Courses and Faculty

Required Honors Courses

Honors students can major in any ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç undergraduate school and major. Their Honors courses fulfill part of their General Studies requirement, ensuring that students experience the breadth of the liberal arts as a part of their college education. The courses feature innovative teaching from dedicated professors from a range of disciplines. They are only open to Honors students, and they are designed to stimulate student discussion, critical thinking, and creative expression in the arts, humanities, and sciences.

By successfully completing the required Honors courses, students are also completing many General Studies ("G") courses required for graduation.

Our Honors course offerings include the following:

GEN 1033: HONORS: A LIFE OF THE MIND

This course provides a challenging and stimulating introduction to the intellectual and creative life of college work. The themes vary each year but the focus is always on small-group discussion and projects, critical reading, and written and oral expression. Opportunities may include field trips, guest speakers and performances.

 

GNM 1123 - HONORS: FISHERIES IN CRISIS

Addresses some of the major problems that face US and Canadian fisheries resources. Focuses on several specific fisheries, examining such topics as the economics of the fishing industry, harvesting methodologies, conservation measures, fishery laws, scientific assessment models, etc. Studies methods of reconciling conservation with prosperity.

 

GNM 2242 - HONORS: WAYS OF KNOWING

This course is intended to explore the ways in which researchers in a variety of disciplines establish the validity of new knowledge.

 

GAH 2274: HONORS: LITERATURE AND SOCIETY

This course requires students to analyze the relationships between literature and society. Topics are explicitly interdisciplinary and may center on historical periods, analytical categories, or creative expression.

 

GAH 2309 - HONORS: INVENTING THE PAST

This is an Honors course open only to students in the Honors College. This course explores the ways we study the past and interpret its meanings for the present.

 

GSS 2326 - HONORS: SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE HARRY POTTER WORLD

 Students will gain a basic understanding of various social issues, such as democracy, racial inequality, and media ethics in the United States, other countries, and the Harry Potter world. Students will learn to apply social science knowledge to the wizarding word, discover issues hidden in the book series, and critically analyze these social issues.

 

GSS 2368 - HONORS: THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

International/multicultural course (I). This is an Honors course open only to students in the Honors College. This course will view the contemporary world of nations as a global system. Insights will be drawn from a range of disciplines including history, language, economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, and psychology. 

 

GEN 3164 - HONORS: EXPLORING THE FUTURE

This course reviews and analyzes the key trends that will reshape life and work in the 21st century. These trends include climate change, alternative energy, global population dynamics, radical innovations, medical, pharmaceutical and genetic advances, the rise of China, asymmetrical warfare, information technology and networks, biotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the atomic scale (nanotechnology), the use of devices and drugs to heal the body and enhance mental performance and the new realities of global trade and competition. Facing and coping with dramatic changes will become an everyday challenge. Will you be prepared for it?

 

GSS 3238 - HONORS: CSI EFFECT: MYTH OR REALITY?

The course examines how forensic evidence is used and perceived by the general public. Emphasis will be on students discovering implications on the legal system when discrepancies between the reality of forensic evidence and its myths exist.

 

GAH 3314 - HONORS: HUMANITARIAN HISTORIES

Human security and humanitarian practice is explored through a historical survey of the development of humanitarian principles. Students will examine the historical roots of humanitarian action, including response to natural and public health disasters, protection of combatants and civilians in the 19th and 20th centuries, the development of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, response to post WWII forced migration, and apply learning lessons to modern-day practice and humanitarian ethics. Application to fields related to humanitarian practice – including emergency management, public health, immigration, social work, military engagement, business and organizational management, and philanthropy – will also be explored.

 

GIS 3634 - HONORS: HISTORY OF CORRECTIONS

Historical consciousness course (H). This class will discuss the history of punishment, beginning in Mesopotamia and ending in the United States during the late 1990s. Topics relating to the factors influencing punishment, such as economic, religious, technological and political factors, and the methods of torturing and punishing people will be examined. Part one will focus primarily on punishment in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Part two will cover the United States, starting at the point of European colonization. Specific areas, such as the role of torture and prisons during the inquisition, use of inmates for medical experiments and the exploitation of inmates in the post-Civil War South will be addressed. 

 

GIS 4635 - HONORS: ETHICS & CONTEMPORARY LIFE

This is an Honors course open only to students in the Honors College. Values/ethics course (V). This course will introduce students to major issues in ethics and examine their impact on modern life. 

 

GIS 4686 - HONORS: GAMES FOR CHANGE

Game for Change provides students a hands-on, project-based of the field of Serious Games, particularly in connection with social activism. Students will learn basic game programming, analyze the literature and practice of serious games, and explore their impact in a range of fields. They will work with ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç and community partners for their final project.


 

May and GT

Through involvement in the Honors College, I have had access to many great resources and have even formed many great friendships. I have been given access to helpful advice, assistance from faculty members, unique and rewarding courses, dedicated staff members, Honors mentors, the Honors Center, and so much more.
Adam P, Biology major
The Honors College offers me so many more opportunities academically and socially. Through the program I am able to participate in exciting service projects that benefit my community. The Honors College gives me the chance to take so many interesting classes with extremely intelligent professors. Finally, the Honors College has introduced me to some of the greatest people I will ever meet.
Kaitlyn D, Language and Cultural Studies major
As a nursing major, college is not necessarily the easiest thing to deal with, especially when you are trying to balance school, college, and friends. But the Honors College has helped me survive. It helped me adjust to the college life, manage my studies, meet life-long friends, and get involved in my community. There may be extra classes, but they are all very fun, the professors are fantastic, and I love being able to incorporate them into my schedule.
Erin S, Nursing major
The Honors College is a great way to connect with like-minded peers.  It allows students to thrive in an environment that encourages excellence and community involvement.  Joining the Honors College helps students to become all that they can be.  It challenges students to think outside the box and gives students the knowledge and the know how to really make a difference in the world.
Tori N, Literature major

Honors Advisory Committee and Faculty

Contact the Honors Director

Joshua Duntley

Joshua Duntley

Honors Director  
G250
Lorraine O'Flaherty

Lorraine O'Flaherty

Professional Service Specialist 
CC242

Honors Council

Joshua Duntley, Criminal Justice & Psychology Michael Rodriguez, Political Science
Audrey Latourette, Business Law Christine Tartaro, Criminal Justice
Mark Sullivan, Marine Biology Robert Olsen, Chemistry
Eddie Horan, Writing Center
Lorraine O'Flaherty, Academic Advising
Emily August, Literature Rich Trama, Academic Advising
Tara Crowell, Public Health Kaite Yang, Psychology
Margaret Lewis, Biology  
Riya Goyal, Student Representative Tanya Sharma, Student Representative

National Memberships:

  • (NCHC)
  • (NCUR)
  • (NRHC)