Honors Courses
Honors courses at Butler University are quite distinctive from
other college and university honors programs and from honors
courses in most high school curriculum. At Butler, our courses are
designed to get students thinking on topics they might not
otherwise have a chance to consider. Ideally, our courses will
prepare students for one of the most important aspects of a college
education: Learning to think for oneself.
"I learned a lot about myself in [my honors] class and I really
think it was my saving grace this semester."
"It is really hard to put into words what this course has done
for me. It has absolutely changed my life for the better."
"Wow! This course was an eye opener... I could express my ideas
much more freely. Oh what a lovely, lovely thing."
To that end, Butler's honors program does not routinely offer
"honors" sections or "advanced" sections of courses that will be
required by a student's major or as part of Butler's core
curriculum. Our honors courses are hands-on learning experiences
that bring together faculty and students from all areas of the
university for discussion, projects, field trips, and other forms
of experiential learning.
"My honors course was so incredibly different from any other
course I have ever taken in my life... There aren't a lot of
classes where you have the luxury of focusing on one topic
or story the entire semester."
"I got to use skills that other courses neglect to nurture."
"The class was very well organized and well taught. Students of
all different views felt free to express opinions."
Our ideal model for honors courses at Butler are the
conversations many people find themselves in by 3:00 in the morning
at summer camp, or in the dorms, talking and debating topics such
as human rights, religion, sexuality, politics, media and society,
etc. We feel that this style of teaching will lead students to
figure out where they stand in the world when it comes to a variety
of topics that they will inevitably encounter at Butler University
and beyond.
"The class environment was relaxed and conducive to
learning."
"It is such a pleasure to take a class where the instructor is
obviously passionate about what he's teaching."