18 / 32
16
GEN*E299*34
Explorations of Qi (ch’i, ‘life energy’)
Yahui Anita Huang
Prerequisites:
None
Open To:
All Students
Grading System: Letter
Max. Enrollment: 12
Meeting Times:
Tu W 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
is project will explore
qi
(
ch’i
, ‘life-energy’)—the fundamental concept
in Chinese medicine, culture, and philosophy. In Chinese culture qi is also
the vital source of longevity, natural phenomena, and physical and spiritual
power. In this class, we will examine the role qi plays in various aspects
of Chinese life through film, food, tea culture, calligraphy, and literary
works. Students will gain a basic understanding of Feng Shui, acupuncture,
reflexology, basic calligraphy brush techniques, and the key concepts of
yin-yang
and
wuxing
, which are needed to understand the
Yijing
, or
Book
of Changes
. Students will explore the concept of qi by engaging themselves
in exercises that are believed to help one achieve physical and emotional
balance including Qigong (Ch’i-Kung) and Taiji (Tai-Chi). Grades will be based
on attendance, participation, a personal journal, a written exam, and one
in-class presentation. Knowledge of the Chinese language is a plus but not
required.
Estimated Student Fee: $80
GEN*E299*35
Exposure to Computer Programming
Lewis Patterson
Prerequisites:
None
Open To:
All Students
Grading System: S/U
Max. Enrollment: 15
Meeting Times:
M Tu W F 1:00pm-2:00pm
e project will offer a student the opportunity to learn the fundamentals
of computer programming using a modern programming language (or
languages). Programming assignments will be made for each class. At the
end of each week, an in-class test which covers the previous week’s material
will be required. A comprehensive, three-hour examwill occur on the last
day of class. Web-based applications will be created using the GO language
on the server side and Javascript on the client side.
GEN*E299*36
Fermenting Revolution
Pamela Hanson and Kate Hayden
Prerequisites:
None
Open To:
All Students
Grading System: Letter
Max. Enrollment: 20
Meeting Times: M Tu W 10:00am-12:00pm
(additional times in the afternoons may be scheduled
to accommodate field trips)
Society has been using microbial fermentation reactions for thousands
of years to create bread, beer, and wine. Some have argued that the
“invention” of fermentation played a pivotal role in establishing human
civilization as we know it. In this project we will focus on the cultural impact
GEN*E299*32
Environmental Careers
Rebekah P. Parker
Prerequisites:
None
Open To:
All Students
Grading System: S/U
Max. Enrollment: 10
Meeting Times:
M Tu W9:00am-12:00pm
Jobs in the environmental field can range fromwater sampling and field
surveys for an environmental consulting company to using GIS to map
natural resources to lobbying for increased regulations for pollutants. In this
project, students will be able to sample a variety of jobs through a rotation of
shadowing different environmental professionals for a total of 150 hours. A
limited number of established internships are available, or students may set
up their own internships if approved by Rebekah Parker. Students will also
have the opportunity to attend a networking event.
Students will be responsible for a number of readings about current issues
facing environmental professionals and reflect on their readings and
experience through a 4-5-page paper and presentation to their peers. A
satisfactory essay and a satisfactory evaluation from the student’s on-site
supervisor are required for credit. Amandatory meeting is held during Fall
Term (TBD).
GEN*E299*33
European Culture and Global Media
Natalie Davis and Janie Spencer
Prerequisites:
None
Open To:
All Students
Grading System: S/U
Max. Enrollment: 30 (FULL)
Meeting Times:
On campus meetings Jan 3-5, Travel Jan 6-27
Our goal is to appreciate, investigate, and better understand both the most
traditional venues of expression in Europe as well as how the newest forms
of communication intersect with the old. How do global media inform our
understanding of world events? To that end we will travel to five European
cities. e students who made deposits by June 1, 2016 will get to choose
at least one of the cities. For 2017, we will visit London, Barcelona, Berlin,
Budapest, and Rome. We will visit some of the most important and exquisite
museums of the world. In addition, we will contrast the old with the new by
exploring the world of global media—from local television to online access to
social media— in these important world capitals. We will start with what we
know here in Birmingham, where students will give reports on aspects of our
itinerary. en we travel for 21 days. Students will keep a journal and write a
final paper of 8-10 pages where they will summarize their own perspectives
on comparative elements of the trip.
Estimated Student Fees: $5300