Course Requirements for the Honors Program

Fundamentum

Pathways to Honors (2 Courses)

These courses prepare students for engagement in the Honors Program. 

1. HON 101 (1 credit)
2. HON 102 (1 credit) 

Writing and Math

1. AWR 101 Writing and Inquiry (4 credits)
2. AWR 201 Writing and Research (4 credits)
3. MAT 155, MAT 160 or higher (4 credits)  

Honors Core

The Dialectics (3 Courses):

A dialectic is a critical investigation of truth through reasoned argument, often by means of dialogue or discussion. 

1. HON 220: Where have we been? (4 credits)

   This is a one-semester course that will be taught by one professor in the Humanities, one professor in the Natural Sciences, and one professor in the Social Sciences. In this one-semester course, students explore the past by studying the foundations and development of various cultures’ sociopolitical, scientific, and historiographical foundational ideas from the dawning of time to the 20th century.

    

2. HON 230: Where are we now? (4 credits)

   This is a one-semester course that will be taught by one professor in the Humanities, one professor in the Natural Sciences, and one professor in the Social Sciences. In this one-semester course, students explore the present by studying the foundations and development of various cultures’ sociopolitical and scientific foundational ideas in the 20th and 21st centuries.

    

3. HON 240: Where are we going? (4 credits)

   This is a one-semester course that will be taught by one professor in the Humanities, one professor in the Natural Sciences, and one professor in the Social Sciences. In this class, students will explore the future by studying cutting-edge thought innovations shaping tomorrow’s world from the varying perspectives represented by each instructor.

Idea Labs (3 courses)

1. HON 253: Idea Lab: Health Science or Natural Science (4 credits)

Idea labs are courses in thought experiments. In these courses, students will use critical inquiry to approach problems in either Health Science or Natural Science that present themselves locally (in Tampa Bay) or globally (in society).

2.   HON 255: Idea Lab: Humanities/Fine Arts (4 credits)

Idea labs are courses in thought experiments. In these courses, students will use critical inquiry to approach problems in Humanities/Fine Arts that present themselves locally (in Tampa Bay) or globally (in society).

3.   HON 257: Idea Lab: Social Science (4 credits)

Idea labs are courses in thought experiments. In these courses, students will use critical inquiry approach problems in Social Science that present themselves locally (in Tampa Bay) or globally (in society).

The Thesis 

HON 490: Thesis (6 to 10 credits)

A standard thesis is an original argument that is, at minimum, the length of a publishable article. Creative theses are welcome. Students should attempt to publish or make public their thesis in an appropriate venue, whether that venue is a journal, conference, juried art show, or stage.

Students with capstone courses in their major that require an original research/creative project can use these projects as their Honors Thesis if the project meets the guidelines outlined above. Students can work together to co-create a thesis if their director approves.

Students can use transfer credit from another college or university to satisfy the math, academic writing requirements, and 2 of the 3 Idea Labs. AP/IB/AICE credit cannot be used as transfer credit for these courses. No transfer credits may be applied toward the Dialectics.