THE VALUE OF HONORS
For students filled with ideas, longing for creative expression, and ready to take on career-shaping challenges, an Honors education is the way to go. Honors programs and Honors colleges offer some of the finest undergraduate degrees available and do so always with students in mind. The essence of Honors education is personal attention, top faculty, enlightening seminars, illuminating study-travel experiences, numerous research opportunities, and career-building internships - all designed to enhance a classic education and prepare students for a lifetime of achievement."
- National Collegiate Honors Council
The Honors Program at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa (UHM) is an active member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. We strongly believe that if you are filled with ideas and long to make a difference, then an Honors education is "the way to go!" For the general benefits of an Honors education check out the FAQs page of the National Collegiate Honors Council: http://www.nchchonors.org/faqs.shtml
The Honors Program at UHM is committed to providing opportunities for talented and motivated undergraduates to truly excel in their education at our institution through offering intellectually challenging coursework that helps students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct independent research or creative work. In order to support their high level of engagement and achievement in scholarship and co-curricular activities, students receive high quality instruction, personal academic advising, and peer and faculty mentoring. They may also benefit from our residential learning community and regular activities organized by the Honors Student Organization.
The Best of Both Worlds
UHM is one of 151 institutions in the nation (out of 3,941) to be classified by the Carnegie Foundation as “Doctoral/Research-Extensive.” It is also one of 12 institutions in the nation to receive a triple crown (land grant, sea grant, space grant). UH Mānoa particularly excels in fields related to its physical and cultural location. There is no doubt that you can obtain a first class education here, and you may even be taught by one of the foremost international expects in your field.
However, like all public "Research Ones," UHM is a big institution and as such, many students, especially in the lower division, may feel they might get lost or become "just a number" among many others in the large lecture hall. It will be a few years at least before you get to talk story with that international expert.
By enrolling in the Honors Program, you will make sure that you are not just a number, for you will enjoy small discussion-oriented classes with exceptional faculty right from your first semester and close personal advising from our dedicated staff. In other words, Honors offers many of the advantages of the small, liberal arts college together with the range of disciplines, and excellent faculty and facilities of a ‘Research One’ university. Honors at UHM offers the best of both worlds!
If you are a student at local high school, don't believe what you hear: you don't have to go the "mainland" for a proper education!
See: "Live Hawai'i
already?"
The Benefits of Honors
Following is a list of the benefits that an Honors education at UHM provides.
CREDENTIALS
If you satisfy the requirements at the end of your Sophomore year, you receive a certificate of achievement and a formal notation on your transcript.
Upon
review of your work at the end of your Senior year, the Honors Council may
recommend graduation with ‘Honors,’ ‘High Honors’ or ‘Highest Honors.’
Graduates receive a special diploma and the appropriate designation appears on
your transcript. Additionally, you are given a special notice in the
Commencement Program and wear a special gold cord with your academic regalia.
You receive Priority Registration, allowing you to determine your academic schedule early. Honors classes are smaller than regular class, with lower division classes averaging 20 students per class and upper division classes averaging 12.
You can fulfill many of your General Education requirements by taking Honors ‘A Sections’ and most of your Focus requirements in your Junior Seminars. What’s more, seats in all Honors courses, including the ‘A Sections’ are reserved for Honors Students.
Senior Honors students may enroll in up to two graduate courses
per semester. One course per semester may be taken for graduate credit,
provided the student still has enough credits for the baccalaureate and the
offering department agrees.
ADVISING
The Honors Program has an Advisor year-round offering you personalized advising whenever you need it. In fact, advising is mandatory every semester, and we will spend time with you going over your academic plans and your Curriculum Vitae, your record of engagement in scholarship, leadership and service that is so vital to your future success (see Engagement).
During the summer, the Honors Program holds special orientation session for new students, including peer mentors who share their experiences with academics and campus life at Mānoa.
During your Senior Honors Project, students work closely with
faculty members who advise and mentor you throughout the year. This is great
for recommendations after graduating, especially if you’re thinking about
attending graduate school.
Portions of two halls are set aside for Honors Students. Presently, there are three floors of Hale Aloha Ilima reserved for about 80 first-year student living in our "Freshmen Honors Residential Community" and one floor in Frear Hall for about 36 students living in the "Honors Learning Community." In these communities halls you’ll meet your colleagues in the program, become friends with Honors students, and form a community of support for study, co-curricular activities and personal support.
The Honors Program also provides a 24/7 lounge and locker access in one of the
campus libraries so students always have a place to study or kick back
and "talk story."
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Honors Program hosts a variety of events during the year including picnics, bowling outings, hikes and other programs.
Testimony
To read about the benefits of an Honors education from a former student’s, see Aaron Kagawa's blog (click here). Aaron graduated from ICS in 2003.
Of course the best testimony to the value of the Honors Program is the success of our students. For a sample click the following links:
