College Honors Programs
The James Scholar Programs
Every undergraduate college within the University of Illinois has a James Scholar Program, a college-specific, undergraduate honors program. The programs are named for the fourth president of the University of Illinois, Edmund J. James, who believed scholarship and research were fundamental to human progress. James’ achievements helped to transform the University of Illinois into a campus of international importance.
James Scholar Programs may require the completion of Honors Credit Learning Agreements (HCLAs). HCLAs enable James Scholars to complete honors requirements without enrolling in a special honors course or section. This is accomplished by creating a student-instructor agreement, whereby the student agrees to complete a course-related activity of an extraordinary nature, which may be in addition to or in lieu of regular course work.
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES)
Admission: Freshmen admitted to the college of ACES with an ACT composite score of at least 28, or SAT equivalent, are offered admission to the Freshman James Scholar Program. Freshmen who do not initially qualify may apply during the first two weeks of their second semester if they achieve a 3.4 GPA during their first semester.
Requirements: At least one scholars activity is required during the freshman year. For example, completion of a course with an Honors Credit Learning Agreement, an honors section designation, or an activity involving effort beyond normal academic requirements approved by the academic programs office in the College of ACES. Freshmen must carry 30 credit hours for the academic year and participate in an annual James Scholar retreat.
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College of Applied Health Sciences (AHS)
Admission: Outstanding freshmen are invited to participate in the AHS James Scholar Program and are notified of their eligibility in a letter from the college. Students will also be invited to participate in a freshman seminar course offered through the AHS Dean’s Office.
Requirements: Each year students must:
- Complete 14 hours (12 of which must be for a grade and taken at Illinois)
- Maintain a 3.5 Illinois grade point average
- Participate in one of the following special activities:
- At least two two-hour honors* course, with a minimum grade of a ‘B’ (3.0)
- One two- to five-hour course, such as Honors, Honors Seminar, Independent Study, Selected Topics, Senior Research, Special Problems, or Undergraduate Thesis*, with a minimum grade of a ‘B’
- Receive no less than a ‘B’ in a graduate-level course. Approval by the College of AHS is required for an undergraduate to register in a graduate-level course.
*Students must create an Honors Credit Learning Agreement, which are available from academic advisers or the college office.
Departmental Honors Programs
Within the College of Applied Health Sciences, individual departments have developed honors programs for undergraduate students who show excellence and special interest in their chosen majors.
Eager, qualified students usually join such departmental honors programs in their sophomore year or at the beginning of their junior year. Departmental honors courses and Honors Credit Learning Agreements will satisfy James Scholar course requirements at the college level.
To join an AHS departmental honors program, contact your academic adviser before the end of your sophomore year.
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College of Business (BUS)
The College of Business offers two honors programs: The College of Business
Honors Program and the College of Business James Scholar Program.
College of Business Honors Program
The College of Business Honors Program is a unique honors program. As a
leadership program, it provides its students with significant experiences,
especially during the freshman and sophomore years, which allow the students
to build skills, especially leadership skills. The students in the program
are then expected to use their skills to improve the experience of all the
undergraduates in the College of Business. This model of leadership and
service is based on the idea of continuous improvement. Goals set by the
classes in the honors program have included development of a college
undergraduate honor code; creation of better student to student
communications within the college; higher percentages of students taking
advantage of international programs; and effective use of our new business
building by our undergraduates. The students in the Honors Program are
constantly looking for ways to improve the college.
As a leadership program, the College of Business Honors Program purposely
does not offer “honors” classes in the college’s three academic departments.
Philosophically, we believe that business students, especially honors
students, need to develop the interpersonal skills with the widest possible
variety of students and professionals on campus. Some of the benefits for
students in the program include merit scholarships, classes in freshman and
sophomore years with Assistant Dean for Honors, an international trip at the
end of the freshman year (Japan/Korea in 2005; Germany/Poland in 2006;
Brazil in 2007; Turkey in 2008; China planned for 2009), a “Conservations
with Leaders” program, social events, and mentoring. The students in the
program state the greatest advantage is the opportunity to work with such a
great team of student leaders.
Admission: Each year, the Honors Program selects approximately 120 students
from among the approximately 1100-1200 high school seniors admitted to the
College of Business to be interviewed by a current Honors Program student
and an alumnus of the College of Business . From the students interviewed,
approximately 80 are offered a place in the College of Business Honors
Program. Our goal each year is for 40 students to accept our offer. With
our goal of welcoming 40 students each year, the Honors Program is designed
for a total of 160 students<the total for the 2008-2009 academic year is
169.
College of Business James Scholar Program
The James Scholar Program in the College of Business promotes professional
growth by its undergraduate by setting high intellectual and professional
standards with a program that reinforces the educational mission of the
College of Business.
As freshmen, James Scholars will take an honors section of BUS 101 during
the fall semester and participate in the Dean’s Honors Seminar in the
spring. They will participate in the college’s job shadow program during
winter break and the Sleeman Leadership Conference in the spring. As
sophomores and juniors, the James Scholars will select from a list of
activities to fulfill their James Scholar requirements. These activities
include service, entrepreneurship, leadership, intense study in finance and
private equity, international programs, technology, consulting, and
research. In the fall semester of senior year, James Scholars will either
continue James Scholar activities from junior year or participate in
department related honors activities.
Throughout their participation in the James Scholar Program, students are
expected to maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA with a minimum semester GPA of 3.5
(except first semester freshman year when the minimum is 3.3).
Admission: The top 15 percent of the entering freshman class, normally
150-170 students, is invited to participate in the Business James Scholar
Program as a James Scholar Nominee. Students will be selected based on
multiple criteria: academic achievement, test scores in addition to
leadership skills and extra curricular record in school and/or the
community. The assistant dean for honors makes the final selections and
students are notified of their eligibility in a letter from the college.
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College of Media (COM)
Admission: The top 20% of the incoming freshman class will be invited into the Communications James Scholar Program.
Requirements: To remain in the program, students must maintain semester and cumulative GPAs of 3.5 and higher, complete at least 14 credit hours for traditional letter grades each semester, and complete at least one honors course each academic year. Students may choose from taking a Campus Honors Program course, completing an Honors Credit Learning Agreement with a professor in any course, or working on an honors project with a College of Media professor as an independent study.
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College of Education (EDU)
Admission:Entering freshmen in the top of the college’s admitted
applicant pool, based on their ACT/SAT score, high school rank,
and GPA, are invited to participate in the James Scholar Program.
Requirements: To be certified as a James Scholar, and remain
in the program, students must complete one honors course, Honors Credit Learning Agreement, or participate in an approved Study Abroad experience each semester and maintain a
3.5 Illinois and cumulative GPA.
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College of Engineering (ENG)
Admission: Freshmen admitted to the College of Engineering with an ACT composite score of at least 33, or SAT equivalent, are eligible to participate in the Freshmen James Scholar Program. Freshmen who do not initially qualify may apply after achieving a GPA of 3.3 or higher after one semester.
Requirements: At least one honors activity is required during the freshman year. This is normally completed during the second semester. The following examples are recognized as freshman honors activities:
- Completion of an honors section of any course, for example, courses with “Honors” in the title, such as Honors Project or Honors Seminar
- Completion of a course with an Honors Credit Learning Agreement
- Completion of any course or activity that involves effort beyond normal academic requirements may, upon review and approval of the Engineering Honors Council, be considered as an honors activity. Such requests should be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
During the freshman year of study, students will further learn about the program and other academic activities in the college and may begin preparations to apply for admission to the Upperclass James Scholar Program.
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College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA)
The FAA James Scholar Program is designed to recognize, support, and encourage students who demonstrate superior academic performance and talent. These students have opportunities to work with faculty on individual projects, complete honors classes, and enrich their educational experience through curricular and co-curricular offerings.
Admission: The top 10 percent of the entering freshman class are eligible, by invitation only, to be James Scholars following a review of their academic history. Students are notified by the college of their eligibility prior to their first semester.
Any second semester freshman, sophomore, or junior may self-nominate by completing the form available in the FAA Student Affairs Office, Room 110, Architecture Building. Continuing students are required to have a 3.5 GPA for admission.
Requirements:
- Maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA
- Carry at least 14 credit hours per semester
- Enroll in at least one of the following each semester while attending the University of Illinois:
- Honors course
- Honors section of a course
- Regular course with an Honors Credit Learning Agreement
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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)
Admission: The LAS James Scholar Honors Program offers a number of curricular and co-curricular opportunities to entering first-year students who are invited and elect to participate in this honors program as a James Scholar Designee. Incoming students are notified of their eligibility by a letter of invitation from the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Qualified continuing or transfer students may self-nominate by inquiring at the college office: 270 Lincoln Hall.
Requirements: LAS James Scholars must complete at least two courses for honors credit during the academic year and earn a 3.5 Illinois cumulative GPA to remain in the program.
Departmental Honors Programs
Individual departments in LAS have developed honors programs for undergraduate students who show excellence and special interest in their chosen majors. Eager and qualified students usually join such departmental honors programs in their sophomore year or at the beginning of their junior year. Graduation with departmental distinction will require a strong Illinois and program GPA, as well as completion of specific departmental honors courses, seminars, or research projects. Departmental honors courses and Honors Credit Learning Agreements will satisfy James Scholar course requirements at the college level. Departments with honors options include psychology, English, and history; other LAS major programs develop honors options on an individual basis.
Departments with honors opportunities include integrative biology, molecular and cellular biology, mathematics, psychology, English and history; other LAS major programs may develop honors experiences on an individual basis. To join a departmental honors program, contact your academic adviser before the end of your sophomore year.
Cohn Scholars Program
The Cohn Scholars Program in the Humanities provides a unique opportunity for outstanding first-year humanities students. Program components include a $1,000 scholarship, small seminars with faculty, a special discussion section in an introductory general education course, and various cultural activities. An additional benefit of the Cohn program is the opportunity to take an independent study course with a faculty member. Incoming first-year students with a record of outstanding achievement who have chosen humanities majors are invited to apply. A faculty committee reviews all applications and selects the Cohn Scholars.
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Division of General Studies (DGS)
Admission: The DGS James Scholar Program is designed to both provide a curricular and co-curricular honors experience for qualified DGS freshmen and sophomores and prepare them for continued honors work in their ultimate college destination. The top 10-13 percent of the entering DGS freshman class will be eligible, by invitation, to be James Scholars. These students will be contacted by the Honors Director prior to enrolling for their first semester.
Continuing DGS students can self-nominate to be James Scholars with a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Off-campus transfer students that join DGS can become James Scholars by earning a 3.5 cumulative GPA and providing documentation of honors status from their previous institution.
Requirements: DGS James Scholars must earn a 3.5 GPA in Illinois classes each semester to remain eligible for the program. Students can earn honors credit by enrolling in honors courses or by enhancing standard courses through an Honors Credit Learning Agreement (HLCA). Two honors requirements must be completed per academic year to remain eligible. One formally recognized honors activity may be substituted for one of the two required honors courses or HCLA’s.
In their first semester as freshmen, DGS James Scholars will enroll in GS 102, a Freshman Honors Seminar. This course fulfills honors credit for the first semester, provides an enriching context for learning, and familiarizes students with the honors experiences they can create as an undergraduate at Illinois.
Major Declaration: DGS students need to be aware that each college administers its James Scholar Program in unique ways. Students who have satisfied the requirements for DGS will maintain the James Scholar status once they declare a major or transfer to another college on campus. It is important that students review the James Scholar requirements for the colleges they wish to enter. The DGS Honors Director welcomes the opportunity to assist, guide, and mentor such students in their quest to cover their specific honors requirements.
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