USC Aiken
Honors Program Handbook
2012-2013
USC Aiken Honors Program
Dr. Chad L. Leverette, Director
Office: SBDG 312
Phone: 803 641 3291
chadl@usca.edu
Mission Statement
Established in 1991 and expanded in 2005, USC Aiken’s Honors Program
offers academically talented, highly motivated students opportunities for
enriched learning experiences both in and outside the classroom. Honors
students participate in a unique learning community that enjoys small classes
and independent study under the direction of USC Aiken’s best teacherscholars, in a program that cultivates critical thinking, analysis and creative
expression. The Honors Program offers students experiences that are
interdisciplinary in nature and involve active, engaged learning culminating
in a capstone experience.
Honors Steering Committee
Dr. Ed Callen, Department of Psychology
Dr. Drew Geyer, Department of English
Dr. William Harpine, Communications Department
Dr. Linda Heraldo-Gacad, School of Nursing
Dr. William Jackson, Department of Biology
Dr. Doug Kuck, Department of Sociology
Dr. Sanela Porca, School of Business
Dr. Windy Schweder, School of Education
Dr. Chad L. Leverette, Director
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Honors Program Requirements
To graduate from the USC Aiken Honors program, a student must earn 24-29 hours of
Honors Program credits in the following categories:
•
AHON 101 Interdisciplinary Inquiry (3 credit hours): Humanities
The theme of the introductory Honors course, taught by some of our best professors at
USCA, varies by year. Students must take this course their first semester at USCA. The
Director of the Honors Program will enroll students in this course once they are advised.
This course counts as 3 of the 9 credit hours required for the Humanities General
Education requirement.
•
AHON 201 Honors Colloquia (1 credit hour each)
o Three one-hour Honors short courses are required
These short courses are restricted to Honors student participation, and colloquia topics
vary each semester. Typically, four colloquia are offered each academic year. The
Honors Program Director will enroll students in these short courses once they are
advised.
•
Five Honors-Designated Courses
o Three honors-designated general education/elective courses are required (9-12 credit
hours)
Honors students must select three General Education courses that will be Honors
enhanced. Students must discuss their enhanced course preferences with the Honors
Director BEFORE speaking with professors of these courses. The Honors Program
will enroll students in an Honors (501) section of these courses after arranging the
enhancement with the professor of record.
o Two honors-designated courses are required in the student’s major field (6-8 credit hours)
Honors students must select two courses in their major field to be Honors enhanced.
Once again, students must communicate their preferences to the Honors Program
Director, who will arrange the enhancement with the professor of record and enroll the
student in a 501 (Honors) section of that course.
•
Capstone Experience/Project (3 credit hours)
o The Capstone Project will be completed in the student’s senior year under the
supervision of a faculty member selected by the student. The capstone project requires
research, data analysis, and communication of the results of the research or, in the case
of the arts, an appropriate creative project.
o Students will submit a “Capstone Intent Form” notifying the Honors Director of their
intent to complete the Capstone project the following academic year. Typically, this form
will be completed and submitted in the second semester of the junior year. In the semester
prior to the completion of the Capstone, Honors students must submit a “Capstone
Proposal Form” that will be reviewed by the Honors Steering Committee (HSC). This
form will provide a complete description of the proposed project for approval by the HSC
by mid-semester of the semester before the student will conduct the project.
o If an Honors student’s major already requires a capstone project, that experience may be
enhanced and accepted as the Honors capstone project as well.
o Honors students will be expected to present the results of their projects to their peers and
to the Honors Steering Committee members.
All courses applied to honors credit must be passed with a grade of “B” or
better, otherwise no Honors credit will be given. Further, should a student
earn a “C” or lower on the enrichment project in an Honors enriched course,
the student will not receive Honors credit for that course.
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Honors Students Receive….
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Priority registration every semester
Honors designated housing in Pacer Commons Dormitory
An opportunity to receive an Honors scholarship
Use of the Honors Program Study Room, H&SS 110, which has computers,
printers, lockers, study spaces, a kitchen, and peace and quiet
Free printing in the Honors Study Room
Individual attention from faculty (501 courses)
Special assistance in applying for grants (such as the Magellan grant for student
research) and scholarships through the Honors Office
The ability to graduate from the USCA Honors Program, a special designation on
a student’s permanent academic record that provides students with an advantage
in graduate school or employment applications
Important Dates to Remember (AY 2012-2013)
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August 23: CLASSES BEGIN
September 3: Labor Day, NO CLASSES
September 12: Last day to submit Writing Proficiency Portfolio
September 13: 4:30 (B&E 237), Magellan Workshop (required for those applying)
October 9: Honors Dinner with the Chancellor (for new Honors students), 6:00-7:30 pm,
Convocation Center VIP Room
October 11: Midpoint in Semester: deadline for Honors capstone proposals for Spring
semester
October 17: Last Day to Withdraw or Drop without receiving a “WF”
October 17: Deadline for Magellan Grants
October 18-19: Fall Break, NO CLASSES
November 5-9: Priority Registration
November 9 : Last day to apply for May 2011 Graduation
November 21-25: Thanksgiving Holidays, NO CLASSES
December 7: CLASSES END
December 7: Honors Fall Capstone Presentations (B&E 140, 3:30-5:00 pm)
December 10-14: Final Exams
December 13: Commencement (7:00 pm, Convocation Center)
January 14: CLASSES BEGIN
January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NO CLASSES
January: TBD - Last day to submit Proficiency Portfolio in Writing
March 10-17: Spring Break, NO CLASSES
April 18: Annual Academic Convocation (recognizing Honors graduates)
April 29: CLASSES END
April 30-May 1: Reading Days
May 1: Honors Spring Capstone Presentations (B&E 140, 12:00-4:00 pm)
May 1: Honors Spring Reception with the Chancellor (SAC Mezz, 5:00-6:30 pm)
May 2-May 8: Final Exams
May 9: Commencement (7:00 pm, Convocation Center)
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To Remain in Good Standing….
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Students accepted into the Honors Program must enroll in AHON 101 the first fall
semester that they are part of the program.
Honors students MUST take at least 3 credit hours of Honors coursework per year
to remain in the program.
Honors students must maintain a USC Aiken cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
during the first two semesters in the program, a 3.1 or higher the third and fourth
semesters, a 3.2 or higher the fifth and sixth semesters, and a 3.3 or higher the
seventh and eighth semesters.
Students who do not meet the grade requirements will be placed on Honors
Program probationary status for one semester, and will be dismissed from the
program if standards have not been met by the end of the following semester.
Students may take Honors courses or Honors enhanced courses during the
semester they are on probation.
The Honors Program has carefully selected students that represent the best and
brightest of USC Aiken. We expect that our students not only excel in the
classroom, but also represent model student behavior by showing personal
responsibility in all of their actions throughout their time in the Honors Program.
If an Honors student is found to be in violation of the USC Aiken Academic or
Non-Academic Code of Conduct, the Honors Steering Committee will consider
sanctions/disciplinary actions and/or dismissal from the Honors Program. Any
decisions made by the HSC are separate from any sanctions/disciplinary actions
administered by the university. It is a privilege to be in the Honors Program;
therefore, the Honors Steering Committee has the right, with approval from the
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, to decide on disciplinary
sanctions/penalties when instances occur that jeopardize the standards of the
Honors Program or its resources.
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Fall 2012 Honors Courses Schedule
Code
419592
527152
527162
Dept. Course,
Section
AHON A101
(Begins Aug.
23, ends
Dec. 7 full semester
course)
AHON
A201Z
(Begins Aug.
23, ends
Dec. 7 –
full semester
course)
AHON
A201A
(Begins Oct.
11, ends
Dec. 7 –
half semester
course)
Title
Credits
Location
When
Professor
Interdisc.
Inquiry:
“Theories on
Crime and
Criminality in
Film”
3
H&SS 116
Th
1:40 – 4:20
Kuck
C: Science
and
Pseudoscience:
Scientific
Literacy and
the Scientific
Method
C: The Arab
Spring and
New Middle
East Since
2011
1
H&SS 207
W
10:00-10:50
Callen
1
H&SS 206
TTh
1:40-2:30
Deal/Wood
6
USCA Honors Students 2012-2013
Name
Arnone, Brianna
Baksh, Asheeba
Birchmore, Bradleigh
Blizard, Anna
Boggs, Andrew
Brandt, Amaura
Bunker, Shelbey
Burger, Peyton
Bush, Emily
Cediel, Andrea
Danielson, Aubrey
Drew, Jonathan
Duffy, Karlota
Farmer, Sommer
Gilmore, Jennifer
Gooding, Dillon
Greizinger, Tomas
He, Amy
Hoffmann, Will
Holt, Anna
Hurtt, Micah
Jolley, Allison
Jones, Amanda Leigh
Lamunion, Samuel
Lane, Melissa
Layne, Katherine
Lisek, Samantha
Marshall, Breanna
McDermott, Clarissa
Melton, Olivia
Morris, F. Brady
Morris, Helen
O’Rourke, Emily
Pakla, Michelle
Port, Adam
Pruitte, Kayla Elise
Reeves, W. Tyler
Roberts, Rachel
Rodgers, Tayler
Simon, Priscilla
Taylor, Megan
VanPelt, Kayce
Ward, Andrew
Welcher, David
Wills, Sean
Zheng, Linda
Year
Sr
Sr
Sr
Sr
Jr
Fr
So
Fr
Sr
Jr
Jr
Fr
Sr
So
Jr
Jr
Sr
So
Fr
Fr
So
Jr
So
Jr
Fr
Sr
Fr
Jr
Jr
Sr
Sr
So
So
Sr
So
Jr
Jr
Jr
Jr
Sr
So
Fr
So
Sr
Jr
Fr
Major
Email
Communications
Biology
Sec Ed Biology
Communic
Nursing
Chemistry
Nursing
Nursing
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Chemistry
Nursing
Nursing
English
Math/Comp. Sci.
Business
Nursing
History
Biology
Psychology
Biology
Biology
Ex. Sports Science
Nursing
Biology
Ex. Sports Science
Biology
English
Communications
English
Business
Psychology
Graphic Arts
Chemistry
Communications
Engineering
Biology
English
Biology
Math
Biology
Business
English
History
Chemistry
Total: 46
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bearnone@usca.edu
abaksh@usca.edu
bcbirchmore@usca.edu
aeblizard@usca.edu
adboggs@usca.edu
albrandt@usca.edu
sebunker@usca.edu
pnburger@usca.edu
erbush@usca.edu
andreacedielf@hotmail.com
amdanielson@usca.edu
jmdrew@usca.edu
ktduffy@usca.edu
sefarmer@usca.edu
jrgilmore@usca.edu
djgooding@usca.edu
tgreizinger@usca.edu
ahe@usca.edu
pwhoffman@usca.edu
akholt@usca.edu
mjhurtt@usca.edu
apjolley@usca.edu
aljones@usca.edu
srlamunion@usca.edu
melane@usca.edu
kilayne@usca.edu
sllisek@usca.edu
bkmarshall@usca.edu
clmcdermott@usca.edu
okmelton@usca.edu
fbmorris@usca.edu
hemorris@usca.edu
erorourke@usca.edu
mmpakla@usca.edu
adport@usca.edu
kepruitte@usca.edu
wtreeves@usca.edu
rlroberts@usca.edu
tcrodgers@usca.edu
pssimon@usca.edu
mmtaylor@usca.edu
ktvanpelt@usca.edu
acward@usca.edu
dkwelcher@usca.edu
sawills@usca.edu
lzheng@usca.edu
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8