Content
All new first-year students in the University Honors Program take one 189H seminar in the fall semester of their first year at UNL. These are extremely popular and students often reference these as among their favorite classes at UNL! All seminars are taught by excellent faculty who are passionate about Honors education. All seminars are offered via an in-person format.
The 189H seminars all meet different ACE (general education) requirements. Before your NSE advising appointment, please review the following course descriptions and identify several that interest you. You and your advisor will discuss which seminars and ACE courses are most appropriate for your degree plan.
ACE-1
ACE 1: Writing
189H
I Write for the Trees: Environmental Literacy
Professor Kasey Peters
MWF 11:30-12:20 | Knoll
ACE 1
Environmental issues shape the world we inhabit socially, politically, economically, and rhetorically. From transportation and infrastructure to food access and waste management systems, our environments are shaped by human decisions, and by the language used to communicate those decisions. In this writing course, we will explore environmental literacy through writing. We will examine how audience, genre, community, and style influence the ways environmental issues are understood and debated. Through narrative, research, and argumentative writing projects, students will learn to ask critical questions about their surroundings and to participate thoughtfully in the conversations that shape them. As writers, we are learning to ask critical questions as we read, watch, and listen our way through various mediums. We do this as a way to better understand and engage with the world we live in.
ACE-4
ACE 4: Natural and Physical Sciences
189H
Conversations on Conservation: Ecology, Nature, and Wildlife
Professor Mark Vrtiska
MWF 11:30-12:20 | Knoll
ACE 4
Our natural world is changing, and current students will be the ones that will have to make some difficult decisions in regards to those changes. This course examines some basic concepts of ecology and natural processes that affect us all, as well as information about basic wildlife ecology, conservation and management. This course also examines various topics in natural resource conservation that currently are, and will continue, to effect people at local, regional, and national/international scales. This course will explore how individuals may become engaged in wildlife and natural resource conservation. The overall objective of the course is to bring awareness of the natural world we live in to students and initiate their thinking about wildlife and natural conservation and sustainability that affect their future.
189H
Food Systems, Diets, and Climate Change
Professor Heriberto Curetti
TR 12:30-1:45 | Beadle
ACE 4
Providing a growing global population with healthy diets based on sustainable food production systems is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Choices made by producers (e.g., technologies and agricultural practices), market agents (e.g., transport, storage, processing and selling of food) and consumers (e.g., dietary patterns) depend on multiple factors and have major impacts on society and our planet. In this course, we will explore current food systems (e.g., global production, processing, trade, consumption and waste), their driving trends (e.g., population growth, income, dietary habits, globalization) and impacts (e.g., human health, food security, climate change) as well as the challenges of redesigning food systems. The course will rely on reading and critically evaluating, using the principles of the scientific method, research papers and reports from academic groups, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Group projects will focus on specific case studies such as plant-based burgers, AquAdvantage salmon, Artic apple and fortified foods.
ACE 5
ACE 5: Humanities
189H
Freedom of Expression in Contentious Times
Professor Michael Park
TR 11:00-12:15 | Knoll
ACE 5
The course examines the history of freedom of expression in the United States and how the extent of that freedom may change for specific situations. Some of the situations we will examine are high schools, national security situations, surveillance, free press-fair trial, campaign finance, the internet, hate speech, defamation and invasion of privacy. The course will examine the way expression has affected equality for women and people of color in the United States’ diverse society. Evaluating freedom of expression requires recognizing the tension between competing individual rights or between the rights of individuals and the common good. That tension is something we face almost every day.
189H
From the Soul: African American Music in Novels
Professor Alex Valin
MWF 1:30-2:20 | Andrews
MWF 2:30-3:20 | Andrews
ACE 5
The history of African American musical traditions is storied and complex. Blues lie at the heart of most American genres of popular music, from rock to folk to country to RnB. Jazz has been called the United States’s true “classical” music. Hip hop culture has spread across the world. Meanwhile, African American writers have frequently turned to music to inspire and create their literary work. Ralph Ellison, the first Black author to win the National Book Award in 1953, wrote of his childhood, “In those days it was either live with music or die with noise, and we chose rather desperately to live.” In this class we will examine how African American novelists writing after Ellison chose to live with music, reading five novels and listening across the six genres that inspired them: Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Soul, Hip Hop, and Punk.
189H
History on the Shelves: 20th Century History in American Novels
Professor Scott Stempson
MWF 10:30-11:20 | Andrews
ACE 5
In this course we will examine American history from the beginning of the 20th Century through (at least) the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s. We will compare/contrast the American culture portrayed in the novels to what was actually going on during the period in which the novel takes place. Students will be expected to read/discuss 5-6 novels. Included in the reading list will be "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald; "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck; and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
189H
Literature and Fantasy
Professor Guy Reynolds
TR 9:30-10:45 | Andrews
TR 12:30-1:45 | Andrews
ACE 5
This course introduces students to the academic study of fantasy literature, and to the role that fantasy plays in culture and in thinking about culture. We will be looking at classic works such as Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Meryn Peake’s Gormenghast novels, to begin with, and then moving on to authors such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Marlon James and China Mieville. Classes will include discussions of George R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series (and its adaptation as Game of Thrones), alongside the Wakanda graphic novel.
189H
Nobel Prize Winning Literature
Professor Caterina Bernardini
MWF 10:30-11:20 | Andrews
ACE 5
We will read a selection of works, in different genres, by international writers who, in the last ten years, have been awarded one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world, the Nobel Prize for Literature. We will compare these writers' styles, themes, stakes, and cultural backgrounds, considering how they may differ but also how they may connect with each other, and how their works can offer us important tools to read, understand, and interrogate our times. We will discuss the history and nature (including the awarding criteria and justification) of the Nobel Prize for Literature itself, learning about the critical debates that have surrounded it and the effects that it has produced on the global literary landscape. We will also read and discuss a sample of work authored by the new winner, who will be announced in October 2026.
189H
Monsters in Literature and Pop Culture
Professor Andrew Del Mastro
MWF 11:30-12:20 | Andrews
ACE 5
Monsters frequently appear in different types of storytelling—including novels, short stories, film, plays, games, and music—but what can we learn from their popularity across time and cultures? Why are monsters, and monster archetypes, so enduring in the fictions we create, and what can their prominence in narratives teach us about the real-world concerns of the times in which those narratives are produced? This class will explore various texts that focus on monsters, monstrosity, and otherness to examine how cultural and historical contexts shape the symbolic and interdisciplinary use of those narrative patterns in literature and pop culture.
ACE 6
ACE 6: Social Sciences
189H
Geography of Global Food Security
Professor Michael Djan
MWF 11:30-12:20 | Knoll
ACE 6
Explore how global and local food systems are shaped by climate, politics, economics, culture, and technology. Examine patterns of hunger and inequality using real-world data, case studies, and lived experiences. Analyze the four pillars of food security and consider the ethical and societal impacts of food insecurity. Develop skills in interpreting data and communicating evidence-based arguments on key global food issues.
189H
How to Become Creative or Talented: Humans, AI, and Creativity
Professor Kim Marxhausen
MWF 8:30-9:20 | Knoll
MWF 9:30-10:20 | Knoll
ACE 6
Both humans and artificial intelligence tools learn, but who wins the intelligence race? This seminar class will use psychology and creativity research, activities, and discussion to understand how humans fine-tune learning and creativity to develop expertise. This field of study offers implications for self-growth and the future of education. Have we reached a point where AI can do our work for us? Maybe, but how will it impact creativity and talent?
189H
The Many Faces of Tyranny
Professor Don Beahm
TR 12:30-1:45 | Knoll
TR 2:00-3:15 | Knoll
ACE 6
History is full of tyrannical leaders, such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Josip Broz Tito, Mao Zedong, many of whom gained power before the full scope of their intentions were clear. As active citizens, we have an obligation to work to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. This course is an analysis and evaluation of the subject of tyranny from multiple points of view. Students will read, discuss, view videos and write about what some of the foremost authorities have had to say about the topic. We will learn from political theorists as ancient as Plato, to Hannah Arendt’s examination of the development of totalitarianism in Nazi Germany, on through to contemporary views of what tyranny is, and how it manifests itself in governments, societies, and individuals.
189H
Mindful Methods: Mental Health in the Modern World
Professor Ishrat Kamal-Ahmed
TR 3:30-4:45 | Knoll
ACE 6
This course introduces you to the study of mental health from an epidemiological and social science perspective, with a focus on population-level patterns rather than individual clinical issues. You will gain foundational knowledge in mental health trends and disparities, apply theories, evaluate research using statistical and observational methods, and explore how current events and structural forces, such as systemic barriers, politics and policies, addiction crisis, community violence, pandemics, social media and many other external factors, shape our collective mental health. You will get into action by engaging in interactive projects and apply evidence-based strategies and innovative solutions to address these challenges.
189H
The Neuroscience of Zombies
Professor Jacquelyn Omelian
MWF 10:30-11:20 | Knoll
ACE 6
We all know that zombies aren’t real… right? But what about a parasite that makes mice lose their fear of cats and end up as lunch? Or a virus that makes people terrified of a glass of water? In this class, we’ll sort the fact from the fiction and explore the wonderfully weird world of the brain. Using cases of both real and fictional disorders, we will explore the ways in which the typical brain functions. Along the way we will cover common neuroscience methodologies, important historical contributions, and relevant current theories. By the end of this course you will have developed a broad understanding of the field of neuroscience and be well prepared to repel a zombie apocalypse, should one occur.
ACE 7
ACE 7: Fine Arts
189H
100 Years of Film
Professor Michael Page
TR 9:30-10:45 | Andrews
ACE 7
For over one hundred years we have been enthralled by the movies! Undoubtedly film is the central mode of artistic cultural expression in our world today. Much of our social discourse revolves around our shared experiences of the cinema. This Honors seminar will introduce students to the art of film and the craft of screenwriting; key moments of film history and the social, historical, and artistic context surrounding the films; and, through the reading of screenplays, how films develop from page to screen. Students will not only watch some of the great films of the last 100 years, but they will also learn how to read films as “texts,” by applying analytical and critical methods to their viewing of films. As we view/read the films, students will also have the opportunity to read a number of screenplays (and a few short novels) to learn the craft of screenwriting, and they will write their own short screenplay as one of their class projects. Students will also learn the craft of the film review by writing two film reviews during the semester.
189H
The Art of the Memoir
Professor Bre Anena
TR 11:00-12:15 | Andrews
ACE 7
The word memoir means a written record of one’s memory. In this introductory course about how to write memoir—now sometimes called creative nonfiction or new journalism—we will study the genre’s history, analyze the style of other writers, and draft our own original short non-fiction pieces to share. Part of our writing practice will include a movement element, meaning you should expect to move every time we meet. These gentle exercises, designed for all bodies, are intended to help us access the stories we carry and think critically about how we shape them into language. The poet Stephen Dunn, evoking dance and movement, says, “[...] life is an enormous subject, especially if you believe, as I do, that it has its mysteries. But to unearth things is not enough. You need to find a choreography for them.” Moving is a powerful mode of inquiry that teaches us to listen more deeply to ourselves, our body and the bodies of others. This course also explores how movement might develop and strengthen our ability to write artfully about our lives.
189H
Experiencing Music & the Arts in Today's World
Professor Jackie Mattingly
TR 11:00-12:15 | Westbrook
ACE 7
Experiencing Music and the Arts in Today’s World will consider and discuss the nature and function of the arts in today’s society. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we will examine various artistic disciplines to unravel the diverse spectrum of human expression.
189H
How to Listen to Pop Songs
Professor David von Kampen
MWF 12:30-1:20 | Westbrook
ACE 7
Popular music’s visual marketing permeates our culture, with songwriters and bands using images and music videos to catch our attention. But music is made for ears, and pop songs deserve to be considered on their own purely musical terms. In this class we’ll listen to a wide variety of songs—Frank Sinatra to the Beach Boys to Stevie Wonder to Ben Folds to Taylor Swift—and many others in between. We will figure out what makes a great song great, and how new ways of listening can deepen your enjoyment of your favorite music.
189H
Psychology of Music
Professor Robert Woody
TR 12:30-1:45 | Westbrook
ACE 7
Throughout time, human beings have been fascinated with music. Research in the psychology of music has uncovered much regarding how musicians acquire the ability to convey emotional intentions as sounded music, how listeners perceive it as feelings and moods, and how this powerful process relates to social and cultural dynamics. This course addresses these broad themes, giving specific attention to topics such as: development and learning, motivation, expressivity and artistic interpretation, creativity, performance anxiety, listener preferences and emotional response, and the roles of music in society.
189H
Taking the Globe Global: Perspectives on Shakespeare from Around the World
Professor Noelle Domique Rodriguez
MWF 1:30-2:20 | Knoll
MWF 2:30-3:20 | Knoll
ACE 7 and ACE 9
In this course, we will read and analyze the text of Shakespeare and examine how Shakespeare's plays are adapted into performances around the world. We will explore global approaches to the Comedies and Tragedies through multiple mediums (including theatre and film), time periods, and cultural lenses. We will investigate how and why the language, characters, and stories in Shakespeare transcend generational and geographic divides, and how the continued translation and transformation of Shakespeare impacts the formation and expression of cultural identities around the globe.
ACE 8
ACE 8: Ethics
189H
Cheaters, Billionaires and Mega Media: American Sports in the 21st Century
Professor John Shrader
TR 9:30-10:45 | Knoll
ACE 8
The former Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren famously said, “I always turn to the (newspaper’s) sports pages first, which records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.” In the subsequent six decades, sport has moved closer and closer to the front pages. Collectively, sports would be considered among the biggest industries in America, and with it are the inherent issues and ethical considerations we examine in this course.
Sport is one of the few places in our society you will find the confluence of economics, class, gender, race, and identity. To study sport is to take a close examination of who we as Americans, and as citizens of the world. In this course we will examine the issues and ethics of a variety of institutions, including college and professional sports, the media, the sports business, and what role fans play in these dynamics.
189H
Ethical Considerations in Sports, Athletics, and Professional Competitions
Professor Curt Tomasevicz
TR 3:30-4:45 | Knoll
ACE 8
This transdisciplinary course explores the gray area that exist within sports, athletics, and all competitions such as the code of unwritten rules, NIL implications, performance enhancing drugs, the role of politics, biased officiating, and others. The generated conversations about ethics in competition of all disciplines can then be applied to a variety of settings where working professionals are routinely faced with ethical and moral dilemmas.
189H
Ethical Persuasion: Communication in a Digital Age
Professor Nancy Mitchell
TR 9:30-10:45 | Knoll
ACE 8
All communication is persuasive in some way, so how do we sort through what others tell us to find the truth and how do we act as ethical communicators ourselves, both personally and professionally? This course will familiarize you with a variety of ethical issues in advertising and public relations and examine their impact on contemporary society. You will develop your ability to think critically about communicating messages and examine the role of persuasion. You’ll learn about various ethical perspectives and pick up some tools that can be applied no matter what your major, such as reframing arguments and considering their impact on your audience and society. Even though the topics will be studied through the lens of marketing communications, these skills and abilities transcend disciplines as we are all creators and consumers of information. You will have the opportunity to apply what you learn to issues that interest you.
189H
From Zika to Flint, Michigan: Public Health and Environmental Justice
Professor Christine Haney Douglass
TR 11:00-12:15 | Knoll
ACE 8
As the global population grows, and our world becomes increasingly interconnected via processes of globalization, our social and natural worlds are becoming further interwoven. International travel creates a pathway for previously limited outbreaks of disease to spread. The internet creates a pathway for the illumination of once hidden social and ecological crimes. This course will explore contemporary public and environmental health case studies from around the world through the lens of environmental justice. Environmental justice involves the fair and equal treatment and involvement of all people in efforts to care for and access environmental resources. We will investigate current cases of environmental concern in urban areas, remote indigenous communities, local and international law, and the development of local and international public health practices and collaborative efforts.
189H
Why Am I Getting This Ad? Influencing Audiences Ethically in a Data-Driven Social Media World
Professor Valerie Jones
TR 12:30-1:45
ACE 8
The data generated by online interaction makes it possible to target audiences in more specific ways than ever before—but at what cost? At what point does persuasion cross into manipulation? How can user data be applied to advertising practices responsibly? This course will enable you to become familiar with a variety of ethical issues in advertising and public relations and examine their impact on our current digital society. We will study the tradeoffs of artificial intelligence usage, social media engagement and digital communication. You will develop your ability to think critically about how messages are communicated, who they are communicated to, and what the desired outcomes are. You’ll learn about various ethical perspectives and analytical frameworks through the lens of marketing communications, picking up skills and tools that can be applied throughout your life as a consumer and creator of content.
ACE 9
ACE 9: Global Awareness/Human Diversity
189H
The Building Blocks of Language: Culture and Power
Professor Hamza Rfissa
TR 2:00-3:15 | Knoll
ACE 9
Language, Culture, and Power introduces students to the fundamental building blocks of language, from the structure of sounds and words to how context shapes meaning, to analyze how language functions as a tool of social and political power. Students will critique global language policies, examine the digital preservation of endangered languages, and evaluate the ethical implications of AI and algorithmic bias on linguistic diversity. Using a multimodal approach that includes a longitudinal E-Portfolio and a critical case study, students will learn to apply linguistic analysis to uncover the ethical, social, and political structures behind language policies and the power of communication technologies in a globalized world. This Honors seminar is designed to fulfill the ACE 9 (Global Awareness & Human Diversity) requirement.
189H
Digital Society
Professor Brandon Bosch
MWF 8:30-9:20 | Knoll
ACE 9
In this course we will explore the social costs and benefits of the digital revolution. We will analize how digital technology and services (e.g., algorithms, artificial intelligence, social media, streaming) are affecting our attitudes, behaviors, cognitive and mental health, economics, entertainment, relationships, and more!
189H
Gender, Sex, and Race on Trial: Famous Legal Cases on Film
Professor Joann Ross
MWF 1:30-2:20 | Knoll
ACE 9
In this class, we will learn about notable American trials where sex, gender, race/ethnicity, or disability of a primary character is integral to the legal action. We will then critically evaluate Hollywood’s rendition of those legal events. During the course of the semester, we will learn about legal aspects of trials that that hinge upon complex issues of social identity and what their big screen adaptations reveal about American attitudes towards the legal issues at the heart of these court battles.
189H
Graphic Literature: Comics, Manga, and the Art of Visual Storytelling
Professor Shawn Rubenfeld
TR 3:30-4:45 | Knoll
ACE 9
From superheroes and manga to memoir, satire, and political critique, graphic literature is one of the most dynamic and influential forms of storytelling today. Blending word and image, these texts challenge what literature can look like and how stories are told. In this seminar, we will read a diverse range of graphic novels, comics, and manga while exploring how the form engages questions of race, class, gender, sexuality, identity, history, and power. Along the way, we will examine key critical debates surrounding graphic literature, trace its evolution, and perhaps even create short comics of our own.
189H
The Idea Tank: Pitching and Starting a Non-Profit
Professor Tim Turnquist
MWF 12:20-1:20 | Knoll
ACE 9
This course is designed for students who want to turn a real-world problem into meaningful action. You’ll learn how to shape an idea into a mission-driven nonprofit, from identifying community needs to building a clear, compelling vision. Along the way, we’ll focus on practical skills like storytelling, pitching your idea to others, and creating a plan that can actually work beyond the classroom. Whether you’re passionate about social justice, the environment, education, or something else entirely, this course will help you take that first step from inspiration to impact.
189H
Imagining Diverse Futures: Gender and Sexuality in Science Fiction
Professor Ava Winter
TR 11:00-12:15 | Andrews
ACE 9
This course will delve into a vibrant selection of science fiction, examining how speculative narratives challenge and redefine gender, sexuality, power, and identity. Through novels, short stories, films, and critical essays, we will explore how science fiction serves as a platform for imagining diverse futures and critiquing present social structures. We will read works by authors such as Octavia E. Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Samuel R. Delaney, and Carmen Maria Machado, which will take us on an intergalactic journey through wildly different visions of the future. Through our examination of these works, students will learn feminist and queer ways of thinking and reading with the potential to transform our understanding of the world we live in.
189H
Protecting Our Planet: Anthropology and Conservation
Professor Tim Sefczek
TR 9:30-10:45 | Oldfather
ACE 9
For this course we will explore various facets of conservation, from real-world dilemmas to theoretical paradigms in approaching conservation. Each week we will discuss different facets of conservation including: historical approaches at home and abroad, ethical considerations of conservation work, the anthropological approach, using biodiversity hotspots, the role of NGOs and field stations, ecotourism positives and negatives, the good and bad of COVID on conservation, conservation genetics and habitat restoration. Each week we will have a lecture, 2-3 readings from peer-reviewed sources, and a discussion on the focal topic. Weekly reflections on the conservation topic will be used to assess comprehension of course topics. The final project will be an 8-10 minute presentation on a conservation approach, program, or issue of your choosing.
189H
Taking the Globe Global: Perspectives on Shakespeare from Around the World
Professor Noelle Domique Rodriguez
MWF 1:30-2:20 | Knoll
MWF 2:30-3:20 | Knoll
ACE 9 and ACE 7
In this course, we will read and analyze the text of Shakespeare and examine how Shakespeare's plays are adapted into performances around the world. We will explore global approaches to the Comedies and Tragedies through multiple mediums (including theatre and film), time periods, and cultural lenses. We will investigate how and why the language, characters, and stories in Shakespeare transcend generational and geographic divides, and how the continued translation and transformation of Shakespeare impacts the formation and expression of cultural identities around the globe.
189H
Wonder Women on Screen: America's Female Action Heroes
Professor Tamy Burnett
MWF 2:30-3:20 | Knoll
ACE 9
In 2017, the film Wonder Woman offered viewers a refreshingly 21st-century, socially conscious, and feminist conceptualization of what a female action hero could be. For years, movie studios have resisted female-led—never mind female-directed—blockbuster action films. This attitude and absence of many competitors suggest that Wonder Woman stands alone in our popular imagination. In truth, the film’s success is a culmination of a long and fascinating history of female action heroes in American culture. In this class we will explore that history of female action heroes in 20th and 21st century American popular culture, primarily in film and television, but also in other media. We will examine these figures in the comparison to their male counterparts and traditional heroic archetypes, and consider female action heroes within the context of the evolution of feminism(s) and changing attitudes about women’s strength, abilities, and roles in society.
