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Fall 2005 Registration Information
Fall 2005 Courses

Honors Seminars:

HNR 100  Freshman Honors Seminar

Honors 200-Level Seminars:

HNR 210  Arts in Society
HNR 220  Introduction to Political Culture and Practice
HNR 230  Scientific Issues and Practice

Honors Thesis Project Seminars:
BEN 498 Senior Thesis II
BIO 419  Biology Honors Seminar
HNR 309  Thesis/Project Planning Seminar
HNR 409  Thesis/Project Execution Seminar

*Important - Effective Fall 2005, see Changes to Thesis Project Requirements

Last updated: August 15, 2005

Honors Seminars in Crown Honors:

HNR 100  Freshman Honors Seminar
Each section is 1 credit hour, pass/fail grading.

The aims of the Freshman Honors Seminar are:  (1) to build a sense of community among a small group of freshmen from all across the campus; (2) to aid them in the transition from high school to college; and (3) to introduce students to the world of ideas and the life of the mind.

As the Renée Crown University Honors Program is an all-University program, the students are drawn from all of the schools and colleges within Syracuse University .  Students will be assigned to various sections of the Honors Freshman Seminar, based to the extent possible upon their housing assignments.

Each seminar section is led by a member of the Syracuse University faculty, aided by a "junior assistant" who is usually a third-year student in the Honors Program.  The seminar runs for approximately the first 10-12 weeks of the semester, ending no later than the week following Thanksgiving in order to avoid interfering with students' study time in preparation for final exams. 

Honors 200-Level Seminars

These seminars are intended to expose students to the cultural and civic life and the natural history of the wider Syracuse community, using a hands-on approach so you will have a more informed basis for participation later in life. The seminars provide another opportunity for Honors students to engage in small groups with other Honors students under the guidance of faculty and community leaders.

The 200-Level seminars include: (1) HNR 210: Arts in Society; (2) HNR 220: Introduction to Political Culture; and (3) HNR 230: Science in the Community.   Students intending to complete requirements for General University Honors must take (1) HNR 210 and (2) HNR 220 or HNR 230.   They can be taken in any order. Crown Honors students are encouraged to take as many seminars as they wish.

HNR 210  Arts in Society
1 credit, pass/fail
Sec M001: T 3:30-4:50, 304C Bowne, #11963
Sec M002: T 5:00-6:20, 304C Bowne, #11964
Sec M003: W 3:45-5:05, 304C Bowne, #11965 (Tentative Seminar: will only be offered if the other seminars fill)
Sec M006: W 5:15-6:35, 304C Bowne, #11968
Sec M004: TH 3:30-4:50, 304C Bowne, #11966
Sec M005: TH 5:00-6:20, 304C Bowne, #11967

Start Dates: Second week of Classes (September 6, 7,8, 2005)  
Instructor:  Professor William D. West

HNR 220  Introduction to Political Culture and Practice
Each section is 1 credit, pass/fail grading.  The various sections of this seminar will focus on the exploration of civic life in the wider Syracuse community, through several different approaches:

Haudenosaunee Culture
Culture of Violence
Refugee Communities in Syracuse
Islamic Community
Race Dialogue

Haudenosaunee:  Historical and Contemporary Issues
Section M003:  Th 7:00-9:00 p.m., #11970
Start Date:  September 8, 2005
Instructor:  John Dyer, Oneida Nation, Wolf Clan

“Our existence in these lands has not been one of absolute peace and tranquility.  We have had to work hard to develop the civilization we enjoy.  There was a time when our lands were torn by conflict and death.  There were times when certain individuals attempted to establish themselves as the rulers of the people through exploitation and repression.  We emerged from those times to establish a strong democratic and spiritual Way of Life.  The confederate state of the Haudenosaunee became the embodiment of democratic principles which continue to guide our people today.  The Haudenosaunee became the first ‘United Nations,' established on a firm foundation of peace, harmony, and respect.” (Basic Call to Consciousness 1978:1)

Culture of Violence
Sec M004: Th 3:30-4:50 p.m., # 16929
Start Date: Thursday, September 8, 2005 (Second week of classes)
Instructor: Professor Mark Muhammad, Speech Communication

This seminar will provide an overview of the issue of gangs and juvenile gun violence. We will discuss the problem in Syracuse and examine some of the efforts to curb violence in our community.The seminar is designed to increase students' knowledge about, and reduce the fear of, organized youth groups (gangs) in urban areas, particularly Syracuse .

Refugee Communities in Syracuse
Section M005: W 3:45-5:05 p.m., #11971
Start Date:  Second Week of Classes
Instructor:  Hope Wallis, Program Director, Refugee Resettlement Program

Over the last 20 years refugees from many countries, including Viet Nam, Somalia, Sudan, Cuba, Bosnia, Iraq, have resettled in Syracuse .  This course enables participating students to develop a basic understanding of U.S. immigration and refugee policies and their effect on the men, women, and children who resettle in the Central New York area, and in Syracuse in particular.   Wh do they come to Syracuse?   What is their new life in Syracuse like? How do these newcomers contribute to the larger community? How do they become part of the larger community?

Students will answer these questions through experiential exercises, group discussion, reading, and talking with refugees and immigrants.

The course will explore the impact of public policy, physical and mental health, economics, school and children's education, and citizenship training on the lives of refugees and immigrants.

Islamic Community
Sec M006: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:20 p.m., #11972
Start Date:  Tuesday, September 6, 2005 (Second week of classes)
Instructor: Professor Shaw J. Dallal , Maxwell School

The word "Islam" means peaceful submission to God thus making Islam a religion devoted to peace. Islam is also the religion and culture of one and a quarter billion people throughout the world. Muslims are the majority in forty-five countries. It is the second largest religion in the world, and one of the world's five major faiths. It is the fastest growing one, the tenets and culture of which merit understanding, especially during these critical times. This seminar will explore some ideas about Islamic culture, civilization, and art. We will also discuss the present political and international environment. We will explore the question "Why do they hate us?" We will discuss also, in the context of the military attack against Iraq, the political ramifications of confronting Islam and Muslims militarily.

Special emphasis will be placed on the countries in and around the Middle East region, as well as the Muslim community in the Syracuse area and similar Islamic communities in the United States. In the current political environment, our local community is inextricably linked with the global community. Students are encouraged to come to the class with open minds and the willingness to explore these many issues.

Race Dialogue Circle
Sec M008: Mondays 4:30-6:30 p.m., #11973
Start Date:  September 19, 2005
Instructor:   Professor Mara Sapon-Shevin and Professor Carrie Jefferson Smith

"EndInjustice: Race Dialogue Circle " is a curriculum developed by SU faculty and students as well as faculty and students from the Syracuse School District . Racially-mixed groups of approximately 12 people meet for seven sessions of two hours each. These dialogue groups have their roots in the city-wide Race Dialogue Project and are intended to provide opportunities for honest conversations about race and racism, to offer a format for learning from the experiences of others, and to create practical recommendations for actions that organizations, institutions, and individuals can take to improve race relations and racial equality. The group is facilitated by SU faculty members Professor Mara Sapon-Shevin and Professor Carrie Jefferson Smith and student facilitators who are graduates of the program itself who are responsible for stimulating and moderating the discussion by asking questions, identifying key points, and managing the group process. The process builds trust through exercises that emphasize common ground, then leads to honest discussion of issues that affect this community. Participants learn how to be allies and how to work together to address racism.

While there are some outside readings that provide background for the discussions, the primary focus of this class is on discussion among members of the dialogue group. Students will need to attend each and every one of the seven sessions, read the thought-provoking, assigned articles, and commit to participating in this honest dialogue of how we truly feel and how we can truly change.

Honors students may participate in a dialogue group by registering for this section. The group will be comprised of students in the Honors Program and students not in the Program, and will be facilitated by SU Professors Mara Sapon-Shevin and Carrie Jefferson Smith. This Honors dialogue group will meet for seven weeks, starting September 19 and meeting September 26, October 10, 17, 24, 30, and concluding November 7 th. New facilitator training will be offered to selected students in three additional sessions on November 14, 28, and December 5th.

HNR 230  Scientific Issues and Practice
Each section is 1 credit, pass/fail.  These seminars focus on the exploration of scientific issues and practices in Syracuse and the wider region of Central New York. Methods of inquiry and exploration differ between sections.

Natural History of Onondaga County
Sec M002: M 5:15-6:35 p.m. #15040
Start Date: Monday, September 12, 2005 (Third week of classes)
Instructor: Jack Gramlich

Onondaga County has a number of natural areas that are truly special. Many of these areas have been protected and preserved by government (both county and state). Some possible field trips include the Jamesville Quarry, Clark Reservation, Beaver Lake , Baltimore Woods, Green Lakes , and Old Fly Marsh.

Honors Thesis Project Seminars:
*Important - Effective Fall 2005, see Changes to Thesis Project Requirements

BEN 498 Senior Thesis II
1 credit
Sec M001: Time and Place TBA, #14241

This is a senior honors seminar for honors students undertaking theses in bioengineering.

BIO 419  Biology Honors Seminar
1 credit
Sec M001: Junior Honors Seminar,  T 5:00-6:00, 304C Lyman, #11464
Sec M002: Senior Honors Seminar,  T 5:00-6:00, 304C Lyman #11465
Professors Larry Wolf and John Belote

Juniors and seniors majoring in biology meet together weekly in this seminar. Honors students from other majors such as chemistry and psychology, who are doing biological research, are accepted into this seminar with permission of instructor only.

HNR 309  Thesis/Project Planning Seminar
1 credit, pass/fail grading
Start Date for all sections: third week of classes

1 credit, pass/fail grading
Classes meet in 306D Bowne Hall
Sec M002: Th 5:00-5:55 PM, #11975
    Start date: 3rd week of classes (September 15)
Sec M003: T 3:30-4:25, #11976
    Start date:  3rd week of classes (September 13)
HNR 309 Syllabus

The purpose of HNR 309, the Thesis Project Planning seminar, is to introduce you to thesis project Honors.  The goals of the course are to understand what a thesis project is, to understand what personal resources are necessary for successful completion of a thesis project, to clarify a topic for your thesis project, to find a faculty member who will advise your thesis project, and to develop an academic plan and a timeline for completion of the thesis project.   During the first half of the semester, there will be a series of seminar meetings, assignments, and exercises designed to meet these goals.  In addition to the regular weekly meeting, a couple of these meetings will be held on Fridays,  3:00-4:00.  During the second half of the semester, you must meet with your junior seminar leader at least twice to discuss the progress you have made on your thesis project.  (Note:  You will also be required to meet with your junior seminar leader at least two times during each subsequent semester in order to be permitted to register for thesis project credit.  If you are not on campus during a particular semester, you need to arrange with your seminar leader an alternative means of communicating during that semester.)

HNR 409  Thesis/Project Execution Seminar
1 credit, pass/fail grading

Sec 1:  #14299
Students will meet individually with the instructor, Prof. Sharon Hollenback.

Sec 3:  #14301
Students will meet individually with the instructor, Prof. Bruce Carter.

Sec M005:  #17696
Students will meet individually with the instructor, Prof. Deborah Dohne.

Sec M006:  #17697
Students will meet individually with the instructor, Prof. Nilan/ Holzwarth.

Sec M007:  #17698
Students will meet individually with the instructor, Prof. Kristi Andersen.

Note:   Be sure to register for the section of senior seminar taught by your junior seminar leader.

The purpose of HNR 409, the Thesis Project Execution seminar, is to ensure that you are making significant progress toward the completion of your thesis project.  You may register for HNR 409 any semester after you have completed junior seminar.  There are no class meetings for this seminar.  To complete HNR 409, you must meet with your faculty thesis project advisor regularly during the semester; meet twice during the semester with the person with whom you took HNR 309; and complete a thesis project status report (1-2 pages) by the end of the semester.