Splash Fall 2013
Course Catalog
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Arts | College Prep. |
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Humanities | Science |
Walk-in Seminar | Miscellaneous |
Arts
A987: Music Videos and their Impact on the World
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Fabiola De Armas
Music videos each have a purpose behind them. Most songs reflect the sentiments of the artist, which can cause a social phenomena. This course will analyze some music videos that have had great social impact.
A973: Creative Writing: Poetry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sophia Gorgens
A workshop style creative writing poetry class. We will be reviewing one student written (that's you!) poem per person anonymously as a class so writers can receive feedback from both their peers and instructors. Students will develop a vocabulary for constructive criticism, and an eye for "what works" and "what doesn't work" with regards to writing.
Prerequisites
Students are required to send an original poem two days before class to gorgens@bc.edu.
Prerequisites
Students are required to send an original poem two days before class to gorgens@bc.edu.
A957: The Dark, Twisted Fantasies of David Lynch
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tessa Mediano
Want to learn more about America's weirdest film director? If you can handle a healthy dose of the macabre, the surreal, coffee, and cigarettes, then this intro class to David Lynch is perfect for you! We'll be looking at the dominant ideas in Lynch's work, his influences, and how his style has evolved. No past knowledge of Lynch is required. Ability to enter into the darkest corners of the imagination and escape unscathed is recommended.
A974: Creative Writing: Fiction Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sophia Gorgens
A913: Theatre Games and Improv Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Billy McEntee
A920: History of American Rock
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Justin Mistikawy
A look into the lives and music of some of the US's earlier and most influential musicians, including Elvis, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, Jimi Hendrix, and more.
A978: Which was better - the book or the movie?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sara Komorowski
Hollywood has become increasingly dependent on pre-existing stories to turn into films - out of the top 10 highest grossing films of 2011, 8 were sequels and 2 were adapted from books. In this class, we will explore the difference between books and films, look at some of the different ways to adapt books into screenplays, and check out some examples of both awesome and not-so-great adaptations. Texts that we will study include Harry Potter, Frankenstein, Tuck Everlasting, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, and more!
A945: How to Be Awkward
Difficulty: *
This is a fine art that can only be perfected with the wonderful people at BC. It's all about embracing your awkward side and making friends while doing it. Learn to step outside of your comfort zone.
Prerequisites
Background of embarrassing moments. Weird habits.
Prerequisites
Background of embarrassing moments. Weird habits.
A977: Beginner Swing Dance
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Xing (Ellie) Hou
For those who enjoy dancing, jazz music, and being silly!
A951: The Greatest Movie Scenes of All Time Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jim Andersen
A975: Beatles to Bastille: A Brief Intro to UK Rock Music
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Arev Doursounian,
Kirsten Hedde
Everything you need to know about good music! An interactive and enjoyable introduction to a variety of music from the United Kingdom, from the first British Invasion to the second. Come relax and listen in while we explore the best music out there.
A942: Fun Dance Class
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
ANNA MEDINA,
Judith Pareyon
College Prep.
C926: The Art of College Admissions: What High School Students Need to Know About the College Application Process Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Roy Y. Chan
C935: Killer College Essays Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexandra Truglio
C931: Friendship Bracelets and the Art of Crafting College Friendships Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Morgan Festa
C924: Med School Declassified Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Susana Benitez,
Sean Singer
Lunch
L906: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:
Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.
Math & Computer Science
M989: Don't Be Stuck Unaccountable: Accounting 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Doug McKenna
Ever wonder what an accountant has to do every day? Thinking of majoring in accounting in college? This class will provide a quick overview of accounting and how to get involved in the field!
M928: Ever to Excel!: An intro to Microsoft Excel
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matt McGrath
Learn how to use Microsoft Excel to organize your life!
M922: Imaginary Numbers: Exploring i
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anthony Hernandez
Interested in complex numbers? Want to know more than you learned about them in your high school math class? Complex numbers are very intereting in themselves and also have real world implications. No extensinve math background needed to join this class!
Humanities
R930: Being a Soldier in WWI: A discussion
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Madeleine Reed
A discussion about the experiences of World War I soldiers from different countries including the horrors of trench warfare and the destruction of nationalism.
R947: Tales Through Treachery: How Video Games Change Storytelling
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Christopher Sulmonte
During its 40 year history, the video game industry has innovated itself into a major source of entertainment. Its technologies allow players to compete, connect, and explore on a level not seen in any other medium. However, what is most striking about the industry is the growing push to apply the mechanics of level design and gameplay to tell compelling and emotional stories. In this class, we will look at how video games have taken traditional archetypes of storytelling and redesigned them in a new and exciting way.
R992: 80s, 90s, and Now: How has high school changed over the decades? Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Caroline Kohler,
Erica Paglierani
R929: Crash Course: Creative Writing
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Julie Ertl
Crash course on the basics of creative writing. What does every good story need? Why are your favorite books/stories your favorite? How do you beat writer's block? Where do you even start?
Come to class with an open mind, ready to write and to discuss!
Come to class with an open mind, ready to write and to discuss!
R927: Myers Briggs Personality Test Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kyle Lee
R910: Pop Music as Poetry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Christopher Dalla Riva
With the expansion of recorded music over the 20th century, pop musicians have become modern day poets. As the 16th and 17th centuries had Shakespeare, the 20th and 21st centuries have had Dylan and Springsteen, Lennon and McCartney, Chris Martin and Taylor Swift. This course will focus on Bruce Springsteen's epic "Thunder Road" in order to learn how to analyze and understand music in a poetic sense and how to apply the lessons learned to a larger context, both literarily and philosophically.
R918: The Hunger Games as a Cultural Artifact
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Marissa Marandola
So you've read all of the Hunger Games books, watched the movie, and have the release date of Catching Fire marked on your calendar. Have you ever wondered why The Hunger Games is so popular with our generation? Why do we love this story of violence, murder, and political oppression? This class will explore the cultural context of The Hunger Games and why it seems to speak to American teens and young adults of today. We will discuss what the popularity of The Hunger Games says about American culture and politics and how people our age see the world.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the general plot of The Hunger Games.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the general plot of The Hunger Games.
R937: The law of Superheros
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Heeyoung Leem
Is Batman's work all in "bane" (Vain)? Can someone murder superman? are super hero's and super villain's actions/punishment protected under The Constitution or Constitutional?
R946: The "F" Word: A Discussion of Feminism
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Molly Phelps
Why are so many people afraid to call themselves a feminist? Didn't that movement end in the 1970s? This class will be a discussion based seminar about the issues of feminism today, and why it's crucial now more than ever to fight for feminist issues. Open to men and women alike!
R961: All the Honeys Makin' Money: Beyoncé, Feminism, and Pop Culture
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Bianca DeBellis
This is a sociology course that deconstructs the patriarchal system in which our pop culture functions. Fun!!! We will look directly at Beyonce Knowles and decide together whether she functions inside or outside of this patriarchal system.
Prerequisites
Bring your thinking caps....kidding...but really.
Prerequisites
Bring your thinking caps....kidding...but really.
R915: A foolhardy attempt to explain Heidegger's Being and Time
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Corey Steiner
"You've never read philosophy before? You know, the Introduction to Heidegger's Being in Time is a great starting point"... said no one, ever.
Step into a chaotic world of self-references and words without definitions that will unquestionably leave you more confused than when you started. Kick back and enjoy as I try to turn one of the densest philosophical works of all time into something that can maybe be talked about on an extremely basic level. No prior knowledge necessary; just bring your thinking caps and an openness towards discussing the abstract thought processes of a weird German guy.
Step into a chaotic world of self-references and words without definitions that will unquestionably leave you more confused than when you started. Kick back and enjoy as I try to turn one of the densest philosophical works of all time into something that can maybe be talked about on an extremely basic level. No prior knowledge necessary; just bring your thinking caps and an openness towards discussing the abstract thought processes of a weird German guy.
R972: Secretly Shakespeare: Contemporary Movies Based Off Shakespeare's Plays
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Annie Fountain
Think you don't like Shakespeare? Think again! Many of our favorite movies are based off of Shakespeare plays and show these similarities through themes, plot lines, and character names. In this class, we'll study the parallels between Hamlet and The Lion King, The Twelfth Night and She's the Man, and The Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You. We'll look at excerpts from the texts, watch movie clips, and have some great conversations!
Prerequisites
This class is suitable for all high school students or any middle school students who have an interest in Shakespeare. While it would be nice to have seen some of the movies or read some of the plays, it is not necessary because I will summarize them all thoroughly.
Prerequisites
This class is suitable for all high school students or any middle school students who have an interest in Shakespeare. While it would be nice to have seen some of the movies or read some of the plays, it is not necessary because I will summarize them all thoroughly.
R916: Why So Existential? - A Philosophical Analysis of "The Dark Knight" Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Markley
R936: Living through the Boston Marathon Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexandra Truglio
R912: How to Blow Your Friends' Minds and Then Shatter Their World with Philosophy Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Markley
R917: Guillotines, Death, and Pigeons: Max Robespierre and the French Revolution
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Allison Shely
Sometimes the only thing more "out there" than a revolution is the person leading it. This is certainly true of the French Revolution and Maximilien Robespierre, who rose to power in its bloodiest stage. How did the Revolution, which began as a struggle for "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity", devolve into a "Reign of Terror"? And how did Robespierre, a soft-spoken lawyer fond of feeding pigeons during strolls in the park, come to be remembered as a tyrant and political terrorist? In this class, listen to the story of a man who devoted his life to a movement, only to have the movement destroy him.
Prerequisites
An introductory world or European history course will be helpful, but not necessary.
Prerequisites
An introductory world or European history course will be helpful, but not necessary.
R932: Is Voldemort Hitler?! A World War II/ Harry Potter Comparative Class Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cara McPhillips,
Delia Ridge Creamer
R941: The Good Life
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gjergji Evangjeli
This course will consider what the good life is and in what way it is possible to attain it. The principal question the class will try to answer is what the good life is and how it is possible to attain the good life.
Prerequisites
None.
Prerequisites
None.
R954: Do you exist? If so, then this is the class for you! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jeremy Fryd
R968: The World According to Calvin and Hobbes
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matthew Mazzari
Bill Watterson's beloved 90s comic strip about the wild adventures of a 1st Grader, Calvin, and his "imaginary" (?) tiger buddy, Hobbes, explores some of life's biggest questions. What is art? How is one "moral"? Are humans inherently good, or evil? What if God is just a big chicken?! What then??
Join me in taking a second look at this hilarious and thought-provoking strip, as well as the philosophy it references so well. If you read Calvin and Hobbes as a kid, or even if you just think seeing a 6-year-old and a stuffed tiger postulate the meaning of life, this is the class for you! Yukon ho!
Join me in taking a second look at this hilarious and thought-provoking strip, as well as the philosophy it references so well. If you read Calvin and Hobbes as a kid, or even if you just think seeing a 6-year-old and a stuffed tiger postulate the meaning of life, this is the class for you! Yukon ho!
R970: What is Normal?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
alex madronal
In this class we will discuss what "normal" is and how "normal" can differ for every person through topics such as self, ego, and death. On the other hand though normal can take on a unanimous meaning for a society as well and cause people to think and behave in a certain way.
R991: Greek Mythology Percy Jackson Style
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amelia Digirolamo
Ever found Greek Mythology to be interesting? Love Percy Jackson and The Olympians? Get a crash course in Greek Mythology Percy Jackson style, starting with the rise of the gods and going from there. Explore the myths mentioned in the books and how Percy stacks against the heroes of old.
Prerequisites
If you have never read any of the Percy Jackson books, I would highly recommend reading them because they are great books, but it is definitely not required that you do.
Prerequisites
If you have never read any of the Percy Jackson books, I would highly recommend reading them because they are great books, but it is definitely not required that you do.
Science
S956: Living Healthy Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Enrico Forlenza
S938: What is Space?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Heeyoung Leem
What is space? is it empty? What's a black hole? what is a star? What keeps you on the ground?
S990: How to Manipulate Freezing Points and Boiling Points
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Can Ardic
Learn how to manipulate freezing points and boiling points and see it in action on a popular cold dessert.
S993: The Solar System: What you don't know Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cole Hawkinson
S914: Technological Innovation in the Internet Age: Social Networks, Mobile Computing, and The Cloud Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jake Cohen
S984: Crank up the Heat: It's Chemistry Time! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mike Dolan,
Philip Lam
Walk-in Seminar
W923: Reaching Your Full Potential: the Rewards of Hard Work
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Bryn Ambrose
Want to become someone? Got great ideas and want to move on them? Well, I got news for you: life isn't (usually) handed to you on a silver platter! You have to work hard and be the best to get what you want! This course will apply various Economic principles to everyday life choices in an effort to inspire you all to be the absolute BEST you can be and prove to you that amazing feats can be accomplished through hard work!
Miscellaneous
X908: How to Save a Life Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Zirko
X933: So That's a Woman: The Female Roles in the Disney Classics Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Natalie Anderson
X985: Buy This, Not That Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Silvia Turk
X996: Southeast Asian Student Association: Who am I?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Austen Hendler,
Ryan Lee
In this class, we will give you the tools to define yourself. First, we will explain how you are a product of culture as well as unique and individual life experiences. We will then shed light on the complexities of ethnic and racial identity and how they play a role in making who you, who you are. Finally, we will conclude by showing you how you can begin to define yourselves in high school and beyond!
X939: There's Always Time for Others
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jennifer Stewart,
Sara Williams
Service doesn't just have to be a section on your resume, it can become part of your life and one of the most rewarding activities you do! We will teach you how to incorporate service and volunteering into your life, no matter how busy you are.
We'll discuss the role service plays in your lives and how you can bring what you learned back to your schools and communities while working on a mini-service project.
We'll discuss the role service plays in your lives and how you can bring what you learned back to your schools and communities while working on a mini-service project.
X955: Students for Education Reform: What's Wrong with Schools and What You Can Do About It
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Katie Mallon
School means something different to every student but there's no doubt that everyone has the right to an A+ education. If you want to talk about some of the problems in schools, hear why they (and you!) matter, and learn some of the things you can do, this is the class for you!
X909: First Aid: Do you know what to do in an Emergency? Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Zirko
X981: Do or Diet
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jung Lee
Explore the various diets that exist and learn about their advantage and disadvantages. Diet isn't just for loosing weight, but maintaing a healthy lifestyle. Come learn about what makes aspects of these diets are beneficial to your health.
Prerequisites
none
Prerequisites
none
X986: Da da da...Da da da: The World of Sportscenter and ESPN
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Brendan Pier
Learn all about the worldwide leader in sports. From the history of ESPN, to how the network operates, this is the class to take if you eat, live and breath sports.
X952: Healthy and Nutritious, Magically Delicious!
Difficulty: *
Learn how to satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling too guilty about what you ate! Learn recipes and the how-to of healthy desserts.
X979: A Jillian Micheals Inspired Workout Class
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emily Kleinlein,
Julia Walker
Are you wanting to learn the tricks to staying fit? Get ready for a high intensity cardio, strength, and abs workout! Based on Jillian Micheals's 3-2-1 workout, this class will be a challenge.
X953: Hair Styling and Health Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kirsten Haley,
Pamela Hickey
X948: How to Be Better Than Everyone Else
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Antonio Frietze
This course will cover how one can achieve success in personal and professional endeavors, as well as outperform peers in the area of one's choice.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
X983: How to Survive in the Alaskan Wilderness
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Conor Sulivan
Learn about the skills and supplies needed to survive in the Alaskan Wilderness with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School).
X994: Sarcasm Declassified Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Caroline McMahon
X950: Public Speaking
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brendan Koscher
Learn the terrifying, yet necessary skill of public speaking!
X943: Beyoncé 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kristen Kohlhepp,
Mary Rooney
X944: Get Happy: Start your Happiness Project
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Caroline Kelly
Who doesn't want to be happier? Based around Gretchen Rubin's Best Selling Novel, The Happiness Project, this class will discuss what it means to be happy, what detracts from happiness, and simple things you can do to make your life more happy! Start your happiness project now!
X949: Aren't you somethin' to admire? 'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Katie Ronan
X958: Manicures 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rachel Broderick
Ever wonder how to get the perfect salon-quality manicure without having to leave your house? Come check out Manicures 101! I will help you to learn the latest techniques and show you cool designs. You will even get to choose from about 20 nail colors and paint your nails during the class!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
X959: MURDER! and Pizza! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Tessa Condon
X960: Love, Sex, and Dating
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Tessa Condon
This will be a discussion based class so the direction we take is entirely up to you! Bring any and all questions you have about love, sex, or what makes a healthy relationship work. The atmosphere will be relaxed (and confidential!) with tea and cookies provided. We can discuss expectations for college dating culture, how to handle long distance relationships, and anything else you've got on your mind!
X967: Stock Market 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jupiter Angulo
X971: Tricks and Tips to Traveling Full!
Difficulty: *
X980: Real Food
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andrew Leonard
Real Food is a national movement promoting local, organic, and equitably produced food. Included among the promoted ideas are sustainable agriculture, worker's human rights, and increasing access to nutritious food. There is a chapter of Real Food at BC and four or five members including me are interested in discussing some of the concepts with the Splash audience. These are relevant concepts to anyone, but particularly to those who are unlucky in having insubstantial access to high quality nutrition and/or are interested in combining the wellness aspect of Real Food and similar concepts with the growing employment opportunities.
Prerequisites
None except maybe a history and future of eating food.
Prerequisites
None except maybe a history and future of eating food.
X982: Creating Colorful Cupcakes! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kirsten Haley,
Pamela Hickey