Honors Courses | The Honors College | Virginia Commonwealth University

No matter their format or discipline, Honors classes all involve close engagement between instructor and students. Honors students are actively involved in the learning process as they develop advanced communication, leadership, and thinking skills.

While our academic program is designed to emphasize our first-year focus on wellness and writing, each semester we offer a variety of classes that are unique to Honors along with Honors sections of existing university courses. Students can also convert a non-Honors section to an Honors course through a contractual arrangement with the instructor, or design an independent study! We have courses for everyone—engineers, artists and students of humanities and social sciences.

Spring 2022 Honors Courses

***Disclaimer - This is an initial list and more information and course options are forthcoming***

Honors sections of the following standard VCU courses will be offered. Please see the VCU Bulletin for course descriptions.

Biology 300
Biology 310
Business 325
Chemistry 102
Chemistry 302 lab
Economics 211
Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies 201
Mass Communication 493
Philosophy 201
Psychology 498
Psychology 499

Honors Variant courses (3 credit hours)
Course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19

English 301 (701): Introduction to The English Major

CRN 40710 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | T,R | In-Person | Nicholas Frankel

Study of literature focused on skills helpful in the English major, introducing students to the ways in which language is used in literary texts and to the practice of writing responses to those texts. Texts will represent at least two genres (drama, poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction). This course should be taken at the beginning of the student's major, preferably before completing more than six hours of other upper-level English courses.

English 350 (701): Digital Rhetoric

CRN 43584 | 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | M, W | In-Person | Kathleen Alford

The study and practice of rhetoric as it applies to digital media

English 381 (701): Multiethnic Literature

CRN 42129 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. | M,W | Hybrid-Synchronous | Paul Robertson

A study of the literature and culture of multiethnic writers in the United States. May include Native American, Latino/a, African-American, Asian-American and/or Jewish-American authors.

History 201 (701): HIST DET: EUR WAR & REVOLUTION

CRN 42238 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | T/R | Online - Synchronous | Joseph Bendersky

History 201 (702): HIST DET: 20th CENT US REF

CRN 42245 | Online - Asynchronous | Timothy Thurber

English 385 (701): Fiction into Film

CRN 43894 | 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. | M,W,F | Hybrid - Synchronous | Alex Jones

This course will be taught using an online/in person hybrid modality on the days and time listed. Due to the nature of this course and to facilitate real-time discussion of course materials, video and audio feeds will be required for students who choose to attend class online, and 100% participation in this course will be expected for online students.

APPM 355 (701): Honors Orchestra

CRN 43978 | 1:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. | M,W,F | In-Person | Daniel Myssyk

Semester course; 3 laboratory hours. 1 credit. May be repeated for a total of 8 credits. Open to music majors or by permission; audition required. Provides an opportunity to rehearse and perform works from the symphonic repertoire while improving ensemble skills.

Honors 398 topic courses (3 credit hours)
Course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19

Intercultural Communication

CRN 42329 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | M,W| Blended- asynchronous instruction | Shira Schiecken

This course will increase students’ intercultural competence by providing them with a set of cognitive tools to be used in their personal, academic, and professional lives. Throughout the semester, we will examine the concept and impact of culture and how cultural frameworks influence our daily and professional communication. Topics will focus on cultural self-awareness; understanding of cultural contexts, worldviews and perspectives; verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as, challenges to intercultural communication.

Diving into Qualitative Research

CRN 38209 | 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. | TR | In-Person | Christy Tyndall

In a range of disciplines, scholars and professionals are increasingly recognizing the importance of using exploratory qualitative (non-statistical) and mixed research methods to advance knowledge in ways that allow for a richer and more in-depth understanding of phenomena and processes of interest. This course is designed for students interested in adding tools of scholarly inquiry to their research toolboxes and will provide an engaging introduction to qualitative approaches, study design, data collection, and analysis based on documents, field observations, and interviews. Students will also gain experience writing and presenting qualitative research based on a topic of personal interest.

Closing the Achievement Gap

CRN 43747 | 5 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. | M | In-Person | Tom Connolly

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, public education institutions across the country have struggled to close the widening gaps in academic achievement between groups of students of different backgrounds. This course will focus on the current state of public K-12 education, efforts that have been made to close the achievement gap, and the lasting implications on underserved and underrepresented youth.

Molecular Basis for Human Disease

Eligibility: BIOL 310 and CHEM 403 are strongly recommended as prerequisites. At least one 300-400lv Biology course should have been taken before registering for this course.

This class examines the biochemical and genetic basis for common and rare human diseases, and considers the clinical pathways that lead to diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from them. In order to be successful, students should have a fundamental understanding of biochemistry, biology and genetics, as this class stresses the application of these fundamental disciplines and how they relate to onset, progression and treatment.

World Events as Depicted in Broadway Musicals

Experiential learning fine arts courses approved for CHS majors only (effective 2021-2022 undergraduate bulletin).
General education course approved for CHS majors only (prior to 2021)

CRN 43667 | 4 p.m.-6:40 p.m. | T | Face-to-Face | Patrick Smith

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.

Social Justice and the Arts

Experiential learning fine arts courses approved for CHS majors only (effective 2021-2022 undergraduate bulletin).
General education course approved for CHS majors only (prior to 2021)

CRN 41232 | 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. | MWF | In-Person | Ann Marie Gardinier 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, My Name is Rachel Corrie, Notes From the Field, The Good Body, The Laramie Project, and Have You Filled a Bucket Today? As a classroom community we will critically analyze and discuss other relevant texts, including videos and images, and will engage with leaders 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.

Social Justice and the Arts

Experiential learning fine arts courses approved for CHS majors only (effective 2021-2022 undergraduate bulletin).
General education course approved for CHS majors only (prior to 2021)

CRN 38662 | 10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | MWF | In-Person | Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead

Contemporary Issues in Higher Education

CRN 43199 | 7 a.m. - 9:40 p.m. | W | Online Synchronous | Ben Plache

What are the biggest threats to higher education? What issues are colleges and universities facing? What will campus look like in ten years? This course explores the answers to these questions by examining contemporary issues in higher education, including the "demographic cliff", public policy, education costs, racism and sexism in the academy among others.

A Survey of World Pandemics

CRN 43230 | 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | M | Hybrid-flexible Synchronous | 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.

Speaking Your Truth

CRN 43273 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. | MW | In-Person | Bryant Pugh

What does it mean to speak your truth in front of a public audience? What is professionalism? More specifically, how can you be yourself yet also be professional in front of an audience? How can you be authentic while speaking in front of an audience of five or five hundred?

This class will utilize the most current public speaking tools and resources, but it will also dive into the meditative benefits and healing components of finding your voice and truth. Students will learn how to overcome the fears within them when it comes to public speaking, but they will also learn to overcome the fear of being their authentic selves in front of an audience. We will utilize mindfulness meditation and breathing exercises often.

Queering Religion

CRN 43458 | 8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | TR | Online Synchronous | Rachel Pater

In Queering Religion, students will investigate the intersections of LGBTQ+ identities with religious/spiritual traditions. Students will be introduced to the discourse of Queer Theologians/Queer Theorists and investigate how this body of work has disrupted (or exposed disruptions within) mainstream ideologies. Outside speakers from the religious/queer community will ground this theoretical work. This course will culminate in a research project about the queerness within students’ own religious traditions (or a tradition of their choice).

Italian Culture

CRN 43457 | 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | TR | In-Person | Vera Abbate

The course will provide an overview of the concept of Italian culture, italianità, Italy as a geographical entity, and the role of the Catholic Church during the process of unification and after. Students will learn also the historical, geographical, economical, and political events that made Italy a country with many cultural differences in one unified territory. Important key aspects of the Italian culture, such as art, science, fashion, music, food, holidays, and traditions will be introduced by studying cities and protagonists that made Italy famous all over the world.

This course will also provide an Italian language section during class time, with phrases and vocabulary related to the cultural topics studied and useful if/when students will travel to Italy on vacation or studying abroad.

Legal and Ethical Implications of Social Media

CRN 43527 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | T | Hybrid-Asynchronous | Cheryl Black

The course looks at the intersection of traditional legal concepts, such as contract law, intellectual property law and privacy with the emergency technology of social media platforms. The course explores the impact of social media platforms on these legal topics and the role ethics plays or should play in this growing digital landscape. Basic legal principles and concepts will be introduced to provide context for students who have not taken a legal foundational course.

Leading Through Change

CRN 44080 - Online Asynchronous - Sombo Muzata

This course will explore personal and organizational leadership concepts to prepare students for their leadership journey. Students will learn why leadership matters and explore the application of different leadership models. Students will explore leadership challenges through various contexts and apply what they learn by completing a semester-long project to develop a possible solution to a leadership challenge.

Writing off the Page: The Transformation of Verbal Communication Using Setting, Form, and Genre-busting

CRN 43816 | 6 p.m. - 8:40 p.m. | W | Online Synchronous | Professor Mary Boyes

This transdisciplinary course explores how changing the ways in which we present verbal communication from traditional forms (the page or spoken word) and changing the traditional venues through which we normally conduct this communication (books, newscasts, podcasts, articles, libraries), may create a larger, more engaged, and, more surprising audience.

In this course, you will be exposed to transformational communication via a series of speakers and through examples, 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/field work is not required. In this class you need only formalize your idea and the verbal communication you wish to transform.)

This class is open to all Honors students regardless of major or training. We encourage students who are not in “creative” majors to consider this course as a way to expand your horizons and think more elastically.

Honors 399 modules (1.5 credit hours)

Course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19

Mouth, Microbes, and Medical Research

***Drop deadline is January 25th***

The course is designed for students interested in a career in biomedical research or dentistry. It explores the often overlooked topic of oral diseases and how they contribute to systemic disease. Specifically, students will explore the latest research in cancer of the head and neck, bacterial infection and inflammation as it pertains to oral and systemic disease and tissue engineering for oro -facial structures.

Nationally Competitive Awards & Beyond

***Drop deadline is February 17th***

Wouldn’t it be great to get someone else to pay for you to do something cool? This honors module will teach you skills that 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. The skills and knowledge gained in this course can be directly applied to other programs, such as for graduate school, jobs, and grants.

Discovery and Development of Drugs for Treating Schizophrenia

***Drop deadline is January 26th***

The discovery and development of antipsychotic drugs begins in the 1800s with the development of chemical dyes in clothing industries. This lead to the development of some of the earliest therapeutic drugs (e.g. methylene blue). In the 1930s, a French Pharmaceutical company (Rhône-Poulenc) developed the first line of phenothiazine antihistamines, which lead to the development of the phenothiazine, 4560 RP in 1951. This drug was chlorpromazine, better known as Thorazine in the United States. The first documented treatment of a psychotic patient with chlorpromazine was on January 19, 1952 at the Val‐de‐Grâce Military Hospital in Paris. This patient was treated for 20 days. Then he was discharged and was ready “to resume normal life” (Hamon, Paraire, & Velluz 1952). This was the first chapter in the story of how psychotherapeutic drugs were developed for the treatment of schizophrenia and for other mental disorders, such as depression. This also was the birth of Psychopharmacology. We will explore this history and the role of serendipity in the discovery and development of these drugs.

Women in Science

***Drop deadline is January 27th***

Historically, women have been under represented in science and have faced discrimination in both 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 that 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. Each student will give a presentation on a woman in science, her career path, scientific contributions, and biases/challenges faced during her career. Finally we will examine the current status of women in science and examine what biases and difficulties may still remain in their career paths.

Reuse, Recycle, Re-create *Fine Arts Credit*

CRN 43656 | 1/18 - 2/15 | W 2 p.m. - 4:40 p.m. | Online-asynchronous | Chelsea Lee

***Drop Deadline is January 19th***

Create one of a kind artworks out of everyday objects. Get outside the classroom to source reusable and recyclable materials to create sculptural artworks. We’ll get inspiration with visits to the ICA, and local galleries, and begin to see the things around you in a different way.

Reacting to the French Revolution

CRN 43655 | 1/25 - 2/25 | 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | T/R | In-Person| Scott Breuninger

***Drop Deadline is January 26th***

This course will explore the origins and course of the French Revolution through the use of a Reacting to the Past game. During the five weeks of this course, we will examine the more “radical” ideas of the Enlightenment and analyze the nature of the links between the world of ideas and that of revolutionary action. After a brief introduction, students will be assigned historical ‘roles’ and will seek to achieve their goals through interactions with one-another to see if the course of the revolution could have been altered.

HONR 494 Capstone (4 credit hours) Two Sections Offered *Course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19*

CRN 40447| 5:30 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. | R | Hybrid - Synchronous | Brandi Daniels

CRN 43459 | Online- Asynchronous | Instructor TBA

CRN 43460 | Online - Asynchronous | Instructor TBA

Eligibility: Only available to take during students' graduating semester

This course 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. Lastly, while engaging in this capstone course, students will connect the nine priority areas established by the Capital Region Collaborative. These pillars – Education, Job Creation, Workforce Preparation, Social Stability, Healthy Community, Coordinated Transportation, James River, Quality Place, and Demographics – serve as a framework for community engagement. Those areas of interest are particularly relevant, having been established by the greater Richmond region through lengthy engagement with the Collaborative.

Summer 2022 Courses

***Disclaimer - This is an initial list and more information and course options are forthcoming ***
***All course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19***

Honors Variant courses (3 credit hours)

ENGL/GSWS 391: HONR: Appalachian Women Writers

This course will explore the work of women authors with origins in the Southern Appalachian region of the U.S and for whom the region and its inhabitants are a primary focus of their writing. We will examine the ways in which these writers construct Appalachia as an intellectual and cultural concept, especially in regards to identity-formation and the intersecting influences of class, gender, race, sexuality, and sense of place. We will read fiction by Harriette Simpson Arnow, Wilma Dykeman, Lee Smith, Dorothy Allison, and Jayne Anne Phillips (among others). These literary works are interspersed with three “documentary” texts depicting both the overall region and the popular culture-mediated images of “Appalachian,” “hillbilly,” or “mountaineer” women: the anthropological narrative The Spirit of the Mountains (1905) and the films Harlan County U.S.A. (1976) and The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009). In the dialog between these genres, the course goal is an understanding of the myriad ways that these respective depictions impact the formation(s) of Appalachia as a geopolitical construct and as a postulated demographic label—particularly as theses identities influence both self-presentation and external perception of ethno-regional womanhood.

ENGL385: HONR: Fiction Into Film

This course examines how textual narratives are adapted into film, specifically how both textual and visual mediums influence each other. Throughout the semester, we will read several literary works and their silver screen counterparts (foreign and domestic); some in which the film received more acclaim than its novel equivalent (and vice versa). During each section of this course, we will also discuss how similar sequences function in both mediums. At the same time, we will engage with a range of critical theory focused on the relationship between literature, film, and visual art. This course will be taught as an online/offline hybrid on the days and times Listed. Due to the nature of this course to facilitate real time discussion of course materials, video and audio feeds will be required for students who choose to attend class online, and 100% online participation in this course will be accepted.

ENGL/AFAM 379: HONR: African-American Lit: BENGS THR HRLM RENSS

This course will be a survey of African American literature from the eighteenth century through the twentieth century, Harlem Renaissance. A central concept of this course is how African American literature exists and simultaneously functions as a cultural product. Through a historical context, we will discuss the conditions by which African American literature developed from its roots in orality to its incorporation and re-imagining of traditional forms of writing. Engaging with works from 1789 and ending with the early 1930s requires a balance of both the concepts of literary and cultural studies, so when necessary points from either field may be addressed. Discussions are intended to assist with our comprehension of readings. However, greater attention is given to writing assignments that are geared towards enhancing written analysis and fostering writing skills. The majority of our readings may come from an anthology with a few complementary digital readings. Authors may include, Equiano, Jupiter Hammon, Phillis Wheatley, W.E.B DuBois, Alain Locke, and Zora Neale Hurston. In addition, we will engage with some contemporary works from scholars such as Hortense Spillers and bell hooks. The inclusion of contemporary readings will aid in exploring how the writings of the past continuously encourage a dialogue on African American culture today. A final project allows each individual the opportunity to showcase their interest by exploring and addressing a given or chosen theme.

This is an eight-week, Hybrid-flexible synchronous (RONA) course, so along with the online component, there will also be a few, optional in-person sessions. The optional in-person sessions will be structured in a way that ensures not only safety but also comfort. Students are allowed to fully complete the course online. Please note that the teaching mode is subject to change based on VCU’s update(s) to the Return to Campus plan.

HIST 387: HONR: Modern China: 1800 - Present

(Email jajohnson4@vcu.edu for overrides)
CRN 40412 | Online Asynchronous | John Herman | 5/23 - 8/12

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to post-1949 China and to show that the communist revolution of 1949 was not the end of China’s revolutionary struggle to achieve modernity, but the beginning. Following three decades of aborted attempts to modernize the country, in 1978 China embarked on a fundamentally different modernizing trajectory, known as ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.’ Although China today remains committed to ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,’ the emergence of Xi Jinping in 2012 and the policies he has promoted since coming to power has led some scholars to argue that China is currently undergoing another revolutionary change – a ‘Third Revolution.’ This course will examine these three ‘revolutionary eras’ of post-1949 China.

GSWS 201: HONR INTRO TO GSWS

An interdisciplinary and intersectional introduction to the perspectives and core concerns pertaining to gender, sexuality and women's studies.

GSWS 301: HONR FEMINIST THEORY

This course will introduce students to areas of generative struggle and critique within feminist theory. Will examine these conflicts not as moments of danger, but as constituting a key genealogy of feminism. Will be structured around important debates that constitute this genealogy of feminist theory, including: early woman of color critiques of the notion of “universal sisterhood,” debates over the “proper object” of feminist inquiry, post-structuralist approaches to theorizing the subject, queer theory’s shift toward a “subject-less critique” and transnational feminist praxis.

Honors 398 topic courses (3 credit hours)

Space, Place, & Identity

We will explore how space, place, and identity contribute to our perceptions of our world and our personal mythos, and how these considerations have evolved during the pandemic. The course is split into three units, touching on work about one’s hometown or region, travel or exploration, and the changed geography of our lives during COVID-19—how, for instance, “place” has lately been more of an interior state. Our reading list will include, for example, selections from the 2020 anthology A Measure of Belonging: Twenty-One Writers of Color on the New American South, Zadie Smith’s Intimations, and Jason Diamond’s The Sprawl: Reconsidering the Weird American Suburbs, among other publications. This is a discussion-based course with related writing assignments, informal presentations, and small-group workshops. The materials for this course are low-cost, available via PDF, link, or otherwise.

Leading Through Change

CRN 40251 | Online Asynchronous | May 23 - July 13 | Sombo Muzata

The Crossroads of Sound: Popular Music in America

This course surveys the cultural and historical impacts of popular music in the United States. In the class, we will explore the moments that led to some of the most popular and iconic music of the last few centuries, listen to and watch numerous musical pieces, and discuss songs which hold special meanings to each of us. The course will also closely examine the themes and historical trajectories of some of the most popular genres of music, including rock, hip-hop, country, and pop. Students can expect an approachable environment which will be heavily discussion-based and include various podcasts, shows, and films.

Fall 2022 Honors Courses

All course modalities are subject to change due to COVID-19

Honors sections of the following standard VCU courses will be offered. Please see the VCU Bulletin for course descriptions.

Art History 103: Survey of Art I
Biology 151
Biology 300
Biology 310
Business 325
Chemistry 101
Chemistry 301 lab
Economics 210
Economics 461 (Fed Challenge)
Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 311
Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies 201
Management 310
Marketing 301
Mathematics 201
Philosophy 201

Honors Variant courses (3 Credit Hours)

WRLD 230 (750) HON: Intro to World Cinema
CRN 43033 | T | 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | Online Synchronous | Bernardo Piciche

WRLD 230 (751) HON: Intro to World Cinema
CRN 43029| W | 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | Online Synchronous | Bernardo Piciche
An overview of the main theoretical frameworks, critical concepts and debates devoted to non-Hollywood world cinemas, with special emphasis on the rethinking of national cinema and the problematizing of identity in an increasingly transnational era. Broad interdisciplinary readings in film theory, film history and cultural studies will be supplemented by case studies of particular cinemas and filmmakers, so as to convey an appreciation of the main international movements in the history of cinema.

ANTH 200 (701) HNR: Intro to African Societies
CRN 43116 | Online Asynchronous | Christopher Brooks
This course introduces the student to the African continent, its peoples and cultures. It covers such general characteristics as the physical and geographical features, climate, topography, traditional economies, languages, religions, social systems and other cultural features that are traditional to its people.

APPM 355 (701): Honors Orchestra
CRN 43487 | MWF | 1:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. | In Person
Semester course; 3 laboratory hours. 1 credit. May be repeated for a total of 8 credits. Open to music majors or by permission; audition required. Provides an opportunity to rehearse and perform works from the symphonic repertoire while improving ensemble skills.

ENGL 313 (701): Honors Popular Culture Studies: Race & Identity in American Music
CRN 41277| M, W | 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Hybrid-Synchronous | Mary Caton Lingold
*ENGL 200 is a prerequisite for this course. Please contact Jared Johnson (jajohnson4@vcu.edu) to request a course override if needed.*
This course is ideal for music lovers, history buffs, and those interested in identity and race. We will listen to a range of musical genres, watch documentary film, read cultural criticism, and learn a lot about the history of American musical life.

ENGL 337 (701) Honors Victorian Poetry
CRN 43065 | MWF | 1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. | In Person | Nicholas Frankel
*ENGL 200 is a prerequisite for this course. Please contact Jared Johnson (jajohnson4@vcu.edu) to request a course override if needed.*
A survey of the poetry of Victorian Britain, usually including Tennyson, the Brownings, Arnold and the pre-Raphaelites.

ENGL 391 (750) HONR: Topics: Sustainable Environments
CRN: 44351 | T | 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | In Person | Cristina Stanciu
This course will focus on the theme of sustainable/unsustainable environments in Native American fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and film. We will consider the impacts of colonialism and settler colonialism on Indigenous North American social and physical environments and the ways traditional forms of cultural, spiritual, and ecological knowledge provide alternatives to Western systems of thought. Possible authors include: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Joy Harjo, Simon Ortiz, Louise Erdrich, Linda Hogan, Winona LaDuke, Cheri Dimaline, and others.

ENVS 256 (701) Honors Paths for Environmental Leadership
CRN 43468 | W | 9 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.| In Person | James Vonesh
Note: This course has an ENVS 101/102 prerequisite, email Jared Johnson at jajohnson4@vcu.edu to get an override
This course focuses on personal leadership development, leadership in the field of environmental studies, grant writing and revision, and the peer-review process. Discussions with guest speakers who are leaders in various environmental fields, additional readings and self-directed exploration of leadership figures will broaden our understanding of environmental leadership. Students will then use the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship application as a tool to begin to develop their own vision of environmental leadership and develop experience in grant writing and peer review.

HIST 391 (701) HON: Global History of Animals
CRN 44488| T/R | 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | Online Synchronous | Rocio Gomez
This course examines the interactions between humans and non-human animals. It examines the role of other animals in human culture, economy, religion, thought, food, and politics. The course begins with an examination of early human-animal relations in the Pleistocene period and continues through agricultural development, further domestication, and ends with the current state of that relationship. The course is broad and inclusive and will take examples from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. Films and experiential learning options will be provided as well.

IDDS 200 (751) Honors: Disability History and Culture
CRN 44558 | M | 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | Online Asynchronous | Tosha Yingling
This course provides an interdisciplinary exploration of disability within American society and internationally throughout history. It examines how disability studies, as a field of study, views disability as a social, political, historical and cultural phenomenon. The class examines cultural attitudes about disability and how they influence policies that are designed to address disability.

Honors 398 topic courses (3 Credit Hours)

Intercultural Communication
CRN 43724 | 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. | M, W, F| Blended- asynchronous instruction | Shira Schiecken
This course will increase students’ intercultural competence by providing them with a set of cognitive tools to be used in their personal, academic, and professional lives. Throughout the semester, we will examine the concept and impact of culture and how cultural frameworks influence our daily and professional communication. Topics will focus on cultural self-awareness; understanding of cultural contexts, worldviews and perspectives; verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as, challenges to intercultural communication.

Drivers of Global Change
CRN 43696| Online Asynchronous | Brian Toibin
Global challenges are accelerating the demand for sustainable change in every aspect of our lives. This course provides a framework for understanding the major drivers and prioritizing critical strategies to address them.

Bringing Out The Best in Self
CRN 44024| 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | T,R | In Person | Christy Tyndall
In this course, we will explore the notion of self and the psychological, cultural, social, and biological foundations of identity with emphasis on the period of emerging adulthood in which identity formation is a key developmental activity. Through the lenses of social and educational psychology, students will also learn about theories of motivation including achievement goal theory, self-determination theory, expectancy value theory, and self-efficacy and how to optimize personal motivational strategies.

Legal and Ethical Implications of Social Media
CRN 43969| 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | T | Hybrid-Asynchronous | Cheryl Black
The course looks at the intersection of traditional legal concepts, such as contract law, intellectual property law and privacy with the emergency technology of social media platforms. The course explores the impact of social media platforms on these legal topics and the role ethics plays or should play in this growing digital landscape. Basic legal principles and concepts will be introduced to provide context for students who have not taken a legal foundational course.

A Survey of World Pandemics
CRN 43862| 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. | T | In Person | 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.

Television and the Ideal Woman
CRN 43697 | 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | T/R | In Person | Faye Prichard
Network television as we know it today, largely began in the 1940’s. Since that time, may kinds of programming have come and gone. Arguably, the most enduring genre has been the situation comedy. Honors 398, as its title suggests, explores. During the early days, the ideal woman was often a stay-at-home mom who baked cookies, vacuumed in pearls, and oversaw the lives of her family. But even in those early sitcom days there were other kinds of women who stole the spotlight. There were working women, women who spoke up, and even dead women. Honors 398 will explore the influences that created the social picture of the ideal woman, as well as how these television icons shaped the way that Americans saw each other. We will also explore how television ideals continue to shape our values around women and their roles. How did we get from Donna Reed to Rachel Green? Let’s find out.

Contemporary Issues in Higher Education
CRN 44343 | W | 7 p.m. - 9:40 p.m. | In Person | Ben Plache
This course explores the challenges and issues facing higher education today. Topics discussed include the history of higher education, projected demographic changes, state policy, higher education costs, private and public institutions, and confronting racism and sexism in the academy.

High Performance Leadership
CRN 44386 | M | 5 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. | In Person | Thomas Connolly
This course focuses on building and leading high performing teams. 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.

Nutrition ‘Intel’
CRN 44403 | Online Asynchronous | Instructor TBA
In this course, students will examine the latest Intelligence (Intel) as it relates to nutrition as a multi-disciplinary field involving biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, sociology, history and anthropology. Students will be able to tailor their learning outcomes to align to their chosen discipline. Topics in this course will touch on the microbiome, nutrigenomics, deconstructing the numbers on a food label, behavioral eating (fat cell theory & set point theory of metabolism), food deserts/food swamps, significant achievements in food science, and diets patterned after our ancestral hunter-gathers.

Honors 399 modules (1.5 Credit Hours)

In his seminal 1925 essay, “Enter the New Negro,” author Alain Locke asserted that “the pulse of the Negro world has begun to beat in Harlem.” In the same year, The New York Times Herald publicized “what might be termed a Negro Renaissance.” Originally referred to as “The New Negro Arts Movement,” this vibrant period of Black intellectual, cultural, and artistic achievement and recognition soon came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. At its height in the 1920s and 1930s, the influence and impact of this movement extends far beyond these decades.

Focusing on key works by visual artists including Aaron Douglas, Lois Mailou Jones, James van der Zee, and Jacob Lawrence, and writers such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, this five-week interdisciplinary course examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the Harlem Renaissance, its importance to the Civil Rights Movement, and its ongoing relevance to issues of Black identity, systemic racism, and the role of art in the struggle for social justice that figure so prominently in our national discourse today.

Contemporary Issues in Crime & Corrections
CRN 44341 | T/R | 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | In Person | 9/13 - 10/11 | TBA
Drop deadline: 9/14
In this course, the students examine the traditional to the contemporary causes of criminal behavior. Students will explore how childhood development and exposure to violence leads to delinquent behavior and the introduction to the criminal justice system. Upon introduction to the course, the students will become acquainted with the criminal court process, alternative sentencing, and incarceration. In addition, students will research challenges women who have been incarcerated experience, the role of therapeutic programs that address criminogenic factors and promote a reduction in criminal behavior thus a positive change in behaviors.

Reuse, Recycle, Recreate
Experiential learning fine arts courses approved for CHS majors only (effective 2021-2022 undergraduate bulletin).
General education course approved for CHS majors only (prior to 2021)
CRN 44383 | Online - Asynchronous | 8/23 - 9/20 | Chelsea Lee
Drop Deadline: 8/24
Create one of a kind artworks out of everyday objects. Get outside the classroom to source reusable and recyclable materials to create sculptural artworks. We’ll get inspiration with visits to the ICA, and local galleries, and begin to see the things around you in a different way.

This class will play a Reacting to the Past roleplaying game that focuses on the social movements that converged in Greenwich Village in 1913. This will take students to the beginning of the modern era when urbanization, industrialization, and massive waves of immigration were transforming the U.S. way of life. As the game begins, suffragists are taking to the streets demanding a constitutional amendment for the vote, organized Labor has turned to the strike to demand living wages and better conditions, and African-Americans, suffering from the worst working conditions, disenfranchisement, and social segregation, debate how to support their community through education and protest, thereby challenging their continuing marginalization in both the South and the North. In this class, students will play the roles of historical characters from this period and get to determine how “could” have turned out.

HONR 494 Capstone (4 Credit Hours-Two Sections Offered)

Eligibility: Only available to take during students' graduating semester
This course 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. Lastly, while engaging in this capstone course, students will connect the nine priority areas established by the Capital Region Collaborative. These pillars – Education, Job Creation, Workforce Preparation, Social Stability, Healthy Community, Coordinated Transportation, James River, Quality Place, and Demographics – serve as a framework for community engagement. Those areas of interest are particularly relevant, having been established by the greater Richmond region through lengthy engagement with the Collaborative.

Honors Contracts

The Honors College faculty and staff are dedicated to developing a unique program of courses that challenges and stimulates students, while also encouraging open discussion and individual responsibility. At times, it may be appropriate for an Honors student to convert a non-Honors course into Honors by working closely with a faculty mentor to develop an Honors plan of study. The student and faculty member would then collaborate to adjust the standard class syllabus into an Honors version that includes more advanced work. The Honors work may be done in place of regular assignments, or it could be completed in addition to the regular assignments. The student and the instructor should determine and specify on the course contract what percentage of the final grade will be comprised of Honors work.

Honors Contract Steps

Speak with your Honors advisor about the process to avoid any complications.
Identify which course you would like to contract, then request that the course instructor work with you to convert the class for Honors credit. Note: The faculty member is under no obligation to agree.

Review the Contract Etiquette Guide, or view the audio tutorial, for tips and instructions on how to approach a professor about completing a course contract.

Review the Non Honors to Honors Contract Instruction Guide (rev 2/19).
When you have finished your proposal, in consultation with the instructor, fill out the Non Honors to Honors Contract Proposal Form.
Honors contracts proposals are due for Fall 2022 on August 19

Contract Policies and Notes

Up to six credit hours of non-Honors to Honors contracts may be taken.
Honors contracts are only allowed for 300- and 400-level coursework.
The proposal must be approved by the Honors College Senior Associate Dean prior to the first day of classes for the given semester.
Proposals are due exactly one week prior to the start of classes for the semester proposed. For example, if the Fall semester begins August 18th, the proposal is due August 11st.
Non-Honors to Honors Contracts are not allowed for lab courses.
Only Fall and Spring courses are eligible to be made into contracts.
Contracts are not allowed to substitute for any of the core Honors curriculum courses for students on our old curriculum (i.e. Fall 2018 and prior).

Contract Proposal and Syllabus Examples

Example of an Honors Course Contract
Example of an Honors Course Contract

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jared Johnson, Coordinator of Academic Affairs.

Honors Independent Study

The Honors Independent study (HONR 492) provides an opportunity for students to learn more about a specific topic of interest that is not included among existing VCU course offerings. Study is conducted under the guidance of a VCU faculty mentor who assists in planning and implementing the course of study. The independent study topic should be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor to ensure that the proposed course of study is relevant to that student's educational goals.

HONR Independent Study Steps

Consult with your Honors advisor about the process to avoid any complications.
Identify a topic to explore independently and research faculty members who might be a good fit for your goals.
You will reach out to the faculty member and request that they serve as your faculty mentor. Remember to use professional etiquette and come prepared to your meeting with your professor. You want to inform them about the process and demonstrate why this opportunity will further your own ambitions and academic goals. Note: The faculty member is under no obligation to agree to serve as your mentor.
You will want to design your proposal around pursuing your own interest questions. This is a great opportunity to do your own research, so take advantage of it.
Read through the Independent Study Instruction Guide (rev 2/19), or view the HONR Independent Study audio tutorial.
Fill out the Honors Independent Study Proposal Form.

Independent Study Policies and Notes

HONR 492 is a one- to four-credit hour option. The credit hours will be determined by the Senior Associate Dean of the Honors College.
Honors students may accumulate up to nine credit hours of HONR 492 credit.
The proposal must be approved by the Honors College Senior Associate Dean prior to the first day of classes for the given semester.
Proposals for Fall 2022 are due August 19

Faculty Role

The role of the faculty mentor is to guide the student in the study of the topic, meeting with the student to discuss progress, working with the student’s Honors advisor as needed to develop criteria for evaluating the student’s work, and communicating the grade for the course to the Honors Senior Associate Dean.

The faculty mentor must agree to be available to the student throughout the duration of the course.

Independent Study Contract Example

Example of an Independent Study Contract

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jared Johnson, Coordinator of Academic Affairs.

Honors Internship

The Honors College Internship (HONR 493) offers an opportunity for students to engage in experiential learning. It is designed to provide students with real-world experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. The internship is conducted under the guidance of an employer who assists in planning and implementing the internship, along with the approval of the Senior Associate Dean of the Honors College. The internship should be selected in consultation with the student's academic advisor to ensure that the proposed internship is relevant to that student's educational goals.

Internship Options

Pre-Approved internships listed on Handshake

Start by reviewing the corresponding Handshake instructions on how to find the opportunities online.
The internship post, description, and application portal can all be found on Handshake.
Once you have applied and are accepted, contact the Coordinator of Academic Affairs, Jared Johnson, to discuss whether or not to submit the HONR 493 form and apply the internship towards Honors credit.
Pre-Approved Internships do not require a written proposal.

External internships

If you apply and are accepted for an external internship on your own, you may be eligible to apply it towards HONR 493 credit.
Once you have been accepted for your internship, contact the Coordinator of Academic Affairs, Jared Johnson, to discuss the requirements for the written proposal and internship.
Write your proposal and submit it through the HONR 493 form.
Fulfill all obligations for your internship as listed in the instruction guide.

Internship Policies and Notes

The number of internship credit hours for a single HONR 493 course may range from one to three credits. The number of credits is determined by the student’s advisor and the Dean of the Honors College. Any single internship course may not exceed three credit hours.
Honors students may not register for more than six total credits of HONR 493.
For students on the new Honors curriculum (i.e. Fall 2018 - present), HONR 493 will not count as a Course of Intention due to the course grading as Pass/Fail. Please talk with your advisor to see how best to apply HONR 493 credit.
HONR 493 is restricted to Junior- and Senior-level status. The Honors College Senior Associate Dean will determine the grade for the course based on the evaluation criteria stated in the internship proposal.
Review the HONR 493: Internship audio tutorial for a step-by-step guide on the internship application process.

Internship Deadlines

For pre-approved internships, the HONR 493 Internship Form must be submitted by August 1 for fall term, January 1 for spring term, and May 1 for summer term.
For external internships, the HONR 493 Internship Form must be submitted by along with the corresponding proposal by August 1 for fall term, January 1 for spring term, and May 1 for summer term.

If you are interested in applying for any of these approved internship opportunities, please e-mail Mr. Jared Johnson, Coordinator of Academic Affairs.

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