Intersession Programs at Johns Hopkins, Do More - Achieve More!

All DepartmentsAfricana StudiesAnthropologyApplied Math and StatisticsArtBiologyBiomedical EngineeringBiophysicsChemistryClassicsCognitive ScienceComputer ScienceEarth & Planetary ScienceEconomicsElectrical and Computer EngineeringEnglishEntrepreneurship & ManagementFilm & Media StudiesGeography Environmental EngineeringGerman and Romance Languages and LiteraturesHistoryHistory of ArtHistory of Science & TechnologyHumanities CenterInterdepartmentalInternational StudiesMechanical EngineeringMuseums and SocietyMusicNear Eastern StudiesPhilosophyPhysics & AstronomyPolitical SciencePsychological & Brain SciencesPublic Health StudiesSociologyTheatre Arts and StudiesWriting Seminars	AllEHNSQ

Africana Studies

The Civil Rights Era: Law and Image

This course will examine key moments and battles in the Civil Rights Era in America from 1954 (Brown v. Board) through the funeral of Emmet Till, the Montgomery bus boycott, the 1960 lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro, SC, the founding of SNCC, the Mississippi civil rights worker murders to the 1964 Democratic Convention to the series of Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s. The course will focus on the dual role of legal documents and media images in provoking and ratifying progress in civil rights.

Program Abroad in Ghana: History, Politics and Culture* (3 credits, letter grade)

Students enrolled in this course will be exposed to core themes related to the modern and historical experiences of Ghana. In addition to traditional academic lectures, readings and assignments, student will complete a day-long service center learning project and will be directly engaged in “active” learning while in the field in Ghana. While in Ghana, participants will spend the majority of their time in Accra, the country’s capital city. There they will attend lectures given by full time faculty members of the University of Ghana. Educational tours to different areas of Ghana will also be made, including: Elmina or Cape Coast Slave castle, Kakum National Rainforest Park, Village of Bonwire (center of Kente weaving), Aburi Garden, Kumasi (capital of the Ashanti Region), Manhyia Palace, Volta region. Prior to leaving, students will be participate in seminars exploring the African Diaspora. Upon returning, students will continue this area of inquiry, particularly by examining themes r

Course Number: HA.362.250.12 Credits: 3 Distribution: H S Schedule: Study Abroad course in Ghana. 3 credits, letter grade. Meets January 9-22, 2012. Instructor: Nathan Connolly & Joseph Colon Study Abroad | Register Now

Program Abroad: Brazil

Brazil Intersession Study Abroad course is currently under development for January 2012. The course will introduce students to the culture and language of Brazil within a historical and economic context. Students interested in learning more about the program should complete the application available at the Office of Study Abroad. A scholarship application is available as well. Dates, itinerary and price will be determined. Deadline for submission is October 16.

Course Number: HA.362.252.01 Credits: 3 Distribution: Schedule: Study Abroad course in Brazil. 3 credits, letter grade. Dates TBD Instructor: Franklin Knight Study Abroad | Register Now

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Anthropology

Theologies of Money

In this course, we will closely examine the ways that various theologies--particularly Protestantism and Islam--have intersected with economic theories and practices. We will focus on how money and economic activity, including modern finance, can be understood as both embedded in and constitutive of cultural and religious forms. Students will write one 5-6 page paper, due at the end of class, and weekly short assignments.

Reading the Middle East

In this course, we will think critically about what it means to take the peoples of the Middle East as objects of anthropological inquiry, as well as examine the relationship between the ethnographic and the literary. Furthermore, we will ask why an understanding of colonialism is fundamental to reading Arabic literature. To aid us in these endeavors, we will explore themes such as Orientalism, exile, occupation, and resistance through the writings of anthropologists, (literary) theorists, novelists, and poets.

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Applied Math and Statistics

A Hands-On Introduction to Matlab

This is a first course in programming MATLAB for students in the mathematical sciences. MATLAB is widely used in research and industry for numerical calculations, plotting of functions and data, and the creation of user interfaces. Short tutorial lectures will be followed by problem solving sessions. Topics emphasized will be basic programming in the MATLAB environment and the practical solution of problems in matrix calculations, differential equations, signal and image processing, and machine learning.

A Hands-On Introduction to Matlab

This is a first course in programming MATLAB for students in the mathematical sciences. MATLAB is widely used in research and industry for numerical calculations, plotting of functions and data, and the creation of user interfaces. Short tutorial lectures will be followed by problem solving sessions. Topics emphasized will be basic programming in the MATLAB environment and the practical solution of problems in matrix calculations, differential equations, signal and image processing, and machine learning.

A Hands-On Introduction to Matlab

This is a first course in programming MATLAB for students in the mathematical sciences. MATLAB is widely used in research and industry for numerical calculations, plotting of functions and data, and the creation of user interfaces. Short tutorial lectures will be followed by problem solving sessions. Topics emphasized will be basic programming in the MATLAB environment and the practical solution of problems in matrix calculations, differential equations, signal and image processing, and machine learning.

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Art

B'More: Charm City Through the Lens

This course will analyze and discuss the work of three Baltimore-based photographers and a film director. Students will be introduced to the concept of photography as an artistic medium for documenting a city’s cultural life. Classroom lectures will be complemented by visits to Fells Point and Mount Vernon, as well as to a photo exhibit in a gallery. Using their own digital and cell phone cameras, students will create their own mini-portfolios to present.

Course Number: AS.371.189.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23 through Friday, January 27 Instructor: Monica Lopez-Gonzalez Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

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Behavioral Biology

Sensory Exotica

A hidden world of sensory signals and behavior lies beyond human perceptual capabilities. Flying bats capture insects in complete darkness using self-generated sounds. Hundreds of species of fish use electricity for sensing and communicating. These animals, having evolved unique sensory and motor adaptations, often outperform both man and machine in the control of behavior. This class will explore ‘exotic’ sensory systems at the organismal and neuronal level and discuss applications for bio-inspired technologies. Students must have taken an upper-level behavioral biology, neuroscience or psychology course.

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Biology

Vaccine Development

An overview of the development and use of vaccines in the service of public health. Important and complex issues regarding vaccine development and their global use will be discussed.

Course Number: AS.020.170.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: N Schedule: MW 6:30-9:45pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Lewis Schrager B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Bioinformatics, Microbes, & You

Bioinformatics brings together biology, computer science and information technology. Current biological research involves the use of bioinformatics tools important in identifying new pathogens and genes within organisms. Learn how to use bioinformatics databases and tools for genome analysis to identify unknowns, whether they are pathogens or other organisms. Each student will do a project using database searching and genomic analysis tools to uncover genes and/or identify an unknown pathogen from its DNA sequence.

Foreign Gene Expression Laboratory

This laboratory will introduce students to molecular cloning techniques that allow bacteria to be used to produce a particular gene product. Recombinant plasmids, carrying a fusion protein gene, will be constructed and used to transform E. coli. These transformed clones will be used to manufacture the fusion protein, and it will be isolated.

Biological Light Microscopy

Introduction to the principles, practice, and application of light microscopy (LM) to biomedical research. The course will cover light optical theory; instrumentation design, use, and applications; and will afford students 'hands-on' experience in both specimen preparation and microscope operation (including epifluorescence, confocal, and deconvolution light microscopes).

Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases

What happens at the cellular level as a disease like Alzheimer’s develops? This course focuses attention on the mechanistic molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases, from the misfolding of proteins to prion formation. To stimulate critical thinking, the course will be structured around student discussion of historic and current scientific literature. Students will then deepen their understanding of the issues by preparing a presentation on an outstanding question in the field of neurodegenerative disease.

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Biomedical Engineering

Intellectual Property Primer for Scientists and Engineers: Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.

The course will outline the basics of protection of IP for scientists and engineers. Most of the course will cover the basics of patent law, but introductions will also be given to trademarks and copyrights. Specific problems in the areas of biotechnology, computer science and the Internet will also be highlighted. It is hoped that the attendees will obtain a basic understanding of how intellectual property is protected. No prior legal background is required.

Course Number: EN.580.105.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: S Schedule: TWTHF 6:00-8:00pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Joerg-Uwe Szipl Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Compressed Sensing MRI

Compressed Sensing (CS) theory states that an object can be reconstructed using very few measurements if it can be represented sparsely in one domain and measured in a different incoherent domain. After this course, students will be able to apply Compressed Sensing in the specific context of MRI. The course will review fundamental CS theory and examine the application of CS in MRI for dynamic and static objects. https://sites.google.com/site/compressedsensingmri/ Pre-req: Linear Algebra, Matlab Programming

A Survey of Medical Technology

The goal of this course will be to survey the state of the art of several key medical technologies. Topics can include: Medical Robotics, Interventional Imaging, Medical Implants, Prosthetics, and Brain Computer Interface. The course will conclude with a student group mini design proposal project with the goal of writing a 5-10 minute pitch for a novel medical technology that addresses a current clinical problem.

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Biophysics

The Science and Medicine of the Nobel

Course explores scientific experiments of the Nobel Prize winners in Medicine, Chemistry, and Physics. It highlights ground-breaking experiments which led to the scientists obtaining the prize. Course is highly interactive, emphasizing student involvement in understanding fundamental questions and insights that led to each break-through. Connections to human health and disease are also included. Course includes lectures, readings, student presentations, plus guest lectures by professors involved in the scientific advancements. Grades determined by class participation and oral presentations.

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Chemistry

Practical NMR: Basic Techniques

Mandatory for individuals (postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students) intending to utilize NMR facilities in the Chemistry Department. Sessions will be held at the Bruker NMR spectrometers used most frequently for routine NMR data collection. Focus is on setting up instrument parameters, obtaining useful spectra, and data processing. Proton, C-13, F-19 and P-31 acquisition will be demonstrated along with preparation and handling of samples, troubleshooting and recognition of artifacts.

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Classics

One Nation, Under Gods?

The course will focus on the phenomena and institutions that emerged in Greece after the fall of the Mycenaean culture, which eliminated its political and religious systems. Eventually, powerful development began taking place. The polis - the city-state - was born, and from it emerged both a unique colonization movement that spread all over Europe, Asia and Africa; and a new religious system, in which the gods belong to the polis, not to the aristocracy.

Retelling the Ancient Story

This course explores the relations between ancient stories/conventions and their modern counterparts on the screen and stage. Students will examine these similarities and disparities from the perspective of the author/playwright/filmmaker. By the end of the course, they will create an original film or performance piece, to be presented to the public.

Classical Etymologies

Greek and Latin give origin not only to medical and scientific terms, but also to many of the words we use every day. This course will explore the connection between the English vocabulary and its classical origin. Terms derived from Greek and Latin will be analyzed, improving your understanding of the words you already know and expanding your vocabulary.

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Cognitive Science

Inventing Language

What is language? This course explores this question by examining invented languages, from Esperanto to Klingon. In this introductory course we will learn the basics of linguistics, highlighting important commonalities and differences across languages. We will then apply our learning to several invented languages, discuss whether or not they conform to established standards for natural human language, and hypothesize about potential ramifications.

Course Number: AS.050.106.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: N S Schedule: MWF 1:00-3:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Erin Zaroukian Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

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Computer Science

C++ Crash Course

This is a crash course in C++ programming, primarily aimed at basic science students who need to use it as a tool in their field. The course will cover fundamental programming constructs in C++ including variables, decision statements and loops, along with input/output, functions, and arrays. Object oriented programming will be introduced if time permits. Students should have some prior programming experience in another language to include familiarity with variables, decisions statements and loops.

Fun With Haskell

Functional programming, which emphasizes the mathematical aspects of computations, is central to many modern efforts to build fast, scalable systems. This course will provide an introduction to the (lazy) functional style of computer programming, using the increasingly-popular Haskell language. Pre-requisite: 600.107 or equivalent

Embedded Software Architecture

Most efforts to improve software quality focus exclusively on process improvements, such as adoption of coding standards and better use of static analysis tools, code reviews, and testing. But poor software quality also results from bad decisions about the architecture of that software. Software architecture is a critical area for all embedded programmers to understand because of the importance of meeting real-time deadlines and ensuring safe and reliable operation. This hands-on course teaches software architecture with a focus specifically on real-time and embedded software. Prerequisite: 600.120/600.333/433 Computer System Fundamentals (or equivalent).

Introduction to Medical Imaging

This intersession class will provide an introduction to the medical imaging modalities of X-ray, CT and ultrasound. Fundamentals of the principles, instrumentation and application of each modality will be taught using a mixture of lectures and class discussions. A tour of some of the medical imaging and robotics resources in Hackerman Hall will be given in the first class. Assignments will test theoretical knowledge and also practical applications. Access to MATLAB and knowledge of linear algebra are required. Note: Students should not expect an in-depth analysis of medical imaging systems. This class is not intended as a substitute for Medical Imaging courses offered during Fall and Spring terms.(January 16-27)

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Earth & Planetary Science

B'More: Cleaner, Greener, and Sustainable Baltimore: An Inside Look

This course will focus on the elements of sustainability from an operational viewpoint, paying particular attention to how the sustainability efforts at Johns Hopkins University complement the larger efforts underway in Baltimore. Students will gain an inside perspective on resource conservation efforts, strategies, policies and long-term goals at JHU and then compare them with the variety of initiatives in the City. Students will meet environmental leaders in the community, including City officials, members of the Sustainability Commission, non-profit activists, and private sector visionaries who are on the leading edge of transforming the City into one of the shining examples of sustainable action in the nation.

Course Number: AS.270.119.31 Distribution: N Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23 through Friday, January 27 Instructor: Davis Bookhart B'More Course | Register Now

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Economics

Seminar in Financial Literacy

This course follows the natural capitalization sequence of a company to introduce the main components of the financial services industry: private equity, commercial finance, IPO's, M&A's and leveraged buy-outs, Wall Street research, asset management, and industry ethics. Lectures on these topics will be given by alumni financial experts. The course concludes with a three-day trip to New York City, which will include visits to financial firms and an alumni networking reception. Firms may include J.P Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock. Application/Registration for Experiential Learning courses/trips must be processed at the Career Center, Garland Hall 3rd Floor. Application materials must be submitted by Noon Friday, November 18. While the class doesn't meet every day during those times, students will need to have those times free.

Course Number: AS.180.104.13 Credits: 1 Distribution: S Schedule: MTWThF 10:00-12:00pm and 2:00-4:00pm; Meets Jan 9-27 Instructor: Blair Chapman and Jon Faust Syllabus: Download Career Development | Register Now

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Electrical and Computer Engineering

Introduction to Model Rocketry

Model rocketry is only the small cousin of space rocketry, but it shares many interesting aspects with its real-world counterpart. This course aims to explore the different parts of this sport, with an emphasis on how engineering principles are employed in practice. Classes will cover both practical and theoretical topics such as model rocket construction and design (recovery devices, glide recovery, multistage rockets), stability, aerodynamics, altitude prediction and determination. Some familiarity with a programming language (possibly Matlab) is required for the assigments.

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English

Empire and British Children's Fiction

This course will examine how British children’s fiction represents imperialism and national identity. How do these works ask children to think about nation, empire and their roles as gendered and national subjects? We will also consider popular American adaptations of these classics. Materials include both Rudyard Kipling’s and Disney’s The Jungle Book, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, J. M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy and Disney’s Mary Poppins. Students will write a short paper at the end of the course.

Oscar Wilde

At once superficial and profound, artificial and authentic, Oscar Wilde’s life and work are provocatively paradoxical. Reading his luminescent literary work, we’ll discuss such topics as the aestheticist idea of life as fine art, the powers of wit, and the unexpected consequences of getting what you wish for. Readings: a selection of Wilde’s plays, poems, essays, and fiction—including a new, uncensored edition of his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Requirements: rigorous in-class discussion and 5–6 pages of writing.

The Nineteenth-Century Novella

During the nineteenth century, a frequently overlooked mode of fiction—the novella—began to flourish in new ways. In this course we will examine the distinctive features of this genre that is at once too short to be a novel and too long to be a short story. In reading famous works by English and American writers along with excerpts from key texts in narrative theory, we will consider how the peculiar length of the novella facilitates its representation of social interaction and psychic alienation in ways distinct from novel- and story-length works. Works to be studied range from Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener (1853), "a story of Wall Street" that reverberates strongly in light of today's Occupy Movement, to Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), the classic literary evocation of split personality disorder, to Kate Chopin's The Awakening (1899), a work condemned upon its first publication for its "sordid" and "immoral" representation of female sexuality.

The Ethnic Gangster in American Cinema

In this intersession course we will consider the rise (and fall) of some of America’s most notorious and beloved gangsters: Don Corleone (The Godfather), Henry Hill (GoodFellas), and Tony Montana (Scarface). With the help of short readings from Hobsbawm, Warshow, and Jameson, we consider what these films have to say about the difficulties and hopes of the immigrant experience, the codes of gangster morality, and the role of organized crime in the American imagination. We will explore the interplay among domestic responsibility, male brotherhood, and violence that is the hallmark of the genre. Students will be asked to write a short paper (5-6 pages) at the conclusion of the term, and are required to view the movies outside of class time.

Death in Twentieth-Century Literature

A perennial literary motif, death pervades the works of modernist novelists and poets. This course will explore how several modernist writers create a rich inner life through their unique representations of different forms of death: slaughter in the war, suicide, and slow death, as well as the issue of mortality. The readings will include James Joyce's "The Dead," William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, and poems by W. H. Auden. Students are expected to write a 5-6 page paper for this course.

Modernist Women Writers

“In a hundred years … women will have ceased to be the protected sex,” Virginia Woolf writes in A Room of One’s Own. “They will take part in all the activities and exertions that were once denied them … anything may happen when womanhood has ceased to be a protected occupation.” In this course we will discuss how twentieth-century women authors used their writing to explore questions about the changing nature of women’s social roles, education, careers, marriage, motherhood, and suffrage. Texts will include Virginia Woolf’s The Voyage Out, Elizabeth Bowen’s The Death of the Heart, short stories by Katherine Mansfield, and poetry by Stevie Smith and Mina Loy. Requirements will include participation in discussions and two five-page papers.

B'More: Poe and Mencken

In this course, we’ll be engaging in a quick but close study of two of Baltimore’s most famous writers: Edgar Allan Poe and Herbert Louis Mencken. In addition to familiarizing yourself with their works, we’ll also be visiting some of the places associated with them: Poe’s grave, of course, and Mencken’s house; we’ll also be taking a look at the extensive collection of Mencken’s papers at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. There will be one four to six page paper.

Course Number: AS.060.153.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23 through Friday, January 27 Instructor: Patrick Fessenbecker Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

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Entrepreneurship & Management

Financial Modeling Using Excel

The course will teach basic to advanced level financial modeling techniques within the Excel environment. Students will be exposed to several real-world examples and asked to create models to solve these problems. Some Excel topics include Formulas, Formatting, Charting, Filters, Toolpaks, VLOOKUP, Data Importing, Pivot Tables, IF statements, Macros, VBA.

Course Number: EN.660.140.21 Credits: 1 Distribution: Schedule: Meets Tuesday through Friday, 1/17-1/20, 4:15-7:30 PM Instructor: Michael Kitt B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Media & P.R. in the Big Apple

Gain insight into trends and career opportunities in public relations and media through one week of in-class learning (Jan. 9-13,half days) followed by a three-day trip to New York (Jan. 17-19) to network with and learn from executives from leading P.R. and media firms.

Course Number: EN.660.150.11 Credits: 1 Distribution: Schedule: MTWThF 10:00-3:00pm; Meets Jan 9-13 Instructor: Leslie Kendrick Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Career Development | Register Now

Branding - Shaping the Way Consumers View Products

Through case studies and an applied group project (developing and presenting a marketing plan for a new product launch), students will gain an understanding (from the Lecturer who is a former Procter & Gamble marketer) of the fundamentals of brand marketing. Learn how to make marketing strategy choices, how to evaluate advertising, and how to hone and perfect oral and written communication skills.

The Art of the Pitch

Donald Trump knows how to do it, so did Steve Jobs and now so will you. “The Art of the Pitch” explores the principles of persuasive dialogue. Getting a job, raising money or selling a product: the basics of a successful pitch are the same. Guest speakers will share their best and worst pitches and what motivates them to act. Together students will craft two pitches, one for themselves and one real-time, real-world example for an outside business.

Course Number: EN.660.154.11 Credits: 1 Distribution: Schedule: MTWThF 1:00-4:00pm; Meets Jan 9-13 Instructor: Josianne Pennington Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Social Media Strategy and Measurement

Social Media Strategy and Measurement Go beyond the textbook and develop a "real-world" social media strategy. Learn how to develop social media goals, align strategies, evaluate social media tactics and measure your results. This step-by-step method can be used for any organization or company and gives you a competitive advantage when looking for your first job. Taught by Nichole Kelly, blogger for Social Media Examiner (ranked #4 in AdAge’s top marketing blogs) and CEO of Full Frontal ROI Consulting.

Location, Location, Location

Taught by a professional in the field and a Hopkins graduate, this course explores the basic principles of real estate development and finance. Assignments, readings, and in-class discussions will analyze real estate development from site selection to financing and sales. The course will feature a special focus on new initiatives to support and encourage green development.

Course Number: EN.660.160.31 Credits: 1 Distribution: Schedule: MTWTh 4:00-7:00pm and F 4:00-6:00pm; Meets Jan 23-27 Instructor: Jeremy Gorelick B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

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Film & Media Studies

The Stand-Up Comic in Society

Stand-up comics uniquely reflect the collision of cultures that produced them. Students study and analyze influential comics, then create, workshop, and ultimately perform their own five-minute stand-up routine.

Killer Cool:Samurai/Gunfighter/Hitman

Films will include Kurosawa's Yojimbo, Leone's Fistful of Dollars, Woo's the Killer, among others. In-class screenings. Emphasis on discussion over lecture. No prior experience in film studies required.

Sundance: Its Role in Contemp Cinema

This course will allow students to witness and report on one of the most important film festivals in the world. Students will travel to the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where they will attend screenings, participate in workshops and discussion groups with the instructors and members of the film industry, and write critical assessments of both the films and the festival's crucial role in independent filmmaking today. Film and Media Studies majors and minors only. 1 credit, S/U.

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Geography Environmental Engineering

Introduction to Applied Econometrics

This course provides an introduction to quantitative methods for the analysis of economic phenomena. Topics will include basic regression models; hypothesis testing; Ordinary Least Squares; choice of independent variables and functional form; multicollinearity; serial correlation; heteroskedasticity. Computer assignments in EViews, one of the leading econometric software packages, represent an important part of the course. Particular emphasis will be placed on applications in the field of energy economics.

Energy 101: Introduction to the Business and Policy of the US Energy Industry

This 3 day intersession class will be a high level overview of the US energy industry. We will focus on electricity, natural gas, oil, renewables and other forms of energy. We will discuss how each commodity is produced and traded from the perspective of the producer, the distributor and the end user. The class will provide an overview of the technologies that convert energy into useful work, as well as the market and policy structures that influence investment in production, delivery and consumption of electricity and natural gas. The goal is to provide a basis for further study, and to motivate students to consider a career in the industry. There are no prerequisites or textbooks, and the class is open to all. The course will be a mix of economics, basic engineering, financial mathematics and sociology.

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German and Romance Languages and Literatures

Learner Managed French Elements I

This intensive, three-week course will allow students to review the material of the first semester of French Elements (210.101) at a fast pace. Designed for students with some French background who will join the regular French Elements II course in the spring (not recommended for true beginners unless fluent in another romance language.) Major online component supplements in-class instruction. Must complete the year by taking French Elements II 210.102 in order to receive credit. Please contact Claude Guillemard with questions: cguille1@jhu.edu.

Italian Elements I - Classroom Based

This is a three-credit course, and Italian Elements II (AS210.152) must be completed in the Spring 2012 to receive credit. No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. The aim of the course is to provide students with basic listening, reading, writing, speaking and interactional skills in the language. All classes are conducted in Italian; oral participation is strongly encouraged from the beginning.

Italian Elements I - Online

This is a three-credit course, and Italian Elements II (AS210.152) must be completed in the Spring 2012 to receive credit. No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. The aim of the course is to provide students with basic listening, reading, writing, speaking and interactional skills in the language. The course will be taught entirely online, and presence on campus is not required. Students should have access to a computer, high-speed internet connection, and a microphone.

German Elements I

German Elements I - 3 credits Condensed intensive introduction to German for highly motivated students who intend to continue study of German in Spring semester. This is a three-credit course, and German Elements II (AS210.162) must be completed to receive credit. No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option. 4-skills approach to basic structures and vocabulary. Substantial work outside of class necessary to complete the course successfully.

Writing & Thinking About Food

How do you write about food? Is it possible to describe taste? What role does gastronomy have in literature? Taking advantage of the popularity of "foodie" movement and recent scholarly interest in the role of food in culture, this course considers these questions by examining a wide variety of genres from a comparative perspective. Authors include Epicurus and his commentators, Proust, Brillat-Savarin, Shakespeare, Byron, Cervantes, Neruda, Ferran Adrià, Carolyn Korsmeyer and others.

Paris Underground

The City of Light also has a dark side. This course will explore how Paris catacombs, sewers, and underground metro system have captured the imagination of writers and artists since the nineteenth century. Readings will include excerpts from Leroux’s Le Fantôme de l’opéra and Hugo’s Les Misérables, available in both English and French. Films and documentaries will be shown in French with subtitles. Students will be evaluated based on class participation and a final project.

Freud and the Humanities

It is hard to overestimate Sigmund Freud’s influence on virtually every branch of the Humanities. This course will investigate some of the concepts and methods that have been drawn from Freud, focusing specifically on art and literary criticism. We will consider sections from 'The Interpretation of Dreams' as well as a selection of Freud’s brillant essays.

Mexico Under Siege: Paul Leduc´s Films

Paul Leduc is a unique independent filmmaker from Mexico whose films explore different aspects of the history of his country. If there is something that defines Leduc´s films, this is his social compromise with the poor and the oppressed and their liberation as well as the denunciation of the abuses committed by capitalist globalization in Mexico. In this course, we will pay attention to these issues when watching Leduc´s five most important films: Reed: Insurgent Mexico (1973), Frida: Alive Nature (1986), What Do You Think? (1986), Baroque (1989) and Cobrador, in God We Trust (2006). All films have English subtitles.

The U.S.-Latino Experience in Fiction

Latino/as form a rich and important cultural component of the American community and Latino/a writers comprise a dynamic demographic in the U.S. literary world. This course will examine the work of key Latino/a authors (Junot Diaz, Sandra Cisneros, Julia Alvarez), with a particular emphasis on those of Chicano and Caribbean heritage. In this survey of U.S.-Latino/a fiction, we will explore the various ways that native bi-cultural and bi-lingual individuals negotiate the challenges of identity, belonging, and self-expression through literature.

Film Under Franco: 1955-1973

During a 1955 gathering of filmmakers in Salamanca, several directors implored their peers and colleagues to rebel against the stringent censorship of Francisco Franco’s regime. In this course, we will examine films produced in Spain following that seminal moment and during the decline of Franco’s dictatorship. In addition to providing the films with a cultural and historical background, we will consider the variety of responses to the state censorship that abounded during Franco’s reign.

Program Abroad: Hemingway in Cuba

Taught in the form of a seminar in Havana,the course will involve the participation of a select group of Cuban personalities from the world of literature, film, and cultural and political history. We will explore how Ernest Hemingway fashioned a home and a refuge in Key West and the northern Cuban archipelago and fought his own personal war against German U boats along the Islands in the Stream. Seminar members will attend eight two-hour morning sessions and take part in discussions based on the assigned readings and talks by the Cuban participants. A few films and documentaries will be screened and discussed in the afternoons. Excursions to places of interest around Metro Havana will be highlighted by an in-depth visit to Hemingway’s home at Finca Vigía. Details of a trip to a place on Cuba’s coast will soon be added to our itinerary. Language of instruction English.

Course Number: HA.215.302.01 Credits: 3 Distribution: Schedule: Study Abroad program in Cuba. 3 credits, letter grade. Dates TBD Instructor: Eduardo Gonzalez Study Abroad | Register Now

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History

Food in Premodern Europe

Food occupies a central role in all cultures. However, what we eat, how and why we eat it and where it comes from differs remarkably. This course examines the sociohistorical context of food in European societies during the classical, medieval and renaissance periods. Lectures will address such topics as technology, trade networks, political institutions, religious observances, and medicinal/magical applications with respect to both staples, like bread and salt, and luxuries, such as spices and swans (!).

Freedom and Industry on the Chesapeake

This class will explore Baltimore as a working city. Students will gain an appreciation for how Baltimore grew beyond its initial role as a port for the trafficking of Chesapeake tobacco to support a complex urban economy with an uncertain relationship with slavery. We will explore Baltimore’s rise to national significance during the nineteenth century, especially in the maritime, transportation, and textile industries, focusing on the connection between labor and changes in the social landscape of the city.

Baltimore's Beginnings

This course will begin by contextualizing the founding of Baltimore within the plantation dominated Chesapeake, then follow the rapid growth of Baltimore up through the American Revolution and the hosting of the Second Continental Congress. We will conclude by examining Baltimore's role as a major city in the new nation, and the city's role in the War of 1812 its enshrinement in the national anthem.

B'More: Blue-Collar Baltimore

This course charts the history of Baltimore’s working classes, from Fells Point shipbuilders in the 18th century to Sparrows Point steelworkers in the 20th century. Along the way, the course will consider how the politics of race, gender, and ethnicity influenced Baltimore’s labor movement, how working-class neighborhoods responded to changing pressures, how popular culture has portrayed blue-collar Baltimore, and the evolving meanings of class in a post-industrial city.

Course Number: AS.100.145.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Robert Gamble B'More Course | Register Now

Alcohol in America

What explains the strange relationship of Americans to alcohol? This course will explore drinking in America from the colonial period to the 1980s. Along the way we will examine why19th century Americans drank more than any people on earth and how, by 1919, “drys” were able to enact nationwide prohibition. We will then explore the prohibition era and its aftermath relating this history to subsequent laws and controversies concerning alcohol from Blue Laws to MADD.

War & Society in the New World

This course will examine the principal wars fought in North America from the onset of European colonization to the War for American Independence. It explores not only big picture questions such as what caused the war, how was it fought and what were the results, but also how the war affected society at large, what was the experience of warfare for both combatants and noncombatants, and what were its costs and how were they measured?

Crime and the Victorian City

This course explores the social and cultural history of crime in Victorian London. Using digitized collections of nineteenth-century legal documents, we devote special attention to the ways that class, gender, and space shaped experiences of crime and criminal justice. Looking to cultural productions—print media, popular literature, maps, and ephemera—we ask how Victorian social mores and ideological systems influenced popular conceptions of crime.

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History of Art

Impressionism: Painting of Modern Life

This course offers an introduction to one of the major movements in modern painting. We will explore the developments of a new aesthetic and subject matter during a period of vast cultural change in Paris and its environs, from the mid-19th century to the turn of the 20th century. Visits to the Baltimore Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art will supplement our study of artists including Manet, Monet, Degas, Pissarro, Seurat, and more.

Program Abroad: Renaissance Art in Florence* (3 credits, letter grade)

This intensive course offers students an introduction to the art, architecture and culture of the Italian Renaissance roughly from 1280-1580 with the churches, palaces, museums and piazzas of Florence and nearby cities serving as the classroom. Students examine the art of Giotto, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. Classes meet five days a week for approximately three hours for daily on site lectures for which the students will prepare from assigned textbook chapters as well as supplemental readings. Students should come to class prepared with questions and ready to engage in discussion through which they will develop an understanding of visual analysis as well as artistic style and development. An emphasis will be placed on understanding artworks within their original cultural and historical context. Open to all majors. Language of instruction is English. Grading: Class participation: 20, Papers: 45 (20 first pap

Course Number: HA.010.306.13 Credits: 3 Distribution: H Schedule: Study Abroad program in Florence, Italy. 3 credits, letter grade. Meets January 7 – January 27, 2012. Instructor: Laura Blom, Chiara Valle Study Abroad | Register Now

Program Abroad: Surveying Paris

This course takes the institution of the museum as a lens through which to understand the history and historiography of Paris. How have museums shaped the city, both literally and in terms of perception and identity? We will consider a variety of museums and museum-like institutions, with subjects ranging from art to technology to socio-political identity. Beginning with some fundamental explorations of the city through lectures and readings in Baltimore, the course culminates with on-site exploration and learning in Paris. Language of instruction is English.Grading: Participation: 30, Journal: 35, Final Paper: 35. All majors welcome.

Course Number: HA.389.210.01 Credits: 3 Distribution: Schedule: Study Abroad program in Paris. 3 credits, letter grade. Dates TBD Instructor: Elizabeth Rodini Study Abroad | Register Now

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History of Science & Technology

Program Abroad: Munich

In this course, we explore the city of Munich and the bustling activity of the Bavarian capital in the history of science and technology. Beginning with the seventeenth century, we survey a broad spectrum of scientific endeavors in Munich and the surrounding area down to the present day. In a series of excursions, we will visit the resting place of Johannes Kepler, the elementary school of Albert Einstein, Germany’s first concentration camp, the corporate headquarters of Audi and BMW, and several other famous sites of science and innovation. Students in the course will also learn about the larger history of Germany from the Holy Roman Empire to the ‘German Miracle’ of the twentieth century. By bringing this framework into focus, we will better understand the place of science in German society and the value it holds for one of the world’s most industrious and scientifically innovative countries. Language of instruction is English. Grading: Participation: 25, Journal: 35,Final Paper: 40

Course Number: HA.140.174.01 Credits: 3 Distribution: Schedule: Study Abroad program in Munich, Germany. 3 credits, letter grade. Meets January 9-28. Instructor: Patrick Boner Study Abroad | Register Now

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Humanities Center

B'More: Homelessness

In Baltimore, as in any major city, many urban poor find themselves without a home and without shelter. For these individuals, life on the streets is desperate and dangerous. Students will read about, discuss, and debate the causes and implications of homelessness in Baltimore, and explore present policies and potential solutions. Guest speakers include homeless rights advocates from both local government and community groups. Students will also participate in service directly affecting homeless persons.

Course Number: AS.300.100.31 Distribution: H S Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23 through Friday, January 27 Instructor: Thomas Gottbreht Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

The Mystical Tradition

Is the mystic a thinker, a poet, a heretic, or a saint? Is mysticism a branch of speculative philosophy? A secret teaching for reaching oneness with God? A mode of saying the utterly unsayable? These questions we will address by traversing the realms of Sufism, Kabbalah and negative theology, reading dialogues, poems, commentaries and sermons, written by men and women, Greeks and Jews, Muslims and Christians, from Antiquity to Early Modern times.

Philosophy of Religion

This course explores the rationality of religious beliefs and the rules that govern their context in religious life. Topics explored include faith and reason, religious experience, religious language and proofs for God's existence.

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Interdepartmental

Intro to Research in the Humanities

Introduction to Research in the Humanities: This course provides an introduction to research in the humanities disciplines. Students will gain a good understanding of the print and electronic resources available through the Sheridan Libraries. They will learn how to search and locate information efficiently using databases that are relevant to humanities disciplines. The goal of this course is to help students identify scholarly resources in the Humanities and develop effective research skills.

Social Sciences Research

This course offers a systematic introduction to various scholarly resources, collections and tools in all major social science disciplines as well as hands-on practice of the fundamental techniques of library research. Students learn to approach information search and retrieval in methodic, comprehensive yet targeted ways. With a combination of lecture, classroom exercise and team work, students build analytical and evaluative skills in conceptualizing research problem, navigating academic resources, and conducting effective literature review. The course aims to help students build healthy academic research habits which will benefit them in the long run.

Course Number: AS.360.187.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: H S Schedule: MWTh 6:00-8:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Yuan Zeng B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Leading Social Change

Learn the principles, values and skills necessary to lead and succeed in organizations that make a positive difference in today’s world. The course is designed to help students identify and provide opportunities to enhance their leadership skills. A “Blueprint for Success” will provide the framework for students to cultivate their own ideas for new socially conscious entrepreneurial ventures. The “Blueprint for Success” will culminate with a social entrepreneurial business plan competition where up to $5000 grants may be awarded to plans for start up costs associated with new initiatives designed to enhance the JHU and Baltimore City communities. Students can enroll in the course with predetermined social change initiatives in mind or develop new initiatives in the classroom setting. Students will hear from successful current leaders in the field of social entrepreneurship and be provided the opportunity to network with JHU alumni, faculty and staff who are working or volunteering.

Course Number: AS.360.241.13 Credits: 2 Distribution: H S Schedule: MWTh 3:00-5:30pm; Meets Jan 9-27 Instructor: William Smedick Leading Social Change | Register Now

Program Abroad: Ecuador and Galapagos Islands* (3 credits, letter grade)

This course is an introduction to Tropical Biology and Evolution held in Ecuador's Highlands, Rain Forest, and in theGalapagos Islands. The course will concentrate on the flora and fauna of these special habitats, but will also include the history, art, and culture of Ecuador. The final grade will be based on a field notebook that the student keeps,participation during the trip, and a final paper due late January. Students will attend lectures on the JHUcampus prior to departure on topics that include Biodiversity in Ecuador and Pre-Columbian Tribes, Culture and Art. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Language of instruction is English.

Course Number: HA.360.236.12 Credits: 3 Distribution: N Schedule: Study Abroad program in Ecuador and Galapagos Islands, 3 credits, letter grade. Meets January 13-27 Instructor: Eric Fortune Study Abroad | Register Now

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International Studies

On War and Its Discontents

War is a phenomenon we regularly discuss, but what do we mean when we invoke the concept of war? Is there an abstract essence of war, or is war a convenient label for a set of historical relationships? Beginning with Clausewitz’s classic On War, the class addresses conceptual dilemmas of war and themes including violence, sovereignty, globalization, technology, humanitarianism, genocide, and trauma. We will examine a number of classical texts, film, and other media.

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Mechanical Engineering

Introduction to Computer-Aided Design

This course covers many aspects of the mechanical design process using computer-aided design (CAD). Solid modeling, assembly modeling, detail drafting, mechanism dynamics, and structural analysis are all explored using Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire.

Course Number: EN.530.114.13 Credits: 1 Distribution: E Schedule: TTh 9:00-12:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Michael Boyle B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Introduction to Computer-Aided Design

This course explores many aspects of the mechanical design process using computer-aided design (CAD). Solid modeling, assembly modeling, detail drafting, mechanism dynamics, and structural analysis are all explored using Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire.

Course Number: EN.530.114.14 Credits: 1 Distribution: E Schedule: TTh 1:00-4:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Michael Boyle B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Introduction to Computer-Aided Design

This course explores many aspects of the mechanical design process using computer-aided design (CAD). Solid modeling, assembly modeling, detail drafting, mechanism dynamics, and structural analysis are all explored using Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire.

Course Number: EN.530.114.15 Credits: 1 Distribution: E Schedule: TTh 5:00-8:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Michael Boyle B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Computer Tools in Engineering Design

This course will present the design of a simple mechanical component using both traditional engineering approximations and computer aided techniques based on the Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The focus will be on understanding FEA as a tool which is appropriate for some applications and not for others. Students will gain an appreciation of hidden complexities and engineering judgments that underlie decisions based on FEA.

Appropriate Technology

In an era of concern over reliance on fossil fuels to power society and the economy, the course is intended to give students physical intuition for how much energy is needed to perform tasks of daily life, while emphasizing fundamental engineering concepts. Sustainable technologies such as sterling engines, ram pumps, wind mills, solar heaters, and various machines powered by humans and/or biofuels. Students will design and build an appropriate solution to a real world problem.

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Museums and Society

The Renaissance of the Book

A hands-on introduction to rare books and manuscripts from ancient Mesopotamia to the Industrial Era, crossing the disciplines of science and technology, art, religion, politics and literature-- using the rare books and manuscripts of the Sheridan Libraries. Special emphasis is paid to the Printing Revolution of the 15th and 16th centuries, when books first emerged as a core element of material culture.

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Music

Digital Sound Art

Users of personal computers may have overlooked the potential of these machines as unique, non-imitative musical instruments. This course combines a historical overview of electronic music with a workshop environment for creative exploration. Participants will study the history of electronic music, then use freeware and low cost shareware for recording, editing, altering, and layering sounds to create personal, idiomatic (non-pop) works of sound art. Computers are available; participants are welcome to bring a laptop computer if they prefer.

Course Number: AS.376.140.11 Credits: 1 Distribution: H Schedule: MTWThF 9:00-11:30am; Meets Jan 9-13 Instructor: Mark Lackey Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Tunes for Toons

For many in people, a first introduction to “classical” music came from watching cartoons. This course seeks to re-trace this influence by exploring the use of musical works in classic cartoons by Warner Brothers and Disney. The course is intended to introduce (and ideally foster an appreciation for!) some of the great pieces within the classical Western musical canon. We will take a closer look at some famous musical works and examine how they are used (or spoofed!) in classic cartoons.

American Music Since 1950

American music in the latter half of the twentieth century splintered into a collection of forms as diverse as the people making them. This course will explore jazz, folk, rock, hip-hop, film and art music through structured listenings, critical readings and guided discussion, with the aim of finding a common thread.

Course Number: AS.376.162.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: H Schedule: MTTh 9:30-12:00pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Michael Rickleton Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

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Near Eastern Studies

Excavating the Gods

How was a God's body constructed with clay and wood? We will examine critically cult statues and other images of the gods of ancient Israel and the Near East from excavations. Through critical examination of the archaeological contexts and related texts, we will establish a methodological framework for identifying objects as representations of deities.

The Archaeology of Beer

Having its origins at some point in prehistory, beer constitutes one of humanity's oldest inventions. Since that time, it grew to be a nearly ubiquitous feature of human civilization throughout the world. This course will explore the roles played by beer in ancient human societies through a consideration of brewing science, anthropological and social theory, and archaeological methods aimed at identifying the remains of ancient beer, its brewing and consumption.

From Feast to Famine

Biological life, on its most basic level, is the quest for sustenance. However, in human societies, food transcends mere sustenance to become a major actor in each society’s structure and beliefs. This dual nature of food as basic necessity and cultural touchstone makes its study of great importance to our understanding of civilization, both past and present. This class will explore the role food has played in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Mesoamerican, and Andean cultures as evidenced in the archaeological record.

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Philosophy

Delusions

What is a delusion? Are delusions just irrational beliefs? Can delusions be true? Are some religious and political beliefs delusions? If so, which ones? Are overly optimistic people simply deluded? In this course we will attempt to answer some of these questions by reading and discussing contemporary work from philosophy, psychology, and the neurosciences. Part of the goal will be to get a clearer understanding of the relationship between false beliefs, irrational beliefs, and delusions.

Myths of Quantum Physics

What is the fate of Schrodinger's cat? How does EPR paradox lead to quantum teleportation? Who is Wigner's friend? Does wave-particle duality imply that we have free will? In this course, we will explore the philosophical problems about quantum physics and attempt to dispel the myths generated by the quantum world. No prior understanding of physics or philosophy is required.

Do We Know What We Think We Know?

This is an introductory course into Theory of Knowledge. The following questions will be discussed: What is knowledge? What is philosophical skepticism? Can Theory of Knowledge answer the skeptical challenge? Which general model of knowledge is better, Foundationalism, Coherentism or Infinitism? Is what constitutes knowledge something internal or external to the subject? We will mostly read texts written by contemporary philosophers.

Nietzsche and Contemporary Meta-Ethics

Since the Scientific Revolution, philosophers have struggled to articulate a conception of moral value and agency consistent with our scientific self-understanding. Developing such a conception is a central task of meta-ethics. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) offered one of the most provocative accounts of moral value and agency, and his work has recently been appropriated by contemporary meta-ethicists. This course offers an introduction to 1) Nietzsche’s writings on value and agency, 2) contemporary meta-ethics, and 3) recent appropriations of Nietzsche for contemporary meta-ethics. No prior coursework in philosophy is required.

Kant’s Copernican Revolution

After the publication of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, Philosophy would never be the same again. This monumental work revolutionizes the way we think about the relationship between the mind and the world and is still widely regarded as the most important turning point in the history of modern philosophy. The course will undertake a close reading and analysis of the two crucial sections of the Critique of Pure Reason, Transcendental Aesthetic and Transcendental Analytic and is targeted at both students new to Kant’s thought as well as those who would like to deepen their understanding of his Copernican revolution.

Problems of Freedom

Without the presupposition that we can act freely, we cannot make sense of our talk about responsibility and blameworthiness. But scientific investigation increasingly makes the world more predictable (or, at best, random), and our most ambitious scientific theories aspire to a generality that would leave little room for freedom. This course is about how to reconcile the need to see ourselves as free, with the (at least apparent) indications that we are not.

Marx's Critique of Capital

This course is devoted to exposition and examination of Marx’s mature critical theory of capitalism, as expounded in the first volume of Capital. Special attention will be given to clarification of Marx’s method as well as the basic categories of his theory. No previous course in philosophy or social sciences is required.

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Physics & Astronomy

The Science of Music and Perception

From an ancient Chinese musician and mathematician accused of “doing violence to numbers” to a composer who teaches computers to write like Bach, follow the struggle to use scientific tools to understand and enhance the beauty in music and art. Learn how sounds and images can manipulate your brain to inform, entertain, or deceive. Experience aural illusions. Study the workings of auto-tune, perfect pitch, MP3s, and art created by genetic algorithms.

Course Number: AS.171.124.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: N Q Schedule: MTTh 1:00-3:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Daniel Allan B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Introduction to Cosmology

How did the universe begin? When will it end? How big is the universe? What is dark matter and dark energy? This course provides an introduction to the field of cosmology: the study of the origin and evolution of the universe. We will discuss the big bang, cosmic inflation, dark matter and dark energy, the formation of galaxies, and other cosmological topics. This course is for anyone who has looked up at the night sky and wondered where we came from.

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Political Science

Sports and Entertainment Law

A brief overview of the field Sports and Entertainment law, and the various legal issues confronted. We will focus on numerous areas of law, including antitrust law, labor law, copyright law, and contract law among others. We will look at real world disputes and recent cases to analyze the legal theory associated with sports and entertainment law.

The Practice of Law

This course is designed to familiarize students with the world of the law and legal practice options, through the eyes of Johns Hopkins University alumni and/or local, Baltimore-area community members who are attorneys. The course will tentatively focus on the following legal specialties: Corporate Law, Entertainment Law, Public Interest Law, Employment and Labor Law, and Criminal Law. There will also be a first year attorney/young associate panel, to provide insight into the current legal job market for recent law school graduates.

Course Number: AS.191.260.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: S Schedule: TWF 1:00-3:00pm; Meets Jan 10-20 Instructor: Ana Droscoski B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Perspectives on Globalization

This course introduces students to perspectives on globalization and the global economy as practiced by leading professionals in a range of fields. Presentations, discussions, and readings address the changing nature and importance of global trade and finance, emerging markets, international marketing, sustainable development, human rights and national security. The course concludes with a three-day trip to NYC, which includes visits to law, finance and marketing firms, NGOs and policy organizations. Last year’s visits included: HSBC, Clinton Foundation, Council on Foreign Relations, and UN Conference on Trade and Development. A mandatory trip meeting and resume workshop will be held in early Dec. in the Career Center Library, Garland Hall, 3rd Floor. Attendance counts towards course attendance policy. 100 percent attendance expected for successful completion of the course. Course/trip attendees made by faculty selection. NYC Trip Dates: Jan 24-26 Fee: $250

Course Number: AS.191.306.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: S Schedule: MTWThF 10:00-12:00pm and 1:00-3:00pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Karyn Wang Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Career Development | Register Now

The Politics of Conversion

The Politics of Conversion: Empire, Modernity, Critique: Designed to provide an interdisciplinary survey of the way conversion produces and threatens political projects, this course will examine the role of conversion at key points in political history. Students will appraise and discuss subjects ranging from Renaissance disputes regarding the obligation to respect the governments and customs of New World peoples, to Indian nationalist projects in the 19th century, to disputes over the role of Islam in contemporary France.

Political Structures of Europe

This course offers students an in-depth analysis of the politics and political structures of Europe. Despite some attention to implications of the EU, it is not about the EU. The course is divided in two: Part one addresses theoretical topics including presidential vs. parliamentary systems, political cleavages, multi-party and two-party systems, government coalitions, consociationalism. Part two surveys individual European countries. Students are presented alternatives to US democracy and tool-kits for thinking about institutionalizing democracy.

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Psychological & Brain Sciences

Alcohol Use & Abuse: From Pub to Lab

Alcohol is one of the oldest and most commonly used recreational drugs. This course will explore the use and abuse of alcohol, from societal implications to laboratory research designed to better understand the behavioral and neural processes underlying substance abuse. In particular, this course will focus on the roles of learning and motivation in alcohol-seeking, craving, and relapse. To this end, we will examine animal models used in alcohol research, connecting them to work done with human participants.

Neurobiology of Food Intake/Overeat

This course will examine the role of learning and its interaction in the regulation of body weight, food intake and overeating. Topics covered will include: the neurobiology of learning and motivation; the role of central and peripheral mechanisms in food intake; biological and psychological factors that lead to overeating and obesity. In addition, students will be expected to complete a written exam.

The Neuroscience of Economic Decisions

Economic theories often assume that people make rational choices. However, the current understanding of decision-making in neuroscience and psychology demonstrates that this is often not the case. We will first establish how decisions are studied, both behaviorally and in the brain. As a class, we will then bridge the gap between neuropsychological rationality and rationality in economic choice to account for real-world events, from which restaurant to dine at to the mortgage crisis.

The Psychology of Financial Crisis

The 2007-8 financial crisis, considered the most severe of its kind since the Great Depression, is our primary focus. The course will initially answer two critical questions: “What happened to bring about the financial crisis?” Who was hurt and who succeeded well?" We will then study specific crisis decisions to determine if a behavioral finance analysis contributes to a better understanding of decision making under conditions of uncertainty.

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Public Health Studies

Hopkins Medicine: Pathway to Success

Hopkins Medicine: Pathway to Success and Social Responsibility. This course provides a foundation to be successful in medicine with particular attention to different trajectories of success for different populations due to factors such as stereotype threat, barriers to equal opportunities, and cultural knowledge of higher education and professional schools. Populations with different trajectories include individuals from traditionally marginalized communities such as racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTI individuals, first generation college students, and women. Part of the goal of the course is not only provide a foundation of success in medicine but also to be leaders in health care by addressing persistent challenges in diversifying the number of physicians from historically marginalized communities and increase the number of physicians who serve disadvantaged communities.

Course Number: AS.280.105.12 Credits: 2 Distribution: S Schedule: SOM: Jan. 9, 10, 11, 17, 20 from 2-5 PM SOM: Jan. 13, 18 from 9AM-12PM OMA: Jan. 12, 19 from 12-1:30 PM Instructor: Daniel Teraguchi B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

B'More: Junk Food vs. Whole Foods

This course looks closely at the environment of Baltimore City’s complex food systems and what it would take to improve these systems to assure widespread access to nutritious, adequate and affordable food. Students will gain hands-on experience through visiting a supermarket, a corner store and an emergency food distribution center. The in-class sessions are structured primarily as discussion seminars based around the readings and trips, supplemented with some lectures and guest lectures.

Course Number: AS.280.205.31 Distribution: S Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Seung Hee Lee B'More Course | Register Now

Have My Public Health Degree,Now What?

The goal of the course is to introduce students to and enthuse them about the vast array of public health practice careers. Guest speakers from a variety of public health careers and backgrounds will present their roles and responsibilities, as well as the necessary skills for effective public health responses. Additionally, current public health events in the news will be discussed and analyzed, with a particular focus on the types of professionals involved in the response and specific skills required.

STI - Exercise in Public Health

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to an overview of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with a focus on upstream intervention by applying the Public Health problem solving paradigm. To simulate the real world, students will be divided into teams to tackle a sexually transmitted infection of their choice. This course will teach students problem solving techniques, provide them with the opportunity to work together and demonstrate the mastery of the concepts by successfully collaborating on a final paper with a descriptive analysis of an STI, its magnitude and description of the determinants, exploration of the different intervention strategies and a defense of the students’ intervention of choice.

Course Number: AS.280.208.12 Credits: 2 Distribution: N S Schedule: MTThF 8:00-12:00pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Kenny Mok Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Health Care, Housing and Homelessness

Homelessness is bad for one’s health, and demonstrates deep social ills and policy failures. This course introduces issues fundamental to the modern phenomena of homelessness in the United States - and the connection between disparate health and desperate inequality. Through presentations and discussions with community experts – including people who have experienced homelessness – we will examine the causes of homelessness, as well as strategies for addressing the immediate health needs of homeless individuals and changing the social structures responsible for creating it.

Outbreak Investigations

Infectious disease outbreaks are relatively common occurrences and outbreak investigations are a fundamental aspect of public health. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the science of outbreak investigations and to provide an opportunity to apply these principles and basic epidemiological concepts in discussing recent outbreaks. To simulate a real world experience, students will be placed in the role of investigators during classroom discussions.

Course Number: AS.280.212.12 Credits: 1 Distribution: N S Schedule: MTTh 1:00-3:30pm; Meets Jan 9-20 Instructor: Kevin Griffith Syllabus: Download B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

B'More: Vaccines and Child Health

This course focuses on the importance of immunizations for child health. Students learn about vaccine-preventable illnesses that affect children; disease-tracking in Baltimore; and, strategies for getting child illness rates under control. Local immunization initiatives will be discussed, including Baltimore City’s model immunization program which made history in 1996 when it increased child immunization coverage to 99 in just 3 months. Through lectures, discussions and field trips, we explore methods and strategies that have helped Maryland maintain one of the top immunization coverage rates in the nation.

Course Number: AS.280.214.31 Distribution: N S Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Jennifer Lam Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

Health Movements in Animal Agriculture

This course looks historically at the relationship of public health to animal agriculture. We will track the co-evolution of the two disciplines over 200 years, with a focus on North America. Progressing through the changes animal agriculture underwent in this time span, students will use readings, film and radio to understand how public health was involved in these changes, and how they led to the present entanglement over sustainability, animal welfare, overgrazing, and bacon.

Uganda: Childhood, Health & Society

Explore health and education programs serving Ugandan children. JHU students will be paired with students from Uganda’s Makerere University for a unique peer-to-peer learning experience. Students will learn about the strengths and challenges faced by urban and rural child health and education initiatives in Uganda. Students will first spend time in an urban setting in Kampala, the country’s capital, for hospital and school tours, lectures, student-driven site visits and volunteer opportunities; then travel to a village site to examine health and education issues in a rural setting. The rural component incorporates a 5-night homestay, a community-driven service-learning project, and a visit to The Rakai Health Sciences Program, a world-class public health research facility. Students will conclude their journey with an adventure-filled safari in Uganda's renowned National Parks.

Course Number: HA.280.210.01 Credits: 3 Distribution: S Schedule: Study Abroad program in Uganda. 3 credits, letter grade. Dates TBD Instructor: Daniela Lewy Study Abroad | Register Now

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Sociology

Politics and Development of Baltimore

This course will examine the development of Baltimore and its impact in the 21st century through the complex role of economic, political, and social dynamics. We will address the relationship between development and politics and the impact this has on the social and economic conditions of Baltimore from the development of the Great Parks to the redevelopment of Downtown and East Baltimore.

B’More: Studying Innovation and Change Through Charm City

Did you know that many ideas that have changed the world originated in Baltimore? We will examine these innovations rooted in B'More and discuss how they were born, how they spread, and how they succeeded or failed. Our in-class activities will provide general insight into how entrepreneurs and activists promote change. Our field trips will inform class conversations about technological and cultural innovations along with the societal and economic consequences of those changes.

Course Number: AS.230.116.31 Distribution: S Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Michael Reese B'More Course | Register Now

Be More Organic, Be More Local

Urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in or around a city, proponents argue that it improves access to fresh produce and improves community cohesion. Baltimore is an exciting case study for different types of urban farm operations. Through academic literature, field trips to winter farms and discussions with farmers and residents, students will explore the potentials of urban farming and community building in Baltimore.

Mind the Gap

Significant gaps in academic achievement persist among students from different socioeconomic groups and have actually widened over the past fifty years. Through a sociological lens, we will identify the sources of these gaps and consider recent intervention efforts to narrow them. Students will use multiple data sources to explore the causes of under-achievement in one Baltimore neighborhood and will design a targeted intervention to improve the academic outcomes of students in that neighborhood.

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Theatre Arts and Studies

New York City Theatre Intensive

*(Open to All Majors)* During the week of Friday, January 13th through Friday, January 20th (with Monday as a day off), students will attend 8 Broadway, Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway plays and musicals in New York City. The class will meet before and after each performance (occasionally meeting one of the artists) and each student will keep a journal which will be collected at the end of the class. Lodging is available or you can commute from your NJ/NY/CT location. Please fill out a registration form and submit it with your $100 non-refundable deposit. The application is online at http://www.jhu.edu/intersession/docs/NYCApplication.pdf.

Course Number: AS.225.305.12 Credits: 2 Distribution: H Schedule: Meets Friday, January 13 through Friday, January 20 Instructor: Margaret Denithorne B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

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Writing Seminars

Writing for Children: Craft and Charm

This course will critically examine modern and contemporary children's literature as models from which students will produce writing for children. We will investigate why the most successful children's books are the most difficult to restrict to that category, through a focus on literary merit and analysis, interplay of word and image, treatment of adult subjects, and author histories. Students will write creatively in response to topics including: picture books; children's poetry; Harold Bloom on the Junior Canon; fantasy blockbusters and "high/low" literature; magic, fairytales, and Disneyification; and gender divisions in middle grade works.

B'More: Baltimore in Fiction, Film, TV

Baltimore has long inspired a diverse group of writers & filmmakers. Students will gain access to the creative soul of the city by reading works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Russell Baker, and Anne Tyler; watching films by Barry Levinson and John Waters, and viewing episodes of The Wire. They will also visit the Poe House and the Enoch Pratt Library, and meet with local writers and filmmakers. Finally, students will write their own Baltimore-inspired stories and scripts.

Course Number: AS.220.123.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Emily Parker Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

Short Fiction of David Foster Wallace

In this course we will explore David Foster Wallace's shorter fiction with an eye towards the philosophical questions raised therein: How can we be authentic when the self is a social construct? How do we escape solipsism while remaining aware of our helpless subjectivity? How do we feel empathy while acknowledging irony? Is it impossible to escape the self, or is that just me?

Serious Nonsense: Light & Comic Poetry

This course will explore some of the funniest poetry ever written in English. Topics will include: What makes a poem funny? How can “light” verse be used to tackle deeper themes? And what exactly is going on in “Jabberwocky,” anyway? Readings will include poems by Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, E. E. Cummings, W. H. Auden, and Baltimore’s own Ogden Nash. Students will get the chance to write their own comic masterpieces.

Music and Narrative

In today's fast-paced, literate society, it is easy to forget that storytelling began as an oral tradition--an early music. We will explore, in broad strokes, the relationship between musical compositions and written stories, the ways in which composers/songwriters and authors alike build into their creations the elements of a story--setting, voice, character, conflict. Our canon will include everything from Thriller to Beethoven's 3rd, Gluck to Gladiator, Cather to Carver. Work load includes weekly readings, one major creative writing assignment, and the completion of a critical essay.

Introduction to Dramatic Writing: Film

An examination of the screenplays as a literary text and blue-print for production. Professional screenplays will be critically analyzed, with focus on character, dialogue, plot development, conflict, pacing, dramatic foreshadowing, the element of surprise, text and subtext, and visual story-telling. Students will learn professional screenplay format and write a short script.

Course Number: AS.220.183.11 Credits: 1 Distribution: H Schedule: MTF 1:00-5:30pm; Meets Jan 9-13 Instructor: Marc Lapadula B'More Compatible Schedule | Register Now

Fitzgeralds in Baltimore

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, received psychiatric treatment in Baltimore from 1932-1936. During her therapeutic sessions, the Fitzgeralds analyzed the deterioration of their marriage, which Fitzgerald attributed to the novel Zelda wrote as part of her therapy. We’ll examine Zelda’s depiction of their marriage in Save Me the Waltz and Fitzgerald’s counter depiction in Tender is the Night. Having scrutinized their marriage in his two previous novels, Fitzgerald felt responsible for Zelda’s mental instability. And yet, regardless of how it might affect Zelda, Fitzgerald dissected their marriage again in his Baltimore novel. To compensate for his inability and/or refusal to cure Zelda, Fitzgerald depicts his fictional double (a doctor/husband) curing Zelda’s fictional double (a patient/wife). How does Fitzgerald explore the ethics of the struggle to balance one’s professional and personal commitments? Why does Zelda analogize Alabama Knight to Oedipus in Sophocles’s Theban Plays?

B'More: How to Be Scary

This is a course that examines the tradition of ghost stories in Baltimore and explores why ghost stories are culturally important to us. Students will listen to, read, and discuss a range ghost stories related to Baltimore's history and learn to write ghost stories of their own. They will build writing and storytelling skills and practice engaging an audience’s interest.

Course Number: AS.220.190.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Lauren Reding Syllabus: Download B'More Course | Register Now

B'More: The Water Taxi Diaries: Travel Writing

Through readings, movies, and trips in Baltimore, we'll explore the genre of travel writing and do some of our own. We'll read and view The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild, explore the Inner Harbor, among other neighborhoods, and write our own collaborative travelogue. The Water Taxi Diaries will include both our observations and our imagined experiences, from Hons to pirates.

Course Number: AS.220.194.31 Distribution: H Schedule: B'More Program Dates: Monday, January 23- Friday, January 27 Instructor: Rebecca Parson B'More Course | Register Now

Ekphrasis: Writing the Visual

This class will explore different ways of responding poetically to visual art (painting, film, photography) and will examine ekphrastic poems alongside the artwork that inspired them. We will examine the possibilities as well as the challenges associated with this sort of writing. Coursework will include in-class writing exercises, take-home assignments, and weekly workshops. A portfolio of original poems will be due at the end of the course. Class will include field trips to the BMA (on your own) and to the Walters Art Museum (as a group).

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