The University Honors Program offers a social and academic community for qualifying students who seek to enhance their classroom and co-curricular experiences. As a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the national organizing body for college and university Honors, we seek to enrich the RWU experience by:

• Providing opportunities to achieve excellence through intellectual and creative scholarship
• Fostering citizenship and social responsibility through leadership in and engagement with local and global communities

The University Honors Program prepares students through engaged scholarship, service, and leadership. The curriculum focuses on civic action and reflection, delivered through academic and co-curricular experiences and the practice of civil discourse. We pursue academic excellence that makes a difference.

Membership and Eligibility

Any prospective or current RWU undergraduate student meeting the established criteria for academic excellence may be eligible for the University Honors Program. For further information, please contact the Honors Program Director, Dr. William Palm (wpalm@rwu.edu, 401-254-3750).

Prospective students who complete the Honors Program application (included within the Common App) will be considered for admission into the program. Applicants minimally have earned cumulative averages of a B+ in major subjects and demonstrate a strong interest in being a member of the RWU Honors Living-Learning Community (LLC). The selection committee also considers the number of honors and advanced placement courses taken in high school, academic recognition, community service experience, and extra-curricular activities and leadership.

Currently enrolled Roger Williams University students performing with academic distinction within their first two semesters are encouraged to apply provided they are able to complete all program requirements through their remaining course of study. Transfer students of academic distinction may also apply for Honors Program membership.

As the university’s first Living-Learning Community, the program provides Honors housing, including quiet study areas and an activities and seminar space. Co-curricular opportunities and cultural events supplement students’ coursework and academic requirements. Official transcripts awarded to Honors students document their completion of this prestigious and rewarding program.

Program Requirements

The Honors Program Curriculum consists of 1) Required HONR courses, 2) Optional Honors-designated courses, 3) the Honors Community Engagement requirement, and 4) the Honors Capstone requirements. All students must also meet requirements for the University Core Curriculum and for their majors, minors, and Core Concentrations.[1]

 

For graduation with Honors, students must plan their course of study to complete a minimum of 18 credits across Groups A-D as follows:

 

A.  Students are required to take the following (10 credits):

HONR 100          1 credit             Foundations of Honors

HONR 102          3 credits           Honors Challenges of Democracy - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

HONR 103          3 credits           Honors Human Behavior in Perspective - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

HONR 104          3 credits           Honors Literature, Philosophy, and the Examined Life - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

 

B.  Students choose at least 6 credits from the following:

HONR 101          4 credits           Honors Scientific Investigations - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

HONR 105          3 credits           Honors Aesthetics in Context: The Artistic Impulse - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

HONR 220          1-3 credits        Place as Text

HONR 400          1 credit             Honors Capstone Seminar

HONR 410          1-3 credits        Honors Independent Study

HONR 430          1-3 credits        Special Topics Seminar

Any other Honors-designated course (denoted by an HONR course number or Honors course title)

Up to one WTNG course numbered 230 and above - counts in the University’s Core curriculum

 

Or, students may contract a course in the CORE curriculum using the Honors Contract.

 

C.  Students complete an approved, academic Community Engagement Project within the final two years of their course of study.  This requirement may be fulfilled by completing one of the following courses:

HONR 300          0-3 credits      Community Engagement Seminar

HONR 350          0-3 credits      Honors CPC Project

HONR 375          0-3 credits      Independent Community Engagement Project

 

Or, students may petition for a substitution with a course from within a major or discipline. One credit from the course will be counted towards the 18 Honors credit requirement.

 

D. Students complete an Honors Capstone project within the final two years of their course of study (1 credit).

The Honors Capstone Project includes a) an approved Senior Capstone Project within one or more disciplines, b) a corresponding Honors Capstone Reflection, and c) a formal presentation at one of the Honors Senior SASH symposia (or equivalent). The Senior Capstone Project must be conducted within one or more credit-bearing courses (e.g., a thesis, studio, project-based, or independent study course) and be pre-approved by the Honors Program and a faculty capstone mentor. One credit from the capstone course(s) will count towards the 18 Honors credit requirement.