Freshman Courses - Honors Program | Belmont University

The following courses comprise the Honors Core courses required in the freshman and sophomore year. Learn more about specific courses offered for Fall 2020.

Signature Courses

HON 1110: Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar is a broadly-themed, writing intensive introductory course designed to increase the recognition, appreciation and capacity to use multiple ways of justifying or defending claims to knowledge and answering eternal questions through study of the humanities such as art, literature, philosophy and history. Students will learn about different kinds of knowledge claims, how to construct knowledge and how to evaluate and answer the most difficult questions that have always plagued humankind. The seminar format of the course will prepare Honors students to engage fully in the similarly formatted Honors Foundation sequence courses.

HON 1120: Engaging the Bible and Culture Seminar (3 hours)

Engaging the Bible and Culture Seminar is a survey of the Judeo-Christian canon of scripture from the history of the Hebrew people through the growth of the New Testament church movement.The primary goal of this course is to increase a student's understanding of the Bible's relationship to culture through the exploration of patterns and themes within the biblical material.

Through the use of reading, discussion, research, and on-campus events, Engaging the Bible and Culture will ask questions about faith, reason and culture.

HON 2950: Honors Study Abroad Writing Workshop (3 hours)

Taken in conjunction with a study abroad experience, this course develops student mastery of written rhetoric and basic research skills by prompting engagement with and analysis of places, peoples, languages and cultures different from those of the United States. Through experience, observation, reflection, research and writing, students will not only increase their knowledge of the world around them but also learn to approach their own culture as an outsider.

Foundations Courses

HON 1130: Honors Oral Communication Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Oral Communication challenges students to refine their ability to construct and deliver effective messages, both informative and persuasive. The course emphasizes critical analysis of oral messages and research sources, leadership communication and the global/cultural context of public communication.

HON 1140: Honors Social Science Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Social Science Seminar will focus on a topic or theme based in a Social Science discipline in a manner that engages students in interdisciplinary thinking, which values diversity and global awareness; fosters creativity and critical thinking; and develops their skills as writers, researchers and leaders.Specific topic and course title will vary with each offering.

HON 1150: Honors Wellness Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Wellness Seminar will focus on a wellness-based topic or theme in a manner that: engages students in interdisciplinary thinking, which values diversity and global awareness; fosters creativity and critical thinking and develops their skills as writers, researchers and leaders. Specific topic and course title will vary with each offering.

HON 2120: Honors Humanities Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Humanities Seminar will focus on a humanities-based topic or theme in a manner that: engages students in interdisciplinary thinking; which values diversity and global awareness; fosters creativity and critical thinking; and develops their skills as writers, researchers and leaders. Specific topic and course title will vary with each offering.

HON 2130: Honors Fine Arts Seminar (3 hours)

Honors Fine Arts Seminar will focus on a Fine Arts-related topic or theme in a manner that engages students in interdisciplinary thinking, which values diversity and global awareness; fosters creativity, critical thinking and aesthetic perspective; and develops their skills as writers, researchers, creators, and leaders. Specific topic and course title will vary with each offering.

HON 2340: Honors Mathematical Inquiry Seminar (3 hours)

An examination of the techniques of critical reasoning utilizing mathematical paradigms, with emphasis on the development of the art of such reasoning.

Freshman - Sophomore Year Courses

Signature Courses

Foundations Courses