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.
ENGINEERING - INTERDISCIPLINARY
EX485 Interdisciplinary Capstone Design (1-4-3). This course is the first in a two course sequence that provides the capstone experience for an interdisciplinary team of midshipmen working on the “Cockpit of the Future” project. The sequence will provide a study of the engineering design process including, problem definition, integration of objectives, analysis of alternatives and synthesis of components, and will culminate in an inter-service academy competition. The course provides practical experience through participation in a sponsor driven team project. Prereq: 1/C EAS, EEE, EME or ESE major and approval of department chair.
ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING
EE485F Superscalar Processor Design (3-0-3). This course covers topics essential to modern superscalar processor design. A review of pipelined processor design and hierarchical memory design is followed by advanced topics including the identification of parallelism in processes; multiple diversified functional units in a pipelined processor; static, dynamic, and hybrid branch prediction techniques; the Tomasulo Algorithm for efficient resolution of true data dependencies; advanced data flow techniques with and without speculative execution; multiprocessor systems; and multithreaded processors. Prereq: EE362.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
EM485D Sound and Vibration (2-2-3). This
course provides an applied introduction to the science of vibration and
acoustics. The content of the course is structured around the study of several
specific engineering applications. Applications can include the vibration of
structures; the reduction of noise and vibration in structures; the isolation
and protection of structures subject to shock loadings; room acoustics;
underwater acoustics; and ultrasonic nondestructive testing. A strong emphasis
is placed on the relationship between the theory and the applied. Traditional
lecture presentations are punctuated with applied laboratory and project
exercises. Projects will include testing and measurement exercises and the
construction of sensors and transducers. Prereq: EM232, SM212, SP212.
EM485F Weapons Design and Analysis (3-0-3).
This course provides an introduction to the technologies used to make and
analyze modern weapon systems. Topics include explosive and propellants, warhead
design and analysis, weapon/target interactions, vulnerability and weaponeering,
and novel technologies such as railgun and improved explosives. Prereq: SP212.
WEAPONS & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
ES485A Advanced Modeling and System Identification Techniques (2-2-3). This course will provide students with the skills to develop numerical models of complex, nonlinear systems, such as air and ground vehicles, for use in analysis and design. ES485A will provide a bridge between the fundamental modeling techniques presented in ES301 and the physical modeling requirements in ES402. First, an advanced modeling technique provides a systematic process for developing a nonlinear model of a physical system. Next, linear approximations of these models in the form of a transfer function or state equation are obtained permitting the use of the analysis and design techniques from ES303 and ES304. Finally, off-line and on-line parameter identification methods are presented to obtain the numerical value of difficult-to-measure system parameters. The conceptual material in the lecture will be supported by several lab projects involving the Twin Tank system and the Twin Rotor MIMO System (TRMS). Prereq: ES304.
ENGLISH
HE360 Women in Literature from Bluestockings to
Manolo Blahniks (3-0-3). [Prof. M. Allen-Emerson] This
course loosely traces a history of literature written by and about women,
beginning in the late 18th century with the pre-feminist intellectual Mary
Wollstonecraft and continuing into our own post-feminist times with examples
of “chick lit” as well as new literary fiction by women. Novels and short
fiction will be privileged in the course, but students can also expect to
read some feminist history and theory. The course will necessarily raise
questions related to representation, language, and style: What aspects of
women’s experiences can be represented in literature? How do these
representations change through time and across cultures? Do women write
differently than men? How might gender influence the form and language of
literature? At the same time, the course will provide a perspective through
which to reflect on women’s roles in contemporary American culture, roles
ranging from “bridezilla” to Secretary of State, from Disney princess to
soldier or sailor. The reading list will likely include works by Jane
Austen, Edith Wharton, Virginia Woolf, Margaret Atwood, Gloria Naylor,
Jamaica Kincaid, Jeanette Winterson, and Helen Fielding. Prereq: HE112.
HE461 Fiction, Art and War in the Napoleonic Era
(3-0-3). [Prof. J. Hill] Focusing on three masterpieces,
The Charterhouse of Parma, Vanity Fair and War and Peace,
the seminar will explore the historical, artistic and human milieu of the
Napoleonic era novel. Each novel registers something large for its time and
place, where war is as much a condition as it is incomprehensible, where
profound questions about life, love and morality are subject to the probes
of each genius, and where art, music and evolving nation states lay claim to
individual as well as to mass loyalties. Prereq: one 300-level English
course and permission of the Chair.
HE462 Into the Wild: Writing American Wilderness
(3-0-3). [Prof. T. Cone] "In wildness is the preservation
of the world," H.D. Thoreau famously writes in Walden, but many have
asked what this “wildness” is. Is it the wilderness landscape of America
itself? Is it the character of those who brave the wild? How, precisely,
will it preserve the world? Does it need its own preservation? Since the
19th century, the American wilderness has served as an escape from the
social, political, cultural, and psychological challenges faced in urban and
suburban settings; as a site of spiritual regeneration and of artistic
inspiration; as a source of moral value; and as a means of defining American
identity. Yet at the same time, the "real," material wilderness has become a
site of increasingly intense political and social conflict, with the
writings of such "non-literary" authors as Gifford Pinchot, Howard Zahniser,
Friends of the Earth, and Al Gore affecting the future of the wilderness, as
well as our outlook on it, just as surely as Walden. This course
examines the various ways the American wilderness, and our relation to it,
have been defined, valued, and represented from the 19th century onward by a
variety of American writers, scientists, and thinkers. Our goal is to attain
a broad-based historical, cultural, and scientific understanding of the
present-day debates about the nature and crisis of the American wilderness.
Prereq: one 300-level English course and permission of the Chair.
HE503 Honors Seminar: World Modernism: Art and
Literature (3-0-3). [CDR M. Larabee] This course explores
modernism as a global interdisciplinary phenomenon, particularly as one in
which key creative impulses came from exchanges between Europe, Asia, and
Africa. The course will begin with techniques of comparative literature and
interart comparison. We will study fiction, poetry, visual art, and the
performing arts, especially works indicating cross-cultural influences on
modernist aesthetics. Potential topics include Symbolist, Expressionist, and
Cubist visual art; Japanese Noh theatre, Indian sculpture, Chinese landscape
painting, Balinese trance drama, African tribal masks, and modern Nigerian
painting; texts by D. H. Lawrence, Ezra Pound, Bertold Brecht, E. M.
Forster, Hermann Hesse, Salman Rushdie, Rabindranath Tagore, Chinua Achebe,
Wole Soyinka, Léopold Senghor, Victor Segalen, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and
Natsume Soseki; and the concepts of Exoticism, Orientalism, Primitivism, and
Négritude. We will consider such questions as: how and why did Europeans
draw on forms specific to Asian and African cultures? How did authors and
artists in Asia and Africa respond to European interpretations of their
cultural history? What do these exchanges tell us about processes of
globalization? From Pound's interest in Chinese ideograms, to the cubist
form of Akutagawa's fiction, to the European fascination with the so-called
primitive, the concepts studied in this course will enhance students'
cross-cultural awareness and knowledge of a rich and pivotal worldwide
cultural movement. 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.
HISTORY
HH367A: Allah & Empire: a history of Islam in India, Pakistan & Afghanistan (3-0-3). [Prof. H. Bellenoit] This course is designed to introduce midshipmen to some of the major themes on Islam in South Asia, (India, Pakistan and Afghanistan). To a large degree, India (South Asia) was Islam's 'frontier', where radically different traditions and values clashed, merged and overlapped to create one of the world's greatest syncretic cultures. Some of the themes we will examine include: The Mughal Empire as an 'Islamic' polity; Nature of Islam as a cultural, anthropological, religious, political & theological phenomenon; Hindu-Muslim relations and religious syncretism; Why Islam failed to achieve political uniformity and cohesion in the Subcontinent; Impact of British colonial rule upon Muslim perceptions of the self & Islam in general; The 'Islamicate' world's connections with South Asia; Pakistani cultural movements and 'Islamisation'; Emergence of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan within the frame of Islam; South Asia, Islam & terrorism in the 21st century. Above all, this course will stress and track the origins of many of South Asia's contemporary situation, be it the Taliban, Indo-Pakistani relations, or radicalization in Pakistani society. This course will offer midshipmen a deep, penetrating understanding of the culture and origins of a strategically crucial area for the United States. Prereq: none; Coreq: HH215 or HH215A or HH215M.
HH367B Afro-Latin America. (3-0-3).
[Prof. S. Crawford]. Africans and their descendants have played an important
role in the social, cultural, economic and political development of Latin
America. This course introduces students to their history from the late
eighteenth to twentieth centuries. Course readings come from
anthropologists, sociologist, and historians and cover a variety of themes.
These topics include an examination of the institution of slavery and
transition to abolition, black participation in the Spanish American wars
for independence as well as black political mobilization in unions and
race-based organizations. While the course looks at the entire region, most
of the readings draw on the black experiences in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the
Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Prereq: none; Coreq: HH216.
HH367C Japan and the Second World War (3-0-3).
[Prof. L. Pennington]. This course introduces students to the history and
unsettled legacy of Japan's long Second World War in the Asia-Pacific
(1931-1945). Tracing the crisis from Japan's prewar imperial expansion in
East Asia to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, students will
study how the people of Japan fought, lived, and died during wartime.
Students will explore not only wartime Japanese society but also postwar
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and American memories of the war and how and why
"war memory" continues to roil East Asia sixty-five years later. Japanese
wartime and postwar source materials (in English) to be examined include
private diaries, rare feature-length films, visual culture such as posters
and comic books, and popular fiction. Prereq: none; Coreq: HH216 or HH215A.
HH367D Thailand: Armageddon to Paradise (3-0-3).
[Prof. R Ruth]. This course presents the modern history of Siam/Thailand.
Beginning with the destruction of the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya by a massive
Burmese army in 1767, the course traces Thailand’s evolution from utter
ruination to rebirth and, finally, to its present position as the most
stable and prosperous nation in mainland Southeast Asia. Students will
explore: Siam’s successful efforts at remaining the sole independent
Southeast Asian kingdom in the age of Western imperial domination; the role
of Buddhism and kingship in Thailand’s national formula; the Japanese
occupation of Thailand in World War II; episodes of political violence in
the post-colonial era; Thailand’s Cold War alliance with the United States
during the Vietnam War and the “the American Era”; and the presentation of
Thailand as a tourist “paradise” today. In addition to analyzing the
political and military histories of Siam/Thailand, students will acquire a
strong understanding of the kingdom’s unique cultural heritage. Prereq:
none; Co-req: HH216 or HH215A.
HH485 Rise of the Machines: Technology In Peace and
War (3-0-3). [CAPT M. Hagerott].
This course examines the relationship between humans and technology.
Following a brief history of technology, the course will ask whether
technological change drives history, whether human beliefs determine
innovation, or whether technologies are “socially constructed”. It will
then explore the ways technological innovation affects the physical
conditions in which people live, the roles people play, and the ideas that
guide human choices and actions. It will close with a focus on how
technological innovation interacts with military organizations and
operations, with, in effect, a discussion of how technology influenced “what
it means to be a soldier”. Prereq: none; Coreq: HH216.
HH486A History of Christianity (3-0-3).
[CDR J. Freymann]. This course examines the history of Christianity from its
origins to the present, with emphasis on early Christianity and the
development of Christian thought and doctrine, the medieval Church in
Europe, the Reformation, and church-state relations in the West. The course
concludes with an examination of the spread of Christianity, the tremendous
variety of Christianities in the modern world, and current trends of
development. Prereq: none; Coreq: HH215.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT485 Mobile Networks (3-0-3). The course provides fundamental and advanced knowledge in network architecture and system software for real-time and multicomputer systems. Emphasis is placed on the rapidly growing areas of wireless networking, mobile devices, and sensor networks, including mobile computing and wireless security. Prereq: IC322.
LEADERSHIP, ETHICS & LAW
NP485 Ethics and the War on Terror
(3-0-3). [Professor M. Skerker]
This course will explore the moral and legal questions that have arisen in
the struggle with violent extremists since 9/11, including just and unjust
tactics in counter-insurgencies, prisoner rights, military commissions, and
interrogation. Counts for upper level humanities/social science credit.
Prereq: 2/C standing.
NP485A Ethics and Emerging Military Technologies
(3-0-3). [Dr. E Barrett] This
course will examine the potential ethical ramifications (positive and
negative) of emerging military technologies. Topics to be explored include:
normative traditions evaluating the use of force, including recent
developments within just war theory. Counts for upper level
humanities/social science credit. Prereq: 2/C standing.
NL485 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 Oral Advocacy (3-0-3).
[LCDR G. Garner] Study and practice mock trial techniques, thereby learning
to better analyze problems, derive solutions, and develop and deliver oral
arguments. Topics include case theory/theme, opening/closing statements,
direct/cross examinations. Counts for upper level humanities/social science
credit. Prereq: 2/C standing.
NL485C Law of the Sea and Global Maritime Strategy
(3-0-3). [LCDR Geoff Garner] This
course will examine the policy and legal frameworks applicable to maritime
security and the law of the sea. The course will have an emphasis on the LOS
Convention, piracy repression and responding to the maritime transport of
WMD and terrorists. Topics addressed will include articles of the LOS
Convention applicable to military operations, policy and legal
considerations in piracy repression operations, authorities to conduct
compliant and non-compliant boardings, and national maritime strategies and
their impact on the Navy. Counts for upper level humanities/social science
credit. Prereq: 2/C standing.
CHEMISTRY
SC485C Polymer Synthesis: from ATRP
to Ziegler-Natta (3-0-3). [Prof. S.
Lin] Polymers, from biomacromolecules to everyday plastics, are all around
us. This course will explore through lecture and in the laboratory the
diversity of materials that can be accessed from the repertoire of reactions
learned in 3/C and 2/C years. Find out why water bottles are now BPA-free,
study Nobel prize-winning polymerizations, and make your own polystyrene.
Prereq: SC226, SC364, and SC356.
SC485E The Biochemistry of Pathogenesis
(3-0-3). [Prof. C. Sweet] This course
will discuss the chemical basis of innate and adaptive immunity, the
structure and mechanisms of toxins, pathogen co-evolution and virulence
factor genetics. The course will include case studies of particular
pathogens and toxins, including Yersinia, anthrax, cholera, malaria, and
botulism. Prereq: SC335.
SB487 Special Topics in Biology –
Neuroscience and Development (3-2-4).
[Prof. D. Isaac] This course will feature a rigorous treatment of various
areas in modern biology. The topics for Fall of 2010 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.
MATHEMATICS
SM421 Advanced Optimization (3-0-3).
Topics include: integer programming, nonlinear programming, network flows,
graph algorithms, and, time permitting, game theory. This class will place
heavy emphasis on applications to problems in vehicle routing, freight
transportation, manufacturing, network design and counter-terrorism. Prereq:
SA401.
SM439 Statistical Modeling (3-0-3).
This course will study the fundamental methods by which statisticians
transform data into information. Students will work in teams to apply
statistical methods to authentic problems and data. Topics include: multiple
and multivariate regression, logistic regression and principal components.
Prereq: SM339.
SM450 Mathematical Biology (3-0-3).
Many biological processes can be quantitatively characterized by difference
and differential equations. This course introduces students to a variety of
models and develops the analytical tools from linear algebra and dynamical
systems theory for investigating them. MATLAB will be used extensively.
Prereq: Permission of department chair or SM221 and (SM212 or SM222) and
SM261.
PHYSICS
SP285 Introduction to Space Science
(3-0-3). A survey of current issues and
applications of space science to include: A brief history of spaceflight,
principles of propulsion and orbits, the space environment, satellites,
remote sensing, astronomy from space, the Space Shuttle and the
Constellation Program, living and working in space, and the future of
mankind's presence in space. Coreq: SP211.
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.
SP481D Intro to Mathematica 7 for Scientists
and Techies (1-0-1). A workshop-based
introduction to Mathematica 7, developing skills in syntax, plotting,
symbolic manipulation, graphics, animated output, and programming. Hands-on
projects will draw from examples motivated by student needs in other
courses. Prereq: SP211.
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.