THE CURRICULUM

The Summerland Honors Program curriculum is composed of seven courses.  Students typically take one course each semester and in the sequence listed below.

HON 101 - In Search of Ourselves This semester is an historically based immersion in literary, philosophical, religious and artistic expressions of various aspects of human identity (e.g., human nature, love, alienation).  Participating faculty will provide an orientation to particular disciplines involved in this semester's study. Specific themes may vary from year to year.  There is an on-campus service component.  Each student will engage in service and/or participation with a faculty member or program in the area of arts and humanities.  Students will choose from a list of opportunities compiled by the arts and humanities faculty in consultation with the Honors Committee. HON 102 - Images of the Human Soul Building upon the study of the first semester, this course analyzes issues of human identity in today's world (e.g., human rights, postmodernism, morality).  This semester will also provide a synthesis of various disciplines involved in the study. Themes may vary from year to year.  On-campus service component: requirements the same as Honors 101.

HON 201 - Looking Through a Lens and Living In Harmony with Nature.

An examination of the scientific approach to understanding and predicting the natural world and essence of humanity. What is the Scientific Method, how did it emerge, and in what way(s) has science produced and also been produced by the human community? The sub-disciplines of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics will be explored, details of which may vary from year to year.  The laboratory component will emphasize use of the scientific method to investigate natural phenomena.

HON 202 - Science, Technology and Values, A Closer Look at Today and the Future.

Building upon the previous semester's study, students will confront one or several contemporary issues in science (e.g., natural disasters and society, genetic engineering, preserving the rain forest, can science solve every problem?). What is the place of science in the human community, and in what ways does science reveal and define nature?  The laboratory component will be used specifically to investigate problems in our world and how the scientific method can be used to investigate possible solutions.

HON 301 - A Not So Distant Mirror: The Past as Prologue.

This course explores the origins and evolution of human communities using the methods and studies of social scientists.  Study will be focused around broad themes that may vary from year to year (e.g., the individual in community, the social contract, cooperation and conflict).  Off-campus service component: Each semester students will engage in programs of service to those in need in local communities. Students will choose programs according to their interests and available opportunities (e.g., middle school mentoring programs, housing project tutoring, adult literacy).

HON 302 - Our Many Faces: Facing the Music

This course continues the quest for identity by examining communities of the 20th century.  As we shape our future in all arenas (e.g., social, economic, political, religious), what questions must we ask, what values must we act upon, what road must we take? As well, what are the possibilities for the future based on our study of the continuities and changes evident in the human story?  Particular themes may vary from year to year.  Off-campus service component: Each semester students will engage in programs of service to those in need in local communities.  Students will choose programs according to their interests and available opportunities (e.g., middle school mentoring programs, housing project tutoring, adult literacy).

HON 401 - The Human Character: Pulling It All Together

The “capstone experience” structured around a one hour seminar during Fall Semester of the senior year provides an opportunity for individual and collective reflection on the preceding three year experience.  Above all, this is to be a time for reflection, for perhaps considering a portfolio and for revisiting any especially meaningful experiences.  In short, it is to be a time for “pulling it all together.”  Perhaps to focus our endeavor students will be asked to read a selected title with us (e.g., Mitch Albom, Tuesdays With Morrie, or Robert Coles, The Call of Service), and to ponder some essential questions: Who am I?, Who are we?, What time is it?, Where are we?, and What are we doing?

updated 09 October 2006  |  Contact webmaster  |  Newberry College website
Summerland Honors Program, Newberry College, 2100 College St., Newberry, SC  29108