Herbst Program of Humanities
HUEN 1010-3. Introduction to the Humanities. Explores a wide variety of challenging, interesting, and relevant humanistic expressions (fiction, philosophy, plays, poetry, art, music, etc.). Classes are small and discussion-based in order to focus on the practical skills needed to excel in both remaining humanities and social science electives and as a professional engineer. Restricted to freshmen and sophomores.
HUEN 1843-3. Special Topics. Students should check with the department for specific semester topics. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Restricted to freshmen engineering majors.
HUEN 2010-3. Tradition and Identity. Explores the place and possibility of personal identity both within and against the influence of tradition, including family, culture, language, and social, political and economic institutions. Via literature and film, wrestles with the nature of freedom, self-determination, and belonging.
HUEN 2100-3. History of Science and Technology to Newton. When was the odometer invented? How do you build a Pyramid? What did Galileo do, really? What is the difference between science and technology, and when did they each begin? This course spans invention and discovery from the Stone Age to the age of Newton, raising questions about culture, history, custom, and personal expectation. Prepare yourself for some surprises. Restricted to freshmen and sophomore engineering majors. Formerly HUEN 1100.
HUEN 2120-3. History of Modern Science from Newton to Einstein. Surveys the great discoveries and theoretical disputes from Newtonian celestial mechanics to the theory of relativity. Includes physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, and biology, with units on scientific method, evolution, light and quantum theory. Original sources (selections by Newton, Faraday, Lavoisier, Darwin, etc.) bring students into contact with the scientists themselves. Restricted to CEAS students.
HUEN 2130-3. History of Modern Technology from 1750 to the Atomic Bomb. Surveys the great innovations from the Steam Age to the Atomic Age. Includes transportation, modern construction, communications, and internal combustion. Supplements textbook accounts with technical drawings, patents, etc., and with selections by Edison, Carnegie, Tesla, Bell, etc. Studies the sociological impact of social change via contemporary sources in literature, philosophy, painting and film. Restricted to CEAS students.
HUEN 2210-3. Engineering, Science, and Society. Explores challenges that engineering and science pose for society as well as the ways societies shape or impede science and engineering. Case studies include contemporary issues like global warming, nuclear weapons, and genetic engineering as well as such classic cases as the execution of Socrates. Core texts in the Western Tradition supplement contemporary articles and films.
HUEN 2843 (1-3). Special Topics. Students should check with the department for specific semester topics. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Restricted to freshmen and sophomores.
HUEN 3100-3. Humanities for Engineers 1. First course in a two-semester sequence of Herbst Humanities Program for engineering students. Small group seminar that explores the values and ideals of culturally and historically significant novelists, artists, dramatists, and philosophers. May fulfill upper-level writing requirement. Minimum GPA and application required. See http://engineering.colorado.edu/herbst. Prereq., junior standing and program approval.
HUEN 3200-3. Humanities for Engineers 2. Continuation of HUEN 3100. Discusses culturally and historically significant readings in small-group seminars. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Prereq., HUEN 3100 or instructor consent.
HUEN 3700-3. Culture Wars in Rome. Set in Rome, Italy, this Maymester course investigates the cultural contrasts among three different “Romes”, ancient pagan, aristocratic Rome; medieval Christian theocratic Rome; and modern secular democratic Rome. To do so, it draws on evidence from Roman literature, politics, art, and architecture. Requires some preparatory work in Boulder. Restricted to sophomores/juniors/seniors.
HUEN 3750-3. Xi’an, China: Self-Awareness and Images of the Other. Explore Chinese culture in this Study Abroad course. Study ideas of self and other within special historical, social, political, and economical circumstances. Chinese and American concepts of self and society, of individual, collective, and national identities will be analyzed. The course will be held on the campus of Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. Prereq., HUEN 1010 or equivalent.
HUEN 3840 (1-3). Independent Study. Counts toward the humanities and social science degree requirements for a BS in the college of engineering. May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours. Prereq., instructor consent.
HUEN 3843-3. Special Topics. Check with department for specific semester topics. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Restricted to juniors and seniors.
HUEN 4100-3. Humanities for Engineers 3. Continuation of HUEN 3100 and 3200. Focuses on humanities themes or texts of increased complexity, often in comparative perspective, including nonliterary works. Prereqs., HUEN 3100 and 3200.
HUEN 4200-3. Humanities for Engineers 4. Continuation of HUEN 4100. Provides opportunity to pursue a variety of humanistic themes related to Herbst Humanities Program. Prereq., HUEN 4100.
