Honors Program in General Education
Faculty
Ailes, Bakhash, Bergmann, Bergoffen, Broome, Butler, Carton, J.R. Censer, Dick,
Francescato, Gabel, Gilbert, Harbour, Hazen, Hodges, Holt (Director), Horton, Irvine,
Jann, D. Kaplan, Kelso, Mattusch, Michals, Nguyen, O'Malley, Ricouart, Rutledge,
Tangney, Todd, Trefil, Zoltek
Course Work
The Honors faculty offers all course work designated HNRS
in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.
Honors Program
The Honors Program in General Education provides highly qualified students with
an integrated foundation for their future studies. It consists of a challenging interdisciplinary
curriculum that satisfies general education requirements for graduation and prepares
students for their majors. Administered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the
program is intended for students who are willing to cross traditional disciplinary
boundaries and to make connections that transcend the limits of conventional subjects.
Through intensive discussion in small classes led by outstanding faculty members,
students learn to probe the foundations of knowledge, to develop new skills in addressing
complex issues, and to think independently, imaginatively, and ethically. The program
offers students special access to the technical, intellectual, and artistic resources
of the university and the national capital region and seeks to develop among its
students a sense of intellectual community with the faculty and a commitment to lifelong
learning.
Academic Policies and Procedures Unique to Honors in General
Education
Students in the Honors Program are subject to university policy on admissions,
transfers, and failure as stated in this catalog. In addition, students in Honors
(a special curriculum within this university structure) are subject to certain academic
policies and procedures that are unique to this sequential program.
Admission
Admission to the Honors Program in General Education is limited and competitive.
Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their entire academic record, including
rigor of their high school curricula, GPA, standardized test scores, and leadership
qualities as identified through their application portfolios.
Requirements
Not a major in itself, the Honors Program fulfills a core of general education
requirements for every major. Requirements of the individual departments in regard
to their majors are updated annually and are available in the Honors Office and in
the department offices. Students in the program must earn a minimum GPA of 3.000
in all courses designated HNRS. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below this level
may complete the program but will not receive honors recognition.
Transfers
Within George Mason-Because of the sequential and integrative nature of the program,
Honors courses do not correspond exactly to the general education courses in the
traditional programs. A list of equivalencies is available in the Honors Office.
Outside George Mason-The Honors Program may meet the general education requirements
of other universities. As in all transfer situations, however, the general education
requirements of one institution may not precisely match those of another.
Continuation in Honors
Students in the program who are placed on „academic warningƒ because their GPA
falls below 2.000 (1.800 in the first or second semester) will be transferred out
of the program.
Students who leave the Honors Program for whatever reason before completion of
it must meet traditional general education requirements. Upon leaving the program
and before registering in traditional general education courses, students should
receive advising on the equivalencies between honors courses completed and courses
in the traditional general education program.
Like all other students in the university, honors students are bound by university
policies governing good academic standing. Students should become familiar with these
policies as they are stated in this catalog.
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