Sample Projects for Honors Contracts All examples from CU Denver

Sample Projects for Honors Contracts

All examples from CU Denver

FINE 2030 - Life Drawing

Using the principles of design and anatomy gone over during the course, the student will create

an plein-air life drawings of figures on/off campus and in their day to day life. The student will

then transform these preliminary drawings by incorporating them into and reworking their initial

context and meaning in an upscaled composite piece. The final product will be open-medium

but must be of a substantial size, professionally documented, and portfolio-ready.

MUSC 3220 - Artist Management

The student will undertake a research paper that examines an artist, of the student’s choice, in

relation to the genre, audience, and environment. This research paper will encompass

knowledge of the artist as well as the social, business, marketing, and technological influences

on creating their career.

PMUS 3832 - Music in Culture

The student will produce an ethnography research paper on the music in their culture. The

student will conduct an ethnographic research including, but not limited to: interviewing family

members, researching the influence of colonialism and emigration on cultural music, search of

family music library, and examination of family history with attention paid to location, marriage,

language, and world events.

GEOG 4080 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The student will work with the professor and other CU Denver faculty members to produce

disability accessibility mapping resources of CU Buildings for CU Denver students and faculty.

The processes and work therein will accommodate the available support and data resources,

but tasks may include data capture (collecting and organizing geospatial data) and the creation

of usable maps. The professor will work with the student to produce high-quality, publishable

maps. This project aligns with the original final project of the class, in which students are

required to plan and execute a goal-based project using geospatial tools. All students are

required to produce a project report that contextualizes their work in terms of scholarly research

and policy discussions. All students will also design and produce a poster summarizing their

work and findings. The student will log the hours spent on honors portion of this project and

provide a written summary of the scope of the project, in addition to the final project

requirements.

PSCI 4934 - CU at the Capitol

The student will work with the professor to design a more sophisticated final paper project of

greater length and complexity than (1) standard assignment, with a goal to propose this paper

for presentation at an academic conference, and/or to ultimately submit for journal publication,

perhaps in an undergraduate-focused journal such as Praxis (published by CU Denver political

science department). The paper will draw on primary source materials available to the student

as an intern in the Colorado state legislature. The student will submit at least two early drafts of

the paper progress for review and comments by the professor before the final draft is due.

PSYC 4485 - Psychology of Cultural Diversity

The student will write a research paper focusing on comprehensively exploring the integration of

psilocybin therapy research into the realm of cultural diversity within healthcare decision-

making. It will delve into how cultural factors shape patient experiences, treatment outcomes,

and access to care in the context of psychedelic therapy. Additionally, the paper will address

ethical considerations inherent in psychedelic therapy research and practice, focusing on

cultural sensitivity, informed consent, and equitable treatment access. Through an

interdisciplinary approach, this investigation seeks to advance understanding of the impact of

cultural diversity on psychedelic therapy and advocate for culturally competent healthcare

practices.

PSYC 3262 - Drugs, Brain and Behavior

The student will conduct research on Schizophrenia and Psychedelics, their contraindication,

and the future of alternative psychedelics free from hallucinogenic effects. Research a minimum

of 5 peer-reviewed papers (may include reviews but must contain at least 3 empirical papers.

Student will use an annotated bibliography to guide the research and findings. The student will

provide brief presentation to the professor of 3 minutes minimum to explain

paper/findings/results, the importance of the side effects that are associated with treating

Schizophrenia and make outcomes for this population a tremendously important topic. Finding

additional treatment options with this population requires alternative options which may include

psychedelics should the hallucinogenic aspect is removed. Could the current literature find hope

for this population that is normally contraindicated to receive psychedelic therapy?

ACCT 3230 - Intermediate Financial Accounting 2

The student will prepare a financial statement analysis of three companies within the same

industry using recent financial statements. Two of the companies should have an unqualified

audit opinion and one of the companies should have a going concern audit opinion. The student

will rank the financial health of each company and will explain what factors may have led to the

going concern audit opinion.

GEOG 3202 - Weather & Climate

The student will increase the scope of the courses blog option assignment from one location to

two locations, each in different latitudinal hemispheres. This will include preliminary research to

find suitable locations with 50 years’ worth of weather data which both have similar climactic

characteristics to compare over time. The three due dates for the standard assignment of one

location will apply. Each submission will follow the guidelines for the regular assignment but will

include an extra location and a comparison between the two in addition to requirements of the

original rubric.

ENGL 4776 - Topics in English: Film and Lit: After 1900

The student will work with an instructor to lead class on discussing abolitionism in modern-day

film. The facilitation will extend past the modules set expectations in discussing additional

historical and sociological aspects of film within today’s media including Civil Rights movements,

systematic racism, and the African American identity all in the context of the US. To complete

this project, the student will meet with the instructor and agree upon two more times to discuss

expectations of this facilitation of content and organization. The instructor will be present and

assisting with the class, but the class will ultimately be student facilitated.

ECON 2022 - Principles of Microeconomics

The student would pick a few economic concepts that are interesting and expand on the terms

and try to connect to the soccer world. The student would apply economic concepts to soccer

and write a paper about the different concepts he sees in the sport. The final paper would be

around 3 pages long and it would be due the same day as the final meeting for this class. When

the professor and the student have their final meeting.

COMM 4610 - Sexuality, Media and Communication

The student will write a paper on consent in literature based on in-class readings. This paper will

be 10-15 pages, analyzing poetry and literature for messages about consent.

COMM 4040 - Communications, Prison and Social Justice

Throughout the semester, the student will be writing to at least four current incarcerated

persons. Through developing a friendship with these inmates, the student will demonstrate how

writing is beneficial to rehabilitation. The student will share findings at the end of the semester

with a presentation or paper.

PSYC 4511 - History of Psychology

The student will be completing an 8-10 page research paper digging deeper into the topics of

the Behaviorism and Humanism (which was a direct response to behaviorism) movements in

psychology. I am particularly interested in the Zeitgest of the time period where Behaviorism

really began to gain popularity which was the deinstitutionalization of large masses of people

with disabilities that resulted in an increased demand for effective psychological treatment.

Behaviorism took off because of its ability to produce more easily measurable and comparable

data. This psychological movement helped establish the field as a more serious field of science

and positioned psychologists as an authority over the treatment of various disabilities/disorders.

I will contrast this movement with Humanism and its response to the cold, medicalized

perspective of the human condition and how both perspectives have shaped the field of

psychology today.

ANTH 2102 - Culture and the Human Experience

Student will complete a lecture with a corresponding presentation and group activity for the

class. The lecture will discuss poverty and chronic illness through a biocultural perspective and

relate to the concept of evolutionary mismatch, supported by evidence in the fossil record and in

modern-day endocrine disorders, such as PCOS. After the presentation, students in the class

will be given a set of questions to start conversations using key terms and concepts.

PBHL 3040 - Health, Culture and Society

The student will submit a 5-page research paper using at least 3 sources beyond the assigned

readings discussing the significance of Invisible Wounds in U.S. military service members and

veterans. Discuss efforts in removing barriers and challenging the stigmas associated with

seeking care.

BIOL 4335 - Plant Structure & Development

For the honors part of Plant Structure and Development, the student will assist the professor in

evaluating and developing protocols for observing pollen tube growth for a teaching laboratory

exercise this semester. The student will be evaluating several protocols for pollen tube growth

and viewing under a compound light microscope for the Plant Structure and Development

laboratory. Student will first read about the phenomenon of pollen tube growth and then

research various protocols to use in the teaching lab. Student will choose two or three protocols

to try in the lab and create different concentrations of solutions needed. Student will write up

findings to include in the lab assignment.

COMM 3231 - Famous US Trials

Student will work with instructor to lead class discussing the Scopes Monkey Trial. To

satisfactorily complete this project, student will meet with instructor at least once more than 48

hours before class, student will attend the class on the date agreed upon, and student will offer

some lecture but will also lead class discussion. Instructor will be present and will contribute and

assist with the class but the student will be lead. Student will submit a 5 page research paper

using at least 3 sources beyond the assigned readings discussing the significance of the case in

US history and whether or not this type of trial (topic or circus-like format) is likely to occur again

and why.

MUID 4825 - Concerts and Touring

The course expects students to plan an imaginary national tour of an artist of their choosing,

using strategies and tactics learned in class. Students are also expected to help put on two

shows throughout the semester: A Newbies residency show and Hear 901. In addition to

fulfilling the regular course requirements, students must put into practice what they learn in

class. The project requires that I orchestrate, produce, and carry out a festival/concert at a

Denver venue. The student’s responsibilities leading up to the show include the following:

finding a venue and booking a date/time; selecting a lineup of artists; determining set times and

order of performers; communicating with the artists to determine the equipment/backline

needed; developing a marketing plan; assembling a team to emcee, film, run sound, take

photos, etc.; determining ticket prices and selling tickets; promoting the show using social media

marketing; performing at the show; drawing a crowd, setting up and breaking down the show.

After executing the event, the student will write a reflection paper about their experience with the

project, discussing what they learned, what they did well and could do better for the next time.

SOCI 4851 - Medical Sociology

The student will interview a person of a different generation about a relevant medical sociology

topic of her own choosing. The student will write up a questionnaire that will guide the interview

and share that with the professor before the interview takes place for final approval. The student

will then write a 10- page paper highlighting the most important findings from the interview with

a critical analysis of the meaning of these findings. This may include generational differences in

attitudes toward health behaviors, time-period differences in health issues, how stigma of

behaviors have changed over time, etc. The overall intent of this project is to illustrate ways in

which society and health have changed over time.

ENVS 1342 – Environment, Society and Sustainability

The student will complete two tasks during the semester. First, the student will complete a

15-minute guest lecture during class using PowerPoint or similar software. The talk will review

the history, current practices, benefits and controversies associated with “Living Buildings.”

Second, the student will complete a 6-page paper that more thoroughly describes the main

points and arguments from his presentation. As part of their paper, the student will add some

personal reflections on the benefits, drawbacks and proposed future directions of “Living

Buildings.”