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)

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

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

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.

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

Insert the example curriculum grids in this position.

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

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

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

How can you learn what courses are general education courses ? Answer: www.uml.edu/gened 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

Example English Gen. Ed. AH 40.248 (D, E) Values in American Culture (Also listed as 42.248) 40.257 (D) The Family in American Literature (Also listed as 42.257) 42.201 Great Books of Antiquity 42.205 Great Books of the Modern World 42.205 (D, E) Human Values in Western Culture I (Also listed as 59.205) 42.206 (D, E) Human Values in Western Culture II (Also listed as 59.206) 42.210 Drama 42.211 Poetry  42.212 Short Story  42.216  (E) Monsters, Apes, and Nightmares 42.217  Horror Story English History Philosophy Cultural Studies Other …

Example Social Science Gen. Eds. SS Political Science: 46.101  Introduction to American Politics 46.110  (D) Introduction to Politics 46.112  (D) Comparative Political Systems 46.121  (D) Introduction to International Relations 46.175  Introduction to Environmental Studies 46.215  (D) African Politics (Also listed as 57.225) 46.218  (DE) Introduction to Politics and Sports 46.231  (E) Intorduction to Political Thought 46.235  (D) Constitutional Law and Politics (and honors section) 46.237  (D) Civil Liberties Law and Politics (and honors section) Peace and Conflict Studies PCS.205 (E) Restorative Justice (Also listed as 41.210) Psychology: 47.101  General Psychology 47.209  (D) Social Psychology 47.232  Psychology of Personality 47.255  (D) Community Psychology Political Science Psychology Criminal Justice Sociology Economics Other …

Part II The Commonwealth Honors Program at UMass Lowell

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.

What Commonwealth Honors is Not First: We are not Latin Honors. Summa Cum Laude  3.850 - 4.0  Magna Cum Laude  3.500 - 3.849  Cum Laude   3.250 - 3.499

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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”.

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 emails from Jim.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CHP-3: H1 – H8 H1 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.

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

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

They can be taken in different orders.

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

Here is another possible order.

(Arts and Humanities Gen. Ed) H1 and H2 H1 HON 110: FYSH (Arts and Humanities Gen. Ed) H2 Honors College Writing II 42.102 Section 3xx H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

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

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

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, …

Honors Gen. Ed. Courses Mathematics Science and Technology 92.141 Honors Calculus I 92.142 Honors Calculus II 92.241 Honors Calculus III 92.244 Honors Differential Equations 95.161 Honors Physics I 84.135 Honors Chemistry I 84.136 Honors Chemistry II Social Science Arts and Humaniites 41.261 Introduction to Legal Studies 44.248 Terrorism 44.360 Gender, Race, and Crime 46.110 Introduction to Politics 47.101 General Psychology 47.260 Child & Adolescent Development 48.101 Introduction to Sociology 48.330 Fast Food, Hot Planet 49.201 Economics I 49.202 Macroeconomics 42.217 Horror Story 42.249 Lit. on Tech.and Human Values 42.258 Disability in Literature 42.311 The South in Amer. Literature 43.111 US History to 1877 58.101 Art Appreciation 74.261 Music History I (~) 74.262 Music History II (~) HON 110 FYSH

How do I know what honors gen. eds. are offered this semester? Answer: www.uml.edu/registrar 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!

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

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.

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 95.316 Science and Technology in the Impoverished World 48.330 Fast Food, Hot Planet: A Sociological Approach ... 42.342 Women Writers and the Past 43.311 The South in American Literature 41.489 Seminar in Law PCS 473 Seminar in Peace and Conflict Studies Perspectives on Human Rights Bridging Minds for Peace

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

H6 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 Honors Seminar H7 H8

One Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6 H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H2 42.102, Section 308 Honors College Writing II H3 H4 47.101 Section 301 An honors section of General Psychology H5 H6 95.316, Section 301 Science & Technology in the Impoverished World H7 H8

Another Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6 H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H2 42.102 Section 312 Honors College Writing II H3 H4 92.141 Honors Calculus I H5 H6 48.330 Section 301 Fast Food Hot Planet (SS – Gen. Ed.) H7 H8

A Third Example of H1, H2, H4, and H6 Honors Art Appreciation H2 42.102 Section 301 Honors College Writing II H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H3 H4 58.101 Section 301 Honors Art Appreciation H5 H6 HON 310, Section 301 Honors Thesis Workshop H7 H8

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 42.102 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 www.uml.edu/honors).

There are two ways to satisfy the H3 requirement

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

Honors Acct/Financial H3 60.201 Section 301 Honors Acct/Financial H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

Professional Communications H3 H2 H1 H3 66.210, Section 301 Honors Professional Communications H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

H3 H1 H2 H3 91.201, Section 301 Honors Computing III H4 H5 H6 H7 H8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Mechanical + Commonwealth Honors: Possible One Semester Project Experience H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H3 Honors Calculus I H2 Honors College Writing II H4 49.201, Section 301 An honors section of Econ I H5 22.381 Fluid Mech. with an Honors by Contract H6 95.315, Section 301 Sci. & Tech. Imp. World ( ME Tech Elect) H7: ME Graduate Course or an Honors Seminar H8 22.423 Section 30x Capstone Design + an honors add-on.

Mechanical + Commonwealth Honors: Possible Two semester honors thesis experience H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H3 Honors Calculus I H2 Honors College Writing II H4 49.201, Section 301 An honors section of Econ I H5 22.381 Fluid Mech. with an Honors by Contract H6 95.315, Section 301 Sci. & Tech. Imp. World (ME Tech Elect) H7: 23.492, Section 301 ME Directed Study H8 23.492, Section 301 ME Directed Study

Accounting + Commonwealth Honors: Possible One Semester Honors Project H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H2 Honors College Writing II H3 66.310, Section 310 Honors Professional Communication H4 49.201, Section 301 An honors section of Econ I H5 66.301 Section 301 Honors Organizational Behavior H6 HON 320: Topics Smart Thinking: How to Analyze and Argue H7: 60.499 Independent Study H8 66.490, Section 301 Strategic Management

Nursing + Commonwealth Honors: Possible Two semester honors project experience H1 HON 110: FYSH (AH) H3 47.101, Section 301 H2 Honors College Writing II H4 48.101, Section 301 H5 An honors by contract alongside 33.310 Health Promo. & Risk H6 HON 320: Topics Smart Thinking: How to Analyze and Argue H7: 33.412 Comm. Health with an honors add-on H8 33.415 Community Project with an honors add-on

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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.

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.