Honors Scholar Program Home » Departmental Honors

Departmental Honors

Agricultural Science
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA.
2. Complete an individual research project (as approved/supervised by a faculty member) and present at the Student Research Conference or appropriate professional meeting or submit a paper for publication in an appropriate journal or research bulletin.
3. Achieve 75th percentile or above on ACAT or other approved senior test for agriculture.
4. Approval of a majority of non-abstaining AGSC faculty.

Art: Studio Art
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. GPA: 3.50 or above cumulative.
2. GPA: 3.50 or above in the major.
3. Receive an "A" in Senior Capstone Experience/Studio.
4. Provide documentation to Honors Committee Chair of acceptance in an exhibition.

Art: Visual Communications
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. GPA: 3.50 or above cumulative.
2. GPA: 3.50 or above in the major.
3. Receive an "A" in Senior Capstone Experience/Visual Communications.
4. Provide documentation to Honors Committee Chair of internship in the design field.

Art History
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. GPA: 3.50 or above cumulative.
2. GPA: 3.50 or above in the major.
3. Receive an "A" in both semesters of Senior Thesis (ART 436 and ART 437).
4. Provide documentation to Honors Committee Chair of presentation at an off-campus conference, either regional or national (NCUR, Midwest Art History Society, or other venue).

Athletic Training
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Apply for departmental honors through the Health and Exercises Department Office during the graduating semester.
2. Major GPA of 3.50 or higher.
3. Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher.
4. Complete a research project and present at Truman's Student Research Conference, a professional conference, or publish a paper (a paper that has been submitted or accepted for publication will qualify).*
5. Obtain a passing score on the CHES, BOC, or ACSM's HFS.
6. Receive concurrence from majority of Health Science, Exercise Science or Athletic Training faculty.

*Present means the individual was a major contributor to the research project (assisted in data collection, assisted in data reduction and analysis, and assisted in preparation of the manuscript, poster or oral presentation). A major contributor is one who participates substantively in all parts of the project, not a person who simply assisted with data collection. The faculty mentor is responsible for verifying level of participation.

Biology
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Declare intent to pursue honors at least two semesters in advance of graduation. A brief form is available at http://biology.truman.edu.
2. GPA: 3.50 or higher, or MFAT score equal to or above the 75th percentile.
3. Design and conduct an original research project in consultation with a Truman biology faculty member. If the research is conducted off-campus, the consulting Truman biology faculty member must be involved from the outset.
4. Complete a written manuscript in journal style of publishable quality, which must be approved by a committee of at least three Truman biology faculty.
5. Present a 20-minute seminar on the research at a regular biology discipline weekly seminar.

See your academic advisor or the Biology Department Chair for specific details.

Chemistry
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Complete the calculus-based PHYS 195-196 sequence.
2. Score at or above the 50th percentile on the American Chemical Society nationally-normed exam in 3 out of 5 of the â€œcoreâ€� areas (organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, biochemistry).
3. Achieve the Universityâ€™s academic standards for graduating cum laude (achieving a GPA of 3.50 or above) and one of the following criteria: a) Obtain a 90th percentile on the MFAT in Chemistry.
b) Progress successfully on a research project of at least two semestersâ€™ effort, write a research report according to the CHEM 443 guidelines, give a research seminar/presentation, and register for two credits of research (see CHEM 443 guidelines at http://chem.truman.edu).

Classics
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or better overall GPA.
2. 3.50 or better major GPA.
3. Excellence in Greek and/or Latin languages (demonstrated by superior achievement on the local senior translation tests, a winning placement or honorable mention on a national Eta Sigma Phi contest test, or superior performance in a course such as Latin Prose Composition).
4. Excellence in research (demonstrated by superior presentation of capstone, Truman Student Research Conference, or other conference or publication).
5. Positive contribution to the promotion of the discipline (tutoring, Classics Club, etc.).
6. Approval of non-abstaining faculty (Classical Studies Committee).

Communication
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or better overall GPA.
2. 3.50 or better major GPA.
3. Satisfactory completion of research project or comparable evaluated internship.
4. Present at Trumanâ€™s Student Research Conference, Lambda Pi Eta conference, SPJ or professional conference, or publish a paper. A paper that has been submitted for publication would qualify. â€œPresentâ€� means the student was a major contributor to the research paper who participated meaningfully in all parts of the project. The faculty mentor is responsible for verifying the level of participation.
5. Concurrence of majority of non-abstaining Communication faculty.
6. Submit application to department office the first week of the final semester.

Computer Science
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better.
2. Major GPA of 3.50 or better.
3. Score of 80th percentile or better on senior exam.
4. Demonstration of excellence in scholarship through production of scholarly paper or project.
5. Approval of a majority of the regular Computer Science faculty.

English
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or better overall GPA.
2. 3.75 or better major GPA (BA or BS).
3. A 15-page paper (or the equivalent) supervised by a mentor and approved by the English Honors Committee.

Procedure:
1. Eligible student chooses a faculty member with expertise in the topic for the 15-page paper or project and asks that faculty member to mentor the student in the paper or project.
2. Student, under guidance of the mentor, writes a formal abstract of the paper/project to be submitted to the English Honors Committee no later than April 15 for December graduates; October 1 for May graduates; and February 15 for August graduates.
3. Student will work with mentor on the approved paper/ project.
4. Student will submit paper/project to the English Honors Committee by November 1 for December graduates; April 1 for May graduates; and July 1 for August graduates.

Exercise Science
Please see Athletic Training qualifications.

French
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better.
2. Major GPA of 3.50 or better.
3. Either:
a. Study abroad (at least one summer) with a GPA of 3.50 or above in those courses,
OR b. Take one additional upper-level French course (in addition to those required for the French major),
OR c. Demonstrate excellence in undergraduate research outside of class work,
OR d. Demonstrate significant activity/leadership in the French program (i.e., Pi Delta Phi, French wing, French play).
4. Demonstrate excellence in the French capstone project.
Students who meet the above criteria may apply for French Honors by submitting a brief letter, along with documentation demonstrating that the criteria (above) have been met, to the French Program Coordinator.

German
Minimum Criteria for Honors in German:
1. 3.50 overall Truman GPA
2. 3.80 GPA in German courses

Procedure for Applying for Honors in German if You Meet the Above Minimum Criteria:
1. Letter of application written in German
2. Portfolio of work in the German Program
3. Oral Interview

Deadline for Application:
Before midterm of the graduating semester

Each applicant should meet with his/her capstone professor or German convener for details.

Health Science
Please see Athletic Training qualifications.

History
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.00 or higher.
2. Earn a preponderance of A's and no more than one C in History courses.
3. Applicants must submit a sample of their historical writing at least 15 pages in length (excluding notes and bibliography) that conforms to the Chicago Manual of Style, is free of grammatical errors, provides complete references for all primary and secondary sources, and is printed on a letter-quality printer. The essay should clearly demonstrate the studentâ€™s ability to write clear, coherent prose, draw conclusions based on primary sources, and do historiographical research. This paper should have been completed in a History course taken at Truman under the direction of a Truman instructor, and the applicant should consult with the project supervisor and academic advisor before submitting a paper to the Honors Committee. The Honors Committee of three faculty members will consider the applicants' writing samples, and those whose papers meet the above standards will be recommended for Departmental Honors in History to the History faculty. The History faculty will make the final decision.

Linguistics
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA
2. 3.70 or above major GPA

Students will complete a senior capstone research project in conjunction with the senior seminar course. The capstone project will be judged according to eight criteria:
1. Command of linguistic terminology;
2. Knowledge of linguistic theory;
3. Knowledge of previous scholarly work;
4. Scientific treatment of data;
5. Analysis of data;
6. Sensitivity to linguistic diversity;
7. Connection to other academic areas and real-life endeavors; and
8. Command of academic discourse.
If the capstone project is deemed proficient in all outcomes and excellent in 4 or more, and if the student meets the above GPA requirements, s/he is awarded disciplinary honors in linguistics.

Mathematics
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better.
2. Major GPA of 3.50 or better.
3. Score of 80th percentile or better on MFAT in mathematics.
4. Demonstrate excellence in scholarship with a scholarly paper or project, or by an exemplary showing at an approved mathematics competition.
5. Approval of a majority of the non-abstaining mathematics faculty.

Music: General Concentration with Emphasis Groups
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA
2. 3.50 or above music course GPA
3. A on Senior Recital
4. Presentation at a research conference - Truman State University Student Research Conference, NCUR, CMS, MENC, MMTA, other
5. Approval of non-abstaining faculty

Music: Liberal Arts
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA.
2. 3.50 or above music course GPA
3. A on Capstone Project
4. Presentation at a research conference - Truman State University Student Research Conference, NCUR, CMS, MENC, MMTA, other.
5. Approval of non-abstaining faculty

Music: Performance
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. 3.50 or above cumulative GPA.
2. 3.50 or above music course GPA
3. A on Junior and Senior Recital
4. Presentation at a research conference - Truman State University Student Research Conference, NCUR, CMS, MENC, MMTA, other.
5. Approval of non-abstaining faculty

Nursing
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Cumulative and major GPAs of 3.50 or better.
2. Produce a scholarly paper or project to be presented in a public seminar.
3. Score above the 50th percentile on the program comprehensive examination.
4. Receive approval of a majority of the Nursing faculty.

Philosophy & Religion
Primary consideration will be given to:
1. Performance in courses within the major.
2. The quality of the senior thesis.
3. Evidence of the studentâ€™s commitment to scholarly values.

Consideration will also be given to:
1. Performance in courses outside the major.
2. Contributions to the intellectual life of the campus.
3. Public scholarly activity.
4. Other independent scholarship.

Physics
Meet at least one of the following two requirements:
1. GPA in required physics major courses of 3.50 or higher with a score at or above the 90th percentile in the Physics Major Field Test,
OR
2. GPA in required physics major courses of 3.75 or higher with a score at or above the 80th percentile in the Physics Major Field Test.

Political Science
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.65 or higher.
2. Major GPA of 3.75 or higher.
3. Leadership and pursuit of knowledge out of the classroom demonstrated by evidence in at least two of the following three categories:
     a. Present research at an organized conference, such as Truman's Student Research Conference, a regional political science conference, or Truman's Women's Conference.
     b. Achieve a significant off-campus learning experience, such as a study abroad or university sanctioned internship (generally this will be an experience of at least one semester/12 hours).
     c. Demonstrate excellence in a university activity, such as forensics or athletics, or in a university or community organization or activity.
4. Approval by the Political Science faculty.

Sociology/Anthropology
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better.
2. Major GPA of 3.75 or better
    OR a Senior Test Score at or above the 90th percentile nationally.
3. Leadership and pursuit of knowledge out of the classroom demonstrated by evidence in at least two of the following three categories:
     a. Present research at an organized conference, such as Truman's Student Research
      Conference, the Women's Studies Conference, or Environmental Studies Conference, or at a
      regional or national conference for sociology or anthropology.
     b. Achieve a significant off-campus learning experience, such as study abroad, national
     service or university-sanctioned internship.
     c. Demonstrate leadership or excellence in a University activity, such as forensics or
     athletics, or in a University or community organization or activity, or through service learning
     beyond course requirements (such as an experience organized through a student organization
     and approved for the Co-curricular record).
4. Approval by the Sociology/Anthropology faculty.

Spanish
Meet all of the following requirements:
1. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better.
2. Major GPA of 3.50 or better.
3. Either:
a. Study abroad (at least one summer) with a GPA of 3.50 or above in those courses,
OR b. Take one additional upper-level Spanish course
OR c. Demonstrate excellence in undergraduate research outside of class work
OR d. Demonstrate significant activity/leadership in the Spanish program (Spanish Club, Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish wing).
4. Demonstrate excellence in a capstone project.