The Honors College Core Seminar Program is an enriched and engaged curriculum, open to students of all majors. A total of 16 credit hours make up the course requirements, some of which satisfy university General Education Requirements (GER). In addition, students must maintain:

  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to remain in “good standing” with the program

  • A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to graduate as a “University Honors Scholar”

Program Requirements

All University Honors Foundation Requirements listed below must be completed with a grade of C or higher (9 credits total):

  • HNRS A192:  Honors Seminar:  Enduring Books* (3 credits)—An honors seminar focusing on the directed reading of a single book of enduring significance.  The seminar will focus on the art of reading a text closely and grappling with its significance—i.e., the idea of coming to grips with how to live with the aid of one of the great books—while at the same time honing the student’s abilities in listening, writing and speaking. Topics change every semester.

  • HNRS A292:  Honors Seminar: Social Science* (3 credits)—By examining selected topics from a social science perspective, students are exposed to a broad range of social issues and develop skills to examine and evaluate their world.  The seminar emphasizes research findings and skills, including the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data.  Both oral and written communication are key components of this course.  Topics and instructors change every semester.

  • HNRS A310:  Community Service:  Theory and Practice (3 credits)—This course includes guided volunteer service with a cultural organization or government agency.  Students explore questions of service, community, and self through investigating several key questions.

* indicates courses that satisfy GER requirements

Students should be placed in ENGL A111 or above before registering for HNRS courses. 

Honors Senior Project/Thesis Requirements

Junior year is a time for students to deepen their coursework in their chosen fields of study.  University Honors students take a thesis preparation seminar to help them begin planning for their Honors thesis. 

  • HNRS A392:  Honors Thesis Seminar (1 credit)—In-depth application of discipline research skills to a particular problem.Develops an understanding of research problems and research methods used by different disciplines. 

In their senior year, Honors students have a variety of capstone senior thesis experiences to choose from.

Honors Students must complete one of the following options to total 6 credits:    

HNRS A490 Senior Honors Seminar* (6 credits over two semesters)

or

A.  A course proposed by the student, and approved by the Honors College Dean (3 credits minimum; may be an existing course or independent study) plus senior thesis or project (3 credits minimum; either departmental thesis/project, or HNRS A499 Honors Thesis)

or

B.  B. An upper division course listed in the catalog as a specific departmental honors requirements (3 credits minimum)

and

C.  Senior thesis or project (3 credits minimum; either departmental thesis/project, or HNRS A499 Honors Thesis)

or

D.  D. Six-credit thesis/project (either departmental thesis/project, and/or HNRS A499 Honors Thesis).

Options for satisfying thesis/project credits (6 credits):

A497 – Independent Study

A498 – Senior Research

A499 – Thesis

Or another course or directly related to your thesis that you propose and the Honors College approves.

 

Will University Honors courses count towards your degree? Yes! Read more in our Frequently Asked Questions.


Diane Swonger"Of all my Honors courses, HNRS 310 challenged me the most because it allowed me to actually go out and work in the field that I’m majoring in.”  

- Diane Swonger, University Honors Program Student