Course Listings for 2013

If admitted into the program, High School Summer Scholars will enroll in two undergraduate courses by returning the enrollment form sent with the admission packet. DO NOT ENROLL ONLINE. Not all courses are available in both sessions. When choosing your courses, be sure to note the session in which they are available. Courses in Session A are indicated with , and courses offered in Session B with . Please note that these are undergraduate Washington University course listings and are subject to change without notice.

Optional Course Pairings

You can choose from the variety of undergraduate courses listed below or from our optional selected pairings. These pairings are designed to give you a glimpse into a particular area of study. To view course pairings, click here.

Advanced Courses

For students who have completed Advanced Placement or honors curriculum in their high schools, we do offer upper-level course curriculum during the summer. To view advanced courses, click here.

ANTHROPOLOGY

Introduction to Human Evolution
This course is a survey of the fossil evidence for human evolution. The course includes discussion of the genetics of human variation and evolution, the study of living nonhuman primates, and the fossil record and its interpretation. An evolutionary perspective is used in an attempt to understand modern humans from the naturalistic point of view.
L48 150A ANTHRO (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 11:00a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
This course covers the basic concepts and theoretical principles of sociocultural anthropology. Course material is presented from Asia, Africa, Melanesia, Latin America and North America.
L48 160B ANTHRO (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

ART HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

History of Western Art, Architecture & Design
A history of the visual arts, including architecture, sculpture, painting, and design, from the ancient world to the present with emphasis on the relationship of art to society and to political and cultural events.
L01 113 ART-ARCH (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

Introduction to Archaeology
Archaeology plays a critical and unique role in understanding the human past.Through study of the methods and theories of archaeology, and a survey of important firsts in the human past, this course introduces students to the way archaeologists use material culture to reconstruct and understand human behavior.Chronologically ordered case studies from around the globe are used to look at social, ecological, and cultural issues facing humans from the earliest times to the present.Students gain practice reconstructing the past through hands-on participation in two 1-hour labs focusing on lithics and animal bones.By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to think critically about how the past is presented, and why, and the importance of the past as it relates to the present and future.
L52 190B ARC (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00am-12:45 p.m.

BIOLOGY

Introduction to Problem-Based Learning in Biology
Have you ever wondered how doctors and scientists diagnose and discover cures to modern human afflictions? In this course, students will be given a general topic and break up into small groups to research questions related to that topic. We will all report back to the group each week with what we've found, and provide each other with interesting facts about our topic, as well as hints for conducting inquiry-based research. The instructor will guide students on how to conduct in-depth research on problems of current biological importance using a variety of web-based search engines and library tools, with a strong emphasis on learning how to read and interpret primary research articles. Weekly topics from previous years have included psychological disorders, genetics of sleep regulation, reproductive therapies, alternative medicine, gene therapy, and genetic engineering. Students should have broad interests and background in general biology and chemistry and should be curious, exploratory, interactive, and willing to try an active, nontraditional educational experience. There are no exams, so grades will be based on class participation, weekly group presentations, written outlines, and a final paper on a topic of their choice. Prerequisite: high school biology, preferably an Honors or AP course.
L41 112 BIOL (3 units)
Sec. 21 MWF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Sec. 41 MWF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

CHEMISTRY

Topics in General Chemistry
Virtually any process can be understood with a strong knowledge of chemistry. This course will allow students to better understand and explain their world, and is designed to prepare students for higher-level studies in chemistry. General chemistry topics studied will include: quantum chemistry and electronic structure of atoms, the nature of chemical bonding including introductory organic chemistry, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, gases, solutions, and equilibrium. The solving of multi-faceted chemical problems is central to this course. Real-world applications will be integrated often. Successful completion of this course will allow students to more easily assimilate into a General Chemistry course. Prerequisites: Fluency in high school algebra, one year of high school chemistry.
L07 102 CHEM (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTWThF 11:00a.m.-12:45p.m.
Sec. 41 MTWThF 11:00a.m.-12:45p.m.

DRAMA

Acting I
This course provides an opportunity to explore acting while developing public speaking voice and body, increasing confidence and honing collaborative creative skills. Students study a variety of theatrical texts in the most direct and experiential way, by acting in them.The course is designed for those who want to understand the interpretive work of the actor.Students are introduced to the practical work of building a character for the stage, and they also gain an understanding of how dramatic texts work both on the page and on the stage. Textual analysis, movement work, and vocal production skills are developed using monologues, scene work and exercises. These skills should also provide significant benefits outside the confines of the class itself, in the professional and personal lives of the students taking this class.
L15 240E DRAMA (3 units)
MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Improvisation
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of improvisation. Students are provided with the tools and techniques to develop their artistic voice, both individually and within an ensemble, through various theatre games, exercises, and techniques. Students will build self confidence, develop creativity, hone presentation skills, and have fun through working collaboratively in an ensemble. Both actors and non-actors are encouraged to take this class.
L15 233 DRAMA (3 units)
MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Geology of National Parks
Geology processes at the Earth's surface and its interior as revealed by the geology of national parks. Examinations of volcanic and mountain-building processes; the work of streams, glaciers, and wind; shoreline processes; stratigraphy and sedimentation; and Earth history.
L19 118A EPSC (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

Introduction to Global Climate Change in the 21st Century
Global climate and global climate change and their impacts on life and civilization. Integrated view of global climate and the diverse forces that can alter global climate. Historical and potential future consequences of global climate change on human life, our industrial civilization, and its sustainability.
L19 111 EPSC (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

EAST ASIAN STUDIES

Topics in Japanese Culture: Modern Japan in Media, Literature, and Culture
What do 19th century woodblock prints, kabuki, Godzilla and cosplay have in common? These are but a few examples of Japanese popular culture from the past and from today. In this multimedia course, we will explore sources and features of Japanese popular culture, including anime, manga, film, literature, and music. Experiencing works in translation and informed by critical essays, we will examine important facets of Japanese history, thought, experience, and identity. This course aims to facilitate deeper knowledge about Japan's cultural artifacts, how Japanese popular culture has changed over time, and ways in which we can interpret our own experiences with these dynamic and expressive media. No prerequisites
L03 2210 East Asia (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

ECONOMICS

Introduction to Microeconomics
Microeconomics covers the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision-makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic system. We cover determination of prices, distribution of national income, and theory of production. For a thorough introduction to economics, it is helpful to take both Microeconomics and Macroenonomics.
L11 1011 ECON (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

Introduction to Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics covers the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole, placing particular emphasis on the study of national income and price determination. We cover business fluctuations: inflation, recession; monetary and fiscal policy; and economic development.
L11 1021 ECON (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

ENGLISH COMPOSITION

Fiction Writing
Introductory course in the writing of fiction. Prerequisite: strong expository writing skills and some experience in fiction writing. Enrollment limited to 15 students.
L13 221 E COMP (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

ENGLISH LITERATURE

Topics in Literature: Banned Books, from Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter
In this course we will read works that have been banned and examine what leads to the banning of a book. We will read a selection of novels to gain insight into the controversies they started and to consider the themes and questions raised by the texts, and their moral implications. In written assignments and class discussion, we will explore what, if anything, these novels have in common and what they may contribute to the study of literature. Students will be asked to engage critically with the texts they encounter and to hone their close reading skills while also considering historical and cultural contexts of the novels.
L14 245 E LIT (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES

From Harlem to Hollywood: A History of African American Film Directors
Pioneering African American film director Oscar Micheaux once said that "truth was the predominant characteristic" of his motion pictures. This class will introduce students to the history of African American directors who have worked in Hollywood and independently of it, from the 1920s to the present, and consider how they used their films to communicate their cinematic truths about race in America. We will begin with Micheaux and study directors such as Gordon Parks, Julie Dash, and Spike Lee. Films to be considered include Within Our Gates, Boyz in the Hood, and Love & Basketball, among others. Students will learn the essential components of film language and how African American directors have used feature filmmaking to resist racist depictions of African Americans onscreen and to impact a larger cultural narrative about race relations in the United States.
L53 222 FMS (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

FRENCH

French Level 1: Essential French 1
This first course in the French language stresses rapid acquisition of spoken French, listening comprehension, reading, and writing skills. It is designed to immerse students as much as possible into French language and culture. The five-day-a-week course is taught in French to impart communicative competence through the acquisition of everyday grammar and vocabulary. The textbook works with a feature-length French film in order to create a meaningful and culturally relevant context for the grammatical and thematic structures studied.
L34 101D FRENCH (5 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

French Level 2: Essential French 2
This second course in the French language program focuses on more advanced language skills to stress further rapid acquisition of spoken French, listening comprehension, reading, and writing skills. It is designed to immerse students as much as possible into French language and culture. The five-day-a-week course is taught in French to impart communicative competence through the acquisition of everyday grammar and vocabulary. The textbook works with a feature-length French film in order to create a meaningful and culturally relevant context for the grammatical and thematic structures studied. Prereq: Fr 101D or equivalent (often recommended for students with 2-3 years of high school French [7th and 8th grades counting as 1 year]).
L34 102D FRENCH (5 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

GERMAN

Introduction to German Through Film-CANCELLED

HISTORY

History and Controversy: A Survey of American History-CANCELLED

Western Civilization II
This course provides an introduction to the history of modern Europe. It begins by following Europeans from the upheavals of the Enlightenment to the French Revolution, and from the industrial revolution to the era of nation-state building; continues by exploring how Europeans became embroiled in the scramble for empire, the era of "totalitarianism," and two disastrous world wars; and ends by examining how Europeans coped with the divisions of the Cold War, the collapse of communism, and the challenges of unification and resurgent nationalism. Introductory course to the major and minor.
L22 102C HISTORY (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

JAPANESE

Introduction to Basic Japanese I
Intro to modern spoken Japanese through aural-oral drills and exercises, and mastery of the basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on the spoken language, although there will also be exposure to enough of the Japanese writing systems to meet practical needs.
L05 1051 JAPAN (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

LINGUISTICS

Introduction to Linguistics
Language is one of the fundamental capacities of the human species, and there are many interesting and meaningful ways in which it can be studied. This course explores the core components of linguistic theory: speech sounds (phonetics and phonology), word formation (morphology), sentence structure (syntax), and meaning (semantics). It also provides an overview of interdisciplinary ideas and research on how language is acquired and processed, its relation to the mind-brain and to society, and the question of whether the essential properties of language can be replicated outside the human mind (specifically, in chimpanzees or computer programs).
L44 170D LING (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

MATHEMATICS

Introduction to Statistics
Data collection: sampling and designing experiments. Data organization: data, tables, graphs, frequency distributions, numerical summarization of data, and consumer price index. Inference: elementary probability and hypothesis testing.
L24 1011 MATH (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Finite Mathematics: Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Graphs
Introduction to number theory, combinatorics, graph theory, and their applications. Methods of proof and practical applications: calendars, scheduling, communications, encryption, etc. Prerequisites: high school algebra. No knowledge of calculus, trigonometry, or geometry is required.
L24 220 MATH (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

MUSIC

Introduction to Music
This course explores Western music from the time of Beethoven to works by today's composers. Among the 19th-century composers we study are Chopin, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. Our discussion of 20th-century music includes works by Debussy, Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein, along with music of contemporary composers Philip Glass and John Adams. The class will attend live orchestra concerts on campus and a Broadway musical offered in the city. No previous musical experience is required for this course.
L27 101 MUSIC (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

PHILOSOPHY

Logic and Critical Analysis
Introduction to the elementary tools of logic required for constructing and critically evaluating arguments and the claims they support. Topics include: the nature of an argument; argument structure; how arguments can fail both in structure and in content; formal and informal fallacies; propositional logic and predicate calculus; and critical analysis of rhetorical strategies for presenting arguments. Students will be encouraged to develop critical reasoning skills that can be widely applied.
L30 100G PHIL (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 3:00-4:45 p.m.

Biomedical Ethics
A critical examination, in light of contemporary moral disagreements and traditional ethical theories, of some of the moral issues arising out of medical practice and experimentation in our society. Issues might include euthanasia, genetic engineering, abortion, medical malpractice, the allocation of medical resources, and the rights of the patient.
L30 233F PHIL (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 3:00-4:45 p.m.

Great Philosophers
This course offers a survey of some central figures and texts in the history of ethics and political theory, focusing on Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, and Rawls. We will address questions such as: What constitutes the good life for a human being? What does it mean to be a virtuous person, and how, if at all, does virtue contribute to happiness? What reasons do we have to be moral, and is it always in one's interest to do the right thing? When is political authority legitimately exercised? How ought the goods in our society be distributed? Our goal is not just to appreciate the genius of some great philosophers but also to grapple with the current philosophical problems they have bequeathed to us.
L30 125C PHIL (3 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

PHYSICS

NOTE: The physics courses are extremely demanding when compressed into a five-week summer session. They should be taken only by students with a very strong science background who will commit wholeheartedly to the study of physics for the entire session. We strongly recommend that students not enroll in any additional courses if taking physics.

General Physics I
First semester of a two-semester, calculus-based introductory physics sequence designed to expose students to the concepts, laws, and structure of physics. Topics include kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, linear momentum, angular momentum, conservation laws, gravitational force, harmonic motion, wave motion and interference, sound, and special relativity. Five 1.75-hour lectures, five 1-hour problem-solving sessions, and two 3-hour lab sessions each week (all mandatory). Prerequisites: high school physics, Calculus I or familiarity with differential and integral calculus of simple functions. See NOTE under Physics heading above. Available only to students who have completed their junior year.
L31 117A PHYSICS (4 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:15-12:00 a.m.
Laboratory A: MW 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Laboratory B: TTh 1:30-4:30 p.m.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Introduction to Political Theory
This course offers an undergraduate level introduction to the field of political theory. We will focus on three major themes-social justice, freedom, and democracy-reading some canonical texts, such as Bentham's Intro to the Principles of Morals and Legislation and Marx's Capital, but emphasizing contemporary works, such as those of John Rawls and Robert Dahl. Each meeting we will consider some foundational moral problem or question in politics.
L32 106 POL SCI (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 3:00-4:45 p.m.

Introduction to Comparative Politics
One of the primary goals of this course is to familiarize students with a broad array of political systems. The approach taken in this course is that of the active acquisition and use of a set of tools for looking at the political world. In other words, instead of putting emphasis on what textbook writers think political scientists know, in this course the emphasis is on "how we know what we know" and on building knowledge. This approach equips students with a set of tools to use long after the course is over. These comparative tools are focused on historical, recent, and current events, and students are provided the opportunity to delve more deeply into a study of the parts of the world they find most interesting.
L32 102B POL SCI (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 3:00-4:45 p.m.

PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction to Psychology
Survey and analysis of concepts, research, and theory covering the areas of learning, memory, motivation, personality, social, abnormal, clinical, and biological psychology. Introduces the diversity of questions, areas, approaches, research, and theories that compose the study of mind and behavior.
L33 100B PSYCH (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00-10:45 a.m.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Introduction to the World's Religions
A basic guide to the world's religious traditions, including readings from the sacred scriptures. Topics include: primal religion; ancient Mesopotamia, India, and China; Maya and Aztec religion; Judaism; Buddhism; Christianity; and Islam. We will visit places of worship in the St. Louis area.
L23 1150 RE ST (3 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWThF 1:00-2:45 p.m.

Introduction to Philosophy of Religion-CANCELLED

SPANISH

Elementary Spanish I
Beginning language program stressing rapid acquisition of spoken ability with immersion teaching method.
L38 108 SPAN (4 units)
Sec. 21 MTuWTh 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Elementary Spanish II
Continuation of Spanish I, this course parallels the methodology of Spanish I, but covers more sophisticated grammatical skills . Prerequisites: college-level Elementary Spanish I, or two to three years of strong high school Spanish.
L38 109 SPAN (4 units)
Sec. 41 MTuWThF 9:00-11:30 a.m.