University Honors Program

Subject abbreviation: HNPG College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Christopher Chase-Dunn, Ph.D., Director Distinguished Professor of Sociology Program Office, 2316 Olmsted Hall

• (951) 827-5323; honors@ucr.edu

honors.ucr.edu

Committee in Charge Steven Axelrod, Ph.D. (English) Timothy Close, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) Robin DiMatteo, Ph.D. (Psychology) Bradley Hyman, Ph.D. (Biology) Qing Jiang, Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Maurya Simon, Ph.D. (Creative Writing) Deborah Wong, Ph.D. (English)

Outstanding students from all disciplines and majors can participate in the University Honors Program (UHP). The UHP lower- division cur- riculum provides special seminars, projects, and other courses designed to introduce hon- ors students to the rewards of scholarship and research. First-year courses encourage innova- tive approaches to introductory courses and provide an avenue for faculty to present cours- es that concentrate on their research interests. UHP seminars expose students to methods of conceptualizing issues and framing questions that characterize disciplines. These seminars help prepare students for the independent research that upper-division honors demands. In the junior and senior years, each student in the UHP selects a topic for an honors project or thesis and pursues this topic under the supervision of an individual faculty member. The thesis or project is submitted by the end of the senior year. In both the upper division and lower division, the UHP challenges honors stu- dents to take an active role in shaping their education.

The program offers a variety of extracurricular and service learning activities. The UHP offers staff support for honors students, including sup- port for fellowship applications, internships, application to graduate schools, and summer enrichment programs. A reading room, seminar room, and lounge and work space with comput- er facilities are available to honors students.

The goal of the UHP is to challenge the many gifted students who enroll at UCR and at the same time to fully integrate them into the life of the campus. We have designed outstanding programming for first-year students through our Lower-Division Component, and we have excel- lent student-faculty research opportunities for juniors and seniors participating in Upper- Division Honors. But sophomores sometimes get caught in the transition. The UHP Sophomore Applied Learning Com pon ent was created for students to make more productive use of that transitional year. Inter ested students must apply to the program and meet the mini- mum GPA and units earned by the end of the freshman year at UCR. For details, visit hon- ors.ucr.edu.

The upper-division UHP provides the student with the framework to produce a thesis or proj- ect, a substantial, independent product of scholarship, research, or creative activity. This structure is adaptable to almost any major and allows each student the flexibility to work with a faculty advisor to shape a research program to meet the ambitions of the project.

Continuing UCR students with an excellent academic record may apply or be nominated to participate in upper-division honors whether or not they completed lower-division honors. Students who transfer to UCR as juniors with excellent academic records may also apply or be nominated to the upper- division UHP.

During the junior year, students narrow their research focus, select a faculty supervisor, and prepare to undertake the honors project. The UHP provides support in all phases of this planning. The honors project is usually under- taken in the first two quarters of the senior year and is completed well before graduation.

The completed thesis is submitted to the faculty advisor and to a second faculty reader for approval. The approved thesis, a cumulative GPA of 3.4 in the major, and an upper-division GPA of at least 3.50 qualify the student for graduation with upper-division honors. The honors designation appears on the official tran- script.

The EAP is an excellent opportunity to travel and learn more about another country and its culture while taking courses to earn units toward graduation. Stu dents should plan study abroad well in advance to en sure that the courses taken fit with their overall program at UCR. Con sult the departmental student affairs officer for assistance. For further details visit UCR’s International Education Center at internationalcenter.ucr.edu or call (951) 827-4113.

See Education Abroad Program under International Education Center in the Student Services section of this catalog. A list of partici- pating countries is found under Education Abroad Program in the Programs and Courses section. Search for programs by specific areas at eap.ucop.edu/programwizard.