Honors College
The Honors College at Montana State University provides opportunities for students to study, conduct research, and exchange ideas in a challenging and supportive academic environment. In addition to learning from outstanding faculty members, Honors students can attend special Honors seminars, take interdisciplinary Honors courses, and engage in independent study and research opportunities.
For details about admission and graduation requirements, contact the Honors College Office in Norm Asbjornson Hall, Room 347 or by calling 406-994-4110, sending an e-mail to honors@montana.edu or by checking www.montana.edu/honors.
An essential component of higher education is preparing students to better understand themselves, others, and the increasingly complex world around them. Undergraduate education in particular has the goal of helping students become, in time, their own best teachers. At Montana State University, the Honors College addresses this goal by providing academically motivated students with unique opportunities to undertake interdisciplinary course work and undergraduate research leading to an Honors Baccalaureate Degree. Such studies, in addition to courses within their chosen discipline, provide extraordinary preparation for professional and technical careers, or graduate and advanced studies.
Entering students have the opportunity to undertake innovative studies during their freshman year. "Texts and Critics: Knowledge and Imagination" is a two-semester seminar that address fundamental issues in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the fine arts through critical reading and analysis of seminal texts which serve as a foundation for advanced studies in major disciplinary fields. Instructed by faculty representing every college at the University, Texts and Critics earns University Seminar and Inquiry-Humanities core credits. In addition, the Honors College annually offers a variety of upper-division interdisciplinary seminars. These seminars employ Socratic methodology through which faculty and students engage in critical discussion of issues spanning a diverse range of academic interests. Such engagement also fosters the development of analytic and critical communication skills. Many of these seminars, typically taught by the most respected and inspirational professors on campus, carry university core credit in each of the major discipline categories.
Special Honors sections of departmental courses in Architecture, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Physics, Math, Biology, Sociology, Psychology, Earth Science and Electrical Engineering are also offered. Limited enrollment in seminars and classes permits lively discussion and interactive study among faculty and students.
"Great Expeditions" is an Honors course that includes two-weeks of international travel following a semester of study pertinent to the expedition theme. After travel is completed, students present a public symposium highlighting the results of their journey.
"Mentoring Gifted Students," a service-learning course, enables students to work with gifted and talented students in the public schools.
Additional opportunities for independent study are available through Honors contracts, which are offered primarily at the upper-division level. Contracts prepare students to accept the special challenges and benefits of an Honors thesis. Upper-class students may also qualify to undertake supervised tutorial study.
Honors students have been remarkably successful in earning other scholarships for further study, both in the United States and abroad. Special attention is given to preparation for professional and graduate schools. Extracurricular, outdoor, and social activities are an important feature of the daily life of the College.
Enrollment in Honors College courses is restricted to students officially admitted to Honors. Admission is normally limited to students in the upper ten percent of their high school class or to those already enrolled in the University who have demonstrated academic achievement and personal initiative.
To maintain good standing, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate significant and continuing progress toward their specific degree in addition to satisfying the particular standards of Honors coursework or research. Graduation with an Honors Baccalaureate Degree requires the accumulation of a specific number of Honors credits as determined by the category of Honors degree the student pursues. All such credits may be acquired through successful completion of Honors courses, a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, and one-year (or its equivalent) of a second language. To graduate with Highest Distinction, a thesis and a minimum cumulative 3.7 GPA are required. Students are encouraged to discuss their interest with the Dean. For details about admission and graduation requirements, contact the Honors College Office in Norm Asbjornson Hall, Room 347 or by calling 406-994-4110, sending an e-mail to honors@montana.edu or by visiting the Honors website at www.montana.edu/honors.