'In this course we to seek to achieve clarity and precision of expression within a discussion of a complex topic. Course readings and writing assignments guide students through an examination of topics related to society and culture. Past semesters' topics include: the role of education in society; the relationship between religion, culture, and nature; and the use of maps in ordering the world. In addition to the academic content, the course focuses on the writing and revising process, academic research and argumentation, and the nature and purpose of academic discourse.

'Maps are essential tools for understanding the world around us. But do our maps show us the world as it is, or do they allow us to choose the world we will see? Texts for the course may include poetry by Elizabeth Bishop, Thomas Hardy and others; short fiction by Borges, Faulkner and others, and visual art from the College Art Museum. This class may be especially suitable for students who do not identify as native speakers of English.'

'This course uses 'crossings' to consider how ethnic and racial identities have been understood, represented, and theorized in America. One goal will be to use this lens to examine works of multiethnic literature that address immigration, adaptation, ethnic multiplicity, passing, and ethnic tension. Another goal will be to examine how these texts engage with others regarding multiethnic experience. Close attention will be paid to issues of language, style and form.

'For several decades now, journalists, artists, and scholars have attempted to articulate the ways the Internet and digital culture has transformed how we live and think. Examining novels, movies, blogs, and other digital media, we will consider how the digital age shapes our understandings of gender and sexuality and how notions of femininity might help us define 'being digital.' As we develop reading and writing skills, we will also experiment in groups with new digital tools such as distant reading, advanced searching, and media remixing.

'In this class we will read and discuss current pieces on politics and culture (broadly defined) drawn from such resources as The New Yorker, Arts and Letters Daily (aldaily.com), and the collection The Best American Essays of 2012; subject matter will range from contemporary cinema, literature, and music to global politics and celebrity culture. Our aim is to examine the construction of essay and argument, with particular consideration devoted to matters of style and voice.

'This section for MAT students only. This weekly seminar provides students with opportunities to design and discuss case studies involving adolescents in middle and secondary school settings, review researched-based models of instruction, and classroom management, and engage in dialogue with professionals regarding numerous aspects of teaching and student learning.

'This section for Amherst College students only. This weekly seminar provides students with opportunities to design and discuss case studies involving adolescents in middle and secondary school settings, review researched-based models of instruction, and classroom management, and engage in dialogue with professionals regarding numerous aspects of teaching and student learning.

'This weekly seminar provides students with opportunities to design and discuss case studies involving adolescents in middle and secondary school settings, review researched-based models of instruction, and classroom management, and engage in dialogue with professionals regarding numerous aspects of teaching and student learning. Additional topics covered include reviewing the legal obligations of teachers, addressing the needs of students with disabilities, English language learners, and developing effective communication between home and school.'

'This section for MAT students only. Students participate in full-time student teaching in middle or secondary classrooms for 12 weeks. During this semester-long field-based placement, students hone classroom management skills, design and implement curriculum, and develop a wide range of assessment skills. Students work with classroom teachers and college supervisors to address Professional Teaching Standards as required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Pre-service Performance Assessment Program'

'This section for Amherst College students only. Students participate in full-time student teaching in middle or secondary classrooms for 12 weeks. During this semester-long field-based placement, students hone classroom management skills, design and implement curriculum, and develop a wide range of assessment skills. Students work with classroom teachers and college supervisors to address Professional Teaching Standards as required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Pre-service Performance Assessment Program'