Advanced Placement credit, International Baccalaureate credit, and “CLEP” credits are available in some departments of the University. These will not carry honors designation.
Honors courses, sections, and components may not be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis. The senior honors project, however, might be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis upon recommendation of the department and approval of the Director of the Honors College.
Students are required to complete that part of the honors college designated “General Honors” and to maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA at Missouri State. In addition, they may elect to complete “Departmental Honors.” Descriptions of general honors and departmental honors follow.
General Honors
Students must complete the following requirements in order to graduate from the Honors College
General Honors Freshman Honors Seminar:
All students entering the Honors College must take the Freshman Honors Seminar (UHC 110). This is a one-semester-hour seminar offered every fall semester. It is designed to introduce the honors student to the Honors College and to faculty who frequently work with the honors students. The course introduces the honors student to the University through a seminar revolving around a topic of intellectual significance. The student uses the research, faculty, and student resources of the University as a complement to the seminar discussions.
General Honors Curriculum:
During their first five semesters in the program, all honors students are required to schedule at least five honors courses in addition to the Freshman Honors Seminar. At least four of the five must come from the University's General Education offerings. To insure subject breadth, four of the general honors courses must have different prefixes though students may repeat one prefix without taking extra courses. Normally, students should schedule at least one honors course each semester.
Capstone Course:
After at least 60 hours have been completed, each honors student is required to take an honors section of GEP 397.
Students who are not members of the Honors College may be allowed to enroll in courses of Honors College designation provided they have both a 3.25 g.p.a. and permission of the Dean of the Honors College.
Honors students who complete the Freshman Honors Seminar, the general honors curriculum, an honors section of GEP 397 and who maintain the 3.25 g.p.a. will qualify for graduation in the Honors College after fulfilling all other University requirements. Their transcripts and diplomas will read "Bachelor of ___________ (with possible grade point honors such as cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) in the Honors College."
Departmental Honors
Graduating with departmental honors gives you twelve hours of honors work in your major. It is an enriching experience that also can give you a competitive edge when you make application for prestigious fellowships and awards or apply to graduate school. Completion of departmental honors is NOT required for graduation from the Honors College.
Students wishing to graduate with honors in their major should do the following:
1. Have a clear career goal. Do you wish to go on to graduate school or into the job market? Are you hoping to earn a distinguished award or fellowship?
2. Determine your specific areas of interest so that you have a focus for your honors classes in your major and your senior project. For example, an English major might wish to focus on 19th century English literature or the collected works of a particular poet.
3. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plan. Also meet with, in turn, faculty members who will oversee your departmental honors work, including your senior project.
4. Obtain the necessary forms for the coursework and senior project from the Honors College Office. Get the necessary signatures of approval from your advisor, faculty members involved, and department head and return the form to the Honors College for the signature of the Director.
Departmental Honors Requirements
1. Students must complete General Honors before completing Departmental Distinction.
2. Must take at least 12 hours of departmental honors offerings, which include a senior project. These departmental honors offerings may take the two following forms:
a. Honors sections: special sections of existing courses open primarily to honors students.
b. Honors components: one semester hour added to a regular course or section to recognize honors work (e.g., ART 372, 3 semester hours, becomes ART 372, 4 semester hours).
c. An existing upper level course in the major that lends itself to a senior project (e.g., senior seminars; research seminars)
3. Senior Project
a. May carry no less than 3 and no more than 9 semester hours of credit.
b. May be started no earlier than first semester of junior year, and must be completed before graduation.
c. Must create a typed proposal to be approved by project advisor, department head, and Director of Honors College.
d. The content of the project is determined by the honors student in consultation with a faculty member serving as project advisor, and is approved by the Director. The Honors College may provide students the opportunity to publish or otherwise present their projects.
Diplomas and transcripts of those students who complete both general honors and departmendal distinction will read "Bachelor of ______(with possible grade point honors) in the Honors College with Distinction in _______(major)."