Mar 29, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Programs and Opportunities


Doane University Honors Program

The Honors Program is designed to enrich, in a variety of ways, the educational experience of selected Doane students. Specialized, interdisciplinary, three-credit honors (HNR 302 ) seminars form the intellectual core of the program. One other important component of the Honors Program is an experiential learning experience undertaken during the junior or senior year. The culminating experience is HNR 402  , a collaborative research project carried out by all honors students during their final spring semester at Doane. Student initiative, creativity, and leadership are expected in all phases of the program.

Honors students must take an HNR 200  seminar during the spring semester of their first year and HNR 302   during three out of the following five semesters. The experiential learning project should occur during a semester in which students are not taking an HNR 302  seminar. During their final spring semester, all honors students must take HNR 402  , a collaborative research project.

Application

All first-year students will be invited to apply for the Honors Program during their first fall semester at Doane University. Students must fill out an application, submit two essays, and secure a letter of recommendation from a professor at Doane. The selection process will take place during the fall semester. The new honors cohort will begin the Honors Program in the following spring semester with the HNR 200  course.

Criteria for Admission

Students will be selected for entry into the Honors Program by the Honors Program Committee and the Chief Academic Officer. Talented students will be screened according to their academic potential, written and oral communication skills, accomplishments and talents, leadership, and commitment to academic excellence.

Criteria to Remain in the Honors Program

Once in the Honors Program, the student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50. A student whose grade point average falls below 3.50 may appeal to the Honors Program Committee to continue in the program.

Criteria to Graduate from the Honors Program

In addition to the graduation requirements for all students, the Honors students must

  1. fulfill the requirements of the program as specified in the Honors Handbook and
  2. have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50

If these criteria are met, an honors designation will appear on the student’s transcript after graduation.

Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the global dimension of each theme studied.
  2. Students will produce a collaborative cross-discipline final project.
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to participate in an immersive experiential learning activity.
  4. Students will demonstrate a commitment to intellectual endeavor as a lifelong learning goal.
  5. Students will show evidence of having completed an intellectually challenging curriculum.
  6. Students will demonstrate an appreciation of cultural and artistic performance.
  7. Students will develop a sense of social responsibility toward their community.
  8. Students will demonstrate leadership in academic endeavors, service learning and/or co-curricular activities.

For further information concerning the Honors Program at Doane University, contact the Honors Program Director or Chief Academic Officer.


Pre-Professional Programs

Doane University does not offer majors in many of the pre-professional programs, but it does provide foundation courses for future study at other institutions. Students who are enrolled in pre-professional programs at Doane for two or three years and complete their Doane degree elsewhere must complete all Doane Core Connection courses prior to transferring.

Engineering

Students may pursue an engineering degree at Doane through the B.S. Engineering major offered at Doane or by participating in the Doane University Dual Degree Program. This program allows students to earn two degrees: a B.A. or B.S. from Doane and a B.S. in engineering or applied science from an engineering school.

Students completing the three-year pre-professional program at Doane before transferring to the engineering school of their choice may graduate from Doane by successfully completing the first year of engineering school and all other Doane graduation requirements. Students maintaining a 3.0 GPA at Doane are guaranteed admission into the affiliated program at Washington University in St. Louis. Students are also prioritized in the admission process through the affiliated Combined Plan program at Columbia University.  Students also have the option of pursuing a graduate degree in engineering. Participants in the dual degree program can often complete the M.S. degree with one additional year of study at the engineering school.

Pre-Health Professions 

Doane offers pre-professional coursework in a variety of pre-health professions. Pre-health emphasis options and advising are available for, but not limited to, Pre-Athletic Training, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physician’s Assistant, and Pre-Physical Therapy.

Doane students can complete their professional education in these health programs at colleges and universities across the United States and may qualify for graduation from Doane by successfully completing the first year of an approved professional program, as well as all other Doane graduation requirements. For these students, the 30-hour residency requirement is waived.