Requirements
All students must meet the following requirements to receive the Honors Degree.
For students enrolled Fall 2006 or later
- Students must complete the following courses for a total of 27 hours (and an additional Service Learning Course):
- - Western Traditions I (6 hours)
- Western Traditions II (6 hours)
- United States Experience (3 hours)
- Science and Society (3 hours)
- Two Area Studies courses (3 hours each)
- Moral Responsibility (3 hours)
- A 200- or 300- Level Service Learning Course - Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5
For students enrolled before Fall 2006
Designated Honors Classes
Designated honors classes are offered throughout the Core Curriculum. These courses are marked by small classes, distinguished teaching and intellectual excitement. Honors students are required to complete at least seven Core classes that are specifically designated "honors" with a grade of "C" or better. Honors students in the College of Arts and Sciences must take their designated honors courses in different areas of the Core.
Honors Credit by "Contract"
To permit students to earn honors credit in other courses, special projects may be arranged with the consent of the professor. Discussion between the student and the faculty member generates a project, which is described on the contract form. Ordinarily, the project involves independent research. It must be distinct from required coursework. The project itself is not graded, but honors credit for the course is awarded if the project is completed to the professor's satisfaction and the student receives a grade of B or higher in the course. Guidelines and suggestions for contracts are printed on the contract forms, which are available in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program office.
First-year students are not permitted to contract courses for honors credit. Students are advised to take their designated honors courses before attempting to contract for honors credit. Contracts should be submitted to the Honors office in the first two weeks of the semester. At the end of the semester, the forms are returned to the supervising teachers for their authorization of honors credit.
Graduate Credit
Graduate courses will earn honors credit if the student receives a grade of C or higher. Most departments require students to seek permission to enroll in a graduate course. These courses can be used to fulfill the requirement of honors credit in an upper-level course in the major.