International Honors Program

253.535.7756 www.plu.edu/honors/ palerm@plu.edu
Carmiña Palerm, Ph.D., Director

International Honors Requirements

ihon-med7 courses, 28 semester hours distributed as follows:

    • IHON 111, 112 (190): Origins of the Contemporary World
      8 semester hours

Normally taken sequentially in the first year. These courses explore the historical roots and global dimensions of contemporary events, values and traditions.

    • IHON: Four 200-level courses
      16 semester hours

Normally taken in the second and third year. A wide range of these courses are offered every semester, and often during J-Term.

    • IHON: One 300-level course
      4 semester hours

Taken after or with the last 200-level course.

Policies and Guidelines for International Honors

The three levels of IHON courses are built sequentially upon one another in terms of content and learning objectives. In order to acquire a common background, IHON students take the required IHON 111, 112 (190) sequence in their first year, before taking their 200-level courses. Exceptions to this sequence can be made for transfer students or for students who are accepted into the Honors Program during their first year at PLU.With prior approval by the IHON chair, an appropriate semester-long course abroad may take the place of one 200-level IHON course. Such a course must focus on a contemporary issue, be international in scope, interdisciplinary and require honors-level critical thinking and writing. One 301 modern language course intentionally designed to meet program objectives (Chinese, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish) may also replace one 200-level IHON course when the student completes supplementary IHON expectations. IHON students are allowed to count either an on-campus Language 301 course or a study away experience (semester long) for IHON credit. Students may not count both.Multiple sections of IHON 111 are offered every Fall Semester; and sections of IHON 112 (190) every Spring Semester; varying IHON 200-level courses will be offered every semester and often in J-Term; IHON 300-level courses will be offered every semester. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the required seven courses in the IHON Program by the end of their junior year in order to focus on completion of majors and related research during their senior year.IHON students cannot pass/fail an international honors course

GPA Requirements

Students in the International Honors Program must maintain a cumulative overall GPA of 3.00. Names of students who fall below a 3.00 will be forwarded to the student’s IHON advisor. Students will have one semester to bring their GPA up to a 3.00. If the 3.00 GPA is not achieved, students will be disenrolled from the program. Procedures for assignment of general education credits will be in place for students who do not complete the Honors Program.

International Honors (IHON) - Undergraduate Courses

IHON 111 : Origins, Ideas, and Encounters - H1

Examines innovative ideas and institutions from ancient, medieval, and early modern societies that have shaped the contemporary world. Themes include the rise of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; influential models of authority and government; alternative models of coherence and diversity; religious reformations and utopian movements; technical innovation; and interpreting nature. (4)

IHON 112 : Liberty, Power, and Imagination - H1

Examines innovative ideas and institutions from the Enlightenment to today that have shaped the contemporary world. Themes include scientific, political, artistic, and commercial revolutions; emerging concepts of justice and natural rights; capitalism and imperialism; the experience of war; narratives of progress and their critics; and globalization, sustainability, and the environment. (4)

IHON 190 : FYEP190: Inquiry Seminar

Inquiry Seminar is designed for first-year students, which will introduce students to the methods and topics of study within a particular academic discipline or field. May fulfill no more than one GenEd. (4)

IHON 253 : Gender, Sexuality and Culture - A, H2

Uses multicultural, international, and feminist perspectives to examine issues such as socialization and stereotypes, relationships and sexuality, interpersonal and institutional violence, revolution and social change in the U.S. and in other selected international contexts. (4)

IHON 257 : The Human Experience - H2

The Human Experience course is a multidisciplinary study of selected topics that illuminates what it means to be human. Topics will vary by instructor and term but each section of the course will draw from one of the following disciplines: English, philosophy, religion, or languages & literatures. In addition to the primary discipline of the course, the second discipline may be drawn from the Division of Humanities or from outside of the division. (4)

IHON 258 : Self, Culture, and Society - H2

This course is a multidisciplinary study of specific international topics that illuminate aspects of individual and collective human behavior, history, culture and institutions., Topics will vary by instructor and term, but each section of the course will draw from one of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology or sociology. In addition to the primary discipline of the course, the second discipline may be drawn from the Division of Social Sciences or from outside of the division. (4)

IHON 259 : The Natural World - H2

This course utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to explore the natural world around and within us and to provide expression of our human inclination to order what we see and to think in quantitative terms. Topics will vary by instructor and term but each section of the course will draw from one of the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, computer science and computer engineering, geosciences, mathematics, or physics. In addition to the primary discipline of the course, the second discipline may be drawn from the Division of Natural Sciences or from outside of the division. (4)

IHON 260 : The Arts in Society - H2

This course is a multidisciplinary study of selected topics that represents the breadth and influence of arts in society. Topics will vary by instructor and term, but each section of the course will draw from one of the following disciplines: art, communication, music or theatre. In addition to the primary discipline of the course, the second discipline may be drawn from the School of Arts and Communication or from outside of the school. (4)

IHON 328 : Social Justice: Personal Inquiry and Global Investigations - C, H3

Students will wrestle with complex contemporary social problems, evaluate multiple responses to those problems, and develop and articulate their own positions and commitments. Class themes vary, but every section includes cross-cultural and interdisciplinary analysis and a final culminating project. (4)