Honors Courses
Honors-designated (HN) courses are searchable in the Registrar’s course schedule each semester under “Gen Ed/Other Designations.” (Note that a course may have multiple professors or sections, not all of which are HN!) In keeping with our program philosophy, registration in these courses is not limited to Honors scholars; other students looking for a more challenging or engaged class may also choose Honors sections.
Note: these courses will also fulfill any General Education or Major/Minor requirements to which they correspond.
- ANTH 101, Intro to Sociocultural Anthropology — each semester
- ANTH 309, The Anthropology of Art — every 2-3 semesters
- ANTH 316, Political Anthropology — every 2-3 semesters
- ANTH 344, Urban Theory and Ethnography — alternate years
- BIOL 125, Phage Hunters I — each Fall
- BIOL 126, Phage Hunters II — each Spring
- BIOL 311, Plant Ecology — alternate years
- BIOL 341, General Genetics — annually
- BIOL 428, Conservation Biology — each Fall
- BIOL 432, Virology — annually
- CHEM 112, General Chemistry II — each Spring
- CHEM 211, Organic Chemistry I — each Fall
- CHEM 212, Organic Chemistry II — each Spring
- CPSC 110, Intro. to Computer Science — annually
- CLAS 204, Epic Traditions — alternate years
- DATA 101, Introduction to Data Science — annually
- ECON 201, Principles of Macroeconomics — annually
- EDUC 206, Foundations of Education — each semester
- ECON 351, Instructional Design and Assessment — each semester
- EESC 335 – Plate Tectonics — alternate years if needed
- ENGL 202D, Writing about Medicine — alternate years
- ENGL 206A, Global Issues in Literature — each Spring
- ENGL 348, Literature of the Great War — every 2-3 years
- ENGL 353, Asian American Literature — alternate years
- ENGL 345, Film, Text, Culture — alternate years
- ENGL 385, Contemporary American Fiction — every 2-3 years
- GEOG 301A, Geography of Latin Am & Caribbean — alternate years in Spring
- GEOG 339A, Geography and Development — each Fall
- GERM 302, German Oral Communication — alternate years
- HISP 100, The American Heritage — each Fall
- HISP 105, American Built Environment — each semester
- HIST 190, Great Lives — each Spring
- HIST 201, The Early Crusades — every 2-3 years
- HIST 315 –U.S. Immigration History — alternate years
- HIST 329, US History and Film — alternate years
- HIST 331, History of Ancient Greece — alternate years
- HIST 427, History of the Information Age — alternate years
- HIST 428, Adventures in Digital History — alternate years
- HONR 101, Honors City as Text — each Fall
- HONR 201, Honors Service Learning — each semester
- LING 101B, Introduction to Linguistics — each semester
- MKTG 471J, Marketing for Good–Alleviating Food Waste — each Fall
- MGMT 490, Strategic Management — uncertain
- MUHL 152, Music and Society — each Fall
- MUHL 153, Women in Opera — alternate years
- MUHL 376, Music History II: Narratives and Ideologies — each Spring
- PHYS 105, University Physics I with lab — each Fall
- PHYS 106, University Physics II with lab — each Spring
- PSCI 101, Introduction to Political Science — each Fall
- PSCI 102, Introduction to International Studies — annually
- PSCI 351, International Political Economy — annually
- PSCI 366, Government and Politics of China — alternate years
- PSYC 100, General Psychology — every 1-2 years
- PSYC 201, Social Psychology — annually
- PSYC 339, Health Psychology — every 1-2 years
- PSYC 350, Psychology of Women — annually
- RELG 208, Christianity after the New Testament — alternate years
- RELG 250, African American Religions — alternate years in Fall
- RELG 277, Religion in America Before Civil War — alternate years
- RELG 298, Ethics of Religion and Violence — alternate years in Spring
- RELG 310, Women & Religion in the Western Tradition — alternate years
- SPAN 201, Intermediate Spanish I — each Fall
- SPAN 202, Intermediate Spanish II — each Spring
- STAT 180, Introduction to Statistics — each semester or annually
- THEA 111. Introduction to Theatre — annually
- THEA 211 and/or 212, Dramatic Literature — each semester
- WGST 101, Intro to Women’s and Gender Studies — alternate years (approximate)
The Honors FSEM was required for Track A scholars prior to Fall 2021; it is available for others as space allows and may be used by Honors scholars who matriculate in or after Fall 2021 as an HN-designated course.
Some Honors FSEMs include:
- Lost in Planet Asia — Political Science
- Can Feminism Improve People’s Lives? — WGST/International Affairs
- Is Trying to be Happier as Futile as Trying to be Taller? — Psychology
- Mad, Bad, and Evil Scientists — Chemistry
- Sexuality in Southern Literature — English
- Science Controversies in Media — Earth and Environmental Science
- The Russian Novel — History
- The Grail Legend — English
- Shakespeare and Popular Culture — English
- Down the Rabbit Hole — English
- The American Idea of Equality — Anthropology
- Inequality and the American Dream — Economics
- The Idea of Cool — English
- Everybody is a Little Bit Racist — Sociology
- Toys as History — History
- The Mathematics of Chaos — Math
- Ted.com – Ideas Worth Sharing — Communication
- Climate Change and Energy Resources — Earth and Environmental Science
- History of Genocides — History
- Game Theory — Math and Economics
- Race and Revolution — Interdisciplinary
- Science and Technology – Because we can, should we? — Biology and Chemistry
- Human Animal — Biology
- Consuming News: A User’s Guide — Political Science
- Forbidden Texts — History
- HIST 201: First‐Year Seminar in European History: Statesmen, Soldiers and Leadership in Wartime: Four Historical Case Studies — History
- HIST 201: First-Year Seminar in European History: The Early Crusades — History
- HIST 202: First-Year Seminar in American History: Hollywood Films and History: the Perspective of John Ford — History
- HIST 202: First-Year Seminar in American History: Good, Bad, and Ugly American Tourists — History
Program Requirements
The Honors Programs seeks to develop its exceptional scholars as intellectuals and ethical citizens who will lead, collaborate, and serve in the university community and well beyond. Program requirements combine academic courses; opportunities for community engagement and diverse forms of leadership; and consistent reflective practice on personal achievements, challenges, and experiences in the undergraduate years.
Yearly Requirements for all Honors Scholars
- Maintain a 3.2 GPA overall (Minimum GPA Requirement policy).
- Successfully complete a minimum of two Honors Program requirements per year (which may consist of Honors-designated academic courses, Honors Service Learning, or non-credited requirements like Leadership) until all of the requirements are fulfilled.
- Note: the capstone project, traditionally completed in the final year, is an exception.
- Attend an appropriate co-curricular event each semester (one for each term enrolled at UMW as an Honors scholar) and submit a reflection about the event by the last day of classes for the semester in which the event occurred.
- Maintain a portfolio of Honors Program work and activities.
- Attend meetings of the Honors Program scholars as necessary.
Honors scholars must fulfill these annual requirements to remain in good standing in the program. Exceptions to these policies can be made by the Faculty Honors Advisory Committee or the Director of the Honors Program in extraordinary circumstances.
Requirements for Coursework, Leadership, and Service
These requirements must be met before graduation for a student to earn a degree with University Honors.
Typical Progress Through Honors Program Requirements
By the conclusion of Year 1
Complete at least two curricular requirements (one must be an HN-designated FSEM). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 2
Cumulatively complete a minimum of four curricular requirements (one must be HONR 201). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 3
Cumulatively complete at least six curricular requirements (recommended HONR 005). One co-curricular summary per semester.
Year 4
Complete the capstone project and any remaining program requirements. One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 1
Complete at least two curricular requirements (one must be HONR 101). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 2
Cumulatively complete a minimum of four curricular requirements (one must be HONR 201). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 3
Cumulatively complete at least six curricular requirements (recommended HONR 005). One co-curricular summary per semester.
Year 4
Complete the capstone project and any remaining program requirements. One co-curricular summary per semester.
Admitted in spring semester of Year 1
Must complete one co-curricular summary.
By the conclusion of Year 2
Complete at least two curricular requirements (one must be HONR 201). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 3
Cumulatively complete at least five curricular requirements (recommended HONR 005). One co-curricular summary per semester.
Year 4
Complete the capstone project and any remaining program requirements. One co-curricular summary per semester.
Admitted in spring semester of Year 1
Must complete one co-curricular summary.
By the conclusion of Year 2
Complete at least two curricular requirements (must complete HONR 201). One co-curricular summary per semester.
By the conclusion of Year 3
Cumulatively complete at least five curricular requirements (recommended HONR 005). One co-curricular summary per semester.
Year 4
Complete the capstone project and any remaining requirements. One co-curricular summary per semester.
Curricular Requirements in Honors
- 12 credits of HN-designated coursework (for Track A, must include HN FSEM course)
- HONR 201 Service Learning
- HONR 002 Leadership
- HONR 005 Capstone Preparation
- Capstone
- HONR 101 City as Text
- 12 credits of HN-designated coursework
- HONR 201 Service Learning
- HONR 002 Leadership
- HONR 005 Capstone Preparation
- Capstone
Requirements for all Honors Students Matriculating in/after Fall 2021
Because of revisions to the Honors Program curriculum and expectations, the requirements for students in different years of the program are specified below.
- HONR 101: Honors City as Text –1 credit. HONR 101 must be completed in the first Fall semester of participation in the Honors Program
- Honors-designated coursework– minimum 12 credits, across the curriculum
- HONR 201: Honors Service Learning –1 credit, taken in the second year
- Honors Program Leadership requirement (tracked as HONR 002)
- Capstone Prep Workshop (tracked as HONR 005), taken 1-2 semesters before Capstone Project
- Capstone Project – minimum 3 credits of individual study (491, 492, or a comparable approved course) completed during the last year of study at UMW, and presentation of the research or creative project at the Honors Program Symposium (fall semester), Research and Creativity Day (spring semester), or another pre-approved comparable venue. The Honors Capstone Project typically is completed, and earns credit, in the student’s major or minor; HONR 491 may be used for interdisciplinary projects or in disciplines that do not have an approved individual study course.
- Honors-designated first-year seminar (FSEM HN) – 3 credits
- Honors-designated coursework – 9 credits beyond FSEM HN
- Honors Service Learning – HONR 201 — 1 credit
- Honors Program leadership requirement
- Capstone Preparation– students matriculating before 2019 may fulfill this with an approved discipline-specific research methods course OR HONR 005, Capstone Prep Workshop. Students matriculating in or after Fall 2019 will fulfill the requirement with HONR 005 at least one semester before completing the Capstone Project.
- Capstone Project – a minimum of 3 credits of independent study (491, 492, or a comparable approved course) completed during the last year of study at UMW, and presentation of the research or creative project at the Honors Program Symposium (fall semester), Research and Creativity Day (spring semester), or another pre-approved comparable venue. The Honors Capstone Project typically is completed, and earns credit, in the student’s major or minor; HONR 491 may be used for interdisciplinary projects or in disciplines that do not have an approved individual study course.
- Honors designated coursework – 12 credits (may include an Honors FSEM)
- Honors Service Learning – HONR 201 (1 credit)
- Honors Program leadership requirement
- Capstone Preparation– students matriculating before 2019 may fulfill this with an approved discipline-specific research methods course OR HONR 005, Capstone Prep Workshop. Students matriculating in or after Fall 2019 will fulfill the requirement with HONR 005 at least one semester before completing the Capstone Project.
- Capstone Project – a minimum of 3 credits of independent study (491, 492, or a comparable approved course) completed during the last year of study at UMW, and presentation of the research or creative project at the Honors Program Symposium (fall semester), Research and Creativity Day (spring semester), or another pre-approved comparable venue. The Honors Capstone Project typically is completed, and earns credit, in the student’s major or minor; HONR 491 may be used for interdisciplinary projects or in disciplines that do not have an approved individual study course.
Withdraw from the Honors Program
If you are thinking of withdrawing from the Honors Program, we encourage you to first discuss your decision with Dr. Slunt or Scanlon. If you decide that withdrawal is your best course of action, you should complete this form to officially disenroll.