Course Catalog

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of a Catholic, Norbertine, liberal arts education. The focus of the course is on the understanding of the creation, development, and dynamics of communities. We will examine specific communities within our larger Fox River area community (ethnic communities, religious communities, and neighborhood communities). Critical thinking skills and inquiry methods will be used to help determine a topic of interest, identify a problem, create a question, and study an issue. Required “texts” will include scholarly articles, literary works, media, interviews, and field-based explorations. Objectives of the course include an understanding of the Norbertine heritage of the College, an awareness of and appreciation for “different ways of knowing,” and increased information literacy and communication skills. Prerequisite: honors program member. Fall semester.

Honors tutorials are flexible, two credit experiences that typically take place outside regular class times and can range from small-group discussion with a professor, group learning with visiting lecturers and community partners, or off-campus experiential learning. Topics are chosen by faculty members and are based on either their academic area of expertise or a particular avocation. Recent tutorials have comprised, among other things, a week-long Chicago museum experience, a tattoo and body art exhibition, and work with the production company Theater of War, which uses performance of Greek tragedy to heal combat trauma. A student may enroll in tutorials twice (two semesters of tutorials) or once if studying abroad. Prerequisite: permission of the Honors Program Director, junior standing or greater, and minimum GPA of 3.4. Graded on an S/U basis.

This course is designed to encourage sophomore-level students to reflect on their personal and professional goals, as well as to instruct them in the steps they must take and the skills they must master if they are to successfully transition from college to graduate or professional school. The course covers such topics as: writing an excellent personal statement; evaluating co-curricular activities; letters of recommendation; choosing the program that best suits your goals, interests, and budget, and preparing for the interviews. Open to honors program students only. Prerequisite: permission of the honors program director, minimum GPA of 3.4, sophomore standing or greater. Graded on an S/U basis. Spring semester.

This course is designed to encourage first-year students to reflect on their first semester at SNC and begin charting a meaningful and successful course to graduation. Topics covered include: vocational development and reflection on "studenthood" developing a four-year plan; majors, minors, and co-curricular commitments; mindfulness and mental health. Graded on an S/U basis.

This course gives graduating students the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements during their time at SNC and apply their insights to the “real” lives before them. The course covers such topics as: achieving work-life balance, financial literacy, and developing comprehensive digital portfolios and profiles. Graded on an S/U basis.