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:

15786

Schedule/Location:

Mon Tue Wed Thurs    10:00 AM - 12:30 PM Henderson Comp. Center 106

Credits: 4

 

Class cap: 12

(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 110  Grammar for Writers

Professor:

Denise Minin  

CRN:

15787

Schedule/Location:

 Tue   Fri   1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Olin 309

Credits: 4

 

Class cap: 10

(4 credits) This class examines issues of grammar, usage, and style, with an emphasis on the difficulties encountered by non-native speakers of English. Special attention will be given to the problems created by language transfer issues and to the specific expectations of writing in different disciplines. Through frequent writing and rewriting, we will study rules and habits that lead to clear and concise academic writing. At least 25 pages of revised writing will be expected.

 

Course:

BLC 150  Algebra Workshop

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

15789

Schedule/Location:

    Fri   11:10 AM - 1:10 PM Hegeman 308

Credits: 2

 

Class cap: 22

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 190  Algebra, Trigonometry, and Functions

Professor:

Japheth Wood  

CRN:

15788

Schedule/Location:

 Tue      5:10 PM - 7:10 PM Olin 205

Credits: 2

 

Class cap: 22

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  Essay and Revision

Professor:

Rachel Cavell  

CRN:

15790

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs    11:50 AM - 1:10 PM Olin Languages Center 206

Credits: 4

 

Class cap: 15

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 220  Digital Literacies

Professor:

Jeremy Hall  

CRN:

15791

Schedule/Location:

    Fri   10:10 AM - 11:30 AM Olin 101

Credits: 2

 

Class cap: 15

(2 Credits) This course will examine the skills necessary to produce scholarship and engage the public sphere by developing students' proficiencies in conducting and presenting research. The course uses a meta-literate approach to better understand current trends in information consumption and production, including key issues such as the role of misinformation in our current political and cultural landscape. Class time will be devoted to discussions and workshops covering a range of topics such as news and media literacy, social media and data ethics, as well as advanced research skills. Students will complete a final project centered around a civic topic or movement that will enable a deeper understanding of our current world and times. This is an Engaged Liberal Arts & Sciences (ELAS) course. In this course you will be given the opportunity to bridge theory to practice while engaging a community of interest throughout the semester. A significant portion of ELAS learning takes place outside of the classroom: students learn through engagement with different geographies, organizations, and programs in the surrounding communities or in collaboration with partners from Bard's national and international networks. To learn more please click here.

 

Course:

BLC 240  Argument and Advocacy

Professor:

David Register  

CRN:

15792

Schedule/Location:

 Tue   Thurs   1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Olin 304

Credits: 4

 

Class cap: 12

(4 credits)  This course engages  students in the practice of public  deliberation. Toward this end, students will focus their efforts on a    specific, semester-long topic –researching, scrutinizing sources, constructing and analyzing arguments, learning how to advocate for policies,    and practicing public speaking and debate. Students will write as they research, and will deliver several speeches. The course will culminate    with students organizing and staging a public debate on campus.

 

Course:

BLC 305  Writing and Research

Professor:

Jane Smith  

CRN:

15793

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs    3:30 PM - 4:50 PM Henderson Comp. Center 106

Credits: 4

 

Class cap: 12

(4 credits) This course is designed especially for moderated juniors who want to prepare for the senior project. Emphasis will be given to the early work of articulating a significant research question and to working with primary and secondary sources to develop a sustained argument in response to it. Students will explore the specific rhetorical strategies, styles, and formats of his or her own discipline and meet with faculty in their field of interest. Students will write a literature review, a Senior Project proposal, and a research paper.