Courses

An on-campus course offered during the Winter or May term. May be offered for .5 course credits or as a co-curricular (0 credit). Counts toward satisfying the Extended Studies requirement.

Winter Term information

184A: Recycled Ceramics

Course Time: TBD
Fees: $25
Prerequisites: None

In this highly experimental class, students will explore how to reuse waste generated from the ceramics studio. They will use upcycled clay and glaze to create art about the relationship between art making and the environment.

184B: Field Trip!: Education Beyond the Formal Classroom

Course Time: TBD
Fees:
Prerequisites: None. However, EDUC 170, EDUC 222, EDUC 223, or another previous education studies course is highly recommended.

This hands-on course takes a deep dive into the "field trip" as a teaching tool. Field trips-- though they relate to topics in a classroom--offer experiences that cannot be replicated in that space. In short, they expand spaces of learning beyond formal classrooms to engage intellectual curiosity. However, they are not immune to ongoing educational debates. Neoliberal education policies emphasize efficient, measurable learning while constricted school budgets decrease accessibility to in-person options. Therefore, the unique experiences that field trips offer also create unique challenges. We'll explore questions such as: What socio-cultural, historical, economic, and ethical aspects should be considered in developing and participating in field trips? Should field trips align with federal or state curriculum standards? And particularly for this course, how can field trips foster connections in the local community and environment? Students will critically examine scholarship on field trips, place-based education, and play from curriculum studies, museum studies, cultural studies, teacher education, environmental education, and other areas. This will be accompanied by mini-field trip opportunities so students can reflect, actively incorporating scholarship and practice. Students will then design, plan, and implement their own mini-field trip located on DePauw campus or in Greencastle.

184C: Kaffee und Kuchen

Course Time: TBD
Fees: Approximately $150
Prerequisites: None

You will be introduced to the world of German/Austrian baking. Sunday afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen, as well as inviting friends over for Kaffee und Kuchen, are very much part of German/Austrian culture. Our goals are not only to learn about European baking but also to learn about the history and the importance of spices. We will discuss the reading assignments and see what the relevance of spices was in former times and how the quest for spices led Europeans to the conquest of other areas of the world. We will probe questions such as: What are the economics of certain spices? What are the spice preferences at certain time in history and how do they develop? How are these spice preferences culturally coined? How do people present themselves through food habits and judge others through theirs? What are the social, emotional, and cultural factors underlying the evolution of cuisines? You will learn some basic techniques of baking. Baking itself will be a group project.

184D: Sex, Race, and Religion in Latin America

Course Time: TBD
Fees:
Prerequisites: None

In this class, we will study the visual cultures and historical trends surrounding sex, race, and religion in Latin America. These topics will be discussed via intersectional approaches, since no one experience or region can speak for the entirety of Latin America. Employing artworks and primary sources as pedagogical tools, we will promote far-reaching discussions that encourage students to analyze how sex, race, and religion have historically operated, and are configuring--and being configured by--power relations and aesthetic sensibilities in the region. This class will examine various case studies ranging from Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations to the present endeavors for sex positivity, religious plurality, and racial equality. Each week will be a unit, and we will proceed chronologically, covering pre-Conquest, colonial, and modern Latin America. We will therefore identify and consider changing patterns in the perceptions, representations, and meanings attributed to sex, race, and religion in Latin America over the past 500 years. Our aim will be the study of realities and possibilities in a wide range of cultural contexts that will allow students to arrive at an understanding of the formation of the varied social landscapes that compose modern Latin America.

184E: A Brief Introduction to Arabic: Exploring Language, Culture, and Representation

Course Time: TBD
Fees: None
Prerequisites: None

This course offers a very brief introduction to the Arabic language and its diverse cultural contexts. While stepping away from traditional, proficiency-driven language pedagogy, this course fosters a foundational understanding of Arabic's structure, sounds, and script, including an exploration of Arabic calligraphy as an art form. Students will also delve into the rich diversity of Arab cultures and societies, examining social customs, artistic expressions, and intellectual traditions. Additionally, students will critically analyze Eurocentric and Americentric representations of the Arab world in media and popular culture, encouraging students to develop nuanced perspectives. Through interactive activities, discussions, and independent research, students will gain basic communicative skills and explore the role of Arabic in the multilingual communities of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and the diaspora. The course culminates in student-driven projects that showcase their understanding of these topics, promoting critical thinking and an informed appreciation for the complexities and nuances of Arab societies. While developing proficiency is a lengthy journey that goes beyond the scope of this course, the goal here is to offer an initial linguistic and cultural exploration that sparks an interest in continued study of the Arabic language and Arab world.

184F: Health and Longevity: Lessons from Around the World

Course Time: TBD
Fees: $60
Prerequisites: None

This course will delve into the preconceived notions of health and well-being that are prevalent in Western society. The range of understanding of health and how to 'be' healthy is incredibly diverse and can be influenced by one's gender, race, family unit, community, social media and more. We will read, watch and discuss some of the past and most current trends thought to define and promote being healthy. Student will explore how different cultures view well-being. We also will delve into some techniques and modalities that are commonly used to enhance health, or heal unbalances or disease in the body. Some of these techniques include herbal remedies, acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, massage therapy, aromatherapy, yoga (and other forms of exercise) and diet. Students will grapple with the complexities of health and reflect on questions such as: How will genetics define my health and longevity? How does one find the path of best fit when navigating so many variables? Can we come to terms with balance, rather than perfection? How much of health is influence by the mind? May the fun begin!

184G: Fermentology: Flavor, Fizz, and Funk

Course Time: TBD
Fees: $100
Prerequisites: None

In this course, we will incorporate world history, with the principles of biology and chemistry to learn about the world of flavor and food. While the focus will primarily be on fermented foods and beverages enjoyed around the world, we will also explore how cooking transforms food. We will learn the basics of how organisms perform reactions that result in flavorful compounds, how microbes fight one another in chemical warfare, and the ways humanity profits from microbial metabolism. In the classroom we will learn about topics that may include the science of food preservation, metabolism, industrial fermentation, fuel production, flavor, microbiology, co-evolution, and more. In the kitchen and laboratory, we will develop critical scientific thinking skills as we study the effects of fermentation byproducts on microbial organisms, examine distinguishing features in the populations of microorganisms in our surroundings, and ferment foods and beverages like sourdough, sauerkraut, yogurt, pickles, and beer.

184H: Data, Decisions and Discovery

Course Time: TBD
Fees: None
Prerequisites: None

Explore the power of data and its pivotal role in decision-making and discovery in today's world. This introductory statistics course provides students with the essential tools and concepts to analyze and interpret data across various fields, including science, business, health, and social sciences. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, probability, sampling methods, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, correlation, and regression analysis. Through hands-on learning with real-world datasets and statistical software, students will uncover patterns, make predictions, and draw meaningful conclusions while honing critical thinking skills to evaluate statistical results and communicate findings effectively. Designed for beginners, this course requires no prior experience--just a curiosity about the stories data can tell and how they shape the decisions influencing our future.

184J: DePauw Theatre Production

Course Time: TBD
Fees: None
Prerequisites: None

Participants in DePauw Theatre Production will collaborate in in a fully produced performance directed by Guest Artist Kathryn Bentley as part of DePauw Theatre's mainstage season, during the first weekend of Spring semester 2026.

184K: Expanding Ethics Bowl: Strategy & Community Engagement

Course Time: TBD
Fees: Travel: $1500 per person. Includes flight, 3 nights hotel, meal stipend.
Prerequisites: None

This course is centered around having DePauw students lead the way in expanding the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, an extracurricular activity that DePauw students have been competing in for nearly 30 years. Students would participate in a variety of activities during the course, including learning about case writing, selecting potential speakers and engagement strategies for the national competition, brainstorming non-competitive activities for teams throughout the year, creating training videos, assisting with the content library of cases, and more. The course would end with a 4-5 day trip (location TBD, perhaps Washington, D.C.) to demonstrate IEB for a regional network of colleges that are interested in starting teams. The trip would also include opportunities to interact with students and professors from local universities, and a set of focused activities around an ethical dilemma central to that community, led by local experts. The goal of the course is to help position DePauw students as national leaders in the future of the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

184M: Applied Introduction to 3D Game Development

Course Time: TBD
Fees: None
Prerequisites: None

Applied Introduction to 3D Game Development is a practical, hands-on course aimed at providing a foundation for creating 3D games using Unity. Students will be introduced to the Unity development environment and a variety of 3D game concepts and features. Students will leverage pre-existing digital assets and their creativity to configure, program and ultimately create an original and playable 3D platformer, which will be demonstrated during an open community viewing session on the final day. Game development is complex, and computer science or programming skills can be helpful, but this course is taught such that only basic computer skills are required; no formal course prerequisites; students from all majors and all class levels are encouraged to consider enrolling. Most importantly, students must have a strong desire to learn and be willing to invest ample time outside of class. This is an on-campus course that will meet in-person most weekdays with the expectation of students working approximately 30-40 hours each week.

184N: Beats and Moves: Exploring West African Drum and Dance

Course Time: TBD
Fees: Approx. $300-500
Prerequisites: None

Students will be immersed in the vibrant world of West African music and dance in this dynamic course focusing on regional percussion and dance traditions. Students will be introduced to the cultural significance of rhythmic patterns and movements while learning to play authentic West African drums and engaging in the energetic dance forms of the region. Students will explore how these art forms intertwine to tell stories and connect communities. Through experiential learning, students will deepen their understanding and appreciation of West African performance arts. This course is appropriate for beginner through advanced students.

May Term information

184A: Trigonometry Essentials for Calculus

Course Time: TBD
Fees: None
Prerequisites: High school algebra background

Trigonometry is identified as a "challenging" topic for high school and college students. Ever wonder how your heart rate monitor works? Your heartbeat creates a periodic signal that can be analyzed using trigonometric functions. In calculus, we use these to study rates of change in vital signs. Even your smartphone uses trigonometric functions to calculate your location and navigate you to your destination. This May term course covers essential trigonometric concepts, including circular functions, inverse functions, trigonometric identities, equations, angles, and solutions of triangles. Students will learn to graph trigonometric functions, solve equations, and apply these concepts to real-world problems in physics, engineering, and other STEM fields. The course is specifically designed to support students from diverse educational backgrounds, particularly those with limited prior exposure to trigonometry or from under-resourced schools. Through an inclusive learning environment that combines rigorous mathematical content with comprehensive support, students will develop the technical skills and conceptual understanding needed for success in calculus. Special attention is given to building mathematical confidence and problem-solving abilities while ensuring that first-generation college students and those with varied mathematical backgrounds have the foundation they need to succeed in their STEM courses.