Honors College
- Dean: Kimberly Bell, Ph.D.
- Associate Dean: Maria Holmes, Ed.D
- Associate Dean: Patrick Lewis, Ph.D.
- Assistant Dean: Tracy Bilsing, Ph.D.
Information:
Academic Building IV, corner of Avenue I and Bowers Boulevard
Box 2479
Huntsville, TX 77341-2479
Telephone: (936) 294-1477
Fax: (936) 294-1090
Website: http://honors.shsu.edu
Email: Honors College
The Elliott T. Bowers Honors College exists for the benefit of highly motivated and academically talented undergraduate students at Sam Houston State University. The Honors College provides these achievement-oriented individuals with the following benefits:
- financial support
- opportunities to interact with other highly motivated students
- special course offerings leading to a broad, interdisciplinary educational experience
- limited-enrollment classes
- close contact with highly productive faculty
- the opportunity to participate in advance registration
- research opportunities
- opportunities for community service and civic engagement
- access to distinctively designed facilities (including honors residence halls on campus, an honors lounge, honors library study room, and honors computer lab)
Honors students also enjoy a variety of cultural and social outings and events—on campus and off—throughout the academic year.
The honors student earns honors credit in a variety of specially designated classes or contracted courses and works toward the distinction of graduating “With Honors” or “With Highest Honors.” To qualify for graduation “With Honors,” a student must be a member in good standing in the Honors College and have completed 24 hours of honors credit, including participation in two interdisciplinary honors seminars. To qualify for graduation “With Highest Honors” a student must, in addition, complete a six-hour senior thesis in an approved discipline under the direction of a faculty member of his/her choice.
To be considered for admission to the Honors College, either when first entering SHSU or as a continuing SHSU student, a student submits a special application to the Honors College Office.
Incoming freshmen are eligible for consideration if they have one of the following:
- composite SAT I score (Critical Reading + Math) of 1270 or above
- a composite ACT score of 27 or above
- or have graduated in the top 10 percent of his or her high school class
For transfer or continuing SHSU students, eligibility is based upon a college cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better.
Admission is competitive. Selections are determined by a comprehensive review of each completed application by the honors faculty admissions committees. Once accepted into the Honors College, a student must maintain a 3.25 grade point average and make steady progress toward completing honors requirements in order to remain in good standing in the Honors College.
Honors Seminars are designed to provide unique, broadly integrative, interdisciplinary educational experiences to all Elliott T. Bowers honors students. These courses are highly interactive between professors and students and generally involve student presentations. These and other educational initiatives provide honors students with a rich and challenging interdisciplinary learning environment.
HONR 3321. Honors Seminar in Fine Arts. 3 Hours.
This team-taught class is an investigation into the theories, meanings, purposes, and practical experience of the fine arts, including dance, music, the visual arts, and theater. Students will attend dance and music concerts, theater productions, and art exhibits. Spring semester only.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3322. Journeys. 3 Hours.
The Journeys seminar invites approximately ten of the most innovative and successful members of the Sam Houston State University community to give one lecture each. Each speaker has one class period to use however s/he feels is best. Chosen speakers generally detail the paths of their own lives while giving students advice on how to achieve successful and happy lives. Speakers are chosen from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3331. Culture and Society. 3 Hours.
This course deals with contemporary social, economic, political, and international issues and provides important background information and perspectives on current debates and events. Course content varies. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3332. Honors Sem In The Humanities. 3 Hours.
This course is a team-taught, cross-disciplinary concentration on ideas, developments, and subject matter in the humanities. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3342. The Word. 3 Hours.
This seminar changes topics (or "words") every semester, and several faculty with interests and specialties relevant to the theme from various colleges and departments lead discussions from different points of view. Sample topics include "The End," "Connections," "Sustainability," and "Drugs." All words reflect timely topics and student interests.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3343. Film and Society. 3 Hours.
This seminar invites students to explore the relationship between film and society from a broad range of perspectives. Several faculty from various colleges and departments choose films and lead discussions. Topics vary.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3365. Decision Making. 3 Hours.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of decision making and problem solving. Students will (1) learn fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories of decision making, (2) learn how to apply course material to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions, (3) gain skills for working as a team in presenting a problem for decisions, (4) understand how to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view concerned with decisions.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 3375. Honors Dialogues Seminar. 3 Hours.
The Dialogues Seminar is an interdisciplinary course which examines selected controversial or provocative topics from various academic and intellectual perspectives. The course is team taught, with faculty from various disciplines engaged with one another and with the students in interactive discussions of the selected topic for the course.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 4095. Independent Study. 1-4 Hours.
This independent study may be taken for any interdisciplinary topic or project for honors students. Variable credit (1-4).
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 4375. Special Topics For Honors. 3 Hours.
This course affords honors students the opportunity to do an honors thesis, a long-term research and writing project under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The course is open to honors students in all disciplines. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 4398. Honors Thesis I. 3 Hours.
In this course, the student works under close faculty supervision on a sustained research project to produce a thesis prospectus.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
HONR 4399. Honors Thesis II. 3 Hours.
In this course, the student works under close faculty supervision on a sustained research project to produce an honors thesis.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors College.
