Courses
The Program offers Honors courses in many departments, and students select at least two per year from among them. Many of these are small enrollment classes, where students work closely with faculty in a challenging, stimulating and supportive learning environment. The majority of Honors courses provide credit toward graduation in place of existing requirements. While the most of the current course offerings are Honors versions of GE classes, the Program is always seeking to broaden its selection in order to give Honors students the best opportunity to choose from a wide range of academic options.
Honors Courses fall into three main categories:
- General Education (GE) Honors Courses
- Departmental Honors Courses
- Specialized Honors Courses
These courses are alternatives to the regular general education course offerings. Subject matter is explored with greater intensity and depth, concepts are examined, and research patterns are introduced. These classes are low enrollment (25 students) and are usually reserved for Honors students only. The course offerings are negotiated with the departments responsible for the regular general education classes.
These courses are taught at the "honors" level of a particular department. They are cross-listed as Honors classes in order to give Honors students the opportunity to get Honors credit for taking these classes. Although the classes are not restricted to students in the Honors Program, students enrolled in these special sections are working at the "honors" level in that particular subject.
These courses are unique to the Honors Program and offer supplemental ways to gain Honors credit. These include: Undergraduate research projects, Honors Contract, Honors Leadership Experience, Honors Professional, Social and Global Experience, and Honors Group Seminars.
The Honors Program tries to offer a good variety of Honors Courses every quarter, pending departmental and budgetary constraints. We are currently exploring opportunities to develop major-specific Honors courses, as well as cross-disciplinary linked courses (e.g., Physics and Music, Philosophy and Mathematics, etc.) As part of our ongoing campaign to broaden the Honors Course offerings, we invite you to participate by making a contribution to our "Honors Courses Fund" (please click on the "Giving to the Honors Program" button for more details.)
Typical GE Offerings by Quarter
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Area A2 | Area A2 | HNRS 100 |
| Area B1 | Area A3 | Area C1 |
| Area C4 | Area B3 | Area C2 |
| Area D4 | Area D5 | Area C4 |
| HNRS 142: Calculus II | HNRS 143: Calculus III | Area B3&B4 |
| HNRS 143: Calculus III | HNRS 241: Calculus IV | HNRS 241: Calculus IV |