From Apollo to Artemis, humans have tried to explore our place in the universe. Recently, SpaceX launched astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS where they safely came back down to Earth, reigniting interest in space exploration. Columbia Space Initiative, in the spirit of human exploration, would like for you, the Artemis Generation, to join us in this excitement!

In this lecture series, CSI members will be presenting their student mission progress and how each of those missions relates to space and science.


Prerequisites
Basic math and science

This course will be an introductory overview to the 'Who, What, and Why' of the major political actors in the contemporary Middle East. This class will not be focused on American foreign policy, but on the region's nations and groups. We will begin with a dissection of common tropes used by the media when describing the Middle East, followed by an analysis of the major political trends underpinning recent events, and then take a look at the governmental systems and political cultures of the most important countries of the region. This course is not about discussing specifics in great detail. Instead, by the end of this course, we hope that the students will have the understanding of things like the appeal of Islamism or the political cultures of hybrid regimes needed to put events in context. Note that while we will certainly talk about Israeli and Palestinian politics, we will not be doing an in-depth coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict for reasons of time. Furthermore, while the course will cover Islamism, this is not a course on Islam - we will only be discussing religion as it directly relates to the politics of the region.

What is a novel, and why does it matter? Does it matter at all? Instead of approaching literature through the analysis of classics, this course aims to facilitate thought about some of the biggest questions surrounding the art of the novel. Through a survey of the novel's origins, basic elements, "rules," genres, and history, we will seek to distinguish the novel from other forms of writing and of art in general in order to understand the essence of the novel as an artform. Its roll in relation to time and space, as well as fiction's relation to reality in general, will be brought into question. What it means or takes to become a novelist, as well as a novel-reader, will help to sculpt an idea of how the author and the audience work together to create the artform. Theories of popular figures will be investigated. Finally, we will ask: Can novels merely show us the truth of an existence that we cannot change, or can the novel in its form give our lives more meaning than they already have? Or, perhaps, are novels more harmful than they are helpful? This course will, hopefully, help inspire a student to write their own novel.

In this class we will analyze rap lyrics (and music videos) as poetry about the Black experience. We will also put rappers in conversation with Black poets. We will look at lyrics from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Noname, Tupac, Vince Staples and more. You will also write your own poem or rap to share with the class. Students interests will also guide the class content.

This class will explore mourning and death in Proust's In Search of Lost Time, suggesting that the narrator's awareness of mortality and meditations of death stem from encounters with the death of the other and are therefore a reflection on alterity that, in turn, impacts his relationship with it. Beginning with a survey of the philosophical works of Jankélévitch, Levinas, Derrida and Deleuze, these ideas will help elaborate upon and allow us to understand the meaning behind the aesthetic choices of Proust during the composition of his magnum opus.


Prerequisites
A familiarity with Proust is beneficial, but not required.

This session will be a conversation on the possibilities of open and freedom-affirming learning, using examples set by the Black Panther Party’s Oakland Community School; Philadelphia’s Parkway Program; and Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire’s “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” The goal of this class is to explore the historical context of these three models and understand how their approach to pedagogy, learning, art, and schooling can be understood within (continuous!) fights for liberation, with a particular focus on the context of the Black freedom struggle. In this class session, we will also demonstrate “open education” ourselves by thinking through and creating, freely and non-hierarchically, our own projects and takeaways based our own ideas and interests.

“I think the school’s principles came from the socialist principles we tried to live in the Black Panther Party. One of them being critical thinking—that children should learn not what to think but how to think … the school was an expression of the collective wisdom of the people who envisioned it. And it was … a living thing [that] changed every year.” – Ericka Huggins, Director of the Oakland Community School.

Did you know that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present? Or that a mass shooting in the United States is followed by more due to the copycat phenomenon? In this course, we will talk about copycat crimes, conformity, cults, mass hysteria, and more sociological phenomena. We will also discuss infamous behavioral experiments such as the Stanford Prison Experiment.

Note: This is a discussion based course.

Content Warning: We will discuss suicides & mass shootings, though not in detail.

Would you like to learn the Korean language and become familiar with some of its traditional culture? This course will start from the very foundations of the language and assumes no prior knowledge of Korean.


Prerequisites
None

What do you think of when you think of Washington, D.C.? The President, Congress, lobbyists? Well I think of go-go, hardcore, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and the Washington Color Field School. Join us as we explore the District of Columbia’s unmatched, unique musical history: everything from jazz (Duke Ellington) to country (John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" is not based on West Virginia but Clopper Road just outside DC) hardcore punk (Minor Threat, Fugazi and Dave Grohl) to DC’s very own and very best genre, go-go! Go-go is more than a musical genre—it's a social movement and the soundtrack of the city—and it blends funk, R&B, Latin music, hip hop and West African rhythms. We’ll unpack DC music with a focus on how it is a reflection of socio-cultural experience—a manifestation of “the secret city.” We'll explore the complex web of influence DC's musical genres had on each other and American music as a whole, and compare go-go to global musical movements like soca and electro chaabi. Sign up to bang on buckets, listen to everyone from Jelly Roll Morton to Chuck Brown to Bad Brains and watch National Archives footage of leopard print-clad, future Mayor Marion Barry.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but bring your favorite music!

Throughout Western history, witchcraft and gender have been inextricable. We’ll travel from 15th century Germany to 17th century France, stopping over in Puritan New England, through modern American popular culture. We’ll read from Hammurabi’s Code, Malleus Maleficarum, The Scarlet Letter and the W.I.T.C.H. Manifesto, discuss Catharism, “Monster Theory” and Thomas Aquinas, and watch clips from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Wizards of Waverly Place. How do gender, religion and traditions interact? Who and what is a witch? What are historical factors that fuel environments leading to witch trials? Why have witches seen a resurgence in modernity? While this class focuses on witches in (mainly) occidental history, we will also touch on witchcraft in Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.


Prerequisites
None, but be prepared to read some older, slightly difficult texts and some modern theory.

This class delves into the topic of Black music not simply as a tool for entertainment, but also as a tool of protest and social change. This class will have a global approach: starting from early Black American music (spirituals and gospel) all the way to soul, reggae, early Afrobeats, early Hip-Hop, drill, contemporary global rap, and more. Artists mentioned will range from Nina Simone to Peter Tosh to Burna Boy to Megan thee Stallion, to name a small few. Along with the general histories underlying different Black genres, we will go through some essential topics concerning Black music and resistance. Why is music so central to Black resistance movements? Are Black people allowed the privilege of making apolitical music? Why is Black music around the world so often perceived as a social threat? How has "resistant" Black music been used as a tool to demonize Black people? And more. It should be said that this is a class that centers Black history and the Black experience.

This is a comprehensive crash course that aims to teach students how to craft the most productive essays that will get you into prestigious universities, and it will allow you to grow confidence by writing assertively.
The goal of this class is to create new generation of published writers and poets, and students would be able to free write and discuss projects with the instructor.

In this course, students will be given an overview of the various topics that are typically covered in an Abnormal Behavior course. We will begin by learning about research methods in psychology, the history of abnormal behavior, the process of conducting assessments and making diagnoses, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. Topics are subject to change depending upon students' interests.


Prerequisites
None

This class will explore introductory concepts in Neuroscience at the cellular level as well as the level of brain-body-environment interactions. We’ll start off by exploring how the brain works, what different parts of the brain do and what questions neuroscientists are interested in. We’ll investigate major processes including memory, sensation and perception, reflexes and more. We'll learn about the machines and techniques that Neuroscientists use to do research and communicate their results.
Each lesson has learning goals related to a specific topic or field in Neuroscience. However the class is far from a lecture format. While students should definitely be prepared to be challenged with new science concepts, we will use break out rooms and collaboration through google drive to creatively communicate our new learning. The class will also use videos and activities to help students interact with the content through many mediums.


Prerequisites
Some high school biology preferred but not required

Curious about scientific discoveries? Confused about how to understand them? Want to learn more about COVID and the vaccines? If you answered yes to any of the questions, join our course! You will learn how to read and understand all aspects of scientific paper, from the abstract to the conclusions. We will also cover how to interpret data commonly seen in papers. In the course, we will also be reading papers about COVID, the new vaccines, and the science behind them.


Prerequisites
It will be useful to have take biology, but is not necessary.

Are you interested in learning about mental disorders? If so, this is the perfect class for you! Each session, we will cover a class of mental disorders from the following: anxiety & obsessive compulsive disorders, trauma & dissociative disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and personality disorders. We will discuss the nature, causes, and treatments of these disorders, in addition to the way they are defined in the DSM-5.

Nanoparticles are seen throughout sci-fi and pop culture. But what do scientists actually use them for, and what makes them so special? In this class, we will introduce the basic principles of nanoparticles and see how they are synthesized in research settings. Then, we will examine a few fascinating properties that only emerge when objects become extremely small. Finally, we will explore some of the modern applications of nanoparticles, particularly from a chemical engineering perspective, ranging from biomedical imaging to fighting climate change.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of high school chemistry and physics.

A course built for students who are interested in studying the Japanese language, but for whatever reason have not started yet. In Beginners' Japanese, students will get a taste of what Japanese study requires, including learning the Hiragana alphabet, 4 very short units of vocabulary, and some lessons on basic grammar structure. Each lesson will be split into a Hiragana character lesson, a themed vocabulary unit section, and a grammar section. In addition, there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions about extracurricular grammar points, vocabulary, and characters each class. If you're looking for a quick introduction to Japanese language, please join!

We live in a world where we constantly hear negative news, have trouble coping with stress, and are looking for fulfillment in an often empty world. Whether it be mindful meditation, yoga, or seeing a therapist there are so many ways one can help themselves feel centered in the chaos. Stoicism is another ancient tool that anyone can apply to their daily lives.
Stoicism is not the cold, apathetic attitude many attribute it to today but the mastery of our mindset. It's about being present and grateful. Learning to grow and embrace the obstacles in front of us rather than crumble under their weight. It's about finding peace in our lives.


Prerequisites
None

It's hard to put a label on those important particulars you need to have a satisfying experience in high school and a successful transition to college. Instead of spending a lot of time on labels let's spend it on essentials!
1. How Do You Ask a Relevant Question?
2. How Do You Introduce Yourself in a Charming Way?
3.How to Get the Most Out of a Mentor and Mentee Relationship
4. What Are 5 Differences Between High School and College?


Prerequisites
Be open and ready to participate Have 3 colleges in mind that interest you Think of a situation when you wished you had asked a better question or spoken up even if it felt awkward

Have you ever wanted to learn more about global film and how cinema developed elsewhere around the world? Do you sometimes wonder why blockbusters like 'Transformers' or 'The Martian' are partially filmed in China? Perhaps you are curious about Chinese censorship? Or, maybe, you just want to watch some cool Kung fu and anime movies? These are all perfect reasons to sign-up for Chinese Cinema -- History, Politics and Business. This course will cover the origins of cinema in the Middle Kingdom (China), introduce some of the ways that the medium/art form evolved or was constrained over a century of revolution and political and economic reform, and end by analyzing how the global Film industry continues to adapt to a rising Chinese market and audience. No previous background in Chinese language, culture or film is required for this course.


Prerequisites
None.

How do we understand color? The ubiquity of color within our world can obscure the rich chemistry, history, linguistic determinism, and environmental consequences surrounding our interactions with color. Why are there no true blue animals and only one class of true blue plants? Why don't color printers use the three primary colors red, yellow, and blue? How does language affect our ability to discern different shades of red? What are the environmental consequences associated with synthetically producing colors? How does the natural world inform our pigment manufacturing processes? Find out in this four-part lecture series as we explore the worlds of color and the ways in which these worlds both transform and are transformed by us.


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge about atoms, electrons, and bonding. Preferred, but by no means required.

Think slavery ended? Think again. Modern day slavery (also known as human trafficking) is one of the world’s fastest growing crimes. With over 40 million victims worldwide, there have never been more people living in slavery. In this course, we’ll examine the six major types of human trafficking, take a look at how you benefit from modern day slavery, and discuss efforts to end human trafficking.

Disclaimer: This class will discuss topics that some students could find upsetting. No graphic images or videos will be shown.

Only 14% of the country’s population is Black and Native American, yet the pregnancy-related death rates for these populations are more than double the rates for White women, who are among the racial majority in the U.S. As of January 2021, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Bronx are almost double the amount of cases in Manhattan, even though Manhattan’s population is slightly larger. How do we account for these kinds of disparities? What can we do to improve the health outcomes of vulnerable populations? This interactive and discussion-based course will introduce critical concepts in public health in order to answer these questions, with an emphasis on the social determinants of health.