Honors Program

Fall 2022 HONORS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HON 101         CRN: 1300        Day/Time: TR 3:05 – 4:20 pm                    Instructor: Blessing, K.       Quota: 24

Humanities Sem/Big Ideas of Philosophy                                                       Room: BACO 204

We have all pondered seemingly unanswerable but significant questions about our existence—the biggest of all being, “Why are we here?” Philosophy has developed over millennia to help us grapple with questions such as: Does God exist? What is happiness? What is the meaning of life? Why should we care about truth? What does it mean to be free? What is the point of education? Is death something to be feared?  Where does knowledge come from? How do we define what is real? How ought we live? And more.  There is no better way to study the big questions in philosophy than to compare how the world’s greatest minds—Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Sartre, Camus, De Beauvoir—have analyzed these questions, defined the terms, and then reasoned out potential solutions. As a result of this study, you will develop a deeper understanding of your self – Who am I?  What kind of life am I living? – as well as heightened sense of wonder about the world in which we live.

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HON 102          CRN: 2342       Day/Time: MW 4:30-5:45 pm                     Instructor: Maguire, S.      Quota: 12

Natural Science Sem/Human Origins                                                          Room: BUCK A115A

This course provides an introduction to biological anthropology and archeology while exploring our human origins. Physical anthropology topics include evolutionary theory and genetics, the human fossil record, and the study of non-human primates. Archeology scientifically reconstructs past cultures. We will cover the basics of archeological data and dating methods and then move on to the transformation from a hunting and gathering lifestyle to one based on food production. Finally, we will examine the role of agriculture in the development of complex sociopolitical institutions and state societies.

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HON 102          CRN: 3666       Day/Time: MWF 10:00-10:50 am              Instructor: Warren, R.      Quota: 24

Natural Science Sem/Sustainability in a Changing Climate                       Room: BACO 225

Biological aspects of global environmental problems focusing on sustainability (conservation and social equity). Topics include humanity and the environment, the evolution of environmental policy in the U.S, global climate change and sustainable energy systems – with a view into how the ethics, culture and history of social equity informed the formation and response of those topics. 

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HON 102          CRN: 3667       Day/Time: TR 3:05-4:20 pm                      Instructor: Holmgren, C.   Quota: 24

Natural Science Sem/World Natural Environments                                    Room: BUCK A122

This course provides an introduction to earth’s natural environments as well as human interactions with nature. We will begin the semester learning about the seasons, weather including extreme events like hurricanes, climates and climate change. We will follow that by exploring how climate influences patterns of life on earth, from rainforests to deserts to tundra biomes. Finally we will look at the development of landforms and the hazards earth processes pose for society including volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. Maps and map interpretation is woven throughout this semester.

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HON 103         CRN: 2090       Day/Time: MW 12:00-2:40 pm                     Instructor: Saracino, S.     Quota: 18

Studio Arts Sem/Jewelry Making                                                                    Room: UPTO 236

Students are exposed to a hands-on experience in the designing and creation of a piece of jewelry. They are taught basic design concepts and the techniques necessary to fabricate pins, rings, pendants, and bracelets from non-precious and precious metal. Over the duration of the course, they are also taught simple stone setting and are exposed to the thought processes a designer follows as they create, start-to-finish, a piece of wearable art.

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HON 104         CRN: 2911        Day/Time: MWF 10:00-10:50 am               Instructor: Blair, A             Quota: 24

American History Seminar/US History 1607-present                                   Room: BACO 204

This course includes a basic framework of political and economic historical developments in U.S. history, but it will focus more on post-1877 social, ethnic, cultural, and religious movements within a nation having ever greater interaction with the rest of the world.  Instead of using a traditional textbook, we will read a wide range of documents from a variety of people in the past, to research, analyze and discuss problems, proposed solutions, and outcomes over the past century and a half.

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HON 201        CRN: 2574         Day/Time: TR 9:25-10:40 am                      Instructor: Orosz, K.         Quota: 5

Non-Western Civilizations Sem/Africa to 1800                                             Room: BACO 223

African history from the Paleolithic period to 1800. Development of agriculture, ancient civilizations of Africa, iron working societies, the trans-Saharan trade, the impact of Islam and Christianity, traditional African political and social arrangements, the slave trade, and the European presence in early modern Africa.

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HON 201         CRN: 2575        Day/Time: TR 1:40-2:55 pm                       Instructor: Orosz, K.           Quota: 5

Non-Western Civilizations Sem/World Civilizations I                                 Room:  TECH 258

Origins, cultural achievements, and interrelationships of the various civilizations of the world to approximately 1500 C.E. Topics include the prehistoric era and the origins of human civilization; civilizations of the ancient Near East; early civilizations of Africa and the Americas; East Asian culture and civilization; Indian (South Asian) culture and civilization; Greek and Roman civilization; early civilizations of Southeast Asia; Islamic civilization; the Byzantine empire and medieval Europe.

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HON 389         CRN: 3669        Day/Time: TR 10:50 am-12:05 pm              Instructor: Orosz, K.           Quota: 10

The Holocaust                                                                                                    Room:  TECH 258

This class is not in the General Education curriculum but would count as an upper-level History elective.

Persecution and murder of Jews and other victims of Nazi genocide. Historical anti-Semitism, the personality of Adolf Hitler, the traumas of Weimar Germany, birth and rise of the Nazi party, persecution and extermination of Jews, non-Jewish victims, the death camps, Jewish resistance, and world reaction to Nazi policies.

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HON 202         CRN: 3670        Day/Time: MWF 11:00-11:50 am               Instructor: McGovern, P.   Quota: 24

Social Science Sem/American Political Thought                                           Room:  BACO 204

A growing majority of the world’s population now lives under some form of an authoritarian regime. Democracy is backsliding. This is the case for new democracies as we all as long-established ones, like the United States. This class will explore the historical intellectual roots of US democracy and trace its rise and decline over the course of its history, with particular emphasis on the past decade and the rise of hyper-polarization in US politics.

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HON 209          CRN: 2642       Day/Time: MWF 1:00-1:50 pm                  Instructor: Abromeit, J.    Quota: 24

Western Civilizations Sem/Rise of Modern Market Society and Its Consequence    Room: BACO 220

In this course we will examine the rise, transformation and ongoing consequences (through to the present) of a modern global market society. We will begin with the European expansion in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and focus on how new international patterns of production and trade in commodities developed and how these patterns transformed the societies and individual consumption habits of the regions involved.  In the middle section of the course we will focus on the industrial revolution and its consequences for the further development of global networks of production and exchange. In the last section of the course, we will examine more recent (twentieth and twenty-first century) changes in patterns of global production and exchange and think about our location with these networks. This course is also intended to familiarize you with some of the most important ideas and works in various social science disciplines, including anthropology, economics, history and sociology. So, we will also pay close attention to the different disciplinary methods we encounter in the books and articles we read.

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HON 303         CRN: 2356        Day/Time: TR 9:25-10:40 am                      Instructor: Anselmi, L.      Quota: 15

Diversity Sem/Indigenous Peoples of Western North America                    Room: BUCK A115A                  

This course deals with the way of life of the original inhabitants of Western North America.  The major focus will be on reconstructing life during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries using archaeology, historic documents, and oral tradition.  The tribal nations of the Plains, Northwest Coast, Southwest, Great Basin, Plateau, and California are studied in detail. This course also highlights the effects of European exploration and colonization and the persistence of Indigenous Western North American peoples in the modern world.

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HON 303         CRN: 2596        Day/Time: TR 3:05-4:20 pm                        Instructor: Perez, L.        Quota: 20

Diversity Sem/Social Fictions                                                                           Room:  BACO 223                

This course will work to take on some of the most defining social fictions of our contemporary world. By examining texts that question things like race, nation, sexuality/gender, we will explore fundamental questions about what it means to be human, and how our lives are shaped in fundamental ways by a series of social constructs that often function seamlessly. Students should note that the texts we will be looking it will overtly engage questions pertaining to sensitive issues like race, sexuality, and identity in multiple registers, and the texts depict scenes that are sometime explicit or violent.

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HON 303         CRN: 3750        Day/Time:  TR 1:40-2:55 pm                      Instructor: Watson, M.      Quota: 10

Diversity Sem/Saving Africa                                                                           Room: BULG 427

Striking a balance among ethnographic case studies, theoretical lenses, and practical implications, the course aims to help students understand what Euro-American efforts at foreign development, including contemporary globalization, look like from an African vantage. An understanding of African expectations of development and developers is especially important for students who hope to pursue practical development work in African contexts. This is an advanced theory course, best for upper-level students who are ready to read a lot and participate in rigorous in-class discussion.

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HON 444         CRN: 2639       Day/Time: Hybrid, TBA                               Instructor: McMillan, A.    Quota: 40

Honors Senior Seminar                                                                    Room: BISH 126 for students in class

THIS CLASS WILL MEET AT A MUTUALLY AGREED ON TIME FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED. There will be an online or in-class option and the class meets infrequently over the course of the semester. The instructor will contact students the week before class meets to determine the first meeting time and place. As a result, every senior can fit this class in their schedule.

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FIRST-YEAR FRESHMAN ONLY COURSES

HON 111      CRN: 2407    Day/Time: W 12:00-12:50 pm   |   CRN: 2408    Day/Time: W 3:00-3:50 pm 
                   CRN: 2409    Day/Time: R 3:05-3:55 pm       |   CRN: 3673    Day/Time: R 4:30-5:20 pm 
                   CRN: 3675    Day/Time: F 10:00-10:50 am    |   CRN: 3674    Day/Time: F 11:00-11:50 am

Introduction to Honors                                Instructor: Baran, M.                                         Room: BISH 126

First-year Honors students are enrolled in this introductory class that orients them to the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program and to their education at Buffalo State College. Students will learn about the many resources and opportunities available to them, gain valuable skills to support their academic experience, and create connections with fellow Honors students.

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PSY101 (=HON202)   CRN: 2913    Day/Time: MWF 11:00-11:50 pm     Instructor: Senthinathan, G. 

Social Sci Sem/Introduction to Psychology                                      Room: ROCK 308              Quota: 24

This course will focus an overview of the major areas of psychology. Psychology, defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, is most commonly associated with psychological problems (e.g., psychopathology) and their treatment; however, it also covers a much wider range of behavior and cognition. In order to understand ourselves and others, we need to also understand how our brain works, how we think, how we learn, how we develop, and how we interact with others. This course will provide a cursory overview of these principles and areas of research that comprise the field of psychology. Through lectures, in-class activities and discussion, we will learn how to think critically about our "common sense" beliefs of human functioning.

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HON 101         CRN: 2340        Day/Time: R 3:05-5:45 pm             Instructor: Guiati, A.               Quota:24

Humanities Sem/Dylan: Six Decades of Noble Lyrics                                   Room: BUCK A200

Introduction to some central topics in the humanities. Humans' attempts to give meaning to their lives through literary, philosophical, and creative expression. In this class we will analyze Bob Dylan’s lyrics, to identify the central themes introduced by the author, their relation to history, faith, love, family, and personal identity, making the American bard the most influential poetic voice of the second half of the XX Century.

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HON 101         CRN: 2343     Day/Time: MWF 1:00-1:50 pm                     Instructor: Grinnell, J.      Quota: 24

Humanities Sem/Philosophy and the City                                                      Room: BACO 204

Every city is an attempt to solve a set of problems, and every city is a representation of the values of its citizens. The great philosopher Plato and his peers argued about whether it was better to be loyal to small, self-contained cities or to be a “cosmopolitan” (citizen of the world) 2400 years ago. Every time we talk about universal human dignity, or patriotism, or globalism, or justice –and every time we cheer for our high school team against another—their discussion echoes in the background. In this class we’ll look at some classical authors alongside some very modern ones and try to reason our way through the debate. We’ll think carefully about what we mean by words like “justice” and “rights,” and we’ll think about what it means to be a citizen of a city, a country, or a planet. Last but not least, we’ll apply our skills locally and see what the city of Buffalo can teach us about ourselves.

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HON 101         CRN: 3069     Day/Time: MW 3:00-4:15 pm                      Instructor: Hovland, D.       Quota: 24

Humanities Sem/Romantic Love                                                                  Room: BACO 214A

Where does romantic love "live" in the human brain? Why does it exist in the first place, and when did it first come into existence?  What impact has it had on your own life, and why? And how have songwriters, poets, and authors throughout the ages and across cultures celebrated its joys, miseries, and compulsions? An introduction to the neurological, evolutionary, psychological, personal, and literary manifestations of this biological drive.

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HON 101         CRN: 3070    Day/Time: MWF 10:00-10:50 am                    Instructor: Bryant. T.      Quota: 24

Humanities Sem/Literature and Games                                                          Room: BACO 220

This course explores literature, games, and things in between. Our central question is this: how do literary things that we study and game-like things that we play relate to each other, overlap, or even become one another? To answer this question, we will analyze literary writing that embraces a playful ethos, games that incorporate narrative, and other media caught in the nexus of literature and game. Our subject will take various forms, including fiction, poetry, drama, film, television, comic books, hypertext, and several types of game. Our work should illuminate a range of cultural practices and social values behind particular forms of reading, writing, and play.

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HON106           CRN: 3759    Day/Time: MWF 11:00 – 11:50 am              Instructor: Beckley, Carol     Quota: 5

Arts Inquiry Sem/Theater Fundamentals                                                     Room: ROCK 204

This is an introductory theater fundamentals course for all theater majors.  We will cover elements of theater from script to stage. Many students enrolled in this course will also be enrolled in HON101 Literature and Games.

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HON106           CRN: 3672       Day/Time: MWF 9:00-9:50 am              Instructor: Guarino, J.    Quota: 12

Arts Inquiry Sem/Dance Appreciation      GLOBAL LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY        Room: BISH 126     

Examination of the cultural and aesthetic values of dance. Analysis of the purpose, creative process, genres, and styles of the art form. By exploring personal responses to aesthetics and creativity as it pertains to dance, students will gain an understanding of the significance of dance in our world. Together we discuss, move, and participate in service-learning experiences. 

This course is part of the Global Living Learning Community and must be taken along with HON209 20th Century Europe. Friday’s class 9:00 – 9:50 am will be held in ROCK 02.

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HON209          CRN: 3671                Day/Time: TR 9:25-10:40 am            Instructor: Blum, D.      Quota: 12    

Western Civ Sem/20th Century Europe   GLOBAL LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY           Room: BISH 126   

20th Century Europe explores the development of authoritarianism and totalitarianism.  A study of the conditions and personalities of the century will put major events in context.  That will move us beyond superficial and deceptively comforting conclusions.  Any society is susceptible to totalitarianism.  By recognizing the logical evolution of the 20th century, we can see our own world with more a discerning vision.

This course is part of the Global Living Learning Community and must be taken along with HON106 Dance Appreciation.

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PLEASE NOTE:

- All Honors students should take HON courses based on their DegreeWorks audit.

- Most of the Honors classes are Intellectual Foundations Core classes or IF electives - Note special comments if the course is not one of these:

   HON101 Humanities                                  HON202 Social Science
   HON102 Natural Sciences                           HON303 Diversity
   HON103 Studio Arts (fills Arts Gen Ed)        HON106 Inquiry Arts (fills Arts Gen Ed)
   HON104 American History                          HON201 Non-Western Civilizations
   HON209/309 Western Civilizations

- Honors classes cannot be taken Pass/Fail or as Independent Studies to have them count in the Honors Program.
- Students may take up to three honors classes in one semester with approval from the director or Honors senior advisor.
- It is recommended that students make every effort to finish their Honors class requirements by the end of junior year except for HON444 senior seminar, which should be taken in their final year.

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS:

- You must take honors classes to continue receiving your honors scholarship until you have taken them all, as stated in letter of acceptance into the program. Please contact the Honors Program for approval if you will not be taking an Honors class.
- You must be enrolled full time to receive the scholarship – 12 credit hours is the minimum, unless otherwise approved by the director