Honors Classes: A Different Kind of Learning

Honors students take a combination of Honors and university classes, which exposes them to a variety of different teaching and learning styles. Honors classes are limited to 20 students and combine active and experiential learning in an interdisciplinary setting. The Honors Program offers courses in a wide range of disciplines including Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communications, Economics, English, Health Care, History, Music, and Psychology.

Lower level Honors students take 14 credit hours of Honors classes during their first two years in the program. On average, students take one Honors class a semester. These courses are special topic seminars that replace general education requirements. Students who complete lower level Honors have the opportunity to continue into upper level Honors where they will take 8 credit hours of classes that are dedicated to undergraduate research within their field of study.

The following are examples of some of our Honors classes that have been offered in the past.

Inquiry into Communication

This class is designed to assist the Honors student in the transition from high school learning to college learning. With the help of texts, selected readings, guest lecturers, videos, and experiential opportunities, students will consider how learning will change in college. They will learn how to write for higher level learning, conduct in-depth and effective discussions, and develop oral presentation skills. As students move through the course materials, they should be able to make connections to the Honors Objectives and develop a clear understanding of how those objectives can become “Life Objectives.”

Service Learning

This class is logically consistent with our experiential curriculum within the Honors Program. Unlike volunteerism, Service Learning courses provide structured environments and exercises that allow students to reflect upon their experiences and how they are learning. This is achieved through Blackboard entries, class discussions, and the final paper. Students are given the opportunity to serve in an exciting and engaging environment where they perform substantive work. Through this curriculum, students will enhance their academic skills, become far more conscious of the different environments in which they learn, and consider many of the social issues in their local and national communities.

Classics East to West

This seminar will study a variety of "classics," both from the Western and Non-Western cultural traditions. As aesthetic artifacts, which carry an enduring and universal value, such classics reveal something about the nature of culture and humanity. In addition to literary, philosophic, and religious classics, we will examine other “texts” such as music, the visual arts, and even kinesthetic forms like the martial arts. An important part of our inquiry will be to question and define exactly what makes something “classic.” We will engage in Socratic discussions of the texts, as well as learning activities such as music listening, art appreciation, film viewings, art making, poetry writing, museum visits, t'ai chi, yoga, African drumming and off campus field research. One way in which students will take responsibility for the success of the course is by helping to determine the selection of some of the texts. For a final project, students will investigate a traditional or contemporary "classic" of his or her choice and present this research thesis to the class.

Wild Florida: The Ecology of the Sunshine State

The state of Florida offers one of the most beautiful and interesting natural environments in the country. Exploring this environment gives us a deeper sense of place and also provides an opportunity to see how different scientific disciplines contribute to understanding a complex and changing subject. Topics range from the physics of ocean waves to the chemistry of soil and water, the meteorology of hurricanes, and the evolution of Florida's plants and animals. This course is designed for college students from any major or career interest who want to know more about science and the environment, and enjoy the outdoors. The classroom time will include lectures, discussion of readings, presentations, and work on group projects. Weekly field trips will be dedicated to experiencing the natural areas of Northeast Florida through exploration, observation, and scientific exercises. The course will also include one optional weekend camping expedition.

Studying War

This course will study war in the modern era—from the 18th century to the present. The class will discuss philosophical, religious, and political questions about just and unjust wars. We will experience some of the ways humans portray war by studying literature, film, and art. We will examine the impact of war on the development of political, economic, and social systems (and vice–versa). We will examine the conduct of war and peace from the level of the foot soldier and the home front to that of the general and statesman. The chronological development of the course will parallel that of the second half of a history survey course. However, the war we examine in greatest depth will be World War II and as a class we will do some local and oral history of that war.

Katmandu: 3rd World Economics

This course explores the fields of economics and third world politics, and analyzes the relationships that shape the two. This is a course for any student interested in economics, political sciences, international studies, international business or trade, or third world issues. Although 85% of the world's population lives in a third world country, all together they only possess 15% of the world's income and wealth. Why? Are things actually getting worse? Should we try to change things? If so, how can we? Beginning with an introduction to macroeconomic concepts and the U.S. economy, the course takes students through third world issues and politics, and the role that economics play in the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The course explores the particular problems and needs faced by third world countries, and analyzes the influence of the political, cultural, and economic structures in those countries. Students will review the role of both U.S. and third world governments and economies, and the role of international economic institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization.

Chemical Informatics

This course will provide an introduction into how the science of Chemistry has advanced by the advent of modern computers. A wide variety of topics will be discussed that show how Chemistry is performed and taught in industry and academia. Students will gain experience in the use of desktop software such as the MS Office Suite, Endnote, and Internet Explorer/Netscape as well as more advanced software such as Gaussian, Chemdraw, and Spartan. The end of the course will discuss the concept of metadata related to Chemistry and its use in doing chemical research.

Contemporary Health Issues

This course is recommended for students interested in health care research or careers as health care practitioners. Students will be asked to critically analyze complex issues and assume and defend their positions through written and oral work. Natural science, social science, economic traditions, as well as bioethics, will serve as a foundation for the analysis of topics. Central topics to be covered include meeting the needs of the uninsured, end of life concerns, reproductive controversies, the shortage of health care professionals, patient rights, and alternative medicine.

Understanding Statistics

This course is an introduction to descriptive data analysis and statistical inferences with applications to real life examples. We come across a volume of information everyday in newspapers, the news and on the Internet, all based on survey data. The challenge remains to understand and extract the essence of what is being reported. The students will use the knowledge from the course to evaluate and interpret their own survey data. Significant writing and evaluation will take place in the course.

Sexuality and Spirituality: Lenses of Love

This seminar explores the various lenses of love and their effect on friendship, dating, marriage and sex. We will explore love in historical, philosophical and religious literature while considering the findings of modern psychology. We will examine love in the media including popular songs, movies and television while pondering the images of love offered by our culture. Some of the questions we will delve into include: How do you know you have love and not lust? Is love a matter or culture? Does psychology help in our understanding of love? Is love influenced by the images of love in advertisement, movies and television? Did the sexual revolution affect our notions and practices of love? How does gender affect our perception of love?

Service Learning: Health Issues

This course is designed for students interested in health care. In order to prepare for their service placement, students will study some of the social, physical, and biological aspects of the health care system. Taking this class and participating in a Service Learning placement at a hospital or clinic is the perfect introduction to a career in the medical profession. Students will serve in a department within St. Luke's Hospital or the renowned Mayo Clinic and will have the opportunity to interact with families, patients, and staff. Students will also have the opportunity to play an integral role in daily hospital management tasks. Ultimately, students will learn about the realities of the health care field while working first hand with health care providers.

Inventing Death

This course is designed to explore how society responds to death. Sigmund Freud and Ernest Becker, among others, suggest that every cultural artifact reflects a civilization's specific fears about death. Students read both literary and nonliterary works to assemble a view of the effect that this knowledge has on our present lives, beliefs, and work. Through the direct examination of these artifacts students will discover our culturally prescribed reflex to push aside the acknowledgment of death. Finally, students seek some way of responding to this knowledge in a useful and empowering way.

Introduction to Forensic Sciences

This course is designed to introduce students to the scientific principles, techniques, methods, and technology that are regularly used to solve crimes. The course will cover the latest in sophisticated evidence collection and analysis, including fingerprinting, ballistics, trace evidence, serology, DNA fingerprinting, toxicology, and forensic anthropology. The course will also explore methods of crime scene processing, autopsies and manner–of–death determination, processes of corpse decomposition, rules of evidence, and the concept of “chain of custody.” Throughout the course, students will engage in a variety of projects in which they will apply the techniques and methods that they learn to collect and interpret evidence. Students will also engage in the creation and processing of a simulated crime scene. The focus and purpose of these projects and simulated crime scene will be to engage students in active, participatory application of scientific techniques and concepts in the solving of crimes. Students will attend lectures, hear guest speakers, and go on field trips that will expose them to forensic sciences as they are currently practiced.

Art of Communication

Communication is: a commitment to reveal, deceive or withhold; to withdraw or share; to persuade; to survive. Conducted effectively, communication can lead to success in all endeavors. Conducted ineffectively, it is at the core of failure. Communication is about more than just speaking; it is about knowing the rules, understanding the nature of the culture in which you are communicating, receiving the unspoken message, and perhaps most important, listening. This course will explore all of the above in addition to how body language, gossip, and even swearing affect communication. Students look at communication between two people as well as communication within a large organization. It is a course designed to open our eyes to the complexities of something we do almost every waking moment of every day.

Thesis Research Prospectus Colloquium

As prerequisite for all Honors Thesis students, this colloquium will prepare students to begin their senior thesis research by writing a successful research prospectus. Topics will include research tracks, types of theses, role of faculty advisors, focusing the topic, stating the question, problem or hypothesis, research methods, formulating a research design, reviewing the literature, citing sources, compiling an annotated bibliography, and making interdisciplinary connections. Cooperative learning, feedback and peer editing exercises will be used before the final submission of each proposal to the Honors Council.