Senior Core Seminar Course Descriptions
Common Core Seminar Description
Discipline Specific 479 CORE: What Truths have we Learned?
3 Credits
This is a capstone course for the major which also represents the culmination of ODU’s
core seminars. All sections of the seminar listed below will extend the discussion
of human nature, common good, and justice to address the question, “What Truths have
we Learned?” in the context of a major area of study. While each section will approach
the question of the seminar from a unique perspective, all sections share common learning
outcomes and a common text. See specific senior capstone course descriptions in disciplines.
Prerequisites: Completion of CORE or Discipline Specific 379 and discipline specific
prerequisites.
Section-Specific Descriptions
ART 479 CORE: The Role of the Artist in Contemporary Society
3 Credits
This course is the culminating experience for the Fine Arts and Graphic Design major
as well as the core curriculum. This course will consist of readings, reflection,
and discussion of texts which will address the role of the artist/designer in history
as a purveyor of information about society and as a creative social catalyst in contemporary
society. Students will also be creating the conceptual framework for their Senior
Thesis Exhibition including both the material form and the written text. They will
be applying the knowledge base gained through their prior courses to their own individual
major body of work as well as peer mentoring others in the class and engaging in a
group project in the community. Fee.
BUS 479 CORE: Strategic Management
3 Credits
This course is the capstone learning experience for business administration, finance,
and accounting majors. It encourages a reflective search for truth in enterprise while
focusing on how firms formulate, implement, and evaluate strategies. The course is
designed to integrate student’s functional business knowledge including ethical considerations
through an engagement with a significant research project. The major learning challenge
for students in this course will be to make and justify, through oral and written
communication, subjective strategic decisions informed by extensive analysis and supported
by the application of a variety of strategic tools. Finally, this course partners
with the Career Development Center to provide students learning modules on resume
preparation, etiquette, dress, and informational interviewing. Prerequisites: Completion
of junior core seminar; BUS 220, 240, 343, 345; FIN 325.
CIS 479 Capstone Seminar
3 Credits
This seminar will offer a capstone experience in the student’s own discipline within
mathematics and computer information systems, as well as a capstone experience in
the core curriculum. As a culminating experience in the discipline, this course will
require each student to engage in a discipline-specific project under the supervision
of a faculty member within the student’s own discipline. In addition, students will
be asked to ponder and discuss topics relevant to all scientific endeavors. Such topics
include, but are not limited to, nature of proof and research ethics. As a capstone
for the core curriculum, this seminar will provide a setting for students to read
and discuss texts which raise questions related to human nature, common good, justice,
ethics, scientific expertise, and search for knowledge in the contexts of scientific
research and technological development. Interdisciplinary communication will be emphasized
throughout the course. Prerequisite: Completion of junior core seminar.
CRJ 479 CORE: Criminal Justice Seminar
3 Credits
This senior capstone seminar integrates theory and research to analyze selected contemporary
criminal justice issues. Students will synthesize knowledge from previous coursework
in the major and core curriculum to examine the origin, impact and implications of
criminal justice policies. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar, senior
standing, and completion of at least two courses in criminal justice or consent of
instructor.
ECN 479 CORE: Economic Analysis
3 Credits
This senior seminar examines truth by applying economic analysis to current issues
and problems. It explores and develops perspectives on prevailing economic questions
by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting economic data and information. The capstone
continues the discussion in the previous course seminars through critical evaluation
of economic relations within a global community. Prerequisites: Completion of junior
core seminar and ECN 322 or 325.
EDU 479A CORE: Intervention Specialist
3 Credits
This course will critically examine truth from an educator’s perspective. Truths become
evident when we critically examine questions of depth in education from multiple perspectives.
In addition to the core seminar questions, other possible topics include classroom
diversity and culture, collaboration among multiple stakeholders, and schooling as
seen through the eyes of our learners. Co-requisite: EDU 480.
EDU 479B CORE: Early Childhood
3 Credits
This course will critically examine truth from an educator’s perspective. Truths become
evident when we critically examine questions of depth in education from multiple perspectives.
In addition to the core seminar questions, other possible topics include classroom
diversity and culture, collaboration among multiple stakeholders, and schooling as
seen through the eyes of our learners. Co-requisite: EDU 482.
EDU 479C CORE: Middle Childhood
3 Credits
This course will critically examine truth from an educator’s perspective. Truths become
evident when we critically examine questions of depth in education from multiple perspectives.
In addition to the core seminar questions, other possible topics include classroom
diversity and culture, collaboration among multiple stakeholders, and schooling as
seen through the eyes of our learners. Co-requisite: EDU 484.
EDU 479D CORE: Educational Studies
3 Credits
This course will critically examine truth from an education professional’s perspective.
Truths become evident when we critically examine questions of depth in education from
multiple perspectives. In addition to the core seminar questions, other possible topics
include classroom diversity, culture, global context, collaboration among multiple
stakeholders and schooling as seen through the eyes of our learners. Prerequisite:
Completion of junior core seminar.
ENG 479 CORE: Literature Theory/Practice
3 Credits
This course offers students the opportunity to develop their professional, career,
writing, and analytic skills through a variety of assignments. Students will not only
read great works of literature, they will also learn about career development and
the world of literary theory in order to better prepare them for the more advanced
research activities of graduate and professional schools. The course is organized
around issues regarding literature and the acquisition of knowledge. How do we know
what we know? What is art? Who determines the canon and/or a great work of art? What
is literary theory and interpretation? And, importantly, how have these questions
been answered differently throughout the ages. The literature readings have been chosen
to illustrate the close relationship, rather than the divisions, between literature
and theory. In the end, the course asks students to 1) determine the truths they have
learned about literature, and 2) examine how they know or came to know these truths.
Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar, junior status, or permission of
instructor and ENG 205.
HST 479 CORE: History Matters/Senior Seminar
3 Credits
This seminar in history is designed to help the more advanced student study the meaning
and practice of history through historiography and directed research. The “History
Matters” theme will be interpreted from two perspectives: a) the basic “matters” of
history: practicing the historian’s craft, which includes searching, discovering,
questioning, analyzing, and interpreting various kinds of historical sources, as well
as developing one’s own synthesis and presenting it credibly; and b) exploring the
significance and relevance of the past, based on the moral conviction that history
does, in fact, “matter”—both to those who formally study the past, and to society
as a whole. By studying historiography—the writing of history by famous historians
in the past—and the philosophies of history, we shall obtain a more informed perspective
on present controversies surrounding the teaching of history and the interpretations
of the past in the American political arena. The apex of the course will be researching
and writing a major paper, and sharing the results with colleagues.
MTH 479 Capstone Seminar
3 Credits
This seminar will offer a capstone experience in the student’s own discipline within
mathematics and computer information systems, as well as a capstone experience in
the core curriculum. As a culminating experience in the discipline, this course will
require each student to engage in a discipline-specific project under the supervision
of a faculty member within the student’s own discipline. In addition, students will
be asked to ponder and discuss topics relevant to all scientific endeavors. Such topics
include, but are not limited to, nature of proof and research ethics. As a capstone
for the core curriculum, this seminar will provide a setting for students to read
and discuss texts which raise questions related to human nature, common good, justice,
ethics, scientific expertise, and search for knowledge in the contexts of scientific
research and technological development. Interdisciplinary communication will be emphasized
throughout the course. Prerequisite: Completion of junior core seminar. This course
does not fulfill the mathematics general distribution requirement.
PJU 479 CORE: International Conflict Management: Diplomacy, Democratization, Development
3 Credits
This course focuses on the non-violent management of conflict at the intra state,
regional and international levels based on concepts of justice and the common good.
Particular attention is given to current areas of international conflict and what
students have learned at ODU about the most ethical options for resolving these conflicts.
The role of individuals, political leaders, economic and political systems, civil
society organizations, regional organizations, and international institutions such
as the United Nations are explored in relation to the prevention of war and peace
building post conflict. The course explores conflict management strategies such as
preventative diplomacy, arms control and disarmament, economic sanctions, international
law, UN peacekeeping, sustainable economic development, democratization, conflict
resolution and reconciliation post conflict. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core
seminar; POL 360 and 379C.
PHL 479 CORE: Metaphysics
3 Credits
An examination of the ultimate causes of things and of how the search for truth in
philosophy complements the search for truth in other disciplines and in the core seminars.
Open to majors and non-majors who have an interest in metaphysical issues, such as
whether we can prove that God exists, what types of things are real, and how metaphysics
is related to the natural sciences. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar;
one prior philosophy course other than PHL 101.
PHL 479B CORE: Faith and Reason
3 Credits
An examination of faith and reason as modes of knowing what is true. This course serves
as a capstone in the disciplines of Theology and Philosophy. As the relationship of
faith and reason is a fundamental topic in the disciplines of Theology and Philosophy,
this course will consider central texts common to both disciplines, such as works
authored by Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and others. One text to be covered in the course
will be John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar,
and two prior courses in Theology or two prior courses in Philosophy.
POL 479 CORE: Courage and Prudence in Modern Politics
3 Credits
This capstone course will consider in depth 18th and 20th century examples of political
courage and prudence or their absence. Along with justice and moderation, a consideration
of these virtues was traditionally considered part of any adequate political analysis.
Contemporary political science substitutes terms like character and leadership while
tending to focus more on interests and incentives. The classic questions are thereby
evaded, but new ones emerge. Through the analysis of specific cases, the seminar will
invite students to compare and contrast traditional and modern points of view and
the distinct questions they bring to the fore. In that way the seminar aims to deepen
students’ understanding of political science as the “architectonic science” among
allied disciplines. Prerequisite: Completion of junior core seminar.
PSY 479 CORE: Current Issues in Psychology
3 Credits
An exploration of current topics in psychology in the context of enduring issues related
to human nature, common good, justice, and truth finding. Empirical capstone projects
emphasize the syntheses of knowledge from psychology’s past and present, skill in
research methodology, and the appropriate application of psychological science for
wellbeing. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar; PSY 100, 332, an additional
12 credits in psychology beyond the 100-level, and senior standing or consent of the
instructor.
PRS 479 CORE: Analysis and Experience
3 Credits
This course serves as the senior capstone seminar and learning experience for public
relations majors. It moves students through a reflective search for truth in the practice
of public relations while focusing on how firms create, implement, and evaluate public
relations strategies. The course is designed to integrate students’ functional public
relations knowledge including ethical considerations through an engagement with a
supervised field placement involving a minimum of 80 hours in an approved Public Relations
setting. The major learning challenge for students in this course will be to examine
the organization they are working for or another organization and make and justify,
through oral and written communication, subjective strategic decisions centered on
the intersection of human nature, community, justice, and truth within the practice
of public relations. Students are expected to make a professional contribution to
the placement agency and to develop their own portfolio. This course will provide
students learning modules on resume preparation, etiquette, dress and informational
interviewing. Prerequisites: Completing of junior core seminar; senior standing.
SCI 479 CORE: Research in the Sciences
3 Credits
This seminar will offer a capstone experience in the student’s own discipline within
mathematics, computer and natural sciences as well as a capstone experience in the
core curriculum. As a culminating experience in the discipline, this course will require
each student to engage in a discipline-specific project under the supervision of a
faculty adviser within the student’s own discipline. In addition, students will be
asked to ponder and discuss topics relevant to all scientific
endeavors. Such topics include, but are not limited to, the scientific method, nature
of proof, and research ethics. As a capstone for the core curriculum, this seminar
will provide a setting for students to read and discuss texts which raise questions
related to human nature, common good, justice, ethics, scientific expertise, and search
for knowledge, in the contexts of scientific research and technological development.
Interdisciplinary communication will be emphasized throughout the course. Prerequisite:
Completion of junior core seminar. This course does not fulfill the Natural Science
requirement.
SWK 479A CORE: Social Work Seminar I
3 Credits
The first semester of a two-semester capstone Seminar provides a systematic opportunity
to integrate theory for practice with the senior practicum experience. The purpose
of the Seminar is to provide students with an opportunity to share their practicum
experiences and to explore in some depth competencies in practice. (What truths have
we learned?”). The Seminar will extend the discussion of self in the context of identifying
as a professional social worker and conducting oneself accordingly. The discussion
of the common good will be extended in the context of engaging, assessing, intervening,
and evaluating with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
The seminar will extend the discussion of justice in the context of advancing human
rights and social and economic justice. Co-requisite: Enrollment in SWK 480.
SOC 479 CORE: Sociological Theory
3 Credits
An analysis and integration of major theorists and theoretical schools in historical
and contemporary social thought. Underlying themes include human nature, the structure
and functioning of social groupings, and the articulation of individual and society.
This course is a macroscopic, systemic analysis of human behavior which both focuses
on and makes connections between/among concepts of self, community, justice and truth.
Prerequisite: Completion of junior core seminar.
SPM 479 CORE: Reflections on Truth: Sport Leadership and Ethics
3 Credits
In this capstone seminar, multiple theoretical perspectives on sport leadership and
ethics will be examined. As the culmination of coursework for Sport Management majors
and the core curriculum, students will explore ethical leadership taking into account
human nature and leading for the common good. Professional ethics, rights, justice,
and responsibilities in sport leadership will also be discussed. Students will utilize
scholarly research to recognize and critically analyze moral issues to develop a personal
approach of social responsibility in sport leadership settings. Prerequisites: Completion
of junior seminar and SPM 296.
THL 479 CORE: Readings in Theology
3 Credits
This is a capstone course for the major which also represents the culmination of Ohio
Dominican University’s core seminars. The seminar will extend the discussion of self,
common good, and justice to address the question, ‘What have we learned?’ in the context
of the major. This course serves as a synthetic overview of the Theology Major Program.
Themes and readings, selected by the instructor, will include both the fundamental
texts of the Tradition of Catholic Theology and provocative books and essays that
suggest new directions for the future. Prerequisites: Completion of the junior core
seminar and discipline specific prerequisites.
THL 479B CORE: Faith and Reason
3 Credits
An examination of faith and reason as modes of knowing what is true. This course serves
as a capstone in the disciplines of Theology and Philosophy. As the relationship of
faith and reason is a fundamental topic in the disciplines of Theology and Philosophy,
this course will consider central texts common to both disciplines, such as works
authored by Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and others. One text to be covered in the course
will be John Paul II’s Fides et Ratio. Prerequisites: Completion of junior core seminar,
and two prior courses in Theology or two prior courses in Philosophy.