Course Catalog

AHF1300 (Fall) Dwellings: Body, Home, and City (A&H Foundation) THIS COURSE IS FOR STUDENTS WHO STARTED AT BABSON BEFORE SEPT. 2013. Dwellings are physical structures that house us and provide the external conditions for our development: We dwell in a body, a home, and a village, town, or city. Paradoxically, however, dwelling is also a mental and emotional activity. When we dwell on an idea, an event, a person, or a place, we find it difficult to let it go: it quite literally occupies us. Our dwellings-both in space and in time-shape the ways we identify with ourselves and others. In this course we will analyze works of art and philosophy that help us explore questions about dwelling: How do our bodies as lived in and as represented influence how we view ourselves and are viewed by others? What is the nature of home? What do our dwellings have to do with our own and others' sense of belonging in the world? How do the forms and voices that artists and philosophers invent encourage new ways of understanding dwelling in relation to such structures as family, education, class, gender, and race? Prerequisite: NONE AHF1300 (Spring) Nature, Culture, Progress (A&H Foundation) THIS COURSE IS FOR STUDENTS WHO STARTED AT BABSON BEFORE SEPT. 2013. Humans are part of nature yet distinct from it in complex ways. Our natural instincts do not completely define us; we are also cultural beings with traditions, identities and technologies that distinguish us from nature. This distinction has led to the claim that humans are superior to nature and so are entitled to manipulate it. Humans' divergence from nature also suggests that we are capable of progress: of bettering ourselves intellectually, morally, technologically. In this course, we will examine these claims by asking questions such as: to what extent are humans a product of nature and to what extent are we formed by culture? How does our answer to this question affect our perception of ourselves, others, and the world around us? When is progress good, and when does it instead decrease the quality of human life and harm nature? We will explore these questions through readings of literature and philosophy, and through film and the visual arts. Prerequisite: NONE

FRN3600 Advanced French: Cinema, Culture, Conversation Course Description: This course is designed as an advanced-level conversation class, with a strong cultural component. The major course materials are French films and supplementary readings. These films and readings serve as the basis for debate, discussion and written analysis of issues relevant to the history, culture and politics of France and the francophone world of North Africa and the Caribbean, with a focus on global issues of social concern. This course is designed for students who have mastered the grammatical structures of French, although there will be review of grammar as needed. Films will be on reserve at Horn Library, and screenings will be scheduled. Prerequisites: FRN 2601 Intermediate French II at Babson, or equivalent proficiency as demonstrated through a required placement test. This course is not open to native speakers.

CVA2458 After the Dictator (Intermediate Liberal Arts) In this course, we will look at artistic responses (film, narrative, art, music, popular culture) that reflect and inform the post-dictatorship societies of Spain and two Latin American countries. Through films and texts that explore questions of history and the representation of national and individual identities, we will consider cultural responses to the consequences of dictatorship and the new political, economic, and social realities that have emerged. Scholars, policymakers, and business leaders are among those interested in addressing the causes, character, and possibilities of these transformations. The democratic transition in Spain, which began with the death of Francisco Franco in 1975, provides a valuable point of comparison to the political transitions in Argentina and Chile. What are the differing strategies used to come to terms with the past and the legacy of dictatorship? What elements remain unresolved, and how do they continue to play out or find expression in the culture and society? Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation H&S and A&H This course may be offered Fall or Spring semester.

AHS1000 AHS Foundation 4 credits THIS COURSE IS FOR STUDENTS WHO STARTED AT BABSON IN FALL 2013 OR LATER.

LVA2409 American Film History (Intermediate Liberal Arts) This course offers an overview of American film history and theory while exploring the basic techniques used by film directors to express their ideas and tell their stories. The course is structured chronologically beginning with the silent film era of the 1920s. The goal of this course is to introduce students to film history, theory, and terminology while simultaneously discussing the relation between cultural values and popular culture forms. As an intermediate level course in the Arts and Humanities, it will equip students to view all texts as points of intersection for artistic intent, cultural myth-making, individual and social identity formation, and ideology. In addition to doing regular reading assignments, students will view one feature film each week as part of their outside work for the course. American Film History is an intermediate course that fulfills the Literary and Visual Arts (LVA) requirement. Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation H&S and A&H This course may be offered Fall or Spring semester.

LVA2405 Art as a Visual Language (Intermediate Liberal Arts) This course is designed to introduce you to the realm of visual communication - how it's done, how it works and how cultural and personal experiences shape your reactions to it. Fine arts (painting, sculpture, architecture), industrial arts (graphic and product design) and everyday objects will be presented as the workings of visual communication, the role of art and artists in a variety of times and places, the nature of good and bad art and design are explored. Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation H&S and A&H

VSA3610 (formerly VSA3672) The End of Certainty: Early 20th Century Art (Advanced Liberal Arts) Between 1900 -1938, artists grappled with; the discovery of the subconscious, Einstein's physics, a war of unprecedented scope and destructiveness that was followed by the collapse of social and economic order. Styles such as Symbolism, Cubism, Futurism, Expressivism, Dada and Surrealism were created by artists responding to enormous changes in established ways of thinking and being that marked the beginning of the 20th century. Prerequisites: 3 Intermediate Liberal Arts Courses (CVA, LVA, HSS) This course may be offered Spring semester.

LVA2453 Top Performers: Business in American Drama (Intermediate Liberal Arts) Ever since Willy Loman walked on stage with his sample cases in Arthur Miller's 1949 masterpiece Death of a Salesman, it has been thought axiomatic that American playwrights have painted a bleak portrait of sales professionals in particular and businesspeople generally. But a close look at American dramatic treatments of business shows something more complicated. Over the past century American playwrights have located in the world of business and the world of drama a shared preoccupation with the sometimes tricky distinctions between word and act, authenticity and performance, the "real" and the symbolic. This course will look at a selection of American plays from the early twentieth century to the present, focusing on those plays' treatment of business and economic life. In addition to close scrutiny of dramatic texts and theatrical performances, we will also explore the role of performance in business. In other words, we'll look at both business in American drama and drama in American business. Your performance will be assessed through two papers, a mid-term and a final exam. Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation A&H H&S This course may be offered Fall semester.

CHN1210 Elementary Chinese Language I (General Credit) An introduction to practical and functional knowledge of modern Mandarin Chinese. Emphasis on developing proficiency in fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing, using basic expressions and sentence patterns. Computer programs for pronunciation, listening comprehension, grammar and writing Chinese characters will be used extensively. Prerequisite: None This course is typically offered Fall semester.

JPN1200 Elementary Japanese Language and Culture I (General Credit) An introduction to a practical, and functional knowledge of Japanese as it is used in contemporary society. Students will learn the fundamental use of the Japanese language by exercising all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Two basic writing systems, hiragana and katakana, are taught to promote literacy in Japanese environments. An introduction to Japanese culture, which is inseparable from learning the language, is provided through demonstrations, videos and films. Prerequisite: None This course is typically offered in the following semester: Fall

CVA2401 Introduction to Ethics (Intermediate Liberal Arts) Discussions relate morality to the life and circumstances of contemporary society by offering a solid grounding in the major concepts of ethical theory and in the basic skills for analyzing ethical issues and making sound moral judgments. Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation H&S and A&H This course may be offered Fall and Spring semesters.

PHL3607 Existentialism (Advanced Liberal Arts) Existentialism is a philosophical movement loosely held together by sensitivity to the paradoxes and ambiguities of human experience. With a common emphasis on the tension between freedom and the power of circumstance, existentialists tend to view life from the standpoint of the challenges facing the construction of individual and intersubjective identity. Some existentialists are deeply religious, while others are fervently atheistic. All, however, emphasize the significance of the situated nature of freedom, which translates into a philosophy of responsibility and engagement with the world. Prerequisites: 3 Intermediate Liberal Arts Courses (CVA, LVA, HSS) This course may be offered Fall or Spring semester.

LIT3615 From the French Revolution to the Sexual Revolution 4 credit advanced liberal arts Patriots of the French Revolution demanded equality of rights and opportunity before the law, that is, they dreamt of political democracy. Another kind of dream, the dream for equality in intimate relations, also came to be explored at this time, often through the novel. The first half of our course will focus on the French Revolution and will give you the opportunity to re-enact the National Assembly in Paris, 1791, as we role-play the major historical players in the first phases of the French Revolution’s attempt to establish equality. In the second half we will read The Red and the Black, Stendhal’s suspenseful novel whose hero struggles to ascend in social position through intimate relations with women, while still remaining faithful to the values of the Revolution. We will then turn to Antony Giddens’ Transformation of Intimacy to learn more about the development and implications of democracy for intimate relations. Prerequisites: Three intermediate Liberal Arts (HSS, LVA, CVA)

PRF1110 Fundamentals of Acting and Improvisation 4 credit, general credit In this course students will gain an understanding of the methods and tools required for performance. Through various exercises, theater games, improvisation, and assignments students will create characters, learn theater terminology and various methods of acting, and attempt to find not only meaning but also the theatrical power of dramatic literature. Most importantly, students will develop the confidence to approach the craft of acting with discipline and success. All students will be expected to be active participants, either on stage or backstage, for the fall T.E.S.T production Prerequisites, None

CVA2457 Imagining Sustainability: Nature, Humanity, Business and the End of Sorrow (Intermediate Liberal Arts) The primary focus of this course is on the exploration of the concept of sustainability as a juncture of economic, environmental and social concerns. With the rapid expansion of globalization, and the attenuating crises that accompany it, with regard to these concerns, future business and public policy leaders will need to be in the vanguard at determining how best to effect solutions. To that end, this course will examine a variety of sources in the consideration both of what allows for the implementation of sustainability and what prohibits it--from business case study to philosophical/economic analysis to literary memoir. Within this context, students will be invited to examine what we mean when we talk about "justice," "ethics," "profit," "growth," and "community." In sum, we will explore how concepts that contribute to our understanding of individual and communal responsibility might be revisited and redefined in the effort to create a world that offers sustainable economic opportunity for all, ensured within a vital commitment to environmental stewardship. Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation A&H and H&S This course may be offered Spring or a Summer semester.

SPN2601 Intermediate II: Spanish in the Global Economy (Advanced Liberal Arts) Through the use of real-world examples from print, film, and other media, students will develop their abilities to communicate proficiently in Spanish in professional environments. This course provides a selective review and expansion of intermediate level grammar, vocabulary, and discussion of contemporary Hispanic topics. Discussions focus on an exploration of socio-cultural issues and economic contexts in the Spanish-speaking world. Students will learn the fundamentals of commercial Spanish communication and terminology. As an advanced intermediate course, Spanish 2601 serves as an important bridge to opportunities for more advanced language study and practice both at Babson and abroad. Prerequisite: SPN 2600 (Intermediate Spanish at Babson, or equivalency proficiency as demonstrated through a required placement test. Not open to fluent speakers of Spanish.) This course is typically offered in the Spring and may be offered in the Fall.

FRN2600 Intermediate French Language and Culture I (Advanced Liberal Arts) Active use of contemporary spoken and written French through dialog practice, oral presentations, class discussions, and written exercises. By becoming more aware of the French speaking world and the relationship between culture and language, students increase their ability to communicate in international environments. The program features web-based audio and video interaction with native speakers. Prerequisite: FRN1200 (Equivalent of one year of college French as demonstrated through a required placement test) This course is typically offered in the Fall.

JPN2600 Intermediate Japanese Language and Culture I (Advanced Liberal Arts) The course teaches effective communication with the Japanese as well as cultural awareness. Using an interactive approach, students learn to converse on non-technical topics, write and read 100 Kanji symbols, recognize additional symbols, and become fluent in using approximately 200 hiragana and katakana symbols. Prerequisite: JPN1201 (Elementary Japanese II at Babson, or equivalent proficiency as demonstrated through a required placement test.) This course is typically offered in the Fall.

SPN2600 Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture I (Advanced Liberal Arts) Grammar review and an in-depth cultural exploration of the Hispanic world supports active use of spoken and written Spanish. Selected readings and films provide a point of departure for conversation, discussion, group work, skits, and class presentations based upon research. Prerequisite: SPN1200 (Accelerated Elementary Spanish II at Babson, or equivalent proficiency as demonstrated through a required placement test. Not open to fluent speakers of Spanish.) This course is typically offered in the Fall and Spring.