Institute of Technology Honors Program Requirements

For students admitted to Honors in the Institute of Technology prior to Fall 2008.

Freshman-Sophomore Honors Program

Freshmen and sophomores in the IT lower division Honors program complete a foundational course of study for all IT fields.  Students are required to complete Honors courses in Chemistry, Math, and Physics. This curriculum of chemistry, math, and physics draws upon interrelated subject matter to enhance understanding of each discipline.  Honors courses typically include more theory than non-Honors courses.   Faculty may lecture on topics beyond the required text, sometimes on topics related to their research.

In addition to the required Honors courses, students are encouraged to explore research and learning abroad opportunities, to participate in student organizations and community service, to take advantage of the staff of tutors available to assist students with their studies, and to become part of the Honors community in Middlebrook Hall.

Latin Honors (Junior-Senior Program)

A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 is a prerequisite for admission to the Latin Honors program.
A thesis is required for all levels of the Latin Honors award.  The Institute of Technology's minimum requirements for graduation with Latin Honors are outlined below.  GPA's are determined based on the last 60, upper division, A/F graded courses completed at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Degree	Minimum GPA in Upper Division	Minimum Number of Honors Experiences in the Department
cum laude	3.500	one
magna cum laude	3.667	two
summa cum laude	3.750	three

Each department has defined a set of Honors experiences that can be used by students in the Latin Honors program to fulfill Honors Experience requirements. These may include Honors courses or seminars, special seminars, research experiences, additional courses not normally part of the major program, and other opportunities outlined by the department.  Students can talk with their departmental Honors faculty representative to learn more about the specific Honors Experiences in their major.

Applying for Latin Honors

Students may apply to the Latin Honors program upon admission to upper division in their major.    The Preliminary Graduation with Latin Honors form is best completed in spring semester of the sophomore year or as early as possible in the junior year.  The Preliminary Graduation with Latin Honors form must be approved by the student’s departmental Honors faculty representative and the Honors office.  This form can be modified with appropriate advisor approval.  The Preliminary Graduation with Latin Honors form is available in the Honors office at 20 Nicholson Hall. Students must meet with Jeanne Anderegg and their departmental Honors faculty representative to begin their Latin Honors planning.  After the preliminary form has been signed by the faculty advisor and turned in to the Honors office in 20 Nicholson Hall, the student will have the Honors sub-plan added to their PeopleSoft record.

To become an official Latin Honors candidate, students must complete these steps:

• Meet with Jeanne Anderegg in UHP.
• Meet with their departmental Honors faculty representative.
• Review the requirements for Latin Honors with the departmental Honors representative.
• Complete the Preliminary Graduation with Latin Honors form with the departmental Honors representative.
• Submit the Preliminary Graduation with Latin Honors form, approved by the departmental faculty Honors representative, to the Honors office in 20 Nicholson Hall.

Graduating with Latin Honors

Final review of a student’s Latin Honors work will be done after all final semester grades are posted to the student’s record and all documentation of Honors Experiences is filed and approved.  A Final Graduation with Latin Honors form, signed by the student’s departmental Honors faculty representative, should be submitted to the Honors office by the 7th week of the term of graduation.  The Thesis Approval form, signed by the departmental Honors faculty representative and the student’s thesis advisor, along with a copy of the student’s thesis, are due in the Honors office, 20 Nicholson Hall, at the end of the last week of classes in the term of graduation.  Students will receive e-mail reminder notices of these due dates from the Honors office.

All students eligible for Latin Honors receive a medallion to wear at commencement.  Students will be notified by e-mail when the medallions are available to be picked up from the University Honors Program office in 20 Nicholson Hall.

Note:  Participation in the freshman-sophomore Honors program is not a prerequisite for the junior-senior, Latin Honors (cum, magna, and summa cum laude) program.  However, students who did not begin IT Honors as entering freshmen must apply for admission to the University Honors Program and complete UHP requirements for graduation with Latin Honors.  All students interested in Latin Honors should begin the application process by meeting with Jeanne Anderegg, the UHP academic advisor for IT students.

For further information contact:  Jeanne Anderegg, Academic Advisor, UHP, anderegg@umn.edu or Pamela Drake, Associate Director, UHP, drake004@umn.edu.