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This term, I'm taking three classes: Advanced Statistical Computing (QSS 20) from the Quantitative Social Science department, Ethnography and Religion (REL 20.08) from the religion department, and Fascisms (FRIT 35.02), a course cross-listed in the comparative literature and French & Italian Studies departments.

I chose QSS 20 because of its relevance to the growing demands of social science research in the big data era. In this class, we've developed foundational programming skills, tackling topics like data visualization, sentiment analysis, and machine learning. With four rigorous problem sets and a collaborative final project, I'm building my technical proficiency while getting to know my classmates through group work. The rigor of the class also shows how the Dartmouth academic standard can be carried through classes without exams. I'm now considering expanding my studies by pursuing further QSS research or even a double major in QSS, highlighting how academic exploration here can truly reshape one's academic path.

One of my mini-ethnographies was a visual ethnography based on this photo and present it in class—making it a multimodal mini ethnography project
One of my mini-ethnographies was a visual ethnography based on this photo and present it in class—making it a multimodal mini ethnography project!

The course Ethnography and Religion fulfills a methodology requirement for my Religion minor and has been an incredible opportunity to learn ethnographic fieldwork techniques under an award-winning professor. With only 11 students in a discussion-based setting, the class is highly engaging, allowing us to form a close-knit learning environment. The class also welcomes other professors and researchers as guest speakers to discuss their ethnographical work. Throughout the course, we've undertaken several mini-ethnographies, such as analyzing rituals, conducting interview-based ethnographies, and developing photo ethnographies. For our final project, we're crafting a comprehensive six-month field research proposal that encompasses a literature review, a defined research topic, a thorough analysis of methodologies, and a detailed budget. All of these exercises greatly honed my qualitative research skills and my storytelling skills in crafting a narrative using the qualitative data I've gathered. 

My Fascisms class
My Fascisms course!

I took the Fascisms course to fulfill my distributive requirement of INT (International or Comparative Study) and W (Western Cultures). But this course itself is extremely fascinating. The professor's clear, engaging approach brings the subject matter to life, and the class's emphasis on participation fosters an environment of critical thinking. Each student is encouraged and expected to ask questions, making the class even more intellectually stimulating.

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