Honors Program
Dr. Amy Schreier, Program Director
Dr. Lara Narcisi, Associate Director
The most accomplished students accepted into Regis College are invited to apply to participate in this rigorous and interdisciplinary curriculum. The Honors Program is competitive and normally limited to 30 students per year. Participation in Honors promotes integration of a student's intellectual life with personal, community. and world experiences. All Honors students prepare an Honors Thesis, so the program is especially suited for anyone planning on graduate study or professional program, such as law or medicine.
The Honors Program at Regis College and Anderson College of Business and Computing is an alternative way of meeting the College’s Core requirements. At least 24 semester hours of honors courses substitute for a portion of the Core curriculum. The honors curriculum has three major components: a four-semester sequence of Integrative Seminars, a requirement for dedicated Discovery Core replacement courses (which can be offered by any department), and a required honors thesis.
The Integrative Seminars: In the honors curriculum, there is a three-course sequence that replaces standard integrative Core courses. Each seminar is organized under a broad theme (i.e. Diversity and Justice, Environment, and Meaning) that invites interdisciplinary conversation and is team-taught by faculty members from different disciplines. Each seminar draws on the University Mission Statement and Core Philosophy Statement for course objectives and content.
Dedicated Discovery Core Replacements: All departments have an opportunity to teach an honors section of their Discovery Core courses. Each of these honors offerings meets certain protocols--such as expectations for greater depth or student involvement--and is approved by the Honors Advisory Council. These sections are open primarily to honors students, however, instructors have the option to allow other students to take the course.
Honors Theses: All honors students complete an honors thesis. This is an opportunity for students to delve deeply into a passionate project. Students develop their thesis topic in spring of their junior year, write their thesis in fall of senior year, and defend it during a public presentation in spring of senior year.
To be distinguished as an honors graduate, a student must maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, complete at least 24 semester hours of dedicated honors courses, and complete the Honors Thesis.
The honors program is open to students from every major in Regis College and Anderson College of Business and Computing. However, the Honors Program is not compatible with programs in Pharmacy or Exercise Science in Rueckert-Hartman College of Health Professions. Since these career-focused programs have their own unique core requirements tailored to meet their professional needs, students are able to complete the first two years of the Regis College honors curriculum. Often these students go on to complete the disciplinary “honors in nursing” program through RHCHP. Nursing students are unable to complete the required final courses and honors thesis so, they are not eligible for honors scholarships.
All Honors students take a special Honors section of the following Core courses:
| Code | Title | SHs |
|---|---|---|
| FYE 250 | Inquiry & Research in Our Common Home | 3.00 |
| IC 410H | Honors: Environment and Society | 3.00 |
| IC 420H | Honors: Diversity and Justice for All | 3.00 |
| IC 430H | Honors: Magis and the Search for Meaning | 3.00 |
| Honors students must also take at least three other honors courses | 9.00 | |
| HO 493A | Honors Thesis Research Seminar A | 0-2 |
| HO 493B | Honors Thesis Research Seminar B | 0-2 |
| HO 499 | Honors Thesis | 0-2 |