Honors General Studies Program
The Honors General Studies Program offers a group of interdisciplinary courses stressing independent research, writing, and discussion.
This program is a separate track of general studies and not a major or a minor in itself. Honors core courses have a flavor distinctly different from the regular general studies courses because they use primary source material more extensively than textbooks to enhance the development of independent thinking. Honors core courses follow an interdisciplinary approach that stresses the unity of knowledge. The classes are more personalized and typically smaller than other general studies classes. Some courses are team taught.
Students in the Honors Program are awarded an annual scholarship dependent on successful completion of specific courses and a minimum GPA. See the Honors Program Director for specific details and scholarship amounts. At graduation, students who complete the Honors Program requirements with at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 GPA in honors core courses and honors core cognates will be designated as "Honors General Studies Graduates."
Admission Requirements. The Honors Admissions Committee considers high school GPA, standardized test scores, an essay submitted by the student as part of the application, and on occasion, personal interviews with applicants and recommendations from teachers. It is advantageous for applicants to have completed Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course work and other enriched offerings in high school. Students already enrolled in the University may apply to the program or petition the Honors Program director to enroll in a specific Honors course.
Program Requirements. Students whose grades fall below a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or an Honors core/cognate GPA of 2.75 for two consecutive quarters will be dropped from the program. Honors students must complete the honors core courses and a selection of other general studies courses as listed below.
Honors General Studies Requirements
For B.A.: Honors core, honors core cognates, a foreign language (12 credits of elementary or 8 credits of intermediate), and additional honors electives to total 80 hours, including at least one religion elective.
For B.B.A., B.S., and B.S.W.: Honors core, honors core cognates, and additional honors electives to total 68 hours, including at least one religion elective.
For B.S.E., B.Mus. (Music Education): Honors core, honors core cognates, and one religion elective.
For B.Mus. (Performance): Honors core, honors core cognates, one religion elective, FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103, or GRMN 101, GRMN 102, GRMN 103.
Core Requirements:
Honors Core Cognates:
Select one of the following
We expect incoming Honors students without college writing credit to enroll in Advanced College Writing (ENGL 141). Honors students who have achieved a 4 or 5 on the AP Language and Composition Exam or the Literature and Composition exam will be awarded 3 quarter hours as a substitute for ENGL 121/ENGL 141. Honors students who have obtained credit for the equivalent ENGL 223 may, by submitting an acceptable portfolio of work from their course, waive the requirement of HONR 243, Honors Research Writing.
Select one of the following sequences, 8 credits:
Select one of the following Upper Division Creative Writing Electives, 4 credits:
Honors Electives for B.A., B.B.A., B.S., and B.S.W. Degrees:
Choose additional courses from the following list. Courses that are part of the student's major or minor do not apply to this category.
Study Tours/archaeology field work/Oxford program/Council of Christian Colleges and Universities Program must be approved by the Honors Program director before enrollment.