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Spring 2006 Honors SeminarsListing of U.S. Diversity and I.P. approved seminars
HON 322A, Why are We Here?, Wednesday, 1st Half, 6:10-8:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4651005 No, I am not referring to a big question about the meaning of life. Instead, I want to discuss a more manageable, but still vital, question: Why are we (young people entering the rights and responsibilities of adulthood) and we (older people involved in the discovery and transmission of knowledge) together here at ISU? Every society does something to help transition people into adulthood, and every society has knowledge-workers; but in our society, oddly enough, these two disparate groups are stuck together at an institution known as a “university”. Why? Rebekah Nathan’s just-out account of her fieldwork, My Freshman Year, raises this questions in a very pointed form. She paints a sympathetic picture of an undergraduate culture that unsympathetically could be described as shallow, careerist, hedonistic and anti-intellectual. Further, she describes specific ways in which university practices and organization serves to actually encourage these negative characteristics. In this seminar, we will earn answers to the following questions: The class time will focus on discussion these topics, based on the participants’ reading, writing of weekly reflections at the course weblog, and fieldwork of their own. We will end the seminar by preparing a series of Op Eds, hopefully to be published in the Daily, expressing our final views to our University community (if we decide it is a “community”). Instructor: Jean Goodwin is an Assistant Professor in English and Speech Communication. Her teaching and research focuses on how we talk together as citizens, and especially how we argue. She also studies students' perspectives on argumentation and debate, which has led her to a more general interest in students' perspectives on their college experience. Given Jean’s commitments to civic life, argument and deep and extensive learning, she found Nathan's book sympathetic yet horrifying. Jean loved the students she wrote about, but wanted to grab them and shake them. She thinks solutions to the problems Nathan's work revealed can only be found in conversation between faculty and students, and is looking forward to the seminar as an opportunity to start that conversation. HON 322B, Rich Countries, Poor Countries: Alleviating Poverty in an Unequal World, Tuesday, 2nd Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4652005 Natural disasters are often highly visible, generally unpredictable and largely unpreventable. The world also suffers from widespread and chronic “silent tsunamis” that are less visible, readily predictable, and largely preventable. They are thought to cause as many as 20,000 deaths daily, a number which exceeds the death toll of all natural disasters combined. While the specific circumstances of these deaths vary, the common element in all of them is poverty: It is the poor, and especially women and children among the poor, who are afflicted by the tsunamis of hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy, disease and deprivation. With existing knowledge, technology and financial resources, the international community has the capability to overcome extreme poverty in the world. Yet such poverty continues to exist with human consequences that dwarf the destruction due to natural disasters. During 2005 the international community gave much attention to world poverty and efforts being made to alleviate it; extreme poverty is truly on the global agenda. This seminar will consider the economic, political, and moral cases for why the world should battle poverty in poor countries with the focus and financial commitment normally associated with fighting wars and international terrorism. It will consider why rich countries should help poor countries alleviate their extreme poverty, and assess whether or not it is affordable for them to do so. It will question whether globalization should be embraced or resisted by developing countries. It will ask why some countries are rich, some are getting richer, but many remain extremely poor? It will investigate the role of international organizations such as the World Bank and the specialized UN organizations, and emphasize how developing countries can do more to help themselves. The seminar will require preparation and participation. A short (10 page maximum) paper on a specific topic related to the seminar will be required. Instructor: Lehman Fletcher taught economic development, comparative capitalism and economic transitions, and microeconomics. She has advisory experience in more than 30 countries and has worked with several international development agencies. This seminar has been approved by the Faculty Senate for International Perspectives credit. HON 322C, Healthy Campus 2010, Tuesday, 10-10:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4653005 The leading Health Indicators are: Physical activity, overweight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization, and access to health care. This seminar will review each of the Leading Health Indicators and discuss how they relate to college students nationally, at ISU, and within the seminar. Class time will be used for presentation of information about each health topic, discussion of the topics, individual assessments, small-group discussions, and presentations by the students. Instructor: Lauri Dusselier, B.S. Exercise Science, M.S. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies/Higher Education and has 15 years of experience in health promotion. She is currently the Health Promotion Supervisor at the Thielen Student Health Center. HON 322D, Street Law, Thursday, 6:10-7:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4654005 The Street Law curriculum, originally designed by the National institute for Citizen Education in the Law, provides a framework of readings, case studies, mock trials and role-lays upon which students can build. This course will adapt that curriculum to local issues, resources and needs. The course will include, to the extent possible, a courtroom visit and guest presentations from local officials, police and attorneys. The course will cover as wide a range of legal issues as possible, from criminal law to constitutional law. Although the instructor intends to set most of the course content, a portion of the course may address issues selected by the students as most relevant and interesting. Students will be expected to prepare a paper analyzing a legal principle in some depth. Instructor: Doug Houghton: Captain, Department of Public Safety. Doug received his undergraduate degree from Yankton College in Yankton, SD and a law degree from University of Colorado. He has been at Iowa State University for over 18 years. He has served as an attorney with Student Legal Services, as Assistant Dean of Students and as the Interim Dean of Students in 1994-95. He has been a police officer with DPS for 9 years. He has taught several Honors seminars in the past including Street Law, Investigation and Prosecution of Drug Offenses in Rural America and Constitutional Conflict on Campus. Mary Howell Sirna received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA in 1991. Mary then returned to Iowa and received her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. She began her professional career as a domestic abuse prosecutor in Marshall County, IA. She then served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert W. Pratt, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. In 1999 she began her current employment with the Story County Attorney’s where she current hold the title of 1st Criminal Assistant County Attorney. Mary’s case load includes a significant number of crimes against persons at both the felony and misdemeanor levels. Mary is also a member of the Story County Sexual Assault Response Team. HON 322F, Current Issues in Higher Education, Wednesday, 8-9:50 a.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15 CANCELLED HON 322G, Unfit to Read? Banned and Challenged Books in America, Wednesday, 3:10-5:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4664005 After being provided with a background on banned books including an understanding of why particular books are challenged or banned, students will read a selection of titles identified by The American Library Association. They will review and discuss books from children's picture books through young adult novels and those read in high school and/or college courses. Topics such as intellectual freedom, censorship versus selection, and issues tied to the Political Left or Right will be investigated. Instructors: Carol J. Fuhler is Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Iowa State University. She teaches undergraduate primary and intermediate literacy courses in addition to the graduate children's literature course. Susan Yager, Associate Professor of English, is Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). She has previously taught several popular Honors seminars investigating the world of Harry Potter. HON 322H, Workplace Violence: Threat Assessment & Management on Campus, Tuesday, 4:10-6:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15 CANCELLED HON 322J, Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Turning an Idea into a Profitable Business Opportunity, Thursday, 1st Half, 10-11:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4678005 Instructor: Steve Carter, Judi Eyles and Mike Upah have a combined 30+ years experience with the Small Business Development Center and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. As a staff, they have counseled hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners in launching and managing new companies. The three provide business assistance and services to technology companies located at the ISU Research Park and also assist non-technology companies. Clients include ISU students, faculty and entrepreneurs throughout the state. Other invited guest speakers include faculty or community members who have started and run their own businesses. HON 322K, Celtic Dance and Culture, Monday, 1st Half, 7-9:30 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4679005 Students will be encouraged to discover more about the meaning and persistence of Irish and Scottish culture by developing an appreciation for dance and music. Since these have played not merely an evocative but truly essential role in cultural preservation, the students should have developed an appreciation for this relationship by the end of the course. Students will be expected to participate in dancing, and to learn about the history and cultural meaning of dance and music for the Scots and Irish and other nationalities in the British Isles. Direct participatory learning will be supplemented by readings taken from books related to the course activities. A short presentation and paper on a specific topic of the student’s choice will be used to measure their reflective appreciation for the course activities, as well as their intellectual understanding of the ideas brought up by the course material. Texts: Bringing It All Back Home: The Influence of Irish Music at Home and Overseas (Paperback) by Nuala O'Connor will be used as a text for reference and discussion purposes. Instructor: Victor J. Raymond is a graduate student in the Sociology Dept. In addition to his other interests, he has been a member of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society for over ten years, and has been the student instructor for the Celtic Dance Society at ISU since 2000. This seminar has been approved by the Faculty Senate for International Perspectives credit. HON 322L, The Origin of Complexity: How Evolution Tames Random Creativity, Friday, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15 CANCELLED HON 322M, Personal and Professional Leadership, Thursday, 4:10-6:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4681005 Objectives:
Procedures: Instructor: Beth Foreman is the recruitment coordinator for the College of Agriculture. Before working for Student Services she spent 13 years in ISU Extension as a County Extension Education Director. Beth is a PhD student and her research interest is in undergraduate student leadership development. Beth is the staff advisor for the Ag Ambassador group and works with them on applying leadership strategies as they plan and implement programs. Currently, Beth is serving as a Teaching Assistant for Ag Ed 315 (Leadership in Agriculture). HON 322N, Tokien’s Mythology, Friday, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 4687005 HON 322P, Issues in Biology and Medicine, Wednesday, 2nd Half, 9-10:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 5111005 Class time will be used to discuss and debate these issues. Students will be responsible for leading discussion and will turn in journals in which they react to readings and discussions. Instructors: Barbara Pleasants and John Pleasants are both biologists in EEOB. Barbara has taught this seminar for many years and is an active participant in the ISU Bioethics program. John is an ecologist with research projects on the effects of GMOs on native species. HON 322Q, Section 2, Living on (Fault) Lines, Tuesday, 3:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 5113010 The main material of the course will consist of directed readings followed by critical group discussions facilitated by students. On completing the seminar, students should possess an awareness of the issues addressed by this course and to be able to engage in critical evaluation of different political and social perspectives regarding these issues, and be able to link these to their own perspectives and attitudes. Class time will be spent discussing readings and differing perspectives on the issues raised; guest speakers will also be utilized in order to provide a “human face” for some of the issues covered as part of the course. Instructor: Victor Raymond is a doctoral student in the Sociology Dept. at ISU, and is a Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow and a Preparing Future Faculty graduate. Prior to graduate school, he was a frequent guest lecturer on identity politics and social justice movements. This seminar has been approved by the Faculty Senate for U.S. Diversity credit. HON 322R, Orienteering – Map & Compass Navigation, Thursday, 2nd Half, 2:10-4:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 5117005 Objectives: Students will be able to: Instructors: Jerry Rupert, Coordinator for the Outdoor Recreation Program at Iowa State University has a M.S. Degree from the University of Utah in Commercial Recreation & Marketing and B.S. Degree from Lock Haven University in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Jerry has been teaching outdoor activities for over twenty years. He has taught numerous classes related to Map, Compass & Orienteering in a university setting. Jerry has also had significant experience teaching this subject matter in the field in such areas as the Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains and La Laguna Mountains in Mexico. Chad Ward, Assistant Coordinator for the Outdoor Recreation Program at Iowa State University. Chad is in the process of finishing his M.S. at Prescott College. Chad earned his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University. He has been working in the field of Outdoor Education and teaching Map & Compass skills for ten years. He has utilized his navigation skills for adventure races and back country off-trail travel. HON 322S, Race, Ethnicity and Community Relations, Tuesday, 1st Half, 6:10-8:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 2512005 Instructor: Basil Mahayni is a graduate student in Political Science. He co-taught this seminar last spring. Basil received his BA in Political Science with Honors and Distinction in May of 2005. This seminar has been approved by the Faculty Senate for U.S. Diversity credit. HON 322T, Making Difficult Decision: Advice from a Medieval Knight, Tuesday, 2nd Half, 5:10-7:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 2968005 Instructor: Valentin Picasso is a PhD student in Sustainable Agriculture at ISU. His elementary and high school education was in a Jesuit School. He has studied and practiced Ignatius Loyola’s spirituality for more than 10 years. He has taught Agronomy undergraduate courses at ISU, and is currently participating in the Preparing Future Faculty program. This is the second time this seminar will be taught. HON 322U, What is Life?, Tuesday, 6:10-8:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15 CANCELLED HON 322V, Unlocking the Da Vinci Code, Tuesday, 2nd Half, 3:10-5:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 3552005 Instructor: Dr. Nikki Bado-Fralick has her Ph.D. in Philosophy, religion, and Folklore from Ohio State. She teaches courses in Religious Studies and women’s studies here at Iowa State and has also taught folklore here. HON 322W, The Nature of Science: 'Why the Overwhelming Consensus of Science is that Intelligent Design is Not Good Science', Thursday, 1st Half, 4:10-6:00 p.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 3675005 Instructors: Dr. Hector Avalos is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies who has authored several books and articles on the role of religion in human societies and on the relationship between science and religion. Dr. Michael Clough is an Associate Professor of Science Education. He teaches “Nature of Science and Science Education” and Secondary Science Methods courses, and also taught high school science for seven years. Dr. Clough has authored several papers on the crucial role understanding the nature of science, plays in science literacy and reducing resistance to evolution education. Dr. Jim Colbert is an Associate Professor of Biology. He teaches evolution at the introductory biology level and is currently serving as the Biology Program Coordinator. HON 322Y, Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Biological and Ethical Considerations, Wednesday, 10:00-10:50 a.m., 1 credit, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 3725005 Instructor: Curtis Youngs, Associate Professor of Animal Science, has taught reproductive biology courses for 18 years and has been actively involved with research on embryo transfer and embryo manipulation in domestic mammalian livestock. Some of his former students are actively employed at human infertility clinics throughout the United States. HON 322Z, Why Do Universities Do What They Do?, Monday, 6:10-8:00 p.m., 2 credits, Enrollment limit: 15, Ref. No.: 8334005 The first primary focus in this seminar will concentrate on student development theories and application of these theories to “my” and “our” realities. A second primary focus will draw upon current issues in higher education, and how student affairs administrators are influenced by the issues and decisions. Movies will be used to help draw a correlation between the theory and the practice, and serve as a tool for discussion. Students can look forward to a better understanding of “Why do Universities do what they do?” There is a method to the madness... Instructors: Craig Zywicki is currently a Hall Director for the Department of Residence, and pursuing doctoral studies in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University. Craig’s M.Ed. is in Higher and Post secondary Education Administration. Joe Campos is currently an Assistant Hall Director for the Department of Residence, and pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University. Joe is a recent graduate of Iowa State University, receiving a BA in Spanish. |