Course Catalog 2013-2014
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CATALOGUE 2013-2014 1 2 Table of Contents The Evolution of an Educational Innovation 5 Political Studies 173 Learning at Simon’s Rock 6 Psychology 178 The Goals of the Academic Program 6 Social Sciences 181 Degree Requirements 7 Sociology 183 The Lower College Program 8 Courses in the Interdivisional Studies 185 Sophomore Planning: Moderation or Transfer 11 African American and African Studies 186 The Upper College Program 12 Asian Studies 187 Signature Programs 13 Communication 188 International 13 Environmental Studies/Ecology 189 Domestic 14 Gender Studies 190 In-House 15 Intercultural Studies 192 Special Study Opportunities 16 Learning Resources 193 Study at Bard’s Other Campuses 18 Off-Campus Program 194 Academic Policies 20 Young Writers Workshop 195 Upper College Concentrations 27 Faculty 196 Courses 82 Faculty 196 General Education Seminars 82 Adjunct Faculty 215 The Senior Thesis 83 Faculty Emeritus 218 Courses in the Division of the Arts 84 Community Music Program Faculty 222 Art History 85 Boards Arts 89 Board of Trustees 225 Dance 90 Board of Overseers 225 Music 94 Our Location 226 Studio Arts 100 Campus Map 227 Theater 106 Index 228 Courses in the Division of Languages & Literature 114 Academic Calendar 232 World Languages, Cultures, and Literatures 115 Linguistics 121 Literature and Creative Writing 122 Courses in the Division of Science, Mathematics, and Computing 137 Biology 138 Chemistry 142 Computer Science 144 Mathematics 146 Natural Sciences 149 Physics 151 Courses in the Division of Social Studies 154 Anthropology 155 Economics 158 Geography 161 History 165 Philosophy 168 3 Bard College at Simon’s Rock is the nation’s only four- year residential college specifically designed to provide bright, highly motivated students with the opportunity to begin college after the tenth or eleventh grade. At Simon’s Rock, students experience a transformative education in the liberal arts and sciences led by pedagogically innovative, accomplished faculty members and in the company of smart, independent, creative peers who share their excitement for learning and their desire to be part of a vibrant intellectual community. Founded in 1966, Simon’s Rock joined the Bard system in 1979 and maintains its own campus in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Simon’s Rock enrolls approximately 400 full-time students, and awards both the associate of arts and bachelor of arts degrees. 4 Bard College at Simon’s Rock: The Evolution of an Educational Innovation Bard College at Simon’s Rock was founded in 1966 based innovative liberal arts colleges—located 50 miles from on the idea that many bright, motivated students are ready the Simon’s Rock campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, New for serious intellectual work at the age of 16 or 17. Created York. While Simon’s Rock has retained its unique identity through the vision of Elizabeth Blodgett Hall, the College’s and singular mission, the partnership brought new aca- founder and first president, Simon’s Rock became the demic and financial strength to the College. Since 1979, nation’s first early college. Since then the early college Bard has added to the texture and depth of the academic movement has gained considerable momentum, yet Simon’s experience at Simon’s Rock, shaping many of the intel- Rock remains unique in the early college landscape as lectual hallmarks of a Simon’s Rock education: Writing the only college in the United States specifically designed and Thinking Workshops, Moderation, the Senior Thesis, to provide bright students with the opportunity to begin as well as the First-Year and Sophomore Seminars. college after the tenth or eleventh grade. The leadership of Simon’s Rock’s and of Bard’s main Simon’s Rock opened as a women’s school in the fall of campus have jointly created Bard High School Early 1966 and offered its students a four-year program that College (BHSEC). The first BHSEC opened in Manhattan combined the last two years of high school and the first in 2001, followed by Queens in 2008, and Newark, two years of college—concluding with an associate of arts NJ, in 2011. Part of both Bard and the public school (AA) degree. In 1970, the first graduates received their systems, these institutions offer two years of enriched degrees. That same year the College became a coeduca- high school that segues directly into the first two tional campus. By 1974, Simon’s Rock restructured and years of college and culminates with an AA, similar eliminated its high school component entirely. Through to Simon’s Rock’s original structure. the support from the National Science Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation, the College developed its bachelor Peter Laipson was appointed as provost and vice president of arts (BA) program. With the introduction of its first in 2011. He continues the strong leadership examples BA concentrations, Simon’s Rock became what it has set by Elizabeth Blodgett Hall and her successors Baird remained ever since: A four-year college of the liberal Whitlock, Bernard F. Rodgers Jr., and Mary B. Marcy. arts and sciences designed expressly to educate young, Under the guidance of strong and committed leaders, bright, motivated scholars. the College has seen the transformation of the physical campus, growth in enrollment, an increase in the range Like many colleges founded in the 1960s, Simon’s Rock and breadth of the curriculum and the faculty, greater struggled with the pressures of inadequate resources diversity, improved access to financial aid, the creation and turned to President Leon Botstein of Bard College, of signature programs, and enhanced resources allowing who had a distinct appreciation for early college, having students to thrive. himself entered the University of Chicago at the age of 16. President Botstein fully understood the significance of Simon’s Rock and the importance of the early col- lege mission. In 1979, Simon’s Rock became part of Bard College, one of the nation’s most outstanding and 5 Learning at Simon’s Rock The Goals of the Academic Program The academic program at Bard College at Simon’s Rock • Knowledge and understanding of several forms of artistic is the intellectual embodiment of the College’s mission. and literary expression, of the creative process, and of It combines a substantial and coherent required core the disciplined use of imagination, formal structure, and curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences with extensive aesthetic values; opportunities for students to pursue their own interests and talents through advanced courses and independent study. • Knowledge of some of the most influential works of Western culture and a critical understanding of the values, assump- The program is designed to engage students in the life tions, and ideologies that they express; of the mind by making them aware of both the Western cultural heritage and modes of thought from other cultures, • Knowledge and appreciation of modes of thought of other introducing them to the spectrum of thought in the liberal cultures—including non-Western cultures and groups or societies that exist as distinct subcultures within Western arts and sciences, developing their intellectual curiosity, culture—and the ability to understand and use a foreign and empowering them to satisfy that curiosity by thinking language with reasonable facility; and learning independently. At Simon’s Rock, students are also encouraged to test theory in practice—in the • Knowledge of history—of ideas, movements, people, and laboratory, the studio, and the field, in rehearsal and per- events of the past—and of how our knowledge and under- formance—to develop a sense of themselves as thinkers standing of the past is shaped and of how that understanding and creators with individual voices and perspectives. To of the past shapes the present and the future; achieve these ends, the College offers a curriculum that provides every student with the opportunity to develop the • Knowledge of and sensitivity to the moral and ethical following general knowledge and skills: dimensions of thought and action, and the ability to make informed moral and ethical decisions. • The ability to speak and write with confidence, clarity, and precision; An AA or BA degree from Simon’s Rock certifies that a student has developed this general knowledge and these • The ability to read and think critically—to recognize assump- skills. Differences in the depth, breadth, and extent of stu- tions, weigh evidence, test assertions, examine the elements dents’ knowledge and mastery of these skills are indicated and merits of an argument—and, thus, the ability to learn by their grades, as well as by the level of the degree they and think independently; are awarded. Receiving a BA degree from Simon’s Rock also indicates that a student has gained the advanced • The ability to understand and interpret graphic and numerical knowledge and skills outlined in the description of the data, to evaluate a statistical argument, and to use comput- ers; Upper College concentrations and requirements as well • Knowledge of the scientific method—of its approaches to as the ability to use these skills in an extended individual inquiry, its strengths and limitations as a mode of analysis— project with a substantial written component. and of the fundamental laws governing physical phenomena and the patterns of human behavior; 6 Degree Requirements THE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE The requirements for the AA degree are 60 credits of The requirements for the BA degree are the successful coursework, including: completion