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Honors Opportunities at DU

Course Offerings 2011-12

Honors Courses Spring Quarter 2012

The following Honors courses are offered Winter Quarter 2012 to fulfill University common curriculum and Honors Program Requirements.  For students who have already met university Humanities (AHUM/AISC) or Social Science ( SOCS/SISC) requirements, please see the list of pre-approved courses.    There are no preapproved classes for Spring 2012.

Analytical Inquiry:  Society (AHUM Foundations):  Honors Designated

  • PHIL 2260-1 (CRN 4430): Naomi Reshotko, Perception and Reality, MW 12:00-1:50, Mary Reed 1
    Course Description: 
    In this class we will concern ourselves with the theoretical hypothesis that our perceptions match up with, and threfore give us information about, an external and independent reality (what we call - the physicl world).  In order to engage this issue, we will look at the philosophical explorations of a number of historical figures in the Western Philosophical Tradition.

  • THEA 1862-1 (CRN 4407):  Allison Horsley, Discovering Dramatic Literature, MW 10:00-11:50, JMAC 107
    Course Description:
    This course is designed to achieve two equally important goals: 1) to provide students with the requisite skills to actively and fully engage a piece of dramatic literature; and 2) to develop a shared vocabulary and collective approach to analyzing a dramatic text. By exploring plays which represent a variety of eras, genres, and nations, we will achieve a greater understanding of the diversity of ―the canon‖ and the ever-changing landscape of dramatic literature. It is my ultimate goal that, by the end of this quarter, each student will have a veritable "toolkit" for approaching ANY piece of dramatic literature. The readings we cover in this class only scratch the surface of world dramatic literature. Though we will not cover theatre traditions of Asia, Africa, or South America, please be aware that our library and faculty have substantial collections to share from these continents.

Scientific Inquiry:  Society and Culture (SOCS Foundations):  Honors Designated    

  • PPOL 1910-1 (CRN 2976: Richard Lamm, Hard Choices in Public Policy, TR 10:00-11:50, Mary Reed 1
    Course Description:
    Hard Choices in Public Policy looks at many of the major public policy dilemmas facing the United States. More than any time in our countries history, problems and solutions involve public policy. The retirement of the Baby Boomers, a financial crisis that includes both a housing crash and a credit crunch, and a public that demands "change." And, no matter what your party affiliation, it’s difficult not to recognize the many public policy issues that need fresh eyes and a new generation’s input. These issues will heavily impact your future. We will study and debate issues such as Affirmative Action, health care, immigration, the criminal justice system, the economy, and entitlement reform, just to name a few. There will be a special emphasis on student input and debate.
There are two SINP sequences carrying Honors credit. Instead of SINP, Honors students may take one of the sequences intended for majors or minors in chemistry or physics to meet their Honors natural science requirement. 

  • BIOL 1272-1 (CRN 2788): Nancy Saski, Living in the Microbial World  III,  TR 12:00-1:30, Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall 202
    Course Description:
    This is a three-quarter honors sequence. In the first quarter we will examine the mechanisms of life seen through our unseen partners-microorganisms. In the fall quarter our discussions will start with a description of what microorganisms are and how they interact with the human species. We will consider the properties of complex molecules, including: DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, in order to see how such molecules are used and organized by microorganisms. We will consider this unicellular form of life in some detail and will discuss how humans manipulate microbes to their benefit. We will also examine how microbes are busy keeping us and our planet alive even when we are not looking! At the end of the quarter you will possess a foundation of knowledge needed to discuss the topics of the second and third quarters.
  • Labs for Living in the Microbial World III:
    BIOL 1271-2 (CRN 2789): Lisa Snelling, W 2:00-4:50, Olin 125
    BIOL 1271-3 (CRN 2790): Lisa Snelling, W 2:00-4:50, Olin 145
    BIOL 1271-4 (CRN 2791): Lisa Snelling, R 2:00-4:50, Olin 125
  • GEOG 1266-1 (CRN 2818): Mike Daniels, Global Environmental Change and Sustainability III, MW 12:00-1:30, BAUD 103
    Course Description:
    Global Environmental Change‖ is a three-quarter honors course that introduces students to the fundamental processes that govern Earth‘s changing physical and biological environments. The first quarter explores the dynamic nature of Earth‘s atmosphere including processes that affect weather and climate, the role of energy in the atmosphere and the causes and potential implications of global climate change. The second is devoted to the impacts of global change on the biosphere including topics such as biodiversity, evolution and speciation, and the origins of agriculture. The third quarter of the sequence focuses on terrestrial landscapes and environments, including changes from plate tectonics to human modifications of Earth‘s land surface.
  • Labs for Global Environmental Change and Sustainability III: 
    GEOG 1265-2 (2819): Mike Daniels, R 8:00-9:50, Boettcher West 16
    GEOG 1265-3 (CRN 2820): Mike Daniels, R 2:00-350, Boettcher West 16
    GEOG 1265-4 (CRN 2821): Mike Daniels, R 10:00-11:50, Boettcher West 16

Advanced Seminar (CORE: Writing Intensive):  Honors Designated

  • ASEM 2666-1 (CRN 3027): Rafael Ioris, Development in Latin America, TR 2:00-3:50, location TBA
    Course Description: 
    This is a writing-intensive interdisciplinary advanced seminar course centered on examining the protracted efforts made by several countries in the Latin America in order to promote different projects of economic and political development. The course is designed to students of various fields and disciplines (such as Political Science, History, Sociology, Anthropology, International Relations, Business, Economics, etc.) who commonly share an interest in studying the theme of national development and in seeking a better understanding of the problems, challenges, and alternatives for social improvement in the Latin American region and/or in developing societies in general. Among other topics, we will analyze the incorporation of Latin American countries into the international economy and the consolidation of its local oligarchic regimes (circa 1880s to 1930s); the importance of populism and elite pacts (of the 1940s and 1950s) for the promotion of industrial programs; the process of radicalization of the left, the democratic breakdowns and the ensuing military rule (of the mid-1960s and 1970s); the transitions to democratic rule (1980s); the implementation of market-oriented reforms (1990s); and the current challenges for democratic consolidation, social equality, and poverty alleviation. Our central goal is to understand whether these various projects represented in any way as process of change, innovation, and social inclusion in the historical evolution of Latin American or whether the path of historical continuity and economic exclusion was the norm of development promotion in the region.

Honors WRIT

Honors Writing is the culminating quarter of the three-quarter DU writing requirement. In the Fall, every first year takes a first-year seminar. Honors students then enroll in WRIT 1622 unless they have tested out with an AP Language score of 4 or 5, an AP Literature score of 5, or an IB score of 5+.   Honors WRIT 1733 (formerly called WRIT 1522) is then required either instead of or in addition to 1622.   Course descriptions will be sent in a later email and will be available on the Writing Program website (http://www.du.edu/writing/first-year.htm )

  • CRN 2399 - WRIT 1733-1: Jennifer Campbell MW 10:00-11:50, location TBA
  • CRN 2400 - WRIT 1733-2: John Tiedeman, TR 12:00-1:50, Sturm 210
  • CRN 2401 - WRIT 1733-3: Bradley Benz, TR 2:00-3:50, Sturm 335
  • CRN 2683 - WRIT 1733-4: Heather Martin, TR 10:00-11:50, Sturm 476
  • CRN 3101 - WRIT 1733-5: Doug Hesse, MW 8:00-9:50, BMC 218
  • CRN 3102 - WRIT 1733-6: Kara Taczak, TR 4:00-5:50, Mary Reed 21
  • CRN 3393 - WRIT 1733-7: Shawn Alfrey, TR 8:00-9:50, Mary Reed 1

Honors Seminars

  • HNRS 2400-1 (CRN 2202): Shawn Alfrey, Engaging the Bard:  DU Students and the DPS Shakespeare Festival - Carson Elementary School, R 3:00-4:50, Mary Reed 1
    Course Description:
    In this course DU students will work with the students and program of the Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival. Originally begun as a way to support DPS efforts in literacy and enrichment, the Festival takes place every May in the Galleria and on the grounds of the Denver Center for Performing Arts. It involves around 4,000 DPS students and has been a model for school districts from San Diego to Germany. DU students will work with a group of elementary students as they master a scene and then perform it at the Festival. The course is offered both winter and spring quarters to meet the needs of the DPS students, whose semester runs from January through May. Those taking the course in the Winter quarter will choose and edit the scene, help cast students and help students understand the play and block it. They will devise and lead acting and group exercises and will teach information relating to Shakespeare work and Elizabethan times. In their readings and discussions with their DU peers, they will explore the history and purpose of efforts at mass education, analyze the role of Shakespeare as a focus of cultural value, develop strategies for working with primary students and explore the value of engaging them in such sophisticated literary and dramatic traditions.
  • HNRS 2400-2 (CRN 2603): Spencer Wellhofer, The Sacred and the Secular:  Religion and Politics in the Modern World, T 2:00-3:50, Sturm 411
    Course Description:
    Contrary to the predictions of most theorists from the 1960s to the 1980s, religion has not faded away with modernization and globalization. We will examine the explanations for the religious resurgence and students will do on-line data analysis exploring religion and politics in the modern world.
  • HNRS 2400-3 (CRN 23089): Shawn Alfrey, Engaging the Bard: DU Students and the DPS Shakespeare Festival - Morey Middle School, W 2:00-3:50,Mary Reed 1 
    Course Description:
    In this course DU students will work with the students and program of the Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival. Originally begun as a way to support DPS efforts in literacy and enrichment, the Festival takes place every May in the Galleria and on the grounds of the Denver Center for Performing Arts. It involves around 4,000 DPS students and has been a model for school districts from San Diego to Germany. DU students will work with a group of elementary students as they master a scene and then perform it at the Festival. The course is offered both winter and spring quarters to meet the needs of the DPS students, whose semester runs from January through May. Those taking the course in the Winter quarter will choose and edit the scene, help cast students and help students understand the play and block it. They will devise and lead acting and group exercises and will teach information relating to Shakespeare work and Elizabethan times. In their readings and discussions with their DU peers, they will explore the history and purpose of efforts at mass education, analyze the role of Shakespeare as a focus of cultural value, develop strategies for working with primary students and explore the value of engaging them in such sophisticated literary and dramatic traditions.
  • HNRS 2400-4 (CRN 4455): Karen Loeb, Mind of a Leader, W 10:00-11:50, Mary Reed 1
    Course Description:
    This course is intended to explore advanced topics in Leadership by examining the relation between human development and leadership behaviors that extend beyond a single occupational or professional domain. Howard Gardner’s book, Leading Minds, will serve as primary text, in which he explores this relationship, as documented in the stories of eleven well-known 20th century leaders. Some of these leaders were direct, some indirect, some innovative, some visionary, some domain-specific, some national leaders. This approach differs from the classical approaches of psychology personality theorists who study leadership behaviors or traits as well as more recent conceptions of transactional and transformational models of leadership which promote a focus on the interactions between leaders and followers. Gardner’s model, instead, emphasizes the connection of the minds of leaders and followers through the compelling narratives that leaders convey. In this course, students will also critically examine the applicability of Gardner’s model to 21st century leaders who head nations, who work for women’s rights in Muslim countries, who campaign on behalf of indigents’ rights in South Africa and India, and who expose public policies that restrict opportunities for minorities and women.

  • HNRS 2400-5 (CRN 4625): Erika Trigoso,Geography and Genealogy, T 3:00-4:50, Mary Reed 1
    Course Description: 
    Geography & Genealogy is designed to provide a detailed overview of genealogy in relation to the geographic, religious, economic, political and social processes that shaped the migration choices of our ancestors. The course will be taught under a discussion format with lectures focusing on intensive research of a variety of primary and secondary sources such as Ellis Island records and Census records. This seminar will explore topics such as ethnic chain migration and great historical events in migration history. This course includes a field trip to the Latter Day Saints Church library and/or historical society in Denver. It requires weekly assignments and extended papers exploring the family migration history of each student in the class.

  • HNRS 3991 (CRN 2090), Honors Independent Study
    For projects under the guidance of DU faculty that you would like to work on for Honors credit, to be approved by the Honors Program

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