The Honors Program

Dr. Nicole Sparling Barco, Director

989-774-3902

Powers 104

Central Michigan University

www.cmich.edu/honors

Since 1961 the Honors Program has challenged CMU’s brightest, most talented, highly motivated, and creative students both in and outside of the classroom while pursuing an enriched program of study.

The Honors Program Mission:

Providing high academic ability students with unique educational opportunities and experiences, the CMU Honors Program challenges students to aim higher and to achieve more academically, personally, and professionally for the greater good of our disciplines, our society, and our world.

Core Values

The primary values that guide the implementation of the Honors Program mission include:

Critical thought, scholarly inquiry, and creative expression;
Respect and appreciation for diverse peoples and ideas in a global society;
High standards for integrity and personal aspirations;
Active citizenship and service for the greater good Benefits of Honors Study.

In addition to a unique learning environment, there are many tangible benefits of Honors study:

Honors Faculty and Alumni mentoring;
Academic Planning Document that helps map out all courses you will need each semester to graduate from Central Michigan University;
Eligibility for Honors scholarships and awards;
Undergraduate research opportunities;
Small class size, limited to 20 students in most Honors sections;
Recognition of achievement through transcript designation “Graduated in the Honors Program” and commencement program notation;
Eligibility to live in Larzelere Hall, the designated Honors residence hall and community;
Individualized academic advising through the Honors Program Academic Advisors;
Eligibility to enroll in graduate courses;
Opportunity to participate in Honors registered student organizations;
Participation in a variety of Honors sponsored social, cultural, and international activities;
Priority registration.

Honors Study Options

Honors study is flexible in nature and can fit into any degree, major, or minor.

Several options exist through which students can earn Honors credits:

Honors sections of departmental courses along with special topics Honors courses offered every semester.
Special Honors faculty-led courses on Beaver Island, throughout the United States, and around the world each spring and summer terms.
Honors Contracts that allow a student to take some CMU classes for Honors credit through an arrangement between the student and the instructor, with the approval of the Honors Director.
An Honors Independent Study of a specific topic under the direction of a faculty member, allowing for more in-depth investigation, empirical research, or expanded coverage.
A Senior Project, mentored by a faculty member, in which the student makes an original contribution in research, scholarship, or creative endeavor.

Admission and Completion of Honors Study

The University invites all high ability students to review the admission requirements and Honors application available on the Honors Program website listed above.

In order to remain active in the Honors Program and graduate in the Honors Program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and earn a grade of at least “B-” in all Honors courses, Honors Contracts, Honors Independent Study, or Senior Project taken for credit. Graduation from the Honors Program also requires completion of the protocol specified in the year of admission.

Honors Program Protocol Requirements

For students accepted to the CMU Honors Program on or after Fall, 2014. Honors students must complete each of the following requirements to graduate with Honors Program distinction. Completion of the Honors Protocol will result in “Honors Program Graduate” being noted on the student’s permanent transcript. Transfer students and CMU students admitted to Honors after the first year should follow Honors Program Track II requirements (next page).

Completion of HON 100 (3), Introduction to Honors, during one’s first semester at CMU.
Completion of an Honors First Year Seminar, (3 credits), during one’s first semester at CMU. Honors first year seminars are also University Program courses that satisfy the general education “writing intensive” requirement. Options include: HON 201WI, HON 202WI, HON 203WI, HON 204WI, HON 205WI, HON 206WI, HON 207WI, or HON 208WI.
Completion of ENG 201H (3), English Composition, during one’s second (spring semester at CMU).
Complete at least an additional 15 credits of Honors coursework before graduation from CMU (in addition to HON 499). Honors coursework is defined as HON courses, H-designated courses, and Honors Contracts successfully completed. Honors Contracts may be used to fulfill a maximum of 6 of these 15 credits, with the approval of the Honors Director.
To enhance exposure to cultural diversity (the study of a cultural aspect substantially different than one’s own either in or outside the United States for college credit), complete a minimum of 6 credit hours of the following at the college level:
- Study Abroad courses for college credit
- HON 309: Global Citizenship
- Foreign language courses
- American Sign Language courses (ASL 101 or above)
- Honors Cultural Diversity courses approved by the Honors Council
Complete 120 service hours while a student at CMU.
Develop and get approval for an Honors Senior Project Proposal. The senior project involves research or a creative endeavor conducted with a faculty advisor from the student’s major or minor discipline. Students are encouraged to begin planning for the senior project during their junior or third year of study at CMU. Proposals must be approved by the senior project advisor and the Honors director. The Senior Project Proposal is due two full semesters before the student plans to graduate (excluding summer semesters).
Complete an Honors Senior Project and simultaneously enroll in HON 499* (3 credits). The completed senior project and all other Protocol requirements are due at least one full semester before the student plans to graduate. Students are required to present work from their project in a public venue, which may include professional conferences, public exhibitions, or the CMU Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibition. Submission of work for publication or juried exhibition is also encouraged.

*HON 499 can be taken as a writing intensive course if the proposal outlines it as such.

Notes:

At least 9 credits total of Honors coursework on the Honors Protocol must be taken at the 300 level or above (in addition to HON 499).
Students must maintain a cumulative CMU grade point average of 3.25 to remain active in and graduate from the Honors Program.
Students are required to earn a grade of at least “B-” in all H, HON, or Honors Contract courses.
An Honors course may not be counted in more than one area of the Protocol. For example, if a student takes ASL 101H the student must decide if he/she would like to count it as an Honors course or a cultural diversity course.

CMU Honors Program Protocol: Track II

Track II Honors students must complete each of the following requirements to graduate with Honors Program distinction. Completion of the Honors Track II Protocol will result in “Honors Program Graduate” being noted on the student’s permanent transcript.

Completion of HON 300, Introduction to Honors II (3 credits), taken during fall semester of student’s first year in the Honors Program.
Complete a 300-level HON-designator Honors Seminar Course (3 credits).
Complete at least 9 additional credits of Honors coursework before graduation from CMU (in addition to HON 499). Honors coursework is defined as HON courses, H-designated courses, and Honors Contracts successfully completed. Honors Contracts may be used to fulfill a maximum of 6 of these 9 credits, with the approval of the Honors Director.
To enhance exposure to cultural diversity (the study of a cultural aspect substantially different than one’s own either in or outside the United States for college credit), complete a minimum of 3 credit hours of the following at the college level:
- Study Abroad courses for college credit
- HON 309, Honors Global Citizenship
- Foreign language courses
- American Sign Language courses (ASL 101 or above)
- Honors Cultural Diversity courses approved by the Honors Council
Complete 90 service hours during one’s time at CMU.
Develop and get approval for an Honors Senior Project Proposal. The senior project involves research or a creative endeavor conducted with a faculty advisor from the student’s major or minor discipline. Proposals must be approved by the senior project advisor and the Honors director. The Senior Project Proposal is generally due two full semesters before the student plans to graduate.
Complete an Honors Senior Project and simultaneously enroll in HON 499* (3 credits). Students are required to present work from their project in a public venue, which may include professional conferences, public exhibitions, or the CMU Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibition. Submission of work for publication or juried exhibition are also encouraged.

*HON 499 can be taken as a writing intensive course if the proposal outlines it as such.

Notes:

At least 6 credits total of Honors coursework on the Honors Protocol must be taken at the 300 level or above (in addition to HON 499).
Students must maintain a cumulative CMU grade point average of 3.25 to remain active in and graduate from the Honors Program.
Students are required to earn a grade of at least “B-” in all H, HON, or Honors Contract courses.
An Honors course may not be counted in more than one area of the Protocol. For example, if a student takes ASL 101H the student must decide if he/she would like to count it as an Honors course or a cultural diversity course.

By accepting admission to the Honors Program, you are agreeing to complete the Honors Track II Protocol requirements and adhere to the Honors Academic and Personal Intregity Policies.

Honors Program Academic Honesty Statement

As a member of the Honors Program at Central Michigan University, you are participating in a community of scholarship based on the values of honesty, respect, fairness, and responsibility. You are expected to adhere to the CMU policies on academic integrity stipulated in the CMU Bulletin. In all of your academic work, you must adhere to the highest standards of integrity. You will not cheat, plagiarize, or receive or provide inappropriate assistance on any course activity for which a grade or credit is awarded. Examples of academic dishonesty include: cheating on examinations; plagiarism; fabrication/forgery/obstruction; multiple submissions; complicity (assisting or attempting to assist another person in any act of academic dishonesty); misconduct in research and creative endeavors; computer misuse; misuse of intellectual property; unethical and unprofessional behavior; disruption of learning; disruptive behavior during class; and disruption of university events. Membership in the Honors Program is based on academic performance and all forms of cheating call into question the validity of a student’s grades. Participation in the CMU Honors Program is a privilege, and failure to adhere to standards of academic integrity may result in dismissal from the Honors Program.