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. Courses are subject to change by departments.
BIOLOGY 171 – Introductory Biology: Ecology and Evolution (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), 200, 201 (DIS)
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 skills.
Topics in BIOLOGY 171 are divided into three primary areas:
Inheritance genetics and evolution
Biodiversity
Ecology
BIOLOGY 172 – Introductory Biology – Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental (NS)
Section: 002 (LEC), 200 (DIS)
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)
Saved Honors seats, no Honors attribute
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), 610-615 (LAB)
Chem 211-600 is focused on techniques used for the synthesis, isolation, and purification of organic compounds, and the content differs from the 100, 200, 300, and 400 sections. This is an honors section.
Honors option for CHEM 230 and CHEM 260–Compute to Learn
For further information, please contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Office at chemundergrad@umich.edu.
GEOG 145/INTLSTD 101 – Introduction to International Studies (SS)
Section: 001 (LEC), 012 (DIS) LSA HNRS
This is the introductory core course for the International Studies major at the University of Michigan. The course explores human rights, human development, and human security in historical and comparative perspective using multiple disciplinary approaches. The curriculum is divided into six modules that cover:
-globalization;
-international relations and organizations;
-human rights and humanitarianism;
-global environment and health;
-human development; and
-culture and identity.
Honors:
Students in the Honors section of GEOG 145/INTLSTD 101 will have discussions with the primary instructor for the course. These discussions will address special topics that build on material covered in lectures and enable the students to explore key topics of international significance in more depth. Students in the Honors section will also write a longer paper and make one short presentation to their group.
LATIN 231 – Roman Kings and Emperors
Section: 004
In this course, the third of four in the elementary Latin sequence, you will refine your understanding of the Latin language and Roman history through reading classical Latin prose. We begin with short adapted historical readings and then excerpts from Caesar's de Bello Gallico Books I and the Res Gestae Divi Augusti. During this course you will get a review of all aspects of Latin grammar and work on developing a strong vocabulary and efficient reading skills.
MATH 156 – Applied Honors Calculus II (MSA, QR/1)
Sections: 001 - 005
MATH 156 is part of the applied Honors calculus sequence for engineering and science majors. Applications and concepts receive equal treatment. Theorems are stated precisely and are derived, but technical details are omitted. Examples are given to illustrate the theory. Critical thinking and class participation are encouraged. The goal is to provide students with the solid background needed for subsequent courses in mathematics, engineering, and science.
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, 003
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, 002
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 296 - Honors Introduction to Logic (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001
Logic, as we will understand it, is the study of certain patterns of inference, and of how we can distinguish good inferences from bad ones. Formal logic involves approaching these questions with the help of precise formal languages. We will cover two such languages in this course: the language of propositional logic and the language of predicate logic. By the end of the semester, you'll master two different approaches for evaluating arguments translated into these languages: the model-theoretic (semantic) approach and the proof-theoretic (syntactic) approach. Along the way, we’ll explore related philosophical puzzles and controversies, as well as connections to more advanced topics (eg. non-classical logics and modal logic).
PHIL 297 - Honors Introduction to Logic (HU)
Section: 002
This course will serve as a small-group discussion-based introduction to philosophy. We will survey a number of central philosophical questions having to do with the self, the world, the possibility of knowledge, the existence of free will and our moral obligations. While working through both historical and contemporary work on these topics, we’ll also focus on learning key skills, such as understanding and evaluating others’ arguments, constructing persuasive arguments of one’s own, and writing successful philosophy papers.
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. Students should elect PHYSICS 261 as the corresponding Lab section for the 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 121 - First-Year Seminar in Psychology as a Natural Science (NS)
Section: 002 Mind, Machine, and Mathematics
This First Year Seminar will introduce to Honors students cognitive roots to human intelligence, with a goal of designing artificial general intelligence. It will examine in-depth the concept of rationality in reasoning, memory, and decision making. What are the principles of rational decision making? Can we teach machines to reason, in a way that understand us better than we do ourselves? Why are there different memory systems and how they support cognition? By in- class demonstrations of various pitfalls and failures of rationality of the human mind, this seminar aims to instigate students’ curiosity into cognitive science and machine intelligence, while exploring the intertwining topics of mind and cognition, machine intelligence, and mathematical reasoning.
The instructor strives to provide a supportive environment for self-motivated students who intend to pursue Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, etc, as they settle into their college life.
PSYCH 250 - Introduction to Developmental Psychology (SS)
Section: 020
This course provides an overview of human development from conception to death. We will examine the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional growth of children, adolescents, and adults as well as the factors that influence development. The goal is to provide a survey of the major issues, theories, and research methods used to study human development. A traditional in-person classroom format will be used to convey information (e.g., lecture, discussion, films) and assess knowledge (e.g., discussion posts, exams, papers). Learning is viewed as a process by which the student is an active—not passive—participant. Students are encouraged to integrate their knowledge of psychology with their own observations of human development, and to consider the practical implications of current research in the field for childrearing and social policy.
STATS 280 – Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (MSA, QR/1)
Section: 001 (LEC) 002,003 (LAB)
STATS 280 will provide in-depth discussion of models and methods that are appropriate to specific situations, criteria for selecting among them, their strengths and weaknesses and their conceptual footing. Interactive learning will be emphasized in lectures and the laboratory module. During the lab, students will learn to use modern statistical software for visualization and data analysis, and carry out the computational parts of lab assignments.
STATS 280 includes derivations of basic statistical results such as expected values and sampling variances using techniques from pre-calculus mathematics. Students will also be expected to master quantitative relationships such as scaling relationships between variances, sample sizes, and standard errors.
Definition and summary of univariate and bivariate data, distributions, correlation, and associated visualization techniques; randomization in comparative studies and in survey sampling; basic probability calculus, including conditional probabilities, concept of random variables and their properties; sampling distributions and the central limit theorem; statistical inference, including hypothesis tests, confidence intervals; one sample and two sample problems with binary and continuous data, including nonparametric procedures; analysis of variance; simple and bivariate regression; simple design of experiments; chisquare and rank-based tests for association and independence.
