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Honors Options

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2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog

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Manhattanville seeks to challenge high achieving students and encourages them to explore new areas of interest beyond the normal intellectual parameters during their entire undergraduate career.

Castle Scholars Program

The Castle Scholars Honors Program offers students of exceptional ability a broader and more intensive program of study than the usual college curriculum. It provides motivated students in any major field with challenging, cross-disciplinary courses that encourage their academic and personal growth. Participation in the Castle Scholars Program encourages intellectual exchange among students and faculty and fosters independent initiative in academic and creative realms. Castle Scholars are well prepared for success in graduate and professional schools, as well as in the professional world.

Honors seminars are the core of our program. Manhattanville’s most engaging faculty offer innovative and often interdisciplinary seminars that are limited to 15 students, a format that ensures in-depth discussion and exploration of the subject matter. In addition, many of our seminars incorporate experiential learning through trips into New York City and other sites in the region. These classes provide high achieving students with the opportunity to explore areas within and without their intended major, and all of them will fulfill some of Manhattanville College’s General Education Requirements.

Benefits

Castle Scholars in good standing are accorded the following privileges:

Priority registration privileges (early registration to ensure optimal course selection)
Permission to register for up to 21 credits per semester without financial penalty
Participation in on campus Castle Scholars social events, including regular dinners with the College President
Opportunities to apply for special Honors Internships through Manhattanville's Center for Career Development
Contribution to the intellectual and social life of the college through the organization of college-wide events, such as Human Rights Awareness Day and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Fair
Participation in Castle Scholars field trips to New York City and beyond
Mentoring by the Castle Scholars Director and Faculty Committee members
Recognition at college wide awards ceremonies
Recognition of successful completion of the program on college transcripts and on all printed graduation materials.

Eligibility

Incoming students who receive a Chairman’s Award are enrolled in the Castle Scholars Honors Program, although they may opt out at any time. Continuing students who have earned at least a 3.6 at Manhattanville are eligible to apply for admission to the program up to the first semester of their junior year. Transfer students with up to 60 credits may also apply; students who have been enrolled in honors courses at other institutions should consult with the Director regarding approval of transfer courses towards completion of Castle Scholars

Castle Scholars Program and Minor Requirements

Castle Scholars can elect to complete the program in one of two ways. They can choose to enroll in the program as a Castle Scholars Minor, thereby fulfilling the college-wide requirement that each student complete a minor in addition to their academic major. Students can also choose to complete the program as a complement to their major and minor courses of study.

Program requirements consist of five components in the following categories:

1 1000-level CSCH seminar (for first year students)
2 3000-level CSCH seminars (for sophomores, juniors and seniors)
1 CSCH Honors Internship (or Honors Independent Research Project) subject to approval by the Castle Scholars Honors Committee*
An approved, credit-bearing service project
CSCH 3080 Senior Retreat (1.5 credits): Two intensive Saturdays on a selected theme, coordinated by the Honors Program Director and including the participation of interested faculty. Students will complete and share with the group the results of a research project and will also complete an Honors ePortfolio.

AND/OR

CSCH 3081 Teaching Assistantship in a First-Year Seminar or other approved course (1.5 credits): In addition to assisting a class under the mentorship of the instructor, students will meet regularly with each other and mentoring faculty for discussions of course material and approaches and will complete an Honors ePortfolio.

In addition, Castle Scholars must:

Earn a grade of B or better in Honors courses in order to receive Honors credit
Maintain cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher
Participate actively in the Castle Scholars Program by attending at least two events per semester
Remain in good standing in their non-academic activities
Complete and submit an Honors ePortfolio
Be positive role models for academic integrity

*As per college policy, an internship or independent research project for a Castle Scholars minor cannot double count towards the student’s major or another minor.

Departmental Honors

Several departments at the College offer an honors program within the major, to which qualified undergraduates are ordinarily admitted in their fourth semester, with a review for continuation in the program at the end of the sixth semester. Individual departments set the standards for acceptance into these programs. Departments that do not have a separate honors program may offer the award of "departmental honors", which is conferred upon qualified students at graduation and is based on a certain level of achievement in major courses and in the senior thesis.

Portfolio Honors

One of the special honors students may receive at the College is "Portfolio Honors". This involves an additional review of qualified portfolios by the Board on Academic Standards following the final Portfolio Review. Generally, the Board looks for exceptional breadth in the liberal arts, an excellent Program Evaluation Essay, significant engagement with the mission of the College, and advanced examples of academic achievement. Portfolio Honors are announced at Baccalaureate and students receive a notation to this effect on their transcripts.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List honors full-time students who achieve at least a 3.6 average during a particular semester. To be eligible, students must complete at least fifteen semester hours, with a minimum of twelve hours taken for letter grades. This achievement is noted on students’ transcripts for each semester in which they fulfill these requirements.