Honors Program (HON)

This course invites students to explore, inquire, and connect with each other and with the Honors, University, and local area communities. Students discover university resources and participate in campus life. Through collaborative activities and independent research, students learn the basics of interdisciplinary inquiry and community engagement. Students will draw connections between this course and their HON 101 course work. HON 100 and 101 are paired as a learning community.

In this team-taught topics course, students and professors investigate the course question using knowledge and methods from Philosophy and one other academic discipline. The course topic will change to address contemporary issues, depending on the specialization of the instructors. HON 100 and 101 are paired as a learning community. Previous topics include Love, Sexuality and Relationships; The Election; Grappling with Evil; Spock Meets Socrates.

In this team-taught topics course, professors and students apply knowledge and methods from two academic disciplines to learn about systemic or institutionalized discrimination experienced by one or more marginalized populations. Students will collaborate with individuals or communities to develop a plan of action to respond to systemic discrimination and further social justice causes.

Further explores the topic addressed in Honors 101 through presentations by St. Ambrose faculty and staff and guest speakers from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

In this topics course, students develop advanced critical thinking skills by integrating multiple disciplinary perspectives to ask complex questions and draw well-reasoned conclusions about their course topic. Primary sources, guest speakers and interdisciplinary panels introduce students to a variety of perspectives on their course topic. By conducting interviews with disciplinary experts and leading discussions, students develop professional communication and leadership skills.

Students examine multiple forms of difference within local contexts using an interdisciplinary lens. Through community-based inquiry, reflective dialogue, and public-facing projects, students will articulate the value of diverse identities and perspectives and respond to locally grounded questions. Through collaboration with local communities, students practice empathy, reciprocity and accountability necessary for wise and courageous leadership.

Focuses on the interdisciplinary perspectives and the role that research plays in different disciplines. Students will read and critically analyze primary sources to understand how multiple perspectives allow for a deeper understanding of complex issues. This course is part of Honors Experiential Learning.

In this course, students develop a thesis proposal: They go through the process of identifying a thesis topic, finding thesis advisors, creating a research question, completing a literature review, and developing a research plan. Students will select an interdisciplinary topic approved by their faculty advisors to then be carried out in HON 402. This Course is part of Honors Experiential Learning.

This course will guide students through the final steps of the thesis process. With the guidance of their thesis committee, students will carry out the research proposed in HON 401. Students will complete their thesis and prepare for the oral presentation of their work at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.

This course is an education abroad opportunity offered through the SAU Honors Program. Students will explore, analyze, and interpret different cultures and communities through historical, political, economic, and social lenses. This course is part of the Honors Experiential Learning.