BLOCK COURSES
FALL 2008 (Blocks I-IV; Choose four of the following six courses)
From Wall Street to the World: New York City, International Finance,and Globalization Dr. Conrad Herold, Department of Economics/Geography
New York City emerges as the premier center of international finance after the Second World War. This course reviews the rise of Wall Street and its central role in the shift to liberalized finance, globalization, and their aftermath (BH).
Latino New York: Literature, Food, and Culture Dr. Zilkia Janer, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
Through an analysis of Latino literature and film, as well as field trips to experience art and cuisine, this course explores the diversity of Latino cultures and the political processes influencing the formation of Latino transnational identities. (LT)
Mozart Was Here: Or What's So Great about Listening to Music? Dr. David Ramael, Department of Music
In this course, you'll be introduced to the world of classical music and fine-tune your innate ability to listen to it. As part of the course, we'll attend an orchestra rehearsal and sit by side with the musicians, and visit one of the great musical institutions of the world: The Metropolitan Opera. (AA)
New York City Before & After 9/11 Dr. Mario Ruiz, Department of History
This course will consider how, over the centuries, New York City has become a magnet for immigration, art, entertainment, commerce, and--eventually--terrorism. Field trips include visits to Ellis Island and Ground Zero. (HP; Place and Identity)
Stem Cell Research: Medical & Social Implications Dr. Sina Rabbany, Department of Engineering
This course explores the biology of stem cells--including their potential for the treatment of disease and injury--and the challenges facing stem cell research from the laboratory to clinical applications. We will also address the ethical, legal, and social controversies related to embryonic stem cell research. (NS)
Bohemian New York: Voices that Shaped the 20th CenturyProfessor Patricia Navarra, Department of English and Freshman Composition
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)
SPRING 2008 (Blocks V-VIII; Choose three of the following five courses)
New Plays, New York Professor Erik Brogger, Department of English and Freshman Composition
This course will introduce the beginning playwright to the essential tools of dramatic writing. Emphasis will be placed on Plot, Character, Dialogue, and Action. New York City is our extended classroom and an artistic resource--filled with inspiration, history, and legend--that we'll mine by attending a Broadway or Off-Broadway play and by meeting a playwright, designer, actor and director. (CP)
Women & Creativity: Literature & the Arts in the 20th Century Dr. Susan Lorsch, Department of English and Freshman Composition
Through novels, poetry, essays, music, film, and art, this course will explore female creativity as it is questioned, propagandized, defined, and redefined in the 20th century. We will examine the challenges particular to the female artist (writer, painter, dancer, singer) and analyze the ways women in the 20th century considered the nature of art and what it is to be an artist. (LT; Ways of Knowing)
Part of It All: Living in a Global City Dr. Gregory Maney, Department of Sociology
This course uses a combination of literary, geographical, historical, and statistical sources to discover the richness of the cultural, economic, social, and physical assets of New York City. Students will study a neighborhood within the five boroughs of New York City and then serve as tour guides for the rest of the class. We'll also visit the United Nations and the Museum of the City of New York. (BH)
Baseball by the Numbers Dr. Daniel Seabold, Department of Mathematics
Who is the better pitcher: Tom Seaver or Roger Clemens? Is it ever good strategy to intentionally walk a batter? In this course, we'll apply logic and quantitative tools to the objective record of Major League Baseball to settle questions about its players, its teams, and its history. Field trips to local ballparks will highlight the context in which data is collected and interpreted. (MC)
Baseball and American Mythology Professor Richard Pioreck, Department of English and Freshman Composition
Our national pastime is rooted in American literature, and its mythology illustrates the American character. By reading the works of Ring Lardner, Don DeLillo, Bernard Malamud, and others, we'll analyze how the game informs American culture. Field trips, films, and guest speakers will also guide our exploration of this mythology. (LT)
REQUIRED COURSES
Writing Workshop (Fall and Spring) Professor Patti Horvath, Department of English and Director of Writing, New College
This course helps students develop the abilities they need for college writing assignments and for using writing effectively throughout their lives. In tandem with the Place & Identity block courses (Fall) and designated literature courses (Spring), students will meet both as a class and individually with the instructor to strengthen their academic writing.
First-Year Independent Project (Spring)
This course gives students wide-ranging opportunities to pursue individual research projects based on ideas developed in their block courses. With the guidance and supervision of a faculty member, each student develops a substantial independent project, which might be an essay, performance, or other body of work.
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