Spring 2010 Honors Colloquia
In order to graduate on time, remember to keep your Honors Distribution choices on file in the Honors Office. See honors distribution to download the forms.
HUMANITIES COLLOQUIUM
Explore topics such as:
A America in the Middle East, 1776-Today
B. Patronage in Renaissance Florence
C. Movies in Time
D. Contemporary Short Story and the Gothic Tradition
E. Seven Deadly Sins Sampler
F. Jazz History through the eyes of a Jazz Artist
G. Foreign Places and Spaces: Travel as Education
Humanities Colloquia Descriptions:
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America in the Middle East, 1776-Today
[10066] 1870:250-001
T Th 11:00-11:50 a.m. Honors Complex 183
Dr.Harvey Rosenthal
Today, the United States is extensively and profoundly involved in the Middle East. The war in Iraq, the terrorist threat, and the quest for dependable sources of fuel permeate the media and direct the national agenda. A source of religious inspiration for millions of Americans, the Middle East has also become a source of American fears. Through the three themes of power, faith and fantasy, we will try to explain America’s role in this region. By explaining these themes and reconstructing the history of America’s relationship with the Middle East we can facilitate a deeper understanding of this part of America’s past. Today, this understanding is a must for Americans.
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Patronage in Renaissance Florence
[10068] 1870:250-002
M
W 1:10-2:00 p.m., Honors Complex 082
or [17394] 1870:250-005
M W 12:10-1:00 p.m., Honors Complex 082
or [17396] 1870:250-006
M W 2:15-3:05 p.m., Honors Complex 082
Honors faculty Cheryl Anne Morris
This colloquium will focus on Florence in the 14th to the beginning of the 16th century. Rather than a survey of Florentine Renaissance history, the course will examine a selection of artists and their works, the economy, and the roles of the patriciate and the church in patronage of the arts. Cultural changes in these years and the attitudes and values that shaped them resulted in changes in social and political institutions. We will study the significant role of these institutions and individuals as patrons and creators in the most important treasures of Florentine Renaissance art.
This is a course for nonspecialists, one that takes a look at the connection between the art of Florence and the varied political and cultural aspects that surrounded the creation of them.
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Movies in Time
[10070] 1870:250-003
Wednesdays 12:05-1:40 p.m., Honors Complex 092
Honors Faculty Sarah Akers
This course will examine several motion pictures, ranging from the silent film era to the present day, all of which are based on actual historical events or subjects. We will compare the content of the films with the established facts, and discuss how a work of art (such as a film) can either enhance or diminish our knowledge of history.
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Contemporary Short Story and the Gothic Tradition
[25019] 1870:250-004
W F 12:05- 12:55 p.m., Honors
Complex 083
or
[20484] 1870:250-010
W F 1:10- 2:00 p.m., Honors
Complex 083
Honors FAculty-J. Kagafas
This Humanities Honors Colloquium explores the relevance of 18th Century Gothic in 20th Century literature with an emphasis on the short story. Particular attention is paid to the American Southern Gothic of Faulkner, Oates, McCullers, Capote and others. Students will explore other avenues of the Gothic tradition, including Gothic art, architecture, music, and contemporary film. Requirements include reading assignments and analyses of short stories, and a student project to be presented to the class at the end of the semester.
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Seven Deadly Sins Sampler
[19304] 1870:250-007
M W 9:55-10:45 a.m., Honors Complex 183
or
[20306] 1870:250-008
MW 8:50-9:40 a.m., Honors Complex 183
Dr. Carolyn
Schlemmer.
Pride. Envy. Anger. Sloth. Greed. Gluttony. Lust. Why has this list of human failings persisted throughout the ages? We struggle against and celebrate them in everyday life. Writers know that they are superb motivations in fiction. They can also be a springboard to Shared Inquiry discussion, a way of leading and participating in group discussion that can influence your own future meetings and interactions. Since the unexamined life is, as Plato and Socrates tell us, not worth living, assessment will be based on a combination of participation, student self-assessment, and several short written papers.
Text: The Seven Deadly Sins Sampler, Great Books Foundation, August 2007. Available at 2nd class meeting. Cost is $23.
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Jazz History-Through the eyes of a jazz artist
[20448] 1870:250-009
M 3:20-5:00 p.m., Honors Complex 082
Honors Faculty and F&AA Artist in Residence- Joe Augustine
Jazz was by far, the most significant musical form to emerge during the 20th century. There are qualities that separate the performance from inspired to mundane - a transformation that involves an arrangement of music which then transcends to creative improvisation. These elements will be examined in detail in order to elevate the listeners' ability to comprehend this great art. This premise creates an environment for in-depth discussion regarding the rhythm, harmony and stylistic variations of all facets of jazz music.
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Foreign Places and Spaces: Travel as Education
[25142] 1870:250-011
Tuesdays, 3:20-5:00 p.m. HC 083
Dr. Ann Hassenpflug- College of Education
This colloquium will examine three recent travel narratives which recount the authors' journeys. These individuals chose travel as a means of learning about the world and about themselves. Unlike foreign correspondents, diplomats, or international corporate executives, these authors were not professionals whose careers required them to travel. These writers chose their own destinations and digressed from their career paths to fulfill their desire to travel. They wanted to travel to enrich their lives. All of them were willing to take risks and make difficult choices to undertake their journeys.
Two of the authors were in their twenties at the time of their trips, and the third worked with young adults during her time abroad. Their narratives describe diverse approaches to travel as well as a range of locations. MILES FROM NOWHERE by Barbara Savage describes her round-the-world bicycle adventure with her engineer husband. THE HEMINGWAY BOOK CLUB OF KOSOVO by Paula Huntley recounts the author's experiences in the post-war Balkans. BEYOND THE EARTH AND THE SKY by Jamie Zeppa tells the life-changing story of a young Canadian in Bhutan.
The major focus of the colloquium will be discussion of the three books and the locations which they describe. The colloquium will also address the historical precedents for engaging in travel as a means to enhance an individual's education and will examine travel narratives as a writing genre.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES COLLOQUIUM
A. Social Movements: Civil Rights, Anti-War, Equal Rights for Women
B. Religon and American Politics
C. The Role of The Mass Media in Shaping Public Attitudes and Opinions
D. Shaping a Generation: The Baby Boomers and U.S. Popular Culture
E. Ethnic America
F.Jazz as a means for Social Communication
G. France in the Time of Impressionism
H. TV, Radio, Internet...oh my!
I. Global Issues and Organizations
J. Service-Learning and Urban Youth
Social Science Colloquia Descriptions
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Social Movements: Civil Rights, Anti-War, Equal Rights for Women
[10072] 1870:360-001 T TH 11:00- 11:50 a.m., Honors
Complex 082
or
[10076] 1870:360-003 T Th 8:50-9:40 a.m., Honors Complex
082
Dr. Stanley Akers
In this colloquium we will examine the theory of social movements in modern US society and focus on the Civil Rights, Women's, and Anti-War Movements. Our objective is to examine the role of movements in formation of public policy and the interaction between movements and their impact not only on the society of the time, but their role in creating conditions which require further action in the 21st Century.
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Religion and American Politics
[10074] 1870:360-002
Wednesdays 12:05-1:45 p..m., Honors Complex 083
Dr. John Green, Distinguished Professor of Political Science
Ever wonder how religion influences American elections? How do moral values, religiosity, and church’s views of issues, ideology, and partisanship impact the way people participate in politics? Learn from expert, distinguished professor of political science and senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and American politics, Dr. John Green.
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The Role of The Mass Media in Shaping
Public Attitudes and Opinions[10078] 1870:360-004
T Th 12:05- 12:55 p.m., Honors
Complex 082
Dr. Stanley Akers
This colloquium will focus on the role of the mass media, particularly television and the Internet, in shaping public attitudes and opinions, and by extension public policy. We will examine such events as the Army-McCarthy Hearings, the Kennedy Assassination, the Vietnam War, notable criminal cases and terrorism coverage with a view to understanding how public perception is shaped and acted upon politically.
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Shaping a Generation: The Baby Boomers and U.S. Popular Culture
[18944] 1870:360-005
M W 3:20-4:10 p.m. HC
083
or
[20942] 1870:360-008
M W 2:15-3:05 p.m. HC
083
Sarah M. Akers
In this colloquium, we will examine the fifteen years of U.S. history following the Second World War. This period was seminal in forming the attitudes and values of the generation known as the Baby Boomers who form the country's current leadership - political, economic, religious and cultural. We will make this examination primarily through the prism of U.S. popular culture.
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Ethnic America
[24966] 1870:360-006
T Th 2:15-3:05 p.m. Honors Complex 183
Dr. H. Rosenthal
The American story is not a story of a nation but of a polyglot of nations that forged a composite nation and state. For four hundred years, for a variety of reasons, peoples of nearly all races, ethnicities, continents and cultures immigrated to American shores they settled, built and merged to create a new-world culture. This course will tell the migrant's story: our story. It is not always glorious but it is always interesting and topical. Today, this immigration process is being reconsidered (as it has been periodically) and is now a major political "hot button" in Congress, the media and the streets. The future shape of our Republic is in the making. Be an informed part of the process.
Text: Thomas Sowell, Ethnic America Immigration: Opposing Viewpoints
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Jazz as a means for Social Communication
[20308] 1870:360-007
Thursdays 3:20-5:00 p.m., Honors Complex 082
Honors Faculty and F&AA Artist in Residence- Joe Augustine
Jazz music became the first of popular music forms to gain academic legitimacy. This genre is one of the most interesting forms of popular American music displaying substantial technical innovations. The changes in the social environment due to this exciting art are very positive. The jazz experience by its nature, creates a forum for social interaction and cultural nurturing. This nurturing process will prepare us for a lifetime of musical development and a respect for music - the "universal language". With this in mind, we will discuss in exciting detail the synergy of this cerebral high art and the value of social relationships
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France in the Time of Impressionism
[24967] 1870:360-009
M W 11:00-11:50 a.m. Honors Complex 082
Honors Faculty-
C. Morris
After the French and Industrial revolutions, French society had changed. No longer were people tied to the classes or guilds that once defined their lives. What now arose was the Bohemia that was part of the middle class consciousness. This new personal freedom was at times supported by society and at other times feared for the instability it created. The contributions of key historical figures from Baudelaire to Zola had a political, as well as social impact on bourgeois life in Paris. It is against this background that Realism and Impressionism took root.
In this colloquium we will study the men and women whose new vision of the world breathed life into the Paris of the later nineteenth century.
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TV, TV, Radio, Internet...oh
my!
[21848] 1870:360-010
Th 8:00-9:40 a.m. Honors Complex 083
or
[23110] 1870:360-013
Th 10:00-11:40 a.m. HC 083
C. Tomko, School of
Communication
Communication is key in this fast-paced society with TV, radio, and the
internet bringing instantaneous news, information, and entertainment.
The mass media brings global topics from across the world close to
home. What are the current events covered in the news? What content
is shared? Beyond content, what underlying messages are generated in
mass media messages?
This colloquium will engage students by examining current event
coverage in conjunction with communication theories in order to
critically analyze what we are seeing and hearing in the media. In
addition to a variety of media events, this course will focus
specifically on election year coverage, particularly issues of
diversity, gender, and other controversy, and how these dynamics play
out in the media. An emphasis will be placed on classroom dicussion,
welcoming personal opinions on TV, radio, and internet coverage of
current events. Watch it! Discuss it! Be a student of the world
around us!
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Global Issues and Organizations
[25180] 1870:360-011
T Th
1:10-2:00 p.m. Honors Complex 183
Dr. S. Furlong
This course is focused on students gaining awareness and knowledge of current global issues and critical global organizations that are connected to these issues:
Educational Objectives of the Course
- To provide a curriculum that introduces students to current global issues, activities of international organizations, and the role of the United Nations.
- To expose students to the political, economic, social and cultural realities of the United States in context of the rest of the globe in its foreign policies.
- To deepen intercultural and interpersonal awareness, understanding and respect and thus enhance students abilities to interact sensitively and responsibly with other cultures (through experiential learning involving international students for a session or two).
- To increase capacity to think critically and creatively, and to integrate and analyze information from a variety of sources, thereby developing self-motivated learning skills of lifelong value.
- Develop research skills through reading, writing, interviewing and observing.
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Service-Learning and Urban Youth
[23194] 1870:360-014
Wednesdays
10:00-11:40 a.m. Honors Complex 083
Danielle Bentley, Honors College Academic Advisor
The core of this Social Science Colloquium is community engagement. The topics of working with urban youth and community building will be explored through class discussions, readings, speakers, presentations and service projects. This course will be highly interactive with students working with a group of high school seniors as they prepare for college. Service-learning will be accomplished through active learning, service opportunities, and reflection experiences.
There will be money available to support class projects between colloquium students and the high school seniors.
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College Student Rights
TBD
Dr. A. Hassenpflug- College of Education
Expand your knowledge about important legal issues related to being a college student. Colloquium topics will include freedom of speech in the classroom and on campus, academic dishonesty, disciplinary procedures, freedom of religion, and sexual harassment and misconduct. The very reader-friendly paperback The College Student's Guide to the Law by C. L. Lindsay III will be the text. Class activities will include discussion of text readings and of scenarios created or provided by the instructor. The instructor will also provide additional background about the justice system and significant U.S. cases addressing student rights. Two short reaction papers will be required.
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NATURAL SCIENCES COLLOQUIUM
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Comtemporary Issues in Natural Science
[10080] 1870:470-001
T 12:05-12:55 Honors Complex 092
or
[10082] 1870:470-002
T 12:05-12:55 & Th 1:10 - 2:00 p.m. Honors Complex 092
or
[21654] 1870:470-003
T 12:05-12:55 & Th 2:15 - 3:05 p.m. Honors Complex 092
Dr. Richard Mostardi
Each of these sections meets together on Tuesday for a guest lecture and then meet separately for a smaller group discussion on Thursday. Dr. Richard Mostardi is a long-time instructor in the Biology/Biomedical Engineering department who is also currently a researcher at Summa Medical Center, Akron. 
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Breakthroughs and Blind Alleys: The History of Scientific Discovery
[18638] 1870:470-004 Mondays 12:05-1:45 p.m.
Honors Complex 083
or
[23612] 1870:470-005 Fridays 9:00-10:40 a.m.
Honors Complex 092
Stan and Sarah Akers
This course will seek to trace the history of medicine and science from the earliest discoveries to the most recent insights; we will also examine misjudgments, misconceptions, as well as outright fraud and quackery. In the final analysis, the development of medicine and science impacted the course of human history and civilization from the dawn of time to the present day.
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Science in the News
[23694 1870:470-006 Thursdays 12:00 -1:40 p.m.
Carrie Tomko, School of Communication
Science can be explored on many levels...from the test tube to the TV tube. With growing issues of environment on the agenda, as well as advancements in scientific research, there is increasing concern for many science-related topics among the general population. Our fast-paced media world often touches briefly on science topics in the daily news. However, in this course, students will have the opportunity to share in-depth discuss on scientific topics that are often the focus of daily news programs and documentaries. Some of these "popular culture" topics to be debated are as follows: Stem cell research, global warming, space exploration, pollution, recycling, ozone issues, and rain forest preservation/distruction. In lay terms, students will dialog on these scientific issues that shape our physical world and have impact on current generations, as well as future generations. Students will be engaged in citical thinking on these topics, examining concepts of ethical and political impacts of environmental issues and advancements in scientific research.
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Comtemporary Issues in Natural Science
[25184] 1870:470-007 Mondays 1:00-2:40 p.m. Graor, HC 092
Dr. Christine Graor, Nursing
Researchers from the University and community present weekly, describing their research and discussing how science affects everyday life.
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The Great Pandemics and Plagues of History NEW
[25352] 1870:470-008 W F 12:05-12:55 p.m Kagafas, HC 083
James Kagafas
The Natural Science Honors Colloquium will explore the great pandemics of history and emphasize the conditions which must be met before a pandemic can occur. Since the first recorded description of the plague that decimated the Athenian troops during the Peloponnesian War to today’s H1N1, mankind has at times lived as prisoners of nature. Through readings, discussions, documentaries, guest speakers, and independent studies, students will explore nature at its most vengeful. More importantly, students will take an active role in how the class is conducted by leading discussions and sharing information through group presentations.
