Honors in Major Program
Enhance Your Senior Year Experience
The Honors in Major program is an opportunity for high-performing NSU undergraduate seniors to participate in a research, academic, experiential, or service project in their major field. If selected to join this program, you'll work with a faculty mentor on a project that reflects your personal and professional goals. This program is open to qualifying honors and non-honors students.
To qualify for the program, you must:
- Complete (or be in progress of completing) 90+ credits before you enter your final two semesters of undergraduate coursework
- Earn a 3.8+ cumulative NSU GPA (based on a minimum of 15 completed NSU credits and a minimum of 30 NSU credits earned/enrolled)
“The Honors in Major program provided me with opportunities to interact with the community and strengthen my leadership skills. Upon completing the requirements for the program, I feel inspired to continue the work I have done and strengthen my impact."
-Amber Gulau, B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Human Nutrition
Benefits
If you participate in the Honors in Major program, you'll:
- Develop a mentoring relationship with a faculty member
- Expand the breadth and depth of your knowledge on a subject you're passionate about
- Be considered a member of NSU's Farquhar Honors College
- Receive a notation of this achievement on your NSU diploma and transcript
- Be acknowledged at your NSU commencement
- Receive an invitation to an Honors College reception
- Receive additional recognition from your academic college
Deadlines
You must apply for the Honors in Major program during the semester before your final two semesters of undergraduate coursework. Your application will be reviewed by the Honors College and faculty members in your academic department. We'll notify you of your application status two weeks after the end of the semester in which you applied.
- May Degree Completion Deadline: April 15 (preceding year)
- August Degree Completion Deadline: November 24 (preceding year)
- December Degree Completion Deadline: November 24 (preceding year)
Requirements
Honors in Major project requirements are managed by faculty members in the academic department that houses your major. Academic leadership in your college reviews and affirms your project plans and the Honors College tracks your participation and provides support.
- K-12 school volunteer service hours
- Educational research
- Educational advocacy projects
Faculty members serve as mentors for students in the program. Students make presentations based on their projects to present to peers and faculty and at conferences.
Students in NSU's College of Engineering and Computing participate in capstone projects relevant to each of the majors in the college.
Projects may be further customized for each student and may include:
- Research projects
- Focused literature reviews
- Internships
- Community/university service
Students present the results of these projects in a relevant forum. Faculty serve as mentors to individual students.
Students in NSU's College of Psychology must have a GPA of 3.8 in major courses and an overall GPA of 3.8 to participate in the Honors in Major program. Students may choose between the following tracks:
Clinical Track
- Enroll in PSYC 4810 Practicum in Community Psychology
- Complete an in-depth literature review
- Give a brief classroom presentation
- Participate in the annual Department Symposium, giving a brief presentation on the project
Research Track
To participate in the research track, an interview is required to assure mutual compatibility.
- Enroll in an independent study (PSYC 4990 or NEUR 4990) or internship (PSYC 4950 or NEUR 4950)
- Collaborate with a faculty member on research
- Present research at an acceptable venue (Undergraduate Student Symposium or professional conference) approved by the faculty mentor
- Participate in the annual Department Symposium, giving a brief presentation on the project
There are two tracks available for the BPH, BSHN, HAWC, and BSHI programs:
Community Service Track
- Complete 40 community service hours in a health-related topic and/or underserved population
- Collaborate with a faculty member who serves as a mentor for the project
Project Track
To participate in the project track, an interview with a faculty mentor is required.
- Enroll in an Independent Study course in Public Health, Human Nutrition, Health and Wellness Coaching, or Health Informatics
- Collaborate with a faculty member on a research, service learning, or program development project
Students in NSU's Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences complete a major-specific project:
Exercise Science, Medical Sonography, Respiratory Therapy, Cardiovascular Sonography, and Speech Language Majors
Students select from the following project options:
- Original lab or field research on a topic relevant to the major
- An approved thesis in the Honors College on a topic relevant to the major
- A service learning project relevant to the major
- A capstone project involving critical literature review relevant to the major
Health Science Major
Students select from the following project options:
- A community service project (including training at their place of employment or in the community)
- A capstone project involving critical literature review of a topic relevant to the major
Students in NSU's Halmos College of Arts and Sciences participate in major-specific projects:
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Students engage in upper-level academic and experiential major-specific activities. During the two-semester senior year experience, students are required to:
- Complete an independent study course in their major with a full-time faculty member who teaches in their department and major
- Complete one of the options below:
- Participate in travel study/study abroad for academic credit
- Complete an internship in their major for credit
- Present at both an academic conference (must first be approved by the department chair) and the Undergraduate Student Symposium
- Participate in Model United Nations (UN) for at least one year or to the satisfaction of the Model UN faculty advisor
- Participate in Mock Trial for at least one year or to the satisfaction of the Mock Trial faculty advisor
Biology
- Complete a written project (literature review, metadata analysis, or service learning) building upon work from BIOL 4950, BIOL 4960, BIOL 4961, or BIOL 4990 and meet with a faculty committee to discuss/present the project
- Complete four 4000-level biology elective courses (not including any of the following: BIOL 4950, BIOL 4960, BIOL 4961, and BIOL 4990)
Chemistry
- Complete a research project and enroll in specific upper-level courses fulfilling degree requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.8 for their major
Marine and Environmental Science
- Complete an individualized project working with a faculty mentor
Mathematics
Students choose between one of the following tracks:
- Project Track: (research/thesis, service learning, capstone project) with a written report and presentation to a faculty panel. Students also enroll in specific upper-level courses to fulfill degree requirements.
- Curriculum Track: more extensive course selections that fulfill degree requirements
Students in NSU's Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing (CON) participate in a supplemental interview. Applicants must demonstrate a history of ongoing and continuing community involvement.
Students must:
- Present a research poster at a professional venue
- Demonstrate an ongoing and continuing involvement in a professional or pre-professional nursing organization
- Serve as peer-to-peer mentors for students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing program, when requested
- Serve as student representatives at CON Council/Committee meetings when requested
- Continue to participate in community activities and/or service learning opportunities at least once per year
During the two-semester senior year experience, students in NSU's Shepard Broad College of Law must:
- Complete an independent study course in the major with a full-time faculty member who teaches in their department and major.
- Complete one of the options below:
- Participate in travel study/study abroad for academic credit (must first be approved by the department chair)
- Complete an internship in the major for credit (must first be approved by the department chair)
- Complete a public service project (must first be approved by the department chair)
- Present at both an academic conference (must first be approved by the department chair) and the Undergraduate Student Symposium