Honors Program
The Montreat College Honors Program is a community of students and faculty who support and challenge one another’s intellectual and spiritual growth.
Our curriculum is oriented towards a Christian vision of flourishing, both for humanity and creation. Together we explore texts and topics from the Christian, Western, and World traditions from the perspective of multiple disciplines across the arts and sciences asking the big questions of human existence: What is the nature of the universe? What is truth? What is humanity? What is beauty?
We study texts and topics in relation to the Christian scriptures, creeds, and narrative, practicing a mature posture of humility, empathy, and charity towards one another.
All honors students are mentored by the program director and an additional assigned faculty member
Enhanced emphasis on writing through assignments designed to help students be reflective and articulate
Additional co-curricular activities, such as exclusive access to college speakers in a conversational setting
Sample Courses
HONS 3110 Honors Text Seminar
This course involves the intensive study of a single or multiple texts from within the Christian, Western or World Traditions that engage deeply with existential questions. These texts had cultural resonance at the time of their composition and continue to challenge our understandings of a life well-lived. The texts covered in this seminar will rotate and will be chosen by the faculty member teaching the course in consultation with the Honors Director. The format of the class will be largely discussion-based with extensive practice in verbal and written argumentation. Students and faculty will also draw upon the authorities of the Christian tradition (scriptures and creeds), as well as the Christian theological narrative to work through the relationship of these texts to the themes and ideas within the Christian tradition and the students’ own spiritual lives, regardless of their faith tradition.
Text courses offered include, “Dante’s Comedy,” “Jane Austen,” “Early Church Councils” and “Authors of the Reformation.”
HONS 4120 Honors Topic Seminar
This course involves the intensive study of a contemporary topic. The topics will be one of perennial concern to humanity and be easily tied back to an existential question. The topic will have local as well as global implications. The topics covered in this seminar will rotate and will be chosen by the department(s) of the faculty member(s) teaching the course as well as the Honors Director. Some courses may be team-taught by two or three faculty members. The format of the class will be largely discussion-based with extensive practice in verbal and written argumentation. In addition, the topical seminar should involve a retreat, field trip, service-learning or another experiential element. Students and faculty will also draw upon the authorities of the Christian tradition (scriptures and creeds) as well as the Christian theological narrative to work through the relationship of these texts to the themes and ideas within the Christian tradition and the students’ own spiritual lives, regardless of their faith tradition.
Topics currently offered include, “Ancient Greek Culture,” “Existentialism,” “The American Dream: Land Class,” and “Origins of the Universe.”
35 Honors Scholarships Available
Montreat College will award 35 Honors Scholarships to eligible incoming Fall 2022 students. To be eligible, students must have completed applications submitted to Montreat College and the Honors Program by January 14, 2022. Students must also attend Scholars Day on Friday, February 4, 2022.
Faculty
Dr. Lisa Toland
Professor of History and Honors Program Director
Studies in History, Language, and Literature
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression
lisa.toland@montreat.edu
Benjamin Brandenburg
Assistant Professor of History
Studies in History, Language, and Literature
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression
benjamin.brandenburg@montreat.edu
Dr. Don King
Professor of English, Faculty Fellow
Studies in History, Language, and Literature
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression
don.king@montreat.edu
Dr. Peter Yoder
Assistant Professor of Honors and History
Studies in History, Language, and Literature
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression
peter.yoder@montreat.edu
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