Program Overview
Introduction to the Ogden Honors College
The Ogden Honors College is a prestigious institution that offers a unique and interdisciplinary approach to education. The college is committed to providing students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in their chosen field and beyond.
Academics
The Ogden Honors College offers a variety of academic programs, including the Honors TRACTS curriculum. This curriculum is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the ideas, systems, and movements that have shaped human civilization.
Core Courses
The core courses are an essential part of the Honors TRACTS curriculum. These courses include:
- HNRS 2000: Critical Analysis and Social Responsibility
- HNRS 2009 or 2010: Physical or Life Science for Citizens
- HNRS 2100: The Great Conversations
- HNRS 1010: Honors Core Experiences
These courses are designed to cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and interdisciplinary understanding. They provide students with a strong intellectual foundation that prepares them to be thoughtful, informed leaders.
Founding Traditions
The Founding Traditions courses form the intellectual backbone of the Honors TRACTS curriculum. These courses include:
- HNRS 2402: Classical Antiquity
- HNRS 2404: The Medieval World
- HNRS 2406: Renaissance to Enlightenment
- HNRS 2408: The Modern World
These courses provide students with a deep understanding of the ideas, systems, and movements that have shaped human civilization. They are designed to develop critical thinking, historical awareness, and interdisciplinary fluency.
Foreign Language
Foreign language study is a vital component of the TRACTS curriculum. Students are required to complete at least five semesters of a foreign language, which allows them to move beyond basic proficiency and toward mastery. This linguistic and cultural fluency is essential for effective leadership and collaboration in any field.
HNRS Electives
The HNRS electives are a flexible component of the Honors TRACTS curriculum. These courses allow students to tailor their Honors education to their individual interests and career goals. They provide students with the opportunity to explore topics in depth and to develop advanced critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Capstone
The Capstone sequence is a crucial element of the Honors TRACTS degree. This sequence provides students with a structured opportunity to conduct in-depth, original research within their chosen field. The Capstone sequence includes:
- HNRS 3800: Capstone Proposal
- HNRS 3900: Capstone Research
- HNRS 4000: Capstone Thesis
This sequence is designed to help students develop advanced critical thinking, research, writing, and presentation skills. It provides students with a unique opportunity to explore a topic in depth and to contribute new knowledge or insight to their discipline.
Electives
The electives component of the TRACTS curriculum is important because it provides flexibility and intentional integration for students pursuing a second major or one or more minors. This component allows students to align their broader academic interests with their Honors education and to use Honors hours toward their additional majors or minors.
Conclusion
The Ogden Honors College offers a unique and interdisciplinary approach to education. The Honors TRACTS curriculum is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the ideas, systems, and movements that have shaped human civilization. The curriculum includes a variety of components, including core courses, Founding Traditions, foreign language, HNRS electives, Capstone, and electives. These components are designed to cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and interdisciplinary understanding, and to provide students with a strong intellectual foundation that prepares them to be thoughtful, informed leaders.