Types of Honors Courses
Honors Broad Views Courses
These core Honors courses fulfill USU’s General Education Breadth or Depth requirements, as well as Honors requirements, offering Honors students transformative, memorable educational experiences as they investigate the “big questions” at the heart of USU’s General Education curriculum. These courses actively engage students in hands-on research and discovery, critical thinking and self-reflection, clear and effective communication, and collaboration and community engagement.
Honors Deep Dives Courses
These core Honors courses fulfill USU’s General Education Breadth or Depth requirements, as well as Honors requirements, offering Honors students transformative, memorable educational experiences as they investigate the “big questions” at the heart of USU’s General Education curriculum. These courses actively engage students in hands-on research and discovery, critical thinking and self-reflection, clear and effective communication, and collaboration and community engagement.
Honors Capstone Courses
All students complete a capstone experience. In two-year programs students build an Honors Capstone Portfolio that highlights their academic work and professional development. In four-year programs students complete an Honors Capstone Project, a long-term project on the topic of their choice. Capstone courses assist students in completing these requirements.
Honors Experience Labs
The program regularly offers Honors Experience Labs, which are special Honors sections of departmental courses that may fulfill major requirements. These labs are specially designed for honors students, and they are designed to build Honors community and enrich students' classroom experience, even as they help students earn relevant credit and Honors points.
Honors Excel Courses & Honors Mentoring Agreements
Undergraduate Honors students may complete an Honors Mentoring Agreement (HMA) associated with the completion of a graduate course at USU. With faculty permission, Honors students may enroll in existing graduate courses, allowing them to explore the option of graduate school and work with top USU faculty and graduate students. Students must complete all assignments on time and pass the course to earn Honors points.
Please note that students earn Honors points for Honors Excel courses only if they submit an approved/signed HMA proposal before the course begins and HMA completion documentation upon finishing the course. The final product for Honors Excel HMAs can be a required course project.