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Curriculum
During the freshman year, honors students take two year-long courses: Great Book and Ideas and Twentieth Century Civilization. Great Books and Ideas focuses on the writing of seminal thinkers from Plato to Freud.

Twentieth Century Civilization concentrates on profound ideas and issues of our own time. In this interdisciplinary course, students explore twentieth century revolutions ranging from the political to the artistic.

In fact, throughout the undergraduate experience, the Honors Program emphasizes interdisciplinary studies in the belief that new insights and understanding are gained outside the artificial boundaries imposed by subject areas. This approach creates a climate that fosters creativity and original thinking.

In the sophomore year, Honors studies may include a year's seminar on Interdisciplinary Science, Foundation of the Creative Process, or the Seminar in Social Analysis.

Juniors prepare for advanced work in their majors as they immerse themselves in courses centered on ways of knowing and modes of inquiry.

Required Course Details
Honors Sequence.......................................Minimum 8 courses

A. Required Honors Courses

Freshman Year:

Honors Seminar in Great Books and Ideas Parts I and II
(HONP 100, HONP 101) Fulfills the general education requirement in writing/literature - 6 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Twentieth Century Civilization Part I
(HONP 102) Fulfills the general education requirement in American or European History - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Contemporary Civilization (Formerly Honors Seminar in Twentieth Century Civilization Part II)
(HONP 103) Fulfills the general education requirement in Contemporary Issues III - 3 semester hours

Sophomore Year:

Honors Seminar in Science
(HONP 210) Fulfills the general education requirement in Natural/Physical Science Lab - 4 semester hours
(Students with required science courses in their majors may waive the Honors Seminar in Science.)

B. Honors Electives (choose 3; students waiving the Science course choose 4 electives):

Honors Seminar in Fractals and Infinity
(HONP 104) Fulfills the general education requirement for mathematics - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Computing
(HONP 112) Fulfills the general education requirement for computer science - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Creative Process
(HONP 201) Fulfills the general education requirement for fine and performing arts - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Contemporary Issues II (Formerly Honors Seminar in Social Analysis)
(HONP 202) Fulfills the general education requirement for Contemporary Issues II - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Contemporary Issues I (Formerly Honors Seminar in Science II)
(HONP 211) Fulfills the general education requirement for Contemporary Issues I - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Ways of Knowing
(HONP 301) Fulfills the general education requirement for philosophy/religion - 3 semester hours

Honors Seminar in Research Methods
(HONP 302) Designed to support departmental honors work - 3 semester hours

Honors Program GERs
Total: 51 - 57 semester hours

A. New Student Seminar (1 s.h.)

B. Interdisciplinary Courses:

B1. Contemporary Issues I (3 s.h.)
HONP 211 Honors Seminar in Science II
(To be renamed Honors Seminar in Contemporary Issues I)

B2. Contemporary Issues II (3 s.h.)
HONP 202 Honors Seminar in Social Analysis
(To be renamed Honors Seminar in Contemporary Issues II)

B3. Contemporary Issues III (3 s.h.)
HONP 103 Honors Seminar in Twentieth Century Civilization Part II
(To be renamed Honors Seminar in Contemporary Civilization)

C. Communication:

C1. Writing/Literature (6 s.h.)
HONP 100 Honors Seminar in Great Books and Ideas Part I
HONP 101 Honors Seminar in Great Books and Ideas Part II

C2. Communication (3 s.h.)

D. Fine and Performing Arts (3 s.h.)

HONP 201 Honors Seminar in Creative Process

E. World Languages (3-6 s.h.)

F. Humanities:

F1. World Literature or General Humanities (3 s.h.)

F2. Philosophy or Religion (3 s.h.)
HONP 301 Honors Seminar in Ways of Knowing
(Credit adjustment required)

G. Computer Science (0-3 s.h.)

HONP 112 Honors Seminar In Computing

H. Mathematics (3 s.h.)

HONP 104 Honors Seminar in Fractals and Infinity

I. Natural/Physical Science Laboratory (4 s.h.)

HONP 210 Honors Seminar in Science I

J. Physical Education (1 s.h.)

K. Social Science:

K1. American or European History (3 s.h.)
HONP 102 Honors Seminar in Twentieth Century Civilization Part I

K2. Non-Western Cultural Perspective (3 s.h.)

K3. Social Science (3 s.h.)

L. General Electives (3 s.h.)

Montclair's GERs
Please refer to the Montclair State University Undergraduate Catalog 2002 - 2004 for university policies on graduation requirements.

Click here for the PDF version of the catalog.

About the Faculty

Application Information
Students display achievement and promise in various ways, so in order to be considered for admittance to the Honors Program, you must meet at least two of the following criteria:

A rank in the top 10% of your high school class
A score of at least 600 on either verbal or math SAT
A combined SAT of at least 1200
An unusual ability in the creative arts, exceptional leadership, or other extraordinary accomplishments

Those who qualify for consideration will be asked to complete an application that includes a brief essay. In addition, some students may be interviewed by a member of the Honors Program Advisory Board as part of the admission process.

The Honors Program at Montclair State University offers many benefits and advantages. Some are financial, while others involve recognition and privilege. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of all is the experience of working and studying alongside superb faculty and students who share your own commitment to learning. The intellectual stimulation, along with opportunities for insight and accomplishment, can set you on the road to a lifetime of achievement.

Go to the Benefits/Scholarships for more information.

Click here to Print/Download an application to the program.

Benefits/Scholarships
In addition to financial aid opportunities, MSU provides Honors students with a gallery of other benefits, including (but not limited to) these:

Priority registration for all courses, Honors and otherwise
Preferred housing for freshmen
Personalized academic advisement by the director of the Honors Program
Membership in the MSU Honors Student Organization, with a newsletter and special extra-curricular activities
Collective membership in the Northeast Regional and National Collegiate Honors Councils
Attendance at Honors Council Conferences and Sleeping Bag Seminars, with partial expenses paid by the University

Honors Scholarships
In recognition of their achievements and promise, Honors Program students are eligible for very generous scholarship opportunities, and new ones are being added all the time. Here is just a partial listing:

Each year dozens of students receive Honors Program scholarships from the John and Irma Sheffman Scholarship Fund, the Mary A. Whaley Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Wilkins Foundation Scholarship Fund, the Vivian and Heinz Rosenbush Memorial Scholarship Fund and others ranging from $750 per year to full tuition and fees. These awards are renewable each year for Honors Students who remain in good standing in the program.
All students receive a book scholarship for each Honors Seminar

Special Programs
Many students combine participation in the Honors Program with involvement in other pre-professional programs. For example, MSU students who fulfill undergraduate requirements for one of its articulated programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry gain automatic acceptance at UMDNJ without further application or testing. There they study toward their MD or DMD degrees. Some students even participate in a combined, accelerated program that can result in the granting of medical degrees after only seven years.

Others, participating simultaneously in the Honors Program and the Health Careers Program (designed for students who have been previously constrained by economic or social factors) may be granted a medical degree after eight years.

To apply for consideration for either the seven or eight-year cooperative programs with UMDNJ, simply check the appropriate box on the Montclair State University admissions application. The deadline for applying to these programs is December 15. Application for university admissions may be obtained from:

Director of Admissions
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 07043

Montclair State University

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