Spring 2020

Spring 2020 Honors Seminars

Seminar Registration for Spring Semester is currently OPEN.

The descriptions below indicate whether a seminar counts toward the International Perspective or US Diversity requirements.

Reference numbers for registration can be found below. Should you try to enroll in a course that is full, you will be placed on a waitlist. If openings become available after a seminar is full, Honors staff will contact those on the waitlist.

Make sure you plan ahead and take at least two Honors courses and two Honors seminars or the number required 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 322A: HERoic Theatre - Cancelled
HON 322B: Pop!: Writing and Thinking about Popular Culture
HON 322C: Stranger Stories: Writing Flash Fiction
HON 322D: Orchid Mania - Full
HON 322E: Get Outside! - A History and Exploration of Our State and National Park Systems - Full
HON 322F: Everyday Leadership
HON 322G: Disrupting Ableism: Leading Change on Campus
HON 322H: Christianity and Science - Full
HON 322J: Superheroes and Psychology - Full
HON 322K: Political Activism and Advocacy: Making Government Work for You
HON 322L: It's a Musical! Oklahoma to Hamilton to Hadestown - Full
HON 322M: Design Thinking
HON 322N: Psychology of Video Games - Full
HON 322P: Chemistry of Global Climate Change
HON 322Q: Double Binds, Double Standards, & Double Work: Gender Issues in the Family & Workplace
HON 322R: Ethical Eating
HON 322T: Money Management
HON 322U: The 5 Ws of Human Trafficking: Who, What, Why, When, Where
HON 322V: Feminism and the Media - Cancelled
HON 322W: Conflicts in the Middle East
HON 322Y: That's Me in The Corner
HON 322Z: Wars and Peace - Full
HON 324A: Moving Past Bodice Ripping to Shredding the Patriarchy: Romance Novels as Tools for Justice
HON 324B: Music, Acoustics, and Architecture

Full Semester HON 322A, HERoic Theatre, W 2:10-3:00pm, Carver 0338, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4651005

About the Course: Join ISU Theatre faculty Amanda Petefish-Schrag and Tiffany Antone, for an immersive look at plays from ISU’s 2019/2020 Season comprised of work by female playwrights. This class invites students to read and discuss plays by prominent female playwrights, attend and analyze ISU Theatre productions, and meet/engage with exciting visiting guest artists. Additional opportunities to attend/participate in our HERoic Symposium will also be available to enrolled students. *Additional meeting times to include opening night performances of The Wolves, 9-5, and Of the Deep

About the Instructors: Amanda Petefish-Schrag is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Iowa State University. Her professional credits include work as a playwright, puppeteer, director, and mom. Her playwriting work has been produced at festivals and theaters in London, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Iowa City, and has been published by Playscripts, Inc., and Smith and Kraus. Amanda is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the International Union of Marionette Artists, and the Puppeteers or America. Tiffany Antone is a playwright, performer, and director, who teaches Acting and Oral Interpretation for ISU Theatre. She is the Artistic Director for Little Black Dress INK, a female playwright producing organization, and architect behind Protest Plays Project, an online theatre resource which initiates collaborative theatre actions for positive social change around the nation. She has presented research/taught workshops for the Association of Theatre in Higher Education and The Dramatist Guild, and is a contributing writer for HowlRound.com.

First Half Semester HON 322B, Pop!: Writing and Thinking about Popular Culture, M 12:10-2:00pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, First Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4652005

About the Course: Stranger Things, Beyoncé, Fortnite, Avengers: Endgame, the NBA finals. We all engage in popular culture in some way--whether it's following our favorite team, binge-watching a television series, playing a videogame, or listening to an album the day it drops. But how do we think about the way we consume that culture? What is its importance in our lives? This class will be a way to think about the way in which popular culture shapes us and we shape it. In addition to talking about different pieces of popular culture and how we analyze them, we'll also approach different ways to write about them (critically, creatively, or even multimodally--such as YouTube reviews).

About the Instructor: Chloe N. Clark is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the English Department. She is the author of two books, co-EIC of Cotton Xenomorph: An Online Literary Journal, and writes about popular culture for Nerds of a Feather.

Second Half Semester HON 322C, Stranger Stories: Writing Flash Fiction, M 8:00-9:50am, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, Second Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4653005

About the Course: Flash fiction is more and more becoming one of the most popular forms of storytelling creatively, especially as more reading goes digital. But how do we use such a small space (250-1000 words) to tell a complete story? This class will focus on reading and writing in the short form. Each week we'll tackle a different writing concept or genre of flash fiction with the ultimate goal of ending the semester with at least one "publishable" piece.

Full Semester HON 322D, Orchid Mania, W 9:00-9:50am, Horticulture 0138, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4654005

About the Course: Orchids are among the most fascinating groups of plants on earth. Their beautiful and unique flowers have created an allure that is legendary. Whether it is flower hunters searching tropics around the world for orchids, plant physiologists trying to understand how these unique plants function, or enthusiastic collectors trying to grow these plants, orchid mania is real! This seminar will focus on the world of orchids, introducing you to the physiology, history, lore, and culture of the world of orchids. This seminar is geared toward non-life science majors.

About the Instructor: Christopher Currey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture specializing in greenhouse crop production. He specializes in determining how mineral nutrition, light, and temperature affects the growth of ornamental and edible greenhouse crops. Before he was a faculty member, he was a commercial orchid grower and produced thousands of flowering plants. In addition to growing orchids in a greenhouse, he has pursued orchids in the wild and outdoors, ranging from the bogs of northern Minnesota to Ireland, to the forests of Tennessee to Costa Rica, and the mountains of Montana to Thailand and Australia!

Full Semester HON 322E, Get Outside! – A History and Exploration of Our State and National Park Systems, F 12:10-1:00pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4655005

About the Course: A space to connect with the natural world, to preserve this country’s natural treasures, and for people from around the world to come together in awe of the beauty and power of Mother Nature, our state and national parks are a commodity worth understanding. In this course, you will learn about the ongoing history of public lands in the United States, through classroom discussions and guest lectures, individual reading/research, and out of class experiences in our local state and public parks. We will delve into topics including but not limited to the history of public lands in the United States, the impact of park creation on indigenous communities, current issues in land management policy, and environmental research and the parks. The class will cap off with an overnight camping trip to Ledges State Park near the end of the semester - tentatively scheduled for April 24 to the 25.

**Other out of class experiences will be announced in the course syllabus.

About the Instructor: Katie Flannery is the Assistant Director for the Upper Division University Honors Program. She earned her B.S. in History with a minor in Psychology from Iowa State and then went on to get her M.A. in Leadership in Student Affairs from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN. Katie has a passion for the outdoors, and specifically for the United States’ National Parks system. It is her hope to visit all of them in her lifetime, and she is slowly but surely making progress towards that goal! It has been her dream to teach a seminar on state and national parks for the Honors Program since she started working for Honors in 2018, and she is very excited to share her passion for the great outdoors with you!

First Half Semester HON 322F, Everyday Leadership, M 3:10-5:00pm, Sukup Hall 3219, 1 Credit, First Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4661005

About the Course: What is leadership? How do you identify your leadership potential? How do we lead everyday? This seminar will emphasize the servant leadership model and the principles of strengths based leadership. The seminar will start by exploring servant leadership and the formal versus informal leadership roles and opportunities. Then the role of how our individual strengths impact our leadership style and how we can use those strengths to make a positive difference in our personal and professional responsibilities. We will discuss formal and informal leadership examples from history and current affairs. By the end of the semester, you will be in a stronger position to recognize and then act on leadership opportunities to put into practice everyday leadership.

About the Instructor: Steven A. Freeman, University Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is a past president of the ISU faculty senate and has worked in the President’s Office for the last six years as the Faculty Advisor to the President. He also spent a decade in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching serving as the associate director for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and faculty mentoring. Dr. Freeman’s teaching and research is the areas of occupational safety, SoTL, and professional development.

Second Half Semester HON 322G, Disrupting Ableism: Leading Change on Campus, W 4:10-6:00pm, Carver Hall 0002, 1 Credit, Second Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, US Diversity, Reference # 4664005

About the Course: In this course, we focus on ableism and disableism on this campus and campuses across the U.S. thinking critically to examine who and what are benefited by ableism. We will explore the rich history of the disability rights movement and meet with Disability Rights Iowa staff attorneys. Finally, students will work on a leadership initiative to address ableism in an aspect of ISU campus life they identify. The course textbook is available online at no cost. We expect and look forward to students participating in the manners that best connect with their career interests, learning needs, and access needs.

About the Instructors: Leslie Ginder is Iowa State’s Employee Accommodation Coordinator and a student at Drake University in the MS Leadership Development. Taren Crow is Director of Career Services in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and has a Masters’ in Higher Education.

First Half Semester HON 322H, Christianity and Science, R 11:00am-12:50pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, First Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4668005

About the Course: Religion and science are two of the greatest forces that influence mankind. They 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. This seminar will explore the interaction and boundaries between science and theology in this area of common interest. Topics and questions addressed included: • Are Christianity and science friends or foes? • The nature and limitations of science. • The history of life on earth: The views from science and the Bible • What about human origins? • Does science and/or evolution rule out God? • Can something about God be known from nature? We will explore these topics through the writings of well-known scientists and theologians with expertise in these areas. Class time will generally be spent discussing weekly reading assignments.

About the Instructor: Ann L. Smiley is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and is also on faculty in Neuroscience. She directs the Neuromotor Control and Learning Research Laboratory studying how the brain controls movement, specifically in Parkinson’s disease and, currently, in Developmental Dyslexia. As a teacher, she has a passion to engage her students to think, integrate, and question. One question worth examining is one’s personal worldview. This course provides input for this process. In her personal examination and questioning, she has found science and the Christian faith to be compatible.

Full Semester HON 322J, Superheroes and Psychology, M 10:00-10:50am, Gilman 1312, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4678005

About the Course: Have you only seen one episode of Arrow? Have you read every single Captain America comic going all the way back to the Invaders era? Do you have only moderate interest in the way humans think? Do you find psychology fascinating? Either way, this is the class for you! Using superhero characters from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, television, novels, and more, this class will examine psychology topics such as cognitive dissonance, moral disengagement, stereotyping and ableism, parasocial relationships, social norms, psychotherapy, and narrative persuasion. We will have the chance to discuss these and other psychology topics in the context of our favorite superhero media, whatever those media may happen to be.

About the Instructor: Kelly Kane is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on the roles of narrative in attitude change and social cognition, including topics such as narrative transportation, media effects, belief perseverance, dual-process persuasion, and internet misinformation. She is currently working on projects that examine ways individuals can resist narrative persuasion, how metacognitive experiences of narrative engagement influence attitude change, and how narrative can inform our understanding of fake news.

First Half Semester HON 322K, Political Activism and Advocacy: Making Government Work for You, W 3:10-5:00pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, First Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4679005

About the Course: Being politically active means more than just yelling at the TV during campaign commercials. It means we must engage with our government officials--most important are the ones that we elected to represent us. In this seminar, we will explore how to influence government officials by being an effective citizen lobbyist. For this seminar, you should be interested in public policy and how decisions by local and state governments affect your life.

About the Instructor: Amanda Knief is the director of Iowa State University's Lectures Program. She received her B.S. in Journalism and Communication from Iowa State and her J.D. from Drake University Law School. She worked as legislative counsel for the Iowa Legislature before working in Washington, D.C. as a nonprofit lobbyist, nonprofit legal director, and analyst for the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service. Knief is the author of The Citizen Lobbyist, and as a citizen advocate, she has written bills that have been introduced by elected officials in four states.

HON 322L, It’s a Musical! Oklahoma to Hamilton to Hadestown, January 31-February 2, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, One Weekend Course, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4680005

About the Course: You may love Wicked and treasure your autographed playbill from Hamilton, but how much do you really know about the genres surrounding Broadway musicals? Can you deconstruct a musical and compare them to one another? From Oklahoma! to Hadestown, this one-credit seminar focuses on the core pieces of the Broadway musical. We will do a deeper dive in Hamilton, as it is An American Musical. “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” In this course, we seek to understand why certain genres have “succeeded in business” while others have failed. We will explore the Great White Way and the business trends of theater extending from the Golden Age of Musicals into the present-day. How are shows financed and how do they earn a return to their investors? We might be able to do a Q&A with a two-time Tony-winning producer to discuss how shows are produced and find financial success. “I believe” that you are going to enjoy this seminar. “Do not throw away your shot!”

**NOTE: This course will take place over the course of the weekend of January 31-February 2. In addition, you are asked to attend “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Des Moines Civic Center on Sunday, January 19, 2020 and “Waitress” at Stephens Auditorium on March 12, 2020. There will be no other meeting times throughout the semester. To take this course, students must be able to dedicate the entirety of the weekend between Friday, January 31 at 5:00pm and Sunday, February 2 until about 3:00pm to the course. No exceptions will be made, attendance is mandatory for the full weekend schedule and attendance at the two listed productions. Tickets will be provided for the Broadway shows. Students unable to attend the event in Des Moines will be able to view the recent TV production instead. Please contact Laurie Law (lfiegel@iastate.edu) if you have questions.

About the Instructors: Dr. Mark Law is the director of the University of Florida Honors Program, which is the best job on any campus. Despite being a lifelong musical theatre buff and a decent baritone, he ended up as an electrical engineer. He performed in high school and occasionally sings with a local ensemble. At UF, he has led courses on Chernow’s Hamilton, Carole King’s Autobiography, and Musical Genres. He is a proud alum of Iowa State Honors. He is an associate producer of the hit Off-Broadway show Puffs and will be investing in other theater opportunities in the future. Laurie Smith Law is the Administrative Director of the University Honors Program. Ms. Law has been working with high ability students for the past 20 years and has taught several honors seminars. She has offered 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.

Full Semester HON 322M, Design Thinking, M 12:10-1:00pm, Armory 0086, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4681005

About the Course: For the past decade, there has been the buzz that Design Thinking is going to help change or save the world! Really?! Maybe. We do know that thinking in Design does entail a challenging balance between critical and creative approaches to explore the impact products and services, or sometimes processes and strategies have in this world. We can even say that thinking and doing by design does open the door for possibilities, mostly creating new experiences, environments, lifestyles and behaviors - it asks "what if..." and "why not?...". Let us say that Design Thinking is a creative problem-solving and decision-making approach with a unique set of qualities: it is human-centered, possibility-driven, option-focused and highly iterative. In this seminar, we are going to explore together if and how can you use Design thinking to bring value to the re-interpretation of existing and future societal problems, with a view to generate paths and solutions that are novel, useful, surprising and meaningful. At least, we can try. Why not?

About the Instructor: Since July 2018, Ana Luz moved from the other side of the pond (Portugal, UK and the Netherlands) to the USA, working now fully as an educator, consultant and researcher in Design, in particular within the team of the Industrial Design Department at the College of Design. She also has a parallel background in Educational studies, Skills Training Programmes and Learning curriculum development. Her continuous work in and outside academia, creative industries and change management teams, is always based in experiential active learning by tapping into design concepts and tools of collaboration, aiming to spark creative confidence and intrapreneurship adventures around her. https://www.design.iastate.edu/industrialdesign/people/faculty/analuz/

Full Semester HON 322N, Psychology of Video Games, F 2:10-3:00pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 4687005

About the Course: Video games have quickly emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the last half-century. From Pong, to Fortnite and Farmville, interactive entertainment has permeated many facets of our lives. But what makes video games unique as a medium? Why do we like them so much? Can video games be good for us? Do violent games have negative effects? Can people become addicting to gaming? What does the advent of virtual reality mean for gaming? In this class, we will explore all these questions and more as we dive into the latest research and theories behind video games and why we play them.

About the Instructors: Andreas Miles-Novelo is a third-year graduate student in Social Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction. His research focuses on virtual reality, gaming, and whether skills can be transferred from virtual environments to real-world scenarios. Johnie J. Allen is a doctoral candidate in Social Psychology and is in his sixth year at ISU. His research focuses on the positive and negative effects of using electronic media with a special emphasis on video games in relation to motivation, morality, well-being, and aggression. Both students are mentored by Dr. Craig A. Anderson, a world-renowned psychologist whose research on gaming and aggression has greatly impacted the field.

Second Half Semester HON 322P, Chemistry of Global Climate Change, W 10:00-11:50am, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, Second Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 5111005

About the Course: Climate change is a controversial topic that has sociological, political, geological, and economic impact, with any fundamental appreciation arising from the natural sciences. What are some of the important chemical issues regarding the evolution of the earth’s climate? During this seminar, we will discuss chemistry associated with climate change, such as the carbon cycle and substances that contribute to the greenhouse effect. We will also look at how changes in global temperature affects the earth’s water and land. During student-led discussions on selected current topics, we will examine how to assess relevant scientific data and to distinguish different types of evidence and their reliability.

About the Instructors: Gordon Miller (PhD, University of Chicago, 1986) joined the faculty at Iowa State in 1990. His research has focused on preparing and characterizing novel metal-rich solids with complex structures and for use in magnetic refrigeration and as permanent magnets. He regularly teaches introductory chemistry courses, most recently Chem 178, and graduate courses in solid-state chemistry and group theory. Irmi Schewe-Miller (PhD, University of Stuttgart, Germany, 1990) was a post-doctoral researcher in Chemical Engineering and the Ames Laboratory until 1995. She joined the faculty at Iowa State as a lecturer in 2008 and teaches the synthetic inorganic laboratory (Chem 401/501) and some introductory courses.

Full Semester HON 322Q, Double Binds, Double Standards, & Double Work: Gender Issues in the Family & Workplace, M 2:10-3:00pm, Carver Hall 0098, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 5113005

About the Course: This seminar will explore a variety of gender issues surrounding the intersection of our family and work identities. You will learn how gender stereotypes, sexism, and discrimination influence women as romantic partners, mothers, and employees. You will also learn about the (dis)advantages men experience at home and work. We will discuss the ways you can contribute to positive change through your choices, interactions, and activism. You will have an opportunity to share your own experiences, read research on these gender topics, and develop a research-based project on work-family issues.

About the Instructor: Dr. Kelly G. Odenweller is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Communication Studies program. She teaches courses on relational, gender, and professional communication, and advises Communication Studies majors on their senior capstone projects. Her research focuses on how communication about identity, stereotypes, and prejudice can improve relationships inside and outside of the family. She is currently working on two research projects that are closely related to the theme of this proposed seminar: (1) work-family conflict and coping communication among dual-earner couples and (2) faculty members’ support, mentoring, and advocacy of parenting/pregnant students.

Second Half Semester HON 322R, Ethical Eating, W 12:10-2:00pm, 255 Bessey Hall, 1 Credit, Second Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 5117005

About the Course: “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: John Pleasants teaches Environmental Biology, Human Biology and General Biology. His research is in the area of the environmental effects of GMO’s, particularly with regard to monarch butterflies. This will be the 12th year I have offered this course. It has been a great learning experience for me and for the students. The diversity of students in the class, particularly the participation by students in majors involving production agriculture and food science, has provided different perspectives and produced lively discussions.

First Half Semester HON 322T, Money Management, R 4:10-6:00pm, 3164 Gerdin, 1 Credit, First Half Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, Reference # 2968005

About the Course: This course is designed to help students acquire sound money management skills. It will include a series of seminars featuring experts in the field of finance. Students will have an opportunity to directly interact with the finance professionals and also learn from their lectures. The objective of this course is help students learn to effectively manage student loans, credit card debt, create balanced budgets, develop good saving habit, identify profitable investment options, and follow proper risk management strategies. Our guest speakers include Tom Coates- CEO Consumer Credit of Des Moines, Jake Zehr- Wealth Management Adviser, TIAA CREF, Mitch Peterson, Branch Manager - Stifel Nicolaus, Rick Reger- Agent, American National Insurance Co. and Chad Olson, Assistant Director, Office of Financial Aid ISU.

About the Instructor: Shoba Premkumar is a Teaching Professor at the Ivy College of Business and has been teaching Corporate Finance courses since 2003.

Full Semester HON 322U, The 5 Ws of Human Trafficking: Who, What, Why, When, Where, T 12:10-2:00pm, Morrill 1030, 2 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, US Diversity, Reference # 2977005

About the Course: This seminar will explore the phenomenon of human trafficking within the United States and beyond. Students will learn about the history of and concepts that define trafficking; the intersectionalities of race, gender, nationality, etc.; legal and political ramifications of trafficking, and how they can make a difference in their community by educating peers about this crime against humanity. Guest speakers include representatives from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa, ISU Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery, etc.

About the Instructor: Dr. Alissa Stoehr is an Assistant Teaching Professor in 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 322V, Feminism and the Media, R 3:10-5:00pm, Morrill 1030, 2 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, US Diversity, Reference # 3552005

About the Course: Feminism is such a misunderstood topic in today’s society. Through discussing feminist texts and the showing of documentaries with feminist themes, you will begin to deconstruct feminism and what it actually means. You will also be able to create your own personal definition of feminism through completion of a final project. The documentaries will vary in time periods, with emphasis on specific identities (gender, race, class, etc.), and genre.

Full Semester HON 322W, Conflicts in the Middle East, T 2:10-3:00pm, Morrill 1030, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, International Perspective, Reference # 3675005

About the Course: What are the current political conflicts in the Middle East? How to understand the wars in the Middle East? The seminar will examine the current political conflicts and wars in the Middle East. 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.). Students will understand the “complicated Middle East” and how these conflicts are impacting the war on terrorism.

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 over 45 countries.

Full Semester HON 322Y, That’s Me in The Corner, W 2:10-3:00pm, Pearson 3157, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, International Perspective, Reference # 3725005

About the Course: How much do you know about the problems that many people in the world are facing today? Are you enough aware of all the plagues (organ traffic, modern slavery, children soldiers, forced prostitution, etc.) that are destroying the lives of millions of people around you? On the first day of the seminar, you will be given a photo that represents a random person suffering from one of today’s plagues. Who is this person? What is his/her problem? How come he/she has ended up in this situation? You will be asked to do a research about the issue represented in the photo and present it in class. You will learn more in-depth about issues that, even if they don’t make the headlines, affect millions of people in the world. In fact, with some bad luck, you could have been that person in the corner!

Full Semester HON 322Z, Wars and Peace, M 2:10-3:00pm, Pearson 3157, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, International Perspective, Reference # 8334005

About the Course: How do conflicts between nations start? Why do we go to war? How do we make peace? Are wars the only option to solve conflicts? This seminar explores several past and present global conflicts to understand the mechanisms that lead nations to wars and/or the steps that are put into place to resolve international conflicts. You will investigate how the worst adversaries could one day become the best allies (for example, France/Germany, USA/Japan, etc.) or vice-versa (Iran/USA, etc.). The goal is to analyze the different steps that start or end wars, and thereby gain insights into resolving issues in conflictual situations. In this seminar, you will be asked to research one topic of interest and present it to your peers. Topics will include but are not limited to: • France and Germany • Germany and USA • Japan and USA • Japan and China • USA and Iran • USA and Russia • USA and Vietnam • Cyprus and the Northern Cyprus • Ex-Yugoslavia • Conflicts in the Middle East • Conflicts in Africa • North Korea and South Korea • Ireland and Northern Ireland

Full Semester HON 324A, Moving Past Bodice Ripping to Shredding The Patriarchy: Romance Novels as Tools for Justice, T 5:10-6:00pm, Jischke 1151, 1 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, US Diversity, Reference # 0592005

About the Course: The romance genre is a billion dollar industry that outperforms all other book genres. It’s also a genre that centers the experiences, interests, and pleasure of women and people from marginalized spaces. How does a book with a guaranteed happily ever after serve as a tool for justice? This discussion-based seminar will dive into where romance novels hit the mark, where they fail, and how one of the largest segments of publishing industry has the power to change minds, hearts, and structures.

About the Instructors: Dr. Denise Williams-Klotz is the assistant director in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, has worked in higher education doing social justice education for over a decade, and is a romance novelist with her debut novel releasing next year. She’s been interested in romantic and social justice happily ever afters since she wrote her first story in the 2nd grade. Emily Wilcox is the assistant director for First-Year Programs in the University Honors Program and has been enthusiastically reading romance novels for several years. She is looking forward to working with Dr. Williams-Klotz for the first time since they were Undergraduate Assistants for ISU's Honors Program in 2003.

Full Semester HON 324B, Music, Acoustics, and Architecture, R 10:00-11:50am, Music 0024, 2 Credit, Full Semester, Enrollment Limit: 17, International Perspective, Reference # 0593005

About the Course: How does sound and/or music create structure? How and why are sound-absorbing or reflective materials chosen? How do structural and architectural details affect the creation of music, shape, volume (size and loudness), quality, clarity, augmentation, or absorption of reverberant sound and vibrations? How do we measure the flow of energy in sound fields? We will explore the interrelationship of sound and space via field experiences, discussions, readings, recordings, and research presentations by guests and class members. We will ask many questions, and investigate international theory, history, and practice including case studies of concert halls, opera houses, places of worship, health care centers, university environments, and musical instruments.

About the Instructor: Dr. Miriam Zach, Ph.D. is a 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. She is also Director of Music-Organist at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Founding Director of international festivals of women composers (iwclib.org), and enjoys playing chamber music as a member of the Alachua Consort. From 1996-2016 at the University of Florida she taught interdisciplinary Honors Music and Health, undergraduate and graduate Music History, organ, and harpsichord, and was Professor of the Year 2000-01. She co-edited the book Resonance: Essays on the Intersection of Music and Architecture (2007), recorded the CD Hidden Treasures: 300 Years of Organ Music by Women Composers (1998) in Princeton University Chapel, and can be heard on Pipedreams National Public Radio (2007, 2010, 2013).