Splash Spring 2017
Course Catalog

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Arts College Prep.
Lunch Math & Computer Science
Humanities Science
Miscellaneous

Look back at these courses from the last BC Splash and get some ideas of what kind of courses you might be interested in for this coming session…



Arts

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A1680: The Evolution of Taylor Swift
Difficulty: *

"In 10 years, Taylor Swift didn't just become one of America's biggest pop stars. She became the pop star of a generation." From the fearless 16-year old girl to the pop icon born in 1989, Taylor Swift has truly transformed the music industry. Join us as we listen to Swift's music and analyze her evolution over the past decade.

A1627: BBoy Basics: An Introduction to Breaking Fundamentals
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kevin Huang

Join us for a dance workshop focused on beginners. We will be walking students through simple routines that combine basic toprock and floorwork steps, to introduce students to and hopefully inpire further interest in the breaking style.

This is a course intended primarily for novices. Experienced dancers are welcome and appreciated but will not receive as much educational benefit from attending.

Bring comfortable clothing that will be easy to move around in; this workshop can be physically rigorous. Sweatpants and t-shirts are a good idea, jeans and boots are questionable.

Participants will be spending extended periods of time on the floor.

A1645: DIY friendship bracelets!!!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lilya Taibi

Have you ever wanted to make something special and handmade for your friends and family? Well I'll help you with that wish. Join this class and I will show you how to make some bracelets and iron-on patches. These are really easy and simple. Bring your own ideas as well. Open to beginners and amateurs alike.

A1709: Understanding Music
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Josh Mentzer

This course will examine some of the fundamental questions of music, including how artists use techniques to assign meaning to music, the role music plays in culture, and the ways in which a listener can engage with it. We'll do some listening and plenty of discussion, and try to take a fresh perspective. No previous experience necessary


Prerequisites
None

A1862: Origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Hyun Ji Yim


College Prep.

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C1635: Budgeting & Personal Finance
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Justin Casey

Would you like to take control of your financial future by understanding the basics of budgeting, credit scores, consumer behavior, and other personal finance concepts? Then this is the course for you!


Prerequisites
None

C1649: College Survival Guide
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily Solimini

This course will offer you tips that will allow you to have a better grasp on college and have a smoother transition! Learn all you need to know about college, varying from roomates, time management, hook up culture, and handling tough situations.

C1630: CV? What's a CV?
Difficulty: *

What's the difference between a Resume and a CV? What even is a CV? How long is that supposed to be? What's a cover letter? What do you put in a Resume? Had any of these questions? We'll answer them and more with tips and tricks to how we write Resumes and CVs for any situation, high school or college!

C1638: Making Friends
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sydney Bernal

Making friends is hard, and we often don't admit that. This will be an interactive class that works to strengthen the skills that are necessary for having meaningful conversations and creating true connections with people.

C1644: Intro to Business and Business Philosophy Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Daniel Paulos

C1661: How to Make a Splash in College
Difficulty: *

Sit back and relax while we show you the ropes of college life. Curious about the transition from high school to college? Two BC freshmen will share their experiences and answer any and all questions college related or not!

C1671: How to Make Friends in College
Difficulty: *

College is hard. We aim to provide an overview to college and the harrowing task of making new friends! We provide a few tips as well as try and come up with new ones with you guys!

C1687: Fact or Fiction: The Portrayal of College Life in Movies and TV Full!
Difficulty: *


Lunch

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L1712: 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

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M1647: Shark Tank: Entrepreneurship and Startups
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rohan Dixit, John Reim

This class will cover the basics of what entrepreneurship is, how it works and what skills you need to succeed as an entrepreneur. We will spend time talking about how you can create a business, design a web sight, as well as have a brainstorming session for creating new products. We will watch clips from shark tank and look at what it takes to present your product.


Humanities

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R1683: Social Media, Politics, and You Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Max Houghton

R1643: The Economics of Dating
Difficulty: **

Ever wonder how many people you should date before settling down? What about whether you should dump your significant other when they ditch you? With this class you will learn how to mathematically prove to someone that you need to be together or break up.


Prerequisites
algebra, logarithms

R1684: America: Where Do We Rank?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Noah Jussila

America is thought by many to be the greatest nation ever. Those who think this are more often than not those who call it home. This course will be an in depth discussion about the idea of American Exceptionalism, and whether or not it is true. In the time of "America Great Again", this class aims to discuss if we are great, if we ever were great, and if being great matters.


Prerequisites
A very basic understanding of American history.

R1686: Intro to Politics and Economics
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bill Nyarko

This course will be focused on assessing the relationship between politics and economics in genera. We will focus on specific examples on how business and government interact to affect the public. No previous knowledge necessary.


Prerequisites
N/A

R1665: Abnormal Psychology and its Representation in Modern TV Shows
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Elizabeth Kopec

We will analyze different mental disorders and relate them to TV show characters that exhibit the disorders.

R1672: Around the World in 50 Minutes: Food, Art, and Sightseeing
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Amelie Trieu

Explore international food, art and travel. Learn tips on making the most of your international experiences from a seasoned traveller.


Prerequisites
None

R1668: Creative Writing
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Victoria Cady

Do you like writing? Do you want to learn how to write something other than an essay?

In this workshop we will talk about different forms of writing and work on developing character, plot, and settings in a variety of genres. You will have a chance to learn about and write in whatever genre interests you, getting feedback and strategies for improving your writing skills!

R1699: It's Against the Law!....or is it?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Caroline McMahon

Learn all the different laws that everyone should know in their everyday lives. There are loopholes and intrigue everywhere in the legal world, come find out!


Prerequisites
None

R1702: The Art of Communication
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mary McCarthy

The art of communication explores the intimate connections between interpersonal conversation and mass media globally.


Prerequisites
N/A

R1663: Why People Still Care About Shakespeare
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Isabella Dow

Whether you love the Bard of Avon or find him “loathsome as a toad”, he remains today one of the greatest names in the history of Western literature. To shed some light on this, we will be looking into the theatrical and thematic elements of his plays, as well as the historical context of Shakespeare’s career. You will leave the class with a better understanding of Shakespeare and his plays, and insight as to why people still bother to read and perform them 400 years later.


Prerequisites
It would be helpful if students have read something of Shakespeare's plays. However, if your knowledge of Shakespeare extends no further than the movie "The Lion King" (which was loosely inspired by Hamlet), that's okay too.

R1629: Resiliency and Self-Care
Difficulty: **

The Resiliency and Self-Care course covers some essential bases required to live a happy and healthy life. We believe that a course such as this one should be required of all students throughout different stages of life. This course allows for introspection that can help students to have a greater awareness and ability to navigate through their everyday lives. By analyzing hobbies, friends, family, values, etc. and by learning skills to help carry
students through their days, they find that they are better able to manage negative emotions and challenging experiences, coming out ontop resiliently.

R1648: Crainquebille and the Nature of Justice
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Matthew Barad

The little known play Crainquebille, written by Anatole France in 1922, is the story of a simple street peddler who finds himself the victim of a great crime -- but who is there to blame? Through examining George Orwell's 1943 adaption of this short text, we will uncover the nature of justice and whether a fair society can truly exist.

R1654: Get Psyched! - Positive Psychology
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Allie Fridstein

What is positive psych? It's developing hope, resilience, strengths, coping strategies, gratitude, and wellbeing. We'll talk about ways to cope with stress when life gets too hectic, how to turn strengths into skills, and how your resilience can be your greatest asset.

R1655: Suicide Prevention
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Allie Fridstein

This class is designed to teach you how to conduct a suicide assessment, how to talk to others about suicide, and what resources are available. This is not a group therapy session, nor will any students be asked about their personal mental health. Death is a serious subject and it is important for students to learn about the warning signs/what they can do to help, but please be cautious signing up for this course if you feel it will be triggering for you.

R1666: The Shakespearean Sonnet and Other Creative Writing
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rachel Drew

Learn to write a poem in iambic pentameter, similar to how Shakespeare wrote his sonnets, and work on your other creative writing skills through exercises and concentrated focus on skills.

R1673: So You Want to be Indiana Jones: Archeology 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jamie Myrose

Get your fedoras and whips ready! In this brief introduction to archeology, we will learn about proper archeological methods, tools, locations, and what we do with the things we find. There will be a specific emphasis on the work done by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, Israel, home of the only confirmed Philistine Cemetery. *Cue adventure music*

R1676: Democracy and Dictators: Intro to Comparative Politics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: John Colpoys

What's the difference between an absolute and constitutional monarchy? What does "semi-presidential" mean? Is there such a thing as a "perfect" form of government? This course will examine the different types of government seen around the world, and assess the benefits and shortcomings of each.

R1688: Geography and Foreign Affairs
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ashley Smith

This class will cover the importance of geography and the role it plays in international relations.

R1694: Economics Makes Cents!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bernard Ho

Students will learn the basics of economics through simulations in which they will decide on how to allocate scarce resources and also practice their bargaining skills!

R1708: Trump, Clinton, and the 2016 Presidential Election
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Zuppone


Science

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S1681: Staying Alive - Life Saving Interventions with BCEMS Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: BCEMS Comm Ed

S1628: Intro to Earth Science
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Justin Mistikawy

Do you love the planet we live on? Are you interested in finding out more about how the Earth works and how humans interact and influence it? This class will offer an intro into Earth and environmental science by looking into climate, the oceans, and how continents are formed and shaped over time.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of science

S1682: EMS Operations and Healthcare Careers with BCEMS
Difficulty: **
Teachers: BCEMS Comm Ed

Learn about the operations of EMS, and specifically the roles of EMT's. Also learn about other healthcare professions such as Doctors, Nurses, and Physician Assistants.

S1705: "We're Going to Need a Bigger Boat": Shark Portrayal in Films
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sarah Stefanski

Shark movies are summer classics. From JAWS, Deep Blue Sea, Sharknado, Finding Nemo, etc. sharks are portrayed in different roles from villian, to monster, to comic relief. Come learn some of the facts vs fiction about sharks, how the movies we watch affect our perceptions of sharks, and what we can do to help these creatures in the future.

S1621: Introduction and Applications of Cell Biology Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Marissa Hollyer

S1710: Introduction to Cancer Biology
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lucius Xuan

Interested in biology? Studying cancer is a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary effort that unifies many different fields in biology. This course will cover all the basics to build a basic knowledge of what cancer is, how we study it, and how we fight it.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of genes, and an interest in biology.

S1651: From Alchemy to Chemistry
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Robert Leahy

This course will look at some of chemistry's foundational scientists and the groundbreaking experiments they performed in the midst of the 18th Century Enlightenment, marking the beginning of the scientific discipline as we understand it today.

S1697: Examining the Human Brain: A Closer Look at What Makes You
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Daniel Gil

Have you ever wondered what allows you to move, think, or even breathe? Have you ever wondered what makes up your free will and personality? Look no further as we examine neurons and the brain. We will be going over neurons, the brain, chemical signals, and then taking a philosophical approach to free will and thinking.

S1632: Fuel Your Body
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Caroline DeLuca

This course covers the basic nutritional needs required for all individuals. We will delve into the material utilizing specific formulas to calculate exact requirements for individuals. Using the MyPlate icon we will do some meal planning that can be taken home and applied to everyday life. In addition, we will cover what each nutrient does for our bodies and approximate how much we should be consuming of each. We will cover serving sizes of certain food items and hacks to recognizing a serving size as such. In a country where underrating and overeating are both prevalent, it is important for all to know what appropriate and healthy eating looks like and consists of. In completing this course, students will better be able to care for themselves and for others they care about nutritionally.

S1657: Intro to Marine Biology
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Matt Holliday

A crash course on all things Marine Bio related ranging from Sharks, whales, sea stars, algae, and mollusks.

S1700: Health Assessment Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jeanette Jimenez


Miscellaneous

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X1714: Introduction to Anime
Difficulty: *

If you know the Pokemon theme song by heart, this is the class for you. We offer an introduction to the exciting world of anime (Japanese animation)! We will discuss some themes of the three main archetypes of anime: shojo, shounen and kodomo. We will delve into the rich culture of Japan through this underrated art form.

X1640: Could Jack have survived in Titanic?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Elizabeth Coughlin

I want to finally sink (pun intended) the ongoing debate. Could Jack have fit on the door with Rose? If no, why does everyone think yes. If yes, whose fault is it? Rose's?The prop manager's? The director's? Yours? Come to my class to find out. Even if we don't find out and we end up even more confused then I'm sure it will still be fun.


Prerequisites
I suggest watching Titanic. Spoiler alert: Jack dies.

X1698: The Art of Conversation
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily Czeisler

Ever feel at a loss for words? Taking the first step is always scary, but you never know when you're going to get to know you're new BFF or mentor. Don't let your inhibition get in the way any longer-let's dive into the conversation together!

X1696: Were humans meant to eat chili peppers? Why do people love the heat?
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lauren Snyder

In this intriguing course, students will learn the history behind the chili pepper and its original uses. We will examine what effect spiciness has on a human being and attempt to answer the question "We were ever meant to eat them?" This will touch upon epigenetics and how a culture can change a biological process.


Prerequisites
none

X1667: History is Like a Box of Chocolates: Exploring the 1950's - 1980's through Forrest Gump
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Dan Hysell

“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.'” Come join us in looking at history through the eyes of Forrest Gump! From the 1950's up through the 1980's, Forrest's journey took us through many important events and points in history. We'll take a look at how accurately some of these events are portrayed in the film and what their importance in history has been. Bubba Gump Shrimp lovers are welcome!


Prerequisites
Anyone is welcome to attend the class, but we recommend having seen the film Forrest Gump prior to the class to avoid spoilers and understand its references.

X1669: Gambling for Rich People: Investing in the Stock Market
Difficulty: **

Want to learn how to make your money work for you? This class offers a basic introduction to personal wealth management and the functioning of capital markets. Topics included: stocks, bonds, indexes, commodities, and basic portfolio theory.


Prerequisites
ability to understand complex graphs

X1706: The C-Suite: Start-ups, Business Planning, and World Domination
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Julianna Marandola

Want to be your own boss? Have a great product idea? Love Shark Tank? Learn how to plan your business, pitch a venture, and determine valuations for your very own company in this entrepreneurship crash course!

X1659: Sign Language and Deafness 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Cassie Gaff

We will explore the complex world of the Deaf and the beautiful language they use, American Sign Language (ASL). You will leave knowing ABCs, numbers, colors and basic words/phrases.

X1677: When Life Gives You Lemons...Make Money!
Difficulty: **

When Life Gives You Lemons...Make Money! Join Smart Woman Securities BC to learn how you can turn your allowance, birthday money, or earnings from a part time job into more for your future!

X1701: Intro to Finance and Economics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: John King

Do you know what the Stock Market is? Have you always wondered what people mean when they talk about recessions or interest rates? Curious to learn a little bit more about what really happened in 2008? This course will offer a basic overview of both finance and the US economy. Anyone looking to broaden their understanding of these topics and more should take this class!

X1670: 7-7 Football!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jamshaid Sulahry

We're playing 7-7 football, come to learn, laugh, and play football!

X1650: Creating Your Vision
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Therese Villa

How would you like the world to be in 20 years? Think it's impossible? Think again! This class is all about finding your vision for the future and figuring out the manageable and stretch goals you can set to make that vision a reality.

X1679: Juggling 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: John Hanron

Have you ever wanted to impress your friends with your juggling skills, but you don't really have any? Well, let's change that. In this class, we will learn how to do a simple three ball juggling toss. Learn the basic form so that you can practice and become a master of the art!

X1658: All Started By a Mouse
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Cassie Gaff

Love Disney? Come play a trivia game with people who are passionate about it too!

X1633: Hispanic Studies
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Nicolas Buonanduci

¡Hola! Do you have an interest in Spanish language and culture? Have you ever been to Spain, or another Spanish speaking country? Do you just really like tacos? If so, this class is for you. This class, co-taught by two Hispanic Studies Majors, will expose students to the intricacies of Spanish culture and its influence on modern American society. This class will be conducted in English, with introduction of Spanish vocab words.

X1703: Breakdancing
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Hongshik Park

Learn how to breakdance and impress your friends!

X1636: What do you know about the people all around the world?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Meiyi You

The course is based on the major discussion of Intercultural Communication. I will share my personal experience traveling and studying around the world and introduces some ideas about stereotypes, cultural metaphors. This course will combine with my own insights in the world culture and the academic knowledge I learned in the course Intercultural Communication.

X1639: The Art of Strategy: Yeah, I'm a spy.
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sydney Bernal

The Resistance? Coup? One Night Ultimate Werewolf? What do all three of these games have in common, besides being super fun. They call for lying, deception, and deduction. You must either manipulate your way though the game as a spy, or fight to stay alive as a villager. In this class we will play games, then discuss what went right, and more importantly, what went wrong, as well as discuss our own personal strategic choices, why we made them, and how we plan to change them in the future.

X1641: Freakonomics I
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Joseph Affanato

What Do Schoolteachers and Sumo Wrestlers Have in Common? How Is the Ku Klux Klan Like a Group of Real-Estate Agents? Where Have All the Criminals Gone?

This course is explicitly structured around Stephen Levitt's book "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side to Everything." Have no fear: you're NOT expected to have any knowledge about the book! The book’s central idea is that, if morality represents how people would like the world to work, then economics shows how it actually does work.

Why the conventional wisdom is so often wrong...How “experts”— from criminologists to real-estate agents to political scientists—bend the facts...Why knowing what to measure, and how to measure it, is the key to understanding modern life...What is “freakonomics,” anyway? Some tenants to the study of Freakonomics are: incentives are the cornerstone of modern life; the conventional wisdom is often wrong; dramatic effects often have distant, even subtle, causes; “experts”—from criminologists to real-estate agents—use their informational advantage to serve their own agenda; knowing what to measure and how to measure it makes a complicated world much less so.

X1685: Commander in Chief
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Adam Martin

This hour-long class will discuss the American presidency. It will cover the powers granted to the President by the Constitution as well as how the President's role has changed during American history. We will be looking at a number of presidents such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, and others. By the end of this class, students will have an understanding of the type of office Donald Trump has inherited and how much he himself can influence it.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.

X1695: Marvelous world of comics
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Matthew Sheahan

Do you like the superhero movies, and want to know more about what inspires them? Learn about the quickly growing medium as comics. Discover this history of Marvel comics and how they use the medium to enhance their superhero stories.

X1707: Sarcasm: Unleashing the Sass Master
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Julianna Marandola

Learn about the art of sarcasm, from its usage in conversation to its role in literature. At the end of class, one student will be crowned the "Ultimate Sass Master"- so come prepared with a healthy dose of cynicism!

X1769: Traveling on a budget
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sean Healy