Course Offerings in Honors (HON)
( ) Hours Credit; F-Fall; S-Spring; Su-Summer
205. Wisdom (6) F
Prerequisite: Admission to General Honors.
Wisdom has served, in many civilizations, as the highest goal of education. The Old Testament declares that wisdom “is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov. 3:15). We will inquire after the nature of wisdom and seek the means of acquiring it, giving attention to biblical and extrabiblical literature as well as their historical contexts and their elaborations in subsequent traditions. We will consider contemporary applications of these traditions, including reflection upon the purpose and pursuit of contemporary higher education in light of wisdom. Exercises are aimed at developing various dimensions of wisdom within the self. Due to the nature and purpose of this course, as well as its student writing, it satisfies the first half of the Written Composition requirement in the General Core.
215. Beauty (6) S
Prerequisite: HON 205. Pre- or Co-requisites: HIS 101.
What exactly makes any particular person, poem, song or object beautiful? The nature of beauty will be explored through both theory and practice. Students will examine and produce beautiful things in various media, reflect on what makes them beautiful, and discuss the history of aesthetic theory—Eastern and Western, theological and secular—as a resource for answering these questions. The class will culminate in a gallery show involving both works of art and theoretically informed reflections upon them. The content, along with a focus on improvement of student writing, satisfies the General Core requirement for Arts in Western Civilization, as well as the second half of the Written Composition requirement.
225. Justice (6) S
Prerequisite: HON 205.
While most agree that a healthy society should be based on justice, there has been little agreement as to what justice is. In this course, we will search for an adequate definition— considering biblical and theological resources as well as philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, and Rawls— while looking closely at attempts to bring justice in particular communities and situations, both historical and contemporary. This course incorporates service-learning work and reflection upon it. This course satisfies the General Core Social Science/ Humanities requirement and, in light of the historical conflicts over justice, satisfies HIS 102.
235. Creation (4) F
Prerequisite: HON 205.
This course is an opportunity to develop tacit knowledge as it relates to scientific pursuits and to understand experientially the differences in the basic assumptions and methodologies held by various scientific communities. Along the way, students will encounter content from traditional physical and life science courses, but the central objective is to help students think in the same manner as a professional scientist without the benefit of many years of training. This course fulfills the General Core Laboratory Science requirement and can be applied either to Group A or Group B.
419. Virtue and Vice in the Christian Tradition (3) F-Odd years
Reciprocal credit: CHR 419, PHL 419.
An examination of the nature of virtue and vice in the history of philosophy and Christian moral theology with special attention given to the tradition of the seven capital vices.
490. Classical, Medieval, Renaissance Capstone (1)
This course assists students in the CMR minor with the preparation of a capstone paper through the investigation of methodologies for integrating disciplinary fields and for cross cultural comparison.
With permission, one or more of the following courses may be chosen to fulfill partially the requirements of the General Honors program. All are subject to the approval of the Honors Community Directors unless otherwise stated in the published schedule of class offerings.
179-279-379-479. External Domestic Study Programs (1-3) As Needed
All courses and their applications must be defined and approved prior to registering.
179PF-279PF-379PF-479PF. External Domestic Study Programs (Pass/Fail) As Needed
All courses and their applications must be defined and approved prior to registering.
180-280-380-480. Study Abroad Programs (1-4) As Needed
All courses and their application must be defined and approved prior to registering.
180PF-280PF-380PF-480PF. Study Abroad Programs (Pass/Fail) As Needed
All courses and their applications must be defined and approved prior to travel.
195-6-7. Special Studies (1-4) As Needed
295-6-7. Special Studies (1-4) As Needed
Lower-level group studies which do not appear in the regular departmental offerings.
395-6-7. Special Studies (1-3) As Needed
Upper level group studies which do not appear in the regular departmental offerings. Includes, but not restricted to, offerings of the Scholar-in-Residence Program.
495-6-7. Independent Studies (2-4) On Demand
Individual research under the guidance of a faculty member(s).