Spring 2026 Course Search

Improvisation Ensemble for Dancers and Musicians — DAN2417.02

Instructor: Susan Sgorbati
Days & Time: WE 4:10pm-6:00pm
Credits: 1

This class is an extension of the Black Music Division at Bennington College that brought dancers and musicians together for live performance in the composition of Improvisation. It is co-taught by Susan Sgorbati and Michael Wimberly. 

Musicians and Dancers will study and practice together a Solo Practice and an Ensemble Practice, building compositional structures for performance. 

projects in animation and projections — MA4314.01

Instructor: Sue Rees
Days & Time: TH 8:30am-12:10pm
Credits: 4

The course will be for sustained work on an animation or design project, and should be a space for both experimentation, ambition and a consistent endeavor.  Students will be expected to create a complete animation, a series of experiments, projection or interactive project.  The expectation is that students will be fully engaged in all aspects of the class from critiques, to experimenting with ideas, undertaking research and being present.

Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism (with Lab) — PHY4327.01

Instructor: Tim Schroeder
Days & Time: M/Th 10:00AM-11:50AM, W 8:30AM-12:10PM (Lab)
Credits: 5

How does influence travel from one thing to another? In Newton’s mechanics of particles and forces, influences travel instantaneously across arbitrarily far distances. Newton himself felt this to be incorrect, but he did not suggest a solution to this problem of “action at a distance.” To solve this problem, we need a richer ontology: The world is made not only of particles, but also of fields. As examples of the field concept, we study the theory and applications of the electric field and the magnetic field.

Stars and Galaxies — PHY2106.01

Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Days & Time: MO,TH 10:00am-11:50am
Credits: 4

All but a handful of the objects you see in the night sky are stars in our Galaxy, the Milky Way. Although we know about these stars only from studying their light, we know today that they are not just points of light, but large, gravitationally‐bound balls of plasma governed by the laws of physics. Stars, together with dust, gas, and dark matter, are found in larger structures – galaxies. In turn, galaxies, are located in even larger structures called galaxy groups and galaxy clusters.

The Physics of Light and Color — PHY2114.01

Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Days & Time: TU 8:30am-12:10pm
Credits: 2

The physics of light and color initially appears simple: light is a wave and the wavelength of light determines color. While this basic physical description of light is easy to state, going deeper quickly opens up large range of questions. How do different wavelengths of light combine to make colors? How does light from different sources interfere? How does light change path when it travels through different materials? How do humans sense light both in and outside of the visible spectrum? How does our perception of color affect how we interpret our world?

The Physics of Sound — PHY2278.02

Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Days & Time: TU 8:30am-12:10pm
Credits: 2

Physically, sound is simply the compression of air around us. However, this relatively simple description obscures a much richer understanding of sound. From how different sounds are generated and perceived to how different sounds can combine to make something new to how to design acoustically pleasant spaces, the physics of sound plays a key role. This course is about the fundamentals that underlie sound and is designed to serve as an introduction to those who are interested in going further.

Robotics and STEM Education: A Workshop — EDU2107.01

Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Days & Time: FR 10:30am-12:20pm
Credits: 1

In this course, students will gain experience with using simple programmable robots and how they can be utilized in STEM education. The focus of this class will be on learning and designing lessons for K-12 students utilizing these robots. This class is accessible for students at all levels of computer programming experience (including none). 

Hand-drawn Animation — MA2217.01

Instructor: John Crowe
Days & Time: TU 2:10pm-4:00pm
Credits: 2

Fundamentals of 2-D animation principles will be explored through drawing, from basic motion cycles to straight-ahead animation. Students will primarily work with wet/dry mediums on paper, with additional instruction in After Effects compositing workflow, and digital drawing. Weekly exercises will explore a variety of animation techniques to create short projects. While Screenings, critiques and demonstrations parallel regular viewings of student work.

The Tuning in The Trees — MUS4279.01

Instructor: Omeed Goodarzi
Days & Time: FR 2:10pm-4:00pm
Credits: 2

The Tuning in the Trees is an advanced seminar in microtonality that treats tuning systems as both technical structures and living landscapes. Students will explore how musical intervals emerge from natural patterns—such as tree bifurcations, harmonic ratios, and number sequences—while engaging deeply with Just intonation, Meantone, Bohlen–Pierce, and other non-Western tunings.

Studying Songs of Emancipation, Protest and Revolution — MUS2231.02

Instructor: Kathy Bullock
Days & Time: TU 4:10pm-6:00pm
Credits: 1

Music reflects the powerful journey of the people This course will study Music of the Struggle for Freedom, Rebellion and Civil and Social Rights, beginning with the African American journey in the United States from late 1700s to present day, and expanding to other cultures throughout the world.

Come Share the Joy; Voices of Hope Choir — MUS2122.02

Instructor: Kathy Bullock
Days & Time: M/Th 7:00PM-8:50PM
Credits: 2

This singing ensemble is dedicated to the preservation and performance of African-American sacred and inspirational music and other songs from the African diaspora (including South and West African and Caribbean songs). Messages of hope, faith, healing, of striving for justice and peace and of celebrating life will be the focuses for this singing experience. The course will culminate in a program on campus where we will share from the music we’ve learned.

Digital Modelling and Animation — MA2103.01

Instructor: Sue Rees
Days & Time: FR 8:30am-12:10pm
Credits: 2

This course introduces students to the basic language of 3D animation and modeling.  Students will be expected to become familiar with the basic principles of the MAYA program. A series of modeled objects placed in locations will be created. The emphasis will be on becoming proficient with modelling forms, texturing using Arnold Renderer, basic animation and utilizing lights and cameras.

Advanced Observing Projects — PHY4326.01

Instructor: Hugh Crowl
Days & Time: MO 3:40pm-5:30pm
Credits: 2

Students will observe using the telescopes at Stickney Observatory for a series of astronomical observing projects. After a range of initial assigned projects designed to acquaint students with the capabilities of the observing equipment and astrophysically interesting observations, students will propose and carry out their own observing projects looking at astrophysical phenomena of interest to them. As this is a projects class, it is expected that students will be able to devote significant time (mostly at night) observing on their own or in small teams.