How are students admitted to the Honors Program? Students who present outstanding high school credentials (e.g., high ACT or SAT scores, grade point average, and class rank) or excel in Carthage's scholarship competitions usually will receive invitations into the Honors Program in the winter of their senior year, and will be accepted into Honors sections of Heritage or other Honors courses.
Students who do not begin their studies at Carthage with an invitation to join the Honors Program may apply during their first few terms. Such students (including transfers) typically have maintained at least a 3.5 college grade point average. In addition, they should demonstrate excellence in one or more courses, have been recommended for the Honors Program by an instructor (usually their Heritage professor), and have been interviewed by the director of the Honors Program. They may also be asked to complete a brief written application. However, once a student is admitted into the Honors Program, they can take advantage of all of the available opportunities just as any other Honors student.
Why should I take Honors Heritage? Students in Honors Heritage spend less time working on the basics of reading comprehension, writing papers, or making presentations. Honors students are expected to have some understanding of the basic tools of reading, writing, and presenting, so the professor does not spend much class time explaining these basics. This allows more time for fun class discussions and activities which create a deeper understanding of the texts. Honors students read the same texts that regular students do, but they focus more on discussing and writing about the deeper ideas and meanings of the texts. Honors Heritage is characterized by student-led discussions which discuss the relationships between the texts and the themes of the course. The students in Honors Heritage often feel like they have more ownership of the class and more influence on how each individual class session goes. Because of the way they work and learn together, many of them become friends and stay friends through all four years of college. Honors Heritage helps to develop the learning community which will support Honors students throughout their four years at Carthage.
What is an Honors Contract? Honors contracts give Honors students enrolled in a non-Honors course a chance to pursue aspects of that course that particularly interest them, and to get Honors credit for their work. As the catalog indicates, an Honors contract is "an enhanced component of an approved course," or a "plan for doing independent work of a character and quality not expected of other students." This plan typically involves a combination of research, writing, and oral presentations. Usually, it requires something more distinctive than simply an extra or longer paper. A different quality, not just quantity of work is expected. Contracts can be made for introductory level courses as well as upper-division courses. Honors contracts are due in the third week of the semester for fall and spring semesters, and the beginning of the second week during J-Term. Students interested in establishing an Honors contract in a course should let the professor know as soon as possible, so that any questions about Honors contracts can be cleared up and an enhanced component developed.
How do I graduate with Honors? Honors students can graduate with two kinds of Honors - All College Honors or Honors in the Major. All-College Honors includes Honors in the Major. Honors in the Major requires several things including Honors Contracts in two upper-level classes in the major, a rating of excellent on the senior thesis, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5. The requirements for All-College Honors consist of three components: Foundation, Concentration, and Integration. The Foundation Component encompasses introductory level Honors classes including Honors Heritage; the Concentration Component consists of the requirements for Honors in the Major; and the Integration Component involves an Honors Junior Symposium and Honors Senior Colloquium. When a student graduates having satisfied the necessary requirements for All College Honors or Honors in the Major, this rank is included on their diploma and their transcript. This accomplishment is separate from Latin Honors such as cum laude which are entirely dependent on grade point average.
What is the Honors Council? Honors Council serves as the umbrella organization for honors activities on campus. Thos who participate in an honors course, a specialized honors organization within their major department, or have maintained a 3.5 GPA are eligible for membership. The group meets regularly in committees and as a whole to plan activities and programs designed to promote excellence in learning at Carthage. Students in Honors Council serve the campus and community through service projects and social activities, and through input into the curriculum and organization of the Honors Program. They produce a calendar of cultural and academic opportunities including readings, concerts, lectures, symposia, and trips to plays, operas, and museums - many of which are free or subsidized by the Honors Program. Members of Honors Council also attend regional and national conferences.
Why should I be an Honors student? The Honors Program offers a wide array of opportunities to Honors students. Honors students work closely with professors on independent projects, publications, and research, which better prepares them for graduate school and the professional world. They become involved in Honors Council, Honors societies, campus organizations, and athletic teams, all of which provide leadership and mentoring experiences. Honors students also receive institutional and individual support as they pursue prestigious national awards, such as the Truman and Fulbright Fellowships. They take unique courses that stretch across disciplines and majors and provide opportunities to interact with other Honors students, and they become regularly involved - both as participants and observers - in the cultural, artistic, and scholarly life on campus, as well as within the communities of Kenosha, Racine, Chicago, and Milwaukee.