Program Options

If you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed at least 15 college credits, you are eligible to participate in Honors Studies. There are several ways to do so. You can:

• take either or both of the core Honors Seminars, HRS 103 and HRS 104
• take either or both of the Honors Independent Study courses, HRS 203 and HRS 204, or, with the approval of the Coordinator, take an independent study through another department (e.g. HIS 290, BIO 290, etc.)
• complete a Special Honors Project in a regular credit course
• take special Honors sections of existing college courses as they become available
• complete a work experience in the community, usually of a voluntary nature, with the approval of the Coordinator
• complete a study abroad opportunity or study in another community, with the approval of the Coordinator

Whether you enroll in one of the core seminars or do an independent study or choose from among the other options, Honors Studies will offer you a challenging and different kind of learning experience—one that is more personal, interactive, and self-directed than a typical college course, and one that involves a closer working relationship with individual faculty and fellow students.

The Core Honors Seminars:  HRS 103 & HRS 104

Set in a dynamic learning environment and designed to address issues of contemporary interest and vital importance in the world today, the core Honors Seminars are the centerpiece of the program.  HRS 103 explores a topic from multiple cultural perspectives and satisfies the Humanities elective and General Education Diversity requirement.  HRS 104 explores a topic from the perspectives of different academic disciplines and satisfies the Social Science elective. The specific topics for these courses will change each semester (see the enclosed descriptions of the topics for the spring semester), but you the student will always be at the center of the classroom. Set in a seminar setting, these courses will be centered in class discussion, individual and group student presentations, and independent research. And consistent with the Honors Studies philosophy of giving students greater control over their own learning, grades will be determined through a point grading system that will allow you to work at your own pace and in your own areas of interest and thus more easily maintain your GPA.

The Honors Independent Studies:  HRS 203 & HRS 204

An Honors Independent Study offers a wonderful opportunity to pursue an interest of your own in greater depth while working one-on-one with one of your favorite professors.  A project in the arts, investigative research in the sciences, field work in the community… the possibilities here are virtually endless.  All it requires from you at the start is an idea.  You or a professor of yours can initiate an independent study and together you will work out a program of study, the time commitment, and the method of evaluation.  And even if you don’t have a particular professor in mind, if there is some question, issue, project, etc. that you would like to pursue on your own, please contact me and we can develop an independent study together for you.

Special Honors Project (Honors Contract)

A Special Honors Project or honors contract is like a smaller version of an independent study but is completed as part of a regular credit course that you are currently enrolled in. Its purpose is to allow you to expand the breadth and/or depth of your knowledge of some aspect of the subject matter of the course. As with an honors independent study, you or a professor of yours can initiate a Special Honors Project and together you will work out the details. The work involved typically exceeds (though in some cases may substitute for some of) the standard requirements for that course and is agreed upon in advance by you and the instructor of the course and is approved by the Honors Studies Coordinator. Upon successful completion of the course and the project, a designation will appear on your transcript indicating that you completed a Special Honors Project for the course.

Spring Semester 2009 Course Offerings and Registration Procedures

You can register for the Honors Seminars, HRS 103: “Race and Ethnicity in American Culture” and/or HRS 104: “Perspectives on Poverty at Home and Abroad,” just as you register for other courses, but please bring the attached letter with you when you do so. To register for an Honors Independent Study course, HRS 203 or HRS 204, you first need to reach an agreement with a participating professor and then get my written approval.  That’s why these are set up as late-start courses. All of these are three-credit courses and they will normally transfer to four-year colleges and universities. In some instances it is even possible to get a course waiver that will allow you to take an Honors course in place of a course required for your degree program at UCC.

The Benefits of the Program

In addition to the intellectual challenge and the opportunity to work closely with fellow students and some of the college’s best professors in a non-traditional setting, there are practical benefits to participating in Honors Studies.  If you complete HRS 103 or HRS 104 and any other three of the above options and graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, you will receive the “Distinguished Honors Studies Scholar” designation on your transcript and be acknowledged for your achievement on Awards Night. There are several distinct advantages to this, including increased transfer and scholarship possibilities, strong letters of recommendation, and the prestige of being recognized for your accomplishments.  But more importantly for all of those involved in the development of the program is the belief that enrolling in even a single Honors course can significantly enrich your life and better prepare you for the career choices and life challenges that lie ahead.

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