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, Levine Scholars Program, Martin Scholars Program or have the permission of the Honors College. To obtain permission please contact Colette Chenault (Administrative Support Associate) at cchenaul@charlotte.edu.

summer 2024 Schedule of classes

CTCM 2530 – H80 (CRN# 32002) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
First Half Term Summer | On-Line Synchronous
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Jordan Boyd
 
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.
“Citizenship: Race, Class, Culture, and Education in Today’s America” In this online course, students will study the concept of citizenship with an emphasis on the ways in which race, class, education, and culture act as key variables in the subject’s multifacetedness. Discussions, readings, and reflective journal entries will engage the historical, ethical, and sociopolitical foundations of citizenship and issues such as poverty, educational opportunity, and social mobility. Unlike past sections of this course, this semester will not entail a service requirement. Attendance and participation are the two key elements of this course and will be reflected in your overall grade on a weekly basis.
HONR 3700 – H80 (CRN# 31455) Honors College Topics: Politics of Hip Hop
First Half Term Summer | On-Line Synchronous
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00 am – 12:20 pm
Felecia Harris

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.
This Honors course is a critical examination of the political and cultural dynamics of Hip-Hop. Using standards of evaluation set forth by scholars of cultural studies, African American politics and Hip-Hop activists, students will explore the inter-relationship between African-American youth and society through the medium of Hip-Hop. In particular, we will examine the connection between the Hip-Hop community and the various political, corporate and institutional actors that influence society both locally and globally.

We will also explore the real and perceived political, social and marketing power of Hip-Hop and its political consequences. Those consequences will be considered in the realm of public policy. Students will research and analyze contemporary texts, commentary, music and other relevant cultural idioms related to this worldwide phenomenon. We will begin by tracing the foundation, development and manifestations of Hip-Hop over its 50-year history.

Then, students will grapple with questions related to the role and responsibility of African American youth in our world. We will also interrogate Hip Hop’s representation as an oppositional culture. By extension, we will analyze whether or not Hip-Hop practitioners have succumbed to national and international corporate interests.

fall 2024 Schedule of classes

Lower Division elective courses

ARTA 1502 – H01 (CRN#14498) Global Arts/Humanities (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 10:10 am – 11:25 am
Andrew Leventis

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.
“Sketching and Brainstorming” A studio class that encourages thinking through drawing. Students explore a variety of media to sketch ideas on location that can be transferred into long-term artworks. We will discuss methods to keep a sketchbook, and we will look at contemporary artists working in the field today

BINF 1101 – H03 (CRN#14098) Introduction to Bioinformatics and Genomics (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Wednesday 12:15 pm – 2:15 pm (lab)
Alex Dornburg


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.
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 biological sequence and structure databases, using small-scale projects to introduce students to the world of bioinformatics research.

ECON 2101 – H01 (CRN#11053) Principles of Economics-Macro
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Theresa Mannah-Blankensen

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.
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.
HONR 1501- H02  (CRN#16640 ) Global Social Science (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Reuben Howden

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.
“Intersections of Science and Technology” This course addresses some of the relationships between science and societies, including the cultures of science and how they relate to society, federal funding for science, public trust and mistrust of science, competition among scientists, using science to improve life, and some contemporary topics. The course will be conducted as a seminar. That means that we will discuss each week’s topics together. There will be times when I present additional material, but we will predominantly use a discussion format. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
HONR 1511- H03 (CRN#15076 ) Local Social Science (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 10:10 am – 11:25 am
Catherine Tinglestad

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.
“Exploring Media Literacy in a Complex Information Environment” This course examines how media literacy addresses the topics of misinformation, media bias, rhetoric in media content, representation, and ownership. Students will read a number of articles and book chapters on these topics and will apply the content to an analysis of our media environment and its impact on our lives as citizens and its effect on a democratic society. Discussions will focus on the concept that media is constructed and determined by a variety of influences. The course will challenge students to think about the impact this has on exposure to information and personal belief systems. Students will participate in a close analysis of these influences to develop a better understanding of what media literacy involves and why it is essential to understanding information. 
This class will be held in Atkins 123.
HONR 1512 – H04 (CRN#16644) Local Arts/Humanities (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Cindy Gilson

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.
“Creative Problem Solving, Community, and Culture” This course introduces the concept of creativity and its role in addressing personal, local, and national real-world problems in the US. Students will explore the intersections and reciprocal relationships between creativity, community, and culture. A key emphasis in the course is on the application of the Creative Problem Solving process to a student-selected real-world problem. Students will engage in a variety of learning experiences such as creativity skill training; partner, small, and whole group discussions; inquiry; and short reflective and academic writing assignments – all of which are essential skills applicable to honors students’ capstone projects and all students’ future careers. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

Critical Thinking courses


CTCM 2530 – H71 (CRN#14743 ) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Ian Binns

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.
“Science, Religion, and Society” In this course, we will focus on the interactions between science and religion, both historical and contemporary. We will focus on multiple religions during the semester, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, nature religions, and Spiritual but not Religious. Throughout this course, students develop a critical lens to better understand science and religion, what makes them unique, their interaction, and how they both 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.

CTCM 2530 – H72 (CRN#14747) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Jordan Boyd

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.
“Race, Class, Culture, and Education in Today’s America” Students will study the concept of citizenship with an emphasis on the ways in which race, class, education, and culture act as key variables in the subject’s multifacetedness. Discussions, readings, and reflective journal entries will engage the historical, ethical, and sociopolitical foundations of citizenship and issues such as poverty, educational opportunity, and social mobility. Unlike past sections of this course, this semester will not entail a service requirement. Attendance and participation are the two key elements of this course and will be reflected in your overall grade on a weekly basis. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

CTCM 2530 – H73 (CRN#14748) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR)
Monday and Wednesday 1:25 pm – 2:40 pm
Jose Batista

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.
“What is a Hero” Students create a portfolio of writing assignments derived from the question “What is a hero?” Students read the English translation of national epic poems from the Hispanic (or Lusophone) tradition; and 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 reception of the poem over time.
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.

CTCM 2530 – H74  (CRN#16654) Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking and Communication (HONR) 
Thursday 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Malin Pereira

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.
“Inquiry Into the Visual Arts” In this critical thinking course, we will conduct individual and group inquiries into the visual arts. We will visit many art events, museums, galleries and public spaces, aiming to experience and investigate a range of artistic expression from the classical to the experimental and from a variety of cultural perspectives. Assignments will require attendance, academic research, reflection, writing and discussion. 
One unique feature of this honors section is that it will be held in three different locations. The first 8 weeks will be held at The Dubois Center in Uptown Charlotte so we can access art museums, public art, and galleries there. (Reminder: light rail transportation to the 9th St campus is free and highly recommended; students with main campus parking will be able to park there if they choose the main campus and Dubois Center option.). The second week of October, during fall break, we will study abroad in Vienna, Austria. Viewing the vast range of historically important visual art available in Vienna will enable us to make connections to the modern and contemporary art we see in Charlotte and think critically across time and place. After we return from Vienna, our class will be located on the main campus while students focus on the final project, a researched essay connecting a work of art they have seen in Charlotte with one they saw in Vienna. 
NOTES: STUDENTS MUST FIRST APPLY FOR THE STUDY ABROAD PORTION OF THE COURSE. REGISTRATION WILL OCCUR AFTER STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED TO THIS COURSE BY THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION ABROAD. TO APPLY, VISIT edabroad.charlotte.edu. The study abroad element of the course (program cost estimated at $1,875.00 per student, airfare not included) will be supported in part by a University Advancement crowdfunding campaign that aims to make the course financially accessible. Students who register for the course will be asked to participate in sharing the crowdfunding platform with their networks.

Upper Division elective courses

HONR 3700 – H01 (CRN#12829) Honors College Topics: Climate Change Histories and Futures
Monday and Wednesday 11:15 am – 12:30 am
Tina Shull

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.
How does history shape present and future visions of climate change? The advent of the modern industrial age and advances in climatological research have brought us to a global consensus that we have entered an unprecedented era of human-made climate change. Yet, dominant modes of production, consumption, political debate, and rising global inequality continue to stall collective action despite warnings of climate catastrophe. Through an exploration of social and environmental history, science fiction, Indigenous- and Afro-futurisms, and media and affect studies with an emphasis on the United States, this course interrogates the past, present, and future of climate change. Students will pursue a series of historical, literary analysis, argument, and creative assignments culminating in a final project that will put course learnings into local climate action. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
HONR 3700 – H02 (CRN#12207) Honors College Topics:  Echoes of the Holocaust
Monday and Wednesday 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Oscar Lansen

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.
This interdisciplinary seminar explores the causes, experiences, and legacy of the Shoah. What made Germany and the world-at-large fertile ground for hatred and brutality? How does genocide evolve? How do upstanding citizens become perpetrators or enablers? How do victims experience injustice, brutalization, and destruction? How does one survive; how does one express the memory of trauma? Who resisted or rescued? Who stayed silent; why? What are the lessons of time for our society? Using primary source materials and eyewitness accounts, students will co-research and de/reconstruct the experience of the Holocaust from multiple perspectives in the past and present. You will step in the shoes of your peers, as well as research an aspect of the Holocaust from your disciplinary background or interest as foundation for further study. This seminar will hone your career competencies in critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and equity & inclusion. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
HONR 3700 – H03 (CRN#11612) Honors College Topics: Climate and Trophic Dynamics
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:10 am – 11:00 am
Andrew Goff

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.
This class reviews the intricacies of food web connectivity with an emphasis on aquatic environments and climate change. Anthropogenic and climate influences on aquatic environments are topics of interest, particularly bioaccumulating compounds and abiotic stressors to ecosystem dynamics. Throughout the semester an emphasis is placed on thinking critically while honing students’ abilities to effectively communicate information through speech and writing. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
HONR 3700 – H04 (CRN#12709) Honors College Topics: Healing Ourselves
Tuesday 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Sonja Grigg

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.
This course will focus on three separate issues facing our healthcare system today: the obesity epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opioid crisis. Using these topics as a basis of discussion, we will examine the profound ways nutrition, trauma, stigma, and social determinants impact our overall health. The overarching aim of this course will be to conceptualize the interconnectedness of our physical and mental health and the power of our environment to drive health outcomes. While we explore these troublesome areas in our nation’s health, on a deeper and more personal level, this course will also create space to reflect and reconsider our own daily health behaviors and how they relate to our sense of wellbeing. This course will encourage students to build optimism around how they can feel and what they can achieve. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
HONR 3700 – H05 (CRN#17446) Honors College Topics: Introduction to Black Geographies
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Fushia-Ann Hoover

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.
This course introduces students to the rich body of literature that highlights the unique characteristics, politics, policies and practices that help shape Black communities, especially in the United States. In this seminar-style class, students will be encouraged to engage in critical reflection and creative thinking. Black Geographies topics to be covered will include place-making and Black aesthetics, environmental stewardship and justice, intersectionality of sports, race, media and community, and food apartheid systems.

University Honors Program (UHP) only


HONR 1700 – H01 (CRN#12081) University Honors Program Colloquium
Wednesday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Jordan Boyd

Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
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. Students participate in an experiential learning opportunity through the National Collegiate Honors Council’s City as Text™ program. 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.

HONR 1700 – H021 (CRN#12080) University Honors Program Colloquium
Thursday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Jordan Boyd

Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
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. Students participate in an experiential learning opportunity through the National Collegiate Honors Council’s City as Text™ program. 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.

HONR 3791 – H01 (CRN#14511) University Honors Program Senior Project
Wednesday 2:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Mindy Adnot

Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
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.


HONR 3791 – H01 (CRN#14512) University Honors Program Senior Project
Thursday 2:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Mindy Adnot

Must be enrolled in the University Honors Program.
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.

Recommended Courses (do not count as honors credit for UHP)


HONR 2720 – H01 (CRN#13516) Competitive Scholarship Workshop
Monday and Wednesday 11:15-12:30 | Second Half Term
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. 
This class will be held in Levine Hall 183 or 184. The instructor will communicate which room.
WRDS 1103 – H01 (CRN#13834) Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts I and II (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Malcolm Campbell

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.
Recommended honors writing section(s) for honors students needing WRDS 1103. 
“Studies in Advanced Curiosity and Deliberate Thinking.” 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. Grades are derived primarily from portfolios that include work generated throughout the term.
WRDS 1103 – H02 (CRN#12963) Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts I and II (HONR)
Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Malcolm Campbell

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.
Recommended honors writing section(s) for honors students needing WRDS 1103. 
“Studies in Advanced Curiosity and Deliberate Thinking.” 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. Grades are derived primarily from portfolios that include work generated throughout the term.

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.