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Honors Program
Dr. Rachel Wifall, Director
201-761-6226 (or 6326)
Dr. James V. Bastek Honors Center
127 Glenwood Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Lois Borroum, Administrative Assistant
201-761-6225
As a small liberal arts college with a highly favorable faculty-student ratio, Saint Peter’s College affords a superb opportunity for creative academic experimentation and advancement. The Honors Program in particular provides the framework for curricular innovation and meaningful scholarly inquiry.
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SPC Honors Students Visit Greece
WHY HONORS?
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Graduates of the SPC Honors Program go on to further studies and careers in a multitude of disciplines. Recent graduates have been placed in graduate programs at The London School of Economics, The University of Pennsylvania, The New School for Social Research, Montclair State University, Mary Baldwin College and The American Shakespeare Centre, The Actors Studio of Pace University, Yale Law School and Princeton University. Here's some information about a few recent grads:
- Last year, Rezma Shrestha (Class of 2010) worked as an assistant to St. Peter's own Dr. Leonard Sciorra, chairman of the Department of Applied Science and Technology and Schuh Professor of Health and Natural Sciences. Over the past several years, Dr. Sciorra and a group of undergraduate students have developed a tissue culture procedure that yields numerous multi-potent cells capable of in vitro differentiation into cells with the morphologic appearance of nerve, adipose, hepatic and muscle tissue using human fibroblast cells taken from adults. For this promising innovation, Saint Peter’s College has filed for its first patent in College history. Now, Rezma is furthering her studies in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University.
- Jeff Kane (Class of 2008) double majored in Accountancy and Philosophy of Literature, a composite major that included studies with the Philosophy and English departments. His senior thesis, Gates of Horn and Ivory, discussed the role of the American dream in the works of novelist Russell Banks. A portion of that paper was subsequently selected for presentation at a history conference in West Virginia. While studying with the Honors Program, Jeff held internships at Fidelity Investments and American International Group. After graduation, Jeff joined a public accounting firm called Rothstein, Kass and Co. in New York City, where he performed audit services for hedge funds and fund of funds. In December of 2010, Jeff was admitted to the Yale Law School class of 2014, where he is now pursuing a law degree.
- Sarah Anfora (Class of 2008) completed her Master of Fine Arts in Acting degree at the prestigious Actors Studio Drama School of Pace University in New York City. When she was a senior at St. Peter's, Sarah composed an Honors thesis considering female characters in musical theater, and her thesis defense was a one-woman stage production.
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
Freshman enrollment in the Honors Program is by invitation, based upon SAT scores and high school grade point average. Students who have earned 15 or more credits at the College and have attained a cumulative index of at least 3.4 may apply for delayed admission to the Honors Program. Transfer students who possess the equivalent of a 3.4 GPA may also apply. All interested students are encouraged to seek admission to the program. Students who, for one reason or another, are unable to complete the requirements of the Honors Program, but would like to take an Honors course, should speak to the Honors Director; he or she may be eligible to register for Honors classes as an "Honors Associate."
Requirements
While Honors provides academic enrichment for highly motivated students, it is not a formal major or minor. In order to graduate with Honors ("in cursu honorum"), and to have this distinction designated on their transcript and diploma, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits (= 10 courses) designated as Honors courses. This includes:
8 Honors-designated courses / study or service experiences = 24 credits
1 Honors Research Methods seminar = 3 credits
1 Honors Senior Thesis independent study = 3 credits
10 Honors Courses = 30 credits
Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.4 to remain in good standing. Honors students dropping below the minimum will be granted a one-semester grace period to restore their good standing in Honors.
Curriculum
- First Year: "Finding Your Passion." First-year students who join the Honors Program at Saint Peter's enroll in the one-semester Honors Writing Composition Course (Cm-120-Hp), in which they hone their writing, speaking and research skills. Like all students at the College, Honors students must fulfill the College’s core curriculum requirements, and Cm-120-Hp counts for both core and Honors credit. Honors students may then begin to take core and introductory courses of their choice in the Honors Program curriculum, in such subjects as art, literature, history, philosophy, theology, business administration, natural sciences, and social sciences. While Cm-120-Hp is an accelerated composition course, Honors students in this class join all first-year students at Saint Peter's in the Common Reading Program, which is part of the First Year Experience at Saint Peter's College. Then, Honors Program events and the STEP UP Freshman Workshop Program both provide first-year Honors students with information essential for success--including advice for choosing courses, study experiences, academic majors and career paths.
- Sophomore Year: Local and Global Citizenship. Honors sophomores are encouraged to gain Honors and Political Science credit through the seminar Global Citizenship: Issues, Policies and Decision Making, in which they attend, and react to, colloquia at the United Nations, plus lectures given on campus by accomplished professionals in various fields. Credit earned through the Washington Center Internship Program, foreign study through the Center for Global Learning, for-credit internships arranged through the Department of Experiential Learning and Career Services, or other alternative methods may also be applied to Honors, upon approval of the director. Students are encouraged to engage in some approved service learning experience. If students wish to study abroad, it is imperative that they discuss their plans in advance with the director.
- Junior Year: Pulling it All Together. Honors students explore the research process in the spring semester of their junior year, as they formulate ideas for their senior thesis in the hybrid seminar Honors Methods of Research (Hp-390), organized by the Honors Program Director and held in the Bastek Honors House. They utilize the academic resources of Saint Peter's and other research institutions--plus each other's feedback and support--as they learn what it takes to produce an extended academic project of their choice.
- Senior Year: Charting Your Future. Seniors delve deeply into their chosen fields and effectively prepare for graduate studies while composing the Honors Thesis Project (Hp-492)--an intensive original research project performed under the direction of an academic mentor. The written thesis is completed over the course of the first and early second semesters of the senior year, with an oral defense of the thesis in the second semester. Theses, which must be approved by the Honors Program and the student's major department, usually apply toward both major and Honors credit. Honors juniors and seniors considering their academic and professional futures are strongly encouraged to consult with the Center for Graduate Scholarship and Professional Studies and the Office of Career Services.
Honors Seniors Defend their Theses
sample HONORS COURSES
*Honors course sections are designated by an "Hp" prefix or suffix.
For a schedule of all Spring 2012 Honors courses with times, etc., go to SPIRIT (the online catalogue of classes). Then (1) click on Class Search; (2) in the "Term" box, select "Spring 2012 Sem Undergrad"; (3) scroll down and check the box beside "Honors"; (4) click "Submit."
Ar-110-Hp "Art in the City"
This three-credit, one-semester course is offered every fall semester and requires museum visits in the metropolitan area on Wednesday afternoons, from 12 noon until about 4:30 pm. It surveys the history of Western Art (mainly European and American), from prehistoric times up to the contemporary era. Students are responsible for many out-of-class activities, such as textual readings, museum visit "reaction/response" papers, as well as an independent museum/art monument visit and final research paper. Students are also expected to take advantage of the extensive technology available to them in the form of video presentations, museum websites, slides, library resources, and online communication with the professor. Taught by Dr. Jon Boshart. Substitutes for Ar-127.
Ba-151-Hp Principles of Management
This is a ‘higher level’ introductory course in management that requires students to not only understand the theoretical concepts and history of the management discipline but also to fully engage in the practical applications of the course material through the extensive use of case studies, presentations and ethical and decision-making scenarios. Students will be encouraged to bring their individual perspectives to class based on their own experiences, research and reading, and will also be invited to contribute to current research being conducted by SPC faculty members in the field. The course examines the theory, history and practice of management including the four functions: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Guest speakers and field trips to local businesses will be utilized to allow students to interact with business professionals and learn from hands-on experience and observation. At the end of this course, students will be well-versed in the the theoretical and practical aspects of managing in today's increasingly diverse and global workplace, understand the challenges faced by managers in their day-to-day activities, and be prepared for upper level courses in business. Taught by Dr. Mary Kate Naatus.
Ba-155-Hp Principles of Marketing (A Service Learning Course)
This basic course in marketing emphasizes the analysis of the marketing process. It aims to equip the student with the relevant analytical tools and concepts necessary to apply the principles of marketing in the real world. It is a teamwork-oriented course, which consists of lectures, PowerPoint presentations, written exercises and assignments, online activities, group exercises, quizzes and a final examination. Students are required to subscribe to and read either the Wall Street Journal or The Financial Times, as well as assigned texts. Guest speakers and field trips to local businesses will be utilized to allow students to interact with business professionals and learn from hands-on experience and observation. At the end of the course, the student is expected to understand the marketing process and the managers who engage in it; apply marketing principles to solve business problems; explore special topics of growing importance; and be prepared for advanced studies in marketing. Taught by Dr. Karl Alorbi.
Ch/Ar-238-Hp The Science of Art
In this class, which may count as a core science course for non science majors or may be applied as an elective towards a major or minor in Fine Arts, students will come to understand the materials and scientific principles underlying the creation of art works and artifacts (such as paint, fresco, pottery and porcelain, early and medieval glass, stone architecture and sculpture and metal work); the process of authentication and forgery; problems from deterioration due to time and environment; and restoration techniques. In the process, students will have a chance to experiment with different materials themselves, in order to draw their own conclusions about choosing materials in creating works of art. Taught by Dr. Patricia Redden.
Cm-120-Hp English Composition
This one-semester composition course requires a high level of performance and commitment to scholarly inquiry. Students will improve their reading, analytical, and writing skills through in-class journal exercises, reading essays in various rhetorical modes (including the text assigned by the First-year Common Reading Program), written essay assignments and oral critiques of work. A major research paper (8 - 10 pages) will be required, accompanied by an oral presentation. Computer tools such as Blackboard, internet and Power Point will be incorporated.
Ec-101-Hp Macroeconomic Principles
Macroeconomics is the study of the economy “in the large.” It deals with economic aggregates, like household expenditure and business investment, and is concerned with the overall performance of the economy rather than the performance of individual industries or firms. By the end of the class, students will be expected to understand the monetary and fiscal policies of nations, plus national crises such as unemployment and economic fluctuations—as with the recent “Great Recession”—and possible solutions for these crises. Taught by Dr. Nina Shapiro.
Ec-102-Hp Microeconomic Principles
This course examines the nature and function of markets. It considers the way markets organize the economic life of a nation, evaluating their incentives, disciplinary mechanisms, and outcomes. Both the strengths and limitations of markets will be discussed, along with the regulatory options and policies of governments. Students will come to understand the basics of market organization, and apply their understanding to an analysis of current economic problems (such as health care reform and environmental protection regulation). Readings will cover international differences in markets and their regulation as well as the universal aspects of market organization. Taught by Dr. Nina Shapiro.
El-123-Hp Poetry and Drama: "The Pitfalls of Power"
This is a version of the core course in poetry and drama, El-123, especially designed for Honors Program students. Over the course of the semester we will alternate between poems by English and American masters and major plays by dramatists from Sophocles to our contemporaries. The plays selected for this semester have in common an interest in the pitfalls of power, either in the public or private sphere, or in both. Although it would be too constricting to limit ourselves to poems on this theme, we may well find the issue of power or control is important in a good many poems as well. Students will become familiar with the types of questions that can profitably be asked about any poem or play. In addition to learning to ask the right questions, they will practice the means of evaluating the possible answers through close reading of the texts, in the course of which they will develop a greater sensitivity to figures of speech, to nuances of tone, to rhythm and meter, to characterization and motivation, and to elements of organization and structure. The class may also attend a play together in New York City, depending on availability. Taught by Dr. John Walsh.
El-134-Hp Fiction: "Geeks, Misfits and Outsiders"
This class will expose students to great works of literary fiction in different forms: from parables, fables and tales, to short stories, long stories, novellae, and novels. The works we will read come from various cultures and time periods. Major literary themes and forms will be discussed, and students will be expected to identify and define these. Various schools of literary criticism will also be introduced, and students will be encouraged to analyze the literature they read from these different perspectives. During the course of the semester we will draw connections between works, largely based on the psychological concepts of "social categorization and moral exclusion." As we investigate ways in which people define and ostracize both other individuals and groups of people, we will be led to consider the concept of social justice. Students will be expected to creatively analyze and draw their own correlations between works they read, both in class discussion and in writing. At times we will watch and discuss film adaptations of the works we have read. Taught by Dr. Rachel Wifall.
Hp-390: Honors Thesis: Methods of Research
This hybrid course prepares the student for the Honors Senior Thesis project, and is to be taken in the second semester of the student's junior year. Students are expected to formulate their ideas for their senior thesis as they explore databases, create annotated bibliographies and thesis proposals, evaluate previous theses and oral defenses, orally defend their own thesis proposals, and brush up on their grammar and composition skills. In some cases, an analagous research course in the student's major field may be substituted for Hp-390, with the permission of the Honors Director. Taught by Dr. Rachel Wifall.
Hp-492: Honors Thesis: Independent Study
An intensive original research project conducted under the direction of an academic mentor from the student's major field, and culminating in a formal paper. The student registers for Hp-492 for the fall semester of his or her senior year, and completes the written thesis before the required oral defense, which is delivered in the middle of the spring semester. The thesis project normally counts for elective credit toward the student's major; students should consult with their major advisor and department chair in this matter. Honors theses are kept in a library in the Bastek Honors House and will soon be available on an online database.
Hs-121-Hp The Western Tradition: “Why the Western Past Matters”
This course examines the history of the West and its neighbors, from the Classical Age to the Enlightenment. Because of its broad scope, the course introduces students to a past that is both interdisciplinary and multicultural. Using art, music and writings of the time as well as recent films, students investigate a variety of human experiences, especially those of people in Western societies. Along the way, students discuss pivotal questions about history: whether it exists or historians create it; how and why they deal with the “before now,” and if their work merits continuation in the 21st century. Students also have opportunities to acquire and refine their knowledge by careful viewing, listening and reading; to analyze their knowledge by thinking critically, and to advance their knowledge by speaking and writing clearly and coherently. And, hopefully, they learn to appreciate how humans now gone have shaped current generations. Taught by Dr. Eugenia Palmegiano.
Hs-122-Hp World Perspectives in History: “Earth and Its Earthlings”
This course examines the major developments in world history since 1789, among them mass political movements, sweeping economic changes, broad social revolutions and major technological innovations. Because of this breadth, the course introduces students to a past and brings them to a present characterized by multiculturalism. Using art, music and writings of the time, as well as recent films, students investigate the human condition from a variety of perspectives. Students also hear from a visiting scholar how the press has connected – and disconnected – modern societies across the globe. Along the way, students discuss pivotal questions about history: whether it exists or historians create it; how and why they deal with the “before now,” and if their work merits continuation in the 21st century. Students also have opportunities to acquire and refine their knowledge by careful viewing, listening and reading; to analyze their knowledge by thinking critically, and to advance their knowledge by speaking and writing clearly and coherently. And, hopefully, they learn to appreciate how humans now gone have shaped current generations. Taught by Dr. Eugenia Palmegiano.
Ma-106-Hp Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Ma-106-Hp is designed to acquaint students with mathematical techniques which are utilized in various subject areas, ranging from sociology to psychology to business, just to name a few; accordingly, it may partially satisfy the core math requirement for many different majors. Ma-106-Hp is a faster-paced, more in-depth version of Finite Mathematics II, which covers topics in Probability and Statistics. Over the course of the semester we will learn counting techniques, probability trees, conditional probability, and Bayes’ Theorem to find the probability of events. In addition, we will study both descriptive and inferential statistics. Some of the topics covered will be expected value, variance, standard deviation, the normal and binomial distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. The use of computer programs to analyze statistics, such as Excel, will also be introduced. Taught by Dr. Michele Picarelli.
Ns-110-Hp Scientific Literacy: "Science Fact or Science Fiction?"
Science finds itself included in a large number of books, movies, and television programs. Unfortunately, not all of that science is good science, and much of it is downright incorrect. We rarely select the films we view based on the science content, of course, but incorrect scientific information, whether intentional or as a result of ignorance on the part of the authors, can have a significant impact on society in general. In this course, students will review a selection of short stories, novels and films--in class discussion and research writing--and will come to understand the science behind these works, in an attempt to separate fact from fiction. May count as a core science requirement for non science majors. Taught by Dr. Patricia Redden.
Pl-100-Hp Introduction to Philosophy I: "The Classical Mind"
This course is part one of a two-part sequence of courses which is designed to acquaint students with the basic problems and positions in the history of Philosophy. In this course, our main focus will be on the classical foundations of the western philosophical tradition in ancient Greece, as found in the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. We begin with a discussion of the beginnings of Greek thought prior to Socrates, including a comparison with the philosophy of ancient India. We will then examine the thesis of moral and epistemological relativism as advanced by the Sophists, which will provide a foundation for our study of the life and thought of Socrates, who is typically considered to be the embodiment of the spirit of philosophy in the western tradition. We will then investigate the systematic philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, both of whose world-views continue to shape our own thinking about life, the universe, and everything. We will conclude our discussions of this period with a brief consideration of the Stoic and Epicurean philosophies. Throughout this course, students will be expected to engage in the critical analysis of philosophical problems and comparative positions--both in orally and in writing. The course will cover all the major areas of philosophical concern, including an analytical and historical introduction to epistemology, metaphysics, philosophical anthropology, and ethics. Taught by Dr. Peter Cvek.
Pl-101-Hp Introduction to Philosophy II: "The Modern Mind"
This course is the second part of a two-part sequence of courses which is designed to acquaint students with the basic problems and positions in the history of Philosophy. In part one, we examined the classical foundations of the western philosophical tradition in ancient Greece. Part two will continue this process through an investigation of medieval philosophy, focusing on Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas--and modern philosophy, with a special emphasis on the foundations of modern philosophy, as exhibited in the thought of Rene Descartes and the debate between the rationalists and the empiricists. In addition we will examine the debate in modern ethics between Kantians and Utilitarians, in comparison with traditional natural law ethics. Finally, we will discuss nineteenth-century philosophies of history in the thought of Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche, followed by an exploration of the philosophy of Existentialism. Throughout this course students will be expected to engage in the critical analysis of philosophical problems and comparative positions in the history of Philosophy--both in orally and in writing. Taught by Dr. Peter Cvek.
Po-202: "Global Citizenship: Issues, Policies and Decision Making"
An examination and discussion of what it means to be a “global citizen” in the 21st Century. Through the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, students will analyze their role as global citizens. Students will attend colloquia at the United Nations, as well as lectures at Saint Peter’s, given by accomplished professionals in various fields. They will then analyze the information they hear and perform their own research into current issues—in class, in writing, and online—in order to learn about the world in which we live and to become effective decision makers. Applies as a Political Science elective. Taught by Dr. Anele Heiges and members of the Department of Political Science.
Th-110-Hp2 Religious Faith in the Modern World: "Space, Place and Modern Religiousness"
This seminar addresses modern religiousness through one of its phenomena: specific spaces and places associated with divine activity. Five major religious systems will be introduced and selected sacred texts will be considered, for how they discuss sacred space and places. Those texts will be related to specific examples, in order to discern and compare diverse of religious approaches to material and/or spiritual space. Field trips to several local places of worship and holy sites are included among our examples. Several theoretical frameworks that have developed in this young field will be introduced: how does one distinguish “space” and “place”? what makes and keeps a space “holy”? Students will be expected to creatively use those frameworks to analyze their examples. From this platform, the class will be in a position to survey the cultural and political implications of sacred space or place on a religion and its effect on interreligious dialogue. Taught by Dr. Susan Graham.
Th-120-Hp2 Christianity in the Contemporary Era: "Pilgrimage"
Pilgrimage, understood as a voyage to a place usually considered sacred for religious or sacred purposes, has great variety in the Christian world: destinations may commemorate theological events or holy persons (usually in the form of relics), or the journey itself may be the object of the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage involves so many theological ideas that it opens a wide window to the study of Christian theology in general. Pilgrims’ own accounts will be analyzed as examples of “interior” (spiritual) and “exterior” (physical) journeys, for the intentions, motivations, and degrees of communication that pilgrims expect or experience with the divine world, by means of various theoretical frameworks that have been developed in this young field. Field trips will be incorporated toprovide the class with illustrations and possibilities to participate in different forms of pilgrimage. The student will be expected to creatively use the frameworks he or she learns to analyze both documentary and experiential examples. Ultimately, our comparison of Christian pilgrimage with pilgrimage practice in other major religious systems will highlight features special to Christian pilgrimage and offer possibilities to analyze the place of Christianity in contemporary interreligious dialogue. Taught by Dr. Susan Graham.
Th-415-Hp Paul’s Gospel for the Nations (Values Course)
Saul, from Tarsus. A man with a cause, whose cause was changed. The seminar will explore how he pursued and promoted his new cause, the message of good news about Jesus Christ, in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, religiously plural, even syncretistic, world. We will consider how someone so profoundly shaped by his Judaism could describe Jesus as the hope of Israel to people who knew nothing about that hope, and manage to bring it across to them. The seminar will explore the strategies that enabled his success, the theological and spiritual challenges he had to face along the way, and how his message replied to those challenges. Taught by Dr. Susan Graham.
Th-430-Hp Jerusalem from King David to Caliph 'Umar (Values Course)
This course will explore what the city of Jerusalem meant to Jews and Christians from the time King David established it as the capital of Israel c. 100 B.C.E. to its takeover by the Muslims under Caliph 'Umar in 638 C.E. Extensive reading of texts from the Hebrew Bible,
Christian Scriptures and Early Jewish (Mishnah, Talmuds) and Christian writings (including pilgrimage accounts) will provide insight into the wealth of spiritual meanings and ideas associated with Jerusalem and particular sites in it. Both texts and archaeological findings in the city will be examined in order to correlate the physical city and its sacred sites to the religious ideas associated with Jerusalem. We also will consider inter-cultural influences and their impact on the city, its life, and symbolism, especially those attendant on conquests, from the Babylonian conquest to the Persian conquest of 614 C.E. and the peaceful takeover of Jerusalem by Caliph 'Umar two decades later. Taught by Dr. Susan Graham.
activities and other opportunities
The Honors Program hosts an assortment of fun gatherings, speakers, and special events over the course of the academic year. Honors students are encouraged to become GEMS (Getting Engaged in Mentoring Students): student mentors who strive to enrich the classroom and help build a community of engaged learners. GEMS serve as peer mentors, classroom helpers, study group facilitators, and liaisons to campus activities and events or in whatever manner deemed appropriate for fostering student engagement and building community. GEMS are assigned to the freshman seminar and attend this course at least once per week, and fulfill duties that promote engagement and community. GEMS are compensated through Work-Study funds. Additional benefits that GEMS may derive include establishing closer relationships with faculty, strengthening academic knowledge, enhancing interpersonal, leadership and oral presentation skills, contributing in the College’s persistence effort and developing one’s resume. If you are interested in taking part in this program, please contact Dr. Wifall.
Honors students also have the opportunity to work as Research Assistants for faculty members, for a stipend. In order to apply for an RA position, students may fill out an RA application form and submit it to the Honors Program (information above). Interested faculty members should also submit a Faculty RA application form. Assistantships extend for one semester and are granted based on available funding.
Faculty members may apply for funds to help them work with individual Honors students, enrich their Honors course experience, or develop new Honors courses.
Study Break in the Bastek Honors House
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