Fall 2020
HONORS FIRST YEAR SEMINARS
Read Dangerously [Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks] Mon, Wed & Fri 12 noon to 12:50 p.m.
What’s a Nation Good For? [Dr. Jim LaGrand] Tues & Thurs 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Democracy in America: The Critical Citizen [Dr. Robin Lauermann] Mon, Wed & Fri 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
Give Peace a Chance: Explorations in the Christian Peace Tradition [Dr. Devin Manzullo-Thomas] Tues & Thurs 8 a.m.-9:15 a.m.
Writings of the Inklings [Professor Christine Perrin] Tues & Thurs 1:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Big Questions Behind Big Data [Dr. Jason Renn] Tues & Thurs 2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Philosophy and Apologetics of C.S. Lewis [Dr. David Schenk] Mon, Wed & Fri 1 p.m.-1:50 p.m.
The Old Order Amish and Us [Dr. Dave Weaver-Zercher] Tues & Thurs 11:55 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.
The Art and Practice of Personal Narrative [Dr. Cynthia A. Wells] Tues & Thurs 11:55 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.
HONORS ID COURSES
Sophomores and juniors should try to take their required honors ID course.
HONORS ID COURSE
ENGAGING A PLURALISTIC WORLD (EPW)
World Views CRN #1953
PHIL 345 HONORS: Philosophy of Religion (3 credits) Instructor: Dr. Robin Collins
Class time: TR 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Course description: This course will focus on God and the theistic worldview as well as on competing world views, especially naturalism. It will include a focus both on the main arguments and other grounds there might be for believing in God and on the argument from evil, the primary argument against the existence of God. It will also include philosophic reflection on the nature of God and on important Christian doctrines related to God’s nature and relation to the world and to humanity, such as the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, miracles, religious experience, and the relationship between human freedom and divine omniscience.
HONORS ID COURSE
NON-WESTERN CRN #1873
MUMH 338 HONORS: Studies in Global Music (2 credits)
Instructor: Dr. Erik Forst
Class time: TR 11:55 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Course description: This class is designed to serve as an introduction to the study of global music. Through reading, listening, singing and other activities, students will be introduced to a variety of global music cultures and the methods used to study them. An exploration of ethnodoxology will be incorporated into this course through articles, class discussion, and participation in global worship songs.
HONORS ID COURSE
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & THE WORLD
CRN #2199
ENVS 216 HONORS: Environmental Issues and Sustainable Solutions (3 credits)
Instructors: Mr. Brandon Hoover & Dr. Janet Mantanguihan
Class time: MWF 10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Course description: A broad interdisciplinary examination of the issues surrounding environmental sustainability and stewardship. The course includes an examination of the scientific method as it applies to the study of ecosystem structure and function. Ethics, economics and public policy are examined as they relate to resource use, population growth, food production, pollution, biodiversity protection, and energy consumption. Central to the discussion are Judeo-Christian perspectives on environmental stewardship as they pertain to responsible/sustainable living. (STEM majors should not take this STW - your major waives your STW ID course requirement - choose an honors NW or EPW instead!)
SENIOR HONORS SEMINAR
CRN #1789
HONR 497 HONORS: Senior Honors Seminar
Architecture of Happiness: Tracing Virtue and Vice from Homer to Robinson (3 credits)
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Perrin
Class time: Monday evenings, 6:15-9:15 p.m.
Course description: This course will explore the ways humans have viewed and sought to construct the good life—often failing and sometimes succeeding. Beginning with Homer, we will examine the ideals of virtue and their accompanying vices embodied in the stories of the Iliad and Odyssey. Our pilgrimage will follow these stories from Homer to Virgil to Dante and other thinkers who have worked to net this slippery fish, happiness. We will arrive by reading Marilynne Robinson’s trilogy Gilead, Home and Lila. Throughout we will be asking what we might expect of our own endeavors to find blessedness. We will aim to apply the insights we gain to our own lives as we consider the odyssey of the last four years and the years ahead. Note: HONR 497 fulfills the College Honors Program requirement for the Senior Honors requirement. It does not meet an ID World Views requirement. This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.