Dr. Jana Marcette, Director
COE 297 (406) 657-2908
www.msubillings.edu/honors/

Established in 1997, the Honors Program at Montana State University Billings cultivates intellectual curiosity, empowers student leadership, and nurtures a diverse community. Honors students engage in interdisciplinary connections to creatively and ethically address the dynamic challenges of our community from the local to the global. The Honors Program uplifts and promotes an unparalleled learning experience through the guidance of faculty noted for excellence in teaching and scholarly activity. Student opportunities are expanded with small Honors sections of regular courses, interdisciplinary colloquia, special seminars, opportunities for undergraduate research and creative endeavors, immersive experiential learning, and service leadership. Honors students build directly transferrable skills for careers and professional programs through research projects, presentations, field experiences, and networking with academic and community leaders. Honors students are challenged and supported in their efforts to take full advantage of their intellectual and personal talents.

University Honors Program

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply skills in self-expression, critical thinking, information gathering, and problem-solving.
• Demonstrate skills necessary to investigate problems and conduct research.
• Critique the dynamic challenges of our community.

Admission to the Honors Program

The University Honors Program is open to any MSUB student who shares our values in building a community of scholars. Membership is open to undergraduate students from all majors seeking enriched learning, cultural awareness, and fellowship.  The program fosters an affordable small college experience while benefiting from the University’s size and many degree options.  As a community of scholars, MSU Billings faculty work enthusiastically to help students achieve their goals.

Honors Program Requirements

The program is overseen by faculty members on the Honors Council.  Students may serve the program as members of the Student Advisory Board, which selects a representative for the Council.  The Board also supports the program by enriching a sense of community so that social activities—such as service learning, outdoor excursions, and other special events—can increasingly flourish.

The University Honors Program is designed so that many courses contribute to satisfying both General Education and major degree requirements.  Students earning an Honors Minor and/or Honors Distinction by meeting the requirements listed below will have their official transcripts notated.

Honors Minor Requirements

• See below

Honors Distinction Requirements

• 15 Credits in Honors Courses 
• Grade of at least 3.0 in Honors Courses
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

Consult the University Honors Program website at www.msubillings.edu/honors or contact the honors program at honors@msubillings.edu for specific courses scheduled in the current semester.

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Interdisciplinary Honors Minor

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply communication skills through discussion as well as writing and/or presentations
• Apply research/inquiry skills through projects or reports
• Consider the immediate and long-term consequences of ideas
• Critique the social context of course themes and ideas

Required Courses

The Interdisciplinary Honors Minor consists of 21 honors credits, including 2 required courses, and a minor portfolio that represents student experience in the minor.  At least 9 credits must be 300-level or higher.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HONR 111	Perspectives and Understanding	3
or HONR 311	Adv Perspectvs and Understndng
HONR 205	Honors Inquiry and Research	3
HONR 499	Honors Capstone 1	3
Honors seminar or upper division course elective outside of student's major		3
Elective honors credits (see below)		9
Total Minimum Credits		21

¹

Can be substituted for research based 400-level capstone.

Choose the 9 elective honors credits from:

• honors sections of General Education courses,
• HONR special topic seminars,
• specially designated departmental seminars,
• honors contracts,
• honors independent study courses, and
• internships.

A department capstone that contains the following elements may be substituted for honors capstone:

• original research or creative scholarship,
• written interpretation or analysis, and
• public presentation or a defense.

The Minor Portfolio

Students work with their faculty advisors to compile a minor portfolio that represents their learning experience in the minor.  Typically, it will include samples of student work and a brief essay focusing on the ways in which their work has contributed to their learning experience at MSUB and toward their career objectives.