Course Selection and Design
Students in the Commonwealth Honors Program have the opportunity to choose courses, designed to be intensive and intellectually challenging, from a wide range of disciplines. Honors students have priority registration, which means they are almost never closed out of a course! General Education honors courses draw upon and develop students' creativity and analytical thinking skills. Because these classes are generally smaller in enrollment, students have more interaction with the faculty and in-depth class discussion, which helps foster a close student-instructor relationship.
Scholarships
Incoming Freshmen who qualify for the Honors Program (see Program Requirements) receive an annual scholarship, which is determined by the Admissions Office. Other special scholarships are also available through the program, which celebrate students’ academic achievements.
Honors Housing
There is a designated floor in one of the residential dorms for Honors Program students. The floor will include a Resident Advisor, who is usually an upper-class Honors student. (Note: It is not mandatory for Honors Program students to select this floor.)
Honors Program House
Students have exclusive access to the Honors Program house at 22 Adams Road, 24 hours a day/7 days a week. This is a wonderful place for students to gather to study, talk or just relax among friends. The house has WiFi access, a television, a printer, a small refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker.
Extracurricular Activities/Special Events
The Honors Program hosts/sponsors several events during the year for its students. Each Fall, there is an overnight retreat for Freshman Honors Program students to Thompson Island in Boston Harbor which includes a scenic ferry ride, clambake, and campfire on the beach. An overnight retreat for Sophomore Honors Program students is also held in the Fall. Other events include theatre trips to Boston, guest speakers, a movie night and more!
Honors Students are encouraged to become involved in the Honors Program Student Association. There are also opportunities for Honors students to participate in a Study Aboard program and work as a teacher's assistant on campus. In addition, every Spring, the Program hosts a dinner for students, faculty and thesis advisors where academic achievements are recognized, Juniors receive their Honors Program pin, and Seniors are lauded by their thesis advisors and presented with their Honors Program sash for graduation.
Special Designations
Honors students who complete the program will be recognized at graduation and on their undergraduate transcripts as Commonwealth Honors Scholars. Framingham State University is a member of the statewide Commonwealth Honors Program, the National Collegiate Honors Council, and the Northeast Regional Collegiate Honors Council. Graduate and professional schools recognize the academic accomplishment of students completing the Program.