Honors Program

Undergraduate Programs

Description

The Honors Program offers experiential learning opportunities, mentoring relationships, and a supportive community that fosters students' personal, academic, and professional development. Honors students are committed to developing competencies in key areas. Throughout their time at the University, honors students demonstrate acquisition of their competencies in an electronic portfolio through the documentation of and guided reflection about their experiential learning opportunities. 

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission to the Honors Program: The Honors Director, in consultation with the Honors Council, grants admission to the Honors Program. No predetermined test score or class rank guarantees or precludes admission. The selection committee considers the applicant’s demonstrated academic excellence and inquisitiveness. Contact the Honors Program Director for application forms and procedures. 

GPA Policy. Students must maintain a minimum overall 3.3 GPA to remain in good standing in the program.  

Pass/No Credit Policy. All of the Honors courses must be taken for a letter grade, except for HONR 475, which is only taken as pass/no credit.

Transfer Policy. Transfer students should contact the Honors Program Director when they submit the application for admission to discuss how their previous courses and learning experiences align with the honors competency model.

Honors Program Graduate: Students are required to complete HONR 201; HONR 375, HONR 475 and engage in at least 8 pre-approved competency development experiences which they document through developed reflections in an electronic portfolio.  Students must also pass an oral defense of their portfolios.

Honors with World Language Distinction. To achieve this distinction honors students must complete three language courses beyond the level of language study they had prior to beginning at the university and document this learning in their honors portfolio.  Honors students majoring in a language will determine the requirements necessary for this distinction in consultation with the Honors Director and the student's faculty advisor.

Contact Information

265 Morris Hall

Office (507) 389-5191
http://www.mnsu.edu/honors/

Faculty

Director
  • Leah White, Ph.D.
Associate Director
  • Giovanna Walters, M.Ed.
Student Success Coordinator
  • Emma Morin, M.A.

200 Level

Credits: 1

This course provides an orientation to the mission and core competencies of the Honors Program. Students will analyze and categorize leadership, research, and global citizenship themes, identify appropriate learning goals, and develop an e-portfolio for their use in the Honors Program.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

One way to meet Honors Program requirements is through Service-Learning. Students will develop meaningful Service-Learning activities which will involve an action and reflection dynamic. May be taken as traditional course or individually in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Honors students may engage in significant learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. A practicum typically begins with student interest that turns into an educational activity. Practicums will be individually determined in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none

300 Level

Credits: 1

This required portfolio course intended for students in the middle of their honors program experience allows students to develop their portfolio based on experiences they have had since completion of HONR 201. Throughout the course, students will critically examine their experiences in the competency areas and reflect on what they have learned from these experiences. This course helps students prepare for HONR 475: Honors Portfolio Capstone, which students are required to take in their final year.

Prerequisites: HONR 201

400 Level

Credits: 1-4

Seminars are offered by University faculty from a wide variety of disciplines. In addition, interdisciplinary seminars can be offered.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

One way to meet Honors Program requirements is through Service-Learning. Students will develop meaningful Service-Learning activities which will involve an action and reflection dynamic. May be taken as traditional course or individually in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Honors students may engage in significant learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. A practicum typically begins with student interest that turns into an educational activity. Practicums will be individually determined in consultation with the Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

This required course allows students to articulate where and how they have met the Honors Program Learning Outcomes.

Prerequisites: HONR 201, HONR 375

Credits: 1-6

To be arranged with Honors Program Director.

Prerequisites: none