Honors Program

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Cynthia Laurie-Rose (program director), members of other college departments, and selected individuals from the wider Otterbein community

The Honors Program at Otterbein College is a four-year course of study that provides intellectual stimulation and challenge for students with high academic ability and strong personal motivation. The program provides the opportunity for students to pursue independent research and creative goals within a community of fellow students and faculty who share their sense of commitment. By completing the Honors curriculum and the Honors thesis, students gain advanced knowledge in research and writing, explore the nature of inquiry across disciplines, and acquire the experience and skills essential for independent work in areas of their own academic and professional interest.

Eligibility

Students can earn eligibility for the Honors Program in several ways and at several points in the freshman and sophomore years. Entering freshman students can join the program if they meet one of the following sets of criteria: sufficiently high ACT scores and high school class ranking; or sufficiently high SAT scores and high school class ranking; or acceptance to Otterbein as a Designated Presidential Scholar.

Entering students who do not meet the above criteria may request entrance into the program based upon partial qualifications and faculty recommendations. Students can receive information about eligibility from the Honors Handbook and from the Director. To complete the Honors Program students must maintain a GPA of 3.5.

Opportunities

The Honors Program provides students with diverse opportunities throughout their college education. Freshman students can live in Honors Housing within the dormitories. Sophomores and juniors are eligible to live in the independent Honors House. The Honors program sponsors on-campus events and travel away from campus, including visits to significant cultural events and locations.

As a part of the Honors program of study, all Honors students in good standing are eligible to participate in the Oxford Study Abroad Program (OSAP). Courses taken through OSAP give Honors students the opportunity to prepare in Oxford, England for their senior thesis work. Under the direction of Oxford tutors, students design and complete tutorials in their areas of disciplinary and research interest. The Honors Program recommends that students who wish to study at Oxford enroll with OSAP for the spring quarter of their junior year. Students wishing to enroll with OSAP for a different quarter can do so in consultation with the Honors Director.

Honors Program Courses (HNRS)

Freshman and Sophomore Requirements

INST 100-H or 105-H or 110-H INST 270-H
Freshmen and sophomore students meet with their peers in Honors sections of the Integrative Studies writing seminars. The freshman and sophomore writing courses create many opportunities for students to interact with each other and to develop the skills of analysis and composition necessary for independent thesis work. They offer an intellectually rigorous learning experience that includes diverse reading materials, the promotion of a high order of skills for projects and assignments, and the creation of peer group activities that place increasingly greater responsibility on students for self-assessment and independent research.

Junior Requirement

HNRS 305
The Junior Honors Seminar is a year-long, five credit hour course that begins in the fall quarter. In the Junior Seminar, students explore the nature of research and inquiry across disciplines and write proposals for their Honors thesis projects. Members of the Honors Committee lead the seminar and the content of the course reflects the diverse interests of the committee. All students who intend to graduate with Honors must register for the Junior Seminar.

Senior Year Requirement

HNRS 405
Having designed their Honors theses in the junior year, Honors students devote the entire senior year to completing their thesis projects. Completion of the Honors thesis allows students to achieve independent scholarly or creative goals within their own academic or professional fields and confers on them a unique sense of accomplishment.

The Honors student will determine the subject, nature, and length of the thesis project in consultation with the faculty thesis advisor. All thesis projects require the writing of a final paper.

To receive the five Honors credit hours for the thesis project, students must enroll for Honors 405. The designation, Honors 405 refers to the student’s independent thesis work and to the student’s attendance at mandatory meetings organized by the Honors Director to discuss thesis progress, Senior Reporting Day, and Honors graduation.

Policy on AP and Transfer Credit

If a student has received AP or transfer credits for either the freshman or sophomore course, that course will be waived from the Honors requirements. If a student has received AP or transfer credit for both courses, the Honors requirement for one course will be waived, but the student must apply to the Honors Director for a waiver of the Honors requirement for the second course.

Policy on Substitutions

There are no approved substitutions for INST 100-H/105-H/110-H, INST 270-H or HNRS 305.
English Majors may substitute ENGL 460 for HNRS 405.

Policy on Senior Year Experience

The combined work that is required for the Junior Honors Seminar and the Senior Honors Thesis fulfills the Senior Year Experience requirement, which is required of all Otterbein students.

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