Schedule of Classes

African and African American Studies

A psychological investigation of human diversity, focused primarily on minority groups in the U.S. Among the psychological topics examined in a cultural context are those pertaining to gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, social class, personality, intelligence, health, intergroup relations, and intercultural interaction. Methods of cross-cultural research are also considered. Students are encouraged to develop a psychological appreciation of how diversity figures in various contexts, including research, service provision, work relationships, and personal life.

Art

An introduction to two-dimensional media that explores mark making as the basis for visualization and ideation. The course incorporates the fundamental theoretical, technical and aesthetic principles of composition in two-dimensions. Students use wet and dry media to solve problems and investigate concepts of representation, abstraction and expression using traditional and non-traditional techniques.

Biology

A one semester survey of biochemistry. The following topics will be addressed: biochemical primary literature and internet resources, bioenergetics, acid-base balance, protein structure and function, enzyme function and kinetics, metabolism, topics in physiological biochemistry, and topics in molecular biology. Non-laboratory course.

This interdisciplinary field course combines the study of geology, oceanography, marine biology, botany, and wildlife behavior in a single coastal island ecosystem.

Business

The instructional objective is to provide students with an understanding of the concepts that are fundamental to the use of accounting. Students will focus on the accounting cycle and the preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows, as well as on the use of financial ratios. A decision-making approach is employed which involves critical evaluation and analysis of information presented. Analytical tools are integrated throughout the course

This course examines legal principles, considerations, and structures affecting managerial decisions. The course initially focuses on the anthropological underpinnings of the legal concepts of “liability”, “limited liability”, and “corporate” form with readings coming from Yuval Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. With that background in place, the course then examines legal parameters and constraints through corporate, tax, and securities laws impacting managerial decisions in the areas of “choice of entity” (with a focus on sole proprietorships/tax-disregarded entities, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations, both “C” and “S”), taxation, management structure, intellectual property, capital infusions, mergers, and acquisitions.

This course examines business trends and business structures in emerging markets located in the region of focus through field applications of cross-cultural travel and business interviews. This field applications course discusses the evolution of conglomerate enterprises and business networks through first-hand study and consultation with business and government leaders. It introduces students to examples of corporate organization and management of these enterprises, and elaborates how these structures impact the success of companies from the region of study. The course will examine the policies and case examples of new start-up business development and entrepreneurship, and how economies in the region are adapting structures to shape an innovation economy. The faculty-led travel /study-away course will also explore business practices in the countries of study, providing students with a first-hand understanding of business culture, protocol, and business customs.

A selection of topics are explored depending on interest. This course may be repeated once for credit when the topic differs.

Economics

The course introduces students to the field of economics, and explores a variety of topics spanning both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Using basic algebraic and graphical techniques, it lays the foundation for how economists model the world using mathematics to study how individuals, firms and governments make choices and how they affect the world around us. Microeconomic topics include consumer theory, producer theory, behavior of firms, externalities, and the role of the government in the economy. Macroeconomic topics include determination of output, unemployment, interest rates, inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, and economic growth.

This course is an introduction to econometrics, a field of economics that facilitates the understanding of economic literature and pursuit of empirical research in economics. It covers the use of basic statistical methods, probability theory, sampling theory, estimation, hypothesis testing, and linear regression. Students practice the application of these techniques by collecting, organizing, and analyzing real-world economic data using the statistical software STATA.

English

This writing-intensive introduction to literature written in English may include a selection of formal verse, fiction, drama, and at least one play by Shakespeare. The course is designed to develop the student’s imaginative understanding of literature along with the ability to write and speak with greater clarity. It is intended to be of interest to students at any level of preparation.

An examination of novels and short fiction from British and American literature selected by the instructor. Writing-intensive some semesters.

Environmental Sciences

This interdisciplinary field course combines the study of geology, oceanography, marine biology, botany, and wildlife behavior in a single coastal island ecosystem.

Finance

This course addresses the concepts underlying corporate finance and equity markets. Topics include financial statement analysis, time value of money, security valuation, capital budgeting, capital structure, dividend policy, and working capital management.

Geology

A study of the geological features and processes that shape the earth's surface and subsurface. Lectures detail major components of the earth and the dynamic processes that generate them (including rocks, minerals, fossils, mountain belts, ocean basins, tectonic activity, magma formation, and climate change). Environmental issues related to geology (earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, groundwater contamination, and coastal and stream erosion) are major topics of discussion. Field-oriented lab exercises utilize excellent geological exposures of the Cumberland Plateau and the nearby Appalachian Mountains. Lecture, three hours; laboratory and field trips (including one weekend trip).

A detailed field notebook is kept by students on this three-week trip.

German and German Studies

This course examines fairy tales, their roots in folkloric traditions, and the enduring transnational popularity of folk tales. Students read these tales in their historical and cultural contexts, analyze how they have been adapted for new audiences and media forms, and consider how they can be mobilized to challenge or promote new social roles and identities. This course is taught in English.

This course offers a three-week program of language study at the DiD German language institute in Berlin where students take classes along with other international students. After appropriate placement according to their language skills, enrolled students receive language instruction through DiD while the accompanying Sewanee faculty member provides culture instruction and area excursions.

This summer course combines an advanced-level German class with a culture class. The language class is taught at the Berlin Deutsch in Deutschland language institute, and the culture class is taught as a combination of class work and student-led excursions. The course is offered in Berlin every other year.