Honors College Faculty Handbook
Advising
Most Honors College students apply as high school students and
enroll in the program as incoming freshman. However, current students
are eligible to apply if they have a GPA of 3.5 or higher after
2 semesters at Towson. Second semester freshman may apply during
the semester, and will be notified after their second semester grades
are posted.
Students
Freshman The Assistant Dean works with academic advising to ensure all incoming freshman are registered for appropriate schedules. All Honors College freshmen are assigned to Honors FYE groups advised by Honors College faculty fellows or other specially trained faculty. The Honors FYE groups are grouped by college to ensure their FYE advisors are knowledgeable of both Honors curriculum and major requirements.
Transfers New Honors College transfer students are invited to meet with the Assistant Dean in May or June – ahead of their scheduled TU Cares date. The transfer students receive a review of Honors requirements and opportunities, evaluate potential Honors transfer credits and register for classes. Those unable to meet over the summer, can communicate with the Assistant Dean via telephone and/or email over the summer, and are required to schedule a personal meeting during the first three weeks of the semester. Although Honors transfers receive this additional advising when they arrive, they are assigned to major advisors for their first semester in the same manner as other students.
Honors Curriculum
Honors Courses (24 units)
The Honors College provides honors students with a wide variety of specially-designed honors courses to choose from, including Honors College seminars, projects, and honors versions of existing General Education courses.
The core curriculum includes an Honors English, 15 units of Honors College courses (9 units must be Honors College seminars), and 6 units of an Honors Project.
I. Honors English (3 units - 100 / 200 level)
ENGL 190 Honors Writing Seminar (If advanced placement unit is granted, another Honors English seminar, e.g. ENGL 290, may satisfy this requirement.
II. Honors College Courses (15 units)
a. Honors College Seminars (HONR Courses)
All Honors College Students must complete at least 9 units of honors
College Seminars
Seminars change every term. The Honors College Seminar List, published each term, explains which courses are offered, what their topics are, and who will teach them. The Honors College Seminars may satisfy Gen Ed requirements; some may count toward required departmental major courses.
200 Level (pre-approved in General Education category with topics that vary)
Lower level Honors seminars allow for in-depth study of fundamental issues, ideas, topics or problems. The seminars are on a wide range of original topics that are based on the instructor's area of interest. Most courses integrate knowledge across disciplines. Emphasis for these seminars is on developing and strengthening skills important to success in Honors and undergraduate education, including oral and written communication skills, reading skills, critical and creative thinking, etc. These seminars may satisfy Gen Ed requirements and may be repeated for units as topics change.
300/400 Level (pre-approved Departmental major courses with topics that vary)
Upper level Honors are designed to deepen knowledge about a particular intellectual issue and demonstrate the interconnectedness of academic disciplines. The approach is interdisciplinary, but the specific discipline content will be used to further greater understanding of a broader issue. Many of these seminars incorporate moral or ethical thinking and problem-solving components and independent writing projects may be assigned as part of a culminating activity. Like the lower level seminars, these courses have original topics that are based on the instructor's area of interest. These seminars may satisfy a General Education as well as major department requirements. Prerequisites: Completion of 60 units toward graduation and permission of The Honors College.
b. Honors versions of existing courses (General Education courses)
These courses are special sections already existing and highly demanded courses at the University. They offer students the opportunity to take required courses in an enriched, enhanced manner. These courses are designed to be smaller, more discussion-based, more focused on critical thinking, and more writing intensive than non-Honors sections of the same course. See complete list of available courses in this section.
c. Honors Course Options
Students may earn up 6 Honors units toward Honors College course requirements
in the following Honors course options.
Honors Independent Study / Honors Directed Reading / Internship - Independent Study and Directed Readings research topics and Internships will be arranged on an individual basis. In order to obtain Honors College credit, students must submit a formal written research or review paper, as arranged with a faculty member, to The Honors College.
Study abroad - Students participating in minimister or summer study courses may receive 3 units toward their Honors seminar requirement if they complete an approved study abroad project. Honors students participating in a full semester (term) study abroad may receive 6 Honors units if they complete an approved study abroad project. Students participating in Honors College sponsored study abroad programs do not have to complete a separate project to receive Honors units. Questions about the Study Abroad Project should be directed to the Honors College Assistant Dean
Honors Contract Courses - Honors contract courses will enable students to receive credit for Honors study in a wide range of academic areas, are only available to students at the upper undergraduate level (300 or above), can only be used in exceptional circumstances with prior approval from The Honors College (e.g. for majors in programs where separate upper level honors courses and/or sections are not offered. Honors contract courses may be used to fulfill requirements in The Honors College as well as department major requirements.
III. Honors Project (6 units)
As a capstone to the Honors experience, each student must complete an Honors project of his or her own design under the mentoring of a faculty member and/or an Honors College Faculty Fellow. The Honors project provides students with flexibility in designing their final Honors experience that relates to their interests and career goals. Honors projects generally result in a significant piece of writing to be turned in to the Honors College for review.
The Honors Project may be accomplished in one of numerous possibilities:
- Traditional thesis is particularly well suited for students who plan to attend graduate school. This option includes Honors Directed Readings, Independent Study and Senior Honors Thesis.
- Department Thesis: Honors students who have been admitted to a Departmental Honors Program. These honors students may use 6 hours of credit toward their 24 hours requirement in the Honors College. Most departments require that seniors complete a thesis, but some departments may offer other options, such as an extensive design project. Students interested in this option usually submit an application form (See Form in the Departmental Honors Program Handbook) for this option to The Honors College by the first semester of their junior year. The thesis/project culminates in a final presentation before a three-member committee and the thesis advisor, ands is open to the public. A completed, signed copy of the thesis/project approval form must be submitted to the Honors College no later than two weeks before graduation.
- Service Learning project is based on a student's interest and current research about social issues. Students are required to participate in a service-learning activity for a minimum of 40 hours per semester. Service-learning includes volunteer work with a designated agency, integrating service into a student academic studies, outreach programs that engage students and the community in common, hands-on-action, policy research, or community problem-solving. A journal and formal paper with a research focus are required. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
- Professional Development Plan is an opportunity for students to plan professional development that begins with their pre-service activities, continues with their induction into the profession, and extends through the life of their professional career in education through on-going and sustained professional development endeavors.
- Action Research Plan is an opportunity for students to develop an action research plan to help teachers resolve their teaching challenges. Action research gives teachers the skills needed to work on problems specific to their classroom and school, with findings that are immediately applicable to their individual situations.
- Teaching project is especially appropriate for students who are interested in education or the teaching /learning process. The project must be at the collegiate level and includes a formal paper, which includes a discussion of pedagogical issues. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
- Senior Teaching (3 units) is a teaching apprenticeship with an Honors College faculty fellow. Prerequisites: Seniors interested in the senior teaching option to co-teach an Honors College class must spend one term in Teaching Preparation (3 units) reading, developing, planning, etc. the course with an Honors College faculty fellow.
Courses Fulfilling the Honors College Requirements
Courses taken to fulfill the requirements for the Honors College may not be taken pass/fail.
To graduate as a University Honors Scholar, the student must be in the Honors College at the time of graduation.
SAMPLE 4 YEAR SCHEDULE
LOWER DIVISION (4 courses - 12 units)
First Year (6 units)
Honors English
Honors College course
Second year (6 units)
2 Honors College courses
UPPER DIVISION (4 courses - 12 units)
Third year (6 units)
2 Honors College courses
Fourth year (6 units)
Honors Project (2 terms)
(may be Departmental Honors) Programming
In addition to traditional one-on-one advising, we will continue to provide and expand programming for our students that supports the developmental advising mission. For example, our “Pizza with” series regularly brings programs such as Study Abroad and Leadershape to meet with students in the residence hall. Our new orientation program is designed to improve students’ sense of community and connection with each other, the Honors College, and Towson University.
The Honors College
Stephens Hall, Room 302
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 410-704-4677
Fax: 410-704-4916
E-mail: honors@towson.edu
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