Curricular Journal Examples

Tutorial Advisees

Example 1 Jeremy Sanchez '14  
I might decide to major in history, French, biochemistry, or a combination of two of them. Four Courses for Next Year: Alternative Courses: Why these courses?
French
I will further my knowledge of a foreign language, become immersed in language while learning about French culture, and speak with other native speakers should it become helpful in travel or a career.
Chemistry
I will learn about the dynamics of the chemical world in which we live. I am partaking in a science, which will help me understand more about the medicine I take, the new chemicals that are being produced, and what to recommend to others as effective medications, etc.
Calculus
I will learn about the way physics is explained mathematically. A mathematics course expands my liberal arts education into areas that are more concrete with less room for interpretation. I might be able to help others, including my descendants, on math if they need it.
History
I will learn about how European influences collapsed during the 20th century, and how to analyze documents from the past. Taking a social science helps one understand our species, definitely a part of a liberal arts education. I can view the world in a more tolerant way if I understand differing points of view; I will also be able to write more effectively and teach others to do similarly.
English
I will learn about the ways to interpret literature as well as dive into some of the literature itself. An English class helps one understand this nation's language as well as appreciate some of the classic ideas others have written in books, plays, etc. Similar to history, I will learn about different points of view and communicate much more effectively.
Political Science
I will understand the inner governmental workings of this country as well as the ways I can participate in this representative democracy. Another social science, it adds to the liberal arts experience by allowing an individual to understand how and why the world?s governments act as they do. I may be able to make better decisions if I know how the nation works.
Major Western Religions
I hope to understand the doctrines behind some of the sects of other Christian faiths beyond my own. Understanding customs is an important part of a liberal arts education, as religion is omnipresent, whether one is religious or not. I hope to know how I may further tolerate and empathize with other religions even if I disagree.
Overall, I want to know more about people out there in the world, what they do, what they believe. My changes to my original plan include taking out Chinese (though that's not completely out of the question) and taking more history courses than I once thought.
Example 2: Molly Gallagher '14  
I still am intending to major in physics and possibly have a concentration in Global Development Studies. I find ENVS- 154: Natural Hazards and Disasters interesting. I would prefer to take PHY-132, MAT-218, SPAN-217 (perhaps in conjunction with SPAN-204), and ECON-111. If these choices fill up, I would like to take ENVS- 154, TECH- 154, or REL-117. This has changed from my previous plans because I decided it would be more beneficial to continue in Spanish than start Chinese. I also looked closer at the requirements for GDS and included some required classes or prerequisites for required classes.
As far as my goals for this semester, PHY-132 will help me continue picking up skills for my intended major. MAT-218 will do the same. Both of these will also serve as prerequisites to future courses I must take for my intended major. SPAN-217 will help improve my Spanish and prepare me for possible study abroad opportunities in Spanish-speaking countries later in my college career. ECON-111 is a prerequisite for two courses for a Global Development Studies concentration and I have never taken a course in economy before so it will let me see if I like it or not. ENVS-154 is about material I am interested in and it also applies to a GDS concentration. TECH-154 applies for a GDS concentration. REL-117 applies for a GDS concentration and I have never taken a religions class before.
As far as a liberal education goes, PHY-132 addresses science. MAT-218 addresses math. SPAN-217 addresses a foreign language and culture. ECON-111 addresses social sciences in a way I have never learned them before. ENVS- 154 covers a topic familiar to me, natural disasters, from a point of view I have never looked at it before. TECH- 154 looks at technology from a humanity perspective. REL-117 covers a part of humanity I have not devoted much time to.
As far as preparation for life after college goes, PHY-132 will prepare me for grad school and possible physics research work. MAT-218 will do the same. SPAN-217 will help me communicate with and understand a much larger group of people. Since economy is such an important part of society today, it will be beneficial for me to have some idea of how it works. ECON-111 will give me that knowledge. ENVS-154 will help me if I ever want to go into meteorology, which I am considering. If I ever use my degree to develop technology, TECH-154 will help me do so more responsibly. Since religion is such a large part of why people act a certain way, REL-117 will help me understand people better when dealing with them after college.

Major Advisees

Example 1: Charles Frantz '11  
MAT-218-01 Combinatorics
I of course need this to complete my major, but the subject seems to keep popping up in areas of special interest to me. For instance, combinatorial explosion has been problematic in attempts to model complex systems like the mind (Daniel Dennett's True Believers).
CSC-207-01 Algorithms and Object-Oriented Design
Completion of this course is required for my major. It introduces object-oriented programming, the biggest gap in my basic programming arsenal (and a useful and marketable one, I am told).
CSC-295-01 Special Topic: Computer Vision
This class works brilliantly with my interests in both computer science and neuroscience (i.e., computer modeling and emulation of neural systems). The timing is also right, since I will be taking my neuroscience seminar in the fall, where I will be able to further explore a topic of special interest that I discover in Computer Vision. The course will also introduce concepts that may well be relevant to my post-Grinnell pursuits, which may involve some yet-to-be-determined confluence of computer science and neuroscience.
PHE-100-17 Advanced Racquetball
I have never really tried to develop skills or strategies for a competitive game. I think this class would be a good opportunity to do that. It would also give me regular playing time, so I wouldn't have to depend on my one friend to stay active.
THE-111-01 Intro to Performance
Studies Something lacking in my academic life at Grinnell so far is the study of creative expression. Since I have always engaged in and been drawn to performance in many forms, I hope for this course to enhance my understanding of where the drive to perform comes from (why it is so prevelant, including cross-culturally), and to broaden my concept of what it can and has been used to achieve.
HIS-276-01 Chinese History II
I have also not taken a history class while at Grinnell, and I have been seeking to cleanse my palette of the roteness of what is called Social Studies in high school. I have also been trying to be a better citizen by increasing my awareness of current events, so I think this particular course would be good for me since it covers the history of China (a major global force, I'm told) into the present.
As far as the elements of a liberal education, my courses for my major and concentration are sure to develop my quantitative reasoning, and in Computer Vision I will be introduced to abstract models, specifically of the human visual system, an important component of an education in the natural sciences. My free course is meant to continue to develop my skills of reading, analyzing, and writing. Taking Computer Vision is one of the critical steps in my 4-year plan toward preparing me for possible high level neuroscience/computer science research work after Grinnell. Intro to Performance Studies is highly complementary to activities I am involved in on-campus, including Grinnell Singers, improv, and open mic stand-up. Furthermore, it may give me helpful perspective as I contemplate a more concerted exploration of stand-up this summer and possibly after graduating.
That said: It might be a good time to use some of the credit-cushion I came to Grinnell with to just take the first four classes listed, even though one of them is worth 1-credit. Since I consider the first three courses listed to be core to my specific interests and major/concentration, I want to be able to concentrate on them and to avoid some of the compromises I find myself making this semester in classes of greater interest in order to keep my grades afloat in classes of lesser interest. I'd be open to enrolling in a fifth course with the intention of testing how demanding it will be and keeping dropping or auditing as a possible (even likely) outome.
Example 2 Dugan Knoll '12  
MAT215 Linear Algebra
In my four year plan, it is necessary for me to take Linear Algebra to graduate in CS. Linear Algebra will deepen my understanding of mathematics and computational logic to improve my critical thinking and problem solving skills.
CSC213 Oper. Sys. & Per. Alg.
This course will help me understand the computer's operating system, to help me better understand how the world of computers works. With this knowledge I will be able to write programs for different operating systems, which is useful for my future goals of writing software.
MUS120 Perf:Guitar
As an intended music major, this will be beneficial because of my interest in the methodologies of teaching and playing guitar. This would help with my future goals of developing music software.
MUS120 Perf:Voice
These lessons are mostly for personal enjoyment. However, they will help deepen my understanding and appreciation of vocal music as well as providing credits in the music major.
SOC111 Intro to Sociology
I expect this class to develop my critical thinking skills about society. I also expect this class to help me understand diversity at Grinnell and in future environments.
Alternatives
ENG120
Literary Analysis This course would help me by developing my writing, reading and critical thinking skills, which is crucial to a liberal arts education. This class would look good on a transcript as well as giving me an advantage in my career.
POL101 Intro to Political Science
Going to a college that is known for its social justice and political activism, this class would help me understand politics and how my personal beliefs fit in with my classmates and the rest of society.
In the fall of 2010, I hope to broaden my knowledge in the liberal arts, while furthering my knowledge and passions for music and computer science. Besides classwork, I expect my free time to be consumed by baseball, practicing music, a side project for computer science, and potentially a choir on campus. The baseball and music are primarily for enjoyment, time spent in both areas are highlights to my day. For the computer science side project, that is a consequence of the enjoyment I get out of creating and learning something useful. I hope to develop an enjoyable personal computer science project over the summer so that I can get additional programming practice in an area that I am interested in. Hopefully with additional time spent in music and computer science next fall, I can perform above expectations.