Honors and STEM: A Holistic Education Worth Pursuing

For many students, it may sound challenging to balance the workload of being both a STEM major and enrolled in the George Fox Honors Program, and I would agree with them. After all, honors is a rigorous great books program, centered around reading classic literature and impactful philosophical texts, while STEM classes are highly demanding. Engaging deeply in multiple texts and hundreds of pages of reading each week is not easy by any means.

But I’m here to say it is completely worth it.

When I entered college, I knew I wanted to be a math and data analytics major, since I had always enjoyed numbers, but I also knew I wanted to be in the honors program, since I loved reading. What I didn’t realize at the time was the profound impact the combination of STEM and honors would have on me. Now in my final semester of college, I can look back and clearly see the benefits and value of doing the honors program as a STEM major.

Here are some of my observations from the experience.

A Variation in Studies

As a STEM major, it can be easy to become a “check the box” person when it comes to academics. As a math major, I’ve found that many of my classes have a predictable rhythm: go to the lecture, understand the concept, apply the concept. Check, check, check. The structure and goals are clear and defined.

In honors, the rhythm is completely different. There are no lectures and few homework assignments. It is almost entirely based on reading and discussing deeply. Your learning is more dependent on your engagement with the texts, rather than on a professor’s explanation. You are responsible for not only comprehension of the material, but also critique, interpretation and intellectual dialogue.

Due to these differences, I am rarely bored with my studies, because I get to participate in such wildly different approaches to learning.

A More Holistic Education

Not only are the rhythms of honors and STEM different, but the content itself is also drastically different. While in my STEM classes I learn to think analytically and logically; in honors I learn to be more contemplative and reflective, to think more critically and grapple with philosophical ideas.

By using different parts of my brain for different spaces of my academics, I become a stronger thinker and a better student overall. STEM has sharpened my analytical precision; honors has deepened my intellectual curiosity and my capacity to reflect. Together, I am receiving a more well-rounded education, where I am learning both how the world works around me as well as how humanity has wrestled with understanding it.

Engaging Deeply and Communicating Effectively

In my major classes, I rarely have the opportunity to discuss deep topics with my peers. Most of our class time is spent on lecture-based learning, rather than discussion. In honors, the entire class time is spent in discussion, where you must actively engage in the ideas presented in the text.

Before entering the honors program, I didn’t know how to read an academic book for any purpose other than to regurgitate the information presented. When I started reading for honors, I quickly learned that to truly engage with a text, you must read it as if you are having a conversation with the author.

Participating in honors sharpens my communication skills, giving me numerous opportunities to present my thoughts to my peers, and to be challenged on my beliefs. The worst STEM classes are the lectures when I walk away with a multitude of questions, but conversely, the best honors classes are the discussions where I walk away with more questions than answers.

Cultivating Lasting Community

As an out-of-state student, I didn’t know anyone coming to George Fox. While this fact was daunting, I was quickly able to make many connections through the honors program.

During their first few days on campus, before classes start, all honors freshmen attend a retreat with a few faculty and upperclassmen. Through this retreat, I was able to meet a wide variety of people I would not have connected with otherwise, as they had wildly different majors and interests than me. I have remained friends with many of the students I met the very first weekend, during the honors retreat. Now, as we are launching into the real world, I hope to stay connected with many of them.

While many students meet friends through their classes, this was a different experience, because we were engaging with each other over philosophical discussions, quickly bonding deeply with each other. During my sophomore year, I took part in an honors seminar. Because our class size was so small, we bonded quickly with each other and with our professor.

One of my favorite memories from that semester was when our professor let us take our seminar to Lyrics Cafe, a local coffee shop in Newberg. Dr. Miller bought us scones and coffee while we discussed Christine de Pizan’s City of Ladies. The honors program does not just provide a rigorous academic curriculum, it also provides a community with your peers and professors.

What I’m Leaving With

As I prepare to leave the college world and step into a new season, I am incredibly grateful for the experience I’ve had as a STEM major and honors student.

My honors seminars have pushed me to think deeply about the world around me, deepening my understanding of why I believe what I believe, and ultimately drawing me closer to the Lord. While my STEM major has equipped me with the skills necessary to enter the workforce in my desired career, honors has made me a more well-rounded individual, equipping me with the skills and knowledge to navigate life well.

I vividly remember during freshman year, while reading Augustine’s Confessions, I encountered the concept of rightly ordered affections which completely changed how I thought about my relationships with others and with living on earth as a Christian. This was just one of many occasions that my lifestyle and mindsets were challenged and shifted for the better through honors.

If you are considering joining the honors program as a STEM major, I would encourage you to apply! As an incoming freshman, I had no idea just how much of an impact the honors program would have on my college experience. Now, looking back, I can clearly see the positive and lasting effect it will have on the rest of my life.