Honors Program

Honors Program
134 Carkoski Commons
Phone: 507-389-1314
Website: Honors Program

Outstanding faculty members are chosen from all disciplines to teach Honors Courses

Philosophy Statement. The Honors Program is designed for undergraduate students who desire an enhanced undergraduate experience. Students in the Honors Program will be offered a variety of educational activities that build upon but are different than the traditional undergraduate program. The Honors Program attempts to provide students with seminars, interdisciplinary offerings, community based activities, and other innovations. The Honors Program is designed for students who want to pursue active learning and is predicated upon students who are motivated, academically curious, and who want to achieve a high level of excellence during their undergraduate careers. It is for students who are self starters and who need the freedom to pursue their unique interests.

Admission to Minor

Students may be admitted to the Honors Program at any time during their college career. An application, which may be found by visiting the Honor Program Web site, must be submitted to the Honors Program Office for consideration. Students admitted to the Honors Program typically do so under one of the following three criteria:

1. The student graduated in the top 10% of his or her high school class or has a composite ACT score of 26;
2. The student graduated in the top 25% of his or her high school class and has a composite ACT score of 24. In addition the student will petition the Honors Program with his or her potential for success in the Program, based on Learning Outcomes.
3. The student has completed 2 semesters of college level work with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.2. In addition the student will petition the Honors Program with his or her potential for success in the Program, based on Learning Outcomes.

Honors Program Minor

Required Total: 18-24 credits

9 credits of the following:

• HONR 201/401 Honors Seminar (1-3)

6 credits of the following:

• HONR 250/450 Service-Learning (1-6)
• HONR 255/455 Practicum (1-6)

And the following:

• HONR 475 Honors Portfolio (1)
• HONR 495 Senior Project (2-4)

Policies/Information

GPA Policy. Students in the Honors Program are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 after freshman year, 3.1 after sophomore year, 3.2 after junior year, and to achieve a minimum GPA of 3.3 upon graduation.

Graduation Policy. In addition to the required minimum GPA, students graduating with the Honors Program minor are required to meet the four Learning Outcomes: Civic Engagement, Critical & Creative Thinking, Lifelong Learning, and Self & Other. For more information about the Learning Outcomes, please contact the Honors Program Office.

P/N Grading Policy. A student in the Honors Program may take a maximum of 6 HONR credits as P/N.

Course Descriptions

HONR 201 (1-3) Honors Seminar
Seminars are offered by University faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. In addition, interdisciplinary seminars will be offered. See Honors Program Office or Office of the Registrar for specifics for each semester.

HONR 250 (1-6) Honors Service Learning
One way to meet Honors Program requirements is through Service-Learning. Students will develop meaningful Service-Learning activities which will involve an action and reflection dynamic. May be taken as traditional course or individually in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

HONR 255 (1-6) Honors Practicum
Honors students will be required to engage in significant learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. A practicum typically begins with student interest that turns into an educational activity. Practicums will be individually determined in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

HONR 401 (1-3) Honors Seminar
Seminars are offered by University faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. In addition, interdisciplinary seminars will be offered. Examples of seminars being offered in the 2004-2005 academic year include Lord of the Rings; Heroes, History, and Social Context in Irish Culture; American Reflections: History in Performance; Hollywood Goes to Washington; Swann's Way; Frank Lloyd Wright; Writing Home; and Computational Linguistics. Because subject matter varies each semester, visit the Honors Program Web site at www.mnsu.edu/honors or contact the Office of the Registrar for course titles and descriptions.

HONR 450 (1-6) Honors Service Learning
One way to meet Honors Program requirements is through Service-Learning. Students will develop meaningful Service-Learning activities which will involve an action and reflection dynamic. May be taken as traditional course or individually in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

HONR 455 (1-6) Honors Practicum
Honors students will be required to engage in significant learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. A practicum typically begins with student interest that turns into an educational activity. Practicums will be individually determined in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

HONR 475 (1) Honors Portfolio
This required course allows the student to articulate where and how he or she has met the Honors Program Learning Outcomes.

HONR 495 (2-4) Honors Senior Capstone Project
All Honors students complete a culminating experience which demonstrates considerable accomplishment. The Senior Capstone Project can be a research project, scholarly paper, creative activity, or other demonstration of excellence. Senior Capstone Projects can be done in coordination with the student's major subject area, or can stand alone.

HONR 499 (1-6) Individual Study
To be arranged with Honors Program Director.