Global Citizen Honors Program

TBD Program Director

The Global Citizen Honors Program (GCHP) at The University of Olivet calls on its members to investigate global, interdisciplinary issues by inquiring into the theories and philosophical underpinnings of complex social issues. The program is experiential, requiring its members to be involved not only with the problems they are investigating but with each other and the world around them. GCHP is designed for the student who wishes to continue demonstrating creativity and leadership within the framework of Individual and Social Responsibility.

GCHP has distinct academic experiences including Honors Explorations (HON 490 ), Honors Options, honors sections of certain liberal arts core curriculum courses, opportunities to study abroad, and the Honors Thesis (HON 499 ). The program also offers co-curricular events and opportunities that, taken as a whole, provide a comprehensive and inclusive experience.

Honors Courses

1. Honors Exploration Course (HON 490 ) - In-depth study of a series of rotating topics, often with non-traditional project-based work. There will be at least one HON 490  offered each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one HON 490  in their first three semesters at The University of Olivet.
2. Honors Option - Any regularly-offered course at the university can be made into an honors course through the Honors Option process. Students develop enhanced coursework, readings, and projects in consultation with their professors.
3. Honors Sections - Students may enroll in honors sections of Academic Writing, Writing and Research, Civilization Studies, and certain Wednesday morning departmental seminars.
4. Study Abroad - The university offers a variety of travel-based courses each year; any of these can be turned into an honors course through the Honors Option process. In addition, the program may offer GCHP-member-only study abroad experiences, usually during the summer months. Students who have earned a GCHP Merit Scholarship may apply funds from their travel grants to their first approved study abroad experience.
5. The Honors Thesis (HON 499 ) - The Honors Thesis is a piece of original critical, creative, experimental, or analytic work completed by the student. Students earn three to six semester hours for working on an Honors Thesis. Students begin developing a project topic late in the sophomore year, finish topic development in the junior year, and formally propose their topic to the GCHP in the second semester of the student’s junior year. The thesis is completed and reviewed, then approved by the Honors Program in the senior year. The Honors Thesis is shared with the campus community at the end of the student’s final semester.

Official recognition of GCHP completion includes designating the member as a graduate of the program on the member’s diploma and in the commencement program, as well as including the title of the member’s honors project on his or her final transcript.