Honors Courses – Policies
General Guidelines
The distinction between an honors course and a non-honors course is qualitative, not quantitative. An honors class is not more work; it is different work. In teaching and developing honors classes, creativity is the measure. Inspiring creativity in students begins by thinking creatively about materials, approaches, techniques, and evaluation.
Honors Course Development Guidelines
No course may be developed as an honors course without the approval of the Palm Beach State Curriculum Committee and Honors Advisory Council. Honors courses should adhere to the following requirements and recommendations.
- Requirements: Every honors course must:
- Address and integrate the goals of the Honors College mission and the Honors College Program Learning Outcomes into course instruction;
- Emphasize individual interpretation and analysis;
- Encourage creative and critical thinking;
- Examine questions from an interdisciplinary context;
- Delve more in-depth into the subject matter than the non-honors course version; honors courses should introduce students to the theoretical disputes and historical development of the discipline;
- Foster the ability to analyze and synthesize a broad range of materials and concepts;
- Stress the importance of effective oral and written communication skills;
- Promote teamwork and collaboration;
- Acquaint students with discipline-specific research skills;
- Encourage students to become active, self-motivated thinkers who will take greater responsibility for their own learning.
- Recommendations: Honors courses may:
- Incorporate different instructional materials other than the non-honors version; primary source materials (i.e., literature, works of art, official documents, film, diaries, statistical data, etc.) are preferred over textbooks; scholarly journals should be used where appropriate;
- Be conducted in a seminar-style classroom setting, with an emphasis on discussion;
- Apply theories to real-world situations; the social, cultural, and political context of classroom activities and course material should be considered whenever possible;
- Promote learning outside of the formal classroom;
- Provide opportunities for publication, public presentation, and peer review of student work;
Honors Course Development Procedures
Faculty wishing to develop an honors course should follow the procedural path outlined below.
- A Palm Beach State faculty member will present a request to the Honors Advisory Council for a specific course to be developed as an honors course. If it is decided that the course fits into the honors curriculum and fulfills goals and priorities set for the program, approval for course development will be given.
- The Palm Beach State faculty member will take the proposal to the discipline cluster and resolve all issues related to the honors version of the course.
- Once the cluster has affirmatively voted on the course proposal, the matter will return to the Honors Advisory Council. Only that portion of the proposal which deals with honors pedagogy will be considered. After discussion, the Honors Advisory Council will vote on the proposal.
- Once approved by the Honors Advisory Council, the course will go to Curriculum Committee. Both votes – from cluster and the Board – will be reported to the Curriculum Committee.
Scheduling/Staffing of Honors Classes
To maintain the integrity of the Honors College, all honors classes will be scheduled by each campus with the guidance of the Honors College Manager/Honors Faculty Liaison. Honors courses may not be scheduled for any other program without the Honors College Manager's knowledge and agreement. All honors courses will be staffed by full time faculty who are certified to teach honors courses. Honors-certified instructors are faculty who have successfully completed the CTLE Honors Certification Development Program or who taught at least one honors course within the past three (3) years. Honors College Faculty Liaisons will work with deans to coordinate classes to ensure courses do not conflict with each other and that a balanced distribution of honors courses are offered across the various disciplines and campuses.
Cancelation/Conversion of Honors Classes
Honors classes should not be canceled without consulting the Honors College Manager and/or the Dean of Curriculum. Where low enrollment necessitates the conversion of an honors course into a non-honors course, the honors section (and corresponding reference number) must be canceled and a new course and reference number generated. Otherwise, notational markers will remain on student records.
Special Note Concerning Canceled Classes
Any honors student –
- who is registered in an honors class before it is canceled and
- who reregisters for the non-honors version of the same class with the same professor at the same time and
- who satisfactorily completes an honors project in the class will earn credit for having completed an honors class for the purposes of the Honors Gold track.
Class Size
Honors classes at Palm Beach State are intended to simulate a graduate seminar environment and create a close-knit intellectual group. Accordingly, the maximum size for honors classes is set at 15 students per class. The minimum size for honors classes is 6 students per class.
E-Learning/Pure Internet Honors Courses
Honors classes at Palm Beach State are intended to simulate a graduate seminar environment and create a close-knit intellectual group. Accordingly, honors courses may not be offered via e-learning or as pure Internet. Honors courses may be offered as hybrid classes.