SPECIAL ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS
SOUTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS PROGRAM
The faculty of Southwestern University makes available to highly motivated
and able students a Departmental* Honors Program, designed to allow students to
engage in a substantial project in their major area of study near the end of
their undergraduate career. The honors project is an independent endeavor that
is developed and executed by the student in consultation with an honors advisor.
The project research could take the form of a substantial paper based on
empirical and/or bibliographic research, creative works and the like. The
Departmental Honors Program is governed by the following provisions adopted by
the faculty. *“Departmental” is intended to include recognized
interdisciplinary programs, e.g., American Studies, Animal Behavior,
Environmental Studies, Feminist Studies, International Studies, Latin American
Studies, Physical Science and approved independent majors. In these cases,
“department” and “department chair” refer to the
committee that oversees the program and its chair. To be considered for
admittance to the Departmental Honors Program, a student should ordinarily have
a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.4 and a minimum grade point
average of 3.6 in the major. Admission to the Honors Program requires approval
of the department. Approval is based on an informal assessment of the
student’s academic ability and motivation to carry out a substantial
independent project, the coherence and feasibility of the project, and the
availability and willingness of an appropriate faculty advisor and supervisory
committee. No student will be formally admitted to the Departmental Honors
Program without these elements. Although admission to the Departmental Honors
Program is formally “by departmental invitation,” students are
encouraged to initiate communication with the faculty member with whom they
might be interested in working. Whenever possible, such contact should be made
well in advance of the proposed starting date. Note that interdepartmental
honors projects are encouraged, in which case there may be
co-advisers. Eligible students register for honors course credit during at
least two full semesters. A grade is assigned at the end of each semester. Each
department has its own honors course number (XX-983), which normally is repeated
to total the six semester hours of credit required to earn departmental honors.
Students may enroll for honors course credit no earlier than the second semester
of their junior year and no later than the last day for adding courses in the
first semester of their senior year. However, in some cases groundwork for the
honors project may be started in the fall of the junior year, or even earlier.
Note that the optimal timing of the honors project varies by discipline. For
instance, projects in the humanities are normally carried out in the senior year
with groundwork begun the preceding summer, whereas in the sciences, an earlier
start may be warranted. At the discretion of the department involved, the
honors project may be included in the total hours requirement for the major.
However, it should not normally be substituted for regular curriculum
requirements of the major, with the possible exception of the Capstone.
Substitutions require the advance approval of the department chair. The honors
advisor will normally be the member of the department who has the most knowledge
and expertise in the general area of the honors project. The prospective
advisor, the student and the department chair must approve of the selection. The
honors advisor is solely responsible for determining the honors course
grades. The supervisory committee will be chosen by the honors advisor and the
student, with the approval of the department chair. The committee will have at
least three but not more than five members, including the honors advisor and one
faculty member outside the department. The role of the committee is to provide
guidance on an as-needed basis and, upon its completion, to judge whether or not
the project warrants Departmental Honors. When an honors project is approved,
a timetable for its completion will be developed by the student and approved by
the honors advisor. A final completion date for the project will be set
sufficiently in advance of the student’s graduation for the assessment
process and final revisions to be completed. Failure to meet this deadline will
eliminate a student from consideration for University Honors. If the honors
project is not developed or satisfactorily executed as planned, it will be
possible to convert registration in an honors course into registration for
Independent Study. If this conversion is made, the project must meet the normal
requirements for Independent Study. Completed honors projects are presented in
a public forum, attended by the honors advisor, supervisory committee and
guests. This presentation will take the form of, or be supplemented by, a
traditional oral “defense” in which the committee asks the honors
student questions to assist in the evaluation of the project. Upon completion,
the honors advisor and supervisory committee members sign a document to certify
that the product of the project is worthy of Departmental Honors. For honors
projects that take the form of a manuscript, this “signature page”
becomes the first page of the final document. The elements of the signature page
are centered and arranged as follows: 1) the title of the report, 2) the
author’s name, 3) the statement “A Thesis Submitted in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation with Honors in [name of the
department or program],” and 4) Southwestern University, [year]. On the
bottom half of the page, next to the word “Approved,” include one
signature line for each member of the supervisory committee. Under each
signature line, type the signatory’s name, role [“Honors
Advisor” or “Committee Member”], and academic department. A
copy of this page must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office prior to
graduation. Honors projects that take the form of a manuscript are bound, and
a copy is shelved alphabetically by author with other honors theses in the A.
Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. The student should take at least two original,
unmarked copies of the final corrected version of the manuscript to the
Collection Development Coordinator, A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. There
should be no written comments on the documents submitted. The library pays for
binding two copies, one for the library and one for the student. The student or
department may request that additional copies be bound at a set fee. Theses are
sent for binding in June of each year. The student who successfully completes
an honors project will graduate “with honors” in his or her major,
and With Honors will be designated on his or her permanent record and diploma. A
student who graduates with a double major or a paired major and who completes an
interdepartmental honors project involving the departments of those two majors
will be awarded honors in both majors. Graduation with honors in a major is
distinct from graduation with academic honors specified by Latin praise (cum
laude), which is based on a student’s overall grade point average. A
student may earn both types of honors.
PAIDEIA® PROGRAM
The Paideia Program fosters and promotes connections between academic
courses, intercultural experiences, civic engagement, and collaborative/guided
research and creative works. It does so through a series of six one-credit
seminar courses and through frequent one-on-one meetings between Paideia
Scholars and Paideia Professors. Seminars are thematically organized and are
composed of students from different academic majors. Although the heart of the
Program is the Paideia Seminar, participating in the Paideia experience and
being a Paideia Scholar goes far beyond the seminars. The Paideia Program is one
that is navigated and explored by the student with the guidance of a faculty
mentor. Students apply to the Program early during the spring semester of their
first year and are admitted on the basis of their responses to essay questions
and the quality of their letters of recommendation. All students in good
academic and disciplinary standing are eligible to apply. Intellectually curious
and civically passionate students are ideal candidates for admission. Once in
the Program, Scholars share readings and discuss current issues—especially
as they relate to their coursework, other cultures, civic matters, and their
research and creative interests. Paideia Scholars become both better campus
citizens through their participation in on-campus activities and public
intellectuals through their readings of, reflections about, and acting on
various shared texts. Paideia Scholars learn to make connections between their
different classes and between their in-class and out-of-class experiences. They
put their thoughts into action. Paideia Scholars attend seminar classes in
groups of approximately ten students. This group of students and their Paideia
Professor stay together through their three years in the Program. Scholars
complete “anchoring” experiences in Civic Engagement, Intercultural
Experiences, and Collaborative Research and Creative Works. Scholars who
complete the three years of the Program earn up to six units of upper-level
elective academic credit, have up to $1000 of Paideia-related expenses paid on
their behalf, and graduate with special Paideia distinction.
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
Students may choose from a variety of options for study abroad, all of which
offer rigorous academic programs coupled with international experience.
Additionally, these programs take advantage of course offerings and facilities
not normally available on Southwestern’s campus in Georgetown. Students
applying for off-campus academic experiences (including internships, study
abroad programs or other semester- or year-long off-campus study) must have at
least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average at the time of application and/or
acceptance into any given program. Students must work with the Office of
Intercultural Learning (IL) to ensure that an appropriate program of study is
selected. In general, it is suggested that students make an initial appointment
with IL at least two semesters before the planned period of study
abroad. Southwestern maintains a list of accepted study abroad programs that
address the curricular and pedagogical concerns, as well as the academic
standards, associated with a Southwestern liberal arts education. The Director
of Intercultural Learning, in cooperation with the Committee on Intercultural
Programs and Experiences, reviews programs to create a list, subject to ongoing
evaluation, of accepted, approved programs. Students may propose study on a
non-approved program offering specialized curricular opportunities that are not
afforded by any of the programs on the approved list. Information about the
proposal process is available from the Office of Intercultural Learning, and
should be completed well in advance of the planned experience abroad. Approval
for such proposals is made on an individual basis and does not in any way
indicate that future proposals for study on that given program would also be
approved. Students who leave Southwestern to attend a program without
Southwestern’s approval are not eligible to receive transfer credit.
London Semester
A semester program in London is offered each fall. The current program
enables up to 30 students and two Southwestern faculty members to live and study
together in the Kensington district of London. In addition to courses offered by
Southwestern faculty, a British Life and Culture course is offered by visiting
lecturers from British academic, governmental and social institutions. The
course also includes field trips in London and the UK. Southwestern
undergraduates who have achieved sophomore standing before the start of the
program are eligible to apply for the Semester in London Program provided they
are in good academic standing. Applications are evaluated on the basis of the
student’s academic record and potential, the way in which the program
relates to the student’s overall educational objectives, and the
student’s maturity and ability to be a good representative of Southwestern
University.
Exchange Programs
As a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP),
Southwestern University is able to exchange several students annually with more
than 100 universities in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Southwestern
also has established cooperative partnerships with the Universität
Osnabrück in Germany, and Kansai Gaidai University in Japan. The cost of
the London Semester and exchange programs is equal to regular University
charges, and most financial aid applies to program fees.
College Year in Athens
Southwestern University acts as the coordinating institution for the College
Year in Athens (CYA) Program. Students from the Associated Colleges of the South
(ACS) may apply for the program through the Office of Intercultural Learning and
have their CYA coursework transcripted by Southwestern for both the CYA summer
and semester programs.
Additional Study Abroad Opportunities
In addition to the London Semester and exchange programs, students may choose
to study through a program approved by Southwestern University. These
opportunities are numerous and allow students a wide variety of choice in terms
of program type, location and duration. Students should contact the Office of
Intercultural Learning (IL) to receive information and advising regarding
participation in these programs. In order to ensure that students choose an
appropriate program, study abroad participants are required to work through IL
to complete the application and cross-cultural preparation for a study abroad
experience. IL acts as liaison to all other administrative offices on campus,
and students must communicate with the office in order to facilitate credit
transfer and financial aid distribution. Students should begin working with IL
staff one semester to one year before the planned period abroad. Students must
complete the Southwestern study abroad application in addition to specific
program application materials. The Southwestern application deadline is October
1 for spring study and March 1 for fall study.
Summer Study Abroad
Southwestern University also offers summer programs in various parts of the
world. Language and culture programs in recent years have included Honduras,
Hungary, Jamaica, Germany, Mexico and Turkey. In addition, a program focusing on
the fine arts and humanities is usually offered in London in the summer.
Transfer of Credit
A foreign study program for which a student expects to receive and transfer
credit from another institution requires previous approval by the appropriate
department chair and the Director of Intercultural Learning. In cases where
students do not register for courses until arrival at the study abroad site,
students must complete the credit transfer process within three weeks of their
return to Southwestern University. In addition, Southwestern must receive
official transcripts from the institution awarding the credit. For determining
transfer credits for participation in the foreign study programs of other
universities, Southwestern adheres in general to the “Policy Statement on
Study Abroad Programs” approved by the Federation of Regional Accrediting
Commissions of Higher Education (FRACHE). The acceptance of credit from foreign
study programs sponsored by other American institutions of higher learning will
be judged on an individual basis according to the following standards: 1) the
program has been approved by the appropriate department chair and the Registrar
at Southwestern; 2) the program was supervised by a regionally accredited
institution; 3) the student was regularly matriculated in an institution of
higher learning during participation in the program; and 4) the program was
primarily a college program and not a mixed high school-college program.
Students may transfer up to 18 credit hours for each approved study abroad
semester. Typically, students earn 12-15 credit hours for work completed during
the semester abroad.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
New York Arts Program
This program is designed to provide those students seriously interested in
the performing, visual, and communication arts with an opportunity to serve as
apprentices and to experience the world of the established professional artist.
The cultural resources of New York City are well known. Less familiar is the
artist’s milieu that mix of people, places and events which constitute the
artist’s environment, world and immediate audience. Qualified students
accepted into the program spend a semester or term sharing this milieu with
professionals representing all professional arts fields: visual artists,
designers, museum curators, performing artists, authors, publishers, film
makers, people in theatre and communication arts, etc. Each student is assigned
a faculty advisor who teaches a seminar and works closely with the student and
his or her apprenticeship sponsor. Students also participate in a specially
designed program of seminars conducted by arts professionals, including GLCA
(Great Lakes College Association) staff members, on various topics. Program
offices are housed in a midtown Manhattan townhouse. Four floors are for housing
with common kitchens and lounge/meeting rooms. No Southwestern University
funding is available for this program. Stafford Loans and Pell Grants are
available to qualified students. Other outside loan options may also be
available.
Washington Semester Program
Southwestern also has established cooperative relations with the United
Methodist College Washington Consortium. This internship and academic program
offers opportunities for course work and internships in politics and
communications. Depending upon the specific program, students work as interns at
the White House, on Capitol Hill, in the courts or with public interest groups.
Students may earn up to 15 semester hours which appear as Southwestern
University credit. The cost of the program is equal to Southwestern tuition,
room and board. Most financial aid is applicable to the Washington Semester
Program, including Southwestern merit and need-based aid, and is available to
qualified students. Other outside loan options may also be available.
SUMMER SCHOOL
Southwestern University offers three summer sessions. Specific courses
offered each summer will vary, depending on faculty and student interest. The
University cannot guarantee that any specific course a student might need for a
degree plan will be taught in the summer, so students should plan their regular
fall and spring term schedules carefully. Up to one-third of Southwestern
students take advantage of this opportunity in a given summer. Summer tuition
rates have been very competitive. Four semester hours may be earned during each
of the three-week sessions starting in May and June. No overloads are permitted
in summer school. In addition, a nonresidential “Summer III” session
is used for Southwestern courses offered abroad or for internships and
independent study. Note that these Summer III courses require registration, plus
additional approval and forms. Summer school tuition and room and board charges
are payable from the time of registration for each summer session. All fees must
be paid before students may attend classes.
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