Experience the Story of Western Civilization The Honors College reading list is composed of a number of great works from the history of Western civilization and is decided on by consensus of the Honors College faculty. In addition to the written word, HCU Honors College students study a wide array of great works of music and visual art. This great books is divided into seven semester-long courses and begins in the ancient world with texts Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey as well as foundational philosophical works from Plato and Aristotle. Then students embark on a journey into the Roman world, with Virgil’s Aeneid, Roman drama and philosophy, and the writings of the early church. The reading list then transitions into the vibrant Medieval and Renaissance era, where Honors students will encounter Arthurian legends, Dante’s Inferno, Martin Luther and other protestant reformers, Erasmus and more. With the seeds of modernity sown in the revolutions of the Renaissance and Reformation, the reading list explores the Enlightenment and Early Modern period, where students encounter minds like William Shakespeare, Descartes, and the Founding Fathers along. They will also explore the foundations of modern science in Honors Laboratory, with selections from Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein and philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn. Honors students then explore the contemporary era, roughly 1800-present day with great works by thinkers like T.S. Eliot, Martin Luther King, Jr., C.S. Lewis and more, before concluding with a semester on the grand story of scripture. This final course provides an overview of the Christian Bible from Genesis through Revelation, along with great works of literature and philosophy that expound on its truth and beauty, such as East of Eden, The Brothers Karamazov, and Leibniz’s Theodicy. The great books list at HCU’s Honors College is a fantastic way to explore the truth, goodness and beauty of Western Civilization, from its ancient roots all the way to present day. See below for the full reading list.
