Upcoming Praxis Course Offerings

Praxis I Courses

ANTH B246: Words that Matter: Applying Linguistic Anthropology

Lecture: 10:10 AM-11:30 AM TTH - Instructor: Weidman, A.

This course provides hands-on experience in linguistic anthropological methods of data collection and analysis. We will explore various methods employed by linguistic anthropologists, including: ethnographic observation of language use in context; audio-recording of spoken discourse; working with a linguistic corpus; online research methods; conducting linguistic and ethnographic interviews; and learning how to create a transcript to use as the basis for ethnographic analysis. This is a Praxis 1 course. For the praxis component of the course, in the first half of the semester, the class will work with a high school language arts teacher to design a lesson and project for a high school language arts class that incorporates linguistic-anthropological concepts and student-driven research on language. The purpose of this is to move beyond the prescriptivist approach to language commonly taken at the high school level, toward a more descriptive, ethnographic approach that learns from young people's creativity and agency as speakers of language. In the second half of the semester, the class will work collaboratively on a research project that we develop as a class. Class time will be used to discuss the results of student work, read and discuss relevant literature in linguistic anthropology, synthesize insights that develop from bringing different ethnographic contexts together; and work collaboratively on a way of presenting the findings.

Cross-Cultural Analysis (CC)

Counts Toward: Gender Sexuality Studies; Linguistics; Praxis Program.

ENGL B234-001: Book Lab

LEC: 10:10 AM-11:30 AM MW - Instructor: Taylor, J.

This course explores the book as object, examining how the form of the book shapes its contents. We will take a long historical approach to learn about the medieval scriptorium, the hand press era, the letterpress, and digital printing; we will include practical work in crafting the elements of a book (including parchment- and paper-making; printing; and binding). The course will also explore archival practices, conservation and repair, piracy, collecting, and book selling.

Critical Interpretation (CI)

Counts Toward: Praxis Program.

FREN B005-001: Intensive Intermediate French

LEC: 11:10 AM-12:00 PM MWF -  Instructor: Peysson-Zeiss,A.

French 005 will have a Praxis I component designed to strengthen your language skills through connections with French and Francophone speakers in various fields in and around Philadelphia.

The emphasis on speaking and understanding French is continued; literary and cultural texts are read and increasingly longer papers are written in French. In addition to three class meetings a week, students develop their skills in group sessions with the professors and in oral practice hours with assistants. Students use internet resources regularly. This course prepares students to take 102 or 105 in semester II. Open only to graduates of Intensive Elementary French or to students placed by the department or recommended by their instructor from 002 regular. Two additional hours of instruction outside class time required. Additional meeting hours on Tuesday and Thursday will be scheduled according to students' availability. Prerequisite: FREN B002IN (intensive) or Placement exam. 

SOCL B235-001: Mexican-American Communities

LEC: 11:40 AM-1:00 PM MW -  Instructor: Montes,V.

For its unique history, the number of migrants, and the two countries' proximity, Mexican migration to the United States represents an exceptional case in world migration. There is no other example of migration with more than 100 years of history. The copious presence of migrants concentrated in a host country, such as we have in the case of the 11.7 million Mexican migrants residing in the United States, along with another 15 million Mexican descendants, is unparalleled. The 1,933-mile-long border shared by the two countries makes it one of the longest boundary lines in the world and, unfortunately, also one of the most dangerous frontiers in the world today. We will examine the different economic, political, social and cultural forces that have shaped this centenarian migration influx and undertake a macro-, meso-, and micro-levels of analysis. At the macro-level of political economy, we will investigate the economic interdependency that has developed between Mexico and the U.S. over different economic development periods of these countries, particularly, the role the Mexican labor force has played to boosting and sustaining both the Mexican and the American economies. At the meso-level, we will examine different institutions both in Mexico and the U.S. that have determined the ways in which millions of Mexican migrate to this country. Last, but certainly not least, we will explore the impacts that both the macro-and meso-processes have had on the micro-level by considering the imperatives, aspirations, and dreams that have prompted millions of people to leave their homes and communities behind in search of better opportunities. This major life decision of migration brings with it a series of social transformations in family and community networks, this will look into the cultural impacts in both the sending and receiving migrant communities. In sum, we will come to understand how these three levels of analysis work together.

Cross-Cultural Analysis (CC)

Counts Toward: Gender Sexuality Studies; Growth and Structure of Cities; Latin American Iberian Latinx; Praxis Program.

Praxis II Courses

PSYC B215: Thorne School Practicum: Bridging Research and Practice

7:10 PM-10:00 PM W - Instructor: Baird, J.

This is a 1-credit Praxis II course that requires 3 hours of weekly fieldwork in any of the five Phebe Anna Thorne School programs (Nearly 3s, Younger and Older Preschool classes, Language Enrichment Preschool Program, Kindergarten). In addition to their fieldwork, students will meet as a group once each week with the course instructor. This praxis course is distinguished by dynamic interaction between hands-on fieldwork and collaborative in-class academic learning. Students will integrate their fieldwork experiences with literature on child development and early childhood education, including scholarly evidence that underpins the Thorne School's commitment to play-based, social-emotional learning. The course also provides an opportunity for students to learn from each other and deepen their understanding of development in early childhood, as they will share their diverse experiences from the five different Thorne School programs serving children from ages 2 to 6.

Enrollment in this course is by permission of the instructor. Interested students should complete the interest form on the website https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/9hqhf3e0wh by 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 16th, to be considered. The instructor will respond to all students with an enrollment decision as soon as possible.

Course does not meet an Approach

Counts Toward: Child and Family Studies; Praxis Program.

PSYC B203-001: Educational Psychology   

LEC: 8:40 AM-10:00 AM T&TH - Instructor: Cassidy, K. 

Topics in the psychology of human cognitive, social, and affective behavior are examined and related to educational practice. Issues covered include learning theories, memory, attention, thinking, motivation, social/emotional issues in adolescence, and assessment/learning disabilities. This course provides a Praxis Level II opportunity. Classroom observation is required. Prerequisite: PSYC B105 (Introductory Psychology)

Course does not meet an Approach

Counts Toward: Child and Family Studies; Praxis Program.

AFST B234-001: Advancing Racial Justice: Engaging with Community Organizations

LEC: 10:10 AM-11:30 AM T&TH - Instructor: Bailey, D.

This course will provide opportunities for students to engage with a diverse group of Philadelphia area community-based organizations and/or the neighborhoods of those they serve. Through time in the field, reflection essays, small group work, and class readings and discussions, students will learn about and how to use racial equity tools (RET) and develop an understanding of: the theories, practices, and levels of DEIAR, the dynamics of system-wide change, and the impact of transformative and restorative justice on individuals, organizations, and communities.

Course does not meet an Approach

Counts Toward: Africana Studies; Praxis Program.

SOCL B275-001: Social Problems, Community Conversations

LEC: 12:10 PM-3:00 PM F - Instructor: Dept. staff, TBA

This Praxis course will create space for students and community members to examine social problems in a co-created, diverse setting. We'll ask questions like: What social problems have shaped our lives? How do they connect to the social problems of other generations? Who defines social problems, and how? Who tries to solve social problems, and how? How might sociology help us shed light on these problems? How can we design and participate in productive dialogues across difference around these social problems? The course will examine a variety of social issues chosen by students and community members (e.g. crime, racial/ethnic inequality, gender inequality, educational, environmental, healthcare, and housing crises, AI, changing workplaces). The course emphasizes co-creation and modes of learning that bring together lived experience, library knowledge, and conversation across diverse communities.

Cross-Cultural Analysis (CC)

Power, Inequity, and Justice (PIJ)

Counts Toward: Education Studies; Praxis Program.

Praxis III Courses: Seminars or Praxis Independent Study

Students interested in a Praxis III course, whether Praxis Independent Study or an offered Seminar, must plan and prepare well in advance during the semester before enrollment. Interested students should schedule a consultation with Praxis staff and submit a Praxis III Proposal Form that outlines their interests and goals. 

Praxis III courses are evaluated on a pass/fail basis, except for selected departmental seminars.

The Praxis III proposal is due the semester before taking the Praxis III course and must be submitted by the end of Bryn Mawr's pre-registration period.

ARTT B420-001: Theater Production Ensemble

LEC: 1:10 PM-3:00 PM F -  Department staff; T., McDaniel, J.

This seminar course is made up of four to seven students each semester who serve as production team leads for the semester-long theater production. Each student will work in a practicum fashion as the leader of a theatrical production department (depending on the needs of a specific production, that will potentially include stage management, sound, electrics, carpentry, technical direction, stage properties, projections, and more). Students will gather weekly with the instructors to go over readings and conduct shared critiques, as well as to discuss the practical, day-to-day concerns of each of their departments. The class will also read about and examine the deeper overall concerns of production and personnel management and the ways that theater makers collaborate to integrate production elements into a fully realized work of art. Students will gain high-level professional management skills as they plan and execute the steps necessary to fulfill the needs of their individual departments; learn to delegate work to and manage the student technicians who work under them; communicate regularly with professional directors, designers, and consultants from positions of real authority; and work collaboratively with their fellow production leads, including their instructors. They will work closely with a variety of professional theater makers, including their professors and artist consultants from outside the college.

Enrollment for this Praxis III course is handled by the Theater Department. Interested students should contact the instructor(s) of the seminar directly to express interest. Submitting a Praxis III Proposal is not required for this course.

Questions

Contact Liv Raddatz (lraddatz@brynmawr.edu) or Tiffany Stahl (tstahl@brynmawr.edu).

See the main Praxis page for an overview of the Praxis Program and Praxis course types.

Education Courses 

The Bryn Mawr/Haverford (BiCo) Education Department offers courses with internship, placement, or partnership components that are supported by Education Department staff. You can view their course offerings here.