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Honors Program Requirements

  • Student Scholars must maintain a 3.5 GPA. If your GPA falls below 3.5, you have one semester to raise it.
  • Students must check their email and stay in contact with the co-Directors.
  • Students must attend all mandatory meetings and at least one event sponsored by the program each academic year. This includes lectures, field trips, and other opportunities and events.
  • Students must complete the program requirements with grades of B or better before they begin their project.
  • Students should try to finish their second seminar by the end of the junior year. It is best not to do your project in your last semester.
  • Students who wish to withdraw from the program must write a letter to the co-Directors stating this and explaining why or meet with one of the co-Directors for an exit interview.

If you were admitted to the Honors Program prior to the fall of 2020, the Honors Program remains a 9-credit interdisciplinary program:

  • 2 interdisciplinary Honors seminars with a grade of B or higher (3 credits each)
  • Independent Honors research/creative project (3 credits) – HP 405
  • Presentation of a student’s research to both faculty and the wider Caldwell University community (part of Research and Creative Arts Day)

 Who applied?

  • Qualified incoming students
  • Any student who had completed at least one semester at Caldwell and had a GPA of 3.3 or higher is eligible to apply

While not required, we highly recommend that you complete these academic requirements according to the following Suggested Plan of Study:

Sophomore Year:
Fall: Honors Seminar (3 credits)
Spring: Honors Seminar (3 credits)

Junior Year:
Fall: Honors Project proposal (consider enrolling in HP 400 / not required)
Spring: Honors Project Class / HP 405 (3 credits)

While you do not have to follow this plan, you should be aware of the following as you plan for next semester and the rest of your time at Caldwell:

  • You may not submit an Honors Project proposal until after you have completed two Honors Seminars
  • You must submit your Honors Project proposal and get it approved by the Honors Committee the semester before you plan on enrolling in HP 405 Honors Project and completing your Project.

For incoming freshmen in the fall of 2020 and students admitted into the program as of fall 2020 and beyond, the Honors Program is now a 17-credit interdisciplinary program:

  • 2 interdisciplinary Honors seminars with a grade of B or higher (3 credits each for a total of 6 credits)
  • 2 Honors designated Core Curriculum class (3 credits each / total of 6)
  • 1 section of Honors Freshman Seminar (1 credit)
  • 1 Research Methods Class (1 credit) / HP 400
  • Independent Honors research/creative Project (3 credits) / HP 405
  • Presentation of a student’s research to both faculty and the wider
  • Caldwell University community (part of Caldwell’s Research and Creative Arts Day)
  • Service to the University

Who can apply?

  • Qualified incoming students
  • Any student who has completed at least one semester at Caldwell and has a GPA of 3.5 or higher is eligible to apply

While not required, we highly recommend that you complete these academic requirements according to the following Suggested Plan of Study:

Freshman Year:
Fall: Freshman Seminar (1 credit)
Fall: Honors Core, EN 111 or EN 320 (3 credits)
Spring: Honors Core class (3 credits)

Sophomore Year:
Fall: Honors Seminar (3 credits)
Spring: Honors Seminar (3 credits)

Junior Year:
Fall: Research Methods / HP 400 (1 credit)
Spring: Honors Project Class / HP 405 (3 credits)

This structure is ideal, but students are able (and are encouraged) to take additional Honors Seminars. Also, some students may take these classes in the second semester of their freshman year and even into their junior and senior years. It is possible, as well, that students complete their project in their senior year, but we encourage an earlier completion.

In accord with program objectives and the Dominican values of the college, students participating in the Honors Program are required to act responsibly and respectfully towards others in all activities relating to the program. This includes guidelines established by the college and any specific guidelines established by professors, advisors and the co-Directors in seminars and the Honors Projects. If the co-Directors determine that the participation of a student does not meet these criteria, the student will be dismissed from the program without further recourse.