WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Feb. 3, 2010 -- Winter Study, a Williams College tradition since 1968, allows students and faculty to explore interests outside of their major areas of study and expertise.  Students enroll in a single course during the month of January.  Courses are taught on a pass/fail basis, encouraging students to take risks by doing something different outside of their comfort zone.

Below are ten examples of the 143 courses offered during the January 2010 Winter Study and the departments (in parenthesis) sponsoring them.

AIG and the Global Financial Crisis (economics) with William Bowden '66, retired, U.S. Treasury Department. Focusing on the role of derivatives and credit default swaps created and sold by AIG, the course examines the importance of addressing global systemic risk.

Aspects of Cardiovascular Medicine (biology) with Dr. Simon Stertzer, professor of medicine at Stanford University. Stertzer performed the first coronary angioplasty in the U.S. in 1978. Students learn about the physiology and pathophysiology of the heart function in normal and abnormal conditions.

Computer Animation Production (computer science) with Jeff Kleiser, CEO of Synthespian Studios. Kleiser has worked on many feature films, including "Tron," "Fantastic Four," and "X-Men." Students learn about the stages of computer animation production and participate as interns in actual production projects.

Immortality Bites: Meaning and Metaphor in Vampire Mythology (psychology) with assistant professors of psychology Jennifer Crosby and Joseph Greer. Students will examine the representations of vampires in terms of both symbolism and socio-cultural context.

LQWURGXFWLRQ WR FUBSWRJUDSKB (mathematics) with Steven Miller, assistant professor of mathematics.  The ability to encode information so that only certain recipients can read it contains some of the most exciting applications of pure and applied mathematics.  This is a history and theory of cryptosystems.

Making Sense of the CIA (political science) with James McAllister, professor of political science, and Donald Gregg, former U.S. Ambassador to Korea. This course examines the CIA through the personal experiences of professionals who have served in the agency.

Morocco (English) with Sherron Knopp, professor of English, and Melissa Barry, associate professor of philosophy. Students spend January in Morocco studying Arabic and Moroccan culture. The program includes home stays in the Rabat Medina, hikes through the Atlas Mountains, and camel rides in the desert.

The Philosophy of Chess (philosophy) with Steven Gerrard, professor of philosophy, and Har-Zvi, a chess Grandmaster who was named the World Champion before he was 16. Students study the whole game, from opening to endgame, under the instruction of a Grandmaster.

Virtual Realities (English) with author Paul Park and associate professor of Japanese and Comparative Literature Christopher Bolton.  Students play the game "Second Life" where they create a virtual avatar and live a second life in a computer-simulated virtual-realm.

Zymurgy (chemistry) with Thomas Smith, associate professor of chemistry. This course focuses on the science, history, and practice of brewing beer. Students tour a local brewery and eventually produce a full-grain brew of their own original recipe.

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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.

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News: Laura Corona and Allan Gonzalez