Honors Program

Requirements for the Honors Program Degree

General Honors Program Degree Requirements

  • 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.