The Honors Program offers talented students an opportunity to focus their attention on courses that encourage flexibility and integration of knowledge in an atmosphere of collaborative learning. The small honors classes foster inquiry and scholarship among students and faculty. The Honors Program is designed to nurture student involvement in the education process. Courses emphasize independent scholarship. All honors courses are identified on student transcripts.
Membership in the Immaculata Honors Program
First-time freshmen: Invitations are extended to high school students who meet at least two of the following criteria:
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SAT composite score (Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, and Writing) of 1650 or better
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High School GPA of 3.5 or equivalent and/or
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Top 20% of high school class
Second semester freshmen and first semester sophomores: Second semester freshman and first semester sophomores who have achieved a 3.5 cumulative GPA may also be invited into the program. Students who wish to enroll in the honors program, but whose cumulative GPA falls slightly under 3.5, may self-nominate and make formal application to the Honors Program Committee for acceptance into the program.
Transfer Students: Invitations are extended to transfer students who have completed 24 credits with a GPA of 3.5. Students who have completed fewer than 24 college credits must meet the same criteria as first-time freshmen applicants. Honors courses completed at other institutions (with at least a B average) will be accepted into the Immaculata Honors Program.
Transfer Students (entering IU with an advanced number of credits): Students who transfer into Immaculata in junior year and who have little chance of completing the formal honors program will be invited into the Honors Congress, an affiliate honors program. Membership in the Honors Congress gives students access to all honors courses, programs, and extra- and co-curricular activities, and priority registration for classes.
Honors Congress: Requirements for inclusion in the Honors Congress: Cumulative 3.5 GPA and formal application submitted to the Honors Program Subcommittee.
Requirements for Completion
The Honors Program requires the completion of 21 credits, which can be earned in several ways. The following outline suggests how the program can be completed; however, individual scheduling needs and course offerings will at times vary the sequence. The program can be completed in three years or extended into a fourth year.
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First year: Students should complete FYE 110: Honors Keystone Seminar; English 117; HON: Composition and Rhetoric; and one honors course, which fulfills a requirement for the liberal arts core.
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Second year: Students will take another honors course to apply to the liberal arts core and also complete three credits in either HON 400: Independent Honors Research or three credits in guided research within a core course or a course required by their major.
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Third year: In the third year, students may engage in an extended research project (three to six credits) and participate in HON 401: Honors Colloquium. Students who are considering graduate or professional school may use this period of extended research as a prelude to submitting application materials in their senior year.
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Fourth year: Many students will complete the honors program by the end of junior year; therefore, the fourth year provides ample time to complete off-campus study programs, student teaching, senior seminar papers, etc. If students have not yet completed the honors program, however, they can continue their honors courses in senior year. Students who have completed the requirements for the honors program may continue to take additional honors courses.
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Flexibility in completing the honors program: Honors credits may also be earned through study abroad experiences, leadership demonstrated through extended service learning or service projects, or through participation in an online Honors Summer Reading Program.
Recognition
The Honors Committee awards certificates of achievement. The student transcript reads “Honors” before the course number. The graduation program indicates that the student has completed the Honors Program.
Cultural and Social Activities
Honors students meet socially with faculty each semester during Honors Socials. The Honors Program also sponsors speakers and intercollegiate symposia on campus; encourages students to attend lectures, films, and museums off-campus (through Honors-sponsored trips); and involves students in the meetings of the National Collegiate Honors Council and regional honors conferences.