Honors work is the enhancement of the basic liberal arts degree structure through challenging and enriched courses to ensure gaining the best possible undergraduate education available. For those students who wish to undertake a total honors education, the curriculum will include honors courses, upper division courses for meeting basic requirements, especially challenging sequences, the most rigorous courses offered when choice is involved, honors seminars, and a strong major which includes a significant research component. Although not all students will have the time and intellectual inclination to enhance every portion of their undergraduate degree, all students who become members of the Honors Program ought to have, as a goal, the constant enrichment of their areas of academic strength. Information regarding the Arts and Sciences Honors Program and the membership requirements for the program can be obtained in Room 207, Enarson Hall.

 

The Department of Mathematics offers a strong sequence of honors courses as well as enrichment courses and problem solving seminars. These courses are accelerated, more concept-oriented versions of the regular sequences designed to challenge the well-prepared, highly motivated student. The Honors Program in mathematics, however, is not intended for mathematics majors alone. The honors curriculum is designed to benefit every participant with a serious interest in a discipline which utilizes mathematical ideas and methods (engineering, science, mathematics, and even the social and life sciences). In the years past, some of our best mathematics honors students have had majors other than, or in addition to, mathematics.

DEGREE WITH HONORS OR WITH DISTINCTION

A student may submit an Honors Contract proposal to the ASC Honors Committee to become a candidate for graduation with honors in the Arts and Sciences. The Honors Contract should reflect a total liberal arts program of exceptional strength and breadth as demonstrated by a strong major program and rigorous coursework outside of the major.

A student may also graduate with distinction in mathematics, an honor recognizing students who have achieved excellence in the study of mathematics. In our department, the minimum requirements to receive this designation are to write a senior thesis under the direction of a faculty member, or to choose the following coursework option:

• Math 651-652-653, [0] or
• Math 655-656-657, [0] or
• 10 hours of coursework in a 700-level sequence.

Please note that one of these sequences must be completed in addition to the 40 hour major.

Students requesting the "with distinction" designation via the coursework option must have the approval of their faculty advisor and the Math Honors Committee even though they have met the above minimum requirement. During their junior year these students should pick up the appropriate form from the Math Counseling Office and submit it, together with a copy of their major program and their Advising Report, to the Math Honors Committee. Students hoping to receive approval of the Math Honors Committee should have a coherent program.

Once approved, the original of the form will be sent to the ASC Honors Office with a copy going to the student, the advisor, and the Counseling Office. One quarter prior to graduation students should check with the Math Counseling Office, should any changes be necessary, and initiate paperwork for such changes.

There are several additional requirements or procedures that must be followed to graduate with distinction in mathematics via either the thesis or the coursework option.

1. Point-hour requirements
   1. The student must have at least a 3.3 CPHR overall.
   2. The student must have at least a 3.3 CPHR in all courses taken in the field of distinction. The field of distinction is minimally equivalent to the courses listed on the official Major Program. Students may not exceed the maximum number of credit hours allowed in one discipline under their respective curriculum except by petition. (1980: B.A., 65 hours; B.S., 75 hours; 1983: B.A. and B.S., 80 hours).
   3. For the coursework option, the student must have a B+ or better in each course within the option.
2. Credit hour requirements
   1. The student must generally complete a full 40 hour major in addition to credit hours received for the research and thesis project. The ASC Honors Conunittee, however, will consider exceptions in cases where the faculty project adviser provides a statement of explanation to the effect that the breadth component of the with distinction candidacy has been met in some alternate way.
   2. The student pursuing the thesis option must sign up for a minimum of eight hours under the course number Math H783 (a maximum of fifteen hours of independent research and/or coursework are applicable to the with distinction project).

Application forms for the degree with distinction are available in the Honors Office. The student should complete the form the quarter before she/he intends to begin either option. This form must be signed by the student, faculty adviser and the chairperson of the Mathematics Honors Committee. Some departments also require the signature of the department chair or department honors adviser. The completed application is retumed to the ASC Honors Office, which represents the ASC Honors Committee, for approval by the coordinator of the Arts and Sciences graduation with distinction program. The student and faculty adviser receive copies of the approved application. The original is kept on file in the Honors Office. The student may not begin Honors research coursework until the quarter in which she/he attains senior (rank 4) standing, unless the faculty project adviser provides a statement or explanation to the effect that the student has sufficient background to begin research prior to the senior year. Before she/he register for Math H783 or the 600 level sequences, the application form for graduation with distinction must be completed and approved by the Honors Office.