University Honors Program

Texas Tech offers a special program for highly motivated and academically talented students who want to maximize their college education. The University Honors Program (also known as Honors Studies) is designed to provide such students, above all, with a unique and broadly integrated intellectual experience. It also seeks to provide access to some financial support, to give an opportunity to interact with similarly motivated students, and to enjoy special benefits at the University. Among these benefits are early registration, a special residence hall, unusual library privileges, a variety of enriching co-curricular activities, closer contact with the faculty, and an encouragement to engage in the greatest possible range of college-based experiences­including overseas study.

At the heart of the University Honors Program are a series of departmental classes, taught by some of the more talented professors on campus. These courses, typically including not more than 25 students, are modestly faster-paced, much more interactive, more writing intensive, and more personalized than their regular section counterparts. In addition, the program offers a variety of seminars on special topics that explore, in depth, an area in a specific subject. Finally, honors encourages interdisciplinary work and presents a range of courses that fulfill this criteria as well. Breadth of education, development of critical thinking and methodological skills, and the encouragement of a spirit of intellectual independence are the ultimate objectives of an honors education at Texas Tech.

Those who graduate from the Honors Program, after having acquired 24 honors credit hours (including two seminars), graduate with "Honors," a distinction noted on diplomas, transcripts, and by special recognition at graduation ceremonies. Those who complete, in addition, a senior thesis plus 6 additional hours, the typical culmination of honors efforts, graduate with "Highest Honors."

To be considered for admission to the University Honors Program, either as an entering freshman or as a continuing Texas Tech or transfer student, one must make special application to the University Honors Program Office. Incoming freshmen must have a composite SAT score of 1200 or above, or a composite ACT score of 28 or better, and/or have graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class. The program will also consider for admission students who do not meet the above criteria, but who can provide a compelling reason why they should be part of the program. For continuing Texas Tech or transfer students, eligibility is based on a college cumulative GPA of 3.4 or better. Admission is competitive and is contingent upon the pool of applicants for any given year.

Once accepted into the Honors Program, a student must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA while at Texas Tech in order to continue participation.

For further information, contact in person the Director of Honors, 103 Holden Hall. By letter, write to the Honors Program, Texas Tech University, Box 41017, Lubbock, TX 79409-1017 or call (806) 742-1828.

Courses in Honors. (HONS)

2115. Honors Science Laboratory (1:0:2). Corequisite: HONS 2305. A lab designed to supplement HONS 2305.

2116. Honors Science Laboratory (1:0:2). Corequisite: HONS 2306. A lab designed to supplement HONS 2306.

2305. Honors Seminar in Science (3:3:0). An integrated science course introducing students, in an interdisciplinary way, to physics and geosciences. Satisfies General Education Laboratory Science requirement. Not open to science majors. Part of a two-semester integrated presentation.

2306. Honors Seminar in Science (3:3:0). An integrated course introducing students to chemistry and biology. Satisfies General Education Laboratory Science requirement. Not open to science majors. Part of a two-semester integrated presentation.

3300. Individual Honors Research (3). Prerequisite: Junior standing and participation in the Honors Program. Contents will vary to meet the needs of students. May be repeated once for credit. Independent work under the individual guidance of a faculty member, who must be either a member of the graduate faculty or approved by the Director of Honors.

3301. Honors Seminar in Humanities (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing and participation in the Honors Program. An in-depth study of major literary works emphasizing the interrelationships of literature and philosophy. Satisfies the General Education Humanities and Fine Arts requirement. May be repeated once for credit with permission of the Director of Honors.

3302. Honors Seminar in Sciences (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing and participation in the Honors Program. Considers the developments and applications of modern science as they affect living today, directed toward cultivating sound individual judgments in a technological society. Satisfies the General Education Technology and Applied Science requirement. May be repeated once for credit with permission of the Director of Honors.

3303. Honors Seminar in Social Sciences (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing and participation in the Honors Program. Study of techniques, principles, and methodology of the social sciences as applied to a central topic to demonstrate the interrelationships of the various disciplines. Satisfies the General Education Individual or Group Behavior requirement. May be repeated once for credit with permission of the Director of Honors.

3304. Honors Seminar in Fine Arts (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing and participation in the Honors Program. Study of the history, development, and terminology of the fine arts, emphasizing functional relationships between disciplines in an effort to provide bases for aesthetic evaluation of specific artistic entities. Satisfies the General Education Visual and Performing Arts requirement. May be repeated once for credit with permission of the Director of Honors.

4300. Individual Honors Research (3). Prerequisite: Senior standing and participation in the Honors Program. Contents will vary to meet the needs of students. May be repeated once for credit. Independent work under the individual guidance of a faculty member, who must be either a member of the graduate faculty or approved by the Director of Honors.


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LAST UPDATE: 5-1-97


Jan 21, 2020