Honors Course Schedule Fall 2024
Honors Great Ideas of World Civilizations
This course is considered the “capstone course” of the Honors Program, even though
students may take it at any time during the Honors Program. This course is required
to be an Honors Program Graduate. In the Great Ideas course, students will read and
discuss texts from a variety of disciplines, covering a variety of eras and cultures,
so as to examine how these ideas shape our thinking and our world today. (The course
counts toward the Humanities Gen-Ed Requirement.)
HST 105 HN1(CRN 35751 ) or HUM 105 HN1 (CRN 35752 ) MW 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Professor S. Horton
Professor Horton describes her course:
This exciting and engaging Humanities course will provide students with the opportunity
to explore the defining parameters of human identity, discovering how ideas from antiquity
and the Middle Ages inform identity frameworks in the 21st Century. By reading and
interrogating texts ranging from Ovid’s Metamorphosis and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
to modern works like Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, in conjunction with contemporary
theory, students will be challenged to analyze and interrogate the systems that construct
both political and cultural identity. In doing so, this course will prepare students
to understand and think critically about how our current culture produces identity
and the myriad ways identity production is disrupted.
HST 105 HN2(CRN 32137 ) or HUM 105 HN2 (CRN 32138 ) W 6:00 p.m. – 8:40 p.m.
Professor M. Horton
Professor Horton describes his course:
I have always thought that language was one of the more interesting things about human
beings. More and more these days, language looks like one of the more interesting
things about software, as Gemini or ChatGPT demonstrates. In this class, our topic
is language. We will talk about aspects of the mind that go on behind the scenes.
We will discuss what it is to know a language. We will deep dive into rules of language
that can undermine or reinforce a speaker's standing when they speak a language. We
might even ask what's the difference between AI's use of language and our own. Along
the way, we'll look at mainstream and not-so-mainstream content and sources on our
topic. I envision a collaborative course where each of us has the opportunity to contribute
ideas and suggestions toward our discussions. I hope you'll join me for that.
VIDEO
Honors First Year Seminar
FYS 101 HN1(CRN 36127 ) MW 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Professor J. Garcia
Professor Garcia describes the course: This class is an “honors-ified” First Year Seminar Class. These classes are designed
to introduce students to college and help them think about potential majors and careers.
This particular class will focus on the specific needs of Honors students, and it
is designed to be beneficial whether or not you are undecided about a future major
and / or career. In this course, we will think together not just about the direction
your academic and career path may travel, but also how to put yourself in a position
to achieve your various goals. Most importantly, we will think about the question
of “why?” Why college? Why certain types of courses? Why choose one career or major
over another? In other words, we will look not just at where you want to go and how
to get there but we will think about our values and how they can shape our decisions
about our future.
Courses Counting toward the Communication Gen-Ed Requirement
ENG 101 HN1(CRN 35394 ) T TH 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Professor A. Tomasian
Watch Professor Tomasian describe the course:
VIDEO
ENG 102 HN1(CRN 35395 ) T TH 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Professor M. McKinley
Professor McKinley describes the course: In this class, we will be reading and writing about 20th and 21st century American
fiction, covering authors ranging from Philip K. Dick to James Baldwin to Louise Erdrich,
and more. In addition to addressing diverse genres, styles, perspectives, and themes,
we’ll explore how literature reflects, shapes, and critiques culture, connects to
our personal experiences, and resonates with current events.
SPE 101 H01(CRN 34040 ) M 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Professor J. Przybylo
Professor Przybylo describes the course:
This course features an environment of active learning, collaboration, and practical
application, rather than relying on teaching from a textbook. At the heart of the
course is the emphasis on teamwork, discussions, and exercises, serving as the pillars
upon which students build their confidence and competence in communication. Through
a series of engaging activities and interactive sessions, students not only learn
the fundamental theories and techniques of speech communication but also actively
apply them in a supportive and nurturing environment.
The absence of a conventional textbook allows for a more hands-on and personalized
learning experience. Instead of relying on passive reading, students are encouraged
to immerse themselves in practical exercises, real-world scenarios, and experiential
learning opportunities.
With a deliberate focus on small class sizes, Professor Przybylo ensures that each
student receives individualized attention and personalized feedback. This intimate
setting cultivates a sense of community and trust, enabling students to explore their
strengths and weaknesses in a safe and supportive space. Whether it's honing their
delivery techniques, refining their message clarity, or mastering the art of persuasion,
students are provided with the guidance and resources needed to excel in their public
speaking endeavors.
Courses Counting toward the Humanities General Education Requirement
PHI 105 HN1(CRN 36109 ) MW 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Professor R. Scott
Professor Scott describes the course:
The discipline of philosophy has a reputation for involving the study of texts and
ideas of people from long ago. In other words, in many introductory philosophy classes,
every author that students read is long dead. But philosophy is not just a historical
discipline! A vibrant community of living philosophers continue to bring the tools
and questions of philosophy to bear on distinctly contemporary problems, such as misinformation,
neuroscientific discoveries, social identity, and more. In this course, instead of
introducing students to philosophy by looking at authors from the past, we will read
only living philosophers. Not only that, but each of the philosophers whose texts
we study will join us (virtually) for a discussion about their work. In this way,
students will have the chance to meet contemporary philosophers and see how the discipline
of philosophy can help us to explore issues relevant to our twenty-first century lives.
ART 105 HB1(CRN 36428 ) Intro to Visual Art (Blended) M 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Professor C. Roderick
Professor Roderick describes the course:
This course is a non-traditional introduction to how we study (consume), and make
(produce) visual art and culture. From the perspective of artists, theorists, art
historians, and philosophers, students will actively participate in developing a foundation
in visual literacy and methodologies for different ways of looking at, discussing,
and critiquing traditional and contemporary art media. This includes making art! The
student will be introduced to the various processes, materials, vocabulary, and styles
that constitute the diverse world of the visual arts. Students will produce projects,
both solo and collaborative, aimed at connecting to the course subject and the larger
world.
Courses Counting toward the Social Sciences General Education Requirement
ECO 211 HB1(CRN 33127 ) Microeconomics (Blended) T 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Professor M. Raza
Professor Raza describes the course:
This Honors Microeconomics course is designed to equip students with the analytical
tools and intuition required to analyze important topics in the economics framework.
The science underlying the study of economics explores how economic agents within
a society individually and collectively make decisions and allocate scarce resources.
The focus of this course is considering how the households, firms, the government,
and the rest of the world behave in the marketplace to maximize utility by rationally
allocating their scarce resources. Through a combination of lectures, discussions,
case studies, and analytical exercises, students will develop their ability to think
critically about economic phenomena, analyze data to support arguments, and communicate
economic concepts effectively.
By the conclusion of the course, students should feel comfortable discussing how a
society determines how much of everything desired will be produced, exchanged, and
consumed with given (fixed) resources and technology (production possibility frontier)
to satisfy the unlimited wants of its citizens. Students will develop the skills necessary
to comprehend and analyze current economic issues, with a strong emphasis on applying
classroom concepts to interpret news articles, scholarly literature, and economic
research.
PSY 101 HN1(CRN 33905 ) Intro to Psychology T Th 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Professor K. Matthews
Professor Matthews describes the course here:
Can you rewire your brain to be happier? Would you obey orders to harm others? Do
unconscious mental shortcuts guide your feelings and behaviors? How do you learn and
break habits? Can Psychology combat climate change? Explore these questions and many
more by integrating theories, scientific research, and real-world applications. In
this Honors section of PSY101, you will also research a topic of your choosing, then
communicate your findings in an APA Style paper.
Courses Counting toward the Math General Education Requirement
MTH 200 HB1(CRN 35165 ) Calculus I (Blended) MW 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Professor K. Knee
Watch Professor Knee describe the course:
VIDEO
Courses Counting toward the Life Sciences (w/ lab) General Education Requirement
BIO 115 HN1(CRN 35982 ) Fundamentals of Cellular Biology M 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (lab)
Professor K. Hollis
T Th 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Professor Hollis describes the course:
This Honors course includes an introduction to cellular and molecular biology with
a focus on genetics and biotechnology. Students will investigate cellular processes
and how they relate to expressed traits and inheritance patterns. A core component
of the course will be to explore biotechnology and its applications in more detail.
Traditional laboratory activities will be enhanced with more hands-on experience.
Courses Counting toward the Physical Sciences (w/ lab) General Education Requirement
AST 115 HN1(CRN 33103 ) Stars and Galaxies M 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. (lab)
Professor B. Moorthy T Th 2:00
p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Watch Professor Moorthy describe the course:
VIDEO
CHM 121 General Chemistry I 3 Sections, see below for dates and times
Professor A. Kidwell
CHM 121 HN1(CRN 34139 ) M 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. (discussion)
W 8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. (lab)
T Th 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
(lecture)
CHM 121 HN2(CRN 34155 ) M 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. (discussion)
M 10:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (lab)
T Th 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
(lecture)
CHM 121 HN3(CRN 34156 ) M 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. (discussion)
W 2:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (lab)
T Th 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
(lecture)
Preview of Courses for Spring 2025
Special Courses
HUM/HST 105 (Honors Great Ideas of World Civilizations) 2 sections (counts as HUM
gen-ed)
“Living Sustainable Lives” - Learning Community course focusing on the environment Combines: PHI 115 (Ethics) & CHM 103 (The Chemistry Connection)
You can get 3 credits of Humanities general education credit + your Phys. Sci. lab
general education requirement
Communications General Education Requirement
Humanities General Education Requirement
ART 105 (Intro to Visual Art)
HUM / HST 105 (Great Ideas of World Civilizations - see above)
PHI 115 (Ethics - see above)
Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education Requirement
ECO 212 (Macroeconomics)
PSY 228 (Psychology of Human Development)
SOC 101 (Intro to Sociology)
Physical and Life Sciences General Education Requirements
BIO 116 (Fundamental of Molecular Biology)
CHM 121 (General Chemistry II)
PHY 201 (General Physics I - Mechanics)
Mathematics General Education Requirements