HONORS PROGRAM

Dr. Rita Barnes, Interim Director
Mr. Michael Clark, Interim Associate Director

The Honors Program provides challenging learning opportunities for academically gifted students, motivating them to achieve their full academic and career potential. Enrollment in Honors classes is limited. Emphasis is placed on individual initiative and development, leadership and teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills.

HONORS SECTIONS

Honors sections are available in a number of regularly offered courses required of freshmen and sophomores. These sections are available to Honors Program students on a permit-only basis. Although their content is essentially the same as that of regular sections, Honors sections provide more intensive discussion, presentations and greater opportunities for individual performance. Honors sections are compatible with regular sections of the same course to the extent that a student who is not fully benefiting from the Honors experience may take a regular section of the same sequence the following semester. Similarly, a student who shows high ability in a regular section may, if space is available, enroll in the Honors section of the same sequence the following semester.

Section number 800 designates honors sections in the Schedule of Classes. Full members of the Honors Program are given priority in registering for all Honors courses. Under special circumstances, an Honors student may take a regular section as an Honors contract course.

The following Honors courses are available subject to scheduling:

LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION

High school students with a composite ACT score of 26 or higher who have applied for admission to the University are invited to apply for full membership in the Honors Program. Transfer students with an ACT of 26 or higher and a college QPA of 3.5 may apply to transfer into the Honors Program. Out-of-state students with an ACT of 26 or higher or equivalent SAT score and a high school grade point average of 3.5 may be eligible for the Honors Academic Scholarship, which waives out-of-state tuition fees in exchange for 60 hours of service. Students already enrolled at Tennessee Tech who have completed 12 semester hours of college course work with a cumulative quality point average of 3.5 or better may apply for full membership in the Honors Program. Students at all levels of membership must complete at least one Honors -800 course OR one 4000-level course per semester until completing the course requirements listed below ("Graduation Requirements") to maintain active membership eligibility.

Full Membership. To be accepted for full membership, a student must demonstrate the ability and willingness to meet the requirements for graduation in cursu honorum. At the end of the first semester in the Honors Program, a student must have at least a cumulative 3.1 average to maintain full membership. After the first semester, full members must maintain a cumulative 3.5 grade point average. Full membership may be reinstated for students who have continued taking Honors courses when they regain a 3.5 cumulative QPA.

Associate Membership. A member whose QPA falls between 3.1 and 3.5 after the first semester continues participation as an associate member, taking Honors courses and participating in the Associated Scholars Guild.

Affiliate Membership. Any student who is not a full or associate member but is continuing to fulfill Honors requirements is an affiliate member. In general, an incoming freshman must have a composite ACT score of at least 26, and a previously enrolled student must have a cumulative QPA of at least 3.0 in order to enroll in an Honors course. However, exceptions may be made in individual cases, upon recommendation of the course instructor. Affiliate members may continue to be active in the Associated Scholars Guild.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

A full member of the Honors Program may graduate in cursu honorum by completing the following requirements in addition to all relevant university, college, and departmental requirements:

1. Completion of Honors 1010.
2. Completion of at least 15 semester hours in Honors courses in at least three different disciplines (Honors -800 sections or Honors Contracts by permit).
3. Completion of two Honors colloquia (Honors 4010) or one colloquium and one directed studies (Honors 4020).
4. A minimum cumulative quality point average of 3.5.
5. Completion of the Honors exit interview procedure.

A student graduating in cursu honorum will wear a gold stole and be given special recognition at the commencement ceremony and will have the notation "in cursu honorum" on the diploma and transcript.