The Integral Honors Program at Le Moyne College

A program of academic excellence…

“The Integral Honors Program is one of the major academic strengths of Le Moyne College, and it offers students in all disciplines the opportunity to strive for academic excellence in the humanities.”

(Excerpt from the Le Moyne College Strategic Plan, 2005)

“The Integral Honors Degree is the highest degree offered by Le Moyne College.”

(Le Moyne College Catalog 2006-07)

Emphasis on interdisciplinary studiesConnections, intersections, and common ground

Expanding perspectives in an historical contextPersonal, and awareness of othersLocal/regionalGeopolitical/nationalGlobal…and beyond…

So what So what isis the Honors the Honors Program??Program??

A series of courses designed to stimulate A series of courses designed to stimulate intellectual growth, to challenge and intellectual growth, to challenge and reward excellence, to give students reward excellence, to give students

ownership of learning, andownership of learning, and

to foster the synthesis of knowledgeto foster the synthesis of knowledge

A View Toward ExcellenceA View Toward Excellence

Challenge of new ideas and perspectivesChallenge of new ideas and perspectives Excitement of learningExcitement of learning Creativity and thinking outside the boxCreativity and thinking outside the box Self-discovery and personal growthSelf-discovery and personal growth Friendship and communityFriendship and community

What does the Integral Honors Program offer for students?

An interdisciplinary “whole picture” approach to learning

Emphasis on critical reading and analysis, critical thinking, and communication

Seminar-type classes, team-taught by an excellent and caring faculty

A strong sense of community, promoted by extracurricular social events and trips

The opportunity to do original research: the Senior Thesis research project

Benefits of participating…

• Personal academic achievement• Research -> contribution to knowledge

– Often results in publication– Helpful for graduate/professional school admission– Competitiveness for fellowships/scholarships

• Course overload benefit• Library privileges• Use of the Honors House• Le Moyne’s most prestigious degree

The Integral Honors Sequence• HON 101 (The Ancient and

Medieval Worlds) – 6 credits• HON 201 (The Rise of

Modernity) – 6 credits• HON 202 (The Modern World)

– 6 credits• HON 309 (Approaches to

Knowing) – 3 credits• HON 401 (The Contemporary

World) or 402 (The World of the Other) – 3 credits

• HON 480 (Honors Thesis Project) – 3 credits

College Core Sequence for Honors Students

• ENG 100 – 3 credits• ENG 300 – 3 credits• PHL 301, 302, or 303 – 3 credits• REL 301-399 – 3 credits• HST 101 or 103 – 3 credits• BIO, CHM, or PHS – 3 credits• ANT, SOC, PSY, ECO, PSC, or EDU

– 3 credits* • the remaining Core courses (21 hours)

are replaced by Honors courses * may vary depending on major

A Typical Honors Course SequenceA Typical Honors Course Sequence

Freshman fall: Freshman spring:

History 101 or 103 (3) Honors 101 (6)

Sophomore fall: Sophomore spring:

Honors 201 (6) Honors 202 (6)

Junior fall: Junior spring:

None(study abroad?) Honors 309 (3)

Senior fall: Senior spring:

Honors 401 (3) Thesis defenseHonors 480 (3)

Freshman fall: Freshman spring:

History 101 or 103 (3) Honors 101 (6)

Sophomore fall: Sophomore spring:

Honors 201 (6) Honors 202 (6)

Junior fall: Junior spring:

None(study abroad?) Honors 309 (3)

Senior fall: Senior spring:

Honors 401 (3) Thesis defenseHonors 480 (3)

The Honors Program is PEOPLE!

• A dedicated and caring faculty who share their expertise and give of themselves to students…

Honors 401 class in New York CityDrs. Phil Novak and Shawn Ward

At Tikal

Making a poster presentation…and students eager to push themselves, accept challenges, andhelp others.

Doing research

AJCU ConferenceDenver, Colorado, Feb. 14-17, 2008

Honors 402 - opportunity to study abroad

Tikal Antigua Guatemala

Integral Honors Theses, 2007

“Ayn Rand”s Objectivist Epistemology and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics” - Adam Lemke

“Secret Codes and Quantum Computation” - Patrick O’Brien “Health Insurance as a Barrier to Providing Care” - Megan Oberle

“The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on the Communication of Individuals with Disabilities: An Exploratory Study of Equine and Dolphin-Assisted Therapy” - Emily O’Hara

“Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Conventional Medicine for the Treatment of Diabetes” - Michelle Grasek

“Interest Rates, The Yield Curve, and The Future: Why 2004-2006 is Different” - Nicole Toukatly

“Women Entrepreneurs in Small Business: A Conceptualization” - Alise Usher

“A Change in Western Political Philosophy and the Suppression of the Jesuits” - Adam Zaremba

“Ecotourism as an Investment for the Future: Successful Sustainable Development” - Kylie Zirbel

“Ramifications of Musical Training and Gender on Brain Function” - Justine Parmele

“Effectiveness of Federal Emission Standards in Improving Environmental Quality: A Case Study of the Adirondacks” - Joseph Becker

Integral Honors Theses, 2008

“Thousands of Miles Away and Across More than One Sea: Coke’s Illicit Acts in India and the Demand for the Ethic of Care” - Bridget Buyea

"A Comparative Analysis of the Rwanda and Darfur Genocides” - Dana Chambers

“Alternative Courts: A Case Study of Domestic Violence Courts in Onondaga County” - Jennie Colabelli “Consumer Psychology and the Weight Loss Phenomenon: A Study of Weight Loss Supplement Usage among Faculty, Staff, and Students” - Katherine Conroy

“Lung and Alveolar Mechanics: A Study of Respiratory Diseases and Potential Therapies” - Stephanie Livermore

“An Examination of the Prevalence of Compulsive Exercise Tendencies Among Le Moyne College Students” - Valerie Nielsen

“An Examination of the Relationship between Mental Illness and Criminal Activity in a Sample of Onondaga County Offenders: A Diathesis-Stress Approach” - Sara Stebner

“’Kill the Indian to Save the Man’: The Reality of the Native American Boarding School Experience“ - Megan Young

Honors Faculty - from all Disciplines

HON 101 through 202, primarily:

English

History

Philosophy

Religious Studies

HON 309, 401, 402: Any discipline

HON 480 Thesis: Any discipline

Faculty in many disciplines also give guest lectures and guide off-campus explorations.

The Physical Setting“Home” for the Integral Honors Program is the Honors House, a residence across the street from the main campus. It has been recently renovated to include two classrooms, two computer areas, the Director’s office, another office, and a functional kitchen and living room.

For security, students haveFor security, students haveswipe card access.swipe card access.

How do students join the Program?

• Presidential Scholars - acceptance into the program upon application

• Dean’s Scholars - acceptance into the program upon application

• Other students - by application with faculty recommendations, reviewed by an Honors Committee of faculty and one student

• The majority join the program as freshmen; sophomores may also be accepted.

Academic standards for the program

• Overall, GPA of 3.25

• Honors courses, grade of B or higher

• The Director has discretion to place students on program probation

• Students may withdraw from the program upon submission of a signed withdrawal form

Program activities include:

• sponsored lectures, both on campus and in the Syracuse area

• social activities, such as:– dinner for new students– holiday party

• trips, as part of courses or to Honors conferences or other conferences

• other student-organized activities

So…. if you want to• challenge yourself, rise to new

heights,• explore new vistas, make new

connections, and broaden your perspectives,

• make close and lasting friendships,• more deeply value the intellectual

life, and• make ready for a lifelong journey of

exploration and service, consider Le Moyne’s Integral Honors

Program!