This poetry course will focus on the Japanese masters, Basho, Busson, Issa and others. Students will research and study the lives of the ancient poets and explore the traditional forms of haiku, renga and haibun. Students will practice writing poetry in these ancient forms and will work collaboratively and individually as they create a portfolio of poems. Beginners and students without significant literary backgrounds are especially encouraged to take this class.

“Business is the only mechanism on the planet today powerful enough to produce the change necessary to reverse global environmental and social degradation.” Paul Hawken

In fall, the first quarter of a year-long program, we will examine and learn about the history of American business management and systems thinking, and begin research of a sustainable “green” small business design. These green businesses are companies that unabashedly embrace the goal of enhancing life on Earth as an integral part of their business strategy. Moreover, they add value to the sustainability of the industry within which they function. We will seek to lay the foundation for a paradigm shift in small business and learn how the human resource is one of the most important to small business. We will acquire skills that allow small business developers to stand up against large “box” stores and survive.

Wal-Mart is a business power to deal with. In this second quarter of a year-long program, the student will learn how to market and define the perfect customer while developing a sustainable “green” business plan. Sustainable businesses are companies that seek to embrace the goal of enhancing life on Earth as an integral part of their business strategy. These small business people show exceptional leadership by their explicit commitment and the significant resources they allocate to back up their commitments. Moreover, they are the leaders that open new products and services of sustainability within their industry. Among the areas we will explore are “green” marketing and sales to women.

What shapes women’s lives here and elsewhere in the world? What is “patriarchal privilege” and how does it work in everyday life? How do gender inequities intersect with class and race? We will explore these questions through the practice of sociological inquiry, seeking to better understand our own experience and the possibilities for social change. Critical reflection on cultural, family and personal understandings of women’s place (and empowerment) will be an important focus.

There is a sense of personal satisfaction and creative accomplishment to be gained from working with wood. The aim of this course will be to provide a way to realize that intention through an understanding of the basic principles of designing in wood, the physical properties of the material, and the fundamental skills necessary to shape timber to a purpose.

This studio course is an introduction to ways of thinking about and working with three dimensional form as it applies to sculpture and design. Formative principles, ideas, and methods will be presented. Work will include reading, slide presentations, hands-on exercises and assigned projects using a variety of materials and techniques. Open to all levels of experience.

Using contemporary Middle East literature as a framework, we will examine topics applicable to world literature in general. Specifically, we will explore how to read global literature, insiders vs. outsiders interpretations of other cultures, issues of translation, and the politics of selecting Nobel Prize-winning authors. We will also consider some of the dominant themes of Middle East literature, such as political and cultural dissent, and class, gender and religious identities. This mostly online class will meet at the beginning of the quarter for a hands-on orientation and seminar, and at the end of the quarter for student presentations. The rest of the course will be conducted via Web-X with students working interactively in small groups and with faculty. This course meets the world literature endorsement requirement for the Master in Teaching program.

This is a continuation of a two-quarter, all-level intensive writing program which will welcome new students on a space available basis. During winter, we will concentrate primarily on short story writing and creative nonfiction. Through extensive reading and writing, we will study the architecture of good writing. Students will focus on narrative voice, character, plot, movement and cohesion. Most importantly, we will focus on nurturing ourselves as creative writers and individuals, and creating a disciplined structure to sustain our work. Students will gain additional skills in critical reading and peer editing. Smaller writing assignments will be experiential and assigned; larger writing assignments will be designed and structured by the student with approval from the faculty. Those wishing to take the program for 12 credits must have a faculty signature and will engage in an additional ten hours per week of writing, reading and structured critique group work. This program will benefit students pursuing clear and creative writing skills in all academic areas, and will be especially useful to students pursuing writing and literature.

This introductory course will help students develop the clarity, coherence, focus and style necessary for good factual communication. Working in a supportive group environment, students will cultivate a systematic approach to a range of writing tasks, including descriptions, instructions, business correspondence, newsletter articles, short reports, resumes, job summaries and oral presentations. The course also will include a review of paragraph and sentence structure, grammar and punctuation.

This is a course designed to assist Prior Learning from Experience students in writing their documents. We will explore various techniques for deriving, clarifying and expressing meaning from life experience. Students will identify the specific knowledge they have gained and will explore various writing techniques available for self-expression. Students should be prepared to work collaboratively on creating their document content as they work in small groups to discuss ideas and give feedback on each other’s writing.