university honors curriculum

University Honors Curriculum

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WSU Honors Mission Statement

Honors provides a community of scholars withina large urban research institution. Honors’ goalis informed citizenship as the basis for academicexcellence in a diverse, global setting.!TheHonors experience is founded on four pillars:Community, Service, Research, and Career.

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! Develop students’ facility forindependent research.

! Instill a commitment tolifelong learning.

! Provide high achievingstudents with a rigorousintellectual experience.

! Create a social context thatvalues academic achievement.

! Enhance students’ ability tointegrate knowledge acrossdisciplinary boundaries.

Honors Goals

MedStart Classes of 2008, 2009, and 2010

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The WSU Honors Curriculum

!Freshman year: CommunityHonors students build a sense of

community by participating in

Scholars Day and the Honors freshmen

year experience incorporating City I

and City II. Honors sections of many

general education courses also help

foster a more intimate small-college

experience.

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Honors Freshmen Year

Experience

The Honors Freshmen Yearprovides a commonintellectual experiencebased upon:

!The Detroit Passport

!Linked course options(e.g., ENG 1050, PHI 1100 and HIS 1300)

!City I and City II

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Honors Freshmen Year

Experience: City I, City II

!City I: Proposes the city as a "classic" text;the course examines strategies forinterpreting city history, culture, space, andsocial institutions, from different disciplinarypoints of view — anthropology to history toeconomics to environmental studies.

!City II: Addresses American politicalinstitutions, processes, and ideas; usingdifferent methods of inquiry, studentsdevelop group service-learning projects.

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!Sophomore year: Service

The Honors program

encourages students to

engage in community service

combined with reflective

writing, research assignments,

and discussion as part of a

general education course.Lauren Henrickson, The Free Store

Service-Learning Project

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!Junior year: ResearchStudents are encouraged toundertake individual researchor internship opportunities,with support provided by anUndergraduate ResearchGrant. To graduate withHonors, students must take atleast one Honors seminar, withfaculty who offer specialtopics courses in the area oftheir research and expertise.

Morgan Thompson at the WSU Undergraduate Research

Conference 2007/Thompson is a Goldwater Scholar andmember of the USA Today 2007 All-USA College

Academic Team

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!Senior year: CareerStudents complete an Honors

thesis based on their research

with a faculty mentor. Many

students have commented on

the usefulness of the Honors

research and thesis in

preparing them for graduate

study, as well as providing

insight into various career

options.

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How do students earn

Honors credit?! Honors Sections: Many lower-level general education

classes have one or two sections that are reservedfor Honors students.

! Honors Option: Students in classes at the 2000-levelor above work with a faculty member to enhance anon-Honors course. The option allows students toearn Honors credit in their major where Honorssections are not often available.

! Honors Courses: Honors courses include theUniversity Honors thesis (HON 4998), the HonorsDirected Study (HON 4990) and the Honors Seminars(HON 4200 - 4280).

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How are Honors classes

different from non-Honors?

! Honors classes are generally taught by full-timefaculty. The Undergraduate Bulletin lists close to70 classes that are regularly offered as Honorssections — 30 of which meet general educationrequirements.

! Students are required to have a minimum GPA of3.3 (3.5 high school GPA).

! The classes or discussion sections are smaller(18 - 25 students).

! Honors classes are expected to have more in-classdiscussion and in-depth reading assignments.

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University Honors

! Students who are pursuing any baccalaureate degree

may also graduate with University Honors. In order to

earn University Honors, students must complete at

least 24 credits in Honors courses, including an Honors

seminar and an Honors thesis.

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Departmental Honors! Most departments offer an

Honors track that includes atleast twelve credits in Honorscoursework, including a seniorthesis or project, and at leastone 4200-level Honors seminar.

! Departmental Honors allowsmore current WSU and transferstudents to receive Honors.

! All Honors credits taken fordepartment Honors apply

towards the University Honors.

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NEXT: Strengthening Department Ties

! Strengthen ties by creating department teams;freshmen would be referred to a department teamwithin the first two weeks of classes. The team wouldinclude the Honors advisor, undergraduate andgraduate director, and would supervise the HonorsElectronic Portfolio, as part of “Best Start” initiative.

! Implement “Best Start” Sophomore Connectionthrough declaration of major or application toprofessional programs.

! Build a database of Honors Alumni to help connectcurrent Honors students to recent graduates workingor studying in their field of interest.

! Collaborate with the remaining departments to createHonors tracks.

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How does WSU Honors

compare to other Honors

Colleges?! Basically, we’re already there in everything but

name.

! With regard to high school admission requirements,size of program, GPA requirements, and benefits,WSU is comparable to most of the Honors Collegesin Michigan and in the “Urban 13.”

! Out of eight comparable Michigan publicuniversities, only WSU, University of Michigan AnnArbor, and Central Michigan University aredesignated as Honors Programs and not as HonorsColleges.

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Honors Program Outcomes

! 24 National Merit Finalists

recruited to WSU since 2004.

! 2 WSU Honors students chosen

for USA Today All USA College

Academic Team.

! 1 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar

! 100% success rate for Honors

Pre-med graduates who applied

to medical school since 2002.

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Appendices

!Directory of WSU colleges

and departments with

Honors tracks in the major

!Comparative chart of WSU

vs. other Honors Colleges

and Programs

!Honors Council Members

and the Honors Curriculum

Review Committee

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Questions?

! Jerry Herron, Honors director

[email protected]

! (313) 577-3030

! Liza Lagman Sperl, academic advisor

[email protected]

! (313) 577-9075

Updated 2/2007 – L. Lagman Sperl 1

HONORS DEPARTMENTS AND COLLEGES

College/School and Department

(% of departments with Honors track)

Departmental

Honors available?

Contact Person

School of Business Administration (100%) Linda Zaddach

Accounting Y

Business Logistics Y

Finance Y

Management Y

Marketing Y

College of Education Under consideration Janice Green

Elementary Education N

Secondary Education N

Special Education N

College of Engineering (100%) Michele Grimm

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Y

Civil and Environmental Engineering Y

Computer and Electrical Engineering Y

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Y

Mechanical Engineering Y

College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts (100%)

Art & Art History Y Michele Porter

Communication Y Victoria Dallas

Dance Y Doug Risner

Music Y Douglas Bianchi

Theatre Y Blair Anderson

College of Nursing (100%)

Nursing Y Linda Weglicki

College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions (17%)

Clinical Laboratory Sciences N

Mortuary Science N

Anatomical Pathologists’ Assistant Y Peter Frade

Health Sciences N

Radiation Therapy Technology N

Radiologic Technology N

School of Social Work (100%)

Social Work Y Cassandra Bowers

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (88%)

Africana Studies N Melba Boyd

Anthropology Y Susan Frekko

Biological Studies Y Kim Hunter

Chemistry Y Regina Zibuck

Classics, Greek & Latin Y Kathleen McNamee

Communication Sciences and Disorders N Karen O’Leary

Computer Science Y Judy Lechvar

Criminal Justice Y Marianka Holloway

Updated 2/2007 – L. Lagman Sperl 2

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (con’t)

Economics Y Robert Rossana

English Y Robert Burgoyne

Geography and Urban Planning Y Robert Sinclair

Geology Y Mark Baskaran

German & Slavic Studies Y Laura Kline

History Y Eric Ash

Interdisciplinary Studies N Howard Finley

Mathematics Y Mary Klamo

Near East & Asian Studies Y May Seikaly

Nutrition & Food Sciences Y Debra Zebari

Philosophy Y Dr. Herb Granger

Physics & Astronomy Y Robert Harr

Political Science Y Ronald Brown

Psychology Y Shelly Seguin

Romance Languages and Literatures Y Terrie Pickering

Sociology Y Heather Dillaway

Comparison of WSU vs. other Honors Colleges and Programs 2/23/07

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WSU Program 3.5 No Yes - Honors

Floors No

No - 24 Honors credits

including an interdisciplinary

Honors Seminar and Honors

Thesis

Yes Yes honors.wayne.edu

U of M

Program -

LS&A

ONLY

3.8-4.0 + 30-

33 ACTNo Yes No

No - Honors requirements based

on majorYes Yes www.lsa.umich.edu/honors/

MSU College

Top 5%

Class + 30

ACT

Yes -

Eustace-Cole

Hall

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

No - students complete at least

eight Honors caliber courses

plus a thesis in the major, if

required

No Yes www.msu.edu/~honcoll/

MSU - James

Madison

(JMC)

ProgramAdmission to

JMCNo No No

No - successful complertion of 3

Honors Options, an independent

study and a thesis

No No www.jmc.msu.edu

Oakland College 3.5 + 25 ACT

Yes - West

Vanderberg

Hall

Yes Yes

No - student must complete at

least four core courses plus an

honors thesis

No No www2.oakland.edu/hc/index.cfm

EMU College

3.7 + 25 ACT

or 3.4 + /28

ACT

NoYes - Honors

FloorsYes

No - 12 - 24 credits of honors

coursework plus an honors

thesis, if required

Yes Yes www.emich.edu/honors/

WMU College 3.6 + 26 ACT

Yes - Lee

Honors

College

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

No - students must complete a

specific number of honors

classes per year plus an honors

thesis

No Yes www.wmich.edu/honors/

Michigan Institutions

Compiled by L. Lagman Sperl with additional reserach by C. Phelps and S. Widener, WSU Honors

Source: Peterson's Honors Programs and Colleges, 4th edition, NCHChonors.org, and institution websites


GVSU College 3.5 + 28 ACT NoYes - Niemeyer

Living CenterYes

No - 12 credits integrated arts

and humanities sequence plus

an honors senior project

No Yes www.gvsu.edu/honor/

CMU Program 3.5 + 24 ACT No Yes YesNo - 18 credits of Honors

coursework plus senior projectNo Yes www.cmich.edu/honors/

Urban 13

City College

of New YorkCollege Competitive

Yes -

Macaulay

Honors

College

Center

No Yes

Yes -students take one honors

seminar each term freshman and

sophomore year plus four honors-

level courses

No Yes www.cuny.edu/honorscollege

Cleveland

State

University

Program30 ACT or

Top 10%No

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

No - 1 cr. hr. universal honors

course per term.No Yes www.csuohio.edu/honors/

Florida A&M

UniversityProgram 3.5 + 27 ACT

Yes - Honor

HouseNo Yes

No - students complete 30

Honors credits with an Honors

Thesis/Project

No Nowww.famu.edu/oldsite/a&m.php?p

age=honorsprogram/secondtier

Georgia

State

University

Program 3.3 + 26 ACT NoYes - Honors

FloorsYes

No - students receive recognition

for completion of at least 12

Honors credits.

No Yes www.cas.gsu.edu/honors.aspx

IUPUI ProgramTop 10% +

26 ACTNo

Yes - Honors

HouseYes

No - 18 credit hours - B or better

to receive Honors Credit in

Course

Yes Yes uc.iupui.edu/honors/

University of

Missouri -

Kansas City

Program

Top 10% +

Top 10%

ACT

Yes - Honors

House

Yes -

Residence HallNo

No - 28 credit hours; six credit

senior thesis optionalNo Yes cas.umkc.edu/honors/

University of

Missouri - St.

Louis

College

Special

application

incl. letters of

recomm.

Yes -

Provincial

House

Yes - Villa

Proper HouseYes

Yes - HON 1220 and HON 1201;

40 credit hours (4yr)/ 22 cr. hrs

(2yr) and req. Independent

Research/ Study

No Yes www.umsl.edu/divisions/honors/




Portland

State

University

Program

3.5 + 1200

SAT - 200

student limit

No No Yes

No - 27 credits of core course

work for freshmen and

sophomores plus an honors

thesis = 45 credits total

No Yes www.honors.pdx.edu/

Temple

UniversityProgram

Competitive

~3.8 + SAT

1300

NoYes - Honors

LLCNo

No - completion of eight honors

coursesNo Yes www.temple.edu/honors/

University of

CincinnatiProgram

Competitive

~ 3.8 + 29

ACT

NoYes - Honors

FloorsNo

Yes - beginning F'05 students

must complete a Freshmen

Honors Seminar (one credit); 24 -

36 credits

No Yes www.uc.edu/honors/

Univerisity of

Alabama at

Birmingham

Program50 Students

per year

Yes -

Spencer

Honors

House

No YesNo - 33 hours of honors course

work Yes Yes www.uab.edu/honorsprogram

UI - Chicago CollegeTop 15% +

28 ACT

Yes -

Burnham

Hall

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

Yes - HON 101 & 102; students

must register each term for HON

222 (0 cr.) Honors Activity

No Yes www.hc.uic.edu/

University of

MA - BostonProgram

3.2 GPA +

1200 SAT No No Yes

Yes - First Year Seminar and

Senior Thesis; 18 cr. totalNo Yes www.honors.umb.edu

University of

HoustonCollege

1270 SAT +

Top 10 %No

Yes - Honors

Residence HallsYes

No - students must complete at

least one honors course per term

= 36 honors credits

No Yes www.uh.edu/academics/hon

University of

MemphisProgram 3.5 + 27 ACT No

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

Yes - UNHP 1101 & 1102; 24 cr.;

honors thesis optionalNo Yes honors.memphis.edu

University of

New OrleansProgram 26 ACT No

Yes - Honors

FloorsYes

Yes - AS 1119, ENGL 1159 or

ENGL 2279; 30 hours of honors

credit with honors thesis

Yes Yes honors.uno.edu




University of

PittsburgCollege

Top 5% +

1350 SAT1No

Yes - Honors

LLCYes

No - students take as many

honors classes as they like; an

Honors thesis is required for a

Bachelors of Philosophy

No Yes www.honorscollege.pitt.edu

University of

ToledoProgram

3.75 + 28

ACT

Yes -Sullivan

Hall

No - Honors

students have

priority selection

Yes

No - requirements vary by

college; senior honors thesis

required

Yes Yes honors.utoledo.edu

Univeristy of

Wisconsin -

Milwaukee

College Competitive NoYes - Honors

HouseYes

Yes - HON 200 (3 - 6 cr.); 21

honors cr. total; honors thesis

optional

No Yes www.uwm.edu/Dept/Honors/

Virginia

Common-

wealth

Univeristy

College3.0 +1910 on

new SAT

Yes - West

Grace St.

Honors

Complex

Yes - Honors

Residence HallsYes

No - HONR 190 is an optional

Honors Freshmen Seminar; 18

total credits with at least nine cr.

in module courses

No Yeswww.pubinfo.vcu.edu/honorscolleg

e

Other

UC Irvine

University-

Wide Honors

Program

Program

4.2 weighted

GPA +1431

SAT

NoYes - Honors

FloorsYes

Yes - a Humanities course is

mandatory for first year, followed

by two core courses and an

Honors thesis

No Yes www.honors.uci.edu

Penn State

Univ. Honors

College

College

4.08

weighted

GPA + 1428

SAT

Yes -

Atherton Hall

Yes - Honors

Residence HallsYes

Yes - students take Honors First-

year composition plus two other

Honors courses; 32 honors

credits plus thesis

No Yes www.scholars.psu.edu



Honors

Honors Council The Board of Governors statute that establishes Honors provides for an Honors Council. The Honors Council is comprised of faculty representatives from schools and colleges plus two student representatives. The current council includes: Liberal Arts and Sciences:

Carl Freeman Phil Abbott

Nursing: Linda Weglicki

Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts: Tony Crowley

Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Gerry Conti

Social Work: Cassandra Bowers

Education: Karen Tonso

Engineering: Michele Grimm

Business: Margaret Smoller

Medicine: Nelia Afonso

Law: Jocelyn Benson

Student Representatives: Rebecca Schneider Aakash Gupta

Honors Curriculum Committee

Phil Abott (Political Science), chair Eric Ash (History) Carl Freeman (Biological Sciences) George Galster (Geography and Urban Planning) Mame Jackson (Art and Art History)

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

university honors curriculum

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