Special Academic Programs
The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program
The Transformational Leaders Program
Student Designed Major
The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program
Jeana DelRosso, Ph.D., Director
Learn to Live
The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program is designed to meet the needs and interests of Women's College students of outstanding academic ability and high motivation. The goal is to provide opportunities for students to experience the same challenge and excitement in education that Elizabeth Morrissy encouraged throughout her distinguished 40-year career as a professor of history, political science and economics at the Notre Dame.
Morrissy courses are designed to create small learning communities of scholars exploring a topic together and enjoying the pleasure of mutual discovery and intellectual stimulation. Some courses are offered within specific disciplines and may meet general education requirements. Other courses are interdisciplinary and become electives within the student's program of study. Drawn from a variety of departments, Morrissy courses promote the integration of knowledge which offers new insights into students' learning. This integration is often accomplished by two professors teaching together to provide perspectives from different disciplines and to enrich the experience of all. Through the program's research, internship, service, leadership and collaborative opportunities, students are empowered to use their knowledge to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of others.
Students become Morrissy scholars by application or invitation. Students applying for admission to Notre Dame may apply for admission to the Morrissy Honors Program. The Morrissy Honors Council reviews the records of those applicants and of other incoming first-year students to prepare a cohort of potential scholars. In addition to selection at entrance, each semester the director of the Morrissy Program asks for recommendations from the faculty for other potential scholars to be considered for invitation into the program.
Students must register for at least one honors course per year and take six honors courses during their four years at the University. Those who are enrolled in "3/2" programs with other institutions or who spend a semester or year studying overseas need to complete a minimum of 5 honors courses. Transfer students from an honors program may transfer nine honors credits. Transfer students with an AA degree from a community college without an honors program need to complete a minimum of 4 honors courses. Three credits of honors work may be taken as an independent study with the approval of the sponsoring faculty member and the Morrissy director. Students are expected to maintain a 3.3 overall average and a B average in honors courses to remain in the program. Honors courses cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis. The director reviews the records of Morrissy scholars at the end of each semester.
Morrissy scholars receive recognition in various ways. Honors courses are so designated on student transcripts. Completion of the program is noted on scholars' final transcripts and diplomas and in the Commencement program. Students in the Morrissy Program are also recognized publicly at Notre Dame's annual Honors Convocation. Students in the program enjoy the special benefits of the Mildred Otenasek Honors House, which stands as a symbol of the program and serves as a gathering place for social, academic, and program activities.
In addition to special courses, Morrissy scholars have access to a variety of honors activities. Each semester, the director hosts a dinner for Morrissy scholars and honors faculty. Each year, the Honors Program sponsors off-campus trips to museums and performing arts events. Morrissy scholars often serve the University during programs planned for prospective students visiting campus as well as at lecture series or cultural events offered for the Notre Dame community and the general public. Members of the Morrissy Honors Student Executive Board assist the Morrissy director in making plans for the program.
The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program maintains memberships in the National Collegiate Honors Council, the Northeast Regional Honors Council, and the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council. Morrissy scholars regularly participate in honors conferences through poster and paper presentations.
Honors Course Descriptions
ART-279 Honors: Concepts in Visual Aesthetics
Introduces new ideas and concepts stemming from a particular period and/or movement in society, becoming the "fireworks" that stir the artistic spirit to react to those ideas consciously, vibrantly, intuitively and with unique creativity. This class will use audio-visuals, readings and shared dialog to examine works of art and varied aesthetic concepts. It will address the artist as a gendered translator of history, as a visionary, and as a social documentarian within the context of significant periods in Western art. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills the general education requirement in fine arts. [3 credits]
BIO-108 Honors: Natural History
Examines the contributions made by natural historians over the past 200 years, including Charles Darwin, Konrad Lorenz and Stephen Jay Gould. Readings and discussions will focus on topics including mechanisms of evolution, the fossil record and animal domestication. Students will consider how natural history has contributed extensively to theories of biological evolution. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
BIO-239 HONORS: GENETICS
Meets concurrently with and considers the same subject matter as BIO-239 (non-Honors). Honors students meet for an extra one hour per week to concentrate on the historical and social aspects of genetics. Four hours lecture and three hours laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO-111 and CHM-110 with a minimum grade of C. [4 credits]
BIO-308 Honors: Geology and Ecology of the American West
Focuses on the basic concepts of plate tectonics and applies them to the geological events that shaped the American West. Focuses on the relationships between the plants and animals of the American West and their environment. Develops connections between the geology and ecology of the area. Integrates current ecological problems of the area such as water regulation, mining and logging. Lecture and laboratory are integrated into three two-hour sessions. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science. Designed for non-science majors. [4 credits]
COM-329 Honors: Women in Mass Communication History
Engages students in an historical-critical study of the role of women in the communication fields of broadcasting, journalism, public relations and advertising. Surveys their contributions as practitioners and the challenges they have met as part of the professional media culture. Opportunities to meet women working in the media and to participate in an oral history project. Fulfills general education requirement in history and gender studies. [3 credits]
ECO-220 Honors: Economics and Contemporary Issues
Applies economic principles and methodologies to the decision-making process of individuals, businesses and governments. Evaluates current political, social and economic events using basic economic theories and principles. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in social science. [3 credits]
ECO-330 Honors: Food Safety Risk Analysis
Analyzes the extent and significance of food-borne diseases in the United States and around the world. Examines the most important hazards to food safety, including food additives and pesticides, microbial hazards, irradiation, and food defense as well as science-based solutions to their management. Considers the interdisciplinary risk analysis paradigm as a modern approach to food safety systems in considerable detail. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
ENG-251 Honors: Ethnic American Literature
Studies works by writers of different ethnic groups in 20th century America, with emphasis on African-American, Asian-American, Jewish-American, Native-American and Latino/a writings. The course will provide interdisciplinary approaches to literature; readings will come from several literary genres, including novels, short stories and poetry, but students will also read theory and criticism relevant to recent work in ethnic studies. The course will teach students to read and write about literature, and it will introduce many of the important works of 20th century American minority literature. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in literature and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]
ENG-313 Honors: Thomas Hardy: Novelist and Poet
Provides an in-depth study of English writer Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Hardy is known as a Victorian novelist and a modern poet; his work thus crosses literary (generic) and historical boundaries. Hardy wrote 14 novels, 50 short stories, roughly 1,000 poems, one epic drama, seven volumes of published letters, an autobiography, and a number of essays on literary and sociological topics. Students will read selected novels and poems as we trace Hardy's career and examine literary topics such as serial publication, the circulating library, and censorship, along with themes such as the Victorian "Woman Question," the part-real, part-invented land of Wessex, social class, law, and the "ache of modernism" in his later novels. Students will engage in primary (letters, notebooks, etc.) and secondary (critical) research as they explore these and other topics in two research projects during the semester. The course emphasizes the process of writing a research paper. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in literature. [3 credits]
ENG-324 Honors: The Irish "Troubles": Literature, History and Film
Examines, from a variety of perspectives, the Irish "Troubles;" that is, the violent political conflicts between Irish and English in the early 20th century and between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the late 20th century. Explores literary and cinematic treatments of the conflict and compares them with historical accounts in order to arrive at a better understanding of the "Troubles." Students will discuss the treatment of the "Troubles" in the plays of Sean O'Casey and Brian Friel, the poetry of W.B. Yeats and Seamus Heaney, the fiction of Frank O'Connor, Liam O'Flaherty, Eugene McCabe and others, and the memoir, Guerilla Days in Ireland by Tom Barry. Students will also view several films, including "Michael Collins" and "Bloody Sunday." Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
ENG-350 Honors: The Literature and Psychology of Travel
Explores the effects and implications of travel as portrayed in contemporary nonfiction and autobiographical fiction. Examines how travel affects our sense of identity, culture, and community, how it affects us emotionally, what needs and fears in human nature it reflects, what socio-political issues are involved in travel, and how it changes our understanding of the world around us. We live in an age of journeys, not all of them physical. Reading in the course will include books about journeys abroad, journeys within one's own country and culture, intellectual quests, explorations of cultural history, and journeys of faith, renewal, and rediscovery. Fulfills general education requirement in literature. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits].
ENG-370 Honors: Dickens
Explores the fiction of Charles Dickens, the great Victorian novelist. Focuses on both the fictional elements—character, narrative, style, etc.—and Victorian issues, such as poverty, work, reform and the law, that Dickens addressed in his works. In addition, the class will examine the life of Dickens and his role in Victorian society. Students will read several complete novels and excerpts from others and will view videos of selected scenes from the novels. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in literature. [3 credits]
ENG-405 Honors: Modernism in Fiction: Legend and Legacy
Engages students in an intensive study of the modern novel. In the evolution of the novel, between traditional and post-modern forms, modern forms of the novel span the 20th century. Now, at the close of the century, modernism can be seen in historical perspective. This course studies modernism in fiction, situating it between the traditional and post-modern novel. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in literature. [3 credits]
HIS-231 Honors: Traditional Japan through Literature and Art
Introduces students to pre-modern Japan (ca. 600-1800 CE) by means of highly evocative literature in excellent English translations. Approaches these readings as reflections of successive historical eras, as literature of universal appeal, and as examples of the development of Japanese aesthetics. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirements in history and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]
HIS-352 Honors: Educating Women in the United States
Examines women's education from the colonial period through the mid-20th century. Pays particular attention to the contributions of key educators and on the ways race, class, ethnicity and gender shaped decisions about who was to be educated, by whom, and for what purpose. Assesses contemporary issues in women's education. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills the general education requirements in history and gender studies. [3 credits]
HIS-370 Honors: The City in History
Considers the reality that, before 1800, most people everywhere lived in rural villages or small towns, in a world of long-familiar faces. More recently, many have lived in cities of more than one million in population in what one sociologist calls a "world of strangers." What difference does it make? How does society control individuals in a big city? How do individuals experience urban life? Social scientists have long debated these questions, and the course examines the major answers that they have proposed. It also considers the implications of those answers for the solution of today's city problems. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirements in history and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]
HIS-373 Honors: The Exploding Society: United States, 1950 to the present
Explores the quantitative and qualitative explosion in the United States after 1950. Considers rapid demographic movement, economic growth, dramatic social change and expanded international responsibilities. Considers post-Watergate disillusionment. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in history. [3 credits]
HIS-401 Honors: History and the Historical Narrative
Explores the "new" narrative history movement in contemporary historical studies. Considers narrative and fictive techniques employed by historians and requires students to write historical narratives based on original sources which employ those techniques. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in history. [3 credits]
HIS-402 Honors: Women, War and Peace
Examines the wartime experiences of women in Europe, the United States and Asia. Addresses question of how perceptions of women and "female nature" inform attitudes about women's wartime roles. Uses historical monographs, literature, art and film to examine and evaluate the relationship between war and gende Also assesses women's role in the international peace movement. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirements in history and gender studies. [3 credits].
IDS-100 Honors: Perspectives on Education and Culture
Provides a comprehensive view of related topics defining the college experience. Explores through readings, films and discussion such topics as personal culture, educational culture, cultural diversity and lifelong learning. For first-year Women's College students and transfer students with fewer than twelve (12) credits. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills ENG-101 writing requirement. [3 credits]
IDS-172 Honors: The Axial Age: Philosophy of East and West
Considers the new ways of thought that emerged in the ancient Near East, Greece, India and China during the first millennium B.C. ("the axial age"). Thinkers reconsidered basic areas of concern—the transcendent, human nature, the family, society, government, knowledge, the past and death—in relation to the pre-existing culture. For example, this re-interpretation of tradition led to the rise of Biblical Judaism in the Near East; classical philosophy in Greece; the Upanishads and Buddhism in India; and Confucianism and Daoism in China. In this seminar, students discuss the thought of the "axial age," compare ideas across civilizations and learn how to write philosophical essays. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in 200 level philosophy. [3 credits]
IDS-231 Honors: The Science of Science Fiction
Considers science fiction as a literature of ideas—the ideas of modern science. Selects contemporary science fiction writers and film makers in order to gain a perspective on the development of a fiction of scientific ideas and a prophecy of future technological change. Employs reading, film and the campus planetarium. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
IDS-271 Honors: Romanticism: The Beautiful Infinite
Analyzes seminal works of the 19th century Romantic movement in the fields of art and music. The relatedness of the two forms is revealed through discovery of common themes running through works of the Romantic period—the emancipation of the individual, the love of nature, nationalism, and fondness for the fantastic and the exotic. Common qualities of expression found among the two art forms during the period also emerge, providing a holistic sense of the intellectual and artistic atmosphere of the times. Opportunities for visits to museums, concerts, and theatre or opera performances are provided. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in fine arts. [3 credits]
IDS-369 Honors: Genethics
Provides students with the opportunity to understand and evaluate various religious and philosophical positions and arguments on a range of contemporary moral issues related to biotechnology. Explores the science of genetics and its application to the fields of biology, technology and medicine. Examines selected topics in the ethics of genetic testing, research, drugs and therapy. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission; RST-201. Fulfills general education requirements for 300/400 level religious studies and values. [3 credits]
IDS-373 Cosmos and Creation: Religion and Science
Explores the relationship between religion and science as bodies of knowledge, modes of inquiry, and ways of knowing. Examines the complex history of science and religion as social institutions in various degrees of cooperation and tension. Areas of inquiry will include theology, spirituality, scientific theories, and philosophy of science, as well as the intersection of these areas at key historical moments such as the Copernican revolution, natural selection, and the development of quantum physics. Prerequisite: RST 201. Fulfills general education requirement for 300/400 level religious studies. [3 credits]
IDS-378 Honors: The Holocaust
Explores the roots of anti-Semitism and the rise to power of the Nazis. Considers the development of the German policies toward the Jews, from economic discrimination to planned extermination, the fate of Jews in various countries under German control, and the possibility of resistance and opportunities for rescue. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
IDS-471 Honors: Politics and Ethics of War and Peace
Explores war and peace through an examination of historical conflicts, social science explanations, ethical positions and alternative peace proposals. Considers 20th century conflicts and alternative explanations of war, and the individual, state and international levels. Compares and contrasts ethical positions from several religious and philosophical traditions. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission and RST-201. Fulfills general education requirements in 300/400 religious studies, values, and history. [3 credits]
IDS-479 Honors: Philosophy through Literature
Takes a fresh look at traditional philosophical problems using classic philosophical texts and literary works that deal with common issues. Considers the questions: What is self? Is there an answer to the problem of evil? Are our actions free or determined? Are there any objective moral values? Is the material world real? Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in 300/400 level philosophy. [3 credits]
LCO-378 Honors: From Homer to Star Wars: The Epic Tradition in Western Literature
Traces the evolution of the epic as a literary genre transcending national and cultural boundaries. Epics from Homer and Virgil through the romance epics will be analyzed, culminating in a study of epic characteristics in Star Wars. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
MUS-243 Honors: A Musical Mosaic
Focuses on representative musical compositions and related works of art in Western and non-Western cultures. An exploration of the varied elements which, through individual creativity, hold parts (not always compatible) together to form the sound structure which becomes the mosaic that is music. Develops the aural sense of formal structure and the visual sense of sound. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in fine arts. [3 credits]
PHL-301 HONORS: THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM
Introduces students to the problematic nature of the statement "our minds control our bodies." Identifies the philosophical and psychological assumptions underlying this statement. Examines the contradictions and unrecognized implications of these assumptions. Explores alternative accounts of what is known, in philosophy and psychology, as mind-body interaction, including accounts that deny the existence of mind, and/or provides alternative models. Prerequisites: IDS-172 or PHL-201 and PSY-101. Fulfills general education requirement in philosophy. [3 credits]
PHL-471 Honors: Morals and Mortality: Ethics of Exiting
Considers the structure and foundations of morality with special emphasis on ethical problems related to death and dying. Prerequisite: PHL-201, Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in philosophy and values. [3 credits]
PHY-101, 102 Honors: General Physics I, II
Studies the fundamental physical laws of nature and their use in understanding natural phenomena. Provides a knowledge base for study in all the sciences and applications in mathematics. Topics include mechanics, acoustics, optics, electricity and magnetism. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory weekly. Pre-requisite: Morrissy status or instructor's permission. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science. [4 credits each semester]
POL-370 Honors: Model OAS
Prepares students to participate in the Model Organization of American States (Model OAS) competition, which takes place at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. in the spring. A team of 10 Notre Dame students, representing an assigned country, debates other colleges and universities from the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean on issues such as democratization, regional integration, poverty, environmental problems and human rights issues. In addition to becoming familiar with hemispheric issues, students learn leadership, cooperation, persuasion and diplomatic skills. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar and permission. Fulfills general education requirement in social science and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]
RST-471 Honors: Theological Investigations
Engages students in the exploration of current scholarship about a person, event or topic of religious or theological significance. The topic for spring 2013 will be Catholic Women Theologians. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement for 300/400 level religious studies. [3 credits]
PSY/SOC-271 Honors: Psychology and Sociology of Gender Roles
An analysis of the social sources and psychological mechanisms that shape gender role differentiation. Special attention will be given to the political, ideological behavior and social construction of gender Historical and cross-cultural data will be used to demonstrate patterns of inequality. The psychological and social impact of gender inequality will be examined. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. Fulfills general education requirement in social science. [3 credits]
SOC-371 Honors: Social Problems
Considers how social conditions come to be defined as social problems. Reviews causes and theoretical explanations for their origins and possible interventions to resolve social problems. Topics include substance abuse, family violence, environmental issues, discrimination, crime and terrorism. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar or permission. [3 credits]
The Transformational Leaders Program
Anne Ellen Henderson, Ph.D., Coordinator
The Transformational Leaders Program is offered to students in the Women's College. It embodies the University's commitment to the mission of its founders, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, to educate women to transform the world. The Transformational Leaders Program prepares students to be catalysts for positive social change. Through a combination of interdisciplinary coursework, internship and service learning experiences, international study opportunities, and professional development activities, students gain the expertise to become leaders who make change happen. Students in the Transformational Leaders Program earn a certificate in Leadership and Social Change. The program can be combined with any major, and is designed to complement a wide variety of programs of study.
Students begin the Transformational Leaders Program by completing a one-credit Emerging Leaders Lab, generally during their first yea This course builds students' project management skills and teamwork capabilities through service initiatives. The program continues with IDS-200, Foundations of Leadership, which combines theoretical analysis of leadership with practical leadership-building experience. From approved options, students also select three discipline-based courses related to change-oriented leadership. Students participate in an internationally-oriented Professional Connections experience designed to strengthen their global perspectives, enhance their understanding of cultural diversity, and provide hands-on career development opportunities. The Professional Connections experience involves six credit hours of study abroad or service learning in a multinational or multicultural organization. The program culminates in a capstone leadership seminar, IDS-410, which integrates academic research with a social change project. During the program, students are also invited to participate in professional networking and workshop activities to help them build the contacts and the expertise relevant to their particular leadership interests.
As part of the Transformational Leaders Program, students develop leadership portfolios which, along with the record of their academic achievements, serve to demonstrate their development as leaders. Students' leadership portfolios are submitted to the program coordinator in their senior yea Portfolios must be approved for seniors to receive the Leadership and Social Change Certificate.
Program of Study
(Consult the program coordinator for the latest information on approved courses)
Required Courses (Credits)
IDS-100L Emerging Leaders Lab (1)
IDS-200 Foundations of Leadership (3)
IDS-410 Seminar: Leadership and Social Change. (3)
Off-campus experience: study abroad or service learning in a multinational or multicultural organization (6)
Three courses (at least two of which are at the 300/400 level) from among the following:
Social Issues and Values
Students choose two of the following courses:
BIO-115 Environmental Science (4)
BIO-307 Ecology (4)
ECO-220 Honors: Economics and Contemporary Issues (3)
ECO-440 Environmental Economics (3)
EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective (3)
ENG-327 Contemporary World Literature (3)
POL-324 Women, Politics and Law (3)
POL-440 Global Issues (3)
PSY-375 Sex and Gender (3)
RST-304 Christian Social Ethics (3)
RST-345 Justice and Peace. (3)
RST-403 Problems in Discrimination and Prejudice. (3)
RST-424 Ecology and Theology (3)
SOC-209 Race, Class and Gender (3)
SOC-271 Honors: Sociology of Gender Roles (3)
SOC-301 Social Justice (3)
SPE-326 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (3)
Group/Organizational Leadership
Students choose one of the following courses:
ART-322 Picture Story (3)
BUS-394 Organizational Behavior (3)
COM-303 Intercultural Communication (3)
COM-331 Public Relations (3)
COM-382 Gender and Communication (3)
COM-403 Organizational Communication (3)
IDS-430 Women in Science and Technology: A Washington Seminar (3)
POL-317 Civic Participation and Leadership (3)
POL-370 Honors: Model OAS (3)
POL-411 Women and Public Policy (3)
SPE-237 Communication Skills for the Special Educator (3)
Student-Designed Major
The purpose of the student-designed major is to allow a limited number of Women's College students with specific academic goals, interests and needs an opportunity to pursue an area of study that is not presently offered by the University.
A student proposing a student-designed major should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. She must have at least two faculty advisors, one of whom is designated as the primary advisor. The proposed major should include:
a) number of credits equal to the average number of credits for a major in a related area, typically about 40 credits
b) a balanced number of upper division (300-400) courses with lower division (100-200) courses
c) courses appropriate to the proposed major
d) no more than one independent study in the major per year
The student-designed major should be prepared for submission for approval to the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in the second semester of the sophomore year.