Content
The following 395H seminars are 3 credit hour classes. They are open to all University Honors Program students who have junior or senior class standing. Enrollment in these courses will follow regular University enrollment procedures and occur on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with your assigned priority registration times.
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 ACE need AND you have difficulties getting into a course section with that ACE, contact Dr. Tamy Burnett ASAP.
Previous semesters' courses
Summer 2026
UHON 395H (English)
Sitcoms and Social Change
Dr. Tamy Burnett
MTWRF 11:30am - 1:30pm │ May 11-June 5 | Meets on Zoom
ACE 7 & 9 │ CAS CDR Humanities & CAS CDR Human Diversity
Counts as 300-level hours for English majors/minors
In this course, we will use theories of humor, comedy, and television studies to explore the history and significance of the TV sitcom. We will focusing on sitcoms at the forefront of social change related to issues of human diversity, such as race/ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, socioeconomic inequalities, (dis)ability, illness, and addiction. We will examine the sitcoms' historical, social, and cultural contexts, as well as how production elements contribute to their effectiveness as agents of social change.
Fall 2026
UHON 395H (History)
Race, Nation, and Genocide
Dr. Bedross Der Matossian
TuTh 9:30 - 10:45 | Oldfather
ACE 5
The aim of the course is to introduce students to one of the darkest phases of modern world history: the systematic annihilation and extermination of indigenous populations around the globe. Genocides are not only modern phenomenon pertaining to the modern world; rather they have existed in some fashion in the pre-modern period. What distinguishes the genocides of the modern period from other incidents of mass violence is that they have become more organized, intense, and lethal by using the tools of modernity. With the development of ideas of race, ethnicity, and nationalism in the 18th and the 19th century, genocides became more ideological in their attempt in justifying the annihilation of indigenous populations. We will explore a number of cases, beginning with the Armenian genocide; the genocides of the indigenous populations of Africa, Australia, and North America; the Holocaust, and ending with more contemporary genocides such as the case of Cambodia, Rwanda, ex-Yugoslavia, and Darfur. The course will end by discussing the development of the idea of Human Rights in response to these mass atrocities.
UHON 395H
Quality TV: From Buffy to Breaking Bad
Dr. Tamy Burnett
MWF 12:30-1:20 | Knoll
ACE 5 or 7 | CAS CDR Humanities | Counts as 300-level for English majors/minors
In this course, we will learn about and apply theories of the critical category of “quality television” in order to reach an understanding about how various production and narrative elements can contribute to the artistic quality of a scripted television show. Using the television show with the largest body of critical scholarship, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as a point of comparison, we will examine exemplar episodes from several television series that scholars generally agree qualify as “quality TV” in order to develop an understanding of this visual media art form and critical approaches to it. We will explore a variety of shows from disparate genres including, The X-Files, The Sopranos, The West Wing, Veronica Mars, Game of Thrones, and Breaking Bad.
UHON 395H
"You MAD, Bro?": The Politics of Nuclear Weapons
Dr. Tyler White
MW 3:30 - 4:45 | Knoll
ACE 6 | CAS CDR Social Sciences
As we enter the ‘third nuclear era’ many Americans have forgotten about the looming threat of nuclear conflict. Gone are the days of the Cold War and now the US faces multiple potential adversaries armed with nuclear weapons. But what are these weapons and how are they used? How does the US manage this threat and what steps can be taken to control the spread of nuclear weapons? Drawing upon scholarship, visiting experts, and representations of nuclear weapons in the media and pop culture, we will raise your nuclear IQ by demystifying these terrifying weapons and help you to understand why nuclear weapons were developed, the role they play in international politics and their future as a tool of statecraft.
UHON 395H
Living with Our Changing Climate
Dr. Eric Hunt
MWF 8:30-9:20 | Knoll
ACE 4
This course reveals the impact that each of us has on the climate. With this understanding, comes choices and actions for a more sustainable future. Earth’s climate is inherently variable but is currently changing at rates unprecedented in recent Earth history. Human activity plays a major role in this change and is projected to do so well into the future. By incorporating the latest science, this course elaborates on this human interaction with the climate system along with how climate variations affect humanity. The primary issues examined in this course include the human and ecosystem vulnerabilities to climate change; the role of energy choices in affecting climate; the actions humans can take through adaptation, mitigation, and policy to lessen vulnerabilities and, the psychological, political and financial reasons behind climate change denial.
UHON 395H
The Beatles
Dr. Scott Anderson
MW 3:30-4:45 | Westbrook
ACE 7
The Beatles are arguably the most important rock band in the genre. Their music has been at the center of the discussion of popular music and culture for over forty years. The class will be divided into three style periods. The first style period covers the Liverpool to Hamburg experience and the early pre-Rubber Soul albums. The second style period covers Rubber Soul through Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The third style period covers The Beatles (The White Album) through Yellow Submarine, Let it Be and Abbey Road with further discussion of Apple Corp and each of the group’s first solo albums. We will approach their output thematically and trace it through engagement with American Popular Music, religion, politics and fame.
UHON 395H (Economics)
Capitalism & Democracy in the 21st Century
Dr. Wes Peterson
MW 5:00-6:15pm │ Knoll
ACE 6 & 9
At the end of the 20th Century, many believed that democratic capitalism represented the best way to manage modern societies. However, authoritarian regimes have multiplied around the world and economic, environmental, and geo-political challenges have led to conflicts and uncertainty. Climate change and inequality are among the top global issues faced by humanity today. The negative effects of climate and environmental disturbances inevitably fall heaviest on those who are poor or members of social groups suffering from prejudice and intolerance. The purpose of this seminar is to explore whether democratic capitalism is up to the task of confronting these issues to achieve a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future.
