Honors Program
Mission Statement
The Honors Program at Cumberland University offers an opportunity for intellectually curious students to broaden their horizons beyond the traditional university classroom experience. The Honors Program uses an interdisciplinary approach to encourage critical thinking, cultivate ethical and social responsibility, and develop professional skills that students can carry with them into the future.
NOTE: Candidates in the Honors Program must declare a primary area of study (major). Students cannot major in the Honors Program as a standalone program.
To successfully complete the Honors Program students must meet the program requirements below and full requirements in another academic program (major). Students completing the Honors Program have the option to complete the program at the Honors Associate (12 credit hours) or Honors Scholar (21 credit hours) levels. Honors Scholars must complete HON 496, Honors Capstone Project.
For additional information regarding the Honors Program, please visit the Honors Program section of the Catalog.
Honors Contract
The Honors Contract allows students in Cumberland University's Honors Program the chance to contract a course in one's program of study (major or minor). The course must be at the 300-400 level and it cannot be a course that is offered in the Honors curriculum. The application is an agreement between the student and faculty member and it is ultimately up to the student to demonstrate in the application how the work completed in the course justifies the Honors credit. Students can complete up to two contract courses within the program of study. The Honors contract is initiated by the student and the form must be completed in its entirety. Once completed, it should be sent to the Honors Council (honors@cumberland.edu) at least 15 business days prior to the Drop/Add deadline.
Students are encouraged to start the process as early as possible with the following recommendations:
- Students can direct general questions about the Honors Contract to his or her primary advisor and/or the Executive Director of the Honors Program.
- Contact the faculty member well in advance of the start of the semester. When making contact it is a good idea to provide your name, major, the name of the course, and explicitly state you are an Honors Program student.
- When contacting the faculty member respectfully request a time to meet to discuss the Honors Contract. Be prepared to provide the faculty member with a copy of the application form and give advanced consideration to how the Honors Contract will help you achieve your professional goals.
- Anticipate the contract will take time for you and the faculty member to complete. As a result, be mindful of the deadline for submitting your completed application.
Degree Requirements
Honors Program Courses - 12-21 hours
| HON 101 | First Year Honors Seminar | 3 |
| HON 110 | Honors English Seminar | 3 |
| HON 129 | Honors: Music Listening | 3 |
| HON 140 | From Atoms to Evolution | 4 |
| HON 170 | Honors: Introduction to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| HON 211 | Honors: Psychology of Human Growth & Development | 3 |
| HON 220 | Honors: Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| HON 221 | Humanities & Social Sciences Honors Seminar | 3 |
| HON 325 | Experiential Learning for Honors Scholars | 3 |
| HON 398 | Special Topics in Interdisciplinary Studies | 3-4 |
| HON 440 | Leadership Honors Seminar | 3 |
| HON 495 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| HON 496 | Honors Capstone Project | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all honors courses.
HON 101 is required for new and transferring freshmen with less than 24 hours. This course can be taken in lieu of FSL 101, Foundations of Scholarship and Learning.
HON 110 can be taken in lieu of ENG 102, English Composition II.
HON 129 can be taken in lieu of MU 129, Music Listening.
HON 170 can be taken in lieu of CIS 170, Introduction to Microcomputer Applications.
HON 211 can be taken in lieu of PSY 211, Psychology of Human Growth & Development.
HON 220 can be taken in lieu of SPEE 220, Fundamentals of Speech.
In order to graduate with the tier Honors Scholar students admitted into the Honors Program must earn at least 21 credit hours. Honors Scholars must complete HON 496, Honors Capstone Project.