The Choral Conducting program at UMass Amherst is designed to offer students increasing experience with the technical and expressive skills that conducting demands. This course will cover the practice and exploration of gestural communication as applied to choral music. The course will equip students with advanced conducting techniques, analytical skills, and rehearsal methods necessary to become successful ensemble conductors.

What can archaeology tell us about the world we live in and all of its complexities? Normally seen as a discipline to explore the deep past, what can archaeology tell us about the recent past? Over the past twenty years, archaeologists have turned their methods towards the study of the material culture of the contemporary world. These scholars have used archaeological techniques to study undocumented migrants, mass graves, homelessness, and numerous other nontraditional archaeological sites that highlight issues of power, violence, poverty, and vulnerability in contemporary society.

This 8-week course of weekly lectures will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the Middle East by focusing on the big questions that animate the teaching and research of faculty in Middle East Studies and related fields. S/U only.

The Commonwealth Honors College thesis or project is intended to provide students with the opportunity to work closely with faculty members to define and carry out in-depth research or creative endeavors. It provides excellent preparation for students who intend to continue their education through graduate study or begin their professional careers. The student works closely with their 499Y Honors Research sponsor to pursue research on a topic or question of special interest to them in preparation for writing a 499T Honors Thesis or completing a 499P Honors Project.

The twentieth century started with the downfall of the Chinese monarchy, numerous humiliations at the hands of Western countries, and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911. In the spirit of reform and renaissance, a group of young writers, educated in both China and the West, spearheaded a new direction in Chinese literature. This group of writers abandoned the classical Chinese language, was keenly interested in social development and betterment, attacked Confucian tradition, and adopted Western ideals.