Purdue North Central Honors Course Proposal
Submission Date:
(Date sent to Honors
Program Subcommittee)
11/11/12
Document No:
12-H-07
(Leave blank)
Submitting Dept:
Course number and title:
IDIS 491
Reviewed by Department:
(Date reviewed by
department)
Reviewed by Honors
Subcommittee: (Leave
11/9/12
(Name of
dept/pgm)
Course instructor:
(Name & Title)
11/25/12
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Approval by
Faculty Senate:
Social Sciences
Karen Schmid, VC of Academic
Affairs
Laura Weaver, Service Learning
Coordinator
December 7, 2012
(Leave blank)
Unless marked “Leave blank” all parts of this form must be filled in before sending to the Honors Program
Subcommittee.
Current catalog description of course. (For new courses, or changes to current catalog descriptions or course
objectives, a curriculum document must also be submitted)
From its humble beginnings during the Revolutionary War to the major tourist attraction it is
today, Washington DC serves as a symbol of freedom for millions of Americans. This course will
explore the history of this great American city while examining the political and cultural
movements it has undergone over the past three centuries. The course will also focus on the
broader concept of citizenship. Class activities will include visits to Congress and Capitol Hill, giving
students an inside look at the inner workings of politics today; exploring the Library of Congress;
viewing the most important document in American history – the Declaration of Independence at
the National Archives; spending a day at historic Mount Vernon, President Washington’s
picturesque estate; tours of various Smithsonian Museums to discover the artifacts, stories, and
people who helped build this city and our nation; and cultural events that can only be experienced
in Washington DC.
Current course objectives.
1. Demonstrate understanding of citizenship and a selected topic related to the Four Grand Challenges
of the Smithsonian Institution through discussion and course assignments.
2. Develop knowledge of a site in Washington through research, a brief presentation to the class to
prepare for this site visit, and leadership when visiting this site.
3. Analyze course readings and field experiences relating them to your major area of study or
professional goals through a research paper.
4. Synthesize what you have learned through the research paper and presentation and a trip scrapbook
or digital story.
Provide a description of the honors component of the course, showing how the course will meet
PNC’s definition of an honors course.
The Honors version of IDIS 491 will focus on integrative thinking and it will also require more dialogue
between the students and faculty. Students will engage in inquiry and discovery.
Honors students will meet with the instructors 2-3 additional times during the semester to establish
the honors project and to develop contacts in Washington. Early in the semester Honors students will
contact at least one resource person or expert in Washington, such as a member of the curatorial staff
at the Smithsonian or a Congressional aide, to organize their project.
Honors students’ projects will focus on synthesizing connections among experiences outside the formal
classroom with their field of study to deepen understanding and also on reflection and self-assessment.
Honors students will do additional work by making a presentation on their projects to a student group,
such as Honors students, the Veterans Club, or a student organization. The students will choose the
format of their presentation in a way that enhances meaning, generally a PowerPoint presentation.
Describe how the honors version of the course will meet course objectives in a more complex,
challenging, or enriching way.
Honors students will meet outcomes 1 and 4 in a more complex and challenging way. Their project will
require working directly with an expert in Washington both ahead of and during the time on site.
Honors students will demonstrate understanding of citizenship and one of the Four Grand Challenges
of the Smithsonian Institution in a deeper way, as the student will engage in open exploration, inquiry,
and discovery. Honors students will have an additional section of their research paper in which they
will envision a future self in light of their experiences in the Washington class. Students will transfer
what they have learned to their goals and expectations for themselves in their careers and as citizens.
Describe how honors students’ work will be evaluated.
The Honors project will be evaluated using the Integrative Learning VALUE Rubric from AAC&U
(http://www.aacu.org/value/rubrics/pdf/integrativelearning.pdf). For an A the student would need to
be working at the “Capstone” level.
Please also submit a syllabus for the non-honors version of this course.
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