Honors Program

Other Academic Programs and Courses

LDRS 100 in the spring of their sophomore year and credit for LDRS 200 in the spring of the senior year. Credit will be automatically added by the Director of the program during the appropriate semester. Students will receive a pass/fail grade. Spring

201-1 Serving Others This course meets weekly to determine, plan, and execute a community service project. Students will work together as a group to examine the needs within the local community and choose a work project that will benefit a particular organization or group of people within the community. Special attention will be given to documenting and reflecting on the group processes. Spring

301-3 The Person as Leader The purpose of this course is to further study leadership principles from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students will engage in topics such as Servant Leadership, transforming leadership, and justice and forgiveness. Special attention will be given to leadership that is based on sound ethical foundation. Spring

302-1 Service in Leadership This course meets weekly to determine, plan, and execute a service project that relates to a global need. Students will work together as a group to determine a work project that will benefit a community or group of people living outside the United States with a particular need (e.g. hunger issues, clean water need, medical help). Special attention will be given to documenting and reflecting on the group process. Fall

401-3 Leadership Power, Influence & Creativity The purpose of this course is to continue the exploration of the nature and dynamics of leadership. A continuation of LDRS 301, this course will explore leadership topics such as diversity, creativity in leadership, organizational leadership, and the Servant Leadership model. Students will submit a finalized version of their future action plan for leadership in their lives. Fall

402-1 Leadership Capstone Students will work in small groups to prepare and present a leadership topic to the freshman leadership students enrolled in LDRS 102. Each student will complete a paper that reflects on the preparation and execution of the presentation. Spring

190-1-3 Special Topics 290-1-3 Special Topics 390-1-3 Special Topics 490-1-3 Special Topics

Honors Program

Professors Flory, Lynch, Solensky (director), and Walentine

Mission Statement The mission of the University of Jamestown Honors program is to challenge students to explore and integrate ideas from multiple disciplines, and to think critically and creatively.

Admission to Program Incoming freshmen who have earned a 3.0 or higher high school GPA are encouraged to apply to join the Honors Program. Current UJ students and transfer students with a 3.2 or higher post-secondary GPA are also encouraged to apply to join the Honors Program.

We will admit as many applicants as we can accommodate. Applications will be reviewed based on GPA and student response to two application questions.

Other Academic Programs and Courses

Requirements for completion of the Honors Program

Dept. Course No. Course Title

Hnrs 110 Hnrs 401 Hnrs 402 Disrupting Education Honors Capstone I Honors Capstone II

Credits

1 1 1

7 Honors Seminars (1 credit each) or 4 Honors Seminars + 3-credit Honors Contract course 7

Students must have earned a 3.2 or higher cumulative UJ GPA to complete the Honors Program and graduate with University Honors.

Course Descriptions NOTE: Honors Program students will have priority in registering for Honors Seminars (HNRS 2xx courses), but any remaining seats may be filled by any UJ student who has at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA.

HNRS 110-1 Disrupting Education Effecting change requires a disruption to the status quo. This class explores disruptions to higher education over the past century. We will focus on the rise of academic disciplines and the shift to interdisciplinary thinking. We will also discuss what it means to be gifted or high achieving, what creativity looks like in different disciplines, and what it means to think critically. This class is an introduction to the principles that guide the UJ Honors Program. Fall

HNRS 210-1 Monsters and Mayhem: Exploring the History of Science through Fiction Scientific discoveries can generate public fear of the potential implications for science to be abused or applied with horrific outcomes. The science fiction genre includes novels that explore this public fear, and often feature some combination of science-generated monsters or mayhem. Students will read several works of science fiction, explore the science behind the fiction, and discuss the interplay between the science, literary works, and cultural paradigms. The class format will primarily feature group discussion of assigned reading. Spring, even years, taught by Professors Flory and Solensky HNRS 215-1 From Cavemen to Xmen: Evolution and Society Evolution is one of the most influential ideas in history. Its influence goes well beyond biology or science. It has been applied, rightly or wrongly, to many other areas, and its implications have been considered in everything from ethics to psychology to economics. This class will introduce the student to the idea of evolution, the history of the idea, and how the idea has been applied or misapplied to religion, philosophy, ethics, economics, law, and in popular society. Fall, even years, taught by Professor Jensen

HNRS 225-1 Exotic Lands, Alien Worlds: The British Imperial Romance British adventure fiction of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries frequently depicts the exploration, conquest, and colonization of other continents—even of other planets. In spite of their popularity, such works often interrogate and subvert the very imperialist/colonialist enterprise that, for readers, exerts so powerful an imaginative appeal. This course will focus upon fictional representations of the cultural and environmental impacts of colonization on terrestrial and extraterrestrial peoples and places. Fall, even years, taught by Professor Brown

HNRS 230-1 Feeding Mars: Understanding the Impact of War on Humanity through Literature and Film War always leaves an indelible mark on those that it touches; the men and women who serve, as well as the civilians, the families, and the children in its path. The experience of war certainly brings death and destruction, but it is those who survive the crucible that must live changed

Other Academic Programs and Courses

lives. Many suffer post traumatic injury and are unable to embrace anything normal again. In this class, students will consider important works of literature and film that will allow them to gain insight and weigh for themselves the impact of war over the last century. The discussion format of the class will encourage students to probe the meaning of war, and why it has always been part of human culture. Spring, even years, taught by Associate Professor Weinzierl

HNRS 235-1 Shades of Grey: Ethics in Healthcare The study of ethics involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. In the healthcare arena, we will discuss the difference between right and wrong as it pertains to life and death and caring for other people. The tricky thing is that there is often not a clear ‘right or wrong’ in ethics; it isn’t about looking at things in black and white but rather all the shades of grey in between. The class will feature a selection of topics, case discussions and student-led presentations. Potential topics include geneedited babies, palliative care or abandonment of care, whether children have vaccination rights, whether assisted dying will become the new norm, and sex and dementia ~ is it love or assault? The class format will primarily feature group discussions, guest speakers from various areas of healthcare, and student presentations. Fall, odd years, taught by Professor Rittenbach.

HNRS 240-1 Of Plagues and People: The History of Disease Illness and disease have plagued humans since the beginning of our history. However, epidemics have always had consequences reaching far beyond the individual, leaving entire populations devastated in their wake. This class will introduce students to both biological and societal impacts of major pathogens throughout modern history, including cholera, influenza, and HIV. Spring, odd years, taught by Assistant Professor Naglak and Associate Professor Weinzierl HNRS 245-1 Psychology of Gaming Video games are sometimes seen as a waste of time, but they can be an engaging learning tool. Students will explore readings about how games engage players, group dynamics, online communication, motivation, and gaming addiction. Both the potential positives and negatives of video games will be explored. The class format will primarily feature group discussion of assigned reading. Fall, odd years, taught by Professor Wallace

HNRS 250-1 A Beautiful Mind: Psychology at the Movies What is happening in our brains when we watch a movie? Why do we react to movies the way that we do? Why did that character just do that thing?! We will explore how psychology is represented in film and how psychology is working in us when we watch. There will be an extra emphasis on how music is used to enhance comprehension and emotional response. We will explore the great question of modern media: can film influence our behavior and thoughts? Spring, odd years, taught by Professor Lynch

HNRS 401-1 Honors Capstone I Students will explore interdisciplinary work, including papers, speeches, academic blogs, TED talks, and other media formats. Drawing upon prior coursework, students will develop a topic of study that incorporates ideas from at least two academic disciplines and plan a project focused on that interdisciplinary topic. Prerequisites: Honors 110 plus 2 honors seminars and junior or senior standing. Fall

HNRS 402-1 Honors Capstone II Students will complete the interdisciplinary project developed during Honors Capstone I. Prerequisites: HNRS 401. Spring