New College for Interdisciplinary Studies

BLOCK COURSES

FALL 2009 (All courses fulfill University degree requirements)

Hard Times: Choices for Cities in Crisis
Dr. Carolyn Eisenberg, Department of History

New York City is now faced with its most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression. We'll employ social science methodologies and field work to gauge the dimensions of the current crisis. We'll consider levels of unemployment and their impact on social services including housing, health care, and education. How are the lives of people being affected? What steps are being taken at the local, state and federal level to improve the situation? We will also pay attention to the military budget and how its size is shaping governmental action. (HP)

American Modernism
Dr. Dana Brand, Department of English

In this course, we'll examine American Modernism:  a literary and artistic movement that tried, between 1920 and 1960, to develop new ways of writing, looking, and living appropriate to the new realities of the American 20th century. We'll read works by such authors as Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, and Ellison and we'll consider films, art, music, advertising, and popular culture that represent the landscape, tempo, and complexities of national identity in "the American century."  In New York City, emblematic of the energy and style of modern America, we'll explore the art, architecture, words, and design that changed forever the way in which the world looks and feels. (LT)

The Philosopher's Journey: Beyond Tolerance to Reason
Dr. Joseph Marino, Department of Philosophy

Philosophy is not simply a "study about" the ideas of past or current thinkers, it's a vital process that questions, in a critical but constructive way, the manner in which we understand our lives, and the ways we go about conducting ourselves within human communities. Beginning with Plato and Aristotle, we'll discuss the origins of philosophy and then focus on human personhood against the background of selected moral issues. We'll consider such problems as terrorism, torture, genocide, and individual responses to personal and communal moral dilemmas. Additional readings will include selections from Sartre, Frankl, and Ilibagiza. We'll also reflect on these issues by drawing on works of literature and film, and through field trips. (HP)

Don't Even Think About It: The Craft of Spontaneity in the Theater
Dr. Peter Sander, Department of Drama and Dance

A seminar on the paradox of the creative process. Using the multifaceted disciplines of the theater (acting, playwriting, directing, and designing), the course will explore the relationship between skill (control and understanding) and inspiration (free and expressive intuition). We'll read works by Emerson, Pirandello, and Stanislavsky, among others. We'll also analyze contrasts between stage and film versions of the same play and attend theater productions at Hofstra and in New York City. Practical application and theater attendance will be expected. No previous experience in drama activity is required. (AA)

SPRING 2010 (All courses fulfill University degree requirements)

Bohemian New York: Voices That Shaped the 20th Century
Professor Patricia Navarra, Department of English

This course introduces the literature of free-thinkers, reformers, artists, and dreamers including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Emma Goldman, Amiri Baraka, E.E. Cummings, and Bob Dylan—and examines the lasting impact of their works. Field trips include a literary walking tour of Greenwich Village and a Broadway or Off Broadway play. (LT)

Impressionism, Expressionism, & Beyond: Movements in Modern Art
Professor Adrienne Rubin, Department of Fine Arts, Art History, and Humanities

Initially inspired by the natural world and their external surroundings, modern artists quickly shifted their emphasis to the depiction of internal emotional states. No longer constrained by the expectations of realism, artists from the late-nineteenth century onward embraced individual expression. We'll begin by looking at Impressionism, the movement that bridged Realism and Modernism. We'll then examine modern movements of the twentieth century. Through the writings of Fry and Greenberg (among others), visits to the Museum of Modern Art, and select modern short stories, we'll explore the diversity of styles and techniques that abounded during this era, while highlighting the recurring theme of the course: understanding art as a vehicle for emotional expression. (AA)

Characters, Actions, Words: A Playwright's Toolbox
Professor Paul Zimmerman, Department of English

In this course, the emerging playwright will be introduced to the tools necessary to craft a dramatic work. Particular emphasis will be placed on creating vibrant and compelling characters through the use of actions and dialogue. You'll construct your work from the ground up and after establishing a first draft, you'll proceed through the revising process in part through group workshops. We'll also explore the great resources and inspiration that New York City has always offered writers. We'll attend traditional and experimental theater, and we'll meet theater artists of all stripes, including playwrights, actors, and directors. By the end of the course students will have a comprehensive feel for both the art and the craft of playwriting. (CP)

First-Year Independent Project (spring)

This course gives you an opportunity to pursue an individual research project based on ideas developed in your block courses. With the guidance and supervision of a faculty member, you develop a substantial independent project—for example, an essay, research paper, performance, or other body of work.

Writing Practicum (fall and spring)
Professor Patricia Horvath, Department of English and Director of Writing, New College for Interdisciplinary Studies

This course helps students develop the abilities they need for college writing assignments and for using writing effectively throughout their lives. In tandem with designated courses, students meet both as a class and individually with the instructor to strengthen their academic writing. This course may be used to fulfill the University's English composition requirement.

Note: With the exception of the First-Year Independent Project, the block courses listed above may be used to satisfy the University's English composition and/or distribution requirements. Distribution categories for these courses are as follows.

AA: Appreciation & Analysis
CP: Creative Participation
LT: Literature

BH: Behavioral Social Sciences
HP: History, Philosophy, Religion

MC: Mathematics/Computer Science
NS: Natural Sciences