The campus was busy Wednesday morning with students rushing across the Quad to attend their first class meetings. We caught up with a few of them to ask how their classes went.

Here’s a bit more information, from the course catalog, about the classes mentioned in the video:

PHIL 2111: Ancient Philosophy, with Associate Professor of Philosophy Sarah Conly
We will read some of the most important works by Plato and Aristotle, two of the greatest western thinkers, and major influences on western thought. Explores questions in ethics, politics, art, psychology, the concept of knowledge, and the nature of reality.

JPN 2203: Intermediate Japanese, with Associate Professor of Asian Studies Vyjayanthi Selinger
An intermediate course in modern Japanese language, with introduction of advanced grammatical structures, vocabulary, and characters. Continuing emphasis on acquisition of well-balanced language skills based on an understanding of the actual use of the language in the Japanese sociocultural context. Introduces an additional 100 kanji.

ECON 1101: Principles of Microeconomics, with Professor of Economics Zorina Khan
An introduction to economic analysis and institutions, with special emphasis on the allocation of resources through markets. The theory of demand, supply, cost, and market structure is developed and then applied to problems in antitrust policy, environmental quality, energy, education, health, the role of the corporation in society, income distribution, and poverty. Students desiring a comprehensive introduction to economic reasoning should take both Economics 1101 and 1102 . For proper placement students should fill out the economics placement request form and must be recommended for placement in Economics 1101. Not open to students who have taken Economics 1050.

Math 2000: Linear Algebra, with Lecturer Michael King
Topics include vectors, matrices, vector spaces, inner product spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and quadratic forms. Applications to linear equations, discrete dynamical systems, Markov chains, least-squares approximation, and Fourier series.

ENVS 1104: Environmental Geology and Hydrology, with Associate Professor of Earth and Oceanographic Science Peter Lea
An introduction to aspects of geology and hydrology that affect the environment and land use. Topics include lakes, watersheds and surface-water quality, groundwater contamination, coastal erosion, and/or landslides. Weekly labs and fieldwork examine local environmental problems affecting Maine’s rivers, lakes, and coast. Students complete a community-based research project.

PHYS 2510: Astrophysics, with Professor of Physics Thomas Baumgarte
A quantitative discussion that introduces the principal topics of astrophysics, including stellar structure and evolution, planetary physics, and cosmology.

ENGL 2200: English Renaissance Drama, with Associate Professor of English Aaron Kitch
Traces the emergence of new modes and genres of theater in the decades following the construction of the first permanent English commercial theater in 1576. Analyzes popular genres like revenge tragedy, domestic tragedy, and city comedy as expressions of political and cultural desires of the age. Topics include the politics and poetics of racial, gendered, and national identity; the use of language as a form of action; and the relation of drama to other forms of art in the period. Working in small groups, students select and study one scene that they perform for the class at the end of the semester. Authors include Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, and John Webster. Note: Fulfills the pre-1800 literature requirement for English majors.