The Honors GoalsStudent speaking with Professor

Embrace your Passion for Ideas and Learning

Our Expectations of You

In the honors program students will:

  • Cultivate independent thinking and learning
  • Learn to interpret and evaluate information from a variety of perspectives
  • Engage actively with methodologies of various academic disciplines
  • Develop and refine the qualities and responsibilities of leadership
  • Carry out in-depth independent study in their major discipline

Program Requirements

Required Courses (six total):
HON100 Life Stories
HON101 Global Perspectives
HON300 Honors Seminar
HON444 Honors Capstone (or departmental equivalent)
2 Honors electives

Honors Electives:
Each student is required to take two honors electives from among honors-designated courses outside the Honors Program. The two courses must be in different disciplines. It is recommended but not required that these courses be taken in the sophomore year, and students may elect to take more than two such courses during their careers. Since most of the available courses are at the introductory level, students are advised to plan ahead and make certain that appropriate courses will be available if they elect to delay taking them until after the sophomore year.

Honors Capstone:
Each student is required to perform a capstone project after having taken the Honors Seminar. Credit for the Honors Capstone may be earned in HON444 or a departmental Honors Capstone course or another approved departmental capstone course.

Honors Colloquium:
The Honors Colloquium, held once per semester, is an opportunity for students to present the results of their capstone projects to their peers in the program and the community. Attendance at the Honors Colloquium is required for students in HON300 and HON444 (or its equivalent).

Honors Service Project:
All honors students are required to complete a Service Project during the course of their studies. It is recommended that this happen during the sophomore year. Sophomores present their experiences with the service projects at the Honors Program Coffee House Gatherings, and freshmen can begin to get an idea of what is involved in this component of the Honors Program.

You are encouraged to get involved in some of the numerous volunteer opportunities at the College through The Reach Out Center.

Course Descriptions

HON100 Life Stories:
This course explores the interconnectedness of human experience across time and place. It uses personal narratives and biographies to study the relationship between reflection and action. Coursework focuses on the challenges individuals faced, the choices they made, and how those choices shaped and defined their lives. Studying life stories prompts contemplation of how we make choices, the connections between what we believe and what we do, and how we can build meaningful lives. This course introduces students to honors-level reading, writing, and discussion. (Fall) Staff/Three credits

HON101 Global Perspectives:
This course continues the work of HON 100 in exploring the interconnectedness of human experience across time and place. Each semester, students will investigate questions related to one theme of current global importance. Using printed, electronic, and artistic sources, the students will explore the origins and implications of participation in a global community. This course introduces students to honors-level research. (Spring) Staff/Three credits

HON300 Honors Seminar:
The honors seminar will focus on a question or theme of interdisciplinary interest and significance. This seminar will involve substantial reading, discussion, research, and writing. In addition, each student will identify and develop a project topic that reflects his/her own academic interests. An important goal of this course is to foster an understanding of different ways of knowing and learning – including one’s own – as a basis for personal growth and education. A second goal of this course is to prepare a proposal for the Honors Capstone. (Fall, Spring) Staff/Three credits

HON444 Honors Capstone:
In the Honors Capstone, each student will produce an independent research thesis or creative project. The capstone work may entail a faculty-student research project or an internship or independent study directed by a faculty member. The project was proposed and approved during the Honors Seminar. A summary of the capstone work will be presented at the Honors Colloquium at the end of the semester. (Fall, Spring)
Staff/Three credits

 

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