Honors Program

Undergraduate Programs

Description

Mission Statement: The mission of the Honors Program at Minnesota State Mankato is to encourage future leaders, researchers, and global citizens by providing high ability and motivated students with exceptional learning opportunities, mentoring relationships, and a community of scholars that foster their development as future leaders in a global society.

Program Overview: The Honors Program is dedicated to the development of three main competencies: leadership, research, and global citizenship. Students can choose between two honors designations. Students who enroll in a 14-credit Honors Program that includes 6 credits of Honors General Education courses and 8 honors credits will graduate with the designation: Honors Program Graduate with Distinction. Students who participate in an abbreviated 8-credit honors curriculum will graduate with the designation: Honors Program Graduate. As students move into courses within their major, they further develop their honors competencies through advanced honors seminars and individualized plans of study. Throughout their time at the University, students will participate in co-curricular activities which complement their plan of study. At the culmination of all coursework, seniors are required to demonstrate acquisitions of the leadership, research, and global citizenship competencies through a successful presentation and defense of an honors portfolio in HONR 475: Honors Portfolio.

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission to the Honors Program: The Honors Director, in consultation with the Honors Council, grants admission to the Honors Program. No predetermined test score or class rank guarantees or precludes admission. The selection committee considers the applicant’s demonstrated academic excellence and inquisitiveness. Contact the Honors Program Director for application forms and procedures. 

GPA Policy. Students must maintain a minimum overall 3.3 GPA to remain in good standing in the program.  

Pass/No Credit Policy. All of the Honors courses (including honors sections of general education courses and honors seminars) must be taken for a letter grade, except for HONR 475, which is only taken as pass/no credit.

Transfer Policy. Transfer students should contact the Honors Program Director to have their transfer credits reviewed when they submit the application for admission.

The Honors Program Graduate with Distinction track requires a core program of 14 credit hours. The Honors Program Graduate track requires 8 credit hours.

Contact Information

265 Morris Hall 

Honors Office (507) 389-5191
http://www.mnsu.edu/honors/

Faculty

Director
  • Leah White, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
  • Giovanna Walters

200 Level

Credits: 1

This course provides an orientation to the mission and core competencies of the Honors Program. Students will analyze and categorize leadership, research, and global citizenship themes, identify appropriate learning goals, and develop an e-portfolio for their use in the Honors Program.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Honors students may 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.

Prerequisites: none

400 Level

Credits: 1-4

Seminars are offered by University faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. In addition, interdisciplinary seminars can be offered.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Honors students may 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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

This required course allows the student to articulate where and how he or she has met the Honors Program Learning Outcomes.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

To be arranged with Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none