Curriculum and Program Handbook

In general, honors seminars are distinctive, interdisciplinary courses modeled on the structure of graduate seminars, with a strong emphasis on dialogue, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. These courses often result in credit for — and require co-enrollment in — two linked classes. Enrollment is exclusive to Honors students, and the format privileges a high level of discussion and intellectual give-and-take between faculty and students.

Our program traditionally offers one seminar each semester. For more than two decades, that seminar has been a course called “The Human Condition.” The Human Condition engages students in critical, interdisciplinary exploration of what it means to be human. Drawing on social theory and philosophy, students apply interpretive lenses to literature, film, art, and lived experience while participating in discussion-driven, collaborative learning. Emphasizing dialogue over lecture, the course creates a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are examined and respected, helping students strengthen their analytical skills, articulate their beliefs, and gain the confidence to engage thoughtfully with complex ideas. At the end of each semester, the students in the course present their final seminar papers and members of the Lee College community are invited to attend.

Honors Courses are part of the regular Lee College curriculum and satisfy the same core curriculum and degree requirements as their standard counterparts; however, they are taught in sections reserved for Honors students. These sections privilege Honors pedagogy, including deeper engagement with primary texts, additional reading and writing, more complex discussion, and opportunities for experiential learning. They are designed to challenge students intellectually while fostering curiosity and independence.

Enriched Courses are regular-enrollment classes in which the instructor is trained in Honors pedagogy, and the syllabus includes a standing Honors contract option prepared for students who wish to earn Honors credit. While these courses include both Honors and non-Honors students, faculty are experienced with the contract process and have already developed a curricular enhancement — such as an additional project, research component, or extended assignment — that a student may choose to complete. Student earn Honors credit by completing the contract requirements, including at least two meetings with the instructor outside of regular class time. These are not the only courses eligible for Honors contracts, but they offer a clear and supported pathway for students to pursue Honors credit with instructors already familiar with the process.

An Honors Contract allows a student to earn Honors credit within a standard, non-Honors course — including, but not limited to, an Enriched Course — by completing an individualized project, developed in collaboration with the instructor, that extends the depth and scope of the course’s subject matter. Because not every course is offered as an Honors Course or Enriched Course in a given semester, Honors Contracts are often the most accessible path to Honors credit for students working toward completion of the Program who are beyond or do not require the core curriculum courses being offered in a given term. Requirements and the general process for completing an Honors Contract are described in detail in the Honors Program Handbook (see below).