Honors Core Curriculum

Offered for the first time in Fall 2006, the Honors Core Curriculum is specially designed for first and second year Honors students. The courses are interdisciplinary and fulfill General Education requirements. Students entering in 2007 or later are required to complete at least one core course to earn the Sophomore Honors Certificate. Don't miss the chance to participate in this great experience!

Theme: “Nature Transformed”

ECON 107 (1107) – Honors Core: Economics, Nature, and the Environment
Content Area 2 – Social Sciences
3 credits
Instructor: Olivier Morand:
Spring 2008 syllabus
Course Description: This course will study of the interaction between people and their natural environment from a global and historical perspective.  The course is multidisciplinary and synthesizes valuable insights from various disciplines, including economics and the social sciences, geography, archaeology, history, ecology, while emphasizing a scientific approach.  Topics of study will include the impact of nature on societies; effects of geography and climate on economic development and income inequality.  The impact of humans on their environment; environmental problems; collapse of societies; and sustainable development will also be discussed.

INTD 170 (1700)– Honors Core: Walden and the American Landscape
Content Area 1 – Arts & Humanities
3 credits
Instructors: Robert Gross, Janet Pritchard, & Robert Thorson
Sample syllabus
Course Description: Henry David Thoreau's Walden (1854) is both a classic of American literature and a foundation of the environmental movement. This team-taught, interdisciplinary course explores the interplay of nature, history, and aesthetics in the making of Thoreau's text. Topics include the geological development of the Walden ecosystem; the economic reshaping of the Walden environment in the mid-19th century; the social critique, scientific ideas, and aesthetic notions informing Thoreau's work; and the impact of Walden on Americans' views of themselves and their sense of place. The course applies perspectives from art, geology, literature, and social and intellectual history. The format will consist of common lectures and panels, weekly discussion sections, and field trips to Walden Pond in Concord.
(This course is open to freshmen and sophomores in the Honors Program.)

MUSI 105 (1005) – Honors Core:  Music, Nature, & the Environment
Content Area 1 - Arts & Humanities
3 Credits
Instructor: Glenn Stanley
Sample syllabus
Course Description: This course focuses on how musicians in the “western art tradition” have engaged with nature and the environment in the creation and performance of their music. I use both nature and environment in my title, because I see a distinction between them.  Nature can exist independently of mankind; there is nature where there is no civilization of any kind, no interaction between man and nature.  Environment means the positioning of civilization within nature, and connotes the interactions between nature and civilization.  For this reason the course will fall into two main parts.  First we will explore some of the ways that musicians have drawn upon nature as a source of inspiration, imitated and glorified nature, looking at different kinds of music (songs, opera, orchestral music) beginning with the late middle ages and concluding in the twentieth century.  Then we will study how music has been used, in the recent past and continuing today, to call attention to the dangers facing the environment in an increasingly industrialized world with a growing population and patterns of settlement and production that threatens a fragile equilibrium between man and nature.  During the first week of the semester a basic introduction to the materials and forms of music will be provided.  Two short papers, a mid-term exam and a final exam.

Theme: “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Health, Humanity, and the Life Sciences”

BME/CSE/MCB 120 (1401)- Honors Core: Computational Molecular Biology
PENDING Approval for Content Area 3 - Science & Technology
3 Credits
Instructor: Ion Mandoiu, Craig Nelson
Sample syllabus
Course Description: This course is an introduction to computational genomics through lectures, computer lab exercises, and mentored research projects. Started in 1995 by the completion of the first genome sequence of a free-living organism, H. influenzae, the genomic era has already led to hundreds of complete genome sequences deposited in public databases and many more genome projects at various stages of completion. The huge amounts of available genome data are revolutionizing biomedical research, but fully exploiting them requires powerful computational and statistical methods. The main objective of the course is to provide students with a general understanding of the field of computational genomics, including current problems and research. Students will become familiar with fundamental molecular biology concepts and computational techniques, and will learn how to use the Matlab bioinformatics toolbox for solving problem in genomics.

MCB 125 - Honors Core: The Genetics Revolution in Contemporary Culture
PENDING Approval for Content Area 3 - Science & Technology
Instructor: Rachel O’Neill (Molecular and Cell Biology) & Michael O'Neill (Molecular and Cell Biology)
Spring 2008 syllabus
Description: This course will introduce students to genetics and genetic technologies. Various forms of popular culture, including news clips, movies, books and art will be used to provide a framework for the syllabus and will introduce students to various genetics and technology topics. A textbook will be used for the scientific material, which will be discussed in the context of the interpretation of science in modern society. The students will learn the scientific principles of genetics and genetic technology as well as the impact these topics have had on our culture, attitudes towards science, domestic and foreign policy as well as medical practice and law.

AH/NUSC 130 – Honors Core: Interdisciplinary Approach to Obesity Prevention (temporarily listed as AH 298)
PENDING Approval for Content Area 3 - Science & Technology
Valerie Duffy (Allied Health) & Nancy Rodriguez (Nutritional Sciences)
Spring 2008 syllabus
Description: Obesity is considered a national epidemic and possibly a pandemic as it affects many developed countries around the world.  This interdisciplinary course explores the 1) biology of obesity including genetic predispositions and behaviors that increase obesity risk (dietary, physical activity, social, psychological), 2) the obesigenic environment, including how communities are physically built, as well as the economic relationship to obesity risk, and 3) policy and ethical implications for obesity prevention.  Multi-level obesity prevention approaches that involve the individual, family, organization, community, and policy will be considered.  The format will consist of common lectures, weekly discussions, hands-on activities, team projects, and synthesis of material presented.