A survey of western civilization covers the period from the middle of the seventeenth century to the twenty-first century. The course begins with the Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and then proceeds to look at other challenges in society and culture and the impact of the West on the rest of the world through imperialism, totalitarianism and conflict. The Cold War and the modern period conclude the course. This Honors course fosters high-achieving students' growth towards learning outcomes such as: problem solving, often with creative approaches; critical reading and original text analysis; forming judgments based on evidence, often from alternative modes of inquiry or integrative learning; clear, persuasive research writing; oral presentation; and articulate reflection on personal growth. Honors courses are more likely to utilize student-driven active learning, emphasizing exploration and discovery, rather than the acquisition of specific knowledge; faculty might provide projects with no pre-determined conclusion, but with real-world application.