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
Spring 2026
UHON 395H (History)
The Jazz Age to the Atomic Age: FDR's America
Prof. Joann Ross
MWF 1:30-2:20pm | Knoll
ACE 5 & ACE 9 | CAS CDR Humanities
In this course, we will take an interdisciplinary approach to focus on American history from the end of WWI to the rise of the Cold War, considering Franklin Roosevelt’s effectiveness as the longest serving American president as he navigated crises both domestic and international. We will delve into such topics as the Jazz Age, race relations, the changing status of women within American society, prohibition, Japanese internment, a growing wartime industry, and America’s decision to use the atomic bomb. We will use an interdisciplinary approach, exploring music, art, literature, and history to understand how these events shaped these pivotal decades in American history.
UHON 395H (Law; Interdisciplinary)
Space Odyssey: Surveying the Past, Present, and Future of Outer Space
Prof. Elsbeth Magilton
TR 12:30-1:45 | Knoll
ACE 8
Human exploration, and the monetization of outer space uses and resources, is a rapidly developing area. From SpaceX to Rocket Labs, Russia to China, and NASA to JAXA, the use and defense of space is a dynamic and complicated field of study. This course will explore three core phases of human space use: the history of space activities in the United States and abroad, the more recent growth of commercial space activities and the ethics of how we regulate them, and the future challenges on the horizon. Through this journey students will consider the ethics of modern space operations and how humans interact with, alter, and experience the space environment – in Earth orbit and beyond.
UHON 395H (Political Science)
To Boldly Go: International Relations and Science Fiction
Prof. Tyler White
TR 2:00-3:15pm | Knoll
ACE 9
This course uses science fiction—especially Star Trek—to explore international politics. Pairing classic episodes and films with key theories of international relations (IR), students will examine how societies navigate conflict, cooperation, identity, and visions of the future. Through readings, discussions, simulations, and film analysis, the course introduces IR fundamentals while using science fiction as an allegory to challenge conventional perspectives and to imagine new possibilities in our world and beyond.
UHON 395H (Political Science)
The Vietnam War: What Is It Good For?
Prof. Don Beahm
MWF 10:30-11:20am │ Knoll
ACE 6 │ CAS CDR Social Science
This course is an examination of the U.S. involvement politically, militarily, and historically in the Vietnam War. We will explore various conceptions of how the U.S. became engaged in the war, how politics played a major role in what foreign policy objectives were being pursued through the war, why the military fought the war with the strategies they developed, and what the historic and political ramifications were for the U.S., Vietnam, and the world in the aftermath of the war. Attention will be paid to how the lives of Americans were affected by the war.
UHON 395H (Economics)
Capitalism & Democracy in the 21st Century
Prof. 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.
UHON 395H (English; Interdisciplinary)
Community Impact Lab: Literacy Across Nebraska
Prof. Tamy Burnett & TBD
TR 11:00-12:15pm | Knoll
No ACE
In this unique UHON 395H, we will go beyond the classroom by working directly with a community partner on a semester-long service learning project. In cooperation with our nonprofit course partner, Linked2Literacy, we will explore the values and roles of literacy by engaging in a process of inquiry, application, and reflection. We will explore a wide variety of types of literacy important to a healthy society, such as financial, digital, environmental, and civic literacy. As a service learning course, we will engage deeply with our nonprofit partner, and our work in class will enhance students' learning and understanding of this topic, as well as advance the work of Linked2Literacy.
UHON 395H (Music)
Soup Cans to Superstars: Popular Music & Arts in 20th Century America
Prof. Jackie Mattingly
TR 9:30-10:45am | Westbrook
ACE 7
Art and music are all around us, permeating our lives through the popular culture that we experience daily. In this course, we will explore the role and significance of visual and musical forms of art in American culture in the context of popular culture, ranging from visual artists like Andy Warhol to musical superstars like Michael Jackson or Beyonce.
