FRAMINGHAM STATE COLLEGE
HONORS PROGRAM (INSTITUTIONAL)

The Framingham State College Honors Program is designed to provide academically talented students with the opportunity to enrich their college experience with courses both within and outside their major department. Courses bearing the "Honors" designation are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, and are designed to be intensive and intellectually challenging, drawing upon and developing students' creativity and analytical thinking skills.

Honors courses are designed for a maximum enrollment of 15-20 students to foster in-depth class discussion and a close student-instructor relationship. Some honors courses are restricted to "honors" participants, while others are offered as "split" courses with a core of honors students working within a larger classroom of students at large. Honors courses may be applied to the general education requirements specified by the College. Honors courses may be taken by students who are not participating in the program on a space available basis with the permission of the instructor.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Freshman Level Admission: Entering freshmen will be invited to participate in the Framingham State College Honors Program based on a weighted composite of their combined SAT scores, class rank, and demonstrated potential for superior work at the college level. Any student admitted to the College who was not initially invited to participate in the program may apply directly to the Honors Program Committee for admission.

Sophomore and Transfer Student Admission: Students may apply for admission to the Framingham State College Honors Program as sophomores. A minimum QPA of 3.25 together with two letters of recommendation from faculty members and a brief statement of intent should be submitted to the Honors Committee for evaluation before October 1 of their sophomore year.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Participants in the Framingham State College Honors

Program must complete a minimum of six (6) courses bearing the honors designation, including an upper-level honors seminar course. Most honors courses fulfill one or more general education goals and may be used toward the 12-course general education requirement, or to satisfy a major or minor requirement, if appropriate. Course topics and information about honors courses to be offered can be found in the Schedule of Classes Bulletin published each semester or through the program director's office.

As a condition of continued enrollment in the Honors Program, a freshman or sophomore must maintain a QPA of no less than 3.00 overall; a junior or senior must maintain a QPA of 3.25 or greater. In addition, a 3.00 QPA in honors courses is required of all honors students. Students falling below these requirements are allowed to continue in the program for a probation period of one semester (juniors and seniors) or one year (freshmen and sophomores). Subsequent continuance is at the discretion of the Honors Program Advisory Committee.

Participation in the Framingham State College Honors Program is noted on the students' transcripts. Students completing the program also receive a certificate which recognizes the honor.

This program affords qualified students the opportunity to do extensive study in an area of interest not usually pursued in regular academic work. The completed thesis is recorded on the student’s transcript and is placed on permanent file in the library. Distinction for completing the honors thesis is also noted at commencement. Students should consult their department chair to initiate their enrollment in the honors program.

Students are eligible for honors work if they have an average quality rating of 3.0 or higher for the entire sophomore year, or for the last semester sophomore year plus the first semester junior year. The 3.0 cumulative quality rating must include a minimum of four (4) courses taken at Framingham State College. Students undertaking this program may elect to omit one elective course in the senior year, substituting the final work of this research project for the course omitted. Course substitution must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and department chair.

The program is carried on under the direction of a faculty advisor. The choice of the faculty advisor and the actual program of study are matters of mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member. Students may begin work any time after qualifying and must continue for at least two semesters.

1. COURSE LOAD. Students must complete a minimum of 32 course credits for graduation. A candidate for the bachelor’s degree normally takes four (4) course credits in each of eight (8) semesters of residency. Students must take a minimum of three (3) course credits to be considered full-time. Each course credit is the equivalent of a four-semester hour course in terms of the work expected; therefore, a student usually carries the equivalent of 16 semester hours of course work during each semester at the College.

2. COURSE DISTRIBUTION. Twelve (12) course credits are allocated to complete the general education requirements, described in the next section. Each student must also satisfy the requirements of a major. The number of required course credits varies with the major chosen (see individual department sections). Depending on the major, students may be able to choose free electives from among the 32 course credits necessary for graduation.

Students registering for 600-level Framingham State College Continuing Education courses must obtain prior written approval from their major department chairs. Failure to do so will result in denial of course credit toward the degree, as 600-level courses are not applied to the baccalaureate degree without prior approval of the chair.

3. RESIDENCY. Eight (8) course credits must be taken at Framingham State College to complete residency requirements. Transfer students must complete a minimum of five (5) Framingham State College course credits in their major department and, if applicable, three (3) Framingham State College course credits in their minor department.

4. QUALITY POINT AVERAGE. To graduate, students must have achieved a cumulative quality point average of 2.00 or higher.

5. DEGREE APPLICATION. All students expecting to receive their degree from the College must submit a formal degree application to the Registrar's Office. See "Graduation" under Academic Regulations for details.