Honors Program

Graduation Requirements

You Must:

1. Complete twelve (12) credits of required courses:

• 2 Upper Division seminars:
  • HON 491 Junior Seminar (3 credits)
  • HON 495 Introduction to Research (3 credits)
• 2 sections of supervised research or creative work equivalent to six credits:
  • HON 496 Senior Honors Project

• In some cases, waivers may be allowed or alternative coursework/experience may substitute for these requirements with prior agreement by the Director of the Honors Program.

2. Maintain an average GPA of at least 3.0 in your major and in your junior-senior years.

3. Give two public oral and poster presentations:

• one of a proposal for Senior Honors Project
• one of the completed Senior Honors Project

Presentations must be given at the Honors Program's Fall Forum or Spring Symposium, Proposal Conference, or at a national academic or professional conference. In case of the latter, documented evidence of your participation will be required.

4. Submit to the Honors Program by the last day of exams in the semester of graduation, the following supplementary materials:

• Senior Honors Project (digital copy)
• Abstract of your Senior Honors Project (digital copy - 1 page single spaced)
• Your final poster presented at the Fall Forum or Spring Symposium (digital copy - PDF original or JPEG of your display)
• Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Personal Statement on “My Experience in Honors” (max. 500 words)
• Completed Exit Survey

*Please save your files in the following format:

• LastName_FirstName_Abstract.pdf --- e.g. Cruz_Julia_Abstract.pdf
• LastName_FirstName_Personal_Statement.pdf --- e.g. Cruz_Julia_Personal_Statement.pdf

GPA Requirements

You must maintain an average GPA of at least 3.0 in both your major and overall for your junior-senior years at UHM.

Your Honors Candidacy Evaluation

Candidates are evaluated in the following 4 ways:

1. Written Evaluations of HON 495

HON 495 is taken for CR/NC and instructors submit written evaluations for each student on their written work, presentations and class participation. An explanation of our grading philosophy is provided in the document “Grading policy for HON 491 and HON 495.” Detailed comments are accompanied by a summary assessment of "No Honors," "Honors," "High Honors," "Highest Honors."

2. Written Evaluations of Senior Honors Project

Emphasis is placed on the thesis (about 2/3).

The Senior Honors Project is assessed by a committee consisting of the project advisor and two readers. The committee reviews a final draft of the Project and makes its assessment in a written reported submitted to the Honors Council. If appropriate, the committee may use the rubric, “Evaluation of a Senior Honors Project" provided by the Honors Program. Detailed comments are accompanied by a summary assessment of "No Honors," "Honors," "High Honors," "Highest Honors."

Please note that in the case where the student’s project is also part of the requirement for the degree in a major, such as in Global Environmental Studies and History, the project must satisfy the department before it can be considered for Honors.

3. Evaluations of poster and oral presentation of the Senior Honors Project

Poster and oral presentations are evaluated by faculty judges according to a rubric that is used at the Spring Symposium and Fall Forum. Detailed comments are accompanied by a summary assessment of "No Honors," "Honors," "High Honors," "Highest Honors." Students must submit their posters in digital format as part of the graduating requirements. The poster may be used to in assessment of the degree.

4. Engagement

Students completing the Honors Program and earning Honors degree should display exemplary qualities in scholarship, be engaged in leadership and service on campus and in the community, and be committed to excellence in their personal development. Students are expected to provide evidence of their engagement in the CV.

Honors Designation

Honors degree candidates are evaluated by the Honors Council, which awards every candidate one of the following designations:

• No Honors
• Honors
• High Honors
• Highest Honors

With the exception of the "No Honors" designation, this accolade appears on your university diploma, as well as your transcript.

Graduation Paperwork & Documents

Please note: all digital files must be submitted on a CD or DVD in PDF file format.

Academic CV

Your academic CV, or Curriculum Vitae, contains more detail about educational qualifications and experience than a typical resume, and it serves the purpose of documenting your qualifications for graduate school or academic employment.

Read more about how to put your CV together here.

Personal Statement

You must compose a personal statement of no more than 500 words on “My Experience in Honors.”

Feel free to candidly discuss both what you have gained from your time in the Honors Program and how you contributed to the program as well.

Exit Survey & Interview

All graduates must complete an exit survey before the Honors Council meets to determine the award of Honors degree. This usually happens about two weeks following the official end of the semester. If you so desire, you may schedule an interview with the Director of the Honors Program instead. You will be asked to reflect on your academic training and personal development while in the Honors Program. The information you provide is strictly confidential and is not used to assess you personally. It provides us with useful feedback that we can use to improve the program.

Complete our Exit Survey and deliver it (by email or in person) to the Director of the Honors Program.