Honors Program

HONORS PROGRAM
The Honors Program is designed for students who wish to expand their academic experience while at Ricks. Classes are limited to those with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, are smaller than the normal class and topics and discussions go further and probe deeper than what might be encountered in a beginning course.

In an effort to encourage all qualified students to attend an Honors class there is no official sign up policy: If your have a 3.5 GPA, (your most recent GPA, be it high school or college), you are automatically qualified and can register for any course giving Honors credit. You need not be planning to graduate in Honors in order to attend an Honors class. (For graduation requirements, see below.)

You need not attend an Honors class each semester to be in the program and take part in Honors activities. Each semester will see outings, symposiums and other group acitivites which will allow you to rub shoulders with your peers. Those wishing to become involved should contact the program Director.

Those taking Honors classes need to pay a $5 fee, at the Cashiers Office, each semester. As a reward for academic excellence, all those who maintain their 3.5 GPA will receive a $50 scholarship at he close of the semester. Your account is automatically credited any you can use the money toward tuition or Bookstore purchases, or ask for a cash payment. This financial reward is available each semester you complete an Honors class.

Students who graduate in the Honors Program will (1) be named in the graduation program, (2) be permitted to wear a distinctive yellow cord at graduation, (3) have Honors Program noted on their transcript, (4) have an Honors seal applied to their diploma and (5) are automatically granted admission to BYU.

For more information, contact the Honors Program Director, Rick Davis, SNO 201, Ricks College, Rexburg, ID, 83460-1205, or call 208-356-1253.

Program Description

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

2. Complete at least 12 honors credits including at least one of the following: Hon. 200 or 201, Ltrs 201H or 202H; Art 211H or 212 H; Hum 201H or 202H; Phil 201H or 202 H. Only two credits in honors religion will count toward graduation

Course Descriptions

Honors classes are designated in two ways: either with an HON prefix, as HON 202 or any regular course followed by an H, i.e., HUM 201H. All courses being offered during a given semester will be found under the Honors section of the Class Schedule Not all courses in this catalog are offered every semester.

Art 211H****Art and Philosophy I 3
Three hours per week
The development of art styles from ancient times to the Renaissance, as those styles relate to the philosophy of each period. Includes criteria for evaluating works of art.

Art 212H**** Art and Philosophy II 3
Three hours per week
The development of art styles from the Renaissance into the twentieth century, as those styles relate to the philosophy of each period. Includes criteria for evaluating works of art.

BS 100H*** Principles of Biology 3
Three hours of lecture per week
A general biology course intended for non-biology majors in the honors program. This course is designed around the areas of cell chemistry an metabolism, cellular structure and function, laws of heredity and ecology. Throughout the course students will examine scientific methods and the means through which our current body of biological knowledge has been obtained.

BS 100L*** Laboratory 1
Lab Fee: $5
An optional lab course designed to accompany BS 100H. For honors student only. This laboratory will examine topics covered in the biology 100H lecture, by the use of hands on and/or inquiry based experiments and exercises. Concurrent enrollment in BS 100H is required.

Comm 220H****** Interpersonal Communications 3
Three hours per week
Explores the many facets of the interpersonal process with emphasis on improving relational skills. Designed especially for the student who will only take one communication course.

Eng 111H******* College Composition 3
Three hours per week
Requires eight expository and argumentative essays. Emphasis on learning to manage the composing process and to write proficiently on a college level.

Eng 282H** Shakespeare 3
Three hours per week
Read seven of Shakespeare’s famous plays, write, discuss, dramatize scenes as you discover for yourself shy he is considered the greatest writer in the English language.

Engr 102H Man in Technological Society 3
Prerequisite: two years of high school mathematics
Three hours per week
Understanding the engineering/ technological world via a study of the engineering design process and the man-made world. Consideration of the social, legal, ethical aspects of the process. Investigation of the engineering profession. A typical engineering student design project will be a major component of the course. Emphasis upon process rather than analytical or detailed component design. Intended for engineering majors in the Honors Program and other interested non-engineering students who are in the Honors Program.

Faml 210H* Child Development 3
A theoretical, academically oriented course focusing on the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of the child from conception through adolescence. Influences of family, peers and social institutions on the child’s development will be discussed. Observations in the child lab may be required.

Hist 200H the Study of History 3
Prerequisite: Word processing skills
Three one hour classes per week
Introduction to the nature and philosophy of history with emphasis on developing the research and writing skills needed in historical study.

Hon 200** Readings in Western Culture: Ancient World 3
An examination of selected primary works of the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and Medieval periods with historical settings and thematic structures provided by three lectures per week. Areas considered include: literature, history and philosophy.

Hon 201* Readings in WesternCulture: Modern World 3
A continuation of Honors 200 Renaissance to the present.

Hon 202 (see GE Note)* Literature 1-3
Topics vary: C.S. Lewis, Mark Twain, biography, etc

Hon 202J Bible and Greek 2
An introduction to New Testament Greek and the tools for studying the Greek New Testament. Includes readings in the Greek New Testament.

Hon 203**** The Arts 1-3
Topics vary in the fine arts.

Hon 204D** Philosophy/Ethics 3
A deep probing of selected moral and ethical dilemmas in today’s society. The course will examine the ethical standards of other societies and compare them to our own. Readings will focus on philosophy and law as statements of ethical policy. What lies behind the choices we make?

Hon 204E Mormon Thought 3
Designed to show the strength of Mormonism by examining its basic teachings through the eyes of various Latter-day Saints.

Hon 206 (see GE Note)*

Hon 206F Arab-Israeli Conflict 3
What are the underlying problems in the Middle East and can they be solved? Can a “true and lasting” peace ever be achieved? The course will investigate the social, political and cultural roots of conflict in this region, with emphasis on current events.

Hon 207E* Behavior and Society 3
In order to understand the complexities of family life today, one must be aware of the diversity of family structure and function in the global community. This course will investigate how culture, religion and gender impact on family systems both historically and cross-culturally.

Hon 208* State Economics 3
Topics vary in Economics, Geography and Political Science.

Hon 212*** Physical Science 3
Topics vary in Geology and Man.

Hon 213*** Biology & Man 3
Topics vary in Biology and Man

Hum 201H**** Western Culture: Greeks to Renaissance 3
No Prerequisite
An in-depth examination of the development of Western civilization. This course will examin both the arts and thought of Greece, Rome and Medieval Europe within historical, religious and philosophical contexts.

Hum 202H**** Western Culture: Renaissance to Modern 3
No Prerequisite
An in-depth examination of the development of Western thought as expressed in both the arts and intellectual viewpoints of the day. Covers from the Renaissance to the present.

Ltrs 201H** Our Intellectual Heritage I 3
Three hours per week
An analysis of basic topics (God, freedom, organizations, knowledge, arts) that are meaningful in our lives as seen through literature, philosophy, science, religion, art, and history. Ancient through Medieval periods.

Ltrs 202H** Our Intellectual Heritage II 3
Three hours per week
An analysis of basic topics (God, freedom, organizations, knowledge, arts) that are meaningful in our lives as seen through literature, philosophy, science, religion, art, and history. Renaissance through modern times.

PhS 100H*** Physical Science 3
Three hours lecture and one hour lab per week
It is recommended that students complete the Mathematics Basic Skills Requirement before registering for this class. An interdisciplinary course with topics in physics, astronomy, chemistry and geology. This course is also designed for those who are planning only a one year program in college.

Phil 110H** Introduction to Philosophy 3
Three hours per week
Articulating, assessing, and defending fundamental positions on topics such as reason, knowledge, science, education, ethics, politics, and religion.

Phil 201H** History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval 3
Three hours per week
History of western philosophy from Greek antiquity through the Middle Ages. An examination of its historical development and leading texts.

Phil 202H** History of Philosophy: Modern 3
Three hours per week
History of western philosophy from the Renaissance to the present. An examination of its historical development and leading texts.

Phil 203H* History of Religious Thought 3
Three hours per week
Is not considered as a religion class
The development of religious thought, particularly Western religious thought, and its influence in the world. From antiquity to the Christian Era.

Phil 204H* History of Religious Thought 3
Three hours per week
Is not considered as a religion class
The development of religious thought, particularly Western religious thought, and its influence in the world. From the Christian Era to modern times.

Rel 215H***** Fundamentals of Scripture Study 2
Two hours per week
This course is designed to help students get more from their study of the scriptures by analyzing scriptural texts.

Rel 224, 225H***** The Doctrine and Covenants 2
Two hours per week
A study of the origin and content of the Doctrine and Covenants and its place in the Church. Course 224 considers the history of the Doctrine and Covenants and the study of Sections 1-75. Course 225 considers Sections 76-138 and the two declarations.

Rel 231H***** Doctrines of the Gospel 2
Two hours per week
Basic doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as taught in the scriptures and by Latter-day prophets. (Required of all intending to become part of C.E.S.).

Rel 241, 242H***** Latter-day Saint History and Doctrine 2
Two hours per week
Course 241 is a study of LDS Church History and Doctrine as developed in its historical setting through the life of Joseph Smith. Course 242 is a study from 1844 to the present.

*Give GE credit in Social Science
**Gives GE credit in the Letters area of the Arts & Letters requirement
*** Gives GE credit in Natural Science
**** Gives GE credit in the Arts area of the Arts & Letters requirement
*****Gives GE credit in Religion
******Gives GE credit in Basic Skills
*******Gives GE credit in Reading & Writing

(Note)*: Please refer to the class schedule for current GE information

DavisR@ricks.edu