Honors Courses

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
• Chemistry 101
• Chemistry 301 lab
• Economics 210
• Economics 461 (Fed Challenge)
• Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 311
• Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies 201
• Marketing 301
• Mathematics 201
• Philosophy 201
• Philosophy 230
• Political Science 365/International Studies 365
• Psychology 101
• Statistics 210

 

The following Honors Topics courses (HONR 398; 3 credit hours) will be offered:

Disrupting Ageism: An Exploration of Diversity and Aging F 12-2:40 p.m. (CRN 39517; Prof. John White)

Despite stereotypes, we become more diverse and unique as we age. The art and science of living and aging is not a one-size fits all model. This course will explore issues related to gender and sexual minorities as well as a focus on aging within communities of privilege. Special attention will be paid to roles, power and how they impact our aging. Throughout the semester, we will engage with community partners (elders and organizations) to further study barriers and opportunities for positive aging among diverse populations.

Hollywood and the Twentieth Century T 2-4:40 p.m. (CRN 38566; Prof. David Pratt)

As a mass medium, film is both shaped by the broader culture of the society in which it is produced and itself shapes how members of that society understand the world around them. In this course, students will learn about Hollywood as arguably the most powerful culture industry of the twentieth century, setting the terms of public discourse and political debate even as Hollywood films and their creators were the scrutinized objects of both. We will consider the ideas and identities excluded by mainstream cinema, and look to the filmmakers both in and outside of Hollywood who sought (and seek) to make film more inclusive. Along the way, students will learn how to analyze film as a unique (and uniquely powerful) visual medium.

Homelessness at Home R 6-8:40 p.m. (CRN 39126; Prof. Susan Sekerke)

As an urban-based university, the issue of homelessness cannot be avoided on VCU's campus. Homelessness typically happens when one (or more) social safety-net program(s) does not function as expected. This class will provide students an opportunity to learn and experience the issues while promoting critical thought and action. Students will examine the causes of homelessness, become familiar with local services, and learn about national best practices. The class will encourage the application of community engagement knowledge and skills through hands-on practice of community engagement.

HONR 398: Intercultural Communication MW 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (CRN 38985)

This course serves as an introduction to the basic concepts, principles and skills for improving verbal and nonverbal communication with persons from different cultures. Using a “culture-general approach”, topics discussed include the concept of culture, barriers to intercultural communication, verbal communication processes, and nonverbal communication aspects. The goal is to foster YOUR own intercultural communication competence. 

 

The following Honors Modules (HONR 399; 1.5 credit hours) will be offered:

Freedom of Speech Sept. 6-Oct. 4, F 2-4:40 p.m. (CRN 39278; Prof. Carol Rasnic)

This course will cover the constitutional right to freedom of expression under the First Amendment (1791) to the U.S. Constitution.  Readings will be U.S. Supreme court decision (or instruction-reduced portions of those decisions) and some short articles (law journals and/or newspaper extracts).Emphasis will be on judicially created exceptions to this constitutional protection, including, most importantly, “clear-and-present-danger”, “fighting words,” defamation, communications that incite violence (for example., state statutes that prohibit cross burning). There will be occasional comparisons with comparable freedoms (or lack thereof in a few other countries. This class is not for those who are easily offended!

Reuse, Recycle, Re-create (Art) Sept. 4-Oct. 2, W 1-3:40 p.m. (CRN 39276; Prof. Chelsea Lee)

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, begin to see the things around you in a different way.

Social, Economic Changes in American Cities and Suburbs Aug. 20-Sept. 17, T 5-7:40 p.m. (CRN 36488 sec 703;

Prof. John Palen)

This module will provide a synoptic view of the processes and consequences of American urbanization. We shall restrict our attention to the last 150 years with major attention devoted to the last 60 or so years of post World War II suburban growth and change. In our discussion, emphasis will be placed not only on what has occurred and is occurring, but also on its causation and implications for American society. The module will have three overlapping sections. The first will deal with the historical emergence of American Suburbs up to World War II. The second section will discuss mass suburbanization, suburbs and popular culture, suburban lifestyles, and the impact of government policy. The final section will deal with contemporary and future patterns including minority suburbanization, the emergence of edge cities and malls, and the new neo-traditional new urbanism communities.

Honors POLI 365: International Political Economy Online, May 20 - July 10 (CRN 31771)

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

• Biology 152
• Biology 300
• Biology 310
• Business 325
• Chemistry 102
• Economics 210
• Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies 201
• Mass Communication 408
• Mass Communication 493
• Philosophy 201
• Philosophy 230
• Political Science 365/International Studies 365
• Psychology 498
• Psychology 499
• Statistics 210
• Survey of Art II (ARTH 104)

The following Honors Topics courses (HONR 398; 3 credit hours) will be offered:

Community Development

CRN 38241 | 2:00-3:15 | TR

Professor Brandi Daniels

Despite various global, diverse communities located around the world, social impact is more robust in collaborative environment. To impact positive social changes, leaders in these communities must understand the cultural competence as well as the critical needs/barriers present in communities. This course examines community engagement, including but not limited to theories of citizenship, human rights, social movements, civic leadership, social justice, civil discourse, and social capital strategies.

Diving into Qualitative Research

CRN 38209 | 10:00-11:15 | MW

Dr. 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.

Drivers of Global Change

CRN 38239 | 4:00-6:40 | W

Professor 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.

Molecular Basis for Human Disease

CRN 36931 | 8:00-9:15 | TR

Medical Sciences Building (MCV Campus)

Dr. Keith Baker

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. 

Social Justice and the Arts

CRN 38662 | 11:00-12:15 | TR

Professor 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.

There Are No Failures in Life

CRN 38904 | 4:00-6:40 | M

Drs. Amanda Hall and Jose Alcaine

In today’s fast paced, dynamic, and globalized world, extreme individual competition - the desire (and the necessity) to “succeed” at all costs - presents a limitation to social entrepreneurship, personal and professional fulfillment, innovative problem solving, and most importantly collaboration across cultures and disciplines. This course will explore and unpack some of these limiting factors and provide alternative perspectives and paths to self-fulfillment and adaptive resiliency as a way for students to better understand failure and success as social constructs (not determinants of self-worth) and learn to embrace change.

The Honors College faculty and staff are dedicated to developing a unique program of courses that challenges and stimulates students while 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 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 could be completed in addition to the regular assignments. You and the instructor should determine and specify on the course contract what percentage of your final grade this Honors-caliber work will comprise. No more than six of the total credit hours required for graduation with Honors may be taken as contract courses.

If you are considering this option, you should first speak with your Honors advisor about the process. Your Honors advisor will alert you to typical pitfalls that students encounter as well as common reasons proposals are returned for revision. After you have identified a class that you’d like to contract as Honors, you should approach the instructor and request that he or she work with you to convert the class into an Honors class. The faculty member is under no obligation to agree. You must be prepared for the possibility that the instructor does not have time or that the instructor feels that the class is not a good option for this contract process.

Once you have made arrangements to integrate advanced study, you must fastidiously review the Non Honors to Honors Contract Instruction Guide (rev 2/19). After reviewing the guide, fill out the Non Honors to Honors Contract Proposal Form. 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 on the last day of classes (Monroe Park Campus) per the VCU academic calendar in the semester prior to the semester of the contract course.

Please note that course contracts are not allowed for any of the core Honors curriculum courses. In addition, because summer and winter intercession courses are considerably compressed due to time constraints, they are not eligible for the Honors course contract option.

The Honors Independent study (HONR 492) provides an opportunity for you 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 your academic advisor to ensure that the proposed course of study is relevant to your educational goals.

The number of independent study credit hours for a single HONR 492 course may range from one to four credits. The number of credits are determined by the student’s advisor and the dean of the Honors College. Any single independent study class may not exceed four credit hours. Honors students may not register for more than nine total credits of HONR 492. Independent study credits may count toward graduation with University Honors.

If you are considering this option, you should consult your Honors advisor, who can review the general procedure and go over typical pitfalls that students encounter as well as common reasons proposals are returned for revision. After you have identified a topic that you’d like to explore independently, you should research which faculty members might be available to oversee and evaluate your work. You should then reach out to the faculty member and request that they serve as your faculty mentor.  It is important to note that the Honors Independent Study is designed to provide you the opportunity to pursue your own research questions, not to assist with the research of another. Although some major departments offer independent study for serving as a lab or research assistant, earning Honors independent study credit requires you to take ownership of the research process.

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. The faculty member is under no obligation to agree to serve as your faculty mentor. You must be prepared for the possibility that the instructor does not have time or that the instructor feels that he or she is unable to evaluate your work.

Any assignments required for the project must be submitted to a faculty mentor at least two weeks prior to the end of the semester. The structure of the assignments will depend on the type of project and must be determined in detail as part of the proposal process. The faculty mentor will determine the grade for the course based on the evaluation criteria stated in the independent-study proposal. To obtain credit and a grade for your independent study, you must submit the outcome materials specified in your proposal to a faculty mentor. The faculty mentor will communicate your final grade via official VCU email to the Honors dean, who serves as the instructor of record for all HONR 492 courses.

Once you have made arrangements to integrate advanced study, you must fastidiously look and read over the Independent Study Instruction Guide (rev 2/19). After reviewing the guide, fill out the Honors Independent Study Proposal Form. 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 by the last day of classes (Monroe Park Campus) per the VCU academic calendar in the semester prior to the semester of the contract course.

The Honors College Internship (HONR 493) provides an opportunity for you 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, Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Mason. The internship should be selected in consultation with your academic advisor to ensure that the proposed internship is relevant to your educational goals.

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.

Please note: HONR 493 DOES NOT COUNT AS A COURSE OF INTENTION; however, the course will count for Honors credit. Make sure to meet with your honors advisor to discuss how this internship will be applied towards your honors requirements.

If you are considering this option, first, you should consult with your Honors advisor, who can review the general procedure and go over typical pitfalls that students encounter as well as common reasons proposals are returned for revision. Secondly, you will need to contact our Senior Associate Dean, Jacqueline Smith-Mason to help you construct the learning outcomes and determine how they will be evaluated for the internship. 

Make sure to establish a relationship with the future employer and lay out a clear plan for the internship. Also, consider that one credit hour of a 493 is equivalent to fifty hours of work at the internship. Make sure to consider the entire workload with your internship along with your other courses and work obligations. 

The role of the employer is to guide the student throughout the internship experience, meet with the student to discuss their work progress, and communicate the grade for the course to the faculty mentor, whom will relay the grade to the Honors Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Mason. 

HONR 493 is graded pass/fail. Your faculty mentor for the internship will determine the grade for the course based on the evaluation criteria stated in the internship proposal. To obtain credit and a grade for your internship, you must complete everything outlined in your proposal. The faculty mentor will communicate your final grade via an official VCU e-mail to the Honors Senior Associate Dean, who serves as the instructor of record for all HONR 493 courses.

Once you have made arrangements to integrate advanced study, you must fastidiously review the Honors College Internship Instruction Guide (rev 2/19) prior to uploading your proposal to the HONR 493 Internship Form online. The proposal must be approved by the Honors College Senior Associate Dean by May 18 for all summer and fall internships and by November 8 for spring 2020 internships.

Pre-approved HONR 493 Internship Opportunities

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

Below is a list of approved internships for Honors 493 credit. A full description of each internship opportunity can be found on the Honors College Internship (HONR 493) Opportunities page. You will still need to follow all of the Honors internship instructions; however, these internships do not require a written proposal. 

• Honors Community Health Experience (Affiliated with VCU Health)
• Institute for Contemporary Art
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• VCU School of Education

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