Honors courses seamlessly integrate into any major.
The Honors Experience comprises four required courses, a senior culminating activity, and three co-curricular activities. The experience is designed to complement study abroad and can be combined with departmental honors programs and the accelerated master’s degree option.
Year One
Students in the Honors Experience choose an honors first year intensive (FYI) course, and will take a second honors course, Education, Equity, and Possibility, in the spring semester.
Years Two and Three
During sophomore and junior years, students will take two honors courses of their choosing. Such courses are interdisciplinary and respond to current big topics, and are typically taught by a team of faculty.
These honors courses are designed to:
- Provide a distinct Clarkie approach to education by addressing significant problems that cross academic specialities, so for example, Technology, Personhood, and the Future incorporates philosophy, English, computer science, political science, interactive media design,
- Encourage community by learning in discussion sessions capped at 20,
- Facilitate interaction and collaboration between faculty and students through a format that introduces students to different faculty members, and to their research/scholarly interests, personal backgrounds, and teaching approaches.
Year Four
Students complete an honors colloquium course where they share their departmental honors work or interdisciplinary research. This course prepares students for their careers, helps them to reflect upon their honors experience, and provides a forum for the continued improvement of the program — ensuring a tradition of co-creation.