Fall 2025 General Education Franke Honors Courses

Complete your Gen Eds, discover new ways of thinking, and earn Honors units. 

The University of Arizona's General Education Program carries through the first several years of your undergraduate experience. You'll start by taking UNIV 101. (Make sure you enroll in an Honors section!) Then, you'll complete coursework based on your interests, designed so you can explore others' perspectives and make connections between your courses throughout undergrad. After completing all or the majority of your gen ed requirements, you'll take UNIV 301, a 1-unit course that will help you make the most of what you've learned through the Gen Ed curriculum. 

Gen Ed Requirements | 32 units total | Pro tip: Take for Honors credit whenever you can

UNIV 101 (1 unit)
Foundations (9 units, depends on your major and method of meeting writing and language requirements)
Exploring Perspectives (12 units, can come from Natural Sciences or Artist)
Building Connections (9 units)
UNIV 301 (1 unit)

In Building Connections (3 Courses, 9 units), students explore the unique contributions of knowledge, skills, methodologies, values and perspectives from varied disciplines, social positions, and perspectives.

 

HNRS 150C1-001: Knowledge, Power, and Nature

Instructor: TBA
Tues/Thurs | 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM | In-Person

Explore the intersection of science, society and sustainability to design actionable change for environmental challenges.

GE Prior to 2022: Tier I Individuals and Societies

HNRS 160D4-001: Culture, Place, Identity: Musical Heritage in North America

Instructor: Kate Alexander 
Mon/Wed | 9:30 - 10:45 AM | In Person

Analyze the historical and contemporary lived experiences in North America through their musical cultures and heritage. 

GE Prior to 2022: Tier I Individuals and Societies

HNRS 212: Narratives of the Southwest

Instructor: Alex Nuñez
Tues/Thurs | 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM | In-Person

Investigate the complex narratives of the Southwest, uncovering how power has shaped and transformed storytelling across time.

GE Prior to 2022: Tier I Natural Sciences

HNRS 208H-001: Topics in Analytical Thinking & Writing

Instructor: Patrick Baliani 
Mon/Weds | 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM | In-Person

Discuss and discover various cultural artifacts through mediums including film, literature, drama, poetry, and nonfiction.  

GE Prior to 2022: Tier II Humanities  

HNRS 295G: Global Diversity and Voices

Instructor: Nadia Alvarez Mexia
Tues/Thurs | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | In-Person

Contribute your voice to a rich tapestry of identities as you engage in discussion and interactions with local and global academic, social, and governmental agendas.

HNRS 300: Engendering Music

Instructor: Kate Alexander
Mon/Wed | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | In-person

Examine the intersection of music and gender and how they have shaped history, gender studies and ethnomusicology.

HNRS 302-001: Modern Art and Mental Illness

Instructor: Patrick Baliani
Tue/Thur | 12:30 - 1:45 PM | In-Person

Investigate the portrayal of mental illness through modern art and what it reveals to us about it.

GE Prior to 2022: No Previous GenEd

HNRS 314-001: Ideas Into Action

Instructor: Laura Horley  
Mon/Wed | 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM | In-Person

Be part of this community and civic engagement course and learn to seek, evolve, and come up with creative solutions to different social issues.

GE Prior to 2022: Tier II Humanities

In Exploring Perspectives (4 Courses, 12 units), students explore and practice the approaches and ways of reasoning of the Artist, Humanist, Natural Scientist, and Social Scientist. 

HNRS 216-001: Living Poetry / The Poets Life & Work

Instructor: Claire McLane
Tue/Thur | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | Hybrid

Explore, analyze, and discuss both written word and poetry performances through the UA Poetry Center Reading and Lecture Series. 

GE Prior to 2022: Tier II Arts

HNRS 222-001: Explorations in Creative Writing

Instructor: Jennie McStotts
Mon/Wed | 2:00 - 3:15 PM

Gain confidence in your creative writing abilities as you engage in this part critical studies, part writing workshop.

GE Prior to 2022: Tier II Arts

HNRS 252: Writing the Body

Instructor: Claire McLane
Mon/Weds | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | In-Person

Explore the power of language and storytelling in understanding human perceptions of health, the body and each other through diverse writing forms.

 

HNRS 219-001: Our Human Footprint

Instructor: Joost van Haren
Tue/Thur | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM | Hybrid

Learn how to analyze and communicate human drivers of impact on the planet, exploring topics such as resource use, species extinction and transportation systems. 

GE Prior to 2022: Tier 2 Natural Sciences