The University Honors Program, founded in 1972, provides exceptional educational opportunities for highly motivated and talented students. The Program enables students (regardless of major) to take advantage of the more intimate learning environment offered by small classes. Honors faculty members promote active learning and provide excellent teaching, including individualized support and attention.
The Program offers special curricular options and the opportunity to earn honors distinction. In most cases, participation in the Program does not increase the number of credit hours required for graduation. Classes within the Program span the entire range of the University.
The University Honors Program encourages and supports
opportunities that are designed to enhance the educational experience of
its members. The Honors Program also coordinates special academic, social,
and cultural events for honors students in which they can become part of
a community of friends and fellow scholars outside the classroom. Students
in the Honors Program benefit both personally and professionally from the
special programs and individualized attention that characterize the University
Honors Program.
The University Honors Program Office is located in Room 204,
Scates Hall. Also located on the 2nd floor of Scates Hall are a conference
room, quiet study areas, a lounge area, and two computer rooms for the use of UHP students.
The Director and Program staff may be reached at 901-678-2690.
Admission and Retention Standards and Procedures
National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, and recipients of the Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential and Herff Scholarships, the Provost's Scholarship, and the Distinguished African American Scholarship are automatically admissible to the Program upon receipt of their applications. Other incoming freshmen who score a minimum of 27 on the ACT, or its equivalent on other tests, and have a 3.5 high school GPA are invited to apply to the Honors Program. Transfer students or students currently enrolled at the University of Memphis are also eligible for the Honors Program if they have earned an overall grade point average of 3.00 for freshmen and sophomores and 3.25 for juniors and seniors. Students who do not qualify in one of these ways will be considered for provisional admission upon direct application. Letters of recommendation, though not required, may also be submitted.
To be considered for admission, applicants must be admitted to the University of Memphis and complete a separate application for admission to the Honors Program. An application for admission may be obtained from the Honors Office or downloaded from the UHP’s web site: http://www.memphis.edu/honors.
Honors students are expected to maintain good academic
standing to continue in the Program; normally this is a minimum cumulative
GPA of 3.0 in the freshman and sophomore years, and a minimum of 3.25 cumulative
GPA in the junior and senior years. Students whose GPAs fall below the
minimum will be allowed one probationary semester to raise their GPAs to
the expected level. Students in the University Honors Program are expected to take a least one honors course each semester in order to maintain the privilege of priority registration and to fulfill scholarship service obligations.
The Honors Curriculum and Requirements
The honors curriculum includes honors sections of General Education Program courses and other courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. Honors programs offered by some departments also offer special honors sections of courses required for the major. Honors sections have the advantage of small class size, specially selected faculty, teaching that emphasizes student participation, and assignments that encourage students to think independently.
In addition to honors sections of regularly offered courses, the Honors Program also offers courses designed specifically for honors students. Courses carrying the UNHP subject area are interdisciplinary in nature, designed to explore a particular topic intensively and creatively.
Students also may earn honors credit by designing their own special projects based on independent study, fieldwork, or an internship experience (see UNHP 4900 course descriptions), or by contracting for honors credit within the context of a regularly scheduled course not officially offered as an honors course. Detailed information about earning honors credit through these approaches is available in the Honors Office. A minimum grade of “B” (3.0) is required in each honors course for it to count toward fulfilling the honors course requirement, but regular credit for the course will be earned if the grade is lower than a “B” (3.0).
Students within the University Honors Program may pursue one of two tracks leading to "graduation with honors": University Honors or University Honors with Thesis.
University Honors: To attain "University Honors," with transcript and diploma notations, students complete 24 semester hours of honors coursework that includes UNHP 1101 and 1102 (see UNHP course descriptions). Students must earn a minimum grade of "B" (3.0) in all honors courses and achieve a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.
University Honors with Thesis: The highest honor a University Honors Program student can achieve is "University Honors with Thesis," which carries transcript and diploma notations. To attain this honors designation, students complete 21 semester hours of honors coursework that includes UNHP 1101 and 1102, in addition to completing a 3-credit senior honors thesis or project (24 semester hours total). Student must earn a minimum grade of "B" (3.0) in all honors courses and achieve a 3.25 cumulative grade point average. The UNHP 1101 and 1102 course requirements may be waived for students who are accepted into the University Honors Program after completing university coursework at the University of Memphis or another institution, with the expectation that they will substitute six semester hours of honors courses for this requirement.
Departmental or College Honors Programs: Some academic departments offer honors programs based on work in the major. Academic areas in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics offer a college-wide program for students pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration, and several disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences offer students the opportunity to earn honors distinction through special projects and independent study.
Generally speaking, students must have a 3.25 cumulative grade point average to pursue and receive department or college honors. Consult the specific department or college listing in this Catalog for detailed requirements, or contact the Honors Program Office for a listing of departments offering honors work in the major.
The Non-Resident Honors Student Award
A limited number of Non-Resident Honors Student Awards are available on a competitive basis to non-resident students who enroll full-time and who are actively pursuing a University Honors Program designation. This award allows out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition. Students who receive this award are required to maintain good standing with the Honors Program, take at least one honors course every semester until they have earned the baccalaureate degree, and work toward graduation with an honors designation. Entering freshmen receive primary consideration for this award. Application forms for admission to the University Honors Program and for the Non-Resident Honors Student Award may be obtained by writing to The University Honors Program, 204 Scates Hall, the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-6140; by calling 901-678-2690; or by faxing 901-678-5367. Students may also submit an on-line application for the Non-Resident Honors Student Award at www.memphis.edu/honors.
Special Opportunities for Honors Students
Students in the Honors Program participate in an
intellectually vibrant atmosphere that extends beyond the classroom. Honors
students are challenged by enriched honors courses, interdisciplinary seminars,
and conversations with visiting scholars. Students have opportunities to extend
their learning beyond the classroom and into the community through internships
and public service. Students in the program may elect to live in honors-designated
housing, which provides an atmosphere conducive to studying, but at the
same time a place where friendships are easily established. Because of the special nature of their contribution to the University,
honors students enjoy other privileges as well, including priority registration,
an honors computer lab, and special ceremonies that recognize outstanding
students.
Students in the Honors Program are strongly encouraged to participate in undergraduate research opportunities. The University Honors Program administers the Undergraduate Research Scholar Program that provides students the opportunity to present individual research at student research forums on campus. The Honors Program sponsors the Works-in-Progress Symposium (WIPS) held at the University of Memphis each November, which gives all undergraduates an opportunity to present their research. Students who present at WIPS are encouraged to apply for acceptance to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) during the spring semester. Students who attend both WIPS and NCUR, and present at one other approved research forum can earn the designation "Undergraduate Research Scholar" on their transcript. Membership in the University Honors Program is not required for this transcript designation.
Transitional Academic Studies (TRAC) at The University of Memphis permits students to enroll in special basic and developmental level courses to develop the academic competencies necessary for success in college level courses. Major components of the program included testing and placement in appropriate level courses.
Placement
Students admitted to The University of Memphis as beginning freshmen will be placed in appropriate writing, math, reading, and study skills courses based on valid ACT subscores (no more than 3 years old). Students without ACT scores will be required to take the COMPASS placement test to determine if they have the appropriate academic skills to successfully complete college level courses. Depending on the results of this test, students may be required to take one or more DSP courses. The following regulations regarding placement tests and course enrollment will apply:
COMPASS testing is required of students whose ACT (SAT) scores are more than 3 years old, transfer students with no college level credit in math or English, non-degree seeking students before enrollment in math or English, students with high school unit deficiencies in algebra or English, and students with no ACT/SAT scores.
Students placing in DSP courses must enroll in and begin each subject-area sequence at the level indicated by their ACT/SAT placement or the COMPASS test results and complete that particular sequence before enrolling in the subsequent Level I (college level) course.
Enrollment in any DSPM or DSPW course is restricted to students who have been placed by their ACT subscores or who have taken the appropriate placement test. Self-placement without testing is not permitted.
Retesting
Students may retake the COMPASS test for a fee of $20. To sign up for retesting, students should go to Wilder 200. They will take a form to the Bursar's office to pay the retesting fee and then return the form to Wilder 200 to select a COMPASS test date.
Credit
Each DSP course carries 3 semester hours of non-degree level credit. The credit will count in the calculation of full-time status and the undergraduate joint (UJ) grade point average, and toward eligibility for athletics, financial aid, scholarships, and housing.
Course Grades and Class Attendance
The grading scale for DSP courses is A, B, C, F. No audit students will be permitted. Regular class attendance is mandatory and will be used in determining semester grades.
Academic Advising
Students requiring COMPASS testing or DSP courses should be advised in the Academic Counseling Center, 212 Wilder Tower.
Courses
Students required to enroll in DSPW 0700 or DSPM 0700, 0800, and 0850 may take these courses on the University of Memphis campus. These courses will be taught by Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Students required to enroll in DSPR 0700 and DSPR 0800 may take Reading and Study Skills sections of ACAD 1100 to fulfill these requirements. Students with an ACT subscore of 16 or higher in Reading may take any section of ACAD 1100 to fulfill their requirement for DSPR 0800.
Students required to enroll in DSPS 0800 may take any section of ACAD 1100 to fulfill their requirement for this course.
Students required to take DSPW 0800 may take special sections of ENGL 1010 that meet 5 hours a week to complete both their DSPW 0800 and their ENGL 1010 courses.
Students required to take DSPM 0850 have the option of taking special sections of MATH 1420 or MATH 1710 that meet 5 hours a week. Students must check with their advisor to determine which college level math course is appropriate for them- MATH 1420 or MATH 1710.