Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Honors Program


 

The Honors Program of the University, housed in Judice-Rickels Hall, provides serious and highly motivated students with a set of intellectual and educational opportunities which extend and deepen their undergraduate experience. These opportunities are made available so that those students who seek added dimension, enrichment, and challenge in their studies may find full realization of their potential.

Many academic departments offer special Honors versions of their basic freshman and sophomore courses. These courses (in biology, business, chemistry, communication, computer science, economics, engineering, English, geology, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, physics, psychology, and renewable resources, with others in the planning stage) are characterized by a close relationship between faculty and students. In fact, the reduced size of these classes (10-20 students usually) encourages a more intimate, intensive, and stimulating learning experience where students from different backgrounds and committed to various majors can interact effectively with one another and with distinguished faculty members.

A number of unique interdisciplinary courses specifically designed for Honors students have been developed in order to encourage both a more mature approach to scholarship and a continued contact among excellent students of all disciplines. These courses range from one-semester-only topical seminars to regularly scheduled in-depth discussion courses in science and humanities.

Honors Seminar provides a weekly exposure to a wide variety of intellectual notions and cultural experiences in the company of a large group of faculty and students. This student-oriented event features the best talent on the campus, in the community, and from around the state to explore and examine questions of direct and current interest to students.

The Honors Baccalaureate Degree is the natural culmination of four years of involvement with the Honors Program. This special degree is awarded after completion of a number of specific requirements (see Section IX of “Rules and Regulations”  in this Catalog) including maintenance of at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and preparation of a suitable senior thesis.

In addition to the above, students in the Honors Program benefit from a number of special scholarships and awards, an honors lounge, computer facilities, honors dormitory areas, specially selected advisors, and scheduling priority during registration.

Entering freshmen who have an ACT composite of at least 26 (SAT of 1170) will receive an invitation to enter the Honors Program. Freshmen with qualifying scores will be invited to attend an Honors Program information session during New Student Orientation, where they can sign a contract to become part of the program. Others may seek permission of the director. Further information may be obtained from the Director, University Honors Program, P. O. Box 43250, Lafayette, LA 70504 or at www.louisiana.edu/honors.