The Honors Community at Union University is designed to engage academically talented students in conversations across disciplines that highlight the breadth and unity of knowledge while also exposing them to the depth of knowledge within a given discipline. Foundational to this design is the University’s commitment to the unity of knowledge within the Christian intellectual tradition. Conversations across disciplines occur within the context of an Honors Colloquia series; in-depth analyses occur through strategies within Honors Curricula, primarily the use of Honors Contracts.
Participation in the Honors Community is open to all students. All members of the greater learning community, as well as the public, would be invited to participate in Honors Colloquia. Showcasing conversations across disciplines, the Colloquia will spark interest in qualified students who will be enticed to pursue more in-depth studies through formal admission into an honors program.
Formal participation in the Honors Community will afford students the benefits of Honors Student status, including enrollment in honors-designated classes for credit, additional scholarship support, grants for research and travel, mentoring by a faculty member, and ultimately, designation as an Honors graduate. However, students who have a particular interest in a subject may take honors contracts in a course without formal admission into the program.
Union University is currently expanding opportunities for students to have honors level academic experiences. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, students may pursue honors level work in their major. Moreover, Union is currently researching proposals to provide students the opportunity to conduct honors level work in the core and hopes to have a program operating shortly.
To be eligible for admission in discipline specific honors, students must have an overall cumulative 3.5 GPA after completing or transferring at least 15 credit hours into Union and meet any specific department requirements. Students not meeting these requirements may petition the department directly for admission into departmental honors.
To graduate with discipline specific honors, students must attend at least four honors colloquia during their junior year and four honors colloquia during their senior year, complete 12 hours of honors courses in the major, complete an honors project/thesis in their major, maintain a 3.5 GPA, and fulfill any other requirements established by the department.
