The Curriculum

Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) is an 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. In the second part, "Depth of Study," students concentrate their upper-level honors courses in their major through Departmental Honors, or between two or more majors through Multidisciplinary Honors. Students also complete an honors thesis, which can take the form of either a research manuscript or a creative portfolio.

To fulfill honors requirements, honors courses must carry 3 or more credits with the exception of the 1-credit Honors Discovery Seminar, 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). If College Writing is completed prior to CHC admission, any General Education Honors course (3+ credits) can substitute.
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 a petitioned alternative honors course
Honors Gen Ed Course (3 or more credits) or a petitioned alternative honors course

Depth of Study 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 on advanced honors coursework in their major may pursue Departmental Honors (DH).

The college requires that students who enter UMass Amherst in September 2018 or after must complete an honors thesis (typically during the senior year). This culminating experience allows students to contribute to new knowledge in their field through a 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. Departmental Honors requirements vary by department and may exceed the minimum standards set by CHC. Students meet with the department’s Honors Program Director to request and/or apply for 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. Students who do not have enough semesters remaining to complete the full curriculum can consider the following two options:

Multidisciplinary Honors only – This option best serves students with multiple areas of academic interest. Students complete all requirements in the Depth of Study portion of the curriculum, including an honors thesis in any discipline.
Departmental Honors only – This option best serves students interested in focusing honors coursework in their major. 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 (ISP) combines academic learning with a substantial period of study abroad to provide students with the global competencies they will need to become informed and effective citizens of our increasingly interconnected world. Students must apply to this program and are expected to complete the program’s core curriculum. As part of the program, students must study abroad for at least one semester during their junior year. ISP students are welcome to pursue the ISP Certificate if they complete a supplemental curriculum that they will design in consultation with the program’s director.

Sophomore-year core curriculum

Honors 251H: International Issues Seminar (3 credits)
Honors 252H: Cross-Cultural Preparation Seminar (4 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 ISP Certificate must complete a supplemental curriculum of three additional courses with an international focus, each worth three credits or more. These three supplemental classes (in which students must earn a B or better) may be taken on campus or while abroad.