Discussion Groups

Honors Discussion Groups (HDG) are weekly discussion sessions offered in conjunction with courses in a wide variety of programs across the University. HDGs are designed as enrichment for students who are doing well in their class and want to apply the concepts they are learning beyond class parameters. Some HDGs are designed to offer overviews and deeper perspectives of the disciplines in question. 

  • Please choose the name of the person leading the HDG(s) you’d like to attend and email them signaling your interest. 
  • Honors credit may be assigned retroactively in a course for which a student has successfully taken part in a related discussion group. The letter “H” (for Honors) will be added to the course on your transcript. 
  • A course grade of B or higher is needed to receive honors credit, which may only be applied to courses taken at UMKC. 
  • Leaders of the discussion groups are experienced students in the Honors Program who have knowledge of the subject and are majoring or minoring in the discipline. 
  • Regular attendance, participation, and the prompt submission of honors discussion group assignments is required for a student to qualify for honors credit in the related or chosen course. 
  • If you take part in an honors discussion group, you cannot complete an Honors Contract in the same class. 

Participants will be asked to complete an electronic evaluation at the end of the semester. This evaluation enables students to supply candid feedback that may be used to improve future discussion sections and enhance student learning outcomes. 

All HDGs will begin the second week of the semester. If more than one time is listed, please choose only one section per week to attend. 

Spring 2026 Honors Discussion Groups

  • Biology 108 
  • Biology 109 
    • Thursdays 11:30AM-12:30PM, 102 Royall
    • Leader: Peyton Fry
  • Biology 202 (Cell Bio) 
    • Wednesdays, 1-1:50PM, 212 Haag
    • Leader: Anna Simms
  • Calculus 
  • Chemistry 115, 211 and 212 
  • Chemistry 321 and 322 
  • Conservatory 
  • Economics 201 & 202
  • Engineering and Computer Science 
    • Tuesdays, 3-3:50PM, 363 Flarsheim
    • Leader: Ethan Ford
  • English 
  • French 
  • German 
  • Nursing and Health Sciences
  • Physics 220 and 250 
  • Psychology 
  • Sociology
  • Spanish110-211
    • Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30PM, In-person and Virtual, 415 Cherry
    • Leader: Yuming Wu
  • Spanish 221+
    • Wednesday 9-9:50AM, 415 Cherry 
    • Leader: Judy Batts
  • Statistics (Statistics 235, Statistics 436, Biology 304, CJC 303, Psychology 316) 

Fall 2025 Honors Discussion Groups

  • Accounting (CANCELED)
    • Tuesdays, 1-1:50p.m., Bloch Heritage 19
    • Leader: Carlos Mata
  • Biology 108
  • Biology 109
    • Mondays, 1:1:50 p.m., Haag 212
    • Leader: Peyton Fry
  • Biology 202 (Cell Bio)
    • Tuesdays, 12-12:50 p.m., Haag 212
    • Leader: Anna Simms
  • Chemistry 115, 211, and 212
  • Chemistry 320, 321, and 322
  • Conservatory
  • Economics 201 and 202
  • Engineering and Computer Science
    • Monday, 3-3:50p.m., 363 Flarsheim
    • Leaders: Ethan Ford
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Nursing and Health Sciences
  • Physics 210 and 240
  • Psychology
  • Spanish 110 to 211
    • Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Cherry 415
    • Leader: Yuming Wu
  • Spanish 221 and up
  • Statistics (Statistics 235, 436; Biology, 304; CJC 303; Psychology 316)
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