Honors College

Timothy Nichols, Dean
Briggs Library 126, 605-688-5268
Box 2115, Brookings, SD 57007
E-mail: timothy.nichols@sdstate.edu
Website: http://www.sdstate.edu/honors/

Committee

Timothy Nichols, Dean. Honors College Committee Members: Larry Janssen (ABS), April Brooks (A&S), Kathryn Penrod (E&C), Donna Flint (ENG), Joyce Fjelland (NUR), Chandradhar Dwivedi (PHA).

Program

Graduation with “Honors College Distinction” is earned by completing the requirements listed in the curriculum plan given below. The Honors College is dedicated to supporting the highest quality academic and enrichment opportunities for motivated and academically suited students who seek a high level of rigor and a personalized focus in a program featuring a carefully designed, yet flexible, curriculum and attention to growth experiences outside the classroom. Qualified students in any major are encouraged to enroll in Honors designated sections of general education courses the first semester of their university experience.

Enrollment Requirements for Honors Courses
Qualified students in any major may enroll in general education sections designated as Honors or Honors Colloquia without making formal application to the Honors College. To be eligible for enrollment in an Honors section, a student must have a university cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students entering as freshmen must rank in the upper 10% of their graduating class or have a score of 27 or higher on the composite ACT or combined SAT at the 90th percentile.

Honors College Continuing Enrollment
Students who wish to progress toward graduation with Honors College Distinction must apply for continued enrollment, generally at the end of the freshman or beginning of the sophomore year. An application form is available from the Honors College Dean.

Graduation with Honors College Distinction
To graduate with Honors College Distinction, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher at of the beginning of the semester of graduation. A minimum of 24 Honors credit hours is required including 15 credit hours of Honors general education courses, 3-6 hours of Honors Colloquium, 3 credit hours of Honors Independent Studies, and 3-6 hours of Honors upper division contract courses. Credit hours earned in Honors Colloquium and Honors Directed Studies beyond the minimum of 3 credit hours can be applied toward Honors College requirements in lieu of Honors upper division contract course credits. Successful graduates are presented with the Honors College medallion. Honors College distinction is noted on their transcripts and inscribed on their diplomas.

Honors Courses

Departmental Honors Courses. Departmental Honors courses are general education courses or special sections of departmental courses that have received approval for the Honors course designation.
First Year Seminar - Honors (HON 109). Recommended for first semester Honors students, provides practical and philosophical foundation for students’ Honors experience.
Honors Colloquium (HON 301-304). Honors Colloquia are engaging semester-long interdisciplinary seminars, focused on important issues of our time. Students are encouraged to enroll in colloquia when the theme is of particular interest to them. Students must be Honors College eligible to enroll, but there are no additional course pre-requisites.
Honors Independent Study (HON 491). In the junior year, Honors College students should propose their independent study projects. The Honors College office will supply a set of instructions. The proposed study must be approved by the University Honors College Committee. Final papers are filed with the Honors College Dean and results presented on campus and/or at an appropriate off-campus scholarly venue.