2013-14 Undergraduate Index A-Z
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Mathematics [clear]
| Title | Offering | Standing | Credits | Credits | When | F | W | S | Su | Description | Preparatory | Faculty | Days of Week | Multiple Standings | Start Quarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Richard Weiss and Judith Cushing
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | S 14Spring | Computers are a driving force of our modern world and increasingly influence our lives. Mathematics and mathematical models lay at the foundation of modern computers; furthermore, we increasingly rely on mathematics as a language for understanding the natural world, such as complex climate models that predict major changes in weather patterns world wide over the next 50 years. Mathematics and computational thinking enable people as citizens to make good decisions on a wide range of issues from interpreting the evidence for climate change to understanding the potential impacts of technology; as such, they are an integral part of a liberal arts education. In this program, we will explore connections between mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences and graphic arts.We will develop mathematical abstractions and the skills to express, analyze and solve simple problems in the sciences and the arts and explore how to program interesting visual shapes using simple geometry. Class sessions include seminars, lectures, problem-solving workshops, programming labs, problem sets and seminars with writing assignments. The emphasis will be on fluency in mathematical and statistical thinking and expression along with reflections on mathematics and society. Topics will include concepts of algebra, algorithms, programming and problem solving, with seminar readings about the role of mathematics in education, the sciences and society.This program is intended for students who want to gain a fundamental understanding of mathematics and computing before leaving college or before pursuing further work in the sciences or the arts. | Richard Weiss Judith Cushing | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | |||||
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Vauhn Foster-Grahler
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Day | F 13 Fall | Algebraic Thinking develops problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by using algebra to solve context-based problems. Problems are approached algebraically, graphically, numerically, and verbally. Topics include linear, quadratic, and exponential functions, right-triangle trigonometry, and data analysis. Collaborative learning is emphasized. | Vauhn Foster-Grahler | Tue Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||||
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Alison Styring
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | W 14Winter | Birds are considered important indicators of habitat quality and are often the focus of conservation-oriented research, restoration, and monitoring. A variety of field and analytical methods commonly used in bird monitoring and avian research will be covered. Theory will be applied to practice in the field and lab where students will develop skills in fieldwork, data management, and statistical analysis. Students will demonstrate their learning through active participation in all class activities; a detailed field journal; in-class, take-home, and field assignments; and a final project. An understanding of avian natural history is important to any successful project, and students without a working knowledge of the common birds in the South Puget Sound region are expected to improve their identification skills to a level that will allow them to effectively contribute to class efforts both in the field and in class. | Alison Styring | Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | |||||
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Vauhn Foster-Grahler
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | This year-long sequence of courses will provide a rigorous treatment of the procedures, concepts, and applications of differential and integral calculus, multi-dimensional space, sequences, and series. This year-long sequence is appropriate for students who are planning to teach secondary mathematics or engage in further study in mathematics, science, or economics. In particular we will cover applications of differentiation including related rates and optimization and of integration including area, arc length, volume, and distribution functions. We will gain a deep understanding of the analytical geometry of lines, surfaces, and vectors in multi-dimensional space and engage in a rigorous treatment of sequences and series. Throughout the year, we will approach the mathematics algebraically, graphically, numerically, and verbally. Student-centered pedagogies will be used and collaborative learning will be emphasized. If you have questions about your readiness to take this class, please contact the faculty. | Vauhn Foster-Grahler | Tue Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Clyde Barlow
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | FR–SOFreshmen - Sophomore | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | This is a field and laboratory intensive program integrating chemistry and geology. The landscape and habitation of the Northwest are defined by major geologic events that have shaped and reshaped the landscape. Volcanoes, lava flows, ash flows, glaciers, floods, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and tectonic movements form some of these events. Major events such as glaciation may proceed slowly on a human time scale. Carbon dioxide dependent global warming may, in fact, be a cataclysm in progress. We will examine chemical effects of historic and current geologic processes. This program will study literature about specific events and travel to affected sites. The program will serve as an introduction to physical science with development of skills in chemistry and problem solving. A full year of general chemistry will be offered with a laboratory linked with geology themes. Communication skills will be developed by maintaining laboratory and field journals, writing technical reports, interviewing staff, faculty and administrators, web page development to present information, and oral presentations of laboratory results. Extended (4-5 day) and short (1 day) field trips in Washington and Oregon will be incorporated into the program each quarter.We will study a year of general chemistry with laboratory, differential and integral calculus, geology readings with field trips, interview practices, web-page development and management, technical writing and presentation. This program is intended to be an introduction to Evergreen and quantitative studies for students new to the college. Significant time will be spent meeting and interviewing staff and administrative personnel on campus to become familiar with the functioning and management of the college.Having a program with 12 students and one faculty member provides a unique opportunity to delve into a subject area with a small cadre of fellow students. Students are expected to enhance the learning of their peers. Work in the program will be team focused. Spring quarter will include a major student designed team research component based upon skills and background garnered from two quarters' academic work. | Clyde Barlow | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO | Fall | |||
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Neal Nelson, TBA, Sheryl Shulman and Richard Weiss
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | The goal of this program is for students to learn the intellectual concepts and skills that are essential for advanced work in computer science and beneficial for computing work in support of other disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to achieve a deeper understanding of increasingly complex computing systems by acquiring knowledge and skills in mathematical abstraction, problem solving and the organization and analysis of hardware and software systems. The program covers material such as algorithms, data structures, computer organization and architecture, logic, discrete mathematics and programming in the context of the liberal arts and compatible with the model curriculum developed by the Association for Computing Machinery's Liberal Arts Computer Science Consortium.The program content will be organized around four interwoven themes. The computational organization theme covers concepts and structures of computing systems from digital logic to the computer architecture supporting high level languages and operating systems. The programming theme concentrates on learning how to design and code programs to solve problems. The mathematical theme helps develop mathematical reasoning, theoretical abstractions and problem-solving skills needed for computer scientists. A technology and society theme explores social, historical or philosophical topics related to science and technology.We will explore these themes throughout the year through lectures, programming labs, workshops, and seminars. | computer science, education and mathematics. | Neal Nelson TBA Sheryl Shulman Richard Weiss | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Richard Weiss and Diego de Acosta
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | This program links together computer science and linguistics through the written forms and grammars of languages. First, we’ll consider writing: what do the world’s alphabets, syllabaries and pictographic writing systems tell us about the structure of human languages? Are some writing systems particularly appropriate for some languages, or is it possible to represent any language with any writing system? Ciphers deliberately conceal information without removing it. What does cryptography tell us about the nature of information?Second, we’ll look at the grammars of human and computer languages. The syntax of a computer language can be described precisely, while human languages have exceptions. Yet there have been many attempts to model human language with computers, and to create ways for computers to “read” and “listen” to human languages. To what extent have automatic translation programs and Internet search engines been successful? Why is it that humans can handle ambiguity, but computers have such a difficult time?Major topics of the programStudents will participate in lectures, seminar, labs and workshops on linguistics, programming and computation. They will be evaluated on quizzes, exams, papers and programs. | Richard Weiss Diego de Acosta | Mon Tue Wed Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||||
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Neal Nelson and TBA
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 12 | 12 | Day | F 13 Fall | This program introduces the logical, historical, mathematical and computational foundations of our understanding of nature that we call physics. Students in the program will study the evolution of rational thought, mathematical abstraction and physical theories of nature in the history of science. The intellectual tools of our investigations will be the systems of logic, mathematical modeling and computer programming that we use today for understanding our material world.Early Greek philosophers dared to assume that humanity could comprehend the true nature of the universe and the material world through rational thought. Using historical readings, we will investigate key conceptual developments in the evolution of scientific and mathematical thought from those early intellectual explorations to the 20th century.We will study logic and its relationship to early Greek rational thought, contemporary critical reasoning and scientific theories. We will see that careful contemplation and observation of the physical world from the early natural philosophers to the modern physicists have revealed an underlying order and led to the surprising conclusion that mathematics, computation and the nature of physical reality are deeply connected. We will learn the powerful formal systems of logic, modeling and computing into which the ideas of the early Greek philosophers have evolved today as the basis of our understanding.Class activities will include hands-on laboratory work along with lectures, workshops, weekly readings, seminar discussions, written essays and weekly homework problems. | Neal Nelson TBA | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||||
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Brian Walter
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | This program is built around intensive study of several fundamental areas of pure mathematics. Covered topics are likely to include abstract algebra, real analysis, set theory, combinatorics and probability.The work in this advanced-level mathematics program is quite likely to differ from students' previous work in mathematics, including calculus, in a number of ways. We will emphasize the careful understanding of the definitions of mathematical terms and the statements and proofs of the theorems that capture the main conceptual landmarks in the areas we study. Hence, the largest portion of our work will involve the reading and writing of rigorous proofs in axiomatic systems. These skills are valuable not only for continued study of mathematics but also in many areas of thought in which arguments are set forth according to strict criteria for logical deduction. Students will gain experience in articulating their evidence for claims and in expressing their ideas with precise and transparent reasoning.In addition to work in core areas of advanced mathematics, we will devote seminar time to looking at our studies in a broader historical, philosophical, and cultural context, working toward answers to critical questions such as: Are mathematical systems discovered or created? Do mathematical objects actually exist? How did the current mode of mathematical thinking come to be developed? What is current mathematical practice? What are the connections between mathematics and culture? What are the connections between mathematics and art? What are the connections between mathematics and literature?This program is designed for students who intend to pursue graduate studies or teach in mathematics and the sciences, as well as for those who want to know more about mathematical thinking. | Brian Walter | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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Clyde Barlow and Neil Switz
Signature Required:
Winter Spring
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | Modern science has been remarkably successful in providing understanding of how natural systems behave. Such disparate phenomena as the workings of cell-phones, the ways in which we detect supermassive black holes in the galactic core, the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of disease, the effects of global carbon dioxide levels on shellfish growth, and the design of batteries for electric cars are all linked at a deeply fundamental level. This program will introduce you to the theory and practice of the science behind these and other phenomena, while providing the solid academic background in mathematics, chemistry, and physics necessary for advanced study in those fields as well as for engineering, medicine, and biology.We will integrate material from first-year university physics, chemistry, and calculus with relevant areas of history and scientific literature. The program will have a strong laboratory focus using computer-based experimental control and analysis to explore the nature of chemical and physical systems; this work will take place in a highly collaborative environment. Seminars will provide the opportunity to explore the connections between theory and practice and will provide opportunities to enhance technical writing and communication skills. The program is intended for students with solid high-school level backgrounds in science and mathematics, but the key to succeeding will be a commitment to work, learn, and collaborate. | Clyde Barlow Neil Switz | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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Krishna Chowdary and Neal Nelson
Signature Required:
Spring
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | Scientists gather data, make observations, look for patterns, build models and use those models to predict behavior. Powerful models in physics help us explain interactions involving matter and energy. New models need new mathematical methods—for example, calculus was developed partly to understand models of motion. Even with powerful mathematics, a model may yield answers only in simplified circumstances. We can analyze more complicated physical systems by simulating them on a computer. Learning how to create and apply mathematical and computational methods effectively to models in physics will be one of the major goals of this program.In two quarters we will cover the equivalent of a year of calculus and physics and one quarter of computer programming at the introductory level through interactive lectures, small group workshops, hands-on and computer programming labs, seminars and projects. Students will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate their learning in individual and collaborative contexts, including in-class work, homework, lab write-ups, papers, presentations, projects, quizzes and exams. The work will be intense and invigorating, involving time-intensive engagement with textbooks and problem-solving in a supportive learning community that values the development of theoretical understanding that can be applied to practical problems.Our physics work covers modern mechanics and electric and magnetic interactions, developing macroscopic and microscopic models of matter and interactions using ideas such as conservation laws, Newton’s laws of motion, statistical and thermal physics and Maxwell’s equations for electricity and magnetism. We will study the programming language Python and develop numerical techniques that can be used to calculate and display our physics models. We will study calculus to apply it to physics and other science and social science fields as well as seeing how mathematics exists on its own as a sense-making endeavor.No previous background in computer science or physics is expected. Preparation in mathematics including pre-calculus or intermediate algebra and functions is required. Students who successfully complete the fall program The Physical World of Animals and Plants will be prepared for this program. Students with some previous work in calculus, computer science or physics may see that the intersection deepens their understanding of each. Successful completion of this program will be good preparation for further introductory work in computer science and intermediate or advanced work in mathematics and physics. | Krishna Chowdary Neal Nelson | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | ||||
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Krishna Chowdary, Sheryl Shulman and James Neitzel
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Program | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | In this program, we will explore a fascinating intersection of biology, mathematics and physics. Our program title and central questions are inspired by Vogel’s . How do the laws of physics constrain the form, function, growth, motion and interactions of plants and animals? How do organisms take advantage of material and physical opportunities? What mathematical models can we develop by examining the biological and physical worlds, and how can those models help us to explain and predict behavior in those worlds? This program welcomes students new to studying science at the college level and those looking for science as part of their broad general liberal arts education. This program is also intended to prepare students for further introductory study of science in programs such as Introduction to Natural Science and Models of Motion, Matter and Interaction, with particular attention to developing foundational skills in quantitative and scientific reasoning and an emphasis on modeling physical and biological situations. This program also welcomes students with a background in biology or physics, allowing them to apply, extend and integrate these areas, and exposing them to material not typically covered in separate treatments of biology and physics.We will work to create a supportive and collaborative learning environment through interactive lectures, seminars, hands-on workshops and labs and field trips. Students will have the opportunity to improve their capacities as quantitatively and scientifically literate citizens, including work on their ability to read scientific texts, solve theoretical and applied problems, work in lab, interpret and create graphs, work collaboratively and communicate creatively and effectively. Students will develop and demonstrate their learning through in-class and homework assignments, short papers, quizzes and presentations. | Krishna Chowdary Sheryl Shulman James Neitzel | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||||
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Vauhn Foster-Grahler
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Day | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | This two-quarter sequence of courses will prepare students for calculus and more advanced mathematics. It is a good course for students who have recently had a college-level math class or at least three years of high school math. Students should enter the class with a good knowledge of supporting algebra. Winter quarter will include an in-depth study of linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Spring will include an in-depth study of trigonometric and rational functions in addition to parametric equations, polar coordinates, and operations on functions. Collaborative learning, data analysis and approaching problems from multiple perspectives (algebraically, numerically, graphically, and verbally) will be emphasized. | Vauhn Foster-Grahler | Mon Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | |||
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Peter Dorman
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Program | JR–SRJunior - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | There are of poor people in the world today, and even more who have limited access to health care, education and political and cultural opportunities. The word commonly used to refer to the process of economic growth and the expansion of opportunity is development—but there is enormous disagreement over how this word should be understood or even whether it should be used at all. This program will examine development on multiple levels: historical, philosophical, political and economic. It will place the quest for development in the context of European colonial expansion, military conflict and the tension between competing cultural frameworks. In doing this, it will combine “outside” views of development, as seen by administrators and experts, with the “inside” views of people who are most directly affected by development and its absence. At the same time, there will be a strong push toward usable knowledge: learning the skills that are essential for people who work in the field of development and want to make a dent in this radically unequal world. Economics will be an important contributor to our knowledge base; the program will offer introductory-level micro- and macroeconomics, with examples drawn from the development experience. Just as important is statistics, since quantitative methods have become indispensable in development work. We will learn about survey methodology and techniques used to analyze data. Another basis for this program is the belief that economics, politics and lived experience are inseparable. Just as quantitative techniques are used to shed light on people’s experiences, their own voices are essential for making sense of the numbers and can sometimes overrule them altogether. We will read literature that expresses the perspective of writers from non-Western countries, view films and consider other forms of testimony. The goal is to see the world, as much as possible, through their eyes as well as ours.Spring quarter will be devoted primarily to research. It will begin with a short, intensive training in research methods, based on the strategy of deeply analyzing a few papers to see how their authors researched and wrote them. After this, depending on the skills and interests of students, an effort will be made to place them as assistants to professional researchers or, if they prefer, they can pursue their own projects. We will meet as a group periodically to discuss emerging trends in development research and practice, as well as to help each other cope with the difficulties in our own work. By the end of three quarters, students should be prepared for internships or further professional studies in this field. | Peter Dorman | Mon Mon Wed Thu Thu | Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Alvin Josephy
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | F 13 Fall | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Alvin Josephy | Tue | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||||
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Alvin Josephy
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | W 14Winter | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Alvin Josephy | Wed | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | ||||
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Alvin Josephy
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | S 14Spring | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Alvin Josephy | Mon | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | ||||
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Allen Mauney
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | F 13 Fall | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Allen Mauney | Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||||
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Allen Mauney
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | S 14Spring | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Allen Mauney | Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | ||||
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Allen Mauney
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | W 14Winter | This course is an introduction to statistics for students with limited mathematical skills, little if any formal exposure to data and data analysis, and no experience with statistics. This class will introduce the student to the statistical process, including data collection, ways of organizing data, an introduction to data analysis, and an opportunity to learn how practitioners present their findings. We will examine several case studies, explore how data is used in explaining common events, and develop a more critical understanding about how statistics allows us to understand the world around us. (Note: Please bring a calculator.) | Allen Mauney | Thu | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | ||||
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Alvin Josephy
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | W 14Winter | In this class we will explore the concepts of inferential statistics. This class assumes that the student has a prior background in descriptive statistics. The class will discuss probability, especially in terms of probability distributions, and move on to hypothesis testing. In this context, the class will work with several distributions, such as t, chi square, F as well as the normal distribution, and work with ANOVA and multiple regression. The class will finish with an introduction to non-parametric statistics. In addition, the students will consider journal articles and research concepts, and will prepare a small presentation using the concepts from the class. | Alvin Josephy | Tue | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Winter | ||||
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Alvin Josephy
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 4 | 04 | Evening | S 14Spring | In this class we will explore the concepts of inferential statistics. This class assumes that the student has a prior background in descriptive statistics. The class will discuss probability, especially in terms of probability distributions, and move on to hypothesis testing. In this context, the class will work with several distributions, such as t, chi square, F as well as the normal distribution, and work with ANOVA and multiple regression. The class will finish with an introduction to non-parametric statistics. In addition, the students will consider journal articles and research concepts, and will prepare a small presentation using the concepts from the class. | Alvin Josephy | Wed | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | ||||
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Neal Nelson, Judith Cushing, Richard Weiss and Sheryl Shulman
Signature Required:
Fall Winter
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 16 | 16 | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | The successful completion of large software systems requires strong technical skills, good design and competent management. Unfortunately, unlike hardware, software systems have proven to be notoriously difficult to build on-time, in-budget, and reliable, despite the best efforts of many very smart people over the last 50 years. This is an upper-division program intended to help students gain the technical knowledge required to understand, analyze, modify and build complex software systems.We will concentrate on learning the organization and complexity of large software systems that we do understand, and gaining practical experience in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the art, science, collaboration and multi-disciplinary skills required to develop computing solutions in real-world application domains. The technical topics will be selected from data structures, algorithm analysis, operating systems, networks, information security, object oriented design and analysis, verification techniques, scientific visualization and modeling. The program seminar will focus on various technical topics in the software industry. Students will have an opportunity to engage in a substantial computing project through all the development phases of proposal, requirements, specification, design and implementation.This program is for advanced computer science students who satisfy the prerequisites. We also expect students to have the discipline, intellectual maturity and self motivation to identify their project topics, organize project teams and resources and complete advanced work independently. | Neal Nelson Judith Cushing Richard Weiss Sheryl Shulman | Mon Tue Wed Thu | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Allen Olson, TBA (mathematics), Douglas Schuler and Emily Lardner
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | 12 | 12 | Evening and Weekend | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | The promise of a liberal arts education has always had two dimensions: the opportunity to develop personal skills and abilities and the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities needed to engage meaningfully in a diverse society. In this program, we will focus on both aspects while exploring the transformation of ideas and ideas about specific transformations.Our explorations will be set within a context of 'transformations' as viewed from multiple disciplines. For example, we will study the physics of energy transformations within the context of climate change. We will consider transformations in thinking made possible by skillful and attentive reading and writing. We will explore the use of social theory and technology in social transformation. We anticipate additional topics such as transformational geometry and its role in both mathematics education and computer graphics. At the core of this program will be guided instruction at multiple levels in writing and mathematics as well as a general focus on the creation, critique, and communication of ideas.While we study the theme of transformations from disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, we will also look at the role of education and the specific goals of each student. Andrew Delbanco argues that a liberal arts education helps "people take stock of their talents and passions and begin to sort out their lives in a way that is true to themselves and responsible to others." To this end, we will ask each student and the learning community as a whole a variety of questions: In what ways will you and your college classmates transform the world after you graduate from Evergreen? What knowledge and skills will you need to participate in and contribute to these transformations? What do we need to know and be able to do in order to not just survive but thrive in the present? How can you use your education to contribute to the wider public good? How is education itself transformational, and what type of education is best to promote the learning we need?The design and structure of this program attempts to find ways to build on what incoming students already know, especially students who transfer into Evergreen after completing work leading to significant learning in other contexts. Our definition of "transfer student" includes community college transfers as well as veterans of the military and individuals returning to college after starting their careers. The program is also designed to support students who plan to become teachers and need specific credits in mathematics and other areas.The program is based on creating and sustaining cohorts of learners and we aim to develop a sense of community that extends beyond the first year of a transfer student's time at Evergreen. Students who have participated in the Transformations program are welcome to return in future years to serve as peer mentors, project team members, research associates, or casual observers. A variety of credit options are available for these future roles. | Allen Olson TBA (mathematics) Douglas Schuler Emily Lardner | Mon Wed Sat | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | ||
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Vauhn Foster-Grahler
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Course | FR–SRFreshmen - Senior | 2 | 02 | Day | S 14Spring | Tutoring Math and Science For Social Justice will include an examination of some of the current research on the teaching and learning of math and science in higher education and will focus this knowledge on its implications for and applications to diverse groups of learners and social justice. Students will experience and evaluate a variety of tutoring strategies as a student and as a facilitator. This class is strongly suggested for students who are planning on teaching math and/or science or who would like to tutor in Evergreen's Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Center. | Vauhn Foster-Grahler | Wed | Freshmen FR Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Spring | ||||
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Paula Schofield, Brian Walter, Richard Weiss, Abir Biswas, Michael Paros, Clyde Barlow, Benjamin Simon, Judith Cushing, Dharshi Bopegedera, Rebecca Sunderman, EJ Zita, Donald Morisato, Clarissa Dirks, James Neitzel, Sheryl Shulman, Neal Nelson and Lydia McKinstry
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Program | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | V | V | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research is an important component of academic learning in Scientific Inquiry. Research opportunities allow science students to work on specific projects associated with faculty members’ expertise. Students typically begin by working in an apprenticeship model with faculty or laboratory staff and gradually take on more independent projects within the context of the specific research program as they gain experience. Students can develop vital skills in research design, data acquisition and interpretation, modeling and theoretical analysis, written and oral communication, collaboration and critical thinking. These are valuable skills for students pursuing a graduate degree or entering the job market.Faculty offering undergraduate research opportunities are listed below. Contact them directly if you are interested. (chemistry) works with biophysical applications of spectroscopy to study physiological processes at the organ level, with direct applications to health problems. Students with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics or computer science can obtain practical experience in applying their backgrounds to biomedical research problems in an interdisciplinary laboratory environment.. (geology, earth science) studies nutrient and toxic trace metal cycles in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Potential projects could include studies of mineral weathering, wildfires and mercury cycling in ecosystems. Students could pursue these interests at the laboratory-scale or through field-scale biogeochemistry studies taking advantage of the Evergreen Ecological Observation Network (EEON), a long-term ecological study area. Students with backgrounds in a combination of geology, biology or chemistry could gain skills in soil, vegetation and water collection and learn methods of sample preparation and analysis for major and trace elements. (chemistry) would like to engage students in two projects. (1) Quantitative determination of metals in the stalactites formed in aging concrete using ICP-MS. Students who are interested in learning about the ICP-MS technique and using it for quantitative analysis will find this project interesting. (2) Science and education. We will work with local teachers to develop lab activities that enhance the science curriculum in local schools. Students who have an interest in teaching science and who have completed general chemistry with laboratory would be ideal for this project. (computer science, ecology informatics) studies how scientists might better use information technology and visualization in their research, particularly in ecology and environmental studies. She would like to work with students who have a background in computer science or one of the sciences (e.g., ecology, biology, chemistry or physics), and who are motivated to explore how new computing paradigms can be harnessed to improve the individual and collaborative work of scientists. Such technologies include visualizations, plugins, object-oriented systems, new database technologies and "newer" languages that scientists themselves use such as python or R. (biology) aims to better understand the evolutionary principles that underlie the emergence, spread and containment of infectious disease by studying the coevolution of retroviruses and their primate hosts. Studying how host characteristics and ecological changes influence virus transmission in lemurs will enable us to address the complex spatial and temporal factors that impact emerging diseases. Students with a background in biology and chemistry will gain experience in molecular biology techniques, including tissue culture and the use of viral vectors. (organic chemistry) is interested in organic synthesis research, including asymmetric synthesis methodology, chemical reaction dynamics and small molecule synthesis. One specific study involves the design and synthesis of enzyme inhibitor molecules to be used as effective laboratory tools with which to study the mechanistic steps of programmed cell death (e.g., in cancer cells). Students with a background in organic chemistry and biology will gain experience with the laboratory techniques of organic synthesis as well as the techniques of spectroscopy. (biology) is interested in the developmental biology of the embryo, a model system for analyzing how patterning occurs. Maternally encoded signaling pathways establish the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes. Individual student projects will use a combination of genetic, molecular biological and biochemical approaches to investigate the spatial regulation of this complex process. (biochemistry) uses methods from organic and analytical chemistry to study biologically interesting molecules. A major focus of his current work is on fatty acids; in particular, finding spectroscopic and chromatographic methods to identify fatty acids in complex mixtures and to detect changes that occur in fats during processing or storage. This has relevance both for foods and in biodiesel production. The other major area of interest is in plant natural products, such as salicylates. Work is in process screening local plants for the presence of these molecules, which are important plant defense signals. Work is also supported in determining the nutritional value of indigenous plants. Students with a background and interest in organic, analytical or biochemistry could contribute to this work. (computer science) and (computer science) are interested in working with advanced computer topics and current problems in the application of computing to the sciences. Their areas of interest include simulations of advanced architectures for distributed computing, advanced programming languages and compilers, programming languages for concurrent and parallel computing and hardware modeling languages. (biology, veterinary medicine) is interested in animal health and diseases that affect the animal agriculture industry. Currently funded research includes the development of bacteriophage therapy for dairy cattle uterine infections, calf salmonellosis and mastitis. A number of hands-on laboratory projects are available to students interested in pursuing careers in science. (organic, polymer, materials chemistry) is interested in the interdisciplinary fields of biodegradable plastics and biomedical polymers. Research in the field of biodegradable plastics is becoming increasingly important to replace current petroleum-derived materials and to reduce the environmental impact of plastic wastes. Modification of starch through copolymerization and use of bacterial polyesters show promise in this endeavor. Specific projects within biomedical polymers involve the synthesis of poly (lactic acid) copolymers that have potential for use in tissue engineering. Students with a background in chemistry and biology will gain experience in the synthesis and characterization of these novel polymer materials. Students will present their work at American Chemical Society (ACS) conferences. (computer science) is interested in working with advanced computer topics and current problems in the application of computing to the sciences. Her areas of interest include simulations of advanced architectures for distributed computing, advanced programming languages and compilers, programming languages for concurrent and parallel computing, and hardware modeling languages. (biology) is interested in immunology, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, vaccine development and gene therapy applications. Recent focus has been on developing novel methods for vaccine delivery and immune enhancement in finfish. Specific projects include using attenuated bacteria to deliver either protein-based or nucleic acid vaccines in vivo and investigating bacterial invasion mechanisms. In collaboration with (faculty emerita) other projects include characterization of bacteriophage targeting the fish pathogen and elucidation of phage and host activities in stationary-phase infected with T4 bacteriophage. Students with a background in biology and chemistry will gain experience in laboratory research methods, including microbiological techniques, tissue culture and recombinant DNA technology, and may have opportunities to present data at regional and national conferences. (inorganic/materials chemistry, physical chemistry) is interested in the synthesis and property characterization of new bismuth-containing materials. These compounds have been characterized as electronic conductors, attractive activators for luminescent materials, second harmonic generators and oxidation catalysts for several organic compounds. Traditional solid-state synthesis methods will be utilized to prepare new complex bismuth oxides. Once synthesized, powder x-ray diffraction patterns will be obtained and material properties such as conductivity, melting point, biocidal tendency, coherent light production and magnetic behavior will be examined when appropriate. (mathematics) is interested in problems relating to graphs, combinatorial games and especially combinatorial games played on graphs. He would like to work with students who have a strong background in mathematics and/or computer science and who are interested in applying their skills to open-ended problems relating to graphs and/or games. (computer science, mathematics) has several ongoing projects in computer vision, robotics and security. There are some opportunities for students to develop cybersecurity games for teaching network security concepts and skills. In robotics, he is looking for students to develop laboratory exercises for several different mobile robotic platforms, including Scribbler, LEGO NXT and iRobot Create. This would also involve writing tools for image processing and computer vision using sequences of still images, video streams and 2.5-D images from the Kinect. In addition, he is open to working with students who have their own ideas for projects in these and related areas, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and analysis of processor performance. (physics) studies the Sun and the Earth. What are the mechanisms of global warming? What can we expect in the future? What can we do about it right now? How do solar changes affect Earth over decades (e.g., Solar Max) to millennia? Why does the Sun shine a bit more brightly when it is more magnetically active, even though sunspots are dark? Why does the Sun's magnetic field flip every 11 years? Why is the temperature of the Sun’s outer atmosphere millions of degrees higher than that of its surface? Students can do research related to global warming in Zita's academic programs and in contracts, and have investigated the Sun by analyzing data from solar observatories and using theory and computer modeling. Serious students are encouraged to form research contracts and may thereafter be invited to join our research team. Please go to the catalog view for specific information about each option. | Paula Schofield Brian Walter Richard Weiss Abir Biswas Michael Paros Clyde Barlow Benjamin Simon Judith Cushing Dharshi Bopegedera Rebecca Sunderman EJ Zita Donald Morisato Clarissa Dirks James Neitzel Sheryl Shulman Neal Nelson Lydia McKinstry | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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Brian Walter
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Research | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | V | V | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research is an important component of academic learning in Scientific Inquiry. Research opportunities allow science students to work on specific projects associated with faculty members’ expertise. Students typically begin by working in an apprenticeship model with faculty or laboratory staff and gradually take on more independent projects within the context of the specific research program as they gain experience. Students can develop vital skills in research design, data acquisition and interpretation, modeling and theoretical analysis, written and oral communication, collaboration and critical thinking. These are valuable skills for students pursuing a graduate degree or entering the job market. (mathematics) is interested in problems relating to graphs, combinatorial games and especially combinatorial games played on graphs. He would like to work with students who have a strong background in mathematics and/or computer science and who are interested in applying their skills to open-ended problems relating to graphs and/or games. | Brian Walter | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall | |||
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Richard Weiss
Signature Required:
Fall Winter Spring
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Research | SO–SRSophomore - Senior | V | V | Day | F 13 Fall | W 14Winter | S 14Spring | Rigorous quantitative and qualitative research is an important component of academic learning in Scientific Inquiry. Research opportunities allow science students to work on specific projects associated with faculty members’ expertise. Students typically begin by working in an apprenticeship model with faculty or laboratory staff and gradually take on more independent projects within the context of the specific research program as they gain experience. Students can develop vital skills in research design, data acquisition and interpretation, modeling and theoretical analysis, written and oral communication, collaboration and critical thinking. These are valuable skills for students pursuing a graduate degree or entering the job market. (computer science, mathematics) has several ongoing projects in computer vision, robotics and security. There are some opportunities for students to develop cybersecurity games for teaching network security concepts and skills. In robotics, he is looking for students to develop laboratory exercises for several different mobile robotic platforms, including Scribbler, LEGO NXT and iRobot Create. This would also involve writing tools for image processing and computer vision using sequences of still images, video streams and 2.5-D images from the Kinect. In addition, he is open to working with students who have their own ideas for projects in these and related areas, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and analysis of processor performance. | Richard Weiss | Sophomore SO Junior JR Senior SR | Fall |