Honors Program
First Two Years: General Studies Honors
General Studies Honors provides students with opportunities to excel with their Honors peers in the 5 competencies of the General Studies curriculum (Language and Communication, Critical Thinking, Identity and Culture, Knowledge and Inquiry, Ethics and Social Responsibility) by taking courses dedicated to their standing in Honors.
Beginning during the 2011 Academic Year, qualifying Honors students can participate in a unique track for Honors GSR credits. his Honors track recognizes that Honors can demonstrate by the end of GSR 102H/HSR101H (the first semester), the level of skills required for all students by the completion of GSR 150, typically the second semester of the first year. If conditions are met, (see below), Honors students may waive GSR 150 and proceed to GSR 210H by the second semester of their first year.
The reduction in requirements allows Honors students to begin major courses earlier and have space to take advantage of many co-curricular activities--internships and consortium courses, for example.
This waiver and a second feature of the Honors track supports students in helping to provide the time and scheduling to complete their University Honors Capstone. The second feature is GSR 300H, a special Honors section that, with a grade of B or higher, will count both for Honors General Studies and for the University Honors Capstone level.
Here is a summary of the Honors track pilot:
• GSR 101H (3) and GSR 102H (3) with a grade of B or better
• GSR 210H (4)
• One of GSR 220, GSR 230 or GSR 240 as an Honors section (if offered) or with an Honors Option contract (4)
• GSR 300H (4)
Total: 18 Honors credits out of 36 regular GSR requirements
During the Fall semester of their first year, typically Honors students will enroll in Honors sections of GSR 101 and 102 (First Year Seminar and English, respectively). Students will be waived from GSR 150 if they meet two conditions: (1) complete GSR 101H and 102H with a grade of B or high and (2) take GSR 210H. Exceptions, including Bridge students accepted into Honors after the first semester need permission of the Honors Director.
After completing GSR 210H, students will need to take either an Honors Option in GSR 200-level courses and/or special Honors sections of these courses.
After completing the remainder of the GSR 200-level courses, students will enroll in GSR 300H. Conceivably, this course could be completed by the end of the sophomore year--for example, if students take two 200-level courses in the spring of the first year and two in the fall of the sophomore year. With a grade of B or higher, this course counts towards both General Studies Honors and the University Honors Capstone program. However, since GSR 300H is a 4 credit course, taking it will mean that students take 10 Honors credits instead of 9 Honors credits to meet University Honors requirements (along with the 6 credits in the three-course capstone project sequence).
Overview of Integrated Courses
Integrated courses are offered to freshmen students during their first fall semester at Gallaudet. Integrated courses combine two courses sharing a common theme, such as Identity and self. This approach allows students to engage in critical dialectics and relate ideas between fields, as well as apply them to real-world problems. In this approach, subjects are not viewed as disparate but rather, they are viewed as complementary and lead students to explore a wider range of thought. These courses open the doors for students seeking to enter a rapidly changing and interconnected world where facts and theories may change, but the need for thinking remains constant and important. Completion of these courses is required for most students seeking General Studies Honors (exceptions will be dealt with on an a case-by-case basis).
Honors Seminar courses (HON 495) build on what students learn in courses, and take the critical thinking and interdisciplinary concept to higher levels. These courses do not cover general studies requirements, but continue the process of bringing together multiple disciplines in order to compel students to apply their learning and thinking skills, and analyze specific problems in depth. Completion of these courses is required for students seeking Capstone Honors; these courses may also be taken by students seeking General Studies Honors.
General Studies Courses
General Studies courses are offered by Honors faculty to help students complete their Honors and General Studies requirements by learning about a discipline while applying Honors-level thinking to their course work. Such courses also take a critical approach to coursework by promoting discussions and application of what students are learning toward use in the world around them. Completion of these courses is required for students seeking General Studies Honors.
Course Requirements
Students will need to complete the General Studies Requirements as listed here. To graduate with General Studies Honors, a student needs to take 18 credits worth of General Studies courses as Honors courses. Students may achieve this either through enrolling in Honors sections, or by Honors Option Contracts.
