Honors Program seminars requested for 2013-14

The Honors Program at Western Washington University is requesting proposals for Honors seminars for the 2013-14 academic year. A formal call for proposals will be sent shortly after the beginning of winter quarter.

The WWU Honors Program invites proposals for not fewer than eight seminars to be offered during the 2013-14 academic year. Honors seminars are junior-level courses and may be on any subject; interdisciplinary proposals are strongly encouraged. For the coming academic year, the program is especially eager to offer seminars with natural science subject matter, and proposals from those areas are especially encouraged. Classes are small, with a limit of 15 students, and are highly interactive focusing on discussion, paper writing, problem solving, or group projects. Proposals should not exceed 500 words but may include in addition, sample syllabi, bibliographies, or other attachments. Instructors who have taught in Honors previously must include class evaluations for those classes or a representative sample. Faculty who have not previously taught an Honors class should include evaluations for similar classes, e.g., small, discussion oriented or problem-solving classes. Copies of previously successful proposals will be available by link shortly after the first of the year.

Interested faculty members should send electronic proposals tohonors@cc.wwu.edu or paper proposals to mailstop 9112.

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8.

Faculty should note that this is an excellent way to try out a new class and to teach a group of highly motivated, high-achieving students. Many Honors seminars are born from the ideas of faculty who have always wanted to teach an experimental class, sometimes in the faculty member’s department, and sometimes in another, allied area, but the opportunity has not been available. In many instances, Honors seminars become part of the faculty member’s suite of permanent course offerings. ­Faculty are limited to one seminar proposal per year, and no seminar will be taught in consecutive years, though a faculty member may teach different seminars in consecutive years.

For more information, email or call the director, George Mariz, at george.mariz@wwu.edu or 360-650-3446.