Honors Program

Overview

The Honors Program works to develop the skills of scholarship among qualified Cairn students. Its goal is that these students will integrate their biblical studies with their general and professional education. The Honors Program is a biblically centered, interdisciplinary course of study, providing an enriching and challenging educational opportunity. The capstone of the Honors Program is the honors project, in which the student chooses a research topic designed to bring together all of his or her education. Working closely with an advisor, the student learns and applies the fundamentals of researching and writing, culminating in an honors thesis. The University faculty is involved in mentoring each honors student, and the development of this student-faculty relationship provides an important foundation for the student’s intellectual development throughout his or her time in the Honors Program.

Participation Requirements

Honors Colloquium (0 credit) - Monthly meetings with the honors students and faculty for conversation, collaboration, and encouragement. Every semester.

Introduction to Research (1 credit) - A course addressing the subjects of research methodologies, topic development, history of the discipline, bibliography, and advisor relationship. The thesis itself is interdisciplinary in scope. Sophomore year or later.

Honors Thesis I and II (6 credits) - A sequence of two research and writing courses. At the conclusion of these courses, the honors thesis will be evaluated by the student’s advisor and a second reader. A public presentation of the student’s honors project will accompany the submission of the completed honors project. Junior or senior year.

Admission Process

An application should be sent to the director of the Center for University Studies as early as the student’s sophomore year.

Admission criteria:

• Sophomore standing or higher
• Overall grade point average of 3.0 or above
• Recommendations from a professor and the Office of Student Life
• Two research papers
• Application essay
• Portfolio of interests from freshman and sophomore years