LSU Honors College

The Honors College at Louisiana State University provides an intimate learning environment with all the resources of a major research university by offering small interdisciplinary classes, valuable opportunities for independent research, and mentoring relationships with some of LSU’s most prominent faculty. The LSU Honors College is led by dean Nancy Clark, who joined the University in 2002.cite web|first=Josh(2002)|last=Duplechain|url= http://www.staffsenate.lsu.edu/unv002.nsf/(NoteID)/CDDA4E93D8F369FD86256BE900637600?OpenDocument|title=“LSU Honors College names Nancy Clark new dean”|publisher=Louisiana State University Media Relations. Accessed on 28 September 2007] In recent years, the Honors College has produced LSU’s Rhodes, Truman, and Goldwater scholars.cite web|url= http://foreverlsu.org/priorities/PDFs/hc.pdf|title=“Honors College Case Statement (PDF)”|publisher=Louisiana State University Forever LSU Campaign. Accessed on 28 September 2007] cite web|url= http://www.truman.gov/scholar_listing/scholar_listing_list_more.htm?year=2006&#LA|title=“Meet Our Scholars--2006”|publisher=Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Accessed on 2 February 2008] cite web|url= http://www.truman.gov/scholar_listing/scholar_listing_list_more.htm?year=2005&#LA|title=“Meet Our Scholars--2005”|publisher=Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Accessed on 2 February 2008] cite web|url= http://www.truman.gov/scholar_listing/scholar_listing_list_more.htm?year=2003&#LA|title=“Meet Our Scholars--2003”|publisher=Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Accessed on 2 February 2008] cite web|url= http://www.act.org/goldwater/sch-2005.html|title=“2006 Goldwater Scholars”|publisher=ACT. Accessed on 2 February 2008]

History and setting

In 1992, the LSU Board of Supervisors approved the transformation of the honors program at the University--a collection of courses in a number of departments across campus--into the LSU Honors College.cite book|first=Thomas F. (2002)|last=Ruffin|title=Under Stately Oaks: A Pictorial History of LSU|publisher=Louisiana State University Press|isbn=0907126829] Bill Seay served as the College's first and only dean until 2003 when Nancy Clark assumed the role. The Honors College was initially located in the Old President's House on Highland Road. In 1999, the Honors College moved into the French House, Renaissance-style chateau originally constructed as a center for intensive study of the French language, literature, and culture. Plans for renovating the French House have been set in motion as the University attempts to raise money through a major capital campaign.cite web|url= http://www.fhl.org/FHL/Stewardship/Tre-LSUFrench.shtm|title=“Treasures in Trouble”|publisher=Foundation for Historical Louisiana. Accessed on 2 February 2008] cite web|url= http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/7711947.html|title=“LSU Honors’ home in disrepair”|publisher=The Advocate. Accessed on 2 February 2008] Located near the French House is the Laville Honors House, a residence hall for students enrolled in the College. Plans have also been approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents to add convert|3600|sqft|m2 of new space and renovate convert|110500|sqft|m2 of existing dorm space, which will include expanding lounges and study space, providing for faculty residence on the first floor. The total cost will approach $24,000,000.cite web|url= http://www.regents.state.la.us/pdfs/Finance/facminutes/2004/mi032404.pdf|title=“Facilities and Property Committee Minutes (PDF)”|publisher=Louisiana Board of Regents. Accessed on 2 February 2008]

Courses, undergraduate thesis, and awards

There are three different types of Honors courses at the University. Courses offered through the Honors College are designated by the HNRS prefix and include interdisciplinary courses which generally exist as seminar-lecture pairs and feature the history, politics, philosophy, art, languages, and literature of specific civilizations or time periods. Academic departments across campus also offer honors equivalent courses. Students may also choose to "Honors Option" a course by entering into a contract with a professor of an upper level course and fulfilling a set of agreed upon requirements that go beyond the expectations laid out in the course's syllabus.

Students in the College have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate thesis, graduate with College Honors, and earn two different distinctions. Sophomore Honors Distinction is bestowed upon a student who completes 20 hours or more of Honors courses by the end of the second year, maintains a 3.5 cumulative gpa in Honors courses and in all course work, and completes one Honors interdisciplinary course. Upper Division Honors Distinction can be earned by completing Honors work in courses at the 3000 level or above, including three to six hours of research, and by writing and defending an undergraduate thesis in the student’s main field of study. Students who attain both Sophomore and Upper Division Honors Distinction graduate with College Honors--a designation that appears on a student's diploma.

Admission and enrollment

Although the Honors College accepts continuing and transfer students, most of the incoming students enroll as college freshmen. Recommended SAT scores (V+M) and GPA for prospective high school students are 1320 and 3.5 respectively.cite web|url= http://honors.lsu.edu/apply.html|title=“Applying to the LSU Honors College”|publisher=Louisiana State University Honors College. Accessed on 28 September 2007] Students may also have a minimum composite score of 30 on the ACT and should complete the writing component of the SAT or ACT for consideration.

Today, the LSU Honors College has a student enrollment of approximately 2,000. Applications for fall 2006 reached 2,400 by December 15.cite web|first=Caroline(2006)|last=Alexander|url=http://media.www.lsureveille.com/media/storage/paper868/news/2006/01/24/CampusLife/Applications.To.Honors.College.Double-2054537.shtml|title=“Applications to Honors College double: Improved recruiting tactics a factor”|publisher="The Daily Reveille". Accessed on 28 September 2007] The Honor College enrollment grew by 33 percent in the fall of 2007.cite web|first=Ernie(2007)|last=Ballard|url= http://appl003.lsu.edu/unv002.nsf/9faf000d8eb58d4986256abe00720a51/d194e6c5abb912808625735d004b1733?OpenDocument|title=“LSU Fall Enrollment Figures Released, Freshman Class Figures Highlight Positives for the University”|publisher=Louisiana State University Media Relations. Accessed on 28 September 2007]

External links

* [http://honors.lsu.edu Official website of the LSU Honors College]
* [http://appl003.lsu.edu/slas/reslifeweb.nsf/$Content/Laville+Honors+House?OpenDocument Laville Honors House]

References