Splash! 2011
Course Catalog


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This is the catalog for Splash 2011. Please note that since our teachers are volunteers, most classes do not repeat from year to year. To view the Splash 2012 catalog, click here.



Arts

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A4992: Street Art Shirts Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tara Ebsworth

Bring a shirt (or other piece of clothing) and your creativity and get ready to make some one of a kind fashion. We will create and cut out our own stencils, then spray paint them onto our clothing to create permanent, washable designs.

**If you can bring a shirt to paint, please do! If you can't, we will have a few extras.

A4931: Typography and Typesetting Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tana Wattanawaroon

Typography and Typesetting are about arranging text into a piece of publication, which is in no way simple. It is about choosing fonts, size, spacing, and everything. Modern word processors have made publication accessible to anyone with computers, while taking some beauty away from this extremely delicate craft.

Take this course to learn about the basics of typography and typesetting! We will look into publications at different levels: glyphs, lines, paragraphs, and pages. We will learn how to maximize beauty while preserving readability and legibility. We will explore how technology has transformed the era of good old press into the age of digital typography.

A5567: The Physics of Singing Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Joseph Lubars

How does the voice work? What is special about singing compared with normal speech? What is the difference between vowels and consonants? How does an opera singer project over an orchestra without tiring his voice?

I'll try to answer most these questions and more, and perhaps demystify the things voice teachers tell you in their lessons.


Prerequisites
A theoretical knowledge of waves and vibrations will be helpful.

A5037: Art and Science: The visual culture of HIV public health campaigns
Difficulty: *
Teachers: samira daswani

Over the last three decades, ever since 1984, when Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was discovered, a large body of imagery has come to represent this global epidemic. Public health campaigns aiming to bring about effective therapeutic intervention for AIDs rely heavily on the visual culture surrounding this infectious disease. This visual culture serves a multitude of functions, perhaps most importantly to bring about behavior changes in large populations. Artists, NGOs, governments, and other international foundations utilize the power of visual imagery to communicate certain ideas such as ‘safe sex’. The fundamental issue of how art communicates scientific discoveries to general audiences underlies most health related visual imagery.
This class will examine the intersection of art and science in HIV public health campaigns. The three broad questions that will be investigated are as follows:
1. What is the visual culture of HIV public health campaigns? What type of images has come to represent the visual culture of this disease?
2. In what ways do art and science come together to create visual meaning in the public health sector? How does art communicate health related scientific discoveries to common people?
3. What are effective and ineffective visual public health campaigns?



Prerequisites
No Pre-requisites

A5449: Movie Time! (Pi) Full!

Like movies, but sick of mainstream Hollywood and summer blockbusters? Come join us as we watch some of the greatest (and alright, possibly weirdest) obscure films of all time!
(Movies will be followed with a discussion)

This section will be watching Pi.


Prerequisites
Permission slip for students under 17 (for R-rated film sections only)

A5093: What Musicians Should Know About Harmony Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Miriam Gershenson

You've been playing in band or orchestra for a while now. You know about notes, and you probably know about scales, but maybe you haven't heard much about chords.

In this class I'll introduce the most common kinds of chords, show you what they sound like, and discuss how they function in the music we hear.


Prerequisites
Ability to read music in at least one clef

A5391: Building the Wall: An Analysis of Pink Floyd the Wall
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mateo Williams

Analyzing the story behind Pink Floyd's film and album The Wall.

A5159: Portrait-Drawing Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessica Tran

Face it! You see people's faces everywhere and everyday, and yet you don't know how to draw something so common. Learn how to draw human faces. We will look into depth with proportions and arrangements of the human features. We will also be drawing from a live model!!!


Prerequisites
Should know how to draw beyond stick-figures

A5209: Introduction to DJing Full!
Difficulty: **

Always wanted to know how to spin a beat? In this course three student DJ's will help you learn the basics to mixing your favorite songs. We will have three portable turntables which will give you smaller group interaction with one of the instructors. When you are done with the course you might just be comfortable enough to show off your skills at the next party!

A5221: It Doesn't Just Taste Good! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Casey Dugan

In this class, we’ll make sculptures out of chocolate! But, they’ll look so good you won’t want to eat them when you’re through. In previous years students have come up with all kinds of creative designs: viking ships, a suspension bridge, rainbows, fireplaces, dragons, islands, scenes from books, space ships, turtles, houses, horses, abstract pieces, sunflowers, lily pads, chess boards, painters’ palettes, breakfast, a clock, a wedding dress, three turkeys, pyramids, trees, playing cards, robots, pumpkins, the Apple Logo, a Snitch and the Sorting Hat, and more. You can see more examples here: https://picasaweb.google.com/111405222431264859764. Candy bars don’t count… :) Come with ideas or come up with something on the spot!

Those with food allergies: Chocolate may contain peanuts or peanut products. Sorry. :(

A5415: Felt Animals: Hand-sewn and Portable Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Esther Kim

Ever wanted to carry a DiY mini animal with you? Come and hand-sew one! Sewing experience not necessary.

We will go over how to design your own pattern - and I will provide one for pandas and rabbits. Once you're done, you can stick him (or her) on your backpack, your cell phone or your keys!

*Please e-mail me at esther.sh.kim@gmail.com if you want me to bring a pattern for a specific animal


Prerequisites
Sewing experience is not necessary but please bring your patience and an animal in mind.

A5042: Birds and Music Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Evan Kuras

Ever wonder what those birds outside were trying to say? Explore the language of birds and its use in music throughout history.

A5452: Movie Time! (Metropolis)

Like movies, but sick of mainstream Hollywood and summer blockbusters? Come join us as we watch some of the greatest (and alright, possibly weirdest) obscure films of all time!
(Movies will be followed with a discussion, if time permits)

This section will be watching Metropolis.


Prerequisites
This film is in German, so be prepared to read subtitles!

A5413: Writing and Performing the Ten-Minute Play Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Cox

Called “the American theatre’s haiku” and “theatrical lightning”, the power of the Ten-Minute Play can stand you hair on end.

Students will write, rehearse, and perform in short plays based on their lives and experiences. We will cover basic structure, conventions, dialogue, characterization and performance. Student will be separated into groups depending on their strengths: writing, directing, or acting.

Samples of Ten-Minute Plays and suggestions for construction will be posted for students to review. Students may them submit scripts or ideas of their own in advance of the class, or pads and pens will be provided for students to quickly engineer plays on the day of class. From there, student will build relationships and conflict in the characters through rehearsal. In the final hour, students will perform. The emphasis is on making bold, dramatic choices and effectively "pitching" your ideas to producers, publishers and casting directors in an atmosphere of collaboration with other artists.

A5523: Infographic Design: Turning Data Into Art Full!
Difficulty: *

Representing data visually can be a challenge, but learning to do it well can make your research and presentations engaging and accessible.

This one hour seminar, taught by a team of designers from MIT’s student newspaper The Tech, will teach you to create effective and visually appealing infographics. You’ll even get a chance to draft a few yourself! Feel free to bring in your own set of data to work with (If you don’t have any, don’t worry — we’ll give you some!). Evolve beyond Excel pie charts!

A5110: Beginner Salsa Dancing
Difficulty: **

Learn the basics of dancing salsa! Salsa is a fun, fast Latin partner dance. No need to bring a partner - we'll be switching it up throughout the class.

A5530: PANINI!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Vincent Lee

Let's make panini!
Let's make them classy!
Let's make them awesome!

For sandwich connoisseurs.

A5048: Art of Improv Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Rahat Bathija

This course will focus on beginner Improv techniques.

We'll be doing some warm up exercise and move onto Who's Line is Anyway type Improv Games.


Prerequisites
An Open Mind

A5225: Advanced: It Doesn't Just Taste Good!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Casey Dugan

This version of "It Doesn't Just Taste Good" is for older students interested in making more complex sculptures out of chocolate. The goal is still to make them look so good that you won't want to eat them when you're through. But there will be emphasis on more complicated or intricate designs / forms and additional time to work on them. Examples of what I consider "advanced" sculptures from the past include: a model of MIT, a suspension bridge, etc. You can see more examples here: https://picasaweb.google.com/111405222431264859764/AdvancedChocolateSculptureExamples . As always, candy bars don’t count… :) Please come with an idea for your design so we can get started as soon as the class begins!

Those with food allergies: Chocolate may contain peanuts or peanut products. Sorry. :(

A4956: PVC Flute Choir Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:

Like music? Physics? Making stuff? All of the above?

Take this class. Explore the physics of sound production. Craft your very own instrument. Create music from plastic. Decorate your creations.

Students will individually make a single-note noisemaker out of PVC pipe and then work with a group on a more complex project.


Prerequisites
Basic algebra. No physics knowledge or musical aptitude is required.

A5152: History of Musical Theater Full!
Difficulty: **

Gershwin, Porter, Rogers & Hammerstein, Sondheim and Larson. Come learn about the growth of musical comedy, the great American theater form. Where did it come from? Where is it going? And why is the entire score of RENT so freaking catchy? Come find out!


Prerequisites
A love of theater

A5165: Knit a House Scarf Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Trevor Walker

Never knitted before? Come learn to knit, and make a beautiful, 100% wool Harry Potter house scarf for the house of your choice to keep you warm! Even if you already know how to knit, we'll give you yarn in Hogwarts colors and needles to knit with, as well as helpful tips if you run into a snag. If you have your own needles, bring them; that way you can continue working on your scarf after the class.

A5223: The Golden Ratio in Math and Art
Difficulty: **

Math in Art- what is the first thing that pops up into your mind? One of the key connections between the two is the golden ratio. Hit TV shows such as 24 have long been fascinated by numbers... and since you're reading this, you must be too! Come see how art allows us to derive the Golden Ratio and its importance in math. I plan to show how it has been seen in famous paintings such as "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. I will also show how it has been found in the very campus of Columbia University and in nature. Thus, I will then transition into talking about Nautilus Shells. I also plan to give a difficult (but fun!) math problem involving phi and then explaining the various unique and fascinating properties of phi. This course will conclude with summing up the beauty of art due to mathematics in part. You will hopefully leave amused by now being aware of the golden ratio and its presence in nature and museum walls.

A5292: Modern Music Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lauren McGough

Modern classical music - it is mind-blowing, and will stretch your definition of music. Used to Beethoven, Chopin, or even Shostakovich? Well, it turns out composers have been doing lots of radical things in the last 50 years - come find out about them.


Prerequisites
Come prepared to talk about some crazy pieces, have an open mind

A4933: Hand-Drawn Holograms Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Robin Deits

Holograms are awesome, but they're too expensive and difficult to produce to be an easy art form...until now!

In this class, I will teach you how to make abrasion holograms by hand using just a compass and a sheet of plastic. You can create a simple 3D hologram in just a few minutes, or you can spend hours creating your holographic masterpiece.

You'll be able to create 3D shapes and images, and even create pictures that change as you move them around. It's going to be awesome!

A5281: Beyond The Rhyming Dictionary: Hip-Hop Songmaking and Structure Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Evan Moore

Ever wanted to tap into your inner Jay-z, Eminem, or [insert favorite rapper here]? Well then, look no further!

The class will delve into hip hop songwriting, covering topics including the types of songs made, lyrical content and its influence on the listener, and different rhyming schemes. The production side will be delved into as well, showing the different types of beats that rappers love to lay their vocals over.

By the end of the class, students will have a new appreciation of the different purposes, techniques, and types of hip-hop music.

Sample Music, if used, will be edited.



A5368: Animation in Adobe Flash Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ramya Swamy

Ever wondered how cartoons are made? Breathe some life into your drawings! Learn how to use Adobe Flash to create a small animation of your own. We’ll discuss animation techniques from frame-by-frame animation all the way to "tweening" and inverse kinematics (come learn what these are!). This course will go pretty rapidly (but don’t let that deter you) so come with a crazy awesome DESIRE TO LEARN :D


Prerequisites
Be comfortable drawing with a mouse.

A5329: Sing a Song in French!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Abhishek Nagaraj

Parlez-vous francais?! If you do, excellent -- if not, don't worry!

In this class we won't be doing anything that resembles $$i\hbar\frac{\partial}{\partial t} \Psi(\mathbf{r},\,t) = \hat H \Psi = \left(-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\nabla^2 + V(\mathbf{r})\right)\Psi(\mathbf{r},\,t) = -\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}\nabla^2\Psi(\mathbf{r},\,t) + V(\mathbf{r})\Psi(\mathbf{r},\,t)$$

Instead we will come to class and sing a song in french -- simple!


Prerequisites
None

A5237: How to Make Your Facebook Photos Worthy of Stalking
Difficulty: **

Everyone likes stalking their friends photos on Facebook. You know you do it too :) Why not post great photos for your friends to enjoy?!

This class will give you an introduction to important elements of good photo composition so that you too can have stalk-worthy photos on Facebook.


Prerequisites
Bringing a digital camera is recommended.

A5515: How to be on the run from people who are more powerful than you are Full!

Did you piss off Michael Weston? A mob boss? The Feds? Come to this class to learn the essentials of running away and staying away from the man. Throw out your cellphones, pull out your fake passport and don your sunglasses, this class will cover how to stay low and stay on the run when you're in trouble and someone is out to get you. This class is part of a three part series with "How to plan and execute operations in deep cover" and "Chemistry of Explosions."

A5341: How To Write 50,000 Words In A Month And Survive Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sahar Hakim

Want to take that big step and write a novel? Ever think of doing the whole thing in just thirty days? Well, not to worry! This seminar will focus on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an annual challenge in November in which people must write a novel of at least 50,000 words. We’ll focus on writing tips such as how to form a plot, how to create characters and the world about which you are writing, and, above all, how to stay on track without falling too behind. And of course, November’s not the ONLY month you can do this. Find out about other writing challenges, too!

A5525: The Democratization of Verse: Poetry Discussion and Workshop Full!
Difficulty: *

Poetry like you've never felt it before.

We'll take a look at all sorts of modern poetry, focusing in on poems typical of a poetry slam. Imma show you how cool poetry really is. You'll walk away thinking, holy smokes, I never knew THAT was poetry.

You don't have to, but I encourage you to bring poems you've written. But really, you don't have to. You can come for the ride.

This workshop is a safe space. You can say anything. Be anyone.
And as a result poem content and language could be mildly offensive.


A4957: Rope Corsets
Difficulty: *

This class will teach you how to tie a couple of different styles of rope corsets using basic knots. In addition to learning practical tricks we will also go over how to make your corsets comfortable and beautiful! Rope will be provided for you to practice with during class.

You don't need a partner or any previous experience. Your own thigh or leg is perfectly good to practice on.

A4932: Color Theory in 3 hours! Full!
Difficulty: ***

This course will be a very short condensed survey course on Color Theory.

A5187: Where the Musical Scale Comes From Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rob Speer

Why does the musical scale we know consist of 12 notes, and why are they those notes in particular? It turns out that there’s some simple math that describes what sounds good to the human ear, and you can use that math to build up the familiar Western scale.

Like curious engineers, we’re going to take apart the scale and see how it works — and then we’re going to put it back together differently. By making different choices, you can end up building other musical scales used through history and around the world, or exotic scales that few people have ever heard. Instead of 12 notes, you could have 5, 19, 22, or even 53 notes in each octave.

You’ll hear some examples of music with intervals you've never heard before, learn why every piano is “out of tune” in one way or another, and you’ll even have a chance to improvise on a keyboard with a 19-note scale.


Prerequisites
Being comfortable with math operations such as square roots, fractions, and powers, and some familiarity with music notation.

A5469: BHANGRA!!! (Awesome Indian Dance)
Difficulty: **

Come join us for the 5th year of the HOTTEST class of Splash! Learn a new style of dance and get a full-body workout while having LOTS OF FUN!!! Bhangra is an energetic folk dance from the north Indian state of Punjab, and in this class you'll learn how it's done from members of MIT's very own Bhangra team. We’ll start from the basics and then teach you a full Bhangra dance that you can take back with you and show off to your friends :)


Prerequisites
A smile and a strong desire to learn a fun new style of dance!

A5168: Conducting and Interpretation Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Daniel Zhang

Learn the fundamentals of conducting and score interpretation!! We will be covering everything from beat patterns, cues and cut-offs to musical gestures and complex meters. In addition, we will also discuss interpretation with regards to compositional context and orchestration.


Prerequisites
Some musical experience. Orchestral experience not required.

A5180: The Day The Music Died Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: James Douberley

No, we’re not talking about the SuperBowl halftime show. This class will discuss the historical context and meaning of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’. As it turns out, the death of Rock ‘n Roll was long before Fergie tried to sing Guns ‘n Roses.

A5411: Intro to Beatboxing Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever felt a need to lay down a beat, but didn't have a drum kit handy? Learn the basics of vocal percussion from three members of the Chorallaries of MIT, the Institute's competitive a cappella group. We'll work our way up from a simple set of sounds to more complex (and entertaining) beats.

A5511: Aso, Shutter Speed, Aperture and All That: An Introduction to Photography Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jared Wong

Ever wanted to impress that special someone with a good profile picture but never understood how to make your camera do what you want it to do? Even if you didn't, but simply had an interest in knowing what those buttons, ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, controlled I'll teach you the basics of both the artistic and scientific sides of photography. We'll also learn simple image editing techniques and, time permitting, play with some/learn how to use expensive DSLRs and lenses.


Prerequisites
None.

A5470: Draw Manga!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ruwen Liu

Learn how to draw your favourite cartoon characters from the land of the rising sun. Cool digitizer tablet demonstrations included at no extra cost! Get your dose of essential photoshop skills and useful pikachu skills in one class.

A5389: Choral Crash Course Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Royal Morris

Think that singing is fun? Involved in any sort of musical group or want to see what it's like to be in one? Join some of the members of the Chorallaries for a fun experience in the world of a cappella.

A5004: The Art of Calligraphy Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Thomas Boning

Ever seen calligraphy before?
Ever wanted to write in calligraphy before?
Stop having a boring font, stop having a boring life! We will cover the history of calligraphy briefly and then have a hands-on course in calligraphic writing.

A5375: Improv Comedy Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Hannah Pelton

Love the FUNNY? So do we. Come learn how to make your family chuckle, your friends laugh, and your enemies submit to your humorous ways. Join us for a workshop from MIT's premier improv comedy troupe!

A4942: To Infinity and Beyond! The History of Pixar Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Ari Donnelly

Do you find yourself looking at all your old toys that you haven’t played with for years, and feeling very guilty? Have you ever tried tying a thousand balloons to your chimney in the hope that your house will take off and fly away? Have you been neglecting to call the pest exterminator for months on end, out of fear that the rats in your house will stop cooking exquisite French cuisine for you if you do so?

Do want to know who’s responsible for these strange feelings you keep having? Come to Infinity and Beyond! We'll cover the birth of Pixar, how they have become one of the most successful and critically acclaimed film studios of all time, and what they have planned for the future.


Prerequisites
Watch Pixar movies!

A5326: Make Your Own Jigsaw Puzzle! Full!
Difficulty: **

Like solving jigsaw puzzles? Have your own ideas for jigsaw puzzle patterns? Want to make a custom jigsaw puzzle? Here's your chance! Come up with a pattern or simple picture you want on your jigsaw puzzle and come ready to draw it!

A5497: The State of Boston Hardcore Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amber Bennoui

Hardcore, a music genre that blossomed out of punk, is not well known considering its raw nature. In this class, we'll start by discussing the 80s where bands like SS Decontrol and Jerry's Kids dominated the grimy basement culture of Boston. We'll explore the inner workings of the pivotal album "This is Boston, Not LA" while also discussing common modern trends in hardcore -- such as crews, popular ideologies and zine culture.


Prerequisites
This class is discussion based and everybody is welcome to take it. Mosh warriors certainly welcome!

A5508: Intro to Livecoding
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Thomas Murphy

Play two instruments at once!
Not impressed? How about 100?

Livecoding is performing music, live, with computer programming. Imagine being a coder and a rockstar (or pianist, or rapper) at the same time. It's so fun! I'll demonstrate the basics of how it's done, and show what musicians have done with it.

There are two sections of this class. This is the Arts one, and we'll spend more time on the basics of programming.
You don't need to know much (really anything) about music theory or programming.

A5344: Freelance Writing In The Internet Age Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jason Iannone

Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever to begin a side career as a freelance writer. There are tons upon tons of websites out there, and they need material. Many of them will pay YOU to write that material.

This can equal extra spending money in your pocket or, quite possibly, you could turn your knack for writing into a full-time dream job! It's a hard road, but the possibility is there.

This class, taught by a published author on Cracked.com (among other sites) will introduce you to the wide world of independent freelance writing. Subjects such as genres, payment issues, the pros & cons of freelancing, and finding the ideal market, will be tackled and dissected.

A5365: Weaving Chainmail Full!
Difficulty: **

For some 1500 years, chainmail armor was one of the standards for armed combat. Nowadays, though you may not be engaging the enemy in pitched battle on a daily basis, it's still pretty cool.

Come learn the basic weaves for converting rings of wire into bad-ass armor and jewelry.


Prerequisites
two hands and a reasonable amount of patience

A5342: A Brief History of K-Pop
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Sahar Hakim

So maybe you've heard of Korean pop songs like "Sorry Sorry," "Ring Ding Dong," "Gee," and "Nobody." Want to know more about the groups who sing them, or the origins of Korean Pop in general? Come hear about some of the biggest names in the industry, the up-and-coming stars, and, of course, the music they produce!

A5188: History of Video Game Music
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Rob Speer

Video game music has evolved over three decades from simple blips and bleeps into a genre of its own. This genre has been influenced by the technological limitations of its roots, and also by numerous crossovers from popular music, electronic music, film soundtracks, and anime.

In this class, I’ll give a tour of the history of video game music and the programmers and musicians who made it what it is, and we’ll take time to appreciate some of the most significant technological and artistic accomplishments along the way.

A5293: Learn to Draw Fractal Artwork!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jennie Zheng

What are fractals?

Fractals are some of the most beautiful things that occur in nature. They are defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole."

Some real world examples: snowflakes, blood vessels, broccoli, river networks and lightning.

We're going to take a look stunning examples of fractals found in nature and math.

After that, you'll be able to design, draw, and color fractals of your own to take home!


Prerequisites
Just come prepared to use a ruler and pencil

A4912: Cinematic Secrets: Symbolism on the Screen
Difficulty: *
Teachers: E Rosser

If a picture is worth a thousand words, and a movie runs at 24 frames per second... You do the math: there's a lot to be seen in every single shot you see in a movie. And all of it--from the rip on the main character's jacket to the color of the extra's dog in the background--was a deliberate decision by the directors. Come learn to interpret these decisions, hear some fun trivia, and engage in some good ol' fashioned cinephilia. You'll never watch movies the same again!


Prerequisites
An interest in cinema.

A5205: Learn to play Ukulele
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sam Fomon, luke plummer

Ukuleles are awesome and easy to play! Learn the basics of uking from the Uke duo masters, Lukulele and Fomo-master. Then play ukulele favorites by artists ranging from Jake Shimabakuro to Train!


Prerequisites
*Prerequisites* Must have minimum of 2 fingers distributed over at least 2 hands. Musical experience optional.

A5136: How To Make Stop Motions And Claymations! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: William Little

Have you ever seen animated movies such as Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Wallace And Grommit? In this course you will learn the meticulous work that goes into those movies, and how you can make your own short video with nothing but a computer and a webcam/camera!

A5390: Learn to Use Finale! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Benjamin Boyajian

Do you have aspirations to write your own music? If so, you know that writing music by hand can be a slow and frustrating process. This class will teach you the basics of using Finale, a computer program that allows you to notate your own music neatly and quickly, and enables you to hear what you've written. We will cover the basics of using Finale, and then you will get a chance to play around with Finale and listen to your own music!


Prerequisites
None, except a basic knowledge of music notation and an interest in writing your own music!


Computer Science

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C5323: The Cake is not a Lie: Baked Goods and AI Full!
Difficulty: **

Come learn about Artificial Intelligence: past, present, and future.

And bake a cake you've never heard of: "The Accidental Cake."


Prerequisites
Love for cooking and interest in Artificial Intelligence

C5301: How to be Anonymous on the Internet: An Introduction to Tor Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jack Hill

Anonymity is a complement to encryption on the internet. Encryption prevents me from seeing
what you are saying. Anonymity prevents me from seeing with whom you are talking. This class
will investigate both the technical challenges that Tor addresses and the social
implications of anonymity. Example users of Tor include political activists in Iran, law
enforcement officers carrying out under cover operations, and corporations visiting
competitors' websites.


Prerequisites
Tor is built using the OSI protocol stack model and public key cryptography. Knowledge of those will be helpful, but we will do a whirlwind explanation of them at the beginning of class.

C5008: Intro to TI-84 BASIC Programming
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Chelsea Voss

Learn how to program your TI-84 calculator using BASIC, and come code some projects yourself!

TI-BASIC is an immensely useful programming utility -- it's more portable than your laptop, plus quick and easy to use. This skill will provide endless uses in math classes, as well as personal enjoyment.

Cope with only 27 variables!
Draw slope fields!
Prove that 2+2=5!
Graph radii of curvature!
Impress your friends!
Convert numbers between bases!
Make simple text games!


Prerequisites
You will need to bring your own calculator, either TI-84 Plus or TI-84 Plus Silver Edition.

C5354: Turing Machines Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andrea Lincoln

Learn about Turing Machines.
You may have heard the term "Turing Machine" thrown around before. Come here to get an intuitive understanding!
We will go over an intuitive description and build some intuition for basic results about Turing Machines.
We will then discuss the rigorous definition.
Learn about topics including: the Halting Problem, Decidability, NP hard problems, and more!


Prerequisites
1) You should know what a computer is. 2) You should find math or theory exciting (not just piratically building things) 3) Algebra I

C5258: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Francis Plaza

This class introduces basic ideas of Object Oriented Programming, as implemented in Python. Students will learn about objects, classes, and inheritance. This class will have hands-on exercises.


Prerequisites
Experience and familiarity with Python programming. Should have basic understanding what variables are, variable types, and procedural or functional programming. Eager to learn.

C5574: Al Gore-isms
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacob Hurwitz

Ever wondered how Google Maps finds a route so quickly, or how the Watson computer is smart enough to play Jeopardy? Well, we won’t answer those questions but we will learn about algorithms, which, sadly, have nothing to do with Al Gore.


Prerequisites
You should be able to think logically.

C5568: Intro to Livecoding (C.S. Section)
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Thomas Murphy

Play two instruments at once!
Not impressed? How about 100?

Livecoding is performing music, live, with computer programming. Imagine being a coder and a rockstar (or pianist, or rapper) at the same time. It's so fun! I'll demonstrate the basics of how it's done, and show what musicians have done with it.

There are two sections of this class. This is the Computer Science one, where you should have some experience with programming, so we can jump deeper into the music.
If you aren't very comfortable with computer programming, there's another section of this class under Arts.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic concepts of programming, especially functional languages (like LISP & Scheme)

C5451: 3D Computer Generated Imagery: Sculpting Digital Worlds Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: A Pottinger

Ever wondered how Pixar makes movies? Try your hand at building 3D models and scenes! Join us as we cover navigation of the Blender 3D workspace, block modeling, and basic lighting.

C5502: A Hardcore Introduction to doing Math and Programming in Python Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Will Oursler

Math is hard, and life is short. Learn how to solve problems and hack together code in python. We'll learn about expressions, variables, loops, functions, and more by solving math problems from Project Euler. You'll walk away with the ability to code almost anything you can imagine, a book of tricks in case you run into something you can't, and a list of Project Euler problems to try on your own time.


Prerequisites
Precalculus level math is recommended, but strong Algebra II students are welcome. If you know Java, C++, or another programming language, this will be redundant.

C4904: Learn how to [learn] LaTeX Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jason Gross

Want to learn how to use LaTeX to format your mathematical formulae like this: $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6}$$? Want to make your English teachers think you’re crazy for having your papers formatted nicely in scientific form? Come learn the basics of LaTeX, the standard mathematical typesetting language. Works on any platform. We provide the computers. But I’ll tell you how to install it on your own computers.

If you want to use your laptop instead, you should install MiKTeX and TeXnicCenter (either together from http://www.tug.org/protext/, or separately from http://miktex.org/2.8/setup and http://www.texniccenter.org/resources/downloads/29), or another LaTeX editor (if you don’t use windows) before you arrive; the installation of MiKTeX can take about half an hour to an hour.


Prerequisites
You should be self-directed and capable of learning from examples.

C5435: Distributed Computation Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Louis Wasserman

How do you perform computations on massive amounts of data?

You get a bunch of computers together and you do the work in parallel, of course.

How do you actually make that happen? Let's find out.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with writing programs that run on a single computer.

C5097: What's Better than Free?
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lars Johnson

Why pay hundreds of dollars for software when there are free, open-source alternatives that are just as good? After a brief discussion about what open source software is, we will take a whirlwind tour of available open-source software. We will quickly overview a variety of programs including free office suites, 3D modeling programs, audio editors, graphics programs, and assorted productivity tools. (Although all of the programs covered work on the Mac operating system, many are cross-platform and work on Windows and Linux as well.)

C4999: Intro to Programming in Scratch Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bianca Homberg

Ever wanted to learn some programming, but didn't know where to start? Do you want to be able to quickly make animations or animated stories? Ever wanted to make a computer game to share with your friends? Come learn Scratch, an introductory graphics-based programming language! And what's awesome, Scratch is available to download for free online, so you can keep using it after Splash and even share your projects online. (See http://scratch.mit.edu/ to get an idea of what it's all about or start playing around with it beforehand.)


Prerequisites
None!

C5361: How the Internet Works Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Leonid Grinberg

We all use it every day. Many of us can't remember life without it. It's on our desks and in our pockets. It has revolutionized the way we work, the way we learn, the way we keep in touch. But how does it work?

This class will introduce you to the basics of the Internet as well as many of the technologies that rely on it, such as the World Wide Web and email. We'll talk about both the theory behind these technologies as well as their histories and futures.

C5374: From Wire to Web: Digital Computer Networks Explained Full!
Difficulty: ***

This year, 2 billion people will transfer 950 exabytes (950 billion gigabytes, or about 150 DVD's per person) of information through the internet. These bits will zip through hundreds of miles to get to their destination, in fractions of a second. And that's just the internet. We're not even talking about GPS, television, radio, phones, LAN parties, or the USB cables. Yet.

This is a 2 hour crash course on how computers talk to each other. We'll start with electrical impulses through a wire, through the World Wide Web, and if we have time, beyond. A little bit of theory, a touch of history, a cool demo or two, some math, and a dash of hawaii.

C5157: Writing Rootkits: The Pragmatic Programmer's Hands-On How-to Guide to Operating Systems Security Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kevin Ellis

Rootkits are programs designed to subvert the operating system. This class will cover the design and implementation of rootkits and, of course, rootkit detectors. By the end of the class, you will know how to write programs that hide themselves and whatever nefarious deeds they may perpetrate, as well how to write programs to detect and remove such intrusions.


Prerequisites
You must know C or a C-like language. Some knowledge of Linux, operating systems in general, assembly and networking might help a bit, but aren't strictly necessary.

C5472: Silvio Micali's Mechanism Design
Difficulty: ***

Three of you are splitting a pizza, but there are only two slices left. Who deserves the biggest piece? How can you make money in this situation? In this class, we'll explore the theory of auction design - a mix of computer science and game theory.

Note: This class has not been blessed by Silvio Micali.

C5212: How to Solve a Rubik's Cube
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eugenio Fortanely

That darn Rubik's Cube got you down? Don't know how to solve it but think that you can't be a full-fledged nerd until you can. Learn how!


Prerequisites
Ability to follow algorithmic instructions

C4924: Zippers Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Pavel Panchekha

Zippers are a purely functional way of updating a data structure. This class describes how they could be used and the theory behind them.


Prerequisites
Some programming experience. A functional language like ML or Haskell would be best, but that's far from a requirement.

C5522: Computability from the Ground-Up
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zach .

As complicated as computers are, they are based on a few simple models. Starting with primitive Turing Machines, all computer problems can be reduced to fundamentals.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of programming, but no specific language is needed.

C5100: The Limits of Computation
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Girardo

What does it really mean to do a computation? Most people are familiar with the common implementations: "Take some input, push some variables around, and spit something out". But how much of that do you really need? Do you absolutely need random access memory? Loops? Recursion? How much is just enough? In this class, we will look at "computers" and "languages" in whatever shapes they hide. From a two dimensional Billiards game on a doughnut, to a sequence of fractions. I will quickly introduce you to the Church-Turing Thesis, a rigorous way of defining full computer systems, as well as some of the fundamental "computation structures". Most of the class will be spent looking at some cool examples from the strange world of 'Esoteric' languages and hardware.


Prerequisites
Some programming experience

C5432: Intro to Complexity Theory
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Louis Wasserman

What is the mysterious traveling salesman problem, and why does it strike fear into the hearts of programmers? What does number theory have to do with the NSA, and why is it safe to send your credit card number to Paypal? Why is it called “Department of Computer Science & Applied Theology?”



Prerequisites
You should know what the graph of a logarithm looks like.

C5379: Supercomputers Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Predrag Gruevski

What is a supercomputer? Short answer: A computer that is 10 or 15 years ahead of the best desktop in Best Buy. Long answer? Take this class.

We'll explore the history of supercomputers, how they work, the problems they are built solve, how they solve them, and the problems facing their producers today. Topics include Moore's Law, parallelism, distributed computing, GPGPU, and cooling all that stuff down.

C5553: How Not To Run A Website
Difficulty: **

It's 2011, and it's really easy for anyone to set up a website. It's much harder to set up a website that hackers aren't going to take over within a day. We'll look at many of the popular attacks on websites (including buzzwords like "SQL injection" and "clickjacking"), why these problems came about, and exactly how hard it is to avoid these problems.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with either HTML or some programming language

C4909: Modern Cryptography
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Sweet Tea Dorminy

Ever wanted to know how banks, the government, etc. can keep a drive’s contents from being read, even if someone steals the hard drive? Or how to generate numbers that appear random without actually creating random numbers? Enter cryptography, the study of keeping secrets.

We’ll be running over basic principles of modern (symmetric) cryptography, discussing:
What does it mean for an encryption algorithm to be secure? (common attack methods, random output)
What do we do with an encryption algorithm? (hash functions, pseudo-random number generators, block cipher modes)
What do modern symmetric encryption algorithms look like? (DES, AES)

Note that this course specifically does not cover RSA or any other asymmetric cryptography.



Prerequisites
Some familiarity with basic group theory is helpful for understanding the math behind DES/AES. Some familiarity with the difference between pseudorandomness and true randomness would also be helpful.

C5499: Google Navigator and Bayes' Theorem
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacob Steinhardt

Most smartphones have a "my location" button that tells you where you are currently located. The locator is accurate enough to be used for navigation through urban environments, where the streets are close together and there are many intersections. Have you ever wondered how this is done?

You might think the answer is GPS, but it turns out that GPS alone is not accurate enough for street-level navigation. We'll go over a way to combine GPS with other information to get more accurate estimates. If time permits, we'll go over how to use the same techniques to segment an image (that is, to divide it up into individual objects).


Prerequisites
Familiarity with probability, including what a conditional probability is.

C5099: course = "Hasklo" ++ (drop 4 course) -- An introduction to functional programming in Haskell Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: David Girardo

The history of computer science has been dominated by so-called 'imperative' languages: Java, C, Perl, etc. The Imperative style is so common, that you might not even realize that there are other programing paradigms, paradigms without (Gasp) variable assignments. Now, you might be saying to yourself: "Programming without variables!? Why, that's like Science without unpaid interns!". In Functional programming, one describes what things ARE rather than how to make them. Our tool in this endeavor will be Haskell; A Lazy, Functional language with Strong Static Typing. In this course, we will discuss what all of this means, as well as some cool things that you've probably never heard of, including: Monads and Monoids and Functors (Oh my!).




Prerequisites
Familiarity with programming: basic recursion, functions, etc. No particular language necessary

C5450: The Big-O: Algorithms and Analysis (and Sorting!)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zach Minster

So you've written some code before, getting the job done in Java, C++, C, or some other programming language. Have you ever wondered how to prove to someone that your code works efficiently? How to describe exactly how long your program will take on a variable number of inputs? In this course we'll explore one of the most fascinating aspects of computer science - efficiency - and learn to write code that not only works, but works beautifully and promptly. Along the way we'll explore different methods of sorting, one of the most important problems in computer science, and see how analysis comes into play when working with sorting different types of data. Leaving this course you will have a much deeper understanding of how algorithms are classified and what the main problems in the academic study of computer science are. If you're interested in studying CS later on, this is a wonderful introduction into a world most high school students don't get to see until college!


Prerequisites
You should have some programming experience, either on your own or as part of a previous course (you don't need a lot) - if you're familiar with just the basics of arrays, loops, and recursion, then you have enough experience for this course. You should be fairly comfortable with mathematics (a knowledge of limits is useful but by no means required).

C5231: Distributed Algorithms
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Jonathan Schneider

Doing algorithms with n computers might seem strictly less hard than doing algorithms with just one computer, but there are all these pesky details to worry about. What if some of your computers break? What if messages sent by some computers never reach others? What if n/3 of your computers are hijacked by terrorists trying to force your algorithm to produce an incorrect answer?

This is what distributed algorithms is mostly about. We'll probably talk about some subset of the following classical results: synchronized leader election, distributed MST, the Two Generals' Problem, and byzantine agreement protocols.


Prerequisites
You should know a thing or two about ordinary algorithms. For example, you should probably know what O(nlogn) means and what Dijkstra's algorithm is.

C5070: Writing an Android App 101 Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever thought "I wish there was an app for that?" Well we're here to teach you how to make that app! We know things about Android programming. Come learn from us!

In this class we'll go over the basics of setting up the basic view and activity structure of an Android application. We will also briefly go over setting up a google code project to share your code with the world and work with other people. Finally we will have you split up into small groups and make some simple apps which you can put on your Android devices (not required) and hopefully continue to work on afterwards!


Prerequisites
Familiarity with an object oriented programming language is strongly recommended. We will be working with Java, so knowing Java is ideal.

C5101: Calculus? I thought we were talking about computers Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: David Girardo

One of the nice things about programming is that it's secretly just math. To substantiate this claim, we'll explore some of the connections between various types of "calculus" and functional programming.
Find out how programming is equivalent to 'calculus', by the Curry-Howard-Lambek correspondence, and why in the world you would ever want to take the derivative of a data structure.


Prerequisites
Functional programming familiarity. Ideally the intro Haskell class. No calculus necessary

C5006: Promiscuous Mode:Network Protocol Analysis
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Harvey Yee

Do you want to be in Promiscuous mode(Monitor Mode)? You may if you are a network engineer. Join us in learning what is involved in Network Protocol analysis, and along the way learn about network architecture and protocols. Depending on what is available in the class room, a demonstration of a wired or wireless network session will be provided. A free copy of Linux LiveCD will be provided so that you can continue your learning of network protocol analysis after this class.
Newly added based on popular demand is a demo of a router operation.




Prerequisites
A sense of curosity, adventure, and fun!!!

C5458: Introduction to Algorithms: Searching and Sorting Full!
Difficulty: **

Algorithms drive most of the technology we see today: Google search and Google maps, Facebook, and Amazon.com all have algorithms tightly woven into their software.

This class will be a quick introduction to algorithms. An algorithm is a procedure for accomplishing some task, usually with efficiency as a goal, and oftentimes implemented on a computer. We will lay the foundations for constructing and analyzing algorithms, using the examples of sorting a list of numbers and finding a number in a list.


Prerequisites
Enough math to know what a logarithm is. If you already know what binary search, merge sort, quick sort, and heap sort, then this class is not for you. Instead, you should look at Graph Algorithms, Data Structures, or Randomized Algorithms.

C5467: Data Structures
Difficulty: **

There are a million words in the English dictionary, but when you start typing one on your iPhone, you quickly get a list of autocompletes. How is that possible? In this class, we'll see how to store enormous datasets on a computer in ways that make lookups easy.


Prerequisites
You should be familiar with the basics of algorithms, such as merge sort, heaps, and binary search. The Splash class "Introduction to Algorithms: Sorting and Searching" will cover all necessary prerequisites.

C5288: Adder? But I hardly know her! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andrea Lincoln

You will: Build a circuit to add and subtract.

You start by learning how transistors can be used to make AND, OR and NOT logic gates.
With AND, OR and NOT you consider how to build any logical statement including but not limited to XOR!
You then design and build an adder.
Finally you will determine how to subtract numbers using your adder!

C5078: Making Other People's Websites Better, with JavaScript Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Gary Wang

Ever been annoyed by websites that don't do what you want them to do? Do you want to make the tiny text on Facebook less painful to read, download videos from YouTube, stop yourself from wasting time on reddit, or make Gmail display a pop-up when you get email? Or do you want to do silly stuff like rotating the page by 45 degrees or poking yourself on Facebook?

First, we'll go through a brief introduction of JavaScript, and how to use tools like Greasemonkey to apply it to other websites. Then, we'll go through some examples of annoying websites while learning all the JavaScript we'll need to improve them.


Prerequisites
You should be familiar with another programming language, but you don't need to know any JavaScript beforehand. Knowledge of HTML and CSS may be useful, but is not necessary.

C5266: The Internet & Computer Networks
Difficulty: **
Teachers: J.D. Zamfirescu

Got some 1337 skills but at a loss when it comes to networks? Come learn about how the Internet and computer networks work!

I'll teach you how to use and abuse the internet's underlying network protocols TCP and IP, and application protocols like HTTP, SMTP, and POP. You'll also learn about some of the fundamental physical limitations that restrict connection speed.

Cool demos included!


Prerequisites
No prior knowledge required! You don't need to have 1337 skills.

C5064: The philosophical significance of computational complexity theory
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Nirmesh Malviya

Many mathematical problems being studied under computational complexity theory upon a closer look appear to seek answers to profound philosophical questions which have been debated for centuries.

This course discusses how complexity theory convincingly resolves some philosophical questions by mathematically formulating the problems and their proofs, and how a resolution of many open problems in complexity theory could shed light on their philosophical counterparts.

To make the 1 hour class accessible to students, the discussion about complexity theory shall be high level with minimal mathematical rigor.

C5464: Graph Algorithms
Difficulty: **

Have you ever wondered how Google maps works? In this class we will go over the theory behind it, developing a fast way of finding the shortest path from A to B.


Prerequisites
You should be familiar with the basics of algorithms, such as binary search, merge sort, and heaps. The Splash class "Introduction to Algorithms: Sorting and Searching" will cover all necessary prerequisites.

C5468: Randomized Algorithms
Difficulty: ***

Is it okay if an algorithm works ‘almost all’ the time? In this class, we’ll see how computers can use randomness to run faster. We’ll give randomized algorithms for finding medians, for testing if a number is prime, and for finding structures in graphs. Along the way, we’ll prove that the probability that our algorithms fail is less than the probability that the computer spontaneously bursts into flames.


Prerequisites
Know how merge sort works or take Introduction to Algorithms. Some knowledge of probability.

C5546: How This Website Does (and Doesn't) Work Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jordan Moldow

Ever wonder what was actually going on when Splash registration opened? Find out how the Splash website (or any website) works behind the scenes and what actually happens when it breaks.

We’ll cover, very briefly, the basics of all the major concepts of web design, including HTML, CSS, databases, client-side and server-side scripting, servers, version controlling, and caching. All examples will be taken from the Splash website. And if time allows, we’ll take a look at some of the administrative portions of the website - the pages that help the Splash directors administer the program.

This class will be an overview of many different concepts of web design, and how they interact. It will not be an in-depth look at any one concept, though links to resources for additional learning will be provided.


Prerequisites
No computer experience is required. In fact, if you have a lot of computer experience, you’ll probably be bored. But if you don't already know most of the terms listed in the description, then you're encouraged to register for this class!

C5453: Intro to 2D Game Development Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: A Pottinger

Ever wondered how video games are created? Want to try to make your own? Take your first step into computer science with us develop your own game. No programming experience required.

C5096: Demystifying the Command Line Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lars Johnson

Unleash your computer's hidden power by using the UNIX command line that underlies the Mac and Linux operating systems. Learn command-line syntax to speed up common tasks such as file management, data entry, and text manipulation. We will explore Unix from the ground up, starting with the basics of the command line and ending with to powerful, advanced tools.

You will be able to search your computer using regular expressions, quickly compare what has changed between two files, create simple secret codes, quickly convert units, and even write your own simple program, all using only a few commands on the terminal.


Prerequisites
Basic surface understanding of the computer filesystem (folders, etc.)

C5433: Script Kiddie Boot Camp Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alex Goins

Want to exact revenge on your enemies for fun and profit (not recommended)? Looking to make a dynamic website without it getting decimated (more recommended)? The internet is a dangerous place, and not just for your PC. Learn the essentials for breaking into a web server so it doesn't happen to you!


Prerequisites
PHP experience helpful General computer experience helpful Sound ethical framework recommended

C5524: How This Website Does (and Doesn't) Work Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jordan Moldow

Ever wonder what was actually going on when Splash registration opened? Find out how the Splash website (or any website) works behind the scenes and what actually happens when it breaks.

We’ll cover, very briefly, the basics of all the major concepts of web design, including HTML, CSS, databases, client-side and server-side scripting, servers, version controlling, and caching. All examples will be taken from the Splash website. And if time allows, we’ll take a look at some of the administrative portions of the website - the pages that help the Splash directors administer the program.

This class will be an overview of many different concepts of web design, and how they interact. It will not be an in-depth look at any one concept, though links to resources for additional learning will be provided.


Prerequisites
No computer experience is required. In fact, if you have a lot of computer experience, you’ll probably be bored. But if you don't already know most of the terms listed in the description, then you're encouraged to register for this class!

C5307: Computer Building 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joseph Lodin

Ever thought about building your own computer? Maybe the possibility of potentially saving HUGE gobs of cash is enticing, perhaps the prospect of playing Crysis or Metro 2044 on MAXIMUM settings may lure you in, or hey, maybe you're just a hobbyist who's curious about how to build a desktop computer.

In this class, we'll go over the process of picking out the right parts for your specific needs, what those parts actually do in your computer, how to survive the interminable wait for your parts to arrive (curse you, Newegg 3-day shipping!), how to actually put the parts together once they DO arrive, and we'll also go over some questions like "which operating system do I use" and "why is this actually way easier than I thought it would be."

If you've ever considered building a desktop computer so you don't have to deal with the painful process of owning a Dell or HP, or maybe just want to learn a thing or two about computers, this is definitely the class for you!




Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of computing would be good, like knowing the difference between a desktop and a laptop, but anyone should be able to get some good stuff out of this class. -IMPORTANT NOTE- This is just a crash course in the fundamentals of computing hardware, we're only going over the basics - if you're looking for a hardcore discussion on the merits of Intel vs. AMD or some other in-depth lecture, you probably won't find it here. Find me after class if you want to duke it out over which graphics card is superior.

C5457: Introduction to Computer Science through Functional Programming Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zach Minster

Do you know nothing about computer programming at all and want a solid introduction that will set you up for success on your own? Do you already know how to code imperatively but have little or no experience with functional programming (or have no idea what either of those terms mean)? This course is for you! We will learn a variant of the Scheme programming language called Racket, which will highly some of the beautiful simplicity of functional solutions to problems. You will discover the beauty of the phrase "functions ARE data," and learn exactly what that means for us as programmers. Coming out of this course, you will have a much greater appreciation for different types of programming and what they are most suited to solve.

NOTE: This course is good for those students who want a more formal introduction to computer science. We won't be making flashy graphical programs, but we will be discussing the "meat" of the CS discipline and learning things you probably wouldn't learn on your own.

C5431: Software Engineering: Building Big Programs Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Louis Wasserman

If you've ever worked on a program for longer than a week, you know it can start to run away from you, and become a tangled morass of code.

We'll talk about how big software engineering companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook avoid these problems and manage hundreds of thousands of lines of code without their programs degenerating into spaghetti.

C5059: A Git Story: Because you need to understand version control
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Wylie Conlon

Do you program anything ever? Then you need this course.

We'll explore how someone like you might build a version control system that acts a lot like git. We'll talk about using git to manage your code. Then we'll look at a place to share your code online called Github, and look at why it's become so popular among programmers.

Optional: You can bring a laptop if you'd like to follow along, but it is not required.


Prerequisites
You should understand what a command line is. We'll talk about everything else you need to know!

C5331: File systems for Linux
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mohan Chinnappan

1. Linux operating system fundamentals 2. File systems in general 3. Linux file systems 4. Ext2 file system 5. Ext3 file system 6. Ext4 file system 7. Status of Linux's new file system: Btrfs 8. ZFS and the future of file systems



Prerequisites
Experience in Linux, user level

C5283: Learn Haskell! Full!
Difficulty: ***

Haskell is an awesome functional programming language. Learn about basic syntax, recursion, types, type classes, functors, and Maybe even monads.


Prerequisites
previous experience with other programming languages may be helpful, or may be unhelpful. haskell is known for being a kind of "mathy" language, so fondness for math (abstraction) is a plus

C4925: Modern Programming Language Theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Pavel Panchekha

Describes the various facets of modern programming language theory. Type theory, macro systems, safe computing, machine proofs, concurrency and parallelism, dynamism and extensibility, and similar are covered.


Prerequisites
Programming experience. Preferably in multiple languages.

C5430: Software Engineering: Building Big Programs
Difficulty: **

If you've ever worked on a program for longer than a week, you know it can start to run away from you, and become a tangled morass of code.

We'll talk about how big software engineering companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook avoid these problems and manage hundreds of thousands of lines of code without their programs degenerating into spaghetti.

C5003: Creating Your Own Website
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Edward Tremel

If you've ever wanted to create a website for yourself or someone else, this is the class for you. You might be surprised to learn how easy it is to make good-looking websites with only a few simple tools. We'll walk through creating a simple website while learning the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It is recommended to bring a computer so you can follow along for a hands-on experience; no special software is required, and you don't even need to be connected to the Internet in order to preview your website.


Prerequisites
Some familiarity with computers will be helpful, but knowledge of programming is not required.


Engineering

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E5092: Hands-On Aerospace Systems Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Phillip Cunio

This class will provide a quick introduction to aerospace systems, including some historical examples. Students will then split into groups to complete their own aerospace engineering systems development project, carrying through from concept to testing and final fabrication. After evaluation of the produced aerospace systems, there will be additional class discussion of lessons learned, with additional perspective provided by lessons from an ongoing systems development project in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.


Prerequisites
None.

E5512: Constructing a Giraffe at Subzero Temperatures Full!
Difficulty: *

Do you have what it takes to build a structure higher than the Eiffel tower? A bridge strong enough to support a Twinkie? A giraffe bold enough to dazzle the judges? This is a hands-on class that will test your ingenuity. In teams, you will be building structures that will compete with other teams in a variety of aspects. With the completion of each task you'll learn tips and tricks that'll hopefully help you with the next challenge you face.

E4958: Peak Oil: What it is, and why it matters
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Joshua Velson

Energy from liquid hydrocarbons powers the modern economy. In recent years, the price of the oil these essential fuels comes from has gone up dramatically, sparking fears that the world really will run out of oil soon. However, others are pointing out that new technology is allowing humanity to continue producing.

In this class we will try to answer three fundamental questions. First, what does "peak oil" mean, really? Second, if new technology lets us find new sources of oil, why does peak oil matter? And finally, what are some ways out of the crunch?


Prerequisites
A basic background in introductory economics and an understanding of different measures of energy is recommended.

E4921: Introduction to Plane Crashes Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Mel Hunt

How in the world can a pilot not notice that their plane is headed steadily towards the ground? What sorts of mechanical failures can cause a plane to crash? How can a pilot prevent a crash from getting deadly? Come hear stories of plane crashes and pilot error, and learn a little about flying along the way!

E5311: Introduction to Graphene
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Burhan Saifaddin

You will make tiny flakes of single layer Graphene (~0.5 nm). You will learn a little bit about the physics and properties of Graphene and how it is different from normal semiconductors and metals. You will learn about some of the potential applications of Graphene.
You will also learn about why scientific research and new technologies are essential to economic growth and development.




E5527: Balloon Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amber Bennoui

I will give you a balloon and a bunch of knick-knacks. You will make it float at a constant height.

E5090: Train Science
Difficulty: **

A whirlwind tour of railroading, ranging from the dawn of the industrial revolution through the present day. Locomotives, signalling, track structure, bridges and tunnels...plus the engineering behind it all. Whether you're a hardcore train buff or just a curious observer of steel-wheeled things, this is the class for you!

E5393: Toilets! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Reuben Aronson

Toilets are one of the best examples of purely mechanical systems that are everywhere and easy to open up and figure out. In this class, we’ll do just that: open up a toilet and try to figure out how it works. Not only will you get the experience of figuring something out, but you can take home your new knowledge and fix your own plumbing!


Prerequisites
Interest in figuring stuff out. This class is more intended toward people who have not had as much experience taking apart random things -- if you have, go home and do it yourself!

E5345: Make your own Solar Panel! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Madeline Hickman

Curious about how solar cells work? Have you ever thought about harnessing the power of the sun to charge your cellphone or music player?

Come learn about photovoltaics and power electronics, then use that knowledge to design and build your own small solar panel. We'll also show you how to use it to power a USB port, so you can recharge your iPod or smart phone. Bring your favorite USB device!


Prerequisites
Prior experience with circuits helpful but not necessary. (Class will involve soldering, etc.).

E5542: Of Motors and Music Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lizi George

The combination of magnets and electricity can turn huge generators and help to amplify your favorite music! What makes them so awesome? This class will explore the physics behind some cool topics in electromagnetics in an intuitive way.


Prerequisites
An interest in physics, or willingness to learn.

E5012: Glowing Projectiles! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Saba Ghole

Learn how to build projectile devices and then visualize their motion. In this studio, we will work in teams to create dynamic projectile devices to launch colored LED lit balls. We will then photograph and record the motion of the launched LED lit balls, and create layered film time-lapse sequences.

Materials we will be using:
wood, foam, string, LED lights


E5504: Duct Tape & Zip Ties Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Zach .

You only need two things to build any structure: Duct Tape Zipties GO!

E4960: Next Generation Biofuels Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Joshua Velson

Ethanol from corn and sugarcane is now in the tanks of cars from Brazil to Denmark and everywhere in between. But what are the innovative companies of today cooking up to make tomorrow's biofuels?

The teacher for this course will draw on his experience as a consultant in the fast-moving world of advanced biofuels companies to give an engineering overview of the kinds of technologies you can expect to see in the next few years.


Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic biology and chemistry is required. Some organic chemistry is very helpful, as is some knowledge of biochemistry, particularly enzyme catabolism.

E5423: How to Build an Atomic Bomb (7th-9th) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Matthew Cole

Topics will include the fundamentals of nuclear science, historical and modern atomic bomb designs and delivery mechanisms, relevant scientific and military history, and nuclear diplomacy. Course will be taught assuming no prior knowledge.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of chemistry and US history would be helpful, but is not required.

E4976: How to Use a Slide Rule
Difficulty: **

Back in the day, when things were more hardcore, you couldn’t find a scientist or engineer without his or her trusty slide rule. Unlike the TI-whatever-they’re-up-to-now, slide rules are a purely analog method of calculation. Operating, not on batteries, but on the magic of logarithms, they can be used for multiplication, division, roots, powers, trigonometry, and more. We’ll talk about the history of the slide rule, and teach you basic and advanced calculations. Bring your own if you’d like!


Prerequisites
A knowledge of the basic trigonometric identities is a must.

E5534: Analyzing the Automobile
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Adam Seering

Have you ever felt (or made) your car shift before, and wondered what exactly it's doing? How about what antilock brakes are for? Or why your pickup truck starts sliding around every time it hits a little patch of ice? And what (beyond just "using both gas and batteries") makes a hybrid a hybrid?

Join me in a walk-through of the physics of automobiles. Cars are, at their core, just a bunch of simple machines piled together; I'll try to give you some factoids to help you start to figure out how your own car works and why it does what it does.


Prerequisites
Taken or taking a high-school-level physics class or equivalent

E5325: Face Detection Demystified Full!
Difficulty: **

When you take pictures with your digital camera, do you ever wonder why a square pops up around a face on the screen? We'll talk about why in this class!

We will build up an intuition about why the concept of face detection works, then explain the face detection technique in greater detail.


Prerequisites
None!

E5394: Sensational Failures in Engineering
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Liza Plotnikov

Exploding space shuttles, collapsing bridges, exploding naval guns… sometimes designs fail, and sometimes they fail catastrophically. These failures can be dramatic, deadly, or sometimes just plain silly, but they have one thing in common: they are all preventable. In this class we’ll cover the technical missteps behind some famous engineering disasters (and some you may never have heard of). We’ll talk about how smart people can make bad designs, the importance of communication, and especially the value of common sense.

E5403: Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Small Things: an Introduction to Nanotechnology Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Liza Plotnikov

Let’s say you have a brick of pure gold. What color do you think it would be? Probably yellow, right? Okay, let’s say you take your brick of gold and cut in in half. Now what color is it? Probably still yellow, right? Alright, now what if you cut your brick of gold in half so many times that you wind up with a teensy piece that’s only a couple hundred atoms across. Of course you’d find that its color is….red? Turns out that stuff tends to behave really weirdly when it’s small. Why? How can we even tell what something that small is doing? Come find out.


Prerequisites
high school chemistry and physics

E5539: Build steam circuits! Full!
Difficulty: **

Let's extend the water analogy for circuits to steam!

Make audio filters with brass pipes and steam! Be as steampunk as you can!


Prerequisites
Some familiarity with regular circuits.

E5079: Physical Security Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eric Van Albert

Learn the basics of how buildings are secured, how security measures are easily defeated, and how to fix these vulnerabilities. Hands-on class covers flaws in building construction, locks + keys, alarm systems, and electronic authentication. Also includes a short lockpicking seminar.

E5235: Rocket/Composites Design and Fabrication Class Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever want to learn how rockets are designed and built? How about how to use composite materials, which if used properly, can have significant benefits over traditional materials, such as metals. This class will discuss how rockets work and what goes into the design of a rocket. Then it will discuss how composites are generally fabricated and students will get a chance to make their own rocket fins out of composite materials.


Prerequisites
None

E5572: Modern Origami Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jason Ku

This workshop is designed to be a crash course introduction to the art and engineering science that is modern origami. The class will begin by focusing on the artistic side of origami and teach the basics of paper folding technique. Then we will focus on the more technical, mathematical, and engineering aspects of the art.


Prerequisites
A curiosity of folded structures.

E5556: Gadgetry 101
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Adam Spanbauer

Speedy overview of everything that goes into making electronic devices.

-introduction to digital electronics
-microcontrollers and programming
-sensors and their communication protocols
-basic power electronics and applications
-communication with a computer
-design and layout of circuit boards in Eagle
-manufacturing and assembly of circuit boards


Prerequisites
No prerequisites. You'll pick more up if you've played with electronics before or have learned a programming language.

E5436: Satellite Design and Engineering - Do It Yourself!
Difficulty: **

What parts go into a satellite? How do you design for an extreme environment like space? Why do we build satellites anyway? Learn the fundamentals of designing vehicles for space with a tasty hands-on project.

E5052: Intro to Drafting Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ian Martin

Who needs 3D modeling software when you can draft with paper and pencil? Come learn the basics of the art behind drafting, and you’ll have the skills to take on fields from scenic design to mechanical engineering. Things that we'll cover: line weight and type, standards and conventions, orthographic and isometric projections, and more!

E5085: Modeling: Bio-Circuits, Electronic Circuits, and the Power of Analogy
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alioth Drinkwater

Modeling is the act of building understandable analogies that let us parse the real world. It is a crucial part of understanding and engineering complex systems. What can it teach us? Where can it lead us awry?

In this class, you'll try your hand at a few basic methods of modeling biology, and learn about the relationships and analogies between different engineering fields.


Prerequisites
HS bio or equivalent. (If you've read The Cartoon Guide to Genetics, you're good.) Note that this course does *not* require proficiency with electronic circuits. In fact, if you have experience with circuits and breadboards, you will probably find the circuit exercise uninteresting.

E5349: Build your own Rechargeable Solar Lamp Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Madeline Hickman

Use rechargeable batteries and a small solar panel to power a lamp you design and build yourself.


Prerequisites
Prior experience with circuits helpful but not necessary. (Class will involve soldering, etc.).

E4941: Introduction to Orbital Debris Removal
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Phillip Cunio

This course will describe the nature of orbital debris and detail the growing problem for operations in Earth orbit that it represents. The mechanics of orbits and the nature of debris creation will be discussed, and notable examples of orbital debris and orbital debris mitigation will be mentioned.

The course will close with a survey of feasible methods to remove debris from orbit, and students will break into small groups to brainstorm and create concepts to implement these methods. Students will be encouraged to share interesting concepts or key insights with the rest of the class.

E4997: Mating in Engineering
Difficulty: **
Teachers: michael buchman

Mating in engineering is when you attach two thing together. I will be going over different mating techniques in engineering. I will discuss welding, brazing, the use of different fasteners, glues, epoxy, dovetailing, and anything that can be used to structurally join two pieces of materials together.

E5507: Reverse Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **

Reverse engineer something awesome!

E5545: How and Why your Car Works Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Adam Seering

Do cars run on magic? Well, no; they run on gasoline. But how does a car take a flammable liquid and use it to get you where you want to go?

The modern car is very complex, but at its heart it's just a whole bunch of simple machines strung together just right. We'll take a look at what makes cars work; how they go, turn, and stop; also at different types of cars, hybrids, trucks, SUV's, and why they not only look different but work and act differently as well.

This class will be similar to "Analyzing the Automobile", but without the dependency on physics.

E5073: How to Build an Atomic Bomb Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Matthew Cole

Topics will include the fundamentals of nuclear science, historical and modern atomic bomb designs and delivery mechanisms, relevant scientific and military history, and nuclear diplomacy.


Prerequisites
High school chemistry and US history recomended

E4974: The Great Lego Challenge: A Hands-On Introduction to Engineering Design Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Adam Gleitman

Engineering is fun. Legos are fun. Challenges are fun. Let's combine all three and learn a lot at the same time. Can you build a Lego contraption that can zip across a high wire without falling off? What engineering principles go into it?

This class will conclude with an exciting tournament with prizes for the winners!


Humanities

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H5218: Introductory Russian
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Pamela Alvarez

A basic introduction to the Russian language and the Cyrillic alphabet


Prerequisites
Prior study of a foreign language helpful, but not necessary

H5372: The Legacy of Isaac Asimov Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Phillip Seo, Zoe Snape

Discover some of the many works of one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time! Isaac Asimov was a pioneer of science fiction, the inventor of the term "robotics," and a writer of science non-fiction in almost every scientific discipline, history, theology and even jokes. This class will explore Asimov's life and works alongside the history of science fiction and robotics and get to read and discuss some of his short stories and scientific essays.

H5335: Abnormal Psychology - Truth and Fiction Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Veronica Gross

Ever wonder if ADHD is real? What does it actually mean when someone has schizophrenia? Does the insanity defense really work? All these questions and more will be asked and answered during this course!


Prerequisites
Basic biology and chemistry will be incredibly helpful here.

H5061: Paradoxes of Democracy: Fair Elections and Voting Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Stephen M. Hou

What if, in hypothetical two-way races during the 2012 primaries, Romney beats Perry, Perry beats Cain, and Cain beats Romney? Is this even possible? (Yes.) What would then be a fair way to decide the "best" preferences of Republicans? Whether it's a T-shirt design contest or a presidential election, voting converts preferences of individuals into a single preference for the community. We'll discuss Arrow's Impossibility Theorem, which states that there is no "perfect" way of doing so. We'll demonstrate a few of the mind-boggling flaws that every voting method must have.


Prerequisites
Comfort with arithmetic; interest in voting, political science, decision-making, and/or economics.

H5371: Queer and Gender Studies Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:

Queer and gender studies is a field of interdisciplinary study which analyses race, ethnicity, sexuality and one's personal interaction with society. In this class we will explore gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientation and its representation in various media including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) sexual identities as well as their roles in society. Come to listen, share opinions, and learn about identity and societal perceptions.

H5410: Dreams and Dreaming Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Carol Hardick

Dreams and Dreaming introduces you to psychology, cognition and memory from the perspective of a sleeping brain, using an interdisciplinary approach of neuroscience, psychology and humanities. The Harry Potter series and the movie, Inception, has lots of twists and turns and both raise questions about the brain, knowledge and artificial intelligence. What's possible and what isn't? Can an idea be planted in a person's mind? Can two people share a dream? With lots of discussion, we’ll explore those questions, and more.

H5506: BEETHOVEN
Difficulty: **

Beethoven.

H5156: Human Typewriter Full!
Difficulty: **

Creative writing! Poetry! Prose! Limericks and short stories and more! If you love writing, this is the place to be, because we love it too.

H4947: Introduction to Thai
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tana Wattanawaroon

There are more Asian languages that involve exotic characters and outlandish tones than Chinese, Japanese and Korean! Learn about this awesome language where tone markers don’t describe the same tone on different characters. We will focus on the Thai alphabet, tone recognition, and useful expressions for tourists in Thailand. After this course, you will know how not to be a “farang” clown saying words used by opposite gender.

H5531: The 99% -- Here and Abroad Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Shaw

Who are the 99%? Why are they occupying Wall Street? How do these protests relate to ongoing unrest in Europe and around the world?

Bring your thoughts and ideas. This will be a roundtable discussion of some of the most important issues of our day.

H5075: The Linguistics of Thought
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Chelsea Kendall

Does the structure of the language you speak influence the way in which you see your world? Do the words in your vocabulary limit the scope of your thoughts? Linguists have been puzzling over these questions for decades, and the answers are still somewhat fuzzy. We will attempt to answer these questions for ourselves, taking our examples from current research into Yucatec Maya and Piraha as well as older work done on Hopi and Hawaiian Creole English. Along the way, we will explore the principles of languages and the tools linguists use to analyse them.

H5177: Board Game Design, A Comparative Study: Puerto Rico, San Juan, and Race for the Galaxy (Part 1) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jayson Lynch

The award winning board game Puerto Rico was adapted into the card game San Juan. Race for the Galaxy was developed out of another prototype adaption of Puerto Rico. We will play and compare these three games. Points of interest include the similarities between San Juan and Puerto Rico despite having some fundamentally different mechanics, whether the science fiction setting of Race for the Galaxy changes how it feels, and consider the design decisions given each game was released several years after the previous one. These three games will provide a context to study board games and game design.

Part 1 will cover some basic background on board game criticism and design, as well as play and discussion of the game Puerto Rico.


Prerequisites
There will be required reading before the class. Students who have not done the reading or do not have an understanding of the MDA framework will be asked to leave.

H5274: Behind Barbed Wire: What was the Japanese American internment? Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Naomi Schurr

During World War II, thousands of Japanese people in America and American citizens of Japanese ancestry were ordered to leave their homes and move to War Relocation Centers, presumably for the safety of the United States. This class will explore key facts, events, and people of the internment, and why this part of our history should not be forgotten.

H4949: The Sonnet Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lance Ozier

The sonnet is one of the oldest and most durable forms of poetry. It’s been used by great poets from Shakespeare to e. e. cummings. Because it has certain rules, it poses creative challenges for any poet, but as a result can yield poems that astonish and delight. Come see how poets have met the challenges and reaped the rewards over the past 400 years.


Prerequisites
Interest in poetry, language, words

H5267: Introduction to Positive Disintegration - Part 1 Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Josh Shaine

Dr. Kazimierz Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD) provides a lot of explanations for why some of us feel as if we fit into this world so poorly.

In this session, we will explore the basics of TPD, including OverExcitabilities, Dynamisms, and Levels of Development of personality.

So, if you are looking for alternate explanations for why some things bother you far more than they bother most folks, join us!

H5402: Searching for Happiness: Perspectives from Jainism Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Finale Doshi-Velez

Just about everyone wants to be happy, but we all know that being happy is easier said than done. In this class, we'll first learn about the perspective that Jainism, an Eastern religion, takes on the nature of happiness--both what it is and how to find it. We'll compare and contrast it with other popular and religious concepts of happiness, and then have a discussion about how these various ideas apply in our daily lives and our society.

H5327: Comparative Film: Old and New Hollywood Full!
Difficulty: **

There was a transition in the Hollywood culture around the 1960s with the decline of the studio system. The new styles of Hollywood led to more films of unique genres with European film influences. In this class we'll explore the differences between the New and Old Hollywoods in terms of genre, themes, and styles. Hopefully you'll come out of this class with a new appreciation for film and with many new film recommendations!


Prerequisites
None!

H5062: Introduction to Chinese Writing
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Stephen M. Hou

Chinese writing is unique among the world's major languages in that it uses thousands of characters as opposed to an alphabet with a few dozen letters. We will learn some basic characters, their organization and structure, the distinction between traditional and simplified scripts, calligraphic styles and typographical fonts, how new characters are created, how Chinese characters are used in the modern Japanese and Korean languages, and how Chinese is typed electronically. I will also discuss Chinese dialects and why the Chinese language did not (and will likely never) switch to an alphabetical writing system. About one-third of class time will be devoted to practicing writing characters by hand.


Prerequisites
This class is intended for students with very little or no previous experience with written Chinese, but previous study of any other foreign language is strongly recommended.

H5119: The Evolution of the Human Soul Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Seong-Ah Cho

From the dawn of civilization, we have always come into life as bundles of want and weakness to lead and leave it as something else. Hunters, gatherers, mothers, fathers, revolutionaries, investment bankers, murderers, mechanics.

When -and how- did we start leading and leaving it as human beings with "souls?"

Through a wide-ranging look at science, social science, our own lives and our experimental interactions with each other in this class, we will tackle the extraordinary evolution of human interiority over the course of man's history and in the shorter but no less valuable trajectory of a single human life. What has it ever meant to be human, and what does it mean to us, and you, today? Get ready to get your human-soul-mush pulpy.


Prerequisites
Are you human(ish)? Awesome. Come on in.

H5528: Aperature Science Full!
Difficulty: **

Come learn about cameras and make your own camera! The Splash Enrichment Center reminds you that the camera cannot speak. In the event that the camera does speak, the Splash Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice.

Also, there will be cake. (Thats a lie)


H5270: Behind Barbed Wire: The Experience Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Naomi Schurr

A look at America’s World War II internment camps—from the inside. During World War II, thousands of Japanese people in America and American citizens of Japanese ancestry were ordered to leave their homes and move to War Relocation Centers, presumably for the safety of the United States. Rather than simply listing facts, in this class we will briefly establish the historical context, then focus on the people, their experiences, and other tidbits not normally emphasized in textbooks. We will read selections from internee testimonies and cartoons exposing inconveniences, ironies, tragedies, and good times. We will explore how and why internment affected Japanese-American young, old, and families in different ways. Please come ready to expand your view of the internee experience, and participate in our discussion.


H5399: Writing Stories, for Serious! Full!
Difficulty: **

Enjoy writing fiction?  Want a chance to get feedback on your projects? Getting--and giving--critique is one of the best ways to improve your writing because it helps connect ideas you've learn in school to projects that you think are cool.  We'll start this two-hour workshop session by talking about what makes a good critique and reading each other's works.  The second part of the class will be devoted to giving each other feedback: both on our writing and our critique.  You'll go home with lots of constructive ideas on how to make your story even better.


Prerequisites
Since this class is primarily a workshop, every student MUST bring 6 copies of a 750-1250 word piece of fiction (in any stage of the writing process). The work may not contain explicit gore, sex, or illegal substances. (Yes, we know a lot of good fiction has these things. No, they're still not allowed for this class.)

H5348: A Conversation Between Poems and Paintings Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rebecca Cox

Students will examine various poems and paintings that are inspired by each other. Discussion will focus on how these two forms speak to one another and enrich our understanding of the subject matter. If we have time and inclination, students may compose their own poetry or drawings based on another piece of art.

H4922: How to Bullshit Full!
Difficulty: ****

Hello, I definitely know what I'm talking about! And so do I! Get ready to go on a tour of politics, art criticism, and philosophy.

Come learn to be an expert on being an expert.


Prerequisites
Must be knowledgeable in Algebraic Geometry, Quantum Physics, and Literary Deconstructionism. After all, your teachers are...

H4950: How to Read a Poem
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lance Ozier

Have you ever read a poem and wondered what the heck is going on? Or, to paraphrase the poet T. S. Eliot, have you “had the experience but missed the meaning”? In this class you will learn some simple ways to help you make more sense of the poems you read.


Prerequisites
Interest in poetry, language, words

H5142: A Taste of the Classical Chinese Language - 【文言之味】 Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Stephen M. Hou

Get a taste of the language of Confucius! Classical Chinese (文言), which is as distinct from Modern Chinese as Latin is from Italian, is highly revered for its logic, sophistication, and elegance. It can be vague, yet can also achieve a level of expressive precision limited only by the human mind. Until the early 20th century, Classical Chinese had been the international written language across East Asia for thousands of years, much like Latin had been for Western civilization. Before 1750, more books had been published in Classical Chinese than in all other languages of the world combined. As late as 1850, Classical Chinese books still outnumbered those in any other single language. We will learn some basic vocabulary and grammar, examine a few proverbs, analyze excerpts from Chinese philosophical literature, and practice constructing sentences. By the end of the class, you'll be able to translate sentences like:

「天下爭順以仁義行德之君。」
("The whole world vies to obey a lord who practices virtue by means of kindness and justice.")

Let's have fun with this ancient and rich language!


Prerequisites
WARNING: This class is not for the faint of heart. You will not be sitting back, relaxing, and learning to say "hello" and "thank you". We will cover some rather abstract concepts and express ideas that are barely possible to do in English, so be prepared to think outside the box. Previous study of any foreign language is required. Taking my "Introduction to Chinese Writing" class is helpful, though not required. No previous experience with Modern Chinese or Chinese characters is necessary, though it may be helpful (just like knowing Italian or Spanish would be helpful in studying Latin). In fact, here's an "anti-requisite": If you already know Chinese at or beyond the equivalent of four years of high school-level foreign languages, this class would probably be too easy for you.

H5561: Advocacy and Lobbying 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Brock Adler

Is there a cause you are passionate about? Would changing laws or regulations, or having new government funding for your area of interest be useful? By joining together and advocating and/or lobbying with others, you can work towards accomplishing your personal, community, and societal goals. This session will give you (and your collaborators) a great start at being able to plan and carry out campaigns to create or change laws that you feel will improve things. You will learn about strategies and tactics applicable to a variety of different kinds of causes. I will use as an example an effort I have been working on for a few years to pass the Federal “No Child Left Inside Act” H.R. 2547 (see www.NCLIcoalition.org), but the lessons presented will be applicable to a wide variety of other issues and levels of government. We will spend much of the time helping you think about how to advance your causes or projects.


Prerequisites
Prerequisites: have a basic understanding about how laws are passed http://kids.clerk.house.gov/high-school/lesson.html?intID=17, do some thinking about what cause you are passionate about, and find out who your Congressional Representatives are at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov and look up on their websites which committees they sit on.

H4980: Introduction to Socionics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Roan LaPlante

Socionics is a field of nonscientific (some argue protoscientific) analytical psychology developed by Ausra Augustinavicitue who was working with ideas of Jungian psychology, which is well popularized in Eastern Europe and almost unheard of in Western Europe or America. Socionics is best described as a language for understanding and interpreting processes of personality. It is by far most often used as a typology, assigning personality types to individuals and using these types to systematically predict relational compatibility. However, some would argue that it is more a philosophical language for modeling people, social interaction, and different cultures than strictly a model of personality. Perhaps most importantly, thinking about socionics provides a substantial conceptual framework for thinking about questions of personality, social behavior, cognition, and philosophy. In this class, we will first try to investigate the alphabet of this language, and also discuss the myriad issues in practice of actually applying it.


Prerequisites
none; familiarity with MBTI is potentially helpful but also potentially detrimental. familiarity with contemporary research on personality, social, developmental and cognitive psychology and Russian language are (potentially) invaluable for further study of socionics, but no background in psychology, socionics or Russian language is expected of any students in this class.

H5056: Cross-Cultural Bro Studies Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: W D, George Hansel

Chad likes to play ultimate frisbee out on Killian Court, but wears jeans that are too tight to play in. Tripp likes cruising down Mass Ave and trying to pick up chicks with his bros, but has conflicting feelings about misogyny. Grant just picked up a couple of cold ones for the guys, but secretly only likes rose wine. What is going on? What happens when two worlds collide? In Cross-Cultural Bro Studies, we will examine the growing taxonomy of bros and discuss the consequences of loosening social boundaries on bro culture.

H5385: History of the American Musical Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Courtney Marchuk

From Singin' in the Rain to Rent to Glee, we'll cover movie musicals, Broadway classics, rock operas and even a certain television show.

We'll discuss how the musical genre reigned and waned, and come back full force!


Prerequisites
A love of musicals in any shape and form.

H5513: How to plan and execute covert operations in deep cover

Learn the essentials of covert operations work. We will analyze the success and failure of many important covert operations in an attempt to discover the elements of a successful covert op. We will study important government-sponsored covert operations as well as terrorist plots and guerilla warfare. By the end of this class, students will be familiar with these operations and the reasons for their success or failure. We cannot legally claim that you will be sufficiently knowledgeable to plan and carry out your own covert operations after this class.


H5343: Rationality Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sophie Monahan

What does it mean to be rational? Is rationality about the content or structure of our preferences or beliefs? What are "reasons" and how do we know when they apply? Come learn about structuring and analyzing logical arguments, and discuss some cognitive puzzles.

H5023: How Judges Think (Or Don't)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chris Peterson

An introduction to mainstream theories of legal consciousness, historical and present.

We’ll broadly review how formal legal actors have conceived of the roles (order? dispute resolution? tradition?) and origins (nature? god? man?) of law throughout history, and how these different views of law have helped shape society.

We’ll then do a deep dive into the issue of precedent and how it works, with a special focus on the critique of “activist judges” and whether or not it is conceptually coherent.


Prerequisites
None. However, students will get more from the class if they are specially aware of and conversant in basic concepts and issues in government structure and legal practice. For example, this course assumes a basic grasp of things like separation of powers, the idea that lawyers are advocates, and familiarity with "activist judge" as a claim that is invoked about how judges make decisions. If you are the sort of student who would take AP Gov or Poli Sci, or even if you just have the basic ideas down and want to learn some interesting stuff about how law works in practice, especially from a historiographic analysis, this is the class for you.

H5171: Musket, Saber, Cannon: Napoleonic Era Warfare
Difficulty: **

Why was Napoleon so successful? How did he dominate Europe with the French army? What were the forces at play in such battles as Austerlitz, Jena-Auerstadt, and Waterloo? This class examines the development of the French army from a collection of lackluster regiments serving Louis XIV to a seemingly invincible fighting force under Napoleon, as well as the strategy, tactics, operational methods, and willpower behind La Grande Armee and the other armies fielded by the other major powers, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain, during the era. Topics covered will include the conduct of war, the roles of different arms, the impact of permanent army staff, and more.


Prerequisites
Interest.

H5068: Market Economics: Supply and Demand
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zoe Thorkildsen

You hear about supply and demand on the news all the time, but what do they really mean? And are the newscasters even using the words correctly? (Answer: sometimes.) Learn about Adam Smith’s theory of the invisible hand, and about how markets reach equilibrium. We will also discuss elasticity of demand and supply and what implications they have for buyers and sellers in a market.

Any remaining time will be open for questions about economics in general.



Prerequisites
Basic algebra skills

H5373: Rapidfire Modern European History
Difficulty: *
Teachers:

Think you know what started World War I? What about the foundation driving Napoleon's greatest acheivements? What was the most painless way to die in18th century France, and what happened to Germany after its defeat in World War II?
Come learn a lightning-fast, rapid-fire vividly presented chronology of Modern European history! Afterwards we'll play Jeapordy!, simulate world war 2 battles, and talk about today's global society.

H5576: Board Game Design, A Comparative Study: Puerto Rico, San Juan, and Race for the Galaxy (Part 2)
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jayson Lynch

This is the second part of a two part course on board games and game design. This is intended for people who have taken Part 1.

In Part 2 we will play San Juan and Race for the Galaxy and analize these boad games using the ideas discussed in Part 1 of the class. We will then look into the history and relation of the games and discuss the games similarities, differences, and design in this context.


Prerequisites
Intended for students who have taken Part 1 of the class. Discussion may not be accessible without familiarity with the game Puerto Rico and some knowledge of game design and game criticism. There will be required readings.

H5369: History of Warfare through Board Games, Part 1
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Xiao, Kevin Yue

What does it mean to fight a war? 1000 years ago? 100 years ago? 10 years ago? Today? Do you enjoy board games?

We'll introduce you to a few of our favorite strategy board games, let you play a round or two, and show you how these games mirror the evolution of warfare. From thousands of years ago to today, in every corner of the world.

Part I of two parts.

H4994: How to Develop a Rich and Varied Folk Music Tradition Without Even Trying
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ruth Byers

Visit the shores of Lake Siljan in Sweden and the fjords of Norway to watch the birth, near death, and resurection of music and dance tradition.

Scandinavia has a rich tradition of music played on the fiddle and it's variations, and is a case study on how geography and history can influence culture. Meet instruments like the Hardanger Fiddle (twice as many strings as a regular fiddle, whose sound is featured in the Lord of the Rings) and the Nyckelharpa or "keyed fiddle," which is, well, a fiddle with keys. Their musical tradition has been shaped by the mountains that isolated them and the trade routes that served as paths for tunes as well as physical goods. It was disrupted by the arrival of christian religion and changed again by the technology-induced end of isolation.


H5081: Thinking about Religion
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amy Estersohn

Where does religion come from, and what is religion's use, anyway? Is religion more than a set of commonly shared beliefs and commonly understood practices?

This discussion-based class will introduce some theories of religion as we consider just what religion is, through the lens of scholars like Emile Durkheim and William James.

This class is appropriate for anybody who is curious about religion- whether or not you consider yourself to be "religious." We will NOT be questioning/defending the validity of religious beliefs; we are instead examining why and how religious beliefs have prevailed among human societies.


Prerequisites
This course is going to be a neat blend of anthropology, philosophy, religion, and sociology, so certainly bring your willingness to have your head spinning. I am keeping this class open to students in grades 7-12 though I recommend it for grades 10-12

H4963: The Films of Tarantino Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jacob Bailey

A brief overview of the films of Quentin Tarantino, a director who has been both heralded and scorned throughout the course of his career for his unique and often crude style. We will examine what it is that gives his films their distinctive feel and what it says about him as a filmmaker.


Prerequisites
Recommended watching: Pulp Fiction Reservoir Dogs Inglorious Basterds

H5164: Intro to Korean Writing or The Coolest Writing System You Will Ever Meet Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily Westland

Come learn about this super awesome, super logical alphabet!

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a great king of Korea thought “Gee, these Chinese characters just don’t work very well to write Korean.” He decided to fix this problem, and thus, Hangul was born.

By the end of this class you’ll be able to write your name (and a great many other things) in Hangul, and we’ll also talk about some of the things that make Hangul so amazing.

H5429: Anime in Academia
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jennifer Fu

Interested in anime but looking to do more than just watch it? Anime media studies is a growing academic field that spans multiple fields-- anthropology, arts, economics and business, globalization and culture, and more. Learn what kind of topics are covered in the world of anime studies, the different techniques that are used, and some of the anime-related research that's gone on in Japan, America, and at MIT!


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of anime is suggested but not required.

H5275: Literary Analysis of Popular Culture Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacob Cole

Anakin: "If you're not with me, you're against me!"
Obi-Wan: "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes!"
Does something bother you about that statement, seem subtly hypocritical? Then this is the class for you. In Literary Analysis of Pop Culture, we will have the conversation you've always wanted about nifty elements of plot and style that come up in stories such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more.

H5217: Introductory Latin
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Pamela Alvarez

A basic introduction to the Latin language


Prerequisites
Prior study of a foreign language helpful, but not necessary

H5074: Elements of freestyle rap
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Archit Bhise

Ever wanted to know how to compose your own rhymes and understand beats? Ever want to understand how hip-hop culture works and what is being portrayed? Ever wanted to express yourself in a lyrical manner? Sign up for this class.

We take a combined scientific and applied view to this idea. First half of the class involves the theory behind freestyle rap and the expressions. Next half involves students getting a chance to try it out.

H5232: Salve! A Crash Course in Latin Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chelsea Kendall

Latin was a beautiful, complex language that was used to write some of the most exquisite literature in the canon of Western literature and was spoken by some of the most powerful and influential figures in history. Latin also has wonderful and complicated grammar that can teach us a lot about the structures of languages in general. In this class, we will discuss the significance of Latin, learn some basic vocab and grammar, and at the end, translate a few famous lines of poetry.


Prerequisites
No knowledge of Latin. Knowledge of another language would be helpful, but not necessary.

H5330: Lost in Translation: Poetry, Language, and Meaning Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amy Woodruff

We will use this class to explore the way meaning and language interact by looking at two different translations of a poem from Pablo Neruda's "Veinte Poemas de Amor y Una Canción Desesperada".

If this sounds intimidating, don't worry! This class is open to people of all levels of experience with spanish, poetry, and the ideas we're going to discuss.

If you've ever been confused when your english teacher asked you what an author "meant", or frustrated when trying to understand something written in another language, or annoyed at poetry with all of its double (or triple!) meanings, this class is for you.


Prerequisites
If you took this class last year, we're using a different poem this time so you're welcome to enroll again!

H5496: Battle Ballads: The War-Time Music of the 20th Century Full!
Difficulty: **

What does a war sound like in music? Come learn about the history behind some of the most influential compositions of the 20th century. Meet the music of Béla Bartók, Igor Stravinsky, Charles Ives, Benjamin Britten and more!

H5271: Non-Linear Thinking in a Linear World Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Josh Shaine

Does doing one thing at a time drive you batty? Do people frequently tell you to pay attention or to stay on topic? Do you think in pictures instead of words? Does the whole “you have to do it in the right order” concept bother you? Join us for an exploration of hows and whys of non-linear thinking. We’ll talk about how to recognize and develop strengths, not just how to “fit in.”

H4951: Glorious Music Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lance Ozier

Sure, you've heard of Beethoven and Bach. We'll start there, but move quickly to some of the most glorious classical music of the 20th century, including pieces by Orff, Stravinsky, Ravel, Respighi, Gershwin, Puccini and more!


Prerequisites
Interest in orchestral music.

H5036: Writing/Wandering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alexander Cronis

An exploration an unstructured and outlineless style of writing. This will mostly be aimed at fiction writing, but I will briefly touch upon essay writing as well. We'll be doing some free writing, listening to music, listening to poems, and discussing various ways to strengthen writing.

H5426: Once upon a time, the end. The art of incredibly short fiction. Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: A L

Inventive writers are now crafting really short stories that can be surprising, intriguing and delightful. The fascinating genre of flash/sudden/micro fiction is all around us. In the form of cell phone stories, TV/radio commercials, web videos and other manifestations, highly compact stories can be humorous, thought-provoking, informative and much more. Come sample some microfiction and write your own in this workshop! Bring writing materials!

H5338: Journalism and Why It Matters Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Han

A crash course to the basic foundations of journalism, "Journalism and Why It Matters" will teach everything from writing the perfect lead to taking the clutch photo. The class will be structured so that students will practice writing strategies and journalistic writing styles. Students will learn not only how to write news stories, feature stories, and editorials but also how to write them for an audience. Enrolled students will also learn how to take interesting photographs and how to choose which photographs are best to print. Students in "Journalism and Why It Matters" will understand the ethics of journalism as well as the importance of journalism in the world today. The goals of the class are two-fold: to instill a sense of journalistic competence for aspiring editors and photographers while cultivating a greater appreciation for news sources.

Course Instructor David Han has served as Editor-in-Chief of his high school newspaper in Newton, MA. The publication has won numerous awards including the General Excellence Award at Suffolk University in 2010 as well as first place in the New England Scholastic Press Association Award that same year.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of English grammar.

H5251: College Essay Funtime
Difficulty: **

Is your Common App too common? Is your personal essay too essay and not enough person? Do you want your essay to be as awesome as you are?!*

Come join us as we unravel the mysteries of college essay. We will discuss sample essays, work through common prompts and guide you on your way to enlightenment.

* Yes, you do.



Prerequisites
Silly putty, at least three magnetic monopoles and those neutrinos we keep hearing about. If you'd like, feel free to email us an essay prior to class for feedback/comments/review/etc. We'll get back to you as soon as possible!

H5317: Intro to Foreign Rap
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jeremy Rossmann

Ever heard French rap? Italian? Russian? How about Georgian, Armenian, Moroccan, or Polish rap?

Take this class if you want to listen to some of the most popular foreign rap and learn about its history! We'll look at both local and American influences on the foreign rap scene.

H5347: I'm Not a Prescriptivist, But...
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Diyang Tang

Everyone has a word-related pet peeve. Is there a word other people misuse that makes you a bit sad, since you like the word so much? Come exalt over words, but also come prepared to celebrate the fluidity of the English language and how word meanings change.

H5336: True Lies - Our Terrifying Judicial System Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Veronica Gross

Did you know that police can get innocent people to confess to crimes 90% of the time? How about that something as simple as wearing glasses can increase the chances that you'll be found innocent of a crime?

This course will look at all the peculiar, scientific, and downright terrifying ways in which our judicial system (doesn't) work. From bogus police practices to missing evidence to (supposedly) mind-controlling the jury, this will be a journey through the terrifying mess that is our judicial system.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of how the legal system works will be very helpful. Also, the student should recognize that this course won't teach them how to go out and commit crimes; merely the inadequacies in the current structure.

H5017: Introduction to Ancient Greek
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Sam Trabucco

Join us as we embark on the study of ancient Greek. We'll start by getting oriented reading and writing words using the Greek alphabet (it's easier than it may seem!), then we'll dive right into basic grammar and vocabulary. Before you know it, we'll be reading excerpts straight from Plato and Homer!

Bonus: we'll settle once and for all what the correct plural of "octopus" is.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with another foreign language (especially Latin) would be helpful, but is by no means required.

H5038: Why you make worse decisions than you think you do.
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Amy Estersohn

This class will cover some of the shortcuts our brains use to help us make everyday decisions, from what we buy at the store to which treatments doctors choose to how we decide to take risks. We'll learn through games and simulations, so bring your strategy face to the table.

This class is intentionally listed as a 7-12 class-- older students may appreciate more of the economic theory and statistics of the games that the younger students may win. This class is also pitched at an introductory level-- I am happy to provide additional reading materials for students eager to learn them.


Prerequisites
1. A brain. 2. 10+ years of life experience. 3. Enjoy playing games. 4. Basic arithmetic skills may not be particularly helpful.

H5269: Introduction to Positive Disintegration - Part 2
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Josh Shaine

In Part 2, we’ll look more deeply into Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration and how the different levels of development are reflected in behaviors and emotions.

Among the ideas we will explore are positive maladjustment, auto-psychotherapy, and syntony vs. empathy.


Prerequisites
Either Part 1 or prior exposure to Dabrowski's work.

H5021: How To Apply To MIT (And Other Awesome Colleges)
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Chris Peterson

I will give an admissions information session, which will contain both a ton of information about MIT and a ton of information about how to apply to college in general.

H5500: What is Intelligence?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Daniel Zaharopol

“If the Aborigine drafted an I.Q. test, all of Western civilization would presumably flunk it,” wrote anthropologist Stanley Garn.

What is intelligence, really? Can we measure it? If so, what does it tell us about the human mind? Is it something that’s born into us by our genes, or does it depend on how we’re raised? What makes someone smart?

Psychologists and neuroscientists have been doing research into the remarkable processes that go on in our brain, trying to understand what gives us the ability to think. Together, we'll explore some experiments and try to better understand what "intelligence" means.

H5412: Cooking an Elegant Meal.
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Cox

Learn the basic art and science of cooking composition and use it to impress you family, friends, or a date. Prepare an elegant dinner party for a very economic price--it's mostly ingredients that you already have in your house.

We'll be making a cheese souffle, green vegetables in béchamel sauce, lemon curd, and a dark chocolate pastry.

The essentials you'll learn in this class will give you the foundations for numerous culinary creations that are sure to impress.

H5446: Money and Power
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nathaniel Lathrop

Ever wondered why money and power always seem to go to together? Not sure what to make of the ruckus over Citizens' United? Has your town been "occupied?"

Come discuss political theory, economics, and the politics of the present, as well as some history of class in America. Class taught by a die-hard progressive, but all viewpoints welcome.

H5364: Introduction to the FInnish language
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Nora Räsänen

Tervetuloa! Mistä tulet? Puhutko suomea? Did you understand that? No? Excellent! In this class you'll learn the basics of the Finnish language. As part of the Finno-ugric language family, Finnish is unlike almost any other language spoken today. In this class we'll start with the a,b,c's and by the end you will understand and be able to answer the questions at the beginning of this paragraph. Impress your friends with one of the most difficult languages in the world!

H5031: Build A Language Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Jennifer Melot

This class will consist of a rapid pass through various areas of linguistics in pursuit of a language of Our Very Own.

Note that this class focuses more on the underlying structure of language than on generating vocabulary - don't expect to come out of the class being able to write a novel in the language we create.


Prerequisites
A willingness to make weird sounds and ungrammatical utterances. Also some ability to deal with abstractions.

H5414: Ultimate Dictator Showdown: Hitler vs. Stalin Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Prakriti Paul

Hitler and Stalin were both powerful and honestly, crazy dictators. The impacts they had on their respective societies and on the world were so crucial, that people still cringe at the mention of "The Holocaust" or "gulag". So who were Hitler and Stalin? Where did they come from? What did they do? And if they were both so powerful, how were they similar? Furthermore, we will look into PROPAGANDA (super important!!), and maybe even make some of our own ;) This class intends to give students an understanding of the characters and policies/actions of these dictators, and then to compare them to understand what makes a strong dictator. And of course, this is supposed to be super fun for history geeks- I intend for us to rant incessantly about ridiculous these dictators were, etc. =D

H4930: Parliamentary Procedure and Debate Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Simone Agha

Decorum! Learn how to write your own bills and debate them using the much-loved Robert’s Rules of Order.

H5189: History of Homosexuality
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joshua Frisch

Gays, Lesbians, and alternate sexualities have existed for thousands of years and controversies and opinions about them for nearly as long. We will discuss same gender relationships, different societies reactions and tolerance to them, and the affect that individuals had in a variety of places and times, modern and ancient, foreign and familiar. We will discuss issues ranging from the silly to the striking with, hopefully, a healthy dose of humor.

H5155: Introduction to the Loa Full!
Difficulty: **

Voodoo, is far more than just dolls and curses. Vodoun is a full fledged religion defined by the Loa (or Lwa), who are somewhere between angels and gods, acting as intermediaries between the person and the Creator. Come learn more about this fascinating religion

H5215: The Occupy Movement:A Study in Civil Disobedience Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andrew Cowan

Who are the occupiers? How should the government respond to them? What should the criminal justice system do with people who commit acts of civil disobedience? Are the occupiers breaking the law, or merely exercising their right to peaceful protest?

The teacher, a practicing criminal defense lawyer, will engage the class in a wide-ranging discussion of the movement along with the history and philosophy of civil disobedience.

Students should expect to participate in a guided discussion in which they will think critically about the issues and discuss within small groups.

H5564: Introduction to Fancy Econometrics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Paul Kominers

Some policy problems are easy. Others aren't, which has led to the development of a number of fancy statistical techniques. This class will explain in qualitative terms why some policy problems are hard, and what the fancy techniques are that policy analysts use to solve them.


Prerequisites
Understanding of basic linear regression will be assumed.

H5382: History of Warfare through Board Games, Part 2 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Xiao, Kevin Yue

What does it mean to fight a war? 1000 years ago? 100 years ago? 10 years ago? Today? Do you enjoy board games?

We’ll introduce you to a few of our favorite strategy board games, let you play a round or two, and show you how these games mirror the evolution of warfare. From thousands of years ago to today, in every corner of the world.

Part two of two.


Prerequisites
Missed part one? Don't worry! Join us anyways!

H5207: Introduction to Swahili Culture and Language
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rebecca Smith

Kuja! (Come!) We'll learn about the culture and history of the Swahili-speaking countries (specifically Kenya and Tanzania), and do hands-on activities such as shelling and grinding corn, which we will use to make the traditional food ugali.

We'll also learn some of the Kiswahili language and key phrases. After this class, you may laugh when you see Taco Bell or Jamba Juice, thanks to their alternative Swahili meanings!

Siku njema! (Have a good day!)

H5520: iz-lom
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Noor Doukmak

Sound familiar? Thanks to the media and Hollywood it should, but what does Islam really mean to the one billion people that practice it? We will strip stereotypes, boil it down to the basics, and answer the question, "Well, what does Islam have to say about Islam?" 5 pillars of practice, 6 pillars of faith, and one book of scripture. Join us for a view into a world most have heard of yet know little about.

H5422: Racism and Stereotypes in Today's Society Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Alexander Nowack

Is racism still an issue that plagues today's society? Are stereotypes really true? Are we all a little racist? We will discuss experiences with racism found in everyday life and popular culture in a safe environment.


Prerequisites
An open mind, willingness to share personal experiences.

H4929: Greek and Roman Mythology Full!
Difficulty: **

An awesome overview of Classical Mythology. Including descriptions of the major gods and goddesses, important demigods, and accounts of hero/romance stories.
Will use Powerpoint and classical art to depict the tales.

H5264: What We Say to People, What People Hear Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Josh Shaine

“I don’t understand!” “What do you mean?” “How could you do that to me?” Have any of these been said to you? Did you know the answer? If you aren’t sure, take this course. We’ll discuss some of the reasons you are so misunderstood. The class will be lecture/discussion, with references to major theories and theorists as an inclusion, but not the major focus. The purpose of this course is to give you some tools for self-examination. It is neither for counseling nor for therapy.


Prerequisites
The major prerequisites are open-mindedness & to be non-critical of other participants.

H5134: History of Language
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Staly Chin

From the beginning of time... to the present day: How language has developed from "Ug" and "Oo" to the complication we have today. A short look into what forces destroy and build languages and the origins of different families of languages. And why this all matters.

Case Studies of English, Chinese, and Piraha.


Lunch

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L5582: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period.

L5583: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period.


Mathematics

[ Return to Category List ]

M5490: Game Theory
Difficulty: ***

Like games? You should take this class. Like money? We don't know how to make any!

Game Theory is the study of how you play to win against the smartest possible opponents, opponents who never make irrational choices. Whether it's some board game or the stock market, game theory lets you win, and better yet lets you know why you won.

Interested? Then join us for a quick hour-long introduction to the field!


Prerequisites
Calculus and Probability Theory

M5302: Groups, Escher, and Symmetry. Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sergei Bernstein

What is symmetry? This is the question we will spend most of the class trying to answer. In the second half of the class, I will talk about how mathematicians have answered this question, and then we will look at paintings by MC Escher to see how he applied many of the ideas we discuss in class.

M5397: Creating Randomness:An Introduction to Markov Chain Monte Carlo Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Finale Doshi-Velez

If we need a random number between one and six, we roll a die. If we need a random number between one and sixty, we can glance at the second-hand on our watch. But what if we need to random sample of something more complicated, like a random ice-cream flavor for a party or a random example of a car? In this class, we'll learn about a cool technique called Markov Chain Monte Carlo that will let us draw random examples from any (mathematical) space imaginable!


Prerequisites
Knowing how to multiply matrices will be essential; an understanding of basic probability (e.g. what's the probability that a die comes up 1 given the roll is odd?) will be very helpful.

M5279: Symmetry and Group Theory Full!
Difficulty: **

What is symmetry? What makes us call things like kaleidoscope patterns, regular polyhedra, and umbrellas "symmetric"? What do asymmetric objects like a left shoe and the letter G lack that makes us think of them as not having symmetry? Is there a way in which we can extend the notion of symmetry to non-geometric objects? For instance, is there a context in which it makes sense to say that the word "llama" is symmetric? What about the formula $$x^3+y^3+z^3-3xyz=(x+y+z)(x^2+y^2+z^2+xy+yz+zx)$$? In what way is that formula symmetric?

We'll see how questions like these led to the study of group theory, which gets to the heart of the idea of symmetry and lets us see what things are true about all symmetric objects, no matter what kind they are.

If you're familiar with group actions, you probably won't see many new things in this course. However, if you've seen group theory but haven't seen group actions, you'll get to see group theory from a new and useful perspective. No knowledge of group theory is required for this course.


Prerequisites
You should know what functions are and be comfortable with variables.

M4988: Rings and Things
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Dylan Yott

In this class, we will discuss a very diverse and fundamental class of mathematical objects called rings. Intuitively, rings are things with two operations, usually called addition and multiplication. There are some properties these operations need to satisfy by themselves, and they must also get along with each other. I will give examples and then attempt (and fail) to prove Fermat's Last Theorem.

Then, we'll get really crazy and talk about fields, a special class of rings where you can divide. I will of course give more examples. At this point, the class goes in whatever direction you want. I will briefly explain a few amazing applications of field theory and it's up to the class to decide which we pursue. Here are some possibilities:

1. Basic Galois Theory
-Why do complex roots come in pairs?
-What is the difference between i and -i?
-Why is there no quintic formula for polynomials?

2. Geometric Constructions
-Why can't I trisect this angle?
-Why can't I double this cube?
-No seriously... why not?

3. Solving polynomials
-I want to solve this polynomial, but my field isn't big enough. What do I do?

Note: Due to volume of material, I will most likely not give rigorous proofs. Rather, I intend for this class to give you a broad overview of what ring and field theory and why it is useful and fun!



Prerequisites
You should know: What a complex number is. What roots of unity are. How to work with polynomials. If you already have taken abstract algebra, this class may be too easy for you. Must be willing to have fun. I like participation :)

M4998: Zero to Infinity Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Bianca Homberg

Suppose I have a hotel with infinitely many rooms all in a row, all of which are full. If another person shows up, can I find away to rearrange people so that the newcomer has a room? What if I have infinitely many new people who need rooms?

Are there more integers or natural numbers? More real numbers or natural numbers?

Are there multiple sizes of infinity, or just one?


Interested in infinity? Ever wondered about questions like these? Want to spend an hour learning cool stuff to stretch your mind? Then come take this class! (We'll cover definitions and some proofs, but the focus will be on gaining a more intuitive understanding of mind-blowing math versus mathematical rigor.)


Prerequisites
Algebra II Willingness to think abstractly (If you know and understand the proof that the size of the real numbers is larger than the size of the natural numbers, you will most likely be familiar with all/most of the material in this class. Take a class on something you don't already know instead!)

M5080: The Halting Problem
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Bianca Homberg

Computers are powerful, sure. But can they compute anything you want them to? Is there anything computers absolutely can't figure out, no matter what? The answer here is absolutely yes--computers are not omnipotent.

In this class, we'll prove mathematically that despite whatever clever algorithms people can come up with, there will always be problems that are impossible for a computer to solve. (We'll look at one particular example called the Halting Problem). Along the way, we'll encounter and investigate two theoretical constructs which compute: deterministic finite automata (DFA's) and Turing Machines.


Prerequisites
Algebra II

M4961: Things Euclid Couldn't Do
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Carl Lian

You can do a lot of things with compass and straightedge. So many things, in fact, that Euclid wrote a whole series of books about things you can do with compass and straightedge. Yet, there were a few things he wanted to do, but they just seemed to hard. So hard, in fact, that many centuries later, using techniques of modern algebra, it was proven that they were impossible.

Specifically, you've probably heard that it's impossible to trisect an arbitrary angle using compass and straightedge. You may also have heard that it's also impossible to square the circle, or to double the cube.

While these facts are relatively easy to digest, and our set-up seems simple (all we're doing, after all, is drawing lines and circles), it turns out that getting a handle on \textit{why} these tasks are impossible is very hard. In this class, we'll define a field, an abstraction notion of a set in which we can add, subtract, multiply, and divide (except by zero!) to our heart's content, and think about field extensions, what arise after we throw in extra elements and somehow get a bigger field. Then, we'll be able to relate our new notions of abstract algebra back to our original geometric problem, and eventually be able to prove that, no matter how hard he tried, Euclid just couldn't have done certain things with a compass and straightedge.


Prerequisites
None formally, but we will be going through a large number of concepts very quickly. Before being able to approach the problem of (un-)constructability, we'll need to build up some definitions from linear algebra (vector spaces, bases), and talking about fields. It would help to have some prior familiarity with these, but is not necessary - we'll introduce all of the machinery we need.

M5094: To Infinity and Beyond - The Secret Life of the Infinite
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lars Johnson

What is the biggest number? Is the universe infinite? Beyond infinity? What? Yes, there are actually different sizes of infinity, some larger than others. Come explore a concept that has puzzled mathematicians for centuries. Discover some counter-intuitive and shocking results. Be ready for a very interactive class with frequent group participation.


Prerequisites
All that is needed is an interest in learning some cool mathematics (though you should know some basic algebra, for instance the difference between integers, rational numbers, and real numbers)

M5552: Uncanny Appearances of Sierpinski's Triangle
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end...
It's there - you can see it - sometimes cloudy, as if in a fog, but no! It's a swarm! and the swarm forms... you cannot believe it. But wait, again, not one, but infinitely many overlayed in beautiful pattern... it rises from the predictable, and from randomness... it is: SIERPINSKI'S TRIANGLE.

No, really, it's freaking ridiculous where you can find this infinitely-triangular-fractal, and the description above isn't exaggerating at all. Pascal's got nothing on this thing.

M5259: Why Math is cool!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joshua Frisch

For some reason, in the majority of public highschools mathematics mathematicians take is rarely, if ever, taught. This should not be taken as evidence that there is no such thing as cool math. In this class we will discuss several cool concepts in math, including modular arithmetic, the irrationality of the squareroot of 2, and the infinitude of primes and, if time permits A proof of Fermat's little theorem


Prerequisites
A willingness and interest to learn about interesting mathematics. Basic Algebra

M5082: Proving things with Dots and Lines
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sachi Hashimoto

Imagine we have some dogs, and some people who want to adopt dogs. Each person only likes some of the dogs, and each dog only gets along well with some of the people. Can we find a way of matching each person up with a dog, such that everyone is happy?

The capital of East Prussia until 1945 was a city called Königsberg. In Königsberg there were several islands connected to each other by bridges. If I give you a drawing of the islands and bridges, can you tell me how to travel across Königsberg using each bridge just once?

To answer to these questions and more like them, we turn to a field of mathematics called graph theory. Using dots and lines that join the dots we can come up with ways of talking mathematically about these problems. We will go through the basic theory, definitions, and prove some classic theorems about graphs, dogs and dog owners, cities and bridges, utilities, and handshakes by turning problems about things into problems about dots and lines.

Note: This is the version of this class for students in grades 9-12. There is another version for grades 7-9.


Prerequisites
Having written a proof of any kind before would help

M5395: Understanding Uncertainty: Statistics Storytime Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Finale Doshi-Velez

Is climate change for real? Is jaywalking safer than using crosswalks? Will I get caught if I cheat on that test? From small questions to big ones, many decisions require making sense of uncertainty. This short class will explain the basic concepts in probability, statistics, and logic through a series of real-life stories about numbers get used--and misused--in actual situations.

M4962: The Sylow Theorems
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Carl Lian

The Sylow Theorems are a set of three important theorems in finite group theory that describe a certain class of subgroups of finite groups. I will state and, using the magic of group actions, prove these theorems, and if there's time, we'll look at examples of how the Sylow Theorems are used in understanding certain finite groups.


Prerequisites
At the minimum, you should know what groups and subgroups are, and it would help to know what a group action is (we'll introduce them but very briefly). The more experience you have with group theory, however, the more you will appreciate the results are truly beautiful and unexpected.

M5280: Pascal, Sierpinski, and Dinner Parties
Difficulty: *

In a group of nine people, in how many ways can you pick three of them? In a group of four people, in how many ways can you distribute six $1 bills between them? (Giving nothing to someone is allowed.) Why are the answers to these two questions the same?

In this class, we'll explore a triangle of numbers called Pascal's triangle, and we'll see how it can answer the questions above. After that, we'll see that Pascal's triangle has many cool things hidden inside it, including the Fibonacci numbers, a pretty fractal called the Sierpinski triangle, and much more.

M5071: Introduction to Regression Analysis
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zoe Thorkildsen

Regression analysis is a statistical method that allows researchers to explore relationships between dependent and independent variables. These could range from the relationship between SAT scores and college admissions, or between natural resource abundance and likelihood of civil war. Far more than a simple correlation coefficient, regression analysis allows much more detailed and informative analysis. In this course, we’ll touch on research methods, basic statistics, conceptual mathematics, econometrics, and the study of social issues. You’ll get to participate in a mini-research project using statistical software to analyze some real world data using regression techniques.

We will move fast, be prepared.




Prerequisites
Basic conceptual understanding of introductory statistics material (mean, standard deviation, best fit line, correlation, the Normal distribution)

M5228: Force Fields 101: A Mathematical Explanation of Conservative Forces
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Christopher Natoli

Physics teachers will tell you that gravity is a conservative force and work done against gravity doesn't depend on the path you take. But what makes a force conservative, and what does path-independence have to do with it? The answer lies in vector calculus!

This class will cover all the multivariable and vector calculus needed to understand conservative fields (including partial derivatives, gradients, and line integrals). Once we develop a solid understanding of the mathematical definition of conservative fields, we will see how it applies to and deeply explains conservative forces in physics, particularly gravitational and electric potential. As an added bonus, you'll get to learn and use cool symbols like $$\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}$$, $$\nabla f$$, and $$\oint \vec F \cdot d\vec r$$. Note that this class will be more mathy than physicsy.

(Disclaimer: This class has nothing to do with force fields in the science fiction sense.)


Prerequisites
You must be familiar with basic derivatives, integrals, and vectors, as well as basic mechanics (particularly potential energy).

M5158: Introduction to the Catalan Numbers
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Qiaochu Yuan

How many ways are there to write down $$n$$ pairs of correctly nested parentheses? How many rooted planar trees are there with $$n+1$$ vertices? How many ways are there to divide a convex $$n+2$$-gon into triangles?

In this course, you'll learn why all of these questions have the same answer: the Catalan numbers $$C_n$$. You'll learn multiple ways to prove the surprising formula $$C_n = \frac{1}{n+1} {2n \choose n}$$ (one of which involves the quadratic formula!). You'll get a glimpse of how deep the rabbit hole goes. (It goes pretty deep.)


Prerequisites
Familiarity with elementary combinatorics, such as properties of binomial coefficients, is essential. Some familiarity with power series would be a really good idea.

M4977: Sabermetrics: The Mathematics of Assembling a Winning Baseball Team
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Chris Kennedy

How do you know Manny Ramirez was a great hitter? Well, he hit lots of home runs, of course. But there’s a lot more to baseball than just batting average, home runs, ERA, and strikeouts. So much more, in fact, that lots of mathematicians make good money telling baseball teams how to win by looking at the right numbers.

In this course, we’ll dive into the world of sabermetrics, or the study of baseball through numbers. We’ll talk about how to figure out if a power hitter is really good (Albert Pujols) or just plays in a ridiculous ballpark (Carlos Gonzalez); if a pitcher wins a lot because he’s got a great defense behind him or because he’s actually that good; and how to come up with ways to rate defense other than fielding percentage (hint: Derek Jeter has never been a very good shortstop).


Prerequisites
You should know basic algebra and the definition of the mean of a set of numbers. Perhaps more importantly, you should be ready to talk baseball! If you are not a baseball fan, you will not enjoy this class.

M5255: It's Not What You Think Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessie Zhang

You have a bag consisting of 100 balls, some red and others green. You pick 5 balls with replacement out of the bag, resulting in a sequence red, red, green, red, red. What is the probability the next ball you pick will be red?

In another situation, you are given n cards, labelled 1 to n, and a random number generator. How can you shuffle the n cards so that each possible ordering has an equal probability?

Uncle John has two children. At least one of them is a boy. What is the probability the other child is also a boy? What if I told you the boy was born on a Wednesday?

Think you have the answer? Come to class and see if you're right!
Remember, the answer is probably not what you think.


M5541: Probability for Champs Full!
Difficulty: **

Have you ever wondered if you can rig certain games to ensure you win more times? In this class, we will teach you a variety of different games with coin flips and dice and show you how you can design them such that you consistently win. Use probability to make yourself look good!

M5084: Proving Things with Dots and Lines Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sachi Hashimoto

The capital of East Prussia until 1945 was a city called Königsberg. In Königsberg there were several islands connected to each other by bridges. If I give you a drawing of the islands and bridges, can you tell me how to travel across Königsberg using each bridge just once?

To answer to these questions and more like them, we turn to a field of mathematics called graph theory. Using dots and lines that join the dots we can come up with ways of talking mathematically about these problems. We will go through the basic theory, definitions, and prove some classic theorems about graphs, cities and bridges, utilities, and handshakes.

Note: This is the version of this class for those in grades 7 - 9. There is another version for those in grades 9-12 that is two hours long and assumes more familiarity with proofs.

M5109: Curved Spaces - An Introduction to Surface Topology Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lars Johnson

Come play tic-tac-toe on a bagel (edible torus) and learn about the fascinating topic of surface topology - the study of two dimensional surfaces. We will learn about how we create, transform, and classify surfaces as well as several applications. Although we will briefly mention some technical aspects, the focus of this class will be in developing an intuition for the fundamentals topology through interactive activities and computer simulations.


Prerequisites
Geometry, Ability to visualize in 3D - for instance bending a strip of paper to form a mobius strip.

M5182: Nothing Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Qiaochu Yuan

What's the product of zero numbers? What's the determinant of a zero-by-zero matrix? What's the degree of the zero polynomial?

These may seem like silly questions. I'd like to convince you that they're actually extremely important, and I'd also like to convince you that I have the right answers. If time permits, we'll discuss related questions. There's a lot to say about nothing.


Prerequisites
Willingness to bear with me. It would probably help to know what a determinant and a polynomial are.

M5443: The Fibonacci Sequence Full!
Difficulty: **

You probably already know the first few numbers of the Fibonacci sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. After taking this class, you will be able to impress your friends by computing the 1,000,000th term without doing a lot of addition. The method we'll derive has something to do with, of all numbers, the square root of 5. Take this class if you want a deeper understanding of this important sequence that makes countless appearances in the natural world.


Prerequisites
Algebra and curiosity. Familiarity with sequences and sigma (summation) notation a plus.

M5555: How to Win $$$ Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

How to make the right choice… in order to win money, of course! A bit of math, and then some game shows tricks and gambling card games in which most people are /very/ likely to slip up. And if you’re not into gambling yourself, at least come learn how to not get tricked.

M4919: How to Cut a Cake Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Josh Alman, Leon Zhou

Say your friend Josh and you (Leon) want to share a particularly moist cake. However, neither of you trusts the other, due to various altercations in your sordid past. Is there any way to resolve this situation, in a manner that satisfies both parties?

What if Josh likes icing more than Leon, but Leon really wants the strawberry on top? Can we ensure that neither prefers the other's piece to their own? What if their friend Ian wants in on the action?

Come think about cake.


Prerequisites
Some intuition for geometry helpful.

M5229: Counting: Beyond "1, 2, 3..." Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Miriam Gershenson

Do you know how to count?

"Of course I do," you say. "I've been practicing since preschool."

But do you really know how to count?

In this class you'll learn how to answer questions like these: How many different ways can you arrange the letters of the word SLEEPINESS? How many ways can you pick a committee of 4 people out of a group of 20? What if there are 8 women and 12 men, and the committee has to include at least 1 woman and 1 man?


Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with Algebra 1 or the equivalent. If you've seen "n choose k" before, this class is not for you.

M5573: Infinitely Many Proofs of Infinitely Many Primes! Full!
Difficulty: ***

How many primes are there? INFINITELY MANY! How many different ways can you prove that? INFINITELY MANY! Unfortunately, Splash isn’t infinitely long, so we’ll only have time to cover $$\infty - 1$$ ways.


Prerequisites
Previous exposure to basic proof methods will prove helpful.

M4971: How to Become a Mathemagician: Mental Calculations and Math Magic
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Adam Gleitman

How can you multiply two numbers in your head as quickly as possible? How can you add a sequence of numbers faster than someone can enter them into a calculator? How can you use minimal information to identify a special number?

In this class, entertainment meets education as I show you some incredible mathematical tricks, how to do them, and why they work. Take this class and learn how to amaze your friends!


Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with very basic algebraic manipulation.

M5566: Tea 'n' Math
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lauren McGough

Tea is warm; cookies are sweet; math is beautiful. Come enjoy all three.


Prerequisites
Exposure to calculus and/or not being afraid to not completely understand. (It will be awesome regardless of whether or not it is necessarily at a traditionally high-school-acccessible level, so as long as you are not afraid to see awesome things you might not totally understand, this class is for you.)

M5047: Building Calculus Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Dylan Yott

In this course, I will give you a guided tour through a rigorous treatment of the fundamentals of differential and (some) integral calculus. We will start from very modest axioms and I will allow you to figure out how to formulate and prove the theorems you know and love from calculus.


Prerequisites
You should already know what the following terms mean and how to work with them: Limit Derivative Sequence Series However, if you've already been exposed to calculus in a formal way, then you definitely won't get the full experience.

M5089: My Little Set: Compactness is Magic Full!
Difficulty: ***

Ready to analyze? We are. Free rigor included! We'll cover some of the basics of real analysis, such as ordered fields, Dedekind cuts, and point-set topology.


Prerequisites
Experience with mathematical proofs is strongly recommended.

M5554: Fractals and Fractal Dimension
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

Math through a kaleidoscope: http://www.fractal-recursions.com/
Beautiful, no?
This class will dive headfirst into the key concepts of Fractals including Symmetry, Expressible Infinity, and Chaos. Specifically, we will take an in depth look at the Sierpinski Triangle (briefly covering the difference between fractal dimension and topological dimension), the Lorenz Water Wheel (illustrating the ideas of the Butterfly Effect and Strange Attractors), and the well-known Mandelbrot Set. If you want to see mathematics from a completely alien perspective, this class is for you.

M4937: Matching People
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Josh Alman

Matching can be hard!

Say n men and n women want to get married. They each give you a ranking of the people of the other gender. Will you always be able to pair them off so that there is no man and woman who would rather marry each other than the partners you give them?

What if each gives you a list of people of the other gender that they are willing to marry? When can you pair everyone up with someone they are willing to marry?

What if some now include people of the same gender in their list?

Come match people!


Prerequisites
You should know what a graph (with vertices and edges) is, and be used to mathematical proofs.

M5262: Extreme Math Full!
Difficulty: ****

This class is mostly an excuse for us (the teachers) to watch you (the students) flail while you try to solve tricky math problems on the spot.

This is how it will work. We will give you a math problem, and you'll have to immediately present a solution on the black-board. You'll have up to eight minutes to present your proof, but you need to continuously be presenting. Then our panel of judges will award you a score based on how correct, confusing, and amusing your solution was. There may or may not be teams, depending on how many students we get.





Prerequisites
The problems we'll give you will probably be at an easy Olympiad level. At a bare minimum, you should be comfortable writing/coming up with proofs; preferably, you're a USAMO qualifier or at least feel comfortable solving Olympiad-level problems. Also, if you're extremely shy, you probably won't enjoy this that much.

M5166: What is Infinity?
Difficulty: ***

Most people have heard of the concept of infinity, but pinning down a definition for it can be tricky. One might say that $$\infty$$ is larger than any number you can think of, but in that case, what can we say about $$\infty+1$$? Is there only one type of infinity, or can you make something that is strictly bigger than $$\infty$$? Similarly, is it possible to make something infinitely small?

Another line of questioning comes from asking why should we care? If it is not possible, for example, to own $$\infty$$ dollars, then what use is infinity in the first place? We will discuss applications in physics where using infinity actually simplifies our problems. By the end of this course, you should have a sense of how infinity is a real and useful thing.


Prerequisites
We will be talking about sets, so it would be helpful to know the difference between natural numbers, integers, rationals, irrationals, reals and complex numbers. Some calculus would be helpful, but is not required.

M5049: Partial Differential Equations
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Benjamin Horowitz

Partial Differential Equations are really fun and really cool. It is basically ordinary (single variable) differential equations, but BETTER! In this little class we will talk briefly about the main methods of solving partial differential equations. We will also talk about boundary value problems and finally solve “the heat equation” using Fourier Series and separation of variables.


Prerequisites
Single variable calculus is a must. Ordinary differential equations and multivariable calculus would be useful, but aren't required.

M5233: Insolvability of the Quintic
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Dylan Yott

So I'm sure all of you are familiar with the quadratic formula. Well you may also be vaguely familiar with the cubic and quartic formulas. These are very ugly expressions involving square and cube roots and very, very messy polynomial expressions in the coefficients of your original polynomial. Nonetheless, we can write down the solutions.

So, what about the quintic? Surely we can solve the quintic with some horrendous expression for the roots. Surprisingly, it is possible to prove that it is impossible for such an expression to exist, and we can prove it.

This class will be an introduction to Galois theory, the study of permutations of roots of polynomial equations. We will begin with basic group, ring, and field theory and will quickly move onto computing Galois groups and making connections to fields. Finally, we will finish with a sketch of the proof that the quintic is not solvable.


Prerequisites
I will assume no knowledge of algebra, but I will have to move VERY quickly to cover all of this, so all I ask for is your patience and attention. Basic understanding of polynomials is a must!

M5417: Advanced Random Awesome Maths (High School Edition)
Difficulty: ****

Are you advanced? What about awesome? If so than come to this class!

We might do some stuff with Euler’s formula, Stirling’s formula, and the Gamma Function or we might do something totally different. Come and find out!


Prerequisites
Addition, Multiplication, Subtraction, Division, and Calculus.

M5549: Mersenne Primes
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Benjamin Boyajian

Did you know that the largest Mersenne Prime has over 12 million digits? Primes of the form $$2^p-1$$, known as Mersenne primes, have fascinated mathematics for centuries, and in this class, we will learn why. We will cover several important theorems about Mersenne primes, as well as the primalty test which made it possible for a 12-million-digit prime to be discovered. If we have time, we will also look at the history of Mersenne primes and the famous (often incorrect) conjectures that mathematics have made throughout the centuries.


Prerequisites
A relatively good background in number theory. It would be helpful to be familiar with modular arithmetic, but this is not necessary.

M5476: Generating Functions
Difficulty: ***

Sometimes in Math (or Science) there are these hammers which you can use to trivialize problems. Often, using a hammer takes some of the fun and excitement out of solving a problem, but usually that doesn’t keep you from learning how to use the hammer.

Generating functions are the hammer with which we demolish combinatorics problems. In this class, we will show how encoding combinatorial problems algebraically gives us a whole new level of insight into the subject, and conclude with a method that will allow you to compute almost any combinatorial sum you might encounter.



Prerequisites
Combinatorics and Calculus. You want to have had a reasonable exposure to both subjects. Functionally, calculus is more useful for the course; however, combinatorial reasoning will be highly useful.

M5098: Warped Worlds - an Introductinon to Hyperbolic Geometry Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lars Johnson

We are all familiar with the planar geometry taught in school and have a vague understanding of the quirks of spherical geometry (have you ever considered that two longitude lines start parallel at the equator but intersect at the poles?). There is a third kind of geometry - Hyperbolic Geometry that is even more intriguing. Although we will briefly mention some technical aspects, the focus of this class will be in developing an intuition for understanding hyperbolic geometry through interactive activities and computer simulations.


Prerequisites
Geometry: ability to visualize drawing on a sphere, for instance.

M5424: Lapras used Transform! The Easy Way to Solve Differential Equations
Difficulty: ***

Differential equations can be a real pain in the asymptote, chaining you into countless uses of the product rule or ugly integration by parts. But with the wonderfully straightforward tool known as Laplace Transforms, few linear differential equations can stand in your way! In addition to teaching you this powerful tool, we'll also explain how it can be applied to unusual functions like piecewise, step, and impulse functions, and we'll teach you useful tricks for partial fractions (a technique that was invented specifically for Laplace Transforms).


Prerequisites
Some basic calculus (including derivatives, integrals, integration by parts, and improper integrals) as well as knowledge of first order differential equations at the AP Calc BC level (for example, dy/dt = y + A).

M4916: Cutting an Apple with a VERY Complicated Knife: The Banach-Tarski Paradox
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chris Kennedy

The Banach-Tarski Paradox is one of the crown jewels of “weird mathematics”—the art of using standard mathematical tools to come up with truly bizarre results. In this case, the result we’ll come up with is this: it’s possible to slice up a sphere into five pieces, rearrange them using rotations and translations, and end up with two spheres of the same size as the first.

Along the way, we’ll see plenty of math that’s interesting in its own right—groups, Cayley graphs, uncountable sets, and a little hyperbolic geometry. By the end of this class, you’ll understand that math is a beautiful and strange beast.


Prerequisites
An appetite for interesting math. Nothing we do will require advanced math, but come equipped with algebra II (in particular, a solid understanding of functions). But what we'll cover is also tricky and subtle, so be prepared.

M5204: Visualizing Math: The Magic of Mathematica Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Michael Gibson

This course will demonstrate the beauty of math through the use of a computer algebra system, Mathematica. Most of the class will be spent demonstrating the capabilities of Mathematica. Almost the entirety of the class will be spent on cool examples, including 3-dimensional surfaces, fractals, and differential equation solutions. We will cover some elements of coding, but focus mostly on the math. The class will be very free-form and entirely for fun.


Prerequisites
None

M5005: Topology and Art Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tanya Khovanova

I'll use drawings of Anatoly Fomenko and YouTube movies to discuss topology.

M5514: Probabilistic Modeling
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Jacob Steinhardt

In the early days of artificial intelligence, researchers tried to model decision-making by chains of logical deductions.

We have now come to realize that logic is much too strict for making everyday decisions. A much better approach is to use probabilities to represent uncertainties about the state of the world, and then update those probabilities based on new information.

In this class I will lay down the fundamentals of probabilistic modeling, then go into examples of its applications. These examples will cover hypothesis testing in experiments, improving the accuracy of measurements, de-blurring images, data mining, and modeling human thought.

NOTE: The first hour of the class will be self-contained, so it is possible to leave after one hour and still get something out of the class.


Prerequisites
Understanding of probability, including the notion of expected value. Calculus knowledge is strongly recommended (you should know what an integral is).

M5493: Diophantine equations
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Dmitry Vaintrob

What are the integer solutions to the equation $$61 a^2 + 1 = b^2$$? In 1657, Fermat boasted that mathematics in France is better than in Britain, and challenged British mathematicians to solve this equation (they did). In this class we'll take him up on the challenge, and show America is no worse than the Brits. I'll talk the students through solving this and other Diophantine equations, and introduce some cool relationships between number theory and geometry.


Prerequisites
A good grasp of proof-based math, and willingness to come up with proofs on your own; familiarity with adding and multiplying quadratic irrationalities (e.g. what's $$\frac{\sqrt{2}+3}{2\sqrt{2}-1}$$?)

M4926: The Riemann Zeta Function
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chris Kennedy

The Riemann zeta function is one of the most famous functions in mathematics because of its connections to number theory (and the million-dollar unsolved problem that bears its name). But it's also the source of some wonderful identities, which is what this class is about. Come learn about the only time $$\pi^2$$ is important, at least three completely different things called "Euler's formula", and why infinity is equal to -1/12. Seriously. Well, mostly seriously.


Prerequisites
A solid understanding of precalc is a must--you should especially be comfortable with sigma notation. More advanced math--a little calculus, for example--could be useful but is not required to understand what's going on.

M5498: Convergence, Continuity, and Space-Filling Curves
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Daniel Zaharopol

Intuitively, a continuous curve is one that has no holes: you can draw it without lifting your pen from the paper. Perhaps you've heard this kind of definition before. But it's not very satisfying! What does it mean that you can draw it without lifting your pen from the paper? What does it mean that it has no holes?

Amazingly, mathematics has a way of precisely defining what it means for a curve to be continuous. We can define other amazing things too, like a mathematically-correct (with proof!) way of adding up infinitely many numbers. We'll explore these definitions and then apply them to get a remarkable result: a continuous curve that covers the whole plane.


Prerequisites
High-school algebra is required. Beyond that, be ready for some very abstract thinking!

M5083: Latin Squares
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Sachi Hashimoto

A latin square is a square grid of size $$n$$ by $$n$$ that is filled with numbers 1 through $$n$$ such that each number is in every column and every row exactly once. For example, Sudoku puzzles are a special form of 9 by 9 latin squares with the extra constraint that the 3 by 3 boxes also have each number exactly once.

It turns out many questions we can ask about latin squares are extremely hard: even simple things like 'how many different $$n$$ by $$n$$ latin squares are there?'

However, we also know a lot of really awesome things about them:

If you are given an $$n$$ by $$n$$ square that has $$n-1$$ filled in numbers such that you haven't broken any of the latin square rules, then you can always complete this partially filled in square into a latin square.

But perhaps the Coolest Thing Ever, if you like graph theory, is that latin squares are really just graphs in disguise!

We are going to talk a lot about latin squares and graph theory, a little bit about open problems, and ultimately try to tackle a lot of really hard but also very interesting problems.


Prerequisites
Either the class 'Proving Things with Dots and Lines', or some basic graph theory knowledge. You should have seen a proof of Hall's Marriage Theorem OR take 'Proving Things with Dots and Lines'.

M5532: Prove It With Induction!
Difficulty: **

Mathematical induction is one of three key methods of proof, and is a powerful tool for every mathematician. Its most basic use is in the proofs of identities such as $$0+1+2+3+\cdots+n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}$$, but its full power extends far beyond that, into all realms of mathematics. Induction can even be used to prove that all pigs are yellow*.

*Note: It is not actually true that all pigs are yellow. The proof has a hidden flaw in it. Can you figure it out? Take our class and give it a try!


Prerequisites
An interest in learning the art of mathematical proofs.

M5477: Adventures in Logic Land Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mika Braginsky

Which of the strangers in your path is a knight, and which is knave? How do you pick the room with a lady, not the the room with a tiger? Where is King Arthur's dog?

Come puzzle yourself with fun and challenging logic problems, inspired by famous logician Raymond Smullyan.

M5563: Introduction to Probability
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lawrence Chiou

Uncertainty exists everywhere---in science, in the weather, in politics, and of course in Las Vegas---but we certainly don't have to be uncertain about it! In this course, we present a basic framework for exploring the world of probability. Topics include basic combinatorial techniques, independence, and conditional probability.

M5202: Sabermetrics: The math and logic behind Moneyball
Difficulty: **

Sabermetrics is the study of sports statistics. Come learn about the math and logic behind how general managers make decisions which makes their franchises into dynasties or failures!


Prerequisites
None

M5252: What Oddness
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessie Zhang

The "Theorem of Sandwich Awesomeness" says that sandwiches cut into triangles taste better than square sandwiches because each bite is different. However, have you ever tried dividing a sandwich into equal area triangles between three people? Or five people? Or any odd number of people? Is it possible? Come to class and figure out! Along the way, you will unexpectedly meet topics such as modular arithmetic and p-adic valuations.

M5112: 101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics (Part 1)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Norman Cao

Want to learn a little relativity, when $$(1+x)^n=1+nx$$, how to count from -512 to 511 on your fingers, and if cats in boxes really can die? Want to see an MIT student bust his voice and brains to teach you every trick in the book he knows for 3 hours straight?

101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics will go over 101 different revelations in nearly every branch of math and physics imaginable, and then some, each guaranteed to impress your friends who didn't attend and make you rethink everything you thought you knew.

Part 1 of 3 will cover geometry, sets, functions, series, complex numbers, and give insights into real analysis. And as my dad always told me, you don't really know math until you know real analysis. Part 2 (optional) can also be found in the Mathematics category.


Prerequisites
This series is geared towards students in precalculus, but any student with a grasp on functions and geometry should be able to follow along.

M4923: A Wretched Hive of Dots and Arrows
Difficulty: ***

Categories! Arrows! Morphisms! Arrows! Dots! Arrows! Transformations! Diagrams! Arrows! Commutative diagrams! Arrows! Universal properties! Functors! Arrows!

DID I MENTION THE ARROWS?


Prerequisites
None specifically, but math familiarity would make this more sensible. Also a tweed jacket and an armchair.

M5034: Arithmetic and Algebra of Quadratic Forms
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Holden Lee

A quadratic form is a polynomial in several variables where each term has degree 2. Quadratic forms over the integers are a rich source of problems for number theory.

For example, we can ask, which numbers are the sum of 2 squares? How about 3 squares? 4 squares? How many representations are there? What about other forms such as $$ x^2+ny^2 $$?

One of the first theorems in arithmetic geometry is Hasse-Minkowski: that we can get information about a form by looking at them over all the primes p
- that is, by passing to what's known as the p-adic field $$ \mathbb{Q}_p $$. We will use this to prove Lagrange's Theorem as well as sketch the proof of the 15-theorem.

On the algebraic side, if we restrict our attention to binary quadratic forms, we get an even nicer picture: it turns out that quadratic forms correspond to ideals in quadratic rings, giving a "composition law" for quadratic forms.


Prerequisites
Number theory Algebra II Familiarity with proofs and abstraction recommended

M5243: Introduction to Group Theory and Burnside's Lemma
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Dennis Tseng

We will introduce group theory from the very beginning and build up enough tools to prove Burnside's Lemma, which is a useful tool in counting things up to rotational symmetry. At the end, we will apply Burnside's Lemma to one or two problems.


Prerequisites
The class will move quickly, but everything will be built from scratch and self-contained. Some experience with proofs would be nice. To understand Burnside's Lemma, we will introduce groups, subgroups, cosets, group actions, and the orbit stabilizer theorem. If you already know what these are, then you will be bored.

M5050: Semi-Riemannian Geometry: the Mathematics of General Relativity
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Benjamin Horowitz

Come learn about the very exciting field of Semi-Riemannian Geometry. In this class we will discuss: Manifolds, Diffeomorphisms, Vector Fields, One Forms, Dual Spaces, Tensors, Metrics, Connections, Curvature, and Topology on Manifolds. This is the mathematical foundation of General Relativity, and it will be a roller coaster of fun! There will be allocated time in the middle for a break and answering math (or other) questions.


Prerequisites
This class will be very abstract and move very fast (effectively half of a graduate level course in 2 hours). Knowledge of calculus is a must, knowledge of multivariable calculus and linear algebra would be extremely helpful.

M4990: Difference Equations Make A Difference Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Dylan Yott

Now I'm sure you've all heard of differential equations, but I'm willing to bet not all of you are familiar with difference equations. Well, difference equations are simply the finite and under-appreciated analogues of differential equations. I say under-appreciated because difference equations are actually extremely useful in practical applications and in finding patterns.

We will start the class off by considering Fibonacci's rabbit problem, arguably one of the most famous difference equations. I will then show you all the wonderful super-secret trick that allows you to solve these equations. Next, I will show you a problem that arose in my own research and how I used difference equations to solve it! Then we'll revisit Fibonacci and give a complete solution.

Please, help make a difference.

...get it?




Prerequisites
How exponential functions work. How to solve simple polynomial equations. Note: This class will be on the easier side, but I think it will still be a lot of fun!

M5370: Gamma Function and Zeta Function
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Adam Hood

Want to learn how to compute $$\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)!$$? How about the sum of all the inverses of the positive perfect squares? Then come to this class where you will learn about functions


Prerequisites
An expert knowledge of basic algebra and a solid grounding in calculus

M5559: Graphiti Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

MIT has far too much abstract art dotting our campus - what it needs is a little more color, a little more rigor... a little Graph Theory.

This class will be an introduction to graph theory and to the beautification of MIT's concrete campus.


Prerequisites
No math prereques and /certainly/ no artistic prereques - this is an intro course and we'll start from scratch but build fairly quickly through an introduction to graph theory and some of it's most famous results.

M5113: 101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics (Part 2) Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Norman Cao

Want to learn a little relativity, when $$(1+x)^n=1+nx$$, how to count from -512 to 511 on your fingers, and if cats in boxes really can die? Want to see an MIT student bust his voice and brains to teach you every trick in the book he knows for 3 hours?

101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics will go over 101 different revelations in nearly every branch of math and physics imaginable, and then some, each guaranteed to impress your friends who didn’t attend and make you rethink everything you thought you knew.

Part 2 of 3 will cover both discrete and fuzzy mathematics: graph theory, information theory, statistics, combinatorics, and theoretical computer science. This is the fun stuff they don't teach in school. Part 3 (optional) can be found in the Science category.


Prerequisites
This series is geared towards students in precalculus, but any student with a grasp on functions and geometry should be able to follow along.

M5167: Estimation: CLOSE ENOUGH!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lawrence Whisenant

Need to know something exactly?
THEN SKIP THIS CLASS!
But if you want to be CLOSE ENOUGH, this is the class for you! How did we calculate the volume of Earth? Get a reasonable estimate in your head!

M5163: What Is a Proof and Why Should I Care?
Difficulty: **

An explanation of the concept of proof within the context of an axiomatic system, touching on practical, philosophical, and purely mathematical aspects of proof with many examples.

M5072: Introduction to Statistics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zoe Thorkildsen

This course will provide a quick and breezy introduction to the basic concepts underlying statistical analysis. We'll start at means and standard deviations and hopefully get to t-tests by the end of the class, with some side forays into probability distributions.

This class will focus on conceptual understanding and developing intuition rather than an unending string of formulas.

M5032: Analytic Number Theory
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Holden Lee

One main part of analytic number theory is the distribution of the prime numbers. We will sketch the proof of the Prime Number Theorem and Dirichlet's Theorem (with error bounds). On the way, we will introduce important techniques from complex analysis, Dirichlet series, and the Riemann zeta function.


Prerequisites
SOLID understanding of calculus. Complex numbers. Number theory.

M5254: Bertrand's Postulate and Beyond
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessie Zhang

Bertrand's Postulate states that there is always a prime between n and 2n. In this class, we will present a beautiful proof by Paul Erdos. In leading to the proof, we will cover methods such as induction and proof by contradiction, and expand on topics such as binomial coefficients, Legendre's Theorem, and estimations. If time permits, we will see how we may derive a weaker form of the Prime Number Theorem using the same methods, or see how Bertrand's Postulate may be used in interesting problems, depending on student interests.


Prerequisites
Algebra

M5481: Rigorous Statistics and Econometrics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Georgiy Kolyshev

One of the most powerful tools in statistics is the linear model. It is based on the idea that you can explain an outcome by looking at some input variables and an error term.

It is clear that a tall person is likely to be heavy. That being said, the relationship is not perfect as other unrelated genetic factors also influence weight. In the linear model, the outcome would be a person's weight, the person's height would be the explanatory variable, and the other factors would be the error term. In this example we get an equation like $$\left(weight\right) = \beta_0 + \beta_1\left(height\right) + \epsilon$$. The value of $$\beta_1$$ tells us exactly how strongly a person's height affects his or her weight.

This class will focus on linear regression. If we were omniscient beings, it would be possible to look at all possible heights and weights in order to directly calculate the value of $$\beta_1$$. Unfortunately, this is not usually possible and we are forced to build an estimator $$\hat{\beta_1}$$ of $$\beta_1$$ using ordinary least squares (OLS) or other methods.

In this class we will prove theorems to justify the use of statistical methods in the real world. One particularly famous result that we will prove is the Gauss-Markov theorem which shows that the $$\hat{\beta}$$ estimators given by OLS are in fact the best linear unbiased estimators under certain conditions.


Prerequisites
I won't be using anything too complicated, but some familiarity with the concepts of calculus such as derivatives, integrals, and the extreme value theorem would be useful. Again, some familiarity with ideas from statistics and probability would also be useful. Mathematical maturity is really the most important requirement.

M5051: A Quick and Dirty Introduction to Linear Algebra Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever wonder why your Algebra II teacher taught you how to add and subtract those little vectors? Vectors are just the first step into, what we consider, the most beautiful field of mathematics. From the basic properties of a vector space are built up linear transformations, determinants, Kramer's Rule, linear independence, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and so much more.


Prerequisites
You should know what vectors are and how to add them.

M5557: True but not Provable Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

In mathematics there exist statements that are necessarily true, but that can never be proven.

However, if you are willing to accept this claim without /proof! ‘you CANNOT say something like that without PROOF!’/ you probably can skip this class. But if that kind of claim shakes your world up a bit, come to this class and be shaken!!



Prerequisites
Extremely fast paced, but starting from truth tables and binary. I intend the class to be an awe inspiring introduction to the field of Theoretical Computer Science (TCS – my major!), that builds up the formal machinery for a rigorous proof of the Halting Problem as described above.

M5418: Advanced Random Awesome Maths (Middle School Edition) Full!
Difficulty: ****

Are you advanced? What about awesome? If so than come to this class!

We might do some stuff with Number Theory, Fractals, and Fibonacci or we might do something totally different. Come and find out!


Prerequisites
Addition, Multiplication, Subtraction, and Division.

M4940: Cellular Automata and the Game of Life
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Abubakar Abid

What are cellular automata? Just a grid of cells, each of which have a particular state and evolve through time based on simple rules. Despite their apparent simplicity, cellular automata have a variety of applications and are able to model fluid flow, social networks, and even voting behavior. This class will focus on the visual and theoretical aspects and will include a discussion of John Conway's "Game of Life."


Prerequisites
Pre-Calculus Knowledge is required. Programming Experience is helpful. (The more math and computer science you know, the more you'll get out of it!)

M5315: Superhuman Integration Techniques
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Andre Kessler

How can you determine the exact value of $$\int_{0}^{\pi/2} \sqrt{\sin{\theta}} \, d \theta$$ or $$\int_0^1 \ln^2{x} \ln^2{(1-x)} \, dx$$ by hand? What about $$ \int_0^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{2^x - 1} \, dx$$ or other similar integrals? The answer lies in series expansions and some really wacky special functions. We will go from infinite product expansions of entire functions to the Gamma function, and learn how this can be applied to things you didn't know you could integrate. Learn to evaluate stuff that doesn't even appear to converge -- and learn to beat your computer to it! Along the way, you'll find out what sorts of implications the Riemann hypothesis has for the prime numbers, why the sum of all the positive integers is $$-1/12$$, what the volume of an n-dimensional hypersphere is, and how to get rid of infinity when you need him out of your calculations.


Prerequisites
Solid background in calculus, some exposure to power series, and love of math! This course will move very quickly.

M5069: Introduction to Symbolic Logic and Proofs
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zoe Thorkildsen

This class is all about the foundations of proving statements. We’ll start with the underlying theory behind proofs (symbolic logic) and then take some time to prove a few simple theorems from number theory.

Any time leftover will be open to work on additional proofs and ask questions of the teacher.




Prerequisites
Basic algebra.

M4928: Fractional Calculus
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: W D

I know you've taken first derivatives, second derivatives, hell, even $$n$$th derivatives. And I know you've all been wondering: is there life beyond the integers? Are we all forever trapped in the integral hegemony? The time is nigh to break free from your integronormative upbringings! In this class, we will discuss non-integer order derivatives, and make sense of statements like $$\frac{1}{2}$$-order derivative, $$\pi$$-order derivative, or even $$i$$-order derivatives! We will discuss the many ways to define derivatives and integrals to arbitrary order, including using the Riemann-Liouville operator and pseudodifferential operators. We will not be discussing applications because applications are for ninny physicists and engineers.


Prerequisites
Calculus I

M5256: The Mathematics of Games
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joshua Frisch

Games, though they may seem frivolous they have applications to multi-trillion dollar, and multimillion live decisions in everything from Finance to War to Love. In this class we will learn The theory of Games, its applications to politics, and life in general, as well as well as various mathematical topics related to games.


Prerequisites
Basic Algebra

M5234: Math Jeopardy Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Dylan Yott

In this class, we will separate into two groups and face-off in a game of collaborative mathematical jeopardy. Each team will be given 30 seconds to solve a certain question and if they fail to solve it, the other team will have 10 seconds to decide if they would like to try and "steal" the points. However, if you try to "steal" and guess incorrectly, you lose the amount of points the question is worth.

The questions range from somewhat elementary to (in my opinion), very difficult. Bring your A-game!


Prerequisites
Subjects will be algebra (mostly polynomials), calculus, combinatorics, basic proofs and logic, as well as a tiny bit of mathematical history. Keep in mind, this is all for fun and learning, so make sure you're ready to play nice.

M5265: Fractals, Factorials, and Functions
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Jonathan Warneke

Love calc? Can you recognize patterns? Want to see a new dimensions of math? COME!


Prerequisites
Calculus!


[Deprecated] Science

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S5063: Why We Can't Have Nice Things Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Helena Liu

Well, the short answer is "you", but that's boring. Instead, this course presents some intuitive processes behind how things snap, shatter, crumble, tear, and generally, break. Yes, we all know you didn't knock the vase over, but we're just looking at why it's in shards now rather than crumbs.


Prerequisites
high school physics

S5111: All about insects: collecting, preserving, studying, and more!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: sung won cho

Insects and bugs are all around us. There are over hundreds of thousands of species so far discovered. Compare that to the number of mammalian species, which only number 5000 or so!
I will teach anyone interested all about how to collect, preserve, and study these various insects and bugs. You will be surprised just how many species you could find around your house or at school. At my high school, I found and identified over a hundred different species, using only two capturing methods!
I will also briefly describe my high school research project that I did with beetles and the great experiences that stemmed from it.

S4917: Human Reproductive Physiology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Georgina Dorminy

This fast-paced Biology class will explore the physiological basis of human reproduction, focusing the generation of gametes -- sperm and egg cells. We will also discuss other functions of sex hormones in the body, and briefly consider the biology of pregnancy.


Prerequisites
Know what mitosis and meiosis are. If you're able to explain the difference between them in two sentences, you'll be fine in this class.

S5203: Special Relativity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Elizabeth Qian

You've heard of special relativity. You sort of know Einstein came up with it, and it has something to do with $$E = mc^{2}$$. But what's it got to do with you?

You use electric and magnetic fields in the most basic physics class. Find out why they're actually the same thing in this crash course in physics at the speed of light.


Prerequisites
Math: cross products Ideally, be familiar with Ampere's Law, Gauss's Law, and the Lorentz Force. Otherwise, be very interested in physics and know about E and B fields.

S5485: Random Topics in Biochemistry
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Fred Yu

Why is carbon monoxide deadly? How do we purify proteins? What's an isoelectric point, and, even more, why the heck do you even care? Remember when they taught you in high school about glycolysis? Yeah, that version was pretty lame.

Come find out all about hemoglobin, how cool and awesome glycolysis really is, and more! You may also ask me random biochem questions, which I have a decent probability of being able to answer. If you allow me Wikipedia and Google, the chance increases slightly, and if semi-coherent/fact-based BS counts as an answer, the probability approaches 100%. It'll be good. :)


Prerequisites
One year of chemistry is strongly recommended. Slight familiarity with thermodynamic and kinetic principles is very, very helpful.

S5540: Color theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Vincent Lee

Learn everything about color gamut, CIELAB, light perception, light emission.

It's really awesome.

S5020: Criminal Justice 101 Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Shar Gunn

Students will learn about the criminal justice system. It is broken down into 3 different categories. Student will engage in discussion and a class activity!

S5320: Your art teacher LIED to you! Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

Somehow, art-instructors and primary school teachers (and sometimes quantum physicists... good story) are under the impression that Red, Yellow, and Blue are "primary" colors. *cough* this is COMPLETELY FALSE *cough*

Are you interested in human vision? The physics and chemistry of the eye? This class will delve into the chemistry of the rod and cone cells which lead to our experiences of light and color. And then additionally cover some of the neurological components of vision.

So if you want to know some ridiculous truths (EX: Magenta is a delusion shared by the entire human species!) and with enough context (chemistry, physics, and neurology) to understand exactly how your art teacher lied and what the truth really is, sign up for this class and brace yourself.


Prerequisites
None, but this class will go very quickly through a large amount of science.

S4986: Lagrangian Mechanics and an Introduction to Field Theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Benjamin Horowitz

What shape of wire will minimize the time it takes for a bead to slide down it? How are classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and general relativity all fundamentally related? In this class we will do our best to answer these questions, learning handy ways to solve physics problems along the way as well as explore calculus of variations.



Prerequisites
You should have a solid handle of single variable calculus. Multivariable calculus will be pretty useful. You should also know what $$F=mA$$ means.

S5186: Fun Side of Mechanics Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jonathan Abbott

Learn a little about classical mechanics as we *Splash* into elements of balance. Learn the true fun-damentals of balancing on a unicycle, as well as similar applications to biking, jumping on a pogo stick, and and even kayaking.


Prerequisites
None.

S5173: The Black Hole Information Paradox Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Eric Newman

Have you ever thought about what happens to information that passes an event horizon? Does it inevitably perish when it reaches the singularity lying ahead, or can it possibly survive in that all-so-mysterious region of spacetime that can never be seen? In this class, we will encounter Einstein's brilliant general theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and the product of the former two's tango, which is Hawking radiation.

After all this, we will meet the paradox and why it makes so many of us physicists sweat.

The last part of class will be completely devoted to possible resolutions to this paradox.


Prerequisites
Some general knowledge of physics and the math will be helpful. Although I will mention the mathematics necessary to truly work with the ideas I am talking about, I will obviously not expect anyone to actually know the requisite math.

S5351: Time Loop Genetics
Difficulty: **

I am my own grandfather! But wait… What happens with your DNA when you go back in time to do that? What if you kill your grandfather instead? We intend to explore the genetic implications of going back in time and changing your family tree. We will consider both stable and unstable time loops. Come learn about the genetic implications of time travel with us!


Prerequisites
None. We will go over all the basic biology needed.

S5122: Deep Sea Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nicole Kang

Are you curious about what lives in the depths of the sea? Learn about what lives down there and why we’re too scared to venture any further into the murky abyss! Find out about the challenges deep sea creatures have to face and the unique strategies they employ to surmount them.

S4968: The Skinny on Fats
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Walter Augustine

Do you want to learn about one of the most widespread sources of energy on the planet? Do you want to learn how to make your butter last 6 months or more? Want to learn about two PUFAs that can improve memory and supercharge your brain?

Come learn about fats, oils, greases, butters, and other obnoxiously hard-to-name hydrocarbon chains. This class will introduce basic fatty acid structure, as well as relevant human biological functions. We will talk about good, bad, and just plain ugly fats in your food.(And you will also learn what PUFA means.)


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of biology and chemistry would be great.

S5115: Biological Design
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lily Chan

Biology is not about memorization! This course will introduce students to concepts of basic laboratory methods (plasmid construction and amplification, PCR, primer design) and discuss how these relatively simple methods can be used creatively to design organisms capable of performing a variety of functions. You will be encouraged to share your own ideas towards the end of class.


Prerequisites
Some background or interest in biology would be helpful (know what a cell is, the difference between a eukaryote and prokaryote, what a protein is, the structure of DNA...), although we will review this briefly in class as well. No lab experience necessary!

S5346: The Birth, Life and Death of the Universe Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Laura McKnight

You've certainly heard of the Big Bang, you might have heard that everything in the universe is moving away from us, you may even have heard of "inflation." Even if you haven't, come learn about what scientists know of the life cycle of the universe, and many questions we still have unanswered.

S5440: DNA Topology
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Charles Du

What shape is a strand of DNA? Everyone knows it's a double helix. But what exactly does that imply? Come learn about the topological constraints on DNA, and how the cell copes with them!

S4927: Carbon Chauvinism
Difficulty: **
Teachers: W D

We, as carbon-based lifeforms, have the terrible tendency towards carbon chauvinism, the assumption that all lifeforms in the universe would also be carbon-based and resemble earth lifeforms. This is not only impolite, it's politically incorrect! This class will ask you reconsider your inherently bigoted carbonocentric bias as we explore new heteroelemental paradigms in the form of alternative biochemistries. We will discuss alternative biochemistries in known organisms (e.g., extremophiles) and in theoretical organisms (e.g., the possibility of silicon-based life).


Prerequisites
Basic chemistry

S5043: Brood Parasitism
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Evan Kuras

Who wants to build a nest when your egg can be raised by some other bird? Sounds pretty ingenious to me... Explore the mechanics of this special avian relationship.

S4920: Introduction to Genetics Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Mel Hunt

How to two brown-eyed parents have a kid with blue eyes? What's are these blood type things? What can a friar learn from peas? This class will give you a basic understanding of how traits are passed on from generation to generation.

S5400: Game Theory, Altruism, and Evolutionary Theory
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Shulin Ye

If it's the "survival of the fittest," why does altruism exist? Why do Homo sapiens spend so much time and energy keeping track of other members of their species? And what does game theory have to do with any of this?

S5224: Entropy Done Right
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Charles Xu

Ever had to sit through a tedious explanation of entropy using heat engines or some vague handwavy nonsense about "disorder"? That's The Man trying to keep you down. So don't be a part of his system. Learn to count its microstates instead, and discover the true meaning of entropy. Like a boss.

In this class we'll lay out the foundation of statistical mechanics and discuss how entropy, properly defined, lies at its heart. In fact, it's more fundamental than even temperature itself, leading to crazy consequences like negative temperatures that are hotter than any positive ones. From this definition we'll explain the Second Law and its applications to black holes, the arrow of time, and the origin and fate of the universe. Time permitting, we'll also discuss the counterintuitive fact that entropy and information are essentially the same thing, and what that implies for computation.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with logarithms and basic principles of probability is a must. Some background in calculus is recommended but not absolutely necessary.

S5178: The Search for Alien Life
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Hemant Chaurasia

What do you think: are we alone in the Universe? Today we are closer than ever before to answering that question, with an exciting array of space missions making tantalizing new discoveries about other worlds and the possibility of alien life. The Kepler mission is discovering hundreds of alien planets; NASA rovers are discovering that Mars was once warm and wet like the Earth; and this is only the beginning!

Come and learn all about the search for alien life -- the missions, the science, and the insights we can gain by understanding our own cosmic origins. Are we alone? Join us so that we can find out together!

S5334: The Genetics Revolution facilitated by Biotechnology
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bob Weinberg

Our knowledge of genetics has exploded over the past couple of decades due to innovations in DNA technology and enzyme manipulation.

The new genetics allows scientists to modify the genes of animals, plants and man. Gene therapy is being tested - to cure disease by curing the "bad" gene.

New varieties of animals and plants are being made in the laboratory. Some of these new organisms are patented for ownership.

The visions of Aldous Huxley in "Brave New World" will shortly be upon us. We will delve into the DNA technology in survey, and then examine some of the ethical and legal aspects of genetic manipulation.


Prerequisites
General Biology course

S5428: Anatomy of a Metaphor Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: A L

Has someone given you a warm smile recently? Are concerns weighing on your mind? Do you have deadlines coming up? How close are you to meeting your personal goals? These questions may not seem metaphorical, but they are. Metaphors aren't just found in the arts---they are fundamental to the structure of our thoughts. Find out just how fundamental during this short, fun introduction to Conceptual Metaphor Theory. We'll get acquainted with basic concepts and consider some interesting examples from ads, anime and news stories.

S5185: Nobel Prizes Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nicole Kang

The new Nobel Prizes have recently been announced! Learn more about these important cultural and scientific breakthroughs as well as their larger implications. Also, find out about the history behind the Nobel prizes, some of the notable awards given in the past, and the hilarious parody organization, the Ig Nobel prizes.

S5176: Neglected Diseases of the Bottom Billion
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Seyedeh Zekavat

"What do the world’s “bottom billion” — the approximate number of the world’s citizens earning less than $1.25 USD per day — have in common? Aside from poor living conditions, malnutrition, and political voicelessness, they are also all more likely to suffer from so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), scourges that have become a hallmark of extreme poverty in the world. These diseases, neglected by the public eye and in research agendas, actually account for over half a million deaths per year and debilitate over a billion people [1]." ~UAEM website

The goal of this class is to increase awareness of and pique interest in Neglected Diseases. Diseases covered may include: blinding trachoma,elephantiasis, Buruli ulcer, and the plague of leprosy.

S5201: Stormy Science Full!
Difficulty: **

Learn how and why the rain rain rain comes down down down, emphasizing the forces and processes which lead to the formation of thunderstorms, but with excursions into other types of storms and interesting weather anomalies.

S5010: Probability and Genetics Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Chelsea Voss

Think biology is all memorizing and no math? Come learn a few of the more mathematical details behind genetics!

Topics to be covered include pedigrees, recombination, genetic markers, modes of inheritance, and calculating probabilities of all sorts. With sample problems!

S5175: Multiversal Architecture Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Eric Newman

Do you feel one universe is just too restricting? Would you be happier if there was more out there? If so, this class could be right for you.

In this class, I will present arguments as to not just why a multiverse is possible, but as to why it is probable.

After hopefully convincing you that the idea of a multiverse isn't crazy, I will present the different possible levels of the multiverse that could exist.


Prerequisites
A general knowledge in physics and math will be helpful.

S5300: Troll Science Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ben Horkley, Ian Martin

The word "science" is thrown around a lot these days. But can you tell where the REAL science is? We'll teach you some science. And some things that people only think are science. And then we'll correct those pesky misconceptions. For Science.


Prerequisites
SCIENCE

S5350: Exoplanets Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Laura McKnight

The sky is full of stars, there are in fact more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the Earth. And for one star in particular, our Sun, we know a lot about the planets orbiting it, we've even sent spacecrafts to go visit some of them. But we're currently not capable of spending space crafts to visit other stars, so how do we find out about these planets? How do we even find them to begin with? Come learn about the ways scientists are starting to answer these questions, and the new discoveries that are happening in the field of exoplanets all the time.

S5538: The Science of Bacon Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zach .

Everyone knows bacon is awesome.

Come learn why bacon is so tasty, including various cooking techniques and different types of bacon.


Prerequisites
A love for bacon.

S4910: A Very Gentle Introduction to Cancer Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sweet Tea Dorminy

Cancer: what is it? Why does it kill? Why do we care? This class will teach you a little bit about cancer, starting from the basics --- people are made of cells in various structures, which require oxygen to live --- and explaining what cancer actually is, and why cancers are a bad thing.


Prerequisites
Know that we're made up of cells. Course postrequisites: You should not take this course if you already know what a cell receptor is.

S5318: Brain Science and You: Sights, Sounds, Smells, and More Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Abby Noyce

You probably know that you see things when light enters your eyes and hits the retina. But then what? How does your brain make sense of that? Why do we see color? Why can't we see in the dark? How come if you look at a light you see spots afterwards?

We can ask similar questions about other senses (How come a piano and a guitar playing the same note still sound different? How do you make a musical instrument?) and answer them with hands-on investigations and demos (Why do some people like broccoli and others hate it?).


Prerequisites
Basic life sciences.

S5190: Personal Physics Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Ashley Villar

Physics is a not a subject which can sit isolated on its ivory tower; it's prone to human mishaps. Come see the human side of physics, for a change! Topics vary from debunking a universal ether to the REAL motivation behind Schrodinger's equation. We'll be looking at the people, the fads and the approaches of physics throughout the years. Note: This will NOT be a technical class, and we'll be poking some fun at the subject we all know and love.

S5304: Dark Matter Detection: Discovering what the universe is made of Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Adam Strandberg

According to astronomers, we can't see 85% of the mass in the universe. Even more interestingly, nobody knows what it's made of! In this class, we'll talk about why there is almost certainly dark matter (and why there might not be). I'll also talk about the efforts of the DMTPC (Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber) group in determining the nature of these elusive particles.


Prerequisites
A good conceptual grasp of physics is recommended, but this class will not contain any technical derivations or complicated mathematics.

S5250: A Visual Introduction to Special Relativity
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Christian Ferko

Special relativity is an extremely unintuitive subject - its predictions, such as length contraction and time dilation, are completely at odds with what we experience in our everyday lives. We will try to get a feel for these weird effects using a tool called the spacetime diagram. Examination of these diagrams will allow us to see visually why relativistic effects occur, bypassing some of the involved derivations we would need to see such effects mathematically.

You should take this class if you're looking for a qualitative way to think about relativity and are comfortable glossing over the mathematical rigor (if you've studied relativity formally, this class will probably bore you).


Prerequisites
Basic algebra and geometry skills, like comfort with graphing lines and looking at shapes in the plane.

S5533: The total science of a can of Rockstar.
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vincent Lee

We will delve into all aspects and facets of a can of Rockstar. We will look at the biochemistry of the drink, the derivation of the chemicals, the typography, the color set, and everything.

S5509: Chemistry of Explosions Full!

Learn what makes things go bang. Covers low-order explosives such as black powder, as well as primary, secondary, and tertiary high-order explosives such as RDX and TNT. Learn what chemicals go into making explosives and how they are safely manufactured. This class makes a three-part series with "How to plan and execute operations in deep cover" and "How to be on the run from people who are more powerful than you are."

S4975: Elevator Science
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Kate Rudolph

The only Splash class taught in an elevator!

Use everyday objects, like bathroom scales and stopwatches, to take measurements, test hypotheses, and answer questions about the elevators at MIT.

We'll spend the first half-hour in the classroom, talking about correct experimental design. Then it's out to the elevators of MIT for data collection. We'll head back to the classroom to do some statistical analysis and discuss future work.


Prerequisites
An introductory physics class would be helpful, but not strictly necessary.

S5160: Mechanics for BEASTS
Difficulty: ***

Yo dawg, we heard you like physics so we put physics in your SPLASH so you can physics while you calculus while you gyroscope while you SPLASH in gyroscopic fluid. Come learn all the classical mechanics your body has room for in two 1-hour sessions, from kinematics to gyroscopes with examples/experiments for all topics covered. You've never seen physics like this, and neither have we.


Prerequisites
Calculus is highly recommended for derivations and examples, though this will be kept at a minimum.

S5308: Physics of the Electric Guitar
Difficulty: *

Come and learn about the physics of electric guitar and be a physics rock star! The electric guitar is an awesome instrument which uses some of the most beautiful physics ever discovered: waves (lots of sweet waves!) boundary conditions, electric fields inducing magnetic fields inducing currents, amplification of signals, distortion and filtering...
Come learn how all this physics works and how it makes the electric guitar rock!


Prerequisites
None (Well an enthusiastic mind never hurt...)

S4918: Faster Than Light
Difficulty: **
Teachers: James Penna

Hyperdrives, warp drives, wormholes, folded space-it's not just science fiction! Come learn the actual sciences behind hypothetical space travel technologies and why they could actually work outside of the pages of sci-fi and the silverscreen. You will be exposed to sciences ranging from quantum mechanics to general relativity to ecology and may even help repair the Millennium Falcon along the way.


Prerequisites
Some calculus and geometry preferred, as well as basic physics.

S5459: Climate Change
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Andrea Dubin

Have you heard about global warming? Ever wonder what the climate has done in the past? Come learn about what our climate has done, and what we might expect it to do in the future.


Prerequisites
This is primarily a discussion based class, please come prepared to share your thoughts and opinions.

S5287: Baking Chemistry Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Helena Liu

This class explores the whys and hows of a frothy batter as it chemically reacts to baking. You can decide its destiny! Does it turn into a fluffy loaf of bread, a stiff and tasteless failure of a cake, or does it burn for all eternity (aka an extra 10 min in the oven) and emerge a little lump of char?
By the end, you'll also know something about the Maillard reaction, protein matrices, yeast, and the difference between baking soda and baking powder.


Prerequisites
High school chemistry

S5184: "Fission" For Answers: An Introduction to Nuclear Chemistry
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Edgar Gonzalez

Where was the first atomic bomb made? How do nuclear bombs work and why are they so destructive? What is radiation and how can it hurt us? Are there any non-destructive uses for the discoveries and advances that have been made in the past 100 years? This class will feature a brief history of nuclear chemistry followed by a deeper look at nuclear fusion, fission, and radiation. We will also discuss other ways that nuclear chemistry has impacted humanity.

S4903: Your classical intuition is wrong!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jason Gross

Do you think you have a good grasp of physics? A good intuition for the physical world? Come learn about the predictions of quantum mechanics (and the experiments that validate these predictions) which violate your fundamental beliefs about the universe!

S5121: Ants
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nicole Kang

Have you ever wondered how ants coordinate with each other so well, as if controlled by a singular mind? Are you bored of your current fears and want to fuel your nightmares with a real threat? Come learn about the evolutionary techniques of the Formicidae family, perhaps the only creatures on Earth as invasive and warlike as ourselves!

S5298: The Entire Universe In 3 Hours: A Crash Course in Cosmology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Adam Strandberg

Cosmology is the field of science that attempts to answers some of humanity's deepest questions. What is our place in the universe? How did everything begin? Will it all end in fire or in ice, or never end at all?

Come learn about some of the attempts we have made to answer these questions, as well as some bits about the big bang, the expanding universe, general relativity, dark matter, dark energy, and techniques of astronomy.


Prerequisites
Some familiarity with basic classical physics (newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism)

S5333: You Are Not Human
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jennifer Hogan

How much of your body is actually human? You know, really living, breathing YOU. Not as much as you might think. There are 10 times more bacteria on you than human cells, 48% of your DNA comes from viruses, and your red blood cells are not alive. Come learn not about what you are, but about what you aren’t.


Prerequisites
Highschool Biology

S5420: Introduction to Synthetic Biology
Difficulty: *

Ever wonder if you could re-program cells to do whatever you wanted? With synthetic biology, the possibilities are endless!

Synthetic biology provides a unique opportunity to combine knowledge from electrical engineering, biological engineering, chemical engineering, and biology. This class will take you through the fundamentals of synthetic biology and introduce you to the applications of this fascinating new field!


S4907: Explosive Chemistry!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Sweet Tea Dorminy

Everyone knows that one of the best parts of chemistry is blowing things up. Come learn about the chemical structure and synthesis of explosive materials! Sadly, we can’t blow anything up ourselves, but we can watch videos of it. Along the way, we’ll learn about organic synthesis, how explosives are made; thermodynamics and characteristics of explosives, why things explode; and plenty of other awesome and explosive chemistry.



Prerequisites
Know what a Lewis structure is

S5396: The Lab-Manual of Sherlock Holmes Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Victoria Chang

Sherlock Holmes was a man of many talents. Aside from being a consummate detective, he was also a skilled chemist. In A Study in Scarlet, Dr. Watson calls his knowledge of chemistry “profound”, and in 2002, the Royal Society of Chemistry awarded him an honorary fellowship.

Students will learn about some of the important discoveries made by chemists of the Holmes era (late 1800’s to early 1900’s), as well as some important basic chemical concepts.

This class contains lecture, demonstration, and hands on components, including some experiments that Holmes himself might have performed.



Prerequisites
Some basic chemistry would be helpful, but is not required.

S5569: Group Theory and Chemistry
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jonathan Lee

Did you ever wonder why chemical bonds form? Or what about how scientists and mathematicians work with symmetry? This class will teach introductory group theory (symmetry!) and how this applies to one of the strongest bonds in science.


Prerequisites
Algebra and enthusiasm!

S5321: Your sailing instructor (or physics textbook) LIED to you! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

Somehow, sailors and most secondary school textbooks are under the impression that Bernoulli's Principle is a decent explanation of an airfoil (the wing shape that allows birds and planes to fly and sailboats to steer into the wind). You may have even seen a pretty diagram at some point of air flowing over a wing, horizontal before and after, moving faster above the wing... etc. *cough* this is COMPLETELY FALSE *cough*

This class will basically be sailing 101 a la physics. Because the airfoil is what allows sailboats to sail "into" the wind (all directions except straight into the wind) and this class will cover the physics of how.

So if you want to know some ridiculous truths (EX: Thousands of pounds of air are pushed down when airplanes fly by!) and with enough context (intro sailing and some physics) to understand exactly how your textbook lied to you and what the truth really is, sign up for this class and brace yourself.


Prerequisites
None, but this class will go very quickly through a large amount of science.

S5434: Drug Discovery and Clinical Development Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephanie Bachar

Do you assume that the medicines you take are safe? Do you generally believe the medicines you take will work?

The reason why most of us can answer yes to that question is because the US (and most of the rest of the world) has a pretty rigorous system in place to make sure that drugs that get approved for human use are safe and effective.

In this class we will talk about how pharmaceutical companies go about developing drugs for specific purposes and how they go through preclinical and clinical trials in mice and humans to make sure drugs work.

We'll also talk about how standards are different for different diseases - for example, how safe does a cancer drug need to be compared to a diabetes drug.

If you're interested in biology and medicine, then this class is for you!



Prerequisites
Middle school biology will be helpful

S5503: Supernovae and the Expanding Universe Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Shaw

“When I had satisfied myself that no star of that kind had ever shone before, I was led into such perplexity by the unbelievability of the thing that I began to doubt the faith of my own eyes. ” — T. Brahe.

Supernovas are among the most spectacular shows in the heavens. And earlier this month, observations of distant supernovae won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their role as a probe of the expanding universe. These massive explosions help keep the heavens in line, and provide our best constraints on supposedly faster than light neutrinos.

Bring your questions and join us for an explosive discourse on what supernovae are, how they explode, and what we can learn from them.


S5154: Modern Physics Lecture Blitz

Physics is all around us. Every day we hear stories about bigger and better particle colliders, an expanding universe, and new forms of exotic matter. This course is geared at getting you up to speed on some of the newest and most exciting discoveries in modern physics. MIT's Society for Physics Students have compiled a set of lightning lectures on topics including:

-Cosmology and the Big Bang
-Quantum Mechanics and Particle Physics
-Relativity and Gravity
-Statistical Mechanics
-Astrophysics

Come be a part of the cutting edge of physics.


Prerequisites
Lectures will be mostly qualitative, it will be helpful to be comfortable with algebra.

S5358: Senses and Sense-abilities Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Anna Ho

Come learn the neuroscience behind your five senses! We'll run through the basics of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, through brief lectures, demos, and experiments.

S5480: Systems Biology: Understanding and Designing Biological Systems Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Arvind Thiagarajan

Are you a math/physics person easily irked by the way biologists tend to make everything qualitative? Turns out there’s a lot of people in biology like you: they’re called systems biologists!

It turns out that the behavior of a cell (or any biological system) doesn’t depend very much on this gene or that gene as much as it depends on how much of one transcription factor or another are present, and how strongly these factors affect different reactions. When you get to the bottom of this stuff, you find that statistical mechanics and stochastic physical processes are the driving force for all of the interesting things in biology.

Join this class if you think it would be cool to do biology with physics and math, and actually pull cool results out.


Prerequisites
Interest in Biology, Physics, and Math is essential. Calculus and basic knowledge of Differential Equations, basic knowledge of what different cellular process (i.e. transcription, translation) are, and some physical intuition would be helpful. If you're unsure about what you need to know, just shoot me an email.

S4987: Cosmology Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Benjamin Horowitz

Why is the universe expanding? What is cosmological inflation? Where is Dark Matter located? Come to learn all about the cosmology, the Friedmann Equations, and some of the still open questions!


Prerequisites
For the mathy portions of the class, basic algebra would be very useful. Knowledge of calculus might be useful, but is not at all required.

S5291: Classic Examples in Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lauren McGough

I'll go through both the thought experiments and real experiments that motivate various areas of physics, and use classic examples to give insight into what the foundational equations of the theories actually say. The motivations and explanations will not be highly mathematical, but I will do computations to demonstrate the power of the theories.


Prerequisites
Not being afraid of math, though the main goal of the class is not computational

S4902: Molecular Dynamics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Anubhav Sinha

Ever wanted to discover the science of computational molecular modeling? Come learn about the dance of the molecules and learn about the bleeding edge of computational chemistry!

S5405: What's a Quasicrystal?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Liza Plotnikov

This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry is being awarded to Dan Shechtman "for the discovery of quasicrystals". In this class, we'll talk about what a crystal is in the context of materials science, how a quasicrystal is different from a regular crystal, what quasicrystals are used for, and why their discovery is deserving of a Nobel prize.


Prerequisites
high school chemistry

S5419: The Big Bang Happened Everywhere
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Molly Swanson

We live in a universe full of mysteries. You've probably heard that our universe started in a "Big Bang", but what does that really mean? It's not a "bang" in the traditional sense, but a stretching of space itself. Understanding the true nature of this expansion reveals a surprising fact: the Big Bang happened everywhere! What's more, over 90 percent of our universe is made up of substances we don't understand: dark matter and even more mysterious dark energy. Please come join us for an exciting discussion about our amazing universe.


Prerequisites
An understanding of graphing in the coordinate plane

S5044: The Nature of Nature Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Evan Kuras

Take a walk on the wild side and learn about the ecology of MIT's campus. Subjects will range from plant identification to urban environmental management to eco-philosophy.


Prerequisites
Must be comfortable outside.

S5521: Scale of the Universe
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephen Face

Do you like scales? What about universes? If so, then this class is for you!

From our solar system to giant walls of galaxies, I will show the scale of the universe and leave you with an appreciation of your insignificance.

S5095: Biology without terminology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Mee Sun Lee

Sick of memorizing every term in your biology textbook? Also, sick of solving boring equations? Try learning in a different way! Several mathematical models to describe biological phenomena will be introduced.


Prerequisites
mathematical knowledge on differential equations or linear algebra would be helpful.

S5456: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Emma Nechamkin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger's_cat.

We'll talk a bit about a wave function, which is the basis of much of quantum mechanics. We'll explore what a wave function is, what an orbital is, what the basis for Schrodinger's cat is, and various approximations we make when we do quantum mechanics. We will also talk a little bit about the ways computational chemistry have affected the field.


Prerequisites
chemistry (preferably AP) physics math

S5123: Smallpox
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nicole Kang

Smallpox, the sole killer of more people than all the wars in the 20th century and the Great Plague. There are many questions surrounding this virus. When did it appear? Why is it gone now? Is it still a threat? Join us in this terrifying adventure through history and how this disease turned the world upside down.

S5029: Entropy, and Deriving the Ideal Gas Law: Statistical Mechanics
Difficulty: **

Have you seen people walking around MIT with shirts saying $$\frac{PV}
{nR}$$ and wondered why that was supposed to equal T? Have you ever
wondered why time moves forward; why cold things melt; how we are
supposedly running out of energy, despite the fact that scientists
tell us that energy is conserved; why engines cannot be perfectly
efficient? We will introduce the physical variable entropy and
describe some of its many uses in science. One of these will be to
derive the famous ideal gas law $$PV=nRT.$$


Prerequisites
Differential calculus; maybe some classical mechanics, although if you are willing to believe us when we say $$E=p^2/2m$$ and other basic results then you'll probably be fine.

S5439: Terraforming Planets: I Did the Fjords, You Know Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Allison Schneider

Terraforming is the science and art of altering the atmosphere and ecology of other planets to make them more habitable for humans. Earth took about 2 billion years to develop a human-friendly environment, but we'll see if it's possible to speed up the process on other planets. We'll explore the science and ethics of terraforming: can we make Mars green? Should we?


Prerequisites
High school Earth science or biology is helpful, but by no means required.

S5322: Your chemistry and physics teachers LIED to you!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

Entropy. Is not. A state variable.
And it's not a "measure of disorder" either (if it were maybe it would be a state variable).
Entropy is also not "always increasing" in any fundamental-force-of-physics-sense.
Why have you been LIED to so many times?

Well, chemists have a good reason - they treat entropy like a state variable because in thermodynamics, you usually can because experimenters always lose information and are never patient enough to retrieve it. But, while you can work with the formulas in this light, the theory explained in textbooks makes no sense. It is *cough* COMPLETELY FALSE *cough*

This class will be a rigorous explanation of entropy via the mathematics of information theory. We'll also need a rigorously defined notion of chaos and some high dimensional phase spaces... so, this class will be fast-paced and full of mathematical rigor.


Prerequisites
It might be useful (but not necessary) if you've seen the typical high-school-textbook introduction to entropy (those false things mentioned above) just so that it becomes clear, via the content of this class, that a different approach is necessary to well-define and justify the ideas that "textbook entropy" is getting at.

S5197: The Physics of the Universe in One Hour Full!
Difficulty: ***

How much do you know about the Universe? In this class we'll give an overview of concepts ranging from quantum physics to cosmology, including cosmic radiation, black holes, expanding universe, quantum tunneling, and more! Don't worry if you haven't heard those terms; we will explain everything! You'll gain a new perspective on the Universe, your place in it, and the mysteries behind it.

S5313: Neuropharmacology: drugs and your brain Full!
Difficulty: **

Having probably already been educated about drugs, how would you like to learn some facts?
Neuropharmacology is the study of how certain classes of chemicals interact with the nervous system. This class will focus on the behavioral (neuropsychopharmacological) effects and neurochemical action of psychotropic drugs (both pharmaceutical and recreational) in the human nervous system. Up for discussion are depressants (vicodin, alcohol, opium), antidepressants (prozac, zoloft) stimulants (adderall, ritalin, methamphetamine, cocaine), anti-psychotics (thorazine, abilify), psychedelics (LSD, DMT, psilocybin), dissociatives (ketamine, salvia), and many more!

S4954: Introduction to Special Relativity
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ryan Normandin

This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Come and learn how to not only time travel, but turn into a black hole while you’re at it!


Prerequisites
Algebra

S5570: Org-O in 1 hr!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Jonathan Lee

Learn all of organic chemistry in 1 hr.


Prerequisites
Some chemistry background is probably preferred, but probably not necessary.

S4938: Stellar and Star System Evolution
Difficulty: **

From nebulous birth to cataclysmic death, come learn about the stars. Explore the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and the Main Sequence, predict when star will die, and learn how a star can form and harbor planets. Impress your friends with your new-found knowledge of astrophysics!


Prerequisites
some physics

S5253: Maxwell's Equations and Vector Calculus
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Christian Ferko

The four Maxwell equations form the bedrock of classical electromagnetism - together they describe the interaction of charges, the propagation of light, the inner workings of circuits, and a great deal more. In this class we'll try to gain an appreciation for these equations, understanding what they mean and why they are so powerful.

The first hour of the class will be mostly preliminary work in vector calculus and basic properties of fields (I will try to explain all of the math as intuitively as possible, but some parts may become involved). In the second hour we'll tackle the equations head-on, and maybe see some applications as time permits.


Prerequisites
Solid understanding of single variable calculus; some background in electricity and magnetism (knowing about charges and electric fields, for example) is helpful.

S5380: Fermi Problems: Estimation 101.
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Christina Dedrick

How powerful is an atomic bomb? How many piano tuners are in New York City? How much energy is in a D-cell battery? How many cells are in the human body? Learn to answer these questions with just a pencil, paper, your brain and a little knowledge of the world around you.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with units, currently taking or have taken chemistry of some type.

S5226: Quantum Mechanics and What It All Means
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Charles Xu

Is the moon still there when you're not looking? What about an electron? If so, where? Why should there be a difference? Is there a difference?

Even as they've crafted quantum mechanics into the most fantastically successful theory ever, physicists still struggle with the basic question of interpreting what's going on. In this class we'll introduce the bare bones of QM, as well as the orthodox Copenhagen interpretation and why it's so deeply unsatisfying. We'll talk about how Einstein got it subtly wrong and why it took so long to pinpoint his error. Finally, we'll run through some popular alternative interpretations like many-worlds (the multiverse), de Broglie-Bohm pilot waves, and decoherence...plus the bigger issue of why/whether any of it matters scientifically.


Prerequisites
An open mind and not much else. What little math we need will be covered as we go along.

S5290: Biophysics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lauren McGough

Physics provides beautiful insights into biology. I'll talk about examples where a systems approach changes our understanding of biology, and where experimentally determined facts like scaling laws can help us uncover a basic physical model for mechanisms underlying biological phenomena. I'll work from the molecular scale to the organism scale to the population scale, showing that physics-based methods and mathematical models can deepen our understanding of biology and evolution.


Prerequisites
The class will use math and go through examples in some technical detail, so just be prepared for this

S5245: Salamander Regeneration Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephanie Tsai

If you cut a salamander's tail off, it grows back! If you cut it's arm off, that grows back as well! Have you ever thought about how this process occurs? Salamanders have a remarkable ability to extensively regenerate various appendages and organs. For centuries, researchers have tried to unravel this phenomenon. Come learn about the major processes involved in salamander regeneration and past/recent research that has allowed researchers to gain further insight into this regenerative process!


Prerequisites
Biology background necessary

S5306: Topics in Physics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kevin Burdge

Will cover some introductory mechanics content--useful for anyone taking a high school physics course. Will also address a few selected topics in theoretical physics.


Prerequisites
Concurrent or prior enrollment in a high school physics course.

S5376: Bose Einstein Condensate, Laser Cooling and the Race to Absolute Zero
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Megan Williams

What are Bose Einstein condensate? Are they really a fifth state of matter? How do they form? How could you used a laser to cool something and is absolute zero really possible? Sign up and find out!

S4908: Anthrax is Awesome: Why Administering Toxin Is (Sometimes) A Good Idea Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers: Sweet Tea Dorminy

Anthrax is awesome and useful! Ok, so it might kill you, and one* anthrax toxin is enough to kill a cell, and each Bacillus anthracis bacteria produces a lot of toxin; but current research says that anthrax toxin** is potentially useful precisely because it kills cells – especially cancer cells. We’ll explore current research and how anthrax works, and it’ll be really enjoyable.

*One anthrax toxin? Anthrax toxin is actually composed of three individually non-toxic components that complex together in order to enter and kill cells.

**And by useful, it turns out anthrax toxins or their derivatives may actually be useful cancer treatments one day – it may actually, one day, be a good idea to get injected with a derivative of anthrax toxin in order to destroy a tumor.

We’ll learn all about anthrax’s mode of entry into cells, how we can modify anthrax toxin to do more useful things than willy-nilly killing everything, and what interesting cancer-killing tests have been done. It’ll be great!


Prerequisites
You should have heard of cell receptors (or read the wikipedia page enough to know a little bit). You should have a general idea what a protein is, and why a protein's shape matters to its function. Presumably if you know all that you like biology or chemistry, but you should like biology or chemistry too ;)

S4979: The Physics of Spacetime: Black Holes, Time Travel and more... Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Ky-Anh Tran

Have you ever wondered what a black hole is?

What does it mean for spacetime to be curved?

Is time travel possible in our current universe?

If yes, this course is for you! We start with basic Newtonian Gravity, and move on to build intuition behind Einstein's General Relativity.


Prerequisites
Algebra, understanding of geometry (visualizing 3 D objects) and physics will help.

S5114: 101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics (Part 3)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Norman Cao

Want to learn a little relativity, when $$(1+x)^n=1+nx$$, how to count from -512 to 511 on your fingers, and if cats in boxes really can die? Want to see an MIT student bust his voice and brains to teach you every trick in the book he knows for 3 hours?

101 Mindblowing Ways to Think About Math and Physics will go over 101 different revelations in nearly every branch of math and physics imaginable, and then some, each guaranteed to impress your friends who didn't attend and make you rethink everything you thought you knew.

Part 3 of 3 will cover physics. All of it. Parts 1 and 2 (optional) can be found in the Mathematics section.


Prerequisites
This series is geared towards students in precalculus, but any student with a grasp on functions and geometry should be able to follow along. Part 3 also requires a little knowledge about physics.

S5404: Why do Metals Conduct Electricity?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Liza Plotnikov

Why do metals conduct electricity? Why do insulators insulate? What the heck is a semiconductor? In this class we’ll talk about what gives a material its electrical properties. We’ll also learn how there properties can be tweaked to build electronic devices (like the computer you’re using to read this course description).


Prerequisites
high school chemistry and physics

S5076: What You Won't Learn in Chem Class: The True Explanations Behind Chemical Phenomena
Difficulty: **

Ever wondered about why mercury is a liquid at room temperature? Or about the real reason why elements tend to react in such a way so that they achieve noble gas electron configurations? (The answer is far more nuanced than "noble gas configurations are stable.") Tired of having to accept chemical principles and observations without explanation? Then come to my class to learn the real reasons behind why substances behave and react in the way that they do; afterwards, you will understand and appreciate chemistry in a much more nuanced and accurate way.


Prerequisites
A year of high school chemistry or equivalent. (Completion of or current enrollment in AP (or IB) chemistry or equivalent is suggested but definitely not required.)

S4943: Introduction to Genetics Full!
Difficulty: **

Introduction to Mendel's laws, Punnett square, one gene vs. two gene analysis, pedigree analysis, modes of inheritance, complementation test, conditional probability.


Prerequisites
none

S5442: Organic Chemistry Crash Course
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: David Huang

Learn how to synthesize Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), TNT, and all that wonderful drugs (....pharmaceutical ones of course) you use to fight diseases. This class will be a combination of theory and real world application. Live demo TBA.


Prerequisites
One year of general chemistry. If you got AP chemistry background, GREAT! you should definitely take this class then.

S5015: Weather of East Coast to West Coast - Why so different?
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jee Soo Yoo

In a rainy day in Boston, have you ever wished you had sunny weather all the time? Indeed, California has its nick name, "Sunny California." Why is the weather in New England and California so different?

Starting with some understanding on ideal gas, centrifugal force, and basic thermodynamic knowledge, we will discuss the scientific reasoning for the differing weather between the two areas. The course objective is to provide the students some sense in how different parts of science are merged together to understand natural phenomena of weather.

S5104: Biomathematics
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Girardo

When people think of biology, they think of wet and squishy, test tubes and pipettes. What they don't know is that there's a whole world of abstract nonsense underpinning these studies, and advances in computer processing have revealed them. First, we'll briefly talk about some computational tools used to handle the vast amounts of data involved in genomics. Then we'll talk about replicator theory, the characterization of abstract life.


Prerequisites
Some programming. Comfort with abstract thinking.

S5058: Awesome Findings in Psychology Full!
Difficulty: **

Why are our memories sometimes false, and our perceptions fooled by illusions? When should you prefer not to get paid for your work? Could the temperature of my cup of coffee really affect how much I like you later? How could your decisions, your desires, and even your test scores be affected by subtle changes in your environment? In this class we will discuss surprising and important psychology findings that will change the way you think about experiences in your every day life

S5562: Selected Topics in Introductory Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lawrence Chiou

You've used F = ma before but felt like all you did were some cut-and-dried problems. In this intensive course, we will go beyond plugging and chugging and spamming equations by examining some interesting and challenging examples in introductory physics, as well as by exploring some topics not frequently seen in high school physics courses. Topics include non-uniform circular motion; rotational motion; special relativity; the relationship between the magnetic and electric field; and systems with variable mass or acceleration.


Prerequisites
Though the course is self contained, most will find that a working knowledge of kinematics, Newton's laws, and electricity and magnetism will be necessary to keep up with the fast pace of the course.

S4952: Origins of Modern Science from Copernicus to Newton Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lance Ozier

Only 500 years ago, most people thought the Earth was the center of the universe and that there were only four elements: earth, air, water, and fire. Come learn how five men, two supernovas, and the Black Plague changed all that.


Prerequisites
Interest in science and history.

S5551: Maxwell's Equations
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

These four equations describe one of the most universal and elegant relations in physics. They are Maxwell’s equations, unifying all observations of relativity, electricity, and magnetism. Don’t let the notation scare you off – this class has no prerequisites (as in, just be able to graph a function), but we will rigorously derive Maxwell’s explanation of electromagnetic phenomena (including light, electricity, magnets, …). “Derive” with the catch that, as I don’t believe in writing long equations on the board, everything in this class will be presented as a series of intuitive /and/ rigorous deductions, preserving concepts rather than constants. We will begin with only two observations. First, the relativistic nature of light: you can’t catch up to a light beam – it will always move away from you at speed c. Second, our observations of the force between two charges described by q_1*q_2/r^2: q_1 and q_2 being the magnitude of the two charges, and r being the distance between them. From these two observations, we will DERIVE the explanation of everything else. Aka, the world will unfold before you and it will be beautiful.


Prerequisites
All this said, and there being no “hidden prerequisites,” the world will need to unfold before you /very/ quickly. I basically just claimed that I would introduce all of single-variable calculus and about half of multivariable calculus in the first hour of class – which I believe is an attainable goal – but this class will be rigorous, will be extremely intense, and will require the full two hours.

S5055: The Incredible Water Bear! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ana Lyons

Come learn about, see with your own eyes, and maybe even befriend the incredible water bear! As this miniature beast is the first member of the animal kingdom to successfully survive exposure to outer space and become a model for cutting-edge cryptobiosis research, you might be surprised to learn that the water bear (a transparent microscopic invertebrate with eight legs, claws, and eye spots that belongs to the phylum Tardigrada) can actually be found in virtually any film of water, fresh or marine - even in your backyard. As an oddball of the animal kingdom, you probably won’t learn about tardigrades in your high school biology class, but come learn the little-known history of the phylum (consisting of over 1000 species), how to collect and view the adorable critter on your own with just a few basic tools, and build up your repertoire on the most recent tardigrade research with applications to medicine, molecular biology, systematics, ecology, and even quantum physics. We’ll have demonstrations of live organisms and cool handouts, plus we’ll even talk about ways that YOU can contribute the growing pool of tardigrade knowledge. Before you know it, you’ll be your local water bear expert!


Prerequisites
Appreciation for cuddly microscope animals

S5249: Centauri Tomorrow: Long Term Space Mission Planning
Difficulty: **

Taught by the MIT chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, this class will detail humanity's first interstellar mission.
The year: 2070. Artificially produced radio signals have been detected from the Alpha Centauri system 4.3 light years away-Humanity is no longer alone in the universe.
It has become priority one for NASA to begin construction on the first manned interstellar spacecraft to establish contact with the Centaurians-how will we get there? What will the spacecraft look like? How can humans survive the decades-long journey? What will we do when we get there? Learn the answers to these questions and more-today Earth, tomorrow Centauri.


Prerequisites
None-come with an appreciation for space travel and exploration and space science and engineering

S5571: Biochemistry Fundamentals in Disease Research
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Nevin Daniel

This is going to be a hectic, crash course (with discussion) in as many basic fundamentals of biochemistry on a high AP/college level that I can fit in and then use them to look at current research in 1-2 diseases (e.g. cancer). For people who want AP exam prep, background for a high school research project, or just are generally interested in biochem and medicine.


Prerequisites
AP Chemistry/AP Biology and some Organic Chemistry experience are definitely recommended.

S5179: Science Bowl: How to Win Full!
Difficulty: **

You're sitting on the edge of your seat, clammy hands gripping onto a buzzer. The moderator just said something, but what was it? And is it just me, or did everyone on the team forget to study Earth Science?
For improving your game when it counts, this course will first discuss strategies of preparing and playing Science Bowl, followed by hands-on practice rounds.
Taught by the captain of last year's national championship-winning team.


Prerequisites
Students should be reasonably familiar with Science Bowl gameplay and rules.

S5409: Dreams and Dreaming Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Carol Hardick

Dreams and Dreaming introduces you to cognition and memory from the perspective of a sleeping brain, using an interdisciplinary approach of neuroscience, psychology and humanities. The Harry Potter series and the movie, Inception, has lots of twists and turns and both raise questions about the brain, knowledge and artificial intelligence. What's possible and what isn't? Can an idea be planted in a person's mind? Can two people share a dream? With lots of discussion, we’ll explore those questions, and more.

S5257: DON'T PANIC: The Psychology of Fear Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ranbel Sun

Why do we throw logic out the window in the face of fear? Why do some people choke under pressure, whereas others thrive and perform superhuman feats?

We will first get an overview of the neural and physiological basis of fear. We will then discuss real life examples of epic fails, clutch performances, as well as our own experiences. By understanding how we respond to anxiety and fear, we can develop strategies to ditch the panic button and maybe even use fear to our advantage.

Whether you are scared of snakes, the SATs, or family reunions, come and think about your fear from a different perspective.

S5162: Chemistry of Explosions
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tejas Navaratna

Structural chemistry, thermodynamics of explosive compounds. Reaction mechanisms, molecular engineering, stability considerations. Development, application, and future of chemical explosives.


Prerequisites
high school chemistry

S5565: Physics 'n' Coffee
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Lauren McGough

If mathematicians turn tea into theorems, do physicists turn coffee into awesomeness? We think so - come find out how while enjoying physics, coffee, and associated snacks.


Prerequisites
No fear of math. Either exposure to calculus or lack of fear of not completely understanding would be helpful.

S5054: Weird Atoms and Strange Photons: The Quantum Nature of the Universe
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Hiro Miyake

It turns out that behind the scenes nature works in bizarre and wonderful ways. I'll explain some of these ideas at the size of atoms, where particles routinely walk through walls, are both everywhere and nowhere at once and where almost anything can happen. One place where these weird cases occur is at very cold temperatures, billionths of degrees above absolute zero. At these temperatures, millions of atoms can act as one huge atom. We’ll discuss these cryptic sentences and explain how weird our universe really is.


Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites. Just a desire to learn how nature works.

S4955: Introduction to Special Relativity Part II (Advanced)
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ryan Normandin

More Special Relativity! More complicated concepts, including Lorentz diagrams.


Prerequisites
Algebra Geometry

S5198: All About Birds Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rebecca Shi

Come learn a few basics of birdwatching and how to identify backyard and other common birds! We will then go outside, weather permitting, to search for the common birds around MIT. If there is time and interest, we'll return to the classroom to learn about bird physiology, flight, fun facts, and more.


Prerequisites
Bring your own binoculars if possible, but they're certainly not required.


[Deprecated] Walk-in Seminar

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W5466: The Wonderful World of Shoelaces
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zach Minster

Believe it or not, there's more than just one way to lace up (and tie) the shoes on your feet. Want to learn to lace your shoes like straight bars, a spider-web, a starburst, a supernova, or a lattice? Want to learn how to tie your shoes so you'll (hopefully) never need to tie them again? Want to generally use your footwear to look like a boss? You'll see these methods and many more as you practice on your own shoes. Make a statement - use an awesome, unique lacing method (perhaps a different one on each shoe) with some colored (perhaps more than one color on each shoe) laces!

W5328: Rock Paper Scissors Tournament
Difficulty: **

A chance to display your new found techniques and achieve glory. Will you play the Scrapbook, Death and Taxes or perhaps the powerful Fistful of Dollars! Come play in our tournament in your spare time.

W5282: Monty Python
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tony Zhao

"One of the things we tried to do with the show was to try and do something that was so unpredictable that it had no shape and you could never say what the kind of humor was. And I think that the fact that "pythonesque" is now a word in the Oxford English Dictionary shows the extent to which we failed."

Watch classic clips from Monty Python, including "How not to be seen," the Dead Parrot Sketch, and "What have the Romans done for us?"

W5149: Beaded Bracelet
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sara Goheen

Learn the peyote beading stitch using elastic cording and clear pony beads to make a bracelet.

W5577: Forward Engineering!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Vincent Lee

Come help build an electric scooter!

W5174: Liar's Poker
Difficulty: **

I call a Full House of 5s! Are you going to call higher or call BS on me?! Come and learn to (or just come if you already know!) play a game of bold claims and subtle bluffs!

W5019: Throwing Frisbees
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lisa Liu

When you try to throw a frisbee ahead of you, does it somehow end up landing behind you? If you're absolutely baffled how to get these things to fly, drop in to learn from MIT's ultimate frisbee teams! And if you think you already have throwing down and also want to learn some other techniques, you're welcome too!



W5153: Physics Circus

Do you like playing with lasers? Ever wonder how a gyroscope moves? Magnets - how do those work? Come join us for some fun physics demos including air tracks, pendulums and experiments you can play with for yourself!

W4913: T-Shirt Transformation
Difficulty: **
Teachers: E Rosser

Inside your standard T-shirt, there's a beautiful piece of artwork, waiting to burst forth! Wait a second... take that portrait out of your shirt! What were you even...nevermind. Here. Take these scissors and have fun. Bring your own ideas, use ours, or just come and play with needle and thread!

W5240: Traditional Chinese Lion Dancing
Difficulty: **

Lion Dancing is a traditional Chinese dance performed during Chinese New Year and various other celebrations (weddings, festivals etc.). Come join us and see what it's like to be a lion dancer!

W4973: Schafkopf!
Difficulty: **

Do you dream of picking up big ladies in the blind? Do you dare to pick on red death? Do you have nightmares schmearing to the partner, only to find yourself failing to make schneider, or even worse, getting schwartzed?

Come play Schafkopf, a German trick-tacking card game of epic proportions -- and even more epic words. We pity the mauers.

W5132: Friendship Bracelet Making
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kathy Yang

Learn how to tie simple knots and patterns with colorful threads to make friendship bracelets! Friends not required - you can make them for yourself too!

W5183: Set
Difficulty: **

Set is an awesome game that's all about finding patterns as quickly as you can... come play with us!

W5191: Dominion
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joshua Frisch

Dominion is an amazing deck building game by Donald X. Vaccarino which is easily capable of eating obscene amounts of your time, want to learn how to play and, possibly, get addicted! Come to this walk in seminar for a few fast and friendly games.

W5547: Candy Creations!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Reuben Aronson

Come be a civil engineer! Build elaborate constructions out of graham crackers and frosting. Build a bridge or the Empire State Building. And then eat them. :-)

W4996: Scholar's Bowl Tournament: Prove You Know Everything
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ruth Byers

Think you know more than your friends know? Scholar's Bowl is a fast-paced, 5-against-5 academic quiz game where you can prove to them it's true. Listen to the questions and if you think you know the answer, press your buzzer. Drop in to play a round or pull your team through the entire tournament.

*For those of you who have played Quiz Bowl, Scholar's Bowl is a simpler version on the same concept- take away tossups and bonus questions and insert just 14 straight-up (usually short) questions per round of academic awesome.

W5206: Chess Simultaneous Exhibition
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Daniel Grazian

I will be running a simultaneous chess exhibition. This means I will be playing a dozen or more people at once, moving from board to board. See if you can take me down!

W5285: Swing Dancing
Difficulty: **

Come learn how to swing dance! We'll start from the basic steps and move onto more complicated steps as time allows. No partner necessary; everyone will be rotating and switching partners as we go anyway.

W5211: Silent Football
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ami Greene

A game that is neither silent nor football.

Create a universe, defy hallucinogenic phantasms, spy for a nefarious lexicological dictator, bewilder the eye and mind, and interact with an incorporeal entity, all without leaving your seat.

W5340: Spades!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Valkyrie Felso

Come take a break from classes and play a quick game of spades (or two, or three...) No experience necessary.

W5030: Ninjas
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Benjamin Kraft

Be a ninja in Lobby 13.

W5103: Ultimate Frisbee - How to Throw a Disc
Difficulty: **

The first step in learning to play ultimate is to learn to throw a disc. This class provides a tutorial on how to throw a 175g Discraft Ultra-Star disc, the standard game disc of ultimate players everywhere.

W5011: Linguistics Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Chelsea Voss

اللسانيات! Мовазнаўства! भाषाविज्ञान! 언어학! Γλωσσολογία! Ngôn ngữ học! Linguistics!

Come solve fun problems from the Linguistics Olympiads, NACLO and IOL! A variety of languages, problem styles, and difficulty levels will be provided for you to solve. Logic and reasoning are your main weapon here -- no prior linguistics knowledge required!

W5487: Playing with Liquid Nitrogen
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jessica Parker

Have you ever shattered a rose? Levitated chalk? Hammered a nail with a banana? Everything is more fun at 77 Kelvin.

W4981: Solving Crosswords
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Taylor Sutton

In this walk-in seminar, I'll have lots of crosswords for everyone to solve! Crosswords from sources such as the New York Times and LA Times, ranging from easy to impossibly difficult, both themed and themeless. Perhaps a few cryptics will sneak their way in as well. Anyone welcome, even complete beginners.

W5484: Durak Playing
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sheina Godovich

Learn how to play this classic Russian card game and have a blast!

W5366: Salsa with Salsa!
Difficulty: **

Come by and learn to salsa dance and eat some chips and salsa.

W5305: Smoothie Experimentation
Difficulty: **

Ever wondered how to make a smoothie? Maybe you've made a few smoothies, but you've never really had a chance to experiment with different ingredients. Either way, this class is for you! Come help make tasty smoothies and then drink them!

W5077: Play Go!
Difficulty: **

This walk-in seminar is run by the MIT Go Club. Go is a truly great game with simple rules but endless complexity, so whether you are a complete beginner or an expert or anywhere in between, you should stop by and learn/play some go!

Some info about Go:
Go, also known as Weiqi in Chinese and Baduk in Korean, is a game that originated in China about five thousand years ago. Two players, black and white, take turns placing a stone on a 19 by 19 board. The objective is to control a larger territory than the opponent. The rules are so simple; yet from simplicity comes endless complexity and strategic depth. Whereas the strongest chess programs can routinely defeat grandmasters, the strongest Go program can be defeated by a strong club player.

W5239: Post-it Pokemon
Difficulty: **

Have you ever made a picture out of post-its? Do you like Pokemon? If the answer to both these questions is yes, then come in and help us as we individually re-create a Pokemon sprite with post-its as individual pixels. Come in and help out anytime, and help us create the masterpiece of a lifetime.

W5337: SPLASHLIGHTS: Micro LED Flashlights
Difficulty: **

Make a micro LED Flashlight!

LED + Switch + AA Battery = LED Flashlight.

In 15 minutes, make your own and take it home!

W5460: Gigantic Rubber Band Web
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Zachary Abel

Learn how to make huge, sprawling, stretchy, geometric webs out of household rubber bands. In this collaborative project, we will build a mathematically-inspired geometric sculpture that stretches, quite literally, from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. No artistic or mathematical abilities are required.

W5316: Tea Tasting
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Sweet Tea Dorminy

Come taste some classy tea. Not just one classy tea --- from green to white to black to pu'erh, we'll have all sorts of beautiful teas to taste!

W5026: Nerd Sniping
Difficulty: **

Problems. We will have them. You will do our problems. Mathy/physicsy/CSy/logicy/whatevery problems!

W5210: Object Manipulation and Acrobatics

Because you've always wanted to run away and join the circus. We will be going over poi, staff, rope dart, contact juggling, and whatever else we can find.

W5398: Get your (biology) questions answered!
Difficulty: **

You have questions? We have answers.

Come ask us ANYTHING you want about biology!

How can we sequence DNA? What makes slime molds awesome? How does the immune system work? Why don't antibiotics poison humans? How do Venus flytraps do that? Why don't all mutations cause cancer? What is selenocysteine? How could evolution produce life as we know it?

W5355: Liquid Nitrogen, and Ice Cream!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Laura McKnight

Come learn about some cool properties of liquid nitrogen, and get to try some ice cream made with liquid nitrogen.

W4953: Duct Tape Creations (without Wallets)
Difficulty: **

Make anything you've ever wanted to make out of duct tape! (As long as you don't want to make a wallet, they're boring.) Make a hat! Make a cat! Make some gloves or a dove. Really, anything.

W5247: Origami!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Katarina Dutton

Stop by and learn how to make something interesting out of a sheet of paper, or show off what you can do!

W5118: Bughouse!
Difficulty: **

Come play bughouse with us! In case you don't know, bughouse is a variant of chess involving teams of two and the ability to place taken pieces. We'll give you a brief intro and then play some games! Maybe we'll even do a mini-tournament!

W5108: Fish!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Anthony Lu

Canadian Fish, not to be mistaken for its little cousin Go Fish, is a card game of intense concentration, memory, and deduction. Plan to stay for 30 minutes or more. Prepare to be mentally tested.

W5181: Epic Fort Building
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emily TenCate

Come learn how to create an epic castle from the most mundane of materials.

W5213: Magic: the Gathering
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eugenio Fortanely

Do you like playing Magic? I bring you Magic: the Walk In Seminar. Bring a deck and come play against other students.

W5461: Factorials and other Mathyness
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacobi Vaughn

This will be a short walk-in seminar based around factorials. If the concept has never been seen before, then it will be explained symbolically and with examples. Then the fun begins with fractional and negative factorials (including the gamma function maybe), assuming students are interested. Also any other cool mathyness I feel like rambling about.

W5483: Foodtongue
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Gary Wang

Food-tongue grass tongue cheese ham-sandwich. Mint tongue-slice fish food-tongue grass food. Fish gyro Kool-Aid-slice, mint-apple spinach red-pepper tongue mint tongue-slice quiche grass cheese English-muffin-tongue. Kumquat pasta-peach-sauce plantain tongue food-tongue!

How much of a language can you learn in half an hour? What if you're not allowed to ask for translations?

W5579: Mafia!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Saheela Ibraheem

Classic game of deceit, treachery and murder. Come play mafia and meet cool people!

W5242: Art of Problem Solving Meet-Up!
Difficulty: **

Are you an AoPS member? Come meet your fellow AoPS geeks! Three of us MIT freshmen - Felix (sunnyboy780), Luyi, and Joel (joelinia) - are TAs for the AoPS classes, and we want to meet as many of you as possible.

Of course, we'll have fun math problems for you to attack, and name tags so you can identify others by screen name.


Miscellaneous

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X5261: Rock Paper Scissors: Real Professional Strategies. Full!
Difficulty: *

A serious class on Rock paper scissors strategy. Illuminating such techniques such as the Avalanche, the Bueracrat, the Crescendo and Decrescendo and of course Edwards Gambit.


Prerequisites
Hands and fingers.

X5141: Star Wars: Grand Army of the Republic
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Katherine Karwoski

Interested in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) used during the Clone Wars? Want to learn more about the different kinds of clones and what their functions were? We’ll be discussing the different types and specialties of clones and the command structure of the GAR. There will be prop replicas of clone helmets and blasters. This class will focus more on the function and structure of the GAR and less on the battles from the Clone Wars. If you want to learn more about the war and the events leading up to it, please also take our History of the Star Wars Galaxy class, part 3 covers the Clone Wars era.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: History of the Star Wars Galaxy, Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses.


Prerequisites
Students must have watched the Star Wars movies and must be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy.

X5406: Intro to Modern Yo-yoing! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: John Chow

Come learn how to yo-yo! The class also covers the competitive world of yo-yoing; you won't believe what's possible!

X5580: Boffer Swords 101: Expanded Size Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joe Martin, Alyssa Zisk

Have you ever wondered what a real swordfight might be like? Whether your a fan of LOTR or Star Wars, this course is for you! This course will teach you how to make a homemade boffer sword that can be used in all forms of entertainment, from swordfights with friends to LARPing. Time permitting, we will also give a short demonstration on using your sword, and discuss both basic swordfighting concepts and basic footwork.

X5216: Beginning Morris Dancing - an ancient English tradition
Difficulty: *

Morris dancing is an ancient form of folk dance from the small villages of England. No one knows where Morris dancing comes from, but we do know that people have been whacking sticks at least since Shakespeare's time.

We'll start off with a short history of Morris dancing and then members of the Red Herring Morris Team will teach several easy dances from the border region of England and Wales.

Come prepared to move, clash sticks, and have fun.

Sneakers or sturdy shoes are required. Live music will be provided by members of the team.

Some videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXE2htL-6NA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVAS_WSkWA


Prerequisites
A love of clashing sticks, all things British, and the knowledge of which foot is your left one. No previous experience is required.

X5138: Languages of Star Wars (Xenolinguistics) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Katherine Karwoski

Think the languages of Star Wars are interesting? Ever wanted to learn Aurebesh or Mando’a? The first part of this class will teach Aurebesh, the font used in the Star Wars galaxy. We will learn how to write the alphabet using Aurebesh, as well as some special characters, and we will translate some images from the movies. The second part of this class will teach Mando’a, which is the language of the Mandalorian culture and the most developed language in the Star Wars universe. We will learn some basic words, as well as phrases common in the Mandalorian culture.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: History of the Star Wars Galaxy, Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses.


Prerequisites
*Prerequisites* Students must have watched the Star Wars movies and should be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy.

X5067: Accounting 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rahat Bathija

Students interested in Accounting will learn basic accounting skills. The class will introduce financial statements including balance sheets and income statements and learn how to read them.

X5219: Intermediate Morris Dancing - an ancient English tradition
Difficulty: **

This class will be a continuation of the Beginning Morris Dancing class. Depending on multiple variables, such as skills, the weather, and interests we may perfect the earlier dances, learn some more challenging ones, or move outside to perform some of the dances.

Morris dancing is an ancient form of folk dance from the small villages of England. No one knows where Morris dancing comes from, but we do know that people have been whacking sticks at least since Shakespeare's time.

Come prepared to move, clash sticks, and have fun.

Sneakers or sturdy shoes are required. Live music will be provided by members of the Red Herring Morris Team.

Some videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXE2htL-6NA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVAS_WSkWA


Prerequisites
Beginning Morris Dancing or some experience with Morris Dancing.

X4991: Intro to Hipster Culture
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Justin M

Urban Outfitters, skinny jeans, flannels, and other hipster icons have become major aspects of the mainstream American lifestyle. Together we will study just how Hipsters came to be, what exactly being a Hipster entails, and where the culture might be going.


Prerequisites
Nada

X4905: ZDI.001 Introduction to Zombie Defense
Difficulty: *

The zombie apocalypse may be just around the corner, do you want to be fresh meat, or a prepared member of the Zombie Defense Initiative, ready for anything? Join us as we talk about the possible causes of a zombie apocalypse, proper preparation, and handy tactics for dealing with those shambling (or running) hordes of flesh-eaters!

X5227: Sushi Rolling (and Eating) Full!
Difficulty: *

Learn how to roll your own delicious sushi (and sample the results at the end)!

X5086: Relaxation, Meditation, and Stress Reduction Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Alioth Drinkwater

This class will be supremely relaxing. We will cover a wide variety of techniques you can use to keep yourself on an even keel when it seems like school, life, your parents, and your own mind are all out to get you.

- Meditation techniques
- Guided relaxation / visualization
- Everyday principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

DISCLAIMER: This class is not intended as medical advice.


Prerequisites
Wear comfortable clothes for sitting/lying on the floor.

X5091: ZT Stacking and T-Spinning Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Damien Jiang

Do you play Tetris? I'm not talking about calculator Tetris here--in this class, we'll use the real deal on www.tetrisfriends.com. Tetris Friends allows a special maneuver called a "T-Spin," which gives unfair amounts of points. I'll teach you how to take advantage of this most effectively, primarily focusing on the Tetris Ultra game mode.


Prerequisites
Sign up for a www.tetrisfriends.com account.

X5199: Using Myers Briggs Indicator for Better Relationships and Career Planning
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Patricia Craig

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a powerful personality tool that can provide many benefits to your life. By understanding your Myers Briggs personality profile, and those of your friends, you can have more harmonious relationships. Additionally, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can help you make better career choices. In this class we will give everyone a short version of the Myers Briggs personality "test" and we will delve into the sixteen Myers Briggs personality types.

X5135: History of the Star Wars Galaxy (PART 1)
Difficulty: **

This is class 1 of a 4-part course on the history of the Star Wars galaxy. Class 1 of this series will cover history from 100,000 BBY to 5,000 BBY. This includes events prior to the creation of the Star Forge, discussing the Celestials and their technology, and will continue all the way up to the end of the Great Hyperspace war. Class 1 also introduces some key information about the galaxy, the force, and technology that will be relevant for other classes.

This is a four-part course focusing on character profiles, important events (including the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith War, the Mandalorian War, the Second Sith War, the Battle of Ruusan, the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, the Birth of the New Republic, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion), weapons and technology, and vehicles and vessels with a focus on the use and development of the force by the Jedi Order, the Sith, and other lesser known factions throughout. Class will consist mostly of lecture with short breaks for discussion of the material. This four-part course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5377: How to be a Boss (lecture)
Difficulty: *

This 2 hour lecture course will go over the essentials to being successful in one's endeavors, especially in regards to those endeavors that require social activity.

Basics in professionalism, appearance, confidence, and eloquence will be covered in this course. Whilst completion of the course cannot guarantee immediate jobs or internships, it will definitely put you in a better position to present yourself in public and social situations granted you use the techniques taught.

This is a prerequisite to the "How to be a Boss (recitation)" course. The lecture course does not require completion of the recitation course, but it is recommended for maximum boss potential.

X4906: Cooking on the Edge Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Kate Rudolph

You awake in an empty room with 20 other Splash students and an intense craving for chocolate cake. The only items available to you are a microwave, a mug, and a handful of ingredients. Can you satisfy your cake craving?

More realistically, at some point in your life, in a dorm or a hotel room, you will be faced with the daunting task of cooking without a kitchen. But you don’t need to resign yourself to eating peanut butter and jelly. Come learn to create a few different delicious concoctions with only a microwave and a minimum of kitchen implements.

X5200: Hard Times: Some Tools and Tricks for Managing Hard Times (Adversity) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Patricia Craig

Every person has times in their life when it is really tough. Whether a grandparent just died, or parents are getting divorced, or not fitting in at school - - - life can get really tough. This course will provide some helpful hints on managing those rough patches. The hints are drawn from the following books, "The Adversity Quotient", "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living", and "The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook." Additionally, some hints from Stanford Professor Michael Ray's course, "Creativity in Business" will be discussed.

X4939: Colorful Throwable Paper Math (Modular Origami) Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Benjamin Kraft

Some people like to do their math on paper. But I like to do math *with* paper. Some people like to do their origami with one piece of paper. I like *lots* of paper. So we'll be combining the two, and folding lots of little pieces of paper (that is, making modular modular origami) and using a bit of math to make colorful throwable paper dodecahedra. If we have time, we might even make buckyballs or donuts or something else; you'll definitely leave knowing how to make such things. And then you can throw your math at your friends!

For the math-haters: We might talk a bit about some of the math going on, but don't worry if you aren't a math person.

For the math-lovers: If you want to hear about it, there's lots of graph theory and a little topology going on that we can talk about.


Prerequisites
If you've made PHiZZ units before, you will probably be a bit bored. If you don't know what those are, great! No paper-folding experience is necessary.

X5491: Innovation in International Development Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Quynh Nguyen, Shawn Wen

Broadly defined, international development (ID) seeks to improve quality of life, particularly for those in developing countries. ID encompasses a range of topics, including health care, education, poverty, government infrastructure, and human rights. Some questions to consider: Why are the poorest of the poor perpetually stuck at the bottom? How did they get there? Most importantly, what tangible steps can be taken to promote ID? This class will introduce how innovation in science and engineering (often coming from people right here at MIT) are powerful in addressing important international development issues. Hands-on demos/activities are likely. Taught by two board members of MIT's Global Poverty Initiative.


Prerequisites
Whether you are completely up-to-date on current international development issues or completely new, all are welcome!

X5193: Advertising 101. Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Shinya Watanabe

Our daily lives are filled with advertisement - every product you buy, every TV you watch, every food you eat is advertised. What exactly does it mean to 'Advertise'? How do people in advertisement think? How are our ideas shaped? In this class, we will examine the nature of advertisement and analyze real life examples. Be prepared to talk!

X5137: History of the Star Wars Galaxy (PART 2)
Difficulty: **

This is class 2 of a 4-part course on the history of the Star Wars Galaxy. Class 2 of this series will cover history from 5,000 BBY to 3,958 BBY. This includes Freedon Nadd's rise to power, The Great Sith War, the Mandalorian Wars, and The Second Great Sith War.

This is a four-part course focusing on character profiles, important events (including the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith War, the Mandalorian War, the Second Sith War, the Battle of Ruusan, the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, the Birth of the New Republic, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion), weapons and technology, and vehicles and vessels with a focus on the use and development of the force by the Jedi Order, the Sith, and other lesser known factions throughout. Class will consist mostly of lecture with short breaks for discussion of the material. This four-part course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5039: Cupcake Battle! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Melissa Ko, DD Liu

Can you make the tastiest, prettiest, most awesome cupcake?

Learn how to spice up the average cake mix and create cupcakes that are too adorable to eat. We will teach you the basics of cupcake construction and decoration. Students then compete to make the best cupcake, there can only be one!

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate those who do not eat dairy and egg. Candies may include nuts though people with less severe allergies can opt out of using/eating them.


Prerequisites
maturity in the kitchen (if you cannot use kitchen utensils and bake cupcakes without killing yourself or making a mess, this class is not for you)

X5150: The Tea Tradition Full!
Difficulty: *

Do you like to drink tea? Have you always wondered why other people drink tea? Join us for a fun-filled hour of tea drinking as we learn how to brew the perfect cup of tea.

X5041: How to Solve a Rubik's Cube Full!
Difficulty: **

Throughout this 4 hour workshop I will teach you how you can completely solve any scrambled 3x3 Rubik's Cube.

If you have a cube bring it! We will also have some extra cubes available.

X5220: How To Get By in School Without Doing Any Work Full!
Difficulty: *

Just remembered that paper due tomorrow you were supposed to do over the last two weeks? Ever tried to rush through homework 10 minutes before the class in which it's due? Forgot you had that 5 minute presentation today? "How To Get By in School Without Doing Any Work," also known as B.S.ing by those familiar with this art, will teach you how to successfully pull off seemingly-impossible feats like that with ease.

X4948: Game Show 101 Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Tana Wattanawaroon

Watching people answer questions, playing games and performing ridiculous stunts have been Americans’ pleasure for more than 80 years. Over the time, game shows have evolved quite a lot. We will explore several aspects of various game shows from ”The $64 Question” on the radio, the famous ”Come on down!” from ”The Price is Right”, the scandal of ”Twenty-One”, the reality boom of ”Survivor”, to the game show’s down time where only a couple of staples stay on air.

We will learn, we will watch, and we will play!

Game shows. Making random Americans rich since the 1920s.

X5299: A Brief Overview of Memetic Trends of the Early 2000s: Sergei and Beth Show Internet Videos for an Hour Full!
Difficulty: *

Everybody knows about the magic of the double rainbow, but do you know about the End of Ze World? Have you heard that all your base are belong to us? Do the words Numa-Numa have a special place in your heart? Do you know why Mr. Rogers is wearing a blood stained sweater? After our class, you will be able to answer all of these puzzling questions in the affirmative. Come be exposed to the classics of the internet. If we have time at the end, we will also discuss what these videos tell us about the human psyche.

X5139: History of the Star Wars Galaxy (PART 3) Full!
Difficulty: **

This is class 3 of a 4-part course on the history of the Star Wars Galaxy. Class 3 of this series will cover history from 2,000 BBY to 11 BBY. This includes events such as the Battle of Ruusan, the Mandalorian Civil War, the Clone Wars, and the Clone Rebellion.

This is a four-part course focusing on character profiles, important events (including the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith War, the Mandalorian War, the Second Sith War, the Battle of Ruusan, the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, the Birth of the New Republic, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion), weapons and technology, and vehicles and vessels with a focus on the use and development of the force by the Jedi Order, the Sith, and other lesser known factions throughout. Class will consist mostly of lecture with short breaks for discussion of the material. This four-part course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5475: Running Large Events (Like Splash!)
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Chris Kennedy

What does it take to pull off a big event? And just how crazy do you need to be to try?

In this class, we'll examine what goes into organizing events for hundreds or thousands of participants like Splash, but also academic conferences, quiz bowl/Acadec tournaments, career fairs, and so on. We'll cover everything from very early planning to event-day insanity to post-event evaluations.

Finally, we'll discuss how you can personally take charge of a Splash of your own, using the resources of a national network of Splash programs around the country.


Prerequisites
An interest in getting things done.

X5550: ESP Behind the Scenes
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jordan Moldow

Splash doesn't just run itself! Directors and other admins put in a lot of hard work to make this program run. And ESP runs many other programs throughout the year. Want to learn how to run an ESP when you go to college, or just want to hear what goes on behind the scenes? Come find out!


Prerequisites
A love for Splash and a curiosity for how it is run.

X5558: Why Knot?
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Zandra Vinegar

Basically, we're going to hang out and play some games. These games may or may not be related to knot theory, but we're not going to look at too much of the math too closely. We're mainly just going to play the games. Why come to this class? I don't know, but why knot?


Prerequisites
None as we're knot doing too much of the math. :)

X4982: Dissecting Video Game Characters: What Makes Them So Great?
Difficulty: *

Ever felt like you are fighting alongside Samus Aran from Metroid, walking the same journey with Link from The Legend of Zelda, or being scientifically enriched by Portal's GLaDOS? Ever played a game and felt sympathetic, endeared or touched by video game characters? Learn how characters are designed, and how they fit into video games! We will talk about different aspects of character design: appearance, traits, personality, and backstory influence.


Prerequisites
An interest in character design (not necessary video game characters)

X5145: Advanced Star Wars Discussion
Difficulty: ***

In this class, students will break in to groups to critically discuss provided topics in Star Wars, followed by a summary where groups will present their findings. This class will cover more advanced questions and topics than the normal (Star Wars) discussion class. While it is required that students have taken at least one of my History of the Star Wars Galaxy courses, it is still strongly recommended that you take all four of the history classes prior to this course, as they each cover very different and important topics which will provide vital background knowledge for this class.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, History of the Star Wars Galaxy (4 parts), and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5024: Enumerable things
Difficulty: **
Teachers: David Lawrence

An enumerable set of objects is any set of objects that can be counted. In this class, we will consider the interesting properties of various enumerable sets, including: roller coasters, programming languages, mountains, prime numbers, interstate highways, operating systems, and donuts.

X5046: Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Saheela Ibraheem

Like figuring out puzzle solutions? Interested in new challenges, or proofs? Enjoy this class of logical, interesting fun!

X5057: Patrol Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ceres Lee, Paul Weaver

Shoot your friends!! Its Patrol!!

Patrol is a game sponsored by the MIT Assassins’ guild. Participants are divided into a number of teams. Each player is armed with a dart gun and a small number of rubber darts. Each player also wears a colored headband denoting what team he/she is on and whether or not he/she is currently alive. The object of the game is to shoot members of the other teams without getting shot. If shot, the player can resurrect by visiting the resurrection floor. The main goal, however, is to have fun.

Please bring a signed permission slip available here: http://www.mit.edu/~assassin/PatrolPermissionSheet.txt

X5352: Real-world Philosophy Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Brian Lee

Let's talk real philosophy. Not the kind that you learn in school. The real kind, free of any and all literary/humanities BS.



X5510: Baking the Vegan Alternative of Things Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amber Bennoui

Baking vegan rules because you can eat batter and get salmonella!

We will attempt to make deceptive cheesecake, apple crisp, brownies and various cookies.


Prerequisites
Bring your hunger.

X5116: Tarot Reading Full!
Difficulty: **

Get an insight of the mystical art of Tarot Reading.


Prerequisites
Open-mindedness and interest.

X5272: Choice Theory: A Look at How We Make Decisions Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jeremy Ziring

More choices is better. We want what's best for us. We answer knowledge-based questions without being swayed by sources we know are unrelated. These are some of the basic assumptions we have about how we make choices. And yet, we've run into some problems. Why is it that people are more likely to buy a jar of jam when they have six options as opposed to 24? How is it that a randomly pulled number (that the individual pulling it knows is random) can influence his/her guess as to how many countries are in the United Nations? In this class, we'll look at choice from all angles (philosophical, scientific, psychological), and by the end will have a better appreciation for the way we decide in everyday life.

X5260: Embroidery: Stitches and Pattern-Making Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Kimberly Beder

Learn some basic embroidery stitches as well as the principles of designing an embroidery pattern. Then we will walk through designing our own simple patterns and work on our projects.

X5445: How to (not) be awkward Full!
Difficulty: **

See examples of how to avoid being awkward.

X5129: The Anatomy of Crossword Puzzles
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Taylor Sutton

Many prominent newspapers, such as the New York Times and LA Times run daily crosswords, and anyone can submit a puzzle in the hopes of having it published. In this class, we'll look at the different types of crossword puzzles,* practice solving a few, and then go through the construction of crossword puzzle by actually making one.

*: American-style only. No cryptics or other such things, sorry

X5133: Surviving in Minecraft 101 Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Staly Chin

Ever heard of Minecraft?

That game, made of blocks? Where you can build crazy stuff like a life-sized Starship Enterprise?

And how the game notoriously drops you in a struggle for your life as you spend the day trying to prepare for the inevitable battle in the night?

Learn the basic 101 on how to survive your first night and be successful on your Minecraft career. Get facts on various Minecraft mobs and mining strategies! All you need to SURVIVE.


Prerequisites
None, you don't even need to know what Minecraft is.

X5146: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling Full!
Difficulty: ***

This class will cover proper stance and grip when holding a lightsaber, basic spins, how to strike, and how to defend. We will also teach basic choreography and impromptu dueling techniques. These skills will be further developed in the advanced lightsaber class in order to teach you a complex choreographed duel.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as:
Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, History of the Star Wars Galaxy (4 parts), and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!

X5495: Journalism & News Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Kit Haines

A presentation of some of this history of journalism in the United States, and a discussion about what new developments in journalism might mean for the world: new and developing types of media, first amendment rights, and information security.

X5381: The Basics of Fantasy Football
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Matthew Barron

This course will be focused on the basics of fantasy football, such as: draft strategy, scoring template, picking sleepers, and selecting players off the waiver wire.


Prerequisites
Interest in sports

X5214: Know Your Rights Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Andrew Cowan

A police officer stops you on the street. Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Why are you out so late? Can I have a look in your backpack?

Do you have to answer these questions? If not, should you answer anyway? Can you just walk away?

What if you have nothing to hide? What if you're completely innocent? What if you're Mother Theresa?

Mother Theresa left this Earth in 1997. The rest of you should take this class. A practicing public defender will introduce your rights when you come in contact with the police, talk about how to exercise those rights wisely, and take questions.

X5363: "It's a free country!": Your rights in school Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Leonid Grinberg

The first amendment: freedom of speech. Fourth: freedom from search and seizure.

Those and many of the other rights awarded by our Constitution seem to clearly spell out the rights of America's citizens, and what the government can and can't do. In practice, though, the situation isn't so cut and dry. The history of civil rights awarded to students in public schools is a nuanced and complicated one, with lots of interesting arguments made on either side.

Students should come prepared to debate some complicated concepts.

X5124: Urban Space
Difficulty: **
Teachers: William Carbery

This course will explore urban space through a variety of lenses: perceptual, through models and through the controversial issues of Urban Renewal. Discussion of Boston will be especially encouraged as a way of talking about urban space and some of the unusual and exciting things that happen in urban environments.

Some guiding questions:
1) How do city residents think of urban space?
2) Can you predict where certain businesses and people will go in a city?
3) What happened after the Big Dig? Where did the West End go? What separates the Green Line from the Blue Line?

X4972: An Introduction to Negotiation Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Vrajesh Modi

This class is designed to introduce students to the theory and practice of negotiation. Topics covered will include basic terminology and strategies. Format will consist of: (1) a brief lecture on theory; (2) a one-hour exercise/simulation; and (3) debrief. Students will be divided into teams for the simulation.

X5087: Lowest-Tech Gait Lab
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Tobie Tepfer

Find out about the parameters of a gait cycle like cadence, stride length, and base of support. Then measure and calculate your own using the oldest and simplest method of getting a workable sample: dipping your feet into paint and leaving footprints on a strip of paper.


Prerequisites
Willingness to step into paint with bare feet! A few very basic math skills such as following simple equations and working with angles.

X5314: NetH@ck!
Difficulty: **

Welcome, Splasher! You are a neutral (fe)male human tourist.

Pick up your mighty ), don your trusty [, and descend into the dungeons with your adorable, loyal d to seek your destiny. The wimpy : and the frail F will offer you little resistance, but beware the might of the D and the fatal magic of the L.

---

Written entirely in C and created decades ago, NetHack is still nevertheless one of the deepest, most impressive video games ever made. It is almost surprisingly pivotal: Diablo is essentially a graphical (and less fun) port of NetHack.

NetHack is easy to learn, nearly impossible to master. Almost every situation is solvable with creativity, innovation, and a hint of luck. After all -- in how many other games can you beat the final bosses by throwing oranges at them?

NetHack is not an adventure for the faint-hearted. Many will descend into the Dungeons of Doom; few will make it out alive.

Will you be one of them? Will you be the one to ascend to demi-god(dess)-hood?


Prerequisites
Consider bringing your laptop only if you have a number-pad. Playing NetHack without a number-pad is an art I have not quite mastered. NetHack players of all levels are welcome. If you've never played NetHack before, perfect! If you have, come anyways, and we might both leave a few tricks the wiser. :)

X5035: Make your own "Melon Bread!" Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Koharu Usui

"Melon Bread" is a Japanese sweet bread, that tastes nothing like a melon. Rather, it is a sweet roll topped with a yummy cookie topping and marked so it somewhat resembles a melon. Bread making doesn't have to be hard. Come join me and see for yourself!


Prerequisites
None, but please be ready to knead bread with your hands. Please cut long nails, and wear comfortable clothes.

X5140: History of the Star Wars Galaxy (PART 4)
Difficulty: **

This is class 4 of a 4-part course on the history of the Star Wars Galaxy. Class 4 of this series will cover history from 4 ABY to 25 ABY. This includes events such as the Truce at Bakura, the rise of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Rebirth of the Emperor, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion.

This is a four-part course focusing on character profiles, important events (including the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith War, the Mandalorian War, the Second Sith War, the Battle of Ruusan, the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, the Birth of the New Republic, and the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion), weapons and technology, and vehicles and vessels with a focus on the use and development of the force by the Jedi Order, the Sith, and other lesser known factions throughout. Class will consist mostly of lecture with short breaks for discussion of the material. This four-part course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5002: The Game Mechanics of Pokemon
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Adam Gleitman

If you want to be the very best, then you need to know how the world around you works. In this class we will cover the basics of the game mechanics of Pokemon, including finding, catching, and training them. How can you find rare Pokemon more easily? Is it worth it to teach a Linoone how to Surf? How can a Magikarp take down a Mewtwo with ease? Why is it still hard to catch a legendary even though it only has a sliver of HP left? Take this class and find out!


Prerequisites
You should have played at least one of the Pokemon games. This class does not focus on any specific generation, so it will be applicable to pretty much any game.

X5421: The Amazing Race: Pokemon Regions Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever watch the show The Amazing Race? Want to travel across the Pokemon world like you never have? Think you know more Pokemon trivia than anyone else? Welcome to The Amazing Race: Pokemon Regions, a competition pitting you and others in a race, guided by collected clues as you pass stop after stop throughout the world of Pokemon! In a style similar to that of the show, you will be asked to perform various tasks within your game that test your Pokemon knowledge as you race around the Kanto and Johto regions!


Prerequisites
Participants must bring a Nintendo DS along with a copy of Pokemon Heartgold or Soulsilver, in which they have collected all 16 badges.

X5297: Massachusetts Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Difficulty: *

In this class we will talk about fate, choice, love, house-elves, angsty emo teenagers, and anything else in the Harry Potter series that sparks your interest.


Prerequisites
You should have: 1. read all seven books 2. cried on your eleventh birthday when your letter from Hogwarts didn't come.

X5427: ZDI.003: Modeling a Zombie Apocalypse
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eli Stickgold

Knowledge is power, but how do we learn about something that hasn't happened yet? In ZDI.003, we discuss techniques for building sophisticated computer models that let us predict the outcomes of a hypothetical disaster scenario. Experience with computer programming is not required, but may be helpful in understanding examples.


Prerequisites
ZDI.001: Introduction to Zombie Defense

X5444: Crimpity Crimpty Now Now
Difficulty: **
Teachers: E Rosser

Crimpity Crimpity ask me how.
Crimpity Crimpity humble pie.
Crimpity Crimpity boing! Ding! Bong bong ting!
Crimpity crimpity ping pong!

If you have not yet been exposed to (subjegated to? incited by? tortured with?) the crimps of the Mighty Boosh, prepare to be taken out to lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Pain. We'll watch and crimp along, memorise some good ones, perhaps make our own... Who knows? It might even come to a 4-way crimp.

Get ready to invent a new genre.


Prerequisites
Knowing a bit about British comedy show "The Mighty Boosh" might help. If this isn't you, what's wrong with you??! To the YouTubes with you!

X5383: Bubble tea and Sushi Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:

The name says it all. Take a break from your intensive classes to come chill with some cool modern-asian food. Make your own bubble tea complete with tapioca and those cool giant straws. Then chill-lax while we show you how to make your own cali rolls and shrimp sashimi. Garnish your sushi pieces with a variety of cool sauces. We'll eat them with chopsticks and chat about whatever you want.

X4970: How to Have a Crushing Grip Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Walter Augustine

Want to impress the company recruiter as soon as you meet him? A strong grip gives you a firm handshake and a better first impression. A strong grip shows you're in control, as in the saying, "She's got a good grip on life."

We will learn the techniques of forging iron hands, as well as tips on becoming stronger overall. If you like to arm wrestle, stronger hands will help.


Prerequisites
Just bring your hands.

X5437: ZDI.002: Advanced Biological Concepts in Zombie Preparedness
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephanie Paige

Continuing on from principles established in ZDI.001, this course examines zombies through the lens of several fields of biology, including: genetics, pathology, physiology, epidemiology, and not-getting-your-face-eaten-ology.


Prerequisites
ZDI.001

X5147: Advanced Lightsaber Dueling
Difficulty: ***

This class will expand on the skills learned in Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, using them to teach students how to construct their own duel, which they will have time to practice. We will also be available to critique and assist in creating and learning your own choreography.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, History of the Star Wars Galaxy (4 parts), and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Must have taken the Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling Class offered earlier in the day.

X4936: How to Write in Cursive
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Lisa Liu

Are you baffled by cursive? Do you think it looks nice, but don't understand how to go from one letter to another?

Learn (or practice) writing cursive here! We'll even use nice pens.

X5244: Basic Cross-Step Waltz Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Katarina Dutton

This is a quick introduction to the cross-step waltz, a relatively modern dance form. Students will be taught the basic step, the turning step, and a few variations/"special moves" as time permits. Partners are not required, and everyone will be encouraged to dance with everyone else.

X4985: Ultimate Frisbee
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Stephanie Ger

Ultimate Frisbee is more than just throwing a disc around. It is a sport that has been picking up momentum around the country and the world. This class will cover the fundamentals of throwing and the rules that govern the sport. In addition, playing time will be included! Please come dressed in comfortable athletic clothes because we will be playing outside.

X4995: Splash Contra Dance Full!
Difficulty: **

Ever see how they dance in Jane Austin movies? Replace “stately” with “wild,” and the baroque violin with a ragtag string band, and double the tempo and you have contra. Contra is easy to learn and fun to do. Come give it a try with us! Beginners and experienced dancers welcome.

It looks something like this:

X5208: Mafia Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Daniel Grazian

Mafia is a game of psychology and deceit in which a few secret "mafia" attempt to eliminate the other players before their identities are discovered. New and veteran players to the game are welcome!

The focus of the class will be simply playing the game, but I will offer postgame feedback and perhaps teach a little theory. Depending on student interest, we may try various Mafia variants.

X5387: History of Disney Animated Films Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Courtney Marchuk

From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Tangled, Walt Disney Studios has produced 50 animated classics.

Topics of discussion include:
Walt Disney himself (is it true he's frozen somewhere?)
Disney's innovations in the animation industry
Race and Gender in Disney films
Pixar and Studio Ghibli

Whether these movies played a big part in your childhood or not, come discuss what they mean to you and whether Disney will continue to influence future generations of movie-watchers.


Prerequisites
You must have watched at least one Disney film in your lifetime. That is all.

X5222: The art of Rubik's Cubing
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Gabriel Blanchet

In this class, you'll learn how to solve a 3x3 rubik's cube. If you're a quick learner, you may find yourself winning the timed solving competition we'll have at the end of class!

If you have a cube bring it! We will also have some extra cubes available.

X5000: Live, Laugh, Lead: Exciting Leadership Activities
Difficulty: *

Crossing deadly rivers of molten chocolate, escaping explosive minefields, and constructing great pyramids. Now what does all this have to do with Leadership? Come and find out…

Do you like games, teamwork, creative problem solving, or having fun? Want to know how this can help you become a better leader? Come and participate in fun interactive activities, and maybe learn a thing or two about leadership.

The Leadership Training Institute (LTI) is a high school mentoring program right here at MIT and will be sending mentors to lead what will surely be a jam-packed session of excitement and thoughtful conversation.


Prerequisites
Energy and a positive attitude

X5007: How Combination Locks Work Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Harvey Yee

Come to this class to get a hands on introduction to the science and art of combination locks. Together, we will examine and explore their construction, their designs, and their weaknesses, from a physical and mathematical perspective.

X5473: The Gentlemen's Game: Bridge and Bridge Conventions Full!
Difficulty: *

Some games transcend amusement. Some games surpass idle enjoyment to become showcases of human intellect and strategic achievement. Join us for a whirlwind introduction to bridge, referred to by many as the chess of card games. In one hour, you’ll learn the basic rules of bridge, as well as the strategies and bidding conventions that make it the high-class game of MIT-worthy intellects everywhere.


Prerequisites
--Basic knowledge of the four suits of cards --Knowledge of the four tarot suits, while non-ideal, is acceptable. --Possession of fine motor skills and manual dexterity required to handle playing cards. --Understanding of the relative values of natural numbers, as well as the ability to generalize this understanding to bidding situations

X4966: Moral Relativism in Comic Books
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacob Bailey

A look at the concepts of good, evil, and the gray area in between, framed in a discussion of comic books. By looking at such works as Batman, Watchmen, and Marvel Zombies, we will explore both sides of morality, and the ever-thinning line that separates them.


Prerequisites
Read: Watchmen

X5102: Internet Reeducation: It's Over NINE THOUSAND Full!
Difficulty: *

How tall is George Washington? What does Santa have in his sleigh? Where do you find lions? How are you gentlemen. This is the first of three parts of SO MUCH INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!! Feel free to sign up for all three parts, or pick and choose as fits your schedule. It's the internet. There are no rules.

X5560: Introduction to Interstellar Warfare
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Bram Sterling

Defense of a gravity well against a first strike countervalue attack by an interstellar known-physics adversary with a substellar mass economy
Or, dodging rocks

Analysis of methods that might be used in a real interstellar war, without unexplainable technologies such as faster than light travel and energy shields. Topics include relativistic bombardment, singularities, Von Neumann devices, innocuous antimatter weapons

X5295: More Chainmail!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alyssa Zisk

I got colorful/different sized/ maybe even different shaped rings to play with, and I can teach other weaves/ increasing or decreasing in weaves you already know. It's pretty much up to you.


Prerequisites
Know European 4-in-1. If you've taken a Make Chainmail type class from anyone before, you should be fine. If you have it from someone before this class meets, you should be fine too.

X5238: Introduction to Competitive Pokemon Battling Full!
Difficulty: **

Do you like Pokemon? Have you ever wondered what tricks the pros use in competition? Well, come and learn what people refer to as the metagame, otherwise known as an analysis of the core of Pokemon: the battling. Learn how to train the perfect Pokemon and how to combine strengths to create novel teams. We'll also discuss how the metagame changes with every generation of Pokemon and the current state of it, providing a fair and interesting ground for competition that is not flooded with overpowered legendaries. To increase your glory, take this class.


Prerequisites
Having played a Pokemon game before.

X5143: Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy
Difficulty: **

This class will cover the unique variety of weapons, starships, and technology found in the Star Wars Galaxy. We'll discuss the inner-mechanisms of lightsabers and blasters and the 7 forms of lightsaber combat. You'll learn about the different weapons and starship manufacturers, and we'll discover some of the most exotic weapons and technology this galaxy has to offer.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), History of the Star Wars Galaxy (4 parts), and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X5105: Internet Reeducation: Love and Trolls
Difficulty: *

Do people accuse you of TROLLING? Do you know what makes the lolcat lol? Do you have a strong desire to kick Mother Nature in the face with your ENERGY LEGS?!? STOP BEING LAME AND COME LEARN ABOUT TEH INTERNETZ! This is the second of three parts of MOAR INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!! Feel free to sign up for all three parts, or pick and choose as fits your schedule...they'll all be different. It's the internet. There are no rules

X5462: Bike Repair
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Michael Eck

Bicycles are the most efficient vehicle known to man. Why not learn to make them even more efficient? In this course, we'll cover basic bike repair and build a functioning bike of our own from dumpstered bike parts.

X4993: Tofu: Beyond the Jiggly Cubes Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Ruth Byers

Learn the history, chemistry, and, best of all, practice of tofu. We'll talk about tofu's origins, how tofu is made (down to the molecules!) and learn how to make firm, chewy tofu and soft, creamy tofu.

X5494: Chemistry and Cinnamon Rolls: An Interactive Study Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nursen Ogutveren

A fun class on how to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. Absolutely NO cooking experience required. We will start off by making the dough, and as it rises, we will discuss some of the chemical properties at play, such as the protein content of the flour, and the role of each of the ingredients we use, such as yeast. When the dough has risen, we will make and bake the cinnamon rolls, make the icing, and reap the rewards! This class is great for anyone with a natural curiosity about the science of cooking and students will work in groups of 3-4 to make their cinnamon rolls.

X5378: How to Change the World
Difficulty: *
Teachers:

The world has a lot of problems - like poverty. Global warming. Unequal education. Poor health in third world countries. And so much more. But guess what? YOU are powerful enough do something BIG about it. Come learn how to be a Social Entrepreneur, someone who implements powerful ideas that make life better for people in our society.
Brainstorm ideas and find out how you can turn them into action, projects, and even a societal movement. Learn leadership skills, business strategies, and how to start your own nonprofit company - from a 501c3 nonprofit director. Come join social entrepreneurship networks like YouthVenture and DoSomething.org to meet other youth who care about the world too. Come because guess what - you're powerful enough to change the course of history.

X5447: Comic Books and Philosophy: Exploring Characters
Difficulty: **

Students will engage in a seminar (Socratic Style) that will explore the psyche of the heroes, villains, and civilians of the fiction worlds within comic book universes.

X5016: Beginning Bridge
Difficulty: **

Bridge - it's not just for your grandmother! Come learn to play this challenging card game. No experience with any card games required.

X5492: ZDI.004 Disaster Communication Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andrew Farrell

Diseased half-corpses shamble through the streets.
Phone lines have been cut. The rest of the members of your local zombie defense force are halfway across town and you need to alert them to the fact that the bridge is closed off. What do you do?

We'll discuss both technology (in particular Ham Radio) and techniques for reliable communications.


Prerequisites
ZDI.001 or knowledge of tactical military history or disaster strongly suggested.

X5106: Internet Reeducation: I accidentally the INTERNET
Difficulty: *

I internet reeducated your MOM last night, if you know what I mean. What? You don't know? Then come find out. This is the last of three parts of ALL THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!! Feel free to sign up for all three parts, or pick and choose as fits your schedule. Every part will be different...this one will be most 'off the cuff', as it were. It's the internet. There are no rules.

X5169: How to play D&D (And convince your friends it's harmless) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tony Zhao

In this class, we will go over the history and design of the classic game of Dungeons and Dragons, including its relevance to pop culture, the controversy that surrounded it in the 80's, and where D&D will be going in the future.

Oh, and we'll be playing D&D too. That's probably the most important part.


Prerequisites
Capable of rolling dice and basic addition

X5441: Boffer Swords 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joe Martin

Have you ever wondered what a real swordfight might be like? Whether your a fan of LOTR or Star Wars, this course is for you! This course will teach you how to make a homemade boffer sword that can be used in all forms of entertainment, from swordfights with friends to LARPing. Time permitting, we will also give a short demonstration on using your sword, and discuss both basic swordfighting concepts and basic footwork.

X5286: Baking Around The World: A SWEET Adventure!! :D Full!

Ever wanted to fly?! Learn to play the piano while basket weaving under lava?! Sing like Sam Tsui?! Well... we can't really help with that...BUT, we can offer you a SAH-WEET and ENTERTAINING and HILARIOUS and basically the TIME OF YOUR LIFE while making FANTASTIC baked goodies from all over! :D The class will be "taught" by three super entertaining, energetic, and ridiculously good-looking (ok, so what if i'm quoting my mom! :P) undergrads. Even our names are crazy: Chacha, Yuki and the craziest one of them all: ROB. So, whatta ya say? C'mon, do it, always do it!

X5294: Make Chainmail!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alyssa Zisk

Plate armor: Heavy. It waaaayyyy reduced mobility. Chainmail is still heavy, but not as heavy, and unless arrows are the biggest worry, it wasn't much worse. It was a lot cheaper too. So we're going to learn how to make it (it being European 4-in-1, one of the more common weaves in Europe.)


Prerequisites
two hands and an interest in making outdated armor

X5040: Christian Prayer 101
Difficulty: *

This class is both for those curious about what prayer means to Christians as well as for Christians looking for practical ways to make their prayer life more applicable and relevant in their day to day lives.

X5362: College Football Today
Difficulty: **

College football is more than just an awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon. As an institution, it plays a major role in today's society, sometimes more so than its professional equivalent. This discussion-based class will cover the state of college football in today's world and how it has evolved over time. Are YOU ready for some football?

X5065: Solve a Puzzle Hunt Full!
Difficulty: **

Do you like mental challenges? Do you want to find the answer without anyone telling you how? Then you should come solve a puzzle hunt! We will start off by introducing puzzles, and then we will work together to solve a puzzle hunt, which is a themed collection of puzzles.


Prerequisites
Willingness to think hard Bringing a laptop would be helpful, but is by no means necessary

X5066: Introduction to Japanese Mahjong
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Kyumin Lee, Chung-an Wu

Exciting. Challenging. Competitive. Cutthroat. What are we talking about? Why, Japanese mahjong, of course! Come and see why mahjong isn’t just for gambling parlors and old ladies anymore.

X5277: The Mystery of Consciousness Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jacob Cole

What makes you think I'm conscious?
What makes you think that earth orbits the sun and not the other way around?
Obvious! It's silly to think that the universe would revolve around the Earth when it's much more simply explained otherwise.
What, then, is truth but simplicity?
This class traces the epic modern neuroscientific quest for an explanation of how truth, meaning, and sentience can arise inanimate, chaotic systems. Then we will explore some of the same systems from the inside through Zen meditation exercises, making sense of the tangled relationship between logic and perception in the process.


Prerequisites
An open mind.

X5310: Islam for Non-Muslims Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Harun Omer

Despite the importance of Islam in shaping the past, the present and the lives of more than 1 billion adherents, Islam is typically discussed only superficially and remains little understood. Gaining a better understanding of other religions fills a gap in a typical academic curriculum and is a prerequisite for a tolerant and peaceful relationship between adherents of different religions. This class aims at giving you an opportunity to ask questions in an open-spirited environment.

X5309: Venomous Snakes of Australia Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Sarah Geller

The 10 deadliest snakes on Earth live in Australia, the Land Down Under. Come learn about these snakes, how they look, where they live, how their venom works... and how to avoid getting bitten by one.


Prerequisites
None

X5148: The International Education Lab!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jessica Huang

Interested in helping to make education more exciting and relevant for youth around the world? Tired of how so much of our education is centered around test-taking, rather than what is useful in life? Let's work together to make learning about creativity, empowerment, community, and inspiration!

Come help D-Lab (http://d-lab.mit.edu) test and improve our hands-on educational modules, which we will be teaching in India, Ghana, Zambia, Brazil and elsewhere next January! At this workshop, learn about how to design and build cool technologies (ex: low-cost water testing kits, saltwater batteries, etc.) and then share feedback and suggestions on how we can make the lessons more awesome.

This interactive session will be a great way to explore the field of international development, while contributing your own ideas to make a difference in international education!


Prerequisites
None - all welcome!

X5438: Anime Courseware
Difficulty: *

MIT has over two dozen different majors, and choosing a course can be a daunting challenge. Anime, or Japanese animation, is a medium that spans a huge spectrum of different genres-- with a lot of titles in science-fiction, a genre that holds plenty of interest at a science, engineering, and technology school. Explore all of the courses at MIT through anime! Watch clips of anime representing all of the Institute majors, from Aeronautics and Astronautics to Physics, and learn about some our famous ani-alumni, anime characters who attended MIT!
This event is hosted by MIT Anime (http://anime.mit.edu/).

X5501: Machiavellian Trolling Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amber Bennoui

TROLLING IS A ART FORM. HAS ANYONE REALLY BEEN FAR EVEN AS DECIDED TO USE EVEN GO WANT TO DO LOOK MORE LIKE? EVER WONDER HOW BOXXY ACQUIRED SUCH CRITICAL MASS? GRAMMAR NAZIS, HOW DO THEY WORK? ALL OF THIS (AND MORE!) WILL BE COVERED IN OUR TROLLING EXPOSE! MAY CAUSE RAGE. ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU READ THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH SENTENCE.


Prerequisites
Knowledge of how to play The Game.

X5575: War, Diplomacy and Trade Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers: Evan Hefner

Need to sharpen your warfighting or politicking skills? After taking Introduction to Diplomacy, War and Trade, come practice in the most underplayed hot-spot in the world: East Asia. Rich with natural resources, key strategic islands, and ambitious great-powers-to-be, peace in East Asia is getting hard to come by. Come and lead one of eight elements: Japan, China, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, and the United States, controlling their diplomatic, military and economic actions in the great East Asian conflict of 2012. Accomplish your country’s goals by fighting on land, sea and air, or if you prefer, by using diplomacy, backstabbing, and market manipulation.

X5144: Star Wars Discussion
Difficulty: **

This course will consist of a one hour lecture covering such topics as weapons and technologies, starships, planets, alien species and cultures, and the Force (of course!), and will be followed by an hour of discussion where students will break in to groups to critically discuss provided topics in Star Wars, followed by a summary where groups will present their findings. While it is required that students have taken at least one of my History of the Star Wars Galaxy courses, it is still strongly recommended that you take all four of the history classes prior to this course, as they each cover very different and important topics which will provide vital background knowledge for this class.

This course is part of a larger Star Wars series which includes other classes such as: Introduction to Lightsaber Dueling, Grand Army of the Republic, Xenolinguistics (Languages), Weapons and Technology of the Star Wars Galaxy, History of the Star Wars Galaxy (4 parts), and two discussion courses. These classes are adapted from a lecture series at UC Berkeley, and we have been teaching them for 2 years. Also they're awesome!


Prerequisites
Students must have watched all of the Star Wars movies (1-6, not including the Clone Wars animated movie) and be familiar with the Star Wars galaxy and have some knowledge of expanded universe material. It is preferred that students have read some of the Star Wars novels, however it is not required of them.

X4978: Butterfly Knife Spinning Full!
Difficulty: **

Seen Kick-Ass or played Team Fortress? Learn to spin a butterfly knife like Hit Girl or the Spy. We use trainers with dull blades, so it's completely safe.


Prerequisites
At least 1 functioning hand with 5 functional fingers

X5120: Butterfly Knife Spinning Full!
Difficulty: **

Seen Kick-Ass or played Team Fortress? Learn to spin a butterfly knife like Hit Girl or the Spy. We use trainers with dull blades, so it's completely safe.


Prerequisites
At least 1 functioning hand with 5 functional fingers

X5384: How to be a Boss (recitation)
Difficulty: *

This is the complementary course to the How to be a Boss (lecture) course.

Students will demonstrate how much of a "boss" they are (rather, demonstrate what they learned in the lecture) by giving presentations. This course will offer focused and critical feedback on what has been done right, and what needs improvement. It will also be much smaller in size than the lecture class, to provide a more intimate setting.


Prerequisites
How to be a Boss (lecture)

X5392: Nazis in Star Wars
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Arnold Ming

This course will look into the content of Star Wars and how it is reflects to the events of World War II with a specific insight of the rise of the Nazi party.


Prerequisites
Mild knowledge of European history before and during WWII. Know your Star Wars characters from the movies (there will not be any characters featured from the expanded universe)

X5489: The History and Art of Professional Wrestling
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Alexandre Todorov

You either love it or hate but it is impossible that you have never run into it. Professional Wrestling occupies a special niche within American pop culture, yet its reach, impact and incredibly rich history are either unknown or misunderstood. Thus, take a dive along side your humble guide into this world of good, evil and half naked athletes performing in front of thousands of cheering fans.