Human beings ask some absurdly frustrating questions: What is the meaning of life? How can we determine the morally “right” thing to do? Can we know anything at all? For some, the answers are obvious. For others, the search for meaning and certainty marks a laughably futile endeavor. Through a series of thought experiments and ethical dilemmas, the class will discover how abstract challenges can help us solve concrete problems.

Have you ever wondered how exactly a car moves? Let's design and create our own car and use it to learn how to make predictions of its motion using an understanding of forces, energy and work. We can compare our predictions to how your car really works and make an assessment of ways to improve the design of cars in the future.

Whether you’re an athlete in season or a student in search of balance, this course has become a staple at Mount Vernon. Using yoga and mindfulness as well as conditioning exercises this course teaches various forms of yoga including restorative, hatha, vinyasa, and power training. Students will engage in multiple movement practices and will learn how to balance mental and physical wellness.

What helps humans thrive and build resilience? Instead of just fixing what’s broken, what if we used science to foster optimism, health, and hope? Explore psychology’s foundations and the latest research in positive psychology—then apply it to your own life.