German Film Series

The UHP will be hosting a viewings of German films on the Foggy Bottom Campus over the course of the next month. Snacks will be provided!

(2/19): Trace of Stones, Ames B101, 6:30 PM

(3/26): The Lives of Others, Monroe Hall 352, 7 PM

(4/2): Barbara, Rome 350, 7 PM

(4/11): Goodbye, Lenin!, Monroe Hall 353, 7 PM

Attend an Advising Bagel/ Pizza Party!

Need help with Registration for Spring 2019? Need to carbo-load? We’ve got the events for you! Attend an advising party and have all your questions answered by peer advisors and Program Managers Ben and Brianna!

Wednesday, April 10th from 4 -6pm (pizza!) 
Thursday, April 11th from 10am-12pm (bagels!)
Friday, April 12th from 12:30-2:30pm (pizza!)

Welcome to Brianna Crayton, new Program Manager!

Hey everyone! My name is Brianna Crayton and I am pleased to officially join the Honors Program community as a Program Manager. Everyone I’ve met so far has been incredibly open and kind, and I look forward to getting to know many more of you soon!

A lil’ background about me: I’m a DC-area native but I’ve spent the last few years in Philadelphia. In 2017 I got my Masters of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and then began working with Ph.D. students and faculty at Penn.

Before that, I worked closely with students, families, school administration, county government, donors, and other stakeholders to deliver a range of academic, public health, and extracurricular programs and resources to a diverse school community. At every turn I have enjoyed building relationships with people of all identities and backgrounds and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to do that with you all.  

I look forward to learning about you and being a resource in any way that I can. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch (bcrayton@gwu.edu) — have a great rest of semester!


Intersection of Religion and Science: a Unique UHP Opportunity [SURE Stories]

As a biology major, taking non-science classes through the University Honors Program has been an incredibly unique experience and it has enhanced my undergraduate career at GW.
During the Spring 2018 semester, I took a course titled Buddhist Contemplative Practices with Professor Eyal Aviv to learn more about meditation. This resulted in me asking an existential life question in the middle of class one day: “What is our purpose in the world as humans and why does it matter?” Pretty deep, right? With that question came more questions and my interest in the class, aided by Professor Aviv’s enthusiasm, led me to work on a research paper studying science and Buddhism side-by-side. My research project focused on exploring the intersection between science and Buddhism to support the Buddhist notion of non-self by using scientific evidence, such as (1) the evolution of the brain through natural selection and neural plasticity not allowing a single constant self to exist, and (2) the compartmentalization of the brain with individualized functions preventing the existence of one “self”.
My paper was accepted to the Southeast Commission for the Study of Religion (SECSOR) Conference (a regional chapter of the American Academy of Religion) in North Carolina in March 2019. There, I gave a 20 minute presentation to undergraduates, graduate students, and professors. I had the opportunity to listen to experts in their fields who discussed various topics such as Buddhism and Women’s Rights in Thailand, Religion and the World War II Occupation of France, and Depictions of Asian Culture in American Popular Culture. I even received very useful advice for my senior thesis which focuses on the intentionality of consciousness in Advaita Vedānta, Yogācāra Buddhism, and contemporary philosophies.
Writing a paper, presenting at a conference, and answering questions on the spot are all skills I have gained through this experience. I can use these skills when I present at GW Research Days and when I defend my senior thesis for the Enosinian Scholars Program at the end of my senior year. All of this would not have been possible without the SURE Award, as the SURE Award supports Honors students in their research and academic endeavors. The SURE Award funded my travel and stay for the three day conference– giving me the opportunity to learn new skills and continue to become inspired in the field of research.
I highly recommend that students take part in research that they find interesting even if it entails stepping outside of their comfort zone and entering a whole new field of study– just like I did last spring. The University Honors Program gives students the support necessary to conduct exciting interdisciplinary research, and students should definitely take advantage of this!

Fall 2019 Registration Guide

It’s almost time to register — WOOO! But before you can register for next semester’s classes, you have some housekeeping to do. Find out how to get your holds removed and where to find the best courses for you next semester.

Registration Schedule
***Friday, April 12, 7AM: Honors First-Years (Privileged Registration)***

April 15Monday90 or more hours (credits) earned
April 16Tuesday70 or more hours (credits) earned
April 17Wednesday50 or more hours (credits) earned
April 18Thursday30 or more hours (credits) earned
April 19Friday0 or more hours (credits) earned

Registration is open from 7AM-12AM.

Sophomores, worried about registering without privileged registration? Read these Peer Advisor words of wisdom.

If you’re not sure when you register, you can check your earned credit hours in GWeb using the following path: Student Records & Registration Menu > Student Records Information Menu > Transcripts > View Unofficial Transcripts. Make sure you’re looking at overall hours earned for the accurate total!

Urgent Hold Information

Check your record via GWeb regarding holds prior to your scheduled registration time. Any hold on your account will prevent access to registration. You can view any holds on your account by looking at: Student Records & Registration Menu > Student Records Information Menu > View Administrative Holds.

Make sure to check now and again in the days lead up to registration. Check early, and check often! BADLY TIMED HOLDS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU:

Fall Registration Advising

All honors students are encouraged to see a Program Manager before registration. Make sure you are prepared with a tentative course schedule using the Fall 2018 Schedule of Classes and Honors course descriptions. As new course information and revisions become available, we will update the website. Please re-check the information on the Schedule of Classes and the Honors site before you register to ensure that you’re up-to-date!

Please use our wide selection of dates to your advantage – plan on meeting with an advisor at a time that is most practical given your registration date. Students may discuss registration (and remove an advising hold, if applicable) by one of the following options:

  1. Attend an advising party in the Honors Townhouse Club Room:
    Wednesday, April 10th from 4 -6pm (pizza!)
    Thursday, April 11th from 10am-12pm (bagels!)
    Friday, April 12th from 12:30-2:30pm (pizza!)
  2. Make an appointment with an advisor online at honorsprogram.gwu.edu/make-appointment.

2019 Strasser Prize Winners Announced!

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Strasser Writing Prize competition!  We have one first place winner, and two runners-up!

1st Place:

Claire Vanderwood

“Orazio Gentileschi ’s Depiction of Danae”

Runners Up:

Joseph Gill

“Performative Poetry: Examining British Ideals of Masculinity Before and After the Great War”

Christopher Vito

“The Criminal Justice Dilemma: Balancing Values of Human Rights & Collective Security in a System of Legal Justice” 

Senior Requirements Info Session – Spring 2019 Edition

Calling all Juniors!

Yes, you!

Come by the Club Room on Thursday, April 4th from 5:30 to 6:30pm for an info session about Honors senior requirements. Honors faculty will be on deck to talk about the ins and outs of writing a thesis (from finding an advisor to picking a topic to actually writing the thang) and advisors will be there to discuss all things UHP requirements. There will be lots of opportunities to ask questions and eat (Captain!) cookies.

Juniors are highly (highly (highly!!!)) encouraged to attend. If you can’t make it to this info session, you can make an appointment to talk senior reqs.

CANCELED: Join Professor Aviv for an evening at the Freer Gallery

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED

For those who are interested in cognitive science, biology and the mental lives of animals, join professor Aviv for an evening at the Smithsonian featuring one of the world’s leading primatologists Frans de-Waal who will discuss his recent book: “Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Teach Us about Ourselves.” The event will start on Monday, April 29, 2019, at 6:45 p.m

Email Professor Aviv at aviv@gwu.edu if you’re interested!

Movie Night with Professor Trullinger

Professor Trullinger will be hosting a showing of Monty Python’s Life of Brian on March 29th at 7pm.

Meet us in the Club Room that evening for snacks and a show!

RSVP here.

As a top-notch satire of religious and political groupthink, Monty Python’s Life of Brian might be one of the more astute films ever made about political theology, that is, the way that politics and religion intersect and inform one another. The film follows the birth and life of Brian, who just so happens to be born next to the manger where Jesus makes his arrival–and so begins a series of comical misunderstandings of Brian for the Messiah. Whether it’s religious authorities such as the Pharisees, the Roman imperial forces occupying Judea, counter-imperial revolutionaries plotting to overthrow the Romans (but who can’t agree on anything), Brian is constantly pulled in a number of sociopolitical directions, when all he wants is to live his life. Although the film depicts Jesus positively and from a distance, it sparked protest from some Christians (even ones who hadn’t seen it), prompting the Pythons to advertise it as “so funny it was banned in Norway!” Join us in the Honors Townhouse at 7:00 PM on March 29th for some healthy laughter about organized religion (or maybe organizations of all kinds), and a discussion afterwards about political theology.