HONORS COLLOQUIA
Spring 2012
Last Updated January 25, 2012
Special Note:
American Studies Honors students:
Beyond any major credit indicated in this document, certain courses may count for credit in American Studies. Determination
will be made on a case-by-case basis. Consult your academic advisor for details.
Anthropology Honors students: Beyond any major credit indicated in this document, certain courses may count for credit in
Anthropology. Determination will be made on a case-by-case basis. Consult your academic advisor for details.
Religious Studies Honors students: Please see your Religious Studies advisor for approval to apply a religion-related
colloquium to your major.
SIS Honors students:
You are encouraged to speak with SIS academic advisors to determine whether a colloquium might be considered for another
functional area or regional field.
HNRS 300-001H HOLOCAUST CONTROVERSIES
Richard Breitman
W 5:30-8 p.m.
Is the Holocaust unique or part of a broader historical pattern? Why is the Holocaust still a controversial
subject? This seminar will examine different definitions of the word Holocaust, different interpretations of
the timing and scope of Nazi policies and reactions of Nazi victims, and different conceptions of the
world’s reactions then and now.
MAJOR CREDIT: HISTORY; JEWISH STUDIES; LFS (Language and Area Studies: French/Europe,
German/Europe, Russian/Area Studies- fulfills a Social Sciences requirement) POLS (Major Related Social
Science Requirement); and SIS (Europe, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Comparative International
Race Relations)
HNRS 300-002H ADVANCED WRITING: BEYOND FUNDAMENTALS
Edward Comstock
M, TH 8:55-10:10 a.m.
This is a course both for those that love to write and for those that don’t but know that they need to do it
anyway. While it’s no doubt true that we have in many ways become a visual culture, for those that really
want to change society, minds, or create something expressive or beautiful, no medium is more powerful
than the written word, and no skill is more valuable than rhetoric. College is the time to work on these
skills; in fact, it was not long ago that nearly all college courses, even math courses, were built around the
art of rhetoric. And while it remains true that no skill is more highly valued than persuasion both in the
academy and the work world, somewhere along the way—in the face of thousands of years of rhetorical
tradition—people began to confuse empirical scientific evidence with absolute truth, just like they began to
confuse test results with writing ability. As a result, the art of persuasion was all but lost as a subject and—
seemingly overnight—we now have a nation of students suffering through lessons on the five-paragraph
essay and abstract grammar. You were one of them. And you’ve already noticed the limits of this
approach. But through some exciting new developments, scholars in the field of rhetoric are rediscovering
the lost art. And whether you want to master the art of persuasion, better position yourself to evaluate your
future employees’ writing, or get a leg-up on your Honor’s Capstone or major, this is your chance to
demystify what has remained too mysterious for too long. To do this, we will study essays both across the
academic disciplines and outside of the academy, we will study rhetorical theory, and we will work
closely—as a class—on your own essays.
MAJOR CREDIT: LITERATURE; SIS (International Communication); and WOMEN’S, GENDER AND
SEXUALITY STUDIES
HNRS 301-001H LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
U.J. Sofia
M, TH 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
CANCELLED
Once relegated to B movies and the pages of science fiction, the idea of extraterrestrial life is now
becoming mainstream. There is a branch of science to study it, NASA supports the search for it, and last
year the United Nations appointed an ambassador to communicate with it. In this class we will explore
scientific, political and social impetuses for seeking, and the possible implications of finding life beyond
the Earth. Among others, we will tackle these questions: What is life? How do we find it?
How and why are NASA's policies aggressively promoting the search for inhabited planets and moons?
How would human society be affected if we discovered intelligent extraterrestrials?
HNRS 302-001H LEGAL ISSUES IN GLOBALIZATION
Michael Mass
T 10:20 a.m.-1 p.m.
This course will examine the legal aspects of international trade and investment. It will explore the nature
of international investment law, the private customary law of trade and both domestic and international
schemes for the regulation of international trade. Students will become familiar with the legal mechanics
of engaging in direct foreign investment as well as questions surrounding the ―choice of law‖ issues in
national regulation. Special emphasis will be placed on the trade protection laws of the United States and
the development of the rules of the W.T.O. Although the course will examine these issues from a legal
perspective, it will also deal with the political, social, economic and environmental aspects of trade
regulation and economic regulation in this era of globalization.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Economics component); ECONOMICS; LFS (Language and Area Studies:
French/Europe, German/Europe, Russian/Area Studies, Spanish/Latin America -- fulfills a Social Sciences
requirement); JUSTICE; KOGOD (International Business); LAW AND SOCIETY elective; POLS (Major Related
Social Science Requirement); and SIS (International Politics, International Development, International
Economic Relations, International Business)
HNRS 302-002H CONTRACT LAW: THE LAW OF THE DEAL
Michael Mass
TH 1:10-3:50 p.m.
In our increasingly capitalist world, ―the deal‖ takes on great importance and the law of contracts sets the
rule by which this game is played. This course will study the U.S. laws governing the creation,
performance and breach of contracts from the perspective of the allocation of risk, an element that exists in
every deal. For example, when is a ―deal a deal,‖ and when do circumstances allow for releasing parties
from their legal obligations? It will examine the legal rules governing the sale of goods and services in the
United States and compare them to laws governing contracts internationally. Students will debate such
politically divisive topics as the use, or abuse, of punitive damages and the allocation of the legal fees and
other costs of litigation between parties. Emphasis will be paid to the distinctions between the legal and
ethical obligations of individuals and enterprises. Students will be introduced to legal research and writing.
MAJOR CREDIT: AMERICAN STUDIES; CLEG (Law); ECONOMICS; JUSTICE (Legal Process cluster);
KOGOD; LAW AND SOCIETY (Economics cluster for old major or elective for new major); and SIS
(International Economic Relations, International Business)
HNRS 302-003H RACE, RELIGION AND IDENTITY IN GLOBALIZING MALAYSIA
Pek Koon Heng-Blackburn
M 2:35-5:15 p.m.
Though Malaysia calls itself an ―Islamic state,‖ it is seen by many as the very model of a modern, multiethnic, Muslim majority democratic nation. The course will examine the impact of ethnicity, religion and
identity politics on governance and economic development in that country. It will use written materials
(including works of fiction and academic literature), film, and seminars featuring Malaysian governmental,
political party, private sector and NGO leaders, to explore factors that explain the successes achieved thus
far, as well as those which may indicate difficult future challenges in the domestic and international
spheres. Major attention will be given to inter-ethnic politics and social relations among the Malay,
Chinese and Indian populations; the rise of Islamic consciousness among the Malay majority; economic
policies that have enabled the country to weather recent financial crises more smoothly than most other
countries; close security cooperation and economic ties between Malaysia and the U.S.; and human rights
issues ranging from freedom of expression to trafficking in persons (TIP) concerns to the efforts of a
reformist Islamic women’s movement called Sisters-in-Islam.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Government Component); POLS (Comparative Politics Concentration); SIS (Asia,
International Communication, Comparative International Race Relations, Islamic Studies, International
Economic Relations, US Foreign Policy, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, International Politics); and
SOCIOLOGY
This course includes an optional Honors Study/Travel trip to Malaysia during spring break.
HNRS 302-004H MEDIA AND THE AMERICAN MIND
Rodger Streitmatter
M, TH 10:20-11:35 a.m.
Movies, TV shows, newspapers, advertising—they influence who we vote for, how we define America’s
role in global politics, and where we stand on such major issues as same-sex marriage and stem-cell
research, while at the same time helping to shape our moral values and to determine how we dress and how
we spend our leisure time. This course explores the vital role that the various media genres play –
historically as well as in contemporary times – in affecting American society writ large and simultaneously
influencing the individual attitudes and actions of those of us who make up that society. Among the
required readings in this course is the professor’s 2009 book, from From “Perverts” to “Fab Five” – The
Media’s Changing Depiction of Gay Men and Lesbians. SOC majors may undertake their Honors Capstone
in conjunction with this course, while non-SOC majors are also eagerly welcomed to enroll in the course.
MAJOR CREDIT: AMERICAN STUDIES; ANTHROPOLOGY; CLEG (Communication); EDUCATION;
HEALTH PROMOTION; LITERATURE; POLS (Related Social Science Requirement); SIS (International
Communication); SOC (Media Studies; all majors); SOCIOLOGY; and WOMEN’S, GENDER AND
SEXUALITY STUDIES
HNRS 302-005H POLITICS IN CUBA
William LeoGrande
T 2:35-5:15 p.m.
Limit: 15 students
CANCELLED
This course examines the political, social and economic history of Cuba, with primary emphasis on the period since the revolution of 1959. The
first few weeks concentrate on pre-revolutionary Cuba, the causes of the 1959 revolution, and the political dynamics of the breakdown of the
old regime. In subsequent weeks, we examine the development of the post-revolutionary political system, its economic and social policies, and
its foreign relations with the United States, the Soviet Union and the Third World. The last several weeks are devoted to contemporary Cuba
and the changes set in motion by the collapse of European communism.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Government Component); HISTORY; LFS (Spanish/ Latin America); POLS (Comparative Politics
Concentration); and SIS (The Americas, International Development, International Politics, U.S. Foreign Policy)
HNRS 302-006H EUROPE IN CRISIS:
SOCIAL WELFARE IN AN ERA OF RETRENCHMENT
Michelle Egan
W 10:20 a.m.-1 p.m.
This colloquium examines the sustainability of the European social model. Its goal is to provide students
with an analysis and assessment of the challenges facing Europe, as it faces economic pressure to transform
its supposedly generous social policies and welfare states despite increased demands and shrinking
resources. Given Europe’s steadily rising unemployment, exploding fiscal deficits and slowing economies,
the course will examine a) the historical origins and development of social and welfare policies in Europe;
b) the emergence of European Union (EU)-level social rights; and c) domestic and transnational
mobilization for rights in Europe with a focus on gender, disability, employment and citizenship policies
and laws. This course seeks to consider the past, present, and future of ―social Europe‖ and whether these
entrenched social systems are an outdated obstacle to international economic competitiveness or they are an
essential component of redressing the economic asymmetries in European societies through tackling social
exclusion and marginalization.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Government Component); LFS (Language and Area Studies: French/Europe,
German/Europe, Russian/Area Studies -- fulfills a Social Sciences requirement); POLS (Comparative Politics
Concentration); and SIS (Europe, International Economic Relations, International Politics); and SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-007H DEATH PENALTY
Robert Johnson
W 1:10-3:50 p.m.
The course examines the cultural, organizational, and individual dynamics of methods and processes of
execution, from Colonial times to the present, in America and around the world. The social forces that
shape the operation of the capital punishment system are also considered. Legal and moral issues will be
examined.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (JLS component); LAW AND SOCIETY/JUSTICE; POLS (Related Social Science
requirement); SIS (International Peace and Conflict Resolution, International Development); and SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-008H BEYOND THE SCHOOLHOUSE GATE:
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN THE SCHOOLS
Jennifer Gumbrewicz
T, F 8:55-10:10 a.m.
In Tinker v. Des Moines Community School District, Justice Fortas famously declared that ―students [and]
teachers [do not] shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse
gate.‖ However, even as the Court made this statement, it recognized that the state has interests that justify
limitations on speech that would not be acceptable outside the schools. The same has been true in other
contexts—public school students may not shed their rights at the schoolhouse gate, but they also do not
enjoy precisely the same results that apply outside the public school context. Public school students may
be subject to searches of their lockers and even their persons, drug testing, even corporal punishment that
would not be constitutionally permissible in other contexts.
In this course, we will explore how the Constitution operates in the public schools: What does the
Constitution really mean for public school students (and teachers)? Does it make sense to have different
rules to define how the Constitution works in the public schools as opposed to society at large? What does
this mean for students and teachers? We’ll consider a variety of issues addressed by the courts, including
cases involving free speech, freedom of the press, organized school prayer, intelligent design, school
vouchers, corporal punishment, public school funding, integration, and affirmative action. The course will
focus on Supreme Court opinions but will also draw on other sources. The goal is to understand how the
Constitution has been applied in the context of the public schools, what choices Supreme Court justices
have made, whether the Court’s conclusions are justified, and what other ways of understanding and
applying the Constitution could be considered.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Justice, Law and Society Component); JUSTICE, LAW AND SOCIETY; POLS
(Law and Politics Concentration); SIS (International Communication); and SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-009H THE POLITICS OF TRANSITION FROM VIOLENCE TO PEACE:
NORTHERN IRELAND AS A CASE STUDY OF PEACE PROCESSES
Kimberly Cowell-Meyers
T 11:45 a.m.-2:25 p.m.
The ―Troubles‖ in Northern Ireland claimed more than 3,000 lives between 1969 and 1995 and ruined many
thousands more. This course will consider the reasons for the conflict, the dynamics and processes that led to
peace in the 1990s, and the likelihood of continued conflict. We will also assess the problems of terrorism,
the role of women in politics, the challenges of reforming the state in Northern Ireland, and the prospects for
reconciliation. Our purpose in exploring the politics of Northern Ireland’s peace process will be to draw
insight that can be applied to other conflict situations around the world.
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Government Component); POLS (Comparative Politics Concentration); SIS (Europe,
International Peace and Conflict Resolution, International Development); and SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-010H TRADING BLOCS:
COOPERATION OR RIVALRY IN THE WORLD ECONOMY?
Mireya Solis
F 11:45 a.m. -2:25 p.m.
Rapidly proliferating economic blocs are increasingly undermining the autonomy of governments and
influencing the operations of multinational corporations since they go beyond tariff elimination to comprise
new rules on foreign investment, competition policy and financial liberalization. The stagnation of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) confronts us with a pressing question: Are we transitioning to a world
economy defined by regional preferences and discrimination?
MAJOR CREDIT: CLEG (Economics); ECONOMICS; KOGOD; LFS (Language and Area Studies:
French/Europe, German/Europe, Russian/Area Studies, Spanish/Latin America -- Social Sciences requirement);
POLS (Related Social Science Requirement); SIS (International Development, International Economic Relations,
The Americas, Asia, Europe, International Business); and SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-011H BEYOND THE HEADLINES AND HYSTERIA:
AMERICAN EDUCATION IN THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE
Adrea Lawrence
T 2:35-5:15 p.m.
Through a variety of old and new media, this colloquium examines the major public policy issues in
American education: equity, excellence and efficiency. It emphasizes theories and techniques of policy
analysis, policy implementation, and evaluation. The course will consider competing definitions of and
orientations toward education policy by researching the roles of specific stakeholder groups and historically
tracing the development, implementation, and movement of policy in formal and informal education
settings. Particular attention will be paid to policy implementation and appropriation.
MAJOR CREDIT: AMERICAN STUDIES; CLEG (Government Component); POLS (Policy Concentration); and
SOCIOLOGY
HNRS 302-012H DIRTY HARRY MEET SUPERMAN:
AN INTRODUCTION TO DISABILITY STUDIES
Sarah Irvine Belson
T 5:30-8 p.m.
This course examines media portrayals and cultural stereotypes of people with disabilities, the social
construction of disability, the history of disability, international perspectives on disability, public policy
and developmental disabilities, school inclusion, and the experiences of people with disabilities and their
families in the community. The interdisciplinary course, grounded in work in education, social work, and in
the law, will be based on readings from the popular press, and on quantitative, qualitative and ethnographic
research.
MAJOR CREDIT: AMERICAN STUDIES; POLS (Major Related Social Science Requirement); SOCIOLOGY;
AND WOMEN’S GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
HNRS 302-013H THE STORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Susan Benesch
M 5:30-8 p.m.
CANCELLED
This course will explore how human rights are born, how they become law, and how those laws are enforced. During the semester each student
will research the life story of one particular human right (such as the right to food, to freedom of expression, to health) and will present that
narrative as a paper, a film, a website, or in another medium approved by the professor. Students will emerge from the course with solid
knowledge of mechanisms for human rights enforcement, and with useful advocacy skills.
MAJOR CREDIT: JUSTICE, LAW AND SOCIETY; POLS (Major Related Social Science Requirement); SIS (International Peace and
Conflict Resolution, International Development, International Communication); SOCIOLOGY; and WOMEN’S, GENDER AND
SEXUALITY STUDIES
HNRS 302-014H THE MUSIC INDUSTRY UNDER SIEGE:
THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL BATTLES OF THE DIGITAL ERA
John Simson W 8:10-10:40 p.m.
CANCELLED
This class will examine the past decade of transformation in the music industry as digital technology forced changes in business models,
marketing, sales and distribution of music. From the collapse of the CD to single song downloads, the rise of file-sharing and the Napster and
Grokster law suits, to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) suits against college students and others who downloaded music
from offending sites, to the rise of Pandora and internet radio, we will explore these issues and map what are likely to be developments in the
future. Students will learn about copyright basics, how technology blurred lines that used to be clear and changed a ―territorial‖ business into
a worldwide industry, how the transformation from an ―ownership-to-access‖ culture has created new challenges for recording companies and
recording artists, and how the decline of CD sales has changed the nature of the relationship between artist and record company. The instructor
was hired by the RIAA to build a new trade association, SoundExchange in 2000. For the past decade, he has been on the front lines of the
transformation of the music industry: subpoenaed in the Napster lawsuit, debated Napster’s Sean Parker and Pandora’s Tim Westergren,
testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and brought many recording artists to Washington to fight for artist’s rights. John Simson
began his career in the music industry when he was signed to a recording contract in the 1970s. He later managed Grammy-winning artists and
practiced entertainment law in Washington, D.C.
MAJOR CREDIT: KOGOD