Academic Majors: 2012 Missouri Scholars Academy
Canoes, Cabs, and the French Railroad
What do any of these delightful modes of transportation have to do with mathematics? Come and see! In
this course, we’ll explore a bevy of different geometric questions from their humble beginnings to the
frontier of human understanding. Along the way, we’ll trample doughnuts, tie ourselves in knots, and
draw lots of pictures. We will deal with very few numbers or symbols. Instead, the focus will be more on
spatial reasoning and logic.
Exploring Documentary
This course is aimed at providing scholars a background in documentary studies, then getting them into
the field for hands-on production experience. Students will learn the fundamentals of video production as
we work together to create an original documentary. Screenings of contemporary documentaries, along
with class discussions on journalistic integrity vs. artistic license, the ethical responsibilities of the
storyteller, and the role of the documentarian in journalism today will inform our approach.
Introduction to Philosophy: Great Thoughts Worth Thinking
What are great thoughts? Why are they worth thinking? Should you think about them? What is
metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics? Philosophy attempts to answer these questions — mainly by
providing more questions. Come and question everything you have ever been told. Discussions, seminars,
meditations, plays, and journals will be used to reflect on questions us, as human beings, face. We will
also attempt to apply these grand thoughts to everyday problems through ethics. We will delve into
various thinkers, from Aristotle to Peter Singer, Ayn Rand to Wallace Shawn. Come and see why it is
important to question everything!!!
It’s the End of the World as We Know It
It’s not easy being green, and it’s definitely not easy living in a world of varied tastes, mixed opinions and
random ideas. Using the arts and philosophies of the past 100 years, the Romantic, the Real, the Modern
and the Post, we will be able to research the past and use it to find out where we are, artistically and
philosophically speaking. With background research ranging from jazz to rap, from watercolors to splatter
art, from Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein to Langston Hughes and Steve Martin, from Picasso to Calvin
and Hobbes, from cartoons to the Muppets, and from Albert Einstein to Martin Luther King, Jr., we will
jump into all of the different -isms (cubism, impressionism, absurdism, etc.) of literature and arts and
philosophies of today. We will explore these isms with various and sundry art and writing projects, we
will discuss and enact the philosophies underlying cultural change, and we’ll create some groovy art…all
in the trek to figure out where we are, why we are, and where we are going.
Japanese Language and Culture
The United States and Japan are two of the largest economic superpowers of the world, and together are
responsible for 45% of the world’s GNP. The economic relationship between the two countries is so
closely intertwined that there is a tremendous need for people who possess expertise on Japan. In fact,
knowledge of Japan—including its language and culture—will be a key to advancement in business,
industry, law, and government in the next century. Today’s youth should focus attention on the “Century
of the Pacific” because of the rise of India and China as the other major economic and political players in
Asia; they should be ready to be in the forefront of building bridges to the East because top “Asia Hands”
will be called upon to help make important policy decisions. This course is designed to be more than the
traditional foreign language course of reading, writing, and speaking. While scholars will study the
language, they will also be provided with a broad exposure to the culture, customs, religion, economy,
arts, and educational system. Beyond that, the tension between Japan and the United States is mounting
due to lack of mutual understanding. Young people have the responsibility to be well informed and must
not be misled by stereotypes and misinformation. This class will therefore also examine the dynamics and
dimensions of confrontation, competition, and cooperation that have characterized the relationship
between Japan and the United States.
A People’s History: True Stories of Struggle and Change
Who were the original benefactors of the Constitution? Were all men created “equal”? Is there social
justice and liberty for all? A People’s History is a course designed for students that seek a greater
understanding of oppressed people who fought heroically for change, as well as groups that are suffering
from systems of injustice today. Student empathy will increase as we sift through firsthand accounts of
struggle, discuss clips from documentaries, study propaganda in photographs, and write meaningful
letters to organizations and governments to promote change. Students will also dramatize voices that have
historically been silenced: women, slaves, African Americans, laborers, ethnic minorities, and those
people, both domestic and international, who have been exploited or massacred at the expense of
colonialism. This course is not all gloom and doom, as we will embark on a journey endeavoring to make
the world a better place by becoming, in a sense, a socially conscious organization that seeks liberty and
justice for all.
Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual: Science Fiction and YOU!
Could it really happen? Engage in the debate; consider social ethics in response to its impact on the
developing technologies of global societies. Scholars will ask and contemplate essential questions
regarding the electronic frontier, invasion of privacy, advancements in medical science and more.
Scholars will connect science fiction concepts with relevant historical, scientific, and technological
events. Students will review the history of science fiction, study its major authors, and analyze the impact
of science fiction on various types of media.
Rock and Roll Physics: The physics of rollercoasters, rockets, and rock and roll
In this class we will explore three examples of how physics rocks and rolls. The students will spend one
week exploring what makes music rock: waves and sound. We will answer questions like, what makes
the notes C and D different. Students will then rock their physics knowledge by building a musical
instrument out of PVC. We will next spend a week studying the physics of rollercoasters. Using videos
and data collected from passengers we will analyze the motion of and forces on the passengers on rides.
Students will also design and build their own rollercoasters. The class will then focus on the physics of
rockets and space travel. Students will learn what makes rockets fly, take off, and stay in space. The class
will also consider communication in space, and the possibilities of high-speed space travel, including how
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity applies to space travel.
Sperm and Oocytes and Embryos, Oh my! - Exploring the Mysteries of Domestic
Mammalian Reproductive Physiology from Gametogenesis to Parturition
In this course, scholars will delve into the complex and mysterious world of reproductive physiology in
an attempt to understand just how remarkable it is that we are all here. In other words, scholars will first
investigate the intensely complicated systems that direct production of sperm and oocytes and then
analyze how these gametes must undergo multifaceted processes to produce a successful fertilization,
conception and parturition. Don’t expect this education to occur only at a desk. This course is designed to
have the scholar actively engaged in order to learn about the area of domestic mammalian reproductive
physiology. Specifically, scholars will utilize the domestic bovine, porcine and murine as models to study
the realm of mammalian reproductive physiology. Those scholars with veterinary or graduate school
aspirations should consider this major course. There are no pre-requisites for this course; however, classes
in agriculture, biology and/or chemistry will be beneficial to the scholar.
Stylistic Signatures: A Writing Experience
In this course, scholars will have an opportunity to enhance their creativity through writing short stories,
poetry, one-act plays, and other forms of written expression. Scholars will learn strategies for effective
and polished writing through shared experiences with other scholars. In addition, editors, poets, and
published authors will share their experiences and talents with the scholars. An expanded element of this
course will be “service learning,” featuring some time at a local preschool to share writing experiences.
Finally, scholars can look forward to working with other teachers, classes, and Columbia resources.
Taking a Chance
This course will introduce scholars to the mathematics of the predictable and the unpredictable. We will
learn how mathematical models are developed and used to predict outcomes in politics, contests,
advertising, and science. Scholars will be actively engaged in experiments, surveys, data analysis, and
games. There will be an emphasis on problem formulation and problem solving in a cooperative learning
environment.
Thinking Brain
Have you ever thought about how you, well, think? Then this major is for you! We will explore the field
of psychology, focusing especially on cognitive psychology from its roots in philosophy to the current
trends in neuroimaging. This class will emphasize the brain as the basis for thought and action. By tying
together classic experiments in psychology with modern brain scans, we will learn about such concepts as
sensory perception, attention, and memory. Then we will discuss how these concepts relate to larger
questions such as consciousness, free will, and moral decision making.
To Infinity and Beyond
We’ll start at zero and we won’t stop until we get there. The concept of infinity pervades so much of
mathematics that we will have plenty to do in this course. What happens when a process is repeated over
and over again, changing only a single parameter each time? Does infinity come in different levels, or is it
one size fits all? Is infinity a number or is it something else? How can we prove a statement about all the
numbers without proving it individually for every number? Can infinity be arrived at or can we even get
close to it? Will these questions never end? Take the course and find out.
Wake up!
Have you ever wondered how pairing the word “American” with the word “dream” turns something
otherwise associated with impossibility into something that is expected, granted, even protected as a
realistic possibility for a whole nation of people? Where did this concept come from? Who is responsible
for making us believe that dreams can be made real? More importantly, are these dreams something worth
investing our time and energy into, or are they actually getting us off-track from what really matters? This
course will be an exploration into the concept of the American Dream, its origins, its impact, its
development over time, its place in our everyday lives, and its place in our plans for our futures. We will
do research, read plays and short stories, talk, listen, take a field trip or two, ask questions of people
around us, look a little more closely at what we believe ourselves. We’ll consider the realistic possibility
of problems getting in the way and test out strategies to get through them. We’ll look a little more closely
at how our dreams are connected with the dreams of others and what that means for our own pursuits of
the American Dream.
Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Shakespeare Today
What's the big deal with Shakespeare? The language can be confusing. He's been dead for years. But for
some reason he is still important in today's world. This course will look at how Shakespeare still impacts
our lives and entertainment through film, television, and even comic books. Have you read all the
different types of Shakespearean plays? Do you like romance, murder, mystery, shipwrecks, and fantasy?
They are all there calling out to us. Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Iago, and Bottom. We will meet
them all, act the parts, and find how they work themselves into our lives. But we won't stop there. While
we lose ourselves in the magic of drama and theater, we will find a way to become more acquainted with
Shakespeare and his works and determine how each and every one of us has a little bit of Shakespeare
inside.
The World of Kim Mystery
The natural world erupts around Kim Mystery in a cacophony of phenomenon. Beautiful columns of
liquids within a desktop timer blend in patterns, not mixing, crimson maple leaves flutter and swirl and
Kim Mystery considers why they change. The light of a thousand worlds dances upon her hand on cool
nights, their fires burning, but how? She's the kind of person to keep her thoughts, to know they're worth
considering, worth writing, and she's not taken chemistry classes before. She appreciates the way that
numbers can reveal patterns in nature. Science toys, cooking, her family's car, these intrigue her, for
they're the introductions to the worlds before her, waiting to fulfill her dreams. Medicine, biology,
environmental science, cosmetology, and engineering all require the basics gained by studying Kim
Mystery's world.
Academic Minors: 2012 Missouri Scholars Academy
Acting for Non-Actors
Have you always wanted to be the star of the stage but never felt like you have the experience? If so, then
this class is for you. We’ll study technique, work with multiple genres, delve into memorable characters,
and learn the game of the stage. Plays, readers theatre, and improv. are only the beginning. Earn your
chops while breaking a leg.
Africa is not a Country!: Understanding Africa’s Diversity
Dumelang! Wa reng? Hello! What’s up? These are only a couple of the South African Tswana words and
phrases you will learn in this culturally-based African course called Africa is not a Country! This
course, however, will not only introduce you to this fun Bantu language but will allow you to be an
anthropologist as you make discoveries regarding the numerous cultures that inhabit the wonderful
continent of Africa. For example, why do Matebele women elongate their necks? Do males in the Masaai
culture still hunt lions as initiation into manhood? Why or why not? What is muti and who practices it?
This course is designed to broaden and challenge your cultural perspective and to see the variety of
African cultures as unique forms of human expression that are no more exotic, different, or less important
than cultures that are typically equated with the West.
Chaos, Myth, and More: Except, it is all Greek to Me!
It all stems from primal chaos. Many cultures use symbolic narratives or myths to describe the creation
process. To what extent did the peoples of these ancient societies believe these myths as literal?
Mythologies often share features; exploring these similarities and examining the impact of myths on
cultures sharpens the understanding of how the human race has evolved. Students will discuss and
evaluate these myths as not only part of the past, but also as integral parts of everyday life and their
cultural heritage. Examine chaos as a character, leader, creator, monster, giant, and more: Scholars will
delve into the realm of world and classical myth.
Free Press in the Digital Age
Thomas Jefferson once said that if he were given the choice between a government without newspapers
and newspapers without government, he would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. Jefferson’s
sentiments are deeply rooted in the notion that a free press is vital to a strong democracy. Yet today,
journalism is facing some of its greatest challenges, including declining readership and viewership,
competition from new sources of information, and declining faith and trust people have in the institution.
In this class, scholars will discuss the importance of journalism and the challenges it faces. Additionally,
this class will challenge students to get out and practice journalism by writing stories, taking photographs,
and generally telling the stories of MSA by using new media tools.
Got Religion
Have you ever wondered what Voodoo is really like? Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to go to a
Mosque or a Synagogue? Have you ever wondered about the meaning of life, the nature of time, or how
we can look into the face of space and not despair? If so, this is the minor for you. We will become
acquainted with the major religions traditions in the world. We will watch films on Vodun practitioners in
New York, snake-throwing Christians in West Virginia, and Jews wrestling with forgiveness in the wake
of the Holocaust. We’ll pour over religious texts such as the Gita, the Rig Vedas, the Qur’an, and the Acts
of Thecla. We’ll see how religion both creates and is created by culture and has the power to bind people
together as well as tear them apart. Finally, we will explore the nature of religious tolerance by asking
“How do we talk about, get to know, and deal with the Religious Other without demanding she become
us or we become them?”
Gravity Can’t Hold Us Down: The physics of gravity and space
Last year the space shuttle Discovery took its last trip into space before retirement. In this class we will
explore the physics of gravity, gravitational fields, orbits, and space. Students will learn how Discovery
was able to navigate its way to the international space station, why it doesn’t fall back to Earth, and why
astronauts float around inside of it. The class will debate the necessity of exploring space and discuss the
future of space exploration. The class will also consider communication in space, and the possibilities of
high-speed space travel, including how Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity applies to space travel.
Introduction to Philosophy: Great Thoughts Worth Thinking
An abridged version of the major with the same title, this minor will introduce scholars to why it is
important to question everything. What are great thoughts? Why are they worth thinking? Should you
think about them? What are metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics? Philosophy attempts to answer
these questions — mainly by providing more questions. Come and question everything you have ever
been told. Discussions, seminars, meditations, plays, and journals will be used to reflect on questions we,
as human beings, face. We will also attempt to apply these grand thoughts to everyday problems through
ethics.
Law instead of Order:
This minor will explore how psychological research does (and does not) inform important legal issues.
Each class you will get to view the justice system while wearing the hat of a different psychological
scientist: How do cognitive psychologists view eyewitness memory? Can a neuroscientist tell the
difference between the brains of criminals and law-abiding citizens? Would a clinical psychologist
recommend an insanity defense? When does a developmental psychologist think a child is capable of
making adult decisions? Through this minor you will get to explore a variety of psychological disciplines
and how each impacts the policy, practice, and public perception of the legal system.
Math Imitates Art
Or does art imitate math? We see in an area such as architecture that there is important interplay between
these two seemingly separate disciplines. But are there really “two cultures”? Or can poetry, music and
visual art speak to mathematics? Can the fine arts be approached in a mathematical way? Bring both your
left brain and your right brain to class every day, because you never know which you’ll need, probably
both!
Mathematical Mazes for the Mind
This mini-course is designed to cover a variety of topics with an emphasis on an appreciation of the
elegant nature of mathematics. Although it starts with a discussion of the math portion of the ACT, SAT,
Level I/II Achievement Tests, and AHSME, scholars will investigate and explore unusual, yet enriching
mathematical and non-mathematical problems for enjoyment and challenge. The course will have a daily
“mind massage” to build up powers of analysis and to hone deductive skills by using rebuses, puzzles,
brain busters, and interesting visual materials. The class will be flexible enough to pursue some topics in
depth, if necessary, and mini-practice sessions will be provided for those who desire to improve
mathematical prowess.
Media Mash-Up
From propaganda to pop-collage, this minor explores the extent to which the media reflects and affects
society. As well as a background in media studies, this minor offers scholars a hands-on lesson in the ‘fair
use’ provision of copyright law.
Overture, Hit the Lights!: A Critical View of Children’s Media
“Hey kids…do you know what time it is?” Questions like this, ricocheting over audiences of wide-eyed
youth, even from the early days of television, will elicit screams of choreographed responses that will
launch a program full of entertainment and educational experiences. We are still delighted by puppets,
cartoons, and costume-clad personalities, but too seldom do we lend these expressions much critical
thought. Overture, Hit the Lights will watch, analyze and criticize a number of entertainments meant for
“children”, from Sesame Street to Looney Tunes and more, and discuss how they are structured, what
social issues arise because of their nature and content, what their goals are, and whether or not they
accomplish their goals or not. We will follow similar paths as we analyze some entertainments that
'appear' to be for children, but may not be (e.g. South Park, Family Guy, etc.) We will further study a
variety of presentation techniques, such as puppetry, animation, claymation, stop-motion and acting, and
we will work to put together a show that will effectively educate and entertain…it’ll be child’s play!
Puzzles, Games, and Problem Solving
This is a short course on the techniques of both mathematical and non-mathematical problem solving.
Scholars may expect to discover problem-solving methods through working with puzzles, games, and
non-traditional problems in such areas as number theory, geometry, probability, logic, physics,
engineering, and statistics. Non-mathematical problems explored in the class may come from varied
disciplines. Emphasis in the class will be on developing methods for finding solutions rather than simply
finding answers or learning “tricks” and on teaching scholars to appreciate the elegance and beauty often
found in these solutions and the paths leading to them.
Tell Me a Story
Sometimes, less is more. This course will dive into the world of short stories. Did you know that many of
the most famous novelists also wrote a short story or two…or many more? We will take some time to
relax and enjoy some of these stories as well as some stories by lesser-known authors, and then we will
analyze and discuss what we find within them. Themes, symbols, brilliant literary design, lessons for
life—these will be just the beginning of what we discover. You’ll never judge a story by its length again!
TransFORM
One of the greatest challenges in today’s cities is finding a way to get increasing numbers of people to the
places they need to go. This mobility challenge cannot be addressed by solely looking at different modes
of transportation. We also have to consider the design of our cities, which can enhance or hamper our
ability to connect to each other, nature, goods, and services. TransFORM will look at transportation,
urban form, and the ways they are inextricably linked. Scholars will learn urban design principles and
explore urban planning strategies for creating multi-modal transportation systems. Through a series of
interactive projects, the class will discover current cutting edge practices and new ideas for transforming
the 21st century city.
Under Seal: The Secret Histories of Letters
Not all history is written by historians. The most intimate, candid pieces of history we have are in the
person's own hand, written under seal, with very specific intended audiences. What can we learn about the
past from letters that other histories can't and don't reveal, and how has this medium been exploited by
writers for literary purposes, lovers for personal purposes, and thinkers for political purposes? Now just
fifteen years into the age of e-mail and text-messaging, how will we--and won't we-- remember the
history we're making today? Sixteen letters in sixteen days will tell the tale.
When Does a Sound Become a Song?
Think about the last song you heard. How was it like a fractal? Can math have a soul? In this course, we'll
explore connections between math and music on as many different levels as we can. We'll tackle gritty
physical phenomena like the modeling of sound waves and their interaction with the human ear, as well as
less tangible concepts along the lines harmony and melodic motion. There will also be a heavy focus on
open discussions on topics like music production, the social effects of music, and, of course, the
distinction between noise and art, if there is one.
Where did you get those genes? Understanding the science of genetics and genomics
What makes you . . . well, You? In this course, scholars will learn about the fascinating field of genetics
to gain an appreciation of how we are each genetically unique. In addition, scholars will discover how our
genotype interacts with our environment to decide our phenotype, which is what makes us who we are.
This course will begin by introducing the basic molecular structure of the genetic code and the
comprehensive mechanisms controlling how genes are passed on from parent to offspring, but will then
expand to include the developing field of full-scale genome analysis known as genomics. Scholars will
have the opportunity to view some of the cutting-edge technologies that allow researchers to investigate
the mammalian genome. Those scholars with veterinary or graduate school aspirations in the fields of
animal science or biology should consider this minor course.