Instructor: Kyle Hull

The field of Communication is diverse and multidisciplinary, covering everything from mass media effects to the psychological role of emotion in human relationships. Whatever your area of interest, we are all connected by one common bond – the need to understand, interpret, evaluate, and ultimately conduct research. This course looks at the role of research in the field of communication, and provides students with a better understanding of the fundamental components of the research process.

Honors students in this course will learn the same material as students in the standard course, but will have more opportunities for engagement with the material, as well as a hands-on learning experience with data collection and analysis. The primary avenue for interactivity will be a semester-long, collaborative research project, which involves designing and conducting a research study, and culminates with a final paper and presentation. This unique opportunity will allow the students to utilize concepts and theories from other communication courses, as well as contribute to the existing literature. Though the project will be supervised by the instructors, students will be afforded the opportunity to explore areas of communication within their own interests. By the end of the course, students should be properly prepared for future academic endeavors, namely the honors thesis.

Generally, we will examine the scientific method, the concept of intersubjectivity and truth in research, the differences between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the nuts and bolts of quantitative research design, and the key elements of any research study. In the process, students will gain a much broader understanding of the field of Communication, and the kind of work they would undertake when pursuing an academic career in Communication, or a research-oriented career in industry.

Course objectives: By the end of this course students should be able to

• evaluate scientific research in terms of measurement, design, sampling technique, method, and analysis.
• analyze numerical data using appropriate statistical procedures.
• conduct a basic scientific research project, which includes properly formulating and testing hypotheses, applying appropriate research design, analyzing data, and arriving at and supporting their conclusions.

Instructor: Jason Vokoun

Overview of the history of natural resource use and environmental conservation policy development from prehistoric to present times. Examination of the emergence of the 20th century conservation movement in North America and the transition to the environmental movement is used to highlight recurring environmental issue themes such as: private ownership vs. public trust doctrine; commercial trade in natural resources; development vs. protection; sustainability; and the role of society and governments in regulation. Through selected readings and case studies, students are challenged to begin development of their personal ethics regarding the development, conservation and protection of the environment.

(CA 1)

One credit.
Prerequisite: none.

Epidemiologic, pathobiological, public health, and socioeconomic perspectives that concern Ebola as an emerging infectious disease are discussed. Open to science majors and non-majors alike, no prerequisites are required. One 50-minute lecture/discussion per week.

Meeting Time and Location: Mondays 11:15-12:05, PBB 131.

Questions? Contact Cameron Faustman, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Director, Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture at cameron.faustman@uconn.edu.

Instructor: David Knecht

Many Honors students in the life sciences have benefited from MCB 2225, a laboratory experience designed to prepare you for the research laboratory by exploring experimental design, data analysis, and data presentation in the context of learning to work with living cells. Professor Knecht would like to allow Honors students the opportunity to take the course early in the college experience, so he is removing the pre- or co-requisite of MCB 2210 to encourage Honors students to take the class earlier in their academic careers. The only pre-requisite for MCB 2225 will be BIOL 1107, and it is open to any interested Honors student who meets that pre-requisite.

Note: This change in pre-requisites may not be reflected in the StudentAdmin system by the time you register. If you are unable to register due to missing the MCB 2210 pre/co-requisite but you have taken BIOL 1107, please request a permission number from Professor Knecht (david.knecht@uconn.edu).

Instructor: Kadir Gokgoz

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. We will cover four major components of Linguistics. These are (i) phonology (sound system of language), (ii) morphology (putting together smallest units of meaning/function), (iii) syntax (building phrases and sentences) and (iv) semantics (how meaning is composed).

What make the honors section different are emphasis on in-depth data analysis and a short term project which will help students practice their analytical skills and gain some research experience respectively. Each class will include discussion of the readings assigned for that week, additional material presented by the instructor, and exercises.

(CA 3)

Instructor: Oliver Scholes

This course covers, broadly, the history of the “west” in “modern” times. It will not be simply a recitation of facts about the past, nor will you be assessed on your ability to recall facts about the past and compress them into a blue book. Rather, we will attempt to come to some understanding about how different people in different times and places have imagined and represented the world around them. You will be assessed on your ability to analyze and make connections between course readings, both in writing and in class discussion, as well as your reflections on your own learning in this course.

(CA 1)

Instructor: Lynne Goodstein

What could be more relevant to everyone living on this planet than a class on race, class and gender? Each of us brings extensive experience with these concepts.  By studying them in a sociology course will enable you to take that knowledge to the next level. This interactive, participatory, and engaging course will give you much new knowledge and perspectives to challenge your assumptions and provide you with great stories to share with your family and friends.

(CA 2, CA 4)

Instructor: Sean Forbes

Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 or 1011 or 2011 or 3800

The Speaker: The Eye of the Poem and the Short Story

According to Frances Mayes, “the poet ‘finds’ the right speaker and the right listener, usually by trying out several approaches.” In this introduction to creative writing class we will examine the different approaches that a writer can take when trying to establish a speaker in a poem or short story. We will look at exemplary works of poetry and fiction from writers like Robert Hayden, Elizabeth Bishop, Anne Carson, and Justin Torres. Students will produce a final portfolio of their original work. Class participation is an essential component to this largely workshop-based course along with weekly writing prompts such as writing in iambic pentameter and challenging prose sketches.

Instructor: Vin Moscardelli

In this class, we will explore the historical development and contemporary operation of the United States Senate with the goal of determining how well the chamber performs the representational, deliberative, and lawmaking functions assigned to it by the Constitution. Is the United States Senate still the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”?

The class will employ a rich variety of resources and pedagogical approaches, including traditional political science research articles, visits from current and former Senate staff members, biographical and autobiographical accounts of senators, classic films, novelizations of Senate life, and an extended simulation (developed in consultation with staff of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston).

Instructor: Alain Frogley

An introduction to popular music and diversity in America: jazz, blues, Top-40 pop, rock, hip-hop and other genres. Musicians and their music studied in the context of twentieth-century and contemporary American society, emphasizing issues of race, gender, class, and resistance. No prior musical training or knowledge required.

In the honors section students will have the opportunity to lead a discussion of one of the reading assignments from the primary-source materials text. Honors students will also have an enhanced writing assignment on a topic of their choosing.

(CA 1, CA 4)