Spring 2023 Advanced Studies Courses

The Advanced Studies requirement can be fulfilled by taking either an upper level special topics seminar or an upper-level course within a specific discipline. Honors Advanced Studies courses are defined by deep analysis and classroom discourse, reminiscent of the type of dynamic learning environment a student would encounter in a graduate-level environment. Courses are designed to encourage students to synthesize information from divergent sources and then derive novel conclusions and innovative solutions. Remember that…

  • All Honors College students are required to complete at least one Honors Advanced Studies course.
  • Advanced Studies courses count towards the 22 HONS credit requirement.
  • Students may take additional Advanced Studies courses as an Honors elective.
  • Advanced Studies courses do not count towards the College’s General Education requirements.
  • The prerequisite(s) for all Honors Advanced Studies courses are as follows: At least one Honors Foundation course and at least one Honors Colloquium course, plus any additional prereqs imposed on a particular course.

HONS 204: Honors Managerial Accounting
Instructor: Jennifer Burbage
TR 9:25 – 10:40 a.m.

A survey of accounting information critical for planning, control and business decision-making within an organization. This is the Honors course version of ACCT 204. Students may not receive credit for both.

Prerequisite(s): Sophomore rank or higher, HONS 203

HONS 390-01 Digital Media, Dystopia, and Democracy
Instructor: David Parisi

TR: 1:40 – 2:55 p.m.

This course uses science fiction film and television to examine social and cultural attitudes toward technology, with an emphasis on dystopian (or negative) portrayals of digital media. Embracing the perspective that science fiction does not make offer about the future, but rather, provides a running commentary on the present, we will use sci fi to engage with issues such as media surveillance, virtual and augmented reality, algorithmic recommendation systems in social media and streaming platforms, the technological enhancement of humans through implantable and wearable technologies, and technology’s role in constructing ideas of race, class, gender, and sexuality. We will analyze a range of films and shows that includes Black Mirror, Network, Blade Runner, The Matrix, Black Panther, Ex Machina, and Her.

HONS 390-02 Honors Molecular Biology
Instructor: Renaud Geslain
MW 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

**This course has specific pre-requisites that require permission of instructor to enroll; students who are interested in the course should sign up here to request a spot in the class.

In this course students will study in detail the structures and functions of the most fundamental biomolecules of life, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins and their relevance to the world we live in through the following eight topics organized in eight separate modules: (i) the design, effectiveness, cost and side effects of drugs, (ii) the detection, prevention and treatment of pathogenic diseases, (iii) the future of agriculture, farming and the environment in general (especially the impact of modern genome editing and synthetic biology), (iv) policymaking and bioethics (the cloning of primates for research, the engineering of human-animal hybrids, the pros and cons of enhanced pathogen research, and the potential and limits of DNA forensics), (v) gene and stem cell therapies (available treatments, future prospects and controversies), (vi) the biology of cancers (established and emerging hallmarks of cancer cells, diagnoses and personalized treatments), (vii) the biology of senescent cells (zombie cells, senolytics and autophagy), and (viii) evolution of hominins and techniques in molecular biology (ancient DNA, paleogenomics, paleoproteomics and landmark discoveries in molecular biology).

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 111/BIOL 111L or HONS 151/HONS 151L, BIOL 112/BIOL 112L or HONS 152/HONS 152L, BIOL 211/BIOL 211D and BIOL 305; one year of chemistry. CHEM 232 or HONS 293 can be substituted for BIOL 211 and BIOL 305.
Co-requisite(s) or Prerequisite(s): MATH 250 or equivalent course in statistics or permission of instructor.

Non-Honors equivalence: Students can receive credit for BIOL 312 for this course

HONS 390-03 Borders, Art and Migration: Voices from Europe
Instructor: Sarah Koellner
TR 9:25 – 10:40 a.m.

With the rising number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe at the beginning of 2015, the securitization of the Western World became even more evident when global mass surveillance was used to monitor, target, and track single individuals, but also ethnic, economic, and national groups on the move. This course will critically analyze how selected artistic works reflect, engage, and shape the perception of borders in contemporary German-speaking Europe with a particular focus on the refugee crisis.

HONS 390-04 Honors ImpactX
Instructor: David Wyman
TR 12:15 – 1:30 p.m.

**Students interested in Honors ImpactX should apply prior to the start of registration using the following link. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Honors ImpactX Spring '23 application form.

Impact X is a three credit class that assists you and your new team in forming a new venture where success is focused on solving social and environmental problems, while making a profit. This course describes entrepreneurship as a process of economic or social value creation, rather than the single event of opening a business. Reflecting recent research, the course focuses on opportunity recognition, business model generation and lean startup. Students will research and develop a repeatable, scalable business model. Since its inception, Impact X has formed over 75 startup teams that have created innovative, for-profit solutions that improve people’s lives and the planet. All students are assisted by local business professionals as mentors. The Impact X class culminates in a Shark Tank type DEMO Day where students have the opportunity to pitch their projects and win prizes.

HONS 390-05 Southbound: An Interdisciplinary Journey Through the Culture, Identity, and Politics of the American South
Instructor: Gibbs Knotts
W 11:00 – 1:45 p.m.

This class will take a critical look at the South with the hope that we will learn more about the region as well as the South’s influence on the U.S. more generally. The class will examine the region's identity, politics, and culture by exploring primary texts and articles, with weekly units on specific aspects on topics like southern food, southern music, and southern popular culture. Students will explore the region’s sociological history, it's drastic political, racial, and cultural changes over the past half-century, and it's political and cultural relevancy today. Class discussion will be integral to our work, as will student assignments (including a video assignment on southern identity and a research paper on some aspect of identity, culture, or politics).

HONS 390-06 Tourism Issues in Cities and Towns
Instructor: Mike Seekings
M 4:00 – 6:45 p.m.

**This course has specific pre-requisites that require permission of instructor to enroll; students who are interested in the course should sign up here to request a spot in the class.

This course examines tourism issues from a city and town perspective.  Topics covered during this course include managing transportation systems, preserving historic and cultural elements and maintaining tourism infra- and superstructure.  The course will present opportunities to analyze and discuss multiple perspectives related to understanding and managing tourism businesses in Charleston and in a globalized environment.

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): HTMT 210 or permission of instructor

Non-Honors equivalence: Students can receive credit for HTMT 310 for this course

*Please note that Spring 2023 course offerings are tentative, and are subject to change