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HONORS:
Opportunities
for Excellence
in the CSU
Dr. Michelle Hawley
Director, Honors College
CSU Los Angeles
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A life-changing academic
experience
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What makes
Honors
special?
Common Characteristics of Honors
Programs
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Best Value and Best Choice for Your
Best Students
 CSU
emphasis on Access and Excellence!
 Combines
the benefits of a challenging and
nurturing liberal arts college experience
with the advantages of a comprehensive
public University
 CSU
high-quality education far less costly
than the average national public university.
 Pathways
school
to graduate and professional
Emphasis on Academics
 Exceptional
faculty
committed to
teaching
 Courses
that foster
intellectual curiosity
 Emphasis
on critical
thinking and
undergraduate
research
Honors students attend national conferences!
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 Emphasis
on
Interdisciplinarity
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Honors Students
High-achieving students
from all majors who:
 Reach out for what they
need to be competitive
 Participate in a
community of scholars
 Thrive when they are
around supportive,
motivated students
committed to their
education
Honors students participate in summer internships.
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Pathway to graduate,
professional school and careers
 Serious
attention to preparation for
graduate or professional school
 Close
connections with other programs
geared towards scholarship, undergraduate
research, and pre-professional
 Assistance
 Network
with grad school applications
of honors alumni in business, law,
medicine, and academia
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Student Life:
A social group within
an academic community
“You meet people with the same drive, expectations,
and goals as you. “
- Moises Olavarietta
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Honors Courses…
 Expect
greater
student participation
 Emphasize
discussion
and critical thinking
 Small
class sizes
 Involve
more
speaking and writing
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Honors Spaces
A Space To Study
Honors
Housing
Learning and Living Communities
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Other Benefits of Honors may
include . . .
 Special
performances,
speaking events, and
cultural excursions
 Priority
Registration
 Specialized
advisement
 Recognition
at
Graduation
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Smittcamp Family Honors College
Medallion
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Does Honors require...
 Extra
time?
NO! Honors students should graduate in 4-5 years, provided
they are full-time students and do not change majors multiple
times.
 Extra
Coursework?
NO! Honors does NOT require additional courses. Many
Honors courses Honors meet General Education or major
requirements.
 Extra
Effort?
YES! Honors Programs may require all students to participate
in undergraduate research, community engagement, study
abroad, or write senior theses
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Highlights from Honors in
the CSU . . .
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Bakersfield – University
Honors Program

4-year GE Program w/ 8 special seminars
 Entrance
Requirements: 3.8 GPA or 1175
SAT (critical reading and math)
 Honors
Lounge
 Recently
received $1m grant
 Community
service and special events
www.csub.edu/academicprograms/undergrad/honors.shtml
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Chico State – Honors
Program
Honors
in Gen Ed and Honors in
Major
450
students involved in 4-year Gen
Ed program
Entrance
Requirement: 3.5 HS GPA,
1200 SAT, or 27 ACT
www.csuchico.edu/honors
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Fresno: Smittcamp Honors College
 Freshman
class of 50
 President’s
Scholarships: 200 total Presiden’t
Scholars - Full Tuition plus double occupancy
dorm room
 Requirements: 3.8
class
 Community
Required
 Beautiful
lounge
HS GPA, 1800 SAT, or top 10% of
Service and Senior Honors Project
multi-room honors office w kitchen and
 Strong
record Graduate School placements: UCLA,
UC Berkley, Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, etc..
www.honors.csufresno.edu
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Cal Poly SLO
University Honors Program
4-5
year program; 530 students
Entrance
requirements: 1250 SAT or
27 ACT; HS GPA 3.75; or two AP scores
of at least 4
Honors
housing, honors common area
End
of year event hosted by President
for graduating students
honors.calpoly.edu
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CSU East Bay-Honors Program
4
year contract program
120
students
Entrance
requirements: 3.5 GS
GAP and continuing university
GPA 3.6
Community
service project
http://www20.csueastbay.edu/academic/academic-support/university-honors/
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Fullerton: Honors Program
4-year
honors program based in
general education
500-600
students total
Entrance
requirements include
3.5 GPA plus a brief essay and
two letters of recommendation
Honors
Center
www.fullerton.edu/honors
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Humanities
Honors Program
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•
Founded in 1954 as a multidisciplinary team-taught
program.
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Completes ten General Education requirements by
accomplishing 24 units of coursework over four semesters.
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Currently serving approximately 320 lower division
students in majors across all colleges.
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Most successful lower division program for retention and
graduation at SJSU.
+ Los Angeles: Honors College
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•
4-year Honors College – Freshman and Junior Entry; also
Early Entrance Program EEP for students 11-15
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Year-long cohorted Honors core sequences focused on
civic engagement and global citizenship; year-long senior
project
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Scholarships: Honors College, President’s Scholars, Edison
International Scholars, and more.
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Serves approximately 250 students lower division students
in majors across all colleges.
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Edison International Honors Center, Honors Advisor, Office
for National and International Scholarships, Academic
Honors Association, Seminar
room
honors.calstatela.edu
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Long Beach – Univ. Honors Program
 4-year
24 unit program for freshmen; 15 units for
Juniors.
 Fosters
intellectual and civic values
 UHP Thesis
Opportunity: Culminating project
spanning two semesters.
 Requirements: 3.5
 UHP
HSGPA + 1600 composite SAT
Student Association –
www.csulb.edu/programs/uhp
+ Northridge: Honors Program
Four-year
Gen Ed program. Approx
600+ students
Requirements: 3.5
HS GPA
7-9
Gen Ed Honors courses each
semester (lower and upper-division)
Living
Learning Community in Dorms
www.csun.edu/honors
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+Cal Poly Pomona:
Kellogg Honors College
:Became College in 2006
 Requirements: 3.5+
HS GPA and 620 verbal and
math SAT, two essays, letters or recommendation
 Freshman
are required to take 7 honors courses,
sophomores 5 and transfers 4
 Senior
thesis/ Capstone
 Civic
engagement projects as well as social and
cultural events
honors.calstatela.edu
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+Sacramento: Honors Program
Open
:
to freshmen only – cohort of 75
Covers
45 of 51 GE requirements. Threesemester lower-division great books and
ideas; three semester upper-division
seminar
Requirements: 3.5
Career
gpa; SAT 1800
networking
Dedicated
Scholarships
www.csus.edu/honorsprogram
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+San Bernardino: Honors Program
:Four
26
year program, 38 units for students who
begin their freshman year; including senior
project
Requirements: 3.5
gpa; SAT 1100 (Math and
Critical Reading); statement of purpose,
letters of recommendation
Honors
Lounge and Computer Center
http://www-ugs.csusb.edu/honors/
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San Diego: University Honors
Program
 4-year
program including approx 550
students
 Requirements: 3.7
 19
GPA or 1200 SAT
units, senior thesis, portfolio, capstone
 Study
abroad requirement
 Honors
minor in Interdisciplinary studies
 Scholarships
to study abroad and for
research, scholarly and creative activities
http://uhp.sdsu.edu/dus/honors/
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San Jose: Humanities Honors
Program
 2-year
general education program for
students of all majors; approx 300 students
 Requirements: 3.0
GPA + SAT critical
reading 550
 Study
abroad requirement
 Honors
minor in Interdisciplinary studies
 Scholarships
to study abroad and for
research, scholarly and creative activities
http://www.sjsu.edu/hum/honors/
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Stanislaus: Honors Program
 Four
year, 40 unit program. Approx. 100
students
 Requirements: 3850
eligibility index,
including 550 SAT critical reading
 Includes
service-learning project
 Faculty
mentors, senior capstone thesis,
annual honors conference
 Emphasis
 Yosemite
on interdisciplinary research
trips
http://www.csustan.edu/honors
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Final thought…
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“It is a lot of work, but also a wonderful learning experience since
you get to learn with the best students and best faculty.”
Michael Hsu,
Academic Honors Association, President 2011-2012
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Thank you!
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