Honors Courses Offered 2023
Jan Term
Honors Courses that satisfy the Shared Curriculum Distribution (2 options)
- BI114H – Resurrection Science (satisfies Natural Science credit)
MTWThF; 9:00-12:00; Dr. Aaron Putzke
We now have the ability to edit DNA…yours and more! Can we bring back the Wooly Mammoth? Should we edit the human genome to improve health? Clone humans? If you sequence your DNA, who owns that information? Who wants that information? What issues in racism and social justice are hidden in using DNA information? In this course you will learn about your DNA: what is it, and how does it drive who you are as a human? We will explore the use of pioneering technology to manipulate DNA in areas ranging from agriculture to human health. Most importantly, we will examine the ethics and policy questions surrounding the potential loss of privacy with using your most intimate personal information: your genome sequence. Who owns that information? Who might want that information? Will having this
information show how similar we all are as humans or be used to increase disparity with social justice issues and inflame racist thinking within our culture? Join us for an exciting and meaningful journey exploring the biological side of what makes us who we are as humans.
- EDU 201H – Honors Educational Psychology (satisfies Social Science Credit)
MTWThF; 1:00-4:00pm – Dr. L. Johnson
Honors section of Educational Psychology with emphasis on applied research in educational psychology. A study of children and youth with a focus on psychology in the classroom. Developmental aspects (cognitive, social-emotional, moral, spiritual, and physical) and sociological challenges (abuse and neglect, substance abuse, poverty, familial discord) and their impact on teaching and learning are examined. Recommended to take EDU 202 either prior to or at the same time as this course, but is not required.
Spring
SC 126H courses (5 options, required for first-year students)
- SC 126H-1 – Life Design
TTh; 11:45-12:40; Dr. Bert Emerson (ends 03/17)
- SC 126H-2 – Life Design
TTh; 2:20-3:15; Dr. Jake Andrews (ends 03/17)
This course is intended to help you prepare for next steps in your academic and vocational journey. It will provide you with structured time and practical assignments that will enable you to achieve your goals. Guided by life-design principles that have emerged from Stanford’s Design Lab, we will engage activities that explore interdisciplinarity through design thinking and imagine potential vocational avenues. In addition to developing enhanced résumés, aspirational applications to prestigious scholarships and fellowships, and enhanced networks with Whitworth alums, we will also take time to ask broader questions about the types of futures we aim to create together.
- SC 126H-3 – Justice & Labor Systems
Wednesdays; 11:45-12:40; Dr. Katherine E Karr-Cornejo (ends 03/19)
The topic of this section is justice and labor systems. What makes a labor system unjust? Why do societies allow forced labor? How do systems and the perceptions of them change over time? Over the course of our class sessions and through the class assignments, we will explore different forms of forced labor systems from varying disciplinary perspectives with an emphasis on justice as a lens to interpret these systems.
- SC 126H-4 – Morality of Marvel’s DareDevil
Thursdays; 11:45-12:40; Dr. Mark Killian and Dr. Justin Martin (ends 03/19)
Marvel comics are often set in contexts that hold vice and virtue in dynamic tension. In this section, students examine the sociology, psychology, theology, and morality of two Marvel series: the Daredevil and the Black Panther. Comics are the primary text for this class.
- STEM-126 – Seminar for Health Professions (can be for Honors credit; ask Professor Abbey)
Thursdays; 11:45-12:40; Dr. Elizabeth Abbey and Dr. Alisha Epps (ends 03/19)
This section is a seminar designed for pre-med, pre-dental, pre-pharm, and pre-vet students. Health Science students pursuing other professions (e.g. PA, PT, OT, nursing, etc.) should NOT register for this section. Through visiting speakers, this course will cover the specifics of courses, majors, and other issues related to pre-health fields. Students will also reflect on the importance of the connections between academic disciplines as they consider future vocational options. Those who take it for Honors credit complete a short unit on design thinking.
Belief inquiry group (4 options, 5 sections)
- Core 150H – Western Civ I – Two Honors discussion group sections
MW, 9:05-10:00; F, 9:05-10:00 or 1:55-2:50
(The Core classes combine large lectures and smaller discussion groups. When you sign up for Core 150H, you’re participating in the same large lecture with all enrolled students, but your Discussion Group is designated for Honors students.)
What we believe about the world can shape and influence how we live in the world. The way a person views life will often determine the manner in which s/he lives life. Each of us has a particular perspective from which we view the world—what is called a “worldview”—and our worldview perspective can make a difference in how we order and live out our lives. In order to get at central worldview beliefs, Core 150 focuses on the following question: What is the nature of reality (God, the world, humanity)?
- Core 350 – Worldview in Policy
TTh; 12:50-2:10
No “H” sections listed for spring semester. Talk with Dr. Emerson about sections that can be taken for Honors credit and the process for setting that up.
This course asks students to consider public, social, and institutional policy against the backdrop of worldview and ethics. It emphasizes the application of worldview claims to the private and public spheres of life, with special consideration of practical and ethical questions.
- PH 199H – Philosophy in the Real World: Love and Friendship
TTh; 9:30-10:50; Dr. Davey Henreckson
This course will open up discussions about friendship, romantic companionship, political citizenship, and the seemingly impossible love of enemies. It will be an extended conversation with a series of intellectual and spiritual companions. Through close readings and careful research, we will ask the following sorts of questions: What makes friendship different from other forms of love (e.g. erotic desire)? Is love of God a higher sort of love than love of neighbor? Does friendship with God come at the cost of friendship with fellow human beings? In a polarized age, can we recover the idea of political friendship?
- PH 255H – Faith, Philosophy, and Science
TTh; 12:50-2:10; Dr. Nathan King
Are science and religion in conflict? Or is there concord between them? What is the difference between science and non-science, and why does it matter? Does contemporary science rely on philosophical assumptions? If so, what are these assumptions, and in which worldviews can they find a home? What might the history of science teach us about the relationship between science and theology? Do contemporary scientific theories (e.g., evolution) make it irrational to believe in God? Do religious miracle claims conflict with science? Should belief in God be explained away as a trick of the brain? What challenges might contemporary science pose for atheism scientific naturalism? And, how might learning about the structure of scientific theories inform Christian approaches to the problem of religious doubt? The answers to these questions are central to understanding and operating within contemporary Western culture. This course is devoted to addressing them.
Culture Inquiry Group (1 option)
- PH 355H – Faith, Philosophy, and Science
MWF – 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Nathan King
Mainstream Western philosophy faces significant challenges from both feminist and multicultural critics. Those challenges range from exposure of bias in methodology, to critiques of injustice in ethics and politics, to presentation of new theories to rival or replace longstanding conceptions. This course will examine some of the historical development of these critiques and will survey a number of issues covered by those critiques.
Expression Inquiry Group (3 options)
- COM-126H – Writing for Digital Media
TTh – 12:50-2:10 – Dr. Erica Salkin
Satisfies Written Communication
This hands-on course explores the latest research on effective journalism for digital spaces and uses those findings to refine writing and reporting techniques. Students produce four issues of “Through the Curtain,” an online publication that contextualizes news of the world for Whitworth students. You’ll interview, write, report and edit using multimedia and social tools to tell compelling stories in the world of news, sports, and commentary.
- EL 110H – Honors Writing and Design
TTh – 12:50-2:10 – Dr. Thom Caraway
Satisfies Written Communication. An introduction to academic writing and research, with an emphasis on writing for real-world contexts and multimodal composition. Workshop and discussion format.
- COM 245H/445H – Applied Speech: Forensics
TTh – 3:50-5:10 Dr. Mike Ingram and Rylee Walter (must obtain permission to enroll)
Satisfies Oral Communication. A practicum course for students involved in the intercollegiate forensics program. An in-depth course in advanced public speaking and debating that may be repeated for credit.
Science Inquiry Group (1 option, 2 sections)
EDU 201H – Honors Educational Psychology (satisfies Social Science Credit)
- Section 1: TTh – 9:30-10:50 – Lori Johnson
- Section 2: MWF – 11:45-12:40 – STAFF
Honors section of Educational Psychology with emphasis on applied research in educational psychology. A study of children and youth with a focus on psychology in the classroom. Developmental aspects (cognitive, social-emotional, moral, spiritual, and physical) and sociological challenges (abuse and neglect, substance abuse, poverty, familial discord) and their impact on teaching and learning are examined. Prerequisite or corequisite: Take EDU-202; – Recommended to be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course, but is not required.
Upper Division Honors Courses (5 options)
- EL 340H – Writing in Virtual Worlds
TTH – 12:50-2:10 – Dr. Jess Clements
An introduction to writing in, with, and about virtual worlds, including exploration of MUDs/MOOs, RPGs, MMORPGs, and others.
- EN 487H – Engineering Design Project II
MWF – 8:00-8:55 – Dr. Markus Ong – Prerequisite: EN 484
This is the second course in a two-course capstone design sequence. In this sequence students apply engineering procedures and practices to a comprehensive design project. Throughout both courses the students work in teams to create typical industry project documentation such as written reports, CAD models and drawings, engineering performance estimates, schedules and status reports, and oral presentations. Emphasis in the second course is on project completion. Typical work includes completion of design detailing, performance analyses, prototype construction, verification testing, and final reporting.
- CS-378H – How to Make Darn-Near Anything
Wednesdays – 6:30-9:30 p.m. – Dr. Pete Tucker
Have you ever had a great idea for a product? Have you ever wanted to be part of a startup technology? Students in this course learn the steps and skills needed to design, build, and market a new product based on their own interests. Students with no experience in software development will be partnered with a student that has enough experience so that everyone can contribute to something cool. Topics include programming skills, user experience design, testing, marketing, and promotion.
- PH-355H – Feminist/ Multicultural PH-H
MWF – 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Keith Wyma – Prerequisite: Core 250 or History of Philosophy
Mainstream Western philosophy faces significant challenges from both feminist and multicultural critics. Those challenges range from exposure of bias in methodology, to critiques of injustice in ethics and politics, to presentation of new theories to rival or replace longstanding conceptions. This course will examine some of the historical development of these critiques and will survey a number of issues covered by those critiques.
- SO-375H – Planned Communities
MWF – 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Mark Killian
SO 375H: Planned Communities allows you to discover how the built environment affects social
dynamics. More to the point, this course explores the ways in which social relationships and “ways of being” can be manipulated through the physical aesthetics of a place. To conduct this exploration, we will investigate the social, economic, political, psychological, religious, and architectural components of planned communities, spaces designed to achieve specific goals. This class is taught in a seminar style and will involve an overnight off-campus. You will work in groups to develop and defend community plans.
Additional Honors Courses
- AR 499H – Senior Exhibition Project (2 credits)
T/Th – 2:20-3:45 – L. Sinnema
Required of all majors in painting/drawing, printmaking, graphic design, and three dimensional ceramics, sculpture, mixed media) art tracks. Students complete and exhibit original artworks. Review by all faculty. Fee.
- CH 497H – Dissemination of Chemistry Research
Th – 2:45-3:40 – Dr. Deanna Ojennus – Prerequisite: CH 494L or CH 488L
Research performed on campus or off-campus will be shared with others. Students are expected to complete a research paper and give a presentation to a conference audience. The course should be taken in the spring semester after completion of chemistry research. By permission.
- PH 319H – Ethics Bowl
Various Times – Dr. Mike Ingram, Dr. Keith Wyma
This course constitutes \ research and practice leading up to the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, Northwest Regional, in November. It also includes competition. As a team, students analyze, present on, and argue complex ethical cases.
- HS 365WH – Evidence Based Health Science (2 sections)
MWF –10:25-11:20– Dr. Matt Silvers
MWF – 12:50-1:45 – Dr. Smokey Fermin
This course is an exploration of research design concepts, statistical techniques, and critical appraisal of literature within the Health Science fields. Students learn how to evaluate the credibility of relevant literature and media and learn to formulate novel research questions based upon the strengths, limitations, and gaps in current knowledge of various Health Science topics. Ultimately, an end goal is that students will be able to synthesize the evidence
gleaned from these processes to determine best practice and appropriate recommendations.
- WL 498H – World Languages Capstone
Tuesdays – 11:45-12:40 – Dr. Katherine Karr-Cornejo – Prerequisite: Spanish major with junior standing. Course is designed to assist majors in the process of discerning their future careers and vocations. Students will refine research and writing skills in the target language, prepare job search materials in English and the target language, explore their own cultural awareness and competencies, and take part in panel discussions with members of the community whose daily jobs involve the use of a second language. Class culminates in presentation of electronic portfolio.
- Also, any step-up course in the master of business administration program. Speak with a Business advisor for detail.
If you have any questions about Honors classes, please email Bert Emerson at bemerson@whitworth.edu or talk to your Honors advisor.