Honors Experiences

Honors Experiences are meant to enrich a student’s undergraduate education. They encourage students to extend their learning both inside and outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Benchmarks

• At least 3 credits must come from non-coursework categories, denoted with *.
• A total of 3 Honors Seminars may be taken.
• Courses in your major may be used to meet the Honors Experience requirements.
• You must complete honors experiences in at least two of the categories listed.
• A maximum of 6 credits (equivalent to 270 hours) will be granted in any one petitioned experience.

To remain in good standing in the Honors College, Honors scholars are required to complete 21 credits of coursework. Scholars must complete a minimum of 5 credits by the end of the freshman year (credits earned through the Honors Colloquium and Honors Seminar) and 13 credits total must be completed by the end of the junior year to maintain good standing in the Honors College.

In addition to your two credit Honors Colloquium and Honors Seminar(s) during your freshman year, students select and complete 16 credit hours of Honors Experiences from the following list before graduation:

• Undergraduate Research*

  Students collaborate with faculty mentors on an ongoing faculty research or creative activity project, or conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. This experience provides students with an inquiry-based learning opportunity and engages them as active learners in a research or creative activity setting. Either the student’s own project or the faculty member’s project to which the student is contributing should utilize the methods for creating new knowledge that are recognized in the field and should result in a unique contribution to the field of knowledge.

  • Departmental Course Number – 498.
  • Minimum is 1 credit.
  • For every 45 hours completed, 1 credit is awarded.
  • Up to a maximum of 6 credit hours may be earned per research experience.

  Please Note: Honors scholars already enrolled in departmental research credit (e.g., PSY 498, CHE 290) do not need to follow the process detailed below in order to receive Honors experience credit as the credits will automatically be picked up.

  If your department is not able to offer you research credit or if you are completing an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) at another school, you can still receive Honors credit by submitting an Honors Petition. Requests for Honor Experience credit via the petition process should be submitted by the following deadlines:

  • Fall: September 15
  • Winter: January 15
  • Spring: February 15
  • Summer: June 15

  Petitions received after the aforementioned deadlines will be reviewed in the following cycle. Decisions will relayed to you via email within 4 weeks of the posted deadlines.

  In order to complete the petition process, you will be asked to submit a reflection paper to the Honors College and for your supervisor’s contact information. When you submit the petition completion form, your supervisor will be automatically be sent request to confirm the number of hours you completed in this experience. Your supervisor will not receive your reflection paper. Petitions will not be accepted and added to your Honors record without supervisor approval.

• Independent Study*

  Students have the option of individualized student work under the guidance of a faculty member. Independent study courses are intended to pursue topics that are not currently offered through regular coursework at UB. Independent study may be the focal point in the design of an individual program or it may merely add desired depth or breadth to a student’s formal degree program. To enroll in independent study, students must identify a member of the faculty or appropriate professional staff member willing to sponsor their work and gain approval of the appropriate department.

  • Departmental Course Number – 499.
• Internship or Practicum*
  • Departmental Course Number – 496.
  • Minimum is 1 credit.
  • For every 45 hours completed, 1 credit is awarded.
  • Up to a maximum of 6 credit hours may be earned per internship.

  Please Note: Honors scholars already enrolled in departmental internship/co-op credit (e.g., MAE 496, ES 429, theatre practicums) do not need to follow the process detailed below in order to receive Honors experience credit as the credits will automatically be picked up during our review.

  If your department is not able to offer you internship credit, you can still receive Honors credit by submitting an Honors Petition. Requests for Honor Experience credit via the petition process should be submitted by the following deadlines:

  • Fall: September 15
  • Winter: January 15
  • Spring: February 15
  • Summer: June 15

  Petitions received after the aforementioned deadlines will be reviewed in the following cycle. Decisions will relayed to you via email within 4 weeks of the posted deadlines.

  In order to complete the petition process, you will be asked to submit a reflection paper to the Honors College and for your supervisor’s contact information. When you submit the petition completion form, your supervisor will be automatically be sent request to confirm the number of hours you completed in this experience. Your supervisor will not receive your reflection paper. Petitions will not be accepted and added to your Honors record without supervisor approval.

• Study Abroad*
  • Departmental Course Indicator – OPR 481, 482, 483, 484, 485.
  • Students completing fewer than 3 credit hours must petition the Honors College to have this experience counted.
  • Your study abroad program may be completed during the fall, spring, summer or winter.

  Learn more about the travels and adventures of some recent Honors alums.

• Undergraduate Supervised Teaching*
  • Departmental Course Number – 495.
  • Student must be enrolled in the appropriate course by the end of the Drop/Add Period.
  • The following additional TA opportunities are acceptable:
  • Gifted Math TA: For more information, call: 716-645-4467
  • Math Place Lab Tutors: If you choose to receive the credits, they appear on your transcript as ULC 499 and can be used towards your Honors Experiences.
  • Center for Excellence Writing Lab: Writing consultants may be able to earn Honors Experience credit for this position by submitting an Honors Petition Request.
  • ESL 320 - ELI Chat Room
• Accepted Honors Coursework

  The following coursework, including major-specific capstones, will automatically count for Honors Experience credit once grades for the semester post. No additional action is needed for the courses listed below. Remember that you must be enrolled in the appropriate coursework by the end of the Drop/Add Period.

  NOTE: If your Capstone is not found on the pre-approved list below, a note from the instructor or department stating that the course was a capstone will be required.

  Courses Approved for Honors Experience Credit

  Department	Course Number	Title	Credits
  AAS	363	Directed Readings	3
  AHI	400	Senior Tutorial	1-3
  AHI	497	Honors Thesis Tutorial	3
  APY	338	Field Research Archaeology	6
  APY	444	Ethology Practicum	3
  ARC	404	Architecture Design Practicum	Up to 9
  ARC	467	Research Practice	Up to 9
  ART	494	Senior Thesis Project	3
  ASI	300	University Honors Seminar	3
  ASI	400	Service Learning in Buffalo Public Schools	3
  BCH	401	Introduction to Research	1
  BE	493	Research and Design in Biomedical Engineering	3
  BE	494	Senior Capstone Project	3
  BIO	487	Honors Research Methods	2
  BMS	492	Biomedical Sciences Seminar	1
  CDS	480	Clinical Observation	1
  CDS	493	Honors Research Seminar	3
  CE	404	Product Design	4
  CE	408	Chemical Engineering Plant Design	4
  CHE	105	Honors Chemistry I	5
  CHE	106	Honors Chemistry II	5
  CHE	251	Honors Organic Chemistry I	5
  CHE	252	Honors Organic Chemistry II	5
  CHE	290		1
  CHI	494	Senior Capstone Course	3
  CIE	415	Professional Practice	3
  CIE	416	Civil Engineering Capstone Design	3
  CIE	447	Sustainability	3
  CIE	449	Environmental Engineering Design	3
  CIE	475	Geometric Design of Highways	3
  CL	426	Archaeology Practicum: Turkey	3
  CSE	442	Software Engineering Concepts	4
  CSE	453	HW/SW Integrated System Design	3
  DAC	337	Zodiaque Dance Studio	4
  DAC	338	Zodiaque Dance Studio	4
  DAC	340	Dance Studio	1-8
  DAC	442	Choreography II	1-4
  DAC	455	Special Topics in Dance	0-4
  DAC	481	Research In Dance	3
  DAC	482	Research In Dance	3
  EAS	493	Interdisciplinary Capstone Senior Design Seminar	1
  ECO	380	Economic Statistics and Data Analysis (Section H only)	3
  ECO	405	Microeconomic Theory (Section H only)	3
  ECO	406	Topics in Microeconomics (Section H only)	3
  ECO	407	Macroeconomic Theory (Section H only)	3
  ECO	480	Econometrics I (Section H Only)	3
  ECO	488	Practicum in Financial Economics I	3
  ECO	489	Practicum in Financial Economics II	3
  EE	408	Senior Design Implementation	1
  EE	413	Communication Electronics	3
  EE	494	Senior Capstone Design Project	3
  END	418	Global Innovation Challenge	1
  ENG	394	Writing Workshop (counts in internship category)	3
  ENG	400	Honors Seminar	3
  ENG	401	Honors Early Literature	3
  ENG	437	Advanced Writing Workshop	3
  ENG	470	Special Topics	3
  ENG	480	Creative Writing Capstone	3
  ES	429	ES Internship	up to 9
  ESL	320	Conversation Seminar	2-3
  GEO	470	Integrated Environmental Management	3
  GER	494	Senior Capstone Course	3
  GGS	392	Thesis writing class	3
  GGS	490	Senior Seminar: Research Project	3
  GGS	494	Senior Capstone Course	3
  GLY	407	Field Work	3-6
  GLY	412	Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology	2
  GLY	449	Climate Change and Sustainability	3
  GLY	493	Pegrum Colloquium	1
  GR	444	Reading Greek Literature	3
  HMN	380	Writing Center Theory and Practice	3
  IE	409	Six Sigma Quality	3
  IE	420	Industrial Systems Lab	3
  IE	494	Senior Capstone Industry Project	3
  INF	430	Applied Informatics Research	3
  INF	494	Informatics Capstone	3
  JPN	494	Senior Capstone Course	3
  LAI	490	Seminar & Practicum In Early Childhood	3
  LAT	443	Reading Latin Literature	3
  MAE	434	Aircraft Design	3
  MAE	451	Design Process and Methods	3
  MAE	494	Design Project	3
  MFC	333	Section INT	3
  MGB	360	Leadership Development I	2
  MGB	361	Leadership Development II	1
  MGO	403	Fundamentals of Strategic Management	3
  MT	401	Clinical Biochemistry	4
  MT	402	Clinical Immunology	4
  MT	405	Clinical Immunohematology	4
  MT	407	Clinical Chemistry	6
  MT	408	Hospital Chemistry	3
  MT	409	Clinical Microbiology	3
  MT	410	Hospital Microbiology	3
  MT	411	Clinical Hematology	4
  MT	412	Hospital Hematology	3
  MT	413	Clinical Elective	3
  MT	414	Hospital Blood Bank	3
  MT	416	Clinical Parasitology	1
  MT	417	Laboratory Education and Seminar	2
  MT	419	Phlebotomy	1
  MT	420	Clinical Correlations	1
  MT	421	Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluids	1
  MTH	153	Honors Calculus 1	4
  MTH	154	Honors Calculus 2	4
  MTH	251	Honors Calculus 3	4
  MTR	405	Gemms Musical Theatre Company	1-4
  MUS	450	Senior Thesis	4-6
  NSG	348	Introduction to Nursing Research	3
  NSG	368	Human Sexuality Research	3
  NSG	373	Therapeutics Practicum	3
  NSG	375	Women and Children Practicum	4
  NSG	447	Advanced Clinical Nursing	3
  NSG	474	Health and Restoration Practicum	4
  NSG	479	Clinical Seminar: Complex Acute Care	1
  NSG	481	Acute Care Practicum	4
  PHC	413	Pharmaceutics Seminar	1
  PHC	414	Pharmaceutics Seminar	1
  PHI	401	Honors Tutorial	1-8
  PHI	402	Honors Tutorial	1-8
  PHY	117	Honors Physics 1	4
  PHY	118	Honors Physics 2	4
  PSC	490	Honors Seminar	3
  PSC	492	Pre-Law Honors Seminar	3
  PUB	494	Modern Public Health Problems and Solutions	4
  OT	472	Level 1 Fieldwork A	1
  SOC	471	Projects in Social Research	3
  SSC	315	Field Ecology	3-6
  SSC	479	Environmental Education Practicum I	3
  SSC	493	Ecology of Unique Environments	3
  TH	135	Production Practicum	1
  TH	136	Production Practicum	1
  TH	235	Production Practicum	1
  TH	236	Production Practicum	1
  TH	335	Production Practicum	1
  TH	336	Production Practicum	1
  TH	340	Makeup Studio	1-4
  TH	341	Studio Lab I	1-4
  TH	342	Studio Lab II	1-4
  TH	343	Studio Lab III	1-4
  TH	344	Studio Lab IV	1-4
  TH	345	Costume Construction Studio	1-4
  TH	346	Costume Design Studio	1-4
  TH	347	Scene Design Studio	1-4
  TH	348	Lighting Design Studio	1-4
  TH	349	Technical Studio	1-4
  TH	350	Properties Studio	1-4
  UBE	102	Dynamics of Leadership	2
  UE	201	Experiential Learning Network: Sophomore Seminar	1

• Graduate Coursework
  • Departmental Course Number – 500 or higher.
  • You must be enrolled in the appropriate graduate course by the end of the Drop/Add Period. Please note: For courses cross-listed as undergraduate/graduate, you must be registered for the graduation section for it to count towards your honors experiences.
  • You must complete the Current Semester Undergraduate Registration in a Graduate Course (PDF) paperwork to enroll in an graduate level course for undergraduate credit. This includes gaining permission from the instructor to take the course. If you are unable to access or use the PDF, please contact the Honors College at 716-645-3020 or honors@buffalo.edu.
• Departmental Honors Thesis or Project*
  • Student not accepted into a departmental Honors program must complete the Thesis Proposal form (PDF). If you have been accepted into a departmental Honors program, you do not need to complete an application. The credit will automatically be counted towards your Honors Experiences upon successful completion.
  • The completed thesis must be submitted to Honors College using the Thesis Approval form (PDF).
  • Both faculty advisors must sign off on the form.
  • Your thesis results must be presented to a larger academic community (i.e. Celebration of Academic Excellence, departmental presentation, professional conference, Open House, etc.).
  • If you are unable to access or use any of the forms presented on this page, please contact the Honors College at 716-645-3020 or honors@buffalo.edu.
• Contract Honors Coursework
  • Honors students can contract directly with one of their faculty instructors to complete extra work in a course and submit it as an Honors contract.
  • A final assessment from your faculty supervisor must be submitted to the Honors College.
  • Students will earn Honors experience credit for the contracted course as long as they pass the course. However, please note that in order to receive a "H" designation on your transcript next to the course grade, you must earn a grade of "B" or higher.
  • Honors contracted courses must be at the 200 level and above.

  Description of the Honors Contract

  The Honors Contract permits students to turn a regular university course into an Honors course by contracting with the instructor to complete extra work. The contract involves an agreement among the honors student, a UB faculty member, and the University Honors College. All of the terms stated in the contract must be successfully completed by the agreed upon due date in order for the student to receive honors credit.

  The contract project should add an academic dimension by introducing new material or by allowing the student to go into greater depth than normally required in some aspect of the course. Contracts may also be service-learning focused through student engagement in a service project and reflection related to the course content. It should be made clear on the Contract for Honors Credit how this work exceeds regular course requirements. Since a faculty member must supervise the contract, students should select faculty who have the time to oversee their projects to completion.

  Honors Contracts will not be accepted later than the end of the second week of the semester or the first week of a summer session.

  Time Involved

  Students should expect to spend approximately 30 hours of work or service hours (including reflection) during the semester or summer session to complete their honors contracts. Faculty should expect to add individual student supervision meetings and any necessary lab time to their current semester workload.

  Ideas for Honors Contracts

  • An independent research project with lab work and demonstrable results.
  • Performing service hours related to the course topic along with meaningful reflection (service-learning).
  • Writing a major research paper (in addition to any course requirement).
  • Foreign language: prepare a translation of a new author or dramatist.
  • Music: prepare a lecture or recital about a musician you have come to admire.
  • Writing: prepare a portfolio of creative writing.
  • Any other exploratory, creative, wide-ranging or experimental learning experience related to the content of the contracted course.

  When is the Contract Complete?

  The contract is complete when the instructor is satisfied with the student’s completed work per the terms of the contract by the due date. An evaluation form is sent to the course instructor at the end of the semester and must be signed by the instructor before being returned to the Honors office. Only then is the contract complete.

  Grading

  The Honors Contract does not affect the student’s grade in the course. To receive honors credit for the course, honors students must satisfactorily complete the terms of the contract during the semester that credit is earned. Students receiving an “I” in a course that they have contracted will not receive honors credit upon completion. Instructors will not penalize students who do not complete the terms of their honors contracts; these students will receive the grade earned in the class. Faculty must inform the University Honors College of the status of the contracted work at the same time they report grades for the course. A form will be mailed to the instructor for this purpose near the end of the semester.

  If you have any questions about contract coursework, please contact the Honors College at 716-645-3020 or by email at honors@buffalo.edu.

• Honors Experience Petition

  Occasionally, an Honors student will complete a noteworthy experience and not earn academic credit or pursue an experience that does not fit into the existing categories of Honors Experiences. When this occurs, the student may petition to include the experience towards their Honors credits by submitting an Honors Experience Petition Request.

* Denotes non-coursework category