General Education Honors

For students starting their Gallaudet education with the Fall 2021 semester or later:

The Bison Core Curriculum will provide you with a strong foundation in many fields of study. For honors students, we provide an accelerated English pathway that includes more depth in research, writing structure, and critical thinking to prepare students for their Honors courses. Students will also enroll in an all Honors section of VEE 102H for their second semester which will provide more in depth consideration of academic fields for majors and minors at the level of Honors students. Having these two first year courses also allows for the Honors cohort to form a supportive community of friends that will be with you throughout your Gallaudet journey.

Beyond the first year, students will have the opportunity to take EXPLORE electives from various fields of study either through Honors Option Contracts or Honors sections designated with an H behind the course number. Honors students must complete two contracts or designated Honors courses with their EXPLORE electives.

As Honors students start taking upper level courses in their major, generally denoted by a 300 or higher course number, two contracts are required from any of these courses in their major area of study. Graduate courses and consortium courses can substitute for these contracts with the approval of the Honors Director.

Lastly, Honors students will complete a University Capstone Honors project beginning with a sequence of courses the spring semester of their junior year. See the tab on University Capstone Honors for more information.

For students who began their Gallaudet journey prior to the Fall 2021 semester:

Students will collect a total minimum of 18 Honors GSR credits, typically 1 – 2 courses per semester. These credits are earned through Honors sections of the First Year Seminar (GSR 101), Critical Reading and Writing (HON 175H), And Honors option contracts or designated sections in GSR 200 level courses and the GSR 300 course.

Beyond GSR Honors, students are required to do Honors Option Contracts in three upper level courses in their major area of study. Graduate courses and consortium courses can substitute for these contracts with the approval of the Honors Director.

Lastly, Honors students will complete a University Capstone Honors project beginning with a sequence of courses the spring semester of their junior year. See the tab on University Capstone Honors for more information.

For all Honors students:

Students in the Honors General Education courses receive excellent exposure to high-level critical thinking and writing skills. These skills are essential for employment or entry into graduate school after graduation.  Honors courses typically feature more engaging readings, more vibrant class discussions, and enhanced opportunities for deeper learning such as field trips, innovative assignments, and other opportunities.  Students seeking specialized skill development within their major (or possible major) may complete an Honors Contract with the course instructor.  The Honors General Education curriculum provides rigorous academic training within a wide variety of environments that allows deaf and hard of hearing students to develop personally and socially in a fully accessible environment.  These courses prepare students for the University Capstone, where students will enhance and polish the professional skills needed for graduate school or the work force.

While Honors provides students with enhanced critical thinking development, we also understand the value of immersing in a primarily deaf/hard of hearing environment.  Many of our students become athletes, actors, and student leaders.  Students are also encouraged to do internships, join social organizations, and find employment on campus.  In fact, students get the most out of Honors if they merge their intellectual development with social development!

Additional information on the requirements for General Education Honors, as well as the course sequence, can be found here:

Academic Catalog: Honors Program