Apply to the Honors Program Upcoming Events Honors Symposium Honors Optional Course Form (pdf) Download Honors Handbook (pdf)

Defiance College’s Honors Program allows you to enrich your education through academic challenge, professional experience, and research or creative expression.  As an Honors student, you will enjoy the following rich opportunities provided through faculty and professional collaboration. 

• You will conduct in-depth discovery in an academic area in which you are most passionate.
  
  
• As a freshman, you will participate in an Honors seminar prior to the start of fall classes.
  
  
• You will partner with a faculty member who will mentor you.
  
  
• You will have your own Honors Capstone committee (similar to a graduate committee) that will help you develop an academic and professional framework of support as you enter your career or graduate school.
  
  
• You will be supported as you transition knowledge to application in a real-world setting through an internship and through professional mentoring.
  
  
• As an Honors student, you will be able to engage in academically-focused international travel.

- Honors Program Goals
- Honors Program Requirements




The DC Honors Advantage

• Honors Capstone
  The Honors Capstone enhances the student’s undergraduate research experience. Working with a Defiance College faculty research advisor, the Honors Program Director, and 1-2 professionals with practical expertise the Honors student’s academic research will connect to actual trends and practices in the specific profession or disciplinary field. Students will gain experience and academic expertise simultaneously as they design and implement their Honors Capstone project.
  
  

• Honors Seminars

  • Freshman
    For students accepted into the Honors Program, Freshmen Honors Seminars are designed to prepare students for research and a future Honors Capstone project. Seminars are led by faculty from various disciplines.
    
    
  • Sophomore
    Honors students identify opportunities for internships and off-campus experiences directly related to their Honors Capstone.  They also identify a faculty mentor as well as professional mentors to serve on their Capstone committee.  A Capstone committee is similar to thesis or dissertation committees common in graduate studies, offering you advanced experiences that will prepare you for graduate work if you choose to pursue advanced studies.
    
    
  • Junior
    Juniors engage in a series of preparatory readings from a researcher or author and host a dialog with the expert.
    
    
  • Senior
    In their senior year, Honors students present their completed Capstone in a professional setting.
    
    
    
• Honors Contract Courses
  These Honors courses build both academic and skill foundations to support one’s research. The courses also allow for greater opportunities for individual faculty interaction. Honors Contract Courses are designated on student transcripts.
  
  
  
• Discussions and Debates
  The Honors Program has bi-monthly meetings hosting various speakers, films, and/or debates focused on current issues - open to all Honors students for an exchange of ideas.
  
  
  
• Cultural Experiences
  The Honors Program provides opportunities such as theater/musical performances, and an annual international tea for students to experience culture and the arts.
  
  
  
• Student Governance
  The Honors Program empowers students to take leadership roles in student governance of the program.
  
  
  
• International Travel
  The Honors Program offers students the opportunity to travel internationally with a partial scholarship annually. Travels have included trips to - Italy, Jamaica, France, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Morocco, Hungary, Austria, Greece, Ireland, Czech Republic.
  International Travel Scrapbook
  March 2012 International Trip Flyer
  
  
  
• Conferences and Symposia
  The Honors Program develops professional skills by supporting students to present at national conferences and campus symposia.
  More about the Honors Symposium
  
  

Honor Student Profiles

Contact Information

Mary Ann Studer
Dean of the McMaster School
Phone: 419-783-2555
Email: mstuder@defiance.edu