House Courses are half-credit courses, offered on a Pass/Fail basis, that seek to provide an intellectual experience not available in regular departmental course offerings. They are intended to respond to  undergraduate students’ expressed interests and concerns. In their origins they were meant to provide a bridge between the academic and residential life of students (hence the name House Courses) and to enhance intellectual life on campus through academic programs in the residence halls. Thus they must take place in the residence halls.

The Kenan Institute for Ethics has cosponsored the following House Courses:

• Project Durham: In Search of the Root of All -Isms (Spring 2010)
  Faculty Sponsor: Suzanne Shanahan, Kenan Institute for Ethics Associate Director
  Course Description: Students will be introduced to basic ethical issues that arise from a sense of privilege, “The Root of All –Isms,” through the aid of selective readings and discussions with other students and faculty guest speakers.  During the first half of the semester, students will be challenged to discuss issues concerning the universal “–isms” of prejudice and discrimination: Sexism, Sexualism or Homophobia, Racism,
  Culturism/Religionalism, and Classism. Then during the second half of the semester, students will participate in a service learning project, Project Durham, which will aid the students in understanding how these –Isms manifest locally. Project Durham will allow the students to interact with the neighboring community. They will survey residents to determine what the most critical issue in Durham is, research possible causes, and then create hypothetical yet practical solutions to resolve the dilemma. During this time, students will also be introduced to different ethical dilemmas within the Duke community. 
• Honor During Crisis (Spring 2009)
  Faculty Sponsor:  Suzanne Shanahan, Kenan Institute for Ethics Associate Director
  Course Description: This class discusses contemporary and historical crises during which people have been forced to make decisions that may compromise their adherence to their personal ethical codes with an aim for exploring modern crises in the political, social, and economic spheres and analyzing how decisions were made in the face of these situations.
  
• The Gothic Wasteland?: A Conversation on Duke Campus Ethics (Spring 2009, Fall 2007)
  Faculty Sponsor: Betsy Alden, Public Policy Studies and the Kenan Institute for Ethics
  Course Description: This course confronts ethical issues in the college community, as well as stereotypes specific to Duke. Discussion topics will be heavily participant-driven, but specific issues to be covered include, among others: “effortless perfection,” “work hard/play hard” mentality, “hook-up culture,” campus dynamics/power structure, academic integrity, and sports ethics. The goal of the course is not to sensationalize such dramatic topics, but rather to spark honest insight on an experiential and intellectual level.
• Fresh Outlooks on Timeless Ethics: An Intergenerational Conversation (Fall 2007)
  Faculty Sponsor: Betsy Alden, Kenan Institute for Ethics
  Course Description: This course brings students and older adults together to explore ethics and moral dilemmas in a variety of circumstances, both modern and historic.
• Ethics in Science, Medicine, & Technology: Good Knowledge, Evil Purposes (Spring 2007)
  Faculty Sponsor: Noah Pickus, Kenan Institute for Ethics Director
  Course Description: The ethical issues raised by modern scientific and technological enterprises are as important to consider as the science and technology themselves. This course aims to promote discussion and debate on many of the ethical concerns faced in these fields today. What should be allowed, what should be regulated, and what should be restricted altogether?
• Intergenerational Ethics (Fall 2006)
  Faculty Sponsor: Peter Burian, Kenan Institute for Ethics Faculty Council
  Course Description: This course brings students and older adults together to explore ethics and moral dilemmas in a variety of circumstances.

For more information, visit Duke House Courses.