Requirements

Requirements of the Presidential Honors Program


  1. Nine to 12 credit hours of Honors Program Credit
    1. One 2-credit introductory seminar during freshman year
    2. One 2-credit collaborative seminar during sophomore (and/or junior) year
    3. One 4-credit research project or independent / directed study, overseen by faculty member(s) in field of study during junior or senior year.* (This project may continue from one’s sophomore year project, or may extend from one’s junior year into the senior year, or both. Project must be approved in advance by participating faculty member(s) and approved by Honors Director.)
    4. Completion of Departmental Honors requirements, including 1-4 credits of Senior Honors Thesis or Project, during one’s senior year.
  2. A GPA average of 3.5 or higher
  3. At least three planned and advertised discussions with student peers, developed in coordination with academic department, the Student Life office, or the Center for Student Opportunity. These discussions may cover research attempted and/or completed; choosing a major; obtaining and/or perfecting research skills; honing study skills; emerging research and program opportunities; or cultural/political issues relevant to one’s field of study. These discussions may be delivered on Advising Planning Day or during visits to freshman or sophomore seminars.
  4. One formal proposal to Alma College administration that proposes to: modify an existing program or to consider a new one; enhance the student body’s academic commitment; improve student life; or enhance Alma College’s reputation beyond the Michigan area.
  5. Completion of one service-learning project, either through a class offering or on one’s own.
  6. At least one presentation of honors-related research on Honors Day.
  7. Completion of all requirements for Phi Beta Kappa (only for interested students).

*This requirement is flexible and may be met in several ways, depending upon a student’s major and needs. For instance, any student engaged in a series of classes that requires significant independent preparation and culminates in public presentation or performance may satisfy this requirement. Examples of such series includes the education major, the theater/dance major, or certain laboratory work in the natural sciences. It also may include participation in several existing programs, including Model UN, Public Affairs, CRL, or SIFE.

 

Alma College’s early acceptance agreement with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine recognizes the College’s strengths in science and health education. The agreement reserves two admissions slots per year for Alma College pre-med graduates.

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Leadership Profile

Kailey Vlug

Kailey Vlug
Graduation: 2015
Major: Business Administration

When she started playing soccer as a child, Kailey Vlug already had her eye on the prize: to play the sport she loved on the collegiate level. Now, she’s playing on the Alma College women’s soccer team, on which she is considered a leader.

“Coming into a whole new team after being with my same high school team for years was challenging as a freshman, but I did my best and worked hard,” she says. “I’ve learned that I can lead through example. My coach, Jeff Hosler, trusts me and gives me leadership responsibilities, so I’ve risen to meet his expectations.”

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