Course Descriptions

While many students have a notion that honors courses are, by default, harder, we always say that honors classes are different. With an average class size of just 17 students, honors classes allow students to have far more interaction with their professors and fellow students; in turn, this allows professors to design their classes to revolve around discussion and active learning rather than lectures and tests.

Generally speaking, the Honors College offers two levels of honors courses that are available to all honors students. Lower Division electives, which also fulfill general education requirements, and Upper Division electives (HONR 3700), which are upper-level discussion intensive courses.

Please note: you must be enrolled in the University Honors Program, Business Honors Program, Arts + Architecture Honors Program, Computing Honors Program, a college or departmental honors program, be a Levine Scholar, OR have the permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault (Administrative Support Associate) at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

FAll 2026 Schedule of classes

Lower Division elective courses

AFRS 1501- H01  (CRN#16369) Global Social Science (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Honore Missihoun

“Black Atlantic, African and Diasporan History and Politics: Decolonization to Post-independence through Literature” This Global Social Science AFRS 1501 honors course is an interdisciplinary survey of key issues in the political history of Africa and the Diaspora and their interaction with colonial powers, decolonization and post-independence struggle. The course provides interdisciplinary exposure to the African continent including its history, people, social features, government, culture, and its contributions to the world. The course also investigates the political lives, histories, cultures, and thoughts of African-descended people. It examines the role of race, the mechanics of global slavery, and the importance of both in the making of the modern Atlantic world. The course analyzes key themes (local and global) and subjects that have shaped and continue to shape current era: colonialism, decolonization, and neo-imperialism; race, gender, and sexuality; violence and non-violence; fashion, sports, and the arts; mass incarceration and mass mobilizations and their political implications for liberation. This course reveals that Black Atlantic is a dynamic tapestry of transvaluation of culture, history and politics of human assertion across centuries between the shores of the Atlantic.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Restrictions: Freshman and Sophomore only (first year UHP students may be approved to take this course)
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
ARCH 1502 – H02 (CRN#16374) Global Arts/Humanities (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
tbd

All Global Theme courses explore the central, unifying question of what it means to be a citizen of the world. Through the study of one or more different peoples, societies or cultures across the globe, students will be able to better understand themselves as part of a complex, interconnected world. ARCH 1502 examines architecture as a visual practice, looking at buildings not as inert objects, but as weighty visual constructs that hold cultural and environmental meaning for individuals and societies. ARCH 1502 allows students to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on the role and influence of architecture in society and the philosophical ideas that give buildings and places meaning.

Restrictions: Freshman and Sophomore only (first year UHP students may be approved to take this course)
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu
HONR 1512- H03 (CRN#16391) Local Arts/Humanities (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Malcolm Campbell

“The Tao of Self-Doubt: Investigating Doubt as a Catalyst toward Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership”  
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.” Voltaire

In this class, you’ll investigate the value of self-doubt as a necessary emotion or state of mind to create anything new or original and to succeed in school and your career. You’ll participate in an historic and contemporary study of self-doubt and its role in the realization of seminal ideas in science, break-through solutions in mathematics, and creative achievements in literature, art, and music. We will also examine the role self-doubt plays in creating impactful leaders in business, the civics, and in such historic events as the Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights movements. We’ll reflect on our own doubts and discover how to be more comfortable with its presence. Finally, we’ll learn how to leverage self-doubt to propel us through the inevitable periods when we feel inadequate, inferior, or like an imposter. Assignments include class and small-group discussions, reflections, research, and writing. The course will culminate in a self-selected inquiry project to be presented to the class, either individually or in teams.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Restrictions: Freshman and Sophomore only (first year UHP students may be approved to take this course)
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HIST 1575 – H71 (CRN#14235 ) American Democracy (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Carol HIgham

“American Democracy’s Past and Promise” An examination of issues or concepts related to American democracy, with attention to key historical documents including but not limited to: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Using a variety of approaches, this course will provide the historical context and deep critical analysis necessary to help students understand the importance of these foundational documents to the American democratic journey. By using close analysis and presentations, this class helps you engage with these documents through inquiry and research, leading you to a better understanding of their context and connections.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Restrictions: Freshman and Sophomore only (first year UHP students may be approved to take this course)
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
BINF 1101 – H03 (CRN#12809) Introduction to Bioinformatics and Genomics (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 2:30 pm – 3:45
Wednesday 12:15 pm – 2:15 pm (lab)
Alex Dornburg

Introduction to the genomics perspective in the life sciences, combining a general introduction to genomic technologies and the bioinformatics methods used to analyze genome-scale data with a presentation of real world scientific problems where these technologies are having an impact.  The lab component provides hands-on experience with topics in bioinformatics, genomics, and generative artificial intelligence, using small-scale projects to introduce students to the world of bioinformatics research. Honors students engage in an enriched path that highlights the intersection of AI with modern science and the practice of 21st-century research.

Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
ECON 2101 – H01 (CRN#10870) Principles of Economics-Macro
Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Teresa Mannah-Blankson

This course reviews the scope and methodology of economics as a social science. Topics reviewed include the measurement of national income, the theory of national income determination, money and banking, monetary and fiscal policy, and international economics. Generally, the course aims to provide an overview of macroeconomic analysis at the most fundamental level.

Restrictions: Sophomore and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

Critical Thinking courses

CTCM 2530 – H71 (CRN#13056) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Catherine Tingelstad

“Exploring News Media Literacy in Today’s Information Environment“ This course examines how news media literacy addresses the topics of misinformation, bias, algorithms, artificial intelligence, ownership, and the editorial process. Students will explore these issues through readings, discussions, and active inquiry and will analyze our news media environment and its impact on our lives as citizens and its effect on a democratic society. Students will use critical thinking to analyze our complex information environment and will synthesize research findings to create a semester-long inquiry project using the resources in Atkins Library’s Area 49.

The class will be held in Atkins Library, room 123.

Prerequisite: WRDS 1103/1104
Restrictions: Sophomore and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
CTCM 2530 – H72 (CRN#13058) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Ian Binns

“Science, Religion, and Society” The Critical Thinking and Communication (CTCM) course is part of an integrated First-Year Writing and general education curriculum that develops critical thinking and communication skills. Students undertake an inquiry process and build towards the preparation of a polished product at the end of the semester. In this course, we will focus on the interactions between science and various religious traditions, both historical and contemporary. Throughout this course, students develop a critical lens to better understand science and these religious traditions, what makes them unique, their interaction, and how they benefit society. Additionally, this course will help students think more critically about the intersection between these disciplines and how to use this knowledge to elevate the discourse surrounding science and religion.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Prerequisite: WRDS 1103/1104
Restrictions: Sophomore and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
CTCM 2530 – H73 (CRN#13478) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm  – 2:15 pm
Jose Manuel Batista

“What is a Hero? A Reevaluation of Iberian Mercenaries, European Soldiers and Indigenous Warriors of the Epic Tradition” The Critical Thinking and Communication (CTCM) course is part of an integrated First-Year Writing and general education curriculum that develops critical thinking and communication skills. Students undertake an inquiry process and build towards the preparation of a polished product at the end of the semester. The specific subject matter for this section of the course is the epic poem of the Spanish and Spanish American literary tradition.

In this course section, the polished product is a portfolio composed of various types of writing assignments (annotation, précis, literary analysis and reflection essay) designed to answer the student’s variant of the overarching question: “What is a hero?”. Students read the English translation of two national epic poems from the Hispanic (or Lusophone) tradition and through different types of discourse (discussion, dialogue and debate) explore the role of the hero, the convention of the epic form, the interplay of myth and history, the characterization of the enemy, the representation of violence, and the controversies of the past that may still haunt us today.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Prerequisite: WRDS 1103/1104
Restrictions: Sophomore and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

Upper Division elective courses

HONR 3700 – H01 (CRN#12084) Honors College Topics: Technology, Society, and Attention
Monday and Wednesday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Andrew Keener

Today’s social media platforms and technologies shape our lives in powerful ways. They give us exciting opportunities to connect with others, express ourselves, and discover new music, shows, and products. However, they also make it harder to focus, manage our time, and maintain balance. Issues like loneliness are becoming more common, and AI is raising questions about creativity and human interaction, too. This course explores a mix of classic and recent ideas about social media, entertainment, and how humans focus their attention in a tech-filled world. Through readings and films, we’ll look at today’s social media debates in the context of a longer tech history; students will also gain insights into the business, psychology, and art of attention. Class activities include presentations on student-selected tech and entertainment topics, writing assignments on course material, and exercises that will help students practice deep focus.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H02 (CRN#11685) Honors College Topics: U.S. Education Policy in the 21st Century
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Mindy Adnot

This course is designed to introduce students to important policy issues in U.S. K-12 education in the 21st century including school accountability, school choice, teacher workforce policies, and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will examine the goals, institutions, and actors that shape the American K-12 education system in order to understand recent reform efforts and their consequences for students. Our inquiry will be grounded in seminal theories of the policy process and the empirical evidence base on policies and programs. Students will engage with the topic through in-class discussion, case study, presentation, research, and writing.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H03 (CRN#11283) Honors College Topics: Great Equalizer or Great Oppressor? The Quest for Equity in Education
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Nicholas Triplett

This course examines the contested meanings of equality and equity in American public education and the implications of those concepts for educational policy, practice, and reform. While broad consensus exists that all young people deserve equal access to the benefits of public education, deep disagreement emerges over how educational opportunity should be equalized, whether students should be treated the same or differently, and what fairness and justice require in unequal social contexts. These contested questions underlie many of the most polarizing debates in contemporary educational discourse, including curriculum control, race and racism, sexuality and sex education, political indoctrination, American exceptionalism, the legacy of slavery, book bans, science education, and cultural bias in schooling.

Students will engage philosophical, theoretical, and practical frameworks of equality, equity, and related concepts such as justice, liberty, sovereignty, and fairness. These frameworks will be applied across multiple axes of educational difference, including race, class, gender, sexuality, and language or nativity. A central feature of the course is its deliberation-integrated design: students will learn and practice structured discussion as a democratic method for addressing controversial educational issues in order to achieve inclusive participation and reasoned collective judgment.

By combining conceptual analysis with deliberative practice, the course aims to cultivate informed, reflective participants in the American public education community—individuals capable of navigating deep pluralism, engaging disagreement constructively, and contributing to meaningful, democratic educational reform.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H94 (CRN#12001) Honors College Topics: Comic Books, Manga, and Graphic Novels: Deconstruction, Creation, and Publication
Wednesday 5:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Adriana Medina

In this course, we will read and examine comic books, manga, and graphic novels to enjoy and deconstruct the genres. We will appraise the value of relaying information through pictures and words. Next, we will consider a universal, common human experience we have had, want to better understand, and share. Then, we will go through the creative writing process to write and illustrate our own mini comic, manga, or graphic novel. Finally, we will share and attempt to publish our work. Additionally, we will engage in writing and illustrating activities during class as well as discuss with each other and with guest artists how these genres can be utilized in our respective disciplines.

The class will be held in Mebane 036.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H05 (CRN#13826) Honors College Topics: Autism Across the Lifespan
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Leslie Bross

An overview of characteristics of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a lifespan perspective. Diagnostic criteria of ASD will be discussed, as well as historical overview of the disorder. Students will learn to identify research-based practices to meet the needs of learners with ASD in a variety of settings such as home, clinic, community, and school. Current topics and issues in the field of autism will be discussed. The course is appropriate for any student who desires a career working directly with learners with ASD such as in the fields of counseling, education, psychology, and more. Note service learning activities are required.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H06 (CRN#15198) Honors College Topics: An Exploration of Creativity in Charlotte
Wednesday 2:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Cindy Gilson

In this interdisciplinary seminar course, students will take a deep dive into understanding, exploring, and observing the concept of creativity. Essential questions considered in this course may include: What is creativity? What human characteristics relate to creativity? What can be learned about creativity through inquiry? How does one think and process creatively? Students will self-select an inquiry question to explore that is related to creativity and present their findings in an essay and at SNCUCRS (State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium – scheduled for November 2026 on campus). To build students’ creative identities, we will begin each class with icebreakers and creative thinking warm-up activities.

This class will be held at The Dubois Center in Uptown Charlotte. Light rail transportation is free for students (exit at the 9th Street Station). Students with main campus parking that includes TDC can also park there.

Note that 3 of our sessions will occur on the main campus so we can go to Atkins Library, learn from faculty guest speakers, and attend SNCUCRS. Two of our sessions will be delivered asynchronously.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

University Honors Program only

HONR 1700 – H01 (CRN#11584) University Honors Program Colloquium
tbd
Aaron Hooker

Introduces University Honors Program (UHP) students to scholarship, community engagement, and leadership opportunities within the Honors, University, and Greater Charlotte communities. The class format is inquiry and discussion driven. This course is offered only in the Fall semester for incoming UHP students. 

The meeting location for each class session will be communicated by the instructor.
Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
HONR 1700 – H02 (CRN#11585) University Honors Program Colloquium
tbd
Aaron Hooker

Introduces University Honors Program (UHP) students to scholarship, community engagement, and leadership opportunities within the Honors, University, and Greater Charlotte communities. The class format is inquiry and discussion driven. This course is offered only in the Fall semester for incoming UHP students. 

The meeting location for each class session will be communicated by the instructor.
Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
HONR 3791 – H01 (CRN#12956) University Honors Program Capstone Project
tbd
Mindy Adnot

Students in the University Honors Program (UHP) must complete an honors capstone project in order to graduate with University Honors. Students can satisfy this requirement by applying to a disciplinary honors program and completing a disciplinary capstone or thesis project (leading to dual honors; available for most majors on campus), or can complete their capstone project in UHP by completing HONR 3790 and HONR 3791. In HONR 3791, students will complete their review of the scholarly literature begun in HONR 3790 and design and lead a seminar series for a small group of incoming honors students. This work is undertaken under the mentorship of an honors faculty committee selected by the student. This course provides the opportunity for collaborative work with peers, group discussions, and feedback.

Prerequisite: HONR 3790
The meeting location for each class session will be communicated by the instructor.
Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
HONR 3791 – H02 (CRN#12957) University Honors Program Capstone Project
tbd
Mindy Adnot

Students in the University Honors Program (UHP) must complete an honors capstone project in order to graduate with University Honors. Students can satisfy this requirement by applying to a disciplinary honors program and completing a disciplinary capstone or thesis project (leading to dual honors; available for most majors on campus), or can complete their capstone project in UHP by completing HONR 3790 and HONR 3791. In HONR 3791, students will complete their review of the scholarly literature begun in HONR 3790 and design and lead a seminar series for a small group of incoming honors students. This work is undertaken under the mentorship of an honors faculty committee selected by the student. This course provides the opportunity for collaborative work with peers, group discussions, and feedback.

Prerequisite: HONR 3790
The meeting location for each class session will be communicated by the instructor.
Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.

Recommended courses

(These are excellent learning opportunities, although they do not count towards required honors credit for UHP)
HONR 2720 – H01 (CRN#12528) Competitive Scholarship Workshop
Wednesday 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Andrew Keener

This course welcomes students who are enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, UHP, or departmental), OR are in the following Scholars programs: Albert, Freeman, Johnson, Levine, Martin. Additionally, non-honors students are welcome to request permission to register; to do so, please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
This course provides students a supportive workshop environment for researching, developing, drafting, and revising written material towards nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. At the beginning of the semester, students will select opportunities to apply for, and will work towards the submission of a complete application over the course of the semester. Assignments and topics covered may include resumes, personal statements, research statements, frequently-appearing short answer questions, establishing and sustaining connections with faculty, and tips and practice for interviewing. By the end of the course, students will have developed a set of application materials that will be relevant not only to a nationally competitive award, but also for internships, graduate programs, and jobs.

In this workshop designed for applicants to nationally competitive awards, students will select opportunities to apply for and will work toward the submission of a complete application by the end of the semester. Students will gain familiarity with major application writing genres and learn about relevant resources on campus.

This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Restriction: Must obtain approval from instructor by completing an Interest Questionnaire 
This course welcomes students who are enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental), OR are in the following Scholars programs: Albert, Freeman, Johnson, Levine, Martin. Additionally, non-honors students are welcome to request permission to register; to do so, please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
WRDS 1103 – H01 (CRN#12669) Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts I and II (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 pm
Bert Wray

Recommended honors writing section for honors students needing WRDS 1103. 

Students write extensively as they explore literacy and writing. They engage critically with the opinions and voices of others while developing an extended inquiry project that integrates materials from varied sources and includes writing in multiple genres. Students write, revise, edit, and reflect on their writing with the support of the teacher and peers. Students also immerse themselves in a conversation about a topic through reading, questioning, and process writing. Students learn to distinguish rhetorical contexts, practice different conventions, and develop positions in relation to research. They also adopt digital technologies to network, compose, and/or critique and disseminate their work. In this honors section, students engage in advanced inquiries and compositions about literacy while developing a research essay, a conference presentation, and a statement of policy.

Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, CHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

summer 2026 Schedule of classes

Critical Thinking course

CTCM 2530 – H81 (CRN#31145) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Second half term (Summer II) / On-line Synchronous
Jason Black

“Music, Communication, and Mental Health“ In this course, we will explore the importance of popular music as a communication form in the United States. We will specifically emphasize how music is a conduit for communicating and grappling with Mental Health. Music is understood here as not just a product, but rather as a process. Thus, we define music as “the capacity for humans to create, perform, organize cognitively, react physically and emotionally to, and interpret the meanings of humanly organized sounds” (Rice). We will specifically root our analysis of Mental Health through music (e.g., song lyrics and music videos) in two frames: (1) the Rhetorical Tradition and (2) Ethnomusicology. The Rhetorical Tradition emphasizes the way communication forms like music creates meaning in society which, in turn, helps us: make sense of our human experiences; constitute our identities; and live our public lives together” (Black). Ethnomusicology is the study of how and why people deploy and consume music – the ways we “do musicking” together – as rhetors/musicians and audiences, respectively (Rice). Together, the Rhetorical Tradition and Ethnomusicology permit us the soulful ability to analyze Mental Health through music. Music, Mental Health, and Communication focuses on examinations of song lyrics and music videos within topical contexts connected with Mental Health: 1) self-care and self-actualization; 2) relational health; 3) addiction and recovery; 4) empathy and support systems; and 5) cultural identity and mental health. This course will involve a series of modest analytical and creative assignments tied to music texts (lyrics, music videos) and scholarly terms about critical music and mental health. These smaller tasks will lead to a final CTCM mini-project that includes writing original song lyrics and analyzing them critically by way of a short podcast that relies on the scholarly concepts we discover together in class.

Prerequisite: WRDS 1103/1104
Restrictions: Sophomore and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

Upper Division elective courses

HONR 3700 – H81 (CRN#32174) Honors College Topics:  Apartheid in South Africa and Beyond
Monday and Tuesday 2:30 pm – 4:23 pm
Thursday and Friday 2:30 pm – 4:22 pm
First half term (Summer I) / On-line Synchronous
Tatiana Height

This course is an exploration of how institutional forms of segregation impacts Black people in various contexts. As a part of this course, students will examine the now outlawed system of institutional racial segregation in South Africa, known as apartheid, through films, historical research, and the memoirs and narratives of the people who lived it. We will then examine and discuss books, documentaries, articles, videos, and podcasts detailing apartheid-like phenomena that occur in the realms of medicine, food, and educational systems in the United States. Students should expect to lead and engage in rigorous discussions of assigned materials.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.
HONR 3700 – H82 (CRN#30935) Honors College Topics: The Pursuit of Happiness for Health: From Theory to Practice
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Second half term (Summer II) / On-line Synchronous
Alicia Dahl

This honors-level course examines the science and practice of happiness as a foundation for healthier individuals and communities. Through an interdisciplinary lens—drawing from public health, psychology, philosophy, and the arts—students will explore how happiness influences physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being across local and global populations. In an era marked by global uncertainty and stress, understanding the factors that contribute to happiness is essential for fostering resilience and improving quality of life. Students will engage in evidence-based inquiry, experiential learning, and creative reflection to analyze global perspectives, evaluate interventions, and design strategies for promoting well-being at both personal and community levels. Self-directed exploration activities and meaningful intellectual collaborations will challenge students to synthesize research, apply theoretical frameworks, and critically examine ethical and cultural dimensions of happiness. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to use the science of happiness to address real-world public health challenges and to lead initiatives that foster holistic well-being.

Prerequisite: CTCM 2530
Restrictions: Junior and higher
Must be enrolled in Honors (AAHP, BHP, UHP, or departmental) OR be a Levine Scholar; OR have permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

Previous Course Listings

Curious about previous honors courses? The links below are to honors course listings from previous semesters. Some courses may be offered again in future semesters.

Course Descriptions for academic years 2015-2016 through 2019-2020