Academics and Research
EXCELLENCE in Action: Challenge, Think, Stretch
Honors Curriculum
Honors courses are designed to teach students to be excited by ideas, to love discovery, to become independent, creative and self-confident learners. We are preparing exceptional students to perform in every imaginable sphere of life. We offer options and opportunities. Write a thesis; complete a creative project; explore a topic of interest with more depth and independence than in a typical class. Choose to help shape your curriculum in ways not possible in other academic units.
Yes! Honors courses are different.
Quality rather than quantity separates Honors courses from the non-Honors curriculum. While the work requirements in an Honors course may involve larger and harder assignments than would be given in other courses in the University, the goal of the Honors curriculum is to encourage the student to extract more intellectual value out of the work that is assigned rather than simply to do more assigned work.
"Honors courses made subjects come alive that I had no previous interest in."
In your Honors classes you can expect:
- more flexibility and freedom
- more personal attention
- an intellectual challenge
- to stretch intellectual ambition and excel in all academic work
- to be encouraged to take some initiative in determining the direction of the course
- a significant amount of writing
- the use of creative teaching approaches from the professors and creative responses from students
- an openness and honesty in approaching what may be new and controversial from both faculty and students
- to have the opportunity to get involved in research as an undergraduate
- to take on greater responsibility for academic choices.
- to integrate various kinds of learning experiences