Honors Program

• Varieties of Knowledge: This course explores the approaches, insights, and limitations of various academic disciplines. For each unit, students discuss a text, event, work of art, etc., from different disciplinary perspectives in order to compare and contrast their methods and insights. How does sociology help us to understand rap music, political events, or religious beliefs? How do its insights differ from the approaches of anthropology, psychology, philosophy, etc.? Guest speakers discuss and practice their disciplines with students. Instructor: Tim Adamson.

• Foodology: This course explores the physical, biological, and chemical study of food and examines food science by presenting topics relevant to the modern day diet. Topics will include: food processing, food distribution, organic foods, genetically modified foods, macro and micronutrients, and the obesity epidemic. Instructor: Kassandra Einfelt.

• Exploring Creative Expression in the Arts: Adopt, Adapt, Transform: Have you ever wondered what makes Van Gogh or Shakespeare so timeless? This interdisciplinary course will explore and examine the creative process, which is utilized in a variety of disciplines. Students will experiment with creative practices, explore sources of inspiration, and examine the concept of beauty, art, and literature through a variety of lenses. Instructors: Robin Sprague and Jennifer Bates.

• Confronting Evil: This course explores many religious and philosophical approaches to the presence of evil in human life. Traditional religions seek to help their followers understand and deal with evil in its many forms. What is evil, and where does it come from? How can I deal with it when it enters my life? This course examines many different responses to evil as found in the great religions of the world and several philosophical traditions. Instructor: Tim Adamson.

• The Humanities Through Tolkien: This Honors Seminar will serve as a forum in which students will be able, following instructor framing, to explore various humanities-based disciplinary methodologies through the lens of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. We will use his work, both fictional and non-fictional, as the gateway through which students explore and then apply these methodologies. Instructor: Robert Steed.

• The 'F' Word: A Seminar on Feminist Art: This course provides an overview of the feminist art movement, its significant works and major figures. It will serve as a forum to discuss the historical position of women in art while examining societal underpinnings, artist motivations and movement goals. Field trips to galleries will allow students the opportunity to personally experience significant works of art relevant to this course. Further, students may choose to deepen their engagement by participating in creative works over the course of the semester. Instructors: Lisa Munoz and Lindsay Buehler.

• Chinese Philosophy: Attaining Flow: This Honors Seminar will focus on examining Chinese philosophical and religious traditions as conversations about what it means to lead an effective life, most clearly manifested in attaining states of “flow.” We will look at a wide range of these traditions for both their ideas and their practices as manifested in Chinese and larger world cultures. Instructor: Robert Steed.

The standard is very high for an Honors Project appeal to be approved since the course is unusual and does not typically satisfy the interactive and communal aspects of an Honors Seminar. Nonetheless, if the proposed Honors Project is rigorous and comprehensive, it may be accepted.

For the Honors Project credits to count towards completion of the Honors Program, the Honors Project must be taken for three credits and the student and faculty member must:

1. Email a letter of appeal to the Honors Committee prior to creating the class: The instructor and student must email a letter explaining how the proposed Honors Project fulfills the Honors Seminar requirement. The letter must be sent to the Honors Committee prior to the class being registered.

2. Await committee review: The Honors Committee will review the appeal and respond within 10 days.

3. Create the course: Whether or not the appeal is approved or denied, the course may be registered. However, if the appeal is denied the credits will not be counted towards completion of the Honors Program.