Spring 2010 Course Recommendations
Suggested for Second-Semester First-Year Students by the FYF RAs
Good luck choosing classes!
Dear first-years,
Ever supportive and informative, your RAs have put together this listing of their personal recommendations for classes being offered in Spring 2010, based on the positive experiences that they had in the classes in previous semesters. These recommendations may be useful to you if you’re unsure about what to take next semester and want an insider’s perspective on the material, the assignments and the teaching style of certain classes.
There are so many great classes listed here, and remember that these courses represent only a few of the many, many interesting courses available next semester. So use this packet along with the online Directory of Courses, the online Barnard Catalogue, the online Columbia Bulletin, and the websites of the individual academic departments to learn as much as you can about next semester’s offerings. Then be sure to discuss your choices in detail with your academic adviser, to be sure that each course that interests you seems appropriate for your second semester at Barnard and to be sure that you’ve followed all necessary sign-up procedures for each course.
Good luck with advance program planning!
Sincerely,
Lisa Hollibaugh
First-Year Class Dean
[from your First-Year Guide]
The Requirements (details)
First-Year Foundations
Every student at Barnard is required to take the First-Year Foundations courses:
First-Year English, also called Reinventing Literary History (one semester): Designed to cultivate and develop expository writing and related tools of scholarship, with an emphasis on literary analysis. While the approach to assignments is similar in all sections, content varies by topic (The Americas, Legacy of the Mediterranean, or Women and Culture). See page 24 for more information.
First-Year Seminar (one semester): Designed to develop the intellectual skills and styles central to subsequent academic work. Seminars center on major themes or issues, and participants read and discuss a limited number of important philosophical, historical, literary, or scientific texts. See pages 25-27 for more information.
General Education Requirements
The General Education Requirements (GERs) are also known as the Nine Ways of Knowing. Each of the Nine Ways of Knowing must be fulfilled by one course (and in some cases, two courses) that do not overlap—i.e., one course cannot fulfill two different requirements. General Education Requirements include the following:
Cultures in Comparison (one course): Allows students to study the diversity and commonality of human experience in two or more cultures, and to examine and question personal cultural assumptions and values in relation to those of others. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated CUL in this guide.
Historical Studies (one course): Enables students to study times and traditions of the past, to learn theories and methods of historical analysis, and to discover how different concepts of history shape our understanding of both past and present. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated HIS in this guide.
Laboratory Science (two semesters of the same science with laboratories): Develops intellectual curiosity about the natural world and the processes of scientific experimentation. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated LAB in this guide. See page 12 for more information.
Language (completion through the 4th college semester, usually called “Intermediate II”): Provides basic linguistic competence in one ancient or modern language other than English in order to familiarize students with the language, literature, and culture of at least one non-English speaking people. Courses that fulfill this requirement and are appropriate for first-semester students are designated LAN in this guide. See page 15 for placement information.
Literature (one course in any language or in comparative literature): Develops the skills needed for an informed and aesthetically rewarding reading of literary texts from various times, places and traditions. (Note: First-Year English is a separate requirement and does not fulfill this category.) Courses that fulfill this requirement and are appropriate for first-semester students are designated LIT in this guide.
Quantitative and Deductive Reasoning (one course): Teaches methods and approaches used in mathematics and related fields involving quantitative expression and logical reasoning. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated QUA in this guide. See page 13 for more information.
Reason and Value (one course): Allows students to explore ways in which values shape thought, thought shapes values, and both guide human actions. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated REA in this guide.
Social Analysis (one course): Acquaints students with the central concepts and methods of the social sciences, while also critically examining social structures and processes, and the roles of groups and individuals within them. Courses that fulfill this requirement and that are appropriate for first-semester students are designated SOC in this guide.
The Visual and Performing Arts (one course): Builds an understanding and appreciation of creative processes and forms of artistic expression. Courses that fulfill this requirement and are appropriate for first-semester students are designated ART in this guide.
Note: Because there are two required First-Year Foundations courses and nine General Education requirements (none of which may overlap), it is impossible to satisfy all of the requirements in one term or even in one year. However, if you choose widely from the courses offered, you will find that you can fulfill at least some of the General Education requirements during your first year. Try not to choose courses only because they fulfill a requirement; students find it much more satisfying to explore courses that are personally interesting. Visit <www.barnard.edu/academics/cur.html> to see the array of courses that fulfill the various requirements, but remember that this list represents many more possibilities than are available to—or appropriate for—incoming first-year students.
The Major
All students must choose a particular area of study, whether an academic discipline or an area of interdisciplinary study, in which to develop further breadth and depth of understanding. The Major must be declared in the second semester of the sophomore year.
To learn more about the requirements for specific majors, consult the descriptions for individual departments and programs in the Barnard Course Catalogue online <www.barnard.edu/catalog/>. If you are seriously considering a particular major, you should indicate it as an “academic interest” on your program form, and you should also consult a member of the faculty in that department when you arrive at Barnard. There are often prerequisites for major courses which should be completed early (e.g., Music, Architecture, Economics, Mathematics, and the natural sciences, in which courses must be taken in specific sequences).
The Electives
Apart from fulfilling the General Education Requirements and the Major Requirements, students complete the remainder of the 122 points with elective credit. Students may use their electives to prepare for professional or graduate study, to complete a second major or concentration, to try out new fields, or to continue with language or music study or other subjects of interest. In addition to the flexibility of the distribution requirements, electives provide each student with another opportunity to customize her Barnard experience.
Minor option: A student may elect an optional minor field of study (usually 5 or 6 designated courses), which will appear on her transcript. A student must complete three of the required courses for the minor before she may formally declare it. Consult the online Course Catalogue <www.barnard.edu/catalog/> for more details about the requirements for a minor in a particular department.
Physical Education
Barnard wants to ensure that students become aware of, and knowledgeable about, their physical well-being. Therefore, students must take two separate semesters of Physical Education. One semester must be taken during the first year; the second must be taken by the end of the junior year. One point of credit is awarded for each Physical Education course taken in fulfillment of the requirement, to a maximum of two points.
Your RA Course Recommendations
Anthropology:
The Interpretation of Culture (ANTH V1002)
Professor Elizabeth Povinelli
MW 2:40- 3:55
3 points
Interpretation of Culture with Professor Povinelli provides an excellent introduction to the discipline of Anthropology. Prof. Povinelli is an exceptional scholar-- she is dedicated to her students and her lectures are hilarious, informative, and always interesting. Even though I eventually majored in something else, I discovered my own passion for Anthropology in this course and I've continued to take electives in this department to fulfill the 9 Ways of Knowing. The workload is not too intense, there is a moderate amount of reading as well as an in-class midterm and final exams. This course also fulfills the Social Analysis or Cultures in Comparison requirement.
Behavioral Biology of the Living Primates (EEEB 1011)
Professor Marina Cords
MW 10:35-11:50
3 points
This is an introductory physical anthropology class taught in the ecology, evolution, and environmental biology department at Columbia. The professor approaches this area of anthropology from a scientific standpoint. In this class, you will learn about our closest biological relatives: lemurs, monkeys, and apes. The class is in a lecture format and has an associated discussion section. The class size is about 30 students, and the workload includes two midterm exams and a final exam. This is a really great class if you are you looking to learn about something you most likely know nothing about with an extremely dynamic and knowledgeable professor. This course counts towards elective credit only. Prerequisite: EEEB V1010. Even if you have not taken the prerequisite, show up for the first class because the professor has allowed some flexibility in previous years.
Anthropology & Disaster (ANTH V3924)
Professor Karen Seeley
T 2:10-4:00pm
4 points
Anthropology & Disaster is interesting, relevant, and engaging – all of the necessary components of a discussion-based anthropology class. The class reads four texts related to different natural and human-incited disasters, and Professor Seeley sheds both an anthropological and psychological lens on the material at hand. Through each case study the class examines social, political, and economic forces inherent to disasters, from Hurricane Katrina and Chernobyl to bioterrorism. Requirements include one fifteen-minute in-class presentation of the reading and a final paper. This is considered an advanced seminar, so you may be more comfortable in the class if you have taken an introductory anthropology course. This course counts towards CUL (Cultures in Comparison) general education requirement.
Art History:
Introduction to the History of Art II (AHIS BC 1002y)
Professor Anne Higonnet
MW 2:40-3:55
4 points
This is a terrific course that covers the history of art from the Renaissance to Modern art; whether you are deeply interested and knowledgeable about art and art history, or whether you are studying it for the first time, you can find this class fulfilling, stimulating, and engaging. Professor Anne Higonnet is a wonderful lecturer. The lecture class is typically very large and you learn primarily through note taking. However, you can learn actively, even in such a large course. Professor Higonnet usually chooses about four main works to cover in one class, so you come away with a detailed and a deep understanding of those specific works. She buttresses the main works with background slides and context, but the class is well organized around the main works of choice. This makes studying for exams more feasible, because you know exactly what works you need to know well, and you have plenty of lecture notes to reference. Professor Higonnet leads the course, but she lectures for one third of the classes. For the other classes, guest professors who are specialists in their field come and give about one to four lectures. (Professor Higonnet’s specialty is nineteenth-century art.)
The reading consists of the textbook, which provides general background and good quality images, and a course reader that compiles more challenging readings in relation to art criticism, theory, and historical background. The workload is manageable, but with the discussion sections, museum trips, readings, exams, and two papers, you need to be willing to put a good amount of time into the course.
This class can fulfill one of three general education requirements: Cultures in Comparison (CUL); The Visual and Performing Arts (ART), or Historical Studies (HIS), and this is also a required course for the art history major and minor.
Biology:
Intro Cell and Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab (BIOL BC1502, 1503)
Professor Matthew Wallenfang
MWF 9:00-9:50 AM, various lab sections
3 points lecture, 2 points lab
I absolutely loved Professor Wallenfang’s class. Not only is he an engaging lecturer, but it also quickly becomes clear that because he loves the material, his students also learn to love the material. The class is fast-paced, much like Professor Hertz’s first semester of Introductory Biology at Barnard. However, I found the subject matter more exciting and therefore thoroughly enjoyed the class. The course load is not light, so be prepared to do a lot of reading and memorizing. Nevertheless, if you are a pre-med student, or are really interested in biology, this class is a must. The class can be used to satisfy one semester of the LAB requirement.
Chemistry:
Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHEM BC 1002)
Professor Jacob Alexander
MWF 10:00-10:50
3 points
This is a great class to take if you feel the need to brush up on some of your chemistry skills before beginning the upper level chemistry sequence starting next fall. The class covers many of the topics addressed in General Chemistry I at a basic level and definitely prepares students for the upper level chem classes that are required if your are considering a career in medicine or other health-related fields. Though the workload is pretty large, you will not regret taking this class once you begin General Chemistry I in the fall. The class size is usually small, which is great because it allows students to receive a lot of personal attention and the help they truly need. Fulfills QUA (Quantitative Analysis), but does not fulfill the LAB requirement.
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM BC3230y)
Professor Dina C Merrer
TR 9:10a - 10:25a, F 12:00p - 12:50p
3.5 points
Do not believe what you hear about Organic Chemistry: it really is not that bad, if you take it with Professor Merrer. She is an amazing teacher who really cares about the students in her class. She has office hours four days a week, her lectures are full of energy, and her goal is to make sure that the class learns organic chemistry, not “to keep us out of medical school.” Organic Chemistry is not an easy A class but if you are willing to put in the work, it is definitely possible to do well! So if you are pre-med or a chemistry major do not be discouraged by the myths you hear about Organic Chemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 2001. Pre-Med students or potential chemistry majors should also plan to take the corresponding lab, CHEM BC 3328, 2.5 points. Go for it!
Economics:
Intro to Economic Reasoning (ECON BC 1003)
Professor Marcellus Andrews
TR 10:35am-11:50am
3 points
This is a great introductory class to take if you are interested in Economics. Addressing the fundamental questions of the subject—both in microeconomics and macroeconomics—this class allows you to build a solid foundation in the field. Not only does the professor explain the major mechanisms of economics, such as the golden rule of the Law of Supply and Demand, but he also raises broader questions related to current issues, such as the economic recession. Professor Andrews—who we all call Marcellus—is a very engaging lecturer, who truly cares about his students. The workload is not too heavy. It involves weekly readings (two to three chapters of the textbook) along with a few problem sets, one midterm, and one final. This fulfills the Social Analysis requirement and counts as the introductory class for an economics major or minor.
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (ECON BC 3035)
Professor Lalithe Munasinghe
MW 9:10a - 10:25a
4 points
This is a great class to take if you want to learn more about microeconomics after taking principles of economics. The professor is amazing and explains concepts extremely well. If you are an economics major or minor or just interested in learning more about economics, this is a class worth taking with this professor. The class covers a lot of material. If you go to class regularly and pay attention, you will definitely learn a lot and do extremely well in the class. Prerequisite: ECON BC 1003 or ECON W1105 or equivalent, and ECON BC 1007 or one semester of calculus.
English:
First-Year English: Women and Culture II (ENGL BC1201)
3 points
Various times and Professors
Women and Culture II (FYE) was a fantastic course. I highly recommend this class to first-year students who may not have taken the first-semester seminar course, but are interested in Women and Gender studies. The readings of the class are very interesting, especially towards the end of the semester. Some of my favorite readings of the course were, John Milton, Paradise Lost; Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway; Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women; Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights; and Bessie Head, When Rainclouds Gather. Many of these readings will be found in future courses in Women’s Studies and other "Social Analysis" courses. Although at times the class may seem overwhelming, the outline for reading and writing assignments is very reasonable. The class is an excellent resource to develop your college writing skills and to develop a close relationship with a professor. Please take advantage of your professor’s office hours to receive feedback on your writings. The final research project is a great introduction to scholarly research at Barnard.
American Literature 1871-1945 (ENGL BC3181)
Professor Margaret Vandenburg
TR 2:40pm-3:55pm
3 points
This is a good class to either satisfy your Literature Gen Ed requirement or to take if you’re thinking about being an English major. The class is technically a lecture, but when I took it, we had around 40 people and still had a lot of good discussions in class, despite its large size. We also had the option to participate via Courseworks postings, so everyone could feel involved, even if we didn’t get called on in class. It’s a LOT of reading (a new novel about every 2 weeks) but it was enjoyable. Authors include Henry James, Edith Wharton (think Gossip Girl, but old fashioned!), Mark Twain (one of his lesser known works), Owen Wister (epic Western plus romance), Willa Cather, Ernest Hemingway, and Zora Neale Hurston (Barnard alum!).
Intro To Fiction Writing (ENGL BC3101)
Nellie Hermann
W 6:10pm-8:00pm
3 points
Do you have dreams of joining the ranks of published Barnard alumnae? Well, give creative writing a try with Intro to Fiction! When I took the class, each student got the chance to bring in 2 short pieces over the semester to be workshopped by the class. It’s a great opportunity to try things out and get feedback from other students as well as the professor. On the weeks when I wasn’t getting workshopped, I had to respond to the other students’ work with reactions, questions, and constructive criticism. At the end of the semester, we turned in a 20-30 page portfolio of rewrites or further developed work.
Unfortunately, all creative writing classes are application only. But don’t let that stop you! All you have to do is turn in a short writing sample to Prof. Szell (she’s in charge of the creative writing program) in the English department office (4th floor Barnard Hall) by 11/23. Details and cover sheets are on the English website: www.barnard.edu/english/
Modern British and American Poetry (English BC3185)
Professor William Sharpe
TR 4:10-5:25 PM
3 Points
Professor Sharpe has an interesting and innovative teaching style: this course covers modern poetry from the 1800s to present day (we even had a lengthy discussion on Bob Dylan the year I took the course!), but Professor Sharpe rarely lectures. Instead, he assigns groups of students weeks to present/lead discussions on various poets and simply moderates discussion when necessary. It is definitely different, but you will be amazed at how much you learned! In-class discussions are supplemented by weekly postings on courseworks, and there is typically a final paper or presentation on the topic of your choice (related to modern poetry, of course). Fulfills LIT (literature) requirement, sign up on the 4th floor of Barnard Hall is required.
Modern Poetry II (ENGL W3220y)
Professor Stephen Massimilla
MW 2:40-3:55
3 points
Professor Massimilla, or “Prof. Mass,” as we call him, is one of the most enthusiastic, energetic, excited, and dynamic professors. He has A LOT to say, and he gets you really excited to hear about it. If there is any draw back to his class, it is that he can always have more time to continue lecturing. Modern poetry is his specialty and he is very knowledgeable about it. When I took this class, it had a focus on both the early and the later parts of the twentieth century, and he especially taught W.B. Yeats, Eliot’s The Wasteland, and William Carlos Williams well. This class is a great introduction to Modern poetry, and the many Modern movements or “Modernisms” that were going in the twentieth century. If you have never studied this material before or if you would simply like to take a literature class, you will find this class worthwhile. Prof. Mass assigns a lot of poems and poets, but he specifies which poetry he plans to cover in detail during class. This is a lecture class, but Prof. Mass welcomes questions during, before, and after class, and encourages visits in office hours. Every now and then he brings in homemade organic cookies to share with his students!
As for assignments, there are two papers (and his comments are some of the most extensive and detailed comments that I have received from a professor!), a few short response freewrites, and a final exam of mostly IDs.
The course description encapsulates the broad range of material that the class covers: “This semester, we will explore the works of major poets of the second half of the twentieth century: later Eliot, later Williams, later Auden, Roethke, Olson, Hayden, Kunitz, Jarrell, Berryman, Thomas, Bishop, Lowell, Plath, Larkin, Ginsberg, O'Hara, Ashbery, Wright, Rich, Hill, Walcott, Heaney, and others, including more contemporary figures. We may also consider the contributions of non-Anglophone poets such as Lorca, Akhmatova, Levi, Montale, Neruda and Milosz. The work of this period is naturally informed in complex ways by troubling historical events such as World War II, the Holocaust, and the Stalinist Terror.
If this subject matter sounds interesting and exciting to you, Prof. Mass’s class is the class to take! If your interest is peaked, definitely go to this class during the shopping period and get blown away by his dynamism! Fulfills LIT (literature) requirement.
Environmental Science:
Shorelines and Streams (EESC Sciences BC3013)
Professor Peter Bower
Friday 10:00 am-1:00 pm
3 points
Do not avoid this class simply because it meets on Fridays! Professor Bower is a wonderful professor, and the small class size makes this a great learning environment if you aren't a fan of larger classes. This course spends a great deal of time examining geology/natural processes, and culminates with a trip to Montauk to collect samples and see firsthand the processes the class spent the semester studying. Sign up on the 4th floor of Altschul Hall, does not fulfill LAB requirement.
Case Studies in Land-Use Dynamics (EESC BC3026)
Professor: Dr. Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch
TR 10:35 a.m. - 1:05 p.m.
3 points
This is a great class to take if you enjoy outdoor field trips! Throughout the semester the class goes on several trips to local parks/sites to see actual examples of the different land uses we study in class. Terryanne (as she prefers to be called) is an avid birdwatcher, and she integrates this into the class, which is great because it is something she is really passionate about (I promise, it’s a lot more fun than it sounds!). Last year the basic structure of the course included a few short quizzes, a field journal after each field trip, and a group presentation.
Note: This course does not fulfill the lab science requirement
Environmental Law (EESC BC3040)
Professor Peter Bower
MW 1:10pm-2:25pm
3 points
Interested in law? Interested in the environment? Regardless of your answers to these questions, Environmental Law is a great class for those who want to know more about legal precedents about cases that have been centered around environmental issues. You will not believe some of the facts that are presented in some Supreme Court cases studied in this class. What is also great about this class is that it is co-taught by an administrator from the Columbia Law library, which means that you will be getting information directly from someone who has practiced law and will tell you how it is, but most importantly, you will make a valuable connection with someone from the law school. You never know if sometime down the line you may consider going into the field of law and need some guidance. This class teaches you how to write briefs, how to read opinions and how to better understand legal jargon. You will learn about your rights and know what they actually mean.
Film:
Intro to the Study and Theory of Film (FILM W3001)
Professor Nelson Kim
R 10:00 am-1:45pm
3 Points
This is an excellent class that explores the ideas of film starting from the silent era. It allows for an appreciation of film that you may have never had before. Professor Kim gives interesting lectures that stem from the reading but expand into the lives of the directors you will study. The reading load is relatively heavy but as the class only meets once a week it is not difficult to accomplish. The class is semi large but the discussions within class and in discussion sections give a full account of the information. I truly enjoyed this class and recommend it to anyone who wants to view film in a different way. Fulfills ART requirement and is a prerequisite for any more advanced film courses.
First-Year Seminar:
Reacting to the Past (FYSB 1618)
Professor Laurie Postlewate
MW 2:40p - 3:55p
3 points
Reacting to the Past fulfills the First-Year Seminar requirement. The class teaches you a great deal about the three historic moments that you will relive in this class. Each intellectual debate is in the form a game. Students run the class. While playing these three games you learn about the philosophy, economic system and cultural aspects of each of the three historic moments. Although the class might seem a little overwhelming initially, if you enjoy debating, this is the class for you!
History:
Survey of American Civilization Since the Civil War (HIST BC 1402y)
Professor Robert McCaughey
MW 2:40p - 3:55p
3 points
This is a great class to take if you are interested in exploring American Studies. The class should not be narrowly defined as a history class. It really examines American civilization from a historiography point of view, utilizing novels, satire, and other writings—this certainly is not a class that follows the path of a textbook. I took the class with Elizabeth Esch, who was a magnificent and dynamic lecturer. This class is a great introduction to analytical writing and reading. The TAs in the class really help you through the writing process, and the first paper even has a graded rough draft. The reading is fairly demanding, but all of it was very enjoyable. It is a large lecture class, but you can definitely get the necessary one on one time during discussion sections, which are capped at twelve students. This class fulfills the Historical Studies requirement.
American Women in the 20th Century (HIST BC3567)
Professor Rosalind Rosenberg
TR 2:40-3:55
3 Points
American Women in the 20th Century is one of the best classes I have taken at Barnard. Professor Rosenberg has a wonderful lecture style-- she is engaging, funny, interesting, and very easy to understand. This course offers an incredible overview of how far women's rights have progressed over the past hundred years and how far we have left to go. Plus, Professor Rosenberg is an amazing person with an almost overwhelming depth of knowledge on the subject. The course requires three small papers and an in-class final, but don't worry, each paper is only an expansion of your original topic, so it's really three drafts of one paper. This course also fulfills the Historical Studies or Social Analysis 9 Ways of Knowing requirement. You will not regret taking this class-- and be sure to take advantage of office hours!
Political Science:
Environmental Politics (POLS V3212)
Professor Richard Pious
MW 1:10-2:25
3 points
Although this is a new course, Professor Pious is a long-time favorite in the Political Science Department. He is extremely enthusiastic about American Politics, and infuses his teaching with his witty sense of humor. The standard format of his classes includes three papers, each of which count equally towards the final grade. While these take a significant amount of work, they are especially manageable if you keep up with the reading each week.
Psychology:
Introduction to Psychology (PSYC BC 1001)
Professor Stokes
MW 1:10-2:25
3 points
If you plan on taking specifically Psychology labs to fulfill your lab requirement, then you might want to consider taking this class this spring, as this is the prerequisite. As an introductory class, it is chock-full of various interesting facts and experiments regarding human behavior and thinking. The reading is usually a lot, but it is not boring and can actually be rather engaging once you relate the information to yourself and the world in which you live. Even if you do not plan on taking Psychology labs to fulfill the lab requirement, this intro class is excellent to take just to be exposed to Psychology as a subject, which in turn, is very relatable to other subjects. Does not fulfill LAB requirement.
Religion:
Life After Death (RELI V3495)
Professor Alan Segal
MW 11:00-12:15
3 points
As the name implies, this course examines the afterlife in various cultures through the lens of religion. Professor Segal is one of the foremost scholars in the field (he can frequently be seen as the resident religion expert in clips on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, etc.), but does a great job keeping the material fresh and not terribly complicated. He also brings in guest lecturers and uses a variety of multi-media presentations, which keeps the class exciting. Professor Segal has a hilarious dry/witty sense of humor, and I would certainly recommend taking any course he is teaching. He is very interested in getting to know students, make sure you go to his office hours; not only will your grades on your papers improve (he gives great advice and sometimes will even skim through a draft), but he's been around Barnard for many years and has a lot of great advice. This is a large class and draws students from all years, which makes for an interesting group dynamic. Fulfills CUL (Cultures in Comparison) requirement.
Sociology:
Problems of Law & Society (SOC W3960)
Professor Jonathan Cole
M 11-12:50 PM
4 points
This seminar is extremely interesting and relevant to anyone interested in tying in the study of social life to concepts in law and science. Professor Cole (who was provost of Columbia University from 1989-2003) is extremely intelligent and engaging, and actually personally knows many of the authors of the assigned texts! As an advanced seminar that meets weekly, the workload is reading-heavy but very relevant and necessary for discussion. There is one final paper. This course is recommended for students who have successfully completed an intro-level sociology course.
Spanish:
Intermediate Spanish I (SPAN W 1201y)
Francisco Rosales-Varo
TRF 1:10p - 2:25p, 2:40p - 3:55p, or 4:10p - 5:25p
4 points
Professor Francisco Rosales-Varo is a great Spanish teacher. The language classes that are offered at Barnard and Columbia are small and create an intimate atmosphere that’s very different from the large lecture hall classes. As a result, each student is able to develop both as a Spanish speaker and reader. After this class I felt so comfortable with my speaking skills that I would speak Spanish whenever I came in contact with a native speaker; this is something I would have never done before this class. Most of the language classes follow a similar curriculum that includes workbook assignments, 3-5 small projects, 1 midterm, and 1 final. The workload is not too heavy and, if you keep up with the assignments, you will be well prepared for the exams.
Statistics:
Introduction To Statistics (without calculus) (STAT W 1111)
Professor Zheng
MW 10:35-11:50
3 points
This is a great class to take if you are fearful of math and want to fulfill the Quantitative and Deductive Reasoning requirement. It is definitely a math-y class (it is statistics, after all), but if you take time with your homework assignments, you will be able to understand problems and do well on the tests. The homework can take a while, but it is not aggravating and impossible to understand, since there is no calculus (just algebra). Taking this class also allows students to see statistics in a different light, and understand how important they are in the world—from the data used in journalistic pieces to the graphs published in scientific reports.
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