I’ll admit that I don’t really have an answer to that question. After all, it’s one that’s been puzzled over for quite some time, and no consensus has yet been reached. But regardless of what you’re majoring in or what classes you choose to fulfill your general education requirements, I think it’s safe to say that the ability to think both broadly and deeply is an essential characteristic of the liberally educated person.

And the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Eureka’s Honors Program perfectly encapsulates this intent. Allow me to explain:

First, thinking broadly. By this I mean exploring a wide array of topics, considering the interrelationships between seemingly discrete fields of knowledge, and remaining curious and open to new areas of experience. Our Honors Seminars fit the bill: They explore a variety of fascinating topics, from the workings of the American prison system to bioethics to superheroes. As interdisciplinary courses they cross the boundaries between fields of study, and students and faculty alike profit from the range of academic interests that participants bring to them.

Second, thinking deeply. Knowing a little bit about a lot of things is fine, but a truly educated person has also delved deeply into the issues that he or she cares about. The thesis process lets students do precisely this. While working with a faculty committee, our Honors graduates have explored a topic that matters to them, and they have written and spoken eloquently on their subjects. I invite you to look through the bookshelf in the Gammon Room at Melick Library that houses past Honors theses; they’re really quite impressive.

This brings me to my favorite thing about Honors: I get to learn from our students. As they research and write their theses, juniors and seniors in the Honors Program become experts in their topics. Since I serve as a reader on every thesis committee, this means that I’ve learned about the social commentaries embedded in zombie movies, interpretive difficulties in the study of the Koran, and what exactly is meant by “animal enrichment.” I can safely say that, as an English professor specializing in the Middle Ages, it’s unlikely that I would have learned about these things anywhere else. Clearly, the Honors Program continues to contribute to my liberal arts education, as well. So much the better!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jessica Barr
Director of the Honors Program

2009-2010 Honor Students