15-plus new and improved courses for the coming year:
English 90qh. ⁅xotica in Renaissance Drama. †
Put away the Playboys and rest assured that the English department hasn⁴ left Harvard undergraduates high and dry now that newly-departed Cowles Associate Professor of English Lynn M. Festa ⁓ex and Sensibility in the Enlightenment †is just a relic in the CUE Guide archives. English Lecturer Marie K. Rutkoski fall semester class on Renaissance dramas will include works by Freud and Foucault, English class staple reads. According to the course description, ⁴he culturally foreign, madness, and the supernatural †will all be explored. Sounds sexy.
Engineering Sciences 221. ⁄rug Delivery. †
This advanced level Engineering Sciences class is a case of false advertising. While your TF won⁴ be bringing you Adderall to help you study, they will have you reading case studies of current pharmaceutical products. But beware, the list of prerequisites takes longer to read than going to UHS for a prescription refill.
Folklore and Mythology 106. ⁗itchcraft and Charm Magic. †
Though not in time for Halloween, the spring semester ⁗itchcraft and Charm Magic —rom the Folklore and Mythology departmentay be right up the alley of those in the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association. Undergraduates hoping to learn some of the charm magic described in the course guide might even be able to try it while studying for exams. This new course taught by department chair and Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore Stephen A. Mitchell will also explore the history of neo-paganism.
Psychology 1002. ⁍orality and Taboo. †
The Psych department may have finally one-upped the professorial trio of Summers, Sandel, and Friedman from 2005 Social Analysis 76 ⁇lobalization †by offering Psychology 1002, ⁍orality and Taboo. †The course professors one-two punch of Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker and the Law School Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz⁷ill likely draw lots of students with their popularity (and the perennially popular Positive Psychology, Psychology of Leadership, and Human Sexuality are ALL not offered this spring.) Regardless, the subject matter of Psychology 1002 will hold its own and spur the interest of those interested in debating morality and social conventions.
Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality 1122. ⁔he Romance: From Jane Austen to Chick Lit. †
If last spring Kaavyagate was any indication that Chick Lit is in, then the Women, Gender, and Sexuality department has certainly taken notice. ⁔he Romance: From Jane Austen to Chick Lit †will compare classic Austen novels to modern revisions such as Bridget Jones Diary. But don⁴ expect ⁈ow Opal Mehta... †to be on the syllabus.
Historical Study A-74. ⁃ontemporary China: The People Republic and Taiwan in the Modern World. †
Ex-Dean of the Faculty and Geisinger Professor of History William C. Kirby makes his return to the lecture hall with this core class on 20th-century China. Impressive as a guest lecturer in a classes over the past few years of his deanship, students will likely flock to see what Kirby has to offer in A-74 for many reasons. According to the course guide, the class aims to answer in three parts the question of what social, economic, and political problems remain in China today.
Social Analysis 10. ⁐rinciples of Economics. †
For the first time ever, Social Analysis 10 (aka Ec 10) is a divisible course⁴hat is, students don⁴ have to sit through Beren Professor of Economics N. Gregory Mankiw year long class and can opt to take the one semester only. Non-economics concentrators who are interested in taking part of this introductory class will surely rejoice that they aren⁴ stuck for a full year.
Government 90zb. ⁔errorism. †
Another new course for undergraduates this year is the government department seminar, ⁔errorism. †It about time the university offered a class on this hot topic, and for non-freshmen who can⁴ get into Government Lecturer Jessica E. Stern freshmen seminar, this class appears to offer a very intriguing look at the many causes of terrorism, its evolution, and its ethics.
Humanities 10. ⁁n Introductory Humanities Colloquium. †
Changes to the curriculum continue with the addition of humanities and general education courses, but take them now because they are only ⁴ransitionary †and won⁴ be around forever. At the top of the list is the tag team of Cogan University Professor Stephen J. Greenblatt and Bass Professor of English and American Literature and Language Louis Menand, who will co-teach Humanities 10, ⁁n Introductory Humanities Colloquium. †The reading list provided in the course catalog makes this class sound like a 90-minute version of a moral reasoning class, but those who want to concentrate in the humanities discipline are urged to take it anyway. If nothing else, this class will give students up close and personal access to two campus bigwigs.
Freshman Seminar 21m. ⁅volution on the Wing: The Butterflies and Moths. †
Freshmen wishing to channel the youthful days of catching caterpillars and watching them spin and hatch from cocoons might be taken with this new seminar. While the course guide doesn⁴ promise participants will grow their own butterflies, it does state that the course will answer the question, ⁷hy are butterflies pretty? †
Freshman Seminar 21v. ⁔he Weirdness of Quantum Mechanics. †
It refreshing to see honesty in the title of this new freshman seminar. Quantum mechanics is, in fact, very weird and Baird Professor of Science Gary J. Feldman knows it. According to the course guide, quantum mechanics imply makes no sense. †Freshmen up for a challenge, take note.
Freshman Seminar 30o. ⁗hat is College and What is It For? †
For freshmen who have applied, been accepted to Harvard, moved into Harvard Yard, and are still confused about what they are doing, this seminar comes to the rescue. Full disclosure: Paul J. Barreira, the director of behavioral health and academic counseling at Harvard University Health Services, and James N. Mancall, assistant dean of advising, are the instructors. Regardless, clueless first years looking for help can find solace in this class.
Freshman Seminar 36l. ⁁ Cultural History of the Banana. †
The title of this course alone can⁴ help but stir up some giggles in this freshmen seminar. Freshmen interested in how bananas have haped cultural texts †likely won⁴ be reading ⁃urious George, †but they will examine political and economic issues between the US and Latin America.
Freshman Seminar 44i. ⁔he Golden Age of Piracy. †
The registrar, seemingly just back from Johnny Depp new ⁐irates of the Caribbean, †is now offering a new course, ⁔he Golden Age of Piracy, †as a freshman seminar. Pirates take enter stage †and freshmen will get to learn about globalization from the 16th to 18th centuries. Lecturer Mark G. Hanna is no Kiera Knightly, so do try to concentrate, freshmen.
Freshman Seminar 49z. ⁔he Art of the Impossible: Political Leadership in the 20th Century. †
Before freshmen jump head first into UC races, they should take serious notes in Williams Professor of History and Political Science Roderick MacFarquhar new class. This seminar on modern political leadership will look at examples of leaders who have ⁷reaked great havoc. †
Other Interesting Seminars:
Freshman Seminar 23g. ⁄arwin Finches › Two years ago participants spent Winter Vacation on an all-expenses paid trip to the Galapagos.
Freshman Seminar 25k. ⁙ou Are What You Eat › Might as well be called ⁁nnenberg 101: The Freshmen Fifteen. †
Freshman Seminar 25v. ⁁vian Influenza: Emerging Infectious Disease › Beware of the ducks by the Charles River.
Freshman Seminar 30z. ⁆rom Russia with Love › James Bond movies are sadly omitted from the syllabus in the course guide.
Freshman Seminar 31p. ⁈ow to Look at Paintings › Step 1⁌ook.
⁓taff writer Bari M. Schwartz can be reached at bschwart@fas.harvard.edu.
