studies Minor

      Middlebury students can minor in Food Studies, or submit an Independent Scholar proposal if they want to go more deeply into Food Studies than the minor or another department’s major will allow. For the Independent Scholar process, please check the Degree Program and Projects section of the Middlebury Handbook and talk with the Food Studies Program Director.

      Minor Requirements

      The minor requires completion of 5 courses, distributed as indicated below, and an immersive learning experience.

      1)  Two introductory courses, selected from the following (noting that some courses have prerequisites):

      • ENVS 0112 Natural Science & the Environment
      • FOOD 0280  Middlebury’s Foodprint: Introduction to Food Systems Issues
      • FOOD 0281 Food Power & Justice
      • ANTH 0211 Environmental Anthropology
      • SOCI 0236 Sociology of Food (not taught at present, but still listed)
      • ANTH 0345 Anthropology of Food (NB: Although not an introductory course for an ANTH student, this course would introduce students to anthropological perspectives on Food Studies and typically has no prerequisites.)
      • GEOG 0208 Land & Livelihoods

      2)  Two elective courses related to food, from any department:

      Examples:

      • BIOL 140 Ecology and Evolution
      • BIOL 203 Biology of Plants
      • BIOL 323 Plant Community Ecology
      • BIOL 0392 Conservation Biology
      • CHEM 270 Environmental Chemistry
      • ECON 0228 Economics of Agricultural Transitions
      • ENVS 0215 Contested Grounds
      • ENVS 0245 Human Environment: Middle East
      • ENVS 0385 Global Political Ecology
      • FOOD 0310 Agroecology
      • FOOD 0380 Hunger, Food Security & Food Sovereignty
      • GSFS 0430 Queering Food
      • GEOG 0216 Rural Geography
      • GEOG 208 Land and Livelihoods
      • GEOG 0225 Environmental Change in Latin America
      • GHLT 0267 Global Health
      • GEOL 0255 Surface & Ground Water
      • GEOL 0257 Soils, Geology & Environment
      • HIST 0352 Food in the Middle East: History, Culture, and Identity
      • CMLT/ITAL 0299 Literary Feasts: Representations of Food in Modern Narrative
      • ITAL 0356 A Culinary History of Italy
      • PGSE 0321 With Flavor: Food and Brazilian Culture

      3)   One upper-level seminar or course (i.e., 300 or 400 level) focused on Food Studies, selected from the following (noting that some courses have prerequisites):

      • INTD 0426 Health, Food, and Poverty: Critical Frameworks for Social Change. (Note: This course was developed by faculty from Global Health, Food Studies and Privilege & Poverty, as a capstone for students from our programs. Each student will design and plan their own social change project.  This is the preferred option for an upper-level seminar.)
      • FOOD 310 Agroecology 
      • FOOD 312 Food Policy
      • FOOD 380 Hunger, Food Security & Food Sovereignty
      • ANTH/IGST 0460 Global Consumptions: Food, Eating, and Power in Comparative Perspective

      OR an Independent Study (500- or 700-level) on a topic selected by the student and supervised by a Food Studies affiliated faculty member, integrating issues relevant to Food Studies

      NB: Depending on the courses available in the student’s final year, other upper-level seminars or courses may be substituted for the ones listed above with approval of the Food Studies Director.

      4)  Immersive learning experience. This may be an internship (through the FoodWorks or Shepherd Fellowship Program, one of the Food Tracks offered through Study Abroad, or independent); service-learning associated with a course; or an independent study connected with a community-based organization. When declaring the minor, the student should explain the immersive learning experience s/he intends to do.

      Independent Research

      If courses allow students to do independent research, students are expected to use the opportunity to explore food or agricultural issues. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of international study, and to take courses relevant to the Food Studies minor while abroad. Note that Middlebury has Food Studies tracks in Italy, Spain and Chile.

      Course Substitutions

      Courses may be substituted for the introductory or elective courses with the approval of the program director. Approval requires submission of a petition form. Approval of a course for minor credit requires the student to show that they made connections between the course material and their study of Food Studies, for example by writing a final paper on a food systems or agricultural topic. Students must turn in this paper or other approved course material for review for credit.

      Declaring a Minor

      To declare the minor, submit the following to the Program Director: (1) a minor declaration form and (2) a 500-750 word statement explaining how the classes you chose fit together and further your educational goals within Food Studies, and how your immersive learning experience contributes. To declare the minor, these materials must be submitted at least two weeks before the end of the add period of your seventh semester at Middlebury.

        FOOD 0209 History of US Food Politics (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will use U.S. food politics as a lens for understanding developments in political economy, changes in the role of the state, and evolving attitudes toward gender, race, labor, childhood, citizenship, health, and the body during the twentieth century. How have government, corporations, and scientists shaped U.S. foodways? How have people been affected by broad trends in food politics, and how have they resisted, as consumers, citizens, and activists? To answer these questions, we will use methods of social and cultural history to explore food politics from the top down and the bottom up. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (L. Povitz)
        Cross-listed as: HIST 0209 *

        FOOD 0280 Middlebury's Foodprint: Introduction to Food Systems Issues (Fall 2022)

        Food systems encompass all activities, people and institutions determining movement of food from input supply and production (on land and water) through waste management. The dominant U.S. food system is responsible at least in part for some of the nation’s most troubling environmental and health challenges. What do we eat at Middlebury? What difference does it make? How do we know? We will examine impacts of how Middlebury sources and consumes its food, and disposes of food waste, as a lens to understand sustainable food systems and how they can be achieved. (formerly INTD 0280) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Anderson)

        FOOD 0281 Food Power & Justice (Spring 2023)

        Students in this course will learn to analyze power and justice in relation to the food system. We will explore cases in which groups of people are experiencing injustice in opportunities to make a living through food production or other food system activities, inequitable access to food and resources, inequitable health outcomes related to diet (e.g., diabetes, obesity), and silencing or lack of political participation. Students will investigate organizations of their choice that are working to remedy inequitable power relations in the food system, and will present their findings to the rest of the class. (formerly INTD 0281) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Anderson)

        FOOD 0299 Literary Feasts (Spring 2023)

        (S. Carletti)
        Cross-listed as: ITAL 0299 *

        FOOD 0310 Agroecology (Fall 2022)

        In this course students will learn about agroecology as a set of practices, a philosophy, and a social movement. Agroecology takes advantage of natural processes to the greatest extent possible, using biological inputs rather than purchased pesticides and fertilizers. In addition to having major benefits for poor farmers in developing countries, it is attracting increased attention as an alternative to industrialized agriculture in wealthy countries. The course will include field trips to farms, films, and discussion of readings. We will leave between noon and 12:30 for some of the field trips, so don’t register for a class immediately before. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Students must also register for the discussion section.) (M. Anderson)

        FOOD 0345 The Anthropology of Food (Spring 2023)

        Food not only sustains bodies, but also reflects and shapes cultures, social identities, and systems of power. In this course we examine the relationship between food and culture. Beginning with an examination of the origins of cooking, we will go on to analyze a variety of approaches to understanding the food/culture/society relationship. These include the symbolic meanings of food, the role of food in constructing social and cultural identities, and the relationship between food and political and economic systems. Our examples will be cross-cultural (Africa, South and East Asia, Europe, and the Americas). 3 hrs. sem. AAL, CMP, SOC (E. Oxfeld)
        Cross-listed as: ANTH 0345 *

        FOOD 0383 Grassroots Perspectives on Sustainable Development (Spring 2023)

        Whose sustainability is threatened now, and why does it matter? How do the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 perpetuate existing power asymmetries that hurt marginalized people and block systemic transformation? We will critique the rise of “sustainable development" and explore the emphases of sustainability science to assess whether it is addressing the needs of marginalized people. Then we will turn to the articulation of alternatives to neoliberalism from social movements and post-development advocates. Are alternatives arising that offer radically different and more sustainable patterns of production and consumption to meet life needs? The course involves critique of original scientific literature and reports and interactive discussion. 3 hrs. seminar (M. Anderson)
        Cross-listed as: INTD 0383 *

        FOOD 0466 Animals in Middle Eastern History (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will examine attitudes towards animals in Middle Eastern history, with an emphasis on Muslim settings. We will survey the law and ethics of human-animal relations in religious sources and engage with issues such as how humans differ from non-human “animals,” how they should treat animals, and the overall place and roles of animals in divine creation as reflected within different historical periods. We will also consider the impact of the modern animal liberation movement in the Middle East and examine a variety of religious and secular positions formulated by Muslims that have recently prioritized animal welfare and promoted environmental consciousness. (Counts for HSMT credit) Pre-1800. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, HIS, MDE, SOC (F. Armanios)
        Cross-listed as: HIST 0466 *

        FOOD 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022)

        Approval Required
        ↑ Top

        Lois ’51 and J. Harvey Watson Department of French and Francophone Studies

        Required for the Major

        Total of no fewer than 10 courses. All courses for the major must be taught in French.

        I. Two introductory-level courses in reading and culture: FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0229, or specified courses in France (Paris, Poitiers, Bordeaux), or Cameroon; or equivalent in the Middlebury summer French School when offered.
        II. One course in contemporary French or Francophone studies: FREN 0230-0239, courses on contemporary France, or specified French or Francophone studies in France (Paris, Poitiers, Bordeaux), or Cameroon; or equivalent in the Middlebury summer French School when offered.
        III. One course on the history of France or a Francophone region or country.
        IV. Three advanced courses in French or Francophone studies (FREN 0300 level).
        V.  One unit of senior work, usually a senior seminar (FREN 0400 level. Honors candidates may fulfill the senior work requirement by writing an Honors essay (FREN 0700) or Honors thesis (FREN 0701).

        During their senior year, majors must take at least one advanced course (Category IV) in French at Middlebury in addition to the senior seminar.

        Other courses counting for the major include:

        (1) At the Vermont campus: FREN 0205, FREN 0255, among others; certain advanced courses offered during the winter term (with permission of the chair); certain summer courses at the 0300 (intermediate) or 0400 (advanced) level; and,

        (2) In France and Cameroon: language and linguistics courses; comparative literature (with a major French or Francophone component); French or Francophone arts, theatre, cinema, television, or politics.

        All majors study abroad for a semester or a year in a French-speaking country. The year program carries nine units of credit; the semester program carries four or five units of credit. In order to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of disciplines, no more than five units (full-year program) or three units (semester program) may be counted toward the French and Francophone Studies major. Most courses in France will be at the advanced level.

        The French and Francophone Studies Department does not offer a joint major.

        Required for a Minor

        Minimum of five courses, FREN 0205 and above, including at least two introductory courses (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239) and at least one course at the advanced level (Category IV) to be taken during the student’s final two semesters. The minor may include courses taken at the Middlebury School in France or the School in Cameroon (maximum of two from the semester program, three from the full-year program).  Students electing the French minor are encouraged to consult with faculty members in the French Department about course planning.

        Students with a College Board AP score of 4 or 5 will receive one unit of credit toward graduation if the first course successfully completed at Middlebury is FREN 0209 or above in accordance with placement and departmental advising. AP credits may not be counted toward the major or minor.

        Senior Work

        Upon completing at least two 0300-level courses in French or Francophone studies, majors are required to complete senior work consisting of a significant research paper in the context of a senior seminar (0400-level).

        Honors

        Exceptional students with a grade point average in French and Francophone Studies of 3.8 or higher may petition the department to pursue an independent project for honors in French and Francophone Studies. Candidates for honors may propose a one-semester senior honors essay (FREN 0700) or a senior honors thesis (FREN 0701, one semester and winter term). Eligible students should consult the departmental guidelines and present their proposals well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be started. The department will determine whether to award honors, high honors, or highest honors on the basis of a student’s work in the department and performance on the senior honors project.

        International and Global Studies Major with French Language

        Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies Major section, completion of the French language component requires: (1) proficiency in French (a minimum of two of (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239) or work in the French summer school at the 0300 level or above); (2) at least one semester, and preferably a year, at the Middlebury College School in France, or in Cameroon, or in another French-speaking country; and (3) one or more courses at the 0300 or 0400-level upon return from abroad.

        International and Global Studies Major, European Studies Track

        For Classes of 2015.5 and 2016 only. New rules, available in the International and Global Studies section, apply to the Class of 2017

        (1) Language proficiency: see above; (2) regional specialization: choose from FREN 0230 and courses at the 0300-level, or others (Vermont campus), in consultation with the track director; courses in French or Francophone studies at Middlebury in France or in another French-speaking country; (3) disciplinary specialization: two courses from (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239); three advanced French or Francophone studies courses at Middlebury or one of the Middlebury Schools in France; (4) at least one semester, and preferably a year, at the Middlebury College School in France or in another French-speaking country; and (5) one or more courses at the 0300 or 0400 level, or senior independent work in French, upon return from abroad.

        Study Abroad in France and in Cameroon

        Middlebury offers both year and semester abroad programs in France (Paris, Poitiers and Bordeaux) and in Cameroon.  Students planning to study in France or Cameroon must have completed two full years of college credit by the time they undertake their study abroad; they must have successfully completed at least one course beyond FREN 0209 (previously FREN 0210)  by the time they arrive abroad; and they must have an average in French of at least B. We expect all applicants to demonstrate their commitment to French and maintain their fluency by continuous study of French from the time of their enrollment at Middlebury and to maintain their academic level if they are accepted to study abroad.  They are required to take a French course in the semester before study abroad. Students may count three courses from the semester program, five from the full year program toward a major in French; two courses from the semester program and three from the full year program toward a minor in French.

        It should be noted that while students wishing to attend one of our programs in France or in Cameroon must demonstrate a level of proficiency in the language that will allow them to function successfully in the French or Cameroonian university setting, they need not be French majors: the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in France (Paris, Poitiers, and Bordeaux) offers students the opportunity to take courses in history, history of art, economics, cinema, political science, psychology, sociology, studio art, the natural sciences, and the environment, among other disciplines, in addition to courses in languages and literature. Students interested in studying abroad should speak to someone in the Office of International Programs & Off-Campus Study, Sunderland Language Center, well in advance of applying. They will need to seek prior approval of School in France and School in Cameroon courses from the appropriate department chairs if they wish course work to count toward a specific minor or major. The Office of Off-Campus Study will provide information about the program and application forms.

        FREN 0101 Intensive Beginning French (Fall 2022)

        For students who have not previously studied French, an introduction to listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French, providing the syntactic and semantic foundation of the French language in a concentrated program of grammar presentation, drills, laboratory work, and discussion. Primary emphasis will be placed on the student's active use of the language, and weekly attendance at the French language table will be required. This course does not fulfill the foreign language distribution requirement. Students are expected to continue with FREN 0102 in the winter term after successfully completing FREN 0101, and with FREN 0201in the spring. 6 hrs. lect./disc. (J. Weber, G. Zsombok)

        FREN 0105 Accelerated Beginning French (Spring 2023)

        This intensive course is a condensation of FREN 0101 and 0102 for students who have never before studied French. We will focus on the development of all four communicative skills in an immersion-style environment. Primary emphasis will be placed on increased oral proficiency through audiovisual, conversational, and drill methods. Upon successful completion of this course students will be prepared for second-year French in the fall. Weekly attendance at the French language table will be required. 6 hrs. lect./disc./1 hr. drill (P. Tarjanyi)

        FREN 0201 Intermediate French I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        Emphasis on increased control and proficiency in the language through audiovisual, conversational, and drill methods. Readings and film enlarge the student's view of French life and culture. (FREN 0102 or by placement) 5 hrs. lect./disc. LNG (Fall 2022: A. Crouzieres-Ingenthron; Spring 2023: L. Sainte-Claire, W. Poulin-Deltour)

        FREN 0205 Toward Liberated Expression (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        A course designed to increase and perfect the ability to express oneself in spoken and written French. Emphasis on precision, variety, and vocabulary acquisition. Sections limited to 15 students. (FREN 0201, 0203 or placement) This requirement for the major and the minor may be satisfied by placement at a higher level. 3 hrs. lect./disc. LNG (Fall 2022: A. Crouzieres-Ingenthron, W. Poulin-Deltour; Spring 2023: G. Zsombok)

        FREN 0209 Self and Society: Effective Writing in French (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        In this course, students will deepen their knowledge of the French language and French-speaking cultures while developing their reading and writing skills through examination of a variety of texts and media. This course facilitates the transition from language-oriented courses (FREN 0205) to content-oriented courses (such as FREN 0220 and FREN 0230) by introducing students to strategies for interpretation and discussion, with a focus on effective writing. Course materials may include essays/articles, theater, fiction, poetry, videos, and films. (FREN 0205 or by placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, EUR, LNG (Fall 2022: P. Tarjanyi; Spring 2023: P. Tarjanyi, J. Weber)

        FREN 0223 Introduction to Francophone Literature (Spring 2023)

        This course was formerly offered as FREN 0231 and therefore students who have taken that course are not able to register for FREN 0223.
        In this course we will study significant literary and socio-political movements that took place in the Francophone world during the twentieth century. Through the critical study and textual analysis of poetry, fiction, and essays, we will explore movements such as Négritude (Sub-Saharan Africa, Antilles and French Guiana), Antillanité and Créolité (Antilles), Indigénisme and Spiralisme (Haiti), as well as “colonial” and “post-independence” literatures from the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to familiarize students with the critical role African and Diasporic writers played in the history of colonization and decolonization of the French empire. (FREN 0209, 0210 or placement) (Not open to students who have completed FREN 0231) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
        EUR, LIT, LNG (L. Sainte-Claire)

        FREN 0224 Travelers and Migrants in French and Francophone Literature (Fall 2022)

        Multiple forms of traveling emerged with the expansion of the French empire, from colonial ventures to forced migration. In this course we will study how writers represent such experiences. We will discuss fictions that focus on mobility, passages, and border-crossing, and question what these fictions reveal about the cultures in contact. How do travel and migration narratives reconfigure the relation between here and there, self and other, the individual and the community? Studying literary texts in their historical contexts will allow us to discuss varied topics, such as nationhood, slavery, exoticism, identity, and difference, as well as to explore several artistic movements that have shaped French and Francophone culture. Writers will include Montesquieu, Balzac, Baudelaire, Madame de Staël, Gide, Césaire, Glissant, and Sinha. (FREN 0209, 0210 or placement) 3 hrs. sem. CMP, EUR, LIT (J. Weber)

        FREN 0230 Introduction to Contemporary France (Fall 2022)

        In this interdisciplinary course we will examine the evolving social and political landscape of France in the 21st century. How is French society reconciling contemporary challenges with deeply entrenched institutions and values? How does everyday life reflect the evolution of long-term trends? How are immigration, growing inequalities, and membership in the European Union challenging French identity and the notion of “Frenchness”? We will focus our attention on demography and the family, the educational system, politics, and the French social model or welfare state. Emphasis will be on oral expression and the acquisition of specialized vocabulary. Sources will include articles from the French and American press, documents, and film. This course is recommended for all students planning to study in France. (FREN 0209, 0210 or placement); open to first-semester first-year students with permission.) EUR, LNG, SOC (W. Poulin-Deltour)

        FREN 0232 French in North America (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will focus on French varieties in North America, including those found in Québec, historic Acadia, New England, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. We will survey the impact of French colonialism on the linguistic landscape of North America and the sociolinguistic dynamics of French-speaking communities. We will study language revitalization and maintenance in local newspapers, social media, literature, and film. This course is intended to facilitate the transition between introductory and advanced-level classes with an emphasis on developing written and oral expression in French. (FREN 0209) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, LNG, SOC (G. Zsombok)

        FREN 0316 Animal Encounters in French Literature (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will explore representations of animals in French literature. Animals have played an important role in literature, yet, in post-Darwinian modernity their depiction became increasingly tied to a questioning of the human/animal divide. What are the recurrent motifs and concerns that shape depictions of animals in 19th and 20th century French literature? What ethical and social questions do they raise? We will study fictional works of animal metamorphosis, and literary accounts of zoos and animal spectacles, as well as ways in which animals have been used as a rhetorical device to de-humanize "Others"—women and foreigners, in particular. We will read texts by Baudelaire, Balzac, Maupassant, Flaubert, Colette, Vercors, and Darrieussecq. (FREN 0220-0229 or by waiver). 3 hrs. lect./disc. EUR, LIT, LNG (J. Weber)

        FREN 0330 Childhood and Education in the Caribbean (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will study contemporary Caribbean writers’ unease with, and denunciation of, a European post-colonial school system implanted in the French Caribbean that ignored the socio-economic and linguistic reality of the population, and therefore alienated them. How did the French curriculum shape the identity of Caribbean children? What methods did these writers use to resist assimilation? By focusing on first-person narratives from a variety of French Caribbean countries we will study topics such as colonization, alienation, diversity, inclusion, and equity. Writers will include Chamoiseau, Condé, Pineau, Victor, and Tyrolien. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities. (FREN 0220-0230 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, LIT, LNG (L. Sainte-Claire)

        FREN 0335 Language Ideologies in the Francophone World (Fall 2022)

        Is French really in danger? Does it need to be defended? Language ideologies have prevailed in France since the foundation of the French Academy in 1635. New waves of language defenders emerged in the 20th century especially against English in the technological and entertainment industry. In this course, we will examine the history of French language ideologies in the Francophone world from the 17th to the 21st century in order to better understand French attitudes toward the “bon usage”. In addition to theoretical works, we will explore language laws, newspaper articles, social media posts, radio news, and documentaries. (FREN 0220, 221, 222, 224, 230) 3 hrs. sem. CMP, LNG, SOC (G. Zsombok)

        FREN 0340 Social Mobility and France's "Transclasses" (Spring 2023)

        Traditionally perceived as stable and rigid, France's class stratification has evolved significantly since the 1960s. However, inequalities based on one's socioeconomic origins persist. Accordingly, the transclasses—those individuals having acquired a different class status over their lifetime—have attracted a great deal of recent attention: do they confirm the existence of social mobility or are they the “exception that proves the rule of social reproduction?” Through historical, sociological, and literary analysis we will debate this question. Sections will include: the history of socioeconomic inequality; French sociological theories that explain both continuity and change of class structure; current literary figures who embody the transclasse experience. EUR, LNG (W. Poulin-Deltour)

        FREN 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        Qualified students may be permitted to undertake a special project in reading and research under the direction of a member of the department. Students should seek an advisor and submit a proposal to the department well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be undertaken. (Approval required)

        FREN 0700 Senior Honors Essay (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        For this one-term course, qualified senior majors who wish to be considered for Honors in French must submit a proposal well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be undertaken. (Approval required; see requirements.)

        FREN 0701 Senior Honors Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        Qualified senior majors who wish to be considered for Honors in French must submit a proposal well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be undertaken. (Approval required; see requirements above.)
        ↑ Top

        Program in Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies

        Requirements for the Major

        For students who matriculate in Fall of 2022 or later

        The major requires a minimum of ten courses as outlined below.

        Major requirements (10 courses total)

        1. Core (5 courses):
            GSFS/SOCI 0191  
            GSFS 0200 
            GSFS 0289 
            GSFS 0320 
            GSFS 0435  

        2. Distribution Requirements  (2 courses, one in each):

          A.  Feminist Approaches to Science Technology, Health, and Medicine (FemSthm)
          B. Global and Decolonial Feminisms (GloDeFem)

        3. Electives (3 courses bearing the GSFS prefix)
        Senior work + two electives (2 courses with GSFS prefix)
        or
        Three electives (3 courses with GSFS prefix)  
        Senior Work: Senior work is optional and by application only. To be eligible to conduct senior work, students must first complete Feminist Engaged Research. During Feminist Engaged Research, students will receive information regarding how to apply to continue their research or projects. If students are granted approval, they will then enroll in GSFS 0700 for a one semester essay or project. If students want to complete a two-semester thesis or project following the completion of Feminist Engaged Research, they will register for GSFS 0700 as well as GSFS 0710. 

        Joint Major: The joint major requires a minimum of seven (7) courses each in the two departments/programs. For GSFS, the requirement includes:

        GSFS 0191
        GSFS 0200
        GSFS 0289
        GSFS 0320
        GSFS 0435

        Distribution (2 courses, one in each)

          a. Feminist Approaches to Science, Technology, Health, and Medicine (FemSTHM)
          b. Global and Decolonial Feminisms (GloDeFem)

        Minor Requirements: The minor requires a minimum of five courses including: 

        Two of the following courses: GSFS 0191, GSFS 0200, GSFS0289, GSFS 0320 or GSFS 0435

        Any two electives with the GSFS prefix

        For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022
        The major requires a minimum of ten courses and comprises several discrete aspects, as outlined below. Major requirements (10 courses total)

        Core (5 courses)

        • GSFS/SOAN 0191
        • GSFS 0200
        • GSFS 0289
        • GSFS 0320
        • GSFS 0435

        Breadth Requirements (2 courses)

        To ensure that students are conversant with and have some in-depth knowledge of the key concerns animating the field, they must take at least one course each from two breadth requirements. Courses meeting the breadth requirement can be found on the Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies webpage.

        Chose one in each of the following:

        • Critical Race Feminisms
        • National/Transnational Feminism

        Electives (2 courses)

        Choose two courses bearing the GSFS prefix.

        Senior Work

        All majors must enroll in GSFS 0700, a one-semester capstone, where they will complete a portfolio and an essay critically engaging with their accumulated knowledge about gender, sexuality and feminism. With permission, some majors may extend this to a two-semester thesis (GSFS 0710), conducting original research. GSFS 0710 provides the flexibility to produce a formal written document, a multi-media project such as a movie, or a creative activity such as a performance or an installation project.

        Senior work provides one of the primary means through which students demonstrate their critical thinking skills and their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively and persuasively. This is the primary site through which learning goals will be assessed; advisors will provide their assessment in writing to the students. A public presentation is part of the senior work requirements.

        Joint Major

        The joint major is comprised of seven (7) courses each in the two disciplines/programs. For GSFS, the requirement includes:

        • Core Courses
          • GSFS 0191 or GSFS 0289
          • GSFS 0200
          • GSFS 0320
        • Breadth Requirements, 2 courses, one each in of the following:
          • Critical Race Feminisms
          • National/Transnational Feminisms  
        • GSFS 0435 Feminist Engaged Research (unless taking an equivalent course in the other major and having received the director’s permission to substitute it)
        • Senior Work that combines both majors and is agreed upon by the advisors and department or program chairs (or designees) involved. GSFS 0700 (unless taking an equivalent course in the other major and having received the director’s approval to substitute it)

        Minor Requirements

        The minor comprises five courses including the following:

        • Two of the following courses:
          • GSFS 0191
          • GSFS 0200
          • GSFS 0289
          • GSFS 0320
        • Three additional GSFS courses at least one of which fulfills the Critical Race Feminisms breadth requirement

        GSFS 0172 Writing Gender and Sexuality (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will read, discuss, and write creative works that explore issues of gender and sexuality. Readings will include stories, poems, and essays by James Baldwin, Ana Castillo, Peggy Munson, Eli Claire, Alice Walker, Michelle Tea, Alison Bechdel, and others. The course will include writing workshops with peers and individual meetings with the instructor. Every student will revise a range of pieces across genres and produce a final portfolio. We will do some contemplative work and will engage with choreographer to explore movement in conversation with writing, gender, and sex. 3 hrs. lect. ART (C. Wright)
        Cross-listed as: WRPR 0172

        GSFS 0191 Gender and the Body (Fall 2022)

        What is your gender and how do you know? In order to answer this question, we need to consider how gender is known through biology, psychology, consumer capitalism, and our everyday embodiment. We will also look at how the meaning and performance of gender have changed over time from Classical Greece to Victorian England to the contemporary U.S. Throughout, we will consider how gender does not operate along, but is always entangled with, race, class, sexuality, nationality, and ability. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (L. Essig)
        Cross-listed as: SOCI 0191

        GSFS 0205 Race, Rhetoric, and Protest (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will study the theoretical and rhetorical underpinnings of racial protest in America. We will begin by studying movements from the 1950s and 1960s, moving from bus boycotts to Black Power protests, and will build to analyzing recent protests in Ferguson, Dallas, and New York. Readings will include texts from Charles E. Morris III, Aja Martinez, Shon Meckfessel, Gwendolyn Pough, and various articles and op-eds. Students will write analyses of historical and contemporary protest, op-eds about the local culture, and syntheses on the course readings. 3 hrs. Lect AMR, CW, SOC (J. Sanchez)
        Cross-listed as: WRPR 0205 *

        GSFS 0209 Gender Health Environment (Fall 2022)

        Growing concern for the protection of the environment and human health has led policy makers and scholars to consider ways in which gender, class, and race and other forms of identity mediate human-environment interactions. In this course we will explore how access to, control over, and distribution of resources influence environmental and health outcomes both in terms of social inequities and ecological decline. Specific issues we will cover include: ecofeminism, food security, population, gendered conservation, environmental toxins, climate change, food justice, and the green revolution. We will draw comparisons between different societies around the globe as well as look at dynamics between individuals within a society. The majority of case studies are drawn from Sub Saharan Africa and Asia, however some comparisons are also made with the United States. (National/Transnational Feminisms) 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SAF, SOC (M. Baker-Medard)
        Cross-listed as: ENVS 0209 *

        GSFS 0210 History of Sexuality in the United States (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will explore sexuality in relation to race, class, gender, and religion in US history using primary and secondary sources. We will study indigenous sexualities and the impact of settler colonialism, sex work during the American Revolution, sexuality under slavery, the medicalization and criminalization of homosexuality, urban gay subcultures, Cold War sexuality, the politics of birth control, sex during the AIDS epidemic, and sexuality from transgender and non-binary perspectives. Beyond learning historiography, we will examine methodological issues with writing histories of sexuality. When relevant, we will study examples from Europe and Canada. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (L. Povitz)
        Cross-listed as: HIST 0210 *

        GSFS 0223 Introduction to Gay and Lesbian Studies (Spring 2023)

        This course will provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of gay and lesbian studies. We will explore three topics: queer theory, the construction and representation of homosexuality in history, and queer culture before and after Stonewall. Readings will include works by Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, Eve Sedgwick, George Chauncey, John Boswell, Lillian Faderman, Oscar Wilde, Radclyffe Hall, Michael Cunningham, and Tony Kushner. 3 hrs. lect./3 screen SOC (K. Moss)

        GSFS 0235 Gender Politics of the Arab World (Spring 2023)

        The aim of this course is to explore the ways in which the social and cultural construction of sexual difference shapes the politics of gender and sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa. Using interdisciplinary feminist theories, we will explore key issues and debates including the interaction of religion and sexuality, women’s movements, gender-based violence, queerness and gay/straight identities. Looking at the ways in which the Arab Spring galvanized what some have called a “gender revolution,” we will examine women’s roles in the various revolutions across the Arab World, and explore the varied and shifting gender dynamics in the region. Taught in English (formerly ARBC/GSFS 0328) 3 hrs. Sem. (National/Transnational Feminisms) AAL, CMP, CW, MDE, SOC (D. Ayoub)
        Cross-listed as: ARBC 0235 *

        GSFS 0242 Critical Conditions: Gender, Literature, and Illness (Pre-1800) (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will explore the literary representation of illness and pain in a range of texts from the classical period to the present day, focusing in particular on the intersection of illness with questions of gender, race, and sexuality. Beginning with Sophocles’s tragedy Women of Trachis, we will explore the classical representation of acute pain in the context of early Greek medicine, before examining medieval and early modern literary works inspired by the Black Death, including selections from Boccaccio’s Decameron. The second half of the class will focus on modernist and contemporary accounts of illness, including Virginia Woolf’s treatment of both the 1918 influenza epidemic and so-called “shell-shock” in her novel Mrs Dalloway. We will intersperse our literary readings with theoretical explorations of cure, disability, and ableism by writers such as Eli Clare, as well as work from the emerging field of narrative medicine. 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LIT (M. Wells)
        Cross-listed as: ENGL 0242 *

        GSFS 0250 Gender in Japan (in English) (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will examine changing ideas about gender and sexuality in Japan in the 10th through 20th centuries, with special attention to the modern period. Sources will include literary texts, films, and social/historical studies. We will discuss topics, including women's writing in classical Japan; the commercialization of sexuality in the 18th century; ideas of "homosexuality" in late-medieval and modern times; and women's social roles and political struggles in the 20th century. 3 hr. lect./disc. LIT, NOA (L. White)
        Cross-listed as: JAPN 0250 *

        GSFS 0265 Genders and Sexualities in the US (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will explore and examine how genders and sexualities are constructed and the implications that such constructions have on individuals and societies. We will examine the theories, concepts, practices, and beliefs about sex, gender, sexuality, and sexual identity and explore how these concepts are different between different groups and how they have changed over time, specifically using an intersectional lens. Students will be encouraged to discuss intricacies of their own sexual and gender identities and how these statuses may impact their social status and their relationships with others and the larger society. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (C. Han)
        Cross-listed as: SOCI 0265 *

        GSFS 0278 Feminist Building: Art, Aesthetics, and Mini Golf (Spring 2023)

        In this project-based course, we will build a reproductive justice mini golf course to be housed in the athletics facility. We will collaborate with graphic artists, woodworkers, activists, and faculty and students to design, develop, and construct the mini golf course. The studio course work will include opportunities to explore sculpture, construction, and engineering using many art forms and fabrication processes. The course will engage with Feminist and Queer Studies approaches to using art for social change and what it means to build in feminist ways, both in terms of process and product. All students will contribute to designing and building the mini golf course. No prior experience with GSFS or HARC required AMR, ART, SOC (C. Thomsen, C. Boyd)
        Cross-listed as: HARC 0278

        GSFS 0288 Writing Race and Class (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will take a literary and intersectional approach to topics of race and class. Readings include stories, essays, poems and videos by writers such as James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa and Kelly Tsai. Students will respond to critical and creative writing prompts, conduct fieldwork, and design two writing projects of their own. The class format will include conversations with guest writers, writing workshops, contemplative activities, and individual conferences with the instructor. Students will preferably have prior experience in discussing issues of race and class, although introductory theories will be made available to provide frameworks for discussion. CW, LIT, SOC (C. Wright)
        Cross-listed as: WRPR 0288 *

        GSFS 0289 Introduction to Queer Critique (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will examine what is meant by queer critique through exploring the concepts, issues, and debates central to queer theory and activism both in the U.S. and around the world. We will work to understand how queerness overlaps with and is distinct from other articulations of marginalized sexual subjectivity. We will consider how desires, identities, bodies, and experiences are constructed and represented, assessing the ways in which queer theory allows us to examine sexuality and its raced, classed, gendered, geographic, and (dis)abled dimensions. Through engaged projects, we will practice how to translate and produce queer critique. 3 hrs. lect./disc.*This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.* AMR, CMP, SOC (C. Thomsen)

        GSFS 0291 Feminist Joy (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will examine a range of discourses about pleasure, happiness, and joy as well as explore these topics more experientially. How have feminists interrupted gendered, raced, and ableist notions of happiness? As Sara Ahmed asks, can there be joy in being the “killjoy”? What is the role of laughter and joy in survival, anti-oppression work, and healing from trauma? We will trace the "pleasurable feminisms" of leading Black feminists and sex positive feminists such as Audre Lorde, adrienne maree brown, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Gayle Rubin, Betty Dodson, as well as investigate our own inherited and intentional perceptions of pleasure. Assignments will include research, writing and workshops. 3 hrs. lect. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.* SOC (C. Wright)

        GSFS 0304 Gender, Culture, and Power (Fall 2022)

        This course offers a cross-cultural introduction to the issues involved in the study of women and gender. Such an endeavor raises a number of difficult and delicate issues. What explains the diversities and similarities in women's roles across societies? How do we assess women's status and power, and how do we decide which standards to use in doing so? What forces create changes in women's roles? What is the relationship between gender constructions and the nature of communities, economies, and even nations? Our analysis will concentrate on three primary domains: family and kinship, symbolic systems, and political economy. Course readings will focus primarily on non-Western societies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, SOC (E. Oxfeld)
        Cross-listed as: ANTH 0304 *

        GSFS 0313 White People (Spring 2023)

        White people did not just appear out of nowhere. Instead, they are the result of a long history of structural and everyday racism that was always intertwined with class, sex, sexuality, and nation. We will explore how whiteness became a foundational category for citizenship in the US, especially after the Civil War when the Color Line was drawn through the legal, cultural, and spatial practices of Jim Crow. We will consider how "new immigrants" and even white "trash" became white primarily through the exclusion of Black Americans. Finally, we will look at the formation of whiteness today as a site of privilege, aggrieved entitlement, and violence. 3 hrs. sem. (GloDeFem) AMR, SOC (L. Essig)

        GSFS 0320 Feminist Theory (Spring 2023)

        The course offers an overview of key feminist texts and theories that have shaped the analysis of gender and sexuality. We will examine foundational theoretical texts that have animated the field of gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. Working within a transnational perspective, the course encompasses texts which fall under the categories of critical race and critical sexuality studies. (GSFS 0200 or GSFS 0191 or GSFS 0289) 3 hr. lect. CMP, SOC (L. Essig)

        GSFS 0329 The Politics of Reproduction: Sex, Abortion, and Motherhood (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will examine contemporary reproductive issues both in the United States and around the world. We will work to understand both how reproductive politics are informed by broader cultural ideas regarding gender, race, class, ability, sexuality, and geography and also how ideas about reproduction reinforce conceptions of these very identity markers and ways of experiencing the world. Because requirements for being considered a “good” woman are intimately tied to what it means to be a “good” mother, challenging dominant understandings of gender and sexuality requires critical engagement with ideas about reproduction. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities. 3 hrs. lect. (FemSTHM)/ AMR, CMP, CW, SOC (C. Thomsen)

        GSFS 0337 Love, Sex, and Marriage (Spring 2023)

        What are the social terms for sexual agency in countries around the world? How is marriage understood through idealizations of romance as well as familial expectations of duty or status? In this course we consider how other cultures’ views on love, sex, and partnership are made legible and illegible within broader cultural, moral, and state interests. The course asks for in-depth participation, short weekly writings, and a longer final paper that each engage ethnographic works on a range of topics, from critical studies of love and globalization to queer kinmaking, rituals of the ‘lavish wedding,’ and everyday ways of hooking up and breaking up online. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (K. Bright)
        Cross-listed as: ANTH 0337 *

        GSFS 0358 Theories of Spectatorship, Audience, and Fandom (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will explore the dynamics of spectatorship, audience engagement, and fan communities, from Hitchcock to anime, from The Beatles to BLACKPINK, from Star Trek to The Untamed. How do we engage with media texts? Is our experience of media today radically different from the early years of cinema? What does it mean to be a fan? Have our notions of fandom changed over time? How do race, gender, class, and cultural context inform media engagement? We will consider key theoretical approaches and interrogate our own position as spectators, consumers, and fans in media culture. (FMMC 0101 or FMMC 0102 or FMMC 0104 or FMMC 0276) 3 hrs. lect./disc./3 hrs. screen. AMR, ART, CW, SOC (L. Stein)
        Cross-listed as: FMMC 0358 *

        GSFS 0373 History of American Women: 1869-1999 (Fall 2022)

        This course will examine women's social, political, cultural, and economic position in American society from 1869 through the late 20th century. We will explore the shifting ideological basis for gender roles, as well as the effects of race, class, ethnicity, and region on women's lives. Topics covered will include: women's political identity, women's work, sexuality, access to education, the limits of "sisterhood" across racial and economic boundaries, and the opportunities women used to expand their sphere of influence. 3 hrs lect./disc. AMR, CMP, HIS (A. Morsman)
        Cross-listed as: HIST 0373 *

        GSFS 0374 Women in the Black Freedom Struggle (Fall 2022)

        The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements have become iconic examples of Black activism in the US. However, female activists are often ignored in historical accounts of these movements. In this course, we will examine the contributions of Black female activists to the Black Freedom Struggle. We will discuss women in the Civil Rights Movement both in the South and the North, the role of women in the Black Panther Party, but also the active involvement of women in white supremacist campaigns in the South. We will pay special attention to the diversity of Black women’s perspectives and highlight how Black women’s experiences differed from both white female and Black male activists. (BLST 0101 or GSFS 0191, or by instructor approval) 3 hrs. sem. AMR, HIS, SOC (V. Huang)
        Cross-listed as: BLST 0374 *

        GSFS 0384 Women, Religion, and Ethnography (Spring 2023)

        In this course we will focus on ethnographic scholarship regarding women in various religious traditions. We will begin with questions of feminist ethnography as proposed by Lila Abu-Lughod and then read a range of ethnographies focusing on women in different contexts, including a female Muslim healer in South India, Kalasha women in Pakistan, Bedouin Muslim women in Egypt, and Catholic nuns in Mexico. We will focus on how gendered and religious identities are constructed and intertwined, and what ethnography contributes to the study of both religion and gender. A prior course in Religion, Anthropology, or Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies is recommended. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, PHL (J. Ortegren)
        Cross-listed as: RELI 0384 *

        GSFS 0389 Decolonizing Porn: Circulating Desire between Europe and the Americas (Fall 2022)

        In this course we will use feminist, queer, critical race, and decolonial theories to analyze porn in Europe and the Americas. The goal is to give students the analytic tools they need to think deeply about the centrality of porn to our lives and to global capitalism, creating jobs in the “gig economy” as well as huge amounts of profit even as it extracts unpaid labor from trafficked bodies. We will consider pornographic photography, cinema, AI, and deep fakes. Texts will include Linda Williams’ Hard Core: Power, Pleasure, and the ‘Frenzy of the Visible,” Gayle Rubin’s “Thinking Sex,” Heather Berg, Porn Work and Jennifer Nash’s The Black Body in Ecstasy. In the SPAN section of the course, students will also be asked to participate in Spanish at least three times on the Spanish-language day of the class. All students will present their public-facing projects at the end of the class. CMP, SOC (L. Essig)
        Cross-listed as: SPAN 0389 *

        GSFS 0402 Sex and Society (Spring 2023)

        In this seminar we will explore the pleasures, power, and problems of sex and will place sexuality in dynamic interaction with larger social issues. It is impossible to understand sexuality as separate from other dimensions of the human condition such as economics, politics, work, family, race, and gender. In particular, we will examine questions related to the science of sex, morality, monogamy, sex work, power and domination, desire and fantasy, and sexual politics. Overall, students will gain an understanding of sexuality as a social phenomenon. 3 hrs. sem. (J. McCallum)
        Cross-listed as: SOCI 0402 *

        GSFS 0414 Black, Listed: Surveillance, Race, and Gender (Spring 2023)

        The fields of Black studies, feminist geographies, and surveillance studies are brought together in this course to examine transformations in geographic and social control in U.S. and transnational contexts. The ways in which racialized and gendered populations have experienced and continue to experience geopolitical domination and surveillance constitutes the central theme of the course. Students will develop collaborative and independent research skills. Topics of inquiry include: the trans-Atlantic slave trade; prisons and policing; education; (anti-)surveillance technologies; airports and borders. We may draw substantially from texts such as Simone Browne’s Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness and Toby Beauchamp’s Going Stealth: Transgender Politics and U.S. Surveillance Practices. (Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors) 3 hrs. sem. AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (K. Davis)
        Cross-listed as: BLST 0414 *

        GSFS 0419 Gender, Power, and Politics on the Early Modern Stage (I) (Pre-1800) (Spring 2023)

        In this class we will explore the representation of gendered embodiment on the early modern stage, considering as we do so how theatrical embodiment intersects with other treatments of the body in early modern culture. We will read both early modern and contemporary theoretical accounts of gender as performance, investigating among other issues the use of boy actors, the representation of specifically “female” disorders (e.g., “suffocation” or hysteria), the performance of maternity, and the treatment of same-sex eroticism. Of particular importance will be the representation of the articulate or angry woman as the “shrew” or “scold,” and we will begin the class with an investigation of so-called “shrew-taming” narratives. Primary readings will include: Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and The Winter’s Tale, Webster’s Duchess of Malfi, and Cavendish’s Convent of Pleasure. We will end the semester with a look at how this material plays out in our current political moment, focusing in particular on the representation of Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Christine Blasey Ford. 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LIT (M. Wells)
        Cross-listed as: ENGL 0419 *

        GSFS 0435 Feminist Engaged Research (Fall 2022)

        What makes research feminist? How does one conduct feminist research? How has feminist research been useful to social movements and how have movements informed feminist research? What happens to feminist research when it moves to the public sphere? In this class students learn how to produce original feminist research—how to craft research questions, write a literature review, choose relevant methodologies, and collect and analyze qualitative data. In addition to writing a research paper, students will translate their research findings into an alternative (non-academic paper) format and for an audience beyond our classroom. (GSFS 0320 or instructor approval). 3 hrs. Sem. AMR, CW, SOC (C. Thomsen)

        GSFS 0443 Readings in African History: Women and Gender in Africa (Fall 2022)

        This course takes up the challenge of understanding women's experiences and the role of gender in Africa's past. We will read from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives and literary forms, including ethnographies, life histories, and fiction, in order to explore different methodological and interpretive approaches to these subjects. Themes will include: changes in the structure of patriarchy and women's status in the pre-colonial period, the gendered impact of colonial rule on African economies and ecologies, historical identities of masculinity and femininity, and gendered experience of postcolonial "development." Prior experience in African history is not required. (formerly HIST/WAGS 0421) 3 hrs. seminar HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
        Cross-listed as: HIST 0443 *

        GSFS 0458 The U.S. Politics of Race, Gender, and Class (Fall 2022)

        Race, gender, and class have long shaped American politics. They have formed the basis for social movements, have structured institutions, and have affected the way political actors–from voters to activists to elected officials–have made their day-to-day decisions. What do political scientists know about the roles that race, gender, and class play in politics, separately and together, and what do we yet have to learn? (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104) 3 hrs. sem. (American Politics)/ AMR, SOC (B. Johnson)
        Cross-listed as: PSCI 0458 *

        GSFS 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        (Approval required)

        GSFS 0700 Senior Essay (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        (Approval required)

        GSFS 0710 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

        (Approval required)
        ↑ Top

        Department of Geography

        Required for the Major

        The geography major consists of 10 courses. All students who elect to major in geography must complete: GEOG 0100; GEOG 0120; ECSC 0112 or ECSC 0170 or GEOG 0150; six elective courses at the 0200 or 0300 level, at least one of which must be at the 0200 and one at the 0300 level; one 0400-level seminar. Any 100 level course not used to satisfy a specific major requirement can count as one of a student’s six geography electives. Only one of the 0200-level courses may be numbered 0250 or above.   The electives and the seminar must be selected in consultation with, and approved by, the major advisor. At least four of the electives must be semester-long courses completed on the Middlebury Campus

        Required for a Joint Major

        The Geography Department frequently offers joint majors with Environmental Studies, Computer Science, and the History of Art and Architecture, and often students design joint majors with other departments and programs. The Geography Joint Major consists of 7 courses. All joint majors must complete: GEOG 0100; GEOG 0120 or GEOG 0150; four elective courses at the 0200 or 0300 level, at least one of which must be at the 0200 and one at the 0300 level; and one 0400 level seminar. Any 100 level course not used to satisfy a specific major requirement can count as one of a student’s four geography electives. All joint majors must complete joint senior work in Geography or an equivalent. ENVS 401 satisfies the required joint work for ENVS-GEOG joint majors. At least two of the electives must be semester-long courses completed on the Middlebury Campus. Students wishing to pursue a joint major with any department or program other than Environmental Studies must submit a formal proposal to their intended Geography advisor for departmental approval. The proposal must describe the proposed program of study, including educational rationale and specific courses to be taken.  All electives and senior work must be approved by their advisor.

        Required for a Minor

        The Geography minor consists of 5 courses: at least one course at the 100-level, one at the 200-level, and three additional Geography courses.

        Advanced Placement

        One course credit will be awarded for an advanced placement (AP) score of 5 in human geography. Geography majors who receive a 5 on the AP exam may count this course credit as one 0200-level equivalent toward their major requirements, but are still required to complete GEOG 0100. The AP credit may not be used to satisfy joint major or minor requirements.

        Departmental Honors

        Students who seek to earn honors are required to write a two-credit honors thesis. They must have at least a 3.3 GPA in the major when they propose the thesis and must have a 3.5 GPA in the major, not including the thesis grade, to be considered for honors upon graduation. In order to complete a senior thesis, students must have a proposal approved by a primary thesis advisor and a secondary reader prior to registering for the first 0701 credit. Upon completion of the thesis, thesis students will present their work in a public lecture and defend the thesis in front of the departmental faculty. Thesis presentations and defenses will typically take place during the final week of classes or the examination period. Upon completion of the presentation and defense, the primary advisor and secondary reader will be responsible for evaluating and grading the thesis. It is strongly encouraged that students considering a thesis discuss their ideas with an advisor during the semester prior to registering for formal thesis credits. Honors will be conferred or denied on the basis of an evaluation of the thesis by the faculty and the student’s GPA in the major, as explained above.

          GEOG 0100 Place and Society: Local to Global (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          This course is an introduction to how geographers view the world and contribute to our understanding of it. Where do the phenomena of human experience occur? Why are they there? What is the significance? These questions are fundamental for explaining the world at different scales from the global to the local. Throughout, we will focus on the spatial basis of society, its continual reorganization through time, and how various human and environmental problems can be usefully analyzed from a geographic perspective. (Open only to first-year students and sophomores) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hr. lab DED, SOC (P. Nelson)

          GEOG 0120 Human Geography with GIS (Spring 2023)

          How do geographers study spatial interactions between people and the environment? How does socio-economic status relate to spatial patterns of settlement, social organization, access to resources, and exposure to risks? How can geographic information systems (GIS) help geographers explain these spatial patterns and processes? In this course we will apply GIS to a wide range of topics in human geography including urban, environmental, political, hazards, and health. We will learn how to gather, create, analyze, visualize, and critically interpret geographic data through tutorials, collaborative labs, and independent work that culminate in cartographic layouts of our results. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. DED, SOC (N. Kimambo)
          Cross-listed as: ENVS 0120

          GEOG 0139 Research Craft in Human Geography (Fall 2022)

          Whether you are planning to do your own research or want to be a more savvy consumer of research produced by others, it is useful to develop an understanding of the process of creating, discovering, and interpreting information about the world. In this course, students will explore quantitative and qualitative methodologies and the ways they can be used in human geography research. Through examples, exercises, and readings, students will learn the types of questions different techniques are designed to answer, how they work, and how to interpret the results. Students will gain hands on experience conducting surveys, generating and interpreting qualitative data, selecting and implementing statistical analyses, and writing research reports, to build competence and critical awareness in the practice and communication of research. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab (formerly GEOG 0339) CW, DED (J. L'Roe)

          GEOG 0150 Mapping Global Environmental Change (Fall 2022)

          How do geographers use geospatial technologies to observe the Earth’s surface? How do geographers use this information to interpret changes in the global environment across space and time? In this course we will learn how to work with large geographic datasets to explore patterns and changes to the Earth’s surface at local to global scales. Case studies will use remotely-sensed images to study land cover, climate, weather, wildfire, and other topics. Students will learn concepts, methods, and ethics for using a cloud-based geospatial analysis platform to process data, critically interpret workflows and results, and communicate findings with web maps and graphics. 4 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs. lab. DED (J. Howarth)
          Cross-listed as: ENVS 0150

          GEOG 0201 Geographies of Globalization (Fall 2022)

          Globalization has long roots in history. At its core, it involves processes that connect places and people through the flow of ideas, technology, goods, and information, which as they move from place to place and are adopted, disrupts local and indigenous cultures, economies, and even political systems. These processes tend to homogenize cultures and tastes and are therefore a source of conflict over heritage, memory, and power. These clashes over the “nature” of society embody the global-local divide. In this course we will interrogate not only when and how the flow of goods and ideas occur but the where, as well. We will examine the geographical impact of these flows, and question why some people/places are more affected by globalization than others. 3 hr lecture. CMP, HIS, SOC (T. Mayer)

          GEOG 0208 Land and Livelihoods - From Local to Global (Spring 2023)

          How do flows of money, people, materials, and ideas connect local livelihoods to distant sites and global processes? How do geographers study patterns of poverty and inequality at different scales? How do we define human development and wellbeing, how do we determine who participates, and why does it matter? In this course we will draw from perspectives in fields ranging from development geography and political ecology to post-colonial studies to examine livelihood dynamics in the Global South. We will use texts, interviews, writing assignments, problem sets, and mapping exercises to explore relationships between economy, identity, and place in an increasingly connected world. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (J. L'Roe)

          GEOG 0210 Geopolitics and International Development (Fall 2022)

          This course critically examines theories and practices of development in the “global-South,” where in many cases development has been inextricably related to foreign interests of donor countries in the West and of Brazil, India, and China. We will emphasize the importance of territory, security, statehood, and sovereignty in the development process and highlight the evolving nexus between geopolitics and development, with a special emphasis on Africa. We will probe the connections between "development" and "underdevelopment," and ask questions about the possible impact of South-South vs. the historical North-South development. We will focus on the contribution of development to progress, on the one hand, and to its stagnation, on the other, and focus on specific issues like food, population dynamics, resources, and rural- urban relationship. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (T. Mayer)

          GEOG 0212 Urban Geography (Spring 2023)

          Urban landscapes are the expression of economic, political, and socio-cultural processes layered on top of each other in particular time-space contexts. In this course, students will theoretically and empirically examine the complex and dynamic urban landscape. Students will gain a theoretical understanding of the location of cities within a larger global economic system of cities, along with the internal organization of economic, cultural, and social functions within cities. We will also examine the processes behind contemporary urban issues such as homelessness, boosterism, urban renewal, gentrification, poverty, and crime. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, SOC (P. Nelson)

          GEOG 0221 Urban Africa (Fall 2022)

          The era of rural Africa is over. Today, 40% of sub-Saharan Africans live in cities – seen as places with social services, economic opportunities, and accessible technology. Yet, African cities are also places of unemployment, social services challenges, and increasing inequality. In this course we will take a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of urban Africa through scholarly readings, media critiques, discussions, and data analysis. We will identify similarities and differences in the process of urbanization in Africa vis-à-vis other world regions. Students will actively contribute to our critical inquiry into African cities through individual research projects and in-class presentations. 3 hrs. lect CMP, SAF, SOC (N. Kimambo)

          GEOG 0225 Environmental Change in Latin America (Fall 2022)

          This course examines Latin America from a geographical perspective with emphasis on the social, political and ecological underpinnings of change in the region. Building upon the theme of global environmental change in the context of human-environment geography, we will explore urgent challenges linked to the agricultural and extractive industries, urban expansion, land grabs, land reform, indigenous rights, and rural and urban poverty. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, SOC (J. L'Roe)

          GEOG 0231 Cartography (Spring 2023)

          How do maps work? What are their intended uses and impacts? How do maps differ across cultures and times? In this course we will explore these questions through a series of practical exercises, readings, discussions, and critiques. We will learn fundamental concepts, principles, and patterns for using graphics to depict geographical ideas. We will practice both manual and digital methods for making maps, including GIS and graphics software, and compare frameworks and paradigms for evaluating map style and use. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. SOC (J. Howarth)

          GEOG 0232 A Black Sense of Place: Black Geographies (Fall 2022)

          Black feminist geographer, Katherine McKittrick, defines Black geographies as “subaltern or alternative geographic patterns that work alongside and beyond traditional geographies and a site or terrain of struggle” (2006, 7).
          This Black studies approach structures analyses of geographies across the Black diaspora in this course. Students will explore the relationships between race, racisms, space, and place through an interdisciplinary examination of the intimate, the material, the political, the body, and the collective as “sites of struggle.” We will read from texts such as Clyde Woods’ Development Drowned and Reborn: The Blues and Bourbon Restorations in Post-Katrina New Orleans and Erica Lorraine Williams’ Sex Tourism in Bahia: Ambiguous Entanglements.
          CMP, HIS, SOC (K. Davis)
          Cross-listed as: BLST 0232 *

          GEOG 0310 Conservation Planning (Spring 2023)

          Conservation planners try to identify and protect places with natural and cultural values. In this course we will investigate geographical concepts and methods for interpreting landscape change, inventorying natural resources, and evaluating conservation plans. We will examine the contributions and limitations of maps and geographic information systems in conservation planning through a combination of computer-based analyses, field investigations, readings, writing workshops, and discussions. The Town of Middlebury will provide a case study and students will develop independent projects that compare Middlebury to other towns in Vermont. (GEOG 0150). 3 hrs. lect./4 hrs. lab. CW, SOC (J. Howarth)

          GEOG 0351 Applied Remote Sensing: Land Use in Sub-Saharan Africa (Fall 2022)

          Satellite images are indispensable for mapping forest cover, agriculture, and other land uses. Off-the-shelf products struggle to capture features in complex landscapes, such as fine-scale forest changes, urban sprawl, or small agricultural fields. In this course we will focus on sub-Saharan Africa to investigate select land uses with remote sensing techniques, discuss their social contexts, and practice novel approaches for generating land use maps. Students will be actively engaged in carrying out analyses and critical interpretations throughout the semester. Their work will culminate in a web-based portfolio, which will provide an opportunity to learn effective communication of research findings. (GEOG150 or GEOL0222 or by instructor permission) GEOG 120 is recommended 3 hrs. lect./3hrs lab. DED, SAF, SCI (N. Kimambo)

          GEOG 0413 Seminar in Population Geography: Migration in the Twenty-first Century (Fall 2022)

          On average, 20 percent of the U.S. population changes residence in any given year, yet the scale, geography, motivations, and impacts of these movements are highly variable, making migration an incredibly pervasive and complex phenomenon. Furthermore, international immigration continues to attract considerable academic, political, and media attention. This course will explore contemporary approaches to migration studies emphasizing the important insights and contributions of geographers. How have geographers examined migration, and how have geographical approaches changed over time? In what ways has technology influenced the motivations, frequency, and implications of migration behavior? What are the different impacts of migration on individuals, households, and communities? And, what are the new innovations in scholarly approaches to migration? Through a combination of readings from contemporary migration literature, discussions, and analyses, students in this seminar will gain an appreciation for and understanding of this incredibly rich and complex phenomena of migration. (Open to second semester juniors and seniors only; others by waiver) 3 hrs. sem. (P. Nelson)

          GEOG 0436 Terrorism (Spring 2023)

          Terrorism has taken on new dimensions in an age dominated by technology and mass media. It has continued to cause carnage as terrorists around the globe continue to resist violently real or perceived oppression. In this course we will examine the breeding grounds for terrorist activities and interrogate the global connections behind local and national extremist/terrorist groups. We will explore ethno-national and religious terrorist groups from Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and probe white supremacist groups in the U.S. The aim of the course is to develop critical understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism, the local-global connections, and the challenges associated with terrorism in the 21st century. 3 hrs. sem. (T. Mayer)
          Cross-listed as: IGST 0436 *

          GEOG 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          A one-credit intensive research project developed under the direction of a faculty member. Junior majors only. (Approval Required)

          GEOG 0700 Senior Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          A one-credit intensive research project developed under the direction of a faculty member. Senior majors only. (Approval Required)

          GEOG 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          Students with a departmental GPA of 3.3 or higher are eligible to complete a two-credit senior thesis. In order to complete a senior thesis, students must have a proposal approved by a primary thesis advisor and a secondary departmental reader prior to registering for the first 0701 credit. Upon completion of the thesis, thesis students will present their work in a public seminar and defend the thesis in front of the departmental faculty. Thesis presentations and defenses will typically take place during the final week of classes or the examination period. Upon completion of the presentation and defense, the primary advisor and secondary departmental reader will be responsible for evaluating and grading the thesis. It is strongly encouraged that students considering a thesis discuss their ideas with an advisor during the semester prior to registering for formal thesis credits. (Approval only)
          ↑ Top

          Earth and Climate Sciences

          For students who matriculate in Fall of 2021 or later

          Required for the Major

          The Earth and Climate Sciences major consists of 11 courses within the department and two additional STEM cognate courses, as follows:

          (1) One 0100-level course.

          (2) Both core courses: Geological Evolution of Vermont (ECSC 0201), Climate Dynamics (ECSC 0202).

          (3) Six elective (0300 level) courses. Up to three of these elective courses – with Chair’s approval — could come from a combination of ECSC 0500, non-Middlebury coursework, or upper-level STEM cognates, with no more than two electives coming from any one of these sources.

          (4) Two cognate courses (any Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Physics laboratory course, or Math 0116 or higher), although we recommend more if planning to attend graduate school in the Earth sciences.

          (5) Two Credits of Senior Work (ECSC 0400 and ECSC 0700)

          The two-course senior sequence (ECSC 0400 and 0700) is the culmination of the Earth and Climate Sciences major and consists of original research by the student. The requirements for the major listed above are considered to be minimal. We suggest students planning a career in the Earth sciences take additional courses in other sciences and mathematics, as well as additional Earth science courses. The requirements for the major allow for considerable flexibility and thus students should consult regularly with their Earth and Climate Sciences department advisors for the selection of specific courses.

          Earth and Climate Sciences Minor

          A total of five courses is required, including one introductory course plus both core courses (ECSC 0201, 0202) and two electives Only one ECSC 0500 or off-campus course can count as an elective toward the minor.

          Environmental Studies-Earth and Climate Sciences Joint Major

          One introductory course (ECSC 0112 preferred), both core courses (ECSC 0201, 0202), three electives and two-term senior thesis (ECSC 0400, 0700) focused on an environmental topic. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in Earth or environmental sciences are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

          Departmental Honors 

          Departmental Honors in Earth and Climate Sciences are based primarily on outstanding work in original research (ECSC 0700) and are related to course grades only in the context of guidelines in the College Handbook.

          For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021

          Required for the Major

          The program for an Earth and Climate Sciences major consists of 11 courses within the department and two additional cognate courses. These courses must include:

          (1) One 0100-level course (we strongly recommend Environmental Earth and Climate Sciences (ECSC 0112), Elements of Oceanography (ECSC 0161) or Dynamic Earth (ECSC 0170).

          (2) Four core courses: Bedrock Geology of Vermont (ECSC 0201), Mineralogy (ECSC 0211), and Structural Geology (ECSC 0281) are required, plus either Landscape Evolution (ECSC 0251) or Water Resources and Hydrogeology (ECSC 0255).

          (3) Four elective courses (ECSC 0200-level or higher) chosen from the Middlebury Earth and Climate Sciences curriculum.  A maximum of two electives (total) can be ECSC 0500, courses taken off campus (with approval of the Chair), or a combination of the two.

          (4) Two cognate courses (any Biology, Chemistry, or Physics laboratory course, or Math 0116 or higher).

          (5) Two Credits of Senior Work (ECSC 0400 and ECSC 0700)

          The two-course senior sequence (ECSC 0400 and 0700) is the culmination of the Earth and Climate Sciences major and consists of original research based on field and/or laboratory investigations by the student. The requirements for the major listed above are considered to be minimal. We suggest students planning a career in geology or the earth sciences take additional courses in other sciences and mathematics, as well as additional Earth and Climate Sciences courses. The requirements for the major allow for considerable flexibility and thus students should consult regularly with their Earth and Climate Sciences department advisors for the selection of specific courses.

          Earth and Climate Sciences Minor

          A total of five courses is required. The minor shall consist of one introductory course (either ECSC 0112 or ECSC 0161 or ECSC 0170), plus four upper-level courses, which must include ECSC 0201 or ECSC 0211. After completing an introductory Earth and Climate Sciences course, students who intend to minor in Earth and Climate Sciences should arrange specific upper-level courses with the Earth and Climate Sciences chair or designate. Only one ECSC 0500 or off-campus course can count toward the minor.

          Environmental Studies-Earth and Climate Sciences Joint Major

          One introductory course chosen from among: ECSC 0112 (preferred), ECSC 0161, and ECSC 0170; one course from among ECSC/GEOG 0251, ECSC 0255, and ECSC 0257; one course from among ECSC 0201, ECSC 0211, and ECSC 0281; three ECSC 0200-level or higher courses, and two-term senior thesis focusing on Earth and Climate Sciences and Climate Sciences and the environment: ECSC 0400/0700. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in Earth and Climate Sciences are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

          Departmental Honors 

          Departmental Honors in Earth and Climate Sciences are based primarily on outstanding work in original research (ECSC 0700) and are related to course grades only in the context of guidelines in the College Handbook.

          ECSC 0111 Natural Hazards (Spring 2023)

          Despite increasing technological sophistication, modern civilization remains vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, extraterrestrial impacts, and other events. In this course we will consider the geologic mechanisms behind these hazards, the societal implications of these hazards, and approaches to reducing risk. Case studies will be combined with exploration of fundamental geologic concepts to provide students a foundation for understanding risk exposure and evaluating approaches to hazard management. (Not open to students who have taken GEOL 0112 or 0170) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. (formerly GEOL 0111) SCI (L. Ultee, S. Peters)
          Cross-listed as: ECSC 0112

          ECSC 0112 Environmental Geology (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          Geological processes form the physical framework on which ecosystems operate. We require an understanding of the geological environment in order to minimize disruption of natural systems by human development and to avoid hazards such as floods and landslides. This course is an overview of basic tectonic, volcanic, and landscape-forming processes and systems, including earthquakes, rivers, soils, and groundwater. Environmental effects of energy, mineral, and water resource use, and waste disposal are also examined. Weekly field labs after spring break. Registration priority for first and second-year students. 3 hrs. lect./disc., 3 hrs. lab/field trips (formerly GEOL 0112) SCI (Fall 2022: W. Amidon; Spring 2023: J. Munroe)
          Cross-listed as: ECSC 0111 *

          ECSC 0161 Earth’s Oceans and Coastlines (Fall 2022)

          In this course we explore our planet’s oceans and coastlines through the interdisciplinary study of marine geology, physics, biology, and chemistry. We use these fields as lenses through which we examine our reliance on the oceans for climate stability, food, economic resources, and waste dispersal, among a host of other ecosystem services. In parallel, we explore how humans are fundamentally altering coastal and marine ecosystems, posing unequally distributed, but increasingly severe threats to ocean and human health. In labs, we make use of the college’s research vessel, the R/V Folger, and learn quantitative data visualization and analysis techniques. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab/field trips (formerly GEOL 0161) DED, SCI (A. Jacobel)

          ECSC 0201 Geologic Evolution of Vermont (Fall 2022)

          This course explores the fascinating geology of Vermont. Students learn the geology through six field problems, involving extended trips around western Vermont. Lectures on the meaning of rocks support the fieldwork. The last few indoor labs are devoted to understanding the geologic map of Vermont. Emphasis is on descriptive writing and on use of data to interpret origin of rocks. Culminates in a written report on the geologic and plate tectonic evolution of Vermont. (One ECSC course) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab/field trips (formerly GEOL 0201) CW, SCI (D. West)

          ECSC 0202 Dynamics of Earth's climate system (Fall 2022)

          In this course we will explore the interconnected components of Earth’s climate system, the laws governing their dynamics, and their changes over time. We will describe how we gather information about Earth’s climate and how we know it is changing. In a weekly laboratory, we will analyse real data and apply simple numerical models to draw conclusions about phenomena in the atmosphere, ocean, ice sheets, and more. A major goal of this course is for students to gain confidence in quantitative methods for studying the Earth system. Prereq: any 100-level course in ECSC. (ECSC majors or with instructor approval) Lecture/lab. (formerly GEOL 0202) SCI (L. Ultee)

          ECSC 0302 Climate and Earth’s History (Spring 2023)

          In this course we will discuss how external forces and internal feedbacks within the Earth system govern climate. Specific topics will include orbital variability, changes in ocean circulation, CO2 uptake in terrestrial ecosystems, and molecular vibrational controls on infrared absorption and Earth's heat budget. We will then examine climate change through Earth's history as evidenced by a number of geologic proxies including the sedimentary record, ice cores, isotopic records, glaciers, soils, and tree rings. Ultimately, our improved understanding of past climates will provide a context within which to discuss future changes to come. (one ECSC course, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. (Formally GEOL 0302) SCI (A. Jacobel)

          ECSC 0311 Mineralogy (formerly GEOL0211) (Spring 2023)

          Mineralogy (formerly GEOL 0211)
          This course covers the nature, identification, composition, and meaning of minerals and mineral assemblages. Introduction to crystallography, hand-specimen identification, optical mineralogy, x-ray analysis, and electron microbeam analysis. Laboratory: study of minerals in hand-specimen and under the polarizing microscope; use of x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy in mineral analysis. (One ECSC course) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab (formerly GEOL 0211)
          SCI (D. West)

          ECSC 0322 Remote Sensing in Environmental Science (Spring 2023)

          In this course we will discuss fundamentals of air- and space-based remote sensing applied to geological and environmental problems. The core goal is to understand how different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation interact with Earth's surface, and how images collected in these different wavelengths can be used to address questions in the Earth sciences. Lectures will present theory and basics of data collection as well as applications in hydrology, vegetation analysis, glaciology, tectonics, meteorology, oceanography, planetary exploration, and resource exploration. Labs will focus on commonly-used imagery and software to learn techniques for digital image processing, analysis and interpretation in Earth science. (one ECSC course, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs lab (formerly GEOL 0322) SCI (W. Amidon)

          ECSC 0350 Past, Present, and Future of the Mountain Critical Zone (Spring 2023)

          The Critical Zone is the name given to the thin slice of the Earth from the treetops to the base of the soil where geology, biology, hydrology and climate all come together. This course will focus on topics germane to the Critical Zone in mountain environments including glaciers and permafrost, cold-climate weathering and landforms, ecosystem adaptations to cold environments, snow and snowpack hydrogeology, responses to contemporary climate change and projections for the future. The goal is to provide a strong scientific grounding through which contemporary issues involving mountain regions can be understood. Laboratory exercises will include analysis of datasets from mountain environments. (any 0100-level ECSC course, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab (formerly GEOL 0350) DED, SCI (J. Munroe)

          ECSC 0355 Water Resources and Hydrogeology (Spring 2023)

          Fresh water is the most fundamental resource sustaining life on the planet. In this course we examine all elements of the hydrologic cycle, focusing first on precipitation and surface water flow and then on subsurface flow. We study examples from across the globe to understand factors influencing water quality and availability, and apply mathematical approaches to quantify constraints on sustainable use. The consequences of climate change and other anthropogenic impacts to the hydrological cycle are examined, and current issues and policies are discussed in light of increasing demands on water resources and associated natural systems. (ENVS 0112 or any 0100-level ECSC course) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab (formerly GEOL 0355) DED, SCI (P. Ryan)

          ECSC 0357 Soils and the Environment (Fall 2022)

          Soils constitute the fundamental link between atmosphere, water, biota, and rock. Knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological processes operating in soils is essential when assessing natural cycles as well as anthropogenic alterations to those natural cycles. In this course, we will analyze a wide range of issues, including soil formation, climate, soil mineralogy, soil fertility and nutrient cycling, sediment pollution, soil contamination, water pollution, sediment erosion and deposition, and implications for land-use planning. Labs will be project-oriented and will consist of a combination of fieldwork and instrument analysis. (any ECSC 0100 or ENVS 112, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab (formerly GEOL 0357) SCI (P. Ryan)

          ECSC 0392 Modern Climate Seminar (Spring 2023)

          An advanced seminar for students with prior work in physical science of Earth's climate. We will survey current climate change research by reading, discussing, and writing about scientific literature. Assessment reports such as the US National Climate Assessment will form the foundation of our discussions. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to (1) read scientific papers, (2) identify key open questions in climate science research, and (3) relate scientific findings to common societal questions about climate action. 3hr seminar. (GEOL 0202, ECSC 0202, GEOL 0302 or ECSC 0302). SCI (L. Ultee)

          ECSC 0400 Senior Thesis Research Seminar (Fall 2022)

          This seminar will focus on methods and strategies for completing advanced geological research and provides a springboard for senior thesis research. Topics will include field and laboratory techniques, primary literature review, and scientific writing. Students taking this course are expected to be simultaneously working on the early stages of their senior thesis research. During the semester students will present a thesis proposal and the seminar will culminate with each student completing a draft of the first chapter of their senior thesis. ECSC 0400 is required of all geology majors. 3 hrs. disc. or lab (formerly GEOL 0400) (A. Jacobel)

          ECSC 0500 Readings and Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          Individual or group independent study, laboratory or field research projects, readings and discussion of timely topics in earth and environmental science. (Approval only) (formerly GEOL 0500)

          ECSC 0700 Senior Thesis Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          Upon completion of ECSC 0400, all senior geology majors will continue their independent senior thesis research by taking one unit of ECSC 0700. This research will culminate in a written thesis which must be orally defended. (Approval only) (formerly GEOL 0700)
          ↑ Top

          Department of German

          Requirements for the Major

          Students are normally required to complete eight courses in German, above GRMN 0299, including at least one advanced level seminar (above GRMN 0399) or a 0700 level honors thesis during the senior year. Where appropriate, one course may be taken in English. At the beginning of each term a placement test is administered for incoming students to determine which course would be most suitable for their level of competence. The department expects that majors will spend at least one semester of study in a German-speaking country before graduating. Normally, they will spend one or two semesters at the Freie Universität in Berlin, the Universität Potsdam and/or the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz. Before enrolling in one of our Schools in Germany, students must complete two courses at the 0300-level. For more information, please consult our study abroad section.

          Honors

          To be a candidate for honors, students must have an average of at least B+ in German. Honors work (a senior thesis or project) is normally done during a student’s last year at Middlebury.

          Minor in German

          The German minor consists of a sequence of five courses, taught in German, starting at or above the 0200-level. At least three of those courses must be at the 0300-level or higher and at least three of the five required courses have to be taken during the regular academic year at Middlebury College. First-year students who place above the 0200-level in the placement test must take at least one 0400-level course as part of their minor. One course may be satisfied through advanced placement (AP) credit in combination with a departmental placement test.

          Credit for Advanced Placement 

          Credit for Advanced Placement is given for scores of 4 or 5, a high score on the departmental placement test, and a placement conference with the student. In addition, the student must successfully complete at least one course above the 0200-level in the department, taught in German, to qualify for AP credit.

          Study in Germany

          The Middlebury School in Germany has sites located in Berlin, Potsdam and Mainz.

          GRMN 0101 Beginning German (Fall 2022)

          Geared toward quick and early proficiency in comprehension and free expression. Grammatical structures are practiced through group activities and situational exercises (e.g., role-playing games and partner interviews). Active class participation by students is required and will be counted toward the final grade. Since this is an integrated approach, there will be laboratory assignments but no special drill sections. Classes meet five times a week. Students take GRMN 0102 as their winter term course. 6 hrs. sem. LNG (V. Huang, F. Feiereisen)

          GRMN 0103 Beginning German Continued (Spring 2023)

          This course is a continuation of GRMN 0101. Increased emphasis on communicative competence through short oral presentations and the use of authentic German language materials. Introduction to short prose writings and other documents relating to contemporary German culture. Five class meetings per week. (GRMN 0102, or equivalent) 5 hrs. lect. LNG (F. Feiereisen, V. Huang)

          GRMN 0201 Intermediate German (Fall 2022)

          GRMN 0201/0202 is a culture-based intermediate language sequence that focuses students' attention on intercultural aspects of language acquisition, vocabulary expansion, reading and writing strategies, and a review of grammar. It moves from a focus on issues of individual identity and personal experiences to a discussion of Germany today (GRMN 0201), explores national identity in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and supplies an overview of cultural history, literary achievements, and philosophical traditions in the German-speaking world (GRMN 0103 or equivalent, or GRMN 0111) 5 hrs. sem. EUR, LNG (R. Graf, N. Eppelsheimer)

          GRMN 0202 Intermediate German Continued (Spring 2023)

          GRMN 0201/0202 is a culture-based intermediate language sequence that focuses students' attention on intercultural aspects of language acquisition, vocabulary expansion, reading and writing strategies, and a review of grammar. It moves from a focus on issues of individual identity and personal experiences to a discussion of Germany today (GRMN 0201), explores national identity in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and supplies an overview of cultural history, literary achievements, and philosophical traditions in the German-speaking world (GRMN 0201) 5 hrs. sem. EUR, LNG (R. Graf, B. Matthias)

          GRMN 0350 Advanced Writing Workshop (Fall 2022)

          The goal of this course is to train students to present their thoughts, ideas, and arguments in correct, coherent, and effective writing. Students will practice writing several text forms that are required in higher education and, during study abroad. Students will also learn about format requirements for writing a longer term paper in German. Some class time will be used for creative, structured, or contemplative writing practice. Students will expand their active vocabulary and aim for a consistently high level of grammatical accuracy. Grammar topics will be covered within the context of writing, through targeted teaching of linguistic structures and peer-editing/peer-teaching sessions. (Formerly GRMN 0304) 3 hrs. sem. CW (12 seats), LNG (R. Graf)

          GRMN 0370 German Linguistics (in German) (Fall 2022)

          This course simultaneously presents an overview of the major subfields of linguistics as they apply to the German language and a discussion of how today's Standard German evolved. We will pay attention to important concepts in phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. In addition to these theoretical and descriptive aspects, we will discuss sociolinguistic issues such as language and gender and regional variations within Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxemburg. Lectures and discussions will be conducted in German. (Formerly GRMN 0340) 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LNG (F. Feiereisen)
          Cross-listed as: LNGT 0370

          GRMN 0380 Rethinking Literature (Spring 2023)

          This course focuses on the "literary" as a force within cultural discourse. A thorough understanding of literary periods and genres serves as the background for a critical investigation of modern theoretical approaches to literary texts. Discussing major works of German literature, students explore the notion of "literariness" in its various cultural contexts. (Formerly GRMN 0330) 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LIT (R. Graf)

          GRMN 0421 Exiles, Refugees and Migrants from/in Germany (Fall 2022)

          In this course we will study experiences of exiles, refugees, and migrants and their escapes both from and to Germany. We will focus on two time periods: 1933 to 1945, when people fled persecution from Nazi Germany, and the “refugee crisis” in Germany between 2015 to 2018. Using literary texts, letters, autobiographies, films, current news coverage, and documentaries, we will place flight narratives in their historical contexts, follow escape routes across borders, study post-flight lives of refugees in their reception countries, and learn about international refugee and asylum politics. Taught in German 3 hrs. sem./screen CMP, EUR, LNG, SOC (N. Eppelsheimer)

          GRMN 0440 German Theatre in Action (Spring 2023)

          In this course, students will prepare and stage a full production of a German play. After five weeks of seminar-style academic discussions of this work in context (the genre, the author, the topic, the time) and aspects of theatrical performance (theory), the class will prepare the show for the last week of the semester (two rehearsals/ week). Students will make informed staging decisions as a group and come to understand performance as a powerful mediator in the never-ending process of negotiating literary meaning. (At least two 0300+-level courses or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect/disc. (Formerly GRMN 0418) ART, EUR, LIT (B. Matthias)

          GRMN 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          (Approval only)

          GRMN 0700 Honors Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          (Approval only)
          ↑ Top

          Global Health Minor

          The minor in Global Health is more flexible than many other majors and minors on campus. Students design a course of study within the minor that fits their own educational goals. Choosing courses therefore requires substantial thought and planning on the part of the student.

          The minor in Global Health is available to students who complete the courses listed below. No course for the minor may also count towards a student’s major. No more than two courses taken from the same department may count towards the minor.

          Courses

          All students must take a total of five courses for the minor:

          (1) the core course:

          SOAN 0267 Global Health or INTD 0257 Global Health

          (2) One of the following methods courses (if the methods requirement is met through coursework for a major, students may substitute an additional elective in place of a methods class):

          • ANTH 0302 The Research Process: Ethnography and Qualitative Methods
          • BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
          • ECON 0210 Economic Statistics
          • GEOG 0120 Human Geography with GIS
          • GEOG 0150 ENV Geography with GIS
          • GHLT 0232 Principles of Epidemiology
          • MATH 0116 Introduction to Statistical Science
          • PSCI 1130 Statistics for Social Sciences
          • PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics
          • SOCI 0385 Social Statistics (formerly SOAN 0385)
          • AP credit for Statistics

          (3) Three elective courses; no more than one course may be a 0100-level course. Classes that count as electives are listed on the “Courses” tab.

          Petition for Course Credit

          Many other appropriate courses exist on campus, depending on the educational goals of a particular student. Courses may be substituted for the methods or elective courses with the approval of the program director. Approval requires submission of a petition for course credit form. Approval of a course for minor credit requires the student to show that they made connections between the course material and their study of Global Health, for example by writing a final paper on a public health topic. Students must turn in this paper or other approved course material for review for credit.

          Declaring the Minor

          To declare the minor, submit the following to the Program Director: (1) a minor declaration form and (2) a 200-500 word statement explaining how the classes you chose fit together and further your educational goals within the field of Global Health. To declare the minor, these materials must be submitted at least one week before the end of the add period of your seventh semester at Middlebury.

          In addition, students minoring in Global Health are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Middlebury’s resources by studying abroad, preferably in a program with health-related courses, and by becoming proficient in a foreign language.

          GHLT 0211 Public Health of Disasters (Spring 2023)

          Both natural and man-made disasters, including the release of weapons of mass destruction, reveal a community’s preexisting vulnerabilities. The emergency response, and the nature of the disaster itself, combine to affect the short- and long-term health of the disaster-struck community. We will examine public health components of disasters, including emergency preparedness and response, relief efforts, health surveillance, and the ethical considerations of these activities. With case studies and readings, we will employ a public health perspective to understand the community impact of natural and man-made disasters in both developed and developing countries. (not open to students who have taken INTD 0211) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (P. Berenbaum)

          GHLT 0232 Principles of Epidemiology (Fall 2022)

          This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of epidemiology. Students will learn major concepts including study design, measures of effect, and causal inference. We will explore the causes of modern diseases with a focus on how epidemiology can be used to understand causation of disease. We will also explore the historical and current contributions of epidemiology within the field of public health. The course will introduce areas of specialization including infectious and non-infectious diseases, environmental epidemiology, and social and community epidemiology. Students will learn data analysis skills applicable to research in public health and other quantitative sciences. Students will utilize skills from class to investigate an epidemiological issue using real world data. Students will also lead discussions on how epidemiology is used to investigate the determinants of disease. Students will leave the course with understanding of key epidemiological concepts, and the ability to convey those ideas to a lay audience in written and oral formats. 3 hrs. lect. DED (S. Byrne)

          GHLT 0235 Social Entrepreneurship and Global Health (Fall 2022)

          Social and structural determinants of health create barriers to availability, accessibility and uptake of health services in many countries. We will take a case study approach to examining how social entrepreneurs develop and scale up responses to help clients overcome these barriers. We will explore factors including: human rights, poverty, disenfranchisement of women, government health care systems and infrastructure, human resources for health, task shifting, the politics of sexual/reproductive health, and infectious diseases. We will draw on articles and online materials. This course mixes theory and case study, and will count as an elective towards the Global Health minor. (not open to students who have taken INTD 1213 or INTD 0235) 3 hrs. lect. (D. Torres)

          GHLT 0257 Global Health (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

          This course provides an introductory survey of the basic issues and initiatives in contemporary global public health, demonstrating the inextricability of public health problems from the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental issues that exist in an era of globalization. Examining these connections will enable us to critically evaluate the goals and strategies of public health interventions, and discuss factors impacting their success or failure. To do this, we must also examine the lens through which the West views public health problems as they relate to our cultural beliefs, biomedical views of health, sense of justice, and strategic interests. (Not open to students who have taken INTD 0257 or SOAN 0267) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, SOC (Fall 2022: P. Berenbaum; Spring 2023: D. Torres)

          GHLT 0500 Independent Study (Spring 2023)

          (Approval Required)
          ↑ Top

          Hebrew Minor

          The minor consists of five courses, some of which can be taken in the summer at the Middlebury School of Hebrew or abroad. Courses taken elsewhere may be granted credit with the permission of the director of the Studies in Modern Hebrew and Israeli Society. Students should plan the minor knowing that beginning Modern Hebrew is only offered in the fall term.

          Requirements

          Students have two options: Either take two semesters of Modern Hebrew starting at the level of HEBM 0102 or higher and three content courses about Israeli society or take three semesters of Modern Hebrew, starting at the level of HEBM102, and two content courses about Israeli society. The content courses must be at HEBM 200 level or higher and may be in English. When appropriate, students may substitute independent study (HEBM 0500) for one of the courses required for the minor.

          Classical Hebrew

          Students interested in studying Classical Hebrew should contact Professor Robert Schine at schine@middlebury.edu.

            HEBR 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Approval required.

            HEBM 0101 Introductory Modern Hebrew I (Fall 2022)

            In this course students will become acquainted with the basic grammatical and formal concepts necessary for the comprehension of the Modern Hebrew language. We will focus on the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, with a particular emphasis placed on the acquisition of conversational ability. We will also make use of audiovisual, situational, and cultural exercises, and give attention to the elements of Classical form and style that provided a foundation for Modern Hebrew, which was revived as a vernacular in the late 19th century. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required. 6 hrs. LNG (M. Strier)

            HEBM 0103 Introductory Modern Hebrew III (Spring 2023)

            This course is a continuation of Modern Hebrew 0102 which will be offered during winter term. Students will further develop their skills in written and oral communication, and will expand their knowledge of the cultures of modern Israel through both audio and visual media. (HEBM 0102 or equivalent) 5 hrs. lect. LNG (M. Strier)

            HEBM 0201 Intermediate Modern Hebrew I (Fall 2022)

            This course is a continuation of HEBM 0103. By engaging with topics about Israeli society and culture and by using authentic materials and different media, students will strengthen their intermediate level of communicative competence – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – and gain a deeper understanding of Israeli popular culture and politics. Topics will vary depending on students’ interest. (HEBM 0103 or placement test) 5 hrs. lect/disc LNG (M. Strier)

            HEBM 0231 Zionism and the "Roads Not Taken" (1880-1948) (Spring 2023)

            An Arab-Jewish binational state in Palestine was only one of the possible paths that the Zionist movement considered before taking the road that led to Israel’s 1948 establishment. Using various primary and secondary sources, we will critically engage with alternatives to the nation-state within the Zionist movement, unfolding key debates in its history. In the introductory units, we will position Zionism alongside other forms of Jewish nationalism, such as Simon Dubnow’s Diaspora Nationalism. We will then zoom in on post-World War I Zionism, discussing Imperial, anti-Imperial, pan-Asian, and binationalist-federalist alternatives to the Jewish nation-state program. In the concluding units, we will examine the processes by which these possibilities became marginalized, and the vision of a Jewish nation-state prevailed. CMP, EUR, HIS (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: JWST 0231

            HEBM 0234 Contemporary Israel: The Politics of Ethnic Difference (Spring 2023)

            The course explores the politics of ethnic difference in Israel through a combined historical-sociological perspective, using diverse textual and visual materials. After tracing the origins of the ethnic categories of “Ashkenazi” (Western) and Mizrachi (Middle Eastern/North African) Jews, we examine the history of immigration to Israel in the 1950s, considering how ethnicity came to define class and geography. In subsequent units, we will deal with Mizrachi protest movements such as the Israeli 1970s “Black Panthers” and the more recent trend of Mizrachi intellectuals to reclaim the “Arab-Jew” identity, and in comparison, the Mizrachi traditional support of hawkish positions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the concluding units, we will utilize comparative tools to conceptualize this internal Jewish dynamic. MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: SOCI 0234

            HEBM 0237 The Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Fall 2022)

            When did the Jewish-Arab conflict begin? This survey course considers several different moments of its birth, such as the 1880s first wave of Zionist immigrants to Palestine, the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1948 and 1967 war and the 1964 establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other landmark moments. Based on secondary literature and primary textual and visual materials, we will engage with these competing periodizations and analyze various Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives they embody, considering broader themes such as the relations between the historian’s identity and the production of historical narratives, and the dynamic between facts, narratives and ideologies. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: IGST 0237

            HEBM 0238 Intercultural Jerusalem (1850-Present) (Fall 2022)

            The course approaches the history of modern Jerusalem through the lens of intercultural encounters. Based on primary historical sources and secondary literature, we will examine how the relations between Muslims, Christians, and Jews transformed as the city changed hands between the Ottomans, British, Jordanians, and Israelis. The introductory units will discuss the making of multi-cultural Jerusalem in the late Ottoman period and how, under British rule (1917-1948), its cosmopolitanism was abated by nationalism. We will then discuss its partition following the 1948 War and the emergence of “West Jerusalem” and “East Jerusalem.” Proceeding past 1967, we will examine if and to what extent Jerusalem became an integrated, united city under Israel sovereignty before concluding with a discussion of contemporary trends. CMP, HIS, MDE, PHL (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: IGST 0238

            HEBM 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)
            ↑ Top

            Department of History

            • All students declaring a History major or joint major will adopt the requirements detailed below. 
            • Students choosing a History major or a joint major with a track in History of Science Medicine and Technology (HSMT) will adopt the requirements specific to HSMT detailed below.

            Required for the Major in History

            The History Major with a specific geographical focus within the history department provides a broad understanding of the development of human societies and cultures throughout history and around the world. Students will have an opportunity to examine how governments, societies, and individuals have shaped and have been shaped in specific geographical regions of interest to them. 

            Students must take 11 history courses before graduation including: (1) at least one but no more than three 0100-level courses; (2) three courses, 0200-level or above, in three of the following seven areas: North America; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; the Middle East and North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; South and Southeast Asia, including the Pacific; North Asia including China, Korea, Japan, and the Asian Steppes; (3) two 0400-level reading seminars in two different geographical regions, one of which may be trans-regional for those not writing a thesis OR one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis; (4) HIST 0600.

            Of the eleven courses required for this track, one must be comparative and two must deal primarily with the period before 1800. Courses which qualify as comparative or for the pre-1800 requirement are identified in the course descriptions. Students planning to spend all or part of the junior year abroad should consult with the department before the second semester of their sophomore year. Students planning to go abroad or away for a full year may request to have a maximum of three courses count towards the major. Students planning to go abroad for one semester may request to have a maximum of two courses count towards the major. Upon their return to Middlebury, students must fill out the transfer of credit form from the Registrar’s office and have it signed by the chair as soon as possible. Students may take a maximum of two cross-listed HIST/CLAS courses to fulfill History requirements. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted.

            Honors Thesis

            Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 history department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, are eligible to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700). See information below.

            Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

            Up to two IB credits or AP history courses, with a grade of 4 or 5, can count toward the major requirement of 11 history courses, but cannot be used to fulfill any specific requirements listed above. Students counting AP European History may not count HIST 0103 or 0104 toward the major, and those counting AP U.S. History may not count HIST 0203 or 0204 toward the major.

            Joint Major Requirements

            Students must take at least eight courses in history, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Cognates are not allowed. A student must take: (1) at least one course in two of the following seven areas: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe; Middle East and North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific; North Asia including China, Korea, Japan, and the Asian Steppes and one course that is trans-regional or comparative. The choice of courses should depend upon the need to achieve an intellectual coherence and integrity in the student’s program; (2) two 0400-level reading seminars, one of which must be taken in the senior year and enable students to combine work from both disciplines, or one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis.  (3) HIST 0600. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted. No more than two courses may be taken abroad or at another undergraduate institution. 

            Joint Major Honors Thesis

            Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 History department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600 may choose to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700).  Joint majors choosing to write a thesis must combine the skills of both major disciplines in their thesis.

            Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

            AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a joint major in history.

            Minor Requirements

            Students must take at least five courses, including one 0100-level course, one 0200-level course and one 0400-level course. Students are strongly encouraged to take HIST 0600 as one of the elective courses. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. No more than two courses may be taken abroad or at another undergraduate institution. Cognate courses cannot be counted towards the joint minor. AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a minor in history.

            Track in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology

            The History of Science, Medicine, and Technology Track (HSMT) within the history department provides a broad understanding of the development of science and its contested role in society throughout history and around the world. Through this track, students will have an opportunity to examine how governments, societies, and individuals have shaped and been shaped by science, medicine, and technology. 

            Students must take 11 history courses before graduation including: (1) at least one but no more than three 0100-level courses; (2) five courses that focus on HSMT.  At least 4 of these courses must be HSMT-designated courses within the history department.  In consultation with and at the discretion of the history department Chair, 1 course may be a cognate from another department, from another college or university, or from study abroad; (3) two 0400-level reading seminars for those not writing a thesis OR one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis. When possible 400-level seminars should be in HSMT; (4) HIST 0600. A senior thesis will count as 1 HSMT course if on a relevant HSMT topic.

            Of the eleven courses required for this track, one must be comparative and two must deal primarily with the period before 1800. Courses which qualify as comparative or for the pre-1800 requirement are identified in the course descriptions. Students planning to spend all or part of the junior year abroad should consult with the department before the second semester of their sophomore year. Students planning to go abroad or away for a full year may request to have a maximum of three courses count towards the major. Students planning to go abroad for one semester may request to have a maximum of two courses count towards the major. Upon their return to Middlebury, students must fill out the transfer of credit form from the Registrar’s office and have it signed by the chair as soon as possible. Students may take a maximum of two cross-listed HIST/CLAS courses to fulfill History requirements. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted.

            Honors Thesis

            Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 history department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, are eligible to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700).

            Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

            Up to two IB credits or AP history courses, with a grade of 4 or 5, can count toward the major requirement of 11 history courses, but cannot be used to fulfill any specific requirements listed above. Students counting AP European History may not count HIST 0103 or 0104 toward the major, and those counting AP U.S. History may not count HIST 0203 or 0204 toward the major.

            Joint Major Requirements in HSMT Track

            Students must fulfill the following requirements: (1) 8 courses in history, as specified under “Joint Major Requirements”; (2) of the 8 courses, 5 must focus on HSMT, and one must be a 400-level seminar taken in the history department or a senior thesis, which may count as 1 HSMT course; (3) in consultation with and at the discretion of the history department Chair, 1 course may be taken abroad. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted. AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a joint major in HSMT track.

            Joint Major Honors Thesis

            Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 History department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600 may choose to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700).  Joint majors choosing to write a thesis must combine the skills of both major disciplines in their thesis.

            The department does not offer a minor in HSMT.

            Courses in the History Department

            As a rule, the History Department has no pre-requisites except for in designated 400-level courses. Courses are not arranged hierarchically; they are arranged thematically and chronologically, with the 100-level courses being the broadest and the 300 and 400-level courses being the most specific in subject matter.

            HIST 0100-Level Courses

            These courses deal with events and processes that affect human societies over long periods of time and across broad geographical areas not confined to national boundaries. Courses include components that act as introductions to the field of history.

            HIST 0200-Level Courses

            These are lecture courses that deal with a single cultural or national entity, or a clearly related group of such entities, over a substantial period of time (usually a century or more).

            HIST 0300-Level Courses

            These courses, for the most part, are topically focused courses. Many of them are lecture courses and some are taught in a seminar format. These are not, however, seminars that fulfill the reading seminar requirement.

            HIST 0400–Level Reading Seminars

            These topically based seminars, which usually meet once a week involve reading and analyzing texts, discussions, student presentations, historiography and writing or producing a final project. The history department offers many types of seminars: seminars on a topic within a given country or region; transnational or global seminars, digital humanities seminars and public history seminars.  Seminars are open to all students except those designated for seniors and juniors. See course description for requirements. A list of seminars is available from the department.

            HIST 0600: Writing History

            In this course students discuss historical methods and writing strategies to create convincing historical narratives.  With the approval and guidance of the professor, students complete a 20-25-page research paper based on primary and secondary sources. Students take this course in the fall of their junior year or with permission in the spring. If students are away for the entire junior year, they can take the course in the fall of their senior year.

            HIST 0700 & 0701 Senior Honors Thesis

            If students have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 History department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, they may choose to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700). Writing a thesis is a prerequisite for departmental honors. Students must submit a thesis proposal to the department chair and coordinator one week prior to course registration for the term in which the thesis is to be started. Students opting to write a thesis must also take at least one 0400-level reading seminar prior to graduation, but preferably before their last semester at Middlebury. Students may not write a thesis in the same semester that they are taking HIST 0600. If students submit a request to write a senior thesis in the semester in which they are taking HIST 0600, they may receive conditional approval pending the completion and grade in HIST 0600.

            Approved students will write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The department strongly encourages students to write their theses during the fall and winter terms. Winter/Spring theses are also acceptable with the permission of the chair and the theses advisor. On rare occasions and for compelling reasons, a student may initiate a thesis in the spring of an academic year and finish in the fall of the following year with the approval of the department. All students beginning their thesis in a given academic year must attend the Thesis Writers’ Workshops held in the fall and winter of that year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.

            Overall History Honors

            To receive departmental honors, high honors*, or highest honors** students must have completed an honors thesis (HIST0700) with a grade of B+, A-*, or A** and must have achieved an overall average of at least 3.5, 3.67*, or 3.75** in all departmental courses.

            HIST 0100-Level Courses

            The 0100-level courses (0100-0199) deal with events and processes that affect human societies over long periods of time and across broad geographical areas not confined to national boundaries. These courses include components that act as introductions to the field of history.

            HIST 0200-Level Courses

            These are lecture courses that deal with a single cultural or national entity, or a clearly related group of such entities, over a substantial period of time (usually a century or more).

            HIST 0300-Level Courses

            These courses, for the most part, are topically focused courses. Many of them are lecture courses and some are taught in a seminar format. These are not, however, seminars that fulfill the reading seminar requirement.

            HIST 0400-Level Reading Seminars

            Unlike the courses below the 0400 level, which are primarily lecture courses, these courses are reading seminars on particular periods or topics. They are open to all students, although in cases of overcrowding, history majors will be given priority. First-year students are admitted only by waiver.

            HIST 0600 Research Seminar

            All history majors are required to take HIST 0600 their junior fall or, if abroad at that time, their junior spring or senior fall semester. In this course students will conceive, research, and write a work of history based on primary source material. After reading and discussion on historical methods and research strategies, students will pursue a paper topic as approved by the course professors.

            HIST 0700 and 701 Senior Independent Study I & II

            All senior history majors will write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The department encourages students to do their theses during the fall (700) and winter terms (701). Fall/spring theses are also acceptable and, with permission of the chair, winter/spring. On rare occasions, with departmental approval given for compelling reasons, a thesis may be initiated in the spring of an academic year and finished in the fall of the following year. All students beginning their thesis in a given academic year must attend the Thesis Writers’ Workshops held in the fall and winter of that year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.

            FOOD 0209 History of US Food Politics (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will use U.S. food politics as a lens for understanding developments in political economy, changes in the role of the state, and evolving attitudes toward gender, race, labor, childhood, citizenship, health, and the body during the twentieth century. How have government, corporations, and scientists shaped U.S. foodways? How have people been affected by broad trends in food politics, and how have they resisted, as consumers, citizens, and activists? To answer these questions, we will use methods of social and cultural history to explore food politics from the top down and the bottom up. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (L. Povitz)
            Cross-listed as: HIST 0209 *

            HIST 0103 The Making of Europe (Fall 2022)

            This course covers the history of Western Europe from the death of Caesar in 44 B.C. to the Peace of Westphalia in A.D. 1648. We will examine three interrelated themes: political authority within European society, the development of the religious culture of the West and the challenges to that culture, and the ways in which the development of a European economy contributed to the making of Europe itself. While examining these questions from the Roman Empire to early modern Europe, students will focus on the use of original sources, and on how historians interpret the past. Pre-1800. Not open to seniors. 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS, SOC (L. Burnham)

            HIST 0105 Themes in the Atlantic World, 1492-1900 (Fall 2022)

            Linking the Americas with Europe and Africa, the Atlantic has been a major conduit for the movement of peoples, ideas, technology, foods, and customs. This course will explore four themes from the rise of European imperialism and African Slavery to the dawn of national consciousness and minority rights across the Americas. We will study four major themes: (1). Comparative European Colonization and the First Peoples; 2) Comparative Slavery and the Black Experience (3) Decolonization, National Consciousness, and Ideas of Freedom; and (4) Pseudoscience, Migrations and Creolization. We will draw on primary and secondary sources from the Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone, and Hispanophone worlds to give us a broad comparative perspective. Pre-1800. 2hr/disc. with periodic film screenings. CMP, HIS, SOC (D. Davis)

            HIST 0109 History of Islam and the Middle East, Since 1453 (Fall 2022)

            This course is an introduction to the major institutions that evolved under the aegis of what we might call Islamic civilization since the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The principal geographic areas covered are the Middle East and North Africa. Major topics include the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, Western intervention and colonialism, nationalism and state formation, and the challenges of and responses to modernization. Pre-1800. 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. HIS, MDE (F. Armanios)

            HIST 0110 Modern South Asia (Fall 2022)

            This course is an introduction to the history of South Asia. We will examine such events as the remarkable rise and fall of the Mughal empire (1526-1700s), the transformation of the once-humble English East India Company into a formidable colonial state (1700s-1858), the emergence of nationalist and anti-imperialist movements led by people such as Mahatma Gandhi and M.A. Jinnah (1858-1947), and the establishment and recent histories of the new nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Readings will include primary sources, history textbooks, historical novels, and newspaper articles. We will also watch at least one historical film. Pre-1800. 3 hrs. lect./disc. HIS, SOA (I. Barrow)

            HIST 0112 Modern East Asia (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will examine East Asian history from 1800 to the present. We will study the “Chinese World Order,” the patterns of European imperialism that led to this order’s demise, the rise of Japan as an imperialist power, and 20th century wars and revolutions. We will concentrate on the emergence of Japan, China, and Korea as distinct national entities and on the socio-historical forces that have bound them together and pried them apart. We will seek a broader understanding of imperialism, patterns of nationalism and revolution, and Cold War configurations of power in East Asia. 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. CMP, HIS, NOA, SOC (M. Clinton)

            HIST 0114 History of Modern Africa (Spring 2023)

            We begin looking at revolutions in the early 19th century and the transformations surrounding the slave trade. Next we examine the European colonization of the continent, exploring how diverse interventions into Africans' lives had complex effects on political authority, class and generational dynamics, gender relations, ethnic and cultural identities, and rural and urban livelihoods. After exploring Africans' struggles against colonial rule in day-to-day practices and mass political movements, the last few weeks cover Africa's transition to independence and the postcolonial era, including the experience of neo-colonialism, ethnic conflict, poverty, and demographic crisis. (formerly HIST 0226) 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0114

            HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece (Fall 2022)

            A survey of Greek history from Homer to the Hellenistic period, based primarily on a close reading of ancient sources in translation. The course covers the emergence of the polis in the Dark Age, colonization and tyranny, the birth of democracy, the Persian Wars, the interdependence of democracy and Athenian imperialism, the Peloponnesian War, and the rise of Macedon. Authors read include Herodotus, Thucydides, Aristophanes, Plutarch, Xenophon, and the Greek orators. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS, LIT (J. Chaplin)
            Cross-listed as: CLAS 0131 *

            HIST 0209 History of US Food Politics (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will use U.S. food politics as a lens for understanding developments in political economy, changes in the role of the state, and evolving attitudes toward gender, race, labor, childhood, citizenship, health, and the body during the twentieth century. How have government, corporations, and scientists shaped U.S. foodways? How have people been affected by broad trends in food politics, and how have they resisted, as consumers, citizens, and activists? To answer these questions, we will use methods of social and cultural history to explore food politics from the top down and the bottom up. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (L. Povitz)
            Cross-listed as: FOOD 0209

            HIST 0210 History of Sexuality in the United States (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will explore sexuality in relation to race, class, gender, and religion in US history using primary and secondary sources. We will study indigenous sexualities and the impact of settler colonialism, sex work during the American Revolution, sexuality under slavery, the medicalization and criminalization of homosexuality, urban gay subcultures, Cold War sexuality, the politics of birth control, sex during the AIDS epidemic, and sexuality from transgender and non-binary perspectives. Beyond learning historiography, we will examine methodological issues with writing histories of sexuality. When relevant, we will study examples from Europe and Canada. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS, SOC (L. Povitz)
            Cross-listed as: GSFS 0210

            HIST 0212 Civil War and Reconstruction: 1845-1890 (Spring 2023)

            This course explores the era of the American Civil War with an emphasis on the period 1861-1865. It combines lectures, readings, class discussion, and film to address such questions as why the war came, why the Confederacy lost, and how the war affected various elements of society. We will also explore what was left unresolved at the end of the war, how Americans responded to Reconstruction, and how subsequent generations have understood the meaning of the conflict and its legacy. We will make a special effort to tie military and political events to life on the home front. (formerly HIST 0364) 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, HIS (A. Morsman)

            HIST 0215 Cold War America (Spring 2023)

            This course examines the history of the United States during the Cold War (1945-1991). From the immediate post-WWII period through the Reagan era, we will investigate widely varied manifestations of anti-communism, paying special attention to how international affairs shaped Americans’ engagement with domestic developments, and vice versa. Topics include the social welfare state, Eisenhower’s New Look and Kennedy’s New Frontier, suburbanization, the Vietnam War, civil rights activism, the conservative movement, feminism, and the politics of globalization. Our goal is to reconsider these transformative changes in context with the Cold War’s geopolitical and ideological conflict. We will use many tools to do so: primary sources like state documents, essays, visual texts, and political tracts, as well scholarly monographs, documentaries, and discussion. (formerly HIST 0368) 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. AMR, HIS, NOR (J. Mao)

            HIST 0216 History of the American West (Fall 2022)

            This is a survey of the history of the trans-Mississippi West from colonial contact through the 1980s. It explores how that region became known and understood as the West, and its role and meaning in United States history as a whole. The central themes of this course are conquest and its legacy, especially with regard to the role of the U.S. federal government in the West; human interactions with and perceptions of landscape and environment; social contests among different groups for a right to western resources and over the meanings of western identity; and the role of the West in American popular culture. (formerly HIST/AMST 0374) 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. AMR, HIS, SOC (K. Morse)
            Cross-listed as: AMST 0216

            HIST 0218 Slavery and Freedom in the American North (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will study how the “American North,” constituted by New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, became a place of enslavement. Although often treated as a cradle of freedom, we will explore how the region’s colonists imported African slaves and enslaved and exported Native Americans. Through lecture, discussion, and primary sources, we will examine the transatlantic slave trade of Africans and Native Americans, the communities built by enslaved and free people, the impact of the American Revolution, the creation of gradual abolition statues, and the perpetuation of enslavement until the Civil War. We will also grapple with the role of memory in history, as the region’s slaveholding past is often ignored by its inhabitants. 2 hrs lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (E. Mendoza)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0218

            HIST 0225 African American History (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will examine the history of African Americans from the rise of the transatlantic slave trade to the present. The course will reveal how African Americans actively shaped their history and the history of the United States as an American nation. We will explore topics such as the Middle passage, African American slave cultures, enslaved resistance, emancipation, the rise of legalized segregation, mass migrations, and the continuing struggles for equality. We will approach the subject matter using a variety of primary and secondary sources that focus on the experiences of individuals such as enslaved narratives, autobiographies, documentaries, and oral histories. 3 hrs. lect/disc. AMR, HIS (E. Mendoza)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0225

            HIST 0231 Imperial China (Fall 2022)

            China’s is the world’s oldest continuous civilization, and we will survey the history of the Chinese empire from its cultural beginnings until the conflicts with the West in the 1840s and the internal unrest of the 1850s and 1860s. Our study of China’s political progression through successive dynasties will reveal archetypal patterns of historical disruption amidst continuity. We will also examine those perennial social, institutional, and intellectual forces — such as the stratification of the classes, the absolutist tendencies of monarchy, and the civilly-focused yet competitive atmosphere fostered by a state-sponsored examination culture — that proved determinative in shaping China’s traditional development. Pre-1800 3 hrs. lect. HIS, NOA, SOC (D. Wyatt)

            HIST 0238 Medieval Cities (Spring 2023)

            This course will examine the economic, social, topographical and cultural history of the medieval city. We will study the transformation of urban life from the Roman period through the dark years of the early Middle Ages in the West into the flourishing of a new type of European city life in the High Middle Ages. The development of urban institutions, the building of cathedrals, universities and fortifications, and the growth of trade will all be considered, as will the experience of groups such as Jews, women and intellectuals. Although the class will focus on the medieval European city, we will also draw comparisons with cities of the Muslim East. Pre-1800. 3 hrs lect/disc. EUR, HIS (L. Burnham)

            HIST 0240 History of Pakistan (Fall 2022)

            This course is a political and cultural history of Pakistan. Topics to be discussed include: the pre-independence demand for Pakistan; the partitioning of India in 1947; literary and cultural traditions; the power of the army in politics; the civil war that created Bangladesh; the wars with India; the wars in Afghanistan; the rise of Islamist parties and militant groups; the significance of the Taliban and al Qaeda; and Pakistan's relations with the US, China and India. Readings will include histories, autobiographies, novels, and newspaper and magazine accounts. Several documentary films will also be shown. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, HIS, SOA (I. Barrow)

            HIST 0241 Europe in the Early Middle Ages (Spring 2023)

            This course covers the formative centuries in European history which witnessed the emergence of Western Europe as a distinct civilization. During this period, A. D. 300-1050, the three major building blocks of Western European culture: the classical tradition of Greco-Roman antiquity, the Judeo-Christian tradition, and Germanic tradition, met and fused into an uneasy synthesis that gave Western Europe its cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious foundations. Pre-1800. 3 hrs. lect./disc. EUR, HIS, SOC (L. Burnham)

            HIST 0248 The Soviet Experiment (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will explore the Soviet attempt to forge a fundamentally new form of human life. Starting with the revolutionary movement of the early 20th century, we will examine the development and ultimate downfall of the USSR. What was Soviet communism (both in idea and in practice)? How did its implementation and development transform local identities (religious, ethnic/national, social)? How did internal and external factors (political, social, economic) transform Soviet policy and life? Was the collapse of the USSR inevitable? Special attention will be paid both to political leaders and ordinary people (believers, collaborators, victims, dissidents, outcasts). 3 hrs lect./disc. CMP, EUR, HIS (R. Mitchell)

            HIST 0253 British History: 1603-1815 (Fall 2022)

            The medieval pattern of English and Scottish society began to implode in the seventeenth century. The unity of the Church, the relationship between Crown and Parliament, even the social hierarchy, were shaken to their foundations. After generations of civil war, revolution, and party strife, the eighteenth century saw the establishment of a flexible, oligarchic order, able to fight off the challenges of radicalism and the American and French revolutions. By 1815 Britain, at the peak of its power in Europe, was already beginning to experience the tensions incumbent on becoming the first industrial nation. Pre-1800 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS (P. Monod)

            HIST 0254 British History 1815-Present (Spring 2023)

            The spectacular rise and dramatic decline of Britain’s imperial and industrial power is the central theme of this course. The century after 1815 brought political and social reform and the apogee of middle class culture, but in 1914 the crucial problems of women's rights, labor against capital, and Irish nationalism remained unsolved. War, economic depression and the loss of empire followed. The Labour Party envisaged a welfare state and social contract for post-war Britain; the conservative response was free-market Thatcherism. Today, Britain continues to exemplify the promise and perils of what can be called modernity. 3 hrs. lect/disc. EUR, HIS (P. Monod)

            HIST 0264 Chicagoland (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will explore Chicago’s significance by focusing on its physical and spatial character. Moving from the 19th to the 21st century, we will examine the 1871 fire; the 1893 World’s Fair; the settlement house movement; the rise of modern architecture; the emergence of Black Chicago and development of a multi-ethnic, multi-class metropolis spread across various neighborhoods and suburbs; and recent planning efforts to revitalize the city as a space for all Chicagoans. Interdisciplinary in scope, the course will draw on a range of texts and theoretical perspectives to show the generative importance of Chicago’s rich and varied landscape. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, HIS (J. Ralph, T. Spears)
            Cross-listed as: AMST 0264

            HIST 0288 Modern Brazil (Spring 2023)

            Brazil is the Portuguese-speaking power of Latin America. The country is also home to the largest number of African descendants in the Americas. In this course, we will study the history of modern Brazil from independence to the present day, and discuss the contemporary developments that have transformed Brazil into an international force today. The class will pay close attention to the construction of national institutions, racial and national ideologies, and the celebration of national culture. We will also study Brazil’s impact on the world, from its export of cultural products in cinema, music, and literature in translation, to soccer. It will be important to study the communities of Brazilians in diverse places such as Miami, New York, London, and Paris. We will utilize various writing, oral, and digital methods to examine the major political, economic, and cultural movements that defined Brazilian history from the creation of the empire in the 1820s to the political and cultural tensions of the current regime 3 hr. lect. AMR, HIS (D. Davis)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0288

            HIST 0302 African Diaspora and the Sea (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will study the diversities and commonalities of African diaspora communities from a global perspective. We will focus on the enduring cultural monuments, legacies and other signposts and migrations across global empires and national borders. We will study issues of belonging, and the economic and cultural imprints in the modern era (1800-present). Examples will be drawn from three geographical regions:
            1. North American coastal cities such as New York, Miami, and Halifax
            2. Caribbean and Latin American coastal cities from Havana to Rio de Janeiro
            3. Mediterranean and Euro-Atlantic ports such as Bristol and Marseille
            While most of our case studies focus on sub-Saharan African diasporas, (including Afro-Caribbean, African-American, and Afro-Latin@s), the class will also make comparisons with North African diasporas. Students will be able to apply the themes of the class to African diasporas in other geographical regions around the world including Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.
            AMR, CMP, EUR, HIS, LIT (D. Davis)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0302

            HIST 0305 Confucius and Confucianism (Spring 2023)

            Perhaps no individual has left his mark more completely and enduringly upon an entire civilization than Confucius (551-479 B.C.) has upon that of China. Moreover, the influence of Confucius has spread well beyond China to become entrenched in the cultural traditions of neighboring Japan and Korea and elsewhere. This course examines who Confucius was, what he originally intended, and how the more important of his disciples have continued to reinterpret his original vision and direct it toward different ends. Pre-1800. (formerly HIST/PHIL 0273) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AAL (20 seats), CW (5 seats), HIS, NOA, PHL (D. Wyatt)
            Cross-listed as: PHIL 0305

            HIST 0313 Revolutionary Russia (Spring 2023)

            The Russian Revolution was a continuum of violence that, through years of civil war and political, social and cultural revolutions, sought to transform the basis of human existence and usher in a utopian future, imposing “Marxist” values upon diverse local cultures and contexts. We will examine the rise and fall of revolutionary sentiment from late-imperial terrorism through the establishment of Stalin’s dictatorship. Through analysis of primary and secondary sources, students will assess both the manifold ambitions of the revolutionary years and how memory of 1917 has been used to justify, critique and at times repossess aspects of Russian/Soviet history. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities. 3 hrs sem. CMP, EUR, HIS (R. Mitchell)

            HIST 0315 Health and Healing in African History (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will complicate our contemporary perspectives on health and healing in Africa by exploring diverse historical examples from the continent's deep past. Our readings, discussions, and papers will cover a range of historical contexts and topics, such as the politics of rituals and public healing ceremonies in pre-colonial contexts, state and popular responses to shifting disease landscapes in the colonial era, long-term cultural and economic changes in healer-patient dynamics, the problematic legacies of environmental health hazards in the post-colonial period, and Africans' engagement with global health interventions in recent decades. (Counts for HSMT credit) 3 hrs. sem. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0315

            HIST 0319 Readings in the Philosophy of History (Spring 2023)

            Even before the appearance of Georg W. F. Hegel's classic study The Philosophy of History, a heated debate was being waged concerning the nature and substance of history. Is history, like science, expressible in predictable patterns or subject to irrevocable laws? What factors distinguish true history from the mere random succession of events? What should we assume to be the fundamental nature of historical truth, and are we to determine it objectively or subjectively? Is it possible to be human and yet be somehow "outside of" history? These are among the questions we will examine as we read and deliberate on a variety of philosophies of history, while concentrating on the most influential versions developed by Hegel and Karl Marx. 3 hrs. sem. CW (5 seats), EUR, HIS, PHL (D. Wyatt)
            Cross-listed as: PHIL 0319

            HIST 0321 The 1940s (Spring 2023)

            The 1940s saw enormous and often violent change: a global, destructive war; ongoing privation after the formal end of hostilities; the intensification of national liberation movements; the founding of the United Nations and the establishment of a new global economic order; the beginnings of the Cold War; new artistic expressions; and the reconfiguration of sexual and cultural mores. In this course we will begin with an overview of the global scale of the second world war and, using a comparative approach, focus on examples of individual suffering. We will then study the war’s effects in select countries around the world. 3 hrs. lect. (No open to students who have already taken IGST/HIST 0473.) CMP, HIS (I. Barrow)

            HIST 0324 Race, Medicine, and Health in U.S. History (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will explore the historical relationships between race, medicine, and public health in the United States from colonial times to the present. Through a series of case studies that include epidemics such as smallpox, yellow fever, and COVID-19, we will trace the origins of racial classification and its impact on medical care. Our topics include the management of illness in colonial times, the relationship between medical schools and slavery, the eugenics movement, immigration restrictions, the use of minorities as experimentation subjects, the fight against medical discrimination, and the current struggles for health care access. We will approach these subjects through sources such as scholarly publications, diaries, documentaries, medical journals, oral histories, and print media. 2 hrs lect./1 hr. disc. (Counts for HSMT credit) AMR, CMP, HIS, SOC (E. Mendoza)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0324

            HIST 0330 Jewish Oral History (Fall 2022)

            In this weekly seminar students will learn the basics of oral history—research, interview skills, processing, archiving, and presentation—by conducting interviews with members of Kolot Chayeinu, a Brooklyn-based Jewish congregation. Students will work with congregants to create an oral history archive. Depending on student interests and abilities, additional outcomes may include films, audiowalks, social media presence, listening parties, or podcasts. Students will also study oral history theory, the evolution of American Jewish spirituality, and New York City social movements. An oral history of Kolot encompasses Jewish histories of feminism, LGBTQ and AIDS activism, peace and human rights work, death and dying, childhood and adult education, antiracism, theatre, art, music, nonprofit development, politics, rabbinical training, coalition work, and more. AMR, HIS (L. Povitz)
            Cross-listed as: JWST 0330

            HIST 0332 Roman Law (Spring 2023)

            The Romans' codification of civil law is often considered their greatest intellectual achievement and most original and influential contribution to the world. This course treats the four main divisions of Roman law (persons, property, obligations, and succession). Great emphasis is placed on the role of law in Roman society. How did the law influence the lives of Roman citizens living under it? How did ordinary Roman citizens shape the law? Students will come to understand the principles of Roman law through actual cases. Designed for students with some background in Roman history and/or literature. 2 hrs. lect./1 disc. EUR, HIS (J. Chaplin)
            Cross-listed as: CLAS 0332 *

            HIST 0333 Science and Empire (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will examine how science, medicine, and technology were used to create, manage, and justify empire. We will focus on the British empire of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although the course will include comparisons to other European empires. We will also read critiques of colonial science and medicine, and learn how anti-colonial leaders and movements adapted and engineered technologies to help their efforts. (Counts for HSMT credit.) HIS (I. Barrow)

            HIST 0334 Contested Kyiv: Ukranian-Russian Relations in Historical Context (Fall 2022)

            Kyiv: capital of the Ukrainian nation? Or Kiev: cradle of Russian civilization? Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2021 claim that “Russians and Ukrainians were one people – a single whole” was a geopolitical maneuver; nonetheless, it highlighted a deeply intertwined and contested history. In this course we will explore the multifaceted history of Kyiv from its founding to the present day in order to better understand the entangled histories of the contemporary Ukrainian and Russian states. Central to our discussions will be primary and secondary sources that offer conflicting dynastic, religious and national histories which have sought to claim Kyiv as their own. We will also probe Kyiv’s Jewish past to better understand the region’s complex multi-confessional and multi-ethnic past. 3 hrs sem. EUR, HIS (R. Mitchell)

            HIST 0335 Saints, Heathens and Heretics: Belief and Unbelief in Imperial Russia (Spring 2023)

            Though Orthodox Christianity is often viewed as synonymous with Russian culture, the Russian Empire was home to a dizzying array of religious faiths, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and varying forms of Christianity. Through primary and secondary source analysis (including textual, visual and aural sources), we will explore the challenges and opportunities this multi-confessional reality posed to Russia’s rulers and the official Orthodox Church. We will also probe the question of what religious faith (in its multiple iterations) meant for subjects from across the social strata and geographic expanse of the empire. How did one lead a spiritually fulfilled life? How did members of different religious faiths interact? What was the relationship between religious and ethnic identities? 3 hrs sem. CMP, HIS, PHL (R. Mitchell)
            Cross-listed as: RELI 0335

            HIST 0346 Medieval Science, Technology and Magic (Fall 2022)

            Modern understanding may link science with technology, but leaves magic out as a world apart. In the Medieval West, where alchemy and the astrolabe comfortably shared a workroom, intellectuals pursued both with equal fervor and respectability. In this course we will explore the medieval meanings and context of “science” and “magic,” developments in technology, and the relationship of authority and religion to all three through readings in primary sources, critical essays and monographs, and Umberto Eco's historical novel, The Name of the Rose. Students will contribute to class understanding with frequent individual research, including a final research paper. Pre-1800 (Counts for HSMT credit) 3 hrs. lect./dsc. EUR, HIS, SOC (L. Burnham)

            HIST 0373 History of American Women: 1869-1999 (Fall 2022)

            This course will examine women's social, political, cultural, and economic position in American society from 1869 through the late 20th century. We will explore the shifting ideological basis for gender roles, as well as the effects of race, class, ethnicity, and region on women's lives. Topics covered will include: women's political identity, women's work, sexuality, access to education, the limits of "sisterhood" across racial and economic boundaries, and the opportunities women used to expand their sphere of influence. 3 hrs lect./disc. AMR, CMP, HIS (A. Morsman)
            Cross-listed as: GSFS 0373

            HIST 0375 Struggles for Change in Southern Africa (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will examine the tumultuous period of social struggle in southern Africa in the decades following World War II. Major topics to be covered include the rise of apartheid and the mobilization of anti-apartheid resistance in South Africa and Namibia; the liberation struggle against white settler rule in Zimbabwe; the fight for freedom from Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique; and Mozambique's protracted civil war following independence. A central purpose of this course is to explore how these different arenas of struggle transformed individual lives and social relations in complex and diverse ways, generating enduring impacts and challenges within the region. HIS, SAF, SOC (J. Tropp)
            Cross-listed as: BLST 0375

            HIST 0380 With Friends Like These: A History of Modern US-China Relations (Fall 2022)

            Present-day dynamics between the United States and China appear particularly consequential, yet trans-Pacific relations have long shaped global affairs. In this seminar we will examine the history of China-US relations from the late 19th century into the 21st. Topics will include imperialism, American orientalism, the Cold War, trade wars, and shifting perceptions of hegemony. Through critical reading and discussion we will pay particular attention to how their “special” relationship has shaped China and the United States’ respective evolutions. Students who have taken HIST 479 should not register for this course. Course materials include memoirs, political tracts, Hollywood and Shanghai films, oral histories, and a variety of visual works in complement with scholarly texts. Seminar CMP, HIS (J. Mao, M. Clinton)

            HIST 0397 America and the Pacific (Spring 2023)

            If the 20th century was "America's Century," then it could also be deemed "America's Pacific Century" as interaction with Asia fundamentally shaped the United States' political, social, and diplomatic development. In this course we will examine American foreign relations on the Pacific Rim from the Philippine-American War to the Los Angeles riots of 1992. Topics to be covered include: America's imperial project in Asia, the annexation of Hawaii, Wilsonian diplomacy, the reconstruction of Japan after World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Richard Nixon's visit to Communist China, and the immigrant experience. 3 hrs sem. AMR, HIS, NOR (J. Mao)

            HIST 0403 Race in the British Empire, 1580-1960 (Spring 2023)

            Race was a significant factor in the formation of Britain’s global empire. Within the British Isles, the Irish and Highland Scots were racialized as “Celts.” In the Americas, race shaped relations with indigenous peoples and defined systems of Black enslavement. Later, it informed British expansionism in South Asia, the Pacific and Africa, as well as eugenics policies and responses to independence movements. This course examines shifting interpretations of racial categories within Britain itself and the British empire overseas, from the Tudor period down to the beginning of large-scale immigration into Britain from South Asia and the Caribbean. 3 hr. sem. CMP, HIS, SOC (P. Monod)

            HIST 0435 American Conservatism after 1932: Ideology, Politics, History (Fall 2022)

            “Let’s grow up, conservatives!” was Sen. Barry Goldwater’s dictum at the 1960 Republican convention. Once dismissed as practically extinct, American conservatism became the most enduring political movement of the 20th century. In this seminar we will trace conservative thought and politics from the New Deal era through the contemporary moment, highlighting both domestic and international developments that shaped the modern American right. Students will closely engage with recent scholarly works as well as primary sources such as speeches, magazines, campaign texts, and visual media to effectively understand conservatism’s historical evolution. 3 hrs. sem AMR, HIS (J. Mao)

            HIST 0443 Readings in African History: Women and Gender in Africa (Fall 2022)

            This course takes up the challenge of understanding women's experiences and the role of gender in Africa's past. We will read from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives and literary forms, including ethnographies, life histories, and fiction, in order to explore different methodological and interpretive approaches to these subjects. Themes will include: changes in the structure of patriarchy and women's status in the pre-colonial period, the gendered impact of colonial rule on African economies and ecologies, historical identities of masculinity and femininity, and gendered experience of postcolonial "development." Prior experience in African history is not required. 3 hrs. seminar HIS, SAF (J. Tropp)
            Cross-listed as: GSFS 0443

            HIST 0466 Animals in Middle Eastern History (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will examine attitudes towards animals in Middle Eastern history, with an emphasis on Muslim settings. We will survey the law and ethics of human-animal relations in religious sources and engage with issues such as how humans differ from non-human “animals,” how they should treat animals, and the overall place and roles of animals in divine creation as reflected within different historical periods. We will also consider the impact of the modern animal liberation movement in the Middle East and examine a variety of religious and secular positions formulated by Muslims that have recently prioritized animal welfare and promoted environmental consciousness. (Counts for HSMT credit) Pre-1800. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, HIS, MDE, SOC (F. Armanios)
            Cross-listed as: FOOD 0466

            HIST 0467 Approaching Historical Truth: Methods and Evidence in History Writing (Spring 2023)

            In this seminar we will learn about how historians have approached problems of evidence and explanation. We will consider methodologies that historians have adapted from other disciplines, including the natural and social sciences as well as literary and cultural studies. We will also consider what distinguishes historical from fictional narratives. In the first part of the course we will explore the role of social and institutional power in shaping historians’ approaches to evidence, with special attention to the role of archives. In the second, we will examine a recent historical controversy or a single historical study for its argument and presentation of evidence. In the final part, students will design and execute their own research projects. Seminar. HIS (M. Clinton)

            HIST 0500 Special Research Projects (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Special research projects may only be taken during the Junior or Senior year, preferable after taking HIST 0600. Approval of department chair and project advisor is required.

            HIST 0600 Writing History (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            In this course students discuss historical methods and writing strategies to create convincing historical narratives. With the approval and guidance of the professor, students complete a 20-25-page research paper based on primary and secondary sources. Students take this course in the fall of their junior year or with permission in the spring. If students are away for the entire junior year, they can take the course in the fall of their senior year. 3 hr. sem. CW (Fall 2022: P. Monod, K. Morse; Spring 2023: L. Povitz)

            HIST 0700 Senior Independent Study I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            The optional History Senior Thesis is written over two terms, with the final grade applying to both terms. Approval is required. Students submit thesis proposals in the spring before the year that they choose to write their thesis. Students generally begin their thesis in the fall and complete it during winter or spring. Approval is required to begin the thesis in winter or spring. All students must attend the Thesis Writer's Workshops in fall and winter semesters and work with a faculty advisor to complete a 55-70 page paper. Please see detailed guidelines under history requirements.

            HIST 0701 Senior Independent Study II (Spring 2023)

            With departmental approval, senior history majors may write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The final grade is applied to both terms. Students must submit thesis proposals in the spring before the academic year that they choose to write their thesis. They must attend the Thesis Writers' Workshops held in the fall and winter of the academic year in which they begin the thesis. The department encourages students to write theses during the fall (0700) and winter terms (0701), but with the permission of the chair, fall/spring and winter/spring theses are also acceptable. Under exceptional circumstances, the department may approve a thesis initiated in the spring of an academic year and finished in the fall of the following year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.
            ↑ Top

            Department of History of Art and Architectural Studies

            ↑ Top

            Architectural Studies Track

            Required for the Major

            Eleven (11) Courses:

            • HARC 0130 (Introduction to Architectural Design)
            • HARC 0230 (Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0259 (Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute.
            • A pre-approved art-practice studio course in Studio Art, theatre set or lighting design, Film and Media Culture, or dance.
            • Two place-based courses from two of the following geographical regions, their cultures and diasporas:
              • Asia
              • Latin America
              • Middle East and North Africa
              • North America and Europe
              • Sub-Saharan Africa
            • Two courses taken in the department that deal with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture.
            • HARC 0731 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research)
            • HARC 0732 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design), open only to Architectural Studies majors and joint majors, to be taken sequentially.

            Required for the Joint Major

            A proposed program of study, including educational rationale and specific courses to be taken, must be submitted to the Architectural Studies director for approval before registering as a joint major.

            Eight (8) Courses:

            • HARC 0130 (Introduction to Architectural Design)
            • HARC 0230 (Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0259 (Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute.
            • One place-based course from one of the following geographical regions, their cultures and diasporas:
              • Asia
              • Latin America
              • Middle East and North Africa
              • North America and Europe
              • Sub-Saharan Africa
            • One course taken in the department that deals with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture.
            • HARC 0731 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research)
            • HARC 0732 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design), open only to Architectural Studies majors and joint majors, to be taken sequentially.

            Required for Architecture and the Environment Joint Major

            Fifteen (15) Courses:

            For Environmental Studies (7 courses):

            • ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, and GEOG 0120, all to be taken before the end of junior year
            • Two ES Cognate Courses (one science course with a lab, and one course in social science, humanities, or team-taught from the approved Environmental Science cognate list)
            • ENVS 0401

            For Architectural Studies (7 courses + capstone course):

            • HARC 0130 (Introduction to Architectural Design)
            • HARC 0230 (Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0259 (Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute
            • One course taken in the department that deals with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture. 
            • HARC 0231 (Architecture and the Environment; joint major capstone);
            • HARC 0731 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research) and
            • HARC 0732 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design), open only to Architectural Studies majors and joint majors, to be taken sequentially.

            Required for the Minor

            Five (5) Courses:

            • HARC 0130 (Introduction to Architectural Design)
            • HARC 0230 (Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0259 (Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture)
            • HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute. 
            • One course taken in the department that deals with architectural history, theory or practice; urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture.

            Honors

            The Architectural Studies GPA is calculated on the basis of those courses that satisfy the requirements for the major and joint majors. Only courses taken at the Middlebury College campus and applied towards Architectural Studies will be used in the calculation of GPA for purposes of determining honors. Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

            Advisory

            The major, joint majors and minor in Architectural Studies do not result in a professional degree in architecture. Many graduate architecture schools expect applicants to have taken college-level courses in calculus and physics. Please consult with your advisor if you are considering a career in design. Students may acquire hands-on experience by participating in the Architectural Studies/Habitat for Humanity of Addison County projects, the summer design+build program, several other co-curricular initiatives, as well as architectural internships.

            Please Note: Courses taken outside of the department may, by prior approval, be used to satisfy major, joint major, and minor requirements.

            ↑ Top

            Art History and Museum Studies Track

            Required for the Major

            Eleven (11) Courses:

            • HARC 0100 (An Introduction to Global Visual Culture)
            • A pre-approved art-practice studio course (in Studio Art, Architectural Studies, theatre set or lighting design, Film and Media Culture, or dance).
            • Seven additional courses:
              • Two at the 300-level or above and one a HARC CW seminar that directly addresses issues of art-historical methodology (HARC 0301, for example) to be taken prior to HARC 0710.
              • At least three with a focus on material created before 1750 and at least three on material created after 1750.
              • Additionally, they must focus on four of the five following geographical regions, their cultures and diasporas: Asia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
            • Senior thesis consisting of HARC 0710 and HARC 0711, the research and writing sequence, to be taken in the senior fall and winter terms.

            Required for the Joint Major

            Eight (8) Courses:

            A proposed program of study, including educational rationale and specific courses to be taken, must be submitted to the History of Art/Museum Studies chair for approval before registering as a joint major.

            • HARC 0100 (An Introduction to Global Visual Culture)
            • Five additional courses:
              • Two at the 300-level or above and one a HARC CW seminar that directly addresses issues of art-historical methodology (HARC 0301, for example) to be taken prior to HARC 0710.
              • At least two with a focus on material created before 1750 and at least two on material created after 1750.
              • Additionally, they must focus on three of the five following geographical regions, their cultures and diasporas: Asia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
            • Senior thesis consisting of HARC 0710 and HARC 0711, the research and writing sequence, to be taken in the senior fall and winter terms.

            Required for the Minor

            Five (5) Courses:

            • HARC 0100 (An Introduction to Global Visual Culture)
            • Four additional courses:
              • One at the 300-level or above.
              • At least one with a focus on material created before 1750 and at least two on material created after 1750.
              • Additionally, they must focus on at least two of the five following geographical regions, their cultures and diasporas: Asia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

            Advisory

            Most graduate programs in art history and classical archaeology require students to pass reading examinations in at least two foreign languages. For this reason, students interested in graduate study should pursue at least one foreign language during their time at Middlebury. 

            Students interested in working in the art world (museums, auction houses, galleries, etc.) may acquire practical experience via internships at the Middlebury College Museum of Art and other museums, as well as by participating in the Museum Assistants Program (MAP) and, during the summer, MuseumWorks at the Middlebury College Museum of Art and the Middlebury Museum Studies program in Oxford, UK.

            Please note: Courses taken outside of the department may, by prior approval, be used to satisfy major, joint major, and minor requirements.

            Honors

            The History of Art and Museum Studies GPA is calculated on the basis of those courses that satisfy the requirements for the major and joint major. Only courses taken at the Middlebury College campus and applied towards History of Art/Museum Studies will be used in the calculation of GPA for purposes of determining honors. Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

            HARC 0100 An Introduction to Global Visual Culture (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            This course is an introduction to the visual cultures of the world, with an emphasis on how images, objects, and monuments are made, experienced, exchanged, and used by groups of people with diverse religious, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds. We will focus on themes that have been taken up by different cultures and adapted over time, such as monumentality, the sacred, embodiment, science, and technology. Through a close study of these themes, we will consider how materials, cultures, and histories are transformed and negotiated through making and viewing works of art. In the process, we will challenge the art historical canon by shedding light on marginalized periods, regions, and artworks. 2 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. ART, CMP (Fall 2022: E. Sassin; Spring 2023: S. Rogers)

            HARC 0120 DesignLab: Creating Innovation (Spring 2023)

            We live in a ‘designed’ world. Good design brings function and delight to everything we see and interact with. This course teaches fundamental principles of design and creative innovation. Students will learn how to articulate and develop design concepts through hands-on projects that explore a broad range of design types (graphic, digital, industrial, craft, and architectural). These projects will be catalysts for critique, as we consider the environmental and ethical aspects of design in our increasingly global and digital world. Materials and tools, as well as training for 3D printers, laser cutters, and power tools, will be provided. 3 hrs. lect ART (B. Allred)

            HARC 0130 Introduction to Architectural Design (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Introduction to Architectural Design
            Are you fascinated by buildings and interested in trying your hand at architectural design? This course will introduce you to principles of architecture and teach you the skills architects use to explore and communicate design ideas. We will consider urban and rural settings, sustainability, energy efficiency, functionality, comfort, and the role architecture plays in shaping community. Classroom instruction by a practicing architect will provide hands-on drawing, model-making, and materials research. Students will work to analyze existing buildings and design their own. Students seeking to improve their understanding of the built environment as well to develop their design-mind to reconcile social-ecological challenges are encouraged to take this course. No prior experience is needed. Approval Only (please contact the instructor at apauchet@middlebury.edu).
            ART (M. Kaplan)

            Spring 2023

            Introduction to Architectural Design
            Are you fascinated by buildings and interested in trying your hand at architectural design? This course will introduce you to principles of architecture and teach you the skills architects use to explore and communicate design ideas. We will consider urban and rural settings, sustainability, energy efficiency, functionality, comfort, and the role architecture plays in shaping community. Classroom instruction by a practicing architect will provide hands-on drawing, model-making, and materials research. Students will work to analyze existing buildings and design their own. Students seeking to improve their understanding of the built environment as well to develop their design-mind to reconcile social-ecological challenges are encouraged to take this course. No prior experience is needed. Approval Only (please contact the instructor at apauchet@middlebury.edu for approval)
            ART (M. Kaplan)

            HARC 0202 Modern Art (1789-1960) (Fall 2022)

            This course surveys key international artists, movements, and aesthetic debates beginning in the late eighteenth century and into the mid-twentieth century. In a period characterized by urbanization, industrialization, and mass politics, we will ask how modern art produced, reflected, exaggerated, or challenged the effects of modernization. In particular, we will focus on how this historical moment of unprecedented nationalism, imperial expansion, post-colonial liberation, and cold war alliances forged a global modernism. 3 hrs. lect. ART, EUR, HIS (S. Rogers)

            HARC 0216 Intro to 3D Industrial Design (Spring 2023)

            3D Printing and CNC machining have transformed how objects are designed, prototyped, and manufactured. In this course we will learn fundamental 3D solid modeling techniques, iterative design strategies, and a working knowledge of additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques. Every class will be hands- on and fully immersed in the high-tech tools of the industrial design process. Students will leave with a strong conceptual understanding of 3D solid modeling, printing and machining, and an independent final project. 3 hrs. lect/lab. ART (D. Houghton)

            HARC 0219 Understanding Early Medieval and Romanesque Art: Seeing Ste. Foy (Fall 2022)

            This course is an introduction to key artworks and architectural monuments made and built in Europe during the eighth through twelfth centuries. We will study such structures as Charlemagne's Palace Chapel and the reliquary statue of Ste. Foy at Conques to explore how these monuments were products of independent cultures that valued the creation of a visual fusion between the Judeo-Christian God and humankind. Likely lines of inquiry include: the persistence of a Classical ideal and its myriad adaptations; the coordination of art objects to specific locations; and, not least, the self-conscious staging of political and ecclesiastical power. 3 hrs lect. ART, EUR, HIS (E. Garrison)

            HARC 0230 Modern Architecture (Spring 2023)

            Rotating skyscrapers, green roofs, and avant-garde museums: how did we arrive in the architectural world of the early 21st century? In this course we will survey the major stylistic developments, new building types, and new technologies that have shaped European and American architecture since the late 18th century. Students will learn about the work of major architects as well as key architectural theories and debates. Special emphasis will be placed on the cultural and political contexts in which buildings are designed. 2 hrs. Lect./1 hr. disc. ART, HIS (E. Sassin)

            HARC 0231 Architecture and the Environment (Spring 2023)

            Architecture has a dynamic relationship with the natural and cultural environments in which it operates. As a cultural phenomenon it impacts the physical landscape and uses natural resources while it also frames human interaction, harbors community, and organizes much of public life. We will investigate those relationships and explore strategies to optimize them, in order to seek out environmentally responsive architectural solutions. Topics to be covered include: analysis of a building's site as both natural and cultural contexts, passive and active energy systems, principles of sustainable construction, and environmental impact. Our lab will allow us to study on site, "off-the-grid" dwellings, hay-bale houses, passive solar constructions and alternative communities, meet with "green" designers, architects, and builders, and do hands-on projects. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. ART (S. Pottorf)

            HARC 0250 Baroque Art in a Global Context (Spring 2023)

            Baroque art and architecture flourished in the courts of seventeenth-century Europe before spreading to the Americas, Asia, and Africa in the wake of global trade, colonialism, and religious proselytizing. In this course we will examine how this style of art and architecture was recontexualized and transformed when it came into contact with preexisting traditions overseas. Readings and discussions will compare artistic production across cultures by focusing not only on the forces that contributed to the broad reach of the Baroque, but also on the persistence of local artistic styles, which were challenged and nurtured by sustained intercultural contact. 3 hrs. lct. ART, CMP (C. Anderson)

            HARC 0251 Court, Castle, and Cathedral: The Gothic World (Spring 2023)

            This survey course will consider closely the major architectural monuments of the Gothic period in Western Europe, using them as a point of departure in a larger consideration of the artistic culture of this time. In looking at Gothic art and architecture, the class will ask some of the following questions: How were buildings embedded in the promotion of distinct political programs? How do liturgical considerations determine the shapes of buildings and sites? How can we track the emergence of a non-Christian "other" in art of all media? How can we characterize the visual and intellectual culture of "courtly love"? 3 hrs. lect. ART, EUR, HIS (E. Garrison)

            HARC 0254 Vermeers's World: 17th-century Dutch Art in a Global Context (Fall 2022)

            The artists of the so-called Dutch “Golden Age”—Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals, and many others—are best known for their portraits of wealthy Dutch citizens, landscapes of the local countryside, and scenes of domestic merry-making. The widespread popularity of images of local people and places, however, obscures the significant global activities of the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century. This course will reexamine the works of these well-known Dutch artists by placing them in the context of global trade and colonialism. We will consider works in a range of media—including paintings, prints, books, textiles, and ceramics—that pictured and mediated diplomatic, social, and economic negotiations between the nascent Dutch Republic and the cultures it encountered across the globe.3 hrs. lect. ART, EUR, HIS (C. Anderson)

            HARC 0259 A Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture (Fall 2022)

            Since time immemorial, humans have created structures large and small, not only to provide shelter and protection but also to express identity, status, and ideology. In this course we will chronicle the major developments of architecture as a cultural endeavor from its beginnings in the Neolithic in the Near East to the Industrial Revolution in Europe, considered within a global perspective. Attention will be given to formal and structural innovations, often borrowed across cultures and periods. Introductory in nature, the course combines lectures, discussions, and workshops, and is open to all curious students. 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART, HIS (P. Broucke)

            HARC 0260 Contemporary Art (1960-Present) (Fall 2022)

            In what ways can artworks help us see our world and ourselves anew? How does the art of our time open the present for us to explore and critique, just as it offers glimmers of possible futures? In attempting to answer these questions, in this course we will survey major developments in international art practice from 1960 to the present. Throughout we will consider the diverse formal strategies of contemporary art alongside the radical upheavals of the recent past and present, from the world-wide protests of the 1960s to the global crisis of climate change and the connectivity (and isolation) of the digital world. ART, CMP, HIS (E. Vazquez)

            HARC 0265 Twentieth Century Latin American Art (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will survey major developments in the art of Latin America from 1890 to the present. We will explore the rise of avant-gardism and abstraction, Mexican muralism, surrealism, kinetic art, neo-concrete art, and conceptualism, as well as the interaction between Latin Americans artists and their European and North American counterparts. We will also study the work of individual artists such as Diego Rivera, Joaquín Torres García, Wilfredo Lam, and Lygia Clark, among others. Readings will be drawn from artist's writings, criticism, primary documents, and recent art historical scholarship. AAL, ART, CMP, HIS (E. Vazquez)

            HARC 0268 Arts of Asia (Spring 2023)

            This course considers South and East Asian art history from its most ancient origins in India, China, and Japan to the present. This is not a comprehensive survey; rather, it focuses on cross-cultural connections through selected art works, considered individually and in broader contexts. We will chronicle the evolutions of painting, sculpture, architecture, and other media of Asia, focusing especially on painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts. We will pay particular attention to the impact of religious and royal patronage, Buddhism and Hinduism, the Silk Road, Asian aesthetics, and specialized techniques such as ink painting and woodblock printing. Works of art will be studied in terms of style, religious meaning, and social and historical contexts. 3 hrs. lect. AAL, ART, CMP, HIS, NOA (C. Packert)

            HARC 0272 Mastodons, Mermaids, and Dioramas: Capturing Nature in America (Spring 2023)

            Why did 18th-century museums stuff and mount exotic and domestic animals? Why does the American Museum of Natural History still house dioramas of so-called native peoples hunting? How has the study and staging of nature transferred into various kinds of artistic expression? In this course we will examine the intertwining of art, science, and ecology in the United States from the 1700s to the present day. Objects of study will include museum dioramas, scientific models, artifacts and artworks collected during scientific expeditions, and the work of Walton Ford and Christy Rupp, contemporary artists whose work engages ecological issues. (not open to students who have taken FYSE 1447) (formerly AMST 0214) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, ART, CW (E. Foutch)
            Cross-listed as: AMST 0272 *

            HARC 0278 Feminist Building: Art, Aesthetics, and Mini Golf (Spring 2023)

            In this project-based course, we will build a reproductive justice mini golf course to be housed in the athletics facility. We will collaborate with graphic artists, woodworkers, activists, and faculty and students to design, develop, and construct the mini golf course. The studio course work will include opportunities to explore sculpture, construction, and engineering using many art forms and fabrication processes. The course will engage with Feminist and Queer Studies approaches to using art for social change and what it means to build in feminist ways, both in terms of process and product. All students will contribute to designing and building the mini golf course. No prior experience with GSFS or HARC required AMR, ART, SOC (C. Thomsen, C. Boyd)
            Cross-listed as: GSFS 0278 *

            HARC 0281 Viewer Discretion Advised: Controversies in American Art & Museums, 1876-Present (Spring 2023)

            What are the “culture wars,” and why do they matter? What ideas are considered too “obscene” for American audiences? In this course we will explore controversies and scandals sparked by public displays of art in the U.S. including: Eakins’s Gross Clinic (1876), seen as too “bloody” for an art exhibition; the U.S. Navy’s objections to Paul Cadmus’s painting of sailors (1934); censorship and NEA budget cuts (Mapplethorpe & Serrano, 1989); backlash to The West as America’s deconstruction of myths of the frontier (1991); tensions surrounding Colonial Williamsburg’s “slave auction” reenactment (1994); debates over the continued display (and occasional defacement) of Confederate monuments in the era of the Black Lives Matter Movement. (open to AMST, HARC and ART majors only, other by approval) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, ART, HIS (E. Foutch)
            Cross-listed as: AMST 0281 *

            HARC 0301 Ways of Seeing (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will focus on the various methods and theories that can enrich and deepen our understanding of art, architecture, and visual culture. Students will hone their analytical skills, both verbal and written, often with recourse to objects from the College Museum and the campus at large. In general, this seminar will develop students’ awareness of objects of culture broadly construed, and sharpen their understanding of the scope and intellectual history of the field. To be taken during the sophomore or junior year as a prerequisite for HARC 0710 and HARC 0711. 3 hrs. sem. ART, CW (E. Vazquez)

            HARC 0330 Intermediate Architectural Design (Fall 2022)

            This studio course emphasizes the thought and method of architectural design. Members of this studio will be involved in developing their insights towards cultural value systems and their expression in the environments they create. Participants work primarily in the studio space and rely heavily on individual instruction and group review of their work. The course provides a foundation for more advanced study in the areas of architecture, landscape architecture, and other fields related to the design of the built environment, and an opportunity to work with the Cameron Visiting Architect. (HARC 0130) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab ART (S. Pottorf)

            HARC 0341 Berlin: History, Architecture, and Urbanism in Faust’s Metropolis (in English) (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will investigate the rich and complicated built environment of Berlin. By looking at both visual evidence and textual sources we will uncover how the city has been transformed from a cultural backwater during the early modern period to the current capital of a reunified Germany. By the conclusion of this course, you will be comfortable “reading” buildings and spaces and will be able to navigate both the physical city of Berlin and the many layers of history buried within. 3 hrs. sem. ART, CW (5 seats), EUR, HIS (E. Sassin)

            HARC 0354 The Rhetoric of Public Memory (Spring 2023)

            This course focuses on public memory and the various statues, memorials, sites, and spaces that construct public memory in contemporary U.S. society. In this course, we will study local Middlebury and Vermont public memories, Civil War and Confederate memories, and spaces of contention and controversy, while visiting nearby memorials and museums. Students in this class will compose analyses on these public memories and create arguments on the viability of memories in different shapes and forms. Overall, students will leave this class with a stronger understanding of not only public memory rhetoric but the various components that keep these memories alive. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CW, HIS, SOC (J. Sanchez)
            Cross-listed as: WRPR 0354 *

            HARC 0357 Orientalism and the Visual Arts (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will consider the relationship between visual culture and the politics of knowledge. Comparatively examining a series of cross-cultural encounters in modern and contemporary art, we will ask how knowledge is visually codified, labeled, and displayed. The course will begin with a reading of Edward Said’s Orientalism. We will then examine a series of case studies in order to identify and compare strategies of both “representing the other” and “speaking back.” We will address notions of exoticism, cultural difference, authenticity, and native authority with a particular focus on the ways in which the visual arts construct notions of race and gender and difference in representations of the Middle East, and more specifically, the Arab world. Case studies, drawn from the late eighteenth century until today, will be focused in the discipline of art history and the geographical regions of primarily the Middle East and Africa, as well as Europe and the U.S. 3 hrs sem. ART, CMP, HIS, MDE (S. Rogers)

            HARC 0360 Art’s Worlds: Topics in Contemporary Art (Spring 2023)

            The word contemporary is relational; to be con-temporary means to exist with others in time. In this seminar we will explore themes in very recent art, paying particular attention to how various practices draw attention to the constitutive relation of “with” through form. Topics may include artistic responses to social conflict, technological change, expanding global art centers, among others. Specific topics will vary, in part, based on student interests and current debates. Readings will be drawn from critical texts, recent scholarship and artists’ writings. Prior exposure to post-1945 art is helpful, but not required. 3 hrs. sem. ART (E. Vazquez)

            HARC 0364 The State of Emergency and its Aftermaths: Kitchen Design to Counter-History (Fall 2022)

            In this class we will uncover how architecture and design have mitigated and exacerbated the human tragedy of modern industrialized war in the 20th century. Taking the First World War and its inheritances as a through line to the present-day refugee crisis, we will discover how conflicts have manifested spatially (refugee camps to military installations, villages to capital cities), how design cultures of education, care, and memory emerged from battle and conditions of scarcity, and how war often blurred the meaning of what constitutes “architecture.” Shifting the focus from trenches, monuments, and imperial building projects to the architecture of the everyday, we will think about the politics of food systems and garden design, urban (and rural) recovery and reconstruction efforts, the creation of ephemeral and ad-hoc architectures, the role of mechanization, technology, and governmentality, and the gendered implications of states of emergency. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.* ART, EUR, HIS (E. Sassin)

            HARC 0365 Art, Colonialism & the Digital Humanities (Spring 2023)

            The field of Digital Humanities (DH) combines computational or digital technologies with humanistic research. In this course, digital humanistic inquiry will provide the lens through which we examine the artistic, textual, and archival legacies of European colonialism from the early modern period (late 15th through 18th centuries) to the present. Our focus will be on the visual and material culture of the Spanish, Dutch, and English empires, which included paintings, prints, illustrated texts, ceramics, and textiles, among many other items. Readings for the course will interrogate the structural inequities of power engrained in these sources—many of which persist in museums and other cultural institutions today—alongside recent scholarship in the digital humanities. Students will learn to think critically about the emerging “digital cultural archive,” while also acquiring the skills to create their own digital projects. ART, EUR, HIS (C. Anderson)

            HARC 0372 AS/Habitat for Humanity Housing Unit: From Design Development to Bidding (Spring 2023)

            Architectural Studies at Middlebury partners with Habitat for Humanity of Addison County for the design and realization of high-quality, energy-efficient, affordable housing. The objective of this interdisciplinary studio course is to develop the design of the housing unit from a conceptual level to the point that it can be bid upon competitively by contractors. This intensive process will be driven by a schedule of deliverables conceived to allow for construction to start in the following spring. Studio components include materials selection; energy analysis; code review, construction detailing; permitting; physical and digital modeling; engineering coordination; and construction specifications. This studio will continue into HARC 0373 (formerly INTD 0274) during WT: AS/Habitat for Humanity: Design Production. Students should expect a substantial amount of work outside of class time. (HARC 0330 or HARC 0371 or by permission) 3 hrs. lect./3hrs lab ART (J. McLeod)

            HARC 0373 AS/Habitat for Humanity Housing Unit: Construction Documents (Fall 2022)

            Architectural Studies at Middlebury partners with Habitat for Humanity of Addison County for the design and realization of high-quality, energy-efficient, and affordable housing. The objective of this interdisciplinary studio course is to finalize and generate the construction documentation for the housing unit design generated in HARC 0371 & HARC 0372. A schedule of deliverables with an accompanying set of deadlines will need to be met to allow for construction to start in spring 2021. The studio components include final architectural and constructional detailing; building code compliance; building permitting finalization; physical and CAD modeling; structural coordination; and construction specifications. Students should expect a substantial amount of work outside of class time. (Approval Required) (formerly INTD 0274) (J. McLeod)

            HARC 0374 WWI and Its Legacies in Art and Photography (Fall 2022)

            “We will glorify war,” declared the Italian poet Marinetti in the 1909 Futurist Manifesto. For Marinetti and his fellow writers and artists, military conflict held the promise of restoring a decadent Europe. Meanwhile, the new technology of photography was being deployed across the Ottoman Empire by European governments to document a declining empire with vast territory up for grabs. The outbreak of World War I, however, soon exposed the grim realities and failed promises of modernity and technologies of warfare. In this course we will consider how art and photography in Europe, America, and across the Ottoman Empire documented, portrayed, and confronted World War I, and the colonial and aesthetic legacies of the first industrialized global war in today’s world. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities.* ART, CMP, EUR (S. Rogers)

            HARC 0510 Advanced Studies (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Supervised independent work in art history, museum studies, or architectural studies. (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: P. Broucke, R. Saunders, S. Laursen, S. Rogers, C. Packert, E. Vazquez; Spring 2023: P. Broucke, S. Laursen, R. Saunders, C. Anderson, S. Rogers, C. Packert, E. Vazquez)

            HARC 0530 Independent Architect. Design (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Supervised independent work in architectural analysis and design. (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: P. Broucke, J. McLeod, M. Kaplan; Spring 2023: E. Sassin, P. Broucke, B. Allred)

            HARC 0540 Supervised Independent Work in Museum Studies (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            This practicum builds upon the Museum Assistants Program (MAP), the hands-on museum education program at the Middlebury College Museum of Art. In MAP, the Curator of Education trains students to conduct tours of the Museum’s permanent collection and of special exhibitions for audiences of peers, school groups, and the general public. Combining service learning with the opportunity to both support and learn more about the arts, students gain expertise in public speaking, art history, and public programming. HARC 0540 should be taken concurrently with the second semester of MAP. The class will culminate with a public presentation on a museum-related topic evaluated by a faculty member of the Department of History of Art & Architecture. (Approval required) (Fall 2022: P. Broucke, J. Vrooman, S. Laursen, C. Packert, E. Vazquez; Spring 2023: R. Saunders)

            HARC 0710 Senior Thesis Research Seminar (Fall 2022)

            In this course students will conceive, undertake research, and plan the organization of their senior thesis in art history or senior museum studies projects. Seminar discussions and workshops will focus on research strategies, conventions in art historical writing, project design, and public presentation skills. (HARC 0301; Approval Required) 3 hr. sem. (C. Anderson)

            HARC 0711 Senior Thesis: Research and Writing (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            This course is a continuation of HARC 0710 which consists of ongoing, supervised independent research, plus organizing, writing and presenting a senior thesis. (HARC 0301 and HARC 0710). WTR

            HARC 0731 Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research (Fall 2022)

            This studio course constitutes the first part of the two-term senior design project in Architectural Studies. Pre-design research includes precedent study, programming, site analysis, and formulation of a thesis to be investigated through the design process. Preliminary design work begins with conceptual studies, and culminates in a coherent schematic design, to be developed further in Senior Architectural Design, Part II. Students present their work in graphic, oral, and written formats. (HARC 0330 or equivalent) 6 hrs. sem. (B. Allred)

            HARC 0732 Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design (Spring 2023)

            This studio course constitutes the second part of the two-term senior design project in Architectural Studies. Building upon the architectural research, analysis, and preliminary design work conducted during the fall semester, students develop their thesis projects to a higher level of understanding and refinement. Students also engage in intense peer review and work with visiting design critics, concluding with public presentations of the final projects, and a project portfolio describing all aspects of the completed design. (HARC 0731) 6 hrs. sem. WTR
            ↑ Top

            Independent Scholar Program

            The Independent Scholar Program is designed to meet the needs of outstanding students who have clearly defined educational goals that cannot be fulfilled within the framework of a normal departmental or interdisciplinary major. Independent Scholars plan their own curricular programs with the assistance of a faculty adviser. Independent Scholars cannot propose two majors, but can pursue an independent scholar major and one minor. For the 2022-23 academic year, application materials are due to the Curriculum Committee by Monday, October 10, 2022, for fall review; and Monday, February 20, 2023, for spring review.

            Eligibility: For an application to be considered, a student must be in the sophomore year and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. If approved, students must fulfill all requirements for the degree using their approved Independent Scholar plan as their major course of study. Independent Scholar proposals will be evaluated in light of feasibility, academic disciplinary integrity, and demonstrated ability of the student. A successful proposal must articulate a fully developed program of study, must include a methods course, and must demonstrate compellingly that the student’s academic goals cannot be met through existing majors.

            Application process: To be designated an Independent Scholar, a student must undergo a rigorous approval process overseen by the Curriculum Committee. The process begins with an interview with the dean of curriculum. The student must subsequently prepare and submit a well-defined program to the Curriculum Committee, covering a description of the aim of the program, the independent work, and the courses he or she proposes to comprise the major. The proposal must be accompanied by a written endorsement of a faculty member who is willing and qualified to supervise the student, as well as a statement of support from an alternate faculty member. The Curriculum Committee will review all submitted materials, and if warranted, convene a meeting with the candidate and advisers. Final approval rests with the Curriculum Committee. An applicant whose proposal is denied is entitled to meet with the dean of curriculum or the Curriculum Committee.

            Oversight: The Curriculum Committee will solicit updates from each Independent Scholar twice a year. Changes to the program must also be submitted to the Curriculum Committee, and the faculty supervisor will cosign all registration materials. The Major Declaration Form and Degree Audit Forms will be signed by both the faculty adviser and dean of curriculum. Students who elect to withdraw from the Independent Scholar Program, or who have their independent scholar status withdrawn, may be allowed, at the discretion of the committee, to graduate in general studies, without a formal major in any department.

            Senior work: The INDE 0800 is a culminating experience for this program of study. This project brings together the course work the student has completed and incorporates all aspects of the study into one final project. Students applying to be independent scholars are asked to provide an indication of possible INDE 0800 projects at the time that they submit their proposals. Students are able, however, to change the topic of their INDE 0800 project in order to respond to new interests and information acquired during the course of their study.

            The INDE 0800 project is undertaken for one or two terms. Students who wish to be considered for honors must work with a thesis committee. Thesis work most typically follows the procedures for the department most closely related to the project. Others may choose to work with an individual faculty member, usually the student's adviser. The choice of senior project is flexible. For example, with permission from the adviser, a student in the performing arts might want to incorporate a dance performance, musical composition, or some other feature as part of his or her course of study.

            Honors: In order to be considered for honors, independent scholars normally must meet two criteria: a minimum average of B+ in courses taken towards the major and a minimum grade of B+ on the senior work component. The Dean of Curriculum oversees the first requirement and will inform the adviser of the student's eligibility. The senior work component must be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members (one of whom, at the adviser's request, may be a faculty member on the Curriculum Committee). Minimum thesis grades for each level of honors are B+ (Honors), A- (High Honors), and A (Highest Honors), but the determination of the appropriate level will be made by the thesis committee.

            For more information about this program, contact the Dean of Curriculum.
            ↑ Top

            Interdepartmental Courses

            FOOD 0281 Food Power & Justice (Spring 2023)

            Students in this course will learn to analyze power and justice in relation to the food system. We will explore cases in which groups of people are experiencing injustice in opportunities to make a living through food production or other food system activities, inequitable access to food and resources, inequitable health outcomes related to diet (e.g., diabetes, obesity), and silencing or lack of political participation. Students will investigate organizations of their choice that are working to remedy inequitable power relations in the food system, and will present their findings to the rest of the class. (formerly INTD 0281) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Anderson)

            FOOD 0310 Agroecology (Fall 2022)

            In this course students will learn about agroecology as a set of practices, a philosophy, and a social movement. Agroecology takes advantage of natural processes to the greatest extent possible, using biological inputs rather than purchased pesticides and fertilizers. In addition to having major benefits for poor farmers in developing countries, it is attracting increased attention as an alternative to industrialized agriculture in wealthy countries. The course will include field trips to farms, films, and discussion of readings. We will leave between noon and 12:30 for some of the field trips, so don’t register for a class immediately before. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Students must also register for the discussion section.) (M. Anderson)

            INTD 0115 Oratory in Action (Spring 2023)

            How do humans use speech to make change? How can we connect more meaningfully with others through speaking and writing? In this entry-level course we will practice oratory first as speakers, then as peer coaches, and finally as partners collaborating with Vermont organizations that make an impact in our community. We will use practices developed at Middlebury in Oratory Now’s coach training program, the physical education course, OratoryX, and the new Remote Oratory Coaching service for live and recorded presentations. Short readings and viewings support this immersive, engaged learning project. Students with 19+ credits may register with instructor approval. 3 hrs. sem. ART, PE (B. Powers)

            INTD 0116 Accounting, Budgeting, and the Liberal Arts (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Accounting is the lingua franca of commercial and financial activity, and applies equally to corporations, non-profits, and governments. In this course we will learn the basic concepts and standards underlying the accounting language including: revenue recognition, inventory, long-lived assets, present value, long-term liabilities, and financial statements. We then turn to the application and use of accounting information in forecasting, operating, and measuring an enterprise. These managerial accounting concepts are used to develop budgets and evaluate results. Our understanding of accounting and financial statements is needed to understand how business interrelates with society. The major course project will be developing an Excel financial model; no prior Excel experience required. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hr. lab (not open to students who have taken INTD 0316). (A. Magri)

            INTD 0120 Introduction to Business and Enterprise (Fall 2022)

            This course provides students who have little to no background in business with a broad overview of business and enterprise in the economy. Students will learn about types of enterprises and a functional framework for understanding a business, including strategy, finance, production, and marketing. This framework will be used to analyze various businesses and non-profits, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of various structures. The course will give overviews of accounting and entrepreneurship, and explore policy and philosophical debates about the morality of for-profit business and the need for corporate responsibility. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (A. Biswas)

            INTD 0121 Community Connected Learning (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Community-connected learning supports civic knowledge cultivation, skill building, and identity development. In this course students will apply their relevant coursework to place-based contexts by collaborating with community partners independently or in groups to complete a community-connected learning project that will contribute to the public good. Center for Community Engagement (CCE) instructors will meet with students weekly in cohorts to explore the social and other issues raised in their experiences. Final projects may take a variety of forms, such as a portfolio, media production, or paper. Students should contact the course instructor to discuss, confirm and/or receive assistance in identifying a community partner and to begin to define their projects. 3 hrs. lect. (Fall 2022: K. Mullins; Spring 2023: S. Lyford, K. O'Brien)

            INTD 0130 Business Ethics (Fall 2022)

            Capitalism and competitive markets are often considered the most efficient system of simultaneously maximizing private wealth and public good. In the real world, however, truly competitive markets do not exist. Imperfect markets have been made to work efficiently while protecting public good through systems of public intervention, i.e., laws and regulations, and voluntary self-restraint by business organizations in response to societal expectations. In this class we will consider the role of ethics in business, with students analyzing the process by which ethical norms and strongly held moral beliefs guide the conduct of economically driven business organizations. Students will reflect on business managers’ responsibility to their owners, i.e., shareholders, other stakeholders, and society-at-large. 3 hrs. lect./dsc CW (5 seats) (T. Nguyen)

            INTD 0204 Community Connected Experiential Learning Capstone (Fall 2022)

            In this course students who have completed Middlebury-sponsored experiential learning opportunities will reflect on their experiences, identify key learning outcomes, and integrate that learning into their ongoing academic inquiry. They will identify the civic competencies developed through their experience, as well as the ways in which they have strengthened civic identity, cultivated their civic knowledge, and built their civic skills. In a project-based cohort, students will complete a summative public product that illustrates their evidence of learning. (This is a half credit course.) (J. Duquette-Hoffman, K. O'Brien)

            INTD 0205 Marketing: Formulation, Methods, and Research (Fall 2022)

            Marketing is both a qualitative and a quantitative discipline. It is one of the rare business fields that actively draws upon and integrates the creative and analytical components of the liberal arts tradition. In this course students will be exposed to a broad overview of marketing principles, focusing on the application of marketing theory to for-profit, not-for-profit, and the public sectors. Cause marketing and social marketing techniques will also be discussed to determine their utility in combating social ills and promoting favorable public health behaviors and outcomes. As the implementation of marketing programs is undergoing a massive transformation from conventional to digital media, students will be exposed to digital designing and marketing, which are driven by a sound understanding of consumer segmentation, brand positioning, distinct product benefits, and relevant in-market executions. (INTD 0120) Introductory statistics course recommended. 3 hrs. lect. (A. Biswas)

            INTD 0208 Finance, Regulation, and Policy (Fall 2022)

            With recent financial scandals and crises, an important question is whether the finance industry should be regulated and should undergo further policy reforms. Many scholars and policy experts contend that the current system is simply not designed to make policy choices on behalf of the public. In this course we will explore current financial innovations (e.g., mutual funds, hedge funds, securitizations, cryptocurrencies, just to name a few) and potential policy options in order to protect “Main Street” from “Wall Street”. Additionally, we will explore the manner in which modern finance has grown out of powerful theories, both mathematical and psychological. 3 hrs. lect. (T. Nguyen)

            INTD 0209 Big Business, Big Data, & Big Obligations (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will examine the cultural, economic, ethical, and legal implications of, analytics, big data, and computation. Drawing on various disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences, students will read works relating to the science of data collection, aggregation, and analysis. Students will learn that with opportunities for both financial gain and social good (which big data brings) comes various perils, including privacy violations, disability/gender/racial discrimination, economic disruption, negative environmental spillovers, and political destabilization. AMR, DED, SOC (T. Nguyen)

            INTD 0210 Sophomore Seminar in the Liberal Arts (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            The current pandemic, and all the questions it brings to the fore about what we value in a college experience, make this an ideal moment to consider the meaning and purpose of your liberal arts education. At the heart of this exploration will be a question posed by physicist Arthur Zajonc: “How do we find our own authentic way to an undivided life where meaning and purpose are tightly interwoven with intellect and action, where compassion and care are infused with insight and knowledge?” We will examine how, at this pivotal moment of decision making, you can understand your college career as an act of “cultivating humanity” and how you can meaningfully challenge yourself to take ownership of your intellectual and personal development. Through interdisciplinary and multicultural exploration, drawing from education studies and philosophical, religious, and literary texts, we will engage our course questions by way of student-led discussion, written reflection, and personal, experiential learning practices. In this way we will examine how a liberal arts education might foster the cultivation of an ‘undivided’ life, “the good life”, a life well-lived. (The course is open to sophomores and second semester first-year students. Juniors by permission only.) CMP, CW (Fall 2022: D. Evans; Spring 2023: T. Spears)
            Cross-listed as: EDST 0210

            INTD 0212 From Social Innovation to Social Change (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will study what spurs social innovation and produces change. Our inquiry into the world of changemaking will entail theoretical and conceptual exploration, studying cases of social innovation around the world, and personal introspection. Theories from a variety of disciplines such as economics, political science, psychology, and sociology will frame our understanding of social change. Concepts examined include social problems, social innovation, social enterprise, and social impact. By the end of this course, students will understand what social innovation and social impact require. This course is primarily intended for students participating in the Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program. Open to others by approval (approval only) 3 hrs. sem. SOC (N. Horning)

            INTD 0216 Intro to 3D Industrial Design (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            3D Printing and CNC machining have transformed how objects are designed, prototyped, and manufactured. In this course we will learn fundamental 3D solid modeling techniques, iterative design strategies, and a working knowledge of additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques. Every class will be hands- on and fully immersed in the high-tech tools of the industrial design process. Students will leave with a strong conceptual understanding of 3D solid modeling, printing and machining, and an independent final project. 3 hrs. lect/lab. ART (Spring 2023) (D. Houghton)

            INTD 0217 Introduction to Finance (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            In this introductory survey course we will cover the role of finance in society, the basic workings of the financial system, how funds are allocated within the economy, and how institutions raise money. We will cover a range of topics, including: interest rates and the time value of money; uncertainty and the trade-off between risk and return; security market efficiency; stocks, bonds and optimal capital structure; financing decisions and capital budgeting; sovereign risk; foreign currencies; derivatives markets; and concerns about the role of finance in society. The course will include discussions of current news events in global markets. (INTD 0116 or INTD 0120 or by Instructor approval) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hr. lab (M. Considine)

            INTD 0222 Sustainable Finance (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            In this course we will posit the rationale for Sustainable Finance, which aims to facilitate business propositions and accelerate capital allocation to initiatives that benefit society, the environment, employees, customers, and investors alike. The starting point will be the traditional building blocks of finance. From these foundations, we will assess the impact of Sustainable Finance decisions on different societal crisis points (climate change, health pandemic, social inequality and injustice, financial crisis, etc.) The course will question what the individual can do, in the face of the sustainability crisis, through innovative (finance-driven) initiative. The course offering will be deeply anchored around project based learning principles, exploring innovative finance and sustainable framework solutions away from the singular focus of short-term financial profit maximization. (ECON 0265, INTD 0120, INTD 0217, or by instructor approval) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab. DED, SOC (F. Van Gansbeke)

            INTD 0225 Introduction to Text as Data (Fall 2022)

            Computational tools that identify patterns in language and text increasingly help us understand the world. In this course we will explore several of the most common types of text-as-data analyses, such as collocations, keywords in context, topic modeling, and sentiment analysis. Students will work in teams throughout the semester to apply these tools to understand media coverage of a group or topic of their choice. This course is designed to be accessible to students in the social sciences, humanities, and arts as well as being of interest to computer science, math, and science students. 3 hrs. sem. (E. Bleich)

            INTD 0226 Gateway to Community Connected Experiential Learning (Spring 2023)

            In this course students who have been selected for Middlebury-sponsored experiential learning opportunities will prepare for their placements. Using reflective tools to connect past coursework to capacities for community engagement, students will identify, understand and consider how to apply civic competencies to their anticipated experiences. Students will explore their identities, identify areas for growth and develop critical areas of inquiry to explore during their experiential learning opportunity. Finally, they will identify plans for integrating their experiential learning into their wider academic journey. This is a half credit course. (Spring 2023, Midd Second Half of Term: J. Duquette-Hoffman; Spring 2023: K. O'Brien)

            INTD 0232 (This course will meet during the second half of the Spring '23 term, from 4/4/2023-5/9/2023)* (Spring 2023)

            (S. Stroup, L. Patton)

            INTD 0301 Media Portrayals of Minorities Project Lab (Spring 2023)

            In this course we use techniques developed by Middlebury’s Media Portrayals of Minorities Project lab to examine how the media represent different groups. These techniques enable quantitative and qualitative analysis of digital news to better understand how groups--such as, for example, immigrants, refugees, Muslims, Jews, Latinos, Chinese, Africans, or others--have been portrayed in the U.S. and international media. Students in this class will contribute to ongoing publication projects of the lab and will have the opportunity to pursue their own research topics. Student projects may form the basis for further independent work or for senior theses. This is a Half Credit course. (Approval only) (E. Bleich)

            INTD 0302 Prepared for a Life of Meaning (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will explore psychology, education and sociological literature detailing the promise of higher education and opportunities to create a life of meaning. Students will contemplate the relation between the social and economic promises of higher education and corresponding ideals of a life of meaning. Students will formulate their own definitions and goals for a meaningful life. Using multidisciplinary frameworks, students will develop skills that enhance the likelihood of leading meaningful lives for themselves and their communities. 3 hrs. lect. (R. Moeller, E. Parizeau)

            INTD 0303 Capitalism & Its Criticisms (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will explore the concept of capitalism and how it carries variegated meanings, which spans a wide range of societies and differing relationships between economic, political, and civic institutions within them. Students will have the opportunity to examine various forms and perspectives of capitalism which include contraband capitalism, racial capitalism, gendered capitalism, and scientific capitalism. We will also track how conceptions of capitalism have changed over time and globally. Primary and secondary works from the field of history, law, economics, philosophy, religion, and sociology will be incorporated to carry out the goal of the course which is to provide tools and perspectives that help students engage thoughtfully in these debates and to extend them into application in their own roles as engaged citizen, corporate, nonprofit, public, and entrepreneurial leaders. CMP, HIS, SOC (T. Nguyen)

            INTD 0304 Global Challenges and Opportunities (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will learn to identify, describe, classify, analyze, solve, and make predictions about the world’s most pressing problems. Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework, we will select specific issues and learn to compare and connect across them to establish their interconnectedness and complexity. Students will then conduct independent research, collaborate with classmates across disciplines, and use a variety of approaches to come up with innovative solutions to issues most pressing to them. Lectures, class discussions, in-class group work, and oral presentations will guide students’ learning while self-study reports, group oral presentations and issue papers, individual written reflections, and class participation will be used to gauge student learning. By the end of the course, students will be proficient in collaborative problem assessment and problem solving across a variety of global issues. CMP, SOC (N. Horning)
            Cross-listed as: IGST 0304

            INTD 0305 Global Financial Crime & Prevention (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will examine the many techniques that criminals use to launder money, including traditional money laundering schemes, trade-based laundering techniques, cryptocurrencies, and shell companies. In the second half we look at how to screen for and investigate crimes, including corruption, sanctions evasion, terrorism financing, proliferation financing, etc., and what multilateral organizations are doing to promote best practices. We will examine a lot of case studies in this course. Students will map out a financial crime scheme, learn how to evaluate geographic and customer risk, and write up a report for law enforcement with actionable intelligence. (M. Ruehsen)

            INTD 0319 Investment Management (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will build on knowledge of accounting and finance and apply that knowledge to investment analysis, asset allocation, portfolio management, and capital markets and risk analysis. Designed to provide the basic concepts and principles of investing, the course examines investment theory and practice for investing a portfolio and evaluating its performance. We will discuss both traditional and alternative investments. Topics include securities markets, risk and return, capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and diversification, portfolio theory, private equity, valuation of equity, valuation of fixed-income securities, options and futures markets. Recommended prior courses would be: Math 0116, INTD 0116 or INTD 0217. Students who have not taken INTD 0116 or INTD 0217 are invited to contact the professor to discuss and review their basic proficiency in Accounting and Finance. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs lab (M. Considine)

            INTD 0320 Capital Markets (Spring 2023)

            This course surveys and analyzes the instruments traded in modern asset markets, the mechanisms that facilitate their trading and issuance, as well as, the motivations of issuers and investors across different asset classes. The course will balance functional and institutional perspectives by highlighting the problems market participants are seeking to solve, as well as the existing asset markets that have arisen to accomplish these goals. We will consider the nature of structure of asset markets, and the design, issuance, and pricing of financial instruments, focusing on how arbitrage strategies keep their prices in-line with one another. (INTD 0116 or INTD 0217 or by instructor approval) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab (M. Considine)

            INTD 0383 Grassroots Perspectives on Sustainable Development (Spring 2023)

            Whose sustainability is threatened now, and why does it matter? How do the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 perpetuate existing power asymmetries that hurt marginalized people and block systemic transformation? We will critique the rise of “sustainable development" and explore the emphases of sustainability science to assess whether it is addressing the needs of marginalized people. Then we will turn to the articulation of alternatives to neoliberalism from social movements and post-development advocates. Are alternatives arising that offer radically different and more sustainable patterns of production and consumption to meet life needs? The course involves critique of original scientific literature and reports and interactive discussion. 3 hrs. seminar (M. Anderson)
            Cross-listed as: FOOD 0383

            INTD 0401 Advanced Topics in Business & Enterprise Seminar (Spring 2023)

            In this seminar, we will explore advance topics in finance, organizations, management science, law and business, marketing, and decision theory. Typically, the theme of the seminar will rotate yearly with odd years being finance oriented and even years being management science or leadership-oriented topics. For AY23, we will explore the quantitative topic of venture capital and private equity. The course will focus on the following four areas: business valuation, financing, private and venture capital industry, and exit. Class discussion, short lectures, individual research projects, and oral presentations will inform student learning experience. (INTD 0120: Intro to Business & Enterprise and INTD 0217: Intro to Finance, or with Instructor Approval) SOC (T. Nguyen)

            INTD 0407 Leadership (Fall 2022)

            What is leadership, and what does good leadership require? In this course we will investigate these important questions, focusing on today’s world context. Examples from politics, business, and community organization around the world will guide our inquiry, help us evaluate the quality of leadership affecting us and others, and enable us to assess our own leadership potential. To achieve these course goals, we will analyze real-world examples of good and poor leadership from around the world, compare across leadership cases, and assess leadership examples against theories of leadership in business, political science, history, and psychology. Class discussions, in-class simulations, short lectures, individual research projects, and oral presentations will inform our learning experience while reflection papers, individual research projects, individual oral presentations, and class participation will help gauge student learning. CMP, SOC (N. Horning)
            Cross-listed as: IGST 0407

            INTD 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Sections A, B, D, E, G, H, I
            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            Section C
            Animation Studio
            Animation Studio is a real-world production studio in which students collaborate on the key roles in the animation production process. Under the guidance of the studio director and a faculty member, students will contribute to the creation of short films, scientific illustrations, historical recreations, and other projects. All work is done in the studio and students commit to nine hours per week. (Approval Required)
            (J. Doran)

            Spring 2023

            Sections A, B, D, I, F
            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            Section C
            Animation Studio
            Animation Studio is a real-world production studio in which students collaborate on the key roles in the animation production process. Under the guidance of the studio director and a faculty member, students will contribute to the creation of short films, scientific illustrations, historical recreations, and other projects. All work is done in the studio and students commit to nine hours per week. (Approval Required)
            (P. Berenbaum)

            INTD 0501 Animation Studio I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            (D. Houghton)

            Spring 2023

            Animation Studio 1
            Having completed introductory coursework in the study of computer animations, students will collaborage on substantial, real-world animation projects spearheaded by the producer of the Animation Studio. This work will balance the needs of the Current Animation Studio project with the interests of all animators involved.
            (D. Houghton)

            INTD 0502 Animation Studio 2 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            (D. Houghton)

            Spring 2023

            Animation Studio 2
            Having completed Animation Studio 1, students will deepen their practices of computer animation by choosing a focus area (Modeling, Rigging, Animation, Materials/Textures, Lighting/Rendering, Concept Art, Storyboarding, Python Scripting, Project Research, etc.) Students will commit to a rigorous practice of this focus in a real-world scenario by applying their develoing skills to the needs of an actual production.
            (D. Houghton)

            INTD 0503 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            (D. Houghton)

            Spring 2023

            Animation Studio 3
            Having completed Animation Studio 2, students will take on a leadership role in the studio, furthing their work in their chosen focus area while mentoring newer studio members. They will work closely with the Animation Studio Producer to make significat decisions about the targets of the current project. And they will investigate connections beween their animation work and the major field of study.
            (D. Houghton)

            INTD 0504 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Fall 2022

            Independent Study
            Approval Required
            (D. Houghton)

            Spring 2023

            Animation Studio 4
            Having completed Animation Studio 3, students will complete the study of their chosen focus area, creating professional calliber work that has a substantial impact on the outcome of the current Animation Studio Project. furthermore, students at this level will help shape future Animation Studio projects, mentor newer members of the studio and plan for independent thesis level work in their major field of study.
            (D. Houghton)
            ↑ Top

            Program in International & Global Studies

            General Requirements

            A major must specialize in one of the following tracks: African Studies, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle East and North African Studies, Russian and East European Studies, South Asian Studies, Global Environmental Change, Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Migration and Diaspora Studies or Global Security Studies. IGS majors may not double count any course, including required language courses, towards their regional or thematic specialization.

            Regardless of their track, all majors must complete the following: IGST 0101, five regional or thematic courses, three global courses for the regional tracks or three regional courses for the thematic tracks. Students must also study one of the non-English languages taught at Middlebury; study abroad for at least one semester (on a Middlebury Program); complete at least one advanced level language course upon return from abroad; and take a 0400 level IGST senior seminar. With the preapproval of the IGS director, a student may take a thematic global seminar in a department.

            For  the classes of 2022, 2022.5, 2023 and 2023.5 only: In lieu of study abroad, students can take a minimum of two ADDITIONAL language courses at 300 level and above.

            Minors

            There is no IGS minor. However, IGS majors are strongly encouraged to minor in any department or program that offers a minor and can accommodate them, so long as they do not double-count any course. Students wishing to minor in the department that teaches the IGS language of their focus should discuss their minor with the IGS director.

            Specific Requirements

            All IGS majors are required to take IGST 0101 and are expected to do so before studying abroad. IGST 0101 is not open to seniors except for those who declared the major as sophomores and spent the fall semester of their junior year abroad. Students who declare their major as a sophomore but have not taken IGST 0101, and plan to study abroad for only one semester must take it in the fall of their junior year prior to going abroad.

            Language Study

            Students must become proficient in one of the languages that Middlebury College teaches. Individual language departments determine what level of study constitutes proficiency, and students are expected to do advanced work in their target language. All majors must take at least one advanced course in the language of study upon returning from abroad and are encouraged to take more than one. Students who, upon declaring the IGS major, have been determined proficient in one of their region’s languages will continue to take this language at the advanced level and are strongly recommended to take one year or equivalent of another language. The additional language should be chosen in consultation with the advisor.

            There are no language requirements for South Asian Studies majors or students who major in a thematic track but study abroad in India: these students must study a language when abroad, but are not expected to achieve language proficiency or complete an advanced language course once they return. Instead, these majors must take one additional regional or global course in their senior year.

            Language Study for East Asian Studies

            Students who already have native proficiency in Chinese must fulfill the language requirements for Japanese. Students who already have native proficiency in Japanese must fulfill the language requirements for Chinese. The Chairs of the Chinese and Japanese Studies departments or their designees determine what constitutes native proficiency by evaluating students individually through interviews or tests.

            Note: for EAS majors whose language is Chinese, the language requirement is: (1) CHNS 0101-CHNS 0202 (strongly encouraged to attend Middlebury Chinese Summer School, or take CHNS 0301/0302); (2) one semester at one of the three Middlebury CV Starr Schools Abroad in China; and (3) one, preferably two, of the following: CHNS 0411, 0412, 0425, 0426, OR 0475 upon return from study abroad in China.

            Language Study for Latin American Studies

            Students who place into Spanish 0220 or above must take at least two semesters of Portuguese (0210 and above) to fulfill the language requirement. Students who place into Portuguese 0215 or above must take at least two semesters of Spanish (0105 and above) to fulfill the language requirement.

            Regional Specialization

            IGS majors must take five courses that correspond to their regional track, in at least three departments. See the list of approved courses. At least three regional courses must be taken at Middlebury. For East Asian Studies majors, at least three of the regional courses should be exclusively or primarily on the country that is the focus of language study, and at least one should be on East Asia as a region or the East Asian country that is not the focus of language study.

            Thematic Specialization

            IGS majors must take five courses that are specific to their track, in at least three departments. At least three thematic courses must be taken on the Middlebury College campus.

            Global Courses

            Students with regional specializations are required to take three global courses; only one can be at the 0100 level. Global courses are thematic, transregional, and/or comparative. They highlight the connectivity of places and stress the circulation and interaction of peoples, cultures, ideas, and other phenomena beyond state boundaries.

            Regional Courses for Thematic Tracks

            Students with thematic specialization are required to take three regional courses that correspond to their language of specialization. Except for students who study abroad an entire year, these courses must be taken on the Middlebury College campus.

            Study Abroad

            Students must study abroad for at least one semester (and preferably two) on a Middlebury-approved study abroad program in their region of focus. Study abroad must be in the language of study at Middlebury. Effective for the class of 2021, students who study abroad for one semester may count up to two courses and those who study abroad for a full year may count up to four courses toward the major. Major credit will be granted, pending approval, upon the student’s return from abroad. For regional courses, approval is granted by the track director and for global courses by the IGS director. Students should share the syllabi and all written work for all courses they wish to count with the track or program director, respectively.

            Advanced Placement

            Advanced Placement credit will not count toward the major.

            Senior Program

            The senior program consists of: (1) a senior IGST seminar at 400-level or with permission of IGS director, a thematic senior seminar in a department  and (2) an upper-level course, preferably two, in the language of emphasis after returning from abroad. The language departments will determine which courses fulfill this requirement, in consultation with the program director. South Asian Studies majors or students who major in the thematic track and studied abroad in India do not take an upper-level language course, but rather, one additional regional or global course.

            Honors

            Students who seek to graduate with Honors may elect to write a two-term senior honors thesis. Students are eligible to write an honors thesis if they have a 3.5 GPA or better in all courses that count for the major. These include all language courses, all regional courses, all global courses, all courses taken abroad, and all courses with an IGST designation. Thesis grades do not count in the calculation of the GPA for honors. See thesis guidelines.

            Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

            Seniors wishing to pursue a one semester independent research project should register for IGST 0700.

            Winter Term Course

            Students may count no more than one winter term course taken at Middlebury towards IGS requirements, pending approval of the track director. Students wishing to count a winter term course must provide the track director with a copy of the course syllabus.

            African Studies

            Language/Culture: Language competency in French or Swahili; satisfactory completion of at least one advanced French course or one independent study in Swahili upon students return from abroad. If French is the language of emphasis, students must study an appropriate indigenous African language to a level of reasonable competence while abroad. The French Department will specify which courses fulfill the French requirement. The African Studies director will specify which courses fulfill the Swahili requirement.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            East Asian Studies

            Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Chinese or Japanese. The Chinese and Japanese departments will specify which courses fulfill this requirement. Students who already have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese must fulfill the language requirements for Chinese, while students who already have native or near-native proficiency in Chinese must fulfill the language requirements for Japanese.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            European Studies

            Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of at least one advanced course taught in the language of emphasis (French, German, Italian, or Spanish). Individual departments will specify which courses fulfill these requirements.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            Latin American Studies

            Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Portuguese or Spanish. Students who place into Spanish 0220 or above must take at least two semesters of Portuguese (0115 and above) to fulfill the language requirement. Students who place above Portuguese 0115 must take at least two semesters of Spanish (0104 and above) to fulfill the language requirement.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            Middle East and North African Studies

            Language/Culture: Successful completion of three years of Arabic or Modern Hebrew (or the equivalent as determined by the Arabic or Hebrew program). Students who choose Modern Hebrew must be willing to pursue language study beyond Middlebury, if the Colleges Hebrew program is unable to offer a full range of advanced courses.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            Russian and East European Studies

            Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of at least one advanced course taught in Russian.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Requirements above.

            South Asian Studies

            Language/Culture: Students must pursue a formal course of study of a South Asian language while abroad.

            Regional Specialization: See Requirements above.

            Study Abroad: See Requirements above.

            Senior Program: See Senior Program above. Note: because Middlebury does not currently offer a South Asian language, students are not required to take an additional language course on their return from South Asia; instead, they must take one additional regional or global course.

            Global Environmental Change

            The planet is facing extraordinary challenges; among them are climate change, loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation, and the unequal distribution of critical resources. Indeed, the environmental challenges that the world now faces have never been more complex, posing greater threat to people around the globe. This track exposes students to the complex relationship between people and their environments at local, national and global scales. It highlights issues of social and environmental (in)justices as experienced cross-culturally, and the ways people have responded to and addressed environmental change.

            Language/Culture: See Language Study above. Because issues relating to the environment transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students wishing to study in programs that focus on Global Environmental Issues in an English-speaking country may do so, provided that they also study at least one semester on a Middlebury program in the region corresponding to their language.

            Track Requirements: Students must take 5 thematic courses from the list of approved courses. They must take one introductory course, two courses on environmental impact; one course on social (in)Justice and the environment; one course on responses and adaptation to environmental change. No more than one course can focus on the U.S, and not more than one course can be at the 400 level. Some courses are listed in more than one category. Courses cannot double count.

            Note: Some courses may have pre-requisites. These courses must be taken in at least three departments/interdisciplinary programs.

            Senior Requirements: See Senior Program above.

            Global Gender and Sexuality Studies

            Concerns pertaining to gender and sexuality, as well as how feminism is articulated around the world, have become central to the interdisciplinary project of international and global studies. The thematic cluster will be comprised of five courses, through which students can gain the knowledge and tools to bring feminist epistemologies to bear on their analyses of international and global issues. Scholars in feminist and queer studies—and in the subfields of postcolonial feminism and transnational queer studies, for example—have centralized the construction of space and place in ways that will be useful to IGS students. The cluster reflects the rigor of feminist and queer analyses of the global and international and is flexible enough to permit choices among students. The core GSFS courses will offer students the theory and methods needed for an engagement with global concerns, while the courses in the breadth requirements will enable an analysis of specific national/transnational courses. Since GSFS is an interdisciplinary program, the track reflects an interdisciplinary approach to questions of gender and sexuality

            Language/Culture: See Language Study above. 

            Track Requirements: Students must take 5 thematic courses from the list of approved courses. They must take one introductory course (GSFS 0191, 0200, or 0289); Feminist Theory (GSFS 0320); one critical race studies course; and two transnational/national feminism courses, one of which should be taken during the study abroad semester.

            Study Abroad:  See Study Abroad above. At least one study abroad course should transfer as a GSFS elective that meets the national/transnational feminism breadth requirement. In the semester prior to studying abroad, the student should consult with the GSFS director to confirm the proposed course would transfer appropriately.

            Senior Requirements: See Senior Program above.

            Global Migration and Diaspora Studies

            Migrations and diasporas have shaped human political, economic and cultural interaction among diverse peoples across the globe for millennia. Migratory flows, whether forced or voluntary, shape the way individuals “imagine” and construct their communities. This thematic track equips students with the knowledge and tools to understand and analyze the multiple influences of migration and diaspora at a global, national and local scales. In addition to theories of migration and issues of rights, students will examine specific case studies that highlight topics such as justice, belonging, and the migrant experience. GMDS offers students powerful insights into diasporas, exiles, refugees and other types of migrations and the international laws and global forces that shape them. The program’s interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives will allow students to understand and participate in the rich debates around the world.

            Language/Culture: See Language Study above. 

            Track Requirements: Students majoring in IGS/Migration and Diaspora Studies must take 5 thematic courses—in at least three departments across two divisions—from the list of approved courses.

            • One Introductory course
            • Two courses in causes of population shifts
            • One course on race and ethnicity
            • One course the migrant’s experience

            Study Abroad: All Global Migration and Diaspora Studies majors must study a foreign language and study abroad in at least one region corresponding to that language. Because issues relating to migration and diaspora transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students wishing to study in programs that focus on Migration Studies in an English-speaking environment may do so, provided that they also study at least one semester in the region corresponding to their language.

            Senior Requirements: See Senior Program above.

            Global Security Studies

            Security concerns are generated by a constellation of economic, political, historical, and environmental forces and are experienced at different scales—from the local to the global, and from the individual to the state. By drawing on courses from various departments, this track exposes students to security issues along three dimensions: global, international, and societal. The track highlights strategic concerns and issues of injustice, as well as the causes of insecurity over time and how it is experienced cross-culturally.

            Language/Culture: See Language Study above.

            Track Requirements: Students must take 5 thematic courses, in at least three departments and across two divisions. They must take one introductory course, two courses on international security issues, one course on societal security issues, and one course on global security issues. 

            Study Abroad:  Security Studies majors must learn a foreign language and study abroad for at least one semester in the region corresponding to that language. Because security issues transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students who wish to study security issues abroad in an English language environment may do so, provided that they also study at least one semester in the region corresponding to their language.

            Senior Requirements: See Senior Program above.

            IGST 0101 Introduction to International and Global Studies (Fall 2022)

            This is the core course of the International and Global Studies major. It is an introduction to key international issues and problems that will likely feature prominently in their courses at Middlebury and study abroad. Issues covered will differ from year to year, but they may include war, globalization, immigration, racism, imperialism, nationalism, world organizations, non-governmental organizations, the European Union, the rise of East Asia, politics and society in Latin America, and anti-Americanism. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP (K. Fuentes-George, A. Prakash)

            IGST 0231 Political Economy of Contemporary India (Fall 2022)

            Seventy-five years since independence from the British, and three decades since the launch of the most ambitious set of economic reforms, India has changed dramatically over the years; but what does all this change really mean for the lives of ordinary citizens? This course will explore the political economy context of India’s development, and in particular, the changing texture of democracy, economic transition from the state to the market, gender relations, environmental challenges, India's economic globalization, and a changing world view from the time of India's independence to the present. The course will also capture the tensions inherent in such a multifaceted process of change. We will make use of historical texts and visual sources to map out how local and national economic, socio-political and cultural factors interweave with the global movement of people and ideas in the continued evolution of contemporary India. HIS, SOA, SOC (S. Ramaswamy)

            IGST 0237 The Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Fall 2022)

            When did the Jewish-Arab conflict begin? This survey course considers several different moments of its birth, such as the 1880s first wave of Zionist immigrants to Palestine, the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1948 and 1967 war and the 1964 establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other landmark moments. Based on secondary literature and primary textual and visual materials, we will engage with these competing periodizations and analyze various Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives they embody, considering broader themes such as the relations between the historian’s identity and the production of historical narratives, and the dynamic between facts, narratives and ideologies. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: HEBM 0237 *

            IGST 0238 Intercultural Jerusalem (1850-Present) (Fall 2022)

            The course approaches the history of modern Jerusalem through the lens of intercultural encounters. Based on primary historical sources and secondary literature, we will examine how the relations between Muslims, Christians, and Jews transformed as the city changed hands between the Ottomans, British, Jordanians, and Israelis. The introductory units will discuss the making of multi-cultural Jerusalem in the late Ottoman period and how, under British rule (1917-1948), its cosmopolitanism was abated by nationalism. We will then discuss its partition following the 1948 War and the emergence of “West Jerusalem” and “East Jerusalem.” Proceeding past 1967, we will examine if and to what extent Jerusalem became an integrated, united city under Israel sovereignty before concluding with a discussion of contemporary trends. CMP, HIS, MDE, PHL (A. Livny)
            Cross-listed as: HEBM 0238 *

            IGST 0252 Introduction to Latin American Studies (Spring 2023)

            This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to Latin America and Latin American studies. It introduces key debates on the region (and its many subregions) that will feature prominently in other courses not only at Middlebury, but also study abroad. By tracing the region’s historical development, we closely examine issues such as colonialism, economics, identity, imperialism, modes of citizenry, and nationalism, as well as explore how class, commerce, culture, ethnicity, gender, politics, race, religion, and sexuality have come to be understood in Latin America and its study. Critical, scholarly, and theoretical readings will supplement primary texts. 3 hrs. Lect./disc AMR, HIS, SOC (N. Poppe)

            IGST 0304 Global Challenges and Opportunities (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will learn to identify, describe, classify, analyze, solve, and make predictions about the world’s most pressing problems. Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework, we will select specific issues and learn to compare and connect across them to establish their interconnectedness and complexity. Students will then conduct independent research, collaborate with classmates across disciplines, and use a variety of approaches to come up with innovative solutions to issues most pressing to them. Lectures, class discussions, in-class group work, and oral presentations will guide students’ learning while self-study reports, group oral presentations and issue papers, individual written reflections, and class participation will be used to gauge student learning. By the end of the course, students will be proficient in collaborative problem assessment and problem solving across a variety of global issues. CMP, SOC (N. Horning)
            Cross-listed as: INTD 0304 *

            IGST 0305 Global Financial Crime & Prevention (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will examine the many techniques that criminals use to launder money, including traditional money laundering schemes, trade-based laundering techniques, cryptocurrencies, and shell companies. In the second half we look at how to screen for and investigate crimes, including corruption, sanctions evasion, terrorism financing, proliferation financing, etc., and what multilateral organizations are doing to promote best practices. We will examine a lot of case studies in this course. Students will map out a financial crime scheme, learn how to evaluate geographic and customer risk, and write up a report for law enforcement with actionable intelligence. (M. Ruehsen)

            IGST 0354 Postcolonial Literature, Migrants and the City (Spring 2023)

            In this course, we will analyze postcolonial literature that portrays the lives of migrants in cities. Postcolonial novels such as Brick Lane by Monica Ali, Love Enough by Dionne Brand, Brother by David Chariandi, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, Carnival by Rawi Hage, The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon and A Free Man by Aman Sethi present counter-hegemonic narratives and visions of the city. They show that the city, indelibly marked by relations of Empire and the product of racial capitalism, is also a battleground for decoloniality: a delinking from colonial knowledge practices. To map this insurgent knowledge in postcolonial novels of the city, we will focus on four prominent themes that also serve as analytical categories: mobility, labor, conviviality, and protest. CMP, LIT, SOC (Y. Siddiqi)
            Cross-listed as: ENGL 0354 *

            IGST 0407 Leadership (Fall 2022)

            What is leadership, and what does good leadership require? In this course we will investigate these important questions, focusing on today’s world context. Examples from politics, business, and community organization around the world will guide our inquiry, help us evaluate the quality of leadership affecting us and others, and enable us to assess our own leadership potential. To achieve these course goals, we will analyze real-world examples of good and poor leadership from around the world, compare across leadership cases, and assess leadership examples against theories of leadership in business, political science, history, and psychology. Class discussions, in-class simulations, short lectures, individual research projects, and oral presentations will inform our learning experience while reflection papers, individual research projects, individual oral presentations, and class participation will help gauge student learning. CMP, SOC (N. Horning)
            Cross-listed as: INTD 0407 *

            IGST 0410 Borders, Migration, and Identification in Global Perspective (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will investigate the concept and historical emergence of borders, their relation to mobility, and the identification regimes that grew up around them. After interrogating the implications of what a border can mean and the different forms it can take—ideal and material, of mind and body—we will focus our study on the historical origins of modern state borders, various representations of borders, and case studies that particularly highlight the importance of borders regarding the supervision and the sorting of movement. Topics of study will include cities, physical barriers, refugees, and passportization. Regions of study will include the United States, France, Israel, Angola, and Guantanamo Bay. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, HIS, SOC (A. Prakash)

            IGST 0427 How Democracies Die (Fall 2022)

            After years of expansion since the end of the cold war, democracy now is in retreat. From young democracies in the developing world to bastions of liberal democracy in Western Europe and North America, democratic political systems are under mounting pressure. What are the fundamental features of this recession? What are the driving forces behind global democratic backsliding? Why do people support autocrats? In this course we will tackle these questions and discuss an array of factors that contribute to global democratic recession including the role of the political elite, failing institutions, eroding norms, and the role of ordinary people. In so doing we will delve deeper into economic and social causes of this decline. Our focus will span from global trends to individual cases such as Venezuela, Turkey, Hungary, India, the United States, and the Philippines. (Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1544) 3 hrs. Sem. CMP, SOC (S. Gumuscu)
            Cross-listed as: PSCI 0427 *

            IGST 0436 Terrorism (Spring 2023)

            Terrorism has taken on new dimensions in an age dominated by technology and mass media. It has continued to cause carnage as terrorists around the globe continue to resist violently real or perceived oppression. In this course we will examine the breeding grounds for terrorist activities and interrogate the global connections behind local and national extremist/terrorist groups. We will explore ethno-national and religious terrorist groups from Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and probe white supremacist groups in the U.S. The aim of the course is to develop critical understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism, the local-global connections, and the challenges associated with terrorism in the 21st century. 3 hrs. sem. (T. Mayer)
            Cross-listed as: GEOG 0436

            IGST 0483 The Rise of Asia and US Policy (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will study what is arguably the most important strategic development of the 21st century: how the rise of Asia presents security challenges to the region and the United States. Drawing from international relations scholarship, the course will focus on foreign policy challenges and potential responses. These challenges include both traditional security and nontraditional areas such as water and the environment. We will integrate the analysis of these issues in South, East, and Southeast Asia with study of the policy process, in part through simulations and role-playing exercises. 3 hrs. sem. CMP, NOA, SOC (J. Lunstead)
            Cross-listed as: PSCI 0483 *

            IGST 0500 East Asian Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0501 Latin American Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: N. Poppe)

            IGST 0502 Middle East Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0503 African Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: M. Sheridan, E. Gebarowski-Shafer)

            IGST 0504 South Asian Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0505 European Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0506 REES Independent Project (Spring 2023)

            (K. Moss)

            IGST 0507 Global Security Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022)

            (Approval Only) (O. Lewis)

            IGST 0508 Global Gender and Sexuality Studies Independent Project (Fall 2022)

            (Approval Only) (H. Gupta, M. Baker-Medard)

            IGST 0700 Senior Work (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0701 Russian and East European Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0702 European Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0703 Latin American Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0704 East Asian Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0705 African Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0706 Middle East Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0707 South Asian Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IGST 0708 Global Security Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Only)

            IGST 0709 Global Migration and Diaspora Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Only)

            IGST 0710 Global Gender and Sexuality Studies Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Only)

            IGST 0711 Global Environmental Change Senior Thesis (Spring 2023)

            (Approval Only)
            ↑ Top

            Program in International Politics and Economics

            Courses in Political Science

            PSCI 0103, PSCI 0109, PSCI/IPEC 0304 and three electives in comparative politics or international relations. At least one elective should be a 0400-level senior seminar in comparative politics or international relations. See eligible electives. PSCI/IPEC 0304 must be taken at Middlebury College. Majors are encouraged to take IPEC 0240 prior to PSCI/IPEC 0304.

            Courses in Economics

            ECON 0150 or ECON 0250 (only one will count towards this requirement), ECON 0155 or ECON 0255 (only one will count towards this requirement), ECON 0210, IPEC0240 (formerly ECON 0240) and two electives with an international orientation. One elective should be a 0400-level senior seminar. See eligible electives. Majors must take a minimum of five courses in economics, regardless of credits earned at the secondary level (see the Advanced Placement policy for detailed information); at least four economics courses meeting the major requirements must be taken at Middlebury College, including the 0400-level seminar. Majors are encouraged to take IPEC 0240 prior to PSCI/IPEC 0304. Majors are strongly encouraged to take ECON 210 prior to any 400-level seminars.

            Language Study

            Majors must achieve the language department’s standard of linguistic competence before going abroad or must demonstrate equivalent competence in a language taught at Middlebury College through a language placement exam. Foreign language study while at Middlebury College is strongly encouraged.

            Term or Year Abroad

            Under normal circumstances, this will be completed at one of the Middlebury schools abroad. Majors should complete PSCI 0103, PSCI 0109, ECON 0150 or ECON 0250, ECON 0155 or ECON 0255, and ECON 0210 before going abroad. Majors are encouraged, but not required, to take IPEC 0240 and PSCI/IPEC 0304 before studying abroad.

            Given the extraordinary circumstances around the pandemic, the IPE faculty have agreed to waive the study abroad requirement for the classes of 2021, 2021.5, 2022, 2022.5 and 2023 irrespective of reason. Should the study abroad programs run and IPE majors participate, majors will still be able to apply for transfer credits in the usual manner. Students whose programs are cancelled or who opt to remain at Middlebury are encouraged, but not required, to take courses at Middlebury that might provide some engagement with the region of focus originally intended. This might include taking an additional upper-level language course (e.g., 300 level or higher), a course specifically about the region in any department or pursue an independent study with a regional focus. The IPE program will also consider summer study abroad transfer credits, for the classes of 2021.5 and 2022 only, that meet the College’s requirements for credit and are sufficiently relevant to International Politics and Economics for majors who pursued a study abroad experience in the summer of 2021

            Advanced Placement

            Students must take a minimum of 5 courses in each discipline. See the Advanced Placement policy for detailed information.

            Winter Term Courses

            Winter Term courses count towards the major only if they are listed on the IPEC Courses prior to winter term registration. No more than one Winter Term elective in economics and no more than one Winter Term elective in political science may count toward the major.

            Double Majors and Minors

            Because of the complex and interdisciplinary nature of the International Politics and Economics major, IPE students are strongly advised not to pursue an additional major. In addition, IPEC majors may not minor in either economics or political science. Students are permitted to major or minor in their language of focus for the IPE major; however, they may not double count courses for the IP&E major and the language major or minor

            Declaring a Major

            To declare a major, students need to fill out both a major declaration form and an advising wizard form. Discuss your plan for completing the major (outlined on the advising wizard form) with your advisor who can be from either the political science or economics department. Have both your advisor and the Director of International Politics and Economics sign the major declaration form. Turn in one copy of both forms to the coordinator of International Politics and Economics. Turn in one copy of the major declaration form to the Registrar’s Office.

            First Semester Senior Year

            Early in the first semester of your senior year, fill out both a degree audit sheet and an advising wizard form. Print out a copy of your unofficial transcript and evidence that any courses from abroad have been approved for IPE major credit (such as an email approval from a chair or director, or information from the programs abroad office). Bring these items to the Director of International Politics and Economics no later than a week before registration for classes for your final semester. Once signed, turn in one copy of the advising wizard form and the degree audit sheet to the coordinator of International Politics and Economics. Turn in one copy of the degree audit sheet to the Registrar’s Office.

            Honors

            In addition to their 12 required courses, qualifying students can choose to write a senior thesis. To launch a thesis project, students must obtain a thesis advisor in both political science and economics, and submit to their advisors a thesis prospectus for formal approval. To identify suitable thesis topics, it is highly recommended that IPE thesis candidates begin consulting with the potential advisors during their junior year. For details, deadlines, and a timetable, see the Honors Thesis page.

            Honors Thesis Requirements

            The determination of honors, high honors, and highest honors is based on the following:

            • The level of the grade achieved on the thesis.
            • The level of the average grade received in all Middlebury College courses that count toward the IPE major.

            Honors candidates must have the following:

            • An IPEC course average of 3.3 and a thesis grade of B+ to attain honors.
            • An IPEC course average of at least 3.5 and a thesis grade of A- to attain high honors.
            • An IPEC course average of at least 3.7 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors.

            Note: Thesis grades do not count in the calculation of the GPA for honors, and a thesis cannot be pursued as a fifth course during any term.

            IPEC 0240 International Economics: Theory and Policy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            This course provides an overview of international trade and finance. We will use economic theory to help us understand how and why countries interact in the global economy and evaluate the effects of different trade, exchange rate, and macroeconomic policies. Topics covered will include the reasons for trade, the winners and losers from trade, trade policies, trade agreements, exchange rates, the balance of payments, causes of and solutions to financial crises, and the role of the WTO and IMF. IPEC 0240 does not count towards the ECON major or minor requirements. (ECON 0150 and ECON 0155) (formerly ECON 0240) 3 hrs. lect. (O. Porteous)

            IPEC 0304 International Political Economy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            This course examines the politics of global economic relations, focusing principally on the advanced industrial states. How do governments and firms deal with the forces of globalization and interdependence? And what are the causes and consequences of their actions for the international system in turn? The course exposes students to both classic and contemporary thinking on free trade and protectionism, exchange rates and monetary systems, foreign direct investment and capital movements, regional integration, and the role of international institutions like the WTO. Readings will be drawn mainly from political science, as well as law and economics. 3 hrs. lect./disc. SOC (Fall 2022: S. Stroup)
            Cross-listed as: PSCI 0304 *

            IPEC 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required)

            IPEC 0700 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: P. Sommers, G. Winslett, T. Byker, S. Gumuscu, A. Gregg, O. Porteous, O. Lewis, W. Pyle, J. Maluccio, S. Stroup, K. Sargent, M. Williams, A. Yuen, E. Wolcott; Spring 2023: O. Lewis, A. Rao)
            ↑ Top

            Department of Italian

            During the academic year our program emphasizes the study of literature and culture in the context of language acquisition. The other integral components of Italian at Middlebury are the Italian School (summer on the Middlebury College campus or at our satellite campus at Mills College, in Oakland, California), and the C. V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Italy (junior year or semester), where students can take courses in our beautiful Sede in Florence, or can direct-enroll in our programs at the University of Firenze, the University of Ferrara, or the University of Rome, La Sapienza. These rich programs encourage students to deepen and broaden their study of Italian literature, cinema, history, art history, political science, and many other disciplines. During the academic year in Middlebury, all four levels of courses in Italian are available every semester, and—for qualified students—faculty members are also available to direct independent research projects (ITAL 0550).

            Major in Italian

            For a full or double major in Italian, students must complete nine credits beyond ITAL 0103, including independent senior work (ITAL 0755). Please note: ITAL 0101, 0102, and 0103 do not count for the major. The standard curriculum includes: two courses at the 200-level (0251 and 0252); three credits abroad plus one course at the 300-level at Middlebury (or four courses at the 300-level); two courses at the 400-level (but only one for students who spend a whole year in Italy); ITAL 0755 (your capstone course, can be a research project such an essay, or a creative work such as a Podcast or a video). Majors are normally expected to study at least one semester at one of the three sites of the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Italy: Florence, Ferrara or Rome. No more than three credits per semester from Study Abroad in Italy are applicable to the major. Upon return from Italy, students normally take an Italian course each semester.  A student can complete major requirements at all levels with courses taken at the Middlebury Summer Italian School. One credit towards the Major can be fulfilled by successfully taking a course in English with an approved section in Italian (History of the Italian Language; Italian Cinema; Italy Through Sicily).

            Joint Major in Italian

            For the joint major in Italian, students must complete seven credits beginning with ITAL 0251, including one course at the 0400 level. Students must also complete a joint project credited in either of the two disciplines, as well as fulfill the requirements in the second discipline. Students are normally expected to complete one semester at either the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence, the University of Firenze, the University of Ferrara, or the University of Rome, La Sapienza. No more than three credits per semester from coursework in Italy are applicable to the Italian part of the major.

            International and Global Studies Major with Italian

            (European Studies Track)

            Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies major section, the Italian language component of an International and Global Studies major requires completion of the following: 1) Italian courses required for study in Italy (see below); 2) one semester, and preferably a full year, at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence, the University of Ferrara, or the University of Rome; 3) at least one 0400-level course in Italian upon return from Italy. Regional specialization requirements for the International and Global Studies major may include ITAL 0290-level courses (in English) as well as 0300-level courses taught at Middlebury or in Italy.

            Minor in Italian

            The Italian minor consists of six courses: ITAL 0251, ITAL 0252 (or two courses counted from ITAL 3251-3252-3253 in the Italian Summer School) and four courses at the 0300-level or higher. Students entering the program with a standing beyond the ITAL 0252-level are required to take at least one 0400-level course as part of the Italian minor. All courses at the 0300-level can be completed during the academic year at Middlebury, at the Italian School, or at one of the affiliated Middlebury programs in Italy (Florence, Ferrara, or Rome).

            Senior Work

            Students who major in Italian are required to complete a senior project (ITAL 0755).

            Honors

            To earn departmental honors, high honors*, or highest honors** a student must have at least a 3.6, 3.7*, or 3.8** average or above in Italian courses other than the senior project, have a project defense, and receive a grade of at least B+, A-*, or A** on the thesis (ITAL 0755).

            Fulfilling The Middlebury College Writing Requirement

            All Italian majors, joint majors, minors, and International and Global Studies majors with literature and culture focus in Italian are strongly encouraged to fulfill their college writing requirement by enrolling in CMLT 0101 Introduction to World Literature.

            Requirements for Junior Year/Semester Abroad

            The Italian language proficiency requirements for participation in study abroad in Italy can be completed with any combination of courses at the Middlebury campus (summer or academic year) that culminates with the successful completion of ITAL 0252 during the academic year or ITAL 3253 at the Summer School. Students must also have an overall academic average of at least B-, an average of B in Italian (or additional course work), and be enrolled in an Italian course the semester before departure. Because of the demanding and intensive nature of our programs in Middlebury, and because of the difficulty of finding equivalent programs in the United States or in Italy, we do not accept alternative programs for the fulfillment of study abroad requirements.

            C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Italy-Florence

            Students may study for a semester or for a full year in Italy. Fall and spring term students enroll for language, literature, and civilization courses in September and January. For examples of recent courses, please refer to the course database: http://www.middlebury.edu/international/sa/cid.  Students studying in Florence are also expected to enroll in at least two elective courses at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. Subject areas generally offered there include archeology, philology, Italian literature, linguistics, international relations, political science, comparative politics, sociology, history, art history, and history of economics.

            C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Italy-Ferrara/Rome

            Students who apply to the programs at the University of Ferrara or the University of Rome must contact the department chair to discuss their plans. Important: All students studying at the University of Ferrara or the University of Rome must take a literature course, in consultation with the department chair. Subject areas often offered include Italian literature, comparative literature, history, linguistics, philosophy, geography, art history, architecture, theater history, sociology, and international economics as well as other disciplines.

            ITAL 0101 Beginning Italian (Fall 2022)

            This course is an introduction to the Italian language that provides a foundation in both spoken and written Italian. Focus on the spoken language encourages rapid mastery of the basic structures and vocabulary of contemporary Italian. The exclusive use of Italian in dialogue situations and vocabulary building encourages the student to develop skills in a personalized context. Conversation and drill are stimulated and fostered through active reference to popular Italian music, authentic props, and slides of Italian everyday life and culture. Students are required to participate in the Italian table. 6 hrs. disc./perf.; 2 hrs. screen LNG (I. Brancoli Busdraghi, P. Zupan, S. Carletti)

            ITAL 0103 Beginning Italian III (Spring 2023)

            This course emphasizes increased control and proficiency in the language through audiovisual, conversational, and drill methods. Italian life and culture continue to be revealed through the use of realia. Short reading selections on contemporary Italy and discussions enlarge the student's view of Italian life and culture. Students continue to participate in the Italian table. (ITAL 0102 or equivalent) 6 hrs. disc./perf.; 2 hrs. screen. LNG (I. Brancoli Busdraghi)

            ITAL 0123 Accelerated Beginning Italian (Spring 2023)

            This course is an intensive introduction to the Italian language that condenses the material normally covered in ITAL 0101, 0102 and 0103. We will focus on the spoken language and encourage rapid mastery of the basic structures and vocabulary. Conversation and drill will be stimulated and fostered through active reference to popular Italian culture, film, and music. We will meet 5 times a week including two 75-minutes meetings and an additional drill session. After completing this course students will be fully prepared for second-year Italian. 6 hr lect./disc./1.5 hr drill LNG (T. Van Order, I. Brancoli Busdraghi)

            ITAL 0194 Elena Ferrante: The Neapolitan Novels (in English) (Spring 2023)

            An international sensation since the 2011 publication of this four-novel series, Elena Ferrante depicts the life-long, ambivalent relationship between Lenù and Lila, two “brilliant friends,” attempting escape from Neapolitan poverty and crime, from late 1940s Reconstruction Italy into the new Millennium. The first two novels, translated by My Brilliant Friend (2011) and Story of a New Name (2012), also subject of Saverio Costanzo’s 2018-2020 HBO series, will provide our particular focus. Blogs, short essays, oral presentations, research project; possible video. 3 hrs. EUR, HIS, LIT (P. Zupan)

            ITAL 0251 An Introduction to Contemporary Italy (Fall 2022)

            Intended for students at the intermediate level, this course will afford the opportunity to expand conversation, writing, and reading skills while consolidating knowledge of the more difficult points of grammar. The contextual focus of the course is contemporary Italian culture, including contemporary history and politics, the economy, the division between North and South, immigration from developing countries, environmental issues, and popular music, among others. Italian films, music, and articles from newspapers and news magazines will enhance and complete the learning experience. (ITAL 0103, ITAL 0123, waiver, or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LNG, SOC (I. Brancoli Busdraghi, P. Zupan)

            ITAL 0252 Italian Culture II: From the Sixties to the Present Day (Spring 2023)

            To deepen the historical knowledge gained in ITAL 0251, we will discuss and analyze modern and contemporary Italian literature of various genres, as well as essays, art, and film. In the context of reading, critical viewing, textual analysis, and discussion, we will continue to develop both historical and linguistic competence. Discussion and the writing process, along with selected exercises, will continue to refine grammatical competence. (ITAL 0251) 3 hrs. lect./disc. LIT, LNG (S. Mula, P. Zupan)

            ITAL 0299 Literary Feasts: Representations of Food in Modern Narrative (in English) (Spring 2023)

            This course will consider food and eating practices within specific cultural and historical contexts. We will analyze realistic, symbolic, religious, erotic, and political functions surrounding the preparation and consumption of food. Readings will be drawn from several national traditions, with a focus on Europe. Authors will include, among others, I. Dinesen, L. Esquivel, J. Harris, E. Hemingway, T. Lampedusa, P. Levi, C. Petrini, M. Pollan, E. Vittorini, and B. Yoshimoto. Viewing of several films where food and eating play an important role will supplement class discussion. EUR, LIT (S. Carletti)
            Cross-listed as: FOOD 0299

            ITAL 0340 Italian Landscapes: History, Culture, Literature, and Identity (Spring 2023)

            What is paesaggio, and how similar/different is it from its English equivalent, Landscape? In this course we will study the concept and its relevance for the construction of an Italian identity. In particular, we will discuss the relations between paesaggio and environment, emotions, history, and literature. Through the reading of essays from a variety of scholarly approaches (anthropological, sociological, historical, literary), personal reflection, and group analysis, we will analyze the creation and the changing nature of the meaning and importance of paesaggio. Our focus will be Italy and its regions, with a comparative approach that will include Vermont and Middlebury. 3 hrs. sem CMP, EUR (S. Mula)

            ITAL 0354 Italian Identities: Gender, Race, Culture (Fall 2022)

            What does it mean to be "Italian"? In this course we will analyze Italian identities by reading and listening to a variety of sources and authors, and discuss the role that concepts such as gender, race, nation, culture, value/s, diversity, otherness, and intersectionality play. While learning about contemporary Italy, we will work on our linguistic, critical, and analytical skills. Special emphasis will be placed on both Academic and Public Writing, and we will rely on rewriting, editing, and peer reviewing. (ITAL0252 or by permission, taught in Italian) 3hrs. lect./disc. CW, EUR, LIT (18 seats) (S. Mula)

            ITAL 0401 The Power of Words: Debating Global Issues in Italian (Spring 2023)

            In this course we will use the pedagogy of debate to develop advanced competency in Italian but also to work on skills that can be applied beyond the classroom, like public speaking, engaged listening, productive dissent, and teamwork. We will study in depth opposite sides of controversial, globally relevant issues, such as: environment vs. economy; immigration vs. national security; cultural preservation vs. diversity; technology/social media vs. privacy; Humanities vs. STEM. Through a variety of preparatory activities, scaffolding exercises, and contextualized vocabulary we will work toward writing about, discussing, and finally debating the issues considered in each module. (One 300 level course or by approval) 3 hrs. lect./disc., EUR, LNG (S. Carletti)

            ITAL 0425 Il cinema d’autore: 1945-2010 (Fall 2022)

            In this course we will critically analyze films of great Italian directors from post-war Neorealism to the present. We will examine films by Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Lina Wertmüller, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Marco Bellocchio. After mastering the film terminology and learning formal film critique, students will engage in independent research that will culminate in the screening and analysis of an Italian film of their choice. Taught in Italian. 3 hrs. sem. (Two 0300-level courses in Italian) ART, EUR, LNG (T. Van Order)

            ITAL 0550 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Italian faculty as a group will consider and approve requests by qualified juniors and seniors to engage in independent work. Students must submit a prospectus that includes a bibliography of no less than five sources. Interested students should contact members of the Italian faculty before the end of the preceding term to discuss their project and to see if they are available to direct the Independent Study. Students must submit a prospectus with the department chair by the end of the first week of classesfor fall and spring term approvals, by the end the last week of fall semesterfor winter term approvals. Prior to submission, sufficient advance consultation with project directors is required.Junior students are strongly encouraged to consider independent study as preparation for senior honors thesis work. (S. Carletti, P. Zupan, S. Mula, T. Van Order, I. Brancoli Busdraghi)

            ITAL 0755 Senior Honors (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

            Students majoring in Italian must complete an independent senior project. Italian faculty as a group will consider and approve the proposals, which should be submitted before the last week of the preceding semester. The senior project will be advised by one member of the Italian department, but will be presented to the whole department. Italian honors will be awarded to eligible students depending on the final grade. (Staff)
            ↑ Top

            Department of Japanese Studies

            Required for the Major

            The major requires students to achieve proficiency in Japanese language and culture. In addition, students must study in Japan for at least one semester and complete a 0400-level seminar in the Japanese Studies department.

            Proficiency in Japanese Language

            Proficiency in Japanese language requires four years of study (completion of JAPN 0402) or equivalent with at least 4 semesters of language at Middlebury in cases of advanced placement. To meet the language proficiency requirement, students are strongly encouraged to begin the study of Japanese in their first academic year. Students who begin study of Japanese in the sophomore year must attend the summer Middlebury School of Japanese or achieve completion of the equivalent of JAPN0202 before study abroad in Japan.

            Proficiency in Culture

            Proficiency in culture requires a total of five elective content courses. At least three of the content courses must come from those offered by the department, while two may come from courses taken during study abroad or courses with a focus on Japan taught in other departments at the College (History, Religion, History of Art, etc.) and cross-listed in Japanese Studies. Departmental courses fulfilling the elective content course requirement include all courses below the 0400-level taught by the department in English.  At least two elective content courses must be taken before approval for study in Japan.  (One of the two courses may be one of the Japan-focused content courses cross-listed in the department.)

            Studying in Japan

            Studying in Japan for one semester (Fall or Spring) is required, but studying in Japan for the full junior year is strongly encouraged. Elective content courses taken in Japan may count toward the major as determined by the department on a case-by-case basis.  

            Senior Seminar

            Seniors are required to take at least one seminar in the Japanese Studies department at the 0400 level.

            Honors

            Successful completion of a 0400-level seminar and JAPN 0700 Senior Thesis with a grade of B+ or above are required for graduation with departmental honors. Departmental honors will be awarded according to the grade point average of courses taken in the department, in the summer Middlebury Japanese School, and in Japan. A grade point average of 3.3 in these courses is required for graduation with honors. A grade point average of 3.75 and a grade of A on the thesis are required for High Honors.

            Required for the Minor

            Courses required for the minor in Japanese are completion of language courses to the level of JAPN 0202, or the equivalent, or at least four terms of Japanese in case of advanced placement, and two additional courses offered by the Japanese Studies department in culture, literature, linguistics, or film.

              JAPN 0101 First-Year Japanese (Fall 2022)

              This course is an introduction to the modern Japanese language aimed at acquisition of the four basic skills speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. The emphasis is on thorough mastery of the basic structures of Japanese through intensive oral-aural practice and extensive use of audiovisual materials. The two kana syllabaries and kanji (characters) will be introduced toward the goals of developing reading skills and reinforcing grammar and vocabulary acquisition. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (L. White)

              JAPN 0103 First-Year Japanese (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of the fall and winter terms with the introduction of more advanced grammatical structures, vocabulary, and characters. The continuing emphasis of the beginning Japanese course will be upon acquisition of well-balanced language skills based on an understanding of the actual use of the language in the Japanese sociocultural context. (JAPN 0101, JAPN 0102) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (L. White)

              JAPN 0201 Second-Year Japanese (Fall 2022)

              The goals of the intermediate course are to develop the ability to understand conversational Japanese at natural speed, to express oneself accurately and smoothly in various situations, to read nontechnical materials at reasonable speed with the use of the dictionary, and to express oneself in writing with relative ease. Understanding of Japanese culture will be broadened and deepened through mastery of the course materials. (JAPN 0103 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (K. Davis)

              JAPN 0202 Second-Year Japanese (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of JAPN 0201. (JAPN 0201 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (K. Davis)

              JAPN 0210 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (in English) (Spring 2023)

              This course will provide an introduction to linguistics theories as applied to the study of Japanese. Through the exploration of a language that is very different from Indo-European languages, students will gain a better understanding of how human languages work and are structured. The relationship of language to culture will be a central theme in the course. Topics covered will include key concepts in linguistics, Japanese linguistics, culture, and pedagogy. This course will be taught in English; no Japanese language or linguistics knowledge required. 3 hrs. lect./disc. NOA (S. Abe)
              Cross-listed as: LNGT 0210 PSCI 0210 *

              JAPN 0230 Rethinking the Body in Contemporary Japan (In English) (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will examine attitudes toward and tensions related to the human body in Japan. Looking at art, music, style, and social issues we will examine the symbolic as well as material concerns of bodies in contemporary Japan. Religious, historical, martial, and aesthetic understandings of bodies will be addressed. We will analyze Japan's current attitudes toward organ transplantation, treatment of the deceased, plastic surgery, surrogacy, sex change surgery and other embodied practices. Readings will include Twice Dead and Commodifying Bodies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. NOA, SOC (L. White)
              Cross-listed as: ANTH 0230

              JAPN 0250 Gender in Japan (in English) (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will examine changing ideas about gender and sexuality in Japan in the 10th through 20th centuries, with special attention to the modern period. Sources will include literary texts, films, and social/historical studies. We will discuss topics, including women's writing in classical Japan; the commercialization of sexuality in the 18th century; ideas of "homosexuality" in late-medieval and modern times; and women's social roles and political struggles in the 20th century. 3 hr. lect./disc. LIT, NOA (L. White)
              Cross-listed as: GSFS 0250

              JAPN 0301 Third-Year Japanese (Fall 2022)

              This advanced course aims to increase the student's proficiency in modern standard Japanese, both spoken and written. A variety of written and audiovisual materials will be used to consolidate and expand mastery of more advanced grammatical points and vocabulary. Oral presentation, discussion, and composition in Japanese are also important components of the course. (JAPN 0202 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (S. Abe)

              JAPN 0302 Third-Year Japanese (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of JAPN 0301. (JAPN 0301 or placement exam) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (S. Abe)

              JAPN 0310 Variation and Change in Japanese (In English) (Fall 2022)

              What can linguistic change tell us about human cognition and behavior? How does the notion of “politeness” vary across communities? How do speakers of Japanese perform gender and other social identities? In this course we will address linguistic diversity and dynamism by examining the Japanese language. Topics include workplace discourse and change in honorific systems. Employing classic works in linguistics and addressing contemporary cultural materials such as manga and J-drama we will apply theoretical frameworks from (socio-)pragmatics, historical linguistics and linguistic typology to gain a deeper understanding of how and why Japanese has developed to its present forms and uses. Students with an interest in linguistics, or in teaching and learning language, or science in general, may also enjoy the analytical approach. (No prerequisites. JAPN0103 above or equivalent recommended). Heritage speakers are also welcome. 3 hrs. sem. NOA, SOC (S. Abe)
              Cross-listed as: LNGT 0310

              JAPN 0401 Advanced Japanese (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will read, analyze, and discuss advanced Japanese materials from a variety of modern and contemporary sources. (JAPN 0302 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (K. Davis)

              JAPN 0402 Advanced Japanese (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of JAPN 0401. (JAPN 0401) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (K. Davis)

              JAPN 0435 Workshop in Literary Translation (Spring 2023)

              Literary translation is a valuable but often neglected skill for advanced language learners. In this workshop we will consider the basic theoretical arguments in translation studies influencing translation styles and then practice translation in a variety of literary genres. Sessions will include discussions of translation strategies and active peer critique of sample translations. Each student will produce a substantial translation as the semester project. Topics covered will include: text selection, translation ethics, practical methodologies, and publishing industry standards. (JAPN 0402 concurrent or prior) LIT, LNG, NOA (S. Snyder)

              JAPN 0475 Advanced Reading in Japanese Studies (Fall 2022)

              In this course students will read original materials in a variety of disciplines and develop skills to analyze and discuss them in Japanese. Advanced listening practice, oral presentation and academic writing will also be emphasized. (Approval only) 3 hrs. disc. (K. Davis)

              JAPN 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Qualified students may be permitted to undertake a special project in reading and research under the direction of a member of the department. Students should seek an advisor and submit a proposal to the department well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be undertaken.

              JAPN 0700 Honors Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Students write a thesis in English with a synopsis in Japanese on literature, film, or culture. The topic for the thesis is chosen in consultation with the instructor. (JAPN 0475)
              ↑ Top

              Jewish Studies Minor

              Requirements for the Minor

              This program offers a minor in Jewish Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

              One of the following courses that offer a broad introduction to Jewish Studies:

              • RELI/JWST 0160 The Jewish Tradition
              • RELI/JWST 0261 Jewish Thought: Modern Era
              • HIST/JWST 0201 Modern American Jewish History

              Four additional courses pertinent to Jewish Studies, one of which must be a seminar (300 or 400-level), from among the following:

              • ENAM/LITS 1022 Kafka and his Influence
              • HEBM 0254 Rite/Ritual: Israel & Society
              • HEBM 0258 Israeli Society Through Film
              • HIST/JWST 0250 The Jews in Modern Europe
              • HIST/JWST 0257 The Holocaust
              • RELI/JWST 1043 Prophets and Politics
              • RELI/JWST 0297 Middle East Political Religion
              • RELI/ENAM 0180 Biblical Literature
              • RELI/JWST 0280 Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
              • RELI 0332 The Ten Commandments
              • RELI 0356 Islam and Judaism
              • RELI/JWST 0360 Seminar in Jewish Thought
              • RELI/JWST 0362 Religion and Nationalism - Israel and Palestine
              • RELI/JWST 0380 Seminar in Biblical Studies
              • RELI/JWST 0388 Reading the Book of Job

              Up to two courses in Hebrew language or texts (HEBR or HEBM 0201 and higher) may count toward the requirements for the minor.

              Other appropriate courses, including Winter Term courses, may be substituted with the permission of the program director.

              HEBR 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Approval required.

              JWST 0160 Jewish Traditions (Fall 2022)

              “Traditions” are not static, but a constant interplay between continuity and creativity. What do classical Jewish texts (Bible, Rabbinic literature) tell us about Judaism’s origins? How have the core concepts and practices of Judaism morphed into a cluster of traditions that has endured over two millennia? With these questions in mind, we will study central ideas in Jewish thought, rituals, and their transformations, culminating in individual projects involving the investigation a contemporary movement, congregation or trend in contemporary Jewish life, e.g. Reform, Reconstructionism, mystical (neo-Kabbalistic) revivals, or “secular” Judaism. 3 hrs. lect./disc. HIS, PHL (S. Goldman)
              Cross-listed as: RELI 0160 *

              JWST 0231 Zionism and the "Roads Not Taken" (1880-1948) (Spring 2023)

              An Arab-Jewish binational state in Palestine was only one of the possible paths that the Zionist movement considered before taking the road that led to Israel’s 1948 establishment. Using various primary and secondary sources, we will critically engage with alternatives to the nation-state within the Zionist movement, unfolding key debates in its history. In the introductory units, we will position Zionism alongside other forms of Jewish nationalism, such as Simon Dubnow’s Diaspora Nationalism. We will then zoom in on post-World War I Zionism, discussing Imperial, anti-Imperial, pan-Asian, and binationalist-federalist alternatives to the Jewish nation-state program. In the concluding units, we will examine the processes by which these possibilities became marginalized, and the vision of a Jewish nation-state prevailed. CMP, EUR, HIS (A. Livny)
              Cross-listed as: HEBM 0231 *

              JWST 0330 Jewish Oral History (Fall 2022)

              In this weekly seminar students will learn the basics of oral history—research, interview skills, processing, archiving, and presentation—by conducting interviews with members of Kolot Chayeinu, a Brooklyn-based Jewish congregation. Students will work with congregants to create an oral history archive. Depending on student interests and abilities, additional outcomes may include films, audiowalks, social media presence, listening parties, or podcasts. Students will also study oral history theory, the evolution of American Jewish spirituality, and New York City social movements. An oral history of Kolot encompasses Jewish histories of feminism, LGBTQ and AIDS activism, peace and human rights work, death and dying, childhood and adult education, antiracism, theatre, art, music, nonprofit development, politics, rabbinical training, coalition work, and more. AMR, HIS (L. Povitz)
              Cross-listed as: HIST 0330 *

              JWST 0458 Merchants of Venice (Spring 2023)

              In this class we will read Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice from different perspectives, including those of race, religion, gender, staging, and form, engaging the play at the level of rhetorical analysis, textual history, character analysis, source analysis, stage and film history, and current performance. We will study contemporaneous dramas resembling The Merchant of Venice (e.g., Three Ladies of London, Jew of Malta, Othello). Throughout, we will consider the multiple attitudes towards Jewishness and Judaism implicit in the play, its performance history and its literary and cultural influence. Finally, we will study the literary legacy of The Merchant of Venice, from the early modern period up to our own times. The class should also give us an opportunity to enhance our skills in rhetorical analysis, writing, speaking, and research. 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LIT (J. Berg)
              Cross-listed as: ENGL 0458 *

              HEBM 0101 Introductory Modern Hebrew I (Fall 2022)

              In this course students will become acquainted with the basic grammatical and formal concepts necessary for the comprehension of the Modern Hebrew language. We will focus on the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, with a particular emphasis placed on the acquisition of conversational ability. We will also make use of audiovisual, situational, and cultural exercises, and give attention to the elements of Classical form and style that provided a foundation for Modern Hebrew, which was revived as a vernacular in the late 19th century. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required. 6 hrs. LNG (M. Strier)

              HEBM 0103 Introductory Modern Hebrew III (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of Modern Hebrew 0102 which will be offered during winter term. Students will further develop their skills in written and oral communication, and will expand their knowledge of the cultures of modern Israel through both audio and visual media. (HEBM 0102 or equivalent) 5 hrs. lect. LNG (M. Strier)

              HEBM 0201 Intermediate Modern Hebrew I (Fall 2022)

              This course is a continuation of HEBM 0103. By engaging with topics about Israeli society and culture and by using authentic materials and different media, students will strengthen their intermediate level of communicative competence – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – and gain a deeper understanding of Israeli popular culture and politics. Topics will vary depending on students’ interest. (HEBM 0103 or placement test) 5 hrs. lect/disc LNG (M. Strier)

              HEBM 0231 Zionism and the "Roads Not Taken" (1880-1948) (Spring 2023)

              An Arab-Jewish binational state in Palestine was only one of the possible paths that the Zionist movement considered before taking the road that led to Israel’s 1948 establishment. Using various primary and secondary sources, we will critically engage with alternatives to the nation-state within the Zionist movement, unfolding key debates in its history. In the introductory units, we will position Zionism alongside other forms of Jewish nationalism, such as Simon Dubnow’s Diaspora Nationalism. We will then zoom in on post-World War I Zionism, discussing Imperial, anti-Imperial, pan-Asian, and binationalist-federalist alternatives to the Jewish nation-state program. In the concluding units, we will examine the processes by which these possibilities became marginalized, and the vision of a Jewish nation-state prevailed. CMP, EUR, HIS (A. Livny)
              Cross-listed as: JWST 0231

              HEBM 0234 Contemporary Israel: The Politics of Ethnic Difference (Spring 2023)

              The course explores the politics of ethnic difference in Israel through a combined historical-sociological perspective, using diverse textual and visual materials. After tracing the origins of the ethnic categories of “Ashkenazi” (Western) and Mizrachi (Middle Eastern/North African) Jews, we examine the history of immigration to Israel in the 1950s, considering how ethnicity came to define class and geography. In subsequent units, we will deal with Mizrachi protest movements such as the Israeli 1970s “Black Panthers” and the more recent trend of Mizrachi intellectuals to reclaim the “Arab-Jew” identity, and in comparison, the Mizrachi traditional support of hawkish positions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the concluding units, we will utilize comparative tools to conceptualize this internal Jewish dynamic. MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
              Cross-listed as: SOCI 0234

              HEBM 0237 The Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Fall 2022)

              When did the Jewish-Arab conflict begin? This survey course considers several different moments of its birth, such as the 1880s first wave of Zionist immigrants to Palestine, the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1948 and 1967 war and the 1964 establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other landmark moments. Based on secondary literature and primary textual and visual materials, we will engage with these competing periodizations and analyze various Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives they embody, considering broader themes such as the relations between the historian’s identity and the production of historical narratives, and the dynamic between facts, narratives and ideologies. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
              Cross-listed as: IGST 0237

              HEBM 0238 Intercultural Jerusalem (1850-Present) (Fall 2022)

              The course approaches the history of modern Jerusalem through the lens of intercultural encounters. Based on primary historical sources and secondary literature, we will examine how the relations between Muslims, Christians, and Jews transformed as the city changed hands between the Ottomans, British, Jordanians, and Israelis. The introductory units will discuss the making of multi-cultural Jerusalem in the late Ottoman period and how, under British rule (1917-1948), its cosmopolitanism was abated by nationalism. We will then discuss its partition following the 1948 War and the emergence of “West Jerusalem” and “East Jerusalem.” Proceeding past 1967, we will examine if and to what extent Jerusalem became an integrated, united city under Israel sovereignty before concluding with a discussion of contemporary trends. CMP, HIS, MDE, PHL (A. Livny)
              Cross-listed as: IGST 0238

              HEBM 0500 Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required)

              HEBR 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Approval required.
              ↑ Top

              Linguistics Minor

              The linguistics minor consists of a minimum of five courses: two required introductory level courses and three electives.

              Required courses for the minor are as follows:
              LNGT 0101 Introduction to Linguistics or LNGT/ANTH 0125 Language Structure and Function
              LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics or LNGT/ANTH 0109 Language, Culture, Society

              Electives include the following:

              LNGT 0101 Introduction to Linguistics
              LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics
              LNGT 0107 Introduction to TESOL
              LNGT 0109 Language, Culture, Society
              LNGT 0125 Language Structure & Function
              LNGT 0206 Narratives in News Media
              LNGT 0208 Cultural Rhetorics
              LNGT 0226 Phonetics and Phonology
              LNGT 0233 History of French Language
              LNGT 0242 Non-Native Speakers
              LNGT 0243 How Languages are Learned
              LNGT 0250 Morphology and Syntax
              LNGT 0261 Revival of the Hebrew Language
              LNGT 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics
              LNGT 0280 Semantics, Logic and Cognition
              LNGT 0305 Holocaust/Exile in Translation
              LNGT 0337 French Language and Society
              LNGT 0396 Linguistic Anthropology Method
              LNGT 0495 Language and the Environment
              LNGT 0500 Independent Work
              LNGT 1005 Introduction to Tranlation Studies
              LNGT 1230 Data Science Across Disciplines
              LNGT 1304 Mayan Language Revitalization
              LNGT/WRPR 0110 English Grammar: Concepts & Controversies
              LNGT/JAPN 0210 Japanese Linguistics
              LNGT/ARBC 0227 Arabic Sociolinguistics
              LNGT/RUSS 0232 Nature and Origin of Language
              LNGT/CHNS 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics
              LNGT/SPAN 0303 Introduction to Spanish Phonetics/Pronunciation (taught in Spanish)
              LNGT/JAPN 0310 Variation & Change in Japanese
              LNGT/SPAN 0322 Hispanic Linguistics (taught in Spanish)
              LNGT/PHIL 0354 Philosophy of Language
              LNGT/GRMN 0370 German Linguistics (taught in German)
              LNGT/SPAN 0422 Hispanic Bilingualism (taught in Spanish)
              LNGT/SPAN 0390 Linguistic Variation (taught in Spanish)
              LNGT/ANTH 0395 Environmental Communication
              LNGT/SPAN 0426 Spanish in the US (taught in Spanish)
              LNGT/ARBC 0435 Arabic Diglossia (taught in Arabic)

              Please Note: Students are advised to check with the director for a complete list of courses that count as electives. All electives are taught in English, unless otherwise indicated.

              LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Fall 2022)

              In this course, we will explore the ways that language creates and reflects social identities. We will look at the contextual factors-social, cultural, geographical, political, etc.-that impact language use and variation. Themes for this course will include linguistic variation, language and identity, language policy, and language in the media. We will consider questions such as: What distinguishes a language from a dialect? How and why do some language varieties become privileged? How do notions of politeness and respect vary across linguistic contexts? In essence, we will learn how language shapes our world, and how we shape language itself. SOC (S. Shapiro)

              LNGT 0110 English Grammar: Concepts and Controversies (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will study the structure of the English language, learning key terms and strategies for analyzing English syntax. We will explore English grammar from both prescriptive and descriptive perspectives and examine its relevance to language policy, linguistic prejudice, and English education. Readings will be drawn from a variety of texts, including Rhetorical Grammar (2009), Eats, Shoots & Leaves (2006), Language Myths (1999), and Origins of the Specious (2010). This course is relevant to students wanting to increase their own knowledge of the English language, as well as to those seeking tools for English teaching and/or research. SOC (S. Shapiro)
              Cross-listed as: WRPR 0110 *

              LNGT 0125 Language Structure and Function (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will discuss the major issues and findings in the study of human language within theories of modern linguistics, which shares a history with mid-century American anthropology. The main topics include the nature of human language in comparison with other communication systems; sound patterns (phonology); word-formation (morphology); sentence structure (syntax); meaning (semantics); use (pragmatics); language acquisition and socialization. We will also consider language variation and the historical development of languages. Instruction is in English but examples will be drawn from less commonly studied languages around the world. (not open to students who have taken LNGT 0101) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Nevins)
              Cross-listed as: ANTH 0125 *

              LNGT 0206 Narratives in News Media (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will consider questions such as: What linguistic strategies do the news media use to craft compelling stories? What are the dominant narratives at play about national and global social issues, and how are some journalists working to counter those narratives? We will employ Critical Discourse Analysis as a central framework, reading theoretical and empirical work by linguists such as Teun van Dijk, as well as from sociologists and political scientists. We will engage with “On the Media” and other podcasts, TED talks, documentaries such as Outfoxed (2004), and online magazines. Students will write for a variety of audiences. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, SOC (S. Shapiro)
              Cross-listed as: WRPR 0206

              LNGT 0210 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (in English) (Spring 2023)

              This course will provide an introduction to linguistics theories as applied to the study of Japanese. Through the exploration of a language that is very different from Indo-European languages, students will gain a better understanding of how human languages work and are structured. The relationship of language to culture will be a central theme in the course. Topics covered will include key concepts in linguistics, Japanese linguistics, culture, and pedagogy. This course will be taught in English; no Japanese language or linguistics knowledge required. 3 hrs. lect./disc. NOA (S. Abe)
              Cross-listed as: JAPN 0210 *

              LNGT 0226 The Sounds of Language: Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will study the description and analysis of speech: how the sounds of language are physiologically produced, acoustically represented, and psychologically perceived and categorized. Through acoustic and phonological analysis, students will develop the skills to distinguish and produce the sounds of the world’s languages, as well as explore the sound systems of different languages, in order to determine which patterns differ and which patterns are common to all. Students will hone their analytical and technical skills by solving phonological problem sets as well as by using computer software (Praat) to analyze the acoustics of speech. 3 hrs. lect./disc. SCI (B. Baird)

              LNGT 0250 The Structure of Language: Introduction to Morphology and Syntax (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will focus on two fundamental areas in the study of language structure: morphology and syntax. Morphology is the study of the internal structure of words and their meaningful parts (e.g., roots and affixes), whereas syntax studies how words are combined to form larger units (phrases and sentences). Linguistic data for illustration and analysis will be taken both from English and a variety of languages belonging to different language families to help us better understand the unity and diversity of human language with regard to word and sentence structure. The course is intended to enhance students’ skills in linguistic description and analysis, as well as general problem-solving and analytical reasoning skills. DED, WTR (U. Soltan)

              LNGT 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics (taught in English) (Spring 2023)

              Sociolinguistics is mainly concerned with the interaction of language and society. The language situation in China is unique both in the modern world and in human history. We will gain a good understanding of sociolinguistics as a scientific field of inquiry through exploring the Chinese situation in this course. Some of the questions we will ask are: What is Mandarin (Modern Standard) Chinese? Who are "native speakers" of Mandarin? Are most Chinese people monolingual (speaking only one language) or bilingual (speaking two languages) or even multilingual? How many "dialects" are there in China? What is the difference between a "language" and a "dialect"? Are Chinese characters "ideographs", i.e., "pictures" that directly represent meaning and have nothing to do with sound? Why has the pinyin romanization system officially adopted in the 1950s never supplanted the Chinese characters? Why are there traditional and simplified characters? We will also explore topics such as power, register, verbal courtesy, gender and language use. Students are encouraged to compare the Chinese situation with societies that they are familiar with. (One semester of Chinese language study or by waiver) AAL, NOA, SOC (H. Du)
              Cross-listed as: CHNS 0270 *

              LNGT 0310 Variation and Change in Japanese (In English) (Fall 2022)

              What can linguistic change tell us about human cognition and behavior? How does the notion of “politeness” vary across communities? How do speakers of Japanese perform gender and other social identities? In this course we will address linguistic diversity and dynamism by examining the Japanese language. Topics include workplace discourse and change in honorific systems. Employing classic works in linguistics and addressing contemporary cultural materials such as manga and J-drama we will apply theoretical frameworks from (socio-)pragmatics, historical linguistics and linguistic typology to gain a deeper understanding of how and why Japanese has developed to its present forms and uses. Students with an interest in linguistics, or in teaching and learning language, or science in general, may also enjoy the analytical approach. (No prerequisites. JAPN0103 above or equivalent recommended). Heritage speakers are also welcome. 3 hrs. sem. NOA, SOC (S. Abe)
              Cross-listed as: JAPN 0310 *

              LNGT 0354 Philosophy of Language (Spring 2023)

              Speaking a language is a complex form of behavior that plays a rich and varied role in human life. The philosophy of language seeks to give a philosophical account of this phenomenon, focusing on such questions as: How does language gain meaning? How does it differ from animal communication? Is language in some sense innate? Other topics to be addressed include: theories of reference and truth; the relation between language, thought, and reality; and theories of metaphor. Readings from philosophers and linguists will include works by Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Chomsky, and Pinker. (Previous course in philosophy or waiver; PHIL 0180 is also strongly recommended)3 hrs lect. PHL (J. Spackman)
              Cross-listed as: PHIL 0354 *

              LNGT 0370 German Linguistics (in German) (Fall 2022)

              This course simultaneously presents an overview of the major subfields of linguistics as they apply to the German language and a discussion of how today's Standard German evolved. We will pay attention to important concepts in phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. In addition to these theoretical and descriptive aspects, we will discuss sociolinguistic issues such as language and gender and regional variations within Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxemburg. Lectures and discussions will be conducted in German. (Formerly GRMN 0340) 3 hrs. sem. EUR, LNG (F. Feiereisen)
              Cross-listed as: GRMN 0370 *

              LNGT 0422 Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World (Fall 2022)

              What does it mean to be bilingual? In this course we will study bilingualism with a special emphasis on Spanish-speaking bilinguals in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Course topics will include social, political, linguistic, and psychological aspects of bilingualism. Special attention will be paid to societal bilingualism, language use among a group or community, individual bilingualism, how an individual’s language use changes in different contexts and throughout an individual’s lifespan, and government and educational policies throughout the Spanish-speaking world. We will study texts, speech samples, and media that highlight different aspects of bilingualism. (At least two Spanish courses at the 0300 level or above, or by waiver) (not open to students who have taken SPAN/LNGT 0377) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, LNG, SOC (B. Baird)
              Cross-listed as: SPAN 0422 *

              LNGT 0500 Independent Work (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required)
              ↑ Top

              Program in Literary Studies

              Required for the Major

              The overall design of the program is simple, and its expectations are clearly defined. This is a program of study designed for students who by the time of their graduation from Middlebury wish to secure a comprehensive background in a full range of major achievements of world literature, as well as an ability to read and appreciate works of literature in at least one language other than English.

              To accomplish those ends, each Literary Studies major is required to take a total of 15 courses in literature over the course of four years. No more than six of these courses may be taken within a single department, and the individual courses may be selected from the literature of any language and of any period. They can be wide-ranging surveys or courses devoted to the study of single authors.

              The specific selection of courses is entirely up to the student, but in order to fulfill the requirements for the major, he or she will be expected to take the following:

              • Two courses—one historical, one generally theoretical in orientation—selected from the list specified below under the “Summary of Major Requirements”
              • One literature course in a foreign language (including Greek and Latin)—normally 0300-level (though FREN 0210 and the FREN 0200-series will usually qualify); and
              • A Colloquium for majors to be taken during the fall semester of the senior year.

              In addition, in conjunction with an independent reading course taken during the fall semester of the senior year, the student will arrange to take a one-hour oral examination in an area of specialization (as described below) that he or she has defined. This oral examination takes place at the end of the fall semester, and it is followed by a five-hour written comprehensive examination at the end of winter term. 
The written examination will require the student to demonstrate a knowledge of a range of major works by the authors listed below. For reasons of practicality, the number of authors from this list whose works students will actually have an opportunity to discuss on the comprehensive examination in any given year will be limited to 12.


              Range of Authors

              The following current list will give the student a clear sense of the particular range of major authors it is presumed that he or she will be familiar with by senior year:

              • Homer
              • Aeschylus
              • Sophocles
              • Vergil
              • Ovid
              • Lucretius
              • Dante
              • Boccaccio
              • Pirandello
              • Cervantes
              • Tirso de Molina
              • Calderón
              • Lope de Vega
              • Borges
              • Moliere
              • Baudelaire
              • Proust
              • Goethe
              • Kafka
              • Mann
              • Wang Wei
              • Cáo Xuegin
              • Lu-Xùn
              • Gogol
              • Dostoevsky
              • Tolstoy
              • Shakespeare
              • Milton
              • Wordsworth
              • Joyce
              • Emerson
              • Melville
              • Faulkner
              • Murasaki Shikibu
              • Chikamatsu Monzaemon
              • Natsume Soseki

              In addition to works by authors whose names appear on this primary list, Literary Studies majors will be urged to deepen their general cultural background by becoming acquainted with the Old and New Testaments (especially Genesis, Psalms, Job, Song of Songs, Matthew, John, Revelation, and the Epistle to the Romans), as well as principal works of Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Darwin, Marx, and Freud. A full list of the specific works by these authors included on the current Literary Studies comprehensive reading list is available on the Literary Studies Program website, or from the directors of the program.

              Beyond the two historical and theoretical courses required for the program (both of which are counted toward the major), the 0300-level foreign language literature course, the senior year colloquium (LITS 0705) and independent reading course (LITS 0701), and the total of 15 courses, the general, defining requirement for the Literary Studies major is the winter term comprehensive examination (LITS 0700), the overall range of which is specified in the comprehensive reading list. In the process of working toward this general literary education, the student will also be expected to use the independent reading course (LITS 0701) to focus on a group of works chosen to represent an individual specialization in the literature of a particular culture (e.g., German, English, American, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc.), or period (e.g., the eighteenth century, the twentieth century, etc.), or genre (e.g., the novel, the drama, lyric poetry, etc.). The specific authors and the 10 to 12 texts selected by the student for this specialization will be approved by the director in conjunction with two faculty examiners with relevant expertise in the fields represented. This oral examination is the culmination of the independent reading course (LITS 0701) in the fall semester. At the end of the following winter term, there is a five-hour written winter term comprehensive examination based on the reading list. Students qualifying for honors (a B+ average in the major, including the comprehensive examination) will complete a Senior Honors Essay (LITS 0710) in their final semester.

              After completing all the specified requirements, the student will be graduated from Middlebury College as a Literary Studies major with a particular area of interest: for example, epic poetry, European drama, Japanese literature, the literature of the nineteenth century, etc. Should the student wish to pursue graduate study, depending on the nature of his or her interests and preparation, the student would be in a good position to do so in such fields as English or American literature, comparative literature, or the literature of a specific foreign language; in addition, he or she would have a secure background for further studies in such fields as law, political philosophy, religion, journalism, publishing, medicine, and cultural and intellectual history.
 Literary Studies majors have gone on to do work in all these areas.

              As indicated above, students will be eligible for departmental honors in Literary Studies if in their combined performance in literature courses and on the two parts of the comprehensive examination they have achieved an average grade of B+ or higher. Honors will be awarded on the basis of the overall grade average in the major, performance on the comprehensive examination, and a senior honors essay of 30-40 pages to be completed during the spring semester of the senior year (this project counts as one course). A one-hour oral examination on the content and implications of this honors essay is also required, and this examination will be conducted by two faculty members with particular expertise in the fields represented.

              Summary of Major Requirements

              Total of 15 courses (no more than six in any one department).

              (1) Two courses selected from the historical and theoretical courses listed below, one from each category, as currently offered. (With the permission of the director, alternative courses may be substituted for those specified here.)

              Historical:

              • CLAS 0150 Greek and Roman Epic
              • CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy
              • RELI 0180 Introduction to Biblical Literature
              • PSCI 0101 Introduction to Political Science

              Theoretical:

              • ENAM 0205 Contemporary Literary Theory

              (2) One course in literature in a foreign language (normally 0300 level, but FREN 0201 and FREN 0220 series would usually qualify).

              (3) At least four literature courses, but no more than six, to be taken within a single department. (Courses in language instruction may not be counted toward this requirement.)

              (4) Independent Reading Course (LITS 0701) in Area of Specialization (by genre, period, theme, or national literature), an area of particular interest  defined by the student in consultation with the director. A one-hour oral examination, to be taken in the fall semester before the winter term written comprehensive examination in the senior year, is devoted to this area of special interest. The 10 to12 texts required for this examination will be chosen by the student in conjunction with the director and two faculty examiners with appropriate backgrounds in the fields represented.

              (5) Senior Colloquium for majors (LITS 0705, open to non-majors if space is available), focused on a range of works on the comprehensive reading list.

              (6) Senior Comprehensive Examination (LITS 0700) in preparation for the written comprehensive examination. Students engaged in such preparation arrange  to meet with one another over the course of winter term, and often solicit faculty participation in discussions of individual texts they have chosen to work on as a group.

              (7) Written Comprehensive Examination (LITS 0700) (on works that appear on the Literary Studies comprehensive reading list), taken at the end of winter term of the senior year. As indicated, this five-hour written examination represents the second part of the comprehensive requirement, the oral specialization examination in LITS 0701 being the first.

              (8) Students achieving an average grade of B+ or higher in the program will be eligible for honors. Honors will be awarded on the basis of the overall grade average in courses in the major, performance on the comprehensive examination, and a senior honors essay of 30-40 pages, to be completed (for one course credit) during the spring semester of the senior year; a one-hour oral examination on the content of this essay is administered by two faculty examiners with expertise in the field of investigation represented.

              Please Note: Any literature course in the Middlebury College curriculum (and in approved programs abroad or at other U.S. institutions) may be used to fulfill the requirements in the Program in Literary Studies. Hence, in addition to the specific LITS course descriptions indicated below, students majoring in Literary Studies as well as non-majors with an interest in literature are urged to read through the entire literature offering by various departments (including language departments) to secure a full sense of the range of courses available in any academic year.

              LITS 0152 Greek Tragedy (Spring 2023)

              A survey of selected tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, exploring the relation between tragedy and political freedom and empire in fifth century B.C. Athens. The course examines the tragic poets' use of traditional Greek myths to question not only the wisdom of contemporary Athenian imperialism but also traditional Greek views on relations between the sexes; between the family and the city; between man's presumed dignity and his belief in gods. Mythical and historical background is supplied through additional readings from Homer and Thucydides. The course asks how the tragedians managed to raise publicly, in the most solemn religious settings, the kind of questions for which Socrates was later put to death. The course culminates in a reading of Aristotle's Poetics. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, LIT, PHL (M. Witkin)
              Cross-listed as: CLAS 0152 *

              LITS 0500 Independent Research Project (Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required) (Staff)

              LITS 0510 Independent Essay Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: M. Hatjigeorgiou)

              LITS 0700 Senior Comprehensive Exam (Spring 2023)

              Intended for majors in literary studies preparing for the written section of the senior comprehensive examinations.

              LITS 0701 Independent Reading Course (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Intended for majors in literary studies preparing for the senior comprehensive examinations. At the conclusion of this course, students will take a one-hour oral examination (part of the senior comprehensive examination) in a specialization of their choice. (Approval Required) (Staff)

              LITS 0705 Senior Colloquium in Literary Studies (Fall 2022)

              Although it is required of all Literary Studies seniors, this course is intended for students working in any discipline who seek a close encounter with some of the greatest achievements of the literary imagination. In addition to being understood as distinctive artistic and philosophical accomplishments, the major works which constitute the reading list will also be seen as engaged in a vital, overarching cultural conversation across temporal and geographical boundaries that might otherwise seem insurmountable. The texts for this semester include Homer’s Odyssey, Aeschylus’ Oresteia, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Dostoevsky’ Crime and Punishment, Pirandello’ Six Characters in Search of an Author, and Borges’ Ficciones. (Open to non-majors with the approval of the instructor.) 3 hrs. sem. (P. Sfyroeras)
              Cross-listed as: ENGL 0705

              LITS 0710 Senior Honors Essay (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required) (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Luso Hispanic Studies

              Major in Spanish

              The major consists of a minimum of nine courses numbered 0300 or above. The requirements are as follows:

              • At least six courses must be at the 0400 level or above. Or, a student must complete at least five courses at the 0400 level or above and a thesis. At least one of these 0400 level courses must be taken at Middlebury College during academic year in the student’s senior year. The other elective courses may be taken on the Middlebury College campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, the School in Spain, the Schools in Latin America, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs in Latin America sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.
              • Study abroad in in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is highly recommended and a course at the 300 level is required before studying abroad. Students are expected to consult with their advisor when selecting courses and making plans to study abroad.

              Joint Major

              The Spanish component of a joint major will consist of at least six courses from departmental offerings numbered 0300 and above, as follows:

              • At least five courses must be at the 0400 level or above.
              • At least two of these 0400 level or above courses must be taken at Middlebury College during the academic year. At least one of these 0400 level courses must be taken at Middlebury College during academic year in the student’s senior year. The other elective courses may be taken on the Middlebury College campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, the School in Spain, the Schools in Latin America, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs in Latin America sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.
              • Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is highly recommended and a course at the 300 level is required before studying abroad. Students are expected to consult with their advisor when selecting courses and making plans to study abroad.

              Spanish or Portuguese Courses

              • Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0100 through 0200 levels are Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Intermediate language instruction focused on developing skills in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing.

              • Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0300 level introduce significant themes in literature, film and media, linguistics, and cultural studies. For Spanish, these courses are closed to juniors and seniors returning from study abroad.

              • Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0400 level are advanced offerings that explore in greater depth a specific line of inquiry applied to literary, cultural, film and media, or linguistic issues in the Lusophone and/or Hispanophone worlds, and satisfy the International Studies advanced language requirement in Spanish or Portuguese. (If a PGSE 400-level course is not available to a student, a 300-level one would fulfill the requirement.)

              All courses taken abroad in Spanish or Portuguese are considered to be at the 400 level, regardless of their course number.

              Minor in Spanish

              The Spanish minor consists of at least four courses numbered 0300 or above, one of which must be at the 0400-level or above and taken at the Middlebury College campus during the academic year. Courses can be taken on campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, one of our Middlebury Schools Abroad Spanish-speaking sites, or, with departmental approval, at a Spanish-speaking site from study abroad programs sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.

              Minor in Portuguese

              The Portuguese minor consists of at least four courses numbered 0300 or above. Courses can be taken on campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury College Portuguese Language School, the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Brazil, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee. At least one 0300-level or above course must be taken at the Middlebury College campus during the student’s final academic year.

              Senior Work in Spanish

              During the senior year, majors and joint majors must complete a 0400-level course.

              International and Global Studies Major with Spanish or Portuguese Language

              Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies Major section, completion of the Spanish or Portuguese language component requires: (1) proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese (a minimum of one course at the 0300 level or above, or work in the Spanish or Portuguese summer school at the 0300 level or above); (2) at least one semester, preferably a year, abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country; and (3) one or more courses at or above the 0400 level upon return from abroad. (If a PGSE 400-level course is not available to a student, a 300-level one would fulfill the requirement.)

              Advanced Placement

              College credit is awarded for successful performance on the Advanced Placement Examinations in Spanish Language and/or Spanish Literature. In all cases the student must satisfactorily complete a course at the 0300 level before the credit will be awarded. AP credit does not affect course placement, nor does it count towards the major or minor. There is a maximum of one credit allowed for Spanish AP.

              For placement in advanced PGSE classes, students must consult with the Chair of the department or with one of the department’s Portuguese faculty members.

              Programs Abroad for Juniors

              The department expects that majors will spend at least one semester in residence in a Spanish-speaking country. Middlebury Schools Abroad offer both year and semester programs at the following sites:

              • Argentina (Buenos Aires)
              • Chile (Concepción, Santiago, Temuco, Valdivia, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, and Villarrica)
              • Puerto Rico (San Juan)
              • Spain (Madrid, Córdoba, Getafe, and Logroño)
              • Uruguay (Montevideo)

              Internship opportunities are available. For more information on these programs, please see the Schools Abroad. Students who are interested in going abroad and who are also double or joint majors or are thinking of participating in the teacher education program should consult with their advisors in both areas as early as possible to avoid any conflict in plans.

              Students who are planning to study abroad in one of our Middlebury Schools Abroad Spanish-speaking sites are required to have taken at least one content course at the 0300 level or above.

              For Portuguese, Middlebury’s School in Brazil offers both year and semester programs in Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis, or Niterói. Internship opportunities are available. For more information on these programs, please see the Schools Abroad. Students who are planning to study abroad at the Middlebury C.V. Starr School in Brazil are required to have taken at least one course at the 0215 level or above.

              Honors in Spanish

              The department will award honors on the basis of a student’s work in the department and performance in SPAN 0705. All students interested in receiving honors must contact their advisors at the start of their last year at Middlebury; either in September or in February. Please see complete information about the requirements in Thesis Guidelines.

              PGSE 0115 Accelerated Beginning Portuguese (Fall 2022)

              This course is an intensive and fast-paced introduction to Portuguese, covering all of the basic structures and vocabulary as well as important aspects of the cultures of Lusophone countries. Within a cultural context, emphasis will be placed on active communication aimed at the development of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are expected to continue with PGSE 0215, after successful completion of PGSE 0115 (formerly PGSE 0210). Open to all students. 6 hrs. lect./disc. LNG (M. Higa, F. Rocha)

              PGSE 0215 Advanced Portuguese (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of PGSE 0210. It is designed to balance textual and cultural analysis with a thorough review of grammar at an intermediate/high level. Students will hone their critical thinking and linguistic skills through guided readings, oral discussions, and short written assignments on Lusophone cultural topics. (PGSE 0103 or PGSE 0210 or by waiver) 4 hrs. lect./disc. LNG (M. Higa, F. Rocha)

              PGSE 0315 Japanese Immigration to Brazil (Fall 2022)

              Japanese Brazilians are the largest ethnic Japanese community outside Japan. What factors gave rise to this community? How did it expand over time? In this course we will study the modern Japanese diaspora from a Brazilian perspective. The first families from Japan arrived in Brazil in 1908. Why did these families leave their country? Which work did Japanese immigrants do? How did they negotiate their Japanese cultural identities within the Latin American context? To what extent have they contributed to the Brazilian culture? In order to answer these and other questions, students will examine and discuss a set of critical/creative sources that include essay, film, testimony, painting, advertisement, poetry, and literary fiction. In the last segment of the course, we will consider a social-economic counterpoint: the context in which Brazilians of Japanese ethnicity followed the reverse path of their grandparents and massively immigrated to Japan during the 1990s. 3 hrs sem. CMP, HIS, LNG, SOC (M. Higa)

              PGSE 0321 With Flavor: Food and Brazilian Culture (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will focus on the food being produced and consumed in Brazil in its relation to Brazilian culture and history. Topics include how food and Brazilian culinary practices are related to certain aspects of Brazilian society, such as the Northeast’s landed oligarchy, Afro-Brazilian culture in Bahia, regional, national, and transnational identities, women and gender constructs, and the experience of hunger. Narratives (fictional, non-fictional, and theoretical) will be drawn from different media: printed and online texts as well as audio-visual materials, such as songs and popular music videos, films, TV series and cooking programs. The course will also entail preparation and degustation of Brazilian dishes. (PGSE 0215 or by approval) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, LNG, SOC (F. Rocha)

              PGSE 0335 The Black Lusophone Atlantic (in English) (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will examine the histories, power struggles, and cultural formations in Portuguese-speaking spaces of the African Diaspora. The Lusophone, or Portuguese-speaking world, encompasses four continents as a lasting legacy of Portuguese imperialism and the trafficking of enslaved people. Working across and against disciplines, we will critically engage with Black decolonial worldmaking in these spaces and across periods as we re-evaluate and dismantle this so-called Lusophone world and other imperialist geographies. In the process, we will examine connections between Black life in Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Portugal, and more over the last six centuries; and also how Black life re-historicizes these spaces and times. 3 hrs.sem. CMP, HIS, SOC (D. Silva)
              Cross-listed as: BLST 0335

              PGSE 0351 Brazilian Cinema and Culture (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will analyze how Brazilian cinema has been approaching issues related to Brazilian society and culture since mid-twentieth century to the present. Issues may range from colonialism and neocolonialism, dictatorship and revolutionary movements, and the permanence of violence in the fabric of society, to gender identity and diverse sexualities, or race and racism. Throughout the course we will also learn about different movements, moments, aesthetics, and filmmakers, as well as how filmic genres are constructed in Brazilian cinema. Readings will be taken from film criticism and history, social and historical analysis, as well as from other theoretical frameworks, such as gender theory or critical race theory. (PGSE 0215) Course taught in English. AMR, ART, SOC (F. Rocha)
              Cross-listed as: FMMC 0351

              PGSE 0374 Soccer in Latin America (Spring 2023)

              Why are Latin Americans so passionate about soccer? The answer to this question is a complex and multifaceted one. The history of this passion goes back to the mid-19th century when British workers were sent to Latin America to build railroads and operate railroad companies. Along with them, soccer arrived in the region. The first documented match took place in Argentina in 1867. Since then, soccer quickly spread out over Latin America to become the most popular sport — by a large margin — in nearly every country. In this course we will examine the history of soccer in Latin America and its links to politics, culture, racial issues, and gender discrimination. We will also take a look at the lives of iconic figures such as Di Stéfano, Garrincha, Pelé, Maradona, Messi, and Marta. The course is intended to finish with a soccer practice and a match against another team. 3hrs.sem. AMR, HIS, SOC (M. Higa)
              Cross-listed as: SPAN 0374 *

              PGSE 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval Required)

              SPAN 0101 Beginning Spanish I (Fall 2022)

              This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of grammar and focuses on the development of four skills in Spanish: comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis will be placed on active communication aimed at the development of oral and comprehension skills. This course is for students who have not previously studied Spanish. Students are expected to continue with SPAN 0102 and SPAN 0103 after successful completion of SPAN 0101. 5 hrs. lect./disc. (N. Poppe)

              SPAN 0104 Beginning Spanish II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of SPAN 0101. Intensive reading, writing, and oral activities will advance students’ proficiency in Spanish in an academic setting. (SPAN 0101 or placement exam) 6 hrs. lect./disc. (Fall 2022: B. Baird, G. Gonzalez Zenteno; Spring 2023: L. Lesta Garcia)

              SPAN 0201 Intermediate Spanish (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This accelerated course is designed to review, reinforce, and consolidate the linguistic structures that students need in order to reach the intermediate level of proficiency in Spanish. A grammar review will accompany intensive language acquisition, vocabulary expansion, readings, discussions, and compositions. (Placement test required) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. drill. LNG (Fall 2022: E. Garcia, M. Fernandez; Spring 2023: E. Garcia, N. Poppe)

              SPAN 0220 Intermediate Spanish II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              A course for students seeking to perfect their academic writing skills in Spanish. The course is also an introduction to literary analysis and critical writing and will include reading and oral discussion of literary texts. The course will also include a thorough review of grammar at a fairly advanced level. This course may be used to fulfill the foreign languages distribution requirement. (SPAN 0201, SPAN 0210, or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. LNG (Fall 2022: I. Feldman, M. Manrique-Gomez; Spring 2023: B. Baird, P. Saldarriaga, I. Feldman, M. Fernandez)

              SPAN 0250 Spanish for Heritage Speakers (Spring 2023)

              This course is specifically designed for heritage speakers, i.e., individuals who grew up speaking Spanish at home but were formally educated in another language, or individuals from similar contexts. In this course students will learn about different aspects of their own varieties of Spanish, social perceptions towards them, and how these varieties are valid forms of communication. Additionally, students will study grammatical differences between their varieties of Spanish and a more formal, academic Spanish. The grammatical aspects will primarily focus on written Spanish, vocabulary, and verb tenses that tend to vary in different varieties of Spanish. (by placement exam or waiver) 3 hrs. lct. LNG (G. Gonzalez Zenteno)

              SPAN 0300 An Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature (Fall 2022)

              This course in literature and advanced language is designed to introduce students to literary analysis and critical writing. The work will be based on the reading of a number of works in prose, drama, and poetry. Frequent short, critical essays will complement readings and provide students with practice in writing. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, CMP, LIT, LNG (M. Manrique-Gomez, I. Feldman)

              SPAN 0307 Ideas and Cultures of the Southern Cone (Fall 2022)

              What’s in a name? A sub-region of Latin America, the Southern Cone consists of three countries marked by cultural, geographical, historical, sociopolitical (dis)connection. In this course we will approach Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay not only as nations, but as a region with extensive transnational connections. Through analysis of a wide-range of cultural products like Ercilla’s early modern epic poem La Araucana, Figari’s paintings depicting candombé culture, and films of the New Argentine Cinema, we will study aspects of the cultural identities and intellectual histories of these countries and the region. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc AMR, LIT, LNG (M. Fernandez)

              SPAN 0315 Hispanic Film (Fall 2022)

              The cinema is a space of social interaction, of entertainment, of bodily (dis)pleasure, of cultural critique, of commerce, of many things. In this course we will study, with a focus on comparative analysis, the text and context of films produced throughout the Hispanic world. Through examining the work of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, we will closely analyze film form and engage key debates in film theory such as authorship, genre (comedy, documentary, melodrama, etc.), and (trans)national cinema, as well as explore the ways in which class, culture, disability, history, politics, race, and sexuality are represented cinematically. Critical, scholarly, and theoretical readings will supplement film viewings. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART, CMP, LNG (N. Poppe)

              SPAN 0331 Youth Cultures in Contemporary Spain (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will explore youth cultures in contemporary Spain (1980-2016). In 1985 the Spanish punk rock band Siniestro Total wrote the song “I Will Dance On Your Grave”, a metaphor for the end of the dictatorship and the beginning of “freedom”. We will explore the colorful Movida (80s), the grunge movement (90s), queer cultures (2000s), and the disenchantment (2010s). All these events will be framed in a global context and accompanied by critical theory. Through literature, comics, film, arts, and music, we will discuss issues of sexuality, drugs, family, gender, and politics. (SPAN 0220 or equivalent). 3 hrs. lect./disc. EUR, LNG, SOC (L. Lesta Garcia)

              SPAN 0338 Advanced Conversation (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will focus on the development of oral skills in Spanish at the advanced level. Students will also be exposed to cultural context in Spanish, through which they will be introduced to social and political trends in the Spanish-speaking world. Through oral exams, presentations, debates, and other forms of oral assessment, students will deepen their oral skills, as well as their understanding and production of oral expression in the target language. The course will give special attention to communicative skills in Spanish, particularly speaking (including pronunciation) and listening. The instructor may choose specific grammar points for review when necessary. 3 hrs. lect. LNG (G. Gonzalez Zenteno)

              SPAN 0340 Representations of Social, Cultural, and Political Identities in Spain (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will study the different representations of Spanish culture and politics. We will emphasize specific aspects that make Spain richly varied: Spain´s breathtaking reinvention and reaffirmation of its own identity after the Disaster of 1898, religious customs and conflicts, gender relations, political values of Spaniards. At the same time, the cultural impact of Don Quixote, Goya, Lorca, republicanism and dictatorship, civil war, flamenco, bullfighting, and soccer. Works to be discussed include a short selection of literary pieces, cultural, visual, musical, and film representations. This course is recommended for students planning to study in Spain. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect. disc. CW, EUR, LNG (M. Manrique-Gomez)

              SPAN 0347 Indigenous peoples and social movements in Bolivia (Spring 2023)

              Quechua and Aymara people of the Andes, and the indigenous nations from the Lowlands have been key in grassroots movements in Bolivia in the 21st century. We will study historical and present indigenous decolonial and environmental struggles, tackling issues of political representation and self-representation. We will look at indigenist literature and film, the Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and indigenous journalism and performance. The Bolivian case will be placed in context with other social movements in the region and the Global South. 3 hrs. sem. AMR, HIS, LNG (I. Feldman)

              SPAN 0349 Hispanic Athletes: Sports, Nationalist Culture, and the Global Media (Spring 2023)

              In this course, we will study sports as an essential part in the construction of nationalist pride and perceptions of race, class, and gender in several Hispanic nation-states and subcultures in Europe and the Americas. We will analyze fictional narrative content such as literature and films (Pepe el Toro, Sugar, Black Diamonds, and many others). In addition, we will also explore how media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, videogames, documentaries, and the internet affect our perceptions of sporting events and their superstars to create controversies, support hegemonic nationalist ideas, and further the commercial ambitions of corporations. (SPAN 0220 or placement) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, CMP, LNG (E. Garcia)
              Cross-listed as: BLST 0349

              SPAN 0367 Understanding Decolonial Thought (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will read texts on decolonial theory to analyze cinema from the Americas (e.g. White Zombie, King Kong, Pelo malo, Get Out, Rhymes for Young Ghouls, The Milk of Sorrow, A Fantastic Woman, The Silent House, Too Late To Die Young, The Lost Daughter and Soldiers or Zombies, S1). Decolonizing requires the exposure of structures of oppression that remain in a society after colonization. We will therefore focus on coloniality of power (e.g. intersection of race and capitalism, biopolitics), coloniality of gender (abortion, the privilege of the phallus, hypersexualization, violence against female and trans bodies), coloniality of knowledge (education, privileging the Global North), coloniality of being (religious imaginaries, existential phenomenology), and visuality vs. countervisuality (what we are allowed to see vs. what is there to be seen). Among authors included: Quijano, Fanon, Mbembe, Lugones, Segato, hooks, Maldonado-Torres, Mierzoff, Coates, Wynter, and Ahmed. AMR, CMP, LIT, LNG, SOC (P. Saldarriaga)

              SPAN 0374 Soccer in Latin America (Spring 2023)

              Why are Latin Americans so passionate about soccer? The answer to this question is a complex and multifaceted one. The history of this passion goes back to the mid-19th century when British workers were sent to Latin America to build railroads and operate railroad companies. Along with them, soccer arrived in the region. The first documented match took place in Argentina in 1867. Since then, soccer quickly spread out over Latin America to become the most popular sport — by a large margin — in nearly every country. In this course we will examine the history of soccer in Latin America and its links to politics, culture, racial issues, and gender discrimination. We will also take a look at the lives of iconic figures such as Di Stéfano, Garrincha, Pelé, Maradona, Messi, and Marta. The course is intended to finish with a soccer practice and a match against another team. 3hrs.sem. AMR, HIS, SOC (M. Higa)
              Cross-listed as: PGSE 0374

              SPAN 0386 Exploring Orientalist Adventures in the Americas (Fall 2022)

              In this class we will study 20th and 21st century adventure narratives from the Americas to explore how artists have struggled to represent Asian or Middle East cultures within or against Western imperialist ideologies. We will use Edward Said’s seminal work Orientalism as a theoretical framework and study how racist narratives are predominant within our industrial mass media (radio, serials, films, comic books, social media, and streaming services). Furthermore, we will explore how new gender and race paradigms have provided space for adventure narratives that attempt to dismantle the biases against Asian citizens in the Americas. This class will cover from Martial Arts narratives in the United States to Mexican Geisha comic books to Argentinean adventures in the Middle East. AMR, ART, LIT, LNG (E. Garcia)
              Cross-listed as: CMLT 0386

              SPAN 0389 Decolonizing Porn: Circulating Desire between Europe and the Americas (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will use feminist, queer, critical race, and decolonial theories to analyze porn in Europe and the Americas. The goal is to give students the analytic tools they need to think deeply about the centrality of porn to our lives and to global capitalism, creating jobs in the “gig economy” as well as huge amounts of profit even as it extracts unpaid labor from trafficked bodies. We will consider pornographic photography, cinema, AI, and deep fakes. Texts will include Linda Williams’ Hard Core: Power, Pleasure, and the ‘Frenzy of the Visible,” Gayle Rubin’s “Thinking Sex,” Heather Berg, Porn Work and Jennifer Nash’s The Black Body in Ecstasy. In the SPAN section of the course, students will also be asked to participate in Spanish at least three times on the Spanish-language day of the class. All students will present their public-facing projects at the end of the class. CMP, LNG, SOC (P. Saldarriaga)
              Cross-listed as: GSFS 0389

              SPAN 0422 Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World (Fall 2022)

              What does it mean to be bilingual? In this course we will study bilingualism with a special emphasis on Spanish-speaking bilinguals in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Course topics will include social, political, linguistic, and psychological aspects of bilingualism. Special attention will be paid to societal bilingualism, language use among a group or community, individual bilingualism, how an individual’s language use changes in different contexts and throughout an individual’s lifespan, and government and educational policies throughout the Spanish-speaking world. We will study texts, speech samples, and media that highlight different aspects of bilingualism. (At least two Spanish courses at the 0300 level or above, or by waiver) (not open to students who have taken SPAN/LNGT 0377) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, LNG, SOC (B. Baird)
              Cross-listed as: LNGT 0422

              SPAN 0433 Creative Writing: Long Form Narrative (Fall 2022)

              This course offers students the opportunity to advance in creative writing in Spanish. Students will create a long-form work—a novella, a collection of interrelated short stories, or a collection of interrelated autobiographical narratives. Through workshops and analyses of literary models, students will develop narrative and stylistic techniques to produce at least twenty-five pages of polished creative work around a unified topic. Prior creative writing experience would be helpful. (Senior Majors or by approval) 3 hrs. sem. AMR, ART, LNG (G. Gonzalez Zenteno)

              SPAN 0468 In the Middle of Nowhere: Rural Spain through History (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will analyze visual and narrative discourses related to rural communities in Spain. From a historical point of view, we will explore literary concepts such as bucolismo and naturalismo, the paleto cinema of the Francoism era and its contestation in Los santos inocentes. From there we will move to contemporary issues such as the vindication of the España vaciada, and new critical approaches such as the glocal, the rurban, and ecofeminism. We will include the voices of Ana Iris Simón, Oliver Laxe and María Sánchez that portray rural spaces and its inhabitants with respect and dignity. The goal of this course is to showcase rural spaces as sophisticated, diverse, and complex while we explore our own experience of Middlebury as a rural place. (Al least two Spanish courses at the 0300 level or above, or by waiver.) 3hrs.lect./disc. EUR, LNG (L. Lesta Garcia)

              SPAN 0481 Understanding the Myth of Don Juan in the Western Tradition (Spring 2023)

              The myth of Don Juan has embodied the thoughts, desires, and aspirations of multiple authors from different times and countries. In this course we will gain insights into core characteristics that define the Don Juan persona. We will analyze the original components of the character of Don Juan, situate the myth in its social and historical contexts, and study the different dramatic and literary strategies used by authors, artists, and filmmakers in their construction of Don Juan. Resources to be analyzed will include: fiction, poetry, film (fiction and documentary), philosophical essays, painting, music, and performance. 3 hrs lect./disc. EUR, LIT, LNG (M. Manrique-Gomez)

              SPAN 0491 Decolonizing Zombies (Fall 2022)

              Zombies are generally depicted as metaphors that represent contemporary affects. In this course we will study a number of zombie movies with a focus on theories of race, gender, coloniality, iconoclasm, and queer temporality. With a strong emphasis on the American continent, the course will have a global approach, which will allow us to delve into issues of neoliberalism, cannibalism, genocide, diaspora, virus spread, and political criticism. The main goal is to expose colonial structures embedded in the representation of zombies, as well as in the making of the genre. Among films included are: White Zombie, The Night of the Living Dead, Savageland, World War Z (United States); Mangue negro (Brazil), Juan de los muertos (Cuba), El desierto (Argentina), El año del apocalipsis (Peru); Ladronas de almas, Halley (Mexico); Descendents (Chile), Rec (Spain), I’ll see You in my Dreams (Portugal), The Girl with All the Gifts (United Kingdom); Train to Busan (Korea); The Empire of Corpses, and Versus (Japan). (Two 3XX courses or by waiver) (Previously SPAN 0381.) (Not open to students who have already taken SPAN 0381) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, ART, CMP, LNG (P. Saldarriaga)

              SPAN 0498 Representing Hispanic Theatre (Spring 2023)

              From Page to Stage: Representing Hispanic Theatre (in Spanish)
              The first third of this course will be dedicated to an in-depth analysis of selected plays from Spain or Latin America. Readings on semiotics and performance studies, in addition to other works by the authors, texts of the same genre, and on relevant socio-historical and political topics will complement our study. Problem-based learning will guide the second two-thirds of the semester, dedicated to preparing a full production of one of the plays to be presented at the end of the semester. Students will be involved as actors as well as in all aspects of production and decision-making, requiring about 3 hours of rehearsal per week outside of regularly-scheduled class time. (At least two courses at the 300-level or above or by waiver) (Formerly SPAN 0399) (Not open to students who have already taken SPAN 0399.) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
              ART, LNG (M. Fernandez)

              SPAN 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              The department will consider requests by qualified juniors and senior majors to engage in independent work. (Approval only)

              SPAN 0705 Senior Honors Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              The department will award honors, high honors, or highest honors on the basis of a student's work in the department and performance in SPAN 0705. (Approval only) (R. Albarran, I. Feldman, M. Fernandez, L. Lesta Garcia, E. Garcia, G. Gonzalez Zenteno, L. Castaneda, P. Saldarriaga, M. Rohena-Madrazo, N. Poppe)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Mathematics

              Required for the Major 

              Eleven courses total, at least six of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

              • Core courses: MATH 0122, MATH 0200, MATH 0223, MATH 0302, and MATH 0323 (at least one of the latter two to be completed by the end of the junior year)
              • Electives: five MATH electives at the 0200-level or above
              • Senior work: A 0700-level MATH seminar in the senior year

              Students interested in advanced work in applied mathematics may wish to include a post-calculus sequence of courses in their area of specialization. Examples are MATH 0310 and 0311, MATH 0310 and 0410. A list of current options is maintained on the department web page. The second course in these specifically designated sequences may be counted in place of MATH 302 for the major. 

              Note: Students are strongly encouraged to include a proof-based course such as MATH 0241 or MATH 0247 early in their programs. This is especially helpful prior to taking MATH 0302 or MATH 0323. 

              Students planning a 3-2 engineering program who wish to major in Mathematics should complete the 700-level senior seminar in their sixth semester at Middlebury. 

              Honors

              Students who wish to be considered for departmental honors in mathematics must take one additional elective (12 courses total). Honors designations are based on senior work and GPA within the major.

              Required for the Minor

              Six courses total at least half of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

              • MATH 0121
              • MATH 0122
              • MATH 0200
              • Plus three courses at the 0200-level or above

              Joint Majors

              The Department of Mathematics does not offer a joint major.

              Advanced Placement

              Advanced placement in the department is offered to first-year students whose secondary training indicates they can commonly bypass one or more of the beginning courses in mathematics.

              Majors typically begin their study of mathematics in MATH 0122 or MATH 0200. Mathematics majors who need to begin the study of calculus with MATH 0121 may arrange with their advisors to use this course as one of the required electives. Credits for MATH 0121 and 0122 may be earned through the College Board AP exams or international exams such as the A-Levels or IB. At the discretion of the chair, additional courses may be waived in recognition of exceptional secondary school preparation. However, in all cases the major must include at least seven (7) Middlebury College or approved transfer courses, and the minor must include at least 4. Students who have earned grades on advanced placement calculus exams that are eligible for credit may not register for the equivalent course at Middlebury College.

              Thus students who have earned 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB exam or a 3 on the Calculus BC exam may not register for MATH 0121, students who have earned 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam may not register for MATH 0121 or MATH 0122. This policy applies irrespective of whether students choose to use their AP credits toward meeting Middlebury’s graduation requirements. The following international credentials carry the same credit as a 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC Exam: A-level exam with a mathematics grade of A, B, or C; or IB Higher Level Mathematics with a grade of 6 or 7.

              See more information on Placement.

              Other Credits

              Because of the wide variation in course offerings at other institutions, students wishing to substitute a course from another college for any course in mathematics must seek approval from the department before registering for the course.

              MATH 0101 Mathematical Problem-Solving (Fall 2022)

              This course is designed primarily for students concurrently enrolled in MATH 121 or MATH 122 who would benefit from structured support to reinforce their mathematical backgrounds, and these students will be given priority at registration. We will emphasize problem-solving rather than a collection of procedures, using problems selected to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding of the material and their strategic competence. In an inquiry-based setting, students will practice and improve their algebra and trigonometry skills, with an emphasis on effective exposition of mathematical arguments.(This is a half credit course.)(Approval required.) 1.5 hrs. disc. (P. Bremser)

              MATH 0106 Math and Board Games (Fall 2022)

              Have you ever spent minutes agonizing over which move to make in a board game? Out of all the possible options, how could you possibly determine which move is best? Was there even an objectively best decision? In this course, we will explore the mathematics and underlying gameplay structures of several modern board games. In addition to playing these games during class, we’ll use math and logic to assess and quantify the value of a range of possible in-game decisions. Using formal mathematical proofs, papers, and in-class discussions, we’ll analyze the fairness and equity of strategies across a wide variety of games. We’ll finish the course by designing our own board game based on what we’ve learned! (Students who have completed FYSE1216 are not eligible to enroll in MATH 0106.) CW, DED (A. Lyford)
              Cross-listed as: MATH 0116 *

              MATH 0110 Making Data Visual (Fall 2022)

              Information can be used to inform, persuade, excite, and build community identity. Being able to move between data in a spreadsheet to a story that uses data that highlights information responsibly is a critical skill. In this course we will learn about communication standards for sharing data with experts and non-experts alike. Gaining skills in programs such as Canva, Photoshop and R, we will work to build data visualizations that are accurate, interesting, and responsibly represented. In the final project we will turn to our own community using data to tell a story about experiences at Middlebury. DED (K. O'Brien)

              MATH 0116 Introduction to Statistical Science (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              A practical introduction to statistical methods and the examination of data sets. Computer software will play a central role in analyzing a variety of real data sets from the natural and social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, elementary distributions for data, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals, correlation, regression, contingency tables, and analysis of variance. The course has no formal mathematics prerequisite, and is especially suited to students in the physical, social, environmental, and life sciences who seek an applied orientation to data analysis. (Credit is not given for MATH 0116 if the student has taken ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) or PSYC 0201 previously or concurrently.) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. computer lab. DED (Fall 2022: A. Lyford; Spring 2023: B. Peterson, E. Malcolm-White)
              Cross-listed as: MATH 0106 *

              MATH 0118 Introduction to Data Science (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              In this course students will gain exposure to the entire data science pipeline: forming a statistical question, collecting and cleaning data sets, performing exploratory data analyses, identifying appropriate statistical techniques, and communicating the results, all the while leaning heavily on open source computational tools, in particular the R statistical software language. We will focus on analyzing real, messy, and large data sets, requiring the use of advanced data manipulation/wrangling and data visualization packages. Students will be required to bring alaptop (owned or college-loaned) to class as many lectures will involve in-class computational activities. (formerly MATH216) 3 hrs lect./disc. DED (Fall 2022: B. Tang, E. Malcolm-White; Spring 2023: E. Malcolm-White)

              MATH 0121 Calculus I (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Introductory analytic geometry and calculus. Topics include limits, continuity, differential calculus of algebraic and trigonometric functions with applications to curve sketching, optimization problems and related rates, the indefinite and definite integral, area under a curve, and the fundamental theorem of calculus. Inverse functions and the logarithmic and exponential functions are also introduced along with applications to exponential growth and decay. 4 hrs. lect./disc. DED (Fall 2022: R. Morris-Wright, E. Malcolm-White; Spring 2023: J. Albert, R. Morris-Wright)

              MATH 0122 Calculus II (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Fall 2022

              Calculus II
              A continuation of MATH 0121, may be elected by first-year students who have had an introduction to analytic geometry and calculus in secondary school. Topics include a brief review of natural logarithm and exponential functions, calculus of the elementary transcendental functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, applications of integrals including problems of finding volumes, infinite series and Taylor's theorem, polar coordinates, ordinary differential equations. (MATH 0121 or by waiver) 4 hrs. lect.
              DED (J. Schmitt, J. Crodelle)

              Spring 2023

              Calculus II
              A continuation of MATH 0121, may be elected by first-year students who have had an introduction to analytic geometry and calculus in secondary school. Topics include a brief review of natural logarithm and exponential functions, calculus of the elementary transcendental functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, applications of integrals including problems of finding volumes, infinite series and Taylor's theorem, polar coordinates, ordinary differential equations. 4 hrs. lect.
              DED (J. Crodelle, M. Olinick)

              MATH 0200 Linear Algebra (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Matrices and systems of linear equations, the Euclidean space of three dimensions and other real vector spaces, independence and dimensions, scalar products and orthogonality, linear transformations and matrix representations, eigenvalues and similarity, determinants, the inverse of a matrix and Cramer's rule. (MATH 0121 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (Fall 2022: M. Kubacki, E. Proctor; Spring 2023: J. Schmitt, M. Kubacki)

              MATH 0218 Statistical Learning (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is an introduction to modern statistical, machine learning, and computational methods to analyze large and complex data sets that arise in a variety of fields, from biology to economics to astrophysics. The theoretical underpinnings of the most important modeling and predictive methods will be covered, including regression, classification, clustering, resampling, and tree-based methods. Student work will involve implementation of these concepts using open-source computational tools. (MATH 0118, or MATH 0216, or BIOL 1230, or ECON 1230, or ENVS 1230, or FMMC 1230, or HARC 1230, or JAPN 1230, or LNGT 1230, or NSCI 1230, or MATH 1230 or SOCI 1230) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (B. Tang)

              MATH 0223 Multivariable Calculus (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              The calculus of functions of more than one variable. Introductory vector analysis, analytic geometry of three dimensions, partial differentiation, multiple integration, line integrals, elementary vector field theory, and applications. (MATH 0122 and MATH 0200 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (Fall 2022: M. Olinick, D. Dorman; Spring 2023: D. Dorman, E. Proctor)

              MATH 0226 Differential Equations (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              MATH 0226, Differential Equations
              This course provides an introduction into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with an emphasis on linear and nonlinear systems using analytical, qualitative, and numerical techniques. Topics will include separation of variables, integrating factors, eigenvalue method, linearization, bifurcation theory, and numerous applications. In this course, we will introduce MATLAB programming skills and develop them through the semester. (MATH 0200 or by waiver) (formerly MATH 0225) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
              DED (Fall 2022: M. Olinick; Spring 2023: M. Kubacki)

              MATH 0230 Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries (Spring 2023)

              In roughly 300 BCE, Euclid set down his axioms of geometry which subsequently became the standard by which people understood the mathematics of the world around them. In the first half of the 19th century, mathematicians realized, however, that they could remove one of Euclid’s axioms, the one known as the “parallel postulate,” and still produce logically consistent examples of geometries. These new geometries displayed behaviors that were wildly different from Euclidean geometry. In this course we will study examples of these revolutionary non-Euclidean geometries, with a focus on Klein's Erlangen Program, which is a modern way of understanding them. (MATH 0200 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. DED (R. Morris-Wright)

              MATH 0247 Graph Theory (Spring 2023)

              A graph (or network) is a useful mathematical model when studying a set of discrete objects and the relationships among them. We often represent an object with a vertex (node) and a relation between a pair with an edge (line). With the graph in hand, we then ask questions, such as: Is it connected? Can one traverse each edge precisely once and return to a starting vertex? For a fixed k/, is it possible to “color” the vertices using /k colors so that no two vertices that share an edge receive the same color? More formally, we study the following topics: trees, distance, degree sequences, matchings, connectivity, coloring, and planarity. Proof writing is emphasized. (MATH 0200 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (J. Schmitt)

              MATH 0302 Abstract Algebra (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Groups, subgroups, Lagrange's theorem, homomorphisms, normal subgroups and quotient groups, rings and ideals, integral domains and fields, the field of quotients of a domain, the ring of polynomials over a domain, Euclidean domains, principal ideal domains, unique factorization, factorization in a polynomial ring. (MATH 0200 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (Fall 2022: D. Dorman; Spring 2023: P. Bremser)

              MATH 0310 Probability (Fall 2022)

              An introduction to the concepts of probability and their applications, covering both discrete and continuous random variables. Probability spaces, elementary combinatorial analysis, densities and distributions, conditional probabilities, independence, expectation, variance, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem, and numerous applications. (concurrent or prior MATH 0223 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (B. Peterson)

              MATH 0311 Statistical Inference (Spring 2023)

              An introduction to the mathematical methods and applications of statistical inference using both classical methods and modern resampling techniques. Topics will include: permutation tests, parametric and nonparametric problems, estimation, efficiency and the Neyman-Pearsons lemma. Classical tests within the normal theory such as F-test, t-test, and chi-square test will also be considered. Methods of linear least squares are used for the study of analysis of variance and regression. There will be some emphasis on applications to other disciplines. This course is taught using R. (MATH 0310) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (B. Tang)

              MATH 0315 Mathematical modeling (Fall 2022)

              An introduction into the process of developing and interpreting mathematical models within the framework of numerous applications. In this course, we will utilize discrete, continuous, and probabilistic approaches to explore applications such as population dynamics, epidemiology, and neuron activity. Time permitting, we may also introduce the derivation of spatiotemporal models. MATLAB will be used to implement and analyze several of these models. (MATH 0200 and MATH 0225 or MATH 0226, or by instructor approval) 3 hrs. lect./disc CW, DED (J. Crodelle)

              MATH 0318 Operations Research (Spring 2023)

              Operations research is the utilization of quantitative methods as an aid to managerial decisions. In the course, several of these methods will be introduced and studied in both a mathematical context and a physical context. Topics included will be selected from the following: classification of problems and the formulation of models, linear programming, network optimization, transportation problems, assignment problems, integer programming, nonlinear programming, inventory theory, and game theory. (MATH 0200 or waiver) DED (M. Olinick)
              Cross-listed as: ECON 0318

              MATH 0323 Real Analysis (Fall 2022)

              An axiomatic treatment of the topology of the real line, real analysis, and calculus. Topics include neighborhoods, compactness, limits, continuity, differentiation, Riemann integration, and uniform convergence. (MATH 0223) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (R. Morris-Wright)

              MATH 0325 Complex Analysis (Spring 2023)

              An introduction to functions of a complex variable. Mappings of the complex plane, analytic functions, Cauchy Integral Theorem and related topics. (MATH 0223 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (D. Dorman)

              MATH 0328 Numerical Linear Algebra (Fall 2022)

              Numerical linear algebra is the study of algorithms for solving problems such as finding solutions of linear systems and eigenvalues of matrices. Many real-life applications simplify to these scenarios and often involve millions of variables. We will analyze shortcomings of direct methods such as Gaussian Elimination, which theoretically produces the true solution but fails in practical applications. In contrast, iterative methods are often more practical and precise, and continually evolve with changing technology and our understanding of mathematics. Our study will include the First Order Richardson, Steepest Descent, and Conjugate Gradient algorithms for linear systems, and the power method for eigenvalue problems. (MATH 0200) 3 hrs. lect. CW, DED (M. Kubacki)

              MATH 0410 Stochastic Processes (Spring 2023)

              Stochastic processes are mathematical models for random phenomena evolving in time or space. This course will introduce important examples of such models, including random walk, branching processes, the Poisson process and Brownian motion. The theory of Markov chains in discrete and continuous time will be developed as a unifying theme. Depending on time available and interests of the class, applications will be selected from the following areas: queuing systems, mathematical finance (Black-Scholes options pricing), probabilistic algorithms, and Monte Carlo simulation. (MATH 0310) 3 hrs. lect./disc. DED (B. Peterson)

              MATH 0500 Advanced Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Individual study for qualified students in more advanced topics in algebra, number theory, real or complex analysis, topology. Particularly suited for those who enter with advanced standing. (Approval required) 3 hrs. lect./disc.

              MATH 0701 Galois Theory (Spring 2023)

              This course is a tutorial in Galois theory for students who have completed Abstract Algebra. Starting from the concept of a ring, we will develop the theory of polynomial rings over fields, and use this to carry out an in-depth investigation of field extensions. Our work together will culminate in proving the fundamental theorem of Galois theory. Working independently and in small groups, students will explore related areas of algebra and communicate their insights in expository writing and oral presentations. This course fulfills the capstone senior work requirement for the mathematics major. (MATH 0302) 3 hrs. sem. DED (E. Proctor)

              MATH 0703 Finite Fields Seminar (Fall 2022)

              This course is a tutorial in the theory and applications of finite fields, which lie in the intersection of algebra and number theory. Working in small groups, students will study the fundamental structure and properties of finite fields (also known as Galois fields). They will then work independently, exploring applications in cryptography, coding theory, or other areas. Students will gain experience reading advanced sources and communicating their insights in expository writing and oral presentations. This course fulfills the capstone senior work requirement for the mathematics major. (MATH 0241 or MATH 0302; Approval required) 3 hrs. Sem (P. Bremser)

              MATH 0715 Advanced Mathematical Modeling Seminar (Spring 2023)

              A tutorial on advanced mathematical model building and analysis for students who have completed work in Differential Equations and Probability. We will study deterministic and stochastic models of interacting populations with a focus on mathematical ecology and epidemiology. Working independently and in small groups, students will gain experience reading advanced sources and communicating their insights in expository writing and oral presentations. Fulfills the capstone senior work requirement for the mathematics major. (Approval Only) 3 hrs. Sem. DED (J. Crodelle)

              MATH 0745 The Polynomial Method (Fall 2022)

              A tutorial in the Polynomial Method for students who have completed work in Abstract Algebra and at least one of Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Number Theory. We will study Noga Alon’s Combinatorial Nullstellensatz and related theorems, along with their applications to combinatorics, graph theory, number theory, and incidence geometry. Working independently and in small groups, students will gain experience reading advanced sources and communicating their insights in expository writing and oral presentations. Fulfills the capstone senior work requirement for the mathematics major. (Approval required; MATH 0302 and one of the following: MATH 0241, MATH 0247, or MATH 0345). (J. Schmitt)
              ↑ Top

              Middlebury Institute Courses

              MIIS 8504 Intro to WMD Nonproliferation (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues surrounding the proliferation of nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological (NBCR) weapons and their means of delivery, the consequences of proliferation, and means to stem it or ameliorate its dangers, including:
              • Nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons technologies
              • Means of delivery, including ballistic and cruise missile technology
              • Alternative perspectives on the dangers of proliferation and the utility of the term “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD)
              • Factors affecting why states do or don’t pursue and obtain nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons and their means of delivery
              • Potential and actual non-state actor pursuit, acquisition, and use of NBCR weapons
              • Profiles of key countries and their NBCR programs and policies
              • Deterrence vis-à-vis states and non-state actors
              • Counterproliferation, including the possible use of force
              • The nuclear nonproliferation regime, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system
              • The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC)
              • The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
              • Missile control regimes and other export control arrangements
              • Cooperative threat reduction and various post-9/11 initiatives

              (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course.
              (P. Bleek)

              MIIS 8505 Introduction to Terrorism (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is designed to provide a critical introduction to the subject of terrorism, an often misunderstood phenomenon that has assumed a particular salience in the wake of 9/11. Its aim is to clarify fundamental definitional and conceptual problems, introduce students to the burgeoning literature on the subject, describe basic terrorist organizational and operational methods, survey a wide range of terrorist groups and ideologies, examine certain high-profile terrorism themes, and tentatively assess the nature of the threat posed by terrorists to global security in the future. (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course. (Fall 2022, MIIS courses in College Term: J. Blazakis; Spring 2023, MIIS courses in College Term: S. Joshi)

              MIIS 8515 US National Security Policy Making (Spring 2023)

              This course introduces students to the formulation of U.S. national security policy. It summarizes the roles played by different governmental actors, including the President, Congress, and relevant bureaucratic departments and agencies, and describes the interagency process. It then covers the influence of domestic politics on national security policy, including the impact of interest groups, the media, and public opinion.
              (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are JANUARY 31 through MAY 20. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course.
              (J. Knopf)

              MIIS 8519 Structure of English (Spring 2023)

              Examines the syntax and discourse of modern English for ESL and EFL teaching. Spotlights practical applications for the classroom. Prerequisite: Language Analysis (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) (Open to students who have taken Language Analysis or equivalent, you must contact Kathi Bailey from Monterey (kb@middlebury.edu) for review of MIDD course background.) The dates of this course are JANUARY 31 through MAY 20. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course. (T. Sawin)

              MIIS 8520 Pedagogical Grammar in FLT (Spring 2023)

              "This course is designed to provide teachers of different languages with opportunities to investigate and practice pedagogical subject matter knowledge and grammar teaching strategies in the language that they teach. There will be a number of different languages represented in the class, which will afford multiple opportunities to explore, investigate, and share a variety of pedagogical perspectives and linguistic experiences.
              The course will combine a focus on recent theoretical approaches to grammar (cognitive grammar, construction grammar, systemic – functional grammar) with innovative and practical approaches to teaching and learning in an authentic, action-based and interaction-rich setting." (Open to Junior and Seniors only) (Open to students who have taken Language Analysis or equivalent, you must contact Kathi Bailey from Monterey (kb@middlebury.edu) for review of MIDD course background.) ?The dates of this course are JANUARY 31 through MAY 20. Registering for this course signals your interest in taking the course.
              (T. Sawin)

              MIIS 8524 SEM: Countering Violent Extremism (Fall 2022)

              This course on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) will examine the non-violent approaches to countering violent extremism, such as prevention (preventing violent extremism, PVE), intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. The course will also examine the pathways individuals take to extremism, with a focus on the myriad of push and pull factors that can contribute to radicalization. The course will also examine the various types of CVE/PVE programs developed by governmental and non-governmental entities. The course is experiential by design and the class will participate in the Invent 2 Prevent (I2P) program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, the McCain Institute and EdVenture Partners. I2P is a national competition whereupon, specifically, students in the class will create a tool, product, or initiative to prevent targeted violence and extremism. The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16. (J. Blazakis)

              MIIS 8525 SEM: Current Trends in Terrorism Research (Fall 2022)

              The course examines current themes and policy-relevant analytical questions regarding present-day terrorism. These topics include alternative conceptions of terrorism studies, including from the critical terrorism studies perspective; issues of gender and terrorism; media and extremism; terrorism in the cyber domain; conspiracy theories and their impact on extremism and terrorism. It will also discuss issues of terrorism research methods issues that have arisen in recent years. From a forecasting perspective, it will examine how David Rapoport’s waves of terrorism is applicable in assessing global extremism and terrorism today. Topics will also include the transnational nature of far-right extremism and terrorism, as well as recent research on psychological factors and online radicalization. The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16. (S. Joshi)

              MIIS 8526 SEM:Security & WMD Mid East (Fall 2022)

              SEM: Security and WMD in Middle East*
              The idea of security is experienced or defined very differently in different quarters of the Middle East. If you are, say, in Mosul or Baghdad, in Damascus or Aleppo, in Gaza or Hebron, in Jerusalem or Kfar Etzion or Tel Aviv, in Amman or Beirut, in Cairo or El Arish, in Doha or Riyadh. Each of those places stimulates a different sense of security, in the personal or collective sense, and yet their overall security discourse is interconnected. The overall discourse on security in the Middle East is influenced, affected, interrupted, and shaped by what is going on in the region. They represent different facets of the larger issue and discourse of security in the Middle East.

              The seminar will address the issue and the discourse of security in the Middle East, with stress on the two sides of the spectrum, from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to acts of terrorism. We will look at the issue of security from both the national and the regional levels.

              The seminar’s fundamental starting point is that to understand the issue of security in the region one must examine the broader historical fundamentals of the region. Religion, ethnicity, ideology, identity and, of course, politics are all closely related to the broader issue of security. Those issues are at the core of all regional conflicts as well as global terrorism; those issues shape the making of the modern Middle East. For this reason the seminar begins with a broad introduction on the making of the modern Middle East. Among the basic themes to be discussed in that introduction are:

              the idea of the “Middle East” as a distinct geo-political region;
              the fundamentals of the region: the religious, ethnic, and linguistic composition of the Middle East;
              The split Sunni versus Shia
              Islam as the major religion of the Middle East;
              the collapse of the Ottoman Empire as the cradle of the modern Middle East;
              the formation of the state system in the Middle East;
              the rise of political Zionism,
              the birth of the Arab-Israeli conflict;
              the rise of modern Iran;
              the creation of Modern Saudi Arabia and the Gulf;

              Then, and against this introductory background, the seminar will examine the issue of contemporary security in the Middle East from both national and regional perspectives. We will look at the issue of security in the cases of the major states in the Middle East: Egypt, Iraq, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Israel. As it turns out, those countries –each in its unique way -- struggle now with issues of national identity and ideology that shapes their sense of security or lack therein.

              The final part of the seminar will deal with regional issues involve regional security, WMD and ISIS. We will review not only the formation of the nuclear order in the Middle East where is Israel maintains a “benign monopoly” but also the history of the efforts to constrain and control the spread of WMD in the region, and why those efforts turned out not to be successful. The seminar will end by discussing the history as well as the desirability and feasibility of the efforts to establish the Middle East as WMD free zone. The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16.
              (A. Cohen)

              MIIS 8527 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (Spring 2023)

              This course is designed to provide the student with a basic knowledge of the issues relating to cyber security, from both a technical and historic perspective. The basic concepts of cyber security that will allow the student to understand the current concerns, vocabulary, and basic principles involved in cyber security will be considered, along with the technologies used to prevent and detect cyber-attacks. The history of cyber-attacks, basic concepts and considerations of cyber warfare, hacking, and basic concepts such as authentication and encryption will be covered along with the major efforts and initiatives that have been developed by the international community to deal with them. A particular focus of the course will be on cyber security as it relates to the field of nuclear security. This is a half credit course. (Open only to Juniors and Seniors) (G. Moore)

              MIIS 8528 IntroToInterculturalCompetence (Spring 2023)

              The meeting time is 3pm to 4:30pm, for the four synchronous sessions. (A. Henry)
              ↑ Top

              Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

              Required for the Major

              The requirements for the major in molecular biology and biochemistry provide a multidisciplinary yet integrated approach to examining life at the macromolecular, cellular, and organismal levels. The major is composed of 15 required courses including foundation courses, advanced courses, and four electives selected among three thematic suites. Required foundation courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology establish a strong, broad understanding of the science necessary for advanced study. Required advanced courses in the core areas of molecular biology and biochemistry build on this foundation. Finally, elective courses offer advanced opportunities to explore a wide variety of specific topics including neurobiology, developmental biology, computational biology, data science, molecular genetics, and biochemical mechanisms. Students may engage in mentored independent research in these areas.

              To declare the MBBC major, complete a major declaration form and forward it along with the names of three MBBC faculty affiliates who could serve as your academic advisor to Grace Spatafora at spatafor@middlebury.edu. The MBBC Director will work with you to identify who will serve as your academic advisor. Feel free to reach out to the MBBC faculty with questions.

              Required Background Courses

              A single course may not fulfill more than one requirement.

              • A course in Mathematics
              • PHYS 0109 Newtonian Physics
              • BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution
              • BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics
              • BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Data Analysis or MATH 116 Introduction to Statistical Science
              • CHEM 0103 Gen. Chemistry I or CHEM 0104 Gen. Chemistry II or CHEM 0107 Adv. Gen. Chemistry
              • CHEM 0203 Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity
              • CHEM 0204 Organic Chemistry II: Synthesis and Spectroscopy

              Required Advanced Courses

              A single course may not fulfill more than one requirement.

              • BIOL 0314 Molecular Genetics
              • CHEM 0322 Biochemistry of Macromolecules

              Required Elective Suite Courses

              A list of appropriate electives is provided within each suite. However, not all listed courses are offered every year. Also, as other appropriate courses may become available on campus, there may be additional course options within each suite. Majors will be kept informed of currently available courses that fit within the two elective suites below. 

              1. Quantitative Suite (students must take 1 class in this suite)

              • CHEM 0355 Thermodynamics and Kinetics*
              • CSCI 0201 Data Structures*
              • CSCI 0321 Bioinformatics Algorithms*
              • MATH 0200 Linear Algebra
              • MATH 0223 Multivariable Calculus*
              • MATH 0118 Introduction to Data Science (formerly MATH 0216)
              • MATH 0315 Mathematical Models in the Social and Life Sciences*
              • BIOL 1230, ENVS 1230, NATH 1230, NSCI 1230 Data Science Across Disciplines    

              2. Advanced Elective Suite (students must take a total of 3 distinct classes in this suite, one of which must be a laboratory course that can be MBBC500, MBBC700, or MBBC701.)

              • BIOL 0225 Human Genetics
              • BIOL 0280 Immunology
              • BIOL 0305 Developmental Biology
              • BIOL 0310 Microbiology
              • BIOL 0324 Genomics
              • BIOL 0330 Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
              • BIOL 0331 The Genetics of Cancer
              • BIOL 0333 Receptor Biology
              • BIOL 0350 Endocrinology
              • BIOL 0365 Molecular Microbial Ecology
              • BIOL 0449 Extremophiles: conquering Earth’s Extreme Environments
              • BIOL 0450 Topics in Reproductive Medicine
              • CHEM 0303 Chemical Biology
              • CHEM 0355 Thermodynamics and Kinetics*
              • CHEM 0425 Biochemistry of Metabolism
              • CSCI 0321 Bioinformatics Algorithms*
              • MBBC 0500 Independent Research
              • MBBC 0700 Senior Independent Research
              • MBBC 0701 Senior Thesis
              • PHYS 0241 Biomedical Imaging*

              *Courses with pre-requisites other than courses already required for the MBBC major (or by waiver for some).

              There is no minor in molecular biology and biochemistry.

              Prospective students are encouraged to begin the Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Biology sequences and Mathematics during their first year. CHEM 0204 may be taken either concurrently with CHEM 0322, or afterwards. BIOL 0331 or BIOL 0310 are examples of courses with sections that fulfill the CW requirement.

              Placement

              Students may be able to bypass introductory courses in chemistry on the basis of AP credit or proficiency exams. Those who bypass CHEM 0103 may begin with CHEM 0104 (fall or spring) or CHEM 0107 (fall only). AP Physics credit will satisfy the physics requirement (PHYS 0109).

              AP Statistics will not satisfy the statistics requirement. Students with AP Statistics credit will be required to enroll in BIOL 0211 or MATH 0116. AP Calculus, IB or A-level Mathematics exams, bypass exams, or any pre-college course in calculus will not exempt a student from the background math course requirement. Students will need to enroll in a math class that they are placed into by the Math Department. Placement is decided by the Math Department based on either scores on advanced placement exams or review of high school records. 

              Some graduate schools may require two semesters each of mathematics and physics. Students interested in the health professions can learn more about the pre-health requirements and are encouraged to reach out to the health professions team for individual support.

              Study Abroad and Transfer Credits

              Students who consider taking summer courses or courses abroad must consult with their advisor about the process of transferring credit from another institution. With approval of the Program Director, transferred credits may count towards the major requirements. 

              Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research

              Research is an important component of a well-rounded academic pursuit; it contributes to the development of independence and creativity, as well as to the depth of knowledge needed to become an active contributor to the scientific community. Majors may undertake independent research with a faculty mentor in MBBC or in other Departments and Programs, provided the research falls within the mission of the major. Any major is eligible to perform an independent study research project (BIOL 0500, CHEM 0500, NSCI 0500, or BIOL/CHEM/NSCI/MBBC 0700) with the consent of a mentor.

              Requirements for Honors

              Senior thesis research may be initiated by any junior with the consent of a mentor. Students considering senior thesis research are urged to begin conversations with faculty early in their junior year (certainly by winter term) because many thesis projects begin during the summer preceding the senior year. Those eligible for honors or high honors in molecular biology and biochemistry will: (1) complete at least two semesters of research, which may include winter term; (2) enroll in MBBC 0701 for their final semester of research; (3) graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.3 for all courses counting towards the major; (4) present a public seminar describing the significance, methodology, results, and conclusions of their research; (5) successfully defend their thesis before a committee of three faculty, two of whom must be affiliated with the MBBC program; and (6) earn a grade of at least B+ for MBBC 0701, as determined by the members of the MBBC program, with the grade based on their research performance, their written thesis, their thesis presentation and their thesis defense.

              MBBC 0500 Independent Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is for non-seniors wishing to conduct independent research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Additional requirements include attendance at all MBBC-sponsored seminars and seminars sponsored by the faculty mentor’s department, and participation in any scheduled meetings and disciplinary sub-groups and lab groups. (Approval required).

              MBBC 0700 Senior Independent Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Seniors conducting independent research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry under the guidance of a faculty mentor should register for MBBC 0700 unless they are completing a thesis project (in which case they should register for MBBC 0701). Additional requirements include attendance at all MBBC-sponsored seminars and seminars sponsored by the faculty mentor’s department, and participation in any scheduled meetings and disciplinary sub-groups and lab groups. (Approval required).

              MBBC 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is for seniors completing independent thesis research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry that was initiated in BIOL 0500, CHEM 0400, MBBC 0500, or MBBC 0700. Students will attend weekly meetings with their designated research group and engage in one-on-one meetings with their research mentor to foster understanding in their specialized research area. Students will also practice the stylistic and technical aspects of scientific writing needed to write their thesis. (BIOL 0500, CHEM 0400, MBBC 0500, MBBC 0700) (Approval required).
              ↑ Top

              Department of Music

              Required for the Major

              Majors are required to take MUSC 0101; MUSC 0209; MUSC 0260-0261; MUSC 0333; MUSC 0334; a performance elective such as MUSC 0240, 0243, 0244, or 0500; two 0200-level or above elective music courses; and MUSC 0400 senior seminar.

              Demonstrated proficiencies

              Music majors will be required to demonstrate basic piano and sight-singing proficiencies in the semester at the end of Theory II (MUSC 0260). If preparation is needed, music majors are required to take a semester of  keyboard harmony, arranged through the music office.

              In addition to the curricular requirements, majors are required to participate for three semesters in at least one departmentally-approved ensemble: African Music and Dance Ensemble, Afropop Ensemble, Middlebury College Orchestra, Middlebury College Choir, Middlebury College Community Chorus, The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble, or Middlebury Community Wind Ensemble.

              Required for the Joint Major

              Joint Majors are required to take MUSC 0101; MUSC 0260-0261; MUSC 0333; MUSC 0334; two 0200-level or above elective music courses; and MUSC 0704 (senior work that combines both majors and is agreed upon by the advisers and department or program chair)

              Required for the Minor

              Students who pursue the minor in music are required to complete five music courses, two of which may be general introductory courses (0100 level) and three other courses at the 0200-0400 levels.

              Music Theory Placement Exam

              Students may test into MUSC 0209 (Composition I) and MUSC 0260 (Music Theory II) by taking a placement exam rather than taking the pre-requisite MUSC 0160 (Theory I). Incoming students must take the placement exam before classes begin and only at the designated time at orientation. Current students must send an email to Professor Matthew Taylor at matthewt@middlebury.edu to schedule the exam. Note: Placement tests should be arranged by November 1, and April 1, for the following semesters.

              Departmental Honors

              Departmental honors in music reflect a student’s overall achievement in and contribution to the department, as well as demonstrated excellence in MUSC 0704 (Senior Work). To take MUSC 0704, students must have at least B+ grade average in music courses; and must submit a proposal for senior work (of one or two semesters in length) by April 1 of the junior year. Of note: MUSC 0704 (Senior Work) does not count as a course toward fulfillment of the music major. Grade averages of B+ in senior work and B+ in departmental courses will be eligible for honors; A- in senior work and A- in departmental courses will be eligible for high honors; A in senior work and A in departmental courses will be eligible for highest honors.

              Ensembles

              The African Music and Dance Ensemble is the core of MUSC 0244, for which enrolled students earn one (1) credit. The Ensemble gives students (with or without a musical background) a rich, hands-on experience with numerous East African (Ugandan) music and dance cultures through regular rehearsals and end-of-semester concerts. See course listing of MUSC 0244. (D. Kafumbe).

              The following ensembles require two semesters of enrollment to earn (1) credit:

              Afropop is a dynamic and diverse blend of traditional African music with R&B, rock, pop, reggae, hip hop, funk, EDM, and many other Western and Afro-diasporic styles. Students learn songs by ear and create their own arrangement—most songs use three or four chords and pentatonic melodies. There are no prerequisites. The ability to read music is not required. See course listing MUSC 0205(D. Kafumbe)

              Middlebury College Orchestra auditions for instrumentalists at the beginning of the semester. Twice-weekly rehearsals take place in Robison Hall in preparation for performances featuring music from all periods. See course listing for MUSC 0205. (E. Bennett).

              Middlebury College Choir performs concerts each fall and spring, participates in Baccalaureate and other College functions, and tours or engages in other projects annually. Audition required, with attention to sight-reading, listening skills, and vocal production. Intent to participate full year/multiple semesters strongly encouraged. Open to all students without prerequisite. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (J. Buettner).

              College Community Chorus performs concerts each fall and spring, usually including a major choral work for chorus and organ or orchestra. Open to all without audition; rehearsals focus on developing choral musicianship. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (J. Rehbach).

              The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble uses traditional big-band instrumentation, playing the best of contemporary jazz arrangements as well as classic charts from the 75 years of swing and jazz band history. The ensemble also features student compositions and arrangements when available. An active performance schedule is typical. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (D. Forman).

              Middlebury Community Wind Ensemble is an off-campus community ensemble that students are invited to join that features woodwind, brass, and percussion; no auditions necessary. There are two performances each semester. Rehearsals take place at Middlebury Union High School. (M. McHugh).

              Other Chamber Ensembles: String quartets, woodwind and brass ensembles can be formed and coached for interested students. Independent projects (MUSC 0500) can be arranged for these groups.

              Private Music Lessons

              Musical instrument and voice lessons are available through the department. Register online at go/musiclessons during the first week of fall and spring terms (winter term lessons registration takes place the last week of classes in the fall term). Academic credit is not given for lessons, and an additional fee is applied to the student’s college bill. There are ten 45-minute music lessons per semester (four during winter term). Students will sign contracts at the first lesson and are binding. No rebate is allowed for lessons missed except in the case of injury or continued illness. Members of music department ensembles are entitled to half-price lessons for the instruments they play in the ensemble (or voice for choir and community chorus). The fee is waived for students who are music majors and music joint majors, (limit two lesson series per semester), or are enrolled in performance-related courses(varies by semester), and MUSC 0500 or MUSC 0704 projects. Contact the department at extension 5221 for information.

              MUSC 0101 Introduction to Music (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will develop critical listening skills through guided study of selected works of Western classical, popular, and folk music, as well as a sampling of music from non-Western cultures. Students will examine how music uses basic sound materials—such as rhythm, melody, timbre, texture, and harmony—to create meaning and expression, how those uses have changed over time from the Middle Ages to the present, and how music relates to its social and historical context and to the other arts. Previous musical training is not required. 3 hrs. ART, CMP, HIS (L. Hamberlin)

              MUSC 0103 American Popular Music: From the Blues to Hip-Hop (and Beyond) (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will use a broad historical approach to investigate the musical and cultural history of American Popular Music, from Minstrels and the Blues to the present moment, focusing on both the historical context and the social and political impacts of various musical styles, and centering on the contributions of culture and gender diversity of the artist. We will also explore how the business of the music industry and the technological developments and trends of the 20th and 21st Centuries have impacted - and been impacted by - the music itself. Class meetings will combine lectures with pointed discussion and critical listening to cover key points, and assignments will involve further listening. ART, HIS (K. Saulnier)

              MUSC 0145 How to Improvise (Spring 2023)

              Have you ever watched a friend while they jam away on their guitar, awed that they can make things up on the spot? This is called improvisation. Perhaps you would like to learn how to improvise. In this course we will learn how to best express what we hear and see in an improvised performance. We will discuss strategies for making the prospect of extemporaneous performance less daunting for a novice. Students will also learn about the foundational influence Black musicians have on the US American improvisational tradition through the study of the philosophies of such artists as Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton, and George Lewis. AMR, ART (M. Taylor)

              MUSC 0148 Introduction to Jazz Methods for Beginning and Intermediate Jazz Musicians (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will explore several key methods used by jazz musicians to increase their mastery of the jazz language. Classwork will focus on using the voice to unlock jazz creativity, then using such methods as transcribing, backing tracks and developing critical listening ability as well as exploring a number of theoretical approaches to improvisation, and playing in small groups. Coursework will include transcription exercises, written analyses and recordings as well as an independent practice and rehearsal schedule. Instrumental or vocal proficiency is required; previous jazz experience is not. The ability to read music and basic theory knowledge are also required. Beginning and intermediate jazz players are encouraged to enroll. (Approval only) ART (D. Forman)

              MUSC 0160 Music Theory I: Fundamentals (Fall 2022)

              This course is an introduction to the basic elements and theoretical concepts of Western music. We will focus on such topics as basic keyboard skills, sight singing, musical notation, rhythm, and harmony and form. Theoretical work and drills will be combined with compositional and performance projects. The goal of the course is to expand students’ musical intuition and skill and to provide the technical basis for further music study. No prior musical experience is required. (Students who wish to take upper-level composition or music theory courses must either complete this course or pass a theory and musicianship test administered by the department to demonstrate equivalent experience.) (Formerly MUSC 0109). 2.5 hrs. lect. ART (S. Tan)

              MUSC 0205 Performance Lab (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Credit can be conferred for performance in faculty-supervised ensembles: (see listing of "Ensembles" in the requirements section). One unit of credit to accrue over two semesters (spring then fall only). The appropriate supervising faculty will give grades, based on attendance and quality of performance. A student should inform the ensemble director of intent to sign up for this course before starting, and should actually register for MUSC 0205 only the SECOND of the two terms by adding it as a fifth course. MUSC 0205 does not fulfill any major course requirements and may not be taken more than once. (Approval required) ART (E. Bennett, R. Romano, J. Buettner, D. Kafumbe, D. Forman)

              MUSC 0209 Music I (Fall 2022)

              Music I focuses on the materials and grammar of music through compositional exercises. As part of these explorations, we will examine the elements of harmony (scales, triads and seventh chords), notation, rhythm, polyrhythm, binary and ternary forms, two-voice counterpoint, variation, transposition, as well as skills in conducting, analysis, ear-training, and sight-singing. Students will write short pieces for a variety of instruments and ensembles, notate their pieces, and rehearse and perform them, thereby learning about music through discovery and observation. The assignments are designed for students with or without compositional experience. (Ability to play an instrument or sing; MUSC 0160, or passing score on the MUSC 0160 placement exam) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. lab. ART (S. Tan)

              MUSC 0210 Music II (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of MUSC 0209. While using the same format, including composing and labs, as in MUSC 0209, the course covers elements of modality (western and non-western), functional harmony, heterophony, fugal processes, strophic forms, melodic analysis, serial processes, and extensions of tonality and atonality. (MUSC 0209 or by permission) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. lab. ART (S. Tan)

              MUSC 0239 The Cultural Work of Country Music (Spring 2023)

              “I like all kinds of music...except country.” Arguably, aversion to American country music often tracks with class- and race-based assumptions about both makers and consumers of this genre. In this course we will challenge those views while studying the history of the form. Balancing our consideration of the big picture with case studies of performers like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and The Chicks, we will explore what types of music the “country” tag comprises; some of the major themes and motifs associated with the form; the Black and White roots of country music; and the politicization of the music and its performers throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Source materials for the course will include Bill Malone’s Country Music, USA; Ken Burn’s Country Music documentary; Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, and A Good-Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry. AMR, HIS, SOC (W. Nash)
              Cross-listed as: AMST 0239 *

              MUSC 0240 Performing Chamber Music (Spring 2023)

              In this performance-based course we will deal with practical ensemble performance challenges related to ensemble playing. Some class time will be devoted to analysis of the works being performed and their historical perspective. Students will be asked to do research on the biographical details of the composers and the place of the assigned works within the composer’s oeuvre. Performance techniques appropriate for each piece will be investigated. The course will culminate with a final concert (or concerts). Enrollment by audition. 3 hrs. lect/disc. ART (S. Tan)

              MUSC 0244 African Music and Dance Performance (Spring 2023)

              This course will introduce students to various techniques of performing East African (primarily Ugandan) musical and dance traditions through regular rehearsals, culminating in an end-of-semester concert. As an ensemble, we will learn and master how to play and sing/dance to bow-harps, thumb-pianos, xylophones, tube-fiddles, bowl-lyres, gourd shakers, struck gourds, reed-box rattles, ankle bells, leg rattles, and various types of drums. Some background in performing music is recommended, but prior knowledge of performing African music and dance is not required. 3 hrs. lect./lab ART, SAF (D. Kafumbe)
              Cross-listed as: DANC 0244

              MUSC 0245 Collaborative Improvisation: All-Arts Ensemble (Spring 2023)

              In this course/ensemble we will open dialogues of performance, improvisation, and social interaction across disciplines in the arts. How do the various disciplines relate to each other in a performance environment? It may be easy to see points of commonality between music and dance or writing and theater, but what about the act of painting and the process of musical improvisation? Through the work of Ornette Coleman, Del Close, John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, and others, students will explore improvisation in music, theater, dance, and visual art. The class will culminate in a performance. All students are welcome. 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART (M. Taylor)

              MUSC 0260 Music Theory II: Diatonic Theory (Fall 2022)

              This course is an in-depth technical study of the materials of music, a study which expands one’s ability to analyze and create music and to understand different musical styles. We will cover harmonic materials, introduce musical form, and work with traditional compositional skills. These techniques are applied to the analysis of classical music, jazz and popular music. (MUSC 0160 or passing score on the MUSC 0160 placement exam.) 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART (M. Taylor)

              MUSC 0261 Music Theory III: Chromatic Theory (Spring 2023)

              This course is a continuation of MUSC 0260. Students will study more advanced harmonic devices including modulation and chromaticism, jazz harmony, and post-tonal techniques. In-depth analysis of classical music, jazz, and popular music supports a more advanced study of musical form. (MUSC 0260) 3 hrs. lect./disc. ART (K. Saulnier)

              MUSC 0279 The Guitar in American Culture (Spring 2023)

              Although it has European and African antecedents, modern acoustic and electric guitars are American inventions. From the genteel parlor guitars of the 19th century elite to the electric weaponry of today’s rock stars, the guitar is an essential artifact of American material culture. Drawing on histories, cultural critiques, interviews, and sound and video recordings, we will study both the evolution of the instrument and the builders and players who have helped define its role. Examining artifacts and talking with working guitar builders will illuminate the craft of guitar making. The culmination of the course will be a student-curated exhibition. AMR (W. Nash)
              Cross-listed as: AMST 0279 *

              MUSC 0309 Advanced Composition (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will focus on writing for string quartet, brass quintet, a cappella singing, piano, or performance art and involve issues of technique, style, and practical considerations, as well as study of selected elements of the literature. The course will culminate with a reading of student works by a professional ensemble or solo performer. This semester we focus on composing for the string quartet. We will discuss a variety of string techniques as well as issues of form and orchestration. We will listen to important works for that medium and discuss the styles from the Classical period to this century. (MUSC 0209 and 0210 or approval of instructor). 3 hrs. lect./disc. (S. Tan)

              MUSC 0333 Music in Western Cultures (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will develop skills for assessing music’s social, economic, and political importance in Western societies. Through a series of units focusing on various aspects of music (such as composition, performance, dissemination, and reception) and on various eras from ancient Greece to the present, students will engage with the principal questions and methods of historical musicology. (MUSC 0101) 3 hrs. lect. ART, CMP, CW, HIS (L. Hamberlin)

              MUSC 0334 Music in World Cultures (Spring 2023)

              In this course students will develop skills for analyzing a wide range of music styles and appreciating their social, economic, and political importance. We will explore selected case studies through readings, lectures, discussions, film screenings, listening sessions, workshops, concerts, and hands-on activities. (MUSC 0209 or MUSC 0261) 3 hrs. lect. ART, CMP (D. Kafumbe)

              MUSC 0400 Approaches to Music Inquiry (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will explore various approaches to music inquiry in order to develop an in-depth understanding of diverse procedures for uncovering, applying, and producing musical knowledge. We will use a seminar format that supports a multimodal study and application of such knowledge. Course activities will include discussions, lectures, analysis, investigation, presentations, readings, writing, and creative work. The seminar will culminate in projects that advance methodologies of our senior and/or related capstone work. All music majors are required to take this course in the fall of their senior year. 3hrs. lect./disc. ART (D. Kafumbe)

              MUSC 0500 Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Admission by approval. Please consult published departmental guidelines and paragraph below.

              MUSC 0704 Senior Work (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Senior work is not required of all music majors and joint majors. However, students interested in and eligible for departmental honors (see guideline above, in "Departmental Honors" section) may propose one or two-semester Senior Work projects. Projects may be in history, composition, theory, ethnomusicology, performance, or electronic music, and should culminate in a written presentation, a public performance, or a combination of the two. MUSC0704 does not count as a course toward fulfillment of the music major.

              Project and budget proposals for Independent Study and Senior Work should be submitted by the previous April 1 for fall and winter term projects, and the previous October 15 for spring term projects. Budget proposals will not be considered after those dates. Project proposals will be considered after the deadline but are more likely not to be approved due to previous commitments of faculty advisors or other scheduling reasons.
              ↑ Top

              Program in Neuroscience

              Required for the Major

              The major includes required background and foundations courses, electives, and senior work. Required background courses in biology, psychology, and chemistry, establish a foundation in science necessary for upper-level study. Foundation courses teach students to approach neuroscience from three intellectually different, but related directions. Elective courses offer opportunities to explore a wide variety of neuroscience related areas. Senior work requires all majors to integrate their specific training through research or a senior seminar.  Students may be exempt from some introductory courses through placement or bypass exams. For more information on placing out of a specific course, contact the chairperson of the relevant department. 

              Please note that in accordance with the general college policy regarding interdisciplinary majors, majors in Neuroscience cannot declare more than one minor.

              Required Background Courses

              • PSYC 0105 Introduction to Psychology
              • BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics
              • CHEM 0103 Fundamentals of Chemistry
              • PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics or BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis or MATH 0116 Introduction to Statistical Science. (The program strongly recommends that majors take PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211, unless they have special interests that favor taking MATH 0116.)   
              • PSYC 0105, CHEM 0103, and BIOL 0145 should be taken as early as possible.  
              • We strongly recommend that PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211 be taken by the end of the third year.

              Foundations Courses

              All are required:

              • NSCI 0251 Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (Not open to seniors) 
              • NSCI 0252 Fundamentals of Behavioral Neuroscience (Currently only open to NSCI Majors with the prerequisites of PSYC 0105 and NSCI 0251)

              Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience

              Students must take one of the following:   

              • PHIL 0252 Philosophy of Mind
              • PHIL 0280 Semantics, Logic, and Cognition
              • PHIL 0360 Consciousness

              Electives

              Majors must take three electives chosen from within or across the Biological, Psychological, or Philosophical groupings below:

              Biological Studies of Neuroscience

              • BIOL 0216 Animal Behavior
              • BIOL 0235 Sexual Selection
              • BIOL 0270 Neural Disorders
              • BIOL 0305 Developmental Biology
              • BIOL 0333 Receptor Biology
              • BIOL 0350 Endocrinology
              • BIOL 0370 Animal Physiology
              • NSCI 0200 Pioneers of the Brain
              • NSCI 0225 Brain Evolution
              • NSCI 0320 Clinical Neuroscience
              • NSCI 0345 Neurodevelopment

              Psychological Studies of Neuroscience

              • PSYC 0202 Research Methods
              • PSYC/NSCI 0205 Emotions
              • PSYC/NSCI 0206 Brain Plasticity
              • PSYC/NSCI 0227 Cognitive Psychology
              • PSYC/NSCI 0302 Conditioning and Learning
              • PSYC/NSCI 0303 Sensation and Perception
              • PSYC/NSCI 0309 Psychopharmacology
              • PSYC/NSCI 0317 Biobehavioral Addiction
              • PSYC/NSCI 0343 Behavioral Genetics
              • PSYC/NSCI 0353 Social Neuroscience
              • RELI/PSYC 0209 Mindfulness and Psychology
              • LNGT 0226 Phonetics & Phonology

              Philosophical Studies of Neuroscience

              • PHIL 0214 Science and Society
              • PHIL 0216 Science and the Quest for Truth
              • PHIL 0220 Knowledge and Reality
              • PHIL 0230 Moral Psychology (formerly PHIL 0310)
              • *PHIL 0252 Philosophy of Mind
              • *PHIL 0280 Semantics, Logic, and Cognition
              • PHIL 0316 Philosophy of Science
              • PHIL/LNGT 0354 Philosophy of Language
              • *PHIL 0360 Consciousness
              • RELI/PHIL 0320 Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosophy of Mind 

              * If not taken already to satisfy the Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience requirement

              Senior Work

              A senior seminar in a neuroscience area, approved by the program. Offerings vary year by year, but possible courses include: 

              • BIOL/NSCI 0420 Neurogenetics
              • BIOL 0475 Neuroplasticity
              • BIOL/NSCI 0480 Neurobiology
              • NSCI 0410 Neural Coding
              • NSCI 0425 Methods in Neuroscience
              • PSYC 0408 Family in Psychology
              • PSYC/NSCI 0414 Rhythms of the Brain
              • PSYC/NSCI 0418 Psychobio & Sex Diff. Critique
              • PSYC/NSCI 0430 Memory: A User’s Guide
              • PSYC/NSCI 0434 Genes, Brain and Behavior
              • PSYC/NSCI 0437 Social/Emotional Brain or a NSCI relevant BIOL, PSYC or PHIL 0400 level course approved in advance by the NSCI Program) OR senior research (NSCI 0500, NSCI 0700 and NSCI 0701)

              If a student completes their senior work by taking NSCI 0500/0700/0701, they may use one (and only one) senior seminar as an elective towards the major. In that case the seminar will be counted as an elective only after NSCI 0500/0700/0701 is completed.   However, if a student fulfills their senior work requirement using a senior seminar, they may not count an additional senior seminar as an elective, unless approved by the instructor in consultation with the program director

              During winter term and as course offerings change there may be others that are available for NSCI seminar credit.  Seniors can do research with any faculty in the program, or with certain faculty in other departments provided the research project is approved by the neuroscience faculty and the project is related to understanding the nervous system and the mind.

              Independent Research and Program Honors

              Majors are encouraged to undertake independent research (NSCI 0500, NSCI 0700, NSCI 0701) with any faculty member in the program. Students considering any senior research should begin conversations with faculty early in their junior year. Those eligible for honors in neuroscience must (1) complete at least two semesters of thesis-related research (one term of NSCI 0500 or NSCI 0700 and one term of NSCI 0701); (2) have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in major courses (excluding NSCI 0500/0700/0701); (3) present a public seminar describing the background, methodology, results, and greater significance of their research; (4) submit a written thesis and (5) successfully defend their thesis before a committee composed of at least two Neuroscience faculty members, plus others as needed who may recommend High Honors after considering these five components of a thesis.

              Study Abroad

              Study abroad can be a valuable experience that is encouraged, though majors must consult with the Office of Off-Campus Study and their advisor about the advisability of specific programs. Because the requirements for the NSCI major are complex, we recommend that students study abroad for a single term rather than an entire year. It is expected that, with the exception of courses satisfying the Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience requirement, the required courses listed for the major specifically by number (i.e. PSYC 0105, BIOL 0145, PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211, NSCI 0251, NSCI 0252) would be completed at Middlebury. Students may satisfy the Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience requirement by means of an equivalent course taken abroad, but should seek approval for this course before going abroad.  NSCI electives may be taken abroad if they are determined to satisfy program requirements and are approved by the advisor and program director. Students generally receive major credit for a maximum of two courses taken abroad. The NSCI program does not grant major credit for Independent Study projects completed abroad.

              Advanced Placement

              Psychology Department placement exam: Students who receive a passing score on the Psychology Department placement exam may bypass PSYC 0105, however they will need to take an additional elective to fulfill their Neuroscience Requirements. (More details can be found on the Psychology Requirements page.)

              Statistics AP Exam: Students matriculating Fall 2016 or later may not use the Statistics AP Examination in place of taking PSYC 0201 (Psychological Statistics) or BIOL 0211 (Biostats). Credit for PSYC 0201 is given to students matriculating prior to Fall 2016 who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on the Statistics AP Examination. These students do not need to take an additional course for the major.  

              Chemistry AP and Placement ExamStudents with a score of 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP Exam, or who pass the Chemistry Department Placement Exam, may bypass CHEM 0103 and do not need an additional course for the major.

              NSCI 0205 Emotions (Spring 2023)

              Emotions inform thoughtful decisions, but also prompt knee-jerk reactions that make us appear irrational at times. They inspire and dissuade us at both conscious and unconscious levels. They evolved to trigger self-protective responses, but their dark side fuels self-destructive behaviors as well. In this course we will discuss what emotions are, where they come from, how individual emotions differ, and whether or not everyone experiences emotions the same way. We will also explore how appreciating the complexities of emotions might improve emotion regulation and interpersonal dynamics. Topics to be considered will include biological, socio-cultural, clinical, and cognitive theories of emotion. (PSYC 105, open to Psychology and Neuroscience majors only, others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (K. Cronise)

              NSCI 0206 Brain Plasticity (Fall 2022)

              Starting in early development and continuing throughout your lifespan, your experiences will restructure your brain and thereby change who you are! We will explore the foundations of brain plasticity through the investigation of brain development, memory and memory systems, and the neurobiology of memory. Our understanding of brain plasticity will be applied to better understand how plasticity can be harnessed to improve cognition and alleviate a variety of brain disorders. Our exploration will be informed by authors, and artists portrayals of memory, scientific literature, and clinical case studies. (PSYC 0105 or any BIOL course; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (M. Dash)
              Cross-listed as: PSYC 0206 *

              NSCI 0227 Cognitive Psychology (Spring 2023)

              Questions about the nature of the mind, thinking, and knowledge have a long and rich history in the field of psychology. This course will examine the theoretical perspectives and empirically documented phenomena that inform our current understanding of cognition. Lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and experiments will form the basis for our explorations of cognition in this class. Topics to be considered include attention, perception, memory, knowledge, problem solving, and decision making. (PSYC 0105; PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202 recommended; not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver. Not open to students who have taken PSYC 0305) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs. lab. SCI (J. Arndt)
              Cross-listed as: PSYC 0227 *

              NSCI 0251 Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Neurons are the building blocks of complex circuits that underlie perception and behavior. In this course we will examine the molecular and cellular basis of neuron structure and function. The topics include the molecular and cellular basis of action potential propagation, the molecular biology of synaptic transmission, the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and the molecular mechanisms of sensory transduction. Laboratory exercises will train students in commonly used neurobiology techniques and engage students in novel investigations. (BIOL 0145 (Note: AP credit in biology cannot be used to satisfy this requirement) Open to neuroscience majors, nonmajors by waiver; Not open to seniors). 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. SCI (Fall 2022: A. Crocker; Spring 2023: A. Crocker, M. Spritzer)

              NSCI 0252 Fundamentals of Behavioral Neuroscience (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Behavioral neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that combines approaches and knowledge from psychology, biology, and chemistry to further our understanding of human and non-human animal behavior. In this course, you will study the interrelationships among elements of the nervous systems, co-functioning bodily systems, and behavioral output such as emotions, sex, memory, consciousness, sleep, and language. You will be given an opportunity to apply your knowledge from NSCI 0251 of the nervous system at the micro and macro levels and will revisit the basic concepts of behavioral genetics and psychopharmacology. This cumulative knowledge base will serve as your foundation for advanced study of neural systems and their relative roles in progressively more complex behaviors such as basic reflexes, motivation, rational thought, neural disorders, and therapeutic efficacy. (PSYC 0105 and NSCI 0251; open to NSCI majors only, others by approval) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. SCI (Fall 2022: Z. Zhai; Spring 2023: Z. Zhai, C. Parker)

              NSCI 0309 Psychopharmacology (Fall 2022)

              This course will examine ways in which drugs act on the brain to influence behavior. Students will learn the basics of brain function, will learn basic properties of drug action, and will learn how legal and illegal drugs, including drugs used to treat psychological disorders, alter the brain function and behavior of humans and experimental animals. (PSYC 0226 or PSYC 0301 or PSYC 0303 or BIOL 0370 or NSCI 0252; not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (M. Collaer)
              Cross-listed as: PSYC 0309 *

              NSCI 0317 Biobehavioral Addiction (Fall 2022)

              Addiction is a pervasive disorder affecting society on a global scale. To understand this complex disorder, addictions are studied from the basic neural mechanisms, such as how neurons respond to addictive substances, to psychological factors and how they protect or increase risk. In this course we will examine the principles of substance addictions, emerging behavioral addictions (internet/gaming, problem-gambling), and underlying mechanisms that drive addiction. Topics include neural pathways of addictive substances, brain functional and structural changes, theories of motivation, neuropsychological risk factors, and modern prevention and treatment. Psychology and neuroscience students will bring their relative expertise to the class for thoughtful review of the literature.(PSYC 0105; not open to first year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (Z. Zhai)
              Cross-listed as: PSYC 0317 *

              NSCI 0320 Clinical Neuroscience (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will examine human and animal models of clinical problems of the nervous system to understand their underlying causes and emerging treatments. Readings and discussions will include foundational writings and primary literature on cutting-edge medical research in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinsonism, dementias, mood disorders, and epilepsy, as well as regenerative medicine and deep brain stimulation. Students will lead in-depth class discussions, design their own research synthesis projects, and present on their conclusions on recent ground-breaking findings in the field. (NSCI 0251; open to neuroscience majors; others by waiver). SCI (Z. Zhai)

              NSCI 0353 Social Neuroscience (Fall 2022)

              Social neuroscience integrates neuroscientific and psychological approaches to enrich our understanding of human social behavior. The field is concerned with how we recognize, understand, and interact with each other in social settings. We will explore how the brain processes (and is shaped by) social/emotional information and how it gives rise to our physiological, cognitive, and behavioral repertoires of social responses. Topics include: theories and methods of social neuroscience research, the brain bases of social processes such as the self, person perception, social affiliation, rejection and conflict, social cognition, group dynamics, emotions, and cultural neuroscience. (not open to students who have taken PSYC/NSCI 0437) (PSYC 0226 or PSYC 228 or NSCI 0252; Open to psychology or neuroscience majors only, others by approval) 3 hrs lect. SCI, SOC (K. Cronise)
              Cross-listed as: PSYC 0353 *

              NSCI 0410 Neural Coding: Visualizing How the Brain Computes (Fall 2022)

              How does the brain go from an electrical signal to recognizing friends? In this course we will learn to use MATLAB to explore visually how the brain uses electrical signals to compute information. By using MATLAB as the frame for the class, students will gain skills in using a fundamental tool in neuroscience. In addition, through the use of introductory lectures, readings, in class programming activities, and discussion, students will deepen their understanding of how sensory information is encoded and then decoded. No experience using MATLAB necessary. (NSCI 0251 and NSCI 252; Open to junior and senior neuroscience majors by instructor approval). Due to restricted capacity, neuroscience seniors needing a senior seminar in order to fulfill their senior work requirement will be given priority. SCI (A. Crocker)

              NSCI 0500 Independent Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Students enrolled in NSCI 0500 complete individual research projects involving laboratory or extensive library study on a topic chosen by the student and approved in advance by a NSCI faculty advisor. This course is not open to seniors; seniors should enroll in NSCI 0700. (Approval required)

              NSCI 0700 Senior Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course is for senior NSCI majors who plan to conduct one or more semesters of independent research, or who plan to complete preparatory work toward a senior thesis, such as researching and writing a thesis proposal as well as, if appropriate, collecting data that will form the basis for a senior thesis. Senior NSCI majors who plan to complete a senior thesis should register initially for NSCI 0700. Additional requirements may include participation in weekly meetings with advisors and/or lab groups and attending neuroscience seminars. (Approval required, open to seniors only)

              NSCI 0701 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Senior NSCI majors who have completed one or more terms of NSCI 0700, who have a GPA of 3.3 in their major courses, and who plan to complete a senior thesis should register for NSCI 0701 for the final semester of the senior thesis process. Students enrolled in NSCI 0701 write a thesis, give a public presentation of their research, and present an oral defense of the thesis before a committee of at least two Neuroscience faculty members. Faculty may recommend High honors in Neuroscience after considering the quality of these components of a student’s thesis and the student’s GPA in major courses. Additional requirements may include participation in weekly meetings with advisors and/or lab groups and attending neuroscience seminars. (NSCI 0700, Approval required)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Philosophy

              Required for the Major

              Majors must complete no fewer than eleven courses in the department, to include:

              1. Logic Requirement: PHIL 0180 (to be taken by the end of the sophomore year)
              2. History Requirement: any two courses in the history of philosophy at the 0200 or 0300 level.
              3. Distribution Requirement:
                • One course in Ethics and Social & Political Philosophy (ESP); and
                • One course in Epistemology, Language, Metaphysics, Mind and Science (ELMMS).
              4. Upper-level Course Requirement:  Three courses at the 0300 or 0400 level, at least one of which must be a 0400-level course. (Students may count only one cross-listed 300-level course taught by faculty outside the Philosophy Department towards their upper-level course requirement. 0400-level courses will not normally satisfy the distribution requirement. Courses taken while abroad will not generally be allowed to substitute for the required 0400-level course.)
              5. Senior Independent Research Requirement
              6. At least two other philosophy courses, in order to fulfill the eleven-course requirement. 

              Cognate courses may be substituted for no more than two departmental electives, but will not satisfy the departmental distribution requirement; such substitutions require the prior approval of a major’s departmental adviser, and must be at the 0200-level or above.

              Senior Independent Research Requirement

              Majors must complete a one-semester independent research project (PHIL 0710) in the fall of their senior year. Topics and advisers will be decided through consultation with members of the department. PHIL 0710 includes participation in the senior project workshop held for all students completing their independent work.

              Departmental Honors

              Students will be awarded departmental honors if and only if they receive a) at least an A- average in courses counted toward the major, and b) an A- on their senior project.  Students will be awarded high honors if and only if they receive a) at least an A- average in courses counted toward the major, and b) an A on their senior project. 

              Required for the Joint Major

              For the philosophy component of a joint major, students must take nine philosophy courses, including

              1. PHIL 0180, to be taken by the end of the sophomore year;
              2. One 0400-level seminar to be taken in the last three semesters;
              3. A course in each of the following:
                • One course in the History of Philosophy (HIST)
                • One course in Ethics and Social & Political Philosophy (ESP) and
                • One course in Epistemology, Language, Metaphysics, Mind and Science (ELMMS)
              4. A course in which the student completes a senior independent project that shows evidence of having integrated the training of both major fields.  (Normally this course will be PHIL 0710, though other models may be appropriate.)  The topic and scope of the independent project is to be determined in consultation with both major advisers. 
              5. At least three other philosophy courses, in order to fulfill the nine-course requirement.

              Required for the Minor

              A total of six courses in philosophy, including PHIL 0180 and at least one course at the 0300 or 0400 level. Minors wishing to take a 0400-level seminar must have completed three other philosophy courses first. Enrollment priority in 0400-level seminars will be given to majors. Students electing the philosophy minor are encouraged to consult with faculty members in the Philosophy Department about course planning.

              PHIL 0156 Contemporary Moral Issues (Spring 2023)

              We will examine a selection of pressing moral problems of our day, seeking to understand the substance of the issues and learning how moral arguments work. We will focus on developing our analytical skills, which we can then use to present and criticize arguments on difficult moral issues. Selected topics may include world poverty, animal rights, abortion, euthanasia, human rights, just and unjust wars, capital punishment, and racial and gender issues. You will be encouraged to question your own beliefs on these issues, and in the process to explore the limit and extent to which ethical theory can play a role in everyday ethical decision making. 2 hrs.lect./1 hr. disc. PHL (S. Viner)

              PHIL 0160 Theories of the Good (Fall 2022)

              What makes for a good person? What makes for a good society? What makes for a good piece of art? What makes for a good life? This introductory course will explore theories of the good within ethics, political philosophy, and aesthetics. Drawing on both historical and contemporary works, we will consider a diverse range of perspectives on what makes someone or something good. 2 hrs. lect/1 hr. disc. PHL (L. Besser)

              PHIL 0170 Introduction to World Philosophy (Fall 2022)

              This course will offer a comparative introduction to a number of world philosophical traditions, including those of Europe and America, India, China, and Africa. We will consider central debates within these traditions, including: How should we live? What is the ultimate nature of reality, and how can we come to know it? What is the nature of the self, and how does it relate to society? We will also investigate the broader question of whether truth and morality are relative to culture. Central readings will include works by Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Lao Tzu, Confucius, and contemporary African philosophers, as well as Hindu and Buddhist texts. 2 hrs. lect,1 hr. disc. CMP, PHL (J. Spackman)

              PHIL 0180 Introduction to Modern Logic (Fall 2022)

              Logic is concerned with good reasoning; as such, it stands at the core of the liberal arts. In this course we will develop our reasoning skills by identifying and analyzing arguments found in philosophical, legal, and other texts, and also by formulating our own arguments. We will use the formal techniques of modern propositional and predicate logic to codify and test various reasoning strategies and specific arguments. No prior knowledge of logic, formal mathematics, or computer science is presupposed in this course, which does not count towards the PHL distribution requirement but instead towards the deductive reasoning requirement. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. DED (H. Grasswick)

              PHIL 0201 Ancient Greek Philosophy (Fall 2022)

              This class introduces students to the range and power of Greek thought, which initiated the Western philosophical tradition. We will begin by exploring the origins of philosophy as found in myth (primarily Hesiod) and in the highly original speculation of the Pre-Socratic thinkers (such as Heraclitus and Parmenides). We will then focus on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, examining their transformations of these earlier traditions and their own divergent approaches to ethics and education. We will also consider the influences of Greek philosophy on later thought. 3 hrs. lect. EUR, HIS, PHL (M. Woodruff)

              PHIL 0230 Moral Psychology (Spring 2023)

              Moral psychology is the study of human behavior in the context of morality. How do we think about morality? How do we make moral judgments? How do we behave in moral situations? Answering these questions forces us to think deeply about the nature of our actions and the way we do and should evaluate them. In this course we will explore these questions and more. Specific topics covered may include altruism and egoism, moral judgment, moral responsibility, practical deliberation, intentional action, virtue and vice, character, and moral development. Readings will be drawn from both philosophy and psychology. (not open to students who have taken PHIL 0310) 3 hrs. sem. PHL, SOC (L. Besser)

              PHIL 0245 Critical Theory and Philosophy (Spring 2023)

              Critical theory is a social and political philosophy that emerged from 19th century continental thought in relation to political economy, psychoanalysis and aesthetic theory. It is concerned with the application of philosophy to “the abolition of social injustice” as Max Horkheimer once noted. This is
              an introductory, discussion-based seminar where we will begin with Hegel and Marx and read primary texts from the Frankfurt School on alienation, material culture, and dialectical reasoning. Authors to include: Adorno, Benjamin, Butler, Habermas, Jaeggi, Marcuse. We will conclude with a selection from contemporary critical race theory, performative and social philosophy.
              PHL (E. Jacobson)

              PHIL 0250 Early Modern Philosophy (Spring 2023)

              This course offers an introduction to some of the most influential European philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries: Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant. We will consider and critically examine the responses these thinkers gave to various questions in metaphysics and epistemology, including the following: What is the relationship between reality and our perception of reality? What is the nature of the mind and how is it related to the body? What is the nature of physical reality? Which of our beliefs, if any, do we have good reason to maintain in the face of radical skepticism? 3 hrs lect. EUR, PHL (L. Besser)

              PHIL 0252 Philosophy of Mind (Spring 2023)

              What is the nature of the mind, and how does it relate to the body and the physical world? Could computers ever think? Do animals have mental and emotional lives? This course will explore several of the major recent philosophical conceptions of the mind. A central focus will be on evaluating various attempts to explain the mind in purely physical terms, including the project of artificial intelligence (AI). Can these theories give us a complete understanding of the mind? Other key questions will include: What is the nature of thought, and how is it capable of representing the world? What is consciousness, and can it be explained physically? 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. PHL (J. Spackman)

              PHIL 0305 Confucius and Confucianism (Spring 2023)

              Perhaps no individual has left his mark more completely and enduringly upon an entire civilization than Confucius (551-479 B.C.) has upon that of China. Moreover, the influence of Confucius has spread well beyond China to become entrenched in the cultural traditions of neighboring Japan and Korea and elsewhere. This course examines who Confucius was, what he originally intended, and how the more important of his disciples have continued to reinterpret his original vision and direct it toward different ends. Pre-1800. (formerly HIST/PHIL 0273) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW (5 seats), HIS, NOA, PHL (D. Wyatt)
              Cross-listed as: HIST 0305 *

              PHIL 0306 Philosophy of Law (Fall 2022)

              In this course we shall consider a number of questions concerning law and its institution in human society. What is the origin and authority of law? What is legal obligation? What is the connection between law and coercion, between law and morality, and law and rights? Are laws merely conventions or is there a law of nature? What is the role of law in judicial decisions and the effect of these on the law? We shall also consider and evaluate various theories of law: natural law theories, utilitarian theories, analytical philosophy of law, critical legal studies, feminist theories. (formerly PHIL 0209) 3 hrs. lect. PHL (S. Viner)

              PHIL 0319 Readings in the Philosophy of History (Spring 2023)

              Even before the appearance of Georg W. F. Hegel's classic study The Philosophy of History, a heated debate was being waged concerning the nature and substance of history. Is history, like science, expressible in predictable patterns or subject to irrevocable laws? What factors distinguish true history from the mere random succession of events? What should we assume to be the fundamental nature of historical truth, and are we to determine it objectively or subjectively? Is it possible to be human and yet be somehow "outside of" history? These are among the questions we will examine as we read and deliberate on a variety of philosophies of history, while concentrating on the most influential versions developed by Hegel and Karl Marx. 3 hrs. sem. CW (5 seats), EUR, HIS, PHL (D. Wyatt)
              Cross-listed as: HIST 0319 *

              PHIL 0354 Philosophy of Language (Spring 2023)

              Speaking a language is a complex form of behavior that plays a rich and varied role in human life. The philosophy of language seeks to give a philosophical account of this phenomenon, focusing on such questions as: How does language gain meaning? How does meaning relate to truth and reference? What is conveyed by different speech acts? In the Public Humanities Lab component of the course, students will apply their understanding of these themes to case studies involving issues such as free speech, linguistic oppression and silencing, the meaning of terms for gender and race, and truth in political speech. Readings will include works by Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, and contemporary journal articles. (Previous course in philosophy or waiver.) 3 hrs lect. CW, PHL (J. Spackman)
              Cross-listed as: LNGT 0354

              PHIL 0360 Consciousness (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              In this course we will focus on recent philosophical issues in the study of consciousness: What is the nature of our conscious subjective experience? What is the function of conscious states? Can we find neural correlates of consciousness, and if so, can consciousness simply be reduced to them? If not, how does consciousness relate to the physical? Is there something irreducible about the qualitative features of consciousness (qualia)? Could computers ever be conscious? Are animals conscious? We will consider such questions through the writings of contemporary philosophers and neuroscientists such as Dennett, Chalmers, Churchland, Nagel, Damasio, and Searle. (PHIL 0352 is strongly recommended but not required). 3 hrs. lect. PHL (A. Wager)

              PHIL 0408 Global Justice (Spring 2023)

              In this course, we will investigate questions of justice that arise in global affairs. We will inquire into whether there are moral principles that
              constrain the actions of states and how these principles support a conception of global justice. Also, we will seek to understand what global
              responsibilities are entailed by global justice. Specific topics that will be considered include global distributive justice, world poverty, human
              rights, humanitarian intervention, and the relationship between global justice and nationalistic moral concerns. Authors will include Beitz,
              Nussbaum, O'Neill, Pogge, Rawls, Singer, Miller, and Walzer. 3 hrs. sem.
              PHL (S. Viner)

              PHIL 0435 Concepts: The Stuff of Thought (Fall 2022)

              Concepts are often regarded as “the stuff of thought”: they allow us to categorize the world, learn about it, and navigate through it. But what are they, and how do they relate to reality? In this course we will examine prominent contemporary philosophical theories of concepts, drawing as well on readings from cognitive science and neuroscience. Possible topics include: Is it possible to define concepts? How are they mentally represented? Is reality relative to conceptual schemes? Do concepts give us knowledge of reality or hinder our awareness of it? Is perception nonconceptual? Do animals have concepts? (Junior and senior majors, or by waiver.) 3 hrs. sem. PHL (J. Spackman)

              PHIL 0500 Research in Philosophy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Supervised independent research in philosophy. (Approval required).

              PHIL 0710 Senior Independent Research (Fall 2022)

              In this course senior philosophy majors will complete an independent research project. The course has two components: (1) a group workshop in which students refine their research skills and develop parts of their projects, and (2) individual meetings with an adviser who is knowledgeable about the student's research topic. Students will engage in research activities such as tutorials and peer reviews. Before the course begins, students’ research topics and advisers will be decided in consultation with members of the department. (Senior majors.) 3 hrs. sem. (H. Grasswick)
              ↑ Top

              Physical Education

              The physical education program concentrates on lifetime sports and activities, so that all students leave Middlebury College with exposure to sports or recreational activities in which they have developed a degree of skill and interest, which will be an asset to them in later years. Each course carries one unit of physical education credit.

              Overview

              Before graduation, students must complete two courses to receive the required two credits. Students are encouraged to complete the credits by the end of their fourth academic semester at Middlebury (excluding winter term). In the case of transfer students, students are encouraged to complete the requirement by the end of their second semester at Middlebury. Students who have not completed their requirements will not be eligible to graduate.

              Team Participation

              Students may use participation on varsity intercollegiate teams as a way of satisfying the physical education requirement. The requirement will be fulfilled if a student participates in two seasons of varsity competition. Two-sport athletes may also satisfy both physical education credits through participation on two different varsity intercollegiate teams. 

              The Physical Education Department also recognizes participation in five club sports. The five club sports that can receive a physical education credit are rugby, crew, water polo, sailing and equestrian, which have a coach on-site for practices and games. In order to receive a physical education credit, students must participate in one full season of crew, rugby, water polo, sailing or equestrian. Each of these club sports will equal one physical education credit per season.

              Additional Courses

              Students who wish to elect additional courses beyond those required for graduation may register with the department for the appropriate season and be scheduled for classes on a space-available basis. Some of the courses and activities follow:

              • Certification Courses (textbook and related fee applicable): Lifeguard Training, and First Aid/CPR.
              • Fee Classes: alpine skiing, martial arts, massage, meditation, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, spinning, and yoga. Instructors outside of the College generally teach these courses. The fees and times are available during Banner web registration.
              • Equipment Sports (students provide equipment): tennis.
              • More Equipment Sports (department provides equipment): archery, badminton, golf, and squash.
              • Conditioning Courses: Resistance training, strength training, and swim for conditioning. 
              • Dance Courses (as available): varying levels of ballet, jazz, and modern dance (DANC 0160, DANC 0161, DANC 0162, DANC 0260, DANC 0261, DANC 0276, DANC 0360, DANC 0361, DANC 0380, DANC 0381).

              Students may also earn PE credits through programs offered by Student Activities and The Knoll. Approximately 75 courses are scheduled over five sessions each academic year.

              The department schedules two seasons of instructional courses in the fall and spring terms and one season in the winter term. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is open to students electing courses on a space-available basis. Students unaware of their physical education record should check with the Registrar’s Office to ensure completion of their program prior to graduation. Applications for transfer credit must be made in advance, following college procedure for academic credit transfer. The Registrar’s Office processes credits from transcripts for students transferring to Middlebury.

              Medical Waivers

              All requests for medical waivers must come from the student’s physician. Injuries and illnesses suffered on campus will be considered as exceptions to the previous statement and will be handled by the College health center.

              Upcoming Academic Year Dates (2022-23)

              • Fall I: September 19 - October 20
              • Fall II: October 24 - December 1
              • Winter Term: January 9 – February 2
              • Spring I: February 13 - March 16
              • Spring II: April 3 - May 5
              ↑ Top

              Department of Physics

              The physics program at Middlebury is designed to integrate physics into the liberal arts curriculum, as well as to provide challenging courses and research opportunities for students majoring in physics. Courses and student research activities in astronomy are also part of the physics program. The Physics Department does not offer a minor.

              Courses designed especially for nonscience students include PHYS 0155 (Introduction to the Universe), PHYS 0106 (Physics for Educated Citizens), selected offerings in winter term, and first year seminars. Students majoring in the sciences for premedical, pre-engineering, and other professional programs, and others who desire a more analytical approach to physics, usually select courses from the introductory physics sequence PHYS 0109, PHYS 0111, and PHYS 0110. In addition, they may elect more advanced courses at the 0200-level or above.

              For those majoring in physics, we offer a broad range of courses that emphasize a variety of topics in physics while building both theoretical understanding and experimental skills. Middlebury physics majors apply their education in a wide variety of careers. Some pursue graduate work in physics and related fields; others find their physics degrees valuable in engineering, medicine, business, law, teaching, government service, and other pursuits. The physics program is designed to serve the needs of both those intending advanced study in physics and those for whom formal work in physics will end with the Middlebury degree.

              The physics department encourages its majors to study abroad to gain experience at international research facilities, improve language proficiency, and pursue academic interests outside of physics. Students who study abroad, or in a 2-1-1-1 pre-engineering program, may be eligible to transfer one upper-level physics course per term off campus for the physics major. Transfer is contingent upon approval of the department chair, for a maximum of two transferred courses, of which only one may be an elective. Students should obtain this approval before studying off campus.

              Physics majors interested in obtaining high school physics teaching certification should consult the education studies program as soon as possible, preferably no later than the middle of their sophomore year.

              Required for the Major

              The major program consists of the following:

              • Eight required physics courses: PHYS 0109, PHYS 0110, PHYS 0111, PHYS 0201, PHYS 0202, PHYS 0212, PHYS 0301, and PHYS 0321
              • A minimum of three PHYS electives
              • A one-term senior project (PHYS 0704)

              To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must also complete either a semester of senior thesis (PHYS 0705) or one additional elective beyond those required. Mathematics at least through the level of MATH 0122 is also required; this requirement may be satisfied either at Middlebury or through appropriate pre-college courses in calculus.

              Electives must be chosen from physics courses at the 0200, 0300, or 0400 level, except that an upper-level physics course taken off campus or an advanced cognate course from another department at Middlebury (specifically, CHEM 0351 or CHEM 0355) may be used to satisfy one of the elective requirements. (For students who entered Middlebury in 2017-18 or 2018-19, CSCI 0202 and MATH 0335 also count as advanced cognate courses.) For students completing double majors, courses counted towards another major cannot also be counted as electives toward the physics major. Independent study courses such as PHYS 0500 may not be used for elective credit. In addition to recurring courses in spring and fall terms, PHYS courses that satisfy the elective requirement are occasionally offered during the winter term.

              Prospective majors must begin the physics sequence no later than the sophomore year (typically no later than the third fall/spring term on campus). Starting in the first year allows more flexibility in the choice of courses and senior work and increases the feasibility of off-campus study. Students majoring in physics are advised to complete MATH 0122 (or equivalent) by the end of their first two regular terms. Students planning graduate work in physics or a related subject should elect as many as possible of PHYS 0302 (Electromagnetic Waves), PHYS 0330 (Analytical Mechanics), PHYS 0350 (Statistical Mechanics), and PHYS 0401 (Quantum Mechanics). In addition, MATH 0200 (Linear Algebra), MATH 0223 (Multivariable Calculus), and MATH 0225 (Topics in Linear Algebra and Differential Equations) are strongly recommended for those anticipating graduate study. Most physics majors will find computer programming skills through the level of CSCI 0201 extremely valuable.

              Senior Program

              The senior project (PHYS 0704) involves a significant piece of experimental or theoretical research to be completed in the final year at Middlebury. Topics in recent years have included work in the following areas:

              • Astrophysics
              • Atomic and optical physics
              • Biophysics
              • Condensed matter physics
              • Cosmology
              • Environmental applications
              • Laser spectroscopy
              • Classical and quantum waves
              • Quantum computing

              Outstanding performance in PHYS 0704 may, with the permission of the advisor and department, allow continuation of the senior project as a senior thesis (PHYS 0705).

              Departmental Honors

              A minimum grade average of B in physics courses is required of all honors candidates.

              To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must also complete either a semester of senior thesis (PHYS 0705) or one additional elective beyond the number required. Honors in physics are awarded primarily on the basis of excellent senior work combined with depth and excellence of coursework in physics. A student’s overall accomplishments in the department, including teaching assistantships and leadership, are also considered in the awarding of honors.

              Pre-Engineering

              Some students study physics with the intent of eventually doing engineering, either through a dual degree or in graduate school.

              Students who pursue a physics major en route to a 3-2 engineering degree (in which the Middlebury component is completed by the end of the junior year) take the same eight-course sequence outlined above, with one elective chosen from physics courses at the 0200, 0300, or 0400 level; they also must complete a one-unit senior project (PHYS 0704).

              Students in a 2-1-1-1 pre-engineering program (those who return to Middlebury for the senior year) take the normal physics major and choose electives in consultation with the pre-engineering advisor. One upper-level physics course per term completed off campus may be counted towards the major with the approval of the department chair, for a maximum of two transferred physics courses, only one of which may be an elective.

              Advanced Placement

              Students who seek advanced placement in physics should take the College Board AP examinations. Credit for PHYS 0109 is given to students who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on the Physics C: Mechanics examination.

              PHYS 0109 Newtonian Physics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This calculus-based course examines motion as it occurs throughout the universe. Topics covered include inertia, force, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, linear momentum, collisions, gravitation, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, and oscillatory motion.
              Emphasis is on practical applications in physics, engineering, the life sciences, and everyday life. Laboratory work and lecture demonstrations illustrate basic physical principles. (MATH 0121 or MATH 0122 concurrent or prior; students who have taken high school calculus or other college
              calculus courses should consult with the instructor prior to registration) 3 hrs. lect/3 hrs. lab.
              DED, SCI (Fall 2022: S. Bleher; Spring 2023: P. Hess)

              PHYS 0110 Electricity and Magnetism (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              The physical principles of electricity and magnetism are developed with calculus and applied to the electrical structure of matter and the electromagnetic nature of light. Practical topics from electricity and magnetism include voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, inductance, and AC and DC circuits. Laboratory work includes an introduction to electronics and to important instruments such as the oscilloscope. (PHYS 0109, MATH 0122) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. DED, SCI (Fall 2022: S. Watson; Spring 2023: N. Graham)

              PHYS 0111 Thermodynamics, Fluids, Wave Motion, and Optics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This calculus-based lecture and laboratory course covers concepts from classical physics that are not included in PHYS 0109 and PHYS 0110, and that serve as a bridge between those two courses. Topics include thermal properties of matter, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, wave
              motion, sound, and geometrical and physical optics. This course is strongly recommended for all students otherwise required to take PHYS 0109 and PHYS 0110 as part of a major or a premedical program, and is required for physics majors. (PHYS 0109, MATH 0121, or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab.
              DED, SCI (Fall 2022: A. Goodsell; Spring 2023: M. Durst, A. Findlay)

              PHYS 0155 An Introduction to the Universe (Fall 2022)

              Our universe comprises billions of galaxies in a rapidly expanding fabric. How did it begin? Will it expand forever, or how may it end? How do the stars that compose the galaxies evolve from their births in clouds of gas, through the tranquility of middle age, to their often violent deaths? How can scientists even hope to answer such cosmic questions from our vantage point on a small planet, orbiting a very ordinary star? Are there other planets, orbiting other stars, where intelligent beings may be pondering similar issues? This introductory astronomy course, designed for nonscience majors, will explore these and other questions. Students will also become familiar with the night sky, both as part of our natural environment and as a scientific resource, through independent observations and sessions at the College Observatory. The approach requires no college-level mathematics, but students should expect to do quantitative calculations using scientific notation and occasionally to use elementary high-school algebra. 3 hrs. lect./1 hrs.disc. DED, SCI (E. Glikman)

              PHYS 0201 Relativity and Quantum Physics (Fall 2022)

              This course probes a number of areas for which classical physics has provided no adequate explanations. Topics covered include Einstein's special relativity, quantization of atomic energy levels and photons, the atomic models of Rutherford and Bohr, and wave-particle duality. (PHYS 0109; PHYS 0110 concurrent or prior; MATH 0122) 3 hrs. lect. DED, SCI (S. Watson)

              PHYS 0202 Quantum Physics and Applications (Spring 2023)

              This course introduces quantum theory and statistical mechanics, and explores the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the Schrödinger wave equation, and wave mechanics. These techniques are then applied to atomic, molecular, nuclear, and elementary particle systems. (PHYS 0201; PHYS 0212 concurrent or prior) 3 hrs. lect. DED, SCI (S. Watson)

              PHYS 0212 Applied Mathematics for the Physical Sciences (Spring 2023)

              This course concentrates on the methods of applied mathematics used for treating the partial differential equations that commonly arise in physics, chemistry, and engineering. Topics include differential vector calculus, Fourier series, and other orthogonal function sets. Emphasis will be given to physical applications of the mathematics. This course is a prerequisite for all 0300- and 0400-level physics courses. (MATH 0122; PHYS 0110 concurrent or prior) 4.5 hrs. lect. DED (N. Graham)

              PHYS 0221 Electronics for Scientists (Spring 2023)

              An introduction to modern electronic circuits and devices, emphasizing both physical operation and practical use. Transistors and integrated circuits are considered in both analog and digital applications. Examples and laboratory experiments stress measurement and control applications in the physical and biological sciences. Students will gain hands-on familiarity with the design, use, and troubleshooting of electronic instrumentation. (PHYS 0110) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab. DED, SCI (S. Watson)

              PHYS 0255 An Introduction to Astrophysics (Fall 2022)

              In this course students will learn the fundamental concepts and techniques used by astronomers to understand the universe and its contents. These include the physics of light (which conveys the properties of astrophysical phenomena) and gravity (the fundamental force that drives orbits) as well as stellar and galactic evolution. Beginning with the Sun, we will use these tools to study the nature of stars, nuclear processes, and stellar evolution, including the deaths of stars and supernova explosions. Continuing with the Milky Way galaxy, we will also study the nature and structure of galaxies including their stellar populations, gas content, and star formation. Finally, we will investigate the large-scale environment of galaxies, galaxy mergers and interactions, active galaxies, and their evolution. (PHYS 0111, PHYS 0212 or MATH 0223) 3 hrs. lect. DED, SCI (E. Glikman)

              PHYS 0301 Intermediate Electromagnetism (Fall 2022)

              The unified description of electricity and magnetism is one of the greatest triumphs of physics. This course provides a thorough grounding in the nature of electric and magnetic fields and their interaction with matter. Mathematical techniques appropriate to the solution of problems in electromagnetism are also introduced. The primary emphasis is on static fields, with the full time-dependent Maxwell equations and electromagnetic waves introduced in the final part of the course. (PHYS 0110; PHYS 0201 or by permission; PHYS 0212) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. (P. Hess)

              PHYS 0321 Experimental Techniques in Physics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course will cover the design and execution of experiments, and the analysis and presentation of data, at an advanced level. Laboratory experiments will be chosen to illustrate the use of electronic, mechanical, and optical instruments to investigate fundamental physical phenomena, such as the properties of atoms and nuclei and the nature of radiation. Skills in computer-based data analysis and presentation will be developed and emphasized. This course satisfies the College writing requirement. (PHYS 0111 concurrent or prior; PHYS 0201 and PHYS 0202 and PHYS 0212; MATH 0200 recommended) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab/1 hr disc. (Approval required) CW (Fall 2022: M. Durst; Spring 2023: A. Goodsell)

              PHYS 0350 Statistical Mechanics (Fall 2022)

              This course is a study of statistical mechanics and its applications to a variety of classical and quantum systems. It includes a discussion of microstates, macrostates, and entropy, and systematically introduces the microcanonical, canonical, grand canonical, and isobaric ensembles. This underlying theory is applied to topics including classical thermodynamics, the equipartition theorem, electromagnetic blackbody radiation, heat capacities of solids, and ideal classical and quantum gases, with a focus on Bose-Einstein condensation and degenerate Fermi systems. (PHYS 0202 and PHYS 0212) 3 hrs. lect. (N. Graham)

              PHYS 0401 Quantum Mechanics (Spring 2023)

              A fundamental course in quantum mechanics aimed at understanding the mathematical structure of the theory and its application to physical phenomena at the atomic and nuclear levels. Topics include the basic postulates of quantum mechanics, operator formalism, Schrödinger equation, one-dimensional and central potentials, angular momentum and spin, perturbation theory, and systems of identical particles. (PHYS 0202 and PHYS 0212; MATH 0200 recommended) 3 hrs. lect. (C. Herdman)

              PHYS 0500 Independent Study and Special Topics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval required)

              PHYS 0704 Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Independent research project incorporating both written and oral presentations. (Fall 2022: N. Graham; Spring 2023: M. Durst)

              PHYS 0705 Senior Research and Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Independent research in the fall, winter, and spring terms culminating in a written thesis (two units total). (Approval required) (E. Glikman, S. Ratcliff, P. Hess)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Political Science

              Students who matriculate in Fall 2020 or later will adhere to the following requirements.

              Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020 may choose either the following requirements or the previous requirements, below.

              Required for the Major in Political Science

              All regular fall and spring term political science courses fall into one of five categories: (1) American Politics, (2) Comparative Politics, (3) International Relations and Foreign Policy, (4) Methods, and (5) Political Theory. A major must take ten regular political science courses, including:

                   (1)  At least one American Politics course
                   (2)  At least one Comparative Politics course
                   (3)  At least one International Relations and Foreign Policy course
                   (4)  At least one Methods course
                   (5)  At least one Political Theory course

              Each of the five categories must be fulfilled by a course taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. We recommend that students start with 100-level courses, whenever possible. No more than one of the ten PSCI major credits may be obtained through a winter term course, and the course is eligible to fulfill a category requirement if it has a PSCI designation. At least seven of the ten courses must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont.

              Senior Program

              One of the ten required courses must be a PSCI or PSCI cross-listed 0400-level senior seminar offered by a member of the Middlebury faculty in Vermont. Work done in programs abroad, at other North American colleges and universities, or in the Washington Semester program will not count as the equivalent of a Middlebury seminar. IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars but will count as an elective towards the 10 required courses in PSCI.

              Departmental Honors

              Students who elect to seek departmental honors write a thesis in their senior year. Honors candidates should initiate the process by contacting their prospective faculty advisor during their junior year (including students who are abroad during their junior year). Candidates must submit an honors thesis proposal to their advisor prior to the term(s) in which the thesis is to be written. If the proposal is approved, the student may register for PSCI 0500 (independent project) in the first term of the thesis, followed by PSCI 0700 for the second and third terms. All students who plan to write a thesis are strongly encouraged to enroll in a Methods course before their senior year. After an oral examination of the completed thesis, honors are conferred or denied on the basis of (1) the level of the grade achieved on the thesis; and (2) the level of the average grade received in other fall and spring courses taken at Middlebury. Courses taken abroad do not count toward the grade point determination. Honors theses candidates will have a political science course average of at least 3.33 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher to attain honors; a political science course average of at least 3.50 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain high honors; and a political science course average of at least 3.67 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors. For a full description of regulations, check the Thesis Procedures and Schedule page on the PSCI website.

              Independent Study

              Students with demonstrated preparation and proficiency in the field may elect independent study projects (PSCI 0500). These projects are prepared under the supervision of a member or members of the department. The PSCI 0500 projects may not be substituted for the seminar requirement. The PSCI 0500 projects are reading and research courses; the department will not award PSCI 0500 credit for political experience such as congressional internships. No more than one of the ten courses required for the major may be a PSCI 0500 credit.

              Joint Majors

              Students wishing to do a joint major in political science and another department or program of studies must take eight regular political science courses. Among the eight total courses required for the major, the student must take at least one course in each of the five categories, including a 0400-level seminar. Students must also give evidence of having used the training in both majors, usually in a seminar paper, but sometimes in an independent project or thesis. At least five courses including the 0400-level seminar must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course toward the eight required courses for the joint major. Joint majors do not qualify for honors in political science. (Double majors are eligible.)

              International Politics and Economics Major

              The IP&E major allows students to combine the study of politics, economics, and languages, linking these disciplines with an appropriate experience abroad. Students wishing to pursue this major should refer to International Politics and Economics in both the General Catalog and the online catalog.

              International and Global Studies Major

              IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars unless they are cross-listed IGST/PSCI seminars. It is highly recommended that IGST thesis candidates supervised by a PSCI faculty member enroll in a PSCI Methods course before their senior year.

              Minors in Political Science

              The minor in political science will consist of five courses taken at Middlebury College, which must come from at least three of the five categories of courses offered by the department, and may include a maximum of one winter term course. At least one of the courses must be at the 0300-level or above.

              Advanced Placement

              Students may not apply credits earned prior to matriculation toward the ten courses required for the PSCI major.

              Previous Requirements

              Optional only for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020.

              Required for the Major in Political Science

              A major must take ten regular political science courses. One of these ten must be an introductory course in the political theory subfield (PSCI 0101 or PSCI 0107). Two additional courses must be introductory courses in two of the three other subfields: American politics (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104); comparative politics (PSCI 0103); and international relations (PSCI 0109). These three required introductory courses should normally be completed before the end of the sophomore year. Among the ten total courses required for the major, the student must also fulfill the field distribution requirement, and complete the 0400-level seminar. At least seven of these ten courses, including the 0400-level seminar, must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course as one of the ten required courses for the major. Winter term courses may be used to fulfill the field distribution requirement.

              The Field Distribution Requirement

              All regular fall and spring term political science courses are classified in one of the following four fields: Political Theory, American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations and Foreign Policy. Students must take at least two courses in any three of these fields and one course in the fourth field.

              Senior Program

              The senior program consists of a seminar of the major’s choice. Each seminar includes advanced work appropriate to the field in which the seminar is offered. The seminars are the 0400-level courses offered by the department. Seminars are open to juniors and seniors. Normally, the senior program requirement must be completed by taking a seminar offered by a member of the Middlebury faculty. Work done in programs abroad, at other North American colleges and universities, or in the Washington Semester program will not count as the equivalent of a Middlebury seminar. IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars but will count as an elective towards the 10 required courses in PSCI.

              Departmental Honors

              Students who elect to seek departmental honors write a thesis in the senior year. All students who plan to write a thesis are strongly encouraged to enroll in PSCI 0368 before their senior year (and students writing a political theory thesis are encouraged to take a 0300-level theory course). Honors candidates should initiate the process by contacting their prospective faculty advisor during their junior year (including students who are abroad during their junior year). Candidates must submit an honors thesis proposal to their advisor prior to the term(s) in which the thesis is to be written. If the proposal is approved, the student may register for PSCI 0500 (independent project) in the first term of the thesis, followed by PSCI 0700 for the second and third terms. After an oral examination of the completed thesis, honors are conferred or denied on the basis of (1) the level of the grade achieved on the thesis; and (2) the level of the average grade received in other fall and spring courses taken at Middlebury. Courses taken abroad do not count toward the grade point determination. Honors theses candidates will have a political science course average of at least 3.33 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher to attain honors; a political science course average of at least 3.50 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain high honors; and a political science course average of at least 3.67 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors. 

              Independent Study

              Students with demonstrated preparation and proficiency in the field may elect independent study projects (PSCI 0500). These projects are prepared under the supervision of a member or members of the department. The PSCI 0500 projects may not be substituted for the seminar requirement. The PSCI 0500 projects are reading and research courses; the department will not award PSCI 0500 credit for political experience such as congressional internships.

              Joint Majors

              Students wishing to do a joint major in political science and another department or program of studies must take eight regular political science courses. One of these eight must be an introductory course in the political theory subfield (PSCI 0101 or PSCI 0107). Two additional courses must be introductory courses in two of the three other subfields: American politics (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104); comparative politics (PSCI 0103); and international relations (PSCI 0109). These three required introductory courses should normally be completed before the end of the sophomore year. Among the eight total courses required for the major, the student must also take at least two courses in any two of the four fields of political science and one course in the third and fourth fields and complete a 0400-level seminar. Students must also give evidence of having used the training in both majors, usually in a seminar paper, but sometimes in an independent project or thesis. At least five courses including the 0400-level seminar must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course as one of the eight required courses for the joint major. Winter term courses may be used to fulfill the field distribution requirement. Joint majors do not qualify for honors in political science. (Double majors are eligible.)

              International Politics and Economics Major: The IP&E major allows students to combine the study of politics, economics, and languages, linking these disciplines with an appropriate experience abroad. Students wishing to pursue this major should refer to International Politics and Economics in both the General Catalog and the on-line catalog.

              International and Global Studies MajorIGS seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars, In addition, it is highly recommended that IGS thesis candidates enroll in PSCI 0368 before their senior year.

              Minors in Political Science

              The minor in political science will consist of five courses taken at Middlebury College, which must come from at least two of the four fields in the department, and may include a maximum of one winter term course. At least one of the courses must be at the 0300-level or above. The five course requirement will not be reduced by AP credits.

              Advanced Placement

              A score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in American politics will entitle the student to exemption from PSCI 0104; such a score may satisfy the requirement of one course in the American politics field. A score of 4 to 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in comparative politics will entitle the student to exemption from PSCI 0103; such a score may satisfy the requirement of one course in the comparative politics field. While supplying two college credits, advanced placement in both American politics and comparative politics will only count as one of the ten courses required for the political science major. Students will also receive only one distribution credit for AP courses, and notwithstanding the distribution credit, all students must take at least one course in each subfield.

              PSCI 0101 Introduction to Political Philosophy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              What is politics and how should it be studied? Is there a best regime? A best way of life? How are these two things related, if at all? Can we gain knowledge of such topics? We will examine these questions through a study of the some or all of the following texts: Plato, Apology of Socrates, Republic; Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Politics; Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War; St. Augustine, Confessions; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Summa Contra Gentiles; Machiavelli, The Prince; Hobbes, Leviathan; Locke, Second Treatise on Government; Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men; Marx, The Communist Manifesto, The German Ideology, Capital; and Weber, “Science as a Vocation.” 4 hrs. lect./disc. (Political Theory) EUR, PHL, SOC (Fall 2022: M. Dry; Spring 2023: D. Fram)

              PSCI 0103 Introduction to Comparative Politics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course offers an introduction to the comparative study of political systems and to the logic of comparative inquiry. How are different political systems created and organized? How and why do they change? Why are some democratic and others authoritarian? Why are some rich and others poor? Other topics covered in this course include nationalism and political ideologies, forms of representation, the relationship between state institutions and civil society, and globalization. The goal in this course is to use comparative methods to analyze questions of state institutions -- how they arise, change, and generate different economic, social, and political outcomes. 3 hrs. lect. disc. (Comparative Politics)/ CMP, SOC (Fall 2022: S. Gumuscu, A. Verghese; Spring 2023: E. Bleich)

              PSCI 0104 Introduction to American Politics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course introduces the institutions and practices of American government and politics. The aim is to give students a firm understanding of the workings of and the balance of power among the American Congress, President, bureaucracy, and court system. We begin with the Constitution, which provides the set of founding principles upon which the American government is based. We then look at how American citizens make decisions about politics. Finally, we examine how political institutions, interest groups, parties, elections, and legislative bodies and rules aggregate diverse, often conflicting preferences and how they resolve or exacerbate problems. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics)/ AMR, SOC (Fall 2022: B. Johnson; Spring 2023: M. Dickinson)

              PSCI 0109 International Politics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              What causes conflict or cooperation among states? What can states and other international entities do to preserve global peace? These are among the issues addressed by the study of international politics. This course examines the forces that shape relations among states, and between states and international regimes. Key concepts include: the international system, power and the balance of power, international institutions, foreign policy, diplomacy, deterrence, war, and global economic issues. Both the fall and spring sections of this course emphasize rigorous analysis and set theoretical concepts against historical and contemporary case studies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ CMP, SOC (Fall 2022: M. Williams; Spring 2023: A. Yuen, K. Fuentes-George)

              PSCI 0202 African Politics (Spring 2023)

              This course surveys the challenges and possibilities that Sub-Saharan Africa presents in our era of globalization. We will look at the process of state formation to appreciate the relationships between historical legacies and political and economic development. Themes include state formation, democratic governance, sustainable development, and Africa in world affairs. Topics such as colonial rule and national responses, authoritarian rule, ethnic politics, the debt burden, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and natural resource politics will be discussed. Case studies from English-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking Africa will be used to illuminate such relationships. 3 hrs lect/disc. (Comparative Politics)/ AAL, SAF, SOC (E. McMahon)

              PSCI 0204 Left, Right, and Center (Fall 2022)

              In this course, we shall examine liberalism, conservatism, socialism and their competing conceptions of freedom, equality, the individual, and community. We shall consider the origins of these ideologies in early modern political theory and shall afford special attention to the connection between thought and politics. Authors may include John Locke, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Alexis de Tocqueville, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Rawls, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott, and Friedrich Hayek. 3 hrs. lect. (Political Theory) EUR, PHL, SOC (D. Fram)

              PSCI 0206 The American Presidency (Fall 2022)

              This course examines the development and modern practice of presidential leadership. Focus is on presidential decision-making, changes in the structure of the presidency as an institution, differences among individual presidents, and the interaction of the president with other major actors, including national governing institutions (executive branch, Congress, courts), interest groups, media, and the public. The course includes an historical overview of the evolution of the presidency, and examines changes in the electoral process. (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104 or waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics)/ AMR, SOC (M. Dickinson)

              PSCI 0210 Frontiers in Political Science Research (Spring 2023)

              Nothing is more controversial among political scientists than the topic of how to study politics. In this course, we consider a variety of advanced techniques for studying political phenomena, including statistical methods, game theory, institutional analysis, case study techniques, experiments, and agent-based modeling. We will work with concrete examples (drawn from major political science journals) of how scholars have used these techniques, and consider the ongoing philosophical controversies associated with each approach. Students will have the opportunity to conduct original research using a method and subject of their choosing. (Any political science courses) 3 hrs. lect.disc (Methods) DED, SOC (B. Johnson)
              Cross-listed as: JAPN 0210 *

              PSCI 0213 Qualitative Methods in Political Science (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This seminar offers a broad introduction to qualitative methodology with a focus on comparative methods for the analysis of a relatively small number of cases (small-n). This course will enable students to create and critique qualitative research designs in political science. The course focuses on recent methodological writings and includes several substantive examples from various subfields. Topics covered include causal inference, case studies, cross-case comparison, typological theory, case selection, process tracing, counterfactual analysis, and set theory. We will also discuss approaches to multi-method research and the use of mixed methods in political science. 3 hrs. lect. (Methods)/ DED (Fall 2022: J. Teets; Spring 2023: A. Verghese)

              PSCI 0215 Federalism, State and Local Politics (Spring 2023)

              What are the unique political opportunities and constraints facing state and local governments? How have these changed over time? In this course we examine the relationships between different levels of government in the U.S. federal system, considering the particular tasks and dilemmas facing states and cities, and scrutinizing the complex interactions between governments that characterize federalism in the United States. Topics include local political culture, intergovernmental grants, state parties, and state political economy. Vermont, New York, and California will receive special scrutiny. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics)/ AMR, SOC (B. Johnson)

              PSCI 0217 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (Spring 2023)

              This course is an introduction to important themes, concepts, and cases in the study of Middle Eastern and North African politics. We will examine key political issues in the region, focusing primarily on developments since World War II and issues of relevance to the region today. For the purposes of this course, the region is defined as the countries of the Arab world, Israel, Turkey, and Iran. The first half of the course introduces major themes in Middle Eastern politics. These include state development, nationalism, revolution, authoritarian rule, the petro-state, the Arab-Israeli conflict, conflicts in the Persian Gulf, civil conflict, the rise of Islamism, and attempts at liberal reform. The second half of the course examines how these themes have affected political development in a number of key cases. Primary cases include Egypt, Israel, Iran, Morocco, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Students will have the opportunity to individually assess other countries of personal interest in the region. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Comparative Politics)/ MDE, SOC (S. Gumuscu)

              PSCI 0219 What Can I Say? Free Speech v. Racist Speech in the United States and Europe (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will delve into the politics and law surrounding issues of racist speech in the United States and Europe. We will look at the development of speech doctrines in the post-World War Two era, drawing on well-known case studies from American constitutional history, as well as European examples such as the Danish Cartoon Controversy and Holocaust denial cases. Through comparison across time and countries, we will debate the appropriate limits on racist speech in different contexts. (Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1510 or PSCI 1023) 3 hrs. lect./disc (Comparative Politics) CMP, SOC (E. Bleich)

              PSCI 0221 Contemporary Chinese Politics (Fall 2022)

              This introductory course provides students with a background in how the party-state political system functions, and then investigates the major political issues in China today. We will focus first on economic reform issues, such as income inequality, the floating population, and changes in the socialist welfare model, and then on political reform issues, such as the liberalization of news media, NGO and civil society activity, protest and social movements, environmental protection, and legal reform. China is a quickly changing country, so students will focus on analyzing current events but also have an opportunity to explore a topic of interest in more detail. 3 hrs. lect./disc. Comparative Politics NOA, SOC (J. Teets)

              PSCI 0227 Soviet and Russian Politics (Spring 2023)

              This course seeks to introduce the student to a major phenomenon of 20th century politics, the rise and decline of the Soviet Union and the emergence of Russia as its successor state. The first part of the course provides an overview of key factors that influenced Russian and Soviet politics under communism, including history, economy, ideology, institutions of the communist party, and the role of political leadership from Lenin to Gorbachev. The second part surveys radical political and social transformations in the 1990s and analyzes Russia's struggle with the twin challenges of democratic and market reform under Yeltsin and Putin. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Comparative Politics)/ EUR, HIS, SOC (M. Kraus)

              PSCI 0239 The Future of Great Power Relations (Spring 2023)

              Will America’s global preeminence endure in the 21st century? Will Russia, Japan, and the European Union decline while other powers grow more influential? In this course we will explore the future global balance of power and prospects for cooperation and conflict among the world’s great powers. Topics include the rise of Brazil, China, and India; the changing nature of American power; the causality of global power shifts and their implications for cooperation or competition on issues such as energy security, cyber security, nuclear nonproliferation, UN Security Council reform, intervention in the Middle East, and Sino-American relations. (PSCI 0109) 3 hrs. sem. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ CMP, SOC (M. Williams)

              PSCI 0242 International Politics and WMD (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will examine the international ramifications of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons use. What is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)? How have WMD changed the way states behave toward international conflicts and within international crises? How has the development of these weapons influenced the policies states have adopted in response? Beyond these questions, major course themes include the threats of proliferation and the highs and lows of weapons reduction initiatives. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (not open to students who have taken PSCI 1159) (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ SOC (A. Yuen)

              PSCI 0251 Identity and Conflict in South Asia (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will examine political development and conflict in South Asia through the concept of identity. South Asians take on a variety of identities -- ethnic, religious, linguistic, caste, national, etc. These identities often form the basis of political mobilization and both inter- and intrastate conflict. We will study the general concept of identity, including how identities are constructed and used, and then specific manifestations in South Asia. We will also examine the question of whether these identities were constructed during colonial or post-colonial times, or have an earlier basis. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ SOA, SOC (J. Lunstead)

              PSCI 0253 Game Theory for Political Science (Fall 2022)

              How do candidates for political office choose their platforms? Why do some conflicts lead to war while others do not? What legislation will legislators introduce? These and many other compelling questions of political behavior often use game theory as a tool to study strategic, or interdependent, decision-making. Students will learn basic concepts of game theory and how to apply them to a range of political phenomena. To succeed, students need only a solid background in algebra. Students who have taken ECON 0280 cannot register for this course. (Any political science course) (formerly PSCI 0393) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Methods) DED, SOC (A. Yuen)

              PSCI 0256 Politics of India (Spring 2023)

              This course provides students with an introduction to the history and politics of India, one of the most diverse, populous (home to more than one-seventh of the world’s population), and important developing countries in the modern world. This course proceeds chronologically, beginning with ancient Indian (South Asian) civilization, the Mughal Empire of the medieval period, the British colonial experience, Independence, Partition, and contemporary politics, including rising development, as well as the growth of Hindu nationalism. (Comparative Politics) 3 hrs. lect. SOA, SOC (A. Verghese)

              PSCI 0262 Might and Right Among Nations (Spring 2023)

              What role does justice play in international politics? What role should it play? Does it pay to act justly in the conduct of foreign affairs? In this course, we will examine the place of ethical considerations in international politics. Drawing upon major works of political theory, we will pay special attention to the relationship between justice and necessity, the ethics of war and deception, and plans for perpetual peace. Authors will include Thucydides, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Kant, Weber, Woodrow Wilson, and Michael Walzer. 3 hrs. lect. (Political Theory)/ EUR, PHL (D. Fram)

              PSCI 0290 Contentious Politics in Asia (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will compare protest, social mobilization, and contentious politics across Asia. While some have argued that "Asian values" cause harmonious and stable political systems, we will start from the premise that contentious politics in the region reflect the same dynamics seen elsewhere throughout history. However, as with all countries, the specific institutional and cultural context often shapes particular forms of contention. Empirically, we will focus on key regions including East and Southeast Asia as well as the domestic and international dimensions of activism. 3 hrs. lect. (Comparative Politics) CMP, NOA, SOA, SOC (O. Lewis)

              PSCI 0292 Political Communication (Fall 2022)

              How are media and communications technology re-shaping politics? From a global comparative perspective—ranging from the United States to Asia—this course will survey the historical development of communications, the role of media in shaping public opinion and behavior, the impact of new media, and the rise of transnational satellite TV. Conceptually, the course will assess the importance of communications for understanding authoritarianism, democracy, and foreign policy. We will develop general comparative frameworks for understanding the growing importance of communications in the information age, while clarifying the limitations of media for shaping polities. (This course is not open to students who have taken PSCI 0413) 3 hrs. lect. (Comparative Politics)/ CMP, NOA, SOC (O. Lewis)

              PSCI 0304 International Political Economy (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course examines the politics of global economic relations, focusing principally on the advanced industrial states. How do governments and firms deal with the forces of globalization and interdependence? And what are the causes and consequences of their actions for the international system in turn? The course exposes students to both classic and contemporary thinking on free trade and protectionism, exchange rates and monetary systems, foreign direct investment and capital movements, regional integration, and the role of international institutions like the WTO. Readings will be drawn mainly from political science, as well as law and economics. 3 hrs. lect./disc./(International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ SOC (Fall 2022: S. Stroup; Spring 2023: N. Chwalisz)
              Cross-listed as: IPEC 0304

              PSCI 0306 American Constitutional Law: The First Amendment (Fall 2022)

              This course focuses on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the first amendment freedoms of speech, press, and religion. After starting with the philosophic foundations of these first amendment freedoms (Mill, Locke), students will read the major Supreme Court decisions concerning these rights. Class assignments in the form of oral arguments and briefs and/or options will enable students to take the part of lawyers and judges. (Sophomores, juniors and seniors with PSCI 0102 or 0104 or 0205 or 0206 or 0305 or waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics)/ AMR, PHL (M. Dry)

              PSCI 0307 The Politics of Virtual Realities (Fall 2022)

              How has technology changed our politics? Are those changes all for the good? In this course we will explore the political, legal, and normative implications of the Internet for liberal democracy. We start with the US Constitution and explore arguments that it cannot by itself prevent the Internet from becoming a domain of manipulation rather than of freedom. How can we uphold the ideals of liberty and equality? And, since cyberspace has no country, whose laws should govern it? Cases will include President Obama's campaign and governance strategies, Google's activities abroad, cybersecurity, virtual war, and the WikiLeaks controversy. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ CW, SOC (A. Stanger)

              PSCI 0308 U. S. National Elections (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will analyze national elections in the United States. Topics covered will include party systems, electoral realignment, voting behavior and turnout, candidate strategy, the nomination process, the legal framework for elections, the Electoral College, gender, race and ethnicity, the media, the Internet, and U.S. elections in comparative perspective. Although the focus will be on the upcoming congressional and presidential contests, earlier elections will be studied for insight into continuity and change in American electoral politics. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics) AMR, SOC (M. Dickinson)

              PSCI 0314 Globalization, Terrorism, and Global Insurgency (Fall 2022)

              How does globalization change the nature of terrorism and create a global security environment characterized by a series of hybrid asymmetric threats? What are the connections between organizations, conflict regions, and the developed world? This course will focus on at least four modules that link aspects of globalization to global counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and counterproliferation policy: 1) migration, immigration, and the movement of people, 2) illicit international markets and financing, 3) global communications, and 4) the connections between international relations, foreign-policy, and political violence worldwide. Skill development will focus on policy evaluation and analysis, oral briefings, collaborative project management, and collaborative policy strategy papers. 3 hrs. sem. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ SOC (O. Lewis)

              PSCI 0325 Transitional Justice (Spring 2023)

              This course examines how democracies reckon with former authoritarian regimes and their legacies. Measures adopted to overcome the legacy of large-scale human rights
              violations include apologies, amnesties, trials of perpetrators, truth commissions as well as restorative justice. Case studies from Asia, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and the US help us understand the forces and factors that shape the difficult choices: to prosecute and punish versus to forgive and forget. Course readings supplemented by documentaries and fiction films illuminate the dilemmas societies confront to provide accountability for the victims, bystanders and perpetrators. (Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1283) 3 hrs. sem. (Comparative Politics)/
              CMP, SOC (M. Kraus)

              PSCI 0349 International Politics of the Middle East (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will study the evolution of the inter-state system in the Middle East. Using contemporary International Relations (IR) theories we will examine the influence of great powers, regional states, transnational movements, and regional organizations on state interests, ideology, religion, and the region's political economy. Questions to be addressed will include: which levels of analyses are most helpful in understanding the complexity of Middle East politics? Which of the IR theories--realist, liberal, or constructivist-- best explain inter-state relations in the region? What other approaches may be useful in this endeavor? 3 hrs. sem. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ MDE, SOC (S. Gumuscu)

              PSCI 0407 Who Elected Big Tech? (Fall 2022)

              There is public awareness that technology is delivering unprecedented opportunities while simultaneously undermining privacy, equity, and democratic values. An unprecedented shift in the balance of power between multinational industry and national governments has been a necessary condition for these new challenges. How else could a freely elected American president be silenced by Google, Twitter, and Facebook? How else could Facebook’s Instagram be exposed as knowingly causing harm to teenagers without government penalty? How did America reach the point where Big Tech has the capacity to mount foreign policies? What consequences for social justice follow from that transfer of power in a global economy of multinational companies and diverse workforces? By first exploring these questions together, students will be well prepared for pursuing independent research projects. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ AMR, SOC (A. Stanger)

              PSCI 0409 Political Philosophies of Cosmopolitan and Nationalism (Fall 2022)

              Political communities unite and divide human beings into separate groups. Can anything justify or explain these divisions? Is there a form best suited to human flourishing and happiness? To the scope of our moral and political obligations? To our identities as co-nationals, compatriots, or cosmopolitans? We will focus on theorists of the late Enlightenment: Smith, Rousseau, Herder, Kant, Fichte, Tocqueville, Mill, Mazzini, Acton, and Weber. We will also read more recent works by Rawls, Walzer, Beitz, Nussbaum, Scruton, and Manent and selections from the ancient Stoic tradition. (PSCI 0101 or 0204 or by waiver) 3 hrs sem. (Political Theory)/ CMP, EUR, PHL, SOC (D. Fram)

              PSCI 0422 Guns, Drugs, People: The Illicit Economy in the Global Perspective (Spring 2023)

              In this course, we will focus on patterns of illegal activity in the international economy. Students will study phenomena such as illegal trade in arms, animals, and drugs, and the trafficking and smuggling of human beings. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the systematic analysis of the illicit global economy. Students will be taught to examine the causes of illicit markets, the actors involved ( entrepreneurs, consumers, governments), and how markets respond to efforts to combat them. The objective is for students to understand the phenomenon and its drivers, and to translate this understanding into a critical evaluation of current policy approaches. (International Relations and Foreign Policy) CMP, SOC (N. Chwalisz)

              PSCI 0427 How Democracies Die (Fall 2022)

              After years of expansion since the end of the cold war, democracy now is in retreat. From young democracies in the developing world to bastions of liberal democracy in Western Europe and North America, democratic political systems are under mounting pressure. What are the fundamental features of this recession? What are the driving forces behind global democratic backsliding? Why do people support autocrats? In this course we will tackle these questions and discuss an array of factors that contribute to global democratic recession including the role of the political elite, failing institutions, eroding norms, and the role of ordinary people. In so doing we will delve deeper into economic and social causes of this decline. Our focus will span from global trends to individual cases such as Venezuela, Turkey, Hungary, India, the United States, and the Philippines. (Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1544) 3 hrs. Sem. (Comparative Politics)/ CMP, SOC (S. Gumuscu)
              Cross-listed as: IGST 0427

              PSCI 0429 Seminar on the U.S. Congress (Spring 2023)

              The U.S. Congress is the most powerful political institution in the nation, and one of the least popular. To understand why, this course examines theories of representation and how they relate to the contemporary Congress; the historical development and institutionalization of the Congress; the roles of parties, candidates, media, and money in Congressional elections; the legislative process, including roles of committees, interest groups, parties, congressional leaders, and presidents; the impact of representational and policy-making processes on the nature of legislation enacted by Congress; and Congress in comparative perspective. 3 hrs. sem. (American Politics)/ (M. Dickinson)

              PSCI 0431 African Government (Spring 2023)

              Sub-Saharan Africa has been described as being in a state of permanent crisis, a place where disorder and chaos reign and states are chronically weak. How do political systems form and thrive under such conditions? What accounts for their survival in the face of tremendous political, economic, and environmental challenges? We will investigate the distinctive characteristics of African political systems, the different governance models throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, and the types of public goods or public ills these systems have produced. We will also have the opportunity to more deeply appreciate the real-life consequences for displaced Africans through a service-learning component. 3 hrs. sem. (Comparative Politics)/ AAL, SAF (E. McMahon)

              PSCI 0443 The Media and the Marginalized (Fall 2022)

              In this course we will study major elements of media analysis such as gatekeeping, agenda-setting, priming, framing, media tone, and media effects. We will then review how these elements have been applied in coverage of marginalized groups in developed democracies such as the United States and those of Western Europe. We will focus on groups identified by immigration status, race or ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ status, and sex. Students will develop skills to interpret and analyze articles about marginalized groups in light of theories of media studies, culminating in a research project of their choice. 3 hrs. sem. (Comparative Politics) CMP, SOC (E. Bleich)

              PSCI 0450 Ethnic Conflict (Fall 2022)

              Experts regard ethnic divides as causing everything from nationalist violence to democratic breakdown to economic stagnation. In this course we will engage the most prominent recent and classic research into the relationship between ethnicity, conflict, and peace. Readings will include leading works in a wide variety of theoretical and empirical traditions, including comparative political science, rational choice, comparative history, sociology, and anthropology. Empirical material includes cases from many parts of the world. 3 hrs. sem. (Comparative Politics)/ SOC (A. Verghese)

              PSCI 0458 The U.S. Politics of Race, Gender, and Class (Fall 2022)

              Race, gender, and class have long shaped American politics. They have formed the basis for social movements, have structured institutions, and have affected the way political actors–from voters to activists to elected officials–have made their day-to-day decisions. What do political scientists know about the roles that race, gender, and class play in politics, separately and together, and what do we yet have to learn? (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104) 3 hrs. sem. (American Politics) /(Critical Race Feminisms) AMR, SOC (B. Johnson)
              Cross-listed as: GSFS 0458

              PSCI 0483 The Rise of Asia and US Policy (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will study what is arguably the most important strategic development of the 21st century: how the rise of Asia presents security challenges to the region and the United States. Drawing from international relations scholarship, the course will focus on foreign policy challenges and potential responses. These challenges include both traditional security and nontraditional areas such as water and the environment. We will integrate the analysis of these issues in South, East, and Southeast Asia with study of the policy process, in part through simulations and role-playing exercises. 3 hrs. sem. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/ CMP, NOA, SOC (J. Lunstead)
              Cross-listed as: IGST 0483

              PSCI 0500 Independent Projects (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              A program of independent work designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. (Approval required)

              PSCI 0700 Honors Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              (Approval required)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Psychology

              In keeping with this philosophy, the department offers a broad range of courses that provides students with the opportunity to learn about basic research and its applications in a variety of areas, including social, cognitive, behavioral, cultural, clinical, environmental, educational, biological, and developmental psychology.

              Requirements for the Major in Psychology

              The psychology major consists of a minimum of 10 courses in five categories: (I) Foundation courses, (II) Core courses, (III) Labs, (IV) Advanced seminars, and (V) Electives.      

              I. Foundation courses: The foundation courses provide students an overview of the field, the background, and the skills necessary to understand psychology as an empirical science. The required foundation courses are Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 0105) and the Statistics/Research Methods sequence (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202). Most students complete the Statistics/Research Methods sequence by the end of their sophomore year, but no later than the end of their junior year.

              II. Core courses: All students must complete at least three core courses, one each from three of the five areas below.  Core courses ensure that students have a broad understanding of various subfields within the discipline. Students are strongly encouraged to complete core courses no later than the end of their junior year.

              We offer core courses in the following areas:

              • Clinical:  Psychological Disorders (PSYC 0224)
              • Cognitive: Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 0227—formerly PSYC  0305) or Emotions (PSYC 0205)

              • Developmental: Adolescence (PSYC 0216) or Child Development (PSYC 0225)
              • Physiological: Brain and Behavior (PSYC 0226—formerly PSYC 0301)
              • Social/Personality:  Social Psychology (PSYC 0203) or Personality Psychology (PSYC 0204) or Cultural Psychology (PSYC 0220)

              III. Labs: All students must take at least one course with a lab section in addition to Psychological Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology. The lab course may also fulfill another course requirement simultaneously (e.g., a core or an elective course). Lab courses are designated as such in the course descriptions.

              IV. Advanced seminars: Each student must take one advanced seminar (0400-level course) in psychology.  Advanced seminars in psychology emphasize the synthesis and integration of theory; these may be taken during junior and/or senior years. 

              V. Electives: Finally, students must choose any three additional courses from the psychology curriculum, including winter term. In addition to regular content courses, PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, PSYC 0700, or the PSYC 0701/0702/0703 sequence may be used to satisfy one of the elective requirements.

              Requirements for the Minor in Psychology

              To earn a minor in psychology students need to complete five psychology courses, including the following:

              • PSYC 0105
              • Two foundation/core courses from among PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, PSYC 0203 (or PSYC 0204), PSYC 0205, PSYC 0216 (or PSYC 0225), PSYC 0224, PSYC 0226 (formerly PSYC 0301), and PSYC 0227 (formerly PSYC 0305)
              • Two electives (any fall, spring, or winter term PSYC courses; one of which can be PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, or PSYC 0700).

              Research Opportunities: There are options for students who are interested in conducting research in psychology. Students need permission from a faculty member prior to enrollment in these courses.  

              • Sophomores and Juniors may take Directed Research (PSYC 0350) or Advanced Research (PSYC 0500) under the supervision of a faculty member.
              • Seniors may choose to pursue Senior Research (PSYC 0700) or a Senior Thesis (PSYC 0701/0702/0703).  Senior Research and Senior Theses offer students the opportunity to further synthesize and integrate psychology theory and data by conducting research in collaboration with a faculty mentor.

              Students cannot take more than one psychology independent research course (PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, or PSYC 0700) per semester.

              Departmental Honors in Psychology

              Students who meet the department requirements may apply to the department to complete a senior honors thesis in psychology.  A thesis requires students to apply their skills and knowledge to the completion of a year-long empirical research project. Students intending to complete honors work are expected to submit a Thesis Intent Form by the stated deadline (early to mid-March) of their junior year. Therefore, students should consult with a faculty member before that deadline to actively begin planning their research. The psychology thesis requires three semesters (including Winter Term) of independent research. During the fall term of their senior year, candidates will enroll in PSYC 0701. During the winter and spring terms, after meeting the special requirements listed in the course description and being accepted into honors candidacy, they will enroll in PSYC 0702 and PSYC 0703, respectively (adjustments to this schedule will be made for students entering in February). A minimum GPA of 3.5 in psychology department courses is required for admission to honors candidacy. 
               

              Advanced Placement

              Students can bypass PSYC 0105 and move directly to a higher-level course if they earned a Psychology AP Examination score of 4 or 5, or earned a score of 6 or 7 on the IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level psychology exam. Students who achieved a score of 4 or 5 on the Psychology AP Examination can also earn course credit for PSYC 105 (for Middlebury College’s policy on the use of AP credits, see: http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/academic/records/ap).

              Students who wish to use an AP or IB score to bypass PSYC 105 must submit their Psychology AP or IB score to Middlebury prior to enrolling in a course with PSYC 105 as a pre-requisite. Psychology Department faculty will not provide waivers for courses with PSYC 105 as a pre-requisite based upon an AP or IB score that has not been submitted to the College.

              Beginning with students matriculating in the Fall of 2016, the department will not grant course credit for the Statistics AP Examination towards the major, the minor, or as an equivalent for PSYC 0201 (Psychological Statistics).

              Transfer Credits in Fulfillment of the Psychology Major and Minor

              Students may transfer no more than two psychology courses toward the major or minor while enrolled as a full time student at Middlebury. Students wishing to obtain approval to transfer more than two courses must petition the department in advance.

              Major in Neuroscience

              See the Neuroscience Program listing for a description of this major.

              Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Psychology

              See the Environmental Studies Program listing for a description of this major.

              Education Studies Minor with a Psychology Major

              Up to two of the Psychology courses required for the Education Studies minor may also be counted towards the Psychology major.

              PSYC 0105 Introduction to Psychology (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course will provide a general introduction to the field of psychology. The most central and important theories, concepts, findings, controversies, and applications in the following areas will be considered: biological bases of behavior, learning, perception, thinking, development, personality, psychological disorders, and social behavior. (Open to Juniors and Seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs lect./1 hr. disc. SOC (Fall 2022: J. Arndt, M. Collaer, C. Parker; Spring 2023: M. Kimble, K. Cronise, M. Collaer, G. Thomas)

              PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Fall 2022

              Psychological Statistics
              This course will examine statistical methods used in the behavioral and biological sciences. Students will learn the logic underlying statistical analysis, focusing primarily on inferential techniques. They also will become familiar with the application and interpretation of statistics in psychological empirical research, including the use of computer software for conducting and interpreting statistical analyses. (PSYC 0105; open to psychology and neuroscience majors and undeclared majors, others by waiver. Not open to students who have taken MATH 0116 or ECON 0210) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hr. lab
              DED (M. Dash, S. Gurland)

              Spring 2023

              Psychological Statistics
              This course will examine statistical methods used in the behavioral and biological sciences. Students will learn the logic underlying statistical analysis, focusing primarily on inferential techniques. They also will become familiar with the application and interpretation of statistics in psychological empirical research, including the use of computer software for conducting and interpreting statistical analyses. (PSYC 0105; open to psychology and neuroscience majors, others by waiver. Not open to students who have taken MATH 0116 or ECON 0210) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hr. lab
              DED (M. Dash, M. Collaer)

              PSYC 0202 Research Methods in Psychology (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              This course will provide students with an understanding of the research methodology used by psychologists. Students will learn to read psychological studies and other related research as informed consumers. Students will collect, analyze, and interpret data during lab assignments. They will also design an empirical study, review the related literature, and write a formal APA-style research proposal. (PSYC 0105 and PSYC 0201 or MATH 0116 or ECON 0210; not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hr. lab CW, DED (Fall 2022: M. Kimble, R. Moeller; Spring 2023: J. Arndt, M. Seehuus)

              PSYC 0203 Social Psychology (Spring 2023)

              Social psychology is the study of how social situations affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals. This course will provide an overview of social psychological theory and research findings, as well as reviewing the ways in which these findings are applied to the study of issues such as aggression, close relationships, prejudice, and altruism. Students will also learn about the research methods that social psychologists use to test their theories. (PSYC 0105; open to Psychology majors and undeclared majors only; open to seniors by waiver only; ) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (C. Velez, S. Fenstermacher)

              PSYC 0205 Emotions (Spring 2023)

              Emotions inform thoughtful decisions, but also prompt knee-jerk reactions that make us appear irrational at times. They inspire and dissuade us at both conscious and unconscious levels. They evolved to trigger self-protective responses, but their dark side fuels self-destructive behaviors as well. In this course we will discuss what emotions are, where they come from, how individual emotions differ, and whether or not everyone experiences emotions the same way. We will also explore how appreciating the complexities of emotions might improve emotion regulation and interpersonal dynamics. Topics to be considered will include biological, socio-cultural, clinical, and cognitive theories of emotion. (PSYC 105, open to Psychology and Neuroscience majors only, other by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (K. Cronise)

              PSYC 0206 Brain Plasticity (Fall 2022)

              Starting in early development and continuing throughout your lifespan, your experiences will restructure your brain and thereby change who you are! We will explore the foundations of brain plasticity through the investigation of brain development, memory and memory systems, and the neurobiology of memory. Our understanding of brain plasticity will be applied to better understand how plasticity can be harnessed to improve cognition and alleviate a variety of brain disorders. Our exploration will be informed by authors, and artists portrayals of memory, scientific literature, and clinical case studies. (PSYC 0105 or any BIOL course; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (M. Dash)
              Cross-listed as: NSCI 0206

              PSYC 0216 Adolescence (Spring 2023)

              This course is designed to provide an overview of adolescent development, including the biological, cognitive, and social transitions of individuals during this period of life. Development also takes place in context, and we will pay particular attention to the role of family, peer group, school, work, and culture. Students will read research literature, as well as cases, in order to examine the central psychological issues of this developmental period, including identity, autonomy, intimacy, sexuality, and achievement. (PSYC 0105; open to Psychology majors and undeclared majors only; open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. SOC (R. Moeller)

              PSYC 0220 Cultural Psychology (Fall 2022)

              Historically, much psychological research has focused on the United States and has aimed to interpret human psychological processes without reference to their cultural contexts. Cultural psychology, by contrast, holds that culture is essential for human psychology as we know it. The goal of this course is to understand that premise. Drawing on new research insights from around the globe, we will explore cross-cultural variations in psychological functioning from emotions, cognitions, and perceptions, to development, personality, and mental health. We will analyze where cultural variations come from, how the mind becomes enculturated, and the sense in which human nature is cultural. (PSYC 0105, seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs lecture CMP, SOC (G. Thomas)

              PSYC 0224 Psychological Disorders (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Fall 2022

              Psychological Disorders
              What makes an individual “abnormal”? Under what circumstances do mental health professionals classify emotions, thoughts, or behaviors as “disordered”? In this course, we will explore these questions with attention to their historical, theoretical, ethical, and diagnostic implications. We will investigate various classes of disorders, like anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders, with a focus on their causes and treatments. Throughout, we will aim to appreciate the complexities and uncertainties surrounding diagnosis, and to recognize and challenge common assumptions about psychological disorders. In addition to lecture, the course will include discussions of current and controversial topics, and occasional demonstrations, analysis of clinical case material, and/or role plays. (PSYC 0105; open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.
              SOC (M. Seehuus)

              Spring 2023

              Psychological Disorders
              What makes an individual “abnormal”? Under what circumstances do mental health professionals classify emotions, thoughts, or behaviors as “disordered”? In this course, we will explore these questions with attention to their historical, theoretical, ethical, and diagnostic implications. We will investigate various classes of disorders, like anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders, with a focus on their causes and treatments. Throughout, we will aim to appreciate the complexities and uncertainties surrounding diagnosis, and to recognize and challenge common assumptions about psychological disorders. In addition to lecture, the course will include discussions of current and controversial topics, and occasional demonstrations, analysis of clinical case material, and/or role plays. (PSYC 0105; open to Psychology majors and undeclared majors only; open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.
              SOC (S. Gurland)

              PSYC 0225 Child Development (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Fall 2022

              Child Development
              In this course, we will examine the nature of developmental change from the prenatal period through middle childhood. Our critical examination of developmental processes will invite us to consider various theoretical perspectives (e.g., learning, cognitive, biological, contextual) across various domains of development (i.e., physical, social-emotional, and cognitive). We will address major themes in developmental psychology, such as the interrelatedness of development across domains, the contributions of nature and nurture, and the relative continuity versus discontinuity of developmental change. Throughout, we will practice applying developmental principles to practical settings, policy issues, and topics of current interest. (PSYC 0105; open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect.
              SOC (S. Gurland)

              Spring 2023

              Child Development
              In this course, we will examine the nature of developmental change from the prenatal period through middle childhood. Our critical examination of developmental processes will invite us to consider various theoretical perspectives (e.g., learning, cognitive, biological, contextual) across various domains of development (i.e., physical, social-emotional, and cognitive). We will address major themes in developmental psychology, such as the interrelatedness of development across domains, the contributions of nature and nurture, and the relative continuity versus discontinuity of developmental change. Throughout, we will practice applying developmental principles to practical settings, policy issues, and topics of current interest. (PSYC 0105; open to Psychology majors and undeclared majors only; open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect.
              SOC (G. Thomas)

              PSYC 0226 Brain and Behavior (Fall 2022)

              Activity within our brains provides the basis for our thoughts and behavior. Brain activity and behavior are dynamic processes subject to temporary changes (e.g. emotional states, attention, sleep/wake cycles, and sensations) and lasting modifications (e.g. development, language, personality, memory, and therapeutic treatments). In this course, we will explore brain mechanisms that produce complex behaviors and examine the contributions of brain activity to psychological and neurodegenerative disorders. Depending on the semester, the lecture will be paired with either a lab or a discussion section. During the additional section, we will develop our understanding of brain structure, probe our own brain activity, and/or investigate how chemical changes alter animal behavior in predictable ways. (PSYC 0105; open to psychology majors; others by waiver. Not open to students required to take NSCI 0252) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab OR 3 hrs. lect./1 hr disc SCI (K. Cronise)

              PSYC 0227 Cognitive Psychology (Spring 2023)

              Questions about the nature of the mind, thinking, and knowledge have a long and rich history in the field of psychology. This course will examine the theoretical perspectives and empirically documented phenomena that inform our current understanding of cognition. Lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and experiments will form the basis for our explorations of cognition in this class. Topics to be considered include attention, perception, memory, knowledge, problem solving, and decision making. (PSYC 0105; PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202 recommended; not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver. Not open to students who have taken PSYC 0305) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs. lab. SCI (J. Arndt)
              Cross-listed as: NSCI 0227

              PSYC 0307 Human Sexuality (Spring 2023)

              In this course we will discuss the biological, psychological, behavioral, and cultural aspects of human sexuality, starting with a review of anatomy, physiology and function. We will use current research findings to inform discussions of topics such as arousal and desire, relationships, sexual orientation, consent, pornography, and compulsive sexual behavior. We will look at how issues like contraception, sexuality, and sexually transmitted diseases have influenced and been influenced by their cultural context. (Two psychology courses; not open to first year students; open to Psychology and GSFS majors) 3 hrs. lect. (M. Seehuus)

              PSYC 0309 Psychopharmacology (Fall 2022)

              This course will examine ways in which drugs act on the brain to influence behavior. Students will learn the basics of brain function, will learn basic properties of drug action, and will learn how legal and illegal drugs, including drugs used to treat psychological disorders, alter the brain function and behavior of humans and experimental animals. (PSYC 0226 or PSYC 0301 or BIOL 0370 or NSCI 0252; not open to first-year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (M. Collaer)
              Cross-listed as: NSCI 0309

              PSYC 0312 Child Therapy: Theory and Practice (Spring 2023)

              For well over fifty years, therapists have been using play and other therapies to understand and relieve psychological distress in children. Do these therapies work? If so, how and for whom? In this course we will critically examine the theoretical underpinnings of therapies with children, weigh the research evidence supporting their effectiveness in treating a range of diagnoses, and explore issues at the intersection of theory and practice. Our work will be guided by theoretical and empirical texts, as well as videotaped and potentially mock or live simulated or actual therapeutic sessions that students will observe, conduct, and/or critique. (PSYC 0216 or PSYC 0224 or PSYC 0225; Open to Psychology majors only) 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs lab. SOC (S. Gurland)

              PSYC 0317 Biobehavioral Addiction (Fall 2022)

              Addiction is a pervasive disorder affecting society on a global scale. To understand this complex disorder, addictions are studied from the basic neural mechanisms, such as how neurons respond to addictive substances, to psychological factors and how they protect or increase risk. In this course we will examine the principles of substance addictions, emerging behavioral addictions (internet/gaming, problem-gambling), and underlying mechanisms that drive addiction. Topics include neural pathways of addictive substances, brain functional and structural changes, theories of motivation, neuropsychological risk factors, and modern prevention and treatment. Psychology and neuroscience students will bring their relative expertise to the class for thoughtful review of the literature.(PSYC 0105; not open to first year students; open to psychology and neuroscience majors; others by waiver) 3 hrs. lect. SCI (Z. Zhai)
              Cross-listed as: NSCI 0317

              PSYC 0320 Social and Emotional Development (Fall 2022)

              In this course students will explore current research and theory on the interrelated domains of social and emotional development from infancy through adulthood. Families and peers serve as the primary relationships for children’s and adolescents’ socialization, and relationships will be explored to further understand how they influence emotion regulation, adaptation to stressful life events, and intrapersonal conflicts. Emphasis will be placed on the role of context and culture in the formation of social and emotional competencies and experiences. We will explore the theory and practice of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula to enhance individuals’ social and emotional skills. (PSYC 0105; PSYC 0216 or PSYC 0225; not open to first-year students; open to Psychology majors, others by waiver). 3 hrs. lect./1.5 hrs lab. SOC (R. Moeller)

              PSYC 0322 Forensic Psychology and Criminal Behavior (Fall 2022)

              This course will provide students with an introduction to the field of forensic psychology through the in-depth study of criminal behavior.Topics will include developmental factors for criminality, risk assessment and dangerousness, psychopathy, criminal profiling (with a focus on perpetrators of serious crimes), extremism and terrorism, and victimology and treatment.The material will be considered from a range of theoretical perspectives. We will read books, chapters, articles, and direct source material, and watch a few films. The class will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and student presentations. Students will have opportunities to focus on areas of specific interest. Not open to students who have taken PSYC 1030.This course will count as a PSYC elective. SOC (J. Nelson)

              PSYC 0323 Children and Families Living with Illness: Psychological, Spiritual, and Cultural Perspectives (Fall 2022)

              Over the course of a lifetime, most people are confronted with their own illness or the illness of a loved one. How do children and families cope with illness? How do they make meaning of their experiences? How do their spiritual and cultural beliefs impact their care and their views on healing? We will examine developmental, psychological, cultural and spiritual issues confronting children and families living with acute, chronic, and life-threatening illnesses. We will explore the psychological and spiritual interventions provided to children & families. Writings, artwork and videotaped interviews will be used to illustrate varied perspectives on illness and healing. This course counts as elective credit towards the Psychology major. (PSYC 0105) (Not open to students who have already taken PSYC 1003.) SOC (L. Basili)

              PSYC 0350 Directed Research in Psychology (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Directed research provides opportunities for advanced students to become familiar with and participate in ongoing research projects under the direction of a faculty member. The student will first read background literature on the content area to be investigated and experimental methodologies to be used. Procedures involved in conducting psychological research will then be learned through firsthand experience. Potential activities include the design of research and the defining of conceptual variables and the gathering, analyzing, and interpretation of data. Finally, students will learn how to write technical articles in psychology by preparing a paper describing the project, using APA style. (Approval required; not open to first-year students) 3 hrs. lect. (Fall 2022: J. Arndt, M. Collaer, K. Cronise, M. Seehuus, S. Gurland, B. Hofer, M. Kimble, C. Parker, M. McCauley, M. Dash, C. Velez, G. Thomas, R. Moeller, A. DiBianca Fasoli, J. Sellers; Spring 2023: J. Arndt, G. Thomas, M. Collaer, K. Cronise, M. Seehuus, S. Gurland, B. Hofer, M. Kimble, A. DiBianca Fasoli, M. McCauley, M. Dash, C. Velez, R. Moeller, C. Parker, Z. Zhai)

              PSYC 0353 Social Neuroscience (Fall 2022)

              Social neuroscience integrates neuroscientific and psychological approaches to enrich our understanding of human social behavior. The field is concerned with how we recognize, understand, and interact with each other in social settings. We will explore how the brain processes (and is shaped by) social/emotional information and how it gives rise to our physiological, cognitive, and behavioral repertoires of social responses. Topics include: theories and methods of social neuroscience research, the brain bases of social processes such as the self, person perception, social affiliation, rejection and conflict, social cognition, group dynamics, emotions, and cultural neuroscience. (not open to students who have taken PSYC/NSCI 0437) (PSYC 0226 or PSYC 228 or NSCI 0252; Open to psychology or neuroscience majors only, others by approval) 3 hrs lect. SCI, SOC (K. Cronise)
              Cross-listed as: NSCI 0353

              PSYC 0413 Approaches to Clinical Psychology: Theory and Practice (Fall 2022)

              What are the major theoretical orientations of clinical psychology, and how does each view the domains of thinking, behavior, free will, psychopathology, and treatment? In this discussion-based course, we will explore cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, behaviorist, existential, and other approaches to clinical psychology. Each has its own emphasis; some focus on symptoms, while others teach emotional tolerance or address unconscious drives. Using philosophy, theory, evidence, and case examples, we will explore similarities and differences among the major orientations and consider their consequences for researchers, therapists, and society at large. (PSYC 0224 recommended; open to junior/senior psychology majors; others by waiver.) 3 hrs. sem. (M. Seehuus)

              PSYC 0423 Nature, Technology, and the Self (Fall 2022)

              Modern humans are entangled in the intersection of three domains: the natural world, digital technology, and our psychological sense of “self.” How does each domain affect the other? Are these effects positive or negative? In this seminar we draw on recent research examining how nature, and social media/ internet usage impact us cognitively, neurologically, socially, and emotionally. Further, we explore how digital devices can inhibit or facilitate engagement with the natural world, combining critical inquiry with experiential methods such as digital detox, forest bathing, self-observation, nature apps, and citizen science. (Open to psychology majors only, others by waiver). 3 hrs sem SOC (G. Thomas)

              PSYC 0434 Genes, Brain, and Behavior (Spring 2023)

              What we experience—and how we experience it—is influenced by our unique combination of genes. For better or worse, the gene variants we inherit from our parents contribute to our predispositions to psychological disorders, our personalities, and even the way in which we perceive the world around us. To be clear, anything that you can do or think is in some way influenced by your genes. However, this statement comes with a large caveat: except in the case of (relatively) rare single gene mutations, your genes do not determine but rather contribute to who you are. Working within the field of behavior genetics, we will cover topics such as social behavior, sexual promiscuity, drug abuse, language, intelligence, and psychopathology. (PSYC 0226 or BIOL 0145 or NSCI 0251; Open to junior and senior psychology or neuroscience majors only, others by approval) 3 hrs. sem. SCI (C. Parker)

              PSYC 0439 Resilience (Spring 2023)

              Adversity and challenge are part of the human condition. Why is it that some individuals struggle in the face of difficulty and others seem to rise to the occasion? What are the psychological factors that play a role in these very different outcomes? The goal of this course is to have students examine and present on self-chosen topics of interest that expand our understanding of resilience and interpersonal growth during adversity. An emphasis will be placed on providing an integrated model of resilience that includes biological, developmental, cultural, and social perspectives. (Open to Psychology and Neuroscience majors) 3 hrs. sem. SOC (M. Kimble)

              PSYC 0500 Advanced Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              A program of research arranged to meet the needs of advanced students majoring in psychology. (Approval required)

              PSYC 0700 Senior Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              A program of research arranged to meet the needs of advanced senior majors in psychology. (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202; Approval required)

              PSYC 0701 Senior Thesis Proposal (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Students hoping to be considered as candidates for departmental honors must enroll in PSYC 0701 under the sponsorship of a department faculty member and submit a formal, written research proposal to the department by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday during the final week of fall classes in their senior year. If the proposal is approved, the student will enroll in PSYC 0702 during the winter term and PSYC 0703 during the spring term of their senior year. (Feb graduates should consult with their advisors about the appropriate semester in which to begin a thesis.) (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202; Approval required)

              PSYC 0702 Senior Thesis Second Semester (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Students whose honors thesis proposal (PSYC 0701) has been approved will collect, analyze, and interpret their data. This is the second semester of the 3-semester senior thesis. (PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, and PSYC 0701; Approval required)

              PSYC 0703 Senior Thesis (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

              Senior Thesis*
              This is the third and final semester of the senior thesis. Students will finish analyzing, and interpreting their data. This process culminates in a written thesis to be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday BEFORE the final week of spring classes, a presentation, and an oral defense. The decision about awarding departmental honors will be made after the student submits the thesis. (PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, and PSYC 0702; Approval required)
              ↑ Top

              Department of Religion

              Requirements for the Major

              The Religion major allows students to concentrate in a variety of sub-fields within the larger field of the study of religion. These sub-fields can be based on traditions, geographical areas, or themes.

              While the plausibility of concentrating in a given sub-field depends on the availability of expert faculty members therein, the department currently offers the following concentrations: 

              • Traditions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. 
              • Geographical areas, such as South Asia, East Asia, and the Americas.
              • Themes, such as religion and politics, mysticism, ethics, and sacred texts.

              Students are encouraged to consult with faculty members to explore other options or combinations thereof.

              Eleven Courses

              The major will consist of at least eleven courses, including no more than one winter term course, distributed as follows:

              • A primary concentration of five coursesa four course concentration in a specific sub-field plus a senior project or thesis, RELI 0700, RELI 0701, related to that sub-field. The courses must include a 0100 level course and a 0300 level seminar that focus in that concentration.
              • RELI 0400, Seminar on the Study of Religion
              • distribution of five other courses elected by the student in close consultation with his/her adviser, subject to the following provisions:

              (1) Majors must make sure that they have had exposure to a variety of different religious traditions (for example, Asian and Western) as well as a variety of methodological approaches to the study of religion (for example, historical, sociological, anthropological, or philosophical).

              (2) Majors must take at least one 0300 seminar outside their primary sub-field of concentration within the religion department.

              (3) In the absence of a suitable 0100 level course in a given concentration, Reli0100 (Introduction to Religion) will satisfy this requirement.

              (4) In unusual circumstances, and with the prior approval of the instructor and the chair of the department, certain 0200 level courses can count as a 0300 level seminar for the purpose of satisfying major requirements.

              Important note: Students should consult closely with faculty advisors to determine which courses in the department satisfy a given concentration. The chair of the department, in consultation with the student’s advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward departmental requirements.

              Joint Major

              Please note: the chair of the department must approve each joint major proposal. For the Religion component of a joint major, a student will complete seven courses:

              • primary concentration of four courses in one sub-field plus a senior project or thesis related to that sub-field as well as the other major. These courses will include a 0100-level course and a 0300-level seminar that focus in that concentration.
              • RELI 0400. Seminar on the Study of Religion
              • Two electives, chosen to ensure exposure to a variety of different religious traditions (for example, Asian and Western) as well as a variety of methodological approaches to the study of religion (for example, historical, sociological, anthropological or philosophical).

              In addition, the student will complete a senior project or thesis, RELI 0700, RELI 0701, utilizing the expertise of both majors.

              Religion Minor

              The Religion minor will consist of at least five courses, three of which will focus in a single concentration. One of the courses in the focus must be a seminar at the 0300-level or above.

              The Minor in Jewish Studies

              Refer to Jewish Studies for description.

              The Minor in Hebrew

              Refer to Hebrew for description.

              Departmental Honors

              Graduation with departmental honors requires at least a B+ in courses counted toward the major. Students who meet this threshold and receive an A- or A on their senior project will be awarded Honors. Students who meet the course grade threshold and write a thesis will be eligible for Honors if the thesis grade is at least a B+, and High Honors if the thesis grade is an A- or A. Highest Honors will be reserved for students who earn at least an A- in courses counted toward the major and an A on the thesis. 

                RELI 0100 Introduction to Religion (Fall 2022)

                Why is religion a significant element in human life and affairs? What roles does religion play in the lives of individuals and communities? And what is religion anyway? Drawing on Western and Asian traditions, we will take a comparative approach to these questions, examining how religious traditions can differ and converge. Throughout the course, we will introduce the basic vocabulary and analytical tools of the academic study of religion. We will also consider how both scholars and practitioners make sense of religion and debate its role in societies past and present. 3 hrs. lect./disc CMP, PHL (J. Ortegren, R. Schine)

                RELI 0121 Buddhist Traditions in India (Fall 2022)

                An introduction to the development of Indian Buddhist thought, practice, and institutions. The course will begin with an examination of the life of the Buddha and the formation of the early tradition. It will then explore developments from early Nikaya Buddhism, through the rise of the Mahayana, and culminating in Tantric Buddhism. Attention will be given throughout to parallel evolutions of doctrine, practice, and the path to Nirvana. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL, SOA (W. Waldron)

                RELI 0123 The Buddhist Tradition in East Asia (Spring 2023)

                An introduction to the development of Buddhism within the East Asian cultural sphere of China, Korea, and Japan. We will consider continuities of thought, institution, and practice with the Indian Buddhist tradition as well as East Asian innovations, particularly the rise of the Chan/Zen and Pure Land schools. (Follows RELI 0121 but may be taken independently) 3 hrs. lect./disc. NOA, PHL (E. Morrison)

                RELI 0130 The Global Christian Tradition (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will study the historical development and current presence of Christianity in various regions of the world. Beginning with its origins in the Middle East, we will trace the growth and evolution of this complex tradition in the Mediterranean, Africa, western Europe, the Americas, and East Asia. Along the way, we will encounter important Christian thinkers, discover different schools of belief and practice, and focus on foundational theological themes, like the divinity of Christ, the function and authority of the church, Christian-Jewish relations, and religious perspectives on gender, race, politics, and modernity. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, HIS, PHL (J. Davis)

                RELI 0140 Hindu Traditions of India (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will identify and examine key themes and issues in the study of Hindu religious traditions in India, beginning with the defining of the terms Hinduism, religions, and religious. We will primarily focus on the ways Hindu religious traditions—texts, narratives, and practices—are performed, received, and experienced in India. Essential aspects of Hindu religious traditions will be examined, including: key concepts (darsan, dharma, karma and caste), key texts (the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana), and major religious deities (Shiva, Devi and Vishnu). The course will also cover contemporary Hindu-Muslim encounters, and the emerging shape of Hinduism in the American diaspora. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL, SOA (J. Ortegren)

                RELI 0150 The Islamic Traditions (Fall 2022)

                What is Islam? Is it a religion, a way of life, a civilization, or a political ideology? Was Muhammad a political leader, a warrior, or an ascetic? What is the Qur’an? How did it develop as a sacred text and how does it compare to the Bible? This course is designed to provide a platform for us to explore such questions by focusing on historical, social, and intellectual developments in the wide swath of land known as the Muslim world. Special attention will be given to early developments of the Islamic community as well as the later response of different Muslim communities to modernity. 3 hrs. lect./disc MDE, PHL (A. Anzali)

                RELI 0160 Jewish Traditions (Fall 2022)

                “Traditions” are not static, but a constant interplay between continuity and creativity. What do classical Jewish texts (Bible, Rabbinic literature) tell us about Judaism’s origins? How have the core concepts and practices of Judaism morphed into a cluster of traditions that has endured over two millennia? With these questions in mind, we will study central ideas in Jewish thought, rituals, and their transformations, culminating in individual projects involving the investigation a contemporary movement, congregation or trend in contemporary Jewish life, e.g. Reform, Reconstructionism, mystical (neo-Kabbalistic) revivals, or “secular” Judaism. 3 hrs. lect./disc. HIS, PHL (S. Goldman)
                Cross-listed as: JWST 0160

                RELI 0170 American Religion (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will explore religion in the Americas with a focus on the United States. Relying on a metaphor from linguistics, we will trace how an American religious “grammar” emerged from colonial contact zones and then assess how capitalism, denominationalism, and secularism shaped that grammar during the ensuing centuries. Extending the metaphor, we will seek to understand how different actors “spoke” American religion to shape society, make sense of the world, and harness natural and supernatural power. We will cover American variations on the traditions of Buddhism, indigenous religion, Christianity, African diasporic religion, folk spirituality, and Islam. 3 hrs lect, 1 hr. disc. AMR, HIS, PHL (J. Doran)

                RELI 0180 An Introduction to Biblical Literature (Spring 2023)

                This course is a general introduction to biblical history, literature, and interpretation. It is designed for students who seek a basic understanding of the Bible on its own or as a foundation for further study in religion, art, literature, film, and other disciplines. It aims to acquaint students with the major characters, narratives, poetry, and compositional features of biblical literature and how these writings became Jewish and Christian scriptures. The course will also explore various approaches to reading the Bible, both religious and secular. 3 hrs. lect./disc. LIT, PHL (E. Lim)

                RELI 0201 Religion and Violence (Spring 2023)

                “Religion and violence” exists at the knotty intersection between politics, identity, and culture. A critical understanding of how and why religion has been employed to explain or justify violence is essential to becoming a responsible citizen of the world. In this course we will explore the complex relationship between religion, political economy, and violence from a global perspective. Our goal will be to deconstruct popular preconceptions of religion and violence, locate the variety of social structures that induce violence, and to develop a critical apparatus for understanding what is at stake when religion and violence intersect. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc AMR, CMP, PHL, SOC (J. Doran)

                RELI 0207 Buddhism in the Modern World (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will survey and analyze Buddhist traditions around the world, from the mid-19th century to the present. We will begin by examining traditional Buddhist cultures in Asia—their teachings, practices, and social and political organizations—and then analyze how they have variously responded to the challenges of colonialism, nationalism, science, individualism, and democracy. We will examine how these led to the assumptions underlying ‘Buddhist Modernism’ both in Asia and the West. Materials will include texts and films on traditional Buddhism, historical, social, and intellectual analyses of its transformations, as well as narratives of individuals’ lives. 3 hrs. lect. CMP, NOA, PHL, SOA (W. Waldron)

                RELI 0210 Mindfulness: Buddhism and Science (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will be examining the practice of mindfulness. Students will learn about traditional Buddhist meditation, how to analyze original sources in translation, and to assess ways that religious traditions are transformed in the modern era. We will look at the origins and aims of mindfulness in traditional Asian Buddhism, see how it came to the West, and examine the processes of secularization and psychologization that led to its popularization. We will read Buddhist primary sources in translation, trace its history from colonial Myanmar through India to the contemporary West, examine its development in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, and its proliferation in various institutions within the United States. We will read scientific studies examining its psychological benefits and watch some films about it. (Students who have completed RELI 0209 are not eligible to take RELI 0210) CMP, PHL, SOA (W. Waldron)

                RELI 0221 Early Daoist Texts (Fall 2022)

                The two great early Daoist (Taoist) texts, the Daodejing (Tao te ching) and the Zhuangzi (Chuang–tzu)/, date from the Warring States period (475 -221 BCE) of China and remain widely read and studied. We will read them closely and slowly, considering questions of authorship, audience, philosophical and religious content, and translation. We will wrestle at length with these wonderful and difficult texts, with attention primarily to their original context and secondarily to their reception and interpretation in later religion, philosophy, and literature in East Asia and beyond. (This is a half credit course.) (E. Morrison)

                RELI 0225 Chinese Religions (Spring 2023)

                An introduction to the rich religious history of China, with an emphasis on primary sources. Topics will include: the ideas and practices of ancient China, the teachings of Confucius and early Taoist (Daoist) thinkers, the introduction of Buddhism to China and its adaptation to Chinese culture, the complex interaction of Buddhism with the Confucian and Taoist traditions, the role of the state in religion, the "popular" Chinese religion of local gods and festivals, and the religious scene in modern Taiwan and mainland China. 3 hrs. lect. NOA, PHL (E. Morrison)

                RELI 0238 Literature and the Mystical Experience (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will explore how narrative art articulates spiritual perception by examining selected works of 20th century writers such as Miguel De Unamuno, Nikos Kazantzakis, J. D. Salinger, Charles Williams, Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Merton, Alice Munroe, Marilynne Robinson, and Annie Dillard. Drawing on theology and philosophy as an interpretative mode, we will consider the following questions: How does literature illuminate selfhood and interiority? How do contemplation and ascetic practice guide the self to divine knowledge and cosmic unification? How do language, imagery and symbols shape the unitive experience as a tool for empathy and understanding of the other? 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. AMR, LIT, PHL (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
                Cross-listed as: CMLT 0238

                RELI 0242 The Arabian Nights—Storytelling, Orientalism, and Islamic Culture (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will study the great medieval classic The Arabian Nights or The Thousand and One Nights Entertainment. Compiled in Egypt and Syria in the 14th century and translated into French and other European languages in the 17th and 18th centuries, this “ocean story” has had a profound effect on the development of the literatures of both the Middle East and the West. The incorporation of ‘Arabian Nights’ motifs in European art and orientalist discourse will be central in our enquiry. (Formerly RELI 1038) (Not open to students who have already taken RELI 1038.) CMP, LIT, MDE (S. Goldman)

                RELI 0251 Greek Religion (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will examine the religious experience of the Greeks in all its complexity and variety. Drawing on literary sources (e.g. Homer, Hesiod, tragedy, and comedy, among others) and archaeological evidence, we will study the Greek views of the gods as these emerge from both mythical narratives and cult practice. We will explore the Greek ideas of personal salvation, but also the importance of religious festivals for the community of the polis. Finally, while looking at ancient philosophical critiques of the traditional gods, we will trace the transition to Christianity and we will compare the sacred in Greek culture with the place of religion in our own society. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. EUR, HIS, PHL (P. Sfyroeras)
                Cross-listed as: CLAS 0251 *

                RELI 0255 Reading Islamic Sacred Texts (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will read selections from texts considered “sacred” by a variety of Muslim communities. Emphasis will be on in depth and slow reading of the texts and understanding how and why they have come to be held at such high esteem by relevant Muslim communities. Through our discussions about these texts, we will try to re-examine the dominant notions of what constitutes a “religion,” particularly what constitutes “Islam.” Readings will include selections from the Qur’an and the biography of Prophet Muhammad, sayings/biography of Muslim saints and mystical poetry, theological and philosophical treatises, and more. (This is a half credit course) (A. Anzali)

                RELI 0264 Jews and Christians: Conflict and Identity (Fall 2022)

                “Urging a Jew to convert to Christianity is like advising a person to move upstairs while demolishing the ground floor.” This quip by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786) epitomizes Christianity’s conflicted attitude to its Jewish origin, affirming it while rejecting it. Yet the relationship is not symmetrical, for the very reason that Judaism precedes Christianity. In this course we examine the fraught relationship between Christians and Jews from antiquity to the present. Readings include Church Fathers, rabbinic texts, polemics, theologians, as well as the Catholic declarations of Vatican II and modern interfaith dialogue. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CMP, CW (12 seats), EUR, HIS, PHL (R. Schine)

                RELI 0273 Religion and Capitalism (Fall 2022)

                Joseph Schumpeter described capitalism as animated by a perennial gale of creative destruction. While he was referring to its capacity to create and destroy industries, capitalism has had the same effect on social worlds. From those tumultuous worlds, a diverse array of religious practices, beliefs, and sentiments have likewise flourished and decayed. This course explores the relationship between global capitalism and religion in the modern period. Anchored in a comparison between Brazil and the United States, we will explore how religious traditions have encountered the world transformed by capitalism as well as the religious dimensions of capitalism itself. 3 hours lect./disc. AMR, CMP, PHL (J. Doran)

                RELI 0275 Religion, Culture, and Politics in Iran (Spring 2023)

                The Islamic revolution of 1979, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, propelled Iran to the position of the arch-nemesis of the United States in the region. As a result of hostile media coverage, there are many misconceptions that pervade our understanding of post-revolutionary Iranian society. In this course we will try to offer a more nuanced understanding by looking deeper into the history of Iran beginning from the era of the early Islamic conquests. A focus of the course will be examining the intersection of religion, culture, and politics in the early modern, modern, and finally, contemporary Iranian society. MDE, PHL, SOC (A. Anzali)

                RELI 0283 Gender and Sexuality in the Bible (Fall 2022)

                What does the Bible say about sex, marriage, and homosexuality? While many people claim “the” biblical perspective on this question, the Bible offers various–often complicated–stories and teachings about gender and sexuality. In this course, we will closely read key biblical passages concerning God’s gender, marriage and divorce, family life, sexual violence, women’s social status, asceticism, and sexual orientation. Special attention will be paid to the ancient Mediterranean sociocultural milieu within which ancient Israelites and early Christians constructed their ideas and practices about sex and gender. We will ultimately ask: how might our nuanced understanding of gender and sexuality in the Bible inform contemporary debates on sexual difference, gender inequality, and sexuality and social leadership? 3 hrs. lect. CMP, LIT, PHL (E. Lim)

                RELI 0285 Historical Jesus and the Gospels (Fall 2022)

                Who was Jesus of Nazareth? How does the historical Jesus differ from Jesus Christ in the Gospels? In this course we will explore how early Christians remembered Jesus and developed traditions about him. We will read both canonical (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and non-canonical (e.g., Thomas, Mary, Peter) Gospels within their historical and literary contexts, focusing on Judaism, the Roman Empire, and Greco–Roman cultures. We will then examine the critical approaches modern scholars take to reconstruct the historical Jesus’ life. By comparing diverse portraits of Jesus both in ancient literature and in modern scholarship, we will evaluate such diversity’s implications for our intellectual and cultural life today. How does the historical Jesus matter and for whom? 3hrs. lect. HIS, MDE, PHL (E. Lim)

                RELI 0290 Women and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and Byzantium (Spring 2023)

                This course will explore the female religious experience in Greco-Roman antiquity and Early Christianity. We shall trace the transition from the mystery religions of Demeter and Isis in the Eastern Mediterranean to the cult of Mary the Mother of God (Theotokos) and the worship of female saints. Drawing on a wide range of sources (hymns, saints' Lives, Apocryphal Gospels, Patristic texts, and icons), we shall study the varieties of female devotion and examine the roles available to women in the early Church: deaconesses and desert mothers, monastics and martyrs, poets and rulers. Different theoretical approaches will enable us to ask a series of questions: were women in the early Church considered capable of holiness? To what extent did the female 'gifts of the spirit' challenge church authority? What is distinct about the feminine experience of the divine? Finally, we shall consider the vision and poetics of female spirituality in select modern poets. 3 hrs. lect. EUR, HIS, PHL (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
                Cross-listed as: CLAS 0290

                RELI 0320 Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy: Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosophy of Mind (Spring 2023)

                In this seminar we will survey the basic ideas of Yogacara Buddhism (4-6th c. CE), one of two major schools of Indian Buddhism, in relation to cognitive science and philosophy of mind. We will examine these ideas historically, philosophically and comparatively. We focus on the Yogacara analyses of the largely unconscious ‘construction of reality’ and its systematic deconstruction through forms of analytic meditation. We will read primary and secondary texts on Indian Buddhism and texts espousing similar ideas in modern philosophy and the social and cognitive sciences. (one PHIL course or RELI 0120, RELI 0121, RELI 0122, or RELI 209) 3 hrs. sem. CMP, PHL, SOA (W. Waldron)

                RELI 0335 Saints, Heathens and Heretics: Belief and Unbelief in Imperial Russia (Spring 2023)

                Though Orthodox Christianity is often viewed as synonymous with Russian culture, the Russian Empire was home to a dizzying array of religious faiths, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and varying forms of Christianity. Through primary and secondary source analysis (including textual, visual and aural sources), we will explore the challenges and opportunities this multi-confessional reality posed to Russia’s rulers and the official Orthodox Church. We will also probe the question of what religious faith (in its multiple iterations) meant for subjects from across the social strata and geographic expanse of the empire. How did one lead a spiritually fulfilled life? How did members of different religious faiths interact? What was the relationship between religious and ethnic identities? 3 hrs sem. CMP, HIS, PHL (R. Mitchell)
                Cross-listed as: HIST 0335 *

                RELI 0338 Christian Theology in the Liberal Arts (Fall 2022)

                Christian theology is the religion’s sustained discourse about God and the human experience of God. After exploring Christianity’s role in the historical development of western liberal arts, we will ask what place, if any, theological study has in modern secular liberal arts education. Reading primarily modern theologians, we will ask what intellectual value theological study holds for people who do not identify with Christianity. We will consider the impact of critical thinking, cultivated by the liberal arts, on adherents’ examination of their theological tradition. And we will examine the relationship between theological studies and other intellectual disciplines, including other approaches to the academic study of religion. (RELI 130, RELI 230, RELI 231, or RELI 236) 3 hrs. sem. HIS, PHL (J. Davis)

                RELI 0350 Sufism: The Mystical Tradition of Islam (Spring 2023)

                In this seminar, we will start our adventure in the Sufi world by focusing on the historical and religious contexts in which the mystical tradition of Islam developed during the early Islamic centuries. We will then turn to the so-called classical period focusing on the institutionalization of Sufism, major themes of the classical Sufi literature; fundamental teachings and practices of Sufis; and important figures like Rumi, Ibn Arabi, and Hafez. Finally, we will move to the modern period to discuss the ways in which the Sufi tradition has been re-interpreted, contested, or transformed throughout the Muslim world in response to the challenges of modernity. In all this, our main concern will be to develop an understanding of the mystical perspective that has influenced the outlook of much of the world's diverse Muslim population. Requires familiarity with the Islamic tradition. 3 hrs. sem. MDE, PHL (A. Anzali)

                RELI 0384 Women, Religion, and Ethnography (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will focus on ethnographic scholarship regarding women in various religious traditions. We will begin with questions of feminist ethnography as proposed by Lila Abu-Lughod and then read a range of ethnographies focusing on women in different contexts, including a female Muslim healer in South India, Kalasha women in Pakistan, Bedouin Muslim women in Egypt, and Catholic nuns in Mexico. We will focus on how gendered and religious identities are constructed and intertwined, and what ethnography contributes to the study of both religion and gender. A prior course in Religion, Anthropology, or Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies is recommended. 3 hrs. sem. (National/Transnational Feminisms) CMP, PHL (J. Ortegren)
                Cross-listed as: GSFS 0384

                RELI 0386 The Bible and the Lives of Others (Spring 2023)

                The Bible contains stories about marginalized people who carry in themselves rich theological ideas about suffering, love, and social justice. Yet, the question of how we as global citizens should read the Bible gives rise to the challenge of considering contested views on minorities in history. In this course we will investigate ways in which the Bible portrays women, children, slaves, foreigners, and people with disabilities, using feminist and minoritized hermeneutics. Asking how these portrayals have been interpreted in modern religio–political contexts, we will reflect upon the impact of biblical interpretation on the lives of others. What does it mean to listen to the voices from the margins in our culturally diverse and politically divided world? 3 hrs. seminar. CMP, LIT, PHL (E. Lim)

                RELI 0393 Crossroads: Religion and Race in the Americas (Spring 2023)

                White rock musicians have traced the origins of their musical style to the Delta blues, fixating on a myth that a young, Black musician sold his soul at a southern crossroads to learn to play the guitar. This myth portrays the success of rock as having supernatural origins, while obscuring how the recording industry appropriated and commodified the art of Black Americans. In this seminar we explore the polysemous image of the “crossroads” as an entrée into the intersecting fields of comparative religion, humanistic economics, and critical race. We will rely on works by authors such as Gloria Anzaldúa and Toni Morrison to interrogate these fields while comparing the histories of the U.S. and Brazil. 3 hrs. sem AMR, CMP, PHL (J. Doran)

                RELI 0400 Methods in the Study of Religion (Fall 2022)

                How do we think about religion? Is there a common way to talk about religion across cultural divides or should we simply concur that religion is like art, where “We can’t define it, but we know it when we see it? This course will take us through the basic twentieth and twenty-first century theories in the study of religion as “ways of perceiving” this most elusive of phenomena: anthropology, psychology, history, text, politics, philosophy, theology, experience. All of these ways of perceiving religion play a crucial role in the history of the field. We will end by thinking through recent issues in the study of religion–religion and politics, gender and sexuality, comparative and interfaith studies, and the authority of religious identity. Students will be asked to outline a single, compelling case study in religion, and each week they will apply the theorists we read to the details of their case. In applying theories about religion to real-life situations, students will become skillful practitioners of the art of interpreting religion. They will also develop their own approaches to the study of religion and be able to articulate that approach to a wider audience. (At least 3 courses in the study of religion or by waiver. Open only to juniors and seniors.) 3 hrs. sem. (L. Patton)

                RELI 0500 Independent Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                (Approval Required)

                RELI 0700 Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                (Approval Required)

                RELI 0701 Senior Research for Honors Candidates (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                Approval required
                ↑ Top

                Department of Russian

                Major Requirements

                Normally, majors must complete second-year Russian, RUSS 0122, RUSS 0151, four other courses, including at least one mainstream course in Russia, and a senior seminar (HIST 0247 and HIST 0248 may be substituted for RUSS 0122). 

                Each student’s program is planned individually with the department chair. Students planning careers in government, business, or law are advised to consider a major in the Russian and East European studies track of the International and Global Studies program. 

                Russian majors also frequently combine their language study with a minor in economics, geography, history, or political science, or do a joint or double major with one of these subjects. Majors planning teaching careers should study a second language, preferably through at least the third-year level, and should consult members of the education studies faculty regarding certification.

                Minor Requirements 

                The Russian department offers two minor programs: 

                The Russian language minor (RULN) includes RUSS 0101, RUSS 0103, RUSS 0201, RUSS 0202, RUSS 0311 and RUSS 0312.

                The Russian literature and culture minor (RULC) includes any two of RUSS 0122, RUSS 0151, RUSS 0152, and three additional content courses in the Russian department (RUSS/FMMC0245, RUSS0217, RUSS0241, RUSS 0351, RUSS 0352, RUSS 0354, RUSS 0355, and RUSS/ENAM 0359, or other appropriate courses pending approval of the chair). A first-year seminar may, on occasion, be substituted for one of these courses.     

                Departmental Honors

                Majors with a B+ average in Russian courses and a B average overall are encouraged to prepare an honors thesis, the final copy of which is due April 20 of the year of graduation. Departmental honors are determined by a combination of thesis grade and grade point average in courses taken in the Russian Department, the Russian School and Middlebury’s programs in Russia. Highest honors will be awarded for a GPA of 3.75 plus A on the thesis; high honors will be awarded for a GPA of 3.5 and A- or better on the thesis, and honors will be awarded for a GPA of 3.35 and a grade of B+ or better on the thesis.

                Junior Year in Russia

                All majors and language minors are encouraged to study for a year in Russia. Middlebury’s programs at Irkutsk State University, Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow, and Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University are open to juniors who have completed 0300-level Russian. Students in Moscow may also enroll in courses at the Shchukin Theater Institute and the Higher School of Economics. Students are strongly encouraged to spend a summer in the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian on the Middlebury College campus before studying abroad in Russia. Students who have completed only 0200-level Russian must spend the fall semester at Yaroslavl. In their first semester, all students will take conversation, composition, and culture/civilization courses organized exclusively for our students; students who have completed third-year-level Russian will also take one mainstream course with Russian students, selected from the full university curriculum. In the second semester, students who have not yet taken a mainstream course will take one, and students who have already taken one will take two or more, in addition to the courses organized for Middlebury. Majors are expected to take at least one mainstream course while in Russia. Students unable to attend for a full year may study in Russia for one semester, preferably in the fall. The following courses are among those offered at our programs in Russia in recent years. While we cannot guarantee that each of these courses will be available on a regular basis, they are representative of the kinds of offerings students may expect:

                In Irkutsk

                • Russian Literature of the Nineteenth Century
                • Language of the Mass Media
                • Scientific Texts
                • History of Russia 1917-1970 Through Film
                • Siberian Culture and Ethnic Groups

                In Moscow

                • Russian Folklore
                • History of Economics
                • Nationalities and Contemporary Political Problems
                • The Language of Russian Business
                • Russian Civilization and Culture: Art, Architecture, and Music
                • Stage Speech (at the Shchukin Theater Institute)
                • Strategies against Corruption (at the Higher School of Economics)

                In Yaroslavl

                • History of Russia, Tenth - Seventeenth Centuries
                • Modern Russian History and Contemporary Politics
                • Readings in Russian Literature
                • Russian Prose Translation
                • Russian Civilization and Culture: Art, Architecture, and Music

                RUSS 0101 Beginning Russian (Fall 2022)

                This course is an approach to the language using four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). It provides a firm control of the sound system and the structure of Russian. Although much emphasis is put on the spoken colloquial language, reading, writing, and a conscious understanding of the fundamentals of grammar prepare a strong foundation for work in advanced courses or for reading in specialized fields. 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill. LNG (T. Portice, K. Moss)

                RUSS 0103 Beginning Russian (Spring 2023)

                This course is a continuation of the approach used in RUSS 0102, but with increased emphasis on reading. (RUSS 0102) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill. LNG (K. Moss, T. Portice)

                RUSS 0122 The Russian Mind (in English) (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will study the dominant themes of Russia's past and their role in shaping the present-day Russian mind. Topics will include: Slavic mythology; Russian Orthodoxy; Russian icons; the concept of autocracy; the legacy of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great; the Golden Age of Russian Literature (Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky); Russian composers, including the "Mighty Five"; Russian theater and ballet; the origins of Russian radicalism; the Russian Revolution; the legacy of Lenin and Stalin; and Russia from Khrushchev to Putin. 3 hrs. lect. HIS, LIT, NOA (M. Walker)

                RUSS 0151 Russian Literature's Golden Age: 1830-1880 (in English) (Fall 2022)

                Duels, ghosts, utopias, murders, prostitution, and adultery- these are the raw materials Russian authors turned into some of the world's greatest literature. This course is an introduction to Russian literature of the 19th century, from the short stories of Pushkin and Gogol to the great novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The centrality of literature in Russian society and the interrelations among the authors and texts will be discussed. How do the authors combine reality, fantasy, and philosophy to make these works both uniquely Russian and universal? 3 hrs. lect. CW, EUR, LIT (T. Portice)

                RUSS 0201 Intermediate Russian (Fall 2022)

                Systematic review of grammar and development of the spoken and written skills attained in Beginning Russian. (RUSS 0103 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (K. Moss)

                RUSS 0202 Intermediate Russian (Spring 2023)

                Continuation of the approach used in RUSS 0201. Reading of contemporary Russian texts, conversation, and written assignments in Russian based on reading assignments. (RUSS 0201 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. drill LNG (S. Portice)

                RUSS 0219 Slavic Myths, Fairy-Tales, and Fantasy (in English) (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will explore the world of the Slavic folklore and get acquainted with its most prominent motifs and characters: Baba Yaga the Bone Leg, Vasilisa the Wise, Koschei the Deathless, and many others. We will trace the development of these motifs and characters from their earliest appearance in Slavic myths and fairy-tales, through the works of Russian literature of the 19th and 20th century (Gogol, Pushkin, Bulgakov, the Strugatsky brothers), and, finally, see how they make their way into the texts of contemporary Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Polish and American fantasy authors (Tokarczuk, Ugresic, Sapkovski, Arden, etc.). CMP, EUR, LIT (S. Portice)

                RUSS 0241 Putinism and Contemporary Russian Culture (Fall 2022)

                The 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union was hailed in the West as a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism; for some observers the event even signaled “the end of history.” Today however it seems history is “back,” with Russia under Putin once again assuming its former role as enemy and the “other” of the West. In this course we will seek a better understanding of this apparent reversal of vectors from within Russian culture, while situating it within larger illiberal trends in world politics, by analyzing literary works, popular cinema, political theory, journalism, social media, and other forms of cultural production. 3 hrs. lect. NOA, SOC (M. Walker)

                RUSS 0311 Russian Culture and Civilization I (Fall 2022)

                This course offers a bilingual approach to the study of Russian culture . Works of literature, art, film, and music will be examined in their historical and political context. Particular emphasis will be devoted to the improvement of oral and written skills. As the course topics and emphasis change, depending on the levels of students enrolled, RUSS0311 may be taken a second time with instructor/chair approval. (RUSS 0202 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LIT, LNG (S. Portice)

                RUSS 0312 Russian Culture and Civilization II (Spring 2023)

                This course is a continuation of RUSS 0311 but may be taken independently with the approval of the instructor. It offers a bilingual approach to the study of Russian culture. Works of literature, art, film, and music will be examined in their historical and political context. Particular attention will be devoted to the improvement of oral and written skills. As the course topics and emphasis change, depending on the levels of students enrolled, RUSS0312 may be taken a second time with instructor/chair approval. (RUSS 0202 or by permission) 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LIT, LNG (T. Smorodinska)

                RUSS 0359 The Art of Vladimir Nabokov (in English) (Spring 2023)

                A study of the "perverse" aesthetics of this Russian-American writer. We will expose the hidden plots under the surface of his fiction, follow and arbitrate the ongoing contest between the author and his fictional heroes, and search for the roots of Nabokov's poetics in Western and Russian literary traditions. An attempt will be made to show the continuity between the Russian and English works of this bilingual and bicultural writer. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, LIT (M. Walker)
                Cross-listed as: ENGL 0359

                RUSS 0410 Advanced Russian (in Russian) (Spring 2023)

                Most of the course will focus on current events and developments in social, political, and cultural life in contemporary Russia. Readings will include a variety of authentic materials to further develop students’ ability to read, analyze and discuss complex issues and advance proficiency in reading, writing and oral comprehension. It is designed for students who have already spent a semester or more studying and living in Russia, or who have attained a high level of Russian language proficiency. (RUSS 0202, or by approval) 3 hrs. lect. EUR, LNG (T. Smorodinska)

                RUSS 0414 Advanced Reading and Discussion (in Russian) (Fall 2022)

                This advanced course is for those students who could not study in Russia but have attained a high level of Russian language proficiency. The goal of this course is to help students improve their ability to read, write, and talk about politics, culture and literature in Russia. We will focus on recent events in Russia over domestic political situations, and international relations, read articles, literary works, and follow social media. 3 hrs. sem. (RUSS 0311 and RUSS 0312 or study at the summer school) EUR, LNG (T. Smorodinska)

                RUSS 0500 Advanced Studies in Language and Literature (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                Supervised individual study for highly qualified students. (Approval required)

                RUSS 0700 Senior Independent Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                (Approval required) (Fall 2022: S. Portice, K. Moss, T. Portice, M. Walker; Spring 2023: S. Portice, K. Moss, T. Portice, M. Walker, T. Smorodinska)

                RUSS 0704 Senior Seminar (in Russian) (Fall 2022)

                This seminar topic changes every year. Recent seminar titles have included Research, Recast, Relay, The History of Russian Poetry, and Russian Drama. This course will provide students with the skills to identify and utilize Russian sources, provide professional quality written summaries and analyses, make oral presentations in Russian, and produce a substantial written assignment and project. (Senior Majors) 3 hrs. sem. (T. Smorodinska)
                ↑ Top

                Department of Sociology

                Required for the Major

                A minimum of 10 courses will constitute the major. All sociology majors will complete SOCI 0105, SOCI 0301, SOCI 0305, and a 400-level seminar. In addition, majors will take six electives, with at least two at the 300 level. At least eight of these courses (and all of the core courses listed) must be fall and spring courses taught at Middlebury (e.g., not winter term courses or transfer credits).

                Required for a Joint Major

                A joint major consists of seven courses: SOCI 0105, SOCI 0301, SOCI 0305, a 400-level senior seminar in sociology, and three electives. No more than one elective may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit). Any departures from this program must be approved by the department chair.

                Required for a Minor

                The minor consists of five courses: SOCI 0105 and four electives. All courses must be taken at Middlebury (e.g., no transfer credits or internships), with no more than one winter term course.

                Optional Senior Project in Sociology

                To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete an independent research project of at least one semester. This typically consists of either a one-semester senior project (SOCI 0700, one credit, usually 25–40 pages) or a two-semester senior project (SOCI 0710, two credits, usually 60–100 pages). Students who wish to work on a project for more than one semester must present their progress for review by two professors who will decide whether the project qualifies for extended study. A one-semester project can be either in the fall or spring semester; a two-semester project is usually in the fall and winter semesters or in the winter and spring semesters. Variation from these patterns is possible with permission from the department. Senior project requirements for joint majors and other special circumstances will be approved in consultation with both departments.

                A SOCI 0700 project requires a project advisor. If the advisor thinks that the project may deserve an A– or A, a second reader must evaluate the project. A SOCI 0710 project requires a committee including the project advisor and a second reader from within the Sociology Department. It may also include an optional third reader from another part of the College or the local community. Upon completion of the SOCI 0710 project, there will be an oral defense.

                Departmental Honors

                Students who earn an A– or higher on a 0700 or 0710 project and average an A– or higher in all sociology courses receive departmental honors.

                Current majors and minors who declared under the present system would continue to operate under this system. They would, however, have the option of choosing to shift to the new set of requirements and degrees if their current situation allows for it. Once the new departments are formed, all future majors and minors would operate under the new sets of requirements.

                Joint Major in Anthropology and Sociology

                The joint major in anthropology and sociology consists of 12 classes. The core courses are ANTH 103, SOCI 105, SOCI 301 or ANTH 302 or ANTH 396, and SOC 305 or ANTH 306. Students must also take one 400-level SOCI course, one 400-level ANTH course, and six electives. A 700-level course in ANTH or SOCI can replace one of the 400-level courses.

                SOCI 0105 Society and the Individual (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                This course examines the ideas and enduring contributions of the giants of modern social theory, including Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Sigmund Freud. Readings will include selections from original works, as well as contemporary essays. Key issues will include the nature of modernity, the direction of social change, and the role of human agency in constructing the "good society." This course serves as a general introduction to sociology. (formerly SOAN 0105) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (Fall 2022: C. Han; Spring 2023: J. McCallum)

                SOCI 0191 Gender and the Body (Fall 2022)

                What is your gender and how do you know? In order to answer this question, we need to consider how gender is known through biology, psychology, consumer capitalism, and our everyday embodiment. We will also look at how the meaning and performance of gender have changed over time from Classical Greece to Victorian England to the contemporary U.S. Throughout, we will consider how gender does not operate along, but is always entangled with, race, class, sexuality, nationality, and ability. (formerly SOAN 0191) 3 hrs. lect. CMP, SOC (L. Essig)
                Cross-listed as: GSFS 0191 *

                SOCI 0201 Sociology of Labor (Fall 2022)

                In this class we will survey the sociological literature on labor and labor movements in America and around the world. We will raise questions related to the organization and transformation of work, the making of class society, trade unionism and other class-based organizing, and the impact of globalization on labor organizations. Exploration of these key themes will happen through an analysis of classic and contemporary texts, as well as fiction and film. This is a seminar-style course with opportunities for students to lead class discussions and debates. (formerly SOAN 0201) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (J. McCallum)

                SOCI 0218 Sociology of Sport (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will explore sport-related issues and sport-society issues from a sociological perspective. Through lectures, films, class discussions, and student presentations we will examine the roles of sport within contemporary social systems, and ways in which sport reflects and enhances individual, collective, and national agendas and identities. We will also critically analyze various topics, including violence, cheating, and technology while focusing on “mega sporting events,” the media, and eSport. Additionally, by using sport as a lens to examine class, gender, and race we will illuminate the manners in which sport is entangled in socio-cultural, political, and economic forces. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities. (formerly SOAN 0218) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Gerke)

                SOCI 0234 Contemporary Israel: The Politics of Ethnic Difference (Spring 2023)

                The course explores the politics of ethnic difference in Israel through a combined historical-sociological perspective, using diverse textual and visual materials. After tracing the origins of the ethnic categories of “Ashkenazi” (Western) and Mizrachi (Middle Eastern/North African) Jews, we examine the history of immigration to Israel in the 1950s, considering how ethnicity came to define class and geography. In subsequent units, we will deal with Mizrachi protest movements such as the Israeli 1970s “Black Panthers” and the more recent trend of Mizrachi intellectuals to reclaim the “Arab-Jew” identity, and in comparison, the Mizrachi traditional support of hawkish positions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the concluding units, we will utilize comparative tools to conceptualize this internal Jewish dynamic. AAL, MDE, SOC (A. Livny)
                Cross-listed as: HEBM 0234 *

                SOCI 0240 Inequality and the American Dream (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will explore sociological attempts to explain who “gets ahead” in the contemporary United States. We will discuss two distinct issues that are often conflated in public discussions: economic inequality and social mobility. We will consider the conceptual and empirical associations between these measures, how each has changed over time, how the United States compares to other countries, and how different social environments (such as colleges, neighborhoods, and families) influence life chances within and across generations. We will also examine the challenges of producing research about these topics, focusing on both theoretical and methodological issues. (formerly SOAN 0240) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, SOC (M. Lawrence)

                SOCI 0265 Genders and Sexualities in the US (Spring 2023)

                In this course we will explore and examine how genders and sexualities are constructed and the implications that such constructions have on individuals and societies. We will examine the theories, concepts, practices, and beliefs about sex, gender, sexuality, and sexual identity and explore how these concepts are different between different groups and how they have changed over time, specifically using an intersectional lens. Students will be encouraged to discuss intricacies of their own sexual and gender identities and how these statuses may impact their social status and their relationships with others and the larger society. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (C. Han)
                Cross-listed as: GSFS 0265

                SOCI 0270 Sociology of Subcultures (Spring 2023)

                Whether based on music and style (punk, emo, hip hop), physical activities (skateboarding, surfing, parkour) or pop culture fandom, networks of (young) people are regularly labelled as subcultures. This course will introduce students to the study of subcultures based on sociological and ethnographic materials. Who participates in subcultures and why? Who is excluded (on the basis of class, race, gender, sexuality)? Are subcultures forms of resistance, and what distinguishes them from social movements? How do forces such as globalization, technological development, and political transformation impact subcultures? These questions will guide our introductory look at examples and theories of subcultures. SOC (M. Gerke, J. McCallum)

                SOCI 0275 Sociology of Modern Antisemitism (Fall 2022)

                In this course, we will explore modern antisemitism from a sociological perspective. Drawing on theories and empirical research from sociology and related fields, we will analyze the logic of antisemitic narratives, how antisemitism differs from other forms of racism, how antisemitism has changed after the Holocaust, whether antisemitism and anti-Zionism are related phenomena, and how prevalent antisemitic attitudes and discrimination remain today. We will also explore what role antisemitism plays in contemporary conspiracy theories and far-right movements but also whether there are forms of antisemitism specific to the Left. Overall, we will consider how to integrate an analysis of antisemitism into contemporary theories of racism, such as Intersectionality or Critical Whiteness. 3 hrs. lect. SOC (M. Gerke)

                SOCI 0288 Deviance and Social Control (Fall 2022)

                This course will introduce students to sociological perspectives on the nature, causes and control of deviant behavior and populations. We will consider, historically and theoretically, the construction of deviance, the social purpose it serves, and the societal response deviance engenders. We will pay special attention to the ways in which the deviant body is constructed and managed through a variety of frameworks – including medical, punitive and therapeutic - and reflect critically on the social and political ramifications of the categorizations “deviant” and “normal”. (formerly SOAN 0288) 3 hrs. lect./disc. AMR, SOC (R. Tiger)

                SOCI 0301 The Logic of Sociological Inquiry (Spring 2023)

                In this course students will be introduced to the basic tools of sociological research including problem formulation, strategies of design and data collection, and analysis and presentation of results. This class will help students formulate a research question and develop a research strategy to best explore that question. Those strategies may include interviews, structured observation, participant observation, content analysis, and surveys. This class, strongly recommended for juniors, will culminate in the submission of a senior project proposal. (SOAN 0105 or SOCI 0105) (formerly SOAN 03010) 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, SOC (M. Lawrence)

                SOCI 0305 Social Theory (Fall 2022)

                This course provides an overview of major lines of development in 20th century social theory relevant to the field of sociology, focusing on how various theorists have grappled with the basic issues that have dominated 20th century social thought. Particular attention will be given to the questions arising from the conceptual distinctions between structure and action, on the one hand, and identity and culture, on the other. How is social order possible? How autonomous are human agents? How do we explain the persistence of observed patterns of human interaction and social practice? How do we analyze relations between the world of everyday life and the large-scale development of social systems? How does social change take place? (SOCI 0105) (formerly SOAN 0305) 3 hrs. lect. SOC (J. McCallum)

                SOCI 0318 Theories of Celebrity (Fall 2022)

                In this course we will explore the cultural significance of the concept "celebrity" from a variety of theoretical perspectives. We will draw from a range of examples, including the history of Hollywood, the branding of sport stars, the rise of reality television, YouTube fame, and celebrity gossip, to examine the structures of power and inequality the celebrity phenomenon and its commodification embody. We will use theoretical concepts such as hegemony, the spectacle, mechanical reproduction, the panopticon, hyperreality, microcelebrity, postmodernity, and neoliberalism to analyze the extraordinary rise of a visual culture based on the production and consumption of celebrity. (SOCI 0105 or SOCI 0288) (Formerly SOAN 0281 and SOAN 0318) 3 hrs. sem. AMR, SOC (R. Tiger)

                SOCI 0330 Higher Education and Society (Spring 2023)

                Concerns about quality, value, and cost have raised doubts about whether higher education remains a pathway to opportunity. In this course we will consider these issues by reviewing research on the changing demographics of students, the evolving definition of “merit” in admissions, the challenges of assessing what students learn, and the relationship between student loan debt and economic inequality. We will also examine how college shapes later outcomes such as income, health, and family formation. Finally, we will discuss efforts to reform higher education and the potential for innovations like global expansion to reshape postsecondary schooling in the future. 3 hrs.lct. (Formerly SOCI 0430. Not open to students who have already taken SOCI 0430.) SOC (M. Lawrence)

                SOCI 0356 The Continuing Significance of Race in the United States (Fall 2022)

                This course will introduce students to theories of race and racism in the United States, how racial categories are formed and maintained in a variety of social arenas, and how race and racism influence social systems. In order to demonstrate the prevalence of race and racism in the U.S., the course will be a “topics” course in that each week, we will explore a different topic (such as education, crime, gender) and examine how they are influenced by race and racism. In addition, the course will compare and contrast the experiences of different racial and ethnic groups in the United States and examine how these different experiences influences the way they are seen, how they see themselves, and how they interact with other groups. Upon completion of the course, students will have a better understanding of the historic and contemporary significance of race and how race influences our everyday interactions in multiple different social arenas. (formerly SOAN 0356) 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CMP, SOC (C. Han)

                SOCI 0402 Sex and Society (Spring 2023)

                In this seminar we will explore the pleasures, power, and problems of sex and will place sexuality in dynamic interaction with larger social issues. It is impossible to understand sexuality as separate from other dimensions of the human condition such as economics, politics, work, family, race, and gender. In particular, we will examine questions related to the science of sex, morality, monogamy, sex work, power and domination, desire and fantasy, and sexual politics. Overall, students will gain an understanding of sexuality as a social phenomenon. (formerly SOAN 0402) 3 hrs. sem. (J. McCallum)
                Cross-listed as: GSFS 0402

                SOCI 0485 Topics in Sociological Practice (Fall 2022)

                In this project-based course, we will use tools of data analysis and digital methods to explore sociological research topics and communicate findings. We will review examples of public social science such as the Opportunity Atlas, Social Explorer, and the Open Policing Project. Through readings and workshops, we will reflect on how these forms create challenges and opportunities related to data ethics, principles of data visualization, and digital pedagogy. Students will build on their previous coursework to develop interactive websites that can be integrated throughout the department's curricula. Students will extensively use programs such as R and Datawrapper but no previous experience with these tools is required. (Open to Sociology majors) (SOCI 0105) 3 hrs. sem. DED, SOC (M. Lawrence)

                SOCI 0500 Advanced Individual Study (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                Prior to registering for SOCI 0500, a student must enlist the support of a faculty advisor from the Department of Sociology. (Open to Majors only) (Approval Required)

                SOCI 0700 One-Semester Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                Under the guidance of a faculty member, a student will carry out an independent, one-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 25-40 pages, due the last day of classes.

                SOCI 0710 Multi-Semester Senior Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                Under the guidance of a faculty member, a senior will carry out an independent multi-semester research project, often based on original data. The student must also participate in a senior seminar that begins the first week of fall semester and meets as necessary during the rest of the year. The final product must be presented in a written report of 60-100 pages, due either at the end of the Winter Term or the Friday after spring break.
                ↑ Top

                Spanish and Portuguese

                Please see Luso Hispanic Studies for course listing.
                ↑ Top

                South Asian Studies Minor

                This program offers a minor in South Asian Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

                • Five courses on South Asia (as determined by the director of the South Asian Studies minor, in consultation with the South Asian Studies faculty).
                • Three of which must be taken at Middlebury.
                ↑ Top

                Program in Studio Art

                Required for the Major

                (12 courses)

                • ART 0157, or ART 0159, or another introductory level drawing course
                • HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art practice)
                • Five studio art courses, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher*
                • Four additional courses in either studio art practice or any cross-disciplinary electives chosen in consultation with your advisors from the elective categories below
                • ART 0700 is also required

                *The 0300 level classes integrate to give students well-rounded experience in major approaches to the practice of visual art. Classes in sculpture, photography, printmaking and painting focus on unique properties of each medium, yet highlight technical and expressive connections with each other and other areas of the curriculum (see elective categories). Instruction is highly individualized in order to help students develop their own artistic voice.

                Joint Major Requirements

                (8 courses)

                • ART 0157, or ART 0159, or another introductory level drawing course
                • HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art-practice)
                • Four electives in studio art, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher
                • One additional elective chosen in consultation with your advisors from the elective categories below
                • ART 0700

                Minor in Studio Art

                (6 courses)

                ART 0157, ART 0159, or another introductory level drawing course; HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art practice); four studio art courses, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher. Minors are eligible to apply to enroll in ART 0700.

                Foundation Classes

                These courses teach essential visual ideas common to all visual art and design languages. They prepare a student to clearly communicate their creative expression in upper-level classes. Each category is unique yet designed to overlap fundamental concepts with other categories. Please see specific upper (300) level class descriptions for which type of Foundations class is required as a pre-requisite.

                Drawing Foundations (art and design principles of line, shape, value, light, abstracted scale, perspective, structural anatomy, symbolic communication)   

                • ART 0155 Cartoon, Caricature, Animation (incorporation of animation)  
                • ART0156 Unlearning What You See   
                • ART0157 Foundation Drawing   
                • ART0159 Studio Art 1

                2/Dimensional Foundations: (2-D art and design principles of shape, mass, sequencing, digital imaging methodologies, color theory, pattern, symbolic communication)   

                • ART0163 Visual Storytelling   
                • ART0195 The Digital studio   
                • New class in color theory (proposed in our new position for the EAC)   

                3/Dimensional Foundations: (3-D art and design principles of site, shape, materiality, physical scale, texture, spatial movement, symbolic communication)   

                • ART0174 Spacing  
                • ART0179 Ruins and Rituals   
                • ART0180 Sculptural Architecture   

                Elective Categories

                History of Visual Art Practice

                Any history course in the history of human visual culture.  For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of AMST 0225, FMMC 0267, HARC 0204, IGST 0420, and PHIL 0233.

                Visual Imaging

                Any course that seeks to understand and process knowledge through cognitive visual imaging.  For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of CSCI 0461, DANC 0361, GEOG 0325, GEOL 0211, and PHYS 0221.

                Metaphorical Thinking

                Any course that teaches how to process knowledge through mapping experience between two realms, linguistic or non-linguistic. For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of CRWR 0170, ENVS/DANC 0277, FMMC 0106, MATH 0121, PHYS 0101, PHYS 0201, THEA 0218, and SPAN 0320.

                Creative Practice

                Any creative practicum course. For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of DANC 0160, FMMC 0348, HARC 0330, and MUSC 0221.

                Honors

                Categories of honors are based upon cumulative departmental averages as follows:

                • Honors, 3.7
                • High honors, 3.8
                • Highest honors, 3.9 or higher

                Teacher Training

                Students interested in teacher training in art should consult with the chairs of the Education Studies program and the Studio Art program.    

                Study Abroad

                Many students in Studio Art wish to pursue visual art-practice in depth during junior year away from Middlebury. The program has long experience with many institutions abroad (as well in the U.S.) that offer excellent studio art programs. Students should consult with their advisors to develop a plan for which schools and programs of study are most suitable for their goals. More about Middlebury’s Study Abroad opportunities.

                  ART 0155 Figuratively Distorted: Creating Characters for Cartoon, Caricature, and Animation (Spring 2023)

                  In this introductory class we will explore the human figure and its mannerisms through learning to draw using methods that invent expressive characters. We will learn foundational drawing principles depicting the figure from observation, studying its anatomy and how that manifests human expression. We will see, learn, and use the principles of drawing found in images of humans in the Lascaux Caves and Mayan Reliefs; to expressionists like Egon Schiele; and cartoons from Walt Disney to South Park. Students will develop their own individual cartoon characters and storyboard an archetypical narrative forming a collaborative class animation screened publicly in Twilight. No prior drawing experience is expected. It is a 100 level beginning level class open to and designed for students with no visual artmaking experience. This course will count as a prerequisite towards 300-level courses in The Program In Studio Art. 6 hrs lct. ART (H. Wallner)

                  ART 0156 Drawing: Unlearning What You See (Fall 2022)

                  Drawing is an intuitive act of expression. It serves many purposes: observation, emotional reflection, and creating altered realities beyond the written word. In this course we will learn foundational drawing techniques utilizing different approaches and materials including dry and wet media and basic sculptural principles to understand volume depicting space and figures. We address composition, scale, contour delineation, and tonal values. Developing a personal style will be paramount. Topics relating to drawing in the context of history and issues around who gets represented and how will be discussed. Readings and short lectures will inform these discussions. No prior drawing experience is expected. (Not open to students who have taken ART 0157 or ART 0159) 6 hrs lct. ART (E. Puerta Grisales)
                  Cross-listed as: ART 0159 *

                  ART 0159 Studio Art I: Drawing (Fall 2022)

                  We will cover various approaches and experimentation with mark making and materials. Dry and wet media will be used as well as basic sculptural techniques to get a better understanding of the volumetric qualities of depicting space and figures. Students will learn how to render composition, scale, negative/positive space, contour lines, tonal values, line quality, and personal style. Class includes individual and group critiques, and when possible, field trips. Topics relating to representation such as who gets represented and how, will be discussed. Readings and short lectures will inform these discussions and there will be short writing assignments that will allow further exploration. No prior drawing experience is expected. 6 hrs. lect./lab ART (H. Klein)
                  Cross-listed as: ART 0156

                  ART 0163 Visual Storytelling Through the Lens (Spring 2023)

                  This photo-based studio course examines the ways images work together in succession to build narratives. Students will study contemporary and historical approaches to the photo essay in addition to authoring their own stories with images they have taken or sourced by other means. While we will discuss the basics of image making, the class is focused on the sequencing of images. Students may use any type of camera for this class including cell phone cameras and no prior photographic knowledge is required. The class will culminate in a web-based slideshow and printed book projects for each individual student. 6 hrs. lect/dsc. ART (M. Leftheris)

                  ART 0174 Spacing (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will investigate physical structures encountered daily. Buildings, parks, and infrastructure constitute this built environment, reflecting their societies. But what could abolitionist architecture look like, or how might public space in the U.S. create new social relations? Through lenses of race, class, and gender we will build critical vocabularies around the practice of making space. We will focus on the historical and contemporary embodiment of power, race, and culture of the U.S. through the built environment. This studio class will then present a series of projects addressing basic three-dimensional construction and model making techniques. We will engage historical and contemporary artworks, urban planning, architecture, and poetry from perspectives of resistance to dominant modes of constructing space. AMR, ART, SOC (M. Schrader)

                  ART 0179 Ruins and Rituals (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will examine monuments, memorials, landscape, and cultural memory. The title comes from a 1979 sculptural work by the black feminist artist Beverly Buchanan. Buchanan has described her works as monuments made from earthen materials to remember acts of black resistance in the United States. We will also investigate recent actions to remove and destroy monuments to confederate soldiers and other figures related to colonial violence. This is a studio class incorporating material experimentation and research. Students will work at model scale using paper, wood, plaster, digital photography, and photoshop to propose (anti)monuments for our time. ART, HIS (M. Schrader)
                  Cross-listed as: BLST 0179

                  ART 0195 CMD+Z: Infinite Possibilities of The Digital Studio (Spring 2023)

                  In this foundation design course we will explore various aspects of design including 2D composition, color theory, image editing, and typography while developing literacy in graphics software using the Adobe Creative Suite. Focusing on the comparison of visual communication across global cultures, lectures and assignments will be centered around the ways design intersects with art and socio-political issues. Students will develop creative visual problem-solving and image-making skills that they can apply across many disciplines, learning to communicate and present their ideas effectively. Students will produce two substantial screen-based and print projects over the course of the semester. It is a 100 level beginning level class open to and designed for students with no visual artmaking experience. This course will count as a prerequisite towards 300-level courses in The Program In Studio Art. 6 hrs. lect./lab ART, CMP (M. Leftheris)

                  ART 0300 Advanced Drawing: Making Your Mark (Spring 2023)

                  In this course students will refine their drawing skills, emphasizing personal growth and a deeper exploration of drawing techniques. An understanding of formal pictorial language and how to effectively communicate through visual means will be stressed. Students will draw from observation employing imagination, abstraction, and unconventional approaches. Exposure to the importance and relevance of both contemporary and historical art will occur through image lectures with an emphasis on critical thinking. Exploration of materials will also be discussed. (ART 0155, 0156, 0157, ART 0159, ART 0185, ART 0200 or by approval) ) 6 hrs. lect. ART (H. Klein)

                  ART 0303 Painting the Figure in Oil (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will learn the how to paint images of human beings. The class will begin with an overview of artistic anatomy and resulting patterns of movement. This initial portion of the semester will focus on color theory and refreshing understanding foundations of describing form. Using this knowledge we will then paint in oil by directly observing the live model outdoors. Part of this class will focus on painting portrait images. Studio work will be accompanied by regular image-lectures of the pan-global history of depicting the human form. ART (J. Butler)

                  ART 0305 Hybrid Printmaking (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will examine a range of hybrid printmaking techniques. We will work from observation and imagination. We will explore monoprint, relief, and hand-cut/ digital stencil-making applications. Emphasis on non-traditional approaches will be studied through experimentation and collaboration. Students’ voices will be developed through guided exploration of thematic projects. Texture, value, surface, colors, marks, and pattern will be discussed. Students will be exposed to the importance and relevance of both contemporary art and historical art through image-lectures with an emphasis on critical thinking. Prior drawing experience expected. (Open to students who have taken ART0155, ART0156, ART 0157, ART 0159, ART0185, or ART0200) 6 hrs lab/lct. ART, CMP (H. Klein)

                  ART 0315 Scratching the Surface (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will explore studio instruction in traditional and contemporary methods of intaglio printmaking with a critical emphasis on different methods of working directly on the plate. The general term intaglio (from the Italian intagliare, which means to engrave, carve, or cut) covers a multitude of processes. The incised line in the plate holds the ink while the surface is wiped clean. Only the line prints when paper is placed on the plate and both are run through the etching press. The course is augmented by slide lectures to provide the students with a thorough background in the intaglio medium as well as other drawing based mediums. Depending on resources, students may have the opportunity to be a part of an intensive, collaborative print project to produce an edition of prints with a professional artist. (ART 0157, ART 0158, ART 0159 or by approval) 6 hrs. lect./lab ART (H. Klein)

                  ART 0317 Painting the Human Face (Spring 2023)

                  In this lecture and lab course we will create drawings and paintings of the human visage. Our class begins with an in-depth anatomical study of the human head, neck, and upper torso. This will lead us to analyze ways previous art of America and Europe has mapped forms of the human face to communicate expressive content in painting. Then, using oil paint on paper, panel, and canvas we will work from the live model to design our own contemporary images of human beings. Our goals will be imaginative expression of psychologies of those we depict and the stories they project. (Any Studio Art; THEA set design; or FMMC animation courses.) AMR, ART, EUR (J. Butler)

                  ART 0348 Oil Painting Outdoors - Visually Interpreting The Landscape Around Us (Fall 2022)

                  In this outdoor lab we will create paintings directly from the fall landscape of Middlebury. Using oil paint we will learn how to set up a palette, deploy color theory in picture-making, and apply spatial principles in composing our paintings. Oil on canvas will be our gateway to understanding the natural world, our built environment, and transitory phenomena of weather and light. A portion of the class will address how to incorporate humans and animals into our images. Lecture and readings will address historical and philosophical ideas of landscape in culture. (one intro drawing course). 6 hrs. lect. ART (J. Butler)

                  ART 0371 Sculpture I (Fall 2022)

                  In this sculpture class we will foreground “process” in the creation of form. We will address a variety of traditional tool and material relationships as well as inventing new and unusual processes with unconventional materials and tools. Parallel to studio-based experimentation we will engage in a weekly practice of critique learning how to process the visual with language. The class will be organized around a series of existing artworks, texts and films that will serve as models to help guide our collective inquiry. (At least one 100 level drawing or digital studio course) 6 hrs. lect/lab ART (M. Schrader)

                  ART 0380 Photography Now (Fall 2022)

                  In this color digital photography course students will sharpen their points of view within the framework of a contemporary photographic practice. Students will learn how to shoot digitally, scan, develop lighting strategies, make large format prints and edit their images into a cohesive body of work. Readings and class discussions will be based on how the photographic image functions in our current culture. Students must have access to 15MP (or bigger) digital SLR camera with manual controls of focus, aperture, and shutter. 3 hrs. lect. ART (M. Leftheris)

                  ART 0500 Special Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  Supervised independent work with a special project proposed by a student or a collaboration between a student and a faculty member on a special project. Admission by permission of a faculty member. 3 hrs. lect.

                  ART 0700 Advanced Studio I (Spring 2023)

                  This course is designed for dedicated students who have taken full advantage of the many different modes of creation offered by the Program in Studio Art. Demonstrated visual literacy is essential before entering this course where you will begin developing an individual voice and practice as a young artist.
                  Designed to help develop a cohesive body of work with a personal point of view, this course provides the basic tools needed to express artistic intentions visually, verbally, and in writing. Weekly group critiques, class discussions about contemporary art theory/art criticism, and regular one-on-one studio visits with the Studio Art faculty and visiting artists provide a broader context for your artwork. This class culminates with a public exhibition curated and promoted by the class as a whole.
                  In addition, students are guided in the creation of a professional portfolio, including extensive documentation of the artwork produced and multiple versions of an artist statement, both suitable for submission to artist internships, residencies, or graduate schools.
                  Graduating seniors enrolled in ART 700 will curate, mount and promote a solo thesis exhibition. They will also create and submit a digital portfolio to be archived by the Program in Studio Art.
                  Interested students should contact the professor a minimum of one (1) week prior to online registration. Provide a transcript of all completed Studio Art courses, images of work created, and a brief, 1-2 page description of the media you intend to use and the subject matter you wish to further investigate. Students are expected to have completed two Studio Art classes in the medium they wish to explore before applying for ART 700. Approval required. 4 hrs sem./lab.
                  (M. Schrader)

                  ART 0701 Advanced Studio II (Spring 2023)

                  Approval required. 4 hrs sem./lab (M. Schrader)

                  ART 0702 Advanced Studio III (Spring 2023)

                  Approval required. 4 hrs sem./lab (M. Schrader)
                  ↑ Top

                  Program in Theatre

                  Requirements for the Major

                  Students must complete a combination of eleven courses (eight core courses and three additional courses—see Senior Work requirements—in consultation with the advisor, in preparation for Senior 700 work) and a Crew Requirement (defined below).

                  Core Courses for the Double or Full Major

                  • An introductory course: ARDV 0116 The Creative Process or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage
                  • A design course: THEA 0111 Scenic Design I: Beginning, THEA 0113 Lighting Design I: Beginning, or THEA 0205 Costume Design I: Beginning (or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage, for students whose introductory course is ARDV 0116)
                  • THEA 0102 Acting I 
                  • THEA 0208 Theatre History 
                  • THEA 0214 Directing I: Beginning 
                  • A THEA dramatic literature course
                  • THEA 0406 Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Performance Aesthetics 
                  • THEA 0700 Senior Independent Project

                  Joint Majors

                  Students must complete a combination of nine courses (seven core courses and two additional courses—see Senior Work requirements—in consultation with the advisor, in preparation for Senior 700 work) and a Crew Requirement (defined below). 

                  Students wishing to undertake a joint major in ENAM and Theatre should be advised that senior work will normally consist of two full-credit classes, ENAM 0708 and THEA 0708.  We strongly recommend that these classes betaken in the same semester, with the understanding that a central goal of the joint major is the thorough integration of both aspects of the joint major. A single-credit, single-semester joint project remains an option for those who wish to pursue a joint thesis that does not include a practical component such as acting or directing.

                  Core Courses for the Joint Major

                  • An introductory course: ARDV 0116 The Creative Process or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage
                  • A design course: THEA 0111 Scenic Design I: Beginning, THEA 0113 Lighting Design I: Beginning, or THEA 0205 Costume Design I: Beginning (or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage, for students whose introductory course is ARDV 0116)
                  • THEA 0102 Acting I
                  • THEA 0208 Theatre History
                  • THEA 0406 Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Performance Aesthetics
                  • THEA 0214 Directing I
                  • THEA 0700 Senior Independent Project

                  Only one Production Studio in acting course may be counted in fulfillment of the joint major.

                  Senior Independent Project

                  Students may pursue independent senior projects in acting, directing, design (set, light, or costume), playwriting, literature, applied theatre, devised theatre or an intradisciplinary project (Single or Full major only)  All senior projects will include both experiential and analytical work. Intermediate Independent Projects (THEA 0500) are not required but may be proposed in all disciplines except acting. Please visit Senior work for a guide to Senior Work Course Requirements.

                  Crew Requirement

                  Required for any theatre major or minor.

                  This may be fulfilled by Assistant Directing, Stage Managing or Assistant Stage Managing (AD/SM/ASM)  a Faculty Show.  For those who have not AD/SM/ASM, the Crew Requirement  should be completed by the end of the 5th semester and will normally be satisfied by undertaking a running crew assignment (lights, sound, wardrobe) on a for-credit production. This requirement may also be fulfilled by completing THEA 0119 Fall Production Studio: Design or THEA 0129 Spring Production Studio: Design.

                  Theatre Minor

                  Students must complete a combination of six courses (four core courses and two Theatre electives) and a crew requirement.

                  Courses

                  • ARDV 0116 The Creative Process or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage
                  • THEA 0102 Acting I
                  • THEA 0208 Theatre History
                  • THEA literature course

                  Theatre Electives

                  Only one Production Studio course may be counted as an elective.

                  Crew Requirement

                  Same as above.

                  Honors

                  Honors, high honors, or highest honors are awarded to graduating seniors in the Theatre Program based upon their grade point average of 3.8 or better in theatre courses, and overall distinction in the department. Joint majors are only eligible for honors.

                  ARDV 0116 The Creative Process (Fall 2022)

                  In this course, students will have the opportunity to dig deeply into their own creativity and explore the processes by which ideas emerge and are given shape in the arts. The experiential nature of this course integrates cognition and action, mind and body. Students will engage a range of modes of discovering, knowing, and communicating, which are designed to push them beyond their present state of awareness and level of confidence in their creative power. Practical work will be closely accompanied by readings and journaling, culminating with the creation and performance of a short project. (First- and second-year students only; Not open to students who have taken FYSE 1364) 3 hrs. lect. ART (O. Sanchez Saltveit)
                  Cross-listed as: ARDV 0117 *

                  ARDV 0117 Culture as Creative Process (Spring 2023)

                  This course is designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and academic disciplines who are interested in developing their unique creative process, researching their cultural history, and creating and revising performance projects that reflect the intersection of the two. Improvisatory tools and guided imagery provide methods for developing creative work. Weekly workshops in movement from the African diaspora, regular journaling, work-in-progress showings, and feedback sessions add further depth. Students will also generate a bibliography relating to their cultural history and present the results of their research in written form. (This course can count for dance and theatre majors as ARDV 0116). ART (C. Brown)
                  Cross-listed as: ARDV 0116

                  THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for Stage (Fall 2022)

                  Students will develop an understanding of color, line, form, shape, texture, and balance as they apply to historical and current theatrical literature. Projects in figure drawing, charcoal and chalk, watercolor painting, and model making are intended to stretch the student's research ability, artistic imagination, critical-analysis, and presentation skills. The class is designed for all students interested in the visual and the performing arts and serves as an introduction to set, costume, and light design. 25 hours of production lab work will be assigned in class. 3 hrs. lect. ART (M. Evancho)

                  THEA 0102 Acting I: Beginning Acting (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  Rigorous physical and psychophysical exercises attempt to break through the cultural and psychological barriers that inhibit an open responsiveness to impulses, to the environment, and to others. Attempt is made to free personal response within improvised scenes and, eventually, within the narrative structure of a naturalistic scene. Attention is given to various theories of acting technique. Students are expected to audition for departmental shows. (First- and second-year students only) 3 hrs. lect./individual labs ART (Fall 2022: J. Dunn, A. Draper; Spring 2023: O. Sanchez Saltveit, M. Biancosino)

                  THEA 0111 Scenic Design I: Beginning (Fall 2022)

                  Exploration and development of basic set design skills for theatre and dance. Class projects will introduce the student to sketching, sculpting, script analysis, and presentation skills. The design projects will challenge the student's imagination and creativity through historical and current theatrical literature, the study of artistic movements in theatre, concept development, and research. In addition, students will work on productions in order to understand better how theory relates to practice. 25 hours of production lab work will be assigned in class. 3 hrs. lect. ART (M. Evancho)

                  THEA 0113 Lighting Design I: Beginning (Spring 2023)

                  This course examines historical and present lighting theories, theatrical artistic movements, and theatrical literature, leading to the planning and conceptual development of the lighting plot. Class projects will also introduce the student to sketching, painting, sculpture, script analysis, and presentation skills. In addition, students will work on productions in order to understand better how theory relates to practice. 25 hours of production lab work will be assigned in class/3 hrs. lect. ART (M. Evancho)

                  THEA 0119 Fall Production Studio: Design (Fall 2022)

                  In preparing a fully produced theatrical production for the stage, students will participate in and be exposed to professional production practices in all areas of theatrical design, including sets, costumes, props, lights, and sound. Students will be involved in planning, building, painting, constructing, and running and striking of shows. More advanced students may speak to the professors about taking on special projects, but those with little or no experience backstage are very much encouraged to participate. 8 hrs. lab ART (M. Evancho, S. Jack)

                  THEA 0129 Spring Production Studio: Design (Spring 2023)

                  In preparing two fully produced theatrical productions for the stage, students will participate in and be exposed to professional production practices in all areas of theatrical design, including sets, costumes, props, lights, and sound. Students will be involved in planning, building, painting, constructing, and running and striking of shows. More advanced students may speak to the professors about taking on special projects, but those with little or no experience backstage are very much encouraged to participate. 8 hrs. lab ART (M. Evancho, S. Jack)

                  THEA 0202 Acting II: Voice for the Actor (Fall 2022)

                  Using the Linklater technique for the voice, students will study the physiological foundations of voice and alignment. By means of interrelated physical and vocal exercises, students will discover ways of changing patterns that restrict a full range of physical and vocal expressiveness. Students will study and present passages from Shakespeare to explore ways in which their new physical and vocal skills may be used to express a greater range of intellectual and emotional understanding. (THEA 0102 and ARDV 0116; Approval required) 4 hrs. lect. (A. Draper)

                  THEA 0205 Costume Design I: Beginning (Fall 2022)

                  In this introductory course we will explore the art and practice of costume design for theatre. Special emphasis will be placed on communicating ideas through the visual language. Students will develop their thinking through script analysis, creative impulse, concept development, historical research, figure drawing, fabrication, and presentation. Though we will explore the specific medium of clothing, students learn concepts that are applicable to fields beyond theatrical design by developing visual sensibility and conceiving ideas through three-dimensional space. No prior drawing experience is assumed or expected. 4 hrs. lect. ART (S. Jack)

                  THEA 0208 Theatre History (Fall 2022)

                  Using the dramatic text as the primary focus, this course will chart the progression of theatre from its ritualistic origins to the advent of modern drama. This survey will include an overview of theatrical architecture, the evolution of design and acting styles, and the introduction of the director. Since theatre does not exist in a void, a consideration of the social, cultural, political, and scientific milieu of each era studied will be included in the course. 2 1/2 hrs. lect./discussion & 1 screening per week ART, CMP, EUR, HIS (M. Biancosino)

                  THEA 0210 Fall Production Studio: Acting (Fall 2022)

                  The cast works as part of a company interpreting, rehearsing, and performing a play. Those receiving credit can expect to rehearse four to six nights a week. Appropriate written work is required. Participation in the course is determined by auditions held the previous term. (Approval required) 3 hrs. lect. ART (J. Dunn, M. Biancosino)

                  THEA 0214 Directing I: Beginning (Fall 2022)

                  As a group, students will analyze one or two plays to discover the process involved in preparing a script for production. Attention will be given to production and design concepts, textual values, auditions, rehearsals, and the structuring of a performance in time and space. Students will also cast and direct one or more scenes to be worked on and performed in class. The practical work is combined with written analysis. (Approval required; ARDV 0116, THEA 0102) 4 hrs. lect. (M. Biancosino)

                  THEA 0218 Playwriting I: Beginning (Fall 2022)

                  The purpose of the course is to gain a theoretical and practical understanding of writing for the stage. Students will read, watch, and analyze published plays, as well as work by their peers, but the focus throughout will remain on the writing and development of original work. (Formerly THEA/ENAM 0218) ART, CW (D. Yeaton)
                  Cross-listed as: CRWR 0218

                  THEA 0220 Spring Production Studio: Acting (Spring 2023)

                  The cast works as part of a company, interpreting, rehearsing, and performing a play. Those receiving credit can expect to rehearse four to six nights a week. Appropriate written work is required. Participation in the course is determined by auditions held during the term prior to the performance. (Approval required) 3 hrs. lect. ART (O. Sanchez Saltveit, A. Draper)

                  THEA 0230 The Plays of Station Eleven (Spring 2023)

                  This course will provide a study of theatrical literature through an interrogation of the specific ways live performance and the human body inform meaning in text-based theatre. We will begin with a reading of the novel Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, the plot of which centers around a traveling troupe of actors performing plays after a plague. After studying the novel and subsequent television series, we will begin a deep reading of the plays depicted within the story, including Shakespeare’s King Lear and Hamlet. Following these tragedies, we will read modern plays that explore different forms, themes, styles, and methods of theatre-making, again led by the evocations of post-pandemic performance. Contemporary plays will include Jonathan Payne’s The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll’d, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Liz Duffy Adams’ Dog Act, Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, Caridad Svich’s Twelve Ophelias, and Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play. LIT (M. Biancosino)

                  THEA 0248 African American Drama (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will respectfully investigate African American performance and theatre history since the late 19th century by exploring works of playwrights such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Amira Baraka, Adrienne Kennedy, August Wilson, and Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins. We will also engage with theoretical essays by Alain Locke, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Patricia Hill Collins and more, that illuminate how, despite centuries of lethal stereotyping, the stage has been and continues to be a forum for self-representation, unification, resistance, and liberation. Guest artists will provide firsthand accounts in conversation with the students. Dramaturgical and critical responses to the materials will strengthen production interpretation and design skills. AMR, ART, LIT (O. Sanchez Saltveit)
                  Cross-listed as: BLST 0248

                  THEA 0318 Playwriting II: Advanced (Spring 2023)

                  For students with experience writing short scripts or stories, this workshop will provide a support structure in which to write a full-length stage play. We will begin with extended free and guided writing exercises intended to help students write spontaneously and with commitment. Class discussions will explore scene construction, story structure, and the development of character arc. (ENAM 0170 or THEA/CRWR 0218 or FMMC/CRWR 0218; by approval) 2 1/2 hrs. lect./individual labs ART, CW (D. Yeaton)

                  THEA 0325 Costume Design II: Advanced (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will continue exploration of costume design and figure illustration. Design projects will focus on the further development of students' graphic and conceptual abilities. A range of work will be encountered, including modern dress, period realism, and fantasy. (THEA 0205 or by approval) 3 hrs. lect. ART (S. Jack)

                  THEA 0402 Acting IV: Styles of Acting (Spring 2023)

                  The course will expose students to the rigorous physical, vocal, mental, and emotional demands of "non-naturalistic" acting, beginning with the Greeks, continuing through Shakespeare, Restoration, the eighteenth century, and ending with contemporary absurdist playwrights. Emphasis is first upon an intellectual understanding of the texts, then upon their fullest physical, vocal, and emotional expression. The course is designed for students who have had some prior stage experience. (ARDV 0116, THEA 0102 and an additional performance course) 4 hrs. lect./1hr. screen. (A. Draper)

                  THEA 0406 Twentieth/Twenty-first Century Performance Aesthetics (Fall 2022)

                  This course is an intensive exploration of the evolution of the theory and practice of theatrical experimentation in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Modernist movement irrevocably altered the artist’s relationship to the social, and political order. The ramifications of this change will be addressed throughout the course, with particular emphasis on Brecht, Artaud, and Grotowski. Students will write papers and give presentations on the work of such contemporary artists as Peter Brook, DV8, Robert Wilson, Ariane Mnouchkine, Complicite and Jerzy Grotowski. (Approval required; ARDV 0116 and THEA 0208) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc. ART (A. Draper)

                  THEA 0500 Intermediate Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  In consultation with their advisors, theatre majors in design may propose a THEA 0500 Intermediate Independent Project. Preliminary proposal forms approved by the student's advisor will be submitted to the program by March 1st of the preceding academic year for those wanting credit in the fall or winter terms and by October 1st for those wanting credit in the spring term. Projects will conform to the guidelines that are available in the theatre office. Students are required to attend a weekly THEA 0500/0700 seminar.

                  THEA 0505 Intermediate Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  (Approval Required) (Fall 2022: C. Medeiros, A. Draper, M. Evancho, D. Yeaton, M. Biancosino, O. Sanchez Saltveit; Spring 2023: M. Biancosino, C. Medeiros, A. Draper, M. Evancho, S. Jack, D. Yeaton, O. Sanchez Saltveit)

                  THEA 0700 Senior Independent Project (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  Senior work is required. In consultation with their advisors, theatre majors may propose a THEA 0700 Independent Project. Preliminary proposal forms approved by the student's advisor will be submitted to the program by March 1st of the preceding academic year for those wanting credit in the fall or winter terms and by October 1st for those wanting credit in the spring term. Projects will conform to the guidelines that are available in the theatre office. Students are required to attend a weekly THEA 0500/0700 seminar.

                  THEA 0708 Senior Work: Joint Majors in Theatre and English & American Literatures (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  Approval required.
                  ↑ Top

                  Writing and Rhetoric Program

                  The first writing intensive course is the first-year seminar, taught by faculty across the disciplines.

                  The second writing intensive course is generally taken by the end of a student’s sophomore year or as determined by their major area of study. This course is designated by a “CW.”  

                  Overview

                  The second-level CW course features in-class discussion of writing and attention to revision. College writing courses are limited in size, and faculty are asked to provide written responses to drafts and to meet individually with students to discuss their work. Peer review, or a writing workshop, is also recommended for college writing courses.

                  Expectations

                  Expectations for writing in the second-level CW course vary from department to department and class to class. Some classes require 20 pages of polished prose. Other courses might not think in terms of page numbers. Such courses include, but are not limited to, those that teach digital writing or writing with charts and graphs, or those that highlight short writing forms.

                  Information for Class Instructors

                  Instructors are encouraged to assign informal writing as well as formal writing. Informal writing, often known as “writing to learn,” might be graded or ungraded and might include journals, field notes, informal responses to readings, online discussions, and in-class writing. Informal writing can build student confidence and generate class discussion as well as be developed into formal writing projects. 

                  Formal writing assignments are often graded, but other faculty prefer the effects of “ungrading” until the end of the semester. Either way, faculty are encouraged to provide ample qualitative feedback on formal work. Formal writing projects can include critical and/or creative writing. Genres for formal projects include argumentative essays, research papers, critical narratives, literature reviews, case studies, op-eds, blogs, digital stories, videos, podcasts, short fiction or poems based on theory or research, etc.

                  In some departments, College writing classes are highly disciplinary and are only open to students majoring in the department or program. In other departments, the CW class is open to students across the College, and course content may vary widely.

                  Faculty seeking approval of their CW class should contact Catharine Wright, director of the Writing and Rhetoric Program. In addition, faculty may contact any member of the Writing and Rhetoric Program to discuss their goals for their CW class and to obtain feedback on writing assignments, syllabus design, the peer review process, responding to student writing, and evaluating work. Members of the Writing and Rhetoric Program are also available to visit classes to talk about writing.

                  WRPR 0100 Writing and Power (Fall 2022)

                  Power: who has it, who doesn’t, and what does it have to do with your writing? This course both instructs students in how to access power in academic contexts and to critique power structures. We’ll learn how power connects to literacy, and how it's shaped through rhetorical contexts. Students will explore their own power as writers and thinkers while engaging in meaningful personal, reflective and argumentative writing. The professor will work with each student extensively on their writing process and development, and we'll create a writing community. This course bears elective credit but does not fulfill the college writing requirement. 3 hrs. lect/disc (J. Sanchez)
                  Cross-listed as: WRPR 0101 *

                  WRPR 0101 A Writing in Academic Contexts II (Spring 2023)

                  Students in this class will continue building upon their identities as writers and thinkers, while engaging a complex, interdisciplinary theme, within a diverse and supportive classroom community. Class activities and assignments will focus on building rhetorical awareness, analyzing texts from a variety of sources, and conducting library research. Students will explore their voices and perspectives in class discussion and throughout all phases of the writing process, including planning, peer review, and revision. Each student will meet frequently with the instructor, and will have opportunities for growth in oral communication as well. This course does not fulfill the college writing requirement. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (H. Vila)
                  Cross-listed as: WRPR 0100

                  WRPR 0102 English Language in Global Context (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will discuss and write about the dominance of English in the global landscape. Course readings and films offer an interdisciplinary approach to the topic. We will begin the course with a geographic and historical overview of World Englishes and then will examine the impact of English language dominance on individuals and societies, emphasizing themes such as migration, globalization, education, and identity. Throughout the course, we will explore the relevance of these issues to educators, linguists, and policy-makers around the world. CMP, SOC (S. Shapiro)
                  Cross-listed as: EDST 0102

                  WRPR 0110 English Grammar: Concepts and Controversies (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will study the structure of the English language, learning key terms and strategies for analyzing English syntax. We will explore English grammar from both prescriptive and descriptive perspectives and examine its relevance to language policy, linguistic prejudice, and English education. Readings will be drawn from a variety of texts, including Rhetorical Grammar (2009), Eats, Shoots & Leaves (2006), Language Myths (1999), and Origins of the Specious (2010). This course is relevant to students wanting to increase their own knowledge of the English language, as well as to those seeking tools for English teaching and/or research. SOC (S. Shapiro)
                  Cross-listed as: LNGT 0110

                  WRPR 0172 Writing Gender and Sexuality (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will read, discuss, and write creative works that explore issues of gender and sexuality. Readings will include stories, poems, and essays by James Baldwin, Ana Castillo, Peggy Munson, Eli Claire, Alice Walker, Michelle Tea, Alison Bechdel, and others. The course will include writing workshops with peers and individual meetings with the instructor. Every student will revise a range of pieces across genres and produce a final portfolio. We will do some contemplative work and will engage with choreographer to explore movement in conversation with writing, gender, and sex. 3 hrs. lect. ART (C. Wright)
                  Cross-listed as: GSFS 0172 *

                  WRPR 0202 Writing to Heal (Fall 2022)

                  This writing-intensive course examines writing as a catalyst for healing after loss or grief. In a workshop focused on student writing, we will analyze fiction, drama, poetry, and creative nonfiction as a basis for discussions. To this end, we will read creative non-fiction, memoir, and novels. Assignments for this course will include formal analytical essays, creative work (published online), and oral presentations. CW, LIT (H. Vila)

                  WRPR 0203 Media, Sports, & Identity (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will examine the relationship between media, sports, and the formulation of one’s identity. We will examine issues pertaining to gender identification, violence, and hero worship. Reading critical essays on the subject, studying media coverage of sporting events, and writing short analytical essays will enable us to determine key elements concerning how sports are contextualized in American culture. Student essays will form the basis of a more in-depth inquiry that each student will then present, using media, at the end of the course. (Not open to students who have taken WRPR 1002) AMR, CW, SOC (H. Vila)
                  Cross-listed as: AMST 0203

                  WRPR 0205 Race, Rhetoric, and Protest (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will study the theoretical and rhetorical underpinnings of racial protest in America. We will begin by studying movements from the 1950s and 1960s, moving from bus boycotts to Black Power protests, and will build to analyzing recent protests in Ferguson, Dallas, and New York. Readings will include texts from Charles E. Morris III, Aja Martinez, Shon Meckfessel, Gwendolyn Pough, and various articles and op-eds. Students will write analyses of historical and contemporary protest, op-eds about the local culture, and syntheses on the course readings. 3 hrs. Lect AMR, CW, SOC (J. Sanchez)
                  Cross-listed as: GSFS 0205

                  WRPR 0206 Narratives in News Media (Spring 2023)

                  In this course we will consider questions such as: What linguistic strategies do the news media use to craft compelling stories? What are the dominant narratives at play about national and global social issues, and how are some journalists working to counter those narratives? We will employ Critical Discourse Analysis as a central framework, reading theoretical and empirical work by linguists such as Teun van Dijk, as well as from sociologists and political scientists. We will engage with “On the Media” and other podcasts, TED talks, documentaries such as Outfoxed (2004), and online magazines. Students will write for a variety of audiences. 3 hrs. lect./disc. CW, SOC (S. Shapiro)
                  Cross-listed as: LNGT 0206 *

                  WRPR 0288 Writing Race and Class (Fall 2022)

                  In this course we will take a literary and intersectional approach to topics of race and class. Readings include stories, essays, poems and videos by writers such as James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa and Kelly Tsai. Students will respond to critical and creative writing prompts, conduct fieldwork, and design two writing projects of their own. The class format will include conversations with guest writers, writing workshops, contemplative activities, and individual conferences with the instructor. Students will preferably have prior experience in discussing issues of race and class, although introductory theories will be made available to provide frameworks for discussion. CW, LIT, SOC (C. Wright)
                  Cross-listed as: GSFS 0288

                  WRPR 0304 Documentary Rhetorics (Fall 2022)

                  In this course students will explore the rhetorical performances of documentary film—in terms of production, ethics, and editing—and how documentaries are used for different means: investigation, activism, and even propaganda. After watching contemporary documentaries and reading reviews, interviews, analyses, and theories of filmmaking, students will analyze specific films (with cultural rhetorics and social consciousness lenses), conduct and transcribe interviews, and write a code of ethics for documentary filmmakers. The final project has students either produce or storyboard their own short documentaries. AMR, ART, CW, SOC (J. Sanchez)
                  Cross-listed as: FMMC 0304

                  WRPR 0333 Writing On Contemporary Issues: Writing, Editing, and Publishing Online (Spring 2023)

                  This course is an introduction to writing prose for a public audience. Students will create both critical and personal essays that feature strong ideas and perspectives. The readings and writing will focus on American popular culture, broadly defined. Essays will critically engage elements of contemporary American popular culture via a vivid personal voice and presence. Readings will address current issues in popular culture – Gladwell, “Brain Candy,” Klosterman, “Campus Confidential,” for instance. ReMix: Reading in Contemporary Culture is the central text. The end result will be a new online magazine of writings on American popular culture 3 hrs. lect. AMR, ART, CW, SOC (H. Vila)

                  WRPR 0354 The Rhetoric of Public Memory (Spring 2023)

                  This course focuses on public memory and the various statues, memorials, sites, and spaces that construct public memory in contemporary U.S. society. In this course, we will study local Middlebury and Vermont public memories, Civil War and Confederate memories, and spaces of contention and controversy, while visiting nearby memorials and museums. Students in this class will compose analyses on these public memories and create arguments on the viability of memories in different shapes and forms. Overall, students will leave this class with a stronger understanding of not only public memory rhetoric but the various components that keep these memories alive. 3 hrs. lect. AMR, CW, HIS, SOC (J. Sanchez)
                  Cross-listed as: HARC 0354

                  WRPR 0500 Independent Research (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

                  (Approval Required)