The Curriculum

Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) is a four-year academic program that enhances the undergraduate experience.  The honors curriculum is designed in two parts.  The first part anchors students’ honors experience in their General Education coursework.  In the second part students may concentrate their upper-level honors courses in their major through Departmental Honors, or outside their major through Multidisciplinary Honors.  To fulfill honors requirements, honors courses must carry 3 or more credits and students must earn a B or better in all honors courses.

FULL HONORS CURRICULUM

Part I of the curriculum is General Studies Honors which is designed to help students to develop broad perspectives. Students from different disciplines come together to grapple with both the timeless issues of humanity and the current dilemmas facing our culture. Course requirements are as follows:

• Honors College Writing - ENGLWRIT 112H (3 credits)
• Ideas That Change the World – HONORS 201H (4 credits)
• Honors Seminar: Topics – HONORS 391AH (1 credit)
• Honors Gen Ed Course (3 or more credits)
• Honors Gen Ed Course (3 or more credits)

Part II of the curriculum challenges students to engage in deep analysis by taking advanced level honors courses. Students are placed in Multidisciplinary Honors (MH), which allows them to pursue advanced honors study in multiple areas of interest. Students interested in focusing advanced honors coursework in their major may request admission into Departmental Honors (DH)* as an alternate option. Both DH and MH require  that students complete an honors thesis or project in the senior year. This culminating experience allows students to contribute to the creation of new knowledge through a six-credit research endeavor led by expert faculty. The minimum requirements are:

• Any level Honors course (3 or more credits)
• 300+ level Honors course (3 or more credits)
• Honors Thesis or Project (6 or more credits)

*DH requirements vary by department and may exceed the minimum standards set by CHC.  Students meet with the department’s Honors Program Director to request admission to their major’s DH sub-plan.

 

PARTIAL HONORS CURRICULUM OPTIONS

• General Studies Honors only – This is an option for students who are not able to engage in a large scale research project in the senior year. Students complete all requirements in Part I of the curriculum as listed above and also are required to earn a minimum grade of B on the University’s Integrative Experience requirements. No thesis or project is required.
• Multidisciplinary Honors only – This is a great option for transfer students with multiple areas of interest who do not have the time to complete the full curriculum. Students complete all requirements in Part II of the curriculum, including an honors thesis or project.
• Departmental Honors only – This is a great option for transfer students interested in focusing honors coursework in their major, who do not have the time to complete the full curriculum. Students complete all requirements in Part II of the curriculum, including any additional requirements set by the department. They also complete an honors thesis or project in their major.

 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE

The International Scholars Program Certificate combines academic learning with a substantial period of study abroad in order to provide students with the global competencies they will need to become informed and effective citizens of our increasingly interconnected world. Candidates for the certificate must be members of the International Scholars Program (ISP). They are expected to complete the program’s core curriculum, to study abroad for at least one semester during their junior year, and to complete a supplemental curriculum that they will design in consultation with the program’s director. The ISP Certificate requires a minimum of 18 credits, and students must earn a B or better in all courses.

1. Sophomore-year core curriculum

• Honors 251: International Issues Seminar (3 credits)
• Honors 252: Cross-Cultural Preparation Seminar (3 credits)

2. Junior-year study abroad

Students must spend at least one semester on a university-approved study abroad program.

3. Senior-year core curriculum

One of the following courses:

• Honors 451: Cross-Cultural Re-Entry Seminar and Project (3 credits)
• Honors 499L: International Thesis Seminar (4 credits)

4. Supplemental curriculum

Candidates for the certificate must complete a supplemental curriculum of three additional courses, each worth 3 credits or more, drawn from the program’s main academic disciplines.