Program Overview & Requirements
Website: www.unco.edu/honors
The University Honors Program fosters outstanding students by providing enriched course and research experiences, extra faculty attention, a community of intellectually engaged peers, and appropriate recognition for making the most of an undergraduate education. The program engages students in the life of the mind and encourages them to raise their expectations for themselves and their education. Honors students become intrinsically involved in their own learning experience, develop heightened critical awareness and independent thinking skills, and participate in research or creative works at the university and in the community.
Program Highlights
Students admitted to the University Honors Program have the resources of a comprehensive research university combined with the individual attention traditionally associated with a small liberal arts college, including:
- Connections to faculty and fellow students who share a passion for learning and a commitment to excellence.
- Access to honors courses, seminars, research opportunities, personalized advising and other enriched learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
- Opportunities to reside in the Honors Residential Learning Community, participate in the Student Honors Council, access a rich variety of social, cultural, and service activities, and go beyond textbooks to add their own sense of self to their learning.
- Eligibility for scholarships available only to Honors students, travel and research stipends, and extended library check-out privileges.
- Notation on transcripts and, for University Honors, recognition at commencement and notation on the university diploma.
Program Overview
The Honors Program offers several entry points for students with a desire to broaden or deepen their academic studies.
- A First Year Experience designed for both incoming students and continuing students who want an introduction to Honors education. The program curriculum is interdisciplinary and supports students to produce honors quality scholarship. Students completing the Honors First Year Experience receive the designation “First Year Honors" on their UNC transcript.
- University Honors is designed for students who want to take full advantage of the intellectual breadth and depth of the Honors Program, providing access to upper-division electives and in-depth research experiences culminating in the creation of a Senior Honors Capstone project. Students who completed First Year Honors simply continue their journey, but all UNC students -- including transfer students -- may apply for entry to the program as late as the end of their sophomore year. Students completing the University Honors Program receive recognition at commencement and official designation as “University Honors” on both their transcript and diploma.
- The Honors Capstone-Only program is designed for juniors and seniors who discover Honors too late to take advantage of the full program or who want to explore their major discipline in-depth through the creation of an Honors Capstone project. This project may be in the form of a traditional research thesis, a creative work, or an applied project. Students completing the Honors Capstone-Only program receive an “Honors Capstone" designation on their transcript.
Applying to the University Honors Program
Information about applying for the Honors Program may be found on the website at www.unco.edu/honors.
Incoming students are urged to apply to join the Honors First Year Experience as incoming first year students. All other students, including transfer students, are encouraged to apply as early in their program and possible. All applications must include the names and contact information of two recommending teachers along with a statement of intent. Entering first year students must demonstrate academic interest and aptitude throughout their application, but in the interest of greater equity and opportunity, no specific minimum standardized test scores or GPA is required.
First Year Honors
The Honors First Year Experience offers incoming students the opportunity to experience Honors instruction as part of a learning cohort while practicing interdisciplinary analytical skills and building a foundation for academic success.
General Requirements:
- Complete a total of 6 course credits in Honors introductory courses.
- Participate in at least one Honors Connect activity.
- Achieve a cumulative 3.00 UNC GPA.
Choose two courses (6 credits) from the list below
Note: Students accepted into the Honors Program have access to an Honors-only section of UNIV 101 and are encouraged to take this course during their first semester at UNC.
| UNIV 101 | Foundations for Learning and DevelopmentLAB3 | 3 |
| HON 100 | Honors Connections Seminar I | 3 |
| HON 180 | Great Ideas in ContextLAA2LAIS | 3 |
| HON 182 | Confluence of CulturesLAA2LAMS | 3 |
| HON 185 | Religions and WorldviewsLAA3 | 3 |
| HON 200 | Honors Connections Seminar II | 3 |
Completion of all Honors First Year Experience requirements will earn a “First Year Honors” designation on the student’s transcript, regardless of whether the student chooses to remain in the Honors Program. See the Honors Student Handbook at www.unco.edu/honors for more information.
University Honors
The University Honors curriculum provides students the opportunity to engage in both broad interdisciplinary study and in-depth exploration of a specific topic. It builds on the First Year Experience and culminates in an Honors Capstone project. University Honors Students may complete their Capstone Project within or outside their chosen major.
General Requirements:
- Complete a total of 12 credits of Honors coursework. At least 6 credits must be upper division. The Honors First Year Experience automatically satisfies 6 of these credits.
- Complete at least 4 credits of Honors Capstone requirements and culminating in an Honors Capstone project approved by the Honors Program and presented in a public forum.
- Participate in at least six Honors Connect activities.
- Achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.00 UNC GPA.
Lower-Division Honors Courses: up to 6 credits
Note: students who complete the First Year Experience will have already fulfilled 6 credits of Lower Division Honors Coursework and should choose Upper Division Courses from the list below.
Students who did not participate in the First Year Experience may choose up to 6 credits from the following list, though they may also choose courses from the Upper-Division Honors Course list below to satisfy the Honors Coursework requirement.
| UNIV 101 | Foundations for Learning and DevelopmentLAB3 | 3 |
| HON 100 | Honors Connections Seminar I | 3 |
| HON 180 | Great Ideas in ContextLAA2LAIS | 3 |
| HON 182 | Confluence of CulturesLAA2LAMS | 3 |
| HON 185 | Religions and WorldviewsLAA3 | 3 |
| HON 200 | Honors Connections Seminar II | 3 |
Upper-Division Honors Coursework: 6 to 12 credits
All students must complete at least 6 credits (two courses) from the lists below. Students who enter the University Honors Program without completing the Honors First Year Experience may select additional upper-division credits or may choose up to 6 credits of lower division credits from the list above.
Honors Special Topics
Note: HON 395 is repeatable under different subtitles.
Only Honors Special Topics courses may be used to fulfill the Honors Coursework requirement (departmental special topics courses do not serve as substitutions).
Research Methods Courses
Honors 420 or any approved departmental research methods course on the list below may be used to fulfill the Honors Coursework requirement,
| HON 420 | Honors Research Methods | 3 |
| ANT 340 | Quantitative Methods for Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 350 | Field Methods in Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| CHEM 499 | Seminar and Research in Chemistry | 1-3 |
| CRJ 380 | Research Methods in Criminal Justice | 3 |
| MET 376 | Meteorological COOP Education | 1-12 |
| PHYS 370 | Research I | 1- 3 |
| PSY 201 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 451 | Intermediate Applied Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 431 | McNair Scholars Research Studies I | 2 |
Internship/Study Abroad Courses
HON 492 is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours. HON 492 or any approved departmental internship, practicum, field work or study abroad course on the list below may be used to fulfill the Honors Coursework requirement.
| HON 492 | Honors Internship/Study Abroad | 1- 4 |
| AFS 399 | Community Study Project | 1-4 |
| ANT 492 | Internship | 1-12 |
| ART 492 | Internship in Art | 1- 5 |
| CSD 473 | SLPA Seminar and Field Experience | 4 |
| BA 415 | International Experience/Study Abroad | 1 |
| BAAC 492 | Internship in Accounting | 3 |
| BACS 492 | Internship in Computer Information Systems | 1- 3 |
| BAFN 492 | Internship in Finance | 1- 3 |
| BAMG 492 | Internship in Management | 3 |
| BAMK 492 | Internship in Marketing | 3 |
| BIO 492 | Internship in Biological Sciences | 1- 3 |
| BIO 493 | Clinical Internship in Biological Sciences | 1- 3 |
| BIO 494 | Practicum in College Biological Science Instruction | 1- 2 |
| BREW 492 | Internship | 1-9 |
| COMM 492 | Undergraduate Internship | 1-10 |
| CRJ 492 | Internship | 1- 9 |
| CSD 474 | Clinical Practicum in Audiology | 1 |
| CSD 483 | Entry/Primary Speech-Language Pathology Practicum | 2 |
| ECLD 401 | CLD Practicum | 3 |
| ECON 492 | Internship in Economics | 3- 6 |
| EDEC 490 | Early Childhood Student Teaching | 6-12 |
| EDFE 444 | Supervised Student Teaching | 1-15 |
| EDSE 328 | Field Experience in Special Education: Elementary | 3 |
| EDSE 329 | Field Experience in Special Education: Secondary | 3 |
| ENG 492 | Writing Internship | 1-3 |
| ENST 492 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 1-4 |
| ESCI 492 | Earth Science Internship | 1-15 |
| GEOG 392 | Field Course in Geography | 1- 6 |
| GEOG 492 | Internship | 1- 6 |
| GEOL 481 | Geologic Field Techniques | 3 |
| GNDR 492 | Internship | 3-6 |
| HIST 492 | Internship | 1- 3 |
| HUSR 492 | Internship in Human Services | 1-15 |
| INTR 492 | Internship for Interpreters | 3 |
| JMS 492 | Internship | 1- 3 |
| LEAD 492 | Leadership Internship | 3 |
| MAS 450 | Internship in Mexican American Studies | 4 |
| MUS 450 | Seminar in Student Teaching for Music Educators | 1 |
| NURS 470 | Clinical Practice: Professionalism in Practice | 3 |
| PHIL 492 | Internship | 1- 6 |
| PSCI 392 | Internship | 1-13 |
| PSY 491 | Psychology Field Experience | 1-6 |
| RTH 492 | Internship in Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality | 3-12 |
| SES 492 | Internship in Sport and Exercise Science | 6-12 |
| SOC 491 | Sociology Internship | 3- 9 |
| SOC 496 | Study Abroad Experience | 3 |
| STEP 464 | Secondary Student Teaching | 1-14 |
| THEA 401 | Practicum in Theatre | 1- 4 |
| THEA 450 | Design and Technology Practicum | 3 |
| THEA 465 | Acting Showcase | 3 |
| THEA 485 | Clinical Experiences II: Secondary Theatre | 3 |
| THEA 490 | Theatre Arts Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| WLC 296 | Study Abroad Experience | 1-3 |
Honors Capstone — at least 4 credits
Complete the Honors Capstone Curriculum as described on the Honors-Capstone tab.
Students who complete the University Honors Program -- including a Capstone Project -- are recognized during commencement ceremonies and receive the designation "University Honors" on both their transcript and their diploma. See the Honors Student Handbook at www.unco.edu/honors for more information.
Honors Capstone
The Honors Capstone curriculum provides upper-division students the opportunity to engage in in-depth study of a topic either within or outside of their major degree program and culminates in an Honors Capstone Project. Projects may include
- a senior thesis based on field research, experimentation, or library or archival research;
- an applied or civically-engaged business, non-profit, or curriculum design and delivery project; or
- a creative work in humanities or the arts.
All projects require a written component with critical, research-based, reflective analysis, and all students present their project in a public forum to educate others on their topic. Completed projects are bound and placed in the permanent collection of the James A. Michener Library, and Honors students also are encouraged to submit their final written project for inclusion in a scholarly journal, such as UNC’s undergraduate research journal. During their Honors Capstone experience students work individually with a faculty mentor to strengthen their research, writing, creative, and presentation skills.
General Requirements:
- Completion of Honors Capstone course requirements (4 credits).
- Completion of Honors Capstone project approved by the Honors Program and presented in a public forum.
- Participation in at least two Honors Connect activities.
- Achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.00 UNC GPA
Honors Capstone Project Design — 2 credits
Take at least two credits from the following.
| HON 351 | Junior Honors Seminar | 1- 3 |
| or | |
| UNIV 432 | McNair Scholars Research Studies II | 2 |
| LIB 251 | Research as Inquiry: Exploration for Beginning Researchers | 1 |
Notes:
- HON 351 is repeatable for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
- UNIV 432 is restricted to students enrolled in the McNair Scholars Research Program. For more information about the program, see www.unco.edu/mcnair/
Honors Capstone Project — 2 credits
Note: HON 451 is repeatable with a maximum of 3 credit hours. Students may complete their Capstone Project through HON 451 or any equivalent departmental capstone course on the list below.
Every final Honors Capstone project must be approved by the Honors Program and presented in a public forum to fulfill the capstone requirement. Students who choose a departmental capstone course should consult regularly with the Honors program to ensure they are on track to meet this requirement.
Students who complete the Honors Capstone Project without participating in the full University Honors experience will receive an "Honors Capstone" designation on their transcript.
The Honors Capstone is also embedded in the full University Honors program. Students who complete the full program earn recognition at commencement and a designation of “University Honors” on both their transcript and diploma. See the University Honors tab for details.