University of Colorado Denver

UNHL 2755   UHL Seminar

University faculty, community leaders, and representatives of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations will address the UHL seminar on a wide variety of topics. The seminar exposes UHL students to many different issues, attitudes, problems, careers, and activities. First year UHL students must enroll in both the fall and spring semesters.

• Instructor:  Peter Bryant
• Meeting Pattern:  Friday, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
• Credit Hours:  1
• Course Type:  UHL Core
• Core Areas:  Arts, Humanities, Behavioral Science, Social Science, Natural Science, Cultural Diversity, International Perspectives

ENGL 2030-U01  Stories, Spaces & Specs:  Researching Great American Plots

What do Wisconsin Northwood cabins, Flannery O'Connor short stories, Bernie Madoff, and the statistical representation of American divorce rates over the past fifty years have in common?  They are each significant and well established plots deeply informed by careful, methodical research.  This course will explore the meaning and application of plots and plotting in American culture - what they might mean, who designs them, to what end and to what effect, and how their structures might differ.

• Instructor:  Christopher Merkner, English Department
• Meeting Pattern:  Fridays, 9:30 am - 12:20 pm
• Credit Hours:  3

ENGL 2030-U02  American Humor  

This course explores the relationship between humor and America from the turn of the nineteenth century to modern times.  We will investigate the power of humor to reflect and, moreover, shape our conceptions of America and the American.  We will read a wide array of humor theories in conjunction with a collection of humorous performances and consider the social, political, and cultural ideas that humor realizes.  To these ends, the class will look at humorous performances of specific ethnicities and genders within the framework of the complex development of citizenship in America.

• Instructor:  Melanie Brandt, English Department
• Meeting Pattern:  Fridays, 9:30 am - 12:20 pm
• Credit Hours:  3

     COURSES FOR SECOND- AND THIRD-YEAR UHL STUDENTS

UNHL 3100   Ethics and Leadership:  An Introduction

Becoming ethical is a life-long task which becomes more and more challenging as we become aware of the intricacies of being fully human within a community of persons.  This one-semester ethics and leadership course will introduce students to the wide variety of leadership theories and their application to current ethical issues.

• Instructor:  Georg C. Gadow, UHL
• Meeting Pattern:  Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
• Credit Hours:  3
• Course Type:  Leadership Studies Track
• Core Areas:  Humanities, Social Science, Cultural Diversity, International Perspectives

UNHL 3310   Innovation, Cutting-Edge Knowledge, and Self-Guided Learning

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with cutting-edge knowledge in major scientific and technological fields, against the background of cultural and artistic creativity, and to establish habits of life-long, self-guided learning.  To enhance this process, relevant faculty will be invited to speak about innovation in their field, both in class and during the planned panel discussion.

UNHL 3625     Food Justice: Urban Agriculture, Place, and Culture

Food justice addresses systemic inequities in access to fresh and healthy food as illustrated by neighborhoods termed "food deserts."  Questions examined include how sustainable/ethical relationships can be established between the activity of growing food and creating community, developing consciousness of place, and affirming cultural food/agricultural traditions.  The history of community/school gardens, land and food desert inventories, food security assessments, and policies governing urban agriculture and food producing animals are also addressed. 

• Instructor:  Rene Galindo, School of Education and Human Development
• Meeting Pattern:  Tuesdays, 2:00 pm - 4:55 pm
• Credit Hours:  3
• Course Type:  Academic Honors Track
• Core Areas:  Natural and Physical Sciences,  Social Science, Humanities, Cultural Diversity

UNHL 3810   Understanding and Dealing with Uncertainty

This course discusses the concept of uncertainty from multiple perspectives.  What is uncertainty? How does it relate to other notions such as ignorance or variation of risk?  How do we deal with uncertainty?  We will consider ideas from mathematics, science, philosophy, religion, law, and psychology, among other fields.  Students will be required to develop their own ideas on uncertainty in written form and/or participate in group presentations.  

• Instuctor:  Peter G. Bryant, UHL 
• Meeting Pattern:  Tuesdays and Thursdays,12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
• Credit Hours:  3
• Course Type:  Hybrid (counts for either track) 
• Core Areas:  Natural and Physical Sciences, Social Science, Humanities 

UNHL 3825  Irish Music, Peace, Politics, and Popular Culture

This course explores traditional and contemporary music in Ireland, examines Irish politics and the peace process in the Republic and Northern Ireland, and considers ways in which various forms of Irish popular culture have represented Irishness and Irish identity.  Course work includes reading and cybersleuthing activities, group discussions, reflective writing and brief essay assignments, listening and video-viewing, group Webliography projects, and a mini-conference which will serve as a final project. 

                  COURSE FOR FOURTH-YEAR UHL STUDENTS

UNHL 4992   UHL Senior Research Seminar II

Capstone experience for UHL program - fall semester.  Students will work in teams on research projects of a multi-disciplinary nature.   This course is the second part of the two-semester Senior Research Seminar that is required for all UHL students.  The Seminar is open only to fourth-year UHL students - that is, students who will be graduating in spring 2012 or fall 2012.

• Instructor:  Georg Gadow  and Peter Bryant, UHL
• Meeting Pattern:  Fridays, 8:00 am - 9:40 am
• Credit Hours:  2
• Course Type:  UHL Core
• Required for all UHL students who intend to graduate in spring 2012 or fall 2012.