Honors Program
Wesley T. Bishop, J.D., Acting Director
Office: Administration Building Room 137
Phone: (504) 286-5325
Email: wbishop@suno.edu
Honors Program Committee: Wesley T. Bishop, J.D.; Donna Grant, Ph.D.; Carl Johnson, Ph.D.; John Penny, Ph.D.
The Honors Program provides enriched educational opportunities to the most academically talented, promising, and motivated undergraduate students at Southern University at New Orleans. Administered by the director of the Honors Program and the Honors Program Committee, this program offers students the opportunity to cultivate the habits of critical thinking, independent analysis and creative expression through small classes and independent study under the guidance of recognized teacher-scholars. The program also encourages learning communities and a setting in which students who share similar enthusiasm for learning are brought together in intellectual fellowship and provides public recognition for superior academic achievement.
The qualifications for students desiring to enter the Honors Program are as follows:
Entering Freshmen
- Minimum ACT Composite score of 21 or SAT equivalent
- High School cumulative average of B or better
- Two letters of recommendation
Students Currently Enrolled In the University and Transfer Students
- Minimum overall grade point average of 3.25 in work undertaken at the university or college level.
- Continuing freshman, sophomore standing, juniors and seniors who meet ACT and GPA criteria may apply and be admitted to the Honors Program (a transfer student who previously participated in a honors program at another university may receive credit for honors work completed).
- Two letters of recommendation (One from an advisor and one from an instructor who has taught the student.
Criteria for Retention in the Program
All Honors Program students must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA and make progress toward fulfilling the requirements of the Honors Program and their disciplinary major. All Honors Program student grades will be audited each term. Those at risk of falling below the threshold will be notified in writing and are required to meet with their Honors’ Program Academic Advisor.
Probation
Honors Program students falling below the specified 3.25 cumulative GPA must:
- Meet with an Honors Program Academic Advisor to discuss their academic schedule and a plan for improvement.
- Receive a term GPA (minimum of 12 credits) above the threshold in the following term.
- Obtain a cumulative GPA above the 3.25 threshold at the end of two terms of course work subsequent to the term in which they fell below.
If the cumulative GPA remains below the threshold, the student may be removed from the Program. However, a student has the right to appeal their circumstances following the University’s Appeal process.
Reentry
Students may apply for readmission when their cumulative GPA is above the 3.25 threshold.
Selected Courses for the Honors Program
Course Designators
Honors sections of existing courses are offered using the departmental designator with an “H” suffix (e.g., ENGL-111HN, MATH-161HN, etc.). The Honors curriculum requires students to complete between 20 and 25 credits of Honors sections of current Southern University at New Orleans’ courses. These will be small sections of existing Southern University at New Orleans offerings tailored to Honor Program Students. Courses will be selected to offer both horizontal (disciplinary) and vertical (100-400 level) breadth.
Parameters:
- Enrollment will be limited to 20 students for lower-division, 15 students in the upper-division courses.
- Courses must meet prerequisites for subsequent courses, as determined by curricular and administrative units.
- Courses will offer not merely more of the same material as their non-Honors counterparts, but instead should show greater breadth, integration, different approaches, etc. Experimentation with new teaching techniques is encouraged. Honors courses provide enrichment opportunities to students and faculty.
- The educational approach will be flexible enough to accommodate different learning styles appropriate to a diverse student audience. Interactive learning should be considered the norm but heavier workloads are not.
General Education Program (15 Hours Minimum)
Major and/or Concentration (12 Hours Minimum)
| Academic Area must submit a proposal |
12 |
Honors Colloquium/Service Learning (2 Hours Required)
| Scholar will submit a proposal |
|
2 |
or
|
|
|
| SOWK-4810N |
Field Seminar I
(Guided study under supervision of mentor) |
0 |
*Science Majors