Student-Led Courses
At CCS, students don't just take classes, they lead them too! From sharing their own knowledge to organizing speakers, students have created courses based on their diverse interests. Explore this page to learn more about past, current, and upcoming student-led courses.
Review the guidelines & eligibility criteria
2024-2025
Fall 2024
CMPTGCS 5: The Art of Computing
Enroll Code: 67181
Description:
What does elegant code look like, and in studying it, how can we become better developers? In a series of case studies, this student-led colloquium teaches unusual programming techniques meant to supplement the object-oriented style of C++ that is taught at UCSB. Each lecture will provide insight into an often overlooked aspect of real-world software engineering; students will then be assigned an applicable programming assignment to show understanding of the topic. Ultimately, we seek to answer the question, "What elevates computing from a science to an art?"
Instructor: Led by Gabriel Pizarro under the supervision of Phill Conrad.
Intended for: All CCS students, L&S Computer Science majors, and CoE Computer Engineer majors, but all other interested majors should request an add code from the instructor.
MUS CS 5: Orchestration as Craft
Enroll Code: 67231
Description:
Orchestration can be understood as an art form with no right or wrong decisions, merely artistic choices. However, it can also be understood as a craft, analogous to carpentry or welding. This course will study orchestration through the lens of craft, allowing us to define good orchestration, and refine our skills to meet these standards. The goal of this course is to learn and improve our skills as orchestrators. This will include learning how to properly balance the orchestra, evoke character, and create effective textures, among many other skills. As with any craft, practice is essential to improvement. There will be weekly assignments with the objective of allowing students to both apply newly learned skills and hone existing ones. Class time will be split between presentations on topics in orchestration, score study, and in-class review of completed weekly assignments. There are no prerequisites for this course. However, it will be necessary to be able to read and write music as well as having some knowledge of the instruments of the orchestra.
Instructor: Led by Kai Jenkin under the supervision of Leslie Hogan.
Intended for: CCS Music majors, but all other interested majors should request an add code from the instructor.
W&L CS 5: Introduction to Novel Studies
Enroll Code: 67199
Description:
This colloquium is an introduction to the novel genre from the perspective of readers, writers, scholars, and students. We will study many topics which constitute and define the genre. These include the categorization of novels, how novels get published, how novelists become successful, how to write novels, and much more. This colloquium blends each required area of study within the Writing and Literature degree: writing studies, literary studies, and creative writing (though it does not officially fulfill degree requirements). Ultimately, we will explore a thriving field of imagination, hope, ambition, and myth.
Instructor: Led by Ariana Duckett under the supervision of Ellen O'Connell Whittet.
Intended for: CCS Writing & Literature majors, but all other interested majors should request an add code from the instructor.