University Honors Program
DBU Home > Honors > Program Information
Mission Statement
The mission of the Dallas Baptist University Honors Program is to fulfill the Dallas Baptist University Mission Statement by providing transforming “Christ-centered quality higher education” for students who are intellectually gifted who desire enriched academic experiences equipping them to be servant leaders in their respective callings.
Goals of the Honors Program
- To provide a superior education grounded in the biblical worldview, moral formation, and Christian tradition.
- To promote a high level of independent learning, contextual insight, and critical thinking through study, research, and the exchange of ideas.
- To provide a challenging interdisciplinary experience that amplifies and complements the liberal arts mission of DBU and that stimulates curiosity, imagination, integrity, and faith.
- To assist students in building friendships and community by participation in enrichment activities outside the classroom setting.
- To encourage students to pursue leadership roles within the campus community as preparation to be outstanding future contributors to the church, society, and the world.
- To promote Honors student-faculty mentor relationships that foster interactive learning.
- To help students cultivate a desire for God's truth, goodness, and beauty as expressed in the creation and in human culture.
Admission
For incoming freshmen, a minimum SAT score of 1150 or an ACT score of 25 and two high school faculty recommendations are required for admission to the Honors Program. For returning students to DBU, a 3.5 overall GPA at DBU and two faculty recommendations are required for admission to the program. Transfer students must have at least twelve hours of credit at DBU with a minimum DBU GPA of 3.5 and two faculty recommendations for admission to the program.
All applicants must also submit a 250-to-500-word letter of interest. It should seek to tell us some of the following questions:
- What do you hope to gain by being part of the University Honors Program?
- What are your interests academically?
- What do your other personal interests include (for example, future vocation, reading and music, sports, hobbies, and/or Christian ministry)?
- What other noteworthy accomplishments would you like us to know about?
Transfer students who were members of an academic organization such as Phi Beta Kappa at their previous institution may apply for first-semester acceptance. No student with more than 70 hours may be admitted to the Honors Program.
To be recognized as a University Honors Program graduate at DBU, a student must have successfully completed a minimum of 24 hours in honors classes, including a minimum of at least 15 hours in Perspectives courses. Students majoring in departments administered by the Colleges of Business, Education, Music, or Natural Science and Mathematics may elect to take four Perspectives courses and an additional UL honors course, preferably within the major. All students must also regularly enroll in Honors Enrichment and complete an enrichment event portfolio before completing the Senior Thesis or Project. University Honors Program students may take no more than six honors hours per semester. Freshmen entering the UHP may only take three hours per semester in the Freshman year.
Probation and Suspension
Students must maintain a 3.2 grade point average in order to remain in the program. To be recognized as "University Honors" at graduation, a student must have a 3.5 average and have completed 30 hours of designated honors courses, including a senior thesis or project.
If a student’s average falls below 3.2, he or she will be placed on probation and be allowed two semesters to bring his or her grade point average back to a minimum 3.2 in order to take honors courses. If the student’s grade point average stays below 3.2 for two semesters, the student will be suspended from the University Honors Program. A student seeking readmission to the University Honors Program may reapply once after suspension.
Transfer Credit
Students may transfer into the University Honors Program up to twelve hours of honors credit from another college or university. Each course is subject to review by the Director and a consulting honors faculty member. Criteria for acceptance is determined by equivalency to DBU's own honors courses in terms of both coverage and rigor. Perspectives courses (HNRS 2301, 2302, 3301, 3302, 3003, 3304), the honors-level Developing the Christian Mind course (DCM 2301 HR), and the senior thesis or project must be taken at Dallas Baptist to be named a University Honors student at graduation.
Applicants should note that the transfer equivalency report prepared by the Registrar and the review process conducted by the University Honors Program do not constitute the same process. Courses that are accepted by the University in partial fulfillment of a student's degree plan may or may not be also accepted by the University Honors office as honors-level credit in the program.
Curriculum
The Honors Program curriculum supplements and complements the traditional curriculum of Dallas Baptist University. Components of the curriculum include honors sections of general studies classes, an honors section of the Developing A Christian Mind course, the Perspectives Honors core curriculum, honors sections of upper-level discipline specific courses (offered periodically), Directed Readings courses (offered periodically), Honors Enrichment, and the Senior Thesis or Project.
Special Study
Students interested in taking a 3000-level or 4000-level course for honors credit should contact the UHP director, who together with the student, will approach the professor with a proposal for attaching honors-level study to the course. This can be done a maximum of four times. Some restrictions do apply. Special study can be an excellent way to help prepare for the student's senior thesis or project.
Recognition
Recognition of Honors Program graduates includes an Honors Program notation on the transcript and diploma, as well as special recognition at graduation.
Additionally, each year the Honors faculty will select an eligible student to receive Honors Student of the Year at the University Honors Banquet and be recognized at the annual Honors Day program.
Scholarships
Dallas Baptist University believes in helping students afford a quality, Christ-centered education. A wide-range of programs is available, including academic, merit-based scholarships and financial aid for qualified students. Honors students are encouraged to explore all avenues for which they could qualify for additional assistance. The Office of Financial Aid will assist you in determining your eligibility for Federal, State, and other aid programs. For contact information, click on this link
http://www.dbu.edu/financialaid/contact.asp
Taking an Honors Course Without Acceptance into the Program
Incoming freshmen with a minimum SAT score of 1100 or an ACT score of 24 are eligible to take an honors course without acceptance into the University Honors Program. Likewise, returning or transfer students with a GPA of 3.2 are eligible. There are several reasons to consider doing so:
1. It affords an opportunity to gain important skills in a student's major or area of interest.
2. It appears on the college transcript as an honors-level course.
3. Class size is smaller than DBU’s already low professor-student ratio, which affords more personal attention.
4. It can help the student make a more informed decision if considering the University Honors Program.
Students seeking to do so should apply for program director approval through their academic advisor.
[ Back to Top ]
 Honors Home Page
Honors Faculty
Honors Perspectives Courses
Honors Enrichment
Frequently Asked Questions
Honors Application
|
