BSU Catalog Home | Honors Program | Honors Course Descriptions

Honors Area of Study

• The Honors Program does not offer a major, a minor or a degree. Successful completion of the Honors requirements is noted on students' permanent transcripts. Honors graduates are given special recognition at commencement and wear the honors' hood with their academic robes.

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Advising

During the freshman and sophomore years, honors scholars are advised by faculty on the Honors Council. Freshman and sophomore students are notified by mail about special advising procedures and the assignment of advisers as well as other matters for all students enrolled in the program. Once honors scholars have declared majors (normally at the end of their sophomore year), honor scholars are advised by the faculty in their area of specialization. Honors scholars must maintain a 3.00 grade point average in their college work. Honors scholars must also complete the interdisciplinary honors course and honors core requirements listed below. The Honors Council will consider requests for substitutions or exemptions on an individual basis.

Note: While challenging in scope, the Honors Program does not increase the number of credits required for graduation. Because of its focus on each student's personal interests, Honors studies may seem even more manageable to some than the regular curriculum. Students with career goals that require graduate study and students with mature life experiences are especially encouraged to apply.

Honors Core

Honors Scholars are required to complete the full-year Freshmen English sequence, and one of the full-year science sequences. Honors Scholars are otherwise exempt from completing specific requirements in the liberal education curriculum, but must fulfill the following Honors Core. The Honors Council requires that at least one course (minimum 3 quarter hours) be taken in each of the areas listed below. (GIN CHANGE TO 123...)

1. The Analysis and Appreciation of Literature: Course work taken either in English or in some other language. Literature is a vehicle for display of culture and aesthetic expression, and can communicate an understanding of the human experience.
2. Scientific Investigation of Human Behavior: Additional understanding of the human experience comes from familiarity with specific inquiries into human behavior.
3. The Structure and Function of Institutions: Economic, political, and social institutions play a significant role in people's lives. The understanding of these institutions is an important aspect of being a responsible citizen.
4. Historical Studies: Course work taken in history, or through historically oriented courses in other disciplines such as art, music, or philosophy. History provides a perspective on the development of human society and culture and can separate us from the parochialism of the present.
5. Mathematics or Analytical Thought: These disciplines foster an understanding of the nature and use of formal, rational thought.
6. Foreign Culture: Either through studying a foreign language or studying a foreign culture through the perspectives of other disciplines such as anthropology, history, or philosophy. Such studies help to free us from the parochialism of our own culture.

   The Honors Council will maintain a list of approved courses for each area. Any student may request the addition of any course to the list, and the council will consider its addition. Experimental courses and interdisciplinary courses may be proposed as well as standard departmental courses. Honors scholars should discuss their course selection with their honors advisers, who will assure that diversity and rigor are maintained in the student's schedule.

   Prior to admission to the Honor's Program, every student should have the following basic skills: (1) the ability to write clearly and in an organized fashion; (2) an understanding of the English language in terms of structure and function; and (3 credits) basic mathematics skills. Honors scholars are to demonstrate their adequacy in these areas either by the submission of suitable standardized test scores or through passing related course work. The Honors Council will maintain a list of courses appropriate to these requirements and tests suitable to demonstrate competency.

Required Honors Courses

• HOPR 100 The Unity and Diversity of Knowledge (3 credits)
• HOPR 101 Influence, Power and Values (3 credits)
• HOPR 200 Studies in Literature and the Arts (3 credits)
• HOPR 201 Studies in Social Sciences and History (3 credits)
• HOPR 470 Honors Thesis or Project (4 credits)
• HOPR 480 Integrative Seminar (3 credits)

Subtotal: 19 credits

MINIMUM TOTAL QUARTER HOURS REQUIRED FOR HONORS PROGRAM:

61 CREDITS

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES, MINIMUM: 42 CREDITS

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Suggested Schedule For Honors Program

The following is a list of required honors program courses arranged by year. This schedule is intended to help students plan their schedules in an orderly fashion; however, these are only suggestions and this schedule is flexible.

Freshman

• ENGL 121, 122, 123 Freshman English (Honors Scholars presenting evidence of high competency in writing may be exempted from Freshman English)
• HOPR 100 The Unity and Diversity of Knowledge
• HOPR 101 Influence, Power, and Values
• HOPR 200 Studies in Literature and the Arts
• Progress toward completion of Honors Core

Sophomore

• HOPR 201 Studies in Social Sciences and History
• Completion of Honors Core

Junior

• HOPR 470 Thesis
  or Project Course work in the major

Senior

• HOPR 480 Integrative Seminar
• Course work in the major