Half Block For-Credit Offerings
Immerse Yourself in the Life of the Mind
For-credit academic offerings during the nine-day half-block give students the opportunity to explore courses outside of their major and requirements or to work closely with professors to delve deeper into a subject matter for which they already have foundational coursework. Students can earn 0.5 units of credit towards the 32 required for graduation and tuition for half-block is already included in the spring semester tuition.
Registration in SSB for Half Block will open in Add/Drop along with Fall 2023 schedule changes beginning May 10, 2023, at 12 PM MDT. Half block dates: January 8 – 18, 2024.
Half Block Class Policy
Half-block is a 0.5 unit course offered at the beginning of the spring semester. If a student is enrolled full time in EITHER the fall semester OR the spring semester (while remaining enrolled at least part-time in the other semester), half block does not carry a tuition charge. If, however, a student is part-time in both fall and spring and not enrolled in one semester or the other, half block is charged as a half unit course with the standard tuition for that year.
For financial aid purposes, half-block is part of the spring semester. If a student is not taking 3 other units in the spring, half-block will be added to their enrollment to determine their federal aid eligibility. However, no CC financial aid will be offered for enrollment in half-block.
2024 For-Credit Half-Block Courses
Instructor: Ron Hathaway, Professor Emeritus
Description: An examination of the cellular and organismal biology of parasites, paying close attention to the life cycle of parasites and their importance to humans and natural systems. 0.5 units
Instructor: Sue Allon, Visiting Instructor
Description: The study of the development and implementation of a personal finance and investment program. Includes analysis of budgeting and tax planning, managing liquidity, financing large purchases, protecting assets and income, analyzing investment information, examining alternative investment types, and investing money for retirement. Graded Pass/Fail only. (Not offered 2022-23). 0.5 unit
Instructor: Tim Nguyen, Visiting Assistant Professor
Description: The study of the development and implementation of a personal finance and investment program. Includes analysis of budgeting and tax planning, managing liquidity, financing large purchases, protecting assets and income, analyzing investment information, examining alternative investment types, and investing money for retirement. Graded Pass/Fail only. (Not offered 2022-23). 0.5 unit
Instructor: Eli Fahrenkrug, Assistant Professor
Description: This class is all about scale. We'll use the molecular shape of water to rationalize everything from snow meteorology to the six-fold symmetry of snowflakes. We'll zoom out to consider the metamorphism of snow on the ground as it relates to stress, strain, and avalanches. We'll spend 5 days in the classroom and 4 days digging in the snow.
Instructor: Peggy Daugherty, Associate Professor
Description: This course will review basic mathematical concepts that are important for success in chemistry. The following concepts are among those that will be chosen to be reviewed: fractions, order of calculations, reciprocals, significant figures, exponents and scientific notation, ratios and percentages, the metric and SI systems, conversions of one unit of measure to another, simple stoichiometric calculations, dilutions, graphs and standard curves, and simple statistics. The mathematical topics will be integrated into selected topics from chemistry. Prerequisite: No credit after CH108. 0.5 units
Instructor: Jared Harris, Lecturer
Description: This class will deepen understanding of basic concepts important for success in organic chemistry: Lewis structures, hybridized atomic orbitals, VSEPR theory, resonance structures, and acid-base chemistry. An introduction to drawing and interpreting three-dimensional bond-line representations of organic molecules will also be provided.
Instructors: Stephanie Kimmey, Visiting Assistant Professor
Description: In this course, students will look at the evidence from Greek and Roman worlds that demonstrate ancient magical beliefs. We will explore the art of influencing the natural course of events by occult means as practiced in the ancient world at large. The course will cover the beliefs in supernatural forces, the rites aimed at controlling these forces, and the social roles of ritual experts in various cultures of the ancient world. As we define the relationship between magic, witchcraft, and religion, we will also study the objects created during the practice of magic, such as spells, curse tablets, amulets, and voodoo dolls. Using modern critical perspectives, the aim is to understand the ancient evidence as a reflection of their culture, and perhaps reevaluate our own behavior.
Instructor: George Butte, Professor
Description: This class will look at the history and themes of great movie thrillers. We will start early (1930) and go late (2017), and look at key elements of form and content in our films: from the heist film to the political thriller, the police procedural, Hitchcock, the drama of the final girl, and race and the thriller. Throughout, our films raise important political and existential questions. Suspense in great movies is always “about” something. We’ll look a little at genre theory, and a lot at film form: why does Lang or Hitchcock or Jordan Peele do this with the camera, with the lighting, with that graphic match? Another question: why do (some) people seek to be frightened and disturbed by these movies?
Instructor: Alistaire Tallent, Associate Professor
Description: Taught in France. Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in French Semester.
Instructor: Jordan Travis Radke, Director, Collaborative for Community Engagement
Description: Integrates theory and experiential learning to introduce core concepts and models of effective, equitable, and intentional engagement with communities beyond the campus. This community-engaged learning (CEL) course aims to deepen the perspectives and skills needed to apply a liberal arts education toward solving public problems in inclusive, democratic ways. Pass/fail only. No laboratory.
A 0.5 credit half-block course that prepares juniors for community-engaged capstones or applied thesis projects their senior year. The course conceptually defines community-engaged research and capacity-building capstones; motivates such work as efforts to democratize knowledge and integrate knowledge and action toward community impact; covers ethics and best practices of working with, not for, community; and walks students through the steps of community-engaged thesis and capstone projects, with a focus on establishing partnerships and co-identifying a project that balances student interests and community needs. The course will include an opportunity for students to connect directly to possible community partners; as well as the opportunity to workshop ideas with peers.
Open to any junior considering a community-engaged thesis or capstone project their senior year. Specially designed for Community Engaged Scholars who opt into the community-engaged learning concentration.
Instructor: Steve Getty, QRC Director, and Karen Chui, QRC Assistant Director
Description: The ability to analyze and represent data using multiple platforms is a key skill for students to possess in their analytical “toolbox.” Students and faculty at Colorado College have been requesting an introductory course to the programming and data visualization language R. Especially as R becomes more widely used in an array of disciplines and professions, this Half Block course will be designed to help students either begin or improve their skills coding in R and then analyze and present data visualizations in R. The course will include either individual students or student pairs using datasets of interest to them to analyze, represent, and interpret an aspect of the data set using R.
Instructor: Inger Bull, Visiting Instructor
Description: This course will introduce students to different models and theories of comparative culture with the goal of preparing students to enter a foreign culture and navigate cultural differences successfully. Models and theories include Milton Bennett’s Cultural Sensitivity Model, Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory, and Edward T. Hall’s theories of proxemics, context, and chronic time. At the end of the course, students will have knowledge of theory and the ability to transfer that knowledge into practice abroad.
Instructor: Career Center
Description: In this course, you will learn and apply the principles of design thinking to your own career/life plans (including empathy, radical collaboration, ideation, and prototyping). You will identify work views, life views, and their intersections. Through prototyping, you will test your identified paths and develop the next steps in your career journey. You will leave confident in your ability to make career-related decisions using the design thinking process and mindsets.
Instructor: Career Center
Description: This course is designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of planning and organizing your job/internship search strategies. We will begin with understanding individual talents and reflecting on your own motivated skills, values, and interests. Organizations hire because they have talent needs, you will identify an industry of interest, research, and critically analyze the alignment between your individual talent and the organizational needs of the industry.
This course will empower you to explore careers with confidence. Understanding your talent profile will help you identify opportunities that you align with and prepare for them by developing compelling personal marketing materials. You will also gain deeper insights into additional factors that influence career/job choice like individual budgeting, location, living standards, and salaries.
Instructor: Srda Popovic, Distinguished Visiting Instructor, and Slobodan Djinovic, Distinguished Visiting Instructor
Description: The course is designed as an interactive workshop for students interested in social change movements and their operational environment in the contemporary digital era. Connecting elements of change theory with practical skills of understanding communications, the digital environment, and building an online campaign that has a real impact on the “offline” world. Picking the case study early in the half-block, students work in small groups to develop media strategies for social movements or change organizations. Students investigate the movement’s vision, values, strategy, and organization. Groups then innovate and develop a toolbox of online campaigning techniques that integrate real-world activism with digital online strategies.
Instructor: Emily Forcier, Assistant Director, Writing Center
Description: This course examines what it means to read on both a theoretical and practical level. Focusing on readings concerning the transactional theory of reading, students will consider the influence of the background knowledge and beliefs they bring to texts as well as the way in which the text can prompt transformations in their thinking and believing. In the process of reading and discussing the assigned materials, the students will also develop and polish college-level reading skills. This course will be taught in a seminar fashion, with small and whole group discussions, assigned readings, and reading-response short papers. Meets the Writing in the Discipline requirement.
Instructor: Chris Schacht, Director, Writing Center
Description: This course has two purposes: (1) to delve into the complex processes involved in writing and talking about writing, and (2) to prepare students to work as writing consultants in the Colorado College Writing Center. Key course themes include the theory and practice of writing, the theory and practice of tutoring, critical thinking, self-awareness, and team-building. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and apply theories to specific tutoring situations, role play, solve problems in groups, and practice tutoring. Interested students must apply in the fall for participation in the class. The course is held annually during half block. 0.5 unit; Pass/Fail only; COI required.
Instructor: Dan Miska, Senior Lecturer
Description: A laboratory-based human cadaver dissection course designed to help students gain an advanced understanding of selected joints of the human body and to develop the skills of human cadaver dissection.
Instructor: Jessy Randall, Archivist, Curator of Special Collections, and Steve Lawson, Access Services Librarian
Description: Examines the development of technologies of the written word, from clay tablets and sheepskin scrolls to the manuscript codex, early printed books, modern printing, and digital text. Questions the way reading, writing, and preserving texts intersect with identity, memory, and history, making extensive use of primary materials in the library's Special Collections and incorporating a hands-on experience at The Press at Colorado College.
Instructor: Amanda Minervini, Assistant Professor
Description: A half-block course involving both cultural and practical knowledge of regional cooking in contemporary Italy with special attention to the cuisine resulting from the new encounters of traditional regional cooking (itself the result of historical cultural exchanges) with contemporary migrant cultures. (This course has an extra fee to pay for kitchen rental and food).
Instructor: Ricky Sweum, Visiting Instructor
Description: Study today’s music business; learn practical steps for building multiple revenue streams within the music industry. Investigate the current job market as a live and studio performing musician, composer and arranger, songwriter, teacher, producer, recording engineer, manager, and more. Topics on brand-building, building an audience, marketing, social media, and press kits will be covered. Develop an understanding of music copyrights, royalties, and sync licensing. Explore aspects of the recording industry, from the inception of a song idea, all the way through recording, production, and distribution, using digital, physical, and cryptocurrency media.
Instructor: Ryan Bañagale, Associate Professor
Description: The Beatles hold a special location in the history of popular music, seemingly unrivaled in both their day and the decades since they disbanded. John, Paul, George, and Ringo long ago became icons and their songs live on in the cultural imagination of the world. This course looks behind the legendary status of the band and its music, delving into the historical, social, technological, and commercial factors that contributed to their success in the past and maintain their standing in the present. We will consider individual songs, entire albums, films, and even their foray into the realm of video games. No previous experience with music is necessary.
Instructor: Visiting Instructor
Description: Project-based course taught by a visiting engineer to introduce students to a particular field of engineering. Content will vary substantially between offerings.
Instructor: Naomi Wood, Associate Professor
Description: This half-block course will introduce students to some of the musical traditions of twentieth and twenty-first-century Brazil as well as basic communication in the Portuguese language. Students will explore traditions such as forró, samba, bossa nova, MPB, sertaneja, batucada, funk, among others. Course may be taught in Portuguese depending on enrollment and prior language experience of students.
Instructor: Gail Murphy-Geiss, Professor
Description: A course designed to put sociology into practice for a community, organization, or movement. A praxis course is distinguished by genuine collaboration with community partners and by a process of reflection that incorporates lessons learned in the classroom and the application of theoretical understandings to work for social change. Must be arranged at least one block in advance. May be taken for up to 1 unit on any schedule, including as a block course(s), as a year- or semester- long course taken as adjuncts, as a half block with or without additional adjunct blocks or as only adjuncts.
Instructor: Santiago Guerra, Associate Professor
Description: This course introduces students to the theory and practice of oral history and qualitative interview methodologies. Students will learn how to develop an oral history and/or qualitative interview-based research project, and how to incorporate oral evidence as data into research and writing.
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Questions?
For-Credit
Contact the corresponding academic department of the program you're interested in.
Non-Credit
Please contact the Career Center at careercenter@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6893.