Honors College

Honors Sections of University Core Curriculum Courses

Most students in their first semester will be enrolled in an Honors cluster. Clusters bring together three classes around a common theme. The three classes meet separately, and once every week or two, all of the professors and students meet for an interdisciplinary plenary session. First year students are assigned a cluster by the Honors College director and the office of the Registrar.

Every semester, the Honors College offers Honors sections of several UCC (University Core Curriculum) classes. Honors sections are more intense than traditional sections, they rely more upon discussion, and they are capped at 20 students. Before priority registration begins in the fall and spring semester, the Honors College Office produces a list of all Honors Sections of University Core Curriculum classes and shares it with students via email.

Honors College students should be enrolled in at least one Honors course every semester. Initially, these are UCC classes and by the time the student is a junior, they are Honors Track courses. If a student is unable to take an Honors course because of scheduling problems, the student must file a waiver form with the Honors College Office. 

Summer and Fall 2013 Honors Sections

Honors Courses are available by permit only. Permits for the Summer 2013 Session and the Fall 2013 Semester will be available beginning March 11, 2013. Please send an email to honors@wpunj.edu to request a permit.

Summer 2013 Session

PSY 2100 Developmental Psychology – L. Berness -- ONLINE TBA   (SUM I -- 5/21-6/27)  

This course is about how we come to be who we are through the course of our development. It will cover physical, social, emotional and intellectual development in each of the main periods of life from infancy through emerging adulthood.  Issues of class, race, gender and culture will be interwoven throughout the topics. 

Fall 2013 Semester

Arts and Communication

COMM 1010 Experiencing Theatre – J. Beal -- F, 11:00 - 1:40 UCC 2A Expression

A wide-ranging and free-wheeling look at theatre in all its aspects from all sides- script, staging, performing, watching, directing, technical work, historical, contemporary, dramatic, comedic, musical. In short, we try to answer these questions: what is theatre, and why should we care?

 COMM 2630 Public Speaking – J. Beal – M, 2:00 – 4:40 UCC 2A Expression

The course is designed to present students with the skills and the
confidence to speak engagingly and successfully in a public forum. During the 14 weeks, students will present 3 speeches: one to inform; one to persuade; and one for a chosen special occasion. Videos and readings will supplement discussion and presentations. 

Humanities and Social Sciences

ENG 1100 – College Writing  – P. Cioffari -- MW, 3:30 – 4:45 UCC Writing Intensive

This course gives students a sense of a literary tradition unfolding across time in the genres of poetry, drama, essay and fiction.

SPAN 1060-70 – Basic Intensive Spanish I and II - O. DelaSuaree - TR, 11:00 – 12:15 and online  

This course offers students the opportunity of completing the university language requirement (6 credits) in one semester by covering the entire first year curriculum in an intensive setting. Cultural activities supplement this unique experience for the exceptionally motivated student.

PSY 1100  – General Psychology –  J. Mohlman - MW, 12:30- 1:45
UCC 3C Ways of Knowing Social and Behavior Science

This course provides a broad overview of the field of psychology and the study of the human mind and behavior. This online format promotes involvement through an active discussion board and interactive learning modules. A variety of assignments encourage students to translate theories and concepts into a meaningful context related to their own lives and experiences.

WGS 2250-01 – Race, Gender, and Social Justice – C. Sheffield – TR, 2:00 – 3:15
UCC 4 Diversity and Justice 

In common with standard sections, this course will examine racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism looking at current laws, historical documents, academic articles, films, and hearing the personal experiences of other students. Engaging the topics, students will read critically, write on complex topics and work at concept development. Such skill development assignments will prepare students for an intensive undergraduate program regardless of major.  

ANTH 2020- Diversity and Equity in Schools – R. Verdicchio -- R, 9:30  – 12:10
UCC 4 Diversity and Justice

This course uses the anthropological approach to study schools and to understand the relationship between learning, teaching, schooling and culture. Through field-based projects, students will apply the anthropological perspective to explore their own interests in education and to gain a first-hand understanding of the challenges and rewards of teaching in contemporary schools.

ECON2010 Macroeconomic Principles --  TBA -- MW 2-3:15 UCC 3C Ways of Knowing Social and Behavior Science

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of macroeconomic analysis. Particular emphasis will be placed on the examination of production, expenditure, employment, unemployment, and price levels for the economy as a whole. Discussed are also monetary, fiscal and financial policies, with regards to their impacts on economic growth, inflation, unemployment and financial stability.

Science and Health

KNES 1000-70 Active Lifestyles for Health Team Sports --  G. Schmidt -- TR 9:30-10:45 UCC 1 Personal Well Being

The aim of this course is to support the adoption of a physically active lifestyle conducive to health. The focus is on developing an understanding of the dynamic relationship between personal health and physical activity.  Selected health issues are investigated in conjunction with active student participation in corresponding lifetime physical activities. This course involves a variety of sports that will be selected by the class at the beginning of the term. Throughout the semester, students will engage in sports, learn rules, techniques and strategies in activities that are played as a team (e.g. flag football, softball or soccer), against someone else (e.g. tennis or badminton), or individually (e.g. archery, swimming, and weight lifting). Interspersed throughout the course are 6 online health lessons comprising topics involving general understanding of the person’s health, stress management, disease risk, substance use and abuse and driver safety.

BIO 1630 – General Biology I – P. Patnaik --  MW, 11:-00-12:15 (Lab T, 2:00-4:45)  YES UCC-3D  Ways of Knowing – Scientific

For students intending to major in biology, and other students who want a strong introduction to the foundations of biology, this course provides a background in biological principles. Similarities and differences between living organisms, both plant and animal, are discussed. Content includes molecular, cellular and subcellular structure and function, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, cross-membrane molecular transport, genetics, DNA structure, replication, transcription, and protein syntheses. Required of biology/biotechnology majors.

CHEM 1600 – General Chemistry I – TBA -- 2:00 – 3:15 (Lab R,9:30 – 12:15) UCC-3D  Ways of Knowing – Scientific

A study of the fundamental concepts of chemistry – encompassing such topics as matter and measurement, atoms, molecules and ions, atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometric calculations, basic thermochemistry and theories of chemical bonding. This course is the introductory chemistry course for chemistry, biology and other quantitatively oriented majors and provides a rigorous introduction to chemistry, the comprehension of which is fundamental to a scientific understanding of the world around us.

PHYS 1700 – General Astronomy “Retracing Galileo’s Steps” – Sat., 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. (Observation, 7:45-10:30 p.m.) (Not designated as Honors in WP Connect, but will count as an Honors UCC course.)UCC 3D Ways of Knowing Scientific --

Learn astronomy the way you expect it to be. Held on Saturday evenings, the students shall learn the constellations, star names, nubulae and planets. Students will get to use telescopes for their lab activities and retrace the steps of Galileo, discovering firsthand the wonders of the night sky. No other astronomy class does this at William Paterson. The class will be led by NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Jason Kendall, who bring years of stargazing experience and knowledge. Not only will you learn how the moon was formed, but you’ll get to see the moon in the sky through a telescope. You’ll see the moons of Jupiter and Saturn’s rings. You’ll see groups of young stars and distant galaxies. This class will teach you the ancient names of the stars, and you’ll learn about their awesome nuclear furnaces. Your classroom will be the starry night sky, and your telescope will show you the wonders of Astronomy. 

Fall 2013 Honors Track Course:

Biopsychology:

Behavior Genetics 

Cognitive Science:

CGSI 2000

CGSI 4010

CGSI 4020

Humanities:

TBA

Life Science and Environmental Ethics:

TBA 

Music:

MUS 4970

Seminar-TBA 

MUS 4980

Project-TBA 

Nursing:

TBA 

Performing and Literary:

PLA 4010 - Honors Research and Thesis - TBA 

Social Sciences: 

SSH 2010 Honors Seminar in Social Sciences I: Theory - T, 2:00-4:40pm

SSH 4990Thesis - TBA