Lower-Division

Use the links below (when available) to read the full LSA Course Guide description of the course. 

Please note:  The course descriptions in the Atlas Course Profile tool may not be up-to-date. Refer to the LSA Course Guide for the most current course descriptions.

HONORS 202 / Birth of the Digital (QR/1)

HONORS 241 / Westworld and Philosophy of Mind (FYWR, HU)

GTBOOKS 191 / Great Books (FYWR, HU)

HONORS 250.001 / What is the Bilingual Advantage? (SS)

HONORS 250.002 / Care, Control, and Institutions (SS)

HONORS 251 / Symphonic Century (HU) (meet-together with RCHUMS 356)

HONORS 493 / Food Journalism

By selecting Honors under Special Offerings in the LSA Course Guide, students will find a fairly comprehensive list of Honors courses available for the term. Depending on course coding used by the department, you may find other courses throughout a search, but this is a great start in planning your schedule. For information about courses including questions about registration/waitlists/permissions, please contact the department offering the course. For courses with the Honors subject code (e.g., Honors 240, Honors 493), contact the Honors Program.

BIOLOGY 171 – Introductory Biology: Ecology and Evolution (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), Sec 200 (DIS) LSA HNRS
BIOLOGY 171 is a one-term course in ecology and evolutionary biology that, together with BIOLOGY 172 and 173, collectively form the introductory biology course unit.
The primary aims of BIOLOGY 171 are:
1. to provide factual and conceptual knowledge concerning the origin and complex interactions of the Earth's biodiversity
2. to give an integrated overview of biological organization including genes, individuals, kin groups, populations, species, communities, and ecosystems
3. to engage with biological hypotheses dealing with prominent current issues such as human evolutionary origins, emerging diseases, conservation biology and global change
4. to develop critical-thinking and writing skills.
Topics in BIOLOGY 171 are divided among three primary areas:
• Mendelian genetics and evolutionary processes
• Biodiversity, organismal biology
• Ecology

BIOLOGY 172 – Introductory Biology – Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), 200(DIS)  LSA HNRS
BIOLOGY 172 is a one-term course in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology that, together with BIOLOGY 171 and 173, collectively forms the introductory biology course sequence.
The aims of BIOLOGY 172 are:
• to provide factual and conceptual knowledge of how cells, organs, and organisms work; and
• to develop scientific hypothesis-testing and critical-thinking skills.

CHEM 210 - Structure and Reactivity I (NS)
Option for Structured Study Groups (SSG) exist. See instructor.
Honors for this course is related to participation in SSG only.

CHEM 211 – Investigations in Chemistry (NS)
Section: 600 (LEC), 610-651 (LAB)
CHEM 211 provides an introduction to the methods used in introductory synthetic organic chemistry. The techniques introduced are essential for molecular analyses: thin-layer and column chromatography, liquid-liquid extraction, and various spectroscopic techniques. We will be considering reaction chemistry, including stereoselective reactions and green chemistry.
During the fall and winter semesters, CHEM 211 consists of a three-hour laboratory period each week under the guidance of a Graduate Student Instructor. In addition, concepts are introduced by the course coordinator in a required one-hour lecture period. Students learn to maintain electronic laboratory notebooks, which also serve as laboratory reports. Quizzes and other assignments will serve as additional assessments.

For further information, please contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Office at chemundergrad@umich.edu.

ECON 102 – Principles of Economics I (SS, QR/2)
Section: 100 (LEC), Sec 106 (DIS) HNRS
In ECON 102, the fundamental concepts and theories of macroeconomics are developed and used to analyze problems of current interest.
Major topics include
• the determinants of aggregate output,
• employment and unemployment,
• inflation,
• the balance of international trade, and
• economic growth.

LATIN 231 – Roman Kings and Emperors
Section: 004
This course reviews grammar as it introduces you to the masters of classical Latin prose and poetry through adapted texts on Rome's history and through extensive passages from Caesar' De Bello Gallico, Augustus' Res Gestae and Vergil. Efficient reading, vocabulary and translations skills are the goal. In addition, you will acquire knowledge of meter and poetic style. The successful completion of the course allows you to fulfill the final semester of your language requirement with a 300 or 400 level Latin class which already counts towards a minor or major in a Classics-related field. For freshmen, LAT 301 or higher taken in their first year also carries automatically an honors notation.

MATH 156 – Applied Honors Calculus II (MSA, QR/1)
Sections: 001 - 005
Math 156 aims to provide students with the essential calculus knowledge they need to succeed in STEM majors. The syllabus covers integrals, differential equations, and series.
The course develops conceptual understanding and computational skill with emphasis on the science applications of calculus (for example, work, center of mass, probability). Theorems are stated carefully and proofs are sketched, but without technical details, so that students see the main ideas and understand why the theorem is true. Examples are given to illustrate the theory.
Math 156 is taught in interactive lecture format. There is no required textbook; lecture notes will be posted on the course website. Students have the option to participate in peer study groups organized by the Science Learning Center.

MATH 185 – Honors Calculus I (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
Most students take calculus in high school, and it may seem that there isn't much new to learn. The goal of this course is to develop the familiar concepts of calculus using a more rigorous and theoretical approach. In particular, with its emphasis on how to use appropriate mathematical language, this course lays a solid foundation for future math courses, and is suitable for students intending to pursue a major in mathematics, science, or engineering who desire a more complete understanding of the underpinnings of calculus. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 275 – An Introduction to Cryptology (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
This course introduces modern cryptology, including the Diffie-Hellmann key exchange, discrete logarithm-based cryptosystems, the TSA cryptosystem, and digital signatures. Along the way, the course introduces many of the mathematical ideas involved in the development and analysis of cryptography systems. Mathematical topics include primality testing, factorization algorithms, probability theory, statistics, and enumeration. Throughout the course students will work on effectively communicating mathematics, both written and orally. Moreover, students will develop rigorous mathematical proof writing skills, and a primary goal of the course is to not only understand how various cryptosystems work, but why.

MATH 285 – Honors Multivariable and Vector Calculus (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
The sequence Math 185-186-285-286 is an introduction to calculus at the honors level. It is taken by students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields who want a somewhat more theoretical approach. Although much attention is paid to concepts and solving problems, the underlying theory and proofs of important results are also included. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 286 – Honors Differential Equations (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
The sequence Math 185-186-285-286 is an introduction to calculus at the honors level. It is taken by students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields who want a somewhat more theoretical approach. Although much attention is paid to concepts and solving problems, the underlying theory and proofs of important results are also included. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 295 – Honors Mathematics I (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
Math 295-296-395-396 is the most theoretical and demanding honors math sequence. The emphasis is on concepts, problem solving, as well as the underlying theory and proofs of important results. It provides an excellent background for advanced courses in mathematics. The expected background is high school trigonometry and algebra (previous calculus is not required, but is helpful.) This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LS&A Honors program. Math 295 and 296 may be substituted for any Math 451 requirement. Math 296 and 395 may be substituted for any Math 217 requirement.

For more information on Math courses, please visit the Department of Mathematics webpage.
For waitlist information for Math courses, contact the Math department at math-undergrad-office@umich.edu.

PHIL 297 - Honors Introduction to Philosophy (HU)
Section: 001
An introduction to philosophy for honors students. May focus on historical topics or on philosophical problems.

PHYSICS 160 – Honors Physics I (NS, QR/1)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 160 covers the fundamental principles of mechanics using a modern perspective and is intended for students who have had significant exposure to physics at the high school level and/or have AP credit for physics. It emphasizes the applicability of these laws in systems ranging from binary stars to nuclear collisions. This class will be different, and more interesting, than any physics course you have taken yet.
The goals of the course are:
1. Application of fundamental principles to a wide range of systems, i.e., from nuclei to stars (unify mechanics)
2. Integrate contemporary physics (atomic models of matter, relativistic dynamics)
3. Engage students in physical modeling (idealization, approximation, assumptions, estimation)
4. Integrate computational physics (now a partner of theory and experiment) into problem solving

PHYSICS 161 – Honors Introductory Mechanics Lab (NS)
Section: 001, 002, 003
PHYSICS 161 is a three-hour weekly laboratory designed to accompany PHYSICS 160.
This lab introduces students to the core concepts of physics, namely careful observations, both quantitative and qualitative, followed by comparison with appropriate mathematical models that serve as the basis for descriptive interpretation. Course material is focused on developing a good understanding of the concepts and principles of Newtonian mechanics while providing sophisticated experiments for demonstrating the validity of these fundamental paradigms.

PHYSICS 260 – Honors Physics II (NS, QR/1)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 260 is a continuation of PHYSICS 160 and introduces the theory of electromagnetic phenomena. This course will introduce you to:
1. The deeper physical meaning of the concepts
2. A rigorous mathematical approach, using vector calculus when applicable
3. Problem solving including computer use
4. Contemporary applications
If you like physics and math, appreciate the deeper meaning and derivation of concepts and equations, and if you like to do problems, you are in the right course.

PHYSICS 261 – Honors Electricity and Magnetism Lab (NS)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 261 is a three-hour weekly laboratory designed to accompany PHYSICS 260. This lab introduces students to the core concepts of physics, namely careful observations, both quantitative and qualitative, followed by comparison with appropriate mathematical models that serve as the basis for descriptive interpretation. Course material is focused on developing a good understanding of the concepts and principles of Newtonian mechanics while providing sophisticated experiments for demonstrating the validity of these fundamental paradigms. The analytical techniques require high school level algebra and some familiarity with statistical measures of significance, procedures common to any scientific, technical, or medical area of inquiry. Although not an academic requirement, it is assumed that the students will have some basic skills in using a computer at the level of a word processing program or similar application task.

PSYCH 114 - Introduction to Psychology (SS)
Section: 001
This course is designed to introduce Honors students to contemporary psychology. At the end of this class, the student should realize that psychological research addresses a wide range of issues, and that the methods used to study these issues are equally numerous.

STATS 280 - Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001 (LEC), 002, 003 (LAB)
This course is an introduction to statistical methods and data analysis at the honors level, targeting advanced undergraduate students who are interested in a challenging introductory course.

 For information about courses including questions about registration/waitlists/permissions, please contact the department offering the course. For courses with the Honors subject code (e.g., Honors 240, Honors 493), contact the Honors Program.

Use the links below (when available) to read the full LSA Course Guide description of the course.

Please note:  The course descriptions in the Atlas Course Profile tool may not be up-to-date. Refer to the LSA Course Guide for the most current course descriptions.

HONORS 202 / Birth of the Digital (QR/1)

HONORS 241 / Westworld and Philosophy of Mind (FYWR, HU)

GTBOOKS 191 / Great Books (FYWR, HU)

HONORS 250.001 / What is the Bilingual Advantage? (SS)

HONORS 250.002 / Care, Control, and Institutions (SS)

HONORS 251 / Symphonic Century (HU) (meet-together with RCHUMS 356)

HONORS 493 / Food Journalism

By selecting Honors under Special Offerings in the LSA Course Guide, students will find a fairly comprehensive list of Honors courses available for the term. Depending on course coding used by the department, you may find other courses throughout a search, but this is a great start in planning your schedule. For information about courses including questions about registration/waitlists/permissions, please contact the department offering the course. For courses with the Honors subject code (e.g., Honors 240, Honors 493), contact the Honors Program.

BIOLOGY 171 – Introductory Biology: Ecology and Evolution (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), Sec 200 (DIS) LSA HNRS
BIOLOGY 171 is a one-term course in ecology and evolutionary biology that, together with BIOLOGY 172 and 173, collectively form the introductory biology course unit.
The primary aims of BIOLOGY 171 are:
1. to provide factual and conceptual knowledge concerning the origin and complex interactions of the Earth's biodiversity
2. to give an integrated overview of biological organization including genes, individuals, kin groups, populations, species, communities, and ecosystems
3. to engage with biological hypotheses dealing with prominent current issues such as human evolutionary origins, emerging diseases, conservation biology and global change
4. to develop critical-thinking and writing skills.
Topics in BIOLOGY 171 are divided among three primary areas:
• Mendelian genetics and evolutionary processes
• Biodiversity, organismal biology
• Ecology

BIOLOGY 172 – Introductory Biology – Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), Sec 200 (DIS) LSA HNRS
BIOLOGY 172 is a one-term course in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology that, together with BIOLOGY 171 and 173, collectively forms the introductory biology course sequence.
The aims of BIOLOGY 172 are:
• to provide factual and conceptual knowledge of how cells, organs, and organisms work; and
• to develop scientific hypothesis-testing and critical-thinking skills.

CHEM 210 - Structure and Reactivity I (NS)
Option for Structured Study Groups (SSG) exist. See instructor.
Honors for this course is related to participation in SSG only.

CHEM 211 – Investigations in Chemistry (NS)
Section: 600 (LEC), 610-651 (LAB)
CHEM 211 provides an introduction to the methods used in introductory synthetic organic chemistry. The techniques introduced are essential for molecular analyses: thin-layer and column chromatography, liquid-liquid extraction, and various spectroscopic techniques. We will be considering reaction chemistry, including stereoselective reactions and green chemistry.
During the fall and winter semesters, CHEM 211 consists of a three-hour laboratory period each week under the guidance of a Graduate Student Instructor. In addition, concepts are introduced by the course coordinator in a required one-hour lecture period. Students learn to maintain electronic laboratory notebooks, which also serve as laboratory reports. Quizzes and other assignments will serve as additional assessments.

For further information, please contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Office at chemundergrad@umich.edu.

ECON 102 – Principles of Economics I (SS, QR/2)
Section: 100 (LEC), Sec 106 (DIS) HNRS
In ECON 102, the fundamental concepts and theories of macroeconomics are developed and used to analyze problems of current interest.
Major topics include
• the determinants of aggregate output,
• employment and unemployment,
• inflation,
• the balance of international trade, and
• economic growth.

LATIN 231 – Roman Kings and Emperors
Section: 004
This course reviews grammar as it introduces you to the masters of classical Latin prose and poetry through adapted texts on Rome's history and through extensive passages from Caesar' De Bello Gallico, Augustus' Res Gestae and Vergil. Efficient reading, vocabulary and translations skills are the goal. In addition, you will acquire knowledge of meter and poetic style. The successful completion of the course allows you to fulfill the final semester of your language requirement with a 300 or 400 level Latin class which already counts towards a minor or major in a Classics-related field. For freshmen, LAT 301 or higher taken in their first year also carries automatically an honors notation.

MATH 156 – Applied Honors Calculus II (MSA, QR/1)
Sections: 001 - 005
Math 156 aims to provide students with the essential calculus knowledge they need to succeed in STEM majors. The syllabus covers integrals, differential equations, and series.
The course develops conceptual understanding and computational skill with emphasis on the science applications of calculus (for example, work, center of mass, probability). Theorems are stated carefully and proofs are sketched, but without technical details, so that students see the main ideas and understand why the theorem is true. Examples are given to illustrate the theory.
Math 156 is taught in interactive lecture format. There is no required textbook; lecture notes will be posted on the course website. Students have the option to participate in peer study groups organized by the Science Learning Center.

MATH 185 – Honors Calculus I (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
Most students take calculus in high school, and it may seem that there isn't much new to learn. The goal of this course is to develop the familiar concepts of calculus using a more rigorous and theoretical approach. In particular, with its emphasis on how to use appropriate mathematical language, this course lays a solid foundation for future math courses, and is suitable for students intending to pursue a major in mathematics, science, or engineering who desire a more complete understanding of the underpinnings of calculus. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 275 – An Introduction to Cryptology (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
This course introduces modern cryptology, including the Diffie-Hellmann key exchange, discrete logarithm-based cryptosystems, the TSA cryptosystem, and digital signatures. Along the way, the course introduces many of the mathematical ideas involved in the development and analysis of cryptography systems. Mathematical topics include primality testing, factorization algorithms, probability theory, statistics, and enumeration. Throughout the course students will work on effectively communicating mathematics, both written and orally. Moreover, students will develop rigorous mathematical proof writing skills, and a primary goal of the course is to not only understand how various cryptosystems work, but why.

MATH 285 – Honors Multivariable and Vector Calculus (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001, 002
The sequence Math 185-186-285-286 is an introduction to calculus at the honors level. It is taken by students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields who want a somewhat more theoretical approach. Although much attention is paid to concepts and solving problems, the underlying theory and proofs of important results are also included. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 286 – Honors Differential Equations (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
The sequence Math 185-186-285-286 is an introduction to calculus at the honors level. It is taken by students intending to major in mathematics, science, or engineering as well as students heading for many other fields who want a somewhat more theoretical approach. Although much attention is paid to concepts and solving problems, the underlying theory and proofs of important results are also included. This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LSA Honors Program.

MATH 295 – Honors Mathematics I (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
Math 295-296-395-396 is the most theoretical and demanding honors math sequence. The emphasis is on concepts, problem solving, as well as the underlying theory and proofs of important results. It provides an excellent background for advanced courses in mathematics. The expected background is high school trigonometry and algebra (previous calculus is not required, but is helpful.) This sequence is not restricted to students enrolled in the LS&A Honors program. Math 295 and 296 may be substituted for any Math 451 requirement. Math 296 and 395 may be substituted for any Math 217 requirement.

MATH 395 – Honors Analysis I (BS)
Section: 001
This course is a continuation of the sequence Math 295-296 and has the same theoretical emphasis. Students are expected to understand and construct proofs.

For more information on this course, please visit the Department of Mathematics webpage.

MATH 493 – Honors Algebra I (BS)
Section: 001
The goal of the course is to give an introduction to group theory. After discussing basic concepts and examples, we will cover normal subgroups and quotient groups, Cauchy's theorem, Sylow's theorems, solvable and nilpotent groups, and free groups. The second part of the course will consist of an introduction to the representation theory of finite groups.
The course will assume familiarity with linear algebra and with proof writing.
For more information on this course, please visit the Department of Mathematics webpage.

For more information on Math courses, please visit the Department of Mathematics webpage.
For waitlist information for Math courses, contact the Math department at math-undergrad-office@umich.edu.

PHIL 297 - Honors Introduction to Philosophy (HU)
Section: 001
An introduction to philosophy for honors students. May focus on historical topics or on philosophical problems.

PHYSICS 160 – Honors Physics I (NS, QR/1)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 160 covers the fundamental principles of mechanics using a modern perspective and is intended for students who have had significant exposure to physics at the high school level and/or have AP credit for physics. It emphasizes the applicability of these laws in systems ranging from binary stars to nuclear collisions. This class will be different, and more interesting, than any physics course you have taken yet.
The goals of the course are:
1. Application of fundamental principles to a wide range of systems, i.e., from nuclei to stars (unify mechanics)
2. Integrate contemporary physics (atomic models of matter, relativistic dynamics)
3. Engage students in physical modeling (idealization, approximation, assumptions, estimation)
4. Integrate computational physics (now a partner of theory and experiment) into problem solving

PHYSICS 161 – Honors Introductory Mechanics Lab (NS)
Section: 001, 002, 003
PHYSICS 161 is a three-hour weekly laboratory designed to accompany PHYSICS 160.
This lab introduces students to the core concepts of physics, namely careful observations, both quantitative and qualitative, followed by comparison with appropriate mathematical models that serve as the basis for descriptive interpretation. Course material is focused on developing a good understanding of the concepts and principles of Newtonian mechanics while providing sophisticated experiments for demonstrating the validity of these fundamental paradigms.

PHYSICS 260 – Honors Physics II (NS, QR/1)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 260 is a continuation of PHYSICS 160 and introduces the theory of electromagnetic phenomena. This course will introduce you to:
1. The deeper physical meaning of the concepts
2. A rigorous mathematical approach, using vector calculus when applicable
3. Problem solving including computer use
4. Contemporary applications
If you like physics and math, appreciate the deeper meaning and derivation of concepts and equations, and if you like to do problems, you are in the right course.

PHYSICS 261 – Honors Electricity and Magnetism Lab (NS)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 261 is a three-hour weekly laboratory designed to accompany PHYSICS 260. This lab introduces students to the core concepts of physics, namely careful observations, both quantitative and qualitative, followed by comparison with appropriate mathematical models that serve as the basis for descriptive interpretation. Course material is focused on developing a good understanding of the concepts and principles of Newtonian mechanics while providing sophisticated experiments for demonstrating the validity of these fundamental paradigms. The analytical techniques require high school level algebra and some familiarity with statistical measures of significance, procedures common to any scientific, technical, or medical area of inquiry. Although not an academic requirement, it is assumed that the students will have some basic skills in using a computer at the level of a word processing program or similar application task.

PHYSICS 360 – Honors Physics III (BS)
Section: 001
PHYSICS 360 covers the same areas of study as PHYSICS 340 (thermodynamics, light and optics, the wave equation, and special relativity), but differs from PHYSICS 340 in depth and difficulty. The course is intended for students who want to be challenged. Homework assignments will include traditional and hard analytical problems, but will also include problems for which computer programming is needed to obtain numerical solutions.

PSYCH 114 - Introduction to Psychology (SS)
Section: 001
This course is designed to introduce Honors students to contemporary psychology. At the end of this class, the student should realize that psychological research addresses a wide range of issues, and that the methods used to study these issues are equally numerous.

PSYCH 401 - Special Problems in Psychology as a Social Science (SS)
Section: 018 (LEC) and 019 (SEM)
Topic: Psychology of Close relationships. Please note: Psych 401-018 LSA HONORS STUDENT SECTION. Students must have previously completed Psych 280 or 290, and be part of the LSA Honors Program, to enroll. If you meet this pre-requisite, call the Psych SAA office at 734-764-2580 during your registration appt. for an override to enroll! Psych 401-018 meets in 1324 East Hall TuTh 11:30am-1pm with Psych 382-001. Students who enroll in Psych 401-018 will be auto-enrolled in Psych 401-019, which requires an additional hour meeting on Th 2-3pm (location TBD).

STATS 280 - Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001 (LEC), 002, 003 (LAB)
This course is an introduction to statistical methods and data analysis at the honors level, targeting advanced undergraduate students who are interested in a challenging introductory course.