Honors College Course Offerings

Honors Courses

Honors College offers honors courses geared toward active student participation through collaboration, engagement, and discourse. This is achieved by offering courses with:

Small class sizes no larger than 20 students
Discussion-oriented leaning
Comfortable and encouraging atmosphere

Honors courses are designed to help students to develop their critical thinking skills by emphasizing interdisciplinary study, academic research, and scholarly writing. The goal is not to make honors classes "harder" but to create an environment that is most conducive for honors students to thrive in.

Course Offerings

The Honors College offers more than 40 regular honors courses in as many as 20 academic disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary special topics seminars for freshmen, juniors, and seniors. These classes provide honors students with opportunities to begin working closely with faculty members early in their academic careers.

General Education Honors Sections

The Honors College offers honors sections of classes needed to complete your general education requirements. While completing your honors requirements, you can also complete your general education requirements. Several of these courses also fit into College of Business admission requirements.

Honors College typically offers the following courses each semester:

Fall	Spring
BIO 121 General Biology I-Honors	ACC 206 Accounting Choices & Methods-Honors
BMS 110/111 Introduction to Biomedical Science & Lab-Honors	ANT 100 World Cultures-Honors
CHM 160/161 General Chemistry I & Lab-Honors	COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking-Honors
COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking-Honors	ECO 165 Principles of Microeconomics-Honors
ECO 101 Economics of Social Issues-Honors	ENG 321 Writing II: Technical Writing-Honors
ECO 155 Principles of Macroeconomics-Honors	PHI 105 Critical Thinking-Honors
ENG 110 Writing I-Honors	PHI 115 Ethics & Contemporary Issues-Honors
ENG 215 Creative Writing: Short Story-Honors	PLS 101 American Democracy & Citizenship-Honors
PHI 110 Introduction to Philosophy-Honors	PSY 200 Psychological Statistical Methods-Honors
THE 101 Introduction to Theatre & Drama Honors	REL 100 Introduction to Religion-Honors
	SOC 150 Introduction to Society-Honors
	THE 101 Introduction to Theatre & Drama-Honors

Current course offerings can be found on MyMissouriState -- Class Schedule Search. To find all honors course, search "honors" in the Attribute box.

Honors College Special Topics Courses

Special topics courses are part of the Honors College curriculum, and topics are subject to change. These courses are interdisciplinary and aim to develop soft skills that are worthwhile to any student regardless of their major focus. Honors special topics come in three types of classes:

UHC 110: Honors Freshman Seminar

UHC 397: Honors Colloqia

UHC 410: Senior Honors Seminar

UHC 110 Honors Freshman Seminar (FA24)

This class acts as a substitute for GEP 101: First Year Foundations and must be taken by every general honors student. Current special topics include:

UHC 110-973 Globalization: The Two Cultures Debate, Prof. Michael P. Boyle

This class will include an investigation of the philosophical underpinnings of the Two Cultures debate (Humanities vs. Sciences) and its relationship to General Education and the academic divisions of the University, as well as an in-depth discussion of the current global economic picture and its impact on university graduates in the United States. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-977 Science Literacy, Dr. Brian D. Greene

Science has assumed an unprecedented importance in our increasingly technological society and many of our most important problems require scientific solutions. However, we lag behind many other countries in science education and public interest in science suffers from a steadily declining number of science journalism outlets that are swamped by a barrage of media trivia. As a result, a significant segment of mainstream America fails to recognize the importance of scientific knowledge or the reasoning process from which it is derived, and readily accepts pseudoscientific and anti-scientific ideas. Science literacy is enormously beneficial to society by fostering critical thinking that strengthens democracy. Educated citizens can adeptly recognize misinformation and demand appropriate scientific input in the creation of public policy. How is real science distinguished from pseudoscience? What is required to make a scientifically valid argument? We will address these and other questions by examining scientific and pseudoscientific perspectives of various current socially-relevant issues. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-980 Socio-Cultural Impact of Violence on the Mexican Border, Dr. Blanca J. Martinez

This course will explore and analyze the impact and effects of violence in specific areas of Latin America such as the Mexican border. This is an introductory discussion of the conflicts happening currently that have torn some of these communities apart. Students will be able to discuss the economic and sociopolitical processes that have contributed to the undoing of the society and resulted in narco-governments, massive waves of migration, femicides, and contemporary ways of slavery. Students will analyze, reflect and evaluate the role of cultural texts in this critical context in the society and its impact through the reading of literary texts, films and music. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-987 Art as Revolution, Dr. Amy F. Muchnick

Art as Revolution will explore the ways in which the arts have mirrored political and social changes in our history. We will examine many controversial works and their relationship to one another against a backdrop of the social and political events that inspire the life of their times. Our investigation into the rumblings of revolution will inspire theories and questions about art and revolution in the 21st century. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-989 Gender and Sexuality, Dr. Alicia M. Walker

We will explore the construction and maintenance of norms governing sex, gender, and sexuality, with an emphasis on how opportunity and inequality operate through categories of race and class. Comparative, historical perspectives on the male and female gender roles, socialization, reinforcement through social institutions, as well as relationship development of men with each other, women with each other, and those between men and women. Overview of the diverse ways that human beings think about, organize, and experience sexuality, sex and gender roles and identities, intimacy and love, and domestic and sexual labor. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-990 Cultural Consciousness in Biomedical Research, Prof. Anna M. McWoods

This course is designed to familiarize students with biomedical research compliance and ethical standards within the field. In the course, we will cover terminology, resources, and major issues within healthcare and research fields. This shall be accomplished through analyzing real life applications of biomedical principles and through evaluation of historical evidences. Concepts covered will include the practice of informed consent, reproductive and genomic ethics, cultural distrust in scientists and health professionals, human enhancement, and other issues. In and outside of class, students will use discussion and analysis of case studies to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-992 Ethics and Animal Welfare, Dr. Elizabeth L. Walker

Animal welfare, animal rights, and the ethics of using animals for food, fiber, research, and entertainment will be discussed. The question of sustainability as it pertains to meat animal production, water quality, energy used to produce different food stuffs, and how agriculture affects the environment will also be addressed. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-993 Communication Ethics and Leadership, Dr. Samuel C. Dyer

Fundamental to being an effective student and future leader is an understanding of human communication and the ethics of human communicating. This course covers the predominant theories in communication ethics and leadership. Students will study communication and leadership in their chosen fields of study, and then write a paper grounding organizational practice in ethical and responsible communication strategy and tactics to build and advance community. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-994 Ethical Leadership in a Divided Society, Dr. Jeremy C. Neely

This course uses the microhistory of one individual—Abraham Lincoln—to illuminate the challenges of ethical leadership in a deeply divided society. Drawing upon fiction, film, historical scholarship, and Lincoln’s own words, students will consider how one person’s background, principles, and evolving ideas of equality, partisanship, and civic engagement shaped his choices during the most tumultuous period in U.S. history. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-997 Communication Disorders and Society, Dr. Wafaa Kaf

We will be studying the profession of Communication Disorders. After completing the course you should have a good knowledge of the following: the profession of speech-language pathology, audiology, and education for the deaf and hard of hearing. We will discuss a variety of common communication disorders of speech, language, hearing, and auditory processing including how to assess and manage individuals with these disorders. You will also be introduced to the deaf culture. In addition, we will discuss issues related to communication in general. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 110-998 The Scientific Pursuit of Knowledge: Progress, Problems, or Profit? Dr. Joshua J. Smith

This section will examine some of the most recent, influential, and controversial scientific discoveries and discuss the importance of Cultural Competence and Ethical Leadership within the process of these discoveries. We will discuss topics such as cloning, genetic engineering, vaccination, and the Human Genome Project. We will look into the effects of science on the good of society. Additionally, we will examine the ideas of economic gain from science and its influence on ethical and moral judgment. Students will also be introduced to the Honors College, Meyer Library, and academic and student life resources at Missouri State University.

UHC 397: Honors Colloqia (FA24)

This course is designed as an upper-level colloquium focused on open discussion and oral presentation.Students select from a menu of 6-8 interdisciplinary courses offered each fall and spring.

UHC 397-996: Communicating Kindness, Prof. Nora Cox

In Communicating Kindness, students will explore the history and culture of ideas of kindness, examine how they express and experience kindness and acquire new vocabulary for interpreting kindness across multiple perspectives. The course will provide opportunities for personal reflection, learning from others, and applying what they have learned in everyday life.

Pre-requisite: 50 credits hours

UHC 397-997: Perspectives on World War II, Prof. Kenneth R. Elkins

Nearly 75 years have passed since the end of WWII. The Great Generation fought the war and made the peace but also found themselves drawn into the Cold War. Later their children, who carried with them many of the lessons of WWII, would serve in SE Asia in the earliest of our limited wars. What lessons does WWII, the largest, most destructive but also the most important war in human history, offer to students today? We will also consider many of the interpretive debates about the causes of the war, its major events, its leaders, and its results as well as the misery and devastation wrought by the persecution and genocide of millions of innocents largely hidden by the unprecedented level of destruction during the war.

Pre-requisite: 50 credits hours.

UHC 410: Senior Honors Seminar (FA24)

This course is designed as a seminar focused on research skills and written presentation.

UHC 410-997: Truth & the Autobiographical Impulse, Prof. Michael L. Frizell

Autobiographical writing is a form of expression that connects personal stories with narratives demonstrating broader social structures, such as the impact of patriarchy and colonialism, on the individual. This class will explore the space between the personal and political by tasking students to reflect on the "ordinary" person's life affected by public events. We will read the autobiographical works of people who felt compelled to write and publish their memoirs, diaries, essays, poetry, and drama, even though they had yet to achieve fame. We will also explore social structure theories and the interface between personal experience and political agency.

Recommended for students with 75 or more credit hours.

UHC 410-998: American Literature & Culture 1960-1979, Dr. Matthew S. Calihman

This course is about the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, decades that powerfully shaped the nation in which we now live. Exploring literature, film, music, visual art, television, film, fashion, and other media and disciplines, we will investigate the American popular cultures, ethnic cultures, protest cultures, and youth cultures of the period.

Recommended for students with 75 or more credit hours.

UHC 410-899: Inquisition & Religious Persecution, Dr. John F. Chuchiak

This course closely examines the history of the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions from their establishment in the late fifteenth/early sixteenth centuries to their abolition in the early nineteenth century. The Inquisition was set up in both Spain and Portugal to systematically hunt down heretics and eradicate from Catholic society any form of heretical beliefs. The various groups persecuted by the inquisitorial tribunals in Spain and Portugal's world empires included, amongst others, crypto-Jews, crypto-Muslims, Protestants, bigamists, homosexuals, dissenting intellectuals and witches. This course will examine the actual historical institutions behind the modern myths of the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions; their organization, their modus operandi and their evolution during their more than three centuries of existence both in the Iberian Peninsula and in the Spanish and Portuguese world empires.

This is an online course.

Recommended for students with 75 or more credit hours.