Honors Courses (Spring 2013)

SPRING 2013 HONORS COURSES                                                                                    

PFORZHEIMER HONORS COLLEGE, PLEASANTVILLE CAMPUS

Honors courses are designed to be innovative and challenging. They may be interdisciplinary, focus on great works and ideas, cover issues of current interest, or present a topic in depth with a faculty member who has expertise in that subject. Honors courses are open only to students in the Pforzheimer Honors College. Students who are not in the Honors College may be permitted to register for an Honors College course with written permission from the Director of the Honors College, contingent upon the student’s GPA and space available in the course. Each Honors College course carries Honors College credit which will appear on the student’s transcript and will count toward completing the requirements of the Honors College. For additional information, contact Dr. Sheila Chiffriller, Director, Pforzheimer Honors College, Mortola Library, third floor, Pleasantville campus, at 914 773-3848 or  SChiffriller@pace.edu.

1.  ART 103  ART HISTORY: RENAISSANCE THROUGH MODERN ART, 3 credits, crn 23281

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Area of Knowledge 2 or 4

Day:  Pleasantville campus: T 12:20-3:15 pm; New York City campus R 10:10-1:15, Janetta Rebold Benton

Course Description:Second half of a year-long introductory survey of the major monuments of western art from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century. Works of painting, sculpture, and architecture are studied within their historical contexts. This course may be taken independently of ART 102.  Includes a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Dr. Benton.

2.  BIO 123  BIOLOGY AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, 4 credits, crn  21278 and crn 21279

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $55

Fulfills: Lab science foundation requirement, meets for 4 hours (2 lecture, 2 lab)

Day:  Lab M 9:05-10:55; lecture T 9:05-10:55, Charlene Hoegler

Course description: This is an inquiry-based science course. Small and large group discussions focus on issues that impact human biology and/or biodiversity from practical, theoretical, and political standpoints. Emphasis is on the interdependence of human, plant, and animal biology and the environment. This course has lecture and hands-on laboratory components. Students choose 3 issues for further research and present their findings in commentary format. Includes a field trip to Cabbage Hill Farm, Mt. Kisco.

3.  CIS 102T   INTERGENERATIONAL COMPUTING, 3 credits, crn 20846

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Area of Knowledge 1

Day: M 1:25-3:15 and one hour web-assisted online, Jean Coppola

Course description: This course studies developments in computing technology that affect older members of our society. Focus is on the use of the computer as a tool to make a positive difference in the daily lives of senior citizens, thereby improving their overall life quality. Theory is brought into practice with hands-on experience teaching computing tools and applications to older adults. Students are encouraged to be creative with their group projects and to put their learned skills into action on-site with senior citizens in collaboration with community partners.

4.  COM 200   PUBLIC SPEAKING, 3 credits, crn 21134

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Foundation requirement

Day: W 9:05-11:50am, Ellen Mandel

Course description: This course is devoted to instruction in the mechanisms of writing and presenting one’s own material. Included are outlining, addressing various audiences, style, and appropriate techniques of delivery, as well as the use of technology to enhance one’s presentation. This pragmatic, skills-oriented course is designed to provide a context for practicing the construction and presentation of well-reasoned public messages.

5.CRJ 311   CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL CASES, 3 credits, crn 20977

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills:  Inquiry and Exploration, Writing enhanced

Day:  R 1:25-4:10pm, Peggy FitzGerald

Course description: This course explores several controversial criminal cases. The intent is to recreate, analyze, and hypothesize, based upon the information available. To be successful at this, students must be objective and review the facts critically. Cases studied may include the assassination of Kennedy, the involvement of the millionaire Durst in 3 murders, and the over-turned conviction of college student Knox in the murder of her roommate.

6.  EDU 201D    NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION, 3 credits, crn 23080
Prerequisites: None
Fulfills:  Area of Knowledge 1, Writing Enhanced

Day: R 8:00-11:05am, Xiao-Lei Wang

Course description: This course examines nonverbal behavior as it affects communication style and competence in the communication process. Theories and research on nonverbal communication are discussed in cultural, gender, and professional contexts. Students have ample opportunities to analyze their experiences and practice new skills through class discussions and assignments. The topics addressed include physical appearance, gestures, movements, facial behavior, eye behavior, vocal behavior, touch, space, time, and environment.

7.  ENG 201   WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES, 3 credits, crn 20761                                                                  

Prerequisite: ENG 120 and sophomore standing (completion of 45 college credits)

Fee: $20

Fulfills: Foundation requirement

Day:  T 4:30-5:55, R 4:30-5:55, Heather Bryant

Course description:  This course focuses on writing effective essays and research papers in disciplinary modes and in students’ fields of interest. Included are interviews, analysis of journal articles, and appropriate documentation style formats. Students work collaboratively, approaching issues from the perspective of their chosen majors.

8.  ENG 308   CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY, 3 credits, crn 21905

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Inquiry and Exploration

Day:  M 1:25-3:15, W 1:25-2:20, Jane Collins

Course description:  This class introduces the elements of writing poetry, concentrating on the sounds, rhythms, and textures of words. Students read poems by the best writers in the genre in order to understand the ways they move us with their works.  Students do a series of poetry writing exercises and conclude the course by compiling a 10-page poetry chapbook of their best work. 

9. HIS 134   MODERN LATIN AMERICA: 1960s TO THE PRESENT, 3 credits, crn 20272

Prerequisites: None
Fulfills: AOK 3
Evening: M 6:00-8:45pm, Harold Weishaus

Course description: This course provides a survey of meaningful and relevant events that have influenced modern Latin American history. Topics to be addressed include: Castro and Cuba; human rights issues in El Salvador and Chile; the Iran-Contra scandal in Nicaragua; Mexico and NAFTA; drug trafficking from Latin America into the United States; illegal immigration into the United States; Hugo Chavez and the Venezuelan oil crisis; and the earthquake in Haiti.

10. HW 165   HEALTH AND WELLNESS: STRESS REDUCTION WITH COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, 3 credits, crn 23449

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Nursing elective

Day: M 4:40-7:25, Martha Greenberg

Course description: This course focuses on the use of complementary and alternative therapies for stress management. Diverse therapies including guided imagery, meditation, music, massage and body work, reiki, acupressure, and reflexology are explored. Philosophical, theoretical, and evidence bases of select therapies will be examined. Demonstration and practice will be included in each class and this course will be highly participative.

11.  PSY 240   POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND HAPPINESS, 3 credits, crn 23153

Prerequisite: None

Fulfills: Area of Knowledge 5, Writing Enhanced

Day: T 11:15-12:10, R 11:15-1:15pm, Paul Griffin

Course description: This course focuses on what psychologists have learned about happiness and optimal human functioning. Topics addressed include: identifying the goals and subject matter of positive psychology; examining theoretical perspectives and empirical findings on what predicts human happiness, from the biological to the environmental; aspects of the “good life”  such as signature strengths, purpose in life, and acts of kindness; and the application of these theories and findings to everyday life.

10. RES 242 THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE, 3 credits, crn 23075

Prerequisites: None

Fulfills: Area of Knowledge 2
Evening: R 6:00 – 8:45pm, Lawrence Hundersmarck
Course description: This course offers students a grand journey with Dante through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Focus is on understanding the most important philosophical and religious ideas that are integrated into the text from the traditions of classical Greek philosophy and the Bible. The Divine Comedy of Dante, among the most influential works within the entire Western intellectual tradition, is also examined with an eye to its contemporary meaning and significance.
 

HONORS INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COURSES, 3 credits

Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing, 3.3 GPA minimum

With the written approval of the appropriate professor, the department chairperson, and the Director of the Honors College, a student may select a topic that is not included in the usual course offerings for guided research. The student meets regularly with the professor to review progress. To receive Honors College credit, the results of this independent research must be presented at the Honors Independent Research Conference held every year at the end of April or beginning of May. Similarly, the Business Honors 495 course for seniors may also count as an Honors College course if the student presents the research results at the Honors Independent Research Conference.

Students may have their papers published in Transactions, the scholarly journal of the Dyson Society of Fellows, and also made available through Pace University’s Digital Commons.

HONORS OPTIONS COURSES, 3 credits

The Honors Option is designed for Honors-level work in a non-Honors course. To receive Honors College credit, an additional paper (10-20 pages), project, or presentation is required. Written approval of the appropriate professor and the Director of the Honors College are necessary. Depending upon the number of credits completed prior to entering the Honors College, Honors students are limited to two Honors options; other Honors course requirements must be completed in Honors courses.