Types of Honors Courses

Enriched Honors Courses are three-or-four-credit honors courses and seminars taught at the honors level with a 25-person enrollment capacity. Most of these courses are departmentally based and are identified by an "H" following the course number. Some enriched honors courses are interdisciplinary seminars offered directly through Commonwealth College and carrying a General Education "I" designation. You may register for these courses through the University's standard registration process. Departmentally based honors courses are identified by an "H" following the course number (e.g., ANTH 297H: The Good Society). In keeping with honors standards, these courses are intensive and, being small, allow for direct mentoring relationships between faculty and students. Interdisciplinary honors seminars (such as Honors 292F: The American Family and Honors 292W: America at War) are offered through the honors rubric and appear on Spire under "Honors." Most of these seminars are General Education interdisciplinary courses and carry the "I" designation; some carry a "U" or "G" designation (formerly "D" for diversity).

Honors Colloquia are weekly one-hour discussion seminars or laboratory sessions that augment standard two- and three-credit University courses by providing more focused study of the course content.

Honors Colloquia listed in the "Honors Course Guide" and in the on-line "Schedule of Classes" guide at the beginning of each departmental listing are open for registration through the University's standard registration process. For example, ANTH H06 will appear as an Honors Colloquium [paired with its "root" course] ANTH 103. A colloquium satisfies an honors course requirement as long as you receive a "B" or better in both the root course and its colloquium. Fully-enriched honors courses with additional colloquia count toward one honors course requirement.

Honors Colloquia may also be established after the semester begins. If two or more students in a root course are interested in establishing a colloquium, and the instructor is will to work separately with them, a Colloquium Contract form can be used to initiate the colloquium. Professors should complete the Colloquium Contract form and Roster before the end of add/drop period. Enrollment is between two and 25 students.

If you are the only student interested in augmenting a course, see the Honors Independent Study option.

Honors Independent Studies and Community Service Learning Independent Studies come in two forms. If a standard University course you wish to take does not offer a regularly scheduled Honors colloquium attached to it, you may contract with the course instructor for one or two credits of additional in-depth, independent work. You may also contract with a faculty member for a three- to six-credit "stand-alone" Honors Independent Study of your own design.

Honors Independent Study (HIS) (Contract Registration - Honors Independent Study Form)

All Honors Independent Studies are initiated through a Commonwealth College advisor in 504 Goodell who will explain to you the specific requirements and processes for enrollment.

One or two credits of independent work, under guidance of the course instructor, to augment a standard three-or-more-credit, graded UMass Amherst course. Must involve at least eight hours of student/faculty contact time over the course of the semester.*

Three-to-six-credit, "stand-alone" Honors Independent Study. Students requesting this option must provide a syllabus-like proposal and documentation of the work load and have at least one-half hour of contact with the sponsor per credit per week with approximately three to four hours of work per credit per week.

Community Service Learning Honors Independent Study (CSLHIS) (Contract Registration -CSLIS Forms)

Community Service Learning Independent Study enables students to link theory learned in the classroom with practical application in community-based organizations. For more information or to initiate a CSLHIS, see the Community Service Learning site on line or visit the CSL office in 610 Goodell.

One or two credits of community-based learning, undertaken in tutorial style, to augment a standard three-or-more-credit graded UMass Amherst course.*

Three to six credits of graded community-based learning, undertaken in tutorial style.

* NOTE: Up to three Honors Independent Studies (HIS), or three Community Service Learning Honors Independent Studies (CSLHIS), or three of any combination of these may count toward completion of honors course requirements. (Additional Honors Independent Studies will not count toward honors requirements.) Only one method of enrichment per root course may be used to satisfy honors course requirements; that is, while a student may complete two enrichment options (say, two colloquia or a colloquium and an independent study) for graduation credit, nonhonors root courses may only be augmented once toward honors course requirements. Fully enriched Honors courses (e.g., Honors 292W: America at War) count toward one honors course requirement without augmentation. Consequently, more than one colloquia may count toward graduation credit requirements but not toward fulfillment of additional honors course requirements.

Honors Independent Studies and Community Service Learning Independent Studies come in two forms. If a standard University course you wish to take does not offer a regularly scheduled Honors colloquium attached to it, you may contract with the course instructor for one or two credits of additional in-depth, independent work. You may also contract with a faculty member for a three- to six-credit "stand-alone" Independent Study of your own design.

Honors Independent Study (HIS) (Contract Registration - Honors Independent Study Form)
All Honors Independent Studies are initiated through a Commonwealth College advisor in 504 Goodell who will explain to you the specific requirements and processes for enrollment.

One or two credits of independent work, under guidance of the course instructor, to augment a standard three-or-more-credit, graded UMass Amherst course. Must involve at least eight hours of student/faculty contact time over the course of the semester.*

Three-to-six-credit, "stand-alone" Honors Independent Study. Students requesting this option must provide a syllabus-like proposal and documentation of the work load and have at least one-half hour of contact with the sponsor per credit per week with approximately three to four hours of work per credit per week.
Community Service Learning Honors Independent Study (CSLHIS) (Contract Registration -CSLIS Forms)
Community Service Learning Independent Study enables students to link theory learned in the classroom with practical application in community-based organizations. For more information or to initiate a CSLHIS, see the Community Service Learning site on line or visit the CSL office in 610 Goodell.

One or two credits of community-based learning, undertaken in tutorial style, to augment a standard three-or-more-credit graded UMass Amherst course.*

Three to six credits of graded community-based learning, undertaken in tutorial style.

* NOTE: Up to three Honors Independent Studies (HIS), or three Community Service Learning Honors Independent Studies (CSLHIS), or three of any combination of these may count toward completion of honors course requirements. (Additional Honors Independent Studies will not count toward honors requirements.) Only one method of enrichment per root course may be used to satisfy honors course requirements; that is, while a student may complete two enrichment options (say, two colloquia or a colloquium and an independent study) for graduation credit, nonhonors root courses may only be augmented once toward honors course requirements. Fully enriched Honors courses (e.g., Honors 292W: America at War) count toward one honors course requirement without augmentation. Consequently, more than one colloquia may count toward graduation credit requirements but not toward fulfillment of additional honors course requirements.

The Dean's Book Course is unique among university offerings. This 3-credit required course actually comprises three separate seven-week, 1-credit interdisciplinary seminars—Honors 191D, Honors 291D, and Honors 391D—and carries General Education Interdisciplinary (“I”) credit upon completion.

Each seminar is devoted to the study of a single contemporary book and exploration of the issues it raises. The three seminar levels emphasize different approaches and activities, yet the text at the center of each seminar is the same.

The Dean’s Book Course was designed, at least in part, to be spread over a student’s time in Commonwealth College and to provide preparation and practice for the Capstone Experience as well as other advanced activities like the Undergraduate Research Conference. Therefore, students are encouraged to take 191D in the freshman year, Honors 291D in the sophomore year, and Honors 391D in the junior year year. Students who transfer into Commonwealth College as sophomores or juniors may accelerate their pace through the sequence by taking a specially designed 14-week, 2-credit seminar—either Honors 291G (which comprises 191D and 291D) or Honors 391G (which comprises 291D and 391D).

For complete information about this course, see the Dean's Book Course on-line site.

Six-Credit Intensive Language Courses (maximum: two courses for 12 credits) may be applied to Commonwealth College honors requirements.

UMass Amherst Graduate Courses at the 600-, 700-, and 800-level apply automatically to Commonwealth College honors requirements. As part of a large research university with 64 master's and 50 doctoral programs, Commonwealth College is uniquely positioned to support students ready and eager for the rigorous challenges graduate courses afford.Therefore it accepts any upper-level graduate course, completed with a grade of B or better, as applying toward its own honors requirements.

Graduate Courses at the 500-level may, under special circumstances, also may be recognized as "substitute" honors courses, as long as they carry three or more graded credits, a significant graduate student enrollment, a high degree of interaction between the professor and students, an enrollment capacity of 25 or fewer, and a rigorous syllabus . Students may petition for this substitution by completing and submitting a substitution request form.

A Capstone Thesis, Project, or 6-credit Course provides the culminating experience of a Commonwealth College student's academic life. Capstones are designed to provide Commonwealth College seniors with an opportunity to integrate their undergraduate experiences while preparing for their intended career paths. Working either independently or in a course with peers, students conduct in-depth research within their own major discipline or across disciplines, undertake creative or community-action projects, or work intensively on other scholarly endeavors, all under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor and with the support of the College's Research Literacy. For complete information, see the Capstone Experience on-line site.

Non-UMass Amherst Five-College Courses -taken at neighboring Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke or Hampshire College through the Five College Exchange-may be petitioned for honors credit as long as they have 25 or fewer students enrolled, a high degree of interaction between instructor and students, and a challenging course syllabus.

International Exchange Courses may be petitioned for honors credit. Each year hundreds of students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst experience the challenges and rewards of study abroad. Commonwealth College and the International Programs Office co-sponsor the International Scholars Program, which allows highly qualified freshmen to integrate international studies coursework at the University with study abroad during their Junior year. And in conjunction with UMass-based Living Routes, Commonwealth College also supports a variety of Community Service Learning programs around the world.

The International Programs Office additionally offers University students the opportunity to select from over 100 exchange programs in more than 30 countries, ranging from total immersion in a non-English speaking country to English speaking programs in both English and non-English-speaking countries. The programs are designed to provide foreign study at a cost comparable to that of UMass Amherst. Any financial aid, scholarships, or loans that you receive to attend UMass Amherst will apply while you participate in an approved study abroad program.

Even if you are not planning to major in the study of a culture or language, by integrating foreign study into your undergraduate program you gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of world affairs. For more information on opportunities to study abroad, see Off-Campus Study Programs.

(The maximum number of study abroad courses which may be petitioned for honors credit is one per semester.)

National Exchange and Transfer Honors Courses may be petitioned for honors credit provided they received honors distinction at the home institution.

Students who transfer into Commonwealth College from a Massachusetts community college and have completed an Associate's Degree through a certified Commonwealth Honors Program are recognized as having completed the first two years of their Commonwealth College requirements. However, The Dean's Book requirement or the Capstone Experience requirement will not be waived under any circumstances (for good reason—these are some of the strongest aspects of a Commonwealth College education)
(UMass Amherst Admissions web site).

UMass Amherst Graduate Courses at the 600-, 700-, and 800-level apply automatically to Commonwealth College honors requirements. As part of a large research university with 64 master's and 50 doctoral programs, Commonwealth College is uniquely positioned to support students ready and eager for the rigorous challenges graduate courses afford.Therefore it accepts any upper-level graduate course, completed with a grade of B or better, as applying toward its own honors requirements.

Graduate Courses at the 500-level may be petitioned for honors credit as long provided they carry three or more graded credits, a significant graduate student enrollment, a high degree of interaction between the professor and students, an enrollment capacity of 25 or fewer, and a rigorous syllabus.