University of Maine at Farmington 2019-2020 Catalog

 
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Honors
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  HON 101 - First Year Seminar in Honors
In this course, first year students in the Honors Program explore connections between important ideas throughout history and contemporary life. Students will examine the applicability and implications of historical ideas for today's understanding of history, science, politics, literature, the arts and/or other disciplines. Course counts as an FYS. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every semester.


Credit: 4

  HON 175 - World Affairs Camden Conference

Each year a conference is organized in Camden, Maine on a selected topic related to world affairs. Recent themes have ranged from the Global Refugee Crisis to the Rise of China as a Superpower. Presentations at the Conference feature experts from the worlds of diplomacy, journalism, business and academia. Students will read and discuss materials related to the conference theme in preparation for the conference. Pass/Fail option. Every spring term.



Credit: 2

  HON 180N - Interdisciplinary Science

An Honors level interdisciplinary science course. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit, but will fulfill general education requirements only if scientific disciplines are different. Prerequisite(s): None. Fall only.



Credit: 4

  HON 190M - The Natural Beauty of Mathematics

This course aims to explore the interplay of a number of different branches of mathematics beyond the typical 100-level math course, while requiring no more than a basic high school knowledge of mathematics (high school algebra and geometry should suffice).  Students will gain a basic knowledge of these math topics and will make connections among the different branches and the application to other subjects. Prerequisites: None. Each year.



Credit: 4

  HON 201 - Social Justice: Responsibility, Reciprocity, & Respect

This course is designed to promote respect for all individuals, with an emphasis on developing a critical consciousness that comprehends the significance of social justice.  Students will examine how social stratification is perpetuated through various social institutions.  Finally, students will think critically about how social constructions (of Race and Ethnicity, Social Class, Gender, Sexuality, Disability) influence social interaction.  Prerequisites:  Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every two years.  
 
  



Credit: 4

  HON 202 - Contemporary Issues in Education

In this course, we will investigate contemporary issues in education: from school choice and charter schools to bilingual education and school segregation. To better understand these issues and position ourselves in relation to them, we will uncover hidden assumptions, research historical origins, and analyze practical consequences .Prerequisite(s):  Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every two years.



Credit: 4

  HON 203 - Hollywood%u2019s Portrayal of Education

This course examines the impact of film and television on shaping the public’s perception of teachers, students, and schools.  Is this portrayal entirely truthful?  If not, what parts of the school experience are misrepresented?  Are there parts left out completely?  What are some of the stereotypes generated by film and television of schools, students, and teachers?  Thoughtful analysis of these questions will be core themes discussed throughout the semester. Prerequisite(s):  Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every two years.      



Credit: 4

  HON 204 - Testing, Testing: Past, Present, and Future

Every student in the contemporary American public school system lives through an extensive battery of standardized tests. In this course, designed for Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary/Middle, and Special Education majors (and interested students in any major), we will explore the following questions: Why are standardized tests ubiquitous?;  Where do they come from?;  What are their effects?; How do they shape our ideas of “merit” – of who deserves opportunities and resources?; What kind of society do these tests support and create?; What might alternatives look like? Prerequisite(s):  Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every two years.    



Credit: 4

  HON 275H - Style and Substance

Intensive study of several fiction writers, with writing assignments inspired by the work under discussion.  Students will study a different writer every two weeks, with discussion of the literature followed by workshop-style discussion of the students' own fiction. The focus is on learning by imitation. Prerequisite(s): ENG 100 and acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor (Pass/Fail option) Varies.



Credit: 4

  HON 277 - Special Topics

Courses offered under this heading are offered only once and focus on subjects that vary according to instructor. Examples are Japan Pop, The Post-Human, Children's Relationship with Nature, Literature of Asperger Syndrome, etc. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Varies.



Credit: 2-4

  HON 305 - Honors Enhancement

Noncredit honors course for students opting for honors enhancement.  Students will enroll in the course that is being enhanced and Honors 305 concurrently.  Upon successful completion of the enhancement, students will receive honors credits for the enhanced course. Pass/Fail only. Variable frequency.



Credit: 0

  HON 306 - Religion and Colonialism

This class will introduce students to the academic discipline known as the History of Religions (Religionswissenschaft), and to the subject of religion during the colonial and post-colonial periods. The study of religion in the modern period has been characterized by a general failure to situate itself within the context of modernity's ethnic diversity, its valuation of commodities, and its relationship to the history of colonialism. The cargo cult - a specific Melanesian phenomenon will provide our entre for confronting this issue, allowing us to regard the religious lives of colonized peoples with an eye to constructively rethinking both the study of religion and our understanding of the colonial and post-colonial periods. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. Every three years.



Credit: 4

  HON 322 - Consumerism, Politics, and Values

This interdisciplinary course will focus on the question of how the emergence of a mass consumer society has impacted our cultural, political, and moral/ethnical lives. The course builds on the work of Adorno and Horkheimer and the Frankfurt school which, after WWII, developed a psychological and philosophical critique of western culture. We conclude by reflecting on the impact of the economic crisis, which began in 2008, on consumerism. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor.  (Pass/Fail option) Every three years.      



Credit: 4

  HON 340 - Children and Political Violence

This course is an interdisciplinary investigation into the impact of war and political violence on children and child development, making comparisons across a variety of countries, cultures and settings. Students consider the impact of war/political violence from various disciplinary perspectives, including child/human development, education, and political science. From there students use case studies, research, and personal investigations to critique current approaches to the issue, and reflect on how the impact of political violence on children affects society at large. The course is discussion oriented and involves faculty and students working together to draw interdisciplinary connections and explore various ways to approach this topic and its social ramifications. Prerequisite(s):  Acceptance into the Honors Program or permission of instructor. (Pass/Fail option) Every three years.



Credit: 4

  HON 377 - Advanced Topics in Honors

Courses under this heading are offered only once. They are intended for advanced students in the Honors Program. Topic varies according to instructor(s). Examples of previous topics include Truthiness in North American History, Seminar in Linguistics, Asia's New Superpowers: India and China, and Theories of Computation. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program and one previous Honors course or permission of instructor. Varies.



Credit: 4

  HON 397 - Independent Study in Honors

An opportunity for honors students to pursue independent study in appropriate topics. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program, approval of the Honors Director, and permission of a faculty member who will direct the study. Completion of Independent Study Form. Varies.



Credit: 1-4

  HON 477 - Topics in Honors

The study of a specialized topic not offered in the usual curriculum. Varies. 



Credit: 2-4

  HON 497 - Independent Study in Honors

An opportunity for honors students to pursue independent study in appropriate topics. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program, approval of the Honors Director, and permission of a faculty member who will direct the study. Completion of Independent Study Form. Varies.



Credit: 1-4

  HON 499 - Honors Thesis

Each student in the Honors Program who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to complete an Honors thesis, earning the title of University Honors Scholar. The student must have a faculty director and the thesis must be presented to and defended before the Honors Council. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Honors Program, a minimum of 16 other Honors credits, and approval of the Honors Council and Director. Completion of Independent Study Form. Pass/Fail. As needed.



Credit: 0-4

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