Fall 2008 Semester: printable copy

Spring 2009 Semester: printable copy
Fall 2009 Semester: printable copy

Spring 2009 Semester: printable copy

Honors Courses

UHP students will have the opportunity to enroll in interdisciplinary seminars, HONR courses, which are taught by top-notch faculty members who have been recognized for teaching excellence. Typically, five to six HONR courses will be offered during Fall and Spring semesters; however, UHP is pleased to offer 10 HONR courses for spring 2010. Please note the HONR 199 courses are for first and second-year students only; HONR 299 and 399 courses are open to all high ability students.

Additionally, several schools/colleges offer honors course divisions. UHP students also may take honors course divisions in order to fulfill honors diploma requirements.

HONR OFFERINGS

SPRING 2010

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HONR 19900, Section 001, CRN 20654

“Brain Disorders: Biological Basis, Treatability, Attitudes, and Public Policy”

Instructor: Dr. Joseph Vanable                                                        

Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences

# of Credit Hours: 3                                                   

Days and Times:  T-TH 10:30 – 11:45

Brief Course Description:

Brain disorders are biologically-based illnesses that affect 8 in 100 of the population, and account for far more person-hours lost to disability than can be attributed to cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.  They can be treated with more success than can heart disease (success rate for schizophrenia is 60%, major depression is 70%, and bipolar disorder is 80%, heart disease treatment success rate is 51%), yet there is a great deal of stigma directed towards these illnesses, and public policy is typically crafted as if it is not possible to have effective treatment for them, and funds expended in treating them should be minimized, because they are essentially wasted funds.

This course will examine these and other issues associated with brain disorders, by a combination of lectures, discussion, reading primary and secondary sources (but not text books), writing research reports, and presenting them.  The sole prerequisite is to have an open and enquiring mind.  The approach will combine biology, psychology, medicine, law, and public policy, beginning with the fundamentals, and building on these to develop a broad and reasonably deep interdisciplinary understanding of what the present status quo is, and how this might evolve in the future.

CLA students: fulfills “non-lab science” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students:  fulfills “non-lab science” in Mgmt, Acct, & Econ -and-

“free elective” in IM

HONR 19900, Section 002, CRN 20655

“Science and Pseudoscience”

Instructor: Dr. Alan York

Professor Emeritus, Entomology

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/york/199G/199G.syllabus.Sp08.html

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times:  T-TH 12:00 – 1:15

Brief Course Description:

Daily we are barraged with information of an astounding nature: health claims, extra-terrestrial encounters, miracles, and nutrition and diet claims, to name a few. Newspapers, magazines, television “news”, and public speech present us with information that simply does not stand up to the rigor of scientific or logical examination. In this course, we will examine the basis of science and scientific thinking and the rigor and ethics that are a part of science, and apply this knowledge to many of the weird claims with which we are confronted daily. Through readings, video presentations, personal appearances, and discussion we will examine why people, educated and uneducated, make assumptions of fact that lead to belief in weird things. We will concentrate on using the precepts of science and scientific thinking to critically examine extraordinary “events”, paranormal events, and pseudoscience.

CLA students: fulfills “social ethics” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM, & Econ -or-

“non-lab science elective” for Mgmt, Acct, & Econ

HONR 19900, Section 006, CRN 33113

“The McDonaldization of Society”

Instructor: Dr. Mick La Lopa

http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/HTM/about/lalopa_mick.shtml

# of Credit Hours: 2

Days and Times:   W/F 11:30 - 12:20   

Brief Course Description:

This course is based on a concept known as McDonaldization, which is defined as the “process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant- McDonald’s- are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American Society as well as the rest of the world.” Students will explore and discuss the dimensions of McDonaldization which are efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control to see how they apply to their lives and the lives of those around them in both positive and negative ways.

CLA students: fulfills “Elective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “Free Elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM, & Econ

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  HONR 19900, Section 007, CRN 33116

“The Role of Animals in Societies of the World”

Instructor:  Dr. Mark A. Russell

http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/faculty/russe.htm

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times:  T-TH 9:00 – 10:15

Brief Course Description:

This course is an introduction of the importance of animals in various cultures and societies of the world.  Factors which influence the role of animals in society including physical and biological adaptations of animals and the role of traditions, culture, religions, geography, climatic, and socio-economics will all be discussed.  The disciplines related to anthropology, agriculture, and biology will be integrated as we explore the societal tensions and current issues surrounding animal-human interactions.  A high level of student led discussions and personal reflective writings are expected.

CLA students: fulfills “global perspective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “global perspective” in Econ and “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, & IM

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HONR 19900, Section 008, CRN 42770

“Visual-Spatial Thinking”

Instructor: Dr. James Mohler                                                

http://www.tech.purdue.edu/cgt/facultyandstaff/index.cfm?dept=Computer%20Graphics%20Technology&id=141

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times: T-TH 1:30-2:45

Brief Course Description:

Visual-spatial thinking is a critical skill to success in fields ranging from art and education to science and engineering.  Visual-spatial thinking allows engineers to mentally construct or deconstruct mechanisms, structures, and systems.  It allows scientists to envision organic or inorganic chemical and biological structures.  Programmers use it to cognitively construct software flow, inputs, and outputs.  Artists, educators, in fact, most fields use visual-spatial thinking in myriad ways, although it is seldom taught directly as a topic or skill for development.

This course focuses on understanding and developing visual-spatial thinking with no assumption of prior experience in the study of visual-spatial thinking.  Students will examine various aspects of visual-spatial thinking and related issues through lectures, discussion, reading, experiences, writing and presentation.

CLA students: fulfills “Free Elective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students:  fulfills “Free Elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM & Econ

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HONR 29900, Section 001, CRN 42767

  “Dracula and the Psychology of the Supernatural”

Instructor:  Dr. James Nairne

 http://www1.psych.purdue.edu/~nairne/home.html

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times:  T-TH 3:00 – 4:15

Brief Course Description:

Vampires have been among the most enduring and successful of supernatural concepts, with a cultural lineage tracing back for centuries. This course explores the historical, fictional, and psychological roots of the vampire. We’ll begin by tracing the fictional development of the modern vampire from its initial appearance in a fragmentary tale by Byron to the iconic novel written by Bram Stoker. We’ll isolate the defining features of the vampire, as personified through fiction, film, and folklore. We’ll detour as well into a discussion of history’s real Dracula—Vlad Tepes—and consider his exploits in 15th century Wallachia and Transylvania. Finally, with the concept of the vampire firmly in hand, we’ll explore the psychological and scientific basis of the supernatural. Our focus will be on the evolutionary origins of the supernatural—how did Nature, through the sculpting process of natural selection, produce minds that lean comfortably toward concepts like vampires? To anticipate, we’ll discover supernatural concepts have their roots in normal cognitive processes that evolved to solve fitness problem in ancestral environments.

*For brave ghouls and goblins: optional “film night” presentations, biweekly in the UHP lounge.

*For the bravest ghouls and goblins: Optional Study Abroad in Transylvania during the week of Spring Break, 2010. Separate course number and fee will apply. Click here for more details.

CLA students: fulfills “free elective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM & Econ

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HONR 29900, Section 002, CRN 42768

“Reading the Body: Medicine in the Ancient World”

Instructor:  Dr. Keith Dickson

http://www.cla.purdue.edu/classics/directory/index.cfm?personid=78

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times:  T-TH 9:00 – 10:15

Brief Course Description:

 A history of what ancient science saw when it looked at and into the body – its stuff, its structure, its health, and its pathology.  Beginning in Mesopotamia and Egypt, we will track the course of theories about the body and disease through Hippokrates, the anatomists of 3rd century BCE Alexandria, and Galen.  We will be guided by the idea that looking is always a theoretical act, that where you look and what you see depend on what you think is there.  True to this idea, the course will be divided more or less equally into reading, discussion, and real clinical practice, in an attempt to do medical diagnosis – to read the body – as the ancients did.  A significant writing component will include short essays and medical case histories.

CLA students: fulfills “western heritage” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “western heritage” in ECON; “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, & IM

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HONR 29900, Section 003, CRN 42769

“The Settling and Unsettling of the Americas”

Instructor:  Dr. Angelica Duran

http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/directory/Faculty/Duran,_Angelica.html

# of Credit Hours: 3

Days and Times:   MWF 10:30 – 11:20

Brief Course Description:

This course aims to aid students in understanding how various peoples and disciplines, especially literary authors and literature, have helped shaped today’s “Americas,” primarily the U. S. Its focus is on how today’s largest U. S. racial groups- those of Anglo and Hispanic origins- have interacted since the earliest stages of American colonization. The course will provide students with scholarly skills that will prove invaluable to them in any profession, as U. S. demographics continue to shift and as multicultural understanding is becoming more important in our globalized world. Course will include field trips to foster students’ thinking about African-Asian-and Native-American components as they settle on their final projects.

CLA students: fulfills “U.S. Traditions” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “U.S. Traditions” in Econ; “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, & IM

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  HONR 39900, Section 001, CRN 33114

“Scholarship and Fellowship Forum”

Instructor: Ms. Cristy Cornell                                  

http://www.purdue.edu/provost/honors/info/CristyCornell.shtml

Days and Times:   MW 2:30 – 3:20

Brief Course Description:

This course is designed to assist high achieving sophomores and juniors who are interested in preparing national and international post-baccalaureate scholarship applications. The course will begin by reviewing a number of scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, Jacob K. Javits, and Jack Kent Cooke, among others. We’ll pay close attention to the selection criteria and eligibility requirements, the stated mission/vision of the foundations which award the scholarships, as well as profiles of past award recipients. By doing so, students will be equipped to selectively apply for the award which best enables them to accomplish their educational and professional goals. The course will continue with opportunities for students to compose essential parts of the scholarship application, including the resume, personal statement and project proposal. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to learn more about soliciting strong letters of recommendation and practice interviewing skills.

CLA students: fulfills “free elective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM, & Econ

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  HONR 39900, Section 002, CRN 42771

“Work”

Instructor: Dr. Howard Weiss                      

http://www.psych.purdue.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=155

# of Credit Hours: 3   

Days and Times:   T-TH 10:30 – 11:45

Brief Course Description:

In this course we will examine the meaning of work across time and cultures.  We will search for the enduring aspects of work’s meaning to humans, themes that cut across context, and also for the meanings that are culture and/or time bound, meanings more of a time and of a place.  We will try to discover where these meanings come from, enduring meanings in basic biology and psychology, contextual meanings driven by technology or religion or social class.  To answer these questions we will explore the nature of work activities over time, from hunters-gathers to 21st century call center operators.  We will examine philosophical and religious writings about the nature of work, discussing the thoughts of, among others, Plato and Aristotle and Paul (“if anyone does not work, let him not eat”) and Augustine and Calvin, as well as the writings about work in other religious traditions (notably Judaism and Buddhism.) We will survey the research on the psychological effects of unemployment, to help understand the meaning of work to people by discovering what happens to them when it goes away.  We will debate the various definitions of work; definitions that often disparage important and rewarding activities not part of the typical employment structure (housework, as one example, volunteer work as another.) We will explore research on the basic human needs of people and how they are or are not fulfilled by work and by various kinds of work.  Part psychology, part sociology, part history, part anthropology, part religious studies, this course will be an interdisciplinary and free ranging reflection on the nature and meaning of work.

CLA students: fulfills “free elective” in core requirements

MANAGEMENT students: fulfills “free elective” in Mgmt, Acct, IM & Econ