Description: Who am I, really?

Personal identity is especially problematic for Americans, who cannot easily locate themselves in the same rich texture of relationships that obtain in other much older cultures and countries.  French philosopher and Nobel Laureate, Jean Paul Sartre provides a paradoxical insight into the general problem of identity saying, “We are the subjects of the stories we tell about ourselves, the subjects of narrative gravity.”  More specifically American solutions along the same lines are given in the various stories that some of our writers have revealed about themselves in their autobiographies.  If Sartre is right, it is in such stories that we find them, or in fact, that the writers actually discover themselves.  In the seminar students shall read, write, and discuss some great American autobiographies penned by - Benjamin Franklin, Margaret Fuller, Henry Adams, Black Elk, Gertrude Stein, Richard Wright, Wallace Stegner, and Katherine Graham - each story very different from the others.  Students will also be invited to construct their own autobiographies, putting down on paper what it is to be one’s individual self while confronting the challenges encountered in attempting to do so.

Dr. Brittan has received most of the University’s major teaching awards.  A respected teacher and mentor to numerous students; he was designated the university’s first Regents Professor in recognition of his excellence.

Description: Ranging from history to sociology, from  the present to the future, the seminar will explore the revolutionary and disruptive advances occasioned by information technology. From cellphones to WiFi; Facebook to computer games; Artificial Intelligence to Second Life, telecommunications have affected our lives in profound ways. Social networks, instant messaging, online video and music downloads are but a few of the markers of change in daily life. Academic inquiry and creative activities have also been affected dramatically and questions abound.  What does the future hold?  What are the social and economic implications? Has technology gotten ahead of policy, ethics, etiquette, and the legal system? Students will engage in a range of activities including online learning systems, blogging, social networking, electronic research methodologies and new media creation techniques. Numerous guests will visit the seminar, providing expertise tailored to student interest.  

** The seminar assumes average tech literacy and is intended for students from a wide variety of majors.  It does not assume prior technical expertise in engineering or computer science.

Dr. Wolff received his B.S. degree in Engineering Physics from the University of California-Berkeley followed by a PhD in Physics from Columbia University.  He has several years of university and industry experience in teaching and research in a wide range of topics in telecommunications and underlying technologies.  He is currently the Gilhousen Telecommunications Chair and also teaches multiple electrical engineering classes at MSU.  His research interests include Optical Networks, Wireless systems, Rural Ad Hoc Networks, and Telematics. 

Description: Minding business is everyone’s business.  This seminar coincides with what is widely acknowledged as the greatest business/economic crisis in the United States since the Great Depression.  Participants will consider the dynamic interaction between the economy, government and society.  The seminar is designed to explore the interplay of business with regulatory, as well as with social and cultural forces.  Current topics such as sustainability, the green movement, outsourcing, and the bailout of major industries, will be examined from the perspective of various constituents, including ordinary citizens.  Students will gain a richer understanding of the complexity of business environments, and the role they can play in the future of our society.

Dr. Shehryar’s teaching interests include principles of marketing, marketing management, and marketing research.  In his research, Omar focuses on management theory and consumer behavior.  His most recent research is forthcoming in the Journal of Product and Brand Management.  He has also been published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology and Advances in Consumer Research. Each year the graduating seniors in the College of Business vote for the most outstanding professor in the college and that individual serves as the commencement speaker. In 2009, Omar Shehryar won this honor and received the Gary K. Bracken Student Choice Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching.

UH 400IN-01, UH 400 IH-02 (4 credits)  

Description: Open to students from all academic disciplines, this interdisciplinary seminar seeks to explore the picture that is currently emerging as a consequence of Cosmology and Evolutionary investigation. Participants will explore the quest for a unified theory that involves the fusion of Superstring theory and Particle Physics, proceeding from the Quantum through the “Big Bang.” Scholars will also examine the scientific methodology that leads to the fundamental conclusions of Darwinian Evolution as well as the philosophical and spiritual implications associated with our changing perception of the universe and our place within it.

Application: Indicate your major field of study and whether you are currently a sophomore, junior or senior.  Compose a one page essay describing the reasons WHY you would like to participate in ORIGINS and how the seminar relates to your academic interests and/or your curiosity.  Since enrollment is limited, applicants are encouraged to give the essay thoughtful consideration.  Submit to Honors office no later than Friday, October 23rd.

UH 402RH-01 or 403RS-01 (4 credits)  

Description: Since this seminar will focus on just how broadly and profoundly contemporary medicine touches all of our lives, it is designed for students from all academic disciplines.  It will examine the underlying principles of medicine through the lens of literature, science, art and related fields.  The why of suffering and disease, the how of healing, and the role both patient and physician play in individual health, will be explored.  Numerous medical professionals will visit the seminar.

UH 204 (3 credits)  

Description: Join us for an unforgettable journey to St. Petersburg and Moscow in May 2010. We will visit the Hermitage and Dostoevsky Museums, Red Square and the Kremlin. More information will be forthcoming soon.