Programs of Study
Dean: Michael L. James, Ph.D.
Debbie Baird, B.A., Honors College Administrator
The Honors College provides educational opportunities to challenge and stimulate outstanding students to develop their intellectual and leadership abilities to the fullest. The curriculum offers honors classes which will substitute for liberal arts courses and discipline-specific courses.
Eligibility
Honors Students
Participation in the Honors College is by invitation. Incoming freshmen who score 27 or higher on the ACT (sum score of 1280 or higher on the SAT Evidence- Based Reading and Writing, plus Math sections taken after May 9, 2016; if taken before May 9, 2016 sum score of 1220 or higher on the SAT verbal and math sections) are automatically sent invitations to participate. However, any university student or transfer student who maintains a 3.25 GPA or above may participate in the Honors College.
A 3.25 cumulative GPA or above is required of all students to remain active in the Honors College.
All membership candidates must complete and return an enrollment form. The form is located at www.harding.edu/honors.
Honors Scholars
The Honors Scholars curriculum is open to a limited number of incoming freshmen by invitation only. Students qualify by being named National Merit Finalists, Trustee Scholarship recipients, or by being selected from the pool of applicants scoring 31 or higher on the ACT (sum score of 1420 or higher on the SAT Evidence- Based Reading and Writing, plus Math sections taken after May 9, 2016; if taken before May 9, 2016 sum score of 1360 or higher on the SAT verbal and math sections).
Academic Opportunities
Honors sections, designated by an (H) in the course title, of lower-level liberal arts courses and discipline-specific courses are offered for all honors students.
Honors courses, designated by the course prefix HNRS, are offered for the Honors Scholars. Credit earned in these courses apply to the liberal arts requirements as listed in the catalog. HNRS 203 , HNRS 204 , HNRS 205 , and HNRS 459 are opened to all Honors College students on a space available basis.
Students may also choose to collaborate with a university professor to create an honors contract for many upper-level courses. You will find contract information and an application on the Student link in Pipeline.
The Honors Senior Capstone Project is a senior honors thesis or project suitable to the student’s major. Students present their project in a public forum and are evaluated by Honors College representatives. Senior Capstone Project information may be found on the Student link in Pipeline.
Honors College Recognition Levels
Students enrolled in the Honors College at the time of graduation will graduate with a degree in their selected major area of study. There are three recognition levels from the Honors College.
Honors College Participants earn 10 or more hours of honors credit during their college career, while maintaining a 3.25 overall grade point average. Courses may be selected from honors (H) sections and/or HNRS courses, or students may collaborate with a University professor to create an honors contract in a regular class.
Honors College Participants will be recognized with a special notation in the commencement program.
Honors College Graduates earn a minimum of 20 hours of honors credits including at least three honors (H) sections and/or HNRS courses and four honors contracts while maintaining a 3.25 overall grade point average throughout their college career.
Honors College Graduates will be included in a separate listing in the commencement program. The official university transcript and diploma will indicate they have achieved this honor.
Honors College Graduates with Distinction earn a minimum of 26 honors credits while maintaining a 3.50 grade point average or higher throughout their college work. Students will complete a minimum of four honors (H) sections and/or four HNRS courses, and a minimum of four honors contracts. An approved Honors senior capstone project must be completed.
Honors College Graduates with Distinction will be noted in a separate listing in the commencement program with the Honors capstone project title. The official university transcript and diploma will indicate they have achieved this honor. Students will be awarded an engraved bronze medallion at the Honors College Medallion Ceremony.
Honors courses completed prior to the first semester of full-time enrollment do not apply toward honors graduation recognition requirements.
Honors Scholar Academic Opportunities
The Honors Scholars curriculum is open to a limited number of incoming freshmen by invitation only. Students qualify by being named National Merit Finalists, Trustee Scholarship recipients, or by being selected from the pool of applicants scoring 31 or higher on the ACT (sum score of 1420 or higher on the SAT Evidence- Based Reading and Writing, plus Math sections taken after May 9, 2016; if taken before May 9, 2016 sum score of 1360 or higher on the SAT verbal and math sections).
Honors Scholars have exclusive access to a special curriculum available to students at this level. All Honors Scholars are required to take HNRS 201 and HNRS 202 in their first semester, and strongly urged to select at least 2 courses from HNRS 203 , HNRS 204 , HNRS 205 and HNRS 459 in their academic plan. Credits earned in these courses apply to the liberal arts requirements as listed in the catalog. Consult the catalog for specific liberal arts course application. Honors Scholars should consider honors contracts as well as a capstone project in their major field of study.
Please note: Some departments count HNRS courses toward the liberal arts requirements but do not allow them to meet prerequisites in their majors. Students should consult their academic advisers in these matters.
Honors Contracts and Capstone Projects
Students who have completed three Honors courses are urged to consider earning honors credit in upper-level courses (250 or above) in their major field of study by means of contract arrangement with the course instructor. An Honors contract is a mechanism for adding an “honors dimension” to a non-honors course. The contract project will add to the academic depth of the course by introducing new material or allowing the student to more deeply explore the subject matter beyond the standard syllabus. Honors students are encouraged to work with any university professor to create an honors contract in courses of their own choosing. Contract guidelines are available on the Student link in Pipeline.
The Honors Senior Capstone Project is designed for students who plan to be an Honors College Graduate with Distinction. Students will complete the project in their senior year, with guidance from the Honors College Administrator and faculty advisor in the major area of study.
For more information contact Michael L. James, dean of the Honors College, Box 10782, Harding University, Searcy, AR 72149, call (501) 279-4056, or e-mail honors@harding.edu.
Bachelor of Arts
Non-Degree
