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Courses by Category
Below are the courses offered Summer 2020.
- Art & Art History
- Bible & Religion
- Business, Current Events & Politics
- Computer & Technology
- Engineering & Science
- History & Film
- Music
- Reading, Writing & Speaking
- Sports & Fitness
Art & Art History
Drawing and Sketching: A Campus Exploration
Leah McFall, MSEd, MFA
Theatre professor/costume and set designer
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., Two-week course
(art supply fee associated with this class)
Keeping a sketching journal is a wonderful way to enrich your travels or just take a more reflective approach to daily living. In this class, we will work on drawing skills such as perspective, observation, shading, texture, and proportion, and we’ll learn from examples of sketching journals kept by some of the great artists in history. We will enjoy the view from Principia’s beautiful Voney Art Center on the bluffs, as well as its state-of-the-art classrooms and shared spaces. Expect to leave with new ideas, enhanced skills, and a sketchbook full of great memories!
Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South
Susie Ledbetter, MEd
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., One-week course
Week Two only
The story of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin—their admiration for each other’s work, their friendship and rivalry, and their brief period of intense collaboration in Arles from October to December 1888—is one of the most dramatic in the history of modern art. An acclaimed special exhibition organized by the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam and the Art Institute of Chicago in 2002–03 enables us to explore in detail the relationship between these two artists in the context of their lives and work.
Watercolor Workshop
Leah McFall, MSEd, MFA
Theatre professor/costume and set designer
Hours One and Two, 9:05–11:00 a.m., Two-week course
(art supply fee associated with this class)
Come paint for two hours every day in a beautiful, river-view art studio, learning and practicing watercolor techniques with a fun, supportive community of learners! Students range from beginners to experienced—all are welcome. Through daily teacher-demos, practice, and sharing of feedback and ideas, everyone moves forward. Bring pieces you are working on, and also get inspired by new ideas. We will learn about applying color theory and mixing, arranging compositions, creating shadow and light, creating dynamic backgrounds for your subject, and, of course, land and waterscape painting.
Bible & Christianity
Servant Leadership: Its Biblical Roots
Joan Bernard Bradley, EdD
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., One-week course
Week One only
Contemplate the concept of servant leadership as demonstrated by Christ Jesus—beginning with washing the disciples’ feet—and explore accounts of servant leadership demonstrated by Bible patriarchs. Discover how their leadership qualities are summarized in the Sermon on the Mount. Then, apply this Biblical code of behavior to today’s global issues.
The History and Development of the Wednesday Testimony Meeting
Joan Bernard Bradley, EdD
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., One-week course
Week Two only
Discover why it took 18 years for the midweek meetings to evolve into the order of service for today’s Wednesday meetings. Learn how the Testimonials By-Law evolved, and ponder the directives from Mary Baker Eddy as she guided her Church through unexpected challenges. Consider how these directives apply to us today.
Jesus, Salvation, and the Gospel of Luke
Helen Mathis, MA
Biblical studies
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., Two-week course
Take a deep dive into what we can learn about salvation from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke by looking closely at the text of Jesus’ birth, mission, sermon on the plain, parables, journey, Passion, and resurrection. We’ll highlight themes of healing, forgiveness, prayer, importunity, hospitality, justice, mercy, and resurrection joy.
Teaching Spiritual Concepts to Young Children
Dorothy Halverson, MA
Principia’s Early Childhood principal
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., One-week course
Week One only
Have you ever wondered how to share spiritual concepts with young children and help them understand and apply the lessons taught through favorite Bible stories? In this course, we will look at a few of the first Bible lessons and stories often taught to young children and share age-appropriate techniques and hands-on activities that help children grasp their meaning. Materials will be provided for a "make-and-take" workshop-style class. The lesson ideas are geared toward two- to six-year-olds. If you're a Sunday School teacher, parent, or grandparent who interacts with young children, you won't want to miss this course.
Resources and Approaches for Deeper Bible Study
Barry Huff, PhD, ThM, MTS
Religion professor
Lisa Roberts, MLIS
Library director
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., One-week course
Offered each week
This course provides a hands-on opportunity to learn about and use the best of current biblical studies resources, including Bible commentaries, dictionaries, translations, websites, and more. This interactive introduction to key historical, literary, and cultural methods of biblical interpretation will also equip you with tools to deepen your Bible study.
Heart-to-Heart Conversations with Christian Neighbors
Shirley Paulson, PhD
Anne Cooling, CS
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Two-week course
This course prepares us to live in fellowship with Christian neighbors, exemplifying Jesus’ prayer “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). Topics addressed include Christian Science’s Christianity and the history of Christian healing. Guest speakers will add to the discussion.
The Translation Story of the English Bible: From Earliest Manuscripts to the King James Version and Beyond
Helen Mathis, MA
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
Beginning with the Greek Septuagint and New Testament writings, journey through the earliest manuscripts to the Latin Vulgate, to Erasmus’s Greek Textus Receptus, and on to Tyndale and all the English translations building on his work. Compare modern translations and the range of Greek word meanings. Tour Principia’s Bible collection, and learn how translators translate.
Creation: 10 Texts in Contexts
Barry Huff, PhD, ThM, MTS
Religion professor
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
This course features creation texts in Genesis, Exodus, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, John, and Revelation in their historical, cultural, and literary contexts. Writing to communities struggling with devastation, biblical authors employed the theme of creation to transform thought, inspire hope, and reveal God’s deep love for all creation.
"In the Faces of Men and Women I See God": American Religious Verse From the Puritans to the Beatniks
Brandon James O’Neil, PhD candidate, University of Iowa
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., Two-week course
This course will explore American concepts of divinity through the leading names in national poetry. Beginning with the meditations of Colonial Calvinists, we will explore the construction of American religious identity in the poetry of the early Republic. We will then find the guiding lights of sacred verse during the tumultuous Civil War and the unfulfilled promises of the Gilded Age, culminating in the crisis of faith marking the World Wars and the spiritual thirst of the post-war generation.
Business, Current Events & Politics
Our World Leaders
John Williams, JD
Political science professor and interim College president
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., Two-week course
Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron—world events seem defined by the men and women who make them. Let’s explore current events by looking at some of the most influential national leaders of 2020. We’ll examine them by their styles—transformational or transactional or something else?
Peace & Conflict
Billy Miller, PhD, JD
Sociology professor
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., Two-week course
Peace and Conflict is a survey course based on the assumption that peace is preferable to war/conflict. We’ll study theories of positive and negative peace, ethical reciprocity, and the application of nonviolent methods to resolve conflicts. Whether the conflicts are global, among groups, or existential, our overview and analysis is of the literature and research relative to the resolution of conflict.
Politics in the Social Media Era
Jonathan Hosmer, MALD
Principia’s web director
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., Two-week course
The upcoming presidential election draws even more attention to the role of social media in politics. Politicians craft their image around the clock on social media, highlighting their strengths, opponents’ weaknesses, and whatever issues the campaign wishes to promote. We will observe leading candidates’ social media presence and explore whether and how they interact with one another. We will also consider the other social media players in our elections, including Russia. We will look at news outlets across the political spectrum and how they’re involved in social media. Finally, we will see how what we do in our news feeds affects the messages, candidates, and issues that are shown to us.
May It Please The Court
John Williams, JD
Political science professor and interim College president
Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., Two-week course
The “third branch” of government, led by the United States Supreme Court, is no less political than the other branches, in spite of what we learn in civics class. We’ll look at how justices are selected; philosophies justices use to guide their decisions (or not!); cases selected to be heard by the Court (or rejected); the reasoning used to explain the results of a case; and the public pressure on the Court. And, yes, we’ll talk about cases currently before the Court.
Fragile and Failing States: Why Countries Decline and Collapse
Julie Blase, PhD
Political science professor
Five, 3:20-–4:10 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
Should we be concerned about whether other countries’ governments succeed or fail? This course will examine the recent interest in the number of fragile and failed states (e.g., Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, etc.); what factors lead a country’s internal functions to decline; and when and how other countries could respond.
Dispute Resolution: A Spiritual Approach
Jeff Steele, PhD
Multidisciplinary professor
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
With many options available to effect resolution, what might be the more satisfying way to settle disagreements? Court, arbitration, mediation—all have considerable merit, but understanding the spiritual elements involved in treating disputes goes to the core of settlement. Come explore these ideas from common sense, the Bible, and other successful techniques.
Computer & Technology
Discover the Power of Your iPhone as a Camera
Jon Hosmer, MALD
Principia’s web director
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., One-week course
Offered each week
We carry iPhones everywhere, packed with technology and sporting increasingly capable cameras. We will explore all the features of these tiny but powerful cameras. We will start with the basics of taking still photos, saving them, and sending them to others. Then we will go through the other ways your camera can work for you, from video to slow motion, portraits, burst photos, and time lapses. We will also cover selfies, use of the flash, and editing on your phone. While we all want to take better photographs, this class is about mastering the tool—your iPhone and its features.
Engineering & Science
Dive into 3D Printing!
Marie Farson, PhD
Earth science professor
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., One-week course
Week Two only
Are you ready to join the community of 3D printing enthusiasts and find out more about 3D printers? This class will include a discussion of how 3D printing has revolutionized entrepreneurship and industry in developing countries as well as in the United States. We will dissect a 3D printer to learn how it works, use it to print objects, and explore design software to create and print your own designs—everything from replacement bits and pieces for household repairs to fascinating but useless gadgets.
Fukushima, What Next?
David A. Cornell, PhD
Professor emeritus of physics
Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., One-week course
Week One only
This course focuses on the promise of nuclear power, drawing upon the attitude expressed by Nobel Laureate Marie Curie, who said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, only to be understood.” Explore how to provide power for the future, while eliminating climate change.
Is That a Bug in Your Lipstick?
Ronald Musselman, PhD
Affiliated faculty
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., One-week course
Week Two only
This course will help us understand the world around us as responsible citizens: food, cosmetics, cleaning products, and energy issues. What is high-fructose corn syrup? Is sea salt better than ordinary salt? Does microwaving cause food to be dangerous? Are some red dyes really made from bugs? We will learn the basics of chemical reactions and nomenclature, evaluate the validity of information we receive, and discuss examples of both true and false information about energy and the products we all use.
History & Film
"In the Nick of Time"
Richard Waller, MA
Social studies teacher
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., One-week course
Week One only
In the course of history, a few minutes often radically change the direction of events. Because of natural time pressures, this most often happens during conflict. This course will look at five cases where the events of a few minutes led to a dramatic change in what happened later.
The Morgan Years: A Brief History of Principia College
Howard Bay, MA
Retired history teacher
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., Two-week course
“We will find a better place . . . an ideal place.” —Bernard Maybeck to Frederic Morgan, October 1930
It’s been 90 years since Mary Kimball Morgan, Principia’s founder, and her son Frederic stood on the site of the future Chapel to dedicate the river-bluff land for Principia College. This course will focus on the career of the first Principian, Frederic Morgan, and his stewardship of the building and growth of the College. The story of the remarkable relationship between “Mr. Freddie” and the celebrated architect Bernard Maybeck will deepen our understanding and appreciation of the early history of the campus. We will then expand the narrative to include the dramatic events of the war years as well as the boom years of the '50s and '60s. As an added bonus, some classes will take place in Maybeck buildings.
Whaddya Know about Shakespeare & Co.?
Jeff Steele, PhD
Multidisciplinary professor
Hour Two, 10:10–11:00 a.m., Two-week course
Early modern drama was full of “characters” in 16th-century England. Learn about Shakespeare’s life and times, and explore the theatrical world he worked in. The plays of this period make more sense when we know more about the circumstances under which they were created.
Inherit the Wind
Peter van Lidth de Jeude, PhD
History professor
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., One-week course
Week One only
The 1960 film Inherit the Wind has long been considered a classic, telling the story of the 1925 Scopes Trial in an engaging and humanizing way. But how historically accurate is it? What is the background of that trial? What was its legacy? And what can it teach us about America and the intersection between religion and science? In this course, we will tackle all these questions—and more—by looking at this intersection of film and history.
Field of Dreams
Peter van Lidth de Jeude, PhD
History professor
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., One-week course
Week Two only
Most people vividly remember the pivotal moment in 1989’s Field of Dreams when farmer Ray Kinsella hears the phrase “if you build it, he will come.” But who exactly comes to play baseball in this cornfield, and what does it have to do with a 1920’s scandal that threatened the integrity of baseball itself? And what can this film and its history tell us about America’s past, present, and future? We will tackle all these questions—and more—by looking at this intersection of film and history.
Inspiration Points: The Concord Quintet
Clark Beim-Esche, MA
Retired English and integrated arts teacher
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., Two-week course
In the middle years of the 19th century, an interesting collection of American writers and thinkers lived in the small New England town of Concord, Massachusetts. They all knew each other well and together came to constitute our first recognized center of philosophical and literary excellence. While doing research for a new book, Inspiration Points: Places Where Our Writers Wrote, Clark and Carol Beim-Esche have traveled to Concord in search of an enlarged understanding of the world these writers and thinkers experienced as they produced their lasting contributions to literature and philosophy. Join us as we explore the Concord of Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau—the fascinating quintet whose words and works continue to inform and inspire us today.
Appreciating the Films of Billy Wilder
Clark Beim-Esche, MA
Retired English and integrated arts teacher
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., Two-week course
With a total of twenty-one Academy Award nominations for writing, directing, and producing some of the most well-known motion pictures of the 20th century, Billy Wilder is most deserving of his reputation for cinematic excellence. Our course will begin with a weeklong overview of his total output, appreciating both his serious films (e.g., Double Indemnity and Stalag 17) and his many wonderful comedies (e.g., The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, and One, Two, Three). The second week will focus on appreciating the multi-nominated beauty and power of his devastating exposé of Hollywood’s values and mores, Sunset Boulevard, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this summer.
Military Turning Points Since 1800
Richard Waller, MA
Social studies teacher
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., Two-week course
While considering context and related developments, this course will look at 10 individual engagements/battles that are generally considered turning points in their time. These include Gettysburg and Vicksburg of the American Civil War, the Marne and Amiens in World War I, and the big World War II turning points: Midway, El Alamein, and Stalingrad.
Understanding Fascism
Peter van Lidth de Jeude, PhD
History professor
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., Two-week course
Since its creation a century ago by Benito Mussolini, the ideology of fascism has defied attempts to understand it, even as it has shaped world events dramatically. In this course, students will learn the conditions from which fascism emerged in the early 20th century, how it gained power in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, how it plunged the world into war in the 1940s, and its legacy since the end of that conflict.
The Transformative Power of Shakespeare
Chrissy Calkins Steele, MFA
Theatre professor
Hour Five, 3:20– 4:10 p.m., One-week course
Week Two only
Experience the joy and power of speaking Shakespeare’s timeless words yourself, and learn how the power of “immortal Shakespeare, great poet of humanity” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 66) has transformed the lives of prison inmates, war veterans, refugees, inner-city children, and many others. This class will explore the actor’s approach to understanding and speaking Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, and we’ll discover the power of the Bard in individual lives and communities.
Music
250th Celebration of Ludwig Van Beethoven
Marie Jureit-Beamish, PhD
Professor emerita of music
Hour Three, 11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m., Two-week course
This year marks the landmark celebration of the birth of one of the greatest composers of all time—Ludwig van Beethoven. Today, 250 years later, concertgoers around the world join together to feel the power, exuberance, and joy of his music, which transcends time and unites us in our common humanity. Immerse yourself and be inspired by some of the grandest music the world has ever known! His nine landmark symphonies, including his powerful and uplifting “Ode to Joy,” form the core of his tremendous contribution to music.
Unmasked: The Life and Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Marie Jureit-Beamish, PhD
Professor emerita of music
Hour Four, 2:15–3:05 p.m., Two-week course
In his recently released Unmasked: A Memoir, the creator of Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber, shares his life story, including never knowing that his Phantom was destined to become the longest-running musical ever on Broadway. At the heart of this course are the life and times of Webber and an in-depth exploration of Phantom within the context of his other greats: Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Woman in White, and Evita, to name but a few. Come and enjoy the brilliant musicals of this extraordinary genius of our time!
Choir
Joe Van Riper, PhD
Music professor
Hour Six, 4:25–5:15 p.m., Two-week course
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Come share your love of singing by participating in the Summer Session choir. This ensemble will offer a wonderful experience for community collaboration and joyous musical expression.
Reading, Writing & Speaking
Writing: From Memory to Memoir
Linda Conradi, MLA
Hour One, 9:05–9:55 a.m., Two-week course
Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours? Your stories, as you best recall them, form the fabric of your life. Come to this writing workshop to begin or continue writing your stories. Let your life tell of its twists and turns. Record its chapters in prose, poetry, song, or a combination. Then fine tune and share excerpts from your memoir. Discover clues through your writing that help you answer the question, Who am I?
Hooked on Books: The Lure of Reading
Linda Conradi, MLA
Hour Three, 11:15–12:05 p.m., Two-week course
Books can transport us, transfix us, or teach us as they take us on journeys of imagination or reality. Read these books in advance, and then come share in a roundtable discussion:
Week One (Fiction): This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. This modern-day Huck Finn story follows four runaway orphans as they go by canoe down the Mississippi River to St. Louis in search of family and a home. In spite of their hardscrabble existence as they travel, this Depression Era tale is laced with hope.
Week Two (Nonfiction): Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. Set in Oklahoma during the 1920s oil boom on Osage land, this story portrays greed and murder over land rights and the FBI’s role in ending the corruption. A little-known part of American history unfolds in this true tale that reads like a murder mystery.
Soulful Expression: Communicating with Freedom and Power
Chrissy Calkins Steele, MFA
Theatre professor
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., One-week course
Week One only
Would you like to speak with greater expression, freedom, and power? Whether reading in church, telling a story, or giving a presentation, your voice and body communicate meaning, confidence, and presence. Enjoy speaking poetry and singing hymns and folk songs with greater expression and freedom in this experiential, low-key class. Practice skills to communicate more clearly and expressively, expanding your Soulful expression.
Sports & Fitness
Trail Walking
Robert Baker
College head track and field coach
Early Bird, 6:30–7:20 a.m., Two-week course
Daily walks on campus as well as the surrounding area will include Elsah, Snyder’s Barn, and Elliston House. We will explore the history of the campus with a focus on Maybeck buildings.
Tennis for Life: Instruction for Beginners and Beyond
Shannon Carney, MA Ed
USPTA Elite Professional, College head women’s tennis coach
Early Bird, 6:30–7:20 a.m., Two-week course
Beginning to advanced players will learn and improve their technique and skills through drills and point play. The course meets players at their current level and advances them from there. We’ll cover tennis grips and strokes, shot selection and placement, strategy for singles and doubles, proper footwork, movement and balance, tennis etiquette, and how to think metaphysically about tennis. Please come with your tennis shoes (no black soles). You may bring your racquet or use ours.
Recreational, drop-in tennis is also available each afternoon in Hexberg from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Stretch Yourself
Mary Ann Sprague, MBA
College associate athletics director
Early Bird, 6:30–7:20 a.m., Two-week course
In this class, you will learn and utilize many types of stretching in a relaxing environment with peaceful music. It’s a great way to get your day going. Stretch Yourself was designed to work daily on flexibility and freedom of movement. Each class starts with a metaphysical focus around these concepts, and the workout will build on that truth. Classes will cover several different ways of working on increased flexibility—using ropes, dynamic stretching, yoga-style stretching, and more. Class members will also work daily on balance, with many opportunities to grow more confident in their balance through simple yet fun physical activities.
Supporting Character Growth in Your Young Athelete
Julie Blase, PhD
Political science professor
Lee Ellis, PhD
Sport studies professor
Hour Four, 2:15-3:05 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
This course is for friends and families of athletes at all levels. You will learn what to expect when your young athlete competes in a sport; consider different models of competition and their influence on character development; and find out how your engagement with young athletes can influence their experience positively or negatively. Topics include the competition-character connection; the car ride home: debriefing the win or loss with grace; club sports and school programs; what positive coaching looks like; training, fitness, and rest; how authorities should respond if there’s an injury; and masculinity and femininity in sports.
How Our Hypercompetitive World is Making Losers of Us All
Lee Ellis, PhD
Sport studies professor
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., One-week course
Offered each week
This class explores the nature of competition: the ways we compete, why we compete, and how it makes us feel. We’ll consider five myths of competition; explore an alternative way of viewing competition; deconstruct concepts that undergird our hypercompetitive society; analyze two social institutions that promote hypercompetitiveness; and ponder ways to counter hypercompetitiveness.
Simply Fit
Mary Ann Sprague, MBA
College associate atheletics director
Hour Five, 3:20–4:10 p.m., Two-week course
This group activity class, set to a nice collection of oldies music, includes a warm up, strength work, cardio, core work, and a cool down. Each participant will leave with a monthlong workout plan, an understanding of how to perform the exercises correctly, increased confidence, and a love of being active.
Aquablast!
Mary Ann Sprague, MBA
College associate athletics director
Hour Six, 4:25–5:15 p.m., Two-week course
This group activity class in the pool keeps participants moving in a buoyant environment against the backdrop of a fun playlist of music. We use noodles and swim belts to steady participants so they can perform mobility, strength, and cardio exercises in the pool.
Pickleball Forever
Shannon Carney, MA Ed
USPTA Elite Professional, College head women’s tennis coach
Hour Six, 4:25–5:15 p.m., Two-week course
Learn to play pickleball. We will develop critical thinking in competition and demonstrate enjoyment in a competitive environment.