SPRING 2021 HONORS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - Tulsa Community ...

SPRING 2021 HONORS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
                            All classes are 16 weeks (January 19 – May 16, 2021).

                                   Questions about a class you see here?
                      Contact the instructor or call the Honors Office (918-595-7378).

BIOL 1224 Intro to Bio for Majors
Melissa Masse: 918-595-7679 or email melissa.masse@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20335, Tu/Th 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m., Thurs. 1:00-3:50 p.m.
This course will address fundamental concepts studied in a majors biology class (cell metabolism, genetics,
evolution, ecology, etc.) with an emphasis on real-world applications. Students will learn basic concepts through
online resources, allowing us to utilize the class lecture for application, synthesis, evaluation, and discussion. The
laboratory will include opportunities for creative thinking and research with an emphasis on effective
communication in the sciences.
BIOL 1383 Nutrition
Jana Black: email jana.black@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 21133, Fri. 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Are fast foods the cause of our national diabetes and obesity epidemic, or are they just a convenient scapegoat?
Should we eat fats, or are they bad for us? We will explore these questions and more in an engaging and
community-oriented way. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to make informed decisions about
your own nutritional needs, gain volunteer hours with targeted community partners, and learn the role food plays
regarding your risk of chronic disease.

BIOL 2134 Human Anatomy
Dr. Amanda Bailey: 918-595-7327 or email amanda.bailey@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 21152, Tues. 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. (blended online)
Preparing for a career in health? Or do you just love science and want to learn more? In Human Anatomy, you'll
receive a relevant introduction to the human body and medicine. We'll also explore how to make evidence-based
decisions about your body, your health, and your community.

BIOL 2164 Microbiology
Neil Enis: 918-595-8604 or email neil.enis@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20513, Wed. 1:00-3:50 p.m. (blended online)
Study Microbiology while performing authentic scientific research as part of Tiny Earth
(https://tinyearth.wisc.edu/), a network of undergraduate students from colleges and universities around the
world who are searching for new antibiotics to combat today’s drug-resistant “superbugs.” Join us in this research-
based Microbiology course and help find solutions to a significant global health crisis while gaining valuable
experience with modern biology techniques like field sampling, isolation, antibiotic screening, microscopy,
staining, metabolic assays, PCR, electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, bioinformatics and more!

CHEM 1315 General Chemistry I
Dr. Matt Smith: 918-595-7251 or email matthew.smith@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 23201, Thurs. 2:30-5:20 p.m. (blended online)
Matter does what molecules do: that’s the mantra of chemistry and everything builds from that simple fact. In
Honors General Chemistry I, we’ll follow the “Atoms First” approach to learning chemistry: starting with the
miniscule particles that make up everything, then building in complexity as we expand the scope from individual
atoms to molecules and reactions and beyond.

CHEM 1415 General Chemistry II
Eric Butson: email eric.butson@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 20695, Tu/Th 1:00-2:20 p.m., Tues. 2:30-5:20 p.m.
Study the concepts of equilibrium, kinetics, nuclear chemistry, and electrochemistry in a discussion-based
classroom. Learn how chemists measure kinetic and equilibrium concentrations. Build batteries and measure the
decay of radioactive isotopes. Learn how these concepts connect to the human body and how we can harness the
power of the atom to power our homes and electronic devices.

COLL 1003 College Success
Jennifer Campbell: 918-595-8999 or email jennifer.campbell@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 23402, Tu/Th 1:00-2:20 p.m.
Why does having a college degree matter? What do the most successful college students do? Together, in this
active class, we will work on plans to develop the habits needed to be a successful student. The class incorporates
high-impact practices such as service-learning and a common book reading, proven to help students succeed in
college.

COMM 1113 Public Speaking
Jon Tanzey: 918-595-7372 or email jon.tanzey@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 22140, M/W 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Introduction to Public Speaking explains what makes us effective speakers while providing a laboratory to refine
our own speaking skills. Honors students will benefit from the engaging discussions about the influence of "false
research" and "fake news" on public communication, as well as our critique of how digital technology shapes
public communication.

COMM 1113 Public Speaking
Kirk Brewer: 918-595-8161 or email kirk.brewer@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 22173, Tu/Th 9:30-10:50 a.m.
This Honors section provides learners with an opportunity to practice the skill of being an effective public speaker
in a relaxed atmosphere with the advantages of a smaller size class. Learners benefit from the support they supply
each other while acquiring the public speaking skills that are needed for class presentations and job skills.

COMM 2343 Forensics Performance & Competition
John Mikolajcik: email john.mikolajcik@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 22199, Tu/Th 2:30-3:50 p.m.
This course is open to all students. Participation includes preparation, practice, class performances, and
competitions. Students will perform various individual events including oral interpretation events (dramatic and
humorous interpretation, interpretation of prose and poetry, and duo interpretation) and platform speaking
events (persuasive and informative speaking, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, after-dinner speaking,

communication analysis, Student Congress, Parli-Debate, and Lincoln-Douglas debate). The Honors component of
this course includes traveling to regional and national competitions as part of the TCC Forensics Program. In
addition to that core component of practical experience competing, students are also asked to complete service
hours by judging one Tulsa Urban Debate League tournament.

CSCI 1203 Computer Concepts
Randy Dominguez: email randy.dominguez@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 22008, Mon. 5:30-6:50 p.m. (blended online)
More than just computer concepts and applications (Windows, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint). This class
will also feature an overview of current technology-related jobs in IT and Computer Science. We will visit up to
three Tulsa high tech industries and businesses as a class to explore current job trends and review which programs
a student could take at TCC to prepare for them. This is a blended course with many online assignments and
exams and limited classroom sessions.

ENGL 1113 Composition I
Paul Zintgraff: 918-595-7078 or email paul.zintgraff@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 22225, M/W 1:00-2:20 p.m.
Joan Didion said, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see, and what it means,”
and students in this course will be encouraged to approach the act of writing in this spirit of self-discovery. The
course will explore and analyze some of the great writers and texts of past and present (including Frederick
Douglass, Stephen King, Jonathan Swift, David Foster Wallace, Plato, and Jean Paul Sartre) in order to inform and
enhance the reading, writing, and rhetorical skills of students.

ENGL 1213 Composition II
Jeanne Urie: 918-595-8337 or email jeanne.urie@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 22231, Wed. 1:00-2:20 p.m. (blended online)
Do you wonder why you are rooting for the bad guy in movies like Oceans 11 and shows like Good Girls? Do you
wonder why the media often withholds facts when reporting crime? Have you ever questioned how just the
justice system really is? If so, Honors Composition II is the place for you. In this crime and ethics themed class,
we will analyze crime in literature, crime in film, crime in society, and the media creation of the crime narrative.
It’s not exactly “How to Get Away with Murder,” but you might find yourself analyzing that too!

ENGL 1213 Composition II
Dr. Allen Culpepper: 918-595-7647 or email allen.culpepper@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 20415, M/W 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
What is religion like in the 918? How does it compare with national trends? What’s the history of Tulsa’s religious
groups? How influential is religion here? How diverse? We will explore such questions through reading, discussion,
research, and writing. Note: Class requires attendance (probably virtual) at research symposium Friday, Feb. 26.

ENGL 1213 Composition II
Dr. Kara Ryan-Johnson: 918-595-7613 or email kara.ryan-johnson@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 21517, Tu/Th 2:30-3:50 p.m.
Why must Antigone say no and die? Is Middleton’s maid chaste or only chased? Can a man serve two masters?
Has Césaire written a perfect storm? What would Jesus do in Texas? What happens when zombies take the stage?
Create your own answers in this highly interactive drama-themed class!

ENGL 2413 Introduction to Literature
Josh Parish: 918-595-7244 or email josh.parish@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE, CRN # 21555
Why did early humans begin telling stories and creating poems—and why do we still? We’ll seek answers by taking
a trip through time starting with early oral tales like Epic of Gilgamesh and Beowulf, dropping in on other cultures
via Buddhist parables, Arabian Nights, and Don Quixote, and end up undertaking serious study of the history
of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Come join the fun.

ENGL 2493 Introduction to Creative Writing
Dr. Allen Culpepper: 918-595-7647 or email allen.culpepper@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE, CRN # 21761
The human mind works best when it thinks creatively as well as analytically. Give your creativity and imagination
a workout in this course through exercises in writing poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama. It's
challenging, but also a lot of fun! Fully online in case your muse is a creature of the night.

HIST 1483 Amer. Hist.: 1492-Civil War
Dr. Wesley Mosier: 918-595-8929 or email wesley.mosier@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 21248, M/W 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Have you ever wondered if there was more to the past than facts and dates? Have you ever sought to get beyond
the traditional narrative of United States history as depicted in a textbook? Do you intend to enter a research-
intensive field and need to develop your research skills? If the answer to any of these is yes, then you should
consider enrolling in Honors History 1483. In this class we will take and objective look at U.S. history from the Pre-
Columbian era through 1865. In doing so you will have the opportunity to work with a professional historian to
utilize primary materials that let the voices of the past speak for themselves.

HIST 1493 American History: Civil War-Present
Lisa Guinn: email lisa.guinn@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 21059, Tu/Th 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Learn how our past affects our present: how past reform movements link to present-day social protests, how the
Great Depression led to programs like Social Security and reforms like labor rights, how World War II led to a new
foreign policy pitting the U.S. against the Soviet Union (and now Russia), how the struggle for a more inclusive
democracy began with the end of the Civil War and continues today, how the U.S. became a global power, why
three modern presidents have faced impeachment, and why many historians claim today is a second Gilded Age.

HUMN 2113 Humanities I
Heather Wilburn: 918-595-7783 or email heather.wilburn1@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 20077, M/W 1:00-2:20 p.m.
In Humanities I, we will explore art, literature, philosophy, and religious views as such are manifested in a variety
of cultures. We will examine various technological achievements and great creative works, as well as the
intellectual, spiritual, and social factors that define and drive us as human beings. This interactive class will include
elements of collaborative work, research projects, and presentations, and will utilize museums, events, and/or
other aspects of the Tulsa community.

HUMN 2223 Humanities II
Dr. Alexa Larson-Thorisch: 918-595-7138 or email alexa.larson-thorisch@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 21226, Th 9:30-10:50 a.m. (blended online)
How does culture happen? Why does art get different? This survey of the Western tradition since the Early
Renaissance continues where Humanities 2113 leaves off, examining specific works of art, literature, music,
photography, etc. for their own sake and with reference to the dynamics of cultural continuity and change over
time.

MATH 1473 Quantitative Reasoning
Brena Bellovich: email brena.bellovich@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20948, M/W 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Quantitative Reasoning is a critical thinking course with real world applications. We will examine sets and logic,
personal finance and measurement, and probability and statistics. The class structure will have discussion-based
collaboration along with application projects. Come learn that math skills are really practical life skills!

MATH 1513 Precalculus I
Pat Kinsey: email patricia.kinsey@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 21035, M/W 8:00-9:20 a.m.
Honors Pre-calculus 1 will be more than just getting you to reproduce what was done in the classroom. It will aim
for greater command of the material, especially the ability to extend what we have learned to new situations.
This course aims to help you build the stamina required to solve challenging and lengthy multi-step problems to
prepare you for your future college courses.

MATH 1613 Precalculus II
Brena Bellovich: email brena.bellovich@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20785, M/W 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Precalculus II covers trigonometric skills and understanding that a student needs to be successful in Calculus
courses and beyond. Students will build a comprehensive Trig notebook during the semester that they can keep
for review in future STEM courses. Class will include collaborative activities and projects to reinforce learning and
real-world application.

MATH 2114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
Michael McWilliams: email michael.mcwilliams@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20803, Tu/Th 11:00 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
This Honors calculus course, like the non-honors sections, serves as the first semester introduction to differential
and integral calculus and concentrates on developing the skills and understanding that will enable students to
master the fundamentals of calculus and algebra needed for Calculus II, Calculus III, and Differential Equations. In
addition, this course will study the History of Calculus by assigned readings from Steve Strogatz's Infinite Powers,
will provide a rigorous understanding of the Mathematics of Infinity, and will survey the Geometric Elements used
in Riemann Integration to define areas and volumes in all of Calculus I, Calculus II, and Calculus III.
MCOM 2513 Connection I
Jerry Goodwin: 918-595-7086 or email jerry.goodwin@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 23165, Mon. 2:30-3:50 p.m. (blended online)
The course will provide hands-on training working on a bi-weekly news production, including a newspaper, a
monthly television broadcasting news production, regular podcast and related website. Assignments in news

gathering and prioritization, news writing, editing, layout and design, photography, advertising sales, office
management, and operations in a media-related environment will be emphasized. Students will acquire
experience using InDesign, Photoshop and other media-related software programs.

POLS 1113 American Federal Government
Dr. Raymon Huston: email raymon.huston@tulsacc.edu
METRO CAMPUS, CRN # 21373, Tu/Th 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
A study of the principles, structure, processes, and functions of the United States federal government.

POLS 1113 American Federal Government
Dr. Knox Brown: email knox.brown@tulsacc.edu
SOUTHEAST CAMPUS, CRN # 20878, Tu/Th 9:30-10:50 a.m.
This course provides an introduction to the institutions and actors that shape American government. We will begin
by describing the structure of American government as designed in the Constitution. We will then overview the
three branches of government: Congress, the Presidency, and the courts. Some questions we will explore: Why is
voter turnout lower among Hispanics than other groups? Why does the President's party tend to lose
Congressional seats in the midterm elections? Why has the Supreme Court become more powerful than Congress
on social issues? Grappling with these questions will equip students not only to better understand today's
headlines, but to understand the broader currents in American politics.

PSYC 1113 Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Alicia MacKay: 918-595-7134 or email alicia.mackay@tulsacc.edu
ONLINE LIVE, CRN # 21342, M/W 9:30-10:50 a.m.
Psychology's use of the scientific method to understand behavior and mental processes is the focus of this survey
class. As the foundation class for more advanced classes in psychology, this class will address commonly held
myths regarding the scientific method, biopsychology, learning, lifespan development, personality theories, and
psychological disorders in a student-directed, seminar format. Students will get hands-on experience with classic
psychological experiments to learn how the various theories within each chapter were examined.

Want to be an Honors Scholar?
You can take TCC Honors classes without being an Honors Scholar, but wouldn’t you like to reap all
the benefits of the program?

To Enter the Honors Scholar Program
To join the TCC Honors Scholar program, you submit an application online (www.tulsacc.edu/honors). To apply,
you’ll need to write a short essay on a topic chosen from the list on the Honors Scholar application and get a
recommendation from an educator. Finally, you need to meet any two of these criteria:
•   Composite ACT score of 25 or higher, or equivalent combined score on the SAT;
•   High school grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale;
•   Ranking in the upper 10% of high school graduating class, or membership in high school honor society, or total
    score in at least the 90th percentile on the GED exam;
•   Grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a minimum of 12 earned credit hours at TCC or another institution of
    higher education with regional accreditation;
•   Demonstration of special abilities or awards in writing or other significant projects;
•   Completion of two Honors credit courses at TCC with grades of A or B.

To Graduate as an Honors Scholar
•   Be admitted into the TCC Honors Scholar program.
•   Meet the requirements for the associate degree as stated in the TCC catalog.
•   Achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 for all courses taken at Tulsa Community College.
•   Complete 24 credit hours of Honors courses. Students may select any classes from the Honors curriculum,
    but at least 15 credit hours must be earned in general education Honors classes.
    —OR—
    Complete 21 credit hours of Honors courses PLUS one additional non-Honors course that has been designated
    by TCC as using a high-impact instructional practice.
•   In your final fall or spring semester, submit a three- to four-page written assessment of the Honors experience
    at TCC.
You may apply for admission to the Honors Scholar program at any time, but it’s to your advantage to do it as
soon as you meet two admission criteria so you can take advantage of all the opportunities and support the
program can offer you, such as the Honors Scholar tuition waiver, consideration for the prestigious TCC
Foundation Honors Award, opportunities to attend conferences, and guidance from the Honors Program staff.

                               To Earn the Honors Certificate
If you complete at least 15 credit hours of Honors courses with a GPA of at least 3.5 in all your Honors course work
and an overall GPA of at least 3.25, contact the Honors Program during your final TCC semester to register for an
Honors Certificate. For more information about the Honors Certificate, call the Honors Office at 918-595-7378.
(The Honors Certificate does not entitle you to Honors Scholar transfer scholarships, transcript designation, or
other Honors Scholar benefits, but it is a nice distinction for your résumé.)