Debates in International Politics introduces students to the most contested questions shaping global affairs. Why do civil wars and humanitarian crises persist, and when, if ever, should others intervene? Do nuclear weapons prevent war or make catastrophe more likely? Are counterterrorism policies effective or harmful? Who should be responsible for refugees and migrants? Do institutions like the UN and World Bank promote peace and development or reinforce global inequalities?

This course presents a survey of architectural monuments from the Medieval Mediterranean world, broadly construed. In this region of great cultural diversity, the richness of architectural production flourishes and morphs with the rise and fall of empires. Beginning with the Late Antique basis of architectural typologies and ending with the Ottoman capture of Constantinople in 1453, we will move through the sacred and secular monuments of Anatolia, Eastern and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Northern Africa, and the Levant.

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are narrative driven games, where players take on the role of a character to collaboratively tell a story. In many TTRPGs, the success of a player's action is determined by the outcome of a random process such as a dice roll. In this course, we will explore the mathematics and story-telling that goes into the TTRPG Dungeons and Dragons. On the math side, we will investigate probability, combinatorics, and geometry. On the story-telling side, we will practice creative writing and collaborative discussion.

Climate-change deniers, vaccine skeptics, 9/11 as an inside job--why do people accept, believe and share certain perspectives? What psychological factors lead to the acceptance and spread of mis/disinformation and conspiracy theories? What are the psychological consequences of accepting false narratives? Can we change the flow of this information?

If a language does not have a future tense, are its speakers more likely to spend income now and less likely to save for the future? Does linguistic diversity within a country affect trust and the provision of public goods? Do historical patterns of slavery and the slave trade explain the development of Creole languages in the Caribbean? We will use data to explore these and other questions. This course is therefore an opportunity to learn about economics and linguistics, and to practice working with data and conducting your own research.

This course introduces the skills needed to navigate college, with a focus on philosophical writing, analysis and argument. We will pair classical and contemporary readings in philosophy with science fiction films and short stories in order to explore philosophical issues such as the nature of reality, free will, personal identity, artificial intelligence and the nature of mind. While science fiction will be used to animate and explore these issues, the emphasis of the class is on philosophical analysis and argument.

This course examines the political right as a historical and cultural phenomenon. It explores the development of conservatism alongside the social, institutional, and organizational forces that have shaped right-wing politics, including grassroots mobilization and media. These developments are placed in a transnational perspective, with attention to connections and influences beyond the United States. Particular focus is given to the recent rise of populist and nationalist currents.

AI is apocalyptic. AI is superhuman. Humans will become gods. We will defeat death and achieve physical immortality. We will transcend our physical bodies and achieve virtual immortality. Humanity will be saved but the planet will be abandoned. Alongside technological advances, Silicon Valley has generated a number of ideas about the destiny of human life. Many of these theories use religious language, or have been described through religious language: apocalyptic, messianic, cult-like.

This course examines the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality to understand how Blackness shapes sexuality across the African diaspora and continent. Drawing on film, music, visual culture, ballroom, and poetry, students explore Black queer and sexual cultures as sites of rupture and world-making. Students will analyze structures of racial formation, systemic inequality, and intersecting hierarchies of gender, class, religion, ability, and geography,
Taught by S. Stefana Smith Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30-11:45am

One of the booming uses of artificial intelligence is translation. How does this communication revolution among highly resourced languages affect the age-old art of translating? We'll explore how Mount Holyoke's founding mission of "purposeful engagement in the world" centers linguistic diversity as integral to equity and inclusion. Celebrating the wealth of language each student brings our seminar, we'll discuss the translations we do and live every day.