Freshman Core Seminar Course Descriptions
Common Core Seminar Description
CORE/HON 179 CORE: What Does it Mean to be Human?
3 Credits
This is the first of three interdisciplinary courses that, together with the fourth-year
capstone course in the major, comprise ODU’s core seminars. All sections of this seminar
will address the question, ‘What does it mean to be human?’ through the study of humans
as embodied, social, spiritual, emotional, rational beings. While each section listed
below will approach that question from a unique perspective, all sections share common
learning outcomes and a common text or texts. CORE 179 stresses the importance of
a liberal arts education and seeking knowledge while helping students develop and
refine the skills needed to succeed in college. Students are encouraged to take this
course the fall semester of their first year. This course is reserved for firsttime
freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre-
or corequisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit
for any version of CORE/HON 179.
Section-Specific Descriptions
CORE 179A CORE: Baptism by Fire
3 Credits
This course will focus on decisions made by humans when faced by extraordinary stresses,
such as religious or political coercion, war, or how the individual chooses to simply
survive or struggles to live a life that is more than ordinary. Students will share
and discuss reactions to the material presented, thus developing a deeper understanding
of the choices made by these people and how we consequently see them as lesser or
greater humans. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer
students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or corequisite: ENG 110.
This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON
179.
CORE 179B CORE: Borders and Transitions
3 Credits
Aware of ever evolving socio-political, scientific, global, and personal environments
and as inhabitants of “border areas,” this course will look at how we interpret, live
and cross such 'borders' as going from High School to College or one’s culture to
another. The course will explore how individuals manage borders between themselves
and another, themselves and God, or between their inner faith and its outward manifestation.
The course includes insights from sociology, psychology, theology, education; among
others. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students
with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or corequisite: ENG 110. This course
is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179C CORE: Gods, Beasts, or In-Between?
3 Credits 193
Some thinkers have argued that human beings are midway between gods and beasts. This
course examines the contributions of several disciplines by examining literary, philosophical,
and theological approaches to the issue of what it means to be human. The course will
emphasize a close reading of many established texts from these disciplines that consider
the range of options from gods to beasts. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen
only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite:
ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version
of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179D CORE: Honor and Shame
3 Credits
What do we mean by “Honor,” and why has it disappeared in our culture? Why are people
in
some cultures motivated by a desire for “Honor” and by avoiding “Shame?” The seminar
will
approach these questions by a review of documents from a variety of literary genres
that have inspired our Western culture and other cultures. The seminar will consider
the reasons why this motivation has largely died out in the West and the influence
of Christianity upon its demise and/or transformation. This course is reserved for
first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester
credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous
credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179E CORE: Human, the Wise?
3 Credits
It is commonly believed that what distinguishes humans from other animals is their
intellectual capacity. But people often do incredibly stupid things at the same time
animals have demonstrated amazing intelligence. Drawing on insights from psychology,
philosophy, neuroscience, and computer science, we address both the amazing capacity
of the human mind and the potential for less intelligent thought and action as we
contemplate what it means to be human. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen
only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite:
ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version
of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179F CORE: Know Thyself
3 Credits
Knowing the self requires a personal life-long journey. In this course we will look
at how a
number of great thinkers, from ancient to modern times, writing in a number of different
genres, all with different world views, have come to know themselves. In turn, students
will consider how one goes about following the aphorism, “Know thyself,” inscribed
at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen
only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite:
ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version
of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179G CORE: Gender Matters
3 Credits
This course provides an introduction to contemporary gender issues and will focus
upon how gender impacts our perspectives, experiences, and personal/professional relationships
across the lifespan. Students will begin to explore how gender organizes everything
from our sense of personal identity to our daily face-to-face interactions, how it
is embedded in institutions such as the family, the labor market, religious institutions,
and the state. In this class students will learn how pervasive gender is in the way
we organize life and how this impacts (or does not) our notion of what it means to
be human. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students
with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course
is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179H CORE: Are you Connected?
3 Credits
This course provides students with an experiential journey of self-discovery with
the overarching goal of recognition that the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected.
Referencing a variety of disciplines including medicine, psychology, art, religion,
science, philosophy. Students will move from a broad contemplation of what it means
to be human to the development of their own personal identity. This course is reserved
for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester
credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous
credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179I CORE: Methods of Inquiry
3 Credits
Inquiry is a human trait. This section of CORE 179 will explore analytic, scientific,
and spiritual methods of human inquiry. By examining how humans ask and answer questions
through different means students will gain insight into human nature as well as insights
about themselves as individuals. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only
and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite:
ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version
of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179J CORE: The Great Debate
3 Credits
By studying and discussing some outstanding works of Philosophy, Literature, Theology,
and the natural sciences, we will enter the ongoing conversation about what defines
our common nature as humans. Questions that we will discuss include: Can we survive
after our bodies die? Can we be truly happy without belonging to society? Do we have
non-physical souls? What is the relationship between emotions and reason? This course
is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer
semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students
with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179K CORE: Virtues and Vices
3 Credits
Human beings are social beings who live within cultures. All cultures include values,
standards for what is seen as good and what is seen as evil. Are there any values
common to all cultures in all times and all places? Do values vary according to time
and place? What is the significance of value differences among subcultures and contracultures?
What are the major values taught by the major religious traditions including Christianity,
Judaism, and Islam? This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer
students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110.
This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON
179.
CORE 179L CORE: Heroes, Sages, and Madmen
3 Credits
This seminar examines the dimensions of the self by exploring the human desire to
be
remembered. The course will approach the question of the seminar through a consideration
of humanity’s literary, artistic and material achievements: from early epic to modern
biography, from the building of temples and pyramids to the construction of modern
architectural wonders. Attention will also be paid to the writing of history as a
reflection of identity. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer
students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110.
This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON
179.
CORE 179N CORE: Machine vs. Human!
3 Credits
Are we machines—cyborgs, perhaps? Are we analog beings stuck in a digital world? Do
the
advancements in technology make us more human? This seminar will explore the concept
of being a physical, social, spiritual, emotional, and rational being in light of
advancements in the technologies of computing, intelligence, and medicine. This course
is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer
semester credits. Pre- or corequisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students
with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179P CORE: Windows and Mirrors
3 Credits
It has been said that “the last frontier of man is to understand himself.” If this
is true, then it is easier for man to travel outward to the moon than inward to the
self. In this course, students will study autobiography as a model of exploration
into “inner space.” Examining autobiographies across cultures, disciplines, and times
will serve as a window into the humanity of others and a mirror for reflection of
the self. This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students
with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course
is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179Q CORE: Spirit Need
3 Credits
Are we skimming the surface of life? Are we mindful that nourishing the spirit enables
us to live life more deliberately? This on-going personal spiritual well-being fosters
awareness that choices define a person far more than abilities. What defines you?
Students will read and view various sources, reflecting upon how life in the spirit
is connected to more humane and ethical relationships. Is this not what becoming fully
human is all about? Not open to students with credit for SWK 270. This course is reserved
for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester
credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous
credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179R CORE: Stroke of Genius
3 Credits
Genius is a profoundly human phenomenon, offering insights into our greatest achievements
from the past as well as our potential for the future. In this section, students will
explore what constitutes the idea of genius and its implications for a variety of
disciplines, including art, literature, music, and philosophy. An emphasis on interdisciplinary
critical thinking will guide us as we search for the pinnacles of human aspiration.
This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17
or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is
not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179T CORE: Our Human Nature in Sport
3 Credits
This seminar considers how our human nature has influenced sport experiences across
history and cultures. The psychological, social, spiritual, cultural, and physical
aspects of humanity as portrayed in sport will provide the context for analysis of
the question “What does it mean to be human?” Students will be guided through the
process of seeking knowledge and acquiring skills needed to succeed while exploring
how sport experiences represent our commonality of human mind, body, and spirit. This
course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer
transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open
to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179U CORE: Applied Storytelling
3 Credits
The stories we tell—and what we take from them—reflect what is important to us. Story
becomes the framework for how we experience and define our world. When a group listens
to a story, a common, shared experience transforms listeners into community members
building identity and cooperation. Humans are the only species that tells stories.
In addressing the question, “What is human nature?” one place we can turn to answer
the question is narrative. We tell stories to question, reflect, compare, and contrast
our identity and relationship with others and the world. This seminar examines written
and oral stories, old and new, as they serve to help us contemplate our place in the
world. Drawing from examples such as parables to nationally-known StoryCorps narratives,
we examine how stories are used and how we might apply them to our lives. Students
will also create their own stories for performance. This course is reserved for first-time
freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre-
or co-requisite: ENG
110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON
179.
CORE 179V CORE: Exploring Human Action
3 Credits
Often when we are asked to explain what makes humans unique we list qualities that
are not unique, but qualities at which humans simply excel. Non-humans have been shown
to form families, demonstrate intelligence, problem solve, and even create forms of
language. In this course we will look to various forms of human action to explore
what, if anything is uniquely human. Over the period of the semester we will draw
on readings from sociobiologists, sociologists, philosophers, political scientists,
theologians, and journalists to examine and assess human action and behavior. Over
the period of the semester we will attempt to explore a diverse array of questions
related to human action and behavior. These include, but are not limited to: why humans
have war; whether or not there is a true self; what is intelligence; why do we consider
some things beautiful; what is human language; what is criminal; why do we appreciate
certain forms of music over others and; what does it mean to interact symbolically?
This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17
or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is
not open to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179W CORE: From Greece to Gotham
3 Credits
This course provides an historical overview of how different cultures have viewed
the question what it means to be human and how that concept has evolved. Beginning
with the foundations of the Western cultural tradition in Greece, the course will
then take students on a journey through time that concludes in the present day. Stops
of this journey will include the Roman Empire, the founding of the Christian faith,
Medieval Spain, the Caribbean, Colonial America, and even the city of Gotham. This
course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17 or fewer
transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open
to students with previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179X CORE: Human Nature and Sexual Ethics
3 Credits
We will study how theories of human nature are related to some questions about sexual
ethics. Issues discussed may include pre-marital sex, sex reassignment surgeries,
and techniques for producing human beings apart from sexual intercourse (e.g., in
vitro fertilization and cloning). This course is reserved for first-time freshmen
only and transfer students with 17 or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or co-requisite:
ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for any version
of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179Y CORE: The Humanity of Childhood
3 Credits
Do we as humans value children? The experiences of childhood lie on a continuum between
two extremes. On one end of the continuum, children experience days filled with play
and new discoveries and have nights that provide rest and security. These children
have dedicated, loving caregivers who nurture them and meet their needs. On the other
end, children experience the exact opposite. These children have no nurturing adults
to guide them or take care of their basic needs. Finally, there are millions of children
who fall in between the two extremes of the continuum. All children experience and
begin to develop their understandings of what it means to be human. In addressing
the question, "What does it mean to be human?" this seminar will examine our own experiences
in childhood and look at experiences of children in today's society as well as the
historical view of childhood from different theoretical frameworks; frameworks such
as sociology, psychology, theology, philosophy (ethical),history, the law, and others.
This course is reserved for first-time freshmen only and transfer students with 17
or fewer transfer semester credits. Pre- or
co-requisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to students with previous credit for
any version of CORE/HON 179.
CORE 179Z CORE: The Tragic Vision of Human Nature
3 Credits
This section of CORE 179 will read and discuss some of the fundamental literary works
that
present human life as continually under the threat of injustice, suffering, and death.
This course is reserved for first-time freshman and transfer students with 17 or fewer
transfer credits. Pre- or corequisite: ENG 110. This course is not open to those with
previous credit for any version of CORE/HON 179.