Honors College Spring 2023 Advising Information
Early Registration Approval Information
- Being awarded early honors registration is not automatic. All approvals must be finalized by February 16, 2023 (please note that the advising workshops portion of this process will have an earlier date - see boxes below).
- Please read the information below (click on the down arrows for either the Freshmen or New Transfer & Continuing Students box) on what is required for early registration approval based on your status in the Honors College.
- Students already enrolled in thesis classes (UH 4900 or UH 4950) do not need to attend any workshops. You will be given early registration approval. Please contact Judy or Laura if you have questions regarding your thesis or remaining honors requirements.
- Approved students can begin registering Monday, April 3rd at 10:00 a.m. (60+ earned hours) or 11:00 a.m. (less than 60 earned hours) for Summer and/or Fall classes.
First Year Students (starting Fall 2022 or Spring 2023)
In order to be reviewed for early registration approval, new freshmen must watch the First & Second Year Spring Workshop video and fill out the early registration approval form by 4 p.m. on 2/14/2023. The workshop will provide in-depth information regarding Honors and the Honors experience. Students who do not attend one of the workshops will not be reviewed or approved for early registration. Multiple reminder emails will be sent prior to the deadline to students who may qualifiy. Please contact Susan.Lyons@mtsu.edu if you have questions or concerns regarding the workshop requirement.
At the end of the video a link will appear on screen that provides access to the online early registration approval form. You must watch the video AND fill out the form. If you have any issues watching the video or accessing the link please email Susan.Lyons@mtsu.edu.
First & Second Year Spring Workshop Video
Passcode: =mA8k1Sp
New Transfer Students and Continuing Junior/Seniors (not yet enrolled in UH 4900/4950)
In order to be reviewed for early registration approval you need to watch the Thesis Workshop video and fill out the early registration approval form by 4 p.m. on 2/14/2023 in order to access the early registration approval form. Students who fail to watch the video by that deadline will not be reviewed, or approved, for early registration with Honors. Multiple reminder emails will be sent prior to the deadline to students who may qualifiy. Please contact Judy.Albakry@mtsu.edu if you have questions or concerns regarding the video requirement.
At the end of the video a link will appear on screen that provides access to the online early registration approval form. You must watch the video AND fill out the form. If you have any issues watching the video or accessing the link please email Judy.Albakry@mtsu.edu.
If you would like to meet with me individually please schedule an appointment at any point in the semester but watch the video first as it is required for early registration approval.
Other Videos (not required but recommended if you have not previously attended a Thesis Workshop or need additional information):
New Honors Student Information
New Transfer Student Information
Library & University Resources
Using the Research Guides at JWL
Other Important Information:
Honors Graduation Requirements (full UH minor): 29 hours
18 hours lower-division Honors coursework, which can include any of the following options:
- Any 1000/2000 level Honors courses
- A maximum of two honors contracts*
- Extra 3000/4000 level Honors courses not used for the upper-division requirements below
- Approved study abroad credits (up to 9 hours total) or internship credits (up to 6 hours total)*
- Can include up to 9 hours of the following: AP credits with scores of 4 or 5; Governor's School credit with a grade of A; and approved IB credits
- UH 3000 can be taken up to 3 times if needed
- 1-hr Collage (UH 3001) can be taken up to 3 times if needed
11 hours upper-division Honors coursework, which is broken down to the specific courses below:
- 3 hours of any 3000/4000 level Honors course, an approved Honors Contract, approved study abroad, or approved internship*.
- 3 hours of Interdisciplinary Seminar. Fulfilled by taking UH 3500, UH 4600, or UH 4010 (Institute of Leadership Excellence); or an approved study abroad or internship course.*
- 1 hour of UH 3000 – Lecture Series
- 1 hour of UH 4900 – Thesis Tutorial
- 3 hours of UH 4950 – Honors Senior Independent Study Research or Creative Project (Thesis)
*A maximum of two honors contracts, nine study abroad credits, and six internship hours may be counted towards your honors requirements; they can be used for lower or upper division or split between the two requirements. Please review the use of these hours with your honors advisor. All study abroad and internship credits must be approved. See those sections below for further details.
Honors Associate Requirements (UHA minor): 11 hours
The Honors Associate Minor requires 11 hours of upper-division honors coursework as listed below. This minor is available to transfer students or continuing students who want to complete the Honors thesis but do not have enough honors hours to complete the additional 18 hours required in the full minor.
11 hours upper-division Honors coursework, which is broken down to the specific courses below:
- 3 hours of any 3000/4000 level Honors course, an approved Honors Contract, approved study abroad, or approved internship*.
- 3 hours of Interdisciplinary Seminar. Fulfilled by taking UH 3500, UH 4600, or UH 4010 (Institute of Leadership Excellence); or an approved study abroad or internship course.*
- 1 hour of UH 3000 – Lecture Series
- 1 hour of UH 4900 – Thesis Tutorial
- 3 hours of UH 4950 – Honors Senior Independent Study Research or Creative Project (Thesis)
*A maximum of one honors contract, six study abroad credits, and/or six internship hours may be counted towards your honors requirements. Please review the use of these hours with your honors advisor. All study abroad and internship credits must be approved. See those sections below for further details.
Honors Contracts
Typically, sophomores, juniors, and seniors complete honors contracts to complete their remaining outstanding Honors requirements. Freshmen should check with their Honors advisor first to see if they need a contract for the current semester.
The Honors contract form is located on the forms site and is now an online form. It is due September 30th for Fall Semesters and February 15th for Spring Semesters.
- Students need to work out an agreement with an individual professor to complete extra work that will enhance their learning.
- Students can receive honors credit for a non-honors upper-division course (3000 and 4000 level) or a 2000 level class that is NEVER offered by the Honors College. Please check with an honors advisor first to see if the class qualifies.
- Students must include a description of the honors component to the form and the professor must sign the form.
Use of Internship Hours towards Honors Requirements
You may now use approved Internship hours towards Honors Graduation (or the Honors Associate) requirements. Students must request approval for these hours before the internship begins by filling out an online form which is available on the forms site and is now an online form.
Internships must count for college credit and show on your official MTSU transcript in order to substitute for honors graduation requirements. You must first arrange the internship with your major or minor department and then submit our form for our approval. Once final grades have been submitted for the internship, the credits will be evaluated by your honors advisor to determine if the earned credits will substitute for lower or upper division honors requirements. Approved internships may also substitute for the Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar requirement. A maximum of six (6) hours will substitute for honors graduation requirements. If the internship is graded on an A to F scale the student must earn a B- or higher in order for the internship credits to substitute for honors credit.
Institute of Leadership Excellence
We encourage Honors students to consider enrolling in the Institute of Leadership Excellence (UH 4010). This course can be substituted for Interdisciplinary Seminar or used towards other honors requirements
- Learn more here: https://www.mtsu.edu/ile/
- Promotes leadership development, personal growth and skill development
- Limited enrollment—must be nominated and apply
- Meets one week in May (beginning of summer semester). Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.—6 p.m. each day
-
Regular summer tuition for 3 credit hours (they provide breakfast and lunch)
Honors Minors
Students who intend to graduate from the Honors College, or to complete an Honors Associate (which requires the upper-division honors requirements including thesis), will declare an Honors Minor.
- Two options: Full Honors Requirements (29 hours) or Honors Associate (15 hours). In order to graduate from the Honors College, you must fulfill the requirements for the Full Honors Minor (29 hours). The Honors Associate Minor is meant for students who transfer without previous honors courses or those who join the Honors College later in their undergraduate career and cannot complete the 18 hours of lower division. Please note that students who complete the Honors Associate will not have the “Graduated from the University Honors College” designation on their diploma or transcript, nor will they be eligible for Honors Cords for graduation regalia.
- You are allowed to declare multiple minors. The honors minor should not replace any previously declared minor(s). You may need additional coursework if you are approved to use the Honors Minor as your only minor – contact your major advisor to discuss these issues.
- All courses within the honors minors CAN double count as other degree requirements. Since honors courses can double count, you are only adding on 5-8 hours to your overall degree requirements in order to complete either of the minors’ requirements.
- Otherwise, students will be asked to complete an online form to declare an honors minor once they enroll in upper division UH courses such as UH 3000, UH 3500/4600, UH 4010, UH 4900, or UH 4950. There is no need to declare the minor prior to enrollment in these classes.
Contact your honors advisor for further questions regarding the honors minor.
How to Sign-Up for Thesis
In order to register for UH 4900, you must complete the UH 4900 “Thesis Tutorial” form that requires a tentative topic and the signature of a thesis advisor whom the student has selected. The UH 4900 form is on the forms site and is now an online form. It is titled “Thesis Tutorial”.
It is also recommended that you do the following:
- Read the thesis guide.
- Meet with your honors advisor to make sure that you will fulfill all honors requirements before you graduate or to complete the Honors Associate requirements. To graduate from Honors, you need 18 hours of lower-division honors classes and 11 hours of upper-division honors classes which includes: the lecture series (UH 3000), an interdisciplinary studies class (UH 4010/3500/4600), a three-hour honors elective (which can be fulfilled through an honors contract), UH 4900, and UH 4950. The Honors Associate requires only the upper division hours portion. See further information about the Honors Minors above.
- Thesis Preparation Timeline (Fall prep for Spring enrollment).
- View completed theses for examples on what to expect.
Honors One-Year Scholarships
The Honors College scholarship applications will be available for Honors opportunities until March 1st. You must be considered as “on-track” and receive early registration approval each semester from the Honors College in order to be considered for Honors Scholarships. Please visit our scholarship site for additional information and instructions.
Other Opportunities to Get Involved
Honors Ambassadors
You will be emailed throughout the year about various student activities and events that are sponsored by the MTSU Honors Ambassadors. The Honors College Ambassador Program is a leadership opportunity for students who are dedicated to serving and representing the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University. Students Ambassadors serve as representatives of the Honors College at a variety of events involving prospective students and families, alumni, current students and families, faculty, staff, and university administrators. Please visit their site for more information regarding the Honors Ambassador program.
Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society
OΔK is the only national college honor society to recognize and honor meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship. Students must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and should contact Tatum.Hochstetler@mtsu.edu for more information.
Collage
Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression is run by a student editor and an editorial board composed exclusively of students. The journal serves both as an outlet for the creative works of MTSU students and as a laboratory for those interested in publication and arts criticism. Students can also take Collage as a 1-credit hour honors class. The deadline is February 13th for Spring 2023 submissions. For more information, go to: http://www.mtsu.edu/collage/ or contact collage@mtsu.edu.
Scientia et Humanitas
Scientia et Humanitas is MTSU's research journal showcasing the best in undergraduate and graduate scholarship. Sponsored by the University Honors College, the purpose of the journal is to disseminate important research conducted by MTSU's student body and provide an opportunity for students to participate in the publication of that research, while promoting interdepartmental faculty and student collaboration. By spotlighting the accomplishments of students, the journal also serves as a potent public relations tool both on and off campus. The spring priority deadline to submit papers for the Spring 2023 issue is February 13th. Contact scientia@mtsu.edu for more information.
Honors Certificate
Honors Certificate Request - (submit online, use Pipeline username and password to log into form)
