SELECTED STUDIES
Selected Studies is the lower division component of the Honors Program, for first-year and sophomore students. It offers “A Section” courses, which are low enrollment versions of regular lecture classes, and special Honors seminars, which are part of an innovative curriculum designed to introduce students to research and creative work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and its application in public policy and teaching.
Selected Studies is flexible and students may participate in the program at their own pace. However, we hope that you will take several our special Honors courses, especially HON 101 and HON 291, and that you will meet as much of your lower division General Education requirements as possible through "A section" courses (see below).
Requirements
Students in Selected Studies must take at least one Honors course a semester and maintain a GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing (see Academic Policy for Selected Studies).
If you feel that for some reason you cannot or do not wish to take an Honors or A sections course in any particular semester you should inform us before or during registration, either in person or in writing using the Honors Program Petition Form. If your reason is acceptable you may be granted a waiver for one semester provided that you agree to make up for the missed course in the following semester.
Students in Selected Studies must be pre-registered for all Honors courses and should attend scheduled group advising sessions before registration begins. If you are unable to attend a group session please make sure to schedule a personal meeting with the Director or Advisor.
If you want to earn a Sophomore Honors award before moving to upper-division Honors, please note that you must take more than the required minimum of Honors courses and maintain a higher minimum GPA. Please check out details at Sophomore Honors Awards.
"A Section" Courses
“A Section” courses are special sections of regular classes that are reserved for Honors students. Maximum enrollment is 20 students. Generally, such courses provide students with a more in-depth and challenging exploration of the course subject matter, rather than covering more material than the non-Honors equivalents. However, in some cases involving a sequence of pre-requisite courses, they may also be accelerated versions of the non-Honors equivalents (e.g. CHEM 181A, which is two semesters of chemistry taken in one semester; and the Honors calculus sequence--MATH 251A, 252A, 253--which allows students to take four semesters of calculus in three semesters).
“A Sections” provide for a greater degree of interaction between students and instructors, and expect students to take greater initiative in their learning.
For a current list of "A Section" courses click here.
HON 101: Manoa Campus and Its Neighborhoods (3 credits)
This course is offered exclusively to first-year Honors students as a means to introduce them to the range of research and creative work that goes on at a research-intensive university like the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The course promotes inquiry-based learning, helping students develop skills of critical thinking and independent research. Students are introduced to a selection of dedicated faculty at UHM. These faculty will provide an overview of their personal research and assign you mini-projects which you will work on in the class, on campus, and sometimes in the "field" of Manoa Valley.
In the process you will learn about the research process, including how to formulate research questions, how to locate and evaluate secondary sources of information, and how to undertake the own collection and analysis of primary data.
Guided by peer mentors and faculty, you will thus begin your voyage of learning within the Honors Program, one that we hope will culminate a Senior Honors Project--the writing of a thesis or presentation of creative work. This will be the capstone of your undergraduate experience and it provides a valuable stepping stone to graduate or professional school, as well as to some careers.
Click here for course description and a syllabus.
Honors Sophomore Seminars are courses specially created by Manoa faculty for sophomores, though second semester first-year Honors students may be ready to enroll as well. These are inquiry-based courses, and there are two principal offerings: "Reacting to the Past," which involves historical research using primary sources and role playing of historical characters and situations; and "City as Text" which involves team-based research on a local neighborhood, combining archival and cartographic methods, with fieldwork.
For further description and links to sample syllabi click here.
HON 301: Research and Public Policy
HON 301 asks students to engage issues of public policy in the local context. Through readings, classroom discussion and fieldtrips to offices and chambers, students learn: 1) how public policy is made; 2) how political actors and interest groups shape and define public policy through advocacy and education; and (3) how policy affects our community once the policy becomes law. Practical assignments include a policy analysis and strategic plan in which students identify key stakeholders and facts pertinent to an issue, and analyze the methods that may be used to influence those stakeholders. This course has a Contemporary Ethical Issues (E) Focus designation. Students will discuss the contending ideals and dynamics of personal and public decision-making by engaging and exploring contemporary ethical issues related to public policy.
For further description click here.
HON 303: Civic Engagement, Volunteerism and Community Service
This new 3-credit course examines the nature of volunteerism in the United States and, long with in class discussions, reflections and discoveries, it involves “real life” out of the classroom experiences. Students examine volunteer opportunities in Hawaii, specifically at the University and within the community. Different lenses/multi-media instructional methods will be used throughout this course.
For further description click here.
HON 380: Peer Mentoring
This class involves learning how to mentor other students. It combines learning about the theory of mentoring in a seminar-style class once a week, with regular practice of mentoring in a real, “live” classroom once or twice a week.
Click for description and detailed syllabus.
Sophomore Honors
Once you have completed, or will soon complete, 54 credits of coursework, and you have completed at least 12 credits of Honors courses, you may apply for a Sophomore Honors award. The application is reviewed by the Honors Council who will determine the level of the award. See Sophomore Honors Awards.
Withdrawal from Selected Studies
Students in Selected Studies make an extra commitment to academic study and extra-curricular activities, and we realize that even for the most talented and motivated students circumstances can sometimes change enough to prevent such a commitment. You may withdraw any time from Selected Studies or the Honors Program without any penalty or prejudice. We hope that you will come to see an advisor to talk about your situation and how we might help you to stay in the program. If you still decide that Honors is really not for you, you must complete a withdrawal form to avoid receiving annoying emails and threatening letters! It is also helpful to us if you can provide us with some explanation of your decision so that we can better understand and meet the needs of our students.
Selected Studies Withdrawal Form
