AA 100:
Introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics
The principles of fluid flow, flight, and propulsion; the creation of lift and drag, aerodynamic performance including takeoff, climb, range, and landing performance, structural concepts, propulsion systems, trajectories, and orbits. The history of aeronautics and astronautics. Prerequisites: MATH 20, 21 or MATH 41, 42; elementary physics.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
AA 116Q:
Electric Automobiles and Aircraft
Transportation accounts for nearly one-third of American energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and three-quarters of American oil consumption. It has crucial impacts on climate change, air pollution, resource depletion, and national security. Students wishing to address these issues reconsider how we move, finding sustainable transportation solutions. An introduction to the issue, covering the past and present of transportation and its impacts; examining alternative fuel proposals; and digging deeper into the most promising option: battery electric vehicles. Energy requirements of air, ground, and maritime transportation; design of electric motors, power control systems, drive trains, and batteries; and technologies for generating renewable energy. Two opportunities for hands-on experiences with electric cars. Prerequisites: Introduction to calculus and Physics AP or elementary mechanics.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ANTHRO 161:
Human Behavioral Ecology (ANTHRO 261, HUMBIO 117H)
Theory, method, and application in anthropology. How theory in behavioral ecology developed to understand animal behavior is applied to questions about human economic decision making in ecological and evolutionary contexts. Topics include decisions about foraging and subsistence, competition and cooperation, mating, and reproduction and parenting.
Last offered: Spring 2013
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
ANTHRO 169:
The Ecology of Cuisine: Food, Nutrition, and the Evolution of the Human Diet (ANTHRO 269)
This course is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human food consumption and nutrition, incorporating biological, evolutionary, ecological and social perspectives. Topics include a broad survey of primate diets and their physiological and behavioral correlates; fossil and archaeological evidence for early human diets; adaptations to dietary shifts since the Neolithic; infant and early child feeding practices and their role in shaping human social arrangements, metabolic syndrome, food security, food taboos; the origins of spices; cultural diversity in the social uses and meanings of food and the sharing of food; gathering, hunting and locavorism as high hipster cuisine. Emphasis is on understanding the diversity of human foodways through time and space: how biology, culture, and ecology interact to shape the food we eat, and how the food we eat shapes us.
Last offered: Autumn 2014
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
ANTHRO 171:
The Biology and Evolution of Language (ANTHRO 271, HUMBIO 145L)
Lecture course surveying the biology, linguistic functions, and evolution of the organs of speech and speech centers in the brain, language in animals and humans, the evolution of language itself, and the roles of innateness vs. culture in language. Suitable both for general education and as preparation for further studies in anthropology, biology, linguistics, medicine, psychology, and speech & language therapy. Anthropology concentration: CS, EE. No prerequisites.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
ANTHRO 175:
Human Skeletal Anatomy (ANTHRO 275, BIO 174, BIO 274, HUMBIO 180)
Study of the human skeleton (a. k. a. human osteology), as it bears on other disciplines, including medicine, forensics, archaeology, and paleoanthropology (human evolution). Basic bone biology, anatomy, and development, emphasizing hands-on examination and identification of human skeletal parts, their implications for determining an individual¿s age, sex, geographic origin, and health status, and for the evolutionary history of our species. Three hours of lecture and at least three hours of supervised and independent study in the lab each week.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
APPPHYS 77N:
Functional Materials and Devices
Preference to freshmen. Exploration via case studies how functional materials have been developed and incorporated into modern devices. Particular emphasis is on magnetic and dielectric materials and devices. Recommended: high school physics course including electricity and magnetism.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
APPPHYS 79N:
Energy Options for the 21st Century
Preference to freshmen. Choices for meeting the future energy needs of the U.S. and the world. Basic physics of energy sources, technologies that might be employed, and related public policy issues. Trade-offs and societal impacts of different energy sources. Policy options for making rational choices for a sustainable world energy economy.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
APPPHYS 100:
The Questions of Clay: Craft, Creativity and Scientific Process
Students will create individual studio portfolios of ceramic work and pursue technical investigations of clay properties and the firing process using modern scientific equipment. Emphasis on development of creative process; parallels between science and traditional craft; integration of creative expression with scientific method and analysis. Prior ceramics experience desirable but not necessary. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: any level of background in physics.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-CE, WAY-SMA
ARCHLGY 126:
Archaeobotany (ARCHLGY 226)
Archaeobotany, also known as paleoethnobotany, is the study of the interrelationships of plants and humans through the archaeological record. Knowledge and understanding of Archaeobotany sufficient to interpret, evaluate, and understand archaeobotanical data. Dominant approaches in the study of archaeobotanical remains: plant macro-remains, pollen, phytoliths, and starch grains in the identification of diet and environmental reconstruction.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIO 2N:
Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease in a Changing World
This seminar will explore the ways in which anthropogenic change, climate change, habitat destruction, land use change, and species invasions effects the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. Topics will include infectious diseases of humans, wildlife, livestock, and crops, effects of disease on threatened species, disease spillover, emerging diseases, and the role of disease in natural systems. Course will be taught through a combination of popular and scientific readings, discussion, and lecture. .
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIO 7S:
Introduction to Biology
Introduction to several major fields of biology, including biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution, and biodiversity. Introduces the general approaches used by scientists to study life and explores recent advances in each area during weekly discussion section. Not intended for biology majors, but provides the foundation for higher-level biology courses. Prerequisite: high school biology.
Terms: Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 12N:
Sensory Ecology of Marine Animals
Animals living in the oceans experience a highly varied range of environmental stimuli. An aquatic lifestyle requires an equally rich range of sensory adaptations, including some that are totally foreign to us. In this course we will examine sensory system in marine animals from both an environmental and behavioral perspective and from the point of view of neuroscience and information systems engineering.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIO 14:
Bio-logging and Bio-telemetry
Bio-logging is a rapidly growing discipline that includes diverse fields such as consumer electronics, medicine, and marine biology. The use of animal-attached digital tags is a powerful approach to study the movement and ecology of individuals over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. This course is an introduction to bio-logging methods and analysis. Using whales as a model system, students will learn how use multi-sensor tags to study behavioral biomechanics.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIO 15N:
Environmental Literacy
Preference to freshmen. Lack of public understanding of the details of most environmental problems is cited as a cause of environmental deterioration. Good citizenship requires literacy about the elements of the scientific and decision making processes that accompany most environmental issues. Whether we are aware of them or not, environmental problems significantly decrease the quality of our lives, those of future generations and of other species. For example, when the average global temperature increases to 2oC (3.6oF) above natural, as many as 400,000 species could go extinct, and definitely some of those species, such as pollinators, currently enhance our quality of life greatly. Your grandchildren may need to learn to survive in a qualitatively different world than the one we know today.nIn this class we will explore many of the major problems our world is facing today including: over population, over consumption, sustainability impediments, toxins and pollution, and climate change. In addition, we will explore policies or lack thereof, communication missteps and breakdowns, and the role of the media to educate yet they often cause confusion.nEach week we will read articles¿mainly from the scientific literature, but also some from the policy world¿and discuss them in class.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 25Q:
The Molecular Basis of Genetic Disease
Preference to sophomores. Focus is on two genetic diseases resulting from the production of protein molecules that are unable to fold into their native conformations, called conformational diseases: cystic fibrosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. Hypotheses and controversies surrounding the molecular basis of these disorders, and implications for novel therapeutics. Readings from research literature.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 26N:
Maintenance of the Genome
Preference to freshmen. The precious blueprint for life is entrusted to the genomic DNA molecules in all living cells. Multiple strategies have evolved to prevent the deleterious consequences from endogenous DNA alterations and damage from radiation or genotoxic chemicals in the environment. In this seminar you will learn about the remarkable systems that scan cellular DNA for alterations and make repairs to ensure genomic stability. Deficiencies in DNA repair have been implicated in many hereditary diseases involving developmental defects, premature aging, and/or predisposition to cancer. An understanding of DNA repair mechanisms is important for advances in the fields of cancer biology, neurobiology, and gerontology. Background readings, introductory lectures, student presentations, short term paper.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 30:
Ecology for Everyone (EARTHSYS 30)
Everything is connected, but how? Ecology is the science of interactions and the changes they generate. This project-based course links individual behavior, population growth, species interactions, and ecosystem function. Introduction to measurement, observation, experimental design and hypothesis testing in field projects, mostly done in groups. The goal is to learn to think analytically about everyday ecological processes involving bacteria, fungi, plants, animals and humans. The course uses basic statistics to analyze data; there are no math prerequisites except arithmetic. Open to everyone, including those who may be headed for more advanced courses in ecology and environmental science.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 30N:
Extinctions in Near Time: Biodiversity loss since the Pleistocene
The transition 11,700 years ago from the Pleistocene glacial period into the Holocene interglacial witnessed the expansion of humans around the world, climatic warming and the demise of many large vertebrate species. Since that time extinctions have continued on land and in the sea, culminating with the biodiversity crisis we are experiencing today. We will explore these prehistoric extinctions: "Who? When? Where? and Why?" in order to learn more about our planet's future.
Last offered: Autumn 2012
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-CE, WAY-SMA
BIO 32Q:
Neuroethology: The Neural Control of Behavior (HUMBIO 91Q)
Preference to sophomores. Animal behavior offers insights about evolutionary adaptations and this seminar will discuss the origins of the study of animal behavior and its development to the present. How does the nervous system control behavior and how is it changed by behavior? We will analyze and discuss original research papers about the neural basis of behavior. The use and misuse of parallels between animal and human behavior. Possible field trip to observe animals in their natural habitat.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 33N:
Conservation Science and Practice
Preference to freshmen. This course will explore the potential for harmonizing people and nature, for achieving improved outcomes in the well-being of both as a result of conservation investments and interventions. We will consider biophysical, economic, social, and psychological perspectives, examining an array of conservation goals, from protecting endangered species to securing ecosystem services (such as flood control and climate stability) to alleviating poverty and improving mental well-being. We will also study the design and implementation of real conservation and human development efforts worldwide, among the many farmers, ranchers, fishing people, and others managing Earth's lands and waters. Highlights include a field trip to Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford¿s very own nature reserve, and guest visits of some impressive conservation leaders internationally.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 41:
Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology
Emphasis is on macromolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) and how their structure relates to function and higher order assembly; molecular biology, genome structure and dynamics, gene expression from transcription to translation. Prerequisites: CHEM 31X (or 31A,B), 33. Recommended: CHEM 35; MATH 19, 20, 21 or 41, 42.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 42:
Cell Biology and Animal Physiology
Cell structure and function; principles of animal physiology (immunology, renal, cardiovascular, sensory, motor physiology, and endocrinology); neurobiology from cellular basis to neural regulation of physiology. Prerequisites: CHEM 31X (or 31A,B), 33. Recommended: BIO 41; CHEM 35; MATH 19, 20, 21 or 41, 42.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 43:
Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology
Principles of evolution: macro- and microevolution and population genetics. Ecology: the principles underlying the exchanges of mass and energy between organisms and their environments; population, community, and ecosystem ecology; populations, evolution, and global change. Equivalent to BIOHOPK 43. Prerequisites: CHEM 31X (or 31A,B), 33. Recommended: BIO 41, 42; CHEM 35; MATH 19, 20, 21 or 41, 42.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 44X:
Core Molecular Biology Laboratory
Investigate yeast strains that are engineered to express the human protein, p53, and use modern molecular methods to identify the functional consequences of p53 mutations isolated from tumor cells. Learn about the protein's role as a tumor suppressor through lectures and by reading and discussing journal articles. Use molecular visualization programs to examine the structure of wild type and mutant p53 proteins. Formulate a testable hypothesis and assay the ability of mutant p53 to direct expression of several reporter genes. During guided reflection, formulate further analyses to determine whether mutant p53 is present in the cell, can bind to DNA, and/or can enter the nucleus. Conduct lab experiments, present findings through a team oral presentation, as well as a scientific poster. Prerequisites: CHEM 31X, or 31A,B, and 33; concurrent or past enrollment in Biology or Human Biology core. 44X,Y should be taken sequentially in the same year, preferably as sophomores, to prepare for internships. Preference given to juniors and seniors in fall quarter, preference given to sophomores in winter quarter. Prerequisite: BIO 41. Lab fee. Information about this class is available at http://bio44.stanford.edu.
Terms: Aut, Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Cyert, M. (PI);
Hekmat-Scafe, D. (PI);
Imam, J. (PI);
Malladi, S. (PI);
Schwartz, E. (PI);
Stearns, T. (PI);
Chen, S. (TA);
Chung, J. (TA);
Ei Cho, S. (TA);
Husmann, D. (TA);
King, D. (TA);
Masto, V. (TA);
Mursaliyev, N. (TA);
Sanchez, A. (TA);
Venard, C. (TA);
Wan, J. (TA);
Yang, R. (TA)
BIO 44Y:
Core Plant Biology & Eco Evo Laboratory
The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of how to conduct biological research, using a topic in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Plant Biology as a practical example. This includes the complete scientific process: assessing background literature, generating testable hypotheses, learning techniques for field- and lab-based data collection, analyzing data using appropriate statistical methods, and finally writing and sharing results. To build these skills, this course will focus on the ecology of oak regeneration at Stanford's nearby Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Students, working in teams, will develop novel research hypotheses and execute the necessary experiments and measurements to test these hypotheses. The capstone of the course will be an oral defense of students' findings, as well as a research paper in the style of a peer-reviewed journal article. Labs will be completed both on campus and at Jasper Ridge. Lab fee. Information about this class is available at http://bio44.stanford.edu. Satisfies WIM in Biology.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Dirzo, R. (PI);
Hekmat-Scafe, D. (PI);
Malladi, S. (PI);
Perea, R. (PI);
Burford, B. (TA);
Crane, R. (TA);
Davis, C. (TA);
Dlott, G. (TA);
Redondo, S. (TA);
Segnitz, M. (TA);
Sun, Y. (TA)
BIO 109A:
The Human Genome and Disease (BIOC 109A, BIOC 209A, HUMBIO 158)
The variability of the human genome and the role of genomic information in research, drug discovery, and human health. Concepts and interpretations of genomic markers in medical research and real life applications. Human genomes in diverse populations. Original contributions from thought leaders in academia and industry and interaction between students and guest lecturers. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 109B:
The Human Genome and Disease: Genetic Diversity and Personalized Medicine (BIOC 109B)
Continuation of 109A/209A. Genetic drift: the path of human predecessors out of Africa to Europe and then either through Asia to Australia or through northern Russia to Alaska down to the W. Coast of the Americas. Support for this idea through the histocompatibility genes and genetic sequences that predispose people to diseases. Guest lectures from academia and pharmaceutical companies. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 110:
Chromatin Regulation of the Genome (BIO 210)
Maintenance of the genome is a prerequisite for life. In eukaryotes, all DNA-templated processes are tightly connected to chromatin structure and function. This course will explore epigenetic and chromatin regulation of cellular processes related to aging, cancer, stem cell pluripotency, metabolic homeostasis, and development. Course material integrates current literature with a foundational review of histone modifications and nucleosome composition in epigenetic inheritance, transcription, replication, cell division and DNA damage responses.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 115:
The hidden kingdom - evolution, ecology and diversity of fungi (BIO 239)
Fungi are critical, yet often hidden, components of the biosphere. They regulate decomposition, are primary partners in plant symbiosis and strongly impact agriculture and economics. Students will explore the fascinating world of fungal biology, ecology and evolution via lecture, lab, field exercises and Saturday field trips that will provide traditional and molecular experiences in the collection, analysis and industrial use of diverse fungi. Students will chose an environmental niche, collect and identify resident fungi, and hypothesize about their community relationship. Prerequisite: Bio 43 recommended.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIO 117:
Biology and Global Change (EARTHSYS 111, ESS 111)
The biological causes and consequences of anthropogenic and natural changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Topics: glacial cycles and marine circulation, greenhouse gases and climate change, tropical deforestation and species extinctions, and human population growth and resource use. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core or graduate standing.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 118:
Genetic Analysis of Biological Processes
Focus is on using mutations and genetic analysis to study biological and medical questions. The first portion of the course covers how the identification and analysis of mutations can be used in model systems to investigate biological processes such as development and metabolism. In the second portion of the course, we focus on the use of existing genetic variation in humans and other species to identify disease-associated genes as well as to investigate variation in morphological traits such as body size and shape.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 121:
Biogeography
Global distributions of organisms through the Phanerozoic, with emphasis on historical causes. Topics: plate tectonics, island biogeography, climatic change, dispersal, vicariance, ecology of invasions, extinction, gradients, diversity. Satisfies Central Menu Area 4.
Last offered: Spring 2009
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 129A:
Cellular Dynamics I: Cell Motility and Adhesion
Cell motility emphasizing role of actin assembly and dynamics coupling actin organization to cell movement. Interaction of cells with extracellular matrix, and remodelling of extracellular matrix in development and disease. Directed cell migration by chemotaxis (neuronal path-finding, immune cells). Cell-cell adhesion, formation of intercellular junctions and mechanisms regulating cell-cell interactions in development and diseases. Emphasis is on experimental logic, methods, problem solving, and interpretation of results. Students present research papers. Satisfies Central Menu Area 2. Prerequisite: Biology core.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIO 136:
Evolutionary Paleobiology
A paleontological approach to evolutionary theory. Topics: history of life, speciation, heterochrony, evolutionary constraint, coevolution, macroevolution, the Cambrian Explosion, mass extinctions, taphonomy, life on land, life in the sea, life in the air. Satisfies Central Menu Area 4. Prerequisite: Biology Core.
Last offered: Winter 2011
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 137:
Plant Genetics
Gene analysis, mutagenesis, transposable elements; developmental genetics of flowering and embryo development; biochemical genetics of plant metabolism; scientific and societal lessons from transgenic plants. Satisfies Central Menu Area 2. Prerequisite: Biology core or consent of instructor. Satisfies WIM in Biology.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 150:
Human Behavioral Biology (HUMBIO 160)
Multidisciplinary. How to approach complex normal and abnormal behaviors through biology. How to integrate disciplines including sociobiology, ethology, neuroscience, and endocrinology to examine behaviors such as aggression, sexual behavior, language use, and mental illness.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Sapolsky, R. (PI);
Bharadwaj, M. (GP);
Connolly, C. (GP);
Cussen, L. (GP);
Gherardini, P. (GP);
Hunter, L. (GP);
Khan, T. (GP);
Uyeda, M. (GP);
Warden, C. (GP);
Zhou, B. (GP)
BIO 153:
Cellular Neuroscience: Cell Signaling and Behavior (PSYCH 120)
Neural interactions underlying behavior. Prerequisites: PSYCH 1 or basic biology.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 158:
Developmental Neurobiology (BIO 258)
For advanced undergraduates and coterminal students. The principles of nervous system development from the molecular control of patterning, cell-cell interactions, and trophic factors to the level of neural systems and the role of experience in influencing brain structure and function. Topics: neural induction and patterning cell lineage, neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axonal pathfinding, synapse elimination, the role of activity, critical periods, and the development of behavior. Satisfies Central Menu Areas 2 or 3. Prerequisite: BIO 42 or equivalent.
Last offered: Autumn 2014
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIO 174:
Human Skeletal Anatomy (ANTHRO 175, ANTHRO 275, BIO 274, HUMBIO 180)
Study of the human skeleton (a. k. a. human osteology), as it bears on other disciplines, including medicine, forensics, archaeology, and paleoanthropology (human evolution). Basic bone biology, anatomy, and development, emphasizing hands-on examination and identification of human skeletal parts, their implications for determining an individual¿s age, sex, geographic origin, and health status, and for the evolutionary history of our species. Three hours of lecture and at least three hours of supervised and independent study in the lab each week.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOC 109A:
The Human Genome and Disease (BIO 109A, BIOC 209A, HUMBIO 158)
The variability of the human genome and the role of genomic information in research, drug discovery, and human health. Concepts and interpretations of genomic markers in medical research and real life applications. Human genomes in diverse populations. Original contributions from thought leaders in academia and industry and interaction between students and guest lecturers. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOC 109B:
The Human Genome and Disease: Genetic Diversity and Personalized Medicine (BIO 109B)
Continuation of 109A/209A. Genetic drift: the path of human predecessors out of Africa to Europe and then either through Asia to Australia or through northern Russia to Alaska down to the W. Coast of the Americas. Support for this idea through the histocompatibility genes and genetic sequences that predispose people to diseases. Guest lectures from academia and pharmaceutical companies. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOC 118Q:
Genomics and Medicine
Preference to sophomores. Knowledge gained from sequencing human genomes and implications for medicine and biomedical research. Novel diagnoses and treatment of diseases, including stem cells, gene therapy and rational drug design. Personal genomics and how it is used to improve health and well being. Social and ethical implications of genetic information such as privacy, discrimination and insurability. Course Webpage: http://biochem118.stanford.edu/.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOE 41:
Physical Biology of Macromolecules
Principles of statistical physics, thermodynamics, and kinetics with applications to molecular biology. Topics include entropy, temperature, chemical forces, enzyme kinetics, free energy and its uses, self assembly, cooperative transitions in macromolecules, molecular machines, feedback, and accurate replication. Prerequisites: MATH 41, 42; CHEM 31A, B (or 31X); strongly recommended: PHYSICS 41, CME 100 or MATH 51, and CME 106; or instructor approval.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIOE 42:
Physical Biology of Cells
Principles of transport, continuum mechanics, and fluids, with applications to cell biology. Topics include random walks, diffusion, Langevin dynamics, transport theory, low Reynolds number flow, and beam theory, with applications including quantitative models of protein trafficking in the cell, mechanics of the cell cytoskeleton, the effects of molecular noise in development, the electromagnetics of nerve impulses, and an introduction to cardiovascular fluid flow. Prerequisites: MATH 41, 42; CHEM 31A, B (or 31X); strongly recommended: CS 106A, PHYSICS 41, CME 100 or MATH 51, and CME 106; or instructor approval. 4 units, Spr (Huang, K)
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIOE 44:
Fundamentals for Engineering Biology Lab
Introduction to next-generation techniques in genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular engineering. Lab modules build upon current research including: gene and genome engineering via decoupled design and construction of genetic material; component engineering focusing on molecular design and quantitative analysis of experiments; device and system engineering using abstracted genetically encoded objects; and product development based on useful applications of biological technologies. Concurrent or previous enrollment in BIO 41.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOE 103:
Systems Physiology and Design
Physiology of intact human tissues, organs, and organ systems in health and disease, and bioengineering tools used (or needed) to probe and model these physiological systems. Topics: Clinical physiology, network physiology and system design/plasticity, diseases and interventions (major syndromes, simulation, and treatment, instrumentation for intervention, stimulation, diagnosis, and prevention), and new technologies including tissue engineering and optogenetics. Discussions of pathology of these systems in a clinical-case based format, with a view towards identifying unmet clinical needs. Learning computational skills that not only enable simulation of these systems but also apply more broadly to biomedical data analysis. Prerequisites: CME 102; PHYSICS 41; BIO 41, 42
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIOE 103B:
Systems Physiology and Design
*ONLINE Offering of BIOE103. This pilot class, BIOE103B, is an entirely online offering with the same content, learning goals, and prerequisites as BIOE103. Students attend class by watching videos and completing assignments remotely. Students may attend recitation and office hours in person, but cannot attend the BIOE103 in-person lecture due to room capacity restraints.* Physiology of intact human tissues, organs, and organ systems in health and disease, and bioengineering tools used (or needed) to probe and model these physiological systems. Topics: Clinical physiology, network physiology and system design/plasticity, diseases and interventions (major syndromes, simulation, and treatment, instrumentation for intervention, stimulation, diagnosis, and prevention), and new technologies including tissue engineering and optogenetics. Discussions of pathology of these systems in a clinical-case based format, with a view towards identifying unmet clinical needs. Learning computational skills that not only enable simulation of these systems but also apply more broadly to biomedical data analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 41, 42; CME 102; PHY 41; BIO 41, 42; strongly recommended PHY 43; or instructor approval.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
BIOE 123:
Biomedical System Prototyping Lab
The Bioengineering System Prototyping Laboratory is a fast-paced, team-based system engineering experience, in which teams of 2-3 students design and build a fermenter that meets a set of common requirements along with a set of unique team-determined requirements. Students learn-by-doing hands-on skills in electronics and mechanical design and fabrication. Teams also develop process skills and an engineering mindset by aligning specifications with requirements, developing output metrics and measuring performance, and creating project proposals and plans. The course culminates in demonstration of a fully functioning fermenter that meets the teams' self-determined metrics.nnLearning goals:n1. Hands-on skills and experience with design, fabrication, integration, and characterization of practical electronic and mechanical hardware systems relevant to Bioengineeringn2. Practice using modern rapid prototyping and device equipment and techniques, including CAD, 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers, design thinkingn3. Experience working as a team to build an end-to-end functional biomedical system (e.g., a fermenter)nnPrerequisites: BIOE 41 and Matlab recommended.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 44Y:
Core Laboratory in Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Laboratory and field projects provide working familiarity with the concepts, organisms, and techniques of plant and evolutionary biology, and ecology. Emphasis is on hands-on experimentation in the marine environment, analysis of data, and written and oral presentation of the experiments. Equivalent to BIO 44Y. Corequisite: BIOHOPK 43. Satisfies WIM in Biology.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 150H:
Ecological Mechanics (BIOHOPK 250H)
(Graduate students register for 250H.) The principles of life's physical interactions. We will explore basic physics. fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and materials science to see how the principles of these fields can be used to investigate ecology at levels from the individual to the community. Topics include: diffusion, boundary layers, fluid-dynamic forces, locomotion, heat-budget models, fracture mechanics, adhesion, beam theory, the statistics of extremes, and the theory of self-organization. Open to students from all backgrounds. Some familiarity with basic physics and calculus advantageous but not necessary.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 154H:
Animal Diversity: An Introduction to Evolution of Animal Form and Function from Larvae to Adults (BIOHOPK 254H)
Survey of invertebrate diversity, emphasizing form and function of both adult and larval life history stages. Focuses on how morphology, life histories, and development contribute to current views of the evolutionary diversification of multicellular animals. Labs are a hands-on exploration of animal diversity using local marine species as examples, as well as techniques of obtaining, handling, and maintaining larvae from early development through settlement. Lectures, labs, plus field trips. Satisfies Central Menu Area 3 for Bio majors. Prerequisite: Biology core or consent of instructors.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 7
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 155H:
Developmental Biology and Evolution (BIOHOPK 255H)
(Graduate students register for 255) This course focusses on how animals form their basic body plans; from the formation of their germ layers; ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm, to how they are organized along the main developmental axes; the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes. The course will focus in part on the molecular mechanisms that underlie these developmental decisions from work carried out in established developmental model species. However, we will also explore the current understanding of how these mechanisms evolved from new insights from emerging models representing a broad range of animal phyla. The setting at Hopkins Marine Station will allow us to carry out experiments from animals collected in the field, and the course will involve a substantial lab component to complement concepts and approaches presented in lecture. nPre-requisites : Biocore or by permission of instructor
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 161H:
Invertebrate Zoology (BIOHOPK 261H)
(Graduate students register for 261H.) Survey of invertebrate diversity emphasizing form and function in a phylogenetic framework. Morphological diversity, life histories, physiology, and ecology of the major invertebrate groups, concentrating on local marine forms as examples. Current views on the phylogenetic relationships and evolution of the invertebrates. Lectures, lab, plus field trips. Satisfies Central Menu Area 3 for Bio majors. Prerequisite: Biology core or consent of instructor.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 163H:
Oceanic Biology (BIOHOPK 263H)
(Graduate students register for 263H.) How the physics and chemistry of the oceanic environment affect marine plants and animals. Topics: seawater and ocean circulation, separation of light and nutrients in the two-layered ocean, oceanic food webs and trophic interactions, oceanic environments, biogeography, and global change. Lectures, discussion, and field trips. Satisfies Central Menu Area 4 for Bio majors. Recommended: PHYSICS 21 or 51, CHEM 31, Biology core, or consent of instructor.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 172H:
Marine Ecology: From Organisms to Ecosystems (BIOHOPK 272H)
(Graduate students register for 272H.) This course incorporates the approaches of experimental ecology, biomechanics (ecomechanics), and physiology to develop an integrated perspective on the factors that govern the structures of marine ecosystems and how environment change, including anthropogenic influences, affects ecosystems' species composition and health. Focus is on rocky intertidal, kelp forest, estuarine, and midwater ecosystems of Monterey Bay. Experimental projects done in the field offer experience in a variety of ecological techniques and in analysis of ecological data. Students will engage in presentation and debates of current topics in marine ecology and conservation. Satisfies Central Menu Area 4 for Bio majors. Prerequisite: Biology core or consent of instructor. Fulfills WIM in Biology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 179H:
Physiological Ecology of Marine Megafauna (BIOHOPK 279H)
(Graduate students register for 279H.) The ocean is home to the largest animals of all-time. How, when, and why did gigantism evolve in different taxa? What are the consequences of large body size? This course will focus on how biological processes scale with body size, with an emphasis on oceanic megafauna including marine mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles. In particular, the course will explore the functional mechanisms that generate the scaling relationships for physiological and ecological traits, such as metabolism, ecosystem function and body size evolution. Students will also be introduced to state-of-the-art technologies used to student marine megafauna in some of the most logistically challenging habitats on earth.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 182H:
Stanford at Sea (BIOHOPK 323H, EARTHSYS 323, EESS 323)
(Graduate students register for 323H.) Five weeks of marine science including oceanography, marine physiology, policy, maritime studies, conservation, and nautical science at Hopkins Marine Station, followed by five weeks at sea aboard a sailing research vessel in the Pacific Ocean. Shore component comprised of three multidisciplinary courses meeting daily and continuing aboard ship. Students develop an independent research project plan while ashore, and carry out the research at sea. In collaboration with the Sea Education Association of Woods Hole, MA. Only 6 units may count towards the Biology major.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 16
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
BIOHOPK 185H:
Ecology and Conservation of Kelp Forest Communities (BIOHOPK 285H)
(Graduate students register for 285H.) Five week course. Daily lectures, labs, and scuba dives focused on kelp forest biology. Topics include identification and natural history of resident organisms, ecological processes that maintain biodiversity and community organization, field methods, data analysis, and research diving techniques. Class projects contribute to ongoing studies associated with Hopkins Marine Life Observatory. It is recommended that students complete Stanford's Scientific Diver Training workshop, offered during spring break and the week before the course starts, although this is not a requirement. Prerequisites: consent of instructor; advanced scuba certification and scuba equipment.
Terms: Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
CEE 63:
Weather and Storms (CEE 263C)
Daily and severe weather and global climate. Topics: structure and composition of the atmosphere, fog and cloud formation, rainfall, local winds, wind energy, global circulation, jet streams, high and low pressure systems, inversions, el Niño, la Niña, atmosphere/ocean interactions, fronts, cyclones, thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, pollutant transport, global climate and atmospheric optics.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CEE 64:
Air Pollution and Global Warming: History, Science, and Solutions (CEE 263D)
Survey of Survey of air pollution and global warming and their renewable energy solutions. Topics: evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, history of discovery of chemicals in the air, bases and particles in urban smog, visibility, indoor air pollution, acid rain, stratospheric and Antarctic ozone loss, the historic climate record, causes and effects of global warming, impacts of energy systems on pollution and climate, renewable energy solutions to air pollution and global warming. UG Reqs: GER: DBNatSci
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CEE 70N:
Water, Public Health, and Engineering
Preference to frosh. Linkages between water, wastewater and public health, with an emphasis on engineering interventions. Topics include the history of water and wastewater infrastructure development in the U.S. and Europe; evolution of epidemiological approaches for water-related health challenges; biological and chemical contaminants in water and wastewater and their management; and current trends and challenges in access to water and sanitation around the world. Identifying ways in which freshwater contributes to human health; exposure routes for water- and sanitation-illness. Classifying illnesses by pathogen type and their geographic distribution. Identifying the health and economic consequences of water- and sanitation-related illnesses; costs and benefits of curative and preventative interventions. Interpreting data related to epidemiological and environmental concepts. No previous experience in engineering is required.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
CEE 178:
Introduction to Human Exposure Analysis (CEE 276)
(Graduate students register for 276.) Scientific and engineering issues involved in quantifying human exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. Pollutant behavior, inhalation exposure, dermal exposure, and assessment tools. Overview of the complexities, uncertainties, and physical, chemical, and biological issues relevant to risk assessment. Lab projects. Recommended: MATH 51. Apply at first class for admission.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
CEE 195:
Fundamentals of Structural Geology (GS 111)
Techniques for mapping using GPS and differential geometry to characterize structures; dimensional analysis and scaling relations; kinematics of deformation and flow; measurement and analysis of stress; elastic deformation and properties of rock; brittle deformation including fracture and faulting; linear viscous flow including folding and magma dynamics; model development and methodology. Models of tectonic processes are constructed and solutions visualized using MATLAB. Prerequisites: GS 1, MATH 51
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
CHEM 25N:
Science in the News
Preference to freshmen. Possible topics include: diseases such as avian flu, HIV, and malaria; environmental issues such as climate change, atmospheric pollution, and human population; energy sources in the future; evolution; stem cell research; nanotechnology; and drug development. Focus is on the scientific basis for these topics as a basis for intelligent discussion of societal and political implications. Sources include the popular media and scientific media for the nonspecialist, especially those available on the web.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
CHEM 31A:
Chemical Principles I
For students with moderate or no background in chemistry. Stoichiometry; periodicity; electronic structure and bonding; gases; enthalpy; phase behavior. Emphasis is on skills to address structural and quantitative chemical questions; lab provides practice. Recitation.
Terms: Aut, Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CHEM 31B:
Chemical Principles II
Chemical equilibrium; acids and bases; oxidation and reduction reactions; chemical thermodynamics; kinetics. Lab. Prerequisite: 31A.
Terms: Win, Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CHEM 31X:
Chemical Principles Accelerated
Accelerated; for students with substantial chemistry background. Chemical equilibria concepts, equilibrium constants, acids and bases, chemical thermodynamics, quantum concepts, models of ionic and covalent bonding, atomic and molecular orbital theory, periodicity, and bonding properties of matter. Recitation. Prerequisites: AP chemistry score of 5 or passing score on chemistry placement test, and AP Calculus AB score of 4 or Math 20 or Math 41. Recommended: high school physics.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CHEM 33:
Structure and Reactivity
Organic chemistry, functional groups, hydrocarbons, stereochemistry, thermochemistry, kinetics, chemical equilibria. Recitation. Prerequisite: 31A,B, or 31X, or an AP Chemistry score of 5.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
CHEM 134:
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
Classical analysis methods, statistical analyses, chromatography, and spectroscopy will be covered with an emphasis upon quantitative measurements and data analysis. WIM course with full lab reports and oral communication. Concludes with student-developed quantitative project. Prerequisite: Chem 35
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
CHEMENG 20:
Introduction to Chemical Engineering (ENGR 20)
Overview of chemical engineering through discussion and engineering analysis of physical and chemical processes. Topics: overall staged separations, material and energy balances, concepts of rate processes, energy and mass transport, and kinetics of chemical reactions. Applications of these concepts to areas of current technological importance: biotechnology, energy, production of chemicals, materials processing, and purification. Prerequisite: CHEM 31.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
CHEMENG 80Q:
Art, Chemistry, and Madness: The Science of Art Materials
Preference to sophomores. Chemistry of natural and synthetic pigments in five historical palettes: earth (paleolithic), classical (Egyptian, Greco-Roman), medieval European (Middle Ages), Renaissance (old masters), and synthetic (contemporary). Composite nature of paints using scanning electron microscopy images; analytical techniques used in art conservation, restoration, and determination of provenance; and inherent health hazards. Paintings as mechanical structures. Hands-on laboratory includes stretching canvas, applying gesso grounds, grinding pigments, preparing egg tempera paint, bamboo and quill pens, gilding and illumination, and papermaking.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
CHPR 130:
Human Nutrition (HUMBIO 130)
The study of food, and the nutrients and substances therein. Their action, interaction, and balance in relation to health and disease. Emphasis is on the biological, chemical, and physiological processes by which humans ingest, digest, absorb, transport, utilize, and excrete food. Dietary composition and individual choices are discussed in relationship to the food supply, and to population and cultural, race, ethnic, religious, and social economic diversity. The relationships between nutrition and disease; ethnic diets; vegetarianism; nutritional deficiencies; nutritional supplementation; phytochemicals.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
COMPMED 80N:
Introduction to Animal Behavior
Preference to freshman. Behavior is what makes animals special (thirsty plants don't walk to water), but why do animals behave the way they do? What does their behavior tell us about their inner lives, and about ourselves? What do lipstick and cuckoos and fireflies have in common? Why would nobody want to be a penguin? What do mice say to each other in their pee-mail? Learning how to think about questions like these gives us a unique perspective on the natural world. Format: Discussion and criticism of video examples, documentaries, and research papers. Topics: History and approaches to animal behavior; development of behavior, from genetics to learning; mechanisms of behavior, from neurons to motivation; function of behavior, from honest signals to selfish genes; the phylogeny of behavior, from domestication to speciation; and modern applications of behavior, from abnormal behavior, to conservation, to animal welfare, and animal consciousness.
Terms: Aut, Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
COMPMED 81N:
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Mammals
Preference to freshmen. Emphasis is on a comparative approach to anatomy and physiology of a wide range of mammals, the unique adaptations of each species in terms of its anatomical, and behavioral characteristics, and how these species interact with human beings and other animals. Dissection required. Class size is limited to 16.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
COMPMED 84Q:
Globally Emerging Zoonotic Diseases
Preference to sophomores. Infectious diseases impacting veterinary and human health around the world today. Mechanisms of disease, epidemiology, and underlying diagnostic, treatment and control principles associated with these pathogens.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
COMPMED 87Q:
Introduction to the Mouse in Biomedical Research
Preference to sophomores. Focus is on the laboratory mouse, a widely used and important research model. Topics include the ethics of animal use in research; the natural history, origin and husbandry of the mouse; characteristics of key mouse strains; its anatomy and physiology; common diseases and their effects on research; coat color genetics relative to human diseases; immunodeficient mouse models; and genetic engineering of mice. The laboratory includes necropsy, handling, anesthesia, identification methods, and common research techniques using live and dead mice. Enrollment limited to 14 students.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
COMPMED 88Q:
Blood Cells- The Basics
Preference to sophomores. The essential and constant production of new blood cells by the bone marrow. Focus is on fundamentals of the three blood cell types along with white blood cell subtypes. Topics include the microscopic appearance of blood cells in mammalian and non-mammalian species, common morphologic abnormalities of blood cells, and shifts in blood cells that occur in several major diseases of humans and animals. Ideally suited for premed, prevet and Bio-X students, but no biology specialty background required.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTH 2:
CLIMATE AND SOCIETY
How and why is the climate changing? How might a changing climate affect human society? And what can we do to alter the course of climate change and adapt to any climatic changes that do occur? This course provides an introduction to the natural science and social science of climate change. The focus is on what science tells us about the causes, consequences, and solutions to climate change, as well as on how scientific progress is made on these issues.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTH 117:
Earth Sciences of the Hawaiian Islands (EARTHSYS 117, ESS 117)
Progression from volcanic processes through rock weathering and soil-ecosystem development to landscape evolution. The course starts with an investigation of volcanic processes, including the volcano structure, origin of magmas, physical-chemical factors of eruptions. Factors controlling rock weathering and soil development, including depth and nutrient levels impacting plant ecosystems, are explored next. Geomorphic processes of landscape evolution including erosion rates, tectonic/volcanic activity, and hillslope stability conclude the course. Methods for monitoring and predicting eruptions, defining spatial changes in landform, landform stability, soil production rates, and measuring biogeochemical processes are covered throughout the course. This course is restricted to students accepted into the Earth Systems of Hawaii Program.
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 4:
How to Build and Maintain a Habitable Planet: An Introduction to Earth System History (GS 4)
Introduction to the history of the Earth, with a focus on processes that maintain or threaten habitability. Principles of stratigraphy, correlation, the geological timescale, the history of biodiversity, and the interpretation of fossils. The use of data from sedimentary geology, geochemistry, and paleontology to test theories for critical events in Earth history such as mass extinctions. One half-day field trip.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 8:
The Oceans: An Introduction to the Marine Environment (ESS 8)
The course will provide a basic understanding of how the ocean functions as a suite of interconnected ecosystems, both naturally and under the influence of human activities. Emphasis is on the interactions between the physical and chemical environment and the dominant organisms of each ecosystem. The types of ecosystems discussed include coral reefs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, coastal upwelling systems, blue-water oceans, estuaries, and near-shore dead zones. Lectures, multimedia presentations, group activities, and tide-pooling day trip.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 10:
Introduction to Earth Systems
For non-majors and prospective Earth Systems majors. Multidisciplinary approach using the principles of geology, biology, engineering, and economics to describe how the Earth operates as an interconnected, integrated system. Goal is to understand global change on all time scales. Focus is on sciences, technological principles, and sociopolitical approaches applied to solid earth, oceans, water, energy, and food and population. Case studies: environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and resource sustainability.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 30:
Ecology for Everyone (BIO 30)
Everything is connected, but how? Ecology is the science of interactions and the changes they generate. This project-based course links individual behavior, population growth, species interactions, and ecosystem function. Introduction to measurement, observation, experimental design and hypothesis testing in field projects, mostly done in groups. The goal is to learn to think analytically about everyday ecological processes involving bacteria, fungi, plants, animals and humans. The course uses basic statistics to analyze data; there are no math prerequisites except arithmetic. Open to everyone, including those who may be headed for more advanced courses in ecology and environmental science.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 41N:
The Global Warming Paradox
Preference to freshman. Focus is on the complex climate challenges posed by the substantial benefits of energy consumption, including the critical tension between the enormous global demand for increased human well-being and the negative climate consequences of large-scale emissions of carbon dioxide. Topics include: Earth¿s energy balance; detection and attribution of climate change; the climate response to enhanced greenhouse forcing; impacts of climate change on natural and human systems; and proposed methods for curbing further climate change. Sources include peer-reviewed scientific papers, current research results, and portrayal of scientific findings by the mass media and social networks.
Terms: Aut, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 46N:
Exploring the Critical Interface between the Land and Monterey Bay: Elkhorn Slough (ESS 46N)
Preference to freshmen. Field trips to sites in the Elkhorn Slough, a small agriculturally impacted estuary that opens into Monterey Bay, a model ecosystem for understanding the complexity of estuaries, and one of California's last remaining coastal wetlands. Readings include Jane Caffrey's Changes in a California Estuary: A Profile of Elkhorn Slough. Basics of biogeochemistry, microbiology, oceanography, ecology, pollution, and environmental management.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 57Q:
Climate Change from the Past to the Future (ESS 57Q)
Preference to sophomores. Numeric models to predict how climate responds to increase of greenhouse gases. Paleoclimate during times in Earth's history when greenhouse gas concentrations were elevated with respect to current concentrations. Predicted scenarios of climate models and how these models compare to known hyperthermal events in Earth history. Interactions and feedbacks among biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include long- and short-term carbon cycle, coupled biogeochemical cycles affected by and controlling climate change, and how the biosphere responds to climate change. Possible remediation strategies.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 101:
Energy and the Environment (ENERGY 101)
Energy use in modern society and the consequences of current and future energy use patterns. Case studies illustrate resource estimation, engineering analysis of energy systems, and options for managing carbon emissions. Focus is on energy definitions, use patterns, resource estimation, pollution. Recommended: MATH 21 or 42.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 102:
Renewable Energy Sources and Greener Energy Processes (ENERGY 102)
Do you want a much better understanding of renewable power technologies? Did you know that wind and solar are the fastest growing forms of electricity generation? Are you interested in hearing about the most recent, and future, designs for green power? Do you want to understand what limits power extraction from renewable resources and how current designs could be improved? This course dives deep into these and related issues for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, tidal and wave power technologies. We welcome all student, from non-majors to MBAs and grad students. If you are potentially interested in an energy or environmental related major, this course is particularly useful. Recommended: Math 21 or 42.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 104:
The Water Course (GEOPHYS 70)
The pathway that water takes from rainfall to the tap using student home towns as an example. How the geological environment controls the quantity and quality of water; taste tests of water from around the world. Current U.S. and world water supply issues.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 111:
Biology and Global Change (BIO 117, ESS 111)
The biological causes and consequences of anthropogenic and natural changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Topics: glacial cycles and marine circulation, greenhouse gases and climate change, tropical deforestation and species extinctions, and human population growth and resource use. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core or graduate standing.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 113:
Earthquakes and Volcanoes (GEOPHYS 90)
Is the "Big One" overdue in California? What kind of damage would that cause? What can we do to reduce the impact of such hazards in urban environments? Does "fracking" cause earthquakes and are we at risk? Is the United States vulnerable to a giant tsunami? The geologic record contains evidence of volcanic super eruptions throughout Earth's history. What causes these gigantic explosive eruptions, and can they be predicted in the future? This course will address these and related issues. For non-majors and potential Earth scientists. No prerequisites. More information at: https://stanford.box.com/s/tpwwqpl2ryxfty6stq8wo2j78fj06ikg
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 117:
Earth Sciences of the Hawaiian Islands (EARTH 117, ESS 117)
Progression from volcanic processes through rock weathering and soil-ecosystem development to landscape evolution. The course starts with an investigation of volcanic processes, including the volcano structure, origin of magmas, physical-chemical factors of eruptions. Factors controlling rock weathering and soil development, including depth and nutrient levels impacting plant ecosystems, are explored next. Geomorphic processes of landscape evolution including erosion rates, tectonic/volcanic activity, and hillslope stability conclude the course. Methods for monitoring and predicting eruptions, defining spatial changes in landform, landform stability, soil production rates, and measuring biogeochemical processes are covered throughout the course. This course is restricted to students accepted into the Earth Systems of Hawaii Program.
Last offered: Autumn 2014
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 122:
Paleobiology (GS 123, GS 223B)
Introduction to the fossil record with emphasis on marine invertebrates. Major debates in paleontological research. The history of animal life in the oceans. Topics include the nature of the fossil record, evolutionary radiations, mass extinctions, and the relationship between biological evolution and environmental change. Fossil taxa through time. Exercises in phylogenetics, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, and statistical methods.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 151:
Biological Oceanography (EARTHSYS 251, ESS 151, ESS 251)
Required for Earth Systems students in the oceans track. Interdisciplinary look at how oceanic environments control the form and function of marine life. Topics include distributions of planktonic production and abundance, nutrient cycling, the role of ocean biology in the climate system, expected effects of climate changes on ocean biology. Local weekend field trips. Designed to be taken concurrently with Marine Chemistry (EESS/EARTHSYS 152/252). Prerequisites: BIO 43 and EESS 8 or equivalent.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 152:
Marine Chemistry (EARTHSYS 252, ESS 152, ESS 252)
Introduction to the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills required to critically evaluate problems in marine chemistry and related disciplines. Physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine the chemical composition of seawater. Air-sea gas exchange, carbonate chemistry, and chemical equilibria, nutrient and trace element cycling, particle reactivity, sediment chemistry, and diagenesis. Examination of chemical tracers of mixing and circulation and feedbacks of ocean processes on atmospheric chemistry and climate. Designed to be taken concurrently with Biological Oceanography (EESS/EARTHSYS 151/251)
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 155:
Science of Soils (ESS 155)
Physical, chemical, and biological processes within soil systems. Emphasis is on factors governing nutrient availability, plant growth and production, land-resource management, and pollution within soils. How to classify soils and assess nutrient cycling and contaminant fate. Recommended: introductory chemistry and biology.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 156:
Soil and Water Chemistry (EARTHSYS 256, ESS 156, ESS 256)
(Graduate students register for 256.) Practical and quantitative treatment of soil processes affecting chemical reactivity, transformation, retention, and bioavailability. Principles of primary areas of soil chemistry: inorganic and organic soil components, complex equilibria in soil solutions, and adsorption phenomena at the solid-water interface. Processes and remediation of acid, saline, and wetland soils. Recommended: soil science and introductory chemistry and microbiology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 1-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
EARTHSYS 180B:
Principles and Practices of Sustainable Agriculture (ESS 280B)
Field-based training in ecologically sound agricultural practices at the Stanford Community Farm. Weekly lessons, field work, and group projects. Field trips to educational farms in the area. Topics include: soils, composting, irrigation techniques, IPM, basic plant anatomy and physiology, weeds, greenhouse management, and marketing.
Terms: Aut, Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
| Repeatable
3 times
(up to 12 units total)
EE 21N:
What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is an often used word and it means many things to different people. Scientists and Engineers have some notion of what nanotechnology is, societal perception may be entirely different. In this course, we start with the classic paper by Richard Feynman ("There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom"), which laid down the challenge to the nanotechnologists. Then we discuss two classic books that offer a glimpse of what nanotechnology is: Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology by Eric Drexler, and Prey by Michael Crichton. Drexler's thesis sparked the imagination of what nano machinery might do, whereas Crichton's popular novel channeled the public's attention to this subject by portraying a disastrous scenario of a technology gone astray. We will use the scientific knowledge to analyze the assumptions and predictions of these classic works. We will draw upon the latest research advances to illustrate the possibilities and impossibilities of nanotechnology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 41:
Physics of Electrical Engineering (ENGR 40P)
How everything from electrostatics to quantum mechanics is used in common high-technology products. Electrostatics are critical in micro-mechanical systems used in many sensors and displays, and Electromagnetic waves are essential in all high-speed communication systems. How to propagate energy on transmission lines, optical fibers,and in free space. Which aspects of modern physics are needed to generate light for the operation of a DVD player or TV. Introduction to semiconductors, solid-state light bulbs, and laser pointers. Hands-on labs to connect physics to everyday experience. Prerequisites: Physics 43
Last offered: Winter 2014
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
EE 60N:
Man versus Nature: Coping with Disasters Using Space Technology (GEOPHYS 60N)
Preference to freshman. Natural hazards, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, and fires, and how they affect people and society; great disasters such as asteroid impacts that periodically obliterate many species of life. Scientific issues, political and social consequences, costs of disaster mitigation, and how scientific knowledge affects policy. How spaceborne imaging technology makes it possible to respond quickly and mitigate consequences; how it is applied to natural disasters; and remote sensing data manipulation and analysis. GER:DB-EngrAppSci
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 65:
Modern Physics for Engineers
This course introduces the core ideas of modern physics that enable applications ranging from solar energy and efficient lighting to the modern electronic and optical devices and nanotechnologies that sense, process, store, communicate and display all our information. Though the ideas have broad impact, the course is widely accessible to engineering and science students with only basic linear algebra and calculus through simple ordinary differential equations as mathematics background. Topics include the quantum mechanics of electrons and photons (Schrödinger's equation, atoms, electrons, energy levels and energy bands; absorption and emission of photons; quantum confinement in nanostructures), the statistical mechanics of particles (entropy, the Boltzmann factor, thermal distributions), the thermodynamics of light (thermal radiation, limits to light concentration, spontaneous and stimulated emission), and the physics of information (Maxwell¿s demon, reversibility, entropy and noise in physics and information theory). Pre-requisite: Physics 41. Pre- or co-requisite: Math 53 or CME 102.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 101A:
Circuits I
Introduction to circuit modeling and analysis. Topics include creating the models of typical components in electronic circuits and simplifying non-linear models for restricted ranges of operation (small signal model); and using network theory to solve linear and non-linear circuits under static and dynamic operations. Prerequisite: ENGR40 or ENGR40M is useful but not strictly required.
Terms: Win, Sum
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 101B:
Circuits II
Continuation of EE101A. Introduction to circuit design for modern electronic systems. Modeling and analysis of analog gain stages, frequency response, feedback. Filtering and analog¿to¿digital conversion. Fundamentals of circuit simulation. Prerequisites: EE101A, EE102A. Recommended: CME102.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 108:
Digital System Design
Digital circuit, logic, and system design. Digital representation of information. CMOS logic circuits. Combinational logic design. Logic building blocks, idioms, and structured design. Sequential logic design and timing analysis. Clocks and synchronization. Finite state machines. Microcode control. Digital system design. Control and datapath partitioning. Lab. Undergraduates must enroll for 4 units. *In Autumn, enrollment preference is given to EE majors. Formerly EE 108A.
Terms: Aut, Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EE 122A:
Analog Circuits Laboratory
The course covers practical applications of mixed-signal circuits, including simple amplifiers, filters (passive, op-amp, switched-capacitor and digital-signal-processor-based), oscillators, power supplies, sensors and interface (input/output) circuits. Practical design skills, computer-aided design, and circuit fabrication and debugging are core topics. The design process is learned through proposing, designing, simulating, building, debugging, and demonstrating a substantial and novel team project. Radio frequency and largely digital projects not suitable for EE 122. Prerequisite: basic electronics laboratory experience with solid working knowledge of circuit analysis, Fourier and Laplace methods.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
EE 122B:
Introduction to Biomedical Electronics
EE122B is a laboratory course covering the design and realization of key components and architectures of modern biomedical electronics systems, their application in clinical and research measurements, and practical matters in their safe reduction to practice. Material in each topic area begins with an overview of the underlying physiology. Details are presented beginning with the molecular, cellular, organ-level origins of the biosignals, followed by the relevant transduction principles, nature of the signals (amplitude, frequency spectrum, etc.), and their processing and clinical use. Specific engineering topics include safety in biomedical instruments, fundamentals of analog/digital conversion and filtering techniques for biosignals, typical transducers (biopotential, electrochemical, temperature, pressure, acoustic, movement), applications (cardiovascular medicine, neurology, pulmonology, etc.) and interfacing circuits. Prerequisite: EE122A or equivalent hands-on mixed-signal design experience and solid working knowledge of EE122A topics (see course description).
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
EE 142:
Engineering Electromagnetics
Introduction to electromagnetism and Maxwell¿s equations in static and dynamic regimes. Electrostatics and magnetostatics: Gauss¿s, Coulomb¿s, Faraday¿s, Ampere's, Biot-Savart's laws. Electric and magnetic potentials. Boundary conditions. Electric and magnetic field energy. Electrodynamics: Wave equation; Electromagnetic waves; Phasor form of Maxwell¿s equations.nSolution of the wave equation in 1D free space: Wavelength, wave-vector, forward and backward propagating plane waves.Poynting¿s theorem. Propagation in lossy media, skin depth. Reflection and refraction at planar boundaries, total internal reflection. Solutions of wave equation for various 1D-3D problems: Electromagnetic resonators, waveguides periodic media, transmission lines. Formerly EE 141. Pre-requisites: Phys 43 or EE 42, CME 100, CME 102 (recommended)
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
EE 180:
Digital Systems Architecture
The design of processor-based digital systems. Instruction sets, addressing modes, data types. Assembly language programming, low-level data structures, introduction to operating systems and compilers. Processor microarchitecture, microprogramming, pipelining. Memory systems and caches. Input/output, interrupts, buses and DMA. System design implementation alternatives, software/hardware tradeoffs. Labs involve the design of processor subsystems and processor-based embedded systems. Formerly EE 108B. Prerequisite: CS107 (required) and EE108 (recommended but not required).
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
ENERGY 101:
Energy and the Environment (EARTHSYS 101)
Energy use in modern society and the consequences of current and future energy use patterns. Case studies illustrate resource estimation, engineering analysis of energy systems, and options for managing carbon emissions. Focus is on energy definitions, use patterns, resource estimation, pollution. Recommended: MATH 21 or 42.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ENERGY 102:
Renewable Energy Sources and Greener Energy Processes (EARTHSYS 102)
Do you want a much better understanding of renewable power technologies? Did you know that wind and solar are the fastest growing forms of electricity generation? Are you interested in hearing about the most recent, and future, designs for green power? Do you want to understand what limits power extraction from renewable resources and how current designs could be improved? This course dives deep into these and related issues for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, tidal and wave power technologies. We welcome all student, from non-majors to MBAs and grad students. If you are potentially interested in an energy or environmental related major, this course is particularly useful. Recommended: Math 21 or 42.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
ENERGY 120:
Fundamentals of Petroleum Engineering (ENGR 120)
Lectures, problems, field trip. Engineering topics in petroleum recovery; origin, discovery, and development of oil and gas. Chemical, physical, and thermodynamic properties of oil and natural gas. Material balance equations and reserve estimates using volumetric calculations. Gas laws. Single phase and multiphase flow through porous media.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 15:
Dynamics
The application of Newton's Laws to solve 2-D and 3-D static and dynamic problems, particle and rigid body dynamics, freebody diagrams, and equations of motion, with application to mechanical, biomechanical, and aerospace systems. Computer numerical solution and dynamic response. Prerequisites: Calculus (differentiation and integration) such as MATH 41; and ENGR 14 (statics and strength) or a mechanics course in physics such as PHYSICS 41.
Terms: Aut, Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
ENGR 20:
Introduction to Chemical Engineering (CHEMENG 20)
Overview of chemical engineering through discussion and engineering analysis of physical and chemical processes. Topics: overall staged separations, material and energy balances, concepts of rate processes, energy and mass transport, and kinetics of chemical reactions. Applications of these concepts to areas of current technological importance: biotechnology, energy, production of chemicals, materials processing, and purification. Prerequisite: CHEM 31.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 30:
Engineering Thermodynamics
The basic principles of thermodynamics are introduced in this course. Concepts of energy and entropy from elementary considerations of the microscopic nature of matter are discussed. The principles are applied in thermodynamic analyses directed towards understanding the performances of engineering systems. Methods and problems cover socially responsible economic generation and utilization of energy in central power generation plants, solar systems, refrigeration devices, and automobile, jet and gas-turbine engines.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 31:
Chemical Principles with Application to Nanoscale Science and Technology
Preparation for engineering disciplines emphasizing modern technological applications of solid state chemistry. Topics include: crystallography; chemical kinetics and equilibria; thermodynamics of phase changes and reaction; quantum mechanics of chemical bonding, molecular orbital theory, and electronic band structure of crystals; and the materials science of basic electronic and photonic devices. Prerequisite: AP 4 or 5 Chemistry, or equivalent, or successful completion of CHEM 31x placement test, or college chemistry background in stoichiometry, periodicity, Lewis and VSEPR structures, dissolution/precipitation and acid/base reactions, gas laws, and phase behavior.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
ENGR 40:
Introductory Electronics
Overview of electronic circuits and applications. Electrical quantities and their measurement, including operation of the oscilloscope. Basic models of electronic components including resistors, capacitors, inductors, and the operational amplifier. Frequency response of linear circuits, including basic filters, using phasor analysis. Digital logic fundamentals, logic gates, and basic combinatorial logic blocks. Lab. Lab assignments. Enrollment limited to 200.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Wong, S. (PI);
Abundes, N. (TA);
Bendernagel, M. (TA);
Dalmady, C. (TA);
Guan, C. (TA);
Islam, R. (TA);
Ling, C. (TA);
Molner, K. (TA);
Prasad, V. (TA);
Prime, R. (TA);
Romero, F. (TA);
Wang, J. (GP);
Yu, A. (TA)
ENGR 40A:
Introductory Electronics
Abbreviated version of E40, for students not pursuing degree in Electrical Engineering. Instruction to be completed in the first seven weeks of the quarter. Overview of electronic circuits and applications. Electrical quantities and their measurement, including operation of the oscilloscope. Basic models of electronic components including resistors, capacitors, inductors, and the operational amplifier. Lab. Lab assignments. Enrollment limited to 200.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Wong, S. (PI);
Abundes, N. (TA);
Bendernagel, M. (TA);
Dalmady, C. (TA);
Guan, C. (TA);
Islam, R. (TA);
Ling, C. (TA);
Molner, K. (TA);
Prasad, V. (TA);
Prime, R. (TA);
Romero, F. (TA);
Wang, J. (GP);
Yu, A. (TA)
ENGR 40M:
An Intro to Making: What is EE
Is a hands-on class where students learn to make stuff. Through the process of building, you are introduced to the basic areas of EE. Students build a "useless box" and learn about circuits, feedback, and programming hardware, a light display for your desk and bike and learn about coding, transforms, and LEDs, a solar charger and an EKG machine and learn about power, noise, feedback, more circuits, and safety. And you get to keep the toys you build. Prerequisite: CS 106A.
Terms: Aut, Spr, Sum
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Horowitz, M. (PI);
Ling, C. (PI);
Plummer, J. (PI);
Abundes, N. (TA);
Bennett, M. (TA);
Cerruto, A. (TA);
Diamandis, T. (TA);
Gu, L. (TA);
Hannel, B. (TA);
Koochak, Z. (TA);
Lavengco, M. (TA);
Lee, C. (TA);
Ling, C. (TA);
Maldonado, S. (TA);
McCarthy, S. (TA);
Means, G. (TA);
Milich, A. (TA);
Mu, R. (TA);
Pian, K. (TA);
Pownell, K. (TA);
Prime, R. (TA);
Romero, F. (TA);
Swenson, M. (GP);
Van Sickle, S. (TA);
Wang, Y. (TA);
Yamada, L. (TA)
ENGR 40P:
Physics of Electrical Engineering (EE 41)
How everything from electrostatics to quantum mechanics is used in common high-technology products. Electrostatics are critical in micro-mechanical systems used in many sensors and displays, and Electromagnetic waves are essential in all high-speed communication systems. How to propagate energy on transmission lines, optical fibers,and in free space. Which aspects of modern physics are needed to generate light for the operation of a DVD player or TV. Introduction to semiconductors, solid-state light bulbs, and laser pointers. Hands-on labs to connect physics to everyday experience. Prerequisites: Physics 43
Last offered: Winter 2014
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 50:
Introduction to Materials Science, Nanotechnology Emphasis
The structure, bonding, and atomic arrangements in materials leading to their properties and applications. Topics include electronic and mechanical behavior, emphasizing nanotechnology, solid state devices, and advanced structural and composite materials.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 50E:
Introduction to Materials Science, Energy Emphasis
Materials structure, bonding and atomic arrangements leading to their properties and applications. Topics include electronic, thermal and mechanical behavior; emphasizing energy related materials and challenges.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ENGR 50M:
Introduction to Materials Science, Biomaterials Emphasis
Topics include: the relationship between atomic structure and macroscopic properties of man-made and natural materials; mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of surgical implants including alloys, ceramics, and polymers; and materials selection for biotechnology applications such as contact lenses, artificial joints, and cardiovascular stents. No prerequisite.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ENGR 120:
Fundamentals of Petroleum Engineering (ENERGY 120)
Lectures, problems, field trip. Engineering topics in petroleum recovery; origin, discovery, and development of oil and gas. Chemical, physical, and thermodynamic properties of oil and natural gas. Material balance equations and reserve estimates using volumetric calculations. Gas laws. Single phase and multiphase flow through porous media.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
ESS 8:
The Oceans: An Introduction to the Marine Environment (EARTHSYS 8)
The course will provide a basic understanding of how the ocean functions as a suite of interconnected ecosystems, both naturally and under the influence of human activities. Emphasis is on the interactions between the physical and chemical environment and the dominant organisms of each ecosystem. The types of ecosystems discussed include coral reefs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, coastal upwelling systems, blue-water oceans, estuaries, and near-shore dead zones. Lectures, multimedia presentations, group activities, and tide-pooling day trip.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ESS 46N:
Exploring the Critical Interface between the Land and Monterey Bay: Elkhorn Slough (EARTHSYS 46N)
Preference to freshmen. Field trips to sites in the Elkhorn Slough, a small agriculturally impacted estuary that opens into Monterey Bay, a model ecosystem for understanding the complexity of estuaries, and one of California's last remaining coastal wetlands. Readings include Jane Caffrey's Changes in a California Estuary: A Profile of Elkhorn Slough. Basics of biogeochemistry, microbiology, oceanography, ecology, pollution, and environmental management.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ESS 57Q:
Climate Change from the Past to the Future (EARTHSYS 57Q)
Preference to sophomores. Numeric models to predict how climate responds to increase of greenhouse gases. Paleoclimate during times in Earth's history when greenhouse gas concentrations were elevated with respect to current concentrations. Predicted scenarios of climate models and how these models compare to known hyperthermal events in Earth history. Interactions and feedbacks among biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. Topics include long- and short-term carbon cycle, coupled biogeochemical cycles affected by and controlling climate change, and how the biosphere responds to climate change. Possible remediation strategies.
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ESS 111:
Biology and Global Change (BIO 117, EARTHSYS 111)
The biological causes and consequences of anthropogenic and natural changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Topics: glacial cycles and marine circulation, greenhouse gases and climate change, tropical deforestation and species extinctions, and human population growth and resource use. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core or graduate standing.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
ESS 117:
Earth Sciences of the Hawaiian Islands (EARTH 117, EARTHSYS 117)
Progression from volcanic processes through rock weathering and soil-ecosystem development to landscape evolution. The course starts with an investigation of volcanic processes, including the volcano structure, origin of magmas, physical-chemical factors of eruptions. Factors controlling rock weathering and soil development, including depth and nutrient levels impacting plant ecosystems, are explored next. Geomorphic processes of landscape evolution including erosion rates, tectonic/volcanic activity, and hillslope stability conclude the course. Methods for monitoring and predicting eruptions, defining spatial changes in landform, landform stability, soil production rates, and measuring biogeochemical processes are covered throughout the course. This course is restricted to students accepted into the Earth Systems of Hawaii Program.
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ESS 151:
Biological Oceanography (EARTHSYS 151, EARTHSYS 251, ESS 251)
Required for Earth Systems students in the oceans track. Interdisciplinary look at how oceanic environments control the form and function of marine life. Topics include distributions of planktonic production and abundance, nutrient cycling, the role of ocean biology in the climate system, expected effects of climate changes on ocean biology. Local weekend field trips. Designed to be taken concurrently with Marine Chemistry (EESS/EARTHSYS 152/252). Prerequisites: BIO 43 and EESS 8 or equivalent.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
ESS 152:
Marine Chemistry (EARTHSYS 152, EARTHSYS 252, ESS 252)
Introduction to the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills required to critically evaluate problems in marine chemistry and related disciplines. Physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine the chemical composition of seawater. Air-sea gas exchange, carbonate chemistry, and chemical equilibria, nutrient and trace element cycling, particle reactivity, sediment chemistry, and diagenesis. Examination of chemical tracers of mixing and circulation and feedbacks of ocean processes on atmospheric chemistry and climate. Designed to be taken concurrently with Biological Oceanography (EESS/EARTHSYS 151/251)
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
ESS 155:
Science of Soils (EARTHSYS 155)
Physical, chemical, and biological processes within soil systems. Emphasis is on factors governing nutrient availability, plant growth and production, land-resource management, and pollution within soils. How to classify soils and assess nutrient cycling and contaminant fate. Recommended: introductory chemistry and biology.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
ESS 156:
Soil and Water Chemistry (EARTHSYS 156, EARTHSYS 256, ESS 256)
(Graduate students register for 256.) Practical and quantitative treatment of soil processes affecting chemical reactivity, transformation, retention, and bioavailability. Principles of primary areas of soil chemistry: inorganic and organic soil components, complex equilibria in soil solutions, and adsorption phenomena at the solid-water interface. Processes and remediation of acid, saline, and wetland soils. Recommended: soil science and introductory chemistry and microbiology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 1-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 20N:
Predicting Volcanic Eruptions
Preference to sophomores. The physics and chemistry of volcanic processes and modern methods of volcano monitoring. Volcanoes as manifestations of the Earth's internal energy and hazards to society. How earth scientists better forecast eruptive activity by monitoring seismic activity, bulging of the ground surface, and the discharge of volcanic gases, and by studying deposits from past eruptions. Focus is on the interface between scientists and policy makers and the challenges of decision making with incomplete information. Field trip to Mt. St. Helens, site of the 1980 eruption.
Last offered: Spring 2014
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 60N:
Man versus Nature: Coping with Disasters Using Space Technology (EE 60N)
Preference to freshman. Natural hazards, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, and fires, and how they affect people and society; great disasters such as asteroid impacts that periodically obliterate many species of life. Scientific issues, political and social consequences, costs of disaster mitigation, and how scientific knowledge affects policy. How spaceborne imaging technology makes it possible to respond quickly and mitigate consequences; how it is applied to natural disasters; and remote sensing data manipulation and analysis. GER:DB-EngrAppSci
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 70:
The Water Course (EARTHSYS 104)
The pathway that water takes from rainfall to the tap using student home towns as an example. How the geological environment controls the quantity and quality of water; taste tests of water from around the world. Current U.S. and world water supply issues.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 90:
Earthquakes and Volcanoes (EARTHSYS 113)
Is the "Big One" overdue in California? What kind of damage would that cause? What can we do to reduce the impact of such hazards in urban environments? Does "fracking" cause earthquakes and are we at risk? Is the United States vulnerable to a giant tsunami? The geologic record contains evidence of volcanic super eruptions throughout Earth's history. What causes these gigantic explosive eruptions, and can they be predicted in the future? This course will address these and related issues. For non-majors and potential Earth scientists. No prerequisites. More information at: https://stanford.box.com/s/tpwwqpl2ryxfty6stq8wo2j78fj06ikg
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 110:
Earth on the Edge: Introduction to Geophysics
Introduction to the foundations of contemporary geophysics. Topics drawn from four broad themes in: whole Earth geodynamics, geohazards, natural resources, and environment/sustainability. In each case the focus is on how the interpretation of a variety of geophysical measurements (e.g., gravity, seismology, heat flow, magnetism, electromagnetics, and geodesy) can be used to provide fundamental insight into the behavior of the Earth's complex geosystems. Prerequisite: CME 100 or MA TH 51, or co-registration in either.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 120:
Ice, Water, Fire (GEOPHYS 220)
Introductory application of continuum mechanics to ice sheets and glaciers, water waves and tsunamis, and volcanoes. Emphasis on physical processes and mathematical description using balance of mass and momentum, combined with constitutive equations for fluids and solids. Designed for undergraduates with no prior geophysics background; also appropriate for beginning graduate students. Prerequisites: CME 100 or MATH 52 and PHYSICS 41 (or equivalent). Offered every year. Spring 2015-2016 and Winter 2016-2017.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 130:
Introductory Seismology
Introduction to seismology including: elasticity and the wave equation, P, S, and surface waves, dispersion, ray theory, reflection and transmission of seismic waves, seismic imaging, large-scale Earth structure, earthquake location, earthquake statistics and forecasting, magnitude scales, seismic source theory.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 150:
Geodynamics: Our Dynamic Earth
In this course we cover the dynamic forces acting upon the Earth. We will investigate how geophysical forces effect the bending of tectonic plates, the flow of heat, sea level topography, the breaking point of rocks, porous flow, and how faults store and release energy. Math 52 or CME 102. Offered every year, Spring quarter. Next Offered Spring 2016-2017.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 160:
D^3: Disasters, Decisions, Development
This class connects the science behind natural disasters with the real-world constraints of disaster management and development. In each iteration of this class we will focus on a specific, disaster-prone location as case study. By collaborating with local stakeholders we will explore how science and engineering can make a make a difference in reducing disaster risk in the future. Offered every other year.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 170:
Global Tectonics
The architecture of the Earth's crust; regional assembling of structural or deformational features and their relationship, origin and evolution. The plate-tectonic cycle: rifting, passive margins, sea-floor spreading, subduction zones, and collisions. Case studies.
Last offered: Autumn 2013
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 183:
Reflection Seismology Interpretation (GEOPHYS 223, GS 223)
The structural and stratigraphic interpretation of seismic reflection data, emphasizing hydrocarbon traps in two and three dimensions on industry data, including workstation-based interpretation. Lectures only, 1 unit. Prerequisite: 222, or consent of instructor. (Geophys 183 must be taken for a minimum of 3 units to be eligible for Ways credit).
Terms: Spr
| Units: 1-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 184:
Journey to the Center of the Earth (GEOPHYS 274, GS 107, GS 207)
The interconnected set of dynamic systems that make up the Earth. Focus is on fundamental geophysical observations of the Earth and the laboratory experiments to understand and interpret them. What earthquakes, volcanoes, gravity, magnetic fields, and rocks reveal about the Earth's formation and evolution. Offered every other year, winter quarter. Next offering Winter 2013-14.
Last offered: Winter 2014
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
GEOPHYS 190:
Near-Surface Geophysics
Introduction to the integration of geophysical field measurements and laboratory measurements for imaging and characterizing the top 100 meters of Earth. Examples will focus on applications related to water resource management. The link between the measured geophysical properties of rocks, soils, and sediments, and their material properties. Forward modeling and inversion of geophysical data sets. Each week includes two hours of lectures; plus one two-hour lab that involves acquisition of field or lab data, or computer modeling/analysis of data. Pre-requisite: CME 100 or Math 51, or co-registration in either.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
GS 1A:
Introduction to Geology: The Physical Science of the Earth
For non-majors or prospective majors in the Earth Sciences. Lectures, hands-on laboratories, in-class activities, and one field trip. Focus is on the physical and chemical processes of heat and mass transfer within the earth and its fluid envelopes, including deep-earth, crustal, surface, and atmospheric processes. Topics include plate tectonics, the cycling and formation of different types of rocks, and how geologists use rocks to understand Earth's history. Only one of GS 1A, 1B, or 1C may be taken for credit.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GS 1B:
Introduction to Geology
For non-majors and prospective majors or minors in the Earth Sciences. Introduction to physical geology. Lectures and lab exercises focus on understanding the dynamics of Earth¿s ongoing physical and chemical processes. Major themes include plate tectonics, the rock cycle, the hydrologic cycle, and mineral resources. We will employ local CA geology, current events, and the state-of-the-art to drive discussions on landscapes, hazards, and economics. Only one of GS 1A, 1B, or 1C may be taken for credit. Recommended: high school chemistry.
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
GS 1C:
Introduction to Geology: Dynamic Earth
For non-majors or prospective majors in the Earth Sciences. Integrated lecture-lab includes hands-on activities and local field trips. Focus is on reading the dynamic geological landscape, with an emphasis on California-primarily Bay Area-geology. Topics include plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, Earth materials, geologic time, stream processes, and climate change over geologic time. Only one of GS 1A, 1B, or 1C may be taken for credit.
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 4:
How to Build and Maintain a Habitable Planet: An Introduction to Earth System History (EARTHSYS 4)
Introduction to the history of the Earth, with a focus on processes that maintain or threaten habitability. Principles of stratigraphy, correlation, the geological timescale, the history of biodiversity, and the interpretation of fossils. The use of data from sedimentary geology, geochemistry, and paleontology to test theories for critical events in Earth history such as mass extinctions. One half-day field trip.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 40N:
Diamonds
Preference to freshmen. Topics include the history of diamonds as gemstones, prospecting and mining, and their often tragic politics. How diamond samples provide clues for geologists to understand the Earth's deep interior and the origins of the solar system. Diamond's unique materials properties and efforts in synthesizing diamonds.
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 42N:
Landscapes and Tectonics of the San Francisco Bay Area
Active faulting and erosion in the Bay Area, and its effects upon landscapes. Earth science concepts and skills through investigation of the valley, mountain, and coastal areas around Stanford. Faulting associated with the San Andreas Fault, coastal processes along the San Mateo coast, uplift of the mountains by plate tectonic processes, and landsliding in urban and mountainous areas. Field excursions; student projects.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
GS 55Q:
The California Gold Rush: Geologic Background and Environmental Impact
Preference to sophomores. Topics include: geologic processes that led to the concentration of gold in the river gravels and rocks of the Mother Lode region of California; and environmental impact of the Gold Rush due to population increase, mining operations, and high concentrations of arsenic and mercury in sediments from hard rock mining and milling operations. Recommended: introductory geology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA, Writing 2
GS 90:
Introduction to Geochemistry
The chemistry of the solid earth and its atmosphere and oceans, emphasizing the processes that control the distribution of the elements in the earth over geological time and at present, and on the conceptual and analytical tools needed to explore these questions. The basics of geochemical thermodynamics and isotope geochemistry. The formation of the elements, crust, atmosphere and oceans, global geochemical cycles, and the interaction of geochemistry, biological evolution, and climate. Recommended: introductory chemistry.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 102:
Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy
The minerals and materials that comprise the earth and their uses in modern society. How to identify, classify, and interpret rock-forming minerals. Emphasis is on information provided by common minerals about the nature of the Earth's interior and processes such as magmatism and metamorphism that operate there, as well as the major processes of weathering and erosion that link plate tectonics to earth cycles. Required lab section. Prerequisite: introductory geology course. Recommended: introductory chemistry.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 105:
Introduction to Field Methods
Two-week, field-based course in the White Mountains of eastern California. Introduction to the techniques for geologic mapping and geologic investigation in the field: systematic observations and data collection for lithologic columns and structural cross-sections. Interpretation of field relationships and data to determine the stratigraphic and deformational history of the region. Prerequisite: GS 1, recommended: GS 102.
Terms: Aut, Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
GS 107:
Journey to the Center of the Earth (GEOPHYS 184, GEOPHYS 274, GS 207)
The interconnected set of dynamic systems that make up the Earth. Focus is on fundamental geophysical observations of the Earth and the laboratory experiments to understand and interpret them. What earthquakes, volcanoes, gravity, magnetic fields, and rocks reveal about the Earth's formation and evolution. Offered every other year, winter quarter. Next offering Winter 2013-14.
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
GS 111:
Fundamentals of Structural Geology (CEE 195)
Techniques for mapping using GPS and differential geometry to characterize structures; dimensional analysis and scaling relations; kinematics of deformation and flow; measurement and analysis of stress; elastic deformation and properties of rock; brittle deformation including fracture and faulting; linear viscous flow including folding and magma dynamics; model development and methodology. Models of tectonic processes are constructed and solutions visualized using MATLAB. Prerequisites: GS 1, MATH 51
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
GS 123:
Paleobiology (EARTHSYS 122, GS 223B)
Introduction to the fossil record with emphasis on marine invertebrates. Major debates in paleontological research. The history of animal life in the oceans. Topics include the nature of the fossil record, evolutionary radiations, mass extinctions, and the relationship between biological evolution and environmental change. Fossil taxa through time. Exercises in phylogenetics, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, and statistical methods.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 130:
Soil Physics and Hydrology
The occurrence, distribution, circulation, and reaction of water at the surface and within the near surface. Topics: precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration and vadose zone, groundwater, surface water and streamflow generation, and water balance estimates. Current and classic theory in soil physics and hydrology. Urban, rangeland, and forested environments.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
GS 131:
Hydrologically-Driven Landscape Evolution
Materials of the Earth and hydrologically driven landscape processes. Topics: hillslope hydrology, weathering of rocks and soils, erosion, flow failures, mass wasting, and conceptual models of landscape evolution. Current and classic theory in geomorphology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 2A:
Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
Introduction to the principles of classical and modern genetics, evolutionary theory, and population biology. Topics: micro- and macro-evolution, population and molecular genetics, biodiversity, and ecology, emphasizing the genetics and ecology of the evolutionary process and applications to human populations. HUMBIO 2A and 2B must be taken concurrently.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 2B:
Culture, Evolution, and Society
Introduction to the evolutionary study of human diversity. Hominid evolution, the origins of social complexity, social theory, and the emergence of the modern world system, emphasizing the concept of culture and its influence on human differences. HUMBIO 2A and 2B must be taken concurrently.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 3A:
Cell and Developmental Biology
The principles of the biology of cells: principles of human developmental biology, biochemistry of energetics and metabolism, the nature of membranes and organelles, hormone action and signal transduction in normal and diseased states (diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases), drug discovery, immunology, and drug addiction. HUMBIO 3A and 3B must be taken concurrently. Prerequisite: college chemistry or completion of the HumBio Core on-line chemistry lecture series during the fall quarter.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 4A:
The Human Organism
Integrative Physiology: Neurobiology, endocrinology, and organ system function, control, and regulation. HUMBIO 4A and 4B must be taken concurrently.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 91Q:
Neuroethology: The Neural Control of Behavior (BIO 32Q)
Preference to sophomores. Animal behavior offers insights about evolutionary adaptations and this seminar will discuss the origins of the study of animal behavior and its development to the present. How does the nervous system control behavior and how is it changed by behavior? We will analyze and discuss original research papers about the neural basis of behavior. The use and misuse of parallels between animal and human behavior. Possible field trip to observe animals in their natural habitat.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 113:
The Human-Plant Connection
The intertwined biologies of humans and plants, particularly the ways in which people and plants have imposed selection pressures and ecological change on one another. Topics include evolution and basic plant structure; plant domestication; effects of agriculture on human health and physiology; plants in traditional and contemporary diets; and human influences on plant biology through genetic manipulation and environmental change. Class meetings center on journal articles. Final project includes written and multimedia presentations.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 117H:
Human Behavioral Ecology (ANTHRO 161, ANTHRO 261)
Theory, method, and application in anthropology. How theory in behavioral ecology developed to understand animal behavior is applied to questions about human economic decision making in ecological and evolutionary contexts. Topics include decisions about foraging and subsistence, competition and cooperation, mating, and reproduction and parenting.
Last offered: Spring 2013
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 130:
Human Nutrition (CHPR 130)
The study of food, and the nutrients and substances therein. Their action, interaction, and balance in relation to health and disease. Emphasis is on the biological, chemical, and physiological processes by which humans ingest, digest, absorb, transport, utilize, and excrete food. Dietary composition and individual choices are discussed in relationship to the food supply, and to population and cultural, race, ethnic, religious, and social economic diversity. The relationships between nutrition and disease; ethnic diets; vegetarianism; nutritional deficiencies; nutritional supplementation; phytochemicals.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 145L:
The Biology and Evolution of Language (ANTHRO 171, ANTHRO 271)
Lecture course surveying the biology, linguistic functions, and evolution of the organs of speech and speech centers in the brain, language in animals and humans, the evolution of language itself, and the roles of innateness vs. culture in language. Suitable both for general education and as preparation for further studies in anthropology, biology, linguistics, medicine, psychology, and speech & language therapy. Anthropology concentration: CS, EE. No prerequisites.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 153:
Parasites and Pestilence: Infectious Public Health Challenges
Parasitic and other pestilence of public health importance. Pathogenesis, clinical syndromes, complex life cycles, and the interplay among environment, vectors, hosts, and reservoirs in historical context. Public health policy initiatives aimed at halting disease transmission. World Health Organization tropical disease targets including river blindness, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, mycobacterial disease (tuberculosis and leprosy), malaria, toxoplasmosis, dracunculiais, and intestinal helminthes. Guest lecturers with expertise in disease control. Prerequisite: Human Biology core or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 157:
The Biology of Stem Cells (DBIO 257)
The role of stem cells in human development and potential for treating disease. Guest lectures by biologists, ethicists, and legal scholars. Prerequisites:HumBio 2A and 3A, or the equivalent in the BioCore in Biological Sciences.
Last offered: Spring 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 158:
The Human Genome and Disease (BIO 109A, BIOC 109A, BIOC 209A)
The variability of the human genome and the role of genomic information in research, drug discovery, and human health. Concepts and interpretations of genomic markers in medical research and real life applications. Human genomes in diverse populations. Original contributions from thought leaders in academia and industry and interaction between students and guest lecturers. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 159:
Genes and Environment in Disease Causation: Implications for Medicine and Public Health (HRP 238)
The historical, contemporary, and future research and practice among genetics, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and public health as a source of insight for medicine and public health. Genetic and environmental contributions to multifactorial diseases; multidisciplinary approach to enhancing detection and diagnosis. The impact of the Human Genome Project on analysis of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and cancer. Ethical and social issues in the use of genetic information. Prerequisite: basic course in genetics; for undergraduates, Human Biology core or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Terms: Win
| Units: 2-3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
HUMBIO 160:
Human Behavioral Biology (BIO 150)
Multidisciplinary. How to approach complex normal and abnormal behaviors through biology. How to integrate disciplines including sociobiology, ethology, neuroscience, and endocrinology to examine behaviors such as aggression, sexual behavior, language use, and mental illness.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
Instructors: ;
Sapolsky, R. (PI);
Bharadwaj, M. (GP);
Connolly, C. (GP);
Cussen, L. (GP);
Gherardini, P. (GP);
Hunter, L. (GP);
Khan, T. (GP);
Uyeda, M. (GP);
Warden, C. (GP);
Zhou, B. (GP)
HUMBIO 180:
Human Skeletal Anatomy (ANTHRO 175, ANTHRO 275, BIO 174, BIO 274)
Study of the human skeleton (a. k. a. human osteology), as it bears on other disciplines, including medicine, forensics, archaeology, and paleoanthropology (human evolution). Basic bone biology, anatomy, and development, emphasizing hands-on examination and identification of human skeletal parts, their implications for determining an individual¿s age, sex, geographic origin, and health status, and for the evolutionary history of our species. Three hours of lecture and at least three hours of supervised and independent study in the lab each week.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
LINGUIST 105:
Phonetics (LINGUIST 205A)
Phonetics is the systematic study of speech. In this class, we will learn about the physical gestures and timing involved in the articulation of spoken language and about the resulting acoustic signal that is decoded into linguistic units by the human auditory system. The class is structured into two parts: A practical lab component, and a class component. This course highlights both the complexity of the physical nature of producing spoken language, and the highly variable acoustic signal that is interpreted by listeners as language. By the end of this course, you should: (1) Understand the process of preparing an utterance to articulating it; (2) Understand the basic acoustic properties of speech; (3) Provide detailed phonetic transcriptions of speech; (4) Produce and understand the gestures involved in nearly all of the world¿s speech sounds, and (5) Understand the ways this knowledge can be used to advance our understanding of spoken language understanding by humans and machines.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SMA
MATH 80Q:
Capillary Surfaces: Explored and Unexplored Territory
Preference to sophomores. Capillary surfaces: the interfaces between fluids that are adjacent to each other and do not mix. Recently discovered phenomena, predicted mathematically and subsequently confirmed by experiments, some done in space shuttles. Interested students may participate in ongoing investigations with affinity between mathematics and physics.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 151:
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties (MATSCI 251)
Primarily for students without a materials background. Mechanical properties and their dependence on microstructure in a range of engineering materials. Elementary deformation and fracture concepts, strengthening and toughening strategies in metals and ceramics. Topics: dislocation theory, mechanisms of hardening and toughening, fracture, fatigue, and high-temperature creep. Prerequisite: MATSCI 163. Undergraduates register in 151 for 4 units; graduates register for 251 in 3 units.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 152:
Electronic Materials Engineering
Materials science and engineering for electronic device applications. Kinetic molecular theory and thermally activated processes; band structure; electrical conductivity of metals and semiconductors; intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; elementary p-n junction theory; operating principles of light emitting diodes, solar cells, thermoelectric coolers, and transistors. Semiconductor processing including crystal growth, ion implantation, thin film deposition, etching, lithography, and nanomaterials synthesis.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 153:
Nanostructure and Characterization
The structure of materials at the nanoscale is in most cases the same crystalline form as the natural phase. Structures of materials such as semiconductors, ceramics, metals, and nanotubes; classification of these materials according to the principles of crystallography. Primary methods of structural characterization, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy; their applications to study such nanostructures.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 154:
Thermodynamic Evaluation of Green Energy Technologies
Understand the thermodynamics and efficiency limits of modern green technologies such as carbon dioxide capture from air, fuel cells, batteries, and solar-thermal power.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 157:
Quantum Mechanics of Nanoscale Materials
Introduction to quantum mechanics and its application to the properties of materials. No prior background beyond a working knowledge of calculus and high school physics is presumed. Topics include: The Schrodinger equation and applications to understanding of the properties of quantum dots, semiconductor heterostructures, nanowires, and bulk solids. Tunneling processes and applications to nanoscale devices; the scanning tunneling microscope, and quantum cascade lasers. Simple models for the electronic properties and band structure of materials including semiconductors, insulators and metals and applications to semiconductor devices. Time-dependent perturbation theory and interaction of light with materials with applications to laser technology.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 161:
Nanocharacterization Laboratory (MATSCI 171)
Students use optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and other techniques to characterize recently discovered perovskite semiconductors that can be used to make highly efficient solar cells. This course fulfills the Writing in the Major Requirement for MSE undergrads. Instruction on writing, statistics, generating effective plots with curve fits, using databases to find information and giving oral scientific presentations is given. Instruction on characterization techniques is provided, but it is expected that the students will have already taken a course like MATSCI 153 that covers the fundamentals of the techniques. The emphasis on this course is on doing nanocharacterization experiments and writing up the results. Undergraduates register for 161 for 4 units; graduates register for 171 for 3 units.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
MATSCI 165:
Nanoscale Materials Physics Computation Laboratory (MATSCI 175)
Computational exploration of fundamental topics in materials science using Java-based computation and visualization tools. Emphasis is on the atomic-scale origins of macroscopic materials phenomena. Simulation methods include molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo with applications in thermodynamics, kinetics, and topics in statistical mechanics. Required prerequisites: Freshman-level physics, undergraduate thermodynamics. Undergraduates register for 165 for 4 units; graduates register for 175 for 3 units.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
MATSCI 190:
Organic and Biological Materials (MATSCI 210)
Unique physical and chemical properties of organic materials and their uses.The relationship between structure and physical properties, and techniques to determine chemical structure and molecular ordering. Examples include liquid crystals, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, hydrogels, and biopolymers such as lipids, protein, and DNA. Prerequisite: Thermodynamics and ENGR 50 or equivalent. Undergraduates register for 190 for 4 units; graduates register for 210 for 3 units.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
MED 50N:
Translating Science to Disease Treatment
Investigates how scientific research informs how physicians take care of patients and how clinical research informs how scientific experiments are conducted. Topics include how these two processes have improved health and have resulted in innovation and scientic progress; specific human disease areas in allergy and immunology that affect all ages of patients globally, including food allergy; scientific concepts of research that helped in discovery of novel diagnostics and treatment of disease; ethical roles of physicians and scientists in conducting translational research in human disease.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
MED 71N:
Hormones in a Performance-Enhanced Society
(Formerly 117Q) Prefersnce to freshmen. Explores how the availability of hormone therapy has affected various aspects of daily lives. Topics include the controversies concerning menopause and its treatment; use of hormones in athletics; cosmetic use of hormones to enhance growth, strength, and libido; use of hormones as anti-aging drugs; and how the hormone system has influenced our notions of gender. Includes the biochemistry and physiology of the human endocrine system; how hormones influence behavior, and how to read a scientific paper.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
MUSIC 192A:
Foundations of Sound-Recording Technology
For upper division undergraduates and graduate students; preference given to Music majors with MST specialization. Topics: elementary electronics; the physics of sound transduction and microphone operation, selection, and placement; mixing consoles; connectors and device interconnection; grounding and shielding; principles of analog magnetic recording; operation maintenance of recording equipment; and principles of recording engineering. Enrollment limited. Prerequisites: MUSIC 150, algebra, physics basics, and consent of instructor.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
NENS 67N:
Intracellular Trafficking and Neurodegeneration
Preference to freshmen. Cell structures and functions, the intracellular trafficking system that maintains exchanges of materials and information inside cells, and clinical features and pathologies of neurodegenerative diseases. Techniques for examining cellular and subcellular structures, especially cytoskeletons; functional insights generated from structural explorations. Prerequisite: high school biology.
Terms: Win, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
OSPAUSTL 10:
Coral Reef Ecosystems
Key organisms and processes, and the complexity of coral reef ecosystems. Students explore the Great Barrier Reef from the southern end which demonstrates the physical factors that limit coral reefs, to the northern reef systems which demonstrate key aspects of these high biodiversity ecosystems. Human-related changes. Emphasis is on research experiences and development of analytical skills. Two units only counted for the Biology major.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-SMA
OSPBER 40M:
An Intro to Making: What is EE
Is a hands-on class where students learn to make stuff. Through the process of building, you are introduced to the basic areas of EE. Students build a "useless box" and learn about circuits, feedback, and programming hardware, a light display for your desk and bike and learn about coding, transforms, and LEDs, a solar charger and an EKG machine and learn about power, noise, feedback, more circuits, and safety. And you get to keep the toys you build. Prerequisite: CS 106A.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
OSPBER 50M:
Introductory Science of Materials
Topics include: the relationship between atomic structure and macroscopic properties of man-made and natural materials; mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of surgical implants including alloys, ceramics, and polymers; and materials selection for biotechnology applications such as contact lenses, artificial joints, and cardiovascular stents. No prerequisite.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
OSPFLOR 50M:
Introductory Science of Materials
Topics include: the relationship between atomic structure and macroscopic properties of man-made and natural materials; mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of surgical implants including alloys, ceramics, and polymers; and materials selection for biotechnology applications such as contact lenses, artificial joints, and cardiovascular stents. No prerequisite.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
OSPKYOTO 40M:
An Intro to Making: What is EE
Is a hands-on class where students learn to make stuff. Through the process of building, you are introduced to the basic areas of EE. Students build a "useless box" and learn about circuits, feedback, and programming hardware, a light display for your desk and bike and learn about coding, transforms, and LEDs, a solar charger and an EKG machine and learn about power, noise, feedback, more circuits, and safety. And you get to keep the toys you build. Prerequisite: CS 106A.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
OSPPARIS 40M:
An Intro to Making: What is EE
Is a hands-on class where students learn to make stuff. Through the process of building, you are introduced to the basic areas of EE. Students build a "useless box" and learn about circuits, feedback, and programming hardware, a light display for your desk and bike and learn about coding, transforms, and LEDs, a solar charger and an EKG machine and learn about power, noise, feedback, more circuits, and safety. And you get to keep the toys you build. Prerequisite: CS 106A.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
OSPPARIS 40P:
Introductory Electronics
Electrical quantities and their measurement, including operation of the oscilloscope. Function of electronic components including resistor, capacitor, and inductor. Analog circuits including the operational amplifier and tuned circuits. Digital logic circuits and their functions. Lab assignments. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 43.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
OSPPARIS 50M:
Introductory Science of Materials
Topics include: the relationship between atomic structure and macroscopic properties of man-made and natural materials; mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of surgical implants including alloys, ceramics, and polymers; and materials selection for biotechnology applications such as contact lenses, artificial joints, and cardiovascular stents. No prerequisite.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-EngrAppSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
OSPPARIS 83:
The Cancer Problem: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Ways of thinking used by scientists in the fields of laboratory research, clinical research, epidemiology, and public health. Discussion of various aspects of cancer, a disease that affects nearly every family: estimated that approximately 1 in 3 Americans will develop invasive cancer during their lifetime, and approximately 1 in 5 will die as a result of this disease.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
OSPPARIS 88:
Principles of Biochemistry
Biochemical pathways governing the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids and lipids, and nucleic acids. Basic enzymology, bioenergetics, and energy storage and release. Individual student projects involving interaction with scientists at laboratories in Paris, such as the Institut Pasteur and Institut Curie, and benefiting from the rich scientific resources Paris has to offer.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
PEDS 51N:
How Discovery and Innovation Have Transformed Medicine
Topics include the science behind vaccines and why some refuse vaccination, how antibiotics are discovered and what can be done about increasing resistance to antibiotics, stem cells and their potential use, the role of genomics in modern medicine, development of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS, discovery of surfactant, personal responsibility in health and wellness and how technology relates to the "cost conundrum" of healthcare in the U.S. Appreciate important connections between science, discovery and human health and think critically about the potential impact of new discoveries on life and death, and their ethical and spiritual boundaries.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 15:
Stars and Planets in a Habitable Universe
Is the Earth unique in our galaxy? Students learn how stars and our galaxy have evolved and how this produces planets and the conditions suitable for life. Discussion of the motion of the night sky and how telescopes collect and analyze light. The life-cycle of stars from birth to death, and the end products of that life cycle -- from dense stellar corpses to supernova explosions. Course covers recent discoveries of extrasolar planets -- those orbiting stars beyond our sun -- and the ultimate quest for other Earths. Intended to be accessible to non-science majors, material is explored quantitatively with problem sets using basic algebra and numerical estimates. Sky observing exercise and observatory field trips supplement the classroom work.
Terms: Aut, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 16:
The Origin and Development of the Cosmos
How did the present Universe come to be? The last few decades have seen remarkable progress in understanding this age-old question. Course will cover the history of the Universe from its earliest moments to the present day, and the physical laws that govern its evolution. The early Universe including inflation and the creation of matter and the elements. Recent discoveries in our understanding of the makeup of the cosmos, including dark matter and dark energy. Evolution of galaxies, clusters, and quasars, and the Universe as a whole. Implications of dark matter and dark energy for the future evolution of the cosmos. Intended to be accessible to non-science majors, material is explored quantitatively with problem sets using basic algebra and numerical estimates.
Terms: Win, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 17:
Black Holes and Extreme Astrophysics
Black holes represent an extreme frontier of astrophysics. Course will explore the most fundamental and universal force -- gravity -- and how it controls the fate of astrophysical objects, leading in some cases to black holes. How we discover and determine the properties of black holes and their environment. How black holes and their event horizons are used to guide thinking about mysterious phenomena such as Hawking radiation, wormholes, and quantum entanglement. How black holes generate gravitational waves and powerful jets of particles and radiation. Other extreme objects such as pulsars. Relevant physics, including relativity, is introduced and treated at the algebraic level. No prior physics or calculus is required, although some deep thinking about space, time, and matter is important in working through assigned problems.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 18N:
Frontiers in Theoretical Physics and Cosmology
Preference to freshmen. The course will begin with a description of the current standard models of gravitation, cosmology, and elementary particle physics. We will then focus on frontiers of current understanding including investigations of very early universe cosmology, string theory, and the physics of black holes.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 21:
Mechanics, Fluids, and Heat
How are the motions of objects and the behavior of fluids and gases determined by the laws of physics? Students learn to describe the motion of objects (kinematics) and understand why objects move as they do (dynamics). Emphasis on how Newton's three laws of motion are applied to solids, liquids, and gases to describe phenomena as diverse as spinning gymnasts, blood flow, and sound waves. Understanding many-particle systems requires connecting macroscopic properties (e.g., temperature and pressure) to microscopic dynamics (collisions of particles). Laws of thermodynamics provide understanding of real-world phenomena such as energy conversion and performance limits of heat engines. Everyday examples are analyzed using tools of algebra and trigonometry. Problem-solving skills are developed, including verifying that derived results satisfy criteria for correctness, such as dimensional consistency and expected behavior in limiting cases. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Prerequisite: high school algebra and trigonometry; calculus not required.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 21S:
Mechanics, Fluids, and Heat with Laboratory
How are the motions of objects and the behavior of fluids and gases determined by the laws of physics? Students learn to describe the motion of objects (kinematics) and understand why objects move as they do (dynamics). Emphasis on how Newton's three laws of motion are applied to solids, liquids, and gases to describe phenomena as diverse as spinning gymnasts, blood flow, and sound waves. Understanding many-particle systems requires connecting macroscopic properties (e.g., temperature and pressure) to microscopic dynamics (collisions of particles). Laws of thermodynamics provide understanding of real-world phenomena such as energy conversion and performance limits of heat engines. Everyday examples are analyzed using tools of algebra and trigonometry. Problem-solving skills are developed, including verifying that derived results satisfy criteria for correctness, such as dimensional consistency and expected behavior in limiting cases. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Labs are an integrated part of the summer course. Prerequisite: high school algebra and trigonometry; calculus not required.
Terms: Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 23:
Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics
How are electric and magnetic fields generated by static and moving charges, and what are their applications? How is light related to electromagnetic waves? Students learn to represent and analyze electric and magnetic fields to understand electric circuits, motors, and generators. The wave nature of light is used to explain interference, diffraction, and polarization phenomena. Geometric optics is employed to understand how lenses and mirrors form images. These descriptions are combined to understand the workings and limitations of optical systems such as the eye, corrective vision, cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. Discussions based on the language of algebra and trigonometry. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 21 or PHYSICS 21S.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 23S:
Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics with Laboratory
How are electric and magnetic fields generated by static and moving charges, and what are their applications? How is light related to electromagnetic waves? Students learn to represent and analyze electric and magnetic fields to understand electric circuits, motors, and generators. The wave nature of light is used to explain interference, diffraction, and polarization phenomena. Geometric optics is employed to understand how lenses and mirrors form images. These descriptions are combined to understand the workings and limitations of optical systems such as the eye, corrective vision, cameras, telescopes, and microscopes. Discussions based on the language of algebra and trigonometry. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Labs are an integrated part of the summer courses. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 21 or PHYSICS 21S.
Terms: Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 25:
Modern Physics
How do the discoveries since the dawn of the 20th century impact our understanding of 21st-century physics? This course introduces the foundations of modern physics: Einstein's theory of special relativity and quantum mechanics. Combining the language of physics with tools from algebra and trigonometry, students gain insights into how the universe works on both the smallest and largest scales. Topics may include atomic, molecular, and laser physics; semiconductors; elementary particles and the fundamental forces; nuclear physics (fission, fusion, and radioactivity); astrophysics and cosmology (the contents and evolution of the universe). Emphasis on applications of modern physics in everyday life, progress made in our understanding of the universe, and open questions that are the subject of active research. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and interactive group problem solving in discussion sections. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 23 or PHYSICS 23S.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 41:
Mechanics
How are motions of objects in the physical world determined by laws of physics? Students learn to describe the motion of objects (kinematics) and then understand why motions have the form they do (dynamics). Emphasis on how the important physical principles in mechanics, such as conservation of momentum and energy for translational and rotational motion, follow from just three laws of nature: Newton's laws of motion. Distinction made between fundamental laws of nature and empirical rules that are useful approximations for more complex physics. Problems drawn from examples of mechanics in everyday life. Skills developed in verifying that derived results satisfy criteria for correctness, such as dimensional consistency and expected behavior in limiting cases. Discussions based on language of mathematics, particularly vector representations and operations, and calculus. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and discussion sections based on interactive group problem solving. Prerequisite: High school physics or concurrent enrollment in PHYSICS 41A. MATH 41 or MATH 51 or CME 100 or equivalent. Minimum corequisite: MATH 42 or equivalent.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 43:
Electricity and Magnetism
What is electricity? What is magnetism? How are they related? How do these phenomena manifest themselves in the physical world? The theory of electricity and magnetism, as codified by Maxwell's equations, underlies much of the observable universe. Students develop both conceptual and quantitative knowledge of this theory. Topics include: electrostatics; magnetostatics; simple AC and DC circuits involving capacitors, inductors, and resistors; integral form of Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves. Principles illustrated in the context of modern technologies. Broader scientific questions addressed include: How do physical theories evolve? What is the interplay between basic physical theories and associated technologies? Discussions based on the language of mathematics, particularly differential and integral calculus, and vectors. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and discussion sections based on interactive group problem solving. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 41 or equivalent. MATH 42 or MATH 51 or CME 100 or equivalent. Recommended corequisite: MATH 52 or CME 102.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 45:
Light and Heat
What is temperature? How do the elementary processes of mechanics, which are intrinsically reversible, result in phenomena that are clearly irreversible when applied to a very large number of particles, the ultimate example being life? In thermodynamics, students discover that the approach of classical mechanics is not sufficient to deal with the extremely large number of particles present in a macroscopic amount of gas. The paradigm of thermodynamics leads to a deeper understanding of real-world phenomena such as energy conversion and the performance limits of thermal engines. In optics, students see how a geometrical approach allows the design of optical systems based on reflection and refraction, while the wave nature of light leads to interference phenomena. The two approaches come together in understanding the diffraction limit of microscopes and telescopes. Discussions based on the language of mathematics, particularly calculus. Physical understanding fostered by peer interaction and demonstrations in lecture, and discussion sections based on interactive group problem solving. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 41 or equivalent. MATH 42 or MATH 51 or CME 100 or equivalent.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 50:
Observational Astronomy Laboratory
Introduction to observational astronomy emphasizing the use of optical telescopes. Observations of stars, nebulae, and galaxies in laboratory sessions with telescopes at the Stanford Student Observatory. Meets at the observatory one evening per week from dusk until well after dark, in addition to day-time lectures each week. No previous physics required. Limited enrollment.
Terms: Aut, Sum
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 61:
Mechanics and Special Relativity
(First in a three-part advanced freshman physics series: PHYSICS 61, PHYSICS 63, PHYSICS 65.) This course covers Einstein's special theory of relativity and Newtonian mechanics at a level appropriate for students with a strong high school mathematics and physics background, who are contemplating a major in Physics or Engineering Physics, or are interested in a rigorous treatment of physics. Postulates of special relativity, simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, causality, and relativistic mechanics. Central forces, contact forces, linear restoring forces. Momentum transport, work, energy, collisions. Angular momentum, torque, moment of inertia in three dimensions. Damped and forced harmonic oscillators. Uses the language of vectors and multivariable calculus. Recommended prerequisites: Mastery of mechanics at the level of AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC or equivalent. Corequisite: MATH 51.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 63:
Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves
(Second in a three-part advanced freshman physics series: PHYSICS 61, PHYSICS 63, PHYSICS 65.) This course covers the foundations of electricity and magnetism for students with a strong high school mathematics and physics background, who are contemplating a major in Physics or Engineering Physics, or are interested in a rigorous treatment of physics. Electricity, magnetism, and waves with some description of optics. Electrostatics and Gauss' law. Electric potential, electric field, conductors, image charges. Electric currents, DC circuits. Moving charges, magnetic field, Ampere's law. Solenoids, transformers, induction, AC circuits, resonance. Relativistic point of view for moving charges. Displacement current, Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic waves, dielectrics. Diffraction, interference, refraction, reflection, polarization. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 61 and MATH 51. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 52.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 65:
Quantum and Thermal Physics
(Third in a three-part advanced freshman physics series: PHYSICS 61, PHYSICS 63, PHYSICS 65.) This course introduces the foundations of quantum and statistical mechanics for students with a strong high school mathematics and physics background, who are contemplating a major in Physics or Engineering Physics, or are interested in a rigorous treatment of physics. Quantum mechanics: atoms, electrons, nuclei. Quantization of light, Planck's constant. Photoelectric effect, Compton and Bragg scattering. Bohr model, atomic spectra. Matter waves, wave packets, interference. Fourier analysis and transforms, Heisenberg uncertainty relationships. Schrödinger equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. Particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, barrier penetration, tunneling, WKB and approximate solutions. Time-dependent and multi-dimensional solution concepts. Coulomb potential and hydrogen atom structure. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics: ideal gas, equipartition, heat capacity. Probability, counting states, entropy, equilibrium, chemical potential. Laws of thermodynamics. Cycles, heat engines, free energy. Partition function, Boltzmann statistics, Maxwell speed distribution, ideal gas in a box, Einstein model. Quantum statistical mechanics: classical vs. quantum distribution functions, fermions vs. bosons. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 61 & PHYSICS 63. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 53.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 70:
Foundations of Modern Physics
Required for Physics or Engineering Physics majors who completed the PHYSICS 40 series. Introduction to special relativity: reference frames, Michelson-Morley experiment. Postulates of relativity, simultaneity, time dilation. Length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, causality. Doppler effect. Relativistic mechanics and mass, energy, momentum relations. Introduction to quantum physics: atoms, electrons, nuclei. Quantization of light, Planck constant. Photoelectric effect, Compton and Bragg scattering. Bohr model, atomic spectra. Matter waves, wave packets, interference. Fourier analysis and transforms, Heisenberg uncertainty relationships. Schrödinger equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. Particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, barrier penetration, tunneling, WKB and approximate solutions. Time-dependent and multi-dimensional solution concepts. Coulomb potential and hydrogen atom structure. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 41, PHYSICS 43. Pre or corequisite: PHYSICS 45. Recommended: prior or concurrent registration in MATH 53.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 83N:
Physics in the 21st Century
Preference to freshmen. Current topics at the frontier of modern physics. This course provides an in-depth examination of two of the biggest physics discoveries of the 21st century: that of the Higgs boson and Dark Energy. Through studying these discoveries we will explore the big questions driving modern particle physics, the study of nature's most fundamental pieces, and cosmology, the study of the evolution and nature of the universe. Questions such as: What is the universe made of? What are the most fundamental particles and how do they interact with each other? What can we learn about the history of the universe and what does it tell us about it's future? We will learn about the tools scientists use to study these questions such as the Large Hadron Collider and the Hubble Space Telescope. We will also learn to convey these complex topics in engaging and diverse terms to the general public through writing and reading assignments, oral presentations, and multimedia projects. The syllabus includes a tour of SLAC, the site of many major 20th century particle discoveries, and a virtual visit of the control room of the ATLAS experiment at CERN amongst other activities. No prior knowledge of physics is necessary; all voices are welcome to contribute to the discussion about these big ideas. Learning Goals: By the end of the quarter you will be able to explain the major questions that drive particle physics and cosmology to your friends and peers. You will understand how scientists study the impossibly small and impossibly large and be able to convey this knowledge in clear and concise terms.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 100:
Introduction to Observational Astrophysics
Designed for undergraduate physics majors but open to all students with a calculus-based physics background and some laboratory and coding experience. Students make and analyze observations using the telescopes at the Stanford Student Observatory. Topics covered include navigating the night sky, the physics of stars and galaxies, telescope instrumentation and operation, imaging and spectroscopic techniques, quantitative error analysis, and effective scientific communication. The course concludes with an independent project. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: prior completion of Physics 40 or 60 series.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 105:
Intermediate Physics Laboratory I: Analog Electronics
Analog electronics including Ohm's law, passive circuits and transistor and op amp circuits, emphasizing practical circuit design skills to prepare undergraduates for laboratory research. Short design project. Minimal use of math and physics, no electronics experience assumed beyond introductory physics. Prerequisite: PHYSICS 43 or PHYSICS 63.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 107:
Intermediate Physics Laboratory II: Experimental Techniques and Data Analysis
Experiments on lasers, Gaussian optics, and atom-light interaction, with emphasis on data and error analysis techniques. Students describe a subset of experiments in scientific paper format. Prerequisites: completion of PHYSICS 40 or PHYSICS 60 series, and PHYSICS 70 and PHYSICS 105. Recommended pre- or corequisites: PHYSICS 120 and 130. WIM
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 108:
Advanced Physics Laboratory: Project
Small student groups plan, design, build, and carry out a single experimental project in low-temperature physics. Prerequisites PHYSICS 105, PHYSICS 107.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 110:
Advanced Mechanics (PHYSICS 210)
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Principle of least action, Euler-Lagrange equations. Small oscillations and beyond. Symmetries, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, action-angle variables. Introduction to classical field theory. Selected other topics, including nonlinear dynamical systems, attractors, chaotic motion. Undergraduates register for Physics 110 (4 units). Graduates register for Physics 210 (3 units). Prerequisites: MATH 131P, and PHYSICS 112 or MATH elective 104 or higher. Recommended prerequisite: PHYSICS 130.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 120:
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I
Vector analysis. Electrostatic fields, including boundary-value problems and multipole expansion. Dielectrics, static and variable magnetic fields, magnetic materials. Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 43 or PHYS 63; MATH 52 and MATH 53. Pre- or corequisite: MATH 131P or MATH 173. Recommended corequisite: PHYS 112.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PHYSICS 130:
Quantum Mechanics I
The origins of quantum mechanics and wave mechanics. Schrödinger equation and solutions for one-dimensional systems. Commutation relations. Generalized uncertainty principle. Time-energy uncertainty principle. Separation of variables and solutions for three-dimensional systems; application to hydrogen atom. Spherically symmetric potentials and angular momentum eigenstates. Spin angular momentum. Addition of angular momentum. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 65 or PHYSICS 70 and MATH 131P or MATH 173. MATH 173 can be taken concurrently. Pre- or corequisites: PHYSICS 120.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
PSYC 135:
Sleep and Dreams (PSYC 235)
The course is designed to impart essential knowledge of the neuroscience of sleep and covers how sleep affects our daily lives-- both physical and mental functions of our well-being. The course covers the science of sleep, dreams, and the pathophysiology of highly prevalent sleep disorders such as sleep deprivation, biological rhythms, and focuses on the physiology of non-REM and REM sleep. Course content empowers students to make educated decisions concerning sleep and alertness for the rest of their lives and shapes students' attitudes about the importance of sleep. Learning about the science of sleep provides tangible reason to respect sleep as a member of what we term the triumvirate of health: good nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy sleep.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 9N:
Reading the Brain: the Scientific, Ethical, and Legal Implications of Brain Imaging
It's hard to pick up a newspaper without seeing a story that involves brain imaging, from research on psychological disorders to its use for lie detection or "neuromarketing". The methods are indeed very powerful, but many of the claims seen in the press are results of overly strong interpretations. In this course, you will learn to evaluate claims based on brain imaging research. We will also explore the deeper ethical and philosophical issues that arise from our ability to peer into our own brains in action. The course will start by discussing how to understand and interpret the findings of brain imaging research. We will discuss how new statistical methods provide the ability to accurately predict thoughts and behaviors from brain images. We will explore how this research has the potential to change our concepts of the self, personal responsibility and free will. We will also discuss the ethics of brain imaging, such as how the ability to detect thoughts relates to personal privacy and mental illness. Finally, we will discuss the legal implications of these techniques, such as their use in lie detection or as evidence against legal culpability.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-ER, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 16N:
Amines and Affect
Preference to freshmen. How serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine influence people's emotional lives. This course is ideal for students that would like to get deeper exposure to cutting edge concepts and methods at the intersection of psychology and biology, and who plan to apply their knowledge to future research.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 30:
Introduction to Perception
Behavioral and neural aspects of perception focusing on visual and auditory perception. Topics include: scientific methods for studying perception, anatomy and physiology of the visual and auditiory systems, color vision, depth perception, motion perception, stereopsis, visual recognition, pitch and loudness perception, speech perception, and reorganization of the visual system in the blind.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 50:
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
Survey of topics relating brain activity to cognitive processes and behavior. The course begins with an overview of neurophysiology and techniques to measure brain activity. We then discuss perceptual and motor processes before investigating neural responses related to attention, memory, and cognitive control. The course concludes with a discussion of brain processes related to reward, decision making, and social cognition.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 120:
Cellular Neuroscience: Cell Signaling and Behavior (BIO 153)
Neural interactions underlying behavior. Prerequisites: PSYCH 1 or basic biology.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-SMA
PSYCH 121:
Ion Transport and Intracellular Messengers (PSYCH 228)
(Graduate students register for 228.) Ion channels, carriers, ion pumps, and their regulation by intracellular messengers in a variety of cell types. Recommended: 120, introductory course in biology or human biology.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 1-3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
PSYCH 164:
Brain decoding
Can we know what someone is thinking by examining their brain activity? Using knowledge of the human visual system and techniques from machine learning, recent work has shown impressive ability to decode what people are looking at from their brain activity as measured with functional imaging. The course will use a combination of lectures, primary literature readings, discussion and hands-on tutorials to understand this emerging technology from basic knowledge of the perceptual (primarily visual) and other cognitive systems (such as working memory) to tools and techniques used to decode brain activity.nPrerequisites: Either Psych 30 or Psych 50 or Consent of Instructor
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SMA
THINK 1:
The Science of MythBusters
How do scientists actually go about answering practical questions? How does science function as a way of understanding our world, and importantly how does it differ from other approaches? As its point of departure, this course will examine and critique selected episodes of the television series, MythBusters (Discovery Channel), which tests the validity of many popular beliefs in a variety of imaginative ways, including myths, rumors, traditions, and stories. We will take the opportunity to delve more deeply into the applicability of the scientific method in understanding a vast range of real-world problems, and into the practical acquisition of fact-based knowledge, which together form the cornerstone of all science. The intellectual framework of this course will be based, first and foremost, on skeptical inquiry, combined with the other key ingredients of good science, which include: framing the question well, careful experimental design, meticulous observation and measurement, quantitative analysis and modeling, the evaluation of statistical significance, recovery from failure, disseminating findings, and the continuous cycle of hypothesis and testing. Note: This course is taught at an introductory level, but it pays serious attention to the quantitative treatment of experimental data and associated tests of statistical significance. All students taking the course will be expected to learn, and to work a series of problems in, basic probability and statistics. There is also a hands-on, "dorm lab" component that involves some fabrication and a significant amount of individual testing and measurement. The final course project will involve developing and writing a scientific grant proposal to test a myth. We hope to inculcate in our students "a taste for questioning, a sense of observation, intellectual rigor, practice with reasoning, modesty in the face of facts, the ability to distinguish between true and false, and an attachment to logical and precise language. " (Yves Quéré, 2010 Science 330:605).
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
THINK 15:
How Does Your Brain Work?
How do the biology and chemistry of the brain create the mind that lets us talk, walk, laugh, love, learn, remember, and forget? What can neuroscience say about what makes us human? How can we ask questions about the brain that are observable, testable, and answerable? The human brain is the most complex organ we know. To understand the biology of brain function, this course will use highly interactive lectures and discussions to examine the validity of common beliefs about the brain, discuss how the brain and the nervous system are organized, how individual elements of the brain function, and how together these units produce action. The brain, like all other biological structures, has evolved over time in response to natural selection by adapting to diverse behavioral and environmental constraints. We use evolutionary comparisons to illuminate important questions about brain function, including what the origins and consequences of brain damage are, how and where drugs act, and how you collect, interpret, and understand information about the world. You will learn both how the science of the brain has emerged through understanding important experiments and observations and how you can formulate and test your own experimental questions about the brain.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-SMA
THINK 23:
The Cancer Problem: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
How has our approach to cancer been affected by clinical observations, scientific discoveries, social norms, politics, and economic interests? Approximately one in three Americans will develop invasive cancer during their lifetime; one in five Americans will die as a result of this disease. This course will expose you to multiple ways of approaching the cancer problem, including laboratory research, clinical trials, population studies, public health interventions, and health care economics. We will start with the 18th century discovery of the relationship between coal tar and cancer, and trace the role of scientific research in revealing the genetic basis of cancer. We will then discuss the development of new treatments for cancer as well as measures to screen for and prevent cancer, including the ongoing debate over tobacco control. Using cancer as a case study, you will learn important aspects of the scientific method including experimental design, data analysis, and the difference between correlation and causation. You will learn how science can be used and misused with regard to the public good. You will also learn about ways in which social, political, and economic forces shape our knowledge about and response to disease.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
THINK 33:
The Water Course
How can we balance all the competing, and growing, demands for freshwater? When you turn on your tap, where does the water come from?nnnWater is essential for life. But, around the world, governments and citizens are challenged to balance the human demands on our freshwater resources, while protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems. At the core of the challenge is our limited understanding, in many parts of the world, of the watershed-scale hydrologic cycle ¿ the course that the water follows from rainfall, to river, to groundwater, to ocean, to atmosphere, and back again. The Water Course takes students along that course, exploring the role that natural systems and human systems play in impacting both the quantity and quality of our freshwater. We will consider questions surrounding decisions about water allocation, and discuss new scientific methods that provide support for science-based decision making in the management of freshwater resources. You will connect global-scale issues to your personal experiences with water through a quarter-long project investigating both water quantity and water quality for a city or watershed in the western U.S. You will produce a numerical model, and make approximations, to describe a complex natural system. Using online resources you will explore the pathway that water takes from rainfall to your tap.
Last offered: Spring 2013
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-AQR, WAY-SMA
THINK 40:
Meeting the Global Sustainability Challenge
What are the most critical sustainability challenges facing us in this century? How can natural and social sciences, humanities, and technology fields interact to contribute to their solution? How do we balance the needs and desires of current generations with the needs of future generations? The term sustainability seems to be everywhere. Businesses, cities, non-governmental organizations, individuals, and universities such as Stanford use the term to characterize decisions that make sense for the well-being of people as well as the environment. Beyond the popular use of the term is an emerging field of study that focuses on the goals of sustainable development - improving human well-being while preserving Earth's life support systems (air, water, climate, ecosystems) over the long run - and explores how science and technology can contribute to the solution of some of the most critical problems of the 21st Century. The goal of this course is to engage you in critical thinking and analysis about complex sustainability challenges and to encourage you to consider the need for integrative solutions that draw on different disciplines. We will examine some of the major problems of sustainable development (including issues related to food, water, and energy resources, climate change, and protection of ecosystem services), grapple with the complexities of problem solving in complex human-environment systems, and participate in the design of effective strategies and policies for meeting sustainability goals. You will learn to develop policy briefs addressing sustainability issues in the university, local communities, state and the nation as well as work on team projects with decision makers that address real-life challenges in your local area.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-SMA
THINK 41:
The Conscious Mind: The Philosophy and Biology of Consciousness, Memory, and Personal Identity
How do our common-sense conceptions of the mind and of ourselves hold up against the growing body of psychological and neurobiological knowledge of the brain? How is your mental life anchored to your physical self?nYou wake up from a dreamless sleep and suddenly everything's buzzing with color and sound. Somehow your brain sustains this rich landscape of experience, integrating it with a repertoire of memories to constitute yourself. This course probes the neurobiological bases of these familiar yet miraculous facets of the mind. You'll learn to analyze primary philosophical and scientific texts, using basic knowledge of the brain to assess and even innovate experiments that could shed light on the nature of consciousness and personal identity.
Last offered: Spring 2014
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-A-II, WAY-SMA
THINK 45:
Thinking About the Universe: What do we know? How do we know it?
What is the origin and ultimate fate of the universe? Can we know what came before the universe? Are there ultimate limits to human knowledge about the universe and are we reaching them? Cosmology (the study of the universe) raises profound questions about us, our place in the universe, and about the limits of our knowledge. It was only in the 20th century that cosmology developed from metaphysical and theological speculation to become an observational science and a recognized part of physics. In this course, students will explore questions about the Universe, its beginnings, its structure, its extent, its fate, from several perspectives - philosophical, experimental, and theoretical. We will discuss current research and the ongoing debates about the laws of nature on subatomic scales and the perplexing questions they raise regarding the universe and the limits of scientific inquiry.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: College, THINK, WAY-SMA
