Current and Future Honors Courses

• Spring 2009 Schedule
• Honors Options by Contract
• Proposed Two-Year Plan Spring 2009 through Fall 2010
• Non-Discrimination Policy

Biology 101H:  General Biology and Lab - Debra Feikert - Thursdays 7:45 – 10:50 a.m.

IMPORTANT:  Students are advised to enroll in Biol 101L on T 7:45 – 10:50 a.m. (LAB)

This non-major biology course is designed to acquaint students with the nature of science, the unity of life processes, the diversity of living things, the interdependence of organisms in the biosphere, with humans as biological entities. In addition to traditional topics, students will choose articles from present day research texts, keep a journal, and become knowledgeable about current events, as well as explore the life and work of a scientist.

English 102H:  Freshman Composition -  Jeffrie Ahmad - Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:15 - 4:35 pm

This class will differ from traditional English 102 classes in that you will be analyzing works through the prism of many types of critical theories—historical, sociological, psychological, and feminist, among others—and choosing how these lenses enhance literary works and the arguments you make about them through discussions, presentations and paper assignments. Your semester will start with an overview of historical theory, a perspective that will form the map of your journey into the strange lands inhabited by characters and personae, such as Ophelia, Medea, or Raskolnikov—all from vastly different historical periods, whose perspectives are so unusual, so extraordinary, that their lives are altered, sometimes in ways that may surprise you. You will examine such universal experiences as love, aging, and pride as they are presented in works such as Hamlet, Crime and Punishment, along with oddities like “Good Country People” and “The Sick Rose” and experiencing the diversity of authors such as Euripides, Robert Hayden, even Christopher Columbus.  Most importantly, you will experience the power of perspective on a least two levels:  in the imaginary world of fiction and in the real world created by your fellow honors classmates.

English 226H:  English Literature 1750 - 1900 - A. Koritsoglou - Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:00 a.m.- 12:20 p.m.

In this survey of English Literature (1750-1900), we will examine works that explore the invention of childhood, travel, and empire, the abolition of slavery and the slave trade, the rights of women, aestheticism and decadence, Victorian ladies and gentlemen, the problems of authorship, the industrial landscape, and religion and science.  Key historical figures of the time will play an important role in understanding the political, religious, and social climate.  Students should become familiar with the diversity of literature produced during this period.  Part of our concern as readers and critical thinkers is to examine literature from varying lenses, discovering how literature from 1750-1900 is informed by the dominant aesthetic, cultural, social and political movements of the period.  Our readings will be drawn from a variety of genres, including fiction, poetry, art, film, historical documents, essay, and creative nonfiction.  Through the use of primary and secondary sources, students will join the critical debate surrounding the major and minor works from this period.

History 107H:  U. S. History, 1607 - 1877 - Ken Shafer - Mondays & Wednesdays 8:00 - 9:20 a.m.

This class will bring a challenging new look to early American history, with a strong emphasis on student involvement, critical thinking and the development of analytical skills within a historical and, at times, political context.  This will happen through a variety of means, such as article discussion and question sessions, written and oral reports on short essays, analyses of historical interpretations and methodologies, and a final group presentation.  At its core, this course will provide a comprehensive interpretive analysis of the political, social and economic developments of the nation to 1877, as well as the many complex cultural and intellectual currents, including reference to the antebellum period of California inside the framework of general U. S. history.

Mathematics 150H:  Calculus - Debra Anderson - Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30 - 3:00 pm

While mastery of the core “drill and kill” skills are an essential objective of this course, our second priority will be to gain an appreciation for the profoundly powerful and essentially metaphysical ideas embodied by the calculus.  This course will be an extension of the standard presentation of the elements of differential and integral calculus by supplementing textbook narrative and exercises with four elements of enrichment and enhancement central to the calculus reform movement: 1) learning by discovery and exploration; 2) integrating technology; 3) extended applications and investigations; 4) reading and writing mathematics.

Political Science 101H:  American Political Institutions - John Vento - Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

This course is a survey of American government and will provide honors students a rigorous analysis of the U. S. Political system at the national, state and local levels.  Departing from the traditional classroom format, we will create a seminar structured environment where we will raise questions about the American political process, analyze the problems and issues facing government, and develop discussions about the assigned readings and current events.  This class will focus on major political events such as the recall of Governor Gray Davis, the war with Iraq, the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the impeachment of President Clinton, as well as the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.  We will review basic questions such as “Who governs?” and, using views about who governs, we will seek to understand the way government works in the USA.

Theater Arts 101H:  Theater Appreciation - Jonet Leighton - Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 - 10:50 a.m.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing:  It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire

Theatre Appreciation students incorporate readings and lecture materials into assignments that allow them to “walk a mile in another’s shoes” as they try on the role of actor, director, designer, playwright, dramaturg, and producer in addition to being an audience member.  After completing introductory assignments, students are allowed to choose from a list of projects, which further explore an area of theatre that appeals to each individual.  The final project gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the area of their choice.

Honors Options by Contract

Honors students may complete two of the six required honors sections of classes by enrolling in and fulfilling an honors option by contract.  Contracts should be filled out completely, signed by student and instructor, and returned to the honors coordinator by the end of the 4th week of the semester.  The grade in the course should in no way be affected by the completion or lack of completion of an honors option. 

Instructors must submit and receive approval of honors options to the honors coordinator/committee before offering it to students. Instructors may use their discretion in deciding whether to offer an honors option for a particular course or student.  The following list represents instructors and courses who have offered contracts in previous semesters:

• Business, Computer Studies:  David Champagne, Kathy Moore
• Fine and Performing Arts:  Rae Agahari, Mark Branner, Jonet Leighton
• Health:  Kathy Bingham
• Language Arts i.e. Communication Arts, English 102 and Literature, Foreign Languages: 
  • (most instructors upon request)
• Math/Science:  Debra Anderson, Rick Balogh, Luis Enriquez, Debbie Feickert, Tooraj Gordi, Stephen Langjahr, Matthew Rainbow, Judy Sullivan, Joe Towe, Michael Tran, Christos Valiotis, Pavinee Villapando
• Social and Behavioral Sciences/FACE:  David Earle, Irit Gat, Claude Gratton, Ron Halcrow, Matthew Koppers, Cynthia Lehman, John MacDonald, Jessica Mason, John Vento, Darcy Wiewall

 Proposed TWO-YEAR PLAN - Spring 2009 -Fall 2010

Proposed Spring, 2009

Fall, 2009

Spring, 2010

Fall, 2010

Non-Discrimination Policy

Antelope Valley College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, gender, race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, cancer-related medical condition, or genetic predisposition.  Upon request, we will consider reasonable accommodation to permit individuals with protected disabilities to (a) complete the employment or admission process, (b) perform essential job functions, (c) enjoy benefits and privileges of similarly-situated individuals without disabilities, and (d) participate in instruction, programs, services, activities, or events.

Link to Honors Home Page  - http://www.avc.edu/studentservices/honors