"Transferring to MCLA was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Being able to learn from and connect with the faculty and staff equipped me with greater networking capabilities/skills and the opportunity to use them outside of the institution, preparing me for the road ahead. Taking part and engaging in different clubs and organizations on campus helped to shape and guide me for countless opportunities."
Brandon Pender ’07 Research Analyst, Office of State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley ’76
A seven-week pass/fail discussion course open to students in the Honors Program, the book course concentrates on a single book for just seven-weeks. In Fall, 2005, we will be trying two experiments with the book course. First, rather than meet in the evening once each week, the book course will meet during the regular daytime class schedule to permit students with very tightly organized schedules to participate. If sufficient numbers of students enroll during the Add/Drop period in the fall, alternative meeting times may be arranged.
Introduction to Honors: the Nature of Human Nature (HONR 101) -- Prof. Johnson, Philosophy Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 a.m.
An exploration of the open-ended question-asking and interdisciplinary discussion which marks the Honors Program. The course ranges widely over philosophical, psychological, literary, and anthropological texts, as well as works of art, which propose competing definitions for human nature. Students are asked first to understand and then to criticize each perspective in turn and finally to formulate their own understanding of human nature. Readings, which may be drawn from Aristotle, Margaret Fuller, B. F. Skinner, Jesus, Nietzsche, Kenneth Burke, John Milton, or Margaret Mead, are also adopted as the course proceeds based on student suggestions.
Evolution and Values (HONR 301) -- Prof. Montgomery, Philosophy Tuesday, Thursday 5:30 p.m. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution raises two significant ethical questions: first, if species were modified by competition in the struggle for existence, how is cooperative behavior possible? Second, if humans evolved from hon-human primates, how did the human sense of right and wrong arise? The course deals with the way that scientists have attempted to answer these questionis as their knowledge has increased from Darwin's time to our own.
Latin American Cinema (HONR 301-01) Prof. Graziana Ramsden, Modern Language Monday: 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Description forthcoming
The Romantic Movement (HONR 301-02) Prof. David Johnson, Philosophy Monday, Wednesday, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. A course added recently to the Honors curriculum in response to requests from Honors students.
Examines ethical issues that affect workers and professionals: lying and deception, privacy and confidentiality, whistle blowing, social responsibility and justice. Discussions will make reference to case studies from a number of different professions, including medicine, law, business, politics, the military, and education. We will also examine more theoretical questions about the nature of professionalism, including the moral nature of the relationship between professionals and their clients, and the contrasting natures of ordinary and occupational morality.
Courses for Spring, '07
Consult the Honors Program Site on First Class for the course list
