(revised 09/30/02)

The following list of learning outcomes represents the overall goals of the Honors Program.  They fall into three groups:  the academic skills necessary for effective thought and expression, intellectual attitudes about the world and our place in it, and the ability and willingness to function as part of a larger group or community.

1.  Skills

a.  clear and compelling written expression

b.  facility and confidence in oral expression, in both group discussion and formal presentation

c.  the thoughtful analysis of texts based on a close reading and careful reflection

d.  critical thinking that is open-minded, objective, and as free as possible from prejudice and presupposition

e.  the comprehension of abstract arguments and the ability to move between the general and the particular

f.  the ability to carry out a program of independent research involving both library and web-based resources

g.  the audacity to run the risk of creative thinking and intellectual initiative

2.  Intellectual Orientation

a.  appreciation for the variety of ways to express truths (scientific, artistic, religious, etc)

b.  appreciation for the interrelationship of things, and the multiple perspectives from which a subject can be addressed

c.  an appreciation for the variety of human experience, exploring both its universality and its diversity

d.  a capacity to examine one's own perspective in light of differing values or points of view

e.  intellectual curiosity and an appreciation for increased knowledge as a good in and of itself

f.  an understanding of and appreciation for the various modes of artistic expression

3.  Communal Interaction and Involvement

a.  collaboration on group projects or activities

b.  participation in the life of the campus

c.  service to the larger community

d.  informed interest in current issues and events