University Honors Program

Cal State East Bay's Honor's Program Logo The University Honors Program is open to any student who meets the criteria for admission. Individual departments may also develop honors programs. Departmental Honors Programs are upper division programs designed to provide special courses and advanced, independent reading and research for superior students in the individual majors. Contact the chair of the department for additional information.

University Honors Program
Office of Undergraduate Studies
Student Services and Administration Building, 4th Floor
Phone: (510) 885-3716
E-mail: bridget.ford@csueastbay.edu

Director: Bridget Ford (History)

Program Description

The University Honors Program provides outstanding students the opportunity for academic challenge by completing specialized courses, seminars and projects under the direction of faculty mentors. University Honors Students in good academic standing priority registration for most university classes, attend educational and social events with other Honors Students, and have exclusive use of the Main Library’s University Honors Study Room. They are considered for periodic awards and scholarships. University Honors Students also receive recognition on their official transcripts and diplomas, and enjoy special acknowledgement at both the Honors Convocation and commencement ceremonies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the University Honors Program will be able to:

Demonstrate the ability to design, plan, and execute an original research or creative project that would meet professional standards in a specialized discipline or interdisciplinary field.
Effectively communicate the methods, techniques, and findings of their original research or creative project in a written, oral, or visual format.
Work collaboratively with persons from different fields of specialization to address complex challenges and everyday problems.
Demonstrate responsible leadership skills through participating in one or more significant organizational roles in Honors curricular or co-curricular activities or service-learning fieldwork.

Admission

Admission to the program is open to:

Undergraduate students admitted to the university with a minimum 3.60 cumulative GPA, and
Students who have maintained a 3.60 cumulative GPA in their last 36 quarter (or equivalent semester) units of baccalaureate-level coursework.
Students who have been invited to take an optional, specialized one-unit GS 1013 (designated as “Honors Colloquium”), in the Spring of their freshman year, as determined by the University Honors Director in consultation with General Studies.
Students who intend to be enrolled at the university for at least four additional quarters, to ensure adequate time for completion of program requirements.

Program Course Requirements

Consult the University Honors Program Director for clarification and interpretation of course requirements.

To graduate from the program, every Honors student must complete:

A minimum of four classes (each consisting of three or more course units) as Honors-designated courses. To earn the Honors designation for a particular course on their transcripts, students shall:

Design, plan, and execute an original research or creative project in consultation with the course instructor, who agrees to evaluate the honors project in addition to, and separate from, assignments and assessments for the course in which the student is enrolled. Honors-designated courses may be in the student’s major or minor, as well as in General Education and elective courses.
Submit an instructor-approved contract for each course in which Honors projects will be completed to the University Honors Program Director for review and approval.
Earn a letter grade of “B” (3.0 earned grade point) or better (see: Grading and Academic Standards FAQ) in each Honors project to the satisfaction of the instructor of the course.

GS 3099 Honors Leadership and Service in students’ sophomore or junior years, with a letter grade of “B” (3.0 earned grade point) or better.

GS 3999 Honors Seminar in their senior year, with a letter grade of “B” (3.0 earned grade point) or better.

Additional breadth and eligibility requirements

Students must:

Take two of the four required Honors-designated courses outside of the students’ major and minor programs.
Take Honors-designated courses with letter grades only. Credit/No Credit courses will not be accepted for Honors designation.
Make progress towards program completion by taking at least one Honors-designated course per academic year with a letter grade of “B” or better.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.60 for all CSUEB coursework taken subsequent to acceptance into the University Honors Program. Students who fail to meet the eligibility requirements for two consecutive quarters will be disqualified from the program.
Attend one or more special learning, professional development, or cultural events at CSUEB each quarter in which they are enrolled in the University Honors Program. Events sponsored by the Honors Student Council will be especially encouraged.

Early Registration

Excluding freshmen, all students in good standing in the University Honors Program, having completed one Honors-designated course, shall enjoy Early Registration for most classes.

Special Recognition

University Honors students will receive special recognition at the Honors Convocation and/or at commencement. University Honors students will also receive recognition on their transcripts and their diplomas, as well as a certificate of recognition from the program.

Program Director

The director coordinates University Honors courses, as well as special events for University Honors students and faculty. The director tracks student progress and invites eligible students to join the program, giving notice to students who are failing to meet the program requirements and removing students from the program who fail to meet the program requirements after two quarters.