Fall Term 2005
Friday 1:30-3:00
Lectures in BASS 305; Discussion Sections as Assigned
Faculty Coordinators: Charles Schmuttenmaer (Chemistry) [email]; William C. Summers (Mol. Biophys. & Biochem.) [email]
Fall Term Discussion Sections (See Discussion Sections for Assignments)
Section 1: Room BASS 326: Faculty Discussion Leaders: William C. Summers [email] and Eric Dufresne [email]
Section 2: Room BASS 405: Faculty Discussion Leaders: Charles Schmuttenmaer [email] and Demetrios Braddock [email]
Section 3: Room BASS 205: Faculty Discussion Leaders: Gordon Shepherd [email] and Gary Haller [email]
Section 4: Room OML 400: Faculty Discussion Leaders: Michael McBride [email] and Sherman Weissman [email]
Science 198 "Perspectives on Science" is a special course designed to supplement the educational program of selected freshmen with outstanding preparation in the areas of science, mathematics, and engineering. The course extends over two semesters, with 1.5 hr meetings each Friday afternoon. It is built around a series of six lectures per semester, given every other week by some of Yale's most distinguished science faculty. Discussion sections are held in the alternate weeks. Each lecture is designed to introduce a key scientific problem and to illustrate it with a specific observation, theory, or experiment in a way that the students will be able to evaluate critically. Supplementary reading is provided for background and details. Each lecture is followed by a set of web-based lecture questions which each student must answer during the following week.
Discussion sections provide an opportunity to evaluate questions, ideas, and problems related to the lectures and supplemental readings. Each section consists of fifteen students and two faculty discussants (see above). Discussions are organized and lead by 2 to 3 discussion leaders, with the responsibility rotated among the students in the section. The faculty discussants are involved, not as leaders, but as fellow participants. Their role is to add to the discussion and to draw on their expertise when appropriate. The goal is a lively discussion of interesting scientific topics among students and faculty. Active participation, originality, and depth-of-thought are expected of all students and will be considered in the final grading process.
Each student is required to participate in the weekly meetings, to answer a set of questions in preparation for the discussion sections, and to lead one discussion section each semester. A final paper is due at the end of spring semester. The topic can be connected to one of the lectures or a proposed summer research project. Science 198 is intended as a supplemental course. It does not replace any other course in a student's freshman program. Students earn one course credit for a full year's enrollment; no credit is received if the entire course is not completed. Students are expected to indicate their interest in science by enrolling in other science courses, usually with laboratory. Science 198 cannot be used to satisfy the natural science component of the distribution requirements for the bachelor's degree. [Yale College Course Listing for Science 198 ]
Admission is by application during the summer prior to the start of classes. Applications are evaluated on the basis of academic qualifications and a personal statement, submitted with the application, that summarizes prior experience and future objectives in the sciences. The course is currently limited to 60 students, which means that many well-qualified students will be turned away. There is no waiting list. All students accepted for the course are automatically enrolled for the entire year (i.e. the course is not "shoppable").
Summer Research Opportunity Perspectives on Science provides support for a summer research experience with a Yale faculty member in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Students who are interested in doing research should begin planning for the summer by early in the spring semester. [Summer Research ] At the end of the first semester there will be a Research Symposium with presentations and posters by students from last year who carried out Summer Research at Yale.
Course evaluations are submitted electronically at the end of each semester through Yale's Online Course Evaluation system.
Home | Lectures & Reading | Discussion Sections | Discussion Guidelines | Lecture Questions | Final Paper
Announcements | Summer Research | Research Symposium
This page last updated: 31 August 2005; William C. Summers