Fall 2017 | University Honors Program

Fall 2017 Honors Seminars

Seminar Registration for Fall Semester begins: April 12th at NOON

WARNING!

If you try to register for seminars before that day and time, you will be unable to add the class. Also, the system will exclude you from the wait list after the class is full. If openings become available after a seminar is full, Honors staff will contact those on the wait list.

Reference numbers will be posted a couple of days prior to registration.

Make sure you plan ahead and take the number of required Honors courses and seminars as prescribed by your college Honors committee. Don't wait until your last year to meet the requirements because you may find that you will have some scheduling conflicts.

Important: Attendance at Honors seminars is expected. Be sure to read the entire seminar description and requirements. Be courteous and notify your instructor in advance if you are unable to attend class.

Check back regularly for updates.

HON 321A: Are You What You Eat?
HON 321B: Christianity & Science
HON 321C: Travel Around the World in 14 Days
HON 321D: The Power of a Story
HON 321E: Cuisine and Culture: A History of Food and People
HON 321F: Ethical Eating
HON 321G: Entrepreneurship
HON 321H: To Cross or Not to Cross? Global Borders and You
HON 321J: Habits of Mind – HoM Work for the Brain
HON 321K: Building Biopsychosocial Muscles
HON 321L: Feminism and the Media
HON 321M: Conflicts in the Middle East
HON 321N: Human Trafficking in the United States
HON 321P: How We Tell Stories: Storytelling Through New Media
HON 321Q: Cultural Perspectives and the Built Environment
HON 321R: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Activism and Cultural Resistance of Women in the U.S.
HON 321S: Music and Health
HON 321T: Lessons from Positive Psychology on Happiness and Success
HON 321U: Publish or Perish: The Relation of Publicity to Propaganda
HON 321V: Exploring the Historic Built Environment
HON 321Y: Socrates Café
HON 321Z: What’s In a Word? The Origins of Words and Phrases

Full Semester HON 321A, Are You What You Eat?, , 1 credit, full semester, T 1:10 - 2:00, 305 Kildee, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4626005

Description: What nutrients are essential for life, and what foods and food supplements will improve quality of life? Why? Why not? This seminar will emphasize the role of nutrition provided by food and food supplements in promoting a healthy life through the prevention of diseases and disorders. The physiological function of nutrients and the provision of those nutrients by common foods will be the topic of the first part of the course. Then, the role of nutraceuticals as food supplements in a healthy life will be emphasized. We will discuss popular topics of nutrition in 15-minute oral presentations. By the end of the semester, you will be in a stronger position to make difficult decisions about your diet composition and supplementation, and to evaluate nutrition information advertised on TV, magazines, and the internet.

About the Instructor: Don Beitz, Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, has taught biochemistry (e.g., BBMB 420 and BBMB 405) for five decades. In addition, he teaches an Agricultural Biotechnology Colloquium for Scholarship for Excellence students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His research focuses on the application of molecular biology and biochemistry to animal food production and animal diseases. He has participated actively in Honors programs (e.g., First-Year Mentor, research projects, seminar teacher, and advisor) throughout his tenure at Iowa State.

1st Half HON 321B, Christianity & Science, 1 credit, first half, R 11:00-1:00 541 Science II, enrollment limit 17, International Perspectives credit, Ref. No. 4627005

Description: Religion and science, two of the greatest forces that influence mankind, are generally interested in different aspects of reality. Science addresses “how” questions while religion answers “why” questions. However, an area of common interest is the origin and history of life. In this seminar we will explore the interaction and boundaries between science and theology in this area of common interest through the writings of well-known scientists and theologians with expertise in these areas. We will discuss weekly reading assignments not only to develop critical thinking skills but also to learn more about 1) the nature and practice of science, 2) different views about the interaction of science and theology, and 3) boundaries between science and worldviews with common interests with science.

About the Instructor: Thomas S. Ingebritsen is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology. He received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University in 1979. He did bench research for more than 20 years, primarily in the area of signal transduction. He also was Director of the LAS Center for On-Line Learning. As a scientist and a Christian, Dr. Ingebritsen has a strong interest in this seminar topic.

Full Semester HON 321C, Travel Around the World in 14 Days, 1 credit, full semester, M 2:10 - 3:00pm, enrollment limit 17, International Perspectives credit, Ref. No. 4628005

Description: What are people’s main concerns - political, economic, and social - around the world? What do people in different regions of the world talk about, believe in, and fight for? What makes the headlines in the newspapers every morning around the world? Do we share the same concerns in America, Asia, Europe, Africa, or Oceania? In this seminar, you will read newspapers from around the world to compare headlines and learn about different global issues that affect the life of millions of people. To what extent are our issues similar or different?

About the Instructor: Jean-Pierre Taoutel has been teaching at ISU since 1999 as a Senior Lecturer of French and an Instructor of Arabic. He was born in Syria and grew up in Lebanon before moving to France. He holds an M.A and a D.E.A in French literature from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, France. He has taught several Honors seminars. Jean-Pierre enjoys traveling and he has been in more than 40 countries.

Full Semester HON 321D The Power of a Story, 1 credit, full semester, W 4:10 - 6:00, 3164 Gerdin, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4629005

Description: This seminar explores storytelling from multiple perspectives. Each week we will focus on how stories persuade, share history, create truth, and enhance relationships. We will begin with readings and videos that examine the ways storytelling has been throughout history from oral histories, memoirs, and infographics to TED Talks and the Moth Radio Hour. The culminating activities will include an oral history creative project and in-class storytelling sessions in the style of the Moth Radio Hour. You will select topics of storytelling, select and share videos/resources, and develop skills in speaking and sharing ideas with others.

About the Instructor: Carolyn Duven is a Cyclone Success Coach in the Academic Success Center. Before this position, she worked in residence life for 10 years. Before coming to ISU, she worked at Cornell College and attended Bowling Green State and Ripon College. Carolyn is currently working on her PhD, and her research focuses on the transition experience of undergraduate students and how they experience homesickness.

Full Semester HON 321E Cuisine and Culture: A History of Food and People, 1 credit, full semester, enrollment limit 17, T 11:00 - 11:50, International Perspectives credit, Ref. No. 4630005

Description: The course is based on reading and discussing the book Cuisine and Culture: A History of Food and People by Linda Civitello. This well-written book examines the history of food from before the Agricultural Revolution to the present in every part of the world. The book has informative chronology tables, pictures and maps, as well as fascinating sidebars on recipes, menus, ingredients, food fables, culinary confusions, and other interesting facts. Be prepared to be amazed, entertained, and enlightened about food and history! In addition to weekly discussions of the book, chapter by chapter, you will give a presentation at the end of the semester on a relevant topic of your choice.

About the Instructor: Clark Ford is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in the area of Food Biotechnology. He earned a B.A. in Biology (UCLA), M.S. in Botany (U of Iowa), and Ph.D. in Genetics (U of Iowa). Since 1991, he has taught courses in Genetics, Genetic Engineering, Introduction to Food Science, Contemporary Issues in Food Science and Human Nutrition, and for the past 10 years has taught World Food Issues (FSHN 342). He is a veteran teacher of Honors Seminars.

1st Half HON 321F Ethical Eating, 1 credit, first half, W 12:10 - 2:00pm, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4631005

Description: “Ethical Eating” explores the ethical implications of the food choices we make. For example, if we choose to eat meat where does that meat come from, under what conditions were the animals raised and what are the environmental consequences of animal production? What are our ethical obligations with regard to the welfare of animals? What are our ethical obligations to the workers who process our food and to the environment? What are the concerns with industrial agriculture? Do farm subsidy programs create a food system that promotes consumer and environmental health? The objective of the course is to increase awareness of the stories behind the foods that are available for us to eat. With knowledge of those stories we can begin to apply an ethical framework to the choices of what foods to eat. The seminar will consist of readings for each week followed by a discussion, viewing of several videos, discussion with visiting speakers, a possible field trip to a farm, and a presentation by each participant on the ethical issues associated with a particular common food item. The course will end with a potluck meal at the instructors’ home.

About the Instructor: Barbara Pleasants served many years on the ISU Animal Care Committee and teaches courses on Comparative Anatomy, Human Biology, General Biology and the Holocaust. She has also taught an Honors seminar on “Issues in Biology and Medicine.” John Pleasants teaches Environmental Biology, Human Biology and General Biology, and has co-taught the Honors seminar on “Issues in Biology and Medicine.” His research is in the area of the environmental effects of GMO’s. This is their tenth year of offering this seminar!

1st Half HON 321G Entrepreneurship, T 4:10-6pm, 3164 Gerdin, 1 credit, first half, enrollment limit 24, Ref. No. 4632005

Description: This seminar is designed to help you acquire sound business acumen. It will include a series of lectures on business models for different types of businesses. You will be able to interact directly with business professionals and learn from their expertise in this field. You’ll become familiar with the overall business environment, brainstorm start-up ideas, and understand legal and capital needs for various kinds of business organizations.

About the Instructor: Shoba Premkumar, a Senior Lecturer in the College of Business, will coordinate this seminar. Guest speakers will include Nick Johnson, owner/manager of Ames Ford Lincoln; Eugene T. Hibbs, owner, Little Caesar’s of Ames; Dave Tucker, Director of Product Development, Workiva; Rick Brimeyer, President, Brimeyer LLC, and Chris Seymour, CEO of Seymour Screen Excellence.

Full Semester HON 321H To Cross or Not to Cross? Global Borders and You, 1 credit, full semester, T 2:10 - 3:00pm, International Perspectives credit, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4633005

Description: Have you ever crossed a border? Are you at a border between two (or more) cultures? Why do we need borders? This course explores the concept of borders, both physical and metaphorical. In this seminar, you will learn about political, theoretical, and historical constructions of border lines and how they relate to our contemporary understandings of nationhood and personal identity. You will be asked to research one topic of interest and present it to your peers. Topics will include such borders as the Berlin Wall, the Haiti-Dominican Republic border, the Arctic Circle, and the concept of “No man’s land.”

About the Instructor: Jean-Pierre Taoutel, a native of Syria, grew up in Lebanon before moving to France. A Senior Lecturer, he has taught many seminars, usually with a global perspective. Megan Myers, Assistant Professor of Spanish, teaches literature and culture in the Spanish program as well as Spanish for the Professions. Her current research examines the literary relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Ruxandra Looft, lecturer in German and faculty affiliate in Women’s and Gender Studies, was born in Romania, then immigrated to Germany, Canada, and finally the US. Her research focuses on material culture, national identity, gender and queer theory, and the popular press.

Full Semester HON 321J, Habits of Mind – HoM Work for the Brain, 2 credits, full semester, W 6:10 - 8:00pm, International Perspectives credit, enrollment limit 15, Ref. No. 4634005

Description: In this seminar, we will use books such as Habits of Mind and Mindset as well as online resources to explore frameworks and applications of what are called “Habits of Mind” (HoM). This seminar emphasizes practical approaches to practicing meaningful habits of thinking. You will assess and develop your own HoM while cooperating on team projects to increase the “HoM index” of ISU

About the Instructor: Suzanne Hendrich, a University Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition and ISU faculty member for more than 30 years, has offered many Honors Seminars on habits of thinking, mindset, and emotional intelligence. She has helped graduate and undergraduate students think more deeply about habits of mind using self-assessment tools and seminar discussions. Her approach to education is “It’s not just doing, but thinking about what, how, and why you are doing it, that creates learning.”

1st Half HON 321K, Building Biopsychosocial Muscles, 1 credit, first half, F 10:00 - 11:50, 1155 Jischke, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4635005

Description: Have you wondered what it takes for a human to reach 100 years of age? What factors enhance or limit the human lifespan? This seminar highlights the growing field of Gerontology by emphasizing healthy life expectancy, debunking myths about aging, engaging in discussion of theories of aging and human development, and identifying tools we can use to build biopsychosocial reserves for healthy development. We will use a variety of methods in class, including informal lectures, videos, and interactive technologies. Information from this class applies to everyone!

About the Instructor: Hardeep Obhi is a doctoral student majoring in Gerontology. She earned her M.A. in Research and Experimental Psychology and B.A. in Psychology from San José State University. Hardeep uses a lifespan approach to assess aspects of adulthood and later adulthood; her work emphasizes the importance of engaging in advantageous lifestyle behaviors throughout stages of life, specifically related to cognition.

Full Semester HON 321L Feminism and the Media, 2 credits, full semester, W 4:10 - 6:00pm, US Diversity, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4636005

Description: Feminism is a misunderstood topic in today’s society. By viewing and discussing different types of media with feminist themes, you will investigate the history of feminism and the different issues surrounding this concept. You will also be able to create your own definition of feminism. The media vary in time periods, emphasis on specific identities (gender, race, etc.), and genre. We will watch a form of media one week, and discuss it the following week in small groups. You will also read articles about feminism in order to supplement content in discussion groups.

About the Instructor: Dr. Alissa Stoehr is a Lecturer in the Sociology Department and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Her research interests include human trafficking, women’s and gender studies programs at community colleges, child support and welfare policies in the state of Iowa, racism within intercollegiate athletics, and work-life balance issues affecting female PhD students at Iowa State.

Full Semester HON 321M Conflicts in the Middle East, 1 credit, full semester, W 2:10 - 3:00pm, International Perspectives credit, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4640005

Description: What are the current political conflicts in the Middle East? How should we understand the wars going on there? In this seminar, we will examine the current political conflicts and wars in this region. We will examine in depth the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Lebanese War, the Palestinian question and other regional issues (Iraq, the Kurds, Iran, Syria, etc.). You will better understand the “complicated Middle East” and how these conflicts affect the war on terrorism.

Full Semester HON 321N Human Trafficking in the United States, 2 credits, full semester, W 2:10 - 4:00pm, US Diversity credit, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4645005

Description: In this seminar we will explore the phenomenon of human trafficking in the United States and beyond. You will learn about the history of, and concepts that define, human trafficking; how race, gender, nationality, etc., affect human trafficking; legal and political ramifications of human trafficking, and how you can make a difference in your community by educating peers about this crime against humanity. Possible guest speakers include representatives from the Network Against Human Trafficking, Youth and Shelter Services, etc.

Full Semester HON 321P How We Tell Stories: Storytelling Through New Media, 1 credit, full semester, M 12:10 - 1:00pm, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 4647005

Description: This seminar will explore the evolving storytelling methods of artists and creators who are developing new media. New media refers to mass communication using digital technologies, so we will examine podcasts, video games, web comics, and YouTube videos, among other forms. You will learn how ancient and classical story tropes are still being used and revitalized in these digital forms, and have fun creating your own pieces of new media. While some artists distance themselves from technology, creators who embrace technology are producing inventive stories for the next generations. The seminar will culminate in a final project that has two options: a short analysis or a creative project that uses new media.

About the Instructor: Jenna Mertz earned her BA in English, Spanish, and Environmental Studies from Wisconsin-Madison. Before pursuing her MFA at ISU, Jenna taught English in a small town in Norway whose name you can’t pronounce. Phoebe Wagner received a B.A. in English: Creative Writing from Lycoming College and is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing and Environment. She writes primarily fiction but explores poetry and creative nonfiction as well.

Full Semester HON 321Q Cultural Perspectives and the Built Environment, 2 credits, full semester, R 4:10 - 6:00pm, 77 Design, enrollment limit 20, Ref. No. 4648010

Description: This course is for anyone interested in how changing cultural ideas help shape the built environment. We will look at cultural trends that transcend specific time periods – ideas about social utopias, technology, an organic connection to land and place, individual expressions of creative genius or universal quests for transcendent truth, to unravel how the built environment reflects cultural trends and aspirations. We will see how changing technologies, philosophies, and ideologies shape the spaces we live in, seek to understand the built environment we inhabit today, and how today’s trends – including digital infrastructures – will shape the city to come. The cities and buildings we dwell in form the backdrop of our day-to-day lives, and this introductory seminar will help you gain a deeper awareness of the forces that help shape that backdrop – and how it in turn shapes us.

About the Instructor: Sharon Wohl teaches in Architecture and Urban Design in the College of Design, and has spent over a decade in practice working as an architect and urban designer. She has spent many years helping inform the public about the value of the built environment. She recently co-authored and edited Re/Imagining Winnipeg, a book that showcased visionary and provocative urban proposals for that city. She is completing her Ph.D. in Complex Adaptive Systems theory and Urbanism at the TU Delft in the Netherlands.

2nd Half HON 321R The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Activism and Cultural Resistance of Women in the U.S., 1 credit, second half, T 12:10 - 2:00pm, US Diversity credit, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 5145005

Description: This seminar examines non-traditional forms of political activism and cultural resistance of women in the United States. Through discussions and readings, you will learn about various forms of activism by women throughout history and in contemporary times. Our study will include the use of the body, clothing, art, narrative, and community, among many other forms. Social movements ranging from women’s suffrage and civil rights to motherhood and the Guerilla Girls will be explored.

About the Instructor: Ashley R. Garrin is a Postdoctoral Scholar and Assistant Director of the ISU McNair Program. Her research interests include the historic and social aspects of dress and appearance of marginalized groups in the United States, specifically African American women and hair.

Full Semester HON 321S, Music and Health, 2 credits, full semester, R 10:00 - 11:50, 125 Music Hall, International Perspectives credit, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 8951010

Description: In this course we will explore the relationship of music and health via readings, recordings, lectures, discussions, and musical experiences, investigating the history, theory, and practice of the creative power of sound and music in international health care settings. We will also study health maintenance and injury prevention for musicians, and medical challenges faced by performing artists and composers. To some degree, the content and direction of the course will be shaped your interests. You will listen to musical compositions of various styles and genres, learn to identify them by composer, historical context, and stylistic characteristics, and explore their potential as treatment in clinical applications. Music and health within international cultural contexts have been interwoven for centuries. You’ll explore values, attitudes and norms that shape the cultural differences of people who live in the U.S. and in other regions of the world.

About the Instructor: Dr. Miriam Zach is musicologist, organist, harpsichordist, pianist, author, and professor. She is the inaugural Charles and Mary Sukup Artist in Organ teaching organ, harpsichord, and music history courses at Iowa State. From 1996-2016 at the University of Florida she taught interdisciplinary Honors Music and Health, undergraduate and graduate Music History courses, organ, harpsichord, and French Music and Texts. She edited the book Resonance: Essays on the Intersection of Music and Architecture (2007) with her husband, Dr. Mikesch Muecke, and has co-taught a seminar on architecture and music with Mikesch for many years.

Full Semester HON 321T Lessons from Positive Psychology on Happiness and Success, 1 credit, full semester, T 1:10 - 2:00pm,enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 5148005

Description: Happiness and success are desired by nearly everyone. What is the relationship of happiness and success? How do they influence each other? This seminar draws from positive psychology and facilitates the exploration of happiness and success. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor will serve as our primary reading. Additionally, we will experiment with and implement strategies that can promote happiness in our own lives.

About the Instructor: Lisa Friesth is a graduate student studying higher education – student affairs. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Secondary Education at Iowa State. She is interested in student learning and student learning environments, and plans to graduate in May 2018.

Full Semester HON 321U, Publish or Perish: The Relation of Publicity to Propaganda, 2 credits, full semester, T R 11:00 - 11:50, 77 College of Design, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 5149010

Description: To publish is to make public. To not publish is to disappear into oblivion (to perish). The history and practice of publishing are tied to technology and culture. As part of this course we will trace the developments of publishing technology from the Gutenberg press via AgitProp trains and other evidence of propaganda in mass communication to contemporary digital processes and methods of knowledge dissemination. You will learn about the history/theory of publishing and how choices of font and layout influence graphical content in positive and negative ways. You will then apply this knowledge to design and produce a book or pamphlet on a topic of your choice.

About the Instructor: Mikesch Muecke is a German-born designer who has been teaching design studios, history and theory seminars and digital workshops in ISU's architecture department since 1995. In 2005 he branched out from architecture to start his own publishing house, Culicidae Press and has designed and published books for more than 20 authors nationally and internationally. He holds a Bachelor of Design with a Major in Architecture from the University of Florida (1989), a professional Master of Architecture (UF 1991), and a Ph.D. in the History and Theory of Architecture from Princeton (1999).

Full Semester HON 321V, Exploring the Historic Built Environment, 1 credit, full semester, R 5:10 - 6:00 pm, 1155 Jischke, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 6545005

Description: This seminar challenges you to “read” and comprehend the built environment—buildings, cities, and so on—as one reads a book: as a legible work onto which accounts of past peoples and events are inscribed. To understand how places become infused with meaning and shape our perceptions, we will explore our surroundings, both hallowed (or controversial) sites as well as the mundane and overlooked corners of familiar neighborhoods. We draw widely from places in Iowa and around the world in order to ask, why are things the way they are? Class discussion will be propelled by readings and short introductory lectures. We’ll also have a guest speaker or two and will get out of the classroom for an occasional site visit.

About the Instructor: Ted Grevstad-Nordbrock, assistant professor in Community and Regional Planning, is an expert in historic preservation and heritage studies. He earned degrees from Wisconsin-Madison, Cornell, and Michigan State. Ted is currently a board member of Preservation Iowa, sits on the City of Ames Historic Preservation Commission, and was recently appointed to the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ State Nominations Review Committee. He is Principal Investigator on the ISU/US Department of State Cultural Heritage Documentation Project and is currently working on a book related to this initiative entitled The Heritage of Diplomacy: Historic Preservation and the Legacy of America's Diplomatic Outposts.

Full Semester HON 321Y, Socrates Café, 1 credit, full semester, T 4:10 - 5:00pm, 1151 Jischke, enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 7631005

Description: The seminar is based on author Christopher Phillips’ book The Socrates Café. These cafes are designed to get people talking about big ideas. By means of the Socratic method, you will develop your views by posing questions, being open to challenges, and considering alternative answers. Through a series of weekly readings, you will turn current events into questions to be discussed in class. We will focus on the exchange of ideas and critical thinking.

About the Instructor: Laurie Law, Administrative Director of Honors, has worked with high- ability students for many years and has taught several Honors seminars on culture through celebrations, language, and social discussion. She has a background in student affairs and has worked with several learning communities programs.

Full Semester HON 321Z, What’s In a Word? The Origins of Words and Phrases, 1 credit, full semester, T 5:10 - 6:00pm, 1151 Jischke enrollment limit 17, Ref. No. 7634005

Description: Have you ever wondered where popular phrases we use every day originated? Did you know that Shakespeare is credited with contributing more phrases and sayings to the English language than anyone else? For example, the term “forgone conclusion” is from Shakespeare's Othello, 1604. In this seminar, you will learn about phrases and slang in our everyday vocabulary. You will research common phrases, both new and old, and develop a timeline of their origins. You will read, participate in class discussions, and write three one-page synopses of a phrase’s origin, with a historical timeline that will be presented to the class for discussion.

About the Instructor: Laurie Law, Administrative Director of Honors, has worked with high- ability students for many years and has taught several Honors seminars on culture through celebrations, urban language and social discussion. She has a background in student affairs and has worked with several learning communities programs.