Mar 28, 2024  
College Catalog 2021-2022 
    
College Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Courses


 

Biology

  
  • BIOL 613 - Independent Project


    This is an opportunity for students to do independent study or research on a biological topic. This may be done in the department under the direct supervision of a faculty member; it may be done at another college or university or similar institution under direct supervision; or in certain circumstances it may be done off campus with minimal direct supervision. Given the nature of independent projects, students need to demonstrate they have the necessary academic background, including appropriate coursework, in the area they are interested in pursuing before an independent will be approved. The independent may be undertaken during a semester or over the summer. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 614 - Independent Project


    This is an opportunity for students to do independent study or research on a biological topic. This may be done in the department under the direct supervision of a faculty member; it may be done at another college or university or similar institution under direct supervision; or in certain circumstances it may be done off campus with minimal direct supervision. Given the nature of independent projects, students need to demonstrate they have the necessary academic background, including appropriate coursework, in the area they are interested in pursuing before an independent will be approved. The independent may be undertaken during a semester or during the summer. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 621 - Internship


    This is an opportunity for students to work with professionals in the biological field outside of academia. Students will work with a faculty sponsor and their site supervisor to develop a set of learning goals, strategies to meet these goals, and methods of evaluation for the internship, including the nature of the final product. An internship is an excellent way for students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and laboratory, to learn more biology, and to explore career options. The internship may be undertaken during a semester, during January, or during the summer and must encompass at least 35 hours of work (equal to 2.5 hours per week). S/N grading. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 622 - Internship


    This is an opportunity for students to work with professionals in the biological field outside of academia. Students will work with a faculty sponsor and their site supervisor to develop a set of learning goals, strategies to meet these goals, and methods of evaluation for the internship, including the nature of the final product. An internship is an excellent way for students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and laboratory, to learn more biology, and to explore career options. The internship may be undertaken during a semester, during January, or during the summer and must encompass at least 70 hours of work (equal to 5 hours per week). S/N grading. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 623 - Internship


    This is an opportunity for students to work with professionals in the biological field outside of academia. Students will work with a faculty sponsor and their site supervisor to develop a set of learning goals, strategies to meet these goals, and methods of evaluation for the internship, including the nature of the final product. An internship is an excellent way for students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and laboratory, to learn more biology, and to explore career options. The internship may be undertaken during a semester or during the summer and must encompass at least 105 hours of work (equal to 7.5 hours per week).  S/N grading. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair.  Offered every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 624 - Internship


    This is an opportunity for students to work with professionals in the biological field outside of academia. Students will work with a faculty sponsor and their site supervisor to develop a set of learning goals, strategies to meet these goals, and methods of evaluation for the internship, including the nature of the final product. An internship is an excellent way for students to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and laboratory, to learn more biology, and to explore career options. The internship may be undertaken during a semester, during January, or during the summer and must encompass at least 140 hours of work (equal to 10 hours per week). S/N grading. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 631 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Initiate registration through Academic Programs. (1 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 632 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Initiate registration through Academic Programs. (2 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 633 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Initiate registration through Academic Programs. (3 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 634 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Initiate registration through Academic Programs. (4 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 641 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. The independent may be undertaken during a semester, during January, or during the summer. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. S/N grading only. Offered every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 642 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. The independent may be undertaken during a semester, during January, or during the summer.  Honors students are required to register for a 2 credit honors independent during January of their senior year. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. S/N grading only. Offered every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 643 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. The independent may be undertaken during a semester or during the summer. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. S/N grading only. Offered every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • BIOL 644 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. The independent may be undertaken during a semester or during the summer. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. S/N grading only. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)


Chemistry

  
  • CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I: Structure and Equilibrium


    This course offers a rigorous, foundational treatment of atoms and molecules. We study the nature of chemical bonding and how bonding gives rise to the three-dimensional structure of matter. We explore how the macroscopic properties of substances can be interpreted in terms of atomic and molecular structure. We also learn mathematical and conceptual tools for quantifying chemical equilibrium, with an emphasis on the reactions of acids and bases. Laboratory work reinforces concepts in lecture, and also provides a review of fundamental topics, such as stoichiometry, gas laws, and solution-phase reactions, that are essential for future course work in chemistry. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Lab fee of $12 required. Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II: Energetics and Reactivity


    This course provides an intuitive, yet rigorous, understanding of how energy is stored and transferred in chemical systems. We start with the behavior of individual atoms and molecules (using the foundation of atomic and molecular structure laid in CHEM 111  , and then build up to the macroscopic concepts of thermodynamics. We focus on free energy as a powerful tool for predicting physical and chemical behavior. We then apply our understanding of energetics to electrochemical systems and the rates of chemical reactions. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Lab fee of $7 required. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 111  with a grade of C- or better, or satisfactory performance on a placement examination. Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 115 - Accelerated General Chemistry


    This course combines topics from both CHEM 111  and CHEM 112  and is meant to be an accelerated one-semester version of General Chemistry. The course begins with a rigorous treatment of atomic and molecular structure, including various models of chemical bonding. These ideas are applied to a thorough discussion of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. Conceptual and mathematical methods for quantifying chemical equilibrium are also explored, as well as theoretical and practical aspects of nuclear chemistry. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and for either CHEM 111  or CHEM 112  . Lab fee of $12 required. Prerequisite(s): AP CHEM score of 4 or 5; IB CHEM score of 5, 6, or 7; or satisfactory performance on an online placement examination. Some knowledge of calculus is expected. Open only to incoming first-year students. Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 120 - CSI Macalester


    From the Sherlock Holmes stories before radio to the serial broadcasts of mysteries and whodunits during the mid-twentieth century to the current popularity of television’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , society has demonstrated an abiding interest - regardless of the technological mode of delivery - in the entertainment value associated with the application of systematic, scientific, analytical thinking in the course of criminal investigation. May high-profile cases from real life have captured public attention as newspaper columnists and radio and television pundits report and pontificate on such cases, especially the physical evidence. The Lindberg kidnapping and the O.J. Simpson trial created stunning examples of public theatre driven by a widespread desire in people to know the facts and try the case in their own minds. Whether in an entertaining work of fiction or through an untidy twist of everyday life, forensic science serves as the fulcrum upon which collection and analysis of physical evidence lead ultimately to testimony in a courtroom. Of course, in contemporary terms the word physical is essentially a euphemism for chemical or molecular . Paradoxically, the public fascination with forensic science stands largely in opposition to the public distrust and fear of all things chemical. In this course we will work towards developing thorough, molecular level understanding of the foundations of modern forensic science. In appropriate measure and as a function of scheduling, readings, problem sets, case studies, hands-on analytical analyses, guest lecture visits, and field trips may be used to guide our study of modern forensic science. Fall semesters as a First Year Course. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 194 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I


    This course develops a broad understanding of the theoretical concepts of organic chemistry. Molecular orbital theory and valence bond resonance theory are invoked to describe and explain the ramification of covalent bonding in organic molecules, as well as to rationalize fundamental noncovalent associations. Thermodynamic considerations of 3-dimensional molecular shape are discussed. Contemporary instrumental techniques for the assignment of molecular structure are a key focus. Modern mechanistic theory of organic chemical reactions is developed in the context of acid-base, nucleophilic substitution, elimination, and electrophilic addition reactions. Three lectures, four hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s):  CHEM 112  with a grade of C- or better or CHEM 115  with a grade of C- or better. Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Three lectures, four hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s):  CHEM 211  with a grade of C- or better. Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Three lectures and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112  with a grade of C- or better or CHEM 115  with a grade of C- or better. Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 294 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 300 - Chemistry Seminar


    Presentations on current topics in the molecular sciences by campus visitors as well as by Macalester students and faculty. Chemistry majors will make an oral presentation during their senior year. One hour per week. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212 . Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • 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 of laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112  or CHEM 115 , PHYS 227 , and MATH 137 . Student must earn a grade of C- or higher in prerequisite courses. Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 312 - Quantum Chemistry 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. Three lectures and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s):  CHEM 112  or CHEM 115 , PHYS 227 , and MATH 236 . Student must earn a grade of C- or higher in prerequisite courses. Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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.  The second half of the course focuses on research projects possibly leading to publication. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212  (Organic Chemistry II) with a grade of C- or better, or permission of the instructor. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 351 - Biochemistry I

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 351  
    A study of biological processes at the molecular level with an emphasis on the chemistry of biological molecules, elements of physical biochemistry, the structure of proteins, the mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme catalyzed reactions, and selected topics in intermediary metabolism, including the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Three lecture hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 200  and CHEM 212 , or permission of instructor. Students must earn a C- or higher in prerequisite courses. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 352 - Biochemistry II

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 352  
    A continuation of CHEM 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. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 190 , BIOL 200 , and BIOL 351 , or permission of instructor. Every spring. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 353 - Molecular Medicine

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 353  
    How are therapeutic and diagnostic agents designed? How are these chemicals used to detect and treat illnesses? In this class, we aim to answer these questions by exploring molecular medicine from a (bio)chemical perspective. We will discuss the chemical basis of different diseases and how they can be targeted by therapeutics and monitored using chemical diagnostics. We will examine the fundamentals of drug design and development and dive into primary literature to explore cutting edge research in the field of medicinal chemistry. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351  (or concurrent registration) Alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 354 - Chemical Biology

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 354  
    Chemical biology is a field of study that applies chemistry to advanced problems in biology and medicine. This course will cover the fundamentals of the field, starting with a review of relevant biology, as well as advanced topics and state-of-the-art research. Through lectures, critical reading of recent literature, student presentations, and proposals, students will learn about the development of chemical tools to study and manipulate biological systems in novel ways. Topics may include: protein engineering and unnatural amino acid incorporation, targeted drug delivery, small molecule and protein-based imaging tools, bio-orthogonal reactions, synthetic biology, and combinatorial chemistry. Three lecture hours each week. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212   Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 212  with a grade of C- or better. Alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 394 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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.Three lectures and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s):  CHEM 312  with a grade of C- or better, or permission of the instructor. Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 474 - Research in Biochemistry

    Cross-Listed as BIOL 474  
    In this course students pursue a collaborative research project with a faculty member on a topic in contemporary biochemistry. In addition to extensive laboratory research, reading and discussion of the primary literature and oral and written presentation of research topics and results will be pursued. Three to six hours of lecture and/or laboratory each week. Depending on the semester/topic, this course may be taught be either Biology or Chemistry Faculty members.  Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351 ; junior or senior standing, and permission of instructor. Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 494 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 611 - Independent Project


    Laboratory and library research on an original problem, usually with a thesis. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 612 - Independent Project


    Laboratory and library research on an original problem, usually with a thesis. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 613 - Independent Project


    Laboratory and library research on an original problem, usually with a thesis. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 614 - Independent Project


    Laboratory and library research on an original problem, usually with a thesis. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 621 - Internship


    Prerequisite(s): Ordinarily restricted to seniors. Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 622 - Internship


    Prerequisite(s): Ordinarily restricted to seniors. Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 623 - Internship


    Prerequisite(s): Ordinarily restricted to seniors. Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 624 - Internship


    Prerequisite(s): Ordinarily restricted to seniors. Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 631 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 632 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 633 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 634 - Preceptorship


    Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 641 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the seniors honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 642 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the seniors honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 643 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the seniors honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHEM 644 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the seniors honors project. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. Offered every semester. (4 Credits)


Chinese

  
  • CHIN 101 - First Year Chinese I


    This course introduces students to Mandarin Chinese and Chinese culture. It offers instruction and practice in basic sentence patterns and conversational expressions to enable students to speak, read, write, and understand Mandarin Chinese. Every fall. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 102 - First Year Chinese II


    A continuation of First Year Chinese I. Prerequisite(s):  . Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 123 - Masterpieces of Chinese Literature

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 123  
    This course introduces students to masterpieces of Chinese poetry, drama, philosophy, and history. We begin with ancient folk songs and poems and progress historically to the twentieth century. The Chinese word for “literature” - “wenxue” -  literally means “the study (xue) of patterns (wen).” In class we will search for thematic, rhythmic, stylistic, and philosophical patterns that structure individual texts. We will also discover broader social patterns that transcend individual works and bind the tradition together. All texts will be read in English translation; no knowledge of Chinese language or literature is expected. There will be frequent writing assignments. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 125 - Classical Chinese

    Cross-Listed as JAPA 125  
    This translation-focused course allows students direct access to classical Chinese texts in several genres of poetry and prose. The readings differ every time the courses is offered, so it may be taken up to four times for credit. Corequisite(s): Third Year Chinese or above, or Fourth Year Japanese or above. Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 194 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 203 - Second Year Chinese I


    While the emphasis is placed on listening and speaking skills, students continue their study of characters and begin to work with short texts. Prerequisite(s):  . Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 204 - Second Year Chinese II


    A continuation of Second Year Chinese I. Prerequisite(s):  . (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 251 - Cramming for the Exam: Education in Chinese Literature and History

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 251  and EDUC 251  
    China is known for its grueling examination culture. How did this culture evolve? This course examines the imperial civil service examination system, the benchmark of social and political success in imperial China. We will read the core texts of the Confucian curriculum - the Four Books and the Five Classics -  to examine the values these texts promoted. We will also study frustrated scholars’ fictional accounts of the unfairness of the exam system, Europeans’ praise of it as a model meritocracy, and women’s struggles to participate in a system that explicitly excluded them. The course invites reflection on contemporary educational practices, and culminates in a recreation of the civil service exam. Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 255 - China on Screen

    Cross-Listed as   
    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 emblems of a nation that strived for modernity in the early 20th century; how films were politically appropriated for socialist purposes; how the revolutionary past was 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 of the global market; and how Taiwan and Hong Kong cinema constantly reflected 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 the martial arts genre in greater China. 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)

  
  • CHIN 258 - Gender and Sexuality in China

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 258  and WGSS 258  
    How are masculinity and femininity defined and transformed in modern and contemporary Chinese culture? How is the social construction of gender related to a larger social context? Through a rigorous analysis of the content and structure of modern and contemporary novels and films, this course examines the literary representation of gender and sexuality and its relation to tumultuous social transformations. Themes to be explored include: May Fourth enlightenment, anti-Japanese war, Socialist construction, the Cultural Revolution, and the liberalization of the post-Mao era. This course seeks to help students develop critical views of Chinese society and culture from a gendered perspective and gain familiarity with major authors, genres, and literary movements. This course assumes no prior knowledge of China or Chinese, and all reading materials are in English. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 294 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 305 - Third Year Chinese I


    A continuation of Second Year Chinese II. While the emphasis is placed on listening and speaking skills, students continue their study of characters and expand work with texts. Prerequisite(s):   . Fall semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 306 - Third Year Chinese II


    A continuation of Third Year Chinese I. Prerequisite(s):   . Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 353 - Cyber China: Internet and Contemporary Culture

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 353  
    What is the “Great Firewall of China?” What does it say about the symbolic power of the state, the civilians, censorship and resistance politics? The Internet has played an increasingly important role in shaping contemporary Chinese life in many ways. Technology-enabled spaces have expanded to encompass a vast array of cultural forms. They have become an arena of intense contention and contestation among multiple political forces. This senior capstone course explores various aspects of the Internet culture in mainland China, combining close examination of up-to-date online content in original Chinese language with evaluation of scholarly discourse on the Chinese internet. The goal of the seminar is to look at different ways of conceptualizing Chinese internet culture. This course also considers the implications of online communication and cultural production both for contemporary Chinese culture in general and for students’ own research in particular. Prerequisite(s): CHIN 204 , the equivalent language proficiency, or permission of instructor . (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 407 - Fourth Year Chinese I


    This course is designed for students who have achieved general proficiency in all aspects of Mandarin: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They are considered beyond the levels of proficiency of their 3rd year counterparts and are ready to delve deeper into more sophisticated textual readings, including short works of fiction and journalism. Students will work to improve their listening skills while working with TV, movie, and news scripts and give greater attention to developing a more sophisticated writing style in Chinese. The language of instruction is Mandarin. This course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s):  . (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 408 - Fourth Year Chinese II


    This course is designed for students who have achieved general proficiency in all aspects of Mandarin: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They are considered beyond the levels of proficiency of their 3rd year counterparts and are ready to delve deeper into more sophisticated tests including short works of fiction and journalism. Students will work to improve their listening skills while working with TV, movie, and news scripts and give greater attention to developing a more sophisticated writing style in Chinese. The language of instruction is Mandarin. This course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s):  . (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 409 - Chinese in Context


    What is Chinese in news reporting? How is Chinese used differently in TV reality shows and sitcoms? How is Chinese employed and manipulated online and in virtual reality? The aim of this course, which is equivalent to Fifth Year Chinese, is to learn about Chinese society and culture in different contexts: students will watch Chinese sitcoms and reality shows, read original Chinese novels, and communicate through Chinese Weibo. Prerequisite(s): CHIN 407  or equivalent. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 452 - Translating Chinese: Theory and Practice


    How and why did the first translators 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 simultaneously 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. At 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)

  
  • CHIN 494 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 611 - Independent Project


    Sophomores and above may pursue an independent research project under the supervision of a Chinese Language and Culture faculty member. Prerequisite(s): Three college-level courses related to Chinese speaking countries. Permission of instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to the start of the semester. Every semester. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 612 - Independent Project


    Sophomores and above may pursue an independent research project under the supervision of a Chinese Language and Culture faculty member. Prerequisite(s): Three college-level courses related to Chinese speaking countries. Permission of instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to the start of the semester. Every semester. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 613 - Independent Project


    Sophomores and above may pursue an independent research project under the supervision of a Chinese Language and Culture faculty member. Prerequisite(s): Three college-level courses related to Chinese speaking countries. Permission of instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to the start of the semester. Every semester. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 614 - Independent Project


    Sophomores and above may pursue an independent research project under the supervision of a Chinese Language and Culture faculty member. Prerequisite(s): Three college-level courses related to Chinese speaking countries. Permission of instructor and department chair must be obtained prior to the start of the semester. Every semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 641 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Instructor permission required. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (1 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 642 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Instructor permission required. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (2 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 643 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Instructor permission required. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (3 Credits)

  
  • CHIN 644 - Honors Independent


    Independent research, writing, or other preparation leading to the culmination of the senior honors project. Instructor permission required. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and department chair. (4 Credits)


Classics

  
  • CLAS 101 - The Classical Mediterranean and Middle East


    Why are Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin all taught in the same department at Macalester? Today Islam and the Arab world are often presented in contrast with the West in a sort of timeless and unending ‘clash of civilizations.’ Classics 101 aims to counter this narrative by exploring the multiple deep, long-term connections among the languages, religions and peoples around the Mediterranean Sea. What were the relationships among speakers of these languages in the past? How did Judaism, Christianity and Islam develop among them? Why are Greek and Roman traditions sometimes seen as in tension with Christian or Arab traditions – and has that always been the case? Readings include selections from Genesis, Exodus, Homer, Herodotus, Euripides, Plato, Vergil, the Gospels, Josephus, Imru Al-Qays, the Qur’an and 1,001 Nights. Legendary and historical figures include Moses, Helen of Troy, Cyrus, Darius, Pericles, Alexander, Cleopatra, Jesus, Augustus, Perpetua, Constantine, Muhammad, Fatima, Aisha and Omar. Suggested subtitles for the course include Before East and West, We Hear Dead People, Great Books Reimagined, and Hey, You Should Know This Stuff. Required for all majors in the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East. Spring semester. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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. Alternate fall semesters. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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)

  
  • 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)

  
  • CLAS 130 - Early Arab and Persian Empires


    From the Rise of the Seleucids to the Abbasid Caliphate, this course focuses on the rise and transformation of Arab and Persian empires and city0states between 200 BCE through the founding of Baghdad (762) to the close fo the second great Islamic caliphate, the Abbasids in c. 950. This period in the religious, cultural and political history of the Middle East, Levant and Persian region east to at least the Zagros mountains is an extremely productive and formative period, yet is largely overlooked or neglected altogether in our histories and analyses of the millennium between c. 250 BCE-950 CE. In many respects the developments and effects of this period have wide-ranging implications for our contemporary world. We will attempt to acquaint ourselves with this period, and the players and powers that shaped it. Every other year. (4 credits) Every other year. (4 Credits)

  
  • CLAS 135 - India and Rome

    Cross-Listed as RELI 135 
    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. Alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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)

  
  • CLAS 155 - January in Rome: The Art, Archaeology, and Urban History of Ancient Rome


    A survey and exploration 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-5th centuries CE. Students explore how politics and culture shape the urban landscape, challenges in identifying buildings and the way that spaces were used, and the Roman imperial consumption of 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. 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 enslaved people. Students give two presentations to help teach the city, use their developing knowledge to interpret archaeological sites, and conduct a self-guided site visit as coursework. No prerequisites - students from all disciplines and years are welcome to apply. See the website of the Department of the Classical Mediterranean and Middle East for more information. Alternate years. (2 Credits)

  
  • CLAS 194 - Topics Course


    Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)

  
  • CLAS 200 - Ancient and Medieval Philosophies

    Cross-Listed as PHIL 200 
    A study of major philosophers of ancient Greece, Rome and the medieval period, including the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas. Every year. (4 Credits)

  
  • CLAS 202 - Sanskrit and Classical Religion in India

    Cross-Listed as ASIA 236 , LING 236 , and RELI 236  
    Like Latin and Greek in Europe, Sanskrit is a highly inflected language of scholarship and revered as the perfect medium for discourse on everything from science and sex to philosophy and religion. It flourished in its classical form after the age of the Buddha (5th century BC) and served as a scholarly lingua franca in India until the Islamic period. This course serves as an introduction to the grammar an script of Sanskrit, and we will advance to a point of reading simplified texts from the classical epic Ramayana.Students will be expected to attend class regularly and spend at least ten hours a week outside class studying the grammar and vocabulary. Without this sort of effort, no progress is possible in such a complex language. In addition to the rigorous study of the language, we will consider both the role of the language in classical Indian culture and religion, and some texts from the Ramayana, looking at both English translation and Sanskrit originals. Alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Prerequisite(s): CLAS 111 . Every year. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Prerequisite(s): CLAS 113 . Every year. (4 Credits)

  
  • 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. Prerequisite(s): CLAS 117 . Alternate years. (4 Credits)

  
  • CLAS 223 - 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)

  
  • CLAS 231 - Intermediate Latin I: 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. Prerequisite(s):   or its equivalent. Every fall. (4 Credits)

 

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