- UHON 351: Honors Seminars
UHON 351 seminars are the heart of the Honors Program. In small seminar-style classes you will explore fundamental questions with your peers and faculty who bring their most current research and creative work in the classroom. Courses change every semester with some of the courses clustered around a particular theme. Our Fall 20 - Spring 21 theme is From Cradle to Cradle.
Courses for Spring 2021
Courses for Fall 2020
Courses for Spring 2020
Courses for Fall 2019
Honors courses substitute for University Core Curriculum requirements, and are numbered to correspond to the UCC categories, as follows:
- 351F: Fine Arts
- 351I: Interdisciplinary Studies
- 351L: Human Health
- 351M: Multicultural Diversity in the U.S.
- 351O: Social Science
- 351S: Physical and Life Sciences
- 351U: Humanities
In October (for Spring classes) and March (for Fall classes), the UHP has "Reservation Day." The actual dates and location of these events will be announced in the 4-1-1. Students may reserve a seat in a maximum of one course per semester. Honors students who fail to register on Early Registration Day will forfeit their seat reservation.
Courses fill up quickly on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who decide not to register for their reserved course should notify the Honors office.
- Departmental Honors Recognized courses
Designed for outstanding students in specific departments, these courses may be counted toward the Honors Program certificate or degree. Download a
complete listing of courses.
- Contract courses
Is there a class in which you would like to work more closely with the Professor? This is usually the case if you would like to go above and beyond the class in an area of your interest. The Honors Contract allows you to receive honors credit in a regular course. Our faculty are passionate about teaching and sharing their research with students. Yet, in working with you individually, they are also investing their time and intellectual labor in you. Talk with your Professor, see if you can both agree upon your intellectual pursuits in the class, and fill in the Honors Contract Form. This may well be the start of a lifelong relationship with a mentor. Some possible examples of Honors contracts include, but are not limited to:
- A paper on a more challenging topic than those required of other students
- More sophisticated experiments or problems
- Extra problem sets or experiments in an area not heavily explored in class
- Extended readings on an author or historical figure not thoroughly covered in the class
- Viewing/experiencing cultural artifacts related to the subject matter and writing response papers
- Leading a class discussion on a topic thoroughly studied and prepared by the student
- Translating a short work
- Meetings with the instructor to discuss additional readings
Previous topics have included:
- The origins of beer and its role in the agricultural revolution in a largely lecture and lab based class in the Fermentation Institute.
- Presenting two videos to initiate a discussion on domestic abuse in a class on victim advocacy.
The contract form is submitted to the Director of the UHP for approval. The deadline for Fall and Spring semesters is Friday of the third week of classes; during the Summer term, the deadline is the Friday of the first week of classes.
(Download the honors contract form)
- Independent Study
An independent project (readings, field study, creative projects), approved in advance by the Director. An independent study can extend up to two semesters. The deadline for Fall and Spring semesters is Friday of the third week of classes; during the Summer term, the deadline is the Friday of the first week of classes.Complete a
UHON 399 form.
- Thesis
Students in the University Honors Program may choose to graduate with an Honors Thesis. Working on a thesis offers the opportunity to pursue independent research and/or creative project of one's choice under close guidance from a faculty advisor. Examples of previous theses
Deadlines:
Summer 2020 work is due April 27th.
Fall 2020 work is due July 10th.
Spring 2021 work is due November 10th.
- Internships and Travel/Study Programs
Honors credit may be given for a faculty-directed paper based on some internships and travel/study programs, if approved by the Honors Director before the internship or travel.