Contents
Catalog Links
Share

Honors Program

Honors Program Co-Directors: Shannon Kundey, Lisa Algazi-Marcus

The Hood College Honors Program is a four-year program of coursework, co-curricular events, and extracurricular activities. Honors courses, which are designed to cultivate students’ ability to examine our complex world, are interdisciplinary in approach and are often team-taught. Classes are small, discussion-oriented, and frequently enhanced by guest speakers and field trips.

The Honors Program includes the following requirements:

  • FYE 101H and FYEHON 102 taken during first year
  • HON 201 and HON 202 taken during sophomore year
  • At least one 300-level HON elective typically taken in the junior year
  • HON 470 taken during the senior year
  • In addition, students must fulfill at least one of the following:
  1. Demonstration of 202-level proficiency in a modern global language (other than English or American Sign Language); OR
  2. Complete a second 300-level Honors elective; OR
  3. Complete a Departmental Honors thesis project or HON 499A and HON 499B in senior year; OR
  4. Complete a semester of study abroad.

GPA Requirements

To remain in good standing in the Honors Program, first-year students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to maintain at least a 3.25 GPA. Students who have a GPA that falls below the minimum requirement will be placed on probation within the program or dismissed from it.

Grade Requirements

A grade of “C-” or better is required in each Honors course being used to satisfy the Program requirements.

  • Any student who receives a grade lower than a C- in FYE 101H will be dismissed from the program.

  • Any student receiving a grade lower than C- in HON 102, HON 201, or HON 202 may be dismissed from the program. If allowed to continue in Honors, the student will need to repeat that course the next time it is offered and earn a grade of C- or higher in order to fulfill the program requirements.

First-Year Honors Experience
First-year students in the Honors Program take two linked Colloquium courses organized around interdisciplinary themes.

  • FYE 101H First Year Seminar-Honors Colloquium I
  • FYEHON 102 Honors Colloquium II

Sophomore Year Honors Experience
The sophomore year in Honors helps students to explore the nature of knowledge, cultural differences, and the individual’s place in society.

During the second semester (HON 202) students combine scholarly research with experiential learning in the community.

  • HON 201 Topics in Diversity (fulfills the DIV Core requirement)
  • HON 202 Ethics of Service Learning (fulfills the Ethics Core requirement)

Selected first-year students may begin the program at the end of their second semester at Hood. These students begin taking Honors courses at the time of their entry into the program and exempt earlier Honors courses. 

Honors Experience in Junior and Senior Years
Students in the Honors program will complete at least one Honors course at the 300-level, and HON 470 Seminar. The Honors 300-level course is typically taken in the junior year. HON 470 must be taken during senior year and may not be repeated.

As an alternative to a departmental honors paper, students in Hood's Honors Program may elect to complete a 3-credit interdisciplinary HON 499 paper or project during the fall or spring semester of the senior year.

Relationship to the Core Curriculum
The first four Honors courses (FYE 101H, FYEHON 102, HON 201, HON 202) count toward the Hearts, Minds and Hands Core. FYE 101H and FYEHON 102 are the required First-Year Experience, HON 201 fulfills the DIV requirement in the MIND section of the Core, and HON 202 fulfills the Ethics requirement in the MIND section of the Core.

Transferring into the Honors Program
The Honors Program welcomes qualified transfer students.

Those who have successfully completed two years of an honors program at another college or university before transferring to Hood may be invited to enter the Hood College Honors Program at the junior level and are exempt from taking FYE 101H, FYEHON 102, HON 201 and HON 202. To complete the program, such students must take HON 470 and a 300-level Honors Program courses. They must also fulfill one of these options:

  1. Demonstration of 202-lvel proficiency in a modern global language (other than English or American Sign Language); OR
  2. Complete a second 300-level Honors elective; OR
  3. Complete a Departmental Honors thesis project or HON 499A and HON 499B in senior year; OR
  4. Complete a semester of study abroad.

Students who transfer to Hood without having completed two years of an honors program at another college or university may also be invited to join the Honors Program. They must complete HON 201, HON 202, a 300-level Honors Program course and HON 470. In addition, these transfer students must also fulfill one of these options:

  1. Demonstration of 202-lvel proficiency in a modern global language (other than English or American Sign Language); OR
  2. Complete a second 300-level Honors elective; OR
  3. Complete a Departmental Honors thesis project or HON 499A and HON 499B in senior year; OR
  4. Complete a semester of study abroad.

Transfers who complete HON 201 and HON 202 may use those courses to fulfill the DIV and Ethics requirements of the MIND section of the Core.

Students who place into and successfully complete a 2033, 204 or civilization-level course in French, German or Spanish during their first semester at Hood, earning a grade of C or higher, will receive 6 additional credits. No additional credits are awarded for students already awarded transfer credit for French, German, or Spanish 201 and 202.

Recognition of Honors Students
To graduate from the Honors Program, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as well as fulfill all program requirements. Students who fulfill the Honors requirements will earn Honors Program recognition on their academic records. 

Up one level