Seminar Information
New Course Numbers Course Re-Numbering 1 (pdf)
HNRS101
Paradoxes of the Human Condition
Study of the paradoxes inf the human condition as expressed in significant texts in classics, literature, moral philosophy, and history; drama and music, both classical and contemporary, history, biography, and fiction. Prerequisite: Freshman status in the McBride Honors program. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS201
Cultural Anthropology: A Study of Diverse Cultures
A study of cultures within the United States and abroad. The seminar will emphasize the roles of languages, religions, moral values, and legal and economic systems in the cultures selected for inquiry. Prerequisite:HNRS101 or consent of the Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS202
Comparative Political and Economic Systems
This course constitutes a comparative study of the interrelationships between political and economic systems in theory and practice. Totalitarianism, authoritarianism, democracy, anarchy, socialism, and communism will be examined in their historical and theoretical contexts and compared with baseline concepts of what constitutes a political system. Economics will be studied from a historical/developmental approach, examining classical and neo-classical economics and theories of major western economists including Smith, Marx, and Keynes. Specific nation or area case studies will be used to integrate concepts and explore possible new global conditions which define the roles of government and other institutions in the development, planning, and control of economic activities and social policy. Prerequisite:HNRS201 or permission of the Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours. Arturo Lopez Calleja
HNRS301
International Political Economy
International political economy is the study of the dynamic relationships between nation-states and the global marketplace. Topics include: international and world politics, money and international finance, international trade, multinational and global corporations, global development, transition economies and societies, and developing economies and societies. Prerequisite: HNRS202 or permission of Principal Tutor.
HNRS302
Technology and Socio-Economic Change
A critical analysis of the interactions among science, technology, and American values and institutions. The seminar will study the role of technology in American society and will debate the implications of technology transfer from developed to developing nations. Students will learn to relate technological issues to socio-economic and religous aspects of society and explore the moral and social consequences of technological innovations. Prerequisite: HNRS202 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS311
U.S. Public Policy: Domestic and Foreign
Detailed examination of United States public policy, using a case study approach to guide students to understand the various aspects of policy making and the participants in the process. As an outcome of this seminar, students will have the ability to engage in informed, critical analyses of public policy, and will understand the process and how they may become involved in it. Students should expect to spend spring break in Washington, D.C., as part of this seminar. Prerequisite:HNRS301 or HNRS302 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar, 3 semester hours.
HNRS312
Foreign Area Study
A survey of current public policy issues of a selected country or region, based on a broad survey of history and culture as well as contemporary social, technological, economic and political trends. The areas that might be studied in a three year rotation; Far East (China and Taiwan or Hong Kong, Indonesia and/or Malaysia) Latin America (Brazil or Chile), Middle East/Africa (Turkey or South Africa). Students taking this seminar in preparation for a McBride sponsored trip abroad might be able to take a brief intensive language course before departure. Prerequisite: HNRS301 or HNRS302 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS401
McBride Practicum: Internship
An off-campus practicum which may include an internship in a company, government agency, or public service organization (domestic or foreign), or foreign study as a part of a McBride group or individually. The practicum must have prior approval of the Principal Tutor. All students completing a practicum are expected to keep an extensive journal and write a professional report detailing, analyzing, and evaluating their experience. Prerequisite: HNRS311. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS402
McBride Practicum:Foreign Area Study Field Trip
After completing the HNRS312 Foreign Area Study seminar, students travel to the selected country or region. Students will gain first hand experience interacting and communicating with people from another culture. Students will complete a written research and analysis report using historic cultural, technological, political, or an economic theme. Prerequisite: HNRS312 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar, 3 semester hours.
HNRS411
Study of Leadership and Power
An intellectual examination into the nature of leadership and power. Focuses on understanding and interpreting the leadership role, both in its potential and its limitations, in various historical, literary, political, socio-economic, and cultural contexts. Exemplary leaders and their antitypes are analyzed. Characterisitics of leaders are related to their cultural and temporal context. This course will ask questions regarding the morality of power and its uses. leadership in technical and non-technical environments will be compared and contrasted. Additionally, power and empowerment, and the complications of becoming or of confronting a leader are scrutinized. Prerequisite: HNRS311 or HNRS312 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS412
Conflict Resolution
An in-depth look at creative, non-violent, non-litigious, win-win ways to handle conflicts in personal, business, environmental and governmental settings. The class will learn concepts, theories and methods of conflict resolution, study past and present cases and observe on-going conflict resolution efforts in the Denver area. Prerequisite:HNRS311 or HNRS312 or permission of Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar. 3 semester hours.
HNRS420
Science, Technology, and Ethics
A comprehensive inquiry into ethical and moral issues raised by modern science and technology. Issues covered include: the contention that science is value neutral; the particular sorts of ethical problems faced by engineers in their public and political roles in deciding uses of materials and energy; the personal problems faced in the development of a career in science and technology; the moral dilemmas inherent in using natural forms and energies for human purposes; and the technologically dominated modern civilization. The seminar will consist of readings and discussions of ethical issues in plays, works of fiction, and films. Prerequisite: HNRS411 or HNRS412 or permission of the Principal Tutor. 3 hours seminar; 3 semester hours.
HNRS498
Special Topics in the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs for Engineers
A Special Topics in the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs for Engineers. A Special Topics course will be a pilot course in the McBride curriculum or will be offered as an enhancement to regularly scheduled McBride seminars. Special Topics courses in the McBride curriculum will not be offered more than twice. Variable credit: 1 - 6 semester hours. Repeatable for credit under different titles.
HNRS499
Independent Study
Under special circumstances, a McBride student may use this course number to register for an independent study project which substitutes for or enhances the regularly-scheduled McBride curriculum seminars. Variable credit: 1 - 6 semester hours. Repeatable for credit.
