USI » Honors Program » Information for Faculty

Information for Faculty

Who is eligible for the USI Honors Program?

Students earning a combined score of 1200 or above on the SAT Math and Critical Reading sections or an ACT composite score of 27 or above are automatically accepted, upon application, into the USI Honors Program (given a H.S. GPA of at least 3.0)
Other interested students are encouraged to apply
Further evaluations are based on cumulative grade point average, class rank and extra curricular activities
Students with 15+ semester hours at USI or elsewhere with a cumulative 3.25 GPA may also apply

What should Honors courses be like?

Stress the interrelatedness of knowledge; skill in oral and written communication of ideas; and methods and techniques for the analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information
Assignments should encourage research (independent, outside research where possible)
Readings should prefer primary source readings over textbooks
Active learning rather than lecture

To graduate as a University Honors Scholar:

Students must complete undergraduate work with a cumulative GPA of 3.25+
Students must complete 21 minimum hours of honors credit with an A or B grade
Students must take Hons 101: Issues for the 21st Century
Students must take an honors component to their senior synthesis course or an approved substitute

What academic honors are earned by students participating in the USI Honors Program?

Students fulfilling the Honors Program requirements will graduate as a University Honors Scholar
This title will be indicated on USI diplomas and transcripts
Any course taken for Honors credit is noted on the student's transcript

How do students earn Honors credit?

By enrolling in a "stand-alone" Honors section (one where all students are taking the course for Honors credit, such as HONS 101 or ENG 101H)
By enrolling in an Honors "contract" section (one where the students taking the course for Honors credit complete an additional component for Honors credit -- that component is outlined in what is known as the Honors contract -- such as HUM 211H)
By developing an Honors component in a course not scheduled for Honors credit by talking with the professor -- this is known as an "ad hoc" Honors course -- click here for examples
Whether the student is enrolled in a "contract" section or has negotiated an "ad hoc" contract, the student must complete the additional component (outlined in the Honors contract) to earn Honors credit. The grade submitted by the instructor to the Registrar is the grade earned in the course given the syllabus requirements, and the Honors grade report submitted to the Honors Program director certifies to the Honors Program that in addition to the syllabus requirements the student completed the requirements of the Honors component, entitling the student to Honors credit in the course. (This process is used because on occasion a student who has negotiated an Honors contract chooses not to complete the Honors component, or does so in an unsatisfactory way.)