University Honors Program

Subject abbreviation: HNPG College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Program Office, 2316 Olmsted Hall

• (951) 827-5323; honors@ucr.edu

honors.ucr.edu

Committee in Charge Steven Axelrod, Ph.D. (English) Amalia Cabezas, Ph.D. (Women’s Studies) Robin DiMatteo, Ph.D. (Psychology) V.P. Franklin, Ph.D. (History) Bradley Hyman, Ph.D. (Biology) Natasha Raikhel, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) Roberto Sanchez-Rodriguez, Ph. D. (Environmental Science) Deborah A. Wong, Ph.D. (Music) Outstanding students from all disciplines and majors can participate in the University Honors Program (UHP). In both the upper division and lower division, the UHP challenges honors stu- dents to take an active role in shaping their education. The UHP offers a variety of extracurricular and service learning opportuni- ties. The UHP offers staff support for honors students, including support for fellowship appli- cations, internships, application to graduate schools, and summer enrichment programs. A reading room, seminar room, and lounge and work space with computer facilities are avail- able to honors students.

This component is divided into two opportuni- ties. Admission to the First Year component of lower-division honors is based on an applica- tion, high school grades, aptitude scores and achievement test scores. Students take honors courses and participate in workshops, personal growth, and community service activities. The UHP lower-division curriculum provides special seminars, projects, and other courses designed to introduce honors students to the rewards of scholarship and research. First-year courses encourage innovative approaches to introducto- ry courses and provide an avenue for faculty to present courses that concentrate on their research interests. UHP seminars expose stu- dents to methods of conceptualizing issues and framing questions that characterize disciplines.

The sophomore component of Lower Division is designed to challenge the many gifted students who did not have the opportunity to participate in the first year component. The sophomore component offers students an introduction to the Honors experience and the wealth of opportunities available to undergraduates at UC Riverside. Our hope is that participants will go on to engage in an array of meaningful scholar- ly endeavors throughout their years of under- graduate study. The sophomore component was created for students to make more produc- tive use of their transitional year. Interested stu- dents must apply to the program and meet the minimum GPA and units earned by spring quarter of their freshman year at UCR. For details, visit honors.ucr.edu.

The upper-division UHP provides students with the framework to produce a thesis or project, a substantial, independent product of scholar- ship, research, or creative activity. This struc- ture 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. We have excellent student-faculty research and leader- ship opportunities for juniors and seniors par- ticipating in Upper-Division Honors. Continuing UCR students with an excellent academic record may apply or be nominated to partici- pate 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 nomi- nated to the upper-division UHP. During the junior year, students narrow their research or leadership 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 or project is submitted to the faculty advisor and to a second faculty reader for approval. The approved thesis or project, 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 hon- ors. The honors designation appears on the official transcript.

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.