JMU HONORS PROGRAM

251 Warren Service Drive
MSC 1501
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Hillcrest House

540.568.6953
540.568.7728 
540.568.8079 (fax)

E-mail:  honors@jmu.edu

Office hours:
Mon.-Fri., 8:00am-5:00pm

 


Honors Program Courses

 

Spring 2013 - This Honors course schedule is not finalized.  Changes will be made over the next few weeks.  The latest revision date appears in the top right corner of the schedule.                                        

This schedule will not reflect whether a class is open or closed for enrollment.  Check MyMadison for the most accurate information before enrolling.

October 22, 2012 - All course schedules are available for viewing in MyMadison
October 29, 2012 - Registration begins for all students
                                                                                                                             

DESCRIPTION OF ALL HONORS SEMINARS                                              Video about Honors courses

 All Honors seminars are not offered each semester.                                  Honors Seminars Abroad:  London and Florence

Students should refer to the current Honors Class Schedule.

 

WHAT IS AN...?

Honors Course

Honors Seminar

Honors Option

 

Previous course offerings

 

Honors Course

The offerings and requirements of the JMU Honors Program bear a close relationship to those of the University. The honors curriculum is not harder courses with more work, but an increased opportunity to cultivate habits of critical thinking, communication, creative expression and independent thought through smaller classes taught by exceptional faculty. Four methods through which honors credits can be earned by honors students are identified as honors sections of regular university courses, honors seminars or colloquia, honors options in existing non-honors courses and the senior honors project. 

Honors courses appear in the Schedule of Classes with a normal departmental designator and number followed by an H (e.g., POSC 320H). Honors courses with a G prefix (e.g., GENG 102H) also meet general education requirements. Honors courses may count toward general education requirements, major requirements or elective credits. Taught by faculty dedicated to the honors experience, these classes are usually limited to 20 students. Honors scholars must take a nine-hour core of honors courses within the general education program.  

All honors courses have the essential content described in the university catalog, but also include a breadth of experience appropriate to honors study (e.g., greater use of primary sources, more fully developed theoretical background, some integration of interdisciplinary perspectives and more creative learning methodologies including added emphasis on discussion, writing, research and active learning experiences away from the classroom). These courses encourage creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and deeper intellectual inquiry.

Honors Seminar

Honors seminars are unique to the Honors Program. They explore complex topics that deal with contemporary issues in society, multicultural and comparative studies, and advanced applications in business and the natural and social sciences. 

Topics for honors seminars may be proposed by faculty, students or Honors Program staff and must be approved by the Honors Program Committee.  The seminars carry an HON prefix (e.g., HON 200B). They are offered at the 200 and 300 levels. It is assumed that 200-level seminars are approachable by all honors students and 300-level seminars demand some prior university academic experience. All of the seminars will be offered for three credits. Some may--with permission from the student's major adviser or program head--be substituted for an elective in the student's major. 

Seminars are designed to be fairly flexible small classes that may reflect unique, sometimes experimental, styles of teaching. Seminars are always interdisciplinary and may be team-taught by faculty from different departments or disciplines. The content of seminars may include extensive readings in original sources, creative writing, analysis of current information from various media, community involvement, trips off campus, involvement with guest speakers and artists and, most certainly, discussions. As defined, a seminar is "a small group of advanced students engaged in special study or original research."

Honors Option

The Honors Option provides Honors Scholars Track I and II students the freedom to design a portion of their curriculum.  Students may use Honors Option to earn honors credit for a non-honors upper level (200 or above) JMU course not regularly offered as an honors course. There is no limit to the number of Honors Options that honors students may attempt, but no more than two Honors Options should be attempted in any given semester. 


Recommendation:

Apply the Honors Option to 3 credit hour courses, rather than 1 or 2 credit hour courses, in order to satisfy the honors elective requirement more quickly.

 

Within the first two weeks of class the student must meet with the faculty member in whose class the Honors Option is planned and agree on a set of requirements they think would qualify the course for honors credit.  Both the student and the faculty member must sign the completed Honors Option form and the student should promptly submit it to the Honors Program Office for approval by the director of the Honors Program.  If the Honors Option is approved, the work may be undertaken for honors credit. (Due to the volume of Honors Options submitted each semester, you will only be notified if it is NOT approved.)  At the end of the semester, the faculty member reports to the Honors Office the successful completion of the Honors Option and the Office of the Registrar is directed to award the student honors credit for the course.


Some ideas for Honors Options include, but are not limited to:

  • Lead class discussion on a topic of particular interest
  • Complete an extra or extended paper or project
  • Complete readings for tutorial sessions
  • Complete a literature review or annotated bibliography
  • Keep an academic journal
  • Interview appropriate professionals
  • Do a challenging lab experiment or observation
  • Create a computer program related to course content
  • Apply the principles of the course through volunteer service

Helpful links:

Click here to download the Honors Option form.  (Form must be typed.  No handwritten form will be accepted.)

For more ideas about Honors Options, see examples of projects organized by college.

Questions? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Return to Top