Mission of the College
The mission of the Honors College is to provide an enriched educational experience for academically motivated and talented students at Kent State University. We welcome students of diverse backgrounds and are firmly committed to advancing a diverse, inclusive and equitable community of scholars. We affirm that all members of the Honors College community are valued for their contributions and treated with dignity and respect. Each student in the college plays a vital role in enhancing and influencing critical debate, critical thinking and learning from each other through their individual stories and lived experiences. This synergy creates a unique and inclusive foundation on which students can explore and develop their sense of belonging.
Founded in 1933, the Honors College is at the center of Kent State University’s tradition of providing special attention to undergraduates with outstanding intellectual and creative ability. Within the framework of the larger university, with its diverse academic programs and excellent research and library facilities, the Honors College offers students enriched and challenging courses and programs, opportunities for close relationships with their peers and faculty, and careful advising to meet their interests and goals.
Design Innovation (DI)
DI 10010 SURVEY OF DESIGN INNOVATION NODES 3 Credit Hours
Develop awareness and actively utilize the wide array of shared-resource laboratories and environments across Kent State University’s eight campus system that are connected as part of the Design Innovation (DI) Ecosystem. Explore the context of maker-communities, emerging technologies and social innovation resources while working in collaborative cross-disciplinary teams to tackle projects that intentionally connect the capabilities of multiple DI Nodes.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
DI 20020 BE SMARTER THAN YOUR SMARTPHONE 3 Credit Hours
This course uses the development of the smart phone to illustrate the multi-disciplinary nature of design and innovation. It provides an understanding of the technologies that make the smartphone possible. Specifically, the course covers the role of research and design in product development, the changed in patterns and nature of our communications through smartphones, and the implications for businesses, markets and society. The aim of this course is to introduce the multidisciplinary nature of innovation using the smartphone as an example. It presents the complexities, challenges, and opportunities that the smartphone has created.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
DI 20100 INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN INNOVATION 3 Credit Hours
This course blends analytical skills, intuition and creative thinking to develop practical solutions to real world problems. Students will gain a high-level understanding of the design process through team-based projects tackling challenges. Design thinking, methods and strategies offer novel ways to discover market opportunities, experiment to validate concepts and mitigate risk, and deliver value to all. This will be a reflective lecture and small project-based course that addresses the programmatic, technical, business, social and human factors of design in a way that leads to innovation(s) in the development of integrated solutions. Learn how to engage with end users, effectively frame problems, identify potential solutions, build prototypes to test assumptions and learn what works (and doesn’t). Then dive into a range of ways large and small to bring design innovation into your daily life.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Laboratory, Lecture, Combined Lecture and Lab
Contact Hours: 2 lecture, 3 lab
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
DI 30099 CHALLENGE-BASED INNOVATION (ELR) 3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Challenge-Based Innovation (CBI) is a project and problem-based learning course, where multidisciplinary student teams and their instructors collaborate with faculty researchers, community and industry partners to discover novel solutions for the future of humankind. The projects are an elaborate mixture, proposed by cross-disciplinary faculty teams and derived from using research to tackle messy or complex problems to meet societal, human-driven needs. The multidisciplinary student teams act as catalysts in creating novel solutions to pressing problems.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Laboratory, Lecture, Combined Lecture and Lab, Project or Capstone
Contact Hours: 2 lecture, 3 lab
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
DI 49095 SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN INNOVATION STUDIO 1-6 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Analysis and cross-disciplinary problem-solving of significant and current issues in design innovation not covered in existing design innovation courses. This studio course is offered when opportunities and resources permit; the topic is announced when the course is scheduled.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Studio
Contact Hours: 2-6 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
DI 49099 DESIGN INNOVATION WORKSHOP (ELR) 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) This course supports brief, intensive and interactive activities that address a narrowly defined range of problems in which the content is practical and concentrates on the acquisition of specific information and skills related to practices in design innovation. The variable credit format allows for intensive challenges that might occur in short periods, and that it might be focused on a single problem.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Project or Capstone, Workshop
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
DI 49995 SPECIAL TOPICS IN DESIGN INNOVATION 1-3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Analysis and cross-disciplinary problem-solving of significant and current issues in design innovation not covered in existing design innovation courses. This course is offered when opportunities and resources permit; the topic is announced when the course is scheduled.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Contact Hours: 1-3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
DI 49999 DESIGN INNOVATION GRAND CHALLENGES STUDIO PROJECT (ELR) 3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) A cross disciplinary project-based capstone course that collaboratively focuses on a single grand challenge. Challenges range from those identified by GrandChallenges.org, “solving global health and development problems for those most in need” to one of the “Grand Challenges for Engineering”, to one from the list regularly updated by the National Science Foundation, to a pressing challenge identified by the faculty. Taught by a multidisciplinary team of primary instructors with input from industry leaders with complementary expertise, the collaborative effort of students, faculty members, industry partners and-or community leaders, focuses on developing robust multi-perspective, actionable solutions considering multiple criteria including but not limited to technical, socio-cultural and economic dimensions. Outcomes range from early designs, to physical prototypes or policy solutions with an understanding of how to take them to a next phase. Travel component may be included.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Project or Capstone
Contact Hours: 6 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
Honors (HONR)
HONR 10010 HONORS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2 Credit Hours
This course will examine effective leadership in the public and nonprofit sectors from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Using course readings, discussions, and assignments students will be challenged and equipped to serve as actively engaged citizens at the university and in the greater community. Students will examine the complexities of generational leadership, working in groups, using effective communication, inspiring a shared vision and purpose, group problem solving, and decision making, ethical leadership, civic engagement, and leading in communities of difference. This class will feature multiple learning methods including lectures, class discussion, case studies, group exercises, in and out-of-class assignments, presentations, and self-reflection. This course aims to teach first semester Honors freshmen students how to be engaged Honors College leaders from the beginning of their college career.
Prerequisite: None.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Contact Hours: 2 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
HONR 10096 INDIVIDUAL HONORS WORK 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Directed independent study for freshmen in any department.
Prerequisite: Special approval of department.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 10197 FRESHMAN HONORS COLLOQUIUM I (KCMP) 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Required of all honors freshmen in lieu of College Writing. Stresses exploration, discussion and communication of ideas expressed in works related to theme of colloquium.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
Attributes: Kent Core Composition
HONR 10297 FRESHMAN HONORS COLLOQUIUM II (KCMP) 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Continuation of HONR 10197.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
Attributes: Kent Core Composition
HONR 13597 COLLOQUIUM: THE WESTERN IDENTITY (KADL) 3 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Focuses on Western and non-Western cultures from a comparative perspective, in order to identify both different and shared values and to see how one's own culture shapes one's perspective, ideology, and values.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College; and special approval.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 3 lecture
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Attributes: Kent Core Additional
HONR 20096 INDIVIDUAL HONORS WORK 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Directed independent study for sophomores in any department.
Prerequisite: Special approval of the department.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 20197 SOPHOMORE COLLOQUIUM 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) One-semester course or two-semester sequence exploring interdisciplinary ideas and issues related to a single theme, by means of readings, discussion and individual papers and projects.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 30096 INDIVIDUAL HONORS WORK 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Directed independent study for juniors in any department.
Prerequisite: Special approval of department.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 30197 JUNIOR COLLOQUIUM 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) One-semester course or two-semester sequence for juniors or seniors exploring interdisciplinary ideas and issues related to single theme, by means of readings, discussion and individual papers and projects.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 30297 JUNIOR COLLOQUIUM 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) One-semester course or two-semester sequence for juniors or seniors exploring interdisciplinary ideas and issues related to single theme, by means of readings, discussion and individual papers and projects.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 40085 SENIOR HONORS PORTFOLIO 1 Credit Hour
Construction of a senior portfolio, consisting of a collection of artifacts and a reflective essay interpreting the student's growth during the college years.
Prerequisite: Senior standing.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 40096 INDIVIDUAL HONORS WORK 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Directed independent study for seniors in any department.
Prerequisite: Prior special approval of instructor; and special approval of and preregistration with Honors College.
Schedule Type: Individual Investigation
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 40099 SENIOR HONORS THESIS/PROJECT (ELR) 1-10 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) Thesis or creative project.
Prerequisite: Special approval of department.
Schedule Type: Senior Project/Honors Thesis
Contact Hours: 1-10 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
Attributes: Experiential Learning Requirement
HONR 40197 SENIOR COLLOQUIUM 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) One-semester course or two-semester sequence exploring interdisciplinary ideas and issues related to single theme, by means of readings, discussion and individual papers and projects.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 1-4 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP
HONR 40297 SENIOR COLLOQUIUM 1-4 Credit Hours
(Repeatable for credit) One-semester course or two-semester sequence exploring interdisciplinary ideas and issues related to single theme, by means of readings, discussion and individual papers and projects.
Prerequisite: Admitted to the Honors College.
Schedule Type: Colloquium
Contact Hours: 3 other
Grade Mode: Standard Letter-IP