250. Sophomore Seminar. Open to Honors students. (3). (SS).
Section 001 – Integration, Segregation, and Diversity in Contemporary
America. The contemporary debate on "multiculturalism"
has seemingly drawn nearly equal numbers of supporters and detractors.
On one side, advocates of ethnic pluralism and diversity argue that American society must come to grips with the realities of the "new" racial and ethnic diversity if the country
is to exist as a genuinely inclusive democracy. On the other side, critics of the recent "fever of ethnicity" argue that
such advocacy far too often degenerates into a romantic, uncritical
"celebration" of diversity for its own sake, ignoring the positive aspects of the historic ideal of a common culture.
This seminar will explore these issues through intense readings
and discussion, a portfolio, a short research paper/project, and weekly seminar reports on selected ethnic groups (e.g., Blacks, Chinese, Germans, Irish, Italians, Japanese, Jews, Mexicans, Muslims, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans). The central texts are Ronald
Takaki, ed., From Different Shores: Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity in America, Thomas Sowell's Ethnic America:
A History, Mary C. Waters' Ethnic Options: Choosing Identities
in America, Milton M. Gordon, ed., America as a Multicultural
Society, and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. (Allen)
Section 002 – The Discovery of the Universe. The purpose of this seminar is to discuss a very important topic in the history of science: the processes by which astronomers came to suspect, investigate, and then describe accurately the universe. We will begin with the work of a German musician, William Herschel, in the eighteenth century, and end with the work of a Missouri lawyer, Edwin Hubble, in the 1920s. Readings and student projects will be based on primary sources (published and manuscript) and work by historians of science. I do not expect prospective students to have a science background beyond, say, a course in high school science. This is NOT a science course; it is instead, an opportunity for us to study the ways in which scientific knowledge advances and the human nature of scientific work. (Lindner)
Section 003 – The Information Society. We are told that we live in the Information Society, a post-Industrial environment in which information accumulation, processing and use occupy a major portion of our work time. In this course we will examine some of the provocative and challenging issues that the Information Society presents in technical, social, economics, aesthetic and visual dimensions. Ultimately through lecture, discussion and readings balanced with hands-on labs using infotech tools and small group projects, we will consider such questions as: How should society capture time? What is the value of yesterday's news? How does technology shape society or society shape technology? What is the ultimate information tool? Can we keep secrets electronically? Who will control what society "knows"? Course requirements: weekly lab assignments; final exam or paper; class discussion and some group work . Text: readings will be assigned from a variety of sources and accessible via course reserve, course pack and online systems. WL:3 (Holland)
251. Sophomore Seminar. Open to Honors
students. (3). (HU).
Section 001 – Imagination. The Romantics claimed that Imagination
was both an artistic and a cognitive faculty; the seminar will
begin by considering both the structure of the Romantic literary
Imagination and the Romantic theory of knowledge in works by Wordsworth, Blake, and Coleridge. Attention will then shift to more general
questions: Does artistic Imagination tell us anything about reality?
Can Imagination become a rigorous mode of cognition? What is its
relationship to rationality? Does some form of Imagination have
a place in science and ethics? The nature of metaphorical thinking
will be considered, as will the function of Imagination in scientific
revolutions (Kuhn, Barfield, Goethe), ethics (Schiller), the psychology
of perception, and the visual art (Cezanne, Merleau-Ponty). Cost:3
WL:3 (Amrine)
252. Sophomore Seminar. Open to Honors
students. (3). (NS).
Section 001 – The History of Medicine and the Art of Humbug.
This course centers around the evolution of modern medicine, including
early Western medical concepts and the introduction of scientific
method. In addition, attention will be directed at current fads:
acupuncture, ESP, astral projections, chiropractic, diets, etc.
Students are required to read one book from the suggested
reading list that is provided on the first day of class and write
two papers, a short paper at mid-term and a 5-6 page paper at the end of the term. (Malvin)
Section 002 – The Great Ideas of Physical Science. This seminar may be viewed as a physical science equivalent of Great Books. Its aim is to examine the great ideas of the physical sciences from the 13th century to the present, to see them in the context of their own time, to gauge their impact upon succeeding generations and to assess their role in the cultural development of this century. The main prerequisite is a curiosity about scientific ideas and a willingness to put as much reading time into the course as would be expected for either the Great Books or one on the history of the novel. A background in introductory physics, chemistry, astronomy and calculus will be helpful. There will be two ninety-minute discussions per week, together with such other modes of discourse as seem possible and appropriate. Grades will be based upon three papers and, to a lesser degree, in-class contributions. WL:3 (Dunn)
270. Sophomore Seminar on Research Methods. Honors
student and permission of instructor. (1-4). (Excl). May be repeated
for a total of 8 credits.
Section 001 – Exploring Exploration. In this seminar, students
working in research in a variety of disciplines will investigate the histories, philosophies, methodologies, current issues, etc.
of their fields and those of other students in the class.
Emphasis will be on putting each research effort into the broader
context of the discipline and seeing the interconnections among
fields of inquiry. Faculty from the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences will be invited to share with us information
about research in their fields and their individual research experiences.
Practical issues such as avoiding the pitfalls of collaboration
and dealing with the monotony of repetitive tasks will be addressed.
Each student will keep a research journal. Grades will be based
on class participation and assignments, and one final paper or
project to be decided on in consultation with the instructor.
This seminar is intended primarily for second-year Honors students
who will be participating in research projects during the fall, 1993 term. By application only. Applications will be available
in the Honors Office. (Crown)
493. College Honors Seminar. Permission
of instructor or of the Honors Director. (1-4). (Excl). May be
repeated for a total of 8 credits.
Section 001 – Investigative Reporting. Seminar on investigative
reporting and "muckraking." Discussion of methods of
reporting and how to choose topics. Journalistic ethics will also
be covered. Ms. Mitford is the author of The American Way
of Death and The Gentle Art of Muckraking among
other topical books. The seminar will be held from November 1
- 19. Admission is by application only. Applications are available
in the Honors office. (Two credits) (Mitford)
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