Honors Program in Nursing

The Departmental Honors Program in nursing was established to recognize senior-level students with superior academic achievement and to facilitate their participation in independent study, which may include, but is not limited to, research and teaching/community projects.

Recognition for Elevated Study and Achievement

This program is intended to enhance the educational experience of the outstanding student; therefore, their independent study is intended to go above and beyond the usual scope of the curriculum offered in the baccalaureate program. Completion of the honors program is recorded on the student’s permanent academic record.

Program Details

Honors Eligibility Requirements

You must be a nursing major.
You must have completed two of the junior-level courses: NURS 340, NURS 342, NURS 344, NURS 346.
You must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a minimum nursing GPA of 3.25.

Honors Proposal

You must submit a letter of intent by October 1, if you anticipate graduating the following year in January, and by February 1, if you anticipate graduating the following year in May. Your letter of intent must be submitted to the chair of the Curriculum Committee. The committee will notify you of their decision.
A written proposal must be submitted to the Curriculum Committee for approval by December 1 or April 1, depending on your anticipated graduation date. Your proposal should include a description of your proposed honors project, a statement of the objectives of the project, the methodologies to be used and projected dates for completion of various steps in the project. Your proposal must also include the name of the faculty member who has agreed to be your honors advisor.
You will be notified of the committee’s decision regarding your proposal by the end of the semester.
You will conduct individual research and/or creative projects within two semesters.

Please Note: You must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average while enrolled in the honors program.

Honors Project

First Semester, NURS 390: Directed Study – 3 Credits

You will select the focus of your honors project with the consent of your faculty advisor.
You will consult regularly with your advisor on the progress of your directed honors project.
At the end of the semester, you will submit to your faculty advisor a detailed outline of your honors project and a bibliography.
Your advisor will evaluate your work and submit a course grade. If you receive less than a grade of B, you will be dropped from the honors program but will be awarded 3 credits for NURS 390 if you have achieved a passing grade.

Second Semester, NURS 391: Directed Study – 3 Credits

After completing your first semester of directed study, you will write and/or conduct an honors project under the supervision of your faculty advisor. Your written project will embody the results of either substantial research or creative work.
You must submit the final written copy of your honors project to your faculty advisor by November 15, if you intend to graduate in January, and by April 1, if you intend to graduate in May.
Your faculty advisor will evaluate your work and submit a course grade. If you receive less than a grade of B, you will be dropped from the honors program but will be awarded 3 credits for NURS 390 if you have achieved a passing grade.
Honor students are encouraged to make a formal presentation of their work at a colloquium arranged by their faculty advisor.

If you complete the departmental honors program, you will graduate with the designation “Honors in Nursing” on your transcript. Copies of your work will be bound and stored in Adams Library and in the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing archives.