Honors Program

HONORS COURSES SPRING 2009

The following Honors Courses are scheduled for the Spring 2009 semester:

HONORS GENERAL STUDIES COURSES:

ENGL 204H--Survey of American Literature
A critical study of representative writers and works from Native American oral traditions to the present, reflecting a broad range of literary and philosophic ideas and the cultural and ethnic diversity of the American experience. Prerequisite: ENGL 102, 103, or 104.

Offered: MWF 11:10-12:00
Instructor: Dr. Tim Nixon

COMM 202H--Fundamentals of Speech
A required course for all students with focus upon the skills of sending and receiving clear messages. Audience analysis, the organization of the message, listening awareness, and the management of communication apprehension are foremost among the course objectives. Students participate in communication exercises and deliver a variety of speeches of different formats.

Offered: T 3:15-5:55
Instructor: Dr. Joyce Webb

GSCI 104H--General Physical Science
A survey course in physical science encompassing astronomy, meteorology, and geology. The principles and applications presented are characteristic of introductory courses in those separate areas. Scientific approaches to problem-solving and the interdependency of the areas of science are emphasized. This course will meet in three one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory session. The second half of the required General Physical Science curriculum.

Offered: MWF 2:10-3:00
Lab: T 3:10-5:00
Instructor: Dr. Edward Snyder

Honors Second Year Core
This is the second half of the Honors Core, required for all sophomore Honors students.

** Students should register for both English and History in the same semester.

ENGL 208H--Survey of World Literature
Offered: MWF 10:10-11:00
Instructor: Dr. Betty Ellzey

AND

HIST 101H--History of Civilization
Offered: T/R 9:35-10:50
Instructor: Dr. Sally Brasher

HONORS SEMINARS AND UPPER-DIVISION COURSES:

HNRS 389H--Seminar: Game Theory
Game theory is a branch of social science that is concerned with strategic decision-making. As such, it is a collection of models and analytical tools to help us understand the phenomena that we observe when decision-makers interact. These models are abstract representations of classes of real-life situations. A central concern of these models is determining how a decision maker should choose a course of action when in competition with rivals who are acting in their own interests. Applications include voting strategies, contract negotiations, auction strategies, cartel formation, price and output decisions in oligopoly situations, political competition and coalitions, the design and use of incentives, and the use of various tactics such as brinkmanship and credible commitments.

Offered: T/R 11:00-12:15
Instructor: Dr. John Schultz

ENGL 356H--Appalachian Culture
Appalachian Culture will introduce students to a wide variety of creative expression from those states which constitute southern Appalachia, particularly West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Students will study cultural stereotypes about Appalachia, unique historical and cultural forces at work in Appalachia, and the rich expression of creativity in Appalachia (including oral and written literatures, visual arts and crafts, and singing and songwriting). Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Offered: W 6:00-8:40
Instructor: Dr. Rachel Meads

HONORS CAPSTONE PROJECT COURSES:

HNRS 388--Honors Project Preparation
This course prepares Honors candidates to undertake the work of the Honors Capstone Project, the final requirement for graduation from the Honors Program. Topics include an overview of the research process, the differences between theses and non-thesis projects, developing appropriate research questions, identifying an appropriate faculty mentor, techniques for overcoming common stumbling blocks in conducting research, and information on the expectations of the Honors Directed Readings and Honors Capstone Project courses. This course will culminate in the production of a final research proposal and plan that will be submitted for approval to the Honors Advisory Board. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Offered: M 12:10-1:00
Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer

HNRS 488--Honors Directed Readings
In this course, Honors students begin research towards a major project to be completed as a graduation requirement. Each student will choose a mentor from the faculty. In collaboration with the faculty mentor, the student will develop an original idea about the chosen topic and will formulate a reading list that will contribute to a project proposal. The proposal, which is the final product of this class, should be a plan for a substantial piece of work in the student's chosen field and should contribute substantially to the student's professional development.

Offered: TBA
Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer

HNRS 489--Honors Capstone Project
After completing a proposal in the Directed Readings course, a candidate in Honors shall have one semester to complete the Honors Capstone Project, the final requirement for graduation from the Honors Program. The project's topic should be chosen within the candidate's major or minor field of study. The document must include a carefully prepared argument in support of a thesis statement. Rather than a thesis, certain students in certain fields of study (e.g. graphic design) may choose to design a project. Such a project must also include an initial proposal that will support the design of that project. The thesis or project shall culminate in a formal presentation to an audience consisting of faculty, students, friends, and family. Prerequisite: HNRS 488.

Offered: TBA
Instructor: Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer

SAMPLER OF HONORS COURSES

Politics and Civil Rights

Appalachian Culture

Survey of American Literature: Borders and Frontiers

General Biology - Honors 101 and 102

Women, Public Policy, and Research

Survey of World Literature II

Freshman Interdisciplinary Written English & History of Civilizaion Seminar

Music Appreciation

Scientific Ideas that Changed the World

History of Economics Thought