Honors Program

University Honors

The University Honors track is a learning community for students that provides academic and social support to engage in a different kind of learning, encouraging open inquiry, empathetic engagement with diverse perspectives, and safe spaces for intellectual risk-taking. The curriculum parallels the Integrative Core with specially designed honors sections and exciting co-curricular opportunities. Professors in the Honors Program are innovative teachers and dedicated scholars who come from a variety of disciplines. Honors courses emphasize intellectual contexts, student autonomy, and connections among fields of study.

Curriculum

First Year Seminar (FYS) (first year): FYS focuses on a specific topic and develops skills in writing, oral communication and critical thinking.

Honors Foundations (first and second years): These courses focus on four major areas of human knowledge – humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and arts, building on the skills students learned in FYS. Students are required to take Honors Foundations in three of the areas and may fulfill the fourth area with an appropriate elective.

Theme and Theme Project (third year): Students take an honors course related to the theme of Engaging Diversity, in which they develop a proposal for a diversity project to be completed in conjunction with a course of their choosing the following semester.

Capstone (fourth year): Students engage in collaborative work around a complex issue with real-world application. They draw upon knowledge, skills and thought processes acquired throughout their educational experience.

University Honors Curriculum

Honors in the Major

The Honors in the Major track offers the opportunity for intensive, individual study in a major. Although the nature of honors work will vary, it should involve intellectual creativity and may take such forms as research, investigation, or artistic effort. The student initiates and plans the honors project and works closely with one or more faculty members in carrying it out. At the conclusion of the study, superior accomplishment should be demonstrated in some appropriate way. Depending on the department’s specifications, students will complete either an honors thesis or honors projects in three courses in the major.

Curriculum

494 Honors Thesis/Project: A research/project course designed to meet the needs of the individual student seeking honors in the major at graduation. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing, and approval of the instructor, the department chair and the Honors Review Board. Credit variable, 4-8 Semester Hours.

For more information contact the Honors Program directors at honors@gladiatorattachments.com.

Honors in the Major Curriculum

Social

The Honors Council hosts several social events this year to connect and form friendships with other Honors students. Past events have included a Halloween party at the Nature Center, “Sundae Sunday” socials, and its end-of-the-year barbecue.

A group of Honors students show off their 80’s inspired Halloween costumes before the annual Honors Halloween Party.

Service

Each year, the Honors Council organizes at least one student-led service project.  In the past, it has collected supplies to donate to Raider’s Cove, made capes for children in the local hospital, participated in Mount Union’s Relay for Life event, and starting a team on Free Rice- a trivia game that donates to the UN World Food Programme for answering trivia questions.

Scholarship

The program provides many opportunities to enhance your scholarly experience at Mount Union. Many professors take their students on trips to museums and historical spots. Also, the program provides means to attend conferences such as the Mid-East Honors Association (MEHA) Conference and the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference. These conferences allow students to present, engage with discussion panels, and become better leaders and better Honors students. Mount Union is also a member of the MEHA, allowing students to seek scholarship opportunities and utilize resources through the organization.

Two executive honors council members attend the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in New Orleans.