The Curriculum

Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) is a four-year academic program that enhances the undergraduate experience. The first part of the honors curriculum, "Breadth of Study," anchors students’ honors experience in their General Education coursework, while in the second part, "Depth of Study," students concentrate their upper-level honors courses in their major through Departmental Honors, or outside their major through Multidisciplinary Honors, and complete an honors thesis, which can take the form of either a research thesis or a portfolio with manuscript.

To fulfill honors requirements, honors courses must carry 3 or more credits and students must earn a B or better in all honors courses.

Honors Curriculum

Breadth of Study is designed to help students to develop broad perspectives. Students from different disciplines come together to grapple with different theories and perspectives. Course requirements are:

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

Depth of Study (Advanced Scholarship) challenges students to engage in deep analysis by taking advanced level honors courses. Multidisciplinary Honors (MH) allows students to pursue advanced honors study in multiple areas of interest. Students interested in focusing advanced honors coursework in their major may pursue Departmental Honors (DH).

Beginning with students entering UMass Amherst in September 2018 the college requires that students complete an honors thesis or project in the senior year. This culminating experience allows students to contribute to new knowledge in their field through a 6-credit research endeavor led by expert faculty. The minimum requirements for Depth of Study are:

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

Upon acceptance into Commonwealth Honors College, students are assigned to MH but may apply for DH. 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 Departmental Honors in their major.

Students may apply to enter Commonwealth Honors College and pursue only the Depth of Study portion of the curriculum. Those students consider two options:

  • Multidisciplinary Honors only – This option best serves students with multiple areas of academic interest who do not have enough semesters remaining to complete the full curriculum. Students complete all requirements in the Depth of Study portion of the curriculum, including an honors thesis.
  • Departmental Honors only – This option best serves students interested in focusing honors coursework in their major, who do not have enough semesters remaining to complete the full curriculum. Students complete all requirements in the Depth of Study portion of the curriculum, including any additional requirements set by the department. They also complete an honors thesis 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.

Sophomore-year core curriculum

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

Junior-year study abroad

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

Senior-year core curriculum

  • Honors 451H: Cross-Cultural Re-Entry Seminar and Project (3 credits)

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.