Welcome to the list of honors course offerings for spring 2013. The spring list of honors courses presents an engaging array of opportunities, including courses taught by faculty who have received university-wide recognition for their teaching, scholarship, and related achievements. This spring includes the debut of an honors section of Geog 100, taught by Prof. Von Walden, who specializes in global climate change modeling and polar meterology.
If you have questions about the UHP and its curriculum, please let us know. Upon graduation, students who earn at least 19 credits in required honors courses receive the Honors Core Award; those who earn 27 honors credits in required courses receive the University Honors Program Certificate.
Reminder: Eligibility to take honors courses requires that you meet the minimum GPA and related criteria for remaining as a member in good standing in the program.
Honors Course listing for Spring 2013
[be sure to confirm course (section) information including five-digit CRN#s as listed under each discipline heading "for example, Engl for English" in the UI online Time Schedule--honors sections carry the HON designation in the course title]
(66140) Anth 220
(03) 3 cr., 1:30-2:20 pm MWF: Prof. Laura Putsche
Peoples of the World
. This course is designed to familiarize you with the variety of cultures and cultural adaptations around the world, along with theories used to explain or understand this diversity. The course is organized based on traditional types of subsistence patterns, political organizations, and regions of the world, and explores other cultural features such as kinship systems, marriage, gender roles, religion and ritual. In-depth discussions of particular cultures will provide examples to illustrate these types. We will also discuss impacts of globalization. Through this course, you should gain an appreciation for cultural diversity, an understanding of approaches to explaining this diversity as well cultural similarities, and how culture relates to the ways that people interact with each other and their environments. Satisfies core curriculum requirements for the category of the social sciences as well as the International course requirement. Limit 30.
Chem 112 Principles of Chemistry
II (5 cr) Thomas Bitterwolf
(45458) Sec. 21-- 9:30 – 10:20 am, MWF TBA; Labs; Th 2:30 – 5:20 p.m. or Tues 1:30 – 2:20 p.m.
(45460) Sec. 22-- 9:30 – 10:20 am, MWF TBA; Labs; Th 7:00 – 9:50 p.m. or Tues 1:30-2:20 p.m.
Continuation of Chem. 111 for students in the University Honors Program. Some work in inorganic, organic, and biochemistry, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and in qualitative inorganic analysis. Three lectures, one three-hour lab and one recitation a week. Prerequisite: Chem. 111 or permission. Satisfies core curriculum requirements in the natural and applied sciences. Majors in natural sciences and engineering are encouraged to take Honors Chemistry. Enrollment limit of 24 in each section. Chem Lab fee of $95.00
(67075) Engl 258
(03), 3 cr., 11-12:15 pm TR: Prof. Gary Williams
with teaching assistant, Shawn Rubenfeld
Literature of Western Civilization
. This course surveys culturally significant literary works in the Western tradition from the 17th to the 21st centuries, with the goal of walking you through major literary movements and building your sense of the variety of literary genres. The readings are challenging in several ways—elevated and syntactically complex language, lots of pages, big ideas, innovative forms, sometimes edgy subject matter. A prerequisite to doing well in the course is a commitment to reading carefully and on schedule. The payoff should be a series of amazing, life-altering, mind-blowing epiphanies about the power of literary art. May be taken independently of honors English 257. Satisfies core curriculum requirements for humanities. Limit of 30.
William Shakespeare, The Tempest
(1609) Signet: 0451521250
(1758) Dover: 0486266893
William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
(1790) Dover: 0486281221
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust, Part One
(1808) Penguin: 0140449019
Henry David Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience" (aka "Resistance to Civil Government," 1849)
Kate Chopin, The Awakening
(1899) Bedford 031246052
Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis
(1915) Dover: 0486290301
Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse
(1927) Harvest 0156907399
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
(1955) Vintage 0679723161
Chris Ware, Building Stories
…plus some great and famous short POEMS
(67524) Engr 210
(04) 3 cr., 11:30am-12:20pm MWF Paul Hopkins
Primarily for UHP first-year students who also are Engineering Scholars to be able to take that college's intended Engr 210 Statics course, and be able to have those credits designated as HON credits. Instructor permission required. If space remains available, honors students who are not Engineering Scholars may request permission to enroll--send request to Prof. Bob Stephens (email@example.com).
Geog 100 Physical Geography
, 3 cr., 9:30am-10:45am TR: Prof. Von Walden
Natural environment; nature, distribution, and relationships of climate, landforms, oceans, vegetation, hydrography, and soils. Satisfies core curriculum requirements in the natural and applied sciences. Enrollment limit of 30. Note: Students are advised to enroll as well in a regular, nonhonors Geog 100L lab section (see Time Schedule); Dr. Walden will let the honors students in his Geog 100 course about the relation/coordination between the course and lab sections/work.
, World Regional Geography
, 3 cr., 2:00pm-3:15pm TR, TLC 214: Bob Goodrich
Course Purpose: Through a combination of lectures, readings, discussions and assignments we will explore the countries, regions and peoples of planet Earth. The honors section will incorporate a wide variety of projects, methods, techniques and media, and cover certain topics in greater depth in order to highlight the breadth of expertise the honors students bring to the class. The course will emphasize critical thinking and writing skills, and will incorporate several group projects, individual presentations and writing assignments. Satisfies core curriculum requirements for the category of the social sciences as well as the International course requirement. Enrollment limit of 30.
Course Schedule: The course will begin with an overview of the world and its systems, then quickly proceed to the Middle East. We will be discussing Israel and the Palestinian conflict, the current problems in North Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula, and the present situations in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. After that, we will examine the domain of South Asia and the unique position that region occupies in world affairs. We will continue around the planet, covering many of the areas currently in the news. Other regions encountered during the semester include Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Russia, Southeast and East Asia, and Latin America. By employing a regional perspective, we will explore the relationship between humans and their physical and cultural environments. Themes for discussion will include history, religion, economics, political systems, globalization, poverty, resource allocation and the legacy of colonialism. As the course progresses we can also decide as a class which topics to pursue as events unfold around the planet.
(68335) MusH 201
(04) 3 cr., 1:30 -2:20 pm MWF: Prof. James Reid
History of Rock and Roll
. This class looks at the development of rock music from its roots in the 1940s to contemporary styles such as hip-hop. Students will have access to an extensive on-line listening list and classes will include lectures along with additional listening and appropriate film segments. Genres and sub-genres include instrumentals, doo-wop, soul, protopunk, metal, progressive rock, and others. Artists examined include the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Run DMC, etc. Coursework includes four tests and a paper. May not be counted as a required music history elective for music majors. Satisfies core curriculum requirements in the humanities. Course limit is 25.
103 (12), 3 cr., 10:30 am-11:20 am MWF Prof. Janice Capel Anderson
Introduction to Ethics
. An introduction to philosophical reasoning through historical study of Western moral thought. Readings, lectures, and discussions, with required individual papers and group presentation; satisfies core curriculum requirement for humanities. Limit of 25.
Upper Division Honors Courses and Seminars
Note: 300-400 level honors courses are reserved initially for third and fourth year students in the program. Second year students will be allowed to register for 300-400 level honors courses beginning the second day of registration with juniors and seniors given priority over the first day (24 hours) of registration. In any case, three credits of HON-designated course work must be completed prior to the start of class, in order to register for a seminar.
(45900) Engl 404
(01) 3 cr., 12:30 -1:45 pm TR: Prof. Jackie Bennett
. This course will introduce students to some of the masters of speculative literature from the late nineteenth century pioneers through current twenty-first century practitioners. Students will study various types of speculative fiction tales including lost world, apocalyptic, dystopian, alternative history, space opera, planetary romance and steam punk. These works will be used to analyze the social criticism that is the hallmark of speculative literature and will cover topics such as the nature of human consciousness and identity, the meaning of civilization, imperialism, war and the projection of power, environmental change, and influences of technology on the human condition. Supplemental readings in literary criticism and social theory will provide context as needed for these topics. Limit 17.
(53038) Hist 401
(01) 3 cr., 3:30 – 4:45 pm TR : Prof. Richard Spence
The Occult in History
. This seminar will explore the influence of occult doctrines, groups and individuals on Western society and culture from roughly the 17th century to the present with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. While the common perception is that modern Western history has been shaped by scientific rationalism and materialism, beneath the surface there also has been a pervasive and powerful influence of the “occult” which has shaped popular culture, politics, economics and even the sciences themselves. Such topics as witchcraft (past and present), paganism, shamanism, Satanism and occult elements in mainstream religions will be examined. Occult themes and influences in popular culture, including film and television, the connections of occultism to crime and politics and the efforts of military and intelligence agencies to exploit the paranormal and "weaponize magic" will also be covered. Limit 16.
(68330) Intr 404
seminar: (1cr) 9:30 am-10:20 am Thurs. Prof. Bob Neuenschwander
The Uncommon Traveler.
This seminar will be a meditation on the art of travel. It will examine questions such as, “How do we become culturally competent? How do we deal with the impulse to do good/make a difference in the world? How do we prepare for and get the most out of a journey?” Using a variety of sources and training materials from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Peace Corps, the Lonely Planet Travelers’ Tales, anthropological journals, international films, recordings, literature, magazines, historical travel accounts, manga/comics, and cross-cultural encounters with international students, we will explore how to make travel a meaningful and memorable experience. Limit 17.