Fall 2026 Honors Explorations
Honors Explorations are noncredit learning experiences that focus on unique topics and typically meet weekly for five total sessions. Successful completion of an Honors Exploration includes attending and actively participating in the entire duration of each session, as well as completing all readings and assignments. Students cannot have an overlapping class, work, or RSO conflicts during the time the Exploration meets.
The Fall 2026 interest form will open at 7 am on Wednesday, April 1.
The form will close when Explorations fill or on Monday, April 6.
Students who submit an interest form will be contacted by Crystal Lannin by the end of April and told if they are on an Exploration roster, or if they are on the waitlist.
Canine Scent Work: The Canine Olfactory System in Work, Sport, and Play
Dr. Allison Alcorn; School of Music
Location: TBD
- Tuesday, September 1, 6 - 8 pm
- Tuesday, September 8, 6 - 8 pm
- Tuesday, September 15, 6 - 8 pm
- Tuesday, September 22, 6 - 8 pm
- Tuesday, September 29, 6 - 8 pm
This Exploration delves into the remarkable olfactory abilities of dogs and their applications in both recreational and professional contexts. Students will examine the biology and neuroscience of canine scent detection, learn how dogs perceive and process odors, and investigate the role of scent work in dog sports and working environments such as search and rescue, detection (bomb, tracking, cadaver, narcotics), and medicine. Through readings, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations, participants will gain insight into both the science and the fun of scent training and the human-canine partnership that makes these activities possible.
Doomscroll: Exploring the Dark Side of Social Media Through Film
Dillon Maher; Office of Admissions
Location: TBD
- Wednesday, September 2, 5 - 7 pm
- Wednesday, September 9, 5 - 7 pm
- Wednesday, September 16, 5 - 7 pm
- Wednesday, September 23, 5 - 7 pm
- Wednesday, September 30, 5 - 7 pm
Dig beneath the glossy filters and viral trends to uncover the consequences of our hyperconnected world through the lens of horror and thriller movies. We’ll watch and discuss films that explore how social media impacts what we believe, how we view ourselves, how others view us, and how these tools of connectivity have led to disconnection. Each week features a film screening followed by discussions that connect what we’ve watched to real world impacts, ethical questions, and our own media habits. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking, develop media literacy skills, and gain new insight into the forces shaping online life.
Exploring Love and Relationships during Emerging Adulthood
Dr. Jonathon Beckmeyer; Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Location: TBD
- Thursday, September 3, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 10, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 17, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 24, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, October 1, 5 - 7 pm
Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage that spans the time between the end of adolescence and the start of young adulthood (typically 18 to 29 years old). During this time, emerging adults are often free of adult responsibilities, allowing them time and space for self-focus and exploration. An important area of exploration is love and relationships, and many emerging adults view this as the right time to make romantic commitments. Yet, love and relationships are complex and can be challenging. The purpose of this Exploration is to gain a deeper understanding of love and relationships during emerging adulthood. To do so, we will use depictions of emerging adult relationships in Korean web dramas, and empirical research on emerging adult romantic experiences, to explore how contemporary emerging adults are approaching love and relationships. Students will have opportunities to explore their own romantic goals, reflect on their romantic beliefs and expectations, and build their romantic competency.
Girl Hobbies as Scholarship
Allison Hauser; Center for Integrated Professional Development
Courtney Cox; Center for Integrated Professional Development
Location: TBD
- Thursday, September 3, 4 - 6 pm
- Thursday, September 10, 4 - 6 pm
- Thursday, September 17, 4 - 6 pm
- Thursday, September 24, 4 - 6 pm
- Thursday, October 1, 4 - 6 pm
The interests of women have been historically and culturally maligned, infantilized, written off, and otherwise ignored by dominate patriarchal society. Yet it's largely girls and women who determine and set cultural trends. While the specific hobbies we will explore will be determined as a class, some possible "girl hobbies" to investigate include romantasy novels, Taylor Swift and pop music, cozy gaming, crafting, brunch, makeup, skincare, reality television, Hallmark movies, and more. We will investigate what makes these things "women coded," consider the cultural influence of their popularity, and explore the ways in which these interests—or the skills we learn from them—can be incorporated into our professional careers or academic scholarship.
Harry, Hogwarts, and What We Do for Fun
Dr. Bin Lizzo; School of Kinesiology and Recreation
Location: TBD
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Wednesday, September 2, 4 - 6 pm
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Wednesday, September 9, 4 - 6 pm
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Wednesday, September 16, 4 - 6 pm
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Wednesday, September 23, 4 - 6 pm
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Wednesday, September 30, 4 - 6 pm
Did you grow up reading Harry Potter? Or are you intrigued by this series that is still going strong after nearly three decades? If so, this Honors Exploration is for you. In this Honors Exploration we will not only take a deep dive into Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first book in the series, we will also explore the story and the many leisure experiences that have been inspired by the Wizarding world. So, get ready to dive back into the story, explore fan fiction, theme parks, merchandise, and much more as we explore the novel and the leisure experiences inspired by it in a whole new way.
Honors Service Exploration
Stuart Palmer, Senior Honors Advising Specialist, Honors Program
Location: Honors Program Building 113
- Thursday, September 3, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 10, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 17, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, September 24, 5 - 7 pm
- Thursday, October 1, 5 - 7 pm (Time and location may change for the final session, pending the service)
The Honors Program values the chance for students to participate in service learning as well as the opportunity to build a stronger community. While you’re on campus, Bloomington-Normal is just as much your home as it is ours, and as such we should promote community and service throughout the whole town. This Exploration includes four sessions to discuss the importance and relevance of service learning and giving back to the community, while also focusing on self-reflection as a way to facilitate personal growth. We will spend our last session volunteering with a local organization. In Fall 2026, we will partner with the City of Bloomington. This description will be updated with information on the specific type of service that students will complete.
Due to the structure of this experience, students may only participate in the Honors Service Exploration one time; it may not be repeated.