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Applications for Spring 2026 clusters are now closed. Clusters for AY 2026-27 will be published in January!
Energy Afterlives - Fall 2026
Courses: GEOL B107, POLS B304, RUSS B232, Synthesis Course (3.5 units)
Field Component: 9-day field study in Southeast Alaska (tentatively scheduled October 9-17, 2026)
Prerequisites: One social science course, or consent of instructors. No experience in Russian language or culture is required as all texts will be taught in translation.
Approaches Met: CC; CI; IP
Open/Closed: GEOL 107 open to non-360 students, POLS 304 and RUSS 232 open to 360 students only
What comes in the wake of energy extraction and the petro-regime we live in now? This cluster will examine the afterlives of coal, oil, and nuclear energy through the lenses of the arts, political science, and earth science. In the arts course, students will consider how these three energy sources give shape to our lives in countless ways by exploring their place in literature, music, photography, creative nonfiction, and art; this approach will allow students to examine the personal, human elements of energy and extraction and their aftereffects. In the science course, through readings, specimen analyses, field sampling, and lab work, students will assess the geologic conditions under which these three energy sources form — and the long-term environmental consequences of their extraction. In the political science course, students will examine how communities have organized around places and responded to the afterlives of energy extraction.
Note: Courses in this cluster can contribute to majors/minors in POLS, RUSS, ENVS, Comparative Literature, International Studies
Taste - Fall 2026
Courses: ANTH 213, COML/EALC 281, Synthesis Course (2.5 units)
Field Component: 4-day field study in New York City (tentatively scheduled October 8-12, 2026), day trip to Monell Taste and Smell Lab
Prerequisites: none
Approaches Met: CC, CI
Open/Closed: ANTH 213 open to non-360 students, COML/EALC 281 available to 360 students only
What are the stories behind the flavors that we taste? How much of taste is individual, and how much is social? Why do some flavors taste good to us, while others don't? Why do different people sometimes have very different reactions to the same foods? How do taste preferences change across space and over time? This course cluster invites students to explore the histories, cultural meanings, and politics surrounding taste. We will examine how our tastes are influenced by factors like nationality, cultural group, socioeconomic class, and public discourse. We will also consider how we use our own tastes to understand, and even transform, the world around us. Ultimately, this focus on taste will allow us to investigate fundamental questions of universality and difference in the human experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
This half-unit Credit/No Credit course is the home for synthesizing conversations, bringing together the perspectives of individual courses/disciplines in the cluster, and driving towards the central theme of the 360. The course also provides a common scheduled time for speakers, field trips, logistical meetings, and other cluster business. The course is attended by all faculty and students participating in the cluster.
In December, descriptions of 360°s we anticipate offering in the following academic year are posted to the 360° Upcoming Courses webpage. Any prerequisites for courses are indicated there.
In the month prior to preregistration (October and March), info sessions are hosted by the Program for students interested in the 360°s being offered the following semester. Faculty highlight any enrollment criteria, such as preference given to majors, concentrators, seniors, etc.
Following the info session, applications are made available to students via class listservs, the Tri-Co Course guide, Instagram, and the website.
Students must complete the application by noon on the Wednesday before preregistration, and are notified of their status by the Monday of preregistration at noon.
If accepted, students must confirm their intention to participate no later than the Wednesday of preregistration at noon. Accepted students who do not respond are contacted (by email and phone), and given until Wednesday, 5 p.m. to respond. Faculty then consider waitlisted students.
If waitlisted, students must confirm their interest in remaining on the wait list by no later than the Tuesday of preregistration, noon. Waitlisted students are notified as soon as a space becomes available, but no later than the end of the first week of classes in the semester the 360° is being offered. Students are selected from the waitlist at faculty discretion.
The registrar enrolls Bryn Mawr students in all 360° courses following faculty decisions and student acceptances. Haverford and Swarthmore students will confer with their home registrars to confirm their preregistration.
Applications are open to Tri-Co students during pre-registration for the upcoming semester. Students may not participate in a 360 during their first semester at Bryn Mawr. Selection criteria vary depending on the demands of the cluster, but successful applicants will demonstrate deep interest in the theme of the 360, and a willingness to engage in interdisciplinary exploration. For more information, see Application Procedures.
It depends on the interest among students and the content of the cluster. Each 360° cohort usually has 15 students. Faculty set criteria to evaluate applications based on the requirements of the 360°. The application process runs through the first week of preregistration, in case students need to make alternate plans before the end of preregistration (see Application Procedures for more details).
All 360°s include some kind of non-traditional classroom experience, which can take many forms, including international travel, domestic travel, Praxis placement, intensive lab experience, project work, and shadowing experts in the field.
Individual 360° courses often fulfill one or more College requirements, and many count towards major requirements in their respective departments. Before applying, you should consult your dean and/or major advisor.
Yes. Each cluster is made up of 2-3 courses plus the half-unit Synthesis course, and students typically take 1-2 non-360° courses in addition to their 360° classes (a full-time student at Bryn Mawr usually takes 4 classes each semester). Special permission is required to enroll in more than 4.5 units in a semester (please see your Dean for further information).
360° clusters are a great way to explore new topics, subjects, and skills. Each 360° is designed to bring a variety of specialties together to explore a central theme from many perspectives, and we encourage students to try out different fields of study. Some courses in 360° clusters do have pre-requisites, but faculty are often able to work with students to find ways to meet those requirements (even if you haven't completed the exact pre-requirement course).
We don't want money to be a barrier for students who are interested. There is no additional tuition fee to participate in a cluster. The 360° Program covers the cost of visas, transportation, food, and lodging during program trips, as well as fees associated with program elements (museum admission, etc.). Students are responsible for passport fees, if the field experience requires one. If students encounter unanticipated costs as part of their 360° experience, they are encouraged to be in contact with the Program coordinator for additional resources.
Bryn Mawr welcomes students with disabilities to all aspects of College life. If you are a student with a diagnosed learning, physical, or psychological disability who may need to request academic or facilities accommodations to participate in program activities, early planning is essential. Some programs include a significant amount of physical activity. For locations abroad in particular, attitudes towards disabilities, the terrain, housing options, and the availability of accommodations vary. Please contact Deb Alder, Access Services Director (610-526-7351 or dalder@brynmawr.edu), right away to discuss your needs and start gathering information. Early planning and flexibility can help to ensure a positive experience.
Learn more on our Travel Resources page.