AA-351C 001 The Entrepreneurial Artist
Today's business climate presents many challenges to visual artists. Artists find themselves needing to combine their creative abilities with strong business practices. Whether you are an artist interested in financially sustaining your art making or have a vision to launch an arts-based business, this course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles needed. Through active participation and an interactive classroom format, students will merge practical business knowledge with insight from local experts in the field, to fuel students' entrepreneurial spirit. Topics to be explored include business planning, legal requirements, budgeting, marketing, branding and networking.  Prerequisite: Restricted to declared studio art majors/minors.

AA-351C 002 Engaging and Developing Audiences for the Arts
This course will examine how to engage a variety of communities through the arts, while raising the profile of artistic work with grassroots, traditional and social media marketing campaigns as well as special projects, programs and processes.  We will learn some of the history of marketing the arts, as well as cutting edge tools used today to communicate and activate the arts for audiences.  We will explore how to authentically entangle the artistic work of individual artists and organizations in the life of a community, while also increasing funding and earned income for the arts.  We will look at many new ways that artists and arts organizations are engaging and developing audiences - and how artists and institutions aim to connect with those not already included in their work in new ways, including underrepresented communities and those for whom the arts sometimes pose an economic barrier to participation.   Students will practice strategies for engagement through a final project detailing a proposed program or media/marketing plan aimed at increasing engagement while enhancing the artistic work of the individual or organization. 

AH-151D 001 and 002 Visual Cultures of the Americas
An interdisciplinary, introductory survey of the visual and material cultures of North, Central, and South America from the Archaic Period to the present. Students will engage in a hemispheric investigation of the art and visual cultures generated in the Americas through the complex historical exchanges between indigenous, European, African, and Asian societies and peoples. This course highlights not only the richness of the Americas’ indigenous cultures, but also that of the material produced by the mechanism of colonialism and the development of the modern nation-state.  (Designated a Cultural Diversity course; fulfills humanities requirement; counts for 100-level requirement for AH major.  Counts for the Latin American Studies minor. Counts for the IA-Cultural World requirement.)

AH-251C 001 Ritual, Politics, and Power: Mesoamerican Art and Culture
An interdisciplinary introduction to the art and architecture of Mesoamerica from the Formative Period (c.2000 BCE) to the arrival of the Spanish in the early sixteenth century CE. Students will explore the larger religious and political transformation of the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and other societies through their production of artistic objects. Particular attention will be paid to cultural memory and myth to understand the intersection of indigenous history and cosmology as well as the manner in which these systems shaped social, ritual, and political order.  (Designated a Cultural Diversity course; fulfills humanities requirement. Counts for breadth category "d" in AH major. Counts for the Latin American Studies minor. Counts for the Religious Studies major. Counts for the IA-Cultural World requirement.)

AH-351B 001 Picturing and Displaying New World Sacrality
An examination of how the sacred images and ritual activity of the Aztec, Maya, and other Pre-Columbian societies were circumscribed by European visual culture and institutional mechanisms from the sixteenth century through the modern period. Europeans visualized the Americas as an empty space upon which their own cultural narratives could be written, and they documented systems they did not understand as both a fantastic oddity and a nefarious Other. Students will explore the European documentary tradition that began with the first arrival of Spanish forces in the New World; the resultant imaging of the Americas and its inhabitants; the origins of collecting practices; and the continuation of colonial narratives in modern museums and Western popular culture. (counts for the Latin American Studies minor, Counts for the IA-Cultural World requirement.).

AM-101W 001  The Wizard of Oz
An interdisciplinary analysis of The Wizard of Oz, this course will examine the numerous adaptations of L. Frank Baum's classic tale to introduce students to the study of American culture, past and present. Students will read critically, think historically, practice interdisciplinarity, and acknowledge the intersections of race, class, and gender in order to analyze the ways that The Wizard of Oz, in its many versions, has reflected and shaped American culture. Students will consider primary and secondary sources that explore Oz through a range of media (fiction, film, theater, television, and music) and from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. In addition to reading Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), students will consider MGM's The Wizard of Oz (1939); the "super soul" Broadway musical, The Wiz (1975), and its 1978 film adaptation; Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (1973); Gregory Maguire's Wicked (1996); Stephen Schwartz's 2003 Broadway musical version of the Maguire novel; ABC television's The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005); and the television mini-series Tin Man (2007).  (Fulfills expository writing requirement; fulfills social sciences requirement.)

AM-101W 002  The City
Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of American culture, past and present. Emphasizes reading critically, thinking historically, practicing interdisciplinarity, and acknowledging diversity. Students will analyze and synthesize multiple kinds of primary sources (such as fiction, film, music, art) and disciplinary perspectives (sociology, economics, media criticism) to appreciate better the complexity of American life and culture.  (Fulfills expository writing requirement; fulfills social sciences requirement.)

AM-261C 001  The Holocaust and American Culture
This course has two emphases. The first third will focus on what Americans knew about the Nazis' genocidal policies in the 1930s and 1940s, how and when they knew it, and why the U.S. government and Jewish leaders were mostly ineffective in halting or mitigating the murder of some six million European Jews (among others). It will also consider the initial American reaction to learning about the Nazi death camps in 1945. The remaining two-thirds of the course will employ an interdisciplinary methodology to critique and put in context a variety of texts-films (documentary and feature), a TV series, graphic non-fiction, museums-created by and for Americans that have represented the Shoah ("the catastrophe"). The course will engage issues related to power and justice. It will probe the ways in which those in power in the United States did less than they could or might have done to save thousands of European Jews. It will also consider the power of popular culture to teach people lessons about the past and social justice. Ultimately, the class is about the power of remembering and representing the past, and the perils and possibilities that are part of those processes.

AM-265 001 Pop History
A topical examination of the creation, dissemination, and consumption of popular history in American culture. The course will examine the ways in which Americans absorb history through vernacular forms of communication, including radio dramatizations (The Cavalcade of America); cartoons and comic books (Classics Illustrated); television programs (Time Tunnel and Drunk History); movies (Disney's Pocahontas); living history demonstrations (Civil War re-enactments); and rap music (Flocabulary's Hip-Hop History). The interrelationships among popular, elite and folk history will be explored.  (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)

AM-351D 001  History Preservation Theory and Practice
Historic Preservation is a necessarily interdisciplinary field. Born of grassroots efforts to safeguard our country’s early heritage and to create a sense of “national lineage,” this field has expanded to include city planning, public history, archaeology, landscape studies, and economic development, to name only a few allied fields.  As such, this yearlong course composed of one semester of History and Theory of Preservation (4 credits) and one semester of a Preservation Practicum (3 credits), with an option to attend the National Park System Advisory Board Landmarks Committee Meeting (1 credit) should appeal to upper-level students in the fields of American Studies, Art Administration, Art History, Business, Environmental Studies, History, and Political Science, etc.

The course will take advantage of the local resources in the Capital Region.  Guest lectures from specialists from the Saratoga Battlefield National Historic Park, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Historic Preservation Office will be central to the class structure, in addition to site visits. Students will also have the chance to attend a National Park Service meeting in Washington, D.C. in the fall.

AN-251C 001 Anthropology of Violence
Students will be introduced to cross-cultural variation in violence at both a collective (social) and individual level. Primary topics will include different forms of violence within various positions of social complexity. Warfare will be distinguished from violence as a concept. Theoretical perspectives of violence will range from evolutionary adaptation to ritual ideology. Lastly, students will understand how agency, identity, and performance play a role in the implementation and avoidance of violence in a wide range of time periods and cultures. Activities will include group discussion, reflective writings, and presentations. (Designated a Cultural Diversity Course; fulfills Social Science.)

AN-252A 001 Indigenous Medicine in the Middle East
The course will analyze cultural origins of perceptions of disease among Arab communities in the Middle East. It will describe the indigenous healing practices, ethno- botanic medicine, and worship of saints. The course will contribute to renewed thinking about a synthesis between indigenous and modern medicine, and their reciprocal enrichment.

AN-252C 001 and 002 Themes in Cultural Anthropology
Examination of a non-Western geographic or subject area not available in existing course offerings; this course will focus on cultural anthropology. More information to be announced soon. (Designated a Cultural Diversity course; designated a non-Western cultures course.)

AN-351C 001 Anthropology of International Development
Despite the monetary, technological, and intellectual resources invested in eliminating poverty, the World Bank estimates that 2.2 billion people live on less than two dollars a day worldwide. Why have so many development projects failed to meet the objective to alleviate poverty and suffering by increasing living standards through social and economic change? Why have others been successful and what can anthropology contribute to this field?  This course will use an anthropological perspective to examine how theories of development and socio-economic change have been set into practice in the postcolonial context. Through ethnographic accounts, we will consider how these are experienced by both development workers and people targeted for intervention, while also exploring the dynamics of poverty, gender and households, and the informal economy. We will additionally look at how anthropological insights and critiques of development create pathways for collaboration within the development industry, and the types of ethical issues that this may pose. Prerequisite: AN-101 or AN-102.

AN-351C 002 Topics in Cultural Anthropology
Examination of a theoretical or subject specialization (with a strong theoretical component) not available in existing course offerings; this course will focus on cultural anthropology. More information to be released soon. (Designated a Cultural Diversity course.) Prerequisite: AN-101 or AN-102.

AN-351D 001 Human Osteology
Students learn about the human skeletal system and its role in human biological
function as it has evolved from our hominid ancestors. Topics covered include cellular structure of bone, form vs. function, and basic skeletal identification of features. Methods of analysis will briefly be introduced to show students how skeletal data are applied in various contexts including bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, paleoanthropology, and medical anthropology. Students will learn through hands-on observation of skeletal
material. Completion of this course will prepare students to further explore evolutionary topics, life history theory, adaptation, and the impacts of biocultural processes (such as environmental, cultural, or biological change) on human health and survival. Prerequisite: AN-102.

AN-351D 002 Urban Anthropology
This course uses ethnography and film to explore culture in contemporary urban
spaces. Students learn the main theoretical frameworks anthropologists use to study culture and how urban life relates to national, transnational, and global forces. Studies focus on how inhabitants adapt to urban environments as well as create new identities that give city spaces distinctive characteristics. Students deconstruct urban terminology (Metropolitan, Ghetto, City, and Neighborhood) to decipher the complex relationship
between urban inhabitants and urban infrastructure. We particularly explore how class, race and ethnicity affect the movement of people, use of resources, and explore how anthropologists apply contemporary studies to address social problems. Each student develops a case study of a particular issue in a global city that involves health,
development, or culture. (Designated a Cultural Diversity course.)  Prerequisite: AN-101 or AN-102.

AR-264D 001 Wearable Art   
This course is designed to introduce a variety of sewing skills and projects that will spark interest and help students learn about wearable art.  Experimentation with fiber arts techniques includes dying, embellishment, sewing and structure within a contemporary art context.  The students will have an opportunity to explore and develop their unique approach to creativity by developing and producing wearing art.  Prerequisite:  AR-133 or AR-136; Studio Fee: $105.

AR-264E 001 Enameling 
This course introduces students to enameling as a means of embellishing small works in metal (e.g. jewelry).  Students will explore a variety of traditional methods for fusing glass powders to copper and fine silver including sifting, painting, cloisonné, champlevé, and, piqué-a-jour. Assignments will direct students toward developing a personal aesthetic vision, while emphasizing the effective application of color theory and formal design principles.  Students will maintain a journal/sketchbook and conduct research to enhance their learning.  Students should be willing to commit a minimum of 8 hours per week to out-of-class work in this studio.  Critiques will provide a means for sharing ideas, challenging assumptions, and assessing “quality” in the work being undertaken.  A basic knowledge of jewelry fabrication methods and a willingness to work patiently, precisely, and responsibly are prerequisites for this course.   Prerequisite:  AR-219 or permission of instructor; Studio Fee:  $75.

AR-264H 001 Books and Prints
An introduction to the traditions and methods of the handmade artists' book in a combination of the critical study of original works and bookmaking processes. The student will learn the expressive possibilities of sequential pictorial information combined with original text. Construction of various bindings, relief prints, and letterpress will be explored. Prerequisites: AR-133 or AR-228.  Lab/Credit Fee: $75

AR-264I 001 CNC Processes and Sculpture
The goal of the course is for students to become confident at using digital means to define and solve problems in three dimensions.  Students develop technical skills related to metal processes and become increasingly more visually sophisticated as they create, observe, evaluate and then share the consequences of their efforts.  CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology is used to create metal shapes that are cut out with a CNC plasma cutter, assembled, and then welded together.   A basic working knowledge of software like Adobe Acrobat, Corel Draw, Sketchup or other CAD programs is helpful but not a requirement.  Advanced students are encouraged to use Autodesk Inventor.  Students are expected to have their own laptop. Studio Fee: $75.

AR-264J 001 Interactive Design 
An introduction to designing interactive pages and environments for the web. Emphasis is placed on visual and information design through theories of color, principles of design and the study of typography.  A variety of tools and techniques will be explored including photo editing, writing code for the web and animation through basic scripting languages. Studio projects will explore issues of audience participation, experience design, motion and interface.  Prerequisite:  AR-133 or AR-136; Studio Fee: $105.

AR-264J 002 Video Art 
An in-depth exploration of video and the moving image as a form of contemporary art practice. Students will learn the concepts and techniques employed in video and audio production and post-production as well as the history of video art and related forms from Fluxus to today.  Class time will be used for hands-on instruction, screenings, discussions, and critiques.  Throughout the semester students will create a series of short video experiments and a final video project.  Studio Fee:  $105.

BI-112 001 Straw into Gold: Science in the fiber arts
An introductory-level class combining the science of fibers and dyeing with their use in creating textiles. Students will learn how to form and test hypotheses and draw evidence-based conclusions while exploring the science behind differences between different fibers and dyeing techniques. Topics will include how different animal and vegetable fibers are generated, harvested, and prepared; the relationship between the observed structure and physical properties of fibers and their function; and the chemistry of natural and synthetic dyes and dyeing. Students will also be introduced to creating different textiles, weaving a fabric structure, and the stages and processes involved in constructing a creative textile art form. No previous experience in fiber arts or college level science required. Class will use a flipped classroom and case study project-based pedagogy, meeting for two 3 hour periods per week. A one day weekend workshop and two weekend field trips will be required, as well as a final project for display/exhibition. (Fulfills the Natural Science requirement.)

BI-252 001 Bioinformatics  
Bioinformatic s is a rapidly-growing, interdisciplinary field that uses modern computational techniques to store, retrieve, and analyze biological data (e.g., DNA and protein sequences). This course introduces fundamental concepts, methods, and tools used in bioinformatics. Lecture topics include database searching, gene finding, sequence alignment, phylogenetic inference, protein structure modeling and visualization, next generation sequencing and comparative genomics. In lab, students follow step-by-step instructions to complete project-oriented exercises. Upon completion of the course, students will have a basic understanding of bioinformatics methods and essential skills for analysis of molecular biological data.  Prerequisite:  BI-106 or permission of the instructor. (Computer programming skill is not required.)

BI-351 001 Biology of Algae  
This course provides advanced insights into the diversity and evolution of pro- and eukaryotic algal groups, including Cyanobacteria, red algae, diatoms, brown and green algae. The lectures delve into ecology and physiology of important algae. It focusses on their physico-chemical environment and highlights current research topics on algae-environment interactions. In this context, the course further explores the fundamental role of algae in ecosystem functioning, acclimation and adaptation strategies and examines the consequences of algal activities at local and global scales. Topics of this course include taxonomy, cell and environmental biology and thus will be valuable to students with general interests in plants, environment, evolution and physiological ecology. Related areas include, but are not limited to, marine biology, microbiology and microscopy. Three hours of lecture/discussion each week.  Prerequisite:  BI-105 and BI-106 and at least one 200-level course in the natural sciences, or permission of the instructor.

BI-351 002 Ecology of North America
A survey across the continent of the major biomes and communities of plants and animals characterizing major sectors of the landscape.  The course summarizes classical and recent studies of the biota of eastern deciduous forests, boreal forests, grasslands, deserts, and major aquatic systems from coast to coast, and includes baseline conditions and modern threats to these systems.  One full-day field trip required.

BI-351 003 Medical Systems Physiology  
A study of selected physiological disorders primarily affecting cardiovascular, renal-fluid balance and respiratory systems. Computer simulation of human case studies will be emphasized.  Prerequisite:  At least one 200-level biology course or permission of the instructor.

BI-352 001 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy    
Comparative anatomy is a biological discipline that describes the structure of animals with a braincase and a vertebral column.  In discussing vertebrate systems and organs and how they evolved, the course introduces the basic concepts of embryology and morphology.  In the lab, actual hands-on dissection will show the structural relationships of the major organ systems of three model vertebrates (lamprey, shark, cat or mink).  Students will develop an appreciation of the structural diversity of the major vertebrate groups, including the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.  Prerequisite:  At least one 200 level biology course, or permission of the instructor.

CS-376B 001 Mobile Computing and Smart Sensing  
An introduction to mobile and wearable computing and smart sensing. The number of smartphone users in the world is predicted to grow to 2.5 billion in 2019. The Internet of Things, once called the "next best thing," is already here.  Students will learn how to design the next-generation of efficient mobile devices and applications with the user's interests and privacy in mind. The course will cover different aspects of mobile computing and smart sensing such as ethics, security and privacy, usability, computing in an environment with low resources, and wireless networking.  Students will be expected to identify new applications of mobile computing and/or smart sensors.  They will learn at least one development framework (Android, Arduino) and use it to develop their course project.  Prerequisite:  CS-206.

DS-110B 001 Storytelling Toolkit: Video
Students will learn the basics of video storytelling through this one-credit video production course. Over the course of the semester, you will move from concept to completion of a single video project (3-4 minutes), which you will shoot, edit and present.  Skills developed may include storyboarding, DSLR camera workflow, setting up video interviews and how to tell a visual story.  Students will present a project on the first day of class.  Project stories and approaches are open based on student interest; they may range from documentary and narrative to experimental and creative.  They may be drawn from a previous or current course or your expertise and interests.   This is a skills-based visual course that has been designed for students at any level of experience. 

DS-113A 001 Storytelling: Interviewing
A workshop in the basics of oral history interview practices, ethics and techniques, including how to digitally record and transcribe an interview.  We will begin by working on stories with Saratoga Springs residents.  Each student will record, log and transcribe two interviews, one from a pre-selected pool of interviewees and another of their own choosing.  Completed oral histories may become part of the Skidmore-Saratoga Memory Project.   Emphasis will be placed on conducting oral histories of marginalized communities with a special focus on the Latino immigrant community.

DS-116A 001 Storytelling: Map Design and Spatial Visualization
Presentation of geographic spatial information begins with maps made following good design. What makes a good map design in terms of color composition, scale, and density of information? How does one present multiple scales and time series? Good design is only the beginning. Once content is mapped, how and with what media can the visual information be best presented? This course will explore map design and appropriate use of increasingly complex presentation strategies starting with powerpoint, followed by Google map engines and embedded internet applications and culminating with ArcGIS Online driven story mapping. Students with prior GIS experience will be able to create their own map data, while those uninitiated in GIS will be able to use existing data sets to achieve powerful and appropriate visualizations. The seven week course design allows for those with significant presentations at the end of the semester, such as capstone projects, to apply visualization and presentation methods gained in this course in those projects. The course would be offered under  Documentary Studies with Environmental Studies and Science cross-listing to appeal to a broad range of students.

DS-116B 001 Persuasive Interactive Media Design
In this course students will learn interactive media design in the Unity game engine, basic programming skills, and the theory of making persuasive arguments with interactive media and games.  One major project will include learning to create an educational interactive experience for desktop.  Course content will also begin to prepare students for the Unity developer certification exam.

DS-251C 001 Documentary Storytelling
In many ways, documentary stories aren't so much written as discovered. Our world is already full of stories waiting to be told, but what makes a story worth telling and how one should tell it, are two of the most crucial questions any documentarian must answer. From initial concept through to the final edit, this course asks students to grapple with this process of documentary discovery to develop a robust set of practices from which to tell the stories of the world around us. Major topics include:

  · How to develop, nurture and test a story idea: when to know it has 'legs'

  · The value of Loglines, Treatments and Pitches for conceptualizing story

  · Form and Methodology: is this story best told as a short? Podcast? Feature?  

    Interactive project? Does it require archival research? Interviews?

  · How to ethically obtain access to a story

  · Finding the story in the footage-the importance of the editing room

This course requires no pre-existing knowledge or experience of documentary practice or technical expertise, and will be of interest to anyone curious about telling documentary stories in a multitude of forms. Students will work with an archive of previously shot footage to craft a short documentary film, learning basic editing techniques with Adobe Premiere.

DS-381A 001 Skidmore-Saratoga Memory Project Practicum: The WSPN Story
Students in this practicum will work with WSPN archival materials - including oral histories, artifacts, media, and papers - to develop a multimedia exhibition to tell the history of our station as an integral institution on campus since the 1970's.   One of the oldest independent college radio stations in the country, WSPN offers Skidmore College and Saratoga area communities the opportunity to bring music, share stories, and shape the region's listening experience. The exhibition is planned for the end of Fall 2017. WSPN's  board and larger community have developed  this opportunity to expose and tell the story of radio to both the Skidmore community and the Saratoga community at large The project is a collaboration of WSPN, MDOCS' Community and Radio, and Scribner Library.

English Department Descriptions can be found here - https://www.skidmore.edu/english/courses/index.php

GE-251A 001 Introductory Seminar in Geosciences
A discussion of research, communication, and careers in earth sciences, based on journal articles, student research, and oral presentations. Designed for students who have little or no Geosciences experience.

GN-151B 001 Peer Academic Coaching Experience
This course prepares students to work as Peer Academic Coaches in individual and group academic coaching settings.  Topics covered include the role of academic coaching, models of academic coaching, creating coaching plans, setting goals, ethics in academic coaching, brain based learning, learning preferences vs. learning styles, critical thinking, meta-cognition, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, academic intervention, cultural intelligence, and confidentiality and student privacy laws.  Students will apply the knowledge learned in evening group academic coaching sessions and individual sessions as Peer Academic Coaches partnered with students enrolled in XXXXX.   Enrollment by permission of the instructor, Brenda Pashley -  bpashley@skidmore.edu

GN-151B 002 and 003 English for Academic Engagement
English for Academic Engagement centers on building students' vocabulary and teaching language skills necessary for students to integrate with the Skidmore academic community and engage in academic discourse.  Students will work directly with faculty and peer tutors to develop skills that include academic oral engagement, public speaking, conversational and interpersonal communication strategies, reading comprehension, and listening. The course is open to all students seeking to further develop their English language skills.  Final placement will be reviewed and approved by faculty prior to the start of the semester. Letter grade only

GN-151C 001 Strong Start: Calibrating your College Compass
Students in this course, primarily first year or gap year students, will learn strategies to cope with the personal, social, and academic stressors of college life and prepare for future success.  The course will introduce students to emerging literature on the psychology of resilience; including Dweck’s concept of mindset, how to recover from setbacks and failures, and the practice of mindfulness.  Topics will also include effective communication practices with both professors and peers, time management planning, study strategies and problem solving skills.   Varied presentations, written assignments and activities will strengthen the foundation of academic skills and habits.  The central goal is for students to gain an understanding of how humans are able to be resilient in the context of stress, especially as it applies to being a college student.

HI-151 001  Two World Wars: A Global Perspective of the Years 1900-1945
Examines the two world wars from a global perspective. Rather than study the two wars as merely a series of military battles in Europe and the Pacific, this course will give special attention to the global nature of the two wars: the clash between imperial powers over colonial possessions; the use of colonial subjects as soldiers; the collapse of great empires after the wars; the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as a world powers; the impact of war on Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East; the growth of colonial independence movements after the wars; and the origins of the global Cold War in the second half of the twentieth century. The course gives equal weight to how the wars broke out, how they were waged, and how their outcomes fundamentally rearranged the world. Students will be introduced to various lenses through which the war can be examined, including perspectives that emphasize, culture, the economy, the homefront, gender, and society. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HI-151P 001 Middle East Survey
This course is a survey of the history of the Middle East, from late antiquity to the early modern period. It combines a chronological and thematic examination of social, political, and legal institutions scientific, philosophical, and scholarly ventures; the impact of invaders; conversion; and, religious, political, and economic interactions. By examining cities, such as Aleppo, Baghdad, Cairo, Constantinople, Cordoba, Esfahan, and Shiraz, as well as areas, such as the Mediterranean basin, bodies of water, such as the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, over the course of a thousand years, the course challenges the notion that there was one physical center to the Middle East. Through a close reading of historiographical debates and primary sources, students will examine the circulation of people, ideas, goods, and practices across space and time. (Designated a non-Western cultures course; fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HI-251D 001  Resisting Hitler
An introduction to perspectives on the German and European resistance to Hitler from 1933 to 1945. We'll explore a number of general questions about resistance, including: What types of behavior can be called resistance? How does resistance differ from opposition, dissent, and non-conformity? What forms did resistance take within Nazi Germany and how did resistance in Germany differ from resistance in German-occupied countries? How did Jews resist? How can one distinguish between the myths of resistance and the realties of the resistance? How has the resistance been memorialized? We begin to try to answer some of these questions by exploring how Germans resisted the Nazi dictatorship from within. In particular well look at the resistance and opposition by high school and university students, Communists and Socialists, Jews and Christians, and the military opposition portrayed in the movie Valkyrie. We'll then expand outward to see how people living in nations occupied by the Germans resisted Nazi policies, such as in Poland, Italy, Denmark, and Bulgaria. The third unit of the course will explore the revolts and uprisings that took place in some of the extermination camps and ghettos, such as the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. And we'll conclude by considering how the resistance has been remembered and memorialized. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HI-351D 001  The Age of Reformation in Europe
On October 31st, 1517, an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther protested the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences by nailing his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther's act of rebellion would spark a movement we have come to know as the Protestant Reformation, a term he would not have recognized or, for that matter, much appreciated.

This course is designed to explore the Reformation in the broad context of its social, political, and cultural impact on Germany first, where it began, and then Europe and England, where it spread.  This was an important, transitional phase in European history, a time when new, often radical ideas and social unrest threatened established institutions and intellectual assumptions.  Thematically, this course casts a wide net: we will begin by understanding the precursors to reform.  We will discuss the state of medieval Christianity and the influence of Renaissance Humanism on the Reformers. We will trace the rocky path of the Reformation from Martin Luther and John Calvin's denunciations of the Catholic hierarchy to its establishment as the Protestant Reformation in European and English contexts. Near the end of the semester we will examine a variety of reactions to the Reformation: among them the revival of the Catholic Church, witch hunts, and the religious wars that tore Europe asunder in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  This course will satisfy the HI 300R requirement.  (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HI-351D 002  Media, State and the Society in Modern China
This course examines how the modern Chinese state emerged from mass media and communication practices in the late 19th and 20th centuries.  It surveys the changing landscape of verbal, visual, and print regimes through an era of rapid social and political transformations, and how new ways of perceiving, writing, and living were invented through technologies of communication.  (Designated a non-Western cultures course; fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HI-351D 003 Women, Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East
Western pop culture, media, and political discussions frequently portray Muslim and Middle Eastern women as oppressed. This oppression is regularly attributed to Islam and a culture of patriarchy. This course will present a more complex historical narrative of women, gender, and sexuality in the broader Middle East. It seeks to enable students to cultivate a more nuanced lens through which they can analyze the past and the present. The course will examine how the perceived differences and relations between men and women were historically produced and have differed across a vast geographical space (Middle East and North Africa), and temporal field (from the seventh century to the contemporary period). The course combines a chronological and thematic investigation of women in the early Islamic community; veiling and broader sartorial practices; the emergence of the Harem; women in Islamic courts; marriage; the relationship between gender and sexuality; different genealogies of sexual thought and practices; same-sex love; homosocial forms of companionship; and gendered differences of beauty.  (Designated a non-Western cultures course; fulfills social sciences requirement.)

HF-200-001 Saratoga Architecture
Explore, understand, and explain Saratoga Springs architecture. In this Honors Forum (HF) add-on, students will develop and lead a 30-minute presentation on significant buildings, parks, or other important structures in Saratoga Springs. The possibility of local sites—Victorian buildings, racetrack, monuments, springs, or even Skidmore College—is endless, offering many opportunities for analyzing and interpreting the historical arc of Saratoga’s built environment. Examining our local built environment means we can visit local sites, interview residents and lead onsite tours that analyze a structure’s historical, aesthetic, material, functional, and/or propagandistic aspects. Students will research their structure, studying, at the very least, the architect; the intent of the structure; material and aesthetic concerns; and the building’s afterlife.  Must be concurrently enrolled in AH 251C 001 Architecture and Utopia.

IA-252B 001 The Global Economy:  Issues and Institutions, Politics and Policy
An examination of the interplay between international economics and politics and how these interactions affect international trade and finance. The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the operation of the world’s economy at the theoretical and practical levels while examining how economic relationships and institutions may affect political outcomes.  Building on theoretical foundations, the course contrasts mainstream economic theories of international trade law, finance, development and investment with theories highlighting class relations/wealth distribution, power, and market imperfections or failures.  Among the subjects likely to be explored: multinational corporations, capital flight, debt and financial crises, exchange-rate mechanisms, regional trade agreements, the role of the state and the prospects for national and supra-national monetary and fiscal policies. Debate on free trade policies versus state-focused protectionism, the historical role of international economic institutions and the interactions of politics and economics are essential to the course. Students will also examine the roles that international economic organizations such as the WTO, IMF, ECB, and the World Bank have played in economic globalization as well as the activities of regional and state-level financial players which have considerable influence over macroeconomic policies and the world’s economy.  By examining real life phenomena and recent events, the course aims to give students the tools they need to critically examine the political relationships between states, markets and international economic actors.

IA-252D 001 Global Geography and International Affairs
This course, which fulfills the physical world foundation knowledge requirement for IA majors, explores the relationship between international affairs and the physical world. The course will probe how policymakers and other stakeholders approach a variety of issues related to demographics, climate, natural disasters, agriculture, public health, energy, resource management and physical geography.  Prerequisite: IA 101.

IA-351 002 001 Islamphobia
This course examines the historic, political and cultural origins of Islamophobia, its manifestations over time, and its relationship with other forms of hate and bias, such as anti-Semitism.  Particular emphasis will be given to a recent surge in Islamophobic incidents and their relationship to immigration, foreign policy, and political trends in Europe and the United States. We will explore movies, film, art, news and a variety of other media. Prerequisite: IA-101.

MA-276A 001 Problem Solving for a Complex World
This course provides students with a unique opportunity to study open-ended interdisciplinary problems in a format that more closely represents the types of projects they might encounter in their careers.  The main objective of this course is to prepare for the Mathematical Contest in Modeling and Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (MCM/ICM), an international competition where teams of students propose solutions to open-ended problems. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have practiced several past MCM/ICM problems, including model set-up, analysis, simulation, formal write ups, and oral presentations.

Some examples of previous contest problems include:  create a sustainable city and a metric for “smart” growth, optimize the passenger throughput at airport security, and model refugee immigration policies. Prerequisite: MA 113 (Coding experience recommended)

MA-276A 002 Statistical computing using R and RStudio
R has quickly become the leading programming language for working with data and creating reproducible analysis. Statistical computing using R & RStudio will be structured so that students learn R in a way that is motivated by specific data sets with relevant questions of interest. As one example, how could we use 300 thousand flights in and out of New York City airports to characterize which airports have the longest delays?  As another, what can we discover in 60 thousand anonymous profiles of OkCupid users?  The course will cover R’s basic syntax, variables, operations, vectors, matrices, and data frames, and will explore the use of RMarkdown to create reproducible analysis. Additionally, it will explore techniques for data wrangling (i.e., how to handle messy data sets). The course concludes with a project in which students use R to present their own analysis of data. There are no prerequisites, other than a willingness to code. The course will meet bi-weekly on Mondays. 

MA-276C 001 Statistical Genetics
In this course, we will use the tools of statistics or “dirty math” to abstract meaning from the messiness of real-life genetic data.  We will explore what our DNA says (or doesn’t say) about us, for example, whether our DNA matches evidence from a crime scene, what our future risk of cancer is, and whether traits like our intelligence and athletic performance are fixed or flexible.  We will also examine a number of statistical fallacies and paradoxes and misconceptions about “what’s in our DNA.”  Our emphasis will be on problem solving and critical and analytical thinking about real data.  Prerequisite:  MS-104 or equivalent.

MB-351C 001 Innovation and Structure of American Industry
Why and how does innovation occur in some industries and not in others?  Students will explore historical and contemporary theories of innovation within the context of varied industry structures and macro-environmental factors. Students will study the nature, frequency, defining characteristics and rate of innovation in an array of industries.  Further, students will examine the interrelationships among a variety of industry environments, organizational forms and industry structures, allowing students to gain an understanding of organizational and industry evolution.

MB-351C 002 Insight Driven Marketing: Theory and Practice
This course is an introduction to qualitative methods in business specifically exploring how insight driven research impacts understanding of consumer behavior and marketing. After a review of the philosophical foundations of research, the course will center on diverse qualitative research methods in marketing. Subsequently the course focuses on application of qualitative methodology to diverse research problems, data collection procedures, and analysis approaches.  Prerequisite:  MB-107 and MB-214.

MB-351C 003 Branding and Marketing Communications
This course will be taught by a leading expert in the advertising industry – a proven entrepreneur and creative thinker with significant global and national experience to create and transform brands and deliver unified multimedia campaigns for a connected world. Branding is about a product/service’s engagement with the world. In a nutshell, a brand is a promise with a personality. The best brands are built from emotional insight derived from the target audience. Branding is deeply creative; it is psychological as well as practical. The strongest, most well-defined brands result in more engaging advertising and promotion. Branding is both strategic and creative, and this course will explore the fundamental nature of branding as well as best practices and methodologies. We will examine existing brands in various categories including Fashion, Automotive, Entertainment, Hospitality, and Healthcare. Through exercises and projects, the class will come to understand that branding is the cornerstone effective marketing communications.

MB-351D 001 Media and the Meaning of Work
How do sports films teach viewers about leadership and motivation theory? Do tween television shows set expectations about careers for young viewers? Could NBC's Chicago Fire or Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch have cultural implications for how society understands the meaning and experience of work? This course will provide a visual analysis and exploratory study of pop culture's message about the nature of work. Using an interdisciplinary management lens (e.g., organizational behavior, media studies, applied psychology, sociology of work), we'll explore how cultural media (e.g., film, television, advertisements) depict messages about work and careers. The messages and their effects will be our initial focus as we explore published research on media effects. Students will then build research skills when tasked with gathering data on key research questions about media and the meaning of work using methods such as focus groups, interviews, survey research, and content analysis. The goals of this fast moving, rigorous special topics course are to critically analyze media's messages, to develop research skills, and to question the cultural implications of pop culture messages about work.  Prerequisite:  MB-107 and MB-224 or Permission of the instructor.

MF-251C 001 From Super-Heroes to Anxiety Attacks, or Comics Here and There, Now and Then
A synoptic look at the medium of comics as they have evolved from the strip to the comic book to the graphic novel in America and elsewhere. Attention to the evolution leading from the super-hero craze of the 40s to the return to genre-based story telling in the fifties and the great explosion of innovation in the 60s when the medium “discovered” neurosis. Important touchstones: the pulps of the 30s and their influence; the witch hunt of the 50s led by the publication of Seduction of the Innocent by the psychiatrist Frederick Wertham; the powerful influence of EC horror and science fiction comics on the field; the transition to “adult” themes that herald the coming of the graphic novel.

We will also consider briefly comics in other places such as France and Japan to understand both the reach of American comics and their limitations.
Readings will include Michael Chabon’s Kavalier and Clay, selections from comics from the 40s to the 60s, close reading of EC genre comics in an exercise I call the “EC Mash-up, ; study of “Master Race” by Bernard Krigstein, quite possibly the most important comic book story ever written; a Tintin novel; some manga/animé selections (with guest lecturers Professors Masako Inamoto and Masami Tamagawa); graphic novels from among a list including but not limited to Maus, Fun Home, Jimmy Corrigan, God-damn this War, Palestine, Love and Rockets; Optic Nerve. Students will submit a weekly one page reaction paper, and write two extended papers, one at mid-semester, one at the end of term. At least one of these will have a research component. At least one may be a work of creative emphasis in terms of either scripting or drawing a strip of your own invention.

MF-351C 001 The Suspense is Killing Me! The Cinema of Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock’s place among the greatest exponents of film is well established. His career spanned two continents, began in the silent period and ended in the 1970s, some ten years into a renewal of cinema that began in France where Hitchcock was one of the touchstones of French New Wave criticism. Vertigo (1958) the film recognized as his masterpiece, has been voted the “greatest film” of all time in the most recent Sight and Sound magazine poll of film experts ,unseating for the first time Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, which had held the title for 10 years.

This course will involve close study of a selection of films by Hitchcock (for example: Notorious, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, The Birds, Psycho) as well as other films whose styles are strongly marked by his example (such as Elevator to the Gallows, Body Double, The Bride Wore Black, Monsieur Hire). Class sessions will be devoted to lecture and discussion of the films, with projection of specific sequences for analysis. Beyond developing a strong sense of the core components and thematic constants of Hitchcock;s films, our objectives in the class will center on writing about the visual. How does one effectively speak of what one sees? How does the way visuals are presented affect what we feel and think we know about what they depict? Hitchcock’s reliance on elaborate illusionistic techniques provides a constantly provocative arena for the consideration of such questions. Students will be expected to watch additional films not discussed in class,. They will write a weekly reaction paper, a mid-term sequence analysis paper, and a final paper that will include research into secondary sources.

MF-351D 001 History of Media and Communication
History of Media and Communication is a survey course that traces the development of communications technologies from prehistoric cave art to the internet. While doing so, it introduces students to important topics in the fields of Media and Communications Studies. Historical subjects covered in the course include the ancient Near Eastern invention of writing; the media landscapes of ancient China, Greece and Rome; media of the Middle Ages; and the development of various modern technologies and practices, including the printing press, book publishing, newspapers, film, radio, television, and new media. Units vary in focus from the prevailing media of specific eras to the long-term development of technologies over time. Readings include excerpts of works by historians of media and communication, as well as media theorists, anthropologists, and experts on specific periods. Central themes of the course include the difference between relativistic and universalistic theorists of media’s history, the role of media in social change, and the complex relationship of media technologies to public spheres and politics. At points throughout the course, students are encouraged to engage the history of media through assignments involving the analysis of historical artifacts. Lessons involve lectures, screenings of films and documentaries, and class discussions.

MP-179 001 World Music Ensembles: African Drumming and Dance
This course introduces students to various techniques of artistic expressions in sub-Saharan Africa. To acquire a holistic experience, we will learn traditional and contemporary songs, as well as drumming and dancing styles from East, West, and Southern Africa. Weekly rehearsals will culminate into an end-of-semester concert, which will also count as the final examination. The course is open to all students at Skidmore College, regardless of one’s background. Students are also allowed to repeat the course during the subsequent semester(s), if offered, for credit or non-credit. No auditioning is required.  

MU-106C 001 Music in Africa
This course explores the rich musical traditions of Africa through in-depth reading as well as close listening and/or viewing of assigned recordings. While this is not a survey course, we will explore and critically scrutinize “issues” and content about instruments, musical styles, genres, as well as multiple contexts that give rise to music in particular histories and socio-political settings in Africa. To enhance a critical reflection upon the multiple perspectives about music in Africa (particularly Sub-Saharan Africa), we will draw on an ethnomusicological approach – the study of music in the context of culture.

MU-106D 001 Introduction to Jazz
An introductory survey of jazz from the early twentieth century through the present.  Discussion of major musicians and stylistic trends, historical and social issues, and intersections with other art forms such as literature, film, and dance.  No prior musical experience necessary.(Fulfills Humanities requirement.)

MU-344B 001 Ethnomusicology/Introduction
An introduction to the principal issues and concepts of the discipline of ethnomusicology.  Attention will be given to selected publications in ethnomusicology with seminar visits by the authors.

MU-344B 002  Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven  
Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, and their contemporaries thought music was integrally connected to other fields of inquiry throughout the arts and sciences.  Since their time, many of us have become accustomed to thinking about music (especially the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven!) in a more abstract, and less interdisciplinary, sense.  We refer to "Haydn's quartet" or "Beethoven's Symphony" as timeless "works" we "get to know" by playing and/or analyzing the score.  In this class, while we will look closely at scores, they will not be our focus.  Our approach will be historical and cultural.  Our questions will include:  What were the contexts (political, social, artistic) in which the composer lived, and how did they shape the music?  How was the music played and how did it sound?  How did listeners receive it?  What kinds of meanings and significance did they attach to it?  Prerequisite:  MU-242 or permission of the instructor.

PH-101 001 and 002 Introduction to Philosophy
“How Should We Act, How Do We Know?”  This course provides an intensive introduction to the practice of philosophy. To introduce this practice, we will look at two perennial problems for philosophy, those of "How Should We Act?" and of "How Do We Know?"  To animate and give substance to this practice, we will discuss classical and contemporary attempts to answer these questions offered by women and men who have thought deeply about such issues. Students in the course will gain an understanding of what philosophy is and what kind of things it studies. However, the main benefit of the class will be acquiring an approach to asking questions and of finding answers to hard questions about our lives and about our universe to which the answers are not readily apparent. (Fulfills Humanities Requirement)

PH-330C 001 Women Philosophers of the Seventeenth Century
The standard narrative of seventeenth-century philosophy is dominated by men (Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke). But women as well were active members of the intellectual community: they were nuns, princesses, courtiers, and countesses, but they were also philosophers, metaphysicians, scientists, and early defenders of the "equality of the sexes." Some of their works were widely circulated in the seventeenth century, but most have faded from view over the intervening centuries. Philosophers today are starting to recover some of these lost works and revive the neglected voices. In this course, we will explore the works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia, Margaret Cavendish, Anne Conway, and Mary Astell. The writings of these philosophers cover topics including the nature of knowledge, the education of women, criticisms of mind-body dualism, science, religion, politics, and the good life, as it might be lived out in the midst of great personal success or deep personal difficulty. By revisiting these philosophers, we will have a richer conception of the innovations of the seventeenth century, and we will give rightful place to some of the women who engaged in modern philosophy from its inception.  Prerequisite:  One course in Philosophy.

PL-251 001 Introduction to Political Research
Political science research seeks to answer interesting and important questions with valid inferences about political processes. This course will introduce the wide range of research approaches used by political scientists to study American, comparative, and international politics: observational data, surveys, and experiments; quantitative and qualitative; case studies and comparative designs; and more. The primary goal is becoming a smart consumer of political science research with the ability to understand research techniques, interpret findings, assess appropriateness of research designs, and identify challenges to valid inference. The course will discuss principles of data analysis and statistical tools frequently used in political science, but the emphasis is skills to read, understand, and critique research. Note: this course will not count for the American Politics subfield in Political Science since it covers research methods.  (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)    Prerequisite:  PL-101 or PL-103 or ES-100 or permission of the instructor.

PL-251B 001 Africa's Rise and the Changing Global Order
Once labeled "the hopeless continent," the political and economic developments in Africa today suggest the exact opposite. Africa's economies are among the fastest growing in the world, with at least a dozen countries enjoying a growth rate of six percent or higher since the mid-1990s. The number of democracies on the continent has risen from a mere three in 1989 to twenty-three in 2008. What explains these political, economic, and social changes? How are emerging African economies re-shaping world politics and international markets? What are the consequences of China's increasing role in the region? To answer these questions, we will travel through Africa's recent political history, beginning with colonial rule and its legacies, the independence movements and development policies of the 1960s, economic crises, foreign aid, and civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, and the wave of democratization and economic growth starting in the mid-1990s to today.  (Designated a non-Western cultures course; fulfills social sciences requirement.)  Prerequisite:  PL-103 or permission of the instructor.

PL-251C 001 The Politics of Gay Rights   
Today same-sex couples can get married in all fifty states, and yet only twenty-two states prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation (there are even fewer protections based on gender identity). As such, you can obtain a marriage license in any one of the remaining twenty-eight states and still be fired for being gay. How has the United States been able to achieve full marriage equality in the absence of basic legal protections for gay men and lesbians?  In exploring some possible answers to this question, we will study the development of the LGBT rights movement in the United States, from its origins in the 1950s to the present day. In addition to studying the movement's history, we will analyze social movement goals and strategies, as well as the ensuing backlash, across a wide range of issues including employment discrimination, political and legal representation, gays in the military, marriage, and transgender rights, just to name a few. We will then conclude with an exploration into the relationship between gay rights and the renewed push for religious freedom. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.) Prerequisite:  PL-101 or permission of the instructor.

PL-367 001 Real Democracy
How well does democracy work in Saratoga Springs? How do we know?  Real Democracy uses the 2017 Saratoga Springs City Council elections as a real life laboratory for studying the practice of democracy in 21st century America.  Students will design and implement several research projects including mapping voter turnout, surveying city council meetings, analyzing local campaign strategies, interviewing local political elites; and conducting an exit survey of citizens' vote choice in the 2015 Saratoga Springs city.  The culmination of the class will be a public presentation of our analysis to the general public and candidates. The class is more of a workshop than a class or seminar.  (Fulfills social sciences requirement. Fulfills QR2 requirement)  Prerequisite:  PL-101 or permission of the instructor.

PL-367 002 Experimental Research
Political science increasingly relies on experiments to understand the causes of behaviors, attitudes and events: why do people vote, what is the effect of campaign ads, what influences legislators, how much discrimination still exists, and many more questions.  In this course, we will discuss the logic of experiments, its strengths and weaknesses compared to other ways of studying political science, and the ways in which experimentation has been -- and could be -- used to investigate political, social, and economic phenomena.  Students will learn how to interpret, design, and execute experiments, with an emphasis on field experiments and survey experiments.  (Fulfills social sciences requirement.)  Prerequisite:  PL-101 or permission of the instructor.

PS-261 001 Educating Parents in the Digital Age
The creation and maintenance of a public multi-media web resource about child development. Students will determine the mission of the website, its format, and its content. Students will research the types of blogs and websites that parents read; have conversations with caregivers, parents, and educators to discover what people want to know about developmental psychology; and speak with developmental psychologists about what they would like parents and the public to know. Students can (and are encouraged to!) take this course multiple times. Each semester, we will add content and brainstorm new ways to make our site better.

PS-312B 001 Vision in Human, Animal and Machine
This class will focus on ‘vision’ in its many forms — ranging from single-celled animals to complicated ‘artificial intelligence’ based computer vision systems. We will survey the biological and evolutionary processes that led to our human sense of sight as well as how both natural and artificial systems have influenced our understanding of ‘vision.’ We will explore computational models of human vision as well as current state-of-the-art deep learning techniques for image and scene identification. Ultimately we will settle once-and-for-all whether ‘vision’ as practiced by machines bears any resemblance at all to the behavior of ‘vision’ in natural systems. Prerequisite:  PS-101 or NS-101 or permission of the instructor.

PS-312B 002 Topics in Child Clinical Psych
This course will explore the practice of clinical psychology with children and adolescents.  Students will focus on etiology, assessment, analysis and intervention for emotional and behavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence with an emphasis on evidence-based treatments. Particular attention will be paid to relevant differences between children, adolescents and adults and how working with children in clinical settings differs from working with adults.  Prerequisite:  PS-214 or PS-308.

PY-251A 001 Arduino Electronics
An introduction to digital electronics and the use of embedded systems for sensing and processing of information.  Students in this course will design and construct instruments or devices that combine Arduino microcontrollers and analog circuits.  Prerequisite:   PY-208.

RE-230C 001  Buddhism An Introduction (NAB)  
A broad introductory survey to Buddhism, focusing on the tradition's history and development, its key doctrines and practices, its geographic spread, and its cultural adaptations. The course materials have a dual focus: we will examine the intellectual history of Buddhism in detail, and also explore how Buddhism functions as a living, practical tradition. Students will engage with the rich diversity of Buddhist worlds in a variety of media, including scriptures, paintings, sculptures, and film. (Designated a non-Western cultures course; fulfills humanities requirement.)

RE-230C 002  God, Sex, and Love  
Christian approaches to the divine have played a decisive role in the formation of Western and global cultures, including approaches to love, sex, and marriage. However, within the Christian tradition there are-and always have been-transgressive voices who have challenged and subverted these approaches. In this class, we will first examine Jewish and Christian constructions of love, gender, and marriage based on notions of the complementarity of the sexes, love as eternal union, and marriage as a divine intimacy with God. We shall then approach texts and figures that challenged such conceptions, and in some ways opened pathways for modern/contemporary discussions concerning love, sex, and partnership. (Fulfills humanities requirement.)

RE-330D 001  Goddesses and Other Powerful Women
An intensive introduction to the concept of the feminine divine as it finds expression in cultures across space and time.  As a comparative investigation of goddesses in selected societies, we will read myths, ethnographies and scholarly studies that explore the theological and political possibilities of female divinity.  We will also explore how people in particular socio-historical contexts - scholars, people of faith, men, women and transgendered individuals - have drawn on goddess mythology, symbolism and ritual in order to challenge, or justify, established norms surrounding gender, race, religion and power. (Designated a Cultural Diversity course; fulfills humanities requirement.)

SO-251R 001 Studying Student Worlds
An introduction to qualitative research methods as vehicles for exploring and describing social experiences, focusing on the lives of students.  Course topics include field research, qualitative interviewing, and the role of the researcher.  Students examine ethnographic studies of academic settings and collect and analyze qualitative data about Skidmore's culture.  Not open to students who have completed SO-332R.

SO-351A 001  Skills for Survey Research
An applied workshop in methods for conducting secondary analysis of survey data. Students review core statistical and methodological concepts and learn the nuts and bolts of data management, variable recoding, and statistical analysis using SPSS. Attention is given to the creation of effective forms of data visualization.  Prerequisite:  Open only to senior sociology majors.

SO-351A 002  How College Maintains Inequality
Research on social stratification has often touted college education as a "great equalizer."  This course will examine recent sociological research literature to identify the extent and means by which higher education also reproduces social inequalities.  Students will read, discuss, and critique the 2015 American Sociological Association Distinguished Book Award winning "Paying for the Party" and address policies aimed at bringing the realities of contemporary higher education into line with its highest ideals.

SO-351R 001 Population Dynamics in Sociological Perspective
Will you marry? Will you have children?  How many?  When will you have them?  Where will you live?  With whom will you live?  How long will you live?  Answers to these questions are at once demographic and deeply sociological.  This course will introduce students to the formal study of social demography which examines the causes and consequences of human population growth and change.  We will study, at length, the two most  direct causes of global population growth--fertility (birth) and mortality (death).  We will also examine changing patterns of family formation, migration, urbanization, education, environmental degradation, aging, and illness that bear on the quantity and quality of human lives lived now and in the future.  All of this is done in search of answers to the question, what social forces determine how long and how well we live?

TH-306 001  Performing Arts Management & Producing 
Exploring the essentials of producing dynamic mission-driven performance work in today's arts landscape. Non-Liberal Arts

TH-306 003  Intro to Corset Building  
The corset epitomizes fashion's relationship between the visible and the invisible. In this class you will have the chance to create the ultimate foundation garment. You will produce and fit two corsets. One will be representative of the late 16th to early 17th century, and the second will be representative of the Victorian times (1839 - 1899). You will learn appropriate production methods, and the use of eyelets, boning and lacing to manipulate the body shape. You will need to purchase you own top fabric for the corset (guidance will be given on materials), and you will need a corsetry "pack" containing a busk, boning, lacing and base fabric, and the two commercial patterns the class will be using. You will also keep a learning log / (sketchbook).  The corsets will be built using both hand and machine sewing.  Students need to have previous sewing experience, by hand and machine. Non-Liberal Arts

WLF-263 001 Travel Blogs, Travel Writers
Combine your love of travel and your passion for French! This course offers opportunities for writing creative fiction and non-fiction, drawing upon students' experiences as travelers, both literal and figurative. Students will read real, contemporary travel blogs to see how French speakers use language in the blogosphere. Short readings introduce students to travel writing as a genre, and texts in French serve as models and inspiration for student-generated travel writing. Readings include excerpts from travel accounts by Flaubert, Gautier, and Eberhardt, among others. One excursion will take us to the Tang Teaching Museum, where students will examine travel artifacts, selecting an object to serve as a creative spark for writing. Students will write frequently and share their work with the goal of refining their written expression in French and communicating greater complexity of thought. Grammar review provided on an as needed basis.  Prerequisite:  WLF-208 or WLF-210.

WLI-263 001  Italian through Film, Food, Music, Poetry 
This is a Special Topics course especially designed for students at the mid-to-upper-intermediate level of Italian. We will examine contemporary Italian films, the vocabulary and highlights of Italian gastronomy, sing Italian songs (il bel canto) from rap to opera, and read selections of the most representative Italian poetry. This innovative Italian course promises to be exciting, informative, enjoyable and instructive. Course counts for the Minor in Italian.  (Fulfills Humanities Requirement) Prerequisite:  WLI-203 or permission of the instructor.

WLJ-363 001 Bara no nai Hanaya (Japanese TV drama)
This Special Studies in Advanced Japanese is a seminar on the spoken Japanese language. Using Bara no nai Hanaya, a popular Japanese TV drama, as a text, the student learns and acquires the intricate skills of everyday spoken Japanese. Emphasis will be placed on a systematic study of and learning various sociolects, associated with different social groups, such as gender, generations, and socioeconomic classes, in the contemporary Japanese language. Throughout the semester, the student will engage in discussion in Japanese about the TV drama, as well as various topics of contemporary Japanese culture and society, including its sociolinguistic features. By the end of the semester, the student will learn how to speak Japanese in a manner consistent with sociocultural and situational factors, in conveying everyday conversation, including expressing one's opinion, narrating a story, and giving advice. Whenever time permits, visual media will be incorporated to gain and enhance our understanding of contemporary Japanese language and culture. Class is conducted entirely in Japanese and uses authentic spoken and written materials. (Designated a Non-Western cultures course)  Prerequisite:  WLJ-206 or permission of the instructor.

WLL-263A 003 There and Back Again: Intercultural Perspectives Through Study Abroad
A 3-semester course designed to develop intercultural skills and knowledge in connection with studies abroad, and to integrate academic interests and training with the study abroad experience. Semester I (pre-departure) focuses on concepts and practices of intercultural communication competence, strategies for language and culture learning, and approaches to cultural differences through a variety of disciplinary perspectives.  Students will prepare for life abroad by deepening their knowledge of the host country and its current events.  Semester II (while-abroad) includes a series of assignments applying the work of Semester I in the context of the host culture and in conjunction with a capstone research project to be completed in Semester III.  The third or post-study abroad semester will include 're-entry' discussions and activities, re-examination of themes discussed in Semester I in light of the while-abroad assignments and experiences, and culminate in the completion of capstone projects that integrate students' academic interests with their experiences abroad.  

WLL-263C 001 Grimm's Fairy Tales: Gender and Traditions 
The collected folk tales of Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm have had a substantial impact on the cultural history of Germany and beyond. Deceptively simple, these short texts communicate extraordinary messages about accepted behavior or unwelcome desire. They are said to carry universal appeal, which explains their endurance across different cultures and times.

This course surveys representative tales popularized by the Brothers Grimm and offers a comprehensive introduction to the literary form of the folk tale. We will consider the distinction between oral and written storytelling traditions as a starting point for a better understanding of the Grimm’s' collection; consider the impact of the German nationalist and other cultural backdrops for the rise of the German fairy tale; trace the prehistory of individual tales in French, Italian, and ancient contexts; examine the profound influence of male and female roles in fairy tales on our societies; and discuss adaptations of the tales in 20th-century German, feminist, and popular US film and TV contexts.  Counts toward German major and minor.

WLL-263C 002  Translation for the Professions
Translation matters in so many fields: business, international diplomacy, health care, the legal system, STEM, literature, cinema, even the spread of religions. This course uses case studies presented by experts in these areas to highlight basic concepts and tools that you can learn through hands-on practice. Learning formats include lectures, readings, short exercises and a final project translating the text of your choice into English. Taught in English, the course is open to students with working knowledge of any language taught at Skidmore or for which expertise exists on campus. Students of French, Spanish or Chinese are encouraged to enroll jointly in LAC (WLF-220, WLS-220 or WLC-340, respectively) and to use that class to work on the final project. (Fulfills humanities requirement.)