The Honors Program

Required courses in the Honors Program make up more than a quarter of undergraduate coursework and fulfill the general education requirements for a bachelor's degree. Details Here

Among these courses are the following:

The Scientific Process - Asks the questions, "What is science?" and "How is science done?"
Religious Understandings - Explores religious traditions as sources of insight, personal meaning, social structure, and moral guidance, with special attention given to the Christian faith.
Global Cultures in Context: Theories and Perspectives - Examines global cultures and worldviews through an international study tour.
Science and the Future - Analyzes the social and historical context underlying, as well as the moral, political, and legal implications of, scientific development. Also examines connections with religion and philosophy.
Changing Communities - Looks at the way communities change over time, and the ways in which individuals and groups have the ability to transform communities.
Religion and the Future - Examines contemporary issues facing the Christian community and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in their social and philosophical contexts.
Seeking, Knowing, and Serving - Facilitates student evaluatationof the development of personal philosophy and worldview and an understanding of how these worldviews relate to the perspectives of different groups.

The following Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are woven throughout the curriculum:

Students will demonstrate competencies essential for informed inquiry across the disciplines.
Students will demonstrate competency in written and oral communication.
Students will recognize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives.
Students will demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement and service to their community and the world.
Students will demonstrate growth in personal integrity, moral judgment, and religious belief as they define their worldviews and academic goals.

These Student Learning Objectives are shared with the University Studies program of General Education, and are in harmony with La Sierra University's SLOs, WASC Core Competencies, and the AAC&U's recommended SLOs for higher education in the 21st century.

Curriculum Requirements Honors Program

Total units required: 70-91 quarter units

The following requirements fulfill general education requirements (as an alternative to the University Studies curriculum) for students admitted into the Honors Program. A student may elect to not complete the Original Scholarship component of the Program and still fulfill general education requirements (but not graduate with University Honors designation).

Honors Core Courses (41 units)
UHNR 101	Beginning to Seek (1 unit)
UHNR 114/114L	The Scientific Process (4 units)
UHNR 115/115L	The Arts (4 units)
UHNR 224	Religious Understandings (4 units)
UHNR 231	Global Cultures in Context: Theories and Perspectives (4 units)
UNHR 232	Global Cultures in Context: The Experience (4 units)
UHNR 314	Changing Communities (4 units)
UHNR 324	Science and the Future (4 units)
UHNR 404	Religion, Values, and Social Responsibility (4 units)
UHNR 414	Religion and the Future (4 units)
UHNR 424	Seeking, Knowing, and Serving (4 units)
Community Involvement (4 units)
UHNR 354	Honors Community Involvement (4 units)
Original Scholarship (5-13 units)
UHNR 364	Honors Scholarship Colloquium (1 unit)
UHNR 464	Honors Scholarship (4-12 units)

Competencies (20-33 units)
Modern or Ancient Language through Beginner Level III (4-12 units)
Two college-level Mathematics courses (8 units)
HLSC 120 - Lifetime Fitness (2 units)
ENGL 124 or ENGL 111, 112 & 113 (4-9 units)
UHNR 201 - Seminar in Rhetoric (2 units)

Portfolio: All students in the program will complete an Honors Portfolio, used by both the program and the student to evaluate their progress and develop their rhetorical skills.

Project: All students in the program will complete an Honors Scholarship Project, in which they develop an original research or creative project in collaboration with faculty. Projects are presented publicly at the end of the senior year.

Contact Us

honors@lasierra.edu
Phone: (951) 785-2310

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La Sierra Honors Social Media

Community Involvement Project

The Honors Community Involvement Projects are, in a nutshell, a way for Honors students to fulfill the university required Service Learning hours, in a new and exciting way. Rather than stepping into projects set up for them, Honors students are required to design their own community project. This means that the students are the ones required to find a need in the community and must work with the people in the community to fill that need.

While this process begins during the junior class, Changing Communities, it is continued by the students until their senior year. The projects culminate in a presentation by the various groups.

The following contain summaries of some past Community Involvement Projects:

Community Involvement Project Presentations, 2009

Community Involvement Project Presentations, 2007

Course Descriptions Lower Division

Note: Membership in the Honors Program is a prerequisite for all Honors courses.

UHNR 101 Beginning to Seek (1)

An introduction to the Honors Program and La Sierra University, including the history and ethos of the Program and University, the Honors curriculum, and available campus and community resources. Students begin to articulate their worldviews and start their Honors Portfolios. To be taken during the first year in which the student is a member of the Honors Program.

UHNR 114/114L The Scientific Process (4)

Models science as practiced by the profession, with an emphasis on the process of science. Asks the questions, "What is science?" and "How is science done?" while focusing on selected topics in science in their social and historical context. Recommended co-requisite: ENGL 112 or 124.

UHNR 115/115L The Arts(4)

An analysis of the structural elements of various visual and performing arts, and a study of the form, content and context as it relates to aesthetic response. Selected primary texts or classics of Western and Eastern literature, art, music, or other forms of aesthetic expression are examined.

UHNR 201 Seminar in Rhetoric (2)

Advanced study of prose and narrative forms and techniques, and oral communication of ideas to others. Includes intensive practice in writing and revising prose and oral presentations and the preparation and delivery of public speeches. Student portfolios are used in the practice of revision. Prerequisites: ENGL 113, or ENGL 124 with a "B" or better.

UHNR 224 Religious Understandings (4)

An exploration of religious traditions as sources of insight, personal meaning, social structure, and moral guidance. Such topics as sacred time and place, ritual, and religious understandings of community, human nature, creation, and revelation are examined in a global, historical, social, political, theological, and philosophical context. Attention will be given to the content, adequacy, and implications of Christian faith.

UHNR 231 Global Cultures in Context: Theories and perspectives (4)

An examination of global cultures and worldviews, focusing on both the content of cultures and the processes present within and between cultures. One or more cultures are selected to study in greater depth in preparation for UHNR 232 (International Experience). Prerequisite: Language through level 152 (may be taken concurrently).

UHNR 232 Global Cultures in Context: The Experience (4)

Exploring an international location, focusing on its cultures, communities, and global context. Includes a three-week international experience. Prerequisite: UHNR 231 (may be taken concurrently).

UHNR 299 Directed Study (1-4)

Lower-division independent study in an area to be specified, to be completed in consultation with an advisor.

Course Descriptions Upper Division

UHNR 314 Changing Communities (4)

An examination of the way communities change over time, and the way that individuals and groups may transform communities. Includes social and historical context for community change, political and philosophical understandings of community, and connections with religion. Students participate in local community agencies, and prepare and propose a plan for the Honors Community Involvement Project (UHNR 354). THis course should be taken concurrently with UHNR 354. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in UHNR 354

UHNR 324 Science and the Future (4)

Examination of one or more subjects in the sciences or mathematics, emphasizing the current "state-of-the-art" and future directions in the field. Includes social and historical context; moral, political, and legal implications of scientific developments; and connections with religion and philosophy. Prerequisite: One quarter of calculus or statistics; UHNR 114, 114L.

UHNR 354 Honors Community Involvement (1-4)

A project that engages the student in a community as he or she seeks to transform and build that community. Culminates in a written summary and analysis of the ways the community involvement has changed the student and the community. May be repeated for additional credit up to 4 units total; 4 units required to fulfill graduation requirement.This course should be taken for at least one unit per quarter over three concurrent quarters and concurrently with UHNR 314(Prerequisite: UHNR 314 (Can be currently enrolled)).

UHNR 364 Honors Scholarship Colloquium (1)

The preparation and presentation of a proposal for the Honors Scholarship Project (UHNR 464). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

UHNR 404 Senior Seminar: Religion, Values, and Social responsibility (4)

A senior-level seminar considering epistemological, moral, and social issues raised by the student's discipline. Students explore significant issues both theoretically and as specific problems of contemporary life, bringing their background from the Honors Program (particularly his or her community involvement and scholarship project) to bear on the interaction of their values with the discipline. Credit may not be given for UHNR 404 and UNST 404. Prerequisites: UHNR 354 (Can be currently enrolled) & UHNR 364.

UHNR 414 Religion and the Future (4)

An examination of contemporary issues facing the Christian community and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in their social and philosophical contexts. Attention will be given to the process of critical, constructive and contextualized philosophical, ethical, and theological thinking. Prerequisite: UHNR 224.

UHNR 424 Seeking, Knowing, and Serving (4)

A senior-level capstone seminar in which students explore themes throughout the Honors Program, evaluate the development of their personal philosophies and worldviews and the future of their worldviews, and understand how these worldviews relate to the perspectives of different groups across space and time. Special emphasis is paid to the religious and global implications of these worldviews. Revision of the student's portfolio is a central component of this process, and a reflective essay on the entire portfolio is produced. Prerequisites: Senior standing; completion or concurrent enrollment in UHNR 354.

UHNR 464 Honors Scholarship (1-12)

A research or creative project of significance that culminates in a written thesis, production, or exhibition, as well as an oral presentation in an off- or on-campus forum. A minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 units satisfy Honors Program requirements. May be repeated for addition credit up tot 12 units total; 4 units minimum is required to fulfill graduation requirement. May be included in the credit for a major with the consent of the major department. Prerequisite: Senior Standing, GPA of 3.5, and UHNR 364.

UHNR 499 Directed Study (1-4)

Upper division independent study in an area to be specified, to be completed in consultation with an advisor.

Honors Probation Policy

In order to graduate with Honors Distinction a student must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or better. The Honors Program monitors student performance in order to provide support & guidance to students. A student whose overall GPA drops below 3.5 is placed on probationary status. Students on probationary status must make a plan to raise their GPA's in coordination with the Honors Program or risk being dropped from the program. This can be done by making an advising appointment. The maximum amount of time that a student may be on probationary status (before either being disqualified from the Program or raising his or her overall GPA above 3.5) depends on the student's class standing at the time of their 1st probation quarter.

First year students may be on probation for up to 4 consecutive quarters.
Sophomores may be on probation for up to three consecutive quarters.
Juniors may be on probation for up to two consecutive quarters.
Seniors without an approved graduation contract for up to one quarter.
Seniors with an approved senior contract may meet their graduation requirements by remaining in Honors courses, thus fulfilling the General Education requirements, even if their GPA falls between a 3.0-3.5. Only students with a GPA of 3.5 or above will graduate with Honors distinction.

A student may only be allowed extensions to the probationary period if a) he or she plans to retake a course in which he or she received lower than a "C" and that course is not offered during the allowed probationary period, or b) the student requests an extension in writing and it is approved by the Honors Council or the Honors Admissions Committee. Once dropped from the program, the student must make arrangements to transfer to the General Education track and fulfill those requirements for graduation.

Warning Letters

A student whose overall GPA is between 3.26 – 3.49 during any given quarter will receive a warning letter notifying the student of his or her risk of being on probation. While, there is no limit to the number of warning letters a student may receive, the student will not graduate with the Honors distinction on their diploma unless he or she has a 3.5 GPA or above.

Academic Variances for Honors

There may be occasions when a student needs to request that one of the curricular requirements or course policies be changed; this most often happens due to a course schedule conflict, or an ususual circumstance when a student has transferred into the Program.

Variance forms are available in the Registrar's Office and should be turned in to the designated individuals on the form. Students petitioning for a variance from the Honors Program requirements, should submit their petition directly to the Honors Program.

Requests due to schedule conflicts with required courses for the major should be signed by the academic advisor as well as the student. Variances requesting waivers of requirements are very rarely granted; substitutions are much more common. It's a good idea to speak with the Honors Director or Secretary before you turn in your petition; they can help identify the petitions that have the best chance of being approved.

All petitions have to be approved by the Honors Council, which meets once per quarter. Because some requests are common, the Honors Council has empowered the Honors Director to handle some common petitions; also, if a petition has been approved in the past, the same petition can be approved for a different student (in the same circumstances) by the Honors Director without going to the Honors Council.

Students are generally notified within one or two weeks after submitting a petition that:
a) the petition is approved
b) it is denied, or
c) it needs to go to the Honors Council and when the Council is next meeting.