Students hone their writing skills (defined broadly to include critical thinking, research and documentation, argument development and mastery of written English) as they enhance their understanding of an issue of current import and consequence. They read and write in a variety of genres (ranging from experience narratives to academic essays) and supplement their required reading with excursions to scholarly and cultural venues at Smith. Prerequisite: One WI course or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 15.

Continued study of selected contemporary texts including fiction and short essays from print and electronic media. This course further develops advanced reading, writing and discussion skills in Japanese and enhances students' understanding of various aspects of contemporary Japanese society. Students are encouraged, but not required, to take EAL 244, which deals with related materials in English. Prerequisite: JPN 302 or permission of the instructor. With the instructor's permission, advanced language courses may be repeated when the content changes.

This course explores a specific idea, concept, period, person or event important in the history and/or aesthetics of dance. Topics vary depending on the instructor's research and expertise. From a comparative perspective, this seminar discusses the history and current state of Brazilian capoeira, Argentinean tango, Cuban ballet and Panamerican salsa, seeking to explore how these dance forms embody concepts of race, gender and social class.

For students who have taken Contemporary Dance I or the equivalent.  L.  {A}  2 credits

Authors vary from year to year, but they are generally chosen from a list that includes Plato, Homer, Aristophanes, lyric poets, tragedians, historians and orators depending on the interests and needs of the students. May be repeated for credit, provided the topic is not the same. Prerequisite: 213 or permission of the instructor. An in-depth study of Lysistrata, a feminist, pacifist comedy-or is it? We consider the political and intellectual context of the play's first performance; how subversive is Attic comedy, or how conservative?

What does "hypocrisy" have to do with the ancient Greek theater? And what does "delirium" have to do with Roman agriculture? Sixty percent of all English words are derived from Greek and Latin roots, yet the history and effective use of these words is problematical for many speakers of English. This course combines hands-on study of Greek and Latin elements in English with lectures and selected primary readings that open a window onto ancient thinking about language, government, the emotions, law, medicine and education. The course is graded S/U only.

The CCX 320 seminar provides a forum for community engagement and social change concentration students to develop research projects that synthesize their prior coursework and practical experiences. In a typical capstone project, a small group of students focus on a particular social justice issue, research past and present community-based efforts around the issue, and develop a community action plan in collaboration with an off-campus community partner. Students are provided with readings, discussions, mentoring and other support to complete capstone projects.

Service learning, civic engagement, community-based research and community service have become familiar terms for describing forms of community-based learning (CBL) in higher education. Theorists and practitioners continue to debate how to bring community issues into the classroom and how best to bring students into the neighborhoods surrounding their colleges and universities. This course considers these issues through exposure to both the literature of community engagement and the experiences of those who practice its different forms.

An immersive research experience in observational astrophysics for students who have completed AST 337. Students design an independent scientific observing program and carry it out at the WIYN 0.9m telescope on Kitt Peak, AZ in January. The rest of the semester is spent reducing and analyzing the data obtained and preparing scientific results for presentation. Professional techniques of CCD imaging, photometry, astrometry and statistical image analysis are applied using research-grade software. Weekly class seminar meetings are supplemented by individual and team-based tutorial sessions.

Advanced study in printmaking. Emphasis on color printing in lithography, block printing and photo-printmaking. Prerequisite: ARS 269 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 12. A required fee of $75 to cover group-supplied materials is charged at the time of registration. Students may require additional supplies as well and are responsible for purchasing them directly.