Honors Program Current Courses

ART 150: Art & Ideas (Three credit hours)

Prerequisite: Not open to students who have taken ART 256 or ART 257

Section REHON:  MWF 1:00pam - 1:50pm     Dr. Wendy Schaller

A combined visual and thematic introduction to Western art. The form and content of painting, sculpture, architecture, and graphics will be studied through a series of themes and purposes. Students will investigate the interplay of form and meaning of art objects from multiple eras through such themes as death and the macabre, entertainment, power and politics, religious beliefs, and landscape and the environment. The course introduces many of the issues associated with the visual arts including iconoclasm, restoration, aesthetic quarrels, and questions of cultural property. Meets Core credit for aesthetics.

ECON 301: Game Theory (Three credit hours)

Section REHON:  TuTH 9:25am - 10:40am     Dr. Paul Holmes

Prerequisite: Core math/logic requirement

Techniques using classical game theory, auction design, controlled human-subject experiements, evolutionary game theory, and agent-based computer models are used to understand and solve situations involving potential conflict and cooperation such as military strategies, the auction of FCC licenses, the Middle East conflict, and the rise of resistant strains of bacteria in hospitals. While game theory is demanding in terms of reasoning ability, the focus of the class will be qualitative rather than quantitative analysis. Meets Core credit for social sciences. 

HIST 113: Western Civilization (Three credit hours)

Section RHONC: TTH 1:40pm - 2:55pm    Dr. John Moser

This course examines how the peoples of Western Europe understood freedom and sought to secure it in the 500 years from the Renaissance to WWII. Focusing on selected historical moments during this period, the course considers how this quest for freedom transformed politics, religion, economics, and morality; it also examines the reaction to this transformation, especially in totalitarianism. Meets Core credit for historical reasoning. 

PHYS 320: Origins of the Universe (Three credit hours)

Section REHON: M 6:00pm - 9:20pm     Dr. Rodney Michael

Prerequisite: High school algebra and trigonometry

A look from the scientific view point into the origin of the universe. The course takes a conceptual approach in understanding the two great physical theories of the twentieth century, Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, followed by applications in particle physics and cosmology. No previous science knowledge is assumed or required. Meets Core credit for natural sciences. 

REL 106: Exploring the Bible (Three credit hours)

Section REHON: TTH 10:50am - 12:05pm     Dr. David Aune

An introductory study in which students gain an overview of the Bible, engage in literary analysis of Biblical texts and explore the Bible's contemporary relevance. College-level writing skills are required. Meets Core credit for Religion.

HON 310:  Honors Capstone Preparation Seminar (One credit hour):

TH 3:05pm - 3:55pm    Dr. Christopher Swanson

Prerequisite:  Enrollment in Honors Program; at least junior status or with permission from the Honors Program Director

The process of preparing a Capstone Project, including selecting a topic, choosing mentors, preparing a bibliography, constructing a written prospectus and outlining a timetable for completing the Capstone Project. This course is required for all juniors who plan to complete an Honors Capstone Project their senior year. This course may be taken by conference if there is a scheduling conflict. Graded S/U.

HON 390: Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar (Three credit hours):

Time/Date: TBD

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Honors Program; at least sophomore status or with permission from the Honors Program Director. The Spring 2019 is tied to the Honors Grecian Odyssey Study Abroad trip. All students taking the course in Spring 2019 must be planning to go to Greece in May 2019.

A course devoted to various topics related to the Honors Program Mission of challenging the mind and participating in an intellectual community devoted to discussion and dialogue. Topics will be cross-disciplinary in nature, and the course may be team taught. Typically, the course will be tied to a study abroad opportunity in the spring semesters of odd-numbered years. May be repeated once with a different topic. Meets CCI credit when completing the course with the study away component and the corresponding CCI narrative.