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Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

The Honors in Major program is an opportunity for high-performing Nova Southeastern University undergraduate seniors to participate in a research, academic, experiential, or service project in their major field. If selected to join this program, you'll work with a faculty mentor on a project that reflects your personal and professional goals. This program is open to qualifying honors and non-honors students.

To qualify for the program, you must:

  • Complete (or be in progress of completing) 90+ credits before you enter your final two semesters of undergraduate coursework

  • Earn a 3.8+ cumulative NSU GPA (based on a minimum of 30 NSU credits earned/enrolled upon application)

NOTE: Once accepted, assigned Honors in Major Liaisons in each college will facilitate your connections with appropriate faculty mentors, who will oversee your individual Honors in Major accomplishments and progress. To prepare for this process, it is helpful though not required for those interested in pursuing an Honors in Major to begin exploring relationships with potential faculty mentors in their earlier years (i.e. first and second years).

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The Honors in Major program provided me with opportunities to interact with the community and strengthen my leadership skills. Upon completing the requirements for the program, I feel inspired to continue the work I have done and strengthen my impact.

Amber Gulau | B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Human Nutrition

Benefits

If you participate in the Honors in Major program, you'll:

  • Develop a mentoring relationship with a faculty member

  • Expand the breadth and depth of your knowledge on a subject you're passionate about

  • Be considered a member of NSU's Farquhar Honors Program, including invitations to honors-exclusive events and eligibility to enroll in honors courses (although not required)

  • Receive a notation of this achievement on your NSU diploma and transcript

  • Receive an invitation to an Honors Program reception

Being an Honors in Major is a distinction for those who seek and take advantage of opportunities in their fields, and it provides additional access to unique resources, connections, and experiences.

Deadlines

You must apply for the Honors in Major program during the semester before your final two semesters of undergraduate coursework. Your application will be reviewed by the Honors Program and faculty members in your academic department. We'll notify you of your application status two weeks after the end of the semester in which you applied.
May Degree Completion Deadline
April 15 (preceding year)
August Degree Completion Deadline
November 15 (preceding year)
December Degree Completion Deadline
November 15 (preceding year)

Requirements

Honors in Major project requirements are managed by faculty members in the academic department that houses your major. Academic leadership in your college reviews and affirms your project plans and the Honors Program tracks your participation and provides support. All Honors in Major students, regardless of academic college, are required to maintain a 3.8 GPA through graduation in order to earn this distinction upon degree conferral.

Students in NSU's Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice complete upper-level courses with supplemental projects such as:

  • K-12 school volunteer service hours

  • Educational research

  • Educational advocacy projects

Faculty members serve as mentors for students in the program. Students make presentations based on their projects to present to peers and faculty and at conferences.

Students in NSU's College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity participate in capstone projects relevant to each of the majors in the college.

Projects may be further customized for each student and may include:

  • Research projects

  • Focused literature reviews

  • Internships

  • Community/University Service

Students present the results of these projects in a relevant forum. Faculty serve as mentors to individual students.

Students in NSU's College of Psychology must have a GPA of 3.8 in major courses and an overall GPA of 3.8 to participate in the Honors in Major program. Students may choose between the following tracks:

Clinical Track

  • Enroll in PSYC 4810 Practicum in Community Psychology

  • Complete an in-depth literature review

  • Give a brief classroom presentation

  • Participate in the annual Department Symposium, giving a brief presentation on the project

Research Track

To participate in the research track, an interview is required to assure mutual compatibility.

  • Enroll in an independent study (PSYC 4990 or NEUR 4990) or internship (PSYC 4950 or NEUR 4950)

  • Collaborate with a faculty member on research

  • Present research at an acceptable venue (Undergraduate Student Symposium or professional conference) approved by the faculty mentor

  • Participate in the annual Department Symposium, giving a brief presentation on the project

Public Health Majors

Eligible students may choose from one of the following tracks:

Community Service Track

Requires a minimum of 45 hours of effort working on a community-based project.

To participate in the Community Service Track:

  1. In collaboration with the program director, identify and secure a faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor for the duration of the service project.
  2. Recommend enrolling in an Independent Study course (BPH 4990), subject to the availability of credits for each semester
    • Service project deliverables, as agreed upon with the faculty mentor, will constitute the course assignments

Project Track (Research)

Requires a minimum of 45 hours in a research or program development project

To participate in Project Track:

  1. In collaboration with the program director, identify and secure a faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor for the duration of the project.
  2. Recommend enrolling in an Independent Study course (BPH 4990), subject to the availability of credits for each semester.
    • Research project deliverables, as agreed upon with the faculty mentor, will constitute the course assignments.

All Honors in Major BSPH students must complete a final scholarly deliverable, such as a research paper, project report, poster, presentation, prototype, dashboard, or other approved dissemination activity, and present their work to faculty, students, or other appropriate stakeholders.

Human Nutrition

Eligible students consult with the program director and apply for an independent study course. Course credits may vary based on the planned experience. With approval, students will be able to enroll in BSHN 4400 Directed Individual Study and select from the following project options:

  • Clinical experience shadowing a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and working on a case study
  • A research study involving at least one of the following components: research protocol development, data collection and management, dissemination of results
  • A service-learning project relevant to the major
  • A capstone project involving a critical literature review relevant to the major

Health Informatics

Eligible Health Informatics students may choose from one of the following tracks:

Applied Informatics & Innovation Track

Requires a minimum of 45 hours of effort in applied health informatics, healthcare innovation, quality improvement, data analytics, technology evaluation, or program development project.

To participate in the Applied Informatics & Innovation Track:

  1. In collaboration with the program director, identify and secure a faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor for the duration of the project.
  2. Students may complete the project through BSHI 4006 Independent Study (variable credit), subject to the availability of credits each semester, or as an approved non-credit Honors in Major experience.
    • Project deliverables, as agreed upon with the faculty mentor, will constitute the project requirements

Research Track

Requires a minimum of 45 hours of effort in a research project related to health informatics.

To participate in the Research Track:

  1. In collaboration with the program director, identify and secure a faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor for the duration of the project.
  2. Students may complete the project through BSHI 4006 Independent Study (variable credit), subject to the availability of credits each semester, or as an approved non-credit Honors in Major experience.
    • Research project deliverables, as agreed upon with the faculty mentor, willconstitute the project requirements.

All Honors in Major BSHI students must complete a final scholarly deliverable, such as a research paper, project report, poster, presentation, prototype, dashboard, or other approved dissemination activity, and present their work to faculty, students, or other appropriate stakeholders

Health and Human Performance and Speech Language Majors

Students select from the following project options:

  • Original lab or field research on a topic relevant to the major
  • A service learning project relevant to the major
  • A capstone project involving a critical literature review relevant to the major

Students in NSU’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences participate in major-specific projects:

Biology

  • Complete at least four BIOL courses at the 4000 level (BIOL 4XXX).
  • Complete a faculty-mentored scholarly project. This may include qualifying work completed before applying for Honors in Major
  • Disseminate the scholarly work in a lead role as speaker or author (e.g., through the USS Symposium, Mako Journal, or another approved venue)
  • Complete an NSUWorks entry featuring the Honors in Major project in collaboration with the faculty mentor

Chemistry

  • Submit a personal statement and two supporting recommendation letters written by full-time chemistry faculty
  • Complete a written report and an oral presentation corresponding to an original research project according to the requirements of CHEM4101 to be evaluated by a faculty panel before March 15 of the senior year
  • Complete any four CHEM3000 or 4000 level courses with a minimum B grade and complete CHEM4101 Senior Chemistry Seminar with a minimum B+ grade

Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts

Students must complete one of the following options:

  • Complete an independent study course in their major with a full-time faculty who teaches in their department or major
  • Present at an academic conference in their major (must be approved for Honors in Major by the department)
  • Complete an individualized project working with a faculty mentor (must be approved for Honors in Major by the department)

Department of Humanities and Politics

Students engage in upper-level academic and experiential major-specific activities. During the two-semester senior year experience, students are required to:

  • Complete an independent study course in their major with a full-time faculty member who teaches in their department and major
  • Complete one of the options below:
    • Participate in travel study/study abroad for academic credit
    • Complete an internship in their major for credit
    • Present at both an academic conference (must first be approved by the department chair) and the Undergraduate Student Symposium
    • Participate in the Model United Nations (UN) for at least one year or to the satisfaction of the Model UN faculty advisor
    • Participate in Mock Trial for at least one year or to the satisfaction of the Mock Trial faculty advisor

Marine and Environmental Sciences

  • Complete an individualized project working with a faculty mentor

Mathematics

Students choose between one of the following tracks:

  • Project Track: (research/thesis, service learning, capstone project) with a written report and presentation to a faculty panel. Students also enroll in specific upper-level courses to fulfill degree requirements.
  • Curriculum Track: more extensive course selections that fulfill degree requirements

Students in NSU's H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship will complete an applied or research-oriented project. Options for the project include an internship, independent study, or research thesis.

Students in NSU's Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing (CON) participate in a supplemental interview. Applicants must demonstrate a history of ongoing and continuing community involvement.

Students must:

  • Present a research poster at a professional venue

  • Demonstrate an ongoing and continuing involvement in a professional or pre-professional nursing organization

  • Serve as peer-to-peer mentors for students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing program, when requested

  • Serve as student representatives at CON Council/Committee meetings when requested

  • Participate in 40 or more hours of community activities and/or service learning opportunities within the Nursing Program

During the two-semester senior year experience, students in NSU's Shepard Broad College of Law must:

  • Complete an independent study course in the major with a full-time faculty member who teaches in their department and major.

  • Complete one of the options below:

    • Participate in travel study/study abroad for academic credit (must first be approved by the department chair)

    • Complete an internship in the major for credit (must first be approved by the department chair)

    • Complete a public service project (must first be approved by the department chair)

    • Present at both an academic conference (must first be approved by the department chair) and the Undergraduate Student Symposium

    • Complete an individualized project working with a faculty mentor (must be approved for Honors in Major by the department)

Respiratory Therapy, and Sonography (Cardiovascular, Medical) Majors

Students select from the following project options:

  • Original lab or field research on a topic relevant to the major
  • A service learning project relevant to the major
  • A capstone project involving a critical literature review relevant to the major

Health Science Majors

Students select from the following project options:

  • A community service project (including training at their place of employment or in the community
  • A capstone project involving a critical literature review of a topic relevant to the major
  • Enroll in an Independent Study course in Public Health, Human Nutrition and, Health Informatics (optional). The Community Service Track may be taken without course credit