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."

We will talk about the brilliance and literary merit of JK Rowling's famous series. Activities include sorting into houses, understanding your patronus and what it means to make a horcrux. Students should be prepared for some mischief, but also thinking about the text itself.


Prerequisites
Having read the entire Harry Potter series.

In this workshop, we will learn the essential techniques of cinematography, writing, and directing a short film. The course will be broken down into three segments:
Week 1 –– Learning the Basics. We will cover the fundamental rules of how to compose a frame, how to transition between shots, and other important details of filmmaking.
Week 2 –– Workshop. We will be splitting up into groups of 4-5 to conceive a short script, create a shot list, and prepare for production.
Week 3 –– Lights, Camera, Action. In those small groups, we will be using iPhone app software to produce the scripts created in workshop, and the final products will be presented at the end of class. (Only one iPhone needed per group.)

This class will introduce students to the biology and diversity of reptiles and amphibians. Take this course if you love creepy-crawlies or if you want to overcome your fear of them!

Today, we’re surrounded by mass media and viral content. How did we get to this point? What impact does it have on us, and what impact can we have on it? In this class, we’ll use historical, sociological, psychological, and anthropological lenses to examine these questions and discuss how we can critically engage with the media around us.

You use probability and statistics every day, whether you are conscious of it or not. Perhaps you look outside in the morning and think about the chance it will rain, and decide whether or not to grab an umbrella. Or maybe you think about how long it usually takes you to complete your homework, and use this as an estimate for how much time you should plan out for your next assignment.

Probability and statistics are all around us in the world as well. If you have one those new-fangled iPhones with face recognition, your phone has used advanced statistical models to learn exactly what you look like and make sure it only unlocks for you. Google, among other companies, attempts to determine the probability that you will click on one of their ads, and adjusts its formulas to maximize your engagement with particular content.

Despite its prevalence, probability and statistics are not always cut-and-dry. Our intuitions about these subjects don't always align with what theory dictates, and this can lead to many problems in how we interpret important findings. Thus it is our responsibility to be careful consumers of information and understand the assumptions we are making in any given situation.

This course will introduce a few basic concepts of probability and statistics, as well as some more advanced. These will be used explain some truly astonishing paradoxes which arise in probability and statistics, along with some notable fallacies of statistical decision-making. The concepts will be simple at first, but we will progressively move towards more challenging (and more paradoxical!) scenarios. Be prepared to not understand every bit of the math in its entirely, but to enjoy learning about these mind-boggling situations nonetheless.

The Southeast Asian Rainforest used to be the largest forest in the world (yes, even larger than the Amazon!). But human activities have destroyed the majority of the forest, leaving only very small fragments of forested land. This class will walk you through the amazing biodiversity of the region, the impacts of human development on the natural landscapes, and possible solutions to conserve and restore the quickly disappearing forests.

In this course, we will explore architecture and how it relates to basic physics.

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, use a writing system you don't know, and discover grammar rules that we don't have in English. For example, did you know that in Japanese, different verbs are used to say “wear/put on” depending on where the item is worn? No prior knowledge of languages is required — just logical reasoning!

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∀

What happens to food after it goes in but before it goes out? Join us to learn all
about the science behind eating! From the science of hunger to the diabetes epidemic, this course will cover a broad but insightful scope on the process of digestion, nutrient absorption, and health.

This course is an attempt to teach special relativity. I will be attempting to use as little math as possible, but there will still be at least 4 derivatives and several matrices and vectors. I'll be trying to convince you all of the fact that relativity is actually very sensible and hardly sucks at all.


Prerequisites
Be ready to learn some basic calculus. Preferably, know what a derivative is. Be comfortable trying to imagine things moving and turning in space.

How should I live? What should I hope for? What are my responsibilities?

Everyone, everywhere, has different answers to these questions. Often, many people find themselves too busy to think about these questions, but I would argue that these questions are THE most important questions for us to discuss and answer. Throughout the three weeks, we will be looking at how different religions and philosophies answer these questions, while trying our best to answer these questions for ourselves.

*This course is different from the "Psychology and the Good Life" class I also teach.


Prerequisites
This class will be mostly discussion. If you choose to take this course, be ready to participate and debate!

In this course, we will study epistemology, which is essentially the theory of knowledge? How do we know what is real? How do know that we can trust our senses? Do we all live in the same reality? Are we dreaming right now? We will explore readings from Plato, Descartes, and Kant to see if can find out what really exists in this world.


Prerequisites
None.

Have you ever wondered why map designers choose to represent the world around them a certain way? Want to learn more about the controversies and debates over contested monuments, or just explore the messages behind statues and art? In this class, we'll examine a variety of different maps, try out drawing our own, and explore larger questions of how we choose as a society to represent and remember places and people. Come to think about the choices we make through collective memory, through the writing of history curricula, arts, and monuments as well as through mapping and building the landscapes of the cities, towns, and other spaces we inhabit.


Prerequisites
none!

Think climate change, diplomacy, and Greta Thunberg are cool? Us too! Join students from the Yale Student Environmental Coalition on an exciting 3-class adventure into the world of international climate negotiations. You'll get a briefing on the most up-to-date climate science, dig into key international texts like the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, analyze media surrounding the negotiations, and even get a chance to negotiate your own document on behalf of a country delegation.

Interested in the 21st century clean energy transition? Looking for a fun class with lots of hands-on activities, science trivia, and real-world project problem-solving? Join Yale's undergraduate solar energy group Project Bright on a quest to solarize buildings, food trucks, and power an electronic device!

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.

Learn about different styles of greeting card design, get inspiration, and make greeting cards of your own!

What is going on across the pond? Interested in British politics and history? Want to know what has caused Brexit and Megxit and whether the two are at all related? Want to understand why these headlines matter and how they affect a variety of things from the world economy to the refugee crisis? Join this class, which I hope won't be a royal pain (get it?), and learn how to think critically about foreign politics and events.

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.

Want to learn how to tap dance? Come join this beginner's workshop on how to shuffle, flap, and scuff your way through some fun music. Tap shoes are not provided, so please wear comfortable shoes and clothes you feel comfortable moving around in. No experience necessary!


Prerequisites
Comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing

Persian literature is rich with beauty, history, and convention. Some of its most famous poets, Hafez, Rumi, and Ferdowsi, were praised for their ability to make even the most overdone symbols and cliches of their traditions feel unique and beautiful. In this course we will read various poems and texts to learn about their place in the Persian canon and discuss some of the wonderful features of the poetic styles themselves.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest stories ever uncovered in history. Told over the course of 11 clay tablets, it tells the the story of the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his efforts to become the most memorable hero in the world, in which he fights demons and monsters along side his friend Enkidu. In this class we will discuss the nature of the Epic in literature, aspects of the Epic that have survived throughout history, and the importance of the preservation literature.

Someone collapses in front of you - panic?! Or use the basics of emergency medicine to get to action! This class is about the basics of how doctors manage common medical and surgical emergencies in the emergency room. If things like asthma attacks, cardiac arrests, severe allergies, trauma and surgeries gone wrong interest you - then this class is for you!

In this class, we will use problem-solving and logical thinking skills to solve fun brain teasers and mathematical riddles.

We will discuss different techniques and practices for living a positive and happy life. Those include gratitude journaling, yoga and meditating!


Prerequisites
None!

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.

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

This workshop introduces students to the concept of gender as an identity and to several genderqueer identities. It introduces students to how cisgender people are oftentimes incorrectly viewed as "the only 'normal' way to be" and the reasons why this assumption is harmful. It also teaches cisgender students ways to be good allies to their trans/genderqueer peers.

Come one, come all! If you've ever had even the remotest desire to learn how to juggle, this is the class for you. We will have balls, clubs, scarves, diabolos, and more! Whether you've always had a secret desire to join the circus or just want to impress your friends, you won't regret learning this extremely valuable skill.

The best fantasy worlds are those with the best magic systems. But have you ever thought more carefully about what goes into creating—and writing a story about—one of them?

This class will move through some well-known examples of magical fantasy from Harry Potter to the works of Brandon Sanderson, and culminate in students designing their own magical worlds based on what they learn. Come with ideas, but most importantly come with a sense of wonder!


Prerequisites
Some knowledge/experience with fantasy might help, but it's not required!

In this writing workshop, we will examine some works and performances by writers of color and/or with an immigrant background. We will then do some writing of our own—poetry, prose, spoken word, and genre-defying works—and exchange feedback. This workshop is open to students of all backgrounds!

"The Mediterranean World" and "The Atlantic World"— these are common ways to describe geographical features and historical events that center around key areas of trade, cultural exchange, and conflict. But the Pacific Ocean is almost twice the size of the Atlantic, and has a very different history because of it.

This class will examine how key elements of Pacific geography—its massive size, and the 25,000 islands dotting its landscape—influenced the history of colonialism and capitalism in the modern world. We will move from the earliest European explorers to modern-day international trade in a rapid-fire survey of an under-appreciated side of the globe.

How can you bring your dream world to life? With 3D modeling, of course!
Some of the most influential animated films of the last three decades, such as The Incredibles, Toy Story and Frozen were created using computers. In this course, you will learn the basics of 3D modeling—an integral part of 3D computer graphics. You will also learn how to create your very own 3D models, straight from your imagination to the screen, by using the Autodesk TinkerCAD computer-aided design platform.

An introduction to pop, rap, and indie music tracks that are topping the charts in Vietnam. Analyze creatively funny, aesthetic, emotional, complex V-pop music videos, learn how to pronounce (even sing?!) Vietnamese lyrics, and discover how V-pop might be taking its inspiration from your favorite American and K-pop artists. We’ll explore the works of The Chillies (Vietnam’s The Beatles), Suboi (an iconic female rapper), UNI5 (an adorable boy band), Son Tung MTP (whose song with Snoop Dogg was trending on Youtube this summer), the soundtracks from Vietnam’s growing film industry, and more! We’ll also take a quick look at some contemporary art, photography, and choreography that is defining “Vietnamese” creativity. Perhaps you’ll come away with some new V-pop idols and boy bands to stan!

This will be an interactive overview of the Electoral College, the system in which we select our President! We will be discussing how it works, why the founders chose it, and the arguments for and against it in modern times. To do this, we will be playing "270", a Presidential Election simulator game that is great for teaching about the Electoral college and campaigning in general! With the 2020 election around the corner, come find out how we REALLY pick the President!

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!

Learn the basics of Cantonese! One of the most widely spoken dialects of Chinese, Cantonese is spoken by millions across the globe. This class will focus on commonly used phrases and pronunciation, because Cantonese is mainly used for verbal communication. We will learn how to navigate day-to-day life in Cantonese, learning key vocabulary for ordering food at a dim-sum restaurant, chatting with relatives, finding directions, and more.


Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of Chinese is needed. Everyone of all backgrounds is welcome.

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!

Poetry is fun! Contrary to what we believe, it is less about rhythm and rhyme, and more about truth and happiness. In this class, we shall examine how you can live your truth through poetic expression and how one can channel happiness through reading and writing poems. We shall watch and discuss a wonderful TED talk about spoken word poetry, read a couple of wonderful poems and finally, write some beautiful poems ourselves! Not to worry, you don't need to love poetry or know how to write poetry. Come, let's learn together!

What is cancer? How do we prevent, diagnose, and treat it? Did you know radiation can be used to treat tumors? We'll explore the exciting field of oncology and work together through an interactive hands-on activity exploring anatomy on CAT scans!


Prerequisites
None. A biology class might be helpful but certainly not required.

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 the opportunity to learn about some of these presidents and how their leadership qualities and styles influenced their actions while in office.


Prerequisites
A general understanding of US history is encouraged

This course helps familiarize participants with proteins. Proteins are very important macromolecules and are key to proper cell function. In this course, we will discuss what proteins are, why they’re important, and how they’re made.

Ever wanted to impress your friends? Scare your enemies? Find the perfect way to confess your undying love for someone? Look no further than the truest art form: origami. In just one hour, we will unfold for you the basics of this masterful craft and teach you the ways in which a simple square of paper can become something you never thought possible.

We will be looking at folklorist and literature professor Joseph Campbell's concept of the hero's journey, in which he outlines a path shared by mythical heroes in many different mythologies and cultures. Our main example of the hero's journey, for the purposes of this class, will be the original Star Wars movie (A New Hope, 1977); this will of course be accompanied by some viewings of clips from the movie! Based on the application of Campbell's theory to Star Wars, we will discuss how to tell a captivating myth.


Prerequisites
Although not required, familiarity with Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) is beneficial.

Come learn about the carillon in Harkness Tower! We will introduce the instrument, its history, and play a variety of carillon music.

Examining techniques in Watercolor painting. Students will complete their own work by the end of class. I will offer some ideas but mainly a class where students get to create freely and receive help and advice.

Modern - specifically, abstract - artwork shocked the world in the 20th century. In this art history course, we will be looking at some of the most famous and recognized pieces of modern/abstract artwork and analyzing them together, as well as learning about the history and reception behind these works. Together, we will be attempting to answer the question, what were the big ideas behind this movement?

Whether you’re a long-time journaler or have never tried it before, learn new techniques to spice up your journal or start journaling anew!

Many questions which seem impossible to answer are actually not so hard if you are willing to make a few good estimates and combine them in the right way. These are known as "Fermi problems," named after a physicist who was famously good at coming up with approximate solutions to hard problems. In this class, we'll cover the basic techniques for solving Fermi problems, and practice some together. Possible questions include:

- How many pennies would you have to melt down to build a copy of the Statue of Liberty?
- How many laptops would it take to store a photo of everyone in the world?
- If you could fold a piece of paper in half 30 times, how tall would it be?
- How long would it take all the bees in the world to fill a swimming pool with honey?

In this class, we will be discussing the various methods (some of which are very disturbing) employed in treating mental health as far back as the 1800s up until the present day. We will also look at the stigma surrounding mental health and how this has changed throughout time.

Do you love to act? Are you quick on your feet? This class is a fun and interactive class for outgoing students who want to have fun. Small improv games will be played as we learn how to keep going. First rule of improv? “Yes, and...”

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.

Whether you've never seen or read a Shakespeare play before, read it for school and hated it, or are already big fan, come explore his masterful language and see what happens when we bring his characters and words to life!

This class will be an overview of simple ways to reduce stress from your life and environment with time for some hands-on practice. Meditation exercises, drawing activities, and journal prompts will be used.

In this course I would utilize bestselling YA novels/series by authors such as Rainbow Rowell, J.K. Rowling, John Green, etc. to demonstrate the excitement that exists within reading fiction.

A class based on using the fundamental theories of physics to explain that most things are unexplainable. The goal of this class is to hopefully spark an interest in Physics.

Learn what it means to be an entrepreneur, what is a start-up and start brainstorming ideas on how to become one! We will cover the basics and do a fun activity.


Prerequisites
An open mind!

Do you want to learn how to tie a tie? Bow ties, neck ties, you'll be able to learn how to tie both. Perfect for dances, jobs, or family events. A need-to-know life skill.

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.


Prerequisites
Knowing a little about basic biology will help (for instance, what's a cell?) but is not required!

Do you love music? Then this class if for you! We're going to talk about our favorite songs, listen to some tunez, and have a great time! The professorz of this course have their own radio show and would love to share their insight on the industry. **This is not a musical instruction course as much as it is a music appreciation course.**

Are you interested in how the American Government works? You might have heard a lot about the upcoming election. But what even is an election? Sign up for this class to learn how our government works, what it means to live in a republic, and what the Constitution says about you!

In this hands on course we will explore many of the uses of knots through every day life. We will learn five essential knots together, and experiment with a few more. I will share the importance of knots in my life as a commercial fisherman and outdoor enthusiast in Alaska.

Have you ever thought about the music inside you, the heartbeat that keeps you alive? Is there a mathematical reason behind why two notes sound good together? How does music contribute to the interface of creativity and logic in STEM?
This course will search for answers to these questions and much more -exploring the parallels between music and STEM, specifically in terms of biology and mathematics. We will also reflect on the importance of music in our everyday lives and how it can affect our brains in mindblowing ways!

I will provide a basic overview over the European Union and its institutions, including the EU-Parliament, the EU-Commission and the European Court of Justice. I will also explain basics of the legislating process.

"Psychology in Our World" is now reprised as a seminar!

More than just hypnotics, brains, and psychotherapy, psychology is relevant to the world around us. In fact, psychology appears in many unexpected and fun situations! We will be discussing “what is psychology?” and how concepts such as inattentional blindness, heuristics, and illusion of skill acquisition impact many of us every day.


Prerequisites
If you took "Psychology in Our World" with me before, please consider another class as there will be many overlapping topics!

An introductory course to OpenSCAD, a free and fun code-based 3D computer aided design (CAD) program! Learn how to make really cool objects from basic shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder), and simple transformations. This would be a good course for anyone interested in or looking to learn more about 3D design or programming, or anyone looking for a fun hobby! No programming or 3D design experience is necessary.

Do you consider yourself an American? How do we -- how does America -- define "American?"

These are simple questions at first glance. But by thinking about these questions, we can begin to understand why injustice exists for those affected by these definitions. Our class will discuss the idea of citizenship with regards to modern immigration law, exploring how rethinking our ideas of citizenship can lead to a more just society. Join us for an hour of conversation and fun!

What is the stock market? Is there a hack to track it? Do you want to be a billionaire?

Yale students from Immigrant History Project will be teaching an interactive, workshop-based course on Asian American identity. All students are welcome!

Horseshoe crab mating?! Have you ever wondered how horseshoe crabs detect mates using their rudimentary visual systems? How is vision implemented in the human brain? Finally, is it possible to teach robots how to see?

In this course, you will learn the basic math and neurobiology underlying the field of computer vision, including:
1) How light detected by the retinas is processed through neural visual architecture in the human brain
2) How we use visual information to perceive and navigate the world around us
3) How we can implement ideas inspired from biology in our computers

See you soon!

Did you know that there are approximately 10 times as many microbial cells than human cells in the human body? These microorganisms constitute the human microbiome – the collection of all bacteria, fungi and viruses that we live with every day. They influence our lifelong health, our resistance to diseases, and even the way we think!
In this class, you will learn about scientific studies on the microbiome, how doctors are using this knowledge to treat diseases, and how our microbial companions keep us healthy and happy throughout our lives.

Imagine a menu with "cheetah steak", "panda bear soup", and "elephant stir fry"...people would be upset and want to know where these meats came from. Now imagine a menu with "bluefin tuna", "orange roughy", and "Chilean seabass". These marine species are just as endangered as the more charismatic mammals; however, people don't question where their seafood is coming from, leading to depletion and ecosystem destruction. This class covers how the fishing industry works and what we can do as consumers to support sustainability.

Reading and discussion of Plato's "Apology," in which Socrates, the protagonist, stands trial for philosophizing around the city – or, as the jury puts it, corrupting the youth, and making bad arguments look good. Consideration of the question: what do philosophers do when they philosophize? (Or at least: what was Socrates doing?)


Prerequisites
Read: the "Apology". The “Euthyphro" is optional. These are short, I promise, and well worth reading. In the short time we have, having done the reading will really help a lot. You can access these readings here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o3dwkl1d3721lh8/AADVbcFliEBCaECpKRDKPk1ia?dl=0