Curriculum

The Kent State University Honors College curriculum consists of specially designed and enhanced seminar courses, most of which fulfill Kent Core requirements, major requirements, or other University requirements. Students may also earn Honors credit through individual and experiential learning options.

Courses

female student walking underneath bridge lounge of Stopher-Johnson residence halls.

Courses are an important component of the Honors College experience. The Honors College emphasizes small classes, generally limited to 20 students; seminars, interdisciplinary team-taught courses and other engaging learning experiences; and the development of critical reading, discussion, and writing skills.

Class Project Agreement

The Honors College permits students to create an Honors section of a standard KSU non-Honors course with the approval of the course instructor. The goal of the Class Project Agreement (CPA) is to provide students with an enriched educational experience through a course in their major or other field of interest. All extra course work is due no later than the last day of regular classes for the course UNLESS otherwise agreed upon in writing by the faculty member and the student.

Graduate Level Coursework

Honors students may earn internal Honors hours for completing graduate level coursework (50000+). You must be prepared for the rigor of taking and completing a graduate level course. Experience what graduate level courses are like and earn honors hours.

Individual Honors Work

Students assemble a rocket in the Design Lab

Individual Honors Work (HONR 20096/30096/40096) provides students an opportunity to complete independent study (1-4 credit hours) under the direction of a faculty member. The goal of this project is to provide students with an enriched educational experience in the major or other field of interest not typically covered in the standard curriculum.

Internships

You will gain pertinent, real-world experience that will prove to be an invaluable asset when you enter the job market.

Research Experience

This is an official contract with the Honors College at Kent State University for the purpose of receiving 3 internal Honors hours for completing a research experience of at least 150 hours. You must submit your contract by the last day of classes for the semester in which you completed the research experience.

Senior Honors Portfolio

The Senior Portfolio is a graded one-credit-hour project which involves the collection of 8-10 artifacts from a student's undergraduate career accompanied by a reflective paper that explains how each artifact contributed to the student's intellectual and/or personal growth.

Senior Honors Thesis/Project

Male and female in white lab coats work side by side in a lab.

The Senior Honors Thesis/Project is a 6-credit-hour independent project. It may be a research, creative, or applied project and is completed under the direction of a faculty member.

Study Away & Study Abroad

Photograph of the People's Palace in Glasgow

The Honors College encourages all of its students to acquire broader national and global perspectives and appreciate cross-cultural values and achievements.