Fall 2023 Honors Program Course Information
Eligibility
Current/continuing students: As long as you have a 3.3 or higher GPA, you can enroll yourself in one Honors course per semester without our permission.
Incoming first-year fall students: If you were invited into the Honors Program for your first year at CU, your BuffPortal will let you enroll in a honors course. The process is the same as registering for the rest of your courses, and you don't need our permission to take an Honors class. Please only sign up for one Honors course per semester, and be sure to select the proper Honors section when choosing your class. For our Fall 2023 incoming first-year students, we will be offering the opportunity for pre-enrollment via a survey, which will be emailed to your @colorado.edu email address. The deadline to submit the survey is 11:59pm on Thursday, July 13th. If you choose not to fill out the survey, you are welcome to enroll in one honors course on your own during your registration window if space in the course is available.
Auditors: Auditors are not allowed in our courses due to pedagogical concerns.
Finding Our Courses
How can I tell which courses are Honors Program courses? This semester's Honors Program courses have a section number between 880-881 and will be listed on our website.
How do I find Honors Program courses?
- Go to
- In the "Search Classes" section on the left side, look in the "Advanced Search" section for the last option labeled, "Other Attributes"
- Click the down arrown next to "Other Attributes" and in the drop-down menu select "Arts & Sciences Honors Course (HONR)"
- Click on the "Search Classes" button
- You will see a list of classes pop out. Not all of these courses are offered by the Honors Program; this search option also shows honors courses offered by departments within the College of Arts and Sciences. Please be sure to check the section number to confirm it is an Honors Program course; you are looking for sections 880-889.
鶹ӰԺ Our Courses
Honors Seminars: Our courses are limited to 17 students and provide an immersive learning environment through small, discussion-based classes.
Honors courses with recitations: In courses with a recitation attached, you'll attend a regular, larger lecture as well as a small group session (the Honors recitation), which is led by the professor. Honors recitations offer time to discuss course material more in-depth. Our Classics (CLAS) courses are taught in this format.
Registering for our courses: Lower-division classes may appear to be full before registration windows start to open up. We release available spots in our classes incrementally to ensure that all students have the opportunity to enroll.
As you research our classes, please have several choices in mind in case your top choice does not work with your schedule or is not available when you register. Give yourself enough time to consult with your academic advisor regarding your choices. If you've been batch-enrolled into a class that you want to replace with an Honors section, we recommend that you request the assistance of your advisor rather than trying to drop and add it on your own. Please only enroll in one Honors class each semester. We encourage transfer students who are coming in as sophomores, juniors, and seniors to consider our 3000 and 4000-level classes! Please note that there is no extra cost associated with taking an honors course.
Fall 2023 Honors Program Courses
We provide course descriptions written by our instructors whenever possible. Click on linked course titles, scroll down, or click here to see the course descriptions.
Subject | Class # | Section # | Course Title | Meeting Pattern | Time | Class Style | Instructor | Class Location | Core | GenEd |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANTH | 4580 | 880 | New offering: The Holocaust: An Anthropological Perspective - cross-listed with JWST 4580 | TTH | 3:30-4:45 | In person | Paul Shankman | HALE 455 | AH | |
ASIA | 1000 | 880 | Origins of Contemporary Southeast Asia | TTH | 5:00-6:15 | In person | LIBR M300D | HD | AS/SS/Global Div | |
CLAS | 1140 | 880 | Bread and Circuses: Society and Culture in the Roman World* | MW | 10:10-11:00 | In person | Andy Cain | HUMN 1B50 | HC | AH |
881 | Recitation* | W | 11:15-12:05 | In person | Andy Cain | CHEM 131 | ||||
CLAS | 2029 | 880 | Art & Archaeology of Ancient Egypt* | MW | 1:25-2:15 | In person | Travis Rupp | TBD | HD | AH/Global Perspective |
881 | Recitation* | F | 12:20-1:10 | In person | Travis Rupp | KTCH 1B64 | ||||
EBIO | 1210 | 880 | General Biology 1 | MWF | 12:20-1:10 | In person | Rob Buchwald | LIBR M300D | NS | NS |
EBIO | 1210 | 881 | General Biology 1 | MWF | 1:25-2:15 | In person | Rob Buchwald | LIBR M300D | NS | NS |
ENGL | 1290 | 880 | Crime, Policing, and Detection | MWF | 11:15-12:05 | In person | Mary Klages | ENVD 1B62C | AH | |
GEOG | 1972 | 880 | Environment-Society Geography | MWF | 2:30-3:20 | In person | Abby Hickcox | LIBR N424A | MAPS | SS/Global Div |
HIST | 1025 | 880 | American History since 1865 | MW | 3:35-4:50 | In person | Natalie Mendoza- Gutierrez | GOLD A150 | US | AH |
HIST | 2166 | 880 | The Vietnam Wars | MWF | 2:30-3:20 | In person | Steve Dike | LIBR M300D | CS/US | AH |
HONR | 1810 | 880 | Honors Diversity Seminar | MW | 3:35-4:50 | In person | Abby Hickcox | LIBR N424A | HD | SS/US Div |
HONR | 3220 | 880 | Advanced Honors Writing Workshop | MWF | 11:15-12:05 | Remote | Rolf Norgaard | Remote synchronous | WC | WC-Upper Division |
HUMN | 4835 | 880 | Literature and Social Violence | TTH | 2:00-3:15 | In person | Cathy Comstock | LIBR N424A | CS | AH |
MATH | 2510 | 880 | Introduction to Statistics | MWF | 9:05-9:55 | In person | Braden Balentine | LIBR N424A | QRMS | QRM |
PHIL | 1000 | 880 | Introduction to Philosophy | TTH | 11:00-12:15 | In person | Dan Kaufman | LIBR M300D | IV | AH |
PHIL | 1200 | 880 | Contemporary Social Problems | MW | 3:35-4:50 | In person | Ajume Wingo | MUEN E431 | US/IV | AH |
PSCI | 2004 | 880 | Survey of Western Political Thought | MWF | 11:15-12:05 | In person | Jeffrey Chadwick | CASE E224 | IV | SS |
PSCI | 2116 | 880 | Introduction to Environmental Policy and Policy Analysis | MWF | 10:10-11:00 | In person | Jeffrey Chadwick | CASE E224 | IV | SS |
PSCI | 3211 | 880 | The Politics of Economic Inequality in the United States | TTH | 12:30-1:45 | In person | Janet Donavan | LIBR N424A | SS/US Div | |
PSYC | 1001 | 880 | General Psychology | TTH | 11:00-12:15 | In person | Jenny Schwartz | LIBR N424A | MAPS | NS |
PSYC | 3684 | 880 | Developmental Psychology | TTH | 12:30-1:45 | In person | Jenny Schwartz | LIBR M300D | SS | |
SOCY | 1016 | 880 | Sex, Gender, and Society | MWF | 11:15-12:05 | In person | Ali Hatch | LIBR N424A | HD | SS/US Div |
SOCY | 3016 | 880 | Marriage and the Family | MWF | 12:20-1:10 | In person | Ali Hatch | LIBR 424A | HD | SS/US Div |
SOCY | 3314 | 880 | Violence Against Women and Girls | MWF | 1:25-2:15 | In person | Ali Hatch | LIBR N424A | US | SS |
WGST | 3670 | 880 | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Global Migration | MW | 3:35-4:50 | In person | Kate Fischer | LIBR M300D | HD | SS/Global Div |
Instructor Course Descriptions
ANTH 4580-880: The Holocaust: An Anthropological Perspective
Paul Shankman
This course focuses on the Holocaust during World War II, which involved the murder of millions of people, including six million Jews. The course begins with genocides leading up to the Holocaust, and then covers the Holocaust's history, dynamics and consequences. It also includes discussions of Holocaust denial and the relevance of the Holocaust today. Cross-listed with JWST 4580-880.
ASIA 1000-880: Origins of Contemporary Southeast Asia
Origins of Contemporary Southeast Asia explores the dynamic present of Southeast Asia in light of its complex past. This course introduces the shared historical experiences that have shaped diverse Southeast Asian societies, with a focus on the continuing effects of colonialism, nationalism, and globalization in the region. We will examine key issues facing contemporary Southeast Asian communities, including current debates around gender, faith, human rights, democracy, development, and the environment.
Andy Cain
Roman civilization began humbly, as a village around the banks of the Tiber river in central Italy in the mid-8thcentury BCE. Before its political collapse in the 5thcentury CE—over 1,200 years after its founding—it had grown into one of the most powerful and technologically advanced civilizations in history. At its height, it covered almost two million square miles and included up to 90 million inhabitants, or about one-fifth of the world’s population at the time. To this day, Rome’s rich legacy lives on and influences many aspects of western culture and society, including art, architecture, language, literature, technology, politics, law, and even board games. In this course we will study the Romans’ achievements as well as their cultural experience on the ground in order to appreciate not only what made them unique in their own historical context, but also why they remain so fascinating, and relevant, to us today. We also will have the chance to handle real Roman artifacts (coins, jewelry, etc.) and learn about Roman daily life from this hands-on experience. *Please note: Our CLAS offerings are in a larger lecture setting for the main course (CLAS 1140-880), and the recitation is taught by the professor instead of a Teaching Assistant (CLAS 1140-881). The recitations are limited to 17 students in the traditional discussion-based Honors class style.
CLAS 2029-880: Art & Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (with recitation)*
Travis Rupp
The art and archaeology of Ancient Egypt is a topic that has fascinated most of us since we were children. However, TV networks often oversimplify or provide a false pretense that Egyptian history and culture is well understood, and discoveries simply fill in minor gaps in a comprehensive portfolio of truths. This course will provide an eclectic survey of ancient Egyptian art, architecture, culture, religion, politics, and history starting in the Predynastic era (c. 4600 BCE) and progressing through to the end of the Roman period (c. 500 CE). We will focus on great monuments and works of art and place them within their religious, social, and historical contexts by studying major themes and concepts, such as the role of the pharaoh, the power of officials and priests, afterlife beliefs, and trade and international relations. We will discover that there are still just as many mysteries and unknowns as there are truths about ancient Egyptians. In the Honors section of this course, we will do deep dives into Egyptian war, female kings, mummification, the mystery of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb (which was opened 100 years ago this year), the Sea Peoples, and many other enriching topics. We will also rigorously discuss current events in Egyptological study (e.g., the recently unearthed Saqqara mummies, the oldest and largest Egyptian brewery at Abydos, and the newly discovered chamber in Khufu’s Pyramid). *Please note: Our CLAS offerings are in a larger lecture setting for the main course (CLAS 2029-880), and the recitation is taught by the professor instead of a Teaching Assistant (CLAS 2029-881). The recitations are limited to 17 students in the traditional discussion-based Honors class style.
Robert Buchwald
EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 together serve as an introduction to Biology in the 21st Century. These courses are prerequisites for nearly every subsequent EBIO course. In the first semester (1210), our focus is on processes at the cellular level. We will learn what types of molecules all living things are made of, the structure and organization of cells, how DNA is read and translated into proteins, the magic of mitochondria and the fundamentals of photosynthesis. To complement class lectures, we will have group work and class discussions relating course content to your everyday life. EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 (offered in spring) are recommended for science majors. Non-science majors should consider EBIO 1030, 1040 & 1050.
ENGL 1290-880: Crime, Policing, and Detection
Mary Klages
It’s the oldest crime in the books: MURDER. The whodunit. The cozy, with Miss Marple. The hard-boiled, with Phillip Marlowe. Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick. We love murder mysteries in all their forms! This course will explore the world of the murder mystery, from the beginnings of the genre to the present moment. We will read a wide variety of murder mysteries, examining the crimes, the victims, the villains, the detectives, and the solutions (or lack thereof). We will investigate how the stories of murder get told, and how the conventions of the genre have changed. Starting with the inventor of the detective story, Edgar Allan Poe, we’ll then investigate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation, Sherlock Holmes, and tour the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, with writers like Agatha Christie. Back on the American side, we’ll interrogate the creation of the hard-boiled detective, with Raymond Chandler and Walter Mosley, and we’ll look at the movie versions and the beginnings of film noir, before turning attention to contemporary murder mysteries in books, movies, TV, podcasts, and whatever your favorite author and medium may be!
Abby Hickcox
The goals of this class are to introduce students to the ways in which the field of geography has approached the interaction between the environment and society and to increase students’ skills in analyzing contemporary environmental issues. In pursuit of these goals, the class will introduce several perspectives from which to view our relationship with the environment, with an emphasis on the social and political-economic dimensions of environment-society relations. Topics covered include: population and consumption, environmental hazards, environmental ethics, environmental conservation, anthropogenic climate change, and others. We will examine several environmental objects (e.g. carbon dioxide, electronic waste, French Fries, and lawns) using nine analytical perspectives, including economic, institutional, ethical, social construction, feminist, and environmental justice analyses. Looking at these objects from multiple analytical perspectives will provide an opportunity to develop and advance students’ critical thinking skills. Formerly GEOG 2412.
Natalie Mendoza-Gutierrez
American History since 1865 considers the major events of the American past through the experiences of populations in the United States that tend to be left out of the historical narrative. In doing so, this course offers a critical examination of the US’s historical and ongoing pursuit of equality and inclusion. We will use course materials to develop an understanding of how democracy has and has not worked in American society. In particular, we will explore the ways in which race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and citizenship have contributed to how “American” has been defined at various times in the nation’s history. We will also consider factors that either hindered or promoted a sense of belonging in American society, including the role of the government and how this shaped citizens’ rising expectations of the nation.
Steven Dike
We will study a series of conflicts that occurred in Vietnam from about 1930 to 1975. These struggles involved Vietnamese nationalists, Vietnamese communists, French colonialists, Japanese occupiers, and Americans, along with others. You will leave this class with a deep knowledge of the issues, people, and conflicts that shaped Vietnam and the other nations that fought there. We will examine the American experience in their war, as well as the American home front. Check out the HIST 2166 class flyer here
Rolf Norgaard
This course introduces honors students to inquiry and argumentation as they are rendered in longer prose forms. As such, the course provides excellent preparation for writing an honors thesis. With the collaboration and thoughtful feedback of your colleagues in class, you will have the opportunity to engage in independent scholarship in your area of expertise. Our informal theme for the semester will be “Composing Knowledge.” Through readings and individualized writing projects, this course encourages you to explore the role of language and rhetoric in “composing” what—and how—we “know.” Is knowledge a given, something to be consumed? Or is it constructed and composed, shaped by language and by communities of knowers that organize themselves through language? Working and writing together, we’ll explore the connection between language and inquiry. Specifically, we will examine assumptions about critical thinking, literacy, and communication that various disciplines hold, and how those assumptions relate to the expertise you acquire and share in your major. The theme is meant to provide a common backdrop to the individualized projects that lie at the heart of the course. We will begin by reviewing fundamental strategies of analysis and argument, and by reading and responding critically to a set of articles that explore the theme of “Composing Knowledge.” You will then focus on some aspect of the theme that interests you or on a specific issue that bears on your work in your major as you form a research question and tentative hypothesis. With the help of Norlin Library Instructional Services, you will then become acquainted with advanced information literacy skills that can help you prepare a formal prospectus or plan for enriching your inquiry through research. Drawing on that research and on feedback on preliminary drafts, you will have the opportunity to develop a sustained argument (roughly 20-25 pages) that showcases the fruits of your inquiry. The course will also address oral presentation skills essential to presenting your work effectively before an audience.
Cathy Comstock
Social violence affects us all, and the most vulnerable are affected the most profoundly. But we can change our society and also ourselves in ways that can bring help and hope for everyone. In this seminar we will use the insights of both great literature and social science to bring light to the sources of darkness in our schools, our mass incarceration, our immigration policies, and the wars on drugs and disease that too often have effects more like a war on the poor.
As we discover the surprising and successful solutions that the media neglects to tell us, we will also consider the best ways to cure the personal consequences of living with the kind of stresses that have led to all-times highs in depression and anxiety. The good news from neuroscience is that we have astonishing capacities for health and happiness, from mindfulness to the immune system, just waiting to rescue and restore us in the very process of trying to help others. Through our contact with great authors and films as well as each other this seminar will explore intriguing possibilities that promise to be as transformative as they are heartening and sometimes even humorous.
There is also theoption(not a requirement) for one to three hours of extra credit by doing service work in the community, since that kind of personal experience helps us to understand the class materials—and our culture overall—more deeply.
The class texts includeAngels in America, The Bluest Eye, Bliss Brain, Tattoos on the Heart, Freedom Writers’ Diary, Savage Inequalities, Gandhi the ManandTortilla Curtain.
Braden Balentine
This is an introductory course in statistics. We will cover some of the fundamental ideas and tools used in statistics. Topics that we will cover include elementary statistical measures, statistical distributions, statistical inference, hypothesis testing and linear regression. We will also go over some of the basics of probability as they are necessary for our understanding of statistics. The Honors version of this course covers the same material as the standard Introduction to Statistics class, but in a smaller, discussion-based environment. Check out the MATH 2510 class flyer here
PHIL 1000-880: Introduction to Philosophy
Dan Kaufman
Stay tuned for professor's description. In the meantime, visit the University Catalog for details.
PHIL 1200-880: Contemporary Social Problems
Ajume Wingo
Everyone, at some point or other in life, will have to face questions of right and wrong, fairness and injustice, and challenges to one's sense of purpose and meaning. Sometimes these questions are general and abstract: When should the power of the state be used to restrict an individual's voluntary decisions? Are there any reasons to restrict actions and relationships, such as drug use or polyamory, that might appear to be victimless or consensual? At other times, those questions are deeply personal and concrete: Is there any good reason for me to be honest if there's little chance of my getting caught? Is there any reason not to use ChatGPT to write my essay? How should I counsel a friend or family member with an unplanned pregnancy or a terminal disease? While people often rely on religious traditions or secular norms to guide their conduct when such questions arise, it can be helpful to approach such issues in a more systematic way. In this class, we will approach these and other controversial issues through the lens of philosophy, which seeks to answer these questions by critically examining different possible positions on those issues. We will focus on competing positions in debates over these and similar inescapable controversial issues that keep on hovering over your head including the fundamental questions of right, wrong and the meaning of life.
Political Science
Back to course list
PSCI 2004-888R: Survey of Western Political Thought
Jeffrey Chadwick
Join Dr. Chadwick as he takes you on a journey of western politics starting with the founding of the United States and moving forward. Find out how the discipline overlaps with topics such as philosophy, economics, social justice, capitalism, and the law, from Plato to Marx, from James Madison to Martin Luther King Jr., and more. View the PSCI 2004 class flyer here.
PSCI 2116: Introduction to Environmental Policy and Policy Analysis
Jeffrey Chadwick
Teaches a systematic general framework for the analysis of environmental policy issues. Analyzes the interaction of environmental sciences, ethics, and policy across a range of environmental policy problems. Stresses critical thinking and practical applications.
PSCI 3211: The Politics of Economic Inequality in the United States
Janet Donavan
Economic inequality has increased rapidly in the U.S. since the 1970s. In this class we will learn different theories about when economic inequality may be considered a good outcome and when it may be a problem. Then, we will address the question “how unequal are we?” with special attention to intergenerational wealth and poverty; and to economic disparities along racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic lines. After that, we will look at whether economic inequality is caused and/or affected by political inequality. Finally, we will focus in on access to housing and housing affordability as an issue of economic inequality in the U.S. In this class, there will be some lecture, but we will mostly take advantage of the small class size and engage in class discussions, group discussions and group activities. This class involves controversial topics and Prof. Donavan is committed to an inclusive environment in which all students and all viewpoints are welcomed and treated with consideration.
Jennifer Schwartz
How are we able to perceive the world around us? Why do we dream? How does alcohol impact the brain? What makes each individual’s personality unique? Do young children think differently than adults? How do we learn? Are people with psychological disorders dangerous? How do psychologists help people lead richer more fulfilling lives? This course is designed to address these and other questions by giving you an introduction to the content and methodology of the field of psychology. It will give you an overview of some of the major sub-disciplines within psychology. It will also expose you to both seminal and cutting-edge research studies within these domains, as well as encourage critical interpretation of research findings. To guide and integrate our exploration, we will focus on several theoretical frameworks and ongoing debates that cut across specific sub-fields and define the study of psychology as a whole. You will be connecting these ideas to your own life by applying class content to the reading, listening, watching, interacting, and experiencing you do every day. The goals of this course are to stimulate you to further explore the field of psychology and to provide a foundation of knowledge and critical thinking skills that will benefit your academic, career, and personal paths, whatever they may be.
PSYC 3684-880: Developmental Psychology
Jennifer Schwartz
In this class, we will uncover the story of human development from the point when life begins (conception) to the point when it ends (death). You will have a chance to think about yourself as an infant, child, and adolescent and take stock of how these years influenced the person you are today. You can also envision who you will be as a young adult, a middle-aged adult, and an adult in old age and consider how your experiences today will influence your development through the remainder of your adult years. This course is an introduction to the science of human development and how it simultaneously captures both the ways that your journey is similar to, and different from, that of others. We will use theory and research in developmental psychology to help organize our exploration and provide methods to help us in our discoveries. In particular, we will investigate human development in several domains such as biological, cognitive, and social/emotional, and from several different perspectives, including ecological, psychodynamic, and constructivist. The goal is to provide you with a basic framework and mode of inquiry that will serve you in your future roles as parent, friend, colleague, health care provider, educator, and/or public policy maker. Check out the class flyer here.
SOCY 1016-880: Sex, Gender, and Society
Ali Hatch
This course is an introduction to the sociological study of gender. Course material will focus on the integral role gender plays in the structure of society and will provide an overview of the many ways in which gender plays a vital role in our lives. This class is taught from the perspective that gender and gender roles are learned behaviors (not biological) that are socially-constructed by culture (not innate) and contextually specific and malleable (not universal or fixed). From the Course Catalog: Examines status and power differences between the sexes at individual and societal levels. Emphasizes historical context of gender roles and status, reviews major theories of gender stratification.
SOCY 3016-880: Marriage and the Family in the United States
Ali Hatch
This course is designed to examine marriage and the family in the U.S. from a sociological perspective. We will look at how marriage and family are fluid constructs, transforming and evolving over time. As the majority of families currently do not fit the “nuclear” model, special emphasis will be placed on the various realities of people’s lives and how they differ from cultural ideals.
SOCY 3314-880: Violence Against Women and Girls
Ali Hatch
This course is an overview of gender-based violence. We will analyze the political and cultural structures that perpetuate gendered violence, and explore how gendered violence intersects with race, class, and sexuality. This course focuses on violence against women and girls, and the relationship between gender inequality and violence. Specifically, utilizing a feminist sociological lens, this course will cover various manifestations of gender violence, including (but not limited to): hate crimes motivated by trans and homophobia, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, pornography, and femicide.
Kate Fischer
This course engages in an interdisciplinary study of the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality that have created a multicultural, multiethnic, and multiracial world, looking particularly at migrants and migrant communities. We will examine how constructions of gender, race, and sexuality are structurally determined and lived in the context of global migration, both contemporary and historical. While the course primarily focuses on women, it is impossible to ignore how race, sexuality, and class articulate with ideas about gender and how these socially determined characteristics intersect in identity construction and subjectivities. The goal of this class is to develop a critical understanding of how forms of privilege, inequality, and exclusion based on gender, race, sexuality, and national/ethnic origin are written about, comprehended, and contended with. In addition to reading a number of scholarly books and articles from across the social sciences and humanities, we will also use news articles, blogs, current events, and social media. Recommended prerequisites: WMST 2000 or WMST 2600. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: global perspective.