Credits are listed next to the title as an ordered triple (R-L-C), where R is the number of weekly recitation-lecture hours, L is the number of weekly laboratory hours, and C is the number of credits.
EA485A Space Mission Analysis (3-0-3). [Prof Boden]. This course develops a top-level, systems engineering approach to the analysis and design of a space mission. This course describes the relationships among the various elements of a space mission: subject, payload, orbit, spacecraft, launch, ground, communication, and mission operations, with an emphasis on the analysis and design of the payload and spacecraft bus. Prereq: EA204.
EE485A Introduction to Microsystems (2-2-3). This course provides an introduction to microsystems-- computer "chips" that incorporate mechanical as well as electrical elements on the size scale of microns to millimeters. Such devices are ubiquitous as sensors and actuators, and have applications in many areas from weapons technology to medicine. The course covers fundamentals of electrical, thermal, and mechanical analysis as applied to microsystems, and surveys current trends in microsystems. In the laboratory, students model and fabricate basic microstructures using standard microfabrication techniques, which are the methods by which computer chips and other micro-scale devices are manufactured. Prereq: EE241, EE334 or EE332.
EN401 Engineering in the Littoral Zone (3-2-4). This course is an introduction to engineering principles as applied to the near-shore and on-shore environment. Basic engineering mechanics, strength of materials and soil mechanics are studied to provide a base for further investigation. Coastal processes including wave action, sediment transport, beach formation and erosion are discussed. How the combination of such processes and basic mechanics affect such things as small boat hydrostatics, sea-to-shore logistics operations, and coastal structure assessment and construction are studied. 1/C midshipmen having selected (or intending to select) Marine Corps service are strongly encourage to take EN401 as the EN200/400 menu option. Prereq: 1/C standing or permission of Department Chair.
EN456 Advanced Methods in Ship Design (3-0-3). An introduction to computer-aided ship design is presented. Topics include numerical procedures applied to form, stability, resistance, propulsion, motion, maneuvering and strength. Prereq: EN353 or permission of Department Chair.
EN478 Submarine and Submersible Design (3-0-3). An introductory course in submarine and submersible design, with topics in undersea vessel development through history, buoyancy and stability, resistance and propulsion, design to mission requirements, auxiliary systems, structural design, construction methods and modern design approaches. Prereq: ENA or EOE major or permission of Department Chair.
EN485C Applied Engineering for Marine Salvage and Casualty Response (2-2-3). This course covers applied engineering principles and practices for conducting marine salvage operations and responding to a variety of other marine casualty situations. Topics include: intact and damaged hydrostatics and stability, intact and damaged ship and marine structures, salvage lifting and pulling systems, environmental forces, salvage pumping and compressed air systems, and methods for salvaging grounded, flooded, sunken and capsized vessels. Course includes use of specialized computer software and hands-on practical marine salvage projects conducted in the USNA Hydro lab. Prereq: 1/C ENA majors or permission of Department Chair.
EN485P Autonomous Sailboat Research and Design (1-4-3). Midshipmen working as a team study the fundamentals of sailboat design and prepare a preliminary design in preparation for fabrication and competition. Prereq: 1/C ENA or EOE major or permission of Department Chair.
EM485A Solid Mechanics (3-0-3). Thinking about a master’s degree someday? This course will bridge the gap from undergraduate strength of materials to graduate solid mechanics. Introduction to elasticity: stress, strain, displacement, and thermal effects for linearly elastic materials. Three-dimensional equations of equilibrium. Bending, buckling, and vibration of beams, plates, and shells. Approximate methods: Galerkin method, Rayleigh-Ritz method, finite element method (FEA). Prereq: EM217 or equivalent.
EM485G Applied Mathematics for Graduate Engineering (3-0-3). Broad survey of basic mathematical methods used in the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations that describe common engineering problems. Emphasis on problem solving techniques. Methods include linear algebra, power series, Fourier series, separation of variables, integral transforms, Bessel and Legendre functions, spherical harmonics and numerical methods. Intended for senior engineering students who plan to attend graduate engineering programs.
ES201 Introduction to Systems Engineering (2-2-3). This new course is an introduction to the discipline of systems engineering, focusing on programming, sensors and actuators, and the development and integration of hardware and software solutions to engineering problems. Using a systems-level, project-based approach, the course also ties together the mathematics, science and technological courses from the core, and introduces the student to the basics of technical communication. Prereq: ESE/ESEH major or approval of department Chair.
FA485 Conversation and Composition in Arabic (3-0-3).
This course emphasizes development of oral and reading and writing proficiency
to an advanced level, with special attention on grammar, syntax, vocabulary,
speaking and writing. Students will take increasing responsibility to run their
class time in Arabic through presentations and guided discussions. Prereq:
FA202.
FA485A Honors Arabic Research and Methods (3-0-3). This advanced Arabic course is a seminar to support advanced students who are pursuing independent research projects toward achieving Honors in the Arabic. Prereq: one course at the 400 level and permission of Chair.
FA485B Advanced Arabic Drama and Short Story (3-0-3). This advanced Arabic course entails the reading, discussion and acting out in class of Arabic skits and scenes from Arabic plays. There may also be playwriting to transform short stories read in class into scripts. Prereq: FA302.
FC485A Advanced Reading and Writing in Chinese I (3-0-3). The focus of this course is rapid and in-depth reading of formal written Chinese, with emphasis on accurate comprehension, expansion of vocabulary for reading sophisticated writings and expressing refined and complicated ideas. Prereq: FC402 or permission of the Chair.
FC485B Chinese Language and Culture III (3-0-3). This course continues from FC402 to further enhance a midshipman's exposure to Chinese vocabulary, grammar, discourse structure, communicative skills, character reading and writing, and knowledge of Chinese culture. Prereq: FC402 or permission of Chair.
FC485C Advanced Reading and Writing in Chinese III (3-0-3). Continues from FC486A to improve a midshipman’s proficiency in formal Chinese reading and writing through the expansion of vocabulary, and compositions of refined and complicated ideas for different communicative purposes. Prereq: FC485B.
FF485 French Conversation as Cultural Practice (3-0-3). This course will enable midshipmen to learn about conversation as both a universal and culture-specific form of talk, and to learn to converse at an advanced level and in culturally appropriate ways with speakers of French. Prereq: FF302.
FJ481 Post-LSAP/LREC Seminar for Japan (1-0-1). This course is required for Midshipmen who participate in summer 2009 Language Study Abroad or Language, Regional Expertise and Culture study abroad programs in Japan. Prereq: participation in summer 2009 study abroad programs in Japan or permission of Chair.
FJ485 Advanced Japanese with Technical Applications
(3-0-3). A study of advanced methods of reading and writing texts in
a variety of science and engineering fields. Builds on previous courses to focus
on developing advanced reading and writing proficiency while maintaining
communicative
capabilities. Prereq: FJ202.
FS485 Spanish Beyond Immersion (3-0-3). This course is recommended for midshipmen who have completed a Language Study Abroad Program in Chile, Mexico, or Spain in summer 2009. Prereq: Completion of a 300 level Spanish course or approval of Chair.
FS485A La Ley del mas fuerte: Darwinism in Latin America (3-0-3). This course covers fiction, nonfiction, film and theatre, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, and deals with the ‘evolution’ of reactions to Darwin's concept of natural selection and his observations about South American flora and fauna. Prereq: Completion of a 300 level Spanish course or approval of Chair.
FP485A Game Theory (3-0-3). Topics will include classic game theory, utility theory, spatial modeling, Nash and Bayesian equilibria, limited information, and iterative games. Midshipmen will also analyze book excerpts and articles which use game-theoretic models. Prereq: FP220.
FP485C Political Economy of Development (3-0-3). Analysis and comparison of different theories of economic development in Latin American, East Asia, the Sub-Sahara and Eastern Europe. Focus on the interaction between political regime type and market forces and how this affects development. Prereq: FP130.
FP485D Islam and Politics (3-0-3). Surveys selected topics in Islamic political thought, contemporary Islamic revival, Islamic movements and parties, Islam and democracy, the rights of women and minorities in Islamic states and the role of the Shari'ah. Prereq: FP130.
FP485I Energy Policy and Security (3-0-3). Examines the energy-security nexus from a historical, economic and technical perspective, examining all forms of energy - oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, biomass, solar, wind and other alternative sources - and builds a framework for addressing the geopolitical implications of demand for energy outpacing supply. Prereq: FP130.
FP485J National Security Policy of Japan (3-0-3). Introduces the geographical, historical, political and legal background of Japanese national security policy. Examines the present, past and future of the U.S.-Japan security arrangement in the context of the regional security environment. Prereq: FP130.
FP481I Political Geography (1-0-1). One credit course (one one-hour lecture per week) examines maps of many kinds to help midshipmen achieve political-geographic literacy. Midshipmen must pass a detailed final exam to earn credit for the course. Prereq: FP130.
HE360 Heinlein's Universe (3-0-3). [Professor Herb Gilliland] Robert A. Heinlein, USNA 1929, is recognized worldwide as one of the most important science fiction writers ever. Heinlein not only left a substantial body of work, but influenced many other major writers in the genre. The course will explore the tradition of "hard" (technology centered) science fiction in which he was a key figure, as well as works in which the fictive technology serves more as a tool for social hypothesis. Reading will include works by writers like Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Joe Haldeman, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Michael Flynn, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven and Connie Willis, as well as such novels by Heinlein as STARSHIP TROOPERS, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, and HAVE SPACE SUIT, WILL TRAVEL. Class discussion and assigned papers will explore such issues as science fiction as social comment; the tension between science and fiction; obsolescence of fiction; science fiction tropes; and style in science fiction. Prereq: HE112.
HE462 Boom and Bust: Financial Crisis in American Literature (3-0-3). [Professor Mark McWilliams] Speculation. Greed. Bubble. Crash. Liquidity crisis. Bailout. Stimulus. Sound familiar? Despite Calvin Coolidge's famous assertion that "the business of America is business," there are remarkably few great novels about American business. Perhaps as a result, the financial world treats each new bubble and burst as a new, unexpected event--with devastating results. In this class, we'll read the great novels of American business, and see if we can learn something about the Great Bust of 2008. In addition to literary works, the class will read excerpts of books like Charles Mackay's 1841 EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS AND THE MADNESS OF CROWDS, Thorstein Veblen's 1899 THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS, and Gary Krist's 2002 EXTRAVAGANCE. We will also watch several films, naturally including Oliver Stone's 1987 WALL STREET. Prereq: one 300-level English course and permission of the Chair.
HE463 Jane Austen (3-0-3). [Professor Eileen Johnston] This course focuses primarily on close readings of Jane Austen's six completed novels (SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, NORTHANGER ABBEY, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, MANSFIELD PARK, EMMA, and PERSUASION). As relevant, their literary, biographical, cultural, and historical contexts will be considered. Some attention will also be given to cinematic and television versions of Austen's novels. Prereq: one 300-level English course and permission of the Chair.
HE503 Forging the City State: Theatre and Architecture of Ancient Greece (3-0-3). [Professor Christy Stanlake] Theatre is a medium that synthesizes all of the arts (music, painting, dance, poetry, architecture) to create communal, aesthetic experiences that reflect and shape society. The ancient Greeks understood theatre's powerful potential and so developed state-sanctioned play festivals intended to move Greek citizens away from their tribal affiliations into a democracy. The plays that remain from this period form the origins of western drama. In this course, we will study archeological evidence, including the architecture of Greek amphitheatres and their surrounding land/cityscapes, in order to read a significant number of extant Greek plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Menander. Critical readings about the relationships between religion, politics, performance, and space will then allow us to analyze how these plays contributed to the construction of a national ethos. Finally, we will end the semester with an exploration of how contemporary theatre artists continue to draw inspiration from Greek theatre to address today's social issues. Prereq: HEGH majors only. Coreq: HE521.
HE521 Honors Supplement (1-0-1). Focused study of a topic generated in HE503. Prereq: HEGH majors only. Coreq: HE503.
NL485A Change Management (3-0-3). [Dr. J.J. Wilson] The primary goal of “Change Management” is to explore the theories, practices, tools and techniques for managing change in any organizational environment. Students will develop a working knowledge and a set of skills that will assist future Navy officers to successfully implement change in a variety of military organizational environments. Students will learn and utilize the case study method to practice analytical and leadership skills such as: understanding the nature of planned change, contracting with the customer, diagnosing organizational groups and jobs, analyzing data and other relevant diagnostic information, and leading and managing both small and large change initiatives. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: 1/C standing.
NL485B Advanced Topics in Military Justice (3-0-3). [LCDR C. Williams] This course explores the origins, structure, and function of the military justice system established through the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Topics addressed include the elements of military crimes, trial by court-martial, theories of punishment, and alternatives to prosecution. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: 2/C Standing.
NL485C Advanced Topics in Operational Law (3-0-3). [LCDR T. LEAK] This course will explore the legal framework applicable to military operations, with an emphasis on the principles of U.S and international law applicable to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: 2/C Standing.
NL485D Law of the Sea & Global Maritime Strategy (3-0-3). [LCDR Geoff Garner, JAGC, USN] This course will examine how the customary practices and treaties that comprise the international law of the sea affect maritime security and seapower. Topics addressed will include piracy, international efforts to combat the maritime transport of WMD, and maritime interception operations (MIO). The course will also explore the sources of national authorities and the role of naval officers in their development, as well as the framework through which proposals are developed and introduced in international venues. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: 2/C standing.
NL485E Physiological Psychology (3-0-3). [CAPT Petrillo, USN (MSC)] This course will examine the biological and neurophysiological foundations of human and animal behavior. Emphasis is on central nervous system mechanisms that mediate processes such as learning and memory, language, intelligence, sleep and arousal, reproduction, and human mental disorders. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: NL200 or NL211 or NL312 plus any biology (SB) course.
NP485A Morality and Global Affairs (3-0-3). [Dr. E.T. Barrett] This course will examine the ethical dimensions of foreign policy. Topics to be explored include: the realist-idealist debate on the international effects of liberal democracy, and the challenges inherent to promoting human rights; normative traditions evaluating the use of force, with emphases on recent developments within just war theory and on ethical issues relevant to counterterrorism, humanitarian interventions, and future force structures; the effects of economic globalization; ethical perspectives on humanitarian aid, developmental aid, and immigration; and environmentalism. Counts for upper level humanities-social science credit. Prereq: 2/C Standing.
IT285 Cyber Warfare (3-0-3). This is a hands-on, projects-based course which integrates military information operations, intelligence, and networks in the air, sea, land, space and cyberspace domains. This course prepares junior officers for a leading role in cyber security within the Fleet and Marine Corps. Topics include networks, information assurance, defense against hackers, and web development from a cyber warfare perspective. No prior knowledge of computer programming or networks is required. Counts as a free elective. Prereq: None.
SB487 Advanced Topics in Biology (3-2-4). [Asst. Prof. D. Isaac] The content of this course can change on a rotating basis and will feature a rigorous treatment of various areas in modern biology. The topics for Fall of 2009 are Neurobiology and Developmental Biology. The course will build on basic principles underlying nervous system function introduced in SB252 and apply them to sensory modalities such as vision, taste, hearing and balance as well as nervous system development and higher cortical functions. We will use the examples set by studies performed in model organisms such as the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster and the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans to elucidate the mechanisms by which normal development proceeds in higher eukaryotes. A lab component of the course will complement both areas of study. Does not count as a chemistry major elective. Prereq: SB252.
)SC485A Computational Chemistry (3-0-3). [Assoc. Prof. R. E. McClean] Computational chemistry may be described as the use of computational methods to investigate chemical problems. In this course, an overview of the commonly used methods will be presented. They include molecular mechanics, ab initio, semi-empirical, and density functional methods. Modern computational chemistry software will routinely be used to investigate molecular structure and properties, reaction energetics, and potential energy surfaces. Prereq: SC346.
SC485B Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis (3-0-3). [Assistant Professor A. MacArthur] The use of transition-metal catalysts to construct strong C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds in a variety of compounds has had an enormous impact on the pharmaceutical, polymer, and fuel industries in recent years. This course will provide an inorganic, metallocentric survey of organometallic chemistry. The topics to be discussed include the synthesis and properties or organometallic reagents, as well as the reaction conditions, mechanistic pathways and importance of these transition-metal complexes in a wide-range of synthetic pathways and industrial reactions. Prereq: SC226 and SC356.
SC485C Global Challenges in Chemistry: Climate Change and Alternative Energy (3-0-3). [Professor J. Fitzgerald] Americans are being bombarded with messages from politicians, industrialists, scientists, national and international environmental groups, etc about two major challenges facing the U.S. and indeed all of mankind - depletion of cheap hydrocarbon-derived fuels and global warming due to man-made CO2 emissions. These challenges will only become more pronounced as Third-World countries (primarily China and India) seek to attain living standards enjoyed by the U.S. and other First-World countries. This course will critically evaluate the scientific evidence relevant to man-made climate change. The historical record clearly documents natural variations in global temperature – if there is a current warming trend, is it due to human activities? If so, what are appropriate policies – should the U.S. ratify the Kyoto Protocol? This course will also explore energy alternatives which have received recent attention. “Clean” coal, biofuels, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, ocean thermal and biomass technologies will all be included. The relative advantages and disadvantages of these technologies as well as roadblocks to application will be considered. Prereq: 1/C or 2/C STEM majors.
SC485M Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques (1-6-3). [Asst. Prof. D. Morse] Students will learn a variety of modern biochemistry methods including: ion exchange, size exclusion, and affinity chromatography; gel electrophoresis; UV-visible spectroscopy; enzyme kinetics; polymerase chain reaction; and DNA cloning. These techniques will be applied to the production, purification and analysis of proteins and nucleic acids. Prereq: SC335.
SM421 Combinatorial Optimization (3-0-3). This course will cover the theory, algorithms and applications for many fundamental concepts in discrete optimization. This includes network flow problems (e.g., shortest path problem, maximum flow problem, etc.), combinatorial optimization problems (e.g., minimum spanning tree, bipartite matchings, nonbipartite matchings), integer programming and NP-hardness. We will also cover several important problems in combinatorial optimization including knapsack problems, traveling salesman problems, vehicle routing problems, military interdiction problems and sports scheduling. This course counts as a track elective in the SMP major and as a major elective in the SMA major. Prereq: SA401 or permission of the Chair.
SM439 Nonparametric Statistics (3-0-3). Standard statistical methods (those learned in SM239/339) depend on assumptions about how the data are distributed. For example, we often assume the data come from a normal distribution. This naturally leads to the question of what to do if these assumptions are not met. Nonparametric methods depend only on some general, non-distributional assumptions about the data, and so are more widely applicable than standard methods. This course will be an introduction to nonparametric methods and their applications. We will examine the theory behind some commonly used nonparametric methods, as well as the implementation of these methods in the analysis of real data. This course counts as a track elective in the SMP major and as a major elective in the SMA major. Prereq: SM339 or permission of the Chair.
SP481 Science of Music and Sound (1-0-1). This seminar will focus on the technical aspects of music and sound. Topics will start with a review of basic definitions of waves and oscillations, followed by an in-depth look at sound generation on strings and pipes. Modes of plates and volumes will be discussed as a prelude to putting all the elements together to form musical instruments. The relationship between a source, medium and detector responses will complete the picture as to what exactly is being heard when we perceive sound. A mathematical discussion about the nature of music and its relationship to harmonies will lead to a closing discussion about music theory. This course has a lab component which is held 7th period as it will involve making loud sounds. Prereq: none.
SP481B Current Topics in Science and Technology (1-0-1). This seminar provides technical majors the chance to explore current topics in science. Each week, students will bring to class topics obtained from the World Wide Web or from periodicals ranging from Scientific American to The Physical Review. Prereq: none.
SP481E Survey of Spectrometric Techniques (0-2-1). A lab course introducing techniques spanning the electromagnetic spectrum, acoustic and particle spectrometry; how the signals are produced and detected; and what kinds of information are obtained from each technique. Prereq: SP324.
SP487 Computational Physics (3-2-4). During the first 6-8 weeks, this course will provide an introduction to structured programming (via BASIC/MATLAB) as well as model building, differential equation systems and basic matrix theory. For the last 6 weeks, modules (collected from the physics department) will be presented as a grounds for model building and data fabrication. Once students have data sets, the focus will switch to statistical analysis and presentation (plotting as well as some LaTeX). Prereq: SM212.