The University of Florida Honors Program
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Honors sections are versions of regular UF courses, typically with a smaller class size and with variations in assignments and expectations.
The course is designed for students with strong interests on topics in Chemistry and who wish to move more quickly into advanced coursework. It provides more depth in topics on electronic structure and bonding, gases, liquids, solids, thermodynamics, equilibria, acids and bases, kinetics, oxidation-reduction.
The Gen Chem topics are presented in a way that emphasizes the need to comprehend and predict the behavior of chemical systems rather than to memorize a potpourri of diverse facts. The goal is for students to learn critical thinking through the understanding of problem-solving in chemistry.
Within a small class environment, honor students have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of chemistry at a fast pace, while building strong relationships with other students and instructors during their first semester at UF.
Emerging from the chaotic destruction of WWII, the Cold War seemed to divide the world in two in both physical and symbolic ways. It amplified extant political and sociocultural binaries of “good” and “evil,” “us” and “them,” and “capitalism” and communism” to an unprecedented degree. Under the harsh glare of the threat of total destruction, nearly all aspects of Soviet and American life were organized around these poles for a period of almost fifty years. What were the American and Soviet cultural responses to the intense and unprecedented situation of the “atomic age?” How can we compare these “rival” visions and experiences? In this course, students will be asked to examine the culture of the Cold War from Soviet and American perspectives across a wide range of phenomena (including literature, film, and propaganda) and to consider how and why relations between the U.S. and the USSR came to be framed as a global ideological contest as well as to think about the cultural legacy of the Cold War today.
Course material includes: classics of Cold War literature such as Nineteen Eighty Four, Ilya Ehrenburg’s The Thaw, and John Le Carré’s The Spy who Came in from the Cold, and seminal Cold War films like Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove: Or How I stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb, Mikhail Romm’s The Russian Question, and Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, among others.
Assignments include: oral history interview, research poster, short written responses, and presentation.
Questions? Please email Dr. Kleespies at iakl@ufl.edu.
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Quest 1
How is our understanding of the human condition constructed through and by the stories that we hear and tell, and how can these stories help us understand health, suffering, illness, disability, or disease?
What makes life worth living? How do we or should we examine a life? What is valuable in life? How is mathematics used in the arts to improve our lives?
Who are we in relation to the natural world? How have humans understood their role in their natural world and their responsibility to it? How do portrayals of nature reflect our values or self-understanding? How have we as humans dominated nature and considered ourselves to be part of nature?
Quest 2
How can we measure and describe climate change based on available empirical data?
1 credit discussion-based courses centered around notable artists, artistic performances, and exhibits
When a conservationist takes on the challenge of restoring a piece of art, they must consider many aspects of chemistry. What is the piece made of? Can this chemical be easily found or recreated? How quickly will an adhesive crosslink to the material? Is the varnish photosensitive? What adhesive would be best based on how strong or weak the intermolecular forces are between the polymers? Will acids in the paper or canvas alter the integrity of the piece over time? Many conservationists, whose passion is to preserve and renew, take on even more questions to consider. Is there a similar, less toxic molecule, that will display the same pigment? How can we produce the least amount of waste from this restoration? Is there a safer way to dispose of excess materials? To answer these questions, art conservationists must use the techniques and resources available to them. The world of art and art conservation has evolved greatly over the last few decades to improve the process. This change has required the hard work of chemical, environmental,
and health researchers. Learning about the evolution of these techniques can give us insight into larger matters surrounding sustainability and resilience. Conservation in art can take on two meanings: one for preserving and repairing historical art pieces and one for using sustainable practices in supply production while trying to limit hazardous waste in the field. The goal of this course is to combine the two to improve knowledge of sustainable art practices and improve appreciation for associated careers. Each week students will learn about an important technique in museum level conservation (eg. varnishing, color matching, paper repair) as well as the basic chemistry of each technique. There will then be further discussion on how the technique has been improved or can still be improved to limit the environmental effects caused by chemical constituents. Most assignments will take the form of discussion posts asking students to solve problems related to the contents of that week. The final project will be binding your own book using
handmade, nontoxic glue and recycled materials.
Phoebe is a third year Environmental Engineering student. She is very interested in waste management, water contamination, and the development of sustainable materials. In her free time she enjoys oil and watercolor painting and other crafts.
Rory is a third year Chemistry major. She works part-time in the Conservation and Preservation department for the George A. Smathers libraries. She enjoys painting and making jewelry as well as various other crafts.
The ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice’s doomed love has inspired countless retellings and reinterpretations from classical antiquity to the present day. These include the very first opera, the first operatic masterpiece, poetry, many award-winning films, through the 2019 hit Broadway musical, Hadestown. What is it about this millennia-old tale of death, doubt, and the power of art to persuade that has made it so durable? Why are artists, poets, playwrights, and, especially, musicians so drawn to retell it in seemingly every age? Through an exploration of the origins of the myth and some of the works it spawned through the centuries, students will consider the power of archetypal stories and the ways that they can be adapted to resonate with widely different audiences and eras. Along the way, we will contemplate some of the major issues in aesthetics, psychology, and culture that inform these artifacts. We will also use these activities to prepare for a performance of Hadestown at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on November 2025. In this one-credit course, students will be evaluated on their participation, both during class meetings and in online discussions. The latter will be posted on
the course Canvas site in E-Learning, as will select readings, video and audio excerpts relevant to the discussions.
This discussion-based course explores the artistic performances and musical works of Lady Gaga through the lens of critical theory, performance art, philosophy, and theology. Lady Gaga’s career has been defined by her ability to challenge and redefine notions of identity, fame, and performance. By engaging with key works from Jacques Lacan, Sigmund Freud, St. Augustine, and contemporary scholarship on Gaga's work, we will investigate themes of desire, absence, religious iconography, and self-construction in her music and public persona. Through close readings of Gaga’s performances, music videos, and lyrics, alongside foundational theoretical texts, students will develop a deeper understanding of the intersection between pop culture and intellectual traditions.
Kevin Artiga has worked as a technical communication professional for a variety of organizations in medicine, software development, and cultural resource management. His doctoral research is in technical and business communication, computational media theory, and migration studies.
Human history has been shaped by and, in turn, shapes the appearance, structure, and function of the “natural” world. At the same time, many of our earliest conceptualizations of what is beautiful have centered around the collective experience of our environment and other organisms. Our deeply emotional connection to the natural world has inspired centuries of conservation movements and philosophical, ethical, and moral thought alongside the creation of artistic work inspired by nature. In the context of ongoing global change and the midst of biodiversity decline, this course will survey the intersections between historical and contemporary perceptions and concepts of nature, the philosophical underpinnings of significant conservation actions and policy, and the parallel artistic works produced during the evolution of the movement to protect Earth’s biodiversity. Students in this course will gain experience in critiquing the major underpinnings of our conceptualizations of nature and conservation philosophy and engage in co-creation exercises to examine and deconstruct their relationship to the natural world on campus.
Bio: I am broadly interested in using natural history collections, fieldwork, and participatory science data to answer questions about how global change processes shape lepidopteran biodiversity on our planet. I am also invested in actioning science in the conservation sphere to address global challenges in biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and resilience. Outside of research, I enjoy explorations of alternative process photography; Western esotericism, queer theory, and psychology; indie, punk, hyperpop, and techno music; and cooking vegan cuisines. I hail from Philadelphia originally with my Bengal cat, Sheikh. I take a very non-traditional approach to my pedagogy, mentorship, and science, focusing on theories of leadership, individuation, and creativity. I believe a scientist can be anyone at any time.
…Ready for it? In this class, students will fearlessly jump then fall into 13 gorgeous weeks of discussing Taylor Swift’s discography, with a focus on her evergreen songwriting, and draw parallels between Swift’s enchanting lyrics and fine art such as paintings, pottery, photographs, and more. Each week, students will be expected to keep their eyes open and examine closely in order to listen, discuss, reflect, argue, and write on themes such as heartbreak, coming of age, societal norms, and relationships. Students will collaborate with their peers to annotate lyrics, analyze themes, and participate in class discussions all too well. Students will participate in thematic assignments which include identifying inspirational artwork in Gainesville, creating their own artwork, and collaborating on a final class project. As we go through the course, we encourage you to think critically about the texts and the topics we encounter and to push your creativity. Achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed through engagement in class discussions, artwork, an analytical blog post, and the final class project.
Lexi McDonnough is a freshman Marketing major in the Honors Program at the University of Florida. She is a cohort member of Florida’s Future Leadership Program by Florida Blue Key and a member of the Freshman Leadership Experience by Student Government, as well as a member of the Homecoming staff, a marketing committee member of Florida Women in Business, a photography team editor for Spoon University, and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Greek collegiate sorority.
1 credit discussion-based courses centered around books of all genres.
History + Biography
From hunting and eating to taming and caring for, our relationship with animals is diverse and complex. In this UnCommon Read course, we explore how these relationships have evolved from 1492 to contemporary times. Using Dr. Marcy Norton’s book as our guide, we navigate through Europe and the Americas to investigate how different societies perceived and managed animals, and examine how colonialism and cross-cultural interactions impacted both human and animal communities. What has made some animals fit for work, for our palates, or for being part of our homes? Whether you're passionate about history, culture, or the natural world, this course offers a unique opportunity to delve into the past and understand the intricate web of connections between people and animals.
Juliana is an archaeology PhD candidate in the Anthropology Department. She received a B.A. in Anthropology from Wake Forest University (2020) and an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Florida (2022). Her research focuses on past and present human-animal relationships in riverine and coastal regions of Brazil. She seeks to understand how fishing was incorporated into the complex subsistence systems that co-produced Brazilian environments through zooarchaeological and ethnoarchaeological research.
Just minutes from The Swamp stadium, the world of academia, and shiny new mixed-use developments, one of the nation’s most notable punk rock scenes has thrived for decades – often out of the view of the average Gainesville resident. Since the 1980s, Gainesville’s punk community has carved out its own niche local music scene that has impacted the national punk scene and mainstream music, with the success of acts such as Hot Water Music, Less Than Jake, and Against Me! But how does this underground movement interact, influence, and help shape its surroundings? The University of Florida, the City of Gainesville, and the culture of Gainesville have all been impacted by city’s punk scene and vice versa. In this course, we will explore these topics and more as we focus on the book Gainesville Punk: A History of Bands and Music by Matt Walker (The History Press 2016, paperback) accompanied by other relevant source materials.
Issues relating to climate change, conflicts over religious ideology, and the movement of people are ever present in the science, media, and the culture of today. However, these are not new issues that humanity is facing. "Gods of Thunder" will outline how indigenous peoples of the Americas navigated the Medieval Warming Period (AD 800-1300 CE) a period of major climate change and how these climatic events led to the transformation of native religion and movement, as people migrated long distances in a response to these phenomena. The course will demonstrate how learning about the past can help position our current issues in historical context. The course will use peer annotation software for students to be able to comment directly on the text and will allow us to create a co-reading environment through Canvas. The course assignments will consist of weekly annotations of the readings, participation within weekly discussions in class, and one short reflection paper on the text. Weekly discussions will consist of major overarching topics in
our text and on student’s observation and opinions on the course reading. The course does not require any previous knowledge of archaeology or the history of the Americas. Background to these topics will be given by the instructor. At the end of the semester, students will learn broadly about the archaeology of the Americas and how the past is an important tool for navigating our own lives in the present.
Educated by Tara Westover follows the true story of Westover’s life in rural Idaho. Growing up with extremely religious and survivalist parents, Westover lacked a birth certificate, friends, and–most relevant to the themes of the novel–a formal education. The memoir follows Westover’s journey seeking both knowledge and herself over decades, allowing the reader to ponder the value of learning and how to come to terms with who we truly are. Throughout this course, we will focus on these themes as well as themes of human connection, familial duties, and open-mindedness via class wide discussions and journal entries. Experiencing through Westover the importance of education will allow the class to reflect on what education means to them and help foster gratitude for learning and knowledge.
Jeanne Ewert is a faculty research librarian in the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (Library West). She holds a Ph. D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and publishes in the field of American modernism and postmodernism. She has been teaching Uncommon Reads in the Honors Program since 2019.
Brooke Evans is a third year Health Science major on the Pre-PA track. She is from Orlando, FL and loves coffee, the beach, and her dog. Despite her science-heavy course load, reading is her true passion. She has taken 4 UnCommon Reads and is thrilled to now be teaching one. She loves to read anything she can get her hands on, but especially romance, contemporary fiction, and memoirs.
As Winston Churchill once said, “History is written by the victors.” Robert Graves explores this idea in his fictional work “I, Claudius,” centered around the fall of the Roman republic and the return of Roman monarchy. Narrated by a family member in Rome’s first dynasty, “I, Claudius” combines historical records and creative interpretation to create a compelling “tell-all” of how the bloody Julio-Claudian dynasty gained and maintained its power. In chronicling this crucial period of history, Graves highlights how pride impacts government, the struggle between morality and survival, and how we evaluate truth as a whole. What is history, if not fiction that often contains truth? In this course, we will use historical sources and critical thinking to assess Graves’s interpretation of Rome’s most turbulent period.
Eleanor Riggs is a sophomore majoring in Data Science and Classics. She is especially interested in teaching classical civilizations and languages to middle and high schoolers and the intersection between computer sciences and the humanities.
Jonathan Nunes is a sophomore majoring in Mathematics and Classics. He has special interests in education, Roman history, and physics.
Explore the intricate connections between people, their stories, and the places they inhabit in this engaging course. “Storytellers of Time and Place” delves into the art of historic preservation through the lens of oral histories and the graphic novel Building Stories by Chris Ware. Students will learn to uncover and document the rich narratives that historic places hold, understanding how these stories shape our cultural and social landscapes. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of how to preserve and celebrate the stories that make places meaningful, fostering a greater connection between communities and their heritage.
Dr. Clarissa Carr is a faculty member of the University of Florida's Historic Preservation Program and an accomplished exhibit designer. A native of Gainesville, Florida, her academic journey is deeply rooted in a passion for the convergence of history, design, and science. Graduating with honors, she earned her Bachelor of Design in Interior Design in 2011 and continued her academic pursuit with a Master of Interior Design in 2013, both from the University of Florida. Dr. Carr holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Design, Construction, and Planning from her alma mater, supplemented by graduate certificates in Historic Preservation, Museum Studies, and Web Design and Online Communication. Her comprehensive academic background is a testament to her interdisciplinary approach, reflecting her commitment to preserving and presenting history through innovative design and effective communication. As a dedicated faculty member, Dr. Carr continues to inspire and educate future generations in the field, leaving an indelible mark on the University of Florida's academic landscape.
Science (Non-Health) + Science Fiction
In this class, we will cover these facts and some of the most beautiful and surprising arguments from the history of Calculus. These are beyond the scope of regular Calculus classes, but are within the reach of anyone with a good understanding of Calculus II. Sometimes we will provide some historical context as well.
Our book will be the classic book of George F. Simmons, Calculus Gems.
Ideally, students registering for the class should have already completed Calculus II, though in some cases, it is acceptable if the student takes Calculus II in the same semester.
In this course we will cover the book Tamed: Ten Species that Changed Our World by Alice Roberts, which explores the fascinating history of domestication of ten key species and their influence on us, humans. From the early domestication of wolves to the cultivation of wheat, the rise of potatoes, and the genetic modification of chickens, students will examine the connections between genetics, anthropology and cultural history. During weekly discussions (from book readings and invited speakers) we will learn about the scientific, cultural, and ethical views of domestication. By the end of this course, students will have a better understanding of how humans and these species have influenced each other, and what that means for the future of biodiversity.
Health
Drugs by themselves are neither good or bad – it is ultimately how they are used that will lead humans to label them as such. Oliver Grundmann, PhD, has researched both synthetic and natural drugs with mind-altering effects for over a decade. Those who have been used for hundreds of years as part of traditional medicine and rituals are often mis- or abused in modern society. Others are solely intended to either create a fantastic escape from reality or get the user hooked to cause a substance use disorder. Numerous personal accounts and the scientific literature are a testament to this growing problem of what is commonly called “addiction”. But there is more to it as seen through the eyes of a researcher. Accompany Dr. Grundmann as he discusses the landscape, effects, and impact of drugs on the individual and society.
Course: IDH2930
Class Number: 19692
Day/Period: M/5 Online
Instructor: Oliver Grundmann
In this 1 credit seminar course, students will be introduced to a variety of topics in contemporary medicine such as health care delivery reform, ethical challenges, the evolution of medical science, and major healthcare crises. The course materials will be drawn from streaming media including podcasts and TED/Youtube videos. Class time will be used to explore the topics in open discussion with the course director and selected guest faculty from the College of Medicine and other institutions.
This course will explore narratives in global health, including the collaborations of scientists, activists, governments, and international organizations to address global health issues. Students will read “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder, which explores the work of Dr. Paul Farmer, a renowned physician and activist, who dedicated his life and career to battling infectious diseases in impoverished countries. The course will utilize supplemental readings and guest speakers to critically analyze challenges in global health including global health disparities, the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, ethics of medicine in developing nations, and the impact of narrative in healthcare. Students will discuss: How do different cultures respond to, understand, and talk about disease? What role do social determinants of health play in global health narratives? How do definitions of wellness and wellbeing vary globally?
Courtney Pyche is a Public Health Liaison Librarian at the University of Florida Health Science Center Library. Her job responsibilities include providing instruction, reference, and liaison services to departments in the College of Public Health and Health Professions and the College of Medicine. She received her Master of Science in Information from Florida State University. Her research interests include librarian career transitions and development, international librarianship, evidence synthesis, and library partnerships.
Jennie Crumpton (MLIS, MOT, CRDH) is a health sciences liaison librarian at the University of Florida and supports the research and information needs of the College of Dentistry, as well as several departments in the College of Medicine, and one department in the College of Health and Human Performance. She received her master's in information from Florida State University. Her research interests include sustainable practices, student community and wellness, health humanities, and collection development.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Mistook_His_Wife_for_a_Hat is a book by well known neurologist Oliver Sacks who was depicted by Robin Williams in the movie Awakenings. Sack authored numerous books, a number of which discuss neurological conditions, especially in regard to his patients. His writings about these conditions showed compassion for differences and he worked to understand the strengths of his patients. His work has been recast in the present era through a 2025 television miniseries, Brilliant Minds. This course seeks to explore how medicine approaches neurological conditions, the way in which Sacks used patient stories to promote empathy (and some backlash toward this practice), and how the arts (movies such as Awakenings, a chamber opera, and the current TV series) seeks to explore the brain.
Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig is archivist and historian in the Health Science Center Library, and Director of Health Humanities in the UF College of Medicine. She has a courtesy faculty appointment in the Center for African Studies at UF and teaches a course-Culture, Health and the Arts in SubSaharan Africa- through them. She teaches health humanities courses to medical and undergraduate students, works with the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Gold Humanism Honors Society and UF Chapman Society, and studies history of medicine, focusing on eugenics, and theories on race, and comparative. She studies nature and nature/arts-based therapies, promoting access to healing nature.
This course is designed to examine various aspects of mental health through the lens of graphic medicine, which is the intersection of comics and health care. Class readings will be structured around an illustrated guide to mental health, including the neuroanatomy of the brain as well as the psychological factors of mental health such as emotions and stigma. Supplementary readings selected from key graphic medicine texts with complementary subject coverage will bring nuance to the discussions.
Chloe Hough, MLIS is a health science librarian who liaises with several departments in the College of Medicine and the College of Public Health and Health Professions, including Psychiatry, Clinical and Health Psychology, Neurology, and Neuroscience. She provides reference and instruction services to her patron groups in addition to pursuing research and service within the profession of health science librarianship. Her research areas include health humanities, wellness, and collection development.
In Baby Doctor by Perri Klass (1992) the author tells the story of her pediatric residency at one of the country’s top children’s hospitals. The memoir covers Klass’ three year internship and residency with essays and journal entries candidly describing her physician training. While the primary book for this course is Baby Doctor, additional readings will provide a greater variety of perspectives. Supplementary readings include scholarly articles illustrating new directions in healthcare and medical education, including reforms to resident physician duty hours. Through rigorous course discussions, students will learn about current trends in healthcare (medical humanities, physician wellness, medical humanism, patient-centered care, and interprofessional care) as they contrast and compare the supplementary readings with the primary book. Discussion of interprofessional care and the roles of all healthcare team members will help expose the students to the valuable roles of healthcare professionals outside of medicine and nursing, including physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, social work, nutrition, public health, and health administration.
Mary Edwards, MLIS, EdD is an Associate University Librarian in the UF Health Science Center Library (HSCL), where she has worked since 2004. Mary is a reference and liaison librarian who liaises with a number of clinical and research departments in the Colleges of Medicine and Public Health and Health Professions. As part of her liaison duties Mary collaborates on instruction and research with faculty from her departments as well as pursing her own research interests in instructional design, online teaching and learning, distance education, program evaluation, and new literacies including media, digital, and information. She has taught in UF Health Science Center’s interprofessional education program since 2011 and currently teaches in both the first-year course “Putting Families First” and the second year course “Interprofessional Learning in HealthCare”. Her previous Uncommon Reads course focused on topics including African American cooking and southern culture, graphic medicine in the context of death, dying, and grief, and modern healthcare.
Lauren Adkins, MLIS, is the University of Florida Health Science Libraries Librarian Liaison to the College of Pharmacy and the departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the College of Medicine. She obtained her MLIS from the University of South Florida in 2014. Her prior experience includes working as a Medical Librarian for Moffitt Cancer Center Biomedical Library and as a Reference Librarian for the University of Tampa Macdonald-Kelce Library. Previously she has co-taught courses on multiculturalism in healthcare and African American cooking and southern culture.
For the pre-med student, biological science major, naturalist, or simply interested reader, Jonathan Reisman, M.D.―a physician and adventure traveler―takes us along on an odyssey that navigates the inner workings of our anatomy akin to an explorer discovering a new world in his debut novel: The Unseen Body.
Through his unique insight into life, culture, and the natural world, Reisman challenges us to see our body in a completely new light. He shows us how understanding mountain watersheds can help to diagnose heart attacks, how a hike through the Himalayas reveals the boundary between the brain and the mind, and how eating animal organs can serve as a lesson in empathy. With his captivating and lyrical prose, Resiman teaches us how our organs are inextricably intertwined with the natural world–taking the familiar inner workings of our body and metamorphosing them into an internal ecosystem that reflects the natural world around us.
Society + Culture + Politics
Who doesn’t worry sometimes that smart phones, the Internet, and TV are robbing us of time and preventing us from having a life? How can we make the most of our time on earth? In the first century AD, the Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger offered one of the most famous answers to that question in his essay “On the Shortness of Life”—a work that has more to teach us today than ever before. In How to Have a Life, James Romm presents a vibrant new translation of Seneca’s brilliant essay, plus two Senecan letters on the same theme, complete with the original Latin on facing pages and an inviting introduction.
With devastating satiric wit, skillfully captured in this translation, Seneca lampoons the ways we squander our time and fail to realize how precious it is. We don’t allow people to steal our money, yet we allow them to plunder our time, or else we give it away ourselves in useless, idle pursuits. Seneca also describes how we can make better use of our brief days and years. In the process, he argues, we can make our lives longer, or even everlasting, because to live a real life is to attain a kind of immortality.
A counterweight to the time-sucking distractions of the modern world, How to Have a Life offers priceless wisdom about making our time—and our lives—count.
Bio: Dr. Sara Agnelli is a classical philologist by training, an interdisciplinary researcher and mentor by profession, and a committed humanist at heart. With degrees in Classics from the Catholic University of Milan (B.A. 2006, summa cum laude; M.Phil. 2009) and the University of Florida (Ph.D. 2016), she serves as the Associate Director of the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere (CHPS) at the University of Florida, where she oversees internal programs, graduate engagement, and public humanities initiatives.
Why are we called the Gators? What is Century Tower’s purpose? What are the oldest buildings on campus? How did UF begin? The University of Florida has a long, storied history that begs to be explored. In this course, we will do a deep dive into materials held in the University Archives to explore how these materials tell the story of UF, including those silent, undocumented stories that were excluded from the narrative. We will explore how these materials create the story of community and identity for the students at UF. You will be able to discuss your own story here at UF, and think of ways to share your story for the future. How will your experiences today be reflected in UF’s future? What kinds of stories will be told and how will they be told? How can we fill in the gaps in the archival record to ensure all aspects of a story are told? These are some of the many questions we will explore in this course. The course will include short reflections, discussion posts, and a final project. No previous archives experience or knowledge is necessary, and this course is open to anyone with an interest in learning more about the history of UF.
Sarah Coates, CA, is the University Archivist at the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida. As University Archivist, she saves, secures, and shares the story and history of the University of Florida. To achieve this goal, her work includes acquiring and processing records of enduring historical and administrative value from institutional units, faculty, staff, students, and campus organizations at UF. She has worked at the University of Florida’s University Archives since 2018, becoming University Archivist in 2022. Prior to coming to UF, she worked at Oklahoma State University’s Special Collections and University Archives and taught freshman composition at several universities in Ohio and Oklahoma. She received her Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma and her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English Literature from Wright State University in Dayton, OH. She is also a Certified Archivist through the Academy of Certified Archivists.
Class meets in Smathers 208
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill is a uniquely modern tale that blends the contemporary world with classic fantasy and historical themes. A magical realism novel, Barnhill contrasts magic and dragons with the more “mundane” real world setting, establishing and drawing out complex themes about choice, power, and femininity. This book provides a starting point for relevant and real conversations about topics that should be placed at the forefront of society, including those of women’s rights, the dichotomy between memory and grief, and the complexities of love and belonging in this world.
Adelyn Richgels is a fourth-year Honors student from Orlando, Florida majoring in Chemical Engineering with a double major in English. A long-time lover of Uncommon Classes (she’s spent all semesters taking at least one!), she decided to teach her own on a topic very relevant to her and the world as a whole.
What’s the point of college? What does a bachelor's degree get you these days? Is the university merely a place to gain skills that lead to a job? Or can it be a place to explore curiosities and passions, wherever they may lead? What’s the ultimate purpose of an education, anyway? In this course we will consider these questions and more as we try to imagine what the classroom can offer those who enter? Specifically, we will explore whether there are ways that higher education can contribute to one’s life that cannot be measured by the kind of employment that may (or may not) follow? Through this collection of essays, English professor Mark Edmundson, offers, on one hand, a clear criticism of the ways university education has taken shape in recent years, and, on the other hand, he considers ways to support, reclaim, and reinvigorate the undergraduate educational experience. Edmundson weaves classic literary works with his own reflection and experience to suggest that there might be space cleared (or guarded) so that the classroom can contribute in significant ways to the lives of those who fully engage. But what shall we put in this space? This class will unpack Edmundson's thought, consider whether our own experience in the university fits, and, in the end, try to make our own space for working out an answer to the question: why learn? and related questions.
This seminar style course, defined by classroom conversation, will provide students the opportunity to read and discuss the course material carefully and reflectively. We will consider Edmundson’s thought alongside related articles, poetry, and film. Our reading will culminate weekly in classroom discussion to interact with the author’s ideas and formulate our own. Additionally, students will participate in reflection through short writing assignments as they interact with the topics we cover.
Todd Best is a faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences where he works as an Academic Advisor and teaches for Honors, Religion, and the Quest program. A long-time instructor of Uncommon Read courses, he has taught on issues ranging several areas of the humanities and social sciences, including on the topics of media literacy, higher education, ecological literature, the self, and the common good. He received a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of Florida, focusing on religious pluralism and educational philosophy.
Current events now and in the recent past have caused many of us to rethink what we know, how we know it, and what we had planned for our futures. As we try to live and work and dream in a deeply divided country, Jaffe's World on Fire tells us that collective grief and mourning leads to revolution. As we analyze the events in Jaffe's book and process unfolding current events each week, we will work with Gainesville organizations to lead a community reimagining of our collective futures. What is our place in the world? How do we process everything happening around us, especially when much of it is violent, sad, unjust, or oppressive? Solidarity and collective action, building and connecting with community are the only way through. In class, we will imagine together with a collective future might look like in Gainesville, for each of us, and for the world.
Business + Economics
The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff entertainingly combines the theory behind various tactical games with their practicality in real life scenarios. The authors stress how every interaction, no matter how insignificant, can be won or lost through calculated decision making. Engaging examples of game theory in action are presented in a wide range of fields including sports, elections, test taking, and even the gameshow Survivor. Now for the fun part: utilizing the strategies discussed in the book in a competitive classroom environment! Each class will begin with a discussion of the corresponding week’s reading. Then, the class will be presented with a game theory scenario which will challenge everyone’s cooperative and critical thinking abilities. Competitive spirits will be fostered, as points will be awarded based on individual performances each week. Whoever has the most points by the end of the semester will win a small prize!
Benjamin Shapiro is a Math and Statistics major who loves fun competition.
Pixar movies have captivated audiences across generations. How does an organization consistently innovate and produce excellence? Creativity, Inc. tells the Pixar story, highlighting key lessons integrating leadership, storytelling, culture, and innovation. In this course you will explore, reflect, and play with these lessons, providing perspectives and tools you will use long into the future.
Tony Middlebrooks, Ph.D., creates programs and tools, designs learning experiences, and explores the intersection of leadership, innovation, creativity, and design. He is Clinical Full Professor of Leadership in the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. An award-winning professor, he has created and taught more than 40 different courses for all collegiate levels; as well as designed programs for youth, international students, professional and executive education, and experiential abroad programs. He presently teaches courses in leadership theory and practice, and creativity and innovation. Dr. Middlebrooks previously served as Director of Graduate Programs and Director of the Siegfried Leadership Initiative for Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, where he also codeveloped the undergraduate major and minor in Leadership and minors in Integrated Design and Social Entrepreneurship. He is lead author of the textbook Discovering Leadership: Designing Your Success, now in its second edition; has published numerous articles and book chapters, delivered hundreds of presentations. He is also co-author of Public Sector Leadership, co-creator of the Idea Fan Deck and Design Thinking Cards, and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Leadership Studies. A firm believer that leadership and creativity can benefit everyone and every field, Dr. Middlebrooks consults and facilitates workshops for a wide variety of organizations. His current scholarly interests focus on methods of leadership education and the integration of leadership, creativity, and design thinking. Dr. Middlebrooks has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Literature
Gainesville's backyard includes freshwater rivers and springs, Florida scrub, and the sandhill, which have inspired local authors for generations! We'll dig deeper (and sometimes paddle!) into the unique flora and fauna that make Gainesville memorable through Rawling's novel "Cross Creek", as well as other short fiction and nonfiction by other authors focused on Gainesville's environs. This class will include at least two longer field trips on Fridays which will be required for the class.
Braja Smith works as the Assistant Director for Outdoor Recreation and loves all things outdoors! She's spent a good time in the Appalachian mountains and calls the Eastern Seaboard home. Her and her two-year-old daughter, Ada, enjoy reading books and learning animal calls. Taylor Henley is pursuing her master's in Natural Resource Policy and Administration at UF! She is a Florida native and LOVES Gainesville. She loves spending her time at the local Gainesville nature parks and spending time expanding her knowledge on our natural resources. She is excited to share one of her favorite place and the nature that exists in Gainesville with others.
“Men actually think this girl exists. Maybe they’re fooled because so many women are willing to pretend to be this girl. For a long time Cool Girl offended me. I used to see men – friends, coworkers, strangers – giddy over these awful pretender women, and I’d want to sit these men down and calmly say: You are not dating a woman, you are dating a woman who has watched too many movies written by socially awkward men who’d like to believe that this kind of woman exists and might kiss them.” These lines are from the infamous “Cool Girl” monologue, recited by Amy Dunne, the central pro/antagonist in Gillian Flynn’s 2012 crime thriller Gone Girl. The novel explores the disappearance of Amy Dunne, an educated, beautiful, quintessentially perfect New York native. Her husband, with whom she shares a picture-perfect life, is suspected and pursued for her murder– but the truth reveals something much more sinister. In this course, we will explore Gone Girl as a cultural medium at the intersection of true crime and gender stereotypes. Amy Dunne provides a lens into the oft-underrepresented female villainy, rage, and revenge, and offers a critique of media and ethics in modern true crime. Through our weekly class discussions, we will explore Amy as a modicum of female antagonism, analyze the notorious “Cool Girl” monologue, reflect on “Gone Girls” past and present, and analyze on how the novel both lends itself and challenges modern feminism.
Peyton Harris is a third-year English major graduating in December 2025. Her research interests include religion and literature, religion and social change, and higher education policy.
In this Uncommon Reads Honors course, we will embark on a journey through A Series of Unfortunate Events, examining the ways Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) subverts traditional children's literature through dark humor, intertextuality, and metanarration. As we follow the Baudelaire orphans through their misfortunes, we will explore the series’ complex moral universe, its critique of bureaucracy and authority, and its engagement with literary tradition—from gothic fiction to absurdism. Through close reading, discussion, and creative analysis, we will investigate the tension between knowledge and ignorance, good and evil, and the role of storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world.
Maryam Khorasani earned her BA and MA in English Literature with highest honors from the University of Tehran. In her PhD dissertation, she is focusing on the relationship between materialism and subjectivity in contemporary American children’s literature. Her research has been published in International Research in Children’s Literature, Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, and Children’s Literature in Education. In 2024, she was awarded the Ezra Jack Keats/Janina Domanska Research Fellowship.
While many consider themselves fans of Flannery O'Connor after encountering her work in introductory literature surveys, they struggle to articulate what exactly makes her work so appealing beyond vaguely referencing the "Southern Gothic." This course will explore and elucidate the great merits of O'Connor's corpus including and beyond this aesthetic through reading her novel The Violent Bear It Away, as well as a few of her short stories and essays as supplements. This disabled woman and Southern Catholic author and her absurd yet strikingly real characters (which include would-be prophets and hermaphroditic carnies) are tremendous guides to navigating contemporary issues of identity, cultural conflict, philosophy, and religion. Navigating these "dark and unsettling" literary realms reveals that we may not actually be so distant from their would-be Gothic grotesqueness. We will also watch the recent film Wildcat (directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya) that adapts both O'Connor's life as well as a number of her creative works. The one written assignment for this course will be a short paper on either a close analysis of a chosen scene, or the development of acritical/research thesis based upon a small amount of self-guided research; the rest of the course grade will come from active participation in our weekly discussions.
Other
Climate Change has evolved as an important scientific issue and problem that has seriously affected human development in many locations on Earth.
Emeritus Professor Joseph Delfino has been at UF since 1982, after serving as Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering (Water Chemistry) and the Wisconsin State Laboratory's Head Environmental Scientist located at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His specialty areas have been water quality, water resources, and the chemistry of organic and metal contaminants in water.
The book is an in depth look at self discovery and personal growth. Some of the themes of the weekly class discussion will include the dynamics between power and freedom, class hierarchies, feminism, resistance movements, tyranny, authoritarianism, and the ethics of leadership, self discovery, romantic relationships, and how society handles trauma.
Patricia Takacs joined the University of Florida Smathers Libraries in 2022 as the Political Science Librarian. Patricia is known for her dedication to teaching and to enhancing students' information literacies. She assists students and faculty with research navigating law, policy, and political issues by providing reference services, and information literacy/library instruction. Patricia’s research interests include civic literacies, international organizations, agricultural policy issues and the influence of media politics and information literacy.
1 credit themed writing workshops taught by University Writing Program faculty.
In this 1-credit course, students will explore the transformative power of nature, focusing on the act of birding as a gateway to self-care, personal growth, and social activism. Through journaling, experiential learning, and book discussions, students will reflect on how birding fosters mindfulness, empathy, and an understanding of environmental justice. Inspired by texts like Birdgirl by Mya-Rose Craig–a memoir about mental illness, birding, and activism written by a young activist (peer of Greta Thunberg)--and J. Drew Lahham’s Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves, we will engage in our own cross-genre writing. We will also analyze how other writers have rendered the experience of birding, which encourages slowing down, observing, and connecting with the environment, and how birding can spark a deeper sense of responsibility and care for both the natural world and the communities we are a part of.
As we engage in our own writing/reflection, students will have the opportunity to engage in experiential learning (class outside!), observing and identifying birds firsthand with the use of a bird feeder and a birding scope. By the end of the course, students will have not only honed their birding skills but also developed a personal practice of nature-based activism that they can carry with them beyond the classroom. No prior birding experience or knowledge is required!
With a special mix of disciplines—Linguistics, Biology, Anthropology, Psychology and Religion—we will approach that most elusive question through which humanity assumes its exalted status: How did language emerge? To explore such an enigmatic event, our method must double: We will thus explore the respective theories while experiencing their effects on and in writing. In other words, to understand how language may have happened, we must also attend to how it happens or is currently happening—in speech, thought, sense and dream.
Ethan Mollick of "co-intelligence " and “One Useful Thing” fame claims that to make AI/LLMs work for you, you must learn how to help them work with you. The key is prompting — using the right set of instructions so the program understands what you want it to do (a.k.a., “prompt engineering”). Mollick recommends spending time each day using AI (at least 10 minutes) in various ways until you become comfortable with what LLMs can and cannot seem to do for/with you. He also advises choosing one big thing that you’d like AI/LLMs to accomplish.
In Prompt & Circumstance, we'll follow Mollick's advice. I am not an AI expert, but in the spirit of curiosity and experimentation, this class aims to spend a semester using UF's suite of LLMs to write prompts and accomplish writing (or writing-adjacent) tasks. We'll collectively create a toolkit of inquiries to effectively direct our co-intellects to accomplish at least one useful thing! In doing so, we’ll discover how to use LLMs to do work that is valuable, effective, and ethical.
Zines have been quirky, self-published pamphlets circulating in small circles of underground and alternative cultures ever since the 1930s. As amateur as they can be, zines also carry some of the most earnest, sometimes most urgent, voices from both individuals and collectives within local communities. Through exploring the kaleidoscopic horizon of genres and media, student in this class will learn about the history and techniques of making zines. They will create zines as an outlet for self-expressions, as well as a vehicle for community advocacy. At the end of the semester, students will also have the opportunity to present and display their works at local cafes and bookstores—zines' natural habitats.
1-3 credit courses that are interdisciplinary in focus and typically not offered elsewhere on campus.
1 credit courses focusing on leadership, career development, and other professional development topics.
Intro to Honors Professional Development
In this course, we will work with engineering honors students to develop an action plan for careers, internships, research, and engagement on campus. Students will work in small groups with a peer leader and develop resumes, elevator pitches, and cover letters. We'll discuss student organizations and how to get more involved with engineering, honors, and general student groups across campus. Students will learn time management skills, how to approach faculty via email and during office hours, and study techniques for engineering classes. We will also help students find research and identify faculty with similar interests.
Register to gain professional skills and meet some of your fellow first-year students. We will meet once per week in a large group and have four times for smaller group discussion. There are four sections to choose between when registering: Three are open to any and all students, and the fourth is reserved for women students only. This configuration helps ensure our larger class meetings reflect current gender demographics of the engineering industry.
How do you make the most of your time at UF and in the Honors Program? How do you decide what to do both while you’re at UF and after graduation?
This course for first-semester Honors students of all majors (including exploratory) will address these questions through readings, reflections, and discussions on the purpose of a university education as well as through skills-based workshops and assignments intended to produce deliverables with real-world application (resume, elevator speech, interview skills, etc.). The course is casual but heavily discussion based and will include several group presentations led by students.
This one credit course is intended for honors students in their first year who are interested in pursuing admission to medical school. All information in the course will be framed around medical school admission.
This course is not designed for students pursuing other pre-health tracks.
The course will provide information on how students can begin to prepare for being a healthcare professional and applying to health graduate programs. Topics covered include: statement of purpose, resume building, meaningful involvement, professional communication and building a competitive application.
This course is mandatory for first-year Lombardi and Stamps Scholars and will allow those students to interact with and learn from other highly motivated students. This course is an introduction to the life of a scholar-leader and to the many resources available at UF. Students will develop a plan to apply for a variety of opportunities, emphasizing the skills and strategies necessary for a successful academic, community, and personal life.
This one-credit interactive course is designed for first-year honor transfer students. Throughout this seven-week course, students will learn about theory-based habit models, and college success strategies and services to help them make a successful transition to the University of Florida and the University Honors Program, gaining knowledge and skills for academic, career, and life planning.
This course will run from August 27 - October 8.
How can you best use your experience in the Warrington College of Business to prepare you for academic and professional success?
Business and You, (also known as Warrington Welcome) a one-credit course for first-year business and accounting majors, will guide you to answer this question by:
Facilitating your transition to the Warrington College of Business and University of Florida.
Providing a foundation for academic, career development, and personal growth.
Providing relationship building and networking opportunities with your instructor, peers, and student leaders.
Helping you build foundational skills in teamwork, career management, and critical thinking.
Advanced Pro Dev Topics
Signature Seminars and Course-based Honors Signature Experiences
Signature Seminars
From calibrating facets of prompts to designing new ways of prompting, how we prompt is evolving. For every new sophisticated way of prompting, new models are upending old prompts. Entering this dynamic field, students will first read papers on prompt design and engineering. Then, having identified an opportunity, students will use critical, creative, and lateral thinking to collaboratively craft a new prompt and conduct research on its efficacy. Finally, students will submit their findings to relevant conferences and journals.
UnCommon Classrooms
Course-Based Camps
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