Seton Hill University: Honors Program

Program Requirements

The Honors Program at Seton Hill University consists in the following:

	Credits
1. HP 100 Honors Seminar	1
2. Four Honors sections of Core courses	12
3. HP 300 Capstone Proposal	1
4. HP 301 Capstone Presentation	1

The following are the Core Sections with Honors designation:

Seminar In Thinking and Writing
Introduction to Philosophy
Christian Scripture
Faith, Religion, and Society
Science
US Cultures
Non-Western Cultures
Artistic Expression

Time Schedule for Honors Courses

Even Fall / Odd Spring Years

Fall

Seminar in Thinking and Writing
Science
Philosophy

Spring

Seminar in Thinking and Writing
Honors 100
Faith, Religion, and Society
Artistic Expression

Odd Fall / Even Spring Years

Fall

Seminar in Thinking and Writing
Theology
US Culture

Spring

Seminar in Thinking and Writing
Honors 100
Non-Western Culture (could be J-Term

Students will select one of the following Capstone Experiences:

Project Capstone
Travel as Text Capstone (two alternatives)
Certification Capstone

All three Capstones generate the following:

An essay applying the ideas in the research paper to a societal need
An Out-Reach presentation experience the informs the campus of the student's experience
Portfolio entry

Capstones Explained:

Project Capstone:

Contact and negotiate a research topic with at lease one professor
Scholarly research paper that goes beyond normal course work to investigate ideas in a full and robust manner
Essay applying research ideas to a societal need in such a way that the essay expands the student's perception of the relevance of research to the life of the community
Presentation during their senior year, normally during the Honors Banquet

Travel as Text: Student must choose one of two Alternatives

Travel Alternative One: City Studies Experience

Time: J or M terms or Summer
Location: A city that a faculty member has prepared as a City Studies Experience (e.g., Toronto, London, San Jose in Costa Rica, Maho Bay in the American Virgin Islands, New Orleans)
The city chosen will be sufficiently distant and foreign for the student to justify calling is a research experience.
Students will intensively research the city before their visit
Once in the city students will follow guiding questions provided by the faculty member
On their return from the city, students will create a research paper and a presentation experience based on their experience
While visiting the city students will maintain close contact with the faculty member either directly or through the internet.

Travel Alternative Two: Study Away

Student may attend an accredited, foreign university and follow its academic plan
Students will engage in cross-cultural experiences while attending a foreign university
The internal monitoring of the host university will be accepted as a fair evaluation of the students performance
Students must maintain as weekly CD Portfolio Log to be monitored by their SHU advisor
Upon returning stateside students must make an Honors Presentation of their experience
If students take a travel intensive course that already exists and wish to present it as an Honors course, they must present the following to be finished by the Fall semester of their Senior year:
1. Submit a research plan that enhances the normal course activities
2. State reasons the plan represents Honors quality work
3. State how the faculty member will assist
4. Submit the plan to the faculty for approval, modification, or rejection
5. Prepare the following:
  a. Research document based on the Study Abroad
  b. Essay connecting the experience to a societal need
  c. Presentation experience

Goals for Travel as Text:

Promote initiative, risk taking, and creativity through students experiencing a culture different from their own.
Demonstrate to students that education occurs outside the classroom through the close examination of another culture
Multiply and amplify learning experiences through expanded venues and offerings found in a host country
Were feasible, open communications between SHU and host country through faculty travel and/or communications

Certification Capstone:

Locate a program of learning in the community that offers certification
Apply for admission to the community program
Petition the Honors Director explaining the manner in which this certification program offers an Honors level experience
Attend the certification program and fulfill all its requirements
Create a research document based on the certification program
Write an essay applying the certification program to a societal need
Create a presentation experience
Maintain a CD Portfolio Log
Finish this Capstone by the Fall of your senior year

Lengthy Certification Programs: If a certification program runs longer than one SHU semester, then the student must factor in this extended time period so as to end during the Fall in their senior year. Petition the Director of the Honors Program so this lengthy experience can be monitored.
Brief Certification Programs: If a certification program is exceedingly short, this must be appealed to the Director of the Honors Program. Several short but related certification programs might fulfill this Capstone.

Goals for Certification Capstone:

Multiply and amplify learning experiences of students through expanded venues and offerings found in the community
Promote student initiative and risk taking by allowing them to locate an educationally valuable experience off campus
Open communications between community and SHU faculty
Show respect for the community by including their educational efforts in the Honors Program