+

HONORS: Opportunities for Excellence

in the CSU

Dr. Michelle HawleyDirector, Honors College

CSU Los Angeles

+A life-changing academic experience

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+What makesHonors special?

Common Characteristics of Honors Programs

+Best Value and Best Choice for

Your Best Students

CSU emphasis on Access and Excellence!

Combines the benefits of a challenging and nurturing liberal arts college experience with the advantages of a comprehensive public University

CSU high-quality education far less costly than the average national public university.

Pathways to graduate and professional school

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+Emphasis on Academics

Exceptional faculty committed to teaching

Courses that foster intellectual curiosity

Emphasis on critical thinking and undergraduate research

Emphasis on Interdisciplinarity

Honors students attend national conferences!

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+Honors Students

High-achieving students from all majors who: Reach out for what

they need to be competitive

Participate in a community of scholars

Thrive when they are around supportive, motivated students committed to their education Honors students participate in summer internships.

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+Pathway to graduate, professional school and careersSerious attention to preparation for

graduate or professional school

Close connections with other programs geared towards scholarship, undergraduate research, and pre-professional

Assistance with grad school applications

Network of honors alumni in business, law, medicine, and academia

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+ Student Life: A social group within

an academic community

“You meet people with the same drive, expectations, and goals as you. “

- Moises Olavarietta

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+Honors Courses…

Expect greater student participation

Emphasize discussion and critical thinking

Small class sizes

Involve more speaking and writing

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+Honors Spaces

A Space To Study

Learning and Living Communities

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Honors Housing

+Other Benefits of Honors

may include . . .

Special performances, speaking events, and cultural excursions

Priority Registration

Specialized advisement

Recognition at Graduation .

Smittcamp Family Honors College Medallion

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+Does Honors require...

Extra time?NO! Honors students should graduate in 4-5 years, provided they are full-time students and do not change majors multiple times.

Extra Coursework?NO! Honors does NOT require additional courses. Many Honors courses Honors meet General Education or major requirements.

Extra Effort?YES! Honors Programs may require all students to participate in undergraduate research, community engagement, study abroad, or write senior theses

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+Highlights from Honors in the CSU . . .

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+Bakersfield – University Honors Program

4-year GE Program w/ 8 special seminars

Entrance Requirements: 3.8 GPA or 1175 SAT (critical reading and math)

Honors Lounge

Recently received $1m grant

Community service and special eventswww.csub.edu/academicprograms/undergrad/honors.shtml

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+Chico State – Honors ProgramHonors in Gen Ed and Honors in Major

450 students involved in 4-year Gen Ed program

Entrance Requirement: 3.5 HS GPA, 1200 SAT, or 27 ACT

www.csuchico.edu/honors

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+Fresno: Smittcamp Honors College Freshman class of 50

President’s Scholarships: 200 total Presiden’t Scholars - Full Tuition plus double occupancy dorm room

Requirements: 3.8 HS GPA, 1800 SAT, or top 10% of class

Community Service and Senior Honors Project Required

Beautiful multi-room honors office w kitchen and lounge

Strong record Graduate School placements: UCLA, UC Berkley, Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, etc..

www.honors.csufresno.edu

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+Cal Poly SLOUniversity Honors Program4-5 year program; 530 students

Entrance requirements: 1250 SAT or 27 ACT; HS GPA 3.75; or two AP scores of at least 4

Honors housing, honors common area

End of year event hosted by President for graduating studentshonors.calpoly.edu

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+CSU East Bay-Honors Program

4 year contract program

120 students

Entrance requirements: 3.5 GS GAP and continuing university GPA 3.6

Community service projecthttp://www20.csueastbay.edu/academic/academic-support/university-honors/

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+Fullerton: Honors Program

4-year honors program based in general education

500-600 students total

Entrance requirements include 3.5 GPA plus a brief essay and two letters of recommendation

Honors Center

www.fullerton.edu/honors

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+ Humanities Honors Program

• Founded in 1954 as a multidisciplinary team-taught program.

• Completes ten General Education requirements by accomplishing 24 units of coursework over four semesters.

• Currently serving approximately 320 lower division students in majors across all colleges.

• Most successful lower division program for retention and graduation at SJSU.

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+ Los Angeles: Honors College

• 4-year Honors College – Freshman and Junior Entry; also Early Entrance Program EEP for students 11-15

• Year-long cohorted Honors core sequences focused on civic engagement and global citizenship; year-long senior project

• Scholarships: Honors College, President’s Scholars, Edison International Scholars, and more.

• Serves approximately 250 students lower division students in majors across all colleges.

• Edison International Honors Center, Honors Advisor, Office for National and International Scholarships, Academic Honors Association, Seminar room

honors.calstatela.edu

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+Long Beach – Univ. Honors Program4-year 24 unit program for freshmen; 15

units for Juniors.

Fosters intellectual and civic values

UHP Thesis Opportunity: Culminating project

spanning two semesters.

Requirements: 3.5 HSGPA + 1600

composite SAT

UHP Student Association –www.csulb.edu/programs/uhp

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+ Northridge: Honors Program

Four-year Gen Ed program. Approx 600+ students

Requirements: 3.5 HS GPA

7-9 Gen Ed Honors courses each semester (lower and upper-division)

Living Learning Community in Dorms

www.csun.edu/honors

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+Cal Poly Pomona:Kellogg Honors College:

Became College in 2006

Requirements: 3.5+ HS GPA and 620 verbal and math SAT, two essays, letters or recommendation

Freshman are required to take 7 honors courses, sophomores 5 and transfers 4

Senior thesis/ Capstone

Civic engagement projects as well as social and cultural events

honors.calstatela.edu

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+Sacramento: Honors Program

:

Open to freshmen only – cohort of 75

Covers 45 of 51 GE requirements. Three-semester lower-division great books and ideas; three semester upper-division seminar

Requirements: 3.5 gpa; SAT 1800

Career networking

Dedicated Scholarshipswww.csus.edu/honorsprogram

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+San Bernardino: Honors Program

:

Four year program, 38 units for students who begin their freshman year; including senior project

Requirements: 3.5 gpa; SAT 1100 (Math and Critical Reading); statement of purpose, letters of recommendation

Honors Lounge and Computer Center

http://www-ugs.csusb.edu/honors/

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+San Diego: University Honors Program4-year program including approx 550

students

Requirements: 3.7 GPA or 1200 SAT

19 units, senior thesis, portfolio, capstone

Study abroad requirement

Honors minor in Interdisciplinary studies

Scholarships to study abroad and for research, scholarly and creative activities

http://uhp.sdsu.edu/dus/honors/

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+San Jose: Humanities Honors Program2-year general education program for

students of all majors; approx 300 students

Requirements: 3.0 GPA + SAT critical reading 550

Study abroad requirement

Honors minor in Interdisciplinary studies

Scholarships to study abroad and for research, scholarly and creative activities

http://www.sjsu.edu/hum/honors/

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+Stanislaus: Honors Program

Four year, 40 unit program. Approx. 100 students

Requirements: 3850 eligibility index, including 550 SAT critical reading

Includes service-learning project

Faculty mentors, senior capstone thesis, annual honors conference

Emphasis on interdisciplinary research

Yosemite tripshttp://www.csustan.edu/honors

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+ Final thought…

“It is a lot of work, but also a wonderful learning experience since you get to learn with the best students and best faculty.”

Michael Hsu,

Academic Honors Association, President 2011-2012

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+

Thank you!

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