How to Survive Thrive in the Honors Program at Berry College: a student guide

How to Survive Thrive in the Honors Program at Berry College: a student guide Table of Contents Page 1: Introduction and Welcome from Brian Carroll Page 1: Why Be an Honors Student? Page 2: Frequently Asked Questions Page 3: Honors Student Union and the Honors Commons Page 4: Honors Thesis Page 6: Honors Curriculum Checklist Page 6: Honors Program Planning Guide Page 7: Study Abroad Glasgow Page 8: National Collegiate Honors Conference The Honors Program Laughlin 100 Berry College Mount Berry, GA 30149-0299 http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/

Note from Brian Carroll, director of the Honors Program Welcome to Berry s Honors Program and as a new member of the Honors Student Union, one of the largest student organizations on campus. It is my hope that together we can create and nourish a vibrant learning community, one that you can enjoy, learn from and lead. In this hope I consider community both a benefit and responsibility, so I encourage you to begin thinking even now of how you will contribute to the life of the program during your time here at Berry. To these ends, I invite you to come by to see me. I wish the very best for you as members of the program and as student-scholars and leaders at Berry. Dr. Brian Carroll Director of the Honors Program and Associate Professor of Communication 706.368.6944 bc@berry.edu Note of Introduction from Diane Land, Program Assistant This guide has been developed for you by fellow Honors students in an attempt to help you make the most of your experience in the Honors Program at Berry College. Here, you will find basic information about the program as well as an idea of what you can expect as an Honors student. In addition, we have tried to answer some of the questions that you might have on various topics, such as signing up for classes and the Honors Senior Thesis. It is our hope that you will find this guide useful and informative, and that it will be helpful to you as you begin your experience as an Honors student. Please don t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My office is located in Laughlin 101. Why be an Honors student? Diane Land Program Assistant for the Honors Program 706-233-4089 dland@berry.edu Socrates believed that the unexamined life is a life not worth living. The Honors Program attempts to bring Berry s best students and faculty together to ask big questions, critically engage with ideas and problems, and pursue an examining, worthwhile, good life. The program s mission is academic enrichment, believing that the best students profit from close contact with faculty, small courses and seminars, course work shared with other highly http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 1

motivated students, significant research projects, and, when possible, study in a foreign context. If you have ideas, a longing for creative expression, and the desire to take on career-shaping challenges, this is the program for you. The essence of the Honors approach to education is personal attention, top faculty, enlightening seminars, illuminating study-travel experiences, research experiences, leadership development and service to the community. These endeavors should enhance a classic education and prepare you for a lifelong pursuit of a good life. We want to partner with Berry to teach you to think and write clearly, to be excited by ideas, to become an independent, creative, and selfconfident learner, and to develop in the areas of leadership and service. To emphasize leadership, in particular leadership in service, in 2012 we established The Order of St. Andrew, an award that recognizes ethical leadership in the areas of scholarship and service. Specifically, the person inducted is someone who has demonstrated a creative imagination that leads to change, even transformation; an unwavering commitment to do good and to give more; and scholarship that provides a model for others. The inductee must have demonstrated a significant contribution to Honors Program student life through leadership of, service to and participation in the program. Our inaugural inductee was Mandi Kyle, past president of the HSU; the 2013 inductee was Christie Pierce, a founding member of and leader in the Program s tutoring program in South Rome. Finally, we believe that whatever extra effort is required, it is worth the good of gaining knowledge, of shedding ignorance and prejudice, of finding aesthetic pleasure, and of experiencing the natural high of insight and camaraderie. These would seem to be good things worthy in their own right, for their own sake. Frequently Asked Questions >>Is the Honors program open to all majors? Yes, including Education and Nursing. http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 2

>>What is required of an Honors student? In order to graduate as an Honors student, you must complete an Honors minor of 21 hours of Honors coursework, as well as have or maintain a 3.50 cumulative Berry grade point average at the time of graduation. You will graduate with a different degree if you complete the Honors minor a BAH, BMH or BSH. Note: You do NOT have to be enrolled in an Honors class each semester or achieve a 3.5 GPA each semester in order to remain an active Honors student. Required core courses (6 credit hours) HON 201H Perennial Questions HON 203H Democracy and Its Friendly Critics Electives (choose three courses from list below): 9 hours total Recommended: HON 251 Oxbridge Course Univ. of Glasgow Honors Course Any HON 250 pure Honors course Any HON 250 cross-listed hybrid course Any Honors general education or honorized course We recommend the Oxbridge Lecture Series course as one of your elective courses. The Scottish Enlightenment course at Glasgow University also counts as an HON 250 elective and as the fifth Humanities requirement as part of Berry s general education. Honors Thesis courses (required): HON 450H Honors Thesis I HON 451H Honors Thesis II Total hours required for Honors degree: 6 hours total 21 hours >>Will I have to take extra classes? No. With proper planning, the classes that you take for Honors credit will count either toward general education requirements or requirements for your major. For example, the Perennial Questions course can satisfy a literature or a philosophy requirement, depending on the instructor, and Democracy and Its Friendly Critics will satisfy either a general education government or philosophy class requirement, again, depending on the instructor. The http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 3

Oxbridge Lecture Series course is typically cross-listed by another academic department. Courses within your major may also be designated as Honors courses and count both for Honors credit and toward satisfying requirements for your major. The kind of general education or major credit will always be indicated on the Course Listing section of the Honors website. In addition, you can choose to honorize classes within your major with the approval of the Director of the Honors Program and the willingness of a professor to work with you. An honorization form is on the Honors website and must be completed and approved by the Honors director. >>Do I have to do extra work? Those courses that are designated as Honors courses are, by their nature, more challenging than regular courses, but they do not necessarily require or demand extra work. If you choose to honorize a regular course within your major, you may be expected to meet requirements beyond regular coursework in order to receive Honors credit. This should be discussed with the instructor of record for the course BEFORE classes begin. >>What are the benefits of being an Honors student? The Honors program provides students with an opportunity to challenge themselves both inside and outside of the classroom and to explore a variety of different topics to a depth beyond that usually covered in regular coursework. In addition, being an Honors student at Berry College affords other privileges, including special study abroad and scholarship opportunities, the opportunity to present papers or posters at the National Collegiate Honors Council conference, and the opportunity to participate in various activities sponsored by the Honors Student Union. The Honors Commons (located in the basement of Memorial Library) is available for use only by Honors students for social and educational activities, and for study. >>What is the Honors Student Union? As an Honors student, you are invited to participate in the Honors Student Union, an officially recognized student organization responsible for sponsoring programs for the benefit of Honors students and the campus as a whole. The Honors student officers work to provide new opportunities for students to get involved with Union, and they welcome any questions, comments or suggestions you may have. http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 4

>>What is the Honors Commons? As a member of the Honors program, you have access to the Honors Commons, which is located in the basement of Memorial Library. The entrance is the first door on the left once one has passed the main circulation desk. A key for entry is stored inside a lockbox just outside the Commons entrance; any officer or mentor can help you get you access to the lockbox. A kitchen, private and group study area, as well as a lounge area for socializing are in the Commons, which is also the designated shelter area for the library in the event of an emergency. >>How do I sign up for Honors classes? When registering for courses, sign up for those that are designated for honors credit. Mentors will be in touch with you about how to register, and to answer questions specific to the Honors Program. >>How do I honorize a class? In order to honorize a class, you must meet with the course s professor during the pre-registration period in order to determine the coursework to be completed for Honors credit. Next, complete the honorization form (available on the Honors website), making sure to obtain the required signatures listed on the form. Please note that courses cannot be honorized after the first week of classes and that once honorized a course cannot be made into or revert back to a regular course. Dr. Carroll will send the completed honorization form to the Registrar. >>When should I begin my Honors senior thesis? You should sign up for HON 450 in the second half of your junior year or the first semester of your senior year. Begin by choosing an Honors thesis director in your field of study. This should be a professor within your major who agrees to direct your thesis. You will also need a second thesis committee member, a member of the faculty from any field. Next, complete the HON 450/451 registration form also available on the Honors website and submit it to Dr. Carroll for approval. You cannot sign up for the class without a signed registration form. >>What is an Honors senior thesis, exactly? The Honors senior thesis takes the form of a two-term directed study project: HON 450 and HON 451. The thesis project focuses on a topic within your major and can take the form of a traditional research paper or a creative work. http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 5

Most majors require some form of final project, which means that the Honors senior thesis typically fulfills the major requirement, as well, though this must be approved by that major s academic department. There are general guidelines for the timeline on the Honors website. To help you complete this two-course project, you will be directed by a thesis director and advised by a second thesis committee member. >>How does HON 450 work? The purpose of HON 450 is for you to define and begin work on the specific focus of your Honors thesis. You will choose a professor in your major with whom you would like to pursue some in-depth research. You and he/she work together to find and focus a project. By the end of the first course, you will submit a formal research or project proposal to your thesis committee and to the director of the Honors Program. The content of the formal proposal may include: an annotated bibliography an annotated outline of the project a rationale and synopsis of the project a rough draft of some elements of the project and/or proposal a summary of empirical data and analysis completed any other elements suggested by your thesis director Any combination of the above should be a part of the formal proposal submitted to your thesis committee and to the Honors director. This proposal must be passed by all of these individuals with an evaluation of Satisfactory before the student may enroll in the second course, HON 451. >>When do I write my senior thesis? Generally, you begin your thesis in HON 450 in the second half of your junior year or in the first semester of your senior year. This puts HON 451 in either the first or second half of your senior year. Honors Curriculum Checklist (21 hours): Perennial Questions (HON 201H) required Democracy and Its Friendly Critics (HON 203H) required Honors elective (HON 250, 251) Honors elective (HON 250, 251) Honors elective (HON 250, 251) Honors Senior Thesis I (HON 450H)* required Honors Senior Thesis II (HON 451H)* required *Classified as directed study courses http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 6

Honors electives come in two forms: cross-listed hybrid or pure Honors courses. An example of the cross-listed course is the Psychology of Women, PSY 385, which is cross-listed as an HON 250 section. This is a hybrid Honors course, where the discipline course is substituted for a general education requirement, in this case PSY 101. A pure Honors course is open only to Honors students. The Oxbridge Lecture Series course (HON 251) and COM 203 H: Rhetoric and Public Address are examples of this type of course, as are Perennial Questions and Democracy and Its Friendly Critics. The course offerings on the Honors website will specify how each course may count toward the Honors degree. HON 251 (Oxbridge Lecture Series) is offered one semester per academic year and may be taken as often as desired for credit as an Honors elective. Each Oxbridge course varies in content and instructor. Program Planning Guide The following provides a course advising and program planning guide to help you plan your Honors courses as you advance through the program and earn a BAH, BMH or BSH degree: A minor in Honors of 21 hours is required for this degree: four required courses and three electives. Remember: Most Honors 200 level courses DOUBLE COUNT for general education courses. The exact double-counting is listed under the course offerings link located on the Honors Program website at http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/. Courses required during the first year: First Semester Second Semester HON 201H HON 203H (These required courses should be taken in sequence, if possible.) Courses suggested during the first year: First Semester Second Semester Take up to 2 of the following: Take up to 2 of the following: ENG 102H (fulfills gen. ed req.) ENG 102H (if not already taken) COM 203H (fulfills gen. ed. req.) HON 250 course AST 121H (fulfills gen. ed. req.) HON 251 Oxbridge Course ECO 110H (fulfills gen. ed. req.) HON 251 Oxbridge Course (may fulfill gen. ed. req.) http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 7

Study Abroad: The Honors Program has a special Honors at Glasgow Study Abroad program, one unlike any in the country. Made possible by the Principia Consortium, this program offers unique course and research opportunities with the prestigious University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland. You are encouraged to discuss this program with fellow Honors students and the director. One HON 250 can be taken there, a Scottish Enlightenment course, which is required if going. For more on this program, visit Courses suggested during the second year: Any remaining HON 250 elective courses (9 hours required for the degree). Consider the Oxbridge Lecture Course (HON 251) and the Honors at Glasgow Study Abroad (either semester for general education classes). Courses suggested during the third year: Any remaining elective HON 250/251 HON 450 H (Senior Thesis I) Honors at Glasgow Study Abroad (either semester for upper-level or gen. ed. classes) Courses required during the fourth or senior year: HON 451 H (Senior Thesis II)* req. STUDY ABROAD: GLASGOW The Berry College Honors Program, in conjunction with the Principia Consortium offers a unique education opportunity with the University of Glasgow in Scotland and Berry College International Programs. The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is an internationally recognized institution with prestigious programs in the sciences and humanities. Glasgow has created a special Honors course for Berry (Scottish Enlightenment); has developed special course opportunities for science, pre-med, and pre-vet students; and allows our Honors students access to level 3 and level 4 courses not ordinarily available to international students. For more information, visit http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 8

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HONORS COUNCIL CONFERENCE The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the professional association of undergraduate Honors programs and colleges, organizes a national conference each October or November in part to showcase research. Unlike most conferences of its kind, the NCHC conference includes and even emphasizes undergraduate students on its programs and as elected members of its governing board. All NCHC members are involved in the association s ongoing projects. Through Berry s institutional membership in NCHC, you, too, are a member, fully eligible to participate and to present at the conference. http://www.berry.edu/provost/honors/ 9