WELCOME to the
HONORS PROGRAM
welcome to the
HONORS
program
Welcome to the Honors Program, a unit of the Pennoni Honors College. We are proud of the tradition of excellence we have contributed to Drexel since 1991. Through coursework, speakers, social activities, and travel opportunities, the Honors Program offers you numerous ways to connect with students, staff, and faculty and enhance your overall education at Drexel University.
our
MISSION
Our mission is to enhance the scholastic and co-curricular experience of a select group of academically talented undergraduate students at Drexel University. We do this by offering unique and challenging coursework, providing support and guidance through personal relationships, and building community through the living-learning community and cultural and social programming.
HONORS
Overview of Benefits
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Courses 5 Groups and Clubs 6 Events and Activities
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Honors Graduation 8 Student Profiles
In addition to the Honors Program, there are six other programs within the Pennoni Honors College that work with high achieving and capable Drexel students. We invite you to explore and take advantage of their opportunities to travel, research, volunteer, write, or even create your own major.
LEARN MORE AT drexel.edu/pennoni
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Applying to Honors
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search for yourself: drexel .edu/honors
PROGRAM
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BENEFITS INCLUDING: • Honors Living Learning Community • Small discussion-based classes • Priority registration • Honors Lounge, study space, and computers • Advising for academic and pre-professional guidance • Social events and activities • Travel opportunities for classes, conferences, service trips and special day trips to New York City and Washington, DC.
Early registration can get you into the best classes
ADVISING To get involved with the Honors Program, contact an Honors Advisor. As a Drexel student, you will be assigned two Advisors: one in your home college and one in the Honors Program. Honors Advisors are available to discuss your long term goals and your plans for graduate school or professional career. Honors advisors can assist you with applications, essays, and letters of recommendation as well as offer general academic guidance.
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I love being a part of the honors program. The staff really HONORS cares about its students and it shows. PROGRAM - RITA BUCA, Business Administration
COURSES colloquia
Honors Courses are small discussion-based classes taught by some of the University’s best faculty. These courses incorporate topics of interest for Honors students in any major, and are offered only to Honors students. Past course offerings have included “The Graphic Novel,” “Poker, Probability and Decisions,” “The Art of Time Travel,” “History of Evolutionary Thought,” “American City in Film” and many others on intriguing topics such as writing and journalism, history and politics, geography and travel, science and technology, as well as music, dance, and film.
travel-integrated
Honors students also have opportunities to enroll in 1-credit Honors courses that include a travel component. The travel location is always a site that offers examples and first-hand experience of the course topic. Previous travel-integrated courses have included visits to Bulgaria as part of a course on emerging democracies and to Shanghai, China, where students studied the history of the World’s Fair. The Honors Program also offers national and international alternative spring breaks where students can earn 1 credit for their volunteer work in a community of need.
sections
Honors Sections provide enriched versions of some major core courses. While the general course remains the same, class recitations are taught in smaller groups and on an advanced level that encourages discussion, further exploration, and practical application for Honors students.
options
Students can also request to take an “Honors Option,” which allows you to register for a traditional course at Drexel while challenging yourself to complete an additional research, writing, or special project for the class. This is the most popular way to earn Honors credits because you can earn Honors credit in regular coursework.
My favorite part of being an Honors student is the opportunity to take courses that are not a part of my major curriculum.
- Shivani Amin, Health Sciences
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PROGRAM
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GET INVOLVED Honors Student Mentor Upperclass Honors students can apply to become an Honors Student Mentor. Mentors are selected and trained to help welcome and connect with new Honors first-year students through various social activities and events.
The Honors Student Advisory Committee (HSAC) HSAC is a student-run association that acts as the voice of the Honors’ student body. HSAC helps to choose the types of activities, benefits, and Honors courses that are offered by the Honors Program. HSAC also uses student leaders to coordinate and host various events and activities for Honors students throughout the year.
Service trips Honors Spring Break: Each spring break (typically the last week of March, between winter and spring terms) a team of Honors students travels to a southern location to work on a week-long community-based service project in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. Prior to the trip, students can earn Honors credit by researching and discussing the national issue of homelessness, and by working together to fundraise for the trip.
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Honors International Service Program: The Honors Program hosts one annual international service trip with a select group of Honors upperclassmen. Typically, selected students have proven their commitment to service within the United States, and use this opportunity to continue their service in foreign communities.
HONORS
PROGRAM
FAN PAGE: DREXEL UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM
HAVE FUN HONORS ACTIVITIES
Winter Dinner and Summer BBQ ADMIT ONE
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The Opera Company
ADMIT ONE
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The Philadelphia Orchestra
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The Honors Program organizes an array of social and cultural activities, events, and trips each term. Students have the opportunity to sign-up for special events and free tickets to a variety of concerts, exhibits, locally featured Broadway shows, as well as other professional theater and dance performances. In addition to these ticketed events, the Honors Program hosts guest speaker events. Often a select group of Honors students are invited to a private dinner with the guest, who may be an entrepreneur, politician, writer, director, or other notable figure.
past events have included:
The City-Wide Scavenger Hunt Philadelphia sports events – 76ers, Flyers, Phillies Day Trips to New York City and Washington, DC Broadway shows – “Avenue Q,” “The Lion King,” “Wicked”
LIVE, LEARN, AND HANG OUT
I’ve realized that I am absolutely spoiled and blessed by the quality of education and advising in the Honors Program.
Honors students have their own designated spaces on campus to study, socialize, live in, and meet other Honors students. Honors freshmen can choose to live in The Honors Living Learning Community and participate in a range of Honors social events, meetings, evening and weekend activities, and study groups. The Honors Seminar Room is where most of the Honors courses are held. It is designed for small discussion-based classes, includes audio/visual and presentation capabilities, and has wireless internet access. The Honors Lounge is equipped with desktop computers, a printer, and tables for group work, board games, and lunch breaks.
- Kevin Matthews, Custom-Designed Major with a focus in fashion and manfacturing
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PROGRAM
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GRADUATION Graduating students are recognized for their achievements in the Honors Program at the Honors Graduation Ceremony held each June. Students are acknowledged with Honors cords, medals, certificates, and awards for graduating with ‘Honors’ or ‘Honors with Distinction’ from the Pennoni Honors College. Graduation with Distinction, the highest honor awarded by the College, recognizes our most accomplished students. This achievement is noted on each student’s official University transcript. These students are also acknowledged during the formal Drexel University Commencement and in the official Commencement Program.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATING with Honors: Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher 16 Honors credits minimum
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATING WITH DISTINCTION: THE
Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher 32 Honors credits minimum
HONORS
Senior Project or Capstone Course within your major
PROGRAM
GRADUATE WITH DISTINCTION & RECEIVE AN HONORS MEDALLION!
PROFILES Aside from being a part of the Honors Program, many Honors students also participate in varsity and intramural sports, work in campus research labs, hold positions in student government, volunteer in local schools and organizations, join fraternities and sororities, and are involved in many other groups on and off campus. The typical Honors student at Drexel finds value in both academic and co-curricular opportunities, and we encourage you to do the same.
Graham Donaldson B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, class of 2014 I’d say that the best benefits of being a member of the Honors Program are early registration, Honors activities, and Honors classes.
Melanie Jeske double major Environmental Studies and Economics, class of 2015 It’s an additional support system, and not only the staff but the students as well.
Genymphas Higgs Biomedical Engineering, class of 2013 With exclusive access to diverse Honors courses, early registration privileges, free Honors events, and a staff that’s always willing to help, the Honors Program is helping me get the most out of my experience here at Drexel.
Being an Honors student not only means gaining access to certain privileges, but also being among the most driven and well-rounded members of the Drexel student body. - DAN PFISTER , BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 9
apply to the
HONORS program
The Honors Program welcomes applications from incoming freshmen, transfer students and current Drexel students. We are seeking students who are both academically talented and illustrate a commitment to extra-curricular activities with examples of leadership and initiative. As the interest in our program continues to grow, the selection process will become increasingly competitive. We look forward to admitting the best and brightest students who will represent the Honors Program proudly.
The application, deadlines, and eligibility requirements can be found at:
drexel.edu/honors
QUESTIONS? honorsprogram@drexel .edu
Drexel University • 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 • 215.895.1267 • drexel.edu/honors