Honors

ECO 102:H1 Honors Principles of Macroeconomics

Prof. M. Naples, School of Business
T/F 10 – 11:50 (40837)
An analysis of economic concepts and their application in an increasingly interdependent global economy. Contemporary problems of unemployment, inflation, and economic growth are considered. The role of government, especially fiscal and monetary policy, is discussed.

(Behavioral, Social or Cultural Perspectives)

HON 202 Honors General Chemistry II

Prof. Krichten, Chemistry
T/F 8-9:20 (42270)
A01 Lab T 9:30-12:20 (42271)
A02 Lab F 9:30-12:20 (42272)
A presentation of the laws and principles describing states of matter and the energy relationships among them. Practical applications of chemistry in such areas as organic, nuclear, biochemical, and environmental are included as are the historical and philosophical relationships between chemistry and other disciplines. Laboratory experiments are coordinated with the lectures.  Students taking this course
may not also take CHE 202.

(Natural Science with lab)

HON 203 Issues in Philosophy
Prof. J. Sisko, Philosophy
M/Th 4:00 – 5:20 (42027)
Study of several major philosophical issues such as: the nature of reality, the exis¬tence of God, free will, knowledge, and morality. Explores ways of rationally evaluating classical and contemporary arguments supporting different positions on those issues. Students learn to develop and defend their own views on the issues. Students taking this course may not also take PHL 100.

(Honors Philosophy requirement and Worldviews and Ways of Knowing)

HON 272 Philosophy of Religion
Prof. Pierre Le Morvan, Philosophy
T/F 12:30-1:50 (42028)
Course examining major issues, views, and positions in the philosophy of religion.  Topics treated include the nature of religion and divinity, religious diversity, the problem of evil, philosophical arguments for the existence of God, religious experience, ethics and religion, and science and religion.  Students will be encouraged to learn from great thinkers of the past and of the present, to examine their own religious values and beliefs, and to take reasoned and informed stands on the issues treated.

(Honors Philosophy requirement and Worldviews and Ways of Knowing)

HON 355 Biomedical Ethics

Prof. M. Winston, Philosophy

M 12:00-1:50, R 12:30-1:50 (42329)

Biomedical ethics is the name given to an area of research lying on the interdisciplinary border between medicine, biology, philosophy, and law that deals with questions concerning the ethical and social policy dimensions of medicine, nursing and the allied health care professions. The course will begin with a unit on ethical theory in which students will learn some basic ethical theory including the ethical principles of autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. These principles will then be used to analyze various ethical issues arising in clinical practice and medical research. Topics that will be addressed in the course include: medical confidentiality and privacy, experimentation with human subjects, artificial reproduction, genetic engineering and cloning, organ transplantation, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and public health policy. Students will be evaluated on article presentations, case analyses, role-playing exercises (ethics committee simulations) and a term paper on topic in the field of biomedical ethics which will substitute for final exam.

(Honors Philosophy requirement and Worldviews and Ways of Knowing)

 

HON 370:01 Creating and Contesting Sacred Spaces

Prof. C. Paces & Prof. J. Gross, History

T 2:00 – 4:50pm  (42351)

What makes a space sacred? How are beliefs reflected in sacred forms? This seminar will explore the construction and contestation of sacred space within various religious traditions from early times to the present. Using literature, ethnography, art and architecture, and history, we will discuss the relationship between spirituality, physical space, and politics. Themes include the body as a sacred space, spiritual journeys, nationalism and religion, violence, and memory. As a class, we will explore a variety of case studies, and each student will have the opportunity to conduct research on an area of particular interest.

(Global and Social Change in Historical Perspectives)

 

HON 370:02 The Films of Neil Jordan: Werewolves, Saxophones and the IRA

Prof. T. Byrnes, Communication

M 5:30 – 8:50pm (42352)

Neil Jordan is the pre-eminent Irish filmmaker.  The story of his successful transition from aspiring writer to mainstream director will take us across three cultures and through multiple genres to understand how popular culture and national identity can intersect.

(Global and Literary, Visual and Performing Arts)

 

HON 370:03 African Cinema: Francophone African Experience Through Film

Prof. M. Sow, African-American Studies

M 5:30 – 8:20pm (42353)

An in-depth exploration of Francophone African cinema by Africans in front of and behind the camera. Cinema, as an ideological tool, has played a major role in Africa during colonial times and after the independence of African nations. It extends the spectrum of choices for students as well as laying the foundations of African history and culture from a filmic perspective.

(Race/Ethnicity, Global, and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts)

HON 370:04 Contemporary Literary Theory and Methods

Prof. G. Steinberg, English

M 5:00 – 7:30pm (42448)

This course has two parts.  First, we examine major theories from the past concerning the nature of literature, the process of its creation, its purpose, and its value.  Then, we examine current theories and methodologies concerned with how to approach and read literature.  We explore literary theory from Plato to Henry Louis Gates, Jr., from Freud to Eve Sedgwick, from Marx to Stanley Fish, and from Foucault to Homi Bhabha.

(Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts)

 

HON 370:05 Seminar in Behavioral Economics

Prof. J. Ruscio, Psychology

T/F 10:00 – 11:20am (42449)

Economic theory assumes that people make rational decisions that maximize their interests, but psychological research has demonstrated that under many circumstances we do not.  Instead, our decisions can be influenced by many factors, including cognitive limitations (e.g., memory capacity, mental arithmetic) and biases (e.g., selective recall, double standards of evidence).  The relatively new field of behavioral economics uses psychological research to understand and improve economic decision making.  In this course, we will examine behavioral economic principles such as loss aversion, mental accounting, the status quo bias, the endowment effect, and the sunk-cost fallacy that shed light on important decisions made in professional contexts and our everyday lives.  Through reading, discussion, and writing, we will examine the implications of behavioral economic principles for important issues such as the reform of educational and health care systems, responding to environmental concerns such as climate change, providing assistance to those in need, determining what constitutes “fair pay,” and the balance between individual freedom and government authority that best promotes human welfare.

NOTE, PSY 299 is a prerequisite for this course.  However, Prof. Ruscio will be happy to meet with interested honors students to discuss the nature of the course and their background to consider allowing them to enroll without the pre-requisite.

(Behavioral, Social or Cultural Perspectives & Writing Intensive)