Honors Program

Hawkeye Faculty Mentor

Hawkeye faculty are dedicated to work closely with you to help you:

• Dive into big questions about life—like evil, beauty, historical change, food, cultural differences, creativity, religion, and more.
• Sharpen your skills in thoughtful conversation and inquiry.
• Build a strong sense of community with your peers.
• Get ready for success in college and your future career.
• Discover and maximize your potential.

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the classroom, you’ll have access to exciting opportunities like:

• Day trips to explore and learn.
• Guest speakers sharing their expertise.
• Conferences and workshops to grow your skills.
• Retreats for reflection and connection.
• Research projects and study sessions.
• Celebrations for your achievements, including awards!

Honors Program Designation on Your Transcript

If you complete all the program requirements, the Honors Program designation will appear on your transcript—a badge of distinction for your hard work.

If you complete some, but not all, elements, your honors credits will still be noted on your transcript, but the Honors Program designation won’t appear.

Program Benefits

Completing the Honors Program at Hawkeye offers several benefits that can enhance your academic and career prospects.

• Completion of an honor's program looks impressive on your transcript and resume.
• Honors Seminars courses are more likely to be accepted into your major when transferring.
• Completing the Honors Program at Hawkeye increases your chances of gaining entry into an honors program at your transfer college or university.

To complete the Honors Program, you’ll need to:

• Complete 13 credit hours, including:
  • Honors Seminars or an Honors Project (Independent Study): 9 credit hours
  • Service Projects: 3 credit hours
  • Portfolio and Presentation: 1 credit hour
• Become a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in your Honors Program coursework.

A dedicated Faculty Mentor will be there to support you through the program, especially as you create and refine your portfolio.

The Honors Seminar is a three-credit special topics course designed to challenge and inspire you. Led by a faculty member and approved by the Honors Committee, this course offers an in-depth exploration of a broad, engaging topic. Each semester brings a new focus, giving you the opportunity to dive deep into a unique subject while experiencing greater depth, breadth, and interactive learning.

Best of all, Honors Seminars count toward the Core Coursework requirements for your Liberal Arts Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree!

Potential Honors Seminar Topics

• Varieties of Knowledge:& This course explores the approaches, insights, and limitations of various academic disciplines. For each unit, students discuss a text, event, work of art, etc., from different disciplinary perspectives in order to compare and contrast their methods and insights. How does sociology help us to understand rap music, political events, or religious beliefs? How do its insights differ from the approaches of anthropology, psychology, philosophy, etc.? Guest speakers discuss and practice their disciplines with students. Instructor: Tim Adamson.
• Foodology: This course explores the physical, biological, and chemical study of food and examines food science by presenting topics relevant to the modern day diet. Topics will include: food processing, food distribution, organic foods, genetically modified foods, macro and micronutrients, and the obesity epidemic. Instructor: Kassandra Einfelt.
• Exploring Creative Expression in the Arts: Adopt, Adapt, Transform: Have you ever wondered what makes Van Gogh or Shakespeare so timeless? This interdisciplinary course will explore and examine the creative process, which is utilized in a variety of disciplines. Students will experiment with creative practices, explore sources of inspiration, and examine the concept of beauty, art, and literature through a variety of lenses. Instructors: Robin Sprague and Jennifer Bates.
• Confronting Evil: This course explores many religious and philosophical approaches to the presence of evil in human life. Traditional religions seek to help their followers understand and deal with evil in its many forms. What is evil, and where does it come from? How can I deal with it when it enters my life? This course examines many different responses to evil as found in the great religions of the world and several philosophical traditions. Instructor: Tim Adamson.
• The Humanities Through Tolkien: This Honors Seminar will serve as a forum in which students will be able, following instructor framing, to explore various humanities-based disciplinary methodologies through the lens of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. We will use his work, both fictional and non-fictional, as the gateway through which students explore and then apply these methodologies. Instructor: Robert Steed.
• The 'F' Word: A Seminar on Feminist Art: This course provides an overview of the feminist art movement, its significant works and major figures. It will serve as a forum to discuss the historical position of women in art while examining societal underpinnings, artist motivations and movement goals. Field trips to galleries will allow students the opportunity to personally experience significant works of art relevant to this course. Further, students may choose to deepen their engagement by participating in creative works over the course of the semester. Instructors: Lisa Muñoz and Lindsay Buehler.
• Chinese Philosophy: Attaining Flow: This Honors Seminar will focus on examining Chinese philosophical and religious traditions as conversations about what it means to lead an effective life, most clearly manifested in attaining states of “flow.” We will look at a wide range of these traditions for both their ideas and their practices as manifested in Chinese and larger world cultures. Instructor: Robert Steed.

Honors Projects are independent study courses, designed by you and an instructor, that allow you to dive deep into your unique interests. These projects can be academic or service-based and are available for 1–3 credits.

While these courses are a great way to explore your passions, keep in mind that they don’t automatically count toward the required credits for completing the Honors Program or toward the Core Coursework for your Liberal Arts Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. However, there is an option to appeal for an exception.

Honors Project Appeal Process

An appeal can be submitted if you and your instructor believe your Honors Project meets the rigorous standards of an Honors Seminar. Since Honors Projects are designed for independent study, they don’t typically satisfy the interactive and collaborative elements of a seminar, so appeals are reviewed with a high bar for approval. To be considered:

1. Take the course for three credits. The project must be comprehensive and meet the level of rigor expected for an Honors Seminar.
2. Submit a letter of appeal. Before the course is created, you and your instructor must email a detailed letter to the Honors Committee at honors@hawkeyecollege.edu explaining how the project fulfills the Honors Seminar requirement.
3. Await committee review. The Honors Committee will review your appeal and provide a decision within 10 days.
4. Register for the course. Regardless of the committee’s decision, you may still register for the course. If the appeal is denied, the credits will not count toward the Honors Program requirements.

To complete the Honors Program, you’ll need to earn three credits through Service Projects. The best part? You can work on these projects in one semester or spread them out over several semesters—whatever fits your needs and schedule. You can even start a project at any point during the semester!

You have the flexibility to design your own service project or join one led by Hawkeye's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). PTK has a strong tradition of impactful service projects right here at Hawkeye.

Plus, these Service Projects count as electives toward your Liberal Arts Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree requirements.

As a student in the Honors Program, you’ll need to join Phi Theta Kappa International by the end of your first semester in the Honors Program.

Hawkeye has its own local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and while you’re not required to participate in the chapter as part of the Honors Program, getting involved is a great way to make the most of your experience.

Check out Hawkeye's PTK Chapter!