Honors Program at FCRH
Since its founding in 1950, the Fordham College at Rose Hill Honors Program has provided students of exceptional academic talent and intellectual curiosity with the opportunity to pursue their core studies in greater depth, breadth, and intensity. Drawn from every major, Honors students routinely go on to attend the most respected graduate and professional schools and to excel in their chosen fields. What unites the members of the program is their active approach to learning and their desire to go beyond compartmentalized knowledge to an understanding of the whole.
The mission of the Rose Hill Honors Program is to produce and promote a community of scholars for justice. We achieve our mission through a curriculum that in some substantive way focuses on the concerns of diversity and justice in each of its courses, regardless of discipline or subject matter. In small, seminar-style classes that are reading- and writing-intensive and discussion-driven, students learn to analyze and critically assess materials from the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. With a course specifically devoted to academic research methods, students also learn to engage in the scholarly life, and each course in the curriculum beyond the first year includes a research or scholarship component. Honors students’ research abilities culminate in the senior thesis project, for which students complete an original project in their major field. The program also features two courses specifically devoted to the academic study of justice in both American and global contexts, a course designed to introduce students to the diverse history and culture of the Bronx, and a capstone seminar in which students engage in reflective analysis of a Jesuit, liberal arts education. In all, we seek to provide a Jesuit education for the 21st century.
The Honors curriculum takes the place of the regular Fordham College at Rose Hill core curriculum, with the exception of the language requirement. Most students enter the program at the beginning of their first year, though it is occasionally possible for a certain number of students with strong academic records to join in the middle of that year or at the beginning of their sophomore year.
Because Honors courses usually take the form of small seminars, enrollment in the program is necessarily limited to around 35 students each year. Members of the program are normally expected to maintain a grade point average of 3.5. Successful completion of the program entitles the student to the designation in cursu honorum on the diploma and the transcript.
For more information
The Honors Program is an alternative core. Honors students are not required to take any of the other Fordham College core curriculum requirements, with the exception of the general Fordham College language requirement. AP placement may exempt students from the language requirement. Honors students must also fulfill their major requirements as outlined by the respective academic department.
Curriculum
For students beginning as of Fall 2019 (New curriculum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HPRH 1101 | Interdisciplinary STEM I | 3 |
| HPRH 1102 | Foundational Texts: Theology/Classics | 3 |
| HPRH 1103 | Foundational Texts: Philosophy | 3 |
| HPRH 1104 | Bronx Exploration (Does not count as one of the courses students take each semester.) | 1 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| HPRH 1201 | Interdisciplinary STEM II | 3 |
| HPRH 1202 | Foundational Texts: Literature | 3 |
| HPRH 1203 | Foundational Topics: History | 3 |
| HPRH 1205 or HPRH 1206 |
Foundational Topics: Art or Foundational Topics: Music History |
3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HPRH 2101 | Justice I: The American Experience (Students must take at least one Justice course in the Social Sciences.) 1 | 3 |
| HPRH 2102 | Focused Study: History | 3 |
| HPRH 2103 | Research Methods/Oral Presentation (Does not count as one of the courses students take each semester.) | 1 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| HPRH 2201 | Justice II: Global Contexts (Students must take at least one Justice course in the Social Sciences.) 1 | 3 |
| HPRH 2202 | Focused Study: Philosophy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HPRH 3101 | Focused Study: Literature | 4 |
| HPRH 3075 | Ignatian Education Seminar (Does not count as one of the courses students take each semester.) | 1 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| HPRH 3201 | Focused Study: Theology | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| HPRH 4001 | Senior Thesis (Students register for the seminar for one semester, but attend it the whole year.) | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
Specific sections of HPRH 2101 and HPRH 2201 that fulfill this requirement have the attribute HPJS.
For students beginning prior to Fall 2019 (Legacy curriculum)
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| Ancient Period | ||
| HPRH 1001 (Ancient Literature) | ||
| HPRH 1002 (Ancient Philosophy) | 3 | |
| HPRH 1003 (Ancient History and Art) | 3 | |
| HPRH 1004 (Honors: Mathematics) | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Medieval Period | ||
| HPRH 1051 (Medieval Literature and Art) | 3 | |
| HPRH 1052 (Medieval Philosophy and Theology) | ||
| HPRH 1053 (Medieval History) | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Early Modern Period | ||
| HPRH 2001 (Early Modern Literature/Art) | 3 | |
| HPRH 2002 (Early Modern Philosophy and Theology) | 3 | |
| HPRH 2003 (Early Modern History/Music) | 3 | |
| HPRH 2004 (Honors: Science I) | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Contemporary Period | ||
| HPRH 2051 (Contemporary Literature and Music) | ||
| HPRH 2052 (Contemporary Social and Political Thought) | ||
| HPRH 2053 (Contemporary History and Art) | ||
| HPRH 2005 (Honors: Science II) | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HPRH 3001 | Religion in the Modern World | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| HPRH 3051 (Ethical Dimensions of Contemporary Social Problems) | 4 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| HPRH 4001 | Senior Thesis | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
GPA Requirement
Honors students receive the special designation in cursu honorum ("in the course of honors") on their diplomas. This is in addition to any other honors earned, such as cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. In order to graduate in cursu honorum, a student must have a GPA of 3.5 at the end of senior year.
Study Abroad
Honors students may study abroad for all or part of junior year. To fulfill the junior Honors course requirements, there are two possibilities: (a) the student takes a comparable course while abroad, as approved by the Honors director, or (b) the student takes the junior year Honors courses upon return in their senior year.
Advanced Placement Credit
AP credit is awarded by the College and, where appropriate, earns students credits toward graduation. AP credit does not exempt students from any Honors course.
Course/Requirement Waivers for STEM/Pre-Health Students
In the Honors core curriculum (beginning fall 2019), in consideration of the coursework taken towards their majors/pre-professional programs, STEM/pre-health students are waived from the following courses/requirements, as follows.
- HPRH 1101 Interdisciplinary STEM I and HPRH 1201 Interdisciplinary STEM II waiver: majors in biological sciences, chemistry, integrative neuroscience, and students on the pre-health track (with any major).
- HPRH 1101 Interdisciplinary STEM I waiver: majors in computer science, physics, engineering physics, or mathematics/computer science.
- If the student is also a biological sciences, chemistry, or integrative neuroscience major, or is on the pre-health track, the student is waived from both STEM courses.
The foreign language core requirement is waived for the following populations:
- All students pursuing a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree as their primary major, except B.S. degree students in psychology.
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology who are also on the pre-health track.
Courses for students beginning as of Fall 2019 (New curriculum)
HPRH 1101. Interdisciplinary STEM I. (3 Credits)
This course is the first part of a yearlong interdisciplinary study of quantitative reasoning and science, providing an introduction to important methods, theories, and modes of thinking in the fields of mathematics, computer science, and physics.
Attributes: ENST, ESNS, ESPS.
HPRH 1102. Foundational Texts: Theology/Classics. (3 Credits)
This course will explore primary texts from Western Asia, Greece, and Rome, such as the works of Homer and Virgil, the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament.
Attribute: CLAS.
HPRH 1103. Foundational Texts: Philosophy. (3 Credits)
This course will explore primary texts on core philosophical issues in antiquity and beyond, both Western and Asian.
Attribute: CLAS.
HPRH 1104. Bronx Exploration. (1 Credit)
This course is an introduction to the borough in which Rose Hill Honors students will spend their college years. The course combines readings about and discussions on the history, economy, and culture of the Bronx. There will also be several field trips to important Bronx historical and cultural sites. The course may also include opportunities for community engagement.
HPRH 1201. Interdisciplinary STEM II. (3 Credits)
This is the second part of a yearlong interdisciplinary study of quantitative reasoning and science. The course will include an introduction to important methods, theories, and modes of thinking in the participating fields of biology and chemistry.
Attributes: ENST, ESLS, ESNS.
HPRH 1202. Foundational Texts: Literature. (3 Credits)
This course will examine texts that have been foundational for the development of English literature, including those by influential authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, and Austen.
Attributes: ENGL, ENHD.
HPRH 1203. Foundational Topics: History. (3 Credits)
This course will explore classic and universal themes in both the West and globally—including but not limited to religion, slavery, gender, nation, identity, and polity—in the pre-modern world.
HPRH 1204. Foundational Topics: Art/Music History. (3 Credits)
This course is an introduction to the disciplines of either art history or music history.
HPRH 1205. Foundational Topics: Art. (3 Credits)
This course is an introduction to the discipline of art history.
HPRH 1206. Foundational Topics: Music History. (3 Credits)
This course is an introduction to the discipline of music history.
HPRH 2101. Justice I: The American Experience. (3 Credits)
This course focuses on key concerns of justice in the American experience within the professor’s field. At different times, courses in the humanities, social sciences, or STEM fields are offered. Honors students must take at least one Justice course in the social sciences.
Attributes: AMST, APPI, PJSJ, PJST.
HPRH 2102. Focused Study: History. (3 Credits)
Designed with an awareness of what students learned in their Foundational Topics course, the Focused Study: History course delves into a particular topic in history. Students choose among different course topics offered each semester.
Attribute: HIUL.
HPRH 2103. Research Methods/Oral Presentation. (1 Credit)
This course is an introduction to the basics of academic research and the skills of oral presentation. Components include how to develop a viable research question, how to formulate a research proposal, and how to give an elevator speech, among other topics. Students in the course complete a preliminary research proposal and present it orally to their Honors cohort at the end of the semester.
HPRH 2201. Justice II: Global Contexts. (3 Credits)
This course focuses on key concerns of global justice in the professor’s field. At different times, courses in the humanities, social sciences, or STEM fields are offered. Students must take at least one Justice course in the social sciences.
Attributes: PJSJ, PJST.
HPRH 2202. Focused Study: Philosophy. (3 Credits)
Designed with an awareness of what students learned in their Foundational Texts course, the Focused Study: Philosophy course delves into a particular topic in philosophy. Students choose among different course topics offered each semester.
HPRH 3075. Ignatian Education Seminar. (1 Credit)
This seminar will examine the distinctive nature of a liberal arts education in the Ignatian tradition. Intended for junior and senior Honors students, the seminar will be an opportunity to reflect on their own education in conversation with a small group of their peers and a member of the faculty or administration. This one-credit course will meet four times during the semester and will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
HPRH 3101. Focused Study: Literature. (4 Credits)
Designed with an awareness of what students learned in their Foundational Texts course, the Focused Study: Literature course delves into a particular topic in literature. Students choose among different course topics offered each semester. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COLI, ENGL.
HPRH 3201. Focused Study: Theology. (4 Credits)
Designed with an awareness of what students learned in their Foundational Texts course, the Focused Study: Theology course delves into a particular topic in theology. Students choose among different course topics offered each semester. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
HPRH 4001. Senior Thesis. (4 Credits)
An extended original research project in one's major field, prepared under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Courses for students beginning prior to Fall 2019 (Legacy curriculum)
HPRH 2999. Tutorial. (2 Credits)
Independent research and reading with supervision from a faculty member.
HPRH 3001. Religion in the Modern World. (4 Credits)
An examination of the way that the world's major religious traditions have come to terms with the philosophical and practical challenges of modernity. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: IPE.
HPRH 3075. Ignatian Education Seminar. (1 Credit)
This seminar will examine the distinctive nature of a liberal arts education in the Ignatian tradition. Intended for junior and senior Honors students, the seminar will be an opportunity to reflect on their own education in conversation with a small group of their peers and a member of the faculty or administration. This one-credit course will meet four times during the semester and will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
HPRH 4001. Senior Thesis. (4 Credits)
An extended original research project in one's major field, prepared under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
HPRH 4999. Tutorial. (4 Credits)
Independent research and reading with supervision from a faculty member.