Undergraduate Bulletin 2014-2015 Download

Honors Program

Faculty/Staff

Andrew Woolley, Director

Aims of the Program

The mission of Southwestern Adventist University's Honors Program is to enrich educational opportunities for high-achieving students and to increase cultural appreciation.

Admission and Retention

Entering freshmen with a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.5 or an SAT composite score (critical reading and math) of at least 1050 (or a minimum ACT composite score of 24 plus) are invited to apply for admisison to the Honors Program. Currently enrolled SWAU students and transfer students with a GPA of at least 3.4 on all their college courses may apply for admission to the Honors Program. Upon acceptance into the Honors Program a student will be designated an Honors Student. In order to remain in the Honors Program as an Honors Student, a student must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.4.

Requirements and Procedures

In order to earn the designation Honors Graduate upon completing a bachelor’s degree, an Honors Student must fulfill the following requirements:

File an application form with the Honors Committee.
Complete 9 hours from the following: HNRS 104, HNRS 204 or 206, HNRS 275, HNRS 375, HNRS 404.
Complete 6 hours of HNRS 200 and HNRS 300.
Complete 4 hours of HNRS 400 and HNRS 401.
The Honors Committee will vote the student an Honors Graduate upon satisfactory completion of all requirements.

Courses

HNRS 104 - Human Communication (3 hours)

This course emphasizes the theory and technique of effective oral communication through public speaking, group discussion, and oral interpretation. The class satisfies general education requirements for communication. Students taking this course should not take COMM 111, Fundamentals of Speech. (Fall)

HNRS 200 - The Honors Perspective (3 hours)

An introduction to the Southwestern Honors Program. The course will use a "great books" approach and a discussion format to engage perennial issues in the life of the educated person. Required in the freshman or sophomore year of all Southwestern honors students. This course fulfills the requirement for UNIV 110: Principles of Active Learning.

HNRS 204 - Advanced American History 1866-Present (3 hours)

This course provides a detailed study of American history from Reconstruction to the present, charting the United States' rise from a frontier nation to a world power. The course covers the turbulent days of post-Civil War Reconstruction and the settlement of the west, booming industrialism, Populism and Progressivism, the United States in World Wars I & II, the Cold War, and the distrust of the post-Watergate era. Students will become acquainted with trends in American historiography and practice the skills of historical interpretation and writing. The class satisfies general education requirements for history. It is required for history/social science majors. Students taking this course should not take HIST 112, American History, 1866-Present. (Spring)

HNRS 206 - Advanced Western Civilization, early times to 1500 (3 hours)

A study of key issues, events, and transformations that form the basis for pre-modern western civilization and established the foundations for early modern and modern western history, including the Agricultural Revolution, the development of Hebrew monotheism, classical Greek social ideas, the rise and fall of the Roman empire, and medieval Europe. Students taking this course should not take HIST 211, History of Western Civilization. (Fall)

HNRS 275 - Honors Study Tour (1-3 hours)

Prerequisite: Permission of the Honors Committee

A course emphasizing a particular topic approached through travel and on-site visits to historical, cultural, and artistic locations associated with the specified topic. Topics may vary. Depending on the topic, the class may be applied to a specific general education requirement, or, if applicable, to a specific academic department requirement. The student may take a combination of HNRS 275 and/or 375 for up to a total of 6 hours if the topics vary.

HNRS 291 - Selected Topics (1-3 hours)

Prerequisite: Approval by the Honors Program Director

Designed for the student who wishes to do independent study or research or for the teaching of a course not routinely offered. Content and method of study must be arranged prior to registration. May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.

HNRS 300 - Junior Seminar (3 hours)

A seminar examining major and influential works and ideas through reading and seminar discussion. The approach to the works and ideas may be chronological or thematic.

HNRS 375 - Honors Study Tour (1-3 hours)

Prerequisite: Permission of the Honors Committee

A course emphasizing a particular topic approached through travel and on-site visits to historical, cultural, and artistic locations associated with the specified topic. In addition, the student will submit a research project as directed by the instructor. Topics may vary. Depending on the topic, the class may be applied to a specific general education requirement, or, if applicable, to a specific academic department requirement. The student may take a combination of HNRS 275 and/or 375 for up to a total of 6 hours if the topics vary.

HNRS 400 - Senior Seminar (2 hours)

Through directed readings and scholarship, the honors student begins the honors thesis. The honors student will complete the honors thesis proposal and an annotated bibliography.

HNRS 401 - Senior Seminar (2 hours)

The honors student completes the research and writing of the honors thesis under the direction of the honors director and an academic department faculty mentor. Coursework includes a major seminor presentation.

HNRS 404 - The Bible and Human Understanding (3 hours)

This course explores Biblical approaches to the human search for our relationship to self, society, nature, and God. The class satisfies general education requirements for a Bible-content class. (Spring)

HNRS 491 - Selected Topics (1-3 hours)

Prerequisite: Approval by the Honors Program Director