Honors Program
Program Description
The Honors Program at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi provides a diverse and highly motivated student population the opportunity to engage in curricular and co-curricular experiences that produce new knowledge, that serve our mission by supporting underrepresented and underserved communities, and that develop the skills of communication, leadership and collaboration necessary to be responsible citizens in the global community.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Honors Program, students will be able to:
1. Apply effective communication skills in academic and career contexts to support interdisciplinary collaborations and leadership opportunities.
2. Engage in civic or scholarly discourse by identifying, exploring and developing a creative, scholarly, or civic project.
3. Collaboratively engage with and learn from diverse communities and cultures to develop the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference in the civic life of our communities.
Admission Requirements
Students can apply for admission to the Honors Program by completing the general application for admission to the university (ApplyTexas) and then completing the Honors Program Application available on the Honors Program website. The Director and the Coordinator will review applications and conduct interviews as part of the admission process on a rolling basis prior to making invitations to join the Program. The application for the upcoming academic year will open in late September or October and close the following semester depending on the number of applications. Students are admitted to the Program in Fall semesters only.
Contact
For further information contact the Honors Program.
Web site:
http://honors.tamucc.edu
Campus Phone:
361-825-2879
Mailing Address:
Honors Program
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5751
E-Mail:
honors@tamucc.edu
Program Requirements
Curriculum and Requirements
In order to graduate from the Honors Program at TAMU-CC and receive an Honors designation on the diploma, students have broad discretion over the kinds of curricular, research, and service-learning experiences they can explore in order to meet our program requirements. Students are expected to take Honors Seminar courses in sequence as they progress through their academic studies. The Director and Program Coordinator will have discretion over whether transfer courses or other substitutions can meet these requirements.
The minimum requirements to remain in good standing and complete the Honors Program are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HONR 1102 | Honors Community Leadership Seminar | 1 |
| HONR 1303 | Honors Service Learning Practicum | 3 |
| HONR 2101 | Honors Experience Seminar | 1 |
| HONR 3101 | Project of Excellence Seminar I | 1 |
| HONR 4101 | Project of Excellence Seminar II | 1 |
| HONR 4102 | Project of Excellence Seminar III | 1 |
| Elective Honors Courses | ||
| Select 9 hours of Honors electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Elective Honors Courses
Students are encouraged to choose as their electives: one lower-division Honors Applied Experience course (Honors 2398 or 2399), one upper-division Applied Experience (Honors 4397, 4398 or 4399) and English 4321 (Grants and Proposals). Other courses offered at TAMUCC have the potential to be an elective Honors course option. They will be listed under Honors in SAIL and also denoted as Honors courses by the "H" code assigned to the course section. Standalone Honors courses across the Colleges may also be offered.
The Director and Program Coordinator will have discretion over whether transfer courses or other substitutions can meet these requirements.
Honors Electives Counting Towards a Major/Minor Course Requirement
Course requirements for a major or minor are determined by the faculty in each corresponding academic discipline, and variations in the major/minor requirements are subject to the approval of the faculty in that area. Therefore, the student should consult the description of the major/minor in the section of the catalog dedicated to that discipline. Questions about the major/minor course work should be directed to the appropriate advisor within the major/minor discipline.
Major/Minor Courses Counting Towards an Honors Elective Course Requirement
Only 3 hours of major/minor course requirements may be applied as Honors elective credits. However, a student may choose to exclude a class from the major or minor course requirements and use the course exclusively for Honors elective course requirements.
Further Program Requirements
- Successfully complete and publicly defend an original research project: The Project of Excellence (POE).
- Engage in sufficient service activities as determined by the Director and Program Coordinator.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in all coursework and 3.0 in all Honors courses.
- To earn Honors credit in an Honors Program course, the student must earn a B or better. A lower grade will not count toward earned Honors credits.
- Maintain enrollment and active participation in the Program by taking at least two Honors courses per year until all course requirements are met.
- Students not remaining in good standing over two continuous semesters either through grades, enrollment, or participation can be asked to leave the Program at the discretion of the Director and Program Coordinator.
Courses
This course provides a framework and guidance for leadership and service. Students will make connections with campus and community leaders in order to begin charting their path toward service. Students take this course in addition to UNIV 1102.
The purpose of this community-based course is to explore the notions of social change and service learning and to challenge students to see themselves as agents of that change. This class is geared toward helping students understand how to translate idealism into tangible social change through interdisciplinary learning and civic engagement.
In the Honors Experience Seminar students begin the exploration process for their Project of Excellence. This includes honing information literacy skills, discovering ways to make connections with potential faculty mentors, and connecting the Project of Excellence to personal career and life goals. In addition, students will investigate possibilities for travel, service and research that will help them achieve academic, personal and professional goals. Students will also create a plan for earning their Honors elective credits.
Practical experience connected to the student's field of study, usually with a service or leadership component. Applied experience requires approval by the Honors Director. Students must volunteer a minimum of 120 hours and meet the course objectives in order to receive course credit. Can be repeated for credit with approval by the Honors Director.
Undergraduate research and creative works is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop and practice advanced discipline-specific projects in collaboration with faculty members. A student electing to enroll in this course must contract with a faculty member to work on an existing research project or to develop a new project, and a specific list of responsibilities and a work schedule of at least 120 hours must be developed prior to approval. Can be repeated for credit with the approval of the Honors Director.
This seminar culminates in the completion of a Preliminary Proposal for the Project of Excellence with the guidance and approval of the course instructor and the student's faculty mentor. As part of the Preliminary Proposal, the student will complete a timeline that sets a course for project completion in time for graduation. In addition, students will be introduced to TAMUCC's Research Compliance process and will complete any training necessary for his/her project. Students must successfully complete HONR 3101 in order to register for HONR 4101.
Examination of the assumptions and questions underlying research methods across disciplines, with special emphasis on how methodologies from different fields (such as science and humanities) can complement each other. The course will address issues such as 1) the distinct qualities of quantitative and qualitative research, 2) current uses of surveys, interviews, and market research, 3) the construction of new knowledge in various disciplines, from problem to publication, 4) the critical use and evaluation of electronic and print resources, archival materials, government documents, and scholarly list serves.
A course that deals with significant contemporary issues in the arts, humanities, and/or education. May be repeated when topics vary.
A course that deals with significant contemporary issues in the disciplines of the natural sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and/or business. May be repeated when topics vary.
A course in the natural sciences concerned with the interdisciplinary nature of science, the formal tools and techniques of critically evaluating scientific research, and the use of qualitative and quantitative data in the application of science and technology.
A seminar devoted to the completion of the Project of Excellence.
Training of upper-class students for Honors First-Year Peer Mentors. Includes cognitive and developmental theories of the college-aged student, facilitation skills practice, discussion and listening techniques, and mentoring and advising skills.
This course assists student leaders in further developing their own self-awareness, learning skills and strategies, and explores methods for facilitating these in others. Provides a forum for reflection on and processing of the Peer Mentor experience and to allow peer leaders to develop and practice important leadership skills that are transferable to other settings. Emphasizes building relationships with students, teaching life skills and learning strategies, and guiding students through the college experience. Mentors grow their own capacity as future leaders, managers, networkers and community change makers.
Study of specialized topics and themes in arts, humanities, and education. May be repeated when topics vary.
Individual supervised study / research. Requires a formal proposal of study to be completed in advance of registration to be approved by a supervising faculty member and the Honors Director and Program Coordinator. Only 3 semester hours of Honors independent study credit may be counted toward the Honors graduation requirement.
Practical experience related to the student's major field. Internships require approval by the Honors Director and Program Coordinator. At the close of the internship, a written report and self-assessment must be submitted to a supervising faculty member. Internship is offered on a pass/fail basis and students must volunteer a minimum of 120 hours and meet the course objectives in order to receive course credit. Can be repeated for credit with approval by the Honors Director and Program Coordinator.
Practical experience connected to the student's field of study, usually with a service or leadership component. Applied experience requires approval by the Honors Director and Program Coordinator. Students must volunteer a minimum of 120 hours and meet the course objectives in order to receive course credit. Can be repeated for credit with approval by the Honors Director and Program Coordinator.
Undergraduate research and creative works is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop and practice advanced discipline-specific projects in collaboration with faculty members. A student electing to enroll in an Undergraduate Research and Creative Works course must contract with a faculty member to work on an existing research project or to develop a new project, and a specific list of responsibilities and a work schedule of at least 120 hours must be developed prior to approval. Can be repeated for credit with approval by the Honors Director and Program Coordinator.
Study of specialized topics and themes in the sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and business. May be repeated when topics vary.