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ACADEMIC COMPONENT
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSIVITY
"Carroll Honors Scholars are not cloistered away like honors candidates at other institutions," says Honors Scholars Program Director Murphy Fox. Carroll's small size allows its honors scholars to be more active in campus life, remain more "down to earth" and accessible to friends and fellow students, all while pursuing a more rigorous course of study uniquely their own.
Carroll honors candidates enjoy courses reserved exclusively for them. Beginning in the spring semester of their freshman year, Honors Scholars Program students are engaged in a four year-long series of five interdisciplinary seminars dedicated to advancing their academic, social, and cultural experiences.
Seminars begin with a rigorous study of the world's great books, starting with classical masterworks, and from spanning the hard and social sciences to philosophy, literature, history and politics for the very richest academic experience. Reading, reflection and in class debate of the history of great ideas begins the transformation of a student from a learner into a bold, creative and questioning thinker with a voice of their own.
"The Honors Scholars Program is for students who want more." Fox explains.
"By the time Honors Scholars graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees, they have already, by their junior year at Carroll, read, written, discussed, analyzed and constructed projects around ideas they face in graduate school. In addition, in job or graduate school entrance interviews, a Carroll Honors Program graduate will be able to provide more thoughtful and enlightened responses to questions. This sets them apart."
HONORS THESIS
As the capstone to the Honors Scholars Program experience, students are required to complete an Honors Thesis in a discipline of their choice. Honors Thesis projects produced at Carroll have been published in professional journals, won regional awards and been presented at conferences throughout the West. Widely hailed as equal to graduate-level, Carroll Honors Thesis students have been invited to reveal their discoveries at conferences usually reserved for master's and Ph. D. students. It all begins in the spring of the junior year, where thesis discussion sessions allow Honors Scholars to synthesize what they have learned in their seminars and other courses. What evolves in an original research project each student designs and pursues in the field of their choice.
SOCIAL COMPONENT
Because the Honors Scholars Program is committed to developing its students' sense of responsibility, all members are expected to demonstrate ongoing involvement with voluntary community service projects. Although help is available with locating organizations in need of assistance, students are expected to design their own projects and keep journals in which their reflections are recorded. Periodic meetings are held during which HSP members share their experiences.
CULTURAL COMPONENT
In keeping with our conviction that liberal learning does not begin and end in the classroom, HSP members also attend a series of cultural events.
Past offerings have included:
Art Exhibit Openings, Symphony Concerts, Dance Performances, Poetry Readings, and Theater Productions. These events are usually distinguished by discussion with the artist, offering a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding and explore responses to the presentations.
Each year HSP students receive a Cultural Events Pass to The Myrna Loy Center to attend three live performances of their choosing.
Also offered to Carroll Students at the Myrna Loy is "Tightwad Tuesdays". Tuesdays Carroll students can see movies for $2.00 as long as they have a current ID.