George F. Whitworth
Honors Program: Fall 2023 Offerings
Questions: Contact Honors Director Dr. Bert Emerson at dbemerson@whitworth.edu
Shared Curriculum Offerings
Upper Division “H” and Major Requirements
CO-150H: Ancient and Modern Worldviews
Taught by K.King and J. Leim. Counts toward the belief inquiry group. SC designation: CORE.
Co-250H: Worldview and Role of Reason
Taught by staff. Counts towards the belief inquiry group. SC designation: CORE.
EL-115H: Reading in Action
Taught by C. Andrews. Counts towards the culture inquiry group. SC designation: L&S, C&D. This course is typically reserved for first-year students, but if you want/need this course, email dbemerson@whitworth.edu to share your interest before registration starts, and we can grant permission.
EL-226H: The Story of the Holy Grail
Taught by B. Schrambach. Counts towards the culture inquiry group. SC designation: L&S.
KIN-219H: Sport and Film
Taught by K. Westre. Counts towards the culture inquiry group. SC designation: L&S.
AR-270H-N: Heaven on Earth: Byzantine Art
Taught by S. Moo. Counts towards the expression inquiry group. SC designation: Fine arts.
EL-245H: Honors Creative Writing
Taught by J. Andrews. Counts towards the expression inquiry group. SC designation: Fine arts.
COM-245/445H: Applied Speech – Forensics
Taught by M. Ingram. Counts towards the expression inquiry group. SC designation: Oral comm.
CH-161H: General Chemistry I Honors
Taught by E. Davis. Counts towards the science inquiry group. SC designation: Natural science.
ED-201H: Honors Educational Psychology
Taught by S. Naccarato. Counts towards the science inquiry group. SC designation: Social science.
SO-120H: Introduction to Sociology
Taught by J. Wollschleger. Counts towards the science inquiry group. SC designation: Social science.
HN-300H: The Motivated Project
Taught by E. Salkin. 1 credit.
HS-365WH: Evidence Based Health Science
Taught by W. Silvers. 3 credits.
MA-306H: Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Taught by D. Schepens. 3 credits.
PH-319H: Ethics Bowl
Taught by M. Ingram and K. Wyma. 1 credit.
PY-376H: Psychological Trauma
Taught by M. Baird. 3 credits.
SN-465H: Don Quixote
Taught by A. Aller. 3 credits.
WL-498H: World Languages Capstone
Taught by K. Karr-Cornejo. 1 credit.
Honors Requirements
To graduate with Whitworth Honors, students must complete 18 credits in the following:
GE 126H: Introduction to Design Thinking (1 credit) (NB: these courses are offered in Jan Term and Spring)
Four Honors courses, one from each of the Four Inquiry Groups: (3 credits each; 12 credits total) (NB: Try to take one of these in your first semester, if possible. We have options this Fall/Spring in the first three groups)
- Belief Inquiry Group (Core, Bib Lit, FRCI)
- Culture Inquiry Group (Culture & Diversity, Lit &
Storytelling, Historical Analysis) - Expression Inquiry Group (Oral Comm, Written Comm,
Fine Art, World Language) - Science Inquiry Group (Math & Stats, Natural Science,
Social Science)
One upper-division Honors course; or some combination of upper-division research, creative project, or internship (3 credits) (NB: Take the 5 credits below later in your career)
- HN 300H: The Motivated Project (1 credit)
- HN 400H: Honors Exhibition (1 credit)
Course Descriptions
Belief Inquiry Group
Culture Inquiry Group
Core 150H – Ancient and Modern Worldviews in Christian Perspective
MWF: 9:05-10:00; Two Honors discussion groups: TH 11:45-12:40, 12:50-1:45 – K. King, J. Leim
Satisfies the first Core requirement (of three)
This course engages students in the examination of their beliefs regarding the nature of God, humanity and the world. It covers these topics by helping students understand the nature and formation of worldviews, providing an overview of non-Christian religious traditions, articulating the Christian tradition through the biblical story and the three primary branches of Christianity, and critically examining a number of contemporary worldview-shaping factors.
Core 250H – Worldview & Role of Reason
MWF: 10:25-11:20; Honors discussion group: TH 2:20-3:15 – Staff
Satisfies the second Core requirement (of three)
This course engages students in study of sources of knowledge (epistemology), with emphasis on the role of reason, through analysis of intellectual themes in films. Beginning with foundations in ancient Greece, and extending through the growing ascendancy of the Christian Church, the Enlightenment, and periods of challenge, contributions of rationalists and challenges to rationalism are explored. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own intellectual assumptions, including the role that reason plays in knowing what is true and discerning what is good.
EL 115H – Reading in Action
TTh – 12:50-2:10 – Dr. Casey Andrews
Satisfies Literature & Storytelling, Culture & Diversity
Few human activities seem more intimately personal than reading. And yet, in our current moment, the presumably private act of reading has become a deeply polarizing public issue. Truth be told, it has always been so. Who reads, what we read, and what we do with that reading have always had social and political ramifications: books have been censored or banned outright by various governing bodies; teaching enslaved people in the Americas to read has been a criminal offense; religious fundamentalists have assumed the content in their books supersedes civil laws; tracts have persuaded millions to sacrifice life and limb for a cause. As such, the course takes on the topic of “reading in action” as a way both to account for the ways that we read privately and publicly and to understand the translation of the ingestion of reading to both visible and invisible forms of action through social and political reform.
EL 226H – The Story of the Holy Grail
MWF – 9:05-10:00 – Dr. Bendi Schrambach
Satisfies Literature & Storytelling
This course will examine Arthurian legends as recorded in the literary oeuvre of Chretien de Troyes. Students will read the original unfinished version of the quest of the Holy Grail and devise and film their own unique ending to this enduring legend.
KIN 219H – Sport and Film
W – 6:30-9:30 – Dr. Kirk Westre
Satisfies Literature & Storytelling
This course examines sport and its place in human life and culture through films that feature sports.
Expression Inquiry Group
AR 270H – Heaven on Earth in Byzantine Art
W – 6:30-9:30 – Stacey Moo
Satisfies Fine Arts
The Orthodox Byzantine Empire dominated the early Medieval world, and its art and architecture had a profound impact on both Christian and Islamic societies into the early modern period. This course examines the complex relationships of neighboring societies in the Medieval world who sought to legitimize their states by exploring their borrowing, rejection or alteration of the art and architecture of Byzantium. To that end, the course begins with a survey of the prominent forms of artistic production, including architecture, mosaic, fresco, sculpture, manuscripts, icons, enamels, ceramics and textiles of the Byzantine Empire, emphasizing their social, cultural, political and religious functions within Byzantium. It will then use that knowledge to examine artistic and architectural production and its functioning within neighboring states, taking into consideration the complex worldviews and self-identities of the people and communities who acted as patron, artist and who formed the audience for the artistic production.
EL 245H – Honors Creative Writing
MWF – 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Jake Andrews
Satisfies Fine Arts
This course will explore the basics of three major literary writing genres: literary short fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. We will read a range of authors who will help us explore terminology and – more
importantly – who will help us think our way from being readers of creative writing to being writers and poets ourselves. We will read a lot because a great way to learn is to watch masters at work, to study them. But our primary emphasis this semester will be your writing. Our goal is nothing short of calling objects, people, entire worlds into existence through language.
COM 245H/445H – Applied Speech: Forensics
TBD – Dr. Mike Ingram, Rylee Walter (must attain permission from professor 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. Fall and spring semesters.
Science Inquiry Group
CH-161H General Chemistry I Honors
MWF – 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Eric Davis
Satisfies Natural Science
Foundational course in chemistry. CHEM 161H differs from the regular CHEM 161 offering in its small class size, its emphasis on active, collaborative, and problem-based learning, and a more rigorous,
process-oriented approach. The dominant theme of the course is the connection between the molecular level attributes of matter (elemental composition, atomic structure and electronic configurations, bonding,
molecular structure and intermolecular forces) and the observable physical and chemical properties of individual substances as applied in the real world. One year of high school chemistry recommended and
math proficiency required. Passing score on placement test and demonstrated mathematics proficiency required. Fall, periodically.
EDU-201H Honors Educational Psychology
Three Honors Sections: Two on TTH, 9:30-10:50 or W, 6:30-9:30 – Ms. Sharon Naccarato, TBD
Satisfies Social Science
Honors section of Educational Psychology with an 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: EDU-202. Spring semester.
SO 120H – Introduction to Sociology
MWF – 1:55-2:50 – Dr. Jason Wollschleger
Satisfies Social Science
Examination of the concepts, methods and findings sociologists use to understand social life in the U.S. and other cultures. Analysis of social groups an processes, from families and cities to crime, social change, and inequalities of gender, race and class. Exploration of social problems and how to make a difference.
Honors Courses with Upper-Division Credit
HN 300H – The Motivated Project
Mondays, 1:55-2:50 – Dr. Eric Salkin & Dr. Bert Emerson
All George Whitworth Honors students complete an individual project as part of their Honors curriculum. In this one-credit class, we will discuss design thinking principles, interdisciplinary connections and project management to empower you to develop a proposal for your project. Projects may be academic or applied, but should in some way reflect the Honors program’s mission: “The Whitworth Honors Program challenges talented and motivated scholars to pursue excellence of mind and heart, to cultivate leadership qualities and skills, and to commit to lives of service. The honors program does more than guide scholars to navigate the world as it is; it equips them to solve problems and to develop the world as it should be.”
HS 365WH – Evidence Based Health Science
MWF 12:50-1:45 – Dr. Matt Silvers
Prerequisite: HS-326
An exploration of research methods, critical appraisal, and the use of evidence to guide practice in a variety of health-related fields. Students will learn to formulate a clear clinical question based on personal area of interest, conduct a relevant literature review, and be able to synthesize the evidence to determine best practice. Fall and spring semesters.
MA 306H – Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
TTh 9:30-10:50 – Dr. Diana Schepens
Prerequisite: MA-281
Analytical and numerical analysis of nonlinear systems of difference equations and differential equations. Analysis of these systems using bifurcations and phase planes. Understanding chaotic systems in discrete and continuous systems. Fall semester, odd years
PH 319H – Ethics Bowl
TBA – Dr. Keith Wyma
This course constitutes the research and practice leading up to the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, Northwest Regional, in November. It also includes the competition. As a team, students analyze, present on, and argue complex ethical cases. Course can be taken repeatedly for credit. Offered Fall and Spring
semesters.
PY 376H – Psychological Trauma
MWF 10:25-11:20 – Dr. Mark Baird
Prerequisite: PY-358
Psychological Trauma and Resilience is an upper-division course designed to explore the nature of trauma and the various outcomes that suffering can produce. This course will first explore, at a micro level, the individual factors that can either hinder or facilitate emotional, psychological and spiritual growth before, during and after great suffering. Students will explore the various ways humans from a variety of cultures have interacted with suffering from Old Testament to current treatments for PTSD and research on hardiness and Post Traumatic Growth. We then survey the major conflicts the American Military has been involved in from the Civil War onward, comparing and contrasting, at a macro level, the variables that led to either increased resiliency and growth, or psychological degradation.
SN 465H – Don Quixote
MWF 11:45-12:40 – Dr. Angeles Aller
This course will lead students through a close reading of Cervantes’ novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha, published in 1605 and 1615. This work has been credited with the rise of a genre (the novel), as well with the creation of a national identity (Don Quixote inextricable from Spanish national identity). The novel is presented within its historical context of Renaissance and Baroque Spain. Throughout the course students will discuss major and minor themes revealed in the novel, such as the psychology of Don Quixote, the relationship between fiction and reality, cultural forces and moral fabric of the times, and discussions of character and the human spirit. Also listed as EMS 465H.
WL 498H – World Languages & Cultures Capstone
W – 3:15-4:10 – Dr. Katherine Karr-Cornejo
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. Students must be declared majors or minors in the department.
ANY STEP-UP COURSE IN THE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
Speak with a Business advisor for details
Honors Credit-Earning Opportunities
Contact Bert Emerson for details (dbemerson@whitworth.edu)
HN 386H – Honors Reading Course
Reading courses supplement a simultaneous (or recently taken) course which need not be an Honors offering. A faculty member and student agree to an appropriate number of texts (books, articles, online resources) for the number of credits offered. Public Presentation required.
HN 390H – Honors Internship
Honors internships should include interdisciplinary readings and research that accompany the internship; a journal/blog for the internship; interviews with those at the internship site; a presentation for the internship site and/or department; a research paper that integrates reading and the internship experience.
HN 391H / HN 491H – Independent Research / Creative Projects
Supervised by a faculty mentor, students design their own research or creative projects. Faculty may also invite students to participate in research or creative projects. Students should produce one or more of the following in response to the project: a researched paper; a journal/blog detailing the learning process in the project; a poster presentation; or a formal presentation for the department or for a regional conference.
Make a course eligible for Honors Credits:
Are you taking a great course that fits with the interdisciplinary, problem-solving values of the Honors Program? Many can be set up to be taken for Honors credits—you’ll only need to work with the Professor and the Honors Program to make sure it integrates some kind of (1) high-impact practice and (2) a public-facing component.