The Honors College

Dean: Carolyn A. Barros, Ph.D.
100 College Hall • Box 19222 • 817-272-7215 • http://honors.uta.edu/ • honors@uta.edu

Honors Vision Statement
The Honors College is a community of student and faculty scholars who set the standard for academic excellence at The University of Texas at Arlington. The Honors College curriculum is designed to be interdisciplinary. Honors students are brought together from across campus and asked to integrate knowledge and perspectives from a wide range of subjects, to question the assumptions of particular disciplines, and to consider matters from many points of view. Honors faculty encourage students to think critically, broadly, openly, and creatively. The Honors curriculum complements and advances the goals of the traditional disciplines as learning is enhanced through a small-class environment and use of a variety of media, including the Internet. Special seminars, colloquia, and study-abroad programs promote cross-cultural understanding.

As members of the Honors College, students develop their skills, cultivate their talents, and become self-reliant scholars; they learn to ask the very best of themselves and prepare to assume positions of visionary leadership in academia, the arts and sciences, business and the community. In a world of isolated specialists, the Honors College offers essential training for valued citizens in a democracy.

In addition to a challenging curriculum, the Honors College regularly schedules social and intellectual activities that extend learning experiences beyond the classroom: Honors symposia, informal gatherings, lecture series, and artistic performances. The Honors College Council (HCC), elected from the Honors student body, is responsible, along with the Honors Faculty Advisory Council (HFAC), representatives from the Colleges, and the Honors Dean, for the ongoing operation of the Honors College.

Honors Affiliations
The U.T. Arlington Honors College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and the regional Great Plains Honors Council (GPHC). U.T. Arlington’s Honors College is the only such college in the North Texas area and only one of three in Texas.

Standards for Admission
The Honors College seeks students with broad interests, varied talents, and diverse cultural backgrounds. Admission is competitive. Entering Freshman Honors applicants (with less than 30 college hours) must have a combined score of 1200 SAT or 27 ACT and/or graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Continuing and transfer Honors applicants (with more than 30 college hours) must have an overall GPA of 3.2.
Admission, however, is not based solely on grades or scores. The Admissions Committee (comprised of Honors faculty and staff) also considers faculty recommendations and applicant statements of purpose in the selection of potential candidates. Applications for admission are available in the Honors College Office or online: https://honors.uta.edu/secure/applications/

Requirements for Completing an Honors Degree
Honors degrees are granted in the disciplines of the university’s eight schools and colleges: Architecture, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, Social Work and in Interdisciplinary Studies. To graduate with an Honors degree the student must be a member of the Honors College in good standing, have an overall GPA of 3.2, and complete the degree requirements in a disciplinary major. The Honors course requirements include:

At least twenty-four (24) hours of Honors course work (all of which may also fulfill university core or disciplinary major requirements):

• At least two Honors Seminars or Honors Special Topics Courses (6 hrs.)
• At least nine (9) advanced (3000 or 4000 level) Honors hours in the major to include:
Research Methods (3 hrs.) (Honors Research Colloquium, research in the major, or independent research)
Senior Research Thesis/Creative Project (3 hrs.)
A course for Honors credit (3 hrs.)
• Remaining Honors hours (to complete 24) to be chosen from special Honors sections of University core requirements, other Honors Interdisciplinary Seminars/Special Topics courses, Honors electives or Honors courses in the major.

Continuing U.T. Arlington students and transfer students who join the Honors College (with 60 hours or more) must complete only one Honors Seminar. The twenty-four (24) hour requirement for transfer students may be adjusted in some Colleges.

Sample Honors Degree Plans
Freshman Year
We recommend two possible sequences of courses for the freshman year depending on area of study.

Bachelor of Arts or
Undeclared students
First Semester
HONR 1100 Honors
Enrichment (1 hr.)
HONR 2611 Honors
American Studies I: History
and Literature (6 hrs.)
HONR 2311 Honors
American Studies I:
Politics (3 hrs.)
Additional course work
as recommended by major

Bachelor of Science
First Semester
HONR 1100 Honors
Enrichment (1 hr.)
HONR 2300 Honors
Freshman Seminar (3 hrs.)
Choice of Honors Sciences:
BIOL 1441 Cell and
Molecular Biology (4 hrs.)
CHEM 1301 General
Chemistry I (3 hrs.)
GEOL 1425 Earth Systems (4hrs.)
PHYS 1443 General
Technical Physics I (4 hrs.)
MATH 1426 Honors
Calculus I (4 hrs.)
Additional course work
as recommended by major

Bachelor of Arts or
Undeclared students
Second Semester
HONR 2612
American Studies II:
History and Politics (6 hrs.)
HONR 2312 Honors
General American Literature (3 hrs.)
MATH 1313 Honors
Liberal Arts Math (3 hrs.)
Additional course work
as recommended by major

Bachelor of Science
Second Semester
Choice of Honors Sciences:
BIOL 1442 Structure and Function of Organisms (4 hrs.)
CHEM 1302/1284 General
Chemistry II/Lab (5 hrs.)
GEOL 1426 Earth Systems
History (4 hrs.)
PHYS 1444 General Technical
Physics II (4 hrs.)
MATH 2325 Honors
Calculus II (3 hrs.)
Additional course work
as recommended by major

Sophomore Year
First Semester
HONR 4144/4244/4344 Honors Service Learning Opportunities
(1, 2 or 3 hrs.)
Honors Science or Math
Additional course work as recommended for the major*

Second Semester
Honors Science, Math or Elective
Additional course work as recommended for the major*

Summer
Students may consider participating in Honors Study Abroad for college credit

Junior Year
First Semester
Honors Service Learning, Internship, Independent Research or Elective
Additional course work as recommended for the major*
Second Semester
HONR 3390 Honors Research Colloquium or Research Methods course in your major
Additional course work as recommended for the major*

Senior Year
First Semester
Honors Research Thesis/Creative Project in the major
Honors Service Learning, Internship, Independent Research or Elective
Additional course work as recommended for the major*
Second Semester
Complete Thesis and Oral Presentation Requirements
HONR 4303 Honors Senior Seminar
HONR 4320 Honors Internship/Research Assistantship
Additional course work as recommended for the major*
* Students may complete courses within their major for Honors credit. Consult your Honors Advisor for details.

Privileges for Honors Students
It is impossible to measure the Honors College in terms of its many intangible benefits; participation itself forms the basis for gain. Some of the more tangible benefits are:

Priority Registration
Innovative Classes
Honors Scholarships
Study Abroad Programs and Scholarships
Community Service Learning Opportunities
Research Assistantships
Internships Home and Abroad
Honors Listserv
Extended Check-out Privileges with the University Library System
Honors Student Library/Lounge/Computer Laboratory
Special Honors Events
Honors Degree Designation on Diploma and Transcript
Special Recognition at Graduation
Honors Graduation Stole
Honors Bridge to Graduate School Scholarships
Graduate and Professional School Advising

Honors Students and the University Library System
http://www.uta.edu/library/
Honors students, because of their commitment to self-reliant learning and independent research, enjoy a special relationship with the University library system. In addition to extended check-out privileges, Honors students are assigned a research librarian, encouraged to work in U.T. Arlington’s Special Collections, and to access the Honors Library Link, an internet system that provides research links for all Honors courses.

Honors Scholarships
http://honors.uta.edu/scholarship.asp
The Honors College, in conjunction with the U.T. Arlington Scholarship Office, annually awards numerous Honors Scholarships. Some scholarships are renewable up to three additional years for students who maintain Honors requirements. Applications are available in the Honors College Office and online. Information on departmental and organizational scholarships and financial aid is available in the Scholarship and Financial Aid Offices, 252 Davis Hall.

Honors Bridge to Graduate School
http://honors.uta.edu/bridge.asp
The Honors College offers competitive scholarships for students seeking enrollment in any one of U.T. Arlington’s graduate programs. In addition, Honors students may be eligible for advanced admission notice and, depending on the graduate program, exemption from the GRE. Honors seniors are encouraged to consult the graduate advisor of their prospective departments and the Honors College.

Honors Undergraduate Research Programs
http://honors.uta.edu/irprograms.asp
Honors Undergraduate Research Programs in concert with U.T. Arlington’s other schools and colleges place students in research assistantships in their disciplines. Information and applications are available in the Honors College Office.

Honors Research Thesis/Creative Project
http://honors.uta.edu/thesis.asp
All Honors students will complete a research thesis or creative project that demonstrates Honors competence in the major field. The thesis/project offers students the opportunity to complete sustained original research or creative activity. Students in the sciences and humanities advance their research skills significantly, while students in the creative arts and technologies polish and perfect their crafts. The Honors thesis/project may well be the student’s most valuable educational experience. The thesis/project requires that students examine complex objects, ideas, and issues carefully and assumes that students will submit work that meets the scholarly expectations of the discipline and the Honors College.

Honors Study Abroad
http://honors.uta.edu/abroad.asp
The Honors Study Abroad Program offers opportunities for students to acquire new knowledge and understanding of the people, events, movements, ideas, and objects of cultures other than their own; to link historical events and developments with those of the twenty-first century, and to understand the contributions of other peoples and regions to American institutions and culture. Skillful instruction and intensive on-site learning in places as diverse as Scotland, Italy, Africa, and the Czech Republic are hallmarks of the study abroad experience. Scholarships are available from both the Honors College and the Office of International Studies (http://www.uta.edu/io/sab/index.htm).

Honors Internships Home/Abroad
http://honors.uta.edu/irprograms.asp
Honors students are encouraged to work in their fields prior to graduation. Internships may be assigned locally, nationally and internationally. Honors Teacher Certification candidates may complete student teaching in other countries (as approved by the School of Education). Scholarships and stipends are available. Contact the Honors College Office for information and applications.

Honors Advising
The Honors College advising staff counsels students regarding Honors course work, long-range academic planning, and professional goal-setting. Honors degree planning and advising are available in the student’s major discipline. In addition, Honors students are encouraged to meet with the major advisor each semester prior to Honors advising and registration.

Probation Policy
http://honors.uta.edu/probation.asp
Honors students in good standing must maintain a 3.2 GPA. Students who drop below this requirement must petition the Honors College for continuance and must develop a plan to return to good standing.

Honors Academy
The U.T. Arlington Honors College offers an outstanding program of study for exceptionally motivated high school students. A student may earn credit hours toward the college degree while also receiving credit toward the high school diploma for the course work taken at U.T. Arlington. Granting of dual credit is subject to the policies of each independent school district under the guidelines of the Texas Education Agency. Students should check with their home districts or the UTA Honors College for more information regarding dual credit.

Honors Academy students must submit:

• Applications for both general admission and Early Admission Program.
• Official high school transcript showing course work through the junior year. Students must be in the top 10 percent of their class.
• Official minimum SAT scores of 1,200 or minimum PSAT scores of 120, or minimum ACT scores of 27.
• Upon graduation, a final high school transcript showing graduation and final rank-in-class.

Qualified Honors Academy students are eligible to receive scholarships, will be enrolled in Honors College classes and will receive credit for the course work completed at the end of the semester. A permanent academic record will be established for each person enrolled under the Honors Academy Program.
Upon completion of the Honors Academy Program, a student who wishes to continue enrolling at U.T. Arlington must complete a Freshman Application for Admission and submit an official final high school transcript.

Honors Courses
http://honors.uta.edu/courses.asp
Honors courses or their designated disciplinary equivalents satisfy Honors, departmental, college, and university requirements. The Honors College will provide departmental advisors with equivalency/substitution information. The University’s oral competency requirement may be fulfilled by presenting the research thesis/creative project in a faculty-reviewed forum. The computer competency requirement may be met by completing the Honors Multimedia Authoring Course (HONR 3374).

Honors (HONR)
Course fee information is published in the online student Schedule of Classes at www.uta.edu/schedule. Please refer to this Web site for a detailed listing of specific course fees.

1100. Honors Enrichment Series (0-2) 1 hour credit. Honors students will attend eight (8) on-campus and two (2) off-campus performances, exhibits, and/or lectures in the arts and sciences and submit brief response reports. Selections will be made from U.T. Arlington and Metroplex program listings. Required of all Honors Freshmen. May be repeated for up to 3 hours credit by all Honors students.

2300. Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar in Humanities and Fine Arts (3-0) 3 hours credit. Team-taught interdisciplinary course in World Studies from multiple perspectives—philosophy, literature, fine arts—around a theme of current or enduring interest. Meets a three-hour core requirement in literature, the fine arts, or humanities. HONR 2300 meets the Fine Arts requirement of the core curriculum.

2301. Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar in the Sciences (3-0) 3 hours credit. Team-taught, interdisciplinary foundations in science course. Cross-listed with Science 2301.

2302. Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar in Social Sciences (3-0) 3 hours credit. Team-taught, interdisciplinary social sciences course. Meets the University core requirement for a 3-hour social science.
HONR 2302 meets the Social/Cultural Studies requirement of the core curriculum.

2103/2203/2303. Honors Special Topics (1/2/3-0) 1,2,3 hours credit. Special topics in Honors. Topics, format, and prerequisites to be determined by the Honors Faculty Advisory Council. May be repeated for credit as topics change.

3374. Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar in Multimedia Authoring (3-0) 3 hours credit. Team-taught, interdisciplinary, group-oriented introduction to Multimedia Authoring. An emphasis on constructing Web pages and writing intensive and research oriented projects for academic, business and/or creative audiences.

3390. Honors Research Colloquium (3-0) 3 hours credit. Students prepare an abstract, prospectus, and annotated bibliography and deliver oral presentations of their research in preparation for the Senior Research Thesis/Creative Project. Cross-listed with departmental Honors Colloquia courses.

4103/4203/4303. Honors Advanced Special Topics (1/2/3-0) 1,2,3 hours credit. Advanced special topics in Honors. Topics, format, and prerequisites to be determined by the Honors Faculty Advisory Council. May be repeated for credit as topics change.

4310. Honors Study Abroad (3-0) 3 hours credit. Interdisciplinary team-taught course in an out-of-country location around a theme/topic appropriate to the location. Journal and term paper required.
HONR 4310 meets the Social/Cultural Studies requirement of the core curriculum.

4320. Honors Internship Home/Abroad (3-0) 3 hours credit. Supervised employment in student’s area(s) of interest. Journal and term paper required. Cross-listed with departmental internship courses.
HONR 4320 may meet the Social/ Cultural Studies requirement of the core curriculum.

4144/4244/4344. Honors Service Learning Opportunities (1/2/3-0) 1,2,3 hours credit. Credit will be given for supervised service to a community agency. The service must be related to formal course work and approved by a faculty mentor and a degree plan advisor. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the Honors College Dean. Graded P/F.

4394. Honors Senior Research Thesis/Creative Project (3-0) 3 hours credit. A research thesis or creative project and oral presentation are required for the Honors degree. In consultation with the faculty thesis supervisor and the Honors Dean a program of research and writing will be arranged. Planning for the Honors Thesis should begin early in the student’s junior year. For more extensive projects additional credit may be earned. Full details for completing the Honors Research Thesis/Creative Project are provided in the Honors College Guide for Students and Their Mentors. Cross-listed with departmental thesis courses.

Honors American Studies Sequence
The Honors American Studies Sequence introduces students to the American experience through a multidisciplinary investigation of the concepts, theories and phenomena of past and present in the United States. The American Studies Sequence is a foundational course, designed to equip students with critical thinking skills and to teach them how to examine a question or theme integral to American thought and culture. In addition to the enriched classroom environment and the integration of course material, student learning will be enhanced by guest speakers, field trips, service projects, and student-led oral presentations. The Honors American Studies Sequence fulfills the University core requirements in History, Political Science, and Literature. American Studies Sequence I combines politics and themes in American history and literature (HONR 2311 and 2611). American Studies Sequence II combines themes in American literature with themes in American history and politics (HONR 2312 and 2612).

2311. Honors American Studies I: Politics (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course will explore the U.S. government at the national and sub-national levels. Students will develop an understanding of the role of citizens in the political process and of the functioning of institutions of government. Topics will include: the U.S. Constitution; the Texas Constitution; civil liberties and civil rights; political institutions; voting and elections; and parties and interest groups. This first course in the Sequence will include material currently covered in POLS 2311 and POLS 2312. While this course grants credit for Political Science 2311, students are expected to enroll in both semesters of the Sequence in order to receive credit for both POLS 2311 and POLS 2312.

2611. Honors American Studies I: Themes in American History and Literature (6-0) 6 hours credit. This six-hour, team-taught interdisciplinary course is built around a selected theme of the American Studies Sequence. Each year’s theme will be explored from the perspective of both History and English, using history and literature texts from and about the Colonial Era to the Civil War. As part of a two-semester American Studies Sequence this six-hour course includes material currently covered in History 1311 and English 2371 and meets the university requirement for History 1311 and the three-hour literature requirement.

2312. Honors American Studies II: Themes in American Literature (3-0) 3 hours credit. In this course the theme of the American Studies Sequence is continued from a literary perspective. This course covers material currently taught in English 2372 and completes the American Literature portion of the American Studies Sequence. The only course in the Sequence that is optional, students are encouraged to enroll for the final course in the Sequence. The course meets a three-hour university requirement for a literature or humanities elective.

2612. Honors American Studies Sequence II: Themes in American History and Politics (6-0) 6 hours credit. This six-hour, team-taught interdisciplinary course continues the theme of the American Studies Sequence begun in the first semester of the Sequence. Particular public policies, drawn from the theme, will be analyzed using the methodologies of political science and history. Students will be expected to apply the information from the first semester of the Sequence to these modern issues. This six-hour course meets university requirements for History 1312 and Political Science 2312.

Special Honors Sections of Department, College and University Requirements
Freshman Composition
Honors students are encouraged to seek CLEP credit for Freshman English 1301/1302. Students may also receive credit for English 1301/1302 by demonstrating sophomore level writing competency in Honors Interdisciplinary Seminars in the Humanities/Fine Arts or the American Studies Sequence.

Honors Sections of University Core Requirements.
Honors sections of University core requirements are offered in Biology 1441, 1442; Chemistry 1301/1302/1284; Geology 1425, 1426; Mathematics 1313 (Honors Liberal Arts Math), 1426 (Calculus I), 2325 (Calculus II); Physics 1443/1444.

Honors Sections of Business Core Requirements.
Honors sections of core Business courses are available. See the Honors Business Advisor.

Honors Credit for Non-Honors Courses
To complete Honors graduation requirements, Honors students may earn Honors credit for non-Honors courses. To receive Honors credit the student must complete regular course requirements with a grade of A or B. In addition, the student must complete an independent Honors assignment as agreed upon by the professor and the student. The Honors Dean or Honors Advisor must approve all Honors credit for non-Honors courses. Approval forms are available in the Honors College Office or online.

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