Honors (HNRS)

See Course Description Symbols and Terms for an explanation of course description terminology and symbols, the course numbering system, and course credit units.

HNRS 100  Communication and Social Change  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall only  
This course equips students with essential skills needed to lead and join conversations that respond to public problems. Students develop a deeper understanding of at least one specific issue of social concern, such as race, gender, or class, and learn about how communication contributes to the status of that issue. With the goal of preparing students to engage in deliberative processes needed to improve our current social situation, students enrolled in this class learn how to craft and deliver messages for diverse audiences across a variety of mediums, understand the power and influence that communication has over our identities and shared realities, and learn about the ethical and practical dimensions of advocating for change. This course prepares students to be engaged, reflective, ethical citizens across contexts, audiences and issues. 3 hours lecture.  (022234)  
General Education: Oral Communication (A1)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
HNRS 101  Arts  3 Units  GC, GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
An interdisciplinary introduction to the arts with an emphasis on the visual arts, cinema, dance, music, and/or theatre in diverse cultural and international contexts. The specific content of the course varies by section and instructor. 3 hours lecture.  (022235)  
General Education: Arts (C1)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division; Global Cultures  
HNRS 102W  Humanities (W)  3 Units  GE, W  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
An interdisciplinary introduction to Humanities with an emphasis on literature, history, comparative religion, and/or philosophy. The specific content of the course varies by section and instructor. 3 hours lecture.  (022272)  
General Education: Humanities (C2)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division; Writing Course  
HNRS 103  Physical Sciences  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This course approaches a topic or problem in the physical sciences from multiple disciplinary perspectives. The specific content of the course varies by section and instructor. 3 hours lecture.  (022236)  
General Education: Physical Science (B1)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
HNRS 198  Honors Special Topics  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program, faculty permission.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This course is a special topic offered for 1.0-3.0 units. 3 hours seminar.  (021325)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
HNRS 289  Internship in Honors  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors in General Education Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This is an internship offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Students must register directly with the Honors Advisor or Honors Director. The internship provides work experience within the Honors Program on special projects. 9 hours supervision.  (020887)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 15 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
HNRS 299  Special Problems  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Faculty permission.  
Typically Offered: Inquire at department  
This course is an independent study of special problems. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. 0 hours supervision.  (021918)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 6 units  
Course Attributes: Lower Division  
HNRS 300  Honors Ethnic Studies Methodologies  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program (Honors students only); Instructor Permission.  
Typically Offered: Spring only  
In this course, students explore Ethnic Studies research methodologies. The course content is variable with a focus on at least one of the following groups: American Indian/US Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Chicanx/Latinx Studies. The course is centered on experiential learning opportunities to engage in introductory explorations of research methodologies. The course uses both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies; therefore, students are expected to produce course projects that demonstrate their understanding in both approaches. 3 hours lecture.  (022226)  
General Education: Ethnic Studies (F)  
Cross listing(s): MCGS 300H  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
HNRS 350  Multidisciplinary Science  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program; GE Oral Communication (A1); GE Written Communication (A2); GE Critical Thinking (A3); GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) requirements, or consent of the instructor.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This course approaches a topic or problem in the physical and/or natural sciences from multiple disciplinary perspectives. This course welcomes transfer students to the Honors Program, and introduces the Honors Program capstone options: undergraduate research/creativity, or leadership. The specific content of the course varies by section and instructor. 3 hours lecture.  (022237)  
General Education: Upper-Division Scientific Inq/Quant Reason (UDB)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
HNRS 389  Internship in Honors  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors in General Education Program.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This is an internship offered for 1.0-3.0 units. Students must register directly with the Honors Advisor or Honors Director. The internship provides work experience within the Honors Program on special projects. 9 hours supervision.  (004810)  
Grade Basis: Credit/No Credit  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 15 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
HNRS 390  Interdisciplinary Thesis or Creative Project I  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program; GE Oral Communication (A1); GE Written Communication (A2); GE Critical Thinking (A3); GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) requirements, or consent of the instructor. Recommended: LIBR 130.  
Typically Offered: Fall only  
As the first course in a two-course capstone, students learn how to choose an interdisciplinary topic for a thesis or creative project, and how to begin the research/creative process with a focus on social science approaches to their topic. 3 hours lecture.  (022238)  
General Education: Upper-Division Social Sciences (UDD)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
HNRS 391W  Interdisciplinary Thesis or Creative Project II  3 Units  GE, W  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program; HNRS 390; GE Oral Communication (A1); GE Written Communication (A2); GE Critical Thinking (A3); GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) requirements, or consent of the instructor.  
Typically Offered: Spring only  
As the second course in a two-course capstone, students continue the research/creative process with a focus on humanistic approaches to their topic, and complete an interdisciplinary thesis or creative project. 3 hours lecture.  (022242)  
General Education: Upper-Division Arts/Humanities (UDC)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division; Writing Course  
HNRS 392  Leadership, Power, and Change: Theory  3 Units  GE  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program; GE Oral Communication (A1); GE Written Communication (A2); GE Critical Thinking (A3); GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) requirements, or consent of the instructor.  
Typically Offered: Fall only  
This course examines the issues of power, influence, and change within the context of world cultures. The course includes comprehensive review of issues and perspectives on leadership, multidisciplinary and classic theoretical approaches and literature, moving to the examination of evolving contemporary beliefs of leadership, power, and change. Through a process of readings, self-discovery, group observations, film, and case studies, students identify, observe, and analyze change philosophies in historical and cultural contexts. 3 hours lecture.  (022268)  
General Education: Upper-Division Arts/Humanities (UDC)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division  
HNRS 393  Leadership, Power, and Change: Theory to Practice  3 Units  GE, USD  
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program; GE Oral Communication (A1); GE Written Communication (A2); GE Critical Thinking (A3); GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4) requirements, or consent of the instructor.  
Typically Offered: Spring only  
Students study leadership and its impact on social, economic, and political structures and institutions from a contemporary perspective. Throughout the course, students identify, apply, and reflect on aspects of leadership development, power, influence, and social change. Topics cover leadership theories, personal assessment and development, motivation, power, followership, group dynamics, equity in leadership, conflict resolution, change process, and citizenship. Through a process of selected readings, self-reflection, group observations, and case studies, students identify, observe, analyze, and apply new leadership behaviors through integrated project-based application. 3 hours lecture.  (022269)  
General Education: Upper-Division Social Sciences (UDD)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course for a maximum of 3 units  
Course Attributes: Upper Division; US Diversity  
HNRS 398  Honors GE Special Topics  1-3 Units  
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program, faculty permission.  
Typically Offered: Fall and spring  
This course is a special topic offered for 1.0-3.0 units. 3 hours seminar.  (004811)  
Grade Basis: Graded  
Repeatability: You may take this course more than once  
Course Attributes: Upper Division