Honors Program
Dr. Kristina Chew & Dr. Edwin T. Dickens, Directors
As a small liberal arts college with a highly favorable faculty-student ratio, Saint Peter’s College affords a superb opportunity for creative academic experimentation and advancement. The Honors Program in particular provides the framework for curricular innovation and meaningful scholarly inquiry.
Admission to the Program
Freshmen enrollment in the Honors Program is by invitation, based upon SAT scores and high school rank in class. Students who have earned 15 or more credits at the College and have attained a cumulative index of at least 3.3 may apply for delayed entry into the program. Transfer students who possess the equivalent of a 3.3 GPA may also apply for admission to the Honors Program. All interested students are encouraged to seek admission to the Program.
Requirements
While Honors provides academic enrichment for highly motivated students, it is not a formal major or minor. Students enrolled in the program must complete a minimum of 30 credits (= 10 courses) designated as Honors courses. This includes:
- 8 Honors courses (core course seminars and/or advanced electives) = 24 credits
- 1 Honors Research Method seminar = 3 credits
- 1 Honors Senior Thesis independent study = 3 credits
10 Honors Courses = 30 credits
Independent study projects must be approved by the Honors Program and the respective chairs of the student’s major department. Independent study projects may carry departmental as well as Honors credit.
Honors students must also fulfill the requirements of a major department. Some credit earned through the Washington Center, foreign study or other alternative methods may be applied to Honors upon approval of the director. Students are encouraged to engage in some approved service learning experience. If students wish to study aboard, it is imperative that they discuss their plans in advance with the co-directors.
Students must maintain a minimum of 3.2 in Honors courses and an overall average of 3.4 to remain in good standing. Honors students dropping below the minimum will be granted a one-semester grace period to restore their good standing in Honors. Any student in the college with at least a 3.3 cumulative average may take an Hp elective course. All Honors students are urged to join the National Collegiate Honors Council and are encouraged to apply for Special Scholarships and Fellowships.
Curriculum
The Honors Program has three main components:
- Honors Core Course Seminars. Like all students at the College, Honors students must filfill the College’s core curriculum requirements. Honors students can take many of their core courses in the Honors Program curriculum. These Honors core course seminars generally replace the introductory courses in such subjects as art, literature, expository writing, history, philosophy, theology, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.
- Special Honors Courses. The Program regularly offers a variety of special and advanced courses that may be taken in partial fulfillment of the Honors requirements. All such courses are advanced electives and include specialized and interdisciplinary courses. The Program offers courses in such areas as logic, business ethics, Japanese, film studies, technology & society, contemporary management, and more.
- Honors Thesis Project (6 credits) .The Honors Thesis Project is an intensive original research project under the direction of an academic mentor. This project is to be begun in the second semester of the student’s junior year when the student takes Hp 390, a research methods semiar. The written thesis is completed early in the second semester of the senior year, with an oral defense of the thesis in the second semester of the student’s senior year. See also the descriptions of Hp390 (3 credits) and Hp492 (3 credits).
CORE HONORS COURSES
For a schedule of Fall 2008 Honors courses with times, etc., go to SPIRIT (the online catalogue of classes). Then (1) click on Class Search; (2) in the "Term" box, select "Fall 2008 Sem Undergrad"; (3) scroll down near the bottom of the path and check the box beside "Honors"; (4) click "Submit."
Hp108 Seminar in Psychology
Honors section of Ps151 Introduction to Psychology. Hp108 may be used to fulfill the third course of the natural science core curriculum requirement.
Hp110 Art in the City
New York City examined in its architectural presence, as repository and distributor of world art, and as stimulant to plastic creativity. (Substitutes for Ar127.)
Hp111-112 Seminar in History (6)
Analysis of the human past focusing on selected topics in the formation and development of Western Civilization. (Substitutes for Hs121-122.)
Hp113 Seminar in Political Science
Explanation of the basic theories, evolution, and methodology of political science. (Substitutes for Po100.)
*Hp114 Seminar in Sociology
Explanation of the basic theories, evolution, and methodology of sociology. (Substitutes for So121.)
*Hp115-116 Seminar in Philosophy (6)
Thoughtful inquiry into problems of reality and knowledge directed at fostering insights and questions about critical issues in these areas. (Substitutes for Pl100-101.)
Hp117-118 Seminar in Theology (6)
Problem-oriented approach to theological issues, both past and present, focused on the various religious *Students may select any two courses from Hp113, Hp114, Hp121 in fulfillment of the social science requirement. experiences of man. (Substitutes for Th110-120.)
Hp119-120 Seminar in Literature (6)
Study of significant Western literature with emphasis on modern authors. (Substitutes for El123-134.)
Hp121 Seminar in Economics
An introduction to political economy: economic theory and its application to social issues and public policy. (Substitutes for Ec100 or Ec101.)
*Hp122 Expository Writing
Instruction and practice in writing various types of expository prose, including research papers. Exercises in revising and editing for clarity, coherence, and concision. (Substitutes for Cm120.)
Hp123 Seminar in Natural Sciences
Explanation of the basic theories, evolution, and methodology of the natural sciences. Discussion and analysis of current areas of scientific research. Laboratory experience included. (Substitutes for Ns110.)
Hp124 Seminar in Biology
An Honors core science course for the non-science major. Laboratory experience included. Prerequisite: Hp123 or Ns110.
**Hp125 Seminar in Chemistry
An Honors core science course for the non-science major. Laboratory experience included. Prerequisite: Hp123 or Ns110.** **Students may select one course from Hp124, Hp125, Hp126 in fulfillment of the second and/or third courses of the natural science requirement.
Hp126 Seminar in Physics
An Honors core science course for the non-science major. Laboratory experience included. Prerequisite: Hp123 or Ns110.
**Hp140 Seminar in Computer Science
Honors section of Cs150 Introduction to Computers and Information Processing. Hp140 may be used to fulfill the third course of the natural science core curriculum requirement.
Hp160-161 Honors Mathematics for the Humanities (6)
This course covers the materials of Ma102-103 but at a more advanced level. See p. 120 for a course description. (Fulfills the math requirement for students majoring in any area of the Humanities.)
HONORS THESIS PROJECT (6)
The two-part sequence of courses is as follows:
Hp390 Honors Thesis: Methods of Research (3)
The Honors Thesis: Research course prepares the student for the completion of the Thesis project. This course is to be taken in the second semester of the student’s junior year. During this part of the project the student will engage in research under the direction of a faculty mentor. Prerequisites: Approval of Honors Director and permission of mentor. (The arrangement with the mentor must be made prior to enrolling in the course).
Hp492 Honors Thesis: Independent Study (3)
An intensive original research project under the direction of an academic mentor and culminating in a formal paper. The written thesis must be completed no later than the Fall semester of Senior year. The project is to be followed by an oral defense in the Spring semester. Prerequisites: Approval of Hp390 mentor and Honors Director. Note on Hp492: Both Hp390 and Hp492 are intended to facilitate the student’s timely completion of the thesis project. A student may, however, choose to substitute an appropriate research course in their major department for Hp390. Any substitutions must be approved by the Co-Directors of the Honors Program. Hp492 and its oral defense is required of all students who wish to graduate in the Honors Program.
SPECIAL COURSES
Hp127 Seminar in Management
Introductory study of the management process in which students are required to use computer models and simulations to solve business management problems. (Substitutes for Bm 151.)
Hp129 Seminar in Marketing
Introductory study of the marketing process in which students are required to use computer models and simulations to solve marketing problems. (Substitutes for Mm151.)
Hp130-131 Seminar in Elementary Japanese, I and II (6)
(See Modern Language Department for course description of Jp130-131.)
Hp134-135 Intermediate Japanese, I and II
(See Modern Language Department for course description of Jp134-135.)
Hp/Pl153 Seminar in Logic
A consideration of analytical approaches to critical thinking. Prerequisites: Hp115- 116 or Pl100-101. Hp/Bm/Pl325 Seminar in Business Ethics An investigation of the responsibilities of management to employees and the public alike, ranging over problems encountered by both public and private, multinational and local concerns. Fulfills values course requirement. Prerequisites: Hp115-116 or Pl100-101. Hp/Hs/Bi393 Civilization and Disease An interdisciplinary, team taught epidemiological and historical consideration of the demographic, cultural, social and economic impact of disease upon societies from antiquity to modern times. May be used as core elective. Prerequisites: Hp111-112 or Hs121-122; Hp123 or Ns110.
Hp465 Executive Seminar
An examination of contemporary management issues conducted by senior decision makers from both private and public sectors. Open by invitation only to Honors students and other qualified advanced undergraduates.
Hp489 Technology and Society
An interdisciplinary values course that examines from the perspectives of natural science, philosophy and political science, how technology evolves in society, the impact of technology on our lives, and the critical decisions that technology requires each individual and society to make.
ELECTIVES
In response to student interest several elective courses are offered each term. Any faculty member or Honors Program student may inaugurate a course, which must be approved by the Faculty Senate Committee on the Honors Program. All students in the College with a 3.3 cumulative average may take an Hp elective.
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