Undergraduate Catalog: Honors Program

Mission || Requirements || Honors Thesis || Admission || Recognition || Research || Sholarships & Fellowships

Dr. Erin Sadlack, Director of Honors and Fellowships

Honors and Fellowships Board

• Dr. Michael Foley, Academic Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Ms. Amy Paciej-Woodruff, Dean of Students
• Dr. Erin Sadlack, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Dr. Barbara Parker-­Bell, Insalaco College of Creative and Performing Arts
• Dr. Edward J. Crawley, Reap College of Education and Human Development
• Dr. Dawn Apgar, College of Health and Human Services
• Ms. Rosemary Burger, Office of the Registrar
• Ms. Maria Caggiano Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Student Representatives

Mission

The Honors program offers students the unique opportunity to engage in a vibrant academic community. Involvement in the program provides students with challenging courses ina variety of disciplines as well as in-depth studies within their chosen field. Students will also practice critical thinking skills, learn and apply various research methods, and create new knowledge within their field of study. Students also gain professional experience through participation in conferences, research forums, and exhibitions. The benefits of the Honors Program extend beyond students' undergraduate careers, providing them with the skills necessary for post-baccalaureate success as well as preparing them to apply for graduate school and competitive scholarships and fellowships.

Marywood is a member of both the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and the Northeast Region Collegiate Honors Council. The Office of Honors and Fellowships houses resources on the honors curriculum and courses, undergraduate research opportunities, and scholarships and fellowships. We also publish a newsletter and sponsor special activities and events.

Requirements

The Honors Program at Marywood University is an open program. In order to register for honors courses, a student must maintain a minimum QPA of 3.25. To graduate with the Citation in Honors, a student must achieve a minimum 3.50 cumu­lative QPA.

To earn the Citation in Honors, a student must successfully complete:

• 4 honors seminar courses that meet core curriculum or liberal arts require­ments;
• 2 honors courses in the student’s major;
• 1 honors course elective OR a third course in the student’s major;
• Senior honors thesis.

The Honors Program at Marywood will also accept one honors course trans­ferred from another college or university, or one study abroad course. Students may be asked to provide a syllabus or sample of honors­level work.

The Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis is the capstone of the Honors Program at Marywood University. Broadly defined, the thesis brings together the student's major area of study and the liberal arts core. For example, an analysis of the structure of a novelist's style may contain reflections on the meaning of that style within a historical or sociological context. Thus, the thesis contains two elements: specialization in discipline and generalization in humanities.

Students who are planning to write their theses should begin by meeting with their advisors the semester before they would like to begin their research and writing. While students generally write their theses in their senior year, we recommend that students planning their student teaching, internships or field research start in their junior year to avoid conflicts.

To receive academic credit for the thesis, students must register for the courses Honors Thesis 478A and 478B (psychology majors should consult with their advisors and the Director of Honors and Fellowships for alternate course scheduling) under their department. Each section comprises 1.5 credits, and students must submit a timeline for the work they plan to complete over the course of each semester they are writing. The grade for 478A is based on the research the student accomplishes, while 478B is for the completed, written version of the thesis. The thesis will be due in the Office of Honors and Fellowships during the first week of April of a student's senior year.

All honors students planning to write a thesis must schedule a formal meeting with the Director of Honors and Fellowships during the first two weeks of the semester they begin in order to discuss the issues related to the thesis. At this meeting, monthly appointments will be scheduled to ensure that procedure is followed and to address questions and doubts that may arise during the research.

Admission

Based on their high school transcripts, standardized test scores, and specified interests, freshmen may be placed in honors courses their first semester at Marywood. Students who meet the requirements may choose to continue. Students who achieve a 3.25 QPA or higher after their first semester may register for honors courses; however a 3.50 cumulative QPA is required to complete the degree and graduate with the Citation in Honors. Students interested in pursuing the Citation in Honors should visit the Office of Honors and Fellowships to review the requirements and fill out the necessary forms.

Recognition

Honors courses and projects are designated by a special code that appears on a student’s transcript. A student completing the honors degree receives the Citation in Honors, which is noted on all official transcripts and on the diploma.

Research at Marywood

The Office of Honors and Fellowships and the Undergraduate Research Review Committee promote and support undergraduate research and scholarly activity by providing funding for undergraduates to conduct research and to travel to present their work. The committee also sponsors the Undergraduate Research Forum, at which students can present their research projects, read their papers, exhibit their original art and photography, and discuss their experiences from conferences and conventions. Students can apply for funding by visiting the Office of Honors and Fellowships for a Research Proposal Form. The Committee reviews and evaluates the proposals, then submits approved projects to the director of honors and fellowships for funding.

Scholarships and Fellowships

The Scholarships and Fellowships Committee is dedicated to helping students apply for awards at the undergraduate and graduate level. The committee identifies eligible students, advises during the application process, and recommends or nominates students for awards. Scholarships and fellowships are available for study in the United States as well as abroad. Interested students should contact the director of honors and fellowships for more information.