Honors Courses

Fall 2009

Honors Breadth Courses
Honors Depth Courses
Honors PE 
Honors Seminars: Honors Enrichment, Preparing for Scholarships & Graduate School
Honors English: English 2010H
Honors Math & Business: ECON 1500H, MATH 1220H
 

 
 To view courses offered by Honors in the past, please click here.

 
 
Honors Breadth Courses
 
MUSC 1010H Introduction to Music, CRN 43563, 3 credits
Chilali Hugo MWF 1:30-2:20
 
What is musical performance?  Who produces it?  When and where do we experience it?  How is it relevant in our society?  Can we relate to it?
 
Music 1010: Performance and the Musician is an experiential, collaborative exploration of the various aspects of musical performance.  This is a non-technical course utilizing discussion and analysis in order to develop understanding and enjoyment of music.  Rather than approaching music through a historical survey or technical elements, we will explore new perspectives that can be applied to music, but also to other facets of life.  Through hands-on assignments, guest speakers, and targeted readings, we will attempt to challenge and deepen our understanding of the aesthetics, culture, and practice of performance.  By studying musical elements, as well as historical, cultural, and social influences, we can begin to recognize, appreciate, and participate in relationships created by musical performance.
 
No reading knowledge of music is necessary for this course.
 
BIOL 1610H LAB, Section 906, CRN 42168
Gregory Podgorski, T 2:30-5:20
 
Lab for Biology 1610.  Course and lab will go over principles of cell biology, energetics, and genetics; plant structure, function, and development.  To receive University Studies Breadth Life Sciences (BLS) credit, students must complete both BIOL 1610 and either BIOL 1620 or 3300.
 
HONR 1300 Breadth U.S. Institutions, Section 1, CRN 41763, 3 credits
Clint Pumphrey, MWF 10:30-11:20
 
This course provides basic understanding of the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States.  Emphasis is placed on ideas and critical thinking, rather than dates, names, and places.
 
HONR 1320 Breadth Humanities, Section 1, CRN 44441, 3 credits
Dr. Susan Shapiro, TR 9:00-10:15
 
The primary purpose of this course is to help students develop an understanding of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations through the viewing of eleven popular films about this period and then reading the historical and literary sources on which those films are based.  Wherever possible we will read original, primary documents.
 
These films were made over a period of 72 years (the earliest in 1935 during the depths of the great Depression and the most recent in 2007) and each of them bears the stamp of the time and place in which it was produced.  Thus, a secondary purpose of the course is to help students analyze these films within their own cultural context.  By considering the reasons why the filmmakers chose the subjects that they did, we will also be able to identify broad themes that cut across human history and culture. 
 
Through the activities of this course - viewing films, reading primary documents, writing papers, attending class lectures and participating in class discussions - students will be introduced to the methods of the humanities.  As with all humanities courses, this class is intended to develop the students' critical thinking skills.  By the end of this class we hope to be able to view historical films with increased interest and enjoyment and be sensitive to the cultural context in which such films are produced, even if that culture is our own.
 
HONR 1330 Breadth Creative Arts, Section 001, CRN 41765, 3 credits
Nancy Hills, MWF 11:30-11:20
 
This class is an immersion into the creative arts available on the USU campus and in the local area.  The class revolves around attending evening performances and writing response papers.  Class time allows further exploration through guest speakers and selected films.  This class is intended to encourage a thoughtful discussion of the arts and to improve your powers of observation and judgment.
 
HONR 1340 Breadth Social Science-Media Smarts: Journalism Goes to Hollywood  Section 1, CRN 41766, 3 credits
Dr. Brenda Cooper, TR 3:00-4:15
 
A humor columnist once complained that, “In general, my children refuse to eat anything that hasn’t danced on television.” Most Americans under the age of 50 were raised on such a diet—a world created for us that we consume without thinking twice.
One of the most potent worldwide purveyors of this diet is Hollywood, and this course focuses on how TV and movies translate, adapt and skew historical events into new kinds of truths—some of which vary wildly from their original realities.
Most Americans know what they think they “know” about historical events and people from how they are depicted and framed by TV or movies. For example, we “understand” the events of Pearl Harbor only with Ben Affleck in the middle of them. Many Americans “know” what they know about the death of President John F. Kennedy from Oliver Stone’s movie. The story of D-Day is told by Tom Hanks going ashore at Normandy to find a soldier named Ryan.
This is how many college students “know” the world. “Media Smarts” will ask you to apply media literacy skills in the specific context of important (and flawed) Hollywood accounts of historical/social/cultural truth. We will help you learn to evaluate and interpret mass media accounts of history and social movements more critically, and will expand your understanding of how events and times are shaped by TV and movies.
Within a context of media literary, this course will examine the unique and essential social interaction between the individual and the mass media, focusing especially on
a) how Hollywood frames the press, culture and participatory democracy;
b) how stories of cultural norms (race, gender, society, politics) are told in film and on television; and
c) how individuals learn to frame and understand important segments of the world through Hollywood’s lenses.
The underlying question: How do we know what we think we know about the world, and how sure are we of our assumptions?

HONR 1340 Breadth Social Science-Race and Communication in the U.S. and Africa, Section 2, CRN 43692, 3 credits
Dr. Nick Eastmond, TR 4:00-5:15
 
This class will focus on Africa, particularly South Africa and Mauritius.  These African case studies will be a springboard to talk about issues of race that impact our lives as Americans.  The class will rely on Ishmael Beah (2007) A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solder and will include Sherry Marx (2006) Revealing the Invisible: Confronting Passive Racism in Teacher Ed. 
The course will include "grade enhancements," which will allow students to choose the projects they want to become involved with, and will have a service learning component.
 
HONR 1350 Breadth Life Science-Blood on the Pavement: Medicine as Applied Science, Section 1, CRN 41767, 3 credits
Dr. John Barrett, TR 9:00-10:15
 
Health care professionals apply the science and art of medicine to real life situations on a daily basis. From life-threatening emergencies to itchy rashes, a brief interaction contains a fascinating glimpse into the scientific method and its practicality, or lack thereof.
 
We will explore the process of science by examining the history of germ theory and the development of modern medicine. Through problem solving, based on actual medical cases, we will see how anatomy, physiology, and pathology are used to find solutions.
 
The course will cover the difficulty of introducing new developments into medical practice. This includes the technical concerns of research and expense, the introduction of the "gray science" of epidemiology, and the ethical concerns regarding human research and clinical trials.
We will examine the global medical industry-pharmaceutical corporations, private and governmental models, and worldwide health organizations-and their impact on society and culture.
 
Finally, through in-class activities, we'll look at how health care professionals think and make decisions based on knowledge and experience.
 
HONR 1360 Breadth Physical Science, Section 001, CRN 44387, 3 credits
Dr. James Evans, MTWRF 8:00-5:00 pm, August 17-August 21, 2009
Additional class August 26, 5:00-7:00 pm - This class will take place BEFORE fall classes begin.  Students taking this class will not be able to take Connections.
 
Planet Earth will be a field-based class based in Logan, Utah, 17-21 August 2009. This one-week class will use Logan's proximity to outstanding field examples of geological and biophysical processes to teach the fundamentals of Earth System Science. We will intersperse short 10-40 minute lectures in the classroom and in field settings, such as the Stokes Nature Center and the CNR Field station, with numerous short exercises and discussions that will focus on observations and interpretations of the natural world. We will also have several group exercises, in which students will collect data and make preliminary interpretations, followed by group presentations and discussions. Grades will be based on field notes and exercises, class participation, oral reports, group reports, and a short exam.
 
Honors Depth Courses
 
HONR 3020 (DHA) Current Events and the Humanities, Section 001, CRN 43182, 3 credits
Dr. Christie Fox, TR 12:00-1:15
Interested in politics? Like to discuss current events? This class will focus on current events but will also look at their representation in humanistic texts. Topics will include the Iraq War and US foreign policy; the environment; human rights; international migration; and world elections. Ultimately, however, much of the class will be based on what is happening in the world while we are in it. Texts will include periodicals such as The New York Times, online news sources such as the BBC or Al Jazeera, and plays, poems, essays and historical sources to contextualize and help us understand what is happening in the world today and the artistic response to it.

This class will be a way to indulge your passion for current events–or to develop one! I expect that we will come to the class with a variety of political and philosophical outlooks, which will make for engaging class discussions. This class will be very discussion-oriented and will require the active participation of everyone involved.

Quotes from former students:
“The inclusion of current events along with personal experience of these events/issues made the class more interesting.”
“Dr. Fox is amazing. She is one of those teachers who make class fun and interesting, as well as cares about the students … She set a great standard to have us leave knowing three different works of art so as to have an intelligent conversation about them. I would recommend her to other students.”
 
 
 
Honors PE Courses
 
PE 1520 - Hiking (H), Section 003 CRN 44466, 1 credit
Cole Peterson S 9:00am - 2:00pm
 
Provides skills and knowledge in hiking, with an emphasis on leave no trace techniques and safe operations in an outdoor environment. Starts Sept 12th - Oct 24th.
 
PE 1520 - Hiking (H), Section 004 CRN 48733, 1 credit
Peter Griffin S 9:00am - 2:00pm
 
Provides skills and knowledge in hiking, with an emphasis on leave no trace techniques and safe operations in an outdoor environment. Starts Sept 12th - Oct 24th.
 
 
Honors Seminars
 
 HONR 3900 Preparing for Scholarships and Graduate School, Section 2, CRN 41873, 1 credit
Jennifer Bowman, M 5:00-7:00
Winning grants or being admitted to graduate school does not happen by chance. In this course students will research graduate schools and funding opportunities consistent with their personal, academic, and career goals; identify the criteria for evaluation or acceptance; assess their own strengths and weaknesses; and develop a strategy for preparing a compelling application. Students will write personal statements and resumes, participate in peer workshops, practice key interviewing techniques, and produce professional-quality application materials. Students will also discuss common characteristics of highly successful individuals, learn and practice techniques for shining in social settings, and discover ways the vital skills presented in this course can benefit them in pursuing other career opportunities.

Quote from a former student:
“I really liked the way Jennifer aimed the course at helping me achieve my goals. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for our individual success greatly helped my motivation. I appreciated the "forum" typesetting in class, which promoted valuable discussion. Peer reviews were especially helpful.”
 

Honors English Courses

 

ENGL 2010H, Intermediate Writing for Honors, Section 36, CRN 42467, 3 credits
Dustin Crawford, TR 10:30-11:45
 
ENGL 2010H, Intermediate Writing for Honors, Section 37, CRN 42468, 3 credits
Susan Nyikos, TR 1:30-2:45
 
ENGL 2010H, Intermediate Writing for Honors, Section 38, CRN 42982, 3 credits
Robin Parent, TR 12:00-1:15
 
This class will focus on research and persuasive writing, using library and internet research, and appropriate documentation. Students will evaluate sources, collaborate with classmates, and participate in peer review of each other's writing. Writing assignments will be augmented by topical and provocative readings. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions and to think carefully about the reading and writing assignments.
This is not a passive class! Students will write several papers related to their research interests. Through this class, students should develop their own writing style and voice, and learn to integrate that voice with what others (often authorities) have to say about the subject. It is hoped that students will leave the class stronger readers, writers, and thinkers, with a good idea of the areas on which they can build in the future.
Prerequisite: 30 completed* credits AND ENGL 1010 or AP score of 3 or ACT score of 29. (*That is, 30 credits with the grades posted on your transcript; the courses in which you are currently enrolled do not count toward the 30 credits.)
 
 
Honors Business and Math Courses
 
ECON 1500H, Economic Institutions for Honors, Section 3, CRN 41158, 3 credits
Dr. Tyler Bowles, TR 1:30-2:45
Designed to build an understanding of economic institutions, history, and principles. Relationships between private and public sectors of US economy will be addressed. Analysis of major economic institutions, such as property rights, markets, business organizations, labor unions, money and banking, trade, and taxation.
 
MATH 1220H, Calculus II for Honors, Section 6, CRN 42536, 4 credits
Staff, MWRF 10:30-11:20 - Students who wish to take Dr. Peak's Profession of Physics will be able to do so.
Integration, infinite series, introduction to vectors, and applications will be studied. Topics from second semester calculus will be covered, including advanced integration theory, Taylor's theorem, and the calculus of parametric curves.
Prerequisite: MATH 1210 or AP score of at least 4 on calculus AB exam or at least 3 on BC exam.
nbsp; Though most class periods will be devoted largely to lectures, it will be possible to allocate much more class time to discussion than in a section of 250 students. In addition, reading assignments will be somewhat more diverse and challenging than in a regular section of the course.  We will not use a standard text, and some of the reading assignments will be ongoing analyses of the presidential election that I will select on a weekly basis as the campaign unfolds.