Honors Program
<p>The Honors Program offers an intensive setting for intellectual and social development and provides a range of academic and professional benefits, including close work with individual faculty and collaborative work with highly motivated peers in many majors.<br /> <br /> The Program strives to foster independent thinking and social responsibility, enthusiasm for intellectual inquiry and learning, and an appreciation for the power and relevance of ideas. It maximizes engagement with Lasell hallmarks - student-centered teaching and connected learning - through a mix of discussions, field explorations, customized research projects, leadership training, and community-based service.<br /> <br /> The Honors Program aims to produce interdisciplinary thinkers and problem-solvers with a critical moral sensibility who are able tot hin from global perspectives. Students gain the skill to research problems and approach solutions from a number of angles as they develop the leadership strategies to organize action and implement solutions.<br /> <br /> In addition, the Honors Program provides many benefits, including an intensive setting for development of oral and written communication skills, critical thinking, leadership training through team-building, service-learning and community-based projects, opportunities for internships, conferences, seminars and professional networking through National and Regional Honors Associations, and formal recognition including Honors designation on the student transcript.<br /> <br /> Designation as a Lasell Honors Program graduate is noted on the student's official transcript and receives special recognition at Commencement. Honors Program's nationally represent a high level of academic achievement and unique accomplishments that demonstrate initiative and responsibility.<br /> <br /> <strong>Objectives</strong><br /> The objectives of the Honors Program are consistent with the educational objectives of the College, but designed for highly motivated students to work more intensively and creatively to achieve the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>To improve skills in writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving </li>
<li>To improve oral communication, listening and presentation skills</li>
<li>To work collaboratively with peers</li>
<li>To approach issues from an interdisciplinary and global perspective</li>
<li>To connect theory to practice by completing a community-based project</li>
<li>To demonstrate analysis and action on social justice through community service</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Overview of Program Requirements</strong><strong><br /> </strong>Courses: Honors students take four Honors courses, one each year at the College. <br /> Components: In addition, each year they select a project in one of their regular non-Honors courses, converting that project into an "Honors Component" conducted for Honors credit (four Components total).<br /> <br /> This "4 Course + 4 Component" sequence is designed to blend with any student's major, minor and set of interests.</p>
<p><strong>Four Honors Courses</strong><strong><br /> </strong>Each year, students take one course available only to Honors students.</p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>First year</td>
<td>Honors Colloquium</td>
<td>HON 101 (3 credits)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sophomore year</td>
<td>Honors Leadership</td>
<td>HON 205 (3 credits)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Junior year</td>
<td>Honors Seminar</td>
<td>HON 305 (3 credits)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Senior year</td>
<td>Honors Capstone</td>
<td>HON 401 (1 credit)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Four Honors "Components"<br /> <br /> Typically, students will undertake Honors Components in the semesters they are not taking an Honor Course (listed above). Components represent a customized education; each component may be designed by the student and professor to deepen knowledge of course subject matter, to apply subject matter of the course to the student's major or career goals, or to sharpen skills the student would like to hone.<br /> <br /> Two Components must be in courses at the 200 level or above.<br /> Other Component options may be offered. Honors students are notified of options through the Registrar and the Honors Director. Guidelines and sample Components are available from the Honors Director.<br /> <strong><br /> <strong>Continuing Eligibility Requirements</strong></strong><br /> Students must pass all Honors courses and components with a grade of C or better. Students must maintain a 3.5 overall cumulative average to continue in the Honors Program. If they are unable to do this, they may be placed on "Honors Probation" for one semester. If they demonstrate eligibility at the end of that semester, in consultation with the Honors Program Director, they will regain good standing in the Honors Program.</p>