Fall 2008 Honors Course Offerings

( Schedule with descriptions below)

You must be a member of the AVC Honors Program to enroll in an honors class or to earn honors credit through options. 
To apply for the Honors program, please contact Karen Lubick, 722-6468, office OF3 166

Link to Honors Options information and List of Fall 2008 Courses below:

Art 101H:  History of Art (Prehistoric to Gothic)

          Rae Agahari - MW 9:30 – 10:50 a.m.  

Students will discuss the broader contemporary ethical, political, technological, museological issues surrounding ancient and medieval art.  We will also look at some ongoing controversies in the art world, such as debates between the Greek and British governments and how the current war in Iraq affects art.  We will examine how ancient art has been transformed into commercial enterprises like Hollywood and Disney, and how visual images and architectural forms are presented in movies and other media.  Students should be prepared to go on a few field trips, both during class and on Fridays or weekends.

English 101H: Freshman Composition

          Jeffrie Ahmad  - TR 9:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.   

The course readings and writing will offer students a condensed background of the English language and an understanding of the ways in which that same language is used to create labels of primary potency.  We will concentrate on several key themes, particularly the overall them of labeling and how reality affects the fictional world in which characters live and interact.  Through intensive oral and written analyses, students will hone their critical thinking, argumentative, and writing skills and see some popular works of literature in a fresh and different way.

English 103H: Critical Approaches to Reading, Writing and Research

          K. Lubick - MW 12:30 – 1:50 p.m.

In this honors course, students will engage in intensive classroom discussions, heuristic activities and reading-writing-research assignments. We will concentrate on interpreting and analyzing complex texts; writing assignments will typically include primary and secondary sources.  We will assimilate material from some complex 20th Century rhetoricians such as Kenneth Burke, Steven Toulmin and Michel Foucault.  Our literary selections, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien and 1984 by George Orwell will serve as impetus for exploring the impact of war on society and in the development of revolutionary ideas. Scholarly research, logical argumentation, and invention/revision techniques for developing voice and style will be stressed.

English 235H/ThA 235:  English/Shakespeare Tragedies and Histories

          S. Covell - TR 12:30 – 1:50 p.m.

The honors version of this course will offer a highly concentrated study of a select number of Shakespeare’s plays, focusing on some of the more famous histories and tragedies.  Intense textual analysis will be enhanced by comparison to scenes from a variety of stage and film adaptations utilizing archetypal and contemporary critical approaches and published analyses.  Particular attention will be given to the historical and literary antecedents of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as the relevance and impact of his work upon modern and contemporary audiences.  In addition, the background in which Shakespeare’s plays and poetry were created and produced will be examined:  the philosophical, political, and aesthetic, cultural and sociological realities of the Renaissance, and the dramatic conventions and theatrical norms of the Elizabethan/Jacobean stage.

History 111H: African American Hist. (1877-present) 

          C. Lehman - TR 3:45 – 5:05 p.m.

In addition to studying the history of African Americans from 1877 to the present, we will be analyzing speeches by African American leaders and critiquing them in class for what they say about both the black community at that period and about what is happening in America.  In terms of how the honors section will differ, students will complete a group project on a social issue relevant to the black community today and present their research findings to the entire class, via a PowerPoint presentation to be conducted as a full-length class presentation.  This course will not be primarily a lecture course, but rather a group discussion course where the students will also be required to engage the material throughout the term.

Mathematics 130H:  College Algebra

          D. Anderson  - MWF 11:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.   

This course is designed to extend students’ mathematical ability to deal with real world problems.  Topics include theory and systems of equations, determinants, inequalities, complex numbers, mathematical induction, sequences and summation notation, binomial theorem, functions and inverse functions and their graphs, polynomial equations of higher degree, and counting principles.  Honors students can expect to work on group activities and present findings both individually and in groups.  Students should expect to learn or already know how to use graphing calculators, PowerPoint and other supplemental technologies as tools to illustrate process and solutions.

Psychology 101H:  Introduction to Psychology

          F. Aviles - TR 8:00 a.m. – 9:20 p.m.

This course will take you beyond the typical entry level psychology course.  You will gain in-depth experience about the research process by designing and conducting your own psychological study, with your own research results. You will also learn how to report your findings in A.P.A. style.  You will learn how to use tools that will be critical to writing research papers for any class.  You will learn how to find scientific articles using databases.  This course will prove invaluable for anyone who wishes to learn more about psychology.

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Alpha Gamma Sigma, The Honors Society/Club meets Fridays from 12:30-1:30 in LS2 139.  

          Go to Alpha Iota Chapter Home Page

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Honors Options

Note:  Only approved honors faculty should be approached regarding this option.

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:

Link to AVC Schedule for information about these Honors Option courses

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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.

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updated 7/10/2008            Go to AVC Honors Home Page