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Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2017-2018
48
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
personal interests and professional aspirations while achieving individualized goals.
Students also benefit from professional development seminars covering topics such as
networking, résumé building, and interview skills.
DONALD C. HARRISON HONORS PROGRAM
John D. Tatter, Director
The importance of viewing issues from interdisciplinary perspectives and of integrating,
as well as analyzing, fields of knowledge is a special focus of the Harrison Honors
Program’s courses and requirements. This is achieved by fostering students’ intellectual
curiosity, their oral and written communication skills, and their ability to think and study
independently. The program addresses its mission through small, interdisciplinary
seminars developed specifically for Harrison Scholars and through upper-level courses
with an interdisciplinary focus. The Harrison Honors Program serves as a complementary
approach to fulfilling the College’s Explorations general education curriculum
requirements.
Approximately 35 students are admitted to the program each year. Prospective students
may apply by 1 December for early admission to the program or they may apply after
being admitted to the College. Interested students should contact the Director of the
Harrison Honors Program.
Harrison Scholars who are in good standing in the program and who have attended the
minimum number of lecture and arts events for their class standing enjoy priority
registration. Each Harrison Scholar who is registered for courses is also eligible for a
one-time $3,000 research stipend to be used in the junior year or after having completed
four and one-half HON units.
Harrison Honors Program Requirements
The Honors Program component of a Harrison Scholar’s general education consists of
five units of Honors seminars and one unit of independent study, the Harrison Honors
project. The specific general education requirements met by Honors courses and those
met by regular courses will vary from student to student, depending on which Honors
courses the student elects to take. Students may take one Honors Exploration term project
which will count toward the five units of Honors seminars. Students who participate in
study abroad programs that include interdisciplinary courses may also request to count
one such course per regular term abroad toward their Honors requirements. Harrison
Scholars’ remaining general education coursework is completed in the regular curriculum
of the College. Students may also enroll in Honors courses offered by the honors
programs in the Birmingham Area Consortium of Higher Education (BACHE). The
Harrison Honors project is considered a general education course outside the major and
its supporting courses, and outside the minor, if one has been declared.