Courses

Exploring Korean Pop Culture

"Exploring Korean Pop Culture" is an honors-level course designed to immerse students in Korean pop culture. Through various themes including music, culinary, language, film, television dramas, fashion, and digital media, this course delves into the intricate layers of Korean cultural phenomena that have captivated global audiences. Students will engage in in-depth analyses of iconic K-pop groups, seminal Korean films, influential dramas, and the social, historical, and technological contexts that have shaped the evolution of Korean pop culture. As part of the experiential learning component, students will create a virtual exhibition or media portfolio showcasing key elements of Korean pop culture. This project will encourage applying theoretical insights to real-world content and culminate in a presentation that highlights Korean pop culture’s global impact.

The Texas German Experience

The Texas German Experience is an online honors course that brings together the study of migration history and experiential learning in the digital humanities. Students will time-travel into the 19th century and explore turbulent lives of San Antonio leaders and vibrant German neighborhoods of the Gilded Age. They will better understand ethnic contact in Texas and come to appreciate the imprint of a migrant group on American culture. Our practical goal will be to introduce visitors of the San Antonio Metropolitan Area to the rich Texas German history of our city and its surroundings. To do so, students will develop a digital tour guide in online sessions and through field trips. Unknown chapters of history will come to life during this tour made by UTSA honors students!

China's Global Impact

China’s Global Impact offers a comprehensive exploration of China’s growing influence on the world stage, encompassing its economic, political, technological, cultural, and religious contributions. A key feature of the course is its experiential learning component, designed to immerse students in real-world case studies, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiences (e.g., movie discussing, linguistic studies, ). This may include interactions with experts in Chinese studies, analysis of China's globalization, and opportunities to engage with virtual communities impacted by China’s global presence. Honors students will benefit from this direct, applied learning as they develop a nuanced understanding of China’s role in shaping the 21st century.

Russian Pop Music & Culture

This course looks at Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian pop, rock, and rap music from the late-Soviet period into the present time. Students will listen to songs, analyze lyrics (in English translation), and engage in cultural criticism. We will consider the following questions: What role do cultural producers have in society as truth tellers and as people who speak up against power? How have musicians in Russia and elsewhere assumed these roles? How do songs represent generations, time periods, and social movements? What is the connection between music and celebrity? How do artists cross over between entertainment fields such as between music and film? What role does performance play in connection with music? What is it that makes competitions like Eurovision universally accepted, yet culturally very specific? What does it mean to be popular? What is pop? What is meant in other terms like kitsch, cult, and camp, that are used to describe art, music and other forms of cultural expression? Students in this course will learn how to engage in pop culture criticism and also will learn how to shoot a reaction video. This course is offered in a Hybrid format. We will meet Monday and Wednesday afternoons and have asynchronous work in place of Friday meetings.

Accents & Identities

What does it mean when someone says they “don’t have an accent”? What is “Standard American English” and how did it become the standard? Can language learners ever lose their accent in a second language? Why do Hollywood bad guys often have a British, German, or Russian accent? This class delves into the power of the accent—how it correlates with speakers’ identities, evokes stereotypes, and affects how we view ourselves and others. Throughout the semester, students will create websites that explore representations of accents in 1) their own lives and 2) in popular culture.

Honors 101

A series of weekly, one-hour classes and peer coaching on how to excel in the Honors College. Taught by Honors College Dean and Academic Counselors. Each section has the same curriculum and instructors. Classes in the A section are offered during the first 8 weeks of the semester while B section classes are offered in the second 8 weeks. This is a 0 SCH course. Honors 101 is required and at no cost. Sign up on ASAP just as you would for any other course.

Honors 101

A series of weekly, one-hour classes and peer coaching on how to excel in the Honors College. Taught by Honors College Dean and Academic Counselors. Each section has the same curriculum and instructors. Classes in the A section are offered during the first 8 weeks of the semester while B section classes are offered in the second 8 weeks. This is a 0 SCH course. Honors 101 is required and at no cost. Sign up on ASAP just as you would for any other course.

Special Scholars Program

Civic Ethos

A weekly, one-hour course that covers different approaches, philosophies and ethics to civic engagement. This course introduces the primary ethos of the UTSA Honors College curriculum. Classes in the A section are offered during the first 8 weeks of the semester while B section classes are offered in the second 8 weeks. This is a 1 SCH course. This course counts as the Civic Ethos requirement in the Honors College curriculum.

Civic Ethos

A weekly, one-hour course that covers different approaches, philosophies and ethics to civic engagement. This course introduces the primary ethos of the UTSA Honors College curriculum. Classes in the A section are offered during the first 8 weeks of the semester while B section classes are offered in the second 8 weeks. This is a 1 SCH course. This course counts as the Civic Ethos requirement in the Honors College curriculum.

Freshman Composition II (HON)

Freshman Composition II (HON)

Freshman Composition II (HON)

Civic Leadership

Race & Ethnicity in Mexico

In this course students will learn how issues of race and ethnicity have shaped historic and contemporary Mexico. The course will cover the topics of colonialism and indigenous presence, Mexico’s post-revolutionary national ideology, ethnoracial identification and inequality, and ethnoracial politics. We will address questions such as: Why have the U.S. and Latin American racial systems developed so differently? What is the role of race and ethnicity during the colonial period and in various stages of Mexico’s history? How does ethnoracial inequality manifest in contemporary Mexican society? How do Mexicans think about their ethnic and racial identities and how have these dynamics affected ethnoracial politics in Latin America? Students in this class will partake in a study abroad experience over spring break (with only a nominal student fee, scholarships are available). We will travel to both Mexico City and Oaxaca and tour sites such as the Museo de Antropología, the Mexica Templo Mayor, and the Frida Kahlo museum.

Migration and Human Development

This course will examine the relationship between international migration and human development. With a foreign-born population of almost 50 million, the United States is the country with the largest immigrant population in the world. Recent political events have brought a great deal of anti-immigrant rhetoric and attention to the negative impacts of immigration on the quality of life in this country. At the end of this course, the student will be knowledgeable of the historical context of U.S. immigration, understand the importance of human development as a concept and policy tool, and critically review empirical studies on the impact of immigration on the welfare of U.S. society. Students will learn from readings, lectures, documentaries, and class discussions.

Designing Inclusive Cities

Cities have always been places of spatial inequalities, from Susa, one of the oldest world cities in modern Iran to the Greek city-state of Athens, the so-called birth place of democracy. More recently, cities all over the world are facing a rise in socio-economic segregations that often determine residents’ (in) access to water, food, housing, health care, education, employment, internet, and the use of public space. The 2020 Pandemic has shed light on the uneven distribution of urban goods and burdens, opportunities and resources that we find in most cities. Rising levels of segregation have major consequences for the social sustainability of cities and leads to unequal life opportunities depending on where in the city you live. Such segregations threat the social sustainability of our cities and communities. These are the issues we will tackle in this course. Students will design their own inclusive city to generate discussion and possibilities about reducing the inequality in cities. NOTE: this course will split time where it is in person for fieldtrips and meets synchronously online otherwise. Questions? Email Dr. Bagheri (nazgol.bagheri@utsa.edu)

Weather and Climate

Will it rain tomorrow? Should I wear a jacket today? In this course, students will learn the tools that professional forecasters use to predict the weather and answer these questions. After learning the basic atmospheric processes that influence weather (e.g., radiation budgets, pressure gradients), students will create their own forecasts for the San Antonio area using weather models, satellite data, and current observations. The class will also provide an opportunity to gain hands on experience with weather instruments. If you have any questions about the course, please reach out to Neil Debbage at neil.debbage@utsa.edu.

Moral Imagination & Incarceration

The USA has about 4% of the world’s population but almost 24% of the world’s prison population. This course will examine the ways in which the US prison system provokes our personal and collective moral imaginations. What moral problems are posed by our current system of incarceration? What has punishment to do with accountability? How do rhetorics of incarceration shape our moral imaginations and limit effective responses to harms? How have systemic processes of criminalization and incapacitation affected our understanding of the humanity of those impacted by it? We will grapple with these questions by reading texts from a wide range of disciplines and look for creative ways to address and redress social harms. Course includes travel and time on Thursday evenings, students will join incarcerated scholars in class at the Dominguez State Jail as part of The Philosophy and Literature Circle program. Permission of instructor required; email Dr. Webb at mel.webb@utsa.edu. Note this course is cross-listed; only one of the courses will count toward your degree.

Becoming Human

Humans are unusual animals. Our special anatomy, intellectual abilities and technology have allowed us to dramatically change our planet and even explore space. But what makes humans unique? Many traits are often thought to be uniquely humans – language, bipedal locomotion, tool-making, intelligence; however, scientists struggle to clearly identify what separates humans from other animal species. This class is a journey in the uniqueness of our own species under a biological and anthropological lens. By understanding our past, we will explore who we are today and what the future might hold for humanity.

Diabetes: Stories & Histories

Monstrous Medicine

How did the “cause of science,” particularly medical science, become a rationale for monstrous behavior in the United States? How did race, gender, and economic status mark those susceptible to “progress?” Is this history far behind us? In this course we will use African concept of Sankofa (Ghana), the practice of going back to get what is lost in order to move toward the future. Through this journey, students will have a broader understanding of the sacrifice of the unheard and use that awareness to govern their own understanding moving forward, connecting the past to current research practices and headline news. Reading Intensive.

Medicine in the Media

Broadcast television, newspapers, magazines, social media, and podcasts share medical and health-related news on a daily basis. Indeed, for most of us, they are the dominant sources of this information. To what extent are these platforms reliable? Has their role changed over time? Do we need medical journalism? How can we combat misinformation about our health? This course will tackle these questions. Students will use analytical tools to be informed consumers of healthcare journalism.

On Mind & Matter

Have you ever wondered about the nature of consciousness? Exactly what is it? Is it something only humans possess? Or do all living beings have it? Perhaps just some? Maybe you believe your dog is just a ‘little conscious’. (After all, he knows what you’re thinking). If this is true then maybe consciousness is a sort of graded phenomenon, as on a continuum rather than all-or-none. Whatever it is and whoever has it, there remains the mystery as to how it arises. Western biology assumes that consciousness is an emergent property arising from a sufficiently evolved central nervous system. It ‘resides’ in your brain. Matter gives rise to mind. But this is not at all a foregone conclusion in much of the rest of the world which holds quite the contrary view, that consciousness is primary. That is, consciousness exists prior to the material world. In this view, consciousness is the ground state from which all matter arises. Even within Western science, such an idea was debated following the bizzare observations made from within a newly developed physics of the quantum realm. In fact, this debate persists. Such questions and ideas are explored in this course. While it will not offer up many definitive answers, it promises to be an exciting journey into this ultimate of mysteries.

Adv Clinical Med & Pathology

Mankind has endured human diseases for thousands of year. However, the past 100 years have brought on an explosion in our understanding of the mechanisms of human diseases fostered by revolutionary techniques such as molecular biology, clinical imaging, and gene therapy, and we have found many new ways to treat them. This honors course is designed as an introduction for students interested in human health into the world of clinical medicine and the pathology of important human diseases. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about basic pathological mechanisms of human diseases at the level of the cells, organs, and organ systems, and how to recognize these diseases and current treatments. Requirements for this course are a sharp mind, compassion, and willingness for active participation. It may just happen that after this course you may want to become a health care worker or a clinical researcher.

Leading Locally

What does it mean to be a leader in your local community, whether mayor or judge, city council person, executive director of a nonprofit, president of university, commander of a military base, or CEO of a locally based company - or any of the leaders on their teams? Students will learn alongside VP Fleuriet and Dean Cossman from local leaders across San Antonio, as they identify and chart personal leadership plans for their future professions.

Anatomy of a Doctor

The future of medicine and dentistry requires an innovative and bold approach to dissect the ever-changing application process. This professional development course will focus on strategies to become a more competitive applicant to gain admission to medical and dental schools.

Making the Leap: College to Carrer

Not sure what comes next after graduation? This course will help you to assess your strengths & create a clear vision for your career. Students develop the skills they will need to be successful in their job search, develop a career portfolio, and practice interview skills with local employers. In the second half of the course, students will hone the skills you need to influence decision-makers once you have landed a job: critical thinking, writing, communications, and resolving workplace conflicts.

Legislative Fellows

Mental Health & Resilience

The global pandemic has changed our environment on multiple landscapes and how we both perceive and interact with those spaces. This course is based on the Book, The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead. The idea that we are zombies, pushed beyond our ability to cope, and are operating on a trauma-based relationship with our world. In this course, students will have the opportunity to research models of resiliency and wellbeing, create a wellbeing triage guide, participate in a specialized resiliency training program, and interact with community partners.

Biodiversity in a Changing Climate

Climate change is the defining crisis of our time. The rapid environmental and climatic changes induced by human activity are the primary factors responsible for the decline of biodiversity in recent decades. During the semester we will investigate how adaptations to past climatic events can inform us about species responses to future changes. Special emphasis will be given to understanding how the application of technological advances, such as genetics, GIS, and climate modeling can help researchers in studying and conserving biodiversity. The final project for this course will include a direct application of these tools in modeling how primate species might respond to future climatic changes. No prior experience necessary.

Storytelling For Life

We are utterly shaped by the stories we hear, and the stories we tell. It has been said that while there have been great societies that did not use the wheel, there have been no societies that did not tell stories. During the semester we will explore stories at UTSA from students, faculty and staff as way to study the human experience, cultivate empathy, actualize identity, preserve history, provide social testimony, encourage social responsibility, and generate knowledge through engaging and sharing narrative. Special emphasis will be given to cultivating the skills of interviewing, transcription, script writing/creative writing, editing, and storytelling in the oral tradition. The final project for this course will be live performances of the students’ original creative work, engaging with a local elementary school. No prior experience necessary.

Honey: A Sweet Medicine

Explore the science behind medicinal honey in this hands-on, research-focused course. Students will experience the life of a scientist as they access credible research, design and execute a unique project, and gain valuable lab skills in microbiology and biochemistry. Working in teams, students will collect, analyze, and present data on honey’s medicinal properties, with the opportunity to present their findings at a research symposium. This course offers an immersive experience in scientific research, making it ideal for students interested in biology, health sciences, and natural product studies.

You Are What You Eat

Why do certain culinary smells instantly remind us of home? Why do certain cultures take pride in eating food that tastes bad? Why is Thanksgiving not really Thanksgiving without turkey? Why do so many Americans spend more time watching shows about food than actually cooking? Every aspect of food--what we eat (and don’t), how much we eat, when we eat, how often we eat, how we eat (hands, chopsticks, utensils)--offers clues about our social, political, economic, and cultural identity, and the goal of this class is to understand the many meanings of food and the act of eating in contemporary society. This course uses sociological and anthropological texts to unravel the rich cultural meaning of food in America while simultaneously immersing students in the food culture of San Antonio. Specific topics include the economics of grocery stores and restaurants, cultural perceptions of nutrition and health, foodie culture and social privilege, the rise of celebrity chefs, and sustainability. Each week, the instructors will choose a food that represents that week’s topic, so don’t forget to bring a napkin (just kidding, we will provide napkins)!

Outdoor Experiences & Well-Being

When was the last time you played in the dirt or splashed in a creek? We may have fond childhood memories of being outdoors but now spend most of our time inside. Let’s dust off those hiking boots, grab some sunscreen and take stock in our well-being taking cues from outside! We need nature – physically, mentally, and socially – and nature needs us. There is clear evidence in research for our interests in returning to nature to understand its influence and priority in our daily lives. When we reconnect to something greater than ourselves, we experience positive emotions and a shift in world perspective. We’ll dive into the relationship between nature and our well-being and find ways to reconnect with it in our everyday lives. Each of the course’s five modules (Nature and the Brain, How Nature Impacts Well Being, Find Your Path, Everyone Outside, Stewardship) will have its own Call to Nature for Action to get outdoors for some experiential learning. This will include class time and a few Saturday morning outings, 1 or 2 regional full-day Saturday trip(s) and culminate in a weekend camping trip to accomplish our goals. Student-led confluences will provide the foundation for journal reflections with an end-of-semester student-produced video and presentation that shows the student’s journey. Tentative outdoor dates will be released by Dec 1. Students might be responsible for some transportation, food, and basic camping gear. So come rediscover nature and learn how we can best serve each other!

Canoeing Embodied Ecology

This class will transform your relationship with rivers and with the communities they nurture by introducing you to canoeing and guiding you through the making of your own wooden paddle. These skill building challenges in the classroom, the workshop and on the river will be approached as ways of situated learning about ourselves and our world. We will explore the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River from the water level perspective of our canoe seats as well as from anthropocentric and biocentric perspectives of ecosystem services and deep ecology. Required: four half day canoeing sessions, one weekend overnight river trip (March 2-3, 2024), multiple sessions in the UTSA woodshop on Downtown campus, most classes will take place off Main Campus. Email instructor for details (eliot.howard@utsa.edu)