HONR 3701A - Honors Seminar Humanities Fine Arts Harry Potter
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41921,
Credit hours: 1
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Angela Messenger
Email: ajbarwick@ysu.edu
Course Description
This course will examine the Harry Potter novels, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and other material created by J.K. Rowling. Discussions may include her work under pseudonyms such as Robert Galbraith. The class will explore cultural topics related to the novels and films, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | Rowling, JK | 978-0590353427 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Rowling, JK | 978-0439420105 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Rowling, JK | 978-0439136365 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Rowling, JK | 978-0439139601 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Rowling, JK | 978-0439358071 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Rowling, JK | 978-0439791328 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | Rowling, JK | 978-0545139700 |
| Optional | The Tales of Beedle the Bard | Rowling, JK | 978-1338125689 |
| Optional | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | Scamander, Newt | 978-0439321600 |
| Optional | Quidditch Through the Ages | Whisp, Kennilworthy | 978-0439321617 |
| Optional | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | Rowling, JK | 978-1338109061 |
| Optional | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald | Rowling, JK | 978-1338263893 |
| Optional | Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore | Rowling, JK & Steve Kloves | 978-1338853681 |
| Optional | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two | Thorne, Jack | 978-1338216660 |
Students taking this course may have read the Harry Potter books. I urge students to re-read them (or listen to the audio books). Students are welcome to use personal copies, and the public libraries should have copies.
Students may have seen the eight HP films. You may wish to view the films and/or read the screenplays of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Crimes of Grindewald, and The Secrets of Dumbledore. If there are books/films that you have not read/seen, there may be spoilers.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 8/27 | Introductions / House Sorting / Syllabus Distribution (Last day for Adds/Change grading options 8/31/26); Regal Cinema South and Niles have showtimes for the HP Films 8/27-9/3/26 | In class, submit a survey. | |
| Thu | 9/3 | Review Quidditch Rules / Select Captains / Discuss team positions (Last day for 100% Refund 9/6/26) | ||
| Thu | 9/10 | Quidditch – Harrison Field (in Smoky Hollow across from the MVR) | Register at the link: https://ysu.dserec.com/online/eventsr/events/calendar | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Quidditch MVP Voting | In class, complete questions about the rhetorical context surrounding the release of the HP books/films. | |
| Thu | 9/24 | Review Project Options | ||
| Thu | 10/1 | Establishing a timeline of HP books/films | Schedule an instructor conference (outside of class time) through SignUpGenius (TBA) | |
| Thu | 10/8 | Harry Potter Book Day | Project Proposal Due | |
| Thu | 10/15 | Go to your scheduled conference time | ||
| Thu | 10/22 | (Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W" is 10/25/26.) | Sign up for presentations (SignUpGenius) | |
| Thu | 10/29 | Read and Discuss: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. | You do not need to read anything in advance. We can read the play aloud. | Bring a copy of the book if you have it, but the instructor will provide some. |
| Thu | 11/5 | Presentations | In-class you also have to review 1 presentation. | |
| Thu | 11/12 | Presentations | In-class you also have to review 1 presentation. | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Presentations | In-class you also have to review 1 presentation. | |
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Break, no classes held | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | End of year Feast | Projects Due | |
| Thu | 12/10 | Because this is a 1-credit seminar, the final exam time is technically 3:15-5:15pm on Friday, 12/11/26 | Pick up graded materials |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.