Honors College Program
You’ll experience an intensive and rigorous education that will challenge you to identify your true passions and prepare you for a rewarding career or graduate school.
SOU Honors College
The Honors College general education curriculum is based on a liberal arts education approach. Scholars begin with a three term Honors Foundations sequence and a course in probability and statistics. In the sophomore year, scholars take a seminar in ethics, argumentation, and reasoning. In the junior year, scholars explore research methods across the disciplines. All courses, including elective courses offered in the second and third year, purposefully engage large questions that can only be addressed utilizing multidisciplinary approaches. In the process, scholars develop: critical reading, writing, information literacy, qualitative and quantitative reasoning skills; and an understanding of diversity of human experience and diverse approaches to knowledge, argumentation, research methods, and dialogue.
Culminating experiences include: two “Take the Lead” projects designed and carried out by scholars in consultation with the Honors College director, a Capstone course in which scholars develop a reflective professional portfolio; and a substantive educational experience that gives scholars a wide range of choices to gain valuable experience beyond the classroom.
Co-Curricular Requirements Enrich Learning Beyond the Classroom
Honors Scholars are required to complete a series of co-curricular requirements that, when added to a rigorous curriculum, foster intellectual curiosity, support the development of lifelong learning and service, and move scholars from learners to leaders.
Service
Being an Honors College Scholar goes beyond academics. We also serve our communities, whether that be on campus at SOU, in Ashland and the greater Rogue Valley, in the communities we grew up in, or communities across the globe. All Honors Scholars are required to give two days of service each year. The Honors College organizes group volunteer days at the SOU Farm each year. Scholars also find their own ways to volunteer, including volunteering for food banks and drives, community cleanup events.
Explore and Reflect
Freshmen and Sophomores must attend a minimum of three “Explore and Reflect” and submit an analytical synopsis of all three each term. The philosophy behind the Honors College “Explore and Reflect” requirement reflects the core values of a “liberal education.” A liberal education is grounded in “a philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of values, ethics, and civic engagement” (Association of American Colleges and Universities). An Honors Scholar should remain intellectually curious, developing life-long skills derived from their liberal education that will serve them long after they graduate from SOU. Even though only Freshmen and Sophomores are required to document that they attend and/or participate in three Explore and Reflect activities and/or events each quarter, it is the sincere hope that Honors Scholars will remain intellectually, culturally, and civilly engaged for the rest of their lives.
Take the Lead
Learning to Lead is a major component of the Honors College at SOU. Through service, coursework, and two “Take the Lead” projects, Honors scholars learn that leadership is more than being in charge of a group, a project, or an activity. Leadership is about making a commitment to serve, understanding community, remaining intellectually curious, and committing to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Scholars should start planning their “Take the Lead Projects” in their sophomore year and ideally should complete their two required projects before the beginning of their senior year. To satisfy their “Take the Lead Project,” SOU Honors College scholars must submit a satisfactory proposal to the Honors College Moodle site before starting the project and submit a formal reflection upon completion of the project.
Substantive Educational Experience
A “Substantive Educational Experience” may include but is not limited to a community partner mentor-internship sequence, an internship or practicum, student teaching, a service-learning project that significantly exceeds any course requirements, study abroad or study away, or National Student Exchange experience. The substantive supplemental educational experience requires a formal proposal, documentation of hours and effort, culminating reflection, and prior approval from the Honors College Director.
Contact the Honors College
SOU Honors College
Susanne Homes Hall, Room 107
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
Phone: 541.552.6400
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