Honors Program in General Education
Phone: 703-993-1110
Web: honors.gmu.edu
Faculty
Albanese, Alligood (associate director), Bakhash, Bergoffen, Bristol, Burr (director), Burt, Butler, Carbonneau, Carton, J. R. Censer, Cherubin, Constantine, Dakake, D'Andrea, DeCaroli, Deshmukh, Diecchio, Fox, Geller, Gifford, Gould, Granfield, Haines, Harbour, Heclo, Hodges, M. Holt, Jacobs, Jann, Johnsen-Neshati, Jones, Karush, Koch, Kulesza, Leeman, Maloney, Mandaville, Mandes, Mattusch, McFerson, Metcalf, L. Miller, Nadeau, Nichols, J. Paden, Palkovich, Ramos-Pellicia, Roan, Roman-Mendoza, Reid, Rutledge, Sachs, Sample, Samuelian, Seligmann, Shutika, V. Smith, C. Snyder, Stearns, Taciuch, Tangney, Taylor, Todd, Trefil, Wilkins, T. Williams, B. Wilson, Yadav, Zaccaro, Zagarri
Course Work
The program offers all course work designated HNRS in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
Honors Program
This program provides highly qualified students with an integrated foundation for future studies. It consists of a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum that satisfies university-wide general education requirements for graduation and prepares students for their majors. Although administered by CHSS, the program is open to students from all undergraduate schools and colleges. Courses are intended for students who are willing to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and make connections that transcend the limits of conventional subjects. Through intensive discussion in small classes led by outstanding faculty members, students learn to probe the foundations of knowledge; develop new skills in addressing complex issues; and think independently, imaginatively, and ethically. The program offers students special access to the technical, intellectual, and artistic resources of the university and the national capital region, and seeks to develop among its students a sense of intellectual community with the faculty and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Admission
Admission is limited and competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their entire academic record, including the rigor of the high school curriculum, GPA, and standardized test scores. There is no separate application process. Admission is by invitation only.
Requirements
Not a major in itself, the honors program fulfills a core of general education requirements for every major. To receive honors recognition on their transcript, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.00 in those HNRS courses and supporting courses required for their approved honors program. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 may complete the program but will not receive honors recognition on their transcripts.
Continuation in Honors
Students in the program who are placed on academic warning because their GPA falls below 2.00 (1.80 in the first or second semester) may be ineligible to continue in the program.
Honors students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity and personal conduct. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program for a violation of the University Honor Code or any other conduct that reflects adversely on the Honors Program.
Students who leave the program before completion must meet university general education requirements and college-level requirements of their particular degree programs. On leaving the program and before registering for general education courses, students should be advised on equivalencies between the honors courses they have completed and general education requirements.
Transfers
Within George Mason: Because of the sequential and integrated nature of the program, honors courses may not correspond exactly to other courses used to fulfill general education requirements. A list of equivalencies is available in the Honors Program Office and on the web site.
Outside George Mason: Course work in the Honors Program may meet the general education requirements of other universities. As in all transfer situations, general education requirements of one institution may not precisely match those of another.