Alumni Studies Program

Alumni Studies courses come in a variety of formats and durations. Inspired by the Class of 1946 Studies program, Alumni Studies courses bring participants together with faculty for in-depth exploration of particular topics. Designed primarily for home study, these courses have syllabi and also provide the opportunity for online discussion with faculty and classmates. They often have optional on-campus components as well.

Fall 2008 Program: The Brain: A User's Guide

This fall, the Office of the Alumni Association is offering a seven-week Alumni Studies course entitled The Brain: A User’s Guide.  The human brain is the most complex piece of machinery in the known universe.  All that we are and all that we will ever be is the product of this three pound lump of gray tissue that resides within our heads.  Over the past three decades, we have learned more about the brain than in all of previous recorded history.  Yet the mind remains the profoundest of scientific mysteries.  In this course we will explore how the 100 billion nerve cells that comprise the human brain give rise to our sensations and movements, our thoughts and memories, our dreams and emotions, and to devastating neuro- and psychopathologies.

This course will take place from September 22 to November 16 and will include weekly lectures, reading assignments, and an online discussion group.  The course will be led by Professor of Neuroscience Barry Jacobs. The seven lectures for this course will be held on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. The lectures will be delivered by Professor Jacobs, and they will be audio-recorded and made available online the following day for those participants that are not able to make it back to campus for the talks. 

Information for the Course:

• Syllabus
   
• Lectures
   
• Pricing  
   
• Registration  Please note: for your security, you will be required to login to TigerNet as the next step of this registration process. If you have problems please call Kaitlin Lutz at (609) 258-0014
   
• Reading Materials
   
• About the Course Leader

Questions? Contact Kaitlin Lutz, Assistant Director for Alumni Education at klutz@princeton.edu or 609-258-0014.