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Honors Program

Honors Program
Program Director: Dr. Richard Lahti
Center for Engaged Learning
Hagen Hall 103 218-477-4514

The MSUM Honors Program provides excellent teaching, mentorship, and long-term intellectual development. The program is built around three themes: explore, create, experience. Within a flexible framework, students are expected to explore different courses, lectures, and ideas that challenge the intellect; create with faculty mentors their own research or creative activities; and experience the breadth of university life by attending concerts, plays, exhibitions, special lectures, or to experience what the world has to offer by studying abroad.

Program Components and Definitions
The Honors Program has two tiers. Students may complete either or both.

Tier One (16 credits)

  • HON 100 Introduction to Honors (1)
  • HON 200 Honors Colloquium in the Humanities (3) (Goal 6/WI). The Honors Colloquium develops student’s analytical, logical, and critical reading skills and it is structured to encourage open discussion of current issues, controversial ideas, and broadly interdisciplinary intellectual themes.
  • Four additional honors classes in the Liberal Arts & Sciences Curriculum (LASC) for a total of 12 credits.
  • Honors experience points in consultation with the Director of the Honors Program.

Tier Two (3 credits)

  • HON 492A Planning Your Honors Capstone (1)
  • HON 492B Honors Capstone Project (2) (WI). The Honors Capstone enables the student to use and extend skills and abilities developed over the course of their experience, developing an intellectual and/or professional written project that demonstrates their accomplishments in the program.
  • Class designated in their major (credit varies)
  • Honors experience points in consultation with the Director of the Honors Program.

Student Learning Outcomes for Honors Program

  • Students will explore different courses, lectures, and ideas to challenge the intellect.
  • Students will create with faculty mentors their own research or creative products or activities.
  • Students will experience the breadth of university life by attending concerts, plays, exhibitions, and special lectures or to experience more of what the world has to offer by learning abroad.

Entrance Requirements:
To be officially admitted to the MSUM Honors Program, a student must have an ACT composite score of at least 25 (or equivalent SAT or a cumulative GPA greater than 3.6 at their previous institution (high school or college). In addition, students will be required to complete a short essay.

Students who do not meet the above requirements but who wish to participate in the Honors Program may apply via individual review.