Interdisciplinary Programs
Carnegie Mellon University offers several degree programs and courses of study which are coordinated by multiple colleges, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the university. These are detailed below.
Intercollege Majors
- BXA Intercollege Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Humanities and Arts Program
- Bachelor of Science and Arts Program
- Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts Program
- B.S. in Computational Finance
- B.S. in Music and Technology
- B.S. in Neuroscience
- B.S. in Psychology and Biological Sciences
- Major in General Studies
INTERCOLLEGE ADDITIONAL MAJOR
- Environmental & Sustainability Studies
- BXA Intercollege Degree Programs
- Engineering & Arts
Intercollege Minors
- Minor in Computational Finance
- Minor in Environmental & Sustainability Studies
- Minor in Game Design (IDeATe)
- Minor in Health Care Policy and Management
BXA Intercollege Degree Programs
The BXA Intercollege Degree Programs enable students the freedom to individualize their educational experience by promoting integration, balance and innovation. BXA offers the following programs:
- Bachelor of Humanities and Arts
- Bachelor of Science and Arts
- Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts
- Engineering and Arts Additional Major
For detailed information on the BXA Intercollege Degree Programs, go to BXA Intercollege Degree Programs.
Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance
The Mellon College of Science, the Heinz College of Public Policy and Management and the Tepper School of Business jointly offer a degree uniquely designed to meet the quantitative needs of the finance industry. Modeled after the highly successful Carnegie Mellon Master of Science in Computational Finance, this degree allows students to develop a deep knowledge of mathematics, probability, statistics, and the applications of these disciplines to finance. Students who complete this degree may directly enter the finance industry, enter other industries where applied mathematics training is appropriate, or pursue advanced degrees in economics, finance or the mathematical sciences. Students entering the work force upon completion of this degree may wish to later complement their undergraduate degree with a Master's degree in Business Administration or another professional degree. Students who might eventually pursue doctoral degrees in economics, finance, statistics or mathematics should seek advising on how to use their electives in order to prepare for graduate work in their chosen disciplines.
Students must apply to enroll in the Computational Finance major. Applications are accepted each Fall and Spring semester, just after mid-semester. Applicants must have taken (or be currently taking) 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance at the time of application. Students from any college or program at Carnegie Mellon are welcome to apply to enroll in the major.
The Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance is an Intercollegiate Program. Students who pursue Computational Finance as their primary major may elect to have either the Mellon College of Science (MCS) or the Tepper School of Business (Tepper) as their home college. The coursework required for the major is essentially the same in each case, with a few minor exception outlined below. The general education requirements for the degree depend on the student's home college.
Students who pursue Computational Finance as an additional major will remain in the college of their primary major. Additional majors must complete the Major Requirements outlined below, but not the General Education Requirements outlined for MCS and Tepper students.
Majors in Computational Finance can tailor their degree program by selecting Depth Electives aligned with their interests and ambitions. MCS students are required to take three depth electives. Tepper students must take 70-391 Finance as one of their three depth electives. (MCS students may also select 70-391 as one of their three depth electives.)
Additional information about computational finance and the Undergraduate Computational Finance Program at Carnegie Mellon can be found on the BSCF Program website.
Major Requirements
The major in Computational Finance is built around a core sequence of study in mathematical finance. This core is augmented with coursework in the related areas of Statistics, Computer Science, and Economics. Additionally the major provides training in the "soft skills" required for work in a corporate environment. The major also requires the completion of several depth electives, allowing students to tailor their education to their particular interests and needs.
The major requirements are the same for additional majors as they are for majors whose home college is MCS. There are a few slight differences for students whose home college is Tepper. These differences are described in the sections for Depth Electives and Professional Development below.
Foundations
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
21-122 | Integration and Approximation | 10 |
21-127 | Concepts of Mathematics | 10 |
21-241 | Matrices and Linear Transformations | 10 |
21-259 | Calculus in Three Dimensions | 9 |
21-260 | Differential Equations | 9 |
21-369 | Numerical Methods | 12 |
70-122 | Introduction to Accounting | 9 |
Mathematical Finance
21-270 | Introduction to Mathematical Finance | 9 |
21-370 | Discrete Time Finance | 9 |
21-420 | Continuous-Time Finance | 9 |
46-977 | MSCF Studies in Financial Engineering | 6 |
Statistics
21-325 | Probability | 9 |
36-226 | Introduction to Statistical Inference | 9 |
36-401 | Modern Regression | 9 |
Programming
15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10 |
15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | 12 |
15-122 | Principles of Imperative Computation | 10 |
Economics
73-102 | Principles of Microeconomics | 9 |
73-103 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 9 |
73-240 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 9 |
Professional Development
Majors in the Tepper School of Business take 70-311 Organizational Behavior as part of the Functional Business Core curriculum. This course counts in place of 94-700 Organizational Design & Implementation.
94-700 | Organizational Design & Implementation | 6 |
or 70-311 | Organizational Behavior | |
95-717 | Writing for Information Systems Management | 6-9 |
or 70-340 | Business Communications |
Depth Electives
Depth electives give students an opportunity to tailor their coursework to their particular interests. Students completing the major will take three depth electives (the minimum requirement is 24 units - the equivalent of two 9 unit courses and one 6 unit course). Tepper students are required to select 70-391 Finance as one of their depth electives.
Depth electives are intended to develop a student's background in an area that is applicable to the finance industry. Courses in finance or programming generally qualify as depth electives. Mathematics, Statistics, or Economics courses in subjects applicable to finance also qualify. Computational Finance majors may have the opportunity to take MSCF courses (as described below) and these may also be counted as depth electives.
There is no definitive list of approved depth electives. The courses listed below have been taken as depth electives in recent years, but other courses could be approved upon request
10-301 | Introduction to Machine Learning | 12 |
10-601 | Introduction to Machine Learning (Master's) | 12 |
10-605 | Machine Learning with Large Datasets | 12 |
15-150 | Principles of Functional Programming | 10 |
15-210 | Parallel and Sequential Data Structures and Algorithms | 12 |
15-213 | Introduction to Computer Systems | 12 |
15-351 | Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures | 12 |
15-451 | Algorithm Design and Analysis | 12 |
21-393 | Operations Research II | 9 |
21-355 | Principles of Real Analysis I | 9 |
21-366 | Topics in Applied Mathematics | 9 |
21-378 | Mathematics of Fixed Income Markets | 9 |
36-402 | Advanced Methods for Data Analysis | 9 |
36-410 | Introduction to Probability Modeling | 9 |
36-462 | Special Topics: Methods of Statistical Learning | 9 |
36-463 | Special Topics: Multilevel and Hierarchical Models | 9 |
36-464 | Special Topics: Applied Multivariate Methods | 9 |
70-391 | Finance | 9 |
70-492 | Investment Analysis | 9 |
70-495 | Corporate Finance | 9 |
70-497 | Derivative Securities | 9 |
MSCF Courses
Computational Finance majors are required to take 46-977 MSCF Studies in Financial Engineering. They may also have the opportunity to take up to four more MSCF courses. Permission to enroll in these courses requires (1) approval from thier BSCF Advisor, (2) approval of the course instructor, and (3) space available in the course. The MSCF curriculum with course descriptions is described on the MSCF website.
Some MSCF courses cover material in the undergraduate curriculum and thus are not generally suitable. Other courses require background that is difficult to obtain as an undergraduate. Students interested in taking MSCF courses are encouraged to discuss their interest with their advisor as early as possible.
General Education Requirements
General Education Requirements for MCS Students
Students in the Mellon College of Science completing the Computational Finance major as their primary major must complete the requirements below in addition to the major requirements.
99-101 | Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | 3 |
76-101 | Interpretation and Argument | 9 |
Science Requirement
Two of the following: | ||
03-121 | Modern Biology | 9 |
09-105 | Introduction to Modern Chemistry I | 10 |
33-111 | Physics I for Science Students | 12 |
Cognition, Choice, and Behavior
One of the following: | ||
73-240 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 9 |
80-100 | Introduction to Philosophy | 9 |
80-130 | Introduction to Ethics | 9 |
80-150 | Nature of Reason | 9 |
80-180 | Nature of Language | 9 |
80-208 | Critical Thinking | 9 |
80-220 | Philosophy of Science | 9 |
80-221 | Philosophy of Social Science | 9 |
80-222 | Measurement and Methodology | 9 |
80-241 | Ethical Judgments in Professional Life | 9 |
80-242 | Conflict and Dispute Resolution | 9 |
80-270 | Problems of Mind and Body: Meaning and Doing | 9 |
80-271 | Mind and Body: The Objective and the Subjective | 9 |
80-312 | Mathematical Revolutions | 9 |
80-330 | Ethical Theory | 9 |
85-102 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
85-211 | Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
85-221 | Principles of Child Development | 9 |
85-241 | Social Psychology | 9 |
85-251 | Personality | 9 |
85-261 | Psychopathology | 9 |
88-120 | Reason, Passion and Cognition | 9 |
Though any of these courses will satisfy the Cognition, Choice, and Behavior requirement, students are encouraged to consider taking one of the ethics courses: 80-130, 80-241, or 80-330.
Cultural Analysis
One of the following: | ||
57-173 | Survey of Western Music History | 9 |
57-209 | The Beatles | 9 |
70-342 | Managing Across Cultures | 9 |
76-232 | Introduction to Black Literature | 9 |
76-239 | Introduction to Film Studies | 9 |
76-241 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 9 |
79-104 | Global Histories | 9 |
79-202 | Flesh and Spirit: Early Modern Europe, 1400-1750 | 9 |
79-205 | 20th Century Europe | 9 |
79-209 | The Art of Historical Detection | 6 |
79-225 | West African History in Film | 9 |
79-229 | The Origins of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, 1880-1948 | 9 |
79-230 | Arab-Israeli Conflict Since 1948 | 9 |
79-240 | Development of American Culture | 9 |
79-239 | History of the American Working Class | 9 |
79-241 | African American History: Africa to the Civil War | 9 |
79-242 | African American History: Reconstruction to the Present | 9 |
79-261 | The Last Emperors: Chinese History and Society, 1600-1900 | 9 |
79-265 | Russian History: Game of Thrones | 9 |
79-266 | Russian History and Revolutionary Socialism | 9 |
79-281 | Introduction to Religion | 9 |
79-307 | Religion and Politics in the Middle East | 9 |
79-345 | Roots of Rock & Roll | 9 |
79-350 | Early Christianity | 9 |
80-100 | Introduction to Philosophy | 9 |
80-250 | Ancient Philosophy | 9 |
80-251 | Modern Philosophy | 9 |
80-253 | Continental Philosophy | 9 |
80-254 | Analytic Philosophy | 9 |
80-255 | Pragmatism | 9 |
80-261 | Experience, Reason, and Truth | 9 |
80-276 | Philosophy of Religion | 9 |
82-xxx | Any courses from Modern Languages |
Non-Technical Electives
Two more courses must taken from any of the departments in DC, CFA or Tepper, subject to the list of deletions and additions maintained by MCS.
Additional Notes
BSCF majors in MCS may use AP credits to satisfy general education requirements. Courses taken to satisfy BSCF major requirements may not be used to satisfy the general education requirements.
General Education Requirements for Tepper Students
Students in the Tepper School of Business completing the Computational Finance major as their primary major must complete the requirements below in addition to the major requirements.
Tepper Functional Business Core
The Functional Business Core of the Undergraduate Business Administration Program includes 70-122 Introduction to Accounting, which is required by all Computational Finance majors. It also includes 70-391 Finance, which Tepper students majoring in Computational Finance must select as of one their Depth Electives. In addition, Tepper students pursuing the B.S. in Computational Finance must complete six other courses from the Functional Business Core.
These courses are: | ||
70-106 | Business Science | 9 |
70-311 | Organizational Behavior | 9 |
70-332 | Business, Society and Ethics | 9 |
70-371 | Operations Management | 9 |
70-381 | Marketing I | 9 |
70-401 | Management Game | 12 |
Liberal Arts & Sciences Breadth Requirements
Candidates for the B.S. in Computational Finance must complete the Liberal Arts & Sciences Breadth Requirements as described in the catalog entry for the B.S. Degree in Business Administration.
Sample Curricula
MCS Sample Curriculum
What follows is the detailed curriculum for the degree Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance in the Mellon College of Science. This is an example of how an MCS student might meet the requirements of the Computational Finance major. It is not expected that every student will follow this sequence. In particular, well prepared students should consider taking 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance during their Freshman Spring semester. Students intending to do so are encouraged to take 21-127 Concepts of Mathematics or 21-241 Matrices and Linear Transformations during their Freshman Fall semester.
Freshman | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
15-110 Principles of Computing | 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science |
21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus | 21-122 Integration and Approximation |
76-101 Interpretation and Argument | 70-122 Introduction to Accounting |
99-101 Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | xx-xxx Science Requirement |
xx-xxx Science Requirement | xx-xxx Elective |
Sophomore | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
21-241 Matrices and Linear Transformations | 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance |
21-259 Calculus in Three Dimensions | 21-127 Concepts of Mathematics |
21-260 Differential Equations | 21-369 Numerical Methods |
73-102 Principles of Microeconomics | 73-103 Principles of Macroeconomics |
xx-xxx Humanities, Social Sciences, or Fine Arts Elective | xx-xxx Elective |
Junior | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
21-325 Probability | 21-420 Continuous-Time Finance |
21-370 Discrete Time Finance | 36-226 Introduction to Statistical Inference |
73-240 Intermediate Macroeconomics | xx-xxx Humanities, Social Sciences, or Fine Arts Elective |
15-122 Principles of Imperative Computation | xx-xxx Humanities, Social Sciences, or Fine Arts Elective |
xx-xxx Elective | xx-xxx Depth Elective |
Senior | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
46-977 MSCF Studies in Financial Engineering | 95-717 Writing for Information Systems Management |
94-700 Organizational Design & Implementation | |
36-401 Modern Regression | xx-xxx Depth Elective |
xx-xxx Depth Elective | xx-xxx Humanities, Social Sciences, or Fine Arts Elective |
xx-xxx Elective | xx-xxx Elective |
xx-xxx Elective | xx-xxx Elective |
Tepper Sample Curriculum
What follows is the detailed curriculum for the degree Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance in the Tepper School of Business. This is an example of how a Tepper student might meet the requirements of the Computational Finance major. It is not expected that every student will follow this sequence. In particular, well prepared students should consider taking 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance during their Freshman Spring semester. Students intending to do so are encouraged to take 21-127 Concepts of Mathematics or 21-241 Matrices and Linear Transformations during their Freshman Fall semester.
Freshman | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
15-110 Principles of Computing | 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science |
21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus | 21-122 Integration and Approximation |
73-102 Principles of Microeconomics | 21-241 Matrices and Linear Transformations |
70-106 Business Science | 73-103 Principles of Macroeconomics |
76-101 Interpretation and Argument | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
99-101 Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
Sophomore | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
21-127 Concepts of Mathematics | 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance |
21-259 Calculus in Three Dimensions | 21-325 Probability |
21-260 Differential Equations | 70-311 Organizational Behavior |
70-122 Introduction to Accounting | 70-381 Marketing I |
xx-xxx Elective | 73-240 Intermediate Macroeconomics |
Junior | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
21-369 Numerical Methods | 21-420 Continuous-Time Finance |
21-370 Discrete Time Finance | 36-226 Introduction to Statistical Inference |
70-391 Finance | 70-371 Operations Management |
15-122 Principles of Imperative Computation | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
xx-xxx Breadth Course | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
Senior | |
---|---|
Fall | Spring |
36-401 Modern Regression | 95-717 Writing for Information Systems Management |
46-977 MSCF Studies in Financial Engineering | |
70-332 Business, Society and Ethics | xx-xxx Depth Elective |
70-401 Management Game | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
xx-xxx Depth Elective | xx-xxx Breadth Course |
xx-xxx Elective |
Minor in Computational Finance
There is no application process for the minor in Computational Finance, however in order to declare the minor in Computational Finance, a student must satisfy one of the following sets of requirements:
- Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance with a grade of A and an overall QPA of at least 3.20; OR
- Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance and 21-370 Discrete Time Finance with an average grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00; OR
- Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance and 21-378 Mathematics of Fixed Income Markets with an average grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00.
When a student has met the necessary requirements, he or she may declare the minor by contacting the Associate Director of the Undergraduate Computational Finance program.
Note: For students who have a grade of P in either 21-270 or 21-378 from the Spring 2020 semester (and only that semester) these retuirements have been altered slightly. The grade of P will not be counted toward the averages in conditions 2 or 3. This effectively makes the requirements
1. Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance with a grade of A and an overall QPA of at least 3.20; OR
2. Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance and 21-370 Discrete Time Finance with an average grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00; OR
2a. Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance with a grade of P in Spring 2020, and completion of 21-370 Discrete Time Finance with a minimum grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00; OR
3. Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance and 21-378 Mathematics of Fixed Income Markets with an average grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00; OR
3a. Completion of 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance with a grade of P in Spring 2020, and completion of 21-378 Mathematics of Fixed Income Markets with a minimum grade of B and an overall QPA of at least 3.00.
21-241 | Matrices and Linear Transformations | 10 |
or 21-242 | Matrix Theory | |
21-259 | Calculus in Three Dimensions | 9-10 |
or 21-256 | Multivariate Analysis | |
or 21-268 | Multidimensional Calculus | |
or 21-269 | Vector Analysis | |
21-260 | Differential Equations | 9-10 |
or 21-261 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | |
21-270 | Introduction to Mathematical Finance | 9 |
21-370 | Discrete Time Finance * | 9 |
21-420 | Continuous-Time Finance ** | 9 |
To avoid excessive double counting, Computational Finance minors may not count 21-270 Introduction to Mathematical Finance, 21-370 Discrete Time Finance or 21-420 Continuous-Time Finance toward any other requirement.
* | The prerequisites for 21-370 are 21-270 and either 21-256 or 21-259 , and the co-requisite is 70-207 , 21-325 , 36-225 or 36-217. Note that 70-207 is not accepted as a prerequisite for 21-420. |
** | The prerequisites for 21-420 are 21-260 , 21-370 and one of the following three calculus based probability courses: 21-325 , 36-225 or 36-217 . Note that 70-207 is not a sufficient preparation in probability. Also note that 21-122 is a prerequisite for 21-260 and that 21-127 is recommended for 21-241 . |
Students minoring in Computational Finance are strongly encouraged to take one or two economics course, e.g., 73-102, 73-103, 73-230 , or 73-240 .
Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Abigail Owen, Program Director, Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research
Neil Donahue, Director, Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research
https://www.cmu.edu/steinbrenner/education
Maggie Braun, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, Mellon College of Science
Sharon Carver, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences
The Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education & Research, the Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences, and the Mellon College of Science have joined together to establish the interdisciplinary Program in Environmental & Sustainability Studies, offering a Minor or an Additional Major.
The Minor and Additional Major in Environmental & Sustainability Studies are designed to be accessible for any undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, regardless of primary major and college, and without extensive prerequisite barriers. Building from core coursework, students can tailor their elective coursework, with intensive guidance from program advisors, to integrate appropriate electives from a wide range of possible courses to develop a coherent course of study with appropriate depth and breadth.
Additional Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
The additional major is designed to allow students from any college at CMU to build on the depth of their primary major and address the breadth of intrinsically interdisciplinary issues associated with the environment and sustainability.
There is no application process for the program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, however a student must declare the Minor or Additional Major by contacting the Advisor or Program Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program. Due to limited enrollment for a small class size in core course 79-336 “Introduction to Environmental Ideas” (9 Units), students are encouraged to declare the Minor or Additional Major as early as possible, so they can receive priority in course registration.
The Additional Major combines natural science, social science, and humanistic studies. These are co-equal. How Earth functions as a system is fundamental: key topics include climate, ecosystems, environmental chemistry (the behavior of molecules within the environment) and energy systems. Human interactions with the environment, and so the details of how cultural, political, and social systems function, are critical to understand, with an emphasis on sustainability and the environment. Issues of ethics, equity, and justice, situated in historical context, are vital to a full and complex understanding with a goal of equitable and appropriate solutions to environmental crises.
The three pillars are:
- Earth and Environmental Science. Majors should understand how the Earth works as a system, with more advanced understanding of selected scientific topics associated with Environment and Sustainability.
- Political Economy. Majors should understand the consequences and options of economics and policy at the local, regional, and global level.
- Humanities for Environment and Sustainability. Additional Majors should understand cultural, social, historical, ethical, and political aspects of environment and sustainability, including environmental, climate, and social justice.
Students who pursue the Additional Major will be able to:
- Apply humanistic, social, and scientific perspectives for problems of environment and sustainability
- Distinguish among scientific methods for evaluating problems of environment and sustainability
- Explain how aspects of history, culture, ethics, language, and arts relate to environment and sustainability, including goals for environmental justice and global climate justice.
- Assess sources of data about environment and sustainability
- Formulate a research question for interdisciplinary studies of environment and sustainability. Identify discipline-specific methods for exploring or answering the questions posed and use the chosen methods to gather and analyze evidence
Double-Counting
Maximum 3 courses, regardless of Units, can be double-counted for the Additional Major from any other Minor, Major, or Master’s program. This maximum does not apply to General Education courses.
General Education courses
Courses taken to fulfill a General Education requirement for the student’s college (the college of the student's primary major) are not calculated as “double-counting” for the Additional Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
AP credit
AP courses are not counted towards requirements for the Additional Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
Study abroad
Courses taken abroad may count towards Electives for the Additional Major, if accepted for transfer credit by the relevant CMU department and approved by the Program Director.
Requirements for the Additional Major in Environmental & Sustainability Studies
-
Minimum 102 Units Total for students with primary majors in CFA, Dietrich, Tepper
-
Minimum 105 Units Total for students with primary majors in MCS, Engineering, SCS
Core Courses: Complete 27 Units for students with Primary majors in CFA, Dietrich, Tepper; Complete 30 Units for Students with Primary Majors in MCS, Engineering, SCS | Units | |
24-291 | Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet Plus 3-Unit Corerequisite designed for students who have primary majors in: MCS; Engineering; SCS | 9 |
79-336 | Introduction to Environmental Ideas | 9 |
66-506 | Senior Capstone | 9 |
Earth and Environmental Science - Complete any one (minimum 9 Units) | Units | |
03-140 | Ecology and Environmental Science Without prerequisite | 9 |
33-115 | Physics for Future Presidents Without prerequisite | 9 |
09-225 | Climate Change: Chemistry, Physics and Planetary Science | 9 |
09-510 | Chemistry and Sustainability | 9 |
09-524 | Environmental Chemistry | 9 |
09-529 | Introduction to Sustainable Energy Science | 9 |
Global Course - Complete any one (3 Units) | Units | |
99-347 | Global Health: Gender Equality Each semester, a new 3-Unit course 99-xxx is offered on Global themes, in partnership with University of Pittsburgh’s Global Studies Center | 3 |
Statistics & Data Science - Complete 9 Units | Units | |
36-200 | Reasoning with Data Or equivalent course in Statistics & Data Science | 9 |
Political Economy - Complete any one (Minimum 9 Units) | Units | |
19-101 | Introduction to Engineering and Public Policy Without prerequisite | 12 |
79-300 | History of American Public Policy Without prerequisite | 9 |
84-110 | Foundations of Political Economy Without prerequisite | 9 |
84-313 | International Organizations and Law Without prerequisite | 9 |
84-325 | Contemporary American Foreign Policy Without prerequisite | 9 |
88-344 | Environmental Policy and Planning Without prerequisite | 9 |
73-332 | Political Economy | 9 |
73-408 | Law and Economics | 9 |
73-427 | Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Economics | 9 |
84-310 | International Political Economy | 9 |
88-221 | Analytical Foundations of Public Policy | 9 |
88-366 | Behavioral Economics of Poverty and Development | 9 |
Electives for Environmental & Sustainability Studies - Complete 45 Units
For the Additional Major, select and complete at least 45 Units of eligible electives in consultation with the Program Advisor and/or Program Director. At least 36 out of 45 Units of Electives for the Additional Major should be “External electives” completed outside of the college where the student’s primary major is housed; this is to encourage students to pursue interdisciplinary breadth. The remaining 9 Units of Electives for the Additional Major are “Free electives” from any college, including the student's own primary college.
Example
A student with a primary Major in Art (College of Fine Arts) could complete up to 9 Units of Electives for the Additional Major within the College of Fine Arts. This means up to 9 Units of Electives could be taken in Music, Design, Architecture, Drama, or Art; the remaining 36 Units of Electives must come from outside CFA: from Dietrich, Engineering, Business, or Science.
Electives are vetted by the program director from the CMU course catalog and listed each term based on the following criteria. Additional courses meeting these criteria can be approved by the program director.
Additional courses from these categories always count as electives:
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Earth and Environmental Science” can be counted as electives.
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Political Economy” can be counted as electives.
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Global Course” can be counted as electives.
Any further electives should:
- Broaden the reach of the student’s interdisciplinary explorations in environment and sustainability
- Thematically, courses should either add to depth from above-listed categories: "Earth and Environmental Science"; “Environmental Humanities”; “Three Unit Global Course”; and/or "Political Economy";
- Or, electives should increase the student’s interdisciplinary grasp of topics related to environment and sustainability, with particular emphasis on topics related to environmental justice and/or global climate justice.
Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
There is no application process for the program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, however a student must declare the Minor or Additional Major by contacting the Advisor or Program Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program. Due to limited enrollment for a small class size in core course 79-336 “Introduction to Environmental Ideas” (9 Units), students are encouraged to declare the Minor or Additional Major as early as possible, so they can receive priority in course registration.
Students who pursue the minor will be able to:
- Identify humanistic, social, and scientific perspectives for problems of environment and sustainability
- Distinguish among scientific methods for evaluating problems of environment and sustainability
- Connect how aspects of history, culture, ethics, language, and arts relate to environment and sustainability, including goals for environmental justice and global climate justice
- Discuss sources of data about environment and sustainability
Double-Counting
Maximum 2 courses, regardless of Units, can be double-counted for the Minor from any other Minor, Major, or Master’s program. This maximum does not apply to General Education courses.
General Education courses
Courses taken to fulfill a General Education requirement for the student’s college (the college of the student's primary major) are not calculated as “double-counting” for the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
AP credit
AP courses are not counted towards requirements for the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
Study abroad
Courses taken abroad may count towards Electives for the Minor, if accepted for transfer credit by the relevant CMU department and approved by the Program Director.
Requirements for the Minor in Environmental & Sustainability Studies
-
Minimum 66 Units Total for students with primary majors in CFA, Dietrich, Tepper
-
Minimum 69 Units Total for students with primary majors in MCS, Engineering, SCS
Core Courses: Complete 18 Units for students with Primary majors in CFA, Dietrich, Tepper; Complete 21 Units for Students with Primary Majors in MCS, Engineering, SCS | Units | |
24-291 | Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet Plus 3-Unit Corerequisite designed for students who have primary majors in: MCS; Engineering; SCS | 9 |
79-336 | Introduction to Environmental Ideas | 9 |
Global Course - Complete any one (3 Units) | Units | |
99-347 | Global Health: Gender Equality Each semester, a new 3-Unit course 99-xxx is offered on Global themes, in partnership with University of Pittsburgh’s Global Studies Center | 3 |
Statistics & Data Science - Complete 9 Units | Units | |
36-200 | Reasoning with Data Or equivalent course in Statistics & Data Science | 9 |
Electives for Environmental & Sustainability Studies - Complete 36 Units
For the Minor, select and complete at least 36 Units of eligible electives in consultation with the Program Advisor and/or Program Director. At least 27 out of 36 Units of Electives for the Minor should be “External electives” completed outside of the college where the student’s primary major is housed; this is to encourage students to pursue interdisciplinary breadth. The remaining 9 Units of Electives for the Minor are “Free electives” from any college, including the student's own primary college.
Example
A student with a primary Major in Art (College of Fine Arts) could complete up to 9 Units of Electives for the Minor within the College of Fine Arts. This means up to 9 Units of Electives could be taken in Music, Design, Architecture, Drama, or Art; the remaining 27 Units of Electives for the Minor must come from outside CFA: from Dietrich, Engineering, Business, or Science.
Electives are vetted by the program director from the CMU course catalog and listed each term based on the following criteria. Additional courses meeting these criteria can be approved by the program director.
Additional courses from these categories always count as electives:
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Earth and Environmental Science” (see Additional Major requirements) can be counted as electives.
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Political Economy” (see Additional Major requirements) can be counted as electives.
- Any additional courses listed in the above category “Global Course” can be counted as electives.
Any further electives should:
- Broaden the reach of the student’s interdisciplinary explorations in environment and sustainability
- Thematically, courses should either add to depth from above-listed categories: "Earth and Environmental Science"; “Environmental Humanities”; “Three Unit Global Course”; and/or "Political Economy";
- Or, electives should increase the student’s interdisciplinary grasp of topics related to environment and sustainability, with particular emphasis on topics related to environmental justice and/or global climate justice.
Game Design Minor – IDeATe
The Game Design minor is offered by the Entertainment Technology Center as part of the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology (IDeATe) network. IDeATe offers students the opportunity to become immersed in a collaborative community of faculty and peers who share expertise, experience, and passions at the intersection of arts and technology. Students will engage in active "learning by doing" in shared labs and maker spaces. The program addresses current and emerging real-world challenges that require disciplinary expertise coupled with multidisciplinary perspectives and collaborative integrative approaches.
The IDeATe undergraduate curriculum consists of nine areas, all of which can also be taken as minors. The themes of these areas integrate knowledge in technology and arts: Game Design, Animation & Special Effects, Media Design, Design for Learning, Sonic Arts, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Intelligent Environments, Physical Computing, and Soft Technologies. For more information about the IDeATe network, please visit Undergraduate Options.
Game design is an art, a craft, and a science. Students in the IDeATe Game Design minor will gain mastery in all three aspects through game design, development, and assessment. You will learn about the rich histories, theory, and practice of game creation taught by faculty experts, and have opportunities to collaborate across the many disciplines needed to make successful game experiences. Through coursework you will be able to realize your own unique aesthetics and voice by reflecting on your own game play and by thoughtfully critiquing the games of others. Through the minor students will be able to build a strong game design portfolio, deepen cultural sensitivities as a game designers, and expand their creative practice. In particular, you will gain skills and competencies in the following areas of game design:
- Game systems and mechanics design
- Interactive narrative and character development
- Visual and audio asset creation
- Game programming
- Interface design and user testing
- Collaboration and the iterative design process
Curriculum
One Computing Course - Minimum of 9 Units
Units | ||
15-104 | Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice | 10 |
15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10 |
15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | 12 |
60-210 | Electronic Media Studio: Introduction to Interactivity | 10 |
60-212 | Electronic Media Studio: Interactivity and Computation for Creative Practice | 12 |
One IDeATe Portal Course - Minimum of 9 Units
Units | ||
53-322 | IDeATe: Little Games/Big Stories: Indie Roleplaying Game Studio Recommended Portal Course for this area | 9 |
62-150 | IDeATe Portal: Introduction to Media Synthesis and Analysis Recommended Portal Course for this area | 10 |
16-223 | IDeATe Portal: Creative Kinetic Systems | 10 |
18-090 | Twisted Signals: Multimedia Processing for the Arts | 10 |
60-125 | IDeATe: Introduction to 3D Animation Pipeline | 12 |
60-218 | IDeATe Portal: Real-Time Animation | 10 |
60-223 | IDeATe: Introduction to Physical Computing | 10 |
99-361 | IDeATe Portal | 9 |
IDeATe Game Design Courses - Minimum of 27 Units
Units | ||
05-418 | Design Educational Games | 12 |
05-499 | Special Topics in HCI For sections related to Game Design | 12 |
15-466 | Computer Game Programming | 12 |
53-230 | Programming for Game Designers | 12 |
53-250 | Immersive Experience Pre-production Process | 9 |
53-353 | Understanding Game Engines | 9 |
53-371/76-368 | Role Playing Games Writing Workshop | 12 |
53-376 | 360 Story and Sound | 12 |
53-451 | Research Issues in Game Development: Designing for XR | 12 |
53-471 | Game Design, Prototyping and Production | 15 |
53-472 | Advanced Game Studio | 12 |
53-558 | Reality Computing Studio | 12 |
60-333 | IDeATe: Animation Rigging | 10 |
60-419 | Advanced ETB: Experimental Game Studio - No More Video Games! | 10 |
Additional courses as available. Please refer to the IDeATe website for the list of Game Design courses for the currnent and upcoming semesters. |
Double-Counting
Students may double-count up to two of their Game Design minor courses toward requirements for other majors or minors.
Major in General Studies
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in General Studies provide students a pathway through a broad educational foundation while adhering to the strong standards of a CMU degree.
The General Studies major covers both intercollegiate breadth and discipline-specific knowledge. The intercollegiate educational requirements expose students to a variety of intellectual and cultural approaches and provide serviceable knowledge on a range of topics. In addition to this liberal arts style foundation, students are required to declare and complete an academic minor. This concentrated study equips students with in-depth knowledge of a given professional field. Students are challenged to move beyond base assumptions and to demonstrate higher order creativity, analysis, and application. Additionally, the academic minor sends a concrete signal to future employers to indicate areas of interest and experience: “BA/BS in General Studies” also requires a “Minor in X”. Near the end of their degree, General Studies students synthesize their educational pursuits. They are required to register for a 3+ unit Independent Study/Capstone to create a culminating project/paper. This course requires a supervising faculty advisor and is presented at Meeting of the Minds or an equivalent pre-approved public forum.
Eligibility and approval
A student cannot independently pursue this degree. Any student expressing interest in transferring to the General Studies major must discuss their motivation and alternative options with their academic advisor, receive approval from their college’s Assistant/Associate Dean, and then be approved by the General Studies Academic Advisory Committee. Students must work with their Assistant/Associate Dean to first exhaust the following options:
-
maintaining their current degree path,
-
changing majors in one’s home college, or
-
transferring to another college at CMU.
In order to be considered for the General Studies major program, a student must fulfill all of the criteria:
-
A student must have successfully completed at least 180 units, 75% of which were completed at CMU.
-
A student must have passed the University’s general education requirements: “First-Year Writing” and “Computing at CMU.” See table below for full listing of courses that can satisfy these requirements.
-
A student must demonstrate the ability to be successful in their intended minor. Students must be on track to complete at least 50% of the minor’s coursework at the point of application.
-
A student must create both a Success Plan and Curricular Plan with their advisor. This plan must include monthly meetings with their academic advisor, outline a plan for continual satisfactory academic progress, and be approved by their Assistant/Associate Dean.
If all the above criteria are met, each student’s case is brought to the General Studies Academic Advisory Committee and must receive a majority vote to advance.
Degree Structure and Graduation Requirements
In accordance with Carnegie Mellon’s standards and degree norms, all candidates must complete the following requirements in order to graduate with a General Studies major:
-
Apply and be approved by the General Studies Academic Advisory Committee as a General Studies Major.
-
Adhere to and make progress toward the agreed upon Success and Curricular plans.
-
Declare and complete an academic minor in your home college or gain approval and complete a minor in another college. (Transfer credit acceptance will be determined by the equivalent CMU department). Additional minors beyond the General Studies degree with a minor in x will not be considered unless the secondary minor’s units are in addition to all of the General Studies degree requirements.
-
Graduation requirements are broadly defined as follows, and outlined in the following “Curriculum” section:
-
Earn a minimum of 360 units.
-
Students may count up to 40 non-factorable units with a maximum of 9 total non-factorable units of StuCo, ROTC, and P/E. -
Students must have a minimum of 45 units in upper level courses, as defined by the course’s home department (generally 300 level or above).
-
Pass/fail courses may not be used for the primary major or minor requirements (for courses that are otherwise letter graded). Pass/fail courses may not be used for the general education requirements of the degree.
-
Earn a QPA of at least 2.0 for all courses taken (For undergraduate students who enrolled at Carnegie Mellon as freshmen and whose freshman grades cause the cumulative QPA to fall below 2.00, this requirement is modified to be a cumulative QPA of at least 2.00 for all courses taken after the freshman year.)
-
Curriculum
Minimum units required for B.A./B.S. in General Studies 360
Seminar requirement
99-430 | General Studies Capstone Course | 3-12, variable |
First-year writing REQUIREMENT
Complete a total of 9 units from the following courses. | ||
76-101 | Interpretation and Argument | 9 |
76-102 | Advanced First Year Writing: Special Topics | 9 |
76-106 | Writing about Literature, Art and Culture | 4.5 |
76-107 | Writing about Data | 4.5 |
76-108 | Writing about Public Problems | 4.5 |
general studies REQUIREMENTs
99-101 | Computing @ CMU | 3 |
Breadth coursework | Minimum of 18 units in each of three different CMU school/colleges covering at least five departments (this can include the school/department that the student is currently enrolled in). | 54 units |
The courses used to satisfy the breadth requirement must be in addition to the minimum total of 45 units in upper level courses required for the major.
MIDDLE STATES REQUIREMENTS
General Studies students should have a well-rounded education that fulfills Middle States Accreditation requirements, demonstrating learning in each of seven categories. Students will work with their advisor and associate dean (or equivalent) to guarantee that each category is fulfilled, recognizing what they have done while exploring other degrees across departments and colleges. Courses counting for their major and/or minor can be used to fulfill these requirements.
Communication (oral, written, and visual) | Variable units |
Information literacy | Variable units |
Critical thinking | Variable units |
Cultural and social understanding | Variable units |
Personal development | Variable units |
Quantitative reasoning | Variable units |
Scientific reasoning | Variable units |
Minor in Health Care Policy and Management
Sponsored by:
Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Mellon College of Science
Faculty Advisors:
Jason D'Antonio, Mellon College of Science
James F. Jordan, H. John Heinz III College
The face of health care is changing. The practice of medicine is being fundamentally altered by the forces of change in public policy, health care organizations and in the industry as a whole. The role of individual professionals in this industry is changing as rapidly as the industry itself. Traditional career paths have disappeared overnight to be replaced by new opportunities that require new skills. New organizations are placing new demands on their professional and medical staffs. The criteria of efficiency and financial stability are entering the domains of diagnosis and treatment.
This minor is designed to provide students considering a career in the health professions with an understanding of how these changes are likely to affect their careers. Students will become familiar with the critical policy and management issues and will begin to learn to operate effectively in the emerging health care environment. The curriculum combines economic, organizational, managerial, historical and psychological perspectives on these issues to provide a foundation for a deepened understanding of the changing structure of health care organizations and policy.
Required Courses for HCPM Minor
A total of 54 units are required to complete this minor. Entry into the minor requires completion of 73-102 Principles of Microeconomics or the equivalent by approval.
Required Courses
Complete a total of 27 units from the following: | ||
79-330 | Medicine and Society: Health, Healers, and Hospitals | 9 |
90-836 | Health Systems | 6 |
90-721 | Healthcare Management | 6 |
90-861 | Health Policy | 6 |
Elective Courses
Complete a minimum of 18 units from these two sections:
Heinz College Courses | ||
94-705 | Health Economics | 12 |
90-832 | Health Law | 6 |
90-833 | Population Health | 6 |
90-818 | Lean Performance Improvement Lab: H C | 6 |
90-834 | Health Care Geographical Information Systems | 12 |
Other courses as approved |
Humanities and Social Sciences Courses (9 units each) | ||
80-245 | Medical Ethics | 9 |
76-494 | Healthcare Communications | 9 |
88-365 | Behavioral Economics and Public Policy | 9 |
42-444 | Medical Devices | 9 |
Other courses as approved |
Please note that some of these courses have prerequisites that will not count toward the completion of the requirements for this minor.
Elective Focus Areas
Focus areas are suggested groupings of electives based on student interest. Students do not need to take all electives within one focus area; they are free to choose their 18-unit elective minimum from any combination of focus areas.
Health Management/Administration Focus | Units | |
90-832 | Health Law | 6 |
90-818 | Lean Performance Improvement Lab: H C | 6 |
80-245 | Medical Ethics | 9 |
76-494 | Healthcare Communications | 9 |
Health Policy Focus | Units | |
94-705 | Health Economics | 12 |
90-832 | Health Law | 6 |
90-833 | Population Health | 6 |
88-365/90-882 | Behavioral Economics and Public Policy | 9 |
Other courses as approved |
Health Analytics & IT Focus | Units | |
90-834 | Health Care Geographical Information Systems | 12 |
42-444 | Medical Devices | 9 |
Other courses as approved |
Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology
The Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology is offered jointly by the School of Music, the School of Computer Science, and the College of Engineering.
This program consists of a set of courses that span both music and technology, as well as a capstone composition/design/performance project. Courses in all three areas of study are stipulated in the music and technology undergraduate curriculum and provide for students coming from any of the three areas. In other words, regardless of a student’s entry point — an interest in computer science, electrical engineering, or music — the coursework prescribed will allow the student to gain the requisite knowledge and experience in all three areas. Students will work closely with advisors and will be guided in both course selection and capstone projects.
Curriculum
Minimum units required for B.S. in Music and Technology380
General Requirements85 units
Seminar
57-570 | Sound and Music Computing Seminar (8 semesters for a total of 8 units) | 1 |
University
99-101 | Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | 3 |
76-101 | Interpretation and Argument | 9 |
xx-xxx | Global, Cultural, and Diverse Perspectives Course | 9 |
Humanities
xx-xxx | Cognition, Choice and Behavior course | 9 |
xx-xxx | English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, or Psychology course | 9 |
Mathematics
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
21-122 | Integration and Approximation | 10 |
Science
33-114 | Physics of Musical Sound | 9 |
33-141 | Physics I for Engineering Students | 12 |
Electives33 or 37 units
Music Core81 units
57-152 | Harmony I | 9 |
57-153 | Harmony II | 9 |
57-408 | Form and Analysis | 6 |
57-151 | Counterpoint in Theory and Application | 6 |
57-258 | 20th-21st Century Techniques | 6 |
57-257 | Orchestration I | 6 |
57-189 | Introduction to Repertoire and Listening for Musicians | 3 |
57-190 | Repertoire and Listening for Musicians I | 3 |
57-289 | Repertoire and Listening for Musicians II | 3 |
57-290 | Repertoire and Listening for Musicians III | 3 |
57-181 | Solfege I | 3 |
57-182 | Solfege II | 3 |
57-183 | Solfege III | 3 |
57-184 | Solfege IV | 3 |
57-161 | Eurhythmics I | 3 |
57-162 | Eurhythmics II | 3 |
57-173 | Survey of Western Music History | 9 |
Music and Technology Core121 units
15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | 12 |
15-122 | Principles of Imperative Computation | 10 |
15-322 | Introduction to Computer Music | 9 |
18-100 | Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering | 12 |
18-202 | Mathematical Foundations of Electrical Engineering | 12 |
18-290 | Signals and Systems | 12 |
57-101 | Introduction to Music Technology | 6 |
57-347 | Electronic and Computer Music | 6 |
57-337 | Sound Recording | 6 |
57-338 | Sound Editing and Mastering | 6 |
57-438 | Multitrack Recording | 9 |
57-571 | Music and Technology Project | 12 |
57-572 | Music and Technology Project | 12 |
Concentration
Students complete either the Music Concentration or the Technical Concentration:
Music Concentration60 units
57-5xx | Studio (4 semesters) | 36 |
57-4xx | Major Ensemble (4 semesters) | 24 |
Technical Concentration58 or 56 units
21-127 | Concepts of Mathematics | 10 |
15/18-213 | Introduction to Computer Systems | 12 |
AND EITHER:
18-220 | Electronic Devices and Analog Circuits | 12 |
18-240 | Structure and Design of Digital Systems | 12 |
15-2xx/18-3xx Electives in ECE or CS | 12 | |
or above |
OR:
15-128 | Freshman Immigration Course | 1 |
15-210 | Parallel and Sequential Data Structures and Algorithms | 12 |
15-323 | Computer Music Systems and Information Processing | 9 |
15-2xx/18-3xx Electives in ECE or CS | 12 | |
or above |
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
Veronica Hinman, Department Head, Biological Sciences
Michael Tarr, Department Head, Psychology
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists from many backgrounds apply the tools of biology, cognitive science, psychology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering to develop a comprehensive understanding of brain function at the level of molecules, neurons, brain circuits, cognitive brain modules, and behavior. Research in neuroscience across these disciplines has grown substantially in the past two decades, and a solid understanding of the physiological basis of many aspects of brain function both in health and disease has come along with this growth in research. Along with this comes an increasing need for students to begin careers in neuroscience and to be prepared to work on the problems in neuroscience and to bring new answers to the public and to patients. In order to be successful in developing new treatments and answering outstanding questions in the field, neuroscientists need to be conversant in many different levels of inquiry from neurobiology to cognitive neuroscience to computational neuroscience.
The Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences and the Mellon College of Science have joined forces to establish an exciting interdisciplinary program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. The goal of this degree program is to provide an intensive interdisciplinary education to enable outstanding students to become leaders in identifying and solving tomorrow's Neuroscience problems using a variety of methods. The program's interdisciplinary curriculum is designed for students to gain a fundamental understanding of brain function on many different levels and to begin to specialize within the broad field of Neuroscience. Students in Mellon College of Science or Dietrich College may have a primary major in Neuroscience in any of the three concentrations. Students from other colleges may have a second major in Neuroscience in any of the three concentrations, subject to double-counting restrictions.
A degree in neuroscience provides excellent preparation for medical school or other graduate programs in the health professions. These students are aided by the Carnegie Mellon Health Professions Program (HPP), an advisory and resource service for all Carnegie Mellon students who are considering careers in the health care field. (See the HPP section in this catalog or www.cmu.edu/hpp for more information.)
Students wishing to pursue the Neuroscience major through Dietrich College should contact Dr. Lori Holt (loriholt@cmu.edu). Students wishing to pursue the Neuroscience major through the Mellon College of Science should contact the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office. Students wishing to pursue an additional major in either the Neurobiology or Computational Neuroscience concentrations should contact the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office. Students wishing to pursue an additional major in the Cognitive Neuroscience concentration should contact Dr. Lori Holt (loriholt@cmu.edu).
Students who pursue this major will:
- Gain a broad understanding of Neuroscience at many different levels of analysis, including: cellular biology of the brain, brain systems, cognitive brain function, and computational brain modeling
- Gain an understanding of the sciences underlying Neuroscience, including: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cognition and Psychology, and other emerging areas
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of brain function in health and disease
- Be familiar with neuroanatomy & neurophysiology and their implications for nervous system function
- Be prepared for advanced study in neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, and/or neural computation
- Be able to collaborate with Neuroscientists across a wide range of systems and levels of analysis
- Prepare for careers in Neuroscience related companies, Neuroscience research, and/or medicine
- Be prepared for specialization within subfields of Neuroscience given their concentration selection
Requirements for a B.S. in Neuroscience
All students must complete the following:
- General Science Requirements (see section A)
- Core Neuroscience Courses (see section B)
- Requirements for one concentration (see sections C, D, or E)*
- 18 additional relevant course units in their home concentration or other neuroscience areas (some examples listed in sections C, D, E, & F). At least 9 of these units must be at the 300-level or above.
- Their home college’s General Education requirements
- Free elective units to come to a total of 360 total course units
* | Double-counting restrictions and additional majors & minors
|
A. General Science Requirements
Units | ||
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
21-122 | Integration and Approximation | 10 |
or 21-124 | Calculus II for Biologists and Chemists | |
03-121 | Modern Biology | 9 |
or 03-151 | Honors Modern Biology | |
03-201 | Undergraduate Colloquium for Sophomores | 1 |
03-220 | Genetics | 9 |
or 03-221 | Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis | |
09-105 | Introduction to Modern Chemistry I | 10 |
09-106 | Modern Chemistry II | 10 |
09-207 | Techniques in Quantitative Analysis 1 | 9-12 |
or 09-221 | Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis | |
or 03-124 | Modern Biology Laboratory | |
09-217 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 9 |
or 33-122 | Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students | |
33-121 | Physics I for Science Students | 12 |
15-110 | Principles of Computing 2 | 10-12 |
or 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | |
or 02-201 | Programming for Scientists | |
36-200 | Reasoning with Data 2 | 9 |
or 36-247 | Statistics for Lab Sciences | |
or 36-217 | Probability Theory and Random Processes | |
or 36-225 | Introduction to Probability Theory | |
99-101 | Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | 3 |
111-116 |
1 | Neurobiology concentration students are required to complete 09-217 & 09-207 or 09-221. |
2 | Computational Neuroscience concentration students are required to complete 21-122, 15-112, & 36-217 |
B. Core Neuroscience Courses
Units | ||
85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
or 03-161 | Molecules to Mind | |
85-211 | Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
or 85-213 | Human Information Processing and Artifical Intelligence | |
03-362 | Cellular Neuroscience | 9 |
03-363 | Systems Neuroscience | 9 |
15-386 | Neural Computation 3 | 9 |
or 85-419 | Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing | |
or 02-319/03-360 | Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain | |
or 86-375 | Computational Perception | |
or 85-435 | Biologically Intelligent Exploration | |
45 |
3 | Computational Neuroscience concentration students are required to complete 15-386. |
C. Neurobiology Concentration
Didactic Core: Students must complete all of the following* | Units | |
03-231 | Honors Biochemistry | 9 |
03-320 | Cell Biology | 9 |
18 |
* | Neurobiology concentration students must complete 09-217 & 09-207 or 09-221 in their General Science Requirements (section A, above) |
Required laboratory, data analysis, & methodological courses | Units | |
03-343 | Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology | 12 |
03-346 | Experimental Neuroscience | 12 |
or 03-345 | Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology | |
24 |
Electives in Neurobiology (minimum of 18 additional units)** | Units | |
03-133 | Neurobiology of Disease | 9 |
02-250 | Introduction to Computational Biology | 12 |
03-350 | Developmental Biology | 9 |
03-364 | Developmental Neuroscience | 9 |
03-365 | Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory | 9 |
03-366 | Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain and Behavior | 9 |
03-439 | Introduction to Biophysics | 10 |
03-442 | Molecular Biology | 9 |
09-218 | Organic Chemistry II | 9 |
09-208 | Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis | 9 |
or 09-222 | Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis | |
42-202 | Physiology | 9 |
42-203 | Biomedical Engineering Laboratory NOTE: VERY Limited Seating Available for 42-203 | 9 |
** | At least 9 of these units must be 300 level or above |
D. Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration
Didactic Core. Students must complete all of the following | Units | |
85-102 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences | 9 |
18 |
Required laboratory, data analysis, & methodological courses | Units | |
85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
85-314 | Cognitive Neuroscience Research Methods | 9 |
18 |
Electives in Cognitive Neuroscience (minimum of 27 additional hours)** | Units | |
85-221 | Principles of Child Development | 9 |
85-241 | Social Psychology | 9 |
85-261 | Psychopathology | 9 |
85-356 | Music and Mind: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Sound | 9 |
85-370 | Perception | 9 |
85-406 | Autism: Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives | 9 |
85-408 | Visual Cognition | 9 |
85-412 | Cognitive Modeling | 9 |
85-414 | Cognitive Neuropsychology | 9 |
85-419 | Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing * | 9 |
85-424 | Hemispheric Specialization: Why, How and What? | 9 |
85-426 | Learning in Humans and Machines | 9 |
85-429 | Cognitive Brain Imaging | 9 |
85-442 | Health Psychology | 9 |
85-501 | Stress, Coping and Well-Being | 9 |
* | If not used as a core course |
** | At least 18 of these hours must be 300 level or above |
E. Computational Neuroscience Concentration
Didactic Core. Students must complete all of the following* | Units | |
21-127 | Concepts of Mathematics | 10 |
15-122 | Principles of Imperative Computation | 10 |
or 15-150 | Principles of Functional Programming | |
21-241 | Matrices and Linear Transformations | 10 |
or 21-240 | Matrix Algebra with Applications | |
30 |
* Computational Neuroscience concentration students must complete 21-122, 15-112, and 36-217 in their General Science Requirements (section A, above) and 15-386 in their Core Neuroscience Courses (section B, above). Students must complete a minimum of 60 units in this concentration. Students should select their required laboratory and elective courses to complete a minimum of 31 units (Four 9 unit courses or a lesser number of 9 and 12 unit courses could be combined to complete this requirement).
Required laboratory, data analysis, and methodological courses (18-24 total units) | Units | |
42/86-631 | Neural Data Analysis | 12 |
42-632 | Neural Signal Processing | 12 |
15-494 | Cognitive Robotics: The Future of Robot Toys | 12 |
15-883 | Computational Models of Neural Systems | 12 |
85-419 | Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing | 9 |
85-435 | Biologically Intelligent Exploration | 9 |
Electives in Computational Neuroscience (minimum of 9 units) | Units | |
03-360/02-319 | Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain | 9 |
03-512 | Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation | 9 |
or 02-512 | Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation | |
10-315 | Introduction to Machine Learning (SCS Majors) | 12 |
or 10-601 | Introduction to Machine Learning (Master's) | |
15-387 | Computational Perception | 9 |
15-451 | Algorithm Design and Analysis | 12 |
15-453 | Formal Languages, Automata, and Computability | 9 |
15-494 | Cognitive Robotics: The Future of Robot Toys | 12 |
15-883 | Computational Models of Neural Systems | 12 |
16-299 | Introduction to Feedback Control Systems | 12 |
16-311 | Introduction to Robotics | 12 |
21-228 | Discrete Mathematics | 9 |
or 15-251 | Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science | |
21-259 | Calculus in Three Dimensions | 9 |
21-272 | Introduction to Partial Differential Equations | 9 |
21-341 | Linear Algebra | 9 |
36-208 | Regression Analysis | 9 |
36-226 | Introduction to Statistical Inference | 9 |
36-350 | Statistical Computing | 9 |
36-401 | Modern Regression | 9 |
36-462 | Special Topics: Methods of Statistical Learning | 9 |
42/86-631 | Neural Data Analysis | 12 |
42-632 | Neural Signal Processing | 12 |
42-688 | Introduction to Neural Engineering | 12 |
F. Additional Neuroscience Electives
Students are required to take a minimum of 18 additional relevant course units in their home concentration or other neuroscience areas. Some examples are listed in sections C, D, & E above as well as in the list below. At least 9 of these units must be at the 300-level or above.
NOTE: this list is not restrictive. Concentration advisors can approve additional elective courses that contribute to the student’s neuroscience education, subject to additional approval by the major steering committee.
Examples of Additional Electives relevant to major* | ||
33-122 | Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students unless used for Science Core (section A) | 9 |
76-385 | Introduction to Discourse Analysis | 9 |
80-210 | Logic and Proofs | 9 |
80-211 | Logic and Mathematical Inquiry | 9 |
80-220 | Philosophy of Science | 9 |
80-254 | Analytic Philosophy | 9 |
80-270 | Problems of Mind and Body: Meaning and Doing | 9 |
80-280 | Linguistic Analysis | 9 |
80-314 | Causal Discovery, Statistics, and Machine Learning | 9 |
88-355 | Social Brains: Neural Bases of Social Perception and Cognition | 9 |
* | Up to 9 units of applicable undergraduate research course work (e.g. 03-445 or 85-507/85-508) can count as a neuroscience elective (not towards a concentration). A maximum of 27 additional units can be counted as a free electives. |
Free Electives (depending on concentration & college) | 51-61 |
TOTAL hours to degree | 360 |
B.S. in Psychology & Biological Sciences
Veronica Hinman, Department Head, Biological Sciences
Michael Tarr, Department Head, Psychology
This major is intended to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of current research in the fields of biology and psychology, as well as the national trend in some professions to seek individuals broadly trained in both the social and natural sciences.
Note: Students entering from the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences will earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences. Students in the Mellon College of Science will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology.
Depending on a student's home college (DC or MCS), General Education (GenEd) requirements will be different. GenEd requirements for DC and MCS are found on their respective Catalog pages.
Degree Requirements:
Biological Sciences | Units | |
03-151 | Honors Modern Biology | 10 |
or 03-121 | Modern Biology | |
03-220 | Genetics | 9 |
or 03-221 | Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis | |
03-231 | Honors Biochemistry | 9 |
03-320 | Cell Biology | 9 |
03-343 | Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology | 12 |
03-411 | Topics in Research | 1 |
03-412 | Topics in Research | 1 |
03-xxx | General Biology Elective 1 | 9 |
03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective 1 | 18 |
Total Biology units | 78 |
1 Please see description and requirements for electives under the B.S. in Biological Sciences section of this Catalog.
Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Computer Science | Units | |
21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus | 10 |
21-124 | Calculus II for Biologists and Chemists | 10 |
or 21-122 | Integration and Approximation | |
36-247 | Statistics for Lab Sciences | 9 |
or 36-200 | Reasoning with Data | |
36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences | 9 |
or 85-309 | Statistical Concepts and Methods for Behavioral and Social Science | |
33-121 | Physics I for Science Students 2 | 12 |
or 33-141 | Physics I for Engineering Students | |
15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10-12 |
or 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | |
or 02-201 | Programming for Scientists | |
99-101 | Computing @ Carnegie Mellon | 3 |
Total Science units | 63-65 |
2 MCS students must also complete 33-122 Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students.
Chemistry | Units | |
09-105 | Introduction to Modern Chemistry I | 10 |
09-106 | Modern Chemistry II | 10 |
09-217 | Organic Chemistry I | 9 |
or 09-219 | Modern Organic Chemistry | |
09-218 | Organic Chemistry II | 9 |
or 09-220 | Modern Organic Chemistry II | |
09-207 | Techniques in Quantitative Analysis | 9-12 |
or 09-221 | Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis | |
09-208 | Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis | 9-12 |
or 09-222 | Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis | |
Total Chemistry units | 56-62 |
Psychology Courses | Units | |
85-102 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
85-219 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 9 |
85-2xx | Survey Psychology Courses * | 18 |
85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
or 85-340 | Research Methods in Social Psychology | |
or 85-320 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology | |
or 85-314 | Cognitive Neuroscience Research Methods | |
or 85-330 | Analytic Research Methods | |
85-3xx | Advanced Psychology Electives | 18 |
Total Psychology units | 63 |
* Excluding 85-261 Psychopathology
Additional Advanced Elective9 units
(Choose one of the following courses) | ||
85-3xx | Advanced Psychology Elective | 9 |
or | ||
03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective | 9 |
Additional Laboratory or Research Methods9-12 units
(Choose one of the following courses) | ||
03-344 | Experimental Biochemistry | 12 |
03-345 | Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology | 12 |
03-346 | Experimental Neuroscience | 12 |
85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
85-314 | Cognitive Neuroscience Research Methods | 9 |
85-320 | Research Methods in Developmental Psychology | 9 |
85-340 | Research Methods in Social Psychology | 9 |
Elective Units | Units | |
Free Electives | 33-36 | |
MCS Nontechnical Breadth or DC General Education requirements | 36-48 | |
Total Elective units | 69-84 |
Minimum number of units required for degree:360
About Course Numbers:
Each Carnegie Mellon course number begins with a two-digit prefix that designates the department offering the course (i.e., 76-xxx courses are offered by the Department of English). Although each department maintains its own course numbering practices, typically, the first digit after the prefix indicates the class level: xx-1xx courses are freshmen-level, xx-2xx courses are sophomore level, etc. Depending on the department, xx-6xx courses may be either undergraduate senior-level or graduate-level, and xx-7xx courses and higher are graduate-level. Consult the Schedule of Classes each semester for course offerings and for any necessary pre-requisites or co-requisites.
Intercollege Courses
Carnegie Mellon University-wide Studies Courses
- 99-101 Computing @ Carnegie Mellon
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Computing@Carnegie Mellon (C@CM) is a 3-unit, pass/fail mini course that will help you develop foundational computing and information literacy skills, focusing on the tools and technologies that are specific to Carnegie Mellon so you can be successful in your other academic courses. All undergraduate students are required to take the course. C@CM is offered in a hybrid format through the Open Learning Initiative's (OLI) online course environment; meaning that you'll complete your coursework online and attend a face-to-face recitation session for review and supplemental instruction.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/c-cm/
- 99-104 Carnegie Skills Workshop
- All Semesters: 3 units
Carnegie Skills Workshop (CSW) is a 3-unit course that helps students to define, locate, evaluate, organize and present information. CSW focuses on essential tools and technologies necessary for the successful completion of research and writing projects assigned in other courses. The same skills are indispensable at any stage in a person's professional career and personal life. All undergraduate students at CMU-Qatar are required to take the CSW course. Incoming students are expected to take CSW during the fall semester.
- 99-129 DC Grand Challenge First-Year Seminar: Unreality: Immersive and Spatial Media
- Intermittent: 9 units
Virtual news stories and game worlds are accessible by putting on cardboard goggles, theme parks are engineered to provide convincing multisensory experiences, and workforces are reliant on augmented views of factory floors. Immersive and spatial media constitute a suite of emerging technologies that offer the opportunity to expand arts, entertainment, science, design, commercial enterprises and countless other domains in ways that were previously limited to science fiction. The potential for augmented reality to disrupt our current technological ecosystem is tremendous. Many of these technologies are now 50 years old and just starting to enter the commercial realm. As immersive experiences and augmented realities become more integrated into our work and leisure, do we need to worry about the ways that unreality affect our experiences of reality, or our interactions with each other? How do we know that we can trust our senses to tell us what is real? How do we begin to grapple with the ethical, cultural, social, technological, and regulatory implications of this shift?
- 99-190 Managing Stress, Restoring Harmony
- Fall: 6 units
The course is designed to explore the subject of stress and how it can best be managed to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. Topics addressed will include: the environmental, mental and emotional components of stress, factors that affect the experience of stress, how stress contributes to illness, and an overview of various stress management techniques. Several lectures will be supported by Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff.
- 99-194 Intimate Relationships & Sexual Health
- Fall: 6 units
This course will explore the expression of human relationships and sexuality. Emphasis will be placed on college health and the social, cultural and health factors that affect relational interactions. This course is designed to assist students with improved functioning in personal relationships, provide information to take care of their sexual health and help them acquire skills to make decisions now and in the future. Topic areas will include relationships, sexual behavior, sexual health and interpersonal skills. Academic support will be provided by campus and community partners.
- 99-250 Seminar for Peer Tutors
- Fall and Spring: 4.5 units
SPECIAL PERMISSION REQUIRED: YES The purpose of this training course is to provide undergraduates with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to become effective Peer Tutors. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to the mission and goals of Academic Development and the Peer Tutoring Program. The class lasts approximately nine weeks and is generally offered in the spring term from February through April. The course explores the roles and responsibilities of the tutor while offering insights into effective tutoring strategies through interactive discussion and role plays. In addition, trainees work hands-on with experienced tutors to troubleshoot potential problems and situations. Students will gain experience in group dynamics, communication skills, study strategies, referral resources, leadership, and creating a supportive learning environment. Teaching practice is an integral part of the training program. Students must complete an application in person or electronically at: https://www.cmu.edu/acadev/jobs/index.html and then be interviewed by the instructor(s) to determine if the student possesses the basic qualifications.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/acadev/studentjobs/
- 99-251 Seminar for Supplemental Instruction
- Fall and Spring: 4.5 units
SPECIAL PERMISSION REQUIRED: YES The purpose of this training course is to provide undergraduates with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to become effective Supplemental Instruction (SI) and EXCEL Leaders. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to the mission and goals of Academic Development and the Supplemental Instruction Program. The class lasts approximately ten weeks and is generally offered in the spring term from February through April. Course participants will actively explore collaborative learning instructional practices, learning theory, group dynamics, study strategies, and communication and leadership skills in order to create a supportive learning environment. Teaching practice is an integral part of the training program. Students must complete an application in person or electronically at: https://www.cmu.edu/acadev/jobs/index.html and then be interviewed by the instructor(s) to determine if the student possesses the basic qualifications.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/acadev/studentjobs/
- 99-252 Seminar for Academic Coaching
- Fall and Spring: 4.5 units
SPECIAL PERMISSION REQUIRED: YES The purpose of this training course is to provide undergraduates with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to become effective Academic Coaches (AC's). Throughout the course, students will be exposed to the mission and goals of Academic Development and the Academic Coaching Program. The class lasts approximately nine weeks and is generally offered in the spring term from February through April. Students will gain experience in effective and efficient study strategies, learning theory, communication skills, group dynamics, referral resources and how to create a supportive learning environment. Teaching practice is an integral part of the training program. Students must complete an application in person or electronically at: https://www.cmu.edu/acadev/jobs/index.html and then be interviewed by the instructor(s) to determine if the student possesses the basic qualifications.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/acadev/studentjobs/
- 99-262 ADDvocate: Anti-Discrimination Dialogue for Social Justice course at CMU-Q
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
The aim of this multidisciplinary course is to establish a firm, education-based understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics in Qatar and Worldwide to enhance their classroom and university experience at CMU Qatar. Through a series of lectures by subject experts, this course aims to educate and raise consciousness of discrimination, racism and bias in the real world. This course will also highlight strategies to become an active bystander and advocate for fair treatment in the community both in CMU-Q and Qatar.
- 99-270 Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship
- Summer
This course consists of student participation in projects focused on undergraduate research or creative inquiry under the direction of a Carnegie Mellon faculty member. Tenure track, teaching track, research track, librarian track, and special faculty may serve as SURA mentors. The subject of the inquiry, the number of units, and the criteria for grading are to be determined by the student and the faculty mentor. This agreement should be formalized in a one-page apprenticeship verification form that includes documented approval from the faculty mentor with a copy to be submitted to the Undergraduate Research Office. The students are responsible for finding a faculty member who is willing and able to supervise them on campus over the summer. In addition to the research experience, course requirements include a series of workshop sessions over the course of the summer that will introduce students to the basics of research design. Students will also be expected to present and/or attend the campus-wide undergraduate research symposium, Meeting of the Minds, in May of the following year. Students may register for a maximum of nine units with work to be completed over an eight-week period during the summer all term.
- 99-275 Summer ReCharge
- Summer: 3 units
The goal of this course is to provide students with the tools they will need to become better equipped to handle the challenges they have or will face in their academic experiences. It is designed to promote student awareness of the necessary components of a successful educational experience. Each week, students will engage in self-awareness activities and group discussion of topics in key areas shown to be predictive of student success. Through discussion with peers, exposure to academic findings, and self-reflection essays, this course will provide students with the opportunity for self-growth and allow them to become better connected with the campus community.
- 99-347 Global Health: Gender Equality
- Fall: 3 units
NOTE: THIS IS A WEEKEND COURSE ONLY: November 1-3, 2019. It will be held on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. The address is: Sennott Square, Rm 2400. With each global health crisis, the interconnectedness of populations around the globe becomes more pronounced. Diseases not only affect the health of communities, but they have a profound impact on political, economic, and social stability within countries and regions. This course engages the interdisciplinary nature of global health by approaching the issue through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) developed by the United Nations. The SDGs range in focus from good health and well-being to gender equality to clean water and sanitation to affordable, clean energy. By engaging the ways that health has a stake in these goals, the course will bring the expertise of faculty from the University of Pittsburgh and CMU as well as practitioners to understand and address the issue surrounding global health from a myriad of perspectives and avenues. With an applied focus, the course will assist students in engaging and advocating for a community on a global health issue through a policy memo. This iteration of the course will examine gender equality and SDG #5.
- 99-352 IDeATe: Soft Fabrication Skills
- Fall and Spring: 1 unit
PLEASE NOTE: The specific Saturday meeting dates for the A3 section of this micro course are Jan 22, Jan 29, Feb 5. Textiles are a ubiquitous part of our everyday tactile experience. This workshop series aims to introduce textile techniques to participants with diverse backgrounds across the CMU campus. The fabrication skills and concepts that will be covered in this course will be taught from an interdisciplinary approach to merge practices in arts and technology. Students will learn methods of working with fabric such as hand and machine sewing, felting and knitting, along with merging aspects of digital fabrication and physical computing using flexible materials. Through discussions and demos, participants will have the opportunity to explore new methods of fabrication to integrate into their own practice.
Course Website: https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-352
- 99-353 IDeATe: CAD and Laser Cutting
- Fall and Spring: 1 unit
PLEASE NOTE: The specific meeting dates for the A3 section of this micro course are Feb 27, Mar 6, Mar 13. The specific meeting dates for the B3 section of this micro course are Feb 7, Feb 14, Feb 21. This micro course is an introduction to Computer Aided Design (CAD) and the use of laser cutters for fabrication. Students will learn the basics of CAD and will receive hands-on training in the use of laser cutters to turn their designs into physical objects. Students who complete this course will be able to use the IDeATe facility's laser cutters on their own for future course work or personal projects.
Course Website: https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-353
- 99-355 IDeATe: Introduction to Arduino
- Fall and Spring: 1 unit
PLEASE NOTE: The specific meeting dates for the A3 section of this micro course are Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26. The specific meeting dates for the B3 section of this micro course are Feb 28, Mar 7, Mar 14. This practical course is designed to quickly take students from beginner to basic functional knowledge of the Arduino microcontroller in three weekend 5-hour sessions. You can expect to learn a) how to write and upload simple code for the Arduino to perform basic logic functions like reading a switch to change a motor's direction, b) how to integrate a variety of physical inputs including knobs, distance sensors, and light sensors, c) how to integrate a variety of physical outputs such as motors, lights, and speakers, and d) how to put all of these together to build simple self-contained low-cost low-power systems. The course culminates in students producing and artful and/or functional interactive creation of their own design. Enrolled students have access to IDeATe's well-equipped Physical Computing Laboratory in the basement of Hunt Library. Undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff interested in learning new skills in an interdisciplinary environment are welcome. There are no technical prerequisites.
Course Website: http://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-355
- 99-356 IDeATe: Digital Media Literacies: Great World Challenge
- Fall and Spring: 9 units
This course introduces students to new media for ethically finding, evaluating, producing and sharing artistic and scholarly innovations. It allows students the opportunity to gain practice with and exposure to tools, technologies and processes which support data analysis, visualization, communication, presentation and sharing through a variety of emerging and established dissemination channels. Students who excel in the course may be further supported in identifying and pursuing appropriate publication outlets for their research. The course will be of particular interest to students planning to engage in further undergraduate research opportunities.
- 99-357 IDeATe: Pragmatic Photography
- Fall and Spring: 1 unit
PLEASE NOTE: The specific meeting dates for the A3 section of this micro course are Jan 23, Jan 30. The specific meeting dates for the A4 section of this micro course are Mar 19, Mar 26. Pragmatic Photography is a digital imaging course for the non-photographer. A tech-first approach provides a strong grounding in the core concepts and techniques of image-based media. This course will enable students to create photographs for project documentation. This class will not require special cameras or software; students will use commonly-available photo-editing software to create images using DSLRs, point and click cameras, or their cell phones. The course focuses on general principles that apply across different equipment and software.
- 99-358 IDeATe: Introduction to the Unity Game Engine
- Fall and Spring: 1 unit
PLEASE NOTE: The specific meeting dates for the A3 section of this micro course are Jan 22, Jan 29, Feb 5. The specific meeting dates for the B3 section of this micro course are Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26. This course is designed for students with little to no experience working with game engines as entry point into the field of game development. Students will learn the basics of the Unity3D engine, and to creatively and effectively build their own simple games. This course will cover topics such as navigating and using the engine, basic game programming in C#, user interface development and introductory game design principles. Students will be assessed based on the functionality of their games and will receive further feedback on their implementation, execution and creativity.
- 99-361 IDeATe Portal
- Spring: 9 units
Full descriptions of each section topic are available at https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-361. IDeATe Portal courses introduce students to key aspects of critical, creative, and technical practice and prepare them to engage in productive interdisciplinary Collaborative Studio coursework in IDeATe minor areas. In section A: Garment Patterning, Construction, and Experimentation, students will create experimental pieces for the body. Section B: Intelligent Environments highlights the motivation and requirements for intelligent environments and components that could be used to add functionality to existing environments. Section D: Learning About Learning is a hands-on experiential class where students will gain knowledge, expertise, and empathy towards how humans learn, how we learn from objects, how we learn from our spaces, and how our objects and spaces learn from us.
Course Website: https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-361
- 99-362 IDeATe: Intelligent Learning Spaces
- Spring: 9 units
Intelligent Learning Spaces explores the interactions between human learning and the spaces in which learning occurs. In this project-based course, students discuss, analyze, define, and apply theory from education, architecture and the arts to their project work. Students investigate precedents and existing experiences to create their own learning manifestos and designs. Imagination, in-class participation, speculation, empathy and 360-degree awareness are key components of this class. Students work on scaffolded projects that build on their knowledge to showcase their intentions and creativity, reacting to a variety of contexts relevant to learning. Students have opportunities to develop creative inquiry skills and apply critical perspectives through project-based work that requires experimentations, hands-on learning, reflection, and documentation.
- 99-363 IDeATe: Spatial Storytelling
- Spring: 6 units
Spatial Storytelling promotes the use of digital storytelling methods and methodologies across disciplinary topics. In this Spring mini, students are guided through the process from identifying a research problem, collecting data from diverse sources, learning specific geospatial mapping tools, and finally crafting narrative. They will work with spatial information (geospatial data) to build complex multimodal narratives around social issues. By the end of this course, students will know: what are spatial data, how to find and identify different types of spatial data, how to create a story based on data, and how to analyze data in geospatial software. Students will be able to develop constructive critique and data literacy skills to critically review peer work across disciplinary topics. Using competencies gained over the semester, students will create an online interactive narrative and to present it to the broader community.
- 99-409 Summer Research
- Summer: 1 unit
This course allows undergraduate students from all fields to participate in research (including artistic/creative inquiry) under the direction of a Carnegie Mellon faculty member. Tenure track, teaching track, research track, librarian track, and special faculty may serve as research supervisors. Students should have previously participated in summer research via the Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship and/or the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship before enrolling in 99-409 (students who are unsure of whether 99-409 is appropriate for them should consult with the Undergraduate Research Office). Students will need to complete a supervisor agreement form to be eligible for participation in this tuition-free 1-unit course. Students are responsible for finding research supervisors. In addition to the summer research with the faculty member, students will be expected to write a brief (one- to two-page) research report about their summer work. This course is not eligible for CPT for international students; please contact the Office for International Education for more information regarding CPT.
StuCo (Student-Led) Courses
- 98-003 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Sketch Comedy
- Spring: 3 units
In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of writing and performing sketch comedy, as exemplified by Saturday Night Live, MadTV, and Tim Eric. Topics of focus will include idea generation, writing, editing, acting, and directing.
- 98-008 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Shilling The Rust Programming Language
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course is an introduction to the Rust programming language, a memory-safe systems programming language. Topics covered include memory safety, ownership and lifetimes, the Rust stdlib, concurrency, traits, macros, and unsafe. Outside of class, there will be basic programming exercises and during the second half of the semester, a student-defined project.
- 98-011 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Figure Skating
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course, students will learn how to watch and appreciate the figure skating by watching competitions, critiquing elements and programs, and watching movies. There will be optional weekly outings as a group to Schenley Ice Rink as weather permits. Topics of focus will include the development of the sport, scoring system, major controversies, and important skaters. There will be an individual presentation and assessment on recognizing and critiquing elements. There will be optional weekly outings to Schenley Park Ice Rink, weather permitting, where you can learn to skate with the help of competitive figure skaters. This cost will not be covered by the StuCo and is $8 per session (including skate rentals and admission). Attending these outings will not affect your grade in any way.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/stuco/
- 98-012 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Fun with Robots
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
In this course, students will learn the basics of programming, sensors, motors, and controls. Students will receive a Romi robot and program it using the Arduino IDE. Students will also build a basic breadboard circuit, understand standard hobby servo motors, and use real sensor data to navigate. The course lecture format will include instructional slides and teaching at the beginning of each lecture, along with a brief lecture on how what we do in class connects to "real-world" robotics. This is then followed by supervised programming time where the instructors will answer questions and advise students working on labs. There is a $10 lab fee.
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/stuco/
- 98-013 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Lean: A Practical Introduction
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Lean is a general purpose theorem prover, proof assistant, and dependently typed programming language that has rapidly grown in popularity in the last few years, with its standard library doubling in size in the last year alone. This course will give students hands on experience formalizing math in Lean. We will work through a number of projects to learn about the tools Lean has to offer, in a low-pressure, collaborative environment. By the end, hopefully everyone will be working on formalizing a theorem that hasn't yet been formalized in Lean!
Course Website: http://www.cmu.edu/stuco/
- 98-014 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Project Management Methodologies
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
The course introduces students to the basics and commonly-used methodologies of project management, particularly in the technology industry. The course will equip students interested in pursuing a career in PM (Project/Program/Product Management) with general knowledge in project management. Students will learn through weekly PowerPoint presentations, in-class discussions, and assignments. There are no prerequisites for this course ¿ just an interest in project management!
- 98-025 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Roguelike Games
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Students will learn to play roguelike games and will be taught skills applicable across these games and about popular games in the archetype. The focus will be on games that are free and widely available, rather than those that are paid. Students will be exposed to over 50 different types of games. The goal is to make students adeptly play and possibly beat different roguelikes, both as a way to have fun and to train students' strategic thinking abilities.
- 98-036 Student Taught Courses (StuCo):Intro to Cars and Motorsports
- Intermittent: 3 units
Join in as we take a look at some of the most remarkable innovation in automotive history from a layman's perspective. Ranging from every day civilian vehicles to hypercars and motorsport spec vehicles, we will watch lots of informative shows and videos (like Top Gear, 5th Gear, Vehicle Virgins, etc.) and respectfully voice our opinions.
- 98-038 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Anime From Astro Boy to Your Name
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Anime is a limited animation style which originates from post World War II Japan, developed alongside Japanese Consumer Media into an artistic movement, and can be considered one of modern Japan's major cultural exports. Through this course, we will be exploring the history of the development of Anime and Contemporary Japan, as well as examining how these came to affect Anime and Anime Culture in the present day. This course is open to anyone with interest in Japanese Media History and Culture and does not require prior knowledge on the subject.
- 98-039 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to GO
- Fall: 3 units
This class teaches the basics of the board game Go, including its rules, common tactics and strategies. No prior experience is required. Topics include life and death, local and global openings, well-known move combos, and principles of shape and style. Near the end, AlphaGo's impact on the game will be discussed. The goal for the class is for everyone who takes it to become a decent casual player.
- 98-068 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Lucid Dreaming
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will teach students how to lucid dream and how to improve their dream control. Students will be required to keep a confidential dream journal over the length of the course. As students' abilities grow, students will be given optional challenges to complete for the next class. All students, whether experienced or new dreamers, are welcome to enroll. Note: This course is not recommended for students with dissociative disorders.
- 98-075 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Buddhism and Chinese Culture
- Intermittent: 3 units
What do you know about Chinese culture? Have you wondered what does "Zen" mean in Buddhism and how it becomes part of the English vocabulary? Are you confused about the differences between Tibetan Buddhism and "Chinese" Buddhism? Do you want to know the historic origins of the conflicts between Dalai Lama and Chinese government? Are you surprised by the diversity and exuberance of Buddhist art? Do you know some Chinese festivals and rituals were influenced by Buddhism? Do you want to be able to introduce some history, characteristics and origins of some Chinese cultural phenomena when you go to China? If you are interested in any questions above or just want to know about Buddhism or Chinese culture in general, then this is the course for you. Buddhism hugely impacted the Chinese culture. This course will examine a variety of Chinese cultural elements. We will cover topics such as famous tourist mountains, Buddhist art, Zen and its meanings, Tibetan Buddhism, Shaolin martial art, and tea culture. We will link of some the recent trends and events so that we can make connections to the modern world we are living with. This is not a religion course, the focus is the cultural part, although some Buddhist teachings will be covered to have better understanding of the history. Chinese is not a requirement for this course, but this course will strengthen your grasp of Chinese.
- 98-097 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Character Design (Digital Art)
- Intermittent: 3 units
This is an introductory class to learn the basics of character design. You will learn the basic fundamentals of design theory and archetypes for design characters for games and film. The course concentrates on the core design fundamentals, such as silhouettes, poses, variations and more, to create memorable character/creatures for video game and film industry. Further building upon fundamental with rendering and drawing skills.
Course Website: http://cmu.edu/stuco
- 98-127 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Game Creation for Ppl Who Want to Create Games
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course students will learn the basics of game creation. The course is intended for both beginners and experienced game designers. In addition to project work done in class, students will learn fundamental tools like Unity, Audacity, and Photoshop.
- 98-128 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Fundamentals of Improv Comedy
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Through improv games and structured activities, students will learn the basic tenets of improvisational theater with a focus on both short and long form styles. These tenets will include the basic rules of improv, building base reality, listening, top of intelligence, finding and continuing game, and how to use support moves. No prior experience is necessary. Students will be expected to participate in group activities, discussions, and performances during class time. They may also be asked to watch performances or attend workshops outside of class. Students will have the opportunity to participate in an end-of-semester showcase with a live audience.
- 98-140 Student Taught Course (StuCo): Mathemagic Card Tricks
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Students will learn how to perform some card tricks that are based upon deeper mathematical topics. Students will attempt to figure out how each trick works, and will be exposed to writing proofs that the tricks do indeed work as intuited. It will provide an accessible start for those unfamiliar with mathematical proofs, and will allow those with more knowledge of proofs to apply them to an area not otherwise taught in a mathematical way, allowing them to expand their knowledge and apply it more generally. The general class structure will consist of the instructor explaining how the trick from the previous week works, and then the instructor will provide the class with a new trick to figure out. Homeworks will be graded on effort, and will consist of a mixture of proving how and why the last week's problem works, and potentially an extension of the trick. The midterm will ask students to provide reasoning for or ask for a procedure for a new trick based on those covered in class. The final exam will have both a written and a practical portion. The written portion should be similar to that of the midterm. The physical portion will consist of students performing a card trick. No prerequisite classes are required. Students are expected to know the basic makeup of a deck of cards. This class will be accessible to both those familiar with and new to proofs.
- 98-152 Student Taught Course: Sense and Sustainability
- Fall: 3 units
The state of our planet can be daunting, but there is so much that we can do as individuals to preserve our planet. The first step is to understand the vast expanse of information out there about the various facets of environmentalism and sustainability. This course is meant to provide a comprehensive overview of all things environmental, so that we can understand and take action for ourselves and future generations.
- 98-163 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Tetris
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Students taking this course will learn about finesse and efficient piece placement, how to create T-spin and combo setups for quick line clearing, and dominate both speed and versus versions of the classic game of Tetris.
- 98-166 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Great Ideas in Practical Games Development
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course intends to give a solid understanding into the process of art creation and programming involved in game development. This class is intended for both beginners and experienced game designers. In addition to project work done in class, students will learn fundamental tools like Unreal, Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, and Photoshop. Additionally, they will learn to use source control and work as a team. Students will complete a game project under guidance, and gain insight into the steps involved in creating a game. There will be weekly lectures, intermittent optional and guest lectures. We'll use a Discord server as our primary means of communication. Prior experience is not needed!
- 98-169 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Origami Design Fundamentals
- Fall: 3 units
Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. In this StuCo, we will be exploring different folding techniques and algorithms for designing your own origami models. Students will learn the basics of foldability, as well as how to create novel tessellations, animals, curved folds, and thick origami. This course is heavily project based, and students will be expected to work on their origami models outside of class.
- 98-171 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): How to Get a Job
- Intermittent: 3 units
By the end of this course, you will have 8 complete job applications to 8 real jobs you want or are interested in learning more about. Every other week you will turn in one complete application for review, and will receive back that application with edits. This class is for students, of any major, at any stage in their search who want an active, supportive approach to their job, internship, or fellowship search. This StuCo will cover how to find a job, write a resume and cover letter, interview, network, contact references, and negotiate for salary and benefits. With the support of professional career consultants, we will discuss how to plan a lifetime of fulfilling employment and support each other in our journeys to careers where we define our own visions of success.
- 98-174 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Great Ideas in Tech Interviews & Coding Screens
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will teach students how to tackle questions commonly asked during technical interviews for internships and full-time job opportunities. Each lecture will focus on a different topic such as data structures, dynamic programming, and system design questions. Students will learn how to apply and modify classic algorithms and data structures from classes like 15-122 and 15-210 to solve problems that frequently show up in the coding challenges during the job interviews. We hope students come out of this course better prepared for the interview season, both technically and in terms of presenting themselves.
- 98-177 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Building Personal Websites
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
In today's digital age, having a personal website makes it substantially easier to share information about yourself to employers and colleagues. In this course, students will learn the principles of web development in order to build their own personal website. Topics include basic HTML components, static elements, dynamically functioning elements, interactive graphics, loading content from text files, optimizing screen sizes and runtimes, and cross-browser support. The course will be taught in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (JQuery). Students will be building their own website over the course of the semester, with the final project requiring students to submit a personal resume website that they can then keep when finishing the course. There is no cost associated with the course. Students must provide their own hardware.
- 98-181 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Practical Magic
- Intermittent: 3 units
An exploratory, hands on introduction to herbal medicine, mindfulness, tarot, and other common ritual processes, with a primary focus on using these tools for self-care, stress management, and everyday mental health care. Students will learn the basic building blocks of herbal medicine, including how to prepare common herbal remedies such as infusions, oils, salves, and tinctures. Additionally, the class will include units on traditional and practical uses of tarot, as well as learning to integrate mindfulness and ritual into a busy CMU student schedule.
- 98-182 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Billiard Games: From Noob to Pro
- Intermittent: 3 units
COURSE LOCATION: CUC SCOTLAND YARD GAME ROOM This is an introductory course to billiard games (8-ball, 9-ball, snooker) that goes through the basics of posture, aim, spin, placement, and strategy. This course assumes zero experience in billiards and will start from ground zero. There will be no required textbooks or resources for the course.
- 98-186 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Roller Coasters: Background and Design
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Students will learn the fundamentals of how roller coasters are designed, the considerations that go into designing, basic physics used in roller coaster design, as well as the history of roller coasters. Lecture slides will go over the history of different roller coaster innovations and design principles, as well as real world examples and applications. This will be paired with labs where students can implement the learning from the lecture into designing their own roller coasters.
- 98-187 Student Taught Course (StuCo): Call of Duty: Zombies WAW-BO3
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Call of Duty: Zombies is a spin-off game of the Call of Duty series (licensed by Activision) based on the widely popular Nazi Zombies mode of Call of Duty: World at War released back in 2008 and developed by Treyarch. Originally, the game mode was just an experimental test featuring round-based survival gameplay. Due to its first success, other maps were created for the game, and years later the zombies mode was featured in subsequent sequels, Call of Duty: Black Ops 1, 2, 3, 4, Advanced Warfare, Infinite Warfare, WWII, and the most recent release this past year, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. This course will feature gameplay, controls, perks, characters, maps, weapons, story, trivia, and much more! A quick note that due to the increasing amount of content over the years, in addition to the spin-off zombies mode developed by SledgeHammer Games and Infinity Ward (and due to their low reception), this course will only be able to study and focus on Call of Duty: World at War and Black Ops 1, 2, and 3 due to the limited timeframe of the semester schedule.
- 98-194 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Understanding the Rubik's Cube
- Intermittent: 3 units
The course is meant to assist you in understanding the logic behind solving a Rubik's Cube and perhaps come up with your own solution to solve it. This course is not meant to teach you how to fix a Rubik's Cube by spoon feeding you an algorithm nor is it about speed cubing. It is meant to teach you useful principles that can be used to help you solve the cube on your own.
- 98-202 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Classical Indian Philosophy
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Over the course of 3500 years, the Indian intellectual tradition has cultivated some of the most interesting theories of philosophy spanning formal logic, ethics, consciousness, and more. This introductory course to Classical Indian Philosophy begins with a background in Indian history, Sanskrit literature, and Dharmic religion before diving into rigorous approaches to epistemology and metaphysics by 9 separate schools of thought. Taught with an emphasis on in-class discussion and engagement with arguments put forward by Indian thinkers, this course also seeks to assist students in constructing an intellectual identity informed by their ethno-historical context. Students with some background in computational/mathematical logic or analytic philosophy, as well as those of South Asian heritage, may especially enjoy this course's intersections with their prior knowledge.
- 98-205 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Minecraft
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Minecraft is the single most sold video game of all time. It places you in a randomly generated world of blocks and sets you free to survive and be creative in a completely sandbox environment. This course will provide an in-depth introduction of how to play Minecraft, including basic to advanced survival skills, multiplayer aspects, modding, and whatnot. Along with playing survival Minecraft together on a class server, we will also play fun Minecraft minigames in class and explore possibilities such as playing on public servers. By the end of this class, students should know the basics about Minecraft and be able to survive in a Minecraft world, as well as expand their knowledge about Minecraft to depth within and out of the game. This class is designed for both players completely new to the game as well as those with plenty of experience looking to play Minecraft with some new friends. The game costs $27 and is required for the course.
- 98-211 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Styles of Bollywood Dance
- Intermittent: 3 units
SPRING 2020 COURSE LOCATION: CUC ACTIVITIES ROOM - CUC AR 237 This course welcomes all levels of dance! The purpose of this course is to be an introduction to the world of Bollywood and Bollywood dance, teaching the fun origins and styles that can be found in the world-renowned Bollywood movies from the '60s to today. After this class, students will know the background and culture behind Bollywood dance and be able to choreograph their own moves to almost any Bollywood song in a variety of fun styles.
- 98-212 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Competitive Computer Security
- Intermittent: 3 units
A fast-paced introduction to CTF (Capture the Flag) events. CTFs are offensive security competitions where players hack into competition-provided services in order to access and read the flag, scoring points for their team. These competitions generally focus on exploit development, reverse engineering, vulnerability research, cryptosystem analysis, and web platform exploitation. CTFs have grown into a massive international field, with Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Tencent among others sponsoring and hosting global CTFs. This course will guide students from a background understanding of computer internals through understanding where and how those can go wrong, culminating in being able to solve challenges found on major easy/medium-difficulty competitions.
- 98-217 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Bhangra 101
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
SPRING 2020 COURSE LOCATION: CUC KENNER ROOM - CUC AR 255 BHANGRA 101 will provide an introduction to the dance, music, and cultural roots of Bhangra (Punjabi folk dance). We aim to teach not only how to dance, but also about the different moves and styles that contribute to Bhangra's prevalence today. The goal of this StuCo is to make Bhangra more accessible to those that have never danced and have built up an interest in Bhangra after seeing the school's Bhangra team perform on campus. NO DANCE EXPERIENCE EXPECTED OR REQUIRED.
- 98-218 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Fun With Python
- Fall: 3 units
In this course we will explore various ways to use programming to achieve different purposes, to see the versatility of programming. We will be using Python 3 and cover a number of topics from applied string operations, to chatting server, to statistical simulation, and to AI. This course is mainly designed for those who took 15-110 and/or 15-112, and have not taken and/or do not plan to take further CS courses. We will explore the applications of programming when build projects, to facilitate the use of programming to solve everyday problems, and to encourage further creations by programming.
Course Website: https://andrew.cmu.edu/user/ymkong/98218/
- 98-222 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to IOS Development
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is a hands-on introduction to iOS development and creating basic applications for iPhone (and by extension, iPad). Even though this is a StuCo, we still go fairly in-depth to the many facets of basic iOS design. Therefore, expect this course to be more time-intensive than a traditional StuCo. You should expect weekly homework assignments in the first half of the semester and a midterm and final project in the second half of the semester. It is also highly recommended that you have some experience with object-oriented programming. 15-122 and 15-150 are recommended prerequisites, but 15-112 is okay too. You will either need a Mac running the latest version of Mac OS X or access to one of the Mac clusters on campus.
Course Website: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/98-222/index.html.
- 98-230 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Avatar: The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Explore the influences behind the shows Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, such as east and south Asian culture, concepts of balance, and multiple forms of martial arts. Each week we will watch an episode pertaining to a topic and then discuss different elements of the episode as well as give opinions. Some influential topics to be discussed are Asian government, martial arts, the concepts of balance and chi, in addition to discussions on character development and storyline.
- 98-238 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Classic Japanese Film
- Intermittent: 3 units
Welcome to Classic Japanese Cinema. In this class we explore the techniques, themes, styles and directors of both the Golden Era of Japanese Cinema as well as the Japanese New Wave.
- 98-239 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): League of Legends
- Intermittent: 3 units
With millions of players and an active competitive scene, League of Legends has become one of the biggest names in e-sports. This class is intended for players who are familiar with the game and wish to take their skill to the next level.
- 98-242 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Esoteric Programming Languages
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
How do you fix the following compilation error: "PROGRAMMER IS INSUFFICIENTLY POLITE"? How do you bake a cake while printing "Hello world!" Welcome to the wonderful world of esoteric programming languages, where everything is possible but nothing of interest is easy. Learn how to write a program that you can't see, compute factorials using Microsoft PowerPoint, and compile a painting. Along the way, we'll answer questions like "What is a programming language?" and "Why does my compiler have indigestion?" Step into the realm of ">>[-]>+
- 98-244 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Sign Language Through Pop Music
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
In this class, you will learn sign language to the rhythm of well-known music! Each class will cover a different topic, starting at fingerspelling and basic conversation and moving to signs for school and family topics. The history of sign language and deaf culture will be explored as well. Each week the assignment will be to learn the signs for the chorus of a song that uses words learned in class. The final project is to create a sign language music video or present a live choreography.
- 98-247 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Becoming a Hogwarts Student
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. You will learn about what is on page 394 in a Defence Against the Dark Arts class, what does polyjuice potion taste like in a Potion class, what do muggles use fluxweed for in a Herbology class, and many more subjects that a Hogwarts students should be taking! This course allows students to explore connections between magic introduced in the Harry Potter series and their counterparts in muggles' books.
- 98-251 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Principles of Racecar Engineering
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course introduces students to key concepts and strategies used when designing and building a racecar. We will focus on two key areas: (1) understanding the theory of vehicle dynamics and how it drives vehicle design, and (2) learning basic engineering strategies as applied to the design and construction of racecars. The first half of the course will focus on vehicle dynamics and high level qualitative vehicle and system design. Topics include vehicle dynamics, tire behavior, suspension design, powertrains, and aerodynamics. The second half of the course will focus on engineering skills and their applications to racecar design and manufacturing. Topics will include engineering design, manufacturing techniques, computer aided engineering, and testing and tuning. We will also discuss the history of motorsports and watch motorsports documentaries throughout the semester to provide students with a greater understanding of the context of their work in the course. This is a project based course that will require students to learn and apply various computational tools to create their own vehicle and part designs. There will be two large projects in the course. The first project is a vehicle dynamics focused project involving optimizing a vehicle design using lap simulation software. The second project is an engineering project in which students will optimize a given part based on given design criteria. Students need not have any prior experience with cars or engineering, but are expected to have a basic understanding of physics and a strong desire to dive into technical topics and learn new skills and software tools.
- 98-253 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Beginner Throwing: An Introduction to Yo-yo
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Modern yo-yo is an exciting hobby and an interesting combination of art and sport requiring both creativity and dexterity. This course will be an introduction to 1A style yo-yo (single yo-yo, string tricks) that will start with basic techniques and lead into a variety of types of tricks. Responsive play will be introduced at first, followed by unresponsive play in order to perform more advanced tricks. Class will consist of practicing tricks presented through videos and demonstrations. As a final, students will create a unique trick to be presented to the class along with a short tutorial video explaining and teaching the trick.
- 98-254 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Ukulele For Non-Majors
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
The ukulele is one of the most accessible instruments created; unlike the guitar or piano, the ukulele only has four strings and is much smaller, which is easier to transport. This makes it an ideal instrument for making music anywhere. This course will develop the musical abilities of students through a combined crash course of basic harmony, eurhythmics, and solfege, while simultaneously applying that knowledge to the ukulele. Students will acquire knowledge in music theory to order to read and build chords, a skill important to learning songs. Students will also acquire a rhythmic ability such that they can strum comfortably and effortlessly. Lastly, students will acquire some form of vocal and ear knowledge to assist in their education. The course may be intensive for students with absolutely no musical ability. Students will learn a variety of techniques in weekly classes and the broad scope of musical development may prove a little difficult. However, this can be amended with adequate practice, which is emphasized at the end of each class. Students are required to purchase their own ukulele instruments. Prices range from $30-$45.
- 98-255 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Cosplay 101
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course will provide a foundation for obtaining the skills and mindset required for creating a cosplay out?t. Students will learn essential techniques such as using a sewing machine, determining materials, working with ?found objects? to create props and costumes, and other basic cosplay knowledge. By the end of the course students will be able to employ the knowledge learned in class to create a cosplay of their choosing!
- 98-256 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Humor Theory, for Non-Majors
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course focuses on the underlying principles of humor. We will ask questions such as, "Why is this joke funny??", "Under what circumstances is this joke funny?", and "What would make this joke funnier?" By asking these questions in context of various genres, styles, and settings, we hope to illuminate some of the underlying principles that make a joke ?work.? Some recurring themes will be: the intended effect of humor on the audience, the structural elements of jokes,and the relationship between a joke and its medium. The course will be discussion-based, since humor is both subjective and an inherently social subject. Topics include: puns, anti-humor,stand-up comedy, one-liners, meta humor, and literary humor. There is no course fee.
- 98-257 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Exploring Sexism on the Silver Screen
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course will examine the portrayal of the sexes on the silver screen by looking at different facets such as the "women in refrigerators" trope in superhero films, the thinly veiled sexism in Bollywood item songs, and the glasses-to-contacts-and-straight-hair-make-over in coming of age films. We will also discuss the implications of such a representation as it plays a vital role in perpetuating unattainable body standards, reinforces gender roles, and more.
- 98-258 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Competitive Pokemon
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was? Pounding the Elite Four into dust with your level 100 team is one thing, but defeating a human trainer on equal footing is another. Competitive Pokemon involves strategy, teambuilding, predictions, and a thorough understanding of battle mechanics, all under a rainbow of different battle formats, each with their own set of rules and playstyles. This course will introduce basic mechanics, teambuilding principles, and strategy, as well as the most popular competitive formats such as VGC, Smogon singles, and Battle Spot singles. No competitive experience required, but experienced players may also learn something new! All teambuilding and battling will be done through the free online simulator Pokemon Showdown.
- 98-259 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): From Food to Chinese Culture
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Maybe you are familiar with General Tso's chicken, Kung Pao chicken Ma Po Tofu, dumplings and spring rolls, and maybe you like them pretty much. But who is general Tso? What is Kung Pao? Where is Ma Po from? Who invented dumpling? Why do we eat spring rolls? If you are curious about the answers, this course is right for you. The lecture series covers ten most well-known Chinese festivals with their food and one additional special topic. Each lecture has a culture session and a language session. The culture session introduces Chinese festivals with their associated legend stories and food while the language session introduces students to some sophisticated yet practical Chinese phrases (or even verses from a poem). Through this interesting detour, this course provides an explanation of obscure aspects of Chinese language and culture. By the end of the course, students should walk away with basic ideas about Chinese culture and also advance in Chinese language.
- 98-260 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Everyday Mindfulness: Pragmatic Peace
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment. When this is done by calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, mindfulness can be used as a therapeutic technique. The benefits of mindfulness are well documented and proven. From decreased depression, physical pain reduction, regulation of emotions, decreased anxiety, decreased inflammation, improved academic performance, lessened feelings of stress, and the ability to shorten illness such as the cold and flu, mindfulness is a practice everyone can benefit from, especially CMU students. Throughout this course we will explore several mindfulness mediation techniques to find the one that best fits into your daily routine. Finding time with a busy schedule to fit in one more thing can be hard, so we will explore techniques from across the world and different cultures so that by the time you leave this class, you will have a daily mindfulness practice that best suits you. Examples of techniques include mindful yoga, expanding spaces, body scanning, visual meditations, and walking everyday mindfulness practices, like the ones from prominent mindfulness practitioners such as Thich Nhat Hanh, and many more. Come with an open heart and mind, and you are sure to leave this class with a greater sense of inner peace and tranquility.
- 98-261 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Captivity Debate: Killer Whales
- Intermittent: 3 units
The death of experienced SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in February of 2010 raised questions about humans? relationship with killer whales and the suitability of keeping them in captivity for human entertainment. This course will explore the history of killer whales in captivity, delve into the behavior of killer whales in the wild, compare it to that of killer whales in captivity, and question humans? role in the lives of highly intelligent, emotionally complex creatures.
- 98-262 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Boardgames
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course will introduce students to the hobby of board games and nonstandard card games. We will be playing a wide variety of game genres and investigating their mechanics, with the ultimate goal of expanding your knowledge of the wide varieties of games and understanding their mechanics enough to extend similar principles of play to games that use similar mechanics. Each week we will have a small lecture and then play some of the board games we spoke about. Roughly every 3 weeks we will ask for a progress report on your midterm/final. What Kinds of Games will we be playing*: "Eurogames": Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Stone Age, Puerto Rico, etc. Nonstandard Card Games: Fluxx, Pit, Race for the Galaxy, The Resistance, etc. What Kinds of Games we will NOT be playing (Including but not limited to the following examples): Common household boardgames: Risk, Monopoly, Dominoes, Sorry, Apples to Apples, Scrabble, Clue, Life, Trivial Pursuit, etc. Standard 52 Card Deck Card Games: Blackjack, Poker, Rummy, etc. Traditional Games: Chess, Checkers, Go, Nine Man's Morris, etc. *We are not contractually obligated to introduce all of the games on the list, nor are we restricted only to this list when deciding upon what games we will play.
- 98-263 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): R for Data Science
- Intermittent: 3 units
R is a software environment for statistical computing and graphics. Recently, there has been an explosion in tools used for extracting meaningful insights from data. Tools, such as the Tidyverse, an opinionated collection of R packages designed for data science, allow for practical data analysis and visualization.This course is a comprehensive, challenging, and useful introduction to R that you can apply to the real world. It will consist of weekly readings in the R for Data Science book, followed by relevant in class lab problems.
- 98-264 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Brick Walls and First Bases: A History of Comedy
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
So, why am I here, exactly? E.B. White once said, ?Analyzing a joke is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies.?* Brick Walls and First Bases is a course dedicated to hitting that balance between knowing why jokes are funny and knowing so much about jokes that they just aren?t funny anymore.** We will be covering general historical trends in comedy as well as discussing comedic theory and social aspects vital to what makes something funny. The goal of this course is to know how comedy developed into what it is today. There will also be a notable focus on the contemporary comedy scene in America. Ok, I get it, comedy?s great. How will I learn about how great it is? This class will meet once a week from 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. During this time there will either be lecture or discussion. There will also be short, weekly homework assignments posted by me on blackboard. It is your responsibility to come to class having listened to or watched the necessary reading or video, so you can participate in class. There will also be a midterm exam and a final (students can choose either a paper or presentation) to show what you learned throughout the class. (Just think of how cool you?ll seem to your friends when you told them you were once ostensibly forced by someone who is barely your superior to write a paper on Mort Sahl! How exciting.)
- 98-265 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Hello Theater: The Logic of Illogical Methods
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course explores how to a) Understand Various Theatrical techniques (both modern and traditional) b) Increasing Appreciation for Non-traditional theater and examining its strengths and merits c) Practical techniques for improving your own theatrical work. The course also explores closely related areas like leadership, learning theory, psychology and post- modernist culture.
- 98-267 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Jamaican Entertainment
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is meant to examine the entertainment industry in Jamaica. The first-half of the semester will first examine the cultural aspects of the industry, such as the origins and types of: dance, food, music, and dialect. Given this background, the second-half of the semester will dive into event planning and management in the context of this culture; such as marketing, budgeting and finances.
- 98-268 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Scary Story: Gothic Lit and the Uncanny
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course on Gothic literature and the scary story is for anyone who is intrigued by things that chill the blood and tingle the spine. All are welcome, from literary enthusiasts to those who haven?t taken an English course in years; all you need is an interest in storytelling and curiosity about human darkness. The course will explore Gothic themes, the nature of the uncanny, and the evolution of the scary story across region and time. How is the scary story colored by history and folklore? What psychological horrors lurk at the core of all truly scary stories? How does the history of the scary story relate to contemporary horror media? We will explore these questions and many more through authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Joyce Carol Oates, and a host of others. Class will be primarily lecture- and discussion-based. The midterm and final will allow you to create your own scary stories or creations to be shared in a spooky campfire- esque setting. Enroll if you dare!
- 98-269 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Sabermetrics & Exploring Baseball Data
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Born in the 1970s and popularized by "Moneyball" as a radical challenge to traditional baseball statistics, sabermetrics has developed into a new way of understanding America's pastime. Its practitioners have created new statistical tools and revised our old ways of thinking about the game, transforming the way fans and front offices view and assess players. This introduction to the basics of sabermetrics will explain concepts including standardization, peak versus career performance, linear weights and runs created, as well as popular calculations like OPS (OnBase plus Slugging), WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched), PF (Park Factor) and others increasingly used by members of the sabermetrics community.
- 98-270 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Quadrotors: Robots in da Skies
- Intermittent: 3 units
"Drones". "UAV's". We are starting to hear these words in the media, often in a negative context. But there is a world of hobbyists that play with the same machines with an entirely different intent. "Quadrotors" (robots that are like helicopters, but with four motors and blades) are being used to get beautiful footage from unique perspectives, to lift beer, for research, and even for music; and they are a blast to build, tinker with, and fly. We hope to use these robots as an introduction to the world of hobbyists for any student who would find making "something that they can fly" fun. It is not hard to learn to build a quadrotor, it is just a matter of being taught. We would love for students in fields such as "fine arts" or "business" to take this course, and we have designed it to be understood by a nontechnical audience, but to be enjoyed by everyone. Take our StuCo and harass your roommate by flying at them with your very own quadrotor that YOU built.
- 98-271 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Speedrunning 101%
- Spring: 3 units
This course focuses on teaching students the principles of Speedrunning, including choosing games, learning games, designing splits, recording/streaming their runs, and racing. We will cover everything from the basics and lingo, to the software used for recording, and how to integrate into the speedrunning community.
- 98-272 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Financial Literacy for Beginners
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course is an introductory class designed to provide an overview of basic financial literacy. Based on the national Moneythink curriculum taught to high school students, this course will break down ways for each student to think about their own spending habits and come up with ways to make better financial decisions. We will start off with basic knowledge about budgeting, banking, credit/debit cards, and go into some of the basic economics you should know when handling any money. This course will also integrate simple monetary biases that people have, and how to tackle and handle those situations. Students should be able to balance their finances and have a financial goal for the future by the end of this course. - Learn basic knowledge about budgeting, banking, credit/debit cards - Understand simple monetary biases that people have, and how to tackle and handle those situations - Ability to balance finances and have financial goals for the future.
- 98-273 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Mermaidology
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will focus on mermaids: what they are, where the stories and myths arose from, and how they affect us today. Topics including the origin of mermaids, mermaids in mythology, gender and sexuality in mermaids, mermaids in the media, and the existence of mermaids will be covered in this StuCo. We will use stories such as Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid", movies such as Disney's The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, and even cultural icons like Aquaman to get a better understanding of the mermaid phenomenon and how it affects us.
- 98-274 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): How to Start an Anonymous Website
- Spring: 3 units
Whatever you do on the Internet, everything starts with your IP address. On the conventional Internet, routing protocols ensure that nothing you do can be... (finishing this later...some statement will be made here about the motivation/concerns for online anonymity and privacy, and its personal and political implications...) The Tor project originated a few years ago as a result of the combination of the development and implementation of new encryption technologies and increasing concerns for privacy.
- 98-275 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Marvel Film and Media Studies
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is an exploration of one of the last decade's most successful media franchises: the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which began with 2008's "Iron Man," continuing with titles such as "The Avengers" and "Guardians of the Galaxy." Each class session will focus on a specific film (or films or shows) in the MCU. We will study each film from both a filmmaking standpoint and a thematic standpoint; we will begin by following the production of each film before delving into the story and content. We will also examine the cultural influence and impact of the MCU entries; topics will range from Wikileaks to Tumblr fandom. This course is for students who desire to learn more about the behind-the-scenes process behind some of their favorite films, or to just talk about how much they love Groot.
- 98-276 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Learning the Ropes
- Intermittent: 3 units
Jump rope has risen from a playground activity to an internationally competitive sport. This StuCo will expose students to the basics of jump rope as a little-known sport and have them develop creativity and skills throughout the semester. Students will perform a choreographed routine at Dancers Symposium as a final project and will also have created a simple "freestyle" using the skills that they have learned. There is a course fee of $6 for a jump rope. The course fee is due to the instructor in person on the first day of class. Class will be held in the Morewood Gardens Multipurpose Room.
- 98-277 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Vim Editor: Philosophy, Principles and Practice
- Intermittent: 3 units
Vim is a very powerful text editor that is often misused. This is because Vim has a editing model that is fundamentally different from almost all other editors out there, and it takes quite a bit of understanding to truly edit text at the speed of thought. The main purpose of this course is to answer the question: Why Vim? We will trace the roots of the Vim editor, and explain in detail how to think in Vim, how to utilize the most out of its commands, and how people use it in practice. We will also be talking a bit about some of the traps that beginners fall into, and will intentionally avoid topics that are too misleading. This course is mostly geared towards CS/ECE majors who spend most of their time coding in a C-style language.
- 98-278 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Animal Minds: Introduction to Animal Psychology
- Intermittent: 3 units
Elephants mourn for their dead, captive dolphins can fall into insanity, and chimpanzees have nearly photographic memory but poor spoken word comprehension. This course is designed to give students an introduction to modern discoveries in animal psychology. Topics covered include animal consciousness, communication/learning, relationships, and emotions. We will also go in-depth with specific animals and explore the emotions and cognitive abilities of these species in order to gain a better understanding of how to interpret animal behavior as thoughts.
- 98-279 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Lights, Camera, Architecture
- Intermittent: 3 units
Telling a story through film requires creating a world that captures the imagination and fancy of moviegoers. Whether a movie is in its preliminary or final stages of development, the setting of the film is essential to the overall storyline. Historical, fantastical or grounded in reality, each style and sense of place has its own impact on the storyline. We will look at the history of architecture in films, the role architecture plays in fantasy, futuristic, dystopian, and hybrid world building. We will also examine famous architecture, its destruction, and films that reach outside of what we understand as place and time. A captivating film is rooted in a strong storyline. A gripping storyline is nothing without the context in which it's placed. The context, the built environment, and the architecture will be the focus of our exploration of film from the 20th century to the present day.
- 98-280 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Backgammon: Everything You Need to Know
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is designed to take you through a journey to learn the art of Backgammon. We learn the history of the game, how to play the game, advanced techniques, and strategies, among many other things. The purpose of the course ultimately is to teach you to play backgammon well.
- 98-281 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Global Wine Studies
- Intermittent: 3 units
You MUST be 21 or older to register for this course. If you are NOT confirmed on the roster, you are NOT permitted to attend this course. This course is designed to help you learn about wine industry from a consumer standpoint. By the end of the semester you will be able to: choose and serve wine, taste in a professional manner, read and interpret vocabulary, understand wine making, storing/aging, food pairing, and industry etiquette. There will be a course fee of approximately $150.
- 98-282 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): How to Draw Manga
- Intermittent: 3 units
This class will teach students how to draw Japanese sequential comics, called manga, by helping them develop necessary skills including script writing, making names, character design, paneling, etc. Over the course of the semester, students will aim to complete two short comics.
- 98-283 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Beginner Hula Hooping and Intro to Hoop Dance
- Intermittent: 3 units
Hoop Dance is a course which is meant to teach beginner hula hoopers various hula hooping skills that can be incorporated into a dance. Hoop dance is a very free form type of dance done with a hula hoop that has many different styles. Hoop Dance will introduce students to these styles and help each student develop their hooping style and technique.
- 98-284 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to 3D Game Development in Unity
- Intermittent: 3 units
Do you love video games? Have you ever wondered how some of your favorite video games are made? Introduction to Game Development in Unity 3D is a comprehensive course that takes you from a beginner to developing a full 3D game in Unity. This StuCo provides a foundation in the tools, techniques, and methods for creating and successfully using Unity 3D in a production environment. Topics include: Idea Creation, Interface Navigation, Scene Set-Up, Game Objects, Scripting, Animation, Physics, AI, and Overall Design. Design encompasses topics such as: Lighting, UI, Textures, and Audio.
- 98-285 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Naval Aviation
- Intermittent: 3 units
Aviation is a central part of US Naval history and continues to play a large role in modern warfare today. The purpose of this class is to learn the history of naval aviation, identify the different aircraft and their individual missions, and to better understand the role of naval aviation in the bigger picture of the military and its operations.
- 98-286 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Navajo Language
- Intermittent: 3 units
The Navajo language (Diné bizaad) is a Native American language of the Athabaskan language family spoken in the Southwestern United States by over 170,000 people (over 7,500 of whom are monolingual). It is well known to most Americans as the language used in World War II by the United States as a means to transmit military messages with the help of Navajo soldiers, but its history and depth go far beyond that. This course aims to provide students with a way to learn the language to a basic degree, and provide foundations for learning it even more after the course has ended. In addition, this course strives to provide students with a linguistics background a unique opportunity to survey a Native American language. By the end of the course, students should walk away with the ability to describe the world and hold simple conversations in Navajo, as well as a greater understanding of Native American culture and society.
- 98-287 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Modern Hebrew
- Intermittent: 3 units
While Hebrew itself has been around since the 10th century B.C., modern Hebrew has only been around since the 19th century. Now it is spoken by 9 million people worldwide. This course will teach you the basics of conversational Hebrew through lessons, games, fun, and music. By the end of the course, you will know the alphabet, basic sentence structure and vocabulary, how to ask about the weather and such, and some knew games and songs!
- 98-288 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Star Wars: The Course Awakens
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
We will spend each class focusing on a specific topic in the Star Wars universe starting with plot discussion, clip viewing, fun facts, and opinions on each of the canon films. Then we will look more into the details of what makes Star Wars the worldwide pop culture phenomenon that it is by discussing other aspects of the franchise in the remaining classes.
- 98-289 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): An Exploration of Synesthesia
- Intermittent: 3 units
"Tuesdays are hot pink." Hearing colors, tasting sounds, and feeling flavors are all different types of synesthesia, a neurological condition in which activation of one sense or cognitive pathway triggers another. For certain synesthetes, a particular smell might elicit texture and color; for another, a letter might have a bright color and distinct personality. Synesthesia is rare, and those who have it often believe everyone perceives the world similarly to the way they do. As a result, the condition rarely comes up in conversation or in classes. This course will be an exploration of cross-sensory perception, the different manifestations of synesthesia, and the theories behind its basis. We will compare and contrast the ways in which synesthetes and non-synesthetes experience the world, as well as delve into some of the deeper, emotional effects of living with synesthesia.
- 98-290 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to Vocal Percussion
- Intermittent: 3 units
Beatboxing is a discipline that emerged during the 1980s, when there was a need for electronic equipment to produce accompanying beats for rappers. As people generally could not afford these beat boxes, people discovered the ability to emulate the beats themselves, and these people were known as beatboxers. This course will explore some popular beatbox icons from that time. The popularity of beatbox dwindled once the electronic equipment for producing beats became more affordable, but their has been a resurgence of interest in beatboxing that leads to a split in old school vs. new school beatbox. The course will attempt to provide knowledge of both, with a higher emphasis on the more technical new school styles, which continue to expand today.
- 98-291 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Android Development
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course introduces the student to mobile development through Android. We will focus on the different components of an Android application, including view hierarchy and complex layout elements. Students will learn to navigate between different activities, interact with other devices, and use SDKs (Software Development Kits) such as Google Maps. We also hope to introduce the student to networking on Android applications through building a chat service. The student will also learn to use Firebase for data persistence in the Android development use case.
- 98-292 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): 3D Game Design with Python & Panda3D
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will teach students how to craft 3D video games in python, starting from basic concepts of game engines to full project constructions. We will base our course practice on panda3D, a game engine developed by Carnegie Electrical Entertainment Center. Students are expected to have sufficient experience in python before joining (currently or once in 15-112). This will be a project-focusing class that helps students create their own games.
- 98-293 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Western Esotericism & Occultism
- Intermittent: 3 units
The subject of Western esotericism is one that fascinates many but is very difficult to begin to understand. Is the complexity and intricacy of Western esotericism a beautiful thing to behold, or is it an ugly mess that misleads and distracts seekers of the absolute? This course presents a brief introduction to several key themes within the subject of Western esotericism, including Qabbalah, ritual magic, divination, alchemy, enchantment, and evocation. The writings of famous Western esotericists, including Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Eliphas Levi, Aleister Crowley, Eugen Grosche, and Austin Osman Spare, will also be studied and discussed.
- 98-294 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Server-Side Programming with Node.js
- Intermittent: 3 units
While we enjoy the many innovations of internet communication through our smart phones and web browsers, a lot of the heavy work are performed in the back stage by servers. They are the backbone of any web-based application, and they are built to do most of the heavy computing tasks that allows these applications stay dynamic and responsive. With the advent of Node.js, server-side development has become more advanced and approachable thanks to the scalability and modular design of the language. In this course we will learn how to use this advanced language to create a variety of creative server applications, such as a live chat system, GPS tracking, serving web content, and more.
- 98-295 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Lock Picking and Physical Security
- Intermittent: 3 units
The purpose of this class is to both study the wide array of techniques used in modern-day security and to gain real skills in lock picking and bypass techniques. We will study the design of pin tumbler padlocks and deadbolts, which comprise the majority of locks one will encounter. Students will learn how to use single-pin-picking techniques to pick such locks. We will also look at bypass techniques such as unshielded padlock entry, bump keys, and padlock shimming. With this knowledge, students will be able to assess the security of their belongings and, of course, will never get locked out of their homes again. There is a fee of $30 per student to cover the cost of basic tools and a practice lock.
- 98-296 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Doctor WhoCo
- Intermittent: 3 units
The BBC TV show Doctor Who originally aired from 1963 to 1989 before being resurrected in 2005 to become the popular franchise we know and love. The show has endured through many changes in format, leadership, and cast. This course is a place for anyone who wants to learn about the rich history of the show and discuss its eras, monsters, heroes, technology, and fandom. No prior knowledge of Doctor Who is required - all are welcome!
- 98-297 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Leadership Theory and Practice
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course examines the theoretical nature of leadership and focuses on the applications of the leadership theory in economical, global, social, and political contexts. Students will be introduced to the history of leadership and leadership theory, from the "Great Man" theory of born natural leaders to the Contingency Theory of adapting one's leadership styles based on certain situations. By learning these theories and concepts, students will also examine their own leadership styles and develop strategies to become more influential and successful leaders in their organizations or professional workplaces. Emphasis will be placed on specific leadership topics such as team leadership, strategic leadership, developing others, change management, and systems thinking.
- 98-298 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Ping Pong
- Intermittent: 3 units
COURSE LOCATION: CUC BASEMENT TABLE TENNIS COURT The ping-pong stu-co is designed to teach the basics of the game of ping-pong and improve the performance of current players. Students will start by learning the fundamentals of the sport, including but not limited to: competition level game rules, player style, and racquet personalization. The majority of the course will then be used to teach spin technique, placement strategy, and consistency. Both single-player and double-player modes will be taught. Instruction includes one on one with experienced teachers and a CMU hosted ping pong tournament! Prior experience can range from none to intermediate skill level. Due to the space restrictions of this course and the material taught, noticeably advanced players are subject for removal. This course will require a $20 materials fee to cover the expenses of personal paddles, balls, and other necessary materials.
- 98-300 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Elementary Cantonese
- Intermittent: 3 units
Cantonese is the language spoken by people in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and virtually all overseas Chinatowns. There are more than 100 million people speaking Cantonese worldwide, and more than one million are living in the US and Canada. Being able to communicate in Cantonese will allow students to fully immerse in southern Chinese culture when they visit Hong Kong or Guangzhou, and to further appreciate classical Chinese. In this class, students would be able to learn Cantonese vocabulary and expressions through music, movies and class activities. There will be rich opportunities for student to practice Cantonese conversations. Students will learn to talk about day-to-day situations in basic Cantonese and gain more understanding about Cantonese culture. No knowledge of Cantonese is required but understanding Chinese characters is preferred and will be greatly helpful.
- 98-301 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Beyonce: Pop Royalty and Beyond
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will be an extensive analysis of one of the biggest celebrities, Beyoncé, and what she means to today's society. We will discuss what role her music plays in the current landscape of pop culture and also what her power means. We will explore and critique what we appreciate about her and why she resonates with us to get a deeper perspective of her celebrity and influence.
- 98-302 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Fundamentals of Manhood
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will provide an overview of manhood. It will provide the fundamentals that are necessary to thrive as a rugged man in todays world. It will introduce modules of manhood such as basic auto maintenance, key cooking and BEVERAGE skills, outdoorsy concepts, and much much more! (Note: This course is open to men and women however some modules such as shaving techniques are geared specifically toward men. Women are still encouraged to join though!)
- 98-303 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Freestyle Rap
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Are you a fan of hip-hop who wants to learn how to create your own rhymes? Are you a quick-minded individual who enjoys a mental challenge? Have you ever heard a track and thought "man, I wanna drop bars all over this beat"? Then this is the class for you. Freestyle rap is a difficult but rewarding mental exercise that, when mastered, is guaranteed to sound dope. This class will start from the basics and work up to more and more complicated techniques. We promise that anyone who completes this class will be able to spit Sway-in-the-Morning-level bars, anytime, anywhere. All skill levels are welcome!
- 98-304 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Game Theory Across Disciplines
- Intermittent: 3 units
Game Theory is the mathematical study of strategic decision-making, and it has been found to be a toolbox for studying topics across a wide variety of disciplines. This course is intended to introduce models and applications of Game Theory within a diverse set of fields, including (but not limited to) Psychology, Operations Research, Physics, Machine Learning, and International Relations. This course will analyze results in Game Theory that broke ground in the 20th century and will study new frontiers of Game Theory within the 21st century. Topics discussed in the course will include (but are not limited to) K-Level Learning, Matching Problems, The Principal-Agent Model, Evolutionary Game Theory, Quantum Games, Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, and Global Games. No previous experience with Game Theory is required, as we will introduce rational Game Theory within the first few weeks of the course. While no previous background in mathematics is required, some familiarity with calculus is preferred.
- 98-305 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Latin
- Intermittent: 3 units
Some (or many) might call it a dead language, but make no mistake: Latin is one of the most important languages in human history. Used by the Romans, the Byzantines, and all Mediterranean cultures, Latin is the essence of all Romance languages and western civilization. In this class, we will be examining the fundamentals of Latin, including the declensions of nouns, the conjugations and tenses of verbs, the types of participles, and the use of conjunctions. Furthermore, we will cover Roman mythology and history and delve into some of Latin's greatest writers, including Catullus, Pliny, and Virgil. This class is meant for students of all types, whether you're new to the language and curious about learning it or studied it in highschool and would like to further your education.
- 98-306 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Crafting a Community Impact
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course aims to provide hands-on exploration, analysis, and exposure to self-initiated community contributions, as well as to provide structural support for those interested in contributing back to the Carnegie Mellon community (and beyond). The course emphasizes on exploration and analysis diverse methods of community contributions, comprehension about how huge ideas can be tackled by dividing into solvable chunks, as well as exposure to planning and implementing a community impact. By the end of the course, you will have analyzed, planned, organized, and implemented your contribution. Are you very much excited to contribute back to the Carnegie Mellon community with your super-awesome innovative ideas, but dont know where and how to start? If so, this is the perfect course for you to get you up and running.
- 98-307 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Time For Ponies! Intro to My Little Pony
- Intermittent: 3 units
The show that has taken the world by storm! Find out why so many adults and even adult men watch "Friendship is Magic". This course will focus primarily on the TV show itself and will let students draw their own conclusions on whether or not its popularity is warranted. However, a few meetings will be devoted to the huge fandom My Little Pony has spawned, as well as how Hasbro interacts with its fans. We will watch, discuss, and analyze episodes, as well as bring in outside articles, YouTube videos, and interviews in an effort to understand My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. No prior knowledge of My Little Pony is required or assumed.
- 98-308 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Vehicles of Armored Warfare
- Intermittent: 3 units
Just as how battleships were seen as a country's pride and show of apical military and manufacturing capabilities, tanks were in a sense, too. The course name is a bit of a misnomer because the term vehicle implies a multitude of self-propelled machines. To keep interests focused and manageable, this course deals with tanks. Yes. You heard me. TANKS! My objective is to teach as much as I know about tanks to an interested audience. As we progress, we will learn about the history, particular battles, and specific design details that made these steel monstrosities both loved and feared since the beginning of modern warfare.
- 98-309 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Build Your Own Startup
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course follows a practical approach to learning about entrepreneurship. It focuses on startups centered around tech, in particular. Students are divided into teams within the class, who soon become their co-founders. Lectures cover interesting content related to entrepreneurship and tech such as product market fit, marketing strategies, financing a business, and wireframing. Every week is centered around one of these topics and students are expected to practically apply their understanding of those topics in their actual startup. Final grading is heavily focused on the student's pitch on their startup.
- 98-310 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Advanced Cantonese
- Intermittent: 3 units
Cantonese is the language spoken by people in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and virtually all overseas Chinatowns. There are more than 100 million people speaking Cantonese worldwide, and more than one million are living in the US and Canada. Being able to communicate in Cantonese will allow students to fully immerse in southern Chinese culture when they visit Hong Kong or Guangzhou, and to further appreciate classical Chinese.
- 98-311 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Female Empowerment
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will engage with both historical and contemporary readings, as well as draw from anecdotal experiences and observations to understand how female empowerment has been viewed and obtained throughout history and today. We will consider the ways in which female empowerment has interacted with feminist theories of gender, and other demographics. In this course we will focus around how society defines female empowerment, and reshaping and transforming the ideas of female empowerment locally, nationally, and globally.
- 98-312 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Futurology
- Intermittent: 3 units
What will the world look like 100 years from now? Technological breakthroughs happen every day, but where are they taking us as a society? Is that a place we want to go? Well attempt to answer these questions by looking at the past, present, and future of fields such as virtual reality, transportation, biotechnology, renewable energy, space exploration, politics, artificial intelligence, and more. Science fiction and futurology go hand in hand, so well also be looking at media such as Star Trek, Black Mirror, and 1984 to discuss what utopian and dystopian predictions could really come true (or already have).
- 98-313 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Dungeons & Dragons 101
- Intermittent: 3 units
Dungeons and Dragons, or D and D for short, is a fantasy tabletop role playing game traditionally set in a medieval world where a group of players each playing as a hero must conquer some sort of objective or quest which is overseen by a player called the Dungeon Master. Dungeons and Dragons 101 is a course designed to teach students both how to play as characters in D and D and how to run their own games as Dungeon Masters. The course will be taught in the fourth edition of D and D, and students will learn skills that will help them start and continue interesting campaigns with their friends. Students will make their own characters, play as those characters in adventurers with their peers, and will eventually design their own encounters and run their own games as Dungeon Masters. While we would recommend students purchasing the 4e Rulebooks for this class, all relevant references can be made using the D and D wiki which we will provide a link to in the course. NOTICE: Students will be charged $3 for a set of dice, unless students have their own dice sets. The students keep the dice sets after the course.
- 98-314 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Bollywood
- Intermittent: 3 units
The Hindi-language movie industry, also known as Bollywood, is one of the largest and most influential film industries in the world with a global audience. The goal of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of modern popular Hindi films and their cultural and historical significance. We will examine the intersection of contemporary Indian culture and film through genres typically different than those found in Hollywood, such as the masala film. To supplement course discussions, we will watch successful Hindi films from the last 30 years. Each class will consist of a short discussion/lecture followed by the viewing of a movie.
- 98-315 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Masculinity in the Wild
- Intermittent: 3 units
Navigating the world today as a man seems to be more difficult than it used to. Should men cry? Should they be tough and strong? Does a man need to always hold the door open for a woman? There's a lot to talk about when it comes to being a man in America in 2017, and this course is the place to do it. Although this course is about masculinity, it is open to people of all genders. We will answer various questions about manhood from "what is masculinity" to "where do masculinity and feminism intersect" and "how does my manhood intersect with other parts of my identity?" There is no expectation for students to have any prior knowledge or background about masculinity. This course will prove to you that being a man is about more than knowing how to change a tire.
- 98-316 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): What's Up Doc? Mel Blanc & the Looney Toons Gang
- Intermittent: 3 units
"What's Up, Doc?" will be an exploration of Mel Blanc and his voice characterizations throughout his career. Known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices," Mel Blanc is considered a master of creating cartoon voices such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. This StuCo will also examine the current voice characterization of The Looney Tunes characters in recent adaptations of The Looney Tunes.
- 98-317 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Hype for Types
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Type theory is a foundation of mathematics that can serve as an alternative to set theory. It is integral to programming languages, which rely on type systems to ensure code correctness. This course aims to go over fun and weird results in type theory that you might otherwise have to read complicated academic papers to understand, as well as to provide a foundation to help understand these fun results. We'll provide plain English explanations of concepts such as algebraic datatypes, derivatives of types, negative types, type isomorphisms, and the Curry-Howard correspondence. Some math and programming background (around the level of 15-150) is required, though a type theory background is not necessary.
- 98-318 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): ARTiculation: Therapy Through Art
- Intermittent: 3 units
Our goal is to provide resources and variety to figure out your preferred method of using art/creation as a therapeutic tool. Your goal is to produce something, or things, in a space that encourages growth, patience, and supportiveness to present (or not present in class) at the end of the semester. We will provide the resources for the class being taught that day, but you can do any type of art you want in class. We will spend most of the class creating but will offer brief instruction and discussion on methods of approaching drawing, painting, poetry, card making, journaling, string and beads, music, and dream catchers.
- 98-319 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Game of Thrones
- Intermittent: 3 units
The HBO series Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martins fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire) has grown to become one of the most widely viewed and analyzed television shows today. In this discussion-based course, we will explore content from the original texts and the television episodes and look at themes that appear throughout the series (such as power, religion, and morality) as well as the impact that the shows popularity has had on audiences views on topics such as sexuality, politics and feminism. We welcome all who are familiar with the Game of Thrones content and enjoy discussing this fascinating series. Winter is coming! Prerequisites: Should be familiar with content up to the end of season 3 of Game of Thrones (and should not mind spoilers if you have not watched beyond that)
- 98-320 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Intro to React Native
- Intermittent: 3 units
Students will learn React Native from getting their environment set up to publishing an app on the app store. They will also learn how to manage a realtime database and even handle server-side functions.
- 98-321 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Kanye West: Take it Yeezy
- Intermittent: 3 units
A discussion-based course that centers on Kanye West's discography, fashion, social media, and cultural impact in the twenty-first century.
- 98-322 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): LOST: We Have To Go Back
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will be an in-depth overview of all things LOST. Premiering in 2004, LOST became an immediate success with its focus on character based storytelling and use of flashbacks. Despite ending in 2010, the show continues to be discussed due to its still unsolved mysteries and highly debated finale. Topics for the course will include everything from the Dharma Initiative and mysteries of the Island to theories and the fundamental question: Were they dead the whole time? The production and legacy of the groundbreaking show will also be discussed. No prior knowledge of LOST is required, and those looking for a reason to watch the show are highly encouraged to enroll.
- 98-323 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Planning Pawnee: Urban Principles in Parks & Rec
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course, students will analyze and synthesize moments and key environmental characteristics present in NBCs hit television show Parks and Recreation as well as modern small- to midsize cities to determine the fundamental necessities of a 21st century city. Though no educational foundation in urban planning is needed for this course, topics will include basic principles of space, city planning, urban redevelopment, and the social implications of urban construction projects. Divided into two units, this course has two major assignments: a course reflection at the mid-semester as well as a final project which tasks students with improving aspects of the shows existing environment. Students will come away with a greater understanding of urban planning and development, both in the context of the fictional Pawnee, Indiana where the show is set and the cities we inhabit today.
- 98-324 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
- Intermittent: 3 units
As the Spanish-speaking population grows in Pittsburgh and nationally, it is becoming increasingly more important for healthcare professionals to be comfortable speaking Spanish. This course will combine independent study and interactive in-class activities in order to create clinical settings that will call for your use of Spanish. Our objective is to have students be able to comfortably communicate with Spanish-speaking patients in a culturally sensitive manner. In addition to basic language development, students will learn Hispanic cultural values and beliefs that could affect their clinical decision-making and the way they interact with patients. No pre-requisites are necessary. If you are a pre-health student, a Spanish-speaker, or someone interested in gaining an incredible life skill, this is the StuCo for you!
- 98-325 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Taiwan and the World
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course attempts to examine the roots and characteristics of cross-strait (that is, between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland) relationship and focus on understanding the narrative and emotions that have developed around the issue on both sides. This course will be split into 3 parts: understanding China, understanding Taiwan, and understanding the interaction between the two under the framework of larger international political trends such as the Sino-American rivalry in the region.
- 98-326 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Rise and Fall of Sonic the Hedgehog
- Intermittent: 3 units
Sonic the Hedgehog was a driving cultural force in the 90s, on the same popularity level with children as Nintendos Mario and Pokemon. But something happened in the 21st century: Sonic games started being bad. Sonic Team kept making mistakes. And everyones beloved blue hedgehog lost his fanbase. What happened to Sonic? And did he ever bounce back to his former speed and glory? This course aims to find out.
- 98-327 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Touhou: Welcome to Gensokyo
- Intermittent: 3 units
"What is a 'too-hu'?" "What Anime is it from?" Or perhaps more serious questions, "What exactly is Touhou?" "Why is it so prevalent?" and "Where the heck do I start with all the lore?" Touhou is a bullet hell video game series by Team Shanghai Alice. With its first game published in 1996, and its latest installment released just this past summer, for a simple arcade style game Touhou has gathered an immense fan base, consistently placing as the 2nd most popular franchise at Comiket, the world's largest doujinshi convention, and currently holding the title for most popular franchise overall (as ranked by doujin production). This course will explore the complex world of touhou, its rise to popularity in Japan, and how Touhou influences pop culture in Japan as a whole.
- 98-328 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): World Music: An Exploration
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will take students on a journey of the music scenes of every country in the world. For each country, students will learn what its music scene is like today, and how other factors, like society, geography, politics, and location influence the music made there today. Students will also listen to at least one song from each country that is representative of the music from there. By the end of the course, students will have heard music from soca to rigsar to q-pop to fado and everything in between.
- 98-329 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Civilization V: Understanding Civilizations
- Intermittent: 3 units
Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game where players lead a civilization and guide its growth across thousands of years. As simple as it sounds, this game can be a valuable tool of understanding the framework of todays world. The goal of this course is threefold. The first, basic goal is for students to be able to enjoy playing this game as entertainment. The second goal is to reveal some thematic concepts in anthropology, politics, and history. Example concepts that will be covered include political and geographical factors of institutional action, the nature of war, the politics of scale, the butterfly effect, and more. The third goal is to understand how the limitations of the game as an oversimplified model affects the way in which we view events in this course, and keeping in mind such limitations as we use the game as an investigative tool. The latest version of the complete edition of Civilization V on Steam, with all purchasable DLCs, is required for participation in the course.
- 98-330 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Fundamentals of Personal Development
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course will provide students with a general introduction to the principles of personal development. In this class students will learn how to: become more charismatic and increase their confidence, improve their negotiation skills, be more vulnerable, manage their time efficiently, and many more things. They will do so by learning how to create positive habits and break negative ones. Assignments include helping strangers, watching keynote conference speakers and short readings.
- 98-331 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Animation & Video Editing
- Intermittent: 3 units
Ever watch a cartoon and wonder how its animated? Ever see a music video and think how they edited it? Wish you could do the same? In today's age, time-based mediums such as videos are becoming one of the most viewed mediums. In this course, we will cover studio standards for making videos and animations by merging classing animation techniques with professional video-editing techniques and software. Students will be exposed to Hand-Drawn Animation, Vector-Based Animation, Video Editing, Kinetic Typography and Motion Graphics. This course covers the entire creative process from storyboarding and animatics to editing and post-production with tools such as After Effects, Flash Professional, Illustrator and Photoshop. No animation or art experience required.
- 98-332 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Paper Crafting
- Intermittent: 3 units
Do you want to create beautiful paper bouquet without spending money at shops? Do you want to give a trendy, dimensional, handmade card to your friend on holidays? This class is an introduction to paper crafting that will satisfy your wishes to be an amateur paper artist. Throughout the semester, we will mainly focus on paper quilling and will alternatively teach you about card making (such as handmade pop-up cards), sometimes with holiday themes. Then, see how to incorporate your new quilled creations into lovely cards or amazing and creative projects. Note: This is a project-based class. Most of the projects we are doing are three-dimensional. Students need to buy a basic quilling kit that costs approximately $20. Extra materials could be purchased based on needs.
- 98-333 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Charisma
- Intermittent: 3 units
Charisma, also known as personal magnetism, is one of the most coveted personality traits seen in human society. There are many benefits to be derived from this trait; for example, charismatic people often have an easier time building healthy social lives, impressing interviewers, and leading teams effectively. Unfortunately, it is commonly believed that charisma is something a person is either born with or not. This damaging belief has discouraged many uncharismatic individuals from striving to develop this trait - a feat that is entirely possible if the trait is properly understood. In this class, students will study the major components of charisma and practice exercises designed to help them fully master these components.
- 98-334 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Tactical Skills and Knowledge
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is meant to enrich individual tactical knowledge and skills. The course has three main objectives: firstly, to provide entry-level tactical knowledge that prepares individuals for a variety of situations, problems and emergencies. Secondly, to expose students to the concept of unarmed and armed self-defense. Finally, to teach basic means of improving and maintaining tactical fitness. After completing this course, students should feel more confident in their abilities, and have the foundations to further their learning.
- 98-335 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Glowstringing/Poi
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Often seen in raves and music festivals, glowstringing/poi is the art of dancing with glowsticks or other luminescent objects on a string by swinging them in aesthetic patterns, hitting them against your body, and performing other tricks and manipulations. In this StuCo, you can expect to learn many of the fundamentals of glowstringing, along with a simple choreography that you can use to put on a show for friends, family, strangers, or simply for your own destressing and enjoyment. Although this course is targeted towards beginners with no experience, people of all skill levels will have something to learn. Class sessions are workshop-based but highly individualized. Everyone's learning pace is different and the pacing of the course will be adjusted based on overall learning speed of the class.
- 98-336 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Greek Mythology
- Intermittent: 3 units
Greek myths have continued to inspire and capture the imagination for thousands of years. This course presents a basic introduction to Greek mythology and the concepts that are essential to understanding mythology. Students in this course will gain an understanding of Greek mythology and the Olympian gods and goddesses through readings, movies and discussions of these ancient stories.
- 98-337 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Traditional Chinese Martial Arts
- Intermittent: 3 units
Tired of doing Yoga or lifting weights? The traditional Chinese martial arts will help you think exercising is a fun thing to do. From this course, you will not only learn the basic stances and styles of Chinese martial arts, but also gain the wisdom of life through the training.
- 98-338 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Memes for StuCo-Taking Teens
- Intermittent: 3 units
Have you ever made a meme, posted it to an internet forum, and had it fail miserably? Perhaps you have found a hilarious meme on Reddit and wanted to know more about its origins. Join the creator of the CM Memes for Spicy Teens Facebook group and its mod team as we dive deep into the origins of memes, the subcultures created around "good content", and the future of Internet inside jokes.
- 98-339 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Slacklining
- Intermittent: 3 units
Have you ever seen people walking on lines between trees around campus? Ever wondered what it's all about? Slacklining emerged as a supplemental sport for rock climbers to work on focus and balance and has been adopted by the mainstream as a fun hobby. In this course, we will learn about how to set up slacklines with a ratchet system, how to stand on a slackline, and how to take steps. If you're really good, you might even be able to do some tricks by the end of the semester! This course will meet outdoors so be prepared to hang out in potentially inclement weather. Student should expect to regularly attend class and practice slacklining; it's the only way to get better.
- 98-340 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Street Roaming in Tokyo
- Intermittent: 3 units
Urban streets are cultural scenes: they give rise to various contemporary ideas and modern communities, which in turn transform the street they emerged from. The diversity of street culture in Tokyo naturally suggests that modern Japanese culture is not a unitary concept, but rather a coexistence of contrasting ideals. This course will walk you through streets of vastly different personalities, from Akihabara, the capital of Otaku subculture, to Sugamo, the fashion center for the elderly, to gain an eclectic view of culture in urban Japan. Although Tokyo is the main theme of the course, it would become clear that the same concepts will enrich your adventure in many other cities. Prior knowledge about Japanese or Japanese culture is optional. No travelling is required.
- 98-341 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Building Cloud Applications
- Intermittent: 3 units
Blockchain, Docker, Kubernetes, Cloud Infrastructure are the new hype words being thrown around in the tech world but not a lot of people know what they mean. This course is meant to demystify the hype and understand how these technologies can be used to create something meaningful and interesting. This is super useful for anyone going into the tech-industry or just wants to develop a cloud based application. This course will cover topics such as scheduling, VMs, containers, blockchain, smart contracts, caching, modern file-systems etc. This will be a very hands-on course and as a part of the course, you will develop a start-up idea based on these technologies and will PITCH TO A REAL VC at the end of the semester. Note: This is not a business course. A solid knowledge of programming (15122) is required. 15213 is recommended.
- 98-347 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Names
- Intermittent: 3 units
Names sure can be fascinating - and they can shape people's lives! In this course, you will be equipped to explore published name data, understand and respond to discussions about names in society, and ultimately create an informed list of favorite names.
- 98-348 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Old Icelandic
- Intermittent: 3 units
"Ask veit ek standa, heitir Yggdrasill hár baðmr, ausinn hvíta auri; þaðan koma dggvar þærs í dala falla; stendr æ yfir grnn Urðar brunni." In this course, we will learn the basics of Old Icelandic - the language itself as well as relevant concepts in linguistics. Topics in Old Icelandic include orthography, phonology, mutations, noun, pronoun and adjective declension, verb conjugation and syntax. We will also read and translate and write our own Old Icelandic text. Topics in linguistics include basics of phonology, historical linguistics, particularly the development of Proto-Germanic into Old Icelandic. We will compare and contrast Old Icelandic with other languages, modern or ancient, to facilitate our understanding of linguistics. If time allows, we may also discuss the history and the culture of the Nordic people, who constituted the majority of the speakers of Old Icelandic; however, it is to be noted that the focus of this course is on the language and linguistics rather than on history and culture. Upon completion of the course, in addition to gaining an understanding of the above topics, students will be able to conjugate verbs and decline nouns, adjectives and pronouns given their conjugation and declension classes, translate basic Old Icelandic text into English with a dictionary.
- 98-349 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Design and Analysis of Logic Puzzle Games
- Intermittent: 3 units
Have you ever played brain-teasing puzzles like Sodoku, Nonogram on paper, or in some famous video games like Sokoban, Minesweeper or Portal? Have you wondered how to master these games, or even, how these puzzles are crafted? Logic puzzles are an intriguing topic in education, game industry and computational theory. In this course, Students will learn how to analyze logic puzzles in depth. We will start from some simple logic puzzle mechanism (e.g., Rush Hour and Sokoban) to some complex ones (e.g., Portal and The Witness), to analyze them in a theorists view and in a designers view. Students will also learn how to create new mechanisms for their own puzzles.
- 98-350 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Bridge
- Intermittent: 3 units
Students will learn to engage with the exciting world of bridge while building up partnerships with each other. Learn to take tricks, bid contracts, count cards, and work together to defeat other teams. In addition, the top finishers will have the chance to compete against other colleges in the Collegiate Bridge Bowl for a significant prize pool. No prior bridge experience necessary.
- 98-351 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Developing Speed-Power Athletes
- Intermittent: 3 units
In many sports, speed, strength, and power are necessary to succeed. This course will provide a detailed approach for training these qualities and introduce the students to the science behind athletic development. The class will begin by describing individual sports abilities (ex. Max Strength, Speed Endurance, ect.), how these qualities relate to different sports, and how to develop these in an athlete. From here, the class will explore combining these different training components into one effective schedule.
- 98-352 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Star Trek
- Intermittent: 3 units
Nerds: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Trek StuCo. Its one semester mission: to explore strange new shows, to seek out new films and new episodes, to boldly go where no StuCo has gone before! This course is for everyone who wants to learn more about Star Trek. Whether you've watched no Star Trek, or all of Star Trek, this StuCo is a forum for fans to simply watch Star Trek and talk about it. We will spend each class discussing a different topic in the Star Trek universe, discussing plot elements, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and the impact Star Trek had on pop culture.
- 98-359 Student Taught Courses(StuCo): Survey of Horror in Media
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
This course aims to provide a brief introduction to the horror genre across multiple mediums. We will engage with works of horror from diverse sources(television, feature films, short stories, fine art, and music) created over a period of nearly 200 years with the goal of pinpointing the characteristics of effective horror media. The course will feature material that is violent and often disturbing by nature.
- 98-360 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden StuCo
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
What do mathematics, philosophy, and the arts have in common? This course will study the underlying themes and patterns of many seemingly-disparate fields, united by the idea of extracting meaning from meaninglessness, through the imposition of rules and self-reference. Students can expect to become familiar with ideas pertaining to the meaning of truth, the recognition of thinking on multiple different levels, and how recursive ideas can produce incredible results in many different contexts, even going so far as to provide a foundation for human intelligence itself. These ideas are all grounded in and taught from the book Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid, the groundbreaking 1979 book published by professor Douglas Hofstadter that changed American intellectualism at its core. A background in logic, mathematics, or computer science can help with comprehension, but it is by no means required.
- 98-361 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Löded Diper: Intro to Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Intermittent: 3 units
Greg Heffley. The Cheese Touch. Ploopy. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney shaped the culture of an entire generation of pre-teens. Now, 12 years after the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid book was released, we take this time to reflect on not only on the nostalgia of middle school drama but also the chaos of coming of age. Zoo Wee Mama!
- 98-362 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Northern Shaolin Temple Boxing
- Intermittent: 3 units
SPRING 2020 COURSE LOCATION: MOREWOOD GARDENS MULTIPURPOSE ROOM. This one-semester course is designed for all members of the university community. This course will enable all participants to better understand the physical choreography, health benefits, combative techniques, history, and cultural influence of Traditional Chinese Kung Fu. Each of the above-mentioned points will be demonstrated by the instructor(s) and personally experienced by each participant. The greater significance that TCMA can play in each person's life beyond the entertainment value found in 'Kung Fu' movies will be identified through an emphasis on the physical exercise, personal development, and philosophical aspects of practice.
- 98-363 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Akkadian
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course, we will learn the basics of the Akkadian language and relevant concepts in linguistics. Topics in Akkadian include orthography, sounds, noun declension, verb morphology, syntax and reading/writing cuneiforms. Topics in linguistics include historical linguistics, phonology, Semitic linguistics, particularly root-template morphology in Semitic languages. We will read a variety of texts, romanized and cuneiforms, including the famous Code of Hammurabi. Upon completion of the course, in addition to gaining an understanding of the topics above, students will be able to read and translate Akkadian text given a dictionary.
- 98-364 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Puyo Puyo StuCo
- Intermittent: 3 units
Puyo Puyo is a tile-matching puzzle game (like Tetris) that has been popular in Japan for over 25 years for its lovable characters and exciting gameplay, only recently gaining popularity internationally with the releases of Puyo Puyo Tetris and Puyo Puyo Champions. In this course, students will learn how to create chains in Puyo Puyo and battle competitively.
- 98-368 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to the Kardashians
- Intermittent: 3 units
Have you had an intense desire to learn about Americas real first family, the Kardashians, your whole life and no way to fulfill it? Look no further than this course as we will go deep into the Kardashian-Jenner family history as well as their amazing reality TV show: Keeping Up With the Kardashians. By the end of this course, you can expect to be familiar with the entire family tree, be a full expert on all things Kardashian and know how to fight for and defend your favorite Kardashian regardless of the scandal that may be facing them. This is the course you may have never knew you wanted, but definitely needed.
- 98-369 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a cop comedy that first aired in 2013 and is continuing to this day. This Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and GLAAD Media award-winning show centers around Jake Peralta and the rest of the 99th precinct of the NYPD. Part of Brooklyn Nine-Nines success is due to their skill at balancing a comedic atmosphere while also addressing and discussing current social issues. In this class, you will learn about a social issue each week and then watch an episode that addresses said social issue. Some topics to be addressed include mental health, sexual harassment, racism, and LGBTQ+ representation. Anyone is free to join the noicest and toitest StuCo at CMU - no prior knowledge is required!
- 98-370 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Mysteries of the Universe
- Intermittent: 3 units
Have you ever looked at the stars and wondered what lies beyond? Come think about the answers to some of the universes biggest questions in this exciting and mind exploding class.
- 98-371 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Old Irish
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course, we will learn the basics of the Old Irish language and relevant concepts in linguistics. Topics in Old Irish include orthography, sounds, noun declension, verb morphology and syntax. Topics in linguistics include historical linguistics, phonology, and the special status of Celtic languages in the Indo-European language family. We will read a variety of texts. Upon completion of the course, in addition to gaining an understanding of the topics above, students will be able to read and translate Old Irish text given a dictionary.
- 98-372 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Battlestar Galactica
- Intermittent: 3 units
In 1982, Edward James Olmos played Detective Gaff in Blade Runner. Four years later, when offered the lead role on Star Trek: The Next Generation, he turned it down. Why? He didn't want to do any more sci-fi. Why, then, did Olmos agree to lead the reboot of Battlestar Galactica, a cheesy science fiction show from the 70s that earned most of its fans by coasting on Star Wars hype? Through the course of a semester, we attempt to answer this question, and in the process, explore Battlestar Galactica's impact on American society. This course is for everyone who wants to learn more about Battlestar Galactica. Whether you've watched no Battlestar Galactica, or all of Battlestar Galactica, this StuCo is a forum for fans to simply watch the show and talk about it. We will spend each class discussing a different topic in the Battlestar Galactica universe, discussing plot elements, behind-the-scenes fun facts, and the impact Battlestar Galactica had on pop culture.
- 98-373 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Legend of Zelda: The Tri Course
- Intermittent: 3 units
Nintendos The Legend of Zelda series has captivated video game fans for over thirty years as it has continuously evolved through new hardware and designs. In this course we will discuss various topics in the Legend of Zelda, both gameplay-wise and artistic, in an attempt to figure out what makes the series so appealing, and where it may go next. Experience or access to the games is not required. Its dangerous to go alone -- take this StuCo!
- 98-374 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Steep by Steep: Investeagation into Tea Culture
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
Not only is tea one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, but many cultures have developed unique traditions surrounding it. In this course, students will be introduced to the rich history surrounding tea in various countries including but not limited to the US, China, Japan, Russia, and Morocco. Students will also become familiar with a wide variety of brewing methods and types of tea as well as get the opportunity to sample some of these teas. There will be very short quizzes before every lecture on prior material covered. COURSE FEE: $2 (subject to change).
- 98-375 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Meta-Learning
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is designed to better students studying and learning skills. Students, especially at elite colleges, have acquired extensive knowledge, yet many have never put adequate effort into considering the methods they use. This, of course, is counterintuitive because knowledge about how to learn is perhaps the most essential and widely applicable skill students can obtain. Successful learning is the foundation of excellence and discovery; therefore, students should be just as concerned with the process of improving as with the product of success. The first portion of the course will focus on scientifically-backed learning principles that are essential to problem solving such as the often-misinterpreted role of memory, recall, and attention. We will then transition into more specific learning strategies that apply these principles. Finally, the class will conclude with the role of lifestyle in learning and the habits of successful learners. By the end of the course students should be able to apply this knowledge at the university level, for personal projects, and beyond.
- 98-376 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Interpreting Film Through Painting
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is meant to introduce students to painting in a fun and less traditional way. Throughout the course, students will paint their interpretations of the themes in different movies. The course is meant to help students, even those who do not consider themselves as artistic, to learn the basic techniques of painting and to apply them to fun subject material. Through their art, students will also learn to interpret thematic motif elements in films and add their own perspective to it in their art. COURSE FEE: $20. There is a $20 course fee to provide for materials (painting paper, paints, and canvas for the projects).
- 98-377 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Way We Live Now
- Intermittent: 3 units
This is a black-mirror-esque course that examines the relationship between personhood and digital technology in the context of the world right now. We will look at articles from tech insiders, contemporary writers, and professors of media to explore the question "What does it mean to be human in our times?" in a casual, open setting. The goal is to create a space where students can grow together in their awareness of themselves in the context of the physical-digital space we live in today.
- 98-378 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): First Clip to Video Editing
- Intermittent: 3 units
First Clip to Video Editing is a video editing course for beginners. Start with the basics of Adobe Premiere, you will learn various video editing skills from transitions to color grading and create your own cool projects. There will be plenty of chances to analyze existing works as well as hands on experiences. A professional camera is preferred but NOT compulsory. Through completing an individual midterm project and a group final project, students will gradually form their own workflow and editing style, communicating and expressing themselves in a new way.
- 98-379 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Neuroscience for Non-Majors
- Intermittent: 3 units
Anybody can learn neuroscience. Whether you are an artist, scientist, writer, philosopher, musician, or anyone else, as long as you are interested in how the mind works, this course is for you. Understanding the processes that determine your consciousness, emotions, reality, perceptions, and the only way you have ever experienced life is immensely powerful and meaningful. This introduction to neuroscience is tailored to accommodate for ANY background. The course will teach fundamental neuroscience concepts. It will also provide an overview of areas in current neuroscience research (learning and memory, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, etc.), experimental techniques used in neuroscience research, and neuroscience applications in a variety of different fields ranging from science fiction writing to philosophy to artificial intelligence. Instead of a midterm or final exam, there will be two projects that encourage you to use your individual creativity and the unique backgrounds and sets of skills you bring to the course.
- 98-380 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Practical Economics
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
While Economics is an applied science, it is oftentimes described in abstract terms and graphs. This class aims to show how Economics can be used in the real world to solve the biggest problems facing society. Students will learn about and discuss topics such as Game Theory, Behavioral Economics, Market Design, and the Nobel Prize. Students will better understand how to improve the world by making better decisions. No previous knowledge of Economics is needed.
- 98-381 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Wuhan Chinese
- Intermittent: 3 units
Wuhan Chinese, or "Wuhanese", is the dialect of Chinese spoken in Wuhan, the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province. Although Wuhan situates in China's central region, its dialect is an instance of Southwestern Mandarin, akin to the dialects of Sichuan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Wuhanese provides a distinct flavor of spoken Chinese for students interested in the Chinese language and culture. In class, students will be exposed to media clips in Wuhanese and be given the opportunity to practice day-to-day conversations. Because of the relative proximity to Mandarin, students who already know some Mandarin will be able to speak Wuhanese comparatively well even within this semester. However, no prior experience in Wuhanese or Mandarin is necessary, and all are welcome!
- 98-382 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica: The Office
- Intermittent: 3 units
Be ready to face any challenges that might be foolish enough to face you. Analyze and discuss different character arcs, hidden messages, and relationships in the office. Study the impact that these have had on our individual lives and society as a whole. What life lessons can we take from this iconic tv show? (It is recommended that you have seen and have a basic understanding of characters and plot lines from The Office).
- 98-383 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Old Church Slavonic
- Intermittent: 3 units
This course is a gentle introduction to Old Church Slavonic (OCS), a liturgical language which is also famous for being the oldest documented Slavic language. We will learn the grammar following a textbook, discuss the grammar of OCS and contrast it with the grammars of other languages, and translate OCS texts given a dictionary.
- 98-384 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Harmonious Scenic Watercolor
- Intermittent: 3 units
Watercolor is an expressive medium that captures the mood of the painter through clever use of color. This course will introduce you to various watercolor techniques, scenic painting practices and relevant color theory. Together, we will explore the beauty of nature using harmonious color palettes. No prior knowledge of watercolor or color theory is required.
- 98-387 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): The Schitt's Creek StuCo
- Intermittent: 3 units
Schitt's Creek (2015-2020) is a Canadian comedy series that follows the struggles of the previously wealthy Rose family in the small town of Schitt's Creek. Over the course of 6 seasons, Schitt's Creek has been nominated for 172 awards, winning 64 of these. In this course we will watch various episodes from the show and discuss why Schitt's Creek has become such a cultural phenomenon. We will discuss topics such as LGBTQ+ representation, mental health, understanding others, perseverance, and effective comedy techniques. We will be watching episodes from every season of Schitt's Creek, so this course is open to everyone whether you have seen the entire show or haven't seen a single episode. COURSE FEE: Students must maintain a monthly subscription to either Hulu or Netflix throughout this course - EST $6-9/mo for 4 mos.
- 98-388 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to English Syntax
- Intermittent: 3 units
In this course, we will learn about the syntax of English. Syntax is the study of the rules that dictate how words combine to form sentences in language. We will discuss the syntax of English both from a historical (diachronic) perspective, e.g.: the now-lost V2 word order of Old English; and from a contemporary (synchronic) perspective, compare dialects spoken across various speaker communities, e.g.: multiple modal constructions such as We might can go up there next Saturday. where more than one modal verb (in this case might and can) appear in a single sentence, used in the Southern United States; the zero copula of AAVE (African-American Vernacular English), where certain forms of the copula be can be omitted in certain contexts, e.g. He an expert 'He is an expert', but not others, e.g. *I driving to Amherst 'I'm driving to Amherst' (the asterisk * denotes ungrammaticality); imperatives in Belfast English, where the imperative verb can precede the subject, e.g. Read you that book! 'You read that book!', whereas only the opposite word order is permissible in Standard English: You read that book! We will also compare the syntactic properties of English with those of other languages. This course also covers the basics of generative linguistics, a widely accepted framework which has been used by linguists to analyze various syntactic phenomena. We will see that many interesting questions can be formulated and studied from a generative linguistic standpoint. We will also touch upon the basics of formal semantics and pragmatics and the so-called syntax-semantics interface and the syntax-pragmatics interface, i.e. the study of how syntax interacts with semantics and pragmatics. Examples of this are quantifier raising (QR) and presupposition holes.
- 98-389 Student Taught Courses (StuCo): Introduction to Nail Art
- Fall and Spring: 3 units
With nail art, self-expression is right at our fingertips. Together, we will dive into not only how to paint various nail art designs, but we will also discuss the origins of nail art and past nail art trends. Each week, we will learn and practice a new design technique. By the end of the course, you will have your very own nail salon right at home. No prior nail painting experience is required. Students are encouraged to bring any of their own nail-art-related supplies (e.g. nail polishes, nail art brush, dotter tool, nail polish remover) if they have any and would like to use their own tools. Otherwise, the course will provide all necessary materials as shared class resources for all students. COURSE FEE $5.
Course Website: https://leesue630.github.io/intro-nail-art/