Frequently Asked Questions

I'm a prospective student, and I don't quite meet the criteria for invitation into the Honors Program. Is there a way I can become part of the Honors program?
There are multiple paths into the Honors Program at Butler.  Incoming students are invited to apply to the Honors Program if they meet one of the following criteria at the time of application: an  SAT score of 1320 or higher or an ACT composite score of 30 or higher or a high school graduating rank in the top 5%.  The incoming cohort of honors students is selected by the honors boards from these applications.   Students who are not invited into the program as incoming students have several other opportunities to join Honors.  To get an invitation at mid-year, you should register for at least 16 graded credit hours your first semester and aim to earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.6.  Students meeting this criteria will automatically be invited to join the Honors Program in January by submitting a faculty recommendation form.  We also invite students once they have completed two semesters at Butler. If you take at least 32 graded credit hours by the end of your sophomore year and earn a GPA of 3.6 or higher, you will automatically be invited to join the honors program in June. For more information see How to Apply to Butler's Honors Program

Are honors courses harder than regular university courses?
Honors courses are designed to provide you with a qualitatively different experience from regular university courses. In other words, students in honors courses are not expected to do more work but to do work of a different nature. Honors courses challenge students to think at a more complex level about issues and ideas, to be more independent and creative in their approach to learning, and to be more actively involved in the learning process.

How do the Honors courses fit into my regular academic program?
The Honors Program was designed to be accessible to students of all colleges and majors, regardless of how tightly structured their major is. All students should be able to complete the requirements for the Honors Program without taking longer to graduate. Furthermore, it may be possible for students to substitute honors courses for other program-specific requirements to ease participation in the program. HN courses are considered electives, and count toward the hours you need to graduate from Butler.

Can I take an HN300 before I take an HN200?
Yes. The two kinds of courses are different in focus. One is not a prerequisite for the other.

Do I have to complete all four HN courses before I take the Departmental Honors course or start working on my thesis proposal?
No. Many Honors students have one or even two more HN classes to take in their last two years at Butler, while they are completing the thesis-related program requirements. By your fourth semester, you need to take enough HN classes to pass the Sophomore Review (WORD document). You can complete any remaining requirements any time before you graduate.

I was invited into the Honors Program after my first semester at Butler. I won't have a chance to take my first Honors course until Fall of my sophomore year. Do I still have to take four HN courses?
Yes, that requirement is the same for everyone in the program, regardless of when they were invited. You'll need to take two HN200 (or 201)s, one HN300, and a fourth that can be either. You can substitute two hours of Honors Tutorial credit for one of the HN courses. That can be especially helpful if you're having trouble fitting the existing HN courses into your schedule.

Can I take an Honors class pass/fail?
No. In order for an HN course to count toward completion of the Honors Program, you need to get a grade of B or higher. (See also GPA below.)

Will my GPA suffer from participating in the Honors Program since I will be competing with other bright students?
While we cannot guarantee you a high grade in any course, professors teaching the honors courses do not grade on a curve which requires that some students receive low grades. These professors understand that the distribution of scores in honors classes will not be the same as they might have in regular classes. Thus, there is no reason to expect that you will receive lower grades in honors courses than in other courses

If I don't maintain a GPA of 3.5 every semester, will I be dropped from the program?
Not necessarily. First of all, we look at GPAs at two points in the program: in the second semester of your sophomore year when we do sophomore review, and again when you graduate. If your GPA is below 3.5 in any other semester, you have a chance to bring it up again before we take a look at it. Secondly, even if your GPA is a little below 3.5 at sophomore review, you can petition to remain in the program and explain if there were reasons why your GPA dropped, as well as how you plan to raise it.

Will completing the Honors Program help me get into graduate or professional school or help me get a job?
We can't promise anything. However, completing the Honors Program will certainly give you an edge, whether you are applying to graduate school or for a job. With the large number of college graduates competing for an ever decreasing number of jobs and positions in graduate school, someone who has gone beyond traditional college requirements to pursue more advanced study will stand out from the crowd.

Can I complete the Honors Program if I have a double major?
Honors students tend to be ambitious and multi-talented, so they are just the students who are likely to have more than one major. Yes, double (and even triple) majors do complete the Honors Program. They may take summer school classes or go an extra semester, but they can and do accomplish what they set out to accomplish.

If I have a double major, do I have to take two departmental honors courses?
No. We recommend that you take the DHC in the area in which you'll be doing your thesis.

If I have a double major, do I have to write a thesis in both majors? Or does my thesis have to encompass both majors?
Your thesis can be on the topic of your choice, so it can involve both majors, one major, or neither. The area of study will not affect your University Honors, but it might affect the level of departmental honors you earn.

Can I study abroad and still complete the Honors Program?
Definitely! See the Honors Director before you leave and select at least one course that will count as an Honors seminar or colloquium. When you return from studying abroad, that course will count toward your HN requirements. You may also be able to complete your departmental honors course or your thesis proposal independent study while you are abroad. Consult the Honors Director or Program Coordinator for more information.

How many honors community events do I need to report?

Beginning in the academic year 2010-2011. honors students are required to participate in 2 or 3 honors community events a year for a total of eight by the end of their third year.  These community events will be announced to all Honors students and may include: Honors course speakers; Honors course presentations; presentations/performances of undergraduate thesis work; cultural events sponsored by the Student Honors Council; and/or special events sponsored by the Honors Program.  We strongly encourage Honors students to suggest guest speakers and group outings to special events, lectures, and exhibits - on campus and beyond-  related to their honors coursework or thesis research.  Also, students should request that the Honors Program office invite fellow honors students and faculty to events related to their honors courses and theses.

For students joining Honors prior to academic year 20010-2011: You need to report the equivalent of two cultural events (which can but do not have to be related directly to the honors community) per semester, beginning with the first semester that you are in the program and ending with the second semester of your third year. If you started as an incoming freshman, that's a total of 12 events. If you entered the program later, it's 8 or 10 events.

Can I turn in more than 2 cultural or honors community events in a given semester?
Certainly. You may turn in as many as you like. The Honors Program Coordinator will let you know when you've fulfilled the cultural events requirement.

Do I need to turn in a ticket stub or program when I report a cultural event?
No. This is the Honors Program, and we operate on the honor system. Simply send an email to aelson@butler.edu. Include your ID number, the event you attended, the date (approximate dates are okay). We rely on your honesty.

What exactly is an honors thesis proposal? Do I have to do one before starting work on my thesis project?
The thesis proposal essentially is a short paper (4-7 pages, incl. bibliography) that outlines your intended thesis project. Thesis proposals are reviewed by the college honors board that oversees your thesis area (JCFA, LAS, etc.). Proposals are due in March the year before you graduate. That's a full year before the thesis is due. The college honors boards review proposals to determine whether you have a good grasp of your intended thesis project: Do you have ample background research? Do you have the skills and tools necessary to fulfill your project? Do you have the support of a faculty advisor? In addition, the honors boards often recommend other sources or faculty that may be able to help with your specific research topic.

I've heard that students can write a thesis to get departmental honors when they graduate. Does that mean that I have to write two theses: one for the Honors Program and one for departmental honors?
No. Students complete one thesis. As long as the topic is in your major, your department will consider it for departmental honors in addition to university honors. (Students with double majors usually write a thesis that relates to only one of those majors, in which case the thesis will only count toward departmental honors in that one major. Occasionally, students are able to write a thesis that combines both majors.)

Is there any money to fund my research?
There may be. The CHASE Office has student grants available.  Please see http://www.butler.edu/scholarly-engagement/undergraduate-research/holcomb-grants/ for additional information. Many honors students participate in BSI (Butler Summer Institute). You might also approach your department head to see if any funds are available to students through your department or college.

What do I need to do so that I get class credit hours for my honors thesis?
Go to your advisor or department head and register by blue card for the Honors Thesis course in your major. The course number is always 499, with the two-letter prefix of your major, and it carries three credit hours. You can register for this class in the Fall and receive an incomplete until your thesis is completed, or you can register for the credit in the Spring.

Do I have to do the thesis for course credit?
No, it's completely up to you whether you do it for 3 credit hours or not. Some students need the hours to count toward graduation; other students don't. Some students want the thesis to show on their transcript; others don't care.

Can I read good thesis proposals and theses?
Yes. The Honors office (JH153) has a lot of thesis proposals on file, and the library has the entire collection of completed theses.

Can I write a thesis that's not in my major?
If you're in the Honors Program, yes. A thesis outside your major will count toward university honors, but ordinarily will not count toward honors in your major.

Does a thesis have to be a long research paper?
No. For instance, many JCFA students' theses involve a performance or production. Theses have also included creative writing, video productions, and a design for a campus recycling project. If you do an internship or student teaching as part of your major, you may want to consider linking that experience with your thesis project. Please be aware that, no matter what your project consists of, there does need to be a written component that can become part of the library's permanent collection.