Honors College

Diving into Qualitative Research
CRN 38209 | 9:30 - 10:45 AM | TR | In Person | Prof. Christy Tyndall

This course provides an introduction to qualitative research methods. Qualitative (non-statistical) social science research can form the basis of surprising and profound discoveries about individuals and societies. Ethnographies, surveys, interviews, and focus groups contribute insight and depth to our understanding of the human condition and shed light on processes that may not be identifiable using big data sets. The course is designed to prepare students to engage in critically reflective practice related to the design, implementation, and analysis of qualitative research studies.

Social Justice and the Arts 
CRN 38662 | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | TR | In Person | Prof. Ann Marie Halstead
CRN 41232 | 1:00 - 2:15 PM | TR | In Person | Prof. Ann Marie Halstead

In Social Justice and the Arts, students will investigate the relationship between social justice and the arts (theatre, visual arts, and music), with a particular focus on contemporary dramatic literature, i.e. plays that contribute to social and political change, such as The Exonerated, Notes From the Field, and The Laramie Project. As a classroom community we will critically analyze and discuss other relevant texts, including films, static images, and three-dimensional art, and will engage with leaders and organizations from the VCU and Richmond arts communities. Students will research social (justice) issues of particular interest to them and will look at the ways in which various art forms expose and help to resolve issues of social justice, inspiring us to act and effect positive change. Assignments will include oral presentations, multi-media projects, creative writing, reflection papers, peer review, and traditional research.

World Events and Broadway Musicals
CRN 43667 | 1:00 - 3:50 PM | M | In Person | Prof. Patrick Smith & Prof. Sonia Vlancevic

A survey of historical world events as portrayed through American Broadway Musicals. Students will gain knowledge of major, life-impacting events through the present day, witness the ways in which these events inspired some musical creations of the Broadway musical stage, and recognize similarities and differences between historical fact and theatrical representation. Through the duration of the semester, class meeting topics will alternate weekly between viewing selected musicals (in class) and lecture/discussions.

Survey of World Pandemics
CRN 43230 | 4:00 - 6:40 PM | M | Hybrid - Synchronous | Prof. Christopher Brooks

From early documented history, viruses have been a part of the human experience. Celebrated examples include the Justinian Plague (541 CE) throughout the Mediterranean; Leprosy in 11th century Europe; The Black Death Bubonic Plague) 14th century Europe; the Columbian Exchange in 1492 (Western Hemisphere); The Great Plague of London (1665); First Cholera Pandemic (1817); Fiji Measles Pandemic (1875); Russian Flu (1889); Spanish Flu (1918); Asian Flu (1957); HIV/AIDS (1981); SARS (2003); H1N1 (2009); Ebola (1976); Zika (2015); and most recently COVID-19 (2019). In each of these outbreaks, populations have been forced to respond to these deadly health emergencies. In this course we will survey outbreaks throughout history and then focus on three zoonotic viruses (i.e. pathogens that jumped from a non-human). We will also consider how social sciences, like anthropology, have played a role in how people process, understand, and respond to such health emergencies.

The 1960s: A Time of Change
CRN 48353 | 9:30 - 10:45 AM | TR | In Person | Prof. John Lemza

The decade of the 1960s was a crucible of change for the United States. It provided energies that resonated throughout culture and society, and left an imprint on the lives of Americans that would carry with it a demand for a departure from the limitations of existing boundaries and a vision for a new future. That momentum carried into the following decades to the present with new approaches to existing challenges and new interpretations of Americanism. The purpose of this course is to follow the trajectory of those energies that began in the 1960s through an examination of their origins, successes and critiques, and come to an understanding of how they set the conditions for societal and cultural change. Topics include discovering the intellectual underpinnings of protest, changing perspectives on immigration, women’s rights and gender rights, the evolution of civil rights, environmental awareness, and protest and change on film and in literature. We will accomplish this study through readings, class discussions, short papers, and a research project.

History of the U.S. Constitution
CRN 48353 | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | TR | In Person | Prof. John Lemza

Considered by many to be the foundational document of our nation, the origin and structure of the Constitution, as well as its influence on our society, are largely unknown to most Americans. This course unpacks that living document and studies its controversial history including its intellectual underpinnings. It explores the ways that it shapes and informs our identity as a people and continues to affect our lives today. Our study includes issues surrounding relevant contemporary topics such as the amendment process, the Electoral College, voting rights, the impeachment process, and landmark court cases. We will accomplish this study through readings, class discussions, short papers, and a research project.

Flexible Thinking Through Engaging Visual Art
CRN 43816 | W | 3:00 - 5:45 PM | In Person | Prof. Mary Boyes

In this course, you will be exposed to transformational communication via a series of examples of creative works, including installations, guerilla art, performances, digital works, and community design. You will be able to use your own interests, regardless of whether these interests are academic, artistic, or informational, to create a proposal for your own transformational project. (Note: The actual project/fieldwork is not required. In this class you need only formalize your idea and the verbal communication you wish to transform.)

International Health   
CRN 47262 | Online Asynchronous | Professor Stephen Sowulewski    

This course will examine health indices as they relate to populations around the world including life expectancy, mortality, morbidity incidence and prevalence, quality of life and well-being.  Health systems will be compared as well as global health priorities and socioeconomic determinants of health.  Chronic disease (cardiac disease, diabetes and cancer) will be highlighted in addition to infectious disease (HIV/AIDS and TB).  Lifespan will be discussed in the framework of health promoting behaviors from early adulthood into old age.  

High Performance Leadership   
CRN 46989 | T | In Person | 5 - 7:40 PM | Professor Tom Connolly    

This course focuses on building and developing high performing leaders. Students will learn and review modern leadership theory and practical application. The course will walk students through common pitfalls of leading teams, how to overcome these obstacles, and how to work efficiently as a team. The course will also require students to reflect upon themselves as leaders in a diverse community

The Anthropology of Colonialism    
CRN 46553 | T | In Person | 4 - 6:40 PM | Professor Christopher Brooks    

The genesis of this course began with a single question - Why should colonialism be the focus of an anthropology course? Answering this question became all the more urgent in the aftermath of British Queen Elizabeth II’s (1926-2022) death when the impact of colonialism was brought into the spotlight at an exponential rate. The number of cultural traditions around the world that invading powers imposed on (or dramatically altered) their colonized territories, because such practices did not conform to their Western or Eastern worldviews (e.g. demonizing transgendered persons in India; ousting female rulers in Africa, and Asia, and imposing religious beliefs on vast populations) continues to manifest in many societies. This course will also make a distinction between Imperialism and colonialism and how, in all instances, each took much more than it gave. We will consider how cultural experiences worldwide were forever altered in the face of this phenomenon, and how, in its aftermath, continues to impact many of the practices, policies, activities, and politics of those very countries in the postcolonial era. 

Foundations of Evidence-Based Medicine
CRN 48151 | TR | In Person | 9:30 - 10:45 AM | Professor Kevin Brosnan

The prominence of Evidence-Based Medicine has spawned a proliferation of evidence-based movements in other disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, and education. Proponents of these evidence-based X movements are concerned with the replication crises in various sciences, and with the erosion in public trust these crises cause. For each of these evidence-based X movements, there is a view that scientific hypotheses, clinical decisions, and public health policies should be based on the best available evidence. So formulated, this is a boring and uncontroversial view. But there is considerable debate as to what constitutes the best evidence, and about how to handle the ubiquity of discordant evidence. This debate is ultimately a philosophical rather than scientific one, as it concerns the conceptual foundations of statistical and causal inference. By focusing on contemporary debates about these foundations, we will enhance our understanding of what constitutes an adequate evidence base for a hypothesis, a medical intervention, or a public health policy proposal.

Health Sciences in Times of Uncertainty
CRN 48152 | TR | In Person | 11:00 - 12:40 PM | Professor Kevin Brosnan

In the wake of COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd, trust in social institutions and public health science has declined, while a recognition of structural racism as a public health crisis has grown. For many segments of the population, declining trust in science stems from an illiteracy about scientific methods. For others, it stems from fears related to the history of eugenics and racialized medical marginalization, discrimination, and abuse. Declining trust in science threatens public health, and it weakens the skills of collaborative critical deliberation on which the health of democracy depends. Confronting our gravest problems, whether from climate change, global pandemics, or structural racism, requires a durable public trust in science. Strengthening this trust is therefore crucial. The trust in science we seek to build is based on two foundational pillars: 1) a critical knowledge of how scientific methods are used to support a hypothesis or public health intervention, including a working knowledge of how to interpret statistical measures; and 2), situated within the broader social determinants of health framework, knowledge of the racial and socioeconomic gradients in longevity and other health metrics that are manifestly political/racist/classist in origin. This course investigates how the health sciences have become politicized and mistrusted since over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll consider the ways in which public health science has been used in the past to advance political ends, as illustrated by the eugenics movement, and how social factors and the social determinants of health, including racial biases, adversely affect health outcomes and trust in medical science. We’ll also consider the ways in which a misunderstanding of scientific methods often leads to a cynical and dismissive of these methods, according to which science is an instrument of the state, which functions only to advance political agendas.

Honors Research Ready
CRN 47643 | Online Asynchronous | Professor Pamela Dillon
March 17 - April 18
*Last day to drop is March 18

This course is designed to prepare students for a hands-on research experience. In preparation for participating in a research project, students will explore the research process with a focus on training required for their individual experiences. Topics will include responsible conduct in human and animal research, literature searches, research design and outcome measures, and more. Upon completion of the course, students should have a basic understanding of research and be able to discuss how it pertains to their expected hands-on research experience

Nationally Competitive Awards & Beyond   
CRN 48528 | T | Online Synchronous  | 10 a.m.- 11:15 a.m. | Professor Meredith Sisson
February 17 - April 18
*Last day to drop is February 18

Wouldn’t it be great to get someone else to pay for you to do something cool? This honors module will teach you how to apply for nationally competitive awards, which can support research, study abroad, postgraduate study, and other enrichment activities. You will learn about some of the many opportunities that exist, as well as what it takes to put together a competitive application. Throughout the course, you will hone your writing skills and learn to craft compelling Personal and Research Statements. You will learn interview techniques and participate in a mock-interview. By the end of the course, you will have completed a draft of a scholarship application (which you can then choose to submit!) The skills and knowledge gained in this course can be directly applied to other applications, such as for graduate school, jobs, and grants. 

Reacting English Civil War   
CRN 48529 | WF | In Person | 11 AM -12:15 PM | Professor Scott Breuninger
February 3 - March 7
*Last day to drop is February 4

This class will play a Reacting to the Past roleplaying game that focuses on the English Civil War.  The game begins in the fall of 1648 and England is in chaos.  Parliament’s New Model Army has routed King Charles I’s forces on the field of battle, but stability has proved to be extremely fragile.  Charles is in custody at Hampton Court, but the growing tension between Parliament and the Army, coupled with an army of Scots to the north, does not bode well for peace.  Students in this Reacting game are thrust into this historical context, assuming roles in the Parliament corresponding to the main factions of the time: Royalist supporters of Charles I defending the traditional notion of the divine right of kings, Puritan Parliamentarians seeking to construct a “godly” state and limit the King’s authority, and members of the Army whose egalitarian experiences and control of military authority provide a stark challenge to English political traditions.  Drawing upon a wide variety of political and religious texts, students will play the roles of historical characters as they attempt to build a stable government upon the rubble of the Civil War.

Women in Science   
CRN 42333 | W | Online Synchronous | 4:00 - 6:40 PM | Professor Joseph Porter
February 3 - March 7
*Last day to drop is February 4

Historically, women have been underrepresented in science and faced discrimination in academia and industry. This course will examine the slow, but steady increase in the number of women in different areas of science and the obstacles they faced and overcame. This course also will provide an overview of the scientific contributions of women (both historical and contemporary) in different areas of scientific research. Finally, we will examine the current status of women in science and examine what biases and difficulties may still remain in their career paths. This is a student-oriented course in that you will be presenting most of the class presentations and your discussions during class are an important aspect of the class and its success.

APPM 355-701: Honors Orchestra
CRN 43978 - Professor Daniel Myssyk  

ENGL 391-701: Special Topics: Care, Ethics, and Literature
CRN 47834 - Professor Adin Lears 

BIOL 300: Cell & Molecular Biology - CRN: 38171
BIOL 310: Genetics - CRN: 16781
PSYC 497, 498, 499 (Restricted to students pursuing honors in psychology. To learn more about honors in psychology, visit (https://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/college-humanities-sciences/psychology/)

ECON 211-701: Principles of Macroeconomics 
CRN 45548 - Professor Minchul Yum

GSWS 201-703: Introduction to Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies
CRN 40006  - Professor Paulina Guerrero

HONR 494 Capstone
CRN 43459 | Online Asynchronous | Professor Brandi Daniels

The capstone will examine community engagement, including theories of citizenship, human rights, social movements, civic leadership, social justice, civil discourse, and social capital strategies. Through the use of case studies and field observations gained from neighborhood visits in RVA, students will be able to use an interdisciplinary lens to analyze and apply principles and practices of community engagement. Focus areas include - Education, Job Creation, Workforce Preparation, Social Stability, Healthy Community, Coordinated Transportation, James River, Quality Place, and Demographics.

HONR 398: Humans of RVA & London
CRN 46562 | M | In Person | 10 AM -12:40 PM | Professor Ann Marie Halstead

Humans of RVA and VCU: London is a three credit, city-as-text, experiential learning course that will be structured similarly to Humans of RVA, though instead of learning about the history, communities, urban environment, and sensory elements of Richmond, students will learn about London. In lieu of learning about current social issues that impact Richmond residents, they'll learn about those that impact Londoners. Students will also investigate community engagement in London, learn about the relationship between linguistics and social class, discuss George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and more. In addition, students will travel with the course instructor to London, where they will learn more about the cosmopolitan city "on the ground;" they’ll tour London neighborhoods, visit well-known historic sights as well as some “hidden gems,” attend performances, and view both street art and curated modern art. In the style of Humans of RVA, students will interview London residents and post their stories and photos to social media, with an eye toward better understanding the art of storytelling, the “danger of the single story,” and more. 

International Health   
CRN 46559 | Professor Stephen Sowulewski    

Details TBA