honors.truman.eduHonors Scholar

Program Toggle navigation Admission Admission Overview Apply Now Admission Requirements Visit Campus Cost & Financial Aid Graduate International Admission Academics Alumni About Student Life News & Events TruView Login Athletics Apply Visit Request Info Directory Home Program Program Elevate Your Education and Graduate from Truman with High Distinction The Program recognizes high-performing and motivated students who wish to distinguish themselves beyond Truman’s already high standards by pursuing an even more academically challenging path. Instead of the introductory-level courses in liberal arts and sciences disciplines, students can select from a list of courses that explore in-depth topics that encourage a more sophisticated viewpoint. ALL Truman students are eligible to participate in the Program courses come from outside a student’s own major/s s receive recognition on their diplomas and transcript along with an medal Medallion Virtus stands for moral excellence and courage; it requires active expression of a sound intellectual basis. Rather than a one-time act of bravery, it stands for the product of the habit of disciplined, honest, and just living. Dignitas is the worthiness that a person earns and continually maintains. It is a public recognition of the qualities that set certain people apart from others and relates to an active life of civic service. Program Requirements As an , you will be required to: complete five approved courses in the areas of mathematics, science, humanities, and social science (with at least one course from each area) earn at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA overall and in these five courses. Only grades of A” and B” may count toward the 3.5 minimum grade point average requirement in the five approved courses. A fundamental caveat for the Program is that students go beyond the minimum major requirements for graduation. Students who complete a single undergraduate major may not satisfy requirements with any course in their major. (For example, a student whose only major is mathematics may not use any course carrying the MATH prefix to satisfy Honors Scholar requirements.) Students who complete two or more majors may use any approved course to satisfy requirements except for the course(s) required by both majors and their required support areas. No credit toward becoming an shall be given for high school courses or transfer courses (including AP, CLEP, Study Abroad credit or substitutions) unless approved by the Committee . Also, only courses with three or more credits may count toward becoming an . Frequently Asked Questions Here are some of the most common questions we receive about the Program at Truman: Can I substitute for an course? AP and CLEP AP and CLEP courses have not been accepted as substitutions for Honors courses. Note, however, that some Honors courses have prerequisites which the AP or CLEP may meet. In other words, you may have a choice of courses that students without the prerequisite do not have. Transfer Credit Transfer credit from other universities has only very rarely been accepted. This is not because these transfer courses may not be good courses in their own right (and may transfer as a Truman course designated as approved for the Honors Scholar Program), but instead because those courses do not typically offer the opportunities for interactions between students and faculty with the variety of liberal arts interests that we commonly see in Truman’s honors courses. Again, you may be able to take a more advanced course for the Program by meeting a prerequisite. Study Abroad The Program supports Study Abroad and substitution credit has been granted for some Study Abroad coursework, especially in Humanities or Social Science. The maximum credit allowed is towards fulfilling one Honors course (3 hours). The substitution may not have to be for the equivalent of a specific Honors course. To request a substitution , contact a member of the committee . If the committee determines that the request deserves further examination, you will be asked to submit a course syllabus/syllabi, a transcript, and a cover letter explaining how you believe your experience fulfills an requirement. Sometimes students also submit major papers or work done for their courses. What courses can count and what courses can’t count for the Program? Students may (double) count approved Honors courses (unless they are in their major discipline) that also are designated as fulfilling Dialogues or minor requirements. Students may NOT count courses in their major discipline towards the Program unless they are a double major. That is, students may not count any course with their major discipline prefix (e.g. ENG) or that counts towards the actual (30 + hours) major. STAT 290 can count for all majors (including math). Courses outside of the major prefix used as Required Support and BS Requirements, etc., can count in most cases . Certain disciplines have restrictions on counting the following courses: MATH 263, 264, CHEM 130, (CHEM 421 for biology majors if used for their major) and PHYS 185, 186, 195, and 196. For example, PHYS 185-186 cannot count for other majors that require it; these majors may usually count PHYS 195-196 for Honors designation. If you have a question, consult the Program committee member in that area. By major: Ag science: can NOT count CHEM 130; CAN count PHYS 185, 186 Biology: can NOT count CHEM 130, PHYS 185, PHYS 186; CHEM 421 if used as an elective for the biology major BS students CAN count any BS requirement honors courses (including CHEM 131, PHYS 195, 196) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: can NOT count PHYS 185, PHYS 186, or any CHEM or BIOL course used to fulfill major requirements or required support; CAN count PHYS 195 and PHYS 196 Business: ECON courses can only count if they are not used to fill major or required support areas. Once those requirements are met, additional ECON courses may be counted. Chemistry: can NOT count MATH 263, 264, PHYS 185, 186; CAN count STAT 290, PHYS 195, 196 and any honors Biology courses Computer Science: can NOT count MATH 263, CHEM 130, PHYS 185, or PHYS 195 if counted toward the major CAN count CHEM 130, PHYS 185, or PHYS 195 if not used to fill a major requirement; CAN count MATH 200, 264, 285, BIOL 200, 300, CHEM 131, PHYS 196, and STAT 290 Exercise Science: can NOT count CHEM 130 or PHYS 185 if they are required, as for pre-med; CAN count CHEM 131, PHYS 186, 195, 196 Math: can NOT count CHEM 130 or PHYS 195 if counted toward the major; CAN count CHEM 130 or PHYS 195 if not used to fill a major requirement; CAN count STAT 290, CHEM 131, PHYS 195, 196 Physics: can NOT count MATH 263 or 264; CAN count MATH 365 and honors Biology and Chemistry courses EXCEPT: CHEM 130 By course: Note: No major can count a course in its own discipline. (e.g. Chemistry majors cannot count any CHEM course). MATH 263 can NOT count for Chemistry, Computer Science, or Physics majors MATH 264 can NOT count for Chemistry or Physics majors CHEM 130 can NOT count for Ag Science, Biology, Computer Science, or Physics majors CHEM 131 CAN count for all majors (except Chemistry) CHEM 421 can NOT count for Biology (if used as elective for the Biology major) PHYS 185-186 can NOT count for Biology, Chemistry, or Exercise Science (if required) majors CAN count for Ag science STAT 290 CAN count for all majors How do I find out which Honors courses are being offered? You can search the Open Course List in TruView. Go to Course List . Choose the Term and click on Submit button. Select Subject (to search ALL subjects, click on the subject at top of list and drag down to the bottom of the list to highlight all subject areas) For Attribute Type , select . Click on Class Search button. NASC 400 is every fall NASC 401 is every spring MATH 455 is every other fall MATH 456 is every other spring only Which courses have prerequisites? Check the catalog for prerequisites for particular courses. Some general...