Honors

Course FAQ

In an attempt to provide unique, broadly integrative, interdisciplinary educational experiences to students, the Honors Seminar series of classes has been established. These courses are expected to be highly interactive between professors and students and will generally involve student papers and presentations. The courses are designed specifically for the Honors curriculum, but are open to enrollment by any member of the SHSU student body if space is available and with the consent of the Honors Program director.

Honors classes employ the same grading criteria used in other classes. In other words, the class curve will not be artificially high, nor is it expected that a bell-shaped curve will be imposed. The emphasis is on creating an environment in which you are more personally involved rather than simply working harder. This means you can expect to work more closely with professors, to have unique and challenging experiences in the classroom, and to encounter substantially more student participation in course activities. If you end up reading more, and you may, that is undoubtedly because your curiosity is more aroused than would normally be the case. You may find yourself wanting to acquire more information on your own initiative. But Honors professors understand that an Honors class is not designed to be exceptionally burdensome on students when compared with a regular class in the same subject at the same level.

There are two ways a student can receive Honors credit for a course at SHSU. A student can take an Honors course (listed as HON) and receive a grade of "B" or better. Usually students fulfill their Honors seminars and general education requirements with this type of course. Alternatively, a student can contract for Honors credit in a regular course. Contracting is a process whereby the student and a professor agree to work together throughout the semester to provide an Honors learning experience. This is usually done as a type of research project aimed at extending the ideas presented in the course. Contracting allows students to work closely with professors on projects of mutual interest for Honors credit. For more information about how to contract courses for Honors credit, please contact the Honors office at (936) 294-1477 or through our contact page.

MATH

MTH 164H - College Mathematics: This course is designed to meet the objectives of Component area 2 of the core curriculum for non-business and non-science related majors. Topics may include sets, counting principles, probability, logic, linear algebra, linear programming, mathematics of finance, geometry, and calculus. Applications are emphasized. Prerequisites: Two years of high school algebra and high school geometry. Credit 3.

ENGLISH

ENG 164H - Honors Composition I: An accelerated class for
students with superior skills in English. Students earning an A or B in ENG 164H will receive advanced credit for ENG 165 and automatically become eligible for sophomore English. Credit 3-6.
ENG 265H - Readings in Literature of the Western World:
Readings in the classical, medieval, and modern masterpieces of the western world. Written assignments are based on themes and concepts found in the works studied. Credit 3.

HISTORY

HIS 163H - United States History to 1876: The colonial
origins of the United States and growth of the Republic to 1876. Credit 3.
HIS 164H - United States History since 1876: Continuing
survey of the United States to the present. Credit 3.
HIS 265H - World History: From the dawn of civilization to the Middle Ages. Credit 3.
HIS 266H - World Histroy: From the Renaissance to the Age of Imperialism. Credit 3.

KINESIOLOGY

KIN 233H - Honors Fitness for Living: This course will substitute for HON 215 for students in the Honors Program. Specific topics include flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, nutrition, weight control and theories of obesity, ergogenic aids, date rape, sexually transmitted diseases, Title IX, sexual harassment, message, care and prevention of athletic injuries and aging. Other content will be presented as time permits. Students will be required to complete a formal research project which will involve data collection and analysis.

SCIENCE

HON 161 - Integrated Science I: Physics, Geology and Geography: This course is designed to provide non-science major honor students with a multi-disciplinary science experience that meets the baccalaureate lab-science requirements. Specifically, this course will introduce students to basic concepts in the fields of physics, geology and geography. This course must be taken concurrently with GEL 113. Credit 3.
GEL 113H - Physical Geology Laboratory: This course must be taken concurrently with HON 161, Integrated Science I. This laboratory experience involves the study of rocks, minerals, and map interpretations. Credit 1.
HON 162 - Integrated Science II: Chemistry and Biology: This course is designed to provide non-science major honor students with a multi-disciplinary science experience that meets the baccalaureate lab-science requirements. Specifically, this course will introduce students to basic concepts in the fields of chemistry and biology. This course must be taken concurrently with CHM 115. Credit 3.
CHM 115H - Inorganic and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory:
This course must be taken concurrently with HON 162, Integrated Science II. Credit 1.

PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 131H - Introduction to Psychology: This course is designed to be a broad survey of the field of psychology covering such topics as learning, perception, personality, development, psychopathology, etc. It covers both the theoretical basis and the empirical content of these areas. Credit 3.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

POL 261H - Principles of American Government: National and State: This course deals with the origin, development, and Constitution of the American governmental system, citizenship and civil rights, suffrage, the national party system, the national executive, organization of congress, national judiciary, federal-state relations, and the Constitution of the State of Texas. This course meets the legislative requirement for a course on the Constitutions of the United States and Texas. Credit 3.
POL 265 - Comparative Survey of World Political Systems: A survey of important issues and trends in world political systems that places American government and politics in a comparative context. Included will be terminology, concepts, and methods of comparative politics. Topics may include institutions, behavior, constitutional processes, political parties and interest groups, public policy, political development, transitions from authoritarianism to democracy and from statist to market economies, sources of domestic violence, and other major concerns of the field. Prerequisite POL 261. Credit 3.
POL 285H - American Public Policy: This is a study of national and state policy. Both the policy process and the substance of selected policies will be examined. Topics may include foreign policy, civil liberties, health care, social issues, economic problems, environmental policy, and/or others. Prerequisite: POL 261. Credit 3.

OTHER

SAM 136H - Honors Introduction to Collegiate Studies:

HONORS SEMINARS

HON 131 - Honors Seminar I: Science: This course will explore (a) the scientific facts and theories related to the origin of the universe, life and intelligence and (b) the variety of possible implications of those facts and theories for humankind and human values. Credit 3.
HON 231 - Honors Seminar II: Decision Making: This course will include (a) an analysis and description of the development of humankind’s moral and social consciousness; (b) a description of the political, economic and religious responses to humankind’s physical and social environment; and (c) an emphasis, with discussion and analysis, on the future prospects of humankind. Credit 3.
HON 331 - Honors Seminar III: Business: This course will include (a) a concise overview of several areas of business and (b) a description of how each of these areas is applicable to non-business majors in everyday life throughout numerous disciplines. Credit 3.
HON 275 - Honors Seminar IV: Fine Arts: This course will include (a) an overview of several aspects of the fine arts given by professors from the dance, music, art, and theater departments; (b) an explanation of the merits of each art form with the intent of making each student a better-educated critic; (c) an integration of these art forms as seen in a mandatory play or opera each semester. Credit 3.
HON 475 - Special Topics in Honors: This course is designed to
allow study by Honors students in specific areas not covered by organized undergraduate courses. Instruction may be on a group or individual basis; students will be supervised in their studies by an appropriate faculty member(s). Credit 3.

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