University Honors College

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https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/4362
In 1998, MTSU's honors program, which had begun in 1973, became an Honors College. Just a few years later, with the help of generous alumni and friends, the College moved into a state-of-the-art building, that is now a central part of East campus. While the physical facilities have improved immensely, the College maintains its mission of providing an undergraduate education of exceptional quality and value to a small but diverse student population deeply committed to scholarship.

To fulfill this mission, the Honors College fosters the academic excellence and nurturing environment of a small, select, private, liberal arts college within the setting of a major university. The free exchange of ideas and the opportunity to learn from one another in small classes taught by expert faculty make the Honors College experience rich and meaningful.

We offer Buchanan Fellowships, Honors Transfer Fellowships, and other awards to students who would like to join us, and we, in turn, work diligently to advance the careers of students who are here. For each of the last two years, the College has had one or more science students who have won the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. For each of the last three years, we have had two or more students win prestigious Fulbright Scholarships for study abroad. Within the last several years, one of our students was appointed to the USA Today All-American Academic Team. Others have distinguished themselves in mock trial, in student government, and in other activities.

The College supports students who want to study abroad as well as those who want to present their scholarly research. Last year over 60 students wrote theses and graduated with honors.

The College is the home of an award-winning literary magazine and a journal of undergraduate research. We also work closely with the Honors Student Association and the Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies.

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Browsing University Honors College by Title

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    Accounting's Role in the Ethical Behavior of Management
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-12-02) Ball, Emily
    Within business there are many debates over the ethical behavior that managers employ when making business decisions. There are many decisions made every day that question ethical codes of conduct. Though some actions may be legal, they may not necessarily be ethical. This paper delves deeper into this ethical debate of management’s behavior within organizations. It explains how accounting is used to influence the ethical behavior of management. Even accounting standards and regulations do not encompass all ethical decision making within an organization. Some decisions are entirely based on ethics and what a company deems appropriate. This paper takes the ideas of earnings management and agency theory and determines how they affect the ethical decision making of management. This paper explores the background of accounting and how company culture, agency theory, and fraud affect the ethical behavior of management within a company.
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    De anima: An Exploration Using the Short Story
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-05) Owens, Hanah
    In this project, I set out to illustrate each of the human faculties identified by Aristotle in his De anima in order to examine their role in shaping the perceptions of the individual: a conceptual, singular entity. In doing so, I ultimately strive to establish an understanding of the nature of what Aristotle calls the human soul, which is more likely known to the modern reader as the human psyche. In order to accomplish such a task, I have written a collection of five short stories. Each is an attempt to illustrate one faculty, in particular, of those listed by Aristotle as comprising the soul: desire, reason and understanding, imagination, memory, and emotion. Together, these stories form a collection which suggests that the soul is not only comprised of an individual’s faculties but is also intertwined with the souls of those who surround the singular individual.
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    Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-05) Saine, Kelly
    The overuse of antibiotics has led to multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms which few antibiotics can kill. Due to the need for novel antibiotics, pharmaceutical developers are looking at ancient homeopathic remedies for answers. The purpose of this study was to determine if any traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) crude extracts had antibacterial properties, with the larger goal of identifying antibacterial drug candidates. A total of 120 extracts from 22 plants used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants (GBGMP) in Nanning, China were assayed against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This was done following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines for aerobacteria using the broth microdilution assay and the disk diffusion assay, respectively. The broth microdilution assayed revealed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the MIC50. Select extracts exhibiting greater than 80% bacterial inhibition and less than 10% toxicity against mammalian cells underwent a dose response to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Of the 120 extracts assayed, none were found to inhibit N. gonorrhoeae. Overall, 28 extracts exhibited inhibition within the above parameters against S. pneumoniae. Three of the extracts had bactericidal potential, 21 had bacteriostatic potential, and four extracts had confounding results and need to be retested. Further testing is needed to identify pure compounds from the crude extracts.
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    Apocalypse Then and Now
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-12-02) Duke, John
    This project is a documentary film about changing perspectives in public opinion and public memory of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was an event that left a mark on American society and is seen by many as a turning point in American history. This project will examine how the Vietnam War is remembered by the American people, both those who were young when the war was happening and those who are only now studying it. The main content of this project comes from a series of interviews with veterans of the Vietnam War returning to Vietnam decades later and with modern-day college students who are studying the war through a study abroad program in Vietnam. This project will show how people’s personal opinions on the war have changed over the years and how the entire American society’s views on Vietnam have shifted across generations and will attempt to explain why these changes have occurred.
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    Applying a Model of Bystander Apathy: Increasing Intervention in Child Emotional Abuse
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-12) Still, Jensen
    Childcare workers observe many things, most of them are joyful, but a few are horrific. This thesis focused on the latter by applying empirically supported bystander apathy reduction methods to situations of child emotional abuse perpetrated by parents and recognized in the childcare setting. Specifically, an in depth exploration of Bibb Latané and John Darley’s bystander apathy model was applied to cases of children suffering psychological trauma to create guidelines designed to move childcare workers from the first stages of accurate recognition to the final stages of effective reporting. The resulting guidelines include recommendations to help childcare workers progress through noticing emotional abuse symptoms in a childcare setting, recognizing these symptoms as requiring further investigation, assuming responsibility for reporting, knowing how to report, and accepting any costs that may come as a result of intervention.
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    Are Ethical Hackers the Best Solution for Combating the Growing World of Cyber-Crime?
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-05) Marsh, Devin
    n/a
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    Arete
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-04) Honors College
    The Honors College publishes news articles about and for MTSU Honors students, faculty, and alumni.
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    Arete
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2019-04) Honors College
    Arete, the Honors magazine, publishes news stories about and for MTSU Honors students, faculty, and alumni.
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    Arete
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2020-03) Honors College
    The Honors magazine, Arete, publishes news stories about and for MTSU Honors students, faculty, and alumni
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    Arete
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-10) Honors College
    The Honors College Magazine (Arete) publishes news stories about and for MTSU Honors students, faculty, and alumni.
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    Arete
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2019-10-22) Honors College
    The Honors magazine, Arete, publishes news stories about and for MTSU Honors students, faculty, and alumni.
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    Areté Fall 2021
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2021-10) Honors College
    Biannual magazine highlighting achievements and activities of MTSU Honors students, faculty and staff, and alumni and friends
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    Areté, Fall 2020
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2020-10) Honors College
    The MTSU Honors Magazine, Areté, publishes stories and photographs highlighting the achievements of current Honors students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
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    Assessment of Anti Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Activity in Bidens biternata and Mangifera persiciformis
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-05) Tabotabo, Darcy
    The disease known as herpes, caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV), is a common infection resulting in lesions on the mouth or genitals. At least half of the population of the United States has experienced infection by HSV. There is presently no preventative vaccine for HSV and resistance to acyclovir, the only currently available therapy, is increasing. This signals a need to find other chemotherapeutic agents to use in treatment. This research evaluated extracts from two plants, Bidens biternata and Mangifera persiciformis, both used in traditional Chinese medicine, for potential anti herpes properties in a cell culture system. Both of these plants have shown high anti herpes activity. Bidens biternata showed 6% cytotoxicity from its most active fraction; however, this fraction failed to reliably inhibit HSV. We report an unknown isolated compound from M. persiciformis that has shown nearly 90% virus inhibition with 6% cytotoxicity at 50 μg/mL. This promising compound will be evaluated for structural identification in a future project. ii
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    Assessment of Somatic Cell Count, Milk Production, and Hygiene in Dairy Cows Housed in a Compost-Bedded Pack Barn
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015) Grosskreutz, Emily
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    Assessment of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Plant Extracts' Potential to Inhibit Activity of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-05) Huynh, Trang
    Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is associated with oral and genital lesions as well as more serious, even fatal, infections in immunocompromised patients or when transmitted to infants. Currently, there is no cure or preventative vaccine available for HSV. Acyclovir is used for treatment of HSV infections but resistance to this drug is common in immunocompromised patients and severe side effects can develop when used by pregnant mothers and infants. The lack of a preventative option and limited treatments demonstrate the need for more effective treatment measures. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of TCM plants against various illnesses, but little has been done to evaluate TCM plant extracts against HSV-1. This study tested 51 TCM extracts from 13 different plants for their potential to inhibit HSV-1. Extracts were separated into fractions and dissolved in the solvents petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, 95% ethanol or water. Vero cells were used to evaluate plant extracts for anti HSV-1 activity. Extracts were combined with virus and protection of cells was determined by using PrestoBlue, a cell viability fluorescent dye. Extracts were tested for toxic effects on host cells and were diluted to non-toxic levels prior to antiviral testing. A total of 51 extracts from 13 different plants were tested. Out of these 51 extracts, 14 were found to have at least 50% viral inhibition with 3 of them showing above 95% viral inhibition. The ultimate goal of this study is to isolate and identify a pure compound that can combat HSV-1. ii
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    At the Intersection of Earth and Sky: Archaeoastronomy and Experimental Archeology, an Autoethnographic Perspective of Sacred Landscapes
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-12) Harris, Lydia
    This project was designed to use the methods of phenomenology and experimental archaeology to explore the mind and practices of the Neolithic Passage Tomb builders of Ireland, connecting first with the monuments within their original landscape, then attempting to understand their construction through the design and execution of a solar-centered sacred space. The intent was to understand the process: its difficulty and logic, the amount of knowledge of the movement of heavenly bodies needed to create the famous solar alignments and the incorporation of symbolism and function into a single meaningful space. By doing so, the author examined the use of the method of phenomenology for its place within the ideological and methodological toolkit of archaeology.
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    “The Athens of the South”: How the Athenian Parthenon Reinforces and Shapes the Cultural Identity of Nashville, Tennessee
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-12) Judkins, Luke
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    Attitudes Toward Interpersonal Violence Against Women as a Function of Relationship
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-12-02) Musgrove, Olivia
    This study hypothesized that people would be more accepting of violence towards prostitutes than towards other victims, that women would be less tolerant of violence toward either party than men, and that women would see both situations as equally unacceptable, but men would see violence toward prostitutes as more acceptable than violence against an ex-lover. Participants (114 undergraduate students) were asked to read one of two scenarios involving violence: one involving a prostitute relationship and the other involving an ex-lover relationship. The attitudes being measured were analyzed using a 2 (participant gender) x 2 (relationship: prostitute or ex-lover) ANOVA. The results of this study support all three hypotheses. Women were more pro-victim than men; people were more accepting of violence toward the prostitute than the ex-lover; and women saw both situations as equally unacceptable, but men saw violence toward prostitutes as more acceptable than violence against the ex-lover.
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    Baba Yaga: The Judicious Magistrate of Russian Folklore
    (University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-12) Johnson, Kate Ruth