Curriculum

About Our Curriculum

The Moody Honors Program curriculum consists of 15 credit hours (5 classes) designed to supplement major degree plans, with honors course work counting toward degree requirements or electives.

The courses in the program have been developed to provide a strong foundation in the intellectual traditions of the sciences and humanities, provide the opportunity to explore critical topics in communication fields, and to offer opportunities for independent research and writing. For all classes, emphasis is given to critical thinking, writing and discussion, and courses are taught by top instructors in the college.

The curriculum includes two interdisciplinary courses in critical thinking and dialogue, two special topics seminars, and a senior year experience. To accommodate the various interests and goals of our students, our capstone gives students three options for their culminating experience: a) a two-semester traditional academic thesis, b) a one-semester professional, creative, or community engagement project, or c) a personal reflection essay and extra seminar. To deepen students learning experience, each semester the honors program hosts special lectures and events with leading authors, communication professionals and scholars.

Stage 1: Foundations

In year one, students take two three-credit courses (6 hours) aimed at fostering a dynamic and supportive critical-thinking community.

COM 307H Life of the Mind (3 hours) – Taken first semester. This is an initiation into the Moody Honors Program's Socratic culture of critical thinking and open dialogue, where challenging questions are asked, assumptions are examined, and blind certainties are held up to the light.

COM 308H Life of the Community (3 hours) – Taken second semester. This course considers the meanings of community and the social responsibilities of communicators in a complex and changing world.

After year one, students complete 6 out of the required 15 credit hours in the Moody Honors Program. The remaining 9 hours are taken during a student's second, third, and fourth year.

Stage 2: Explorations

After the foundations courses in year one, students explore special topics in communication by taking between 1 - 3 special-topics seminars. The number of special-topics seminars students are required to take depends on what students choose for their capstone year (Thesis students take one, Project students two, Reflection students take three.)

COM 370H Special Topic (3-9 hours) – All honors seminars carry this course number. New seminar topics with top professors from every communication department are offered each year. 

These are small, discussion-oriented classes designed to foster critical thinking and dialogue around fundamental questions of communication and society. The topics themselves can be on anything relevant to our interdisciplinary communication fields, with an emphasis on advanced undergraduate writing and deep exploration of the specific topic.

If you are faculty, and wish to propose a special topics seminar, learn more here. 

Stage 3: Capstone

The capstone year is the culmination of students’ honors experience, offering an opportunity for students to build on their knowledge and put their skills to work via independent work. To accommodate the range of disciplines of our college and interests of students, two options are offered.

COM 679H Honors Thesis (6 hours) – Two semesters of independent research and writing under the guidance of Honors Thesis class and advisors.

COM 330H Honors Project (3 hours) – One semester independent creative, professional, academic or service project under the guidance of Honors class and outside consultant.

Current students can visit Canvas for more information about Capstone programming and each of the three Capstone options.