inside.ewu.edu

Honors

Honors Program

Natalia Ruiz-Rubio, Special Assistant to the Provost for Honors
Program Web Page

Faculty

David Sypher –Physics, Kevin Decker–Philosophy, Garry Kenney–Religious Studies, Chris Kirby–Philosophy, Paul Lindholdt–English, Terry MacMullan–Philosophy, Camille McNeely–Biology, Judy Rohrer–Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies,  Natalia Ruiz-Rubio–Modern Languages, Parker Shaw–Modern Languages, Julia Smith–Anthropology, Ann Lebar–History. Ryan Perry–Disabilities Studies. 
Honors Office Staff: Dori Roberts, Program Coordinator

Degrees

Minor–Honors

Honors Mission

The EWU Honors program offers a distinct and robust education. It brings together highly motivated students interested in generating innovative and socially just solutions to the 21st-century challenges of the local, regional, and global. Through a creative curriculum, small discussion-based classes, community engagement, and research, students feel empowered to address today's challenges. The Honors program will help prepare students for graduate education and leadership positions in their chosen fields.

EWU HONORS PROGRAM CORE VALUES
  • Academic excellence: Through an engaging curriculum, we seek to develop and enhance the academic skills, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning of each student.
  • Community: We seek to create a shared sense of belonging that explores the benefits and responsibilities of community membership.
  • Leadership: We believe leadership is an intentionally collaborative process built on the values of individuals working to create positive social change.
  • Civic Engagement: We provide opportunities for students to be civically active and engaged participants in their communities with a strong commitment and responsibility to work with others toward public purposes.
  • Social Justice: We encourage Honors students to explain the root causes of injustice and discuss practical methods for preventing and responding to injustice.
  • Research: We encourage Honors students to research in their various disciplines to generate innovative approaches that promote a more just and equitable community.

How To Apply

Honors program application information can be found on the Honors Program web page. 
The priority deadline is February 1 for first-year and transfer students entering the fall term, although applications will continue to be accepted after this date. 

Benefits of Being an Honors Student

  • Classes are small, typically 15–20 students, taught by passionate faculty
  • Engaging and passionate faculty who get to know you and support you in your academic and career goals
  • Belong to a mindful and supportive Honors Community
  • Study abroad and other travel opportunities
  • Undergraduate research opportunities that prepare you for graduate school
  • Co-curricular activities to support experiential learning outside the classroom
  • Scholarships

Honors Classes Core: This Coursework Satisfies General Education Requirements

  • Honors Experience Class taken in the first quarters at EWU (5)
  • Honors Eagle Flight  (1) introduces you to the Honors community
  • Honors Social Justice Seminar or Honors Diversity Studies (5)
  • Honors Global Studies (5)
  • Honors Enhancement capstone (in the major) 

As part of the Honors Core, all Honors students must take one Honors Experience course (HONS 110, HONS 120, or HONS 130) and the Honors Eagle Flight course within the first quarters in the Honors Program.

Honors Students should fulfill their General Education Requirements within the Honors Program. 

Honors Courses

HONS 100. HONORS EAGLE FLIGHT. 1 Credit.

Pre-requisites: admission to the Honors Program.
This class introduces students to the EWU Honors Program, an inclusive academic community dedicated to fostering personal growth, community engagement, and civic responsibility both locally and globally. Through presentations, readings, and discussions, the class will provide an overview of the value of a civic-minded education within a public university.

HONS 110. HONORS EXPERIENCE: HUMANITIES. 5 Credits.

Satisfies: a BACR for humanities and arts.
This course introduces students to the mission and goals of EWU's Honors Program while supporting advanced student success skills and critical thinking in academic content within the Arts and Humanities breadth area.

HONS 120. HONORS EXPERIENCE: NATURAL SCIENCE. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHYS 120.
Satisfies: a BACR for natural science.
This course introduces students to the mission and goals of EWU's Honors Program while supporting advanced student success skills and critical thinking in academic content within the Natural Science breadth area.

HONS 126. MAKING SENSE OF THE COSMOS. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHYS 126.
Pre-requisites: MTHD 104 or MTHD 106, with a grade ≥C, or equivalent math placement score.
Satisfies: a BACR for natural science.
Our modern scientific view of the cosmos is a material universe obeying the laws of physics. This class explores the origins this view, covering the history, philosophy, physics, and astronomy behind it. The development is traced from classical Greece through the medieval Islamic world and the European Scientific Revolution into our modern understanding. The nonlinear and messy nature of this process is stressed, and key scientific, philosophical, religious, and cultural influences are examined.

HONS 130. HONORS EXPERIENCE: SOCIAL SCIENCE. 5 Credits.

Satisfies: a BACR for social sciences.
This course introduces students to the mission and goals of EWU's Honors Program while supporting advanced student success skills and critical thinking in academic content within the Social Science breadth area.

HONS 161. CALCULUS I. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: MATH 161.
Notes: for the university proficiencies, this course may be substituted for MATH 107.
Pre-requisites: MATH 142.
Satisfies: completion of this course with a grade ≥C satisfies the university proficiencies in mathematics.
This course introduces the concepts of mathematical limits, derivatives, definite and indefinite integrals, and of real-valued functions of a single real variable, with applications.

HONS 170. GEOMETRY AND ART. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: MATH 170.
Notes: this course involves an analysis of many geometric structures leading to the creation of tessellations of different types.
Pre-requisites: MTHD 104 or MTHD 106 or equivalent course, or a math placement into any college-level MATH course.
Satisfies: Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning proficiency with a grade ≥C.
Explores the relationship between geometry and art. Topics include Tessellations, Euclidean, Spherical and Hyperbolic Geometry, Projective and Perspective Geometry, and Vector and Raster Graphics. Other topics may be added based on the interest of the instructor and the students enrolled in the course.

HONS 171. GENERAL CHEMISTRY I. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: CHEM 171.
Pre-requisites: ≥C in MATH 141 or concurrent enrollment; ≥C in CHEM 100 and CHEM 100L or ≥C in CHEM 161 and CHEM 161L or one year of high school chemistry.
Satisfies: the completion of CHEM 171 and CHEM 171L combined counts as one BACR for natural science.
Introduces chemistry concepts such as uncertainty in measurements, nomenclature, structure of matter, chemical equations and stoichiometry, introductory thermochemistry, periodic properties and chemical bonding.

HONS 196. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.

Experimental.

HONS 201. INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: SPAN 201.
Pre-requisites: SPAN 103 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a BACR for humanities and arts.
Students will develop the ability to communicate in Spanish at the intermediate/advanced ACTFL level, both orally and in writing. Students will also broaden their cultural awareness and critical thinking skills as they study, discuss, read and write about global and local themes depicted in authentic literature, film, art, podcasts and other cultural products. Students will use Spanish creatively in daily discussions and also when engaged in presentational, writing and real world tasks.

HONS 202. INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: SPAN 202.
Pre-requisites: SPAN 201 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a BACR for humanities and arts.
Students will develop the ability to communicate in Spanish at the intermediate/advanced ACTFL level, both orally and in writing. Students will also broaden their cultural awareness and critical thinking skills as they discuss, read and write about global and local themes depicted in authentic literature, film, art, podcasts and other cultural products. Students will use the Spanish language creatively in daily discussions and also when engaged in presentational, writing, and real-world tasks.

HONS 203. INTERMEDIATE SPANISH AND CULTURE. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: SPAN 203.
Pre-requisites: SPAN 202 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
Students develop the ability to communicate in Spanish at the intermediate/advanced ACTFL level, both orally and in writing. Students also broaden their cultural awareness and critical thinking skills as they study, discuss, read, and write about global and local themes depicted in authentic literature, film, art, podcasts, and other cultural products. Students use the Spanish language creatively in daily discussions and also when engaged in presentational, writing, and real-world.

HONS 296. EXPERIMENTAL. 1-5 Credits.

Experimental

HONS 298. UNIVERSITY HONORS SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.

Seminar

HONS 303. THE BODY IN ART. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: GWSS 303, ART 314.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 and junior standing.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
Many ideas about race, gender, and sexuality originate in representations of the body. This theme-based survey explores how figurative art has contributed, since prehistory, to shape today’s views. Emphasis in on applying contemporary issues, such as consent and identity, to the study of historical artworks. Includes class discussions and weekly writing assignments about art historical and critical texts that examine the production and perpetuation of cultural attitudes about the body.

HONS 304. HONORS TRANSFER EXPERIENCE. 5 Credits.

Notes: designed for honors transfer students.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or equivalent proficiency.
This class focuses on developing research skills, communication skills, and civic engagement opportunities. Students will explore and develop their civic engagement pathways, with an emphasis on Service-learning and Research.

HONS 316. HISTORY OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: GWSS 316.
Pre-requisites: Mathematic and English proficiency.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
An introduction to the history of women in the STEM fields. Students will evaluate the factors that led to women being underrepresented in the STEM fields and the existing science gender data gaps. Prominent women scientists will also be highlighted.

HONS 317. ART AS SOCIAL ACT. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: ART 317.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
Art has long been a catalyst for major cultural shifts. This course introduces the history and methods of art practice as a vehicle for social change and engagement. Students learn about various global social movements and their accompanying artistic production and are guided through the process of researching, proposing, and executing socially engaged artworks/events. Emphasis is placed on understanding and creating artworks that promote community, collaboration, and change.

HONS 320. HISTORY OF ANCIENT WESTERN PHILOSOPHY. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHIL 320.
Pre-requisites: successful completion of ENGL 101.
The history of Greek philosophy from the first theories about the causes of the universe to the Socratic inquiry about how to live and to Plotinus’ theory of the soul.

HONS 321. HISTORY OF MODERN WESTERN PHILOSOPHY. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHIL 321.
Pre-requisites: successful completion of ENGL 101.
16th–18th century European philosophy against the background of religion and science. The main theme is the relation of knowledge to reason and experience.

HONS 322. HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY WESTERN PHILOSOPHY. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHIL 322.
Pre-requisites: successful completion of ENGL 101.
A survey of the major European and American schools of the 19th and 20th century philosophy. Course material includes German idealism, existentialism, utilitarianism, Marxism, pragmatism, feminism, logical positivism, and post-modernism.

HONS 331. CHINESE PHILOSOPHY. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHIL 331.
Pre-requisites: successful completion of ENGL 101.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
The history of Chinese philosophy from the legendary Xia Dynasty to the golden age of the Song Dynasty. Focuses on Confucius’ humanistic ethics, the naturalistic philosophy of Daoism, and the early Chinese schools of Buddhism.

HONS 332. LATIN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY OF LIBERATION. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: PHIL 332.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
A research seminar focused on justice and liberation in the context of Latin America. Surveys a wide range of Philosophies including Indigenous, Colonial, Scholastic, Positivist, Feminist, Vitalist, and Pragmatist philosophies. Topics include the deleterious effect of ideas and practices from Europe and the US within the region, liberatory praxis against oppression, the continued effects of US colonialism on Puerto Rico and how Latin American philosophy fosters political liberation.

HONS 340. RESEARCH METHODS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
Introduces interdisciplinary research methods for social change and invites students to interrogate the colonized nature of traditional modes of inquiry which proscribe particular regimes of truth. Students will explore their own epistemological assumptions, and use tools of inquiry and discovery to explore transformative approaches to scholarship. Students will examine multiple critical approaches to inquiry including auto-ethnography and ethnography, feminist and indigenous research methods.

HONS 350. ISSUES IN GLOBAL CULTURE. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course discusses current social issues and trends in regions outside of the U.S., with a special focus on cultural and religious identity, minority groups (especially coming from immigration), and power dynamics. The course will approach this topic through a study of cultural products such as art, texts, films, posters, and newspaper cartoons.

HONS 358. MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. 5 Credits.

Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course offers an understanding of the anthropology of medicine, curing versus healing, the concept of biomedicine and its role in today’s world and other perspectives on medicine and medical practice. A review of folk and professional medical systems will be included.

HONS 393. TECHNOLOGY WORLD CIVILIZATION. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: TECH 393.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 ≥C.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
Students will investigate the issues surrounding technological change in discrete cultural settings with a historical perspective of the evolution of technology in a global context.

HONS 396. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.

Experimental.

HONS 398. HONORS SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.

Subject matter varies according to faculty and student interest. Designed for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

HONS 399. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-10 Credits.

Directed Study

HONS 495. HONORS INTERNSHIP. 1-10 Credits.

Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.

HONS 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.

Experimental

HONS 498. HONORS SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.

Honors students present the results of their research project, honors thesis, or other creative work, prepared under the guidance of their major departments.

HONS 499. INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1-5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.