University of Delaware
Opportunities to Enrich Your Education
 

MEET THE CHALLENGE OF ENRICHED DEGREE OPTIONS

The Honors Degree and the Degree with Distinction allow exceptionally talented and dedicated students to pursue their academic interests in greater depth and breadth than is required for the regular bachelor's degree. Achievement of either of these degrees is recorded on the official transcript and diploma.  These degree options are open to all UD students who meet the requirements.

A candidate for an Honors Degree or a Degree with Distinction must satisfy the general University requirements and the degree requirements specified for the major by his or her college and department. To receive both an Honors Degree and a Degree with Distinction, the student must complete two distinct theses, each of which must stand on its own merit. The theses may be related but must not in any essential way duplicate one another, and the student must supply confirming evidence.


Honors Degrees. The Honors Degree, Delaware's most comprehensive enriched degree experience, is currently available in more than 70 majors (please see the Synopsis of Honors Baccalaureate Degrees chart in this catalog.
 
Besides Honors coursework in the major and outside the major, the Honors Degree includes an Honors Tutorial (a "Great Books" course that typically enrolls just four students), an Honors research thesis and oral defense, and an Honors Seminar.   The complete requirements for
an Honors Baccalaureate Degree are as follows:
  1. The requirements for the baccalaureate degree in the major (including all University and college requirements), as well as any other specific requirements the major department may set for the Honors Degree.
  2. The general requirements for the Honors Degree:
    1. A University of Delaware cumulative grade-point index of at least 3.40 at the time of graduation.
    2. At least 60 of the total credits applicable to graduation taken at the 300 level or higher.
    3. At least 30 credits earned in Honors courses. Of these Honors credits:
      1. At least 12 must be in the major department or in courses of collateral disciplines specifically required for the major.
      2. Three must be in the Honors Tutorial course.
      3. Three must be in the Honors Seminar course (or in another seminar course specifically approved for this purpose by the Honors Program).
      4. At least six must be in areas outside those defined by the preceding items (1-3).
      5. At least 12 must be at the 300 level or higher.
    4. In addition to these 30 Honors credits, six credits of Honors thesis or project (UNIV 401/402) and the successful oral presentation of an acceptable thesis or project to a committee of faculty approved by the major department and the Honors Program. Although the candidate enrolls in UNIV 401/402 in the senior year, research and planning for the thesis or project should be well under way in the junior year.
  3. Submission of the Honors Degree Application Form before the end of the junior year, to the University Honors Program office.

Degrees with Distinction. A Degree With Distinction, which may be earned in any major, is a research degree.  Like the Honors Degree, it includes a research paper or project with an oral defense before a faculty committee. The Degree with Distinction supplements regular departmental degree requirements by giving the student significant research experience while still an undergraduate.  Students receive a bachelor's degree in the appropriate college and major with the notation that it was earned "with distinction."

Candidates for the Degree with Distinction must meet the following conditions:

  1. The candidate's cumulative grade-point index must be at least 3.00 at the time of graduation, and his or her index in the major must be at least 3.50.
  2. The candidate must complete six credits of thesis or project (UNIV 401 and UNIV 402) and give an oral presentation and defense of the thesis or project to a committee of faculty from the major department and related fields.
The Degree with Distinction entails no change in the regular requirements of a student's program other than research, writing and defense of a senior thesis.
Dean's Scholars Programs.  Dean's Scholars are outstanding students who design their own course of study at the University.  Normal college and departmental requirements are waived except the total credit hours needed for graduation.  With imagination and the help of their advisors, Dean's Scholars use this freedom to fashion unique curricula that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries or include greater depth in some aspect of the major.  Students apply to be Dean's Scholars at the completion of the freshman year.  Dean's Scholars in Arts and Science and in Agricultural Sciences may qualify for Honors Degrees. 

THE HONORS EXPERIENCE - MORE THAN A DEGREE PROGRAM

The University Honors Program (UHP) serves the many exceptionally talented students who choose the University of Delaware. Eligible undergraduates study in smaller classes, where they receive special guidance from faculty members and individually tailored academic advising. Academic options for these students include a variety of Honors courses, undergraduate research, private music study, Honors Certificates, four-year Honors Degrees in many majors and the Degree with Distinction in all majors. (See the Degree Options section, above). Extensive extracurricular programming includes activities in the Honors Center and in Honors residence halls.

Honors Program students may be pursuing a degree in any of the University's undergraduate colleges and more than 130 majors. For students who apply to enter the program during their first semester, honors activities during the freshman year provide the educational foundation to conduct advanced study in any field. The freshman year also draws students into the campus community, promoting faculty-student interaction and shared interests among participants. Full-time Honors freshmen enroll in at least 15 credits of Honors courses, including an Honors Colloquium, by the end of the first year. Honors freshmen establish a close relationship with faculty advisers that continues through their academic careers.

Any University student who has attained a cumulative grade-point index of 3.00 or higher (even after only one semester) is eligible to take Honors courses and to work toward the various forms of Honors recognition. Transfer students with high grades from another institution are immediately eligible for the program.

There is no added fee for participation in the Honors Program.

The University Honors Program has offices at 186 South College Avenue.  Please call (302) 831-1195 for more information.


Honors Courses. Many sections of Honors courses are offered each semester, in a wide array of disciplines. These range from one-credit short courses and tutorials to interdisciplinary colloquia, undergraduate research and independent study. Honors courses feature talented students and faculty, enriched or intensified subject matter, and an active involvement by the students in their learning. Most classes have small enrollment.
Honors Certificates.  Honors Certificates provide recognition of a student's participation in specific Honors activities. Receipt of an Honors Certificate is recorded on the student's permanent transcript.

The First Year Honors Certificate recognizes those who live in Honors housing and complete the first year of University work with a cumulative index of 3.00 or higher and at least 15 Honors credits (including a Colloquium). The Advanced Honors Certificate recognizes those who earn at least 21 Honors credits beginning with the sophomore year, have a cumulative index of 3.00 or higher, and participate in an intensive Honors advising process. There are also Honors Foreign Language Certificates available to students in  majors other than Foreign Languages and Literatures, and International Honors Certificates for majors in Foreign Langauges and Literatures, Political Science, or International Relations.

The Alison Scholars Program.  The Alison Scholars Program is available, by invitation only, to a few, selected Honors students who have a great love for the humanities and are likely to be candidates, not only for graduate or professional school admission, but also for prestigious awards and graduate fellowships, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Mellon, and Fulbright competitions.  The program is named after Dr. Francis Alison, a colonial scholar and founder (in 1743) of the New London Academy, the forerunner of the University of Delaware.
The program includes Alison Scholars courses and special events that expose students to major issues in literature and the arts, science, politics, and world affairs; faculty mentors to help the Scholars plan their educations; an early introduction to enriching activities, such as undergraduate research, study abroad, community service, internships, or service-learning experiences; and the opportunity to pursue more adventurous course selections.

Alison Scholars also enjoy considerable flexibility in meeting their General Education requirements.  At Delaware, all College of Arts and Science students must complete a liberal arts core known as "Breadth Requirements."   While Alison Scholars must of course meet the spirit of these requirements, they have greater freedom in how many credits they take in each area and in the particular courses they choose; this freedom is designed to facilitate their speedier entry into upper level or graduate courses, the study of additional foreign languages, or a more creative combination of studies spanning various General Education groups.

Fall 1998 Alison Scholars will be selected in February and March from students majoring in Arts and Science and in Economics who have been offered Fall 1998 admission into the University Honors Program.  Students not selected to be Alison Scholars as freshmen may be eligible to join the program after their freshman year. 

Private Music Instruction.  Belonging to a diverse student body is an important part of your Honors experience.  Undergraduate research, study abroad, Honors tutorials, the options that comprise Honors Forum, and the many Honors extracurricular activities allow Honors students to pursue their own particular enthusiasms.

Private Music Instruction is yet another way of fostering individual talent.  Typically an unusually large percentage of Honors-calibre students are also accomplished musicians.  Most of these students do not intend to major in music or to pursue a musical career.  Nevertheless, they are quite serious about their music study.  Our Private Music Instruction option is designed to accommodate them.

Freshmen who are in the Honors Program may receive individual and small group music instruction  by passing an audition conducted by the Music Department.  (Auditions are held at the start of Fall semester; information on registering for them is included in the New Student Orientation packet that is mailed to all incoming Honors freshmen in May.)  Please bear in mind that this program assumes that you are already proficient in your instrument:  it is not a program for beginners.  Apart from Music majors, Honors freshmen are virtually the only students on campus who have this opportunity to pursue private music instruction.

After the freshman year a limited number of Music Merit Awards are available that allow non-Music majors to continue their music instruction.  Because of the extraordinary demands on faculty that one-on-one and small group instruction involves, these awards are the only opportunity that non-Music majors have for private music instruction.

The Department of Music at the University of Delaware offers instruction in string instruments, brass and woodwinds, keyboard instruments, percussion, and voice.  Delaware is one of the few universities in the country with a string quartet in residence (the Mendelssohn String Quartet).  There are extensive opportunities for all students to participate in music ensembles, including the 200-member University of Delaware Marching Band, the Concert Band, the University Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, Gamelan Lake of the Silver Bear, plus numerous small ensembles, such as Delaware Steel.  The University Singers, the Choral Union, the Collegium Musicum, and Opera Workshop, and the Chorale are the main vocal ensembles.  In addition, University of Delaware students often perform with the Newark Symphony and the Delaware Symphony.

For more information, please telephone Dr. Kathleen M. Duke, Associate Director, Honors Program (302-831-2457) or the Music Department (302-831-2577).

The Honors Center.  The Honors Center is located at 180 South College Avenue, near the heart of the campus, across the street from the Morris Library.  It is home to the Honors Student Life Office and is the focal point of many UHP-sponsored extracurricular activities, including films, lectures, exhibits, and receptions, bringing students and faculty together to establish the Honors community. The Honors Center hosts an annual literary and photography contest and several open house events.  Museum and theatre trips are planned throughout the year.

The Center is generally open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, from noon to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Center is a quiet, informal place with study rooms, comfortable sofas and chairs, reference books and periodicals.  Students may study or relax by reading from a selection of magazines and daily newspapers.  There are several personal computers for student use.

For more information, contact Ms. Katharine Kerrane, the Assistant Director of the Honors Program, at  (302) 831-2734.


Residence Life and Honors Housing.  Full-time Honors Freshmen live in the Russell residence complex or in Lane Hall, both situated in East Campus, a popular location that is a short walk from the University's Morris Library.   East Campus is also home to the Perkins Student Center, the Harrington Fitness Center, and the Harrington Computer Site (which includes both IBM-compatible and Macintosh computers).  Russell has its own dining hall.  Living in Russell/Lane is a requirement of the freshman year in Honors, although it is possible to obtain a waiver of this requirement if you plan to live at home and commute to campus.

Trained Residence Assistants help students with questions and organize student activities in the residence halls. The UHP freshman community is neither exclusive nor limiting, as typically only 60-65% of the freshmen in Russell and Lane are Honors students. Honors freshmen participate fully in University-wide activities.

Upperclass students in Honors reside wherever they choose. Some choose conventional housing on- or off-campus; others move to upperclass honors floors or to other special-interest housing.  Upperclass Honors housing is available in Brown, Cannon, Sypherd, Harter, and Sharp Halls on the beautiful University of Delaware Mall and in Special Interest Housing on Ray Street, the University's newest residence hall complex.

Russell Fellows are upperclass Honors students who volunteer to return to Russell or Lane and mentor the Honors freshmen.  "Mentoring" includes advising freshmen about who's best on the UD faculty, helping the freshmen adjust to college life, and planning over 100 on-campus activities and off-campus excursions, including trips to New York City, Annapolis, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington for athletic events, concerts, museum tours, and theatre performances.
 


UD'S UNIQUE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Delaware's unique Undergraduate Research Program encourages highly motivated undergraduates, beginning with the freshman level, to serve as junior members of research teams, working hand-in-hand with faculty mentors. Through hands-on experience, students learn to formulate significant questions, develop investigative procedures, gather and examine evidence, make mistakes, follow hunches, detect loopholes, and evaluate and report results.

Undergraduates usually receive academic credit for research activities or students who hold college work-study grants may earn their grant money. Sometimes a salary/stipend is arranged. Some students experiment with various career options through undergraduate research, while others make original contributions to their chosen field of study.

The University's Undergraduate Research Program promotes undergraduate interest in research by serving as a general information source. The Program also administers the Degree with Distinction and the senior thesis portion of the Honors Degree requirements, and it offers research funding in the form of Undergraduate Research Grants (to defray the research expenses of students and their faculty sponsors) and Scholarships (to enable selected students to work on research full time during the summer).

Each year, the Undergraduate Research Program sponsors a spring symposium and invites all
Honors Degree and Degree with Distinction students to present their research findings. Science and Engineering Scholars present an annual poster session.

For more information, visit the Undergraduate Research Office website, send e-mail to UndergradResearch@mvs.udel.edu, or call the the office at (302) 831-8995.
Three scholarship programs are available for students in specific fields:

Science and Engineering Scholars: The Science and Engineering Scholars Program combines the resources of the University's science and engineering colleges and research centers, the Undergraduate Research Program, and industrial sponsors to offer selected students in-depth research apprenticeships in all areas of science and engineering. Participating colleges are Engineering, Arts and Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Marine Studies.

Up to 75 research scholarships of $2,500 each are awarded to outstanding sophomore majors in the sciences and engineering. Students serve a 10-week full-time research apprenticeship to a faculty member during the summer between the sophomore and junior years. They continue as research assistants during the junior year, usually in the Winter Session. Research during the academic year may be counted in most departments as one technical elective course or one elective course in the major.

Arts and Humanities Scholars: The Arts and Humanities Scholars Program enables selected sophomore and junior majors in the humanities disciplines and in art to do in-depth research or creative work with University faculty, in one of the following fields of study: art, art history, history, linguistics, literature (English and other languages), music history and criticism, philosophy, political theory and jurisprudence, or theatre criticism and history.

Up to 20 research scholarships of $2,500 each are awarded. Students work on their projects full-time for ten weeks in the summer and continue to do three credits of research in the following academic year. The research done during the academic year may be part of the senior thesis for the Degree With Distinction or Honors Degree.

CEPP Scholars: The College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy (CEPP) offers up to ten $2,500 awards to sophomore and junior majors in the College, enabling them to do in-depth research with faculty in the College. Students work on their projects full time for ten weeks in the summer and continue to do three credits of research in the following academic year. The research done during the academic year may be part of the senior thesis for the Degree With Distinction or Honors Degree.

Research Centers.  Students interested in research should be aware that the University serves as home to a number of specialized research units. A few of these units are described below.

Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories. The Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories (ASEL) is an internationally recognized program whose mission includes research, education and outreach. Its research focuses on how people interact with computers and other technologies with emphasis on the needs of people with disabilities. Current project areas include new computer interfaces for people with disabilities; information retrieval and processing using virtual reality and artificial intelligence; new speech interfaces for communication; robotic and telemanipulation systems for people with motor disorders; and novel approaches to therapeutic and educational technologies such as "virtual laboratories" for students with disabilities. The ASEL also runs The Idea Factory, an undergraduate interdisciplinary laboratory for special projects in the areas listed above. For further information, call 651-6830.

Bartol Research Institute. The Bartol Research Institute, endowed by Henry Bartol, is a nonprofit organization that conducts research on various aspects of physics, astrophysics and astronomy. Current projects include research on cosmic rays, the interplanetary medium, planetary magnetic fields, condensed matter physics, solar and stellar physics and nuclear physics. In addition to its laboratories on the Newark campus, Bartol operates experimental facilities in Antarctica, Greenland and northern Canada. Bartol also administers The NASA Space Grant College Program, a consortium of nine institutions of higher learning in the region. For information on undergraduate research opportunities, call (302) 831-8116.

Center for Catalytic Science and Technology. The nationally recognized Center for Catalytic Science and Technology conducts basic research in catalysis and chemical reaction engineering. Undergraduates work on research projects with faculty from the departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry and Biochemistry, adjunct faculty from industry, and visiting scientists and professional staff. For more information, call (302) 831-8056.

Center for Composite Materials. Within the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary Center for Composite Materials conducts research in the use of composites-reinforcing materials combined with a polymer, metal or ceramic matrix-in automotive, aerospace and civil engineering, as well as other applications. Research opportunities at the Center annually serve about 30 undergraduates. Students may receive fellowships, scholarships, employment and academic credit, depending on the chosen project. The Center shares student resumes with its industrial sponsors, and it encourages undergraduates to gain industrial experience during the summer between their junior and senior years. Senior Research Fellowships, offered on a competitive basis, require six credits of senior research, a research report and an oral defense to a faculty committee. An awards program provides further incentives to undergraduate researchers. For more information, call (302) 831-2310.

Center for Molecular and Engineering Thermodynamics. A research unit of the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Center for Molecular and Engineering Thermodynamics conducts research in all areas of thermodynamics, including applications in the purification of pharmaceuticals, bacteria and other biological materials, environmental problems and new separations technologies. Undergraduate students interested in research may call (302) 831-4500 for more information.

Delaware Geological Survey. The Delaware Geological Survey, established by the State's General Assembly, systematically investigates Delaware's geological, mineral, and water resources. The Survey conducts a program of geologic research, exploration, and service, including mapping projects. Students interested in this research may call (302) 831-2833.

Institute of Energy Conversion. The Institute of Energy Conversion is devoted to the research and development of thin-film photovoltaic cells as alternative energy sources. Undergraduates interested in this research may call (302) 831-6220.

Other University research units include:
Center for Applied Coastal Research   831-6531 
 
Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research   831-8406 
 
Center for Archaeological Research   831-6590 
 
Center for Climatic Research   831-2294 
 
Center for Colloidal Science   831-2336 
 
Center for Community Development and Family Policy   831-6780 
 
Center for Disabilities Studies   831-6974 
 
Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies   831-6286 
 
Center for Educational Leadership and Policy   831-2557 
 
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy   831-8405 
 
Center for Historic Architecture and Design   831-8097 
 
Center for the Mathematics of Waves   831-2346 
 
Center for Nanomachined Surfaces   831-8784 
 
Center for Remote Sensing   831-2336 
 
Center for the Study of Marine Policy   831-8086 
 
Delaware Education Research and Development Center   831-4433 
 
Delaware Transportation Institute   831-1446 
 
Disaster Research Center   831-6618 
 
Financial Institution Research and Education Center (FIRE)   831-1015 
 
HEALTH Center   831-8367 
 
Halophyte Biotechnology Center   645-4264 
 
Institute for Public Administration    831-8971 
 
OCEANIC - The Ocean Information Center   645-4278 
 
Orthopedic and Biomechanical Engineering Center (OBEC)   831-2421 
 
Water Resources Center   831-2191 
 

All telephone numbers are in area code (302).
 
In addition to undergraduate internships offered by the University's research institutes, students may apply for internships with the Delaware Nature Society in Hockessin, Del. The Nature Society offers part-time, one-semester internships for advanced undergraduates in all of the natural science fields, as well as science education and communication. Students can apply knowledge attained through course work to research or education projects, to environmental teaching, or to public relations assignments. Students should apply through their major department.

ALLOW THE WORLD TO BE YOUR CLASSROOM

At the University of Delaware, students of every college and major are invited to take advantage of numerous opportunities for international study. These special programs promote social maturity as students learn to appreciate the similarities and differences among people of various backgrounds. Many students also improve skills in a second language while studying abroad.

During the fall and spring semesters as well as winter and summer sessions, a number of study abroad programs are coordinated by Overseas Studies in the Office of International Programs and Special Sessions. Semester programs include those in London, Granada, Costa Rica, Paris and Scotland. Semester programs are directed by a faculty member or local administrative coordinator. The faculty director teaches classes in his or her academic discipline, and faculty in the host country offer additional courses. Except for foreign language courses, all courses are taught in English, and students earn regular course credits. In addition, several foreign-language-based programs are offered for students who are already proficient in French, German, Italian, or Spanish;  these programs are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in Paris (France), Bayreuth (Germany), Granada (Spain) and Siena (Italy). Contact the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for more information on foreign language programs abroad.  Internship experiences are also available in London and in Bayreuth.

The University also offers selected study abroad opportunities for Honors students. Some courses satisfy college group requirements, and certain courses have been designated to satisfy group requirements only when taken abroad. During Winter and Summer sessions, numerous study abroad programs are sponsored by various academic departments and coordinated by Overseas Studies. These programs are directed by University faculty who teach regular credit courses in their discipline. Such courses can be an exceptional first experience of study in another country and a valuable one for students who choose not to devote an entire semester to overseas study.

Students in study abroad programs enroll for a full-time academic schedule and pay regular University tuition. Tuition and program fees cover airfare, housing for the duration of the program, planned group excursions and many cultural activities. Some meals may be covered by the fee, depending on the program. Foreign Study Scholarships are available to qualified undergraduates on a competitive basis. Students interested in study abroad should contact Overseas Studies in the International Programs Center, 4 Kent Way at (302) 831-2852. Since advance planning is important, interested students are encouraged to call at their earliest possible opportunity.

The University is affiliated with a number of  international institutions that provide additional foreign-study options for students and/or research or teaching opportunities for faculty. Among these are Denmark International Semester, Interfuture and programs in Kassel, Germany; Wolverhampton, England (art majors only); National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea; Women's University and College of Shoin, Japan; Université de Lyon II, France; and others.


SOCIETIES HONOR OUR BEST STUDENTS

Phi Beta Kappa. Established in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest honorary society on the American campus. A local chapter, Alpha of Delaware, was approved by the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa in September 1955 and was installed in April 1956. Generally, seniors majoring in the liberal arts and demonstrating superior scholarship are eligible for election.

Alpha Lambda Delta. Alpha Lambda Delta recognizes excellent scholarship in any academic field during the freshman year.

Information on the two societies above may be obtained by calling the Honors Program Office, at (302) 831-2340.

Phi Kappa Phi. Seniors ranking high in scholarship in any academic field are elected each year to this society. Two members of the faculty are also elected each year. Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the national honor society that elects undergraduate and graduate students who have accomplished excellent scholarship in any academic field. The fifth chapter of the society was chartered at the University of Delaware in 1905. There are now 275 chapters nationwide.  For information, call the Undergraduate Research Office at (302) 831-8995.

Societies that recognize attainment in special academic fields are Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology), Alpha Mu Alpha (marketing), Alpha Zeta (agriculture), Beta Alpha Psi (accounting), Beta Beta Beta (biology), Beta Gamma Sigma (business administration), Chi Epsilon (civil engineering), Delta Phi Alpha (German), Dobro Slovo (Slavic), Eta Kappa Nu (electrical engineering), FMA Honor Society (finance and banking), Gamma Kappa Alpha (Italian), Golden Key (no single field), Kappa Delta Pi (education), Kappa Omicron Nu (human resources), Mu Iota Sigma (management information systems), Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics), Order of Omega (Greek honorary), Phi Alpha Theta (history), Phi Delta Kappa (education), Phi Sigma Tau (philosophy), Pi Delta Phi (French), Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics), Pi Sigma Alpha (political science), Pi Tau Sigma (mechanical engineering), Psi Chi (psychology), Sigma Delta Phi (Spanish), Sigma Iota Rho (international relations), Sigma Tau Delta (English), Sigma Theta Tau (nursing), Sigma Xi (science) and Tau Beta Pi (engineering). Information may be obtained by calling the relevant academic department offices.

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