|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are there courses that can count toward both honors requirements and major requirements?
Many of the Honors Program requirements are designed to help students incorporate their degree interests into the program. The Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars course assists students in fulfilling both an honors course requirement and a major requirement. Examples of Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars include “The Sixties in Music and Historical Memory,” “Philosophy of Religion,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Science Theatre: The Case of the Heywood Brothers.” These dual field courses give each student the opportunity to satisfy her honors requirements and sometimes a major requirement.
In addition, an honors directed independent study can often be used to satisfy a major elective requirement, and a senior honors thesis will usually satisfy major requirements.
If a student wishes to take honors courses that will satisfy both the honors requirements and her degree-seeking department’s requirements, she will need to consult with her advisor to confirm that the courses will meet both requirements before she enrolls.
Can two additional honors courses be taken at any time during the four years of undergraduate work?
Yes, two additional honors courses can be taken at any time over a four year undergraduate period at Converse. We advise you to speak with your advisor, and create a four year plan of coursework as soon as possible. It is extremely important that you have knowledge of what it is going to take in and out of the classroom to complete a degree, along with the Nisbet Honors Program at Converse.
How can the honors courses be worked around a double major and minor?
The Honors Program requirements have been designed to help you fulfill both General Education and major requirements while taking challenging honors courses. Depending on the course offerings and majors, various interdisciplinary honors courses may allow you to study how dual majors coincide with each other. Doing either an honors directed independent study or a senior honors thesis may allow you to combine topics across your majors and/or minor, a kind of interdisciplinary study which you would not usually gain from most courses in your major.
“I am a double biology and chemistry major, B.S. in both of those. My advisors and I all have Excel spreadsheets of my individual majors' requirements, my GEP requirements, and a basic honors program requirements section. I highlight the course(s) after each semester (when I have completed them). I also do a lot of planning ahead...especially for biology and chemistry majors. It is necessary to look at what you need to take, when it will be offered, and if it will be offered again during the 4 years....I pretty much planned my 4 years out during my freshman spring semester so that I would know what to sign up for and wouldn't miss anything.”—Kimberly Shorter '09
Can I still participate in the Honors Program if I’m a music ed major?
Yes. Given your limited number of electives, however, you will need to occasionally take an overload to fit in required honors courses, and you will need to PLAN AHEAD even more carefully than students with less restrictive majors.
Can I still participate in the Honors Program if I’m an interior design major?
Yes. Given your limited number of electives, however, you will need to occasionally take an overload to fit in required honors courses, and you will need to PLAN AHEAD even more carefully than students with less restrictive majors.
Can I pursue both an individualized major and the Honors Program?
Yes, you can complete both an individualized major and the Honors Program. In doing so, you have the opportunity to incorporate your Honors Program requirements into your individualized major. Whether or not the Honors Program requirements and your agreed-upon individualized degree requirements will coincide depends on your chosen topics within your individualized major.
How many honors courses are typically offered in a semester?
Nisbet Honors Course Offerings
“My favorite, so far, was the 9/11 and terrorism class. It challenged me to adopt a different world view and to become more involved in the global community.”—Ashton Lesiak ’10
Is there a limit on how many honors courses I may take?
No. While you need to take five to complete the program, we have had students take as many as nine or ten.
Is there a different grading scale for the Honors Program?
No. Courses are not weighted differently.
How much time out of the classroom would I spend on an honors course?
The time that is spent out of the classroom for each honors course will vary based on the topic and yourself. Since each course is designed to be unique and give you an opportunity to broaden your education, each course will require different expectations. Most honors students will tell you there is a difference in the amount of time you spend outside the classroom in an ENG 101 course versus the amount of time spent on a ENG/MUH 299H Interdisciplinary Honors Course. It may be easier for you to take as many honors courses during your freshman and sophomore years at Converse, rather than squeezing them in with the core courses you will take for your major(s) throughout your junior and senior years.
“I think I was a little nervous about how the workload would compare to the honors and AP level classes to which I was accustomed from high school, but I also wanted to find a way to challenge myself in college. Ultimately, I think the point that sold me was the ability to take classes that are only open to Honors Program students, such as interdisciplinary courses.”—Nicole Dumouchel ’10
Do honors students receive priority in study abroad programs, or even better opportunities?
If you take honors courses, you are eligible for more scholarship aid for Converse study-travel than non-honors students. Also, Converse’s Honors Program recently was accepted for membership in the Principia Consortium, a program of more than 16 honors programs across the nation that have united with the University of Glasgow in Scotland for a special honors semester abroad.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Is the program manageable while playing a sport?
Yes. Converse’s Honors Program is entirely manageable while being an athlete. Many Honors Program graduates played a sport here, and a few have even played dual sports while earning their degree from Converse.
“I kind of feel like it is easier to manage sports and fitting in my requirements because I sign up for classes first. That way, I can take the classes I need, when I need them (for example, I can get into a Lab course for my GEP in the offseason, since labs and the [soccer] season don't mix well).”—Kaitlyn Price ‘10
What is the Honors Program Student Board, and how can I join?
The Student Board is designed so that the students in the Honors Program have an opportunity to voice their opinions on events, guest speakers, course offerings, etc. Each year, board members have an opportunity to nominate two prospects from the new freshmen class to join the board.
“Being on the board, to me, is like having an inside look at the inner workings of the program. In addition, I feel like I can answer questions that underclassmen may have concerning advisement since I have that inside information.”—Kimberly Shorter ‘09
How do current honors students describe ideal candidates for the Nisbet Honors Program?
Accessible
Accommodating
Active participant
Deep thinker
Discussion oriented
Does not procrastinate
Efficient
Engaging
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Helpful
Innovative
Insightful
Motivated
Opportunistic
Original
Patient
Progressive
Rational
Well rounded
Willing to Push Boundaries
Whom should I contact if I have any other questions?
Contact Us
Can Converse II students (students over the age of 24) join the Honors Program?
Converse II students who do well once they have begun their studies at Converse are considered for admittance to the Honors Program; students must earn at least a 3.5 GPA after taking 12 hours at Converse to be invited to apply. Once a Converse II student enrolls, she is required to complete an application, request a letter of recommendation from a full-time professor at Converse, and submit a graded sample of 2-3 pages of her writing. If her application is accepted, she may immediately begin participating in honors extracurricular activities and may take honors courses starting the next term. Converse II students who apply need to recognize that Honors Program courses are not offered in the evenings.
Can I be removed from the Honors Program?
Yes, to remain in the program students must perform well in academic courses after entering the Honors Program. You should maintain a GPA above 3.0 or receive grades of B- or better in honors courses.
Can a non-honors student take honors courses?
Most honors courses are limited to students in the program, due to high demand and limited spaces in honors courses. Occasionally, with the instructor’s permission, non-honors students with a strong GPA enroll in an honors course that has enough space.
How does the Honors Program help students prepare for graduate school?
Outcomes
What percentage of honors graduates go on to graduate school?
Outcomes
Where do honors graduates gain admission to grad school, and what kinds of financial aid offers do they receive?
Outcomes
|
