The Honors College curriculum provides students both the opportunity to experience more in-depth courses within their major and minor fields, and to explore other disciplines that interest them. This culminates in a greater overall undergraduate experience.

Honors Designations

There are four Honors College graduation distinctions: University Honors Scholar, University Honors Research Scholar, Honors Scholar and Honors Research Scholar. These are conferred at the time of graduation and printed on students’ diplomas and transcripts.

To earn the designation University Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

  • 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses, AND

  • 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College coursework, including a minimum of:

  • 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

-OR-

To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students entering the Honors College with 60+ hours of college credits are required to complete a minimum of 7 hours of Honors coursework, including:

  • 3 hours of Honors Research/Honors Special Topics/Honors Apogee/Honors Thesis and 3 hours of Honors Thesis/Honors Apogee or 6 hours of graduate level courses in the major field of study at

    the 6000 or 7000 level AND

  • 1 hour of an Honors Participation course

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

To earn the designation University Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

  • 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn”

  • 3 hours of Honors Research Methods

  • 6 hours of Honors Seminars

  • 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars

  • 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences

Student must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

To earn the designation Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

  • 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn”

  • 3 hours of Honors Research Methods

  • 6 hours of Honors Seminars

  • 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

The Honors College curriculum is designed to give students flexibility with their choice of Honors courses in order to fulfill their diverse goals, needs, and interests. The Honors College offers students course work that fall into the following general areas:

Honors Course Types

Honors Academic Courses

Student can earn honors credit by taking the Honors version of their required University Core courses.

Example: Students can take Honors World Literature before 1600 as their required core literature course or Honors Calculus I as their required core math course.

*Please note that Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, ACT/SAT, and dual-enrollment credits while accepted as Auburn credits will not be accepted as Honors College credits.*

Students may choose to complete the Honors version of major specific, departmental courses.

Example: Student who are required by their major, or minor, to take Organic Chemistry can opt to take the Honors version of Organic Chemistry or students who are majoring or minoring in a business based field can take Honors Principles of Accounting to fill a requirement while receiving honors credit.

*Please note that some courses have prerequisites.*

Honors Study and Travel, HONR 3087, is a course designed to inform students about a specific country abroad or a region within the United States. Students study the culture and history of the destination throughout the semester and then travel to that destination as the culminating experience for the course.

Example: Dr. Allen Furr, Professor Emeritus of Sociology taught a small group of honors student about the culture and history of India. Once the semester ended, the students took a trip to India (link to study and travel) to explore the subject matters they studied during the regular semester. This a great opportunity to study abroad if you want to go on a shorter trip or you have a curriculum that doesn’t allow you to be off campus for a whole semester.

Honors Seminars, HONR 3007, are taught in small discussion groups similar to graduate courses. Students are not required to have a background in the topic, only possess an interest in the material. Seminar topics vary and are announced each semester. These courses count towards graduation as elective hours.

Example: The Global Citizenship course focuses on students discovering the answer to “what does it mean to be a global citizen?”

Honors Research Seminars, HONR 3987, provide Honors students with a research experience under the close supervision of an Auburn faculty member. The course is designed to enable a faculty member to mentor a number of students who are working on collaborative research. Research Seminar course topics vary and are announced each semester.

Examples: Marine Research students enjoyed the opportunity to research in and out of the lab live coral reef organisms (sea anemones, shrimps, fishes) from the Caribbean Sea. During spring break, these
students take a trip to the Florida keys to conduct field surveys, and go on snorkeling trips to collect samples of the organizms they have been researching. The only prerequisite for this class is General Biology. Most students who take this class are not science based majors.

Human Genomics and Personalized Medicine, lead by one of Auburn’s Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology professors, is another popular research seminar. Students have the unique opportunity to learn more about the human genome. This course is great for any students who are pursuing in professional health degrees.

Honors Contracts enable students to earn credit by incorporating an Honors component within a regularly offered class. This is a great way to customize your Honors experience, form a relationship with your professors, and get the most out of your major or minor classes. Completion of the Honors Contract form with faculty member and department head approval is required and must be submitted by the 15th day of class. Courses that may be contracted include:

  • A core course that cannot be taken as Honors due to a scheduling conflict or lack of an Honors version.

  • A course required to complete the student's College Curriculum Model.

Learn more about how to contract a course with our contracting resource page. {link to contracting}

Honors Participation Courses

The Freshmen Exploration course introduces students to Auburn University and the Honors College. Each week, guest speakers present topics relevant to Honors students. Some of the topics discussed include Study Abroad, campus involvement, course registration, National Prestigious Scholarships, service learning, and more.

Every semester the Honors College offers Honors Lyceum classes on varying topics. Always in high demand, the Honors Lyceum provides Honors students with an open forum for discussion of current events, international affairs, and controversial issues. Subject matter for the course varies from semester to semester, but has recently focused on such issues as: world hunger, the reform of undergraduate education in the United States, service learning, faculty research on the Auburn campus, and cultural learning experiences.

Examples: Project Horseshoe Farms Tutoring is a remote tutoring program where honors students tutor middle schoolers from Greensboro, Alabama in math and reading via skype. The honors students are paired with the same middle schooler every week in an effort to make an impactful connection, all while helping the student with their academic pursuits.

Times on Tuesday is another honors lyceum for students interested in current events. Each week the students read the New York Times and come together for discussion on the week’s biggest topics.

During the semester students typically read two to three books and actively participate in class discussions.

These classes are typically taught by higher administrators and faculty on campus who come from all disciplines of the university. The books read are hand-picked by the instructor and are usually more contemporary.

Students enrolled in the Forum course select a minimum of ten campus lectures, films, and performances from a pre-approved list to attend. The events span a wide range of subjects and students submit a reflective essay after each event attended.

This class is a great way for students to engage in the vast array of opportunities provided by the University and its partners while earning honors credit.

Honors Signature Impact Experiences

Students work with a departmental professor in their major or minor to complete a project of their choosing.

Typically, students will participate in honors research their junior or senior year. For majors that require research, you can take the honors version of research and meet both your requirement and receive honors credit.

Students work with a departmental professor in their major or minor to complete a project of their choosing and produce a written document or oral presentation.

Honors thesis is a wonderful option for any student who wants the experience of writing an undergraduate thesis. Writing a thesis benefits both students preparing to attend professional or graduate school, as well as those entering directly into the workforce.

Students work with a departmental professor in their major or minor to complete a project of their choosing. Honors Contract courses in the major field of study at the 4000-5000 level Students may contract courses in their major field of study by incorporating an Honors component within a regularly offered class.

This course is very similar to Honors Research. It gives students an opportunity to work one on one with a professor on a project that is interesting to them.

Students who meet the required pre-requisites may take graduate-level courses within their field of study. A maximum of twelve of these hours may count towards both the student’s undergraduate and graduate degrees at Auburn University. These graduate courses tend to be 6000 level courses that bridge undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Specialized Minor

The Honors Business minor will consist of the five 3-hour courses below. Four of the five courses must be taken at the honors level to successfully complete the minor. The minor is limited to students in the Honors College.

  • ECON 2020/2027 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 hours

  • ACCT 2110/2117 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 hours

  • FINC 3610/3617 | Principles of Business Finance | 3 hours

  • MNGT 3100/3107 | Principles of Management | 3 hours

  • MKTG 3310/3317 | Principles of Marketing | 3 hours

The Honors College Business Minor is administered through Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. Students interested in more information, or those who would like to declare as a
minor, must contact the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business directly.

Current Honors Course List | Fall 2025

Honors Lyceums

This class is for Honors Student Organization executive members. The class will be focused on organizational management, leadership development and serve as an opportunity to work collaboratively with all Honors College organizations.

Meets: Mondays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Maggie Rogers

Credit: One

CRN: 14905

This course provides both a theoretical and practical foundation for the role of peer educator. The course will focus on increasing students’ knowledge of student learning and student development theories, practice of helping and transferable skills, and reflection to inform performance in the peer helping position as well as career readiness and competencies.  

Meets: Tuesdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Jaime Miller

Credit: One

CRN: 18352

In this course students are expected to conduct 15 hours of service and do an in-class presentation on their service experience. This class will meet 4-6 times during the semester, but most of your weekly meeting times will be canceled, allowing for community service time.

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: Sarah Crim

Credit: One

CRN: 14906

Course reserved for Week of Service students.

Meets: Thursdays | 11-11:50 am

Instructor: Maggie Rogers

Credit: One

CRN: 14907

Adulting is no joke!  This course is designed for college students to be more prepared for the realities of life they will face post-graduation. From retirement options to life skills to navigating life a new city, this class aims to address some of the things you simply just don’t learn in a textbook.  Through participating in this course, students will  learn to budget on their potential first salary, practice everyday life skills (like writing a check or ironing a shirt!), discover strategies to make new friends after college and set realistic goals in seasons of transition.

Meets: Wednesdays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: Savannah Baker

Credit: One

CRN: 14908

Everyone asks students what their majors are, but why are there majors at all? Why are there colleges of liberal arts, engineering, business, and all the rest? What are the best ways for you to think about how you fit into these structures of knowledge, and what is the special significance for your life of attending Auburn University, a land grant and R1 institution? This Lyceum will combine a brief foray into intellectual history with opportunities for you to discern how you, with your academic interests and ways of learning, fit within the complex landscape of Auburn university as Honors students. We will examine how disciplines and universities were established, and then we will consider why it is important to your education and your life to be at a land grant, research-intensive university. At the same, you will ponder who you are, what it means for your life to pursue your education within a particular discipline, and what kinds of occupations promise to be the best fit for you and your scholarly interests. You will take, and discuss the results of, the Clifton Strengths personality test, while pursuing several forms of introspection as well as dialogue with the rest of the class. Finally, we will as a group discuss what it means to engage in multidisciplinary dialogue or collaboration, and how you, with your chosen major, can best contribute to collective forms of research, problem-solving, and knowledge-production. Students in this Lyceum will get the most out of this class if they are in their freshman or sophomore year.

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am

Instructor: Dr. Laura Stevens

Credit: One

CRN: 14909

This Lyceum will help you explore and prepare for a variety of competitive opportunities, including Nationally Prestigious Scholarships.

Meets: Tuesdays |2-2:50 pm

Instructor: TBD

Credit: One

CRN: 18353

This course is a fun and rewarding way to help Freshman Honors students AND give back to the Honors College. Peer Instructors are assigned to one of the Freshman Exploration sections. Interested in being a peer instructor? Applications will be open March 17th- April 4th and are found online at aub.ie/peerinstructor Questions can be sent to Savannah Baker: slw0083@auburn.edu

Meets: Does Not Meet

Instructor: Savannah Baker

Credit: One

CRN: 14910

There are 5 distinct priorities that when in the right alignment will help you win in both your personal and professional life. Understanding and ensuring they are in the right alignment takes consistent reflection and recalibration of one’s priorities. This continual realignment allows the best leaders to keep the most important at the forefront, cutting through the constant barrage of tasks, activities, interruptions and urgent requests. Over the next 16 weeks we will be diving into understanding what these priorities are. The goal of the class is to bring awareness to how your priorities are aligned and give you the tools to win in both your personal and professional life. 

Meets: Wednesdays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: William R Walker

Credit: One

CRN: 18440

In this Lyceum the speakers will discuss their involvement in research within their particular field. This is a great class to introduce you to research opportunities on Auburn's campus, and explore the different types of research that contributes to our R1 status. This course is for students interested specifically in COSAM research opprotunities.

Meets: Thursdays| 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Keri L. Marshall

Credit: One

CRN: 14911

In this course, you will be volunteering with K-12 students while learning about Alabama’s education system, how poverty affects learning, hear from educators and leaders in education, and gain skills for positive behavior management. Impact students through mentoring, tutoring, and engaging in learning-based activities.

Meets: Thursdays | 2-3:15 pm

Instructor: Anna Margaret Goldman

Credit: One

CRN: 14912

In this Lyceum the speakers will discuss their involvement in research within their particular field. This is a great class to introduce you to research opportunities on Auburn's campus, and explore the different types of research that contributes to our R1 status.

Meets: Thursdays | 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: TBD

Credit: One

CRN: 14913

This course will introduce you to the opportunities available at Auburn University to perform research in molecular biology. Over the course of the semester, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with experts in many different fields, including cell biology,
bacteriology, plant biology, and immunology. This is a Freshmen only course.

Meets: Mondays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: Rodney Tollerson

Credit: One

CRN: 14914

You've taken personality assessments or at least heard of them, but what do they really do? How can you use them to your benefit? In this course students will take learning and personality assessments, explore the results, and discuss how to apply the finds to the real-world. Some of the assessments included in the course will be the Enneagram, Type Focus, True Colors, etc.

Meets: Wednesdays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: Suzanne Hunter

Credit: One

CRN: 14915

This course is connected to the Honors Peer Mentorship Program. The program is a lifeline for incoming Honors College freshmen to help ease the transition into the Honors College and university life by grouping new students with experienced upperclassmen. New students have a contact from the first day they arrive on campus to help them navigate this new step in their lives. Mentors are paired with a small group of first year students with whom they interact throughout the summer and fall semester. Students must apply to be a mentor.

Meets: Thursdays | 3:30-4:45 pm

Instructor: Dr. Whitney R. Comer

Credit: One

CRN: 14916

This lyceum introduces students to Economic Development from both a global and local perspective. While broadly exploring the process of improving the well-being of people, the primary focus will be on economics. The course will encourage students to be curious while keeping their heads, look outward, work wisely saving the best, use the human touch to change the world, and have fun through informal discussions.

Meets: Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Joseph S. Johnson

Credit: One

CRN: 14917

Honors Seminars

Additive manufacturing, or 3d printing, has been gaining popularity since it was first conceived nearly 50 years ago. Technology has progressed to the point where small and portable units are affordable to nearly any consumer. Through a combination of lecture, article discussion and a term project, this course aims to teach the history of 3d printing over the last 50 years with a focus on modern advancements, media perception, and use in popular culture.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2-3:15 pm

Instructor: Scott Silvis

Credit: Three

CRN: 14936

From the wooden toe of an ancient Egyptian high priest’s daughter to the signature golden prosthetic legs of a 21st-century runway model, this course explores artificial body parts through the centuries. Interactive learning with a 3D-printed version of a 500-year old prosthetic hand (developed here at Auburn!) will be involved.

Meets:Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: Heidi Hausse

Credit: Three

CRN: 18552

Students will learn how creative principles are used to innovate in any business or discipline. This course will explore innovative individuals and businesses that have influenced their fields by the use of creative practice. The creative principles that drive innovation will be explored in depth and many examples of these creative principles will be explored.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Christopher Qualls

Credit: Three

CRN: 14939

From Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, songwriters and musicians have long understood the ability of music to make change in the world. Music is power: it can heal, motivate, inspire and elevate the human experience. This course will help us better understand how music is a driving force in the world.

Meets: Mondays & Wednesdays | 12-1:15 pm

Instructor: Jennifer Bohler

Credit: Three

CRN: 14940

Immigration control and border enforcement are highly contentious issues in contemporary American politics. This Honors Seminar explores the causes, consequences, and government responses to migration flows into the US, both voluntary immigrants seeking assimilation, and involuntarily displaced refugees banished by persecution, armed conflict, or natural disasters, seeking asylum.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: Elvis Davis

Credit: Three

CRN: 18432

This course will introduce undergraduate students to the world of casinos and clubs.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Imran Rahman

Credit: Three

CRN: 14941

Since the human genome sequencing was first finished in 2003, our knowledge of genomics and genetic diseases caused by mutations in single or multiple genes have exploded. The future of human and veterinary medicine is individualized treatment. For example, for the same disease, cystic fibrosis, different patients need to be treated differently due to different mutations they harbor. The future of pharmacy practice is also going to be individualized, because the same drug can have different effects based on different genetic makeups of the patients, a branch of science called pharmacogenomics. This course will introduce honors students who are interested in pursuing a career in human or veterinary medicine or pharmacy to some examples of this rapidly expanding field. Methods used in obtaining the knowledge will also be introduced. With this course, the student is expected to have a thorough understanding of the historical and current status of the studies on genomics and personalized medicine.

Meets: Mondays | 2-4:30 pm

Instructor: Ya-Xiong Tao

Credit: Three

CRN: 14943

This course will prepare students to make more informed job/career decisions and strategies. They will participate in a comprehensive assessment to identify their “motivated” abilities. Using these insights, students will learn about “Goodness of Fit” and how to match their talents to the critical motivations required for both performance and satisfaction in their chosen job/career. Participants will be guided in developing long-term goals, short-term plans, job interviewing skills, mentorship relationships, and co-curricular learning opportunities.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2-3:15 pm

Instructor: Joseph Johnson

Credit: Three

CRN: 14944

Games of International Relations is a course that uses games to teach broader concepts of international relations and principals of strategic interaction more generally. The key materials in this course are not books (though there are select readings each week), but games that simulate fundamental dilemmas in international relations and challenge students to put themselves in the shoes of international leaders. Students will learn not only by reading, but by playing games that put themselves in the roles of policymakers and leaders.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11 am-12:15 pm

Instructor: Peter White

Credit: Three

CRN: 14942

This 16-week course, "Introduction to Workplace Communication," is designed to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively in a professional setting. The course covers key areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, and the role of cultural diversity in the workplace. Students will learn techniques for professional writing, including crafting emails, reports, and presentations. The course also emphasizes the importance of feedback and how to give and receive it constructively. Through interactive activities, role-playing scenarios, and practical assignments, participants will develop their ability to navigate various communication challenges. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of how to build positive working relationships, resolve conflicts, and enhance team collaboration through effective communication strategies. Whether you are entering the workforce for the first time or looking to improve existing skills, this course offers valuable insights and practical tools to help you succeed in any professional environment.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 1-2 pm

Instructor: Sherrie Gilbert

Credit: Three

CRN: 14938

This is a class about knowledge, understanding, and trust. While epistemology is, in general, the philosophical study of knowledge, this class will focus on its intersection with a variety of social issues that complicate our attempts to understand the world around us: who can we trust? How do others help us know? Which are the right experts and how can we tell? How does our social positional and the quiet structures around us affect our ability to know?

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11 am-12:15 pm

Instructor: Guy Rohrbaugh

Credit: Three

CRN: 14937

Honors Research Seminars

The students will be trained to identify the lacuna / gap in the current research literature associated with an etiopathology of a neurological disease and the pertinent requirement for a new prophylactic or therapeutic drug therapy. Open to all majors. Research focus can be customized to interest and career goals.

Meets: Wednesdays | 3-5 pm

Instructor: Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran

Credit: Three

CRN: 14949

This course is designed to familiarize students with biomedical research, with a particular focus on AI-driven studies impacting biomarker discovery and drug repositioning in complex diseases. The students will learn the basis of data processing and relational database construction. The students will follow the state-of-art techniques in processing the multi-omics data and enhance their understanding of the frontiers of bioinformatics algorithms, tackling biomedical questions, such as the stratification of the patients and identifying potential cohort-specific oncogenes and treatment. This course will introduce the Honors College’s students who are interested in pursuing careers in bioinformatics or data science, equipping them with the skills needed to conduct bioinformatics research using state-of-the-art technologies.

Meets: Tuesdays | 1-3 pm

Instructor: Zongliang Yue

Credit: Three

CRN: 14950

This Honors research seminar aims to foster critical approaches to understanding the broader cultural significance of contemporary popular sports in the United States. We will suspend the conception of sport as merely a happy pastime to view sport as reflecting ideological issues such as race, class, gender, education, and online discourse, even as rhetoric around sports participation and punditry helps to shape prevailing American values and attitudes. Required texts will include literature, film, television, and creative nonfiction/journalism, and the course will culminate in an independent research project guided by instructor and peer feedback in which each student will identify and intervene in a contemporary controversy in sports that overlaps with broader ideological debate

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 11-11:50 am

Instructor: Daniel Grace

Credit: Three

CRN: 18441

This course examines key issues affecting student parents and student caregivers through three distinct areas: perinatal mental health, the legal landscape, and childcare access. Students will explore research and programming related to perinatal mental health support, legal rights and policies impacting student caregivers, and the availability and structure of childcare services in educational settings. Each topic will be approached separately, allowing for an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges and policy considerations within each domain. Through case studies, policy analysis, and applied research, students will gain insights into how institutions and policymakers can better support student caregivers.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 12-12:50 pm

Instructor: Regan A. Moss

Credit: Three

CRN: 14951

Honors Book Club

Introverts aren’t necessarily the quiet ones in the corner. Though our culture places more social value on those who are the life of the party, introverts think, create, learn, and love at a level that is often deeper than their extroverted peers. Let’s dispel the stereotypes of introversion and celebrate the psychology of the serene.

Meets: Wednesdays | 12-12:50 pm

Instructor: Christopher T. Wyckoff

Credit: One

CRN: 14924

In a country that feels increasingly divided, literature can remind us of the wonderful tapestry of people who make up American society. Our two novels this semester, Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros and The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka, showcase the strength and resolve of two diverse American communities. They help to emphasize unique differences each community experiences and the surprising similarities in life regardless of cultural identity. In this course, we will reflect on the trials and triumphs of the characters and explore how reading these texts may influence the current social climate.

Meets: Wednesdays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Meagan Anthony

Credit: One

CRN: 18554

A selection of books about leadership, communication, and decision-making

Meets: Mondays | 11-11:50 am

Instructor: Kathleen Boyd

Credit: One

CRN: 14925

In this book club we will read and discuss two nonfiction books and one novel that explore the sensory perception and inner lives of dogs along with other animals: Ed Yong’s An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden World Around Us, Alexandra Horowitz’s Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, and Damian Dibben’s Tomorrow: A Novel, which tells the story of an immortal dog searching across time and place for his immortal person.

Meets: Tuesdays | 5-5:50 pm

Instructor: Dr. Laura Stevens

Credit: One

CRN: 14926

This section will read "Against the Grain" with its author, Roger Thurow

Meets: Mondays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Roger Thurow

Credit: One

CRN: 18361

University's Common Book Program Book for 2025. Freshmen only.

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am

Instructor: Piper Cumbo

Credit: One

CRN: 18553

This book club explores the intersection of cultural intelligence (CQ) and global fluency, equipping students with the awareness, skills, and strategies necessary to navigate diverse cultural landscapes effectively. Through guided discussions, multimedia resources, and experiential learning, students will deepen their understanding of cultural adaptability, communication styles, and global leadership.

Meets: Thursdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Adeola Fayemi

Credit: One

CRN: 18416

“The Lexus and the Olive Tree” by Thomas Friedman. Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2 edition

Meets: Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Joseph Johnson

Credit: One

CRN: 14929

In an increasing age of media, motion, and overwhelm, the comfort, connection, and peace of classic literature has gradually been left behind. This class invites you to step away from noise and distractions and welcomes you to join a time of thoughtful togetherness: a reading room. Together, we will read aloud Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. All readings will occur in class, together, and reflections will be submitted individually after class. This class will cover the content and themes of Little Women and will also explore the art and practice of reading out loud, within a classroom community.

Meets: Tuesdays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Katie Martin

Credit: One

CRN: 14930

University's Common Book Program Book for 2025. Freshmen only.

Meets: Wednesdays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: Whitney Comer

Credit: One

CRN: 14931

The term “Final Girl” originates in Carol J. Clover’s 1992 scholarly book Men, Women, & Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. Since the term was coined, the final girl trope has permeated our pop culture understanding of horror. While it may now be considered a stereotype, the final girl trope opens up a broader conversation about gender within the genre of horror. In literature, women have historically had a surprising amount of agency and influence in horror compared to other genres (think Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the gothic horror of the Bronte sisters, and the influential works of Agatha Christie and Shirley Jackson). It is interesting that the same genre that often depicts helpless women victimized by violence also represents some of the boldest displays of female protagonists seen in literature and pop culture—female protagonists with their own rich stories of empowerment. This course will discuss how gender influences horror as a genre in literature and popular culture, both from the male and female perspective, and how the trope of the final girl has evolved over time. Should we dismiss horror as vapid, gory entertainment, or is there an argument for it being a pioneer in introducing female agency to the mainstream?

Please note: The readings in this course deal with adult language and adult themes, including violence and gore.

Meets: Wednesdays | 2-2:50 am

Instructor: Yvette Stone

Credit: One

CRN: 14932

This section will read a selection of John Maxwell leadership books.

Meets: Tuesdays | 2-2:50 am

Instructor: Whitney Comer

Credit: One

CRN: 14933

University's Common Book Program Book for 2025. Freshmen only.

Meets: Mondays | 3:30-4:20 pm

Instructor: Suzanne Hunter

Credit: One

CRN: 14934

Have you ever had your favorite book turned into a TV show and the ending was…not the same? Or the main character was cast completely different than how you imagined? With the rise in streaming platforms, popular books are adapted to TV shows at astronomical rates. But do they always get it right? In this class we will focus on books that have been successfully (or maybe unsuccessfully) made into TV series. We will discuss what makes for a good adaptation and make suggestions for the future of book to TV pipelines. Books: Nine Perfect Strangers, The Perfect Couple

Meets: Wednesdays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: Emily Prim

Credit: One

CRN: 14927

This book club is still in the works, come back for more information.

Meets: TBD

Instructor: TBD

Credit: One

CRN: TBD

Honors Study & Travel

You must apply to take this class through Auburn Abroad, and then you will be manually enrolled by Honors. Application information will be sent through the Honors Canvas page. Please consider applying early and reach out to wrc0024@auburn.edu if you have questions.

Meets: Tuesdays | 4-4:50 am 

Instructor: Michael Greene

Credit: Three

CRN: 14945

You must apply to take this class through Auburn Abroad, and then you will be manually enrolled by Honors. Application information will be sent through the Honors Canvas page. Please consider applying early and reach out to wrc0024@auburn.edu if you have questions.

Meets: Wednesdays | 3-3:50 pm 

Instructor: Jeffrey LaMondia

Credit: Three

CRN: 14947

Other Available Courses

Counts as a core Social Science course specifically designed for Honors College students. From an interdisciplinary perspective, this course examines the intersections of technology & technology & culture in a variety of social, historical, professional, and global settings.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 11-11:50 pm

Instructor: George M. Plasketes

Credit: Three 

Course: HONR 1017

CRN: 14892

First year course that introduces new Honors College students to the Honors College and Auburn University and helps students become better informed about its resources and services. Topics include Honors College advising, Study Abroad, Campus Involvement, the Career Center, Academic Support and Study Skills, and many more. This course is for first year honors students only.

Credit: One

Course: HONR 1077

There are 11 sections avialable for Fall 2025:

CRN: 14893 | Wednesdays | 2-2:50 pm | Celeste Waugh (engineering students only)

CRN: 14894 | Tuesdays | 8:30-9:20 am | Amy Flynn

CRN: 14895 | Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am | Jonathan Hallford (liberal arts students only)

CRN: 14898 | Tuesdays | 11-11:50 am | Taylor Davis

CRN: 14899 | Mondays | 2-2:50 pm | Savannah Baker

CRN: 14900 | Wednesdays | 10-10:50 am | Katie Martin

CRN: 14901 | Mondays | 2-2:50 pm | Taylor Davis

CRN: 14902 | Wednesdays | 2-2:50 pm | Bryce Gray

CRN: 14903 | Wednesdays | 1-1:50 pm | Bryce Gray

CRN: 14904 | Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am | Amy Flynn

CRN: 14897 | Wednesdays | 9-9:50 am | Emily Prim

Students attend 10 approved events held around Auburn’s campus or virtually and submit short summaries of their experience online.  Events include research presentations, film screenings, academic seminars, plays, music concerts, lectures, Career Center workshops, etc.

Meets: This class does not have a time or meet in person but requires attendance to various on-campus events.

Instructors: Krista A. Grant & Meredith A. Powell

Credit: One

Course: HONR 2077

CRN: 14918, 14919, 14920, 14921, 14922, 14923

This is a course that fills a need for Honors students to receive a broad instruction to both STEM and Humanities research methodologies to prepare them for future research endeavors. This course is open for all honors students but is required for students pursuing Honors Research Scholar or University Honors Research Scholar.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11 am-12:15 pm

Instructor: Abigail Higgins

Credit: Three

Course: HONR 2097

CRN: 14935

Past Honors Course List | Spring 2025

Honors Lyceums

For this section of Honors Lyceum, you and your classmates will explore Auburn University’s art museum, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. We’ll read and analyze a set of texts about the history of art museums, the various ways art museums function, who works in museums and what they do, who visits museums and how they use them, and finally what recent trends and changes are shaping the future of art museums like the Jule.

Meets: Thursdays | 5-5:50 pm

Instructor: Kathryn M. Floyd

Credit: One

CRN: 21890

This Lyceum will help you explore and prepare for a variety of competitive opportunities, including Nationally Prestigious Scholarships (Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, etc.), Graduate schools programs, and other opportunities such as the Peace Core. You will learn about various opportunities, begin preparing applications for one or two options, and practice interview skills.

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30 - 10:20 am

Instructor: Dr. Laura Stevens

Credit: One

CRN: 21891

From Bluebird Cafe to a voice heard around the world, Taylor Swift has become one of the most influential artists of all time. She has set record after record- the Eras Tour alone grossing over $1 billion. How did she become a stand-out artist? What about her music is so relatable to a global audience? How has she created the most loyal of fan bases that would wait hours online just for the chance to earn a chance to attend one of her concerts? Come together with your fellow Swifties to discuss multiple topics, including but not limited to, economics, gender, fashion, storytelling, communication/media, sociology, and the entertainment industry. Prepare to get out of your comfort zone, stretch your mind, and learn about other disciplines that have contributed to the brand that is Taylor Swift. Let’s analyze Taylor Swift Easter Eggs together and become “MASTERMINDS” on all things that have created a global superstar.

Meets: Tuesdays | 8:30-9:20 am

Instructor: Amy E. Flynn

Credit: One

CRN: 21892

There are 5 distinct priorities that when in the right alignment will help you win in both your personal and professional life. Understanding and ensuring they are in the right alignment takes consistent reflection and recalibration of one’s priorities. This continual realignment allows the best leaders to keep the most important at the forefront, cutting through the constant barrage of tasks, activities, interruptions and urgent requests. Over the next 16 weeks we will be diving into understanding what these priorities are. The goal of the class is to bring awareness to how your priorities are aligned and give you the tools to win in both your personal and professional life. 

Meets: Wednesdays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: William R Walker

Credit: One

CRN: 21893

In this course students are expected to conduct 15 hours of service and do an in-class presentation on their service experience. This class will meet 4-6 times during the semester, but most of your weekly meeting times will be canceled, allowing for community service time.

Meets: Wednesdays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: TBD

Credit: One

CRN: 21894

This course will advance students’ digital visual design skills beginning with Adobe Express (web-based drag-and-drop app) but primarily focusing on developing skills in Adobe Photoshop (desktop app), available to students at no additional cost through Auburn’s Adobe Creative Campus initiative. Students will learn image editing, compositing, and publishing. No previous knowledge or skills are required. The digital literacy skills students will learn in this course and demonstrate via a web portfolio have broad applications across all fields of study, empowering students with creative communication skills that will be useful in any career.

Meets: Wednesdays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: Chelsy P. Hooper

Credit: One

CRN: 21895

Interested in diving deeper into all that you can gain from life as a well, rounded college student? This may be the class for you. It is no secret that the healthier we are physically and mentally, the more likely we are to find contentment with our academic performance and experience. From quick, healthy recipes to personal finance, building a resume, time management, and navigating campus safety, there is a lot to juggle while in college. You are invited to come and participate in a course to help you make the most out of your time and experience so that you can live a balanced life while in college. After all, they say the habits we form now can continue to follow us throughout life. Let’s start making positive habits today!

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am

Instructor: Amy E. Flynn

Credit: One

CRN: 21896

Want to make an impact? Get course credit, have fun, AND make a difference in children’s lives! In this course, you will be volunteering with K-12 students in Lee County Schools Summer Learning Program while learning about classroom management, poverty and race in school systems, and Alabama’s education system. Impact students through mentoring, tutoring, and engaging K-12 students in learning-based activities.

Meets: Thursdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Anna Margaret Y. Goldman

Credit: One

CRN: 21897

In this Lyceum the speakers will discuss their involvement in research within their particular field. This is a great class to introduce you to research opportunities on Auburn's campus, and explore the different types of research that contributes to our R1 status.

Meets: Wednesdays | 9-9:50 pm

Instructor: Suzanne P. Hunter

Credit: One

CRN: 21899

More than 15 years after its end, Harry Potter refuses to give up the spotlight. As the best-selling book series ever published, it has spawned a multi-billion-dollar industry, influenced an entire generation, and is still making waves today. Why? This course will examine Harry Potter as a work of literature and as a cultural touchstone in the public imagination. We will investigate how the series has influenced society, as well as tackle themes of ethics, class, race, gender, sexuality, and criminal justice that can be found in the novels, challenging students to think about Harry Potter in new ways. In addition to scholarly readings, we will also discuss some of the most pressing questions for fans of the series: What is considered HP canon? What role does fanfiction play in constructing fan identities? Was Harry really the Chosen One? How was Peter Pettigrew a Gryffindor? This course is for students who both have a deep love of the Harry Potter series and who want to examine it through a more critical lens.

Meets: Wednesdays | 3-3:50 pm

Instructor: Yvette J. Stone

Credit: One

CRN: 21900

Honors Interdisciplinary Exploration (HIE) is a new honors lyceum intending to bring together students and faculty from across Auburn University under the single umbrella of honors education. This is done through a topic-based structure, where every week students will either sit down for a discussion or travel to a field experience with a different instructor to learn about how one topic can be approached by several different fields. Guest professors will come from all of Auburn’s different colleges to provide a true interdisciplinary exploration of a topic. In light of Auburn’s historical relationship with agriculture and new campus initiatives related to food, the HIE topic will be Food. Students can expect to explore food from many different perspectives including engineering, agriculture, business, psychology, and literature.

Meets: Thursdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Sarah Grace Kaschak

Credit: One

CRN: 21901

In this Lyceum the speakers will discuss their involvement in research within their particular field. This is a great class to introduce you to research opportunities on Auburn's campus, and explore the different types of research that contributes to our R1 status. This section is specifically designed for COSAM students and will focus on COSAM related research.

Meets: Mondays | 4-4:50 pm

Instructor: Keri L. Marshall

Credit: One

CRN: 21902

The digital age is dominated by reviews. Reviews tell us where to eat, what to buy, where to travel, what to watch, what to support, and ultimately--who to trust. This class explores reviews as both a communication genre and cultural phenomenon. Students will explore reviews across digital and print media, dive into the craft of writing, analyze public writing, and investigate the impact of "review culture." This class will require weekly submissions of review examples, in-class discussion of professional writing principles, and will culminate with individual creative projects.

Meets: Mondays | 10-10:50 pm

Instructor: Katie E. Martin

Credit: One

CRN: 21903

The course is designed to help students in developing a career plan and investigating the work world in terms of the students' career/life goals. Students will explore career competencies that are sought by employers and graduate schools, and learn how best to represent these competencies on resumes and in interviews.

Meets: Wednesdays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Whitney R. Comer

Credit: One

CRN: 21904

This lyceum introduces students to Economic Development from both a global and local perspective. While broadly exploring the process of improving the well-being of people, the primary focus will be on economics. The course will encourage students to be curious while keeping their heads, look outward, work wisely saving the best, use the human touch to change the world, and have fun through informal discussions.

Meets: Tuesdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Joseph S. Johnson

Credit: One

CRN: 21905

Thriving with AI: Strategies for the Intelligence Age is an interdisciplinary honors course examining the impact of artificial intelligence across various fields. Students will gain a practical understanding of modern AI technologies, their applications, and implications for future careers. The course covers AI fundamentals, machine learning basics, large language models, and generative AI. Topics include AI ethics, bias, legal considerations, and industry-specific applications. Students will learn to effectively use AI tools for research, writing, and problem-solving. Despite the technical nature of the topic, this course is designed for students from any major seeking to gain a competitive edge in an AI-driven world. No prior technical background is required. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills, problem identification, and question formulation—key competencies for leveraging AI effectively. The course aims to cultivate an "AI-native" mindset, preparing students to use AI as a collaborative tool in their academic and professional pursuits. Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises, students will explore AI's current capabilities and potential future developments. Guest speakers will provide industry and research perspectives.

Meets: Wednesdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Danny O' Leary

Credit: One

CRN: 29060

This course is a fun and rewarding way to help Freshman Honors students AND give back to the Honors College. Peer Instructors are assigned to one of the Freshman Exploration sections. Interested in being a peer instructor? Applications will be open October 18-November 15 and are found online at https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_er4XL0XuRgd2xTv  Questions can be sent to honors@auburn.edu.

Meets: Mondays | 3-3:50 pm

Instructor: Katie E. Martin

Credit: One

CRN: 21898

Honors Seminars

Bitcoin is a revolutionary, purely digital asset that aspires to be digital gold and even digital money. This course equips students with the basic concepts to understand bitcoin and its potential impact—an overview of the nature of money and the problems of the current monetary system, the solutions that bitcoin offers, the way bitcoin works, bitcoin vs. other cryptocurrencies, bitcoin mining and energy, investment principles, social implications, and extensions of bitcoin.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 8-8:50 am

Instructor: Stanley J. Reeves

Credit: Three

CRN: 21920

This course will prepare students to make more informed job/career decisions and strategies. They will participate in a comprehensive assessment to identify their “motivated” abilities. Using these insights, students will learn about “Goodness of Fit” and how to match their talents to the critical motivations required for both performance and satisfaction in their chosen job/career. Participants will be guided in developing long-term goals, short-term plans, job interviewing skills, mentorship relationships, and co-curricular learning opportunities.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2-3:15 pm

Instructor: Joseph S. Johnson

Credit: Three

CRN: 21921

Creativity for Success will focus on cultivating creative thinking skills. By strengthening this capacity, you are empowered to approach concepts and problems with the dynamic perspective often necessary for navigating complex dilemmas and issues across various professional and academic fields. You will explore the concept of creativity and the creative process while fostering skills to think critically, form ideas, maintain motivation, and deliver a creative project. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of theoretical methods, robust topic exploration, and cultivating beneficial lifelong habits.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 9-9:50 am

Instructor: Samantha D. Ansley

Credit: Three

CRN: 21923

Is friendship based on moral character? What makes a good friendship? What are some different types of friendship? How is friendship related to love? When should a friendship end? Is friendship politically important? To discuss these questions, we will engage with various works about it: essays, novels, and movies.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: John P. Dyck

Credit: Three

CRN: 21924

Too often, young beginning creative writers AND older beginning creative writers believe that publishing their work is out of reach – some might feel that they lack life experience, while others might feel that the writing life has passed them by. In this creative nonfiction seminar, we will focus on the ways that the freshness of youth and the capacity for deep reflection in later life are both fertile ground for the memoir writer and the creative essayist. In the general sense, students will gain a greater facility in writing in the literary subgenre of creative nonfiction through writing workshops, careful reading, and attention to craft. More specifically, my goal for each student from completing the revision project is to leave the course with a short work of essay or memoir suitable in format and quality for publication in a literary journal (we will talk about best practices for submitting to journals in class and students will be encouraged to do so). A notable aspect of this course is that our seminar consists of students from the regular Honors track studying and writing alongside students from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). If Philip Lopate is right that the writer of creative nonfiction is always double, always both the character in the experience being narrated and the narrator with the necessary distance to try to understand the experience, then the intergenerational nature of our classroom community can only lead to fascinating considerations about how much distance is needed from an event to have perspective, and how much immediacy can be wrung out of experiences that occurred long in the past. I think the nature of our group will allow us to dig deeply into the most pressing practical questions for succeeding in this genre and will pave the way for our work to make its way out into the world.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 10-10:50 am

Instructor: Daniel R. Grace

Credit: Three

CRN: 21925

This course explores the science of well-being and happiness while equipping students with practical tools to lead more fulfilling lives. The course will follow Fink's Taxonomy of Significant Learning, emphasizing active learning experiences that foster deep understanding and transformative growth.” We will focus primarily on the science of happiness and integrate findings from positive psychology. Some concepts in psychiatry, behavioral genetics, and neuroscience will be explored.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11 am-12:15 pm

Instructor: Patrick M. George

Credit: Three

CRN: 21926

Leadership is more than a position. Everyone must lead in their sphere of influence. During this class, students will study the five leadership practices proposed in the Leadership Challenge. Students will evaluate their own perception of their leadership skills, as well as received feedback from others on their leadership. The goal is to gain a better understanding of important leadership skills, develop an action plan for developing those skills, and applying these lessons to their lives now.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: Whitney R. Comer

Credit: Three

CRN: 21927

Introduces students to the key role of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in the US. Focuses on how the nonprofit sector addresses social needs and facilitates civic engagement. By emphasizing community engagement and incorporating service-learning components, the course aims to develop key skills needed to engage with nonprofit organizations as donors, board members, funders, and volunteers, and become more energized and inspired community members.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Peter C. Weber

Credit: Three

CRN: 21928

The Vampire figure began to capture the Western cultural imagination in the 19th century with works like John Polidori’s “The Vampyre” (1819), J. Sheridan La Fanu’s Carmilla (1872), and, of course, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897), continuing to frighten and seduce writers, readers, and audiences ever since. In recent years, the vampire has seemed ubiquitous: the focus of numerous books, films, and television shows. In this seminar,  we will examine the ways in which the vampire comes to represent, in different eras or all at once, desire and repulsion, modernity and anachronism, productive capitalism and aristocratic decadence. We will especially look at the vampire’s evolution from gothic villain to modern romantic hero as we move from 19th century vampire texts to 21st century texts and films.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 9:30-10:45 am

Instructor: Ellen C. Campbell

Credit: Three

CRN: 21929

This course is designed to teach you the basic principles of publicity and entertainment public relations. We will pay particular attention to those areas that are useful to fans, consumers, and journalists.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Brigitta R. Brunner-Johnson

Credit: Three

CRN: 21930

For Week of Service counselors only.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 3:30-4:45 am

Instructor: Margaret V. Rogers

Credit: Three

CRN: 21932

Students will learn how creative principles are used to innovate in any business or discipline. This course will explore innovative individuals and businesses that have influenced their fields by the use of creative practice. The creative principles that drive innovation will be explored in depth and many examples of these creative principles will be explored.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Christopher J. Qualls

Credit: Three

CRN: 28965

Honors Research Seminars

This course will expose students to hands-on research experience on several cutting-edge biomedical research techniques including cell culture, transfection, site-directed mutagenesis, ligand binding assay, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, western blotting, and radioimmunoassay.

Meets: Mondays | 2-4:30 pm

Instructor: Ya-Xiong Tao

Credit: Three

CRN: 21937

The students will be trained to identify the lacuna / gap in the current research literature associated with an etiopathology of a neurological disease and the pertinent requirement for a new prophylactic or therapeutic drug therapy. Open to all majors. Research focus can be customized to interest and career goals.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 3-3:50 pm

Instructor: Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran

Credit: Three

CRN: 21938

This seminar will explore the relationship between African American media and organizing during the nineteenth century, focusing simultaneously on African American print practices and the ethics of studying African American print and life. How did African Americans use a variety of print forms to share and advance issues of import to Black life in the United States? How did the specific print forms they chose to work in and with influence such issues? How did Black organizations contribute to the making of Black print, and how did Black print further the aims of Black organizations? We will focus our attention in particular on two examples of the deep interrelationship between Black organizing and Black media: Colored Conventions, and Black newspapers.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 12:30-1:45 pm

Instructor: Benjamin P. Fagan

Credit: Three

CRN: 21939

This course will engage students in a variety of research efforts focused on highlighting the experiences of student-caregivers through the Caregiver Empowerment Lab, a subset of the Caregiver Initiative at Auburn University. Our work centers the lived experiences of student caregivers and challenges systems and structures to identify their role in negatively impacting caregivers and opportunities to champion their rights and needs.

Meets: TMondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 12-12:50 pm

Instructor: Regan A. Moss

Credit: Three

CRN: 21942

Honors Book Club

We will read two selected texts about global climate change, focusing on practical solutions we can take that can help avert the most disatrous outcomes. Discussion will focus on your reactions and suggestions for local, national, and world actions.

Meets: Wednesdays | 12-12:50 pm

Instructor: Christopher T. Wyckoff

Credit: One

CRN: 21912

Discover timeless leadership principles through the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss—published over 60 children's books filled with profound insights and simple wisdom. This course explores Dr. Seuss's beloved stories to uncover essential leadership qualities and techniques that resonate with contemporary leadership practices.

Meets: Thursdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Charles S. Gordon

Credit: One

CRN: 21913

In an increasing age of media, motion, and overwhelm, the comfort, connection, and peace of classic literature has gradually been left behind. This class invites you to step away from noise and distractions and welcomes you to join a time of thoughtful togetherness: a reading room. Together, we will read aloud Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. All readings will occur in class, together, and reflections will be submitted individually after class. This class will cover the content and themes of Little Women and will also explore the art and practice of reading out loud, within a classroom community.

Meets: Thursdays | 3:30-4:20 pm

Instructor: Katie E. Martin

Credit: One

CRN: 21914

In this course, we will explore the many different facets of the enneagram and how it contributes to our own self-discovery. The authors provide an overview of the enneagram and in-depth descriptions of each number. This course is designed to help you not only discover your number but to also help you learn more about those around you and how to best relate to them. Your journey to self-discovery will culminate with a Continued Journey Plan explaining how you will use your understanding of the enneagram to set important life goals and reach them.

Meets: Tuesdays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Ruthanna B. Spiers

Credit: One

CRN: 21915

Have you ever been watching a movie and thought to yourself, "I wonder if this is a book?" Well this is your chance to read the source material behind two of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster movies: Jaws and Jurassic Park! Join in as we read the books, view the films, and figure out who did it better, the authors or Spielberg.

Meets: Wednesdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Stuart A. Miller

Credit: One

CRN: 21916

Did you know that vampire scholars (yes, a real thing) call the early aughts the Vampire Renaissance? Or that academics posit the proliferation of dystopian YA fiction in the 2010s was inspired by cynicism and anxiety in the wake of 9/11? Or that our society’s current social media swipe culture has created an obsession with 500-year-old “shadow daddies”? As the 21st century brought with it massive social, political, and economic upheaval, fiction offers people a means to escape, to detach, to explore. But what ushers in one fad over another? And can we truly pinpoint exactly what cultural moments bring about fiction trends? Or is there more at play here? This course will attempt to answer these questions and more as we dive into a discussion of fad fiction in the 21st century. There are no predetermined readings in this course. Instead, we will devote time to a central debate—Can we divide up the past 25 years into precise fads? Or are fiction trends more nuanced? Once debated, we will vote on which novels represent these cultural phenomena and how their popularity speaks (perhaps) to a particular moment in time.

Meets: Wednesdays | 2-2:50 pm

Instructor: Yvette J. Stone

Credit: One

CRN: 21917

Readings selected by students at the start of the semester.

Meets: Mondays | 3:30-4:20 pm

Instructor: Suzanne P. Hunter

Credit: One

CRN: 21918

The class will read “Connected Education,” by Peter Feltons.

Meets: Mondays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Liesl A. Reiners

Credit: One

CRN: 21919

Grit helps students remain resilient as they persevere through challenges and adversity as they pursue rigorous majors intended to lead them to follow their passions for high level careers. This course will explore applying “Grit” to the journey of a demanding curriculum using the lens of Angela Duckworth, author of GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

Meets: Tuesdays | 1-1:50 pm

Instructor: Judith M. Sanders

Credit: One

CRN: 28964

Honors Study & Travel

Visit “The District” and get up close and personal with politics. During this trip, participants will speak with current and former officials from Congress, the Department of Justice, the US military, the Embassy of the United Kingdom, and the private sector. There will also be ample opportunity to explore the museums and cultural opportunities that the nation’s capital has to offer!

Meets: Tuesdays | 9:30-10:20 am 

Instructor: Peter B. White

Credit: Three

CRN: 21933

See the “Big Apple” through the world of theatre. As part of this course, the Honors College and the Auburn University Theatre Department are joining forces to give you a quintessential tour New York City. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of a theatre and enjoy the iconic NYC sites, shopping, and street food.

Meets: Mondays | 4-4:50 pm 

Instructor: Charles A. Bringardner

Credit: Three

CRN: 21934

The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to introduce student to the functions of higher education and student affairs on a local and global scale. Each week student will learn about a topic related to higher education, where they will explore the issues and benefits of the functional area. This will be coupled with the opportunity to travel abroad to South Africa, where students will be given the opportunity to compare and contrast selected components of higher education. While in country, we will visit 3 or more different colleges-- and of course, we will enjoy some sights of Africa, including a safari, trip to the southernmost tip of Africa, snorkeling with seals, and an authentic african cooking experience.  

Meets: Tuesdays | 3:30-4:20 pm

Instructor: Savannah L. Baker

Credit: Three

CRN: 21935

This course will feature an overview of Alaskan history, culture, industry, and related topics and conclude with an excursion in which students will experience and apply what they learned in the classroom.

Meets: Tuesdays | 3:30-4:20 pm

Instructor: Whitney R. Comer

Credit: Three

CRN: 21936

Through the built heritage left by our ancestors, we have gained profound insights into societies, cultural practices, and the evolution of human thought and rationality. The design and construction of structures reflect not only our identity but also our journey through history and our aspirations for the future. What we build serves as a lasting legacy, offering valuable insights into the socio-political and cultural realities of the times. The conservation of this built heritage is essential in preserving these insights for future generations. Engaging in discussions and studies about built heritage conservation fosters a deeper understanding of its significance, while study abroad programs provide a unique opportunity to acquire critical life skills. Research consistently shows that such programs offer a transformative, high-impact educational experience that enriches individuals for the rest of their lives. * This course is in partnership with the CADC Building Science Program.

Meets: Mondays | 4-4:50 pm

Instructor: Lauren W. Redden

Credit: Three

CRN: 29058

Other Available Courses

This is a course that fills a need for Honors students to receive a broad instruction to both STEM and Humanities research methodologies to prepare them for future research endeavors. This course is open for all honors students but is required for students pursuing Honors Research Scholar or University Honors Research Scholar.

Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2-3:15 pm

Instructor: Patricia J. Hartman

Credit: Three

Course: HONR 2097

CRN: 29081

Counts as a core Humanities specifically designed for Honors College students. From an interdisciplinary perspective, this course examines the intersections of technology & technology & culture in a variety of social, historical, professional, and global settings.

Meets: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays | 11-11:50 pm

Instructor: George M. Plasketes

Credit: Three

Course: HONR 1017

CRN: 21888

First year course that introduces new Honors College students to the Honors College and Auburn University and helps students become better informed about its resources and services. Topics include Honors College advising, Study Abroad, Campus Involvement, the Career Center, Academic Support and Study Skills, and many more. This course is for first year honors students only.

Meets: Mondays | 3-3:50 pm

Instructor: Katie E. Martin

Credit: One

Course: HONR 1077

CRN: 21889

Students attend 10 approved events held around Auburn’s campus or virtually and submit short summaries of their experience online.  Events include research presentations, film screenings, academic seminars, plays, music concerts, lectures, Career Center workshops, etc.

Meets: This class does not have a time or meet in person but requires attendance to various on-campus events.

Instructors: Krista A. Grant & Meredith A. Powell

Credit: One

Course: HONR 2077

CRN: 21906, 21907, 21908, 21909, 21910, 21911

Policies and Retention Criteria

A grade of “C” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors College credit.

In order to remain in good standing as a member of the Honors College, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

I. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors curriculum. Satisfactory progress is defined by attaining the following minimums by the end of the specified academic year:

  • First year: 7 Honor hours

  • Second year: 14 Honor hours

  • Third year: 21 Honors hours

II. First-year students must attain a minimum 3.0 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA and second, third, and fourth-year students must maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum is give one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors College.

III. All first-year students in the Honors College must meet with an Honors Academic Advisor in both the fall and spring semesters and submit a Plan of Study prior to registration for spring courses. Any changes to the Plan of Study should be done at a meeting with an Honors College Advisor.

IV. Second, third, and fourth-year students must meet with an Honors Academic Advisor at least once a year to ensure retention and understanding of the program and to confirm progress is being made toward the completion of the Honors requirements.

V. Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (Honors course progression, GPA, meeting at least once a year with their Honors advisor, and/or submission of the Plan of Study) will be suspended from the Honors College. Students may be reinstated upon attaining the minimum GPA and/or providing the Honors College with an updated Plan of Study for Honors courses. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the College when good standing has been attained.

VI. Any scholarships awarded by the Honors College are contingent upon maintaining membership in good standing in the Honors College. Suspension from the Honor College will result in a loss of Honors scholarship funding.

Honors College Fee

The Honors College fee supports the rigorous, individualized and innovative experiences that have distinguished the Auburn University Honors College for more than forty years.

The Honors College fee supports the hiring of world-class instructors to teach the specialized courses that are the cornerstone of the elevated educational experience we offer to our more than 2,000 students. The costs associated with offering these smaller, hands-on learning opportunities are worth it. Our students take a much deeper dive into the course material than would be feasible with a large class. Furthermore, honors students at Auburn University form intellectual and social ties with the instructors and with their fellow honors students that can shape career trajectories and last a lifetime.

Honors students who are not currently enrolled in honors courses in a particular semester can take advantage of the range of student services that the fee also supports, including exclusive professional and career development training, individualized advising, and focused research opportunities. Engagement with our full offering of student services is attainable through either in-person or online workshops and events.