The mission of the Athens State University Honors Program is to attract and provide honor students with an opportunity to be engaged in robust interdisciplinary academics and related programming that intentionally develops their curiosity and propels them toward their future careers as citizens of a global community.
Honors Program participants will receive tuition scholarships, funding to attend a conference in the student’s field, and funding for materials to support an Honors Thesis/Project! Participants will also be involved in community service projects and cohort-building trips based on experiential learning.
Program Goals
- Recruit high-achieving and motivated students who would like to enhance their academic experience at Athens State University;
- Foster an interdisciplinary community of peers committed to intellectual inquiry and lifelong learning;
- Provide opportunities for students to deepen their academic experience beyond the classroom through project-based learning;
- Promote effective scholarly communication and interdisciplinary collaboration;
- Increase community engagement through community service projects;
- Empower students as citizens of a global community.
Overview of Honors Program
The Honors Program at Athens State University will consist of:
- Honors Project (completed over 18 months)
- Honors Cohort Professional Growth Activities
- Community Service
- Diversity & Inclusion initiatives/projects, seminars, workshops (development and participation)
- Co-Curricular initiatives/projects with other honor organizations at Athens State University (i.e. Phi Theta Kappa, Delta Mu Delta, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi, etc.)
Honors Project
Honors students at Athens State University will complete original research, service-learning, or work-based learning project over 1.5 years with one Honors Faculty Supervisor. The Honors Project will culminate in a public presentation given to the campus community and the general public and a written paper in the student’s final semester as part of an Honors UNV400 course. Honors Projects will be evaluated by the Honors Faculty. Students will graduate with an Honors designation on their transcript after successful completion of the Honors Project.
Honors Cohort Activities
Honors students will participate in cohort activities, including Honors-specific UNV300/400 courses, an online learning community, and Honors student events (cohort-building trips, community service events, and informal cohort activities). As part of the Honors UNV300 course, students will identify a topic of interest and will be matched with an Honors Faculty Supervisor who will oversee the student’s Honors Project over the next 1.5 years (through Directed Study or Practicum courses). Students may receive a travel stipend for presenting at or attending a professional conference and will have the opportunity to apply for funding from Athens State University for materials needed to complete their Honors Project. Honors students will receive faculty support from the Honors Faculty Leads and from each student’s Honors Faculty Supervisor.
In addition to the Honors Project, Honors students will be required to complete 16 hours of community service per year and attend or organize two Diversity/Equity/Inclusion projects/initiatives/events per year. Finally, to facilitate a broader community of learning, the Honors Program Faculty Leads will coordinate at least one event annually for Honors Program Cohort Members to co-participate and co-lead a project or initiative with other honors program student organizations at Athens State University (i.e. Phi Theta Kappa, Delta Mu Delta, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi, etc.).
Program Requirements
- Apply and be accepted to Athens State University
- Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Agree to complete a project with a Faculty Supervisor over the course of 18 months
- Agree to give a presentation and submit a paper describing my Honors project during my final semester
- Agree to participate in Honors co-curricular activities and projects
- Agree to participate in diversity and inclusion initiatives
- Agree to complete 16 hours of community service per year
Apply Today!
Apply for the Athens State University Honors Program through the application link below. Include in your application a 750 to 1,000-word essay on how the Honors Program will help you reach your academic and professional goals.
Shannon Pittman
Assistant Professor of Biology- Phone:256-233-6519 Phone:256-233-6519
- Email:Shannon.Pittman@athens.edu
- Department:College of Arts and Sciences
- Office:
Waters Hall, S 303 C
Dr. Vanessa Miller-Curtis
Associate Professor of Psychology- Phone:256-233-6520 Phone:256-233-6520
- Email:Vanessa.Miller@athens.edu
- Department:College of Arts and Sciences
- Office:
Founders Hall, Room 308