Content
The following 298H seminars are 3 credit hour classes. They are open to all University Honors Program students. Enrollment in these courses will generally follow regular University enrollment procedures and occur on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with your assigned priority registration times, unless otherwise noted.
Each course may meet additional degree requirements, such as ACE or college required hours. Specifics are noted with each course. If you think a course may be eligible to count towards hours in your major, please check with your major advisor about this possibility.
If this is your final semester and you have an unmet 298H or ACE need AND you have difficulties getting into a course section that meets those needs, contact Dr. Tamy Burnett ASAP.
Previous semesters' courses
Spring 2027
UHON 298H
Bioethics & the Law
Prof. Joann Ross
MWF 1:30-2:20pm | Knoll
ACE 5 and ACE 8 (students may only earn credit for one ACE per class)
This course will focus on the fascinating cross-disciplinary domain where law, ethics, and science intersect. We will examine the nature of bioethics and its relationship to the law, key controversies that have driven the history of this field, and the range of applicable law (state, federal, and international). Much of bioethics focuses on an individual patient’s or research subject’s experience with health care (e.g., access to health care, physician-assisted suicide, reproductive technologies). But a growing and increasingly vital component of bioethics focuses on public health issues that are concerned with the health of populations or communities. While the class will revolve primarily around the experience of individuals, occasionally we will give attention to public health bioethics. We will examine where the line should be drawn between the state’s ability to protect public health and an individual’s liberty to act (and create risks) as they please.
UHON 298H
Eureka! Intellectual Creativity in Action
Prof. Christine Haney Douglass
TR 11:00-12:15pm │ Knoll
ACE 2
This course is an interdisciplinary seminar in which you will hear from a variety of professors from different fields. They will tell you their stories including any "eureka" moments of enlightenment, how they chose the career paths that they did, discussion of any challenges they had to face, mention of any controversies they encountered and discussion of some of their most rewarding moments along the way. The course will utilize multiple learning strategies that may include but are not limited to group cooperative learning strategies, group discussions, complex situational simulations, open-ended questioning, advanced readings and other multi-media resources.
UHON 298H
Food as an Issue of Justice
Prof. Christine Barta
TR 9:30-10:45am │ Knoll
ACE 8 and ACE 9 (students may only earn credit for one ACE per class)
This course is designed to explore the American food system through a diversity lens, focusing specifically on the ethics of production (growing, manufacturing) and distribution systems in the US. We will examine issues of fairness in the food and agricultural industries, food deserts, loss of independent and family-owned grocery stores, and USDA Farm Bill. We will consider the structure of the American food system, who grows the food, who harvests it, and who manufactures it. We will explore questions like: How does the American food system affect those that exists in the margins of society? Why are food deserts mostly in black and brown communities? What is the role of the government in ensuring that all its citizens have access to safe, affordable, culturally appropriate, and nutritious foods?
UHON 298H
The Laboratory of the Possible: Science Fiction, Film Adaptations, and Solutions for the Future
Prof. Mike Page
MWF 2:30-3:20pm │ Knoll
ACE 7 | CAS CDR Humanities
Science Fiction is like a "laboratory" where writers "experiment" with possible futures so that we can find solutions. In this seminar, we will read a number of significant and popular science fiction works that have been adapted for film or television, exploring key ideas presented in the texts and the storytelling approaches. Then, we will watch and analyze visual adaptations of these SF works and consider the successes and failures of these adaptations. How do these stories encourage readers and viewers to engage with possible future? How they get us to think about issues facing us in the present? How they suggest solutions for the future?
UHON 298H
Story to Stage: The Practice of Documentary Theatre
Prof. TBA
MWF 9:30am-10:20am | Knoll
ACE 7
This class will explore the power of theatrical production to tell real stories. through the practices of documentary theatre. We will apply what we learn to content we source ourselves – curiosities, intrigues, challenges, and atrocities – experiences of the world we want to shine a light on. Our focus will be on exploring theatrical tools to tackle “wicked problems” through the collaborative setting of a theatre ensemble and the creative problem solving of the theatrical rehearsal room. The medium of a play allows playwrights, directors, actors, and audiences to grapple with enduring questions and challenges. So, our aim will first be to look at others who have used this process to look at an enduring question, borrow from their experiences to formulate ideas for our own play(s), and then to pitch a project of your own.
UHON 298H
Women, Leadership, and Power
Prof. Joann Ross
MW 3:30-4:45pm | Knoll
ACE 9
This class explores key issues related to women, leadership, and power across a broad range of areas in society and women’s lived experiences in/out of power. Disciplinary areas include: activism, agriculture, the arts, athletics, business, education, military service and/or law enforcement, medicine/healthcare, politics/government service, religious leadership, and STEM. In this class, we will visit with guest speakers each week from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Additionally, we will learn about historical and contemporary women leaders, issues related to women and power, and how women navigate modern society as leaders.
UHON 298H
Honors in Amsterdam/How Cities Can Save Us
Profs. Jacob Schlange & Tamy Burnett
TR 5:00-6:15pm │Knoll
ACE 9
The theme for this course is "How Cities Can Save Us." Cities around the world have been at the forefront of pioneering innovative solutions to the world’s most complex challenges. Cities tend to share common strengths that make them especially well-suited to tackling tough problems, from fast-paced adaptation, to creative and pragmatic problem solving, collaboration across borders, and a willingness to learn and borrow from the success of peers. Throughout the semester, you’ll learn about global cities on the cutting edge in tackling some of the greatest challenges of our times, examined through the lens of Community and Regional Planning. Then, during spring break, gain hands-on experience by traveling to Amsterdam and neighboring cities to learn about unique Dutch urban innovations in environmental issues, economics, transportation, and more! To enroll in this class, students must first apply to this Education Abroad program through UNL's Global Experiences website.
UHON 298H
Honors in London
Profs. Tyler White and Sawyer Smith
TR 2:00-3:15pm │ Knoll
ACE 9
This is a semester-long exploration of the city of London that includes a week-long trip to London during Spring Break. We will explore the city's rich history through culture, literature, royal history, and military history. Our exploration cover several centuries and allow students opportunity to explore questions that most interest them about this vibrant urban center. To enroll in this class, students must first apply to this Education Abroad program through UNL's Global Experiences website.
