This is the first semester of a year-long course designed for students wishing to learn Greek as it is written and spoken in Greece today. As well as learning the skills necessary to read texts of moderate difficulty and converse on a wide range of topics, students explore Modern Greeces cultural landscape from parea to poetry to politics. Special attention will be paid to Greek New York. How do our, American, Greek-American definitions of language and culture differ from their, Greek ones?
This course is designed to bring students with no background to a point where they can perform most basic linguistic functions in Khmer, including greetings, likes/dislikes, telling about yourself, describing places and situations, all in appropriate time frames. The class uses a highly interactive classroom style, supplemented by extensive use of video - both prepared and student-produced - and other computer-assisted tools. Please note this course is offered by videoconferencing from Cornell as part of the Shared Course Initiative.
For students who have never studied Latin. An intensive study of grammar with reading of simple prose and poetry.
Prerequisites: (see Courses for First-Year Students). Functions, limits, derivatives, introduction to integrals, or an understanding of pre-calculus will be assumed. (SC)
This course is intended for beginners of the Nepali language. The emphasis is given on basic grammar, speaking, and comprehension skills, using culturally appropriate materials and texts. Devanagari script for reading and writing is also introduced.
Prerequisite (or co-requisite): PSYC BC1001. Lecture course and associated recitation section introducing students to statistics and its applications to psychological research. The course covers basic theory, conceptual underpinnings, and common statistics. The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: STAT UN1001 Introduction to Statistical Reasoning; STAT UN1101 Introduction to Statistics; STAT UN1201 Introduction to Statistics.
Prerequisite (or co-requisite): PSYC BC1001. Lecture course and associated recitation section introducing students to statistics and its applications to psychological research. The course covers basic theory, conceptual underpinnings, and common statistics. The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: STAT UN1001 Introduction to Statistical Reasoning; STAT UN1101 Introduction to Statistics; STAT UN1201 Introduction to Statistics.
Prerequisite (or co-requisite): PSYC BC1001. Lecture course and associated recitation section introducing students to statistics and its applications to psychological research. The course covers basic theory, conceptual underpinnings, and common statistics. The following Columbia University courses are considered overlapping and a student cannot receive credit for both the BC course and the equivalent CU course: STAT UN1001 Introduction to Statistical Reasoning; STAT UN1101 Introduction to Statistics; STAT UN1201 Introduction to Statistics.
Introduction to Punjabi, a major language of northern India and Pakistan. Beginning with the study of the Gurmukhi script, the course offers an intensive study of the speaking, reading, and writing of the language.
This course is designed to bring students with no background to a point where they can perform most basic linguistic functions in Sinhala, including greetings, likes/dislikes, telling about yourself, describing places and situations, all in appropriate time frames. The class uses a highly interactive classroom style, supplemented by extensive use of video - both prepared and student-produced - and other computer-assisted tools. Please note this course is offered by videoconferencing from Cornell as part of the Shared Course Initiative.
Prerequisites: a score of 0-279 on the department's Spanish as a Second Language Placement exam. An introduction to Spanish communicative competence, with stress on basic oral interaction, reading, writing, and cultural knowledge. Principal objectives are to understand and produce commonly used sentences to satisfy immediate needs; ask and answer questions about personal details such as where we live, people we know and things we have; interact in a simple manner with people who speak clearly, slowly and are ready to cooperate; and understand simple and short written and audiovisual texts in Spanish. All Columbia students must take Spanish language courses (UN 1101-3300) for a letter grade.
This course is designed to bring students with no background to a point where they can perform most basic linguistic functions in Yoruba, including greetings, likes/dislikes, telling about yourself, describing places and situations, all in appropriate time frames. The class uses a highly interactive classroom style, supplemented by extensive use of video - both prepared and student-produced - and other computer-assisted tools. Please note this course is offered by videoconferencing from Cornell as part of the Shared Course Initiative.
Introduces students to the basic structures of Zulu, a Bantu language spoken in South Africa, especially in the Zululand area of KwaZulu/Natal province.
The aim of the beginning French sequence (French 1101 and French 1102) is to help you to develop an active command of the language. Emphasis is placed on acquiring the four language skills--listening, speaking, reading and writing--within a cultural context, in order to achieve basic communicative proficiency.
The aim of the beginning French sequence (French 1101 and French 1102) is to help you to develop an active command of the language. Emphasis is placed on acquiring the four language skills--listening, speaking, reading and writing--within a cultural context, in order to achieve basic communicative proficiency.
Prerequisites: Primarily for students who need further instruction to qualify for the intermediate course. Credit cannot be granted for both FREN BC1002 and BC1102 (or its equivalent). Enrollment limited to 20 students per section. Oral and written review of basic grammar and syntax. Readings in modern French and Francophone literature.
Prerequisites: LATN UN1101. A continuation of LATN UN1101, including a review of grammar and syntax for students whose study of Latin has been interrupted.
Prerequisites: MATH UN1101 or the equivalent. Methods of integration, applications of the integral, Taylors theorem, infinite series. (SC)
Prerequisites: SPAN UN1101 or a score of 280-379 on the department’s Spanish as a Second Language Placement exam. An intensive introduction to Spanish language communicative competence, with stress on basic oral interaction, reading, writing and cultural knowledge as a continuation of SPAN UN1101. The principal objectives are to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar matters; describe in simple terms aspects of our background and personal history; understand the main point, the basic content, and the plot of filmic as well as short written texts. All Columbia students must take Spanish language courses (UN 1101-3300) for a letter grade.
This introductory course is designed to equip beginners with a solid foundation in modern Korean
language and culture through the integrated development of the four core language skills: speaking,
listening, reading, and writing. Students will begin by mastering the Korean writing system (Hangul)
within the first two weeks, followed by seven structured lessons focusing on essential grammatical
structures, vocabulary, and basic conversational skills.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
§ Understand and use basic grammatical structures and vocabulary in everyday conversations.
§ Comprehend spoken and written Korean in structured contexts, such as classroom dialogues and
short passages.
§ Deliver short, structured presentations in Korean on familiar topics using appropriate vocabulary,
grammar, and pronunciation.
§ Engage in simple interpersonal communication on familiar topics, such as greetings, self-
introduction, daily routines, and preferences.
§ Demonstrate cultural understanding of modern Korean society through exposure to authentic
media and participation in cultural activities.
This is a course designed for the students enrolled in the Barbara Silver Horowitz ’55 Scholars of Distinction program. It should be taken fall and spring semesters of a students first and second years at the college (for a total of 4 course credits total over the two years). Each month is organized around an outing (or several outings) with readings and guest speakers to complement the outing. Students are expected to attend all the events and meetings. Each student will also produce a blog post connected to or inspired by each event. These posts will appear on the Barnard College website dedicated to the program. Blog posts do not have to cover the event per se, they might, for example, attend to ancillary issues raised by the event or topics raised by the accompanying readings.
We all have enemies, individual and collective, private and public, ephemeral or persistent. This seems increasingly true. But do we choose our enemies or do our enemies choose us? Do we invent the enemy? Is the enemy a “social construction,” a fiction or is the enemy a “fact”? Do we need to believe in the enemy or is it better to know the enemy? And once there are enemies, is it really possible to love them? All enemies? Is that a religious commandment? Does religion have a special relationship to enemies? And what about frenemies? This course will explore different kinds of enemies such as they appear in sacred texts (the Bible, the Qur’ān), novels, films and
popular culture. And yes, we will try to learn whether we can love our enemies.
Covers all of Greek grammar and syntax in one term. Prepares the student to enter second-year Greek (GREK UN2101 or GREK UN2102).
This course is designed for the absolute beginner or the student returning to ballet class after a lengthy hiatus and is intended to familiarize the student with the classical ballet terminology, to foster independence in this particular vocabulary, to introduce the historical context of the Western art form and conventions of a ballet class. Learning the physical practice of this centuries-old craft will give the student basic classical ballet terminology as well as gaining an anatomical understanding of the body.
Prerequisites: MATH UN1101 or the equivalent Vectors in dimensions 2 and 3, complex numbers and the complex exponential function with applications to differential equations, Cramers rule, vector-valued functions of one variable, scalar-valued functions of several variables, partial derivatives, gradients, surfaces, optimization, the method of Lagrange multipliers. (SC)
Prerequisites: MATH UN1102 and MATH UN1201 or the equivalent Multiple integrals, Taylor's formula in several variables, line and surface integrals, calculus of vector fields, Fourier series. (SC)
Prerequisites: FREN BC1001, BC1002, BC1102, C1101 and C1102, or an appropriate score on the placement test. Further development of oral and written communication skills. Readings in French literature.
Advanced work in language skills. Readings in French literature. Prerequisites: FREN BC1203 or an appropriate score on the placement test.
NOTE: This course
does not
fulfill the Columbia College and GS language requirement.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles of American politics and governance. Upon completing the class, students should be more informed about the American political process and better able to explain contemporary American political phenomena, as well as being more likely to engage with politics and elections.
BEGINNING IN FALL 2025, BARNARD STUDENTS WISHING TO TAKE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS FOR INTRO CREDIT TOWARD THE MAJOR MUST TAKE POLS-BC1210. If Barnard students enroll in POLS-UN2201, the course will only count toward their major as elective credit.
Columbia College students who take POLS-BC1210 can only apply the course toward their major for elective credit.
Students may not get credit for more than one of the following courses: POLS BC1210, POLS UN1201, or POLS-UN2201.
This course introduces students to urban dance styles, focusing on the foundations and origins of hip-hop dance, street dance culture, and the physical vocabularies of hip-hop and freestyle dance. Classes are geared to condition the body for the rigors of hip-hop technique by developing strength, coordination, flexibility, stamina, and rhythmic awareness while developing an appreciation of choreographic movement and structures. Compositional elements of hip-hop will be introduced and students may compose brief movement sequences.
This course is designed for movers with little or no experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal.
This course is designed for movers with some experience with dance, or who are unfamiliar with modern dance styles. It is intended to introduce modern dance techniques, terminology, and historical context, as well as improve anatomical and spatial awareness, and foster physical confidence moving to music. Students of this course will also cultivate comfort with watching, interpreting, and discussing modern dance. Love of dance is not a prerequisite, but is definitely a goal.
This
history
of children’s literary narrative begins with the observation that the stories read and heard by children exercise immeasurable imaginative power.
Socially, ethically, culturally, psychologically, even politically,
much of who we are as adults –what makes us cry and what makes us laugh-- began in the first stories that absorbed us and gave us so much pleasure. Beginning with fairytales and folktales from across the
globe
, we will explore coming-of-age stories, domestic fiction designed to educate girls, adventure romance marketed to boys (and to men who thought of themselves as boys) and fantasy. We will look at how children’s literature explores questions of heroism,
gender
difference,
disability
, perspective, community, and resilience. We will consider narrative strategies such as setting, voice, and plot as well as the role of historical context, illustration and media adaptation. While our discussions will focus on fictional primary sources, we will also consider scholarship that helps see this material through a variety of theoretical perspectives. Readings may include fairytale selections from Europe, Asia, and Africa; Alcott’s
Little Women
and its American afterlife in Gerwig’s film
;
Stevenson’s
Treasure Island
and pirate narrative
;
Collodi’s and Disney’s
Pinocchio;
Taylor’s
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry;
C.S. Lewis’s
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
and quest romance
;
Rowling’s
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone;
and
a selection of illustrated picture books
.
Readings in translation and discussion of texts of Middle Eastern and Indian origin. Readings may include the Quran, Islamic philosophy, Sufi poetry, the Upanishads, Buddhist sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, Indian epics and drama, and Gandhis Autobiography.
This seminar is an exploration of some "great books" from the Middle East and South Asia. We will read books, plays, stories, and poems in English translation that were originally written in Arabic, Persian, Bangla, Sanskrit. From the Thousand and One Nights to an Arabic epic about a warrior princess to the Bhagavad Gita, we will examine themes of storytelling, gender, politics, and the nature of divinity. With the exception of one Sudanese novel, we will be focusing on texts from the premodern period, and our focus will be on how to interpret texts, develop arguments about those texts, and learning about cultures of reading and writing in the past.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
This course will examine the development of democracies and dictatorships in Europe from the ancien régime to the present day. It will analyze the nature and dynamics of European political history and use the European experience as a foundation upon which to build a broader understanding of how different types of political regimes emerge, function and are consolidated over time.
Examines the major social, political, economic, and intellectual transformations from the 1860s until the present, including industrialization and urbanization, federal and state power, immigration, the welfare state, global relations, and social movements.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar, pop guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.
Prerequisites: PSYC UN1001 and a statistics course (PSYC UN1610 or the equivalent), or the instructor's permission. Corequisites: PSYC UN1421 Introduction to the techniques of research employed in the study of human behavior. Students gain experience in the conduct of research, including design of simple experiments, observation and measurement techniques, and the analysis of behavioral data.
The Music Performance Program (MPP) offers music lessons in various classical and jazz instruments, bluegrass guitar and jazz voice, taught by distinguished MPP Associate Faculty members. Lessons are 6 hours per semester. An audition is required.