Honors Study Abroad Spring 2009

Spring Break in The Holy Land

Courses Offered for Participants

Program Instructor: Dr. Deborah McCollister

1. HNRS 2390: Introduction to Cultures in Context: Israel

Prerequisite: 3.2 GPA or approval of Honors Program Director, Dr. Philip Mitchell. 

Even those who are not officially in the Honors Program may take the course (as is the case with other honors classes), but evidence of academic preparation is essential.  

2.  HNRS 4390: Honors Study Abroad: Israel

Prerequisites: Admission to Honors Program; Credit for English 1301 and 1302 and one other HNRS-designated course; 45 hours

Both HNRS 2390 and 4390 are interdisciplinary, and students will read and discuss a variety of Hebrew texts and topics. Some assignments will be based upon individuals’ interests in such areas as history, music, art, architecture, religion, literature, education, or science—to name a few.

3.  ENGL 4317/MALA 5395: Studies in Global Literature: Hebrew Literature

Prerequisites: English 2301 or 2302. Students will read ancient and modern Hebrew and Israeli texts, including texts from the Diaspora.     

4.  Lower-level Independent Study in English available upon request. 

There will be no substitutes for required lower-level courses of English 1301, 1302, 2301, or 2302.  However, you may take a course as a lower-level and upper-level elective that would fulfill the requirement in your degree for elective credit. 

Question: Must I pay tuition in addition to the cost of the trip?

If one wants to earn three hours of course credit, tuition is required. This is no problem for most students since (a) they need to take courses anyway and (b) any financial aid that applies to other courses applies to the courses above. Complete course syllabi will be available late in Fall 2008.

Another question: I do not want or need course credit.  May I still go?  May my mom go? May a person who is not associated with DBU go?

Yes, this trip is not limited to persons associated with DBU.  Thus, you may bring along friends or family members who are responsible adults and also able to navigate sometimes challenging terrain due to steps and uneven pavement.  We are actually joining another group largely composed of adults who are not college students--but are eager to learn about the Holy Land!

How Will My Course Be Conducted?

Payment

For the Tour: The deposit for the trip itself is $300 per person to reserve a space, with half of the tour cost due on October 7, 2008, and final payment on December 26.  See the brochure for information as to fine print, to whom you make the checks, etc.

For Tuition: Obviously, this is a separate item.  If you want course credit, you will register for your course and pay as you would for any other course in Spring 2009.

Class Meetings & Assignments

During the Spring Semester, we will meet together as a class about four times (dates to be announced). Yes, we will meet all together, whether you are earning English or Honors Program credit.  I will assign projects and readings to you--some in common, and some to individuals.

As for individual projects, one student may prepare something on architecture, one student may give us an update on Israeli government, one student may explain the educational system, one student may describe some key exhibits at a museum we will visit, and one student may tell us how the landscape figures into a particular Israeli short story or poem. Many possibilities exist! The content will be shaped around basics to enhance your and others’ travel/ study experience AND around your own interests.

During the trip, you will be required to participate fully in the tour and attend all scheduled lectures while on tour.  The tour will be our classroom. 

After we return to DBU, we will meet only one more time face-to-face.  You will be required to present some thoughtful record of the trip using a daily journal, photographs, a video, or some other artifact that can be presented both to instruct others and to preserve the experience for your own enjoyment in years to come.  

After the trip, you will also write a paper based upon some aspect of Hebrew or Israeli culture. The subject and length will depend upon your course, and will be pre-approved by Dr. McCollister.

An Added Note

Students have often commented to me, even years later, about how travel abroad with a DBU group was a life-changing experience.  I will hold you to high standards of scholarship and conduct since we will represent our University, our nation, and our Lord.  But also expect to have a wonderful time! 

Contact Information

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions at Deborah@dbu.edu or 214/333-5416 or by coming to my office, LC 217 in the College of Humanities suite.   

Honors Program Information

Honors Faculty
Honors Perspectives Courses

Honors Enrichment

Frequently Asked Questions
Honors Application

Honors Program Information

 Honors Faculty
Honors Perspectives Courses

Honors Enrichment

Frequently Asked Questions

Study Abroad
Honors Application (Download PDF)
Recommendation Form (Download PDF)

Admission to the Honors Program

For incoming freshmen, a minimum SAT score of 1150 or an ACT score of 25 and two high school faculty recommendations. For returning students to DBU, a 3.5 overall GPA at DBU and two faculty recommendations are required for admission to the program. Transfer students must have at least twelve hours of credit at DBU with a minimum DBU GPA of 3.5 and two faculty recommendations for admission to the program.

All applicants must also submit a 250-to-500-word letter of interest. It should seek to tell us some of the following questions:

• What do you hope to gain by being part of the University Honors Program?
• What are your interests academically?
• What do your other personal interests include (for example, future vocation, reading and music, sports, hobbies, and/or Christian ministry)?
• What other noteworthy accomplishments would you like us to know about?

Transfer students who were members of an academic organization such as Phi Beta Kappa at their previous institution may apply for first-semester acceptance. No student with more than 70 hours may be admitted to the Honors Program.

To be recognized as an Honors Program graduate at DBU, a student must have successfully completed a minimum of 30 hours in honors classes including a minimum of at least 18 hours in the Honors core. Honors Program core components include four Perspectives classes, an Honors section of Developing A Christian Mind, and the Senior Thesis or Project. The student must also regularly enroll in Honors Enrichment and complete an enrichment event portfolio before completing the Senior Thesis or Project. Honors Program students may take as many honors courses as they would like but no more than three honors courses per semester.

Contact

For more information, contact

Dr. Philip Mitchell at 1/214-333-5526 or email him at philipm@dbu.edu.