The Velma Fudge Honors Program

The Honors Program at Albany State University is designed to provide students with opportunities that maximize their intellectual potential.  To this end, ASU Honors students receive individualized instruction; enroll in small, enriched classes and conduct summer research at prestigious universities, including New York University, Columbia University, Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania—just to name a few.  The summer research programs fund airfare, offer housing and provide stipends that average $3,000.  Honors participants also benefit from workshops conducted by program directors at UCLA, University of Indiana as well as engineers at Google.  Lastly, students routinely present their research at the annual ASU Center for Undergraduate Research Symposium and at various national and international conferences, including Stanford University and Humboldt University of Berlin.  

Admission

The Honors Program seeks to recruit academically talented students whose high school records and performance reflect an ardent desire for an in-depth and enriched educational experience. While standards to measure such an individual may be arbitrary, a freshman applicant ordinarily should:

  1. have an aggregate minimum SAT score of 1000, or ACT composite score of at least a 22,
  2. have a high school grade point average of 3.5 or higher,
  3. rank in the top 5% of their high school graduating class,
  4. exhibit potential for leadership and academic excellence, and
  5. demonstrate an ability to read with comprehension and to effectively utilize communication skills (oral and written).

Retention

A candidate’s admittance to the Honors Program does not necessarily mean that the student will remain in the program. Yearly, the Honors Program Advisory and Planning Committee reviews the progress made by each student and determines whether the student should continue in the program. A student accepted in the Honors Program may exit the program under one of the following three conditions:

  1. Graduation with Honors Program Merit Scholar designation: Those students who complete all college requirements for graduation, who fulfill Honors Program course requirements and who have an overall grade point average of 3.50 or above will graduate with Honors Program Merit Scholar designation. Students may be awarded other graduation honors based solely on grade-point average in accordance with University policy.Voluntary transfer into the regular degree program: Some students may elect not to qualify for Honors Program Merit Scholar and choose only portions of the Honors curriculum to satisfy standard graduation requirements.
  2. Voluntary transfer into the regular degree program: Some students may elect not to qualify for Honors Program Merit Scholar and choose only portions of the Honors curriculum to satisfy standard graduation requirements.
  3. Mandatory transfer into the regular degree program: Upon a review of a candidate’s performance by the Honors Program Advisory and Planning Committee, a student may be dropped from the program if their grade point average falls below 3.5. A student whose grade point average falls below 3.5 will be counseled and informed that they will be dropped from the program if they fail to achieve a semester grade point average of 3.5 the following semester. A student should seek to maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or above at all times.

Honors Classes

ASU 1101H - First Year Experience: Pathways to Sucess (1 Credit)

ASU 1101H is a one-credit hour course designed to help students develop strategies and skills necessary for a successful college career. Course goals include developing academic skills, identifying campus resources and services, developing a connection to the institution, establishing self-exploration and personal development, and understanding behaviors related to health and wellness. Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.


Lecture hours: 1

COMM 1110H - Honors Public Speaking (3 Credits)

The course is performance-oriented which requires students in the ASU Honors Program to design and deliver speeches of various types. Major emphasis is placed on preparation, organization, delivery, and the development of confidence and poise. The course involves four major steps, which will ensure insight into the major components of a successful speech. Offered: Fall, Spring.


Lecture hours: 3

Other hours: 3

ENGL 1101H - English Composition I Honors (3 Credits)

This Honors course in Freshman English focuses on literary types, critical and interpretive writing and research. Students will be exposed to concentrated and individualized work in writing with emphasis on thematic or aesthetic approaches. Prerequisite: Admission to the Honors Program Offered: Fall, Spring.


Lecture hours: 3

ENGL 1102H - English Composition II Honors (3 Credits)

This course emphasizes the study of literary types, critical and interpretive writing and research. It focuses on continued development of writing of argumentative, comparative and analytical essays. The concepts of literature's place in the humanities in relationship to other art forms will be explored. Offered: Spring.


Prerequisites: ENGL 1101H

Lecture hours: 3

ENGL 2111H - World LIterature I Honors (3 Credits)

This course is a critical and analytical study of humanity's/humankind's world achievements (literature, art and music) in the Western World from the Renaissance to the present. Offered: As Needed.


Lecture hours: 3

HIST 1111H - Honors World History I (3 Credits)

A survey of the development and diffusion of civilization from the origin of humanity/humankind in Africa and ancient times to the end of the sixteenth century. This course is offered with a view of creating an understanding and appreciation for the economic, social, cultural and political foundation of western civilization in the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. Offered: Fall, Spring.


Lecture hours: 3

HIST 1112H - Honors World History II (3 Credits)

A survey of the development and diffusion of civilization from the origin of humanity/humankind in Africa and ancient times to the end of the sixteenth century. This course is offered with a view of creating an understanding and appreciation for the economic, social, cultural and political foundation of western civilization in the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. Offered: Fall, Spring.


Lecture hours: 3

POLS 1101H - Honors American Government (3 Credits)

An introductory course covering the essentials of national government in the United States. This course gives some attention to the State of Georgia and satisfies the state law requiring an examination of United States history and Constitution. Offered: As Needed.


Lecture hours: 3

SSCI 2151H - Honors Directed Independent Study (3 Credits)

This course covers special topics of interest to students under the direction of a faculty specialist in the field. Approval of faculty member, department chair, and Honors Program Co-Director required. A student may enroll for no more than nine (9) hours of course work through Honors Directed Independent Study. Offered: As Needed.


Lecture hours: 3