Updated 05/23/23
Accy 420 Section 3, Independent Study (Accountancy Practicum)
ACCY 420 is a two-course sequence which serves as an alternative to the traditional honors thesis for accountancy majors. The class will be an evening class meeting one day per week (3 credit hours for each semester) that will meet throughout the fall and spring semesters of the junior year. Case Studies: Students will prepare cases approximately every other week. These cases will deal with financial reporting, judgment and analytics and go beyond but reinforce the Intermediate curriculum. The cases studies will take place throughout the year. Professional Speakers: In the alternative weeks throughout the year, representatives from the accounting profession will speak to the class. The topics will be regarding current topics in the profession. We encourage the professionals to engage the students in active discussion. Case Competitions: This part of the course will be focused on developing presentation and communication skills through preparation and participation in a case competition format. Final Thesis Document: The final thesis work will include the many case briefs worked on over the course of the year in addition to the case competition materials.
AH 101 Section 2, Introduction to Western Art
This course is designed to introduce students with no prior knowledge of art to the various styles and media of Western art. After an introduction to the fundamentals of art, two-dimensional media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, and photography, and three-dimensional media, such as sculpture and architecture, will be explored. This course concludes with a brief overview of the history of art from Prehistory to now. The Honors section of Art History 101 will place a greater emphasis on discussion/synthesis, and on a two-way conversation with peers and the professor. During this course, students will have the opportunity to explore the University Museum’s collection and visit Art Department studios on campus for demonstrations of, for example, printmaking and sculpture processes. We will engage in in-depth analyses of works of art and art movements, gaining an appreciation for the ethics of the conservation and collection of historic objects, while exploring the ethical considerations of art trafficking and censorship. Students will also develop oral presentation skills throughout the semester, presenting on key art movements, artworks, and artists.
Bisc 164 Section 4, Honors Recitation
This is a reading and discussion course, focused on the book, Entangled Life, by Merlin Sheldrake, which deals with the fascinating biology of fungi. The course is not meant to comprehensively aid students in preparation or review for Bisc 160-163 (although occasional reviews of portions of that material may occur). Rather, it is designed to provide inspiration about how fascinating biology can be, to provide a broader perspective on biological science not provided by the lecture and lab portions of the course, and especially to help students develop communication and critical thinking skills related to biological science. The participatory nature of this course is intended to provide for a deeper level of intellectual engagement and growth beyond what is possible with lecture and lab. Upon completion of this course, students will have a deeper understanding of the ecology, evolution, edibility, and medicinal benefits of fungi, as well as how to discuss and critically think about biological science.
Bisc 300 Section 1, Research Methods in Biology
This course will introduce Honors students to doing research in biology. We’ll cover areas from getting started (finding a research advisor, developing research project ideas) through analyzing research data to presenting and discussing research results. We’ll also discuss general concepts of research in the biological sciences, including different research approaches, concepts of experimental design and analysis, how research is funded, and the ethics of both doing and evaluating research. The course will be organized for Honors students in biology and related fields who have yet to decide on capstone projects (i.e. sophomores, juniors), but is suitable for students at any level who are interested in research in the biological sciences.
Csci 113 Section 1, Honors Computer Science I
Introduction to computer science with an emphasis on problem-solving and algorithm development. Students will design, implement, debug, test, and document computer programs using a high-level, block-structured programming language. In addition, topics related to data structures, abstract data types, algorithm design and analysis will also be emphasized.
Eng 199 Section 6, Introduction to Creative Writing
A reading- and writing-intensive introduction into the world of imaginative writing. Students will read and write poems, memoirs and short stories with an eye toward publication. Part of the class involves group critique.
Eng 223 Section 13, American Literature to the Civil War
This survey in early American literature explores major questions and debates in American culture, from the earliest colonial texts to the period of expansion and increasing political polarization before the Civil War. Exploring major historical themes in representative works, this course will also take time to reconsider American literature using some of the big debates and key questions of contemporary American society—we can find early examples of mythological, even magical, thinking, “fake news,” and extreme polarization from the seventeenth century forward, and we hope to learn a lot about American culture by reading deep into its complicated and challenging past. This course is a more discussion-based, writing-intensive, creative, and rigorous alternative to the super-sized American literature lectures.
Eng 224 Section 2, Survey of American Literature since the Civil War
This course explores how diverse U.S. writers have sought to shape the nation’s understanding of itself through the medium of language—a dynamic and challenging tool. We will practice both historicist inquiry and close analysis of literary language, asking such questions as: How do authors’ aesthetic experiments reflect the tensions of their times and/or their desires to represent a different kind of world? How can an understanding of literary history help us to navigate the literary and cultural debates of the present, and vice versa? We will analyze a wide range of poems, stories, plays, nonfiction, and at least one short novel, but this honors course will not involve more readings, major assignments, or exams than a regular literature survey. It will, however, be entirely discussion-based, so students have both the freedom and the responsibility to influence our collective inquiry. Requirements include regular participation in class discussion, regular in-class writings, one class presentation and written report, one creative exercise, one essay, and midterm/final exams.
Eng 395 Section 1, Studies in Literature (How to Read a Poem and Why)
Whether you love poetry or you find poetry obscure and intimidating, this class is for you. Designed to be an immersive introduction to the reading of poetry, this discussion-based seminar will give students the tools, space, and support to become insightful readers of poetry’s uniquely multilayered use of language. We’ll read a diverse range of poems, from classical forms to contemporary pop and hip hop song lyrics, examining how poetry engages with music, rhyme, sound, rhythm, silence, space, imagery, metaphor, and tone. Along the way we’ll ask ourselves why anyone still bothers to write or read poetry: what is this dense, unusual language good for? Can poems say things that are impossible to say in prose? Does poetry communicate a fundamentally different way of thinking? Can poems make us feel more acutely or understand our experience more deeply? In addition to standard interpretive essay, this class will feature frequent short assignments including both analytical and creative writing exercises.
Hon 391 Section 1, Honors Conversations All the King’s Men and the Present
Over the course of the semester, we will read Robert Penn Warren’s 1946 novel All the King’s Men, and use that novel as a starting point for discussions about Southern politics, the burden of history, populism, fascism, democracy, gender & sexuality, race & racism, and our present moment.
Hon 391 Section 5, Honors Conversations “Topics in Medicine and Health Care”
Topics in medicine and health care will be presented as documentaries which students view outside of class. Weekly classroom sessions will discuss and analyze the issues. Topics will include human genomics and personalized medicine, obesity and chronic diseases, opioid abuse, gun violence, vaccine controversies, aging and death, abortion, and U.S. and global health care policies.
Hon 399 Section 1, Special Topics in Honors: Policy Talks Seminar: AI, Narratives, and Social Engineering
What if a program could identify a hate group or terrorist cell before it had fully formed? What if a program could tell someone, with unprecedented certainty, how to tweak a marketing or political campaign for maximum impact? Are there limits that should be placed on how narratives detected and generated via AI should be used, either by private companies or the government? Our investigation will draw on many disciplines—from philosophy and political science to psychology and data science to law and journalism—to address this cutting-edge policy concern. We’ll consider an array of implications of this new technology, looking at the benefits and risks posed for our psychology, news, social media, national security, election security, and marketing, as well as possible uses for individual health outcomes and public health analysis. Guest lecturers will allow students to ask detailed and probing questions of diverse experts. Two site visits to a new technology company at Insight Park provide students with an inside look at cutting-edge research.
ISS 125 Section 2, Introduction to Intelligence Studies
Students will receive a broad overview of intelligence gathering and analysis as practiced by agencies of the United States government, including its purpose, history, and potential benefits. The organizational makeup of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC); the laws, guidelines and ethics pertaining to intelligence collection; and employment/internship possibilities in the IC will also be presented. Finally, students will be given an introduction to analytical procedures and writing/briefing for policymakers. The Honors College version of the class will accomplish these goals with a combination of discussions, hands-on learning activities, and intelligence scenarios based on current national security issues.
Mus 103 Section 9, Introduction to Music
Music 103 is a class focused on cultivating and growing an appreciation and introduction for music through focused listening and response to music presented. Recently Music 103 was redesigned by 4 UM Music faculty, who teach this course. One of the positive results from our redesign is that we now teach Music 103 without a textbook. Another positive result was the changes made with how we instruct Music 103. After we go over some introductory material in our Elements of Music Module—we will explore 4 to 6 themed, two-week modules. Some of those modules include: Music of War and Tragedy, Music and Nationalism, Music & Virtuosity, Music of Oppression and Justice. This topic focus allows us to discuss and listen to music from a wide array of art music genres including classical, jazz, world, and popular music. The ultimate goal for this course is for you to become a better listener while developing your ability to interpret music in an informed yet personal manner, regardless of the style or historical period. Mus 103 students will also have the opportunity to attend and see live performances of music on the UM campus. The honors section of this class has greater focus in classroom discussion and hearing from individual students in their experiences with class topics and music.
Phil 101 Section 2, Introduction to Philosophy
Students will get a sense of some of the central issues in philosophy by confronting classic philosophical topics. Are there any absolute truths in ethics or is all of ethics just relative? How do you know there is a world outside of your mind? What can you know about it? Are we humans just bodies, or do we also have souls/spirits/minds? How should we respond to the prospect of death? Is life after death even possible? Is anyone truly free or are all people just the products of factors outside of their control? Does the idea of God even make sense? Is there any proof either that God does exist or that God does not exist? In the course of pursuing these questions students will develop their abilities to read carefully, write precisely, and think analytically.
Phil 103 Section 3, Logic: Critical Thinking
This course introduces the student to principles and methods of sound reasoning, with an emphasis on the analysis of everyday arguments. While both deductive and inductive reasoning will be examined. our emphasis will be on the semantic and syntactic analysis of deductive arguments. The formal analysis of everyday arguments is a foundational skill with applications in fields as diverse as law, mathematics, journalism, medicine, and computer science. Honors students will be invited to explore how the tools and approaches employed in logic are applied in various disciplines. The course naturally divides into three parts: (1) Basic concepts in logic and argument, (2) Semantic (material) analysis of arguments, (3) Syntactic (formal) analysis of arguments. Students should acquire familiarity and basic facility with these methods.
Pol 401 Section 2, Senior Seminar in American Politics
As we begin the countdown to the 2024 presidential election, we find a country that is divided both within Congress and the electorate. We also find ourselves in an environment where information is highly politicized, making the need for thoughtful and analytical approaches to understanding politics all the more important. As such, this course will place a special emphasis on the critical examination of institutional, contextual, and behavioral factors that may be seen as causes and consequences of the divisions that characterize our current political and social environment. Our overall goal will be to gain an in-depth understanding of a range of issues related to the complex (and often frustrating) topic of contemporary American politics.
PPL 389 Section 2, Policy Response to Poverty in the U.S.
This course will examine the nature and extent of poverty in the U.S., its causes, consequences, and policy solutions. We will address questions such as: What does it mean to be poor? How do we measure poverty? Who is poor and why? What are we doing to address poverty? How successful are these efforts, and what might we do differently? The course has a national focus, but we will pay particular attention to poverty in Mississippi.
Psy 430 Section 2, Positive Psychology
Positive psychology is a place for researchers interested in rigorously studying such concepts as meaning in life, values, spirituality, mindfulness, character strengths, positive emotions, self-efficacy, empathy, optimism, gratitude, creativity, humor, goal setting and accomplishment, hope, forgiveness, flow, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. It is also a place for the dissemination and practical application of this knowledge in various settings. The purpose of this course is to provide students with key information about the role of psychologists, particularly clinical psychologists, in the field of positive psychology. The course is an introduction to positive psychology research and practice, and focuses on the kinds of topics described above.
Rel 101 Section 6, Introduction to Religion
This course, REL 101, is founded on the assumption that a critical, yet sympathetic, knowledge of the major religions of the world will better equip you to understand the world in which you live—whether you pursue a career in the military, business, the arts, politics, or nursing. Thus, this course introduces the student to the academic study of religion and surveys some of the world’s major religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Our purpose is to gain basic familiarity with the rituals, beliefs, figures, sacred texts, and holy days that most generally characterize each of these distinctive traditions. In addition to the introductory textbook, we will examine primary sources such as sacred scriptures and theological writings. We will also be reading a few excerpts from scholarly essays on the theory of religion. This honors course will differ from the non-honors sections of the course in the following ways: significantly more in-class discussion of the course material; an additional small research paper; several additional readings; and a slightly more challenging exam format.
Soc 101 Section 3, Introduction to Sociology
This is an introduction to basic concepts in sociology. We will use several major theories plus a discussion of research methods to study culture, socialization, deviance, and other sociological concepts. Then we will study four major axes of stratification in America: social class, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Along the way, we will discuss whether nature or nurture better explains topics ranging from gender roles and sexual orientation to racial differences in IQ test scores. This class differs from other SOC 101 sections by requiring students to write a term paper exploring the social theoretical implications of a topic of importance to them.
Span 111 Section 11, Intensive Elementary Spanish
Spanish 111 Elementary Spanish is an introduction to the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Spanish 111 is designed for students to learn the skills to communicate effectively in Spanish and to develop a knowledge and appreciation for Hispanic cultures. By the end of this class, students should be able to complete basic communicative tasks in Spanish using newly-acquired communication strategies, grammar and vocabulary, and to be able to understand and speak about the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Students in this Spanish 111 Honors section will be exposed to authentic material (news articles, literature, movie clips, etc.), and they will engage reading and writing strategies learnt in other classes for producing meaningful speech and quality writing in the Spanish language. Because the Honors College and Croft also offer a Spanish 211 section, we will prepare all students to excel in that class.
Span 211 Section 5, Intensive Intermediate Spanish
Spanish 211, Intermediate Spanish, is a continuation of Spanish 111, Elementary Spanish, and is therefore, designed to continue the study of the language and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. By the end of this class, students should be able to complete intermediate-level communicative tasks in Spanish using the communication strategies, grammar structures and vocabulary acquired during the semester, and to understand and be able to talk about the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. The goals of this course are based on the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. These standards, often referred to as the 5 Cs, emphasize the following areas: Communication in Spanish; Learning about different cultures in the Spanish speaking world; Using language to make connections to other disciplines; Comparing and contrasting languages and cultures to develop a deeper understanding about language; and Using the larger community as a way to experience and acquire knowledge about language. Students in the Honors section will have the opportunity to work with authentic material (news articles, literature, etc.) and will engage reading and writing strategies they have learned in regular classes in the production of class work and homework in Spanish. Because this Honors section will also include Croft students, who will necessarily continue to Spanish 303 and 305, we will spend more time in preparing all the students for excellence in those courses.
Span 303 Section 2, Conversation and Composition I
Spanish 303 for Croft and Honors students is a fast-paced conversation and composition course that integrates additional authentic materials that supplement the course content and further enhance students’ analytical skills and linguistic proficiency. Students will be exposed to, and challenged to, perform at the advanced and superior levels, as established by the ACTFL standards. Upon successful completion of the course, students should expect to have the tools necessary to perform consistently at the Intermediate-mid level, and should be able to execute the following communicative tasks in the target language: initiate, maintain and bring to a close informal conversations on both familiar and unfamiliar, everyday topics; accurately describe people and places; express thoughts and feelings; narrate and discuss topics/cultural events in major time frames (past, present, and future); present/support opinions; and develop arguments on current social and cultural issues. The course integrates technology, both inside and outside the classroom. This class is conducted exclusively in the target language. Students should be ready to engage and participate proactively during each class period.