Honors Programs

John V. Glass III, M.A., Ph.D., Director
Abigail H. Shelton, Ph.D., Assistant Director
Emalee K. Buttrey, Ph.D., Assistant Director
Julie Kissiar, Administrative Associate II

16 McCombs Center
731-881-7436
honors@utm.edu

Mission

The Office of Honors Programs seeks to provide gifted and motivated students with an enhanced course of academic study and to provide and assist students in discovering opportunities for their intellectual development, creative expression, cultural enrichment, and personal growth.

Responsibility for the direction of Honors Programs lies with the Director and Assistant Directors of the Office of Honors Programs and the Honors Council.

Eligibility

Entering first-year students receiving a Chancellor’s Scholarship, or transferring students receiving the Elam Promise Transfer Scholarship are eligible and encouraged to enroll in Honors-designated sections of regularly offered courses and to pursue completion of a program of Honors study. Students who have not qualified at matriculation for either the Chancellor’s or Elam Transfer Scholarships may be invited by faculty or petition the Honors Council to participate in Honors courses based on their academic performance at UT Martin. All students pursuing a program of Honors studies must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2.

The University Scholars Program

Founded in 1981, the University Scholars Program at the University of Tennessee at Martin is the cornerstone of the Office of Honors Programs’ courses of study. The University Scholars Program provides a select group of highly motivated and capable students with an enhanced learning environment, an integrated curricular experience, foreign study, academic research, and the application of classroom learning in service to the campus, local communities, and region. The goal of the University Scholars Program is to develop exceptional critical thinkers and citizens educated through engaging the works and ideas that remain central to human civilization and culture.

Pathways through an Honors Program of Study

To receive recognition at graduation for having completed a program of Honors Studies, students may complete the University Scholars Program or complete a total of nine H-designated and HNRS courses with a grade of B or higher. The nine H-Designated and HNRS courses may include up to five (5) lower division classes and must include at least four (4) upper division classes.

Honors Designated Courses

All students awarded a Chancellor’s Scholarship are eligible and encouraged to enroll in Honors (H) Designated courses. These courses are offered at the discretion of individual departments and may fulfill General Education requirements or may be courses that satisfy requirements for specific major fields of study. Courses with H designation are designed to provide qualified and motivated students with opportunities for intellectual challenge, cultural enrichment, and personal growth. The following courses are offered by and at the discretion of individual academic departments:

Courses:

ART 110H - Honors Understanding Art Credit(s): 3
CHEM 122H - Honors General Chemistry II Credit(s): 4
COMM 230H - Honors Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
COMM 337H - Honors Argumentation and Debate Credit(s): 3
ENGL 111H - Honors English Composition Credit(s): 3
ENGL 112H - Honors English Composition Credit(s): 3
ENGL 250H - Honors British Literary Tradition Credit(s): 3
ENGL 251H - Honors British Literary Tradition Credit(s): 3
ENGL 260H - Honors American Literary Tradition Credit(s): 3
ENGL 261H - Honors American Literary Tradition Credit(s): 3
ENGR 315H - Honors Engineering Analysis Credit(s): 3
GEOS 110H - Honors Geoscience in Everyday Life Credit(s): 4
GEOS 120H - Honors Earth Materials and Processes Credit(s): 4
GEOS 130H - Honors Global Change and Earth History Credit(s): 4
GEOS 140H - Weather and Climate Credit(s): 4
HIST 121H - Honors Development of World Civilization Credit(s): 3
HIST 122H - Honors Development of World Civilization Credit(s): 3
HLTH 111H - Honors Principles and Concepts in Personal Health Credit(s): 3
HNRS 367 - Honors United States Travel-Study Credit(s): 3
HNRS 368 - Honors International Travel-Study Credit(s): 3
MATH 210H - Honors Elementary Statistics and Probability Credit(s): 3
MATH 251H - Honors Calculus I Credit(s): 4
PHYS 212H - Honors College Physics Credit(s): 4
PSYC 101H - Honors Introduction to Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOC 202H - Honors Social Problems Credit(s): 3
THEA 110H - Honors Understanding Theatre Credit(s): 3

The University Scholars Program

The University Scholars Program is the cornerstone of the Office of Honors Programs’ courses of study offers qualified, highly motivated students the opportunity to live and work in a community of peers engaged in the study of works and ideas foundational to the modern world. In their first two years, students in the University Scholars Program complete seven courses in partial fulfillment of the university’s general education requirements. In their third year, students participate in a study abroad experience. In their fourth year, students complete a thesis or equivalent project in their major field of study. First and Second Year University Scholars live in the University Scholars Program Living Learning Community (LLC) located in Cooper Hall. Upperclassmen may choose to continue to live in the LLC. The University Scholars Program aims to produce exceptional critical thinkers who are prepared to meet the challenges of their individual pursuits after graduation.

University Scholars Scholarship

In additional to their Chancellor’s Scholarship, students accepted to the University Scholars Program receive an additional annual scholarship of $2,500 renewable for four years and contingent upon their successfully meeting the program’s requirements.

University Scholars Curriculum

First-Year Courses

Fall:

HNRS 101 - Great Works I - The Ancient World and Classical Antiquity Credit(s): 3
HNRS 110 - Public Speaking and the Rhetorical Tradition Credit(s): 3

Spring:

HNRS 102 - Great Works II - Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages Credit(s): 3
HNRS 120 - Development of Mathematical Enquiry Credit(s): 3

Second-Year Courses

Fall:

HNRS 201 - Great Works III - The Late Middle Ages to the Renaissance Credit(s): 3
HNRS 210 - Development of Scientific Enquiry Credit(s): 3

Spring:

HNRS 202 - Great Works IV - The Enlightenment to Modernity Credit(s): 3

Third-Year

Following the completion of HNRS 202 , students participate in an extended study abroad program and may begin work on their research project to be completed in their fourth year.

Fourth-Year

Students in their fourth year complete and present in a public defense a thesis of substantive original work in their major field of study.

ePortfolios

All University Scholars annually produce an ePortfolio providing an ongoing, curated catalog and exhibiting of their curricular and extracurricular achievements; ePortfolios are submitted for review at the end of students’ first three academic years.

Graduation

Students successfully completing requirements of the program will graduate with a minimum academic distinction of magna cum laude and receive additional recognition and the distinction of graduating as a University Scholar.

Application and Admission to University Scholars Program

Students who are eligible to receive a Chancellor’s Scholarship are invited and encouraged to apply for admission to the University Scholars Program at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Thirty entering freshmen are selected on the basis of their high school record, standardized test scores, application essay, and a campus interview. Continuation in the program is contingent upon performance.

Application materials must be received by 15 November. Qualifying applicants will be notified by the Honors Program Director and invited to campus for interviews during the University Scholars Prospect Weekend. Following the campus visit and interview process, applicants accepted to the program will be notified by 01 February.

Please send application materials to:

The Office of Honors Programs
16 McCombs Center
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN 38238
731-881-7436;
honors@utm.edu