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College Catalog 2009-2011 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Courses
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Chemistry |
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CHEM 212 - Organic Chemistry II
This course further develops the theoretical concepts of organic chemistry, and helps students to develop an ability to propose plausible synthetic pathways to organic molecules. Particular focus is on nucleophilic addition, electrophilic substitution, free radical, and pericyclic reactions. Prerequisite: CHEM 211 . Three lectures, four hours laboratory per week. Spring semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 211. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 222 - Analytical Chemistry
This course uses key concepts of chemical equilibrium and structure to solve problems in chemical analysis. Lecture and laboratory work provide both the theoretical foundations and practical training in classical methods (gravimetric and volumetric analysis), atomic and molecular spectroscopy, and chromatography. Statistics and error analysis are also emphasized throughout the course. Prerequisite: CHEM 112 or CHEM 115 . Three lectures, four hours laboratory per week. Spring semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 or 115. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 252 - Research Methods in Organic Chemistry
This course develops understanding of computation, advanced NMR and mass spectrometric techniques as applied to research efforts in organic chemistry and related fields, such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, supramolecular synthesis, and crystal engineering. Prerequisites: CHEM 212 and permission of the instructor. Three lectures per week. Spring semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212 and permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 300 - Chemistry Seminar
Presentations on current topics in the molecular sciences by campus visitors, as well as by Macalester students and faculty. Students may be expected to prepare for the presentations by reading, and in some cases, discussing the work of a speaker in advance of his/her seminar presentation. Chemistry majors will make two oral presentations over four semesters. All students will submit a written synopsis for three seminar presentations each semester. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. One hour per week. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior standing. (1 Credits)
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CHEM 311 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics
This course covers topics in macroscopic physical chemistry dealing with the bulk properties of matter and energy. These topics include the properties of gases, the First and Second Laws of thermodynamics and their application to physical and chemical systems, phase and chemical equilibria, rates of reactions and chemical kinetics, and x-ray diffractometry. Three lectures and three hours laboratory per week. Fall semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 or CHEM 115 , PHYS 227 , and MATH 137 . (4 Credits)
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CHEM 312 - Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy
This course covers topics in microscopic physical chemistry dealing with the structural and energetic properties of individual molecules. These topics include the foundations and applications of quantum mechanics, electronic structure and bonding, computational chemistry, molecular symmetry, group theory, rotational, vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, and statistical mechanics. Prerequisites: CHEM 112 or CHEM 115 , PHYS 227 , and MATH 237 . Three lectures and three hours lab per week. Spring semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 or 115, PHYS 227, and MATH 237. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 320 - Computational Chemistry
Computation plays a key role in chemical research today, with many articles in the literature using computer modeling to make predictions of chemical behavior and to interpret experimental results. Arguably the most powerful subfield of computational chemistry is quantum chemistry-the application of quantum mechanics to atoms and molecules. This course has the following goals: (1) introducing the basic concepts of quantum chemistry; (2) illustrating the power and limitations of different quantum chemical methods; (3) providing opportunities to apply quantum chemistry to a variety of systems. The emphasis throughout the course will be on the use of computers to make predictions, instead of the mathematics and physics underlying quantum mechanics. Prerequisite: CHEM 212 (Organic Chemistry II) or permission of the instructor. Offered alternate spring terms. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 351 - Biochemistry I
A study of biological processes at the molecular level with an emphasis on the chemistry of biological molecules, physical biochemistry, structure of proteins, mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme catalyzed reactions, and introduction to intermediary metabolism, including the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Three lecture hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212 , , , or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 352 - Biochemistry II
A continuation of BIOL 351 . A study of biological processes at the molecular level with an emphasis on the metabolism of amino acids, nucleotides, the regulation of biochemical pathways, and topics in molecular biology such as gene replication, the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, and recent advances in genomics and proteomics. Prerequisites: BIOL 351 or permission of the instructor. Three lecture hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Spring semester. Prerequisite(s): BIOL or CHEM 351 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 359 - Chemical Biology
Our understanding of the molecular bases for biological processes has advanced in tandem with our ability to manipulate chemical structures in the laboratory. Progress in these two fields has led to an intellectual convergence, in which scientists 1) use the tools of chemistry to manipulate biological systems and 2) take inspiration from biological designs to address chemical problems. Such approaches have been given the name “chemical biology, ” and represent some of the most fertile ground for discoveries in chemistry and biology over the past decade. This course will rely heavily on current chemical biology research literature to introduce students to recent developments in the field, with examples drawn from metabolic engineering, protein design, and directed molecular evolution. Prerequistie: BIOL 352 - Biochemistry II. Three lecture hours per week. Offered every year. Cross-listed as BIOL 359 . Prerequisite(s): BIOL and CHEM 352. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 361 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
Selected topics in organic chemistry, including stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, modern methods of organic synthesis and spectral methods of identifying organic compounds. Laboratory emphasis on spectral, chromatographic and synthetic methods. Alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212 (4 Credits)
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CHEM 394 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 411 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
This course examines how modern theories of chemical bonding are applied to an understanding of the chemistry of the elements of the periodic table. Students explore chemical structures, reactions and spectra on the basis of molecular symmetry and group theory. Topics covered include chemical periodicity, coordination compounds, and organometallic complexes. Prerequisite: CHEM 312 or permission of the instructor. Three lectures and three hours of laboratory per week. Fall semester. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 312 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 471 - Research in Molecular Spectroscopy
Collaborative research with a faculty member on a current problem in the field of molecular spectroscopy. Students will use modern laser technology to record and then analyze electronic spectra of gaseous free radicals. In addition to extensive laboratory research, there will be readings and discussion of the primary literature. Prerequisite: CHEM 312 or permission of the instructor. Offered occasionally. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 312 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CHEM 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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Chinese |
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CHIN 101 - Elementary Chinese I
(4 Credits)
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CHIN 102 - Elementary Chinese II
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 149 - Shanghai, Global City: Urban Culture in China from the Opium Wars until the Present Cross-Listed as
This interdisciplinary course explores Shanghai’s importance in China’s turbulent cultural and political trajectory from the late 19th Century until the present. It attempts to illustrate how the experience of living in China’s first and foremost modern metropolis has manifested itself through the city’s literature, music, film, and art. We will explore a variety of artistic responses to Shanghai’s urban modernity, analyze the impact of global modernism on Shanghai’s urban culture, and comment on the degree to which the particular social and political context of Shanghai has shaped the arts and architecture of this East-Asian metropolis. (4 Credits)
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CHIN 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CHIN 203 - Intermediate Chinese I
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 204 - Intermediate Chinese II
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 255 - China on Screen
This course is an overview of China on the silver screen. Adopting the “nation” as its primary structuring device, the course examines how Chinese films represented the national identity, national issues, and the national past. The topics under discussion include how women’s virtues became the emblems of a nation that strived for modernity in the early 20th century; how films were politically appropriated for the socialist construction; how the revolutionary past had been cinematically constructed, remembered and critiqued in the post-Mao era; how the national legacy and tradition were consciously or unconsciously re-created and revised as a spectacle to meet the curious gaze from the global market; and how Taiwan and Hong Kong cinema constantly reflected the issue of cultural and national identities. The course starts from the silent film period and extends to the fifth generation directors, underground filmmaking, and the revival of martial arts genre in the greater China area. Feature films from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will be screened and discussed. Secondary articles and books are also assigned in conjunction with the films. The course is organized thematically and moves chronologically. No prior knowledge of China or Chinese is required. (4 Credits)
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CHIN 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CHIN 303 - Advanced Chinese I
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 304 - Advanced Chinese II
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 407 - Fourth Year Chinese I
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 408 - Fourth Year Chinese II
Prerequisite(s): (4 Credits)
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CHIN 452 - Translating Chinese: Theory and Practice
How and why did the first translatros who began to translate English into Chinese and Chinese into English, choose the texts they translated? What problems, both linguistically and culturally, did they encounter? Did the same issues arise when translating into Chinese and English, and how were they respectively addressed? Who did the translating? This course approaches the topic of Chinese translation simultaneiously from a socio-historical, empirical, and theoretical perspective. It addresses some of the fundamental issues faced when translating Chinese into foreign languages, English in particular. A the same time, the course functions as a practical workshop in which we read and translate a wide variety of Chinese primary texts and familiarize ourselves with tools of translation. Prerequisite(s): 2 years of Chinese language. (4 Credits)
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CHIN 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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Classics |
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CLAS 111 - Elementary Latin I
This two-term sequence introduces the grammar and vocabulary of Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. Students learn through reading adapted passages, by breaking down grammatical structures into recognizable patterns, and through tutorials and drills. We aim to cover all basic grammar by the end of the year. In the second semester, students begin to read easy Latin such as the Bible, Pliny, Cornelius Nepos and/or Caesar. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 113 - Elementary Arabic I
In this two semester program, students learn to read, write and converse in Modern Standard Arabic, the form of Classical Arabic used in contemporary news media, documents, literature, education and religious practice in the many countries of the Arab world. The purpose of this course is to develop beginning students’ proficiency and communication in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will also participate in tutorials and/or practice labs. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 115 - Elementary Greek I
This two-semester program introduces students to ancient Greek, the language of Greece, Asia Minor, and the Hellenistic world, including several Jewish and early Christian writers. Students will learn the grammar and vocabulary necessary for reading Greek literature and documents of many periods. During the second term, students begin to read extended prose, such as passages from Plato, Xenophon, the New Testament or documentary sources. Students will also participate in tutorials and/or practice labs. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 117 - Elementary Hebrew I
An introduction to the language and literature of classical Hebrew. The study of grammar and vocabulary is supplemented with practice in oral recitation and aural comprehension. Basic biblical texts are analyzed and translated, including selections from the books of Genesis and Ruth. Alternate years. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 121 - The Greek World Cross-Listed as
This course surveys the political, economic, and cultural development of the peoples of the ancient Greek world from the late Bronze Age through the Hellenistic era. Students will hone their critical thinking skills while working with translations of ancient literature, archaeological remains and works of art. The basic structure of the course is chronological, but we will examine major themes across time and space, which may include the interaction between physical landscape and historical change; rule by the one, the few and the many; the nature and development of literary and artistic genres; the economic, military, and/or cultural dimensions of empire; or the intersections of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, slave/free status and civic identity in the Greek world. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 122 - The Roman World Cross-Listed as
This course introduces students to the Roman world, which at its height stretched from Britain to Iran, from Germany to Africa, and lasted well over a thousand years. Students will develop critical thinking skills while working with Roman literature in translation, art, architecture and other archaeological remains. The structure of the course is chronological, but we will examine major themes across time and space, which may include the development of Roman literature out of and in response to Greek culture; the effects of the civil wars and the resulting political change from a republic to a monarchy; the cultural, religious and/or military aspects of the Roman empire and its immediate aftermath; Roman conceptions of gender, sexuality, slave and free status, citizenship and/or ethnicity, and how these social categories were used to legitimize or exercise power. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 123 - Introduction to Archaeology Cross-Listed as
This course introduces students to archaeology, the study of the material remains of human culture. Students will explore the history of the discipline and profession, its basic methods and theories, and the political and ethical dimensions of modern archaeological practice. Students learn to examine and interpret evidence using specific examples, from artifacts to sites to regions. Every year. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 127 - Women, Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome Cross-Listed as
This course investigates contemporary approaches to studying women, gender and sexuality in history, and the particular challenges of studying these issues in antiquity. By reading ancient writings in translation and analyzing art and other material culture, we will address the following questions: How did ancient Greek and Roman societies understand and use the categories of male and female? Into what sexual categories did different cultures group people? How did these gender and sexual categories intersect with notions of slave and free status, citizenship and ethnicity? How should we interpret the actions and representations of women in surviving literature, myth, art, law, philosophy, politics and medicine in this light? Finally, how and why have gendered classical images been re-deployed in the modern U.S.- from scholarship to art and poetry? Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 129 - Greek Myths
This course studies some of the world’s great storytellers-the ancient Greeks. First, we read from translations of Greek poetry to become familiar with the key figures and events in mythology, including the Olympian gods and their origins, the major heroes, and the Trojan War. Then we explore more broadly the adaptable nature of these myths and the variety of forms in which the Greeks told stories, from epic and personal poetry to philosophy, drama, sculpture and vase painting. At the same time, we investigate the ways in which moderns have interpreted these stories. We analyze myths using Freud’s psychoanalytical techniques, as folklore and ritual, and through theoretical perspectives including structuralism, new historicism and feminism. Finally, we investigate the later life of Greek myths, focusing on how and why these stories have been retold by the Romans, later European authors and artists, American film makers and playwrights, and science fiction writers. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 135 - India and Rome
This course is taught jointly between the department of Religious Studies and the department of Classics, by a specialist in the Roman East and a specialist in classical India. We will start on either side of this world, with Alexander the Great and Ashoka, exploring the relationship between empire and religion from Rome to India in the world’s crossroads for the thousand years between Alexander and the rise of Islam. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 145 - Pagans, Christians and Jews in Classical Antiquity: Cultures in Conflict Cross-Listed as
This course studies the interaction of Jewish, Christian, and pagan cultures, and the protracted struggle for self-definition and multi-cultural exchange this encounter provoked. The course draws attention to how the other and cultural and religious difference are construed, resisted, and apprehended. Readings include Acts, Philo, Revelation, I Clement, pagan charges against Christianity, Adversus Ioudaios writers, the Goyim in the Mishna, and apologetic literature. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 155 - January in Rome: The Art, Archaeology, and Topography of Ancient Rome
A survey and tour of the major spaces, surviving monuments and artifacts of the city of Rome from the earliest occupation of the Palatine around 1000 BCE to the first major Christian buildings in the 4th century CE. Students learn architectural building techniques, systems of dating based on types of stone and brickwork, problems in identifying surviving buildings, the iconography of Roman political sculpture, and issues of Roman copying and reuse of original Greek art. We consider the incorporation of Roman monuments into subsequent architecture, including Fascist political (re)use of archaeology, as well as problems of conservation in the context of the modern city. Finally, visits to the excavated cities of Pompeii and Ostia make visible the lives and activities of those lost in the literary record, including women and slaves. Alternate years. (2 Credits)
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CLAS 160 - Intro to Ancient/Medieval Art
This course surveys the visual and material culture of Europe and the Middle East from the Paleolithic through the late Medieval period. We consider the material remains of Prehistoric Europe, the Ancient Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, Greece, Etruria, and Rome; early Christianity, Judaism and Islam; and Early Medieval, Romanesque and Gothic Europe from a contextual perspective, in order to recover the meanings of works of art within the cultures that produced them. A special focus is placed on the appropriation of these objects and images in later Western culture. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 192 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (2 Credits)
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CLAS 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 212 - Elementary Latin II
This two-term sequence introduces the grammar and vocabulary of Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. Students learn through reading adapted passages, by breaking down grammatical structures into recognizable patterns, and through tutorials and drills. We aim to cover all basic grammar by the end of the year. In the second semester, students begin to read easy Latin such as the Bible, Pliny, Cornelius Nepos and/or Caesar. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 214 - Elementary Arabic II
In this two semester program, students learn to read, write and converse in Modern Standard Arabic, the form of Classical Arabic used in contemporary news media, documents, literature, education and religious practice in the many countries of the Arab world. The purpose of this course is to develop beginning students’ proficiency and communication in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will also participate in tutorials and/or practice labs. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 218 - Elementary Hebrew II
An introduction to the language and literature of classical Hebrew. The study of grammar and vocabulary is supplemented with practice in oral recitation and aural comprehension. Basic biblical texts are analyzed and translated, including selections from the books of Genesis and Ruth. Alternate years. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 231 - Intermediate Latin: Prose
A thorough review of Latin grammar followed by a study of a Roman prose author or authors. Students build reading skills while gaining an appreciation for the literary and cultural aspects of Latin prose. Particular texts to be studied may include Petronius’ Satyricon, the letters and/or speeches of Cicero, letters of Pliny, or Livy’s History of Rome. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): or its equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 235 - Elementary Greek II
This two-semester program introduces students to ancient Greek, the language of Greece, Asia Minor, and the Hellenistic world, including several Jewish and early Christian writers. Students will learn the grammar and vocabulary necessary for reading Greek literature and documents of many periods. During the second term, students begin to read extended prose, such as passages from Plato, Xenophon, the New Testament or documentary sources. Students will also participate in tutorials and/or practice labs. Every year. (4 credits each semester) (4 Credits)
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CLAS 237 - Intermediate Hebrew I
Hebrew prose selections from the Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls and Rabbinic parables. Translation of texts will be supplemented with grammar review. Students will gain facility with such tools as the lexicon, commentary and critical apparatus and will become familiar with critical trends in contemporary research. Alternate years. Prerequisite(s): or its equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 241 - Intermediate Arabic I
This course focuses on expanding vocabulary and grammar through simple texts, dialogs and stories. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 261 - Intermediate Greek: Prose
This third course in the ancient Greek language sequence involves review of basic grammar and extensive reading in works of ancient prose. Students will build familiarity with forms and vocabulary while gaining confidence as readers and an appreciation for ancient literature. Authors may include Plato, Herodotus, Attic orators, or Lucian. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 301 - Research Forum
An intensive study of a selected period or theme in ancient Mediterranean or Near Eastern history, culture or societies. This course emphasizes the critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources, including texts and material culture, and trains students to conduct research by introducing them to the materials and methods used in the field of Classics. Recent topics include The Dead Sea Scrolls, Literacy in the Ancient World, and Rome: The City. May be repeated for credit. Offered every fall. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor (4 Credits)
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CLAS 332 - Intermediate Latin: Poetry
A course in the poetic literature of the Republican and/or Augustan Ages with concentrated study on one or two authors. Students work toward grammatical and lexical mastery while learning about the forms, styles and cultural aspects of Latin poetry. Authors to be studied may include Plautus, Catullus, Horace, Vergil, or Ovid. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 338 - Intermediate Hebrew II
The final semester in the two-year survey of the Hebrew language from ancient to modern. Students will read selections from the Biblical books of poetry such as Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Psalms. The second half of the semester is devoted to modern conversational Hebrew. Alternate years. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 342 - Intermediate Arabic II
This course introduces students to more authentic texts and samples a variety of authors and genres from around the Arab world. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 362 - Intermediate Greek: Poetry
This fourth course in the ancient Greek language sequence involves extensive reading in works of ancient poetry. Students will work toward mastery of grammar and vocabulary while exploring the formal, artistic and cultural dimensions of poetic composition. Most often readings will be from the Homeric epics (Iliad or Odyssey), but other works may be taught, including tragedy, comedy or lyric. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 392 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (2 Credits)
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CLAS 394 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 483 - Advanced Reading in Latin
Students who pursue Latin at the advanced level will study closely one or more works and explore relevant problems in literary or textual criticism, linguistic, social or cultural history, and/or reception. Authors may include Tacitus, Seneca, Apuleius, Juvenal, Martial or others. Alternate years. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 485 - Advanced Arabic
A survey course of Renaissance and classic writers from around the Arab world. We explore social issues, witht the focus still on language acquisition. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 487 - Advanced Reading in Greek
Students who pursue ancient Greek at the advanced level will study closely one or more works and explore relevant problems in literary or textual criticism, linguistic, social or cultural history, and/or reception.Offered upon consultation with department. Prerequisite(s): or equivalent (4 Credits)
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CLAS 490 - Senior Seminar
The Senior Seminar caps the experience of being a Classics major. Students in all three tracks (Archaeology, Civilization, and Languages) join together to explore the history of the discipline and its relationship to their own histories and future plans. Students learn about, draft and critique documents useful for their next steps, including resumes, personal statements and cover letters, along with discussing selected readings in a seminar setting. Each student also works with an advisor from the department to develop and execute a major piece of work in their chosen field, Majors who have completed the Senior Seminar have thus executed a substantive independent project and can articulate the place of their Classics major within their personal and professional development. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): CLAS major and a course at the 300-leve or higher, or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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CLAS 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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Computer Science |
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COMP 120 - Computing and Society
Topics course that introduces students to the field of computing by way of a central theme. Topics vary; offerings include Internet Communities, Robots in the World, and Web Development. Full description given in advance of registration. This course is suitable for students with little or no experience with computing, but it can serve as a starting point for the Computer Science major. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. (4 Credits)
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COMP 121 - Introduction to Scientific Programming
This course is intended to give students from diverse areas of science-e.g., economics, biology, physics, chemistry, geography, geology, mathematics, engineering, statistics-an ability to write software for solving problems and carrying out research in those disciplines. The course provides an introduction to programming and computation as well as to a number of important and widely used techniques: scientific graphics, equation solving, function fitting, optimization, storing and searching data, and simulation. There is an emphasis on ways to represent and transform information on the computer in addition to numbers and text: images, sound, graphs and databases.Offered spring semester. Prerequisite(s): , one term of calculus or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 123 - Core Concepts in Computer Science
This course introduces the field of computer science, including central concepts such as the design and implementation of algorithms and programs, testing and analyzing programs, the representation of information within the computer, and the role of abstraction and metaphor in computer science. The exploration of these central ideas will draw from the breadth of computer science, with an emphasis on two major application areas: multimedia processing (images, sound, and text) and robotics (control systems for autonomous robots). Course work will use the Python programming language. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. (4 Credits)
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COMP 124 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures
This course introduces the principles of software design and development using the object-oriented paradigm and the Java programming language. Design techniques covered are programming by contract and Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagrams. Students will build graphical user interfaces and learn to develop and use abstract data types (ADTs) such as lists, trees, sets, and graphs. Students will study the use of these data structures in applications such as simulation, computational science, and networks. For each ADT, students will analyze their advantages and disadvantages to determine which one works best for a given application. There is a required 1.5 hour laboratory section associated with this course. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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COMP 221 - Algorithm Design and Analysis
An in-depth introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms. Topics may include algorithmic paradigms and structures, including recursion, divide and conquer, dynamic programming, greedy methods, branch and bound, randomized, probabilistic, and parallel algorithms, non-determinism and NP completeness. Applications to searching and sorting, graphs and optimization, geometric algorithms, and transforms. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 225 - Software Design and Development
This course builds upon the software design foundation started in COMP 124 . Students will design and implement medium-sized software projects using modern software design principles such as design patterns, refactoring, fault tolerance, stream-based programming, and exception handling. The concept of a distributed computing system will be introduced, and students will develop multithreaded and networked applications using currently available software libraries. Advanced graphical user interface methods will be studied with an emphasis on appropriate human-computer interaction techniques. Students will use operating systems services and be introduced to methods of evaluating the performance of their software. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 240 - Computer Systems Organization
This course familiarizes the student with the internal design and organization of computers. Topics include number systems, internal data representations, logic design, microarchitectures, the functional units of a computer system, memory, processor, and input/output structures, instruction sets and assembly language, addressing techniques, system software, and non-traditional computer architectures. Every fall. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 261 - Theory of Computation
A discussion of the basic theoretical foundations of computation as embodied in formal models and descriptions. The course will cover finite state automata, regular expressions, formal languages, Turing machines, computability and unsolvability, and the theory of computational complexity. Introduction to alternate models of computation and recursive function theory. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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COMP 302 - Introduction to Database Management Systems
This course will introduce students to the design, implementation, and analysis of databases stored in database management systems (DBMS). Topics include implementation-neutral data modeling, database design, database implementation, and data analysis using relational algebra and SQL. Students will generate data models based on real-world problems, and implement a database in a state-of-the-art DBMS. Students will master complex data analysis by learning to first design database queries and then implement them in a database query language such as SQL. Advanced topics include objects in databases, indexing for improved performance, distributed databases, and data warehouses. Offered even-numbered spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. (4 Credits)
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COMP 320 - Computational Biology
This course will examine selected topics in computational biology, including basic bioinformatics, algorithms used in genomics an genome analysis, computational techniques forsystems biology, and synthetic biology. This is an interdisciplinary course that will often be cross-listed with a course in Biology. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): Students with either Biology or Computer Science or Math coursework may register for this interdisciplinary course. (4 Credits)
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COMP 325 - Compilers, Interpreters, and Programming Languages
This course will examine the techniques that underlie compiler and interpreter creation, including lexical analysis, parsing, and compiler generators. These tools will serve as a framework for examining programming language design issues across a range of language types (procedural, object-oriented, modern programming languages with an eye to understanding the underlying philosophy of each language, and how it influences and is influenced by the needs of a compiler or interpreter for the language. “Back-end” issues, including intermediate representations, code generation, and optimization will be included as they relate to specific programming languages. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 221 and either COMP 240 or COMP 261 , or consent of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 340 - Digital Electronics
A survey of fundamental ideas and methods used in the design and construction of digital electronic circuits such as computers. Emphasis will be on applying the theoretical aspects of digital design to the actual construction of circuits in the laboratory. Topics to be covered include basic circuit theory, transistor physics, logic families (TTL, CMOS), Boolean logic principles, combinatorial design techniques, sequential logic techniques, memory circuits and timing, and applications to microprocessor and computer design. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): MATH 137 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 342 - Operating Systems and Computer Architecture
The basic principles related to the design and architecture of operating systems. Concepts to be discussed include sequential and concurrent processes, synchronization and mutual exclusion, processor scheduling, time-sharing, multiprogramming, multitasking, and parallel processing. Memory management techniques. File system design. Security and protection systems. Performance evaluation. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 240 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 343 - Design of Computer Networks
This course investigates basic principles for designing and implementing both local area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WAN). It will look at 1) physical layer protocols, including transmission media, analog vs. digital communications, and interface design, 2) data link layer protocols, for point-to-point and contention-based message passing, 3) network layer protocols, for routing, congestion control, and inter-network communication, and 4) transport protocols, for creating error-free end-to-end channels. Each of these concepts will be illustrated using actual communication protocols such as the Ethernet and TCP/IP. The course will also take a brief look at higher level application issues including security (e.g. encryption, authentication), network management, name servers, and multimedia protocols such as JPEG and MPEG. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 240 and COMP 221 , or consent of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 346 - Internet Computing
This course will investigate the latest technology available for building web applications with dynamic content. It will look at all stages in the web application design process, including: 1) client applications, 2) web applications that service client requests, 3) application servers that manage requests for information, update data, and serve client applets, and 4) the database management system that holds the data. The course will be programming-intensive using aspects of the Java language available for designing and implementing Internet applications. The format of the course will be mainly laboratory-based sessions where you learn to build these four components of a web application, supported by lectures and discussions. Students will research particular topics and present their findings during these discussion sessions. The course will also investigate the usability of designs from a human factors standpoint and discuss privacy and other social consequences of this technology. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 225 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 365 - Computational Linear Algebra Cross-Listed as MATH 365
This course covers a central point of contact between mathematics and computer science. Many of the computational techniques important in science, commerce, and statistics are based on concepts from linear algebra: subspaces, projection, matrix decompositions, etc. The course reviews these concepts, adopts them to large scales, and applies them in the core techniques of scientific computing; solving systems of linear and nonlinear equations, approximation and statistical function estimation, optimization, interpolation, Monte Carlo techniques. Applications throughout the sciences and statistics. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): COMP 121 or COMP 123 , and MATH 236 (4 Credits)
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COMP 369 - Discrete Applied Mathematics
Topics in applied mathematics chosen from: cryptography; complexity theory and algorithms; integer programming; combinatorial optimization; computational number theory; applications of geometry to tilings, packings, and crystallography; applied algebra. Alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): MATH 236 and MATH 379 and COMP 121 or COMP 123 . (4 Credits)
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COMP 380 - Bodies/Minds: AI Robotics
This course examines two distinct aspects of work in robotics: the physical construction of the robot’s “body” and the creation of robot control programs that form the robot’s “mind.” It will study the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of robot sensors, including sonar, infrared, touch, GPS, and computer vision. It will also examine a variety of techniques for robot control programs, including both reactive and deliberative approaches. The course will include hands-on work with multiple robots, and a semester-long course project in robotics. The course format will be a seminar, with students reading and discussing the research literature. Offered alternate spring semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 221 or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 394 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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COMP 425 - Programming Language Concepts
Introduction to programming language concepts, including issues of design, specification, representation, and implementation across a range of language types (procedural, object-oriented, functional, declarative, and parallel). Specific topics will include models of computation and their influence on language design, syntax, semantics and abstract interpretation, language structures, type theories, and program transformation methods, such as interpretation, compilation, partial evaluation, and graph reduction. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 221 and COMP 261 , or consent of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 440 - Collective Intelligence
This course will explore how computers can analyze people’s collective behavior to help them. Students will read and discuss recent academic research papers about collective behavior on sites such as Wikipedia, Facebook, and Twitter. Students will use coputational simulation and data-mining techniques to analyze online datasets. Offered alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 124 and COMP 221 , or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 445 - Parallel and Distributed Processing
Many current computational challenges, such as Internet search, protein folding, and data mining require the use of multiple processes running in parallel, whether on a single multiprocessor machine (parallel processing) or on multiple machines connected together on a network (distributed processing). The type of processing required to solve such problems in adequate amounts of time involves dividing the program and/or problem space into parts that can run simultaneously on many processors. In this course we will explore the various computer architectures used for this purpose and the issues involved with programming parallel solutions in such environments. Students will examine several types of problems that can benefit from parallel or distributed solutions and develop their own solutions for them. Alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 240 and COMP 221 , or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 484 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Cross-Listed as NEUR 484
An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of artificial intelligence. Topics will include specific AI techniques, a range of application areas, and connections between AI and other areas of study (i.e., philosophy, psychology). Techniques may include heuristic search, automated reasoning, machine learning, deliberative planning and behavior-based agent control. Application areas include robotics, games, knowledge representation, logic, perception, and natural language processing. Alternate fall semesters. Prerequisite(s): COMP 221 , or permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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COMP 488 - Senior Seminar
Advanced topics in specialized areas of computer science. The course will be taught as a seminar and will involve discussion of original research articles, student projects, and oral presentations. When the course is offered, the topic and prerequisites for that semester will be announced and posted prior to registration. (4 Credits)
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COMP 490 - Senior Capstone Seminar
Working with their capstone supervisor, seminar coordinators, and other faculty, students will discuss their capstone project, make presentations of their progress, critique the work of other students, and participate in the activities of the seminar. These activities will include instruction and discussion of strategies for research, writing, and presentation. The scheduled times will include both group meetings with other seminar participants as well as individually arranged meetings with the students capstone supervisor. Every spring semester. S/NC grading only. (2 Credits)
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COMP 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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ECON 108 - Quantitative Thinking for Policy Analysis
Students will learn related approaches to collecting, interpreting, and presenting quantitative information in the context of specific public policy issues such as immigration, globalization, discrimination, health care, and environmental issues. The course will build on familiar numerical, statistical, and logical skills. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. (4 Credits)
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ECON 110 - Investments
The primary goal of this course is to enable students to become informed and intelligent investors in the area of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. We will also attempt to answer the question: Is it possible to predict changes in stock prices or are they determined only by random events? Other topics covered include ethical investing, international investing, and green investing. Emphasis will be on group learning, oral presentations, and the case study approach. This course is intended for non-economics majors and does not count for credit toward an economics major. Every year. (4 Credits)
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ECON 113 - Financial Accounting
Accounting is the language of business. One of the objectives of this course is to learn that “language.” The emphasis will be on understanding financial statements both for profit and non-profit organizations. International accounting, ethics and investment decisions are also covered. This course is designed for students who desire an understanding of the elements of accounting as a component of a liberal arts education as well as for those who would like to study further in accounting or business. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite. (4 Credits)
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ECON 119 - Principles of Economics
A one-semester introduction to the basic tools of micro- and macroeconomic analysis. Microeconomics deals with consumers, firms, markets and income distribution. Macroeconomics deals with national income, employment, inflation and money. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite. (4 Credits)
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ECON 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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ECON 201 - Internship Seminar
The internship seminar is recommended as a companion course for students taking an internship through the Economics department. The course is designed to help assure that the theories, principles, and concepts developed in academic work are effectively integrated with the internship experience. The course will use a combination of in-class readings and discussions to allow students to reflect on their own career aspirations as a result of the internship experience as well as to learn from the experiences of other students in the seminar. The goals of the course include supporting students during the internship, analyzing the challenges posed by an internship, and providing success strategies, and developing take-aways from the internship program that help students plan remaining coursework and career preparation. Every spring. Prerequisite(s): ECON 113 or ECON 119 (2 Credits)
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