Special Programs
University Honors Program

Coordinator: Professor Maisto

The purpose of the University Honors curriculum is to provide intellectual excitement for students, to fill some of the gaps created through traditional disciplinary learning, to encourage concerned, globally-aware citizenship, and to provide a unique social and intellectual mix for both students and faculty. Interdisciplinary courses fit the theme, "Issues for Human Survival in the 21st Century," and are designed to confront political, religious, economic, ecological, gender, race, justice, and human rights related issues and their impact on the global community and the human condition. In every case, courses include a strong humanities component with special emphasis on historical perspectives and creative literary and artistic works. The program consists of four facets:

  1. A four-course sequence: HONR 1701. War, Peace, Justice and Human Survival, HONR 1702. Economic Welfare and International Communities, HONR 3701. Science, Technology and Human Values, and HONR 3702. Human Rights and Social Justice.
  2. Four credit hours of HONR 2701, Enrichment Seminar.
  3. A 40 clock-hour community service laboratory: HONR 2750.
  4. Senior project: HONR 3790.
Honors sections of ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 (Composition and Literature) are offered each semester and orient Freshmen to the philosophy and rigors of the Honors Program. In addition, courses across a wide variety of disciplines, including Business, Literature, and Psychology are offered to University Honors students on a demand basis and may be substituted for two of the four courses.

University Honors courses are team taught by faculty members from different disciplines and classes have limited enrollment in order for students to develop their creative talents to the fullest extent possible. To this end, University Honors students are encouraged to live in the Honors College, a residence life facility within Poplar Hall which provides an environment conducive to study and learning. In order to facilitate learning, the "commons" area of the Honors College contains a well equipped computer room for student use and a study/classroom facility.

The Honors Program, in cooperation with the Study Abroad Program, also offers a comprehensive study abroad program, emphasizing diversity, choice, and flexibility. Opportunities vary from ten-day trips to various countries, to full academic years spent abroad, with all experiences designed to provide international education opportunities and perspectives. Some study abroad opportunities are interwoven with specially designed honors classes, while others are combined with the community service aspect of the program. Although study abroad is not required, it is strongly encouraged.

Admission. The University Honors Program is open to any student at the University who applies to the Program expressing a desire to participate in the interdisciplinary studies. In order to graduate with University Honors, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.2 GPA in University Honors Courses. The Program is not recommended to students unless it is evident that they are capable of and willing to maintain at least a "B" average. Additional information and details are available at the University Honors Office in Maple Hall or call 687-4824.

[Special Programs]