Spring 2026 Advanced Honors Seminars
Effective Fall 2023, the course numbers and repeat policy for Advanced Honors Seminars changed. Each seminar may be repeated for up to two credit hours. Completed attempts under the previous numbers count towards the total. For example: past enrollment + future enrollment = max of 2 credit hours for each course number.
HON 202a75: Interdisciplinary Investigations = HON 205
HON 202a76: Innovation and Inquiry = HON 206
HON 202a77: Leadership in Action = HON 207
HON 202a78: Culture, Context, and Identity = HON 208
Example 1: If you have previously taken HON 202a75, you may take HON 205 one time in the future. The same is true of the other course numbers.
Example 2: If you have never taken an Advanced Honors Seminar, you may take each course number up to two times (as long as the topic is different).
HON 205: Interdisciplinary Investigations
Section 1: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 9 - 9:50 am; Honors Program Building 113
Cristina Prestin; Honors Program
This seminar will examine multiple aspects that lead to wrongful conviction. Why do people confess to things they did not do? How are interrogation tactics harmful? Is eyewitness testimony reliable? Why do some still support the use of junk science? During our eight weeks together, we will dig into the various reasons that lead innocent people to spend years, sometimes decades, behind bars for crimes they did not commit. We will delve into the stories of those who have been wrongfully convicted in the United States - including when no crime was ever committed, and those who have been executed despite their innocence. Additionally, we will explore how each state is contributing to this failure of justice and what we can do to aid with a systemic change.
Section 2: Dissecting Satire
2nd 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 2 - 2:50 pm; DeGarmo 0039
Dr. Lauren Bratslavsky; School of Communication
There’s an old saying: explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. The punchline is that both die in the process. The point with satire IS to dissect. It is an old but ever-changing form of humor that, at its core, is about critiquing the status quo. Thus, to explain how satire works is to dissect institutions, social structures, and power. A study of satire is also very closely tied to the ways people engage with media and entertainment, such as examining expectations of genre and how satirical texts are disseminated. To define satire, we will draw from literary theory, philosophy, media studies, political science, sociology, psychology, art, and pop culture sources. The goal is to guide the seminar through foundational definitions and a sampling of satire, in order to figure out what you determine as exemplars of today’s satire and consider if we need to update our academic definitions.
Section 3: The Art and Science of Helping: Developing Fundamental Skills for Personal and Professional Success
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Tuesdays and Thursdays; 3:35 - 4:25 pm; Honors Program Building 113
Dr. Dan Lannin; Psychology
Helping others effectively requires both scientific understanding and human artistry. This seminar explores the essential skills and principles of helping relationships across all professions and personal contexts. Through research-based insights, experiential exercises, and guided self-reflection, students will develop core helping competencies, including active listening, empathy, cultural humility, and empowerment strategies. Drawing from psychology, counseling, social work, and communication studies, students will learn how to establish meaningful connections, facilitate understanding, and empower others to take constructive action. Whether you're pursuing a career in business, education, healthcare, STEM, or the arts, the helping skills developed in this course will enhance your ability to collaborate, lead, mentor, and contribute meaningfully to your communities.
HON 206: Innovation and Inquiry
Section 1: “Wicked Problems” in K-12 Education
1st 8 weeks of the semester; Mondays and Wednesdays; 3 - 3:50 pm; Williams 307
Dr. Derrek Drenckpohl; Special Education
This seminar will focus on “wicked problems,” those entrenched, complex societal, economic, or political problems in the K-12 education system in the United States. Students will utilize the wicked problems framework to develop interdisciplinary solutions to these issues. The seminar will focus on developing creative solutions to large-scale problems within our K-12 education system and provide a practical method of inquiry that can be utilized throughout one's academic and professional career.
HON 207: Leadership in Action
Section 1: Redefining Challenge: Leading in Unique Environments
2nd 8 weeks of the semester; Wednesdays; 1 - 2:50 pm; Honors Program Building 114
Alex Perronne; Campus Recreation
As we grow into leaders, we look to challenge ourselves to become better. This seminar will focus on the multi-dimensionality of leadership. Through the philosophy of Challenge by Choice, you will discover what challenge means for you. By taking part in interactive experiences, you will both push yourself and support others in untraditional environments and situations. Class time will include both instructional content as well as participation in various recreational activities, which may include the high ropes course and climbing wall.