The moon landings were faked! The JFK assassination was a CIA inside job! Vaccines cause Autism! Aliens landed in Area 51! The Earth is flat! QAnon! Birds aren’t real! New Jersey drones! This Advanced Topics (AT) course delves into the psychology, science, and social impact of conspiracy theories. It uncovers the factors that make these ideas so compelling and offers a rigorous exploration of how and why they develop. Students will be exposed to logic as a scientific discipline, learning to apply logical reasoning and critical analysis to evaluate claims, dissect arguments, and assess the evidence behind contentious ideas. The course equips students with the tools to approach controversial topics with skepticism and analytical rigor while maintaining empathy for differing viewpoints.

Who is it for? Juniors and seniors who are curious about science, psychology, and advanced discussions on human behavior and belief systems.

This Advanced Topics (AT) course offers an introduction to the German language while exploring Germany’s cultural and societal impact. Through critically acclaimed films like Das Lehrerzimmer and the iconic TV series Tatort, students will examine themes of identity, community, and social change. Language instruction focuses on developing communication skills to navigate basic interactions and discuss personal and academic topics in German. By combining language acquisition with cultural analysis, this course equips students to approach global issues with a critical and informed perspective.

Who is it for? Junior and seniors – students interested in global cultures and advanced, interdisciplinary studies of language and society.

The emergence of new media and the spreading of information that changes everything. New utopias, new forms of freedom, globalization, wars, pandemics, and apocalyptic anguishes. Are these exclusively 21st Century archetypes? Not quite. The men and women of the Renaissance lived through it all. This Advanced Topics (AT) course will allow students to experience one of the richest periods in the history of Western culture. Aside from making connections across academic disciplines of art history, literature, comparative philosophy, religious studies, theatre, and history, students will explore the various ways our prosperous 21st Century resembles Renaissance life.

Who is it for? Students interested in exploring historical connections between the Renaissance and modern global issues across art, philosophy, and culture.

This Advanced Topics (AT) course offers a rigorous investigation into the intersection of science, healthcare, and public policy. Students will explore the scientific underpinnings, policy decisions, and lessons learned from historical cases such as the thalidomide tragedy and the Tuskegee study. Through case studies, students will analyze complex data, engage in evidence-based decision-making, and synthesize their findings into professional presentations. The course sharpens critical thinking skills and prepares students to tackle real-world problems in medicine and policy.

Who is it for? Juniors and seniors with interests in healthcare, science, or policy, seeking a challenging and interdisciplinary academic experience.

In this Advanced Topics (AT) course, students will have the opportunity to delve into chemical engineering process design in order to understand the scope and impact of process design on the world. Chemical engineering is inherently interdisciplinary and has many applications in pharmaceuticals, energy generation, food, and consumer products. How are ice cream bars made? Plastic bags, shampoo? How are these processes and factories designed? Where do the waste materials end up (life cycle analysis)? The course will introduce students to the holistic analysis of an industrial process and teach them soft skills of communication for conducting meetings, presentations, and working on teams.

Who is it for? Students interested in chemical engineering, industrial process design, and the real-world applications of science in industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, and consumer products.

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) has critical ethical, psychological, and social implications. Applications abound for healthcare, security, e-government and the public sector, transportation, logistics, education—with new applications appearing all the time. A.I. technologies impact fairness and equity, job displacement, potential erroring and misuse by malevolent actors, privacy, and security. In this Advanced Topics (AT) course, we enter this new world, helping you to navigate the challenges. We’ll learn about how A.I. works, explore applications, and apply ethics—from classical philosophical theories to modern ethics of technology—to these new concerns. We’ll also ask if A.I. can ever achieve consciousness.

Who is it for? Students interested in technology, ethics, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence, including its impact on privacy, fairness, and job displacement.

This Advanced Topics (AT) course immerses students in the Italian language while exploring the humanistic and artistic achievements of figures like Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. In a rigorous, fully immersive setting, students will develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Italian. Through cultural analysis, students will engage with Italy’s history, geography, and traditions, exploring how its intellectual legacy continues to shape the modern world. The course challenges students to connect language learning with critical discussions on Italy’s socio-cultural context and artistic heritage.

Who is it for? Juniors and seniors with a passion for world languages and culture who have excelled in another Romance language.