Honors Foundations courses

HONR 001 Honors Foundations (3 cr).
An introduction to the Drake Honors Program.  The meetings develop skills crucial to success in the Honors Program, in and outside of the classroom. The course structure is almost exclusively discussion based, and students are assigned to small groups of 10-15 students led by a pair of upper-level Honors students who act as discussion leaders and peer mentors (DGLs). The course topic changes from year to year. The Fall 2023 topic was technology and happiness, while the Fall 2024 topic was Stories & Storytelling. The Fall 2025 topic is yet to be determined, but will be structured around the ways that reason and emotion contribute to knowing.

The goals of Honors Foundations are generally to:

• develop skills necessary for success in Honors and other courses
• enhance student understanding of their own learning processes
• nurture intellectual curiosity
• communicate information about making the most of the Honors Program
• foster community within the group
• facilitate connections of the group with the larger Honors community

Students will spend the majority of their time in their small discussion groups led by their DGLs, and develop their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and discussion skills. The course often hosts guest speakers and meets as a whole group at times as well. 

Prerequisite: none. Admitted Honors students have registration priority, but non-Honors students interested in the Honors program and track may enroll, as well. 

HONR 101: Foundations II (Discussion Group Leaders) (3 cr).
This course gives upper-level Honors students the opportunity to craft effective leadership skills as they mentor small groups of 10-15 first year students enrolled in Honors 001 First Year Honors Foundations. These Discussion Group Leaders (DGLs) collaborate in pairs with other DGLs to develop and implementation curriculum, service, and social activities for their assigned first year groups. DGLs work closely with the Honors Director (and lead course instructor) to develop the curriculum, readings, and other materials necessary to guide the Foundations first-year students and help them develop their skills as Honors college students. DGLs also maintain "office hours" to serve as peer advisors for Honors students about program requirements, courses, registration, activities, and opportunities.

 DGLs  should be well-versed in the Honors program, intellectually curious, and embody the goals set for the first-year students as independent thinkers, thoughtful leaders, and effective communicators who are committed to growing further in all of these areas. 

Enrollment eligibility: Prerequisite: HONR 001 Honors Foundations. Interested students should obtain a recommendation from a DGL and have an interest in developing curriculum, leading discussions, and helping others learn. Honors Director approval required.