Fall 2011

Note: Incoming Freshmen will be assigned to one of two learning communities consisting of HON 1000, ENG 1050, and FRS 1000.

Group #1 Professors: Mensah, Decker

Group #2 Professors: Maysami, Braun

HON 1000 Dr. Cliff Mensah T/R 11:00-12:15 (900) 10151

HON 1000 Dr. Ramin Maysami T/R 11:00-12:15 (901) 10152

HON 2000 Dr. Robert Brown MWF 10:10-11:00 10153

HON 2510 Dr. Steve Bourquin R 3:30-6:30 10154

HON 4000 Dr. Jesse Peters TBA 10155

HON 4500 Dr. Jesse Peters TR 9:30-10:45 10156

ENG 2200 Dr. Jesse Peters T/R 11:00-12:15 13840

ENG 1050 Dr. Teagan Decker T/R 9:30-10:45 (900) 10161

ENG 1050 Dr. MJ Braun T/R 9:30-10:45 (901) 10162

SOC 2090 Dr. Mario Paparozzi MWF 9:05-9:55 10106

BIO 1000 Dr. Andy Ash T/R 2:00-3:15 12424

ENV 1100 Dr. Lisa Kelly MWF 1:25-2:15 13637

FRS 1000 Dr. Teagan Decker 8:00-9:15 T/R (900) 10164

FRS 1000 Dr. MJ Braun 8:00-9:15 T/R (901) 10165

 

HON 1000 Contemporary Public Issues

901 Dr. Cliff Mensah

T/R 11:00-12:15

This course will discuss the economic, financial, social, and cultural issues which affect the lives and decisions made by economic agents. In addition to analyzing economic implications of the current affairs in the United States, the course will examine the economic impact of global events and how their effects trickle down to the people of North Carolina, Robeson County and ultimately Pembroke. Given that the focus of the course is on emerging contemporary public issues, it will be necessary to periodically update and adjust its contents to ensure that it reflects the relevant issues of the day. As such, keeping up with the daily news will be a necessary ingredient of the course. The topics to be discussed include but are not limited to the impact of the Economic and Financial crisis, Health Care, Environment, Gender, Race and Affirmative Action, Discrimination, Drugs, Alcohol and Prostitution, Poverty and Welfare, and Social Security. Student involvement in class discussions, debates and projects is desired and will be rewarded accordingly.

900 Dr. Rami Maysami

T/R 11:00-12:15

Contemporary Public Issues will discuss economic, financial, social, and cultural topics which affect our lives, professionally and personally. The centers around examining the role of global events affecting our lives in the United States, and how the effects of global actions trickle down to North Carolina, Robeson County, and even Pembroke. The course will discuss, as the title suggests, “contemporary” public issues, with emphasis placed on contemporary. This means the topics of discussion may need to be adjusted to make the public issues discussed as current as can be. Among other topics, we will discuss economic and financial crisis (past, present, and future), Health Care, Environment, Affirmative Action and Discrimination, Poverty and Welfare, and Social Security. Student involvement in class is desired and rewarded. This includes emphasis on discussion, debate, and project preparation. As such, keeping up with daily news will be necessary ingredient of the course.

 

HON 2000 Humanistic Tradition I: From the Ancient World to 1500

Dr. Robert Brown

MWF 10:10-11:00

The Humanistic Tradition is an interdisciplinary seminar in the humanities that introduces mankind's most enduring creations in art, architecture, literature, thought, and music. It begins with the invention of civilization in the Near East and concludes with the Protestant Reformation. Owing to the overwhelming importance of Greek civilization, one of the three major roots (the Classical) of our western cultural tradition, for the subsequent history of western art, architecture, literature, and thought, we will give an extended study to this ancient people and the many superlative works conceived and constructed by them. We will next, after venturing but a passing glance at the Hellenistic era and the grandeur that was Rome, focus our attention on the origin, nature, and early history of the Christian religion, the second of our cultural roots (the Judeo-Christian), and on that great medieval civilization, rooted in the culture of the Germanic barbarians (the third of our cultural roots) yet permeated with the spirit of Christianity, that grew up, flourished, and then declined in the thousand years between AD 500 and 1500. Our semester will conclude with a study of new movements in the arts and in thought that appeared during the Late Middle Ages and that gave birth to the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, the beginning of modern times. The course concentrates on representative cultural centers (such as Classical Athens, Hellenistic Pergamon, Imperial Rome, Christian Ravenna, the medieval monastery, the Romanesque pilgrimage church, the Gothic cathedral, or Renaissance Florence) at a time when a singularly high point of cultural development had been reached and when such a distinct style had emerged and so penetrated the arts, architecture, and thought as to give each civilization an unusually high degree of unity and integration.

HON 2510 Horizons in Math and Computer Science

Dr. Steve Bourquin

R 3:30-6:30

This course will be a collection of topics meant to better acquaint students with mathematics. Though the final syllabus has not been determined, we will begin the semester with sets and base numbers with an emphasis on base two, the binary system. At some point in the semester, we will do an in-depth focus on elementary statistics, descriptive and inferential. Other key mathematical topics to be covered in this course are probability, logic, graphs, functions, systems of linear equations, and geometry.

HON 4500 Honors Thesis/Project

TBA

TR 9:30-10:45

Preparation of a thesis or project in consultation with a faculty committee chosen by the student; presentation of the work in seminar. Independent study in the student’s major is encouraged.

ENG 2200 Native American Literature Honors

Dr. Jesse Peters

T/R 11:00-12:15

The course is designed to expose students to significant voices in Native American literature. Our goal is to study a sampling of texts within Native American literature as we work towards an understanding of how this literature has developed and evolved. We will be paying particular attention to the ways in which Indian authors write within, outside of, and against the dominant canon of literature. Some of the questions we will be asking are: Who is an Indian? What is Native American literature? How does Indian literature relate to American literature in general? One of the main objectives of this class is to help students see how the study of literature both informs and is informed by all other aspects of a general college education.

ENG 1050 Honors

900 Dr. Teagan Decker

T/R 9:30-10:45

Rhetorical Analysis of Contemporary Media

Our lives are permeated with persuasion (this course description is

attempting to persuade you at this very moment!), and persuasion often

enters our lives via electronic media such as television and the internet.

This course will provide techniques, derived from classical and contemporary rhetoric, for analyzing advertising, news, political campaigns,

documentaries, and other contemporary vehicles of persuasion. Students will explore traditional rhetorical concepts derived from Aristotle and other

ancient rhetors as well as current rhetorical concepts in order to both

appreciate and critique these ever-present attempts to persuade us. Active

participation is a must in this class: students will be expected to identify

examples of persuasion and initiate class discussions on these examples.

Assignments will include traditional essays as well as multi-media projects.

901 Dr. MJ Braun

T/R 9:30-10:45

The crash of the U.S. (and later the international) economy in fall, 2008 initiated a public discussion about what constitutes a “good” economy. Quite rare are the moments in U.S. history when the public involves itself in discussions about economics, and the current discussion about the causes and ways out of the current economic crisis have been contentious. Should the banks be allowed to become “too big to fail?” Should public funds (tax payer dollars) be used to bail them out, invest in new energy technology, or provide health insurance for everyone? This discussion has certainly interested many citizens whose futures are precarious and has also interested many professors who research in a variety of academic disciplines: Economics, History, Business, Political Science, Finance, Sociology, etc. Given the nature of my academic discipline, Rhetoric, I am also researching this public discussion (or discourse). Rhetoricians study the overt and covert ways in which citizens are persuaded to support or oppose issues which will be resolved by their government. During this economic crisis, my research questions have been: How are arguments and other persuasive texts constructed to convince citizens to support one economic solution or another? Historically, how have people been persuaded to think that certain economic principles are good, while others are evil and dangerous? In this class, I invite you to join me in these research questions as we study the rhetoric of “good economics” so you, as a citizen, can develop your own ideas about what constitutes a good economy.

SOC 2090 Honors

Dr. Mario Paparozzi

MWF 9:05-9:55

Social problems in modern society are many and complex. The existence of social problems directly affects all members of society. As well, these problems cry out for solutions. Many argue that social problems are the result of individual factors, and therefore their solutions are best found by examining individual behaviors. Others argue that social problems are the result of social forces that are well beyond the control of individuals. This course will attempt identify current social problems that are most important to society. After gaining an understanding of some of the major social problems facing modern society, the course will turn to the role and responsibility of individuals, communities, and government with regard to finding solutions. The course will also focus on the social costs of social problems, and how they affect families, work groups, local communities, and global affairs.

ENV 1100 Honors

Dr.Lisa Kelly

MWF 1:25-2:15

The Honors section of Environmental Science is a hands-on course, based largely on case studies involving local environmental issues. We will explore and analyze influences of local history, culture, economics, policy, and ecology on the region’s natural and human environments. Topics for consideration may include: 1) the Lumber River as a focus of Robeson County culture, 2) blackwater rivers as a unique riverine subtype, 3) naval stores and logging as a historic regional economy, 4) southeastern North Carolina as a significant site for rare species, 5) urbanization and its ecological footprint, and 6) confronting climate change (management and mitigation). Students will engage in this exploration using discussions, visiting websites, reading supplemental materials, gathering and interpreting data (e.g., population statistics and growth rates), and generating practical solutions for real world problems (e.g., ways to ensure campus sustainability and to “green” the UNCP curriculum).

BIO 1000 Honors

Dr. Andy Ash

T/R 2:00-3:15

Credit in BIO 1000 applies to the Natural Science Component of the General Education Program. Upon completing this course you should be able to: 1) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts of cellular biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution; 2) demonstrate knowledge of the purpose, methods, and principles of scientific inquiry; and 3) better understand yourself and the environment through knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Most of the semester will be dedicated to the study of cellular and sub-cellular aspects of life, with the remaining time dedicated to the study of whole organisms and environments. As honor students, your active participation in this course is expected and welcomed. In addition to my lecture materials, class topics will be supplemented with case studies --- required readings for class discussion. Weekly Blackboard assignments will encourage you to keep abreast of the chapter topics.

FRS 1000 Honors

900 Dr. Teagan Decker T/R 8:00-9:15

901 Dr. MJ Braun T/R 8:00-9:15