USP courses foster an intellectual community whose members share a passion for intellectual engagement and learning in and beyond the classroom. As a university scholar, you will find that USP courses are designed to engage intellectually gifted and highly motivated students in a curriculum structured to ensure not only a broad understanding of selected topics of study, but also an understanding of such topics’ detailed intricacies. While many USP courses are interdisciplinary, you will still be introduced to discipline-specific methodologies with the intention of diversifying your skills.

To further meet this end, you will engage in multiple methods of learning, which include mediums of written, oral and visual expression, as well as participation in stimulating and dynamic discussions. USP courses are taught by professors with a special interest and expertise in the selected topic who serve as facilitators of knowledge rather than conveyors of information and require you to not only delve into primary sources, but also develop your own interpretive frameworks based on such reading and research. These professors will challenge you to situate your insights and findings in the literature and apply your learning.

Fall 2007
Course Title: The Code Less Raveled
Professors: Anne Kelly, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Mike Catalano, Ph.D. (Math)
Joe Ditta, Ph.D. (English)
John Husmann, Ph.D. (History)
Tim Mullican, Ph.D. (Biology)
Vince Redder, Ph.D. (English)
Course Description: This course is a study of the approaches of disciplines, such as psychology, mathematics, English, biology and history, to the use of codes. We will explore topics that include, but are certainly not limited to, Navajo code talkers in World War II, the genetic code, decoding words and “legends” of secret codes in slave quilts.

Spring 2007
Course Title: HA!
Professors: Mike Farney, Ph.D. (Physics)
Karla Hunter, Ph.D. (Communications and Theatre)
Course Description: An exploration of humor from 411 BC to the last election with a special emphasis on the historical targets of humor including, but not limited to: men, women, religion, manners, patriotism, politicians, race, art and sex.

Fall 2006
Course Title: Environmental History
Professor: John Husmann, Ph.D.
Course Description: