Accy 201 Section 6, Introduction to Accounting Principles I
The course will aide in establishing a firm understanding of accounting principles for financial reporting. An understanding of financial reporting is crucial to the understanding of business and the way our economy allocates scarce resources. Through this course students will learn technical skills regarding the collection and ordering of basic financial information. Students will also develop problem solving skills related to financial information. Specifics that distinguish it from a regular section: Students will receive greater exposure to real world examples of the accounting reports and disclosures studied in the course. The honors course will offer more in depth discussion of the role of financial reporting information in the economy, and its needs and uses. Students will be exposed to more complex accounting treatments of selected items with an aim of preparing them for their future accounting and business courses.
AH 201 Section 2, History of Art I
In this course students will interpret representative examples of prehistoric, ancient, and medieval art of Western and selected world cultures using specific artistic vocabulary. They will investigate various art styles in view of historical, political, and religious contexts. In addition, they will examine the roles of artists, patrons, and audiences, and will identify the processes by which artists produce their work. This Honors College section differs from large lecture-focused sections of the course by requiring students to incorporate readings of primary documents as they interpret art works within chronological and geographical contexts. Classes will consist of a blend of illustrated lectures, discussion, and group and individual presentations. Assessment in the large, regular section of AH 201 is by multiple-choice tests. However, in this low-enrollment Honors section, students will demonstrate critical thinking while evaluating various perspectives on art in several brief oral and written assignments. Rote memorization of works of art is not the goal of this course, yet potential art or art history majors must be prepared for departmental assessment tests on fundamentals of art history, so students are required to identify primary monuments of the history of art.
AH 202 Section 2, History of Art II: Renaissance to Contemporary Art
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the major stylistic, thematic, and historical trends in art history from the Renaissance through today, worldwide. This course is designed to encourage a critical understanding of the meaning and function of art objects, architecture, and design artifacts within their original historical contexts. Class sessions consist of lecture and group discussion. Students will explore the University museum’s collection and compare and contrast artworks of the same or different cultures using the skills of formal analysis. Students will read and discuss scholarly articles tied to the examined time period. The Honors section of Art History 202 will aim to develop oral presentation skills throughout the semester, as well as writing essays related to artworks belonging to different cultures and time periods.
BISC 164 Section 2, Honors Recitation (to be taken in conjunction with Bisc 160/161)
This is a reading and discussion course, focused on the book, The Thing With Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human, by Noah Strycker, Riverhead Books, 2014 (ISBN 978-1-59463-341-6). The course is NOT meant to directly aid students in preparation or review for Bisc 160-163. Rather, it is designed to provide inspiration about how fascinating biology can be, to provide a broader perspective on biological science not provided by the lecture and lab portions of the course, and especially to help student develop communication and critical thinking skills related to biological science. The participatory nature of this course is intended to provide for a deeper level of intellectual engagement and growth beyond what is possible with lecture and lab. Upon completion of this course, students will have a deeper understanding of the ecology, evolution, and behavior of birds; the similarities and differences between bird behavior and human behavior; and how to discuss and critically think about biological science.
Chem 105 Section 9, General Chemistry I
This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence of courses covering the fundamentals of chemistry intended for students pursuing most science, engineering or pre-professional programs. Emphasis is placed on mastering the fundamental concepts as well as on problem solving and critical thinking. Honors students are expected to solve more challenging problems. Topics covered include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, physical properties of gases, chemical bonding, thermochemistry and periodic properties of the elements. Honors students will participate in a recitation, Chem 107, during which activities that will reinforce concepts in class such as group projects, demonstrations, and the like will be conducted. In addition, the smaller class size will stimulate class discussion, and group problem solving sessions.
Chem 221 Section 3, Elementary Organic Chemistry I
Honors College students in Dr. Mattern’s Honors section can have their 3 credit hours of organic chemistry (CHEM 221) count as Honors credit by working additional enrichment problems utilizing the Spartan molecular modeling computer program available in the Coulter Hall computer lab, and participating in a weekly discussion about them. Spartan optimizes the 3D structure of organic compounds, so you can get more sophisticated insights into molecules’ stability and reactions, and is also capable of calculating structures and energies based on quantum mechanics. Even though they use sophisticated software, the problems are designed for beginning organic students, and will reinforce many of the concepts from the regular class. My intent is that you spend about an hour a week working the problems on your own, in addition to the group hour where students will individually present and discuss their solutions. The exercises are not formally graded; your engaged participation suffices to earn the Honors designation. We have reserved Mondays at 4 PM for the weekly discussion hour, since that has been a time that most students can meet.
Econ 202 Section 12, Principles of Microeconomics
Microeconomics is the study of how individuals and firms make choices, and how these choices affect society. Economics shares with other behavioral sciences the general goal of explaining and predicting human behavior. The distinguishing feature of the economic approach is the emphasis on rational decision making under conditions of scarcity. This course is an introduction to the basic concepts and tools of microeconomics. The emphasis of the class is on economic reasoning. Throughout the class, we will concentrate on applying the concepts that we learn to real life situations. In the honors section, students will be given some additional readings, including suitable chapters from The Economic Report of the President. Students are also encouraged to read the economics sections of newspapers and magazines, and to suggest articles or ideas which they would like to discuss. The smaller size of the honors section makes it more suitable than regular sections of Econ 202 for such discussions. In addition, students in the honors section are expected to answer essay test questions rather than multiple-choice. By the end of this class students should 1) develop a deep understanding of a small number of core concepts of microeconomics that are essential to informed analysis of any economic issue; 2) develop an ability to use key economic ideas in evaluating public policies; and 3) develop an ability to critically analyze economic arguments put forth in public policy debates. For instance, they should be able to read and evaluate general material in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Economist.
Econ 203 Section 1, Principles of Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics concerns itself with the aggregate behavior of the economy. Materials covered in this course will prepare students for further study of economics. The course will begin by looking into the measurement of key macroeconomic variables: National output, inflation and unemployment. We will then examine the determination of output in the long run and short run, and whether economic policies can mitigate short run fluctuations. In particular, we will discuss whether the government should have a role in stabilizing the economy. After completing this course a student should: have a better understanding of the economic news s/he hears; be able to interpret basic macroeconomic data; know forces that determine key variables in the long run; know forces that explains short run fluctuations; and know short run effects of monetary and fiscal policy.
Econ 203 Section 5, Principles of Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that studies the aggregate (usually national-level) economy. In the first part of class, you will gain an understanding of several common measures of national-level economic conditions that are often cited by the popular press, such as employment, the unemployment rate, gross domestic product (output), inflation, deficits, and debt. Next, you will learn a framework for modeling the macroeconomy and assessing economic conditions. Using this framework, you will gain an understanding of 1) how the federal government through fiscal policy can influence economic conditions, as well as the limitations and effectiveness of Keynesian economic policies; and 2) the Federal Reserve System and how (effectively) the Fed can use monetary policy to influence the macroeconomy. These topics are quite time-appropriate now given the most recent recession and financial crisis, as well as the slow economic growth that has occurred since these events. The material we cover in class will provide you with a better understanding of what caused the financial crisis and the recession and how effective fiscal and monetary policies have been to combat the recession. We will also study how political markets can affect policy design since many economic policies are conducted in a political environment – and as a result, perhaps the best macroeconomic policy is no interventionist policy at all. This is for you to decide, using the knowledge you gain in this class. As a honor’s course, student discussion and debate over class material is encouraged. In addition to the above material, I have a personal objective for this course: I want you to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively analyze macroeconomic policy decisions. I hope that each of you will become better-informed consumers and voters, armed with the tools necessary to critically analyze economic policy. While many of the topics we cover in class may seem completely irrelevant to your current life as a student (trust me, I was once in your shoes), you will most certainly be influenced by economic conditions and the macroeconomic policies of the federal government and the Federal Reserve System when you start searching for a job, become a member of the workforce, buy a home, pay taxes, and save for retirement.
EDCI 352 Section 8, Education, Society, and the K-12 Learner
The course is an exploration of selected components of the education profession: purposes of education, American education system, education and the legal system, child and adolescent development, and diversity. Participants in the Honors section of this course will engage in the practice of teaching as a way to consider how the topics under investigation are at play in and around the K-12 classroom. Also the Honors section will allow for in depth exploration of student-selected topics like Creativity in Education, Charter Schools, and Pedagogical Knowledge related to Technology.
Eng 223 Section 1, Survey of American Literature to the Civil War
The history of English-speaking people in the New World has been a history of storytellers. Living in a newly colonized hemisphere produced new literary forms, templates which still define American culture to this day. English adventurers, Puritan settlers on the Massachusetts frontier, New England preachers, French expatriates, and eighteenth-century printer’s apprentices all created new kinds of texts examining new notions of American identity and society. We will read, examine, discuss, and write about the colonial accounts, Native American captivity narratives, Jeremiads, devotional poetry, sermons, autobiographies, and short stories that they produced, re-evaluating the expressive texts of our shared American pasts and presents. This course aims to be a more discussion-based, writing-intensive, creative, and rigorous alternative to the super-sized American literature lectures.
Eng 226 Sections 7 and 8, Survey of British Literature since Romantic Period
This class will not only prepare students for higher-level coursework but will acquaint students with the most interesting authors and cultural issues of the Romantic, Victorian, Modern, and Post-Modern periods in British literature, covering roughly 170 years of writing. As we examine works by authors such as William Wordsworth, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and T.S. Eliot, we consider how the major cultural and historical issues of these periods connect with and illuminate the works in question, and how the works of each period connect with, illuminate, or revise one another.
Eng 301 Section 4, Poetry Workshop
In this class, we’ll discuss and practice the art of the poem. Through close reading, students will develop an enhanced knowledge of poetic techniques, terms, and forms. In workshop segments of the class, we’ll deepen our understanding of how to write and revise poetry, and we’ll develop critical skills through the close reading of work by others. Students will leave class familiar with the contemporary poetry scene and the profession, especially submitting poems to contests and journals.
Hon 350 Section 1, Intro to American Law and Reasoning
This course is intended to provide a broad introduction to American law and legal reasoning. The goals of the course are twofold. First, the student will gain an understanding of the role of law and legal institutions in American society. Second, the student will gain experience in legal reasoning by using primary source materials – e.g., court cases, statutes, etc. – to understand how actual lawyers and judges make and use law. Junior standing and a 3.60 GPA required to take this course.
Hon 391 Section 1, Honors Conversations (Conversations in Environmental Health)
In this course we will have focused, in-depth discussions of timely issues related to environmental health. Students will be informed of issues through reading scientific literature and media reports chosen to challenge their analysis of current public health debates and to engage their intellectual curiosity.
Hon 391 Section 4, Honors Conversations
Honors Conversations is designed to give upper-level students the opportunity to meet and discuss important topics in a classroom setting. The classes meet for 50 minutes, one time per week. The general focus in my section of this course is on social justice issues—labor, women’s rights, civil rights and race, student debt, the environment, war, poverty, etc. The course takes into consideration major unfolding events in the state, nation and world, such as the recent presidential election and its aftermath, plus related literary, art, music, and film issues as well as political and economic developments. The main goal is to engage each other in thoughtful, interesting discussion. As such, each student’s main responsibility each week will be to participate constructively in our discussion. Each student will be assigned one class period during the semester for which he or she will assign readings and lead the discussion.
Hon 391 Section 5, Honors Conversations (Topics in Medicine and Health Care)
Topics in medicine and health care will be presented as documentaries which students view outside of class. Weekly classroom sessions will discuss and analyze the issues. Topics will include human genomics and personalized medicine, obesity and chronic diseases, antibiotic and vaccine controversies, aging and death, and U.S. and global health care policies.
Hon 399 Section 1, Special Topics in Honors (Issues in World Politics: Water Conflict)
Despite the fact that more than two thirds of our “blue planet” is covered with water, only 2.5% is fresh water. As populations have grown, the demand for water has increased at an unsustainable rate. Climate change is projected to exacerbate the shortage of fresh water in already water-stressed regions. The shortages have resulted in warnings of increasing potential for conflict over international basins or potential “water wars”. A recent U.S. intelligence assessment notes an increased possibility that water will be used as a weapon between or within states or to further terrorist aims in the future. Competition over maritime areas has intensified as well, as global fishing stocks have experienced dramatic losses and as states vie for resources in previously uncontested areas, such as Antarctica. This class examines the management of water resources including cross-border rivers and maritime areas. Topics include common property resources, piracy, maritime security, peaceful and militarized conflict management of water-based conflicts, environmental/climate issues, natural disasters, and cooperative and institutional strategies design to promote interstate cooperation over water issues, such as the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.
Hon 399 Section 2, Special Topics in Honors (Dystopias)
This seminar explores dystopian worlds. A premise of the class is that the social ills of present day lead to the shattered societies of fictional futures. We will examine ideas and themes that are fundamental in either place, imagined or real: cultural norms; religious values; societal governance; gender roles; ethnic and racial conflict; economic systems; technological dependence; and, environmental deterioration. To understand these ideas and themes, we will rely on works of fiction (novels and short stories), films, and contemporary non-fiction. The readings will include selections from dystopian classics (e.g., Brave New World; 1984; Fahrenheit 451), less well known but formative writings (e.g., A Canticle for Leibowitz; Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep; The Cat’s Cradle; The Handmaid’s Tale; The Children of Men), contemporary works (e.g., The Road; Station Eleven; J: A Novel), and nonfiction, such as The World Without Us. The films we view will likely come from the following: Blade Runner; Children of Men; Soylent Green; The Giver; Gattaca; Fahrenheit 451. Hope you will join us for an intriguing journey into imaginative worlds and human realities.
Hon 420 Section 1, Honors Experiential Learning (Wealth and the Republic)
What is wealth? How is it measured and why does that matter? Who counts as “wealthy” and why does that matter? More importantly, who makes wealth in American society, and who gets to determine how it is deployed and used? And what are the implications for such decisions regarding wealth for American society and politics? This course provides a historical and philosophical exploration of wealth in American life, from the early republic to the present. Readings and writing assignments will push students to understand how Americans have wrestled with the role(s) of wealth, whether counted in the bodies of slaves, the labors of industrial workers and a new industrial elite, the built environment of cities and suburbs, the religious and moral implications of “the first and last,” or the pursuits of politicians and policy. How wealth relates to the state, consumerism, class, race, sex, and gender will also be considered, especially through the musings on wealth provided by poor and wealthy writers, academic and blue-collar intellectuals, or filmmakers and musicians.
Hon 420 Section 2, Special Topics in Honors (The First Amendment in 2017)
Classes will meet August 26, September 16, October 7, November 4 and December 2, 2017
This course looks at the ways we experience the First Amendment in today’s world. Students will examine questions such as: Should freedom of speech be absolute? How do we square freedom of the press with fake news? Can free exercise of religion co-exist with separation of church and state, and what do they have to do with the war on terror? What are the rights of assembly and to petition, and do we take them for granted? The class is open to honors students in any discipline. Instructor Biography: Alysson Mills is a partner of the New Orleans law firm Fishman Haygood. Her practice there is diverse. She represents corporate and media clients in all forms of litigation. She also represents indigent criminal defendants in federal court and co-counsels with non-profits in civil rights actions in Mississippi and Louisiana. In 2016, she was named Outstanding Young Lawyer for the State of Louisiana. Alysson grew up in northeast Mississippi and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she was a Croft Scholar and a director of the SMHC Student Senate. She earned her MPhil, with distinction, from Trinity College Dublin and her JD, summa cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was editor-in-chief of the Mississippi Law Journal. She teaches First Amendment and media law at Tulane University.
Hon 445 Section 1, Art and the Republic
The objective of this class is to study various forms of the arts, i.e. dance. film, literature (including novels and poetry), music (all genres), sculpture and monuments, political cartoons, comedy and humor, and theater to explore and analyze how these forms of human expression and creativity are affected and influenced by our societies and cultures, and how, in turn, these arts and their creators influence and affect us as individuals and citizens.
Hon 550 Section 3, Honors Advanced Study in Law I (Honors College Version of Law 580, Intellectual Property)
In our shrinking world full of new technologies, intellectual property (“IP”) has become an important field of law for all businesses, big and small—and most individuals as well—to understand. This is a survey course that will provide an overview of the four topics that comprise the heart of IP law: trade secret, trademark, patent, and copyright. This course will provide you with the foundation to recognize situations where IP is involved and to properly analyze the implications of such situations. This course will focus both on established legal precedent as well as the practical impact of this precedent on economy, society, and culture, both at home and abroad. Course assignments will be composed of a mixture of cases, law review articles, and readings drawn from current events. In addition, written exercises will occasionally be given to illustrate how the knowledge learned from the readings, lectures, and class discussions might be applied in legal practice.
HST 120 Section 3, Intro to European History to 1648
This course is an introduction to the history of Western Civilization, covering from ancient history down to 1648 C.E. We will be treating—necessarily in a very general manner—the political, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual developments that together defined Western Civilization. This Honors class differs from other sections of this course in that it is more reading- and discussion-intensive. The required readings will likely be the following: Carlo Ginzburg, Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries; Thomas More, Utopia; Plato, The Last Days of Socrates; Plautus, The Pot of Gold and Other Plays; Larissa Juliet Taylor, The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc.; Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances. Recommended textbook: Thomas F. X. Noble et alii, Western Civilization: Beyond Boundaries, Volume I: to 1715, 7th edition. Students will write two mid-term exams and a final examination. They will also write three papers (about 4-6 pages each, double-spaced), based on the assigned readings, on which they may also be quizzed.
Mus 104 Section 2, Introduction to World Music Cultures
A survey introducing the musical cultures (traditional/folk, nonwestern art/classical, and popular music genres) of Africa, African America, Latin America, Native America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. This course is designed to broaden our musical and academic perspectives through the exploration of music in terms of its cultural, social, and historical dimensions—all concerns of ethnomusicology. The course has four objectives: 1) to broaden our understanding of the scope of human musical creativity throughout the world; 2) to develop listening skills and vocabulary that will enable us to talk and write about the world’s diverse music cultures; 3) to study music in culture as the relationship between ideas, sound, and behavior; 4) to understand the social, cultural, and historical basis of music production and consumption.
NHM 311 Section 3, Nutrition
With obesity rates at epidemic proportions and heart disease, cancer, and diabetes among the main causes of death, more emphasis is being placed on preventive medicine. Nutrition, along with physical activity, is important to a healthy lifestyle, but perhaps no other topic is the subject of as much misinformation and faulty science. This beginning nutrition course is open to all Honors students and will explore various current nutrition topics related to health and disease prevention. Students in the course will examine the interaction of biological, chemical, psychological, and social factors that affect nutrition status of individuals at various stages of the life cycle.
Pol 431 Section 2, Senior Seminar in International Politics
The Trump administration’s foreign policy positions and actions represent a clear divergence with both previous Democratic and Republican administrations. This class will explore if this divergence is the product of an idiosyncratic leader or part of a broader global nationalist movement. We will seek to understand, through discussion, what drives this development and what implications this development holds for the several areas of foreign policy. We will address implications for US alliances in Europe and Asia, counter terrorism strategy, international economic relations, and other topics that may prove timely. The seminar will draw on both traditional scholarship and contemporaneous materials in political science blogs and journalism to inform discussion.
PPL 373 Section 2, Leadership in Public Policy Setting
Effective leadership is a highly sought after commodity. This course is designed to provide an introduction to leadership by focusing on what it takes to be an effective leader. As an honors student, regardless of the field of study, you will be asked to be a leader in your career field. Therefore, the emphasis in the course is on the practice of leadership among various disciplines. As wicked problems continue to advance, strong leadership from all academic disciplines will be needed to solve the world’s most complex problems. The course will examine topics such as: the nature of leadership, recognizing leadership traits, developing leadership skills, creating a vision, critical thinking, setting the tone, listening to out-group members, handling conflict, overcoming obstacles, and addressing ethics in leadership. Attention will be given to help students understand and improve their own leadership performance by developing their leadership profile, which will enhance leadership tools that assist in self-assessment, emotional intelligence, leading teams, as well as other leadership concepts. Finally, this course will explore how to execute technical and conceptual skills among leaders in a changing organization, community, political, social, and global settings.
PSY 201 Section 17, General Psychology
This course is an overview of the broad field of Psychology and is designed to introduce the student to the scientific study of behavior and the cognitive and physiological processes that underlie behavior. Topics include the historical development of psychology, research methodology, brain/behavior relationships, perception, variations in consciousness, learning and memory, cognition and intelligence, emotion, personality, and social behavior. Psychological disorders and their treatment will also be discussed. This course differs from the regular sections of PSY 201 in the written and oral assignments that are built into the course. Students are required to give a 10-15 minute presentation in class on a topic assigned by the instructor. The topic for the upcoming semester will be a commonly held “myth” related to psychology that has little or no scientific support. Due to the small class size, examinations involve identification and short essay questions in addition to multiple-choice questions.
PSY 311 Section 4, Abnormal Psychology
The main goal of this course will be to understand fundamental concepts of abnormal psychology, including information related to symptoms, base-rates, classification, etiology, and course of psychological disorders. A major emphasis of the class is an hour-long presentation covering these aspects of a disorder of your choosing.
PSY 430 Section 1, Positive Psychology
The purpose of this course is to provide students with key information about the role of psychologists, particularly clinical psychologists, in the field of positive psychology. The course is an introduction to positive psychology research and practice. Cultivated by Martin Seligman and colleagues in the late 1990s, positive psychology has become one of the most rapidly developing branches of psychology. It is the scientific study of the processes, conditions, or qualities that are related to optimal human functioning, thriving or flourishing, or aspects that make for a meaningful life. Positive psychology is interested in what makes for a good life, a good person, or the best in people. Positive psychology is a place for researchers interested in rigorously studying such concepts as meaning in life, values, spirituality, mindfulness, character strengths, positive emotions, self-efficacy, empathy, optimism, gratitude, creativity, humor, goal setting and accomplishment, hope, forgiveness, flow, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. It is also a place for the dissemination and practical application of this knowledge in various settings. While positive psychology has many proponents, it is not without criticism. One criticism is that it is too positive, that it focuses too much on the nature of strengths, positive emotions, and experiences without sufficient consideration of the use of negative mood states and experiences. Along these lines, a recent trend that has emerged is the idea of cultivating “second wave” positive psychology, that is, giving thought to not only the “upside” of negative emotions, strengths, and experiences but also the “downside” of positive emotions, strengths, and experiences. For example, some people are so focused on whether they are happy, or are so engrossed in the pursuit of happiness, that it can interfere with their ability to engage in life and discover meaning. Some people overuse strengths, or use them at inappropriate times. Similarly, there are benefits to engaging (as opposed to avoiding) negative emotions and experiences. For instance, discomfort may lead to goal achievement and negative emotions may help us to prepare and lead to positive. What second wave positive psychology means for clinical psychology is a nuanced approach, a balanced view of pathology and strengths, striving to ensure the incorporation of positive variables in research and clinical practice, and not labelling positive and negative emotions, strengths, and experiences as either all good or all bad.
Rel 101 Section 5, Introduction to Religion
This course, REL 101, is founded on the assumption that a critical, yet sympathetic, knowledge of the major religions of the world will better equip you to understand the world in which you live—whether you pursue a career in the military, business, the arts, politics, or nursing. Thus, this course introduces the student to the academic study of religion and surveys some of the world’s major religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Our purpose is to gain basic familiarity with the rituals, beliefs, figures, sacred texts, and holy days that most generally characterize each of these distinctive traditions. In addition to the introductory textbook, we will examine primary sources such as sacred scriptures and theological writings. We will also be reading a few excerpts from scholarly essays on the theory of religion. This honors course will differ from the non-honors sections of the course in the following ways: significantly more in-class discussion of the course material; an additional small research paper; several additional readings; and a slightly more challenging exam format.
Soc 101 Section 20, Introductory Sociology
Honors Introductory Sociology is designed to give students an introduction to the study of sociology and how it applies to their lives. Sociology is the systematic study of social institutions, social relations, and collective human behavior. The focus in this course is to learn the basic concepts of the discipline, the debates within it, and the intellectual contributions that help us better understand our worlds. What makes this course different from a regular section of introduction to sociology? In this course, sociology is centered as a tool for producing a critical citizenry. Throughout, we will seek to better understand how our lives are shaped as much by larger social forces as they are by our individual choices, and we will think critically about the relationship between those larger forces and our personal biographies. In addition to exploring the fundamentals of sociology in this course, students will engage in intensive readings and discussions, and will take an active approach to their learning by engaging with primary data and interpretative practice.
Soc 451 Section 2, Sociology of News
The purpose of this course is to help students consider the functions of print news in developing views about society. The course explores the significance of the fourth estate and how the corporatization of news may affect the production of news, and provides two sociological theoretical lenses and methods for examining print reporting. Each semester we will investigate a broad array of social issues related to religion, race, gender, the LGBTQ community, immigration, politics, and economics. We will examine issues that span the scope of the 20th and 21st century to give students a sense of how print media and the nature of news have changed over time. In the fall 2017 semester, we will examine what newspapers in Mississippi and major print outlets knew and reported about the following: the Jewish plight in Germany after the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933; the lynchings of African Americans during Jim Crow; the treatment of gay men during the emergence of the AIDS crisis; the wave of violence perpetrated against transgendered people (in prison and elsewhere); the treatment of Muslims following 9/11, especially recent physical attacks on Muslim Americans and in Canada; the 2016 Charlie Hebdo drawings and the Paris bombing; and global economic conditions during the 2008 world financial crisis. Your research related to the Holocaust will be uploaded to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s History Unfolded website for people throughout the world to read.
Span 111 Section 11, Elementary Spanish
Spanish 111 Elementary Spanish is an introduction to the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish 111 is designed for students to learn the skills to communicate effectively in Spanish and to develop a knowledge and appreciation for Hispanic cultures. By the end of this class, students should be able to complete basic communicative tasks in Spanish using newly-acquired communication strategies, grammar and vocabulary, and to be able to understand and speak about the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Students in this Spanish 111 Honors section will be exposed to authentic material (news articles, literature, movie clips, etc.) and will engage the reading and writing strategies they have learned in regular college classes when producing speech and writing in Spanish. Because the Honors College and Croft also offer a Spanish 211 section, we will prepare all students to excel in that class. Spanish 111 contributes to the Honors College curriculum not only in fulfilling language requirements but also in emphasizing critical thinking and writing by engaging original source materials, and by contributing to an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Span 211 Section 5, Intensive Intermediate Spanish
Spanish 211 is a continuation of Spanish 111, Elementary Spanish, and is therefore, designed to continue the study of the language and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of this class, students should be able to complete intermediate-level communicative tasks in Spanish using the communication strategies, grammar structures and vocabulary acquired during the semester, and to understand and be able to talk about the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Students in the Honors section will have the opportunity to work with authentic material (news articles, literature, etc.) and will engage reading and writing strategies they have learned in regular classes in the production of class work and homework in Spanish. Because this Honors section will also include Croft students, who will necessarily continue to Spanish 303 and 305, we will spend more time in preparing all the students for excellence in those courses. Spanish 211 contributes to the Honors College curriculum not only by fulfilling the language requirement but also by emphasizing critical thinking and writing by using original source material, and by contributing to an interdisciplinary approach to learning.