Current Honors Courses

ENGL 132: Word and Sound (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations: Arts & Creativity & Innovation
• Professor Alison Pipitone
• 100% ONLINE (CRN: 15742); 23 seats

Course description: This arts-based course draws both from literary scholarship and from an understanding of the ubiquitous presence of music in our modern, interconnected society. This course will ask students to consider songwriting in several ways. First, we will explore some fundamental aspects of the sound of songwriting, including rhythm, meter, tempo, hooks, arrangement, and production. We will also consider the lyric with a focus on word choice, rhyme, image, tone, and voice. Next, the class will explore the role that songs have in reflecting and influencing a culture. To that end, we will consider the concept of resilience as is evidenced by influential songs of the 1930s (The Great Depression), the 1960s (the Civil Rights Movement), and the 21st century (pandemic, social justice, political upheaval). What do songs across so many decades have in common? What themes emerge that help to define a uniquely American sound? In addition, how is that American sound influenced by—and some would argue, created by—the technology used to create and disseminate the song? (The textbook will serve as our jumping off point for this conversation.) 

This course explores the sound of words and the sound of music. How does the sound of American English become a part of the sound of a song? How do sound (words, music, production) and word (literal and figurative meaning) combine to create a uniquely American music? In short, the course aims to help students become skilled in decoding the role that sound plays in popular music, as well as to take on active creative roles as practitioners of sound use (and re-use) in their own texts. These experiences will help them be connected to—and critically aware of—the ways in which sound itself can be used to construct inclusive communities.

Class materials: 

• DeMain, Bill. In Their Own Words: Songwriters Talk about the Creative Process. Praeger, 2005. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fredonia-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3000995
• Peterik, Jim L. Songwriting for Dummies, 2nd Edition. Wiley Pub., 2010. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fredonia-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6007456)
• Polashek, Timothy D. The Word Rhythm Dictionary a Resource for Writers, Rappers, Poets, and Lyricists. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.

Assignments: discussion posts, 20%; sound assignment, 10%; lyric assignment, 10%; artist/sound manifesto, 10%; answer song assignment, 10%; resilience assignment, 10%; artist statement, 10%; textbook assignments, 20%.

ENGL 167: Border Crossings (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations 2023: World History & Global Awareness; Global Perspectives
• Fredonia Foundations 2017: Other World Civilizations; Global Perspectives & Diversity
• Dr. Birger Vanwesenbeeck
• Face-to-face: Fenton 176, TR 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.; (CRN: 14601): 25 seats

Course description:  Can the Holocaust be represented? To capture the scope and magnitude of the Nazi atrocities has often been said to lie beyond the limits of the literary or artistic imagination even as artists have also recognized the need to do so. How have writers and filmmakers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, sought to negotiate this inherent tension? What does it mean to “cross the border” into the proverbially unspeakable? And, for those who survived the camps, how does one bear witness (or testify) to that which lies beyond the reach of words? In order to answer these (and other) questions, this course will offer an overview of the literature of the Holocaust globally conceived.

Class materials: Hannah Arendt. Eichmann in Jerusalem (Penguin); W.G. Sebald. Austerlitz (Modern Library; trans. Anthea Bell; ISBN-10: 0812982614); Hilda Schiff (ed.) Holocaust Poetry (Martin’s)

Assignments: midterm exam; reading quizzes; final project 

ESCI 105: Global Environmental Issues (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations:  Natural Science & Global Perspectives
• Multi-Ethnic American Indian & Multi-Ethnic Latino Studies
• Dr. Matt Lanning
• Face-to-face: Houghton 028, MWF 2:00.-2:50 p.m.; (CRN: 16837); 25 seats

Course description:  The course's objective is to increase student awareness of the environmental issues that affect different parts of the world and the planet as a whole. The course will explore the historical roots of the problems and how different societies deal with environmental degradation. Topics will include overpopulation, food production, water scarcity, pollution and global climate change, among others. The format of the course invites participation, discussion and critical thinking.

Class materials: There is no formal textbook for this course. Readings and other activities will be posted on the online course management site.

Assignments: Quizzes, 10%; Midterm, 20%; Final, 20%; Environmental Active Learning,  10%; Popular media critique, 10%; Discussions, 10%; Homework, 10%; Group Presentations, 5%; Participation/Attendance, 5%

GEO 180: Weather and Climate (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations: Natural Sciences; Critical Thinking & Reasoning
• Professor Kim Weborg-Benson
• Face-to-face: MWF 11:00-11:50 a.m.; (CRN: 16739); 12 seats
• Houghton 126

Course description:  Few aspects of the physical environment influence our daily lives more than weather and climate.  Dealing with weather and climate is an inevitable part of our lives.  Sometimes it is as small as deciding what to wear for the day or how to plan a vacation.  But it can also have life-shattering consequences. In recent years, weather and climate have become front-page news from hurricanes to global-scale environmental issues.  The dynamic nature of the atmosphere seems to demand our understanding now more than ever before.

This course will provide a basic understanding of the atmosphere and the processes that control both weather and climate.  These include factors that control variations in temperature, the role of moisture in the atmosphere, wind and atmospheric circulation and severe weather.  Our class will be held in a lab room that will allow for numerous demonstrations and experiments that will reinforce the content.

The course is designed to stimulate students’ curiosity concerning those factors that control both weather and climate, global climate change, and the role of humans with respect to quality of the atmosphere and climate change.

Class materials: 

Text:  https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo3/ 

Additional Resources: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections  

The course uses an assortment of online resources so there is no cost for students.  Keep up with the posted material on FREDLearn.

Assignments: Grades will be based on approximately 650 possible points. This includes four 75-point exams (300 pts. total), three during the semester and a final exam.  The final exam will be given during finals week at the scheduled time.  There will also be several homework assignments (about 75 pts. total).  For one, you will determine the relative humidity using a sling psychrometer; another assignment involves constructing climate diagrams. There will also be online and in class quizzes (about 100 pts. total) that will factor into your grade.  I will also be taking attendance daily so you should attend every class.  Attendance will account for around 80 points. In addition, each student will submit an outline and make a brief presentation (10 minutes) on some aspect of climate change that interests them.  Your topic must be approved by the instructor.  This will account for 75 points.  The final grade will be based on the total possible points for the semester.

HIST 180: History of Black Europe (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations: Category: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice; Theme: Creativity and Innovation
• Dr. John Staples
• Face-to-face: Thompson E122, MWF 9:00-9:50 a.m. (CRN: 16289); 26 seats

Course description:  HIST 180 focuses on the experiences of Afropeans (Europeans of African descent) in the 20th and 21st centuries, with a brief overview of pre-20th century history. It examines systemic racism in European political, institutional, and cultural spheres, while centering Afropean responses. The course follows and compares the journeys of two Afropeans: Caryl Phillips, a distinguished author and playwright, whose The European Tribe described his experiences in Europe in 1986; and photographer, writer, and broadcaster Johny Pitts, whose Afropean: Notes from Black Europe describes his retracing of Phillips’ trip in 2017. We will discuss their observations and explore the underlying history of the things they encountered and conclusions they drew.

Class materials: 

• Caryl Phillips, The European Tribe (Faber & Faber, 1993)
• Johny Pitts, Afropean: Notes from Black Europe (Alan Lane, 2019)

Assignments: Brief analyses of Afropean culture (music, dance, art, etc.), 40%; midterm exam, 15%; final project, 25%; engagement, 20%.

MATH 117: The Mathematical Experience (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations:  Math/QR competency
• Dr. Julia Wilson
• Face-to-face: Fenton 179, MWF 1:00-1:50 p.m. (CRN: 16756); 13 seats

Course description:  At its essence, mathematics is a way of seeing the world.  Specifically, mathematicians see structure and form.  And once you know what to look for, you start seeing it everywhere!  Finding mathematical structure – in nature, art, relationships, science, business, music, and so on – deepens our understanding and appreciation, and often gives us useful tools for solving interesting problems.  In addition to seeing mathematical structure in the world around us, we also turn our gaze inward.  We use our imaginations to concoct amazing internal mathematical landscapes.  We get to set the parameters for these landscapes, often in the form of premises or rules, and then we use our powers of reasoning and visualization to explore the results, which are often very beautiful and surprising.  In this course we will take multiple journeys through the full mathematical experience – playing, asking questions, describing, gaining insight, making discoveries and connections, and communicating our ideas to others.  And how often do you get a chance to play with slide whistles or learn to crochet in a math class?

Class materials:  The textbook is available for free on FREDLearn.  You’ll occasionally need a calculator.  All other materials will be provided.

Assignments:  Seven two-week modules, each consisting of a reading assignment, in-class activities, and homework, followed by biweekly quizzes.  Final reflective essay.

MUED 251: Psychology and Sociology in Music Education (Section HR)

• Fredonia Foundations: Social Sciences & Critical Thinking & Reasoning 
• Dr. Rick Webb
• Face-to-face: MWF 12:00-12:50 p.m. (CRN: 12827); 10 seats
• Mason Hall 1022 

Course description:  Study basic principles of educational psychology and sociology, including learning processes, motivation, communication, and classroom management. Study the special education process and state and federal special education laws and regulations. Introduction to research-validated instructional strategies for teaching students within the full range of abilities in music. Study the rights and responsibilities of teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school administrators, and others with regard to education, and the importance of productive relationships and interactions among the school, home, and community for enhancing student learning. Learning experiences will provide students with opportunities to locate information effectively using tools appropriate to their need and discipline, evaluate information with an awareness of authority, validity, and bias, and demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of information use, creation, and dissemination. 
 

Class materials: texts are under evaluation for Spring 2025, information will be provided to the Fredonia online bookstore during Fall 2024. 

Assignments: small group presentations, weekly notes, in-class quizzes, reflections, final group projects, in-class small group activities