Philosophy 31S: A House Divided and the Building of An American Identity
The Prof: Charles Watson The Concept: Wrestle with how Americans developed a unique philosophical consciousness in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Appeal: An eclectic reading list, including Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance and Other Essays and Thorstein Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class.
Genetics 104Q: Genetic Testing: Medical, Ethical, Legal and Social Issues
The Prof: Hank Greely The Concept: Explore the benefits -- and limits -- of techniques that allow doctors to test for genes that might lead to certain diseases or tendencies. Consider everything from Tay-Sachs disease to the "gay gene." The Appeal: Debate the use of a hypothetical genetic test for a real condition, such as schizophrenia, diabetes or attention deficit disorder.
Mechanical Engineering 109/209: Computer Aided Design of Model Yachts
The Prof: Rolf Faste The Concept: Design and construct a 22-inch free-sailing model yacht using CAD/CAM. The Appeal: "One of the things that captures the students," Faste says, "is that their boat will outlive them and will become an heirloom that will represent them to their great-grandchildren."
English 164B: Imagining the Holocaust
The Prof: John Felstiner The Concept: Examine how writers envisioned the destruction of European Jewry by studying the work of commentators from different countries. The Appeal: Study the responses to catastrophe in Jewish and Christian tradition by looking at scripture. Then turn to literature, music and documentary films to understand what came after the war.
