Honors courses offer enhanced challenges and opportunities so students can develop intellectual autonomy and excellence. Students get the most out of their Ferris education by putting more of themselves in. Choose courses that help you learn independently, think critically, ask penetrating questions and communicate your ideas at a high level—choose courses that expand your experience and stir your curiosity.

To get the honors certificate associated with a bachelor’s degree, students do 20% of their coursework as honors credits once they start the Honors Program or a maximum of 22 honors credits. To get the honors certificate associated with an associate’s degree, students take 10 honors credits.

Students will normally take  an honors section of either COMM 121 or ENGL 250 and honors general education courses in their first two years. However, we understand that students sometimes have transfer credit for these courses or have a major that does not allow this schedule; students are allowed to substitute different honors credits. We know that each student’s goals, programs and circumstances vary, and so we have the following options:

• Honors contracts are an alternative to Honors courses. With an Honors contract, students do an extra project in a non-Honors class for Honors credit. Contracts must be approved by faculty and submitted to our office by the end of the third week of the semester. The Honors contract form and information are on Honors Path under Contracted Courses. You are welcome to make an appointment with the Honors advisor to discuss this option.
• Additionally, a credit-bearing study away experience can replace one three-credit Honors experience. Please let our office know if you plan to study away.

The Honors Program is flexible enough to fit each major and any student’s educational goals. Honors should never add an unneeded course to your load, slow your progress toward graduation, or force you to drop a minor. Taking one honors course or doing an honors contract each semester will allow students to stay on track.

The one-credit HNRS 460 course is recommended but not required for students completing the Senior Symposium for their honors bachelor’s certificate. The course is an independent study guided by Dr. Cathy Bordeau, in which students will do research on their symposium topic and create their presentation. Cathy is also available to help those who decide not to take the class.

To find Honors classes in Look Up Classes on http://www.ferris.edu, do an advanced search: highlight all the subject matters and select Honors Course under Attribute Type. The following list also provides an overview:

Fundamentals of Public Speaking – Honors

14330	COMM 121 001 Fund-Public Speaking (Honors)	3	TR 12 – 1:15 PM	Neil Patten	JOH 101
14331	COMM 121 001 Fund-Public Speaking (Honors)	3	1:30 – 2:45 PM	Neil Patten	JOH 101

Honors English 2

14086	ENGL 250 002 HNRS English 2	3	Debra Courtright-Nash	TR 1:30 – 2:45 PM	ASC 1006
14111	ENGL 250 VL1 HNRS English 2	3	Deirdre Fagan	TBA (fully online)	TBA
14112	ENGL 250 VL2 HNRS English 2	3	Deirdre Fagan	TBA (fully online)	TBA

Culture General Education Courses

14166	FREN 280 VL1 HNRS Lit of French World	3	TBA (fully online)	Daniel Noren	TBA
14174	LITR 203 VL1 HNRS Intro-African Lit	3	TBA (fully online)	Rebecca Sammel	TBA
14175	LITR 231 001 HNRS Poetry	3	T 12 – 1:15 PM and TBA	Deirdre Fagan	STR 206
14352	THTR 215 001 Intro to Theatre (Honors)	3	TR 3 – 4:15 PM	Katherine LaPietra	WIL 166

Honors Senior Symposium (for students completing the Senior Symposium in the spring)

13819

HNRS 460 VL1

1

TBA (online)

Catherine Bordeau

TBA

Cathy Bordeau, the honors advisor, is available to help honors students plan their honors coursework. They can contact her at CathyBordeau@ferris.edu, honors@ferris.edu, or 231-591-2216.