1. The UMass Lowell Commonwealth Honors Program An Overview
Part I The University’s Bigger Picture Part II: A University-wide Honors Program Part III: Joining Honors (partially completed) Part IV: Transferring into Honors After You Start College By Jim Canning - November 2013 ( Version 1.1)

2. The University’s Bigger Picture
Part I
The University’s Bigger Picture

3. University of Massachusetts Lowell Academic Hierarchy
1 University 4 Colleges and 2 Schools 29 Departments and 2 more Schools 83 Undergraduate Degree Programs and Concentrations

4. Each of the 83 degrees programs and concentrations are summarized by a curriculum grid. They vary in their amount of “freedom of choice” that a student may have.

5. For example …. Lots of Freedom Not Much Freedom In-Between Freedom
History
Psychology
Not Much Freedom
Chemical Engineering
Sound Recording Technology
In-Between Freedom
Accounting
Computer Science
Nursing

6. Insert the example curriculum grids in this position.

7. Embedded inside those grids are three levels of requirements …
Embedded inside those grids are three levels of requirements …. you need to satisfy
University Level Requirements
College Level Requirements
Department Level Requirements

8. All students must satisfy university requirements:
College Writing I and College Writing II
1 Mathematics General Education course
3 Social Science General Education courses
3 Arts and Humanities General Education courses
3 Science and Technology General Education courses
1 Diversity Badge
1 Ethics Badge
A minimum of 120 college credits
A minimum of a 2.00 grade point average

9. At UMass Lowell we have four gen. ed. categories:
Mathematics
Social Science (SS)
Arts and Humanities (AH)
Science and Technology (SC, TN)

10. How can you learn what courses are general education courses ?
Answer:
This website has the approved lists for each of the four gen. ed. areas:
Arts and Humanities (AH)
Social Science (SS)
Science and Technology (ST, TN)
Mathematics

11. Example English Gen. Ed. AH
(D, E) Values in American Culture (Also listed as )
(D) The Family in American Literature (Also listed as )
Great Books of Antiquity
Great Books of the Modern World
(D, E) Human Values in Western Culture I (Also listed as )
(D, E) Human Values in Western Culture II (Also listed as )
Drama
Poetry 
Short Story 
 (E) Monsters, Apes, and Nightmares
 Horror Story
English
History
Philosophy
Cultural Studies
Other …

12. Example Social Science Gen. Eds. SS
Political Science:
 Introduction to American Politics
 (D) Introduction to Politics
 (D) Comparative Political Systems
 (D) Introduction to International Relations
 Introduction to Environmental Studies
 (D) African Politics (Also listed as )
 (DE) Introduction to Politics and Sports
 (E) Intorduction to Political Thought
 (D) Constitutional Law and Politics (and honors section)
 (D) Civil Liberties Law and Politics (and honors section)
Peace and Conflict Studies
PCS.205 (E) Restorative Justice (Also listed as )
Psychology:
 General Psychology
 (D) Social Psychology
 Psychology of Personality
 (D) Community Psychology
Political Science
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Sociology
Economics
Other …

13. Part II The Commonwealth Honors Program at UMass Lowell

14. What We Are
The UMass Lowell Commonwealth Honors program is a university-wide academic and social enrichment program whose graduates need to satisfy four requirements.
They are:
CHP-1: Earn a 3.25 GPA or higher.
CHP-2: Submit one approved enrichment form (E1) each semester.
CHP-3: Satisfy the H1-H8 honors course requirements.
CHP-4: Create and present either an Honors Project or an Honors Thesis.

15. What Commonwealth Honors is Not First: We are not Latin Honors.
Summa Cum Laude    
Magna Cum Laude    
Cum Laude  

16. Second: We are not a department level honors program.
Computer Science Dept. Honors Program.
Psychology Dept. Honors Program.
Physics Dept. Honors Program.

17. Third: We are not a College Level Honors Program
Third: We are not a College Level Honors Program. Not a … College of Sciences Honors Program Manning School of Business Honors Program College of Engineering Honors Program

18. Fourth: We are not a national organization
Fourth: We are not a national organization. Phi Beta Kappa Phi Kappa Phi Pi Mu Epsilon

19. If you satisfy our four CHP requirements:
Your transcript will identify you as a Commonwealth Honors Scholar.
Your diploma will have a nice shiny gold embossed sticker on it.
You will be recognized at graduation.
Your honors project or honors thesis will be hard-bound and displayed forever – in full glory and with pride!

20. One principal aim of the honors …
… program is to ensure that students take a number of dedicated honors classes that are populated mostly with other honors students. These classes are taught by highly motivated faculty who love teaching undergraduates. They are some of the finest teachers on campus.

21. Another principal aim … is to allow you
… to express and practice your research/creative skills while being supported by a caring faculty mentor who will help you complete either a six month or a twelve month honors project or honors thesis.

22. A third principal aim is to …
strengthen your
Complex reading skills
Writing skills
Presentation skills
Critical Thinking skills

23. A fourth aim is to … plant a few seeds:
You can earn an advanced or terminal degree.
You can do research and create.
Exploration and creativity is fun.
Have you conquer the “bunny slope”.
Before working on the “double-blacked diamond”.

24. If you are a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program …
You have the option of living in honors housing.
You are able to register for classes before most of the other students on campus.
You get to receive lots of s from Jim.

25. Our standard honors curriculum is an 8-course, 24 credit program that includes:
a minimum of 5 dedicated honors courses populated with other honors students. At least four of these have majors from many disciplines.
either
a one-semester, 3-6 credit, Honors Project or
a two-semester, 6 credit Honors Thesis
at most one graduate level class or at most one 300/400 level Honors-By-Contract.

26. Our honors curriculum grid can overlay 80 of the 83 undergraduate programs without requiring any extra classes. We are likely just a conversation away from including the final three.

27. Recall our four CHP Requirements
CHP-1: 3.25 GPA or higher CHP-2: One enrichment form (E1) per semester. CHP-3: The H1-H8 honors course requirements. CHP-4: One honors project or one honors thesis.

28. CHP-1: Earn a 3.25 GPA or Higher
If your GPA drops below 3.0 we will withdraw you from the Commonwealth Honors Program. If your GPA drops below 3.25 but remains at 3.00 or higher, we will put you on “honors probation”. If you are on honors probation for two consecutive semesters we will withdraw you from the program. Students on honors probation cannot compete for honors scholarships given by the honors program.

29. CHP-2: Enrichment Requirement (E1)
We want you to attend a campus-event or activity and report on it. You need to do this once per semester. We encourage you to do more than one. It should be an event that is not directly tied to your major. It should not fulfill a class requirement. If you do not submit an approved E1 form for a given semester, we will put you on “honors probation”. If you miss two semesters in a row, we will withdraw you from the honors program.

30. CHP-3: H1 – H8
H H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8
These eight honors course requirements do not need to be extra courses, they are enhanced or different courses that are already embedded into your major’s curriculum grid. You must earn a B or better in each of these classes.

31. The Harry Chapin Approach
Honors Course Requirements H1 – H8
The Harry Chapin Approach H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

32. At least four are at the 300/400 level
courses H7 H8

33. They can be taken in different orders.

34. You can double up in one semester.H1 H3 H2 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

35. Here is another possible order.

36. (Arts and Humanities Gen. Ed)
H1 and H2
H1 HON 110: FYSH
(Arts and Humanities Gen. Ed)
H2 Honors College Writing II
Section 3xx H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

37. H4 H1 H2 H3 H4 There are two ways to fill H5 H6 H7 H8
this H4 requirement. H5 H6 H7 H8

38. H4: Take an Honors Gen. Ed. H1 H2 H3 H4 First Way: H5 H6 H7 H8
Take an Honors Section of a
General Education Course
( AH, SS, ST, Math) H5 H6 H7 H8

39. How can I identify if my section is an honors section?
Answer: It is an honors section if the section number begins with a 3. For example, 301, 302, 303, …

40. Honors Gen. Ed. Courses Mathematics Science and Technology
Honors Calculus I
Honors Calculus II
Honors Calculus III
Honors Differential Equations
Honors Physics I
Honors Chemistry I
Honors Chemistry II
Social Science
Arts and Humaniites
Introduction to Legal Studies
Terrorism
Gender, Race, and Crime
Introduction to Politics
General Psychology
Child & Adolescent Development
Introduction to Sociology
Fast Food, Hot Planet
Economics I
Macroeconomics
Horror Story
Lit. on Tech.and Human Values
Disability in Literature
The South in Amer. Literature
US History to 1877
Art Appreciation
Music History I (~)
Music History II (~)
HON 110 FYSH

41. How do I know what honors gen. eds. are offered this semester?
Answer: and then click on the semester of interest. … and then click on honors courses. … then scope down the column labeled gen. ed. And do not forget – any Honors math, Honors Physics I, Honors Chem I, Honors Chem II are gen. eds. too!

42. Ex. HON 320: Power: What it is …
H4: Use an Honors Seminar H1 H2 H3
H Second Way:
Take an Honors Seminar
Ex. HON 320: Power: What it is … H5 H6 H7 H8

43. What is an Honors Seminar?
An Honors Seminar is a 300/400 level dedicated honors course that has the following properties:
It has an enrollment of 19 or less.
It is accessible and available to many majors across campus.
It does not have any firm pre-requisites.
Issues based critical thinking and communication are prevalent. This implies a fair amount of analysis and synthesis. This normally translates into a course that involves a substantial amount of reading, writing, discussion and/or presentation.

44. Honors Seminars HON 310 Honors (Thesis) Workshop HON 320 Honors Topics
Difference Makers: Past, Present, and Future
The Radiance of Being
Power: What it is. What it Does. Why it is Important.
Heroes Through History
Smart Thinking: How to Analyze and Argue
Ideas Worth Spreading
Literary Works that Changed the World
Gender and Sexuality in Theater and Film
Science and Technology in the Impoverished World
Fast Food, Hot Planet: A Sociological Approach ...
Women Writers and the Past
The South in American Literature
Seminar in Law
PCS 473 Seminar in Peace and Conflict Studies
Perspectives on Human Rights
Bridging Minds for Peace

45. How do I know what is an honors seminar?
At present, you need to either:
ask Jim, Beth, Elizabeth, or Megan
Read the that Jim sends to you on the honors listserver.
We are working on a better way to distribute this information.

46. H6 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6
Honors Seminar H7 H8

47. One Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6 H1 HON 110: FYSH
(AH)
H , Section 308
Honors College Writing II H3
H Section 301
An honors section of
General Psychology H5
H , Section 301
Science & Technology
in the Impoverished World H7 H8

48. Another Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6
H1 HON 110: FYSH
(AH)
H Section 312
Honors College Writing II H3 H4
Honors Calculus I H5
H Section 301
Fast Food Hot Planet (SS – Gen. Ed.) H7 H8

49. A Third Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6 Honors Art Appreciation
H Section 301
Honors College Writing II
H HON 110: FYSH
(AH) H3
H Section 301
Honors Art Appreciation H5
H HON 310, Section 301
Honors Thesis Workshop H7 H8

50. Replacing H1 and H2
Sometimes there is a very valid reason why a student cannot take HON 110 FYSH or cannot take an honors section of College Writing II. In this case, the student must replace H1/H2 with either an honors AH gen ed or an honors SS gen ed or an honors seminar. In such cases, a student should identify the replacement course and submit an Honors Petition for Exception Form (see

51. There are two ways to satisfy the H3 requirement

52. H3 H2 H1
H First Way:
Any 200/300/400 honors course H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

53. Honors Acct/Financial
H Section 301
Honors Acct/Financial H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

54. Professional CommunicationsH3 H2 H1
H , Section 301
Honors
Professional Communications H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

55. H3 H1 H2
H , Section 301
Honors Computing III H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

56. H3 H1 H2 H3
HON 320: Topics H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

57. H3 H1 H2
H Second Way:
An Honors Gen. Ed. H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

58. H3 and H4
The two courses that are used to satisfy the H3 and the H4 must be from different departments.

59. H5 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 There are three ways to H6 H7 H8
satisfy the H5 requirement. H6 H7 H8

60. Any graduate level class.H5 H1 H2 H3 H4
H First Way:
Any graduate level class. H6 H7 H8

61. H5 H1 H2 H3 H4
H Second Way:
Any 300/400 honors course. H6 H7 H8

62. H5 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 Third Way: H6 H7 H8 Any 300/400 level
Honors by Contract H6 H7 H8

63. What is an Honors-By-Contract?
An honors by contract is an honors add-on to a non-honors class that is negotiated between the honors student and the faculty of record for the course. The contract must be approved by the director of the honors program.

64. Satisfying the H7 and the H8
Three ways:
A two-semester honors thesis experience
A two-semester honors project experience
A one-semester honors project experience plus another approved honors class.

65. Mechanical + Commonwealth Honors: Possible
One Semester Project Experience
H HON 110: FYSH (AH)
H3 Honors Calculus I
H2 Honors College Writing II
H , Section 301
An honors section of Econ I
H Fluid Mech.
with an Honors by Contract
H , Section 301
Sci. & Tech. Imp. World
( ME Tech Elect)
H7: ME Graduate Course
or an
Honors Seminar
H Section 30x
Capstone Design +
an honors add-on.

66. Mechanical + Commonwealth Honors: Possible
Two semester honors thesis experience
H HON 110: FYSH (AH)
H3 Honors Calculus I
H2 Honors College Writing II
H , Section 301
An honors section of Econ I
H Fluid Mech.
with an Honors by Contract
H , Section 301
Sci. & Tech. Imp. World
(ME Tech Elect)
H7: , Section 301
ME Directed Study
H , Section 301
ME Directed Study

67. Accounting + Commonwealth Honors: Possible One Semester Honors Project
H HON 110: FYSH (AH)
H2 Honors College Writing II
H , Section 310
Honors
Professional Communication
H , Section 301
An honors section of Econ I
H Section 301
Honors
Organizational Behavior
H HON 320: Topics
Smart Thinking: How to
Analyze and Argue
H7:
Independent Study
H , Section 301
Strategic Management

68. Nursing + Commonwealth Honors: Possible
Two semester honors project experience
H HON 110: FYSH (AH)
H , Section 301
H2 Honors College Writing II
H , Section 301
H An honors by contract
alongside
Health Promo. & Risk
H HON 320: Topics
Smart Thinking: How to
Analyze and Argue
H7:
Comm. Health
with an honors add-on H8
Community Project
with an honors add-on

69. The Honors Project
The goal of an honors project is either to solve an applied problem or to produce a creative artifact.
All Honors Project Experiences across campus have the following five components:
A creative project
A written piece produced by the individual Honors Student
A presentation given by the individual Honors Student
An Honors Project Advisor
An Honors Project Committee

70. The Honors Project (modeled after Colorado State)
Honors Project Experiences can be linked with mandatory within major requirements such as:
An engineering design/capstone project
An artistic project
A sound recording mix
A software project
A business-plan
A required in-the-field experience

71. The Honors Project
Linked-honors project experiences will also contain:
A reasonable “value-added” honors component that has been approved by both the student’s Honors Project Advisor and the Honors Director.
This value-added component must always include a 7-15 page context paper. In addition to this, the student will often do an extra technical piece too.

72. The Honors Project
Honors Project Experiences that occur primarily within a team of students will have an individual contribution written piece.
Honors Projects are either 6 months (1 semester) in length or they are 12 months (2 semesters) in length.
A two-semester Honors Project Experience will satisfy both the H7 and the H8 honors course requirements.
A one-semester Honors Project Experience will satisfy the H8 honors course requirement. If a student engages in a one-semester project experience then the H7 course requirement needs to be fulfilled in another manner with the approval of the Honors Director.

73. The Honors Thesis
The Honors Thesis Experience is always a two-semester, 6-credit research activity. The goal of this activity is new knowledge. The student must find a faculty mentor who will guide the student through the process. In the ideal, this is a twelve month experience. The student will typically sign up for two independent study courses. The Honors Thesis Experience will satisfy both the H7 and the H8 honors course requirements.

74. How Does One Join the Honors Program?
Method 1: Automatic Invite as you enter UMass Lowell from High School. Method 2: Automatic Invite as you enter UMass Lowell from another college. Method 3: A student seeks to join without an invite. Method 4: Automatic Invite as you enter honors from within UMass Lowell.

75. Transferring into Honors
We encourage transfer students to enter the honors program, but they must do so knowing all the honors requirements and they must sit with an honors advisor to develop an Honors Program of Study. As such we have the following transfer guidelines:

76. Transfer Guideline
If you transfer 29 or less credits into the Commonwealth Honors Program you must satisfy all H1-H8 course requirements.
However, it may be that H1 and/or H2 need to be replaced with another dedicated honors course.
These replacement courses must be either:
An honors SS gen. ed.
An honors AH gen. ed.
An honors seminar

77. Transfer Guidelines
If you transfer in 30 or more college credits either your H1 or your H2 would be waived. All other course requirements must be met. If you transfer in 60 or more college credits both of your H1 and your H2 course requirements would be waived. All other course requirements must be met. It may be possible to waive the H3 requirement in lieu of waiving either H1 or H2.

78. Transfer Guideline
Honors courses taken at another Commonwealth Honors Program (ie. UMass Boston, Fitchburg State, Middlesex CC ) could be used to satisfy the H1, H2, H3, and/or H4 honors requirements. Honors courses taken at a non-Commonwealth Honors program will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

79. Transferring into Honors
Most students who transfer into honors will not need to take an extra class or two.
However, it is possible that an extra course may need to be taken.
This could happen when the student:
Has already satisfied all gen. ed. requirements and is in a major with little or no “freedom of choice”.
Is aggressively pursuing a double major.
Plans to graduate early ( less than 8 semesters).
Some combination of the above three items.

80. When You Enter Honors Matters
If join our honors program during a semester, your first full semester in honors is the next semester. The number of college credits you bring into your first full semester as an honors student is what is used when applying the transfer guidelines.