Sudha Srinivas, Director
Jon B. Hageman, Coordinator
Melissa Ramos, Administrative Assistant
Curriculum and Standards Board:
Amina Chaudhri, Teacher Education, Chair
John Casey, Philosophy
Denise Cloonan Cortez de Andersen, World Languages and Cultures
Jenny (Ru) Dawley-Carr, Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies
Amanda Dykema-Engblade, Psychology
Sarah Fabian, Communication, Media, and Theater
Nadja Insel, Earth Science
Brooke Johnson, Sociology
Ana Nieves, Art
Deepa Pillai, Management and Marketing
Aaron Schirmer, Biology
Emina A. Stojković, Biology
Uniquely flexible and engaging for all majors and at almost every stage of degree progress, the University Honors Program (UHP) is open to eligible undergraduates who have a minimum of three academic terms left before graduating from NEIU. UHP students enjoy priority registration, small class sizes, extended library privileges, a dedicated Honors librarian, and a stimulating curriculum that emphasizes critical and independent thinking, research, and creativity. A limited number of Merit Tuition Scholarships are awarded to UHP students on the basis of academic merit and Honors course completion, and several Foundation scholarships are exclusive to UHP students. The UHP Student Advisory Board is made up of UHP students elected by their peers, meets regularly with the UHP coordinator, and organizes honors events and activities.
The University Honors Program consists of two independent tiers:
- The Honors Student University Core Curriculum (UCC) Program for freshmen and sophomores, and
- The Honors Scholar 300-level Program for juniors and seniors.
Four unique Area Courses in the UCC program introduce Honors Students to the array of subject areas available at NEIU and demonstrate the interconnections between academic disciplines. UHP students also have the opportunity to enroll in an Honors General Education course reserved for Honors students. At the 300 level, Honors Scholars tailor the UHP curriculum to their major, research, and/or career interests. Requirements at the 300 level emphasize research and creative activities, and culminate in the completion of a two-semester Senior Project that builds professional and academic confidence, preparedness, and competitiveness. Successful completion of the University Honors Program curriculum results in Honors Student and/or Honors Scholar designations on the student's transcript and/or diploma.
All UHP course numbers are prefixed by an initial “Z”, followed by a three-letter code designating the Honors Program (e.g., “ZHON”) or an academic department (e.g., “ZART” for an Honors Art course).
More detailed information on the NEIU Honors Program is available in the Honors Office, B-141, by phone at (773) 442-6044, or at neiu.edu/honors.
Requirements for Admission
Entering Freshmen: Completed UHP application, "High Pass" on application essay and documentation of at least one of the following:
- ranked in top 10% of graduating high school class, or
- minimum standardized test score (SAT of 1200 or ACT of 25), or
- significant works demonstrating excellence in creative activities (such as a portfolio)
Students with a GED are strongly encouraged to apply. Exceptional cases will be considered; contact the UHP office at honors@neiu.edu.
Current NEIU/Transfer Students: Completed UHP application, "High Pass" on application essay, and minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in NEIU courses numbered 100 and above or in transferable courses. If you completed an Honors Program at a 2-year institution, please contact the UHP at honors@neiu.edu prior to applying. Up to six credits earned in a similar Honors Program may be considered for transfer into the NEIU Honors Program. Petition for transfer courses will be evaluated by the UHP Coordinator. Submit UHP application, application essay, and other supporting materials to honors@neiu.edu.
Honors Student UCC Program (Freshmen and Sophomores)
Freshmen and Sophomores complete five of their regular general education requirements by taking Honors courses in the fine arts, humanities, and behavioral, social and natural sciences. Course scheduling is designed for you to complete the Honors Student program in four consecutive semesters. As an Honors student, you will take four required Area Courses (one in each general education area) and one general education Honors elective. Through these courses you will gain perspective on the array of studies available at Northeastern and learn to see the interconnections between academic disciplines.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ZHON-191 | Honors Introduction To The Arts | 3 |
| ZHON-192 | Introduction To The Humanities | 3 |
| ZHON-193 | Honors Introduction To The Social Sciences | 3 |
| ZHON-194 | Honors Introduction To The Sciences | 3 |
| Z- Honors elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Students who successfully complete the Honors Student Program earn the designation “Honors Student” imprinted on their transcript.
Honors Scholar 300-level Program (Juniors and Seniors)
Students may enter the Honors Scholar program in one of two ways:
- successful completion of Honors Student Program and declaration of an academic major; or
- declaration of an academic major, Junior standing, cumulative GPA of 3.5, and a "High Pass" on the Scholar-level application essay.
Students applying via the second option above will respond to an essay question that will allow them to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills.
The 300-level Honors Scholar program for juniors and seniors provides a customized Honors experience that is aligned with each student's goals. This program will allow you to build connections and skills above and beyond what is otherwise possible in an undergraduate experience. As an Honors Scholar, you tailor the curriculum to your own academic major and interests while building valuable connections with peers and faculty members. Study abroad, international field experiences, Honors electives, or graduate-level electives in your field can also partially fulfill requirements for the Honors Scholar Program.
The self-directed research emphasis of the Scholar Program culminates with your completion of a two-semester Senior Capstone Project in your senior year. In the first semester, you will take Honors Seminar in Research and Creative Processes (ZHON-360) to generate a Senior Capstone Proposal. The following semester, you complete your project with the support of a faculty mentor of your choosing (ZHON-395: Honors Thesis/Creative Project). Students gain vital professional experience, learn greater degrees of self-discipline, and a level of confidence and ease with their subject matter that is unmatched at the undergraduate level. Our goal is to prepare the student to be as competitive as possible in the job market or in applications to graduate and professional programs.
Requirements for the Honors Scholar Program
The Honors Scholar Program requires completion of 15 credit hours at the 300 level: 9 credit hours of electives (such as courses adapted from the major, minor, or complementary discipline for UHP credit, Study Abroad or international field experience, or ZHON-375: Honors Colloquium: World Perspectives), and 6 credit hours of work toward a two-semester UHP Senior Project (ZHON-360-Honors Seminar in Research and Creative Processes and ZHON-395-Honors Thesis Hours/Creative Project, or approved discipline-specific equivalents). See below for additional information on adapting courses for UHP credit and on the Senior Project requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 3 UHP electives at the 300 level (adapted major/minor courses, Study Abroad or international field experience, or ZHON-375) | 9 | |
| ZHON-360 | Honors Seminar In Research & Creative Processes | 3 |
| ZHON-395 | Honors Thesis/ Creative Project | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Successful completion of the Honors Scholar Program earns you the designation “Honors Scholar” on your transcript and diploma, graduation from NEIU with Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude), and a UHP Senior Project that is catalogued in the Ronald Williams Library Digital Commons.
Adapted Courses
Students at the Honors Scholar level apply to adapt non-Honors courses at the 300 level for Honors credit. In this way, courses in the student’s major, minor, or related area can be adapted to fulfill UHP requirements. Scholars typically select courses that are related to their creative/research or professional interest. Student and faculty member normally discuss this option prior to the start of the semester in which the course will be taken, then complete and submit the UHP Adapted Course Application to the UHP office (or honors@neiu.edu) for approval by the UHP Coordinator.
UHP SENIOR PROJECT (ZHON 360 and ZHON 395)
All UHP Scholars design and complete a UHP Senior Project, a research-based thesis or creative work (depending on your major) that represents outstanding undergraduate achievement and the culmination of the 300-level Honors Scholar curriculum.
The process of designing and completing an extended project will distinguish you and set you apart from others as you apply to graduate programs or compete in the professional job market. UHP alumni routinely credit this aspect of the program with providing the tools they needed to be competitive and successful after graduation.
The UHP Senior Project consists of a minimum of two semesters.
In the first semester of your final year, you will enroll in ZHON-360 Honors Seminar in Research and Creative Processes, where you will design and complete a project proposal that includes an abstract, a literature review, and an initial write-up of your proposed inquiry/project. Also during this semester, you will seek out a faculty member (most often, but not exclusively, in your major) whose expertise overlaps with that of your own research interest and is willing to serve as your thesis advisor (and mentor you) through the completion of your project. You are also asked to identify a Second Reader for your thesis, usually another faculty member (either at NEIU or elsewhere) whose expertise is relevant to your research topic and is willing to provide feedback on the second draft of your thesis.
In the second semester of your final year, you will enroll in ZHON-395: Honors Thesis/Creative Project. This individualized study course takes a minimum of one semester to complete, but can take longer. To be eligible to enroll in ZHON-395: Honors Thesis/Creative Project, you must successfully complete ZHON-360 with an approved project proposal and the support of a faculty thesis advisor. The project/thesis is reviewed by a faculty committee and, upon completion and UHP approval, is submitted to the Ronald Williams Library Digital Commons. Additional details for scholars, thesis committee chairs, and committee members are in the UHP Senior Project Manual and other related documents from the UHP Office, B-141.
For questions regarding the NEIU Honors Program, please contact the Honors Office: (773) 442-6044.
ZHON-191. Honors Introduction To The Arts. 3 Hours.
This course provides a stimulating introduction to the performing and fine arts. The course is structured around four modules covering the performing and fine arts offered at NEIU: visual arts, music, dance, and theater. The modules, while complete in themselves, will draw connections between the fine arts and explore the differences that make each of the fine arts unique. This course counts for General Education credit in the Fine Arts area.
ZHON-192. Introduction To The Humanities. 3 Hours.
This lively introduction to the humanities at NEIU and to humanistic discourse in general is a discussion-oriented core course in the Honors Program. It is structured around a series of thought-provoking questions that will allow for the investigation of multiple methods of inquiry employed in the humanities. Various topics will be explored from the perspectives of English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Linguistics, Philosophy, Communication and Women's Studies. Students will learn essential academic skills while exploring how these disciplines are both distinctive and in conversation with one another, sharing concerns common to the humanities in general. This course count for General Education credit in the Humanities area.
ZHON-193. Honors Introduction To The Social Sciences. 3 Hours.
This spirited introduction to the social sciences at NEIU, and to the behavioral and social sciences in general, is a discussion-oriented core course in the Honors Program. It is structured around a series of thought-provoking readings and inter-related topics that will investigate multiple methods of inquiry employed in the social sciences. These themes and approaches will be explored from the perspectives of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Justice Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Students will learn essential academic skills while gaining insight into how various disciplines connect with one another and inform various dimensions of interpersonal life. This course counts for General Education credit in the Social/ Behavioral Sciences area.
ZHON-194. Honors Introduction To The Sciences. 3 Hours.
This course provides a stimulating introduction to a set of topics that are at the forefront of research in the natural sciences. The course is structured around a series of modules each covering a topic that is among the most significant in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics. The modules, while complete in themselves, will draw connections between scientific disciplines, and will explore how advance in one field have facilitated breakthroughs in other fields of science. The integration of computation into the course provides a strong link to the disciplines of Mathematics and Computer Science as well. This course counts for General Education credit in the Natural Sciences.
ZHON-360. Honors Seminar In Research & Creative Processes. 3 Hours.
How do scientists test a hypothesis? What approach directs a jazz pianist's creative process? What form does analysis take in English or Educational Leadership or Archaeology? This practice-oriented seminar explores how research is conducted in a variety of academic areas. Students will examine methodologies and gain experience synthesizing literature and analyzing findings as they build the components of an Honors Thesis/Creative Activities Proposal. Faculty guests will offer perspectives on their own research/creative processes. Discussions and class assignments will lead students progressively toward developing a polished proposal in their own major field of study. Course themes will vary.
ZHON-375. Honors Colloquium: World Perspectives. 3 Hours.
Specialized and intensive investigation of topics in broadly defined areas of current interest: reading, discussions, guest lectures.
ZHON-395. Honors Thesis/ Creative Project. 3 Hours.
The Honors Thesis or Creative Project represents the culmination of your participation in the Honors Program. After completing an approved proposal, Honors Scholars register for ZHON-395 with their thesis/creative project faculty advisor and work one-on-one with him/her to conduct and complete the thesis/ creative project. Honors Scholar and faculty advisor continue to participate in regular meetings with others going through same process. ZHON-395 students strongly encouraged to present their work at the NEIU Student Research and Creative Activities Symposium or similar venue.
Prerequisite: ZHON-360 with a minimum grade of C.
ZHON-3951. Honors Thesis/ Creative Project Hours. 1 Hour.
The NEIU Honors Program supports department-specific thesis options. Honors Scholars may conduct their Honors thesis/ creative project through departmental credit hours or by enrolling in ZHON-395. If the departmental thesis/creative project credits add up to less than 3, the student may use ZHON-3951-3 credits to bring the total number of Honors thesis/ creative project credits up to 3. See thesis advisor to determine if department has its own credit hours for senior thesis or creative project.
ZHON-3952. Honors Thesis/ Creative Project Hours. 2 Hours.
The NEIU Honors Program supports department-specific thesis options. Honors Scholars may conduct their Honors thesis/ creative project through departmental credit hours or by enrolling in ZHON-395. If the departmental thesis/creative project credits add up to less than 3, the student may use ZHON-3951-3 credits to bring the total number of Honors thesis/ creative project credits up to 3. See thesis advisor to determine if department has its own credit hours for senior thesis or creative project.
ZHON-3953. Honors Thesis/ Creative Project Hours. 3 Hours.
The NEIU Honors Program supports department-specific thesis options. Honors Scholars may conduct their Honors thesis/ creative project through departmental credit hours or by enrolling in ZHON-395. If the departmental thesis/creative project credits add up to less than 3, the student may use ZHON-3951-3 credits to bring the total number of Honors thesis/ creative project credits up to 3. See thesis advisor to determine if department has its own credit hours for senior thesis or creative project.