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Academic Courses Open
to the Public in Spring 2010

Every semester, Naropa University opens academic classes to the general public, through the School of Extended Studies. Courses can be taken for credit or noncredit and are a wonderful opportunity for community members to get a feel for the University's academic course work and degree programs. Most classes will run January 11 - May 6, 2010.

To register for classes for noncredit follow the links on this page. Noncredit classes for the public can be purchased online with a credit or debit card. Noncredit seats are limited. Questions? Call 303-245-4800.

Some Naropa University classes can be taken for credit. Registration for credit is processed through Naropa University's Registrar's Office. Prices to take classes for credit vary. To register for credit call: 303-546-3500.

MUSIC

Naropa Chorus
MUS 208
Instructor: Paul Fowler
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Nalanda Campus
Building: Nalanda
Room: 9171
Day(s): W
Time: 6:00pm–8:50pm
Tuition: $405

In an atmosphere of discovery and experimentation, students explore three basic themes: body awareness, voice control and performance. Using music from all periods of history (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, classical, folk, pop, jazz, world and contemporary) , students learn how to breathe freely, stand and move dynamically, and sing in many styles and voice qualities with comfort and confidence. Participants must be able to carry a tune. The ability to read music is helpful, but not essential. The aim of the class is to learn how your voice actually works, how to use your whole self while singing and to apply this knowledge and awareness to various vocal styles in performance. Click HERE to register.

Musicianship II
MUS 210
Instructor: Mark Miller
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Music
Day(s): T-R
Time: 9:00am-10:30pm
Tuition: $405

A continuation of MUS 200. Additional topics include four-part writing, harmonic analysis and seventh chords. Click HERE to register.

Musicianship IV
MUS 370
Instructor: Bill Douglas
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Music
Day(s): M-W
Time: 10:30am-11:50am
Tuition: $405

A continuation of MUS 360/550. Click HERE to register.

Afro-Pop Ensemble
MUS 103
Instructor: Dexter Payne
Dates:January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Music
Day(s): M
Time: 1:30pm-4:20pm
Tuition: $405

From Jiti to Jitjive, this ensemble learns and performs contemporary popular music of Africa. Precise rhythms and lively singing are the backbone of the ensemble. All instruments are welcome and there's plenty of room for those who don't play a standard Western instrument. Come with enthusiasm and be prepared to sing!Click HERE to register.

Listening to Jazz
MUS 260
Instructor: Mark Miller
Dates:January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Music
Day(s): T-R
Time: 1:30pm-2:50pm
Tuition: $405

Open to all students, this class examines the multifaceted traditions of jazz, arguably the most significant musical development of the twentieth century. Through readings and by listening to recorded examples and to live music, students explore the cultural and artistic elements of this richly expressive musical form.Click HERE to register.

Radio Naropa
MUS 355
Instructor: Nina Rolle
Dates:January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Recording Studio
Day(s): T-R
Time: 3:00pm-4:20pm
Tuition: $405

Radio Naropa creates a bridge between the Naropa community and KGNU public radio. Students individually DJ a live broadcast and collaboratively produce three shows at KGNU studios in Boulder. The class also covers the social, political and artistic history of radio with a focus on the development of individual and collaborative creative processes and civic engagement. Open to juniors and seniors only. A course fee of $50.00 will be paid to complete the training at KGNU in addition to tuition. Click HERE to register.

Composition
MUS 400
Instructor: Janet Feder
Dates:January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Music
Room: Music
Day(s): T-R
Time: 1:30pm-4:20pm
Tuition: $405

The content and direction of this course is determined largely by the interests of those enrolled. Alone and together, we explore a variety of unconventional approaches to composition, helping each other diversify as we go. Possible avenues include multitrack recording techniques, alternative intonation systems and composing for dance, theatre and film. Knowledge of conventional music theory and notation and skill on particular instruments is welcome, but not required. Click HERE to register.

PSYCHOLOGY

Research and Statistics
PSYS700
Instructor: Christine Caldwell
Dates:January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Paramita Campus
Building: Paramita
Room: Dana
Day(s): M
Time: 9:00am-11:50am
Tuition: $405

A survey of research methods and statistics as they apply to counseling psychology, psychotherapy, dance/movement therapy and body psychotherapy. Topics include philosophical issues, rigor, types of psychological research, descriptive and inferential statistics, experimental and correlational methods, qualitative methods, test construction and interpretation, program evaluation, research ethics and strategies for literature searches. The course seeks to be applicable and useful for both professional and personal growth and includes lecture, discussion and practice exercises.Click HERE to register.

PERFORMING ARTS

World Dance: Butoh
PFAR 185
Instructor: Nathan Montgomery
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Performing Arts Center
Day(s): T-R
Time: 12:00pm-1:20pm
Tuition: $405

Butoh is an avant-garde contemporary dance form, which originated in Japan in the early 1960's. Tatsumi Hijikata, the foremost pioneer of Butoh, developed a new language of dance derived from observing nature and working with the imagery and energy of the natural circle of life and death. “With one hand we dance freely like a flower reaching into the universe, while the other reaches deep within the darkness of our own being.” The focus will be experiential, incorporating elements of physical training such as Noguchi Gymnastics as well as improvisational work. Through this process students will be guided in discovering and expressing their own unique dance. Click HERE to register.

Improvisation & Theater Games
PFAR 250
Instructor: Meridith Crosley
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Performing Arts Center
Day(s): T-R
Time: 9:00am-10:20am
Tuition: $405

While introducing text into the physical elements of improvisation, students explore the art of improvisation and storytelling. Through improvisation, students heighten their sense of listening, physical presence and the ability to tell a story from an honest place. Students enjoy exploring the physical and theatrical elements of improvisation through various modalities such as Viewpoints, character exploration and Viola Spolin–inspired theater games. This class is for students of any department who are looking to expand their listening, presentation and overall communications skills. Click HERE to register.

Dance of Africa II
PFAR 345
Instructor: Maputo Mensah
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Performing Arts Center
Day(s): T-R
Time: 10:30am–11:50am
Tuition: $405

This class is both a continuation of PFAR 245 as well as an introduction for students new to African dance. Examining different dances than those taught in PFAR 245, it revisits dance and rhythm from diverse cultural traditions of Africa. Students learn to hold respect for cultural traditions including the role dance plays in community, the relationship between student and teacher, and the joys of dance. Students are required to maintain a practice regimen and attend community-sponsored traditional African dance concerts. Students dance hard, have fun and are required to participate in a performance weekend at the end of the semester. Students are expected to wear traditional dance costumes for public performances and for class. Click HERE to register.

Ignite Knowing Dance for Everybody:
Study of Contemplative Dance

PFAR 375/575
Instructor: Katharine Kaufman
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Performing Arts Center
Day(s): T-R
Time: 3:00pm–4:50pm
Tuition: $405

Contemplative dance practice joins the disciplines of sitting meditation with practices from contemporary dance improvisation and movement studies. Sessions include sitting meditation, personal awareness practice, "open space" (working in space with others) and group discussions. Click HERE to register.

CONTEMPLATIVE EDUCATION

Poverty Matters
EDU352
Instructor: Debbie Young
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Sycamore
Room: 8140
Day(s): M
Time: 12:00pm-2:50pm
Tuition: $405

An exploration of the beliefs and myths surrounding poverty and its effects on people, the environment and the communities of practice. Opportunities are provided for students to gain a deep understanding of diversity by developing relationships with the people of Jalapa, Nicaragua, and participating in a two-week residential program, or by working locally with diverse populations who are economically challenged. It is not necessary to have Spanish as a second language for the work in Nicaragua. Click HERE to register.

Teaching Young Children
EDU430
Instructor: Laurene Phillips
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: 4130
Day(s): W
Time: 9:00am-11:50am
Tuition: $405

This course brings a contemplative view to learning the skills necessary for teaching preschool children, emphasizing the importance of observation and reflection. The class combines lecture/discussion, observation and experiential approaches. Students utilize developmentally appropriate practice and the seven core dispositions of teaching to examine the dynamics of the child, the adult and the environment within a contemplative setting. The class visits each of the internship settings and students are assigned their internship placements for the spring semester. The study of preschool teaching then focuses on the details of that particular philosophy and teacher. Click HERE to register.

Holistic and Contemplative Teaching Traditions
EDU330
Instructor: Michael Girodo
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: 4130
Day(s): W
Time: 9:00am-11:50am
Tuition: $405

During this course, students encounter some of the most important contemporary holistic and contemplative approaches to teaching young children. The study focuses primarily on the contemplative traditions of Shambhala, Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia and others. On-site observations are done in preschools that use these approaches. Students explore and compare these traditions to enhance their development as teachers. In this process they begin to incorporate personally meaningful aspects of these traditions into their own emerging and unique teaching styles. Sitting meditation requirement. Click HERE to register.

WORLD WISDOM TRADITIONS

Meditation Practicum I
REL 160
Instructor: Gaylon Ferguson
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Shambhala Hall
Day(s): T
Time: 12:00pm-1:20pm
Tuition: $405

Students are introduced to sitting meditation practice drawn from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of shamatha-vipashyana. Weekly lectures emphasize experiential aspects of the practice, involving such topics as the discovery of impermanence, working with emotions and the cultivation of maitri (loving-kindness). The course includes weekly discussion groups, individual meetings with a meditation instructor and daily meditation practice, midterm and final oral exams. Click HERE to register.

Religion in Human Experience
REL 210
Instructor: Jeremy Lowry
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Lincoln Lecture Hall
Day(s): T
Time: 6:00–8:50 p.m.
Tuition: $405

This class explores philosophical discourses about religion and religious phenomena. We take up questions such as: What makes a religion? Can we find common roots and evolutionary processes at work in the history of religions? How do religions function in the lives of individuals and communities for good or for bad? How can we understand phenomena like mysticism, fundamentalism or religious violence? How are religions changing as they interact with increasingly complex, diverse and secular societies? How can contemporary philosophies like feminism, Marxism and post-modernism deepen and revise our understanding of religion and religious discourse? Click HERE to register.

Embodying Sacred Wisdom: Modern Saints
REL 247/554w
Instructor: Judith Simmer-Brown
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Lincoln
Room: Lincoln Lecture Hall
Day(s): T-R
Time: 9:00am-10:20pm
Tuition: $405

An exploration of the human thirst for spiritual experience and transformation through the studies of biographies of 19th and 20th century contemplatives from several selected religious traditions, both Eastern and Western. Through examining the spiritual and religious journey of saints and their relationships with their traditions, students learn the diversity of religious traditions of sainthood. How do the journeys of their saints relate to our personal journeys? Readings include sacred biographies (hagiographies), study of modern religious traditions in context, and interpretations of sainthood in both theological and cross-cultural perspectives. Click HERE to register.

Spirituality & Creative Expression
REL 250
Instructor: Giovannina Jobson
Dates: January 11 - May 6, 2010
Campus: Arapahoe Campus
Building: Sycamore
Room: 8120
Day(s): T
Time: 3:00pm-5:50pm
Tuition: $405

This course focuses on exploring spirituality and its manifestation in our lives through creative expression. The foundation for this exploration is Maitri practice, which cultivates awareness of our own energetic makeup and how these energies manifest as the core patterns of our daily lives. Developed by Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Naropa, this practice is done in five different colored rooms, representing the Five Buddha Families. In addition to the Maitri room practice, we work with several contemplative art forms, such as object arrangement, painting, brush stroke and space awareness exercises. The challenge for each of us is to discover, integrate and appreciate our energetic expressions and to bring our creativity to form, individually and as a group. Click HERE to register.

Instructor Permission Classes

The following list of classes are available to be taken for noncredit if given permission by the instructor of the class. To read description of the class and find out more information
click HERE to visit the Naropa University online registration page
. If you would like enroll in one of the classes below please email Jessica at jbowser@naropa.com for further instructions.
Tuition: $405

REL284/533 - Tibetan II
REL287/537 - Sanskrit II
REL314/545 - Contemplative Islam
REL315/615 - Group Process I: Conflict and Diversity
REL323/623 - Religious Exp. of Africa
REL325/525 - Contemplative Christianity
REL345/540 - Zen Buddhism
REL376/676 - Contemplative Jewish Practice
REL385/583 - Tibetan IV
REL387/587 - Sanskrit IV
REL620 - Meditation Practicum II
REL624 - Mind & It's World II
REL625 - Biblical Texts
REL633 - Tibetan VI
REL661 - Second Turning of the Wheel
REL749 - Contemporary American Religion
REL751 - Buddhism in Tibet
REL760 - Vajrayana: Symbol, Iconography, and Ritual
REL779 - Inter-Religious Dialogue
REL809w - Mindfulness Instructor Training III
REL382/780 - Meditation Practicum IV-Mudra Space Awareness

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