Fall 2018 HNRS Courses

What is science? What do scientists do? Why does so much of science seem controversial these days? How much of your behavior is in your genes?(And what exactly is a gene?) Are there really genes for infidelity? aggression? novelty seeking? How do we choose our mates? Do human genes continue to... Read More...

Study of the natural processes that have regulated the climate of Earth over geologic time, the impact of climate change on human societies, effects of fossil fuel combustion on Earth’s climate system, and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Make your own fresco!  Create your own jewelry from milk!  Learn why Jackson Pollock used Duco paint!  Learn how oil paint is different than acrylic paint.

Course Objective: Our goal is to learn how visual art through the ages has been influenced by the development of new materials, especially polymeric... Read More...

This course is designed to foster a greater understanding of genocide in the modern times, with an emphasis on its causes, methods, and implications. The study of the Holocaust occupies a majority of the course, but other instances of genocide and state-sponsored mass killing will be studied to provide a... Read More...

Does CEO character determine company strategy or is the strategy determined by the fit between company resources and the environment?  Is it both?  In what proportions?  We will investigate the determinative role of character in the strategy of 20^th Century U.S. corporations. What does character account for? Are the strategies of 20^th... Read More...

“Who should I vote for? Who stands for what? What do the TV spots mean? How will they govern?” If you’ve asked any of these questions, this course is for you. “See How They Run” will explore the 2018 mid-term elections on different levels and from various perspectives. Through readings of books, articles and media... Read More...

We will cover classic theories of political participation through the lens of current scholarship and a semester-long case study of the 2018 midterm elections. The first election cycle after a new president is generally an eventful one, where the opposition party has a chance to make gains and strategically position itself for the... Read More...

This course will begin with a discussion of bioethics and its past abuse, rapidly move on to the foundational principles in medical ethical decision making, and spend the rest of the semester discussing controversial topics ranging from assisted suicide and brain death to human enhancement and manipulation of our... Read More...

This course is designed to approach the issue of art and its role in the commercial market place from a variety of perspectives. It is divided into two parts. Part one will retrace the origins of the various “players” in the modern art market setting (dealers,... Read More...

This course aims to introduce and contextualize twentieth-century music through the backdrop of visual arts. We will survey artistic movements from impressionism through post-modernism to deepen our understanding of twentieth-century music from social, political, and artistic perspectives. The course will be driven by weekly source readings, critical blog posts, and... Read More...

In this course, we'll write about films & make films about poems. We'll explore the realm of the image-makers where the pen becomes a camera and the camera, a pen. A creative class for Louisiana's image-makers by Louisiana's image-makers. 

This is a broad introductory course in the current research into the biological underpinnings and evolutionary origins of morality. The course is interdisciplinary, combining psychology, biology, neuroscience, and philosophy; it is both an introduction to cutting-edge research and a chance to revisit perennial questions.

This course will examine German historical and cultural roots in the state of Louisiana from the 19th Century to present day. We will concentrate on the early arrival of German settlers, the historically German geographic areas of Louisiana, the influence of German customs on Louisiana culture, shared traditions between both... Read More...

In this class, we will examine  the pursuit of holiness in early and medieval Christianity by exploring three themes - martyrdom, monasticism and mysticism.

•  How did ideas about the pursuit of holiness change as Christianity transformed from a marginal, persecuted religion to a powerful one? 
• What do we... Read More...

  Fulfills General Education:

  English Composition

  Humanities

Reacting to the Past is an innovative way to study history. The dynamics of history come alive through elaborate simulations in which students play the roles of historical characters. In Fall 2018, the course focuses on two key moments in modern history: 

Rousseau, Burke, and Revolution in... Read More...

This is the first class in a four semester sequence designed to enable you to write an upper division honors thesis in psychology.  You must take this course in order to do an honors thesis in psychology.  The course covers the methods used in psychological research, teaches you... Read More...