Honors Curriculum Requirements

The requirements listed in each box must be completed in order to graduate with the Honors College designation. Completion of the Meijer Honors College satisfies the General Education requirements of the university, including the upper level theme.This is to be used as a guide only. It is not a substitute for advising. If you need advising help, please contact the Meijer Honors Office at honors@gvsu.edu, or (616) 331-3219.

Basic Skills (Non-Honors Courses)

WRT 150 Strategies in Writing: Fulfilled if a student has AP English credits (with a score of 4 or 5), obtains a B or better grade in an Arts and Humanities sequence, or has passed the CLEP test.

WRT 305 Writing in the Disciplines: Fulfilled when a student is in good standing with the Frederik Meijer Honors College (a 3.2 GPA or higher), and completed all the Honors course requirements except HNR 499. 

MTH 110 Algebra: Fulfilled when a student receives a 3 or better on the AP Calculus test or through a combination of ACT scores with specified number of high school math units.
(See FAQs page).

Mathematical Science Requirement: Fulfilled through AP score of 3 or better on the AP Calculus test, OR by taking one of the following courses: another Math course or CS 160 or PHI 103 or STA 215.

Theme Requirement: Fulfilled through the completion of the Frederik Meijer Honors College curriculum.

Arts and Humanities
Take one sequence  6 credits each for two semesters
Fulfills: Arts, History, Philosophy & Literature

----OR complete the following sequence, 12 credits over four semesters-----
(suggested for Engineering majors and those whose majors require many hours freshman year)

Making of Europe
HNR 217 (Fall, 1st semester); HNR 218 (Winter, 2nd semester);
HNR 227 (Fall, 3rd semester);  HNR 228 (Winter, 4th semester).
Also Fulfills: World Perspectives, HST 203, ENG 220

Science Courses
Suggested Completion Sophomore Year
--- EITHER complete one Life Science, 3 credits and one Physical Science, 4 credits---
Life Science

Plants & People        HNR 242 

Microbes & Society HNR 245

Molecules of Life    HNR 247

Physical Science

Earth: A Global View         HNR 241

Chemistry in Perspective   HNR 246 

---- OR complete the following sequence----

Human Body in Motion HNR 243/244  
  

NOTE: Students majoring in the sciences may be able to substitute courses within their program for the Honors Sciences.  Any substitutions must be approved by the Meijer Honors College Director.

Suggested Completion Sophomore Year
----EITHER complete two, 3 credits each----


The Holocaust HNR 231

Trauma, Culture, Memory HNR 232

Democracy & Political Thinking HNR 235
Fulfills: U.S. Diversity

Cultural Anthropology ANT 204-5
Fulfills: World Perspectives
Honors section Winter Semester

Introductory Psychology PSY 101-19
Honors section Winter Semester

PLEASE NOTE:  Because the Economic courses are from one discipline, only one ECO course can be used to fulfill the social science requirement. Students need to take one more Honors social science course.

Intoductory Macroeconomics ECO 210-11
Honors section Fall Semester

Inroductory Microeconomics ECO 211-5
Honors section Fall Semester

 -----OR complete one sequence, 6 credits-----

Society & Self HNR 233/234
Must be taken concurrently and the same section.
Fulfills U.S. Diversity, PSY 101, SOC 201

Citizenship and Education
HNR 280, sections 11 and 12
Students must take both courses concurrently.
Fulfills: U.S. Diversity

All GVSU students are required to fulfill two diversity requirements:  U.S. Diversity and World Perspectives. 

These requirements are easily fulfilled through certain Honors civilization sequences, junior seminars, or Social Science courses, but may alternatively be fulfilled by general education courses. 

Courses that fulfill either requirement will be noted in the course description.

This project is a culmination of you Honors College experience. It requires advanced planning and preparation and is usually complete during your senior year of study. You may not begin a project without the approval of your project advisor and the Meijer Honors College.  

General Guidelines:

• When a student has AP credits for PSY 101 or government, the student needs to take only one Honors Social Science course.
• The Calculus AC or BC exam fulfills both of the math requirements.
• The statistics exam fulfills the mathematical science requirement, but not Math 110.
• The biology exam fulfills the honors life science requirement.
• The chemistry exam fulfills the Honors physical science requirement.

• Students majoring in the sciences may be able to substitute courses within their program for the Honors Sciences.

• Engineering majors NEED to talk with an Engineering advisor for scheduling advice.
• For students who are in Business, Social Science, or Education: You may be able to  substitute a social science course required for your major for an Honors requirement. Please check with an Honors advisor. Any substitutions must be approved by the Meijer Honors College Director.