Honors (HONR)

HONR 150. Flourishing: The Applied Science of Well-being. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 lecture hour (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 1 credit. Enrollment is restricted to honors students. The course examines the state of college student mental health and well-being on a personal and systems level. It provides an opportunity for students to re-evaluate their beliefs, values and assumptions, and to do so in the context of learning about the science behind health and well-being. Key findings from the fields of positive psychology and mental health research will inform students’ understanding of the biopsychosocial underpinnings of well-being. Students will learn strategies to manage stress, cultivate healthy relationships, navigate challenges, develop resilience and thrive in college and beyond.

HONR 160. Introduction to Community Engagement. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Enrollment is restricted to juniors and seniors in The Honors College. Contemporary communities are diverse and interconnected. To impact positive social changes, leaders in these communities must understand critical theories of community engagement. This course surveys critical theories and models of community engagement, including but not limited to theories of citizenship, social movements, civic leadership, social justice, civil discourse and social capital. Students will use an interdisciplinary lens to analyze principles and practices of community engagement.

HONR 170. Humans of RVA and VCU. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Enrollment restricted to students in the Honors College. Students will study the nature of community, especially the Richmond community, as well as community engagement and their role in it. They will study the differences among the terms community engagement, community service and service learning, as well as their relationship to social justice and social change. In the style of the website Humans of New York, students will work in cohorts to interview Richmond residents and post stories and photos to social media, with an eye toward better understanding the many aspects of community.

HONR 171. Investigative Inquiry in RVA. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Prerequisite: HONR 170. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. Utilizing "City as Text," this experiential learning course provides students with an opportunity to work in diverse cohorts to experience activities and events in the Richmond community.

HONR 190. Freshman Seminar. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Restricted to freshmen in The Honors College. This course develops a learning paradigm for students appropriate to university education. Students are expected to gain a willingness to take intellectual risks, to engage in their own learning actively and to take responsibility for their own education. A thorough orientation to the library and other university resources is included. The students will hone critical-thinking skills while examining selected topics from a perspective that emphasizes critical interpretation rather than mastery of information. Students will engage in collaborative projects on specified topics. Attendance at certain Honors College events is required.

HONR 191. Honors Reading Seminar. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 seminar hour (weekly). 1 credit. May be repeated for a maximum of three credits. Enrollment is restricted to student in the Honors College. Designed to provide students with a peer-led introduction to academic inquiry and provide an invitation for students to enter into broader discussions about focused topics. Each seminar is led by a peer-mentor, who is supported by a faculty member, who will identify a collection of texts focused on a particular theme or issue. Students who participate in these seminars will actively read and discuss these readings on a weekly basis and provide written reflections upon their work. At the end of the semester, a collective “Final Reflection” will address the overarching theme of the seminar. Graded as pass/fail.

HONR 198. Freshman Honors. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. Variable credit. Maximum total of 8 credits. May be repeated once under different topic. Prerequisite: permission of the dean of The Honors College. An interdisciplinary course that will provide an intensive study of selected topics.

HONR 203. Critical Thinking and Research. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 111. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. In-depth study of principles of rhetoric and argumentation for research in both written and oral formats. Emphasis is on in-depth source analyses, reviews of research, oral presentations, poster presentations, abstracts and research-based expository writing, with skills development in technological applications for information retrieval.

HONR 230. Introduction to Academic Writing. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted Honors College students enrolled in one of the following attributes: Honors Active (HN1) or Honors (HN3). An introductory study of principles of rhetoric and argumentation for research in both written and oral formats. Emphasis is on source evaluation, oral presentations, annotated bibliographies and poster presentations, with skills development in technological applications for information retrieval.

HONR 240. Research Writing and Critical Thinking. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to Honors College students enrolled in one of the following attributes: Honors Active (HN1) or Honors (HN3). In-depth study of principles of rhetoric and argumentation for research in both written and oral formats. Emphasis is on in-depth source analyses, reviews of research, oral presentations, poster presentations, abstracts and research-based expository writing, with skills development in technological applications for information retrieval.

HONR 298. Sophomore Honors. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. Variable credit. Maximum total of 8 credits. May be repeated once under different topic. Prerequisite: permission of the dean of The Honors College. Appropriate prerequisite or corequisites may be demanded. An interdisciplinary course that will provide an intensive study of selected topics.

HONR 300. Qatar Honors Experiential Learning Project. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and approval of Honors College dean. Restricted to honors students. Experiential learning is a project-based and student-led experience utilizing hands-on learning, academic research and personal reflection to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values and make worthwhile contributions to communities, organizations or groups. This course provides honors students with opportunities to collaborate with local, regional and/or international communities and organizations to engage in meaningful projects and initiatives that enhance academic enrichment, foster personal growth and practice social responsibility.

HONR 340. From Problem to Solution: Advanced Research and Creative Scholarship. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: HONR 240 or UNIV 200. Enrollment is restricted to Honors College students enrolled in one of the following attributes: Honors Active (HN1) or Honors (HN3). Students in the class will create a product that identifies and answers questions associated with a real-world problem, while demonstrating proficiency in source analyses, literature reviews and communication across genres.

HONR 351. How to Apply: Nationally Competitive Awards. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 30 seminar hours (delivered face-to-face or hybrid). 2 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. Provides a framework to apply for nationally competitive awards. Students will develop their critical thinking and writing skills to contextualize their past and present experiences, define their future goals and connect their experiences with these goals. Students will gain practical knowledge and mentoring to complete a nationally competitive award application.

HONR 398. Honors Topics. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 12 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. An in-depth study of selected topics. May be crosslisted with departmental courses. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics offered each semester.

HONR 399. Honors Module. 1.5 Hour.

Five-week course; 3 lecture hours. 1.5 credits per module. Prerequisite: permission of the dean of The Honors College. Intensive studies of topics from a wide spectrum of disciplines are undertaken. Each module is a self-contained unit. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.

HONR 421. City as Text: International. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. May be repeated for nine credits toward graduation. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College and by permission of the instructor. The interdisciplinary course applies the City as Text model to the study of an international city/place. Students will travel abroad with the instructor, where they will learn more about the geography of the city and engage in experiential learning activities while applying and exploring disciplinary knowledge in real-world contexts.

HONR 431. Art and Society. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. The course will investigate the impact that art and artists have had, and continue to have, on society. Students will study significant artists and their works, from multiple art forms, while also engaging with organizations and leaders from the VCU and Richmond arts communities.

HONR 432. Storytelling: The Art, Science and Global Impact. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. Students will study the history, art and science of storytelling to better understand its global impact and the role of story in shaping human experience. Students will compare and contrast the arts of presenting and storytelling, and explore strategies to maximize the power of written, oral and digital narrative. In addition, students will view and critically analyze peers’ and others’ work in order to hone their own communication skills.

HONR 451. Diving into Qualitative Research Methods. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. The course provides an introduction to qualitative research methods. Qualitative (non-statistical) social science research can contribute insight and depth to understanding the human condition and shed light on processes that may not be identifiable using big data sets. The course will prepare students to design, implement and analyze qualitative research studies. Students will complete an original research project on a topic of individual interest.

HONR 452. Bringing out the Best in Self. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. The course explores psychological, cultural, social and developmental foundations of the self and identity, with an emphasis on emerging adulthood. Students will learn about theories of motivation including achievement goal theory, self-determination theory, expectancy value theory and self-efficacy. Building on this knowledge, students will apply understanding of self, identity and motivation to develop strategies for navigating challenges with greater effectiveness and maximizing personal success.

HONR 453. Sustainable Well-being: From Self to Society. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 seminar hours. 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. The course explores factors influencing individual, community and societal well-being. Integrating concepts from geography, psychology and social sciences, students will engage in collaborative problem solving and project-based learning to conduct research and design solutions to address real-world challenges to happiness and health.

HONR 460. Clash of Ideas. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits toward graduation. Enrollment is restricted to Honors College students enrolled in one of the following attributes: Honors Active (HN1) or Honors (HN3). The course investigates key intellectual debates using the Reacting to the Past pedagogy to immerse students in specific historical moments and to explore ideas of lasting importance. Using dynamic roleplaying, the course focuses on specific historical and/or intellectual debates of broader importance. Through the use of reacting “games,” students will become familiar with the context(s) of the key ideas associated with the period and work in teams to address problems linked to the overarching themes of the course.

HONR 480. Honors Preceptorship. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 practicum hours (delivered face-to-face or hybrid; weekly). 0-2 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum six credits toward graduation. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College. The course is for honors students holding peer mentoring responsibilities in honors courses. Honors preceptors and their sections are overseen by honors faculty or staff and meet regularly to prepare for their experience and monitor their progress.

HONR 490. Honors College and Departmental Capstone Reflection. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 0-4 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 0-4 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of four credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College and students must be simultaneously enrolled in the final semester of their departmental capstone course sequence. The course involves reflective writing focused on departmental capstone courses and presentations of this work.

HONR 492. Honors Independent Study. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 independent study hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 1-4 credits. May be repeated for a a maximum of six credits. Enrollment is restricted by approval of the Honors College dean and instructor/tutor. The course provides academic credit for independent study/research experience under the supervision of a faculty member. The experience will include a minimum of 50 hours for each credit hour and an agreement with the sponsoring faculty who serves as the primary supervisor.

HONR 493. Honors College Internship. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 field experience hours. 1-3 credits (50 hours per credit). May be taken for a maximum of 3 credits per semester with a maximum of 6 credits total. Enrollment restricted to junior or senior students in the Honors College with approval of internship coordinator. Designed to provide students with real-world experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Graded as pass/fail.

HONR 494. Honors College Senior Capstone. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 4 independent study hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: HONR 170; HONR 200 or UNIV 200; and HONR 250. Enrollment is restricted to seniors in the Honors College with a 3.2 grade point average in honors courses. Each student will participate, either individually or as part of a cohort, in preparing a project proposal approved by the course coordinator. This course will entail the planning and execution of a scholarly project where understanding of research techniques, effective oral and written communication and knowledge of relevant literature and theories are clearly demonstrated.

HONR 495. Honors College Senior Capstone: Proposal Writing. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 independent study hours. 2 credits. Prerequisites: HONR 170; HONR 200 or UNIV 200; and HONR 250. Enrollment is restricted to seniors in the Honors College with a cumulative 3.2 GPA in honors courses. This course is a part one of a two-semester sequence where each student will participate, either individually or as a part of a cohort, in preparing a project proposal approved by the course coordinator.

HONR 496. Honors College Senior Capstone: Practicum. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 independent study hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: HONR 495. Enrollment is restricted to seniors in the Honors College with a cumulative 3.2 GPA in honors courses. This course is part two of a two-semester sequence where each student will participate, either individually or as a part of a cohort, in implementing a project proposal approved by the course coordinator.

HONR 498. Honors Thesis Preparation. 1 Hour.

Semester course; 1 seminar hour (delivered face-to-face or hybrid; weekly). 1 credit. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College and by permission of the Honors College dean. The course serves as an introduction to the honors thesis process. Students will identify a thesis topic and committee in conjunction with the instructor.

HONR 499. Honors College Thesis. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 research hours (delivered face-to-face or hybrid; weekly). 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: HONR 498. Enrollment is restricted to students in the Honors College and by permission of the Honors College dean. Students will complete the research project developed in HONR 498 and generate the final thesis, including introduction, method, results and discussion. Students must orally defend the thesis to their committee by the end of the course, with time for revisions to be submitted within the semester's defined grading period.