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In the fall 2024 semester, the Fritz Honors College will offer two special topics seminars open to all honors students who want to take a deep dive into a unique academic niche. One section of HON 383 will focus on nonstandard religious groups, and the other will look at the work of James Baldwin and his influence on American culture.

“When I asked professors for their proposals for the first honors seminars, my pitch was simple,” said Fritz Honors College Dean Jeff Vahlbusch, Ph.D. “The world needs help, and our students will be among the ones solving the problems left by previous generations. What course would you propose to help prepare and inspire extraordinary students to become lifelong problem-solvers?”

Vahlbusch’s question is meant to spark inquiry, critical thought and excitement in both the faculty members proposing honors seminars as well as the students who enroll in the course. 

In her seminar “Cults and New Religious Movements,” Taylor Newton, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, looks at groups and practices outside the religious mainstream – including extremist groups, new-age cults, mysticism and other examples from history and in contemporary society.

“One of my implicit goals for the class is to have students cultivate intellectual humility and empathy, both of which are useful for life in general as well as for studying religion on the margins of society,” said Newton. “I hope to challenge students to shed dismissive attitudes – e.g. these people are ‘weird’ or ‘crazy’ – and instead embrace an attitude that is both curious about human nature and grounded in respect for all persons.”

Mathew Swiatlowski, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, will offer the second honors course, “James Baldwin and Black Freedom” – a close reading of Baldwin’s literary works in the context of 20th-century African American history, including events such as the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement.

“Topically, this course will expose students to the deep connection between power and race in United States history,” said Swiatlowski. “The structure and framework of the course will encourage students to think more critically, analytically and empathetically about social, cultural and economic problems in the U.S. and the broader world. Plus, they get to read Baldwin's awesome writing.”

The Fritz Honors College will welcome 50 to 75 new students in fall 2024.  The two sections of HON 383 are open to upper-class students, including transfer students joining the honors college with an associate’s degree or equivalent, as well as those transitioning from Lineberger Fellows, Honors Academy or the Engaged Scholars program into the Fritz Honors College. First-year students joining the Fritz Honors College will be eligible to enroll in a range of new honors First Year Experience (FYE) courses.

“These courses address the types of questions that lie at the heart of a liberal arts education, and we plan to expand the offerings with each new semester,” said Vahlbusch. “The goal is to give students a comprehensive sense of what’s happening in different areas of the world around them and help them develop the knowledge, skills and values to make that world better.”