HONR 495 Syllabus Template
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HONR 495: Honors Directed Readings
Syllabus Template
Name:
TU ID Number:
Semester:
Please adjust this syllabus as much as necessary for your particular topic. You are especially encouraged to provide the information listed in italics. Approval authority for honors credit rests solely with the Honors College Curriculum Committee. Students are encouraged to contact faculty about their interest in HONR 495 well in advance. HONR 495 proposals are due to the Honors College Office by 5:00 pm on the last day of the Change of Schedule Period for the semester in which the student plans to enroll. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor’s name
Instructor’s office number
Instructor’s email address
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Number of credit hours: HONR 495 may be completed for a minimum of 1 credit and a maximum of 6 credits.
Catalog Description
Survey of relevant scholarly literature under the guidance of a faculty member who will direct the student’s research. Honors College course.
Course Rationale
Junior and senior members of the student body who are exceptionally qualified to do directed readings with a faculty member at a very high level of investigation would do so in HONR 495 and receive Honors course credit for the completed work. This course does not act as a substitute for enrolling in existing Honors College courses.
Course Objectives / Learning Outcomes
This course is a survey and critical evaluation of a certain topic of current research in your field of interest. Briefly describe that research topic.
This objectives for this course are designed to provide you with the skills necessary to: 1) read and understand current literature; 2) critically analyze current readings, both in terms of methodology and theoretical perspective; 3) draw correct and non-biased conclusions from the results of a study; 4) communicate effectively about research both in written form; 5) consider new research directions and future analyses appropriate to the topic under study.
COURSE TEXTS
Required texts
Recommended texts
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES
For this course, each student will complete an individual written analysis on a particular (narrow) topic. Early in the term, paper topics will be discussed and an individual proposal will be developed and approved. Assessment for this project will be based on a written paper. All projects will incorporate primary literature and sources used must be approved by the instructor. Length of the paper and depth of the requirements will vary based upon the number of registered credits and the level.
Students who participate in HONR 495 must also share their academic processes, challenges, methodologies, and results in a public forum. Students may choose to present their work at a conference (such as Towson’s Student Research and Scholarship Expo), in another class (provided that the professor agrees), or through the construction of an online portfolio using Seelio.com (a free service).
GRADING
The following rubric is provided only as an example.
Grade A: The student thinks critically. The work is without major weaknesses and flawlessly executed. The student performs consistently at a level of intellectual excellence compared against the criteria outlined above.
Grade B: The student is less consistent in thinking critically than is a student who performs at an A level. Work reflects more strengths than it does weaknesses. It demonstrates a good grasp of thinking critically, is on the whole precise, measured against the criteria outlined above, but lapses occasionally into common sense and unreflective thinking.
Grade C: The student inconsistently thinks critically. The work reflects as many weaknesses as it does strengths (see F and D for specific criteria).
Grade D: The student thinks critically at a minimal level. This kind of work is often poorly executed, shows only occasional critical thinking, but generally lacks discipline and clarity. The student "goes through the motions" of the assignment but does not engage it in earnest. The work mirrors F work.
Grade F: The student does not think critically and/or has failed to do all of the required work. The work of this kind of student will be based on "common sense" thinking. This includes basing conclusions on opinions and on irrelevant information. There will be no awareness of underlying assumptions, identifying key concepts, nor competing points of view. The student will not trace implications and consequences. Student's work lacks evidence of consistent reflection and of problem solving skills.
COURSE POLICIES
The course will employ a one-on-one format. Individual meetings will be scheduled with the instructor in order to check the progress of the readings and provide continued feedback and restructuring if necessary.
All students are subject to the Student Academic Integrity Policy, available at http://www.towson.edu/provost/resources/studentacademic.asp. Cheating and plagiarism in any form are unacceptable and one or more of the following penalties will be enforced: 1) a grade reduction; 2) failure of exam in question; 3) failure of the course; 4) more severe disciplinary action by university authorities.
This course is in compliance with Towson University policies for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with Disability Support Services (DSS), 7720 York Road, Suite 232, 410-704-2638 (Voice) or 410-704-4423 (TDD). Students who expect that they have a disability but do not have documentation are encouraged to contact DSS for advice on how to obtain appropriate evaluation. A memo from DSS authorizing your accommodation is needed before any accommodation can be made.
The HONR 495 option may be repeated for credit with a new topic, but students may only earn up to 6 units toward Honors College course requirements.
COURSE OUTLINE OR TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Please provide a tentative course schedule. It is recommended that you (minimally) list due dates for the written project and presentation.
COURSE BIBLIOGRAPHY
Please list at least three texts that serve as the academic foundations for the course. Students are not required to use these texts in their written projects, although they may choose to do so.
COURSE APPROVAL
All signatures are required for enrollment.
Student Approval ______Date ______
Faculty Approval ______Date ______
Honors College Approval ______Date ______