Make Your Own Honors Course

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Last Updated: Aug 28, 2026, 11:04 AM

If you could create a class what would it be?  What is it that you would like to study? 

The University Honors Program invites all Honors students to propose course topics for a UHON seminar for Fall and Spring semesters each year. 

We are looking for proposals that:

  • Ask deep questions of interest to students from different majors
  • Are proposed by teams of at least two students
  • Bring together faculty from different disciplines to open up new perspectives
  • Reflect on the human condition and our relation to our environment

Your proposal (max one page) should include:

  • A brief description of your topic
  • Why is it important?
  • How will it be taught—lab, field, classroom, seminar, performance, a hybrid of methods, etc.?
  • One or two faculty/Departments who should lead it. This is a process we will help you with. At this stage, you do not have to have your faculty lined up.
  • Key texts/ works/ authors/scholars/artists/evidence to be considered
  • How would you like to be involved in the class? What do you want out of it? Is this for Fall 2020 or Spring 2021?

Previous student generated classes:

SALUKI-XR: Producing & Sharing Space Among the Stars (Fall 2023), proposed by Gavin Melton, in which students will design and build a shared virtual reality research outpost on an uncharted planet. Taught by Dr. Kevin Mercer (Communication and Media).

Politics, Power, and Ideas in Victorian Britain (Fall 2022), proposed by Ryan Jurich using games based in the pedagogy, Reacting to the Past. Taught by Dr. Joseph Sramek (History). 

Exploring Children's Literature (Fall 2021) proposed by Anna Wingert on the history of children's books and why we love them.  Taught by Dr. Jane E. Dougherty (English). 

The Evergreen Community Model (Spring 2020, 2021), proposed by Grant Depoy and Jacob Bolten during which students considered sustainable agricultural practices with stories and narratives cultures tell  about forests and gardens.  Taught by Dr. Logan Park (Forestry).

Innovations in Sustainability: Surviving in a Changing World (Fall 2019, Fall 2020), proposed by Carly Kasicki and Jacob Coddington that brought together faculty from Geology, Art and Design, Agriculture, Architecture, and Engineering to design and work on projects related to sustainability. Taught by Dr. Charles M. Ruffner (Director, University Honors).

We look forward to hearing your ideas! There is no deadline.  Discuss with the your Honors Mentor at any time, or email honors@siu.edu