Summer Term at Washington College

AMS/ENG 209 Introduction to American Literature and Culture I

Instructor: DeProspo

This course is concerned with the establishment of American Studies as a curriculum in post-World War II American colleges and universities. Readings will include a variety of written texts, including those not traditionally considered literary, as well as a variety of other-than-written materials, including popular cultural ones, in accordance with the original commitment of American Studies to curricular innovation. Introductions to the modern phenomena of race, gender, sexual orientation, generation, and class in U.S. culture will be included. A comparatist perspective on the influence of American culture internationally and a review of the international American Studies movement in foreign universities will also be introduced.

ANT 296: Archaeology Field School

An introduction to archaeological fieldwork methods and to the theoretical concerns of anthropological archaeology. includes participation in archaeological survey and excavation as well as lectures, readings, and writing assignments. 

When: May 27 - June 20, 2024 (Full Day)

Check out more info

 Email Dr. Julie Markin [[email protected]] with questions or to register.

ART 261: Introductory Drawing Studio

Instructor: Patterson

This studio class introduces students to drawing through a range of material, conceptual, and skill-based approaches. While focusing on basic skills and concepts of drawing, the curriculum is also interdisciplinary in nature. In addition to drawing fundamentals, the course also places emphasis on experimental approaches and on connecting conceptual thinking to one’s broader creative practice. Contemporary and historical examples of artists working within such a creative practice are covered through readings, lectures, and screenings.

CSI 111: Computer Science 1

Instructor: Lobo

The objectives of this course are threefold: to introduce programming concepts and algorithmic development, to teach an object-oriented programming language, and to teach how to design, code, debug and document programs using the techniques of good programming style.

EDU 252: Educational Psychology

Instructor: L Michelle Johnson

A general summary of theories of educational psychology. Aspects of evaluation, individual differences, and psychological adjustments that are relevant to education and applicable to classroom practices will be examined.

ENG 101: Literature and Composition

Instructor: Katherine Charles

This course develops the student’s capacity for intelligent reading, critical analysis, and writing through the study of literature. There are frequent writing assignments, as well as individual conferences on the student’s writing. Many sections have a specific topic or theme. Counts for Journalism, Editing & Publishing minor, Humanities distribution, and W2 requirement.

ENG 103: Introdcuton to Creative Writing

Instructor:: Amber Taliancich

A workshop introducing new writers to several forms of creative writing, including poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Students will use classic and contemporary literature as models for their own efforts. Counts for Creative Writing minor, Journalism, Editing & Publishing minor, W2 requirement.

ENG 220: Introudciton to Fiction

Instructor: Juyoun Jang

This course introduces you to the study of literary fiction. This is not a creative writing workshop nor an introduction to fiction writing methods. This course will survey the rich tradition of prose fiction largely, but not exclusively, in English. Emphasis will be placed on the enduring features of this genre as it evolved throughout the centuries as well as to the innovations introduced by individual writers. The literary works selected for this course will draw upon a variety of fictional forms and styles. Class discussions will include, along with close readings of the works themselves, an appreciation of the historical and cultural contexts out of which they arose and to which they gave a fictional rewriting. Counts for Creative Writing minor, Humanities distribution, and W2 requirement.

ENG: 222: Introduction to Poetry

Instructor: James Hall

This course will provide an introduction to the study of various styles and forms of poetry. By reading a wide range of poetic styles from a number of aesthetic schools, students will consider the ways in which poetry has become a conversation across centuries, how the genre may act simultaneously as a personal and a political voice, and how it may be interpreted not only as intimate confession but also as “supreme fiction.” Counts for Creative Writing minor, Humanities distribution, and W2 requirement.

ENV 101: Introduction to Environomental Studies with Lab

Instructor: Rebecca Mensch

This course is an introduction to the discipline of environmental studies. A multidisciplinary view of human responsibility toward the natural world will be emphasized, focusing on significant contemporary environmental issues. Topics to be covered include environmental literature (both historical and current), economic and ethical environmental concerns, scientific methods of assessment and analysis of environmental problems, and possible solutions to representative environmental problems. The laboratory/recitation section will be utilized for field trips, data collection, demonstrations, and discussions. This course is a prerequisite for all upper-level ENV courses. The course should be completed by the end of the sophomore year if it is going to be counted toward the major.

MAT 109: Statistical Inference and Data Analysis

Instructor: Poulsen

Introduction to the theory and practice of data analysis and statistics in the natural and social sciences. Statistical software will be used. Topics will include data ethics, sampling, experimental design, descriptive statistics, conditional probability, the normal distribution, simple linear regression, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, and decisions. MAT 109 and BUS 109 may not both be taken for credit

MAT 111: Differential Calculus

Instructor: Ramsey

Analytic geometry, the derivative and differential, elementary functions, limits, continuity, and applications. Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that a student should have strong algebra and trigonometric skills before taking this course.

MUS/ANT 104: Intro to World Music and Ethnomusciology

Instructor: McCollum

An introduction to music of the world, including popular, folk, religious and classical traditions. Explores the way ethnomusicologists organize and analyze knowledge about the world, while investigating the ways music acquires meaning in performances that are socially, historically, and culturally situated.

MUS 106: Rock, Pop, and American Culture

Instructor: Schweitzer

An examination of popular music in America from the 1830s through the modern day. With a particular emphasis being placed on the 1950s and 1960s, students will develop an understanding of the cultural, political, and economic forces of these eras and will examine how popular music history intersects with all aspects of American history and culture. This course also examines several important threads in popular music history, including the ever-present, but ever changing, role of race relations, the impact of evolving technologies, and the history of the music industry. In addition to reading the assigned textbook, students are also asked to watch/listen to important archival performances, televised interviews with notable musicians, radio interviews with scholars of popular culture, and other relevant primary sources.

PHL 294: SpTp: Monotheisms

Instructor: Prud'Homme

This distinctive course explores the topic of monotheism as a religious belief and system of thought. One issue surrounding monotheism is whether it intrinsically pulls believers toward intolerance, at least relative to polytheistic or non-theistic beliefs. Other questions concern the variety of monotheisms and whether the concept has a stable meaning. Another is the rational basis for monotheism. This course will explore such questions by reference to historical polytheisms; Judaism; trinitarian thought in Christianity; Islam; contemporary monotheisms outside the Judeo-Christian-Islamic framework, including elements of Hinduism; and modern theologies. Religious texts and concepts as well as sociological developments will be examined. Guest experts will enrich the learning experience.

PHL/REL 394: Special Topic: Confucianism and Ru Meditation

Instructor: Song

This course introduces the philosophical concepts, sociological foundation, political implementation, and spiritual/religious practices of the Asian Ru (Confucian) tradition. While remaining sensitive to its varying characteristics through different historical periods, the course also presents Ruism's development across Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia, and studies its historical interaction with Western cultures. Students are encouraged to think over and practice Ruist insights in a broader context of philosophical and religious studies, while being able to compare it with other major Asian and Western philosophical and religious traditions. Special acquired skills: students will learn Meditation in Motion in its varying forms, such as breathing, sleeping, quiet-sitting and Taiji martial arts, to strengthen their mind-body general well-being and increase creativity and productivity.