Academics
Margaret Doig, '05
Major: Honors Math and Honors Philosophy
" One of the wonderful things about the honors program is that they set up an environment in which you can grow and learn, and you don’t have to worry about a lot of bureaucracy. It’s an environment in which you can do anything you can think of to grow up academically and intellectually as an interested human being. " Read More >
Course Descriptions
Humanities Seminars
Honors Introduction to Philosophy
Honors Introduction to Theology
Honors Mathematics
Honors Biology
Honors Physics
Senior Honors Thesis
Senior Honors Thesis Research Colloquium
Senior Honors Moral Problems Colloquium
Humanities Seminars
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 01
C. F. Delaney, Professor of Philosophy TR 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 02
Joseph Buttigieg , Professor of English TR 5:00-6:15 p.m.
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 03
Brad Gregory, Professor of History TR 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 04
Gary Gutting , Professor of Philosophy TR 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 05
Susannah Monta , Professor of English TR 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Honors Humanities Seminar
13951 07
Thomas Roche , Concurrent Visiting Professor of English TR 3:30-4:45 p.m. (Fall)
Honors Introduction to Philosophy
Course Description:
A general introduction to philosophy, taught in a seminar format for students in the science and arts and letters honors program, with emphasis on perennial problems such as the existence of God, human freedom, and moral obligation. The course is also intended to sharpen the student's skills of critical thinking.
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 01
Timothy Bays
9:30-10:45 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 02 (12927)
Paul Weithman
12:30-1:45 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 03
Michael Loux
2:00-3:15 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 04Curtis Franks
3:30-4:45 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 05
Jeffrey Speaks
3:30-4:45 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Philosophy Seminar
13195 06
Richard Cross
5:00-6:15 TR
First Year Students Only
Honors Foundations of Theology
Course Description: This course, prerequisite to all other courses in Theology, offers a critical study of the Bible and the early Catholic traditions. Following an introduction to the Old and New Testaments, students follow major post-biblical developments in Christian life and worship (e.g., liturgy, theology, doctrine, asceticism), emphasizing the first five centuries. Several short papers, reading assignments and a final examination are required.
20002 01 TR 12:30-1:45 Gary Anderson
20002 02 MW 8:00-9:15 James Vanderkam
20002 03 TR 12:30-1:45 Harold Ernst
20002 04 MW 8:00-9:15 Paul Bradshaw
Honors Mathematics
Honors Mathematics
10450
Alexander Hahn, Professor of Mathematics
Co-Director Notre Dame Honors Program
You will engage and be able to do a lot of important modern mathematics, including central elements from geometry, algebra, trigono-metry, analytic geometry, and differential and integral calculus. You will learn about the historical connections between these topics and the scientific agenda of the time periods in which they were created. Another purpose of the course is to give you a better sense of what mathematics is and what it can do, and to give you an ability to apply the “mindset” of mathematics both within mathematical contexts and outside them. No matter what form your careers will take, you will be asked to peruse sophisticated materials, absorb them, respond to them, present them articulately to a critical audience, and/or act upon them intelligently and effectively. To get you there – in the context of relevant mathematics - is what this course will attempt to achieve.
Honors Biology
Biology for Arts and Letters Honors Students
10191H
Kenneth Filchak, Assistant Professional Specialist, Biology
Biological evolution is the natural process responsible for generating the great diversity of life on our planet. This diversity includes all living organisms on our planet (dinosaurs, humans, giant squid, bacteria, lice, grasshoppers, plants, fungus, and viruses).
The goal of our course is to gain a fundamental understanding of the ideas and scientific evidence surrounding evolution. We will examine the historical background for evolution as a scientific idea. We will also survey one of the most interesting facets of evolution, how it has left its mark on all biological organisms including us!
Finally, students in the course will be allowed to investigate some aspect of evolutionary biology as an independent project. These projects will be summarized in a series of formal presentations to the class.
Honors Physics
Modern Physics, from Quarks to Quasars
10342
Chris Kolda, Associate Professor of Physics
Jumping off from Newtonian mechanics, this course travels quickly to the twin pillars of modern physics: relativity and quantum mechanics. Along the way we consider the non-intuitive picture of the universe forced on us by physics: the strange nature of space and time, the wave/particle duality of both light and matter, the equivalence of energy to matter, the uncertainty principle and the probabilistic nature of reality. We will also study one of the great achievements of modern science: the Big Bang theory, and how it leads finally to us. Unsolved mysteries and current research findings will make regular appearances in class. No prior knowledge of physics is assumed, but some calculus will be used and students are expected to work real problems. The course is a mixture of lectures, discussions, demonstrations and laboratory exercises.
Senior Honors Thesis
Senior Honors Thesis
48980
The capstone requirement for the arts and letters honors students is a substantive two-semester thesis to be completed in April. This project is accorded three credits in the fall for the completion of a rough draft and three credits in the spring for the polished finished project.
Senior Honors Thesis Research Colloquium
Senior Honors Thesis Research Colloquium
43950
Cornelius Delaney/Alexander Hahn, Professors, Directors of Honors Program
This is a one-credit seminar consisting of presentations of ongoing thesis research as a spur to the successful completion of the senior thesis or research project
Senior Honors Moral Problems Colloquium
Senior Honors Colloquium
ALHN 43951
This is a discussion course on selected reading materials.
