Modeled off the most popular class in Yale history, this class will explore how to use psychology to live the happiest life possible. We will discuss how our mind lies to us about what makes us happy, and we will discover what we can actually do to live our happiest lives.

Student Reviews:
"Thank you for such an awesome and impactful class! I've looked forward to all three weeks and it has definitely increased my happiness/well-being:)"

"This class by FAR was my favorite class @ Sprout and definitely had a HUGE impact on me. Inspirational."

This is a course about all things which have the property that $$\ddot{x}\approx -kx$$. That turns out to be about half of all things. This is a course about a lot of things. All of them are physics.

Last year I taught a super general mathematics course, and it turned out to be too general, so I am being specific now.


Prerequisites
Please be comfortable with algebra, and at least have momentary experience with calculus.

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here," These are the infamous words emblazoned on the gates of Hell as written by the medieval poet Dante Alighieri. Join me on a lively adventure through hell and find out why we still read his Inferno 700 years later. On the way we will discuss the literary device of Contra Passo—ironic punishment—among other hellish things!

During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and Midwest. These internees—the vast majority American citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen?

In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society.

Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration.

No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues, and candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future.

If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org.


Prerequisites
This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are welcome to join.

Do you want to learn more about Chinese culture? Have you ever wanted to learn how to write and speak Chinese? Do you love Chinese food? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this class is perfect for you!

Are you interested in picking up a new hobby? Are you looking for a way to kill hours on a long car ride? Do you want a way to convince yourself that you are being productive while watching TV? Then consider learning how to crochet!

In this class, we will learn the basics of crocheting. We will start with the chain stitch, single and double crochet stitches. During the second week, we will start working on a project using the techniques we learned in the first week. During the third week, we will have time to work on our projects, hang out, and I can teach Tunisian crocheting to the daring! Students will be allowed to keep their projects and the pattern at the end of the program.

In this course, you'll delve into post-modern, contemporary, medieval, and ancient forms of writing and literature. With a primary emphasis on present-day/ recent multi-cultural narratives. This course is sort of a cross between an Advanced Great Books class and a creative writing, English 120 class at Yale. Through close readings of both books and short articles and excerpts, we'll explore the dilemmas, resolutions, and hidden nuances in cross- cultural writing worlds. This class aims to provide a diversified repertoire of writers from all different parts of the world and from all different time periods to better understand and evaluate our own individualized narratives in the context of our own circumstances.


Prerequisites
Anyone really can take this course, but at least one prior high school course taken in English is recommended (especially one that involved writing).

Several outbreaks of an unidentified illness have been reported across the globe. People afflicted present with fever, delirium, memory loss, and violent behavior in the late stages of illness. An infectious causative agent is suspected but has not yet been identified. You have been tasked to combat this contagion with a team of public health experts.

This course will cover vital topics in public health to aid in investigating this illness, preventing its spread, and protecting the people already afflicted. On Day 1, you will learn how to characterize the spread of this illness by identifying and quantifying risk factors for infection using the tools of epidemiology. On Day 2, you will work as a team to brainstorm interventions for prevention and protection, while considering their bioethical implications. Finally on Day 3, you will map the global spread of this illness, decide where to implement your interventions, and simulate their epidemiological impact on the burden of the illness, both locally and globally.


Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic algebra will be helpful for calculations. No prior knowledge of epidemiology, bioethics, or biology is assumed. If you are excited to learn and work as a team, this is a course for you!

How do we know if our beliefs are true? Are our senses deceiving us? How do we know if we're dreaming? These are all questions that are tackled in Cartesian Doubt, a form of skepticism introduced by René Descartes. For the next three classes, we'll all be skeptics and doubt everything in existence.

Disease is a natural part of human life. As is known today, there are one trillion different species of bacteria, at least 320,000 different types of viruses, and many more different types of infectious specimen that mankind hasn't even put a name to yet. These mysterious beings have interacted with humanity for centuries, sometimes providing good results, other times causing a variety of diseases and infections.

This class discusses the fundamentals of infectious materials, outlining their structures as well as their mechanisms of spreading from individual to individual. The first part of each class will focus on learning about each type of infection, and the second part will involve a close examination of different case-studies surrounding the topic of interest.


Prerequisites
Some biology would be helpful, but absolutely not needed

In today’s data-driven society, we put a lot of faith in statistics as a means of verification of the truth. It is used to support arguments in political debates, push products in advertisements, convey the news through catchy headlines, and provide assessment of scientific research. By its nature as a mathematical discipline, it is seen as an unbiased representation of the facts.

As it turns out, this blind faith in statistics can cause a lot of problems. Statistics provides a way of distilling millions of data points down to a few numbers, so it doesn’t always capture the full picture of what’s going on in the world. At its best, this results in naïve researchers making inaccurate claims - but at its worst, bad statistics can be used by malicious parties to push misleading information.

In this class, we will discuss problematic statistical fallacies through a lens which will allow us to be appropriately skeptical of statistical studies. We will see how the same sets of data can be used two convey two opposing points, how “p-hacking” can be used to push trends that do not exist, and why it is posited that the majority of published research is false. We will draw upon references to statistical pop culture, analysis of simulated data sets, and student input to address real-world concerns and become careful consumers of information.


Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites. The basic concepts will be built from the ground up, and the math should not be too heavy. The more advanced techniques will probably be unfamiliar to some, but I will do my best to explain the intuition behind them and leave room for any questions.

Back by popular demand, Introduction to French is back! Students will learn about how to conjugate commonly used verbs, introduce themselves, use helpful phrases and more. Come learn about this Romance language and get an introduction into learning another language.

Student reviews, Fall 2018
"Amelia is so passionate about the subject, it was so much fun!"
"The teacher was very nice. She made the lesson so fun!"


Prerequisites
Please bring a note book if you can!

What happens to your brain when you learn something new, or when you listen to your favorite song over and over again? Does your brain remain the same after development of your body stops? Research has shown that your brain changes constantly with every task that you perform through a process called neuroplasticity.

In this course, we are going to investigate what drives plasticity in the brain, and what are the underlying factors that are entailed in brain plasticity over the course of 3 weeks. We are first going to establish some basic principles about the biology of the brain. Having done that, we will look into examples of neuroplasticity in everyday life, understand the impact of neuroplasticity on recovering from brain injury, and explore the prospects of plasticity of the brain in tackling neural degeneration.

If you have a passion about the marvels of the brain then this class is for you!

In 2019, we are wrestling with a political question that has followed us since the beginning of our nation’s founding: immigration. Yet, despite how long we’ve been discussing the same topic, we have rarely stepped back to learn our country’s history with immigration. Come with us to survey this country’s long history regarding who is and who isn’t American.

*class is brought to you by the Immigrant History Project and the Asian American Student Alliance (AASA).

JUST WHAT IS HAPPINESS? And how much hinges upon this question — the pursuits of billions, predicated upon imperfectly developed notions of "success," "joy" and "well-being"
Everyone wants to be happy. But no one quite agrees what this means. And, somehow, this *most important* of questions, is relegated to life's back burners and is seldom formally discussed.

"A General Theory of Happiness" will voyage into the intellectual landmarks of the previous millennia, circumnavigating the various components of this elusive emotion to dissect, analyze, and integrate. Philosophy, psychology, literature, and dialectic will be combined as we, as a class, move towards a deeper understanding of life's greatest measure of success.

What is the Fourth Amendment? What is privacy? How should the US government interact with issues of privacy and agency in its citizens' lives in the digital age? How do issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation intersect with concerns of privacy and policing in the real world? Take this class in order to learn some background on the evolution of the Fourth Amendment over time, discuss your thoughts and opinions on privacy, and have a fun and relevant introduction to one small aspect of constitutional law!

Please note that this class may examine some content that contains some strong language.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of US government

Took science courses in your high school but never experienced what it is like to read a published scientific research paper and how to approach it? Interested in finding a summer internship in a research lab, but had no prior experience reading a scientific paper? This class will take you through the multiple components of a scientific paper step by step and teach you what to look out for in each section. Along the way, we will learn about key biological processes involved in activation of protein kinases and all the cellular techniques involved in studying them. Should have a basic understanding of biology like phosphorylation, gel electrophoresis, etc. Will involve student participation in a small group of 20 students. The paper assigned will be challenging, but do your best to skim through and we will tackle this paper piece by piece together in this course. Bring your phone/computer if you can!


Prerequisites
Strong foundation of Biology. Please preview the assigned paper.

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." At least forty-three people were accused, tried, or convicted of practicing witchcraft in seventeenth-century Puritan Connecticut. This class explores the colorful and tragic history of witchcraft in colonial Connecticut, from the first person in New England to be executed for witchcraft (Alice Young of Windsor, CT) in 1647 to the last Connecticut witchcraft trial (Winifred Benham and her daughter, both from Wallingford, CT) in 1697.

What made a person a witch? Who was more likely to be accused of witchcraft in Puritan Connecticut? Who were the accusers? How was a witchcraft accusation received and processed by the community and the court of law? How did the witches and the trials they went through shape Connecticut in psychological, social, and legal terms? These are the main questions we will address analyzing prominent witchcraft episodes. Special attention will be given to the Hartford witch-hunt (1662-3), the Fairfield witch hysteria (1692), and the Stamford witch panic (1692).

This is a discussion-based class. There will be a creative activity during the third class.
[Important] Check our class page on https://dancingwitches.wordpress.com for additional information, including fun background reads.


Prerequisites
General familiarity with the history and society of 17th-century colonial Connecticut (and New England in general) is helpful.

This lecture provides a basic though provocative introduction to the fields of Ethnic and American Studies by following a unique historical thread: the history of the American individual of joint African and European ancestry. This may come across as a strangely specific, almost niche subject, but I expect that tracing just one social history (in the complex tangle that is our nation’s past) will allow for deeper thought, on your end and mine, about the meaning of freedom, family, and identity. However unconventional our entry point is, you’ll find that our study of the biracial American exposes several major themes of Afro-American and Ethnic Studies and resonates more in our society with each passing year.

We will begin to contemplate the construction of race and of racial power through intersecting historical, sociological, and literary analyses. We will address legal, political, cultural (featuring poetry, music, film, and sketch comedy), and social history in our efforts to understand the one-drop rule, the doctrine of white supremacy, and what it means to be "mixed" today.

How can you learn languages without any lessons?

In this class, we will do exactly that, exploring language puzzles from the simple to the mind-bendingly complex. You will learn how to take sentences in a foreign language and translate them without knowing any of the words, read words in a writing system you don't know, and discover grammar rules that we don't have in English (for example, in Japanese, different verbs are used to say "wear/put on" depending on where the item is worn). No prior knowledge of languages or linguistics is required -- just analytical thinking!

A quick example puzzle: Yaqui is a language indigenous to North America. Here are some sentences in Yaqui:
1. Inepo enchi aniak
2. Aapo enchi vichak
3. Inepo enchi vichak
4. Empo nee aniak

Here are their English translations, in random order:
a. He saw you
b. I saw you
c. You helped me
d. I helped you

Match each sentence with its correct English translation. (Hint: the words don't go in the same order in Yaqui!)

ɔ 'q 'ɐ 'p :sɹǝʍsu∀

Have you ever forgotten where you put something? Want an easy way to remember dates, birthdays, lists, and long numbers? Want to have fun and be challenged? Feel like unlocking the potential of your LIMITLESS memory? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this class is the class for you!

Students will learn numerous handbell ringing techniques and will practice a simple piece together. No musical experience is required, but we recommend that students are able to read music (either treble or bass clef).

What's the relationship between seeing and drawing? What makes drawing different from photography as a way to 'capture' what you see? Why don't we all draw as if we were making a photograph? We will start with descriptions of objects, then move to blind contour drawings, then to more complicated maneuvers for thinking about recording visual observations. We will be making a lot of drawings by looking hard at things in the world, trying to make sense of the decisions that get made in the process.

Is it History or is it Hollywood?

Participants will first analyze their own experiences as patients and consumers in medical media. In doing so, participants will partake in a gallery walk that consists of images of television’s most famous doctors. Then participants will then learn a brief history of the formalization of medical education. After this mini-lecture, participants will be asked to consider both the formalization's immediate and long-term consequences; and discuss whether or not this history has influenced the images of doctors they consume.

You decide!


Prerequisites
None!

We will discuss different strategies for staying positive even when life gets you down. We will brainstorm healthy practices such as gratitude journaling, yoga and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.


Prerequisites
None!

Welcome to Public Speaking and the 2020 Presidential Election! Together, we will gain competency at one of the most important skills today-- confident, clear public speaking. We will talk about tips and tricks to public speaking like a pro!

We will also explore the 2020 Presidential Election. You will learn about presidential politics, current candidates, and more. At the end, you will take part in a mock Presidential Debate!

Looking forward to meeting you.


Prerequisites
All are welcome! Come join.

Are you interested in being more informed about our government and a more civically engaged American? Are you curious about what the Federal and State governments can and cannot do to you? What is a right, and which rights are protected by the Constitution? Take this class to read more about the structure and institutions of our very unique government!

This course aims to inform students of the various mental health and personality disorders there are, broken down into categories. It aims to provide insight into the differences in development of children and adolescents with disorders as opposed to their "healthy" counterparts.

The MCU is now arguably one of the biggest film franchises out there, with a collective 23 films released as apart of the MCU. But how did we get here? Have superhero movies always been this popular? This course will go in-depth the the history of superhero film adaptations, dating as far back as 1943, to the present day!

Discover the hidden power of the movie score! What does a film score do for the film itself? How has technology impacted how music is used in film? What impact do rhythm, instrumentation, and lyrics have on the mood of a scene? During this course, we will answer these questions and more through discussion and examples from many film genres. If you enjoy watching movies and want to learn how to enjoy them with a more critical lens, this course is for you!


Prerequisites
Background knowledge of music may make the class more exciting, but is certainly not necessary!

Have you ever had to get stitches? In the surgical world, "stitches" are called sutures. Learn various basic suturing patterns, when they are necessary in survival situations, and when they are used in the operating room. If you are interested in a career in medicine or are an avid outdoor-enthusiast who could benefit from some survival safety training, this class is for you!

What is it to be human? How is it that we have gotten to where we are today? This class will explore the evolution of human beings into the homo sapiens we know today.

This class will discuss the formation of early civilizations and states, from Mesopotamia to Mesoamerica. We will learn why humans settled down, the effects of civilization, and why it matters today.


Prerequisites
The History of Humanity: Origins

Most people know that boomerangs exist. Few people have actually seen one in action. Even fewer people know how to throw one properly. In this course, you will learn how to throw a real boomerang so that it returns to you and how to catch it once it does.

This class will be held outside in the Silliman College courtyard, so make sure to dress for outside, and be prepared to be active. Please note that this class will be cancelled in the event of rain so you should select 2-3 alternate classes during these blocks that you might be interested in if this class is cancelled.


Prerequisites
Although not a requirement, be aware that this class will likely be more enjoyable for right-handed throwers. There will be 17 different right-handed boomerangs available, but only 1 left handed boomerang and 1 ambidextrous boomerang available for left-handed throwers. Some general athletic experience in sports that involve throwing (like baseball) will make this class easier but is certainly not required.

Are you a musician? Are you interested in band, chorus, or orchestra? Do you want to learn how to conduct different musical styles and time signatures? This class is for you! I'm an experienced band conductor and this class will give you the basics of conducting technique (as well as some cool tricks to spice up your performance!). Come see why conducting is a superpower!


Prerequisites
A background in basic music fundamentals (rhythm, style, tempo) will certainly help, but is not required!

Poetry is often considered a daunting subject, but that's because we never get to talk about what it really is. If you have ever been interested in reading, or even writing, poetry, then this class is for you. We will consider what it is that makes poetry special, emotional, memorable, or even bad by using both literary and real world examples. And in doing so, we will try to find ways in which poetry is already all around us and how we can participate in it no matter our background.

Everything around us can be studied, quantified, theorized and understood. Physics is a branch of natural science that studies nature! This one-hour class will explore what physics is and how it's intertwined with our daily lives in ways you may not expect. From electricity to lasers to MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) this class will discuss the amazing application of physics in our daily lives. By exploring major discoveries that led to the present age, this class will open up your eyes to the amazing and fascinating world of physics.

This class is about the philosophy of math, with a focus on numbers which are only divisible by 1 and themselves (the coolest and most important elements in number theory). We will discuss the following topics:
Definition of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic. Proof of there being infinitely many primes. Applications to group theory and cryptography (your computer is using primes right now to look at this webpage). Discussion of the twin prime conjecture and Goldbach's conjecture. Introduction to formal systems and deductive proofs. Outline of Goedel's incompleteness theorem and its relevance to the most important problems in mathematics.


Prerequisites
Algebra II

An analysis of the Shakespearian themes that appear and influence some of our favorite Disney films.

An elective that delves into the neuroscience behind detrimental social interactions, including alienation, violation of expectation, and betrayal.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the fastest, highest flying, and coolest airplane ever built: the SR-71 Blackbird. Covering topics from how airplanes fly, to the operation of the Blackbird's two J58 RAM jet engines, you will be an expert in all things supersonic. Learn about the incredible stories behind the pilots in the cockpit and the engineers on the ground in this fast paced 1 hour class.

Did you know that cacti are central to all aspects of modern society? Do you enjoy plucking or even cultivating small prickly plant friends? Come learn everything (history, anatomy, music and more!) you could ever possibly know about these commonly misunderstood creatures.


Prerequisites
Must cherish dessert minus the second s.

Do you rely on GPS directions? Do you know how to read (maps)? What kinds of maps exist in your mind? Explore maps from an anthropological, recreational, and mathematical approach.


Prerequisites
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBvMsT3prg

This course will explore the probable existence of and search for extraterrestrial life. If you've ever pondered whether aliens exist, wondered what they might look like, where they might be, and how we could find them, you should take this class!


Prerequisites
Rudimentary understanding of evolution.

This class is for anyone and everyone interested in theatre or performing!! We’ll be discussing the Russian theatre practitioner Stanislavski in context of his acting method - that concerning a scene’s given circumstances, character development, and the “Magic If.” This is an interactive class, with scene workshopping and theatre games!

Interested making a worldwide impact with engineering? Come learn about sustainability and design with Yale Engineers Without Borders! Among several activities, students will collaborate to design and build their very own bridge.

This workshop introduces students to key moments in queer history around the world. It teaches students about how gender and sexual orientation was thought about in various cultures. The goal is to show students that queer identities have a long and diverse history that spans every time and every continent.

This workshop introduces students to key subcultures, moments, and movements in queer U.S. history from cowboys to Stonewall to the AIDS epidemic to the present. It teaches students about the contributions LGBT+ folks have made to America's story, which were often forced behind the scenes. The goal is to show students the long, diverse history of queer identities in the U.S., along with the struggles for self-truth that have brought all of us, queer and ally, into the present together.

Come learn about diverse sexual and romantic orientations in an interactive format! We will talk about a range of sexualities/romantic orientations, discuss stereotypes and misconceptions, and learn about how to be a better ally. Individuals of all identities/orientations are welcome to attend!

Machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, is revolutionizing the world as we know it. Everything from earth science to healthcare is growing more and more reliant on this relatively new technology. This class will explore what problems machine learning can help us solve, where it falls short, and common ethical issues with its use.

Contemporary culture caricatures jazz as music for old people, intellectuals, and elevators. The film La La Land all but claimed it was dead. This course will analyze the implications of this question, drawing on different ways of looking at jazz, through historical and theoretical lenses. It will explicate the relationship between popular music and jazz, covering jazz’s roots, popular acceptance, decline, institutional preservation, and current state. All are welcome, regardless of musical background or lack thereof.

An important part of understanding renewable energy is understanding the policy drivers developed by the government. In this class we will cover the basics of general financial policy and how it can drive specific markets through taxes and subsidies. We will also cover the specifics of current renewable energy incentives such as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Renewable Energy Credits (REC), and Net Metering. In addition to this we will go over future potential policies and encourage students to brainstorm the merits and pitfalls of each proposed policy.

Class Description:
Socratic Seminar - this class is about thinking! Be ready to listen, share your thoughts, and challenge the teacher, as well as each other.

What we'll discuss:
-What is Science?
-How does Science relate to Society and vice versa?
-Scientific Lingo
-Semantics (e.g. belief, proof)
-Context: why belief in dragons is reasonable or not
-Certainty, Subjectivity, & Objectivity
-Scientific Method
-Logic & Fallacies
-Science-Public Controversies (may touch on climate change, gluten, GMOs, evolution, vaccines, junk food, designer babies, etc - determined by class interest)


Prerequisites
A willingness to listen, challenge, think, and rethink

Our world has problems. A lot of them, in fact. From racism, sexism, LGBTQI discrimination and ableism, to failing education systems, increasing economic inequality and climate change. Too often it feels overwhelming! To make waves in the world we need a shift from individual to systems level thinking. In this class we look at what top researchers have said about strategies of systems-change, including takeaways for anyone interested in taking on social change in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector. You won't learn how to solve the education system, but it might just make you a better leader!

How does one think like a scientist? What qualities do scientist possess or have in common? What does it take to become a scientist? How is science conducted? Why is asking questions important? Why is science and research important? What resources are available to be involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?

This class will guide you through how you too can think like a scientist! Throughout the course, we will learn and dissect the scientific method, how we ask questions and how to answer them. We will discuss how to overcome challenges by dissecting the problem. We will also discuss how thinking like a scientist can be translated into different fields.


Prerequisites
Interest in learning and asking questions.

Have you ever wondered how different instruments work? How sound is produced, travels through the air, and is heard? In Physics of Music, we'll explore these questions and more using basic physical concepts, primarily simple harmonic motion, through the lens of hearing and creating music.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but experience with trigonometry and/or physics could be useful.

Have you ever wondered what a neuron is, how it works and how it can communicate with other neurons? Or maybe you have wondered how these cells develop across time to make up the nervous system? In this course, we will dive into the cell biology of these peculiar cells and get answers to some of these intriguing questions.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of biology.

What is our relationship to nature? How can we feel more connected to the beauty of this planet? Explore questions of what makes meaning, fulfillment, and happiness through engaging with poetry, a journal, and the outdoors.

Over the past 230 years, 44 men have held the title of US President. In this class, we will take a look at the job and how it's been shaped and scrutinized over the years. Students will have an opportunity to learn more about an individual president, consider how each president fits into the nation's timeline, and discuss the connection between race, gender, class, power, and the Oval Office.


Prerequisites
A general understanding of US history is encouraged

A very brief, informal, fun introduction to concepts in linear algebra. Linear transformations, invertible matrix theorem, eigenvalues, diagonalization, and perhaps more. Lots of fun math things.


Prerequisites
Calculus recommended, but not required.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s superman! No wait…we were right the first time. This class will explore the cool and crazy facts about birds and trees. We will talk about how birds and trees evolved (fossils? dinosaurs? man-eating plants?), how they depend on each other (Would birds be alive without trees? Do trees need birds?), and some of the most intriguing bird and tree species in the world (Did you know: the pileated woodpecker’s scientific name means tree cleaver?). We will also learn how to identify some common species that you can see right outside your window!

What does it mean to "win"? How much is a first place title or gold medal worth? How far do we go in order to win? What do we give up, knowingly and unknowingly, in our quest for victory and success? Is it even possible to win, in the end? This class aims to dissect the multi-layered notion of "winning" as constructed by society. In-class reading of short article(s) related to topic followed by open discussion. Students are challenged to reevaluate their personal definitions of what it means for them to "win".

What does it mean to be a person? What rights are persons, or non-persons, entitled to? We will be examining the boundaries of personhood by considering non-human animals, humans in various stages and states, and future generations. This is an elementary philosophy course.

An introductory philosophy class exploring the ideas of life, death, and (im)mortality. Using thought experiments, literary illustrations, and even a bit of math, we will discuss (and debate!) some of philosophy's biggest questions. For example:

-What is so bad about death that makes people fear it?
-If you could live any number of years, what should you choose--zero, infinity, or somewhere in between?
-Is it better to live like there's no tomorrow? Or should we live as if we'll live forever?

The fields of genetic engineering and biotechnology are some of the fastest growing and most interesting areas of research. From creating bacteria that can produce human insulin to developing proteins that can fight cancer, bio-technologists and biotech startups are at the forefront of development in industry in medicine. In this Sprout class, we will teach some of the basic tenets of biotechnology and the most essential techniques that have transformed the face of bioscience as we know it (Crispr-Cas9, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, e.t.c). Come learn about the newest advances in genetic engineering!


Prerequisites
High School Biology Course (Preferably comfortable with some of the basic tenets of DNA/RNA and the central dogma).

Have you ever wondered what makes living things different from nonliving things? At what point does something stop being alive and become dead? This class will primarily focus on discussion of examples that reveal the ambiguity behind the seemingly obvious categories of alive and not alive. Examples will primarily be drawn from biology, especially microbiology.

The goal of this class is to allow students to think critically about the way categories are defined and what gets ignored during classification. Additionally, students will learn about some cool bacteria and viruses.

Athletic elective for people who would like to learn the fundamentals of self defense including stance, straight punches, and round punches


Prerequisites
None

What do you think of when you hear the word “tragedy”? While most people immediately think of sadness, there is much more to the genre. Explore with us the nuances of tragedy through short films, discussions, and interactive activities!

What is the actual environmental cost of building a wind turbine? Doesn't burning biomass produce more emissions? Is renewable energy the silver bullet when it comes to climate change? Through in-depth discussion, uncover the answers to these questions and more in this class all about renewable energy!

Ever wondered how music is made without acoustic instruments? Want to learn more about the production techniques that drive so much of today's music? In this class, we'll explore topics like synthesis, sampling, beat-making, and instrumentation to better understand the wide variety of elements at play in electronic music. Whether you're an EDM enthusiast or working nights as a future bass DJ, come join the fun!


Prerequisites
Basic familiarity with music/music notation helpful though not required!

Learn about the properties of ink, how it's different from other mediums, and possible techniques for painting with it. We'll make beautiful ink creations of our own!

In this class you will learn about the neuroscience behind addiction and the clinical correlates. We will discuss the current political and society views on substance use disorders, especially surrounding the current opioid crisis. Finally, we will touch on the stigma and health disparities people with a substance use disorder face.

*These topics can be sensitive or triggering to those with a personal experience with these issues. Please come to class prepared to have mature, respectful, and safe discussions. Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, there will be absolutely zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior or comments.

This class will give an overview of the history of the British Women’s Suffrage Movement, full of shocking acts of militancy and strength. The militant movement arose suddenly after years of attempting to make incremental progress towards the vote. Finally, after years of being ignored, the women made sure that they couldn’t possibly be anymore. I’ll focus in on influential figures of the movement, such as Alice Paul and Emmeline Pankhurst, and describe their individual contributions and how they rallied women to their cause. I’ll also show a clip from the movie Suffragette with Meryl Streep.

A brief overview of theories and manifestations of "soft power" as a way one country influences another beyond mainstream politics. A brief history of Korean Pop music (K-pop), the Hallyu wave, and its role as a source of soft power in East-Southeast Asian affairs.

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to the pioneers of cancer immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibition - but what do those things mean exactly? And besides that, what exactly is cancer, how does it arise, and why is it often so hard to cure?

If you're interested in cancer, the immune system, and how they interact, this is the class for you. We'll be starting from the basics but quickly building up to the current state of the field (including organoid modeling, CRISPR screening, and more), so students with or without prior experience should come away having learned something new, although this class will be challenging even for students with some background in biology.


Prerequisites
Some familiarity with biology is assumed - having taken AP Biology will be helpful, but not necessary.

What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress?

This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.

Believe investing is only for Wall Street gurus and millionaires? It doesn't have to be! Come learn what a stock market is, why and how you should invest, and what makes a good (or bad) stock. We'll go over some terminology and concepts and then jump into a real world case study.

Brief and simple overview of how we got to North Korea today under Kim Jong Un's dictatorship. We will explain the current situation of North Korea negotiations under Trump's administration, touching on significant topics such as nuclear talks and human right violations. Lastly we will focus on discussing some of the ethics and stances behind humanitarian aid to North Korea. Should be fun and interactive, absolutely no prior knowledge required!


Prerequisites
Absolutely none!

Follow the adventures of Iceland's most ruthless viking as he battles monsters, outsmarts kings, and plunders treasure. Join us as we cover the Saga of Egil Skallagrimsson!

Enter the world of Vikings! Follow Grettir the Strong, Iceland's most legendary Viking outlaw, as he battles monsters, wrestles a bear, and cleaves enemies in two with his famous sword. Will our hero manage to outwit and outfight his numerous foes? Or will he finally meet his end in glorious combat? Find out as we cover Grettir's Saga!

Students will be introduced to basic concepts regarding refugees, will be asked discussion questions about policies, and will take part in an interactive game outlining the refugee experience. At the end of the class we'll all write welcome letters to refugees registered with IRIS right here in New Haven.

Are you interested in learning about inheritance patterns of disease? We will be covering Mendelian genetics and how individuals inherit different diseases. We will also be discussing current methods researchers are using to discover causes of new genetic diseases.

What counts as a "computer," and what are the limits of computation? Alan Turing answered these questions by describing an imaginary device, now called a Turing machine, which could perform any possible calculation.

It turns out that many systems, including Minecraft, are "Turing-complete," meaning they are equally powerful as Turing machines. For example, it is possible to build a fully functioning computer inside Minecraft.

In this class, we will define Turing machines and see how they work. We'll also discuss examples of Turing-complete systems.

Have you ever wondered why rockets have "launch windows," how some satellites always stay directly overhead, why rovers are only sent to Mars every 26 months, or how scientists detect exoplanets thousands of light-years away? What if I told you that for a capsule to catch up to the International Space Station, it actually has to slow down? The physics of orbiting objects can be strange, but we'll cover all these things (and more), predict some upcoming astronomical events, and maybe even plan an interplanetary mission of our own!


Prerequisites
Exposure to Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation recommended, certainly not required however.

Do you have an idea but very little money or formal experience? That shouldn’t stop you. In this course, we will discuss how to evaluate business ideas, identify relevant opportunities and platforms that can help kickstart a business, and build brand awareness on social media.

Want to walk into a museum and understand art better? Want to start spotting art all around you? Ever wondered how art, culture, and history intersect? In this fun course meant for students of all academic interests and backgrounds, we will examine artwork from all over the world and across time that share common themes such as feminism, propaganda/power, and ideologies.

Mental rigor! Bodily movement! Laughter!
In Brief: Everything you need to become acquainted with the joys of juggling. Instruction. Balloons. A complementary set of juggling balls.

In Philosophyspeak: Too often we pass the days doing, mindlessly, permutations of things we already know how to do. Walking. Talking. Reading. Interacting with our cellular devices. Does this sound familiar? If so, we invite you to break from this cycle by engaging with something completely unfamiliar: the world of juggling. It's a surprisingly meditative experience, sure to test the hardest mental faculties, and, more importantly, to give you the tools to introduce spontaneity and fun wherever you go.

Join us as we explain the inner workings of solar panels! Hands-on engineering problems will be presented, and it's up to you to solve them. No previous experience with solar panels necessary, just an interest in problem solving and solar energy!

Objectively the greatest album of all time, Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly" has left an indelible mark on rap music and its listeners. In this class, which will be heavily discussion-based, we will focus on the album's wider significance on The Culture, its artistry and dope lyricism, and its commentary on social injustice and black oppression in America.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with album and Kendrick Lamar's music encouraged but not required.

Are you an individual fascinated by the beauty and intricacies of sign language? Does the idea of learning a nonverbal language intrigue you? Would you like to learn about Deaf culture and the Deaf community? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, sign up now for "A Foray into American Sign Language"!! This introductory American Sign Language class involves learning the basics of ASL, like the alphabet and family/school vocabulary, as well as engaging in fun and exciting games that are cherished in Deaf culture. Hope to see you here!

This class will be discussing the beautiful aspects and components of puzzles and games. This will include doing logic and math puzzles as well as riddles and simple games. Then we will discuss how they are interesting and engaging. Additionally, we shall evaluate how the things we learn from puzzles and games can help us in our daily lives.


Prerequisites
Basic reading and math skills.