Course Syllabus
Course: HONR 2900
Division: Administrative Division
Department: Honors
Title: Honors Capstone
Semester Approved: Spring 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2026
End Semester: Fall 2027
Catalog Description: This is the capstone course of the Honors Program at Snow College. Emphasizing interdisciplinary and integrated learning, undergraduate research, and other high-impact learning practices, this course provides Honors students with a community of learners as they complete their Honors graduation requirements. Students will complete an ePortfolio documenting their Honors Program experience and an Honors capstone project under the guidance of a faculty mentor in a chosen discipline. It is required of all students completing the Honors Program their final semester before graduation. Students must be admitted Honors students to enroll in the course. Pre-requisite of ENGL 2010. Fee required.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: ENGL 2010
Justification: This course is the required capstone course for the Snow College Honors Program. Capstone classes are hallmarks of Honors Programs across the state and country and provide Honors students with a community of learners as they complete the program requirements. This course will also prepare students for graduate-level mentorship work, should they pursue graduate study. Generally, only four-year programs have capstone courses, so this course provides students at Snow College a unique opportunity to participate in the capstone experience at the sophomore level.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will analyze interdisciplinary connections within their Honors Program experience. Students will demonstrate this by participating in seminars and lectures and through an Honors Program Reflection essay that documents and synthesizes their interdisciplinary experiences in Honors Program courses and co-curricular experiences.
Students will complete Honors Program requirements for graduation. Students will demonstrate this through an ePortfolio that documents the completion of requirements.
Students will develop scholarly habits of mind through undergraduate research. Students will demonstrate this through completing an Honors Capstone Project and Presentation under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Students will gain experience in self-directed learning through mentor relationships. Students will demonstrate this through producing an Honors Capstone Project under the guidance of a faculty mentor, by participating in seminars and lectures, and, optionally, by completing other assignments.
Students will become more proficient in academic writing. Students will demonstrate this through their Honors Program Reflection essay.
Content:
This course will provide structure, community, and moral support for students completing Honors Program requirements. It will include completion of the Honors Program requirements, including the ePortfolio and Honors Program Reflection. It will provide basic structure and support for completing the Honors Capstone Project. The course should include coordination and advisement for faculty mentors and students in those relationships. It should also include instruction on presenting the capstone project and include a public display/presentation of projects. The course will aid students in drawing interdisciplinary connections by inviting guest lecturers from a variety of disciplines (inside and outside of the college) to teach classes (through seminars or interactive lectures) and instruct students on the relationships and connections between disciplines. These lectures may be geared towards solving a "big problem" or they may also be targeted towards disciplines and projects students are working on.
This course will be diverse and inclusive in nature, inviting students to examine their education from a diversity of perspectives and disciplines. It is also inclusive in welcoming multiple approaches to learning through ePortfolio creation and the capstone project.
Key Performance Indicators:
ePortfolio 30 to 40%
Honors capstone project and presentation 30 to 40%
Honors Program Reflection essay 10 to 20%
Participation in seminars and lectures 10 to 20%
Other Optional Assignments 0 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Course will not generally require texts, though OER materials may be used.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course is a high-impact practice, including these additional HIPs: ePortfolios, Common Intellectual Experiences, Learning Community, and Writing-Intensive Course. It may also employ the following HIPs: Collaborative Assignments, Diversity/Global Learning, Service Learning, and Undergraduate Research. It will be taught primarily through seminar-type discussions and interactive lectures. It will also include a mentorship component, where students will work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on an individual project. All HIPs and teaching approaches in the class seek to include all kinds of students and integrate their unique experiences and perspectives in their overall learning.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 10
