Honors Foundation courses are grounded in disciplinary thinking and methodology, exposing students to the essential ideas and key concepts in a given discipline, the methodologies used to address them, and the tools necessary to understand them. Remember that…
- All Honors College students are required to complete at least one Honors Foundations course.
- Foundation courses count towards the 22 HONS credit requirement.
- Students may take additional Foundations courses as an Honors elective.
- Most Foundation courses count towards the College’s General Education requirements.
Courses Offered (click on each for more info):
HONS 126-01/02 – Honors Pre-Modern History
Instructor: Kristin Halvorson
Section 01: TR 1:40 – 2:55 p.m.
Section 02: TR 3:05 – 4:20 p.m.
This course will impart a knowledge of the history of selected human civilizations, societies, and cultures. It will convey an awareness of the historical experience through the study of political, social, cultural, and intellectual aspects. It will cover substantial historical developments and periods during the pre-modern period using a thematic approach. This is the honors course version of Hist 115. Students may not receive credit for both.
This course counts towards the College's history general education requirement.
HONS 151 – Honors Biology I
Instructor: Deb Bidwell
TR 1:40 – 2:55 p.m.
Lab 01: W 2:30 – 5:30 p.m., or
Lab 02: R 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
A foundation course for Honors science majors emphasizing the concepts of structure and function in biological systems at the molecular and cellular levels. Topics include biochemistry, biochemical and molecular evolution, cell function, respiration, photosynthesis, genetics and molecular biology. It provides an introduction to primary literature and practice evaluating this literature. This course helps prepare students for upper level courses in cellular and molecular biology.
Corequisite(s): HONS 151L
This course counts towards the College's natural science general education requirement
HONS 155 – Honors Geology I
Instructor: Adam Ali
TR 9:25 – 10:40 a.m.
Lab 01: TBD, or
Lab 02: TBD
Geology is the science of processes related to the composition, structure, and history of Earth and its life. Environmental geology is a multidisciplinary field of geology that involves the study of the interactions of humans with various Earth processes and systems (lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere). You will learn to explore the physical, biological, and chemical aspects of human-Earth interactions. The three main themes covered in relation to environmental geology are: (i) the foundational principles of geology, (ii) application of foundations to analyze natural hazards, and (iii) evaluation of human interactions with Earth’s resources.
Corequisite(s): HONS 155L
This course counts towards the College's natural science general education requirement
HONS 157 – Honors Physics I
Instructor: TBD
MWF 10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Lab: T 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
This course is a calculus-based introduction to physics. Topics include mechanics, wave motion, fluids, and heat. Lectures emphasize the application of these topics in interdisciplinary areas. Examples of interdisciplinary applications are forces and torque to biomechanics, fluid dynamics to medicine, and heat and thermodynamics to chemistry.
Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): MATH 120 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor
Corequisite(s): HONS 157L
This course counts towards the College's natural science general education requirement
HONS 159 – Honors Astronomy I
Instructor: TBD
TR 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
Lab: M 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
An introduction to astronomy. Topics considered include a brief history of astronomy, coordinates, time, the earth’s structure and motion, astronomical instrumentation, the moon, eclipses, comets, meteors, interplanetary medium, stars, star clusters, interstellar matter, galaxies and cosmology. This is the Honors course version of ASTR 129. Students may not receive credit for both.
Prerequisite(s): This course assumes a working knowledge of algebra and trigonometry.
Corequisite(s): HONS 159L
This course counts towards the College's natural science general education requirement
HONS 163 – Honors Psychology
Instructor: Chad Galuska
MWF 12:00 – 12:50 p.m.
Psychology is the scientific study of cognition, emotion, and behavior. This makes psychology one of the richest and most fascinating of the sciences because humans think, feel, and behave in many strange, terrifying, and wondrous ways. This course will introduce you to the basic theoretical and methodological tools that psychologists use to investigate, describe, predict, and explain this fascinating field. It will also provide you with a broad overview of psychology and its many subfields. We will be discussing a range of issues that fall into one or more of the following topical areas: neuroscience, perception, memory, learning, development, psychological disorders, and social cognition. This is the Honors course version of PSYC 103. Students may not receive credit for both.
This course counts towards the College’s General Education Social Sciences requirement.
HONS 170-01 – Honors Philosophy
Instructor: Larry Krasnoff
TR 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
An examination of problems in central areas of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. This is the Honors course version of PHIL 101. Students may not receive credit for both.
This course counts towards the College's humanities general education requirement.
HONS 173 – Honors Introduction to International Studies
Instructor: Max Kovalov
MWF 12:00 – 12:50 a.m.
The Honors version of the Introduction to International Studies course introduces a base of knowledge, analytical skills, and a vocabulary of concepts useful for understanding the multi-dimensional concerns of International Studies. Through an examination of international politics, economics, society, history, literature, and environment, this course will enhance the student’s appreciation for an international studies approach to issues associated with global development. The Honors version of the course entails more in-depth discussion, a heavier reading load, and more substantial written assignments. This is the Honors course version of INTL 100. Students may not receive credit for both.
This course counts towards the College’s General Education Humanities and MUGC requirements.
HONS 174 – Honors Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
Instructor: Kris De Welde
TR 3:05 – 4:20 p.m.
The Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary course designed to explore the rich body of knowledge developed by and about women and gender. We study gendered structures and their consequences in contemporary cultures and societies. In addition, we examine feminist theories and relevant social movements. This course will introduce students to the practice of critically analyzing past and present social conditions of women’s lives. We will explore the historical roots of women’s oppression in the United States as a system of power relations enmeshed in constructions and assumption pertaining to race, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, national status and the culture of capitalism.
This course counts towards the College’s General Education Humanities and MUGC requirements.
HONS 190 – Accelerated General Chemistry
Instructor: TBD
MWF 8:30 – 9:50 a.m.
Lab 01: M 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., or
Lab 02: M 3:05 – 6:05 p.m.
This course covers the content of a typical one-year sequence of general chemistry in a single semester. Topics include stoichiometry, thermodynamics, quantum chemistry introduction, structure and bonding, gas laws, kinetics, redox chemistry and equilibrium. Only students with substantial high school chemistry will be admitted to the course.
Corequisite(s): HONS 190L; MATH 111 or placement into MATH 120 or higher.
This course counts towards the College’s General Education Natural Sciences requirement.
HONS 203 – Honors Financial Accounting
Instructor: William VanDenburgh
MW 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
A survey of accounting information essential for external parties to make business decisions about an organization. This is the Honors course version of ACCT 203. Students may not receive credit for both.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.
HONS 205 – Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Instructor: Lancie Affonso
TR 1:40 – 2:55 p.m.
This course provides an introduction to theoretical and experiential issues in entrepreneurship including the language of entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, lean startups, business models, entrepreneurship, and learning from both successful and unsuccessful ventures. Readings, lectures, and live case discussions with entrepreneurs will be used to explore these and related issues. This is the Honors course version of ENTR 200. Students may not receive credit for both.
HONS 281-01 – Honors Introduction to Medical Humanities
Instructor: Michelle Moore
TR 12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
This class provides students with a generalized background into the interdisciplinary field of Medical Humanities. Through lectures, readings, films, projects and class discussions students will develop an understanding of and respect for the various ways scholars study and conceptualize human health and health experiences throughout time and space. As Medical Humanities draws from many fields, the course will explore a variety of scholarly perspectives, including history, philosophy, literary analysis, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and artistic presentation. Additionally, this course will endeavor to encourage and strengthen critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to, and across, these topics so that students are able to make meaningful interdisciplinary connections within both academic and non-academic settings.
This course counts towards the College's humanities general education requirement.
HONS 281-02 – Honors Introduction to Historic Preservation
Instructor: Barry Stiefel
MW 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
An introduction to the history and contemporary practice of historic preservation in the U.S. The course includes a survey of the content and context of the heritage to be preserved and examines current preservation practice in preserving buildings, landscapes and material culture. Issues related to archeology, architectural history, social history and community planning will be covered.
This course counts towards the College's humanities general education requirement.
*Please note that Fall 2025 course offerings are tentative, and are subject to change