International Honors Program
253.535.5062
finstuas@plu.edu
Faculty: Finstuen, Director; Halvorson, Palerm, Ronning, Torvend, Others to be designated.
Click here to view International Honors (IHON) courses
The International Honors Program is a challenging and creative way to satisfy most core curriculum requirements, reflecting PLU’s unique mission and emphasis upon the liberal arts. Consisting of interdisciplinary and some team-taught courses, this multi-year program consisting of seven required courses, explores contemporary issues and their historical foundations through an integrated and multi-national approach. The program attracts inquisitive, caring students from all disciplines. Many Honors students choose to live in a designated wing of Hong International Hall, our international residence; whether inside or out, participants in the IHON Program form a thriving living/learning community.
International Honors Requirements
Seven courses, 28 semester hours distributed as follows:
International Honors 111-112 (190): Origins of the Contemporary World
Eight semester hours
Normally taken sequentially in the first year. These courses explore from a global perspective the historical roots of contemporary events, values and traditions.
Four 200-level International Honors courses
16 semester hours
Normally taken in the second and third year. A wide range of these courses are offered every semester, and during J-Term.
One 300-level International Honors course
Four semester hours
Taken after or with the last 200-level course.
Policies and Guidelines for International Honors
The three levels of IHON courses are built sequentially upon one another in terms of content and learning objectives. In order to acquire a common background, IHON students generally take the required IHON 111-112 (190) sequence in their first year, before taking their choice of 200-level courses. Exceptions to this sequence can be made for transfer students, or for students who are accepted into the Honors Program during their first year at PLU.With prior approval by the IHON chair, an appropriate semester-long course abroad may take the place of one 200-level IHON course. Such a course must focus on a contemporary issue, be international in scope, interdisciplinary, and require honor’s-level critical thinking and writing. One 301 modern language course intentionally designed to meet program objectives (Chinese, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish) may also replace one 200-level IHON course when the student completes supplementary IHON expectations.
Multiple sections of IHON 111 are offered every Fall semester; and sections of IHON 112 (190) every Spring semester; beginning Fall 2008, varying IHON 200-level courses will be offered every semester including J-Term; IHON 300-level courses will be offered every semester beginning Fall 2009. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the required seven courses in the IHON Program by the end of their junior year at the latest in order to focus on completion of majors and related research during their senior year.