This is the first of a two-course sequence exploring the main theoretical ideas and methods of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. In this first semester we explore the functional and evolutionary bases of animal behavior and cognition, exploring topics such as social behavior, foraging, territoriality and communication. Students will also learn and put into practice some of the ways that ethologists observe, record and measure behavior outdoors in the natural world.

This course will explore the major phenomena, methods, theories, and findings of developmental psychology, especially as they apply to infancy and early-childhood. Topics covered include biological foundations, prenatal development, perceptual, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development, language acquisition, intelligence, attachment, parenting, and gender. Issues related to education, family, and social policy will also be discussed.

In this introductory course, students will explore the history, practices, career options, and problems of environmental education - educational efforts promoting an understanding of nature, environmentally responsible behavior, and protection of natural resources. Shifts in environmental education research foci, relationships to current and past environmental challenges (e.g., air pollution, species loss, climate change), and differences between U.S. and international efforts will be discussed.

This course will focus on the acquisition of two or more languages by both children and adults. We will look at how two or more languages are represented in the mind of an individual and attempt to elucidate the mental processes that allow individuals to produce and understand sentences in each language. Questions that we will consider include: Who is considered bilingual and what are the criteria for 'knowing' a language? How does bilingualism influence linguistic and cognitive development?

This course will introduce students to the production of animated short films with the tools and techniques of three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. Readings and lectures will cover the theoretical foundations of the field, and the homework assignments will provide hands-on, project-based experience with production. The topics covered will include modeling (the building of 3D objects), shading (assignment of surface reflectance properties), animation (moving the objects over time), and lighting (placing and setting the properties of virtual light sources).

Memory is not pudding, it is an elephant - while pudding is the same throughout, you cannot generalize across different types of memory. In this course we will discuss the many types of memory we use daily, from remembering the name of a new acquaintance, a favorite concert, or even how to ride a bike. We will explore the constructive nature of memories and how they may change over time as well as how memory capabilities develop over the life course. We will also discuss the neurological underpinnings of memory. However, students do not need to have a background in neuroscience.

Worried about climate change and how we will live sustainably in the future? Join us to brainstorm and assess solutions together. This will be a course for first and second year students interested in learning how to evaluate potential solutions to current local and global environmental and social problems. The course will be co-taught by faculty across the curriculum at Hampshire and will include both large lectures and breakout working groups.

Philosophy is a method of inquiry that helps us reflect on our own condition, our relationships with each other, and the nature of the world around us through the careful investigation of concepts such as mind, freedom, morality, and justice. It is also a mode of analysis and criticism that allows us to examine the structure and soundness of our ideas and arguments. This class will introduce you to some of the classic questions in philosophy, as well as the methods of inquiry philosophers use to examine them.

This course is primarily for a relatively small group of more advanced students to do field studies in terrestrial ecology, field trips, and readings from primary literature. We will use the Hampshire College forests and fields, the canopy walkway, farm center, and off-campus sites as our study areas. We'll be outside as much as possible early on, and visit several habitats and locations of interest.

This seminar is specifically designed for Division III students studying topics in any field in the natural sciences. Students will be responsible for presenting their Division III's in progress several times during the semester and for providing constructive feedback on the writing and research of peers. We will also address general and shared issues of research, visual aid design, oral presentation, writing construction, and formulation for publication. The goal of the seminar is to have a collaborative environment for students working independently on research projects.