HONORS PROGRAM SPRING 2012 COURSES

The following Honors Courses are scheduled for the Spring 2012 semester:

HONORS GENERAL STUDIES COURSES:

MUS 111H - Introduction to Music Honors
A general studies requirement, this course provides training and experiences which will enable the student to acquire a historical-social-aesthetic perspective, to comprehend musical concepts, to discriminate quality levels, to select satisfying and stimulating musical experiences, and to empathize with the creators and performers of music.
Offered: MWF 11:10 - 12:00 PM
Instructor: Dr. Adam Booth

SOCI 203H - General Sociology Honors
A general studies requirement, this course introduces the student to the concepts and theories that pertain to social relationships and social organization. The course covers topics that range from micro interpersonal relationships to macro social structures. The course is a prerequisite for all other courses in sociology and/or social welfare. Not recommended for freshmen.
Offered: MWF 9:10 - 10:00 AM
Instructor: Dr. Amy DeWitt

PHIL 208H - Survey of Philosophy
Philosophy 208 Honors will provide you with an introduction to philosophy, along with a broad exposure to the ideas of major philosophers from the Western philosophical tradition and beyond. Our guide for this exploration of ideas will be Robert C. Solomon's Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Integrated Readings. This text is organized so as to acquaint beginning philosophy students with philosophy's major sub-fields, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy. Other prevalent topics in the history of philosophy, such as the nature of the self and an individual's relation to the world he or she inhabits, will be considered. Perhaps more than in any other academic discipline, to study philosophy is to do philosophy. By engaging with the problems, solutions, questions, and answers about the many subjects that our readings broach, you will subject commonly held beliefs and assumptions to rational scrutiny. In so doing, you will be practicing the kind of in-depth critical thinking about oneself and one's world that is the defining feature of philosophical inquiry.
Offered: TR 1:50 - 3:05 PM
Instructor: Dr. Mark Cantrell

HONORS SEMINARS AND UPPER-DIVISION COURSES:

HNRS 389H - Seminar: Science and Religion
Science and Religion is a survey of the philosophical and historical aspects of the relationship between science and the primary world religions. It is an interdisciplinary course designed to foster dialog between people of scientific and religious backgrounds, and to encourage science students towards integration and critical thinking in their own faith traditions. After discussion of the methods of rational inference and preliminary considerations in the philosophy of science, a survey of the world religions (Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam) and the naturalistic perspective will be presented, along with various philosophical models of the relationship between science and religion. Key episodes in the historic interactions between science and religion (Babylonian Astronomy, Copernicus and Galileo, the Scopes Trial, etc) will be examined and correlated with these models.
Offered: TR 6:05 - 7:20
Instructor: Dr. Joshua Alexander

HONORS CAPSTONE PROJECT COURSES:

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. Sally Brasher

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. Sally Brasher

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

Hamlet in Context

Ethics

African Studies

Service Learning

Thesis / Project