A New Humanities for the 21st Century: Honors Arts and Letters

FAIN: AC-269259-20

Texas Tech University System (Lubbock, TX 79409-0006)
Aliza S. Wong (Project Director: July 2019 to present)
John Carrell (Co Project Director: January 2021 to present)

The strategic planning and curricular revision for a reframed Humanities Arts and Letters major in the Honors College.

A liberal arts education embraces the breadth of human existence. Traditionally, the liberal arts included arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, grammar, logic, and music. In the modern world, the liberal arts have matured to include such fields as art, science, history, languages, and literature, to name a few. This proposal will look to revamp the current liberal arts degree of the TTU Honors College, Humanities Arts and Letters (HAL). The planning process would include 1) faculty members working closely together to create a new framework: renaming the major; reconceptualizing the concentrations; and working closely with an advisor to create workable degree plans; 2) workshops for faculty from across the TTU campus to develop core classes for each humanities centered concentration; and 3) creating a marketing campaign that will internally and externally communicate the vigor and rigor of the new major. All Honors students would experience this humanities centered curriculum to graduate.

Associated Products

Humanitizing the Sciences-Margin Call (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Margin Call
Abstract: Join the Honors College, the HDSTEM Academy, and the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of MARGIN CALL. Before the film, there will be a panel discussion with Dr. Paul Bjerk from the TTU t of History and Dr. Michael Farmer from the TTU Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
Author: Paul Bjerk
Author: Michael Farmer
Date: 1/26/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Humanitizing the Sciences-12 Angry Men (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-12 Angry Men
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University faculty, Dr. Joshua Smith from the Department of Environmental Toxicology and Dr. Patrick Metze from the Law School, will hold a panel discussion before the screening discussing the aspects of law and forensics seen in 12 Angry Men.
Author: Joshua Smith
Author: Patrick Metze
Date: 3/28/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL: https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/humanitizing-the-sciences-12-angry-men

Humanitizing the Sciences-Dark Waters (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Dark Waters
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University School of Law faculty Dr. Brie Sherwin and Texas Tech University Health Science Center faculty Dr. Ebtesam Islam will hold a panel discussion before the screening discussing the aspects of law and human health seen in Dark Waters.
Author: Brie Sherwin
Author: Ebtesam Islam
Date: 4/24/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX
Primary URL: https://drafthouse.com/lubbock/event/humanitizing-the-sciences-dark-waters

Learning Institutionalized: The Making and Re-making of University Education from Medieval Bologna and Paris to Modern Lubbock (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Learning Institutionalized: The Making and Re-making of University Education from Medieval Bologna and Paris to Modern Lubbock
Abstract: John Van Engen, Andrew V. Tackes Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame, and James Turner, Cavanaugh Professor of Humanities and Professor of History Emeritus at the Univesity of Notre Dame, will speak on the medieval and modern roots of the university.
Author: John Van Engen
Author: James Turner
Date: 4/20/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Humanitzing the Sciences-Oppenheimer (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitzing the Sciences-Oppenheimer
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University faculty Dr. Robert Duncan and Dr. Jill Hernandez will hold a panel discussion before the screening discussing the aspects of physics and ethics relevant to Oppenheimer.
Author: Duncan, Robert
Author: Hernandez, Jill
Date: 08/01/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Humanitizing the Sciences-Gattaca (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Gattaca
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University Honors College Dean Jill Hernandez and Texas Tech University faculty Dr. Mari Isa will discuss the aspects of ethics and anthropology seen in Gattaca.
Author: Hernandez, Jill
Author: Isa, Mari
Date: 10/16/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Humanitizing the Sciences-Blade Runner (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Blade Runner
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University faculty Dr. Joel Velasco and Arizona State University faculty Dr. Suren JayasuriyaTexas Tech University will discuss the aspects of philosophy and artificial intelligence seen in Blade Runner: The Final Cut.
Author: Velasco, Joel
Author: Jayasuriya, Suren
Date: 11/13/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Humanitizing the Sciences-Blue Bayou (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Humanitizing the Sciences-Blue Bayou
Abstract: Join us for a special screening exploring the science and pop culture impact behind some of cinema's biggest films. Texas Tech University faculty Prof. DeLeith Gossett and Dr. Nadia Flores will discuss the aspects of law and sociology seen in Blue Bayou.
Author: Gossett, DeLeith
Author: Flores, Nadia
Date: 11/27/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Science and the Humanities Interdisciplinary Conference (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: Science and the Humanities Interdisciplinary Conference
Author: Flanary, Will
Author: Sherwin, Brie
Author: Chen, Chien-fei
Author: Harrelson, Kevin
Author: Jayasuriya, Suren
Abstract: Keynote Wife and Death. Dr. William E. Flanary (AKA: Dr. Glaucomflecken) a practicing ophthalmologist and TTU Honors College alumni will discuss his experiences in education, work, and life that has made him a successful physician and social media personality. Plenaries Social-technological integration to address energy and environmental justice: micro and macro level analysis by Dr. Chien-fei Chen. Visual Computing and STEAM Education by Dr. Suren Jayasuriya Researchers or Caregivers? Some Lessons from the History of Medical Education by Dr. Kevin Harrelson Becoming an Interdisciplinary Superhero by Dr. Brie Sherwin Poster Session
Date Range: 11/12/2023-11/13/2023
Location: Lubbock, TX

Honors Liberal Arts for the 21st Century (Article)
Title: Honors Liberal Arts for the 21st Century
Author: Carrell, J.
Author: Wong, A.
Author: Cain, C.
Author: Preston, C.J.
Author: Zaman, M.H.
Abstract: We argue that honors colleges can deploy the power of the liberal arts to emphasize diversity, equity, global citizenship, ethical leadership, and empowerment by combining liberal arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and medicine) fields in interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges, from climate change to the pandemic to forced displacement. As the honors colleges at Texas Tech and Boston University work to be at the forefront of pedagogical and curricular innovation, the twenty-first century has presented us with a student and faculty community becoming increasingly aware of historical, racial, gendered, and socioeconomic disparities, which were further exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. In response to these issues, we have changed how we approach the liberal arts, shifting from a traditional “Great Books” curriculum to an interdisciplinary focus that immerses students in an environment that fully integrates STEM with the humanities. With this approach, students learn how STEM and the humanities are linked, are mutually dependent, and continually affect our world and society. Our pedagogical innovation includes experiential learning, team-taught courses, first-year and summit experiences, non-traditional coursework, study abroad opportunities, and co-curricular programs. The overall effect has been the production of reflective and empowered students and graduates willing and ready to use the new liberal arts to attack the grand challenges of our society.
Year: 2023
Primary URL: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nchcmono/41/
Format: Journal
Publisher: National Collegiate Honors Council

Science and Science Fiction in an Interdisciplinary First-Year Experience Honors Course (Article)
Title: Science and Science Fiction in an Interdisciplinary First-Year Experience Honors Course
Author: Carrell, J.
Author: Weiner, R.
Abstract: Engineering and pop-culturist instructors team-teach a first-year experience course exploring science through the lenses of history, literature, film, television, and sequential art. Authors present science fiction discourses as unique for synthesizing fields in the humanities and STEM, and they present curricular and co-curricular design strategies for harnessing its potential in the honors classroom. Course objectives and outcomes are presented, with authors noting specific challenges in implementation and emendation. Adaptability and compatibility figure prominently in the successful delivery of the course. A review of literature relating to interdisciplinary education and team-teaching in honors is included.
Year: 2023
Primary URL: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nchchip/385/
Format: Journal
Publisher: National Collegiate Honors Council

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