Honors Sections of University Core Curriculum Courses Each semester, the Honors College offers Honors sections of several University Core Curriculum (UCC) courses. Honors sections are more intense than traditional sections, they rely more upon discussion, and they are capped at 20 students. Before priority registration begins in the fall and spring semester, the Honors College Office produces a list of all Honors sections of UCC courses and shares it with students via e-mail. Registration Process: All incoming first year students (current high school seniors) are registered by the registrar. Current students: See your advisor before March 15th to discuss your Fall 2024 courses and obtain your alternate pin. For a course registration video, please click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzBYVn7qpuU&t=7s Click here for a helpful schedule planner. Click here for a blank 8-semester planning sheet. Courses are available only by permit. To obtain a permit, please email honors@wpunj.edu with your name, 855 number and the course information. Fall 2024 Honors Courses UCC Section Area 1-Personal Well-Being Financial Planning FINP 1600-001 CRN: 43638 Lawrence Verzani MWF 2-2:50 pm Financial well-being is designed to promote financial literacy among students in order to allow them to increase their overall financial, economic and social well-being. Consumers operate in a buyer beware marketplace and must be financially literate in order to achieve and maximize their own well-being and security. This course covers the basic financial planning process and will help students obtain a working knowledge of creating an investment portfolio, filing taxes, risk management, insurance, credit scores, credit reports, debt management, retirement planning and time value of money. UCC- 2B- Expression Literature College Writing- Honors ENG 1100-017 CRN: 43770 Staff A MW- 3:30pm- 4:45pm ENG 1100-026 CRN: 44243 Martha Iris Witt TR- 9:30am-10:45am ENG 1100-028 CRN: 45312 Mathew J. Kendrick MW- 11:00am-12:15pm A workshop course in which students read about writing practice and theory and learn strategies for developing and revising pieces of non-fiction writing. Students share their writing with the instructor and their peers, get feedback on drafts, and consider this feedback as they progress through the writing process. At least one writing project should be developed over four different drafts. This course develops students’ writing competency on the college level. UCC Area 3A- Ways of Knowledge: Philosophical Perspectives Intro to Philosophy- Honors PHIL 1100-002 CRN: 43082 Laura T Di Summa TR 11:00am-12:15pm Representative problems of philosophy, ranging from methods of inquiry, moral dilemmas, religious knowledge, problems of existence, artistic judgment and criticism to political and social philosophy. UCC Area 3B- Ways of Knowledge: Historical Perspectives The Modern World- Honors HIST 1050-003 CRN: 43557 Navyug Gill TR- 2:00pm-3:15pm This course provides broad coverage of the formation of the modern world from the late 18th century to the present. It traces political, economic, social, and cultural developments and interactions among the principal regions of the world Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas from the Atlantic Revolutions and their aftermath to our contemporary era. Topics include: the American, French and Haitian revolutions, the Latin American independence movements, industrialization, colonialism and anti-colonialism, nationalism, the World Wars and their aftermath, the Cold War, and globalization. UCC Area 3C- Ways of Knowledge: Social and Behavioral Sciences General Psychology- Honors PSY1100-005 CRN: 43984 Christian Holle MW 3:30pm- 4:45pm This course surveys the chief theories, principles, and methodologies of psychology with special emphasis on their relations to human behavior. The biological foundations of behavior, sensory processes, learning, perception, memory, emotion, motivation, personality, and the social bases of behavior and behavior pathology are examined to establish the foundations for advanced study in psychology. Current research findings are included wherever applicable. UCC-3D Ways of Knowledge: Scientific General Biology: EEB (Honors) BIO1620-006 CRN: 44177 Staff TR 9:30-10:45, R 2-4:40 For students intending to major in biology, this course is an introduction to general principles of biology for students preparing for careers in life science. Course emphasis is on evolution as a unifying principle in biology, natural selection, macroevolution, evolutionary history of life on earth, exploration of the tree of life, comparative form & function, and interactions among organisms within populations, communities, and ecosystems. UCC Area 4- Diversity and Justice Race, Gender, and Society (Honors) AWS2250-001 CRN: 43196 Elizabeth Harkins TR 11-12:15 This course analyzes multiple forms of social oppression and inequality based on race (and color), sex (and gender), sexual orientation (and identity), and class in the United States. It will examine systemic aspects of social oppression in different periods and contexts and the ways that systems of social oppression manifest themselves on individual, cultural, institutional and/or global levels thus becoming self-perpetuating but not wholly unaltered structures. Individual and group agency, strategies of resistance, and visions for change will also be studied. UCC Area 5- Community and Civic Engagement Structural Determinants of Health- Honors PBHL3820-001 CRN: 43864 Staff A W 11:00am-1:40pm This Honors, Area 5 course explores macro-level societal structures as fundamental determinants of health. Emphasis will be placed on how political and economic institutions as well as systems of power and ideology shape social life, population health, health behaviors, and health disparities. UCC Area 6- Global Awareness Global Transformations and the Human Condition ANTH 3100-002 CRN: 43460 Sreevidya Kalaramadam W 11-1:40 p.m. This course develops an understanding of the experiences of “globalization” as a historical phase of capitalism, and “development” as a post-World War II set of practices. It will analyze specific “global” problems as manifested in the lives of large sections of the world’s poor and marginalized populations across multiple societies. These problems include: poverty and inequality; livelihoods and food security; endemic hunger, malnutrition and healthcare systems; overconsumption, population and environmental degradation; international debt; displacement and migration; intellectual property rights and indigenous knowledge; wars and cultural conflicts. Emphasis will be on contradictory impacts on people and societal prospects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and on marginalized populations in advanced capitalist countries. Methods to facilitate a just and sustainable future for humanity will also be explored. Literature of Americas-Honors ENG 3250-060 CRN: 45314 Judith E. Broome M 6:00pm-8:00pm This course is a comprehensive exploration of the literatures of North America, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America beginning with the first literatures recording contact through the present. The course is primarily comparative in nature situating literary texts in specific cultural and political contexts, and includes the study of texts produced in various parts of the Americas in relation to one another, as well as in relation to global issues and texts. This course will facilitate students’ identification of cross-cultural and literary relations that influence the production of similar or contradictory narratives that inform the complex cultural history of the region. An interdisciplinary focus will enable students to utilize concepts and perspectives from other disciplines in order to make new connections in the study of literatures of the Americas. Biology Track: Honors Literature Seminar BIO 3950-001 CRN: 43578 Staff MW 12:30-1:45 This course serves as an intensive introduction to reading and criticism of biological scholarship via select papers from the primary literature. Designed for 3rd-year Honors students, the course will move students who are preparing for major senior research projects into addressing the literature across the life sciences, and in their area of interest in particular. Students will read, evaluate, and critically discuss papers on a weekly basis and write a review-style final paper on a scientific topic of their choosing. Students will be encouraged to choose a topic close to their Honors research project, which should be in development by the time they take this course. This will allow students to make supervised progress toward their Independent Study proposals and Senior Thesis work. Research Methods Biology BIO 5330-060 CRN: 43097 Staff T 6:30-9:30, R 6:30-9:30 A thorough examination of the methodologies, procedures and issues of science, particularly as they apply to biology. Emphasis is on design of research, statistical treatment of data and interpretation of results. Lecture and lab. Prerequisite: Admission to the biology graduate program or permission of the instructor (4 credits) Students will be charged an additional Biology Lab Fee when enrolling in this course. Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Track: Intro Counseling/Psychology- Honors PSY 4100-001 CRN: 43551 Robin K Nemeroff TR 11am-12:15pm This course explores the major theories of psychotherapy and the application of those theories. For each therapy mode theory of psychopathology is related to the methods used and the theory of change. Research outcomes for each type of psychotherapy are reviewed. Prerequisite: PSY 3500 OR 3510 Psychopharmacology (Honors) CLSI 4150-070 CRN: 43878 Bruce Diamond T 9:30-10:45, Online Section is Asynchronous To provide a groundwork for this course in the neurosciences, a behaviorally oriented overview of nervous system functioning and biochemistry is integrated with discussions of basic pharmacological principles and biobehavioral research methods. The physiological, behavioral, and psychological effects of the major classes of psychoactive drugs are presented. Emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms of these drugs at molecular, cellular, and neurophysiological levels; the similarities and differences in mechanisms between drugs; and the experimental paradigms utilized to arrive at the findings. Clinical Science Thesis I CLSI 4700-001 CRN: 43725 Bruce Diamond Meeting Times TBA The central goal of this course is to provide feedback, guidance and oversight of the honors research experience and the process of writing the honors thesis. This course will help provide a brief review of the foundational knowledge, research skills and ethical principles central to the research process. An integral part of this course is providing oversight of the early thesis stages including conceptualization, goal-setting, literature review and method section. As such, the writing component in this course help facilitate learning, critical thinking and collaborative discussion as well as provide an evaluation tool. Overall, this course is a comfortable place for students to learn, discuss issues and make mistakes in a non-judgmental, constructive and mutually supportive environment. Prerequisites: Admission into Clinical Science Honors Program or Permission of Course Instructor Cognitive Science Track COG Science Seminar 1-Honors CGSI 2000-001 CRN:43331 Michael S. Gordon and Pete Mandik F- 12:30pm-3:10pm Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary study of the mind/brain. Students gain an understanding of how the different constituent areas (psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, computer science, philosophy, and linguistics) are the rich foundation of cognitive science by directly interacting with the experts in those fields. This provides the student with an overview of the field of cognitive science and the general methodologies used within those fields. Cognitive Science Honors Thesis I CGSI 4010-001 CRN: 43153 Amy E. Learmonth F 2:00pm-4:40pm This is a research based course that is the first part of a two semester thesis. Although students will have already been exposed to at least one research methods course prior to the thesis course, an overview of the logic of research and the methodology will be presented. This overview will also serve to highlight the various options students will have for their own research projects. Research methods open to the students include computer modeling and simulations, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, qualitative research methodologies, discourse analysis and think-aloud protocols. The 'how to' of research will be explored in detail. Students, in consultation with faculty, will select a topic for their research project. The exploration of the research topic will be the primary focus of the course. Formal oral and written presentations of the research proposal as well as summaries and research notes of a minimum of twelve research articles relevant to the student’s individual topic will be completed. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: CGSI 3000 AND PSY 2030 Humanities Track: Humanities Honors Seminar I/Literature of the Americas 2000-060 CRN: 45310 Staff A M 6:00pm-8:40pm Crosslisted with ENG 3250 and LAS 3250. Please see description above. Humanities Honors Thesis Seminar 1- Honors HUMH 4010-001 CRN: 43070 Krista E O’Donnell W 2:00pm-4:40pm The first of two capstone courses in the Humanities honors track, designed to engage students in identifying, researching, and organizing an appropriate topic for their honor’s thesis. The course will include extensive individual work with a thesis supervisor. Course culminates in the completion and submission of a research proposal to University Honors College. Designated as UCC-Writing Intensive. Fulfills Humanities Honors Track thesis seminar requirement. Prerequisites: By permission of the instructor, track director, o Humanities Honors Thesis Seminar II HUMH 4020-001 CRN: 44381 Krista E O’Donnell W 2:00pm-4:00pm The second, culminating capstone course in the Humanities honors track, in which students produce and present their individual senior research publicly in fulfilment of the thesis requirements for an honors degree from the University Honors College. Designated as UCC-Writing Intensive. Fulfills Humanities Honors track thesis seminar requirement. Prerequisites: By permission of the instructor, track director, or Honors College Business Track: Honors Marketing Practicum MGT 4850-001 CRN: 45538 Staff A R 2:00pm-4:40pm A course of study designed especially for the supervised practical application of previously studied theory in a group setting. Done under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and coordinated with a business organization Marketing Practicum- Honors MKT 4850-001 CRN: 45499 Staff A R 2:00pm-4:40pm Music Track: Music Honors Methods- Honors MUSI 4960-060 CRN- 43845 Staff A M 5:00pm-6:50pm This two-credit course will instruct students in the nature, purposes, and types of entry-level research for music; the basics of music bibliography and webliography; and academic writing about music-related topics. Prerequisites: Acceptance into Music Honors Track by Application and Interview, Music Honors Seminar MUSI 4970 Music Honors Seminar- Honors MUSI 4970-060 CRN: 43996 Staff A W 5:00pm-5:50pm This four-semester sequence, one-credit course is the forum for basic orientation, communication, group collaboration, analysis, assessment, and mentoring for students in the Music Honors track of the University Honors Program. Students plan their course of study in honors, including choices of courses in and out of the Music Department, and begin to formulate and pursue the various honors project options working in consultation with the Honors Track Director and other Music Honors Students throughout their seminar experiences. Prerequisites: Acceptance into Music Honors Track by Application and Interview Music Honors Project - Honors MUSI 4980-001 CRN: 43291 Staff A Meeting Times TBD This is the culminating experience in the Music Honors track of the University Honors Program. It consists of a recital, lecture, paper, report of research, or a combination of these to be determined in consultation with the music honors track coordinator. Prerequisites: Acceptance into Music Honors Track by Application and Interview Nursing Track: Critical Thinking Inquiry- Honors NUR3260-001 CRN: 44388 Staff A F 9:00am-11:40am Honors Research Project Implementation NUR4526-001 CRN: 43548 Staff A R 8:00am-10:40am The concepts and processes related to critical thinking, nursing informatics, and evidence based nursing provide the framework for this course. Knowledge and skills required for critical analysis of information relevant to all aspects of professional nursing practice are developed. Students will be charged an additional Non-clinical Instruction Fee and NCLEX Prep Fee when enrolling in this course. Prerequisites: NUR 3210 and PBHL 2240. Honors Research Project Implementation NUR4526-002 CRN: 43933 Staff A F 11:00am-1:40pm This course provides the opportunity for nursing honors students to implement the research proposal begun in the previous course (NUR 3330H). This seminar course supports and guides students as they implement their individualized research study. Students will develop their results chapter of their quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods research or begin to synthesize findings of their systematic or integrative review of the literature. Students working with human subjects will finalize letters of consent and complete Institutional Review Board applications through the University as well as corresponding health care systems where research will take place. Students will develop surveys through Qualtrics, establish data collection databases, and begin analysis of findings. Students will seek opportunities to submit abstracts of their work at local, regional, and national conferences. At the completion of the course, students will be prepared to present their findings to their peers and provide constructive feedback via a peer review process. The seminar includes critical thinking and discussion of the challenges that students face as they implement their research study and analyze the raw data. PREREQUISITES: NUR3500H, NUR 3260H, NUR3330H Performing and Literary Arts Track: Honors Research Thesis PLA 4010-001 CRN: 43299 Martha Witt Meeting Times TBD This course will support and monitor a student's efforts to complete his/her Honors project, an artistic work of substance, which will then be presented to the campus community in a public performance. The projects vary in nature and involve original thought and creative composition in one or more of the following areas: writing, music, film, art, theatre, photography. The course will cover such topics as: defining and outling the project, determining research methods, overcoming obstacles along the way, completing a first draft, revising, and successfully bringing the project to a finished state. Students will meet several times as a group and, weekly, on an individual basis with the instructor. Honors Research Thesis PLA4010-002 CRN: 44142 Staff A Meeting Times TBD Global Public Health Track: Struct Determ Health- Honors PBHL3820-001 CRN: 43864 Staff A W 11:00am-1:40pm This Honors, Area 5 course explores macro-level societal structures as fundamental determinants of health. Emphasis will be placed on how political and economic institutions as well as systems of power and ideology shape social life, population health, health behaviors, and health disparities. PREREQUISITES: 1. Student must be enrolled in the Public Health Honors Track Program. 2. Statistics (MATH 1300 or MATH 2300). Public Health Honors- Capstone I PBHL4800-001 CRN: 44143 Marianne Sullivan T 9:30am-12:10pm This course addresses the main research methods used in public health. The course covers the role of research in understanding public health problems, research design and methods (quantitative and qualitative), and ethics. Students will learn how to search for published, peer-reviewed literature and will develop skills in reading and analyzing published studies. Considerable attention is given to the process of scientific writing. The course will culminate in the development of the research proposal for the senior honors thesis, which will include a literature review of hypothesized relationships, and a detailed plan for the senior thesis research project. Social Sciences Track: Social Sciences Honors Seminar II SS2020-202440 CRN: 45596 Danielle Wallace TR- 2:00-3:15pm This seminar focuses on the various methodologies of the social sciences. As in SSH 2010, students read important social scientific studies in the original. Here, however, an effort is made to use such works, often drawn from scientific journals, as the basis for discussion of methodological questions. The seminar covers qualitative as well as quantitative approaches. Students will also attend to the problems associated with race, gender, class, culture, and political agendas as sources of bias in the social scientific work. Social Science Thesis I- Honors SSH4010-001 CRN: 44143 Staff A W 11:00am-1:40pm The primary goal of this course is to enable students to launch a significant honors research project that they will complete in SSH 4020. Prior to enrolling in the course, all students will have completed SSH 2020 - the honors methodology seminar - as well as relevant methodology courses in a particular discipline. In this small group course, students initiate their honors theses by conducting extensive reviews of the applicable social scientific literature. The ultimate goal for the semester is to develop realistic research proposals and, when possible, to begin implementing these proposals. As a group, the class explores various research strategies and, in particular, focuses on overcoming the roadblocks that frequently emerge during the course of any serious research project. Students are required to produce frequent written progress reports and a formal research proposal that should, in most cases, become (with adaptation) a portion of their thesis write-up. Students are encouraged to assist each other when possible and to offer constructive feedback on each other's proposals. Prerequisite: SSH 2010 AND SSH 2020 AND SSH 3010 Social Sciences Honors Thesis II SSH4020-001 CRN: 43969 Staff A W 11:00am-1:40pm The primary goal of this course is to enable students to complete and successfully defend a significant honors research project (started in SSH 4010). Students are required to produce chapters or thesis segments on schedule and to submit a final honors thesis that should (in most cases) be suitable for publication or presentation at a social scientific conference. Class meetings involve group discussions of the research process and collective efforts to solve problems and facilitate successful completion of the projects. Prerequisite: SSH 4010
