Learning Commons
The Learning Commons offers Bard students collaborative learning and support through academic workshops, drop-in and subject tutoring, study rooms, and our Writing Fellows program. We provide credit-bearing courses in writing, public speaking, mathematics, and English for non-native speakers.

TUTORING
Individual tutoring in writing and in other subjects can be arranged by contacting the Learning Commons, located in the basement of Stone Row, by calling 758-7812, or by filling out the appointment form at
http://inside.bard.edu/learningcommons/findtutor/.

The Learning Commons is open Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm, although tutoring sessions may be scheduled with peer-tutors for others days and times as well. Review sessions and individual tutoring for math and sciences, and drop-in hours for math and writing help are also available during the semester. Call 758-7812 for days and times, or visit the Learning Commons' website:   http://inside.bard.edu/learningcommons/

 THE MATH PLACEMENT

All students at Bard College must take and pass a mathematics or computing course before graduation. If you haven’t taken a math course at Bard yet, please take our Math Placement.  Go to http://math.bard.edu/placement/   for instructions.

 

SERVICES FOR DISABLED STUDENTS

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Bard College is committed to providing equal access to the College’s academic courses, programs, and activities for all students. Students with physical or psychological disabilities should register with the Disability Support Coordinator in order to receive necessary accommodations. Forms are available at: http://www.bard.edu/admission/forms/pdfs/disability.pdf.

 

Learning Commons Courses

Courses listed below are credit bearing but do not satisfy program or distribution credit.

 

 

Course:

BLC 107  Intensive ESL

Professor:

Denise Minin  

CRN:

90302

Schedule:

Mon Wed    10:20 AM - 12:40 PM Reem Kaydn Center 200

Tue Thurs.   10:20 AM - 12:40 PM Henderson Computing Center 101A

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

12

Credits:

4

 (4 credits, two-semester requirement) This course is designed to give incoming international students an overview of the Liberal Arts experience through exploring some of the fields of study Bard has to offer. Through this investigation, students will develop the academic and study skills needed to survive this challenging academic environment. An emphasis on reading and writing will provide opportunities for students to develop vocabulary,  improve grammar and strengthen their grasp of the written language.

 

Course:

BLC 150  Algebra Workshop

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

90303

Schedule:

 Tue      7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

22

Credits:

2

This course provides a review of the algebra used in math, science, and social science courses. It is designed for students who would like to improve their algebra skills while taking or in preparation to take an introductory math, science, economics or statistics course. Topics include linear equations and their graphs, quadratic equations, fractions, rational expressions, and exponents. This course will be graded Pass/Fail. No distributional credit is earned. This course will meet for the first 10 weeks of the semester.

 

Course:

BLC 180  The Art of Public Speaking

Professor:

David Register  

CRN:

90304

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    10:20 AM - 11:40 AM Olin 102

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

18

Credits:

4

This class will introduce students to the art of public speaking. Over the course of the semester, students will: (1) examine the role of culture in informing speaking situations, (2) develop practical skills related to the research, invention, organization, and presentation of speeches, and (3) learn how to analyze and evaluate arguments as they are presented in public speeches, political debates, television interviews, etc. Additionally, the course will explore the use of rhetoric in meeting the needs of ceremonial occasions, the narration of events, and persuasion.  Students will be required, at several points through the course of the semester, to present speeches to the class as a whole.  In addition, students will be responsible for weekly homework assignments and the evaluation of one another's presentations.

 

Course:

BLC 190  Algebra, Trigonometry, and Functions

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

90305

Schedule:

  Wed     7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Hegeman 204

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

22

Credits:

2

This course is designed for students who have taken a pre-calculus course in high school or at Bard, but would like more computational practice with algebra, trigonometry, logarithms and exponentials. This course can be taken at the same time as a math, science, or economics course, or in preparation to take such a course in a subsequent semester. This course will be graded Pass/Fail. No distributional credit is earned.  This course will meet for the first 10 weeks of the semester. Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Course:

BLC 205 A Essay and Revision

Professor:

Dorothy Albertini  

CRN:

90306

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Olin 310

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

12

Credits:

4

Essay and Revision will help you become a more thoughtful and assured writer of academic essays. Over the course of the semester, you’ll draft and revise three short essays (4–5 pages each), learning to use informal, exploratory writing to eventually produce more fully developed, polished academic prose. Your essays will be inspired by a variety of readings, and you’ll expand your range of skills as a writer and a reader, reading closely to identify what makes certain texts strong, and where they fall short. In your own writing, you’ll learn to take readers’ needs and expectations into account by addressing the feedback of your classmates and teacher.

 

Course:

BLC 205 B Essay and Revision

Professor:

Jane Smith  

CRN:

90307

Schedule:

 Tue  Thurs    3:50 PM - 5:10 PM Olin Language Center 206

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

15

Credits:

4

Essay and Revision will help you become a more thoughtful and assured writer of academic essays. Over the course of the semester, you’ll draft and revise three short essays (4–5 pages each), learning to use informal, exploratory writing to eventually produce more fully developed, polished academic prose. Your essays will be inspired by a variety of readings, and you’ll expand your range of skills as a writer and a reader, reading closely to identify what makes certain texts strong, and where they fall short. In your own writing, you’ll learn to take readers’ needs and expectations into account by addressing the feedback of your classmates and teacher.

 

Course:

BLC 235  Composition Theory and Pedagogy

Professor:

James Keller  

CRN:

90309

Schedule:

 Mon  Wed    12:10 PM - 1:30 PM Olin 203

Distributional Area:

 

Class cap:

20

Credits:

4

This course is designed for advanced writers who want to deepen their understanding of composition, rhetoric, and grammar. Topics will include composition theory, grammar and its role in the service of meaning and rhetoric, and revision in both theory and practice. We will address questions of composition pedagogy to see how successful models of teaching (and tutoring) writing can inform our understanding of the genre itself, not in theoretical isolation but as a live and critical practice. Students will write and revise essays, provide feedback to fellow writers, and complete an independent project.