Honors Booklet

HONORS PROGRAM B E L M O N T. E D U / H O N O R S

WELCOME TO BELMONT UNIVERSITY’S HONORS PROGRAM

65

MAJORS represented

HONORS STUDENTS hail from

35 S TAT E S

W E S T R I V E TO F I N D C O N N E C T I O N S Songwriting majors inspired to compose new lyrics while learning about conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.

Business majors immersed in the culture of Nashville. Writers and art students honing their craft while studying history in the South of France. Welcome to Belmont University’s Honors Program, where we dream big, design global adventures, become bold leaders and follow our curiosities as we discover our unique gifts and paths.

HONORS CORE

includes

43

credits of unique

Our small classes bring together exceptional and ambitious students from almost every discipline at Belmont. Led by award-winning faculty, we are collaborators who push each other to ask the tough questions. We are a community that celebrates our successes.

HONORS

We come from small towns and big cities. We are athletes,

SEMINARS

artists, musicians, scientists, accountants, historians, members of Greek life, student leaders, community volunteers and much more. As members of Belmont’s Honors Program, we also strive to find the connections that extend past the walls of our classrooms.

A N D W E F I N D T H E M , TO G E T H E R .

DREAM BIG

W E ’ R E W I T H Y O U AT E V E R Y S T E P

Honors students come to Belmont with imaginations as wide as the

Be inspired by the exceptional faculty who create and teach compelling

sky. We encourage you to dream big, and our distinctive curriculum provides an exceptional learning experience that helps you develop your passions and discover what inspires you.

EXPLORE HONORS COURSES Explore your full range of interests through a sequence of creative

courses in the Honors Core. Develop new skills and experience the thrill of discovery as you work with faculty on a research or creative project. Stay on track with your goals with individual mentoring and academic advising from the Honors Program.

D E S I G N A C U L M I N AT I N G P R O J E C T

seminars known as the Honors Core, which total 43 credits. You’ll

The Honors Program project is the culmination of your Honors

have exclusive access to the courses in the Honors Core, which fulfill

experience and an opportunity for you to explore an area of study

Belmont’s general education requirements while offering a deeper dive

about which you are passionate. Projects, which can be individual or

into topics that interest you. Our flexible curriculum complements any

team-based, take many forms depending on the topic—ranging from

of our 95+ undergraduate programs of study.

laboratory research to performances or artwork. Use your project to

Course examples include: A Good Life: Consider happiness, virtue, wisdom and dreams from philosophical, theological, literary, political, historical and scientific perspectives.

Art and the Anthropocene: Explore how artists are documenting and responding to climate change and the global challenges of the 21st century.

Imagining the Metropolis: Learn how cities—including Nashville— are meeting spaces for diverse people and their imaginations.

dig deeper into interests you have for graduate study or to expand your resume for employment.

“Belmont’s Honors Program is an opportunity for intentional interdisciplinary learning in an intimate environment. We are encouraged to consider a global perspective on topics such as religion and diversity of thought. I look forward to increasing my awareness of the differences in the world and the privileges that I have.”

– PA R I S B E R R I A N Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, Spanish minor

“Over the course of the program at Queen’s University Belfast, I was constantly amazed as the abstract concepts surrounding social justice we had learned about at Belmont truly came to life as we studied real life conflict and peace building in Belfast. I feel like my eyes have been opened to a broader world view, and I cannot wait to take what I have learned back to Belmont to better the communities around me.”

– ELIZABETH SUTPHIN Global Leadership Studies major

DESIGN GLOBAL ADVENTURES In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, international experience is essential, no matter what your goals and interests may be.

That’s why a global perspective specifically tailored for Honors students is a distinctive part of your experience when you choose Belmont’s Honors Program. With Belmont as a launch pad, you’ll live and study in some of the world’s greatest locations.

LIVE AND LEARN ABROAD In the spring semester of the second year, study abroad at one of our prestigious partner institutions across the globe, accompanied by Belmont faculty members. You’ll live, learn and engage with other Belmont Honors students as you pursue courses in both your major and the Honors Core.

The Honors Semester Abroad will allow you to: • Complete the Honors Study Abroad Writing Workshop and an additional course in the Honors Core • Take an additional 2-3 courses in your major or minor: All study abroad locations are carefully selected to complement your major or minor requirements • Participate in unique opportunities: » Study at an internationally recognized university and meet other international students from countries around the world » Enjoy special cultural immersion events » Engage in service learning

2 0 2 1 H O N O R S S T U DY A B R O A D L O C AT I O N S : Harlaxton College: England International American University: France Queen’s University Belfast: Northern Ireland

JOIN A LIFELONG COMMUNITY Belmont’s Honors Program is the perfect place to express your talent

turning into ideas for a collaborative project. Game nights and dinner

and develop your passions while forging friendships with a group of

with faculty and staff. With the Honors community, you’ll build a

like-minded peers. You’ll find conversations from the classroom

personal and professional network that will last a lifetime.

continuing over a cup of coffee. Shared study abroad experiences

“When I was first considering an Honors Program as part of my college experience, I was really nervous that I would not be smart enough, that it would be too difficult, that it would turn my focus away from my major. All of those fears washed away when I found the community here at Belmont’s Honors Program.”

– DYLAN ARNDT 2019 Music Business and Honors Program alumni

BECOME A BOLD LEADER Promoting leadership development is a core objective of Belmont’s Honors Program, and you’ll be prepared and empowered to take on leadership roles throughout your Belmont experience. From designing social and educational experiences for peers as part of the Honors Student Council, reaching out to prospective Honors students as Bruin Recruiters, to taking part in workshops designed to foster leadership, communication and team-building skills, you’ll have enormous opportunities to build personal leadership experiences that enhance your capacity to lead and serve. Honors students are also highly involved in improving life in our community through Belmont’s more than 160 clubs and organizations, serving as leaders in Greek life, student government, missions, service organizations and more.

MORE THAN A SEQUENCE OF CLASSES Belmont’s Honors Program is a place for students who want to take ownership over their educational process in order to find their place in the world, and they find success in employment at top companies in their field, in graduate programs at prestigious universities and in recognition through Fulbright Scholarships, Lumos Travel Awards, the Peace Corps and more.

Honors students are also: • Provided unique access to private receptions and salons with distinguished guest speakers, where you’ll have exclusive access to network with government leaders, executives, artists and more.

• Given support for project research. Your senior Honors project will become a part of Belmont’s permanent library collection and made accessible to anyone in the world.

• Recognized as Belmont Honors Scholars in the commencement program and receive a unique medallion worn at graduation.

JOIN US The Honors Program is open to all incoming freshmen applicants. Honors is compatible with any program of study—currently we have 65 majors represented in the program. We invite you to apply if you have a GPA of 3.7 or higher and an ACT of 30 or higher or SAT of 1360 or higher. Submit your application to Belmont University by December 1 and indicate that you are also applying for the Honors Program­. Honors Program admission is on a rolling timeline. You should hear an Honors admission decision a few weeks after your acceptance into Belmont.

A LT E R N AT I V E C R E D I T Many Honors students have worked very hard during high school and arrive at Belmont with hard-earned AP/IB credits, and the Honors Program at Belmont takes a generous posture toward these credits. AP/IB credit earned during secondary school should first be applied to degree cognates and as elective credit. In consultation with the Director, an Honors student may also substitute AP/IB credit toward a maximum of three Honors Foundations courses. At Belmont, a maximum total of 24 hours of credit may be earned through AP/IB and/or CLEP combined.

32 AV E R A G E A C T

3.97 average

G PA AV E R A G E S A T

1400

• I N T E R D I S C I P L I N A R Y S T U D I E S & G L O B A L E D U C AT I O N 615.460.6472 • belmont.edu/honors • belmont.edu/visit HONORS PROGRAM

@belmontisge

/belmont.honorsprogram

To read Belmont’s statement of nondiscrimination, visit BELMONT.EDU/NONDISCRIMINATION.

ISGE-202954