WWU / Fairhaven College of Interdiscipinary Studies
Summer 2009: 300 Level Course Descriptions
300 Independent Study
1-15 credits
FAIR 300 - Independent Study
Registration Instructions
Intermediate level independent study project. Typically, an independent study at this level builds on earlier work in this content area or with this topic. With the guidance of a faculty sponsor, the student developed a proposal identifying learning objectives related to the specific topic area. The proposal also described the resources necessary to complete the study and the criteria for demonstration and evaluation of learning. Additional documentation about the specifics of this project are available in the student's Independent Study Project proposal form.
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31209 310W Native American Celebrations
Rowe 3 Credits
R 500-650
FA 340
Plus additional field trips as listed below
Prerequisites: American Cultural Studies Course or instructor permission
Materials Fee: $2.12
* Subject to minimum enrollment
This course presents the cultural background and history of some American Indian celebrations. We will meet weekly to see videos, discuss short readings and to share, seminar style, what we have learned from our individual research. Guests may share their stories and provide insights. On selected Saturdays (see dates below) we will travel by public transportation, carpool, canoe, or horseback to Native celebrations in the region to observe and learn and enjoy. Students will arrange to attend "doin's" of their choice to meet the total hours required. Contacts will inform on such aspects as slahal (stick game), dress, dance and Native community initiatives. Students will write short response essays on readings, videos, and events. Each student will select a theme or topic for an individual research project involving library research, course materials, and possibly experiential learning. They will share their findings with the seminar at our final meeting/potluck. The class will meet on Thursday afternoons every week beginning June 25 with the final meeting on July 30. We will meet from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Fairhaven College to share videos, lectures, and discussion. The experiential learning portion of the class includes car pooling and traveling to celebrations in the area and observing such themes as music, dance, regalia, management, and protocols. This will support students' individual research projects in those areas or some other that they have chosen. Some celebrations we may attend include:
- June 13 Lummi Nation Stommish Festival, at Lummi Nation. Although this event takes place before the course start date, if students arrange with me in advance I will meet there with them and can consider it one of their choices to fulfill the total hours required.
- June 27 Puyallup Sobriety Powwow In Puyallup Canoe Racing Competition
- July 11 Shoalwater Bay Powwow in Tokeland
- July 18 Genesis II Sobriety Powwow in Everson
- July 25 Seafair Indian Days in Seattle
As we become aware of other celebrations in the region that fit our course dates we may revise this list.
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31251 332N Current Env Topics: Photography
Bower 2 Credits
Dates of Class:
Aug. 10-Aug.14: MWF 1000-1150
FA 318
TR 900-450 Field Trip
Prerequisites: Fair 206a or permission of instructor
Materials Fee: $24.00
* Subject to minimum enrollment
This field class is an opportunity to learn and advance your photographic skills and your understanding of nature by practicing nature photography in the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. We will study how to take good landscapes, close-ups, and animal photography. Class members will use two all day field trips to beautiful natural settings in NW Washington to hone their photographic skills. In the lab, workshop settings will be used to critique photos and to introduce digital photographic editing skills using Adobe Photoshop. The primary class goals will be to use nature photography to help students learn or advance their skills in taking photographs (lighting, composition, etc.) and to develop skills in computer-based editing of their photos. An additional goal will be to advance students¹ understanding of the natural world through photography.
The teacher for the course, John Bower, is a field biologist who has been studying animal behavior and ecology for 25 years. During that time, he has taken thousands of photographs of the natural world, including extensive photography in Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica, and Chile.
Texts: CASCADE-OLYMPIC NATURAL HISTORY by Mathews; and JOHN SHAW'S NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY FIELD GUIDE by Shaw.
Requirements: Regular attendance in class and on field trips. Maintenance of a field and lab photography notebook, and completion of a portfolio of photographs taken during the course.
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31211 334P Field Studies in Science: Ecology and Natural History of Olympic National Park
Bower 4 Credits
Ecology & Natural History Olympic National Park
MW 200-450 FA 318
August 10-12
Field trip August 16-August 21 to Olympic Peninsula
Prerequisites: Fair 206a or instructor permission
Materials Fee: $160, which includes transportation, park entrance and camping fees, lunches and dinners.
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Satisfies 206 (Fairhaven Core) or upper level Fairhaven science requirements (Science & Our Place on the Planet).
Learn about the natural history, ecology, and environmental issues of the Pacific Northwest through a six day camping trip in Olympic National Park. We will use the campground at the Altair Campground in the Elwha River drainage as our base, and visit and study several spectacular natural areas on the Olympic Peninsula. We will spend a day studying Elwha River dam removal project, hike in the majestic Hoh rain forest, explore the mountaintops at Hurricane Ridge, look for marine mammals along the Cape Flattery, and spend an afternoon studying inter-tidal ecology at Ruby Beach. We will also visit the Makah Museum, created by the Makah Indian Nation to teach about Makah traditional culture through the showcasing of artifacts from a coastal village that was buried in a landslide 500 years ago. We'll be busy, but there will also be time to relax in the forest, hike to the Olympic hot springs, walk on the beach, and play music around the campfire.
The goal of the course will be to learn about Pacific Northwest natural history, ecology, and environmental issues through hands-on experiences. Students will learn bird and plant identification, and will participate in a group scientific study on a topic that interests them. In addition, students who wish to can receive instruction in nature photography. The course satisfies either Fairhaven 206 or the upper level Fairhaven science core course requirements and may act as a Huxley College or Biology elective with permission of your advisor.
The course will be taught by Dr. John Bower, a field biologist who specializes in ecology, animal behavior, and ornithology at Fairhaven College. For more information, contact John at 650-7217 or via e-mail at John.Bower@wwu.edu
Texts: OLYMPIC NATURAL PARK - A NATURAL HISTORY, AND DANIEL MATHEWS: CASCADE-OLYMPIC NATURAL HISTORY by McNulty.
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31213 336B Topics in Social Issues: Horror Films: History and Interpretation
Takagi 4 Credits
W 3-520 FC 101f
TR 3-450 FC 101f
Prerequisites: Fair 203a
Materials Fee: $13.03
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Society and the Individual II
What do zombies, vampires and Freddy from Elm Street have in common? They are
common features of horror films that scare us silly, of course. And given how
much these films make at the box office, clearly we go to them often. But if
we are the most evolved creatures, why do we go to movies to purposefully
frighten us? Isn't daily life scary enough? Some scholars believe we watch
horror films because we need to reiterate and reinforce the notion that
technology and "goodness" will always overcome and destroy evil monsters, even
those who refuse to stay dead. Other scholars believe we watch them because
they shake us out of our daily complacency and demand that we "live in the
moment." After reading many of the interpretations and history of horror
films, you can decide for yourself.
In this class, we will watch classic horror films and more recent films (newer
twists on old themes) and learn the history of the horror genre, scholarly
interpretations of horror movies and we will discover how these films reflect
the anxieties, fears, and concerns of American society at the time they were
released. The films include "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920), "Dracula"
(1931), "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), "Pyscho" (1960), "The
Exorcist" (1973), "Carrie" (1976), "Alien" (1979), and many others.
Required Reading: Kendall R. Phillips, Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture, Praeger, 2005. Articles to be handed out. Writing Requirements:
1. You must write a short horror story (3-5 pages)
2. You must write 3 short analyses of the movies for each week (3 pages max.)
3. You must write a longer analysis of a horror film of your choosing (5 pages)
Other Requirements: 1. Timely, regular attendance. More than 2 absences will result in "no credit." 2. Informed participation in class discussions 3. Must lead part of a discussion 4. Must share your horror story with the rest of the class
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31212 336V Topics in Art: Media in Social Transformation
Riber 4 Credits
MT 1200-220 FA 340
Prerequisites: Fair 202a or equivalent.
Materials Fee: $15.00
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Humanities and the Expressive Arts II
Media in Social Transformation: Making media that makes a difference
This summer at Fairhaven, filmmaker, radio and music producer, John Riber shares a career in producing media that makes a difference.
Riber, presently resident in Tanzania, has established production houses in Asia and Africa that harness the power of entertainment as a tool for behavior change, social transformation and global justice.
Ribers award-winning feature films and radio serial dramas tackle complex subjects including HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equity, reproductive health and environmental protection.
The course includes practical aspects of designing and producing film and radio programs; from concept development, script and proposal writing, budgets and financing, production, distribution and evaluation.
John uses his films and associated documents, along with other examples from Africa and Asia to provide insights and opportunities for careers in international film, radio and music production.
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31215 354V Scriptwriting Workshop I
Larner 4 Credits
MWR 200-350 FA 300
Prerequisites: previous course work or experience with creative writing, or permission of instructor
Materials Fee: $5.47
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Humanities and the Expressive Arts II
The workshop is a collaborative, supportive group experience. Students are expected to comment on, support, and participate in the work of their fellow students in the workshop. Initial exercises and rewriting work with each others' material will be followed by gradual development of each student's project for the term. We may also read a published play or screenplay and discuss it together, as well as attend at least one production or film showing during the term.
The emphasis in 354 is to acquire a working sense of dramatic action and a feel for how storytelling works dramatically, in any medium. Experimentation and trial-and-error are encouraged. By the end of the term, students will be expected to complete a one-act play (20-30 minutes) or its equivalent in another medium.
Attention will be paid to getting complete drafts of scripts finished, and then if time remains, to get them ready for production--screenplays for video production and showcasing here on campus, through the Projections Film Festival in Bellingham, and possibly beyond; stage plays for production here at Fairhaven, at the New Playwrights Theatre in the Theatre Arts Department, at iDiOM Theatre in Bellingham, at the Bellingham One Act Theatre (BOAT) Festival at the Bellingham Theatre Guild, and at new play festivals in Seattle, at Northwest Playwrights Alliance events, and other venues; and radio plays for production at KUGS.
Texts: Textbooks TBA, to be selected from PLAYWRITING: THE STRUCTURE OF ACTION by Smiley; SCREENPLAY: THE FOUNDATIONS OF SCREENWRITING by Field; STORY by McKee; THE DRAMATIST'S TOOLKIT by Sweet; J. THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SCRIPTWRITING by Staczynski; SCREENWRITING STRATEGIES ON THE INTERNET by Wehner; THE WAY OF THE SCREENWRITER by Buchbinder, and others. A play and/or a screenplay, TBA, may be required, as may attendance at selected film screenings and/or theatre productions.
Credit/Evaluation: Students are expected to complete at least a substantial one-act play (approximately 20-30 minutes in length), or its equivalent in another medium. Work must be brought to class regularly and shared with the group. A portfolio of selected writings done during the term will be due at the end of the course. Unfailing, dependable attendance; completion of assigned readings; progressively better informed, responsive and constructive participation in the workshop; and steady effort in rewriting and revising are required for credit. Writing will be evaluated for its aptness for the stage (or the appropriate medium) and the development of the writer during the term.
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31244 386E Topics in Humanities: American Indian Literature, Culture
Rowe 5 Credits
R 200-250 to be determined
MTW 200-350 to be determined
Prerequisites: Fair 202a or equivalent.
Materials Fee: $13.03
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Humanities and the Expressive Arts II
This course offers an exploration of American Indian literature and culture through several media including novels, videos, lectures, and attendance at Native cultural events. The course is taught simultaneously with English 311, Native American Literature and Culture, with Professor John Purdy. We will meet for lectures, to view videos, and for discussion. Students will arrange hours on some weekends and/or evenings to attend cultural events and view additional videos. Students will select a topic in consultation with the instructor and present a research and teaching project to the seminar at the end of the term.
Texts: Required: CEREMONY by Silko; DARK RIVER by Owens; THE HEARTSONG OF CHARGING ELK by Welch; and SHELL SHAKER by Howe.
Credit/Evaluation: Participants will be evaluated on prompt and regular attendance, completion of all reading assignments as evidenced by meaningful contributions to discussions, and the quality of writing and thinking in response/reflection papers on readings and films. Further, students will be evaluated on the success of their individual research and teaching project.
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31216 387K Grant Writing Workshop
Coulet du Gard
4 Credits
TWR 1000-1250 FC 101F
Materials Fee: $6.28
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Focuses on the basics of grant writing, including researching and seeking funding sources; reading and interpreting funding guidelines; developing and refining proposals, and tricks of the trade. Development of individual grant proposal required.
Do you think of writing grants as begging for money? Do you have fears around money? This workshop will help you think of grant writing in a different way. Learning to prepare a good proposal allows you to help granting agencies find a way to spend the dollars they are required to spend to meet their own missions, either legislative or for tax related. You need the money. They need to spend it. Your challenge is to find a match between your need and theirs, and to persuasively articulate that match. In this workshop you will learn the basics of writing proposals to funding agencies, including how to find appropriate funding sources, how to read and interpret funding guidelines, funding restrictions, the steps for developing and refining proposals, including the budget. It is highly recommended you have identified a project and an agency before the course begins. See below for possible ideas or contact the instructor.
Texts: WINNING GRANTS STEP BY STEP by Carlson; STORYTELLING FOR GRANTSEEKERS by Clarke; and GUIDE TO WRITING A FUNDING PROPOSAL by Levine, http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal/. Other assigned readings on Blackboard.
Credit/Evaluation: Participants will be expected to develop and submit a grant request and a proposal to a foundation or other source of funding by the end of the course. These proposals might be directed toward funding your own work, or might be related to the work of a community non-profit agency. Attendance is critical. Evaluation will be based on participation in class exercises on a regular basis, the quality of feedback given in peer reviews, and the quality of the final proposals. I keep a daily log on attendance, participation, and required writing.
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31266 397t Travel Writing
Tag 5 Credits
August 10-August 21 Two-week class
MTWRF 900-150 FA 338
Prerequisites: Fair 201a or permission of instructor
* Subject to minimum enrollment
Meets the following Core Requirement: Humanities and the Expressive Arts II
"Not all who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien
This will be creative writing class focused on journeys, pilgrimages, jaunts, treks, expeditions, sojourns, walkabouts, whatever kind of traveling people like to do and then write about. At the heart of the class will be our writing workshop, filled with in-class exercises, writings, and discussions. We will read accounts by a variety of travelers, including walkers, bicyclers, boaters, adventurers, tourists, on-the-roaders, and other wanderers. There will be several in-class field trips, a required journey midway through the course, and a portfolio of writing due and presented at the end of the class.
Possible texts: PLANETWALKER by Francis; TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD by Gelman; and THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING 2006 by Cahill.
