Honors Courses
Honors courses provide opportunities for undergraduate students to experience small seminar-style classes, while satisfying General Education requirements and learning skills and knowledge necessary to conduct independent research and creative work within their major. All of the courses are inquiry-based, training students in critical thinking and independent research.
“A Section” courses are special sections of regular
classes that are reserved for Honors students. Enrollment is limited to 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. “A Sections”
provide for a greater degree of interaction between students and instructors, and
students are expected to take greater initiative in their learning.
HON 101: Manoa Campus and Its Neighborhoods
(3 credits)
This course introduces students to research
and other creative projects of a sample of faculty at the University of Hawai`i at Mänoa, and engages students
in hands-on research of their own. Students work in groups with
peer mentors. It is usually W-Focus.
HON 190: Honors Tutorial
This variable credit course is usually a
one-credit supplement attached to courses that departments are unable to offer
low enrollment "A-Sections." Typically the tutorial class meets for
an additional contact hour with the instructor to discuss the subject in more
depth than usual. HON 190 is also used at times to supplement a science
lab class.
HON 291: Sophomore Seminar (3
credits)
These courses are taught in seminar style,
with a maximum enrollment of 15. Topics are selected to meet different
diversification areas in the General Education curriculum. Courses are
specially designed for the Honors Program by Affiliate Faculty and are
inquiry-based. It is usually W-Focus.
HON 301: Research and Public Policy (3
credits)
This course encourages second-year students to explore issues of ethical principle or public policy. HON 301 is especially appropriate for those students who wish to compete for prestigious scholarships that require writing of public policy essays or position papers. It is usually E-Focus.
HON 303: Civic engagement, volunteerism and community service (3 credits)
This course examines the history of volunteerism in the United States and involves “real life” out of he classroom service experiences along with in class discussions, reflections and discoveries.
HON 380 Peer Mentoring (3) Students function as peer mentors in and out of class sessions. Emphasis on understanding dynamics of leadership skills within the context of small groups. Pre-semester training sessions, on-going training and supervision. Repeatable one time. Pre: 101 or departmental approval.
HON 491: Junior Honors Seminar
(3 credits)
Topics vary from semester to semester, and enrollment is limited to twelve
students. Courses are
inter-disciplinary in nature, focused on problems or issues, and
challenge students to look at the world through different perspectives. It is
usually W-Focus.
HON 495: Introduction to
Research (3 credits)
Designed to provide an introduction to research design. Students explore and develop possible topics
for their Senior Honors Projects. It is
usually W-Focus and O-Focus.
HON 496: Senior Honors Project (6
credits)
A two-semester sequence in which students in the first semester continue
developing the foundational work they started in HON 495. Typically research is in the first semester
and writing in the second, which is W-Focus. Honors students receive guidance
in their project from a faculty advisor.
HON 498: Preparation for Major Scholarships (3 credits)
This course is designed to help students understand the nature of the competition for scholarships and to prepare an application that will do justice to their past achievements, their present abilities and their future potential for academic study and leadership.