Spring 2022 Advanced Honors Seminars

HON 202A75: Interdisciplinary Investigations

Section 1: Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 4 - 4:50 pm; State Farm Hall of Business 132
Dr. Jeri Beggs; Marketing

Consumers today expect companies to not only be ethical, but also to try to solve society’s ills. This course will examine (1) the different frameworks to view ethical dilemmas in the business world and how those are influenced by culture and context, and (2) the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR). We will look at four different types of CSR including philanthropy, environment conservation, diversity and labor practices, and volunteerism.

Section 2: Our Nation of Incarceration

1st 8 weeks of the semester; Tuesdays and Thursdays; 3 - 3:50 pm; Honors Program Building 113
Cristina Prestin-Beard; Family and Consumer Sciences

The United States claims to be the land of the free. However, we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Interesting, right? This course will examine the current state of the American prison system and the impact of incarceration on the family. Investigation into deviant behavior, history of crime and punishment in the United States, systemic injustice, and the War on Drugs. We will also compare the structure of American prisons to others around the globe.

HON 202A76: Innovation and Inquiry

Section 1: The Psychology of Spontaneity in Performance and Everyday Life

1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 2 - 2:50 pm; Honors Program Building 113
Dr. Dan Lannin; Psychology

Improvisation is spontaneously creating or performing something without scripted preparation. Some people might think that it is “magical” when a jazz musician improvises a solo or when a comedian makes up jokes on the spot. However, there are principles that guide improvisation, and understanding these principles can improve performance in numerous unscripted situations. This seminar provides introductory information on improvisation, helps students understand the psychology and neuroscience behind improvisation, and offers students an opportunity to learn via readings and experiential exercises on how to be an effective improviser in their everyday lives.

HON 202A77: Leadership in Action

Section 1: To be a great leader, be a coach

1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 - 10:50 am; Honors Program Building 113
Dr. Jim Broadbear; Health Sciences

The goal of this seminar is to encourage students to identify and analyze effective qualities of successful leaders as well as to participate in an applied leadership experience. We will explore how coaching connects with leadership, review evidence-based coaching approaches and skills, and investigate how coaching affects the brain, behavior, and performance of participants. We will practice foundational coaching skills, conduct effective coaching sessions, and develop an appreciation for the value of infusing coaching into leadership.

HON 202A78: Culture, Context, and Identity

Section 2: Social Protection: Protecting the Poor and Vulnerable from Societal Influences and Risks

2nd 8 weeks of the semester; Tuesdays and Thursdays; 4 - 4:50 pm; State Farm Hall of Business 148
Kari McMullen; Marketing

Social protection introduces policies and programs which help the poor and vulnerable cope with lifelong consequences of poverty and exclusion. Promoting efficient labor markets and diminishing people’s exposure to risks, social protection assists high-risk individuals with managing negative economic and social influences (i.e. unemployment, disability, sickness, old age, etc.). Social marketing campaigns are often used to highlight and provide recommendations to address social protection concerns. This approach is used to develop activities in a community aimed at voluntarily changing people’s behavior for the benefit of an entire society (i.e. anti-drug campaigns, clean water initiatives, etc.).

Focusing on civic engagement and working with a local non-profit organization, students will work in groups to create an awareness social marketing campaign, encouraging participation in the organization’s social protection programs. This campaign will identify:

Which cultures/members of our society are particularly vulnerable to risks.
What risks are affecting our local communities at micro, meso and macro levels.
Ways to better reach/target high-risk individuals in our local community.
New marketing mediums and creative opportunities to creative awareness about the local non-profit’s social protection programs.

This course will conclude with each group presenting their research results and marketing creative developed for their social marketing campaign.