Core Sequence

The Core Sequence consists of discussion-based courses in which careful reading, debate, and inquiry are encouraged. Students often manifest their understanding in experimental or creative forms of expression. The several sections of each class are uniquely shaped by the people in the room. They unite, however, around common conceptual pursuits, such as the nature of justice, power, and love; the processes by which humans make decisions and determine values; and the relationships between individuals and the communities they inhabit.

Across three quarters, Honors students complete four courses. They enroll in HNRS 101 and HNRS 103 concurrently in their first Fall Quarter in the Honors College; HNRS 104 in Winter; and either HNRS 105 or HNRS 106 in Spring. Incoming Honors students must complete the Core Sequence unless otherwise discussed with the director of the Honors College.

In addition to the foundational experiences offered by the Core Sequence, completion of the classes awards students the
following General University Requirements (GURs):

  • 8 credits in Humanities (HUM);
  • 1 course in Comparative, Gender, and Multicultural Studies (CGM); and,
  • Fulfillment of the Communication B Block (BCOM)
See GUR Fulfillment

Fall Quarter

HNRS 101: The Big Picture

The Big Picture is a common intellectual experience for all new students in the WWU Honors College. It combines an introduction to WWU Honors with engaging lectures by top scholars from across the university. (1 credit)

HNRS 103: Navigating the Human Experience – Pre-Modernity

The Honors Core Sequence explores the remarkable diversity of human experiences, past and present, fosters compassion, and grounds student reflection on what makes a meaningful life. HNRS 103 introduces the College's unique approach to the humanities and interdisciplinary inquiry, developing core habits and practices meant to complement each student's work within their majors and minors. Emphasizing communication, curation, and creation, the course provides opportunities for students to generate the critical thought, analysis, and expression essential to producing rigorous, artistic scholarship in any field. HNRS 103 centers texts from the distant past to understand how and in what ways worlds and worldviews can be both drastically different from our own and built on experiences we clearly share in the present day. Students can expect to engage critically with the concept of "premodernity," practice open dialogue and collaborative inquiry, and share responsibility for sustaining a rigorous and inclusive classroom community. (4 credits)

Winter Quarter

HNRS 104: Navigating the Human Experience – Modernity

The Honors Core Sequence explores the remarkable diversity of human experiences, past and present, fosters compassion, and grounds student reflection on what makes a meaningful life. For new and continuing students, HNRS 104 further develops core habits and practices of humanities and interdisciplinary inquiry. Centering texts and media that critically engage with the concept of "modernity" and its global impacts, the course builds understanding of worlds and worldviews that coalesced over the last several hundred years and profoundly affected the lives of nearly all humans, non-human animals, and the planet as a whole. Students can expect to practice open dialogue and collaborative inquiry, sharing responsibility for sustaining a rigorous and inclusive classroom community, and cultivating both old and new ways to communicate and create. This course has been approved for study abroad. HNRS 104 is only offered on campus in Winter Quarter. (4 credits)

Spring Quarter

Students choose between HNRS 105 and HNRS 106. Both courses use the rubric of “Postmodernity” to hone in on human experiences that academic discourses have, historically speaking, subordinated and silenced. By communing with those whose lives and creations represent a marked departure from the dominant structures, values, and institutions of the Global North (North America and Western Europe), students are invited to revisit, reconsider, and recontextualize material from previous quarters.

HNRS 105: Navigating the Human Experience – Post-Modernity [A]

The Honors Core Sequence explores the remarkable diversity of human experiences, past and present, fosters compassion, and grounds student reflection on what makes a meaningful life. For new and continuing students, Honors 105 further develops the core habits and practices of humanities and interdisciplinary inquiry. Emphasizing more recent texts and media, HNRS 105 centers the experiences, visions, and voices of human beings outside of North America and Europe whose lives have historically been intentionally ignored, willfully mischaracterized, or apathetically neglected. As the final course in the sequence, Honors 105 invites students to revisit, reconsider, and recontextualize material from previous quarters. Students can expect to engage in open dialogue and collaborative inquiry, sharing responsibility for sustaining a rigorous and inclusive classroom community. Cultivating and experimenting with old and new ways to communicate and create, the course critically engages with the concept of "postmodernity." This course has been approved for study abroad. HNRS 105 is only offered on campus in Spring Quarter. (4 ACGM credits)

OR

HNRS 106: Navigating the Human Experience – Post-Modernity [B]

The Honors Core Sequence explores the remarkable diversity of human experiences, past and present, fosters compassion, and grounds student reflection on what makes a meaningful life. For new and continuing students, Honors 106 further develops the core habits and practices of humanities and interdisciplinary inquiry. Emphasizing more recent texts and media, HNRS 106 centers the experiences, visions, and voices of human beings within North America and Europe whose lives have historically been intentionally ignored, willfully mischaracterized, or apathetically neglected. As the final course in the sequence, Honors 106 invites students to revisit, reconsider, and recontextualize material from previous quarters. Students can expect to engage in open dialogue and collaborative inquiry, sharing responsibility for sustaining a rigorous and inclusive classroom community. Cultivating and experimenting with old and new ways to communicate and create, the course critically engages with the concept of "postmodernity." This course has been approved for study abroad. HNRS 106 is only offered on campus in Spring Quarter. (4 BCGM credits)