Honors Program

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The Honors Program is rooted in the MSU Denver mission to provide a high-quality, accessible, enriching education to a diverse student population in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Students and faculty who participate in the Honors Program commit to pursue the University mission to engage the community at large in scholarly inquiry, creative activity and the application of knowledge.

The MSU Denver Honors Program offers a transformative intellectual challenge within the context of a supportive community. This program fosters interdisciplinary inquiry and experiential learning and provides guidance for in-depth research and creative projects. The Honors Program encourages students to become good stewards of their knowledge by inviting them to actively participate in academic leadership and service opportunities. Honors students also learn to integrate a variety of disciplines in their approach to a given project, demonstrate civic and intercultural knowledge and engagement, and reflect critically upon their values and the learning process. Students who enroll in Honors should expect a challenge that stimulates curiosity and research while broadening perspectives in unexpected ways.

Curriculum Basics

The Honors Program curriculum requires 21 units of Honors Program approved courses and activities. Each student is able to design his or her own path through the honors curriculum by completing the honors core courses and combining a selection of academic course options and co-curricular options. Students must earn a B-or better for courses to count for Honors credit.

Honors Core Courses (11-13 credit hours):

Core courses taken by all honors students include two interdisciplinary Honors Colloquia as well as The Honors Thesis which is an independent research and/or creative project normally completed during the senior year. The Honors Thesis can also be completed in conjunction with degree program requirements. Honors Core Courses include:

ENG 3525 - Scholarly Writing Credits: 3
or
COMM 3020 - Advanced Public Speaking Credits: 3
HON 3910 - Honors Colloquium Credits: 3 (two 3 hrs. courses)
HON 4948 - Honors Thesis Seminar Credits: 1
HON 4950 - Senior Honors Thesis Credits: 3
or
HON 4951 - Paired Senior Honors Thesis Credits: 1 (must be paired with an upper division research, capstone or Senior Experience course)

Honors General Studies Options

In addition to the core courses, honors students may select general studies and/or upper division course options to complete the academic course requirements. Many of these options can also fulfill degree program and university requirements. Service learning courses, internships and study abroad programs can also count as Honors Program credit.

ENG 1021 - Honors Research and Argument Writing Credits: 3 (Written Communication)
HON 2750 - History of the Self Credits: 3 (Arts and Humanities)
HON 2770 - Dynamics of Change Credits: 3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences II)
HON 2800 - Scientific Revolutions Credits: 3 (Natural and Physical Sciences)
HON 2850 - Technology and Society Credits: 3 (Social and Behavioral Sciences I)
HON 2950 - Introduction to Critical Theory Credits: 3 (Arts and Humanities)

Honors Co-Curricular Options:

Students can also acquire hours towards the completion of the Honors Program by participating in a variety of exciting co-curricular options including:

Serve as an officer in the Honors Student Council
Present a project at an undergraduate research conference
Participate in the annual Rocky Mountain Honors Conference
Become a tutor, peer mentor, supplemental instruction leader, new student orientation leader, peer ambassador, or a research or teaching assistant to one of your professors. Work for Met Report or in the Writing Center (Most of these options are paid positions).

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The Honors Program is open to new, continuing, and transfer students in all majors. The current GPA requirement is 3.3 and above, and students must maintain a 3.3 GPA to remain in good standing. Admission to the program is based on an application that includes high school or college GPA or GED, standardized test scores, a writing sample, and two references. Applications are evaluated by the Honors Director and Associate Directors.