Citizenship:

In this Honors seminar on citizenship, students explore what it means to belong to a community—locally, nationally, and globally. Co-taught by Dr. Seitz and Dr. Murray, the course examines how ideas of citizenship have evolved from their ancient Greek origins to the complex realities of the modern world. Through historical, literary, and sociological texts, students analyze how citizenship has been shaped by culture, conflict, and changing social values. The seminar format invites open discussion and debate, encouraging students to connect these ideas to their own roles and responsibilities as citizens today.

Common Good:

The course will be an exploration of how human societies have conceived and attempted to build community and the broader social good. How have governments and other institutions sought to harmonize the disparate interests of their citizens to arrive at the greater fulfillment of all? Is there a place for hierarchical values and/or persons, or is true equality the better goal? Do individual desires at times need to be sublimated to achieve the best results for all, or do societies prosper better when individual ambitions go unfettered?  The course will proceed by looking at several key points in history in which the complexities of the common good emerge. Attention will be paid to placing these moments in their wider historical context while also creating space for students to critically engage with the broader philosophical questions raised about the common good.

Honors students will then take two electives (for a total of 6 credit hours), “Major Problems in Citizenship and the Common Good” offered by Honors faculty on a variety of topics.

Honors students will also take one three-hour credit course from the “Honors Electives.”  These are courses currently offered within departments which include a focus on Citizenship and the Common Good.  They include:
FRE 305 > The Francophone World Outside of France
HIS 266 > Civil Rights Movement Biography
ENG 243 > Multicultural American Literature
HIS 249 > The Holocaust
SPA 304 > Hispanic Culture Through Literature and Film

Finally, Honors students will complete a three-hour Honors Capstone course.  This will include a research paper on a topic of the student’s choice.  The student’s research will be overseen by a committee of Honors faculty but may also include a faculty member outside the Honors faculty who can provide better expertise on the topic. The course will also require a public presentation of the student’s research at the end of the term.