General Education Component: Honors sections of "The Human Experience: Who Am I? (HMXP102H) and "Critical Reading,
Thinking and Writing" (CRTW201H) for a total of 6 credit hours must be completed.
Cultural Component: One Honors symposium must be completed (1 credit hour).
Course Work Component: Completion of 12 credit hours of Honors coursework with a minimum of six hours in
the major.
Independent Study Component:A senior project, such as an thesis or curated performance, must be completed in the
major. This requirement includes HONR 449H, a 1-hour preparatory course to be taken
the semester before the final project is completed and HONR 451H, the Honors Thesis
Symposium (1 credit hour), which will be taken while the student is completing their
final project. Students will also receive 3 credit hours for completing their final
project under the supervision of their project director.
Service Learning Component: A service learning class/project and reflection essay must be completed (0-3 credit
hours).
The reflection essay should be 4-5 pages, double-spaced, and consist of material regarding
the name and description of the project, and what that experience meant to the student
and the community. Journal entries may be used should the student wish to do so.
Requirements for the Honors Program Degree with International Experience
In addition to the regular Honors Program Degree requirements, students must complete
an extended experience in a learning environment outside the U.S.
Distinguishing features of Winthrop's Honors Program courses
Symposia which bring together talented students and exceptional teachers in a small
group setting.
Interdisciplinary learning which often bridges seemingly disparate areas of study.
Instructional alternatives such as team-teaching, guest lectures, or visits to sites
or events associated with the subject of study.
Honors Courses - Categories
Honors sections of regular courses are smaller, more selective versions of standard
courses. For example, instead of a lecture class with standardized tests, honors sections
may consist of 15 students graded on the basis of in-depth essays and contributions
to class discussions.
Special topics HONR courses are available for fulfilling general education requirements
including the areas of Natural Sciences, Humanities and Arts, Global Issues, Social
Sciences, and Historical Issues.
Contracted honors courses allow students to earn honors credit in subjects for which
no formal honors courses are available. Any course is eligible, provided the student
contracts with the professor to do work of sufficient sophistication, either in place
of, or in addition to, the regular requirements of the course. A written agreement
must be drawn up within the first few days of the semester and approved by the Honors
Program Director.
Independent study, in the form of research or creative work, is required for an honors
degree at Winthrop. Prior to the beginning of the semester in which the work is to
be undertaken, a prospectus must be approved by the faculty project director, the
appropriate department chair and dean, and the Honors Committee. A creative project
will result in a public exhibition or recital. Student researchers are encouraged
to submit their findings to the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference, a meeting that brings together scholars from honors programs throughout the United
States, or to the Southern Regional Honors Council Conference, a meeting of honors programs in the Southeast.
