Splash Fall 2010
Course Catalog

We hear music and sounds all day, every day. The radio in the car, the traffic on the street, students chatting in the hallway, choirs, orchestras, fire alarms, air conditioners, TV's, your own breathing... But what distinguishes noises from real music? What can we learn about people by the music and sounds they produce and the music they listen to? Is there a broader range of sounds than what we traditionally think of as music?

In this class, we will listen to and produce a variety of sounds and discuss what makes them musical or not while expanding our frame of reference and appreciation for everyday sounds. We will also examine and attempt to gain a better understanding of the expression of true creativity and artistic ability through music. Depending on interest and prior knowledge (and available time), we can also discuss topics of music theory, music history, influential pieces in Classical literature, etc.

Music is perhaps the most diverse universal language ever created. Ranging from genres Classical, Rock, Jazz, and Blues, music is always finding new modes of expression. Ironically however, the majority of Western popular songs tend to follow a general musical pattern that is in a way the foundation of all Western music. This class will focus on how simple techniques in music theory have shaped the majority of the music we know and love today. In addition, participants will engage in a discussion of some philosophical questions in music, such as "Is the music today always copying someone from the past?" and "What is it about music that makes it so enjoyable?" The class will draw upon a diverse group of examples from Pop, Classical, and Rock genres to name just a few. By the end of the class, participants will leave with a stronger appreciation of music and the knowledge of how to effectively write their own simple songs. (No experience of any kind required)

This introductory course will investigate the dialectical process required to establish a rock and/or roll music "group" within the time frame of one standard Gregorian calendar week. Topics covered will include song writing and craft, instrumentation and its diversity, band merchandise theory, and rocking the heck out in front of your friends. Musical experience not necessary, though a desire to rock is.

One of the most iconic popular music bands of all time, Pink Floyd revolutionized the musical soundstage with their hypnotic instrumental solos, dramatic performances, and profoundly relevant lyrics. This class will consider the music of Pink Floyd from a wide cultural, social, philosophical, and literary perspective to try to decipher some of the many musical themes and messages throughout their work. We'll listen to and examine songs from several of their most popular albums, including "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall".

In this class students will be exposed to three distinct styles of dance: ballet, jazz, and hip hop. Together, we will go over basic technique, meaning no dance experience is necessary to participate in the class. The students will learn and perform three different short pieces of choreography, while gaining confidence and learning a fun way to stay fit. The two hour session will conclude with a dance-off/party to celebrate the students' new skills! Bring a water bottle and clothes to move in!

Create your own posh and Chic one of a kind designs with wire and beads.

The age old, time tested friendship bracelet will be explored. In this course, participants will learn how to make a variety of friendship bracelets.

Almost everyone has heard of Lady GaGa, she is viewed by many as the newest and most revolutionary pop sensation. This class will examine a couple of her songs, her extravagant public persona, her performance style(s), her sources of inspiration, criticism, and of course, her outrageous costumes.

You base your life around a song. Your friend thinks the same song sounds worse than a herd of dying sheep. Are both opinions valid? Not really. This class will show that there is an objective way to listening and writing about music. Throughout the class, we will listen to a few songs. Using brain science and the wisdom of some of the most astute rock critics, we will work through the songs and discover that there is a concrete, sharp way to explain why you love the music you love.

You're the host of a party where everyone is spontaneously turning into chickens. You're a film director with a time machine. You're a row of dominoes contemplating their purpose in life. Act accordingly. In improv acting, you and a few other people are given an odd, open-ended situation, and together you act out a scene on the spot. If you've seen "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", you know the general idea. Improv is easier than you think! You don't need any acting or improv experience. We'll start with some games that get you thinking on your toes and building on each other's creativity. You'd be surprised what kind of scenes you can create.

This class is primarily to develop an understanding of electronic music, from basic appreciation of the various genres to actual djing. Participants will immerse themselves in the electronic music culture, looking at the influences, who are influenced, and how electronic music will become a classical genre one day.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that is rich in culture and history. We will teach you the cultural and historical influences that influenced this Brazilian national art form, while demonstrating its basic, yet essential movements.

Everyone has a camera these days, but how many people actually know how to properly use it? Students will bring their own personal cameras from home to a hands-on class taught throughout the Boston College campus. After every technique taught, students will practice their new skills throughout the campus!


Prerequisites
Please bring a digital camera

Irish dance is often seen as rigid and boring, but the Boston College Irish dancers bring a new twist to old-school dancing. This class will have a short demonstration of Irish dance. We will explain the basics of Irish dancing and competitions and the different components that separate it from other dancing. Participants will learn a basic step or two at the beginner level that incorporates some of the more modern beats and steps we do as a club.

This class will focus on the major plays of 20th Century America and a short introduction to playwriting itself. Students will write their own plays and learn about playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Eugene O'Neill and many others.

Intro to Modern Graffiti

A combination of singing nuns and Nazis is what this class has to offer. Participants in this class will look at the historical elements of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, and discover the facts and myths behind the Academy Award winning film and legendary musical. Participants will look at important clips in the film and discuss the World War 11 history as well as the Von Trapps themselves. The class will discuss the impact the show and music had in its time. Who knows, maybe we'll even sing a little Do Re Mi!

Without a doubt, the 70s produced some of the greatest movies ever made. From "The Godfather" to "Star Wars" to "Jaws," this decade absolutely defined cinematical excellence. In this class we will watch clips from movies made during this period, including "Patton," "The Deer Hunter," "Rocky," and "Annie Hall," in addition to many others. We will then discuss in class why these clips were so awesome and how these movies differ from the movies we see at the Box Office today.

This is a beginners salsa class. Students will learn a small routine taught by members of BC's only latin dance team, Fuego Del Corazon. We will spend about an hour teaching the routine, then students get to show us what they got! In groups, students will perform for each other, and afterwards they will vote which group had the most Fuego in their dance!!

You don't stop playing because you grow up, you grow up because you stop playing. Creativity and curiosity is being slowly sucked out of us from an early age. This class will focus on an introduction to Parkour and Freerunning as a physical discipline that is driven by a philosophy and lifestyle. Through videos and demonstrations students are exposed to the art of movement and we hope students leave with a new outlook on the world and the capabilities of the human body. Parkour exposes people to the power of overcoming obstacles and limitations in life and this mentality is an amazing tool that builds confidence, personal freedom and discipline.

"Addition and multiplication seem like such basic ideas. You can add numbers, and you can multiply numbers, and that's all there is. But what if you could add or multiply things that *aren't* numbers? This fundamental mathematical generalization opens up a new world of much richer ideas, and uncovers the truth about algebra.

We're going to study ring theory, one branch of algebra that investigates what happens with a set in which you can add and multiply. We'll focus on polynomial rings while developing ring theory in general. This class is going to be extremely fast and abstract, so be prepared for quite a ride if you come! You should be familiar with high school algebra in full and ideally know polynomial division."

In this class, students will learn how to setup and build a website running on Linux / Apache / MySQL / PHP (LAMP) using the Wordpress content-management system.

Mark Twain once quipped: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Learn how to spot a damned lie by taking this class in basic statistics! There are no prerequisites, but it is strongly advised that participants have a strong grasp of mathematics. (Side effects of this class may include the urge to write angry letters to newspapers every time they misuse or misunderstand statistics.)

Imagine a future where robots exist in everyday life: walking on sidewalks, serving you breakfast, and competing in sports on TV. That future is very close, and in many ways it's already here. In this course we will focus on behavioral artificial intelligence, specifically how machines can be made to move around in realistic ways. Participants will be shown a variety of AI examples from actual robots to virtual simulations. Emphasis will be placed on the general ideas behind AI behavior, as well as more in-depth analysis about how certain techniques actually work. There are no prerequisites for the course.

Do you want to learn how you can win rock, paper, scissors every single time you play? If so, this is the class for you! This is not a course only for students who have a knack for math, all are invited to learn how math can relate to YOU! Game theory is a branch of applied mathematics. This course will focus on its applications in pop culture. This means that the movies and tv shows you watch, the games you play, and sometimes even everyday activities are applied game theory. This course will explore some of these uses through fun simulation and watching clips of game theory in action!

You probably walk by subway route maps every day without even bothering to glance at them. Unbeknownst to you, maps like these form the basis for the rich mathematical field of graph theory. In this class, we will introduce graph theory and a few useful algorithms. There are no prerequisites, but it is strongly advised that participants be able to think logically. Additionally, it is recommended that you ride the T home from Splash - so, you know, you can do some "math on the T."

"We all (or most of us anyway) exist in three spacial dimensions. But this is not the only dimensional possibility. Have you ever considered how the world would seem if you were flat? What if you were a line? What if you had a fourth spacial dimension that you cant even perceive because of the nature of your tri-dimensionality?

This two part class will consider first the nature of the spacial dimensions, the worlds they view, and how different dimensions interact. Secondly, the class will discuss the dimensional nature of the universe, the structure it takes, and what this structure means to us. "

Do you get the sense that you should enjoy doing math but the problems you do in school are always boring, repetitive, and rote? There are thousands of deep, fun, *interesting* math problems, and this class will be an exploration of some of my favorites.

Problems will range from basic problems that everyone can approach to olympiad-level problems. You'll be able to work on your own, teaming up with others in the class to work on the problems you get stuck on."

All around the world, goddesses have been worshipped and revered ever since the beginning of civilization. Although their names were different from culture to culture, they were all significant within religion and society because they marked the importance of women. This class will focus on ten goddesses from around the world with a look at their abilities, their powers, and their stories. The class will be both

Everyone has heard of the movie based on the mythical Greek strongman, Hercules. This class will explore the true story that Disney does not want you to know. Learn about Hercules' mental issue that were left out of the script. Hear about the tragic family issues Herc wanted hushed up. Participants will learn about what makes Hercules the most baller dude in the history of the world.

I will explore one possible meaning for the broad term "Philosophy." I hope to define it in such a way that engages the class and excites them. This class is designed to relate philosophy to their everyday lives and hopefully get them interested in exploring the topic further.

This class will take an in-depth look at the colleges and universities that have the best return on investment, the highest endowment per student and the highest median salary for a mid-career graduate. A final grade will be given to the top 50 schools based on a calculation composed of these three criteria.

Your friends use propaganda on you every day. In fact, YOU may even be using propaganda on yourself without knowing it. Propaganda has been used throughout history as a powerful form of persuasion. Come learn about various techniques that can be used in everything from television ads to daily conversation between friends. Compete for the chance to win a trip to Florida for FREE!

Have you ever been frustrated by something a person in your life has done/said to you? Disappointed by something you have done or failed to do? Surprised by yourself or someone in your life?

This class will contrast various perspectives on human freedom and choice. How free are we? Do we decide what happens in our life or do preexisting circumstances and past choices determine our fate?

A spectrum of sociological/historical, philosophical/theological, and psychological approaches will be examined from popular culture (film) and classic authors pertaining to these subjects.

Tech startup companies are one of the leading forces driving societal change. This course will serve as an introduction to the world of startups, a world where fortunes are made and lost and innovation happens daily. Learn about how today's web giants got started, how the startup model works, and how you can be a part of it all.

This class will focus on the history behind the making of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. We will focus on the Manhattan Project, the men behind the program, the controversy involved, and how the bomb change the face of the world and politics.

Before he was a President, John F. Kennedy won a Pulitzer Prize for the book "Profiles in Courage." The book presented a collection of accounts of acts of political courage displayed by several U.S. Senators who lived and served in Congress at different times in history and who faced different important issues, but each of whom took strong stands in politics based on the dictates of their conscience. One chapter discusses the courageous acts of Edmund Ross, a Senator from Kansas during the 1860's who went against his party's will and the will of his constituents by voting against the impeachment of the incredibly unpopular and arguably incompetent President Andrew Johnson in 1868. Ross didn't like the President, and he didn't want to lose the respect of his fellow colleagues and supportive voters, but the Senator felt that circumstances such as those pertaining to the impeachment of Andrew Johnson were foul and wrong; he felt that if the Senate were able to remove the President on the charges Johnson was accused of (and they were flimsy charges) then the respect that people in the country had for the office of president would be severely damaged. Ross could not in good conscience support the removal of President Johnson. Because of Ross' vote in the Senate, Johnson was not impeached, Ross' supporters abandoned him, and he wasn't elected to the Senate again. History has shown, however, that Ross did the country a service by understanding that removing Johnson would have sullied the office of the Presidency, hurting the nation in the long run. My class will be spent explaining at greater length who Senator Ross was, what the issues of President Johnson's impeachment included, how Senator Ross reached the conclusion he made to vote against impeachment and how he saved Johnson’s presidency. Also, I will speak of how Ross was ostracized from politics for a time because of his vote, but how we owe him a debt of gratitude for what he did to retain the dignity of the office of the Presidency when so many others would have had it ruined. On a level that will affect students more closely, I will show how Senator Ross serves as a model for what a person of courage does when conflicts of conscience come between doing what one feels is right and following the will of others. I will talk of the importance of Senator Ross' choice to vote against impeaching the President in comparison to everyday experiences when ordinary people are met with similar conflicts.

Know your rights, be informed, and be able to rightfully defend yourself from law enforcement! Can you declare your independence better than the Founding Fathers could? Get into their minds by analyzing the Declaration of Independence. What's the relation between food and law? Law and fashion? Law and music? Come find out!

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, FourSquare, and Ping. There has been an explosion of social media websites in the past five years. How do you utilize these tools to your advantage when it comes to building your image not to the entire population of your high school, but to the entire population of the world?
Learn to go beyond the simple world of picture tags and group invitations to discover how the more sophisticated forms of social media can work for you.

Sociology is defined as the science of the fundamental laws of social relations. Reality TV is the perfect venue to watch sociology in action. Want to know why everyone picks on Angelina? Why the meaner Knight was to Jemmye, the more she loved him? It's all explainable through simple sociological laws.

Do you want to be a teacher, or do you want to just criticize your teachers? What traits do you think are needed to make a good teacher? Everyone has opinions and beliefs about teaching, and in this class we will be able to share those ideas with each other and have a crash course on different aspects of teaching.

An in depth examination of the Dark Arts in Europe beginning with Gridelwald and going through the defeat of Lord Voldemort. We will study all the important events on the timeline, including the most important historical figures. We will then break down into small groups to discuss the importance of the events and figures we have studied in world context. Students will emerge with a much better understanding of the historical importance of the rise and fall of the Dark Arts in Europe.

This course willbe a brief survey of the Kennedy Administration. It will begin with John F. Kennedy's run for the presidency and conclude with the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy on June 6, 1968. The class will utilize clips of prominent speeches "Ich ein Berliner, Inauguration, California Primary victory, etc." Participants will come away with a new look in to "Camelot" and with the potential to see how these formative years in American politics transformed the presidency and American memory.

In this class we'll break down the fundamentals of writing a short story - and in doing so come to terms with the fact that there are almost no rules. We'll examine a full spectrum of approaches by professional writers as well as take time for in-class writing exercises and comments. The course will not only hopefully give students a chance to improve their own writing, but at the very least introduce them to a college writing workshop.

In this class, we will focus on various aspects of thinking, from the small scale to its place in the Western world. We will begin with an introduction to critical thinking and argumentation, followed by real world applications of theories of thinking (Aristotle, Kant, Peirce), and then a look at how thinking works in society (Foucault and Adorno). Though all big ideas here, they will be made concrete and accessible. Participants will receive a crash course into how to think better in their everyday and academic lives, and be given an introduction to looking at Western society.

If you like being a boss, then this is the class for you. We all have an entrepreneurial side, come learn about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and how to build a career doing what you love everyday.

We will explore many topics including but not limited to: how to go about building your own company, why you shouldn't write a business plan, the start up culture, why starting a company is similar to jumping off a cliff while building an airplane on your way down, venture capital, valuation, and the funding process.

The world suffers through a lot, betrayal, deceit, malice, violence, etc.
But are we complacent with such happenings? Why do you believe this has come about? We want to know and understand through discussion what is the roots of all evil. Are you Happy is the topic of discussion in which we ask that very question. Then we want to follow up on such questions to empower and show how can we gain happiness, or at least what is the evil that prevents us from such goals.

Throughout the ages, comedy, satire and parody have been used as both entertainment and social tools. It is comedy that not only makes us laugh, but makes us think. During the course, we will examine the science of making people laugh and view the work of noteworthy comedians (i.e. George Carlin, Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres, Bill Cosby). We will also discuss the importance of comedy and what it does to positively affect our perspective on life. As the class progresses, we will take a consensus of what the class finds funny and then try to collectively come up with a short act. Finally, students will volunteer and try to improvise an brief act (2-3) to gain a feel for stage presence.

We will examine the political structures of Harry Potter's world and discuss the ramifications of their political schemes. Attention will be specifically applied to the differences between the Voldemort's authoritarianism versus Dumbledore's multi-party meritocracy at Hogwarts. Division of power will be discussed within the context of the Ministry of Magic and their different branches of government. The class will cover all seven books, so yes, it contains spoilers.

Since humans have been able to communicate, there have been journalists disseminating information for people to understand and feeding the unquenchable human desire for knowledge of the world in which they live. These journalists have chronicled humanity in black and white, and sometimes in shades of yellow. This course will survey historical people and cases, from the sinking of the USS Maine to the 9/11 attacks, and demonstrate how journalists have shaped what we know and what we don't know about moments that shaped history.

We will take you on a journey through time to discover how our US government became what it is today. We will talk about how our government is organized and how we, as citizens, fit into it. Our objective is to inspire political action!

As is clear, sports and law intersect often, and this has been the case for more than a century. With impending work stoppages in both the NFL and NBA, this will give a chance to explain and discuss, among others: collective bargaining, anti-trust suits, free agency, steroid investigations, visa exemptions. Additionally we will look into college football's championship and discuss its legality and whether or not Congress should intervene. Other topics can be discussed or focused, depending on class size, knowledge, and preferences.

As technology increasingly makes communication and information flow easier across the world, easier to experience different parts of the world, it also allows us to understand how other societies live. This class will serve as a discussion and knowledge exchange about developing countries: how they live and their current challenges, along with topics such as their GDP, human conditions, and the role of health, education, and infrastructure in their environment. Are the basic standards of living met by a latrine and a tin roof - why or how can we measure it this way?

Who would Socrates have jammed to? What would Thoreau's favorite LP be? What can listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" teach you about Taoism? All these questions and more will be answered in this introduction to the greatest thinkers in history and the 20th century artists who have embodied their greatest teachings. Students can expect to get a crash course in some of the best music ever made while pondering and discussing what it says about the meaning of life (Nirvana attainment not guaranteed, but we will listen to them).

This class will focus on the psychology of insanity through Edgar Allan Poe short stories. Focusing especially on The Tell Tale Heart, this class will delve into the historical background of insanity in New England during the time to see Poe's background. And finally, see how the main character is driven mad and led to murder.

How the US deals with obscenity is, by definition, incredibly poorly defined, most famously codified when Justice Steward declared that "I know it when I see it". In this class, we'll discuss why obscenity is so hard to pin down in law and both how and why we deal with it as we do right now.

The Apology of Socrates reads like a twenty-five hundred year old rap diss. In this lecture, we will discuss the context of Socrates' trial, quickly review his defense, and ponder the philosophical implications of the Socratic method. Along the way, we will discuss contemporary figures in Music, Art, and Politics who have challenged the status quo, and how they compare to Socrates.

Turn on the news and you will be bombarded by news of government failures, botched bills and twisted legislation. The right people never seem to be running office and the country is plagued with problems. Why is that our system of governance always faces so many challenges, this class attempts to explain some of these. We will focus on some of the inherent problems with democracy in America and address many of the inequalities created by capitalism. This class is a critical analysis of our economic and political systems from a radical perspective.

We will take a look at three groups of soldiers, one from early America, another from the Civil War, and a final group who fought in WWII, and discuss the important and bloody battles that these people served in. The groups are all 'outcasts,' or people that were not considered real Americans at the time, but after checking out their individual battles we will talk about how their brave and often deadly service allowed different minorities and social groups to become considered Americans by more people in the country.


Prerequisites
Be interested in amazing stories and battles, and you will love this class.

Uncertain whether that certain someone shares a mutual attraction to you? Stressed about acing a job interview? Or how about just making a good first impression? Body language is non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movement. This class will focus on how to recognize body language in our everyday lives (i.e. true intentions, hidden desires), but also how to use it to one's advantage. The class structure is half instructional, half interactive, and ALL FUN. Participants will learn how to enhance their communication with and understanding of others.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” We often presume that Einstein's theories are too complex for the non-mathematical person to ever fully comprehend. Einstein, however, arrived at most of his theories primarily by way of visual thought experiments rather than number crunching. In using our imaginations, we will venture to understand the consequences of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity

Theoretical Scientist Stephen Hawking has predicted that a first encounter with aliens is not only probable, but also potentially cataclysmic for humanity as we know it. What would humanity do in the occasion that a hostile alien force invades earth? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE that we could survive such an encounter? This class focuses on Earth's primary defense strategy against such a threat. Students will become adept at cold war and guerrilla strategy needed to fight an alien onslaught. Will YOU be prepared...?

"If you ever read about astrophysics, you hear about these huge flaming balls at distances of hundreds of light-years in which nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium (or helium into carbon, or carbon into all kinds of stuff...) produces massive quantities of energy. Scientists talk about the ""diameter"" of stars. The color of stars. The temperature of stars. The age of stars. But... you look up, and stars are just these tiny dots in the sky. We don't have any telescopes powerful enough to enlarge them to anything *other* than tiny dots in the sky. How in the world can we figure so much out about stars if we can barely see them?

Find out in this lightning tour of our galaxy."

Organ donation is often an intimidating and misunderstood, yet important process. The goal of this class is to debunk the myths surrounding, and promote awareness of blood and living organ donation. An emphasis will also be placed on the postmortem donation of tissues and organs. Those participating will learn how get involved and save a life through the donation of organs!

At absolute zero, all movement stops. In the approach to absolute zero, new phenomena and applications emerge. We will discover how to get down to near zero temperatures, the applications of cryogenics, and amazing new phenomena that emerges at those temperatures. Be ready to chill out with liquid nitrogen demonstrations that explore superconductivity, superfluidity and the physics of it all!

When people communicate with each other, their conversation relies on many basic, unspoken assumptions. We often learn the basis behind these assumptions long before we can write at all, making them difficult for computers to learn. These assumptions underlie all forms of human communication from teaching, to giving directions, to ordering dinner at a restaurant. A user who interacts with a computer interface, however, can become frustrated because the computer does not understand their goals and motivations. For human-computer interaction to become as fluent as communication between humans, computers need to be able to understand the user’s basic, unspoken assumptions. These assumptions form the body of knowledge known as “common sense” and we’ll be discussing how it is collected and used by the AI research community.

Starting with the basic electric and magnetic charge, we will develop concepts surrounding electro- and magneto-statics using amazing tools to demonstrate electricity and magnetism as well as their relation to one another. Create lightning and explore liquid magnetostatics!

We all know someone who has had cancer. But what IS cancer exactly? Why is it so common? And how can we cure it?

In this class we'll talk about why YOUR OWN cells can malfunction to give you cancer. We'll tackle the topic of how caner treatments work, why people lose their hair, and what scientists are doing today to make personalized medicine.

"The ideal of the zombie apocalypse has fascinated society for years. This class will focus on how the lucky survivors deal with the zombie-infested end of the world. Topics include how to avoid infection, appropriate weaponry and other methods of defense, and maintaining one's own humanity in the face of such terror. Sources we will look to may include Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead, the films of George Romero, Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide, and many more. Participants will leave this class armed with information that, when the time comes, may prevent them from joining the morbid ranks of the undead.

Fantasy Sports... for those who aren't athletic enough to actually play sports. We will teach you how to dominate your leagues, talk some smack, and become really cool because of your vast knowledge of football, basketball, baseball, WNBA, Survivor, Bochie Ball and squash.

Between better scouting, better statistical analysis, free agency, and new technologies, baseball executives have more at their disposal than ever before. Our class will look at the economics of baseball and how they have changed over time. What does it take to build a successful organization? What do stats really tell you? We will answer these questions and more.

The course will cover some common misconceptions of happiness and compare it to joy. Famous quotes and websites as well as psychology studies will be provided. How to live life happily and some hacks and tricks of becoming and staying happy will be discussed.

Fantasy sports have swept the nation as a new pastime for all sports fans. Although the average american is unable to own a professional sports franchise, we now all have the ability to create a fantasy team to compete against our friends. While these teams typically revolve around sports, Fantasy leagues of all types are starting to pop up around America. Ranging anywhere from Fantasy Football, to Fantasy Survivor, (yes thats the TV show) this class will revolve around three issues. 1) A brief yet substantial history of the evolution of Fantasy Sports. 2) Fantasy Leagues today, and the modern state of Fantasy Sports. 3) The art of building your own Fantasy team, no matter what sport involved.

World of Warcraft, gaming's best established massive online game, is about to change forever. On December 7th 2010, Blizzard will release the game's third expansion aptly name Cataclysm, which will greatly alter the game's mechanics and story. In addition to lore progression, new content, and a redone beginner experience, Blizzard has used Cataclysm as an opportunity to take a philosophical shift in game design. Participants in this class will take part in a discussion about the game design decisions that went in to the changes in Cataclysm, as well as how these changes will affect the future of online gaming.

This course will combine all of the elements in running an NBA Team. From the financing of the team to ticket sales to building a roster to the salary cap to the NBA Draft, this course will attempt to cover all of the intricate decisions that must be made by the executives of a professional basketball club. It will cover the player personnel side as well as the economics of sport. In this course, I hope to give the audience the understanding of how their favorite team truly runs, a better understanding for how and why teams are built the way they are, and why certain teams are perennial contenders and why others consistently struggle to compete.

In this class, we will travel the world catching new Pokémon, fighting against Pokémon trainers, especially your rival, making new friends, winning Gym Badges to enter tournaments, and thwarting the attempts of bad guys such as Team Rocket.

We will be exploring examples of how to become the Pokémon master, the strongest trainer in the Pokémon world and learning how to apply our understanding of Pokémon concepts and knowledge.


Prerequisites
The desire to be the very best, like no one ever was.

Many long distance runners struggle with choosing the right foods to eat to optimize their performance. Eating healthy during the week is just as important as eating well on race day. What type of foods should runners eat? How much should a distance runner be running in terms of mileage a week (in season and out of season)? Come to this class and you will find out!

MTV's 'Jersey Shore' has drawn curiosity, criticism, and laughter. Does this show stereotype New Jersey and Italians? How much of this show is true? This class will discuss Jersey Shore's popularity and outspoken disapproval. Should Jersey Shore really be taken of the air or have critics overreacted? We will also spend time discussing other television shows that have been affiliated with stereotypes.

Beyond a list of necessary things to bring, this class describes how to survive crazy roommates, hard classes, boring weekends, homesickness, procrastination, academic and social pressures, time management and much more.

An introduction to the mastery of wedding crashing. This is a skill imperative for life, love (kinda), and happiness. Wedding crashing is not limited to childish behavior, but rather is an art form that takes much practice and instinct to acquire. Our course will use the film Wedding Crashers as our Bible and Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as our prophets. Students will learn the rules to crashing weddings, how to come up with the perfect name (and full background), how to improvise a conversation with a man who actually believes you are his distant cousin, and oh so much more.

Life is a race at 100 miles an hour for the need to know generation and the person who harnesses technology will be the winner. Simple email etiquette, using a calendar, and even an intro to google documents will be included in this class. Students will walk away better able to use a crucial technology that is free of charge, intuitive, and integrates easily into many other aspects of their lives.

Created in the Ming Dynasty the Chinese Yo-Yo was known as the half-bell. Though its European counterpart created in 500BC is much more popular in the modern world, the Chinese Yo-Yo continues to shine in the shadows of entertainment. Today it has evolved to become the Diabolo seen in acts like the Cirque du Soleil. Participants will be able to try out this cultural activity and also learn the history and the physics behind it.

In this class, students will take a tour through Ireland commencing with a flight from Logan Airport to Shannon Airport. Students will learn the intricacies of Irish Football, learn about typical Irish attire, shop in the most famous districts, view Ireland's most historic spots, and bask in the beauty of the Irish landscape.

"Brigadeiros" are delicious chocolate treats enjoyed at many Brazilian birthday parties. This class will teach you the basic, simple recipe on how to make brigadeiros as you learn about a variety of small societal facts on Brazil, including some other famous culinary dishes, their cultural influences, and music. You'll get to roll your own brigadeiro on sprinkles, if you'd like, and sample the treat after class!

Ever wondered how David Ortiz can hit a baseball over 400 feet? It's not just lots of muscle, good hand-eye coordination, and years of practice (Although those are very good things to have). Physics plays a huge role in an athlete's ability to play baseball. This class takes into account basic physics ideas, such as force and torque, and explains how it affects the game. A special focus put on throwing and hitting.

Few rivalries have ever been as polarizing as PC versus Mac. The recent surge in Mac popularity in the 21st century has caused the debate to only get more heated. This class will be run by two instructors: one an avid Mac user, the other a PC fan. Students will be divided into two groups representing their own opinions. Each group will debate the issue of which system is better over a range of different categories. The course will end with a final class vote to decide on a winning side.


Prerequisites
None

A short workshop based on the experiences of four young women at Boston College. We will be sharing our own stories as well as encouraging others to share theirs. There will be ice-breakers, activities, video-clips, etc. geared at taking a deeper look at female self-esteem in relationships, insecurities, and life in general. It will be a real class based on real women and their real experiences giving an honest look at the pressures and obstacles of being a young woman in today's society. There will also be a panel at the end of the class to answer any and all questions posed by our students.

The freshman year experience will be explored. Many struggles will be explored and a variety of hot button issues will be discussed, such as mental health, bad roommates, social scene, and MORE. Also involved, how to manage time correctly and how to get actively involved in extracurriculars.

In this class we will learn about certain aspects of nutrition and how to make healthy snacks that still taste fabulous! Using all natural ingredients and blenders, we will make "fudge babies" which are a combination of healthy ingredients that mix to make a surprisingly delicious chocolate snack. In addition to taking home the treats you make, we will also teach you how to make other delicious treats to be made at home.

Basic knowledge of first aid is an everyday applicable skill. It is useful and empowering to be able to provide basic aid to a person in need. This class will focus on teaching basic first aid skills. Participants will get hands on experience with some basic first aid materials while learning basic skills. In addition, participants will be able to experience and learn a bit about more advanced forms of emergency medical care.

Ever wonder if any of the bizarre cases in House are possible? This class will take you through different episodes and explain the medical jargon. Students will also get a chance practice diagnosing patient "x" in a hypothetical case using what they have learned in class.

The automobile's influence is more far-reaching than that of almost any other invention. Cars can affect our moods, our budgets, our lives, and our planet. Whether participants have merely a slight affinity, or an overwhelming passion for cars, they will enjoy this class and take away from it a deeper appreciation for the automobile. The objectives for this class are to give: a brief history of the modern automobile, a broad-spectrum view of the modern automotive industry, an in-depth analysis of a few pivotal manufacturers, and a look to the future of personal transportation. The class will end with a question/answer session and a debate.

It’s one thing to dream…it’s quite another thing to go out there and make your dreams a reality.

Society today promotes a sense of entitlement, a sense that we deserve all the world has to offer without putting in the work required to get it. As a result, many believe they do not have to challenge themselves or work hard to achieve their dreams. Those people who hold this mindset find themselves falling short again and again. This class hopes to preempt that mindset. Making Every Day Your Masterpiece will help you discern what character and integrity really mean. It will help you to identify what you really want to accomplish and how to go about accomplishing it. This class will also help you to realize success in a manner far beyond that of the standard measure of accolades.



Prerequisites
Enthusiasm and Energy