Dr. Jess Magaña, Online Asynchronous

Pathway Class Code: 13571

Why do animals do what they do, and how do we know? This three-credit-hour course explores evolutionary influences on animal behavior and the challenges associated with developing and testing hypotheses. Students will develop critical analysis skills and effective written and oral communication skills by analyzing scientific articles, discussing methodology and implications, writing analytical papers, and communicating through oral presentations.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

*This is not an Honors-only seminar. Students who wish to earn Honors credit for this class will create an additional project that explores scientific writing as a discipline.

Dr. Steven Melling, T/Th 10:00-11:15 am

Pathway Class Code: 14183

An introduction to the dimensions of effective platform speaking with special emphasis on developing critical listening and successful public speaking skills. In this Honors-only section, students will compose a research-based asynchronous presentation—a video essay.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, T/Th 1:00-2:15 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21766

This course extends the work of English 110 with an additional emphasis on research. This Honors-only section of English 225 uses a combination of book-length and shorter texts to focus on specific historical and/or cultural issues. As they learn to participate in scholarly conversations, students will find and evaluate library and Internet sources. As with English 110, this course emphasizes revision, editing, and proper academic documentation.

Offered every fall semester.

Dr. Jess Magaña, Mon/Wed/Fri 10:00-10:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 46565

Students will investigate the natural and physical world through testable questions, models, hypotheses, or discoveries and evaluate different lines of evidence including observations and measurements. Students will apply natural and physical science techniques and use results and conclusions to explain and appreciate the natural and physical phenomena that impact our lives, our community, and the world in which we live. This Honors-only section in particular will explore the goals of restoration ecology and analyze the methods environmental scientists and land managers use to mitigate ecosystem damage.

Offered every fall semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, T/Th 4:00-5:15 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21516

In this class, students will learn about the arts and history of Kansas City by going to places such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the 18th and Vine Historic District with the class. Then students will choose a topic, problem, or issue relevant to the arts and history of Kansas City for an individual research project. For example, students might explore how the city can preserve the cultural and historical value of the 18th and Vine District while responsibly revitalizing that area. Or they might consider how First Friday, the monthly public gatherings in the Kansas City Crossroads, should be altered to better serve the needs and interests of artists, merchants, and guests. In the process, members of the class will develop the important skills of posing a research question; conducting research using methods appropriate to the humanities, such as observation, archival research, and expert interviews; taking a position on the topic; and sharing one’s findings in a multimodal presentation and an essay.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Susanna Donaldson, Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00-11:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 21518

This course provides an introductory survey of documentary film making as a distinct form of social research that has the ability to reflect, critique, reshape, and impact society and culture. We will consider how documentaries critically examine various aspects of society and culture (violence, race, class, gender and sexuality, environmentalism, etc.) in order to address questions such as: what is human behavior? How do humans influence and are influenced by the world around them? How can we study the “why” behind human behavior in a meaningful way?

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Susanna Donaldson, Mon/Wed/Fri 1:00-1:50 pm

Pathway Class Code: 47488

Students in this Honors Essentials class will explore the complex, interconnected dynamics of and between race, (social) class, gender, and human sexuality. The course explores how these concepts are understood holistically and how they are constructed and positioned within society. This class emphasizes investigations, via critical thinking, about how these different systems of inequality interact with and through each other, while also being sensitive to different theoretical and methodological frameworks from several disciplines employed to analyze those systems.

Offered every fall semester.

Dr. Susanna Donaldson, Wed 2-2:50 pm

Pathway Class Code: 47227

As an urban institution, UMKC aims to be at the forefront of social justice reform and cultural awareness. In the activities linked to this Honors Leader course, one of the four Honors Leader Program courses, students will have opportunities to learn about the diversity of cultures in KC as well as the social problems affecting different communities. Through events and experiences, students will learn how to challenge their preconceptions and become better and more inclusive citizens of our community and the world.

Offered every other fall semester. See the Honors Leader Program page for more information.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, every other Tues 9:00-9:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 13277

This one-hour credit, graded course is open to Honors students who are working on senior theses, projects, or capstone papers. The group meets twice a month to offer peer response to the work of members who set goals and deadlines for producing their theses or projects.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Gayle Levy and Sara Amos

Pathway Class Code: 496 (Levy): 44208, 496 (Amos): 44830, 496A (Levy): 44645), 496A (Amos): 44831

This course is an academic internship that requires written assignments in addition to the work performed in a professional workplace. Internships are individually arranged with the sponsoring organization, which may be a business, school, nonprofit agency or government office. Academic credit may range from 1 to 6 credit hours (0 credit hours for Honors 496A). There will be a Learning Agreement established in the first week of the semester that states the contractual responsibilities of the student, the workplace supervisor, and the internship coordinator. This Learning Agreement will outline the job responsibilities, workload expectations, assignments and anticipated learning outcomes of the internship experience.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Greg Vonnahme and Dr. Bruce Bubacz, Wed 4-4:50 pm

Pathway Class Code: 47641

This course addresses the question “Is law the right career for me?” We will discuss the role of law and courts in organizing American society. We will hear from guests at every step of professional development including law students, early-career, and advanced-career lawyers. Upon completing this course, students should have a stronger sense of the role the law has in organizing American society, and different career paths in the law.

*This is non an Honors-only seminar. Students who wish to earn Honors credit for this class will craft introductions for each speaker and lead the Q&A sessions after their presentations.

Dean Barbara Glesner Fines, Mon 12-12:50 pm

Pathway Class Code: 47642

This course is designed to help you to prepare to be successful in being admitted to the law school of your choice. The course will focus primarily on introducing you to the skills and habits of preparation necessary to perform your best on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The three primary skills we will focus on will be analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension, with a fourth implicit skill: standardized test taking.

*This is non an Honors-only seminar. Students who wish to earn Honors credit for this class will serve as team leaders and write an expanded reflection paper.

Dr. Saul Honigberg and Dr. Scott Hawley, Mon/Wed/Fri 8:00-8:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 12696

A modern approach integrating molecular and organismal studies of the general genetics of lower and higher organisms. Chromosomal structure and function, gene transmission, heredity, plasticity, and population genetics will be discussed. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 108, BIOLOGY 109, CHEM 212R. The course offers in-class discussion to dig deeper into topics like the societal issues of genetics and offers a limited number of seats, taught by active geneticists, including Dr. Hawley, an investigator at Stowers Institute, and is considered an important class for students interested in research.

Offered every spring semester.

Dr. Jess Magaña, T/Th 1:00-2:15 pm

Pathway Class Code: 14824

Invasive species are of concern to the public, scientists, and governments as invasive species can negatively impact native ecosystems, economies, and human health. Students in this 3-credit-hour course will study the biological traits that contribute to successful invasions, the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species, and the legal and cultural responses to invasions. Students will develop critical analysis and communication skills by analyzing scientific literature, discussing implications, and presenting arguments in written and oral platforms.

Offered every spring semester.

*This is not an Honors-only seminar. Students who wish to earn Honors credit for this class will create an additional project that explores scientific writing as a discipline.

Dr. Jess Magaña, Online Asynchronous

Pathway Class Code: 13571

Why do animals do what they do, and how do we know? This three-credit-hour course explores evolutionary influences on animal behavior and the challenges associated with developing and testing hypotheses. Students will develop critical analysis skills and effective written and oral communication skills by analyzing scientific articles, discussing methodology and implications, writing analytical papers, and communicating through oral presentations.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

*This is not an Honors-only seminar. Students who wish to earn Honors credit for this class will create an additional project that explores scientific writing as a discipline.

Dr. Steven Melling, T/Th 11:30 am-12:45 pm

Pathway Class Code: 14183

An introduction to the dimensions of effective platform speaking with special emphasis on developing critical listening and successful public speaking skills. In this Honors-only section, students will compose a research-based asynchronous presentation—a video essay. 

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Bruce Barrett, Mon/Wed/Fri 11:00-11:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 21766

This course extends the work of English 110 with an additional emphasis on research. This Honors-only section of English 225 uses a combination of book-length and shorter texts to focus on specific historical and/or cultural issues. As they learn to participate in scholarly conversations, students will find and evaluate library and Internet sources. As with English 110, this course emphasizes revision, editing, and proper academic documentation.

Offered every fall semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, T/Th 1:00-2:15 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21516

In this class, you will learn about the arts and history of Kansas City by going to places such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the 18th and Vine Historic District with Dr. Wood and your peers. Then you will choose a topic, problem, or issue relevant to the arts and history of Kansas City for your individual research project. For example, you might explore how the city can preserve the cultural and historical value of the 18th and Vine District while responsibly revitalizing that area. Or you could consider how First Friday, the monthly public gathering in the Kansas City Crossroads, should be altered to better serve the needs and interests of artists, merchants, and guests. In the process, you will develop the important skills of posing a research question; conducting research using methods appropriate to the humanities, such as observation, archival research, and expert interviews; taking a position on your topic; and sharing your findings in a multimodal presentation and an essay.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Professor Erin Blocher, T/Th 2:30-3:45 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21518

This course provides an introductory survey of documentary film making as a distinct form of social research that has the ability to reflect, critique, reshape, and impact society and culture. In the first half of the course we will consider how documentaries critically examine various aspects of society and culture (violence, race, class, gender and sexuality, environmentalism, etc.). In the second half of the course students will collaborate to produce their own multimedia project on some aspect of human behavior in one particular group/community—their history, culture, and experiences.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, T/Th 4:00-5:15 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21523

If you want to be part of the solution to an important social problem, you are invited to join Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood in GECUE H202: Social Action. This class will introduce students to concepts and strategies that will enable them to collaborate with classmates to identify and analyze a social problem, develop a solution to that problem, and implement that solution in the course of the semester. Since Dr. Wood introduced this class, students have taken action on social problems ranging from food insecurity to plastic recycling to the lack of mental health awareness.

Offered every spring semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, Wed 11:00-11:50 am

Pathway Class Code: 13278

This graded, one-credit course will prepare Honors students to undertake a Senior Honors Thesis or Project. In this class, students will explore different options for theses or projects; identify a topic and faculty advisor; plan the production of the thesis or project; produce a component of the thesis or project; and collaborate effectively with other Honors students to develop their plans.

Offered every spring semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, Wed 12-12:50 pm

Pathway Class Code: 21538

Almost half of UMKC alumni stay in the metro area after graduation and influence the area as professionals, voters, community leaders, and parents. The activities of this Honors Leader Program course will prepare Honors students to perform these important roles by informing them about local history and the diverse cultures of the city.

Offered every other spring semester.

Dr. Henrietta Rix Wood, every other Tues 9:00-9:50 am, online

Pathway Class Code: 13277

This one-hour credit, graded course is open to Honors students who are working on senior theses, projects, or capstone papers. The group meets twice a month to offer peer response to the work of members who set goals and deadlines for producing their theses or projects.

Offered every fall and spring semester.

Margo Gamache, section 0001, and Heather Miller, section 0002

Pathway Class Code: 13276 (for section 0001 of 496) ; 13627 (for section 0002 of 496) ; 13469 (for section 0001 of 496A) ; 15030 (for section 0002 of 496A)

This course is an academic internship that requires written assignments in addition to the work performed in a professional workplace. Internships are individually arranged with the sponsoring organization, which may be a business, school, nonprofit agency or government office. Academic credit may range from 1 to 6 credit hours (0 credit hours for Honors 496A). There will be a Learning Agreement established in the first week of the semester that states the contractual responsibilities of the student, the workplace supervisor, and the internship coordinator. This Learning Agreement will outline the job responsibilities, workload expectations, assignments and anticipated learning outcomes of the internship experience.

Offered every fall and spring semester.