Honors College 391AH - Honors Discovery Seminars

This seminar is a required course for Commonwealth Honors College students where students participate in a topical seminar-style course designed by its instructor. While the subject matter of each section is different, advanced knowledge of the topic is not required. While the subject matter of each section is different, the requirements for each section are the same. Individual titles and descriptions of HONORS 391AH sections can be found on the Commonwealth Honors College website.

Open to Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Commonwealth College students only. The Anthropocene: An Introduction and Contemplative Inquiry

Across time, stories have defined and redefined the place of homo sapiens on planet Earth. Over the past two decades, recognition of our species? considerable impact on the biosphere has led to a new proposition: that the planet itself has entered an unprecedented epoch known as the Anthropocene?the era of humans. Strictly speaking, this designation pertains to geology and it is being debated at the highest ranks of that field. But attributing a new chapter in Earth history to humans, anthropos, has sparked considerable debate across natural science, social studies, and the humanities. The discussion has now leapt beyond the ivory tower, motivating cover issues of magazines, radio shows, books, and blogs. Drawing upon text, audio, and video materials, this seminar provides an introductory primer to the Anthropocene. A human-dominated biosphere has profound implications, and this seminar fosters a contemplative space where deep listening and inquiry are cultivated.