Honors Program

​Course Rotation

Honors courses' general education substitution rotation is as follows:

FA 2018: Social Science (Art and Politics)
SP 2019: Natural Science (The Physics of Superheroes)

FA 2019: Humanities (TBD)
SP 2020: Humanities (TBD)

FA 2020: Social Science (TBD)
SP 2021: Natural Science (TBD)

FA 2021: Humanities (TBD)
SP2022: Humanities (TBD)

Previous Course Descriptions 

Individual and Community, Spring 2013, Dr. James Bell
John Stuart Mill writes in On Liberty, "But society has now fairly got the better of individuality; and the danger which threatens human nature is not the success, but the deficiency, of personal impulses and preferences." Central questions explored in the course include: To what extent are we a part of something bigger than ourselves? What burdens, obligations, and limitations does this condition place upon us? How can we find comfort and meaning in this condition? How can we (and should we) escape this condition?

Brain and Behavior, Fall 2013, Dr. Nancy Knous
An Honors course to explore cutting edge findings about the brain and behavior. Topics covered will include an overview of brain anatomy and physiology. The main emphasis will be on recent advances in studying the brain, sorting fact from fiction in boosting brain power and memory, brain-body interface, where we may be headed in the future, and the ethics involved.

Lifetime Literature, Spring 2014, Dr. Jen Oswald
Lifetime Literature includes study in the understanding and appreciation of multiple genres of literature and the impact of society on written work and literacy.

Rock and Roll Music and American Culture, Fall 2014, Dr. Shawn Holliday
The study of the history of rock and roll from 1954 to the present with special emphasis placed on its impact upon Western culture. Course objectives: To familiarize students with the history of rock music from its origins to the present day; to acquaint students with the different movements and subgenres of rock and roll; to develop critical thinking skills by having students analyze music, lyrics, and written texts; to acquaint students with rock journalism and music criticism; to understand the ways in which rock music affected American culture, and to encourage students to appreciate rock and roll music throughout their adult lives.

Gender in Contemporary Media, Spring 2016, Dr. Jennifer Page
This course examines representations of gender and sexual identity in various media (film, television, print, advertising, comics, gaming, sports, social media, and so on). We also consider how gender and sexuality intersect with other aspects of identity, such as race, class, and religion, to contribute to diverse representation in media. We consider how media doesn't simply communicate a message, but rather spurs a discursive dialogue about cultural issues, including gender.

Presidential Elections, Fall-Election Years, Dr. Aaron Mason & Dr. Eric Schmaltz
This course considers the American presidency and presidential elections from both a constitutional and political perspective. It accomplishes this task by examining the president's constitutional roles in a constrained federal system of government. It also focuses upon the role of parties, press and media, campaigns and elections, and other political matters pertaining to the presidency and the electoral process. Finally, students gain perspective regarding how the president's role has evolved over the past two centuries. 

The Films of John Ford, Fall 2017, Dr. Richmond Adams
A survey of the films directed by John Ford, including Stagecoach, Fort Apache, and The Grapes of Wrath. The general course objective is to explore a variety of films directed by John Ford for their cinematic, historical, narrative, and thematic perspectives.

Music and Modernism in the Twentieth Century, Spring 2018, Prof. Max Ridgway
This course explores the influence of modernism on European and American classical music in the twentieth century. Parallels between modernist art, music, and literature will also be examined.

Art and Politics, Fall 2018, Prof. Ken Kelsey & Dr. Aaron Mason
This course focuses on the intersection of art and politics in Western culture. Students  engage with individuals, ideas, and actions in four different areas where art and politics have focused on power, political events, or political principles: the Classical World, the Enlightenment Period, Modern Nations States, and Constructions of Individual Identity.
 

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INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

Check out what our Honors students can do! Chandler Steckbeck developed a project that fit her interests and major; her experiences studying abroad in Wales inspired a travel blog. Riley Pearce is currently performing research on state legislative procedures that will be displayed at Oklahoma Research Day in March 2018. The independent projects Honors students complete allow them to explore academic topics in creative and inventive ways.