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Honors Courses Spring 2010 Honors Western Civilization Colloquium & Discussion Days/Times Discussions This colloquium course is an intensive interdisciplinary study which relates the arts, literature and philosophy of the Western world to their political, social and economic contexts. Examines the development of Western civilization from its origins in the ancient Near East through the Renaissance and Reformation. Honors Biology II Lecture & Lab Days/Times HONS 152.002 Labs HONS 152.L90 Honors Biology I & II together satisfy the College's general education requirement in the Natural Sciences. They are equivalent to Biology 111 and 112 with labs and should be primarily taken by students intending to major in Biology or Chemistry and who have had two years of Biological Sciences in high school. Honors Chemistry II Lecture & Lab Days/Times Lab Honors Chemistry I & II together satisfy the College's general education requirement in the Natural Sciences. They are equivalent to Chemistry 111 and 112 with labs and should be primarily taken by students intending to major in Biology or Chemistry. Honors Geology II Lecture & Lab Days/Times Labs HONS 156.L02 HONS 156.L03 Honors Geology I & II together satisfy the College's general education requirement in the Natural Sciences. They are equivalent to Geology 103 and 105 with labs and are not recommended for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, or for pre-med students. Honors Physics II & Lab Days/Times Labs Honors Physics I & II together satisfy the College's general education requirement in the Sciences. They are equivalent to Physics 111 and 112 with labs. Honors Astronomy II & Lab Days/Times Labs Honors Astronomy I & II together satisfy the College's general education requirement in the Natural Sciences. They are equivalent to Astronomy 129 and 130 with labs and are not recommended for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or for pre-med students. Honors Psychology Days/Times This course serves as an introduction to the scientific study of behavior. The primary goals are to impart general principles and significant experimental findings within the various subdisciplines of psychology. This course will go beyond that of general psychology by providing additional readings and hands-on experience in applying the techniques used by psychologists. The course content and exercises are tailored for students who truly wish to embrace the variables of behavior rather than simply read an introductory text. Honors Appreciation of Mathematics: A Conceptual Tour of Contemporary Math Days/Times This course will highlight mathematics as a network of intriguing ideas, not a dry formula list of techniques. Each lecture will begin by placing mathematical concepts in historical context and providing the motivations driving the quest for understanding. Topics to be covered include key ideas in algebra, number theory, mathematical foundations, complexity, topology and geometry, dynamical systems, chaos, and stochastic processes. The goal of this course is to help each student discover the beauty and fascination of mathematics, admire its strength and profound ideas, and appreciate its value in our everyday lives. The Science in Science Fiction Days/Times The course is designed to explore science in a unified and interesting manner by exploring the science in science fiction, both classic and recent. There will be lectures on the science topics relevant to the readings. Robert Bly’s The Science in Science Fiction will be the primary resource and other books will be assigned — Hal Clement’s Mission of Gravity, Fred Hoyle’s The Black Cloud, and Robert Forward’s Dragon’s Egg as well as some short stories. This course will base its scientific content on the science in the particular story under consideration. Thus it will move freely through the entire spectrum of science without the disciplinary constraints normally imposed. Horror Days/Times Where does horror – variously defined as a “felling of reverent awe or fear,” “the quality of exciting repugnance or dread,” or “a painful emotion combining loathing and fear” – come from? How it is manufactured in works of literature, popular culture and political discourse? Why does it take certain specific forms in various times and places? As popular culture, does it tend to be a conservative or subversive force? Why are so many people attracted to what horrifies them? This course will explore these questions by examining historical events and imaginative works drawn primarily from Germany, Britain, and the U.S. Postcards from Mexico Days/Times The Mexican Republic shares an extensive land border with the United States. It is one of ourlargest trade partners. Much of our country was once part of Mexico; much of the growing Spanish-speaking population in the United States is originally from Mexico. Still, Mexico is widely misunderstood on this side of the Rio Grande. Mexico is an ancient country, very much in line with the present and the future. No matter where you are in contemporary Mexico, the past is always present. Reconciling the two sheds light on contemporary Mexico and its people. Actual postcards from Mexico provide the backdrop for this course. A postcard is a wonderful tool that encapsulates and summarizes an experience, a feeling, a sensation. A postcard is also a reminder of travel, an experience that broadens our world view. Beginning with a vista of an important site, a work of art, or a typical dish, students will unravel the story behind the postcard. As such, they will have conversations with Moctezuma, as well as with Vicente Fox, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, among other political, historical and cultural figures. Students will learn to make tacos, enchiladas, mole poblano and pico de gallo whose ingredients speak to an indigenous origin, a European conquest, and the proud nationalism of Mexico. Search for King Arthur & the Holy Grail - Express I Course Days/Times This course will focus on asking who was King Arthur and what was the Holy Grail. After learning what one can about the historical Arthur, students will examine the development of the story of Arthur and the influence of the Grail Quest from Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chretien de Troyes in the twelfth century to modern literature and movies The class will also examine the creation of myth and look at how a myth once created can gain an importance far greater than any historical reality on which it is based. In addition to lectures and class discussions, the class will use films, writing assignments, and conclude with a trip to Great Britain over Spring Break in search of King Arthur to enhance the learning experience and get students more involved in the subject matter. Religion & Feminism Days/Times Students in this course will examine feminist theory and its impact on the academic study of religion. The course will begin with an introduction to the history of “cultural” feminist theory and then examine how feminist theory has been applied to the study of religion. Next, feminist literary theory and its application to sacred scriptures and other religious texts will be examined. Students will examine the critique of traditional categories of gender and concepts of “sin” and spiritual “achievement.” Students will examine the pervasiveness of violence against women in American culture and read texts that appear to contribute to, or protest against, this victimization. Sociology Days/Times This course covers the fundamental concepts and principles of sociology, including culture, socialization, interaction, stratification, population, and social structures. The course also addresses contemporary social issues in the United States in a globalized era. Major research findings on social problems and their theoretical interpretations will be presented and discussed. Potential social solutions to these problems will be discussed and assessed. Introduction to International Studies Days/Times Terrorist alerts and security searches at airports; an international labor force in our services industry; the struggles of Cubans, Palestinians, Israelis, and the peoples of the Continent of Africa, inter alia, for human rights; fluctuating oil prices; climate changes; and family and friends going to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan - these are all familiar parts of our everyday lives. But they are also profoundly international phenomena, outcomes of forces and processes both within and outside the borders of the United States. And the ramifications of ‘globalization’ on traditional political, economic, geo-political, and social relationships are of great significance. Yet what globalization is, what it means, and what impacts it has, are hotly contested and debated issues. This course is designed to help students gain a broader understanding of these phenomena by introducing them to the concepts, theories, and analytical skills which are key for comprehending the multi-dimensional concerns of International Studies. Through an examination of political science, economics, culture, history, and geography, this course will enhance the student’s appreciation for an International Studies approach to issues associated with global development. Such issues will include global poverty, democracy in the developing world, international terrorism, women and development, global trade and global justice, and the use of global resources. We will also employ a regional approach to studying these international issues, focusing on Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This course, then, offers an integrative and interdisciplinary approach to matters of global significance. The Supremes: The US Supreme Court Days/Times Beginning with an examination of our legal system from Magna Carat to the U.S. Constitution, this course will focus on the U.S. Supreme Court. We will study the most influential members past and present of the Supreme Court, its landmark judicial decisions, and the effect those decisions have had on our system of government and on our society and culture. In the final weeks of the course, the class will undertake a virtual U.S. Supreme Court experience – taking advocacy positions, writing briefs, delivering oral arguments, debating, discussing, inquiring, analyzing, all with the ultimate goal of reaching reasoned, fact based points of view. At the close of this course, the student will have a good working knowledge of how America’s judicial system works at the U.S. Supreme Court level. ICE Leadership & TA Training Days/Times Please contact Mary Moser (moserm@cofc.edu) if you are interested in applying to be an Honors ICE TA. COURSES OFFERED IN THE HONORS PROGRAM IN BUSINESS Honors Economics II Days/Times This course is designed to satisfy the Principles of Economics requirement (ECON 202) for the student majoring in Economics or Business. These courses also satisfy the general education requirement in the Social Sciences. Pre– or co-requisite: Math 120. Honors Business Law Days/Times The goal of this course is to give the student a foundation in economic theory, philosophy of markets and governments which serves as the basis for business. The course is designed to give a humanities foundation of business: Locke, Smith, Rawls and others will be read. There will also be in-depth case analysis of key cases to discuss the issues of the business day: punitive damages, liability for wrongs on the part of corporate officials, product liability, etc. Honors Business Statistics
This course will cover advanced statistical analysis with applications in business and economics utilizing relevant computer software (Excel and SPSs). Topics include business applications in descriptive and inferential statistics emphasizing such topics as simple and multiple regression, analysis of variance, forecasting, quality control, and nonparametric techniques.
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