Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Maymester

Maymester runs from Monday, May 22 through Friday, June 9, 2023. Current students and non-matriculated students will be able to take one course with an HWS faculty member for 3.5 hours, five days a week. Classes are scheduled in the mornings (9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) or afternoons (1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.).

2023 Courses

Courses Offered (details below)
ENV 216 Birds in Our Landscape
GEO 140 Intro to Environmental Geology
MDSC 100 Introduction to Media and Society
MDSC 309 Media Industries
PSY 203 Child Psychology
SOC 212 Data Analysis

ENV 216 Birds in Our Landscape
Online Course
Biology
Professor Mark Deutschlander
Birds are an apparent and familiar part of our environments, whether hiking in a national forest or spending time in our own backyards. From pristine natural areas to the most urban settings, birds are ubiquitous and serve as sentinels for the health of the environment. Examining population trends and geographical distributions of birds can help us understand the impacts of urbanization, pollution and pesticides, climate change, and more. In this course, you will learn how distributions of birds inform scientists about environmental change and the impacts of change on the function of ecosystems. You will learn, firsthand through field excursions and exercises, to identify local bird species and how to conduct some basic field techniques for direct monitoring of birds. You will learn how scientists collect distribution data on birds using remote sensing and how citizen science has greatly advanced our ability to understand the distributions and movements of birds. You will also learn how scientists communicate their findings by reviewing scientific publications, which we will use as case studies of how birds in our landscape impact us and tell us about our environments.

GEO 140 Intro to Environmental Geology
In-Person Course
Env Studies / Geoscience
Professor John Halfman
Understanding the risks associated with natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, droughts, and floods and understanding the issues associated with critical natural resources like oil, gas, coal, minerals, and water demands an understanding of fundamental geologic principles, materials, and processes.

MDSC 100 Introduction to Media and Society
Online Course
Media and Society
Professor Rebecca Burditt
Media surrounds us. Instagram feeds, Facebook updates, films, advertisements, and Netflix series form a rich textual backdrop to our everyday lives. In MDSC 100, we will pay special attention to the media that we regularly encounter and make sense of it through close analysis, theoretical intervention, and the creation of our own media texts. By turning a critical eye toward communication in its various forms, we can begin to understand how media both shapes, and is shaped by, the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts in which it is created and circulated. This course provides the theoretical background and foundational skills for pursuing a major in the field of media studies.

MDSC 309 Media Industries
Online Course
Media and Society
Professor Lisa Patti
At the end of a film, television show, or other media text, a credit sequence may list hundreds of individuals and companies. What roles do they play? How do changing economic conditions, labor practices, federal and state policies, new technologies, and consumer habits influence their work? How do media industries affect us as consumers and citizens? This course analyzes multiple contemporary media industries in the US (including film, television, streaming, social media, gaming, journalism, and marketing) and their points of intersection. We explore the impact of digitization, globalization, and corporate consolidation on the production, promotion, distribution, and reception of media, examining the roles of various institutions (including studios, networks, publishers, platforms, and unions) and individuals (including executives, directors, writers, publicists, agents, critics, and activists). Our case studies, drawn from recent and emerging media trends and issues, focus on the social inequalities generated, sustained, or challenged by the media industries. Students collect and analyze data that reflect current patterns of representation in the media industries and draft original policy proposals in response. Throughout the semester, we learn from alumni working in the media industries who share their perspectives during visits to our classes.

PSY 203 Child Psychology
Online Course
Psychological Science
Professor Julie Kingery
In this course, you will learn about the theories that guide the study of child development, as well as the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that take place from infancy through late childhood. We will also consider contextual influences on development including parents, peers, schools, culture, and the media. Key themes emphasized throughout the semester include: 1) the interaction between genetics and the environment, 2) how children shape their own development, 3) the ways in which development is continuous (gradual) vs. discontinuous (occurs in stages),   4) the sequence and timing of developmental changes, 5) sociocultural factors, 6) individual differences, and 7) the use of research findings to promote children’s well-being. This course will involve lecture, discussion, in-class activities, videos, and child observations. Prerequisite: PSY 100.

SOC 212 Data Analysis
Online Course
Sociology
Professor Kendra Freeman
This course provides an introduction to the organization and analysis of data in the process of social research. Presentation of data in tabular and graphic forms, the use of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics, and the use of bivariate and multivariate analytic procedures in the analysis of data are examined. This course includes a laboratory experience in the use of computing software to display data and test hypotheses. The course is ultimately intended to prepare students for original research efforts and to help them become more sophisticated consumers of the literature of the social sciences today. Prerequisite: SOC 100. Note: This course includes a required laboratory section that meets from 2-4:40 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

FINANCIAL INFO

Sudents taking one class in the summer can apply for a private alternative loan to assist with the costs. Students who are Pell eligible and taking two courses may qualify for grant funding. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@hws.edu or 315-781-3315.