Fall 2013

ARTH 1709-888R
Critical Introduction to Art History: Freshman Seminar
Dr. Robert Nauman
Core:  Literature & the Arts – LD
Course Description:
     This course provides a broad introduction to understanding and appreciating art.  The focus in this class will be selected topic that will broadly cover issues including landscape, place and art, and art in public spaces.  It will conclude with a discussion of how (or if) museums incorporate some of those concerns.  Topics will also include a brief introduction to the elements and techniques of the visual arts and will include visits to the Denver Art Museum and other regional and campus galleries and collections.
    The purpose of this course is to explore some of the critical issues that inform the world of art.  How, for example, do some artists define a sense of place through their artwork? How does, or should, art in public spaces function?  Whose interests are served with public art?
    Whose interests should be served?  How do museum display practices impact how we perceive “art” and overlap with issues of place and public space?  The course is not intended to be an art history survey.  It is intended to provoke thought and discussion that will focus on specific issues that inform the artwork, and are particularly relevant in the 21st century. Top ↑

EBIO 1030-888R
Biology: A Human Approach 1
Dr. Robert Buchwald
Core: Natural Science Sequence
Course Description:
     Did you know that living in and on your body there are 10 times more bacterial cells than your body’s own cells? Did you know that fish are evolving at an accelerated rate in the Hudson River due to heavy pollution? Ever wonder why inbreeding causes genetic problems? In this course (EBIO 1030 – Biology: A Human Approach), we will take an integrative approach to the study of biology, covering diverse topics that include the diversity of life, genetics, ecology, natural resource conservation and evolution. As we discuss these topics, we will also apply our newfound scientific knowledge as we discuss and debate related news stories like the recent tsunami in Japan, the status of the Yellowstone bison, and the effects of a changing climate. Throughout the semester students will also conduct library research and give short presentations on intriguing organisms, the genetics of disease, conflict & controversies, and more. Guest speakers and field trips will round out our journey through introductory biology. Top ↑

EBIO 1210-888R
General Biology 1
Dr. Robert Buchwald
Core:  Natural Science
Course Description:
     EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 (along with the labs, 1230 &1240) together serve as an introduction to Biology in the 21st Century. These courses are prerequisites for nearly every subsequent EBIO course.  In the first semester (1210), our focus is on processes at the cellular level. We will learn what types of molecules all living things are made of, the structure and organization of cells, how DNA is read and translated into proteins, the magic of mitochondria and the fundamentals of photosynthesis. To complement class lectures, we will watch many movies and animations and have class discussions relating course content to your everyday life.
    Students will also give research-based presentations to the class on topics such as: Health Myths & Facts, Frontiers in Genetics, and the Human Ecosystem. Guest speakers and field trips will round out the course. EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 are recommended for science majors. Non-science majors should consider EBIO 1030, 1040 & 1050, which also satisfy the Arts & Sciences MAPS requirement. Top ↑

ENGL 1600-888R
Masterpieces of American Literature
Dr. George Moore
Core:  Literature & the Arts – LD
Course Description:
     Masterpieces of American Literature explores a few of the great works of 19th-century American Literature, including Herman Melville’s masterpiece, Moby-Dick and selections from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, as well as works by Frederick Douglass, Walt Whitman, Kate Chopin and the early 20th-century author, William Faulkner.  The novels and poetry map the developing stages of the idea of the American individual, in the context of movements and social concerns like Transcendentalism, slavery, the Civil War and new personal freedoms.  The classes are discussion based, with online components and the chance for students to develop their reading and critical skills. Top ↑

ENGL 3000-888R
Shakespeare for Non-majors
Dr. George Moore
Core: Literature and the Arts – UD
Course Description:
     William Shakespeare has long fascinated audiences with his insights into human nature and the creation of characters who in their struggles come to terms with ideas of good and evil.  Shakespeare for Non-Majors gives students the chance to read, watch, and engage some of the great Renaissance plays.  Through plays from the comedies, histories, tragedies, and late romances, the course explores the language and poetry of Shakespeare’s best works. From the wit and confidence of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, the legal expertise of Portia in Merchant of Venice, the innate evil of Iago and Richard III, the magic of Macbeth, to the tragic demise of Othello’s love and Hamlet’s reason, the plays center on human concerns that remain relevant today.  Students will write and discuss aspects of the plays in the context of theater, drama, performance, language, and psychology. Exploring as they do the Renaissance in Shakespeare’s writing and challenge to social and political conventions. The classes are discussion based, with online components and the chance for students to develop their reading and critical skills.Top ↑

GEOG 2412-888R
Environment and Culture
Dr. Abby Hickcox
Meets MAPS requirement for social science: geography.
Course Description:
     The goals of this class are to increase your understanding of key contemporary environmental issues and to introduce you to the ways in which the field of geography has approached the interaction between society and nature.  In pursuit of these goals, the class will survey global and regional environmental issues and problems, with an emphasis on their social, political-economic, and cultural dimensions.  The study of these issues evokes one of the most profound questions of our times: What is, and what ought to be, the relationship between humans and the environment?  We will address this question through an examination of selected environmental issues, varied social responses to environmental change, and the different ways in which human societies have transformed the earth.  We will also ask:  How do we understand “nature”?  What drives human modification of the earth, and how are specific groups of people differently affected by those modifications?  What kinds of assumptions have led to the creation of certain environmental problems (and for whom are they problems)?  Topics covered include:  population and consumption; environmental hazards; ecology; environmental ethics; biodiversity and environmental conservation; anthropogenic climate change; and water use. Through this class, you should find that geography offers an integrated way of understanding environment and culture that is increasingly useful for addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems and their potential solutions. Top ↑

HIST 1015-888R
History of the United States to 1865
Dr. Steven Dike
Core: US Context
Course Description:
     In this class, we explore American history from the early inhabitation of North America by American Indian peoples, through contact and colonization by Europeans, the American Revolution and the formation of the American nation, to the close of the American Civil War.  This will be more than just a standard American history class in an honors setting.  It will be a chance for students to experience history in an interactive class setting.
We will be using primary sources to study history and students will be learning to think like a historian. Each student in this class will identify a topic of interest and will complete a research project and present it to the class. Top ↑

HIST 2166-888R
The Vietnam Wars
Dr. Steven Dike
Core: Contemporary Societies or US Context
Course Description:
     This course examines two major conflicts: the French Indochina War and the American war in Vietnam. We will study the long-term origins of these conflicts, their conduct and their significance to the histories of France, the United States, Vietnam, and the world.  Topics include the history of Vietnamese nationalism and radicalism, of Chinese and French imperialism in Vietnam, and the experience of soldiers, civilians, and activists in the wars. We will read histories, testimonies of soldiers and anti-war protesters, a novel, and also watch some films.  Students will write two short papers and conduct an independent research project consisting of a paper and presentation to the class. Top ↑

HONR 2250-888R
Ethics of Ambition
Dr. Paul Strom
Core: Ideals & Values
Course Description:
Styles of Choosing in an Armed World
     Through selected readings in classical literature on ethics (including Aristotle) and through more contemporary expressions, including the Woody Allen film, Crimes and Misdemeanors, students will have the opportunity to acquire the language and skills of critical ethical analysis, and to exercise these skills by examining the ambitions and the alternative styles of choosing between courses of action in our dangerous world.
    Our primary resources will be the experiences and remembrances of people as recorded in biographies and autobiographies.  We will identify national and generational ambitions, insights from feminist perspectives, consider the ethics of ends and means, examine competing ambitions in a pluralistic society, and analyze the ambitions of visionaries and public personalities.  We will also hear from women mountaineers about their ambitions and how they assess the risks of climbing in the collection of essays, Rock and Roses.
    Students will present their analysis and insights to the class from the reading of a biography or autobiography of their choice. Top ↑

HONR 2251-888R
Introduction to the Bible
Dr. Judith Streit
Core: Historical Context
Course Description:
     This survey course welcomes students who have no background with the Bible, those with extensive backgrounds, and everything else besides. Come to be surprised by the diversity in this collection of writings that were composed over a period of 1100 years (Old Testament/Hebrew Bible) and 100 years (New Testament). We will approach texts with historical and literary questions in the context of lively participation. Top↑

HONR 2500-888R
Open Topics: US Civil Rights and Democracy
Dr. Paul Strom
Core: Elective
Course Description:
“My feets is tired, but my soul is rested.”
     This is a marvelous and profoundly articulate account typical of a great collection of heroes in the young history of the United States, who marched and stood and went to jail and died and, despite generations of brutality, came to the rescue of the country and its visions of “a more perfect union.”  The black-led, pro-democracy, nonviolent struggle for our collective freedom and democracy, commonly called the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968, is the focus of this course.  We will access the historical records, the documentaries, the music, and the testimonies in order to better understand the Movement and the possibilities of democracy. Top ↑

HONR 3550-888R (1 credit unit)
Open Topics: Sky Watching
Dr. Erica Ellingson
Core: Elective
Course Description:
     Look up! Our ancestors knew the stars and the sky in great detail-  do you?  The sky is half of our natural environment and is our window to the rest of the universe.  Sky watching is an ancient heritage shared throughout the world,  but  it is quickly disappearing as we fill our lives with technology and our night skies with light.
    The goal of this class is to develop a lasting familiarity and understanding of the night sky. We’ll observe and learn about the constellations, planets, stars, and other phenomena visible in the sky, using both telescopes and the naked eye.  We’ll explore the ancient methods of using the stars to measure the passage of time and the seasons, the motions of the planets and the astronomical origin of astrology.
    The class will consist of 8 class meetings of 2 hours each, including 3 sessions at Fiske Planetarium (artificial sky) and three sessions at Sommers-Bausch Observatory telescopes (real sky). Observing sessions may run long if the weather is good, but students are not required to stay past the scheduled class time. If the scheduled observing evenings are cloudy, make-up sessions will be planned for other evenings that week (likely Fridays or Sundays). There will be an optional dark sky field trip to CU’s Mountain Research Station- date TBD. Top ↑

HONR 3550-889R (1 credit unit)
Open Topics: Discovering Deep Time
Dr. Alan Lester
Core: Elective
Course Description:
    Boulder’s spectacular backdrop, the Flatirons, formed nearly 300 million years ago, long before even the dinosaurs existed.  And the Earth itself is several billion years old!  How do we know this?
For centuries, human beings either did not care about the age of our planet, or they thought that, at most, it might be a few thousand years old.  The modern concept of an earth with exceptional antiquity, what geologists call “Deep Time,” is one of the seminal contributions of science to human thought.
     We’ll trace the evolution of this big idea by combining a little science, a little philosophy, and a little history.  We’ll take a fun, hands-on approach—looking at real samples of the oldest rocks on our planet, by taking FIELD TRIPS to the mountains behind Boulder, visiting labs where rock-ages are measured, and by placing ourselves in the shoes of the first scientists who wondered about Earth’s age.
    We’ll discover some things that may surprise you:
    · Religion actually helped scientists to discover Deep Time;
    · Scientists depend as much on imagination and creativity as do artists;
    · Revolutionary scientific ideas do not stand alone, but are critically linked to prevailing culture.
    · Science is actually kind of interesting!
Prerequisites:  None Top ↑

IPHY 2420-888R
Nutrition, Health, and Human Performance
Dr. Mary Beth Lynch
Core:  Natural Science non-sequence
Course description:
     This course is designed to promote critical thinking related to topics of nutrition and health. The course aims to educate students about basic nutrition principles and how to implement these principles into an overall healthy lifestyle. Basic principles of nutrition and exercise physiology will be discussed along with the latest “hot topics” in the field. Discussions will include the following general topics: What is healthy nutrition? How does the human body utilize nutrients? What foods should I buy and eat? What is metabolism and energy balance? What are the special nutritional needs of athletes? How can I tell the fads from the true nutrition principles? What do consumers need to know about food safety? What personal choices do I have related to food selection?
     Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the differences in ideology between the fast food industry and the newly-emerging slow food movement. Other popular topic will include: obesity in the U.S., fad diets, weight loss, nutritional quackery, functional foods, genetically-engineered foods, organic foods, body image and eating disorders.
    There is no doubt about it, nutrition is an exciting topic of discussion these days. There is mention of health and nutrition everywhere – on television, in magazines, on the radio and on the internet. Through our class discussions and critical thinking exercises, students should become capable of determining their own, individual dietary needs. One primary goal of the course is to assist students in interpreting the almost constant bombardment of nutritional articles and advertisements, to help them become better-informed consumers.
    Texts: (1) The Science of Nutrition by Janice Thompson, Melinda Manore and Linda Vaughan, First Edition, copyright 2007 (2) CD: My Diet Analysis – available at CU bookstore second week of classes. Top ↑

MUEL 2772-888R
World Musics
Dr. Daniel Jones
Core: Human Diversity
Course Description:
     This course studies musical traditions using ethnomusicological concepts and approaches.  Since this is a non-majors course, no prior knowledge of music or specific cultures is expected.  The primary goals of this course are to: 1) become familiar with the views and concepts used in ethnomusicology; 2) learn about a small number of world music traditions; and 3) to gain hands-on experience in applying ethnomusicological approaches.
     In the first few class sessions, we will introduce perspectives, concepts, and vocabulary used in studying music and in the discipline of ethnomusicology.  We will then survey (through our text and its recordings) a small number of music cultures from around the globe to see how ethnomusicologists apply these perspectives and concepts in efforts to understand how musical traditions are cultivated and sustained over time and through changing circumstances. Throughout the course of the semester, students will also conduct their own fieldwork projects on music traditions found locally in order to gain hands-on experience in applying ethnomusicological concepts and practices.
    Course grading will be based upon: 1) two objective exams on the text readings/listening; 2) a fieldwork project, including “process reports,” a final written document, and an in-class presentation; and 3) a learning process self-assessment. Top ↑

RLST 2600-888R
Judaism, Christianity, & Islam
Dr. David Valeta
Core: Ideals & Values
Course Description:
     This course surveys primary beliefs of these three Western Religious Traditions. Major historical and theological facts and events provide a framework to examine how these three traditions are being lived out in the 21st century. We will explore insider expressions of these faiths through an exploration of music, art, comedy, literature, architecture, film… Join us and be ready to explore! Top ↑

THTR 1009-888R
Introduction to Theatre
Dr. Penelope Cole
Core: Literature & the Arts – LD
Course Description:
     Have you ever wondered how special effects are created on the stage?  Or how actors learn their lines? Or where playwrights get their ideas? Or what it feels like to get a standing ovation?  Or why plays written centuries ago are still popular?   This course, Introduction to Theatre, is designed to help us answer these questions and many others.
     In this class we will take a journey of discovery, exploring the role of theatre in society, the creative impulse of dramatic expression, the process by which plays are conceived, written and produced for the stage and, most importantly, what all this means to us as individuals.  In order to understand the theatre of our contemporary world it is necessary to examine the origins of theatre and traditions of performance over the centuries that have shaped our present day theatre. Theatre is found both on the fringes of society as well as at the center of society.  The differences as well as similarities between these sites of performance provide a wealth of insight into the role of theatre in those societies that we can apply to our experience of theatre today.
    Equally important is a solid grounding in the art and craft of theatre and performance.  Therefore our study of the history of theatre will go hand in hand with hands on explorations of acting, directing, designing, and writing for the theatre.  We will be joined by a variety of theatre professionals over the course of the semester who will share with us their experiences and knowledge.  Some of the hands on projects will include acting exercises and directing exercises, dance, and writing dialogue, scenarios and plays.  While there will be reading, writing and research projects this is an ACTIVE class where you will be engaged in all manner of theatrical activity.
    Finally, the experience of live theatre events is also a crucial element of this course.  We will see a variety of plays as a group and as individuals, aiding in our understanding of the actor/audience dynamic, honing our critical eye in regards to theatrical production and providing an exposure to world drama. Top ↑

WRTG 1250-888R
Adv. 1^st Year Writing & Rhetoric: Honors
Dr. Rolf Norgaard
Core: Written Communication -lD
Course Description:
      The informal theme for this honors writing course—“Composing Knowledge”—offers a play on words that hints at our working during the semester.
    Higher education has its own rules—rules about who is heard, who is silenced, what counts as knowledge, what works as persuasion.  Students must learn a new set of conventions, a secret handshake if you will, as they enter college and become apprenticed in a particular discipline.  This course will consider how we “compose” knowledge, and in the process it will offer some “composing knowledge.”  We’ll read essays on academic culture drawn from a variety of disciplines and perspectives, with the goal of providing students with intellectual tools for investigating their own ways across the university experience.  Three short essays will lay the foundation for an extended project of the student’s own design that incorporates both research and ethnographic fieldwork on one facet of academic culture.
     I believe our work together in the fall can serve as a cornerstone for your academic success at CU-Boulder.  This advanced first-year writing course will orient you to the University Libraries on campus, and to the expectations for academic writing on campus.  And we’ll have fun doing so by exploring how we compose knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines.  Ours will be a collaborative classroom, where we can support each other as writers and readers. Top ↑

WRTG 1250-889R
Adv. 1^st Year Writing & Rhetoric: Honors
Dr. Olivia Chadha
Core: Written Communication – LD
Course Description:
     This course offers an introduction to college writing through the exploration of rhetorical analysis, critical reading, argument, inquiry, and information literacy/research techniques. In this course we will focus on reading, writing, listening, speaking and researching practices vital to the establishment of rhetorical knowledge.
The course challenges students to become actively engaged in establishing writing practices that you can continue to develop and use in a variety of communities throughout your academic careers, and in whatever discipline you choose to pursue beyond your time here. Thematically, we will consider the rhetoric of culture, class, and race in this course. Top ↑

WRTG 1250-890R
Adv. 1^st Year Writing & Rhetoric: Honors
Dr. Olivia Chadha
Core: Written Communication – LD
Course Description:
     This course offers an introduction to college writing through the exploration of rhetorical analysis, critical reading, argument, inquiry, and information literacy/research techniques. In this course we will focus on reading, writing, listening, speaking and researching practices vital to the establishment of rhetorical knowledge.
The course challenges students to become actively engaged in establishing writing practices that you can continue to develop and use in a variety of communities throughout your academic careers, and in whatever discipline you choose to pursue beyond your time here. Thematically, we will consider the rhetoric of culture, class, and race in this course. Top ↑

WRTG 3020-888R
Travel Writing: Honors
Dr. Christine Macdonald
Core: Written Communication – UD
Course Description:
     “Wherever you go, there you are.” This cliché implies that people cannot change themselves or their perspective by changing their location.  In this course we will explore the potential and limitations of travel as a means to facilitate different types of journeys:  physical, cultural and psychological.  We will study theories of “place,” and the interplay between the viewpoints of traveler, “native,” writer, and reader. In addition to writing critical analyses of the readings, students will write their own travel narrative.  You need not have traveled extensively to take this course.  Readings may include works by John Steinbeck, Nancy Sommers, Eula Biss, Annie Dillard, Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux, and others. Top ↑