University Honors

Dr. Ellen J. Jenkins, Director
Witherspoon Hall, Room 267
Telephone: (501) 968-0456

The University Honors Program at Arkansas Tech University is designed to provide an enriched intellectual experience for students of outstanding educational talents and leadership potential. At Arkansas Tech, the Honors student will benefit from opportunities to interact with other highly-motivated students and outstanding professors in the challenging atmosphere of small, innovative Honors classes specially designed to foster rational enquiry, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

Application to University Honors should be made as early as possible during the senior year of the high school student. Honors students are selected through an application process which includes a written essay and personal interviews on our campus. To be eligible for University Honors, the high school student must have a minimum ACT Composite score of 28 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Students in the honors program take special sections of General Education courses in their freshman and sophomore years, followed by participation as peer mentors during the junior year. The senior year requires completion of the Senior Honors Project, as well as presentation of project results at an annual Senior Honors Symposium.

Students selected for the University Honors program receive excellent scholarships as well as such privileges as preferred preregistration, opportunities for individual directed study with Tech professors, and special recognition at commencement. The prescribed curriculum for the University Honors program is provided below.

Freshman Year:

1. English – 6 hours
   • Six hours from the following:
     1. ENGL 1043 Honors Composition I
     2. ENGL 1053 Honors Composition II
   
   
2. History – 3 hours
   • Three hours from one of the following:
     1. HIST 1503 World Civilization I
     2. HIST 1513 World Civilization II
     3. HIST 2003 U.S. History to 1865
     4. HIST 2013 U.S. History since 1865
   
   
3. Science – 4 hours
   • Four hours from the following:
     1. PHSC 1013 Intro to Physical Science
     2. PHSC 1021 Physical Science Lab
     3. BIOL 1114 Principles of Biology
     4. BIOL 1124 Principles of Zoology
     5. BIOL 1134 Principles of Botany
   
   

1. Economics – 3 hours
   • Three hours from the following:
     1. ECON 2003 Principles of Economics I
   
   
2. Humanities – 3 hours
   • Three hours from one of the following:
     1. PHIL 2003 Intro to Philosophy
     2. ENGL 2003 Intro to World Literature
   
   

1. Find a Project Director for Senior Honors Project
2. Mentor an incoming freshman

1. Honors – 3 hours
   • Three hours from the following:
     1. HONR 4093 Senior Honors Project
     2. Present Senior Honors Project at the Senior Honors Symposium
   
   
2. Total 19 - 23 Hours